Disclaimer: Just own the words, not the folks.

Mighty, Shining and Clear

Beer just isn't cutting it tonight.

Not that he isn't enjoying his time out with Noah, Wolf and Yuuri, but the beer just isn't doing anything for him. He can't even get a buzz, let alone maintain one. And since he doesn't really want drink anything stronger and get drunk, he's stuck. It's probably because he's so worried about Seto. Even two weeks later, nothing's changed. It's actually worse. The clothes and dishes are still piled, mail has joined the newspapers behind the door, Seto seems to have stopped eating altogether, his hair is becoming a mane, and he knows Seto has missed a number of classes.

"Mokuba?" Noah calls, placing a hand on his shoulder, a look of concern on his face

"Sorry, Noah, I guess I'm just not up for this tonight," Mokuba frowns.

"Why don't I take you home?"

"I can get a cab. You should stay with Yuuri and Wolf."

"They'll be fine. C'mon."

Mokuba follows Noah out to his car.

"Can we just drive around for a while?" Mokuba asks as he clicks his seatbelt closed.

"Sure. You need to talk?"

"Not really. I just don't want sit at home alone."

"We could go to my house."

"Sure."

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"I'm sorry, Seto, but I haven't seen Yami lately," Mr. Crawford replies seriously. "Would you like for me to have him call if I do?"

A long pause.

"No. No, thank you, Mr. Crawford," he hears the obviously suffering young man reply over the phone. "I'm sorry to have bothered you."

"Oh, it's not a bother, my dear boy."

"All the same, you don't need to say anything if you see him. Thank you for your time. And thank you again for the use of the loft."

He's hung up before Pegasus can reply.

Sighing to himself, he replaces the receiver and turns his attention back to the scene in front of him, Yami finishing a portrait of Leon von Schroeder for the CEO to take back to his wife for her birthday.

He hated lying to Seto, well, maybe not hated, but it was necessary. As much as he loves the young man and thinks he's ultimately perfect for the sometimes-impulsive artist, their relationship was holding Yami back. He'd been working on this deal with von Schroeder since the middle of Yami's senior year, just before Seto came into the picture.

Before Seto, he knew Yami had no problems with just picking up and going anywhere, but once he fell in love with the stoic young man, Pegasus knew all bets were off. So their break-up worked to his and Yami's advantage. He's sure Yami will eventually go back to Seto, but for now, he would follow Pegasus' script.

"That's very nice, Yami," he smiles stepping up to Leon and Yami as Leon praises Yami's work. "When do you think it will be dry enough to travel?"

"Well, since I used the Van Gogh h2oils, it should be completely dry in a few days," he muses thoughtfully. "To be safe, I'd give it a week."

"Then that is when we shall leave," Leon replies with a slight German accent.

"We?" Yami starts.

"Leon wants you to begin the mural as soon as possible, Yami. Of course, Cyndia and I will be accompanying you," he grins happily. "I've wanted to go back to Germany for some time since my travels there years ago while studying art, and my beautiful Cyndia has never been. It will be quite the adventure for all of us, I'm certain."

"Thank you for this opportunity," Yami bows to Leon.

The CEO smiles and turns back to his portrait.

Pegasus catches the tremulous smile on Yami's face.

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A week.

He'd figured it would be soon, but a week?

Not that it matters. What's to keep him here anymore?

He should have done this long ago, gone wherever was necessary to launch his career in the art world. But he couldn't leave Seto. And he couldn't have brought him along.

Staring at the ceiling he forces down another twinge of guilt for how he left things with his koi.

Former koi.

"It was for the best," he whispers to himself.

Only a week and he'd be off to another country for at least three months, maybe longer.

"I'll miss his graduation," he murmurs sadly.

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With an annoyed grunt, he pushes the hair out of his face again. It's really getting long, but he hasn't felt up to cutting it. He frowns to himself, remembering that Yami used to prod him to let it grow long.

"You'd look so hot with long hair, Seto," he'd often declare.

Maybe he should just grow it long. Maybe then Yami will come back.

He can't pretend anymore that Yami's leaving hasn't affected him deeply. The loft is a mess, he's actually failing his International Trade Law class, he can't remember the last time he had a decent meal, half the time he has no idea what Mokuba is saying to him when he's over or when he calls on the phone, he didn't even have the strength to get out of bed the next day after the last chemo treatment, and this morning, he found himself unable to stop the tears when he got into the shower and remembered again that Yami wouldn't be joining him.

Last week, he even called Mr. Crawford for help, not that he had any idea what to ask him. He's still humbled by Mr. Crawford's generosity, allowing him to stay in the loft even though he'd actually bought it for Yami.

For more than two months he's tried to push his feelings aside and move on like he always has when faced with a painful situation.

When the cancer first appeared, he allowed himself a few days to panic, and then just dealt with it, because he had to stay strong for his mom and Mokuba. When his mom died, he allowed himself a week or two of mourning, and then moved on. He had to take care of Mokuba. There wasn't any time to feel the loss properly. When the cancer came back…no, he'd succumbed to his emotions that time and given up. Yami gave him a reason to face it, a reason to live.

He looks up from his pile of homework at that revelation.

Every time he'd found the strength to move on, he'd had something to live for, someone who needed him, a reason to press forward.

Who was his reason now?

Not Mokuba. In the last few years, Seto had leaned on his little brother far more than Mokuba leaned on him.

His mom is dead. Yami is gone. He has no friends.

So who would be his reason now?

Was he so weak of spirit that he needed one? Couldn't he go on just because he wanted to? Isn't it enough that he wants to go on?

Heading into the kitchen to get a fresh cup of coffee, he makes several decisions.

He will not fail any classes.

Chemo will not defeat him again.

The loft will be spotless from now on, as usual.

He will pay more attention to Mokuba and spend more time with him.

He will take better care of himself and eat more.

He will grow his hair out because he wants to.

And he will wait for Yami to come back, because he's sure he will be back.

After all, one cannot live without the other half of one's soul.

A/N: I know it's short. Just needed a filler. Chapter 9 should be done later today.