Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Children of Destiny ❯ Unexpected Discoveries ( Chapter 10 )

"Man… just the other day they were bitching about us…" Joey whispered. Ryou smiled politely whilst the others giggled a little.

"Speaking of bitches" Tristan went on. "Where's Miss Hypocrite anyway…" this earned scowl from Yugi and Ryou.

"That's not nice…" Yugi rasped.

"Yeah, it's an insult to all other female dogs…" Ryou said. The others gaped at him whilst he stared back with a questioning look. "What?"

"You've been hanging out with Bakura too much…" Malik remarked to Ryou who still had a bemused look on upon his face. Just then the bell rang meaning the end of class, day and the school term. Everyone rushed out cheering in a frenzy for the summer holidays. The five friends got up along with the frenzied crowd of students that were pouring out of the classroom and running home. Laughing and joking along the way home Yugi noticed a certain blue eyed brunette driving past them. The young CEO was staring at his blond friend before he finally turned away to dwell in his own thoughts. A raised eyebrow caused for concern but Yugi decided not to interfere. They reached the Game Shop where Yami greeted Yugi with a hug.

"Um… a man came into the shop and said that he's arranged a meeting to discuss some paperwork about Grandpa…"

"Oh it's about the will…." Yugi replied thoughtfully. "What time was it again?"

"In half an hour" Yami answered. Yugi gasped before he ran upstairs and to dump his bag in his room and then dashed back down. He and his friends hurried to the meeting leaving Yami in the store alone again happily dangling a piece of mangled string for Tenshi to claw at.

Breathing steadily they had finally managed to make it in record time. The lawyer sitting at the desk shuffled his papers neatly and waited patiently as Yugi settled down on the table amongst some of Solomon's other associates, whilst Joey and the others hung around outside. "Right… well let's get started…" he announced and went through all the categories and statements. Yugi felt himself starting to drift to sleep as the lawyer droned on. After a agonisingly long half hour of listening, the man finally got to the arrangements Solomon had planned to in his death.

"All property estates are entrusted to his grandson. The Turtle Game Shop and the Noble Xia House including the trust fund that his late son and daughter-in-law have placed upon him. The following…" he droned on about the percentages of takings to other members in the room of, which Yugi didn't take to heart until the lawyer's last statement. "There has been a slight change of will made by Mr Motou about week before his death. In the original will he had planned to entrust this…" he said bringing out a black and gold ivory box with a carved head of a serpentine figure wrapped around it in a tight embrace whilst the head rested gracefully on the lid. Two gold eyes staring outwards in a peaceful tranquility "…antique Chinese box and…" he went on drawing out a card. There it was. The fourth Blue Eyes gleaming at the group with the sticky tape that wrapped around it holding the two halfs together "this Blue Eyes White Dragon card of, which he most prized to his grandson" Yugi looked surprised. `Who could Grandpa be planning to give his prized treasure card to?' he thought. "However the change he's made states that he wishes to pass these items to a Mr Joey Wheeler instead" Yugi felt his eyes pop from his sockets. "Is he here?"

"H-he's just outside… I'll go get him" Yugi said completely caught off guard. It was great that Solomon felt Joey highly enough to give him his Blue Eyes White Dragon, yet there seemed to be something behind it all. "Joey!!!"

"Huh?"

"Come in…" Yugi beckoned as the confused blond followed him. Yugi beamed happily for his friend as the lawyer handed the two precious articles to him. "W-what's this for"

"They're yours. Grandpa put you in his will and he clearly said that you should have these…" Joey stared bogged eyed at the box and card in his hand.

"G-gramps is giving me his Blue Eyes?" Joey stuttered. Yugi beamed at him as he stood dumb struck. Joey opened the box, which was in fact the right size for a deck of cards. He placed his deck that was in his pocket inside and the precious Blue Eyes card at the top. With a smile he put gently placed the box into his bag. The others were just as surprised when they heard the story.

"No way… I thought Yugi would get that card for sure…" Tristan cried in disbelief. But Joey didn't hear the rest of the ranting.

"I-I need to get home… guys… I'll see you later ok?"

"Ok… Joey see ya!!!" Yugi chirped as Joey left. Joey had by then turned away to head home.

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Joey broke into a run to reach the bus on his way to his apartment. After getting on and off the bus he flew up the huge flights of stairs. Taking out the precious box he placed it carefully into a secure place in his room before dumping the rest of the bag on the floor. He went back down grabbing his wallet he rushed back down to the grocery store. He came back out carrying two bags in each arm. Along the way he heard a scuffle in the alleyway and immediately headed to see what was happenning. Dropping the bags in his hand he headed towards the commotion.

