randomasdf: OMG, I love you!!! glomps randomasdf Seriously, that's like one of the best reviews yet, I'm so glad you love the story! It's reviewers like you that keep me writing, so thanks for taking the time to do so. As I've said time and again, it means A LOT.
Taito-kisses: Aww, you're the one that's kawaii!huggles Taito Thank you for settling down long enough to write a review, I hope the rest of the story is to your liking!
Jadej j: Oh, trust me, you really don't want to see me try to write lemon, or even lime for that matter, although I may "imply" things in later chappies... but come on ppl, I know it's a modern era, but they've had half a date! I don't think it's time for them to jump into bed! looks at fangirls with torches Uhh... then again... runs away
daisy: Did I say the next chappie was fluff? Sorry! cute chibi eyes Forgive me? Well, much to your yami's chagrin, this chapter's going to be chock-full of fluffy goodness, so both of you enjoy!
demonicangel: Give up ff.net, a great reviewer like you?!?! starts crying loudly Then who will I have to drool right alongside me every time Seto loses one of his usual five layers of clothing? Seriously, when was the last time we saw any Seto skin on the show? Just once, I want to see Yami's leather outfit on Seto, and nothing else! Oh well, we'll always have the fics. sweatdrops Thanks for reviewing; I promise, this chapter IS NOT a cliffie!
PanDora: You're right, it is nothing without possession. Of course, if you're me, love is nothing, period, but that's another story.... hope you stick with the fic! (Hey that rhymes!)
Kaial and Luke Skywolf: I know how you feel, guys, imagine how it feels to write it! Don't worry, though; Seto and Joey should be fixing things between them very shortly ^_^.
Warnings: Quasi-fluff, OOC, and yaoi(if you don't know what it is by now...) BTW, the italicized text is thoughts, and they're also in single quotations if you forget.
Disclaimer: Guardian don't own YGO, but she owns her own wacky, crazy mind...sees the men with nets coming Yii! See ya, people!
Chapter 5: Bring Me To Life
Joey was in a crowded room, the faces of each and every person blurred like bad television reception. He still recognized some of them, though; Yugi and Yami were leaning against the far wall, and he caught glimpses of people he presumed to be Tea, Tristan, Mai, and Serenity. Ryou was there also, but of his yami there was no sign. To each person in turn, the blond called out, trying to get their attention, but each and every time his voice was swallowed up by some unseen vacuum. Then, something hit him like a ton of bricks hurled from the roof of a skyscraper..
'Seto,' he glanced around, on the verge of panic, 'Where's Seto?' Yeah, sure, they'd had a fight, but Joey still loved the other boy completely. Why wasn't he here? Could this be Joey's subconscious telling him that there was no hope of ever getting Seto back? 'No, it won't end this way. It can't!'
Desperately, Joey tried to wade through the crowd, but with every step, he became more ensnared by his friends, who had formed a circle that was even now closing in on him. The terrible, faceless beings stared at him blankly, and Joey felt something constricting his throat, suffocating him. 'No.. gotta find... Seto.' The feeling eventually forced him to his knees, but he still crawled on stubbornly. The circle moved with him, their garbled voices sapping any energy he had left.
Suddenly, the circle of Joey's friends stopped and spun around to look toward the left wall. A flash of midnight blue, some movement through the shadows creeping up on his peripheral vision, was all Joey caught before the circle grudgingly dispersed, and the suffocating feeling lessened enough to allow him to get up shakily and look around.
The newcomer wore a hooded cloak of darkest blue, bordering on violet. Unlike the others, his form wasn't blurred, but crystal clear, and waves of darkness that seemed to scare everyone else in the chamber flowed like water from him. Joey wasn't scared, though; this could only be one person, come to save him when he needed him the most.
In five great strides, the tall figure had scooped Joey into his arms, lest the blond boy fall from exhaustion. Joey tried to croak out a greeting, but one leather-gloved hand on his mouth silenced any possibility of speech. At this close proximity, the figure's eyes glinted out; twin sapphire orbs, clear as the gems that shared their color, and the new arrival slid his hood down to his shoulders and removed his gloves, taking his hand from Joey's mouth in the process.
"Seto." was all that Joey could get out before his love nodded, drew him into the dark aura, and pressed his lips to the other boy's. The blond could feel Seto's breath filling his lungs, and the feeling of choking went away completely, replaced by an intense euphoria. After a while, reluctantly, they pulled apart.
