Chao- Originally, this chapter's title was going to be "Without His Second Heart" instead of "Silent Accepting". It was tough decision that will hopefully be more fitting for this chapter.

"Talking."

"Thinking."

/Yami and Yugi's mind link./

Chapter 13: Silent Accepting

Yugi found himself walking down a long, dark hallway. Towards the end of the dim pathway he spotted the back of his friends, even his darker half, in their school uniform. He tried to call out for them, but they did not hear him. He tried once more, but they still did not turn around.

He raced towards them, but they were moving at their normal rate while he was slowly being left behind.

"Wait! Stop!" Yugi cried out.

He was soon engulfed by a giant flash of light. He covered his eyes for protection. As the area dimmed, he unlocked his pupils and found himself in a new place with large, distorted buildings. Walking around, he saw many people more than twice the size of his height. They marched along with no distinguishable features. They shuffled quickly as they tried to get to their own destination.

The teen became scared. He soon found himself with a scooter and a laptop. Both objects grew very heavy. He was unsure why he even had the items with him. He immediately dropped them. He tried to run to see if he could find anyone familiar.

He felt his heart beat hard against his chest. With each pulse, he experienced a small pain in his upper body. Despite this, he knew he couldn't stop.

He kept sprinting until he ran into other young adults. They appeared infuriated by his action. They approached him in a deadly silence.

Yugi's eyes widened. He knew from past experiences what was about to take place.

"Please! Don't hurt me!" he begged. "I'm sorry!"

/Yugi! Wake up!/

The teen with tri-color hair awoke startled on his bed absolutely terrified. His stomach immediately tightened up into more knots. He gasped in pain.

/Yugi! It's all right!/ the same voice called. /It was only a dream!/

Yugi found himself in his room with the spirit of the Puzzle by his side. The sting within his abdominal area soon vanished. He placed one hand on his head as he shut his eyes. He felt someone touching his check. He began to calm down but stayed frazzled.

"Just a… dream?" he questioned. He recalled having gone through something similar before. He had mumbled something to his darker half right before the Puzzle took him into a Shadow Game.

The teen sighed with discontent. He tried to shift into another position, but his body scolded him by causing him discomfort. He groaned a little in pain.

/Yugi, don't move around so much./ Yami advised, feeling how fatigued his partner was. He also felt the teen appeared restless once more. /Just try and relax./

Yugi attempted to return to sleep but was afraid. He looked out his window and saw a giant moon in the sky. It was still night out. There would be no point in causing anyone to become alarmed, for everyone within the house was asleep.

/Did you want to discuss the nightmare?/ Yami offered, always ready to listen to whatever his light had to say even if it was just small talk.

The adolescent shook his head. He believed there would be no point; his nightmare was reality. He may have been frightened about his future, but he wanted to handle the situation himself and not always lean on his partner for assistance. Trying to calm himself down, his mind brought up old pieces of his conversation.

"Yami, there is a time when people act together and become stronger. Unity and our friendship have been able to overcome anything… We stood by each other's side… You helped me when I wanted to rescue my grandpa from Pegasus. Joey was there for me even after being brainwash by Malik. I was there for you during Battle City and our fight against Dartz… But… but there are times in everyone's life… in my life… where we have to take a journey alone."

The words he had said towards the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle had been spinning around in his mind.

He had gone through the Shadows and back.

He had been offered a scholarship to attend Domino University.

He was helped by his friends with his missing school work.

His family had been taking care of him while he is ill.

"I won the last game by accepting my Destiny… Maybe it would be best if I accept the scholarship… But… is that all I can do? Can I not change anything by myself? Maybe I really cannot change what has been set before me…"

He fell back asleep and awoke the next morning. He managed to sit up as he ate his food. Although he had difficulty swallowing his mashed banana, he washed down the fruit with a few sips of his chocolate milk. After taking several bites, he placed down his utensil and stared emptily at his meal. His grandfather came into the room. Few words were exchange before the elderly man left with the tray of food. After his grandparent left, Yugi's mind wandered.

