I want to see more yugioh!! *pouts* it would maybe help if sky1 showed more than one new episode a week...¬_¬ damn them...and they keep showing repeats so even though I haven't missed any, I've still only seen up to the episode where Joey starts dueling Rex. I mean, Bakura hasn't even been in it properly yet! ( - and yet I still have this obssession...eheh....*sweatdrops* ah well...)

 

 

I yawned and stretched out my arms, glancing out the window. It was a beautiful day for once, and even though it was bright and sunny I still felt the burden of the Millennium Puzzle and Yami weighing down on my heart.

...When would it end?

I heard light breathing behind me, and turned to glance down at where Ryou still lay sleeping on my bed.

As I saw his face I felt my insides freeze, and a sick feeling lodged itself within me.

What had Yami done to him?!

I hadn't been able to see properly last night, as it had been too dark and the shadows hid his face most of the time. But, now...

The was a large purple-grey bruise on his upper left cheek, just below the eye. That must have been where Yami hit him, and I couldn't help but feel incredibly guilty. How could...how could he put up with me?

Even though Yami treated him like this, he still managed to love me and tell me that it wasn't my fault!

At the thought of Yami hitting Ryou, I felt such anger and frustration build up inside me that I had never felt before - I *needed* to get rid of the Millennium Puzzle - and thus get rid of Yami once and for all. I grasped the large golden puzzle which hung from my neck, and tried to quickly pull it over my head. I had to-------

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Yami had come just in time to stop me; like he always did...

When I came back to being myself, I found that I was standing overlooking an unconscious Ryou - he had blood on his face and he was covered all over in bruises, and there was red seeping through other areas of his clothes. I couldn't believe it.

"No. Nonononono..." I whispered in shock, wanting it all just to go away. "Ryou!" I fell to my knees beside him and cradled his head in my arms, tracing the bruises lightly with my fingers. It was only then, though, that I noticed the dried blood on my knuckles and fists. "NO!" I shook with silent sobs as I held Ryou's unconscious form desperately; it was my fault. I shouldn't have tried to take off the Millennium Puzzle - I knew that it would make him angry...and he always took out his anger on my Ryou.

Tears of relief started to fall as Ryou shifted and slowly opened his eyes, gazing up at me. He didn't even look angry with me. How...

"Yugi..." I gently helped him sit up, and even though he struggled he still managed to do it with only a little pain showing on his face. And then he smiled at me, pulling me close.

He still amazes me...the depth of his forgiveness and understanding. I started sobbing and cried against his chest for at least five minutes, reapeating over and over 'I'm sorry' and 'Forgive me'... He sat and stroked m back soothingly - even though he was the one who was hurt, he was still comforting me!

I hiccupped and sat back, regarding him somberly.

"...You should stay away from me, Ryou. Yami will only continue to hur--" He shook his head firmly.

"Never. I'll never leave you Yugi, no matter what Yami does. He's not you and never will be, so stop blaming yourself." I wanted to laugh and cry and yell at him all at the same time, but settled for just supporting him as he sat. "I'll be fine, Yugi." He said, seeing my concern.

"Ryou..." I hesitated, "I tried to take off the puzzle. That's why he got angry. But I couldn't do it! And I tried so hard that time..."

He brushed a lock of blonde hair out of my eye and rested his soft hand on my neck.

"Yugi," He looked my directly in the eyes, and shifted his hands to that he held both my shoulders. "You...you can hold Yami back a bit, can't you?" I nodded, not quite sure what he was getting at. "What...what if you concentrated all your energy on keeping him down, and I tried to take off  the puzzle?"

I know an expression of sheer terror crossed my face.

"No! Ryou, we can't...if we tried, Yami would kill you for sure! I couldn't....no." I shook my head hurriedly.

Ryou pressed his cheek to mine and whispered forcefully,

"But we have to *try* Yugi. I can't bear to see what this is doing to you!! You have to get your life back...it's not fair. I...I don't care what happens to me, I love you." I felt wetness against my cheek, and held on to Ryou as though my life depended on it. In a way though...I suppose my life did depend on him...

"I love you too, Ryou. I don't know what I'd do without you." And it was true.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

"Right." Ryou looked at me firmly, "Are you ready Yugi-chan?" I nodded, and took a deep breath, shutting my eyes. "Okay...start."

At these words I clamped down as hard as I could on the perpetual presence of Yami that I always felt within me, and held on as hard as I could.

"Go..." I said through gritted teeth, feeling Yami trying to rise up and try to take my mind. Ryou quickly grabbed the puzzle, and as he was taking it over my head I felt a stab of pain within me. I gasped, but kept concentrating on keeping Yami away.

The pain built up...I held my head in my hands and screamed as the pressure kept building up and up in mind --

 

And then all at once it was gone. A soothing, cleansing feeling of relief washed through me, and I cried with relief as I saw the puzzle lying broken on the floor.

 

I was free...

 

"Ryou--" I fell forward into his arms and shut my eyes wearily. "Thank you....so much....I love you..." And then I lost consciousness.

 

TBC...

 

 

hehe yay! nearly finished! and the reason they didn't do that before was....uh...*thinks* well, it just didn't occur to them, alright?!