Haku: I hope you people are happy. –sulks-

Yugi: What's wrong Haku?

Y. Haku: She struggled for 4 days to find the time to write one scene of this, and she's not that happy with how it came out.

Haku: Sayian Jedi? There's some fluff in this chapter, but it's terribly written fluff. D'you know how hard it is to write all of that in first person? –kicks Yami on the shin-

Yami: Owww! What was that for?

DISCLAIMER

Yami: -hopping painfully on one foot, because Haku kicked his shin- Haku doesn't own this. –runs off to mind crush her-

Haku: Eep! –runs for the hills-

~~~

Chapter 8

~~~

Nothing of real importance happened to Yugi, the others or I over the next few weeks, so I won't bother noting it down. I slowly realised over this time, however, that Yugi was the closest thing to a friend that I'd ever had, and maybe he even was one. There was something strange about that small boy that made me think, feel, believe in hope again, and though he hadn't come back to my apartment (I'd asked him not to, for I knew it was being watched.) I had been back to the game shop many times. Yugi's grandfather was still as suspicious of me as ever, His eyes were almost super glued to my back the few times I had been over, but I had graduated from calling him Mr. Mouto to Sugoruku. He still didn't trust me enough to let me call him Grandpa, even if it was a standard title for the others.

That little fact, however, was about to change, one blustery April night.

It was a Sunday, and it was cold. I had just finished posting a report on my progress to the Network, and was feeling rather proud of myself, for making it look like I was further along with this mission than I was. I had a reputation to keep up after all. Deciding to get myself a drink, I stood up, stretched and wandered away with the window still up and running. I left my bedroom, and it's dark tranquillity, and made my way to the kitchen, switching on the light and blinking in the harsh, artificial rays that it produced. The weather had taken a turn for the worse, and what had looked like a light drizzle of rain had turned into a rather nasty squall, and there was the promise of a thunderstorm in those dark clouds. A loud boom supported my theory. Pouring myself a cup of coffee, I headed back to my bedroom and the faintly buzzing computer screen. About to sit back on my black, leather chair, I was halted, by a soft tapping noise that nevertheless attracted my attention.

Intrigued, I placed my mug down by the mousepad, and approached the doorway of my home. The tapping noise came again, this time, louder, more persistent. I reached the door, as once again, a blinding flash and an echoing boom roared overhead. Gently, I turned the doorknob and pulled back upon the pine wood frame of my door.

In the night, one figure stood, looking like they were about to leave, yet had turned around again. They were obviously drenched by the rain, and wearing very tight clothing, it looked like their silhouette was wearing nothing at all.

"Yes?" I enquired of the short man in front of me. "What do you want?"

There was something in that stature and the way that they held themself that set of recognition alarm bells, in my head. I knew this person, and their voice confirmed it.

"I know you told me not to come around here, Yami but..." Yugi stepped forward apprehensively, and a flash of lightning illuminated his figure.

His precious porcelain skin was marred with cuts and bruises, his eyes, normally such a bright and sparkling amethyst were a dull purple, and a dark ring was beginning to form around one of them. He was naked.

He shivered in the night air, and watched me apprehensively. "Can I borrow some clothes?" Mouth agape, I managed to stand aside, and allow him access to my home. Feelings of indescribable anger were boiling within me.

