I know what you're thinking: "Wow. Chapter 3 already?"
What can I say? I love writing this! It's so much fun! Maybe I should write something like this more often?
I would like to thank these wonderful people for reviewing:
Yami Kkwy, Blue-Star-Witch/ Mystical Blue Bull, kingleby, SailorSaturnthesilencer, Shire, Darkyami7, DMHPluv, atemugirl0312645978, Yana5, Cute Beyblader, Elekta107, Daikaio, GerardYuroshi
Thank you so much you guys! You all rule! And thank you all for the birthday wishes. I had a fantastic birthday, but your wishes made it even better!
Now, on with chapter 3...
/Yami to Yugi through the mind link/
/Yugi to Yami in the mind link/
'Thoughts'
"Speaking"
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of the characters. And I do not own any of the songs, artists etc mentioned in this chapter. The plot, however, is mine.
-I-
Rekindled Love
Chapter 3: A Little Help From Friends
-I-
"Here," Jonouchi said, extending something in his hand to Yugi.
Yugi looked up from where he sat on the sofa at the blue mug Jonouchi held in his hand. He smiled.
"Thanks Jou," he said as he took the mug from his hand, careful not to burn his hands. He blew on the hot liquid before taking a sip. "Mmm," he said happily. "This is great. You always make the best hot chocolates Jou."
"Well that's because I've had a lot of practise." Jonouchi came around the sofa and sat next to his best friend. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?"
Yugi took another sip of hot chocolate. He sighed. "I'm not sure myself. I mean, Yami only left about 10 minutes ago. Everything's still a bit fuzzy. I guess I'm in shock."
"I can understand that. Turning up like that after six years. Just what was that idiot thinking?." Jonouchi threw his arms up in the air. He looked back at his friend. "But you are OK, right? He didn't hurt you at all?"
"No, he didn't physically hurt me," Yugi answered. He swirled the hot drink around the mug with his hands. "But emotionally…that's a different story." He took another long sip.
Jonouchi remained silent, allowing his friend to gather his thoughts. He had just experienced the shock of his life. It was bound to take a while to gather his thoughts.
"All those things he said to me," Yugi continued, his voice growing quieter, the fresh memories still painful to his heart. "They just seem to effect me some how." His grip on his mug tightened. Yami's words were still ringing in his head. He closed his eyes to try and block them.
"What did he say?" Jonouchi asked when Yugi didn't continue.
"I'm not too sure. The details are still a little hazy." He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. He took another gulp of hot chocolate. "All I really remember is him saying how sorry he was for leaving me, and me shouting at him for leaving with no reason. I remember asking him why he left…"
"Did he tell you?"
"No. He said he couldn't say. That made me mad. We starting shouting at each other. He kept saying that he still loved me and wanted me back. But I said I was engaged to Anzu. I shouted at him some more, and he flipped. He went ballistic. He said I wasn't in love with Anzu and that I still loved him…
-Flashback-
"Yugi, a love like ours can never disappear. You say that you don't love me? Well you're wrong. You're wrong Yugi!" Yami shook Yugi by the shoulders. "You may not feel it now, but deep in your heart you still love me, like I love you! Why can't you just admit that?"
-End Flashback-
"…I tried to tell him I wasn't, but he wouldn't hear it." He closed his eyes as the scene replayed itself in his mind. He whispered, "And that's when he tried to kiss me…"
Jonouchi saw his friend trembling at the painful memory and wished Yugi didn't have to feel such pain. He was the last person that deserved something like this. He moved up and placed a comforting arm around his friend.
"He didn't kiss you, did he?" Jonouchi asked cautiously.
Yugi shook his head. "No. You arrived just in time Jou. If you hadn't had shown up when you did, then he would have…done it." Yugi couldn't bring himself to think about how close his and Yami's lips had been. And he couldn't forget that feeling he had felt when he realised what Yami was going to do.
"Well, what can I say?" Jonouchi said proudly, sticking his chest out and pounding it with his free hand. "I have impeccable timing!"
Yugi laughed. "You sure do!" He finished drinking his hot chocolate.
"I take it all those "prank phone calls" you were getting were from him?" Jonouchi asked.
Yugi nodded, placing his empty mug on the small table next to him. "Yeah, that was him. Turns out he thought it'd be better if he saw face to face so he could fight his inner demons and apologise to me at the same time. I guess he thought I would come flying back into his arms if I saw him again."
