"Onii-san!" A young girl with raven-black hair ran over to the raven-haired 10-year-old and his friends. He blinked, looking over.

"Aku-chan, what are you doing here? You should be back at the orphanage with Martha." His cobalt eyes showed worry. "You know it's not safe."

"But you guys come over here!" She pouted, her eyes a slightly lighter shade cobalt than his.

"Because we can protect ourselves." The blonde 11-year-old scoffed. "And we're older."

"But I can protect myself, too!" The 7-year-old stomped her foot.

"Akuma…." The raven-haired boy sighed. "Please go home."

"But Onii-san! I don't wanna!" She stamped both of her feet in a temper tantrum-like way. The boys sweat dropped.

"God, Yusei. Your sister is so annoying!" The 11-year-old gold-eyed boy crossed his arms. Yusei averted his gaze.

"Akuma, go home. Please." He looked up at her pleadingly. Akuma shook her head violently, her raven-colored braid threatening to come loose.

"Nonono, NO!" She screamed.

"Wow. Annoying, ain't she?" The five of them froze. "But kinda cute at the same time." The four boys tensed as six men walked up behind Akuma, who turned around and screeched before darting over to Yusei, who immediately pushed her behind him.

"What're five wee runts like y'all doing out here all by your lonesome?" One of the men, who had grey hair, puffed on his cigarette.

"None of your business!" The silvery-haired boy couldn't keep back the fear in his voice. Yusei's eyes scanned the area, mapping out an escape route in his head.

"Mouthy little brat, aren't you? That'll bring down your slave trade price." A brunette chuckled as the six advanced on the kids.

"Onii-san, I'm scared." Akuma grabbed Yusei's arm, trembling.

"This is why you stay at home." He and his three friends shared a look.

Before the men could react, the five of them bolted in different directions. The men shouted, then each chased after a different kid. Three of them chased after the two siblings.

The siblings weaved through the trees, slowly losing their three pursuers. We just have to make it back to the orphanage! He began to speed up.

That's when it hit him: He'd lost Akuma.

"AKUMA!" He skidded to a stop, panic rising in his chest.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Her piercing scream tore through the air.

"AKUMA!" He ran in the direction of her scream, fear fueling his small muscles. "AKUMA!"

"ONII-SAN!" He could see her being dragged away by the three men (the grey haired guy, the brunette, and a blonde).

"LET HER GO!" He tackled one of them to the ground.

"Onii-san!" Akuma sobbed, fighting against the other two. Yusei shouted in pain as the blonde slammed him onto the ground, knocking the air out of his tiny lungs. "Onii-san!"

"What a heroic little brother you have, girly." The blonde laughed evilly. "Stupid brat."

All Yusei could do was gasp for breath as the blonde slowly crushed him with his weight.

"Onii-san!" She continued to fight the two men restraining her, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You know, this boy is pretty fine looking." The blonde licked his lips. "Why not have some fun?" At these words, Yusei began to struggle. No, no, NO!

"We can dig that." The other two smirked. "How 'bout here and know?"

"I dig it." The blonde slid one of his knees in-between Yusei's legs, rubbing it against the boy's crotch. Yusei mewled, his struggling faltering for a split second. He squeezed his eyes shut.

"G-get off of me! MARTHA! HELP!" He shouted in pain as the blonde slapped him across the face.

"ONII-SAN! GET OFF OF MY BROTHER!" A blast of cold air burst from Akuma's body, and ice exploded from her feet. Something cold slid under Yusei's back.

He slowly opened his eyes, then yelped.

The man that had just been above him was now frozen solid. He scotched away, looking around.

The trees around them were covered in ice, and the ground was covered by a thick layer of it. The two men that had been holding Akuma were frozen as well. Akuma was just standing there, sobbing.

"O-Onii-s-san!" She ran over and dived into his arms. He just stared. No. She has one, too.

"Yusei! Akuma!" Martha ran into the clearing, her eyes flying wide with horror at the scene before her. "What-?!"

"Aku-chan…" He wrapped his arms around her. "She's like us…." Martha's face filled with sadness.

"If she did this, it's too late to hide it." She slowly made her way over to then, as not to slip on the ice.

"….." Yusei hugged her tighter. Martha sighed, kneeling next to them.

"Let's get the two of you home."