Tainted Innocence

By: Dark T-K

Yugi watched as once again, Yami strolled off with his loving date, Tea. The pain wretched his heart as Yugi had to stand aside and watch his Yami leave. Yugi closed the window and lowered the shades, unable to stand the sight of the couple. It had only been two months since Yami and Tea had started dating, but it felt so much longer to Yugi.

Yugi slowly pulled out his homework, accidentally knocking over a picture. Bending over, Yugi picked up the picture, only to start tearing up. The picture was of him and Yami, when Yami first attained his new body. Yugi placed the picture down, and the sobs began.

Yugi knew that pain would never fade. Yami had found someone to love, and it wasn't him. Yugi once had the chance to tell Yami, but his fear held him back. Now, his beloved Yami would never know, and Yugi would never gain another opportunity to tell him. Yugi stumbled to his bed, his tears falling like liquid diamonds. Yugi managed to cry himself to sleep, dreaming of a love he would never have.

&

The next day, Yugi trailed behind Yami to school. Staying at least five steps behind, so as not to interfere with his Yami's business. Yugi kept to being his Yami's shadow, only following him in his silence.

"Yami!" A voice called out. Tea ran up to Yami and wrapped her arms around his neck. The two embraced, leaving Yugi to watch. Yugi turned his head away unable to conceal his hurt in his eyes, then proceeded to walk past the two.

Joey and Tristan soon caught up, only to notice Yugi walking away with his head bowed as he entered the schoolyard. Both looked over to the main entrance, to see Tea and Yami lip locking. Both shook their heads in disgust and disagreement.

"You would think that they would give it a rest around Yugi." Tristan said glaring at the couple. Joey nodded.

"Yami just doesn't seem to notice how much he's hurting Yugi. It's bad enough they're always together at school, but now Yugi has to be around them in his home too." Joey said, glimpsing Yugi going into the school. Joey walked beside Tristan as they quickly trotted by the glomping couple into the school.

"We gotta help Yugi, man. He's totally depressed and won't come talk to anyone, in fear of us seeing his true feelings." Tristan said, walking to the shared locker. Joey opens the locker.

"You know as well as I do Tristan. Yugi won't go to anyone with his problems. He'll keep them bottled up and suffer quietly." Joey said, pulling out the first period books.

"I know. He used to-"

"He used to confide in Yami. But Yami is currently too busy to listen to Yugi, much less notice him." Joey finished. Tristan sighed.

"We should go talk to him. Try and help, you know." Tristan offered.

"I already tried, but Yugi said he was fine. He won't tell us, and he sure as won't bother Yami!" Joey said. Both looked over to Yugi's locker. Yugi was standing there, pulling out his books, looking as though his life was over. "We gotta do something soon, or Yugi will do something he'll ultimately regret."

The pair walked over, only to see Seto Kaiba was now talking to Yugi. Soon Kaiba had knelt closer to Yugi; he held Yugi's hands and spoke even more softly. The conversation was low, but the expressions of both said it all. Yugi looked elated for the first time, Kaiba had that prize-winning smirk. Yugi nodded and followed off after Kaiba.

"I don't know what just happened, but I must be going insane." Tristan said. Joey nodded.

"Kaiba only spent a minute with Yugi, and it looked like he just fixed everything." Joey said, glaring at Kaiba's back. "Something is not right." Joey growled.

"Joey." Tristan said in a soft scolding tone. Joey looked back at him bewildered. "If Kaiba is willing to make Yugi happy, we're going to have to accept that. We can't go in and shatter Yugi's happiness." Tristan said, putting a hand on Joey's shoulder. Joey nodded.

"You're right. But I have the feeling that things aren't going to get any better. I fear things will get worse."

&

Yugi sighed heavily. Having Tea hug Yami, then kiss him right in front of him struck Yugi deeply. Walking down to his locker, Yugi could have hardly cared about school or the tall brunette he passed without a word.

