Joy: Okay, all! I'm back with another chapter! (grins) I got some reviews!

kristen89: I am so glad you like it! :o) This is the chapter you've been waiting for, because you get to find out how Yugi is doing. :o)

Yugi-angel: :o) Here it comes!

In the last chapter, Joy and Seto, with the help of a couple of spirits, of course, were able to rescue Yugi from the evil Vargon and his idiotic hench-worm, James Smith. Caught up? Good. Ready, set, go!

Yugi's Fear

For the second time that summer, Yugi Moto was admitted to Domino Hospital. He had a few broken ribs, a swollen black eye, a concussion, and multiple cuts and bruises all over his body. The cut around his eye had become slightly infected. The doctors, however, expected the boy to make a full recovery, much to the relief and joy of his friends.

Joy and Seto were allowed to visit Yugi briefly after he spent some time in the recovery room. Joy sat down by Yugi's beside and ran her hands through his tri-colored hair, whispering to his unconscious form in reassuring tones. She mostly told him how he was safe and that everything would be all right.

Joy…how is he…? Yami asked quietly. He was hesitant to come out of the puzzle, feeling that he had let his light down when he was most in need. Katilli had tried to tell him how he had saved the day by temporarily joining with Seto, but he was still feeling guilty.

He's a little beat up, but he'll be okay, Yami. She heard him as well as Katilli sigh in relief. Just then, Yugi stirred. His big, amethyst eyes slowly opened. "Yugi, you're awake," Joy said, relieved.

Yugi looked around slowly. Where am I? He asked himself. He was in a strange white room. He looked over when a voice spoke to him to see a familiar-looking woman sitting beside him. He realized he was in the hospital. He had been rescued from the island. It took him a few minutes to remember the girl's name who stood beside him, and several more to find his voice.

"J-Joy?" His voice was hoarse and not much louder than a whisper. Joy nodded eagerly. He spotted another familiar face in the room. "K-Kaiba?" Seto nodded once in response, but did not leave his place, standing at the foot of the bed. Yugi smiled weakly, feeling safe at last. And then his eyes found the Millennium Puzzle around Joy's neck.

His eyes grew wide in…fear? Joy tilted her head in confusion. Was Yugi afraid? No, it must be my imagination, Joy thought to herself. Yugi would never be afraid of the Puzzle. She smiled at the boy, dismissing the notion immediately.

"I kept the Puzzle safe for you, Yugi. Do you want me to leave it by your bedside so you can talk to Yugi? We can't stay for long, but he would be able to look after you and keep you company." Joy suggested cheerfully.

Yugi shook his head violently. "P-Please…n-n-no…" He pulled his covers tightly around him and seemed to shrink away from the Item. It was like he wanted to be further away from it.

Joy glanced over at Seto. They both looked totally shocked, but neither of them were more shocked than Yami.

Joy, if I didn't know better, I would say he was afraid of me, Yami said in disbelief.

Yami, I think he IS afraid, Katilli corrected him.

That's impossible! Yugi would never be afraid of me. We are like brothers. I would protect Yugi even at the cost of my own life!

"Yugi, are you scared of Yami?" Joy asked slowly, still trying to recover from her shock. Yugi didn't answer, but he started to shake slightly. He wrapped his arms around his still aching sides. His two friends were silent for a moment, watching his reaction with growing unease. Joy finally did the only thing she could. Yami, I'm going to give the Puzzle to Kaiba and have him leave the room. I need to find out what is going with Yugi. She handed the Puzzle to Seto and told him to wait right outside for a moment. He nodded and left the room. Joy knew Yami didn't like it, but it was the only way to get Yugi to calm down. He was injured and didn't need to be so excited.

She turned her attention to the frightened teen. "Try to relax, Yugi. You've been through a lot, and you need some rest." She took his hand in a further attempt to calm the still shaking teen.

Sweet Ra, what has that monster done to the poor boy? He is terribly afraid. Katilli asked, her anger mounting. She did not like to see someone as innocent as Yugi suffer for even a moment. And neither did Joy.

"Yugi, everything is all right now. You're safe." Yugi seemed to be calming down somewhat. He had regained some of his color and he had stopped shaking. But he still looked terribly scared. Joy moved to sit on the edge of his bed. She leaned forward and gave the boy a reassuring hug. A moment later, he hugged her back, calming the rest of the way down. Joy pulled away slowly, then stroked Yugi's hair until he fell back to sleep.

Are you going to find out what happened to make him afraid of Yami?

I will later. I don't think the poor boy could handle such an interrogation right now. He is hurt, and he needs some sleep, Joy responded through the link.

Yes, of course.

Joy watched him sleep for awhile, then quietly left the room and joined Seto in the hall. Joy took the puzzle back. "Yugi's sleeping right now. I'm going to wait until he feels better to ask him what happened."

"Good idea. Meanwhile, I'm going to pick Mokuba up at the Manor. I don't want him alone, even with security. I'll be right back." Joy nodded and Seto left. Joy sat on a nearby chair and closed her eyes.

…Yami…?

…Yes? Yami's reply was quiet and hesitant. He sounded distant and sad.

Are you okay…?

…Yugi is afraid of me. My light…has become frightened of even the mention of me being around him…Why? What has happened to my hikari?

I don't know yet, Yami. Maybe he's just afraid that something will happen to the puzzle if he has it too close right now. Joy suggested, trying to sound convincing. She highly doubted it herself.

Yami was unconvinced. I know that bastard did something to him, and whatever it is has made him to frightened to hold the Millennium Puzzle.

