Difinity: Wow! 87 reviews!? For just 6 chapters!? ARIGATOU minna-san!!!
Yugi: Yup! She's REALLY happy!
Difinity: Today, we've got a special helpers coming today! ^_______^
Yami: Who?
Difinity: Oh I'm sure you like them Yami. Heh heh heh
Yami: O_o; Why don't I believe you?
Yugi: Them?
Difinity: Introducing…Neko-chan!
Neko-chan: We're here!! ^o^
Yami: 'We're'?
Neko-chan: *nods* Yup. Baku-chan! Ryou! Get over here!
Yami: B-B-Bakura's here!?
Difinity: Behave you.
Yami: *snorts*
Bakura: *walks in w/Ryou, obviously NOT happy*
Ryou: Now Bakura, you promised…
Bakura: *growls* I know I did.
Difinity: What did he promise?
Neko-chan: He promised Ryou that he would behave while we were helping.
Difinity: Ah, I see.
Neko-chan: Though I don't like the looks that Baku-chan is giving Yami.
Difinity: O_O;
Neko-chan: I'll take care of that *tackle glomps both Bakura and Yami*
Bakura: H-EY! Let me go!!
Yami: Same here! *start turning blue* I CAN'T BREATHE!!
Neko-chan: ^___________^ *squeezes harder* No. You guys of ALL people know I LOVE fluff!!
Difinity: You don't have to worry about that! There IS FLUFF in this chapter!! ^___________^
Neko-chan: FLUFF!!!! *tightens her grip on Bakura and Yami*
Bakura: *passes out*
Difinity: ^^;; *tries to hold back a rabid Yugi and Ryou*
Ryou: Let us GO!
Yugi: *struggling*
Difinity: O__O; UH Neko-chan, we've got a PROBLEM!
Neko-chan: Nah, those reactions are normal ^_^ *squeezes more*
Disclaimer: Does it LOOK like I own YuGiOh!? NO! It doesn't does it!?!
Difinity: Neko-chan, will you do the honors?
Neko-chan: ^___^ And now introducing chapter 7 of Land of Forever!!
Difinity and Neko-chan: Enjoy!!
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Land of Forever
By: Difinity
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Yami grabbed a book out his locker and shut the door with a resigned sigh.
"Something wrong Yami?" Ryou's innocent voice asked. Yami glanced over at his friend who was leaning against the lockers. Ryou's large chocolate colored eyes looked at Yami worriedly, somehow sensing Yami's resentment. "You seem so…off and distracted today. Something wrong?" Yami sighed once again, shutting his eyes for a moment as he thought about Yugi being all alone in the hospital. He opened his ruby-colored eyes and stared at Ryou.
"It's just that I don't feel right about leaving Yugi all alone in a hospital," Yami confessed. Ryou pondered his friends predicament. A thought hit him.
"But isn't Yugi's grandfather there?" Ryou asked, wondering where Yugi's only relative was. Yami shook his head sadly.
"Katie, Yugi's nurse, told me that she called his home, but Sugoroku wasn't home. When I left the hospital, I went to go check at the Game Shop, and he'd left a note that he went to some Duel Monsters convention and that he wasn't going to be back until next week," Yami explained as he rubbed his temples, as if fighting off a headache. He could only imagine Yugi's reaction once he found out that his grandfather was gone. He would probably be scared, and maybe even cry. Yami thought back to how bright Yugi's soft amethyst eyes were. So large and innocent, full of hope and wonder. The shone brightly in the sunlight, making them shimmer and almost glow, as if they came from an enchanted dream. Yami was so caught up in his thoughts, that he didn't notice the odd looks that Ryou was giving him.
Yami blinked and noticed that Ryou had one eyebrow raised. "What?" Yami asked, slightly nervous. Ryou waved his hand as he shook his head.
"Nothing," Ryou said calmly. "So how's Yugi doing?" Yami's eyes saddened a bit before he chose to answer his friend's question.
