Here we are at the end. Ra, it feels as if I just started this yesterday and now it's over. I want to thank phantomworks who unknowingly gave me the courage to write a story of my own in the first place. This one's for you. I could have never guessed that it would become so popular. Thank you everyone who read my story, it was quite an adventure. I do not own Yugioh, enjoy the last chapter! [YAMI, and YUGI]

Chapter 38

"Yami…Yami…Yami!" Yugi's voice penetrated Yami's dreams.

Yami slowly opened his eyes to see Yugi staring at him, with Kuriboh perched on top of his head. Yugi's hair appeared to be deflated by the extra weight that Kuriboh was creating by sitting in his hair like a bird did a nest. Yami couldn't help it, he started laughing.

"Stop that. He won't go home, he seems determined to stay here with me." Yugi pouted.

"Well, Yugi, I think he likes being your own personal teddy bear." Yami replied still laughing.

Yugi shook his head dislodging the unprepared Kuriboh, but it was Yugi's next action that shocked Yami more. Yami's laughing was abruptly cut off when Yugi smashed their lips together. Yugi put all of his emotions into that kiss, as he deepened it, pressing Yami into the mattress below him.

Yami was amazed at Yugi's intensity. He felt so many emotions pouring in from both the kiss and the mind link. Before he could grasp one, another had replaced it. Yami supposed all of this was coming from the fact that he had almost died yesterday.

"I love you too." Yugi said breathlessly as he pulled away from the kiss.

Yami was silent for a few beats before he flipped their positions, making him the one on top. He stared down at Yugi and leaned down for another kiss closing his eyes. Imagine his surprise when he found himself kissing fur instead, and hearing Yugi's laughter pulsing through the room.

Snapping his eyes back open, he found that he was kissing Kuriboh's cheek. Yami half heartedly glared at the monster, as he propped himself up on his elbow. Yugi was right; it was time for Kuriboh to return to the Shadow Realm now.

"Get out of here Kuriboh, Yugi's happy again; there is no reason for you to be here." Yami said nodding his head towards the darkest corner of the room.

"Krii." Was Kuriboh's response.

"Go." Yami said firmly.

Kuriboh got up and floated towards the corner where he disappeared into the dark depths. Feeling satisfied, Yami looked down to Yugi, only to find him gone. Getting up, Yami frantically whirled around spotting Yugi by the door to the bedroom, leaning against the frame.

"We still have school you know." Yugi said calmly before walking into the bathroom

"Aw, can't we skip it?" Yami whined.

"No, because I have things I need to do at school today, things that are unavoidable." Yugi replied back before shutting the bathroom door.

There are more school days this week. Can't you do these things those days?

No. Now get ready for school, unless you want my Grandpa fussing over you.

You know he's back?

Yeah, I went into the kitchen earlier this morning before coming to wake you up. We're having chocolate pancakes with smiley clown faces, my favorite.

As long as I don't have to make them, it's okay with me.

When have you ever made them?

The day you were high on pain killers and claiming to be five.

Oh. Sorry, I was probably really picky.

Yes, you were.

Just get ready Yami. I'll meet you in the kitchen alright?

You mean alone? In the kitchen? With your Grandfather?

Don't worry we've already covered the basics, and came to the conclusion that if there is any biting involved I'll be the one to deliver the bites.

Yami was silent as he felt his face heat up. Yugi had never talked like this before, so maybe he was healed somewhat in his mind. Still, that comment was a little embarrassing to Yami, and he worked to fight down the blush as he got dressed and made his way out into the kitchen.

Yami stopped as he saw the kitchen in disarray. It seemed that even Yugi's Grandpa had trouble making these pancakes. Yami couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips.

"You could help." Grandpa said turning to the noise.

"No, I've dealt with making these pancakes once before and that was enough for me." Yami said walking into the room and taking a seat.

"Were you a mess afterwards?" Grandpa asked smiling.

"Is there any other way to make these pancakes?" Yami asked right back.

"No, no there isn't." Grandpa replied putting three separate perfect pancakes on three different plates.

He took off the apron that said world's best duelist trainer, and sat down across from Yami. It was quiet for a while until Yugi walked in to the room and saw the pancakes. The silence was shattered as Yugi squealed with delight.

"Oh, Grandpa, you're the best!" Yugi said rushing over and hugging the old man.

Yugi sat down in his chair in between the two, and then only just noticed the awkward silence. Looking from one man to the other, Yugi came to the conclusion that neither knew what to say. That or they had somehow breached every conversation in the world and just managed to somehow burn through all of them in five minutes time. Yugi highly doubted this though.

"What's wrong with you two? Neither of you are this quiet usually." Yugi asked before pooping a pierce of pancake into his mouth.

"Don't know what to say." Grandpa responded honestly.

