Ok, the last chapter of The Fever is here! And after that... well, who knows. For now I'm all out of plot lines for any of my favourite pairings... if anyone has any ideas for new stories or just a review on this one, it would be mucho appreciated!

Yami climbed the stairs in the evening, steeling himself to speak to his light that minute. He had been carefully avoiding Yugi the whole day, first scared that Yugi would say something about the night before, then because his mind was in turmoil about what he would say to describe what he felt. But he could put it off no longer – it was now or never. While his head was calmly instructing him to turn back now before he made a complete fool of himself, his heart would not allow him to do so. Reaching his destination, Yami paused outside the bedroom, took a deep breath, then walked purposefully in. Yugi was standing with his back to the door, so that he did not notice Yami come in. The taller male laid his hand gently on his hikari's shoulder, and Yugi spun around to face him.

"Yami!"

Yami jumped right in.

"Aibou... there is something that I must tell you."

But Yami stopped, realising his aibou had been crying.

"Yugi, what is it? Why are you crying?"

Yugi stared at him, then looked down at the floor and mumbled something Yami couldn't catch.

"Yugi?"

"I love you!"

Yami could only stare in shock, thoughts running in flashes through his head. Yugi loved him? Had he heard aright? After all his worrying and fretting that his aibou, who had captured his heart with his innocence and his bravery, might not return his feelings, or even shun them? Yugi loved him? Just then, Yugi broke away, shoving Yami's hand from his shoulder and running towards the door. A few seconds later, the front door slammed. Yami stood, still stunned, then pulled himself together and ran out into the rain after his aibou.

Yugi ran. And ran. His only thought was that he had to get away. Yami didn't love him, had only stared in disgust as Yugi blurted out his heart. Yami didn't love him, and now Yugi could only replay that scene, over and over in his mind as he ran as though his life depended on it. Finally he stopped, unable to run further. He had passed the park, and the school, and was now by another small grove of trees, standing there in the pouring rain, breathing heavily. So heavily did he breathe that once again he didn't hear another person approach until he heard his name spoken, gently. He froze at the sound, then slowly turned to face him.

"Yami, I..."

Yami waited, concerned.

"Gomen, Yami, but I can't help it, no matter what you think of me now. I do love you."

Yami said nothing for a moment, and Yugi began again to sob gently, his heart aching with both longing and despair.

"Please stop crying, aibou. I had no idea you felt this way... you see, it is I who though my feelings would not be returned... because I love you."

Yugi felt his heart miss a beat, and his breath caught in his throat as Yami's words began to sink in.

For a long moment, both stood in the rain, slowly getting wetter and not speaking, words completely beyond them. Then Yami knelt so he was equal with Yugi, and carefully, tenderly, wiped with his finger the traces of tears still damp on his aibou's cheeks. Looking deep into those purple eyes, he saw there what he had never before recognized for what it was. Love. Overwhelmed and still unable to speak, he pressed Yugi to him, and both teens embraced, with the rain falling around them from the heavens. Finally, Yami found the words, and spoke huskily.

"Shall we go home then, aibou?"

Yugi nodded.

"Yes. Let's go home."

Arms still about each other, they made their way back, utterly oblivious to anything except each other.

"Yugi, I'm home!"

Yugi's Grandfather closed the game shop door behind him and shook himself off, the rain still falling gently from without. When there was no answering reply from his Grandson, he climbed the stairs that led to Yugi's room. Stopping outside the door he knocked and called out softly.

"Yugi?"

Still no answer. Opening the door, he switched on the light and stared at the scene before him. In the bed was Yugi, fast asleep with a smile gently tugging at his lips. And beside him, arms closely entwined around him was...

Chuckling quietly, Mr. Motou eased the door closed again, a smile gracing his own face. He stood outside a moment, seemingly deep in thought. Then he made his way back downstairs, still grinning.

"Well", he said to himself. "And it's about time!"