Hey guys! Wow, thanks for all the reviews! Here's the next chapter. Sorry its not that long but hey, we're almost done with the story! Only like 3 chapters left or so. Anyways enjoy! And please vote in my new poll!

Chapter 8: Yugi's Song

As inconspicuously as possible, Yugi made his way to the center of the city square where the water fountain sat patiently. He was grateful that the majority of the citizens were fully focused on Yami, who was still dressed in that ridiculous red suit. Yugi just couldn't understand how in the world Yami managed to still look gorgeous in it though. It was beyond his comprehension, at this point.

Discreetly, Yugi took a small green bottle from his pocket that he had found in one of the cabinets back at Yami's house. He had stumbled upon the various containers and bottles when he had searched the house the other day out of boredom. He distinctly remembered reading all of the instructions and purposes for the liquids on the back of the bottles so it wasn't hard for him to find the green one that he held in his hands at the moment.

Yugi uncapped the bottle. "This should stop Yami," he murmured to himself as he poured the entire contents of the bottle into the fountain, raising a hand up to hold his nose as he did so since the odor was pretty putrid. Accomplishing this small feat, Yugi quickly disposed of any evidence before slipping back into the crowd, a satisfied smile running across his features.

"Are you ready, Yami?" Kaiba inquired from above as the crimson-eyed youth settled himself into the wooden sled. Yugi shot a glance at the two pairs of reindeers—or rather the skeletons of two pairs of reindeers—before focusing back on the conversation.

"All set." Yami winked.

"Alright then," the brunet replied, turning his attention back to the crowd of eager citizens.

Yugi's smiled widened when a thick fog began to spew out from the fountain, swiftly covering the city square with its opaque clouds. Perfect.

"Wait, what's going on?" Jou asked, his amber eyes scanning the surrounding fog with suspicion.

Yami turned at this, his eyes growing wide as he examined the thickness of the fog around him. He could barely see a thing. And it was only getting worse.

"No! The reindeer won't be able to see!" a vampire exclaimed.

"That means Yami can't go though!" another creature shouted.

But Yami was no longer listening. He had been so excited for this. All he ever wanted was to be able to experience something new and now his only chance was taken away, ripped from right under his nose. He could only slump back against his seat as his eyes filled with disappointment. All is dreams…all his fantasies…

Through the fog, Yugi was able to slightly see Yami's stunning red eyes and it was all he could do not to feel guilty. This was for the best after all. He couldn't let Yami go through this whole Christmas thing. It would only end in disaster. But the facts didn't cheer him up as he continued to gaze at the one he loved, fully aware that he was the cause for the distant and saddened look in his eyes.

Yugi bowed his head in guilt so he didn't even notice when Zero floated past him and approached Yami.

"No, not now Zero," Yami said when he felt something nuzzle his hand. However, his pet didn't stop his prodding and barking, causing Yami to snap his eyes in annoyance to the transparent dog, the red-orange nose almost blinding him.

…Wait a minute.

"Zero!" Yami exclaimed, the life quickly seeping back into his eyes. "I never noticed how bright your nose was! All the better to light my way!"

"What?!" Yugi gasped when Yami's words reached his ears but his own voice was drowned out by the surrounding cheers.

"That's great!" Ryou applauded. "Now you can go!"

"No!" Yugi said but his protest was once again unheard.

"Then I'm off!" Yami smiled, peering out into the crowd of citizens in an attempt to find his little one. But the fog around him prevented him from seeing the doll so, with a small sigh, he snapped the small whip in his hand with a flick of the wrist. A moment later, Zero was at the front of the reindeers, the sled rising off the ground and gliding into the sky. Yugi was absolutely mortified.

"Wait, Yami! No!"

But it was too late and all Yugi could do was watch as the sled disappeared into the night sky, his hand clutched tightly onto the fabric over his heart. The violet jewels glazed over with worry, darkening the usual bright eyes in the process. He barely noticed when the crowd around him began to disperse, his gaze never faltering from the black clouds that hung over his head like a curse. "Goodbye, Yami," he murmured softly as he finally, though still reluctant, lowered his eyes back to the ground. "My dearest Yami." He sighed. "Oh, how I hope my premonition is wrong."

Strolling cautiously by the excited citizens, Yugi made his way to the graveyard. He needed to be alone and clear his mind of all these troubling thoughts. And that feat would surely be impossible if he stayed in the city square.

