Author's Note:

Heart: Welcome everybody! Hope you enjoyed the Millennium concert! I sure as hell did! The other two songs immediately crossed my mind when thinking up a few more they could sing! I'm very happy to those of you who enjoyed it, it was my pleasure! *bows*

Evil: Anyways, we just want to apologize for the wait; we've had a busy summer and all. We've been volunteering, cross country practice ALL THE TIME, and summer work to complete. Also, we trained in the mountains of New Mexico.

Heart: The views were pretty but the running wasn't… Let's just say I almost didn't live to tell the tale! BTW, NEVER TAKE A BUS! THOSE THINGS SUCK!

Evil: Shut up Heart! People here might be offended by the comment! *smacks Heart*

Heart: Ouch! Geez! Sorry, you didn't have to hit me!

Evil: Deal with it! Now do the disclaimer!

Heart: Who died and made you queen? Do it yourself!

Evil: … You'll be hearing from me later. We do not own YuGiOh, own songs typed in here. If we did, there would be a freaking field day over here.

Heart: Enjoy! Hopefully we won't be delayed anymore in updating…

EDIT: I realized I messed up and left out something important and probably confused the hell out of some people. SO! I'm going to fix that really quick and pray it makes sense. ENJOY!

Chapter 15: There's a Tomorrow

Yami's POV

As dawn rose from night's grip, the sky painted in dark hues of blue gave way to the soft oranges and faded pinks of the morning view. The gentle rays settled softly against the icy graveyard stones, warming them for the days start. Sakura trees greeted a lazy hello to the tombstones they hovered over protectively, their bright blossoms drifting about breezily on and around the silent stones. A solemn air held the quiet graveyard as Yami strode slowly, guitar in hand, through the forest of graves and trees. He gazed nonchalantly at the forgotten and the remembered he passed- lost in his own memory of previous visits and recent blunder. Bitterly, he kicked the grass in front of him. Tricolored hair, pale skin, and an impish grin flashed in his thoughts; he couldn't believe he had been jilted. With sudden impatience, he flicked his wrist to glare into his watch. 7:25 AM, it read mockingly. 'Ishigami would laugh at me right this moment.' Sighing, Yami continued gloomily, looking for the clearing his friend waited faithfully. 'He'd call me an idiot and tell me to write a song about it… Then, maybe he would tell me to look for her. Man, I wish he was-'

"I can't imagine how much you miss him Yugi… It's his death anniversary today isn't it?" An eerily familiar voice somberly conveyed.

Yami halted to a sudden stop as he reached the clearing he was searching for. To his surprise, Duke and Yugi stood before him; their backs to him as they seated themselves in from of the gravestone of Atemu Ishigami-Motou. He ducked behind a nearby Sakura tree just enough to spy on them without notice. 'What are they doing here?' he thought, puzzled as he slowly sneaked forward, depositing his guitar against the Sakura tree as he moved.

"Yes it is... Always a week after my birthday... He was the best brother I ever had," the girl chuckled. "Besides Jaden of course. You would've liked him Duke, he loved video games…"

Yami's eyes narrowed as Duke stretched out closer to Yugi, his hand covering hers as she wiped a trail of tears with the other. From his shadowy perch, he spotted the raven-haired boy's obvious affection in his emerald eyes. Jealousy pricked at his heart as Yugi smiled back at Duke, his nerves standing on end to restrain himself from crossing the meadow and demanding to know why they were here, their relationship to one another. Biting his tongue, he gripped the tough bark beneath his fingers, and planted his feet firmly in the soft grass; guiltily listening in on their conversation.

"So this is your brother Atemu? Well . . .," Duke smiled. "It's nice to finally meet the person Yugi loves dearly. She is a special person to me and I hope I can protect her the way you did."

"He would've liked to hear that. You guys would've been great friends if he was alive. He had a big heart, loved everyone, and everyone loved him," Yugi grinned affectionately as she pushed her bangs out of her face. Yami's jealousy burned once more as the small girl leaned into Duke's shoulder and held onto his sleeve. "I think, mostly, he was in love with music and wanted anyone who would listen to love it too. Everyday, he'd strum on his guitar on the back porch and tell me, 'when you just go with the music and let it numb you, you will become yourself… Don't believe me? Let me play a tune and let's sing together Yugi!'… I miss him so much Duke."

The spy sat back in shock. His mind flashed back to the radio interview, the words he spoke then were almost exactly what she had uttered now. I tend to be relatively nervous until the music starts, then I just kinda go with the music and let it numb me. It's almost like I just become me. Could it be? Is this the person he was searching for all this time?

