A/N: Thanks for the reviews all. So, this chapter is Yugi-centric, all the way. -huggles Yugi- Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own Jean Luc XD and that's purty much it.

dream and thoughts 'cause basically the'yre the same thing.

Previously: Yami's a vampire and is none to happy about it. Jean Luc is still hoping that Yami will suddenly realize that they're soulmates (bleh) and Yugi's... having a breakdown.

Crimson Kisses: A Vampiric Tale --- Chapter 8

Yugi's eyes fluttered open to meet the unforgiving rays of the sun. He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the bright, flawless blue of the sky. How did I get here? he thought. He lay perfectly still for a moment, trying to remember all that had happened before he'd fallen asleep, but all that came to him were fuzzy images and murky shapes.

He sat up and looked about at his surroundings. He appeared to be on a beach. Glancing downwards he recognized the only white t-shirt that he own and the swim trunks that his yami had bought him a couple months ago.

Speaking of Yami, or rather, thinking of Yami; Yugi's gaze swept the sand and surf restlessly, searching for some sign of his darkness. Deep down in the Yugi knew that it was crucial he be found.

"Aibou? Is something wrong? You're looking abit flushed." At the familiar voice Yugi turned and looked up, to see concerned crimson orbs looking down into his own. Then Yami sat, resting his weight on his hunches and leaning forward. He brushed the bangs from Yugi's forehead and ran a hand down his cheek. "What's wrong, love?", worrying over his hikari's dazed appearance.

Yugi shook his head quickly before practically tackling Yami over and onto his back. "Nothing." he mumbled, burying his nose into the hollow of his yami's shoulder and inhaling his rich scent. Pulling away, Yugi looked up at the face he so adored and then carefully began to trace the features with his index finger. Ears, eyebrows, chin, nose... mouth.

After staring at that mouth for a long completive moment, Yugi noticed that the edged had quirked up, forming a grin that made it all the more irresistible. So, Yugi did the only reasonable thing; he kissed it.

When the two finally broke apart Yami pulled his hikari into a tight hug. "Have you been taking lessons in PDA from Bakura and Ryou?", he asked impishly, jerking his chin in the direction of the beach.

There Yugi saw the two albino's splashing around in the waves and just making a general ruckus... That is, until Bakura growled loudly and lunged for Ryou, taking them both off balance. Thankfully they both landed in the soft sand where there was only about an inch of water. At which point Bakura decided to take advantage of their horizontal position, by pinning Ryou's arms above his head and capturing the other other teen's lips in kiss after kiss.

Yugi looked away, blushing hotly, only to see amusement sparkling in Yami's eyes. With that he realized that he was still sitting on his darkness and did his best to roll them over so each was lying on their side. "Where are Seto and Joey?"

"Making out in private of course," Yami said, raising an eyebrow as though it were the most obvious answer in the world. "Why else would people come to the beach, if not to make out?"

Yugi giggled, he just couldn't help it. He just felt so... Happy. And though he couldn't pinpoint the reason why; Yugi knew that he hadn't felt this good in a long while. "They go swimming, of course." Yugi rose to his feet and brushed the sand away from his legs before offering Yami his hand. Together they walked down to the water hand in hand.

The little light looked around for a moment once they'd reached the water's edge. "Did you see where Ryou and Bakura went?" he asked and turned to face his darkness, only to realize that the other had already wading into the sloshing ocean water.

Yugi gave the shoreline another once over before following Yami in, figuring the other two had just gone to find a more private location to continue their... activities.

"I'll race you to the buoy!" Yami called jovially over the splash and slap sounds of the water beating against their bodies.

"That's no fair! You get a head start!" Yugi's protest had no effect though, because then the majority of his dark's body disappeared beneath the waves. All that could be seen was the tips of his tri-colored hair and an occasional flash of arm or leg.

Not about to admit defeat so easily, Yugi followed. His small, lithe form cut through the current in hot pursuit. He came up once for air, but quickly dove downwards once more to continue their race.

When he finally broke surface next to the buoy he smiled in triumph. "Ha! I win Yami!" But there was no response. Yugi hastily wiped the salt water from his eyes and look about. There was no sign of Yami anywhere. Only the constant the only movement came from the bobbing buoy beside him and the constant in and out pull of the blue waters surrounding him. "Yami, this isn't funny anymore! Come to think of it, it wasn't that funny to begin with!"

A familiar panic crept into his mind, although he couldn't remember where or why he had felt it before.

Whipping around in the water and lashing against the oncoming swell of waves Yugi searched for even something as small as a flash of red or blond. When there was no sign of his significant other, he ducked beneath that water and drew closer to the buoy to see if perhaps his yami was on the other side.

... But no...

The salt of the water began to burn Yugi's sensitive eyes and his lung began to sting from a lack of sufficient oxygen. He tried to rise to the surface once more, but found that it was impossible. Somehow his foot had gotten tangled in the rope that fastened the buoy to a weight at the bottom.

Yugi tugged fruitlessly and fumbled with clumsy fingers in an attempt to free himself, but to no avail. It seemed that the harder he tried to free himself the harder the rope hugged his ankle. Panic swamped his senses as the sting grew more and more painful.

He made a mad grab for the surface as black pinpricks began to invade his line of vision. However, the only things he could grasp was water that immediately slipped through his fingers.

By now the majority of his vision had gone black, and as a last ditch effort to escape his hopeless situation, he screamed. His lungs filled with water and his amethyst eyes slid shut...

6969696969

Yugi awoke alone. His cheek rested against the cool tile of the bathroom floor. Cold sweat lingered on his body and imagery from his dream continued to float across his consciousness. His breath sounded harsh and erratic, even to his own ears. He swallowed hard, trying to take in as much air as possible, only to be greeted by the sour taste of retch. But no matter how bad it tasted, Yugi didn't have the energy to stand and brush his teeth. All this bones seemed to be made of jelly and his muscles, non existent.

He rose unsteadily to his knees, and then gripping the towel rack, slowly came to his feet. He made his way to the his bedroom at an unsteady gait, nearly tripping over the threshhold.

The shades were open, so Yugi could see that it was still mostly light out. Only the first few tinges of color were peaking over the horizon, signifying dawn. The start of a new day, an opportunity for people of all sorts to stretch their wings and follow their hearts to happiness. Yugi didn't know if he felt like laughing at how inane the idea seemed now, or crying at the injustice and the knowledge that he was no longer one of those people.