"Well I think it's safe to say that didn't work." Jonouchi looked down at Yugi and sighed. He looked so pale, so scared. It reminded him of when they were back in High School, before they had become friends.
When Jonouchi was still a bully with Honda, they would see Yugi being beaten by countless bullies. It was a daily event. He had looked so pale back then. So scared and fragile. Just like he did now. Over the years Yugi had grown stronger, more confident. Jonouchi really thought he had changed. But after seeing Yami again, Yugi was now back to square one. And all this happened in the space of a few minutes. How could one person effect Yugi so much?
Jonouchi had to ask it. He couldn't not ask it.
"Yugi, do you still love Yami?"
Yugi didn't answer. He lowered his head, his blonde bangs hiding his face.
"Yugi," Jonouchi said a little more urgently. "Please don't tell me you still have feelings for him."
"I don't know," Yugi mumbled.
"Because you can't!" Jonouchi continued. "You're with Anzu now."
"Don't you think I know that!" Yugi shouted, his head shooting up. "I know I'm marrying Anzu soon, but…"
"But what?"
Yugi shook his head. "Never mind." 'I can't tell Jonouchi. Now right now. Not when I don't understand the situation myself. I was so angry at Yami for showing up like that, but now…I feel almost…happy that he's back. But why?'
Jonouchi watched his best friend fight his inner demons. He regretted asking the question now. He knew it would effect Yugi like this somehow. He needed to cheer him up…
That's when Jonouchi got an idea to cheer Yugi up.
"Hey, I know what will cheer you up!" Jonouchi said happily, standing up. "A little music." He walked over to Yugi's stereo system and switched it on. "That always managed to cheer me up when I'm down." He flicked through the many radio stations, trying to find something Yugi would enjoy listening to. "Now lets see. What's on this station?…"
"You're the one that I want, you are the one I want…" came the pounding lyrics from the radio, sung by the cast from "Grease" (A/N-don't own).
"What the hell!" Jonouchi cried before quickly changing the station. "Why the hell was that on the radio. Hopefully this station's better…"
"One way, or another, I'm gonna find you. I'm gonna get'cha get'cha get'cha get'cha…" the radio blared out.
"Gimme a break!" Jonouchi quickly changed the radio station again just in time to hear…
"And I--" Whitney Houston singing one of her most famous and well known songs. "Will always love you--"
"OK, that's it!" Jonouchi cried, switching the radio off. He ran his hand through his wild blonde hair. 'Is the whole world against us today? Yugi needs cheering up. He doesn't want to be reminded of how much Yami wants him back. If only I knew someone that could cheer him up as well as me…'
And that's when Jonouchi got another idea. He quickly spun round to face Yugi.
"Get your things," he said bluntly.
Yugi blinked. "What?"
"Get your things," Jonouchi repeated. "You're staying at my place tonight."
"I am? But why?"
"Because I said so," Jonouchi said, literally putting his foot down. Yugi just looked up at him, confused. "Look, you're in no state to stay here by yourself. And you're in no state to see Anzu either. Do you really want to worry her about Yami?"
"Well, no…" Yugi looked down at the floor. Telling Anzu that Yami was back was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Then get your things my friend!" Jonouchi said happily. "You're staying at my place tonight!"
"Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Not at all! It'll be fun! You can sleep in the guest room. We can watch the game, drink beers, have a good old fashioned duel just like we used to. It'll be just like the good old days. And we can go into work together tomorrow. That is, if you're up for it."
Yugi gave a small laugh. "Don't worry, I'll go to work tomorrow. Otherwise Kaiba would have my head! And it would be nice to spend the night at your place. Like you said, it'll be like the good old days."
"Told ya it was a good idea."
"But what about Honda and Otogi?" Yugi asked, suddenly remembering his other two friends. "Aren't they coming round to watch the game? And what do I tell Anzu?"
"Just tell Anzu we've got some work to do for the upcoming school tournament. She'll understand. And don't worry about Honda or Otogi." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I kinda forgot to tell them about the game."
Yugi laughed. "Well for once, that's a good thing." He got up from the sofa. "Thanks Jou. You've really cheered me up."
"What are friends for?" Jonouchi beamed. "Now hurry up and get whatever you need. The game starts soon, and I don't' want to miss the beginning!"
"OK Jou, I'll be a quick as I can." Yugi laughed as he made his way out the living room and up the stairs.
Jonouchi listened as Yugi's footsteps disappeared upstairs. When Jonouchi could hear him rummaging around in his room, he pulled out his mobile phone. Flicking it open, he pressed the number "1" button before pressing the green "call" one. 'Speed dialling. Man's greatest invention.'
