Chaos: Wheeee! I got my first flame in all the history of my writing! Six months!

Flower: Oh, it's not really a flame..it only says Yugioh is rubbish...see, look, right there...

Chaos: Oh, shaddup. Review responses!

chaolovin' - Hey, I used to think Yugioh sucked too - I mean, come on, it's a weird guy with yellow spiky hair! I only began watching because it had dragons! (drool) Thne I realised the characters were pretty cool. And if you actually read it - did you? - you'd notice I don't mention the card game - it's too complicated and really kinda boring. This is just the kind of stuff, like bullying, that I can't really put in Sonic fics. Whew, this is a long response! I hope you read it...

Funky Egyptian - Can I call you Funky? Hehehe...I give all my reviewers nicknames! (points below) Anywho, I'm glad you like this...and if you thought that was sad then...hmm. You may not want to read more. But it has a happy ending! All my stories do!

NM - Hi! (waves madly) You like Yugioh? Well, I'm glad some Sonic fan does...(sweatdrop) Anyway, nice to see you here!

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And I don't need the fall out,

of all the past that's inbetween us...

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Yugi stirred his spoon round the cereal bowl, watching the unappetising cornflakes swirl. He sighed quietly. His grandfather was sitting on the other side of the table, saying something about the game shop...

"And then I...Yugi, are you ok? Are you ill? Do you want to stay home?" Solomon asked, suddenly noticing how quiet his grandson was. Yugi shook his head quickly, and then smiled. It took a lot of effort not to show the fear of being home all day with Yami.

"I'm fine...really. Just a little tired." His grandfather smiled craftily and said,

"Been talking to your Millenium Puzzle again?"

"What?!" Yugi exclaimed, feeling his face grow hot. Solomon laughed.

"Don't think I haven't heard you, nattering away all night! Just make sure you're asleep by midnight and I won't stop you having as many invisible friends as you like."

Yugi blushed and grabbed his schoolbag. "Well, bye then!" he said quickly, and ran for the door, grandfather still chuckling in the kitchen.

The day passed in a haze of dread, worry, masked feelings, and slimy school dinners. When afternoon came, Yugi was almost surprised. He walked to school gate and waved goodbye to Tea and Tristan, beginning the walk home with Joey whistling at his side.

"Hey, Yuug, what's up?" Joey asked suddenly, as Yugi became quieter and quieter. Yugi opened his mouth, wishing he could tell him everything...maybe he should. But the gang was large, and if Joey tried to help him...he didn't want his friends being hurt as well.

Joey was watching him suspiciously, but was cut off when a voice called after them.

"Hey, Serenity!" he shouted back, waving to his sister. She ran up to them, breathing slightly faster. She was going to a different school, to make up for the time she missed while having her eyes treated, and it finished later.

She smiled and said, "Hi, Yugi! How's school?"

"It's great!" Yugi replied hastily, and then paused, suddenly realising what he had said. Joey was grinning.

Yugi smiled nervously and said, "Erm, I mean, it's ok, I guess..." Joey laughed and took Serenity's bag for her.

"Little swot." he said with a smile, then looked ahead. "Oh, my turn here. See you tomorrow, Yuug, you'll be going home and studying, right?" Yugi smiled weakly as Joey winked and walked away.

Now came the difficult part.

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Yami paced anxiously, wringing his transparent hands. He sat down on Yugi's bed, but almost immediately got up and began pacing again. Yugi would be coming home now...any minute It would happen.

He put his head in his hands and moaned, feeling as though he would go mad if he had to stay here one more minute.

But he endured, and half an hour later he heard the weary tread on the stairs that was Yugi coming up to his room.

If only his grandfather wasn't so busy recently! Then he would certainly notice something wrong. If only Yugi got bruises on his face, or hands, so that people would see them and find out. If only he could persuade Yugi to take the Puzzle with him. If only, if only, if only!

The tread stopped outside the door, as though Yugi sensed who was waiting inside. Then the footsteps sounded again, moving to his grandfather's bedroom, where he had stayed for the last few days until he had to go to bed.

Yami tugged his hair and hopelessly shouted, "Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!" ...knowing that only Yugi would hear him. The footsteps paused for a second, and then Yugi's mind opened to him.

It had been shut for days, and was such a shock that Yami couldn't think for a second. He caught only a flash of sorrow, fear, and guilt, overwhelming guilt, before it went blank again and Yugi murmured, "I'm sorry." from outside the door.

Then the footsteps walked away, leaving Yami imprisoned and more despairing than ever.

Finally evening came, and Yugi trailed to his room sadly, dragging his feet at the thought of what was to come. Slowly he turned the handle of the door and looked through.

The room was empty.

He looked around incredulously, and then slowly walked inside. In a flash he grabbed his pyjamas and dashed out of the door to the safety of the landing, panting. Nothing. He made his way to the bathroom, his head spinning with confused thoughts.

The bedroom door slowly swung shut, revealing Yami standing behind it. He sighed in frustration; he was making Yugi terrified of his own room. As if his hikari didn't have enough to worry about with whatever It was.

I wish I'd never come here, he thought miserably. He was now imprisoned in this room 24 hours a day, unable to go too far from the Puzzle in spirit form. He was tormenting Yugi and the boredom alone was threatening to kill him.

He faded into his soul room and began walking to the furthest, darkest corner, high up the crumbling stairs.

Yugi looked into the mirror and saw a tired, defeated boy looking back at him. There were dark circles under his eyes from worry and lack of sleep, his hair was untidy, and his eyes were bloodshot.

The fresh bruises were painful, but not as painful as what he felt inside. Slowly he made his way back into his room, finding it empty, and crawled into bed. Yami made no appearance that night...which somehow frightened Yugi far more than when he did.

It was eleven at night when Yami had an idea.