Unbreak My Heart

Author’s Note: While this chapter isn’t as emotionally charged as the previous two, it does help move things along a bit. Please be patient and soon the lime/lemon will arrive. Good things come to those who wait, right? A special thanks goes out to DracOnyx for pushing me to continue this story and to Silvershadowfire for leaving those encouraging reviews! Thanks for reading and please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own YuGiOh or the characters. If I did, the yamis would never have left and I’d have fun with my favorite two. Yum yum….

Chapter Three: Trying to Regroup

The only sound that could be heard was the throbbing of the powerful engines of the jet that Kaiba had ordered several hours ago. Most of the group of friends had fallen asleep, too worn out to even attempt to stay awake during the long flight back to Japan. The only one who was awake at the moment was the CEO, who wandered the plane idly. His mind was working on several different levels, not allowing him to rest.

Sapphire colored eyes skimmed over the occupants of the cabin, taking note where they were.

Unwilling to separate, Yugi, Marik, and Ryou had fallen asleep on one of the longer seats that would allow for them to stay together. It was obvious to their observer that the three of them were bonding even more because of their mutual loss. It seemed that Téa had been correct in her assumption about their reactions to each other.

He found Tristan asleep in a chair that was fairly close to the hikaris. His posture, which reflected his exhaustion, also showed that he was on alert to ensure that nothing would happen to the vulnerable trio. Oddly enough, Duke was in a seat across the way. The green eyed gamer had yet to completely leave the taller boy’s presence.

Téa had collapsed onto another sofa and was curled up. There was the presence of dried tears on her cheeks, indicating that she had given vent to some of her emotions. Knowing her, it had been done quietly so that the others would not have heard her. In a show of emotion that was not typical for him, Seto covered her with a light blanket before continuing his walk.

Joey was also close by the three sleeping hikaris. His usual cheerful expression had been replaced by a worried look that had not faded even in sleep. The careworn expression worried the CEO, although he would have denied it vehemently if anyone had suggested such a thing to him.

Brown eyes opened and blinked as the teenager struggled to get his bearings. Recognition quickly flashed and a voice softly called out to the tall figure standing beside his chair.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

Seto’s voice was just as quiet as he answered the blond haired duelist. For once, he left off with the sarcasm, knowing that all of them were simply too tired and emotionally drained to handle any sort of teasing.

“Not really. Too much on my mind.”

“I can understand that. Everything is running around in my head, and I keep hearing everything that was said today. Especially what Duke said before we left.”

“That’s been bothering you too?”

Joey nodded and explained part of what had been taking up his thoughts for so long.

“Yeah. I’m going to call my mom and have a long talk with her about my sister. Life is too short for all of these petty fights. I’d like to be able to see Serenity more than I do. You’re lucky, Kaiba.”

Seto nearly smiled as he thought about his own brother, but that smile nearly died as he realized that he would have to make some changes as well. Joey wasn’t the only one who needed to be able to spend more time with his sibling. And, unlike the smaller teen, he didn’t have an excuse for not spending enough time with his brother.

“I am, and I certainly need to remember that more often. I don’t know why Mokuba puts up with me sometimes.”

“The little guy adores you, Kaiba.”

Seto shrugged and sat down, his thoughts full of the dark haired little boy that had graced his life for so long.

“I don’t know why, Wheeler. I barely spend any time with him, and he’s never uttered a word of complaint.”

Joey leaned back in his seat, remembering the various conversations that he’d had with the younger Kaiba. A small smile curved his lips, and he shook his head before answering Seto.

“Because he really cherishes the time he does have with you. He told me that he knows you work so hard because you want the best for him. I think Mokuba’s exact words were that he believes that the reason you do these things is because you love him.”

Seto turned his head and found the honey brown eyes watching him.

“He said that?”

“Yeah, he did. You know he’s been hanging out with our group for a while now. He and I talk from time to time. I hate seeing him looking so down.”

“He’s been looking like that a lot lately, although he’s been trying to hide it. Mokuba won’t tell me what’s bothering him.”

“He’s worried about you.”

That answer surprised the CEO, and the expression on his face showed it. Joey, seeing it, was quick to explain. Even though this had been told to him in confidence, he really wanted to see both brothers looking happier and would do whatever it took to see to it that the Kaiba siblings close the gap that had been steadily forming between them.

“Mokuba worries because he knows that outside of him, all you have is Kaiba Corp. You haven’t said anything, but he knows you’re lonely. That’s one of the reasons he’s tried to include you in our activities. He’s hoping that you might make friends with one or all of us.”

Seto shook his head and at the encouraging look on Joey’s face, he explained his thoughts. A part of him nearly rebelled at the thought of what he was doing but he quickly clamped down on it, knowing that it was necessary for him to try and get his thoughts out in the open. Like the others, Duke’s words had been haunting him.

“I’ve never been good at making friends. Mokuba has no idea that I’ve ruined any chance at befriending anyone in this group because of my actions.”

Joey laughed, which surprised Seto. When he saw the expression, he quickly explained the reason for his mirth.

“Take a good look around you, Kaiba. Do you honestly think that we have any room to talk?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Let me put it this way. Of the entire group, Tristan and I seriously have no right to be here. When we first met Yugi, we were nothing but horrible. I can’t tell you how many times we frightened him and treated him like garbage. It’s strange. I’m best friends with the kid I used to beat up on. Doesn’t make sense, does it?”

“Not really.”

