Disclaimer: You know the drill! I don't own it! Thank you, my reviewers!

Flashback

Yugi looked like a fallen angel, so beautiful and forlorn, and Yami softly traced a scar on the angel's chest. There were so many scars, long and short, wide and skinny, designs and lines.

Perhaps... An idea surfaced and Yami concentrated the power from himself to Yugi.

When he opened his eyes some of the scars where gone, at least half. Yami grinned triumphantly, glad that at least the physical hurts could be healed. If only he wasn't so...tired.... Yami curled up next to his smaller counterpart and fell asleep.

End Flashback

(Bakura's POV)

"Alright, people! Keep it down, keep it down!" Yelled Jounouchi.

Bakura grimaced. The only reason he was here was Ryou. As far as he was concerned the baka pharaoh could work out his own love life!

"Thank you for coming, everyone." Put in Seto. He nodded to everyone in turn, and Malik, Marik, Ryou, and Jou nodded back.

"Basically, we all know that Yugi and Yami could do with a favor. Jou and I owe them anyway. So does anyone have any ideas?" Asked Kaiba.

"Are you even sure they'd appreciate the help?" Bakura growled.

If I were him, I would roast anyone that tried to help me, especially someone desperate enough to enlist Marik! Bakura thought to himself.

"Bakura, it's obvious that they like each other. Once they are together they'll thank us." Put in Malik.

"Koi, we can always make sure they like each other. Yugi will open up to me and Jou, and Kaiba says he's already seen Yami's affection for Yugi!" Added Ryou exasperatedly.

Crap. Ryou's pissed at me. Bakura thought.

He casually leaned towards Ryou, capturing his hikaris lips, running his tongue along the aibous bottom lip. He gained access to Ryou's mouth and ravaged it with his tongue, feeling satisfaction when Ryou gave a small moan.

"Ahem." Coughed Kaiba.

Bakura pulled away reluctantly as Marik winked at him. "Gee, Bakura, if you put that kind of devotion into getting Yami and Yugi together they'll be together in no time!" Smirked Malik, causing Jou to leap in between the two just in time.

"Cut it out!" He barked. "Now listen hard, cause I have an idea..."

Yugi's POV

Great. Jou and Ryou managed to corner me. What secret are they trying to weasle out of me NOW?

Yugi sighed. Whenever someone wanted to find out a secret from Yugi, they always sent these two, apparently thinking that Ryou and Jou were trustworthy, or maybe tactful. Fat chance.

"So, Yugi..." Murmered Ryou in a too-casual tone. "Yami looks awfully hot today. What do you think?"

Yugi glanced at Yami, who was being cornered by Seto, Bakura, Marik, and Malik, in an attempt to keep him from Yugi long enough to pry whatever they wanted out of him. Yami was wearing the usual, a black tanktop with black leather jeans and the regular spiky accessories.

"Sure..." Said Yugi. Couldn't they just get to the point?

"So, Yug... Have you thought about getting a boyfriend?" Asked Jou bluntly, grunting when Ryou elbowed him.

Yugi paled. He knew what they were getting at, and it wasn't good. Sure, Yami was beautiful and strong, but he wouldn't want something broken and afraid. Yugi started breathing a little faster.

"Well, Yugi," Said Ryou, trying to mend the situation. "That's a thought. What DO you think about getting a boyfriend? I'm sure if you wanted we could help you hook up with.." He darted a glance at Yami "...Whoever you like!" He finished hopefully.

"Well?" Asked Jou eagerly.

Yugi tried to control his breathing. He kept drawing in air faster and faster.

/Yami, please get me out of here!/ Yugi sent desperately. Ryou and Jou were so stupid! Why would anyone want him after he had been used?

Oh, no! Yugi thought desperately.

The memories were creeping back. He smelled the room, heavy with rosewater and blood. Blood...Always blood. Can I never get rid of it?

"Um, Yugi?" He heard faintly.

His breath was coming heavy and fast, whistling a little, but suddenly arms enfolded him, made a shield from the rest of the world, and he was safe. No one could get him here, not even the monsters. There was no blood smell in Yami's arms, either, just sandlewood.

/ /Are you all right, Yugi?/ /Asked Yami. / /Lets go to class. I'll never let them corner you again. It's safe. You're safe./ /

/Alright./ Agreed Yugi shakily, and Yami let go of him.

Jou and Ryou were looking at Yami guiltily, and a little apprehensively. "I'll talk to you two later!" He whispered harshly at them, making sure Yugi didn't hear.

