(Yes, this is a repost AGAIN... someone reported this saying there was a
list in the story... whatever...)
Y-n-Y: Hello!
Yami: You're doing it again.
Y-n-Y: o.o;;
Yami: You're starting another story!
Y-n-Y: So?
Yami: You have such a long list of things to do and you go ahead and add another.
Y-n-Y: Like what? ~.~
Yami: You need to get make another chapter for Reflection, finish posting Undeniable Feelings, continue writing Six Weeks, re-do Breaking Barriers, and now THIS!
Y-n-Y: Geez, I get your point, quit complaining. -.-
Yami: Someone has to.
Y-n-Y ::sighs:: Be quiet. ::ties Yami up and gags him:: Much better. Now, Reflection's second chappie is almost done, Undeniable Feelings just has to be posted cuz it's already completely written, Six Weeks... well, that is a problem, cuz I'm not quite finished with the second chapter and Breaking Barriers will go by pretty quickly. Now this is the YY/Y/K fic I was talking about... if you've read my bio... I'm pretty proud of it ^_^ Also, I'm probably gonna up the rating if this really dark writing mood of mine doesn't go away soon. ^^;; So, please enjoy!
Choices
Three Hearts
Chapter 1
"Where are we going this time?" Yuugi asked, softly smiling and sitting next to his boyfriend.
The blue eyes opened and he smiled. "Your favorite place."
Yuugi's smile grew wider. "Redmary Café? You're the best, Seto!" The smaller one threw his arms around his love's neck and pulled him into a kiss. "You spoil me. I thought we were just gonna go to a fast food place tonight."
"Hn... I won't lie. I have ulterior motives for going there."
Yuugi blinked his eyes, confused at Seto's sudden voice change. "What?"
"It's private there... the perfect place to talk."
The boy nodded. "About Yami..."
"Well, another thing, too. But that'll wait until later," Seto said quietly.
The limousine pulled up to the restaurant and opened the door for the couple to get out. They proceeded into the café and were promptly seated. A waitress came by to take an order for their food. Seto and Yuugi had their usual; a steak for the young CEO and shrimp in angel hair pasta for the tri- color haired boy.
Yuugi smiled and tried to start the conversation Seto had wanted to take place. "You know, Yami really doesn't mind that I'm going out with you."
"Yuugi, you don't see it. I walk up to you at school and I feel that he's glaring at me. And take tonight for example. When I came to pick you up and was waiting for you downstairs... Yami wouldn't let me up, it wasn't because I thought you might still be getting dressed."
Yuugi put a hand on top of Seto's. "Yami's... over-protective."
"You mean over-possessive."
The shorter boy shrugged. "However you want to look at it."
Seto was amazed at his naïveté. "Not that kind of possessive. I mean, I think he likes you, as in how I like you."
"Yami? No way!" Yuugi giggled. "I don't think he swings our way, Seto..." He stopped giggling as he saw his love's face. "You're serious?"
Seto nodded.
"He wouldn't try to force me away, Seto, just so I can be with him. I've talked to him about you a lot. He truly wants me to be happy. Maybe if you started being at my house more often, Yami will get to see you in a different light," Yuugi suggested.
"Maybe I should do that." He closed his eyes. "I'm going to be honest. I don't like Yami much, you know that. But at the same time I don't want him to disapprove of me. After all, who knows you better than yourself and I don't think you're too happy with how he's acting."
"You're right, I'm not... but I understand. We've been through so much that it's hard knowing you're doing something the other doesn't like. But he hasn't pushed me and he won't. Instead of going to the theater tonight, we can go to my house and watch something."
"That sounds fine. I can do without the crowds for a night."
Soon the waitress was back with their orders and the began to eat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm home, Yami!" Yuugi called, not bothering to add 'Grandpa' as he was away for the month.
"You're home early-" Yami started, as he walked down the stairs and paused when he saw Seto holding his aibou's hand.
Yuugi, noticing the tension, put on smile and announced that he and Seto skipped the theater and decided to watch something at home. Still, feeling the tension he decided to go make some popcorn.
"Why are you here?"
Kaiba looked up at Yami, whose eyes were still focused on the movie. "Am I not allowed here?"
The spirit snorted and finally met Kaiba's eyes. "It is because of Yuugi that I can barely tolerate you."
"Why don't you just say what you think instead of dodging questions?"
The crimson eyes became inflamed at Kaiba's retort, showing his anger. "The answer to your question is that I am a mere guest, I am not in any position to tell Yuugi who is allowed to come here. But if it were my choice, you would not be within a mile of this house."
