A/N: Before you hurt me for updating so late, let me explain first.
I wanted to update this a week ago, but various things kept me from doing that, such as a school production, a music exam, a film project, a small personal crisis, amongst other things. But things are finally starting to cool down, meaning I've finally got the chance to write again!
So am I forgiven?
Once again, I would like to thank the wonderful reviewers:
Bittychan, wingsofobsidia/Wings of Obsidia, harper.le.beau, kingleby, Akkadia, Darkyami7, yamiyugi's girlfriend, Masami Mistress of Fire, Spicey Babe, spiritfire, allaboutthegate, Yami Val, Spirit of the Moon, catti-dono, Person-san, Black-Dranzer-1119, Daikaio, Sunwing, unseenwater, spidy007, DarkMetalAngel of Destruction, Princess Yali, Soul Survivor of Darkness, AuroraTenchi, marthsgirl, dragonlady222, Yana5, Yami Kkwy
Thank you so much! And thank you for cheering me up. I've said it before and I'll say it again: you guys are the best!
/Yami to Yugi through the mind link/
/Yugi to Yami in the mind link/
'Thoughts'
"Speaking"
Reposted due to half the chapter being deleted...somehow...
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of the characters. If I did, then I wouldn't have let 4Kids end it the way they did.
-I-
Rekindled Love
Chapter 12: Running Out Of Time
-I-
"What do you mean he's not here?"
The young man behind the reception desk sighed in annoyance. "I mean, sir, that Mr Atemu has already checked out."
"When?" Yugi asked desperately, leaning over the desk. There had to be some sort of check out book or computer that could-
The male receptionist quickly moved so Yugi couldn't see the computer screen. "I'm sorry, but we cannot give out details about our guests."
"But this is important!" Yugi pleaded. "I have to see Yami right away."
"And I've already told you Mr Atemu has checked out-"
"When? And where is he now?"
"That I cannot tell you."
"But why not?"
"Because that information is confidential!"
"But I need to find him!" Yugi urged.
"Well that isn't my problem now, is it?" The male receptionist snapped. "Why don't you try calling him or something."
"I did," Yugi said, his patience running out. "But he's not answering his phone-"
'I wonder why?' The receptionist thought.
"-so can you please tell me when he checked out and where he went?" Yugi pleaded.
"NO!" The receptionist yelled. He ignored the strange looks he was getting from the other hotel guests. "For the last time that information is confidential. Now get out before I call security, you little-"
"What's going on here?" Inquired a feminine voice.
Yugi looked up to see a woman standing next to the man he was arguing with. From what Yugi could tell, she was in her late twenties. She had soft blonde hair that had been tied up in a regulation bun, and sparkling blue eyes.
The male receptionist sighed. "It's nothing for you to be concerned about, Kisa, " he said.
"I think it is," Kisa answered a little fiercely, "being that I could hear you shouting from the other side of the hotel! I knew your voice was loud, Daisuke, but I didn't think it was this loud."
Yugi managed to contain his giggle as he saw the man named "Daisuke" turn red with anger.
"Well maybe you can sort out this…this…nuisance!" he said, pointing at Yugi, before he stormed off, mumbling to himself.
"I'm sorry about that," Kisa signed, standing where Daisuke once stood. "He's new here."
"That's okay…" Yugi said. He glanced at his watch. He didn't have time for this.
"So, how can I help you?" Kisa asked.
"I'm looking for Yami Atemu," Yugi said.
"Mr Atemu?" Kisa asked. He quickly glanced at the computer behind her. "He checked out already."
"I know. Do you know when did he checked out?" Yugi asked, leaning forward. "Please, I need to find him. It's important."
"I'm sorry," Kisa said sweetly. "I can't give out information like that. He's probably already at the airport by now." She eyed the tri-coloured male. 'He looks just like…'
"Damn it!" Yugi cursed, pulling his hands through his hair. Domino Airport was located right on the borders of Domino City, so that none of the planes would disturb the businesses and people of the town. It would take Yugi at least 30 minutes to drive there, if he had his car. Unfortunately, he had left it at home, being that he had walked to the temple. And since he had run off without even thinking about getting the car, he had ended up running the whole way to the hotel. And to make matters worse, he had no money to pay for a taxi. Luck was definitely not on his side.
