'...' Yugi's personal thoughts
-...- Yami's personal thoughts
(...) Yugi to Yami
[...] Yami to Yugi
/.../ annoying interruptions by Sansi

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THE POWER OF A WISH
by Sansi
Chapter 20: Perception
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Yugi's thought process slipped into nothingness as he saw his darkness.

His heart skipped a beat when he took Yami's condition in. The stainless bronze face of the brave pharaoh was covered with inflamed scratches and deep cuts. Most of the dark's body was bandaged with white linen, contrasting the tanned flesh to a nice advantage. Though the red liquid kept slipping through, dyeing them a bloody red. More dried blood lay over his head and arms, but it seemed that somebody had tried to wash most of it away, leaving light grazes behind.

The badly hurt shadow was carefully tucked in a bed, the silken sheets framing his body. The friends rushed to the yami's side, being careful to not wake him or cause more pain that he obviously was in. Yami needed all the rest he could get.

The sun-golden bangs, also stained with dust and the essential red liquid, were dripping wet with perspiration, plastered to the darker half's face. The crimson eyes, burning like flames when directed at an enemy, were gently closed in a restless sleep. There wasn't a minute when the body didn't move around, causing Yami visible pain.

Yami's hikari crawled on the bed, beside the spirit, studying the unconscious face of his other half. Although sleeping, the shadow had a haunted and pained expression on his face, causing Yugi's heart to ache all over. Worried and with extreme wariness, the light took the spirit's hand in his, caressing the knuckles with his thumb in a soothing manner.

The hikari stayed in this position, what probably was for hours, because when the light teared his eyes from the now unmoving form – his caresses weren't for nothing – he found himself alone with Yami. The shadow's breath was even; apparently the ancient king was relaxing. Not really caring where his friends went as long as his yami was ok, Yugi assumed that his friends left the room to rest a little bit after their exhausting journey through the deadly desert.

Sighing he continued petting Yami's hand, the motion not only calming his darkness but helping to settle the hikari's nerves as well. It had a soothing effect to be in his other's presence again after the terrible events. 'Does Yami feel it too? Does he even know that I'm here?' Lost in his thoughts, Yugi unconsciously continued his caresses on other spots of the spirit's body. The further his mind wandered, the more the lighter half's hands travelled. The touches on the hand turned to strokes over arms, neck and face, memorizing absently curves and smoothness.

The lighter half brushed aside strands of blond hair from the yami's face when they prevented Yugi from looking in the god-like face. Never did the hikari stop his ministrations, as if Yami might die when he halted. And the hikari refused to take the risk.

Feeling through their bond that Yami's condition was slowly improving, Yugi calmed down enough to let his body and mind relax. The bearer of the millennium puzzle thought about the latest events, remembering all the incidents he went through since he met the other half of his soul.

It sounded like an old cliché. Yami and Yugi became friends from the beginning, feeling at ease when in each others company and getting closer with each passing second. It was as if they had known each other for years, not days. 'It's strange how I feel so content in the presence of a total stranger. I didn't know about his past and yet I didn't really care. It was only with him, that I felt it was ok to just be Yugi ... to just be me. He never called me a weakling when I cried or pitied me, but offered comfort instead'

The guilt was nagging on the light's mind, remembering their dark moments as well as the good ones. From the beginning Yugi distrusted the darker half of his soul, expecting to be betrayed as everyone else did so far.

Yugi never told anyone, but secretly he blamed himself for the fact that his parents died so many years ago. They died in a car accident and before they drove away they had a fight, concerning Yugi, who heard their whole discussion. The hikari had never forgiven himself for this. If they hadn't fought over him, they would have been still alive ...

Then there was that incident in his first class. A girl suggested being his friend. Yugi, a shy kid, who never had friends, was overjoyed. She wanted to play with him after school and they arranged a meeting at the playground, but as Yugi arrived at the place she told him to wait, there were a few boys and they punched the daylights out of him.

Since these two events he kept his distance from people, even his relatives, for their own safety as well as his. It was true that he opened up to Yami, more then he ever did, but still the light refused to lay his heart on the line. There was enough damage to it as it was and he was afraid to have the fragile organ broken again.