"Let me ask you this: How well do you think you hide this from Yuugi? Your hatred of me?" Seto's eyes flashed.
"He has no knowledge that I hate you, only disapproval. I would never betray my aibou."
Seto's blue eyes closed. "You're delusional, Yami. He knows it. Do you know how many times we talked about where you stand in our relationship even though you are not part of it? I do not want to lose him because of some over-protective spirit that cannot see that people can change. He is what changed me. I would do just about anything for him, doesn't that count for something?"
"Others would do the same!"
"Like who? You?"
"Yes!"
Seto smiled, getting the answer he wanted. "You like him, too," he stated.
"W-what?! That's ridiculous! Of course I would do anything for him! He... he set me free from the puzzle," Yami stammered, feeling embarrassed over his outburst.
"Yami, you need a reality check. Maybe that many years stuck inside that thing gave you some form of mental damage. I'm no fool; I see love when I see it. You just don't want to admit he'd pick me over you." Kaiba stood. "You better straighten things out with Yuugi. If I hear you as the topic of why he is miserable again, I will personally make you wish you were still trapped inside that puzzle." As he made his way to the door, he called over his shoulder, "I'm should you'll be glad to tell Yuugi I left."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi stood just outside the living room. His eyes still a little watery from hearing the conversation. /Yami does love me.../
//Aibou?!//
In a second, Yuugi saw Yami appear in front of him. "I-I never knew..."
The spirit bowed his head. "I'm sorry, aibou."
"No! No... don't be sorry. I just wish you would have told me sooner. Yami, I'm not going to hate you for it. In fact, knowing that shows me a reason why you're so possessive of me." Yuugi smiled, trying to lift the mood.
"I know who you chose, mou hitori no ore, but I still..."
Yuugi shook his head. "Yami, don't. You know I can't tell you what you want to hear. We're close friends, Yami; we shouldn't ruin that by bringing love into it."
Yami nodded slightly.
"Now, come on! Let's watch the movie together! Just me and you! We haven't done that in a while, huh?" The smaller boy beamed and pulled on Yami's arm.
The spirit managed a little smiled and let Yuugi pull himself to the couch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami sat on the edge of Yuugi's bed watching him sleep. He had fallen asleep during the last bit of the movie, so he had carried Yuugi upstairs to put him to bed. And so, there he sat, just watching. Wishing those lips could be his. //No, I do need to stop this. Yuugi could never love me. I need to let go. Maybe... if I quiet my wonder of what his lips feel like, I can... forget...// He leaned over a bit and brushed his lips quickly over his aibou's.
"Seto..."
Yami's eyes widened as they filled with tears. His heart ached.
//It's not fair.//
He slipped off the bed and to his knees and let the tears free. A hand covered his mouth as the sobs shook his body.
//It's not fair.//
At least Yuugi could have been silent. But, instead, he called Kaiba's name.
"It's not fair!" he screamed through his tears and through his hand. He banged his fists on the floor, releasing his anguish. "I... love him... so much..." He quieted down and his body stopped shaking. He finally fell asleep, curled up in a ball next to Yuugi's bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi's eyes opened after he was sure his yami had fallen asleep. He had woken up just after he felt something warm touch his lips. He heard his yami's anguished cries, but remained silent. He looked down and saw Yami in a fetal position, trying to shield himself from the world. "Yami, I am so sorry."
He too had tears running down his face. He got up and fond a blanket and pillow for Yami to use. Yuugi gently lifted Yami's head and placed the soft pillow under it. He took the big blanket and carefully tucked Yami in, trying his best to remain quiet. After he saw Yami was still sleeping, he quickly placed a kiss on the spirit's cheek and blushed. He knew that this would put a strain on their friendship, but Yuugi didn't want Yami to leave him... no matter what.
"I'm so sorry," he repeated before climbing back into his bed and once again falling asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Yuugi awoke and found the pillow and neatly folded up blanket on the end of the bed. /Yami? Where are you?/
//I'll go.//
/What?! Yami, what are you talking about?/ Yuugi flew out of bed and began to get dressed. /Where are you?/
//Aibo-no... I'm not there. That is good enough.//
There was calmness to Yami's voice that Yuugi did not like. He ran to Yami's room and saw that everything Yami held value to was still there. But, there was something shining on Yami's bed. The puzzle. /Where are you, Yami?/ Yuugi repeated, wanting nothing more at the moment then to find him. /Why'd you leave the puzzle?/
//I can no longer help you, Yuugi. I realize that all I've done was make your life harder to live. I won't hold you back anymore.//
/This isn't funny, Yami, where are you?/
//I'm sorry, our link will not last much longer. Even if you don't love me back, I will always love you, my aibou.//
'Yami?! Yami!" But Yuugi felt his voice go no where. It didn't connect with Yami at all. 'He said he would give up anything for me. He gave up his happiness, his love.' He fell next to the bed and leaned against the soft mattress, holding Yami's puzzle. 'I don't want you to go...'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami watched silently as he saw his light leave the house, probably in search of him. He would protect him, but being so close to each other would make Yami even more depressed than he already was. This was the only way. He will stay far enough away and close enough to protect him.
