A/N: I can't believe I already have 9 chapters in total! That is so nice. I'm so happy… hey, you have to understand, updating while suffering from massive amounts of schoolwork is definitely not easy. Anyway, yeah, thanks a lot guys. Many thanks to Yami Val, Charred, Hydro-wolf and The-Leader-Of-The-Fallen-Angels for their reviews in the previous chapter.

Hydro-wolf: Thanks for the cookie munches on cookie mmmm...

By the way, to Yami Val: can you make a fic set present-day Domino? Seto belongs to the popular group in school—the jocks and well… he's kind of an annoying jerk and Yami hates him. Yami belongs to the other group; the one who excels in academics and well both groups hate each other. Something happens and Seto gets stuck with Yami. Soon enough they fall in-love with each other. I don't know if you can put angst there but if you can, I would really, really love it. Thanks.

Okay, chapter 9:

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Chapter 9: Still

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"I'll be in my room if you need me," Yami said the moment they entered the mansion, not giving Seto the chance. Grandpa's words were still echoing in his mind and this forced him to look back to what happened before.

"Are you al—?"

"Yes, I'm fine," the pharaoh cut Seto in before he could finish his sentence and headed for the stairway.

The CEO can only watch as the agent went upstairs. Was visiting the game shop a bad idea? But it looked like Yami needed it. With a sigh, he headed for the kitchen to get something to drink.

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'Yami, how long must you torture yourself?'

'It was a mistake, grandpa. I was never allowed—I didn't have the luxury to make that mistake and still I made it and look at what happened'

'Nothing was wrong in falling in-love, Yami. There was never a mistake in that. What you did wrong—and still doing wrong—is that you're torturing yourself'

Yami closed his eyes as he rested himself on the bed. How could the other not hate him? Yugi died because of him… he couldn't live with that and grandpa, Yugi was his only grandson… why did he not hate him?

'But grandpa, I was the reason Yugi died. You should hate me, I killed your grandson!'

'Why would I hate you? How many times must I tell you that it wasn't your fault? It never was. You should move on and forget what happened, Yami. It's not your fault.'

But it was. It was his fault—he killed his light no matter what angle he looked at it. He was to blame. Why can't the others see that?

He would give anything just to have his light back, to see that smile again, to hear the other reprimand him for not sleeping… he needed his light. Darkness, wasn't it ironic that after all those times he would still be the darkness that flaunted the light?

He was a killer even from the start and he continued to deny it. He was a spirit tarnished with the cruel ways of the past—he was the darkness that he had desperately tried to destroy.

'You shouldn't blame yourself'

They didn't understand. They never did. He made a huge mistake and they still think he's a saint. Well he wasn't. He never was.

'Yami I'm going to kill you if you don't give that back!'

'That hurts. You would kill your beloved, Yugi?'

'Yes I will now give that back!'

Two tri-haired teens ran around the sofa laughing. The taller one stopped and fell as the other fell on him. Before he could tease the other, lips were already on his.

Yami rolled to his side hoping it would go away.

'Yugi, please don't be mad at me, it was an accident.'

'It was? You kissed her!'

'But it was an accident, you have to believe me!'

'And what if I don't?'

'Yugi! Swear, I didn't intend to kiss her, Joey tripped me and I well…'

So there were moments where they fought since Yugi was always the jealous one between the two but they always made up before the day ended. He didn't want to lose their relationship; it was one of the best things that happened to them.

"Yugi…"

'Merry Christmas Yami!'

'Merry Christmas Yugi' a kiss and a hug

'Look, it's snowing! Come on, let's go out!'

'Yugi, I hate the snow. It's freezing out there!'

'The king of games is afraid of the snow?'

'I am not.'

'Prove it.'

'I will.'

'Yami, wait!'

'Yes Yugi?'

'Look a mistletoe!' the pharaoh looked up and when he was to answer, Yugi had pulled him into another kiss.

Their relationship was full of sweetness, it always did. If only they had the chance to make it bloom into something more… something permanent.

Yami closed his eyes, wiping away the tears that were already forming. He didn't know it still hurt. He thought he was numb already. The past was already forgotten but he was mistaken… as usual.

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"Seto, you're home!"

"Of course, have you been waiting for me?" Seto answered.

"Well yeah, Bakura's annoying me again," Mokuba said, pointing to the smirking white-haired agent.

"Bakura…" Seto started.

"Seriously, you don't have to be overprotective of the imp, priest. I'm not going to kill him, you know," Bakura answered.

"Oh yeah, you're just going to give him a hard time, won't you?" the CEO replied sarcastically. Bakura grinned, "Glad you still know my trademark ways, priest," he answered.

Seto shook his head before glancing at his wristwatch, his eyes widening. Shit! He had an appointment in an hour and he wasn't even ready! Okay, it took him longer than usual and he still didn't know what happened to the two but now was the time for work.

"Mokuba, I have to go to my meeting, are you going to be okay with albino here?" Seto asked.

Bakura ignored the two and proceeded to his partner's room.

"Of course, Seto. He's just annoying but all in all he's fine. You don't have to worry," Mokuba answered.

Seto smiled at his brother before ruffling the other's ebony hair, "Seto!" Mokuba protested and his smile widened, "Sorry," he answered.

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"Yami," Bakura called, knocking on the crimson-eyed agent's door. He didn't receive an answer, though, but that was typical for Yami so he entered.

"What do you want Bakura?" Yami asked, not bothering to look at his partner from where he was standing.

"You want to talk?" the former thief asked.

Yami looked away, staring outside of the window, "I don't need to talk to anyone, now if you don't need anything else, you can leave," he said.

Bakura sighed and shook his head, 'Stubborn as always,' he thought. He made his way beside the agent and forced the pharaoh to look at him, "Look, I don't really have the right to tell you this but don't you think it's time to let go?"

Yami pushed the hand away, "I don't want to. I will never let him go, and besides, at least this way I'm paying for my mistakes," he answered.

"Mistakes? What mistakes? There never was a mistake! And don't you tell me about that conscience of yours," the white-haired agent said.

"What do you know, Bakura? You weren't even there when that happened! Or do you need to lose Ryou to know how it feels?"

Yami's eyes widened as Bakura punched him.

"I hope that wakes you up. Have you forgotten? I lost someone too! And it was your uncle's fault; so don't tell me I don't know anything. I lost the ones I love too," Bakura said.

Yami's jaw tightened, "I'm sorry, Bakura, but my case is hopeless," he replied and started to walk away only to be pulled back.

"Do you think Yugi likes what's happening to you right now? Do you think he'd be happy that you're giving away the chance he gave to you?" the former thief asked.

Yami pulled his arm back, "Look I have enough for the day, okay? I just want to be alone," he said.

"So you're giving up?"

Yami was silent.

"I always hated you for being so goddamn optimistic… you never surrendered even if you were near to losing. I always hated it, and at the same time, I admired you," Bakura started, feeling the other's eyes on him, "I just wish you never changed. Now if you excuse me, you said you wanted to be alone."

The pharaoh watched as the other left the room and he kicked at some unseen thing. And try as he may, he knew Bakura was right. But the other will never know, that's for sure. He was frustrated, angry… he was still hurt.