Chapter 6

Aah, New York was amazing! Yugi was thrilled to have finally moved to America in favour of becoming an interior designer, with the full support of his grandfather! It was his dream coming true, and he was ready to live his life the way he had always wanted: extravagant, rich, luxurious and outgoing!

And here he was, taping advertisements all over the bill boards of his campus, his eyes red and bagged due to a lack of sleep and his aura gloomy. If anything, people would never come up to him and apply for the add looking like that, of that much Yugi was certain. But what did he expect? He had been well into moving together with his so-called 'best friend' (and Yugi emphasised those words), when all of a sudden argument just broke out and Anzu had decided to screw him over by leaving him and stealing their roomy with her, ultimately leaving Yugi with a rent that he couldn't pay. He was fucked by his ex-best-friend and needed to find roommates quickly if he wanted to stay in America at all. Otherwise the entire trip, his college-fees and dreams would've been for nothing!

Wondering what the argument was about? They were gossiping about the latest celebrity news and apparently their roommate (what was her name, Suzy or something? Or was is Sara? At any rate the girl was a bitch) was a huge fan of Black Osiris. And for the life of him Anzu couldn't figure out why Yugi was so sensitive about the subject. Whatever gossip it was they were discussing, Yugi hadn't heard anything of it because he had been too busy changing the subject, much to Anzu's suspicion. Then, Yugi had accidentally spilled the issue of how he had once gone on a date with the idol, and for the rest of the night Anzu had dragged out the only detail Yugi hadn't shared with anyone; that he had even slept with him. Try imagining Anzu's rage-face upon hearing that.

And that's how he ended up here. Thank god university hadn't started yet. Thank god he had realized what a bitch Anzu was before the beginning of the year.

After having posted several adds on every wall in his campus, Yugi was absolutely drained when arriving back at the house. He dropped himself on his bed, muffling his face in the pillows and trying hard not to think about the misery he found himself in. The house he had wanted to share with Anzu was large and nice, at least large enough for a place in NY. The rent was doable when splitting in three, but impossible to pay alone. There were three bedrooms, a shared bathroom, living-room and open kitchen, and there was immediate access to public transport which was a big plus here in town. Yugi didn't feel like moving at all! Obviously because he had only just gotten here.

It was after only five hours or so, when Yugi had fallen asleep on his bed, that he received a phone call. Drowsily, he woke up and reached for his phone, dragging the device toward him and trying hard to read whatever name it was on the bright screen that ached his eyes. The number was unknown however, and Yugi thought this was odd.

"Hello, Yugi speaking?"

"Hello there," a young guy with a ridiculously thick British accent answered back, and the level of etiquette with which he spoke was almost painful, "My name's Ryou. I saw your number on an add after reading you were searching for a roommate. Are you still looking for one?"

"Erm, yes," Yugi responded. He decided to pull himself up and sit on his bed instead. "Would you like to come over or something?"

"That's great! I have a friend who's also interested, mind if he tags along?"

"Oh, no, that's great! When can you visit? How about tonight, at 8?"

"Eight sounds wonderful, text me the address and we'll show. See you tonight."

Perfect! Yugi thought and ended the phone conversation. He might still have a chance of remaining in New York!

Ryou and Marik were interesting, to say the least, but Yugi couldn't deny he didn't like them. He just couldn't comprehend how these two were friends at all. Ryou was quiet and perhaps even a bit shy, very composed and also polite. Marik on the other hand... was the complete opposite. He was outgoing, annoyingly talkative and way too familiar for someone whom he had only just met. He had a laugh as mad as hell and the energy of a full-grown horse. It was quickly decided, then and there, that they were going to share the house for the rest of the year and with it, the start of a newly-blessed friendship.

Ryou was of British decent. He had lived in England for about five years together with his parents. His Japanese name was just a coincidence because his mother was a Japanese-English translator and had always liked the culture. His father however was an excavator and took him to many sights and digs, even after their parents divorced. Ryou decided to go with his father, much to his mother's protest, and at the age of nine they had settled in Egypt where his father would remain on a rather large excavation of a newly-found tomb. That's where he had met Marik. Marik had lived with his sister and brother when both their parents had died, and they shared a small house in Egypt and earned a living by guiding tourists around the tombs and temples. They met on the excavation, and as outgoing as Marik was, had instantly taken a liking to him. Ever since, they had been inseparable and the best of friends.

