All I want for Christmas is you

Shadow: ^_____^ I’M BACK! Thankies to everyone who reviewed! On with the next chappie!! OH and in case you didn’t notice, I sort of changed the storyline for this cause I goofed up before XP. R&R anyways though PLEASE!!!

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Yugi’s eyes blinked open, his surroundings spinning as he turned his head to the side to figure out where he was. Once his sleep hazed mind cleared, he recognized the off-white painted walls as those of the school’s clinic. He sat up strait, clutching the white sheets of the cot he was currently lying in. He glanced up at the clock ticking away on the far left of the wall. //twelve-thirty? Already? I’ve been asleep for that long?//

The door clicked open and a purple haired nurse walked in, smiling kindly at Yugi. In her hand, she held a clipboard which she quickly jotted something down on before turning to face the youth. “Mr. Muto?” she asked quietly. The tri-haired boy looked up. “I’m glad to see you’re up and okay.”

Toy doy didn’t answer. He instead stared at a piece of gauze that was hanging loosely from the bandage around his head. He moved his hand up and flatted the gauze before lying back down.

“That was quite a nasty cut you got there. It went pretty deep...good thing that your friend got you here before you could lose a lot of blood.”

Yugi laughed mentally, //friend...yeah right. Since when did Yugi Muto have one of those?//

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” the nurse said loudly.

The door clicked once again, signaling the arrival of another. Amethyst eyes turned and saw the boy, Yami, standing there holding a brown bag in his hands. The tall teen smiled sheepishly and walked inside. He approached the cot and stared down at the injured boy, “are you okay?” he asked.

Yugi didn’t answer. His browed knitted together and he turned his head in the opposite direction. //I can’t be weak in front of him...not again....he already had to ‘save me’ by bringing me here. And I had cried in front of him. He must think I’m just a little kid that needs to be babied.// He closed his eyes tightly and buried his head deeper in the pillows.

“Yugi...?”

The purple haired nurse put a hand on the exchange student’s arm; smiling warmly up at him, “I think he’s just tired dear. Let him rest for a while, and then you can come back and see him.”

Yami stared at Yugi’s stubbornly motionless form, “no...I think I’ll stay here until he decides to talk. I have something I want to give him anyways.”

The nurse sighed, “If you insist. I’ll write a note to excuse you from your last few classes.” She nodded to the tall teen before exiting.

Yami looked down at Yugi, sitting down at the edge of the cot and stroking the boy’s bangs out of his face. “You don’t have to answer me...or even look at me. I wanted to apologize...I know it wasn’t my doing, but the way that girl Anzu acted this morning to you... it was just appalling.”

Yugi mumbled something, not turning to face the other yet.

“Pardon?”

Frowning, the shorter turned and glared as best he could at the taller male, “I said she only acted that way because you were there. She just wanted to empress you...”

“W-what? But why?”

“I think you could answer that yourself, ‘tall dark and handsome’,” Yugi mimicked, using the new nickname Anzu and all the girls on the dance squad had given the Egyptian boy. “Anyways...how could anyone impress someone when they have a nerd like me hanging off of them like a parasite?”

Yami looked slightly embarrassed by the nickname by hurt by the last sentence. He used his thumb to trace the outline of the small boy’s face, “It would impress me. It would show they had class...what Anzu did showed me she didn’t have respect for those who care for her...she probably doesn’t even respect me...only likes the way I look.”

“Well at least you have people liking you for some reason.”

“Why are you so angry at me?” Yami asked. “I haven’t done anything...I saved you...I could have left you in that hallway to bleed.” Yugi didn’t answer and he sighed. He wanted to know the boy...but Yugi wasn’t giving him a chance. “I know what it’s like to be lonely. I didn’t have many friends back in Egypt. They used to tease me because of my family’s heritage of Tomb Guardians. I never had many friends...only one...but he died long ago from disease. I came here to start over and meet new people.”

Yugi looked away, “then why are you wasting your time with me? If you befriend me, the entire student body will turn against you. You’ll be left with nothing again.”

The taller shrugged, “I’d rather have one good friend than a school full of fake ones.”

The amethyst eyed boy blinked, “but why me?”

“Because you remind me of myself before I came here to Japan.” He was silent for a moment before smiling brightly and changing the subject, “hey are you going on that ski-trip two weeks from now?”

Yugi smiled a little, “I-I hope so. My grandpa is still thinking about it.”

“Do you have a partner yet?”

The smile vanished, “o-oh...no I don’t.”

