Candy: I wrote this whilst in second period Geometry during a movie for reward day with five sophomores I don't know looking over my shoulder. They kept asking me who the characters where, and even though I wouldn't tell them, still said it was good. So I hope you like it, remember, though, I write darkly.

Jorgie: Even worse than me, and that's saying a lot! Okay, I'll stop wasting your time.


Summary: Yugi keeps a secret that Yami pays for, but will all that change when Joey finds out whats going on? Written by Candy, beta reader- Jorgie. Yoai, diff. pairings.


Part One

Yami sat on the end of the couch, head rested on his fist, watching his hikari from the corner of his eye. Joey, Marik, and Ryou and his yami sat in various positions throughout the room. They were watching a movie, or trying to anyway. Right now, Marik was the only one concentrating on the film.

Ryou and Bakura were more interested in each other's mouth. Joey was busy snickering at them, and Yugi's hands kept exploring places Yami wasn't exactly comfortable with in frount of all the people. Yugi sighed gently, resting his head on Yami's shoulder, giving up his conquest.

Half an hour later, the movie ended and Yami tensed visible. Marik groaned and stretched. They all lay where they were for a moment, then suddenly Marik jumped up.

"It's almost 11! Why didn't somebody say something? Isis is going to kill me!"

"Ya know," Joey said as Marik grabbed his jacket. "I've heard of guys being on short leashes from their girlfriend, but their sister?"

(A/N: Ya know, it's kinda hard sitting in second period trying to write a semi-serious fanfic listening to a bunch of munchins singing-"Follow the yellow brick road....")

Marik shot him a truly evil look as he thanked the half-asleep Yugi for having him over. He really was sweet, Yugi. Yami thought bitterly, Trying to make friends with his old enemy, heh, right. Joey followed Marik out the door.

Ryou and Bakura came back to reality and left hurriedly, Ryou at least stopped and tryed to apologize as he was shoved through the door by his impatient dark. Yugi giggled and Yami couldn't help but smile at Ryou's look, but it was short lived when Yugi whispered enticingly, "Come to bed?" Not asking, demanding. Yami cast about for an excuse to delay the inevitable, and was saved when Joey walked back in.

Shouldn't somebody stay up until Joey leaves? Yugi raised an eyebrow.

"Boy, that Marik! he's infuriating but I feel sorry for him in a way."

Yea, I guess you're right. Yugi smiled at him a bit crookedly.

"Yea, I know what you mean. Joey, sorry, but I'm about to pass out I'm so sleepy. I'm going to bed."

"Okay." So Yugi, with a final glance back at Yami, headed off to his bedroom. Yugi let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding.

"Yami, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What is wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?" Was he really that obvious?

"Around Yugi-you seem so... edgy."

"Oh, I was hoping noone would notice." Yami clamped his mouth shut. What had he just said? Joey gave him a questioning look and asked, "What's up? You can tell me Yami."

"Yea, I know, it's just uh...well, it's kinda personal."

"Ok, so it's about your sex life." Yami couldn't help but blush.

"Yea." A few moments of silence followed, of which Yami seriously thought about saying just forget it, but somehow he knew Joey wouldn't--even if he told him to.

"You'll feel a lot better, and maybe I can help." Yami couldn't look at him suddenly, so he chose to tell the carpet his troubles.

"He hurts me." he said, hardly loud enough to be called a whisper.

"What!? Who?" At this Yami made a desperate hushing sound.

"You can't let him know about this!"

"Yugi?"

"Yes! Now be quiet and I'll tell you more. When he told me he loved me I was ecstatic, I mean, who wouldn't be? he's everything anyone could ever want. But then he started getting--possessive." Joey knodded, waiting for him to continue, but Yami just sat, tense.

Yami! Is he still here? It's getting late, shouldn't he be going home?

I guess.

"He actually went as far to say I was trying to cheat on him!"

"With who?"

"I can't tell you." Joey started to say something more, but Yami held up his hand. "It's someone I would trust with my life--that's all I'm saying." Of course, Joey then immediately started trying to guess who it was, but Yami wasn't saying.

