Me: Okay, I dunno about you guys but that last chapter was sad to me... But, let's see if I can't pep it up a little bit. :) This may be another long chapter, I dunno though because I haven't planned any more chapters since chapter 34 XD To the reviewers:

To Ern Estine 13624: Glad you enjoyed ^w^

To Rose: XD Yeahhhh... Or maybe someone else will... *insert cheesy grin here* But I'll never tell! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :D

I do not own YGO or anything pertaining to YGO.

CID

Chapter 37

Father's Love

The twins felt their hearts drop, their eyes widening in response. "I'm sorry guys, but Brutus isn't coming back" Yami continued.

"But-"

"Listen" Yami said gently, holding up his hand to stop Akari from throwing a fit. "I was just with him. And I was with grandpa too. I saw a lot of things while I was there, but dad wanted me to give you all a message. Especially you twins."

Everyone's eyes widened after hearing that. "Just where the hell were you?" Duke asked.

"I was in Limbo. Dad and Brutus were my guides. And I really did hear everything that everyone said."

"You were with your father?" Yamina gasped, taking an unconcious step forward.

"Yeah. And he said to tell you that he leaves everyone here in your protective hold. And that he loves and misses you a lot." Yami turned his attention back towards the rest of the group "But, he told me to tell all of you to be strong. Never give up. Things will be hard, and there will be sad times too. But never lose hope, hold onto each other, and everything will be okay." He turned his attention on the twins before he continued "He also said he loves you guys, and not to worry about Brutus, he's taking very good care of him."

Akari's eyes lit up, but Yuki was still looking down. "Both of you" Yami continued "Blue probably won't make it much longer either. He's very depressed without Brutus, and I dunno if I can pull him out of a depressed state of mind. I'll do what I can, but I don't want him to suffer through it. It's not fair to him."

"Why does everything die? Every time we're happy something or someone dies. It's not fair!" Yuki said suddenly, causing his father's eyes to widen.

Yami's eyes softened once again "Bub, I know it doesn't seem right. But everything dies. And I do mean every thing. Even papa and I won't be here one day, none of us will."

The kids' heads snapped to attention towards Yami, Kiseki walking over and peeking over the edge of Yami's bed. "Uncle Yami, if you guys aren't here who will take care of us?"

"Well Kiseki, that's the great thing about parents and aunts, and uncles, and even grandparents. We're put here to teach you about everything. So when it's our time to go, we have confidence in knowing that you're ready to take care of yourselves. And even though one day we'll be gone from this world, it's still a day worth fighting towards. Make a million lifetimes worth of memories in just one life time. Love, and be loved. Teach, and be taught. Every day is a gift, and you should cherish every minute that you have with your loved ones."

"But, what if we're not ready before you leave?" Yuki asked, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Then you don't give up, not even for a second. Make a life worth living and push forward. And even if you faulter, just know we'll be there to help you back on your feet. Even if we're not here in person, we'll always be by your side in spirit."

Yuki sighed and looked down, letting Yami know he really needed a pep talk. "Jeeze son, you act like I'm gonna die tomorrow. It's not my time yet. I just made it all the way through Limbo for ya."

"Not like it still couldn't happen" Yuki sighed before slipping off the bed and leaving the room.

"Yuki" Yami tried to call after him, only causing himself to cough.

Yugi placed a hand on his shoulder, lightly patting it to help him regain his breath. "We'll handle the kids" Seto said, hinting at everyone to follow suit.

The group and the children all left the room, leaving only Yami and Yugi to sit in silence except for Yami's occassional coughing. The older man picked up his ice water and took a drink, attempting to push away the coughing. He looked back at his husband and sighed. "I'm sorry" he said quietly.

"Yami, it wasn't your-"

"Not about the dog, not about the mission. I'm sorry about everything."

"What are you-"

"Yugi. I saw everything while I was in Limbo. I saw how many dinners you sat with the twins, staring at my empty seat. How much you had to do just because I wasn't home to pick up my half of the housework. I saw how many nights you cried yourself to sleep just because I wasn't home to hold you. And.. It hurt" he whimpered, the first of many tears falling down his cheek and onto the mattress. "I'm so sorry."

"Yami.."

