Hi guys,

My apologies for the lonnnng delay in writing! I went overseas on holiday and then have been hella busy with work. Anyway. Next chapter is up, and I've already started on the following one, so you hopefully will not have to wait long between reads.

Enjoy!

Jehbel

/I should have known, all along,
/That love without tears,
/Is just a story told, to keep us hanging on.

Love Without Tears- HIM

"Yugi."

The deep voice of his Darker Half made Yugi jump. The smaller teen turned slowly to face his partner, embarrassment and tension rolling off him in waves, his eyes downcast and firmly fixed on the floor. He had rushed home, oblivious to his friends' calls, jostling through the afternoon crowds in his haste to get back to the shop. He now had been mindlessly sweeping the storeroom floor for the better part of an hour, waiting for the tell-tale jingle of the shop door opening to signify Yami's return. Despite his ears being pricked for the slightest sound, however, he had missed his partner's arrival; Yami had always had a soft footfall. Yugi had been waiting for yet dreading Yami's return to the shop, wondering what he would say to the taller teen.

Yugi remained where had turned, still staring blindly at the floor in front of Yami's feet, his hands gripping the broom handled with white-knuckled tension. He refused to meet the taller teen's eyes; there were tears in his. "Yami. You-you're home." As he spoke, Yami moved closer, his feet making no noise on the hard shop floor. Finally he stopped a mere hand span from Yugi, staring down at his little partner with an unreadable expression.

"Are you all right? I… I am sorry about earlier, Yugi, truly." His slender hand extended and tipped Yugi's face up with a finger under the chin, forcing Yugi to finally meet his gaze. Yami's eyes softened at the sight of the unshed tears in his Aibou's eyes and he sighed softly. "I did not mean to upset you; Bakura just pushed all the right buttons and made me angry. I will not disregard you like that again."

Yugi nodded, his heart thumping painfully, eyes searching Yami's for a sign, any sign, of deeper feelings. The tension was thick in the room, although Yugi was not sure if it was because of Yami's reaction to his tantrum or a result of his partner being in such close proximity. In the cramped, dimly lit storeroom, the nearness of Yami was almost overwhelming. Yugi could smell his distinct aroma; slightly musky, slightly spicy, and reminiscent of his origins in Ancient Egypt. Yami was standing closely enough that Yugi could feel the heat from his body radiating out; his finger had felt almost feverishly warm when it had touched his chin. Sighing, Yugi could not allow himself to stay mad at his partner; in reality, he was angry at himself for his own selfish desires and feelings of guilt. Steadying his expression, Yugi gazed imploring up into Yami's face. "I am sorry too, Yami. I know you were just looking out for me. Can we forget about this?"

Yami's face split into a relieved smile, and he took the final step forward to embrace his Aibou. "Nothing would make me happier, Yugi. I hate it when you are upset; it breaks my heart." Yugi closed his eyes as Yami pulled him against his chest. It felt so good; he just wanted to stand there forever and never let go. He could feel Yami's strong steady heartbeat against his cheek; it was thumping quite quickly and Yugi wondered dimly if Yami had been running. It would explain why his face is slightly flushed as well, Yugi thought to himself. Oh, the rightness of it all! This was where he belonged; he didn't need another friend, he didn't need a protector- he needed Yami, just the way he was, as the person he was in this moment. Yugi felt a little of his earlier emotions trickle away; Yami had that effect. He was as calm and deep and quiet as a lake, with all the mystery that the depths brought with him. Why can't he be mine without feeling so beholden?Can't he understand that I just want him for himself? Or does he truly think that I need protecting and shielding from the world? Am I that weak looking? The thoughts bounced around in his head, not quite able to be silenced even by the calming effect that Yami had.

Drawing back slightly, Yami reached up to cup Yugi's small face in his hands. Leaning forward, he brought his lips to Yugi's forehead, resting them there gently. Yugi was used to this; Yami had started showing affection in this odd way quite a while ago, starting when they were on the cruise. At first the gesture had made Yugi's heart skip with excitement and hope, but as the days wore on and Yami made no move or gesture otherwise, Yugi came to realise it was simply his partner's way of showing affection and support. Selfishly, he allowed Yami to continue, hoping as he did that it may mean more to the taller teen, as it did to him.

Suddenly, Yugi's wandering thoughts were interrupted; a wavering image of his own face floated across his mind. With a small shock, Yugi realised he was seeing Yami's thoughts. It happened occasionally, a result of the link they shared with the Millennium Puzzle, although lately Yugi had been blocking the link. Eyes still closed, Yugi focused on Yami's thought. If he concentrated hard enough, he could often tap into his partner's subconscious musings and clearly follow Yami's thought patterns with ease. At first he had felt the stabbings of guilt over the invasion of his partner's privacy, but greedily he couldn't refrain, particularly when Yami's thoughts were often filled with his affection for Yugi.

