Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Re-Discovering Innocence ❯ Day 3: Heartstrings part2 ( Chapter 7 )

Day 3: Heartstrings Part 2

"Yugi!! YUGI!! Dammit!!" Jou yelled into the phone before slamming down the receiver.

They were talking, then all of a sudden, Yugi's line went dead.

Jou unconsciously nibbled on his thumb in thought "..What's goin' on over there?"

Yugi had said something about Anzu, then everything got silent. Jou knew about Anzu's sickness before, but what had happened? Had anything gotten out of hand?

Whatever it was, he'd have to figure out later. Right now, his best buddy needed help.

Silently cursing to himself, Jou scrambled around his room to pick out something casual and decent to wear, before throwing on a jacket and leaving out the door.

"Anzu..."

Anzu's name littered Yugi's mind, and was now the only name that mattered to him. Quickly freshening himself up, and pulling on a clean shirt, he rushed and hurried himself to get dressed and put on his sneakers before leaving the Game Shop in the care of his Grandpa.

Anzu..

Yugi cared about her more than anything now. The way she smiled, the way she laughed, he had to see her again. He just had to see her.

Kicking up random leaves in the cold air, Yugi didn't let the coolness of the day alert him nor effect him in any way.

He was going to meet with Anzu, no matter what.

Yugi was so determined, that he didn't realize he had misplaced his footing, and ended up tumbling head first into a pile of leaves spread throughout the sidewalk.

He gave a sound of pain, but didn't let that stop him, nor hinder him in any way.

Forcing himself up, and pushing the pain aside, Yugi pushed himself on.

The air was dry and the day was cold--the way it always should have been for Fall. In the back of his mind, Yugi was pleased that the weather was finally correct for the right month.

And because the heat was gone, maybe that would cause Anzu's heat-strokes to cease as well?

....

Again, Yugi slipped and fell to the ground. He fell so hard, that the crispness and dryness of the leaves were already in his mouth, and threatening to go down his throat with the most horrible results.

With a cough, Yugi rolled a couple times before getting up again, not bothering with wiping the stems and broken bits of the leaves off his body.

He didn't know it was going to be this typically cold today. If he had known better, he would've put on a jack--

Before his thoughts could concede, Yugi's face met with the arid leaves and concrete yet again.

His ribs started to ache from all the constant falling. Tears started to sting the backs of his eyes, as he cursed himself for being so low to the ground.

But that still didn't mean that he would let that set-back prevent him from his eager goal.

He was going to meet with Anzu, no matter what!!

Pushing himself to his feet once again, he immediately continued his rapid tread.

He may not have been Yami, nor be as strong or have the same bold traits as Yami, but he was going to be the best Yugi that he could be, on his own to save the girl he---

"YUGI!!"

With a start, Yugi whirled around to face who it was that had called him so urgently.

It was Jounouchi! The young frantic blonde boy was hurriedly making his way to his distressed comrade.

Yugi smiled against all the pain and frustration he had felt just recently at the sight of his friend.

Had he come to check up on him?

Then the memory finally hit Yugi. He had left Jounouchi on the phone!!

He wouldn't be surprised if the receiver was still on the floor.

"Jou!!" Yugi called, feeling relieved. He waved his arms, and started to run towards his friend.

The leaves were abundant and slippery, despite their dryness, and Yugi slipped a few times, but he casually caught himself until he was finally in front of Jou.

"Yugi!!", Jou said as he finally caught upto Yugi. "I--I thought I might find you out here."

Yugi's smile faded as his eyes trailed over his friend. He was breathing awfully heavily and his forehead was slick with fresh sparkling sweat

"Jou..", Yugi muttered as he stood on his tippy-toes, trying to wipe the sweat from his brow, but Jounouchi grabbed hold of his wrist and lead it back down to Yugi's sides.

Yugi blinked at him. Before he could say anything, Jou shook his head and held a finger to his own lips. Then a second later, he spoke. "Yugi.....", he started, his voice deep and serious, "You're--going to see Anzu, aren't you?"

Yugi said nothing. His friend knew him a little too well. Yugi would have blushed at this, but the seriousness of the situation rendered him otherwise.

With a determined nod, Yugi answered him. "Yes."

Jou's shoulders sagged as his demeanor lowered. "I knew it."

