A/D: *waves an "I love Haku!!" flag*
Yami: *bored stare*
*saw Spirited Away AGAIN*
Yami: *glares at Haku*
Seto: *glares at Haku*
Every YGO guy: *glares at Haku*
Haku: ^_^(Y)
Disclaimer: I told you last time, NO!
Note: This story contains SHONEN-AI! That means boys being kissy with boys! *fan girls go wild* WHOO~!!
* * *
Chapter Twenty-One: I Found Love As I Opened My Eyes
* * *
Yami stood there, feet glued to the ground, shock slowly making it's way throughout his body. It took him a while to register what had just happened. Yuugi's confused voice and shy features floated throughout his mind, the complications of the previous events and serious damage came to a screeching halt. The small boy on the bed watched Yami with wide, curious, innocent amethyst eyes. He tilted his head to the side, blonde bangs floating for a moment before softly cascading down. A small blush still touched at his pale cheeks, his eyes studying the taller boy before him. The blush deepened.
'He sure is very handsome' Yuugi thought shyly. 'I wonder who he is…?'
Yami felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to face Sugoroku, who's eyes were filled with unresolved grief. He then whipped around to see Yuugi fiddling with his bed sheets.
"Yuugi, you don't…remember me…?" Yami breathed. Yuugi thought long and hard, trying to recall the handsome face that was staring at him with undeniable longing glimmering in those ruby colored eyes. Yuugi tried hard to recall the handsome face in whatever portion of his memory that he had. But he continued to draw a blank. All he knew, was that he felt a warm, soft feeling with the young man in his presence. Why he felt that way, he didn't know.
"Gomen nasai, but, I really don't know who you are," he apologized, and he truly looked sorry. Yami felt as if someone had brutally stabbed him in the heart, the pain burning furiously within him. All he had ever hoped for that lay within the boy on the bed was snatched away from him. Yami's blood ran cold as a new thought dawned upon him.
The mortified look on Yami's face unnerved Yuugi. The small boy looked at Trinity with pleading eyes, silently requesting for help. Upon reading the silent message, the green-eyed girl stepped forward to Yuugi's bed and gently placed her hands atop Yuugi's shoulders. Yuugi sighed gratefully, which didn't escape Yami's attentive senses. He watched as Trinity looked up with him, deep grief pooling in the depths of her eyes. Neither teenager spoke, knowing the tragedy that had occurred.
"Yuugi," Trinity spoke softly, as is she were speaking to a child. "This is Yami; he's a friend of yours from school and-"
"Friend?" Yami interrupted her. She gave him a deadly look, knowing fully well the shock that Yuugi would receive if he were to know at that moment, that he and Yami had fallen in love with each other. Yuugi glanced at the two with a curious look on his small face. Yami buried his hands in his pockets and gave them both an apologetic look. He stepped backward, all at once needing to be alone. Sugoroku reached out for the ruby-eyed boy, but he shook away from the elderly man's grasp.
"Um, I-I have to, um, I've gotta go," Yami ran out of the door before anyone could say other wise. Trinity flopped herself on the chair beside Yuugi's bed and sighed sadly. Sugoroku closed the door softly before then stepping by his grandson's bedside. The small boy on the bed stared at the door with soft eyes, slight regret glowing in the amethyst orbs momentarily.
He lay back and rested his head on the pillow, shutting his eyes for a moment, before opening them. His grandfather mumbled something and left the room, leaving Trinity and Yuugi alone. Trinity glanced down at her lap, not saying a word, while Yuugi thought about the handsome boy that had suddenly left the room, an immense amount of hurt in his eyes. Yami…what an odd name…but…
Why did it sound so vaguely familiar?
Yuugi opened his eyes and stared at the brown haired girl sitting beside him.
"Trinity-san?" Yuugi asked. Trinity looked up and quickly wiped her cheeks before giving Yuugi a forced smile.
"Nani?"
Yuugi, however, chose to ignore her tear-stained cheeks for the moment. "That boy…Yami…that was his name, right?" She nodded. "He was my friend?"
Trinity tried to swallow against the lump that had formed in her throat. "Yes…he was your very best friend." Yuugi snuggled against the pillow and yawned cutely.
