Masami: (deep sigh) ok, let's get this over with. I want this done in one take! Let's try not to drag it out!

Yuugi: O.o ok . . .

Masami: LIGHT! (the lights turned on) Camera!

Damion: (starts filming)

Masami: ACTION!!

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Duel 5: Never Alone

Yuugi inhaled deeply. Three months had passed and today was the last day of school before summer vacation. Keith had been arrested and was sent to jail. Yuugi knew on some level it was wrong to wish for another's suffering but he couldn't help feeling satisfied that he was gone.

So much of Yuugi's life was filled with sadness and pain. But Marik is dead, Keith is in jail, and Yami had his arms wrapped around him. He was in love and nothing was going to change that. Yami gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "What are you thinking about, love?"

Yuugi let out the breath he was holding. "Oh I don't know. Something. Anything. I'm not even sure anymore."

"Whatever comes to mind?" Yami offered as an answer.

He paused. "I suppose you could say that."

Yami frowned. He cupped Yuugi's cheek and pushed his face towards him. "What's wrong? You seem upset."

Yuugi smiled. "Well . . . I don't know. Everything has been pretty overwhelming." He paused. "I know it'll be all right. But . . . I guess I'm just nervous. This past year has just been so insane. I moved to Domino, I met you, you and I got together . . . then with Marik and Keith . . . so much has happened."

"Yuugi, I know you're afraid. But it's ok to be afraid. It's not always easy to face life and it's hard to be truly happy." He gave Yuugi a quick peck on the lips. "But that's what makes life so exciting; the challenge of it. Never forget, Yuugi, you always have friends. And you will always have me."

Yuugi smiled at him. He loved hearing Yami say that. Then Yami got up from the bed and walked over to his school bag. "I wanted to give this to you on a more proper occasion but I guess now is just as good."

Yuugi sat up on the bed when Yami returned with a thin, rectangular box. He sat beside his boyfriend and held the other's hand. "Yuugi, I know you have a fear of being alone. I know how scary the future is. But the future can sometimes be better then the present and the past. And who said you would ever be alone?"

Yami opened the box to reveal a long silver chain. At the end of it was a tiny, flat golden pyramid turned upside down. There was an eye in the center that glittered as the setting sunlight bounced off it. Yuugi stared in astonishment at the beautiful piece of jewelry. "Y-Yami . . ." He looked up at the teen. "It's so beautiful."

Yami smiled. He gently took the necklace out of the box and held the pyramid in his hands. "It's just like the puzzle your grandfather gave you before he passed away isn't it? The one you told me about? You said it was really important to you and it was your treasure. Then your stepfather took it from you and you hadn't seen it since. Mai helped me and I'll admit that. I wanted this to be a surprise for you."

His warm crimson eyes looked at Yuugi's violet eyes. He smiled, seeing tears on the others cheeks. He unclasped the necklace and held the two ends in either one of his hands. He brought it closer to Yuugi's neck as he spoke. "Think of this as a promise necklace, Yuugi. A promise that-"

He gasped and turned away. "Yami, wait. I . . ." He looked into the others eyes. "I love you so much. But . . . I'm not ready for an engagement promise. I'll always love you-!"

"And I you, Yuugi. But this isn't a promise that you and I will marry." He clasped the necklace around Yuugi's collar and slid everything into alignment. "This is a promise that we'll always be together as lovers or as friends. You will never be alone because I will never leave you. This necklace has a spell on it so it won't let me."

Yuugi's brow wrinkled. "What?"

"A part of my soul was sealed inside when it was made. Because of that, I can never leave your side for long or be too far apart. If this were to happen, I would lose all of my soul to this necklace where it would stay with you forever. So you see? No matter what I do I can't leave you. Not just because it could cost me my soul, but also because I love you too much. That's why you'll never be alone."

Yuugi gulped ever so gently. Tears were cascading down his cheeks like a river. "T-That's so beautiful."

Yami leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "It's true."

He couldn't hold back any longer. Yuugi pounced on his lover sending the two of them over the edge of the bed. Yami had the wind knocked out of him and coughed a few times. Yuugi sobbed into his boyfriend's chest. "Yami that's so sweet!! Thank you so much!"

Once more, he coughed. "Y-you're . . . welcome . . . Please . . . can't breath . . ."

Yuugi gasped and sat up, sitting on Yami's waist. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Yami laughed gently, now that he caught his breath. "It's all right, Yuugi. I'm just glad you liked it so much." He propped himself onto his elbows and smiled.

Yuugi gently held the puzzle charm in his hand. "Yami, this is . . . I can't believe you did this for me. That necklace meant so much to me, especially since it was a memento of my grandfather. But . . . Juro took it away after my mother died. I guess he sold it for money or something. I don't know what happened to it, but he got rid of it somehow. I never saw it again. But then you did this for me and . . ." He wiped away a tear. "It just means so much to me. More then you'll ever understand."

