A/N: Juuust kidding! So I changed my mind, Chapter 9 was not the last chapter. I personally did feel that the ending and romance between Yami and Yugi was just a bit rushed for poor Yugi and I wanted to see if anyone else would pick up on that. Thank you, Crystallized Snowdrop, for your review and feedback! I appreciate it. Thanks to your feedback I decided to add on at least one more chapter. Possibly more. We will just have to see where the story and creativity take me. Regardless, I hope you like it!

/Yugi's thoughts/

/Yami's thoughts/

The next morning, Yami stood in the kitchen staring out the window. The mug containing his black liquid caffeine fix for the day which was growing colder by the second sat forgotten on the counter. /I shouldn't have kissed him. I know he is not ready./ He raised a hand to his head letting out a low growl, /how could I be so selfish? Yugi needs time to heal/.

"Morning!" the sweet little voice behind him startled him. As he turned to face Yugi, he knock the mug of coffee off the counter; the glass did not break; however the contents spilled making a large black puddle on the tile. Yami sighed and brought a hand to rub his forehead.

Yugi's violet eyes glanced over Yami and the spilled coffee, "Oh, I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

Yami smiled warmly at the youth, "That's quite alright, Yugi."

"I can help you clean it up," Yugi said excitedly grabbing a towel to start wiping off the floor. Within seconds the petite violet eyed beauty was on his hands and knees scrubbing the coffee off the floor. Yami grabbed another towel following suit.

"Yugi," Yami said softly as they both scrubbed.

"What's up?" Violet met sorrow filled crimson. Yugi gasped at how sad his doppelganger looked. He scooted closer on the wet floor to Yami, "What's wrong?" Yugi's voice was filled with his growing concern. He placed a hand on the professor's shoulder.

"I am very sorry for my behavior last night little one." Yami whispered. He couldn't bring himself to look the boy in the eyes."

Confusion replaced concern, "What do you mean? You have nothing to be sorry for," Yugi replied.

"Yes I do little one. I kissed you. You are not ready for this yet. You need to have time to heal and recover from what you just went through." A small tear ran down Yami's cheek.

Yugi wiped it off gently with his thumb, "Oh Yami. You have no reason to be sorry. I am okay. Realy." Yugi nodded.

Yami's crimson eyes met Yugi's large violet orbs. The amount of pain and fear that still existed there was like a knife in Yami's heart, "Yugi, I guarantee, you are not ready. That is okay. I want you to take time to heal fully. Please do not think I do not want you. As I explained at the hospital, it is quite the opposite. I've never felt this way about anyone. This is why I want you to take the time you need to heal. I am not going anywhere. I will wait as long as you need me to wait. By giving yourself time to heal, we will both be able to fully enjoy the relationship that develops between us." A patient and loving smiled crossed Yami's lips.

Yugi did not take his eyes off of his professor. /Am I really not ready?/ Yugi took a deep breath before closing his eyes to search himself. He concentrated on what emotions he was feeling in that very moment; there was relief, a glimmer of happiness, fear that Dominick would find him and take him away, fear that all relationships would be like, and pure terror that Yami wouldn't accept him now that he is broken. All of these emotions hit Yugi fast and hard. He screamed as he cured up on the floor weeping. He felt his head gently lifted off the ground and placed on a soft warm lap. Yami's long fingers ran through Yugi's hair caressing his scalp. His other arm was wrapped gently and loosely around the youth's shoulders. Yugi grasped at the arm around his chest. At first he did so in panic clawing at the arm to move it until the scent of the owner's skin reached his nose. The scent of sandalwood and exotic spices. /No..no..it's not Dom. Dom doesn't have me…It's Yami./ He stopped clawing at the strong arm as he nuzzled into it. His tears running freely down his cheeks wetting the clawed up arm.

