*falls to the ground* GOMEN NASAI!!!!! It's been 3 MONTHS!! I'm sorry!

Yami: You'd better be

;; shaddap.

Disclaimer: Nope. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Nope, just don't.

Dedicated to: Maiden of the Moon

Note: This story contains shonen-ai. Couples include Y/Y, B/R, and S/J. Slight Anzu bashing

"…" is speaking, '…' is thinking

/…/ Ryou to Bakura

//…// Bakura to Ryou

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Silence.

Time moved unbearably slow as each second ticked by, Yuugi's heart pounding hard against his small chest in anticipation. All he could hear was his own breathing, too terrified to want to listen to anything else. He watched helplessly as his father shot at the mysterious figure, but come to no avail. The dark one simply stood and smirked, hovering over Yuugi protectively.

The small boy shut his eyes, blinded by the brilliant light that had engulfed the room. A loud thump was heard, as the room slowly settled back into dark silence.

Silence.

The silence was too loud, to deafening.

Yuugi opened his eyes to see his father on the ground, twitching. His amethyst eyes grew wide in terror, quickly scanning the area for the mysterious stranger. Yuugi yelped loudly as he felt someone touch his shoulder gently. He turned around to meet eye to eye with a boy that couldn't have been any older than himself. What caught Yuugi's eye, was that they looked exactly the same. Except this boy's eyes were at a more fierce angle, and his eyes glowed of the color of blood. Yet his expression was one of worry and concern, though that wasn't enough to calm the now trembling amethyst-eyed boy.

"Daijabou desu ka*?" the dark one asked softly. Yuugi's tear filled eyes widened as he scooted away from the dark look-a-like. He stood up, hands shaking violently as his voice was caught in his throat. On impulse, he glanced back at his father, who was laying on the ground. The man was twitching fiercely, slight yelps escaping his lips. Yuugi's tear-filled eyes widened again as he stared blankly at his father. What had this stranger done to him.

"Kimi wa…*" Yuugi breathed. "Boku no otousan…shindeiru desu…ka*?" The dark one's eyes widened, but then softened as he continued to stare at the terrified boy. He stepped forward slowly, causing Yuugi to step back. "Kare ga shindeiru desu ka*?" The darker one continued to step forward.

"Yuugi…," he whispered. Yuugi shook his head, tears slipping down his cheeks.

"Dare ga…kimi desu ka?" Yuugi whispered to the approaching spirit. He stopped, staring deeply into the terrified boy's eyes. A stab of guilt hit his heard hard and deep. Still, being so close to his past love was hard. Yet the small boy before him looked terrified. Deciding it was best to leave him be, Yami disappeared into the puzzle, leaving Yuugi alone to stare openly with wide eyes at the golden treasure. Timidly, he reached out and touched it, his fingers softly running on the smooth surface. Who…Who was this mysterious stranger that appeared from the puzzle? And…why was he so determined to protect Yuugi?

Shakily standing up, Yuugi ran out of his home and went in search of Ryou.

* * *

Yuugi found the white-haired boy sitting alone on a bench in the park. His eyes were soft as he held the Sennen Ring in his hands. Yuugi had never seen such a look in the boy's eyes, and it was obvious something was up. He approached Ryou and cleared his throat slightly, hoping the get Ryou's attention.

//Looks like you've got company// Bakura told his aibou.

/?/ Ryou asked before looking up into Yuugi's amethyst eyes.

"Yuugi!" Ryou exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" Seeing the despair in his friend's eyes, Ryou's expression changed to one of worry. "Yuugi, what's wrong?" he asked. Yuugi opened his mouth to speak, but found that he couldn't. Tears filled his eyes as confusion, worry, and fear welled inside his heart. He stepped forward, clutching the Sennen Puzzle in his hands. Ryou's eyes widened.

"Ryou," Yuugi said, his voice quivering. "Wha-Ho-D-Does a spirit live inside of your Sennen Ring?" he asked suddenly. The question caught Ryou completely off guard. He stared at Yuugi, not knowing how to respond.

