Dark Crimson Rivers

Part 6: A New Life

Yugi's POV

I sighed as I sit to another day of a long ways away of summer break. I doubt that it's been fun. I never looked forward to it this year. Unlike the other years where I was happy that summer break was here. Not anymore. Forget it. My grandpa went on another dig. I heard Yami mumble it when he read his note so I don't know where and that's the only information I got.

Yami came and talked to me yesterday. I quickly ended the conversation by giving excuses like 'I'm busy'. It was a powerful excuse. He left and didn't pry into my business. At least he's not as blunt as Bakura. I talked to Ryou a few days ago after him and Bakura hooked up. He told me the little story how but he didn't go into too much detail if you catch my drift. He told me how Bakura found out what he has been doing the whole year while he was out of watchful eyes.

I became very careful nowadays. I only cut myself when Yami was out of the house, which was quite rare because I think he's been trying to get answers out of me. I don't really mind I like games. Might as well play this one.

I'm kinda jealous of Ryou. I wish I had a relationship like that with Yami but I don't know. I had those feelings for a while I think I had them for a long time and was just blind. But then again I'm always probably last on the list of choices. Like what Anzu said. Oh well I hope that bitch could go into deeper hell soon that way when I make my way down there and torment her for the rest of her life. Hmm…that doesn't sound too bad.

I think I'll have a goal now to do when I'm dead. Doesn't that seem promising? I don't think so. If that friendship rat goes to heaven I'm so going to be laughing. Why? Because she doesn't deserve to go there! Why would people believe in heaven and hell? People just probably don't want to believe that they're going to die later on and just believing that they'll be in paradise. Why don't they just kill themselves if they want to live in paradise? They can't. There is always someone who will be lonely when their life dies off, their reason to live.

Its okay I think with the recent event of Ryou and Bakura being together is slowly changing my mind. I am happy for them. But I still can't believe that Bakura actually dated Anzu. What the hell was he thinking? I don't want to know how his mind works.

I guess that I'll just beat it now. It's way past bedtime! HAH! I used to remember that little joke at the beginning of the year. Just because I look like a little kid doesn't mean anything to me. I should just go to sleep. Yeah sleep sounds good.

* * *

Another day, another worthless day.

ARGH! This is all BULLSHIT!

Calm down, it's all just the way it was suppose to be, the way it's suppose to be.

Okay I'm still a bit jealous of Ryou. At least he's happy with his life now.

Oooh forget it. I think I'll just walk around town and if I somehow end up in some trouble I'll walk back home as if nothing ever happened. Even if I have a broken leg, a bleeding wound, and something I'll still manage to get back here and take care of it myself.

I walk straight out the door. Surprisingly I got out without Yami questioning me. I wonder where he was. Heh, probably out somewhere with some of his friends it is about the time he always goes out. It is afternoon.

I wonder should I head to the mall or something. Nah they're probably going to be there because the annoying harpy (Anzu in case anyone doesn't know) likes to go there. Maybe just 'around' would be the best option.

* * *

I wandered around the whole damn town, I think. How come I'm not tired? Oh well I guess I'll just go back home; there's nothing else to do here anyways.

I walked back to see that it's still empty as I left it. Guess no one likes to buy stuff no more. I think…I keep thinking. I don't know why.

I should stop it piles more stuff on my head. It's really strenuous. One time I was thinking too much and I was too tired to walk at all and I was only sitting down, can you believe that? No, just don't.

I plopped down on my bed. I wanted to so badly go to sleep. I just kept staring at the ceiling until I soon fell into the land of dreams.

* * *

Yami's POV

I sighed. (Kinshin: I think they sigh too much but anyways back to the fic.) I wish that Yugi would just talk to me. I'm his other half, his friend. Friends tell each other their problems if they have any, right?

He probably won't tell me. I've noticed that he's been more withdrawn from everyone including me. I tried asking him yesterday but he said he was busy. Somehow I didn't believe him. My instincts were proven true because when I went out with the others earlier I spotted him walking around just doing nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I felt a bit of sadness and longing lingering at the back of mind earlier. I thought that they were just my imagination. That is I thought it was when I came home it intensified but then after a few minutes it died down. I knew that it wasn't mine; they were my hikari's. I didn't look into it because it just seemed like a small thing. Just something that would do temporarily. But then I felt them more frequently at times then it would just disappear like it never came at all.

Every time I asked Yugi what was wrong he would always dodge the question or say he's busy. I don't believe any of it. I did notice something wrong but Yugi wouldn't even let me near him or even see him. I rarely saw him the whole year. He never contacted the others when I asked and they also said that they never saw Yugi at all the whole year.