"I should just get over him. I had my chance and I blew it. I'm only suffering because I lost." Yugi mumbled as he stopped at his locker. Opening the locker, Yugi heard Joey and Tristan at their lockers behind him as he grabbed his first and second period books. Yugi closed his locker, and looked around. 'I probably can't hide my feelings from them. Joey and Tristan are going to confront me sooner or later.' Yugi thought.

"You know Yugi, you shouldn't let Yami's relationship bother you." Said a familiar voice beside him. Yugi looked up to see Seto Kaiba, his infamous blue eyes staring down with his million-dollar smile. Yugi smiled softly.

"Hello Seto-san." Yugi greeted. "It doesn't bother me." Yugi lied, looking down the hall, watching the nauseating couple strolling down.

"You can't fool me Yugi. I can see how much Yami being taken hurts you. If fact, I bet it hurts a lot more than you're letting on." Seto said, closing the locker and kneeling down in front of Yugi.

"Seto-san, you really shouldn't worry. I'll be fine-" Yugi started.

"You'll be fine after what Yugi? Constantly watching and waiting with optimistic hope that Yami will break up and come back to you? You're only hurting yourself." Seto said. Yugi shook his head.

"Thank you for caring Seto-san, but really, I'm ok." Yugi said turning his head away to hide the tears. Seto wiped the tears away.

"I can help Yugi, if you'll let me?" Seto asked hopefully. Yugi froze then looked back.

"How?" Yugi asked hesitantly.

"Allow me to show you, Yami is not the only man who can make you happy." Yugi gasped.

"Seto are you asking me?"

"Yes. Yugi, will you be my boyfriend?" Seto asked, grasping Yugi's hand and squeezing them gently. Yugi's face lit up.

"Yes." Yugi said happily. Seto stood up, smirking at Joey and Tristan then walked off with a happier Yugi.

&

Weeks had passed since Yugi had first accepted Kaiba as his boyfriend. At first, the relationship started out great. Yugi spent a lot of time with Kaiba. Whether it was lunch, before school, after school, or free time; Yugi could usually be found sitting with Kaiba. Yugi was never seen with out his taller counterpart.

After the first month was when the changes began. The changes weren't bad, if anyone considered Yugi's grades raising a bad thing. Yugi's grades had grown from the usual C average to a B average. The following week the grades shot up to A's then A+. The sudden grade shift, though more noticed by his teachers was only one of the few changes. Yugi was often spending so much time, lunch, free time and study hall were often periods where no one saw Yugi at all.

Joey walked down the hall, looking for Yugi. It was a typical Thursday. Joey looked for Yugi to see if he could help him study for the math quiz that was going to take place the next day. Joey had noticed Yugi getting A's and couldn't help notice his chances in succeeding had risen.

"Man I can't wait for Yugi to help me. With his new found genius, I'm guaranteed to pass." Joey said, continuing his search. Joey had practically searched the whole school, and he still couldn't find Yugi. "Where'd he get to?"

"Who are you looking for?" Ryou asked, walking by with Bakura following closely behind him.

"Hey Ryou, have you seen Yugi. I need help studying for the test tomorrow and I can't find him." Joey asked.

"No, I haven't. Isn't he with Seto?" Ryou asked.

"Yeah, the twerp can always be found next to Kaiba." Bakura added.

"I know. But I can't find one or the other." Joey said. Suddenly Yugi appeared out the bathroom and raced to his locker. "Yugi! There you are!" Joey called out. Yugi jumped then froze. "Yugi I need you help studying tonight."

"Sorry. Can't. Spending time with Seto-san." Yugi said quickly. Joey frowned.

"Yug' you spend a lot of time with Kaiba as it is. Can't you at least spare some for friends?" Joey asked. Yugi froze again, tensing.

"Not now Joey. Seto-san is waiting for me." Yugi said hurriedly. Joey grabbed Yugi's arm before he could run away.