"Ooh… little baby lost your mommy?" he heard someone taunt. The next voice was familiar.

"Get lost!!!"

"What you say punk… You feel like having a knuckle sandwich…? Ya little wimp…"

"You just try me you big jerk!!!" cried the voice as Joey peered over the shoulders of many buff looking guys hovering over a little boy. `Mokuba!?!?' There he was scratched and bruised from running, his raven hair unfurled and messier than usual.

"You little brat!!!" the leader of the gang screamed as a punch went straight for the little boy's gut which Joey rushed and grabbed it in mid strike. Joey glanced back at his lackeys behind him.

"So… you need this many guys to pick on one little kid…? How many exactly do you need when your dealing with me huh?" he growled whilst throwing the guy aside to the floor who landed ungracefully with a loud thud.

"GET HIM!!! GET HIM!!!!" he screeched at his cronies as Joey shielded Mokuba with his body. He shoved a nearby dustbin making the men scatter creating a path for them. He grabbed Mokuba by the arm and the two boys ran whilst the gang gave chase. Joey led Mokuba through various shortcuts and alleyways causing confusion for the gang who eventually gave up chasing them and cracked their knuckles menacingly vowing that they would get them next time.

Some distance away the two boys breathed heavily before heading back to where Joey dropped his stuff, Mokuba limping slightly. "Thanks Joey…" he wheezed as he yelped from pain whilst dropping to the ground.

"No problem…" was the reply as Joey went back to salvage what was left of the two grocery bags. Luckily all the stuff he had bought was actually still intact. He carefully gathered the goods into the bags and made way to his apartment. "Best come over to my apartment and get yourself cleaned up kid…" he said as he placed the two bags in one arm whilst helping by the arm. It was a while as Mokuba limped painfully up the stairs of the flat.

"Are we there yet?" he whined. Joey grabbed the keys in his pocket and opened the door again. Mokuba noticed the room was quite spacious, the air of it clean and neat, the only mess was the mass of papers of homework assignments spread out on the desk.

"Here we are" Joey dumped his goods on the table whilst he laid an ice pack on Mokuba's leg. "You've just sprained it so… just don't put too much weight on it and it'll be ok… What the hell were you doing there anyway?" Moving on to a different subject.

Mokuba winced a little from the pain. "I just… my brother was really busy so I said I'd take the bus home to save him the trouble of picking me up… and I took a wrong turn…" Mokuba explained miserably. "I can't do anything right… and I keep worrying Seto" he scowled at himself.

"Well the point is that your safe now… I'll just get you cleaned up… let you rest for a bit before I take you home `k?" Mokuba smiled gratefully. Joey went to a nearby cabinet with a first aid kit and sat down carefully cleaning a particularly nasty cut on Mokuba's temple. Mokuba hissed from the stinging pain.

"Sorry…" Joey said blowing on it gently carefully to alleviate the pain. Mokuba smiled staring at the blond who looked confused.

"My brother used to do that whenever I got hurt…" he said. Joey hesitated a little before he wrapped the cut with a bandage. There was a sudden growl emitting from the pit of Mokuba's stomach as the tinge of red of embarrassment on Mokuba's face appeared. "Uh… eh hehe"

"It's ok kid… I was gonna make somethin' ta eat anyway…" Joey assured. He got up getting the stuff from grocery bags. "So fried rice ok wit chu?"

"I love fried rice!!!" Mokuba yelled eagerly. He watched intently as Joey started chopping a chicken breast into strips whilst some rice was cooking nearby. He cracked a few eggs as he waited for the wok to heat up. Frying a bit of chopped garlic in the oil he followed this with the chicken strips then vegatables. Finally after the chicken had been well cooked he added the rice a couple of well whisked eggs coating the rice grains in a yellow colour. Mokuba ate his share ravenously as Joey packed the excess into lunch box whilst he took out Granpa's Chinese box.

