My first and only counterpartshipping one shot !

This is for my friend, May, since they love counterpartshipping.

I don't normally write ship stuff, so don't expect them.

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He kept himself against the wall, sitting rooted in place. His eyes staring straight at the table beside him. His cards lay there along side his duel disk. Those items were collecting dust, and soon he would too if he didn't move from his spot.

"Are you okay?" The purple haired spirit asked, appearing next to Yuya. Yuya didn't move or react as if he hadn't heard or felt Yuto's presence. "Yuya, you can't stay like that." Yuto placed his hand over Yuya's, but it only went through his. He frowned, concerned about Yuya.

Yuya curled his fingers into a fist. He completely turned away from where his cards lie and avoided Yuto. He brought his hand to his chest, closing his eyes.

"Yuya..."

"I could've lost you!" Yuya screamed out. He clenched his fist even tighter, causing his hand to shake.

After the duel he had, he didn't talk to anyone for a week. This was the first time he said something. At first, Yuto would appear more often than usual to make sure Yuya was okay. Yuto tried to reach out to Yuya, but Yuya acted as if he wasn't floating beside him. Eventually, he gave up and hadn't appeared again until now.

The tomato haired duelist turned his face, accidentally slamming his cheek against the wall. He paid no mind to it, ignoring the pain. His emotional pain was much stronger and it brought tears to his eyes.

"But I'm here now." Yuto assured him. He wished he could hold Yuya's hand and pull him close. If only he could make him feel better, but what could he do in the spirit form he was in. Only his words could be heard, and sometimes words weren't enough.

"If-If the duel concluded. You would've disappeared." He finally said it. The thoughts that were running through his mind since the day of that duel. And since that duel, he hasn't picked up his deck once.

Disappeared.

He repeated in his head.

That was a very light way of putting it. Death, permanent death, was what he really meant.

It was definitely a duel that would've killed one of them. Yuya knew that Yuto would take the fall for the mistake he had made. If the building hadn't collapsed on them Yuya would've lost the duel. He was saved by the unstable building from the duel they had. A fearsome foe, for sure.

Yuya could remember the words Yuto said to him as the attack that would declare his loss was unfolding.

"This isn't the end." Yuto had smiled toward Yuya. "Yuya, I'll-"

Yuya refused to hear those words, he shouted, "don't say it!"

Beaten and damaged, he had fallen to his knees, his hands were pressed firmly on the ground.

"Yuya! Run!" Yuto had shouted. It hadn't registered in Yuya's mind what began to happen. Yuto only continued to yell at Yuya in hopes that he could escape.

The enemy told Yuya that that wasn't the end and he would finish him off later.

"Yuya, we can win. But if you sit around here and stare at your cards, you won't get anywhere. We'll become stronger before the next duel." Yuto stood beside the table. He tried to reach for Yuya's cards even though he knew he couldn't hold them. He let his hand pass through them. "Come on, we can do this together."

"What if? What if it happens again?" He buried his face in his hands. The tears streamed down his cheek. He didn't want Yuto to see.

"If I could I would move your arms away from your face and wipe your tears. There's no reason to cry, because together we can do anything."

Yuya didn't move. "Yuto, I can't lose you. I'd rather have my cards stay there and never having to use them again if it means keeping you with me. I would give it all up for you."

"Yuya..." Yuto floated above the table, making it seem like he was sitting on it. "You're not going to lose me. Don't think like that."

Yuto reached out to Yuya, knowing his hand would only go through him. He smiled, trying to grab Yuya's arm. Only this time when he made contact, there was a glow. It was almost as if he could hold Yuya's arm, but it faded away just as Yuya moved his hands away from his face. Yuto looked away, wondering if Yuya felt that.

Yuya rubbed his eyes, then looked over at Yuto, who was staring at the ground. There was a little glint in Yuto's eyes. That made Yuya smile, a sight he hadn't seen before.

Yuya stood up, looking out the window as the sun was shining in. There was a newfound spark in him, even though he still bares the pain of what almost happened. His eyes moved back over to Yuto, seeing him the way he was, and still with him. Still here.

He would not let something like that happen again.

Yuya picked up his cards, making Yuto turn toward him. The energy between them was different, both determined, and ready to face anything together.

He held both Odd Eyes and Dark Rebellion in his hands. "Together."

"Together," Yuto repeated.