K: Hi all! I felt like writing more of this, so I did. Yay!

Disclaimer: I don't own diddly.

Dedications:

For people who actually read this story.

Shadows of The Night

Part IV: Meminisse

He was different today… Distant. It was as if something had happened after he'd left, something that was eating away at the boy from the inside…

It worried him greatly.

His friends were worried about him, too. He could see it in every concerned glance in his direction. It seemed, whatever it was, he hadn't told them yet. They whispered to each other throughout class, attempting to get him to open up. However, they found that they were only met with silence.

They approached him again at lunch.

"Hey…are you sure you're alright?" The blonde placed a hand on his shoulder, but was shocked when the younger boy edged away.

"Yuugi…"

A hurt look crossed his face, melting into a solemn understanding. This was something he wanted to face on his own, and he of all people knew the feeling.

When Anzu opened her mouth to say something, he shook his head and let the group away. The brunette struggled against his gentle, yet firm grip, protesting.

"J-Jounochi!"

"Urusei. This is something he needs to do on his own… Just give him time…"

"D-datte!"

"Anzu! Just…trust me on this, alright?"

She frowned, but nodded. Jou knew Yuugi better, even if he'd only become his friend recently. Their connection was much stronger than the one she had with the violet-eyed youth; a fact that she found herself jealous of at times. But now was not the time to question their strange bond. All that mattered was Yuugi's physical and mental health, and if Jou said he needed time, then that was it. It was painfully obvious he didn't want them involved, so, ultimately, they had little choice in the matter.

"If you say so, Jounochi…"

They didn't bother him after that. They even left for home with him, though Anzu had been most reluctant. Saya was intrigued by the group's strange behavior, hanging back after school so she could examine the boy next to her a bit more.

To her surprise, as soon as the students had left, he rose and approached the so-called "pharaoh." She quirked an eyebrow at the other's shocked expression; after all, they knew each other well, didn't they?

"Ha-hai? Nani?" Yami stuttered, trying to keep in character whilst simultaneously trying to make sense of the situation.

There was a pause, broken by the sound of rustling cloth and a soft gasp. Yami blinked down at the boy in his arms, unsure of what to do. In all his years, he'd never been confronted with something like this. Not even in the brief time he'd been mortal.

He awkwardly wrapped his arms around the smaller boy, then stopped when he heard a faint jingle. Directing his attention toward the source of the noise, his eyes widened.

Feeling Yami's body stiffen, Yuugi released his hold on him, looking up. Tears shone in his eyes as he presented the small bracelet, a soft, half-hearted smile on his features.

"It's yours, isn't it?"

The darkling stared at the glinting accessory, eyes glazed.

"Dear Ra… You've remembered, haven't you?"

Yuugi nodded, then bit his lip and buried his face in the vampire's shirt, letting the tears flow. Yami held him close, his own eyes consumed by moisture.

Saya quietly gathered her things and exited the room, leaving the two alone in their bittersweet reunion.

"So… now you know…"

Saya gripped the strap of her backpack. "How did you find me?"

The boy snorted, leaning against the trunk of the tree he stood on. "I'm like you, remember?"

Saya went silent for a moment, then questioned, "What happened to your little toy?"

The boy growled in response. "He is NOT a toy…"

"…pedophile."

"…heartless bitch."

Saya sighed, turning around to face the boy who called himself a pharaoh. "Why are you here? Regardless of your intentions with him, he shouldn't be left alone right now."

"I thought you didn't care about humans?"

"……"

Yami's smirk faded, and he stared at her with a wild look in his ruby eyes. "I came to tell you to leave. The metas here are mine and mine alone to kill…"

"Well you're doing a pretty shitty job if I had to be called in, huh? You're not fit to be a hunter—your ties to that boy make you weak."

The boy snarled, rushing at her and pinning her to the ground. "I am NOT weak."

Saya smirked. "Look at yourself. You let petty human emotions control you…"

She kicked him off her, standing up and brushing off her clothes. "Foolish boy… Guilt ties you to him, and nothing more…"

Yami glared at her as she walked away, then disappeared with a huff. Saya kicked a crumpled soda can, watching it skitter off into a gutter with a series of clunks.

Baka. Humans just use you. Why would you willingly tie yourself to that?

"Goddamn masochist."

K: Yay. Done. Another short chapter, I know, but I'm toying with a bunch of different ideas of where to go from here. All of them are equally promising, but I can only choose one…

Anyhoo, I hope you liked this chapter. Be sure to review, k?