His hands gripped on to the bars that made up the fence encircling the cemetery, his eyes closing softly as he reminisced on the past few days. "I sense there's something in the wind that feels like tragedy's at hand," he whispered to himself, gazing back up to the clouds that Yami had vanished behind, a sad smile pulling at his lips. "And though I'd like to stand by him…I can't shake this feeling that I have."

A sudden noise from the shadows beside him caused Yugi to jump with a quiet shriek, his eyes searching frantically for the source of his distress. He felt like slapping himself when a small kitten jumped out of the corner and crawled up to him, rubbing his leg in a soothing manner. Yugi slowly lowered himself to the ground,

The kitten almost immediately crawled onto his lap, nuzzling the top of his head into Yugi's outstretched hand. The purring sound resonating from the cat's entire being was enough to lift up Yugi's spirits if only for a second. Yugi let himself fall back against the fence, his head resting comfortably on the cold bars supporting him. He smiled slightly when the wide black eyes of the kitten locked onto his. "You know, the worst is just around the bend," Yugi murmured to the animal in his lap, a pang of hurt stabbing at his heart when his thoughts returned back to Yami, his friend, his crush, his love.

He held the animal in his arms closer to his chest, his arms wrapping around it protectively. The cat only looked up at him with a comforting glint in its eyes in response to the affectionate gesture. "Do you think he notices my feelings for him?" Yugi asked the small feline, not at all caring that he was conversing with a cat. A long sigh escaped his lips when the cat purred, thumping his head against the fence in an effort to think. "And will he see how much he means to me?" Yugi exhaled sadly, shaking his head slowly. "I think it's not to be."

Another purr, a small signal for the doll to continue. Yugi offered the feline a pet on the head for its kindness before reverting back to his previous train of thought. "What will become of my dear friend? Where will his actions lead us then?" Yugi bit his lip nervously, the worry he felt for Yami overwhelming his system.

He glanced at the kitten with a small frown. "And will we ever…end up together?" Yugi shook his head sadly. "No, I think not. It's never to become," he sniffled back a sob, "for I am not the one."

--

A boy of six jumped out of his bed with a small 'eep' when the roof above him thumped harshly. Shaggy blond hair covered his eyes, completely disheveled from his pillow, as he scanned the ceiling for anything out of the ordinary. That's when a wide smile lit up his face.

"Santa!" he cheered excitedly as he scurried out of his bed, his small feet landing on the floor with a small thud. Quietly, he creaked open his bedroom door and wandered down the stairs, making sure to walk on his toes so that he didn't wake up his parents.

When he had arrived at the bottom step, he quickly surveyed the living room, his eyes widening in awe when he saw a hunched figure over his tree clothed completely in red. Hesitantly, the boy tiptoed over to the figure, tilting his head when he noticed how skinny Santa was.

"Santa?" the boy uttered, his breath catching in his throat when the man turned around. Well, he certainly didn't look like he did in the story books.

Yami stopped, dropping the present in his hand to the floor by the tree as he turned to meet curious green eyes. "Merry Christmas!" Yami greeted with a bright smile as he peered down at the blond boy. "And what is your name?"

Not completely sure what to do, the small boy looked down nervously, fidgeting with the hem of his pajama shirt. Yami noticed the boy's uneasiness and grinned.

"That's alright," Yami said, turning around to reach in the large red sack behind him. "I got a special present for you anyways."

The boy eagerly accepted the gift in the other's outstretched hands, his eyes scanning the silver-colored box with interest. He looked back up just in time to see the red-eyed man—maybe it was Santa's son or something—disappearing back up the chimney.

Without a moment's hesitation, the boy ripped open the box, his eyes landing on the thing inside of it with slight confusion. He only vaguely heard the sound of his parent's footsteps and didn't even turn when they had stopped right behind him.

"What did Santa give you this year, Tommy?"

Slowly, the boy turned around, emptying the contents of the box on the floor only to reveal a small duck toy that started laughing menacingly before snapping its head up to the boy's shocked parents, a small glint in its fake eyes.

--

"Police station," the brown-haired man at the counter recited into the black phone. He sat up in his chair as the sounds of screams resonated through the receiver. "Attacked by Christmas toys? Hmm, that's the third call we've received tonight. Okay, just lock your doors and stay inside. We'll take care of this."

To Be Continued...

God, Yami's in trouble now. I promise to have the next chapter up soon. Review please! Or not! :)