Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Desperate Desire ❯ The Plot Thickens ( Chapter 3 )

Desperate Desire

Emerald Princess of Vernea

Chapter 03: The Plot Thickens

Yami remained where he was for a few more minutes, staring at the school wall thinking about what Joey had said to him. Perhaps Joey was right - maybe he should just take the plunge and tell Yugi just how he felt. How every time he saw Yugi his heart started beating at what felt like one thousand beats a minute, and he became so light-headed he wanted to faint on the spot…

Even so, the fear of what Yugi might say kept him held back. Even though it broke Yami's heart to keep his feelings locked in, he knew he just had to. If only to protect himself from being rejected…

After a couple more minutes of standing at staring at the brick wall, Yami finally pulled himself together and walked slowly down the street after the others. With any luck he would be able to catch up with Yugi and Joey and the others before they got too far ahead and came back to see where he was. As long as he could just keep his act together… then Yugi would never even know that something was up.

As the young Pharaoh disappeared round the corner and left the street empty, a figure stepped out from behind the school gates and onto the street. Standing out against the afternoon sun in his dark cloak he lowered his hood and let the long lengths of blond hair fall on his back, his tanned Egyptian skin warming up slowly in the heat. He then undid the cloak and let it fall to the floor, revealing the long, slender form of the Millennium Rod that was hooked onto the back of his trousers.

“So it seems the Pharaoh has a bit of a dilemma on his hands,” said Marik. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes in deep thought. “He's afraid to tell little Yugi because he's afraid Yugi will hate him. But Joey is also right. If he doesn't tell him, Yugi could slip right through his fingers and into the arms of… well, who knows?”

Marik reached behind him and unhooked the Millennium Rod, holding it out in front of him. The mystical Eye of Horus glared back at him, the sunlight making the dark hole even darker as it created a bright outline around the golden frame.

“Using the Millennium Rod would be too easy,” the boy said. He continued to look at the rod for a few seconds more, before a small smirk spread on his tanned face, an idea forming in his mind. “Yes… that would be much more fun… As they say… `The course of true love never did run smooth'.”

He laughed.

About an hour or so later, Yugi and the rest of the gang had all gathered inside one of Domino's favourite arcade centres, which had just recently opened up in town and amazingly was not part of Kaiba's growing company.

As they had all suspected, the arcade was filled to the brim with dozens of students from their high school. Most of them still in their uniforms, unchanged, spending every spare penny they had on the games. And why not, you were standing in an arcade that cost over 300,000 yen to build?

“Come on, Joey! Don't give up just yet!”

“Get him, Kurando!”

Yugi stepped out of the bathroom just as a large group of students cheered. Yugi looked over to the basketball games, where Joey and another student were competing against each other to get the highest score. Joey wasn't doing too bad but he was still losing by a pretty big score, although that didn't stop his determination to get a few more balls through the net before the time limit ran out.

It was nice, Yugi thought, spending time with his friends like this. Even if he didn't play most of the games, it was nice to watch the others play for a change.

He thought it would be especially good for Yami to get out and enjoy some of the games. Yugi had noticed a change in Yami's behaviour the last few months, becoming more reserved and quiet, although he didn't know why. That's why he suggested they go to the arcades - try to cheer the Pharaoh up a little.

Yugi looked around the basketball game, trying to find Yami amongst the crowd of students that had gathered to watch the competition. He could see Téa… Tristan… and Joey, obviously… but he couldn't spot Yami anywhere amongst the crowd. He had left Yami while he went to the bathroom, but now he was gone. Concerned, he walked over to Téa, who was cheering as Joey got another ball into the net.

“Téa, have you seen Yami? I can't see him anywhere…”

Téa stopped clapping and looked down at him. “Oh, I think he went out just a minute ago,” she replied. “Is he okay? He looked a little sick…”

Yugi never had time to hear her question, let alone answer it. As soon as she told him Yami had left the arcade he had turned and was jogging towards the open doors leading back outside of the arcade, hoping he wasn't too late to catch up with him. He didn't know what, but something was seriously troubling Yami and he wanted to find out what it was. Even if he had to force it out of him.

He burst through the open doors and stopped on the street, his head turning left and right as he searched for his partner through the crowds of people that were walking around him. There were so many people around that he could hardly see anything, until he finally looked across the street towards the promenade and the ocean.

Yami was there, leaning against the rails as he looked out at the ocean as it sparkled in the afternoon sun, his hand pressed against his cheek as he stood silently looking at the water. Although Yugi couldn't see it, there was a sad expression on Yami's face…

“Yami?”

Yami jumped a little and spun around, surprised to find Yugi standing right behind him with a very concerned look on his face.

“Y-Yugi?” he stammered. He was so surprised he didn't have time to change the frown into a smile, or wipe the small tear that had formed in his eye. By the time he realised and casually wiped his eye and gave a soft smile it was too late, because Yugi had already seen both.

“Yami, what's wrong? Please tell me,” the boy said, his eyes filled with concern and worry. “And don't say it's nothing. I have noticed how you've been acting differently lately.”

Yami kicked himself inside. First Joey noticed something was up, and now Yugi… “There's nothing wrong, Yugi,” he said, continuing to lie.

“Yami! Stop lying!”

There were tears in Yugi's eyes now, which he couldn't hold back as he sobbed a little. It hurt him so much that Yami couldn't even talk to him, after everything they had been through together. He had always felt that he and Yami were so close they would be able to share anything with one another. Yet… here Yami was… holding something back from him.

“I-Is it me…?” Yugi asked quietly once the tears had subsided. “Have I done something to upset you? Is that why you can't talk to me?”

Yami didn't say a word, and just stared blankly at his partner, feeling completely lost. He knew that by telling Yugi how he felt it would hurt him and ruin the friendship they worked so hard on… and yet by not telling him it was hurting Yugi just as much. Yami slowly turned away, trying to hide the flush that was spreading across his face again.

“Yami…” came Yugi's meek voice behind him. “I… I'm sorry… I'm sorry if I've done anything that - ”

He didn't have a chance to finish his sentence, for Yami suddenly turned around, grabbed Yugi's soft face in his hands and pressed his lips against Yugi's. Yugi's eyes opened wide in surprise as he felt the warmth of Yami's lips against his own, and he couldn't do anything but stand there as Yami kissed him.

The others were all walking out of the arcade just then, and stopped as they saw the kiss across the street. A small smile appeared on Joey's face.

Yami ended the kiss and looked down at the ground, instantly regretting the kiss, although he kept his hands on Yugi's shoulders. The younger boy just stood, frozen, unable to move…

“Yugi… I…” Yami said, his lips trembling. “I'm sorry… I shouldn't…”

The Pharaoh suddenly turned away from Yugi and ran off down the street at top speed, leaving Yugi speechless on the street. Only when Yami was out of sight did Yugi slowly lift his hand and touched his lips, still feeling the warmth of his older partner against them.