Chapter Four:

Joey managed to push open the front door, snickering as he nearly fell through it. He caught himself on the jamb, pushing himself upright. Yami chuckled softly. Joey put his arm around him, guiding him to go in first. Yami did so, fumbling with the multi-switch light-switch. He turned on the patio light and dining room ceiling fan before getting the right living room switch. Laughing, Joey pushed the door shut with a thump and managed the locks with some fumbling of his own. He shrugged off his jacket and threw it haphazardly across the nearest chair. Yami had already taken his off and gotten it laid much more nearly over the same chair's armrest.

They'd just stumbled their way home from a bar down the street and around the corner. Joey did not drink and Yami rarely did, but they'd just gone on a whim, bored on a Tuesday night. They'd played some of the arcade games, which Yami won, then a trivia game, which they were both horrible at-Yami because he was a reincarnated Pharaoh and Joey because he mostly was oblivious of pop culture outside of movies, games, and some comics. After that, Joey had taught Yami how to play pool, unsurprised when he learned so fast he beat him the second game.

Then, ravenous, they'd gone back into the main barroom, which was showing a baseball game. They'd watched it, munching on chicken wings, potato skins, fries, and nachos. Yami had ordered a beer, and Joey had also. Absorbed in the game, teaching Yami the rules, and in the exuberant bar atmosphere, Joey had lost track of time and junk consumption. It was suddenly two in the morning, the bar was closing, and their table was littered with food baskets and beer bottles. The bar tender was concerned about them driving, for they were both drunk, but they'd assured him they were less than a block away and on foot. So, weaving and laughing, they'd meandered home. Joey really had no idea how much either of them had had; they were able to walk and find their way home, at any rate.

"That was fun, Joey," Yami murmured, very carefully making his way into the kitchen. His voice was slurred and that brought a big grin to Joey's face. "We should do it again sometime."

"Yeah."

He followed Yami into the kitchen, where he was in the cabinet, getting some glasses. He bumped the cabinet door closed with one full hand and then turned on the faucet, filling one glass with water. Joey stumbled over to the island counter, attempted to hoist himself onto a stool, and knocked it over. Yami laughed at the sink, carefully setting the full cup on the counter and shoving the other under the stream. Joey picked the stool up, but leaned on his forearms on the counter instead of trying to sit again. He took the proffered glass of water when Yami brought it over. He guzzled half of it, so thirsty after all the beer and snacks.

Yami swallowed a mouthful of water, smiling almost dreamily, his eyes half closed. There were spots of red visible beneath the bronze of his skin. After a moment, he seemed to notice Joey's staring. "Yes?"

"Just thinking…" Joey set his glass down and started around the counter. "…that you…" Yami watched him. "…look…"

Joey knocked the stool over again and nearly tripped. Yami snickered. Joey kicked the stool out of his way and went around the counter. He reached out, stroking Yami's flushed cheek. "You look absolutely gorgeous."

"Do I?"

"Oh, yeah."

Joey bent down and kissed him. Yami kissed him back, opening his mouth. He tasted of beer and buffalo sauce. Joey slid his tongue inside, wrapping his arms around his waist. Yami put his hands on his shoulders, then broke the kiss, darting his head under Joey's chin and starting a serious of kisses and nips. Joey groaned, closing his eyes. He dropped one hand to Yami's backside and playfully forced a hand into his back pocket. Yami sighed lustily and raised his head, hands going to Joey's cheeks and mouth claiming his. Joey parted his lips, placing his other hand in his other back pocket. He squeezed and Yami moaned in his mouth.

Joey broke the kiss and took back his hands, reaching up to grab Yami's as they slid from his face. Holding his hands in his, he walked backwards, pulling Yami with him. He stumbled and nearly pulled Yami off balance.

"Hmm…"

Joey decided to forego attempting to navigate to the bedroom. He turned them around and pressed Yami against the kitchen wall beside the archway. He rested against him, kissing his forehead, then clumsily taking his mouth. Yami wound his arms around his neck again. Joey reached down, taking a step back, and grabbed Yami beneath his thighs, lifting him up. Yami hooked his legs around his waist, groaning when Joey pushed him back against the wall, the new position pressing them tightly together from chest to crotch. Joey echoed him, feeling the hard bulge against his own. He was feeling somewhat more clear-headed, though he was leaning a bit more heavily on Yami than he might have otherwise.

