Okay, I finally updated! I'm sorry to everyone who was waiting...I really wanted to get this chapter out there...but unfortunately, homework exists. :-( Thanx very much for the reviews! I hope you like this chapter, there is a lot of deeper stuff, some of my own views on heartbrake and even an Nsync song. I'm very sorry to all of you who just cringed. But it fit!:-P And don't worry, Joey and Yami are still friends...for now. Muha!
Next chapter should be fun to write. It may even have a hint of lime;-) So stick around and as always...R&R!
Joey ran as fast as his feet could carry him, to the park. His body was protesting, sending pains in his side to slow him down but his mind kept him moving. The night had fully fallen, the black blanket of heaven and all it's white stars shining dimly above the teen's head, the crescent moon creating a pathway for him to follow.
The park was shrouded in darkness. Finally coming to a jerking stop on the lush grass, he got his second wind and wound his way through a cluster of trees towards the duck pond, which was relatively clear. Breathing heavily, he leaned against the railing of the bridge which crossed over the water.
'It hurts so much.' Joey clenched his eyes shut tightly and his fists balled up. The tears tried to squeeze through his lashes to no avail. He wouldn't cry. The feeling which he was experiencing wasn't sadness, where crying was necessary but it was something he couldn't explain. It felt as if he had swallowed a block of ice, whole, and it now rested heavily in the pit of his stomach, making his brain freeze up and making it hard to move without feeling it.
'So this is what love does. Why do people bother to love?'
The blonde's eyesite was blurry with crystaline tears but he looked down at the black pond below him, the moonlight glinting off it's mirror-like surface. One single tear fell from his eyes into the water, creating a small ripple which gently faded away.
Joey felt it was sort of a sign. He only caused a slight ripple in Mai's heart, if one at all. He was just that one little tear, creating that one little disturbance. And the darkness, Yami, made the biggest disturbance of all. To Joey, and to Mai. He had awoken Mai's heart and hurt Joey's. But it wasn't his fault. He couldn't have known, thought the blonde, watching the ripple dissappear.
Below, a small, dirt-colored fish- barely visible -swam under the bridge. A thought came into Joey's head and he almost had to laugh.
"There are more fish in the sea."
***
Yami chattered continuously in ancient Egyptian, hands grasping locks of his own hair. He stomped around the shop, the guilty agony weighing him down, feeling that he had betrayed his friend. All that he had managed to purge out was a few jumbled sentences in his native language, which is what he usually used when he didn't want people to know what he was saying.
"Yami! What's gotten in to you? What's wrong?!"
Mai was irritated now, standing with hands on hips, looking directly at her new lover.
Yugi hadn't said a word. His stomach was still knotted up and even if he couldn't understand his other, he knew he must feel terrible. Yugi had a similar feeling. He was so excited with the fact that Yami had gone out with Mai that he hadn't remembered anything about Joey.
Trying to contact his darkness through their mental link, he found nothing but a barrage of emotions and compacted sentences. Yelling over the other's thoughts, he tried to get him to stop.
//Slow down! Talk to me! Mai is gonna leave if you don't stop jabbering like a maniac. She doesn't know Egyptian and neither do I. I know you feel bad-(at this point the barrage of things coming from the link slowed to a stop and there was no interruptions so Yugi could "speak" normally) I know you feel bad-but so do I. We just have to talk to Joey.//
//...//
This silence continued for another minute and Yugi noticed that Yami had stopped shouting audibly in his native tongue. He was staring into space, obviously concentrating on what he had just heard through the link, rather than the world around him. Finally, he answered.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"Who's right?" Mai's brows were knit together in confusion, frustration and annoyance. She had no idea why Yami had started hyperventilating, so to speak and also had no idea as to why he was talking to himself. He had clearly lost it.
"Yugi is."
"What did Yugi say?"
"Something through our link. Mai, I'm so sorry. Please, listen, I'll explain later. I promise. But it would be best if you headed home. This could get messy."