"By any chance... Have you found a way out yet?" Yugi asked hesitantly.

"Nope. Not one single loophole or sliver to hold onto. I'll keep looking, but do you know how frustrating all of this is? Looking for an answer you can't find? Hmmm... How do you think your brother would feel about our situation?"

With that, Yugi let out a burst of laughter. She poked at Duke's shoulder and chuckled once more. "He'd laugh and tell me to write a song about it! Then he'd think of a way out, a plan so flawless he'd make wedding planners jealous with his skills and ask for his secret technique!"

Yami froze. The bark beneath his fingers seemed alive in his hands as his eyes widened in shock. And what was this mysterious 'mess' they kept jabbering on about. Too many questions with no answers. Well immediate ones anyway. Impatiently, he held his breath and listened carefully as the silence was broken once more.

If you don't mind me asking," Duke inquired hesitantly. "What happened? How did he die?"

For a long moment, Yami crouched over, hunched in suspense at the edge of the shadows waiting for that fateful answer t o his quest. He watched as Yugi stiffened, now a taut wire straining to be released. Sighing, the girl gazed over to the tombstone, fingers tracing the name over and over gently.

"It was my fault. The accident, that is. Atemu had gotten into Millennium when it first started out and wanted me to take me to my first concert of theirs for my birthday. The concert, though, was a week after my birthday and my parents forbade us to go. But Atemu, god Atemu, he knew how much I wanted to go so we snuck out. A friend lent him a motorcycle since we were already late and we took off into the night." Yugi paused as she took a deep breath. Her breath strained with waiting tears and sobs as she continued her tale. "I remember laughing and singing with him in front of me. I could feel him shaking with laughter, hear his smile, and feel his leather jacket beneath my hands; we were happy. A man fell asleep at the wheel, drunk after drinking from a bar and drove in the wrong lane. Atemu, though, saw nothing good coming out of this. I think in his mind, he was thinking about me to the end because as we swerved around the drunk driver barely missing him, he told me he loved me and to hold on tight… That was before we collided head on with another one. I was ripped away from him and flew into the windshield, Atemu wasn't so lucky." Yugi broke off, sobbing angrily. "The paramedics told me he died on impact and I guess I'm happy he didn't suffer… but… but if I hadn't insisted… if I hadn't begged he would still be alive! He would still be my brother and my parents wouldn't hate me!"

Duke embraced the girl as she fell into a fit of sobs, crying out for her brother as she clutched at the raven haired boy's shirt. Yami rose from his crouch and slowly made his way to them. His eyes were entranced by the scene before him, his thoughts whirl winded with wonder, amazement, and many other emotions he couldn't describe. He saw the face of his friend in Yugi's, the face of the skater boy who loved music, the mentor who called himself Ishigami to avoid his prestigious family name, the one who started and encouraged Yami to form the idea of Millennium.

Duke whispered, "Don't blame yourself Yugi, please don't. You didn't know what could've happened, you couldn't have. It could've happened to anyone! So please just-"

"I can't believe this. You're Ishigami's sister, Yugi? You're the one he would never stop talking about?" Yami interrupted breathlessly, unaware of their surprise. He continued to stare at her in amazement as they whirled in surprise.

"Yami! What are you doing here?!" The tri-colored hair squeaked as she rose unsteadily to her feet.

"Look man, this isn't a good time. Come back later." Duke growled harshly. His eyes trained into Yami's threateningly, however, the singer didn't back down. He was way too damn confused at the strange turn of events to not leave without an answer. Yami glared back at the challenge with equal force as he crossed his arms. "Why should I?" he replied evenly.

"When you bother Yugi, you bother me. Now for the last time Yami, beat it! I'm in no mood to deal with you right now!"

"Who said I was a bother to Yugi?!" He stopped himself suddenly before anger could cloud his thoughts. Warily, he looked to Yugi who was shaking as tears trailed her cheeks. "I'm not a bother to you… am I Yugi?"

Instead of getting a straight, immediate answer like the rock star hoped, the girl looked around wildly. She seemed to search for something else to look at other than his eyes; guilt he guessed ate at her. "Yugi…. Why won't you look at me?" He cried helplessly.

"Because… I can't SEE you." Yugi whispered as she hid her face in her hands.

Silence enveloped the group. Duke stared worriedly at the girl; uncertainty tainted his brow as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Yugi, in turn was trembling once more, like she was fighting another barrage of tears and sobs. Her hands clenched and unclenched as she awaited Yami to speak, to say something at least to abate her fears. Said boy was once again thrown into another bout of puzzlement and bewilderment. He had finally found the sister of his faithful friend, Atemu, someone he had hoped to see before the tragedy that befell them. But how can she not see him?