The kiss was broken and Joey started on Yami's neck. Since they'd separated, the subtle differences in the personalities between Yugi and Yami were manifesting more obviously. Yugi still often wore the all-black clothes he had in high school, though usually without jewelry, and the neck belt. Yami, on the other hand, wore much brighter colors, especially red, blue, and yellow. He often had on the black leather pants like Yugi, as Yugi's tastes had been influenced after Yami woken and merged with him, but his tops were brighter and he always wore some jewelry. At that moment he had on a white v-neck t-shirt, silver bracelets on each arm, a silver ring with a red stone on his right middle finger, and a silver ankh pendant on a chain. Neither he nor Yugi wore the Puzzle anymore, though Yami kept it on his dresser top. His neck was bare to Joey's lips.

Yami merely hung onto Joey as he worked his way down his neck. Joey nipped and sucked, not shy to giving him a nice, dark hickey mark.

He was working his way back up when he felt a change in Yami. He hesitated, then lifted his head curiously. Yami was still wound around him, head resting back against the wall to give him access to his throat, but his eyes were glazed. Joey knew that expression well. Yami was in conversation with Yugi, in a sort of trance.

Frowning, Joey stood still, supporting Yami against the wall, head clearer with every passing minute. He dimly wondered what was going on. He turned his head, focusing blearily on the clock above the stove. It took a moment for the glowing green numbers to clear and make sense. 2:48 a.m. What was Yugi doing calling Yami so late?

Joey studied Yami's face. A trance was really the only way to describe the situation. Yami's eyes were open, but unfocused, face expressionless, though sometimes he would make faces depending on the conversation. He was all but oblivious to his surroundings unless jolted from the conversation. Joey sometimes worried about that, for both of them, especially now that Yami no longer had the bulk of his power. His protective instinct was probably unappreciated, but that didn't stop it.

The conversation didn't last long. Yami came back to life, blinking and focusing on the room. Joey nibbled lightly at his jaw.

"Yug' ok? What was that about?"

"I don't know. I suddenly had a feeling of distress from Aibou, but he told me it was a nightmare."

"You don't believe him?"

"I… He seemed too quick to reassure me."

Joey eased Yami down. "Poor guy must have had to rush to the bathroom again and didn't want to have to make you experience it, too."

Yami nodded absently. "Yes, he said something similar to me before, but then, why would he lie?"

Joey frowned. "He wouldn't. Yug' doesn't lie unless he has to. Maybe he was telling the truth."

"Perhaps."

Their moment was over, Joey knew that. Yami's alcohol-fogged mind was focused on Yugi and Joey couldn't blame him. This past week since learning Yugi might be seriously ill was weighing on them both. The idea that his best buddy could be diagnosed with something life-threatening had made it hard for Joey to sleep, too. That might have been Yugi's 'nightmare,' a dream about his pending diagnosis when he saw the doc next week.

Joey took Yami's hand and squeezed it. He pulled him away from the wall and to their bedroom. They didn't walk an entirely straight line yet, but they made it and crawled into bed in their clothes. Joey pulled Yami into his arms, stroking his bicep with his thumb, mind on Yugi.

It was going to be ok.

It had to be.

...

Yugi sat on the floor of the bathroom, head spinning. The test hung from his numbed fingers, the instructions on the floor between his legs. He felt winded and he raised the test with a shaking hand, staring at the window for the umpteenth time. Impossible. Pregnant.

The smiling baby face inside the window almost seemed to mock him. It told him there was no mistaking it. The negative symbol was a scarlet red circle with a line through it, like a no-smoking sign. The positive symbol was a baby face. No mistaking it.

Yugi lowered the test and swallowed hard. His mind was a confused jumble. He didn't know what to think, he didn't know what to do. The situation was so impossible that he couldn't react.

/Aibou?/

Yugi froze, horrified. He pushed the test from the forefront of his thoughts-which was not easy-and answered.

/Yes, Yami?/

/Are you okay?/

Yami's voice sounded distant and slurry. Foggy. Yugi realized with a jolt that he was drunk. That was sufficient to pull his attention from the test.