Jounouchi's POV

Jou pouted. He and Ryou had been walking home when Yami had cornered them, and things weren't looking good. The fool man would stop them if he got scent of their plan, and Jou owed Yami. Yami just didn't know a good thing when it was in front of him.

"What did you ask him about?" Asked the pharoah in a dangerously low voice.

"Oh, nothing important. Why?" Asked Ryou airily. "And you don't need to be so protective. The only reason Bakura isn't here is because I trust you." He added in a harder voice.

Jou nodded. Yami was being too domineering. Nothing had really happened; He and Ryou had been tactfully asking Yugi about his feelings for Yami. They had been very discrete.

Yugi had seemed lost in thought, though, those amethyst eyes blank. It had sounded like Yugi had been casually whistling under his breath, about to answer the questions, when Yami had bounded up and interrupted!

Fortunately, the 'interruption' had been in the form of a hug, and Jou had seen Yugi lean in to his yami, pressing himself closer to Yami. If that wasn't attraction Jou didn't know what was.

Even though Seto and he had realized their feelings over a duel, Jou prided himself on recognizing the emotions of love. He had told Ryou, and Ryou had agreed. The plan was on!

"So, Yami, what was with Yugi's outfit today? It looked very sexy..." Jou said smoothly.

"He looked a little lonely when you were gone. Do you think he might like someone?" Asked Ryou slyly.

"What are you trying to say?!" Growled Yami, eyes flashing. Jou thought he could see fangs slowly growing out of his teeth.

Rule 1: Never upset a thousand year old pharoah! He thought.

"Relax, Yami. But you have to admit that you and Yug would make a GREAT couple!" Jou said, coating his words with sincerity and trust.

For a second it looked like Yami was going to leave, but then he slumped back against the bench, defeat in his expression. "It can never happen, Jou. Yes, Yugi may be beautiful and special and unique, but... it can never be." A tear traced his cheekbones unnoticed.

Ryou put a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, Yami. You don't know Yugi's feelings on this. He may love you."

Ryou's dark, chocolate brown eyes were filled with sympathy, reminding Jou that Ryou, too, had endured fruitless love for years while Bakura had remained rude and oblivious.

"It's not that. It's...." Yami trailed off, slowly walking away from the two.

When he was gone Ryou turned to Jou excitedly. "It's obvious what his feelings are, and from what we saw of Yugi he feels the same. We will get them together, maybe even on Friday! Your party was a great idea."

Jou smiled. "Ya. But maybe we should avoid Yami for a few days."

Yami's POV

Yami stalked off. Ryou and Jou had been completely out of line. How dare they talk about his hikari that way, as if he was property!

He scrubbed his cheek, surprised to feel wetness. He never cried. Never! But he shouldn't have said all that about Yugi's beauty. It was all true, all a simple description of the angel himself.

But, like he had told Ryou, it could never be. After Yami had failed to protect Yugi, he couldn't trust himself not to hurt Yugi again. Anger rose in his throat, threatening to spill over in a scream of rage.

DAMMIT!!! He screamed to himself.

This was all his fault. He could feel the blood lust coming, the urge to kill, to maim, to avenge the worlds wrongs on the world itself.

Yami knew that he WAS darkness, was red eyes in the night, was a will'o'the wisp, was fear itself, but Yugi had changed everything. He wanted to be a friend, to be a lover, to be a protector. He had failed all three tasks.

Absently Yami realized that he had reached his house, and that Yugi would be inside. He carefully schooled his emotions to mirror calm, happy thoughts, and stepped inside. Yami breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that Yugi was indeed there and that he was thinking mundane thoughts with no death, blood, or despair in them.

"Yami?" Yugi shouted. "Seto called. He and Jou are having a party this Friday and they wanted to know if we could come."

Yugi appeared in the living room, flopping down on the couch, as Yami sat down next to him. Yugi's head rested in Yami's lap and Yugi had relaxed enough to close his eyes.

"Who is coming?" Asked Yami mildly, worrying that too many people might not be a good thing for his little light.

"Only Malik, Marik, Ryou and Bakura, Mai, Otogi, Tristen, and Anzu." Replied Yugi.

"ANZU?!" Groaned Yami. "I don't know why you had a crush on her!" He froze as soon as he had said it, knowing that the words could bring back memories.

"I never liked her, Yami." Yugi said quietly. He opened his stunning eyes and sat up. "I never liked her..." He repeated even softer.

Yugi walked upstairs while Yami sat, stunned. What had Yugi meant? If Yugi didn't like Anzu, who had he liked?

TBC