Barrier

Epilogue: Three Years Later

Epilogue

Three years later

Yami grabbed his coat off of the hook, wrapping it around his body. He quickly grabbed the smaller coat hanging beside it, holding it out for his partner. Yuugi quickly stepped forward and put his arms through his coat, turning around so it didn't go on backwards. Finally, when he was done, he turned back around and zipped up the front, while Yami retrieved his own scarf. Yuugi grabbed his own as they headed out the door, their small apartment shutting behind them.

"We're going to be late." Yami said. Yuugi turned back so he could read his lips.

"It's your fault. You're the one who insisted we warm up by battling each other."

"Well, I didn't want to go into this with minimum practice! I have to be warmed up before I face opponents this powerful! Plus, you're the one who insisted we get lunch on the way home from class." Yami reminded him. Yuugi rolled his eyes, turning back around.

As soon as he did, his foot snagged on something. Yami grabbed his arm in a lightning quick move, keeping him from toppling over. He slowly turned around, eyes narrowing at his friend as they stared off. "Saved you again." Yami purred.

"Well, don't expect a kiss." Yuugi said, rolling his eyes. "Besides, saving my clumsy butt isn't exactly a change from usual. We're going to be late!"

Yami groaned and let Yuugi go, continuing his walk forward. He was right; they didn't have time for this. They were the reining champions, they couldn't be late to this without looking like idiots. Worse than that, like pretentious idiots.

Ever since a couple of years ago, they had been going to duel monster's tournaments. They had quickly dominated as a team, and they were top of the world in the ranks. They dueled as a team, usually, but even when they dueled alone, they showed exceptional skill. They were quickly accumulating fame, and had even had tournaments offer to fly them across the world to go to their events. Yuugi had been grocery shopping the other day and had gotten recognized.

It felt like they were on top of the world sometimes.

Of course, right there at the top with them were Mai and Joey, who also attended a fair amount of duels across the world. They were both already graduated from college, so they could afford to put life on hold for a week. Often times, when Yami and Yuugi found their class schedules too full to go and be guests of a tournament themselves, they sent the tournament Mai and Joey's contact information. Well, they didn't, per se.

That's because Mana, who had volunteered to be their agent, usually took care of that stuff.

Yuug turned around again, question written in his eyes. "Is Seto going to be there again? With Kisara?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, they might have gone to a different tournament now. There was that couples exclusive dueling thing in Chicago that we couldn't make it to, you know." Yami reminded him. Yuugi nodded, giving a small frown.

"You know, we could have gone. You could have let me pay for the rent this month. I know you like your job at the hospital, but it's really not necessary while you're in school. I have plenty of inheritance, and even more in stocks that Mana was sure would turn out good. You don't have to work and try to school at the same time, Yami." Yuugi said.

Yami had kept his job filing papers at the hospital, despite several attempts of Yuugi's at getting him to quit. He wanted to support himself, and he'd feel bad letting Yuugi carry all of the bills and responsibility, no matter how much inheritance he had.

"No, we've been over this." Yami said, shooting Yuugi a warning glare. Yuugi raised his hands in submission, nodding his head. "But it's a kind offer, thank you."

Yuugi turned back around again, quietly power walking towards the doors. They crossed through and into the outside air, and Yuugi breathed in a big huff of spring. He fell back just a little bit, a mile on his face as he walked next to Yami. Just because they had to be there in fifteen minutes didn't mean they couldn't enjoy the walk.

Their apartment was three blocks from the school, six blocks from the hospital, and ten blocks from the closest dueling place. They were in literally the perfect area, the neighbors were nice, and they had each other. It wasn't the picture perfect life; far from it, they had problems and they had fights. However, Yami had never been more certain in his life that he could make it through anything with someone. Yuugi was his rock.

Suddenly, he felt a warm hand brush up against his own. He gave a small smile as he slowly opened his own hand, letting their fingers intertwine.

"I love you." He muttered softly.

He couldn't hear it, but he would have bet everything he had that there was an "I love you" whispered back to him in return.