The first days of Uni had been devastating. Because of the work, yes, but mostly because of the parties. On the first day of class, a starter day when people would just collect their books and timetables, meet the teachers and get a tour at school, the trio had been stupid enough to go on a major get-to-know-each-other party (at least that's how Marik had called it) and had ended up completely waisted the next day. Marik had ended up with a random guy in his bed and Yugi too, and Ryou had freaked about the fact that he had kissed a guy for the first time while he hadn't even know he was gay. Marik found this hilarious because he had guessed it from the start.

After only two weeks of school and a busy schedule, the trio had become the best of friends, and Yugi couldn't have wished for any better ones. He secretly praised that Anzu had ditched him for something so trivial and had come to meet these people instead. They watched movies together, had crazy nights, cooked for each other and argued about the dishes, stole each other's clothes and fought over the bathroom, very much like siblings actually.

"Wanna see how I can eat yoghurt without my hands?"

"No, Marik, not really," Ryou responded while leafing through his books and trying to study. Marik rolled his eyes, thinking that studying only two weeks after being in Uni was taking things a bit too far, but ignored it nonetheless and turned to the television again. He heard the door open as Yugi walked in, his mood clearing as bright as daylight.

"Yugi! You wanna see how I can eat yoghurt without my hands?!" He exclaimed excitedly.

"Ehm... why?" Yugi asked, a bit confused as he had only just entered the living-room and thought he had missed something to understand this conversation entirely. Ryou laughed at the sour face Marik pulled at Yugi's lack of enthusiasm. He just wanted to say something to his best friend when suddenly, the blonde's face was drawn forward and his eyes were glued on the screen. The Egyptian sternly hushed them both as he tried to pay attention to what was on tv.

"Shocking news from the musical industry, Yami Sennen has announced that he will take a break from his band until he has finally settled his issues. Word spread that he had been struggling with his emotional stability even before their latest album was released, and many had thought the album would never have been released by the end of the year, but the idol proved them wrong. However, having produced the album has now taken its toll, as told by the singer himself on the late night show yesterday even where he had starred as a guest, and admitted that he was, indeed, struggling again with depression and fighting hard to overcome it. All over the world, fans are now worried for their hero and express their sympathy by sharing tweets and posts in which they support the singer not to give up and keep fighting the disease!"

Yugi was in awe upon hearing the news. He dismissed the remark that Ryou made about being sick of listening to music news about awful bands and the arguing Marik started to waylay that fact. It was not a secret that Marik was into Black Osiris, so much as devoting his life to the bad and having a full collection of it. Ryou absolutely hated it and pretty much hated anything modern or anything rock-like, preferring classical music and perhaps some pop-songs. Nonetheless, it didn't go unnoticed to Marik as he looked at his tricolored hair friend staring at the screen like a doll.

"What's up with you, shorty? As if you didn't know this already?"

Marik would always tease him about being a supew-dupew fan of the band because he had dyed his hair the same way as the front-singer, but Yugi always dismissed the issue. It was on one very drunk night that Yugi had stuttered every word out about how they had tried dating, how he had been a total ass, how they had fucked and how he had ditched him like dead weight. Afterwards, he had thought of himself as the stupidest person on the planet for having so openly explained to his friends how the sex had been the best in his life and that he had never been so satisfied to come ever before, but he had come to peace with it. Now though, it stung like hell.

"I didn't, no..." Yugi admitted and dropped his gaze to the floor. He couldn't help but feel guilty about the situation, but at the same time he didn't understand why. He had tried, on several occasions, to pull Yami out of the spiralling hole toward another depression, but had given up on it after a while. Now though, he felt like he could've tried harder.

"As the band was supposedly arranging a signing session in the record store near NYC, the first record store to have sold their very first single at the release of their band, fans are beginning to cancel the event and say that it is a scheme for people to buy more albums, while it is obvious the singer will most probably not show. However, the band's other two original members, Akefia and Malik, have already confirmed that they will be present at the record store and that the signing session is still very much continuing, despite what some people say. Over to you, Ryan."

"Oh. My. Freaking. God. YUGI WE ARE SO GOING TO THAT SESSION TOMORROW."

"What?!" Yugi yelled, completely frazzled as Marik jumped over the couch and came running towards him. He eeped like a child and held both Yugi's hands, a broad grin covering his face. "This is going to be so amazing! Thanks Yugi!" And he quickly pecked the smaller one on the cheek and hurried to his room, where he would decide upon the next two hours what to wear for tomorrow. Yugi just stood there, frozen to the ground and with a mouth unable to produce anything at all. Ryou looked over at his friend and shrugged, deciding that he didn't want to be a part of this gay-drama-movie and instead focussed on his textbooks again. And then Yugi yelled like crazy.

"We're going what?!"

"Stop slacking already!"

"I'm not going in!"

