I uploaded this chapter a little while after the rest as it took me a while to decide what I was going keep or change about it. I edited it around a bit and had to come up with a title, it's not that much of an interesting chapter nor is it overly integral, but it's quite nice :) Enjoy and review, anyway!

On with the Passion! ;D

Chapter Eight. Snatched Secret Moments.

Yami led Layan into the more wooded area, though not too far away. The light was a little dimmer here, but the voices of the children were still evident and just as loud. Layan could feel the curious eyes of her friends follow them, as she wandered after Atem just a little behind.

"I had to see you," he said, "I'm sorry, I have greatly angered Yugi."

Layan looked into his eyes.

"He didn't want me to come out, he doesn't like it now," he carried on, looking at his shoes.

"I can understand why," Layan shrugged, "But it's okay, Yugi can stay, I'm okay,"

"Yes, but I am not," Yami sighed, "I needed to see you, to be with you properly, not from inside Yugi."

"Well, you have your chance now," Layan said quietly, moving a little closer.

"Yes, it seems I do," Yami smiled, "Yugi, shut the hell up! Just give me a minute!" he then said.

Layan laughed, and Yami pulled her towards him.

"If only you could come out as just you," Layan sighed, "Then poor Yugi wouldn't have to see this,"

"I know, it's frustrating for me too," Yami nodded, "He hears all my thoughts too, so nothing is safe now,"

Layan smiled weakly.

"Surely there's a space in your mind which is private?"

"Yes, there is," Yami nodded, "We can both go there when the other needs to be alone, but Yugi doesn't like to do that when we're out, it makes him feel vulnerable, I suppose,"

"Wont he now?" Layan asked,

"He's going to have to," Yami smiled, "If he appreciates our friendship at all,"

"He will," Layan nodded, "He respects that,"

"Still, this could be the only opportunity we have," Yami said quietly, "We should make the most of it, so at least I have something to remember you by,"

Layan sighed.

"I want to Atem, you have no idea how much I want to, but it's just Yugi, I don't want to ruin our friendship,"

"He has to understand what it is like for me," Yami sighed, "I love you, the way I feel for you…"

He pushed her hair back and kissed her neck.

Layan shut her eyes, it felt right yet she knew it was so wrong. She was little over sixteen now, and Yami was in his early twenties. Although, she knew that in truth they were pretty much the same age, but the body she inhabited, she was still so young. It was weird, how could she be young, only just starting her life, but yet so old at the same time? She had lived her life once already, lived, died. It was all very bizarre.

"Are you okay?" Yami breathed, his lips close to her neck.

"Yes," Layan said, opening her eyes to look at him, she placed both her hands on his cheeks and pulled him in. Their lips locked and she kissed him, forgetting the thoughts that had been holding her back only moments ago, and once again, forgetting poor Yugi, who was probably giving Yami grief right now. Yami's hands found themselves on her lower back, pulling her closer to him. He took a step forward, so that she found her back to a tree. He ran his hand through Layan's hair, while the other kept a firm hold on her lower back. Layan wrapped her own arms around his neck, she could feel the puzzle pressing into her as he held her so closely. She didn't want him to pull away, didn't want it to stop. She ran one hand down over his chest, keeping her other around his neck. Yami pulled away from her lips and instead kissed her neck again, Layan bit her lip. How she loved his touch, and how she craved more of him! They were entwined now, one of her legs in-between his. Yami's hand ran up her thigh, as she raised her leg slightly, so that her inner thigh rubbed against his thigh. Yami quickly shook his hair out of his own face, then brushed Layan's aside before leaning back in to kiss her again.

"Hey, please correct me if I'm wrong, but did I just see Yugi and that new girl together?" Mai had joined the rest of the guys, who were still sitting around on the grass.

"They went to talk," Joey said, "Why's it so shocking?"

"They weren't doing much talking, Wheeler," Mai raised an eyebrow, "Talking in tongues, maybe."

"What!?" Joey almost gasped, "No way!"

Tea, Joey, Tristan and Duke all looked at one another, eyes wide. Only they knew about the Pharaoh.

"Um," was all Tea was able to say. Mai sat down with them, flexing her left arm.

"Are you sure it was them?" Tristan asked, his eyes darting worriedly to Tea. Joey looked shocked and sick and, perhaps, a little upset?

"Yeah, you say they were entwined, it could have been anyone," Tea added, hopeful now that Mai was wrong.

