TITLE: Not What You Think (Not What I Think)
CHAPTER: 2
STATUS: Work in Progress
AUTHOR: Synchronized Love
RATING: PG-13
CATEGORY: Angst/Psychological
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Don't sue. Plzkthx. :3
PAIRING(S): Suggestible Seto/Yami; it's more angst than romantic, but it's pretty evident that it's the main attempted pairing in this fic.
AUTHOR NOTE: Well, here I am again. Originally, I was going to leave it at that. However, your reviews (plus some death threats o0) have inspired me to continue this fic, and make it into a multi-chapter story. In this chapter, there is no interaction between Seto or Yami, nor are there any flashbacks. I may do that next chapter. Anyway, this chapter is mainly Yami/Yuugi. No, not romance. I'm not pairing them up at all in this story. I just couldn't leave Yuugi in the dark after chapter one, so I had to give them both some interaction and understanding. It's rather cute, I'll admit. ^_^ Angsty, as well. So yes .. enjoy this chapter, and do review. Thanks.
RECOGNITION: (thank you to the following reviewers 3) Blue September, Kayrie, Sakura Li, Annonymous, Moonlitspire, Adrie, Aoi Hitome, Yummy Yami, Tainted Fortune, "...", Sailor Pride and Yumi-chan
` words ` = thoughts
_words_ = stresses on words
/words/ = Yuugi talking to Yami
//words// = Yami talking to Yuugi
*~*~*
How _embarrassing_.
With an unceremonious entrance back into the Kame Game Shop, the door closed softly, almost soundlessly, Yami clicking the lock and leaning against the wooden frame. His eyes still stung, and his head hurt from all the tears he had shed in the park. Crimson orbs stared at the floor, becoming half-lidded while he remembered the reaching why he was in such discomfort at the moment. His cheeks were still warm from the blush to his face after he soon realized that the brunette had taken him into his arms and held him for a good five minutes, allowing him to sob to his heart's content. When Yami had stopped crying, he immediately stiffened in Seto's arms, not believing this, believing that this man, a cold-hearted duelist, was trying to comfort him. In an instant, Yami tore away, and blindly ran, not caring if the other called out for him.
*
Seto didn't, however. He just watched him run, his own mind filled with questions as to who this person was. The person who looked so much like Yuugi, but wasn't Yuugi. He had denied that name, refused to be called by it, and couldn't give a name to call himself by. It was rather strange to find someone who looked so much like Yuugi, even down to the Puzzle that hung around, who wasn't even him. Never having a belief in conspiracies or coincidences, the brunette simply stared in the direction that the adolescent ran off to, and stood up from the bench, making his way back in the opposite direction. He had to get some form of rest for the next day, as he ran a company, and also went to school to get his education. Vaguely, however, Seto realized that the other had been running in the direction of the Game Shop. It caused him to pause shortly, and glance back. Cerulean hues stared at the trees in the park and the empty sidewalk before he shook his head. "Could Yuugi have ..? No. That wasn't him at all. If I had to memorize only one thing about Yuugi, it's the fact that he has purple eyes, and not those ruby red ones that this kid possessed .." Turning his head to the path ahead of him, Seto continued to walk, not knowing how close, yet how far off he was from the actual truth.
*
~FLASHBACK~
"Yuugi .."
"I'm not Yuugi. Don't call me that. Just .. don't .."
Seto's eyes widened. "Then wh-"
"I don't know ..."
~END FLASHBACK~
` Who am I? `
Those three words often appeared in his mind, plaguing him, for him to at least try and figure out even a remote hint of who he was. Knowledge of him being a Pharaoh from three millennia ago wasn't enough to ease his mind. What was Yami's name, his keepsake? In a bittersweet train of thought, the spirit found this rather humorous. Just a few hours ago, all he could think about was of Seth. Seth this, and Seth that. A man whom he thought loved him when Yami himself loved him too. Lies. All lies that only toyed with him and brought him into the pit of despair, where the sadness threatened to drown him. And while he was drowning, Seth's reincarnation appeared, taking him into his arms, letting him breathe once more and quake within his powerful arms.
