Hello all! I have been without a laptop for quite some time, but I'm back, and just want you guys to know I haven't and will not abandon this story. I love it. So you never have to worry about that. Please enjoy the chapter, and leave me yummy reviews!

-Mystie

Chapter 15:

Yugi twisted his injured hand carefully as he leaned tiredly on his opposite fist. The thick bandages had loosened slightly and were dotted with reddish-brown splotches of old blood. Regardless, the pain had almost completely subsided thanks to Joey's surprisingly tender treatment a few days prior. Yugi smiled briefly at the memory. It was very uncharacteristic of the rough-around-the-edges teen to be so warm, and Yugi knew that it had probably made him quite uncomfortable to reveal that side of him. The smile almost immediately dropped, however, when he remembered Joey's…request the afternoon before at the restaurant. Upset (and quite frankly, a bit confused), he had stormed out of the diner, leaving behind a shocked Joey in his seat. He didn't even know if the meal had been paid for. All he knew was that he was feeling lonely and dejected and just so pissed; what was worse was that a small, tiny, miniscule part of him had actually gotten excited at Joey's confession and invitation. Being separated from Yami—who still refused to talk to him—had left Yugi feeling deserted and vulnerable and unlovable, and he couldn't help the instant reaction to the first form of affection he had felt in a long time. He had come to realize how much he emotionally depended on his other half to feel whole himself. So when Joey had showed him even the slightest form of tenderness…well, it felt good. There was no way to spin it. He craved Yami, craved his love. His heart was just trying to repair itself by clinging to any affection that it could.

All night Yugi tried to snap out of it. He tossed in his bed, his guilt plaguing his mind but his heart refusing to budge. Yugi loved Yami, but he didn't want to go back to that dark place again. He didn't want to hurt anymore. Joey would never be Yami, but was it so wrong to like the attention? Again, in his mind, he knew it was. But his heart…

It just wanted to heal. By any means necessary.

Now he sat patiently in his wooden chair in the Domino Public Library waiting for his biology partner. The two-story building was relatively full for an early Sunday afternoon, and Yugi recognized a couple of students from his class also trying to make headway on their assignment. The pair could have met again at the game shop, but, quite honestly, Yugi really did not feel like being alone with Joey again. He knew he would never act on his desperation—Yugi's heart belonged to Yami and Yami alone—but he was not even willing to give Joey the room or opportunity to make any advancements. The only progression they needed to make was on their project.

"Yug'?" Yugi snapped out of his musings and looked up from his seat to see Joey watching him carefully, backpack swung over his shoulder. Yugi gave him a hesitant smile, and Joey took that as an invitation to sit down. "How're you doin'?"

"I'm okay, I guess," he replied cooly, averting his gaze and shuffling around in his own backpack for the books that would help them with their assignment. He noticed Joey's questioning glare, as if he wanted to probe more, but Yugi was quick to cut him off. "Just anxious to get the project going."

And only the project, he mentally noted. Joey seemed to get the hint and decisively shut his mouth, clearing his throat.

Again, the two made remarkable progress. Before they knew it, four hours had passed. Yugi checked his watch and his surroundings, finding the library empty save for them and only a few other people. Because it was Sunday, the library closed a bit earlier, so Yugi decided to wrap it up and shut his book with a loud thunk. Joey finished up the sentence he was writing in his notebook and leaned back in his chair, stifling a yawn with his hand. Despite the tension between them, Yugi managed another small smile. He was more than pleased at how much work they had completed. Joey hadn't made much of a peep, only piping up to ask questions here and there and crack a half-hearted biology joke. There had been no mention of the awkwardness of the day before. Joey returned the grin.

"Is master pleased?" Joey joked.

Yugi giggled, stretching his own stiff muscles. "He is very satisfied. If we keep up this progress, we'll be done in no time."

"Well, I'm glad we could work together after you bailed on me yesterday…" Yugi's breath hitched, unprepared for the sudden conversation switch. Well, so much for moving forward. Biting his lip, he began to slowly restuff the heavy books into his backpack, eager to busy his hands.

"W-well, I'm not sure what you expected after what you said."

Joey folded his hands behind his head and studied Yugi's guarded expression. "I'm sorry."

"You're…sorry?" Yugi watched him in surprise. Joey shrugged.

"Not for what I said, just for makin' you uncomfortable." Yugi let his shoulders drop. Typical Joey.

"It's what you said that made me uncomfortable, Joey." Joey shrugged again.

"I stand by what I said, Yug'. I won't apologize for the way I feel."

