Title: Girl Trouble

Author: Sean Wright

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh.

Chapter Five

Yuugi and Anzu were waiting up for Yuugi's grandfather to return.

Anzu paused her channel surfing to cast another worried glance in her friend's direction. Yuugi was ensconced on the love seat with his opened school bag on the floor within reach. He had his notebook computer lying on the opposite cushion and in his lap was one of his textbooks.

Anzu turned around until she was facing him and she called to him.

The yellow highlighter in his right hand stopped. Yuugi turned his head in her direction, "Yeah?" His voice was still rusty from his latest crying fit and behind his reading glasses his large lavender eyes were slightly puffy.

Anzu put on her brightest smile as she rolled to her knees. "I have a great idea. Why don't you get dressed and we go the movies?"

He shook his head. "Even if I wanted to, we would have to walk."

"If you don't want to drive, that's cool. I have my license."

"I meant Yami took my car keys and wallet. I'm broke until Yami decides to give back my money."

Anzu's mouth fell open in shock, but she recovered quickly. "Aww, so what? It will be my treat. Besides you need to get out of the house."

He shook his head again. "I'm really not in the mood, Anzu…"

"C'mon, Yuugi. Have some compassion for your friend. I'm so bored right now." She jumped down from the couch and fell to her knees with holding her hands in prayer fashion as she begged. "Please, Yuugi. I went to the movies with Honda, Jou, and Shizuka last night and it was the worst mistake of my week. I wasted two hours of my life, barely sitting through an awful American slasher flick that was dubbed." She shuddered violently. "Please, Yuugi. I need to cleanse my mind. I need culture. I need to see Sunset Boulevard and there's a special screen at the Cho Cinemaplex ." She grabbed his hands and tried out her sad puppy face. "Please, Yuugi?"

He was feeling abit like a shut in. Reluctantly, Yuugi asked, "Is it dubbed?"

She shook her head quickly. "Subtitled," Anzu knew she almost had him. Yuugi was a sucker for American old movie. Yet she needed something to increase her chances, something that would topple his resistance Anzu added: "I'll even sneak it an extra large bag of M&M's for you."

That was all it took to get him moving. Yuugi tossed his homework aside as he scrambled to his feet. "I think I have an old pair of running shoes in the attic somewhere. What time does the movie start?" he called over his shoulder.

"I don't know, but we could hang out for awhile." She crawled over to her knapsack and pulled out her purse. She counted her money and sighed.

Yuugi had turned back just as he had an idea. "Anzu, don't worrying about paying." She looked up at him, her large blue eyes filled with questions. Yami had run over him enough this day and Yuugi wanted to strike back. "This will be Yami's treat." He smiled grimly as he headed for Yami's room.

*******

Thirty minutes later, the two where walking through downtown Domino. Anzu was in jeans and a light blue hooded pullover. Yuugi trailed beside her one of Yami's oversize gray hooded sweatshirts and sweatpants. With Anzu's assistance, Yuugi had managed to braid his hair. He let Anzu pin it down and then he tied a bandana over his hair and

a baseball cap to hide it. Yuugi hoped that he would not be recognized on the streets in this get up and he prayed that his more feminine traits were disguised as well.

"Why did he take your things?" Anzu asked quietly as Yuugi purchased their tickets.

Yuugi had scribbled Yami's name onto the receipt. He handed it back and took their tickets. "It's called control." He handed Anzu her ticket and he stuffed his into his pocket. "Yami's a control freak or had you not noticed?"

"We knew, we were all wondering if you blinded from Yami's faults by his charm." She replied sarcastically.

He glanced down at the little scrap of paper and then his watch. "I've always known. I used to share a body with the guy, remember?" The film didn't start for another hour which left them with some time to kill. "But to answer your question, I was going to leave." He answered quietly.

Anzu looked down at him in shock. "You were going to runaway?" She was horrified. Oh, poor Yuugi, her heart ached for him. He was not handling this well at all.

Yuugi could read her thoughts in her eyes. He took her hand and interlaced their fingers. "I wasn't leaving for good, Anzu. This is my home and everyone I care about is here. I couldn't leave Ji-san and you guys because of pique. Despite how cold he is behaving towards me, I still do love Yami and he loves me. I just wanted to get away for a few days, to clear my head and decide what on what I should do. Professor Fujita and his wife are in Melbourne-"

"Who?" She asked confused.

Yuugi pulled her inside the theater's café. "I forgot you don't know Fujita-san." He spotted an empty circular booth in the back and led her there. "The professor and his wife, Mei; they have a condo in Tokyo and I go up there every few days to gather their mail and feed the plants. I was going to go there while Yami was out of the country…"

"How did you meet this Professor?" She asked as signaled a waitress.

