Chapter 9: Meet you outside.
The thin sliver of light illuminated the blood stained into Yuugi's shirt, puzzle point pushing directly into the gash. Yuugi's head threw back; a scream of pain sliced through the silent air. Tears spilled from Jounochi's eyes; this had to be done.
"HANG ON, YUUGI!" he screamed. A howling wind blew through the room; the shredded photographs flew through the air, spiraling about almost menacingly. Jounochi's tears flew from his face as his hair blasted back, the puzzle rising lightly above Yuugi's chest. Light enveloped Yuugi's body, bangs thrust back from the gust of wind, eyes snapping open.
Everything fell silent. Yuugi's gaze focused; the scene before him moved as though in slow motion. He watched his life outside himself, it seemed, watching every picture fly pixel by pixel, moving slowly as an image on a video: playing, pausing, playing, pausing. He saw tears falling like dewdrops, exploding about the room. His eyes locked upon Jounochi. Jounochi's eyes were emblazoned with determination and fear, but they stayed firm, frozen with every bit of hope he could conjure up. Yuugi felt himself smile.
'Thank you, Jounochi.'
The wind died down as instantaneously as it had risen. The light from the puzzle diminished; it fell gently against Yuugi's chest. Yuugi's eyes drooped to a close, breathing becoming regular, face regaining the slightest of tints. Jounochi took the puzzle into his hands and stared. It was no longer bloodstained, and the Millennium Symbol once again gleamed an unrivaled cascade of gold; the way it once had, when the Pharaoh was alive.
"Y-Yuugi?" Jounochi whispered. He shakily put the cord that held the puzzle around his friend's neck. "Yuugi, wake up, man… please?" Yuugi didn't move; Jounochi's heart dropped like a bomb. Broken. He hung his head, trying to balance himself, when he felt a hand upon his own.
"J… J-Jounochi?" Jounochi's head snapped up, drinking in the sight before him. Yuugi's eyes had opened ever so slightly, locking on his form. "Are.. are you okay?" he whispered. Jounochi let every tear that had been held back fall and let his face break into the purest smile.
"Yeah..." he grinned at his best friend, who returned his smile. "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine."
"G-good."
"You?" asked Jounochi, wiping the tears of relief from his face. Yuugi smiled softly.
"I'm fine." He indicated his chest, moving the Millennium Puzzle lightly from the place the knife had struck. He pushed aside the bloodied rips in his shirt to expose his skin.
Nothing was there.
"How…?" Jounochi began, but stopped. Yuugi smiled and nodded. The Pharaoh.
"Mou hitori no boku." Yuugi whispered. "He heard you." Jounochi managed a watery grin and bobbed his head.
"Yep." He sniggered in the classic Katsuya Jounochi way. "Ain't that just like the Pharaoh; always helpin' out a friend." Yuugi chuckled lightly.
"Yes." He agreed. He paused, in thought. "Do you think… think that maybe Yami no Bakura could come back?" he asked tentatively. Jounochi smiled gently.
"If he does, you'll tell me, right?" he said simply. Yuugi looked taken aback; a guilty look crossed his face. "An' we'll take him on together." Yuugi nodded, swallowing the last of his tears.
"Arigatou, Jounochi."
"Douitashimashite, Yuugi." He replied, helping his best friend to his feet. Yuugi looked down abruptly, his tone almost childlike.
"I'm gonna go change this shirt." He said randomly. Jounochi laughed right out.
"I'll call Honda, Anzu and Otogi. Meet ya outside, 'kay, buddy?"
Behind every door is the answer to a problem, and that's to lock them away forever, not ignore them. But when scars of the past are imprisoned in the hell of precedent, sometimes not even love can keep them down. Hatred is of the darkness, and darkness never fades away. But Yami no Bakura was the last thing on Yuugi's mind. Yuugi smiled, lightheartedly and wholly.
"Meet you outside."
A/N: I sense a sequel: dost thou? Tee hee. Did you really expect me to kill Yuugi? I love him; why would I kill him off? (but I really did in my first ending… shudders)
Anyway, that brings "Behind Closed Doors" to a close and I hope with all my heart that you enjoyed it. Thank you to zoids-fanatic, for loading and your help; I appreciate it and love you to death! 3
Also thank you to my reviewers; you guys are so awesome. . I hope that you liked this 'cause whisper I'm gonna get a sequel to this started with stuff that'll blow you away! You guys keep me going, and I hope that you enjoyed this fic. It was for you all the way.
Feel free to contact me regarding my story, a particular chapter, or anything at all, really. My aim handle is yrae0110, and my msn handle is or feel free to drop an email at from Katsuya, Yuugi, Yami no Yuugi, and myself, sayonara for now. We'll return soon.
Raeluvs