"He's okay, but he's just afraid of being alone," Yami explained sadly. "He didn't want me to leave yesterday and I know he'll beg me to stay again tonight when I go visit him." Despite his brief sadness, Yami smiled. He just wanted the bell to ring so that he was free and able to go visit the small boy. Sadly though, there was still 3 more classes before school was over. Yami glanced at the clock which was on the wall, right above the bell in the hallway. Yami blinked, then sighed, wishing that he could be with Yugi at that very minute. But he knew he couldn't.
"Yugi? That thing? Humph, what's so special about him, Yami-kun?" an obnoxious voice suddenly rang out. Yami shut his eyes tightly as he gritted his teeth. Oh Kami-sama. Of ALL the people in the world, WHY did it have to be…
"Anzu!" Ryou greeted. The brunette smiled wickedly at the white-haired boy, before she sidled up next to Yami, who was now cursing in his head. He felt her tug on his sleeve, and he continued to keep his ruby eyes shut, wishing that the annoying girl would just vanish into thin air. Despite her rare kindness, Anzu had known Yami for as long as they both could remember. At first, she was a kind, sweet and generous girl, but somewhere along the line, she seemed to slip away from it all, and turned into an often hateful, pushy and conceded girl. For as long as Yami could remember, she had always been after his heart. Although he liked her as a friend before, those feelings began to deteriorate and turned into pure annoyance. He just couldn't seem to stand his childhood friend. Once they had entered high school, she went after every guy that she could obtain. She was even bold enough to go after the very handsome, very rich, and all around powerful CEO, Seto Kaiba.
To her disappointment, he had been shocked and somewhat disgusted when she had dared to ask him out. Yet she continued to follow him, up until the point that Kaiba had threatened to place a restraining order on her. Seto also threatened to transfer to a private, exclusive high school. To the shock and demise of every girl in Domino High School, every girl made it her sworn duty to keep Anzu away from Seto, in order for him to remain in Domino High School.
Despite his annoyance, Yami smiled, knowing that because of the protection of Seto, that had lead him to discover Yami's lovely friend, Trinity. She hadn't been protecting him, but when he had been hiding from Anzu, they had met in the hallway. They both talked and got along very well, and from that day on, Trinity seemed to glow whenever she smiled. Yami often teased his friend, saying that it had been "love at first sight". But Yami couldn't help but feel somewhat envious. He wished he had someone to care about, at times. Yet he always pushed those feelings and longings aside, as he remembered, that he did not "care" about anyone. Now, Yami saw that he had been proven wrong, and it had taken Yugi's arrival to show him that.
"So why are we talking about that shrimp?" Anzu said, almost gagging at the thought of the new kid in school. Yami opened his eyes and glared at the blue-eyed girl. She gave him a surprised look, but shrugged as she hooked her arm through his and rested her head against his shoulder. Yami's eyes widened as he tried to shake her off. Somehow, someway, Anzu had obtained an iron grip, and she refused to let her prisoner go. Yami gave a pleading look to Ryou, who shrugged as he thought of a way to free his friend. Yami nearly shrieked in horror when he felt Anzu cuddle against his arm. He began to turn pale as he shook his arm, almost letting his fear take over him, which would result in screaming, running and bonking Anzu on the head in order to free himself. He slowly stepped towards Ryou. The pale boy looked thoughtful as he tried to form a plan to free Yami. Suddenly, Ryou's face lit up as he ran down the hall and began to talk to Jounouchi and Honda. Both Jou and Honda looked at each other before saying something to Ryou.