"I don't underst-"
Yami cut her off midsentence by taking her hand and pressing it gently.
"Please...I promise I'll explain later..."
The Pharaoh's pleading eyes searched her violet one's and she saw that he really needed the night, for whatever was troubling him...
Mai sighed.
"Alright. Later."
With that, Yami gave her a warm hug and she walked briskly out of the shop. [What a date.]
***
~ ~ ~
You can call me selfish
But all I want is your love
You can call me hopeless (hopeless)
Cause I'm hopelessly in love
You can call me unperfect
But who's perfect?
Tell me what do I gotta do
To prove that I'm the only one for you
What's wrong with being selfish?
I'll be taking up your time
Until the day I make you realize
That for your there could be no one else
I just gotta have you for myself
Baby I would take good care of you
No matter what it is you're going through
I'll be there for you when you're in need
Baby believe in me
If love was a crime
Then punish me
I would die for you
Cause I don't want to live without you
Oh what can I do?
~ ~ ~
Joey rested his head into the pillow and listened intently to his radio, which had just started playing a song which had come over from America. It was a slow song which was rather sad, and being in his melancholy state, it reminded him very much of his relationship with Mai.
Ramming his hand down on the 'Off' button, he rolled back over. He didn't need to remember. He needed to move on. Closing his eyes he tried to think of what he would do tomorrow. For breakfast, he would have-
Just then came a knock on the door.
Joey looked up, his bangs falling into his eyes. "Who is it?"
"Serenity. Someones here to see you."
"Oh. Should I come downstairs?"
"Yeah, he's waiting at the door."
With a groan Joey urged his aching feet to move as he got up. [He? Oh no. Please don't tell me.]
The blond padded across the royal blue carpet slowly and advanced towards the stairs. The material felt good between his bare toes. He had never noticed that before and it amused him a little. A slight smile played across his lips. [I guess it's all the little things that count...]
Snapping out of it, he took the slick banister in his hand and headed groggily downstairs towards the door, too tired and too edgy to deal with this right now.
**
The Pharaoh shuffled uneasily at the doorway. A light rain had fallen and his shoulders were sprinkled with it. Noticing how cool it got, he shoved his hands into his pockets and watched his breath come out in little puffs of air in front of his face.
Suddenly the door opened.
Joey stood in front of him, dressed only in a pair of boxers and a blue t-shirt, his hair ruffled and his expression...bored.
"Hey, what can I do for ya'?"
A button on Yami's shirt sleeve suddenly became very interesting.
"I, um, came by to apologize," he said, fiddling with it.
"Really? For what?"
[Ouch. He's gonna make me say it.]
Yami cringed inwardly, took a breath and braced himself.
"For...for not thinking of how our relationship might hurt you. I feel terrible. I knew you liked Mai and I was selfish to go behind your back."
Joey looked surprised and shifted his weight uneasily.
"Wow. I didn't think you'd say that much. Um..hey, listen. Why don't you come in?"
Yami smiled weakly. "Alright."
**
Yugi flipped through his cards one by one, just like he had done everynight. It never got tiring.
[Dark Magician, Swords of Revealing Light, the rest of my holofoils...no wonder shiny things amuse animals. I could stare at these for hours.]
"You're lucky you have good cards. Mine are all dark and stuff. They scare everyone I play against."
Ryou stood over Yugi, flipping through his deck as well. He had come to stay for the better part of the night with his Yami, who was appointed as the babysitter for Yugi and Ryou. Yugi still didn't know why his Yami had picked BAKURA, of ALL PEOPLE, (or spirits) to watch over him while he went to speak to Joey. Perhaps, no matter how much they fought, they were friends, deep down?
[Nahhh.]
Yugi was glad they were here though, only because he loved spending time with Ryou. They both had the same interests and Ryou wasn't rude to Yugi at all. Unlike Bakura.