Whoever did this to my angel was going to pay.

~~~

So saw Yugi and I later in the small living portion of my flat. It wasn't much, a couch, a table and a TV that mostly just gathered dust, because I hated being cooped up in the small rooms. I had given some of my smaller clothes to Yugi, though they were still too big. Seeing as most of my clothes were tight, however, this didn't matter, and they had the appearance of being loose on Yugi, not too big. The result was my adorable angel sitting in slightly baggy leather. As an extra precaution against the cold, I had wrapped him up in the largest, fluffiest blanket in the hose, so he could keep warm. I thought about holding him close, as well, but that thought was chased away as soon as it came to mind.

"Yugi?" My anger had not abated, and some of it must have travelled to my voice, because wide, tired eyes looked at me with slight fear.

He blinked once or twice, and replied, "Yes?"

I forced the anger out of my voice. "What happened?" I felt my brow crinkle in worry for his safety.

Yugi visibly shuddered. "I...I'm not sure really." His eyebrows came together as he thought how to best word it. "Not what you think though." He said, in a harsh tone to chase away the thoughts I had had immediately, when I saw his naked torso.

"Please tell me you weren't..." I asked, in trepidation of the answer.

"No! I wasn't! But..." His face was a mask of anger, which melted away as he reached the end of his small sentence.

Worry in my heart, I asked again, "What happened?"

He sighed. "That's just the thing, I'm not exactly sure." His voice held undertones of unpleasant memories. "I was walking home from the movies, and I had this strange feeling. You know like when you're being watched? But when I turned around, there was no one there. I thought I was just being paranoid. I took a shortcut down the wrong alley, and these guys jumped me. It was strange; they seemed to think I was someone called Darkmage."

I twitched involuntarily, Yugi didn't notice.

"Anyway, I ran, and they followed, they wouldn't let up. All around there was dark ski masks and hands and legs, and it was all I could do to get away." He hiccoughed, and his eyes held a slight amount of salt water. I moved slightly closer and wrapped my arms around his slender frame. I expected him to pull away from this gesture, but he didn't, merely sought comfort from the embrace and rested his forehead against my torso. "And they caught me, and slammed me against a wall. They kicked me all over, and I can't really remember much but pain. Then they ripped off my clothes, one even went as far as kissing me, and they kept saying things like 'this is your own fault Darkmage.' They all smelt terrible. Like booze and smoke.

'But then there was this really dark voice, I feel like I should recognise it from somewhere, but I don't. It said something like 'leave him alone, he's the assignment.' And this got the guys around me really angry. They were calling out stuff like 'Stay out of it' and 'this doesn't concern you, so move along.' Then the voice started laughing. It was really evil and horrible laughter too, like those villains in movies. All high pitched and mad and stuff. He said, 'Headquarters will blame you if you hurt Darkmage's assignment. Message from the top.' They all seemed taken back by this. One even asked who he was, and he laughed again. I hated it. He said his name was Thiefking and that he'd kill anyone who even laid a finger on me, and then all the others took off. The Thiefking dude just turned and left without another word."

Yugi slumped, tired from his reliving his hellish moment. I unconsciously held him tighter, and was trembling in my anger. One, that they would even think of hurting my angel, and two, that it was Bakura, and not myself that saved Yugi.

"Are you alright, Yami?" The owlish purple eyes blinked up at me, and I forced my face to become soft. "You're not mad at me, are you?"

How could he think that I was angry at him? Him! "I'm not angry at you, Yugi, I'm angry for you."

He smiled and gave a weak laugh, reaching up and running a finger down the side of my face. "Don't be." He smiled.

((Haku: Sayian Jedi? Look away now.))

I don't know what orchestrated it, but before I knew it, he and I were closing the distance between us, and I discovered something welling up inside me, a great joy, and a great sadness at the same time.

Our lips met.

He tasted of soft cinnamon, and barely the faintest trace of salt from his tears, and our heads tilted instinctively so that our lips could meet full on. My hand snaked up his back to rest in his ebony and cherry tresses, my other slipping down to the small of his back, and his moved up and looped themselves around my neck. We pulled each other closer subconsciously, and I felt a greater need to be with him, for him, a part of him. I ran my tongue gently across his sweet lips, almost begging allowance, and to my surprise, my angel complied, allowing his lips to part and let my tongue in. I felt the small, hard lumps that were his teeth, as I drowned in the sweet, sweet taste that was my Angel. He moaned slightly under my touch, and even though I felt a burning sensation from within my lungs for need of oxygen, I felt the need to explore his mouth until I could hold out no longer. With slight shock, I realised something.

I wanted this. And so did Yugi.

((Haku: Okay, Jedi, you can look now.))

And as we slowly parted, only far enough for our foreheads to remain touching, we were both smiling.

"Want to do that again?" I joked, smirking at him in a way that just screamed I was totally willing. Yugi started giggling uncontrollably, a faint pink tinge coming to his cheeks, and as he laughed, I started laughing at him, and he at me, until we were both in uncontrollable mirth that trembled through us. By the end of it, neither knew what we were laughing about anymore, we were just... laughing. It was a good feeling.

He moved in and wrapped his arms around me, just merely hugging. Slightly surprised, I pulled my arms up, and then returned the gesture.

Neither of us had to say anything to the other. We both understood, and were perfectly content.

"Yami, I should get home." He whispered gently, obviously not wanting to leave the warmth of my arms.

"No, not tonight." I whispered, "It's still raining, and I'm not letting you walk by yourself."

"Can I at least tell my grandpa?" I smiled at him, and picked up the cordless phone which I had placed upon the table earlier, after forcefully telling a telemarketer that I was not interested.

I gave him the phone, and he pressed a few buttons, put the machine to his ear and, as I happily noticed, did not leave his position in my lap.

The phone rang a few times, and then I heard it click at the other end as someone picked it up. I had always had good hearing.

"Hi, Grandpa?" Yugi started, and I didn't even need my good hearing to hear what happened next. There was a jubilated cry, and the voice of Sugoruku Mouto came down the line loud and clear.

"Yugi! Yugi! I was so worried! Where are you? What happened? Is anything broken? Were you mugg..." He had obviously been freeting with worry. I felt a tinge of respect for the old man.

"Grandpa! I'm fine! I ran into a little trouble and someone helped me." Yugi cut across the old man, a slight touch of amusement in his words. He looked up at me, and smiled.

He listened for a moment. "No, I told you, I'm fine. I went to yami's 'cos it's closer... yeah, I've been told to stay the night, because it's still raining..."

He listened for a moment more, and winced. "I know I have school tomorrow. I'll borrow a uniform, if that's alright Yami?"

"That's fine." I assured him.

"Did you hear that Grandpa? It's fi... Yes he is sitting right next to me. No, he's not about to kill me if that's what you're worried about. For Godssake, Grandpa! If he... what? Don't curse? Sorry." I grew bored of the one sided conversation rather quickly, but was drawn back into it when Yugi gently tugged me on the arm.

"yes?" I asked, meeting his bright gaze with my own.

"Grandpa wants to talk to you." I took the phone away from him with some trepidation, his bright eyes caught it.

"Don't worry, I don't think he wants to kill you..." I let out a chuckle.

"Comforting." I put the phone to my ear gently. "Hello?"

"yami?" The warm voice of Sugoruku Mouto came down the line, and it did not hold the usual tinge of coldness that was usually reserved just for me by the old man. "Thank you for taking care of Yugi."

"It was my pleasure, Sugoruku." We both were being sincere, and it surprised me.

"And yami?" The old man continued, his voice still warm.

"Yes, sir?"

"Call me Grandpa."