Jou and Honda laughed as they ran off somewhere. A minute later, they returned with some T shaped instrument. The two boys snickered as the approached the brown-haired girl. With a swift movement, they placed the bar under Anzu's skirt, and they quickly flung it up, lifting her skirt and exposing her bottom. (A/N: If you have the second issue of the English Shonen Jump, you'll see what I mean. It's on pg. 272, on the bottom right-hand corner)
"Panty tank!" the two boys cried in unison. Anzu's eyes popped open as her face turned beat red. She let go of Yami, twirled around and punched Jou right in the face, knocking him down onto the floor. She then went after Honda, who was running off. Jou was sitting down, rubbing his now bruised cheek. Yami looked down at this hurt friend, and gave him a grateful smile. Jou winked as he gave his friend a thumbs up.
"All in a day's work, bud," he said, still rubbing his cheek.
"Arigatou, Jounouchi-kun," Yami told one of his best friends. Jou grinned as he stood wearily, still dazed from Anzu's previous attack. From not too far off in the hall, they hear Honda's somewhat girlish shrieking. The next sound was someone colliding with a trashcan, causing the crashing sounds to echo throughout the nearly empty halls. All three boys gulped and quickly walked away.
"It's every man for himself," Jou said. Yami and Ryou chuckled at their friend's joke, fully knowing that Honda would be furious when he found out that they had left him for Anzu to take her anger on. Sudden hurried footsteps were heard approaching, but stopped at their previous location.
"Yami? Hey! Where'd you go?" The three boys heard Anzu call out. Yami's face turned deadly pale as he winced, knowing that she would hunt him down like a bloodhound. Thinking fast, Ryou dragged Yami, followed by Jou, into the library.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yugi lay silently on his bed, looking up at the empty ceiling. The only noise in the room was the constant ticking of the clock. It was so boring, just sitting there, gazing up and wondering when Yami would arrive. IF he would arrive. Yugi turned on his side, and let out an exasperated sigh. It would drive him nuts if he had to spend anymore time cooped up in the small room. He was just about to shut his eyes, in hopes of sleeping to pass the time, when someone opened the door. Yugi's heart leaped, as he thought that it was Yami. He sat up and smiled, but then frowned when he saw Katie standing by the doorway.
"Oh. It's just you Katie," Yugi said, the disappointment evident in his voice. Katie chuckled as she walked over to Yugi's bedside, rolling a wheelchair in front of her.
"Well!" she said with a playful grin on her bright face. "I guess I should be insulted, ne?" Yugi smiled brightly at the young nurse. She was leaning against the wall, her bright blue eyes shining behind her glasses. Yugi noticed this new addition to her face and tipped his head to the side slightly.
"I didn't know you wore glasses," Yugi said. Katie smiled sheepishly.
"Well, not all the time," she said. "I lost my contacts and until I get new ones, I have to wear these things." She yanked off her glasses and stuck her tongue at them. Yugi laughed at her childish antics. "Anyway, I'm here to take you to get your CAT scan." Yugi's laughter froze and his heart seemed to stop. He felt a chill run through his whole body, making him feel like a living block of ice. Katie saw his reaction, and frowned. "Yugi…," she said gently. "Come one now. You knew you had to take these tests the minute you arrived. Please, Yugi. I promise it won't hurt, and I won't leave you alone." Yugi looked deep into her sympathetic eyes. He knew she was telling the truth, but he couldn't help but long for Yami to be there with him. He knew Yami would be there, comforting him and assuring the boy that he would NEVER leave his side. But, Yami was at school, and no matter how much Yugi wished, he knew it was impossible for Yami to be there. With a defeated sigh, he stood up and sat down on the wheelchair. Katie felt his anxiety and gently squeezed his shoulder.
She slowly wheeled him out into the hallway, both of them not saying a word.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Finally, the bell at Domino High school rang, and Yami had never been happier to be out of school for the day. Yami burst through the doors, almost running out. Without thinking about anything else, he began to walk in the direction of the hospital, all ready to go see Yugi. A sudden yank on the arm snapped him out of his hurry and he met eye to eye with the persistent brunette, Anzu Mizaki. She smiled brightly at him, and he turned his head away. She shrugged and sighed as she lay her head on his shoulder, again.
