(A/N: OH MY GOD IT'S BEEN -LE GASP!- IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE I UPDATED THIS. A MONTH. I AM SO ASHAMED. IMMA GET UNDER A ROCK AND HIDE TILL I DIE. Oh, wait... I can't do that, cuz then we would have no story. And we don't want that to happen, do we? D: We wanna know what happens with these two! Erm... three, if you count 'mini-me', which I'm sure you do. ANYWAY, I'm so sorry! I'll try to update this more regularly! GOSH, I really mean it! I'm very very deeply sorry!

WARNINGS: Angst. You might cry. Hopefully you won't. A bit of Puzzleshipping fluff. There'll be more soon! 'Mini-me' makes two small cameos at the almost end. He'll come back, don't worry! In this chapter, we finally find out what "the accident" in Yami's family really means. Er, if you see any grammar slips I might've made, please let me know. If you find anything too OOC, please notify me as well. Don't be afraid, I don't bite!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh! In any case, I only own 'mini-me'. Technically, it's Yami's, so I don't really own him. ACK. Without further adding, hope you enjoy and please review!)

Chapter 8

The first time Yugi sees Yami cry, Yami's kneeling in front of a tombstone as Yugi stands behind him, not sure of what to do.

It all started two weeks ago. There was a cloudy sky; and although it hadn't rained, the gray clouds seemed to affect Yami's mood since the first hours of that day. When the crimson-eyed got to school that Monday, his eyes were red and puffy like he'd been crying, and no matter how hard Yugi tried, Yami wouldn't smile. He… actually had never been this way before. What had the weekend done to him?

During the next couple of days, Yugi would call him in the afternoons, just to make sure the other was okay. Yami usually picked up after the second ring—they never talked much. Not anymore. Yugi would ask, "Hey, you doing okay?" and Yami would answer, "Yeah, I'm good." Small chat would follow, but Yugi was afraid that his best friend was slipping away from his grasp.

Then, last week, Yami completely ignored him—inside and outside school. Every time Yugi called out to him, he'd run off or keep walking like no one else existed around him. Most of the time, the boy kept wondering to himself if maybe Yami was having personal troubles; something related to his family, perhaps.

It was in that moment that it clicked on his head… the day they went to that ice cream shop and Yami discussed his parents.

Yugi told him, "Your family sounds nice."

But when Yami responded, "They are," he looked crestfallen. He seemed like he was going to break down any minute. Yugi knew his best friend was hiding something, and he suddenly feels like whatever happened (or is happening) with his family is finally taking a visible toll on Yami. Now he just had to get a chance to talk to him and let him know that he'd always be there for anything the crimson-eyed needed.

Today, Yugi excuses himself from his last class by pretending he's feeling sick. When he's out in the halls, he waits by Yami's locker, realizing this might be his only opportunity to talk to him before the weekend. Once the bell rings, the hallways start filling up with students, and the boy patiently waits until his best friend gets to his locker.

Yugi doesn't like how Yami looks: zombified. If his clothes were tattered and he had a little of spooky make-up on, then he'd truly look like a zombie come out of Resident Evil, and that's not something Yugi wants to think about. He shudders at the mere thought. Yami stops next to him… and he doesn't even notice him.

"Hey," Yugi says.

Yami nearly jumps out of his skin. He looks up and his eyes are huge—shocked? Surprised? Scared? "H-hey," he says back.

"I, um, hadn't seen you around," Yugi continues, trying to keep a conversation.

"Yeah," Yami says, shuffling his things into his locker without making eye contact.

"You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Yugi bites his lip; he should've known it wouldn't be that easy to talk to his best friend. "It's been a while since we hung out. Want to come over to my house? We could play 'If You Absolutely Had to Choose', or chess, or—"

"I can't," Yami quickly answers. Before Yugi can even try to stop him, he's already walking off without as much as a goodbye.

"Wait, wait, wait." Yugi follows after his best friend and grasps his arm so strong that Yami turns back. "What's wrong? Why have you been avoiding me?"

"I haven't been—"

"Yes, yes, you have." He clutches Yami's arm, trying to make him understand. "I'm your best friend, Yami. I don't know what's going on, I don't know what's wrong… but you can count on me for anything you need. Anything, anytime—you have me," Yugi finishes in a whisper.

Yami seems to let this sink in. He looks down at the floor, eyes furrowed, and then turns to Yugi again. Finally, he heaves out an enormous sigh. "There's someone I need to visit. Will you come with me?"

Yugi blinks. Well, that was easier than he imagined. Of course he says yes.

Yugi has never been more confused than now. When Yami parks his car, they're outside a… a graveyard? Oh, goodness… oh, goodness… did someone from Yami's family die? His mother, his father? Is that why Yami was so down? If only Yugi knew… he would've been there for him in a flash!