~~~

"Yugi, you can sleep in my bed tonight. Just let me turn off the computer." I said, noting that my coffee (now cold) was still sitting by the mouse. Yugi watched with interest as I logged off and shut the machine down, sitting upon the end of my bed happily. I smiled at him.

"What was that, yami? Some kind of game or something?" He asked, meaning the Network window.

I laughed. "No, just something from Mum and Dad. Boring stuff, meant to help with my schoolwork." I supplied, upon seeing his face. He let out a giggle.

"Your room's nice. A bit bare, but nice." I smirked and let out a snort of amusement.

"I'm used to moving around a lot and quickly." I supplied, and yugi seemed satisfied.

He lay down upon the bed, smiling at me. I returned it and moved over, sitting upon the edge of the mattress, and gently stroking the side of his face.

"Sleep well, Kitten." I whispered, and he shot me a puzzled look.

"Kitten?" He asked, curious.

"It seemed suitable." I gently kissed him upon the forehead and moved out of the room. Yugi smiled.

"Love you, Yami." I stood up, and smiled down at him, my eyes holding nothing but the warmth I felt inside. If this was emotion, why did I give it up?

"Love you too. Sleep well, Yugi."

~~~

Haku: I hope you people enjoyed it, and I realise that the plot is moving very slowly. I've realised that in Yami's half of the story, the plot DOES move very slowly, but when Yugi tells his half, after a bit of Angst at the start, the plot will move a long and there will be all the action that you want.

Y. Haku: And there was fluff in this chapter, which means Yugi's half is going to be very soon.

Yugi: And seeing as it's 12:49pm Sunday, we can't do review replies. Sorry! We really need to catch up with those... –pokes Haku-

Haku: I do read them though, and I appreciate every single one. So please, Read and Review!