Now he just wanted to know who he was. At least, with that knowledge, he could say he was someone in this world. He existed, even if his lover did not love him. Yami could proudly say that he held some form of identity, other than being 'the other Yuugi.'
Yami closed his eyes, eventually lifting himself from the doorframe as he made a sluggish walk towards the stairs. Those eyes opened briefly once more, so he could see his way up to the second floor amidst the darkness in the Game Shop. Just by the silence, he knew that everyone was asleep. Slowly he made his way up, each stair moaning gently from his weight. It would only take a few minutes to ascend to the second floor, the former Pharaoh soon walking in the direction of Yuugi's room.
That was when he heard it: faint sobs silently floating about in his light's room. `Aibou?` Yami thought with worry filling his mind, pushing away all other thoughts from his head as he slowly opened the door. The lamp was on, illuminating a gentle glow towards the bed, where a small form was writhing about in bed, covered in his blankets. "Aibou ..?" He called out gently, not receiving a response. Crimson hues became filled with concern, Yami walking towards the bed and placing his hand upon the figure. Nothing. When the spirit pulled down the blankets to at least reveal Yuugi's face to the gentle glow of the lamp, he noticed the redness in the little one's cheeks. Tears continuously spilled down Yuugi's face, gentle moans coming out in unison with every tear.
Yami's eyes widened. Why? Why was Yuugi crying? He couldn't understand it at all. Moving to kneel on the floor, he reached out and took hold of one of Yuugi's hands, enveloping it within his own as he watched the other cry in his slumber. Was it a nightmare? The constant squirming made it seem like Yuugi was struggling against someone or something, and his cries seemed to be him losing something important to him. But, Yami couldn't put his finger on it. At least, until the other began crying out vocally.
"Don't do this alone! Please! I'll always be by your side. Yami! Don't go! I beg of you, don't leave me! Yami!"
`For .. me ..?`
Yuugi shot up from his bed, his eyes wide and fearful. Tears splattered onto his face as he struggled against some unknown force. "Yami! Yami don't go! Yami!"
"Aibou!"
Silence.
Yami's arms wound around Yuugi's waist tightly like a hook. When Yuugi began to struggle, it was evident that his hikari was amidst sleep and consciousness, fighting to catch up with the dream version of himself. When Yuugi shot up and nearly jumped off the bed, the hold on the hand quickly moved to around the other's waist, pulling Yami up with him quite literally. It was when Yami called out to him in reality, did Yuugi stop and look over to see whether the voice was real or not.
"M-mou hitori no boku .."
When Yuugi quickly turned his body swiftly to latch himself to Yami's form, his arms wrapped around the other's body as he cried into Yami's shoulder, the Pharaoh merely held him. Yami closed his eyes, rubbing Yuugi's lower back while the other cried his tears away, his hands clutching onto Yami's clothing like before. He was trembling from the intensity of his own cries, having evidently been worried that Yami would leave and never return to him again. `I'd never leave him, though. Why would he think such a thing?` //I am not .. worth your tears.//
/Yami ../
//Hm?//
/This is the first time you've used the l-link .. _our_ link .. in a long time./
More shock. Had Yami been that dense lately? `Obviously so. Dear Ra, with my thinking of Seth, I never realized how much I was hurting my Aibou. I could kick myself.`
/Mou hitori no boku?/
//Yes, Aibou?//
/You will always be worth my tears. I care about you more than anything else. You scared me so much when you left. I thought .. I thought you'd never return to me. Ever./
//Oh Yuugi .. I'm sorry.//
/Just never leave me again! I won't pressure you to tell me anything. I won't suffocate you. I won't do anything to drive you away like I did before. All I ask it that you stay with me./
Yuugi's voice had begun to falter even in their link, which signaled how desperate and upset the other was. Yami closed his eyes, continuing to massage the other's lower back, calming him, allowing the other to relax in his embrace. Never, never would Yami leave Yuugi. If he could help it, he would stay by his partner's side forever. Right? `I shouldn't even question that. Of course I would ..` Slowly, he pulled Yuugi back from his shoulders, tilting Yuugi's head up so that both of their heads were leveled with each other. With his eyes slowly opening, the former Pharaoh's ruby red hues met with those pure, watery amethyst orbs. One hand reached to touch Yuugi's cheek, emitting a blush from the other. Yami smiled gently.