I can't believe that I didn't notice him gone for the year. I always thought he was there but just silent because it was just a one thing wrong. But I don't think that is the real reason. I noticed that he seems thinner than before and looks a little sick. Not that he's thin like before but like he doesn't eat at all. But I see him eat at least something that can be considered a full meal.

I asked Bakura how that hell he got through to Ryou. I was a little bit shocked and horrified that he gave me it in descriptive detail and I really didn't need to know all that. I'm glad that I stopped him before he got very far with what happened. I asked Ryou what Yugi was doing the whole time because I knew that the two spent some time together doing something. Ryou just kept it secret. He didn't tell me anything except the fact that Yugi and him just hung out together. He said that they were just desperate for company and they just did things together that friends usually did. They mentioned each other's problems and secrets that they kept from everyone else. After that I didn't get anything else.

I went into my room. Yes I had my own room because I was able to get my own body so I have a room. I steered to the bed and lied down on it. I didn't know what to do anymore to get Yugi to open up and tell me what's wrong. I guess I'll just confront him tomorrow, it's late and I'm sleepy.

* * *

Yugi's POV

I woke up early the next day. Something forced me to get up early I think. I don't usually wake up at 9:00 in the morning but I guess I'll make an exception since I can't go back to sleep. Stupid sunlight. I thought I closed the curtains last night. Maybe I didn't and just forgot to. Me and my forgetfulness. Time to get up and go through another day of boringness. I don't particularly like to wander around to nowhere but I can't go to Ryou's house because he could still be sleeping or spending time with Bakura. The others are all assholes and Yami…I can't ask him anything. He might catch the wrong message and think I might tell him something that I've been keeping from him. I should probably go job hunting. Nah…they think I'm still a kid and might think I can't hold my own, stupid unopened minded people. (Kinshin: No offense to anyone that is unopened minded. Everyone is cool in my book.)

I should just probably stay home. I walked into the kitchen to see nothing in the fridge except some leftovers. I think that it's been there for about a week. No way am I eating that. Maybe I should go get some donuts and just avoid any asshole bullies that managed to get dumped or is bored and staying the whole summer because they failed in most of their classes and not attending summer school. Shows where they'll be ending up.

I walked out and locked the door so Yami won't know that I went out or he might come after me, or something. He did that once and found me beaten up walking back. I don't want that to happen so I locked the door to my room and the exit. I pocketed my key and left on my safe, I hope, way to the donut shop.

* * *

Yami's POV

I saw that the house was quiet and that Yugi must still be asleep with the door locked and the front still locked. It doesn't look like anyone has been in here. As I was walking up the stairs I heard a loud crash come from the kitchen. And soon other small sounding crashes followed. There was a faint thud there. Funny I didn't see anyone come through the front door. I quickly rushed down the stairs and saw Yugi sprawled out on the floor with some broken dishes and pots that were around him.

I rushed to his side and helped him into a sitting position. I gasp as I saw some blood spilt on his shirt and a bleeding head wound.

"Yugi what happened?" I asked.

Yugi just looked at me and smiled. "Hi Yami, nothing happened why do you ask?"

I stared at him in disbelief. Doesn't he notice that he has at least a head wound or…I looked at my hand that was on his side holding him up that was starting to get wet and I saw blood leaking out.

I picked him up and carried him all the way to the bathroom upstairs. I pulled out the first aid kit and was about to take of his sweater but he stopped me. "What are you doing?" Yugi asked.

"I'm going to patch up that wound on your side," I answered attempting to take the jacket off again. He pulled back.

"Don't touch me, I could do it myself."

"Then what was that that I saw in the kitchen?"

"I tripped. I was just trying to get something and was looking through there."

"Next time you can't reach just ask me okay? I'm here."

"But I thought you were asleep."

I stared. He's always so thoughtful. But he shouldn't always think like that.

"Yugi, you could always ask me, I won't be mad or anything. Now let me bandage that wound of yours before you die of blood loss." I hope I got through to him this time.

"It's okay Yami, I don't need help. I could do it myself. If you're hungry there are some donuts that I picked up earlier."

I sighed and decided to let him. "Alright, I'll wait for you downstairs. Just be careful okay?" I got a nod and I left him to himself. I leaned against the closed bathroom door. A lot of questions run through my mind. I don't know what to do, how to get him to open up. He keeps to himself and I can't find a way to get through. I wish he would just tell me.

I propped myself up and went downstairs to eat some of those donuts that Yugi got.

* * *

Yugi's POV

I took off my sweater and then began cleaning up my stab wound. Yami doesn't know what happened and he doesn't need to. It's my business not his. I then bandaged it up. I also cleaned that little head wound when I was flung into the street on purpose. Someone bumped into me and I almost got ran over by a car. I thought I saw Anzu there. It was probably her. I think she has something against Ryou and me. I don't know what her problem is but I think she needs to chill and find some goddamn money to get to America soon. Then she could be as much as a bitch as she can.

