"Don't Say Goodbye"
Chapter Three
Cherry: Well, once again, I am probably going to be writing a long story. (sighs) I can't seem to do short, but I had an idea for this story that would have been a crime to let go to waste. But, if I am doing a multi- chapter story, I need some company. (pulls on the end of a rope, which is lassoed around Yugi and Yami)
Yugi: You said we could come and go as we pleased!!!
Cherry: That was before I decided to turn this into a longer story. (closes and locks the door) You're staying here like you always do.
Yami: May Ra help our poor souls. (a thought occurs to him) Why am I in here? I'm not even going to be in this story a terrible lot, am I?
Cherry: Not in person, but you will in memories.
Yami: DAMN!
###################################
It had now been a month since Yami had left, and everyone noted a definite change in Yugi. He seemed to walk around in a constant depression, only briefly coming up for moments of cheerfulness when they told jokes.
At school, bullies didn't even bother with him anymore because Yugi failed to respond nowadays. The small teen would just stand there while they harassed him, waiting for them to be finished, and then walk off as if nothing had happened. It was frustrating to them, so they just moved on to other targets.
Yugi's friends and his grandfather did everything they could to drag Yugi out of his self-induced lonely bubble, but to no avail. Yugi would still go places when they asked him to come with them, but he just wasn't fun anymore, wasn't happy, and his teachers had called his grandpa more than once about a lack of attentiveness in class.
They weren't the only ones who had noticed the change in Yugi, though . . .
Kaiba had watched the boy's suffering the entire time, and he was greatly worried. The last thing he wanted to see was Yugi in pain of any kind. Kaiba had been in love with Yugi for a long time, but he hadn't acted upon it because he was a little afraid of how Yugi might react. But looking at Yugi now, if he didn't harbor an interest in him, he would just not respond, and that would be that. It would still hurt, but it was better than Yugi acting disgusted around Kaiba at the knowledge that he was gay.
He didn't realize that Yugi was gay too . . .
And that the next day's events would turn Yugi's world upside-down . . .
~*~*~
"Hey, Yug!" Jounouchi called when he saw Yugi headed their way.
"Hi," came Yugi's quiet response. Yugi's responses to people these days were always only as long as necessary.
They looked at him sadly, looks that were completely lost on Yugi because his eyes were cast downwards. They were so worried about Yugi, but nothing they did seemed to work.
"Come on, let's get to class before the bell rings," Ryou said. They all hurried down the hall, making it to class with plenty of time to spare.
They all sat around Yugi's desk, but before any of them could strike up a conversation, a somewhat cool voice broke in.
"Yugi, I need to talk to you for a moment," Kaiba said.
Yugi blinked at him. Kaiba needed to talk to him? What about? He just knew that this had better not have to do with Duel Monsters . . .
"What about?" Anzu said, seeing that Yugi was not going to answer.
"None of your business," Kaiba answered. He returned his gaze to Yugi. "Will you come out into the hallway with me for a moment?"
He turned and started walking, certain that Yugi would follow. When he looked to make sure, Yugi was still sitting at his desk. He came back over, gently pulled Yugi to his feet, and kept his hand on Yugi's arm to make sure he followed.
Yugi remained silent and looked up at Kaiba, waiting for him to start speaking. Kaiba was unsure how to begin. He decided to start by asking Yugi about his depressed state; he was curious to know what could upset this cheerful individual so much that he would become this way.
Yugi was surprised by Kaiba's question, and looked down, unsure how to respond. Even though Kaiba knew about Yami, he didn't know how Yugi felt about the former pharaoh. He therefore edited his answer.
"Yami had to leave last month," he explained quietly. "He went back to his original time. I just really miss him, I guess. I forgot how lonely things can get without him."
This answer was a half-truth. Yugi did miss Yami, and he had forgotten how lonely things were without him around, but he left out the extreme separation anxiety he was feeling and the way his heart was always wrenching in his chest because of Yami's absence. Yugi hurt so much that he couldn't begin to describe it.
Kaiba looked at him with genuine concern. He thought he knew how close Yugi and Yami were; they were, after all, basically two halves of the same whole. This, then, would explain Yugi's sadness. Even though his friends were around him as much as they could be, he felt lonely . . .
Kaiba grinned inwardly. This was the perfect time to tell Yugi how he felt. He could also try to fill that lonely hole in Yugi's heart.
"Yugi, I can't exactly replace Yami, but I can try to help you through this tough time, if you'll let me," he started, hesitating a little at certain points.
Yugi looked up at the young billionaire again. What did he mean? And what was with that tone of voice?
Kaiba suddenly took hold of one of Yugi's hands gently with one of his own. Yugi was completely thrown. What was he doing?