"I had an internship with him last summer. He doing a study on-"

"Anzu?" A familiar voice called from across the room.

Yuugi glance up and looked down quickly, swearing.

"What the--?" Anzu turned around and saw Jou pushing his way through his the slightly crowded room. She turned back to Yuugi, "Do you want me to get rid of him?"

Yuugi slump down in his seat, he pulled on a pair of dark sunglasses and turned his face away. Jou had not come alone. For some odd and creepy reason, Jou was with Seto Kaiba, Bakura and Marik and Malik.

"Hey, what's all this?" Jou playfully shoved Anzu aside. He glanced at Yuugi, who looked more rough than normal. His appearance was "thuggish," Eminem 8 Mile rough. Jou, not knowing that the person across from him was his best friend, took it upon himself to act as Anzu's protector. "Since when have you stared dating thugs wanna be's?"

Yuugi and Anzu exchanged looks and the girl laughed. "Since when have you started hanging with the lower elements, Jou? I mean, a former thief, two psychos, and Kaiba?"

"I was on my way to see you and Yug." He glanced at Yuugi, "You don't mind if me and my 'homies' intrude, do you, dawg?"

Yuugi was glaring at Kaiba over the rim of his glasses. "No problems, 'G." He slid around the table until he was sitting beside Anzu. "Any friends of Anzu…"

"Well this is most unexpected." Bakura regarded Yuugi in his less than fashionable attire in amusement. "When the Pharaoh's away, you like to dress up and take out females, Hikari no Pharaoh?" Bakura smirked.

Yuugi lowered his glasses and stared coldly at the one time thief. "You are the last person who should ever insult another's clothes."

Bakura removed his wool pea coat to show off his dark blue v-neck sweater that went well with his charcoal gray painter's pants. "Today, I can."

"Ryou dressed again?" Yuugi taunted.

The white haired youth flashed Yuugi a tight-lipped grin. "Does the Pharaoh know of your little side venture?" His dark eyes moved to Anzu. The other boy growled low in his throat. "Is that a no, Hikari no Pharaoh?" He asked innocently.

Yuugi's menacing façade began to crumble. He clamped his hands to his mouth as he snickered and snorted. "Oh, Kami. I dare you tell him."

"Are you familiar with the saying 'Don't shoot the messenger'?" The white haired yami dropped down beside Yuugi. "The Pharaoh would kill me if I went to him with such a tale."

"Where's Ryou?" Anzu asked looking around. She stopped to pull Jou's hand out of her purse.

"Dinner with his father." Bakura ordered an iced coffee. "The old man in briefly. From here, he on his way to London or somewhere." He made room for the two maniacs. Jou did the same for Kaiba.

"Is he still pressuring Ryou to attend university there?" Yuugi asked curiously.

Bakura nodded. "Ryou is giving the matter serious consideration this time. Ryou says he is not pleased with the universities here and is looking at couple institutions in America as well as England."

"We both talked about looking into Yale." Yuugi confessed. "We each have the grades and Yale is really one of the best universities in the world."

"I would like to see America." Bakura admitted. "Well, the decision will be Ryou's in the end. I have a feeling we will be in England this time next year. Ryou's father is a member of something called the alumni committee."

"Greased wheels for Ryou." Jou put in after he ordered his drink and couple brownies.

"Where are do you plan to attend University, Jou?" Malik asked in a moment of lucidly.

The shaggy blond shook his head. "I haven't even though that far. I have to make it to graduation first. What about you, Yug?"

"I wouldn't mind going to Yale, but I might end up at KO University. I'm not going to straight to university after I graduate."

"You're taking off a year?" Jou was surprised by that news.

Yuugi nodded. "Yami graduates next summer and we've decided spend a year just seeing the world."

"That sounds exciting." Anzu chirped. "Have you decided where you're going to go first?"

"Hawaii," he scratched the bandana's knot at the base of his skull. Those hairpins were

digging into his head.

"Wow," Jou sank back against the seat. "Hawaii. Half away across the world."

"Yet there's a possibility that you just won't go to university at all, isn't that right, Yuugi?" Kaiba sneered. "Yami doesn't want his fuck toy to get a education. Or maybe you're so besotted with that rotting, animated corpse that you would ruin what's left of your life-"

"That's enough, Kaiba." The former tomb raider warned him.

Kaiba eyes narrowed with disdain as he regarded the one time thief. "Do you think I fear you, grave robber?"

A cold, malicious grin graced Bakura's lips. "Had I it been you first challenged, Mage, I would have killed you. Yet you faced the Pharaoh while he shared his mind with this boy here. You live by his grace."

