To say the last two weeks had been hell would have been the understatement of the century for Judai, and that was saying something considering he'd literally been to a version of hell in the duel monsters' spirit realm. Ever since Yusei had requested time to think about what he'd said, things had felt different. Yusei was quieter, more withdrawn and was paying very little attention to him outside of the obligatory greetings and maybe a small conversation here and there about the weather and what each of them had done that day. At the very least, Yusei had honored their Saturday ritual of going out and doing something together, even if it had only been a walk to the movies, homemade food after in the park and a walk home.

He swore, Yusei was purposefully finding things to do so he wouldn't have to talk to him. Suddenly, he was working in the garage more, or at least it seemed like it. He also seemed to have more and more homework or online exams to take. Then there were what he swore were extra shifts at work. Martha had given him a funny look when he complained about it to her. Maybe it had always been this way, but he was hyper away of it now that he was anticipating the moment Yusei would tell him what conclusion he'd come to.

The hours Yusei was gone at school were filled with pacing and questioning whether he'd done the right thing or not. Yubel reminded him that it was better he knew rather than never know at all. Haou told him to grow a pair and knock off his fretting.

He just wanted, no needed, to know what Yusei was thinking about. Had he found his answer and just hadn't figured out how to tell him? What if his conclusion was that he didn't feel the same and that he was disgusted with Judai, but Yusei, being the kind and generous person he was, just couldn't figure out a nice way to say that?

'You're going to worry yourself sick at this rate.' Yubel scolded him, folding their arms as they watched Judai go back and forth in the tiny room he and Yusei shared. 'He'll come to you in his own time.'

'Fuck him. Let's go back. If he cared about you, he would have said so already.' Haou bit in the back corner of his mind he'd been banished to for such unhelpful comments.

"Shut up," Judai growled quietly, further trying to suppress the angry ruler. It was hard enough to worry and overthink on his own. He didn't need him taking up his mental space at the moment.

He heard Yusei's runner return and quickly stepped over and glanced out the window to see him talking to Jack and Crow outside. Yusei's back was to the house, but the other two seemed in good spirits. At least they were smiling. He wondered just what they were talking about. Was it about him? No, that couldn't be it. He was being too self-absorbed. They were probably just discussing when they would meet up next.

He quickly ducked under the window once he noticed Yusei starting to turn around to head inside. It really wouldn't be good to be caught spying on him like this. If Yusei didn't already hate him, he was sure that would at least push him closer to that conclusion. After a few moments, he cautiously peered back outside, to see no one there. He was just about to get up to nonchalantly walk into the kitchen for a glass of water he didn't need just to see if Yusei had come inside and maybe ask him about his day with Jack and Crow when the person he wanted to see darted into the room, snagged his laptop and ran off without so much as a word or glance to show he noticed Judai there. Judai didn't even get a chance to register he was there before he was gone again.

"…Dammit," the brunette muttered under his breath, shaking his head and looking back out the window up at the sky. Just what was he doing? Perhaps Haou was onto something. Going back to his timeline might not be a bad idea. Sure, Yusei would be torn up about it, or at least he seemed to be torn up by the thought of it when they'd talked initially, but that could have changed now that Judai confessed. Then again, it might not have.

Yusei seemed to be very much so the look before you leap kind of person. Maybe he was just taking extra time, so he could analyze everything about this and decide from there. Maybe he was freaking out over nothing.

He wandered out to the living room and flopped himself down onto the couch with a heavy sigh. He needed to start doing something to keep his mind busy. Really, he has been a freeloader here since he appeared at Martha's doorstep. He should go out, get a job or something and contribute more to the house. It would at least keep his mind off his Yusei predicament. But what could he do?

