YUGI

Yugi slumped forward in his chair, his small face pinched with fatigue. He had slept badly, his dreams dark and confusing, full of confusion and tinged with sadness. When he awoke, his eyes had felt gritty as though he'd been crying. Perhaps I should have listened to Grandpa and turned the TV off earlier; it must have given me bad dreams or something, he thought to himself. Sighing, he ran a hand through his wild hair, pulling a blonde bang down to twist between his fingers. The classroom was silent but for the scratching of pencils and shuffling of papers; the teacher had assigned them some study time that afternoon to complete their assignments, should they need it. Most did; Yugi had finished his already. Idly, he scribbled on his notepad and stared about the classroom morosely.

Beside him, Joey balled up a piece of paper and after a quick scan to ensure the teacher was distracted, flicked the ball across the room where it bounced off the back of Kaiba's head satisfyingly. The brunette stiffened, turning to award the blonde a swift glare, before picking the ball of paper up and smoothing it open with a faint rustle. Joey studiously turned back to his desk, scribbling away so enthusiastically that it was obvious he was not doing schoolwork. Moments later, a wrinkled piece of paper flew back to strike Joey's desk, causing him to startle slightly. The teacher glanced up, her eyes narrowing, but she had missed the exchange and after a moment looked back down to the novel she was reading. Joey had opened the scrunched ball of paper and was reading it, his face flushed slightly pink and a grin splitting across his face.

Yugi sighed again. He was happy for Joey and Kaiba; despite all their differences, they seemed perfectly suited for one another and they had spent most days together since the cruise had finished. They did not let their relationship overshadow their lives; usually at school, the two sat far enough apart for decorum but closely enough to be exclusive should they wish it. It was sweet to watch them together; they were so different and disagreed on so many issues, yet somehow this brought them closer together.

He could not help but feel envious.

Everybody was moving on. Joey and Kaiba, Ryou and Bakura, even Tea and her fledgling relationship with Duke. Tristan was currently off on a long weekend camping with his cousin, who had flown in to visit for a few weeks. He planned to visit Serenity Wheeler on the way back home. Everybody is growing up, moving on, changing. Finding somebody to love. Everybody but me. Yugi's face fell into a sad frown, his eyes downcast as he twisted his hair over and through his fingers. I am in the same place I was a year ago; I'm still "King of Games" and people still come from all over to battle me, but I'm stagnating. No wonder Yami is so unhappy; he's stuck with me, living in a cramped game shop, with nothing to look forward to. At the thought of his Hikari, Yugi's eyes dimmed further, until he looked close to tears. He was not usually prone to such negative thinking, preferring instead to remain positive and happy as much as possible. But his partner had been so depressed lately that Yugi couldn't help but feel bad. It was, after all, his fault.

If he didn't feel like he had to protect me all the time, he could have moved on ages ago, he thought to himself with disgust. Instead, he's stuck looking over me, because I can't seem to do anything right! I'm always putting myself in dangerous situations; just last week those bullies would have beaten me to a pulp, if Yami hadn't have stepped in. I'm pathetic! A small tear grew in the corner of one eye, falling heavily to splatter against his desk.

He had tried to give Yami space. He had tried to encourage his partner to become more independent, and not feel so beholden to Yugi, who had been his host for so long. It was obvious that the Pharaoh felt the need to watch over and protect Yugi as some sort of grateful response for sharing his body for so long before he gained his own; perhaps he felt guilty for once having to take over Yugi's flesh to accomplish his own needs.

So, Yugi was pulling away. But only a little, and very slowly. So slowly that his partner would not notice, but would hopefully one day stop feeling the burden of looking after Yugi. It was unfair on Yami for things to continue this way; Yugi wanted to them to be equals, friends. This could never happen while Yami felt an obligation to watch over him. It was difficult, more difficult than Yugi had anticipated.

It was made all the harder by his own desires.

He was not sure when it had happened; some time ago now. But he had awoken to the realisation that his own selfish, overpowering love for his Hikari had kept him from doing the right thing. During the cruise, Yugi had come to realise how much his Hikari meant to him; but he had also begun to recognise that he relied upon the older teen too much, taking advantage of his dedication and loyalty. He should have made it clear long ago that Yami did not have to feel beholden to him; but, deep down, Yugi had known that doing this would also mean he could lose the boy he loved.

