The night sky was pouring down heavily as a grandparent and child ran through puddles as they laughed and held their raincoats around themselves. They had just left a restaurant when the clouds opened up on them. The little boy didn't mind the rain as he splashed around and kicked up the water whilst he giggled. "If you get a cold it's your own fault Yugi"

"I'll be okay Grandpa!" Little Yugi chirped as he stomped about a bit more. It was late July and they were just beginning to enjoy their summer holidays. His parents were away on business so Yugi was going to be spending at least the first month of summer with his Grandfather at the shop. Yugi continued to giggle but stopped suddenly when he thought he saw something in the alleyway.

He titled his head as his big eyes squinted to look into the darkness of the alley. The shadows looked like they were dancing around someone. The body was small and was shivering from the coldness but didn't seem to mind the shadows playing with their feet. His little brows furrowed in concentration but let up when he turned to see his grandpa come near him. "Is everything alright my boy?"

He pointed down the alleyway. "I think someone is hurt down there. A kid like me"

Before Grandpa could get a hold of him he sprinted into the alley with his wellyboots causing the puddles to splash everywhere. He knew the old man was following him so he just continued till he was crouched down in front of the kid and giggled when the shadows jumped to him. they went up his legs till they were at his hand that were resting on his knees and tickled his fingers lightly. "Your shadows are funny."

The kid had their head bowed against their arms but looked up slowly at the mention of the shadows. They saw Yugi's smiling face as he twirled his fingers through the shadows. They shivered at the sensation as they felt the movement but started to warm at the boys body heat even though they weren't physically touching. They weren't too sure how to cope as they had forgotten who they were and how they had ended up where they were.

Yugi grinned as the shadows settled down but seem contented where they were on his legs. It was a weird sensation but he didn't seem to mind it. He pouted when he saw that the girl sitting curled up in front of him was still shivering that he almost went to take off his coat when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. His grandpa crouched down next to them and noticed that the shadows didn't go anywhere near his grandpa and that the girl tried to make herself smaller again. "Yugi do you know this girl?"

"No grandpa," His grandpa held a umbrella over the three of them and the girl appeared to be grateful for it if the playful shadows were anything to go by. but she was still scared from what he could tell and that up set him "She's scared of you though"

"I don't mean any harm little lady," There was a little relaxation but wariness was still there. Yugi reached out cautiously and touched the girl's hand and got a little excited when she didn't immediately pull away. Solomon looked down at his grandson and smiled proudly before turning his attention back to the little girl. He tried to keep his face neutral as he took in the girls appearance. She did look to be around Yugi's age and had the same blonde and black combo as he but while Yugi's hair was spiked and hints of magenta hers was wavy down to her shoulders and had hints of dark blue close to purple in shade to it. He observed her as Yugi made introductions on who they were and was waiting on a reply back on who she was but she just sat there and stared. He cleared his throat to get their attention and smiled warmly so to not scare her off when they both looked at him. "I think it best if we go inside and talk. Don't want you both at more risk at getting a cold than you already have."

"Owh owh I can show you the presents I got last month for my eighth birthday!" Yugi stumbled up with both his hands out to the girl with his grin still plastered to his face. "Come home with us! I think my clothes can fit you and we can get hot coco! it's super yummy!"

The girl stared at him with glazed over eyes that got him really curious. He leant down a little and placed his hands over her slightly ones and was surprised to find that she wasn't shivering like she first was. He took her hands gently into his and pulled till she was standing face to face. Her face was still blank but her eyes seemed to shimmer a little as if they were recognising him. He marvelled at the colours in her eyes as they were purple blending out to red. He smiled at her and she in turn tilted her head at the action before turning her head up to see that Yugi's grandpa was smiling encouragingly at her. She glanced back at Yugi as she attempted a small smile which caused her shadows to jump between the children happily before pulling back to hide somewhere on the girl. Yugi had watched the shadows play and giggled. "We'll play more when we are at my home okay"

The girl nodded and they both turned expectedly towards Yugi's grandpa to lead them home. They kept holding hands as Solomon lead the out the alleyway but kept the umbrella held over the three of them. He glanced at his watch and internally winced as he turned around, picked the both of them up without a word and sped as quick as he could back to their shop. It was hunting hours for vampires and was a very stupid time to be out when you were a very defenceless human with children. The pair had squeaked when they were picked up and Yugi didn't get a chance to voice his displeasure when he heard wings flapping just behind them. The pair had clung tightly to Solomon but they could see over his shoulders too see two vampires heading straight towards them.