Yami winced slightly when Yugi clawed at his arm; although he did not mind a few scratches as long as Yugi was safe. "Shhhhhh. It is okay. Everything is going to be alright, Yugi." Yami whispered; his silky deep baritone voice. He could feel Yugi's tense body relaxing in his arms. /Looks like it will be a good day to call in a substitute. I can't leave Yugi like this./ Yugi's small form melted into his body as the boy was lulled into a restless sleep. He shifted to a kneeling position while wrapping one arm under Yugi's knees and the other under Yugi's back. He held Yugi close as he carried him effortlessly back to the bedroom. Yugi groaned and leaned into Yami's chest clutching at the button up shirt Yami wore. Crimson eyes smiled down at his little doppelganger before gently placing Yugi back in bed. The youth's grip did not want to let go of his shirt. He chuckled quietly to himself as he gently pried Yugi's hands off of his shirt and placed them on Yugi's chest. /Oh!/ Yami looked around the room briefly; his crimson eyes falling on the stuffed Kuriboh toy laying off to the side. Yami picked up the stuffed creature and placed it in Yugi's arms. Yugi curled up around the toy; a small smile appearing on his lips. The tri-colored professor slowly backed out of the room silently closing the door. He reached for his cell phone in his pocket as he headed out into the living room. He dialed the chairman of the history and archaeology program.

"Hello chairman! It is Yami. I apologize for the short notice, I know class starts in 45 minutes; I am afraid I am unable to teach class today." Yami listened as the chairman explained they will try to find a substitute and asked if he wanted to cancel class if that was not possible.

Yami nodded, "Yes, that would be wonderful thank you. If the substitution is not able come in please let me know so that I can email the students about the class cancellation and inform them of what they will need to do for the next class." Yami listened once again as the chairman spoke.

"Thank you. I appreciate your help."

"No, no. I am fine. There is a family emergency that I need to take care of today. I may not be able to hold class on Friday either. Will you please ask the substitute if they are able to do Friday as well?"

"Wonderful, thank you."

"You too have a great day." Yami hung up the phone. He sighed as he stared at the sleek black device in his hand. He turned it to vibrate before shoving it back in his pocket. He grabbed some papers to grade for his classes as well as his laptop and disappeared back into the bedroom. Yugi was sleeping soundly. He smiled again at the sleeping youth before he settled at the desk in the far corner of the room for a long day of grading.

\/\/\/

Several hours later, Yami's brain felt like it was going to explode if he graded another paper. He sat his red pen down and rubbed his forehead. /I don't understand some of these students. How did they get into the university let along dress themselves in the morning?/

He heard Yugi begin to toss and turn behind him. He lifted his head to listen to Yugi's movement. Yugi began thrashing around; his screams were ear-piercing. Yami took the length of the room in only a few strides and was at Yugi's side within seconds. He kneeled next to the bed caressing the youth's sweat soaked face and whispering, "You are safe. Wake up, Yugi." The youth groaned and furrowed his eyebrows. "Wake up little one."

The violet eyes fluttered open, his vision still blurry from sleep, "Wh..where am I?" he whispered his dry scratchy throat made it difficult to talk.

"You are at my apartment Yugi." Yami whispered as the boy's hand searched for the source of his comfort. Yami took Yugi's hand giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Yami?"

"That's right little one. Did you have another dream about him?"

Yugi nodded as the tears flowed down his cheeks freely. That last dream really opened the flood gates to his emotions. All of his pent up emotions that he fought back during the entire abusive relationship came crashing through the gates. Yugi was in hysterics. Yami shifted from his kneeling position on the floor to sit next to Yugi. The youth climbed in Yami's lap wrapping his arms tightly around his protector. His sobs were muffled as they were buried in Yami's chest. Yami encircled his arms around Yugi rocking them both back and forth. He felt a small jump from the young one. Yami tilted his head and tried to figure out what was happening to his aibou. A few more seconds of the small tremors brought realization and a smile to his face /Ah, it's just hiccups/ He patted Yugi's back as the boy continued to sob and hiccup into his chest.

Yugi's violet eyes grew wide as he violently pushed himself out of Yami's arms crashing to the floor.

