The Alternative

Chapter Three

A/N: Lots of character introductions this chapter! Some necessary filler stuff that I promise will lead to an engaging chapter 4! Thanks to anyone who reads/reviews! All my loving!

Yugi couldn't stop.

He couldn't stop thinking about him.

And he felt quite awful because of that.

How many people was it now?

About 6 people he casually met throughout move in, and not a single name stuck in Yugi's mind. So much for first impressions, it was obvious they didn't hold much weight.

Or perhaps it was because Yami's was stronger than gravity.

"I can see you're spacing out, Yug," Jonouchi interrupted the new student's never ending thoughts.

"I'm sorry," he offered shyly.

"Don't worry about it, our good friends haven't moved in yet."

Ah, good friends. Everyone has potential to be a good friend. The fact that Yugi didn't engage in these connections like he had planned to disappointed him beyond compare. But even disappointment wasn't strong enough to take his mind off Yami.

Atem?

He would have liked to use his name if the man hadn't physically consumed his space and appeared out of nowhere. Just like darkness.

"Yami" would suit him well.

And it was a shame, because without even offering any effort, this strange being had already boggled Yugi's mind to wits end. Every detail that he absorbed was every detail that he was transfixed about.

Funny how merely 15 seconds of time could replay so often in one's head.

15 seconds isn't even enough to fully take in the looks of a person. It left Yugi prone to adding in extra elements that he was unsure were real or all in his imagination.

Did I see a tattoo? Did it hurt when he got all those piercings?

Does he even have piercings?

All black...he was in all black.

That much he was sure of. Belts laid neatly along his shirt, strapping around his waist from below his shoulders until their end.

It must have taken two cows to make his pants, which were obviously pure leather, hugging his thighs and calves much too tightly. Where does one even buy those anyways?

And though he barely caught a glimpse, this "man" was sparkling.

Jewelry adorned his body. Leather cuffs and silver bracelets straddled all parts of his skin. He wished he had more time to look, but the remainder of his seconds went to looking at his face and his hair.

His hair.

Oh goodness, his hair.

It was so loud and familiar that it seemed to be shouting---

"Hey there! You must be Yugi!"

What?

"Yug, come on! I knew you were dazing but geeze, at least pretend you're having fun," Jonouchi elbowed Yugi gently while whispering in his ear.

Yugi quickly shook out of his stupor and allowed his eyes to acknowledge a new face in front of him. Robotically he forced a smile and extended his arm to shake.