A/N: hello. Thanks everyone for the reviews. I feel loved. The reviews really made my day. Thanks for reading even if I had only one chapter. I will be updating more often as school is about to end. Anyway, here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Yu-gi-oh, though I wouldn't mind some of the characters owning me cough…Yami…Joey…Valen…cough

Heat rested in the schoolyard as pure white clouds stumbled through the crystal blue sky above. The sun peered down on Earth. The thick air was damp from the weeks of rain. The humidity made it almost impossible to breathe. Birds lazily chirped in the still trees. Hundreds of tiny bugs had appeared overnight, waiting until the dark clouds rolled away. Each one was flapping its clear wings quickly. They were the only things that truly enjoyed the weather.

On the small patch of grass on the cement schoolyard, a group of six teenagers sat in a circle, sitting back, allowing the dense heat to rest on them. Their lungs filled slowly. The kids were careful not to move too much, making them hotter than they already were. Five of the six teens wore purposively loose tank tops that now stuck to the skin with sweat. All six wore the mandatory school bottoms, pants for the boys, skirts for the girls. They all had their lunch opened in front of them, half eaten.

Yugi looked at his friends idly. He had heard of the intense weather for the day on the morning news, but had still worn his usual long sleeved, skintight shirt with his favorite grey vest on top. Though the top of his outfit made Yugi faint with heat, he would never wear a tank top, or even a t-shirt. Nobody paid attention to the usual top. They all knew that the short sleeves didn't cover up secrets only they knew. The secrets the young boy was so deeply ashamed of. Beads of sweat ran down Yugi's pale skin.

"Are you okay, Yug?" Joey said softly. "You look paler than usual."

"What?" Yugi snapped out of his trance. He looked up to his blond best friend. "Probably just the heat."

"I know what you mean," Serenity exclaimed with a mouth full of sandwich, "Gosh, my hair has been warming the back of my the entire day. I should just cut it off!"

"Don't do that. Your hair is so nice. It would be a shame never to see it again just because of a little heat," Honda spoke before thinking, as he always did when he was around Joey's younger sister. Honda blushed as Serenity looked at him with wide eyes.

"Really. You like my hair long, huh? Then I will keep it. I could always do a Yugi and spike it all up with every drop of gel in my house."

The gang erupted in laughter. Even Anzu, who would have normally made a huge thing over how you can't be mean to friends, joined in. The group needed the soft giggles to forget about sweltering humidity.

Ryou was the first to recover. "Serenity, I don't think all the gel in the world can get your hair like Yugi's."

This comment caused another roar of laughter in the small huddle of teens.

"Hello, love. What are you laughing at?"

Yugi stopped laughing. He turned to the person standing behind him. The sweaty teen kneeled down and gently pushed Ryou, who had been sitting next to Yugi, aside, then plopped himself into the empty spot. The new member of the circle wore a tight tank that exposed his arms, as well as the scars on them.

"Oh, hey, Yami," Yugi said, blushing slightly.

Yami looked at his light's now pink face. Yami had begun calling his light 'love' nearly half a month ago, a week after Yugi had his…nightmare. After the terrorizing dream, Yugi had been so… distant from everyone, even from Yami. Yami decided that he would try to cheer his precious light up. The affectionate name had surprised Yugi the first times it was said. Then, after many times, Yugi now only blushed.

Yami no longer needed to call his younger version 'love'. Yugi was "happy" again. And the Pharaoh had only started saying it to make Yugi feel normal. Yami was perfectly aware he didn't need to say such adoring name any longer, but deep down, he liked it. He liked releasing some of his love for his younger half. However, it hurt the dark a bit whenever he called Yugi 'love'. Yugi didn't take him seriously. Nor will he ever.

"Yo, Yami," Joey said cheerfully. "We were talking about Yug's hair. It's nothin'."

The gang had been just as surprised as Yugi when they heard the Pharaoh call Yugi 'love'. But they quickly got over it. And now they simply allowed the kind words of affection to fly over their head.

"Yami, was it this hot in Egypt?" Ryou asked after several moments of small talk.

"Well, the sun burn down on us will all the power of Ra. However, we wore better clothes," Yami answered while wiping his moist forehead.

Anzu, who had been scanning Yami's sweaty body, said, barely looking up, "What do you mean?"

"Well, we didn't wear shirts and leather tight pants," Yami exclaimed bitterly, "I'm amazed we are still breathing."