Yugi blinked at him. "What? Is something wrong?"

Jou immediately shook his head. Forcing Yugi a smile, he nodded slightly to him, then brushed by him.

Yugi looked behind him, wondering about his friend's strange behavior.

Just then, a cool breeze blew by, causing Yugi to realize how cold it was for him to be sporting a thin t-shirt.

He shivered a bit, while rubbing his arms.

Jou, seeing his friend start to suffer removed his jacket, and without thinking draped it across Yugi's shoulders

A blush spread itself across Yugi's cheeks, as he was embarrassed to show himself shivering at a time like this. Before he could utter a thank you, Jou tapped him on the shoulder, then made haste towards Anzu's house.

Blushing, Yugi followed suit, trying his best to keep up with him.

"I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy. I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need..."

A strange, yet soothing melody caused Anzu to stir from her nap.

The notes were light yet charming and seemed to hold some kind of deep and secret emotion.

Where was this coming from?

"I wanna stand with you on a mountain, I wanna bathe with you in the sea, I wanna lay like this forever, until the sky falls down on me."

Yami sweetly and seamlessly continued his song. The tune he hummed was not as ancient and mythical as the previous, but it was just as effective at calming ones soul.

Slowly, he continued to gently rock Anzu, until she awakened.

She was ahead of him on that, already, although, she was half awake and still half asleep.

Anzu had no idea that Yami liked Savage Garden...let alone knew he had any musical talent at all!

Yami stopped his song, as he felt Anzu beginning to move around him his arms. He watched her gradually wipe the sleep from her eyes with the palm of one hand, as she clawed at the material of his belted shirt with the other.

Maybe it was a fluke or something, but if Yami didn't know any better, he could've sworn he felt the warmth of a smile inch its way across his lips at her cuteness.

Yet, he did not say a word.

Starting to realize the warmth of another's body against hers, Anzu sleepily opened her eyes and drowsily looked up at him.

Aquamarine opals introduced themselves to burning red-violet rhinestones as she met eyes with him Smiling a goofy and sleepy smile, Anzu proceeded to wrap her arms lazily around Yami, giving him a squeeze.

Yami flinched, yet said nothing as he continued to watch this girl show him such affection he never knew existed on such short notice. He had to admit, though, it was a rather nice feeling.

In her tired state, Anzu unconsciously murmured a name while nuzzling in the belts of Yami's shirt. Yami quickly yet gingerly took Anzu by the arm, while securing his other hand behind her head, as he proceeded to carefully lead her off and away from the belts so she wouldn't cut herself on them.

Gingerly, and just as carefully, Yami laid her back onto her bed into the thick comforting of her pillows.

Little did Yami know, Anzu was still half asleep, and did not know that it was him that had stayed up late watching over her, nor came to visit her.

In her dreams, and in her mind she held one person so dear.

Her sparkle of light, the sugar in her tea, the highlight of her day. His smiles were like none other, and while she would admit that she did have a childish crush on Yami, it could never compare to the evolving love she felt for that little guy with a talent for playing Duel Monsters.

"Yu...gi.." she murmured, while curling up and snuggling deeply into the pillows.

'Yugi'...', Yami repeated in his mind. Not bothering to watch her for another second, he rose from her bed, and stood in the middle of the room for a while, just staring off into space.

Maybe it was his pride, or honor that wavered, because at this point, he was feeling like quite the idiot.

It was him who stayed up with her the whole time she slept, to make sure that she wouldn't have anymore dizzy spells, and faint, and yet, the one she craved for was-----

Yami sighed, and cursed himself for allowing his so called 'feelings' and 'concerns' for this girl to get ahead of him.

Yet.......

Unable to completely don so much anger at the girl, he turned to take one last look at her while she slept.

Her breathing was normal, a little faster than the slow pace it was before, but she wasn't sweating.

No.

Her face was just as sweet and composed as an honest and pure heart.

Flawless and lovely.

The blush had returned to her cheeks also, and for that, Yami was glad.

Thoughts of brushing his lips across them crossed his mind, but he had to admit, it was a thought.

With a thin smile, he turned away from her, allowing his eyes to carry over to the broken window screen that he had crashed through earlier that morning,

The memories of him rushing in to save her flowed into his mind.