"Yami has always been weak." Kaiba sneered.

Marik laughed, it was a sound completely without mirth. "You misunderstood the Tomb Raider, Seto-chan" he settled back in his seat with his arms folded across his chest as he studied the blue eyed youth. "When he said 'you live by his grace'; Bakura was not referring to the Pharaoh, for he has no compassion for anyone. He was talking about the Pharaoh's hikari. You are foolish to offend this boy. He is the only thing that has kept alive for these years." Dark amethyst eyes flickered into Yuugi's direction; A vicious grin appeared on the Spirit of the Rod's face. "And his patience is thinning, Seto. Yugioh has been patiently waiting for the day he could do away with you and at the rate you're going, the Pharaoh will have his wish very soon."

Yuugi ignored him. He turned to two blonds at the end of the booth. "What about you, Malik? What are your plans?"

"We're will be returning to Egypt." His yami answered for him. "Isis would like for my

light to complete his formal education here."

"As well as his therapy." Bakura swatted away a paper napkin Malik threw at him.

Yuugi moved closer to Anzu. "So were all of you heading to my house?"

"Jou and Kaiba were on their way to see you. We were here to see Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Malik informed him.

"Again?" Yuugi cried in disbelief. "How many times can you see one movie?"

"Fifty times haven't made dent in these two." Malik groaned. "Ryou was spared this torture. Lucky bastard."

Yuugi nodded in sympathy. Yami had seen that very movie ten times and he had dragged Yuugi along each time. flicked cold eyes in Kaiba's direction. "Why would you be coming to my house, Kaiba?"

"Mokuba has been worried about you."

"The kid can come over anytime. You, on the other hand, are not welcomed." The waitress returned with all their drinks. "Malik, have I missed anything important in our study group?"

"Other than Mori thinking he is superior to us?" He ripped off the lid on his drink and stared tiredly into the cup. "You haven't missed anything."

"Mori is a prick." Yuugi snorted. "I swear, if he calls me another ass whore, I'm going to break his nose with my literature book."

Malik snorted in amusement. "He's only doing it to cover up his initial attraction to you, Yuugi-chan."

"Dude, don't call me that." The smaller youth growled menacingly.

"That's the first time I've ever heard you tease anyone before, Malik." Anzu said with a small laugh.

He made a dismissive gesture. "That's what the prick would say the first couple weeks of our group session. He was so gentlemanly and attentive to the Pharaoh's hikari even though Yuugi-kun did nothing to encourage his behavior."

Anzu looked at Yuugi questioningly.

The boy was lowered his coffee. "He though I was girl." He explained.

"What?" Jou cried, then he started to laugh. "Yug, I told you needed a hair cut."

"You're a fine one to talk, Mr. I-can't-been-seen-in-public-without-hair gel."

"Hey, don't confuse me with Yami."

Yuugi snorted, "As if I could."

"What are you trying to say?" Jou yelled.

"I'm just saying I would confuse you with my boyfriend." The boy's eyes were dancing with mirth. "I mean, I don't know which of us would be more offended. Yami, by being compared to you or me; for the idea of one such as myself being romantically linked with someone who looks like you…"

"Oh, shit." Marik burst out. He had to get up or he was going to die right there.

"Damn!" Bakura started to fan himself. "That's your friend, man."

Malik had pulled himself up from the floor and was now leaning across the table and he said in a loud stage whisper. "That must hurt. The midget says you're not good enough to be seen with him."

Jou put his right hand Malik's brow. "Shut the hell up," he growled as he shoved him away. He then turned on Yuugi and the other boy yelped as he tried squeeze and push past Bakura. Jou reached past Anzu with both arms, his fingertips grazed the back Yuugi's shirt just before the other boy clamored onto Bakura.

"Hey!" Bakura tried to push Yuugi off, "Damnit, don't drag me into this foolishness."

Anzu cried out when Jou fell in her lap. "You pervert!" She screamed and started to pound on his back and shoulders. "Get off me, Jou!"

"Excuse me." A man in a white shirt and green apron stood glowering at them. "You kids either calm down or you have leave. You're disturbing the other customers."

Abashed by his and his friends antics, Yuugi climbed off Bakura and settled back in his seat. Jou, still sprawled over Anzu's lap, punched Yuugi in his arm, thus getting in his cheap shot.

"Ow, you bastard, that shit hurts!" Yuugi grabbed offended arm and held it.

The three 'normal' guys stared at Yuugi.

"Uh, Yuugi," Malik said nervously, "I think you're still sick." And whatever he had, Malik did not want.

Yuugi started to tell him what he could go do with himself. Anzu drew Yuugi's attention away from the blond Egyptian.

