It's been about two months since the ending of the last chapter.

Making Mistakes Chapter 4:

Patching Things Up

Seto was doing nothing. This was such a rare occurrence that Mokuba abandoned his video game and came to stare. "Nii-sama, what are you doing?" He wasn't doing anything productive, that was certain, and to Seto that was the same as doing nothing. Unless staring into space daydreaming about a certain forbidden fruit was considered productive, he was acting like a normal young man his age and lazing around. "Nothing."

"You're thinking about somebody…Yami maybe?"

"What?"

Mokuba shrugged. "You only get that look if you're thinking about him." Seto didn't say anything. "I guess Jounouchi didn't work as well as you'd hoped, huh?"

"Who says that?" Seto snapped, glaring at Mokuba.

"Well, Yami used to make you scream so loud that you'd wake me up-Jounouchi doesn't." Seto had no counter to that, merely because it was true. Yami was a better lover than the blonde. Also, as much as he loved having Yami's warmth all around him and hearing the other cry out beneath him, it was also wonderful to be taken, to straddle him-it seemed right. He couldn't imagine being taken by Jounouchi. "I guess you're still hung up on him, huh?"

"Mokuba?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

"Yami?"

The former Pharaoh turned just enough to see his aibou. "Hmm?"

"Um…" Yami patted the couch next to him, and Yugi sat down. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened."

"There isn't any need. We were both confused. Perhaps there could have been a longer relationship between us if I had responded earlier, but I did not. Now, it seems clear to me that the love I hold for you is only that of a very, very, very close friend who I would not mind becoming…intimate with. And it seems that you have transferred your deep feelings for me to someone else."

"Like you did?"

Yami raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"You kissed Kaiba-kun, didn't you?"

"How did you know that?"

Yugi shrugged. "He told me."

"Why?"

"I think he was trying to figure out if you were just playing with him-again. I think he still loves you-I'm just wondering if he trusts you."

Yami laughed, a little bitterly. "I suppose I deserve that. I haven't given him a reason to trust me. But back on the topic of us, aibou, I love you dearly, but I am no longer *in* love with you. I was just jealous that Kuroi seemed to be taking over my role that I realized that I was failing in, and I succeeded in confusing myself, hurting Seto, confusing you, and making you responsible for breaking the heart of the one you love. That is the short of it."

Yugi wrapped his arms around Yami's waist. "So, you aren't going to be angry with me and pout anymore?" Yami shook his head. "Thank you. I couldn't take much more of you being mad at me. I guess we made a big mess of things, huh?"

Yami kissed Yugi's forehead. "Well, we have it worked out now. Now we both have a blue-eyed sexy-as-hell boy to win over."

Yugi frowned. "I wouldn't be surprised if Kuroi never wants to see me again. What was I, crazy? I can't expect him to still even like me after I led him on, fell in love with someone else, then kissed him, then told him to stop because of this other person, while knowing that he loved me."

"Well, when you put it that way, your chances don't seem too high." Yugi glare-pouted at him. "Sorry. I'd help you get in touch with him if I could but…I don't think I really can."

"That's-that's okay. He probably doesn't ever want to see me again."

Kuroi had come out of his rooms for the first time in weeks, and was now outside in the company of Lust, Chaos, Kane, and Kuri. He noticed the wild haired other mage, the slightly lecherous warrior, and the former puffball were all exchanging glances and blushes. Well, Kuri was blushing. Lust and Chaos were simply practicing their 'trying-to-be-subtle-look away check-outs'. He wondered if Lust was Chaos' former love. They'd make a rather interesting pair-maybe even a threesome if they brought Kuri along. The mage supposed it was good for him to be out here to make these observations, even if they only distracted him for a short time. He still caught Kane staring at him sometimes, but it wasn't as if the elf was undressing him with his eyes, so he decided to forget it. It would be so easy to submit the elf's love, but it wouldn't be right. Not when Yugi-sama still made his heart ache-no! He wouldn't think about him today. Even thinking about him made Kuroi's heart feel like it was tearing out of his ribs. He could forget! He could!

As he rode on the bus to Seto's house, Yami couldn't help but feel guilty about leaving Yugi behind. But his counterpart had said, 'Go get him! Shoo, shoo! And worry about Jounouchi-kun later. You'll have enough trouble without him.' Yami had to agree on that one. But he was willing to lose Jounouchi…if it meant having Seto back in his arms where he belonged.

