Game, Set, and Match
Part Two
How long?
(I'm not really sure...)
Why didn't you tell me?!
(Aibou, I am you.)
Yuugi sat down directly into a small puddle, oblivious to his friends' worried stares and the wetness seeping into his previously dry swim trunks. This didn't make any sense! He had had a crush on Anzu from practically the first time he had ever seen her, that sweet smile and upbeat attitude. Her toughness, but the way she honestly seemed to care about him. How could he not have fallen head over heels for her? Whenever he had considered it at all, he had just assumed that his other half would share his taste when it came to girls. Finding out half of him might be gay was a pretty big shock.
"Oi, Yuugi? You okay?" Dark eyes met his own in a show of concern. "Did you slip or somethin'?" Jounouchi held out his hand to help haul his smaller friend to his feet. Yuugi stared at it as if he had never seen it before before getting to his feet on his own.
"I-it's nothing. I'm just fine, J-Jounouchi-kun..." He couldn't meet the other boy's eyes, and therefore missed the hurt that washed across the taller boy's face for an instant. Jounouchi silently moved away from his friend, taking his discarded mop in hand and scrubbing with something less than enthusiasm.
***
"Why are you being so stubborn?!" Anzu finally raised her voice in disgust from where she was talking to Jounouchi in a corner of the classroom. All efforts on her part to engage her smaller friend in a game of some sort had met with gentle rebuffs. "Go and ask him what's wrong! If he'll listen to anyone, it'll be you, Jounouchi."
"In case you forgot, I already asked him! He doesn't want to talk to me!!" After his outburst, Jounouchi lowered his head in defeat. "I think I'm the last person he wants to talk to right now..."
"Well, what did you do?" Honda asked. "Yuugi always talks to you!"
"Do you think I haven't thought of that?!" Jounouchi turned to his other friend. "I keep on goin' over it all in my head, but damned if I can figure it out! I'm no good at shit like this!"
Absentmindedly, Yuugi drew a pattern on his desk with his finger, deep in thought.
Why?
(Why not? He's attractive, and he's a nice guy. He would do anything for you.)
I know...but how could you...do you love him?
(Love is an awfully strong emotion. What do you think?)
This isn't about me! This is about you!
(...)
This isn't a game, this involves real people! He's my friend!
(I know that.)
Do you?
(Do you love Anzu?)
W-why are you asking me t-that...I mean, well, I-I really do...
(Hmm...)
Yuugi clenched his hands into fists. Why did he have a feeling that his other half didn't really understand the magnitude of this? He was studying this and Jounouchi's reactions as if trying to figure out how to make the best move in a game of chess. Didn't anything translate out to something deeper than a game for the other part of his soul? And then there was always how Jounouchi would react...
Yuugi had never seen Jounouchi display more than cursory interest in a girl, but he had a feeling that Jounouchi wouldn't exactly be open to the ancient pharaoh's advances. After all, Jounouchi was your average guy. He might be tougher, and more determined than most, but Yuugi doubted that he wanted a declaration of love from one of his best friends.
It would change everything!
***
It was hard to wrap his mind around the idea. Sure, Jounouchi was a great guy. He was always smiling, and he never let Yuugi down. He had saved his life so many times Yuugi was beginning to lose count. But what was it that could attract his other half? What was it about his best friend that made his partner look at him as something more?
Yuugi rolled over once again, trying to get to sleep, and ignoring any attempts at conversation his other side was trying to make.
If they weren't sharing the same body, then maybe Yuugi wouldn't have such a problem with it. Jounouchi was a lover anyone could be proud of. Beneath his rough surface lay a sweet and caring individual, always first to cheer Yuugi on...always first to try and solve his problems...
He was precious to Yuugi.
(I know, aibou...I know.)
***
"Yo." Jounouchi's greeting was abrupt and to the point, as usual, he was slouching, hands in his pockets as he waited against the side of the game shop with almost overdone nonchalance. Yuugi almost dropped his bookbag in surprise. Jounouchi lived on a completely different side of town! They almost never walked to school together unless Jounouchi was late and they met up along the way.
"Anzu..." Yuugi managed to get out.
"She's gone on ahead." Jounouchi explained.
The first part of the walk was silent, and inwardly Jounouchi was at a loss. Wasn't this the whole reason he had gotten up early? He wanted to talk to his best friend! And now that they had the time, both of them couldn't even look at one another.
"Errr, ahhh...listen, Yuugi. Whatever I did, I'm really really sorry! So please forgive me already! It's not like you to hold a grudge!" The words came tripping out of Jounouchi's mouth so fast that Yuugi could hardly make sense of them at first.
"You...you think I'm angry at you?" Yuugi asked quietly.
"Why else would you refuse to talk to me? You were just fine until yesterday, so I know it must've been something I did!"
"Jounouchi-kun, no! It's nothing like that at all. Just...I was thinking about something yesterday, and I guess I got kinda wrapped up in it! I wasn't angry at you!"
(Aibou, let me talk to him.)
Wha--?
(Please, let me talk to him.)
No, wait you--
Yuugi's eyes narrowed as his entire bearing changed. He even almost seemed taller, more majestic. Jounouchi had seen the transformation enough times to realize that Yuugi's other half had taken control, but it was still amazing to see no matter how many times he had witnessed it.
"Jounouchi-kun. I have to speak with you."
"Y-yeah?" Even though he knew it was still Yuugi, somehow being around the other side of Yuugi made him a bit nervous. This Yuugi was unpredictable and dynamic, unlike his sweet younger friend.
"This last week I've spent going to school has been a lot of fun. But most of all, I think I see why mou hitori no ore cares about you so deeply. Before this, I had only gotten to see you in times when we were under a lot of stress...and, well...I mean, for the first time..." Yuugi stopped for a moment, and Jounouchi gaped. He had never seen this side of Yuugi at a loss for words.
"I just wanted to say..."
YOU CAN'T!!!
Yuugi's body stopped in mid step, the look on his face almost frightening. His teeth were clenched tightly together, like he was waging a war within himself over something Jounouchi couldn't even begin to fathom.
"Yuugi...mou hitori no Yuugi! What's wrong?! What is it?!" He began to shake his friend's shoulders, scared over what might be going on in his friend's mind. Jounouchi would be willing to fight any battle Yuugi took on, but how could he take on Yuugi himself?
(Aibou, why do you think I was created?)
You can't you can't you can't you can't...
(Aibou, listen to me, dammit!!)
You can't do it! I won't let you!!
(Mou hitori no ore, don't shut me out...)
You'll change everything!! He's...he's my...he's my best friend!! The first real friend I've ever had! You brought him to me, remember? Remember how I put my wish into every piece of your puzzle?! How could you be willing to tear it all away from me?! My best friend...
(Why can't you understand...?)
to be continued