Hello all. So glad you guys haven't given up on this story, and even more glad to see more and more of you taking the time to favorite/follow it. I had major writer's block the past few months where I knew what I wanted to write but wasn't sure how to write it. Now I'm back and ready to go. Do me a favor and leave a review? See you at the next chapter. C:

Chapter 11

"Yami, what—?"

Those were the only words Yami heard as he dashed out of the gameshop past Yugi's startled grandfather, heart shattering with each step. People whined and protested as they were roughly pushed and shoved out of the way as Yami tried to weave past them to get away, far away. The wind whipped at his face as he ran, but the chill didn't bother him—not when he already felt so cold down to his very soul. The blaring sounds of the city were the only noises he couldn't block out as he ran blindly, not caring where he was going. Just that he needed to go, needed to get away. He stepped out into the street and heard the squealing of tires from either side of him and horrified shouts from several directions. A sleek blue car screeched to an abrupt stop only a few feet from Yami, who was brought temporarily from his thoughts and took in his surroundings. The driver of the car had jumped out frantically, now shouting obscenities about almost wrecking his vehicle, while random pedestrians had gathered around the scene—some asking Yami if he was alright, others just watching with wide-eyed fascination. Yami brought his hands up to hug himself, eyes clenched tight as he shook his head and kept running away from questioning gazes and angry cries until they faded in the background.

Before he knew it, he was at the entrance of his apartment building; he was unaware of just how he got there, but grateful that his legs had led him there on their own. His shaking hands clumsily fumbled about until his fingers managed to jerk his identification card from his uniform pocket and unsteadily slide it down the card reader. With a beep and click of recognition, the glass door swung open and Yami hurried inside and flew up the fifteen flights of stairs until he reached his studio.

Only when the door shut did Yami sink down to the floor, bringing his knees to his chest with his nails digging into his own arms. Eyes clenched tight, an odd mix between a frustrated growl and a pained cry escaped his lips as his shoulder shook with all the weight of what he had just witnessed. His Yugi and that, that…how dare he? Yami was not sure if he wanted to drown in his own misery or shred Wheeler to pieces. He severely considered the latter. What was worse was the deep, unexpected sense of betrayal he felt down to his core. Seeing Yugi turn his beautiful eyes and gaze lovingly into Joey's in the same way that he always looked at Yami had crushed him, perhaps irreparably. Yugi had promised, he had sworn that he loved Yami and only Yami; yet, he had told Joey that he wanted him. The words ricocheted against Yami's skull with all the force of a boulder until he had a migraine. The scene of the two teens locked in a passionate kiss displayed before his closed eyes again and again like an old movie. Yami rubbed his temples to try to soothe his pounding head to no avail, until he gave in and curled himself into a ball in the middle of the floor. It was a very un-Yami-like position, and quite honestly, a very humiliating position for the king of Immortals.

But Yami didn't care.

Yugi didn't know what happened.

One minute, he was telling Joey to get out; the next, his Grandpa had rushed in, looked at the two as if he had lost his mind, and shook his head as if he was—what, disappointed?

"Yugi, what are you doing?"

Yugi remembered blinking, once, twice, three times, trying to shake the cobwebs from his mind, trying to lift the fogginess from his memory before realization hit him like a ton of bricks and a horrified expression appeared on his face. He shook himself from Joey's grip, bringing a trembling hand to his lips as if they had been burned. His stomach churned, and he barely kept from vomiting as he dry heaved. Suddenly his grandfather was at his side, his arms keeping him standing. Yugi barely registered that Joey had disappeared.

"Yugi! What is it? What's happening?"

Somehow, Yugi found his voice. "Grandpa, where's Yami? I have to f-find Yami."

Grandpa shook his head. "Gone, not that I blame him," he said, with the slightest bit of contempt in his voice.

"It's not what it looked like, Grandpa. I—he, we…I need to get to Yami. I have to explain."

"He left here pretty fast, my boy," his grandfather explained, the disapproval still evident. "I think you should leave him to himself for a little while."

"B-but, Grandpa—"

"Just give him some time, Yugi."

It had been three days.

Three. Days.

Against his will, Grandpa had insisted that he return to school. Maybe Yami would do the same, he had said. Yugi had thought otherwise, and he had been right. After every class, Yugi would wait at his locker, hoping Yami would show up, kiss him on his forehead, and walk him to chis next class like he always did; however, Yami never showed. He never came to lunch, never walked him home as the last class of the day ended, never snuck into his room to lie beside him as he went to sleep at night. It was as if he had disappeared off the face of the planet and, more dreadfully, out of Yugi's life altogether. Yugi was distraught. He just needed to explain. Why wouldn't Yami let him explain?

He had called Yami numerous times and left countless messages. He begged him to talk to him, to allow him to tell him what had happened. He swore that it had not been what it had looked like, that Yami was the only person in his life. He plead with Yami to hear him out. To…to just come back. Don't leave. Don't leave like everyone else had, like he had promised he would never do.

Now it was Friday afternoon, and school had just let out. Yugi was getting desperate, and because of that, he had decided to head over to the business district of town and confront Yami at his apartment. He was depressed and tired and slightly disappointed that Yami had jumped to such a conclusion despite the rather compromising positon he and Joey had been in. He knew he himself probably would have assumed the worst as well, but still, Yugi only wanted to explain. As for Joey, well, he had gone MIA as well. It was a good thing, too, as Yugi wanted nothing more than to give the blonde a piece of his mind for the damage he had caused. That was something to think about later, though. Right now, all that mattered was Yami.

When he reached the enormous apartment, he sighed, anxious to finally see his lover but nervous as well. He went up to glass doors and groaned inwardly. Dammit, he forgot that the only way to get into this place was with an ID card. A bit deflated, he frowned and leaned up against the door with a frustrated sigh.

"Excuse me, do you need help?" a voice asked from beside him suddenly. Yugi jumped slightly before turning his gaze onto a middle-aged woman with salt-and-pepper hair. She was dressed impeccably in a tight-fitting plum dress covered by a stylish, camel-colored coat. Yugi supposed he should not have been surprised; everyone around this trendy, well-to-do part of town dressed that way. Suddenly self-conscious, his cheeks reddened, knowing how out of place he probably looked in his school uniform and scruffy sneakers. He never felt out of place here before with Yami. Now that he was here alone, he realized just how much he didn't belong here—not in this part of Domino and not in Yami's world. His eyes watered, but he blinked them away. "Young man?"

Yugi sniffled, determination settling in. "I-I seemed to have forgotten my ID," he lied, his voice cracking. He felt bad for lying to this lady, but again, he was desperate. The woman smiled softly, before pulling out her own card and sliding it down the reader. The door clicked open, and Yugi thanked her, his eyes shining appreciatively. They both entered the ornate building and after patting Yugi's back encouragingly, they both headed towards the elevator. Yugi pressed fifteen and she pressed nine.

"Fifteen, huh? That's where the really nice suites begin," the lady commented, visibly looking Yugi up and down. He shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

"I'm visiting a friend," he muttered, knowing no amount of lying could make it seem as if he belonged in such a place. She seemed pacified by his response and did not comment on the his little lie from earlier.

"Well," she began, as the elevator came to a halt on the ninth floor and the doors eased open, "I hope your friend is worth it." With that, she strutted out of the elevator, leaving a stupefied Yugi in his place. He shook his head as the elevator continued upwards.

He definitely is.

Remember to review! Have a great Sunday (or Monday, depending on where you are in the world)!

-Mystie