After I changed my clothes to cover up everything I went back downstairs in the kitchen. I just hope that Yami didn't finish all the glazed donuts. I saw Yami sitting down on a chair eating one. I wonder how much he ate the whole time I was patching myself up.

I took a look in the box and saw only one of them gone. That's good. At least he isn't a pig like Jounouchi. I swear eating with him, when he talks with his mouthful some of the food comes out. Yuck.

I sat down on the other chair and grabbed a donut, which ended up as a hard task because I was on the other side and couldn't reach it. I was able to grab it and started munching on one. I said nothing. I'm surprised that Yami isn't asking anything. That's good. I don't feel like answering anything right now.

It was silent. I couldn't stand it, especially with Yami. I can stand someone else, a complete stranger but not anyone I know.

"So, are you going to ask?" I said.

"Ask what?" he answered.

"About what happened? Why I have this injury? Why I've been away from everyone?"

"Oh. I thought you wanted your privacy kept, so I didn't bother asking."

I stare in shock then regained my composure. I took another small bite of my donut. I had my head down and we went back into one of those uncomfortable silences that I so despise.

"What did happen? Who did that? Did Bakura do that to take the puzzle again?" he asked with a bit of a shout in his voice at the last question he asked.

"No, no, no," I said frantically, "He's not doing anything of that sort."

"That's good."

I didn't say anything else. I kept silent. I heard him stand up and I felt him standing in front of me. He kneeled down and looked at my face. He clutched my hands. "Yugi what's wrong?" he asked.

I just didn't answer and turned my head to stare at the floor. I still couldn't say anything. Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut? Oh yeah because I forgot to look at the other possibilities of what might happen. It's like I'm telling him what I've been doing. I can't have any of that now can I? Right? I don't need help, I'm fine just the way what I've been doing now. I'll just stop and go back to the way it was before I did anything to myself. I'll be alone; get beaten up anytime I'm available.

"Don't think like that!" I heard Yami yell out. Damn, I let my thoughts slip. Doesn't he know privacy? I shut my eyes tight. I hated it when someone yelled at me like that. I wanted to run and bolt out of here but I couldn't because Yami was in front of me.

"Yugi look at me." he said but I didn't listen. I felt something cool grab my face gently and turned it towards Yami's direction. I shut my eyes trying not to look at him. I'm afraid that if I look into his eyes then he would see everything, things that I don't want him to. "Yugi please look at me." He begged. I slowly opened my eyes. Yami smiled. "That's better." I just stared.

"Yugi, are you ready to tell me what's wrong? You know that you can talk to me." I didn't answer anything except just stared. Yami sighed. "Yugi I can't help you if you don't tell me if something is wrong."

Oh no did I make him angry? Should I answer? I don't want to but I'm afraid that he'll get mad at me. I didn't know what to do. He sat down on the floor bringing me with him. I just let him. I had no intention to move away I felt contented somehow. I wish I could stay like this forever. I know I have a choice if I wanted it forever but I don't know.

Yami's POV

I waited for an answer from Yugi. But he still kept silent. I didn't know what else to do. I'm at lost and I'm usually the one with the solutions and I don't have any. I listened in to his thoughts in case he slips some of them. I know that it's rude but I don't know what else to do. After a while I stopped listening because I couldn't get anything.

Then I remembered what Bakura caught Ryou doing. He said the Yugi must've been doing the same thing but Ryou didn't tell him. Ryou didn't tell anyone what was Yugi's problem. I noticed that during the time they were together and until now Ryou didn't go with Bakura at an outing. Ryou didn't want to probably face the others and I don't think that Yugi would too.

I looked at him and he seemed out of it, into his own little world. So I decided to check if Bakura's theory was right. I carefully rolled up the long sleeves. Before I was able to see something Yugi pulled it back and ran to the other side near the door. He rolled down the sleeve and looked relieved for a moment.

"Yugi…" I called out walking towards him slowly.

Yugi just shook his head and ran upstairs. I ran after him. I almost reached him but he slammed his door and locked it.

I banged on the door frantically. I yelled for him to open up but he wouldn't. "YUGI, OPEN UP OR I SWEAR I'LL BREAK DOWN THE DOOR!" I yelled.

"Go ahead! I'm sure grandpa would love to yell at me for the replacement of a new door!" he equally yelled back.

After I registered his words, I stared in shock. Did he really think his grandpa would blame him for it? Now that I think about it, I don't think that grandpa actually acknowledged Yugi at all. Realization hit me. This was how Yugi felt? Loneliness because no one even talked to him? Oh no.

"YUGI!" I yelled again banging on the door until the door actually busted open. Who cares about replacement?