"Come ooooon, we've been over this before!"

"I'M NOT GOING IN!"

As if he had a choice. Marik dragged him down his feet effortlessly, after all he was just a guy of 90 pounds. Yugi crossed his arms in pure annoyance, seeing as there was no way out of this situation and he would simply have to bite the bullet. With a big sigh, he rolled his eyes when Marik freaked over the cardboard life-size statue of the front-singer and the Egyptian just had to take a picture of it, until his purple eyes collapsed on what seemed like the band, in real life, sitting on a chair behind a table for signing sessions! If only the sound of a cricket could've been heard when Akefia yawned loudly out of boredom and the drummer, Malik, was struggling to remain awake. Maybe then Marik would've realized there was nothing to be excited about.

"Oh my god Yugi, they're here! Look, they're actually here!"

Yugi pointed his finger to notion that, in fact, it was only a part of the band that was there but Marik was too fast. The platinum blonde ran towards the booth and practically stumbled when arriving, followed by a leisurely stroll from his Japanese friend who wasn't nearly as interested.

"Oh my god, this is so cool! I'm such a big fan! Can I hug you?! Can I kiss you?! Can I get an autograph? I'M FREAKING OVER HERE!"

Akefia rolled his eyes to the fan in front of him, lamely dragging a photo from a pile that had seemed untouched up till now and began signing it without much thought, until he noticed the smaller Japanese kid following after. He looked up, his dark brown eyes seemingly phased but confused at the same time. This kid seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember.

Completely ignoring the ranting of his friend (even though Malik seemed to match with it quite brilliantly), Yugi walked to the booth and smiled at the guitarist. "Hye." He greeted and waved, his eyes immediately drooping and nervously rubbing his arm.

"I remember you..." Akefia spoke. "You're that backstage kid, the one Yami invited, right?"

"Yeah," Yugi replied, a bit annoyed by the name but still somewhat relieved that he had recognized him. "H-how's Yami?"

As Marik and Malik seemed in such an enjoyable conversation, both sharing an equal amount of energy that no one could rival with, Yugi tried to start up a conversation with the guitarist. But he found it hard. He didn't know what to talk about and he had only seen the back-singer twice, and to be honest he hadn't been really friendly either.

"Well, you watch the news?" Akefia asked, folding his arms and leaning back on his chair.

"Yes."

"Then you already know."

Geez, so much for small-talk, Yugi cringed.

"You on a holiday or something?" he then asked leisurely.

"No, actually, I share a house here with Marik and another friend of mine. I'm studying abroad."

"I see." Akefia answered. Yugi couldn't help but feel like Akefia was approving him of any sorts, as if he was checking him out but not in a sexual appeal, rather ensuring the kid was secure. "You should visit him some time, then. He still talks about you, you know."

'What?' Yugi immediately thought. Yami still talked about him? Even after everything that had happened? That didn't make sense, and Akefia's sudden change of demeanour either. "I-I don't know. Last time I saw him... Well, I just don't think it's a good idea."

They were both startled when a loud squeal escaped from his friend, taking a selfie of him and the drummer while his arm was draped around his shoulder, both of them making duck-faces and sticking out their tongues, anything to add to their insanity. Akefia's nose wrinkled in disapproval, averting his gaze back to the Japanese kid. "It's your call, kiddo. Anyway, want me to sign a CD or something, as you can see," and the guitarist gestured at the non-existing queue of fans lining up, "we are extremely busy."

Yugi chuckled dryly, appreciating the light tone to which the back-singer had switched as a means of making a joke. He seemed nicer than the few times they had met. Serious, but nicer. From the many interviews Yugi had watched, he knew Akefia very much thought of Yami as his little brother and was very protective over him, so Yugi figured there was something soft behind his rough facade, even if he didn't show it often. "No thanks, I haven't really listened to any of your news songs to be honest, not ever since..."

"None?!" Akefia repeated, appearing a bit shocked while elbowing his band-member, "can you believe this?! This guy shows up and tells me he hasn't listened to any of the new songs we've recorded! How rude!"

The drummer made an 'aw' gesture with his mouth and began laughing, elbowing his friend back. "Leave him alone, Fifi. I wouldn't listen to anything in which you sing either."

"Fuck you," he spat back and flipped him off. Their level of brotherhood was quite endearing to watch, and Marik couldn't help but grin at the sight. "You two are so cute."

"Shut up, fanboy!" Akefia yelled, ready to defend his manliness. All three of them laughed while the white-haired guitarist was pestered by the remarks, having taken offence to his virility.