"Same here." Yami concluded.

"Well you had best get used to each other's company, because you're going to be spending time in it for many years to come." Yugi said popping another three pieces into his mouth.

"Well, then we need a few ground rules. Yami, the guest room is now your room; I suggest you get used to sleeping in it. I don't want to see you in my Grandson's room anymore, ya hear? Also, if you boys ever feel the need to get close, don't do so in front of me. I don't want to see it. that's all I can think of right now, but don't worry I'll let you know if I think of anymore." Grandpa said in a stern don't mess with me voice.

"Yes Grandpa." Yugi said right away, kicking Yami under the table making him wince.

"Yes, Yugi's Grandpa." Yami said pulling his legs in closer to his chair.

"You may call me Solomon or Grandpa, Yami." Grandpa said.

"Okay, Solo-Grandpa." Yami started to say before switching titles at the glare he was receiving from the elder.

"We have to go Grandpa, we'll see you later!" Yugi said suddenly yanking Yami from his chair and pulling him toward the door, grabbing both of their bags on the way.

"Yugi, I didn't get a chance to eat!" Yami complained.

"Well we need to get there early." Yugi said back.

"Why?" Yami asked.

"I have things I need to do." Yugi replied back cryptically.

"What kind of things?" Yami asked.

"Things, things I need to do on my own." Yugi said back.

"I don't think so, Yugi." Yami said lowering his voice a bit.

"Why not? I mean Mai's dead, there is nothing in this world for me to fear anymore." Yugi said back quietly.

Yami stopped walking pulling Yugi to a halt as well. He stared at Yugi for a few moments, wondering how the boy knew. It must have shown on his face, because Yugi answered him.

"When you're torturing someone, you tend to leave the link wide open Yami. I don't think you even notice it. I dreamed about her death, though, I don't feel upset, instead I feel kind of relived, that it's all over. She can't hurt me anymore; I'm safe, because of you." Yugi explained gently rising a hand to cup Yami's left cheek.

"Okay, but I'll be watching." Yami said leaning into the touch.

"Okay." Was Yugi's response before kissing Yami gently.

I love you Yugi.

I love you Yami.

Yami smiled into the kiss. When they pulled away, both just stared into each other's eyes, before continuing to walk down the street towards school. When they approached the building, Yugi released Yami's hand and disappeared into the early morning crowd. It made Yami's heart squeeze a bit from Yugi being out of sight, but he could feel that Yugi felt the need to do whatever it was he needed to do. It was Yami's job to let him do it.

[With Yugi]

Yugi knew he was getting a lot of weird looks by sitting in Vivian Wong's desk, but this was something he felt he needed to do. He needed to apologize to her, and he needed to do it alone. To prove to himself he was no longer scared of the wrong person. Yugi looked up as he heard someone's footsteps falter at the door.

There stood Vivian looking at him in shock and surprise. He didn't blame her; he would have felt the same way if someone who had made a point to avoid him for three years suddenly sought him out. Getting up Yugi made his way over to her, grabbing her hand, he gently led her out of the room and down the hallway a bit. Once he was good distance away, he turned to face her.

"I'm sorry." Yugi said right away.

"Oh Yugi, you don't have to-" Vivian started to say before Yugi held up his hand.

"Yes I do. I wrongfully accused you when I should have confronted you to ask why. That was my fault, and I'm sorry for it. I was wrongfully scared of you as well. I'm sorry for this too. At least neither of us has to worry about Mai Valentine anymore, she's dead." Yugi said sincerely with every bit of meaning his words backed up in his voice.

"Yes, I saw it on the news this morning it was a bit of a relief, but Yugi, wasn't I injured yesterday?" Vivian agreed before confusion took over her voice.

"Yes, but I think Yami had something to do with that. He's been healing my injuries lately too." Yugi said with a wry smile.

"Thank him for me? I'm glad my Father didn't see the marks she inflicted on me, he would have been out for blood." Vivian said relief in her voice.

"There wouldn't have been any left for him to have." Yugi said back.

Vivian laughed, and Yugi couldn't help but join in. Making jokes about things you feared helped to relive tensions. Eventually there laughter died down, and they were enveloped in an uncomfortable silence.

"Well, I should probably get back to class." Vivian said shifting her feet.

"Yeah, me too. I'll see you around Vivian!" Yugi said turning and walking away.

"See you Yugi." Vivian said quietly before turning and walking back to her classroom a small smile of glee on her face.

Yugi walked down the hallways until he was outside Jou's classroom. This one was going to be harder, but he needed to do it. Stopping one of Jou's classmates before they entered the room, he asked if they could get Jou for him. Yugi waited all about two seconds before Jou was out in front of him.

"Hi Jou." Yugi said shuffling his feet.

"What is it Yug'?" Jou asked making Yugi stiffen a bit.

