Hey all! Apologies for the delay in updating, but... meh, whatever ;

Reviews

s.h.i.r.o.i.k.e.t.s.u.e.k.i - Sure Some more good ones are Pure Morning, You Don't Care About Us, My Sweet Prince, Days Before You Came, Special K, The Bitter End and Black-Eyed. To be fair, all their stuff's good, but those come to mind right now.
SilverLily aka Blood Moon - well, what was happening was that Malik was officially with Ryou, but had an affair with Bakura. Ryou found out, and hence the waterworks snuggles poor bishie Me's sowwy for all this... I'll make it up personally...

Special thanks also to: Ril, Darkwolf193, Tabiku Tab Iakkin, yamiyugifanadic, One Winged Tenshi, kate, Bi Panda hides, ObiWanGirl, BarbedWire23, yamimoukin and Fighter-Chick-Charsi.

Ficcu time!


Ryou sank to his knees, his shoulders quaking fiercely as a sob shuddered through him. "I won't be able to carry on this act…" he said, a little louder than a whisper, his voice barely audible, before a small choked cry came from him. Ryou brought his hands up to his face as he whimpered into them, and he slowly sank forward, crying softly. Almost instantly, Malik was by his side, his arms round his shoulders, and Ryou didn't resist as Malik pulled him close, the boy instinctively snuggling closer to Malik's chest, that place of security and warmth. He buried his face in Malik's clothes, his hands slipping down and drawing in close against his chest so he was almost curled up into a ball, and simply lay against him, crying his heart out.

"Oh, Ryou…" Malik whispered, gently rocking the boy back and forth much as Yugi had done to him. "I'm so sorry…" He lightly kissed the little tenshi on top of his head, letting his face rest in the boy's hair. "I am so, so sorry…"

Malik felt Ryou shaking his head against his chest, and nodded his understanding. Saying sorry wouldn't make it all better. Saying sorry wouldn't make it all go away. Ryou still hurt, and there was a lot to still be done. Softly scooping the boy up in his arms, Malik carried him into the house, lightly kissing his neck and whispering soothingly in the hope that it would help him calm down.


A soft click sounded as Yugi's last quarter ran out, and the lenses on the binoculars snapped shut. Granting himself a small, satisfied smile, Yugi stepped down from the platform gracefully, earning an inquisitive look from Yami.

"…well?"

Yugi offered the former Pharaoh a smile, his eyes sparkling. "I was right."

Yami stared at his younger lover contemplatively, trying to work out exactly what was going through the boy's mind at that moment in time. Despite the fact that two of his closest friends had just seemingly had their relationship torn apart, he felt the need to smile. Yami – though he hadn't been as close to them as Yugi – was still concerned, and knew that Yugi should be too. Unless he knew something Yami didn't. "You were right about…?"

"I knew Ryou wouldn't come here," Yugi explained, gesturing around them to Lover's Leap, where they stood. "To anyone else, he's a deep and complicated boy… But even the deepest of us still like our creature comforts."

Yami waited for Yugi to continue, not quite following.

"He wouldn't have come here. He has memories here, yes, and he likes to use this place to escape…" Yugi turned away from Yami to gaze across Domino, nodding his understanding of exactly why Ryou would come here. It was so peaceful and serene, and the view was both breathtaking and inspiring, with the rolling meadow before them leading to Domino City itself, and the woods to one side stretching off into the distance. At sunset, the sun would come down right on the border of the two, on the horizon, casting a golden Autumnal hue across the treetops and a fiery blaze across the grey buildings of the city. "He would come here to escape… but that isn't what he wants right now. He feels alone. He'd go to the one place he felt the most comfortable and secure, like a child running to its mother's arms." Yugi turned back to Yami and smiled. "Ryou may be quiet, complex and secretive on the outside, but you just have to read between the lines. Ryou ran home."

Yami's contemplative gaze held Yugi a moment longer, unwavering. "You knew he would?" Yugi nodded the affirmative in reply, and Yami continued, "And you sent Malik there despite that?"

"I sent Malik there because of that."

Yami faltered, not understanding. "But… wouldn't they need time alone, to sort themselves out?"

"Most couples would, yes… those two…" Yugi gave a soft sigh. "For everything he says, Ryou is still not a strong person. He's been through too much too quickly, and in the end he could only deal with it by withdrawing. That's why he seems so distant – it's all he's ever known. Ryou is fragile, past the tough exterior. He needed Malik by him. Malik knew that too – that's why he was so frantic."

Recognition dawned on Yami, like Ra's light shining on his palace five thousand years earlier. "And in the same way, Malik needed to be by him too?"