"Can you walk?" he asked as he packed the boxes in a khaki coloured shoulder strap bag. Mokuba took off the ice pack and gingerly stepped on the floor. He nodded whilst wincing slightly. Locking the door Joey watched Mokuba limp painfully behind him as the shoulder strap back hung around his shoulders. "Here…" Joey said as he slipped the strap on his left shoulder whilst the bag hung securely by his right side. Mokuba was lifted onto him in a piggy back, his little arms wrapped round Joey's neck. "Ok back there? Let's go…" Joey jogged down the stairs and back onto the streets towards another part of town. They finally reached their destination where the houses were set up upon with jade tiles. Ahead what looked like an old fashioned pharmacy where Joey and Mokuba went inside. ~DINNER'S READY!!!~ Joey cried with which Mokuba looked confused on the new language he spoke…

~Why so late, you want to starve an old man to death!?!?!?~ crowed a Chinese man dressed in black mandarin silk clothes. One eye slightly bigger than the other and had a piercing gaze with beady eyes. His face round and grey hairs lay upon his head in wisps. Joey pursed his lips.

~Sorry… but my little friend had a bit of an accident…~ he said indicating Mokuba's bruised leg.

"A-ya!!!" the old man uttered in horror. He tutted at the sight. "You young ones these days…" he muttered in English as Joey passed him the ready made lunch boxes whilst mumbling about how much more disciplined he was when he was younger.

"Mokuba this is Lao Shen. Shen this is Mokuba" Shen stared at the young boy through small beady slit eyes as if gazing into his soul. Mokuba felt a little chill come over him and was feeling a bit uncomfortable, which Joey immediately spotted went to his aid.

"Please don't scare the kid Gramps…"

Shen glared at Joey before he went back inside with a `hmpfh'. Joey followed the old man in with Mokuba hobbling next to him and was immediately assaulted with the musty smell of various aromas that filled the room. Shen appeared to be searching for something in the many shelves filled with all sorts of herbs. He brought out a bottle and thrusted it into Joey's hands.

"Here's some `Tid Da' rubbing alcohol, it'll heal his bruises more quickly" he snapped. Joey grinned understanding that despite Shen's appearingly hostile attitude he had a good heart. He proceeded in gently applying the dark brandy coloured ointment on the blackened area on Mokuba's leg whilst Shen started eating his meal.

"Don't mind him…" Joey assured whilst Mokuba stared looking a little afraid of the shrewd man standing behind the counter. "He's always been the cranky type…" turning to Shen. Shen stopped chewing and glared at the two boys for a moment before he shifted his back to them and continued eating. "but he's a good guy at heart"

"Really…" Mokuba said half convinced.

"Yeah… my mother and father divorced years ago and me and my dad moved to Domino City. We kinda picked the worse spot in the neighbourhood so I always got at least a coupla bruises on da way ta school and he'd always help without charging me for anything. Gramps here's a Chinese doctor and some o'da stuff he does are kinda weird but they pack a punch" Mokuaba smiled reluctantly as he tried to see the better side of the old man with the information of Joey's description of Shen's real personality. He felt himself relax a bit. "He's interested in all kinds of Chinese artifacts and really likes telling me all sorts of superstitions and stories about China whenever I got sick of hanging around the streets and my dad"

"They're not mere stories boy…" the old man suddenly scowled. "They are legends of which hold all sorts of secrets of the ancient Chinese Dynasties. Anyway… you wished to learn more about the Dragon Scepter?"

"Yeah… research… for a summer project" Joey replied whilst giving a knowing smirk to Mokuba.

"From the legends…" Shen began "…the Dragon Scepter was the first gift from the great Dragon King to be presented to the world of man who aided them to defeat an evil race of demons called the Kaiyan." Joey blinked as his curiosity peaked further from this new information. "Along with the scepter was a selected champion anointed by the Dragon King himself to wield the scepter's powers and spread peace throughout the lands of the Chinese Empire to keep justice against the Kaiyan. The champion was hence able to summon the vast armies of warriors brought down from Heaven itself"

"Well that means it was meant for good…" Mokuba said. Shen for once smirked whilst shaking his head.

"The Dragon Scepter was merely a tool, powerful as it is. It's purpose relys only on the one who holds it, which is why the Dragon King chose his champion carefully for the Dragon Scepter could be used by anybody who has the ability to manipulate it with powers of their own" he turned his gaze on Joey who took in the information. `If anybody with magic powers could hold it then why does Katsuya spend his time phaffing about with Kaiba ? There's gotta be something more to this' he mused to himself. After a few moments of dwelling in his own thoughts Joey finally spoke.

"Other than being a new justice system. What else was this… champion suppose to do?" Joey asked. The old man grinned admiring the blond's inquisitiveness.

"It was said that the champion was sent to protect a special Chi that resided in the mortal realm against dragons that had lusted for the immense power it possessed"

"What kind of power?"