“But that’s Yugi for you. He forgives so quickly. I think that’s why he’s one of the hikaris. His heart is just so big and despite how many people he loves, he always seems to find room for more.”

There was a long silence and then Joey spoke again, trying to hammer a point home.

“Yugi’s tried more than once to include you. When he realized that it wasn’t working, he wasn’t happy about it. But he did get happier when Mokuba managed to bring you along from time to time. Like your brother, the little guy worries about you being lonely.”

“I have a lot to think on. Wheeler?”

“Yeah, Kaiba?”

“Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome.”

Seto nodded and climbed to his feet, heading towards the area he usually used during flights. He knew he had quite a bit to think over and even more to do once he returned home. Mokuba was on the top of that list.

Everyone was awake when the plane touched down, and the group quickly disbanded after promising to meet over at the game shop tomorrow. Yugi had quickly been swept into a warm hug by his grandfather before the two of them headed home. Joey had walked Téa home before going to his own apartment. Tristan and Duke had disappeared fairly quickly as well.

Ryou looked over at Marik, who was looking around with a disinterested expression. The white haired boy had invited the blond to live with him until his sister was able to come to Japan and establish a household here. Marik had accepted, grateful to be close to someone he knew and who wouldn’t mind the mood swings because of the recent events. Ryou was glad that the Egyptian had accepted, not wanting to be alone in the house he occasionally shared with his father.

The others had been happy with this arrangement because it would mean that the two hikaris would be close to Yugi and could easily be together if needed. Seto had promised to get Marik enrolled in the high school that all of them attended. Isis had signed paperwork stating that Seto would have the ability to ensure Marik’s educational and physical needs. The CEO had offered to do this, knowing that he was the only one financially capable of doing so until the Egyptian’s sister could rejoin her sibling.

After Seto dropped the two hikaris off at Ryou’s house, Ryou unlocked the door and quietly ushered Marik into his new home.

“You’ll be staying in the room next to mine. The bathroom is across the hall.”

Marik stayed quiet through the impromptu tour, memorizing the floor plan of the house so he wouldn’t get lost. The house was large but not so big that he would become confused. Considering some of the ruins he’d played in as a child, remembering where things were here would be relatively simple.

“Are you hungry?”

“Not really.”

Ryou hung his head for a moment and sighed. He wasn’t hungry either, but Tristan’s warning still rang in his ears.

“I’ll call for take-out. I’ll need to grocery shop tomorrow after we get back from Yugi’s. Last thing we need is for Tristan to get on our case about not eating.”

Marik rubbed his neck, knowing that the hazel eyed teen would make good on his threat. The taller boy had insisted that the three hikaris eat regularly or he, Duke, and Joey would be there at each meal to ensure that they were eating.

“You’re right. Tristan is not someone I want upset at me. And if he, Duke, or Joey think they’re going to force feed me, they’ve got another think coming.”

Ryou attempted to smile and then headed for the phone, calling in an order at the Chinese restaurant.

Thirty minutes later, Marik looked up from his vegetable fried rice and queried his new housemate.

“What time are we supposed to be at Yugi’s tomorrow?”

“Ten in the morning. The others will meet us there.”

The blond haired boy nodded and went back to eating, trying to put an effort into it. His appetite, like Ryou’s, simply wasn’t there but, for the moment, they would do their best so they would not worry their friends.

Hours later, the two went to their rooms and laid away for quite some time. Both were thinking about their missing yamis. Soft sighs were heard as they watched the seconds tick by, hoping against hope that sleep would claim them so that they could forget for a while.

After almost two hours, Marik was disturbed by a soft voice calling his name. Leaning over, he turned the lamp on and found Ryou standing in the semi-open doorway.

“Ryou?”

The white haired teen bit his lower lip and even from where he was reclining, Marik could see tears glistening in the chocolate colored eyes.

“Couldn’t sleep either huh?”

The long hair moved as Ryou shook his head. The boy in the bed simply pulled the covers back in a silent invitation, understanding all too well that his friend simply could not handle the loneliness of his own bedroom. He wasn’t too surprised when the smaller boy climbed in next to him and cuddled close, sighing softly as Marik wrapped his arms around him. The two shared warmth and silence as both tried to find solace in sleep.

There was comfort in sharing a room with someone, but even more comfort could be found in the intricate bond shared between hikari and yami. When the room was dark and sleep was calling, loneliness could never be found when you had such a warm presence lingering in the back of one’s mind. However, with that bond dissolved, Yugi found no comfort in the familiar room that he’d grown up in.

The tri-color haired duelist lay in his bed, staring up at the window. It was cloudy and no stars could be seen, which somewhat fit his mood. The silence of his room was almost overpowering, and it took every ounce of his will to keep from screaming out. He had to fight himself to keep from touching the place where his bond with Yami used to reside. The pain from that separation had yet to fade, and the teenager bit down on his lower lip to keep the cry from emerging from his throat.

‘Yami, why did you leave me? You promised to be with me forever and never let me be lonely again. Why did you break that promise?’

The thought continued rolling around in Yugi’s exhausted brain and he rolled over, trying to find a more comfortable position. Amethyst colored eyes focused on the alarm clock, watching the numbers tick slowly by as the night slipped away from the wide awake teenager.

A choked sob made itself heard. It was so quiet, it was not heard by the other occupant of the house. Yugi bit down harder as he wondered if this pain would ever fade. That question and the others continued to haunt him as he waited for morning to arrive.

Author’s Note: Well, thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoyed it. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Hopefully, the next chapter will be up in a day or so!