Wow, you guys... You all just made my day!

Here I was, checking my email, not even a full 24 hours after uploading this story to FF, and BAM. 40 EMAILS. Most, if not ALL relating to reviews, and story follows/favs for THIS STORY ALONE.

YOU. GUYS. ARE. AWESOME. I really need to get my butt into gear and write these chapters in surplus, so you don't have to wait as long for updates! ;D

Title: Mezameru

Pairing: Puzzleshipping (Yuugi/Yami)

Rating: T

Genre: Angst, Drama, Friendship, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Romance

Full Summary: Yuugi is in a coma. His chances of survival balance on a mere mark of 35% How will his Yami cope when he thinks-no, when he KNOWS- that it is all his fault?

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh, nor ANY characters in this story, unless noted otherwise. I DO, however, own the plot of it. The Yu-Gi-Oh manga and anime belong to Kazuki Takahashi-san.

Please do not plagiarize, copy, repost, nor recreate my hard work in any way.

Or I will sic Yami on you

WARNING(S): Swearing, Mild Violence and Blood

~ Chapter II ~

Ikari

Yami turned on his side, unable to sleep. How could he sleep? His Hikari was stuck in that Ra-damned hospital, in a freaking coma! All because of him.

Yami gave a quiet, bitter laugh at the irony. He was the one who was supposed to protect Yuugi from harm... And it was the boy's guardian who had driven him into that road. Into the path of that car. Into the hospital bed he rested in about eleven kilometers(1) away from here.

It's not like the small family hadn't been through enough, as it was.

Sugoroku Mutou, Yuugi's grandfather and only remaining relative, had been given legal custody over the boy when he was four, and his parents were killed in a car accident. His wife, Saya Mutou, had been suffering from pancreatic cancer at the time, and passed seven months later. Raising a child on what he earned from his out-of-home game store, they'd had their fair share of trials.

Yuugi was out of place from the start. He was imaginative, but shy and soft-spoken. A prime target for bullies. He'd survived on games and pure innocence to the cold world around him. It wasn't until about three or so years ago, when Yuugi finished the Sennen Puzzle and released Yami's soul from inside, that things began looking up. He made friends, saved his grandfather from certain doom, saved the world, and became the King of Games. Apparently, he'd fallen in love, too.

Yami groaned into his pillow, guilt swelling into a deep, uncontrollable rage. His fist tightened into the pillow, and he had the sudden need to hit something.

He smacked the top of his alarm clock as it sounded. Hard.

It would suffice... for now.

The morning went by in a blur of dull sounds and color and anxious faces. By this point, everyone had heard of his aibou's condition, what with him being the King of Games, and all...

He hated the glances. The stares. The pointing fingers and quiet whispers. "Can I help you with something?" he snarled at a pair of girls who looked to be in their freshman year. They had been gawking at his back and whispering- quite loudly, if he may add. They gave quiet gasps, and quickly scurried away. Yami exhaled sharply, and shoved his belongings into his locker as the lunch bell rang. Taking a homemade bento box with him, the former spirit stormed outside.

The gloomy weather did little to raise his mood any. The sky was painted in morbid shades of black and gray, looming with the threats of another rainstorm. Cold wind whipped his untamable crown of hair backwards, conveniently pushing his jagged gold bangs from his eyes

He passed Jou, Honda, and Anzu, who called quiet greetings that were ignored. He didn't feel like talking. His crimson eyes flickered darkly, an aura of depression, worry, and deep rage radiating from his presence in waves. The Sennen Puzzle hung from his neck. Yuugi- he flinched internally at the name- had given it to his Yami when he'd gained his own body. A 'lucky charm', his little one had described it as...

"Mou Hitori no Boku!" came a childlike voice, followed by rapid footsteps. A tall, pale man turned around to see a what looked to be a smaller copy of himself running up to him. Immediately taking the defensive, Yami met the boy halfway.

"What is it, Yuugi?" he demanded, narrowed eyes searching the horizon for bullies or some ancient evil force lurking. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" He was a little taken aback when his Hikari giggled. His pale hand lifted and rested on an equally pale wrist, who's hand was now gripped firmly over his left shoulder.