"You know, Yuugi there are a couple Moris at Domino High," Anzu pinched Yuugi's arm as she smiled brightly at him. "They all know you're a guy."

"This guy's from Kyushu Prep." Yuugi glared murderously at her. "I'm going to kick your ass." He hissed.

"Since when do you fight girls, Yuugi?" She fluttered her lashes at him coquettish

Yuugi gave her the finger.

"So how did he find out that you were a guy?" Jou asked interestedly.

"The Pharaoh of course." Marik answered for him.

Yuugi shook his head, "I told him I was straight and I didn't swing that way…"

Confusion was stamped on their faces except Malik who was dying from laughter. "But you…" Anzu trailed off. She looked at Yuugi as comprehension dawned in her eyes and giggled.

Malik fell out of his seat, he was laughing so much that did not feel it. The everyone at their table were looking at the hyena on the floor, then slowly, each separate person turned their attention back to Yuugi.

"I fail to see the humor of this conversation." Bakura commented as he edged away from the strangling gasping on the floor.

"It's one of those things that you had to been there to understand." Still, Yuugi chuckled at the memory. "Now, instead of trying to get down my pants, Pillow biter Mori want to kick my ass." He smirked.

"Pillow biter…" Malik howled as if he had been reading Yuugi's mind.

That did Yuugi in. "He's a straight bottom."

"He likes to go down the Hershey Highway." Malik said before he collapsed to the floor.

"Naw, man, he likes to grab his ankles and take it-"

"Now this freaky." Anzu whispered to Jou, "They're gay and they are making gay jokes about a straight."

Jou nodded. "I've never heard Yuugi crack on anyone." He reached behind Anzu and tapped Yuugi on the shoulder. "Yug, what's up? You feeling alright?"

Yuugi stopped laughing long enough to say he was fine then he and Malik went back to their 'top this' contest.

"The Pharaoh's hikari is usually so mature." Marik was saying to Bakura, the look on his face was of wonderment.

"The pain in his arm is affecting his brain." Anzu said into her drink. The jumped and spat her drink out across the table. She turned on Yuugi; her hands raised as claws, just itching to slide around his little neck.

"You alright, Anzu-chan?" He asked innocently.

"Oh, I'm better than alright," she hissed through clenched teeth. "I have practice tomorrow morning and if I have a bruise or anything difficulties because of my leg, say good-bye to all of your pretty black hair."

"You have to get to my hair."

"I'll get to it." She promised.

He met her glare bravely. "And I'll cut off that ponytail of yours." His tone was just a deadly.

"It is as I said before, when the Pharaoh's away…" Bakura stuck his tongue out at Yuugi.

Yuugi responded the same. Beside him, Anzu gasped. "Yuugi, the movie starts in fifteen minutes." She shoved Jou aside.

"You have sometime-" Jou tried to say.

"Not really. I have to go to the restroom and you know long those lines can be." She pushed him; causing Jou to fall against Kaiba and he onto Marik and those two, it was not pretty.

"We should be going as well." Bakura said over the yelling Marik who promised death to the two mortals. The brown eyed yami grabbed his coat that had fallen to floor with Malik and then slid out of the booth. "Excuse me, Yuugi, if I may have a moment of your time?"

Yuugi blinked incredulously, he shook it off and nodded once. He slipped out the booth and followed the white haired Yami over to the check out. Much to Yuugi's surprise, Bakura pulled out a wallet and counted a couple bills.

"Yami would be surprised to see this." He commented as Bakura paid for their drinks.

"Not really," he flashed Yuugi a wolfish grin and winked. "Considering the Pharaoh was the one who taught about Japanese currency."

"My Yami?" Yuugi could not believe it.

The former thief stepped away from the counter and started for the stairs that lead to the theater. "It surprised me when he offered. Before then, I had been practically giving away Ryou's money. Well, I refused to learn at first, but you know persuasive the Pharaoh can be."

"He kicked your ass."

"I see you are familiar with his methods." He motioned for Yuugi to sit, while he rested his hip against the brass banister.

"Yami never hits me, I get visits from the Shadows if I misbehave."

"How many times has that happen?" Asked the curious spirit; Yuugi held up his right index finger. Bakura made a sympathetic sound. "Pharaoh was never one to tolerate disobedience. You were lucky to have survived the experience."

"It not something I would ever want to go through again." Yuugi fought to sudden urge to run into a patch of bright light. Sometimes he still doubted if it had truly happened. "But to this day, I have done all within my power to keep him happy."

The other youth snorted, "You knew he was crazy when you two got together."

"He's not crazy, Bakura."