"Do you know what time his flight leaves?" Yugi tried.
"I'm sorry," Kisa apologised again. "Like I said, that information is confidential. And I don't know his flight times anyway. He changed them only last night. That's all I know."
"Oh…" Yugi felt his head drop. Everything seemed so hopeless now. "Well…thanks anyway." What was he suppose to do now?
Kisa eyed the young man again. There's was something about him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
And then it hit her.
"Uhm…" she ventured. "Excuse me. If you don't mind me asking, are you Yugi Mutou?"
Yugi's head shot up. "What?"
"You are, aren't you?" she said gently, a soft smile appearing on her lips. "You look like him."
"Are you talking about Yami?" He asked. He could feel his heart quicken in his chest.
"If you mean Mr Atemu, then yes, I am," she answered. "I was the one that checked him out not that long ago." She reached under the desk and pulled out a small bundle. "He wanted me to give this to you." She held out the bundle.
Yugi felt a pang in his heart as he stared at the folded up black bundle. As he took it from the receptionist, the soft fabric brushing against his fingers, he immediately recognised what it was. He held it up in front of him and let it unfold.
It had been cleaned, Yugi could easily see that. And he could see a few small rips on the front next to the zipper. But other than that, it looked exactly like how it had been when Yugi gave it to Yami to borrow. He lowered the thin black jumper and glanced up at the receptionist.
"Did he…Did he say anything?" he asked quietly. He heart continued to pound in his chest.
"Sorry," Kisa answered softly. "He said "sorry"." She watched as the pained expression on Yugi's face only increased as she spoke that one word. That was not what he wanted to hear. "Go after him."
Yugi's head shot up. "What?"
"Go after him," the receptionist encouraged. "You can make it in time. I'm sure his flight won't leave for a while. He has to check in and go through security first, right? So go. Find him. I'm know he wants you to stop him."
Yugi couldn't help but smile. That was what he wanted to here. "Thank you. Thank you so much!"
Yugi turned around and quickly headed towards the hotel's exit. As he did, he took off his jacket, placing his-Yami's-black jumper over his t-shirt, leaving it unzipped. He held his jacket in his hands. The summer sun was just starting to heat up, and he was hot enough as it was.
He exited through the hotel's glass doors quickly and looked around, frantically searching for a taxi. Sure, he didn't have any money on him, but he had to try something, right? He soon spotted one parking on the other side of the road. Without hesitating, he ran forward.
"Hey! Taxi-"
BEEP!
Yugi froze at the sound of the car horn. He looked to his left to see a large black car speeding towards him. Fear consumed his body and his legs froze on the spot. He couldn't move. He couldn't even screamed. Unable to move or speak, he could only watch in horror as the vehicle came closer and closer.
The driver of the large car saw that the young man in the road wasn't likely to move any time soon and slammed his foot on the brakes, cursing loudly. The wheels squealed loudly as the rubber rubbed painfully against the hard tar. Smoke started to rise into the air from the tyres as the friction between the materials increased. The car continued to move towards the frozen Yugi, slowly starting to slow down. After a few tense moments, the car finally came to a stop, tapping Yugi on the leg.
"Holy shit…" the driver cursed.
Yugi stared at the vehicle in shock. He felt his legs shaking beneath him and his breathing dramatically increased as his heart rate went flying. He had been this close to being hit by a car. A really big car from what he could now see. By the looks of it, it seemed like some sort of limousine.
Voices soon began to fill his ears as his mind slowly began to recover from the first wave of shock.
"Are you crazy?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"You could've have been killed!"
"Are you alright?"
The various loud voices rang through his ears, asking countless questions. But one voice cut through the rest like a hot knife through butter.
"Yugi?"
Yugi looked up as a figure stepped out of the limo.
"Jou?"
-I-
"Thank you." Yami handed the cab fair through the open window to the driver's waiting hand.
The cab driver grunted a reply as he took the money, before driving off and leaving Yami on front of the busy airport entrance.
Yami watched the taxi disappear down the road, glad that he was finally out of it. It had taken longer than expected to get to the airport due to some heavy traffic, and the taxi didn't have the most pleasant smell. Hitching his small rucksack over his shoulder and picking up his suitcase, he made his way into Domino Airport.
