Once again thank you to those who read the story, and those who reviewed it. They make me very happy. (Dances around)

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! and never will.

"Bla bla bla": Normal dialogs

Blab bla bla: Thoughts

Chapter Three: Dark Lies and Light Hopes

Heart pounding like mad, Yami ran into the bathroom at top speed. To his relief, the door wasn't locked, but when the ancient pharaoh stepped inside he almost slipped. Grabbing the doorknob for support, Yami took in his surroundings. At least what he could see. The steam created from the hot water made his vision very blurry, though he could define the outlines: mirror, toilet, towels, sink, window curtains, water crowned by purple spikes... Not caring if he slipped again, Yami rushed over to the overflowed bathtub, closed the faucet, and leapt in. Feeling Yugi's body beneath him, the spirit took the unconscious teen in his strong harms, pulled him out of the water, and placed the limp body on the tiled floor. Yami knelt in front of it and touched his aibou's neck, looking for pulse. Exhaling a breath, he didn't know he was holding, the spirit almost cried at the feeling of soft thumping beneath his fingers.

The sudden change in temperature awoke Yugi from his deep slumber. Sleepy eyes opened, trying to look through the misty fog that covered the entire room. What the... where's the water? Still dazed from the sleep, he tried to stand up, but a pair of "bricks" held him down. Navy blue bricks with tanned fingers? Yugi raised his gaze, to see who was holding him. Unfortunately, he knew his captor too well. Clouded amethyst met furious crimson rubies. The short teen gasped, as the grip on his shoulder tightened. Yugi could see that Yami was restraining himself. Anger lining his handsome features.

"Yugi... growled the spirit.

"Yami... I"

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?", bellowed Yami, his whole body shaking with suppressed emotions.

"I-I just ..."

"What??? That's your way of sorting out problems; by getting away from them? That's what I've taught you? What we've learned together? Answer me!!!"

Yugi was shocked at Yami's words and he couldn't understand what his other half was yelling at. His mind was an entire mess. All he knew was that he felt very cold and the wet floor beneath him wasn't helping too much...Wet floor...Eyes widened in realization... He remembered going inside the bathtub, closing his eyes. And then? A small pressure inside his chest, yes, but he'd denied it. Water spilling from the bathtub gave Yugi the answer. He had left the faucet opened while falling asleep, and if it hadn't been for the dark spirit, he'd surely be dead. Damn... Yami thinks I did it on purpose.

"It was all an accident, Yami. I swear."

"No.It.Was.Not."

"Of course it was!!! I fell asleep... I was very tired and didn't acknowledge I had left the water running. That's all. Don't make a fuss over it...please."

The pharaoh looked at his light half as if he'd grown a second head, not believing his ears. ¿Don't make a fuss over it? Yugi had been very close to death due to his carelessness and all he says is "Don't make a fuss over it" Closing his eyes, Yami searched trough the mind-link and found the truth in Yugi's words. But didn't stop there, he was looking for something else. Something his aibou would not tell. Suddenly the former pharaoh felt as if a tone of bricks had hit him squarely in the chest. The link had been closed.

Gathering all his strength, Yugi pushed Yami off him, making the spirit fall backwards. Trembling slightly, he got up and glared at the spirit before him. Yami had been so awfully close to discover his secrets. He was surprised when he saw hurt in the pharaoh's eyes. Or did he imagine it? As soon as it came it was gone. Blond bangs fell over the dark's face, shadowing his features.

"Dress yourself and eat dinner while I clean this...mess." Yami spoke coldly, not looking at the short teen.

Those simple words felt like ice daggers, stabbing Yugi's heart. But he did as he was told. Staring at the floor, the light made its way to the room, where he put on his PJ's and dried his hair. The thunderstorm had calmed down long ago, and now a gentle drizzle tapped the windows, playing a soothing melody. Yugi smiled bitterly as he sat in front of his desk, in top of which a silver tray was waiting for him. Running his fingers along the hot porcelain dish, he let warmth enveloped his numb body. When he felt a little better, Yugi grabbed the spoon and ate all the food, calming the soft protest of his stomach. When done, Yugi closed his eyes and sighed, slumping on the chair. He could still taste the delicious flavour in his mouth and silently thanked Yami for that heavenly treat. Yugi didn't realized he had unconsciously opened the mind-link again, therefore letting this last thought slip to his other half's mind.

'/'/ You're very welcome '/'/, replied a deep voice.

Yugi jumped slightly at the sound of Yami's voice inside his head. Voice that held no emotion, but carried some frost along its words. Turning around, he saw the pharaoh leaning in the doorway, watching every move the short teen made. Not being able to hold his other's gaze, Yugi shut down the mind-link one more time, got up from the chair and went towards the window, in hope that Yami would leave him alone. He looked up at the sky, where clouds were fading away, signalling the end of the storm. Bright stars shone above the last grey mist, to greet the little teen and show him there was some kind of hope for him.

Yami took a step forward. He was hurting inside. He couldn't stand seeing Yugi so depressed. How can you help a person that does not want to be saved? Standing behind his light, the spirit wrapped his arms around his waist, burying his head in the soft tri-coloured mane. The window reflected the silhouette of two similar boys, one light and one dark, but who was which?