"He's not a nice chap either. But he does love you, which could either be good or bad." Bakura brushed some lint off his navy blue v-neck sweater. "And that brings me to my point."

"What did Yami say?"

"Marik and I know what has happened to you." He dropped down to knee before Yuugi and stared at the into the boy's horror filled eyes. "We knew something had happened to you when you disappeared, but not what." He looked away, suddenly feeling awkward with the situation. "The Pharaoh has ordered us to watch over you until he returned or we forfeit our lives."

A strangled sound escaped Yuugi's lips, his face a twisted mask of agony as stared at the yami holding him. "He told you?" His voice broke off as he began to hyperventilate

"Yuugi," Bakura said sharply. He shook the boy in hopes of getting him to calm down. When that failed, Bakura slapped him as he called Yuugi's name again.

But Yuugi was beyond Bakura's reach. He could hear her again. Her mad laughter filled his ears drowning out all other sound. Helplessly, Yuugi was trapped by his fear and her voice. Before him, Bakura continued to speak, completely oblivious to Yuugi's plight, leaving the youth a captured prisoner for the bright angel.

Kami, why couldn't she just leave him alone.

"He now surrounds you with his dark servants. Soulless being like himself, who basks in the light of other innocences. But never again, my sweet one." She knelt behind Yuugi; her cold, pale white hands rested on his shoulders. She leaned forward until her mouth was next to his left ear. "We both know that these two weak creatures will not keep me from you.

God, it was too much for him.

"One body, one soul..." She touched her lips to his ear.

His world started to dim; everything was becoming dark. He reached out desperately for something to keep him in the light.

She drew slowly, a satisfied grin on face. "You are mine."

"Yuugi!" Bakura shouted as he lunged forward and caught the boy. Behind him, someone screamed, but it went unheard as Bakura tried frantically to revive the Pharaoh's light.

"You are mine."

*******

He never wanted them to find out this way.

Yuugi found he could no longer bear the slight horrified, shocked, and sadden faces of his closest friends. He sent them away, but asked Anzu to stay with him in the cold, sterile hospital room.

Sugoroku stayed long after the nurses had checked by. Yuugi had to stay at the hospital overnight, just for observations. The doctor had said that he was slight dehydrated and despite having been asleep for almost week, Yuugi was exhausted. What he need was some rest and fluids, but other than that, Yuugi was a healthy, normal seventeen-year-old girl.

"A girl?" Jou had shrieked.

Yuugi had sat in a cubical with an ugly green curtain with his short legs dangling over the side of the examination table as he listened to his friends cries of disbelief. Yami's sweatshirt lay in small pile on the floor, with Yuugi's old shoes and bandana. The emergency room techs had left on his ring and his tee shirt. That had been considerate of them. Yet still…

"What do you mean Yuugi's a girl?" Jou asked again when they were allowed into his room.

Mokuba was watching Yuugi with haunted eyes while his brother looked with a strange expression that Yuugi did not want to understand. Mai was perplexed yet she managed to get Jou to calm down before he could say or do something stupid like blame Yami. Malik seemed to have already known, his yami must have told him. Still, it was the horror and fear on his face coupled with knowledge that the same thing could have happened to himself and his gratitude that it did not, had made Yuugi sick.

Yuugi lay in the hospital bed staring out the window at the city. Moonlight drifted over the machines and minuscule furnishings, casting it all in a weird glow. Anzu shifted behind him, her right arm settled around Yuugi's waist as she mumbled something incoherently in her sleep.

Yuugi had searched every inch of the park, but he still hadn't found Yami and it was now getting late and he still hadn't checked the small grove of trees at the west end of the park. Yuugi pulled his uniform blazer close as he looked at the menacing shadows that hid among the trees.

//I am here, Yuugi.// The comforting presence of Yuugi's best friend wrapped about him.

/Yami, what's wrong?/ He allowed his fear and concern filter through their link so Yami would know how worried he had been.

There was a silence on the other end. The wind started to pick up; it started to pull at Yuugi's spiked hair and his blazer. Yuugi reached up to tuck his bangs behind his ears. /Yami?/ he started towards the wood.

//I am fine, Yuugi.// Yuugi did not believe him. Yami sighed mentally //Why are you here, aibou?//

/Ji-san told me that your tutor called. He said you did not make it to your tutorials./

//I missed one session--// He said dismissively.