Even if she didn't have more than a crush on him, he was still glad that he did what he did.---Or else Yugi would be utterly devistated....and yeah, he'd be really upset himself too.

Of course he knew Yugi's feelings for Anzu, he couldn't help but feel what the little one felt, but what about himself? Were the feelings he felt real, or just...scattered remaints of Yugi's?

Well, never mind that now.

A cool breeze started to blow inside. It wasn't too cold, but cold enough, and just right for Fall.

Finally.

Anzu felt the breeze, and shivered a bit. She was now fully awake and surprised that Yami was in her room alone at this time of day. She had one eye open and kept it exclusively on him. He looked so majestic standing there, as if he were deliberating over his people in the city while gazing high above the palace walls in Egypt......

He appeared silent and bold, but Anzu could sense an empty void of sorrow deep within his eyes. The same eyes that started at her with no emotion, no passion but with dauntless honor and pride.

Maybe she misread them?

Yami glanced over to Anzu. He thought he saw her flinch, but, she was probably still just trying to wake up. Sitting on her bed, closer this time, Yami leaned over and placed a hand on her forehead.

It was slightly warm, but not feverish.

He then brushed his hand against her cheek, and hesitantly pulled it away. He was trying to check her temperature, not embrace her!

Deleting the sensation from his mind, he proceeded to try it again, and this time, he was able to do it.

Finally checking the side of her neck for any abnormalities, Yami glanced up to see a streak of pink spreading across her cheeks.

Yami raised an eyebrow. She was definitely awake, but only a simple smirk occupied Yami's lips, as no words passed through them.

He then got up from her bed, and walked back over to the window sill he was perched on earlier.

Just as he got himself comfortable, he crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

Anzu peeked across the room at him with one eye again. Seeing him with his eyes closed, she figured he was resting.

Slowly, she sat up.

She felt so much better!! She felt like Anzu again!

With a smile and a faint remainder of a blush on her face, she whispered, "Thank you, Yami."

Upon hearing her, Yami opened one eye at her, carrying it as a wink above anything else, and gave her a smug grin.

"I knew you were awake."

"Oh!" Anzu let out, as the blush returned to it's passionate hue, and she tried to cover it by lowering her head. Needless to say it wasn't helping.

Yami said nothing, but continued to eye her a little longer before returning his vision to the backs of his eye-lids.

Still embarrassed, but more curious to why Yami was here with her, she was prompted to ask. "Um...Yami..?"

Yami gave no verbal reply, but placed a finger to his lips, as he turned to meet eyes with her.

Anzu on command was silent.

But why was he here----with her?

.....Yugi....

Where was Yugi??

"Where's Yugi?"

Yami lifted an eyebrow at her irrelevant outburst. He had to admit, he was prepared to hear his Aibou's name sooner or later.

A second passed before Yami replied. "He's here."

"Anzu!!! ANZU!!"

"Anzu!! Hey Anzu!!"

Anzu, feeling the least bit sick now, threw the towels off of her, and earnestly slid out of bed.

Not bothering to slip on her bunny slippers, she hurried over to her window screen, totally avoiding the fact that it was broken, and waved broadly to her comrades.

"YUGI!! Jou! I'm so glad to see you!!"

Yugi's heart fluttered in his chest, as he could feel his stomach doing somersaults. He was so happy to see Anzu again--and as her self again!! He was so elated, that his eyes started to coat with a thin film of hot tears as he longed so much to be close to her.

Anzu was feeling just as emotional as he.

Little Yugi had to use every ounce of strength he had, hidden and stashed away, to control himself from blurting out that he loved her. It hurt him so much to say those words, but it tore him apart to not be able to say them.

His heart was burning, aching with a strong passion. He had to call out, he had to call out that he loved her.

Just as he had built up the courage to let loose his heart before it burst, Anzu then finally realized that her window screen was broken, and turned away to confront Yami about it.

The second she tore her attention away from him, was the second Yugi's life seem to fade away from him; as his heart nearly dropped past his stomach to his knees. He couldn't even explained how broken he was feeling right now.

Greatly saddened, that his greatest chance was taken away from him, a second time because of Yami, Yugi turned his back to the window, so Anzu nor Yami could see his regretful and sorrowful tears.