The airport was busy. Many people when going on some early summer holidays before the big rush at this time of year, meaning that Yami had to squeeze in between many young families and happy couples before he finally made it into his check-in desk.
Walking up to the desk, he slipped his ticket and passport out of his pocket and placed it on the surface in front of him. The check-in assistant smiled up at him as she took his ticket and passport.
"You made it just in time," she said happily, typing various commands into her computer. "We were just about to close when you turned up." She weighed his suitcase before sticking a label on it. "You're the last person due to turn up for this flight." She checked his passport. "It must be your lucky day, Mr Atemu."
"Yeah, I guess it is," Yami replied quietly. Although the assistant was smiling, he could feel her gaze on his hand and face. He took his passport and ticket from her. "Thank you."
"Have a nice flight!" He heard the assistant chime as he walked away. Yami couldn't help but cringe. How could anyone be that happy?
Dodging more families here and there, Yami soon made it to the security check. He stopped. Slowly, he turned his head to look behind him. All he saw were countless tourists and families preparing for their holidays.
Yami let out a long, sad sigh. What was he expecting? Yugi wasn't going to turn up, not now. He had heard his phone ringing earlier, but had ignored it. It was probably either Bakura or Ryou trying to call him again to stop him from leaving. Yugi wouldn't call. Not now. Not after he had ruined everything for him…
But still, something in Yami's heart troubled him. He looked back behind him again, but still he couldn't see anything apart from the countless families there. Letting out another sigh, he walked forward to the security check point. As soon as he was cleared, he collected his bag and made his way deeper into the airport, waiting to board his flight.
-I-
"Yugi?" Jonouchi asked cautiously, stepping forward. "Is that really you?"
Yugi blinked, making sure he wasn't hallucinating. "Jou…"
"It is you…" Jonouchi's shocked voice quickly turned into anger. "What the hell do you think you're doing!"
Jonouchi's loud outburst managed to snap Yugi out of whatever daze he had been in. Putting a determined look on his face, he stepped towards Jonouchi. He didn't have to worry about any more cars hitting him; they were all queuing up noisily behind the limo Jonouchi had stepped out of.
"Jou, I need your help," he said. He quickly glanced at Jonouchi's suspiciously unbuttoned shirt and the black limousine at his side. Since when did he ride in a limo?
"With what?" Jonouchi asked suspiciously, oblivious to the loud waiting traffic behind them. There was still a hint of anger in his voice.
"I need you to get me to the airport."
"What for, Yug'?"
"I need to find Yami."
Jonouchi felt like a knife had stabbed him through the heart. "Y-Yami?...But…But why?"
"Because I need to tell him that I love him," Yugi said softly. He waited for Jonouchi to answer, but he remained silent. "Please, Jou, I need you to help me. Can't we just use this-" He glanced at the still parked in the middle of the road limo. "Since when do you have a limo?"
"It's Kaiba's," Jonouchi answered shortly. "We were looking for you, since you didn't turn up for work this morning and you didn't call in sick."
"I'm sorry I worried you, Jou," Yugi apologised, "but I couldn't face work today. I was just so confused about everything. I went to the temple to talk to grandpa."
"Yug'," Jonouchi said softly. "Why couldn't you talk to me? I've been trying to call both you and Anzu, but I couldn't get hold of you."
"I don't know," Yugi said gently. "Maybe because I knew how you felt about Yami."
"Can you blame me?" Jonouchi said a little too loudly. "You almost killed yourself over him!"
"I know!" Yugi said angrily. "That memory haunts me as much as it does you." He paused to try and control his anger. "Jou, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I've done, and I'm sorry for hurting you. It was stupid of me to do that-"
"You can say that again!"
"But you have to understand, I love Yami! I love him with all my heart! I always have and I always will! I feel so ashamed that I didn't realise that until now. So please, can you help me find him?"
"How can I?" Jonouchi asked loudly. "How can I help you, Yug'? You know very well how I feel about him. If anything, I hate him more than Anzu!" A car from the long queue behind them beeped loudly. "SHUT THE HELL UP! I'm trying to have a conversation here!" Jonouchi whirled his head back to face Yugi.