"Be lucky that you have all those dark cards, you baka. Duel Monsters isn't like hopscotch. You aren't meant to have fun, you're meant to win. It doesn't matter if we freak a couple of little kids out," Bakura scoffed, from the couch. He had been watching t.v. but it seemed that he was now interested in the lights' conversation.
Ryou took a seat next to Yugi on the floor.
"Sorry Yami. You're right." He frowned.
Yugi looked at the melancholy Ryou in dismay but he knew that no matter how much Bakura ragged on his soul-partner, he cared for him. How could you not love the other part of yourself?
Bakura went back to watching t.v., but every so often his chocolate eyes made their way back over to Ryou and Yugi, who compared cards on the floor next to him.
"When is that idiot Pharaoh coming back? I have to sleep you know. Just because I'm a spirit doesn't mean I don't sleep."
"I'm not sure, but I hope soon. I'm dying to know what happened. I feel bad..."
Now it was Yugi's turn to frown.
"You care too much." Bakura got up and stretched. He made his way over to the refridgerator and took out three sodas, handing one to each of the lights. Yugi thought it was funny how the spirit just took whatever he wanted out of Yugi's house. But there was no changing the white-haired tomb robber.
"Joey and the Pharaoh will work everything out. These little tisks happen all through your life, you just gotta ride them out. Trust me, I know. I *AM* 5000 years old." Bakura plopped back down on the couch and propped his feet up on Yugi's coffee table with a smug look on his face.
Yugi sighed. "I hope you're right."
"I'm always right."
The spirit turned his glance back to the television. Jeopardy was on and Alex Trebek had just asked what the ancient Egyptain symbol of life was. Bakura shot forward and started yelling at the contestants.
"The ankh! The ankh!"
-What is, the ankh?-
-You are correct!-
Bakura grinned broadly, his chocolate eyes flashing with delight. He turned to Yugi. "See? Always right."
*~*~
Two hours later, Yami arrived home, tired and a little soggy from the rain which had started up again. He and Joey had had a long talk, but as of now, he had no desire to discuss it. All he wanted was sleep. Not wanted. Craved. It was 12:00 sharp.
"Well finally. Took your royal time."
Yami had just walked in the door and was in the process of removing muddy boots when Bakura slinked into the kitchen, his brown eyes taking in the sight. With a half-smile he noted the fatigue in his adversary's eyes. Yami narrowed them.
"I don't need this right now, ok? I just had you come over and watch Yugi because you're the second strongest in the group and he likes to duel Ryou. End of story. I had a very long night, which started well and ended badly. So thankyou, but you may go."
Bakura hissed through his teeth. [The Pharaoh's in a bad mood. Maybe it's that time of month.] The tomb robber stifled a laugh at his own joke and then nodded towards the living room.
"They're asleep, you may want to quiet down."
Even though he didn't like to be told what to do, Yami shut up and trodded into the room where Yugi and Ryou lay sleeping. Yugi was curled on the couch, half covered by a blanket and Ryou had drifted off in an armchair, his cards all over his lap and the floor. The dark couldn't help but notice how cute his hikari looked when he slept, his mouth open just slightly and his bangs falling over his eyes. That made him smile just for a second, before he felt the tomb robber's presence behind him.
Spinning around, he came eye to eye with the other spirit.
"So, how's the chihuahua?" Bakura cocked his head slightly, which elicited a growl from the Pharaoh.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't call him that."
"Okay...how about...dalmation?"
Another growl.
"It's none of your business."
Bakura frowned. He really wanted to know what kind of mental anguish his rivals were in. "Just tell me. It's the least you can do-I had to watch the hikaris! What a handful."
"Yeah, a real handfull," scoffed Yami. "They might "please" and "thankyou" you to death."
The tomb robber smiled and then tried to regain his composure. Not quick enough. The Game King had seen the flicker of a smile.
"So are you going to tell me?" asked Bakura, quickly directing the conversation back to where it belonged.
"Will you leave me alone if I do?"
"If you insist."
"Fine. Kitchen. Now."
*~*~*
Yami ran the tip of his index finger along the rim of the mug. Then he brought the now-cold coffee to his lips and gingerly tasted it.