---Meanwhile---

Yugi tossed and turned, his mind wrapped in a terrible nightmare…

He was chained on the wall, struggling to get free. His only thoughts were to get away, and make sure his friends and Yami were okay. He hadn't really explained anything to Yami, and he had a feeling the spirit was very worried. Suddenly the door to the old cabin opened. Yugi stopped struggling as he saw…

"Yami!" Yugi's eyes grew wide, especially when he saw the look on the spirit's face. The pharaoh looked at the boy in anger and hatred. He walked over and glared down at Yugi, the Millennium Puzzle around his neck glowing dimly.

Yugi felt his face grow pale as Yami said, "You are sadly mistaken if you seek help from me, Yugi. In fact, I'm the one that allowed you to be captured in the first place."

"What?" Yugi gasped, finally finding his voice.

"Surely you heard me clearly, Yugi. Vargon approached me some time ago and promised me a body and a satisfactory portion of the world in exchange for you. How could I refuse such a tempting offer? Besides, you mean nothing to me, little Yugi."

"You can't mean that, Yami. You've always protected me," Yugi argued.

Yami laughed in a way that made Yugi shutter. "Because I needed your body, you naïve fool!" Yami spat angrily. "But I won't need it after I have one of my own." He looked down at the boy and laughed again. "You actually believed me to be your 'friend'? That was a mistake you will learn to regret."

The spirit raised his fist, bringing it down to strike the helpless boy…

"NOOO!" Yugi screamed in his sleep. Outside his room, Joy heard the scream. So did Yami and Katilli.

Yugi! Yami yelled out, fearing for his hikari's safety.

Joy rushed into the room. Yugi was still crying out. He flailed his arms, in some attempt to get away from something. Joy quickly went over to him. "Yugi? Yugi, wake up." She took hold of his shoulders. His eyes popped open, wide with fright. He noticed Joy and immediately pulled her close, burying his head on her shoulder with tears streaming down his eyes. She patted his back, attempting to calm him.

Yugi felt something hard by his head. He glanced over and widened even more. He broke the embrace, his eyes locked on the puzzle. Joy looked down, noticing she was wearing the puzzle.

Oopps.

Let me talk to him, Yami said.

Joy was skeptical. Yugi was already scared out of his mind by his nightmare. How would he react to actually seeing Yami? I don't know if that's such a good idea, Yami.

I'll be in spirit form, Joy. I need to talk to him. Maybe he will tell me what is wrong.

Not waiting for permission, Yami appeared by Joy in spirit form. Yugi grew very pale when he saw him. Oh no! He's going to hit me again! he thought in terror. He started to shake uncontrollably.

"Yugi, it's all right. Yami is here to help you," Joy said reassuringly. Yugi shook his head quickly, fear taking over every ounce of his body.

"N-N-No. He…he…"

"What, aibou? What happened?" Yami asked, taking a few steps forward. Yugi cried out, covering his head with his hands and shrinking in fear. Yami stopped and tilted his head in confusion. It is time to get some answers. "Yugi, why are you so afraid of me?"

"Y-You don't know?" Yugi asked in disbelief. "Y-You hurt me! You did this!" He motioned to the cut on his head and black eye. Joy and Yami stared at him in shock.

That's why he is so afraid. But I did not do such things. "Yugi, the person you say – the person that hurt you – wasn't me. It was an imposter, and I don't doubt Vargon was behind the whole thing. It was he that kidnapped you, Yugi," Yami explained. "Someone impersonated me and hurt you, aibou."

Yugi looked up at the pharaoh. He searched his eyes for sincerity. "I don't know…it looked like you, Yami. And he had the Millennium Puzzle."

"Yugi, that Puzzle was a fake," Joy explained. "He couldn't have worn the real Puzzle. I had the real one around my neck the entire time you were held captive. Kaiba was with us too, and he can confirm it. Yami took over Kaiba's body to protect you. You must believe us."

Yugi looked down at his hands. He still looked unsure. Yami looked at his light with concern. "Yugi, I have vowed to protect you, and I swear I would do nothing to harm you in any way. Vargon knew this and used that knowledge to try to break up our friendship. You must not allow him that satisfaction. Please."

"Besides, Yugi," Joy added, smiling slightly, "Yami sent that bastard straight to the Shadow Realm. He won't be back to hurt you anymore."

I want to believe them…I want to trust Yami…He has always been so kind to me, and he's saved me and my friends many times before…Maybe he's telling the truth, but I don't know… Yugi came to a decision that would help him find out what was the truth. "Well…maybe you could leave the Puzzle by my bed for awhile."

Yami's heart soared. He gave Yugi a big smile, and made to give him a hug. He stopped when Yugi gasped slightly, shrinking back a little in his bed. He's still a little afraid, but I will prove to him that I will not and did not hurt him, no matter what it takes.

Don't worry, my brother. Give it time. He'll regain his faith in you.

Yes. I will be patient and regain his trust, Yami vowed to his sister. Joy put the Puzzle by the boy's hospital bed. "Thank you for letting me stand by your side, aibou. I will keep you from further harm, I give you my word."

Yugi avoided his eyes, but nodded. Then he sighed and laid back down. Soon he was asleep once more.

Joy: I'm gonna stop it here. Well, I know you guys are curious to find out what happens and how Yugi and Yami overcome this little hurdle, but not to fear. I'll update again. It might take a few days, though. Don't worry, though, Yami's gonna fix this. And in case you're wondering, this story is far from over. I have a lot more planned, including a few surprises, so stay turned, folks! :o)

Till next time, review and wonder, my readers!