Chapter 16 done and dusted- on to the next! I hope you all enjoy this, as always I welcome comments and questions. :)

~Jehbel

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Joey tapped his foot impatiently, his arms crossed over his chest as he surveyed the assembled group.

It had been a good turnout; as well as his usual group of friends, several other kids from school who Joey was friendly with had also come to his little gathering, most likely to try and catch a glimpse of Kaiba; but nevertheless, Joey was happy with the numbers. There was, however, one noticeable absence: Yugi.

The tall blonde sighed, ruffling his shaggy hair with a hand in frustration. Why hadn't Yugi arrived yet? Normally the shorter teen was so anxious about being on time that he would arrive too early to events, sometimes even beating the host there. This time however, he was nowhere to be seen.

Noticing that one of the large bowls of chips was almost empty, Joey grabbed it from the table and stalked into the house, his thoughts preoccupied with his short friend. He musta been held up by something; I'll check my phone again while I'm here.

Inside the house, the silence was profound after the cheerful loudness of the party outside. Joey tapped across the sparkling white tile floor into the kitchen, where the normally pristine benches were covered in an assortment of party food, including chips, lollies, party pies and sandwiches. Joey tore open a new packet of chips, dumping it out into the bowl. Popping a large chip in his mouth, the blonde wandered over to where his mobile phone was sitting, plugged into its charger on the wall. Flipping it open, Joey could see that he had no new calls or messages. Where are ya, Yug'? Joey frowned, feeling the first real stabs of concern as he reached distractedly for another chip in the bowl, scrolling through his messages as though a new one would magically appear from Yugi.

"Aren't you supposed to be sharing the food with our guests?" The sudden amused voice behind him made Joey yelp and spin around in surprise.

"Shit, Seto, ya almost gave me a heart attack!" Joey gripped the bench behind him, his other hand flying up to cover his heart theatrically as Kaiba smirked in response. The brunette was dressed casually in a long cream sweater and dark jeans, his floppy hair almost entirely covering one eye as he watched Joey collect himself. The blonde glared at his boyfriend.

"If yer must know, I was just checkin' my phone. I haven't heard from Yugi yet and it ain't like him to be this late! Should I be worried about him yet?"

Kaiba pulled a sarcastically concerned face. "Oh dear, one of the Geek Patrol is running late; alert the authorities! For Chrissakes Joey, he's only a couple of hours late. Did he even say he was going to come? You haven't spoken to him all week." Kaiba walked smoothly over to lean against the bench next to Joey, staring with faint disdain over his shoulder at the array of junk food on the kitchen counter. "You really should include some fruit and vegetable in your diet, Joey."

Joey looked over at the food, distracted. "Chips are made of potato; that's a vegetable. An' there's lettuce in the sandwiches, so back off, Moneybags."

Kaiba shook his head, faintly amused. "Whatever. Now, please stop worrying about Shorty and go enjoy your party; I'm paying enough for it, after all." Kaiba pushed himself forward off the bench, strolling casually across the room with his hands in his pants pocket. "Let me know when they've all left; I'll be in the media room."

Joey frowned after his boyfriend, following the taller brunette into the dark room. Kaiba flopped down on the white sofa, crossing one leg over the other at the ankle, his long hand scooping up the television remote. "Yer know, Kaibs, it wouldn't hurt you to come say hi, ya know? At least pretend that you like my friends?"

Kaiba looked up at the disgruntled blonde with an expression just shy of a smirk. "And why would I do that? I don't like your friends. Well, Duke is alright I suppose; at least he has some business sense, even if he is a cheap ideas-thief. But the rest will just get all nervous around me and act like idiots. It'd be tedious and boring. Much better that I stay in here and we are all happy, hn?" Turning away dismissively, Kaiba turned the enormous flat-screen television on and began to flick through the channels. Joey made a noise of disgust and wandered out of the room, throwing his hands up in defeat. "Fine, ya hermit, stay in here. Don't come sookin' to me though when you miss out on all the mini spring rolls! I know you love 'em despite what you say."

Joey grinned at the sound of the couch leather creaking behind him as Kaiba twisted in his seat and called out in a mock-serious tone, "save me some spring rolls or suffer my wrath, Wheeler! And the good kind too, not that rubbish with fake pork in them. Also, the doorbell went off again earlier. Can't your friends read?- oh. Joey-" Kaiba's tone changed suddenly- "I think I know why Yugi hasn't showed up- looks like he had other plans earlier tonight."