Bitter. Just like the latter part of the night had been. Bitter cold.
He stole a glance up at his "therapist" on the other end of the table, who was staring at a far wall. Bakura snapped back to reality and plastered on a skowl.
They had talked about all the main points of Joey and Yami's "chat." Now Bakura shifted in his chair and ran a hand through his mop of snow white hair.
"Alright Pharaoh, I think we've had our therapy for today. I'm going to take the twerp home and leave you in your misery."
Without looking up, Yami nodded.
"Thanks."
"Huh?" Bakura was stunned. It was a genuine thankyou.
"I said, Thanks for listening. And you'll never hear that again. So don't take it for granted."
Bakura snorted and smiled slightly. He then walked into the living room and ruffly nudged Ryou until his eyes fluttered open and he drowsily got up.
"Y-ya- what t-ime is-" Ryou interrupted his own sentence with a silent yawn. Then he sluggishly got to his feet and moved according to his Yami's pokes, who lead him like a shepard leads his flock.
"Let's go, baka. You can sleep when we get home. Now's time for walking."
Ryou yawned again and left through the door. Bakura followed him and with one final smirk, left Yami alone with his hikari.
The Pharaoh made his way back to Yugi with a sigh, and picked him up by placing one arm under his legs and the other under his back. The stairs creaked in protest as the Game King brought his hikari up to their room and continued to get ready. Finally, he rested his tired head against the pillow next toYugi and flicked off the light, relishing the feeling of a soft mattress beneath him and the darkness surrounding him.
He remembered suddenly the final words Joey had said to him before he had left his house. The whole conversation had been relatively uncomfortable and opened wounds in Joey which he hoped to close, but the two had grown a little bit closer. Joey wanted Yami to be happy. He wanted Mai to be happy. It was destiny that they should be together. But there was one thing that Joey would never allow Yami to do.
-We're friends, Yami. No matter what. Nothing like this could ever break our friendship. But never hurt her, Yami. If you ever hurt her, that's when things could change.-
**~*~*~
Yami-Was that a threat?
Joey-The authoress made me do it! I swear!
Well that's it! Stay tuned for the next chappie!
Next chapter should be fun to write. It may even have a hint of lime;-) So stick around and as always...R&R!
Joey ran as fast as his feet could carry him, to the park. His body was protesting, sending pains in his side to slow him down but his mind kept him moving. The night had fully fallen, the black blanket of heaven and all it's white stars shining dimly above the teen's head, the crescent moon creating a pathway for him to follow.
The park was shrouded in darkness. Finally coming to a jerking stop on the lush grass, he got his second wind and wound his way through a cluster of trees towards the duck pond, which was relatively clear. Breathing heavily, he leaned against the railing of the bridge which crossed over the water.
'It hurts so much.' Joey clenched his eyes shut tightly and his fists balled up. The tears tried to squeeze through his lashes to no avail. He wouldn't cry. The feeling which he was experiencing wasn't sadness, where crying was necessary but it was something he couldn't explain. It felt as if he had swallowed a block of ice, whole, and it now rested heavily in the pit of his stomach, making his brain freeze up and making it hard to move without feeling it.
'So this is what love does. Why do people bother to love?'
The blonde's eyesite was blurry with crystaline tears but he looked down at the black pond below him, the moonlight glinting off it's mirror-like surface. One single tear fell from his eyes into the water, creating a small ripple which gently faded away.
Joey felt it was sort of a sign. He only caused a slight ripple in Mai's heart, if one at all. He was just that one little tear, creating that one little disturbance. And the darkness, Yami, made the biggest disturbance of all. To Joey, and to Mai. He had awoken Mai's heart and hurt Joey's. But it wasn't his fault. He couldn't have known, thought the blonde, watching the ripple dissappear.
Below, a small, dirt-colored fish- barely visible -swam under the bridge. A thought came into Joey's head and he almost had to laugh.
"There are more fish in the sea."
