Hello, all! Welcome to the next chapter. So happy to see that you all are still along for the ride. Thank you to Heil Dragon Girl for your recent reviews, and to my numerous new followers! Welcome! Please leave reviews if you can! They really help me out. See you at the next installment. ;)

Chapter 17:

"Y-Yami?" Yugi asked, his eyes wide as they took in the stunning form of his estranged lover sitting casually on the bed. He was the picture of poise and grace, leaning elegantly on his knees with his chin resting on his knuckles. Yugi's mouth hung slightly open and he quickly snapped it closed, slightly mortified to be caught staring so openly. He averted his gaze downwards and shimmied his backpack onto the ground. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you."

Yugi's heart skipped a beat. Yami was here to see him. He had come on his own, no prodding from Yugi necessary. Suddenly Yugi frowned again. Maybe Yami was here to officially break off their relationship. Maybe this was just a Yami's polite way of saying goodbye. "D-does Grandpa know you're here?"

Yami shook his head.

Yugi glanced up, only to be absorbed into Yami's loving rose red gaze. It had to be his imagination; surely Yami wasn't really here…on his bed…staring at him in such a tender way. Oh, what a cruel joke this hallucination was turning out to be. This wasn't the first time since their separation that Yugi's mind had played these tricks on him, constructing a world where their fight had never occurred and Yami was always here—right here in front of him. Like nothing had ever happened. Yugi's clinched his eyes tight.

"You're not real, this isn't real," he said, his voice breaking. It was something he had learned to repeat to himself after the second illusion he'd had. "Please, please just go away. I can't take this anymore." So occupied was he in trying to dispel the nightmare that he failed to notice Yami's sympathetic gaze as he carefully stood from the bed and made his way to him. He felt soft, calloused hands cup his cheeks and thumb away the few tears that had fallen. He gasped as he opened to eyes to find Yami directly before him, his own eyes shimmering.

"This is real, Yugi. This is me. I'm here."

Yugi's lip quivered before his legs finally gave out on him and he allowed a heart-wrenching sob to escape. However, Yami was there to catch him and easily scooped him to his arms and brought him to the bed. He let Yugi cry into his shirt, hoping to muffle some of the sound so as not to alert his grandfather even though he was still outside of the shop. Eventually, the sobs settled and he stopped shaking enough to form a coherent word. "W-why? I thought…you…?"

"I was already coming to see you. I felt we should talk about what happened," Yami replied gently as he wiped away the rest of Yugi's tears. "And then, I saw you and Joey talking outside the library."

"You did?"

Yami nodded again. "Yes. And as I heard you speak and watched you cry, I realized that I must have been incorrect about what I saw last week." At this, he narrowed his eyes, assessing Yugi's guarded expression. "I never even gave you a chance to explain. I just abandoned you."

"Yami…I understand, really. I would've thought the same thing, but I don't want Joey. I never did," Yugi explained, pure honesty dripping from his words. "It's only ever been you."

Yami smiled warmly, pulling his love to his chest and resting his chin on the top of his head. "I know that now. I am so very sorry for hurting you. It seems I put us both through all of this for nothing. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me?" Yugi returned the embrace.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you, Yami," he whispered. Yami tilted his little one's head upwards to stare adoringly into his eyes.

"I think I might have a clue." With that, he sealed the gap between their lips. Yugi couldn't help the whimper that escaped. This was the first time he and Yami had shared a kiss in what felt like forever, and he hungrily wrapped his arms around Yami's neck and pulled him impossibly closer. He nibbled softly on Yami's lower lip, causing the Immortal to release a groan of his own, and Yugi took full advantage and began to explore his mouth with his tongue. It was incredibly rare for Yugi to take control in such an intimate situation between the two, but he couldn't help it. His body had been craving this for days.

Before he knew it, he was on his back on the bed—Yami was never one to be dominated—and trying desperately to restrain himself from moaning too loudly as Yami pressed agonizingly-slow kisses to his neck and collarbone. His hands found their ways to Yami's broad shoulder, fingers urgently digging into the fabric of his thin shirt. Yami, too, was finding it hard to stay quiet as he was straddling Yugi's waist and the younger teen's hands found their way under the hem of his shirt. The effect of skin-to-skin contact after so much time apart was almost overwhelming. They both needed more. Yami halted his ministrations to reach down to the zipper of Yugi's jeans…

"Mmm, Y-Yami, wait," Yugi managed to whisper, placing his own hand over Yami's to stop him. "We can't do this here. Grandpa…he's just downstairs." It almost pained Yugi to stop his lover, but he knew the two couldn't fully enjoy one another if they had to worry about the older man hearing them or walking in on them. Yami released a shuddering breath but nodded, lowering himself briefly onto Yugi to place a soft kiss on his lips.

"Forgive me, Little One," Yami whispered huskily as he leaned over him. "It has been so long since I even felt your hand in my own. I can't help myself." He smirked and then kissed the corner of Yugi's mouth, eliciting a light hum of pleasure that he felt down the length of his body. He pulled Yugi up with him as he straightened his position on the bed, keeping a tight grip on his hand. The two stared at each other a moment longer with content smiles, before Yugi broke the eye contact.

"Joey's changed, I think," he said, noting how Yami's smile faltered. He made sure to squeeze his hand reassuringly. "He realizes how I feel about you now. He said he would lay off." Yami only blinked in response. "I can tell he's not particularly happy about it, but now hopefully we can just get through the rest of this project without incident…" Yugi's voice trailed off as he waited for what he was sure was a disagreement coming.

"Yes," Yami said carefully, "I'm sure you two will be able to successfully complete your assignment."

"Y-you're serious?"

Yami nodded reluctantly. "Yugi, I trust you, and I think you're right about Joey. Even if my possessive side cannot stand the thought of you two being alone, I want you to know that I have the utmost faith in you and in our relationship. You don't need me hovering over you all the time." He released Yugi's hand to cup his cheek. "I trust you, okay?"

Yugi felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders and he immediately reached out to hug his boyfriend and snuggle into him. He felt strong hands rub circles into his back as Yami sighed. He knew that it probably took a lot for Yami to disregard his instinctive overprotectiveness just to make alleviate the stress Yugi had been carrying around. And he did it all for him.

"But Yugi," he pulled Yugi away from his chest to get a good, stern look at him, so that Yugi knew that he was serious, "if he so much as looks at you in a way that makes you uncomfortable or if he puts you in an unsafe situation, you leave, okay? I trust you, but I have a natural suspicion of everyone else, especially when it comes to your well-being." Yugi nodded slowly, and Yami felt the need to explain. "It's not that I don't think you can take care of yourself. You're just…you're just very important to me. I can't lose you. I won't. It's natural for me to want to ensure that you're safe. Do you understand?"

This time, Yugi smiled gratefully. Yami couldn't help but to be protective of him. It was his nature. Yugi was just precious to him. Yugi couldn't fault him for that. "I understand, Yami."

And he kissed him again.

We definitely needed some Yugi/Yami lovin'.

-Mystie