Punished Love

Two days passed. Each night Yami went to Seto. Each time was longer and harsher than the one before . Throughout that time Yugi wouldn't talk to Yami. His door would open a few times a day for a moment, but then close again. Each time it opened he felt a wave of disappointment rush at him hard.

He braced himself on the third day of this. When the door opened he tried to get Yugi to talk to him. //Hikari. Please don't shut me out. You must understand that I hurt-// Yugi looked up at him and slammed his mind shut so fast it knocked Yami to the floor.

He lay there a few minutes, trying to compose himself. A door slammed. Yugi's grandfather had seen the whole thing. He helped Yami up.

"Sorry about him. He doesn't know it, but I hear him cry sometimes," he said. Yami didn't look shocked. "You should try talking to him."

"I can't. I'm late for Seto's," he lied. "Maybe you should," he added quickly before disapearing down the stairs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"You're making it a habit," Seto said as they made their way to the basement. "Your back and chest are raw. You don't give them time to heal. Wouldn't it be easier to just tell me what you think you did to need to be punished?"

Yami sighed and sat in a chair, Seto sitting in one across from him. "I hurt him. I hurt the one I love most."

"Hurt who? How?"

"I have not told him. I do not know how to. I am just a spirit; he would reject me," Yami said.

Seto decided if he couldn't get a name from Yami, he would figure it out on his own. "How do you know he would reject you?"

"I called him something and he slammed his door in response." Yami sighed again and looked at his hands in his lap. "He has not talked to me since."

"What did you call him?" Seto asked accusingly, thinking it was something bad.

"Koi."

"When did this...When did you...When did he...?" Seto was shocked into speachlessness.

Yami blinked at Seto in surprise. "Three days ago."

"You have easy access to him?" Seto winced; that came out wrong. "I mean, can you see him and it won't be out of the ordinary?" Yami nodded. "You're a spirit; tell him in his dreams."

"He shut me out of his mind."

Seto now had an idea of who it might be. He just had to get Yami to say the name to confirm. But, first thing first. "Who hurt you?"

"I did. I love him so much it hurts. I didn't think it was accepted today. It was when I was pharaoh. I hear about people getting killed because of it. But you are right; I have to tell him."

"Now you just need to tell me who you love so much." Yami hesitated. "You'll feel better."

Yami nodded and answered. "Yugi."