Punished Love

Yugi was sitting on his bed with his knees to his chest. There was a knock on his door. "Come in, Grandpa," he called weakly.

His grandfather poked his head in. "How did you know it was me?"

"Who else could it be? Yami's at Seto's; mostlikely getting whipped again." Yugi's voice squeeked at the end and he started to let the tears flow down his cheeks and fall onto his knees, which he pulled closer to his chest.

"Yugi, do you know how much he's hurting right now?"

"No. I shut him out. He tried to tell me, but I shut him out again."

"So that's why he was on the floor."

Yugi looked up shocked. "Did I hurt him?"

"Physically? I don't think so. But I think you hurt his feelings," Solomon mused, walking to Yugi's bed. "Are you sure he's not going to Seto's because you're shutting him out?"

Yugi shook his head, but before he could respond he heard footsteps walking slowly up the stairs to the house. "I'm home," Yami's voice called from the stairs.

Solomon squeezed Yugi's hand. "I suggest you stop shutting him out," he whispered. "We're in here, Yami," he called.

Yami walked to the doorway. Solomon turned to his grandson and winked, then he left.

There was a long pause. Yami stayed in the doorway, not wanting to move too quickly and scare his hikari.

Yugi sighed. "Come in. This is your room, too." Yami did, but only one step in. "Yami, you can close the door." Yami did that too, slowly, but didn't move after that. They were in almost complete darkness. Yugi sighed again. "How was your whipping?"

"He didn't whip me tonight. He refused to. Something about not letting myself heal."

Yugi looked confused. "He didn't?" Yami shook his head. There was another long pause while Yugi gathered his thoughts. Yami, thought, did not move.

"Yami." Yugi finally broke the silence. "Do I hurt you?

Yami was surprised. He took a few steps toward Yugi, but then stopped. He stepped back, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking at the floor.

"Yami," Yugi whispered. More tears ran down his cheeks. He got off the bed slowly and moved to the spirit. He wrapped his arms around Yami so suddenly he heard Yami gaso. "Please, answer me. I...I don't want to hurt you," Yugi sobbed.

"Yugi." Yugi let go of Yami to let him continue. "No. You did not hurt me in the beginning. It only hurt when you shut me out."

"And before? What did I do the day I saw you at Kaiba's?"

"That was not you."

Yugi didn't believe him. "OK." He turned and walked back to his bed and crawled under the covers.