"You saved my life." Joey said, and Seto smiled.
"Just returning the favor." was the reply. When the brunet set Joey down, the darkness was gone, and Seto was wearing the same clothes he had had on last night. One last smile from the one he loved, and Joey slipped away from the dream reluctantly.
* * *
Joey sat bolt upright in bed, jarring Yami out of a light doze in the chair across the small guest room. His left hand went unconsciously across his lips, his right reaching out for Seto, to hold him there, even when the last wisps of his dream had dissipated. Yami, having recovered from his rude awakening relatively quickly, was standing over him in silence when Joey fell back onto the soft mattress.
"A dream." he muttered, "That's all it was." As the reality of the situation sank in, Yami sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Yugi's best friend to give him an opportunity to help. Amber eyes found Yami's crimson. "What time is it?"
The pharaoh glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. "Five-thirty. You still have time to sleep before school."
'School.' This thought dragged another heavy sigh from the blond. "He's going to be there." he said aloud, and Yami nodded. "I don't think I can face him. Not now. Seeing him... it'll just remind me of all that I've lost."
At this, Yami snorted derisively. "You lost something you're better off without. Kaiba's a stuck-up, selfish snob. You're lucky you got out when you did. Otherwise, who knows what damage he might have caused?"
'Selfish? Stuck-up?' Joey turned the words over in his mind, but the only images that would come were positive ones. Seto kissing him for the first time after having received the roses. Seto, laughing for the first time in the car after dinner. Seto's lips on his fingertips, the way his perfect smile made Joey feel like nothing could ever be wrong again. The person Yami was describing was Kaiba, the cold-hearted businessman. The man Joey loved was Seto, and he was so much more than his last name.
"How can you say that?" The teen rose from the bed indignantly. "You'll never know him like I do. You, and everyone else... you're so set in your judgment of Seto that you're so sure he can't change. I wonder how you'd like it if people called you all sorts of things, just because they didn't want to take the time to get to know you! You make me sick." Without another word, Joey went to leave, sliding his shoes on in one movement. He still wore the green shirt and the black jeans, and he almost had the guest room door open enough to slip through when some invisible force slammed it shut and held it. Joey turned back to the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle.
The Eye of Horus was fading from Yami's forehead even as the blond turned, but Joey caught a trace of the rainbow symbol. "I believe I deserve a chance to explain myself, before you storm out of here hating me and, Ra forbid, drive a rift between you and my hikari over some slight of mine." began the former king in a very dignified manner. "All I have done is observe, and all that I have observed of Seto, or Kaiba, or whatever you want to call him, can be put down as unflattering to say the least. Now, you run in here tonight because he broke your heart in choosing his company over you, and you can still defend him? How? How can you still tolerate him, after all he's done?"
Joey looked down at the floor, his eyes glazing over. "I love him, Yami. Nothing's ever going to change that. If it were the other way around, and I was saying things about Yugi, no matter how true they were, would they ever change how you feel about him?"
Yami's crimson eyes narrowed to slits. "How do you know about that?" he hissed.
"Don't worry, your secret's safe." For his friend's sake, Joey managed a small smile. "He doesn't know yet, even though most of us do." The blond opened the door quietly, and Yami didn't try to stop him this time. Almost as an afterthought, he turned back to the spirit. "Tell him soon though, okay? Yug's really lonely. He could use a little love in his life."
"What if he refuses me, though?" It was the first time Yami had ever shown any lack of confidence, ever. "How will I ever survive without even the fantasy, and why should I risk all that we already have together?"
The other boy laughed sadly. "We do it for love, Yami. Believe me, it's the best thing there is. Don't let it get away from you, please." He shuffled out of the room, dejectedly. "Tell Yug I said bye, okay?"
Yami nodded, and Joey left the game shop for home. He would need all the time he could get alone to work up the nerve to face Seto in class later on. Silently, he prayed to the heavens for one more chance at love, and that if he got it, he wouldn't screw it up again.
* * *
Ugh... I wanted to make this longer, but then it might get too long and confusing... I hope that was enough fluff for everyone, at least to tide you over until the next chappie! Oh, and tell me whether or not I should add Y/Y to the pairing list, or just leave them at that, okay? I'll have the next chapter up ASAP, and I promise, next chapter will feature Seto's game plan for winning his puppy back...^_^. Oh, and the dream thing... sorry if it was too confusing! Next chapter will be much more coherent, I swear. Until then, ja ne readers, and please review!