Yugi passively watched as Yami's thoughts swam with his own face. Like an echo, he could feel Yami's affection and relief that his Aibou was no longer angry at him. He was also still slightly confused over the whole event and was harbouring frustrations at not knowing what Bakura had said to Yugi. Yugi smiled slightly at the amount of emotions that were going through Yami's mind. Some were intense and confusing; others were beyond Yugi's grasp.

\Yugi.

Yugi's eyes cracked open slightly in response, however he understood that this was an echo of Yami's thoughts and had not been spoken aloud. Again an image of his own face appeared in his mind, this time accompanied by a strong wave of what felt like disgust.

\So weak. Pitiful… an embarrassment.

Yugi's heart stopped in his chest, his eyes flying open with shock.

Pitiful? Weak? Th-that's how Yami feels about me?

A thick wave of shame and horror rose within Yugi; he felt as though he was about to vomit. His skin broke out in a cold sweat. Dimly, he noticed Yami recoil slightly, as though he could feel Yugi's emotions. Perhaps he can! Yugi gasped and pushed his partner away, reeling backward and dropping the broom as he did so. Yami's face was a mask of confusion and concern, betraying none of his internal thoughts that Yugi had picked up on. He's a liar. I can't trust a thing he says! He thinks I'm pitiful! Yugi thought frantically.

Yami's eyebrows furrowed, and he took a step toward the smaller teen. "Yugi? What's-"

"Be quiet! Get out! I don't want to talk anymore!" Yugi cried, throwing his hands up as though to ward off Yami's words. Unbidden, the tears began to leak down his cheeks. At the sight of them, Yami gave an inarticulate exclamation and stepped forward again, his hand rising toward Yugi's face. "I said go away!" Yugi cried, stepping backward further.

Yami froze in place. "Yugi, I don't understand! What is wrong?" Yugi gave a gasping sob and Yami's hands snapped out to grasp him by the shoulders. At his touch, fury rose within Yugi, and he slapped the hands away with a cry.

"No! Don't touch me! How dare you think that way and then touch me! You're a LIAR!"
Yami stepped back, the surprise and shock evident on his face. "Yugi? What do you mean?"

Yugi was breathing hard, his hands balled into fists, the tears hot and flowing down his small face. Yami's eyes were a flat, pale lavender colour, his gaze severe.

"I mean, I could hear your thoughts! Just now! I heard what you were thinking of me!" At Yugi's words, the blood drained from Yami's face. In the sudden silence, their breathing was loud and harsh. Yugi's blood was pounding in his ears; what have I done? He felt with a sudden, sickening lurch that he was about to cross a threshold: there would be no going back.

Yami's voice was like broken glass. "You- you could hear what I was thinking? And you are upset?"

"Of course I'm upset! Anyone would be after hearing that! Look, just go okay? Leave me alone!" Yugi pushed past Yami roughly, making his way toward the storeroom exit. Yami's hand shot out and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him up short and spinning him around. Yami's eyes were wide with horror.

"Yugi- I'm sorry! I can't help how I feel! I- I thought you'd understand! I didn't mean for you to see my thoughts, it's the Puzzle connection… " Yugi mutely watched his partner, barely taking in the words. His devastation was swiftly being replaced by a cold, broken anger as Yami spoke. With numb fingers, Yugi reached up and fumbled with the Millennium Puzzle around his neck.

"The Puzzle's connection, huh? Well, here- let me save you trouble!" With a yank, Yugi removed the eye piece from the pyramid shaped puzzle around his neck. There was a momentary flare of yellow light, and Yami staggered backward with a cry. When the light faded, both boys remained facing each other, breathing heavily. Yugi dropped the piece by Yami's feet with a heavy finality. Both boys watched the golden piece slowly spin until it settled to a rest. Yami slowly looked back up at Yugi; his eyes were terrified.

"Yugi- what are you doing?"

Yugi shook his head slowly. He steeled himself, and closed his heart.

"Yami. I'm letting you leave. I think you need to go and live life away from me. If you really feel… that way, the way you were thinking about me, then I don't want you to be stuck hanging around me. If you can't go back into the Puzzle, then all you have is your physical form. Which means you can live a normal life. You don't have to stay with me- you can go do whatever you want." As Yugi spoke, Yami backed up, shaking his head with a wordless horror. "I think- I think it's best for both of us if you leave. Without the Puzzle being whole, we can't hear each other's' thoughts, and… and emotions, and we can live apart from each other." The words felt like razorblades in his throat. Too far, too far. This is bad, this is bad.

"Yugi", Yami whispered, his voice terrible. "Please, don't do this."

"I'm sorry, Yami. This is goodbye. I don't need or want you. So please, just leave."
Yugi pushed past, and this time, Yami did not stop him.

Yugi lay awake. His eyes were red and stinging, the tears long since having run out. Yami had not followed him upstairs, and he had not appeared later as Yugi half hoped he might. Finally Yugi had snapped and run downstairs; Yami was not there.

He's really gone. What have I done?

Yugi curled up, his arms wrapped around his knees.

Yami. What have I done?