Masami: Ok everyone places! Let's get this one started!

(everyone goes into their places)

Masami: Lights, Camera…..ACTION!

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Duel Twelve: Friday

Thursday

Yuugi sighed. "I hate being so short."

He was forced to go on his tiptoes but he still couldn't reach the top shelf of his locker. Yami had put Yuugi's shoes up there just before they left for lunch but now he couldn't get to them. He told Yami to just wait outside for him but by now, Yuugi was sure Yami was starting to become impatient. Yuugi jumped as high as he could but he still couldn't reach them.

A hand reached above his, grabbed both his shoes and pulled them off the shelf. Yuugi turned around to thank who ever helped him. But then he realized who that boy was. He grinned. "Here. Your shoes."

Yuugi hesitantly took them and bowed. "T-thank you."

"Minawa Akira's the name. But I know who you are all ready. Motou Yuugi, right?"

The shorter bit his lip and nodded. 'Why is he being so nice to me all of a sudden? Isn't he a friend of Ushio?'

Akira smiled. "So anyway, I've heard this rumor around school that you don't live with Kujaku anymore."

Yuugi's eyes widened. "Y-you know? Why is there a rumor?"

"So it is true. Well, where do you live now? I know a great place to live if you don't have anywhere to go." Akira grabbed his hand. He gulped. 'Yami! Help me!'

"So? Do you have a place to live or not?" Akira probed further, tightening his grip.

Yuugi nodded. "I . . . I-"

"YUUGI!" They looked to the left and saw Yami standing there. Yuugi looked at him with happy and desperate eyes. The way Akira talked was really scaring him. Yami charged forward and separated the two. He glared at the tall bully. "What do you think you're doing!"

Akira smirked. "I was just talking with my new friend. But it's ok. I think I found my answer." He turned around and walked away. Yami waited until Akira was all the way down the hall and turned to the right before he asked Yuugi if he was all right. Yuugi hugged his shoes close to his body. "I'm ok. Thanks to you."

Yami smiled and nodded. "What was he talking to you about?"

"He kept asking me questions about where I live." Yuugi sighed. "He said there was a rumor that I don't live with Mai anymore."

The teen snorted. "I doubt that somehow. No offence Yuugi, but I really doubt that anyone would be interested in where you live."

Yuugi nodded. "Yeah, well, he was pretty interested."

Yami frowned. Yuugi turned his back to Yami to continue putting his things away. While the boy wasn't looking, Yami made sure no one else was going to bother them. He sighed quietly. 'It looks like Ushio is going to make a move after all. I have to keep a closer eye on Yuugi as well. I can't let them hurt him.' Yami smiled once Yuugi closed his locker and turned around. "Let's go home." Yuugi gladly agreed and they left the school.

All the while, Yami kept his guard up. He held Yuugi's hand to keep him close. But he hardly looked at the boy. He was too busy inspecting the streets and alleys for suspicious people. He did stay by Yuugi's side, but for the boy it wasn't the same. Yuugi could sense how anxious Yami was. He could feel the teen's tense muscles just by holding his hand. He sighed. 'This is just like our first date. It's like he's expecting someone to jump out and attack us.'

Yuugi wasn't sure if he should, but he had to ask. "Yami? Why are you so afraid?"

"Uh-" Yami looked at him in confusion. Yuugi's face is sad and confused as well. In his eyes, Yami could see a deep sense of worry. Yami sighed. "I'm sorry, Yuugi. Something's been bothering me for a while and I should have told you. But I don't want you to worry about it."

Yuugi tightened his grip on Yami's hand. "It's ok. You can tell me."

"Yeah. I guess you deserve to know." Yami pulled Yuugi straight up to his room, not even looking at his mother. They sat on the bed and Yami held both of his hands. "Yuugi, I don't want you to become too alarmed. Just know that I'll always protect you."

The boy nodded and smiled. "It's ok, Yami. I'll be fine."

