I'm finally done with this chapter. Nope, story's not over yet. Some past interests come to light. Ooh.



Chapter 3: Indecisiveness


"I guess I should...or maybe not...I mean, I'm sorry I hurt him-I don't want to hurt people-but he hurt me first-that sounds so childish! I'm glad he's sorry-but sorry doesn't help when I remember how lonely I was! Being abandoned by the people I care the most for..."
"Yugi-sama?"
Yugi nearly leaped off of the sofa in surprise. "Kane...how long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough. You mind if I sit?" The boy shook his head, so Kane sat, legs crossed. "I thought you were going to go talk to Ryou-san, not sit here and talk to yourself for hours." Yugi bit his lip. "I was but...."
"You don't know if you can forgive him yet, huh? Even though you're sorry about what you said? Which *was* partly true." Yugi nodded. "I was in the spot that you're in once. Kuroi and I had a huge fight-to this day I can't remember why we started it-but he said something I didn't like-and I said some pretty bad things to him. He tried to say he was sorry a few days later, but what he said still bothered me, so I refused to accept his apology."

Kane leaned back as Yugi leaned forward to listen. "So what happened?"
"Well, Neo-the Magic Swordsman, you know, he was practicing his magic-trust me, he *needs* the practice-and he lost control over one of his spells. I, being the brilliant person that I am, was practicing *my* technique not too far away-not that I needed to, of course. So just as I notice that I'm about to get fried by a runaway lightning bolt, who should save me but the very person who, a week ago, I swore never to speak to again."
"So you made up?"
Kane looked slightly embarrassed. "Well, no, not right then. I walked off without even saying thank you." Yugi facefaulted, almost hitting the table. "But after realizing I had been a complete total jerk and I was throwing away a very good friend, I went to him and asked him to forgive me for my idiocy. And then we hugged and laughed and made out."
Yugi blinked. "You were lovers?"
"No. Where'd you get *that* idea, Yugi-sama?"
Yugi shrugged. "You said you made out."
"I did not!"
"Did too! You said, 'And then we hugged and laughed and made out.'"
"Up! I meant up!"
Yugi smiled. "Oh. So what you're trying to tell me is that I should wait and let Ryou *show* me that he's sorry?" Kane nodded. "But what if he doesn't?"
"Then he's a stupid white-haired pretty boy."
Yugi chuckled softly. "I guess. But what about Kuroi...he didn't even do anything!"
"I told him to leave you alone, but does he listen to me? No. So this morning he grumbles his ways downstairs, snaps, 'I'm going for a walk, I'll be back this evening, and don't follow me!' and leaves. That was like three hours ago. Pretty long walk if you ask me."

"He'll come back though, right?"
"He'd never leave you."
Yugi blushed. "That's-that's good. But what about-."
"Yami-san? You want to know what I think? He's being a heartless bastard who wanted your tail and Kaiba-san too, so, seeing as you weren't 'putting out' the way he wanted, he went for Kaiba instead. Now that you're not hanging on his every word and act, he's mad at the loss of attention. You are his other half, after all. But he doesn't deserve another half like you, not after the way he's treated you."
"That's not..." Yugi's protest faded away, silenced by memory.

"See you tomorrow, Yami!" Yugi waved at his yami, who simply climbed in Kaiba's car without a backward glance.

"I loved him so much-I wanted Yami to love me the way he seemed to love him. But now I'm not so sure. But-."
"Maybe you're just uncertain of anyone's love-now that your heart's been broken once already."
Yugi chuckled. "Are you sure *you've* never been in love? It sounds like you've felt this way before." Kane looked away at the question, and Yugi immediately understood he was slowly starting to re-open something painful. "Sorry." Kane shook his head. "So, you think I'm only clinging to Yami because I've already been in love with him?" Kane nodded. "But-but-."
"You seem very fond of the word 'but', Yugi-sama." Kane sighed. "I suppose it shows how unsure you are. Perhaps before deciding on anyone, you should see whom you really love. Or the only thing that'll happen is that someone is going to get hurt. And it may not be you."


Skip, skip, plop. Skip, skip, plop. Kuroi's skipping stone abilities weren't exactly at their best, especially when he was thinking. //'I hurt and I don't understand so many things, and you can't hide them away, and you're just making things worse! Just go away! I don't want your cuddles or Ryou's false apologies or anything like that from *you*-'. Yugi-sama...perhaps it would be better if I left here. I seem to be doing you more harm than good. I'll just go back and forget about you-I'll serve you like I did before...// The mage chuckled a little bitterly as another rock sunk beneath the surface of the water. Sure, he'd serve Yugi in any way possible-but he couldn't simply forget him. He'd come to care for the boy in the short time they'd been together-starting from the fateful day Yugi had bought him. He'd never truly confessed it, but he loved Yugi. Perhaps he always had-no, wait, that was wrong. He'd loved one other, but that love was gone now, wasn't it?
"Hello, Dark Magician." Plop. Kuroi turned to see Yami standing a few feet away. "Or should I call you by the name you've chosen for yourself, Kuroi?"

