Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Gravity of Love ❯ memories ( Chapter 1 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
Frothy waters lapped gently against the far side of the pier, the slow, rhythmic swell of the darkening waters enough to soothe even the tensest of senses.
A small sigh escaped the lips of a figure hunched over the rail of the pier, crimson eyes glowing faintly as they stared deeply into the dark waters alight from the glow of the late summer sun as it slowly neared the horizon.
Streaks of pink, turquoise, and lavender were painted across the sky, the warm colors melding around the horizon to cast the world over in a glow that reigned predominant over the great expanse of harbor that stretched for as far as the eye could see.
Cerise eyes turned up momentarily to gaze up into the wide expanse of darkening night sky despondently, whispering the one word that would make him remember what he would rather have not.
“Yuugi…”
A deep sadness enveloped the figure as he turned saddened ruby eyes down to stare dejectedly into the gently rippling waters at his distorted reflection.
Ever since he had come back from his date with Tea, Yuugi had been acting strangely. He hadn't noticed at first, but, after a while, it had become blatantly obvious.
They had always been so distinctly open with each other…but, after that night, everything seemed to change…
Yuugi was no longer open with him. As it would have been before when Yuugi would have come to him bouncing like a bouncy ball on a high, excited about the most mundane of things…now was an entirely different story.
There mind link had been forever closed since that incident and, every time he tried to contact him, he got no reply except the dull ring of static that forever reminded of him of his time spent within the puzzle.
He had been so lost with Yuugi's recent behavior and couldn't help but be worried for his little light that he had asked every one of Yuugi's friends if they had known anything that might have caused his light's recent behavior. He had even stooped to the level of asking Bakura, the deranged psychopath and dark of Yuugi's friend, the warm-hearted and docile, Ryou.
Heaving a frustrated sigh, Yami felt his sharpened crimson orbs set into a glare as he stared down into the cooling waters and remembered what a helpful day that had been.
~***~Flashback~***~
“The almighty Pharaoh has come to me for advice? Oh this is just priceless!”
“Bakura, I wasn't asking for your crude verbal abuse! I was asking if yo-”
“I know what you came for Pharaoh.”
He emphasized the last word and stopped momentarily just to see what the provocation would earn him. He wasn't disappointed.
A cruel grin quirked across his features as he took a moment to truly revel in the feeling of unadulterated satisfaction he got out of seeing his adversary, the true and glorious pharaoh, in such a state.
Steely crimson eyes set into a glare that would have made even the gods cower in fear, were bubbling beyond capacity as they blazed with fury. The usual soft ruby that usually dominated their silken depths had darkened to the color of liquid malt.
But that wasn't really what satisfied his aching need to rile up the Pharaoh…it was that satisfying twitch that just seemed to have started in his right eye…
Laughing maniacally, Bakura brought his harsh lilac orbs to gaze levelly into those of the enraged Pharaoh's.
“Have I gotten a rise out of the Pharaoh?”
Electricity seemed to crash between them at that statement, harsh lilac gazing smugly into those of incensed cerise that were filled to the brink with fury as they narrowed to mere slits and a low, spluttering growl escaped his jaw that was set to ensure that he wouldn't say anything that he would regret later.
“Bakura…”
It came out in a hiss, sounding definitely forced, as he struggled keep his temper in check. “I will ask you again…”
The X-Tomb robber watched him in sheer cruel bliss, idly bidding his time for the perfect time to strike.
“Do-”
“Having a bit of trouble controlling your temper, almighty Pharaoh?”
“Bakura!”
That was it; Yami was beyond incensed; he was absolutely livid.
Electricity crackled dangerously behind steely pools of cerise burning with a mixture of fury, contempt, and blind loathing, all targeted toward the dark albino that was situated in front of him with a smug smirk planted across his features. It was all he could do not to kill him right then and there as the X-tomb robber continued to stand there in utter defiance, withholding all his desires from him which, at the moment, were one answer.
“Why won't you just answer my god damn question!!!?”
“Because it's oh so fun to tease you, livid Pharaoh.”
Biting back the slew of obscenities that were threatening to spill forth, he satisfied himself instead by sending a wave of magic through his ancient Sennen Puzzle toward the other.