Yami climbs down his car and starts to approach the grassy hills where the tombstones are. Yugi, afraid he'll leave him behind, follows right behind. He thinks that they'll stop almost immediately, since recently deceased people are always the closest to the gates while the ones with more time are closest to the center. However, they soon pass the most recent tombstones, and Yami keeps walking. Then… who is it that died? What relative of Yami is it?

It's two minutes… five minutes… ten minutes… but Yami still doesn't stop. He just keeps walking.

After a long time where Yugi takes in all the tombstones and all the deaths he never even imagined, his best friend halts, making him almost slam against him. The boy looks around Yami's shoulder, catching a glimpse of a headstone with the name Rebecca Atemu engraved on it.

"Yugi," Yami whispers, and his best friend realizes he's swallowing his sobs. His crimson eyes seem even redder as he tries to hold back the tears. Yami points with his palm open at the gray gravestone in front of them. "This is my sister, Rebecca."

Yugi feels his eyes widen and his mouth fall open. He… he didn't even know Yami had a sister… and… and she died? "I—I-I'm so, so sorry, Yami, I…"

Yami swallows and smiles bitterly, kneeling down before the tomb. "I used to call her Becky—sometimes I… I also called her 'my little girl'," he chokes out. "She was three years… y-younger than me… S-she was eight when… when…"

And before anything else can happen, the crimson-eyed bursts into tears and clutches at the gravestone, as if that can give him back his little girl. At last—at frigging last—Yami lets himself openly mourn for his sister.

He hasn't cried this much since he heard of her death; since that terrible day…

Becky had been missing for the entire evening, and Mom and Dad sent Yami to his ex-babysitter's house until she got back so as not to worry him. Dad went out to look for her, and Yami had to go back home because his ex-babysitter had to get out of town. He climbed into Mom's lap while she sang to him, rocking him back and forth while Dad and Becky got back. Later, at night, Dad finally got through the main door, but Rebecca was not with him. Yami woke up—it was a habit he had: waking him whenever he heard a door opening.

"Daddy?" the then 11 year old asked. "Where's Becky?"

Dad didn't answer. He approached Mom, who sat Yami on the couch, and hugged her. "Have you called the police?" Mom demanded.

"Yes, and still no signs of her," Dad said. "She's got that ID you made her, remember? She knows her home address, her phone number; she knows where the police station is."

A knock on the door—Yami knew from the movies he watched with his family on Friday nights that a knock on the door at night was always a bad sign, or at least not a good sign.

He completely blocked out from his memory the events after that knock. They're much too painful for him to remember, but now they're coming back to him in a rush, and they hit him like a cinder block. A policeman was at their door; he took off his hat and asked, "Mr. and Mrs. Atemu?" They nodded. He took out a small card—a homemade ID with the name REBECCA VIVIAN ATEMU written in huge letters at the top with black marker. He and his partner, who were out looking for a little girl after a call from a distressed father, found the body of an infant matching the description they'd been given outside a warehouse. The ID was in her girl's school's sweater pocket. He took out a picture; gave it to Mom and Dad.

Mom cried out, "My girl! My baby!" Dad noticed Yami was standing there, at the foot of the stairs; he took the boy in his arms and carried him to his room, but Yami had already heard the awful news: his sister, his little girl, his Becky… was dead.

Months later, the policemen finally found the bastards that had caught up with the girl, cruelly murdered her, and left her dead body on the cold floor without even stopping to think in what it would mean for the girl's family to lose her at such a young age. But it was too late for the family. Their most precious treasure had been mercilessly taken from their hands.

Yami sobs and cries and shakes as he recounts the story to Yugi, who just stands there in shock, not really knowing what to do. Does he say something to Yami? Does he grip his shoulder? What should he do? He's never been in this kind of situation…

At the end, he opts for the thing he considers safest: he kneels down next to his best friend and wraps his arms around him, pulling him into an embrace.

Yami starts trembling more at this—his heart starts to race so fast and hard that he fears it'll burst right out of him. There's this strange mixture of pain and warmth flooding his insides, and he feels like his chest is burning and it just hurts so much… Yugi's rubbing his back, the way Dad did six years ago when he took him to bed that terrible night.

"T-the only time I-I ever c-came here," he hiccups, crying into Yugi's arms while his still clutch at the gravestone, "w-was on her f-funeral… I n-never had the c-courage to do it a-after that…" Then he scoffs and smiles a little, turning to the boy beside him. "Thanks… f-for coming with me…"

Yugi leans his head against Yami's shoulder as his best friend's arms fall down to the ground and wrap around his own. "Thanks for inviting me," he says with a smile. "I'm sure she was just like you."

A small pause.

"May I talk to her?"

Yami's head snaps at him. He doesn't know where Yugi's going with this, but he owes it to him. So he nods. Then Yugi turns his eyes to the gravestone, and he starts to… speak to it. "Hello, Rebecca. My name is Yugi, and I'm your brother's best friend." Yami smiles to himself—Becky loved introductions. She jumped at every opportunity to say her name out loud. She would've giggled with this. "I know we just met, but I would like to ask you a favor. Will you let Yami say a few words to you?"

