Chapter 7
Sense of Friendship
Yami saw Kaiba take off. /The other me. I wonder what I used to be like. For Yuugi's sake, I wish I could be that person. Boy, Kaiba sure let me have it. I would have freaked out too if I saw something broken and blood near someone I care about. Someone I love. I love... I guess I have until six to make up my mind. Just about five hours. The scariest thing was those dreams I had. In them Yuugi died from slitting his wrists./
Yami walked back to his house to give himself more time to think. By the time he got home, with tears down his cheeks, his mind was made up.
---
Kaiba arrived home within the half hour of talking to Yami. 'I hope I got through to him. Yuugi's pretty self-destructive right now. In fact, I don't know how good of an idea it was to leave him alone. Right now he needs someone who he can feel comfortable talking about this with. That doesn't nominate me. But at least I can control him.'
Kaiba walked through the door to see Yuugi in the kitchen. "Hey, Kaiba. Back already?"
Kaiba did not know what was up with this kid. The first minute he is self-destructive and the next he is acting normal. 'He's still skinny and pale, but his cheerfulness is back.' "What's up, Yuugi?"
Yuugi smiled. "Nothing, I'm just hungry."
Kaiba looked at Yuugi's face carefully. He was not lying. "What about this morning?"
"What about it?"
"Well, you've been trying to kill yourself. What's with the sudden attitude change?"
"Well, I figured if someone had to die, it should be Yami— uh, Mutou."
'I give up. I'll just pay more attention to Yuugi for any trouble.' Kaiba looked at Yuugi's arms. "What about those cuts? You should clean them better so they don't scar."
"I want them to scar. They'll be reminders for me."
"Reminders for what?"
"Not to love." With that Yuugi picked up his sandwich and took it to his room.
'What?'
---
Yuugi sat himself in a chair in his room. /That's right. Love no one. Pain is the only outcome for me. It's not like I'll ever be able to love anyone as much as him./ He bit furiously into his sandwich. He saw the cuts all over on his arms. /I'll always remember you, Yami. That's why I'm keeping these scars./
---
It was ten to six, the normal time when his family would eat. Yami got up from his bed and left his room.
---
"Hey, Yuugi! You want to help me in the kitchen?" Kaiba called out to Yuugi, disrupting his thoughts.
Yuugi left his room and appeared in the kitchen and said, "Sure."
Yuugi was not exactly sure what he was doing, but it seemed like Kaiba was making a bit too much. /Ah, well, leftovers for tomorrow./
---
After Kaiba told Yuugi that there was nothing more to do, he went back to his room. Kaiba sat down to try and work, but he could only hope that Yami would be smart enough to come. 'It's obvious that they both need each other. They are both emotional and mental wrecks without each other.' It was five to six and he still was not there. 'Maybe he does have too much of his father in him.'
---
Yuugi sat on his bed which was still stained with his blood. He had not bothered to change the sheets. "Yuugi, dinner's ready!" he heard his friend call him.
"Hai, Kaiba!"
Yuugi went to the table and sat down. "Nee, Kaiba, why are there three plates on the table?"
"I was hoping someone would be joining us..."
At that moment, the doorbell rang. Kaiba jumped to get it.
---
Kaiba prayed with all his might that it would be Yami.
Sure enough, Yami was standing outside.
"Oh, good, you did come."
Yami smiled a little. "Yeah, well, I don't want to know what would have happened if I didn't show." Kaiba saw Yami's smile disappear. "But even if this doesn't work out, thanks for giving me this chance."
Kaiba smiled. "No problem, Yami."
---
Kaiba was back a minute later followed by a lavender haired boy. /Yami! I can't believe you're here! I thought I'd never see you again./
"Hey, Yuugi."
"Yami..."
Yuugi saw Kaiba quietly leave the room, with his own plate in hand. /Arigatou, Kaiba./ "So..."
"Sae shibaritai," Yami said casually.
Yuugi put on a smile. "Well, let's eat this food. We shouldn't waste it."
"Yeah."
They ate in silence for the most part. "So, why are you here, Yami?"
"I don't know..." He looked down at his plates, which were all empty. "Yes, I do. I miss you, Yuugi. This past week was filled with thoughts and dreams of you. Most were nightmares. I thought I could make myself forget you and get on with my life. But then I realized that you are my life." Yami looked at Yuugi straight in the eye. "Let me see your arms."
Yuugi did not realized Kaiba told him that much. He rolled up his sleeves and held out his wrists for Yami to see, not ever being able to say no to the person sitting across from him.
---
Yami looked at his friend's arms, they were covered with scratch marks; all were not cleaned out well and most were pretty deep. He got up and went to Yuugi.
"Gomen, this is my fault." Yuugi was staring at his arms. "I know you will probably never forgive me for doing all this to you, but I hope that one day you won't hate me as much as you do now." Yami turned to leave.
"Wait."
He looked back at Yuugi who was now looking at him.
"I don't want you to go yet, Yami. I was mad at you. I wanted to forget how to love. I'm over it now, I moved on... Because you came back here and showed that you still cared."
A shocked looked played across Yami's face. /He's over me. I should have realized this would happen./ "I understand, I guess—"
"No you don't. I moved on..." Yuugi repeated and continued on, "...to realize I need you even more than I ever thought I would." Yuugi held up his scarred arms. "I need you to help me heal these wounds, Yami. Only you can." Tears fell uncontrollably down Yuugi's cheeks from his black eyes. "Yami... I need you... I want you... I love you! Don't tell me goodbye again! Onegai!" Yuugi stood up next to Yami and they embraced.
"Yuugi... Me, too! I can't tell you good-bye again! I love you! I'm not afraid of this anymore. I need you and I want you so much to be with me. Zutto!" Yami took one of Yuugi's arms. "Together... We'll heal these scars. Don't ever forget to love; even if I'm not the one for you in the end. You hear me? Nothing to remind you of pain; that's all I want for you." Yami used his other hand to bring Yuugi's face to his.
He tasted the sweetness of Yuugi's lips again. /I swear it! I'll never hurt you again! We will be together forever! If you wished me to tell my father, I would! I would only do it for you! My Yuugi!/
Yuugi felt the softness of Yami's lips. /Yami! You don't know how much I missed you! I would have ended up killing myself if I couldn't be with you! Never let me go again! Swear it!/
/I swear it, Yuugi./
---Tsudzuku