"Nothing's wrong, Yami," he laughed, "I just wanted to get your attention." The faintest of pink blushes dusted the boy's rounded cheeks, making his large violet eyes seem even brighter than before. Yami tipped his head to the side.

"Oh, what for?"

The blush darkened, while Yuugi reached behind his neck. "To give you this," his hands grabbed a chain, and he gently pulled a Millennium object from around his neck.

It was solid gold, in the shape of a reverse pyramid. The point angled downwards, while a smooth surface (excluding a small loop, from which the chain was connected) formed the top. The smallest of indents were visible along the item's five three-dimensional surfaces, forming an intricate spider's web of confusing paths along both the outside, and inside of the item. A puzzle. The Sennen Puzzle, unsolved for over three millennia, until one Yuugi Mutou did exactly that.

Doing so had released Yami's spirit, which he had sealed away inside it to save the world back when he was a pharaoh in Ancient Egypt. He had been lost in the Darkness, until he had been rescued by Yuugi, his Light. His Aibou. His everything.

Yuugi took Yami's hands in one of his own, and fanned the palms open. Within them, he placed the Puzzle that had taken him eight grueling years to finish, and three more avoiding being killed because of it. Yami's blood-red eyes widened. "Y... You're giving me the Puzzle?" he murmured quietly, hands still placed atop of his partner's.

Yuugi nodded once, still all smiles and blushes. "It was yours, originally," he relied softly, looking extremely shy. "It was supposed to belong to Egypt's pharaoh, so I figured it would only be right to return it to him."

"Yuugi-" Yami began, before being cut off.

"Please, Pharaoh, I want you to have it," Yuugi said sweetly, an adorable pout on his face. "If not as a Pharaoh's belonging, than as a good luck charm." Again, the former spirit's eyes widened. "A... good-luck charm?" he echoed.

They shared a small laugh at just how ironic the statement sounded- this damnable thing had nearly gotten them and their friends all killed several times before! "Yeah, sounds funny, doesn't it?" With a shrug, Yami clasped the chain across his own neck. He placed a hand on Yuugi's hair, and ruffled it affectionately.

"Thank you, Aibou," Yami murmured, eyes glowing as Yuugi beamed sheepishly below him.

"I shall wear it always."

Yami stopped walking, standing by an ancient sakura tree, towards the middle of the schoolyard. His free hand reached up to clench the chain of his Millennium item, the side of his closed fist resting atop the cool gold surface. A deep well formed in his chest as he remembered that fateful night...

Why didn't he do anything?!

His bento was forgotten as his right hand dropped it. He swung at the tree's old bark, not registering any pain as the rough surface split his skin. Blood blossomed to the surface, its color catching Yami's eye. He was bleeding?

Sure enough, where he had hit the trunk was a smearing of his blood. This only frustrated him further. This anger, this self-hate, the raw fury was to much...

He's faced psychotic, murderous, magic-wielding monsters and took them down with stride, so why could he just...?!

Yami growled, hissing out a breath through clenched teeth. This fury made him feel like a time bomb, itching to be set off. He silently prayed that whoever reached the breaking point or him, it wasn't one of his or Yuugi's friends...

"Yo, Sennen!"

Said 'Sennen' stopped, not needing to turn to see who was calling him. Only one man alive had a voice that annoying.

Ushio.

"Hey, Sennen, where's your little fuck-toy?" he laughed, the bellow making everyone stop. Faces peered nervously at Yami, whose face was frozen in shock. His scarlet eyes were dark, but wide, lips a thin line.

"Yeah, your pet looked like a nice little plaything... At least, before he got hit by a truck!"

Yami's pupils contracted in pure rage. His fists squeezed shut. "If you were smart, Ushio..." he cautioned, control slipping. "you would shut the fuck up, turn around, and never cross my path again." He heard the large man's mocking laughter.

"Ooh, I'm SO scared! What're you gonna' do, Sennen, throw cards at me? Ha!"

"So, what'd you do, anyways, Yams'? Must've taken a lot to make that little runt run like that! Like seeing his reflection! Worthless little piss-ant would be better off dyin', anyways. One less stain for me to look at each day."

The yami in front of him clenched his teeth, surfaces audibly gritting together. He began to shake, head downcast. "Shut up."

"Ooh, did I strike a nerve?" Ushio taunted further. Everyone around them stepped back a few paces. All eyes were still fixed on Yami.