"I don't need to understand it. I just need to know that you're happy." Yami smiled. "For a little while, I was worried that you would get upset about it and be angry with me. I wasn't sure how you would react but seeing you like this now – all the happiness it's brought to you – I'm glad I did it."

Yuugi released the necklace and put his hand behind Yami's head. He leaned forward and passionately kissed Yami's lips. The teen returned the loving caress and soon both of them were completely enveloped in it. Yami rested his back against the carpet and pulled Yuugi on top of him. The boy moaned as he felt Yami's warm body slowly move on top of him as they changed positions.

Yuugi loved it when Yami dominated him. He was always so very gentle and caring. He made sure he never went too fast or did something that Yuugi didn't approve of. Each time Yami touched him, Yuugi knew he truly did love him just as he loved Yami.

Yuugi felt his cheeks turn a light red with excitement as Yami slowly lifted his cotton shirt and rubbed the skin of his stomach to elicit quiet moans of delight from Yuugi's throat. His fingers were warm with love and caution as he massaged the beautiful body below him. The tips of each digit slowly caressed his chest, occasionally running over the hardening nub.

Yuugi gasped and moaned as each touch brought more fire and warmth in his body. He wanted Yami to touch him. He wanted Yami to have him . . . But was he ready for that yet? Yuugi knew there was a difference between wanting something and actually being ready for it. Could his feelings right now only be lust? Was it something more?

Yami's mouth had departed from his and began attacking his neck with soft sucks and kisses. Gentle nibbles on sensitive areas he knew of made Yuugi mewl in pleasure. "Yami . . ."

Yuugi's eyes widened and he yelped. "S-stop. Please not there!"

Yami placed his hands on the carpet to lift himself up. "What? What's wrong, love? Did I go too fast?"

Yuugi put a hand over his neck were Yami's lips were previously. "No . . . it's not that. I'm sorry . . . There's a scar on my neck . . . it's . . . from Keith. The first time he . . . I'm sorry. If you want to keep going then I won't mind. Just not there. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. This isn't your fault. You've done nothing wrong." Yami kissed him briefly before continuing. "I should be apologizing to you. But you have nothing to be sorry for. You aren't at fault for what happened in your past. It's others that have wronged you. None of this is your fault. You can't blame yourself for something someone else did."

As Yami stared deeply into his eyes, Yuugi could see the love and seriousness that Yami held in his soul. It was so deep, he felt lost in all of it. He would have drowned in it if that were the case.

"Yuugi, you can't believe those terrible things about yourself. You're above all the things that people have said to you and everything they've done to you. You didn't deserve any of it. And I mean that. But no matter what happens, you'll still be Yuugi. I'll still love you. You won't ever be alone and no matter how much pain you feel I'll be there to share it with you. I know you still feel pain for what's happened. And that's ok. It's not a bad thing. Just don't drown yourself in it."

Yuugi nodded. He sniffed and wept gently. Yami pressed his forehead against Yuugi's. They both closed their eyes and laid there for a moment, Yami whispered soft soothing words to him to ease his pain. After a while, Yami stood up, gathering Yuugi in his arms and brought him back into the bed, pulling the warm blanket on top of them.

Yuugi looked into Yami's eyes again. "You have no idea how much you mean to me. I love you so much."

Yami smiled and wiped away Yuugi's tears. "I love you too, Yuugi. Always remember that. I will never stop loving you. It's ok to feel love and it's ok to be loved. Never hold back your emotions no matter what they are."

He smiled and nodded. Yuugi snuggled closer to Yami while the teen wrapped his arms around his lover. They soon fell asleep in each other's loving embrace.

--

Mai sniffed and wiped a tear. 'I think everything is going to be ok. I know Yami really does care for Yuugi. I'm glad you've found someone little brother.'

She had heard only a small portion of their conversation, but it was enough to know just how happy Yami was making her stepbrother. As long as Yuugi was happy, Mai was happy. She knew that it didn't matter who you loved, as long as they treated you right and loved you back. That's all that really matters. Finally, Yuugi had found someone to show him just what it means to truly be happy.

Mai stood up straight and walked back down the stairs. "Hiroko-san, would it be all right if Yuugi spent the night here?"

"Of course!" Hiroko smiled. "We would love to have Yuugi-chan here anytime!"

Mai smiled. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for such late notice." She bowed. "Good night."

Leaving the Motou residence, Mai put a hand over her heart. She knew that Yuugi was safe. This was the first time ever that she left Yuugi in a building knowing he was out of harm's way. 'So this is what it's like to trust.'

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Masami: (cries) CUT!! That's the end! I'm sorry guys, but that's the end of the story!!

Damion: (opens a bottle of wine) Woot!

Yuugi: Congratulations!

Yami: (celebrates with Damion)

Masami: I'd like to thank my actors for doing such a wonderful job, the writers and the directors-

Damion: You wrote and directed it, Masami.

Masami: And all my crew. Thanks guys! I'd also like to thank all the readers and reviewers! I had a lot of fun with this story and I hope you enjoyed it as well! Thank you for everything!