Smile
Part Two
by Lethe
Chapter Twenty-Five: To Cause You to Smile Again
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Before you ask: It's NOT OVER YET!
^_^ …Enjoy.
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"Yami?" whispered Yugi tentatively, knocking on the door of the spirit's soul room.
Silence.
"Yami…" he said, leaning his forehead against the cool steel. "Today's the day. Anzu is leaving. We're going to see her off at the airport. I thought you would want to know… I mean, you… well… I'm sorry, Yami…"
There was no answer. Not that Yugi had expected one. He sighed and turned away,
and woke up to a loud buzzing noise.
Yugi rubbed his eyes and shut off the alarm clock, swinging his feet out of bed and into his fluffy slippers. His heart felt leaden in his chest. The weeks had passed so quickly, and now… Well, the least he could give her was a cheerful goodbye. He pasted a smile on for the benefit of his mirror and shrugged off his nightshirt.
What would he wear today? He looked through the closet. Not that it really mattered. Hmm… There! A loose black sleeveless shirt was calling to him. He could wear it with the crimson vest Sugoroku had given him for Christmas! …That wouldn't look too weird… Ah well, since when had he looked normal?
The Millennium Puzzle rested on his chest, the cold metal chilling him. He wondered what Yami was thinking about. What had gotten into him lately? Why hadn't he told Yugi about his feelings for Anzu sooner? Yugi was filled with regret. Now it was too late to make amends. Anzu was leaving.
Anzu was leaving.
He wouldn't cry. He couldn't cry, he was supposed to be strong for her, and here he was sitting shirtless on his bed, tears spilling onto the sheets as well as the Puzzle.
Yami hadn't talked to him for so long… he felt kind of lonely…
Really lonely.
Yami was his other half! Why was he hiding?
"Yami!" he cried to the empty bedroom. "Please…!"
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There! She was all packed. Anzu smiled, placing her hands on her hips as she surveyed her now-bare room. She was excited.
She hoped, though, that she wouldn't throw up on the plane again. That was the worst.
She would miss Yugi a ton, she knew, but they would still be able to talk through e-mail and phone, so it wasn't a total loss. Anzu was keeping positive! All of the opportunities in America were sending a thrill through her spine so she could barely hold still.
Whoops, it was almost time to go.
She would say goodbye to Yugi soon…
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"You ready, Seto?"
"Yes," said Kaiba. "After we see Anzu off, do you want to go to the movies or something?"
"I'd love that," said Jonouchi happily. Then he took a more somber tone. "I hope Yugi will take this okay. We might need to spend some time with him as well."
"You're so considerate, pup," said Seto, ruffling his hair.
"Hey! I finally got it brushed down!"
"You look better this way," said Seto nonchalantly.
"…Hmph."
"Let's go."
"After you, Princess."
Seto twitched.
Jonouchi laughed.
--
"Hello, Otogi speaking."
"Yo! Anzu's leaving today, and I need a ride to the airport."
"Is that all I am?"
"Only if you think so."
"I don't chauffeur for free, you realize."
"Yeah, yeah, we'll go on another date afterward. Happy?"
"I suppose. Be ready in five."
"Seeya, Ryuuji."
"Same to you, Hiroto."
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Yami! Yugi's voice echoed through the hallways of their shared mind. Please…!
Yami was huddled in a corner of his room, knees together and face down. He looked up when he heard the voice, and then shook his head. He couldn't go to Yugi… could he? Who knew when he might lose control? No, it was better to be alone. Like he had been for millennia…
Yami felt Yugi collapse on the bed. This was no good! The boy had to go to Anzu!
Yami sighed and faded from sight.
--
"Yami…" whispered Yugi.
"What's wrong, Aibou?" came the quiet reply. Yami's image took shape in a shimmer of light. Tearstains glittered on his unreal cheeks.
Yugi threw his arms around Yami, sobbing. "Don't do that ever again! Please! I didn't know that you liked Anzu, I really-"
"Yugi."
Yugi stopped.
"I don't feel that way for Anzu. You can stop worrying about that, all right?"
Yugi blinked. "You… don't?"
"No," said Yami. He took Yugi's shoulders and looked him solemnly in the eyes. "I will tell you everything, I promise, but right now I don't want you to miss Anzu's flight."
Yugi's eyes widened. "Shoot!"
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"Bye, Anzu," said Jonouchi, sniffling dramatically. "It just won't be the same without ya, man."
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," said Honda with a grin.
"Or Katsuya!" piped Mokuba.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"You know very well, Jou," said Seto, kissing him lightly on the forehead.
"It's been great getting to know you," said Shizuka sadly. "I'll miss you so much!"
Anzu hugged Shizuka. "Well, I'm sure Kaiba can pay for my trips back during vacations!"
"Wha-?!"
"It's not that big a price to pay, big brother."
Seto harrumphed.
"I hope you have fun and don't forget to floss," said Otogi.
"Don't forget to write!" corrected Yugi.
"I won't forget to write to any of you," said Anzu, beaming. "You guys are the best friends in the world and I love you all!"
"How touching," mumbled Honda. Somehow, his hand had found its way into Otogi's.
"Uh, here," said Yugi. He handed her a small box. "You can open it now!"
"Yeah, open it!" said Shizuka.
Anzu opened the box to find a small golden pendant in the shape of a heart. "Yugi! It's so cute!" she said happily. "I'll wear it every day!" She placed it around her neck and then hugged Yugi tightly.
Every eyebrow in the group was raised when they parted, and Anzu sighed. "Yugi?"
"Right here?"
"Well, we have an audience to please…"
Yugi grinned. "I'm not about to object."
They kissed lightly, and the gang let out a collective hoot.
"All right, Yugi!"
"I'll miss you," said Yugi. His face was red.
"I'll miss you too."
"Think of you every day…"
"Every single day."
"How sweet," whispered Jonouchi to Seto.
A crackle from the intercom, and Anzu sighed. "It's time for me to go." She hefted her bag onto her shoulder.
"Bye!"
"See ya!"
"Don't get mixed up with any
American guys!"
"We'll expect to see you this Christmas!"
"Love you!"
Anzu waved. "Goodbye, everyone! It's been great!"