Again, Yugi nodded. "Malik made a mistake. He knows it, and he wants to tell Ryou. If he didn't see Ryou, he'd have ended up blaming himself for hurting him. Possibly even believing he should punish himself too…" Yugi's eyes fell to the floor. "Malik thinks the world of Ryou. Ryou thinks the world of him. Together, they're an equal to anything… but alone, apart, they're like porcelain dolls." Yugi's voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "The slightest of jolts could shatter them."

Sensing his hikari's distress, Yami stepped forward and gathered Yugi protectively into his arms, pulling him to his chest and gently stroking the back of his head. For all the smiles earlier on, Yugi was still worried about Ryou and Malik. He'd been able to get the two of them back together again, but whether they'd actually stay together – in the relationship sense – was entirely up to them. If Ryou could forgive Malik, then maybe – just maybe – they'd both be okay. If Malik really had hurt Ryou so deeply that he couldn't bring himself to return to the Egyptian teen…

"Yami," Yugi whispered softly from the warmth of his partner's chest. "Do you think they'll be okay…?"

Yami stared over the top of Yugi's head as he contemplated his reply, his eyes taking in all of Domino City and soaking up the glorious panorama before the couple. Even though the sun was setting, he could still feel its warmth on the two of them, and the fields before him were much like he'd imagined the sunsets when he'd been Pharaoh were. A sheet of mellifluous warmth basked the countryside, the slight snatches of birdsong still being sung praising the sun-disc for the warmth it gave the world. Staring across those meadows at that moment, you could believe there was nothing wrong with the world. All was peaceful. All was gentle. It was nature at its most inviting, the very essence of the Mother Goddess Isis exposed for all to see. Before them, the world was kind. Truth lay personified at their feet, and Yami realised that he couldn't lie now, even to placate Yugi.v "I don't know, aibou…"

The former spirit of the puzzle gently kissed Yugi on top of his head, and the smaller looked up, tears shining in his eyes. He didn't know how to respond to that answer. The truth was what everyone wanted, ultimately… but right then, would a lie, a comforting word taken in light meaning, have been what it took to make him feel better?

Again, the former Pharaoh kissed the boy, this time on the forehead, before touching his forehead to Yugi's, so their third eyes, the inner mind's eyes, met. "Ask the world," he whispered softly. "Ask her from your heart, and she'll tell you."

The two boys gently sat down in the lush grass, Yugi resting against Yami's side, and the two stared silently across the pasture, each accompanied by his own thoughts and the warm of the other boy's body.

Slowly, after what seemed like an eternity, Yugi found an answer. Seeking with his heart, asking those that existed beyond nothing, he felt it deep down. "They will…" he whispered, his voice choked as the beautiful feeling of joyful revelation dawned on him. "They'll be okay… I know it…"


As the fiery sunset blazed across the city, Jounouchi stood slouched against a wall, peacefully gazing out of the hospital window. His boyfriend was asleep in the chair beside him, the worry he'd been through with Mokuba eventually exhausting him. A soft smile had alighted itself upon Jounouchi's face as he quietly observed the city, the sun bringing a new, almost ethereal touch to the simplest of objects as it highlighted them in a flaxen gold hue. Maybe it was because he'd just seen what could almost be considered a miracle – someone being brought back from the dead – but right now, he appreciated the view so much more. Today, there just seemed to be something special about it.

Jounouchi's attentive vigil was broken as he heard Seto sigh in his sleep, and he looked down upon his boyfriend's soft features. Asleep, you could hardly believe Seto was the same person. His hard-set jaw line loosened, and his usually steely eyes were much softer, as best you could tell. He just seemed so much more at ease – with himself and the world. Idly, Jounouchi wondered if Seto had ever been that way inclined while he was awake.

A stirring from the hospital bed caught Jounouchi's eye, and he quickly hurried over, ready to soothe Mokuba if he was having a bad dream. Instead, though, it seemed the boy had woken up again, his dark eyes peering out at the world from a still too-pale face. This time, though, his eyes didn't have that distant worry in them, or any fear. Mokuba, too, was calmed, at peace. Jou gave the raven-haired youth a smile as his vision finally came into focus.

"Hey little guy," he greeted softly, not wanting to disturb Seto. "How're you doing?"

Mokuba offered a smile to Jou. It was still a weak smile, but it was definitely less strenuous than it had been earlier. "Hey Jou…" he murmured, sighing heavily as he fought the enticing throes of sleep back. "Not bad, I guess," he offered in reply to Jounouchi's question. "Kind of sore though…"

The honey-eyed boy nodded understandingly. With a disease like that, he wasn't at all surprised. If he recalled correctly, Yami had been weak for three weeks after he'd recovered from it. [1] "Well don't go pushing yourself too hard, you hear me?" he scolded with a small laugh. "You're going to be waited on hand and foot for a little while, and you will enjoy it, you got that?"