Back along the thin strands of the bond that was left after the items were resealed together in the Millennium Stone it traveled, the brunt of the magics causing the fine bond to pulsate, until it hit Bakura with a brunt of force that would clearly express his feelings toward the other.
“PHAROAH!”
Blazing embers settled down momentarily as crimson orbs lost a great deal of their edge and gazed down at the figure sprawled on the ground amusedly.
“So you're finally bowing to me after all these years?”
An icy glare was his only response.
Brandishing a smug smirk, Yami extended a hand to the other.
Seeing the victorious look in his eyes, Bakura let out a fierce growl before slapping Yami's hand away.
“I don't need you're help, Pharaoh!”
Watching the other storm off and hearing the distinct sound of pots crashing as well as yelling, Yami chuckled to himself before he turned to leave.
~***~End Flashback~***~
Even though he had won that battle, there were still bound to be many others, but that was irrelevant to him at the moment. He had to figure out what was truly bothering Yuugi.
As a Yami, Yuugi was his number one priority. He was responsible for his mental, physical, and emotional needs…if any one of them was compromised it was Yami's sole responsibility to rekindle the balance. It wasn't simply the vow he had made to Yuugi four years ago after he had set him free from the dark confines of the puzzle that called for him to act…it was something more.
He felt bonded to Yuugi in more ways than one…
He was his best friend…mentor… the other half of his soul. The bond and love they shared for each other penetrated far deeper than the ties of mere friendship ever could…it was a love that bordered on that of the love shared between inseparable brothers; it was a love that no man-made object could never or would never destroy or hinder…it was the love of soul mates.
He cared for Yuugi more than anything else in the universe and he would be damned if he would let their bond be damaged over one silly mishap that he, to this very day, did not know what was.
Sighing softly, he pushed himself off the rail, and stuffed his hands into the deep pockets of his burgundy khaki pants dejectedly, before he started to make his way down the long pier back to the Kame Game Shop.
`If only I knew what is bothering him,' he mused quietly to himself as he kicked a stray pebble across the lengthily wooden boards of the pier, trying to soothe his restless mind.
Hearing the soft crooning of the loons across the lake, Yami lingered momentarily by the pier's edge, pebble not resting far off, and gazed out across the lake. His eyes lost even more of the happiness that had been built there for the last few years.
“The loon's crooning is one of Yuugi's most favoritesounds…” he whispered to himself almost inaudibly, staring out across the lake in shock, before his eyes drifted shut and his head lowered dejectedly, shadowing his eyes completely.
Ever since he could remember the loon's croon had been one of Yuugi's most treasured sounds. It also was not mere coincidence that it happened to be one of Yami's favorites as well.
One night, about a year ago, Yami had brought Yuugi out to this same pier. It had been an unforgettable day and he could still remember it perfectly as if it were yesterday…the sun causing Yuugi's eyes to shimmer like a pair of beautiful amethysts…the breeze causing Yuugi's blond locks to flow away from his cherubic face…all the time resting in Yami's arms as they watched the sunset together…how could he not?
~***~Flashback~***~
“Yami, where are you taking me?”
“Nowhere that I know you won't love, so come on.”
Leading him on from their two clasped hands, Yami smiled softly at Yuugi's goofy smile and continued to guide him in the right direction of their target.
“Yami, can I take this off yet?”
“No, little one, not yet. Keep your patience. For if you take it off, it will ruin the surprise.”
“Let it be ruined then,” he giggled. “I wanna see.”
Circling him around with one swift movement of his hands, Yami stopped him and smiled at him softly, despite him not being able to see it.
“If you ruin the surprise, what fun will that be?”
Reaching up to clasp the front of the blindfold, small hands began to try and work it away from his eyes. That was until larger ones came to rest on his to stop them and a light blush dusted across his cheeks.
“What did I tell you, little one?”
It was a soft chiding, but it still brought a sheepish, lopsided grin to Yuugi's face.
“To hold my patience?”
A light chuckle was heard and Yuugi's blush darkened considerably.
“Come on, I want to show you something.”
Taking Yuugi's hands in his softly, he led the blindfolded boy over to the water's edge and deftly removed the blindfold.
A startled gasp greeted his ears as he quietly watched his smaller companion gaze out over the water's crystal surface into the point of gathering darkness.