"Yugi?" Yami asked watching him.

Yugi scrambled to his feet and ran out of the room; Yami's confused crimson orbs following him. He slowly stood from the bed and exited his bedroom, "Yugi?" He heard retching from the bathroom. He sighed before knocking on the door, "Yugi? May I come in?"

The violet eyed youth emptied the contents of his stomach into the toilet. His stomach turned flip flops and informed him he was not done, "No," Yugi croaked out, "I don't want you to see this. You don't need to watch me throw up." Yugi squeaked before his head was back into the toilet throwing up again.

Yami slowly opened the door, "I do not mind the sight of vomit Yugi. I'm the one that made you throw up the pills." Yami knelt down next to Yugi moving his bangs out of the way with one hand and drawing small comforting circles on the boy's back with the other, "It is okay, Yugi, let it out. You have been through an unimaginable experience. There will be times that your body will need to break down like this. It is part of the recovery process." Yami whispered.

Yugi groaned as he rested his head on the toilet seat. His entire body was shaking and covered in a sheet of sweat. He raised a shaky hand up to flush the toilet and watch the bile go down the drain. Tears continued to flow down his cheeks.

"You may not want to think about this right now just after throwing up, but you do need to eat something little one. You haven't eaten anything today."

Yugi groaned at the thought of putting anything in his stomach.

Yami stood, "Will you please try to have something bland? A piece of butter toast might help settle your stomach."

Yugi groaned again before he tried to stand. His legs felt like wobbly jello. He took a step forward before falling into Yami's awaiting arms. Yami picked him up again and carried his frail form to the kitchen where he sat the boy in a chair. He smiled down at Yugi before turning to make the toast.

"Whait! Yami, don't' you have classes you need to teach today?" Yugi's voice cracked. The last thing Yugi wanted to do was make Yami lose his job.

Yami pushed the button on the toaster down to heat up the toast before turning to face Yugi. A reassuring smile graced his face, "You are correct little one. I called the chairman and had a substitute come in."

"Oh Yami," Yugi tilted his head, " You could have left me. I don't' want you getting fired."

Yami smiled at Yugi's concern, "No need to worry about that little one. I have it under control. You just rest today. Your recover will be full of many ups and downs for a while. I wanted and needed to be with you today." Yami turned back to the toast. He pulled the bread out of the toaster and started scrapping some butter onto the butter knife.

Yugi tilted his head, "How do you know so much about this?"

Yami paused the knife containing the butter still in midair over the toast. He had not anticipated that Yugi would ask that question. He took a very deep breath in and held it before slowly releasing it.

"Yami?" Yugi asked concerned, "Are you all right."

Yami nodded his head and returned to his current thoughts, "I'm fine aibou. Thank you for your concern." He finished buttering the toast and cut it in half for Yugi. He then placed the plate with the toast on it and a cup of juice in front of Yugi. Ye then took the seat at the table across from Yugi.

He signed, "I know about this recovery process because I went through something very similar." Yami admitted.

Yugi's eyes grew as wide as saucers on his cherubic face, "Oh Ra! You did?"

Yami nodded slowly not making eye contact with the little one.

"What happened?"

The tri-colored professor forced a small smile, "That story is for another day." His kissed Yugi on the forehead, "finish your toast little one and then maybe we can get to work on some of your homework."

Yugi groaned.

"I know, but trust me, it is a fantastic distraction." Yami winked at the youth who took a bite of toast and returned the smile wholeheartedly. His cheeks were full with the toast; the smile made him look like a little chipmunk.

Yami chuckled to himself before we went to gather his work and Yugi's homework. They were in for a long night of catch up work.

A/N: Ya…this isn't the last chapie either! I'll post a little bit more about their developing relationship as soon as I can figure out how to format it. I'm not sure if I'm just going to do little snip its of events throughout the little time line as Yugi recovers in one/two more chapters or spread it out more. Any suggestions as this part of the story was not planned lol!