"It is uncertain… but it has been told that it could save souls that are facing a fate worse than death…" Shen replied. "Anything else you wish to know?"

"Yeah… a sword. Heard it was heritage down a royal blood line and has this crest thing with a phoenix and a dragon kinda snaked together?"

"Xia Yin's sword…" Shen mused. "So it has been recovered back into this world"

"Do you know anything about it?"

"From common knowledge it belonged to a sorcereress called Yin that had worked for the royal court in the first dynasty. Many impossible wars were won from the mysterious powers she and her allies including the holder of the Dragon Scepter held that brought China to prosperity in conquering her enemies. As with such, China had become a perfect paradise and hence forth Yin had proceeded to resigning her post and in her last mission she accompanied the princess due to marry the Pharoah of Egypt where afterwards she disappeared. Some say that the heavens had called upon her and she ascended to take her place among the stars"

"Um… about the crest thing…"

"It was part of the royal blood line and the phoenix and the dragon were the protectors of the royalty, but I'm afraid even my knowledge is incomplete about it. I would think that descendants of the crest should have more details"

"Just one more thing…" Joey said as he carefully brought out the Chinese Box. "It looks ancient… know anything about it?" Mokuba stared curiously at it.

"Where'd you get that?"

"Yugi's grandpa… There was a hearing about his will and he gave me this… and…" Joey took out his Blue Eyes from the box… "…this"

"Whoa…" was all Mokuba could say.

"It's his most prized card as well…" Joey mentioned.

Shen grinned a toothless grin. "It seems that the old man sees something in you boy…" Joey looked confused. "But… to be honest the box is a mystery to me as is about this card. I suggest that you again look to the origin and if I guess right this type of box always have a special type of insignia" he added as he analysed it. "Ah… here… well… well… curious… very curious…" he showed the insignia to the two boys of a dragon and the phoenix entwined together in a tight embrace at the bottom of the box. Joey and Mokuba pondered as they said their goodbyes and left Shen.

"Wow… I didn't think I'd be dragged into Yugi's family history like this…"

"Odd… I thought Yami said that he married Yin, he never mentioned any princess" Mokuba mused thinking back over their conversation.

"The stories being passed down to Shen are 5000 years old kid. Some things are bound to be inaccurate…" Joey reminded. Mokuba's found it easier to walk from the ointment on his bruise and though still with a slight limp, he had managed to keep up with Joey. Deep in thought, Joey wondered more about the involvement that Yugi was in all of this and before he knew it he and Mokuba had arrived at the Kaiba mansion. Mokuba smiled as he hopped along side the blond.

"Come in for a bit…" Mokuba said. Joey stopped at the front gates extremely reluctant.

"Nah… I best be going. Serenity could be back at any moment at the apartment" he replied glad that Serenity was around so he'd have a good excuse.

"It's only 5 o'clock and I heard Yugi say that she'll be hanging out with the Ishtars and staying for dinner" Joey mentally groaned. He was really hoping that he didn't have to be dragged back here however Mokuba was ever persistent. A trait that only a Kaiba could posess. Seto with the `you'll-be-sorry-if-you-don't-do-as-I-say' glare and Mokuba with the pleading puppy dog eyes. Joey sighed and tried to smile as Mokuba beckoned him into the mansion with a tight grip around his arm. Mokuba rang the doorbell and found the door was wrenched open by a very distressed Seto.

"Thank God Mokuba you're ok!!!" he cried as he pulled his brother into a tight embrace. Mokuba winced slightly from a cracked rib, which Seto immediately reacted. "What happened…?" his voice in a cold fury of the culprits that harmed his little brother. Mokuba pursed his lips, whilst Seto noticed Joey standing next to him looking uncomfortable.

"I ran into some jerks along the way home, if Joey hadn't been there at the time I could have been off worse. I'm sorry Seto… I knew you were busy with the company and all so I wanted to save the trouble of having you picking me up after school" Seto's features softened as he ushered Mokuba inside. He glanced over to the blond who was still at the front door as if expecting that he was about to slam the door in front of his face, that is until Mokuba hobbled and beckoned for Joey to come in. "Please stay a for a while Joey please?"

"Uh… I think I shouldn't really intrude in your family time ya know" he glanced at Seto. "Families are important" he added in defintion. That was when Pegasus came in wearing a yellow shirt and brown trousers.

"Hello Mokuba… having friends around?" he asked looking at Joey.