"Why'd you run off today, koibito?" she said. Yami nearly gagged at the name she called him.
"Anzu, I am NOT your koibito," Yami said firmly. He glanced at his watch. It was almost 4 o'clock. Since there was an assembly, the school was held up for an extra half hour. He smacked himself mentally, as he now remember that he promised Yugi that he was going to be at the hospital at 3:30. It was already 3:45 and now with Anzu glued onto him, Yami feared that he'd NEVER get there.
"Aw, deny it now. I KNOW you like me!" she giggled. Yami rolled his eyes. A flash of long chestnut colored hair caught his eye. He saw Trinity standing next to Kaiba, who had his arm around her waist. Acting upon desperation, Yami called out to his friend. She turned, smiled and waved, but then frowned when she noticed Yami's current predicament. As if reading his mind, Trinity quickly thought of a plan to free her friend.
"Seto, I'll be right back, okay?" she asked.
"Where're you going?" Seto asked.
"You know, the usual. Anzu won't let Yami go, and he had promised Yugi that he would see him in the hospital today," Trinity explained, remembering what Yami had told her earlier that day. Seto gave her a knowing nod. Trinity handed him her backpack and ran over to Yami. Anzu, who had her eyes closed as she was talking, didn't notice Trinity running up to her. Though known to the rest of the school, Anzu didn't know that Seto and Trinity were dating. She always believed that Trinity had a thing for Yami, which wasn't true. The only person Yami had so far confided his infatuation with Yugi, had been Trinity. Over the years, Yami began to look at Trinity as a sister. She was always there when he needed her, and he sometimes truely wished she WAS his sister.
Trinity poked Anzu and pasted on a harsh look on her face. "What are you doing with MY Yami?" she asked, wondering how many times she had to put up this act in order for Anzu to leave Yami alone. Anzu's eyes flew open and she let go of Yami. Trinity smirked as Anzu backed away from the both of them.
"Humph. Don't think he'll be yours for long, Trit," Anzu said, walking off. Trinity growled as she remembered the dumb nickname that Anzu had for her. The brunette walked off, but only to go over to Seto. She stood in front of him, batting her eyelashes and flirting dangerously at him. Trinity froze with anger.
"Trinity?" Yami asked, fearing that his friend would go into one of her rages.
"Oh THAT'S IT!!" she bellowed. She stalked off towards her boyfriend in a heap of rage. Yami sighed as he then took off towards the hospital. He ran far down the street, shocked to still be able hear Trinity's angry string of insults, screams and claims on HER Seto, echoing throughout the city.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yami poked his head through the door of Yugi's room, slightly surprised to see his friend in a deep slumber. He looked at his watch, which read 8:55 pm. Yami wondered why it had taken him SO long to arrive, but then remembered that his mother had found him walking to the hospital and had taken him home, since it was his little sister's ballet recital. (A/N: I know Yami doesn't have a sister, but this IS a fan fic, so in this story, he does). He wished though, that he had been able to be there, but his parents watched him like a hawk, since he had tried to leave the recital twice. All he had though about the whole time, was Yugi. When the recital was over, his 5 year old kid sister had been asking him lots of questions and hugging him constantly. Still, he had to admit that his sister was still in her stage of innocence, and it was hard to have a grudge against such a cute little thing.
"You're really late, you know that?" a voice whispered behind Yami. Yami gave out a slight yelp and turned around to see Katie, with her glasses on the tip of her nose. "Visiting hours are over in 5 minutes, Yami."
"Please Katie, just, let me stay with him tonight," Yami whispered in a desperate plea. "I couldn't get here earlier. My parents dragged me to my little sister's recital and I couldn't get away. I wasn't here with him, and I feel awful about it. Please? Just tonight?" Katie gave him a worried look through her glasses. Yami, too, noticed the addition, but didn't mention it.