Yugi whimpered against his grandpa and squeezed the girls hand instinctively as he hadn't let go of her. She glanced at him before turning back to look at the vampires as her eye colour was more red than it had been before. She managed to get her arm free from between herself and Solomon and trusted him to keep a hold of her as she reached her arm towards the vampires. The shadows left their hiding place and sped out quickly from her fingers and out like spikes towards the predators. The darkness pierced each vampires wings calling them to cry out in pain and to fall to the pavement with a heavy thud. Little Yugi watched it all play out with wide eyes as the shadows didn't stop and proceeded to wrap themselves around both vampires necks. He still held on tightly to the girls hand even when her other hand turned into a fist in the same motion the shadows constricted with enough force that the heads came away from the bodies.

Even in his young mind the sound of bones snapping made him wince and didn't want anything like that to happen to him. Yugi looked away from the bodies as they turned to ash and leant more into his grandpa. His grandpa was panting really heavily and his feet were thundering heavily against the road as he neared closer to the shop. "We're nearly there. We're going to be safe you two"

Yugi wasn't entirely sure by that statement but it still made him relax a bit when they were placed down at the front door so that Solomon could fish out his keys to open the door to then usher them inside to then lock the door once more and make things secure. Little Yugi still held on to the girl's hand and dragged her further into the store so that they could head upstairs. She allowed it as she felt a bit tired from using the shadows in such a way. She knew instinctively what to do but she didn't like how scared Yugi looked when he heard the bones snap. She managed to get him to stop moving when they got to the living room and to face her. The girl tired to get her voice to work as it hurt. "You... S-Scared of... me... Yu-Yugi?"

Her voice came out softly but it still sounded as if it hurt for her to talk. Her nose wrinkled at the pain and she rubbed her throat as Yugi just looked at her. He was a tiny bit startled at her suddenly and had a bit of shock still there from what he had seen her do. He knew it was bad and heard of the stories of what happened during the vampire's hunting hour and he really didn't want to end up like those in the stories. He shook his head rapidly when he realised that she was awaiting an answer. "No! They were bad guys, you good girl! you managed to protect us from the bad guys. You did good Yami!"

"Ya...mi?" She titled her head again at the oddness.

"You can't remember your name can you?" She wrinkled her nose as she tried to figure out how to answer the question till she nodded her in confirmation that she couldn't remember her name. "Then is it okay to call you Yami till we find out?"

"Yami... is fine" She titled her head once again and shyly smiled as she squeezed Yugi's hand. Who into turn giggled as the shadows came back to play about with his fingers.

"Yugi have you found some clothes for your friend yet?" Solomon climbed the stairs to see the two of them standing behind the couch with their hands still held. He smiled kindly "I'll take that as a no. Why don't you go find some and I'll run a warm bath for your friend."

"She says it okay to call her Yami till we figure out her proper name" Yugi beamed at his Grandpa as went to take Yami to his room. "Lets get you some clothes to change into after the bath!"

Solomon chuckled and shook his head as a excited Yugi dragged a confused Yami behind him. He the proceeded to head to the bathroom to fix a bath for the two of them and towelled dried himself so he lowered his chance of a cold as well.

In Yugi's room Yami had settled herself on his floor and watched him with curiosity. She was frustrated that she couldn't remember anything about herself other than the shadows and something else that felt like it was locked with in. She could feel the shadows playing by her toes and through the shadows that were playing with Yugi's she could feel his warmth and it made her feel safe in a weird way. Even though she couldn't remember, the boy was some how familiar to her, or at least familiar to her shadows. She rested her chin on her knees as Yugi was continually raiding his clothes pile for something clean.

"Hey Yami are you okay?" He had stopped when he found what he was looking for and held the clothes to his chest as he walked over and knelt in front of her. She nodded with that shy smile from before as he reached out to hold her hand again. Yugi smiled when he felt her squeeze her hand reassuringly and he returned the squeeze. "I'll try my best to help you remember and protect you"

Please leave a comment If you would like me to continue this story. it could possibly work out to having 4 more chapters then a sequel story of when they are older and things start to become more complex.

Please and Thank you
-AP