"I'm was just… leaving…" Joey answered.

"Oh please Joey… stay for a bit…" Mokuba cried. "I mean Pegasus is staying for a while…" Joey stared incredulously at Seto who did not even twitch.

"Come on in…" Seto said in a low voice. Joey felt himself entering a lion's den at the moment he stepped back into the huge hallway of the mansion. Mokuba giggled as he hobbled to his room. Joey sat down in one of the many lounges whilst Pegasus went back to reading one of his comic books. Seto in the mean time had gone into the kitchen leaving the two alone.

"So… how come your still here?" Joey asked trying to make the question as polite as possible.

Pegasus chuckled at the joke in the comic book before he answered. "Well… the young Kaiba insisted that I need to stay considering that I'm still rather… injured… so he says…" Pegasus explained extremely awkard and guilty. "It's such a pity that we had come to first know each other as enemies because I had no idea Mokuba had the same taste in comic books I do" Joey felt himself shudder a little from that information. (A/N: I would too… This… is disturbing…).

"Didn't you see that in his mind with your Millennium Eye?"

"I was too busy messing with you lot remember?" Joey chose not to go further into the conversation when Mokuba came back into the room looking rather pale.

"What's wrong…?" Joey asked checking as Mokuba's sudden change of mood went from extremely hyper happy to deeply depressed. Seto walked in with a tray of drinks and noticed the sadness in his brother's face.

"Mokuba what's wrong?" he asked urgently placing the tray on the table quickly and looking all over him to see what was hurting him.

"I saw the suitcase… you're going away again aren't you?" Mokuba said plaintatively. Seto smiled.

"Yeah… I've already finished packing yours…" Mokuba looked depressed then blinked taking a moment for the statement to penetrate in his depressed state.

"Uh.. m-m-mine?" he stuttered.

Seto chuckled. "Yeah… we're going on a vacation…" Shock settled in and Joey could feel the calm before the storm. Mokuba had leapt into his brothers arms yelling and cheering and life seemed to come back into the air itself. Joey was extremely impressed that Mokuba could appear to change the mood of the Kaiba mansion. Mokuba bounced about happier than before.

"Wait… where we going?" Mokuba asked excitedly though it really didn't matter to him as long as he was going to spend quality time with his big brother.

"China… Peking to be precise. Yugi just called and he said that he's just inherited this house from his grandfather's will and thought he would invite his friends to stay over. I said we could take my private boat. We'll be going tomorrow"

"Oh, this is so COOL!!!!" Mokuba yelled bouncing even more. "Hey does that mean Joey will be invited?" Seto's broad smile faltered a little but he kept his pose up for his brother.

"Yugi said he tried to find him and asked for us to relay the message" he replied. Joey stared at Seto and the cold cobalt eyes had glanced at him for a split second before he turned back upstairs.

"So will you be going?" Mokuba said as his hurt leg appeared to miraculously healed. Joey considered and smiled.

"Sure… why not? I mean especially if I don't have to pay for the travelling bills" Mokuba grinned as he skipped around the house whilst Pegasus watched really amused at the young boy's antics. Joey in the mean time went upstairs and found himself following Seto into his room who was neatly packing his clothes. Joey knocked on the door out of politeness with which Seto ignored it.

"You're not going to China just for a vacation are you?"

"It's none of your business…" was the cold reply as Seto continued to pack.

"I know it isn't… Just want to say that… what ever you find there… no matter what it is just make sure you don't forget what the more important things are…" Joey warned. "…he's a good kid and he needs family…" Seto paused in folding a shirt as he took the warning to mind. No one would believe it under his normal emotionless, mask but the emotional scar from that night had not healed at all and he felt his life was going in turmoil. Though he tried hard to not let it show on his work, he found that he had been slipping up and making mistakes. Thoughts to that night and the dreams (which were more frequent than ever) plagued his mind constantly and somewhat a strange mixture of feelings that he was having towards the blond. One he could recognise as hate… but… he wasn't sure what the other one was. Guilt perhaps? Guilt of accusing the boy for something he couldn't possibly have had any control over. Perhaps if he went to apologise maybe it might alleviate the conflict of emotions he was having. He turned towards the doorway of where Joey should have been standing but found he was gone. Neglecting his packing he went down the hallway and found Joey was going out of the front door. For that moment in time Seto could sense something strangely different within Joey, like something hidden which had just be awoken from recent events.

"Aw…You're going already…?" Mokuba whined. Joey ruffled the boy's hair.