The magician turned his back. "Whatever you wish."
"Kuroi-san, you shouldn't be outside of the card and you know it. You come when you are called, and not sooner or later. So what *exactly* are you doing here-?" Kuroi cut him off with a raised hand and a sharp look. "What *you* should be doing, Yami-san."
"Which is?"
"Loving and protecting Yugi-sama. If you are truly his guardian you are doing, as Bakura-san would say, 'a piss-poor' job."
Yami hissed, "You know nothing about me, how dare you judge me?"
"I dare because I do not like seeing one I love treated like a piece of pretty but worthless chattel!" Kuroi had jumped to his feet and was nearly shouting in Yami's face now. "You are wasting the most precious gift that has been bestowed upon you-you don't care that he cries himself to sleep at night- you don't care that you tear his loving heart out of his breast every time you hold that lover of yours!"
"Oh, and I suppose you do?"
Kuroi suddenly laughed. "I do. I really do. I love him-and I appreciate him, unlike you!" Yami said nothing. "You're a fool, Yami-san. And you don't even know it."
"Shut up." The former Pharaoh turned and walked away, whispering bitterly to himself. "I know."

"Ryou, if you want to call him, call him already."
"But what if he hangs up on me?" Bakura shrugged, snatched the phone, and pressed two on the speed dial. He handed Ryou the phone just as someone answered, "Hello?"

Before they could get past that, Ryou hung up. Bakura groaned. "What was the point of that, may I ask?"
"I can't just call him again...I know! I'll...no, wait, that's just as bad-to go over to his house without being invited-that's rude. Argh!" Ryou put his head in his hands. "It's all right, lover. If you really want to make up with him, show, don't tell." Ryou smiled. That gave him an idea....

"When is that stupid good-for-nothing-magician going to walk his sexy butt back in here?" Kane hissed to Kuri, who was, once again, channel surfing. "Yugi-sama is starting to worry."

Kuri shrugged and said around a mouthful of something, "Yugi-sama's fine, *you* are worried." Kane turned pink. "Ooh, Kane likes-" Kuri was silenced by Kane shoving his head into a pillow. "Kane likes who?" Yugi had returned to the room with a sandwich.

"Uh..." said Kane, still pink.
"He likes-."
Kane covered the hyper former puffball's mouth. "Shut up or I'll cut your tongue off and use it for a pincushion." Kuri giggled. "Stupid puffball." Kuri pouted at this and bit Kane, who promptly stuffed his head into the sofa. Yugi laughed at their antics as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" shouted Kuri, and he rang to the door and opened it, to reveal Kuroi. He backed up to let him in, then Kane grabbed him and ran upstairs with the boy-he thought this conversation shouldn't happen with the two of them in the room.

After staring them for a moment, Kuroi turned to his young master. "Yugi-sama-"

Yugi launched himself at him, teary-eyed. "You came back...I was scared you wouldn't...after what I said. I'm so sorry-." Kuroi smiled and led Yugi to the couch. "It's fine, Yugi-sama."
"But I-."
Kuroi placed a finger on Yugi's soft lips. "You did not truly mean it, and even if you did at the time, I don't believe that you could hate me so much."

Yugi shook his head. "No, I couldn't. I-I-care about you. A lot." Yugi clenched his hands into fists in his lap. "I think I might-that I could..." He fell silent. // "Perhaps before deciding on anyone, you should see whom you really love. Or the only thing that'll happen is that someone is going to get hurt. And it may not be you."// "No-no, I can't say that yet," he said, more to himself than to the mage. Kuroi reached for Yugi and took both hands in his. "What can't you say, Yugi-sama?" Yugi only shook his head, then pulled his hands away. Kuroi felt a tug at his heart for a fraction of a moment; then it was eased when Yugi curled against his chest. "I'll tell you when I know...for now...can you just...hold me?"

Kuroi wrapped his arms around Yugi tightly, inhaling the sweet scent of his hair. "I care for you as well, Yugi-sama."