Joey spun around, following Kaiba's pointed finger toward the television, where an image of Yugi's face was frozen in the act of speaking, paused by Kaiba's remote. Joey's mouth flopped open and he strode back over to collapse down on the couch beside his partner. "Kaibs- press play, will ya?" With a tsk, Kaiba pressed the button obligingly and the screen leapt to life, as reporters crowded about Yugi, clamouring for information and calling out various questions and speculations to the short teen. Behind him, James lingered possessively, occasionally scowling at a reporter or rebuffing somebody who ventured too close.

Yugi was answering a question, revealing that the two were heading to a movie. Clearly the footage was from earlier that afternoon as it was still daylight during the recording. Yugi looked slightly bemused as usual by all the attention, but was holding his own quite well against the crush of people. Joey clenched his fist at the sight of James taking Yugi's hand and leading him into the cinema complex. That bastard! He told me that Yugi was free tonight! I thought he had "a club event" on? Why's he out with Yugi then? A sudden rush of doubt made Joey bite his lip anxiously. Maybe Yug's still angry at me for the fight the other day; maybe he's deliberately avoiding me? Could he have made other plans just to spite me? Shaking his head to clear it, the tall blonde stood up to leave; he'd seen enough. Whatever reason Yugi might give him for not coming tonight, he didn't want to know. All he cared about was that his so-called best friend had chosen to fob him off to spend time with his boyfriend instead, and hadn't even sent him a message to let him know. "Huh. So much for friendship, eh? Guess it ain't that important to some."

Behind him, Kaiba stretched nonchalantly like a cat against the cool white leather. "My sentiments exactly, Pup."

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Yugi quivered all over as James dragged his fingernails down his back, whimpering slightly into the other boy's mouth as it clashed with his. He was sitting astride James' lap, arms wrapped around his neck, still wearing his sneakers; he had barely had time to put his bag down once they returned home before James had scooped him up and thrown him onto the bed unceremoniously. At some stage their positions had swapped, although Yugi could not remember when or how this had happened.

Their tongues met, wrestling for control before one would give way to the other. Yugi felt hot all over; his mind was blissfully empty of all but the physical sensations that he was experiencing in that moment. James' hands were inside his jacket, inside his shirt; he could feel the fingers digging in to the flesh on his back, almost hard enough to be painful, just gently enough to be enjoyable, as the taller teen worked his mouth against Yugi's with fervent intensity. Yugi could feel James' desire; the two boys ground themselves against each other, the rhythm coming naturally and without thought.

Finally, the two pulled apart with a gasp, staring into each other's eyes. This was where they would stop; this was always the limit to their amorous activities, and Yugi was comfortable taking it this far. James peered heatedly into his small partner's face; Yugi's cheeks were marked by the dried tears he had shed on the walk home, and his large purple eyes were red-rimmed. Nevertheless, his face was flushed with desire, his gaze only for James. Slowly, deliberately, James removed his hands from beneath Yugi's clothing, bringing them to rest in his lap between Yugi's knees, as he again leaned forward to initiate another kiss. Yugi closed his eyes in bliss, his mind full of the reflection of those great amethyst eyes.

Suddenly, with a stab of alarm, Yugi's eyes flew open, as he realised that Jame's hands were not lying idle. With delicate insistence, he began to work at the front of Yugi's pants; the first two buttons were already released. Pulling back from the kiss, Yugi looked down with anxiety. "James- what-"

"It's okay, Yugi. You're ready for this. Trust me- please." James stared beseechingly into Yugi's eyes, his hands still continuing their movement below. "You love me and I love you; this is perfectly normal. I promise I'll make you feel good." His lids were lowered, eyes deep purple and as focused as a stalking beast. His hands pushed slowly but insistently into Yugi's trousers, long fingers probing and rubbing.

Yugi felt his stomach swoop with something like dread; he could not pinpoint why he was so scared of going any further; indeed, he had daydreamed about it many times before- but in this moment, he knew he didn't want it. Not now. Not like this. As the realisation sank into his mind, a wave of shame followed. Wasn't this James, his boyfriend of many months now? Why did he feel so bad about doing it with him? It was normal and healthy, like he had said. Yugi felt selfish and heartless for feeling this way, but knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would regret going further tonight. Panting slightly, Yugi put his hands against James' chest, squeezing his eyes shut so that he didn't have to see his partner's face.

"James… I… I'm not ready. Please, can we stop here tonight?" It was with a mixture of relief and disappointment when James' hands ceased their ministrations, however he did not entirely release Yugi from his grip. "Yugi…"

"I know, I know, I'm being silly. But, I'm just not ready yet. Soon, okay? But- I think… I really... I want to stop here tonight. Please, James." Yugi hated the way his voice sounded, so high and unsure of itself. Even more so, he hated that he had to beg. He wasn't sure if it was the fact that James had not immediately complied, or his own feelings of shame over not being able to go along with his boyfriend's desires, but Yugi felt awful.