"He liked games, yeah?"

"Shut up."

"Guess a little round of Hit-and-Run seemed fun. Or," he paused, obviously enjoying the way he made Yami react. "Should I say 'Run-and-Hit', since he was the one plowed down by a bumper?"

"Shut up!"

"And, you know what else, Sennen?" Ushio pressed just a little bit more, "It's all thanks to you! Good job, man! The little bastard NEEDS the beauty sleep!"

BIG mistake.

Yami's head snapped up. His face was contorted in unfathomable rage, brows knitted together and deep shadows covering his face. His red eyes were a mixture of flaming red-amber, and a strange, dead indigo. A tear tracked down his pale cheek.

"I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Before anyone could react, the teen's bag was off his shoulder, and swinging around to make contact with Ushio's ugly face. It hit its mark, making the big bully stumble. Yami let it drop to the ground, before charging with a cry of his fury.

He slammed into the other man's chest with his shoulder, sending the other reeling. With a sidesweep, Yami's leg caught the backs of Ushio's feet. He tumbled to the ground. Pouncing, Yami punched him square in the jaw. Then in the nose. Blood sprayed from the now-broken cartilege, and Ushio gave a howl of pain. Yami was now hefting him up by the shirt collar, and slamming his behemoth body against a set of lockers. One hand closed around his throat, danger gleaming in his eyes.

"Where the fuck did you get the balls to mention my Aibou's name in such a way?" he growled, forehead beginning to burn. The bully's eyes widened as his airway was cut off. "Yuugi is the greatest, most forgiving, innocent, and beautiful soul I have ever come in contact with!"

The eye of Wadjet shone upon his forehead.

"He is my partner, my Light, my everything. He has been hurting by the hands of you and your so-called gang for far to long. When he wakes up, if I ever hear you were bothering my Hikari again," he snarled, pausing for an effect. His hand squeezed tighter, and Ushio began to turn red. "I. Will. Kill you. Got it, you whiny little bitch?"

He felt hands begin tugging on his arms and shoulders, trying to pry him away from his little one's tormentor as he flailed and gasped in his iron grip. "In fact," he said, eyes narrowing dangerously, "let's make a game of it." Ushio choked, going onto purple in color.

"If I so much as hear you've mentioned Yuugi's name, I will find you. And next time-!" he squeezed tighter still, for emphasis, "No one will be around to stop me!"

He released the bully, flexing his knuckles. They cracked loudly, and he settled the score by kicked the retching man in the small of his back. He shoved off the arms, Wadjet's Eye beginning to fade. "Consider yourself lucky that I didn't Mind Crush you," he spat to the larger teen under his breath.

He picked up his bag, glare causing anyone he looked at to shy away. "Young man!"

Yami turned to set his dagger glare on Domino Highschool's principal. The man flinched ever so slightly, but straightened out his tie to cover it. "Come with me to my office. We are calling your guardian, and you are going into a very long out-of-school suspension." he glowered.

Yami couldn't help it. A smirk broke out onto his face. He laughed, deep baritone voice making it sound all the more menacing. He put a faked lilt in his tone when he spoke. "Hey, I've got an idea!" he taunted, sounding as if he'd stumbled upon some wonderful revelation, "Why don't you fucking make me?"

The forced smile dropped into his usual scowl, and he swung his bag around, to rest on one shoulder.

"Screw this. Suspend me. Expel me, if you want to. My Hikari needs his Yami." he hissed quietly. "Now," he shouldered rudely past the gathered group, "if you do not mind..." He cast his gaze over his shoulder, briefly locking eyes with Ushio. "I'm going to see Yuugi. Oh, and Ushio?"

Said man flinched, still gaping for oxygen.

"Try not to loose our little game. You know how much We love them." Everyone felt shivers go up and down their spines. A vague feeling told them that the 'We' in Yami's sentence wasn't referring to him and Ushio.

Yami walked away, unable to help the almost evil laugh that left him as he pushed past the doors.

No, that 'We' was not meant for Ushio. Not at all.

MWAHAHA! INSANE YAMI!

I loved how this chapter turned out, even if it is kinda short. XD

#1. Eleven (11) kilometers is equal to about seven (7) miles.