He won the Shadow game and accepted his Destiny, but a part of him felt incomplete. He understood he needed to help the pharaoh fight off the Shadows and reclaim his memories. Yugi debated if he should spend his time helping the pharaoh before himself; he had always done the same in the past for his other friends.

He placed aside his own needs and fear to help his friends when they had a problem or doubt in their mind. He figured that was the best choice; he may have a life of his own, but he was still needed by Yami.

The young adult knew he was being watched by his darker half. He believed he needed to make a certain subject clear.

"Yami," Yugi began firmly.

The former ruler looked straight over towards his partner. The boy cast his eyes laid out on his sheets. He was curious as to what his partner wanted to speak with him about.

"Yes," he answered calmly. "What is it?"

He waited anxiously as the boy gathered up his courage.

"I want to help you find your memories." Yugi stated boldly. He didn't want to hold anyone back. He believed he was no help to his darker half with him in bed all this time.

"I understand," the spirit replied with a tiny smile, grateful his light still wanted to assist him even after all the times they had faced their enemies. He was glad his partner also wished to help in finding out who he was but believed nothing would be accomplished if the boy continued to stay in bed. "But you need to make sure you recover first—"

"I mean it!" Yugi shouted as he turned towards his darker half.

Yami was taken aback hearing the teen raise his voice. His eyes met with another pair filled with determination but also a hint of sorrow. He wanted to protest but could feel through their link the boy growing weary.

He turned perplex why the emotion emitting from his light was not the same feeling when the boy had stated a similar phrase after the two found out about his past life. The whole sentiment was different. He pondered about what he should do. As much as he wanted to speak with his partner, he knew the teen would not hear any words with his heart at the moment. He then noticed Yugi started to doze off.

"Yes, I understand." Yami stated gently. "But go ahead and go back to sleep. You need rest."

"I… really… do…" the young, ill teen mumbled as he placed himself on his mattress to sleep. He had no desire to be treated like a child anymore.

"I know…" the older boy stated as he placed his hand on Yugi's cheek.

As the teen slept, his darker half debated whether or not those words would have been what Yugi would say even if he was on the brink of death. To him, Yugi was type of person who would sacrifice his own life for the sake of others. He would rather have a kitten be saved before he was sent to the hospital for external bleeding. Although the notion appeared real, he prayed nothing like that would ever happen to his light in reality.

Yugi stayed asleep for the remaining part of the day but woke up in the middle of the night in pain as his stomach churned. The strain was caused after suffering from another nightmare. A small groan passed his lips. He longed to sleep but could not as his mind kept active with constant questions with no answers. He was told by his spirit friend to relax, but he had trouble obeying. He pulled down on his sleeve and stared at the bandages.

He couldn't lie in any other position. If he was on his side or stomach, his whole body would scream in pain. He didn't understand why he had stayed sick if he accepted his Destiny. He had hoped everything would end, so he could continue on with his life. He may not official be King of Games, but he believed he still had a journey of his own to be completed.

"N-no… I shouldn't ask all these questions yet," he scolded himself. "I have to help Yami first… It's not fair he was trapped in a Puzzle all this time and doesn't remember who he is…"

He sighed as he wanted to shift into a different sleeping position but could not.He allowed himself to fall back into a hazy rest. As he did, he thought tiredly, "Compare to him… I have it easy…"

Yami watched over his partner with care. He never wanted his friend to be tortured by the stomach ulcer that appeared to becoming worse.

"Please… don't allow Yugi to suffer from anymore nightmares," he begged. He understood his partner needed to sleep but could not do so if he was haunted by more nightmares. He was also perplexed as to what else was bothering the teen. Even though he was able assist with kind words during the Shadow Game, there was nothing more he could do now.