"Yami, what did you do to my window?!!" Anzu demanded. With a sigh, Yami made his way over to her. Without saying a word, he gave her a look that told her everything---the whole painful story.

Still at a bit of a shock from what happened earlier that morning and late last night, Anzu could say nothing, but understood Yami's gaze almost too perfectly.

She was glad, however, that he cared enough about her feelings as to not mention her incident verbally.

Smiling faintly, she nodded to him. She had to thank him for that.

"Th-thank you Yam--"

"No need. I just did what I could because I was here..."

"Oh..." Anzu absent-mindedly uttered, sounding a bit disappointed.

Sensing her disappointment, Yami tacked the truth onto the end of his statement, "...and I did it because I cared."

Anzu's expression perked up as a smile illuminated her features.

Yami really cared after all?

Jou, who was quite amused at seeing Yami in Anzu's room started making sly remarks and snide comments.

Yami, sensing Yugi's dispirited soul, disappeared into his Millennium Puzzle, as Anzu, becoming comically enraged threw her alarm clock at Jou's noggin'.

>THOCK!<

Yugi sniffled as silently as he could, without alerting Jou and Anzu of his current state of sadness, as Yami rejoined the Puzzle.

Looking down at it, Yugi clutched it tightly in his palms, the thought of disassembling it crossing his mind. Just as he was getting deep in thought, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

It was Anzu!

She was dressed in an overcoat, and held out a nice fuzzy little designer jacket that was much too small for her to fit anymore, but fit Yugi's frame almost perfectly.

Unable to refuse her smile, even though, he be walking around looking like a girl in that thing, Yugi took it, and gave Jou back his jacket.

Soon, Yugi forgot all about being cross at his Yami, as the three of them playfully made their way down to The Dream to celebrate and to just have fun!!

Later, Jou had left to meet with a 'previous engagement', leaving Anzu ahd Yugi alone together.

So, while the night was still young, Grandpa had agreed to let Anzu stay at Yugi's for a few hours, but under one condition---they had to study for their Finals that upcoming Friday.

No problem!

They studied.---a little, then the rest of the night, they spent talking and playing games; Duel Monsters and console types.

Later, after Anzu left, Yami contacted Yugi from within the Puzzle.

....Aibou...?

/Yes, Yami?/

You would be very pleased to know that, even though I spent a good 24 hours with Anzu to watch her...

/......./

...all she thought about was you. She couldn't stop talking about you.

Yugi's features brightened as he blushed, and touched his cheek. "R--really?"

"Yes.", Yami replied, now standing next to Yugi.

Yugi felt a sweatdrop slide down the side of his face, as he turned to look at Yami. "You know, Yami, you really shouldn't do that without warning."

"Sorry. I thought you'd be used to it by now."

"...Not yet I'm afraid."

"Oh."

"...."

"Goto bed. Goodnight, Aibou" With that said, Yami smiled to his light, then went back into the Millennium Puzzle for the night. He didn't have to check up on Anzu anymore, now that she was all right.

And she made it perfectly clear who she wanted to be with, and as far as Yami was concerned, that was perfectly fine with him.

Quickly, Yugi scrambled to get out of his street clothes and into his jammies. Then, after hanging the Millennium Puzzle over his bed post, Yugi climbed into bed, said his prayers, and snuggled down into the covers.

He couldn't sleep he was so elated over Anzu's recovery and her growing feelings for him.

You know what? Yugi was glad he wasn't Yami, and was glad that Anzu cared for them both all the same.

--

This story took quite the twist didn't it? Even I didn't know what was going on, but, it all turned out for the better and the best, eh?

Listening to "WILD DRIVE" is really effective for writing Yugi stories about...well...Yugi!

Welp...catch you on the flip side!! Gosh! I'm so dedicated! I do my stories late to catch you kiddies who live in the U.K. Or in a totally different time zone, can read them as soon as you get home from school.

I'm outtie!

Everyone please be safe out there! Mwaa!

-Mel

Oh yeah!! The song Yami was humming to Anzu was "Truly Madly Deeply" sung and performed by...THE BACKSTREET BOYS!...just kidding!!!

"Truly Madly Deeply" was done by the Australian team, Savage Garden!!!!! Whoo!!