***
Yami chattered continuously in ancient Egyptian, hands grasping locks of his own hair. He stomped around the shop, the guilty agony weighing him down, feeling that he had betrayed his friend. All that he had managed to purge out was a few jumbled sentences in his native language, which is what he usually used when he didn't want people to know what he was saying.
"Yami! What's gotten in to you? What's wrong?!"
Mai was irritated now, standing with hands on hips, looking directly at her new lover.
Yugi hadn't said a word. His stomach was still knotted up and even if he couldn't understand his other, he knew he must feel terrible. Yugi had a similar feeling. He was so excited with the fact that Yami had gone out with Mai that he hadn't remembered anything about Joey.
Trying to contact his darkness through their mental link, he found nothing but a barrage of emotions and compacted sentences. Yelling over the other's thoughts, he tried to get him to stop.
//Slow down! Talk to me! Mai is gonna leave if you don't stop jabbering like a maniac. She doesn't know Egyptian and neither do I. I know you feel bad-(at this point the barrage of things coming from the link slowed to a stop and there was no interruptions so Yugi could "speak" normally) I know you feel bad-but so do I. We just have to talk to Joey.//
//...//
This silence continued for another minute and Yugi noticed that Yami had stopped shouting audibly in his native tongue. He was staring into space, obviously concentrating on what he had just heard through the link, rather than the world around him. Finally, he answered.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"Who's right?" Mai's brows were knit together in confusion, frustration and annoyance. She had no idea why Yami had started hyperventilating, so to speak and also had no idea as to why he was talking to himself. He had clearly lost it.
"Yugi is."
"What did Yugi say?"
"Something through our link. Mai, I'm so sorry. Please, listen, I'll explain later. I promise. But it would be best if you headed home. This could get messy."
"I don't underst-"
Yami cut her off midsentence by taking her hand and pressing it gently.
"Please...I promise I'll explain later..."
The Pharaoh's pleading eyes searched her violet one's and she saw that he really needed the night, for whatever was troubling him...
Mai sighed.
"Alright. Later."
With that, Yami gave her a warm hug and she walked briskly out of the shop. [What a date.]
***
~ ~ ~
You can call me selfish
But all I want is your love
You can call me hopeless (hopeless)
Cause I'm hopelessly in love
You can call me unperfect
But who's perfect?
Tell me what do I gotta do
To prove that I'm the only one for you
What's wrong with being selfish?
I'll be taking up your time
Until the day I make you realize
That for your there could be no one else
I just gotta have you for myself
Baby I would take good care of you
No matter what it is you're going through
I'll be there for you when you're in need
Baby believe in me
If love was a crime
Then punish me
I would die for you
Cause I don't want to live without you
Oh what can I do?
~ ~ ~
Joey rested his head into the pillow and listened intently to his radio, which had just started playing a song which had come over from America. It was a slow song which was rather sad, and being in his melancholy state, it reminded him very much of his relationship with Mai.
Ramming his hand down on the 'Off' button, he rolled back over. He didn't need to remember. He needed to move on. Closing his eyes he tried to think of what he would do tomorrow. For breakfast, he would have-
Just then came a knock on the door.
Joey looked up, his bangs falling into his eyes. "Who is it?"
"Serenity. Someones here to see you."
"Oh. Should I come downstairs?"
"Yeah, he's waiting at the door."
With a groan Joey urged his aching feet to move as he got up. [He? Oh no. Please don't tell me.]
The blond padded across the royal blue carpet slowly and advanced towards the stairs. The material felt good between his bare toes. He had never noticed that before and it amused him a little. A slight smile played across his lips. [I guess it's all the little things that count...]
Snapping out of it, he took the slick banister in his hand and headed groggily downstairs towards the door, too tired and too edgy to deal with this right now.
**
The Pharaoh shuffled uneasily at the doorway. A light rain had fallen and his shoulders were sprinkled with it. Noticing how cool it got, he shoved his hands into his pockets and watched his breath come out in little puffs of air in front of his face.