"Yugi what is with you? You're never around, and when you are, you're always running off." Joey asked in concern. Yugi faced Joey.

"I've just been busy. Homework and spending time with Seto-san." Yugi said timidly.

"No, that's not all. You're hardly around anymore, and I miss you." Joey said sadly. "There was a time when you were always around, willing to help any way you could. Yugi snarled.

"That was after Yami and before Seto!" Yugi snapped. Yugi grabbed his books then dashed off. Joey looked puzzled.

"First he has all the time in the world, now he has none." Ryou said. Bakura frowned.

"Then he gains a backbone and uses it against Wheeler." Bakura mused. "It's not normal for anyone to spend THAT much time with anyone. Not even a boyfriend." Bakura said. "It looks like Yugi spends every waking second with Kaiba."

"Isn't that what you two do?" Joey asked. Bakura snorted.

"Please, Ryou and I have to spend at least a day apart or else we would go stir crazy." Ryou nodded in agreement.

&

The absences of Yugi continued throughout the week. As time continued on, Yugi would be seen less and less. The only time he would be seen was in class. Joey and Tristan tried multiple times to approach Yugi and talk, only to find him not there. The next week Yugi was missing class all together.

"Ok! Something is definitely up! No way is Yugi spending this much quality time with Kaiba!" Joey shouted. Ryou, Bakura, Malik, Marik, and Tristan and mumbled in agreement.

"You think Yugi moved in with Kaiba and is being home schooled?" Malik asked. Joey shook his head.

"Not likely Malik. Grandpa would have told us." Tristan said.

"What about Yami?" Ryou asked.

"What about the Pharaoh?" Both Bakura and Marik shouted. Ryou flinched.

"Yami is too busy with Tea to have noticed Yugi's current absence." Joey said.

"You would think the 'All Mighty Pharaoh' would know where his hikari was." Marik growled. Bakura snorted.

"That idiot is back at his house, probably screwing the girl. He's got such a big libido I'm surprised he's not trying to rape others." Bakura seethed.

"Guys!" Joey shouted. "I agree Yami is not paying great attention to Yugi, and we will deal with him later. Right now we need to figure out what is going on with Yugi." Joey said.

"That's easy. Go to Kaiba's and demand to see Yugi." Marik stated.

"Well duh!" Joey said back. Ryou and Malik sat back and begun shaking their heads.

"We need to find out why Yugi is not around like he was. I remember saying hi and he almost freaked. There's more going on here than Kaiba hording Yugi." Malik said.

"First thing tomorrow we go over to Kaiba's and talk to Yugi." Joey said.

"Hey Wheeler?" Marik asked.

"What?"

"Does that mean Bakura and I can have free shots at robbing Kaiba blind?" Marik said as both he and Bakura smirked evilly.

"Yeah sure. Just don't steal anything of Yugi's. Now that that is settled, I think we all need to talk to Yami." Joey said.

"Can't." Tristan replied.

"Why not?" Ryou asked.

"Yami and Tea went out camping for the weekend. They won't be back until Sunday." Tristan replied.

"Damn it! I was hoping to tear the pharaoh a new as-" Bakura was interrupted.

"BAKURA!" Ryou snapped. "Don't you dare say that!" Marik was laughing.

"Don't worry tomb robber. When he gets back, we'll make it then!" Both Ryou and Malik shook their heads in shame.

"Guys we won't do that, just wake him up to reality. Yugi keeps disappearing and we don't know for sure if he's even with Kaiba." Ryou said.

"Yeah, for all we know Yugi is at home." Malik offered.

"No. Yugi is not there. I call his gramps every day. Yugi doesn't come home until his curfew. He's out there and we're going to get to the bottom of this, even if it kills us!" Joey snapped.

Author Note: My newest fic. How will the others determine Yugi's absence? And will Yami ever realize Yugi's new life. You'll find out in my next chapter.