"Hey… I need to pack you know…" Joey said finally having an excuse to get out of the place. Mokuba accepted it.

"See ya Friday then!!!" he chirped as he skipped about. Joey smiled Seto caught a glance in his direction from the amber eyes which seemed so warm. He had to admit… though the blond wasn't really much of an academic achiever he could see the sharpness of initiative and even though he insulted him for being dumb he knew he was lying. Seto had found himself staring at the door though knowing full well that Joey had already gone. He glanced at his brother's shining face and immediately put his woes in the back burner enjoying the sight of the twinkle in Mokuba's eyes.

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Yugi beamed with an unnaturally huge happy grin as Yami stared neglecting the little dingle bell to Tenshi's assault.

"So you found Joey and asked him?" he asked as he jerked the dingle bell back to life for Tenshi's amusement who lay on her side staring at it with inqusitiveness, one paw clawing it in reflex actions.

"He called me… got the message from Seto and he said he's coming. That makes fourteen altogether!!!" Yugi said with a little skip. "I don't remember it that well cos I haven't been around for what? Ten years? But I defintely remember it's big enough for 300 people to sleep in so 14 shouldn't be too bad" he's eyes seemed to sparkle whilst Yami chuckled at his aibou.

"What I'm surprised is Kaiba actually coming… you'd think he'd say he has better things to do…"

"No… Seto was really interested and he felt that he and Mokuba needed some family time together so…"

"Since when did you start calling him `Seto'?" Yami asked incredulously whilst Tenshi curled in his hands for a cat nap.

"A long time now…" Yugi answered with a pout. "You just never cared to notice" Yami felt himself feel a low blow to his ego again. The all powerful King of the Games is really behind on social values with his hikari. Yugi cuddled close to his Yami when they heard a slight mew from between them and found that Tenshi was being squashed.

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"Heading home are you?" hissed the red hooded figure. Glacier eyes stared into a black pool though looking confusing Gabriel seemed to understand it very well. His slender hands appearing to caress at nothing. "We shall see about that…" he waved as clouds appeared to fill the air above the pool as he plunged his hands into the slick oily substance which writhed as skull shapes appeared screaming in agony as hands stretched for aid that never came before they disappeared again into the depths of the cesspool. Drowning.

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Yami sighed as Yugi went to turn in for the night. He went to his room as the little figure lay curled among the bedsheets and sighed wearily. Gabriel was still out there and he could strike and any given moment and though Yami tried to keep in high spirits above it all, inside chaos had reined the normal governing of his thoughts. The fleeting fear that the pressure on his hikari would change him into someone he didn't know had always plagued Yami, hardened, cynical… like him. Yet now he realised he had just discovered Yugi's true self and found an incredible spiritual strength he never knew about before. Still childlike and innocent to what Yami had always cherished and fought so hard to preserve but having a power to persevere through all obstacles in his wake. So much like Yin. Yami brushed back a blond bang and tucked it behind his ears tenderly as the angel shifted slightly.

Yami tried to remember how this all started. He could clearly remember the happy times he's had with Yugi until that night at the disco. Bakura had unwittingly spiked his drink with XTC and he had wound himself in hospital. (A/N: See http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_ch.php?id=22493 for full story). Yugi came to visit when certain that no one saw him.

*********FLASHBACK***********

"Yami… your crying" Yugi said shocking him. He didn't know he was crying himself. He wiped the wetness on his face. It had been a long while since he cried… He blinked away the new tears forming in his eyes, willing himself to see clearly again at his angel.

"It's nothing Aibou I'm just…" Yami whispered. He could stop himself as he poured out his soul.

"I'm just tired… of being strong" Yami couldn't stop the tears running now. "I'm tired of fighting"

There was silence except for the sobs made by Yami.

"It's ok… You don't have to fight anymore" the gentle voice assured him. So soft and soothing. He felt the gentle hands cradle him in a loving embrace. "It's gonna be ok now" Yugi whispered. (A/N: This is where my other story ends)

*Whether it was a side affect from the drug he wasn't sure. Nevertheless Yami had shown weakness in front of his hikari and instead of being closer to him, he had tried to distance himself away so as not to disrupt Yugi's life any further, he knew that people were going to talk about him for sure when Yugi went to school. Yet nothing could stop what happened afterwards*

Yami waited miserably for his hikari staring at the drip in his arm after some of his friends had come and gone.

"Yami?" Yami looked up and saw Tea smiling brightly at him. "How're you feeling today?"