Finally, James removed his hands entirely, moving abruptly so that Yugi had to catch himself as he was ejected from his boyfriend's lap. With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Yugi watched as James swung his legs out of bed, sitting on the edge of the mattress, his face in his hands. In a muffled tone, James replied between his fingers with a voice leaden and serious.

"Yugi… do you not love me?"

Yugi gaped for a moment before crawling across the bed to wrap his arms around James' shoulders. "Of course I do! This has nothing to do with it! It's my fault, not yours!" He could feel the tears building again; it had been a long emotional evening for Yugi, and all he wanted to do was relax and sleep, with James by his side, with no expectations or pressure put upon him. How much more is today going to throw at me? He felt mentally and physically exhausted.

James peered sadly at him over his shoulder. "But you don't feel that way about me, do you? Enough to want to do this with me?"

Yugi shook his head frantically, ignoring an odd sudden desire in his mind to reply with agreement. "No! James, listen to me. Look at me. Would I look like this-" he gestured to his dishevelled state and obvious, although now diminishing, arousal- "if I didn't feel that way? I'm just not ready tonight, that's all! Please!"

James gently removed himself from Yugi's embrace, standing up off the bed, his back to the smaller teen, his long hair loose and messy down his back. He did not turn around. Yugi felt with a sudden overwhelming certainty that James, too, was going to leave him- and then, who would he have left? With a hideous feeling of desperation, his hand snapped forward to grasp James by the back of his shirt. "James! Please! I'll- I'll do it with you, I promise! Okay? Tomorrow! I promise!" Yugi put his head down and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to keep the tears from falling. In a ragged whisper, he continued, "Please don't leave. I'm sorry. I'll do whatever you want."

He felt James turn to face him, and suddenly he was swamped in a firm embrace. James stroked his hair with one hand, the other gripping the back of his jacket. Lips against Yugi's neck, James murmured, "Yugi. Stop. I would never force you. If you're not ready, you're not ready. I just thought maybe you were holding back because you didn't love me as much as I love you. But I'll wait until you're ready, okay? I'm not going anywhere." Yugi hiccupped in reply, not trusting his voice to reply. James gave a humourless chuckle shaking his head. "Such a reaction. I promised you I wouldn't hurt you, Yugi. Remember? I'm not like your friends. I'm not like the one who left you all alone. I'm better for you than them." Yugi could only nod, his relief that James wasn't leaving him so acute that he barely took in the rest of the teen's words.

It was dark. Yugi lay on his side in the bed, eyes wide in the darkness, trying to make out the shape of James beside him. His boyfriend was lying on his back, arms crossed behind his head, mouth slightly open as he breathed with the heavy slowness of sleep. Yugi was as far from sleepy as he could get; the day's events had disturbed and upset him, and he felt a deep sense of shame for having rejected James so cruelly. He just wanted things to go back to being peaceful between them, with none of the heavy emotions that had been lingering lately. Yugi's mind swirled with fragments of memory of the previous few weeks; he always seemed to be so unhappy, and James was his one shining beacon of hope. With a rush of affection, Yugi wriggled closer to his boyfriend's sleeping form and laid his head on James' shoulder, wrapping one small arm around the larger boy's chest. Closing his eyes, Yugi tried to turn off his busy brain, concentrating only on the warmth and smell of James, pushing all the negative thoughts away. He quite deliberately avoided thinking about Joey and his betrayal; opening that can of worms would only lead to more heartache. He had already decided not to cave in and contact Joey first; if the blonde had any interest in still being his friend, he would call Yugi.

James murmured in his sleep, making Yugi startle slightly. Opening his large eyes, Yugi peered up at the other teen's face; James was still asleep, but a frown now marked his features and he appeared to be disturbed, his head moving side to side slowly. Yugi squeezed him a little tighter in comfort, and James slowly turned his head to the side, cracking one eye open sleepily to look at his boyfriend. "… Yugi?"

Yugi smiled back. "Yeah. Sorry if I woke you. I just wanted to be close to you."

James' expression was fogged, but he frowned slightly as he opened his other eye and took in Yugi's position alongside him. With a groan, he flopped his head back down on the pillow, grabbing Yugi's wrist with one hand and removing his arm from around his chest. In a voice still heavy and slurred with fatigue, James muttered "… 's too hot! You're too… warm. Can you…gimme some space here?" James roughly pushed Yugi's arm away, almost causing the smaller teen to roll onto his back. With another sleepy grunt, James turned onto his side so that his back was facing Yugi. His breathing almost immediately slowed back to the heavy rhythmic pattern of sleep.

Yugi lay in the darkness, watching James' back move with each breath. He tried not to take James' reaction to his hug to heart, as it was quite warm in the room and James quite often shrank away from close contact if kissing wasn't involved. He never let Yugi sit close when they watched TV together and would often shift irritably until Yugi moved further away.

Yugi rolled over onto his other side, so that both boys' backs faced either other. If possible, Yugi felt even worse now; not only had he rejected James earlier, but now he had disturbed his sleep and made him uncomfortable by being too clingy and smothering. Why can't I do anything right? I need to be more sensitive to James' needs, just like he has been with mine. I have to work harder! Now that I know Joey doesn't care anymore, James is all I have; I can't let him leave me too. Yugi pummelled his pillow angrily and closed his eyes, even less sleepy now than he had been before hugging his boyfriend. I seem to always do the wrong thing. Everything has been a mess lately. I… miss Joey. I miss my friends. I miss the way things were. Is James unhappy with me? I just want to be the one that-

"-makes him happy." Yugi commented, barely paying attention as to whether Yami was listening or not. Yugi shrugged out of his jacket, placing it over the back of the chair in their room, before yanking his shirt off over his head in preparation to have a shower. Duke had not yet returned to the small cabin, and Yami was stretched out on his bed, arms crossed behind his head, watching Yugi as he made his way across the room to the suitcase to fish out his pyjamas. Bundling his pyjamas up into his arms, Yugi stood straight, turning to face Yami, a question on his lips that had been plaguing him ever since he saw his best friend kissing the brunette CEO. "Yami, do you think Joey will stop hanging out with us now that he has Kaiba?"

Yami sat up straight, his large amethyst eyes gazing seriously at Yugi, who was flushing slightly with embarrassment at the silly question. Yami tapped a long finger against his lip for a moment, his eyes faraway, clearly taking Yugi's question seriously and giving it deep thought before answering. Unembarrassed, Yami reached out and grasped one of Yugi's small hands; the movement was natural and unforced, merely one of Yami's many quirks. Yugi's heart stuttered slightly in response to his partner's touch, the feelings coming swift and painfully sweet.

Finally, Yami shook his head decisively. "No, Yugi. Joey, like you, holds his friendships very dearly; even before he began dating Seto, he was willing to keep his feelings secret to avoid upsetting him; Joey was willing to forgo love to save a friendship, even a tenuous one like he and Kaiba's. He would not allow anything to ever come between you two. He is very brave; braver than many, and he loves you dearly."

Yugi beamed at his partner, the deep voice and comforting words warming him; he had not realised just how concerned he had been about losing Joey until he had voiced it. As always, Yami calmed and brought balance to Yugi's thoughts, and he thanked the Gods for his Other's presence. Releasing Yami's hand, Yugi turned to grab his towel off a nearby chair. "You're right, Yami; I'm being silly. Joey will never push me away; he's my best friend!" Yugi peered at his reflection in the large mirror above the small desk in the cabin; with a huff, he fiddled with a piece of stray hair. Almost unconsciously, his eyes drifted to meet his Partner's in the mirror's reflection; Yami was sitting on the edge of the bed, his large amethyst eyes watching his aibou move about the cabin, his face grave yet peaceful. As his eyes met Yugi's, their deep beauty froze Yugi in place like a spotlight, causing his mind to go blank. Without thinking, Yugi blurted out, "kissing- them kissing, I mean. It looked really nice. Have you ever kissed anyone, Yami?"

His partner blinked, surprised by the sudden question. Yugi flushed hotly, hoping dearly that his odd question would not give away his hidden feelings for his Other. Yami's eyebrows rose and he smoothly stood up and glided across the room to stand behind Yugi, his eyes never leaving his small Hikari's in the mirror. Placing his larger hands over Yugi's shoulders, Yami replied, "When I was Pharaoh, I was given many gifts. Horses, gems, silk and grain. Also, people." Yugi's stomach twisted a little bit at this final word; where was Yami going with this? The taller teen continued. "If I kissed any of these people, then I do not remember doing so. So, as far I can tell you, no: I have not."

Yugi looked down, digesting the information. He was happy that Yami had not kissed anybody before either, but at the same time he felt guilty that it was because of their partnership and closeness that he had been prevented from doing so since gaining his own body. Yugi sighed, aware that his conflicting feelings were only becoming stronger and stronger. He didn't want Yami to kiss anyone; but he did not want to be the one to keep Yami from finding somebody special either.

