Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Bittersweet Goodbye's ❯ Facing The Truth ( Chapter 5 )

Bittersweet Goodbye's

By: Lady Jade

Warnings: I don't own Yugioh. Damn. Anyways, I'm not making any profit off this, and my hat is off to all the talented ppl who worked so hard to make Yugioh successful. If you sue me, all you'll get are my student loans. Have fun This is Yaoi boys and Girls. Boy boy interaction. Explicit stuff. NO kiddies of ppl with heart conditions. Swim at your own risk

Please review. Note: All flames will be used to line the cat box. Don't waste your breath Please review. I get five reviews, you get another chapter. Works good for me, helps me get some feedback as a writer. Thanks everyone, hope you enjoy. This is my first attempt at a Yugioh yaoi, so bear with me ^_^

Love

- Wataris_Girl

~*~

Yugi walked calmly, unruffled. One slow step at a time putting him back to where he least wanted to be. The school. A brief glance at his watch told him that classes would be out soon, and he best try to make it past the Discipline Squad so that he could meet up with Joey and Tristan at their lockers. Tea and Bakura would wander that way for sure, and he was hoping at least someone would go with him, someone who was strong. Maybe he could just get Joey and Tristan. Bakura might not take things well, and he needed Tea there to be diplomatic and keep the sensitive boy calm.

/Yami?/

//I'm here, go on. *laughter* Its not like I disappear that easily!//

Yugi paused at the base of the steps, noting the unhappy looking and bandage nosed discipline squad members watching the doors.

/Yami, they see me, and they don't look too happy./

//Just walk on by. Pretend they don't exist. Use a little Pharaoh, you know?//

/Oh yah, right Yami./

//Just kidding. Run by like a screaming coward. It would be just as well today.//

/sounds like a plan./

"YAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH"

~*~

Screeching around the third floor fire door, Yugi ground to a halt, and spent a better part of five minutes hiding in the empty service locker on the end of the wall. He watched through the vents as the discipline squad members cast around, and deciding he must be on the fourth floor somewhere; ran off to continue their hunt. He allowed himself a small smile. Any other day it might have been depressing that he could still shut himself inside a locker, but today, it was a very well served skill.

Stepping out, he dusted his uniform off, straightened his tie, and headed back to the first floor to meet Joey by his locker. Dread tied a knot in his stomach. Right now he was floating in a sea of unreality, and he was afraid that telling everyone the news was going to bring the little shards left of his world crashing down.

//Aibou, what are you thinking?//

Yugi knew Yami was curious at the silence, Yugi was blocking him from most of his thoughts at the moment, and he knew that it worried his other half greatly. He leaned against Joey's locker for a moment, resting his forehead on the cool slate gray metal. When the bell rang. He jumped.

Then, standing up straighter, he let himself zone out, ignoring the others as they poured out into the hall, and just concentrated on Yami, who was humming a tune equivalent to "The Egyptian National Anthem" or something. It was a little too cheerful, but what the hell. It was mind noise.

~*~

"Well well, look who escaped from purgatory alive!"

Yugi jumped at Joey's voice, and then tried to crack a small smile. It never reached his eyes and Joey was instantly at his side.

"Yug', what the hell happened?!"

Yugi tried to open his mouth to speak, and any inner strength he had left went out the window. He could not stop the tears, or the shaking of his hands. He couldn't speak. And was immediately wrapped in a bone crushing Joey hug.

"Joey…grandpa…grandpa…he…he…" Yugi was whimpering into Joey's shirt collar when he was interrupted.

"Oh, look, there's the little bastard!" Yugi tensed. The discipline squad. Lovely.

"Looookit the lovebirds! Little fags!" Joey tensed, and was just about to lay some skin on when there was a sudden deafening *Thwack*. And then two discipline squad members were clutching the backs of their heads dizzily and kneeling on the floor.

Tea stood, hands on hips like an angry goddess of yore.

"Don't you have anything better to do boys, like, I dunno, microwave kittens or pick on the new freshmen or something?"

Tristan was behind Tea instantly, cracking his knuckles threateningly.

"Oi Tea?"

"Yeah?"

"What you got in that handbag of yours?"

"Horseshoes, there not just for luck you know?"

"Oh, good. Lady should always be prepared and all that."

Tea nodded.

"So anyways…" Tristan swaggered noticeably. "Think I should kick their asses?"

There was a sudden "Eep." Of fright from one of the squad members, and then he just bolted, screaming bloody murder.

"I have that effect on some people." Tristan gloated. Then he made a scary face at the last remaining member. Who didn't even budge. So

Tristan tried again. Still no luck. Then Tea stepped foreward, handbag still poised.

"No lady, PLEASE! Not the HANDBAG again!" And then stood and bolted off after his other comrade.

Tristan looked crestfallen.

"So much for being a tuff guy."

