Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Desperate Desire ❯ Lonesome ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

By: emerald_fire2065

Desperate Desire

Emerald Princess of Vernea

Chapter 02: Lonesome

At 1 o'clock sharp the school bell rang fiercely, signalling the end of the school day. Not even a minute later the doors opened and students began to pour out in their dozens, eager to head home. It was all thanks to a teacher's meeting that they were all able to head home early, and not a single one of them wanting to waste the free time they had been given. They were all eager to run down to the beach, to the arcades, anything just to get out and enjoy the summer sun.

For Yami, however, it was a completely different story. To him it wasn't the middle of a blazing hot summer. It may as well have been winter, on a cold day in which the rain poured down like a waterfall and soaked him to the skin, freezing him and making him shiver until he could shiver no more. Freeze him to the point where he could feel absolutely nothing against him.

Ever since talking to Yugi that morning, he had been unable to lift himself from the swell of anxiety and depression that had overcome him. Even as he walked behind Yugi and all the others as they left the school gates… hearing Yugi's cheerful voice as he talked loudly and happily to his friends… he could only bring a faint smile to his face, before he glanced away and returned to his thoughtful frown. Such an innocent, playful laugh…

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the others all stop and turn to him, nor that Yugi was calling his name. He was only broken out of his thoughtful trance when a strong blue-sleeved arm flashed in front of his eyes and wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him back a step.

“Hey, snap out of it, man,” came Joey's voice. “Don't you know it's rude to ignore someone when they're talkin' to ya?” He looked down at Yami's confused face, and Joey grinned a mischievous grin. “You were thinking dirty thoughts again, weren't you? Come on, Yami, might as well admit it.”

“No, I was not!” Yami snapped back instantly; although he could not fight the flush of blood that rose to his face and made his cheeks turn bright red. Seeing Joey laugh, he pushed the older boy away and turned away.

“Well, anyway,” said Yugi as the others finished laughing. “We were thinking about heading to the arcades. You coming, too, Yami?”

Yami shook his head. “No. I'm just gonna head straight home, I think.”

“Are you okay, Yami?” the younger boy asked, a look of concern in his face. “You've been really quiet all day. Is something wrong?”

Again Yami shook his head, and gazed into his hikari's adorable lavender eyes. Looking into those eyes - seeing their wide-eyed, loving innocence, brought the lump straight back into his throat. For a moment the look of love and loneliness was visible on his face. Not long enough for Yugi to notice, but it was enough for Joey to spot and he looked at Yami in confusion, before it turned to realisation.

“No, I'm all right, Yugi,” he heard Yami say. “I'm just a little… tired, that's all. Really, Yugi, you can go with them if you want - ”

He had no time to finish his sentence, for Yugi suddenly reached out and grabbed hold of Yami's hand. Yami stammered and stepped back at the hikari's touch, his voice lost as he watched Yugi's persistent, eager face smile back at him.

“Not a chance,” his aibou replied. “You've been moping around far too much lately. It'll be good for you to get out and have some fun. I'm not taking no for an answer, so let's get going before all the games get taken up. I want to challenge you at this cool new game I found.”

With that Yugi turned and dragged Yami down the street, with Téa and Tristan following close behind them. After a few steps Yami felt his hand slip from Yugi's and came to a stop, while Yugi ran on ahead with his friends. Yami stared silently as the hikari ran on ahead, until he was aware of Joey standing behind him. He turned and saw the blond-haired boy staring at him quite seriously - something that was quite rare for someone as free natured as Joey.

“What is it, Joey?” Yami asked. He was still trying to push away the painful blush that was covering his face, but the longer Joey stared at him the more it increased. Eventually Yami was forced to look away, unable to meet Joey's gaze.

Seeming satisfied, Joey walked closer and stood beside Yami, who continued to look away. They were both silent for a second or two, Yami staring at the ground and biting his lip nervously while Joey looked at the others running on ahead. Eventually he turned his gaze and looked at Yami.

“You love him. Don't you?”

Yami gasped, and looked up at Joey. How could he… how did he know? How could he possibly have found out the one secret he had been keeping from everyone, even from himself? He stared at Joey until the despair and fear rose to a point in which he could no longer meet Joey's gaze, and he turned and ran to the school wall, feeling suddenly sick.

A knowing smile spread on Joey's face, pleased he had guessed right. “It's all right, you know. You don't need to be ashamed of it,” he said calmly. He walked over to the young Pharaoh and leaned against the wall, looking down at him. “Aren't you going to tell him?” Yami shook his head. “Why?”

“Because… I… he…” Yami stammered, his voice muffled as his hand covered his mouth to stop him from throwing up. “I'm afraid he doesn't have the same feelings for me as I have for him. I want to tell him, but… I think he'd hate me. Or worse, be afraid of me. He'd think I was a freak.”

“HEY!” came Yugi's voice from further down the street. Looking up, Yami and Joey could see the younger boy waving down to them. “Are you guys coming or what?”

“Okay, Yuug. We're coming!” Joey called back.

As Yugi turned and ran round the corner after the others, Joey pushed himself up away from the wall. As he walked past Yami he paused, and put a hand on his shoulder.

“You know, Yami? You shouldn't let fear like that stop you. It eats you away. If you truly love him, then you'll tell him. Before it's too late.”