Yami wrapped an arm around the boy’s shoulder, “well may I call you my Aibou, then?”

Yugi’s eyes widened as he looked up into caring crimson orbs. //Caring...he cares for me...He doesn’t even know me and he’s showing me compassion. No one has ever done that before.// “You mean it?”

“With my heart,” the other replied, taking Yugi’s hand and holding it over his chest where his heart was.

The little one giggled, not moving his hand. Then something struck him, “what about Anzu? She told me she was going to be your partner?”

Yami smirked, “Yes well...I told her I’d think about it when she learned to treat others reverentially,” he explained, winking. Yugi laughed again, the angelic sound filling the room with joy. //He’s so cute...like a little child...so innocent and pure and so forgiving!//

“Oh yes I almost forgot.”

Yami reached into the brown bag and pulled out a blue frosted cookie, “Anzu told me it was only going to be the two of us this morning. I never got to buy you a cookie, so I took it upon myself to get it for you during free period.”

The boy smiled as tears came to his eyes. //No one has ever bought me anything before...// “thank you...”

Scarlet eyes softened as they gazed into large violet pools of innocence, “you’re very welcome, Aibou.”

“You’re so different than the rest of them...so...so sweet. I thought you would be a big jerk with all those people wanting you.”

“Well I guess you should judge a book by its cover.”

Yugi bit into the cookie again, licking some of the frosting from the corner of his mouth, “I guess not.” He shifted slightly and huddled against Yami to keep warmer, “Thank you for being different.”

A chuckle, deep and rich, “I was just being me. And the rest of those guys out there, they’re idiots to treat you badly,” he exclaimed, moving his face nearer to Yugi’s.

The boy’s face tilted up and he realized how close they were. Blushing, he scooted away and continued eating his cookie. Yami grinned and watched as he ate; a joyful look on his face.

~~~`

Nearing the end of the day, Yugi was well rested and able to attend his last class before going home. So there he sat, in the back row of his Choir class. (Shadow: Yugi looks like a kid that would be in the chorus^^;)

He sat next to his favorite instrument, the piano, and flipped through a sheet of music with his left hand. A requirement for being in this class was that you had to know how to play at least one instrument. Across the room, Anzu stood by a microphone. The only reason she was in the choir was because she was had the best female voice and was permitted to be to be lead singer. There were five main singers of the whole class; one of them being Yugi. The others were Ryou Ishtar, Shizuka Jonouchi, and Malik Ishtar. Four of the five played instruments; Yugi the piano of course, Ryou the flute, Shizuka also the flute, and Malik the drums.

Ryou and Yugi were acquaintances. Not friends, just equals. Both shy and quiet and often times lonely and picked on. The only difference was that Ryou had a twin brother, Malik, who he could count on for friendship and comfort. Yugi had no one...well...maybe someone now that that Yami boy seemed to care for him.

“Alright class we have a lot to do today,” the teacher said, walking into the classroom. In her hands, she carried a stack of paper. She began to pass them out to the students. “As you know, the State Winter Chorus Competitions are beginning in two weeks. We have already learned one new song for it and practiced one old one. Now, we need to find a third, which I did the other day. What you’re getting now are sheets of music for the song ‘All I want for Christmas.’”

“The one by Mariah Carrey?” Anzu questioned, stars in her eyes.

The teacher nodded, giving the last of the sheets out. “I will be giving auditions for lead singer on this one, tomorrow afternoon.”

The brunette girl’s eyes widened, “b-but Shiro-sensei! _I’m_ the lead singer!” she protested.

“I know, Ms. Mazaki, but this song hits some pretty high notes. You may not be able to reach the right. Shizuka or Yugi on the other hand might.”

Yugi’s eyes widened, picturing himself being the lead singer of the Christmas carol. He looked down at the music. //Oh it’s for a loved one...who do I have to ask for to be my present for the holidays?// A picture of Yami floated into his mind. //Yami..? No...He’d never...I couldn’t possibly...but maybe...// the small boy sighed, beginning to sing the song softly to himself as he hit a few notes on the piano.

The rest of the class period was spent going over the song. When the bell sounded, all the students grabbed their music and left, eager to get home.

Yugi took his time with getting his bookbag. He figured the bullies who waited outside the school would give up on waiting for him if he took too long to come out.

“Matte*, Yugi!”

The boy turned, seeing Anzu standing behind him, smiling gently. She approached slowly, putting a hand on the teen’s shoulder and giving his frail body a squeeze, “Yugi I’ve been so upset! You were ignoring me throughout the entire class! What’s wrong?”

The boy looked down, “you should know.”

“Oh Yugi is it about what I said this morning?” She questioned. Seeing him nod, she swooped down and hugged him, “ah you know how I get during my morning mood swings! You’re my best friend, you should know I’d never intentionally hurt you. I didn’t mean to sound so cruel...I guess I was a little angry that you were late. Please don’t be mad at me I can’t bear it!” She looked at him, their eyes level. “Please forgive me? ...I’ll let you buy me another cookie...”

Yugi giggled, returning the hug, “alright.”

“Friends?” Anzu asked, holding out her hand.

The smaller shook it, “best friends,” he replied, making the girl laugh in agreement and give him a peck on the cheek, making his cheeks tinge pink.

Yugi turned to leave again but his fiend called out to him once more. “Yes?”

Anzu walked up, “are you trying out for the soloist in that song?”

The small boy shrugged his shoulders, “I’m not sure yet. It’s a very pretty song and sounds like it would be just in my voice range but...I really don’t have a loved one to sing about so what point would it be to sing the song? I know that if Ryou is trying out, he has his boyfriend Bakura to sing about and the song would hold more meaning because the singer would be putting his passion into the song.”

“You don’t have _anyone_ you like that you might sing the song to? Nobody in this entire school?” she questioned, batting her eyelashes.

The teen blushed, “u-uh...” visions of Yami and how kind he was being flashed through his mind. He quickly shook the thoughts away, “n-nope. Nobody.”

She shrugged, “if you’re sure. So why are you going to try out then?” she pressed on.

Yugi raised an eyebrow, “Anzu why are you pressing this subject so much?” He giggled, “Do you just not want me to try out? Is...That it?”

Anzu cast her eyes down, ashamed, “Yugi it’s just that...you can do a piano solo for it! And plus the song would have such a bigger impact if a woman sang it and...Well...not a boy.”

The amethyst eyed teen waving his hand, signaling everything was ok, “it’s alright Anzu. If you want the part that bad, then I completely understand. And I agree, a female singing the song would definitely have a better affect that a male singing the song. I will ask Shiro-sensei if I can just play the piano on this one.”

The brunette sighed in relief, kissing the short boy on the cheek again as a thank you and watching him stumble out of the room, looking rather flustered. //That was close. If he had tried out...I know he would have won. His voice is beautiful when he sings a soprano tone. I have to make sure the teacher never hears him singing alone.//

The boy scurried back in, “I almost forgot...do you still want to go to Coffee World and let me buy you a cookie?”

The girl grinned, “I’d like that a lot. I’ll tell you what...just meet me there okay?”

Yugi nodded vigorously before bounding off again.