Kane, from his spot on the landing, could see Kuroi and Yugi cuddling. The familiar ache in his heart was stronger now. They loved each other; any fool could see it. He was happy that Kuroi had found love in another soul-and that Yugi-sama had let go of Yami-san, at least in part. //I can't believe that we wanted to give Yugi-sama to Yami-san. Though I'd much rather keep Kuroi for myself...No, don't be stupid. You had your chance, and you turned him down. //


"I love you."
Kane turned his back on his friend. "Well, I don't love you. Please, did you really think that I'd *ever* love you?"
"Not really, it was just a hope I had-"
Kane waved his words away. "Ugh, you're grossing me out with this lovey-dovey junk. It's sad, really, just like you." He returned to his exercises, hoping that Kuroi would leave before tears could start. 'Never touch, and you won't hurt' had always been his principle for getting through life. But now he wasn't touching, and he'd never hurt this badly before.

Yami, who was, once again, sleeping at Seto's, rolled off of his lover and stared at the ceiling. "What is with you tonight? You've hardly said a word, and you're about as responsive as an old man without any stimulants."
"I'm just not in the mood." Yami shrugged. "Besides, we don't *have* to have sex every time I come over, do we?"
Seto almost smirked. "You never had a problem with that before."
"Perhaps I have a problem with a relationship that only includes sex. That's not really a relationship." Yami snapped, before rolling over to face the wall. "Yami...."
"Never mind, forget I said anything."

Seto slowly reached for the shorter boy and turned him around. He kissed Yami softly. "I love you." Yami kissed him back but didn't answer, verbally anyway. //I'm sorry. // Then he climbed on top of Seto again and claimed a more passionate kiss. Seto was now confused, but Yami's now demanding lips left questions for another time.


The next afternoon Ryou, followed closely by Bakura, walked into the lunchroom. "Hey! Ryou!" Jounouchi waved to him. "Come here!" Bakura started to walk over automatically, but Ryou shook his head and walked over to another table. Bakura followed, then smiled, seeing what his lover was doing. "Excuse me, Yugi-kun. May I sit down?" All four pairs of eyes stared at him, and Ryou swallowed nervously.

"Sure." Yugi smiled and moved over so that the white-haired boy could sit. Bakura looked a little blank for a moment, then Kuri moved over and patted the now vacated space. "Yugi-kun...I...um..."

Yugi shook his head. "It's all right now, Ryou, for real this time." Ryou, on an impulse, hugged him, and Yugi happily returned the embrace. Bakura then pulled Ryou and bought him close to his chest. "Mine," Bakura growled. Yugi couldn't help but laugh.

//Why the hell is *he* in *my* gym class! Why, oh why, somebody up there must *really* hate me, or I fucked up so bad in my other life that they think I deserve this...// Jounouchi groaned aloud. Seto was changing not five feet away. //He's so...sexy. Gah, do I *want* to be my ass sent to the Shadow Realm? He's Yami's. But look at him! Ah...// This was getting to be a problem...
Seto noticed Jounouchi staring at him and deliberately took his time removing his tight pants. Jounouchi turned red and looked away. He was so *cute* like that...this was *so* not the time. Besides, cheating on one's boyfriend was usually not a good idea. Especially when said boyfriend had mysterious powers. But still...that didn't mean he couldn't tease, did it? Jounouchi almost died when Seto leaned over to reach his gym shorts, giving the blonde a very good view of his behind. Man, Seto was *hot* and there was no denying it.

"Fitness today boys!" There was a small amount of groans from the less physically able boys, who were not looking forward to being screamed at for something they couldn't help. Jounouchi headed for the chin up bar. Grabbing it with both hands, he started to pull himself off of the ground. After fifteen his arms started to ache, due to the fact that chin-ups had *never* been his thing, so he let go, only to have his place taken by Seto. The CEO calmly wrapped one hand around the bar and preformed thirty chin-ups without breaking a sweat. Jounouchi couldn't help but growl. Seto smirked and patted him on the head. "Easy, puppy." The blonde tried to push past him, but he tripped on the mat and he and Seto both fell to the ground. Jounouchi quickly became aware of four facts. One: Seto had just wiped the floor with his ass in the chin-up department. Two: He was straddling Seto. Three: Seto had just looked *really* hot wiping the floor with his ass in the chin-up department. Four: He had a serious boner. This presented a serious problem. There were guys standing around, and if he got up with an erection after falling on top of Seto, he'd be labeled as a fag and an outcast, shunned from all society and a walking target. But if he didn't get up, the CEO would feel his erection anyway and torment him for all eternity. Suddenly, Seto slid out from under him and pulled him up, standing in front of him, blocking anyone's view of him. Lowering his voice, sounding so craggy and erotic that Jounouchi almost leaned forward to kiss him, he whispered, "I'm not really into public sex, puppy, but thanks for the invite. Now get your butt into the hallway before someone sees." Still blocking Jounouchi from view, he shoved him into the hall and stalked off. Jounouchi, completely stunned, headed for the bathroom. He had a date with his right hand...or the sink. It depended on how much of an echo the bathrooms had.


