Woah *blink blink* the reviews are getting emotional... I love it *grin* I'm thrilled people are getting so into my fic ^__^

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh. If I did, well, fangirls would enjoy it even more XD

Notes: /" "/ indicates either Yugi or Yami talking mentally to each other.

--- indicates a scene change and/or time passing

(" ") indicates thinking



Chapter 5

Yugi couldn't help feeling cheery with the situation. It would be so perfect if Yami fell in love with Jounouchi. He knew Yami already did care deeply for Jounouchi, so love couldn't be an impossibility.

Even if that wasn't possible, hopefully the date with Jounouchi would at least distract Yami from Kaiba. Yami was trying to hide it, but Yugi could tell it was depressing him. That brought another matter to mind... what was Kaiba going to do when he found out Yami wasn't going to see him anymore?

Yugi had not been pleased when his other self said that he hadn't told Kaiba they were breaking up. Apparently Yami planned to simply not go over there anymore without saying anything to Kaiba. Yugi knew they were going to have to explain it to Kaiba eventually; he wished his other self had just gotten it over with, but he knew that it had probably been too strenuous for Yami...

---

Jounouchi walked leisurely down the street. He wasn't totally crazy about the idea of a date with Yami right now. Although he did want to go out with Yami, he'd been looking forward to making up with Yugi. He would much rather do that first, but he knew that Yugi would be a lot more fun if he didn't have to worry about his other self though, so this matter would have to come first.

As he approached the Game Shop, he could see Yami was waiting for him; his lean frame resting against the doorway. It was kind of bizarre. He should know the direction that Jounouchi was coming from, so why was he staring off in the opposite direction? Jounouchi sighed; it almost looked like Yami was waiting for someone else.

Before Jounouchi could decide whether he should just walk away and give up on the date before it started, Yami turned and spotted him.

"Jounouchi-kun," Yami greeted him warmly.

"Hey. Sorry if I'm a bit late..."

"Don't worry about it."

Awkward silence.

Jounouchi took it as a bad omen for how the rest of the day was going to go.

---

About two hours into the date, Yami sighed. He'd been afraid of this. He'd really wanted to try to enjoy the date with Jounouchi, but it just wasn't working. He couldn't stop thinking about Kaiba. Why couldn't he be doing these things with Kaiba? Why couldn't he be going out to eat with Kaiba? Why couldn't he be walking down the street with Kaiba? Why couldn't he even just be outside with Kaiba? He sighed again; even if he was with Kaiba, they wouldn't be doing any of those things.

Was it really such a big deal to be seen out in public together? They were in the same class and everything. It's not like he wanted Kaiba to make out with him in public... er, it's not like he was ASKING Kaiba to do that.

Shouldn't he be enjoying this more then? He was on an actual date, in public, and Jounouchi was a great guy...

...but he wasn't Kaiba.

Okay, he had to get his mind off Kaiba. Yami couldn't go out with him anymore, so it was pointless to dwell on it. He decided to try and turn his focus back to Jounouchi, but when he looked over, he realized Jounouchi was staring at him, frowning.

Jounouchi knew exactly what Yami was thinking about and for the second time that day, he wondered if he should just give up and go home right then.

Yami realized he had to think of something quick. He had to do this for Yugi.

"Jounouchi-kun," he spoke up.

"You want to end this right now?"

"No. I want you to kiss me."

Yami's request caught Jounouchi by surprise. Had he been misreading how Yami had been acting all day? He still wanted some reassurance, "Really?"

"Yes."

Jounouchi took hold of Yami's chin and pointed it upwards. He moved in for a kiss.

("It's for aibou. It's for aibou. It's for aibou. It's for aibou. It's for aibou...") Yami repeated in his head over and over as Jounouchi connected their lips.

Jounouchi could tell something wasn't right. He opened his eyes. Yami's hands were clenched tightly into fists. His eyes were shut so tightly it seemed blood might start coming out, but a tear did instead.

"Damn it..." Jounouchi pulled away.

Yami turned away and hid his eyes with one hand.

"...you love Kaiba that much?" Jounouchi gritted his teeth.

"It's not that. I'm angry with myself. I can't even do this for my aibou..."

"Because you love Kaiba. Damn it, what's so great about that asshole?! Is it the money?! The power?!"

"Not at all!"

"Then what?!" Jounouchi yelled with unusual force.

"You really want to know?"

"I asked, didn't I?"

"He's strong and confident and proud... and so commanding."

Jounouchi didn't allow his mind even a second to process all the images that came to mind with Yami's last comment, "And I'm not any of those things?"

"You are, but you're different. You're more soft, like a -" Yami stopped himself.

"...'like a puppy'?" Jounouchi asked, a vein popping out on his forehead. Yami really had been spending too much time with Kaiba if he was picking up the dog-insult habit.

"...you said it," Yami said, turning away, "You and aibou are much better suited to each other than we would be."

"...you're right," Jounouchi sighed.

---

/"...again, I'm sorry, aibou,"/ Yami apologized as Yugi unpacked his books at school.

