We build and then we break

We and then we break

AN: It has been a while and many things have happened since last time I have posted. Celebrated my birthday, got a new tattoo, attended another funeral, been sick, and had a dry spell for writing.


Chapter Eight

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Life isn’t made from perfection. Nothing is easy to pursue. There were goals that his grandfather taught him to live by since his childhood. Yet, it seemed that he couldn’t even fathom a reason for pursuing these non-written expectations of society.

Graduate high school and go on to college, find a career that meets your needs and earn a living. He had done all of these minus one factor that his grandfather always insisted on. Find someone to settle down with and start a family. This one failed to make notice in his life. He had dated of course, even been engaged to Akefia. He knew for a long time that he wasn’t sure if he would ever marry and start a family. Yuugi knew simply that he wanted to find someone intriguing in his life and spend time with him or her. He had done this countless times always finding his heart taking control of his actions and ending every stable relationship he ever had.

The twenty-three-year-old sighed, gazing out the window of his new apartment, music blaring through the speakers of his laptop. He had moved out only a week after Yami walked out of Tori’s. He had not spoken to him and hadn’t heard word from anyone since the incident. Hell, no one knew of his whereabouts other than Sugoroku. His grandfather hadn’t expected him to move out this soon.

Yuugi felt the need to get away from everything he knew for a while. Domino was beginning to plague his days. It was a wonder he didn’t hop back on a flight to California.

Shaking his head, Yuugi turned his attention back onto the laptop sitting on his lap. The deadline for his first novel to finish was nearing closer and closer. He couldn’t find concentration if his life depended on it. He took a long swig of his newest infatuation: Blue Moon. Blue Moon was a foreign beer that he often drank during times of dry writing spells. He added orange to for flavor to this bitter beer. Drinking became another hobby of his after Yami ignored him again.

He gazed at his cell phone, noting that it remained silent. He hadn’t planned to receive a call from anyone but he was beginning to feel invisible.

“Too bad, no one is willing to call. I’m not that much of an ass am I?”

Moments later the familiar tone of “Gives you hell,” echoed through the speakers of his cell phone, alerting him of a call. His ears perked at the ring, realizing who it was. The ring tone was set specifically for two people. He doubted it was the other so he picked up the phone, answering it.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Peacock. It’s been a while. Where the fuck have you been?”

Yuugi rolled his eyes at the nickname. It was none other than Akefia.

“Been living a life as a solitary man. It’s a new thing and I’ve heard it’s all the rage, Ake’.” He paused, and sighed into the phone. “What do you want?”

His response came in the form of a low growl. “I’ve been worried about you. You’re fucking pet pharaoh kicked me out of the fucking apartment last week. I’ve been staying at Ryou’s. He’s even threatened to mind crush me. What the hell is wrong with him?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

Akefia growled again. “No, he didn’t say shit other than one of his usual speeches of ‘don’t touch what is mine.’ Ya know how he gets all possessive?”

“Yes, I’m well aware of it. I still can’t believe he didn’t tell you. It’s all Seto’s fault.”

“What did the fucking priest do now?”

Yuugi groaned in his throat. The former thief always recalled Seto as the fucking priest. Neither man got along in the least.

“We were at Tori’s the other night, having drinks with Jou and Seto. I was talking with Seto and he pretty much blurted out our former engagement.”

A string of curses mumbled through the line as Akefia spoke again.

“Damn pharaoh and fucking priest. What does it matter that you and I were once engaged? It’s not as if we ended up together in the end. Besides I dated him in the past as well.”

“I know it’s not fair at all… I don’t understand… Wait… What the hell? You dated Yami?!”

Akefia seemed amused at Yuugi’s confusion. He knew that the pharaoh’s light didn’t know of this. He smirked to himself, replying sarcastically.

“Whenever we first became solid and he moved out. He knew he couldn’t have you and he wanted a relationship. We were together for a bit until I realized how annoying he truly is.”

“Why the hell didn’t you ever tell me this, Akefia? I feel like a replacement to him now.”

“The feeling is mutual, Yuugi. When we were together, I felt the same way. I thought I was only a replacement for your fucking pet pharaoh.”

Yuugi felt that this was getting them nowhere. “Look, what you and I had was nothing like that. You were there for me and you made it easier for me to live. I don’t know if I ever truly loved you but, you were and are still one of my best friends in the world whom I care deeply for.”

Akefia snorted through the line. “Whatever, Peacock. I knew we wouldn’t last forever. It was fun while it lasted.” He paused, yawning. “So how is the novel coming along?”