"What's the matter? Why do you keep pushing me away?" asked a desperate Yami.

Silence greeted his words.

"It's something I did? Something I didn't do? Darkness is claiming you, my light, and what worries me most is that you welcome it. You are being tainted, and as you change so will I, because there must be a balance between us. What's the purpose of letting the shadows inside your soul?"

"Maybe darkness is giving me something you don't", snapped Yugi

"What is it, if I may know?", asked the dark teen, tightening his hold around the other.

"Oblivion...It shuts out my pain, and for a moment I can breathe again. But, I don't want it to be a moment; I want it to last forever."

"Things are not a dark as they seem. Shadows have put on blindfold that prevents you from..."

But Yugi never knew what the blindfold prevented him from, because Yami had just discovered a red mark on Yugi's left arm. Pulling his aibou towards the bed, the spirit rolled up the sleeve, revealing a red and purple scar that had just started to heal. Yugi tried to take his hand away, but Yami's grip was firm. Crimson eyes darkened considerably as tanned features sharpened in pure rage.

"Who.Did.This?", the spirit hissed.

"I j-just fell over at school" Yugi lied.

"Yeah, sure. At your remedial classes I suppose", Yami retorted. "I asked Ryou yesterday and he told me there was no such thing. Care to fill me in?"

"What if it wasn't Ryou? What if it was Bakura making fun of you?" the light said, terrified at the thought that his dark half has just discovered his web of lies.

"I'm not that stupid, you know. Ryou also told me you were a little down lately, but I never thought you would go so far as to inflict pain upon yourself."

"You believe I did this to myself???", asked Yugi.

No word came from the pharaoh's lips.

"¿¿¿Yami???"

"I don't know what to believe anymore, Yugi Motou" replied the pharaoh.

Yugi flinched at the sound of his full name. Not aibou, not hikari, just plain Yugi Mutou. He needed to get away. He couldn't stay any longer. Glancing at the opened door, the teen pushed himself away from Yami's hands, and ran into the hall, heading towards the street outside. Unfortunately for the running half, someone else was already waiting for him at the shop entrance.

"You can't get away from me. Even if you hide, I'll found you. The connection runs both ways, so I'll always know where you're going. And it will only take a matter of minutes for me to catch up on you. So, my light, don't waste your time.", the dark spirit said.

Damn those Sennen Powers, Yugi thought. He felt trapped. Yami was blocking the exit, and he knew running all the way up to his room would solve nothing. Both teens glared at each other for what seem like ages, until one of them decided to put an end to the situation.

"Yugi, open the mind-link COMPLETELY"

"What?

"Your words aren't truthful anymore. There's only one way for me to know what's going on here, and get things straight. Open the mind-link completely, so I can have full access to your memories. And don't you dare hide anything from me."

"Just go Yami, leave me alone."

"No, I won't. I'll help you out of this, whether you want it or not. I won't let you slip away into nothingness."

"IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT!!!!! You think you can come now and fix everything?"

"Yes, I can. I vowed to protect you, and I will, even if it has to be from yourself".

"¡¡GO AWAY!!"

Unable to take Yugi's behaviour anymore, Yami grabbed his light by the waist and pinned him to the floor, placing his body on top of the struggling teen. Yugi fought for all he was worth, but his strength was nothing compared to that of the pharaoh. Soon the struggle ended, and the light half could feel the colour rise in his cheeks, as he realized the position in which they were. Therefore, the short teen became very interested in the ceiling above, earning him an annoyed snarl from the spirit.

"Look at me", ordered Yami

Ignoring his dark's command, Yugi squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to get away from that piercing crimson gaze. He wouldn't be able to hold too long if he trapped himself in those ruby irises that craved inside his soul. Maybe if I stay this way, Yami will grow tired and let me be. But then I'll lose him, like I've lost myself. I'll be alone again...Feeling his eyes watering; the teen tried his best to fight back the upcoming sobs. But he was disappointed, as a lonely teardrop escaped the corner of his eye, leaving a trail of wetness behind while it rolled down his cheek.

Great, now Yami will think I'm just a wimp and... Yugi's train of thought was interrupted as he felt a slender finger trace the pad left by the tear, drying it in the process. The touch was so soft, so caring, so tender, so...flawless. Everything he had longed for and hadn't felt for a long time. Opening his eyes, the light half looked at Yami. The dark spirit was deep in thought, looking at the limpid drop hanging from Yugi's chin; fingers caressing his aibou's neck.

Silence fell over the room, threatened to be broken by the soft trickle of crystal pain born from sadness. But the sound never came, because when the tear was about to fall, Yami leaned in and kissed it away.

ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER... I'm growing very fond of them. (Runs away from the angry readers)

I didn't want to finish the story right away. Every chapter must take its time to fit perfectly into the story.

You won't have to wait too long, I promise.

Any comments, suggestions, and/or critics will be welcome. (Flames will be used to burn school down. Does everyone agree?)

Read and Review, if you wish.