"Y-Yami?!" Yugi stuttered in nervousness. "Wha- Why are-" He took a deep breath in an attempt to gather his bearings, which luckily helped enough for him remain calm on the outside. "How long?"

Yami sighed sadly. He noticed the murderous aura emanating from the group behind Yugi- well from everyone except Ryou, who wore a knowing yet warning smile, which Yami found scared him more than the other four. He realized he would have to be very careful with what he said, though, he hadn't be planning on saying anything that would further hurt his hikari.

"Since the last song." He admitted. "I'm sorry to listen without permission."

"Oh." Yugi mumbled, still a bit on edge. "It's okay. What are you guys doing here?" 'Why are you talking to me?' he really wanted to ask.

"Well, y-you see. I...We were... L-looking... you... "Yami found it was much harder to speak than he thought it would be. Yugi stared at him curiously, patiently waiting for Yami to finish.

After a few more stutters, Yami sighs. "I'm sorry! Yugi! You can't imagine how sorry I am! I was blind and I was stupid. I promised you I'd protect you no matter what and I broke that promise." Yami felt the tears fall down his cheek but he didn't care, he needed to let Yugi know how sorry he was. "I won't make excuses for what I've done and I know I don't deserve your forgiveness so I won't ask for it. But, Hikari, I need you to know- it was never you and you did not deserve what we did to you... What I did to you. All this time you were hurting and I never paid attention to that. That week you were gone, I was terrified something had happened to you- especially with what happened the night before you suddenly disappeared."

Yugi gasped at the mention of that night. While he still felt really guilty about what he almost did, he was more shocked at what he was hearing. Yami was sorry? He didn't hate him? Was this true, could he believe what his Yami was saying?

"I looked everywhere but when we found you with these guys we selfishly convinced ourselves that you had chose them over us the whole time- because we were too selfish to admit to our mistakes and see the way we were treating you."

Joey then spoke up. "Yugs. I'm so sorry, too. I betrayed you in the worst ways. Yami's right, we were all too friggen selfish to see what we were doing and we don't deserve your forgiveness. When Yami brought up the times we've hung out since he's came back I suddenly realized how much of a jerk I've been. And I promise ya little buddy, I will never let anything like that happen again! I'll die before I let it." Yugi rarely ever saw Joey cry, yet there he was; head hung low, shoulders shaking and tears freely falling to the ground.

"Yami...Joey..." Yugi whispered, barely inaudible to the others.

"But I really am sorry, Yugi!" Joey near yelled. "Even though we can't make up for what we did, and even if things can't go back to how they were- you at the very least need to know it wasn't your fault and we do care about 'cha... And...and... We won't blame you if you hate us and you have every right to."

Tristan was the next one to speak up though he seemed much more calm than joey at first. "Yugi. I'm really sorry too, bro. There's not much to say that they didn't, but it's all true, We messed up big time and there's probably no fixing things between us, but we'll do whatever we can to try to make it up to you. We'll do anything." Tristan's face had turned bright red and the shame he felt was easily seen on his face.

"Tristan..."

Yugi felt something in his heart tighten. His attention drew to the quiet girl behind the group. Tea was staring at the ground.

What could she possible say to the boy who had been her childhood friend since they were basically born? She was the worst person in the group. She had spent so much time throughout their days preaching about friendship and loyalty- yet she turned her back on her closest friend when he needed her most.

"I'm such a hypocrite." She spoke aloud, dry humor in her normally cheery voice.

"Tea." Yugi spoke slightly louder than before. He knew he should be angry or at the very least upset with the people in front of him- this was all just words and empty promises like always- however seeing everyone this way made him feel like they were telling the truth. He decided to believe them- hell, he had long since forgiven them- but he knew his trust had been shattered and even though he wanted to, he would be unable to actually trust them for a very long time.

"Yugi!" Tea yelled, bursting forward. Ryou and the others were unable to react fast enough before she threw her arms around him. "I'm so so so so sorry!"

The sudden embrace sent a shocking pain through him. He was unable to hold back the pain-filled scream. Tea- startled- released Yugi, causing the boy to fall to the ground while gasping for air.

"Yugi!" Ryou, Yami and Joey yelled as they simultaneously rushed to Yugi. Ryou managed to reach Yugi first since he was the closest. "It's okay, Yugi, just breathe through it. You're gonna be okay. " He comforted as he slowly lifted him in to a sitting position, leaning on to Ryou's shoulder for support.

"Ryou! What's going on? What's wrong with Yugi? What happened?" Yami asked, panicked.

Ryou couldn't help the glare from forming, but he quickly calmed himself and answered. "Ushio and his gang have been bullying Yugi anytime we weren't around to defend him. They've gotten far more violent since you guys started ignoring him." Yami felt a pang of guilt rise at the obvious jab, however his anger and rage towards Ushio rose as he fought off the urge to find and beat the life out of the giant bully- and himself while he was at it.