He followed his light until they were in front of Kaiba's mansion. 'Yes, he can be trusted, aibou will be protected here.' Yami walked back, away from his light and to a nearby park. He pulled out a picture from his jacket pocket he had of Yuugi and himself, taken not long after he was able to form his own body. They had both been smiling that day, but now look at them... But he had to do this. It was a way to show he had given up. He ripped the picture in half. Then again, and again, until all that was left was nothing bigger than a popcorn kernel. He let the wind pick the pieces on his hand and lift them away from him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Seto! Yami's gone! He left!" Yuugi cried, burying his head in Kaiba's chest.
"He what?" Kaiba was shocked that Yami, who obviously loved Yuugi as much as he himself did, left him. 'There must be something more to this.'
"I don't get it! He was... fine when we were watching the movie... but then..." Yuugi paused wondering if he should tell Kaiba. "Last night... I think he kissed me while I was sleeping. I woke up soon after and he was crying. It was so painful for me, Seto... I didn't know what to do..."
Seto kept Yuugi close to him and pulled him inside. "Shh... I'm pretty sure he'll come back."
"He told me..." Yuugi tore himself from his boyfriend's hold. "He told me... he was leaving... I don't know what to do!" He fell onto the ground, crying as much as Yami had. "I don't want him to go..."
Seto knelt next to Yuugi and held him close. "Don't worry. He'll come back. I don't think he would honestly leave you alone, Yuugi. He probably just needs some time."
"Seto, I love him... but... it's different... not the same as you and I... but I didn't tell him... Maybe if he knew I cared..."
"Come on, Yuugi, you know him better than I do. He must have a reason. He'll come back when he's ready."
"You think so?"
Seto nodded. "Come on, go wash up in the bathroom. I'll take you out for breakfast, okay?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami watched the pieces float away. Sighing, almost feeling weight lifted from his shoulder's he went back towards Kaiba's house, wondering if Yuugi would be leaving soon. 'Yes, this is how it should be. I never should have let my emotions take control of my actions. And this is the price I pay. Maybe, someday, I can come back and be truly happy for Yuugi.'
Reaching Kaiba's house, he climbed into one of the trees and sat there in watch of Yuugi. A couple minutes later, Yuugi and Kaiba emerged from the mansion and got inside of Kaiba's car. He saw that Yuugi was smiling, but it wasn't a real smile. That one was fake and meant to deceive.
As soon as the car left, he hopped out of the tree and went to the Game Shop to go back into the puzzle. He decided he would stay there. He was pretty sure that Yuugi would be safe around his friends and Kaiba and while in the puzzle, the smallest connection he had with Yuugi would be enough to see if he was alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi returned home, after kissing Kaiba good-night. He knew Seto had tried his best to take Yuugi's mind off of Yami's departure, but it hadn't work. He would never get used to the emptiness he felt whenever he would try to talk to Yami through their link. It was empty. He was empty.
He wandered up Yami's room and picked up his puzzle. "Yami, I wish you would come back... I never told you that I love you. But it's not the love you're looking for, but... maybe... it would have been enough... so you wouldn't have to go." He carried the puzzle to his room and set it next to his own on the desk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Within the puzzle, Yami heard Yuugi's words and felt his tears. He wanted to go out and say it was enough, but... it wouldn't have been enough for long. Yuugi was pure hearted and loved all his friends in different ways. His love for him was different from his love for Kaiba.
When he was sure Yuugi was asleep, he came out of the puzzle and watched him slept as he did the other night. But this night he could not touch him. He wasn't even supposed to be there. But the draw that was constantly there would not let him forget. He would always watch over Yuugi.
~*~*~*~TSUDZUKU~*~*~*~
Y-n-Y: So? Is it good? Do you want to kill Kaiba? Well, dun... he's not that bad...
