A/N: umm, sorry this chap took longer to come out, but I had exams. and I screwed one up! X.X

Oh well, what can you do? Okay, things begin to get eerie in this chapter, its beginning to get better! Don't give up on it so soon! Thanx for all the reviews so far guys, keep it up! :D

6. The desirable

-at another time-

"Wow... I told you coming here was a good idea..." The young blond-haired man looked around in awe at the sparkling foyer of the famous hotel. "It is really something..."

"Yes... I must admit it is better than I had expected..." The taller brunette man stood closely behind the blonde, agreeing as he too looked around the gold-decorated room. It was quite stunning... everything from the elegant gold angel statues hanging from the walls to the giant chandelier in the centre of the 5-story high ceiling. The place was bustling with movement, as customers laughed and lounged on the royal red seating surrounding decorative water fountains and staff efficiently moved around without getting in anyone's way. There wasn't a customer in sight who didn't look a million dollars.

The blond excitedly turned around, trying hard to not grin stupidly at the brunette... He wasn't use to such elegant vacations. Instead, he settled for a suppressed smile as he looked up to his brunette friend, inconspicuously grabbing onto the other's hand as they looked into each other's eyes. He wanted to thank him for bringing him here... bringing him somewhere he'd never imagined he could ever go to – well, not with his current income, anyway. He stepped closer to the brunette, not taking his eyes of the other as their bodies touched.

The brunette almost shivered, as he looked into his lover's eyes...

A strong wind suddenly passed them from the constantly opening doors, and coming back to himself, the brunette pulled quickly away from the other. He saw that the doors were being closed again, before looking to the side just in time to see a kitchen staff member pass them... an expression of disgust upon his features as he looked away from the two men. Quickly, the brunette unravelled his fingers from the other's hand and stepped back, coughing a little. The blonde looked up at him with wide eyes, noticing too that they had almost been seen.

"Not now..." The brunette said casually, giving the shorter a quick smirk before looking away again. "Later. Why don't we go check in for now?"

The blonde smiled knowingly, and straightened his jacket. "Yes. Of course."

Kaiba frowned as he buttoned up his shirt, and ran his washed hands through his damp hair. He had been surprised at how good sex with Joey had felt, but now that he had gotten it over and done with, he was already trying to forget it ever happened. Now that his hormones were sated, he could move on without distraction. Kaiba turned to look at his desk clock – which had been knocked to the ground – to check the time. Almost seven.

Joey emerged shirtless and in the process of buttoning his pants from the study's connecting bathroom. He looked at ease and casual. Something Kaiba didn't approve of.

"Don't get too comfortable." Kaiba warned, reaching for his jacket.

Joey blinked at the CEO, but shrugged. He spotted his white shirt on the floor, and reached for it. "Hey, don' worry," Joey spoke sardonically, as he put on his shirt, "I wasn't exactly the one that jumped ya the moment I walked in."

The blonde was still unclear about why Kaiba had done that in the first place... but figured the brunette regretted it, by his current attitude. The coldness radiating from the taller was making the blond made feel defensive.

Kaiba, who had finished brushing out the crinkles in his large jacket, turned to face Joey with a demanding, superior glare.

"No one finds out about this. So don't go telling those losers you call friends, got it?" He threatened in a low tone, his glare unwavering. He didn't want to diminish his reputation by people finding out about his little one-time mistake with a stupid mutt. Joey just rolled his eyes.

"As if I'd wanna pronounce this to the world," he spoke sarcastically, with a snide expression. Kaiba sighed with irritation, closing his eyes and trying to not let the idiot's stupidity affect him.

"...That's announce! ...Moron..." he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and finger, looking like he was suffering a bad headache. Joey fumed at the CEO's correction, but decided it wasn't worth yelling over. He was in the house of the other, after all.

"Whatever," He reluctantly dismissed, crossing his arms and looking away.

"It's almost seven. You've got to leave now." Kaiba said bluntly, turning away from the blonde.

Joey gapped at him, "What? What about the project? That's why we're here after all..."

Kaiba interrupted him, not caring for reasoning. "I need to make sure Mokuba is alright for dinner." He said, briefly glaring at the blonde before busying himself by picking up various desk-items that had had been pushed to the floor.

"Don't you have butlers to do that?" Joey indicated the mess on the floor, "And to serve dinner and stuff?"

