A/N: School has been a bummer for me guys so I really am sorry for not updating for quite a long time. Thankfully, exams are over but the results are yet to be seen (hope I pass). I know you already know I have an oral defense in Research next week (I think it's Thursday) so I might not update rapidly like I used to but that I'm not really sure of.

Song's Hardest Thing To Do by 98 Degrees. Seriously, that song always make me cry especially when I'm reading angsty fics. Okay I'm rambling here again. On with the chapter!

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Chapter 20: Walk Away

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Seto could feel something was wrong. He knew something was amiss with how the two agents were giving each other casual glances. And no doubt he was sure it has something to do with him.

It was like he was in the middle of a circle of secrets and no one was willing to let the cat out of the bag.

And if there was another thing he noticed, it was how Yami avoided his gaze. It was like he wasn't in the room at all!

"The CEO's already waiting for you, you should go," he heard the former Tomb Robber say. No Kaiba, not even a priest. Something was definitely going on.

Yami nodded, knowing the other wasn't pleased with his decision. Who said he was aiming to please them anyway? "Get well soon, Bakura," he answered before finally turning to the still oblivious (and getting annoyed) CEO.

"Yeah, get well soon, Bakura," Seto said and followed the agent out of the room.

Bakura's wave was their response as the two proceeded to the parking. And the moment they entered the car, everything seemed to worsen. That usual silence that enveloped them before was there again and it was no denying that Seto was irritated.

Yami stared at the window, thinking of the proper time and place to tell the other. He knew he had to end this. Now. But how?

"Yami are you alright? You've been awkwardly quiet," said Seto.

Yami nodded and gave him a small smile, "Yes, I'm fine, don't worry about me," Ever.

But the CEO knew better than to accept that answer, something was bothering the other and he knew it was eating the agent inside but what can he do? He doesn't even know what the other was thinking about!

The entire trip back to the mansion was eerily quiet. The agent was worried about matters of heart while the other was dead worried about the other. It would be amusing really, if it wasn't a serious matter.

The moment they entered the mansion, they parted ways. Seto directly went to his room and started to work, hoping to distract himself from his lover while the other locked himself in his own room. God only knows what he was thinking, if you asked the CEO, that is.

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Yami closed his eyes as his head met the pillows. How can he turn his back on all of this? How can he just pretend as if nothing happened?

'Are you going to be like this always? For once, choose what you desire, choose what you want not what you are expected to choose.'

Why must his life always be utterly painful? Memories always haunted him, always gave him no rest. Nothing always ended nicely for him. It was like his life was a curse—one that is unbreakable and too much to bear.

'Yami are you alright? What's wrong?'

'I'm fine, Seto'

'Okay. Here's your coffee.'

'Were you crying?'

'I was but you arrived so I'm okay now.'

'Are you sure? I have a lot of ways to make you feel okay, you know.'

'Yes Seto, I am,' 'Seriously I am'

'You are? I didn't know that.'

'Yes I am, now do you mind? I have to go and check on Bakura.'

Everything was perfect; his life was going on just fine. He was in-love and Seto loves him in return. What is so wrong with that? For the second time in his life, he cursed himself for ever taking this god-forsake job.

He wanted to stay with his CEO—his adorable annoying Seto but he just freaking can't. His life was crashing, his was a hopeless case and as the days progressed, he no doubt can do anything about it.

'I won't let that happen. I love him Paul and this time I'm going to take the risks.'

'Will you still take it when it's already an order?'

Damn that order, damn Shaqi, damn his life. He hated this; he didn't want this anymore. He just wanted to be a selfish bastard everyone's turning out to be. He just wants to be someone who would be lured by temptation, accept death and hell not care if the world was going to explode or anything.

But no, he has to be the perfect semblance of justice and righteousness. He just has to be the one who has to be strong for everyone else. And goddamn it, he hated it already!

All he wanted was to live with Seto peacefully, to love the CEO like the CEO loved him but no, they just have to take even that simple request from him. They just had to make his life utterly miserable, as if his life wasn't a living hell already.

Before he knew it, tears of anger and frustration have already built up in his eyes. He didn't know to whom it was directed at but he knew it hurts. Somehow all he wanted to do was take out his gun and look for the bastard who was the root of all his problems, kill him and tell himself everything would turn out just fine.

He was in-love with Seto and damn it, it hurt him more knowing theirs was a bond that was never meant to last either in the previous or the present life. How he despised fate.

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A few hours later, the solemn agent, his façade pasted on his face, left his room and met the CEO who was on his way to talk to him.

"We need to talk, Seto," he said.