It was easy to admit it to himself that Yami was his first true friend. Of course, there were Joey and Tristan and now he befriended even Mai, Seto, Ishizu, Ryou and who would thought – Malik, but they were quite literally not the other half of his soul.

And then there was the day Yami, Yugi and their friends were attacked by the dark priest Marik ... he didn't know what he would have done if he had lost his yami. The thought alone was enough to frighten him madly. Now that the lighter half knew friendship and real trust he couldn't go back to the way he was before. But without his guardian exactly that would happen.

Yami had been defending him, not once had he given Yugi a reason to query his loyalty. Even more it hurt Yugi that he mistrusted the shadow. Only Yugi's fear and reserve to Yami made it possible for Marik to ruin their already weak trust in each other. Still that didn't stop the pharaoh from protecting his light. That's the reason why his yami was hurt. 'The Dark Magician was right! Without me, Yami would do so much better ... but still I can't let him go. I want to make it up to him. I'm going to repay him for everything he had done for me.'

There was a twist in Yugi's chest and something nagged on his consciousness.

Mildly, while nuzzling Yami's cheek, he wondered ... WOW! When did he come that close?!?!

Yugi backed away in panic, nearly falling off the bed, afraid that he was caught molesting Yami. But luck shined on Yugi Mutou and Yami was asleep as before.

Blushing furiously, the light chose to sit on the other side of the bed, as far away from his yami as possible. Breathing deep in and out to settle his nerves, he studied the pharaoh's features.

'What was THAT about? Why did I just do that? ...' Questions along these lines decided to have a marathon in Yugi's mind. They stayed unanswered.

Feeling the reminder of his sanity trickling away, the innocent hikari couldn't tear his eyes from the other. 'I ... never ... noticed before. He is kind of cute.'

'Smooth bronze skin, high cheekbones, beautiful angular crimson eyes ... Yami is gorgeous' The hikari's heart fluttered madly,when registering which way his mind went.

'Is it right to think about him that way? He IS a guy after all!'

'A beautiful guy' a less than sane voice whispered.

'OOOOK. Now I have two voices in my head. What does that say about me? Either I'm going insane or the sun shone to long at my head.'

Again he glanced at the unconscious pharaoh.

'Damn. Damn. Damn. WHY I'M THINKING THIS WAY?! He is my friend. My protector. The other half of my soul ...' Annoyed, he took a few deep breaths.

Still, both the bright red in his cheeks and the confusion in his thoughts refused to leave.

'OOK. Probably I'm a little attracted to him. Who wouldn't be?! /So true/ He is kind, smart, funny, ... tall, brave, strong ... and yes attractive.' Yugi's cheeks intensified their red colour.

'I GIVE IN! I'm going to sleep now. I'm talking crazy anyway.' Nodding to himself, he crawled back to Yami, lying down beside him, which turned out to be a mistake on Yugi's part. The wish to hug the pharaoh was overwhelming. Turning to face him, Yugi smiled a little. 'It can't hurt, can it?' With that settled, he laid his hand over Yami's torso, closing his amethyst eyes and letting sleep claim him.

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PLEASE REVIEW!!! I hope everything makes sense now. If not, feel free to ask and tell me if something doesn't seem right.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN DOWNLOAD THE INTRO AND ENDING OF THE MEMORY SAGA?! And what's with this whole 'recommended stories'-business? Where can I check them out pouts Pretty please! I want to see the video!

-glomps her wonderful reviewers- Pharaoh Atemu's Angel, animestargirl, Demon Majick, Mshobgoblin, padfootgrl126, Cherazz22784, Vampiress24, SilverWing147, ime back, Zetunia, Amber Eyes, hAdOwCat, Flowers, TsukiYami and Rikainiel.

Ceribi Motou: Oh, I know what chess is. I only didn't know the German term for it!

Misura: DM kept Yugi away from Yami, because he said it was Yugi's fault that the pharaoh was hurt. And Mai rules!!!

- Thank you silvershadowfire – GO AND CHECK OUT HER STORIES!!!

Special thanks to everyone who reviewed several times! You lightened my mood a little bit. These last few days I was pissed, upset, depressed and sad. Many of my favourite authors haven't updated in ages, others decided to not write yaoi anymore and others quitted writing, which left awesome stories unfinished. So I have no idea how I was able to write this chapter