Suddenly the door opened.
Joey stood in front of him, dressed only in a pair of boxers and a blue t-shirt, his hair ruffled and his expression...bored.
"Hey, what can I do for ya'?"
A button on Yami's shirt sleeve suddenly became very interesting.
"I, um, came by to apologize," he said, fiddling with it.
"Really? For what?"
[Ouch. He's gonna make me say it.]
Yami cringed inwardly, took a breath and braced himself.
"For...for not thinking of how our relationship might hurt you. I feel terrible. I knew you liked Mai and I was selfish to go behind your back."
Joey looked surprised and shifted his weight uneasily.
"Wow. I didn't think you'd say that much. Um..hey, listen. Why don't you come in?"
Yami smiled weakly. "Alright."
**
Yugi flipped through his cards one by one, just like he had done everynight. It never got tiring.
[Dark Magician, Swords of Revealing Light, the rest of my holofoils...no wonder shiny things amuse animals. I could stare at these for hours.]
"You're lucky you have good cards. Mine are all dark and stuff. They scare everyone I play against."
Ryou stood over Yugi, flipping through his deck as well. He had come to stay for the better part of the night with his Yami, who was appointed as the babysitter for Yugi and Ryou. Yugi still didn't know why his Yami had picked BAKURA, of ALL PEOPLE, (or spirits) to watch over him while he went to speak to Joey. Perhaps, no matter how much they fought, they were friends, deep down?
[Nahhh.]
Yugi was glad they were here though, only because he loved spending time with Ryou. They both had the same interests and Ryou wasn't rude to Yugi at all. Unlike Bakura.
"Be lucky that you have all those dark cards, you baka. Duel Monsters isn't like hopscotch. You aren't meant to have fun, you're meant to win. It doesn't matter if we freak a couple of little kids out," Bakura scoffed, from the couch. He had been watching t.v. but it seemed that he was now interested in the lights' conversation.
Ryou took a seat next to Yugi on the floor.
"Sorry Yami. You're right." He frowned.
Yugi looked at the melancholy Ryou in dismay but he knew that no matter how much Bakura ragged on his soul-partner, he cared for him. How could you not love the other part of yourself?
Bakura went back to watching t.v., but every so often his chocolate eyes made their way back over to Ryou and Yugi, who compared cards on the floor next to him.
"When is that idiot Pharaoh coming back? I have to sleep you know. Just because I'm a spirit doesn't mean I don't sleep."
"I'm not sure, but I hope soon. I'm dying to know what happened. I feel bad..."
Now it was Yugi's turn to frown.
"You care too much." Bakura got up and stretched. He made his way over to the refridgerator and took out three sodas, handing one to each of the lights. Yugi thought it was funny how the spirit just took whatever he wanted out of Yugi's house. But there was no changing the white-haired tomb robber.
"Joey and the Pharaoh will work everything out. These little tisks happen all through your life, you just gotta ride them out. Trust me, I know. I *AM* 5000 years old." Bakura plopped back down on the couch and propped his feet up on Yugi's coffee table with a smug look on his face.
Yugi sighed. "I hope you're right."
"I'm always right."
The spirit turned his glance back to the television. Jeopardy was on and Alex Trebek had just asked what the ancient Egyptain symbol of life was. Bakura shot forward and started yelling at the contestants.
"The ankh! The ankh!"
-What is, the ankh?-
-You are correct!-
Bakura grinned broadly, his chocolate eyes flashing with delight. He turned to Yugi. "See? Always right."
*~*~
Two hours later, Yami arrived home, tired and a little soggy from the rain which had started up again. He and Joey had had a long talk, but as of now, he had no desire to discuss it. All he wanted was sleep. Not wanted. Craved. It was 12:00 sharp.
"Well finally. Took your royal time."
Yami had just walked in the door and was in the process of removing muddy boots when Bakura slinked into the kitchen, his brown eyes taking in the sight. With a half-smile he noted the fatigue in his adversary's eyes. Yami narrowed them.