“Yami…”
“Do you like it?”
“I…”
A moment was taken when only the light tolling of the pier bell could be heard in the distance, announcing the arrival of a yacht, as a quiet but comfortable atmosphere settled in around them where the only communication was a series of silent words exchanged between joint amethyst and cerise.
Yami smiled softly as a smile of pure bliss lighted up Yuugi's features, Amethysts eyes shinning in the faint warm afterglow that the rays of dying sunlight were painting across the crystalline waters.
“I love it…”
It was breathed. Soft. An almost inaudible whisper. But that soft breath, filled so full of love and admiration for what he had done, caused Yami's heart to swell in overwhelming capacities with pride and love for the incredible being in front of him.
It was incredible the feelings that his younger could rouse within him…
It had only taken three words…three simple words and the garble of intense emotions he felt whenever he made his charge happy returned with a passion, making him feel warm all over as he gazed down into sparkling amethyst that he had come to cherish over the past few years.
Among the sense of tangible emotions was a sense of overwhelming pride, happiness, devotion…all emotions targeted toward the beautiful boy in front of him…as well as something else that had been floating across his subconscious for the past months…
He didn't know what it was, but he knew it was great. However, he didn't have the time or the want to ponder these confusing and overwhelming emotions at the moment. He had brought Yuugi here for a reason and he wanted to enjoy their time together for as long as it could possibly last.
With renewed vigor, he lightly clasped Yuugi's hand and led him over to the edge of the pier where the quiet lapping of the water against the pier could be heard more clearly.
“Yuugi, I brought you here for a reason…Do you hear that?”
Feeling his dark's gaze, he turned marginally away from the beautiful sight in front of him to gaze back into the questioning gaze of soft cerise loftily.
“Hear what, Yami?”
Hearing the breathless response, Yami smiled softly at him before he covered the last of the distance between himself and the rail, all too aware of the wistful amethyst following his every step.
Resting each of his hands on the wooden rail, Yami hopped once to ready himself before he jumped up again, kicking off the ground more forcefully, before hoisting himself up onto the rail.
Swinging his legs around and over the rail, he cast a glance back over his shoulder and flashed the other a soft smile before staring back out across the lake with a serene smile planted across his features.
“This is my most favorite places in the world,” he confessed, “…I brought you here to share it with you.”
A series of hesitant steps were heard before a shadow fell perpendicular to his own and the faintest traces of violet could be seen in his peripheral vision staring at him uncertainly.
Looking back at his other with a soft smile gracing his features, he took to reminding the boy of his forgotten question.
“You still haven't answered my question,” Yami pressed softly.
“Huh?”
“You still haven't answered my question.”
It was repeated softer this time, more delicately, as the older teen turned to gaze at the other fully, worry starting to pool in those ruby depths.
“Oh…”
“Yuugi, is anything wrong?”
“No…”
“Yuugi, don't lie to me…”
Yuugi looked up uncertainly, bunches of garbled emotions flitting across his large, unsure, amethyst eyes.
He didn't know what to do. He could tell Yami what was bothering him…but that would also result in him having to tell his dark a slew of other things that he would rather have kept a secret.
For the past few months, Yuugi had been hiding a majority of things from his dark, some of which were very serious. But, because Yuugi had deemed his wellbeing unimportant, he had willed them away to the back corridors of his mind, not wanting to deal with them at that moment.
But, since Yami had brought him here and had said the words that his tormentors had said on numerous occasions over the last few months, random flashbacks had been encroaching their way into his mind. It had taken awhile, but they were finally able to engulf him and rocket him back into one of the horrible memories that he was determined never to see again…
~***~Flashback~***~
“Do ya hear that boys? The pathetic wimp is calling for help!”
Hearing the derisive laughter of the school's infamous bullies echoing around him cruelly, Yuugi dropped to his knees and held his pounding head, the tears continuing to fall.
“Please…stop…have mercy...” he sobbed out as tears continued to blur his vision and his body succumbed to the violent shudders that had been threatening to overpower him for the past few minutes.
“Now why would we do that, when we could have even more in fun breaking your frail little body?”
An agonized cry echoed around the deserted entrance of the pier, ripped from the frail body set in the middle of the circle. The large boys cackled cruelly, their laughter echoing loudly around the deserted enclosure, before sneers became placant on their features and they slowly began to close in on the frail figure still shuddering in the middle of their circle.
