Extinguished

By Weeping Angel

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Something's wrong with Yugi, and Yami, who has been avoiding Yugi to stop Yugi finding out his developing feeling for the younger boy, must fight to save his hikari. Y/Y R/B

Disclaimer: I own only the plot. I put the entire show on my Christmas Wish List, but it's not Christmas yet.

Hi everyone. This is my first Yugioh story, and my first Yaoi story too. Hope you like.

Yugi sighed deeply as he watched his darker half duel with Jou at the arcade. Yami had been avoiding his other for some time now and the younger boy had no idea why. It hurt Yugi horribly that Yami only spoke to him when he had to, and seemed closer to their friends then to Yugi himself.

Yami smirked victoriously as Jou moaned in defeat again.

Abruptly, Yugi stood up, heading for the entrance to the arcade.

"Hey Yug!" Jou called, spotting him. "Where're ya goin'?"

Yugi froze. "I'm…I'm going for a walk. I'm fine." He replied, forcing a smile to his face. Yugi half hoped someone would call his bluff, and try to find out what was really wrong with the innocent boy, but all his friends did was turn back to watch Yami begin another game, this time against Anzu.

Shoulders slumped, and feeling dispirited, Yugi left the arcade, unaware of a pair of eyes following his every movement closely, unaware of the murderous look that came into these chocolate orbs as Yugi glanced at Yami through the window.

Yugi wandered around until he came to the park. He made it to the big oak tree before collapsing in tears underneath it. Sobs racked Yugi's thin form, as the small boy pulled his knees up and sobbed into them.

'Why?'

The question rang through Yugi's mind, repeating itself over and over again. Why didn't they notice how ill he was? Why did they ignore him? Why? Were they angry with him? Was it something he had done? Or hadn't done?

A bolt of fear ran through him, as another, more devastating thought ran through his mind.

Had Yami somehow discovered his two most precious secrets, and was avoiding him because of it? Was he ashamed to have such a weak Hikari? Or disgusted?

A fresh wave of tears cascaded down Yugi's cheeks, blurring his vision.

"Yugi?" A voice broke into his thoughts and Yugi shot up, spinning around to face the person.

"Gomen ne." He whispered, as soft chocolate eyes bore down on him.

"Iie, Yugi. It's me who should be sorry." Ryou whispered, gathering the small teenager into his arms and holding him. "I'm sorry for not noticing before."

Yugi looked into his fellow Hikari's eyes. Complete horror was shown in the younger's gaze. "You…you know?" Yugi squeaked. "You know, a-and you d-don-don't hate-" Yugi hiccupped on his sobs, "ha-ate me for it?"

"Yugi, how could I hate you?" Ryou asked.

"Yugi, how could I hate you?" Ryou asked Yugi, as he sank to the ground, bringing the smaller boy with him.

Ryou could clearly see that Yugi was terrified, but of what? He could also see that Yugi thought that, whatever his problem was, his friends would desert him when they found out.

What could be wrong?

"Yugi, I promise it'll be okay. No one will hate you, but you have to tell me what's wrong."

The answer was not what he expected, not at all.

"No one cares." Yugi cried, pulling away from Ryou. "I'm leaving, and I'll never come back, and no one cares!"

Ryou stormed back into the arcade where Yami, Jou, Honda, Anzu and his own darker half, Bakura, were. He stalked right up to Yami, and, ignoring the shocked looks on the faces of his friends, punched him hard.

His knuckles hurt, but it was worth it.

"What the fuck?" Yami was enraged, leaping to his feet. "What the fuck has gotten into you, Ryou?"

"How dare you?" Ryou seethed. "You fucking bastard! I really thought you cared about him."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Yami growled

"Yugi. Who else did you think I was talking about?" Ryou answered, growling, completely out of character. "You're sitting here, ignoring your light, while his condition's getting worse! You should be spending every day with him! Every moment!"

"Condition?" Jou asked warily, cutting in. He looked to Yami. "What's wrong wid Yugi?"

Ryou looked at Yami, who was also looking confused. "Kami-sama." He breathed as realisation hit him. "Yugi never told you!"

"Told me what?" Yami asked angrily. "What's wrong with my hikari?"

But Ryou didn't hear him. The white haired boy was mumbling to himself. "What kind of friends are we? We didn't even notice. And he's gotten so thin…and he's tired all the time…Kami-sama, how could we not notice?"

"Notice what?"

Ryou looked up, his eyes filling with tears. "Yugi's dying."