"Well, don't tell him," he said softly. "But he's very handsome."
* * *
Yami stepped out of the hospital in a rush, his hands still buried in the depths of his pockets. The sky was cloudy and cold, positively unforgiving to him. So…this was it? All the emotion, all the love that he had felt in his heart…it wouldn't do him any good? Whatever Yuugi had felt for him was gone, along with his memories of Yami. The last thing Yami wanted was for Yuugi to feel obligated to love him because of something that was now in the past. The time for love was gone, and now he had to live without it. How could he have let himself slip so far? How could he have loved the small boy so much, only to have him ripped away in the cruelest of manners? Now all Yami could do was watch Yuugi live his daily life and pretend as if nothing had happened; as if they had never shared anything beyond friendship.
He stared hard at the ground, his heart feeling bruised and torn inside. Yami's eyes, the ruby eyes that had held such devotion and kindness, now grew hard and stern, cold and unforgiving. He reached into his jacket pocket, and pulled something out. His eyes, though now hard, grew clouded over by a coat of watery mist. Yami stared at the photograph in his hand.
It held him and Yuugi, that wonderful winter day they had shared in Kyoto during the visit. A passerby had taken the picture, the two boys, looking radiant as they posed in front of the park. Yami stood behind Yuugi, his strong arms wrapped tightly around the shorter boy's waist, his chin resting atop Yuugi's head. Yuugi had his hands resting above Yami's, the amethyst eyed boy seeming as if he was glowing. The two looked so utterly happy, both completely unaware of the tragedies that were in store for the both of them.
With trembling hands, Yami took the photograph in both if his hands and tried to tare it in two. But he couldn't. All the happiness he had ever experienced was in that picture. Tearing it apart would be like ripping his heart in half; getting rid of the happiness that he had experienced, and the love he had felt not too long ago. Sighing dejectedly, he put the picture back into his pocket and walked back to his hotel, just as it started to rain. He looked up at the sky, ignoring the cold pellets of water that pelted at his face. The mud puddles splashed around him, the mud caking his black pants.
Deciding he needed to talk to someone, Yami headed for Kaiba Corporation.
* * *
Jou sighed as he continued to look through his deck for the 5th time. He sat with his legs crossed on a plush chair in Seto's office. Not that he really minded, but sometimes he wished Seto would take a day off and at least do something fun once in a while. But then again, this is Seto Kaiba he was talking about. Jou sighed quietly, but still loud enough to catch Seto's attention. Seto looked up from his computer, raising an eyebrow at the blond boy that was staring hard at his Red Eyes Black Dragon. The CEO frowned.
"Jou," he said. "This is what I don't understand: You come to work with me every day, but you're always bored out of your mind. Why do you do it?" Jou looked up and blinked curiously. He then put his deck back together and put it into his uniform pocket. Striding over to Seto's desk, he smiled brightly. Casually as he could, Jou walked around the desk to Seto's side and stood beside his chair. The blue eyed boy looked up and smirked as he always did whenever Jou got that sly look in his amber colored eyes.
The playful glow disappeared from Jou's eyes as sincerity began to shine.
"I do it because I love you," Jou said plainly. "Why else would I do it?" Seto stood up and gazed deeply into Jou's eyes, searching for something inside. He gingerly stroked the blonde boy's cheek, before pulling his chin in for a gentle kiss. Jou shut his eyes, still so shocked that this was actually happening; that he belonged to Seto. As the two pulled away gently, Jou blushed, shutting his eyes. He leaned into his lover, resting his head in the crook of Seto's neck. Seto wrapped his arms around Jou's waist, a playful thought floating in his head.
"So, did that nasty limp go away?" He said, smirking fiendishly. Jou groaned, blushing furiously. "I guess I'll have to go a little more gentle next time, ne?"
"Shaddap."
The CEO chucked as he let go of Jou and sat back down, continuing his work. The blonde boy sighed wistfully, striding over to the window and watching the rain slide down the stainless glass. His amber colored eyes were barely able to peek at the tall building known as Domino Memorial Hospital. Sudden sadness washed over him, recalling his shock when he when found out that Yuugi had lost his memory.