~~~`

Yami grinned, nodding at his new friend, Bakura Hideyoshi as he passed him on his way out the door. The teen stopped when he saw a familiar head of tri-colored hair bouncing out of the Chorus room. //Yugi takes Choir? How cute...it amazes me how innocent that boy is. Well...maybe he isn’t. I really haven’t known him that long. I think I should spend more time with him.//

He slowly maneuvered his way through the crowded corridor, “Yugi!” he cried out. When not getting a response, he repeated the name a little louder. The boy turned eyes wide and pure. They filled slightly with joy when locking with crimson orbs. “Hey Yami!”

The taller stood directly in front of the other, smirking, “so what are your plans for today?”

“Not much...I’m just meeting up with someone at Coffee World.”

Yami nodded, “I see. Do you...mind if I tag along?”

Yugi hesitated, //would Anzu want him there? She seems to like him but...what if they ignore me?// Still, knowing it would be rude to say no, he said: “sure I could use some company on the walk,” he giggled. “I just need to go to my locker so hold on. I’ll just meet you outside okay?”

“Sure,” Yami replied, walking towards the doors.

The small boy smiled to himself, humming softly to the tunes of Christmas songs. He pulled out his Algebra 2, Psychology, and Marine Biology books out of his locker and stuffed them into his bookbag. He then closed the door and locked it before turning and walking outside. The tall tri-haired teen was nowhere in sight though. HE frowned and called out the boy’s name.

