Ranko: Whoa…are you guys still here, I can't believe you have stayed with me through this big mess of a story.

Yami: Anyway, we will have blindshipping this chapter, if Ranko is not being lazy today.

Yuugi: Knowing her, she probably is so let's just answer some reviews.

Goshikku Hime wa Yami-san: Yeah, he is busted! Thank you for the words of encouragement, I'm glad that someone thinks so of this story. Anyway, please continue to review!

lilpopsplash: No, I'm sorry, you were the second person to review. But I still appreciate it just as much! I'm glad that you understand what is going on now, and ask any questions you want in your review! Please continue to review!

Black Rose of Fire: =3 No kiss yet, sorry. They were close to kissing but Yami ran out…because he is a wuss. Anyway, thank you and please continue to review!

freeasabird13: Your review made me feel so loved! Thank you so much for your kind words, I am glad that you are enjoying this story; it makes writing all worth it! After reading your review I felt even worse for updating late. You be so nice to me! Please continue to review, it is like my drug!

Great: Thanks a jillion =3 I know, bad Yuugi is high off of Vicodin (not really) and I just realized that is the drug House takes (love that show)! There will be a kiss eventually, maybe not super special awesome sexy kiss but a kiss nonetheless! Please continue to review!

Rawritsakookye: Does your username mean something? Because it is really cool. No! Vicodin! My old foe! We meet again (insert evil laugh here). Thank you and please continue to review!

Slifer-san: Well then, wait no longer! I bring forth an update! Yeah…I'm strange. Please continue to review!

Unattainable Dreams: I have a story for you. I opened my inbox and I just got this whole long stream of e-mail alerts on reviews, all from you! I was like, "Holy crap, someone must love me!" So thank you so much, I just sat there for five minutes and read them (cause I'm easily distracted—Squirrel!). Yeah, our little Yuugi don't let no one screw with him! Vicodin loves you for your appreciation :) And because you are so awesome, I have an update for you! Please continue to review!

Ranko: I must love you guys for answering all these reviews for you, which I am almost at the 100 mark. Yay!

Yami: Ranko twin owns nothing!

Yuugi: Enjoy!

Ranko: Hey, that's my line!

-/-

Atemu lay still in his bed, his breathing was even and his heart monitor gave off a steady beating to assure Heba that he was still alive. Heba sat curled up in a ball in the chair by Atemu's bed just watching the man breath, seeing his features relax making him look vulnerable and human.

Heba sighed; he was so tired though he didn't know why. It could be because of all the stress he has been under lately. Yuugi had convinced him to come to the hospital after all these years and when he saw Yami he almost had a heart attack. He realized he wasn't ready to face Atemu yet and if Yuugi hadn't shown up when he did, Heba would have left.

Then he found out Atemu was dying and needed a bone marrow transplant to live; Yuugi was willing to do that thankfully. And Atemu forgave him but that didn't mean that he still loved him. That was what was wearing heaviest on Heba's mind right now.

Without thinking, Heba got up and sat on the edge of Atemu's bed, beginning to play with his bangs. He used to do this all the time when Atemu was asleep, awake, or right after a long treatment that left him exhausted.

Suddenly Atemu's hand shot up and grabbed Heba's wrist. Heba let out a little squeak of surprise and looked down to see Atemu staring at him.

"Atemu," Heba said in a quiet voice; Atemu's eyes didn't leave him. "H-how long have you been awake?"

Atemu did not look away from Heba. After a few moments of not saying anything, Atemu tugged on Heba's wrist, pulling him on top of Atemu and then flipped them over so Atemu was on top. "I was never asleep." Then he kissed Heba.

Heba lay unresponsive under Atemu for a few moments, blinking up at him. Then he realized what was happening; his eyes widened and he shoved Atemu away. "What is wrong with you? Why did you do that?"

Atemu furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean? You came back to me, you still love me and I still love you so. Why wouldn't I kiss the one I love?"

"What?" Heba asked in shock. "You still…no!" Heba began to squirm under Atemu, trying to get the bigger man off of him. "You can't still love me, not after everything I've done."

Atemu hugged the boy to quit his squirming. "Well then, you're going to have to get over it because I still love you." Heba felt tears prick his eyes; Atemu felt something wet on his shoulder. "Please, answer me, Heba. Do you still love me?"

Heba hiccupped. "Of course I still love you."