"I'd never leave you. You never drove me away nor suffocated me ever, Aibou. I needed to step outside and think. I had to. Otherwise I could have done things that I would never think of doing in front of you. I stepped out to protect you, and myself. I couldn't risk .. hurting you. I never knew .. that I was hurting you by stepping out." When another tear slipped down Yuugi's eyes, the spirit's thumb reached up and brushed it away, causing a small smile to appear on Yuugi's face. Leaning closely to the other, Yami brushed his lips against Yuugi's forehead. He then whispered, "I am not ready now. But, I promise you I'll tell you what's been on my mind when I can."
Yuugi nodded, and looked up at Yami, following the kiss to his forehead. "Okay." It was spoken rather cutely, making Yami laugh because of it. Yuugi simply blushed and looked down with a shy look. Then suddenly, a yawn escaped those slightly smiling lips of his. This raised one of Yami's eyebrows, soon realizing how late it was. With a gentle release of Yuugi's face and body, Yami was about to leave when he felt the hold on his shirt not relenting. Crimson eyes gazed back to the little one, staring at those solemn spheres of amethyst. "Stay with me? Tonight?" Yuugi pleaded, not wanting to be alone without his darkness tonight.
Yami hesitated, but eventually nodded, walking back to the bed and settling himself on one side while Yuugi scooted over, pulling his blankets so that Yami could settle in. Once the former Pharaoh was comfortable, Yuugi covered himself and Yami completely, and laid his head on the pillow. Yami did the same, and both of their eyes met for a long time. Yami reached over and brushed another kiss upon Yuugi's forehead. "Sleep well, Aibou." Yuugi sighed and nodded, moving in to snuggle with the former Pharaoh, pressing his body against Yami's. He closed his eyes, and allowed his exhaustion to get the better of him, lulling the little one into a deep sleep.
Crimson hues watched, his arm snaking around Yuugi's waist carefully, massaging the other's back for a few moments, keeping the light as comfortable as possible. Soon, he too fell asleep, his mind drifting from Yuugi's state of vulnerability, to his own mental state. The dreams of his near death that evening wracked through his body once more, remembering every event from when he narrowly dodged that knife to when his own attempt to keep himself alive stole away the soul of the one man who he truly felt for. Whom he truly _loved_. Yami vaguely remembered other events other than this, his past still a blur to him. But he knew for a fact that Seth did love him. What had changed those feelings that night was still a mystery. The former Pharaoh was determined to know, even in his self-conscious.
Then his mind shifted to the mystery of his keepsake.
These dreams, flashbacks, mysteries all had even the most remote shred of evident to Yami's past. It was more than obvious to notice that. While the same dream, or nightmare, played over and over, relentlessly plaguing the Pharaoh with guilt, fear, and vulnerability, a question clicked into his mind. Seth's death, his lost memory, his lost keepsake .. were they all related somehow? Could they be melded into one single, solitary conclusion, reasoning, or solution? Determination crossed Yami's slumbered features at this mind whirred around those possibilities.
Was there still a chance at figuring it out?
Could he make up for everything now?
Was a part of Seth still existent in Seto's body?
"Seth .." Yami whispered, turning his head gently in his sleep, moaning in discomfort slightly. Stirred by the gentle sounds from his darkness, with a half-lidded gaze, Yuugi watched worriedly, reaching up to touch Yami's cheek with his hand.
"Yami .."
* * *
(END CHAPTER TWO.)
R/R, please. =3 Remember, I'll take opinions, praises, and constructive criticism. ^_^ Hopefully this chapter wasn't too boring for you all. Bye for now!