"Okay, who else in this world has hair like Yugi's?" Mai laughed, smoothing her small purple skirt.

"Ahh," Duke smiled, "She's got a point,"

"They've been gone a while," Tristan said, frowning.

"Don't expect them back," said Mai, "not from what I just saw anyway. It wouldn't be surprising if they've snuck back to Yugi's place to-"

"-no, he wouldn't!" Tea gasped, "That's not like .. Yugi," she glanced at Tristan who grimaced. Would the Pharaoh really do that? With Yugi conscious?

"Well, I didn't think Yugi had that in him," Mai smirked, "He was all over her, it was sickening, I'm surprised I wasn't sick then and there,"

Duke wrinkled his nose in disgust and the others looked at each other, the same expression of disgust and shock in their eyes.

Eventually, Yami and Layan broke apart. They stayed in silence for a little while, Yami gently stroking her cheek.

"We ought to be getting back," Layan sighed, her hands on Yami's chest.

"Yes, we should," he said, placing his hands on her arms.

"And we can't let that happen again," Layan said sadly, "It isn't fair on Yugi,"

Yami smiled slightly.

"No, it isn't, he's refusing to speak to me now," Yami said, "He doesn't understand.."

"5000 years of bottled up passion," said Layan quietly, suddenly getting the urge to pull him down and kiss him all over again, "We need to control it," she bit her lip and fought the urge.

"Yes," Yami nodded, "I agree, but I needed you that one time, now we mustn't give in again,"

"Right," Layan nodded.

Yami's hands fell from Layan's arms and Layan stepped back, smoothing out her hair. Yami frowned and closed his eyes. Layan stood waiting for a while.

"He wont come back," Yami sighed, opening his eyes again.

"What?" Layan frowned,

"Yugi, he doesn't want to come out just yet, he say's it'd be too awkward," Yami said, "Now he's not talking to me," he then said after a pause. Layan smiled.

"Oh, real mature, Yugi!" Yami scowled, "Hey, that language is not necessary!"

Layan laughed.

"Will you shut up," she smiled, "Now, come on,"

Yami nodded and the two of them made their way back to the group. Layan knew these stolen moments could not happen often - in fact, she wondered if they could ever happen again at all. She was here to help to Pharaoh understand his past, his purpose and in turn, unlock the mysteries to her own hidden paths. That was what she needed to focus on right now - not the Pharaoh. Her lips still tingling from his touch, she spoke without looking at Atem.

"Yugi, I know you can hear me," she said softly.

Atem looked at her but didn't speak.

"I'm sorry we're putting you in an awkward position - but it wont happen again. I love Atem but I know I am here for different reasons. Please, let us work together to solve this, I value your friendship, Yugi, I'd like for us to be able to act normally with one another."

"I love you, Shemei," Atem smiled at her, "And thank you for saying that, I think Yugi is willing to come back now."

Layan nodded and smiled, her eyes now set upon Atem's own sparkling scarlet ones. She took in every thing she could of his face; of the look of adoration which had settled in his eyes, as she nodded.

The millennium item began to glow.

"I love you, Atem," she spoke quietly, as he gently stroked her face before disappearing.

Yugi looked at her, a little sheepish, but smiled.

"Sorry, I acted like a bit of a jerk," he admitted, "I should have been more considerate of your feelings."

"Me, too," Layan smiled, "But it's okay - secret moments wont happen again. I know why I'm here."

"I know," Yugi nodded, "We've got work to do!"

Layan laughed and punched the air.

"We've got work to do!" she repeated in an overly dramatic tone - she sounded like someone out of a cheesy old sitcom. Yugi chuckled and Layan beamed at him. Despite the ache her heart had now adopted since the absence of Pharaoh, she was happy to have Yugi back to his smiley self.

"Come on, Kiddo," she grinned, linking his arm, "Let's get back!"

Together, they headed back to their friends, Layan feeling like the star of a novel, with everything working out well in the end and the two friends skipping through a field of daisy's, arm in arm. The thought made her giggle, at just how stupid they probably looked.

Upon arrival at their friends, Layan noticed a new, unrecognisable face.

"Hey, you two!" the girl grinned at them, one eye brow raised, "I think you've got some explaining to do!"


Sometimes, you need a bit of cheese and a bit of romance and maybe even a little humour.

Review me ? :) Love you guys!! x