“Nothing will save you now, punk.”
~***~End Flashback~***~
It hadn't been as bad as he thought it would have been, with the cops showing up not long after that point, but it still reawakened horrible memories of the past that had existed before he had released the spirit of the three-thousand year old Pharaoh from within the puzzle that had served as his prison for three millennia and he had succeeded in completely turning his life around.
It was true…he owed everything to that mysterious spirit that had shown up in his life a mere three years ago that had then grown to be even closer than the closest of friends…
Before he had met Yami, he knew only what it was like not to have friends. Joey, Tristan, Tea…they were mere acquaintances. It wasn't until the majestic spirit had showed up and had shown him the way, providing him with the friendship and love that he had so desperately been needing, that his eyes truly opened and he saw the world as a person would have if they had not, throughout their life, been subjected to a great deal of pain and torture.
Yes…everything he had now, his friends, his good grades in school…even his knack for games…he owed it all to Yami. No doubt, he even owed his entire life to Yami. For, deep down, he feared that if Yami hadn't come along when he did, he would have taken his own life long ago…
A faint caress across his cheek brought him out of his thoughts and he was greeted by the site of a pair of exquisite ruby pools gazing down into his own amethyst with a sense of hidden anxiety.
“Yuugi, you went away…”
Realizing their close proximity, Yuugi flushed slightly before hesitantly bringing a small hand up to rest it across Yami's own uncertainly.
“I went away…but I'm back now,” he breathed breathlessly, turning large amethysts to gaze up into concerned ruby, as the hue of his blush remained vibrant as ever.
“But, why did you…???” Yami questioned back, the chords of the question fading into nothingness, as he instead turned questioning crimson eyes on the other.
The fact that this question was tearing him apart inside was an understatement. He truly did not know what to do. If he told the other, it would be admitting to lying, but, if he kept it bottled up inside and insisted that everything was fine, he would be digging an even deeper lie. Also, the pure necessity of needing to tell someone was seriously making him consider just confessing everything right then and there. But would he hate him?
Turning his eyes back up that must have fallen to the ground in his reverie, he stared up into concerned crimson and felt his resolve falter violently. The cerise pools were swimming with such anxiety and urgency that all resolve to withhold anything from his other completely failed.
“I haven't been being completely honest with you.”
Taking aback from the unexpected statement, Yami stared down at Yuugi with wide crimson eyes.
“What do you mean?”
And Yuugi told him everything. Everything from how the bullies at school had started picking on him again, to the fights he had gotten into because of it, all the way to the mental and emotional trauma…Yuugi literally told him everything.
…And all he could do was idly stand by and hold Yuugi close as the young teen cried his heart out to him.
It was sheer torture on Yami's part; that much was for sure.
Just watching the young teen cry harshly into his chest as he stood helplessly at his side, clutching him closely as he whispered sweet nothings into his ear, was breaking Yami's heart.
Not being able to do anything was tearing him apart inside and he couldn't help but target himself in his blind mix of worry and anguish…
His light and partner of three years was breaking down inside and all he could do was merely hold him close and reassure him that everything was going to be alright? That was all he could do? This situation was clearly a serious one and this was all he could come up with?!
The fact greatly disgusted him, leaving a putrid taste lingering in his mouth, but, once he became apparent of the situation he was still in, his pain only seemed to multiply by a factor of ten and his focus returned to Yuugi.
Yuugi meant the world to him. It had been that way for as long as he could remember…ever since his smaller other had released him from the suffocating torture that was his puzzle and had breathed life into him…and it was, for this reason, that it was his personal responsibility and desperate need and desire to end whatever pain his beloved hikari was in now.
Trying to hold himself together just long enough so he could be strong for Yuugi, he cupped his smaller companions face and brought it up so he could gaze into a pair of clouded and misguided amethysts with his own sorrow-filled ruby.
“Whatever it is that's paining you about what you kept from me, little one, please try to forget it. Whatever it was is truly not worth seeing you in this kind of anguish.”
It was a desperate request and, from the desperate tone the other had used, as well as the incredible urgency shadowed by grief swirling within those exotic ruby depths, Yuugi knew that he had meant every word of it.