"Then he started...to...oh, Joey, I can't say it out loud!" Yami put his face in his hands. Then he felt Joey sit beside him and put his arm around him. It was such a kind gesture that Yami looked up hesitantly. Warm brown eyes started back, and suddenly he felt like he could tell him. He needed to say it....

Yami!! The feeling was gone as soon as it came.

"J...Joey, you should go." Yami said, hating the way his voice broke on his name.

"I don't want to leave you alone--"

"Joey. I'll be okay, don't worry. I shouldn't have said anything...I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize. I'm glad you told me." They stood, walking over to the door. Joey hugged Yami, pressing his lips to his throat. Then something strange happened. It felt as if a jolt of electricity surged through Yami briefly.

"If you ever need me, you know my number." Joey said as he pulled away.

"Thanks Joey."

After he had left, Yami turned around and came face-to-face with Yugi. This frightened Yami in more than one way. he didn't sense Yugi was so near to him.

"Yugi!" Yugi smiled, a shiver ran up Yami's back.

"Come on, I've been waiting for you all day."

"Alright, but Yugi...." Yami whispered as he was lead off, "please don't hurt me this time?"

-------------------------------------

The next morning, Yami woke up to feel Yugi half-lying on top of him. Wondering if he could get up before Yugi noticed, he caught sight of something on Yugi's arm. Concerned, because, he was his hikari, regardless, he looked closer. There was scars on his forearm. Puzzled, yami shifted too fast, causing Yugi to open his eyes. Yami started at him a moment, the gently rose, ignoring protesting muscles, laying Yugi back down. he fell back asleep almost as soon as he woke up, and Yami jumped up, although he immediately regretted it.

Yami limped slightly into the bathroom. he fell to his knees in frount of the sink, laying his forehead against the cool porcelain. He kneeled there for a while, not trying to check the tears that ran down his face. It wasn't fair. Sure, he thought, I'm his yami, his dark, and I owe him my life...but do I really deserve this? Does he have the right to do as he pleases with me?

He wiped his eyes, splashing water on his face. The phone rang, sending Yami into a mad dash to answer before it could wake Yugi. He didn't want that. He really didn't want that.

"Hello?"

"Yami! Is that you?" It was Joey.

"Yes, is something wrong?"

"Oh, no, no. I was just calling to see if you are alright." Yami looked down at a fresh cut on his side and arm.

"I'm fine Joey. I told you--"

"I know Yami, but...I was worried. You do that about people you care about." Yami didn't reply, just suddenly he realized what Joey had meant, and that his face was still dripping wet, and the cut on his arm was now bleeding. Wonderful. "Yami?"

"Thanks Joey, thanks a lot." Yami said as he went for a towel for his face and arm.

"Your welcome, hey, I was wondering if I could come over a little later, or we could go somewhere."

"Oh, well, I--don't know." Yami could feel Joey smile.

"Okay, I'll take that as a yes. I'll be there at 9, and Yami," Yami gulped. "don't worry about Yugi."

"Um, alright. See you then."

"Bye Yami."

The phone went dead in his hand. He hung up the phone an padded softly down the hall towards the room he shared with his hikari. He peered through the cracked door at the sleeping form of his light.

Yugi had turned back over, away from Yami, legs curled up to his chest. His breathing was slow and steady, and Yami saw it was almost 8:30 on the clock next to the bed. Yami opened the door a bit wider, stepped carefully through, and made his way over to the closet. He opened the door, taking out a black t-shirt and some jeans. He took his time sneaking back out of the room, and by the time the clock read 8:48, was dressed, bandaged, and waiting outside, a bit down the street from their apartment.

He had left a note for Yugi on the kitchen counter, and as he waited for Joey, thought back over it, trying to decide if he should go back and change it--or get rid of it all together. It read,

Yugi,

I got a call this morning from... at this, Yami paused, trying to think of who he would get in the least amount of trouble for being with. ...Tea. Went into town, will be back before noon. Don't worry, I didn't want to wake you. -Yami

As Yami stood outside in the warm sunshine, listening to the soft sounds around him, a bad thought swam to the surface of his thoughts. What if Joey meant 9 PM? Yami opened his eyes. That would just be my luck.

---------------------------------


Candy: Well, there is part one, let me know how I'm doing. The next should be the ending since I like to keep things short and to the point.