Mokuba gave a small chuckle in response to Jou's gentle joking. Pretending to sigh like someone forced into a job they didn't want, he replied, "Well… if I must…" before giggling again. The two boys smiled at each other again for a couple of seconds, before Mokuba broke the silence. "Hey Jou," he began enquiringly. "Is Seto awake? I need to tell you both something."

Jou went to reply, but was cut short by a soft moan from the chair as Seto stretched his limbs and rubbed his eyes, slowly coming back to the real world. "Puppy," the boy groaned, stretching his face and back, unaccustomed to such an uncomfortable sleeping position. "How long have I been asleep?"

Jou smiled and raised a finger to his lips, indicating to Mokuba that he shouldn't say anything. "About two hours, I think. How're you feeling?"

Seto gave a soft, tired sigh, resting his elbow on the arm of the chair and his forehead in his palm, burying his fingers in the front of his hair. "I'll feel a lot better when I know for sure that Mokuba's feeling okay…" The CEO gave another sigh. "I honestly thought I'd lost everything when that machine flat-lined… it was like my world had just stopped existing…"

Jou gave a small smile and a wink to Mokuba, before he responded. "I guess you'd give anything to know he was gonna be okay, huh?"

Seto nodded his agreement, closing his eyes slowly. "If someone came through that door with a proven cure, I'd sign my house and KaibaCorp over to him in an instant if he'd give it to Mokuba."

"That's okay big brother!" Mokuba called cheerfully from the bed. "I'll just settle for one of your Blue Eyes White Dragons!"

Seto sat bolt upright in the chair, staring at the bed. "Mokuba? You're awake?!"

A bright giggle answered his question sufficiently. "Yep! Love you too, big brother!" Jou couldn't help chuckling at the expression on Mokuba's face.

Seto sat in the chair, stunned. "You little…" As he stood up, Jou hurried over, standing in his way. "Now now," he warned, grinning and wagging a finger at his boyfriend. "Be gentle, he's only just woken up."

Seto dignified Jou's teasing with a half-hearted cold stare, before raising a hand to the blonde's face and gently but firmly pushing him to one side. Ignoring Jou's rather undignified squawk of protest, Seto stood by his brother's bed, smiling gently as he brushed the boy's ebony bangs to one side. "How are you feeling, Mokuba?"

The boy offered his brother a smile. "Better, thanks," he murmured. "How about you?"

Seto returned the boy's affectionate smile. "Top of the world."

Mokuba gave Seto a small grin, sorely tempted to make some sort of joke in reference to the Duel Tower he'd once built for his Battle City tournament, but found himself unable to think of anything suitably witty. "Hey, Seto, Jou…" he called softly. "Listen, there's something I need to tell you…"

"What is it, lil' guy?"


Mokuba closed his eyes and squeezed them slightly, forcing a tear back. Effort was written all over his face as he did it, and his eyes opened even more slowly this time. "Seto… you and Jou… I just wanted to tell you…" Mokuba grimaced slightly, the effort of talking hurting him hugely. "I'm happy for you, niisamas…"
"What I told you earlier…" Mokuba murmured. "I wasn't just saying that. I meant it." He offered the two another, wider smile, and for the first time since he'd woken up a happy glint sparkled in his eyes. "I really am happy for you two. It just shocked me a bit, that's all. I didn't know what to do."

Jou and Seto both smiled. "Really, Mokuba?" Seto asked, his eyes reflecting that same happiness as his brother's.

Mokuba nodded. "Yeah. Really, big brother. Just warn me next time, okay?"

All three boys laughed at this. "I think you'd be better off just taking it as a default, Mokuba," Jou grinned, slipping his arms round Seto's waist. "We're kind of… attached to each other."

Jou leaned forward to kiss Seto, but was cut off by a small yell from Mokuba. "No!" he cried, covering his eyes with his arm. "I've only just woken up, I don't wanna be made sick with all that mushy stuff!"

Again, all three boys laughed, glad that the atmosphere in the room was relaxed again. "Alright Mokuba," Seto smiled, brushing Jou's arms off him gently. "We'll go outside whenever we want to do that. You just get some rest now, you hear?"

Smiling, Mokuba nodded and snuggled down into his sheets, suddenly looking drained again. "Goodnight, niisamas…"

"Goodnight, Mokuba."


[1] This is a direct reference to my one-shot 'Bright Eyes.' Go have a read some time if you haven't already
Pwease review? Sankyuu!