CHAPTER: 2
STATUS: Work in Progress
AUTHOR: Synchronized Love
RATING: PG-13
CATEGORY: Angst/Psychological
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Don't sue. Plzkthx. :3
PAIRING(S): Suggestible Seto/Yami; it's more angst than romantic, but it's pretty evident that it's the main attempted pairing in this fic.
AUTHOR NOTE: Well, here I am again. Originally, I was going to leave it at that. However, your reviews (plus some death threats o0) have inspired me to continue this fic, and make it into a multi-chapter story. In this chapter, there is no interaction between Seto or Yami, nor are there any flashbacks. I may do that next chapter. Anyway, this chapter is mainly Yami/Yuugi. No, not romance. I'm not pairing them up at all in this story. I just couldn't leave Yuugi in the dark after chapter one, so I had to give them both some interaction and understanding. It's rather cute, I'll admit. ^_^ Angsty, as well. So yes .. enjoy this chapter, and do review. Thanks.
RECOGNITION: (thank you to the following reviewers 3) Blue September, Kayrie, Sakura Li, Annonymous, Moonlitspire, Adrie, Aoi Hitome, Yummy Yami, Tainted Fortune, "...", Sailor Pride and Yumi-chan
` words ` = thoughts
_words_ = stresses on words
/words/ = Yuugi talking to Yami
//words// = Yami talking to Yuugi
*~*~*
How _embarrassing_.
With an unceremonious entrance back into the Kame Game Shop, the door closed softly, almost soundlessly, Yami clicking the lock and leaning against the wooden frame. His eyes still stung, and his head hurt from all the tears he had shed in the park. Crimson orbs stared at the floor, becoming half-lidded while he remembered the reaching why he was in such discomfort at the moment. His cheeks were still warm from the blush to his face after he soon realized that the brunette had taken him into his arms and held him for a good five minutes, allowing him to sob to his heart's content. When Yami had stopped crying, he immediately stiffened in Seto's arms, not believing this, believing that this man, a cold-hearted duelist, was trying to comfort him. In an instant, Yami tore away, and blindly ran, not caring if the other called out for him.
*
Seto didn't, however. He just watched him run, his own mind filled with questions as to who this person was. The person who looked so much like Yuugi, but wasn't Yuugi. He had denied that name, refused to be called by it, and couldn't give a name to call himself by. It was rather strange to find someone who looked so much like Yuugi, even down to the Puzzle that hung around, who wasn't even him. Never having a belief in conspiracies or coincidences, the brunette simply stared in the direction that the adolescent ran off to, and stood up from the bench, making his way back in the opposite direction. He had to get some form of rest for the next day, as he ran a company, and also went to school to get his education. Vaguely, however, Seto realized that the other had been running in the direction of the Game Shop. It caused him to pause shortly, and glance back. Cerulean hues stared at the trees in the park and the empty sidewalk before he shook his head. "Could Yuugi have ..? No. That wasn't him at all. If I had to memorize only one thing about Yuugi, it's the fact that he has purple eyes, and not those ruby red ones that this kid possessed .." Turning his head to the path ahead of him, Seto continued to walk, not knowing how close, yet how far off he was from the actual truth.
*
~FLASHBACK~
"Yuugi .."
"I'm not Yuugi. Don't call me that. Just .. don't .."
Seto's eyes widened. "Then wh-"
"I don't know ..."
~END FLASHBACK~
` Who am I? `
Those three words often appeared in his mind, plaguing him, for him to at least try and figure out even a remote hint of who he was. Knowledge of him being a Pharaoh from three millennia ago wasn't enough to ease his mind. What was Yami's name, his keepsake? In a bittersweet train of thought, the spirit found this rather humorous. Just a few hours ago, all he could think about was of Seth. Seth this, and Seth that. A man whom he thought loved him when Yami himself loved him too. Lies. All lies that only toyed with him and brought him into the pit of despair, where the sadness threatened to drown him. And while he was drowning, Seth's reincarnation appeared, taking him into his arms, letting him breathe once more and quake within his powerful arms.