Tea patted his shoulder sympathetically.

"Don't worry, someday, you will learn the fine art of `scary.'

"Oh, TEACH me SENSEI!"

"Why you snot nosed pointy haired SCRAWNY!"

"Hey Guys, come on, Yugi's upset!" Joey interjected.

There was a moment of silence, where for the first time Tea and Tristan were silent and took a careful glance at Yugi.

"Oh Yugi Honey, What's going on?" Tea took one look at Yugi's tear stained face and got an instant knot in her stomach.

"They called me outta class and asked me if I had seen you. They said you had run off… I couldn't believe it. What happened?" Tristan asked. Yugi just shook his head and burrowed under Joey's collar again.

"You are gonna tell us, right Yug'?" Joey whispered.

~*~

Yugi stood, trembling at the hospitals front desk. Joey had a reassuring hand at the small of his back, and Tristan was resting both hands on the top of his shoulders. Tea had agreed to stay for Bakura's benefit. The boy, as predicted, had been very upset. Yugi could feel Yami, pressed up against the back of his mind like a curious cat. Strong, reassuring, and very there. Yugi had let the barrier down, and Yami was making sure that Yugi was getting a mental hand holding as well.

The secretary finally hung up the phone, and then with a small, tired smile, leaned over the counter.

"Can I help you honey?"

Yugi nodded.

"Yes…I was told that…" He paused to draw a shaky breath, Joey rubbed his thumb in a small circle in the middle of Yugi's back reassuringly, Tristan increased his grip. "My grandfather passed away of a fatal heart attack. I was wondering, if I could collect his belongings, and maybe… see him?"

"Are you family?"

Yugi sighed.

"I am the only remaining family."

"Can I see some Id?"

Yugi calmly dug out his wallet and nabbed his driver's license and ID card.

"Mutou, Yugi… she muttered as she typed in the name into her computer. She was silent for a moment, sighing sadly. Yugi got the distinct impression she hated this part of her job, and it made his stomach clench. The pity in her eyes plainly spelled out the truth that he had been hoping was a lie.

"…Of course, I will call the attending physician."

~*~

Yugi stood outside the door to the morgue, clutching the little bag of his grandfather's belongings that they had given to him to his chest like a drowning man clutching a life preserver. He sighed.

Joey and Tristan stood at his back, Indicating without a word that they would let him have the time he needed. Yugi nodded to them.

/Yami?/

//Oh Aibou…//

/It's alright Yami. I'll be ok. I just needed to make sure you were still there, I need you, that's all./

He could feel the warmth flooding through their bond as Yami stroked his mind gently, reassuringly. It made him feel a little warmer. His hands were frozen. It was absolutely freezing on the morgue floor. Not surprising really. It was just tiring. He wanted this to be over with. But he needed to say his goodbyes. He had to face this, or he never would be able to face anything else ever again.

Pushing the door open, he walked hesitantly into the room, one hand on the door frame as if to keep himself from panicking. Tristan's warm hand suddenly covered his, and then pried his fingers away from the edge. Joey have him a little push. Their faces were completely serious, but there was nothing cruel in their gestures. If anything, it was comforting that his friends knew him so well.

Taking one step at a time, he faced the still form lying on the table, draped with a sheet. When he got close enough to identify features, his heart sank. It was his grandfather. No doubts. And he was still, and ashen gray. It made Yugi feel sick. He almost instantly broke into a fine, icy sweat. But he could feel Yami, curled, comforting, soothing, giving him strength. He would pay his respects, not run from the room. The man lying on that table, he was still his grandfather, after all.

Yugi finally stood next to the only father he had ever known. Looking down into the wizened face, he was surprised to find that he didn't look pained, or terrible. Instead he looked younger, untroubled. At peace. The young duelist suddenly didn't feel so terrible. He let unsure fingers trace his grandfather's cheek. He wasn't, really that cold…and then he just leaned in, wrapping his grandfather in what he knew would be the last hug he would ever give him. Silently, he prayed, as best he could, that he could live up to his grandfather's standards.

"I love you grandpa," he whispered. "Thank you for everything you've taught me, I know you are in a better place now… but it doesn't make it any easier to tell you goodbye… thank you, you have been so kind to me…and I will miss you so much."

Yugi looked up, there was a nurse beckoning to him from the doorway, it was time for him to leave.

He gave his grandfather one last sad glance, then bent to kiss the age- furrowed brow.

"Goodbye, grandpa."

And then walking a little more steadily then he actually thought he could, Yugi turned his back, straightened his shoulders, and headed for the hall.

He had barely cleared the door when he was suddenly floating in darkness. He had a strange sensation of falling, and strong arms wrapping around him. And then nothing.

~*~

TBC: Review, I love to hear what ppl think. If your gonna flame however, remember what I said about the catbox.