/Yami's thoughts/

/Yugi's thoughts/

*Yami's mind link to Yugi*

**Yugi's mind link to Yami**

Yugi sat in his hospital bed picking at his bandages. The cuts itched like crazy. It was only 9:00 PM that night. He was wide awake and could not stop thinking about the conversation he had with Yami. His dark said he loved him. Those were the words that he had been waiting so long to hear. He was thrilled that his dark came around and realized what he was doing. He only hoped that the others had too. He did not want to go back to becoming the afterthought of the group. /If it happens again..I swear..this time I will not try..I will succeed./

He shook his head trying to get the dark thought out of his head. He wanted to think about the possibility of much brighter days ahead of him.

The door opened and a nurse carrying a bag of medicine came into the room. She had frizzy red hair that was pulled back into a bun and green eyes, "Good evening, Mr. Motou." She said. Her sweet voice floating through the air like an enchanting music instrument.

"Hello." Yugi replied.

"How are you feeling tonight?" she asked as she approached the bed.

Yugi held up his bandaged wrists, "They iiiiiiiiiiiitch!" he whimpered.

The nurse smiled, "I may have something for that." She removed the bandages and revealed the two long cuts on his wrists. The wounds were a swollen and the stitch area was weeping. It needed to be cleaned. She frowned as she looked at the boy. He was so young. Why would he want to end his life. She hid the pity in her face by digging through the bag for antiseptic, an anti-itch cream, and new bandages. Yugi lay his arms wrist up on the bed awaiting her to clean them. He watched as she diligently opened the antiseptic and poured it into a clean cloth.

She looked at Yugi holding the antiseptic cloth, "This is going to sting, Mr. Motou." The boy nodded and awaited the pain. The second she applied the cloth to the wound, it felt like searing needles piercing his skin. He grit his teeth and shut his eyes tight. /Oh she wasn't kidding! Dear Ra this hurts!/ he thought as she gently rubbed the cloth over the wound and around the stitches trying to get them cleaned. She gave him an apologetic look as she removed the cloth and opened the anti-itch cream.

"I promise this one won't be as bad. This one is supposed to number the pain and help with the itching," Yugi nodded as he closed his eyes. She rubbed some of the cream gingerly onto his injury. The cream provided a cooling and relaxing effect to it. The itching had stopped. He looked down at it and smiled.

"Thank you! That is much better." Yugi commented as she put new bandages on his arm and moved to the other side of the bend to tend to the next arm. She unwrapped this arm and it was much like the other. Yugi tensed his body as he prepared for the searing pain of the antiseptic. She quickly cleaned this arm with the antiseptic which elicited a small hiss out of the teen.

"I'm almost done. I promise. Then you will be able to go to sleep." She commented while rubbing the anti-ich cream on this arm.

"I'm not going to be able to sleep." He sighed.

"Oh? Why not?" she asked. She waited for a response while wrapping the second wrist.

"I'm just not tired." He answered.

"I almost forgot. I brought you something to help you sleep." She went over to Yugi's IV drip and inserted the medicine directly into his blood using the IV drip. Within 10 seconds Yugi was out. She smiled and covered him up before taking her leave to attend to the other patience.

The next morning Yami and Joey arrived to pick up Yugi. They came into the room to find Yugi still sound asleep and snoring. Drool coming out of the side of his mouth. Yami smiled at his aibou. Joey cracked up.

Yami elbowed him in the gut. "Ooof..Hey what was that for?" Joey asked holding his stomach.

Yami went over to Yugi, "Please don't laugh Joey. He has been through such a hard time these past few months."

Joey nodded, "Sadly, that is true, but we all figured that we have been pretty horrible to him lately. We need to give the little guy more attention. And that starts now."

Yami raised an eyebrow at Joey, "No Joey don't…." too late. Joey had already jumped up on the bed and was shaking Yugi awake.

