"You're a whore and always will be!" A middle aged woman in her early 40's shouted as she shoved her youngest daughter towards the front door.

"But I'm not! I swear! I swear I'm telling the truth! I was raped by some homeless guy! I would never lie about it!" The 13 year old girl cried as the whole family looked down upon her. "I had to get the abortion! I didn't want any of you finding out I had been pregnant! I was scared!" She yelled but nobody was listening.

Her father, an extremely rich businessman about 45, slapped her as hard as she could across her pale face. "You've shamed this family."

"We will give you $100 to leave this house and never come back." The grandmother stepped up.

Angry at everyone for treating her harshly, she accepted and ran up the wooden stairs to grab only one thing: an extra pair of clothes. "I hate them! I hate every single one of them!" Tears streamed down her face from her violet eyes as she turned and walked out her bedroom for the last time.

"Just be glad they're giving you some money." The violet eyed girl turned to face her sister, a 15 year old teen who always got what she wanted and acted snobby. She had short brown hair and blue eyes. Her sister annoyed the crap out of her to no end about being popular and beautiful.

"I don't care Tea. And I especially don't care about this family." Yugi frowned and continued walking as Tea made no other comment. 'One day she'll get what she deserves and I hope I'm there to see it!' She snatched the money from her grandmother and left, slamming the door in the process. 'I know this won't get me far so I have to be careful what I buy.' Yugi's blonde hair blew in her face. She ran out on to the sidewalk and thought which direction she would go. She looked left and saw some grocery stores but that was about it. To her right she saw apartment buildings. Sighing, Yugi chose right and began to look for a place to sleep before night fell. 'I'm going to have to get a job if I want to survive. But I'll do that after I find a place to sleep.' She forced her way down the sidewalk and looked for small areas in between the buildings. Most of the alleyways were taken by all the junk that had been taken from dumpsters by other homeless people. Finally spotting an alleyway that seemed small enough, she jogged letting her hair hit her in the face. "I guess this will do for now." Yugi threw her only extra pair of clothes onto the ground and sat beside the sidewalk, watching people ignore her as they passed. "I should save what they gave me for something other than food." 'A blanket maybe?' It was Fall and most of the beautifully colored leaves had already fallen from the trees. "It's coming fast. Winter." She glared at the ground with hate.

8 years later

It was snowing again but no one cared due to the wedding that was coming up. Tea couldn't decide if she wanted an off-white wedding dress or a white one. "Mother!" She called out. "What dress should I get?"
"White, sweetie. It's more traditional. Plus you'll look beautiful than compared to the off-white dress that looks dirty."
"Okay. I hope I look radiant when Atem and I marry! I want his eyes on me only." Atem was a strong, loyal, brave and fierce yet kind man that Tea had fallen for in her last year of high school. Nearly every girl wanted to be her just because she began dating him. They were engaged sometime after graduation but put the wedding off until both had completed college. Both were 23 but wanted separate things: Atem wanted love while Tea wanted money. Of course, Tea had lied to him about it and said she wanted love as well. "Just a few more months and I'll finally have him and his money." She whispered to herself.

Yugi hugged herself tightly as she walked back to her alley in the same clothes she had had on from 9 years ago. They squeezed her fit body tightly as well as being too small. She had spent half the money she'd gotten on an extremely thick red blanket which had begun to thin out a few years ago after a major snowstorm hit. "I should've bought some winter clothes too." Her teeth chattered, her lips were chapped and purple, and her unkept hair was down to her thighs. She wished for so many things as her light eyes watched a truck passing by before it stopped in traffic. She wondered why it stopped but continued walking back to her 'home'.

Atem knew his fiancé didn't really love him but he loved her. 'Well I wonder why I love her but she is beautiful. However she gets jealous so easily it's annoying.' He was brought out of his thoughts when he saw a young woman with long blonde hair and short clothes. "Why is she out in this weather without a jacket let alone bigger clothes?" He said out loud as she watched his truck pass by. Atem stopped in the middle of traffic and hopped out just in time to see her collapse. "I have to help her. She may be homeless but I can't just let her die out here." He ran to her side and gently picked her up. 'I wonder how long she's been like this.' He placed her in the back of his truck and drove as quickly as possible back home. 'Good thing Tea and I don't live together. She'd kill me if she knew I brought someone home. I'll just keep the girl a secret for now.'

Yugi coughed as she moved to her aching left side. 'What happened? Why am I so warm?' She thought as she struggled to remove her arms from the heat of whatever covered her. She slowly opened her violet eyes to find she was in a large off white bedroom with some small paintings of the ocean. The moment she removed her arms, she immediately wrapped her arms around her upper body. "Damn it. I'm still freezing, even when I have all this heat." A door opened and a dog, most likely a Dalmatian, came running in and sat beside her bedside, tail wagging and tongue hanging out as it just stared at her with wide black eyes. "Hi." Yugi whispered, glad to see that she wasn't alone anymore. "What's your name?"

