Candy: Hello, here is the final chapters. I hope the ending makes sense...I don't know if I said what I meant to the way I meant to. Hmm. Well, you can be the judge of that. I hope by changing the name I didn't throw anyone off, I got two of my stories mixed up. I'm sorry for the mistake. I could have gotten by with PG-13 I think.

Yami turned to look down the street, and to his relief found Joey sauntering towards him. That jolt ran through him again. The same one that had affected him last night, but he didn't want to think about last night. The bright sunlight glinted on Joey's golden hair, and helped make his brown eyes sparkle. He wore a white shirt, ripped jeans, but his smile almost caused Yami to jump--like he'd been shocked. Was it really possible he had never noticed how good looking this guy was before? Was it possible? Yami felt like rubbing his eyes to make sure he was real.

Yami settled for smiling slightly, a little uncertainly. "Hey Yami, what are you doing out here?"

"Waiting for you, I'd rather Yugi not know...." Joey frowned slightly, but when Yami winced, shrugged and said, "Ok, let's go." Yami let out a breath he didn't know he held, and set off down the sidewalk at Joey's side.

Joey took him to one of their favorite hangouts. Most of the teens who normally swamped the places were still asleep this 'early' in the morning, so they had most of the time to themselves. Joey kept pressuring Yami to talk about Yugi every chance he thought Yami had his guard down. Yami always paid attention, he couldn't afford not to. So finally, when Joey talked him into going back to his apartment, he asked one to many times.

"Joey! Yugi is a sadist, alright? He likes causing me pain and it tears me up. Can you not understand why I don't want to talk about it?"

"Yami, I understand completely, but what I'm getting at is you don't have to let him!" Yami fell onto the couch, sighing heavily.

"And how am I supposed to stop him?" Joey sat down next to him, putting his arm around his shoulders like he had before. Yami liked it. It felt good. There was absolutely no menace in the gesture.

"Let me."

"No, Joey, I couldn't--"

"Yami, I love you. I really do and I can't see you hurt anymore."

"But--" Yami turned to look at him.

"I can stand up for you, let me, please?" Their faces were too close, just inches apart. Yami became aware of this and tried to pull away when he realized he didn't want to. Yami didn't get it. Why did he keep getting those feelings? Right now, it felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. No pain, but all breathlessness as Joey leaned closer and right at that moment all Yami wanted was for Joey to kiss him. To tell him that everything could-and would-be fixed. That they could be together, no matter how much Yami believed he belonged to his light.

Their lips brushed. Yami closed his eyes as Joey kissed him. It was a deep kiss, all romance and chastity, hard, but not painful. Yami smiled a little when Joey slid his hands under Yami's shirt and his tongue across his lips. Yami had only been asked permission to be kissed that way one time--right now, so he let him.

As Joey explored his mouth, he also found the first of the scars on Yami's back. It was the oldest he had and also the deepest. It lay parallel to his waist band. Yami shivered when Joey traced it once then went higher. It didn't take him long to find the next two. They slashed down from each other like two sides of a triangle. Yami could see them clearly in his mind. After all, hadn't he stared at them for hours in the mirror trying to figure out why he deserved them?

Joey's fingertips seared Yami's skin until he couldn't take it anymore. One of Yugi's favorite pastimes was to trace over Yami's old scars and remind him of how each came to be. So, before Joey could find anymore of Yami's secrets, he grabbed Joey's wrists and pulled them away, breaking the kiss at he same time.

"I'm sorry Joey." he whispered.

"No, it's my fault. It's none of my business." his breath, made hot from lust caressed Yami's neck as he rested his head against Joey's shoulder.

"Joey? Did you mean it earlier when you said you loved me, did you mean it?"

"With all my heart and soul. Why?" he sighed slightly.

"Never mind." They lay like they were a long time, until Yami almost fell asleep, but a sudden thought cut through his reverie, causing his insides to clench.

What time was it?

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"Joey! Joey, let me go!" Joey had him by the wrist and waist--holding him back.

"Yami, calm down!"