Now he just wanted to know who he was. At least, with that knowledge, he could say he was someone in this world. He existed, even if his lover did not love him. Yami could proudly say that he held some form of identity, other than being 'the other Yuugi.'
Yami closed his eyes, eventually lifting himself from the doorframe as he made a sluggish walk towards the stairs. Those eyes opened briefly once more, so he could see his way up to the second floor amidst the darkness in the Game Shop. Just by the silence, he knew that everyone was asleep. Slowly he made his way up, each stair moaning gently from his weight. It would only take a few minutes to ascend to the second floor, the former Pharaoh soon walking in the direction of Yuugi's room.
That was when he heard it: faint sobs silently floating about in his light's room. `Aibou?` Yami thought with worry filling his mind, pushing away all other thoughts from his head as he slowly opened the door. The lamp was on, illuminating a gentle glow towards the bed, where a small form was writhing about in bed, covered in his blankets. "Aibou ..?" He called out gently, not receiving a response. Crimson hues became filled with concern, Yami walking towards the bed and placing his hand upon the figure. Nothing. When the spirit pulled down the blankets to at least reveal Yuugi's face to the gentle glow of the lamp, he noticed the redness in the little one's cheeks. Tears continuously spilled down Yuugi's face, gentle moans coming out in unison with every tear.
Yami's eyes widened. Why? Why was Yuugi crying? He couldn't understand it at all. Moving to kneel on the floor, he reached out and took hold of one of Yuugi's hands, enveloping it within his own as he watched the other cry in his slumber. Was it a nightmare? The constant squirming made it seem like Yuugi was struggling against someone or something, and his cries seemed to be him losing something important to him. But, Yami couldn't put his finger on it. At least, until the other began crying out vocally.
"Don't do this alone! Please! I'll always be by your side. Yami! Don't go! I beg of you, don't leave me! Yami!"
`For .. me ..?`
Yuugi shot up from his bed, his eyes wide and fearful. Tears splattered onto his face as he struggled against some unknown force. "Yami! Yami don't go! Yami!"
"Aibou!"
Silence.
Yami's arms wound around Yuugi's waist tightly like a hook. When Yuugi began to struggle, it was evident that his hikari was amidst sleep and consciousness, fighting to catch up with the dream version of himself. When Yuugi shot up and nearly jumped off the bed, the hold on the hand quickly moved to around the other's waist, pulling Yami up with him quite literally. It was when Yami called out to him in reality, did Yuugi stop and look over to see whether the voice was real or not.
"M-mou hitori no boku .."
When Yuugi quickly turned his body swiftly to latch himself to Yami's form, his arms wrapped around the other's body as he cried into Yami's shoulder, the Pharaoh merely held him. Yami closed his eyes, rubbing Yuugi's lower back while the other cried his tears away, his hands clutching onto Yami's clothing like before. He was trembling from the intensity of his own cries, having evidently been worried that Yami would leave and never return to him again. `I'd never leave him, though. Why would he think such a thing?` //I am not .. worth your tears.//
/Yami ../
//Hm?//
/This is the first time you've used the l-link .. _our_ link .. in a long time./
More shock. Had Yami been that dense lately? `Obviously so. Dear Ra, with my thinking of Seth, I never realized how much I was hurting my Aibou. I could kick myself.`
/Mou hitori no boku?/
//Yes, Aibou?//
/You will always be worth my tears. I care about you more than anything else. You scared me so much when you left. I thought .. I thought you'd never return to me. Ever./
//Oh Yuugi .. I'm sorry.//
/Just never leave me again! I won't pressure you to tell me anything. I won't suffocate you. I won't do anything to drive you away like I did before. All I ask it that you stay with me./
Yuugi's voice had begun to falter even in their link, which signaled how desperate and upset the other was. Yami closed his eyes, continuing to massage the other's lower back, calming him, allowing the other to relax in his embrace. Never, never would Yami leave Yuugi. If he could help it, he would stay by his partner's side forever. Right? `I shouldn't even question that. Of course I would ..` Slowly, he pulled Yuugi back from his shoulders, tilting Yuugi's head up so that both of their heads were leveled with each other. With his eyes slowly opening, the former Pharaoh's ruby red hues met with those pure, watery amethyst orbs. One hand reached to touch Yuugi's cheek, emitting a blush from the other. Yami smiled gently.
