Disclaimer: in case you were wondering, I don't actually own any of the things I write about on this site other than the plot. And some OC's, though they seem to have mysteriously disappeared…

A/N: Here's your second update :) after I got some sleep. I do need sleep in order to kick this cold, you know. I think it's almost gone. Hopefully.

Tsuki: Heeellloooo!

Anevay: And where have you been?!

Hikari: Ally drugged our drinks, so we were out for a while.

Tsuki: Yeah, we woke up in a closet. Tied up.

Khait: I found them.

Anevay: Ally!

Tsuki: Ally is currently indisposed.

Anevay: Oh. Well, she does deserve it.

Hikari: I thought so, too.

Tsuki: So where are we in this story?!

Anevay: Read and figure it out!

Here's your update! Next one will come next Sunday – you're only getting two because I'm on spring break, don't work till five, and I got eight reviews last chapter, so I figured you deserved it. Read on, my friends!

Time to Confess

Yugi lay awake and content in his sleeping-bag, eyes closed. He wasn't quite willing to get up yet. His sleeping-bag was warm, he'd had no dreams of any kind, and he had no reason to rise, as no one else was awake.

The Pharaoh's voice came to him, "Yugi?"

"Yes, Pharaoh?"

"I need to show you something."

Immediately, Yugi retreated into his soul room, which had toys from his childhood strewn across it, now accompanied by duel monsters cards. He exited the room, where the Pharaoh stood with the door to his soul room held open. He smiled to see Yugi, gesturing him in.

He followed the Pharaoh into his soul room, "What's up, Pharaoh?" Yugi could sense his concern, even fear, smoldering inside him. He had his brows drawn in, looking around cautiously.

"Something happened last night, Yugi," he said, looking over at his friend. Yugi waited for him to continue. "Every night now for about a week, I've been chasing this little version of you around my soul room," he sighed.

Yugi started, "What? Why didn't you tell me?"

The Pharaoh set a hand on his shoulder, "I didn't want to worry you. This younger version of you is a creation of my own imagination, Yugi. He's my riddle to solve, not yours. Besides, he disappears each time you wake."

Yugi frowned. "I still think you should have told me. You said something happened last night?"

He nodded, "Yes. I was chasing this smaller you, as I do every night, but I managed to get him to stop and lead me. We sat and rested for a moment, and when I woke, he dragged me to one of my rooms."

"And…" Yugi urged.

"That's what I want to show you," the Pharaoh said, beckoning him on.

Yugi followed the Pharaoh. It took them several minutes of silence to reach their destination, but it was companionable silence. They walked side-by-side, both thinking deeply and knowing the other's thoughts. The maze that was the Pharaoh's soul room always seemed bigger than the last time Yugi had visited; he always thought it looked rather like an Egyptian tomb, only it was filled with doorways, half of which lead to a mental trap. The thought always filled Yugi with sadness. Even the Pharaoh couldn't get past the traps in his mind.

The Pharaoh brought them to a halt at a particular door. There didn't seem to be anything special about it. He looked at the Pharaoh in confusion, who jerked his head at the door, "Can you sense what's inside, Yugi?"

Yugi tried. The room suddenly exuded a dark aura, and Yugi took a step back in surprise. The room was full of a tangible darkness. "What is that?"

"I don't know," the Pharaoh shook his head. He hesitated, "This room was initially where I stored all of my fears, my nightmares. I had to put them somewhere."

Yugi felt a stab of compassion, and he set a hand on his friend's arm. "Initially?" he wondered.

"Yes," the Pharaoh muttered, staring at the door hard, "Now I fear that something dangerous lurks within. The worst part is that I don't know how," he said, frustrated.

"We'll figure it out," Yugi soothed him. "Just don't, you know, open it."

"No, I didn't plan to," the Pharaoh agreed.

They moved away from the room, over to a set of steps, where they sat down. "So why is there a little me running around your soul room at night?" Yugi asked.

"I don't know, Yugi," the Pharaoh replied, "That's what I'm trying to figure out. At first, I thought he came from your soul room, but when I tried to take him back, he refused to leave my soul room, as if he couldn't. And after the first night, you didn't bring it up, so clearly you had no idea what was going on. No, he exists because of something in my mind."

Yugi nodded slowly, "That makes sense."

"Perhaps he was created from my inner fears," he muttered, "That I'm putting you in danger far too much. Sometimes I wish I could keep you in your childhood innocence, Yugi. I would be able to protect you far more effectively."

Yugi gaped at him, "Pharaoh!"

The tone of Yugi's voice surprised him, and the Pharaoh stared, "What?"

"How many times do I have to tell you that none of this is your fault?" he demanded, "It's not your fault that people are always after you! I can't live in innocence forever, Pharaoh. People grow up. That's just how it is. Even if I could stay little like that, I wouldn't want to. You know that I would rather help you, and you can't do all of this alone. You don't have to and you shouldn't have to. You and I are in this together till the end, Pharaoh, whether you like it or not. It's not something you can control."

The Pharaoh blinked at the vehemence of his statement. "But…"

"No but's," Yugi pointed at him, "It's not up to you. There are some things you just can't manage, Pharaoh. Eventually you'll have to come to terms with that. You're my friend, and you're not going through this alone."

The Pharaoh sighed, smiling tenderly at his young friend. "I know, Yugi. Thank you for your friendship."

Yugi beamed, "Of course. Now come on, let's get some breakfast. Then you're going to get some real sleep. You've been exhausted for days."

"Alright, Yugi," the Pharaoh submitted.

D'aaaww the BroTP feelz!

So what'd you think? Review!

Tsuki: So is little Yugi gone or what?

Hikari: I don't think the Pharaoh will submit that easily.

Anevay: Just wait a few chapters and you'll find out, why don't you.

Tsuki: But…

T&R!

Reviewers: RedRosePetal, SerenePanic, Aqua girl 007

RedRosePetal: down, girl! ;) All will be revealed in time!

SerenePanic: hahah awww thaaanks. I thought so too. I'm glad you liked the Bakura part! I didn't even knkow I was going to include him in this story. His part is small, but central. Darned Bakura.

Aqua girl 007: So did I, hah. Didn't know he was coming in. Thank you my friend, I hope I get better soon too! (:

SO! Ten reviews total for both of these chapters and you'll get two updates next week as well. I'm doing better, see?

You know the drill… REVIEW!

-Anevay, Tsuki, Hikari and Khait