// Blah // any yami
/ Blah / any hikari
NO SLASH! Just in case that still didn't come across... ^^
I am so glad such talented writers like my story! I make it a point to read at least one thing a reviewer has written and I love all I've read...all that's left is for me to review...my computer was acting up so I haven't had the chance *sniff* But I will! Arigatou minna-chan!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything...still...
This will not be a romance story-hence the genre-so don't get too comfortable with the Yuugi/Tea thing...
Bright sunlight filtered through the trees and a cool breeze tickled Yuugi's nose stirring the smaller-then-average teen into sleepy wakefulness. For a few minutes he simply sat there, watching the motes of dust and pollen drift lazily through the sunbeams to settle on the soft, dewy ground the others still lay upon.
//Mmm...// He heard his yami comment as he woke up and stretched in his soul room. //Sleep is fun, ne?// But now Yuugi wasn't listening. Hoarse, ragged coughs had caught his attention and his gaze was riveted on the shuddering form of his friend Tea, something wasn't right. He quickly crawled over to her, standing would have defeated the purpose as he just kneeled before her any way.
"Tea?" He called softly causing her to stir painfully awake and stare through the weak morning sunlight into the tranquil purple eyes that held the beginning hints of panic in their depths. "Are you all right?" Slowly her head moved in the negative and another agonizing bout of coughing made her eyes close in anguish.
"My throat..." she whimpered, voice rough and thick.
//What's happening Aibou?// Yami asked with apprehension tainting his voice but before Yuugi had the chance to answer a stifled yawn told him that his other two companions were awake.
"Wha's the matta Yuug'?" Joey asked coming over to stand besides Tea's shivering body.
"Tea's sick." The freshman said shortly and stripped off his jacket, laying it over his very ill love. "Could you please find some water for me Joey?"
"Sure Yuugi, anyt'in'." He motioned for Tristan to come with him while peeling the sticky wrapper off his breakfast: another candy bar.
"Ya...mi...?" Tea asked quietly. Yuugi placed a cool hand to her forehead, it felt like fire in his palm, and motioned for her to be silent.
"Just rest now Tea." He said with a smile, trying to be brave for her when he was obviously terrified; there was no place to go on the island for medical attention. Yami felt the agitation and worry and appeared beside his aibou to give much needed comfort, deciding that he would remain so until Yuugi ordered him away.
"Aibou?" The deep, calming tenor soothed Yuugi's nerves and he relaxed, brushing a few strands of Tea's soft auburn hair away from her pale face.
"She's sick." Yuugi stated numbly. "What if she dies?"
"She won't."
"But what if she does?" The freshman stared up into his other's crimson eyes searching for an answer in the blood-deep nadir.
"She won't." The darkness kept up his stubborn idiom. Yuugi sighed and turned away looking into the reaches of the forest that surrounded him and noticing how dark and foreboding it had become: a pathetic fallacy according to his mood. Rousing him from his thoughts Joey and Tristan came crashing through the underbrush with a flask of water, each one soaking wet.
"What happened?" Yami asked with a slightly amused expression, all the standing around was getting boring, not that he wasn't worried for Tea or anything, and he needed entertainment, he did spend the last millennium inside a puzzle...
"Tristan t'ought he saw a bear so he shoved me inta the riva." Replied Joey with a miffed expression and handed Yuugi the water. "I freaked and dragged 'im in wit me." He then proceeded to ring out some of the water from his sopping clothes while Yami smiled, imagining the whole scene with his eyes closed, complete with hectic screaming and flailing. Tristan wiped away the water dribbling down his face from his spiked hair and leaned over Tea and Yuugi.
"How is she?" He asked softly while Yuugi placed a damp cloth on her forehead.
"I don't know..."
"Such...feelings." The shadow hissed from his vantage point with disgust tainting the words. "How you will pay Pharaoh, pain and suffering await you." A glint of gold shimmered in the darkness of the creature's hand as he caressed the object with utmost care. Such was it's luck to find three of the seven ancient Sennen Items on the very same island and the Sennen Eye was already in the creature's grasp...
Night fell too quickly for Yuugi's liking and the dank black had enveloped the small group in its thick, silent hold in what seemed like a matter of minutes. He had stayed by Tea's side the entire day and only grinned once when he saw Tristan and Joey trying to teach Yami the fundamentals of the flame. All three were covered in soot and smoke from their four other failed attempts, each one put out by Yami from blowing too hard, but they finally managed a small one. Now the darkness was feeding the orange light with small twigs and bits of grass under strict orders not to kill it. The remaining members fixed up a warm pallet near the fire for Tea and helped Yuugi carry her to it.
"I think she's doing better." Yuugi said at last. "She doesn't feel so warm anymore."
"And it's all because a you Yuug', you should be proud of yourself." Exclaimed Joey with a wide grin and a clap on the shoulder, making Yuugi blush deep crimson for it.
"I just watched over her...it was no big deal..." Yami joined the small celebrative cluster not wanting to be left out.
"You did well Aibou, and I'm sure Tea will thank you for it." He grew grave and serious. "She was very sick and without you to care for her could've become worse."
"Thank you Yami." Murmured Yuugi as he threw his arms around the taller Pharaoh's middle and buried his face in the tailed coat.
"Now get some sleep Aibou, it's been a long day for you." As if just remembering the blessed spell of sleep Yuugi yawned and leaned into a tree, his favorite place to rest since they had reached the island, soon falling prey to the peaceful sounds of the night.
