A/N

IMPORTANT: this link in my profile..Is a great picture of Yami crying...I don't know, this is just a beautiful picture.

To answer a question I got: Just because Yugi's heart stopped beating doesn't mean he's DEAD. My mom works at a hospital, and people come back to life ALL the TIME. Usually they just need a little electrical stimulation to get the heart back to beating normally. *thumbs up*

Another question I got: I hope you understood this before, but Bakura and Ryou are separate people in this fic, as are Yami and Yugi. I don't know how the hell you could not know that, but there's the answer.

Last question to answer: No millennium items in this fic...so no mind links

I thought everyone knew all that already, but OK. ^____^;;;

ANYWAY, on with the chapter. Please read and review.

~*~Chapter 13~*~

~*~Time, sometimes the time just slips away And you´re left with yesterday Left with the memories I´ll always think of you and smile~*~

"CLEAR!"
Dr. Kotana pressed a pair of shiny, iron defibrillators to Yugi's chest, sending a sudden jolt through his limp body.
Ryou gasped at the sudden, impulsive movement. Nobody had bothered to tell him to leave, letting him witness everything in horror.
The doctor paused, panting, watching for any signs of a heartbeat.
There was none.
Growling deep within the back of his throat, Dr. Kotana gave the signal to another nurse that he was going to give it another try.
"CLEAR!"

***
~*~And be happy for the time I had you with me Though we go our separate ways I won't forget so don´t forget The memories we made~*~

Yami swung the door open, staring at Bakura.
"What about Yugi?" he asked, trying to cover the panic in his voice.
"Yugi's not doing so well.... Yami, you've gotta come with me to the hospital. I don't know what the fuck happened back there, but even a dumb- ass like me can see what you two have together. Maybe if you're there...." Bakura trailed off.
It was as if Yami's heart had stopped beating too. He was rooted to the floor, his crimson eyes widened as waves of panic and fear washing over him. Yugi...wasn't doing so well? What was that supposed to mean!? "I...I...."
"Yami!"
Yami had already 'lost' Yugi once....but this time...was it forever? His heart began to beat faster, looking at Bakura. '...All my fault.'

Bakura shook his head, his eyes softening. "Yami...get in the car."

The car ride there was in silence.
Bakura looked at Yami from the corner of his eyes. The tri-color haired teen seemed to be in dire conflict with himself, an angry but distressing look plastered across his tired face.
Bakura opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it, keeping his eyes glued to the road.
Yami pressed his forehead against the cool glass window of the car that was slowly being frosted over with snow.
"You love him, don't you?" Bakura finally spoke.
It was barely above a whisper, but it seemed to shatter the unbreakable silence surrounding them. Yami inhaled sharply, and turned to look at Bakura.
The white-haired teen remained focused ahead. "We're almost there."

***
Bakura and Yami rushed up the stairs, stopping in front of the room where Ryou stood crying and Sugoroku sat, deathly pale, looking straight ahead into space.
Bakura turned to Yami, biting his lip. "Maybe you should go in alone..."

***

Yami stood frozen in the doorway of the hospital room, his eyes slowly falling upon Yugi.
"I'm sorry...we did everything we could," Dr. Kotana said grimly, stepping outside, followed closely by the nurse who threw a sympathetic look to the tri-color haired teen.
The doctor's words did not even register.

~*~Sorry I never told you All I wanted to say. And now it's too late to hold you... Cause you've flown away So far away~*~

Yami's deep, crimson eyes glazed over, not willing to believe what was happening. His knees buckled below him as he stumbled closer to the motionless form. "...Yugi?"
Yugi did not answer. His thin, pale form lay sprawled on a hospital stretcher, a thin sheet covering his body. His bright, warm eyes were closed; shut forever, his pallid lips parted. Yami had a sudden urge to hold Yugi in his arms, one more time...to capture his lips in one final kiss, like in one of those fairy tales where the princess suddenly comes back to life and they live happily ever after.....
But he couldn't even bring himself to do it.
Yami's heart beat painfully in his chest, as warm tears began to well up in his eyes. He kneeled by Yugi, suddenly feeling numb and cold. He fumbled clumsily for Yugi's hand, choking back a sob as he found the hand to be icy cold. Giving the limp hand a soft squeeze, he searched Yugi's face desperately, silently begging for him to open his eyes.

~*~Never had I imagined Living without your smile Feeling and knowing you hear me It keeps me alive, alive~*~

Hot tears began to fall from Yami's eyes, unable to hold them back any longer.
Never again was he going to see Yugi's beautiful smile; his violet, sparkling eyes shining with delight; his sweet voice calling out his name....
"...come on, Yugi...wake up..." Yami whispered shakily, letting his tears fall onto the sheets. "I...love you..."

~*~And I know you're shining down on me from heaven Like so many friends we've lost along the way And I know eventually we'll be together One sweet day~*~

Every emotion that he ever felt...every thought, every feeling suddenly burst inside him. The guilt...the sorrow...the feeling of heartache that was eating him up from inside, from the innermost chamber of his soul, leaking out from his eyes as his entire world collapsed around him. *Yugi* was his world.

~*~Darling, I never showed you Assumed you'd always be there. And I, I took your presence for granted. But I always cared And I miss the love we shared~*~

Yami buried his face on Yugi's chest, crying like never before. Tear after tear rolled down Yami's cheeks as he sobbed uncontrollably. He had never felt like this before. To have known what love felt like, and to have lost it as soon as it was within his grasp....

~*~Although the sun will never shine the same I'll always look to a brighter day. Lord I know when I lay me down to sleep You will always listen as I pray.~*~

The pain was too great; there was nothing that could be done..... Yami lifted his head up slowly, staring at Yugi's face through his blurred vision. The light that streamed form the window played with the shadows on Yugi's calm face, giving him an almost angelic look.
That was the last time Yami ever layed eyes on Yugi.

~*~Sorry I never told you All I wanted to say And now it's too late to hold you Cause you've flown away So far away~*~

A/N One more chapter to go. Please review.

My hamster just died this morning...right when I was proofreading this chapter. I'm not joking....I miss him so much...but I can't even bring myself to cry....