Kaiba frowned in increased irritation. "Not that's it's any of your business, Wheeler, but I'd prefer Mokuba to know how to take care of himself. As for the assignment... I suppose we're just going to have to do it tomorrow..." Kaiba smirked at the mutt, standing straight and crossing his arms, "Unless, of course, you've reconsidered my proposal. That's assuming you'd want to pass, though..."

Joey growled and fisted his hands, about to yell his comeback when Kaiba interrupted him, predicting his outburst.

"I didn't think so." Kaiba stated with subdued annoyance, raising a hand in front of the mutt to stop his eruption. Joey blinked. "Same time tomorrow. This room. Don't be late again." And with that, Kaiba turned and walked toward the door.

"Don't get lost on your way out," Kaiba dismissed the teen without turning his head, before he disappeared around the door's corner. Joey snarled.

"Jerk," He said quietly.

So dark...

Where... was he...?

Tristan frowned, as he drummed his fingers on the cafeteria table... the only noise penetrating the silence surrounding the table. They were all sitting together as usual for lunch... but there was something unsaid lingering in the atmosphere, and it was creating an irritating silence over the group.

Tristan looked around to the friends who seemed too lost in their own thoughts to speak. Yugi looked... different. A little lethargic... maybe even... upset? The brunette guessed it wasn't because the shorter was talking to Yami through their connection, from the lack of the concentrating expression he usually held when doing so. Of course, quite as a reverse, Joey had a look of strong concentration... or at least that's what Tristan thought it was. He looked like he was trying to understand something that didn't make sense... of course, that's nothing out of the ordinary for the blond, so Tristan guessed it was probably something personal. Even Ryou looked hesitant and twitchy. He'd always look like he was about to say something to Yugi, before deciding not to and once again going back to fidgeting.

'This is depressing,' Tristan thought with a sigh. He looked down at his food. Macaroni and cheese suddenly didn't seem so great anymore.

"Ahh... guys?" Tea finally broke the silence. All eyes flew to her immediately. It was... unnerving. The girl laughed nervously and put her hand behind her head. "Ahh... did I... miss something?"

Yugi blinked and opened his mouth... but didn't respond. Instead he just looked back down at his food. Joey followed suit, and Ryou continued to look hesitant.

Tristan growled in irritation. He stood up, finally not being able to take anymore of the eerie silence, and slammed his palms down on the table. 'First thing's first,' he decided determinedly. He looked at the closet person to him. The blond.

"Joey! What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded angrily.

Joey looked surprised that he had been addressed, and blinked several times as reality came back to him. "Ahh... waddaya mean? Heh heh..." He chuckled nervously, before frowning at Tristan. "And why are ya yelling?!"

Tristan sighed exasperatingly. The blond was obviously so oblivious he didn't even notice the silence. Tristan turned to the next person, deciding to forget about the blond. He realized half the cafeteria was watching him, and his friends sitting at the table had wide eyes, but the brunette was determined to figure this out.

"Ryou... why do you look so nervous?!" he shook his head with a confused frown.

Ryou, much like Joey, looked shocked that he was addressed. He stuttered a couple of times, before finally answering "I-I'm not nervous!" The teen sounded nervously defensive. "I'm just worried about Yugi!"

Tristan narrowed his eyes, refraining from asking the question. Instead, he turned to a shocked-looking Yugi and let out an irritated breath before asking "Yugi... What's wrong...?!"

Yugi blinked a couple of times, looking around at the expectant gazes from his friends, and licked his lips nervously before attempted to answer.

"Ahh... ah, nothing. I... ah..." The short teen's cheeks had turned red with the unwanted attention. The rest of the group seated at the table looked at him with exasperated scepticism. Yugi sighed in defeat, knowing he was a bad bluffer.

"Alright..." he said sadly, slumping slightly and looking down to his lap, "Yami... he... well, he yelled at me."

All the members of the table looked at one another, concern and confusion etched in their features. With the exception of Ryou, who watched his short friend with concern. And of course, Duke, who just raised an eyebrow Yugi.

"What...? Yugi, what happened?" Joey asked with concern.

The others watched, waiting for an explanation.

"I mean... Yami does get a little loud sometimes..." Joey continued, shrugging in thought. Yugi shook his head.

"No, it wasn't like that... he... look, don't worry, it's nothing..." The small teen sighed and he got up from his seat, abandoning his food to get away from the group. Tristan pursed his lips, but didn't know what to say.