The sun came up and Yugi continued to sleep. He would at times grip his bed sheets and waited for his pain to diminish. Although his challenge had ended, the stomach ulcer was not healing. He had spent his minimum days of rest in bed, but no change appeared in his health. He hadn't been eating as much either.

Yami became very worried about the matter.

In the afternoon there was a knock on the door.

A sleepy Yugi opened his eyes and saw his mother enter.

"Yugi," she called out softly. "I know you may be tired, but I called over for a doctor to come give you a checkup. I don't want your stomach ulcer to become any worse, ok?"

The teen sighed with vexation. He did not want to have any visits with any doctors. He already agreed to what destiny had set for him and did not want to be bothered with anything else. However, he understood the reasons behind his mother's worry.

"Ok," he answered quietly. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn't bother to look up but could tell the kind gesture belonged to his spirit friend.

/I'll be here with you,/ the voice reminded tenderly.

Yugi sighed once more. He did not want the pharaoh to be always around him anymore. He did not want the spirit to become attach to him only to interfere with his own destiny. He wanted to look out for himself but was unsure how. He did not want to be heavy chain around the pharaoh's neck. At that moment, he winced in pain. He squeezed his bed sheets tightly in an attempt to lower his agony level.

/I'm right here./ Yami repeated with care.

Slowly, the discomfort left Yugi. He did not want to admit it, but he still felt comfort for having his darker half by his side.

A young man walked into the boy's room. He had short brown hair and wore a white coat.

"Hello, Mr. Muto," he greeted kindly. "I'm going to perform a few tests that won't take long, will that be all right?"

Yugi nodded slightly annoyed. He wanted to go back to sleep but understood these examinations were important towards his family, so they would know everything was all right with him.

The doctor walked over and placed his stethoscope on the boy's chest. He listened carefully to his patient's heartbeat. Yugi closed his eyes and tried to stay calm. Though falling asleep he remained awake. The man then placed the device's cold end in a different area and asked for Yugi to inhale and exhale. The boy obliged.

"I know we use advance machinery for tests," the young doctor began. "But I'm just going to use my hands and squeeze a little to see if I feel anything abnormal. Let me know if this causes you any discomfort."

The teen simply nodded. His mother came over and removed his sheets a little. She then lifted her son's pajama top above his waist, so the man could work with his patient's flesh. As she did Yugi tightly but secretly held on to his sleeve, so it would not slide up and reveal his bandages. The doctor rolled up his sleeves and began to work. The lower area of the teen was checked out to be fine.

Yugi glanced up. "I know it takes many years of studying to work to be a doctor. I wonder if I have what it takes to receive a well-paying job if I work hard."

When the man squeezed the boy's stomach, Yugi winced in pain. The professional took his device and placed it on his patient's abdominal area. As the pain began to leave him, the teen waited impatiently for everything to be over.

"I don't feel anything out of the ordinary," the man announced. "But if his ulcer progresses to becoming worse, of if Mr. Muto does feel unwell, bring him to the hospital and we will do all we can."

The woman nodded but held concern in her pupils.

Yugi closed his eyes and sighed. He was glad everything was done with but believed he caused himself to be even more of a burden to his family. He was not recovery fast enough for people to leave him alone. He knew he could not rely on his family and friends forever.

As the two adults left the room, Yugi could vaguely hear his mother question, "Could the illness progress if Yugi is mentally unwell?"

The teen's eyes shot open. He gripped his bed sheets tightly with anxiety. He couldn't believe what his mother had asked. He was too stunned to hear an answer from the doctor. Regardless of what he tried, he concluded he never could do anything right on his own. He felt trapped in a cycle that could not be broken.

Before anything else could be said, the woman entered the boy's room.

Yugi glanced away from his mother. He felt too disgraced to even make eye contact.

The woman reposition her son's pajama top and sheets.

"I know you may be sleepy," she began sweetly, "but do you want something to eat?"

