A/N: Sorry that this chapter took so long to update. I feel like, lately, I haven't had nearly enough time for anything. So, I apologize. I will try to continue to update as frequently as I can, but I don't think I'll be able to promise an actual writing schedule. Well, anyway, I hope you enjoy this installment.
"Yami...?" the light's voice cut through the darkness that drenched the bedroom, begging to find the yami still lying beside him. Much to his relief, there the yami was, grasping his cool hand and playing with his fingers. It really was slightly pitiful; it'd only been two minutes since Yami had turned off the lights and they'd crawled into bed, yet he needed reassurance that the pharaoh was still occupying the same space as himself.
"Yes, aibou?" the darkness responded, pulling Yugi's small hand into his reclined lap, tracing shapes on his smooth palm. Triangle, square, circle...
"Would you...well, be okay with, er...holding me...?" the hikari drawled as he darted his eyes to the wall opposite Yami's face, trying desperately to avert his gaze and very noticable blush. Yugi recently noticed how much he blushed around the pharaoh, and was slightly perplexed.
Maybe the hikari could ask Joey about it. Well, actually, no; what would Joey know about him blushing? Tristan? No, Yugi barely even talked with Tristan, despite their friendship. He'd never really understood why Tristan stuck around if they didn't talk, but he surmised that he probably stayed because he was Joey's best friend. Tea, perhaps? Well, that seemed the most reasonable confidante, considering all her mushy friendship speeches. Maybe the blushing had to do with the light and darkness' friendship? But, even so, what about the warmth which resided in his stomach when he looked at Yami, or the disappointment he felt when Yami was sad or brushed him off? He'd need to ask Tea about it.
As Yugi noticed the shift of the darkness' head beside his ear, he felt the yami's arms wrap protectively around him from behind. Waves of warmth seemed to roll off of the pharaoh's skin and transfer into the hikari's own body, filling his hollow bones with a subtle heat which rivaled the effect of his previously drawn bath's warm, soothing water. "Of course, Yugi (he also needed to divulge why he got goosebumps when Yami said his name)," the boy heard the pharaoh utter, a little breathlessly, next to his ear, soft breaths tickling his sensitive skin. A shiver coursed through the hikari's body before he smiled slightly and melted into his yami's arms, snuggling closer to the warm chest behind him.
The bed sheets rustled gently as Yugi turned away from the wall and faced Yami, resting his forehead against the pharaoh's clothed chest. But then, he lifted up his head with a perplexed, and vaguely curious, expression as he questioned," Don't you want to wear pajamas, Yami; at least something more comfortable than leather?"
The darkness just sighed longly as he gripped Yugi tighter, staring straight into his light's shining amethyst orbs while explaining," No, aibou; there isn't any need. Just rest, little one."
Lightly blushing, Yugi allowed his eyelids to close, heart rate increasing ever so slightly. He also wondered why those nicknames Yami gifted him affected him so much: little one, aibou. Even the pharaoh just uttering his actual name made some lever inside him switch on and some light flicker. He doubted when he called the yami by his name it had nearly the same effect. Now, he had noticed that whenever he called Yami 'Mou Hitori no Boku', the darkness bristled a bit. Just a slight reaction, but a reaction, nonetheless.
Hearing the rhythmic, steady beat of Yami's heart, the hikari allowed himself to peacefully drift away into his own, solitary, secure dreamland, knowing he was protected by the greatest of guardians; the pharaoh, his yami, his darkness, Yami Yugi, Mou Hitori no Boku...
YxY YxY YxY YxY YxY
"Worthless, Yugi. That's what you are," an emotionless voice tsked, words slicing through the heavy, looming darkness with undeniable malevolence.
"You can't take care of yourself, you weak fool," the baritone voice hissed coldly.
"Just kill yourself, Yugi. No one likes you. No one wants you. No one needs you. Your life is an inconsequential speck of dust, drifting about the world as if you own it. You don't own the world; the world owns you."
"Here, I can help you. Take this knife in your hand and use its edge to slit your throat."
"Or maybe you'd prefer a lighter, maybe paired with some flammable liquid, to burn your skin. Melt your skin off your bones until there isn't anything but a corpse left."
"Or I could present you with a noose and you could hang yourself. Let everyone see the fear and pain and agony still etched on the fragile features of your perfect face."
"Or I could run you over with a car, perhaps. Maybe drown you in a bathtub."
"Ooohhhhh...so many ways you could be killed. The only question; will you kill you, or will you leave the killing to me...?"
Step...step...step...step...the steps just continued as the maniacal, deep voice kept on giggling.
"You're better off dead. Let me let you kiss death..."
"Aibou..."
Yugi's breath caught in his throat as his disbelieving face glanced up, flabbergasted eyes darting about the completely darkened room, searching frantically for the familiar face he didn't want to see. Then, blinding white lights clicked on before dimming to a dull yellow, a figure silhouetted in the glowing, subtle light.
The boy's breath hitched. Tears pricked his eyes. Sob, cry, squeak, squeal, scream, run, leave, sleep, peace. Give peace. Give sleep. Just not death. Not this image.
Not him.
Crimson eyes, lightning bangs, scarlet edging, black strands, blueish leather, collar, puzzle.
Not him.
Smirk, evil, green glow, red glint, demented eyes, disturbing cackle.
Not him.
"Yami..."
Not him...
YxY YxY YxY YxY YxY
Their beady, red, narrowed eyes peered at him through the darkness and they tuned their ears to every breath he in and exhaled. Every step he took. Every sigh he made. Every echoing sound. Black cascaded from the heavens, no light shedding upon the pharaoh, who aimlessly wondered about. Yami knew they were watching; he could feel their eyes creepily boring into his back and front, felt uneasiness settle in the pit of his stomach.
They kept pulling, prodding, probing, tearing, ripping. As the darkness' uneasily crept through the endlessly dark room's hall, they perpetually, continuously, pulled at the seams sewing his very thoughts and logic together. The shadows kept trying to push him, farther and farther away from sanity. They never wanted him to see the light again. See Yugi again.
But then, white flashed across the yami's eyes for a split second, and a figure appeared in the black. He was struck silent. But not the silent like when you're too astonished or amazed to formulate a response. No, nothing like that. Yami was struck with fear, to the point where all he could do was stare unwaveringly at the limp body before him, keep his eyes fixated on the light. The light the shadows had tried desperately to keep him away from. Yugi...
Their tactics had changed. They, at some point, no longer tried keeping the light at bay, but made it shine fervently until it blotted everything out. Until it burned itself out. Yugi...
Lifeless eyes stared into the abyss of darkness, pointed towards the heavens above. Limp hands had lain crossed over a chest, a chest silent of life, heaving with nonexistent breaths. Blood soaked blue cloth and pale skin, contrasting greatly against the background of black.
In that black, mischievous crimson eyes still shone. Invisible figures guffawed in malicious glee.
Yugi...
How'd it ever come to this...?