Once he was off of the bus, Yami realized that Seto might not let him into the house. Well, he could try to force his way in…nah, bad idea. Seeing no security guards, (not that it meant much, given the amount of money Seto had and the amount of modern security advances) Yami simply walked up to the front door and knocked. Hoping it wouldn't be a servant, Yami waited until the door opened. There was Seto in all his glory; dark blue eyes fixed on Yami's face. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?" Yami swore frost formed on his hair from Seto's icy gaze.

"About the…incident two months ago."

The CEO raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean when you kissed me and suddenly declared your love for me?"

"Yes, that."

Not wanting to hold the discussion on his doorstep, Seto backed up and beckoned Yami into the house. Leading him into a sitting room, Seto sat down on a love seat and asked, "So, what is there to talk about? You and Yugi had a falling out, you're lonely, you decided you miss me, and so I became your rebound to boost your confidence. No thanks."

"That's not true."

"Right, and I'm supposed to believe you've suddenly rediscovered your love for me and we'll get back together and love each other and everything will be perfect. Forget it."

"Why are you so against the idea?"

"I don't trust you. You already dropped me once when you got bored. How do I know you won't do that again?"

"I never 'got bored' with you, Seto. I mistook jealousy and affection for love, and it seemed natural that I would love my aibou. But that was the problem. I see it more clearly now than ever. I can not love Yugi as a lover, because he *is* me. We are a part of each other, for always, but that does *not* mean we are lovers. We may have one shared soul, but two different hearts. His heart belongs to one he loved before they ever met, and mine…mine belongs to one I have felt for ever since we met, ages ago." Yami looked up and met Seto's eyes with his. "That is what I came to say, and you have heard it. Now, if you can say with all your heart that you do not feel anything for me, I will never speak of this again."

"I can't. So help me, I just can't."

Yami nodded. "I understand." He started to rise when he was yanked straight into the CEO's lap. A pained, heated voice whispered, "I can't stop loving you. I've tried everything I could think of, but I couldn't forget about you." Yami would have gladly kissed his beloved with all the passion he possessed, but Seto gently pushed him back. "Jounouchi. We have to decide what to do about him."

"We'll tell him tomorrow."

"No!" Yami looked confused. "I don't think we should tell him. Me just dropping him would crush him, and I don't want to do that."

"What do you suggest, then?"

Seto buried his face in Yami's neck. "Let him find out on his own. He'll get angry, that's certainly true-but he'll be able to ignore pain if he's angry."

"But won't that hurt more? It'll seem like you never cared enough to treat him with respect."

"And because of that, he'll be able to convince himself that he never cared either."

Yami shook his head. "I think it's better to be honest. We might be able to keep him as a friend that way."

"What do you propose I say? 'Hey, Yami and I finally figured out that we belong together despite our past and our trust issues and you were just a replacement?' Yeah, that'll go over really well."

"Well, you can't keep going out with him. The truth is better than keeping him in total darkness. That's not right-Jounouchi's still my friend, and you've come to care about him too. If we want to be decent human beings, we have to tell him."

"That's a good idea." Both young men jumped as Mokuba walked into the room.  "I suggest you pick one or the other, because Jounouchi's in the foyer wondering what's taking so long. What should I tell him?"

"Tell him to wait-we'll be there in a minute." Mokuba left, and Seto got up, Yami having to grab at his neck to keep from landing on the probably ungodly expensive coffee table. "Seto!"

"Sorry." The CEO set his love on his feet. "Let's go."

Jounouchi leaned on the wall, looking dejected. Mokuba had said, 'they'll be here.' So, Seto was finally gonna confess to cheating on him. He'd hoped he'd imagined it, but he knew Seto's mind was often someplace else when he was with him, he saw the faraway looks. Jounouchi wasn't blind. A bit dense maybe, but not blind. "Jounouchi!" Seto, accompanied by Yami, had entered the foyer. Mokuba, sensing that this was private, departed. "So, you finally gonna confess to screwing around with Yami behind my back, huh?" Both of the other boys stared at him in surprise. //Geez, I don't act *that* dumb. //

"How'd you-."

"I'm not stupid. I can tell when you're with me you're not really paying that much attention to me. Half the time you're off someplace else. Last time ya fucked me, you said his name instead. Kinda hurt, that one."

"Jounouchi-."

"Don't say anything, okay? You could've just said it before we even started that ya still loved him. So, how long this been going on?" Seto looked at his watch, and said, "Fifteen minutes. We haven't had a relationship until now-we were just talking out how to tell you."

