I'd Do Anything

by Kestrel

Ch. 8

Yami helped Elaina pack her things from her room on the ranch.

"When did we sign up for a foreign exchange program?" he asked as he folded clothes.

Elaina shrugged. "I think it was something the 'rents did and conveniently forgot to tell me about." She brightened a little. "Hey, you can help me talk, my Japanese is little to none."

Yami chuckled a little at that, but as he folded shirts and jeans his mind was elsewhere. They would be arriving the day Yugi would receive the letter. Which would mean that if Yami tried to contact him, it would be right after Yugi received the shock.

"Relax," Elaina said a touch crossly, guessing correctly at what bothered her yami. "I'm sure he'll be pleased."

Pleased? I just hope he doesn't feel like strangling me, Yami thought nervously. I think I waited too long…

I'd do anything just to hold you in my arms

to try to make you laugh

'cause somehow I can't put you in the past

I'd do anything just to fall asleep with you

Will you remember me

Because I know I won't forget you

Yugi made it to Ms. Retger's in a state of shock. Mary didn't try to understand; she simply clucked sympatheically as she ushered him inside and placed his plate before him. The man set about eating as a robot might, cutting and chewing mechanically. Mary Retger sat silently across from him, balancing her checkbook through a pair of calico spectacles. Occasionally Yugi would feel her eyes upon him, but didn't trust himself to speak.

It wasn't Yami's initial confession that had shocked him so, it was the last paragraph of the letter.

"My little aibou… not so little, now. I apologize from the depths of my very being for all the hurt I caused you those years ago. You did not deserve to be treated that way. I see now my wrongs, and I can only hope that my regret can be great enough to patch the rift between us.

"Yugi, I still care for you deeply. If you could find it in your heart to forgive me for the heartless fool I've been, then I would be the happiest man alive. You couldn't possibly imagine the joy felt every time I heard you speak my name back then. If only… if only I could hear you speak to me one more time.

"Yours sincerely, Yami."

Yami lay awake within his darkened soul room, staring at the elusive ceiling and lost in thought.

I close my eyes

And all I see is you

I close my eyes

I try to sleep; I can't forget you

Na na na, na na na

I'd do anything for you

Na na na, na na na na

Visions of Yugi danced behind the young Pharaoh's closed eyes. He didn't know what Yugi would look like now, and was almost afraid to find out.

What if I don't recognize him? Even if he still has that hair… Yami chuckled at that. Then his smile fell as his worries returned. We fly over tomorrow. I don't think I'm ready for this… wait. Get a grip on yourself, Yami, he chided himself sternly. No one said you'd be seeing Yugi tomorrow. You have six weeks over there. No one said you couldn't take your time.

With that, he rolled over, at last content to sleep.

His dreams were of his aibou.

In his sleep, Yami smiled.

()()()()

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