"I know I've been a terrible husband, and you deserve so much better than me. But I'll sleep on the couch for the next ten years if it means I can spend the rest of my life with you. From here on out, I promise to be a better husband. And if I ever begin to lose sight of what's most important to me, I want you to tell me so we can talk about it. I wanna hold you when you cry, not be the reason behind your tears. Unless it's because I made you too happy or laugh too hard."

Yugi smiled as he took his husband's hand in his own, his thumbs smoothing over the skin that covered his knuckles. "Yami, you big.. dummy head. I know why you do what you do. And I don't plan on ever leaving you. I don't cry because you're not there, I cry because I'm scared you won't come back. I didn't marry you to have the perfect marriage, I knew there were going to be some arguments, and sometimes we wouldn't see eye to eye. But, those are the moments that I know you love me most, because you challenge me. I married you because I love you. I accept you, for you.. Flaws and all."

"I love you so much" Yami whispered with a smile, leaning his head against Yugi's.

"I love you too" Yugi whispered back, his eyelids lowering with Yami's as they closed the distance between them.

Yami hummed greatfully as their lips met, loving the feel of his husband's lips against his own. Yugi couldn't help but chuckle at his husband's reaction, loving the way their lips moved together. "Mmm, Yami, you're in the hospital" Yugi reminded him between kisses.

"I know" Yami whispered "I just missed you is all."

"I missed you too, honey."

"I really am sorry, Yugi" Yami sighed, leaning his head on Yugi's shoulder.

"I know" his husband whispered, stroking his stiff hair with his finger tips. "Honey..."

"Yes, dear?"

"You really need a shower. Your blonde bangs are orange and stiff from laying in the blood."

Yami reached his hand up, grabbing the ends of his bangs with his finger tips. "Eww, you're right. Care to assist me?" He purred with a wiggle of his brows.

"I'll assist your ass right out the damn window" Yugi growled when he felt Yami's hand groping his right buttcheek.

A knock made Yugi halt his strangling motions towards Yami. The two of them turned their heads and smiled as Seto came back in. "Misbehaving already?" He chuckled.

"You could say that" Yugi growled, squeezing his husband's throat like a squeaky toy.

Yami coughed and gagged in an attempt to breathe, a cheesy grin on his face when Yugi finally released him. "Hey bud, what's up?" Yami asked once he was able to talk.

"You- uh.. You said that you heard everything we were saying" Seto said, rubbing his neck with his hand.

"Yeah... If I remember you said you had something important to talk to me about."

"Yeah.. I do. And I'd like to talk to you about it while everyone else is in the waiting room."

"Sure. What is it?"

Seto walked over to Yami, pulling out a poloroid picture from his inner coat pocket. "There's something you should see" he said quietly, handing the picture to Yami.

Yami squinted his eyes, turning the picture in his hands while tilting his head side to side. "Seto.. What am I looking at?"

"That is Brutus' front, right paw" his cousin said matter-of-factly.

Yami's eyes widened slightly, noticing that there was a hole right through the middle. "Yami, your dog saved your life. He took the bullet in his paw and redirected it away from your heart. If Brutus hadn't of interfered you'd both be dead right now."

Yugi could see the shock in Yami's eyes, but also the tears that threatened to come forward. He saw a lot of hurt, and Yugi knew that Yami blamed himself for everything. "A life for a life" he whispered, causing Yami to turn and look at him, the tears already beading and dripping from his eyes.

"Wh-What?"

"You saved his life all those years ago, Yami" Yugi whimpered quietly, his voice becoming shaky with the tears that were threatening to fall. "He repaid his life debt to you. And if he got the chance to do it all over again, he would."

"I just can't believe it... I remember him wiggling about in my arms, and I couldn't figure out why. I guess he was just putting himself between the bullet and myself."

"Brutus loved you, Yami" Seto said softly, placing a comforting hand on Yami's shoulder.

"I know he did. I just can't believe that he would go so far..." Yami trailed off, words beginning to fail him as he thought about how to describe the whole situation. "I miss him already."

Me: I know I'm ending it on a weird note here guys, but I just had a block hit me... So, I'm stopping it there because I don't want to ruin the story... Hope you all enjoyed! Until next time everyone *waves* Goodbye!