He took a deep breath. "It was the day that you were going to start working for Kaiba. We were cleaning the halls but before you left, when he were just holding each other . . . Do you remember that flash of light?"

Yuugi thought for a moment. "Oh right. That was a while ago I almost forgot about it."

"Well I haven't." Yami tightened his grip on Yuugi's hand to brace him for the shock. "That wasn't the lights flickering. It was a camera. Someone took a picture of us."

Yuugi blinked. "What? Why would . . . Was it Ushio?" He whispered in fear.

"I don't know who took it. But I'm sure it was one of his friends. I'm sure he's going to try and use it against us somehow."

Yuugi nodded while saying, "That's what you were worried about. You think he'll . . ." He smiled. "Yami, it's ok. We can't let him control us. So what if he has a picture of us holding each other? What's the big deal? I think everybody knows we're together so that won't surprise anybody. I really don't think there's anything he can do with that picture. I want to be with you and he won't change that."

Yami sighed. "You're right. He can't change our feelings. It's not really what I was worried about."

"I know. But you don't have to be afraid. We love each other and that's all that matters." Yuugi smiled.

He nodded. "Come on. Tousan is working late today so he'll want supper ready when he comes home."

Later on, as Yuugi was cutting up the potatoes for nikujaga, Yami decided now was the best time to ask him. "Yuugi, you know about the school festival on Friday right?"

He nodded. "Of course."

"I was thinking maybe-"

"Yuugi-chan! The phone is for you!" Hiroko called.

Yami blinked. "Who is it, kaasan?"

"Seto-san."

Yuugi smiled. "I'm coming."

He disappeared from the kitchen and took the phone from Hiroko. "Thank you, Hiroko-san."

Yuugi put the receiver to his ear. "Moshi Moshi."

"Hey Yuugi. I'm really sorry, but I need you to watch Mokuba after school tomorrow. I have to go out of town on a business trip and I can't take him with me. Can you make it? I know there's a school festival and I'm sure Yami's going to kill me for this, but I really need your help."

Yuugi smiled. "Of course, Seto-san. I can take care of him."

"Are you sure? I know this is your first school festival."

"It's ok. I don't mind. I'd be glad to help you out."

Seto sighed heavily in relief. "Thank you so much, Yuugi. Tell Yami I'm really sorry. Ja ne!"

"Ja ne, Seto-san."

He hung up the phone and turned around. Yuugi gasped in surprise when he saw Yami standing behind him. "You scared me."

The teen sighed. "Sorry. Let me guess. Kaiba needs you to look after Mokuba."

He nodded. "I'm sorry. But he really needed my help."

Yami smiled and patted Yuugi's head. "That's ok. It's no big deal." They returned to preparing the meal as if nothing had happened.

XxX

Friday

Yami was not looking forward to the end of school today. He had a really bad feeling that something wasn't right. Yami kept up his guard up a bit just in case something happened.

But they made it through the day without any trouble. It wasn't until he was saying goodbye to Yuugi that the feeling of apprehension reached its peak. "I'll stop by at home to get a house key just incase. And I might get some clothes in case I have to spend the night. Is that ok, Yami?"

He hesitated. "Yuugi . . . I don't have a problem with you staying over night if you have to. But . . . I don't know. I just have a terrible feeling that something very bad is going to happen today. I'm worried something might go wrong. I think I should escort you to-"

"Yuugi, are you ready to go?" Seto asked from around the corner.

"I'll be there in a minute!" Yuugi turned back to Yami and held his cheek for a moment. "Don't worry, Yami. Seto-san will drop me off at home and at his place. It'll be ok. I promise."

Yami bit the inside of his lip. 'I don't think it will be. I know something's wrong.'

He had no choice but to bid Yuugi goodbye. Yami had to stay after school to help set up for the festival otherwise he would have gone with Yuugi. He watched Yuugi walk around the corner and another wave of fear washed over him. Yami raced around the corner and quickly caught up to Yuugi. "Yuugi wait!"