After a few seconds where the phone tried to connect, it began to ring. Jonouchi waited as the phone rang three times before the receiver picked up.
"Hello, Kaiba?" he said into his phone, whilst pacing the room. He made sure to speak quickly so Yugi didn't hear him upstairs. "It's me. Listen, I'm really sorry but I'm going to have to cancel tonight…I know, but Yugi needs me. He's been through something today and needs some time to recover…Yeah he's OK, just a little shocked. You-know-who is back…I know! That was my reaction!…Uh huh…Yup…Yeah I walked in when Yami was about to kiss him, the bastard. I managed to stop him in time. I've tried to calm Yugi down but he's still a little shocked. I said he could stay at my place tonight…Yeah just for tonight, which means we can pick up where we left off tomorrow…I bet you do!…Oh really?…Really?…Oh stop it! You're embarrassing me! Listen, I've got to go soon. But before I do, could you do me a favour?…Yami might appear again at any time so I was wondering about the security and the academy?…You will?…Thanks Kaiba! I'll make sure to pay you back tomorrow night!…Don't worry, I will…Take care…Bye!" He hung up with a huge, dreamy smile on his face.
"Who was that?" Yugi asked.
"AH!" Jonouchi jumped in surprise. He spun round. "Yugi! You scared me half to death!" He could hear his heart thumping in his chest.
"Sorry," Yugi apologised. "But you were so engaged in your conversation with…whoever that was," he cocked an eyebrow, "that you obviously didn't hear me coming."
"Yeah, I guess not…" He spotted the sports bag in Yugi's hand. "Got all you need?" He replaced his phone in his jeans pocket.
"Yeah. And I left Anzu a note saying we're working on the school tournament and not to wait up for me."
"Then I guess we're all set. So let's go!"
Jonouchi led the way out the house, taking Yugi's bag for him as he walked out the front door. Yugi smiled as he watched him from his front doorway, happily marching down the street. Jonouchi may be twenty two years old, but he still acted like a kid. Some things never changed. This thought comforted Yugi. But another thought wasn't so comforting…
Yugi looked back inside the empty house/shop, his smile fading. Images of his confrontation with Yami flashed through his mind. He shook his head, trying to get rid of them.
'What is wrong with me? Why do I feel like this?' He looked up at the sky. 'I wish you were hear to help me, grandpa.'
Closing the front door and locking it behind him, he ran to catch up with Jonouchi. But as he ran down the street, he could have sworn he heard Yami talking to him through their old mind link.
-I-
SLAM
Yami didn't care if he disturbed the other guests in the hotel with his slamming. Right now, he was not in the best of moods.
He walked pasted his ensuite bathroom and threw his hotel room keys onto his double size bed. The room he was staying in was typical to that of other hotel rooms in Domino: ensuite bathroom, double bed, and few wardrobes here and there, satellite TV; the usual things one would expect in a hotel room. He even had a balcony that looked over most of Domino City. If one were to look hard enough, you could see the familiar yet unusual shape of the Kame Game Shop in the distance.
Yami stomped over to his phone and roughly picked it up, making sure not to knock over the piles of paper around it. His quick and messy handwriting covered the various sheets of papers, and every single one of them was about Yugi; his home, his job, his contacts. Just about everything Yami needed to know to find him…
…Apart from one very important piece of information.
He quickly dialled one of the only numbers he knew off by heart. Leaning his hand on the pale blue wall, he waited.
RING RING
RING RING
RING-
"What!" A gravel voice snapped on the other end of the phone.
Yami forced a smile as he tried to control his anger. "Looks like I owe you 10 bucks."
"What are you talking ab-…Oooh," the voice suddenly realised just what Yami was talking about. "So I was right then?"
"Yes, you were," Yami sat down on his dark blue bed. "But I wonder how?" He added sarcastically.
"What are you implying?"
"That you purposely forgot to tell me about Yugi and Anzu so I could make a fool of myself!" Yami yelled down the phone.
"Oh yes…that…" The voice trailed off.
"And you were going to tell me when, Bakura?"
"It just…slipped my mind," Bakura answered coolly. "You know how it is."
"Do you know how embarrassed I was?" Yami continued. "I thought Yugi was still single, and then he tells me he's engaged to Anzu! How the fuck did that happen!"
"Didn't he tell you?"
"Of course he did! I just want to know why. Why Anzu? Of all people!"