"That was a nice thing you did for Jounouchi," commented a voice from behind Seto.

"You saw?"
"He told me. I guess he needed to pass the shock on. Listen to me, Seto," Yami said, suddenly serious. "Don't take this so hard."
"Take what?"
Yami moved a long blonde bang away from his face. "I don't love you. There's someone else I like. I can't lie to you-or myself- anymore."
"But-."
Yami held up a hand. "Ever since those three arrived, and opened my mind, I realized that you aren't the one I love. I'm sorry. But I don't think you really love me anyway. It's just some sort of an obsession." Yami gently touched his shoulder. "It was a mistake on my part to even start this. I hope you can find the one you truly love too, Seto." He turned and walked away. The CEO also turned on his heel and left, feeling his pain rise in his heart as bile rose in his throat.


"I'll meet you outside, okay? I left something in my locker."
Ryou nodded. "Don't be too long or Bakura's going to end up seducing your lover." He smiled, pointing at Kuroi, who was slightly flushing at whatever Bakura was saying to him. "Hey, Bakura-yami-chan! Look, don't touch!" Ryou called to his lover, walking over and leaning on his shoulder. Yugi chuckled and went back to his locker. Just as he reached it, he was nearly bowled over by Seto, who ran past him into the boy's bathroom. Had he been crying? Yugi, who, it can be noted, did not think Seto had 'stolen' Yami away, and wasn't one to hold a grudge against a person in pain in any case, followed. "Kaiba-kun? Are you okay?" A soft gagging was the only answer. "Are you sick?"
Seto weakly chuckled. "No, Yugi, not really."
"Then-then what's the matter?"
There was a sigh, then Seto answered, "I might as well tell you, I'd rather humiliate myself than have him do it, and I'm sure he'll tell you." There was another sigh, heavier than the first. "Yami broke up with me."
"What?" Yugi squawked. "He-why?"
Seto laughed bitterly. "He said something about seeing who was truly in his heart now that his mind was open, and that I didn't love him anyway, that it was more like an obsession. So he said that he couldn't lie to me anymore, broke up with me, and left me with 'I hope you see who is truly in your mind and heart soon too.' Like I'm going to go after anyone else right now. Why the hell am I telling *you* any of this anyway?"
Yugi shrugged and leaned against the stall door. "Because I asked, and you needed to vent. Keeping those kinds of thoughts bottled up is like putting a closed metal jar in a microwave-it'll explode and hurt the microwave."
"I love your words of wisdom, Yugi." The door clicked open, making Yugi rock a bit, and Seto stepped out, without evidence of one tear, walking over to a sink to rise out his mouth. "Are you okay now?" Seto shrugged. "Do you want me to stay?" There was a definite shake of the head 'no' this time. "Well, okay then. See you tomorrow?"
"Sure, Yugi." As the smaller boy turned to leave, Seto said, "Yugi?" The tri-colored haired boy turned around to see Seto almost- was he blushing? "Tell Jounouchi...forget it."

Yugi blinked and shrugged, and then turned and left the room. "No, that wasn't too weird."


"Yami-san broke up with Kaiba-san?" Kuri asked, eyes huge. Yugi nodded. "That's so cool! Maybe now you have a chance, Yugi-sama!" Ryou smiled in agreement. "Wouldn't that be nice, Yugi-kun?"

Yugi blushed a bright pink. "Ryou, Kuri, come on. This doesn't mean anything."
"Come on," Ryou laughed. "Seeing who was truly in his heart? After 'those three' came? Who *else* could it be?"
"Mai-san?"
Ryou and Kuri made faces. "Or maybe...Honda-kun?" Kuri pretended to throw up. "It could be Jounouchi-kun." Ryou almost gagged. "What, he's not bad looking or anything."
"Yami-san and Jounouchi-san?" Kuri shuddered. "No, no, besides, Jounouchi has the burns for Kaiba-san."
"That's has the *hots* for Kaiba-san, not the burns, Kuri." Kane corrected. Kuri nodded happily. Yugi wasn't too sure that he understood, but he didn't say anything. Then he noticed the look on Kuroi's face, and quickly changed the subject.



Sorry this took such a long time. I was kinda busy, and my computer was being dumb, so Word was going nuts. And then I had to upload it from school because my computer wouldn't upload it for some reason. Review, please? I love my reviews so much. And I *think* this is turning into a Yami/Yugi fic. Gah! Why can't I write anything other than Yami/Yugi? *sigh*