//Tell him the truth// Bakura advised.

/Should I?/ Ryou questioned his darker half. He could feel Bakura nod.

//It's the only way//

Looking deeply into Yuugi's amethyst eyes, Ryou nodded. Yuugi's eyes widened in fright. He clutched the puzzle tighter in his hands.

"A…A spirit came out of mine…," he whispered. "He…He saved me from my father…He…He hugged me when I had nightmares…" A faint smile appeared on Ryou's lips. Yet a thought passed through Ryou's mind.

'Saved him from his father?' Ryou wondered. Ryou then frowned. "'Saved you from your father?'" he asked. Yuugi's face paled at his faux pas. He stepped back, tears dancing on his lashes as his whole body quivered in fear. Ryou stood up, his eyes filled with regret and great worry. The amethyst eyed boy stepped back, his shoulders trembling.

"Ryou," he breathed. "J-Just stay back!" Ryou looked puzzled. Yuugi searched for a way to explain everything. "M-Mou hitori no boku might hurt you!" Ryou froze.

/Mou hitori no Yuugi?/ Ryou exclaimed. Bakura nodded.

//The Pharaoh//

* * *

Sitting alone in his room that evening, Yuugi touched the Sennen Puzzle timidly, half expecting the other spirit to come out as he had before. Yet, there was nothing. His father was still downstairs, and the small boy had no intention of helping that monster wake up. Besides, the small boy had no idea as to what the spirit had done to his father. He gingerly took off the puzzle, placing it in front of him on the bed.

"Who," Yuugi asked the puzzle.

He paused.

"…Are you?" Yuugi shut his eyes as he saw the puzzle glow momentarily. He stared around his room, in search of the mysterious spirit, but found no sign of him. The small boy blinked, thinking perhaps that this spirit was merely a fragment of his imagination. Maybe he was just part of a dream.

"I'm not a dream, Yuugi."

Yuugi yelped and whipped around to see Yami sitting beside the bed, his ruby eyes somewhat dull and strangely despondent. The spirit stared deeply into the pools of amethyst. An old familiar feeling of longing tugged at his heart, aching to press his lips against the smaller boy's in a reassuring kiss. But the fear that glowed in Yuugi's eyes stopped him from doing such actions. Instead, he looked down and kept his eyes away from Yuugi's. The small boy looked curiously at the other spirit, his eyes slowly softening.

Hesitantly, he reached out to touch the spirit's hand. Yami saw this and locked gazes with Yuugi. He, too, reached out to touch the tender hand. To Yuugi's disappointment, as well as Yami's, Yuugi's hand seeped right through the transparent image of the spirit's hand. Yami's ruby eyes took on a sad look. Without realizing it, he noticed that Yuugi leaned in forward and placed his head on Yami's lap. Amazingly, this time, his head didn't pass through, and instead it lay gently on the ancient spirit's lap. With a kind glow in his eyes, Yami reached out and tenderly stroked Yuugi's hair, watching the small boy relax under his touch.

"Will you stay with me…?" Yuugi whispered. Yami froze for a second, before nodding.

"Yes, I will stay with you as long as you want me to," he spoke softly, kindness radiating from his words. Yami felt the small boy nod in his lap.

"Arigatou…," Yuugi yawned. "Mou hitori no…boku…" The small boy had fallen asleep, and Yami watched him rest, tenderly brushing away the bangs from his innocent face. Unable to stop himself, Yami leaned down and gently kissed Yuugi's cheek. His eyes were deep red, glowing with love and longing. The same feelings he had experienced so very long ago.

Yami stared at his transparent hands.

"You are my night sky, Yuugi. I'll always be right beside you…" he whispered.

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I PROMISE I'll update soon~!! I PROMISE!! Hope you enjoyed! Please r/r! ^^;; *HUGS*

Translations:

*Are you alright?

*You…Is my father dead? Is he dead?

*Who…are you?