Seto nodded in agreement and went to the most private chamber in the mansion—the root of all their blissful memories—the room where all of these started. His room.

Despite all his planning, all those minutes spent looking for the right words, Yami found himself unable to speak. How does one break away from something so precious like this?

"Yami are you sure nothing's bothering you?"

The agent nodded as the other placed a hand on his chin to lift it up, "Why aren't you meeting my gaze? Yami what is it that you want to tell me?"

He wanted to cry, wanted to shout out to the world what was troubling him. Most of all he wanted Seto to hold him and tell him he would never let go. But he can't—they were merely fantasies.

Seto, deeply troubled at the other's silence, frowned, "What is bothering you, Yami? Does this have something to do with Bakura?"

How incredibly clueless he was, he couldn't even help the one he loved the most, Seto reprimanded himself. Speak about making sure everything was all right.

Yami shook his head, "It's not about Bakura, Seto."

"Then what's this all about? What's going on?"

"It's about us, Seto. We can't be together anymore." There, it was out. Now go on, fate, make my life miserable, Yami thought.

Seto could feel his heart sink and for the first time he was speechless. He didn't know what to say, to do or how to react. Did Yami just say they can't be together? What the hell? Was Yami not in-love with him then?

"What?" Did he hear right?

"We… we can't be together anymore," the other repeated, "We just can't, okay?" And he made a move to leave, to refuse to let the other see his tears, hoping desperately that Seto would leave it be but knowing the other, it was only a dream.

Seto's hand caught his wrist and pulled him back, he could feel all sorts of emotions flowing through him. The one, having the biggest share, was evident: pain.

If only Seto could see the other's tears.

"What do you mean we can't? What did I do, Yami?"

Yami could feel his throat constrict, trust in the other to continue asking. How long can he take it before he breaks down completely?

"It's not you, Seto, it's me."

"Fucking bullshit, Yami. Don't give me that, tell me what's wrong!" He had enough; Yami wasn't like the others. He wouldn't be intimate with another only to break up a few days. Yami wasn't like everyone else. He was different.

Yami closed his eyes, hoping to regain whatever strength was needed.

"I can't love you, Seto, we're not—"

Seto kissed him hard.

"What are you doing! I just told you we can't—"

"You listen to me, Yami. I had had enough of you sacrificing your good for everyone else. Will you choose what you want? How long will you deny that you love someone? How long? If he's already dead?"

Yami shook his head.

"Why can't you understand? We're not meant to be," he said and softly in a whisper he added, "I don't love you. Not anymore."

"What did you say?" Seto asked, knowing he was breaking. Had Yami betrayed him? Took advantage of him? Was everything the effect of a night of escapade? Of foolishness? But he wouldn't accept that. He just can't.

"You what?"

"I don't love you Seto," Yami said, refusing to meet the other's eyes as to not to let the other see how it was tearing him up.

"Look at me, Yami," Seto commanded but the other refused. Frustration and anger, desperation mixed with betrayal was flowing in the CEO's blood. He didn't know what to say, what to think. His heart was breaking but hell can he think of any way to stop it. Had reality finally hit him?

He forced the other to look at him, "Tell me, look at me in the eye and tell me Yami," he ordered.

Yami closed his eyes, a stray tear falling and once he gathered up the courage he could muster, he buried his shattering heart and opened his eyes.

"I don't love you Seto. I'm sorry."

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It's the hardest thing

I'll ever have to do

To look you in the eye

And tell you I don't love you.

It's the hardest thing

I'll ever have to lie

To show no emotion

When you start to cry.

I can't let you see

What you mean to me

When my hands are tied

And my heart's not free.

We're not meant to be

It's the hardest thing

I'll ever have to do

To turn around and walk away

Pretending I don't love you

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Dead silence surrounded the room, the aura was cold, eerily dead and no word can be heard. Crimson ones, pained with denial and tears, met azure ones stained with building pearls of water and betrayal.

Seto was hurt, he was betrayed, he was used. By Yami. Of all the people, he never thought it would be someone he trusted, someone he loved.

"I'm sorry, Seto."

"Don't apologize."

"But I—"

"I said don't apologize, Yami! Do you want to rub it in again? If you knew all these times you couldn't bring yourself to love me then why did you do it?"

Yami opened his mouth to answer but he closed his mouth. He would bear this pain, for their sakes, he would.

"I don't want your pity, Yami. I had enough, you have hurt me too much. I don't want to see you ever again and I don't freaking care if I die."

And before Yami could react, Seto was gone. He can only watch at the door, let the tears roll miserably and sink to the ground.

But hell, he knew this wasn't over. This never ends with a simple goodbye anyway.