The Ten Things

The Ten Things

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

This chapter is dedicated to S2Teennovelist (Teenie). Thank you for the awesome reviews and for enjoying my story! Hope you enjoy this chapter! :D

Chapter Seven

Atemu's blood boiled, anger growing by the second. Dealing with Jou and whatever he had done to Yuugi made his anger and hatred grow intensely. His hand ached from the punch, fingers flexing one by one. The stinging in his knuckles/hand was worth it. The blond would surely have a shiner in the morning.

Atemu felt his heart go out to Yuugi as he walked into their "shared bedroom." He had planned on comforting his former lover, hoping to find out what had occurred with him and Jou. However, his plans changed instantly once he found Yuugi hunched over his laptop sound asleep. Yuugi's face buried within the confines of his arms looked content and endearing. Atemu shook his head, finding Yuugi in this position adorable. The man often worked himself to death on his novel, something Atemu could not understand. How was Yuugi able to slave away at the restaurant and then find the time and energy to work on his beloved novel?

Yuugi immersed himself in work, writing, gaming, etc. The man had a weird thing about always keeping himself busy. He had been this way since he was younger. However, according to Sugoroku, it had gotten worse since Yuugi returned home. Atemu had talked with Sugoroku briefly before he headed upstairs to speak with Yuugi. The man heard the commotion and told him that Yuugi had always been this way. He said that Yuugi really needed to stop doing it, often causing him to run away from his problems in reality. At work he didn't have to deal with his problems. He used his novel as a means of escape from the issues at hand. All in all, Atemu was beginning to see more of his Yuugi in quirks. The man always had odd ways of expressing himself and hiding away things. He was like a hedgehog. Whenever conflict rose, Yuugi would curl into a ball like a hedgehog, hoping that the issue would die in the midst of the moment.

It was time for Yuugi to stop running away from his problems. Atemu was going to do what he felt was right, beginning with the talk he had wanted since high school. He wanted to finally make amends with Yuugi concerning the damned list that ended their relationship. Attempting to reconcile in the past was futile. Yuugi often curled in on himself and ignored his attempts. He had damaged Yuugi with that stupid list. The Egyptian still felt remorse for that. Young and bored in class, his circle of friends decided to play a little "game."

At the thought of this, Atemu shook his head, sighing heavily. He turned his attention back to his little love interest, deciding on his next motive. With his decision set, he gently shook the man's shoulders, rousing Yuugi from his slumber. Amethyst eyes opened, glazed over with sleep. Yuugi sat up, and looked at Atemu with a frown. After a moment, the smaller of the two yawned, stretching his arms out. He tilted his head to the side and gave the other a long, calculating stare.

"Any particular reason you woke me up?"

"Jou stopped by and dropped this off." Atemu said gesturing to the jacket he had thrown onto the bed. Yuugi turned and noticed his favorite jacket laying there. His brows knitted in worry, eyes shining.

"I see. Did that asshat…. Did he say anything about me?"

The taller of the two crossed his arms, fighting back the smile that wanted to grace his chiseled features. He groaned inwardly, realizing that Yuugi was beginning to sense the growing confrontation. The man was too smart for his own good.

"He mentioned that you left in a hurry." He paused, and then noticed Yuugi's downcast eyes, and then continued further. "Then I took your jacket and punched him in the eye."

"Why did you do that?" Yuugi exclaimed, standing up from his spot at the desk. He gazed up at Yami, eyes narrowed.

"Because of the way he spoke of you. I know that Jou is nothing but a whore. He finds someone of interest, pursues his interest, talks with them, and then makes the move for a one night-"

He stopped in midsentence as tears fought to flow down Yuugi's pale face. The man fisted his hands together, fighting with great strength to keep his emotions in check.

"How do you know this about him, Yami? How the hell do you know what he did to me?"

Atemu sighed, and brushed a few strands of hair behind Yuugi's ear. He chose his words carefully. "Yuugi, I know this because he has done this to many people, including me. He is always traipsing between someone new and my cousin, Seto. He is never satisfied. That is why my cousin has ended their relationship."

Yuugi shook, moving out of Atemu's line of sight. He went over to his bed and sat down on it, head in his hands. He was distraught, wanting to know why he was played with. Why could he not find someone to keep him happy? All he wanted was a stable relationship. He was ready to settle down despite his fear of commitment. Love was a hard thing. He had never felt it before. His grandfather always said he would know when true love was experienced. Yet, he sat here in his room at age twenty-three more confused than he was as a teenager. What was love to him?

Atemu felt his heart break as Yuugi struggled with this problem at hand. The man was feeling shitty and used. He was still fighting his true desires and his heart. This time was crucial. Without his help, Yuugi would never relax and give into his heart. Cautiously, the Egyptian took a seat next to his little game. He gently pried one of Yuugi's hands from his face, taking it into his own. He laced their fingers together, squeezing the petite hand into his own. This was a small gesture he used in the past with Yuugi. It showed he was there.

Yuugi looked up, eyes red with tears. He sniffed slightly, using his free hand to rub at his stuffy nose. He locked eyes with Atemu, face blank. He stilled with the knowledge of their laced hands. He sighed heavily turning his eyes away from the other man's.

"Why does this always happen? I thought once we grew up that things would be easier." Yuugi choked back a sob, and elaborated. "I thought once high school was finished live would become simple. I thought that school would be a breeze when in reality it was hell. I thought I would have a successful job by now and a family. "He removed his hand from Yami's with great difficulty and gestured towards himself, chuckling sarcastically. "Yet, here I am, back at home, bar tending and barely getting by while living in the same house as my ex. Where does this leave me?"