"Come on, Yug! Getcha butt up! It's time to go!" Yugi's eyes opened wide as he screamed and punched his attacker in the face. When he realized who it was he put his fists down and smirked. Joey sat back on the bed his hands covering his nose. "Ow, Yug. I think you may have broken it."

"Well serves you right for landing on top of me and waking me up like that." Yugi folded his arms and looked at Yami.

*Sorry, aibou. I tried to stop him* Yami smiled.

"Are you ready to go?" Yami asked.

"I have to wait until the Dr. comes in and gives me the release papers." Yugi responded. The dark half sat back in the uncomfortable chair that he had fallen asleep in before to wait.

Joey was making funny faces trying to figure out if his nose was broken. "Hahaha! Not broken," he grinned. His brown eyes met Yugi's, "So uh..Yug?" Yugi continued to stare at him letting him know he was paying attention. "I'm sorry about how I and the others have been acting. We know now that we have just been brushing you aside and ignoring you. Not treating you like part of the group. We did not mean to do that. We all talked about it last night and we want let you know how sorry we are and it won't happen again."

Yugi nodded slowly. He wasn't sure he believed Joey, but he was willing to give them another chance. They had been friends for such a long time.

Dr. Takao came into the room, "Good morning, Yugi!"

"Hello, Dr. Takao."

"Hey Doc! Good to see ya." Joey waved at him.

Yami nodded his greeting. Dr. Takao began unhooking Yugi from the machines and removing the tubes from his medication and IV drip. I am going to give you some antiseptic, some of the anti-itch cream that we put on the cuts last night, and some extra bandages. I would like you to keep your cuts clean. Here is your prescription for the antidepressant and here is the name of an excellent psychiatrist for you to talk to. I want you to see him twice per week until he tells you otherwise"

"Thank you, Dr. Can I get dressed and go home now?" Yugi asked.

"I hope that your friends brought some close because you didn't have any when you came in."

Yugi bit his lip as he glanced over at Yami who grinned back at him and held up a back pack with his clothes in it. "Oh thank Ra!"

Yami handed the bag to Yugi, "Joey and I will wait outside the room for you."

The Dr. put the sign out paperwork in front of Yugi and handed him a pen, "Please sign here," he pointed at the document, "here, and here." After that, you are free to get dressed and go. Yugi signed the forms and handed them to the Dr.

"Thank you again, Dr. Takao." Yugi said.

"You are welcome. I hope to not see you again for this reason."

Yugi nodded. The Dr. left the room and allowed Yugi to get dressed. Yami had picked him his favorite outfit. Dark blue jeans with a black shirt and black belt. He put the blue jacket on to help hide his wrist bandages. With that, he put his shoes on, grabbed the back pack and ran out to meet Yugi and Joey. It was time to go home!

The ride home was quiet and relaxing. Yami sat in the back with Yugi. He held Yugi's hand the entire trip. He almost lost his hikari once, he wouldn't make that mistake again. Joey pulled up to the Motou's house and parked the car. He ran around the car and opened the door for Yugi. Both Yugi and Yami got out of the car and walked towards the front door.

As Yugi entered the house, he was met with a loud cheer as his entire group of friends shouted, "Welcome home, Yugi!" They had decorated the entire house with ribbons, balloons and a welcome home banner. His face lit up at seeing them all there for him. Each of them came over to hug him and apologize for the way they treated him.

He looked around him taking in the sight. His heart ready to burst with happiness. This is what he wanted. He wanted his friends to treat him like a friend again. He smiled up at his dark half who returned the smile.

Yami hugged his hikari, "Welcome home, Aibou!" Their eyes locked as Yami drew Yugi in even closer for a kiss. *I love you my hikari. You are my soul mate and I will never let you go.* Yami sent through their link.

**You better not! I love you too, Yami. I always have and always will.** Yugi smiled at Yami and then at his friends.

The End

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. This was my first shot at fanfiction. Please review. Thank you! :)