“Meh… It’s a work in progress. I have a ton of plot holes to fill.” He replied truthfully. He knew lying was futile.

“What the hell, Yuugi? As your editor, I’m supposed to keep your ass on track with that novel. The deadline is in a week. Get it done and handed to me next week, no excuses.”

“Fine.”

The conversation continued with banter and sarcastic comments until Yuugi realized he needed to finish his novel and leave the former thief to his activities with Ryou.

Throwing his phone onto the couch, Yuugi yawned widely, pulling another beer from his cooler. He always kept one by his couch when working on his novel.

He opened his novel’s current chapter, gazing at the open document with tired eyes. He felt tears coming on as he read the contents of this portion. The couple in his novel had been star-crossed lovers, fighting to be together by any means necessary. In this chapter, they finally managed to get together fully, enjoying their first night of passion. It reminded him so much of him and Yami.

Annoyed, he saved the chapter and closed it out. He knew there was only one way to get through this mess. He was going to pull on the gauntlet. Since the true king of games wouldn’t take the first move, he would. The time for games was over. He was going to win this “duel” and claim his land.

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Yami gazed at his television screen with blood-shot crimson eyes. He hadn’t slept well in days. Finding out that Yuugi had been with Akefia, engaged even brought anger to his already dark soul. He couldn’t take all of these changes that Yuugi had taken up in the past five years.

The drinking he could endure… The bat out of hell attitude he could deal with, but the hidden truths of his past relationships and his need to hide such things he couldn’t handle. He wanted his Aibou to return. Yet, he knew this was futile. Yuugi matured and moved on with his life. It was a wonder he even returned to Domino in the first place. Yami knew Sugoroku was the reason for this, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Yuugi harbored any desire to reunite with him.

He shook his head, tired eyes falling closed. Living in this apartment alone was enough to drive him insane. Kicking Akefia out of the place wasn’t one of his brightest ideas, but it seemed so at the time. He let out a groan, curling his body into a ball, socked feet resting against the coffee table. Admitting fault wasn’t easy for the former pharaoh. He never lost a duel or any game he sought out to play. Winning and ailing Yuugi to his whim was apart of his strategic nature. He wanted to win his light back at any cost.

This wouldn’t be easy. He visited the game shop, hoping to visit his vibrant light. However, he was met with a stern-faced Sugoroku saying that Yuugi had moved out a week ago. This news hadn’t surprised him in the least. He knew that the man wanted to move out of his grandfather’s shop regardless of his grandfather’s kind and nurturing self. Living on his own had been drilled into him since California.

Knowing this, Yami began to realize how independent Yuugi became. His once over polite and shy light no longer existed. This shell of a man held grief and age beyond his years.

Running a hand through his messy tricolor hair, Yami pulled himself up, suddenly aware of his cell phone ringing.

Raising a brow, he pulled the annoying device from his pocket, studying the screen with a look of sheer surprise.

Quickly he hit the green button, accepting the call instantly. He spoke quickly, hoping his voice didn’t quiver in anticipation.

“Hello?”

“I see you’re answering your phone, Yami. What gives with the silent treatment for over a week?”

The former pharaoh gulped, taking in a breath of air. Yuugi’s cool voice echoed through his ears, sending shivers down his back. Only Yuugi could have these effects on him and get away with it.

He remained silent for the moment, attempting to form words in his mind. He knew that everything was riding on this. Yuugi never took the first move in anything. The man was always submissive in nature. For Yuugi to hold a form of assertive nature wasn’t normal if not wrong.

“I think a week of silence is needed for what you never tell me, Yuugi.”

He felt his heart prang in guilt. He knew this was a low blow, but he needed to maintain control in this.

“Shut up. I’m actually attempting to make amends with you once and for all. You and I both know how ridiculous this is, Yami. So Akefia and I were an item in the past, it’s not like you weren’t with him yourself.” Yuugi paused, voice hardening. “I don’t see how you dating him is any different than me. Plus, you never told me that you dated him.”

The former pharaoh’s posture sagged. He hadn’t expected Yuugi to find out. He lost control of this argument.

“So? I wasn’t engaged to him, you were. I just feel that you should have told me about him, Yuugi.”

A loud sigh hit his ears.

“Look, I’m tired of this. I’m attempting to explain and you’re being the stubborn mule. Would you please hear me out?”

“Go ahead.”

“No, not on the phone. Meet me at my new apartment. I think there are things we need to say face-to-face.”

He knew this was it. It was all or nothing.

“Alright, I’ll do it. Give me directions and I’ll be there.”