The boy turned around and smiled. "What?"

Yami held Yuugi's hands. He stared into Yuugi's bright curious eyes with concern and apprehension. He sighed. "Please, Yuugi, just be careful. I don't want you to be hurt."

Yuugi smiled. "I'll be fine, Yami. I promise."

He wrapped his arms around Yuugi's waist and held him close. "I love you, Yuugi. I really do."

"I love you too, Yami." They leaned in and shared a kiss. "Don't worry. It'll be ok."

He nodded. "I know."

"I'm really sorry, Yami." Seto impatiently interrupted. "I have to get going. And unless you want Yuugi to walk there I suggest you let us leave right now."

Yami glared at Seto before turning his gentle gaze back to Yuugi. "I love you. I'll see you soon, all right?"

He smiled. "Soon. I promise I'll be fine." Yuugi and Yami kissed once more before leaving each other's arms. "I love you." They whispered to each other.

Finally, Seto and Yuugi left. Yami watched the limo leave until he couldn't see it any more. "Be careful, Yuugi."

"Hey! Yami!" Jou grabbed his arm. "Come on! We need your help putting up the sign!" Yami nodded and followed his blonde friend, thoughts of Yuugi filling his head.

XxX

The limo reached Yami's house quicker then Yuugi thought. "We can't be too long, Yuugi. I have to get going soon so only take what's necessary." Yuugi nodded and opened the door. "Don't worry I won't take too much." He quickly entered the house.

"Hello Yuugi-chan! What's for supper?"

Yuugi stopped and bowed. "Sorry, Hiroko-san. Seto-san needs me to take care of Mokuba-kun. I'll have supper at his place and I might also be spending the night."

Yuugi ran upstairs only to get some pajamas and a change of clothing. He looked around Yami's room to see if there was a bag he could use. He didn't want to be much longer so he just carried it in his arms. Yuugi quickly ran downstairs but he was going too fast and lost his balance. He tumbled down the last few stairs and cried out in pain. Seto, Hiroko and Kaneda all ran to Yuugi.

"Are you all right, Yuugi-chan?" Hiroko asked.

He nodded. "I'm fine." Yuugi coughed a few times and rubbed his back as he sat up. "I'm just a little winded."

Seto kneeled in front of Yuugi. "Are you sure you're ok? Can you breath all right?"

He smiled and nodded. "Really, I'm fine, Seto-san. I just lost my balance. I'll be ok."

Yuugi stood up and gathered his clothing once more. He said goodbye to Hiroko and Kaneda and raced out the door. Seto sighed and shook his head. "Well, we're off then. Sorry about the rush." He shook Yami's parent's hand.

"It was nice seeing you again, Kaiba-san."

He nodded. "You as well, Hiroko-san. Good-"

"SETO-SAN!"

The CEO gasped. "YUUGI!"

He ran outside and looked around. To his left, he saw the clothes Yuugi wanted to bring with him were dropped to the ground. He ran over to them and called out Yuugi's name again, hoping to get a response. Between Yami's house and the house of the neighbor was a space that led to the back alley sitting just behind the backyards.

He stared down the gap in shock and fear. "Oh no."

Hiroko stood behind Seto. "What is it? Where's Yuugi-chan?"

"He's gone. Someone took Yuugi." He tightly gripped the white shirt with the red wave design in his hand. "Yami's going to kill me."

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Masami: CUT! Ok thanks everyone!

Yuugi: what's up, Masami? You seem distracted.

Masami: well, I'm in the process of directing another story. I'm posting it today and well, I guess I'm worried how it'll be accepted to readers.

Yuugi: I'm sure it'll be fine. You'll get lots of nice reviews from everyone and they'll love your story!

Masami: n.n thanks Yuugi-chan. Well, let's hope so. Ok everyone, go home! Ja ne!

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