"The usual…" Yami replied monotonously. Tea giggled before sitting at his bed "Well I suppose hospitals are kind of a drag…" she said and Yami let a small smile creep to his lips, this caused a slight flush of pink to Tea's face with which she turned away from him not letting him see.

"Is something wrong?" Yami asked.

"Oh uh… no I just…" Tea stuttered. "I was just… wondering… what do you think of me?"

"You're a good friend Tea…" Yami replied which in a way made Tea glad and disappointed at the same time. "Why?"

"I…" Tea started to say but lost her voice. Yami looked at her expectantly of what she was going to say when she dove in and brushed her lips against his. For that fleeting moment the shock had paralysed him for a good few seconds. "Now you know how I feel… I just… needed to get it out…" Tea whispered deciding to bolt down the hallway when Yami found himself grabbing her arm. In his mind he felt like screaming at himself of what he was doing yet his arm ignored his pleas to not get involved with anybody, especially a person that he knew Yugi had a crush on. Tea breathed heavily as if she had run a mile whilst Yami gripped her hand tightly. Staring deep at the sharp amethyst eyes she sat back down. The two stared at each other for a bit not noticing the small figure coming in with flowers in his arms. Tea smiled with joy and wrapped her arms around Yami who let a small smirk come to his lips. Yugi stood staring at the couple and hid away gripping tightly onto the bundle of flowers in his arms. He waited for a long while for Tea to come out, whom had not noticed him hiding among the shadows. He peeped round the corner of the doorway where Yami was and found that he was asleep. Yugi sighed as he settled down staring at his Yami for a few minutes before he went to leave.

Yami slowly woke up from his nap later that afternoon and there on his bedside lay a beautiful bouquette of red and white roses and found himself wondering who they were from for the card had been torn out.

**********FLASHBACK ENDS**************

Yami stared at his hikari. Since that day he had been spending more time with Yugi's friends than Yugi, he and Tea had been announced as a couple with which Yugi appeared to happy for him. This enforced the sense of guilt and breaking the vow that he would leave himself out of Yugi's life as much as possible. But gradually he found he was taking in fact taking it over. Yugi had never gave a murmur or a cry about it but in that same space of time Yami had fallen in a bout of a deep depression. How he longed that Yugi would just shout and scream that his life was being stolen from him yet he never made a sound. Yami kept himself up seemingly happy in front of his friends and Tea hiding himself in the toilets whenever he could to down another bottle's worth of anti-depressant pills. Pretty soon though keeping up with the façade eventually made Yami numb and empty inside and then to the final point where he started to believe that this life did make him happy. He had shut Yugi out of his mind for a long time yet it was fragile as glass and was immediately broken down the moment Solomon had talked to him about it. He found himself finally waking up to from this dreamlike mood he was in the last few months. Then came the chaotic week following his neglect. Solomon's death, Gabrielle and the Kaiyan, the mysterious Katsuya, the painful reminders of his dream of Yugi being taken away from him and his loneliness those few nights where his hikari came home so late. He had never really talked about it with any of his friends until a few nights ago.

********FLASHBACK*************

Yami had shied himself to a nearby club whilst Tenshi went out for her nightly runs as all cats did. Yugi was late home again and Yami couldn't stand the prospects of another lonely night in that run down flat in the game shop. `So this is what it's like to be neglected' Yami thought as he came into conclusion that Yugi was just getting back at him for the months of being abandoned.

"What do you want…?" a voice asked gruffly. The bartender had finally turned to him.

"A beer…" Yami replied. The bartender stared at him incredulously.

"ID please…" Yami glared at him, a flaring temper suddenly aroused. He stood up.

"I'M OVER FIVE THOUSAND YEARS OLD!!! GIVE ME A BEER!!!" he yelled. The bartender wasn't fazed, not even twitching.

"ID…" he repeated calmly. Yami felt his anger seething and had to get every aspect of his own will to calm himself down. He sat back down. (A/N: Ok, ok… I got this idea from Buffy the Vampire Slayer but it's funny alright?)

"Give me a Coke…" Yami replied as calmly as he could as he placed his hands in his face. `Ra damn this mortal body' he cursed himself mentally. `I hate being a teenager again…'

"So what's wrong?" a familiar Brooklyn voice chided. "Coke please…" he added to the bartender. Yami turned to Joey who had appeared suddenly, a hint of red with embarassment of his outburst.

"Nothing…" Yami replied quickly. Joey raised his eyebrows.