"I don't need this right now, ok? I just had you come over and watch Yugi because you're the second strongest in the group and he likes to duel Ryou. End of story. I had a very long night, which started well and ended badly. So thankyou, but you may go."
Bakura hissed through his teeth. [The Pharaoh's in a bad mood. Maybe it's that time of month.] The tomb robber stifled a laugh at his own joke and then nodded towards the living room.
"They're asleep, you may want to quiet down."
Even though he didn't like to be told what to do, Yami shut up and trodded into the room where Yugi and Ryou lay sleeping. Yugi was curled on the couch, half covered by a blanket and Ryou had drifted off in an armchair, his cards all over his lap and the floor. The dark couldn't help but notice how cute his hikari looked when he slept, his mouth open just slightly and his bangs falling over his eyes. That made him smile just for a second, before he felt the tomb robber's presence behind him.
Spinning around, he came eye to eye with the other spirit.
"So, how's the chihuahua?" Bakura cocked his head slightly, which elicited a growl from the Pharaoh.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't call him that."
"Okay...how about...dalmation?"
Another growl.
"It's none of your business."
Bakura frowned. He really wanted to know what kind of mental anguish his rivals were in. "Just tell me. It's the least you can do-I had to watch the hikaris! What a handful."
"Yeah, a real handfull," scoffed Yami. "They might "please" and "thankyou" you to death."
The tomb robber smiled and then tried to regain his composure. Not quick enough. The Game King had seen the flicker of a smile.
"So are you going to tell me?" asked Bakura, quickly directing the conversation back to where it belonged.
"Will you leave me alone if I do?"
"If you insist."
"Fine. Kitchen. Now."
*~*~*
Yami ran the tip of his index finger along the rim of the mug. Then he brought the now-cold coffee to his lips and gingerly tasted it.
Bitter. Just like the latter part of the night had been. Bitter cold.
He stole a glance up at his "therapist" on the other end of the table, who was staring at a far wall. Bakura snapped back to reality and plastered on a skowl.
They had talked about all the main points of Joey and Yami's "chat." Now Bakura shifted in his chair and ran a hand through his mop of snow white hair.
"Alright Pharaoh, I think we've had our therapy for today. I'm going to take the twerp home and leave you in your misery."
Without looking up, Yami nodded.
"Thanks."
"Huh?" Bakura was stunned. It was a genuine thankyou.
"I said, Thanks for listening. And you'll never hear that again. So don't take it for granted."
Bakura snorted and smiled slightly. He then walked into the living room and ruffly nudged Ryou until his eyes fluttered open and he drowsily got up.
"Y-ya- what t-ime is-" Ryou interrupted his own sentence with a silent yawn. Then he sluggishly got to his feet and moved according to his Yami's pokes, who lead him like a shepard leads his flock.
"Let's go, baka. You can sleep when we get home. Now's time for walking."
Ryou yawned again and left through the door. Bakura followed him and with one final smirk, left Yami alone with his hikari.
The Pharaoh made his way back to Yugi with a sigh, and picked him up by placing one arm under his legs and the other under his back. The stairs creaked in protest as the Game King brought his hikari up to their room and continued to get ready. Finally, he rested his tired head against the pillow next toYugi and flicked off the light, relishing the feeling of a soft mattress beneath him and the darkness surrounding him.
He remembered suddenly the final words Joey had said to him before he had left his house. The whole conversation had been relatively uncomfortable and opened wounds in Joey which he hoped to close, but the two had grown a little bit closer. Joey wanted Yami to be happy. He wanted Mai to be happy. It was destiny that they should be together. But there was one thing that Joey would never allow Yami to do.
-We're friends, Yami. No matter what. Nothing like this could ever break our friendship. But never hurt her, Yami. If you ever hurt her, that's when things could change.-
**~*~*~
Yami-Was that a threat?
Joey-The authoress made me do it! I swear!
Well that's it! Stay tuned for the next chappie!