A Night to Forget, A night to Remember

Chapter 1

Rating: PG-13

Author: Moonchild DJ

E-Mail: moonchilddj@yahoo.com

URL: www.angelfire.com/anime4/animehime

Disclaimer: Yugioh and its characters or anything of it do not belong to me. They belong to the wonderful people who made it, I'm just a humble fangirl addicted to it! ^^ I do own the storyline, so please don't take that, k?

Author's Note: Kon'wa, everybody! Moonchild DJ here with my first Yugioh fic, so be nice, please? I tried to remain true to the characters, but if anyone's ooc, sorry! This is also a yaoi (boy/boy love) fic, so please don't flame me if you don't like that type of fic..just don't read it. ^_^ This fic is dedicated to Dangerous Game, my FAVORITE Yugioh fic writer and a heck of a good friend. Thanks for encouraging me, domo arigato, girl! *glomp*

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"Yugi? C'mon, you haven't said a word since the duel. Please, tell me what's wrong..." Tea Gardner murmured as she glanced down at the shorter boy before her, his strange red-black and blond hair falling limply into the empty violet eyes. "I know you're upset about the duel, about losing your grandpa. but you can't give up now. Kaiba and Pegasus haven't won until you let them win. You still have a chance. We believe in you, Yugi...Yugi?"

No response from the slumped figure that only stared listlessly out the balcony window, not even a sign that he'd even heard her. Tea sighed and drew a hand through her wild brown hair, blue eyes gazing helplessly at her friend.

"Maybe you don't wanna talk right now? Alright. Just remember that me and Joey and Tristan and Bakura are here for you if you need us, okay? Everything's gonna be alright, Yugi, you'll see. Just..don't give up hope yet." She smiled soothingly and kissed his cheek, leaving the room. The violet eyes sparked with some emotion, the lips whispered,

"Grandfather...what do I do now? Everything's gone so wrong. How can the Heart of the Cards, or the Millenium Puzzle, fix this mess?"

"They can't. Only you can, Yugi."

Yugi Mutou glanced up again at the balcony window, gasping as the winner of the duel, Seto Kaiba, his enemy ever since the beginning, stood in the entry of the balcony window, staring at him with a crossed-arms stance, leaning against the frame of the balcony.

"What do you want, Kaiba? Here to cause me more grief? Haven't you done enough?" Yugi growled, getting to his feet and turning his back on Kaiba while he yanked off his jacket and shirt with angry motions in preparation for bed. "I understand you were doing this for your brother, who's also in Pegasus' grasp, but is my grandfather any less important? I was almost willing to kill you to save my grandpa, doesn't that qualify as much love as you have for your little brother, enough determination?"

Seto almost replied that he was willing to do anything for Mokuba, but knew that that wouldn't comfort or soothe Yugi's anger and pain, and he did feel bad about hurting Yugi's chances to win the duels and save his grandfather from Pegasus. That *was* why he was here in the first place, to somehow comfort this engimatic young man who had his respect and admiration.

"I AM sorry that our duel ended so badly. If I had my way, both of us would be facing off against Pegasus to get our family back, not just me."

The golden upside-down pyramid on a chain around Yugi's neck flared for a second as he turned to glare at Kaiba. "Like I would believe you. You're heartless. Except for your brother, you care about nothing and destroy everyone you duel, not even accepting the Heart of the Cards. Your words mean nothing, so why don't you take your empty apologies and leave me alone?!"

Seto gasped, his dark blue eyes widening under the shaggy brown hair. This was a new side to Yugi, full of pain and bitter anger, and he stared at the lightning-haired young man, stunned. He had his head bowed, the blond locks covering his eyes, fists clenched tightly. Seeking to ease the pain he saw there, he reached out and pushed his hair back from his face, smiling slightly at the surprise in Yugi's eyes.

"I'm not entirely a monster, Yugi. I love my little brother, and I know the pain you feel at your grandfather's loss, it mirrors my own for Mokuba. I do not wish you pain, I do not take pleasure in it."