"You do know that staying with a patient who isn't in the Neuro-ICU is against the rules, don't you?" Katie asked. Yami nodded, knowing the hospital's policy. Katie sighed as she walked off. Yami stood there, puzzled, but was surprised when Katie returned with an extra blanket and a pillow. She handed them to him as she opened the door quietly.
"Just tonight," she whispered. "I'll take his vital signs and send them in so that no one will come in. He's been sedated since he had his MRI today. He wouldn't stop fidgeting, and since you need to stay perfectly still, he needed to be sedated to keep him still." She stepped in the darkened room with the tri-colored boy. "We'll have the results tomorrow, so that he can go home in the afternoon. I know how much he wants to leave." Yami nodded in agreement. He set down the blanket and pillow and sat beside Yugi. He took the smaller boy's frail hand in his own, and stroked Yugi's forehead gently. He looked at Yugi through soft, caring, and loving eyes. He knew Yugi deserved so much better than this. Katie watched the scene, sensing something more than just friendship between Yami and the smaller boy. Although it was too soon to tell, Katie knew, that it would eventually happen.
"Arigatou Katie," Yami whispered, looking at the nurse, but still stroking Yugi's forehead.
"It's nothing," the young nurse whispered in the darkness. "Goodnight."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~*Dream Sequence*~
Yugi sat by his mother's bedside, grasping her hand as if it was a lifeline. He watched his mother struggle to breath, and fight the urge to sleep. He knew if she slept, she would slip away into a coma, from which she might never return.
"Mom, please, don't sleep," Yugi pleaded. "I know your tired, but please, don't sleep." His mother turned her faded amethyst eyes towards him. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears as she gazed at her only child. She reached out and stroked his soft cheek.
"Yugi, it just hurts so bad," she whispered with difficulty. "I don't…think I can hang on." Yugi blinked hard, his tears slipping down his cheeks. His mother squeezed his hand. "Don't cry Yugi. I hate to see you cry." Yugi wiped his eyes with his other hand and continued to gazed at his hurting mother. How could he NOT cry? How could he hold back his tears when the two people he loved most were slowly being torn away from him? He prayed, prayed and prayed to God that He wouldn't take them away. Without his parents, what was he? How was he supposed to make proud? Who would see him graduate from high school? From college? He needed his parents, more than he could ever now.
"Mom, I love you and Dad," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Please don't leave me." Tears began to slid down his mother's cheeks, soaking into her pillow. Yugi reached out and gently wiped them away. "Dad's already in a coma. I don't want you to go too." His mother took a deep, shuddering breath before she answered.
"Yugi, you know, that neither of us planned on this," she said softly. "Yugi…do you remember, what your father and I told you to do, if something like this ever happened?"
Yugi nodded.
"I think so. But why do I have to do that, you're going to be with me!" he said, his voice threatening to break and give out. His mother smiled softly as she stroked his face gently.
"I'll be with you," she whispered. "Even if you can't see me."
"What do you mean if I can't see you? I can always see you!" Yugi said, feeling his mother's grip loosen. She shut her eyes, and Yugi gave a slight gasp. His mother opened her eyes slightly, and Yugi noticed they were glazed over.
"Yugi…let your heart guide you. It whispers, if you to it closely…," she trailed off. She shut her eyes as tears began to trail down her face. Yugi felt her grip loosen completely and he knew that she had slipped into a state from which she may not return. He shook her hand frantically, hoping that she would awake.
"Mother? Mother…?"
~*End Dream Sequence*~
Yami woke with a start, startled to see Yugi crying in his sleep. The smaller boy was tossing and turning, tears flowing freely down his face. He whimpered and cried, as if he was reaching out for something. Yami sat on Yugi's bed as he gently shook the crying boy's shoulder. Yugi did not awaken, and his muffled cries were now audible.
"Mom…Dad…please…please don't leave me," he cried. Yami's eyes widened as he heard Yugi call for his parents. Yami did wonder, why Yugi lived only with his grandpa. "Don't leave me alone. Come back." Yugi continued to cry as his body shook. Yami continued to try to wake him. "Don't die…" Yami froze. 'His parents…are dead?'