Atemu smiled. "That's good to hear. Now if I die, I can die happy."

Heba frowned. "You're not going to die, Atemu. Yuugi is going to give you his bone marrow."

Atemu hugged Heba tighter. "Then let's treat this night like I will die tomorrow."

Next day ~

Yuugi groaned and lightly lowered himself onto his bed. "I am tired and sore."

Mahad smiled. "Well, that is to be expected. Thank you for being so cooperative Yuugi, you were a really big help."

Yuugi let out a weak groan in reply.

"After a bone marrow transplant, you are expected to be tired so I will leave you alone and let you rest," Mahad said kindly. "Thank you for this, Yuugi. I thank God that you came into our lives or else Atemu would have died."

Yuugi felt an even greater sense of responsibility after he said that. "I'm sure that you would have found someone else to help Atemu."

Mahad shook his head, his smile gone. "Not in time to save him, so again, thank you."

Mahad left after that, leaving Yuugi alone with his thoughts and his exhausted mind that refused to think of anything that was overcomplicated at the moment. Mahad just had to tell him that. He was happy that he could help Atemu, he just didn't know how much pressure was on him before the procedure. Atemu was so close to death and Yuugi had just saved him not under an hour ago.

Yuugi's head began to pulse from pain; Mahad was right, the transplant did tire him out. He would just sleep for five minutes…

Suddenly Yuugi's hospital room door opened and then closed silently. Yuugi sighed but refused to open his eyes…or his eyes refused to open, they were as heavy as lead. He evened out his breathing and tried to get to sleep, hoping that it was just a nurse come to check on him and then leave.

Then he heard Yami's voice. "Yuugi?" he asked quietly. "Yuugi, are you asleep?"

Yuugi tried to resist the urge to groan. He wasn't asleep but he wanted to be.

After a few moments of silence, he could only guess that Yami had taken a seat in the chair beside his bed because he could still feel Yami's presence. "Listen," Yami began. "Have I ever told you how much you piss me off?"

Yuugi bit the inside of his cheeks.

"Sorry, it's just that you are so stupid. You always have to do things for other people and you always put other people's happiness before your own. Be happy, Yuugi. That's why you piss me off. I mean, I'm happy that you did this for my brother but I just want you to think for yourself for a change. Hell, even when you sat on my back to get the truth out of me, you were doing that for me.

"Anyway, I see you hurting all the time. You are hurting when Ryou is with Bakura because you feel like you've been replaced. I don't like to see that sad look on your face and I feel like shit when I realize I am one of the reasons you have that look on your face. God, I'm a jackass, aren't I? For what I did to you a couple years ago? I still can't believe I did that. I don't even know why I did that.

"I like to tell myself that it was because I didn't want you to get close to me, but let's face it, that wouldn't have done anything. You always like to get into other people's business. I think that I did it because…I don't know, I was really stupid back then. But, what other reasons do people do something as stupid as that?"

Yuugi held his breath and waited to hear what Yami would say next.

"I love you, Yuugi. I know this is really weird, talking to someone who can't even hear me, but I love you. I always have and I don't want to be the one that puts that hurt look on your face, I want to be the one that makes you smile and be the one who can support you. I love you, even though I know you could never love me back. Oh God, I love you, I finally admitted it to myself. I love you, I love you, I love you."

Yuugi wanted to cry.

He heard Yami take a deep breath and sigh it out. "Thank you again, Yuugi. For helping my brother, I just hope some day I'll have the balls to say everything I just told you while you are awake." Yami chuckled to himself and Yuugi could imagine him getting up and going towards the door.

On his way out he whispered, "I love you, Yuugi," and left the room.

After Yuugi was sure that he was gone, he managed to peel his eyes open and sit up in his bed, fresh tears in his eyes. He looked at Yami's empty chair and replayed everything he had said in his mind.

"I love you, Yuugi."

He smiled to himself. "Maybe I could love you too."

-/-

Yuugi: Where is Ranko?

Yami: She's tired, prom was Saturday night.

Yuugi: She's still tired?

Yami: She had a lot to do today, she didn't have time to take a nap.

Yuugi: Oh, well then I'll say that she won't be updating on Checkmate probably until next week and hopefully she will be updating on this story in two weeks.

Yami: So update on this story every other week and update on Checkmate every other week?

Yuugi: Alternating weeks!

Yami: It works, alright, as always, review!