Yami: ::mumbles::
Y-n-Y: ^_^
Yami: !!
Y-n-Y: Hello!
Yami: You're doing it again.
Y-n-Y: o.o;;
Yami: You're starting another story!
Y-n-Y: So?
Yami: You have such a long list of things to do and you go ahead and add another.
Y-n-Y: Like what? ~.~
Yami: You need to get make another chapter for Reflection, finish posting Undeniable Feelings, continue writing Six Weeks, re-do Breaking Barriers, and now THIS!
Y-n-Y: Geez, I get your point, quit complaining. -.-
Yami: Someone has to.
Y-n-Y ::sighs:: Be quiet. ::ties Yami up and gags him:: Much better. Now, Reflection's second chappie is almost done, Undeniable Feelings just has to be posted cuz it's already completely written, Six Weeks... well, that is a problem, cuz I'm not quite finished with the second chapter and Breaking Barriers will go by pretty quickly. Now this is the YY/Y/K fic I was talking about... if you've read my bio... I'm pretty proud of it ^_^ Also, I'm probably gonna up the rating if this really dark writing mood of mine doesn't go away soon. ^^;; So, please enjoy!
Choices
Three Hearts
Chapter 1
"Where are we going this time?" Yuugi asked, softly smiling and sitting next to his boyfriend.
The blue eyes opened and he smiled. "Your favorite place."
Yuugi's smile grew wider. "Redmary Café? You're the best, Seto!" The smaller one threw his arms around his love's neck and pulled him into a kiss. "You spoil me. I thought we were just gonna go to a fast food place tonight."
"Hn... I won't lie. I have ulterior motives for going there."
Yuugi blinked his eyes, confused at Seto's sudden voice change. "What?"
"It's private there... the perfect place to talk."
The boy nodded. "About Yami..."
"Well, another thing, too. But that'll wait until later," Seto said quietly.
The limousine pulled up to the restaurant and opened the door for the couple to get out. They proceeded into the café and were promptly seated. A waitress came by to take an order for their food. Seto and Yuugi had their usual; a steak for the young CEO and shrimp in angel hair pasta for the tri- color haired boy.
Yuugi smiled and tried to start the conversation Seto had wanted to take place. "You know, Yami really doesn't mind that I'm going out with you."
"Yuugi, you don't see it. I walk up to you at school and I feel that he's glaring at me. And take tonight for example. When I came to pick you up and was waiting for you downstairs... Yami wouldn't let me up, it wasn't because I thought you might still be getting dressed."
Yuugi put a hand on top of Seto's. "Yami's... over-protective."
"You mean over-possessive."
The shorter boy shrugged. "However you want to look at it."
Seto was amazed at his naïveté. "Not that kind of possessive. I mean, I think he likes you, as in how I like you."
"Yami? No way!" Yuugi giggled. "I don't think he swings our way, Seto..." He stopped giggling as he saw his love's face. "You're serious?"
Seto nodded.
"He wouldn't try to force me away, Seto, just so I can be with him. I've talked to him about you a lot. He truly wants me to be happy. Maybe if you started being at my house more often, Yami will get to see you in a different light," Yuugi suggested.
"Maybe I should do that." He closed his eyes. "I'm going to be honest. I don't like Yami much, you know that. But at the same time I don't want him to disapprove of me. After all, who knows you better than yourself and I don't think you're too happy with how he's acting."
"You're right, I'm not... but I understand. We've been through so much that it's hard knowing you're doing something the other doesn't like. But he hasn't pushed me and he won't. Instead of going to the theater tonight, we can go to my house and watch something."
"That sounds fine. I can do without the crowds for a night."
Soon the waitress was back with their orders and the began to eat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm home, Yami!" Yuugi called, not bothering to add 'Grandpa' as he was away for the month.
"You're home early-" Yami started, as he walked down the stairs and paused when he saw Seto holding his aibou's hand.
Yuugi, noticing the tension, put on smile and announced that he and Seto skipped the theater and decided to watch something at home. Still, feeling the tension he decided to go make some popcorn.
"Why are you here?"
Kaiba looked up at Yami, whose eyes were still focused on the movie. "Am I not allowed here?"
The spirit snorted and finally met Kaiba's eyes. "It is because of Yuugi that I can barely tolerate you."
"Why don't you just say what you think instead of dodging questions?"
The crimson eyes became inflamed at Kaiba's retort, showing his anger. "The answer to your question is that I am a mere guest, I am not in any position to tell Yuugi who is allowed to come here. But if it were my choice, you would not be within a mile of this house."