"I'd never leave you. You never drove me away nor suffocated me ever, Aibou. I needed to step outside and think. I had to. Otherwise I could have done things that I would never think of doing in front of you. I stepped out to protect you, and myself. I couldn't risk .. hurting you. I never knew .. that I was hurting you by stepping out." When another tear slipped down Yuugi's eyes, the spirit's thumb reached up and brushed it away, causing a small smile to appear on Yuugi's face. Leaning closely to the other, Yami brushed his lips against Yuugi's forehead. He then whispered, "I am not ready now. But, I promise you I'll tell you what's been on my mind when I can."
Yuugi nodded, and looked up at Yami, following the kiss to his forehead. "Okay." It was spoken rather cutely, making Yami laugh because of it. Yuugi simply blushed and looked down with a shy look. Then suddenly, a yawn escaped those slightly smiling lips of his. This raised one of Yami's eyebrows, soon realizing how late it was. With a gentle release of Yuugi's face and body, Yami was about to leave when he felt the hold on his shirt not relenting. Crimson eyes gazed back to the little one, staring at those solemn spheres of amethyst. "Stay with me? Tonight?" Yuugi pleaded, not wanting to be alone without his darkness tonight.
Yami hesitated, but eventually nodded, walking back to the bed and settling himself on one side while Yuugi scooted over, pulling his blankets so that Yami could settle in. Once the former Pharaoh was comfortable, Yuugi covered himself and Yami completely, and laid his head on the pillow. Yami did the same, and both of their eyes met for a long time. Yami reached over and brushed another kiss upon Yuugi's forehead. "Sleep well, Aibou." Yuugi sighed and nodded, moving in to snuggle with the former Pharaoh, pressing his body against Yami's. He closed his eyes, and allowed his exhaustion to get the better of him, lulling the little one into a deep sleep.
Crimson hues watched, his arm snaking around Yuugi's waist carefully, massaging the other's back for a few moments, keeping the light as comfortable as possible. Soon, he too fell asleep, his mind drifting from Yuugi's state of vulnerability, to his own mental state. The dreams of his near death that evening wracked through his body once more, remembering every event from when he narrowly dodged that knife to when his own attempt to keep himself alive stole away the soul of the one man who he truly felt for. Whom he truly _loved_. Yami vaguely remembered other events other than this, his past still a blur to him. But he knew for a fact that Seth did love him. What had changed those feelings that night was still a mystery. The former Pharaoh was determined to know, even in his self-conscious.
Then his mind shifted to the mystery of his keepsake.
These dreams, flashbacks, mysteries all had even the most remote shred of evident to Yami's past. It was more than obvious to notice that. While the same dream, or nightmare, played over and over, relentlessly plaguing the Pharaoh with guilt, fear, and vulnerability, a question clicked into his mind. Seth's death, his lost memory, his lost keepsake .. were they all related somehow? Could they be melded into one single, solitary conclusion, reasoning, or solution? Determination crossed Yami's slumbered features at this mind whirred around those possibilities.
Was there still a chance at figuring it out?
Could he make up for everything now?
Was a part of Seth still existent in Seto's body?
"Seth .." Yami whispered, turning his head gently in his sleep, moaning in discomfort slightly. Stirred by the gentle sounds from his darkness, with a half-lidded gaze, Yuugi watched worriedly, reaching up to touch Yami's cheek with his hand.
"Yami .."
* * *
(END CHAPTER TWO.)
R/R, please. =3 Remember, I'll take opinions, praises, and constructive criticism. ^_^ Hopefully this chapter wasn't too boring for you all. Bye for now!