"Wow… if `that' was nuthin'… Warn me to get outta the room if there `is' somethin' wrong…" Joey said sarcastically. Yami glared at his blond friend but found his friendly attitude overbearing so he could never be angry with him for too long.

"So you gonna tell me what's botherin' ya?"

"Hormones…" Yami could only say. "Teenage anguish, adolescence you know the sort…" he snapped.

"Well, a simple `no' would have got me off your back…" Joey replied coolly. Yami never answered to that. "Is it about Yugi?" Yami never answered which Joey immediately took it as a `yes'. "He does care about you you know?" as if answering a question in Yami's thoughts. Yami looked at Joey as their drinks had arrived.

"I just… he's been coming home late this past few weeks" Yami finally said not noticing a knowing glint in Joey's eye. "I don't know… I think he hates me… for neglecting him and all… Grandpa's death-"

"That had nothing to do with you"

"But I could have stopped it…" Yami argued. "Mokuba was right to shout at me like that back then"

"No it wasn't… Look I know you're all into this big voodoo stuff but ya gotta remember man… behind all this Shadow Realm hocus pocus… you're still human… "

Yami stared at him only half convinced. "Really?" he questioned sarcastically.

"Really…" Joey answered highly convinced. "I mean so the `sharing body' thing isn't exactly normal but it's not like you're a mindless psycho like some people we know…" This statement referred to two other Yamis in question. There was a moment of silence as Joey took a draught from his Coke.

"That time in the disco where I wound in hospital? I knew at that moment that I was being more of a burden than help" Yami said suddenly.

"No ya not… you've helped Yugi countless times, like when ever the kids were picking on him at school and you helped him against Pegasus at Duellist Kingdom"

"And what exactly put Yugi in that kind of danger in the first place?" Yami retorted. Joey opened his mouth to say but shut it again.

"Ok… bad example…"

"Face it everything would have been just fine if he had never solved the Millennium Puzzle" Yami concluded.

"You really think so huh?" Joey rasped furious at the former pharoah. "Well let me tell you this… I've never seen Yugi happier than the day that he solved that puzzle. I should know… I use to bully him… never really saw the guy smile that much… that is until he brought the Millennium Puzzle in when it was still in pieces. Told me how special it was to him… meaning `you're' special to him"

"I don't see him very happy lately with being neglected these past few months…"

"Yeah I know… I know cos I messed up too. I know I failed him as his friend. I know I can't go back in time and makes things right…" Joey said. "But I also know that I'm not gonna make the same mistake again especially when those bastards are still out there… Yugi's a tougher guy than we both take him for but if he needs help I'm gonna make sure I'm gonna be there for him this time… He's my best friend and he looks out for me and he really cares about you… So there's gonna be a lot of obstacles and stuff going on but if I know Yugi he's willing to take it if it means being with you. He was happy that you came into his life and he still is" Yami looked at his blond friend lost for words and arguments. He knew he was making Joey put him down but he managed to pull him back up again. "I think what he's trying to show us is: happiness is worth taking on all the risks…" he added as he downed the last of his coke, paid and left.

***********FLASHBACK ENDS*************

Yami smiled appreciatively and felt the comfort of relief and absolute joy that night when his hikari performed. He had no doubt of himself anymore and found that his path was suddenly cleared. He was going to stay with Yugi, to protect and care for him. He slid into bed watching as his hikari slept peacefully.

"Ya-mi…" murmured Yugi in his sleep cuddling close to him and mumbling away incoherently.

"I love you Yugi…" Yami whispered as Yugi dreamed on blissfully into the night.

---------------------------------------------------------------- --

Sam: T________T… *sniff* That's so… heart warming…

Yugi: *cuddling a huge fluffy teddybear* AND IT'S SO FLUFFY!!!!

Yami: You just had to have Tea kiss me didn't you?

Sam: Yeah I'm afraid but one, it's all in the past and two… I've had enough of puking anyway… so no more Tea/Yami stuff… from now on. That relationship is dead.

Yami: Thank Ra… *cuddles Yugi and Tenshi* ^___________^

Bakura: *cuddles Ryou* ^__________^

Malik: *cuddles Isis and Ishtar* ^____________^

Serenity: *cuddles Tristan* ^___________^

Seto: *cuddles Joey* ^__________^

Sam: Why do I suddenly feel so left out?

Pegasusu: *cuddles Mokuba who's dressed up as Funny Bunny* ^___________^

Sam: O.O…. -_- Nevermind…