And Gods, how he loved Yami.

The Pharaoh was everything Yugi wanted to be, and more. He was brilliant, and strong, and loyal. He had no fear and knew his place in the world; even this world, which he was new to, Yami owned with every step he took. His partner was dark, mysterious and damaged, yes; but he was also caring and stoic, brave and steadfast.

He should be mine. The angry thought rattled Yugi, and he dragged in a long shuddering breath to calm himself. I can't stand it. How can I be so horrible and selfish, and keep him around with some misguided thought that he owes it to me, when really I let him stay simply to be close to him? What is wrong with me!? He'll never love me like I want him to; he just feels that he has to keep me safe and happy. He wants to protect me. And how do I repay him? By using him for my own selfishness. Yugi closed his eyes, the feelings of self-disgust twisting in his stomach like some foul poison.

/Yugi?

Yugi's eyes snapped open. Around him, the air was buckling and warping, a white shimmer hanging heavy in front of him. Yami was close to manifesting; while he wouldn't reveal himself in class unless absolutely necessary, he had obviously picked up on Yugi's emotions through the Puzzle. Yugi knew that sometimes his own feelings were transferred to his partner through the link they shared, something he tried hard to prevent, as it must be annoying for Yami to feel what he was feeling. Plus he was deathly afraid of letting slip his own intense emotions for his Hikari through the link and causing Yami discomfort. It was bad enough that Yami felt the need to protect and stay close to Yugi out of a misplaced sense of obligation, but Yugi didn't have to torture the poor Hikari with his mundane thoughts and feelings to boot!

/It's fine, Yami. Just school stuff.

/… are you sure? You have already finished the assignment for this course, haven't you? What is wrong?

/Nothing. I'm fine. Just tired; I didn't sleep well.

Yugi heard the older teen give a mental sigh. It was a peculiar feeling.

/If you are upset about something, it may help to talk about it, Aibou.

Yugi snorted to himself. Not likely!

/Seriously, I'm fine, Yami. There's no need for you to worry. I have to go, teacher is talking now. I'll see you later?

/Of course. The shimmering atmosphere faded as quickly as it had accumulated, yet somehow managed to convey a strong feeling of reluctance and concern in the process.

Yugi crossed his arms on the desk, placing his forehead down on them and closing his eyes. His chest felt tight. Why can't he want to be around me because he wants to be, and not just because he feels he has to? It's so unfair!

"Yugi Moto, are you alright?" The loud voice made the small teen jump, and he raised his head, blinking in the sudden brightness of the classroom. His teacher, Ms. Warren, stood over him, her face pinched slightly in concern. Yugi was one of her better students, and it was not like him to laze about in class. Granted, he had already handed his assignment in, but his general apathy of late had caused the teacher to grow concerned. The wide purple eyes rose to meet her gaze; they were bleary and slightly unfocused. "Goodness, Mr. Moto, you look unwell. Do you need to be excused?"

Yugi opened his mouth to insist that he was fine; then closed it. He did feel unwell. He was weary, and sad, and heartsore. Why bother staying in class? He had already completed his work. Nodding slowly, Yugi got to his feet and began to silently gather his items, Ms. Warren hovering concernedly behind him. Turning, he began to make his slow way to the door, his head bowed.

As Yugi pulled the classroom door open, he heard a distinct snigger. Looking up, his gaze was immediately drawn to the white-haired teen sitting two rows back. Bakura had decided to take over Ryou for class that day, it seemed; he hated being cooped up in his soul item but had been forbidden by his Aibou to manifest during school hours. The trade-off was that occasionally he could take possession of Ryou's body to escape the Ring for a while.

Yugi's purple eyes met the rich brown of Bakura's. The thief was watching Yugi with a detached, predatory stare, a wicked grin spreading across his face. As soon as Yugi's gaze met his, Bakura's eyes narrowed and he began to laugh in earnest; several students looked up, startled at the sudden outburst. Yugi suppressed a shiver and made his hasty escape from the classroom. Behind him, Bakura's cackles followed him down the hall. He felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

Inside the puzzle, Yami paced, and waited, and worried.