/Yami… are you drunk?/

/Yes. Joey and I went to a bar. He taught me to play a game called pool, and I beat him at it. I think he wasn't surprised. I think he expects it. I hope that doesn't upset him. What?/

/Er… I didn't say anything./

/Oh. I thought you… Anyway, but I have to play to win, even against him. We got home half an hour ago. You seem upset./

Yugi couldn't respond for a minute. Yami drunk was such a surprise that hee couldn't think of anything to say. He knew Yami drank. Beer and wine were staples of Ancient Egypt and Yami was fond of the taste of the red wine sold at a market near the Game Shop, but he'd never gotten drunk to Yugi's knowledge.

/Aibou?/ Yami sounded clearer now.

/It was just a nightmare,/ Yugi blurted. He couldn't tell Yami the truth. He couldn't. /Just a stupid nightmare. I'm sorry./

/Are you sure?/

/Yeah. You and Joey are home, right?/

/Yes. Joey nearly fell through the door./ Yami's mental voice was amused.

/Wait. *Joey* is drunk, too?/

/Yes. We were watching a baseball game and he had a beer with me. He does sometimes. We kept watching the game and getting food and drinks and then we were drunk./ Yami made a noise that was suspiciously close to a giggle. /He nearly fell through the door./

/You said. He isn't hurt is he?/ Yugi couldn't help but smile slightly. Yami sounded funny and hearing him talking like this made him want to laugh.

/No. He didn't fall. But he knocked over the bar stool in the kitchen twice./ Yami snickered again, then said abruptly, /A nightmare?/

Yugi sobered quickly again. He looked at the test still clutched in his fingers. /Yeah. A nightmare./

Yami, convinced, said goodnight. Yugi closed their link fully and stared at the mocking baby face.

"Yugi?"

Yugi started badly at the sound of Seto's voice. He hastily snatched up the instructions and stuffed them and the test in the trash as he answered. "Yes, Seto?"

"Are you sick?"

"No. I'll be in in a minute, ok?"

There was a pause, then Yugi heard Seto's retreating footsteps. He stood and flushed the toilet for show, then turned on the tap and washed his hands. He splashed cold water on his face, then pressed his hands against the countertop and leaned forward, examining his reflection in the mirror. He didn't look crazy.

Pregnant.

Impossible. He couldn't believe he had even taken the test. He would just go to Dr. Kuribayashi and get a real diagnosis. The man was a doctor. He'd know more than Yugi. And even if all the signs did say pregnancy, there had to be a different diagnosis for those symptoms all together.

Yugi turned out the light, then opened the door. He padded through the darkness back to bed and crawled under the covers. Seto didn't say anything and Yugi cuddled up against his side again, resting his head on his chest.

On Friday morning, Yugi showered and got ready for his appointment with Dr. Kuribasyahi. He had not been able to put the test from his mind in the last few days, as much as he had wanted to. It was long gone, but it still haunted his thoughts every time he had a moment to himself. Now was no different.

As he dressed in front of the full-length mirror, he glanced down at his stomach. A frowned crossed his face and pressed his hand against himself. Then he turned sideways and bunched his shirt at the back, pulling it tightly against his front. He wasn't imagining it. There was some swelling in his stomach.

Yugi felt the blood drain out of his face. He hurried to take his shirt off, throwing it to the floor and leaning closer to the mirror, then looked down at his real self. He could see the small protuberance, hardly noticeable if it hadn't been for the fact that Yugi had always had a entirely flat stomach. Now his belly was faintly rounded.

Yugi turned and ran into the bathroom. He grabbed the bathroom scale out from under the decorative end piece where it always lay and got on. Seto had a digital scale, of course, and it took only a couple of seconds for the blinking dash to turn into three numbers. One hundred two.

He had gained six and a half pounds.

A thin whine left his mouth as he stepped off the scale, his knees feeling weak. Shuddering, he sat down on the closed toilet lid, hunching over slightly and desperately trying to get his spinning thoughts together. No, no, no.

Yugi sat up and arched his back enough to look down his front, thrusting out his stomach. The bump remained, a swelling that was almost invisible, except to someone well used to the view. Yugi reached down to touch it again. His hand trembled. He felt the small distension, pressed on it gently.

Could he really be… pregnant?

tbc…