Joey watched with wide eyes as Yugi struggled to explain what he meant... but instead, just got up and left. Mentally kicking himself, the blond quickly got up himself, leaving his lunch to run after his best friend. He felt guilty... here was his best friend, going through a tough time and obviously needing someone to lean on or talk to, and all Joey was thinking about was how good Kaiba had looked without his shirt on... and of course, the weird dream he had had again that night.

"Hey, Yug, wait up!" He reached Yugi just as they had left through the exit into the hallway, and Joey flung his arm around the teen's shoulders. "Care ta inform me on this thing?"

Yugi stopped to look up at his best friend with sad eyes, not caring if the other would be able to read him like a book. Joey was his best friend, and he needed some support now.

"Joey... I didn't mean to not tell him, it just slipped my mind. He was so mean..." the small teen slumped a little, accepting his friend's support and leaning against him as they slowly walked down the empty hall.

"Hey, hey... start from the start, 'k bud? This ain't makin' a whole lot'a sense..." The two stopped when they reached their lockers, and Joey removed his arm as they both leaned opposite each other against the green cabinets of either side of the hall.

"Well..." Yugi started, his voice small and looking down at his feet, "We were in the park yesterday... and we passed Ryou and Bakura." Now he looked up at his best friend to see if he was following. Joey nodded.

"Yeah...?"

"Ryou told me Bakura didn't want to let him walk alone, so that's why he had come along. And I said 'he's still paranoid about the day, huh?'" Yugi imitated his earlier question.

Joey raised an eyebrow, "Yeah..."

"And then Yami turned around and yelled at me." Yugi had been gaining strength in his tone, but he spoke this last part feebly, looking down again.

Joey crossed his arms and frowned in thought, thinking over what Yugi had told him. "But... Why? What did he yell at ya for?"

Yugi sighed, looking up. "He yelled because I had forgotten to tell him that Ryou had mentioned something about Bakura having a weird feeling about the day, like Yami had."

Joey frowned. "...I don't remember him sayin' that..."

"You were late."

Joey blinked. "Oh yeah! So why was Yami upset that you forgot ta tell him 'bout Bakura?"

Yugi shrugged, letting out a despondent breath. "I don't know. I guess because he had such a strong bad feeling, maybe it means it's important if another spirit feels it, too? But how was I supposed to know that? And he didn't have to yell at me in front of Ryou..." Yugi blushed, pouting at the memory, "...that... was embarrassing."

"Ahhh, Yug..." Joey moved to stand beside his best friend, watching as some people began to pass them now that lunch was finishing. "It sounds ta me like Yami jus' overreacted. If he thinks this 'feelin' is as bad as ya said, then he was probably jus' bein' protective. Ya know? He cares 'bout ya, Yug, he wouldn't intentionally yell at ya like that..."

Yugi looked up with hopeful eyes to his best friend, and the blond turned from watching the passing people to smile encouragingly down at the shorter teen.

Seeing his best friend's reassuring smile, Yugi smiled too, before nodding with conviction. "You're right, Joey... I was overacting as well. I know Yami cares for me... I guess I just let the day get to me." The teen unconsciously held onto his puzzle around his neck.

The warning bell rang, and the two starting walking to their next class. Yugi, feeling a lot better thanks to their little talk, decided to change the subject. "So... did you talk to Mrs Macarthur about getting a new partner?" Yugi asked Joey as casual conversation, remembering how upset Joey had been over it.

Joey froze for a second – eyes wide and jaw clenched – like a deer caught in headlights. He quickly regained his composure, though, before Yugi noticed.

"Ahh... yeah..."

"And...?" Yugi questioned, raising his eyebrows expectantly at the taller teen.

"And, ah... she wouldn't let me swap." Joey averted his gaze, trying to look inconspicuously to the opposite side.

"That's too bad, Joey. But, hey... maybe it won't be too bad..."

"Yeah, maybe..." Joey replied, but absentmindedly as his thoughts once again lingered around the previous night... and a naked Kaiba.

Yugi smiled as he walked home. Thinking over the conversation he had had with Joey, the small teen couldn't help but agree with his friend, and feel stupid. Both he and Yami may have overreacted, but his counterpart was only being protective. Yugi knew by now just how protective the taller could be, so he shouldn't have gotten so upset. It seemed so illogical in retrospect.

'That's right,' Yugi thought with conviction. 'As soon as I get home, the first thing I'll do is find Yami and apologize.'