Jou had been present when Yuugi woke up, and was about to embrace his friend when the amethyst eyed-angel suddenly backed away, his eyes filled with fear. The doctor then came in and explained everything that went wrong during Yuugi's recovery process…
~*Flashback*~
"Yuugi, omae*…" Jou breathed, stepping back. "What happened to you?" Sugoroku shook his head sadly as he placed a hand on Jou's shoulder. "Ojii-san! What happened to Yuugi?" he asked worriedly. At that moment, the doctor came in with his usual clip board and his grave expression. Jou braced himself for bad news.
The doctor gave the two of them sympathetic looks. "The latest tests results have come in. I regret to inform you that while Yuugi will be fine, the massive head trauma has severely affected his memory, and therefore it will be long before he can begin to recall things on his own. Yet parts of his memory have been permanently lost." Jou's face paled as his knees grew weak. The clock seemed to tick by so loudly, just enough to make Jou want to scream in agony. His frustration was growing slowly, and the confused look on Yuugi's face wasn't helping him in any way.
The blonde boy droned out the doctor's mindless explanations, and he barely noticed when Trinity came back into the room, hearing her gasp and seeing the pained look on her face. As hard as he fought against it, Jou felt angry tears sting violently at his eyes, but knew he had to be strong. He stood up and re-introduced himself to Yuugi, but every single word seemed to stab him in the heart. Jou remembered when he and Yuugi would joke around while walking to school, and then the one time when they had promised to be friends forever. Although Yuugi has just moved to Domino, Jou wanted to be one of his best friends. Yuugi was an amazing person that was the best friend anyone could ever dream of.
But now…
Yuugi, though, smiled brightly at him and shook his hand. Feeling too depressed to stay, Jou bid them goodbye and quickly left the hospital.
Seto, who had decided that it was best for Jou to see Yuugi alone, stood outside, leaning against his car, waiting for the blonde boy to emerge from the large building. As soon as he caught sight of his boyfriend, Seto stepped forward and gave Jou a very rare, kind smile. But the look disappeared as soon as he saw the pain in Jou's eyes. The CEO stepped forward, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Jou wha-?" Seto started to ask. Before he could get another word in, Jou rushed towards him and wrapped his arms around Seto's neck, his eyes barely peeking over the CEO's shoulders. Seto felt Jou's grip tighten on him and glanced around curiously. "Jou, what's wrong?"
"Let's go," Jou whispered.
~*End Flashback*~
Jou barely noticed as the intercom in Seto's room rang, and his secretary informed him that Yami requested to see them. The door opened, and a soaked Yami stepped inside, his clothes dripping with rain. Jou turned around and faced the ruby-eyed boy. Yami staggered into the room and sat down on a vacant chair.
"What happened to you?" Seto asked bewilderedly. Yami cast the CEO a dark look, his eyes blank and discordant. The three sat in the office, the only sounds that were heard were the rain pelting hard against the window. Seto blinked for a moment, before once again returning to his work, figuring that whatever was going on with the ruby-eyed boy was none of his concern. Jou frowned. He stepped towards Yami, at once guessing that Yami must've realized that Yuugi had lost his memory because of the accident.
"Ya-" Jou began.
"I'm going back," Yami interrupted suddenly. Seto's hands lost their momentum and skidded off of the keyboard. Jou's amber eyes widened.
"You're what!?"
Yami looked away, his expression hard and cold. "I'm going back home. There's nothing here for me now. I just wanted to let you know that." Jou stepped forward with fire in his eyes. He stood in front of the tri-colored haired boy, obviously appalled and shaken up.
"You're leaving? After all of this, you leaving!?" he yelled. "You can't do that! Yuugi needs-"
Yami's eyes flashed dangerously before he stood up, the volume of his voice matching Jou's. Seto stared at the two, wide eyed. "Yuugi doesn't need me! He's forgotten who the hell I am, and that won't ever come back! So don't even try to convince me into believing that Yuugi needs me! I'm going back home and that's it!" Yami bellowed one last time before storming out of the room, leaving both Seto and Jou in shock. The blonde growled at the doorway, furious at his friend's sudden actions. He walked over and slammed the door, retreating back into the room and falling onto the chair, not saying a word. Seto gazed at Jou, searching his face any true anger.