"Because," a second, softer voice said on the phone. Yami could hear them taking it out of Bakura's hands. "Anzu was the one that was there for Yugi the most after you left. It was only a matter of time before Yugi repaid his debt to her."
"So he's repaying a debt, Ryou?" Yami asked.
"That's what we think," Bakura said switching the phone onto "speaker phone" so all three of them could talk.
Yami sighed. "Still, I don't think I should go through with this. I don't want to hurt Yugi more. I love him too much. Maybe I should just give up-"
"That is out of the question!" Ryou interrupted.
"Why? Yugi's with Anzu now."
"So?" Bakura snorted.
"Bakura!" Ryou snapped, giving him a hard tap on the head. "What Bakura means is so what if this sets you back a bit? You can still win Yugi back. It just might take a while."
"But how can you be sure they're not…you know…solid?" Yami asked uncertainly.
"Look," Bakura said, a little annoyed at the former Pharaoh. "They're not as "solid" as everyone thinks they are. Trust me, I've seen and heard them."
"I'm not so sure about trusting you right now," Yami mumbled.
Bakura growled.
"But you can trust me, right?" Ryou said, stopping Bakura from blowing up the phone into a thousand pieces. "I've seen them too. I have to admit, they don't seem that "couple-ly" to me."
"Are you sure?" Yami asked.
"Of course we're sure!" Bakura said, still agitated. "Why would we lie to you?"
Yami just remained quiet, a frown on his face.
"OK," Bakura said, sensing Yami's agitation at him. "So I might lie to you, but Ryou wouldn't."
"I know," Yami sighed again. "But do you think Yugi can truly forgive me, after all I did to him? I love him so much, and I never meant to cause him such pain. I wasn't thinking back then. I was only a teenager after all. I was scared of the world." He paused. "All I want is for us to go back to the way things were. I want us to be back together…"
"And you will be," Ryou reassured.
"But how?" Yami cried. "I've only got two more weeks left in Domino before I have to leave."
"Well that's your own damn fault," Bakura mumbled. He yelped when Ryou hit him round the head.
"Trust me, Yami," Ryou said reassuringly. "You and Yugi will be together again. You two are meant to be together, just like Bakura and I." Though how that ever happened is a miracle in itself.' "You've just got to take it down a notch."
"Or knock some sense into the little runt." Bakura yelped again when Ryou once again hit his head for his comment.
"What do you mean, "take is down a notch"?" Yami asked, ignoring Bakura's yelping.
"Well, you do tend to be a bit pushy, Yami," Ryou answered sheepishly. "You've just got to take things slowly one day at a time. Stick to a plan and…try not to be so pushy."
"But I used to be a pharaoh! The only thing I'm good at is being pushy!"
"OK! Calm down! I didn't mean any harm by that. Just try to tone it down a bit and I promise things will work out if you do. You and Yugi will be back together in no time."
"You really think so?"
"Yes. Just wait a few days before you make your next move. You do have a plan, right?"
"Of course I do. Phase one just didn't go as I had hoped it would. But I do have a backup plan."
"And if that doesn't work, you can always use my plan…" Bakura added.
"Thanks, but I'll only do what you say when things become desperate, Bakura." 'Which they won't.' "Just you wait. Yugi will be mine by the end of the week!"
He quickly said goodbye to Ryou and Bakura and thanked them for their help (though he thanks the former more) before replacing the phone. He forced himself up from his comfortable bed and walked towards his balcony. Sliding the glass door open, he stepped outside into the bright sunlight. He leaned against the railings and stared at the Kame Game Shop in the distance. A small breeze ruffled his hair.
Yami moved his hand to touch his part of the Millennium Puzzle. The half that some referred to as the "darker half", for Yami was like the darker half of Yugi. He wondered if Yugi still had his. He must have though. He couldn't really throw it away, could he?
He held the puzzle tightly in his hand as he continued to stare at his old home.
/Yugi, I truly hope you can forgive me. I never meant to hurt you like that. I know you still love me, so why are you in denial? When I was going to kiss you, I felt you relax. So how can you deny your feelings when you did that/ He sighed. /I saw something in your eyes today, and I'm going to fight for it. We will be together again, Yugi. Just you wait./
-I-
And that's the end of chapter 3. Did you like it? I know there's not many Puzzleshipping moments right now but I promise you there will be. In fact, I'm planning something very…steamy, in a few chapters time And I promise you this will end up as Puzzleshipping. I have it all planned out. Little twists and all!
Please R&R. I love reading your comments!