The youth's smile turned into a grin as he thought about his other half. He really did love him. Maybe, after all this was cleared up, they could do something together... maybe watch a movie, or go to the arcade. 'As long as we're together.'

Yugi felt excitement bubble within himself as he entered the game shop. He said a quick "Hello" to his grandpa before rushing up the stairs, not even giving the old man time to reply. Passing his own room, the teen ran straight to Yami's bedroom door, and stopped in front of it.

The short teen stood before the large door, breathing in deeply as he gathered as much courage as he could. He knew he shouldn't feel nervous... this was his Yami after all. His spirit. His second half, his friend, his lover. There was nothing to be worried about.

Deciding to act before his sudden confidence boost wore off, Yugi took a preparing breath before turning the handle to open the large door to Yami's room.

Swinging the door open... Yugi froze.

The teen's breath began to quicken at the sight before him. His hands began to shake, eyes widening and lips parting. The teen felt his mind go into a panic as he took in the deep red blood seeping into the white sheets. The red patch grew, spreading rapidly over the bed sheets and into the mattress, staining the pure-white bed. A single gasp was elicited from the teen's lips as he watched the limp, pale figure in the middle of the bed, dead eyes looking towards him... the source of the red blood's malevolent presence... Yami...

"Yugi?"

Yugi blinked. In an instant, the red was gone. There was no blood patch on the bed before him. The figure on the bed wasn't pale and limp, but reclined and holding a deck of cards. Bewildered, the young teen looked in the very much alive eyes of his counterpart... adding confusion to his shock and wracking his brain.

"Yugi... are you okay?" Yami, seeing the youth's distressed state, instantly put down his cards and got up from his bed to get to his lover. The teen had just opened his door, before freezing and looking shocked. It was disconcerting – to say the least – to see the younger's wide eyes and shaking form. But Yami stopped half way on the path to his counterpart, remembering their situation.

"What... what just happened?" Yugi spoke, looking up at Yami with desperate eyes. 'Was I... imagining that??'

The taller saw the confusion plaster itself on Yugi's delicate face, and Yami couldn't take it anymore. Deciding to screw their earlier immature unsettlement, the pharaoh leaned down to scoop his young counterpart into a strong embrace. He felt the younger tense under his hold, but refused to let go. What was wrong with his love?

"Yugi, what happened?" Yami asked in a rush, not letting go of the youth even to look into his face. Something had happened. He could sense the distress exuding off the younger now that they were so close, and Yami was mentally berating himself for it. He should have been more focused, instead of brooding on their earlier troubles. He should have been there to protect his Yugi. What had happened?

Yugi swallowed hard, feeling the arms around his back; the strong torso pressed against his; the soft, spiky hair pressing into his cheek. This was real... it had to be, he could feel it. Yami was here, he wasn't... wasn't...

"...Yami!" The youth cried, pulling back enough to look into the face of his love. The relief Yugi suddenly felt was overwhelming, and he needed to see into the other's eyes. Just to reassure himself.

Yami gazed back, searching the other's eyes, his expression... trying to find any evidence or clues as to what had happened. "Yugi," The taller said desperately, although trying to sound gentle, "Tell me what happened." The pharaoh brushed back hair from the teen's eyes, before resting his palm gently on his cheek. "Tell me... I promise I will make the person who ever upset you pay." The words spoke themselves, brought out by the overwhelming protective serge he suddenly felt boiling in his blood. But he knew every word was true.

Yugi attempted a chuckle, which sounded more like a sob, as he came to his senses. The teen shook his head, dismissing the apparent illusion he saw, and leaned forward to rest on his lover's shoulder. Albeit still worried, Yami closed his eyes indulgingly at the embrace and rubbed the shorter's back, sensing calm begin to wash over the teen. The feeling helped calm down his own racing nerves.

"It's nothing..." Yugi said as he continued to hug his beloved. This was how it was meant to be, he and his Yami hugging, holding eachother, being together... not fighting. "I'm okay Yami, no one upset me. I just... thought I saw something..."

The teen spoke without moving from his position to look at Yami. The pharaoh was confused by Yugi's words, but decided it best not to pry right then. He sensed his love just needed his comfort, so held onto his other half.

"It's nothing..." Yugi repeated, so softly Yami barely heard it.

...Yugi bit his lip when he spoke his lie.

TBC.