Yugi gave a small flinch. Jonouchi looked so angry, so hurt. Had he really caused all this? Maybe he shouldn't go after Yami…
'No.' a voice in his head said determinedly. 'All my life I've been putting other people before me, sacrificing my own happiness for theirs. It's about time I put myself first for a change.'
Yugi looked into Jonouchi's hurt eyes. Although Yugi had a look of determination on his face, he couldn't help but let one tear fall down his cheek. He was hurting his best friend by making this decision…'but it has to be done.'
"Jou," he began strongly. "I know you don't agree to this, and I know you'll probably hate me for the rest of my life, but I have to find Yami. He makes me so happy when I'm around him; it reminds me of how things used to be. Don't give me that look! I know things can't go back to the way they used to be, but I want to be with Yami for the rest of my life-"
"But Yug-"
"NO!" Yugi shouted, causing a stunned Jonouchi to fall silent. "Just listen to me Jou! I love Yami. You hear me? I. Love. Yami. It's taken me long enough to realise that. I love him more than I thought I loved Anzu, and I want to be with him for as long as I live. I've already lost him once before, and I don't want to lose him again!"
"But what about Anzu?" Jonouchi protested. Another car beeped loudly. Jonouchi replied by sticking up his middle finger at them, before focussing his attention back on Yugi. "Have you thought about how this is going to affect her? You've hurt her Yugi!"
"Don't you think I know that?" Yugi cried, another tear slowly rolling down his cheek. "It kills me to know that I've hurt not only Anzu, but you and Honda as well. But it kills me even more that I've somehow hurt Yami! And Anzu wants me to go after Yami. She's already given me her blessings!"
Jonouchi was about to retaliate, but Yugi's words quickly sank in. "She…she has? She's okay with you going after him?"
Yugi gave a small nod. He slipped his free hand into his trouser pocket, before finding the object he was looking for and slipping it out again. Slowly, he held his closed hand in front of Jonouchi. He unclenched his hand.
Jonouchi couldn't help but gasp. There, in Yugi's hand, right in front of him, was the engagement ring Yugi had given Anzu just over a year ago.
Yugi, still with a look of determination on his face, looked into Jonouchi's surprised face. He had to do this. He had to. Otherwise, he'd never find Yami. For once in his life he was standing up for himself. For once in his life he was putting him and Yami first. They loved each other more than anything, more than life itself. Why couldn't they be happy together? Why should people judge them because of what happened in the past? Or because of their gender? They were happy and in love, what was wrong with that? And why couldn't people see that? Yugi knew that he would fight for what he loved. He knew that he would fight for Yami.
"Please, Jou," Yugi said softly, looking into Jonouchi's eyes. "Please?…"
Jonouchi remained silent. What was he suppose to say? Yugi claimed that Yami made him happy, but how could he believe him? How could he be sure that this was the real thing? Yugi had said just over six years ago that Yami was the one for him, that they were soul mates. But Yami had deserted him not too long after that. How could Jonouchi be sure that something like that wouldn't happen again? How could he be sure that Yugi wouldn't try to kill himself, like he tried last time?
Jonouchi's hesitation was not comforting to Yugi. If anything, it made him panic even more. All he needed was answer. It didn't matter what that answer was, anything was better than silence.
"Jou-"
"Will you hurry up and get in?" a rough voice called.
Yugi looked back towards the limousine and saw Seto Kaiba standing on the other side, adjusting his lose tie. His hair looked slightly messier than usual, but Yugi didn't have to think very hard to figure out why.
"What?" Yugi asked the CEO.
Kaiba jabbed a thumb behind him. "You're holding up the traffic. Now hurry up and get in. You too, puppy dog."
Under normal circumstances, Yugi would have laughed at Jonouchi's new nick name. Instead, he watched as Jonouchi slowly crawled back into the limousine, before he and Kaiba followed him in. As soon as the doors were closed, the driver drove the limo away from the angry traffic.
Inside the large black vehicle, the tension increased. Seated on the seat down the side of the limo, Yugi glanced at Jonouchi-whom was seated on the back seat next to Kaiba-from the corner of his eyes. His head was lowered between his knees.