Seeing those large amethysts staring up at him in pure despair, Yami let out a choked sob before his face fell and his eyes proceeded to be shadowed as he felt the touch of despair begin to snake around him lightly.
The light touch of a small hand on his cheek, wiping some of the tears away, was what caused him to look up at his young light, distracted for what he felt would only be moments from the suffocating despair that was wrapping around him before it took him far away from his beloved light.
Amethyst met clouded ruby and a small smile graced Yuugi's features, the dull look of his eyes fading away slightly.
“Okay.”
Unadulterated elation swelled through Yami's entire being and the feelings of despair, grief, and helplessness that he had felt mere moments before dispelled completely.
“Oh, Yuugi…”
The next thing Yuugi knew, he was the subject of a rather massive, bone-crushing hug.
“Thank you…”
Hearing the soft, breathless whisper of gratitude, Yuugi smiled softly before letting his eyes drift shut in content and returning the much-appreciated hug of his dark, all the while reveling in the feeling of his warm body pressed up against his.
“Anything for you, Yami…”
~***~End Flashback***~
`Anything for me…'
It was common knowledge that Yami would give anything to his young charge if he could. Books, friends, companionship…he would give it all to his young light without even a second thought…
The overwhelming sense of devotion he felt for the other, as well as the adoration he felt for the incredible being, demanded that he did…anything that would bring a smile to that beautiful face was worth all the trouble in the world as far as Yami was concerned; as long as, in the end, he got to see that beautiful smile that made his heart flutter every time he saw it…
Just the thought of it, as it passed through Yami's mind, was enough to bring a goofy smile to his face…that was, until, he remembered the present situation and his face fell completely...
It was the truth; there were no lies in it. If he could, he would give the entire world to Yuugi…
How could he not? How could he not want to give everything he had, everything he owned, to Yuugi? He was the one that had saved him…Opened his eyes…shone light into his otherwise darkened, scared, and tortured being…he had done something that no one had ever even considered doing for him…he let him live…
Feeling fresh tears starting to well up in his eyes, Yami shook his head from side to side tiredly and tried to push the painful thoughts of his hikari to the back of his mind as he tried his best to control the overwhelming number of emotions that were just aching to be let out.
`No…I have to be strong, if not for myself, than for his sake.'
Trying to forget the overwhelming emotions that were coursing through his being, at least for a moment, Yami cast his gaze out across the lake once more and let his thoughts wander again to the memory he had just experienced.
It truly was one of the best days of his life, if not before Yuugi's confession, than after. They had spent an unforgettable couple of hours just watching the sunset together.
Wrapped in each other's arms they had quietly watched the last of the dying rays retract behind the horizon, painting the world over in a warm glow, as they enjoyed the other's presence substantially, the faint cry of a loon reaching their ears every so often…
…And it was for that reason that Yuugi and Yami's favorite sound was the loon's croon. Every time they heard it, they would be transported back to that day when everything seemed just perfect…as if everything was just how it always was meant to be. The lapping of the water…the distant call of the loon…the other's aura wrapping around them, filling them with a sense of completeness…it was a perfect memory that either of the two tri-colored haired boys would give anything just to return to one more time…
At least it had been then…Yami wasn't sure of anything concerning Yuugi anymore…
Ever since that incident of two weeks ago, Yuugi had been less open with him. He knew that the other tried to not let him see it, not let him see the hesitance in his eyes when he told him something, not let him see the guilt clouding his amethysts when he told Yami something that Yami knew wasn't the truth…not let him see the unadulterated truth of things…but to Yami it was blatantly obvious…even if Yuugi was the best liar in the world, he wouldn't be able to fool him…something had changed between them.
And even if Yami didn't know what it was or why it had happened, he felt it his personal need to find out. The need was anchored deep within himself and he knew he would go to all lengths to will it out of his little hikari…even if that length risked getting into a fight with his smaller other. For, whatever was burdening his light, was his responsibility to know so he could go about ending it…Even if it involved himself…
Tearing his eyes away from the lake, Yami shook his head sadly before stuffing his hands in his pockets and continuing on his way, his gaze all the while staying trained to the ground in front of him.
`Yuugi…I don't know what I did, or what changed, but I will find out what happened so things can return to the way they used to be…”