/"...it's not like it's your fault or anything,"/ Yugi couldn't help being a bit disappointed, but he had pretty much expected this.

/"Still, I-"/

/"Hm?"/ Yugi was confused by Yami's sudden silence until he saw who had just walked over to them.

"Yugi, tell Yami to be at my house tomorrow," Kaiba ordered in his usual tone.

"Uh..." Yugi had been dreading this, /"Mou hitori no boku, tell him!"/

/"...just tell him that I won't be going again, ever."/

/"How can I do that? He's going to want an explanation."/ Yugi was getting frustrated, /"Don't make me break up with him for you!"/

"What?" Kaiba was obviously getting impatient.

"Kaiba-kun, uh..." Yugi struggled, /"What should I tell him?!"/

Yami didn't answer.

"Hurry up."

"M-mou hitori no boku won't be going..."

"Why?"

"He doesn't want to see you anymore..."

/"AI-!"/ Yami started to protest what Yugi had said, but he quickly returned to being silent.

Kaiba narrowed his eyes, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what I said," Yugi said shakily. He knew Kaiba could be somewhat dangerous when he was angered, and it was really worrying him.

Kaiba slammed his hand down on the desk and leaned in close to Yugi's face, "Switch with him, NOW."

"...he doesn't want to..."

Kaiba gritted his teeth and pulled away quickly.

Despite how much the encounter had unnerved Yugi, he felt bad for Kaiba. /"Mou hitori no boku, you really should talk to him..."/

/"Aibou,"/ Yami sounded like he was getting close to losing his temper with his light, /"I am already not going to see him anymore, please don't ask me for anything else."/

Yugi was silent. He had been asking a bit too much from Yami, hadn't he? Yami had broken up with Kaiba AND tried to go out with Jounouchi for him... /"I'm sorry, mou hitori no boku."/

---

Yugi was still dwelling on the situation after school, "I wish we could work something out. I want you to be happy..."

/"You don't have to worry about me so much."/

"But of course I'm going to!"

Yami smiled, /"Thankyou, aibou, but you should think about yourself too. Have you thought about tonight?"/

"Tonight?"

/"It didn't occur to you? No one's going to be home until tomorrow morning."/

Yugi started blushing, "Mou hitori no boku..."

/"Call Jounouchi-kun. It's a great chance."/

"...mm," Yugi headed off in the direction of the phone, leaving Yami sitting on the floor in his spirit form. He returned shortly after.

/"So?"/

"He's coming over."

/"That's great."/ Yami smiled.

Yugi forced himself to smile back. In actuality he was extremely nervous. He wanted to ask his darker half about it, seeing as how he had quite a bit of experience, but he really didn't want to bring up the subject of Kaiba. It would be extremely awkward to ask Yami about this kind of stuff in the first place, plus it seemed incredibly selfish because the only reason he was able to be with Jounouchi now was because Yami couldn't see Kaiba anymore. Asking Yami about it would be like pouring salt in his wounds.

Yugi didn't have much time to think though, because Jounouchi arrived quickly.

"Jounouchi-kun," Yugi greeted him.

"Yugi... sorry about the date..."

"Hm?" Yugi was confused for a second, "Oh, don't worry about it. That's not why I invited you over."

"It wasn't?" Jounouchi looked around the shop, "Ji-san isn't here?"

"No," Yugi said with a sly smile, "Nobody's here until tomorrow."

Jounouchi paused for a second then grinned widely, "Is that so?"

"Yep," Yugi slid his arms around Jounouchi's waist. Jounouchi leaned down to kiss him, "It's just us."

They shared a long, deep kiss.

When their lips parted, Yugi whispered in Jounouchi's ear, "Let's go upstairs."

---

On the bed, Jounouchi kissed Yugi's neck.

"Jounouchi-kun..." As Yugi's shirt was being removed, something occurred to him: he could still feel Yami's presence.

/"Uh, mou hitori no boku?"/

/"Yes?"/

/"Aren't you going to go into your soul room or something?"/ Yugi could just block his connection with Yami, but Jounouchi was starting to move his mouth lower, and he was worried that soon he wouldn't be... coherent enough to block effectively.

/"Should I? Would it bother you if I didn't?"/

/"Mou hitori no boku!"/ Yugi would've blushed more if it was possible.

/"I'm just teasing you. Have fun."/ Yami's presence disappeared.

"Yugi? What's with that face?"

"Eh?" Yugi turned his attention back to Jounouchi, "It's nothing." He touched his lips to Jounouchi's.

"Yugi..."

---

Yugi looked around the classroom, but Jounouchi hadn't arrived yet. Yugi remembered what had happened two days earlier, and a slight blush crossed his face. It had been so perfect... He started contemplating when exactly they would have a chance to be alone again. Yugi was so distracted, he didn't even hear the sound of angry footsteps approaching him.

"Outside. Now," Kaiba grabbed Yugi's arm and pulled him out of the classroom.



to be continued

(yes, I like that kind of ending much better *nod nod*)