(A/N: You know why I'm uploading so soon? BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE AWESOMENESS. You all rock. Seriously, you do. Thank you SO MUCH for your epic reviews, people! I love you all. -hugs everybody here- So here you have more of Yugi and lovesick!Yami. Because they're epic win. :D

WARNINGS: Puzzleshipping fluff. SHAMELESS FLUFF. You've been warned. Lovesick!Yami and 'mini-me', who keeps appearing because I just adore that little guy.

Disclaimer: No matter how much I wish I did, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. Otherwise, it'd be called 'The Gay Adventures of Yugi Mutou'... I think... just ignore me and enjoy, please! :D)

Chapter 3

The first time Yugi says that Yami is his best friend is also the first time Yugi invites Yami over to his house. They've been friends for more than a few weeks now, and the little one's invite was so adorable (and Yami's deeply thankful he's been learning to control the moments when 'mini-me' appears) that Yami immediately said yes. Well, his exact words were more like "sure, count me in!" After they play a bit of Mario Kart Wii and Yami beats Yugi in chess, Yugi teaches him how to play a game he's recently found on internet called "If You Absolutely Had to Choose." It's pretty simple: you come up with scenarios in which you have two choices, and you must choose one. But Yami either doesn't get it or he's doing it on purpose to make Yugi laugh.

"Let's try one more time," Yugi says between muffled giggles as they both sit down on Yugi's carpeted floor. "Would you rather fall in love with someone at first sight, or fall in love with someone after getting to know them?"

"That's not fair!" Yami yells, almost indignantly. He hears 'mini-me' inside his head, screaming, I fell in love with you at first sight and I'm falling even more for you after getting to know you! How am I supposed to choose only one? But luckily, since Yami has gained some control over his little imaginary self, he stops himself from speaking those words, and then he pictures a wall in front of 'mini-me'. 'Mini-me' crashes into the wall when he tries to jump in front of Yami. Yami smiles to himself before remembering he still hasn't given an answer. "That's a very hard question, you know!"

"Come on, just pick one!" Yugi cries happily.

Yami lets out a 'hmph!' sound that makes Yugi giggle sweetly. "Fine, fine," he groans. "If I had to choose, I'd say…" Not wanting to waste the opportunity, he throws his arms into the air and shouts, "I'd say both!"

"NO!" Yugi exclaims, bursting into fits of laughter. He falls back to the floor, holding his stomach. "You're a cheater! You can't choose both, I already told you!"

Well, yes, but you didn't tell me you were going to give me a question where I'd actually like to choose both! Yami thinks in his defense, but he still laughs and plays along.

Suddenly, a strong voice booms through the living room downstairs. "Yugi, are you home, son?"

Yugi's face lights up. "I'm up in my room, Dad!" he cries, standing up and rushing to the doorframe. Yami hears footsteps on the stairs, and it's not even ten seconds before Yugi steps apart and lets his father in. Yugi's dad is so much different than Yami expected. He has golden curly locks and gentle green eyes, and his face shows nothing but love and compassion, even if he's got some wrinkles here and there. He lets out a little breathe when Yugi pulls him into a crushing embrace.

"I thought you weren't coming home until tonight!"

"Well," his father says, chuckling to himself, "I got the toys done sooner than I thought, and, as you can see, here I am now."

"I'm so happy!" Yugi muses excitedly. "Oh, Dad, I want you to meet someone." The boy pulls away from his father's arms and holds out a hand to Yami to help him get up. Yami tries not to blush as his own fingers brush Yugi's and then clutch them tightly to get to his feet. He let goes as soon as he's steady. "Yami, this is my father, Aristos Mutou. Dad, this is my best friend, Yami."

Yami is absolutely sure 'mini-me' is at the moment spinning around his head, and there's honestly nothing he can do to stop it. I. Am. His. BEST FRIEND, he thinks, feeling the heat on his cheeks expanding to the rest of his face. He begs and prays there's no blush showing, because he's doomed as it is without it. I'M HIS BEST FRIEND! His little self is starting to float along with the wee hearts again, and it makes Yami very tempted to imagine another wall. But his brain is still caught on the 'Oh-my-gosh-I'm-his-best-friend!' part to even picture a brick.

He shakes Aristos's hand, trying not to look too nervous. "Nice to meet you, sir. I'm Yami Atemu."

"Aristos Mutou," Yugi's dad say, shaking Yami's hand once before letting it fall. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, son. I'm glad that Yugi has finally brought you home! We've heard so much about you; Yugi here always has something new to tell us related to you."

