This story is finished! Yes!

Sage: Finally.

While this was a fun experience, I don't know if I'll ever write yaoi again...I think I prefer Yugi/Yami friendship, angst fics. Thanks to everyone who stuck with me. I know this took a long time to come out. So, without further ado, here is: The End.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Six Months Later

With his suitcase by his side, Yugi turned around at the front door and looked around the apartment that had been his home for the last six months. It felt weird when had and Joey first moved here. At the time, Yugi never imagined living in a place as luxurious as this. But ever since Joey started working alongside Yami at the Kaiba Corporation, he had been making nearly four times as much as he had just working as a bellhop.

Anzu had quit her job as manager of the diner, telling her father she wanted to go to New York and fulfill her dream as a dancer. She had saved up enough money working her job to pay for the plane ticket, and she managed to land a full-ride scholarship at her school of choice, so there were no tuition or rent expenses. Knowing Anzu was no longer there gave Yugi the courage to quit his job there and help out in the community. He had become an advocate for people involved in domestic abuse. He spent many hours at the local shelter for battered women where he shared his story and listened to theirs. It made them feel better to know that not just women got into those kinds of situations; men can too. It made them see that none of it had been their fault.

Together they cried, and laughed, and healed.

And when he wasn't doing that, Yugi had begun to duel competitively. People were still talking about his duel with Kaiba, and they wanted to try and defeat the person who had bested the national champion.

It had all been like a dream come true. Yugi was able to do what he loved, and he didn't have to worry about getting the rent paid, or if there would be enough money for groceries. With Joey's new salary, and the money he won from tournaments, money would no longer be a problem.

Yugi sighed and grabbed the handle of his suitcase. He hadn't lived here long, but this apartment was still full of memories. He felt himself about to cry as he thought of leaving, but then he reminded himself that he was moving onto bigger and better things. He would still see Joey all the time. In fact, he wasn't moving that far away. His new apartment was just one floor up.

Joey came out from his bedroom, giving Yugi a sheepish smile. "You finally moving out?" He said sarcastically.

"You know how much I want to get away from you." Yugi replied, returning the smile.

"Well it took you long enough. Now I can finally have my own place!"

"Yeah, but now you have to cook your own food and clean your own bathroom."

Joey's smile fell and he snapped his fingers. "Always a down side." He looked over at Yugi and felt the smile return. "I'm happy for you, Yuge. I'm gonna miss ya."

"It's not like I'm moving far away, Joey. I'll be right above your head."

"I know. But it's still exciting. I finally get you out of my hair." Joey rubbed at Yugi's head, and earned a slap on the wrist from the disgruntled teenager.

"So," Yugi said, "I'll see you tonight, right?"

Joey smiled. "Of course, Yuge."

-0-0-0-0-

Later that day, Yugi brought in the last box into his new apartment. He set it down onto the floor and took some time to look around. He didn't remember the first time he had been inside this apartment. He had been so drunk he didn't even remember being in here. It had been quite a shock to him when he learned that his first time in the apartment was actually his second.

It was a lot like the one he had just left, but with some different furniture. He could hear some noises coming from one of the back bedrooms and he went over there. He saw Yami organizing some of his belongings he'd brought up, treating each of them with the utmost caution. Yugi smiled. Things sure had changed.

"What're you up too?" Yugi asked.

"I'm helping you unpack." Yami answered as he kicked an empty box to the side.

"You don't have to do that. I can figure it out on my own."

Yami shook his head. "No can do. You know you still need to be careful. The fact that you carried most of these up here is concerning enough."

Yugi rolled his eyes. Yami's concern had been cute when he was on doctor ordered bed rest and on enough morphine he was always in a constant half-awake, half-asleep stage. But even after the doctor said he'd healed enough to continue with day to day activities (as long as he take them slow and easy) Yami still treated him like some kind of fragile doll. He loved Yami, he did. But sometimes he was just like Joey had been. His intentions were good, he was just suffocating and babying Yugi.

Of course considering how things were going for them...maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing.

"I'm fine, Yami." Yugi answered, opening a box of his clothes. "The doctor said I was fine. I feel fine. You don't have to do everything for me."

Yami sighed. "I know, I know. I just can't help it." Yami stood up and walked over next to Yugi. "I just want to make sure you don't hurt yourself. Especially considering what today is. I have a surprise planned for you, and I don't want you to ruin it for yourself by hurting yourself."