Yami nearly jumps. "W-wait, I-I don't know—"

Yugi stands up, his arms still around Yami, pulling him up as well. "Just imagine she's right here, in front of you."

The problem is, Yami thinks, she isn't. She hasn't been for the past six years. Suddenly, he remembers the melody he composed two weeks ago: the lullaby he created, the one that reminds him of Yugi, of his love for the amethyst-eyed, of his friendship with the boy and how it has started to help him turn all of his pain and sorrow into experience and happiness. He can't turn his back in all the progress he's made.

He takes a deep breath.

"Hey, Becky. It's me, Yami…" Oh, goodness, he's kinda nervous. He feels his legs shaking. Just imagine she's right there. Think that she left for that Girl's Academy she wanted to attend and this is the first time she comes home in six years. For the first time in two-weeks, 'mini-me' makes an appearance, sitting on his shoulder.

You can do it, old chap! the little fellow cries, patting the side of his head. You can do it! Then he takes out (from God knows where) a flag that reads, "GO, GO, GO!"

"I-I hope you're doing fine," he continues, breathing deeply through his nose. "I… I know we haven't… haven't really talked or anything… but I really miss you. M-mom and Dad… they do, too." He wipes away some tears that run down his cheeks. "We've needed you… so, so much, Becky. A-and…" Yami starts sobbing again, remembering the cold breeze that swept through him the day of her funeral, knowing his little girl would never come back. Knowing that he'd never hear her laugh again; would never see her smile again. "And I w-want you to know… t-that, even though I've t-tried to forget you… I-I never will. Because you're my sister," he sobs. "Y-you're my little girl."

Yugi smiles sadly to himself. He steps next to Yami, letting him know he'll always be there for him.

"I'm sorry f-for never v-visiting you before—I promise that, f-from now on, I-I will. A-at least twice a week… to talk to you." He feels the tears drying up, only leaving a salty trail on his face. He wipes his eyes, laughing for no reason. "I missed this," he tells the tombstone. "I really missed this, Becky."

A soft wind blows by the graveyard. Call Yami crazy, but he can swear that he hears the giggling of a little child, very similar to the one coming out of his sister's mouth every time she heard the nickname only her brother was allowed to call her. "I love you, my little girl. I-I'll see you soon. A-and I'll make sure Mom and D-dad visit you, too."

He softly plucks out a small flower bud from the grass and puts it at the feet of the headstone, his heart content with the fact that starting today, his sister's tomb will be the most beautiful one in the entire graveyard. Every time I come, Becky, he thinks, I'll bring you a flower. I'll bring you one of the many flowers you loved.

Yami turns around after saying his goodbye and starts walking away, his entire body feeling so light that he looks down at his feet a couple of times to make sure he's not flying. 'Mini-me' appears again, still sitting on his shoulder.

Great job, Yami! he yells excitedly, waving his flag. Next time we come, can you introduce me to her? She seems to be a very sweet girl! Yami nods at himself, thinking that Rebecca would've loved 'mini-me.'

Yugi stares at Yami's back. Then he glances at the tombstone. Smiling, he nods at the name of Yami's sister, adding, "It was nice to meet you, Rebecca," before chasing behind his best friend.

"I'm proud of you," Yugi says as he and Yami climb up into the car. Yami has this lost look on his eyes—a look he's had ever since he spoke to Rebecca's tombstone. His feelings are a mess right now. He doesn't know whether to feel, like Yugi, proud, or happy, or sad, or normal.

"Thanks," he mumbles. Actually, he's starting to feel sort of proud, too. After all, this was the first time he spoke about Becky out loud. He even talked to her! "It really meant a lot to me that you were there," he says, wiping his eyes.

"No big deal," Yugi responds.

But then Yami takes his hand and Yugi feels like the temperature just got down to zero and rose up to 100 degrees all at the same moment. "It was a big deal," Yami tells him, his eyes watery again. This time, though, they're happy tears. "Yugi…" The boy looks at him expectantly, urging him on. "In the past six years, I-I never even said Becky's name out loud. Now I spoke to her! This… this was a huge, huge step for me. And I couldn't have done it without you." He squeezes Yugi's hand, missing the blush that spreads across the boy's cheeks. "Thank you."

Yugi smiles and pushes a strand of hair out of his forehead. "You're welcome. Thanks for letting me talk to her, too."

Yami smiles as well, clutching Yugi's hand without letting it go. "I bet you would've been great friends."

"Like us?" Yugi adds a bit shyly. Yami's smile grows wider.

"Yeah," he agrees. "Like us."

(A/N: D'AAAAWWWW! Cheesy endings are cheesy. :3 I'd love to know what you guys thought! 8D)