"No! You don't understand, I have to go!" Yami struggled, but wasn't strong enough to break Joey's grip. It was twelve forty-five. Yugi was going to kill him, maybe even literally.

"Yami, it's okay. Listen," he said soothingly as they sank to the floor, Yami still in his arms, "if you go by yourself then you'll end up getting hurt, and you know I'll come to get you anyway. So, we'll go together, okay?"

Yami leaned against him, letting his body heat calm him. Joey was like some kind of nepenthe. His reason soon sank in though. He was probably right.

"Alright, but Joey, don't hurt him." Yami glanced up at Joey to see a familiar fire there in his eyes. Yami tried to search with his mind for Yugi-but couldn't feel him. This made him uneasy, but he didn't think much of it. There had been lapses in his feelings before. He allowed Joey to pull him up and lead him outside and down the street. They walked quickly to the Motou's apartment, Yami slowing when it came into view. Joey smiled at him slightly, taking his hand and giving it a quick squeeze before letting go again. "Come on."

Yami had a bad feeling, a very bad feeling. Something wasn't right. He opened the door, and they stepped inside. The room was quiet, dark from the drawn shades. Everything was in its place, but the feeling wouldn't leave, and he still couldn't feel his light. Yami started for the bedroom door, which was closed as Joey called, "Yugi?"

Suddenly, a bolt of pain shot through Yami's head, wiping away all his senses. In a way Yami could feel the rough hardness of the carpet against his cheek, could hear Joey calling his name frantically, but it all seemed very far away.

Yami opened his eyes some time later to find himself in his soul room. He stood where he was for a moment, looking around, wondering how this place still existed. Now that he and Yugi were two separate people, what was the use of such a place? The walls were covered in cobwebs and a mist hung over the floor. He had always hated this place. It was always so dark and evil. Nothing had changed.

Not knowing why he was here, or what else to do, Yami started walking down the dank hallway. His steps combined with the sound of dripping water in the silence of the darkness, grating on his nerves. Just when he thought he could take no more, he rounded a corner and came across his light.

Yugi stood in the shrouds of mist, his eyes two sharp flashes of purple as he glanced at Yami then back down. A fire burned behind him. It was golden, rays of light piercing the mist that hung around it--through it. Sunshine yellow flames licked and played with tendrils of fog.

Yami knew what it was. It was Yugi's purity. His innocence. His soul. A similar one burned in the deep catacombs in the soul room in which they stood. Except darkness radiated from its core. Everything that came near it was contaminated with evil, darkness. Yami had saw his soulfire one time--when he was banished to the puzzle. Yami turned away when he heard Yugi laugh.

"Oh, Yami. You thought you could get away from me? That someone would actually want to help you?" Yami couldn't help but wince, sometimes Yugi's words cut deeper that his knife. How was it his soul was still aflame with light?

"I had hoped." he replied quietly.

"Don't. We've played this game before, Yami. I always win."

"I know." Yugi grinned. Yami shivered.

"Come here." Yugi whispered. His eyes flashed and Yami took an involuntary step back, slipped on a loose stone and fell backwards. His head connected with the floor and he yelped. The last thing he saw was a flash of purple.

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Yami came to slowly. He opened his eyes, trying to focus them on the face that floated in and out of his vision. There was a bad taste in his mouth and settled in the back of his throat. Yami realized what it was when Yugi came into focus. It was blood, and it was everywhere. It pressed hot and sticky against his back, soaked through his clothes, creating a nightmare. Yugi sat on Yami's waist, using his knees to pin Yami's wrists. At first, Yami thought it was he who bled and had drawn breath to scream when he realized nothing hurt. If I'm not hurt and neither is Yugi....

"Yugi?" he whispered, hating the way it came out...so weak. Fear--both hot and cold--shot through his veins when Yugi smiled. "Yugi, what have you done?"

"You drug Joey into this, not me. His is to kind for his own good."

"No..." Tears welled, falling down either temple.

"I told you Yami, don't play this game with me. I always win. I am your light, you are my dark, and everyone knows light always triumphs over dark."

Candy: Thank you for reading.