"What do you mean you can't see me!? I'm standing right in front of you!"

"Look, just leave please! It really isn't a good time right now!" Duke cried. The green eyed boy stood protectively over the tri-color haired girl, eyes narrowed and body tense for a fight.

Irritation and impatience swelled in Yami's chest. Who was he to demand him of anything?! He hardly knew the boy and just wanted answers. "NO! I want to know what all of this is means! Why Yugi 'can't see me' and why the hell you're being a guard dog!"

"Listen rock star," Duke growled. Fury green eyes gleamed as he marched toward Yami. They stood only inches apart, the raven haired boy hovering over the other. "If you know what's good for you, good for all of us, you'd leave right now and let us pay our respects to the dead! Now go before I really get upset!"

"Like hell I am! I'm not about to walk away when I finally found out the identity of my friend's sister! I made Atemu a promise, Pretty Boy, and I'm not about to break it!"

"I don't care about your promise right now! Just get the fuck out of here!"

"Make me!"

In a blur of motion, a fist connected into Yami's jaw causing him to stumble backwards. A dull pain surged from the blow, meant to intimidate but not to harm critically. Anger burned through the singer's veins, flowing freely across his body as he stared back at his rival. Flight or Fight. What to do? Easy. Fight. Yami launched himself at Duke, greeting him with a flurry of fists and kicks; he wasn't a pro-kick boxer for nothing. Smirking, he snapped his arm forward, aiming for Duke's face to return the favor and-

His hand was caught in a vise-like grip. Shocked, he struggled to be free from Duke's hold, eyes meeting his opponents. Crap, I underestimated him. This isn't going to be easy I had originally thought. Fire erupted in his gut as Duke took advantage of Yami's vulnerability and sent a barrage of one handed punches there. In frustration, Yami tore his arm away and returned to the fight; matching the other blow for blow, block for block, both waiting for a moment of weakness to attack.

"Stop! Stop!" Yugi screamed. Out of the corner of his eye, Yami spotted Yugi hesitantly making her way to him. However, he didn't stop fighting. He didn't want to leave, didn't want to lose so he would make damn sure that he won! Instead, he kept his rhythm, his form, as he felt his muscles flex and snap in a violent dance. Pain and adrenaline was electricity in his blood, sparking and forcing him from exhaustion to the heat of the moment. Right here and now, all he wanted was an answer. And if he had to fight for it, then so be it.

A scream rocked him from the frenzy state he'd entered, sending Yami tumbling as he was pummeled backwards by Duke. A piercing sting snaked its way into his back as Yami landed against a faded tombstone. Shaking, the singer propped himself up with the grave and rose to his feet clutching his stomach as he eyed the scene laid before him. Yugi was sprawled on the grass, sobbing into her hands with her hair fluttering around her. Whispering words of comfort, Duke crouched by her side and held her shoulders in an affectionate embrace. Like the raven-haired boy, anger and frustration slipped from his thoughts; now guilt took seed and left him with a horrible taste in his mouth. Each sob that left the poor girl's lips were jabs at his heart and conscious; what a way to screw up huh? With his mind full of regret, he took a step forward and-

CRUNCH!

Freezing to his spot, Yami glanced down at his feet and was surprised to find Yugi's sunglasses beneath his shoe crushed in half and shattered. He knelt to pick them up, gently placing the pieces in his hands and jacket pocket. With the sorrowful deed done, he slowly made his way to Yugi and Duke with uncertainty guiding his movements.

"Yugi! It's alright, I'm right here, I'm here." Duke cried as he rocked the girl softly in his arms. "I'm here, I'm here."

"Duke, take me to Atemu!" Yugi hiccupped. "I want my brother! I want to be with my brother!"

Without another word, the raven-haired boy did as he was asked, Yami watching nearby. His eyes were entranced as he stared at Yugi, finally getting a glimpse of what her she looked like under her glasses, blood freezing in his veins. At first sight, he shook his head, clearing at what he thought a mirage, an illusion. Once more, he stared at her eyes. They were shining with tears, amethyst jewels on her pale face framed by blonde locks. Her eyes were beautiful, mystifying but not what set his heart cold. Dark scars laced themselves haphazardly around those glimmering, etched into her like a sculptor with his tools. He traced them with his own eyes, each dip, line, and curve. Yami's stomach dropped as he finally thawed.