"Daddy!" Yugi shrieks, blushing visibly. He only calls his father 'daddy' when he's embarrassed. And he really, really is right now. "I'm sure that's not something Yami has to know." But Aristos is not finished yet. He begins rambling on and on and on about all the wonders he and his wife have heard of Yami, and he's utterly satisfied at the expression his son's best friend has once he's finished. Yami, on the other hand, realizes that it must be impossible to fall even more for the same person so many times because this cannot possibly be happening!

"Well, your mother will be home soon, so I'll make dinner," Aristos ends, stepping towards the door. He quickly turns to Yami. "You staying for dinner, son?" Yami is about to scream that he'd love to, but remembers he must be back home by the time dinner is ready with his family or his father will be pretty angry. He looks at the clock, nearly fainting when he sees his 'curfew' is approaching.

"Thanks for the generous offer, sir, but I actually have to get back myself or I'll be in trouble." He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, trying to convey that although he'd like nothing more than to stay for dinner, he really has no choice. Aristos seems to understand, for he nods respectfully at Yami and turns to Yugi.

"Yugi, I got a call from Anzu today at work. She said she's already received the material you asked her for."

Yugi's eyes and smiling lips are one step away from jumping out of his face and his cheeks are around three seconds from turning crimson permanently. The amethyst hue gleams with such strength that Yami's 'mini-me' seems to vanish in the act. Who is this Anzu girl? A co-worker of his father's? A relative? An old friend? An ex-girlfriend? An actual girlfriend? No, no, she can't be an actual girlfriend. B-because Yugi would've told him if he had a girlfriend, right? Because Yami's his best friend, right? All of a sudden, Yami feels a very deep sadness overtaking his insides, and he can't believe he was such a fool. How could he think that Yugi was not taken? Yugi is obviously taken. He's cute, and charming, and so sweet that he makes Yami want to go to the dentist, and adorable, and smart, and patient, and funny, and so, so beautiful. And even if he isn't taken, Yami doesn't know if Yugi's gay to begin with. As a matter of fact (and to sum it up), Yami simply has a leap of faith.

He thanks Yugi for the amazing time, gives him a quick hug that is enough to get his heart racing (accompanied by a loud squeal from 'mini-me'), walks down the stairs, says his goodbye and thanks to Aristos Mutou, and steps out of the house.

Yugi accompanies him to the door. "Thanks for coming, Yami," he says with a smile. Yami has no trouble at all in smiling back, even though these exchanged gestures might never mean anything more than smiles between two best friends. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure thing," Yami says quietly. The question he wants to ask is on the tip of his tongue, so he decides to just go with it and deal the consequences later. "Erm, if I-I can ask… that Anzu girl your father mentioned… is she s-someone close to you?"

Yugi blinks in surprise for a minute, but then he chuckles. "Yeah! And she's not a girl, she's like, a grown-up woman. She's in college now, I think. Anzu lives down a few blocks, and she used to babysit me when I was a kid. At the moment, she's also got a part-time job helping my father with work."

Yami's happiness is shown on a grin so big it could easily be compared to the Cheshire Cat's. "Oh!" he breathes. "That's great! And if I can ask, what's that material you asked for?"

It's Yugi's turn to grin wickedly. "I might tell you someday." Yami lets out a chuckle of his own.

"You know what? Maybe next time," he says, "I could invite you over for dinner."

"That'd be amazing," Yugi answers as he leans on the doorframe, his grin changing to that smile Yami loves to see on his face. "And you know what?" Yami raises an eyebrow questioningly. "Maybe when that happens, you could give me a ride."

Yami is absolutely sure this kid is flirting with him; because even as he's closing the door after both have said their goodbyes, Yugi's right eye twitches as though he wants to wink. What guy winks at his best guy friend? Perhaps at their, er, girl friends, yes. But never at their guy friends, not even when it's a best friend.

Once he's facing a closed door, he wonders if maybe, just maybe, his conversations have been too flirty. He wonders if maybe, just maybe, Yugi realized that but doesn't mind, since he's (most likely) begun to flirt, too.

One thing is for sure: Yami is definitely okay with that. And 'mini-me' is too, considering he's back to doing acrobatics, this time including an outfit that reads: "I LOVE YUGI!"

(A/N: Oh, COME ON, like you didn't see that one coming! Cuz I know you did! :D)