Tears of pain rolled down Yugi's round little cheeks, and used, crumpled tissues were scattered around the garbage can. Yami sat in a chair with a tissue box in his lap, wiping the tears from his hikari's face. Yugi sat backwards in his chair, his chest leaning against its back, his shirt rolled up and his pants lowered a few inches. His lower back was exposed, his freshly inked skin starting to swell and leak blood plasma and other fluids.

It hurt much more than Yugi had expected, especially when the vibrating needle pressed into the skin above his spine. That had been sheer agony. Every so often, Malik had to stop and let Yugi catch his breath because he was in so much pain. At first his little body had been tense, in shock, then as the tattoo spread, the skin felt tingly and almost numb. Now, raw and exposed to the air, it felt like it was burning. It hurt worse afterwards than while he was getting it done.

"Feeling any better?" Yami dabbed at one of Yugi's closed eyes. His little hikari nodded. Yugi hadn't screamed; he'd just cried and clung to Yami's hands like they were a lifeline. Yami was sure his petite angel had crushed his finger bones.

Yami still couldn't believe his Yugi, sweet, rule-abiding little Yugi, had gotten a tattoo. And before him, no less! Yami was shocked, but proud. And the design came out really nice, too. The colors were brilliant and bright, well executed. Malik really knew what he was doing.

Yami looked over his bony shoulder. Malik was cleaning up and disposing of the needles. "When I get my tattoo, I want you to do it."

Malik laughed and scratched the back of his head. "We'll have to see what my yami and Bakura says."

Yami snorted. "Like I care. I'll just bat my lashes and Kura'll let me." Malik laughed again and went back to cleaning, and Yami back to comforting Yugi.

Speaking of the devils, Bakura and Merik poked their heads in. Malik glanced up. "Whose manning the front desk?"

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Ryou's there, fussing and fidgeting as usual."

"Well, if you wouldn't keep making messes, Ryou wouldn't have to keep cleaning. You know, one of these days he's gonna let you have it." Yami said, throwing another used tissue in the garbage can.

Merik snorted with laughter. Malik sent his insane yami a dark look. Merik promptly shut up while Bakura merely rolled his eyes again.

Merik peered at Yugi's back, admiring his hikari's handiwork. Malik could be absolutely stunning when he wanted to. "Nice job. I'm surprised the little runt went through with it. And we didn't hear him screaming bloody murder."

Yugi glared. "Hey! Watch it, buster!"

Merik stepped back, laughing. "Ooh, hikari's getting all fired up! Save me, Yami!" He said melodramatically.

Yami snorted. "No, I won't. It'd be funny to see him kick your ass."

Merik gave a derisive laugh. "As if."

"BAKUURAAAA!" Everyone winced at the unusually loud tone. Who knew passive, gentle Ryou could scream? "MEERIIIK!"

Malik suddenly looked down at his watch. "Oh, look at that. Time for lunch break!" He quickly stood up, leaving the ink caps askew. He left just as Ryou came in, hands on his hips, death in those doe brown eyes. He was holding vanilla folders, once well organized, now in complete disarray. Merik and Bakura both looked distinctly uncomfortable. No amount of cussing, crude jokes, and vulgar behavior were going to get them out of this.

With Ryou's entrance, the room got unbearably, threateningly silent. Yami took hold of Yugi's small hand and pulled him none too gently to his feet. Yugi winced in pain as his shirt fell down. "Yami!"

Yami squeezed his hand in apology and flashed everyone a brilliant smile, revealing the metal wires and brackets on his teeth. "Well, it's been a slice, but Tristan's shift at the arcade is almost done, so we gotta fly." Yami couldn't get them out of there fast enough.

Yami and Yugi sat at a round table in the food court, sipping on chocolate and strawberry milkshakes from Arby's. The arcade was across from the food court in the mall, and they were at one of the tables closest to it, so Tristan would have no trouble seeing them when he got off work.

Yugi swung his legs back and forth, his feet a few inches off the ground. He hated being small. He was seated carefully; his back was still on fire! He had no idea how he was going to explain his odd behavior to Grandpa…GRANDPA! Yugi's heart skipped a beat. "Yami! What if Anzu tells Grandpa? She works at the bingo he goes to every Monday night!" Yugi's head tilted back sharply, panicked violet eyes desperately seeking Yami's crimson ones.

Yami put an arm around his hikari's thin shoulders, feeling the fragile bones shift as he drew the smaller body close to him. He swallowed his mouthful of milkshake before speaking. "She won't say anything, tenchi. We're the only friends she has. She won't betray us. Besides, you saw how quickly she changed her mind about tattoos when she saw how much Mai liked them. And Anzu, apparently, likes Mai. So, she'll pretend to like whatever Mai likes." Yami curled his upper lip in disgust. "She'll come around soon enough. Meanwhile, enjoy her absence."

Yugi chewed his lower lip, the soft flesh pressing on his braces. "B-but what will we tell Grandpa?"

"Don't worry about Gramps. We have until summer. We'll just have to be careful not to let him see your back. Besides, by the time warmer weather gets here, along with swimming, going shirtless, all those fun summer things, I'll have my tattoo, too."

"B-but…oh, I don't know, Yami…I-I don't think I should've gotten it…" Yugi's lower lip trembled and he lowered his gaze.

Yami kissed the top of his head. "What Grandpa doesn't know, can't hurt us. All we gotta do is make sure he doesn't know."

"I guess so…He still doesn't know about some of your piercings, does he?" Yami shook his head, and Yugi felt better. He took a big sip of his milkshake. All he had to do was trust Yami. Yami could help him hide this from Grandpa. Yugi smiled up at his Yami around his straw. "Arigato."

Yami smiled back. "You're welcome, tenchi."

"Hey guys! You won't believe what I say today when I was on break. Mai-yes, the Mai- walked past, and Anzu Mizaki was trailing along behind her! I so gotta lay off the beers." As Tristan approached, Yami and Yugi stood up, still holding hands.

Tristan raked his eyes over Yami's hot, slim form and beautiful face. "So, where'd you get the tattoo?"

Yami smiled and Yugi blushed. "Actually, Yugi did."

Tristan's jaw dropped. Yugi giggled. "Aw, man, what a day! I've REALLY gotta lay off the beers. Jou's NEVER going to believe this!"

He put an arm around Yami's shoulders, loving the feel of Yami pressed against him. Yami squeezed Yugi's hand. Yugi continued to giggle and sip on his milkshake.

Owari

Yes, yes yes, 'tis the end end end! . Well, this one wasn't too long of a fic!