"Let me ask you this: How well do you think you hide this from Yuugi? Your hatred of me?" Seto's eyes flashed.
"He has no knowledge that I hate you, only disapproval. I would never betray my aibou."
Seto's blue eyes closed. "You're delusional, Yami. He knows it. Do you know how many times we talked about where you stand in our relationship even though you are not part of it? I do not want to lose him because of some over-protective spirit that cannot see that people can change. He is what changed me. I would do just about anything for him, doesn't that count for something?"
"Others would do the same!"
"Like who? You?"
"Yes!"
Seto smiled, getting the answer he wanted. "You like him, too," he stated.
"W-what?! That's ridiculous! Of course I would do anything for him! He... he set me free from the puzzle," Yami stammered, feeling embarrassed over his outburst.
"Yami, you need a reality check. Maybe that many years stuck inside that thing gave you some form of mental damage. I'm no fool; I see love when I see it. You just don't want to admit he'd pick me over you." Kaiba stood. "You better straighten things out with Yuugi. If I hear you as the topic of why he is miserable again, I will personally make you wish you were still trapped inside that puzzle." As he made his way to the door, he called over his shoulder, "I'm should you'll be glad to tell Yuugi I left."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi stood just outside the living room. His eyes still a little watery from hearing the conversation. /Yami does love me.../
//Aibou?!//
In a second, Yuugi saw Yami appear in front of him. "I-I never knew..."
The spirit bowed his head. "I'm sorry, aibou."
"No! No... don't be sorry. I just wish you would have told me sooner. Yami, I'm not going to hate you for it. In fact, knowing that shows me a reason why you're so possessive of me." Yuugi smiled, trying to lift the mood.
"I know who you chose, mou hitori no ore, but I still..."
Yuugi shook his head. "Yami, don't. You know I can't tell you what you want to hear. We're close friends, Yami; we shouldn't ruin that by bringing love into it."
Yami nodded slightly.
"Now, come on! Let's watch the movie together! Just me and you! We haven't done that in a while, huh?" The smaller boy beamed and pulled on Yami's arm.
The spirit managed a little smiled and let Yuugi pull himself to the couch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami sat on the edge of Yuugi's bed watching him sleep. He had fallen asleep during the last bit of the movie, so he had carried Yuugi upstairs to put him to bed. And so, there he sat, just watching. Wishing those lips could be his. //No, I do need to stop this. Yuugi could never love me. I need to let go. Maybe... if I quiet my wonder of what his lips feel like, I can... forget...// He leaned over a bit and brushed his lips quickly over his aibou's.
"Seto..."
Yami's eyes widened as they filled with tears. His heart ached.
//It's not fair.//
He slipped off the bed and to his knees and let the tears free. A hand covered his mouth as the sobs shook his body.
//It's not fair.//
At least Yuugi could have been silent. But, instead, he called Kaiba's name.
"It's not fair!" he screamed through his tears and through his hand. He banged his fists on the floor, releasing his anguish. "I... love him... so much..." He quieted down and his body stopped shaking. He finally fell asleep, curled up in a ball next to Yuugi's bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi's eyes opened after he was sure his yami had fallen asleep. He had woken up just after he felt something warm touch his lips. He heard his yami's anguished cries, but remained silent. He looked down and saw Yami in a fetal position, trying to shield himself from the world. "Yami, I am so sorry."
He too had tears running down his face. He got up and fond a blanket and pillow for Yami to use. Yuugi gently lifted Yami's head and placed the soft pillow under it. He took the big blanket and carefully tucked Yami in, trying his best to remain quiet. After he saw Yami was still sleeping, he quickly placed a kiss on the spirit's cheek and blushed. He knew that this would put a strain on their friendship, but Yuugi didn't want Yami to leave him... no matter what.
"I'm so sorry," he repeated before climbing back into his bed and once again falling asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Yuugi awoke and found the pillow and neatly folded up blanket on the end of the bed. /Yami? Where are you?/
//I'll go.//
/What?! Yami, what are you talking about?/ Yuugi flew out of bed and began to get dressed. /Where are you?/
//Aibo-no... I'm not there. That is good enough.//
There was calmness to Yami's voice that Yuugi did not like. He ran to Yami's room and saw that everything Yami held value to was still there. But, there was something shining on Yami's bed. The puzzle. /Where are you, Yami?/ Yuugi repeated, wanting nothing more at the moment then to find him. /Why'd you leave the puzzle?/
//I can no longer help you, Yuugi. I realize that all I've done was make your life harder to live. I won't hold you back anymore.//
/This isn't funny, Yami, where are you?/
//I'm sorry, our link will not last much longer. Even if you don't love me back, I will always love you, my aibou.//
'Yami?! Yami!" But Yuugi felt his voice go no where. It didn't connect with Yami at all. 'He said he would give up anything for me. He gave up his happiness, his love.' He fell next to the bed and leaned against the soft mattress, holding Yami's puzzle. 'I don't want you to go...'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami watched silently as he saw his light leave the house, probably in search of him. He would protect him, but being so close to each other would make Yami even more depressed than he already was. This was the only way. He will stay far enough away and close enough to protect him.