Yugi wrenched away from Seto's touch, the violet eyes narrowed into slits. "But don't you see, Kaiba, you cause me pain just by being here! The sight of you makes me remember that I failed my grandfather, my friends. I lost, and there's nothing I can do about it. Pegasus has won.." He raked his arm across his eyes, wiping away his tears as he turned away from Seto.

"Yugi..!" He moved quickly across the room, wrapping his arms around the shorter young duelist and resting his chin against his head. "Don't cry, you mustn't give up. Pegasus hasn't won yet."

Yugi struggled briefly in Seto's embrace, then sighed and looked up at him. "Why are you being so nice, Kaiba? We're enemies, both in and out of dueling. The more I lose, the better your chances at winning and getting Mokuba back."

"True, but that isn't a fair trade. Pegasus is a cruel man, one who uses any weakness just to duel dirty and have the upper hand. It wouldn't be right to win and get Mokuba and not let you have justice, too. What would your other half think?"

Yugi gasped, eyes widening. "You know about Yami? But how?"

Seto smiled. "Simple. You each have two distinct personalities. You are willing to trust, to give people the benefit of the doubt, even become vulnerable. Your other side is more take-charge, willing to do anything to protect those he loves, even kill the enemy."

Yugi flushed. "He was willing to kill you in order to win the duel for me. If I hadn't taken charge.." He glanced down at the Millenium Puzzle, taking it between his hands. "And now, because of me, I've lost the duel and any chance of getting my grandfather back. I should've just kept my mouth shut and let Yami duel.."

Seto's embrace tightened soothingly. "But then I wouldn't be here to apologize. I never meant to cause you pain, but I had no choice."

Yugi nodded. "I understand. You don't need to apologize." But his luminous violet eyes filled with tears as he glanced away. Seto sighed and ducked his hand under Yugi's chin, pulling the face upwards to look at him.

"But I do. You're suffering because of me, and I feel horrible because I truly..admire you." he murmured quietly.

Yugi blinked. Was Kaiba..BLUSHING?! He noticed that Kaiba reddened even more when he caught Yugi's gaze. He frowned. "Admire? Me? Why for?"

"Well..." Seto coughed. "You're brave, willing to fight for your family and friends, intelligent, beautiful--" His dark blue eyes widened again at the last word, shutting his mouth abruptly. Yugi turned in his slack embrace, glancing up at him.

"Did you just call me..beautiful?"

Seto nodded sheepishly.

"Why would you call me that?" Yugi gasped as Seto's hand grazed his cheek before settling on his neck.

"Because I think you are."

"You...do?" Despite himself, despite knowing Kaiba was an enemy, Yugi's heartbeat sped up at the look in Kaiba's eyes. It was far more than friendly, it was..Yugi didn't have a word for it, be he wondered at it, at Kaiba, at this new development. He stared speechlessly at Kaiba, mind going numb as his head lowered toward his own. He even forgot the pain he was feeling, his whole being focused on the tall, handsome man leaning toward him.

Seto gave him a gentle, soothing smile, whispering, "Let me help you forget for one night, Yugi. Let me be here for you."

"But..why are you doing this? Why do you want to help me?" he whispered back, eyes widening as he felt Kaiba's hands slide up his neck to cup his face.

"Because I care. Because I want to help you. And more.."

Yugi could barely breathe as Kaiba's head lowered equally to his, the stunning blue eyes closing as he leaned inwards. he was going to..kiss him! His heart stutter-stepped in his chest, then began pounding triple-time against him as if to break out. He barely knew what to do with himself, but grabbed Kaiba's coat tightly to hold himself up. Gods, he wanted this kiss, and he pulled Kaiba closer, feeling his arms curl around his waist.

"K..Kaiba.." he breathed, shivering.

"Sshhh. Just feel, Yugi." Seto whispered, leaning closer and kissing him gently. "Just feel..and forget.."

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~End Chapter 1~