Suddenly incredibly annoyed and angry, Yugi yanked the zipper closed on his backpack and stood, mustering up the best glare he could. "I'll see you in class tomorrow, Joey. There's nothing more here for us to discuss." He situated his bag on his back and headed towards the exit and out into the warm mid-afternoon sun. Immediately, he heard footsteps rushing up behind him.

"So, you're bailing on me again?" Joey's voice thundered from behind him.

"Joey, go home. I don't have time for this. I don't know how I can be any clearer. I'm uninterested."

Joey huffed in frustration, yanking Yugi by the arm and twisting him around so that they could talk face-to-face. Yugi matched his scowl as people tossed them irritated and perplexed looks as they were forced to circle around the pair blocking the sidewalk.

"Why are you so afraid?" Joey practically shouted.

"Why am I afraid of you? Are you seriously asking me this right now?" Yugi said through gritted teeth. He raised his bandaged hand so that it was perfectly level with Joey's face. "Everything that is bad in my life right now is a direct result of your twisted sense of affection. So forgive me if I'm not exactly running into your open arms!"

"That's not what I mean, Yugi, and you know it!" Joey countered. "I've apologized for everything I did, but I wanna know why you're afraid of our own feelings!"

Yugi was barely able to hold back a laugh. "What could you possibly be talking about? You're psychotic!"

"Oh, yeah? I saw the look on your face before you left the diner. You felt something. You…I dunno, I just know you, okay?"

"You know me?" This time Yugi couldn't help the bitter laugh that passed his lips. "You know nothing about me." He turned to leave, but again, Joey stopped him by taking a firm hold of his uninjured hand.

"I know that right now you're feeling alone, and like it or not, you're alone because Yami abandoned you." Yugi wanted to quickly remind Joey that that all because of his antics, but Joey was even quicker. "If he really loved you, he wouldn't be putting you through this, Yugi. He'd listen to you."

For once, Yugi had nothing to say. His mouth fell shut as his eyes suddenly closed. It was another battle with his brain and his heart. If he had seen what Yami had seen—him pressed up against another guy locked in a kiss—he knows he would have jumped to the same conclusions.

But…

He would've listened to him. He would have heard him out, let him explain. He loved Yami so much, God how he loved him. He was trying so hard to stand in Yami's shoes, but it was so hard to do so when his heart was so broken and empty. He just wanted to stop the pain.

Joey paused, then tentatively pulled on Yugi's hand to bring him into an embrace. He heard the smaller teen sniffle as tears finally leaked down his face and soaked Joey's shirt. He wanted to comfort him, but really wasn't sure how to. He hoped that this was enough.

"You're right," Yugi mumbled, pulling out of the hug, though it seemed to pain him to admit such a thing. He wiped his face with the back of his arm and shook his head. "But Joey, I love him. I know he's hurting me right now, but I really can't blame him. A-and I'll wait for him if I have to, as long as it takes. Forever." He took a deep breath. "I just…I admit that I appreciate the attention from you, but that's only because I'm at a really low point right now. It's not because I want to be with you. I'm sorry." He tried to smile, but it ended up looking more like a grimace. "There's only Yami, Joey. There has only ever been and only ever will be, Yami."

Yugi could literally see some of the life drain from Joey's face as he seemed to have a slight war within himself. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but he wanted to be totally honest and open. He felt bad for making Joey think that he had any interest in him or enjoyed his constant flirting, but the truth was, no matter what, he would always wait for Yami. His heart belonged to his beautiful Immortal. Finally, Joey smirked and nodded, his eyes betraying some of the sadness in his heart.

"Alright, Yug', I get it now."

"Really?"

"Really, I'll lay off."

"We can be friends, Joey. As long as you understand that…that's all we can be." Yugi fidgeted with his hands nervously. Joey nodded again, and Yugi smiled a genuine smile. "I'm…sorry for leaving you at the restaurant yesterday after I promised it to be my treat."

Joey laughed and sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "It's cool. Not the first time I walked out without payin'." Yugi's mouth fell open and Joey laughed again. "Kiddin', just kiddin'." At that, Yugi joined in on the joke. The two stared at each other somewhat sadly, before Joey suggested that they head their separate ways. Yugi agreed, and after they shared an awkward hug, he was making his way towards the game shop. He was feeling much better than he had in days, his heart a little lighter and a little pep in his step. He tossed a quick hello to his grandfather who was sweeping the front of the store before heading up to his room. He shut the door and turned around—

—and found a pair of crimson eyes staring right back at him.