/I would hardly call not going all week <u>one session</u>. Grimes, Yami! I had let you share my memories so you would understand the basics. So has Ji-san, he let you gleam or share his memories; but we can't do more for you, Yami. You have to go to you tutorials or you will fail the National Exams./

//I do not care for your tone, aibou.//

/I don't care for you lying to me and Ji-san./ Retorted the younger boy. /You're the one who said you wanted live like us. You were the one who went to Ji-san and said you wanted live like a normal kid. We've done everything to make this transition easier for you. Yet this is how you repay Ji-san generosity. You lie to us…/

//I will not tolerate--// he stopped mid-rant. Yuugi felt remorse coming from him. //I have did not lie to you, Yuugi.// he finished quietly.

The crunch of dry grass underneath a steady footfall altered Yuugi to the fact that someone was behind him. He turned around and there stood Yami. For a long moment, they stood there, neither moving to close the gap between. Yuugi felt as if he had thrust onto a precipice, with nothing there put a drop and the ground crumbling under his feet. The look in Yami's eyes seemed to challenge him to take that final step. To the leave the last of himself behind completely surrender to the one he trusted and cared for most in this world.

Yuugi was not ready to take that step, he wasn't sure he wanted to. What Yami wanted was wrong? Wasn't it? Yuugi did not know, but he was angry with Yami for putting him in this position. He wanted to be friends with Yami and he thought they were, but now, Yuugi did not know. Absently, he wondered why couldn't Yami just let their relationship remain as it was. Why was Yami pushing him for something more?

Yami muttered something under his breath before he threw himself down on the ground. He turned his turbulent eyes to Yuugi. The intensity of the stare made him uncomfortable. Yuugi bent to scooped up a handful of pebbles, thus breaking connection and the spell Yami had cast on him.

"Your teachers all say that you're doing well, better half of your class. Michiba-sensei told Ji-san that you might make the honor roll, but that's only if you score high on your next test in Japanese. " He chucked a couple stones at the trees in the distance.

"I fail to grasp the importance of such a class." Yami raised his red eyes to the sky. "I just want to over with." A low chuckle drew his attention to his aibou. Yami regarded him curiously. "Did I say something that amused you, Yuugi?" He asked coolly.

Yuugi knew it bothered Yami if anyone laughed at him. It took some effort but Yuugi managed to regain a measure of control; He made a mental note to share that little part of their conversation with Ryou. The other boy would understand more than his other friends would since he, too had a yami.

Out of nowhere, Yami asked, "Why do you turn away from me, hikari?"

Taken off guard by the question, Yuugi stared quizzically at him. Yami said it again, this time making it a statement. "I don't turn away from you, Yami." He replied thought still confused. "You're my best friend."

"Jou is you best friend." Yami reminded him.

"And so are you." Yuugi said honestly. He was hurt that Yami would doubt his sincerity.

"If that were true, why do you turn away from me when I try to get close to you?"

Yuugi could not believe that they had come back to this. Kami, why couldn't Yami accept that he was not ready to do this? He wanted to yell at the other boy that he was only fourteen. Damn! He was still a child in so many ways and there was so much about himself he did not know and he was still trying to understand. Why was Yami pushing him?

"Yuugi."

He closed his hands over the rocks, pressing them between his palms. "You know," he said quickly. "I could go for some cocoa." His smile was too bright and his body was tensed.

Yami started to deny him. Yuugi could see that Yami had wanted continue, but he didn't, giving the boy a brief respite. Yami smiled up at the boy and said, "My treat?"

Yuugi graced him with a genuine smile. "If you want."

"I still have all of my allowance and knowing you, you've already spent all of yours." He pushed himself to feet. He removed his uniform blazer and tied it around his waist. "Besides, I like doing things for you, hikari?"

Yuugi gently eased out the hospital bed. Anzu rolled over into his spot and grabbed his pillow. Yuugi reached back and pulled the thin green spread over her, and then he slipped off the bed completely. He went over to his grandfather and adjusted the blanket on his shoulders.

*******

Night changed into day. The sleepy town slowly came to wake as the sun made it's way across the heavens, bringing life to everything it touched. Along with it came the promise of rebirth and hope.

"Yuugi?" Anzu yawned as she brushed her hair away from her face. "Where-" Her eyes fell on the tiny figure seated beside the window. "Yuugi?" She called his name again.

The boy placed his right index finger to his lips and then he pointed to something behind her. Anzu glanced over her shoulder to see Sugoroku sound asleep in a chair. She nodded and started to slip from the bed, but Yuugi waved her off.

She looked hurt and confused.

Yuugi had turned his face away and continued to watch the sunrise. In his head he could hear her mad laughter. The deranged angel was a memory now and she may have left an irreparable stain on his soul. However, he was not defeated.

He did not know this was done to him. Yuugi felt dwarfed by the challenges he knew that awaited him, the worst he feared he would face alone, but he was not beaten. He had withstood more difficult challenges in his short time.