It was Kaiba that broke the silence.
"I take it that the reason you didn't turn up today had something to do with Yami?"
"Yes," Yugi nodded. "I need to find him urgently."
"And why is that?"
"Because I don't want to lose the love of my life again." He turned to Jonouchi. "Jonouchi?" He hoped Jonouchi would answer him, but still, he remained silent.
Kaiba lowered his head to look at Jonouchi. "I take it you're not happy with this?"
"How can I be?" came Jonouchi's muffled reply. "He wants to go after Yami. Yami for shit's sake!"
"Jou," Yugi said softly but determinedly. "Please. I know this is hard for you, but you have to understand. I love him! I always have and I always will! Why can't you see that?"
Jonouchi still remained silent. Kaiba silently placed a comforting arm around his "puppy dog". Yugi decided to use a new tactic.
"Jou, what would you do if you were in my position and it was Kaiba instead of Yami?"
This caught Jonouchi's attention. His head shot up in both surprise and pain. How could Yugi say something like that? That situation was completely different from this one! How could he use a tactic like that?
But as he looked into Yugi's eyes, he saw something that he thought he'd never see in those eyes again: happiness. Pure, blissful happiness. It took the blonde by surprise. After what had happened over these past six years, Jonouchi never thought he would see Yugi's eyes shine like that ever again. And yet here he was, seeing them with his own eyes. Yami truly did make Yugi happy. Even after everything that's happened, Yugi still loved Yami and wanted to be with him. And he couldn't shake off the feeling that somehow, Yami felt the same way.
Confused, Jonouchi looked to his right at Kaiba. Kaiba's eyes softened as they gazed at each other, giving him the answer he was looking for. Jonouchi let out a long sigh.
"He really makes you that happy?" he asked quietly.
"He does," Yugi replied calmly.
"Are you're willing to risk everything to keep him here?"
"I am."
Jonouchi sighed again. Letting a small smile play on his lips, he looked up at Yugi. "Then how can I say "no"?"
Yugi's heart fluttered in his chest. Jonouchi said yes. Jonouchi had actually said yes! If he wasn't in a moving vehicle, he would have hugged Jonouchi there and then and never let go. That is, until they got to the airport.
Kaiba let out an amused laugh, before pressing the intercom. "Driver, head to Domino Airport ASAP." The driver quickly acknowledge the command and changed course.
"Thank you, Jou," Yugi gasped, truly happy. "Thank you…Thank you so much!"
"Don' t thank me just yet," Jonouchi said, holding up his hand in defence. "It's going to take some time for all of this to sink in. And unlike you, I don't think I'll be able to completely forgive Yami for what he's done to you, to all of us. But I'll try. For you, Yug'."
Yugi's smile widened. "Thank you."
"Do you know when his flight is?" Kaiba asked in his usual business tone voice, though his hand slipped lovingly into Jonouchi's.
"Unfortunately not," Yugi answered. "The hotel wouldn't tell me."
"Can't you call him?" Jonouchi asked. He squeezed Kaiba's hand for comfort. This was hard for the blonde, but it had to be done. For Yugi.
"I've tried." Yugi shook his head. "But he wouldn't answer."
"Well can't you-"
"Mr Kaiba," came a heavy voice over the intercom.
Kaiba coolly pressed the button just above his head. "What is it?"
"I'm afraid I have some bad new," the driver said slowly. "There's been an accident on the main road. There's a pile of traffic just ahead of us. The traffic report says it will take at least three hours until they can sort it out."
"Three hours!" Kaiba exclaimed.
Yugi's breath caught in his throat. Three hours? No. That couldn't be. They wouldn't make it in him. By the time they got to the airport, Yami's flight would have already left…
…And Yugi would never be able to tell him how much he loved him…
…What was he going to do now?
-I-
A/N: Aren't I evil, dragging it out like this?
Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed reading this chapter. Again, I'm not too happy with it. But then again, I am the author, and I'm never happy with my work! There's only a short way to go until this story is finished! But don't worry. I've already got another story idea floating around in my head, and it involves a little Yugi and Yami (forbidden) love. It's a fantasy story though, just to warn you. Sometimes, they don't work very well…
Please R&R:hands out ice creams: