I do not know why the end of my last chapter came out as entirely italicised, I didn't notice that during posting. Apologies if it confused/annoyed anyone. I considered deleting and reposting, but, meh. It's done now.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, as my (not so) little tale comes to a steady close.

~Jehbel

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Joey gaped at the point where Yugi had disappeared, his eyes still burning from the blinding whiteness of the light that surrounded his small friend. His mind was blank, unable to comprehend what he had seen in the last few minutes. Yug'? Wh-where did he go? The blonde climbed awkwardly to his feet, grimacing as his head throbbed painfully where he had struck it. Gingerly rubbing the lump, Joey looked around the mostly empty room; Bakura lounged against a wall nearby, the picture of nonchalance. Meeting Joey's gaze momentarily, the white-haired teen shrugged with a quirked smile, sliding down to rest on his haunches. His gaze shifted back unerringly to the spot where Yugi had disappeared.

Joey felt as though he had been caught up in a whirlwind. Was that really Yug' I saw? Somethin' was really wrong with him! He looked like a zombie!

Joey swung his arms, feeling slightly awkward. What do I do now? Is he coming back? Should I go see if Ryou is ok? He cast about, feeling indecisive. With a shrug that made his head throb, Joey turned to leave, casting a final look about him with a concerned gaze.

Suddenly, his shadow stretched and elongated, coming into high definition in front of him as the room glowed white-gold behind him. Spinning around, Joey shielded his eyes with a forearm, squinting as he tried to see through the brilliance. He did not realise he had been slowly backing away until he felt the wall, solid and unyielding, behind his back. Beside him, Baurka stood in a single fluid motion. Leaning forward slightly, the thief did not move from his position but remained watchfully still. His expression was expectant, his mouth a harsh grimace as the light stung his eyes. He did not shield them.

The glowing intensified in a momentary surge, before dying away, sinking back to coalesce into a small form in the middle of the bedroom. Joey took a step forward, his eyes focused with concentration, blinking to clear the spots from his vision that the bright light had left.

The light finally gave up its hold, revealing the shape of not one, but two figures. Bakura gave a hissing sound, his eyes narrowing.

Yugi was kneeling, one leg propped up, his arms wrapped around the prone figure lying on the floor in front of him. Yugi held the other person tightly, closely; his hair and jacket obscured Joey's view of the other's face, but he knew without a doubt that it was Yami his small friend was clutching so protectively.

"Yugi!" Joey cried, his voice leaden with relief at seeing his friend returned safely, and wonderment at the appearance of the two boys seemingly from thin air. "Yami! You guys- you're back!" The blonde rushed over to Yami's side, reaching out help Yugi pull the taller teen into a sitting position. "C'mon Yam', up ya get now." With a grunt, Joey hefted the deadweight of Yami upright as Yugi clamoured to his feet. Yami grunted weakly, his eyes opening slightly as Joey manhandled him. "Yu…. gi?"

Joey looked around for Yugi. "Heya, Yug' he's awake! Come over here- Yug'?"

The small teen was facing the wall, his shoulders slumped, his head hanging low and slowly swaying from side to side. His fingers twitched and clenched sporadically and his body quivered all over.

Joey felt his stomach clench uneasily. "… Yugi?"

The small boy turned, his mouth stretched into a hideous parody of a smile, his eyes wide and glowing still with the white-gold light. Chuckling like an avalanche, Yugi's head twitched, then cocked sideways as it took in the two boys before him. "Yuuugiii." The multitude of voices quivered with mocking glee. "He/him isgone now. We/us remain now." Joey swallowed nervously, glancing down at Yami with entreaty. "Yami," he whispered. "What's wrong with him?"

It was Bakura who answered. "He took on too much, the idiot. He pulled down the Ancestral spirits themselves to give him the strength to reach out to his precious Yami, and they've taken his body." With mock sadness, the thief shook his head, his mouth twisting into a grin. "What a pity. I hope you like your best friends with a side of apocalypse, Joey."

Joey stared with uncomprehending horror at the staggering, slouched form of his best friend. "What do you mean, "taken"? Is he possessed, or something?"

Bakura flicked at an invisible speck on his jacket, his expression bored. "Yep."

Joey stood up, supporting the now awake, but silent Yami. "Well, how do we get him back? He can't just be… gone, right?" Bakura directed a look at Joey that conveyed his intense disdain for the conversation, and did not answer. Yami gave a small groan. Joey glared at the white-haired teen with frightened anger as Yugi gave a convulsion, a low babbling mutter streaming steadily from his mouth. "Bakura! Talk to me here! How do we help Yug'?"

Bakura gave a shrug of complete indifference. Joey wanted to throttle him. "I can't help him. If I were to approach the spirits, they'd demolish this house trying to kill me. He may have some success though." The thief gestured lazily toward Yami. "After all, they serve the Pharaohs."

Joey glared about him decisively. "Right. Well, in that case-" with cruel forcefulness, the blonde pulled Yami to a standing position, shaking the shorter teen roughly, holding him at arm's length- "Yami, get your ass into gear and bring our Yug' back! It's the least you can do after he did all this for you!"

The large purple eyes looked up at Joey with vague unease, their gaze listless and clouded. "I am dead," he murmured, his head slowly turning to take in the room with dawning wonderment and sadness. "I never thought it would look like this. The Shadows are cruel indeed." His gaze landed on Bakura, who sneered in response. Yami frowned lightly. "I do not know why I see you here though, Thief. The ones I love, yes; not you." Without hesitation, Bakura flicked him an extended middle finger in reply.

Joey shook his head incredulously at the nonsense coming from Yami's mouth. "What the hell, Yami? HELP YUGI!" He shook Yami harder than before, the shorter boy's head whipping backward and forward with the force. Yami blinked slowly, his eyes saddened and unfocused, confusion building. "Fine! If you won't help him, I will!" Joey released Yami with disgust, pushing the shorter teen away from him, turning to face Yugi, who was now scratching absently at the wall with one hand, his head still low, the many bubbling murmurs still tripping from his lips. He seemed oblivious to the other two boys in the room with him.

"Hey! Listen, you! Give Yugi back his body!" Joey strode over, extending a hand to grab Yugi by the shoulder. Behind him, Bakura hissed, "Idiot! Don't touch him!"

Joey paused, his hand dropping to his side, before continuing forward. "He's Yugi. He won't hurt me. He's my best friend." As the approached the hunched and quivering figure, Yugi's head rose, and he peered sightlessly at Joey over his shoulder. Pushing down the shudder he felt at seeing Yugi this way, Joey stepped as closely to the shorter teen's body as he deemed sensible. "Yug', it's me. It's Joey. You in there, bud?"

The white-gold eyes did not blink, did not flinch.

Joey shuffled closer, as close as he dared. The Yugi-creature gurgled and rumbled, the many voices giggling and hiccupping as one, his mouth still stretched almost unnaturally wide in a snarling grin. Joey's amber eyes never left Yugi's. "I know you're there, Yug'. Come back to us, man."

The creature let out a high pitched giggle; the sound of brittle ice breaking, of mountains cracking. "He/him does not wish to return. He/It is bonetired. Soulhurt. Leave Him/he to the Shadows."

Joey shook his head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Nah. I don't believe you, whoever you are. Give him back." A movement to the side caught Joey's eye, and he turned his head ever so slightly, his eyes never breaking contact with the creature's own gaze. From his peripheral, Joey could see that Bakura had joined him, his long arm wrapped around Yami's vacant silent form. Bakura was like a hackling wolf, his hair erect and his face twisted into a feral snarl as he looked into Yugi's face. The creature rumbled. "Thieeef." Its gaze shifted slightly and Yugi's body swayed slightly, becoming if possible even more hunched over. Was it bowing? "Pharaoh…..Atem the Beloved One." The creature took a shambling step forward, toward Yami.

"He/it/smallboy does not wish to return; all that awaits him/the in this world is pain and loss. The Shadows will ease thisone's soulpain. Let we/Us remain. We/this will serve." Yami stared with horror at the face of his Other, now contorted and almost unrecognisable. "You/them needs must let him/He go, Pharaoh. He/smallboy drifts now; nothing keeps him/he tied to this world nolonger."

"You're wrong." Yami had finally found his voice. It was weak, but determined. "Yugi belongs of this world. Look for yourself and see how tightly he binds us all together." Moving forward, out of Bakura's grasp, Yami stepped toward the creature, his expression terrible, his eyes snapping with anger. His voice stronger now, he continued, "If you will serve the Pharaoh, then serve me now, as a Son of the Ancients, Son of your Sons. Release him. Return him to his vessel. You have done what he called you to do; we have no need of you here." The teen stood tall and proud, his fists clenched tightly; only the barest quiver of his voice betrayed his physical weakness and fear.

The creature swung its head ponderously. "He/thischild is too weak to take back his/the body. He/it used all its/his energy summoning us/the We and pulling back you/Atem/PharaohBeloved. He/It has not the strength to return."

Yami stepped forward, his expression proud, his eyes tranquil. "Then, take me instead. Use my power to return Yugi."

No!

The body swayed slightly, its expressionless orbs gazing into Yami's face. Joey had the impression that the creature was surprised. "You heard me. Take me instead. If this world is to be without Yugi, I want no part of it." Yami's large purple eyes were bright, his expression harsh with anguish. "I have experienced life without Yugi; I will not do so again. So, take us both or just take me; I will not go on living without him on this earth."

Yugi's body shuddered, a low growling rumble sliding between his teeth, his fists clenching. Overhead the bedroom light flared once, angrily, before shattering with a thin tinkling of glass.

From beneath the rumbling, as faintly as a breath, came Yugi's voice. "Yami."

His Other closed his eyes, a single tear sliding down his cheek. "Oh, Love. Please come back to me. I have so much left to say to you."

"No. This/your body is mine/ours now. Your/his weakness was toogreat. Yield!" With a crackling snarl, Yugi's hand flew to his face, his teeth sinking into his own flesh. Joey cried out, reaching forward to stop him. "Stop!" Bakura cried, crabbing his arm. Yami did not respond but stood silently, his eyes never leaving Yugi's, his brows drawn with concentration. Blood sprang up around Yugi's teeth, beading and running hotly down his fingers and arm. "Yield, human!"

A sigh. No. This body is mine. This soul is for Yami. None of it belongs to you.

"Yugi." Yami opened his eyes, full of immense sadness, glazed with tears. Joey could feel his own eyes pricking in response to the emotions he could see playing out on the Pharaoh spirit's face.

The creature gave a howling shriek. "No!"

I am not weak. The voice was firmer.

"You are not weak, Yugi," murmured Yami.

"There's nothin' weak about you, Yug'," Joey snapped.

"Go back where you came from. You cannot hope to hold this vessel," Bakura snarled, his hair still bristling with the rage of ancient enmity.

The body swayed alarmingly, Yugi's hand still firmly grasped between his teeth. Hot blood peppered the floor around his feet. He began to chuckle. Yugi's hand fell from his mouth as the chuckling became laughter. The sound was the crashing of waves against rock; the beating of a dragon's wing. It was high and low and rich and terrible. It continued, over and over, rolling through the room, crashing against the thunder outside. Joey could feel the goosebumps rising over his arms and neck. Bakura's hands pulled into claws in response.

Finally, the laughter came to a gurgling stop. "A worthy one… for the Beloved."

Yugi collapsed.

"Yugi!" Yami rushed forward, catching the smaller boy in his arms, gently lowering his head to the floor. Yugi's eyes were closed, his face oddly serene; his lips and chin were slick with his own blood. He no longer glowed.

Joey felt the blood drain from his face. "Yami- is he-"

The teen looked up at Joey, his amethyst eyes swimming, his face weary, proud. "He overcame. He is back. This is but the normal sleep of sheer exhaustion." Yami turned to gaze down at Yugi, his expression full of wonderment. Joey gave a hiccup, a traitorous tear emerging despite himself. He moved to sit beside Yugi, but stopped at the touch on his shoulder. Joey turned to look at Bakura, his eyebrows raised in question.

The thief did not speak, but his expression conveyed much. With a jerk of his head, the white-haired teen moved away, toward the bedroom door, pausing to look back at Joey with a raised eyebrow. Joey looked to Yugi, his expression full of concern and yearning, then back at Bakura. The thief nodded. Sighing, Joey conceded, following behind the other boy. He closed the door behind him with a soft click.

Yami did not notice the exchange. He did not hear the door close. He did not notice that his body had repaired itself, was regenerating as he sat there cradling the other boy. He would not notice if the very house were to collapse around him in that moment, because Yugi, his Yugi, was back in his arms, and the feeling was sweeter than the first breath of life. He was complete; he had been broken and rebuilt anew. "Oh, Love, I will never let you go again." He could feel the hot wetness on his face; as if in response, a tear slipped from the corner of Yugi's closed eye. Leaning down, Yami rested his forehead against his Other's momentarily, before drawing away minutely to look at Yugi's dear sweet face. He could feel Yugi's breath, warm and faint, against his own skin. His lips shone cherry-red with the stain of his own blood; Yami watched as Yugi's lips parted slightly in his sleep, and he could no longer deny.

And so it was, that terrified, and for the first time in his five thousand- year lifespan, Yami kissed another.

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Joey's mind was reeling as he followed Bakura down the stairs. The events of the past hour had been so great, so momentously amazing, that he could not even begin to make sense of them. His heart was thundering in his ears, his eyes gritty and wide. Two facts he grasped at: Yugi was alive and would be alright, and Yami was back. Everything else could wait.

The blonde watched as Bakura stretched his arms above his head carelessly like a cat. The thief spirit seemed largely unaffected by the entire encounter, but Joey suspected that it was an act. His mind recalled Bakura's actions and words, and he knew the truth of things; Ryou's Other had been instrumental in bringing both Yami and Yugi home safely. His heart beat painfully with the sudden surge of affection and gratitude for the other boy. "Listen, Bakura, I-"

His words were cut short as the white-haired teen turned to face him, a long finger raised against his lips. Bakura rose an eyebrow at Joey, before his mouth split into a toothy grin. With a soft chuckle, he led a confused Joey outside, turning unerringly toward Ryou, who was struggling with James under a nearby tree. Joey blinked with surprise; he had almost forgotten all about Yugi's boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend, I reckon, he thought to himself, as he walked over.

James was a mess. His expression stricken with fury and terror, his body shuddering in great heaving waves as he clung to Ryou to remain upright. His skin was bloodless and clammy, and Joey suspected that he may have been sick, if the smell was anything to go by.

Ryou had turned as soon as his Other appeared, his face a mask of relief. "Bakura! Oh, I'm so glad you're here! Joey! Is Yugi okay?" He released James unceremoniously, letting the brunette slump to the ground, rushing over to enfold Bakura in a fierce hug. He pulled back to peer at Joey over his Partner's shoulder, his large brown eyes wide and full of questions. Bakura patted Ryou's head with surprising tenderness, drawing his aibou's attention back to himself. "It is done. The Pharaoh has returned." Ryou's eyes grew larger and his face lit up with joy. Bakura leaned down slightly so that his eyes met Ryou's. "You are unhurt, my hikari?" At Ryou's shy nod, Bakura grasped his chin gently but firmly, his eyes narrowed. "Good. Don't let that scum touch you again. I can smell him on you." With that, he pulled Ryou in for a ferociously hungry kiss. Joey coughed and looked away delicately, his ears turning slightly red, but a large grin affixed on his face.

"What- what the fuck is going on?!" James' voice was raspy and rough after the silkiness of Bakura's tones. "Wh-why are there two of them? What the fuck was that? Yugi?" James staggered to his feet, a hand against his head as he looked wildly between the three boys standing before him. "How are you so calm? What was that fucking monster up there?" His wild eyes rested on Bakura and Ryou again. "How are there two of you?" he almost shrieked. Bakura growled like a dog in reply, pulling Ryou around behind him, not deigning to answer. From behind his Partner, Ryou peered over his shoulder. "It's quite alright, James. I can explain everythin-" he stopped as James physically recoiled from his voice.

Straightening, the brunette looked at all three teens, his expression warring between fury and disgust. Pointing shakily at Bakura, he snarled, "y-you're a mutant, aren't you? You and that freak upstairs. You're… you're clones or something, aren't you?" With a wild laugh, he clutched at his hair. "I knew there was something wrong with that simpering little bastard. I knew it. Fucking freaks, all of you. Monsters. Disgusting. Unnatural. Yugi-"

James' final comment was cut short as Joey drove a fist into his face.

It was a magnificent punch; after all, Joey had learned to fight fast and dirty on the streets. James collapsed into a heap, lip split, blood pouring over his face. He lay, writhing, trying to get up, low agonised grunts slipping out.

Joey towered over the prone boy. "How's it feel, James? Today you got dumped by one of them disgusting, unnatural freaks. Wonder what that says about you, huh?" Behind him, Bakura let out a peal of laughter. Leaning down, Joey met James' watery gaze with his own, steadfast and furious. In a low voice, he growled, "if you ever come near Yugi, or Yami, or Bakura and Ryou again, I'll personally make sure I rearrange yer pretty face. Got it?" James' expression flickered momentarily with anger, before he nodded begrudgingly, looking away with shame. "Good. Now fuck off." Joey turned away from the brunette with disgust, facing the two white-haired teens.

"Ryou, Bakura, I think I needa rundown on what just happened up there, ya know? Mighta been that bump to the head, but I'm really confused."

Ryou stepped forward, his face sweetly open, a small smile playing around his mouth. "Of course, Joey. I think we owe you that much at least." He glanced at his partner, who was closely watching James struggle to his feet behind them. "Let's go and get a pizza or something… and talk. Hn?"

Joey nodded enthusiastically, his stomach suddenly gurgling in obvious agreement. "Now that's a good idea!" Pulling a blue credit card from his pocket, Joey waved it at Ryou's face, a cheeky grin on his features as the white-haired teen read the neatly printed name: Seto Kaiba. "Kaiba's shout! I'm getting' pretty good at faking his signature by now." Ryou laughed in reply and shook his head. Behind them, James staggered to his feet, swaying drunkenly as he wiped gingerly at the blood coating his chin and mouth. With a final defiant glare, the brunette staggered away from the trio, breaking into a run as he gained his bearings.

Joey spat on the ground, drawing an envious look from Bakura. "Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say. Now- pizza!" With a small jump of excitement, Joey punched the air happily and dragged a laughing Ryou after him.

They were several metres away when Ryou pulled up, looking behind him to where his Other stood, having not moved an inch. Bakura's hair whipped about him in the wind, ignored by the teen, who continued to stare in the direction that James had disappeared.

"Bakura," Ryou called softly. "You can't." Bakura lifted a lip in a silent growl, his stance not changing. Even from where he was standing, Joey could tell that the teen was as tightly coiled as a spring.

"Actually, I think he deserves a bit of fun." Joey's statement finally broke the thief's countenance, the teen's head whipping around to look at the blonde, his pupils narrowed, his face hopeful. Joey gave Bakura a smile that he hoped conveyed his understanding and gratitude. "Just… don't kill him, alright?"

Bakura's face split into a terrifying grin, and without a word, he turned and loped after the retreating James like terrible great cat.

"Joey, are you sure about this?" Ryou's expression was worried.

Joey thought back to the sight of Yugi upstairs; weak, yes, exhausted, yes, but alive because of Bakura. "Yeah, Ryou. I'm sure."

Finally, and with little ceremony, the rain began to fall.

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Yami sat, his knees drawn up to his chest, his eyes staring distractedly out the window. The rain was falling in earnest now, the winds lashing against the glass, making the window rattles slightly.

He had moved Yugi to his bed, once he was certain that the smaller teen was in no immediate danger. Now he sat next to the slumbering boy, one hand lightly resting against the small of his back, as Yugi curled up like a kitten beside him. Every few seconds, Yami's sombre eyes would slide back to take in the sleeper, almost on their own free will; as though they could barely stand to be parted from the image of Yugi.

Yugi's breathing had changed; the boy would soon awake. Yami swallowed down his emotions, knowing that the hardest part was yet to come- the reunion. His joy and wonderment at being back at Yugi's side had been dimmed by the long hours he had spent sitting, thinking.

He was back, yes; but had anything changed? He knew that Yugi had someone summoned him, however Yami's memory of the whole event had taken on a hazy, dreamlike state. He knew he had been close to oblivion when Yugi had found him. Why then, was he here? Yugi had saved his life, he knew this at least; distractedly he lifted a long slender hand in front of his face, marvelling dimly at its completeness now.

But the situation was the same, wasn't it? Would Yugi ask him to leave again? His feelings for the smaller teen had not changed, after all- Yugi would still be disgusted by his unrequited love, which if anything, had grown stronger during his enforced separation from his aibou.

"What?" Yugi gasped, suddenly sitting upright, causing Yami to startle terribly and smack his head on the wall behind him.

"Argh! Y-Yugi! Are you alright?" immediately Yami crawled closer to his Other, who was breathing deeply, his skin pale. Yugi turned to Yami, his eyes wide and disbelieving; he appeared shocked.

"Yami- do you love me?" his voice was hushed, as though he had spoken a rude word in public.

Yami reeled backward. What was this? Some sort of amnesia? Had Yugi forgotten everything? The fight, their months of separation?

Yugi shook his head irritably. "Of course I haven't forgotten, Yami! How could I? It's just-" Yugi peered down at his lap, fiddling with the blanket- "You've never said you love me before. You mean it like, brotherly love, right?" His brows were drawn together as he waited for the response.

Yami gaped. "Yugi… are you reading my mind?"

Yugi's head snapped up, his eyes round. "Nooooo…. Am I? Weren't you just speaking to me?" his dear little face was baffled.

Yami shook his head slowly, watching Yugi's reaction. "No. I was sitting beside you, thinking. The only words I spoke were 'are you alright'. The rest…. The rest were my thoughts."

Yugi's mouth opened slightly, then closed, as he absorbed this information. His cheeks flushed pinkly and he looked back down at his intertwined hands where they rested in his lap; his bitten hand had been cleaned but still looked angry and raw. He was adorable.

As soon as the thought entered Yami's head, Yugi flushed a deeper red. "I'm not adorable," he muttered quietly. Yami chuckled.

Yugi looked up at his other, his eyes concerned. "Yami, what does this mean? I have never been able to read your mind this easily before; have I broken something in my head?"

Yami blinked. "I do not know, Yugi. Surely not. This is probably a result of your close interaction with the Puzzle; it seems to have enhanced your skills. I cannot reach your mind at all; you are blocking me very effectively." Yugi's face was utterly baffled; clearly he had not been intentionally shutting out Yami. Screwing his face up with concentration, Yugi closed his eyes. Several seconds passed; then, a minute. "Yugi-" Yami began, but he suddenly stopped, because as clearly as a ray of sunshine, he could suddenly see into Yugi's mind. He felt the satisfaction that Yugi felt at his success, but he could also feel the thundering headache that was building in Yugi's head. His face pinched with sympathy at the feeling, before it was neatly cut off again.

"Sorry, it was hard to push back… I think this headache is making it hard to concentrate." Yugi rubbed his temples gingerly.

Yami reached out to draw Yugi to him in a hug. "No matter; I am content." Yugi sighed, relaxing against Yami's chest as the taller teen rocked him gently. Gently and deliberately, Yami shut his mind from Yugi, so that his thoughts and feelings would not distract the exhausted teen. He felt Yugi squeeze him slightly in thanks.

Yami had drifted into a stupor of sorts, when Yugi suddenly murmured, "You didn't answer my question." Yami tensed slightly. "Yugi…"

Large purple eyes peered owlishly up at him, halting his half-formed objection. "Yami. How do you feel about me?"

Yami swallowed the immediate feeling of fear that arose as he remembered the reaction Yugi had had to his internal declaration the first time. "Yugi, I'm not sure what you want from me. You know how I feel; you heard it yourself, remember? That hasn't changed. In fact, if anything, it is worse now."

Yugi's eyes clouded and his brows lowered. He looked hurt and upset. Yami hated that his feelings and desires caused his Other so much distress. Yugi looked down at Yami's arms where they crossed over his chest. "Yami… how can you stand it? Being this close to me… if you feel the way you do about me?" He looked sickened.

Yami swallowed, nervous. Did Yugi really want to know this stuff? Surely hearing about Yami's love for him would only make him more and more distressed. "I don't really know, Yugi. This is all I can do." He wanted so badly to explain himself; how Yugi's touch, his scent, his very energy, made Yami feel alive, thrumming with need. Gently, gently. I cannot scare him again.

Yugi wriggled free of Yami's embrace, the taller teen's answer clearly not satisfying him. Turning so that he was facing Yami across the bed, Yugi glared at his Other with eyes brimming with tears. Yami made an inarticulate exclamation at the sight, reaching forward to touch Yugi; the smaller teen moved his head back out of reach. "Why do you do it, then, Yami? Why do you do this to me?" The tears were falling now, Yugi's small face pinched with anguish. Yami stilled, his hand still outstretched, his expression tortured. Yugi continued, his eyes fixed on the bed between them, steadfastly refusing to meet Yami's eyes. "Why do you do these lovely… these kind… these nice things for me, and hug and touch me, and smile at me the way you do, when you hate me so much?"

Yami was dumbfounded. "What?"

Yugi ploughed on, determined to say what he had to while he had the courage. "I must make you sick. Especially after seeing how much James was able to hurt and torment me. All I did was prove you right in the end, didn't I? I showed you how weak and pathetic I am." The tears were falling hot and thick down his face now, his large amethyst eyes wide and unblinking. "If you want to leave after all this, I won't stop you, and I… I won't bring you back again, I promise. I just had to see you one last time, Yami. Because… because I love you, alright! I want you more than I've ever wanted anything and all I want is for you to stay by my side, but I know I'm not… I'm not worthy!" Yugi dissolved into anguished tears, his hands coming up to cover his face. His body shook with heartbroken sobs.

Yami stared, his brain moving sluggishly. His hand shook slightly; he placed it gently over Yugi's own clasped ones on the mattress between them. "Yugi- you love me?" Hiccupping with small sobs, Yugi could only nod, his face turned down, ashamed. Yami reached forward, his long hands grasping Yugi by the shoulders. The smaller teen looked up, started at his Other's sudden urgency.

"Why, Yugi?! If you love me, why are you so disgusted by my love for you? Why is it this way!?" His eyes were wide and beseeching, the anguish clear in his gaze. Now however, it was Yugi's turn to frown with confusion.

"Wh-what do you mean, your love for me? You don't love me, Yami! You think I'm weak and pathetic! I heard you, remember? You were thinking it that… that day!"

Yami had run the fight through his head every day for months. He remembered every word, every action, every feeling that he had experienced, that dreadful day when his aibou rejected him. He knew what he had been thinking before Yugi pushed him away, and he realised with a sudden bolt of electrifying, terrifying clarity, that Yugi had only heard part, and not all, of his internal musings.

So that means…

With a gasp, Yami flung himself at Yugi, pinning the small boy beneath him to the bed with an almighty whumph. "Argh! Yami?! What are you doing?" Yugi cried, struggling weakly against Yami's heavier weight. Yami closed his eyes, his long lean body lying flat along Yugi's, their heartbeats thumping madly in a disorganised harmony. Yami didn't answer Yugi, instead opening his mind to the other teen. He felt the small body stop struggling as the images passed into his mind with perfect clarity.

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. He could feel the smaller boy thrumming with nervous energy in his arms and he berated himself for causing his Partner pain. He was frustrated and confused; what had Bakura said to his aibou to upset him so much? He wished that Yugi would talk to him about it. He wished… well, what he really wished for was impossible; his Hikari just did not feel the same way he did. Why couldn't he let it go? Even now, standing here comforting his partner, he wished for… more. His body was burning where Yugi's touched it; his blood was singing in his veins, urging him to do it- lean forward- kiss the boy in front of him. Make him yours.

Yugi. His aibou's face swam through his mind, so dear and sweet.

With a wave of disgust, Yami thought about his selfish desires. I am so weak. I can barely contain myself around him anymore. My self-control is…. Pitiful. Oh, how he would hate me if he knew how I feel. I'm… an embarrassment. I just wish… I wish he could love me as much as I love him.

Suddenly, a wave of horror rolled over him, directly transmitted into his mind from Yugi's, and he realised that something was terribly wrong with his Partner. He recoiled instinctively-

Yami closed the memory off with a gentle thought; he did not need to relive the ensuing argument again; he had done so too many times to count. Yugi lay rigid beneath his body, his small hands clutching Yami's shoulders as though he were holding on to life itself. He began to shake.

Yami pulled back to gaze down at Yugi, his gaze tender; he held nothing back. He allowed the love he felt to saturate his expression. Yugi's eyes were enormous and again brimming with tears. With a shaky laugh, he brought a hand up to wipe at the tears that had begun to spill down his cheeks.

"So… all this time… You… didn't… hate me?" His lip wobbled a little, his mind struggling to understand the new concept.

"Oh, my Love. I could never hate you. All I ever hated was my own weakness. Yugi, you are good, and strong, and true. Can you see that now? You sent me away when you thought I was in pain being around you, even though it meant giving up what you wanted. You reached for me, and brought me back from the edge of death. And now, even now, you offer to give me my freedom again? Can you not see how good you are? I don't deserve you. But, if you'll have me, I'll spend the rest of our lives with you. And I'll love you for every second, every minute, and every hour of every day. I love you, Yugi. My soul is yours entire."

Yugi stared, wide-eyed with wonderment. He meant it. He really meant it. The words, clichéd by any other mouth, sounded perfect coming from Yami. A small hiccup of joy rose in Yugi's chest; it was barely a spark, but he realised now how absent it had been from his heart until now.

"Yami," he whispered, his large eyes locked on his Other's, matching amethyst orbs. "I'll never let you out of my sight again."

Yami grinned, his eyes twinkling. "And I'll never let you out of these arms."