Yami looked at his light. The younger boy was really white. His eyes also drooped and kept on shutting without opening for a while. The dark's heart filled with concern. Why is my love… no, why is my light so tired. Then, Yami saw Yugi's top. The long sleeves must be killing the boy. Why had he worn it?

/Yami./ Yugi said through their special mind link.

/What?/ Yami responded.

/Pay attention./ Yugi giggled.

"Ya-mi!" Honda yelled.

"Huh?"

"So which one is cooler, me or Joey?"

"Honda, why do you even ask? You already know he's going to pick me. Why embarrass yourself in front of your girlfriend?" Joey's eyes flashed in the direction of his little sister before returning to Honda.

Honda and Serenity both turned a violent shade of red that made Yami's eyes pale in comparison. Serenity looked down at the remains of her lunch while Honda suddenly got Joey in a headlock.

"Take that back!" Honda yelled.

Ryou, Serenity, Anzu and Yugi began to laugh as Joey tried desperately to get the leading hand of the fight. Yami, however, looked back to his light.

"Yugi, my love?" Yami asked his light as everyone was watching Honda twist Joey's arm.

"What?"

"Why are you wearing that?" Yugi frowned.

"What do you mean?" Yugi's voice shook. He knew what his red-eyed dark was talking about.

"Why are you wearing that shirt? It is 100 and you're wearing that obviously hot shirt! If you want, I can give you my tank top and I could wear my P.E. shirt. I don't mi..." Yami began but Yugi cut him off.

"I'm okay."

"Yugi, my love, you are one of the worst liars I have seen in my five-thousand years."

Joey had forced Honda to surrender by pushing his arm half way up his back. The gang, no longer occupied with the childish antics of Joey and Honda, decided to turn their attention to Yugi and Yami. They saw Yugi's somber face and the Pharaohs' concerned one.

"What's going on?" Ryou said quietly, unsure of the answer he will expect.

"I want to know why the hell Yugi is wearing that shirt. He is about to die on us from the heat. He means way too much to us to get sick over a stupid shirt." Yami explained.

"Oh…" The gang stared at each other for a moment, uncertain what to say next.

Anzu was the first to speak. "Yami… You know perfectly well why Yugi wears it. You should be a better friend, and guardian, and leave it be. Did you not swear on your soul that you will make sure Yugi is always happy?" Anzu said, glazing toward Yugi. He was staring at a blade of grass. "And you are apparently breaking the very promise you made to yourself. And another thing…"

Yami raised an eyebrow and peered into Anzu's chestnut orbs. "Anzu, do you think of all these dull 'you-are-being-a-bad-friend' speeches before you go to bed?" There was a hesitative snicker through out the circle. "I have never been around you guys when it was really boiling. I am just worried about Yugi." Yami's glaze wandered from Anzu to Yugi. "Love… Why are you wearing it?"

"Hello, bitch." A deep voice said so suddenly behind Yugi, he jumped. Yugi turned to see the owner of the voice. It was Seto Kaiba, towering over the teens. The rich teenager was gazing at his boyfriend, Joey.

"Hi, Seto," Joey responded, slowly and carefully.

"What's wrong, bitch," Seto said as he walked toward his lover.

"Oh, nothing," Joey answered, looking at Seto with wide eyes. The gang stood frozen, their eyes following Seto, who now was sitting next to Joey.

"Now, now, you are almost as bad of a liar as Yugi is." Seto finally looked at Yugi. "Hey what's wrong with Yugi, bitch?"

"Do you need to call Joey a bitch, you penny-paid whore?" Yami laughed as he forgot all about Yugi.

"Shut up!" Seto responded loudly. He was smiled in spite of himself.

"I want to know, why do you call him bitch?" The gang watched the two 'rivals' fight with relieved eyes. Yami had finally forgotten about Yugi. Yugi, who had noticed this, looked up from the blade of grass.

"Because that is what he is. He is my bitch!"

"Oh, really… Joey is your bitch. Yet when I am not around, he suddenly is your 'puppy'. You don't want to be nice around me, do you? Is your pride really worth more to you than Joey?" Yami sneered as he saw he had reached a tender spot. Seto's eyes flew to Joey. Joey big, brown puppy eyes were wearing a false sense of hurt. Seto sighed inwardly.

"Fine, you win this round, Yami," Seto whispered. "What's wrong with Yugi… puppy?"