I gasp as I saw the sight before me. I quickly rushed over to Yugi's unconscious form. I got a piece of cloth, since it was the closest to me, and tied it tightly around his bleeding wrist to stop the blood from escaping but it just got redder. So I tore another piece off and put it over.

I grabbed the phone and dialed the emergency number.

* * *

I waited in the waiting room until they were finished. The doctor approached me. "Is he alright?" I asked a bit scared that he isn't.

"Do not worry sir he is fine. Do you wish to see him now, he's awake." The doctor said.

I nodded and followed where he led me to him.

The doctor left us. Yugi was facing away from me. Me, I didn't know what to say or do. So I just walked over to his side. "Yugi?" I asked softly. Yugi didn't answer anything. I sighed and tried again. "Yugi, please, talk to me."

"You know a lot there's nothing to talk about so why don't you just leave," he said, firmly. But I wasn't going to give up on him yet.

"No," I flatly said.

Normal POV

"Fine then stay." Yugi pulled the blanket over his head in an attempt to make him run out of oxygen to die and depart from this callous world. He hated living already he just couldn't figure out why Yami couldn't see that. He was thinking that Yami would actually disappear without him here but then realized Yami could live his life and replace him since they are sort of the same.

"Yugi…" Yami said pulling the blanket so that Yugi's face appeared from under the sheets.

"You're still not finished? What is it?" Yugi said bitterly.

Yami sighed. "I'm sorry."

Yugi just kept silent for a few shocked moments of his life. "Sorry for what? You didn't do this. Shouldn't you be celebrating? I could've been dead but yet you kept me here to let this uncaring world torture me some more. Why didn't you just leave me there?" Yugi said facing the yami.

He saw emotions pass through his other's eyes. There was all the same as he thought of as lies. To him all those caring emotions were just fronts so that way he would believe him.

"Because I care." Yami stated firmly.

"Really? Caring is so overlooked. It's just a word. Like they say actions speak louder than words your actions do speak louder than your words. There's nothing you can do." Yugi glared and then turned his back to Yami.

"No your attitude speaks louder than your words. You say all of this and yet you do the same thing. If you wanted to die why didn't you do it before with those other self inflicted wounds you made? To scared to let go?" Yami spoke with sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"Hmm maybe I was. But I don't know, I think I just thought that I didn't cut too deep enough. The fat was in the way." Yugi answered back with the same intense sarcasm.

"Lame excuse."

"Well then if that is a lame excuse that what's your excuse for keeping me alive? Because you'll die if I die?"

"No, that isn't why. You, for one, are not me so you wouldn't understand." Yami said making Yugi face his direction.

"You're right I'm not you, now you get my point. Are you finished yet becua-"

Yami kissed him and cut him off in mid sentence.

Yugi resisted by trying to push Yami off but he was as weak as is and soon submitted to it. He was actually enjoying it. That lasted for a few minutes until a noise interrupted them. Yami didn't have to turn around to know who it was. He grumbled something under his breath that solely sounded something like 'tomb robbers always ruin the moments'. Yugi laughed silently. Standing by the door was none other than Ryou and Bakura.

Ryou walked over to Yugi's side and avoided the mess on the floor, which consisted of both yamis wrestling each other. "Hey Yugi how's it going?" Ryou asked smiling.

"Aren't you overjoyed, what's the occasion?" Yugi answered with a question.

"Well I'm glad to be out of that hospital room since I accidentally tried to do it again. What about you?"

"None whatsoever. I think I feel better now. Maybe when life gets too hard for me then I probably will try again."

"Yeah you're right I was going to do the same thing."

"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" Both yamis yelled at the same time. Ryou and Yugi just laughed. "We're just kidding." They both said at the same time.

Bakura grabbed Ryou and dragged him towards the exit. Ryou gave a quick wave good-bye. "C'mon Ryou, I think hanging out with the pharaoh's hikari is making you suicidal," he said before they left. There sounded a little fight through the halls but that's not important.

Yami turned his direction to Yugi. Yugi was staring at his lap. He had an emotionless expression on his face. "So what was that?" Yugi asked finally after a minute of silence.

"What?"

"What you did. Was that a one time thing to make me feel all better or something?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"I care about you. In fact…" he paused for a minute, "Aishiteru."

He of course couldn't believe any of it until Yami went over and kissed him. That was then he knew that he was telling the truth no matter how much he denied it.

~ Owari ~

Kinshin: That's the end of this whole story people! I think it isn't good. I hate making endings but anyways... I thank all of the reviewers that review. Oh and the person who asked if Ryou had a happy ending, I'm sorry that I forgot your name since the microsoft word doesn't jive with saving it in the html document, Ryou did have a happy ending. If you read it again you might catch it. I had the same problem when I read it the first time after I wrote it. But I got it. Anyways…

Thank You Everyone!

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