"You just want to get into my pants."

Yami let out a small laugh. Yugi had really begun to utilize sarcasm to his advantage the more time he'd spent with Yami.

"Not at all, Yugi. I'm much more romantic than that." He gave Yugi a quick kiss on the lips. "If you want to help, fine. Just be careful."

Yugi smiled. "Does that mean I can't jump on the bed?"

"I don't think it would be wise."

"Can I jump over Joey's head? He's in the apartment right under us."

"Probably not a good idea, either."

"How about—"

"No."

Yugi pouted. "Killjoy."

-0-0-0-0-

The last few months had consisted mostly of doctor's visits for Yugi. But there were other things that popped out now and then. Meetings with lawyers, judges, police officers. He had even met the parents of Jackie and Amanda, the two girls Jack had killed years ago.

Jack…

Yugi knew he was in jail now. Two counts of first degree murder, two counts of first degree attempted murder, a dozen counts of domestic abuse, and a dozen accounts of animal abuse. Nothing was looking good for him now. His court date was set for next summer, and Yugi had no doubt he would be convicted.

Part of him felt sorry for Jack. If Joey and Yami ever found out, he knew he'd get the biggest lecture of his life, but it was true. Jack had to have had a crappy childhood to turn into the adult he did. Which is why Yugi asked that prosecutors not go for the Death Penalty. Instead, he asked that Jack get life in prison. Jack deserved death, he did, but Yugi couldn't find it in his heart to know that Jack would spent the next ten years of his on Death Row. Murdering a murderer was just evil and completely hypocritical.

Just one more year...

But, Yugi knew when they day came he would testify. He had to make sure no one else ever got hurt by Jack again.

The doorbell rang and Yugi got up off his bed. It would take a few days getting used to living with Yami, but he knew it was where he belonged. He belonged with Yami; he loved Yami. And he knew Yami loved him.

He entered the living room to see Yami opening the door and letting Joey in. He was carrying a box of pizza and a small bag wrapped around his wrist.

"Happy birthday, Yugi." Joey said.

"Thanks, Joey."

"Now that you're an adult, I figure it's time I treat you like one." Joey put the pizza down and threw the bag over to Yugi. Yugi caught it and opened it but felt his face flush a scarlet red when he saw the contents.

"Joey!" Yugi screamed, closing the bag to hide the box of condoms Joey had given him. "That's disgusting!"

"Read the card!"

Yugi looked into the bag to see a pamphlet on the dangers of having unprotected sex. His face turned an even deeper red. "Why are you doing this to me?" He whined.

"Hey, I know what adults do, Anzu and I—"

Yugi covered his ears with his hands. "I do not need to know that!"

Joey laughed and Yami looked over. "What's so funny?" He asked.

Yugi shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Let's just eat. I want to get rid of the mental scars as fast as possible." Yugi said as he, Yami, and Joey sat down to pizza.

"Whatever, Yuge." Joey said still smirking.

"Hey now," Yami interrupted, "don't give him a hard time. Remember, you have to come in and work for me tomorrow. You make things miserable for Yugi, I can make them ten times more miserable for you."

"Oh come on! Don't be that kind of boss! Be a cool boss!"

"And what would make me a 'cool' boss?"

Joey smirked. "You let me kick back, relax, and do nothing but play video games."

"If that ever happens, both our asses will be in the unemployment line. You know how Kaiba is about work ethic."

Joey sighed. "That rat bastard. Won't let us have any fun, will he?"

Yami shook his head. Then, he turned over to Yugi. "Happy birthday, Yugi." He leaned in and gave Yugi a quick kiss.

"Get a room you two. Yugi, put my gift to good use." Joey said.

"Joey!"

Joey snickered.

Yugi sighed, but gave Joey a smile. He had good friends, a wonderful boyfriend, and a safe place to stay. He finally had everything he ever wanted in life.

And things could only get better from there.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Thanks for everyone who voted on my poll. The next story to come out will be "Deal With The Devil". When it comes out, I do not know...I'm taking a hiatus writing fanfiction to finish work on a novel I've been working on since June. But you can expect DWTD by maybe December? I still have more to write.

Thanks again for reading! I love you all!