Yuugi obliged, giving his other self-directions to his new apartment.

“I’ll be waiting with bells on, Yami. I’ve missed you and really want to talk with you.”

“Whatever, I know you’ve been drinking. You’re never this nice to me unless you’ve had some alcohol.”

“Meh, so what if I have. I miss you.”

Yami rolled his eyes.

“Alright, I’ll be over in a bit.”

The line went dead as Yuugi bid farewell to him.

Standing to his full height, Yami stretched the kinks from his back, realizing that he needed to hurry and see Yuugi.

He sauntered off to his room, finding something decent to wear.

Tonight would end the suffering, he just knew it.

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Yuugi tossed another empty beer bottle into the trash, yawning. He drank at least five in the past three hours. He wanted to remove his evidence before his darkness came over. He didn’t know how this confrontation would turn out.

From his outlook, things needed to change. In order for their relationship to start, trust issues needed to be reconciled. However, this would not be an easy task. Both of them were stubborn as mules.

After tossing another round of bottles into the trash, a knock on his door alerted him.

Quickly he set aside his final attempts of cleaning his bachelor pad, turning his attention to the door. He answered the door, bypassing a stray bottle on the floor.

Moments later, he opened the door, finding his other half standing on his threshold.

He raised a brow at his other half, motioning for him to come in.

Yami obliged giving the apartment a long, silent gaze. He found the couch with ease and sat down, gazing at Yuugi’s laptop.

Yuugi sat down on the opposite end of the couch, sighing.

“So, what do you want to talk about, Yuugi?”

“Us, Yami. What else would I want to talk about?”

“Oh I don’t know… How about how many times you and Akefia fucked before he proposed to you?”

Yuugi slammed his fists onto the coffee table, making his laptop jiggle.

“This is what I wanted to talk about. You’re pigheadedness is becoming a problem, Yami. I’m attempting to explain and admit I was at fault. Give me the decency and listen!”

Yami crossed his right leg over his left, arms crossed in defiance.

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

Yuugi rolled his eyes, turning a bit towards Yami.

“Look, I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about Akefia and me. The past five years is a part of my life that I never wish to remember. You need to know that I wasn’t entirely sane at that time. I had been in California working my ass off and going to college. I buried myself in work and school. These were the only plausible methods I had in order to keep myself from thinking about you.”

Yuugi fisted his hands together, keeping his emotions in check.

“He is the only person I’ve dated other than Seto, which you already knew. I’ve basically kept myself alone and antisocial to keep my sanity.”

Yami took this moment to comprehend Yuugi’s words. He gazed at his light with a remorseful face.

“I also suffered. In truth, I dated Akefia only when I realized you were leaving for California. It wasn’t a long relationship. We merely stayed together off and on as friends with benefits. We decided to share an apartment in order to keep up the act in case it continued. I’m finding that with his interest in Ryou, that purpose is over.” He took Yuugi’s had into his own. “Aibou, you have been on my mind for years and will continue to be the center of my universe. I want us to work out despite what’s happened.”

Yuugi moved a little closer to Yami, his eyes closing as he took in the information. He truly felt little relief from this knowledge Yami just indulged upon him.

“I want to pursue a relationship with you, Yami. I just need to know a few things before we even attempt to do this.”

“What’s that?”

“There are a few conditions.”

“Such as?”

Yuugi scooted away from Yami, getting off the couch with ease.

“First and foremost, I want you to allow Akefia to move back in.”

“Alright. What else?”

This was too easy.

“I need to know that you’re going to trust me and not freak out if you learn something about my past.”

“…….”

“Yami?”

“That’s not an easy task to accomplish, but I’m willing to try.”

“Alright.”

“So now what?”

Yuugi smacked his forehead, gazing at Yami with a smirk.

“It means that you’re now my bitch.”

“WHAT?!”

Yuugi laughed, falling onto the couch. He rested his head in his other’s lap, smiling up at his pharaoh.

“I’m kidding. It means that we’re together now, silly pharaoh.”

“Oh.”

“Is that all you have to say to that? You’re not romantic at all.”

“I rather be doing other things right now.” Yami smirked, causing a blush to appear on Yuugi's face.

“Stupid pervert of mine.” Yuugi leaned upwards, kissing his newly awarded boyfriend on the cheek.

“That’s my name. Don’t wear it out.”

“Whatever.”

Yuugi smiled to himself. It seemed that things were beginning to work out for the best once again. He fixed the break in their relationship. He could only hope that his friends and family would deal well with this news.