//I should have known he wouldn’t wait.// Yugi thought, downcast. He brightened though with the thought of meeting up with Anzu at Coffee World. //She won’t ditch me!// he told himself, starting off in the direction of the café, shivering as snow began to fall and icy winds blew across the skies.

~~~`

Yami sweated as Anzu pulled him into a booth of Burger World. He cleared his throat and detached his arm from the girl’s death grip. “uh...are you sure you were supposed to meet Yugi here and that it’s okay I didn’t walk with him?”

Anzu nodded, “totally fine. He’s used to being ignored...and he did say to come to Burger World.”

“Funny he told me Coffee World.”

The brunette’s eyes widened, “are you for real?! They sound too alike! Well...the two buildings are side by side. I’m sure he’ll come check for us.”

Yami’s eyes widened. He couldn’t believe how self absorbed this girl was. //does she care for Yugi at all?// he wondered.

The door to Burger World clanged open and a small figure stepped in, bundled in a thick white coat.

“Speak of the devil,” Anzu muttered. The taller teen shot a glare in her direction, but she took no notice as she put on a fake smile and waved the boy over. “Yugi I was getting worried. It’s starting to get pretty bad out and you hadn’t arrived.”

Yugi had previously felt angered when seeing his best friend and the new boy together at a different meeting place –especially when Yami wanted to walk with him. He was beginning to think that Yami was trying to steal Anzu away from him. His anger melted away when he noticed the brunette’s kind smile and sincere words. He approached and sat across from Anzu and next to the tall boy. “Hello. Sorry I was late...I thought we were meeting at Coffee World.”

“No silly! You had told me Burger World.”

The shorter flushed as the girl giggled, taking his hand playfully in hers and squeezing it lightly. “I-I guess I forgot,” he stuttered.

Anzu flashed a smile, “not a problem, as long as you made in one piece everything is okay.”

The snow began to fall heavier outside. All three of them shivered as the door opened and a cold blast of wind entered the small restaurant. Yugi drew his white coat further around himself, trying to get as warm as possible. He blew into his hands, which were covered by plush white mittens, to try and warm them up.

Yami, having noticed the boy trying to warm himself, scooted closer and took one of his hands, making the teen look up in surprise. “You’ll never heat up that way,” he explained. Putting the delicate hand between his own leather gloved ones, he began to bring his hands back and forth, rubbing the hand until the numbness went away and it was back to its normal temperature. He then did the same to the other.

Yugi smiled sheepishly, pulling his now warm hands to his sides. “T-thank you,” he whispered, a hint of pink gracing his facial features. The clear of Anzu’s voice quickly made it disappear.

The brunette had to keep herself from growling. Yami had warmed Yugi like that, yet had not even offered any help to her when she complained about being cold. She scowled slightly, shivering underneath her light pink jacket. “So what should we get?”

“Hamburgers w-with extra ketchup and mayonnaise!” Yugi burst out. Realizing he had spoken so loudly and suddenly, he shrunk back in his seat and look down, embarrassed.

Yami chuckled, “someone is hungry.”

“Obviously... I’m telling you now, Yami; he may look small but he eats like a cow –especially when it comes to hamburgers,” the girl piped upughiughing and patting the boy’s head from across the table, thus causing the youth to shrink away against the booth more.

The tall tri-haired teen laughed, “Well we must all get that way when eating a food of our favorite. I know I can devour six whole servings of Vodka sauce pasta and still be hungry for more.” (Shadow: [drools] vodka sauce pasta...yummy!!) Yugi giggled at the statement, bringing a mittened hand to cover his mouth as he did so. Yami smiled down at the smaller; glad he was getting to be on the boy’s good side.

Anzu growled silently, hating that Yugi was getting more attention from the handsome teenager than she was. She rolled her eyes as the two began to talk and laugh together. Their food soon came and they ate quietly. Yugi had to leave early since his grandpa wanted him home before dark. What irked the girl the most was that Yami opted to walk the little one home and the two had abruptly left, leaving her alone and to pay the check. //Yugi is getting in my way...//

~~~`

Yugi sighed as the snow began to fall more lightly. He walked next to Yami, who had insisted on holding his hand to keep it warm. They strode down the half empty streets of the small neighborhood in which the little one lived.

They stopped outside a small game store. The taller let go of the boy’s hand as the small teen rapped on the door a few times. An old man answered, smiling in relief when seeing Yugi there. The elderly man hugged his grandson and invited the two inside. Yami declined politely, saying he need to head home.

“Wait, Yami!” Yugi called out to him. The boy stopped, turning in time to see Yugi running towards him and embrace him tightly before giggling and running back inside, saying he’d see him at school the next day.

Yami blushed and waited until the lights of the house were off before turning to go home.

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*Matte: wait