"Yugi, would . . ." Kaiba stopped, afraid of how the petite teen would react. But he would never know until he tried, so he continued, "Would you consider being my . . . my boyfriend?"
Once he got it out, Kaiba wanted to take the words back. Kami, that was embarrassing!
Yugi's already large eyes widened considerably. Kaiba was asking him to be his boyfriend?? But Yugi was in love with Yami, and he wanted to wait for him . . .
But he also didn't want to hurt Kaiba . . .
He didn't want to hurt the boy he had admired before Yami came along . . .
He couldn't stand the thought of Kaiba being hurt because of him . . .
Yugi suddenly realized that the feelings he'd had for Kaiba before me fell in love with Yami had died away. Oh Kami!! What was he going to do?
Yugi lowered his eyes to the floor, and Kaiba perceived it as rejection. His shoulders slumped and he looked suddenly hurt.
"That's okay, Yugi," he said quietly. "I didn't really expect you to want to. I just thought it was better to try . . ."
He turned and started back for the classroom when he heard behind him a quiet, "I'll think about it."
He brought his eyes back to Yugi, who was staring determinedly at the floor, his cheeks a bright red.
Kaiba was shocked. Yugi had said he'd consider it? Kaiba's heart swelled. This meant that he at least had a chance! Feeling considerably happier, he went back into class.
Yugi, meanwhile, was in shock of his answer. What was the matter with him? He had told Kaiba he'd consider going out with him when he wanted to wait for Yami! Why had he done that?
Yugi reentered class just before the bell rang, sitting down at his desk and not answering his friends' questions about what he and Kaiba had been talking about. He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts.
Yami . . .
Kaiba . . .
Yugi had feelings for both . . .
His feelings for Yami were so much stronger . . .
But chances were slim that he'd return . . .
And Kaiba was here with him now . . .
Yugi was at a crossroads . . .
{Yami, I wish you could help me. I don't know what to do!} he thought.
~*~*~
5,000 years in the past, where Yami and Jono had just rescued Teana from Heishin, the young pharaoh suddenly felt an extremely faint wave of confusion and pain. He raised his head.
"What's the matter Yami?" Jono asked.
"Yugi . . ." was all Yami said.
####################################
Cherry: How do you like that, hm?
Yugi: Me and Kaiba? Are you kidding?
Cherry: You'll see.
Yami: Review quick so that she'll write more. I want to know what she's got scheming.
Cherry: (evil laugh)
Chapter Three
Cherry: Well, once again, I am probably going to be writing a long story. (sighs) I can't seem to do short, but I had an idea for this story that would have been a crime to let go to waste. But, if I am doing a multi- chapter story, I need some company. (pulls on the end of a rope, which is lassoed around Yugi and Yami)
Yugi: You said we could come and go as we pleased!!!
Cherry: That was before I decided to turn this into a longer story. (closes and locks the door) You're staying here like you always do.
Yami: May Ra help our poor souls. (a thought occurs to him) Why am I in here? I'm not even going to be in this story a terrible lot, am I?
Cherry: Not in person, but you will in memories.
Yami: DAMN!
###################################
It had now been a month since Yami had left, and everyone noted a definite change in Yugi. He seemed to walk around in a constant depression, only briefly coming up for moments of cheerfulness when they told jokes.
At school, bullies didn't even bother with him anymore because Yugi failed to respond nowadays. The small teen would just stand there while they harassed him, waiting for them to be finished, and then walk off as if nothing had happened. It was frustrating to them, so they just moved on to other targets.
Yugi's friends and his grandfather did everything they could to drag Yugi out of his self-induced lonely bubble, but to no avail. Yugi would still go places when they asked him to come with them, but he just wasn't fun anymore, wasn't happy, and his teachers had called his grandpa more than once about a lack of attentiveness in class.
They weren't the only ones who had noticed the change in Yugi, though . . .
Kaiba had watched the boy's suffering the entire time, and he was greatly worried. The last thing he wanted to see was Yugi in pain of any kind. Kaiba had been in love with Yugi for a long time, but he hadn't acted upon it because he was a little afraid of how Yugi might react. But looking at Yugi now, if he didn't harbor an interest in him, he would just not respond, and that would be that. It would still hurt, but it was better than Yugi acting disgusted around Kaiba at the knowledge that he was gay.
He didn't realize that Yugi was gay too . . .
And that the next day's events would turn Yugi's world upside-down . . .
~*~*~
"Hey, Yug!" Jounouchi called when he saw Yugi headed their way.
"Hi," came Yugi's quiet response. Yugi's responses to people these days were always only as long as necessary.
They looked at him sadly, looks that were completely lost on Yugi because his eyes were cast downwards. They were so worried about Yugi, but nothing they did seemed to work.