He'd always done odd jobs and temporary gigs while traveling. Nothing ever lasted more than a few months at most, and he really doubted he could use those people, or anyone he'd known before, has references for a new job considering he was displaced in time by about 40 years. He really wanted to keep doing what he always did and help people with abilities like his, but he never charged for that and he didn't want to start now. Maybe he could just try for a couple odd jobs to at least be able to put something on his resume for the future. The only problem would be proof of existence. He didn't have any kind of identification or records aside from his birth certificate, and that already wasn't a great option for the same reason he couldn't use his previous jobs as references.

You could always just try to get in without ID. Yubel suggested. It wouldn't be the first time.

'True, but that's still a lot of effort and things might be stricter now. Besides, if I get caught, Yusei and Martha would have to deal with that too, not just me.'

I suppose you're right. So, what do you want to do?

'I…have no idea, but I think I know where to start.'

Judai went and got his laptop, settling back on the couch and starting to browse through several sites. His goal was to at least figure out what jobs he could get without any references or identification. He doubted there were very many, but there had to at least be something.

The hours ticked by much slower than he would have liked, but at least by the time Martha had announced that dinner was ready, he had a small list of places to start looking.

They all kept up light conversations with one another while they ate, but Judai couldn't help noticing something seemed different with Yusei. His mind seemed to be somewhere else entirely, but he didn't have a slight frown on his face like he always did when it was school related. Marhta also wasn't asking him about it like she normally would. Judai did his best not to think about it too much or look into it more than was necessary, but it was so hard when Yusei kept staring off into space or quickly glancing at him only to look away.

By the time dinner was over and they were done cleaning up, Judai was about to lose it, but Yusei beat him to it.

"Hey, can I talk to you outside for a minute?" Yusei asked once he put the last plate away.

"Oh, yeah, sure!" Judai chirped all too excitedly. Did he finally have an answer for him? Did he really want to know?

He followed Yusei outside and they both sat down on the bench bellow an old tree. Autumn had already almost lost its grip on the weather to winter, but the sun was shining enough that it wasn't unbearable to be outside in just their jackets.

Judai waited for Yusei to speak for as long as he could, but the longer the silence drew out, the more anxious he felt. He didn't know what Yusei wanted to talk about but considering this was the first time he'd requested his presence and attention since he confessed, he was pretty convinced it was to tell him the conclusion he'd come to.

"Uhm, Yusei? What did you want to talk about?" Judai asked when he finally couldn't take it anymore. He had to know.

Yusei jumped a little but shook his head and smiled nervously at him. "I'm sorry. I was collecting my thoughts. I don't know how to start, and I wasn't really thinking when I asked to talk to you earlier."

Judai nodded and leaned back into the bench. "Oh, okay. Take your time, man."

He watched Yusei's eyes darken in relief and the mechanic turned his attention back to the ground in front of him as the gears started working in his head again. As much as he was glad Yusei was thinking carefully about this, but it wasn't helping his anxiety towards the situation at all.

Yusei took a slow, deep breath before speaking up, "Yuki-san…I'm sorry."

This was it. He was rejecting him. Judai felt his chest tighten horribly and he wished he could tear his gaze away from Yusei so he could hide the tears welling up in his eyes. No. He couldn't cry. He refused to cry. This was always going to be a possibility. There was always the risk of this outcome.

"I didn't know what to think when you confessed to me. I had been so focused on my fear of losing you, that hearing that honestly threw me a little." Yusei continued on, oblivious to Judai's distress because he was still staring at the ground. "Then, whenever I tried to think of how I felt about you and what it would mean one way or the other, I got pretty overwhelmed, but I-… Judai, I think I feel the same way. I like you, like you."

His voice had dropped down to a whisper in his embarrassment and a dark blush heated his cheeks. He'd actually said it. The words were out of his mouth and yet…there was no response. Judai was silent beside him. What was wrong? He had expected a much more excited and loud response. It was half of why he'd asked to talk to Judai outside of all places despite the chilly temperatures.

Yusei chanced a glance over to the other and nearly did a double take. Massive crocodile tears were rolling down Judai's cheeks and it was hard to read his expression.