"Yugi…. What happened to your eyes?" He finally choked out.

Duke flew around to face him once more, breath huffing harder than before. "Dude JUST-"

"What happened to my eyes?" Yugi growled. "WHAT HAPPENED TO MY EYES? I'm BLIND you idiot! I can't see ANYTHING! I can't see you, Duke, my own family and friends, I can't even see my own brother's grave!" She screamed out, shaking as she threw an accusatory expression towards Yami's general direction. "I haven't seen anything but black since the accident!"

Nervously, Yami shuffled closer despite Duke's fuming protests. A weight, no guilt fell on his chest, suffocating him as he stared into Yugi's half-hidden eyes, only her eyes and not the flaws framing them. Incandescent, filled with sorrow, regret, and fear. "I'm so sorry Yugi…" He whispered gently as he knelt in front of her, pulling her bangs out of her face and moving them behind her ears and trying to ignore the way she flinched at his touch. "I didn't know, I'm so sorry."

And just like that, all expression was erased from her face, washed away by invisible waves and even stealing away the light in her eyes. "I don't need your sympathy." She whispered bitterly. "I don't want-"

RINGRINGRING!

Cursing aloud, Duke flipped his phone open and glared at Yami from the corner of his eye. "Hello, this is Duke. … Solomon? Come home? Why-? Ok! Ok! I'll book the next flight over." Click. He paused for a moment, wondering what to do as he stared between the two on the ground waiting for a mysterious verdict to a mysterious call. "Yugi, we need to leave. Like now!" In the flash of a second, the raven-haired boy scooped up Yugi and took off.

"Wait!" Yami called. He ran towards the direction they fled, searching through each tree and tombstone he passed yet somehow, was lost among the dead. He stopped panting beneath the shade of the cherry blossom trees, alert for any sound or sign of the two. Instead, quiet welcomed him, mocked him with open arms with its bright, start-of-the-day cheer. Frustrated, he kicked the ground and collapsed amongst the roots and trunk of the tree.

For a long time he sat there. Watching the blades of grass that swayed between his feet, how the sun cast shadows on them as the day passed. All he could do was think, think of what had come to pass. The girl who crawled into his heart, her tragedy, and those accusing eyes that though, couldn't see but black emptiness, yearned for something.

"A hero." He said simply. "She wanted a hero."

Rising, he dusted off his jeans and headed back to Atemu's grave. He felt… numbed. Not exactly in despair yet neither joy, just in a state of acceptance. Could he be her hero?

"Hope you kept my guitar safe, old friend. I'm coming back for it."

On the Plane- 6 P.M. Yugi's POV

"Duke. What's going on? Why are we leaving Tokyo?" Yugi asked hesitantly, hands knotting in her lap. She fiddled nervously with her new pair of glasses as Duke's gaze seeped with dread. Her heart hammered when he didn't speak. Her ears, however, spoke for him as she caught the faint click of a television being turned on.

News Announcer: "And in further new, a serious collision has occurred in Downtown Domino. So far authorities are unsure of how many casualties, how many have been injured or killed."

"Why are you-"

"However, it has been released that the stepson of the socialite Gozobouro Motou, Jaden Yuki Moto was a victim of the crash. According to the hospital where he is being cared for, he is in a coma and has a serious concussion as well as other injuries. It is unknown when he will awaken or if he will ever wake up again. Friends and relatives of the Motou family send their condolences and-"

"Stop, STOP! Turn it off!"

Click.

Sobbing quietly in her seat, Yugi was once again thrown into a whirlwind of despair. This morning and now, these entire events filled her mind but a boy with a warm voice and hands dominated them. His small comforting, confident hands in her may be lying limp somewhere in some god-forsaken white walled hospital where death can dwell. Death, the monster, threatening him with its scythe and cloaked hand beckoning him at his bedside. "Jaden.. Jaden…. Not him, please not him! Not my Jaden!"

She whispered and muttered as Duke pulled her into an embrace. They sat like that, him patting her hair and her clinging to him as she cried herself to sleep. Her last thought before exhaustion took her, where is my hero?

Author's Note:

Heart: …. I'm so pissed off it took this long to get this chapter out. AND IT WASN'T AS LONG AS I PLANNED! DX I'm sorry for how short it is!

Evil: Sucks to be you.

Heart: Hope you enjoyed! Please review! I need some inspiration here! OH! And the GUEST that said she/he will reveal themselves when Yugi and Yami kiss, I'm holding you to that promise! Expect it soon! ;)

Both: BYES!