Fire

Yugi shivered, feeling the knot in his chest tighten as he watched Bakura cast the spell. If something went wrong… he couldn't imagine what it would feel like to lose Bakura a second time. The first had been nearly unbearable. If he had come so close only to have the thief wrenched away from him he wasn't sure he would be able to stand it.

Brilliant light filled the circle and Yugi had to shield his eyes, unable to look into the painful brightness. He stumbled backwards, propelled by the surge of power hot against his skin. The rough sensation of wood against his arms halted his movement, and he huddled back into the lingering coolness of the wall behind him. Years seemed to go by in the searing mixture of light and heat, but finally the room cleared and Yugi was once more made aware of something other than the achingly potent magic that had been surrounding him.

"Sorry." Bakura's voice seemed to echo in the sudden emptiness and Yugi looked up, blinking in a futile attempt to clear his vision of the psychedelic colors filling his vision. Strong arms encircled him and he allowed himself to be carried away. "If I'd realized the magic would have had that strong an effect on you I would never have allowed you to stay while I was working."

Yugi snuggled into the powerful chest, rubbing his face against bare skin. Not wanting to argue with the thief, he didn't reply, fully aware that despite what had happened he would fight for the chance to be with Bakura again the next time he cast a spell. After what had happened before, he wasn't willing to let Bakura out of his sight when anything that might possibly be dangerous was happening. Now he could understand his friends' annoyingly overprotective attitudes.

Cold fear rushed through him as he was set on a soft, yielding surface, and Yugi reached up to catch one of Bakura's arms. "Don't leave me," he whispered, shocked at the raw sound of his own voice.

"I won't," the other promised softly. "You need to sleep. Lie down."

Keeping his grip on the thief's arm, Yugi carefully lowered himself to a sleeping position, groping around with his free hand until he managed to find a pillow. A warm body pressed against his, and Yugi fell into sleep, comforted by the presence of his beloved.

AN. I'm sorry about the shortness of the chapter. It just didn't seem right trying to add anything to it. I'll try to post the next one soon.