Yuugi peeked out the door of his soul room, confused that he hadn't seen Bakura inside.
"Bakura-kun.... why didn't you come in? I said it was ok."
The pale haired boy looked up, eyes slightly red as he rubbed the half dried tears from his cheek. "I didn't want to intrude..."
"I said it was ok," Yuugi repeated. I don't mind...."
Bakura shook his head again, looking down at his knees. "It's-- it's your soul room, Yuugi-kun..." he said as if it explained everything. "I feel like I'm invading you badly enough just being here, I couldn't--"
"You can't just sit out here, Bakura-kun...." Yuugi said. "And I'll feel like a bad host if you do. You should come in. We can... play a game... or look at the Playboys... or I can think of something! Please, Bakura-kun."
"Don't you like me?" he asked softly, unaware that he was speaking aloud.
Bakura winced slightly. "Of course I like you..." he mumbled softly, not looking up. "That's why I'm almost afraid to..." He winced again, realizing he had been thinking aloud again.
"Afraid to..?"
Bakura was quiet a moment. "I'm afraid of what might happen. What if he sent me here to get closer to you so he can use that against you? What if he planned this all to happen and by fighting him I did what he wanted? What if I learn something that could be used against you if he learns it from me? What if I can't stop myself from thinking things that I don't want to say out loud?"
"I don't care!" Yuugi said strongly. "You're my friend and I don't care!"
Bakura looked up, eyes wide. "Yuugi-kun...." he near whispered in surprise.
Yuugi reached out and hugged Bakura tightly. "I don't want you to be alone," He muttered embarrassedly.
The pale haired boy stiffened slightly in startlement, but slowly relaxed. "Yuugi-kun..." he near whimpered, hugging the boy in return as his eyes watered.
"So you can come in...."
"Can't we just stay like this....?" Bakura asked unconsciously, burying his face against the smaller boy. "I haven't been hugged in to long...."
"We can hug inside too," Yuugi said, a slight hopeful tint to his voice.
Bakura gave a small smile. "I didn't mean to say that aloud, gomen," he apologized. Slowly, he pulled away and shakily rose to his feet, rubbing under and eye to hid the tears that had been forming.
Yuugi released him reluctantly. "It's ok."
"I'll try harder not to think aloud," Bakura assured. "It's just hard when..." he broke off, looking slightly embarrassed. "You-- you said you had games....?" he asked, changing the subject.
"When...?" Yuugi asked softly.
Bakura looked down, fidgeting slightly. "I just feel more at ease around you, but I'm always afraid I'll say the wrong thing and then you'll yell at me like Anzu-chan and Jounouchi-kun always do."
"I won't yell at you for anything, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said softly, taking Bakura's hand self-consciously.
The pale haired boy looked up, eyes wide and hopefully. He gave a small smile, curling his fingers around Yuugi's with a slight blush.
Yuugi tugged slightly, pulling Bakura into the soul room.
Bakura gave a sigh, putting his cards down. They had swiftly discovered that strategy games weren't much fun when both of them could hear the other thinking their moves and had moved to more luck based games. It was also awkward for Bakura when the pair had played Spit, as he had been using his left hand, which was unaffected by the permanent shadow his transformation had given him, and more then once when the boys had both slapped the same pile, Bakura's hand had rested too long over Yuugi's before he had pulled away with a blush.
Yuugi looked around the room, trying to find something that they could play. He could still feel Bakura's hand on top of his and wondered if he were too fixated on the other boy or if it was normal for falling for someone.
"No more games for now?" Bakura requested softly.
"Ok," Yuugi agreed. "I'm sorry there's nothing else...."
"It's okay," the pale haired boy smiled. He stretched slightly, leaning back against the wall, unconsciously spreading his wings so he wouldn't be leaning against them.
Yuugi breathed out, watching the maneuver with adoring eyes.
"Ne, Yuugi-kun..." Bakura said after a long moment. "You-- you said we could hug in here...?" he asked almost timidly, looking slightly embarrassed at the request.
Yuugi blushed and hugged Bakura.
The pale haired boy nearly melted into the hug, returning it with a soft sigh, wings curling slightly around the pair, expression content.
Yuugi cuddled close, blissfully unaware of anything other than the arms of his crush around him.
"You don't mind, do you?" Bakura asked softly.
"Mind?"
"This," Bakura said with a slight blush.
Yuugi shook his head, then rested it against Bakura's shoulder.
The pale haired boy gave a soft smile. "Yokatta..." he said, eyes closing as he relaxed fully. "I never realized how much I missed this..." he thought wistfully.
"Missed...?"
"I haven't been hugged or held since Tousan...." Bakura trailed off, eyes saddening.
"Since your father...?"
"Since he died," Bakura finished softly.
"Bakura-kun!" Yuugi exclaimed, eyes wide with sympathy.
"Tousan-- he-- he just never got better after the accident," the pale haired boy's arms tightened around the smaller boy slightly. "As if without Kaasan and Amane, I wasn't enough to keep him alive." He grimaced slightly. "Go-gomen, I didn't mean to think that so you could hear it."
"No!" Yuugi said, shaking his head. "You should have been enough! It wasn't your fault!"
Bakura looked up. "Yuugi-kun..." He gave a small shaky smile before hugging the boy tightly, eyes overflowing. "Arigatou," he cried softly, burying his face against Yuugi's shoulder.
Yuugi hugged him tightly.
A while later, the pair haired boy pulled away slightly, rubbing his eyes. "Gomen, I've been crying so much today," he apologized with a self deprecating laugh.
"Iie, it's ok," Yuugi comforted. "You have reasons."
Bakura gave a small smile, nodding. "I just don't want to be a burden to you." he said softly. "You've been so wonderful and all I've done is cry and worry," he continued silently.
"It's ok," Yuugi said again. "I like you...."
Bakura blushed slightly. "In-- in that way...?" he asked timidly.
Yuugi blushed and nodded.
"Oh..." Bakura's blush deepened, but he didn't pull away.
"You don't mind?"
Bakura shook his head slightly. "I'd just thought you liked Anzu-chan."
"Anzu? Why Anzu?"
"The way you'd look at her, and because she obviously likes you," Bakura said softly. "She's almost possessive about you," he added silently.
"Anzu's a good friend," Yuugi said with a smile. "And she's always protected me from bullies so it's understandable that she gets possessive."
"Oh..." Bakura said softly, looking embarrassed. "It always looked like she'd attack me if I looked at you too long," he thought aloud, cheeks red once more.
"You look at me?" Yuugi asked, pink with hopefulness.
The pale haired boy nodded with embarrassment, not meeting Yuugi's eyes.
"In... that way?"
"I-- I don't know," Bakura confesses nervously. "You-- You were the first person to-- I mean.." He put a hand over where the Ring normally rested. "You didn't run away..." he said softly, eyes wistful as he smiled slightly, blush slowly fading
"Because I wanted to be your friend. I wanted to be close to you," Yuugi said with a small smile.
Bakura smiled, looking at the smaller boy. "You're the closest friend I've ever had," he said softly.
"I'm happy that I can be your friend."
Bakura hugged the smaller boy closely.
"Ne, Bakura-kun. It's late. You should rest...."
"U--Un..." the pale haired boy agreed, hesitated slightly. "Demo..." He looked around the room with was filled solely with toys and games.
Yuugi closed his eyes and thought hard, creating a bed in a relatively clean corner.
Bakura blinked, eyes widening in surprise before giving a small sheepish smile. "I almost forgot," he laughed, looking embarrassed. "Since it's Yuugi-kun's room, Yuugi-kun can change it." He hesitated a moment. "Demo... just one bed...?"
"I don't think there's enough room with all the toys," Yuugi said, rubbing the back of his head. "Is it a problem?"
The pale haired boy hesitated again, looking torn. "It'd be rude of me, but-- maybe we can snuggle...?" he thought, blushing again.
Yuugi's face lit up. "You want to?"
Bakura's blush deepened when he realized the thought had been heard. He gave a small nod, eyes low. "I-- I like it when..." he ducked his head slightly, unable to finish the sentence for his blushing.
"You like to snuggle?" Yuugi guessed.
Bakura nodded, face still bright red as he fidgeted slightly, wringing his hands.
Yuugi beamed, taking the other boy's hands in his own. "Then let's go to sleep."
Bakura looked up. "You-- you don't mind...?" he asked meekly.
"I like to be near you," Yuugi admitted.
"Really...?" Bakura asked hopefully. "Like-- like this...?"
Yuugi nodded.
The pale haired boy's smile was radiant and he hugged the smaller boy again. "Just let me know if I'm being too clingy and I'll stop."
"I don't mind," Yuugi said.
Bakura gave a blissful sigh. "You're so wonderful..." he thought aloud. "What started as a nightmare is starting to be like a dream..." He blushed brightly. "Go--gomen, I didn't mean to--"
"It's ok," Yuugi said. "I don't mind."
Bakura relaxed again. "Arigatou," he said softly.
Yuugi stood on his toes for a moment, looking like he was about to kiss the paler boy, then sank back, abashed. "Gomen. Let's just go to sleep."
"U--un..." Bakura nodded, blushing again. He hesitated a moment, looking at the bed. "Did-- did you want the side by the wall or the outside?"
"Whichever one. You choose," Yuugi said with a smile.
Bakura hesitated a moment. "Could I have the outside...?" he asked timidly. "So you could hold me?" he continued silently.
Yuugi's face lit up. "You want me to?"
Bakura blushed darkly and nodded. "I like it when you hold me," he admitted meekly.
The smaller boy glowed. "I'd love to!"
Bakura smiled, then pause. "Oh... my wings'll get in the way...." he sighed in realization, shoulders slumping.
"It'll be ok," Yuugi said with a shy smile. "I like the wings."
"May.. maybe if I face you they won't be in the way...?" Bakura asked timidly.
Yuugi nodded. Holding Bakura's hands, he helped the boy climb into bed and hugged him as they settled down to sleep.
The winged boy curled up slightly against Yuugi's chest, eyes closing. Almost unconsciously his fingers curled in the cloth of the smaller boy's shirt. "Yuugi-kun..." he though sleepily with a blissful sigh.
Yuugi melted.
"Bakura-kun.... why didn't you come in? I said it was ok."
The pale haired boy looked up, eyes slightly red as he rubbed the half dried tears from his cheek. "I didn't want to intrude..."
"I said it was ok," Yuugi repeated. I don't mind...."
Bakura shook his head again, looking down at his knees. "It's-- it's your soul room, Yuugi-kun..." he said as if it explained everything. "I feel like I'm invading you badly enough just being here, I couldn't--"
"You can't just sit out here, Bakura-kun...." Yuugi said. "And I'll feel like a bad host if you do. You should come in. We can... play a game... or look at the Playboys... or I can think of something! Please, Bakura-kun."
"Don't you like me?" he asked softly, unaware that he was speaking aloud.
Bakura winced slightly. "Of course I like you..." he mumbled softly, not looking up. "That's why I'm almost afraid to..." He winced again, realizing he had been thinking aloud again.
"Afraid to..?"
Bakura was quiet a moment. "I'm afraid of what might happen. What if he sent me here to get closer to you so he can use that against you? What if he planned this all to happen and by fighting him I did what he wanted? What if I learn something that could be used against you if he learns it from me? What if I can't stop myself from thinking things that I don't want to say out loud?"
"I don't care!" Yuugi said strongly. "You're my friend and I don't care!"
Bakura looked up, eyes wide. "Yuugi-kun...." he near whispered in surprise.
Yuugi reached out and hugged Bakura tightly. "I don't want you to be alone," He muttered embarrassedly.
The pale haired boy stiffened slightly in startlement, but slowly relaxed. "Yuugi-kun..." he near whimpered, hugging the boy in return as his eyes watered.
"So you can come in...."
"Can't we just stay like this....?" Bakura asked unconsciously, burying his face against the smaller boy. "I haven't been hugged in to long...."
"We can hug inside too," Yuugi said, a slight hopeful tint to his voice.
Bakura gave a small smile. "I didn't mean to say that aloud, gomen," he apologized. Slowly, he pulled away and shakily rose to his feet, rubbing under and eye to hid the tears that had been forming.
Yuugi released him reluctantly. "It's ok."
"I'll try harder not to think aloud," Bakura assured. "It's just hard when..." he broke off, looking slightly embarrassed. "You-- you said you had games....?" he asked, changing the subject.
"When...?" Yuugi asked softly.
Bakura looked down, fidgeting slightly. "I just feel more at ease around you, but I'm always afraid I'll say the wrong thing and then you'll yell at me like Anzu-chan and Jounouchi-kun always do."
"I won't yell at you for anything, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said softly, taking Bakura's hand self-consciously.
The pale haired boy looked up, eyes wide and hopefully. He gave a small smile, curling his fingers around Yuugi's with a slight blush.
Yuugi tugged slightly, pulling Bakura into the soul room.
Bakura gave a sigh, putting his cards down. They had swiftly discovered that strategy games weren't much fun when both of them could hear the other thinking their moves and had moved to more luck based games. It was also awkward for Bakura when the pair had played Spit, as he had been using his left hand, which was unaffected by the permanent shadow his transformation had given him, and more then once when the boys had both slapped the same pile, Bakura's hand had rested too long over Yuugi's before he had pulled away with a blush.
Yuugi looked around the room, trying to find something that they could play. He could still feel Bakura's hand on top of his and wondered if he were too fixated on the other boy or if it was normal for falling for someone.
"No more games for now?" Bakura requested softly.
"Ok," Yuugi agreed. "I'm sorry there's nothing else...."
"It's okay," the pale haired boy smiled. He stretched slightly, leaning back against the wall, unconsciously spreading his wings so he wouldn't be leaning against them.
Yuugi breathed out, watching the maneuver with adoring eyes.
"Ne, Yuugi-kun..." Bakura said after a long moment. "You-- you said we could hug in here...?" he asked almost timidly, looking slightly embarrassed at the request.
Yuugi blushed and hugged Bakura.
The pale haired boy nearly melted into the hug, returning it with a soft sigh, wings curling slightly around the pair, expression content.
Yuugi cuddled close, blissfully unaware of anything other than the arms of his crush around him.
"You don't mind, do you?" Bakura asked softly.
"Mind?"
"This," Bakura said with a slight blush.
Yuugi shook his head, then rested it against Bakura's shoulder.
The pale haired boy gave a soft smile. "Yokatta..." he said, eyes closing as he relaxed fully. "I never realized how much I missed this..." he thought wistfully.
"Missed...?"
"I haven't been hugged or held since Tousan...." Bakura trailed off, eyes saddening.
"Since your father...?"
"Since he died," Bakura finished softly.
"Bakura-kun!" Yuugi exclaimed, eyes wide with sympathy.
"Tousan-- he-- he just never got better after the accident," the pale haired boy's arms tightened around the smaller boy slightly. "As if without Kaasan and Amane, I wasn't enough to keep him alive." He grimaced slightly. "Go-gomen, I didn't mean to think that so you could hear it."
"No!" Yuugi said, shaking his head. "You should have been enough! It wasn't your fault!"
Bakura looked up. "Yuugi-kun..." He gave a small shaky smile before hugging the boy tightly, eyes overflowing. "Arigatou," he cried softly, burying his face against Yuugi's shoulder.
Yuugi hugged him tightly.
A while later, the pair haired boy pulled away slightly, rubbing his eyes. "Gomen, I've been crying so much today," he apologized with a self deprecating laugh.
"Iie, it's ok," Yuugi comforted. "You have reasons."
Bakura gave a small smile, nodding. "I just don't want to be a burden to you." he said softly. "You've been so wonderful and all I've done is cry and worry," he continued silently.
"It's ok," Yuugi said again. "I like you...."
Bakura blushed slightly. "In-- in that way...?" he asked timidly.
Yuugi blushed and nodded.
"Oh..." Bakura's blush deepened, but he didn't pull away.
"You don't mind?"
Bakura shook his head slightly. "I'd just thought you liked Anzu-chan."
"Anzu? Why Anzu?"
"The way you'd look at her, and because she obviously likes you," Bakura said softly. "She's almost possessive about you," he added silently.
"Anzu's a good friend," Yuugi said with a smile. "And she's always protected me from bullies so it's understandable that she gets possessive."
"Oh..." Bakura said softly, looking embarrassed. "It always looked like she'd attack me if I looked at you too long," he thought aloud, cheeks red once more.
"You look at me?" Yuugi asked, pink with hopefulness.
The pale haired boy nodded with embarrassment, not meeting Yuugi's eyes.
"In... that way?"
"I-- I don't know," Bakura confesses nervously. "You-- You were the first person to-- I mean.." He put a hand over where the Ring normally rested. "You didn't run away..." he said softly, eyes wistful as he smiled slightly, blush slowly fading
"Because I wanted to be your friend. I wanted to be close to you," Yuugi said with a small smile.
Bakura smiled, looking at the smaller boy. "You're the closest friend I've ever had," he said softly.
"I'm happy that I can be your friend."
Bakura hugged the smaller boy closely.
"Ne, Bakura-kun. It's late. You should rest...."
"U--Un..." the pale haired boy agreed, hesitated slightly. "Demo..." He looked around the room with was filled solely with toys and games.
Yuugi closed his eyes and thought hard, creating a bed in a relatively clean corner.
Bakura blinked, eyes widening in surprise before giving a small sheepish smile. "I almost forgot," he laughed, looking embarrassed. "Since it's Yuugi-kun's room, Yuugi-kun can change it." He hesitated a moment. "Demo... just one bed...?"
"I don't think there's enough room with all the toys," Yuugi said, rubbing the back of his head. "Is it a problem?"
The pale haired boy hesitated again, looking torn. "It'd be rude of me, but-- maybe we can snuggle...?" he thought, blushing again.
Yuugi's face lit up. "You want to?"
Bakura's blush deepened when he realized the thought had been heard. He gave a small nod, eyes low. "I-- I like it when..." he ducked his head slightly, unable to finish the sentence for his blushing.
"You like to snuggle?" Yuugi guessed.
Bakura nodded, face still bright red as he fidgeted slightly, wringing his hands.
Yuugi beamed, taking the other boy's hands in his own. "Then let's go to sleep."
Bakura looked up. "You-- you don't mind...?" he asked meekly.
"I like to be near you," Yuugi admitted.
"Really...?" Bakura asked hopefully. "Like-- like this...?"
Yuugi nodded.
The pale haired boy's smile was radiant and he hugged the smaller boy again. "Just let me know if I'm being too clingy and I'll stop."
"I don't mind," Yuugi said.
Bakura gave a blissful sigh. "You're so wonderful..." he thought aloud. "What started as a nightmare is starting to be like a dream..." He blushed brightly. "Go--gomen, I didn't mean to--"
"It's ok," Yuugi said. "I don't mind."
Bakura relaxed again. "Arigatou," he said softly.
Yuugi stood on his toes for a moment, looking like he was about to kiss the paler boy, then sank back, abashed. "Gomen. Let's just go to sleep."
"U--un..." Bakura nodded, blushing again. He hesitated a moment, looking at the bed. "Did-- did you want the side by the wall or the outside?"
"Whichever one. You choose," Yuugi said with a smile.
Bakura hesitated a moment. "Could I have the outside...?" he asked timidly. "So you could hold me?" he continued silently.
Yuugi's face lit up. "You want me to?"
Bakura blushed darkly and nodded. "I like it when you hold me," he admitted meekly.
The smaller boy glowed. "I'd love to!"
Bakura smiled, then pause. "Oh... my wings'll get in the way...." he sighed in realization, shoulders slumping.
"It'll be ok," Yuugi said with a shy smile. "I like the wings."
"May.. maybe if I face you they won't be in the way...?" Bakura asked timidly.
Yuugi nodded. Holding Bakura's hands, he helped the boy climb into bed and hugged him as they settled down to sleep.
The winged boy curled up slightly against Yuugi's chest, eyes closing. Almost unconsciously his fingers curled in the cloth of the smaller boy's shirt. "Yuugi-kun..." he though sleepily with a blissful sigh.
Yuugi melted.