"I want to try to rekindle our old friendship. It's going to be difficult, with plenty of road blocks, but I want to try." Yugi said as bravely as he could.

"Of course Yugi, I'd like that more than anything." Jou said back in slight surprise.

"Okay, then would you like to go to the arcade with me this Thursday?" Yugi asked after releasing a breath he hadn't known he had been holding.

"Yeah, I'll see you there buddy!" Jou said before walking back into his classroom.

Yugi nodded at the spot that Jou had been standing in, and continued on his way to his classroom. There, two things were done, now he only had two left. Yugi stopped outside Rebecca's classroom and asked a classmate of hers to get Rebecca for him. She came out more slowly that Jou had. Yugi wasted no time in getting down to business.

"Do you still want to be friends Rebecca?" Yugi asked immediately after the door was shut.

"I don't deserve to be your friend Yugi." Rebecca said back quietly.

"But do you?" Yugi asked again.

"Of course, more than anything." Rebecca said back in earnest.

"Then it's settled." Yugi said holding out hand for her to shake.

As soon as Rebecca grasped his hand she was pulled into a hug. Rebecca hugged Yugi back, it had been so long since she had done so, and she hadn't realized how much she missed it. Rebecca found herself crying into his shoulder before long, with Yugi just holding her now.

"It's going to take you a while to earn back my trust Rebecca, but I know that you never back away from a challenge." Yugi said into the weeping girl's hair.

"Okay, I deserve that for all the pain I put you through." Rebecca said as she tried to control her tears.

Finally pulling away, Rebecca had a few tears dripping from her eyes, but other than that she had mostly stopped crying. Yugi wiped away what little tears remained before suggesting that they both head off to class, as the warning bell rang. Rebecca hadn't realized how long she had been crying.

Walking back to his class, Yugi felt accomplished in his morning, something he hadn't felt in long time. Walking into the class he was met with a smiling Yami, and an annoyed looking Malik. Sitting down, he frowned at the two.

"What happened?" Yugi asked.

"Your boyfriend that's what!" Malik said grumpily.

"What did you do?" Yugi asked turning to the other.

"What makes you think I did anything?" Yami asked still smiling.

"Because you're smiling in a proud way." Yugi responded.

"All I said was that I know who pushed Yugi off the roof. And then I think he assumed I was going to tell him who it was." Yami said propping his feet up on the desk and leaning his chair back closing his eyes.

Yami probably should have kept his eyes open. If he had he would have seen Yugi mouthing to Malik to kick the chair that Yami was sitting in. As it was, Yami was quite surprised when he toppled back out of his chair and onto the floor.

"I think you leaned back too far Yami." Yugi said innocently looking down at him.

"Heck yeah, Yugi is back!" Malik said raising his hand for high five; Yugi didn't leave him hanging as he leaned over the Yami's desk to reciprocate it.

"Let the pranking resume." Yugi said a devilish look in his eyes as he turned back around to face the front as Kuru Sensei came into the room.

The day flew by as Yugi made plans with all of his old friends, Yami watching nearby in wonderment and slight surprise. Mai was gone; Yugi had nothing to fear anymore. Yugi only had one more major thing to do on his own, and this was something that was long overdue.

Yugi managed to shake Yami, as he made his way home. Though, Yugi didn't actually go home with Yami, instead he headed towards Domino Middle. There was one more thing he needed to do, before he felt like he had repaid back all of his old debts.

Making his way through the old building that held both so many happy and horrifying memories for him, Yugi felt anticipation as he saw the person he was looking for near the old bench under the cherry blossom tree. It looked as if Larry was taking his usual break now, making it the perfect time for them to talk.

"Hey Larry." Yugi called out once he was about two feet away from the man.

Larry looked up at the familiar voice. He hadn't heard it directed at him since before Yugi was pushed of the roof. A wind whistled through the trees above him as he just sat there drinking in the sight of Yugi.

"Come to finally tell me how your day went Yugi?" Larry asked.

"Nope, I've come to tell you a story, if you're game enough to hear it?" Yugi responded back.

"Oh, you know me Yugi; I could never resist a good story." Larry said back smiling and patting the spot on the bench next to him.

"Good, because this one is full of betrayal, jealousy, friendship, trust, and love." Yugi replied smiling and taking a seat next to the man.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Start the story already; it sounds as if it will be dramatic." Larry said chuckling a bit.

"Well it all started with me discussing with you whether or not I should tell Rebecca how I feel about her. Once upon a time..." Yugi said before starting the story with a true classical line.

The end

Thanks again everyone for accompanying me on this exciting ride. It's been a blast. As usual I would like to thank everyone who have/are favorited/following this story. Also, thanks to everyone who reviews Guest and User alike. You brought me many laughs. See you all in a different story. Midnight ;p