The group took a sharp breathe in. Anzu looked as if she was about to slap Seto for bringing the subject up again. Yugi shut his violet orbs.

"Oh, yeah… I was just asking why Yugi is wearing that shirt." Yami analyzed Yugi, his heart breaking. The Pharaoh knew, of course, why his little light was wearing the warm top. But why was Yami continuing to question Yugi on it? Though he would hate to say it, Anzu was right. He was making his beautiful light depressed, therefore breaking his oath of forever taking care of Yugi.

"Oh…" Seto, being a member of the gang, knew of Yugi's dark secret.

/Yami, can you please just drop it?/ Yugi pleaded out of the blue.

/I am worried about you, love. Just tell me why./

/Yami…/ The gang watched Yugi and his dark. Yami was watching Yugi while Yugi looked away.

/I need to hear it from you./

/I.. I don't want people to know…/ Yugi said, quietly.

/Love, letting people know is one way to stop dwelling in the past. So you can live life greatly with every pasting moment. I just want you to be hap../ Yami started. His little love snapped his head so his amethyst orbs met Yami's rubies. Yami had stopped when he saw the fire in Yugi's violet eyes.

/Me… Dwell in the past?/ A rare anger erupted from Yugi's side of the mind link. /Me. How the hell about you! 'Yugi, I need to find myself', 'Yugi, I need to find my past before I can ever be complete', 'Yugi, I feel so lost without my past', and I could go on forever. And in you even do it in your sleep. 'Tell me more', 'Please tell me', 'I can't hear you, please say it louder'. It's pathetic./

"Yugi…" Yami breathed. Had the Pharaoh really said those things aloud?

The abrupt break in the silence caused the gang to jump. They didn't understand why Yugi had shown such strong emotions in his petite face.

"Guys, stop talking through your link," Ryou requested breathlessly. The gang nodded slightly in agreement and understanding. They never knew what exactly Yugi and Yami talked about through the special mind link. It made them uncomfortable.

/At least I don't sport my scars like fucking badges!/ Yugi said bitterly.

Despite the tense situation, Yami exploded into a fit of giggles. The laughter settled in the warm air. "Fucking badges, huh? Oh yeah, I got this one, "Yami pointed to a rather thick scar on his left wrist, "After I collected the most butterflies in five minutes and I got this one," Yami touched another cut near his inner elbow, "When I made the best birdhouse of all the cub scouts."

Ryou, Anzu, Honda, Serenity, Joey and even Seto, gasped. How could Yami say those things?

"My love, I don't care what people think. Some people had said I ruled terribly. They, of course, just wanted an older ruler. I, however, continued to control Egypt fairly. You don't have to do it now, but one day, you will let everyone know. And only then will you have the weight resting on your heart lift."

Seven pairs of eyes observed Yugi for any change. Yugi's violet eyes blurred, but the boy bit his lip to hold back tears.

/I promise you I will. But now… I will just have to die of heat for awhile./ Yugi smiled.

Yami moved closer to Yugi. Yugi felt Yami's strong arms wrap around his skinny waist. Yugi was pulled into a tight hug. The young boy felt his face rub into Yami's tank, feeling muscles underneath. The little light bit hardly on his rosy lips to hold back a sigh of pleasure.

The Pharaoh hesitantly released his small love, but only to place the small head on his lap. Yami began to play with one of Yugi's blonde bangs. The older teen felt a pang of guilt. He liked having his little love so tenderly close too much. Still, the dark didn't plan on pushing his other half away.

"So, Ryou, where's Bakura? Is that tomb robber causing trouble again? If I even hear that Bakura did anything wrong, I will send him to the Shadow Realm. And this time, I won't listen to you rant on how much you love him."

The circle of friends finally sighed with relief. They didn't know what Yugi said, but obviously it was good enough for Yami. Yugi, who was now glowing with a newfound happiness, looked a lot less pale.

"I have no clue where he is. I'll ask him tonight. He always comes home at the end of the day."

"Only because he wants you in bed," Seto responded coolly, making the entire gang burst out laughing. The weather seemed a whole lot bearable now.

A/N: so that is the end of this chapter. Sorry if it was boring at some parts. The boring parts wee needed for the sweet ending. I promise the next chapter will be better. I am also sorry if you like Anzu (Tea). I really find her annoying. Please review. I just want to feel loved, just like Yugi. Oh, and I am not sure what happens when you change your name while writing a story, but I apologize for any confusion.