"T-thanks Ryou. I'm fine now." Yugi's breath was still a bit hitched from the pain.

"Oh my- Yugi I'm so sorry! I didn't know, I didn't mean to hurt you."

Yugi grinned- though it was a sad one it was genuine- and reassured his childhood friend. "It's okay, you didn't know."

"No, it's not okay Yugi! Because of us you're in pain!" Tea argued.

"When I get my hands on that scumbag he's gonna regret the day he was born!" Joey growled angrily.

"Like you have the right to do that." Bakura taunted. "It was because you left him alone that they even had a chance to get to him."

"Bakura." Ryou stated, though he didn't disagree with his lover, he felt that it wasn't the time or place.

"What you know it's true, they left him alone to get bullied until he felt the need to en-"

"Bakura! Ryou and Yugi both yelled. Ryou yelled out of anger and shock while Yugi shouted from embarrassment and shame.

"Stop and think about it for a moment. Do you think Yugi want's that bit of information to get out without his permission?" Malik informed.

Bakura turned red and apologized profoundly. "I'm sorry Yugi! I wasn't thinking. Forgive me."

"It's okay. I know you were only trying to protect me." Yugi replied.

"Yugi?" Yami spoke softly. "What happened?" Yugi didn't want to reply out of fear that his friends would think less of him or worse, however when he looked into their eyes he saw nothing but sadness and concern and regret.

"Not here." He whispered sheepishly.

"Are you sure, Yugi?" Ryou asked. Yugi nodded, Ryou knew it would be hard to talk about so he offered. "Well, We'll be there to help you if you feel like you can't do it."

"Thanks."

"The limo will be here shortly to take up to the mansion. I have some doctors on their way as well to check up on your wounds and it'll be easier there than it would be the game shop or the apartment." Kaiba spoke up, wearing his 'I don't really care' mask.

"Kaiba." Yugi smiled. He never did cease to surprise him. "Thank you."

Kaiba just grunted but nodded none the less.

The groups hung around the park bench; Yugi, Malik and Ryou sat on the top of the bench while Bakura and Marik leaned casually against a nearby tree- sending intense glares to Yami, Tristan, and Tea, who were standing near the table Yugi and the others were on but remaining silent. Joey and Kaiba stood on the sidewalk by the road.

"Sorry, Kaiba." Joey apologized. Kaiba raised an eyebrow indifferently. Joey knew sorry wouldn't be enough for Yugi and it sure as hell wouldn't be enough for his boyfriend.

"I know, sorry won't cut it. But I really am sorry for everything. Not just with Yugi, but with you as well. You were defending Yugi all this time and I was a complete jerk to you for it." Kaiba still had an indifferent expression. "However, I do want to thank you." This got Kaiba's attention.

"..."

"Well, for being there for Yugi when we were too blind and selfish to be. Believe me when I say we will make it up to you guys no matter what and how long it takes."

The two glanced back to look at Yugi who was laughing with Ryou and Marik. "He doesn't hate you guys." Kaiba informed. Joey seemed startled by the sudden statement.

"W-hat?"

"He never hated any of you. He never even blamed any of you. If anything I think he's already forgiven you all. Don't ask me why- If it were me, I would never forgive you. But whatever Yugi decides I will follow his choice. If he truly decides to forgive you all then I have no other choice but to accept that." He paused for a moment, turning to face Joey eye to eye. His face darkened as he spoke "But if any of you do anything to hurt him again, the Bakura and Marik will be the least of your worries. Got that?" Joey internally shivered by the cold, harsh tone his boyfriend gave off, however he calmly replied.

"No problem there. There's no way in hell I'll let anything hurt Yugi like that again."

"Are you only saying that because you feel guilty? Once you feel like you have made it up to him, are you going to leave him all over again?" Kaiba questioned.

"I'll be honest with ya here. I do feel guilty as hell for what I did, but that is not the only reason." He glanced back sadly at his friend. "Yugi is a great friend and person. He saved the world and us, not for fame or anything, but because he felt it was right. He's brave, selfless, and strong. Honestly he deserves better than us, but I want to at least show him I still care about him, regardless of what happened before. He deserves to know that. And if he does actually forgive me, I will spend the rest of my life showing him how much I care, and if he doesn't want anything to do with us..." He paused. "Well, who can blame him?"

Joey stared down Kaiba, eye to eye. After a moment Kaiba sighed and smiled slightly, showing he approved of the answer. Before anything else could be said a long, black limousine pulled up, indicating it was time to leave.

Kaiba called the others over and the group piled into the vehicle, awkward silence filled the space as they pulled off to Kaiba's mansion.

Well, this chapter didn't take too long. I would like to thank everyone for sticking with me so far. I'm honestly not sure how many more chapters there will be and I'm starting to get a bit of a writers block. Also my next fanfiction will be either a Miraculous Ladybug or Undertale. Let me know which one you want and I'll go with the one with the most votes by the end of this fanfic.