Chapter 8

"I'm home!"

Yami walked into the kitchen. His other and three friends were seated at the table. Jonouchi had his arms folded over his chest. Honda glanced at Anzu.

"Yami, you're home late," Anzu said. "You've never stayed out all night before."

"Where were you?"

Before Yami could answer, Jonouchi cut in. "He was at the Kaiba's."

Yugi nodded. "Mokuba asked him to stay last night."

"He wasn't there for Mokuba."

Anzu looked at Yugi. "What does he mean, Yugi?"

"You're friends with Kaiba now?" Honda asked, his eyes widened.

"I can be friends with who ever I please."

"It's more than that. Why can't we know the truth?" Jonouchi asked.

Yami saw the newsletter on the table. He picked it up and showed it to his blond friend. "Did you read the article? Seto Kaiba has a girlfriend now. It is absolutely not what you think it is."

"Then why would ya say your heart was aching? Ya said it just yesterday."

Yugi stood up. "That's enough, Jo."

"What's going on, Yugi?" Anzu asked. "What is Jonouchi saying?"

"Nothing!"

"Do you expect us to believe that now? We're all friends. We've been through just about everything." Honda looked around the table. "We're supposed to share secrets, right?"

Yugi looked up at Yami. "This is your call. I won't break my promise to you."

Yami looked down. He couldn't tell them. It was so personal. Also, he promised Seto he wouldn't. However, Seto did tell him not to tell his other, but he did not listen. Than again, Yugi had a stronger bond with him than the other three did. He looked up. "My heart is aching because I long for my true home. Dueling made me feel like I was myself again. I went back to duel Kaiba once more, and he accepted. Afterwards, I just stayed around with Mokuba. Jonouchi, you can assume all that you want, but that article in the newsletter should prove to you that I am not what you believe."

Jonouchi looked away.

"That is the truth. I'm glad I don't have to keep the secret anymore," Yugi said with a smile.

"That sounds true."

Anzu pointed at Yami's neck. "There's some proof that you're lying."

Yami covered the red mark on his neck. He opened his mouth, but quickly closed it and went up the stairs to his room.

"Now look what you've done." Yugi was angry at his friends, although he didn't want to be. "He has a secret he's not ready to tell, and he's got the three of you pressuring him to spill."

"He should just tell. That's what real friends do."

"Jonouchi, Yugi's right. We should just leave it alone."

Yugi went up the stairs to Yami's room. His other was laying face up on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The shorter boy stood in the doorway, unsure of what to say.

"You do not have to be here."

"I do, too. You're important to me. You are a part of me, and I am a part of you." Yugi sat on the edge of the bed. "You know, I never did hear what happened after the tournament."

Yami continued to look up.

Yugi put his hand on Yami's shoulder and squeezed gently. "I'll leave you alone then. Hopefully before you're ready to come downstairs, we'll be out." He stood up slowly, hoping his other would speak to him. When a word was not said, he left, shutting the door quietly behind him.

The next day was school. Yugi glanced behind him to look at the face of the elder Kaiba. Not much had changed about the young man as he sat near the back of the classroom, writing down notes. When he looked up, Yugi quickly turned his head.

Blue eyes narrowed at the back of a mess of tri-colored hair.

During their break, Yugi sat quietly while Jonouchi and Honda talked. Anzu was laughing at them periodically. Seto stood up and went over to Yugi. It was taking all that he could to just talk to a classmate.

"Motou, can I talk to you?"

Jonouchi's eyes narrowed slightly. "He's hangin' with us."

"This doesn't concern you, mutt." Seto turned. "If you must know, it's about some top secret plans I have at my company."

"Oh, okay," Yugi said, getting up. "I'll be back." He followed Seto to the hallway.

The taller man took a few moments to say what was really on his mind. "Yami tells me your friends are getting suspicious."

"Jonouchi keeps asking the questions, mostly. I haven't told them if that's what you're thinking."

"Yami told me you haven't, so I have no choice but to believe him."

Yugi sighed deeply. "Then what is this about?"

"Yami's not ready to say anything, like I am."

"I understand," Yugi said. "Besides that, you have only been together like this for a week."

Seto looked up. "How much longer do you think we can keep them in the dark?"

Yugi shrugged. "Not long, I don't think. It would be easier if Yami was home earlier and didn't have red marks all over his neck." He smiled. "He doesn't wear high collars like you."

"I suppose something could be done." Seto looked at Yugi. "Don't think that after this I'll want to be your friend."

"I don't expect that, but it would make Yami happy if you tried. Like it or not, Yami will be a part of my life forever."

"It will take me a lifetime to forget what you've done to me." He turned to walk back in the classroom.

Yugi beat him to the door. "It may have been my body, but it was the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle."

Seto knew that, but it wasn't ready to believe it.