"Akane, I thought I told you that you need to wait to see her until she feels okay." A tall but handsome man with soft violet eyes and black spiky hair came walking in. "Oh. I see you're awake already." He smiled softly at Yugi.

"Yeah but what happened?" She asked before coughing again.

"You kind of collapsed in the snow and I couldn't just leave you there to die. I'd hate myself if I did."

"Why would you save someone like me?"

"I don't know. I guess cause I wanted to. And I thought it'd be nice to hang out with someone new other than my friends and jealous fiancé." He partially lied.

Yugi sighed before looking back to the dog. "I guess I should thank you for saving me but if you're not gonna tell the whole truth..."

Atem was shocked. "I'll have to tell you later on." He walked over and set some liquid cough medicine on the nightstand. "My friend, Joey, helped me take care of you. He's downstairs waiting impatiently to know how you're doing. He said you look familiar but he doesn't remember where he saw you."

Yugi replied with 'oh' before being sat up by the young man and handed the medicine. After she swallowed the disgusting grape medicine, she began to tell him she once knew a boy named Joseph but most people in school called him Joey. He had this problem where some other boy liked to pick on him or would call him 'mutt' or 'Wheeler'.

"I'll be back up. I promise. Akane, stay and be good." The man ran out the bedroom to the living room.

"Hey Joey," Atem smiled at the dirty blonde sitting on the couch. "I think I found that girl that looks familiar."

Joey stood up. "Really?"

Atem nodded. "Apparently she used to go to school with you."

Joey ran up the stairs and burst into the room making both Yugi and the dog jump. "Thank god Atem saved you!"

"Why?"

"You really don't remember me much do you?"

"You look familiar. What's your name?" Yugi decided it wouldn't hurt to know.

"Joey Wheeler, from high school! I knew you had to be around town somewhere! After I found out from Tea that you'd been disowned, I started looking for ya!"

"It's good to know that somebody cared about me back then." Yugi looked away, not wanting to cry in front of him. "Um so what have you been up to?"

"Just hanging out with Atem and some other friends and looking for you."

"You're lucky you have friends. For 9 damn years I was alone. I spent $50 on a blanket. I spent $40 overall on food and water. And after I spent the remaining $10 on a few chocolate bars, I had to start going through the garbage just to find what I needed. Plus, I'm still wearing the same outfit from when I was forced out of my own home." She burst into tears before being squeezed by Joey who began to apologize for not finding her sooner.

Atem heard crying and knew the girl would be fine eventually. Sighing, he began to make tomato soup for her and grabbed some water. 'I'll let her stay as long as she wants.' He stirred the soup slowly.

"It's not your fault Joey." She sniffed.

"I don't mean to be rude or anything but, I sorta never knew your name."

"It's fine. I was mostly a loner while SHE was popular and selfish!" Yugi ground out angrily before smiling up at him. "The name's Yugi."

The bedroom door opened and the man from before walked in with tomato soup and a glass of water. "Sorry to interrupt but you should really get something in your stomach."

Yugi stared at him for a second before asking if she could take a shower after. 'We'll see.' Was all he said before scooping a spoonful of the soup and feeding it to her. 'I'm not a baby but I don't mind if he feeds me. It's sweet.' She swallowed and another spoonful was put in her mouth.

After finishing 3 bowls of the amazing soup, she asked him if she could take a shower.

"Hold on. Let me call someone and see if she'll come and help you." Atem saw her nod and pulled out his phone. 'Kisara can help if she's not busy dealing with Seto.' He put the phone to his ear and waited.

"Hello?" A soft female voice spoke.

"Hey. It's me. I was wondering if you could help someone out."

"Is it that fiancé of yours? Because if it is, I refuse."

"No." Atem lightly laughed. "It's a girl I helped. She wants to take a shower but I don't want to invade her privacy."

"In that case, I'll be right over!" Kisara hung up quickly and grabbed her white winter jacket. "Seto! I'm going to Atem's to help out a girl he saved. I'll be back."
Seto appeared from the hallway and said he'd come with her. "I'd like to talk to Atem about something."

Tea picked up the phone to call Atem and tell him she found the perfect dress. After calling him twice, he picked up. "I don't know what took you so long but I have great news!"

"What is it?"

"I found the perfect dress! Now we just need to pick our song and the colors for the wedding!" She squealed.

"Let me check the calendar." He didn't move from his spot in the bedroom to check. "It looks like I work for the whole month. I guess it's gonna have to wait. Sorry." Which he was not. He had to lie to her constantly just so he could stay away and keep clear of her.

"You've got to be joking. I have waited 7 years just to marry your pathetic ass and this is how you're gonna be when we finally have a chance to be happy!?"

'Is that how she sees me? A pathetic ass?' Atem thought before responding. "First of all, unlike some, I work. I have 2 jobs that require me to keep others safe." He worked as a mechanic at an important car company to test or fix the safety features. His second job wasn't as good but he got paid a pretty nice salary. He was a security guard at the airport and always made sure to double check everyone for weapons or drugs. Tea never cared about anyone else's safety but her own and it annoyed him to no end. 'Why the hell is she so selfish?' He told her he'd talk to her later and hung up before she could get a word in.