Atemu took his hand again, squeezing it lightly in his bigger tanned hand. He frowned at Yuugi and brushed the man's bangs from his face. "Life isn't easy after high school Yuugi. Becoming an adult is not an easy task. Being a teenager is easier than anything. Dealing with problems such as relationships, school, and a decent job are not going to fall into place all at once. That is the reality of adulthood, little one."

Yuugi rolled his eyes at the "little one" endearment. He knew that the man was attempting to give advice.

"I know. I just… I figured I would have a stable relationship by now. I haven't been able to keep a relationship in years. I left someone at the altar for god's sake."

This caught Yami's attention. His brows rose, almost into his hair. He let Yuugi's hand fall from his own as surprise took form.

"You left someone at the altar?"

"Yes, I did. It's something I regret doing to her, but I cannot help but feel it was the right decision. Had I not left her, I would be off married and unhappy right now."

"How long ago was this, Yuugi?"

"A few months before I moved back here."

Shock crossed chiseled features all over again. Atemu was speechless for the first time in years. He had never expected Yuugi to leave someone at their own wedding. It was not something he would do. Yuugi was compassionate and never gave into his own demands. To hear the smaller male even speak of this made his heart swell a little. He always thought Yuugi was too selfless for his own good. He needed to be selfish once in a while. And he was glad that his little one realized this before he was tied down to a woman he had little to no desire for.

"Hikari…." The name was foreign on his tongue, one he never said out of care for the other man. He brushed his fingers across Yuugi's pale cheeks, feeling the soft, heated skin beneath his fingertips. The smaller man was not a fan of his true name, as he preferred his middle name, Yuugi.

Yuugi stiffened at the use of his real name, and the familiar touch he missed. He sighed, and rested his head against Yami's shoulder, gazing out of his skylight with a small frown.

"Does it ever get easier, Yami? Will things ever fall into place and allow us to find what we truly desire?"

Yami glanced down at Yuugi, enjoying the closeness they both shared. He half smiled, wrapping an arm around Yuugi's waist. The smaller tensed slightly, but relaxed moments later.

"I believe you and I will find what we truly desire, partner. I believe you and I are meant to work things out."

"Yami… You need to stop living in the past. You and I are not going to get back together that easily. I still don't trust you enough for that kind of thing…" Yuugi lifted his head and gazed at Yami in the darkness, narrowing his eyes to make out the beautiful gems he loved to take in. "You never gave an explanation for your two-faced actions with that fucking list. That and I don't feel that way about you anymore."

Hurt and sadness were clearly visible in Atemu's eyes. He tweaked Yuugi's pert nose and met the other man's line of vision. "You're in denial, Yuugi. I know you love me."

"No, I do not."

"Maybe you don't. Maybe you do. I know deep down that you care about me in some shape and form."

Yuugi didn't say anything at first. He kept his eyes downcast, away from the other's pleading stare. Yami was still in love with him and he knew it. He felt something stirring in his broken heart. He was not familiar with the feelings of love. The concept itself was not easy. How did he know what love was.

"You're very close to me, Atemu. I care about you, but I do not love you romantically speaking. I love you like a friend."

"Sure you do, Hikari."

Yuugi hissed at his name. "Stop calling me that!"

"You called me Atemu; therefore, I called you by your beautiful name."

The smaller of the two would not admit that he was beginning to feel a bit better. He enjoyed the teasing banter between himself and his ex. Atemu or Yami… Yes… Yami was making it easier to forget his problems. However, he still was weary of the man. He wanted to forget the list and its content but could not allow himself to do that so easily.

"Explain it to me, Yami."

"What?"

"Why did you give in and make a list about everything you hate about me?"

For once, the cocky Egyptian could not reply at first. He was silent, leaving Yuugi a moment to allow his mind a chance to wander. Hurt and worry took form. He was the eighteen-year-old Yuugi again, the one who had his heart shattered in millions of pieces. He was the Yuugi whom he never wanted to remember.

"Tell me." He insisted, annoyance growing with growing silence. "Tell me."

"We were immature back then. Jou wanted to do something of interest while in study hall. We had a substitute teacher and he was gone most of the hour." He sucked in a breath and continued. "Jou suggested that we play "The Ten Things." Curiously, we all listened and waited for further instruction in the game.

We were bored and I refused once he spoke of the crazed rules. We were to write a list of ten things of what we hated about someone. Jou chose you for me. I refused. He threatened to harm you and ruin your reputation. I was frightened and did not want you harmed, Yuugi. I beat his ass for it."

Yuugi cut in. "Why didn't you just kick his ass in the first place? Why did you have to write that damn list? You ruined everything with it, Atemu! I lost you and a lot of friends over it. Hell! Our reputations went out the window. Yet, I had no idea Jou was behind this! Why the hell didn't you tell me this?"

"I tried. You broke up with me before I could explain. I didn't fight hard enough to make things work with us. I thought if we were friends we could talk it out."

"You and I both know that did not work out, Yami. You tried to get us back together and you tried to have sex with me more than once after the break-up. You didn't want friendship."

Atemu sighed, feeling tears tingle at the corners of his crimson eyes. He had never grieved over the loss of their relationship. The pent up frustration and anger was beginning to dissolve with these confessions.

"Perhaps we should just stop this for now. We're stuck with one another and we should get along, for grandpa's sake." Yuugi muttered, pulling away from Yami. He got up and walked over to his closet, taking out his pajamas. He then headed out to the bathroom, leaving the elder of the two alone.

Everything was his fault in the end. The list… The stupid attempts to reconstruct their relationship and friendship…. He was beginning to wonder if it was futile or even worth it. After all, why chase after a lost cause?