He found none.
"He's a coward Seto," Jou mumbled. "He's running out on Yuugi when he needs him the most."
* * *
A week later, the doctor had given the 'ok' to release Yuugi back home. The small boy had recovered quickly, though not completely. He was well enough to go back home, and the hospital needed the space for newly admitted patients. Sugoroku was hesitant, but finally decided that it would do Yuugi's mind some good, being surrounded by things that might trigger something in his memory. The one person he wanted by Yuugi's side was not seen.
Yami had disappeared and no one knew where he was. Trinity, however, had run into his parents and sister, and was informed that Yami was still in Domino. But the ruby-eyed boy refused to leave the hotel room until it was time to leave back to America. According to his mother, Yami never left his room and rarely ever made a sound. He didn't eat, and they suspected that he didn't sleep either. The whole incident was taking its serious toll on Yami, and his parents needed to get him out of Japan as soon as possible. Everyone, including Jou, was worried about him. That day, Ryou accompanied Yami's mother back to the hotel. Once inside, she showed him to Yami's room, leaving the albino boy to try to coax Yami out.
Yami, who lay inside, was staring off into nothing. His face was halfway buried in his pillow, eyes blank. He hadn't moved for hours, not bothering with anything else. Yami's face was pale, and dark circles were forming under his eyes. Without saying anything, a thought floated in Yami's mind.
'How long am I going let myself live like this…?'
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He glanced over slightly, before shutting his eyes and actually trying to sleep for the first time in days. Who ever was outside the door was persistent, and it didn't seem as if they were going to leave anytime soon.
Ryou knocked again, speaking to the boy inside. "Yami please, open the door," he pleaded. "I have to talk to you." Still, he heard no sign of Yami even attempting to open the door and reveal himself. "If you're not going to open the door, at least let me tell you something." Ryou paused. Yami glanced over to the door again, still not moving.
"I'm listening," he said very softly. Ryou barely heard the soft reply, but took it anyway.
"Yuugi's been released from the hospital! Yami, please, he needs you now. The doctor said it would be best if his very good friends were with him to assist in the memory recovery process." Ryou's brown eyes saddened. "We all know who hard this must be for you," he continued quietly. "I think--no, I know--that Yuugi loved you. He really did! Yuugi was so sad after you left, he was a mess! He kept crying about how he had lost the only chance in the world to tell you how much you meant to him. Yami, help him!"
Yami's eyes had widened, but soon he looked away and didn't answer his friend. Ryou continued to call his name, but never got a response. The white-haired boy sighed dejectedly, stepping away from the door and heading out of the hotel. Once he stepped out of the building, Ryou stared at the building with sad eyes, hoping that Yami had listened to him and would step out into the fresh air and find Yuugi. Ryou looked at his watch and saw that it was already 5 o'clock. Realizing that time was slipping away from him, he ran towards Yuugi's house to inform everyone of the news Yami's mother had given him that afternoon.
Their plane back to America was leaving in 6 hours.
* * *
"Jii-chan, I'm going to go to sleep. I'm tired," Yuugi yawned tiredly. Sugoroku nodded and let his grandson go up the stairs. Yuugi walked up and peeked around the hallway. Somehow, something inside of him directed him to the first door on the left. He opened it slowly and revealed a now tidy room with a small bed in the corner, a desk on the right side of the room with large high school text books. His sweaters and jackets were hung back into his closet. The sun had already set and it had started to drizzle lightly once again. Yuugi saw the pajamas set on his bed and silently thanked his grandfather for laying them out for him, saving Yuugi the trouble of trying to recall where he usually put his pj's.
He gently lifted them up, touching the cloth and stroking it gently. Yuugi slipped out of his normal clothes and put his pajamas on. Once he was settled in nicely, Yuugi pulled the sheets out and gently slipped into the warm bed. On his nightstand, he saw the neon numbers that glowed '8:00 pm'. Yes, it was early, but Yuugi had a big day ahead of him. Tomorrow was the start of recovering his lost memory. As he lay on the bed, Yuugi remembered back to the hospital, when the boy named 'Yami' came in, his eyes glowing happily at first, but then paling when he realized that Yuugi didn't know him. He had then bolted from the room and Yuugi hadn't seen him ever since. For reasons unknown to himself, Yuugi felt guilty. Yami looked so hurt…so sad…
Yawning, Yuugi shut his eyes, putting his thoughts of Yami aside. He snuggled into the pillow and pulled the covers, shutting out the cold and letting the gentle pat of the rain rock him to sleep.