"J-Judai, I'm sorry. Was it something I said? I didn't-"

"Shut up." Judai cut him off and threw his arms around him, pulling him into one of the tightest hugs he's ever received. "Just shut up. Don't apologize you idiot."

Yusei tried to weasel out of his grip. He didn't like this. Both being hugged so tightly and Judai crying were making him very uncomfortable. Was he crying because he'd messed up? Did he change his mind? If so, why was he hugging him?

"You didn't say anything wrong. I just thought you were going to say you hated me when you started with my last name and then started apologizing." Judai finally explained, squeezing the other even more if it were possible. "But you didn't and I'm glad. Thank you… I'm really happy you feel the same."

Yusei was able to relax a little hearing that, but he still continued his struggles and managed to get his arms up and push gently on Judai's chest to more firmly request being released. This time, the brunette listened and let him go. He sat back and laughed a little while he dried his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was just so relieved." Judai chuckled, smiling much more easily now. Excitement and joy were practically overflowing from him. Yusei liked him too! He-… wait. "So…wait, what now?"

"What do you mean, what now?" Yusei asked, furrowing his brow a little in a look of confusion.

"Well…does this mean we're, you know…" Judai trailed off, hoping Yusei would connect the dots, but he continued to look at him with that blank sapphire stare. "Like, are you my…boyfriend now?"

Oh. That's what he meant. Yusei felt his cheeks get hot again at the thought. Even hearing the word made him tense a little. Boyfriends? Was that what they were? In all fairness, they had both just come to the conclusion that they liked each other as more than friends. Boyfriends seemed like the next logical step. He couldn't help feeling anxious about the new title though. He'd never really been in a serious relationship before…well, that was a lie. There were two before, but this still somehow felt different.

"I think so?" Yusei finally agreed. "I mean, that's what two people who like each other as more than friends are, right?"

"Why are you asking me?!" Judai blurted out, blushing furiously himself.

"You asked me!" Yusei retorted, a bit at a loss over this.

"Well, I asked you first, so you have to answer." Judai countered. "Yusei Fudo will you be my boyfriend?"

"You sound like you're asking me to marry you," he muttered, leaning away from him and folding his arms over his chest. His pulse was pounding in his ears and he swore his entire face and neck were as red as Judai's jacket.

Judai's shoulders dropped as he stared at him dumbfoundedly, "well how else am I supposed to ask?"

"I don't know, maybe don't use my full name?" Yusei tried. "Why not something like, will you go out with me?"

"Yes."

Yusei stared blankly at him, not quite keeping up with what had just happened. "Wait, what?"

"Yes, I'll go out with you." Judai clarified, nudging him with his elbow. He let out a relieved laugh when Yusei nudged him back and it started to sink in that this was actually happening. He'd be so worried about it, and he'd somehow ended up with the most favorable outcome. Things like this hardly ever happened for him. Usually, this was the part where someone or something tried to end the world, taking away what he'd hoped for or turning it against him. There was honestly still a chance it could happen, but for the time being, at least he'd enjoy this moment. He wanted to remember this.

Yusei's eyes were bright, glittering in the evening sun, and he honestly looked like the weight of the world had fallen off his shoulders at finally having this off his chest. His laugh, though much too quiet for Judai's taste, was still such a bright and beautiful sound. There was a moment Judai thought he saw the same hesitation cross his eyes, probably thinking the same about his own luck, but he was glad it didn't stick around. Instead, once their laughter died down, a faint blush settled itself across the mechanic's cheeks and he looked away from him towards the setting sun.

"Now what?"

Kitana:
School tried to murder me, but I'm finally on break and able to take some time for myself. Which means writing, drawing and catching pokemon to my heart's content. I know this one's rough around the edges and probably not as refined as some of my other chapters, (heck, I know it's not edited), but it feels complete and it doesn't feel like it should be messed with any more. I want to move on from it, and so I shall.
There are more important things in store for these boys than this. It's time I got to writing that.

As always,

Thank you so much for reading, following/faving and reviewing!