"Anyway," Malik laughed and grabbed for something behind the counter. He gave it to Yugi who eyed it curiously, investigating the purple CD which was just... purple. That was about it. There wasn't a picture of the band on it, not even the name of the album, just the list of the songs on the back. "Here ya go, brand new one. You should listen to it when you have the chance."

"I don't see why –"

"Just listen to it," Akefia argued and tapped his finger nervously on his arm. Yugi held his tongue and decided not to go against it, instead tucking the CD away and aiming for Marik to leave, who had been back into fully-engaged conversation with the drummer in only a few seconds.

"We're leaving, Marik."

"What, whyyy?" He asked in his over-dramatic fashion, a lip pouting to convince his friend even more. Yugi didn't buy it of course. "Because any more minute and you're going to jump him, that's why!"

Well, Marik couldn't deny that. He laughed it away, snuggling a hug from the drummer whom all too happily reciprocated, quickly slipping his phone number on a piece of paper in his hands. Malik smiled, blessing the paper with a kiss and Yugi couldn't help but stick out his tongue in distaste at the cheesy display. He grabbed his friend's hand and dragged him along, pulling the two apart whom waved at each other flirtatiously before they could finally leave.

Yugi was lying on his bed, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. He glared over at the CD again, withdrawing his eyes immediately with a sight of disapproval on his face. For the past five days, he had been in a conflict of listening to the CD or not. To be honest, he hadn't listened to any new songs from the band at all. As soon as Yami had dropped him like a rock, Yugi had gone home and had ripped off every poster he owned. He had thrown away all his CDs and every book, every magazine, every merchandise he owned he had dumped in the nearest second-hand store for a ridiculously small amount of money. After that, he had refused acknowledging any of their music. He wanted to focus on his studies and Yami simply couldn't be in his way anymore.

But this CD pulled at him immensely. The fact that there was no title written on it at all made him curious. An idea had crossed him that perhaps he could look it up, but he was too stubborn and wanted to find it out for himself. Everyone who owned this CD probably knew the title, so it should be obvious, right? Was it some kind of riddle? Was it just called 'purple'? What kind of stupid name was that?! That wasn't even Yami's favourite colour! God, this was killing him!

Bitterly annoyed but also frustrated to no extent, Yugi got up angrily and finally, after five full days of inner arguing, slammed the CD in the CD-player. He waited for the first song to play while looking at the back of the CD. The first song was called 'never told', and from what Yugi could hear it sounded like a cover. It was awfully... calm compared to their usual rock/electronic-like songs. It was almost painful to listen to.

The second song was called 'broken', which was a bit more upbeat than the previous song and was also an original song from the singer, but still, Yugi could only translate it as somewhat withdrawn. It bothered him so much that Yugi got up and instead skipped to the fifth song on the CD. All the others had sad titles and Yugi couldn't bare listening to those two, but number five had a different name which had caught his interest. It was called 'violet', and Yugi wondered if this would perhaps be the title of the album as well, and maybe explain why, because even if it sounded a tad better than purple, it was still an odd name to choose.

The song began playing and Yugi took a seat next to his stereo, glaring at the device as if it was telling him a story. Very silently, an acoustic guitar began playing, just a few notes, but enough to pull at Yugi's heart. It was as if Yami was writing a story, and that story was anxious and tormenting, but via the means of music instead. Yugi held his breath when the singer started singing ever so prosperously.

"You
It had always been you
I just never assumed
that deception was greater than truth

All
I should've told
As I lied and I joked
And I pushed you away while I wanted to stay

'Okay, any more of this shit and I'm seriously going to cry,' Yugi thought as he wiped away upcoming tears in his eyes. This was not the Yami that he had met. Not when he was sober, and not when he was drunk either! This was just an emotional mess singing in a microphone that could collapse any moment, exposing himself in all his nudity to the world for them to understand how broken he was. Why, why didn't you let me help you? Yami didn't deserve this, what had triggered him? What had driven him to the edge? Yugi wanted to know, he had to know.

"And I saw you across, but I couldn't look up
I just couldn't face what I'd broken apart
With tears in your eyes, you whispered goodbye
And I never saw those violet eyes
Anymore
Anymo-ore"

It was a pained, desperate cry that escaped Yugi's lips as he finally released his tears. This song... this song was about their last moment together! When Yugi had shown up at the concert and Yami had ignored him. But, but why? He had been the one denying him! Not the other way around!

And yet... it didn't sound like Yami was blaming him in those lyrics. If anything, it had almost been a silent whisper of sorrow. As if he wanted to explain to Yugi why he had done that in his own unique way. The only problem was... Yugi had never heard his apology up till now!

He had to meet Yami again.