"…You will get through this." Sugoroku promised. "You fought to live when you were born. You survived the loss of your parents and you fought to save me. I know you, Yuugi. You are not a quitter; you have never backed down when it came to something you believed in and I refuse to let you start doubting yourself now. You will get through this; I will be at your side every step of the way. I won't let you fall."

Yuugi drew in a shuddering breath. He turned back to his grandfather; he wanted to

say…What could he say?

Slowly, Sugoroku came around to his grandson. He cupped the beautiful little face in his hands, bringing it down so he could reach his brow. Tenderly, he kissed Yuugi's forehead then he looked into to boy's eyes so there would never be any doubt in his mind concerning his sincerity.

"You will not face this alone. I will do whatever it takes to help you. I love you. I love you."

"You are stronger than you think." He repeated the words his grandfather had said to him just the day before. Tears glistened in his lavender eyes, but they did not fall. Yuugi drew his knees to his chest and touched his brow to them.

/I will not give up you./ He reached out with his heart and soul and touched Yami's. /And I will not allow you to give me. You belong to me, Yugioh. I will not let you leave me. This obsession goes both ways./

Thousands of miles away, Yami stood on the balcony of his suite that over looked Central Park. He had come to clear his head and mentally prepare for his first round of interviews before his duels.

Pegasus was here, to promote his latest game and the Duelist Kingdom Tournament. Along with reps from other big name gaming companies and the industry leaders. The people from Konami and Capcom would not let up their pursuit of him. He was the most

recognizable face in Duel Monsters and Dungeon Dice and he had endorsement contracts with Pegasus and a few others, which was an enough for him. Yami was not looking to take on anymore contractual duties, especially if it meant him spending less time with Yuugi.

Yuugi.

Yami rubbed at headache that had made a permanent home for itself in the center of his brow as he tried to relax. He knew the cause of his headache, it had been plaguing him all week, but he chose not to stop it.

"Mry." He said into the night.

"Yo, Yami." Otogi called from inside, "The people from PlayStation Magazine are here."

He opened his eyes and raised them to the heavens. He did not want anyone here. He wanted Yuugi.

Yuugi.

/I won't lose you./ Yuugi continued his assault against the mental wall Yami had erected between them. /You belong to me! I know you hear me, Yugioh! I know you can feel everything I'm feeling and it's hurting you. It's going to continue to hurt, because I'm won't stop until you accept that you are mine and that you can't walk away from me./

Yami closed the barrier completely and erected another wall to drown Yuugi out of his mind completely. He hated this situation! Having this issue come between he and his hikari was absurd. He should have tried to make some type of amends with Yuugi before he left. Yet he had been so angry at the world and with himself; furthermore, Yami blamed himself for what had happened to Yuugi.

"Yami!" Otogi shouted. "I'm going down to tell them that you're running a bit late."

The door slammed shut leaving him alone. Yami placed his hands on the cold wrought iron railing and he let head fall forward. The wind picked at and toyed with his hair and the tails of his open shirt. The cold late autumn winds nipped at his exposed flesh. The stinging bites were forms of punishment Yami allowed nature to inflict on him. He deserved much worst, however, he was never a masochist. Still, Yami felt as if should suffer in some way.

Behind him the curtains were brushed aside the same time he became aware of another

heartbeat. It was Honda, the only one of Yuugi's friends that Yami did actually considered as his friend as well.

Honda pulled his overcoat closer as he came to stand beside the lightly garbed former

Pharaoh. "Man, Yami, you must have ice water in your veins if you can stand be out here with your shirt open." He commented.

Yami reply was a disdainful snort.

"I'll take that as a yes." The taller youth laughed at his own humor.

"You did not come out here to talk about the weather." Yami looked up at him through his curtain of hair. "What it is?"

"Well it's three things." Honda leaned forward slightly; the streets of New York were still pack, even on a freezing night such as this. "That reporter for PlayStation is waiting for you in the lobby."

"Otogi went down to greet them."

"It's a she and she's hot." Honda whistled. "I'm going to ask her out."

"Don't come crying to me when she turns you down."

"Have I ever?"

"Yes." Yami smirked, "What else?"

"The limo is here, complements of Pegasus, of course."

"Of course." Only the best for the man who made Pegasus' company billions of dollars just by wining a few duels.

"And it's fully loaded: Mini bar, television, game systems, telephones, and Internet. All it's missing is the hot tub."

"What will I do without a hot tub?" Yami sobbed.

Honda punched him in the arm. "Asshole."

Yami laughed. "You wish you were me, Honda. Admit it."

"I wish I had your money, but I wouldn't want to be you."