***Dream Sequence***
"Are they gone…?" The person in the bushes whispered panicky. Yugi was puzzled by the comment, but still, he looked around his surroundings. He nodded…
"But maybe I can drop you off at home! Where do you live?"…
" I…I hate being alone…," Yugi sobbed.
Someone reached out and took the crying boy into his arms. He cradled Yuugi close, wrapping his arms around him tightly, not wanting to ever let go. Yuugi's tear filled eyes widened as someone rested his head atop his. He held him tightly, keeping a strong grip on the boy, holding him as close as possible. Yuugi's head rested on someone's chest, and slowly, he began to sway side to side gently, trying to soothe Yuugi. Tears slid softly down Yuugi's tender cheeks, soaking in the fabric of a figure's shirt. Someone continued his rhythm, and he rubbed Yuugi's back, trying to calm his tears. Slowly, Yuugi's small arms encircled the figure's waist, and he then held onto the older boy tightly…
"I am your friend Yuugi," Someone whispered gently. "No matter what. I don't hate you Yuugi. Don't ever think for ONE second that I hate you. I'll never hate you, Yuugi. I AM your friend. Don't ever forget that."
"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 someone's worry filled ruby eyes…
Someone wrapped the blanket around Yuugi, and cradled him protectively in his arms for the rest of the night…
Yuugi, feeling brave and bold, looked up and slowly, but gently, kissed someone's left cheek. His lips tingled at the warm and spicy feeling of pressing his aching lips against the figures's flesh. He longed to keep his lips pressed against the soft skin, but knew he had to part from it. Yuugi the snuggled closer and rested his head against the crook of someone's neck, sighing happily…
"I'd really like to thank you for all that you've done for me," Yuugi said quietly, slowly turning a straw in his cup. "You've…made me happier in this passed month, than I've ever been in my life. Thank you."
"Yuugi…," he said quietly, offering his hand. "May I have this dance?" Yuugi's eyes widened as he registered the offer in his brain. Dance. A slow song. Together. With …. His heart began to pound hard against his chest as his cheeks flushed bright red. He slowly took ….'s hand, and the older boy walked him over to the dance floor. Yuugi stood in front of …., taking deep breaths as the taller boy took Yuugi's hand in his own. He pulled Yuugi closer to him, gently wrapping both his arms around Yuugi's waist. The timid boy's arms shook as he set his hands atop ….'s broad shoulders.
Relying on his emotions, Yuugi lay his head against ….'s chest, now fully wrapping his arms around the taller boy's neck. Tears gathered in his soft amethyst eyes as he felt …. tighten his hold yet again, feeling safe and contented just being there, dancing softly with someone he truly cared about…
Yuugi hoped that in the kiss, he could pour his heart and soul into it, as if he was telling …. how much he loved him; how much he meant to him…
"I won't ever forget you either," Yuugi said, tears glimmering in his eyes, heart breaking. "You'll always be in my heart."
***End Dream Sequence***
"Y…" Yuugi murmured in his sleep.
***Dream Sequence***
"Ai shiteru…"
***End Dream Sequence***
"Ai shiteru…Y…," Yuugi struggled with the word. All at once, he felt enormous sadness, so heavy that it caused tears to spring to his still closed eyes. Tears squeezed through and trailed down his cheeks, soaking into the pillow. He whimpered out and shifted slightly. The sadness was breaking his heart. An old familiar feeling of hurt was rising into his mind once again. Yuugi saw white flash before his eyes and a familiar pair of ruby-red eyes flashed momentarily.
Yuugi slowly opened his tear filled eyes, his vision slowly coming into focus.
* * *
Gomen nasai minna-san for the late update~! I PROMISE I'll update sooner this time!
Next chapter will be the FINAL CHAPTER! Stay tuned! Hope you enjoyed! Please r/r~! ^_^