"…No…" the boy answered in a nearly dead tone. "I'm too tired right now…. I'll eat later."

"Ok," she agreed as she left her son's room.

Yami witnessed everything that took place. The way the teen spoke matched the manner he answered his grandfather after coming home from the hospital and learning about his stomach ulcer. He wanted to comfort his partner and understood some of the stress that emitted from the boy.

"Yugi, I—" he was about to say something when he was interrupted, "Yami, I don't want to hear this."

"But Yugi—"

"Please… just let me be," the teen begged sternly.

Yami was about to argue when he saw his partner's eyes filled with sorrow and hurt. Rather than waste the young adult's energy, he believed it would be best for him to grant his light's wish.

"All right," he agreed as he vanished.

The adolescent was finally left alone.

"Perhaps it would be best if I take the scholarship." he debated by himself. "That way my family won't have to worry about tuition, and I can stay home… And Yami… I may not know what happens next but… he shouldn't have to walk in darkness anymore…

"But… what about everyone else? What am I supposed to do after I help Yami? Will… Will I have to be alone… again? Maybe if I just disappear… I won't really have to say goodbye to anyone…"

He sighed in defeat as he closed his eyes. He felt his whole body screaming to sleep, but his mind was too numb to listen. His brain scattered with even more questions. He allowed his physical form to rest, but he continued with having his spirit search for answers.

Xxx

"The nightmare isn't over… it's… it's just beginning."

Yami sat on one of the staircases in his Soul Room. He recalled those words Yugi had said right before the start of the Shadow Game.

He had only wanted to assist his partner but was rejected. He never felt such terrible, negative emotions come from his partner. Any problems that occurred in the past the two friends would talk about it, and he was always glad to see his light smile once more. He noticed he hadn't seen the boy smile in the past couple of days.

"His body and spirit continues to be restless," he unhappily observed.

He did not understand why the teen was still unwell. The boy had won the Shadow Game and should had had his problems solved. That was the same formula that usually took place.

However, the adolescent needed rest, but he his mind was still active. He couldn't relax until he was done thinking, but he could not think clearly because of his lack of sleep. The horrid cycle he underwent seemed unreasonable but was true. Yami did not comprehend the vicious pattern.

"Yugi… I only wish to help," he mumbled to himself. "How can I if you won't let me in?"

A barrier had formed between the two connected souls. The spirit of the Puzzle did not recall a time where Yugi had ever placed up a shield. The teen was always happy, and when he was not, he was willing to talk with someone. At times, some problems needed to be left alone while others had to be pried out of the shy adolescent. But now, it appeared he was purposely pushing everyone away from him.

Yami remembered how much Yugi really dreaded to be alone. He recalled how the boy's heart would fill with ache whenever the notion occurred. He remembered in the past Shadow Games how much his light wanted to save his friends. However, there still appeared to be plenty of angst within Yugi's heart.

His heart and his heart alone.

Yami had an idea of how the teen felt.

He hated being alone trapped within the walls of his Puzzle.

He hated not having anyone around.

He hated not being around Yugi.

At that moment, Yami bolted up. He felt a dangerous amount of negative emotions come from his partner. He felt the boy's stomach tying itself up into one giant knot with many little tangles underneath. He knew if matters became any worse Yugi may end up in the hospital once more.

He dashed out of his room. Sprinting down, he spotted many doors that kept secrets. They appeared they were teasing him for not knowing himself.

He longed to find out who he was but put aside his desire and placed Yugi in front of everything. He didn't care if he never found out who he was; he would be too depressed if anything ever happened to Yugi again. The young boy had suffered alone in the past. He didn't want his friend to suffer alone anymore.

"I'm sorry, Yugi," Yami said as he ran. "But like a friend with a phobia, sometimes he must be exposed to what he fears most in order to be cured."

To be continued…

Chao- It's amazing how a story can expand after writing a few lines. Please review!