The older youth straightened. Yami stretched his tight back muscles and everyone who was

looking, got a sight of his strong, well-defined chest, and perfectly cut abdomen.

Honda looked away in disgust. "I go to the gym every freaking day and I can't get a six pack like that."

"It's call good genes." Yami told him. He dropped his arms and then started to button his shirt.

"I know you have personal trainer, Yami."

"What I have is boyfriend who leaves me sexually frustrated thee times a week because he wants to study." He turned on his heel and headed back inside. "I have to do something to keep from jumping him."

"At least you're getting yours regularly. It's poor slobs like me who ain't getting enough."

Yami picked up his watch from the oak writing table. "Try monogamy."

Honda puffed his chest out. "If you looked as good I do…"

"I look better." Yami sat down on a chaise and reached for his boots.

"If you, Yami, had been blessed with my good looks."

"You look like a Japanese Ben Affleck."

"I know." Honda preened.

"I meant that as an insult."

"I'll take it as a complement anyway." He flashed Yami a cheeky grin.

"Your ego makes mine look humble." The Pharaoh shook his head and laughed. "What was the third thing."

The laughter died on Honda's face, his expression turned heavy. Instinctively, Yami

prepared himself for bad news.

"Yami," he said quietly. "Yuugi's in the hospital."

"What?"

"He passed out at movie theater last night and he was taken to the hospital-"

Yami surged to his feet and grabbed his cell phone at his bedside. "Why didn't you tell me

this earlier?" He demanded. "Hell, if he's not alright-"

"No, no," Honda said quickly. "He's alright, man. The doctors just wanted him to stay overnight-"

"Why didn't Ji-san telephone me?" Yami wondered aloud as dialed the number for the shop.

"Jou called and left a message with the front desk asking me to call him." Honda explained.

Yami held up his right hand, telling Honda to be silent. "Ji-san, it's Yami. Honda just

told Yuugi was taken to the hospital last night. Call me as soon as you get this message. Damn, what the hell happened to him? Oh, call me. Bye." He dropped down on the bed and stared at far wall. "I told him not to leave the house. I left strict orders… I took wallet and his secret stash. What the hell was he thinking…"

"Uh, Yami?" Honda ventured cautiously.

"What?" He snapped.

Honda swallowed hard. "I don't know how to say this, but it freaking Jou out…"

Yami fixed his murderous red eyes on the quaking youth. "Just say it."

He took a deep breath and said, "Yuugi has tits."

Yami blinked.

Honda gave him a long, searching look. Yami continued to sit there with the same murderous look in his eyes, but that was it. Confused, Honda tried it again. "Dude, your

boyfriend has vagina."

"I know." Was all Yami said.

He assumed Yami was in shock or something, so Honda a third time. "Yami, Yuugi has breast, a vagina, and he looks like a damn girl."

"He is a girl." Yami replied evenly.

"So you know?"

He nodded.

Honda drew in a deep breath and folded his arms across his chest. "You knew Yuugi was a girl?"

"Yeah."

"When did this happen?"

"Last Sunday." Yami glanced at his watch. They had to leave or he was going to be late.

"Why didn't you guys tell us?"

"It's between us." Yami stood up and pocketed his phone just in case Sugoroku called him back on it.

"Yuugi's our friend," Honda protested, "Didn't you think we would have wanted to be there for him." He couldn't believe how blasé Yami was being about this. "Damn it, Yami…"

He had been in the process of sliding into his overcoat, but he stopped. Yami met Honda's

accusing stare and the other took a step back in fear. Yami started to speak, but though better of it and continued to dress himself for the outdoors.

"Go find Otogi and that reporter." Yami picked up the black case that held his dueling deck and opened it. "I will be down in a few minutes."

"Dude, I didn't mean…"

Unreadable crimson eyes in an expressionless mask caused him to pause once again. Honda looked away, shamed by his own action. "I'm going." He turned away and started

for the door.

Yami took out his deck and shuffled through the cards quickly. "Twenty bucks say she will

turn you down after five seconds."

Honda glanced back at the smirking Pharaoh. He returned the cocky grin with one of his own. "No one can resist my manliness. She'll be begging to come up to my room."

"Twenty?" Yami challenged.

"You're on."

Everything was alright with them again. Yami put his cards away and closed the case. If

only everything else could be handled so easily, his life would have been remarkably simple.

He took up the case and card key to his room. Now was not the time to delve into that. He

had to focus and be sharp. He had five duels to get through before the night was over and after that, he would allow himself to think about this mess.

With that thought firmly fixed in his mind, Yami left his suite ready to take on the

so-called top duelists in the world.

NO FLAMES. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS, THEN DON'T READ IT.

Translations:

Mry-beloved