"Fine. Ya told me. See ya." The blonde turned to leave, when a voice stopped him. "Jounouchi!" The blonde turned back around to see Yami looking at him, dark red eyes simmering with some unreadable emotion. "It's all right. Just don't ever tell me how happy ya are with each other. Don't think I could take that." Jounouchi turned, waved over his shoulder, and left. If anyone outside saw his damp eyes, he could blame it on allergies.

"Kuroi, this is ridiculous. You could depress a Toon Monster with that expression. Stop brooding." Chaos sat down next to the other mage. "If it helps any, I asked Elfin to look at Yugi-sama for you, and he's constantly berating himself for what he did for you."

"That's the kind of person Yugi-sama is. He will be all right after some time."

Chaos almost rolled his eyes. "You really believe he does not love you."

"He does not."

"Take my word for it as an outside party: Yugi-sama loves you."

Kuroi shut his eyes tightly. "Why do you continue to say that? He does not love me, and I've accepted that! I've-I've let him go!"

"Right. If you'd accepted it, you would not spend your days dwelling on him." Chaos gripped the other mage's shoulders. "Do not lose this chance. Do not doubt."

"How can I not?"

Chaos released him. "Fine. Do not try. Be alone and unhappy because you were too much of a coward to take a chance."

"I am not frightened."

"Have you lost your love for him?"

Kuroi shook his head. "No!"

"Then I suppose it is only your pride holding you back?"

Kuroi frowned. "It is not pride. It is only doubt."

"Doubt is just another name for fear. You must conquer it." Chaos stood and left. //And if my assistance is needed to help you defeat your fear, my friend, then I-then I will help you. //

Yugi sat on his bed, cradling his favorite card in his hands. This was probably the only way he was ever going to get to see Kuroi again. "Well, I really messed up this time." He had been sitting there for what felt like hours, trying to think up a way to at least talk the magician again, but the problem was that he had no way of contacting him. He wanted to see the magician so badly-but he supposed he deserved this. He'd-he'd-*used* Kuroi, and therefore shouldn't have him. "I really don't deserve him."

"You may have behaved badly, but that does not mean you deserve to be without your love." Yugi looked up to see the Magician of Black Chaos. "Especially when that love desires you still, with all his heart." Yugi's heavy heart skipped several beats at this sentence. "You mean he doesn't hate me?" Chaos shook his head. "He has been moping around and being miserable ever since your argument. And it is very tiring to watch. I was hoping he would come and see you, but he has many doubts."

Yugi nodded morosely. "I don't blame him. I wish I could talk to him, but I doubt he'll want to talk to me, even if he doesn't hate me. And I can't get to him."

"But you can. I will bring you through the portal with me."

"You can do that?"

"If you are fully willing to go." //And if I don't mind breaking a tiny taboo.// 

Yugi jumped to his feet. "Are you joking? What are we waiting for?"

"Then give me your hand, and concentrate your thoughts on him." Yugi willingly grabbed the mage's hand, and focused. Kuroi. The feel of his hair, the taste of his lips, the sound of his voice. Kuroi. Then there was a sensation of falling, a whirl of flashing infra-black, and he and Chaos were outside a large one level house, with a side building that for some reason reminded Yugi of a pool house. There were other houses nearby, some with large backyards or gardens. "So this is where you guys live…Is this his house?"

Chaos nodded. "I'll take my leave now. I believe you wish for privacy." Yugi smiled. "Thank you, Chaos."

"You are most welcome. It is my duty-and my pleasure-to assist you." Chaos walked off in another direction, and Yugi gathered his courage to knock on the door.

"Geez, Chaos, where have you been?" Lust was sitting on Chaos' front steps. "Getting Yugi-sama to Kuroi."

Lust grinned. "Chaos, you meddling rule-breaker you. So, how did it go?"

"I have no idea. I simply left Yugi-sama on Kuroi's doorstep."

"Well, at least now we can start worrying about our own love lives instead of his. Ya know," Luster inspected his fingernails, "the truffle's in love with you." Chaos sputtered, "Don't be ridiculous. He's got the mind of a child."

"So?"

"So he can't really love me, and I would feel a great lack of equality in a relationship with him."

"Well…what about with me?"

Chaos looked at the warrior-and smiled ever so slightly.

Kuroi ran his hand through his hair and got up to see who was at the door. "I'm coming." He opened the door, and to his shock, Yugi stood on his doorstep. "Yugi-sama! What are you doing here?"

"Can I…can I come in?"

Finally!!! I have been so stuck on this…not to mention other stories keep popping up in my head. Well, it's done. Bye-bye!