He followed his light until they were in front of Kaiba's mansion. 'Yes, he can be trusted, aibou will be protected here.' Yami walked back, away from his light and to a nearby park. He pulled out a picture from his jacket pocket he had of Yuugi and himself, taken not long after he was able to form his own body. They had both been smiling that day, but now look at them... But he had to do this. It was a way to show he had given up. He ripped the picture in half. Then again, and again, until all that was left was nothing bigger than a popcorn kernel. He let the wind pick the pieces on his hand and lift them away from him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Seto! Yami's gone! He left!" Yuugi cried, burying his head in Kaiba's chest.
"He what?" Kaiba was shocked that Yami, who obviously loved Yuugi as much as he himself did, left him. 'There must be something more to this.'
"I don't get it! He was... fine when we were watching the movie... but then..." Yuugi paused wondering if he should tell Kaiba. "Last night... I think he kissed me while I was sleeping. I woke up soon after and he was crying. It was so painful for me, Seto... I didn't know what to do..."
Seto kept Yuugi close to him and pulled him inside. "Shh... I'm pretty sure he'll come back."
"He told me..." Yuugi tore himself from his boyfriend's hold. "He told me... he was leaving... I don't know what to do!" He fell onto the ground, crying as much as Yami had. "I don't want him to go..."
Seto knelt next to Yuugi and held him close. "Don't worry. He'll come back. I don't think he would honestly leave you alone, Yuugi. He probably just needs some time."
"Seto, I love him... but... it's different... not the same as you and I... but I didn't tell him... Maybe if he knew I cared..."
"Come on, Yuugi, you know him better than I do. He must have a reason. He'll come back when he's ready."
"You think so?"
Seto nodded. "Come on, go wash up in the bathroom. I'll take you out for breakfast, okay?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami watched the pieces float away. Sighing, almost feeling weight lifted from his shoulder's he went back towards Kaiba's house, wondering if Yuugi would be leaving soon. 'Yes, this is how it should be. I never should have let my emotions take control of my actions. And this is the price I pay. Maybe, someday, I can come back and be truly happy for Yuugi.'
Reaching Kaiba's house, he climbed into one of the trees and sat there in watch of Yuugi. A couple minutes later, Yuugi and Kaiba emerged from the mansion and got inside of Kaiba's car. He saw that Yuugi was smiling, but it wasn't a real smile. That one was fake and meant to deceive.
As soon as the car left, he hopped out of the tree and went to the Game Shop to go back into the puzzle. He decided he would stay there. He was pretty sure that Yuugi would be safe around his friends and Kaiba and while in the puzzle, the smallest connection he had with Yuugi would be enough to see if he was alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuugi returned home, after kissing Kaiba good-night. He knew Seto had tried his best to take Yuugi's mind off of Yami's departure, but it hadn't work. He would never get used to the emptiness he felt whenever he would try to talk to Yami through their link. It was empty. He was empty.
He wandered up Yami's room and picked up his puzzle. "Yami, I wish you would come back... I never told you that I love you. But it's not the love you're looking for, but... maybe... it would have been enough... so you wouldn't have to go." He carried the puzzle to his room and set it next to his own on the desk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Within the puzzle, Yami heard Yuugi's words and felt his tears. He wanted to go out and say it was enough, but... it wouldn't have been enough for long. Yuugi was pure hearted and loved all his friends in different ways. His love for him was different from his love for Kaiba.
When he was sure Yuugi was asleep, he came out of the puzzle and watched him slept as he did the other night. But this night he could not touch him. He wasn't even supposed to be there. But the draw that was constantly there would not let him forget. He would always watch over Yuugi.
~*~*~*~TSUDZUKU~*~*~*~
Y-n-Y: So? Is it good? Do you want to kill Kaiba? Well, dun... he's not that bad...
Yami: ::mumbles::
Y-n-Y: ^_^
Yami: !!