"He's asleep." Yami announced tiredly. Without returning to the puzzle to rest he was tiring: quickly. To keep up his physical form took a lot of energy and without being in the puzzle near Yuugi's energy to make it he didn't have even close to enough. He did gain a little power, in it's weakest form, through the connection to his aibou through the puzzle but it was hardly sufficient. But that day had been hectic for everyone. Tea's fever had risen dangerously high and everyone had worked to lower it while giving Yuugi a much needed break, the poor boy had been close to the breaking point.
"Why don't you go back into the puzzle? You must be tired." Tristan asked, poking their fire with a stick to keep it going.
"I don't need to sleep." Yami lied. "I'll stay awake and watch over Tea while you and Joey get some rest." He smiled, closing his slanted eyes and weaving a silent prayer of safety and protection over everyone.
Yami woke with a start, blinking his crimson eyes to rid themselves of the lassitude induced by his doze. He had fallen asleep and just now dawn was breaking over the horizon such as a phoenix spreads it's golden wings as it is reborn from the flames. But the darkness had no time to admire the stunning beauty as the deep purple of the night faded, replaced by rich gold and red hues, he had to rekindle the fire that he had so audaciously let die. It was nothing but softly glowing embers.
"Are you all right, Yami?" Yuugi's alter ego looked up with a start. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Tea said with a sigh, turning back to look into Yami's eyes, "you looked so peaceful there I decided to let you sleep. It was very kind of you to watch over me like that, thank you."
"But...I, it wasn't..."
"Shhh." The young brunette whispered. "Just enjoy the sunrise."
It was some hours after when Yuugi and the others finally woke but when they saw Tea awake and well they all ran in to give her a hug while Yami walked away, finally free. He had spent the hours staring anywhere but at Tea and wondering how to explain that it hadn't been he who had looked after her but his aibou. She had spent the hours gazing at the yami.
"Tea?" Yuugi had just walked over after a small conference with Joey and Tristan.
"Yes Yuugi?" Even Yami, who up until this point in the reunion had been admiring trees, turned to watch with growing curiosity. Finally, he thought, blocking it from Yuugi. The young teen bowed his head as a deep blush consumed his neck and threatened to creep up to his face.
"I, think I'm in love with you..." he murmured quietly, dreading the reaction.
"You what?" Tea asked.
"I'm in-"
I heard what you said! I just can't believe you said it!" Yuugi looked up, the hurt and non belief spreading across his face. Yami and the others just watched in silent horror as Tea turned red. "I have never been so embarrassed!" She cried indignantly throwing back her arm and slapping the shorter boy full across the face. Joey and Tristan had to both hold back the infuriated Yami. How dare she strike my Aibou! His mind screamed.
"Tea, I'm so-"
"Don't speak to me ever again Mutou Yuugi, God, I've never and will never love you! Just get away from me!" Yuugi hung his head, ignoring the stinging mark on his cheek, and then looked up as if to say something more, checked himself and walked off into the woods alone.
"Yuugi!" Yami cried out trying to run after the retreating figure.
"Let 'im go man, he needs time ta think." Joey said softly, turning to Tristan who just nodded in agreement.
"Yes Pharaoh, yes, let your aibou go." The demon chuckled to itself, this is what it liked to see. Chaos, destruction, hate: all fueled it's very existence and made it's job a thousand times easier. Half of the problem was already gone. With Yuugi alone and unprotected without the meddling Pharaoh in the Sennen Puzzle it could steal the boy away and torture them both at leisure. Then the real fun would begin.
"I can't believe you just said dat!" Joey exclaimed wildly throwing his hands up in the air for emphasis. "He finally confessed his love for ya and dis is how you handle it? Even I'm not dat dense."
"Well, I didn't see him watching over me when I woke up!" Yami was finally allowed by Tristan to intervene.
"That is because he watched over you for the entire day! How dare you crush my aibou like that! He had kept his love for you hidden away in his heart finally confessing his true feelings towards you! And how did you return that love? By striking him down and breaking his heart! Mercilessly! And now he's hurt and alone somewhere out in the woods! I pray to Ra he comes back..." He slumped to the ground in agony and exhaustion. He could feel Yuugi's pain through the puzzle and it burned him, scalding his heart like boiling water. Gods, he was so tired, he would give up his left arm to return to the puzzle, but it was too far away...
"Sorry, I didn't know and besides, I'm not in love with Yuugi, he's only my friend."
"You'll be lucky if he comes back after that one Tea, who were down right mean." Tristan stated with his arms crossed as he kneeled down next to the panting yami.
"Are you all right?" Tea asked worriedly leaning over him and ignoring the hated looks she received from Joey. "Let me help you up." She made to grab his arm but the darkness pulled it away.
"Don't touch me." He stated, standing up under his own power and walking into the woods. "I'm going to look for Yuugi, are you guys going to help me?" They all nodded and followed him into the darker parts of the forest.
//Come back to me Aibou. //
SY: I got five reviews! Count 'em! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5! For the first chapter! Yay me! But, I was hoping for at least ten...oh well! I like 'em anyway! Yay for question answerers! Isn't Tea mean?
DM: *yawn* yes, yes she is. Now when do I get to be in the story again?
SY: If you're not quiet, then never. *Grabs the Celtic Guardian.* Now this bisho is a silent cute one, aren't you? *Huggles*
CG: x.x Help...*squeak* ...me...
DM: heh, heh. Your turn to be the "likkle bisho" now...
SY: Group hug!
DM: oO Eep!
SY: *grabs Dark Magician* Don't forget to review! And give my likkle bishos a hug!
YY: *Sniff* My poor aibou...*Sees look Shen_Yue gives him* Don't even think about it!
SY: *Grabs Yami Yuugi*
YY: Urk! Review...*Wheeze*...please...