At Yugi's sigh, Yami tightened his grip on Yugi's shoulders briefly before releasing him. "Go bathe; you will feel better, and then we can rest." Yugi gave his partner a sweet smile and nodded in agreement, turning toward the bathroom. "Oh, and Yugi-" the shorter teen halted, peering over his shoulder at his Dark Half, who was now sitting on the bed again- "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Yugi nodded silently, unsure of what Yami meant, and closed the bathroom door. With a sigh, Yami flopped back onto the bed, staring unseeing at the ceiling.

"Ah, Yami! You were right, that shower was great!" Yugi padded out of the bathroom in his pyjamas, a towel draped over his wet hair. Yami was propped on Yugi's bed now, watching a gameshow on the small television on the wall opposite the beds. At Yugi's appearance, Yami sat upright, watching his aibou move across the room and turning the television off with a swift motion of the remote. Shifting over, the taller teen gestured at Yugi to join him, holding out a hand for the towel that Yugi carried.

Handing it over, Yugi sat cross-legged on the bed beside Yami, facing away from him obediently. This was a nightly ritual that had developed early on after Yami gained his own body, and one which both boys found soothing. Yami flopped the towel over Yugi's head and began to rub his hair dry gently, his long legs stretched out either side of the smaller teen, while Yugi grinned like a child in response. There was something ridiculous yet joyful about the action, reminiscent of something a parent would do. Once completed, Yami crawled out of bed and draped Yugi's towel neatly over the back of a chair.

"Yugi, would you like me to retreat tonight?"

Yugi rolled his eyes. Yami asked this question every night, his unfailing politeness and concern for his partner's wellbeing ensuring that he always gave Yugi the option to have the bed to himself. Smiling wryly, Yugi wondered with humour whether Yami would be shocked if Yugi ever replied any differently to his usual response: "Don't be silly. Of course you can share the bed." Yami smiled gently in response, moving across the room to claim a spot under the blanket next to Yugi, stopping only to flick the lights of the main cabin off as he made his way over.

When Yami had first asked to sleep with him in bed, Yugi had found it odd and slightly disturbing, particularly with his newfound feelings for his partner beginning to surface. However, it now occurred almost nightly, and had long since ceased to feel strange; even Duke had acclimatised to their close behaviour after an initial small shock; Yugi remembered his first reaction with humorous pity- poor Duke!

Yugi personally found his partner's closeness comforting; he had always been a very physical person, who enjoying hugging and touching his friends as a way of affirming his affections. Yami had obviously picked up that trait, although Yugi had never seen him act this way around any of the gang, so perhaps it was unique to the two of them, he mused. It gave him selfish pleasure to think that he was the only one that Yami liked to hug, although he was sure that it was merely another way for the Pharaoh to keep him close by and safe, rather than a sign of love as Yugi meant it. Yugi knew that Yami was still adjusting to having his own body, and found it difficult to sleep at night without Yugi's closeness to reassure him. After over five years of sharing the same body together, Yugi's Other still struggled occasionally to come to terms with being alone. He had never admitted this to Yugi, of course, but the smaller teen had begun to get a sense of his partner's feelings through the strengthened Millennium Puzzle link.

Yami wriggled a little to find a comfortable position, Yugi waiting beside him, propped up on one elbow. As soon as the taller teen was settled, Yugi shuffled over until he was lying alongside Yami, their bodies almost touching along their lengths. Yami grasped Yugi's hand, pulling his arm across until it was resting over his chest, sighing with contentment as the two sank into a sleepy and peaceful silence.

"… Yami?"

"Yes, aibou?"

Yugi squeezed his eyes shut, his heart aching to tell Yami how he felt; how good and natural and right this felt to him. Instead, he simply squeezed his partner slightly tighter and murmured, "thank you for reassuring me. About… about Joey."

Yami was silent for a moment, then Yugi felt him shift slightly above him, and his warm lips pressed gently against Yugi's forehead in a familiar gesture, making Yugi smile against his skin.

"Goodnight, Yugi."

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Yugi startled awake, the images still fresh in his mind, his forehead still tingling and warm from the memory of Yami's lips against his skin. Raising his hand, Yugi gently rubbed at the place with cold fingers. Suddenly a rush of great sadness washed over him, constricting his chest and bringing a lump to his throat; but the sadness was not as great as the lingering feeling of joy the dream had brought him. For the first time in many months, Yugi did not suppress the memory, did not force himself to forget; the face of his Beloved swam before his eyes, grave and sweet, and he could not bear to let it fade. A tear escaped the corner of his eye, sliding slow and cold down his cheek.

Yami…. Yami. My Yami. Why are you haunting me again now?