"Come on, let's get to class before the bell rings," Ryou said. They all hurried down the hall, making it to class with plenty of time to spare.
They all sat around Yugi's desk, but before any of them could strike up a conversation, a somewhat cool voice broke in.
"Yugi, I need to talk to you for a moment," Kaiba said.
Yugi blinked at him. Kaiba needed to talk to him? What about? He just knew that this had better not have to do with Duel Monsters . . .
"What about?" Anzu said, seeing that Yugi was not going to answer.
"None of your business," Kaiba answered. He returned his gaze to Yugi. "Will you come out into the hallway with me for a moment?"
He turned and started walking, certain that Yugi would follow. When he looked to make sure, Yugi was still sitting at his desk. He came back over, gently pulled Yugi to his feet, and kept his hand on Yugi's arm to make sure he followed.
Yugi remained silent and looked up at Kaiba, waiting for him to start speaking. Kaiba was unsure how to begin. He decided to start by asking Yugi about his depressed state; he was curious to know what could upset this cheerful individual so much that he would become this way.
Yugi was surprised by Kaiba's question, and looked down, unsure how to respond. Even though Kaiba knew about Yami, he didn't know how Yugi felt about the former pharaoh. He therefore edited his answer.
"Yami had to leave last month," he explained quietly. "He went back to his original time. I just really miss him, I guess. I forgot how lonely things can get without him."
This answer was a half-truth. Yugi did miss Yami, and he had forgotten how lonely things were without him around, but he left out the extreme separation anxiety he was feeling and the way his heart was always wrenching in his chest because of Yami's absence. Yugi hurt so much that he couldn't begin to describe it.
Kaiba looked at him with genuine concern. He thought he knew how close Yugi and Yami were; they were, after all, basically two halves of the same whole. This, then, would explain Yugi's sadness. Even though his friends were around him as much as they could be, he felt lonely . . .
Kaiba grinned inwardly. This was the perfect time to tell Yugi how he felt. He could also try to fill that lonely hole in Yugi's heart.
"Yugi, I can't exactly replace Yami, but I can try to help you through this tough time, if you'll let me," he started, hesitating a little at certain points.
Yugi looked up at the young billionaire again. What did he mean? And what was with that tone of voice?
Kaiba suddenly took hold of one of Yugi's hands gently with one of his own. Yugi was completely thrown. What was he doing?
"Yugi, would . . ." Kaiba stopped, afraid of how the petite teen would react. But he would never know until he tried, so he continued, "Would you consider being my . . . my boyfriend?"
Once he got it out, Kaiba wanted to take the words back. Kami, that was embarrassing!
Yugi's already large eyes widened considerably. Kaiba was asking him to be his boyfriend?? But Yugi was in love with Yami, and he wanted to wait for him . . .
But he also didn't want to hurt Kaiba . . .
He didn't want to hurt the boy he had admired before Yami came along . . .
He couldn't stand the thought of Kaiba being hurt because of him . . .
Yugi suddenly realized that the feelings he'd had for Kaiba before me fell in love with Yami had died away. Oh Kami!! What was he going to do?
Yugi lowered his eyes to the floor, and Kaiba perceived it as rejection. His shoulders slumped and he looked suddenly hurt.
"That's okay, Yugi," he said quietly. "I didn't really expect you to want to. I just thought it was better to try . . ."
He turned and started back for the classroom when he heard behind him a quiet, "I'll think about it."
He brought his eyes back to Yugi, who was staring determinedly at the floor, his cheeks a bright red.
Kaiba was shocked. Yugi had said he'd consider it? Kaiba's heart swelled. This meant that he at least had a chance! Feeling considerably happier, he went back into class.
Yugi, meanwhile, was in shock of his answer. What was the matter with him? He had told Kaiba he'd consider going out with him when he wanted to wait for Yami! Why had he done that?
Yugi reentered class just before the bell rang, sitting down at his desk and not answering his friends' questions about what he and Kaiba had been talking about. He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts.
Yami . . .
Kaiba . . .
Yugi had feelings for both . . .
His feelings for Yami were so much stronger . . .
But chances were slim that he'd return . . .
And Kaiba was here with him now . . .
Yugi was at a crossroads . . .
{Yami, I wish you could help me. I don't know what to do!} he thought.
~*~*~
5,000 years in the past, where Yami and Jono had just rescued Teana from Heishin, the young pharaoh suddenly felt an extremely faint wave of confusion and pain. He raised his head.
"What's the matter Yami?" Jono asked.
"Yugi . . ." was all Yami said.
####################################
Cherry: How do you like that, hm?
Yugi: Me and Kaiba? Are you kidding?
Cherry: You'll see.
Yami: Review quick so that she'll write more. I want to know what she's got scheming.
Cherry: (evil laugh)