"Yugi…wake up…," Yami whispered.
"Don't!" Yugi cried out. He sat up and grabbed whatever was in front of him. He woke up with a start and looked deep into Yami's worry filled ruby eyes. His large, innocent amethyst eyes pooled with tears once again as he came to grips with his dream. "They're gone…," Yugi whispered. "My parents are gone…" Let his emotions run freely, Yugi began to cry. The smaller boy's sobs seemed to stab at Yami's heart. The taller boy gathered Yugi in his arms protectively, hoping to soothe Yugi's fierce pain. Yami had never felt the pain and anguish of losing both of his parents, and it must make Yugi feel SO bad and hurt inside. Yugi continued to cry as he clung onto Yami's leather shirt. He buried his face in the taller boy's chest, clinging onto Yami as if he couldn't bare to let go. Yami stroked Yugi's hair and he rested his head atop Yugi's head. He gathered Yugi closer, gently pressing the little one's head against his heart. Yugi hiccupped as he heard Yami's strong heartbeats. He let out a shuddering breath as he continued to listen to Yami's heart. Each beat was strong and true, just like its owner.
"It'll be okay Yugi," Yami whispered, in the stillness of the night. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was 3:00 am. There was a window in the room, and the full moon shone its light through, making the room glow with black and blue hues. The air hung still as both boys hung onto each other tightly.
"Don't leave me Yami…," Yugi whispered so softly that Yami had to lean in to hear him. "I need you…" Yami hugged Yugi more, not feeling close enough to the boy. Yugi wrapped his arms around Yami's middle as he buried his face in the crook of Yami's neck. His tears came slowly, but began to cease. Yami blinked slowly, as his kissed the top of Yugi's head gently. Yugi felt the peck, but registered it as just a friendly gesture. After all, Yugi was crying uncontrollably and Yami just wanted to help. Or so Yugi thought. Yami gently let go of the boy as he set him down on the bed. Yugi's eyes shone with something that Yami couldn't guess what it was. Yami's eyes widened as Yugi sat up again, laying his head against Yami's chest and wrapping his small arms around Yami's middle.
"Yugi…?" Yami whispered. Yugi snuggled against Yami, yawning and sniffing. The smaller boy's eyes were drooping and in seconds, he was asleep. Yami looked at the sleeping angel and felt something squeeze his heart. For a moment, he wanted nothing more than to just lift Yugi's chin and press his lips against his own. Yami shook his head, but the feeling still lingered. Yugi slept soundly and peacefully.
Yami cradled the smaller boy close to him, feeling complete. He wrapped the blanket around Yugi, and cradled him protectively in his arms for the rest of the night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Difinity: That has go to be the LONGEST chapter I've EVER written for ANY story in my life!!
Neko-chan: FLUFFY!! There was fluff in this chapter!! *does her happy hyper genki dance*
Yami: *blushing*
Bakura: *laughing at Yami*
Neko-chan: I need to glomp something! *glomps Yugi and Ryou* FLUFFY!!!
Ryou and Yugi: ^-^;;;;;;;;
Difinity: Fluff is right!! Everyone loves fluff, ne?
Bakura: I don't.
Neko-chan: Baku-chan!! Baku-chan doesn't like FLUFF!?!?!?!?!?!
Difinity: *faints*
Neko-chan: No matter what I have to do, YOU WILL LIKE---no---LOVE fluff!!! *chases Bakura with Frying Pan of Doom*
Bakura: HELP!! Pharaoh! Help me!!
Yami: *laughing at Bakura*
Neko-chan: Come back HERE!!
Difinity: *still out*
Ryou: *gasp* We need Prince Charming to wake her up!
Yugi: *smiling evilly* Oh Yami!!
Yami: Eep…
Neko-chan: Ja ne!
Hope you enjoyed! Please r/r!