"Sounds like you're marrying a psycho. No offense." Yugi laughed.

"None taken. I know she doesn't love me so I don't know what I should do."

"Well if she doesn't love you yet you love her, I suggest breaking it off." Yugi said flatly.

Joey who had sat there quietly the whole time, smiled uncomfortably and said he'd be downstairs. After he left and the door was shut, Atem sat down on the bed. "How would I break up with her though? She just found the dress she wanted."

Yugi pondered a bit. "There are a couple ways to break up."

Atem scooted closer to hear her advice. 'Please be good advice.'

"From what I've seen when it comes to breaking up with someone, you can break up over the phone but then she'd probably look for you. You could break up in public but then you'd both be embarrassed if she starts yelling at you and slapping the crap out of you. Or you could tell her as slow as possible that you don't want her anymore. It's kinda funny to watch a woman like yours just staring at you while she takes in the info. If or when you break it off she could most likely pretend she's still marrying you. But that's a psycho."

Atem just looked at her strangely before asking which option she liked. He wasn't sure how he wanted to do it.

"I've never been in a relationship before but I'd pick the second option. Of course you'd make a scene but at least she'd make a fool of herself. Not to mention I think I'd enjoy seeing her pissed. Not at you of course. So what's her name? She kind of acts like a girl I used to know."

"Uh Tea Gardner." Atem saw her face scrunch up in anger.

"That bitch! When I see her again, she is so dead. In fact, I think I'm gonna go see her now." Yugi shoved the blankets off and stood on her wobbly legs before taking a few steps only to begin falling but pulled back into strong and warm arms. "Let me go!" She yelled. "I don't care if you still love her, she's gonna pay for what she did to me!"

Atem threw her on the bed and glared at her. "First off, I don't really love her anymore. She's annoying the shit out of me about the damn wedding and she's a bit controlling which is why I lie to her!" He didn't have to ask what happened to Yugi because she immediately started bawling her eyes out as she began stuttering and said what happened.

"I-it was 9 years ago when it happened. The reason I was disowned. And it's all her fault! She paid some homeless man to...to rape me! And then she told the family I slept with a stranger! And it was after I found out I was a few months pregnant! I didn't like it at all so I got an abortion and when the bill arrived at the house, I was called a whore by nearly everyone and then I left! I only had $100 on me that our grandma gave to me just so I would leave."

Atem turned her around and held her tightly. "I don't want you killing her because I don't want you going to jail." He said softly. 'I just met her and I'm telling her I don't want her to go to jail. I mean she is beautiful but I need to get to know her a little more.' "You're staying here. And no questions and I won't let you refuse." Atem wanted to ask how she knew Tea but he'd figure it out eventually. He just held her as she kept crying, soaking his green t-shirt and whispering that she wasn't a whore.

Seto knocked on his cousin's front door until Joey answered. "I understand why your girlfriend is here but not you. You're still an ass no matter what."

Seto was about to give a comeback until Kisara asked where the girl was.

"Upstairs. Atem is talking to her but I guess you can go up." Joey replied and let the couple in.

Seto watched as she happily ran up the stairs to see the girl before turning to Joey. "I'm guessing you still haven't found anyone."

"I'm waiting for the right girl. That's all!"

"Do you still want your shower?" Atem asked Yugi softly who looked up with red eyes and nodded quietly. The door opened and a woman with pale skin, light blue eyes and white hair popped into the room happily. "Well I guess I should let Kisara take it from here." He smiled at her before Kisara walked over and gladly took Yugi from Atem.

"First we're gonna get you some comfy clothes and I know just the kind too. Then we'll give you a shower and if you want to take a bath, let me know!"

Yugi nodded in wonder as she was helped to Atem's shower. 'Is she always so cheery?' She was set down on the toilet seat as her tight shirt was forced over her head and thrown on the floor. Next her pants were taken and tossed as well.

"Have you worn this bra the whole time you were out there?"

Yugi nodded embarrassingly. "It was the only one I had."

"Well that has to go too and same with your underwear."

"Okay." Her boobs immediately felt free and she smiled.

"Take them off." Kisara smiled.

'I've never undressed before in front of somebody.' She nodded nervously as she quickly took them off.

"Do you want your hair cut now or after your shower?"

"Now. If you don't mind. Please?" Yugi stood as Kisara left the bathroom quietly in search of scissors.

Atem watched as Kisara skipped down the stairs. He had left the room not long ago to give the girls some privacy. "I need scissors to cut her hair."

He pointed towards the kitchen and she left, returning with a pair of scissors quickly. "Well we shall see you boys in an hour or so. By the way, Atem, I think she's more beautiful than Tea."

'I think I might agree with her...' Atem thought and let Kisara go back up.

As she waited for Kisara to come back, Yugi stared at herself upsettingly, trying to figure out who she was. "I feel incomplete...like something's missing. I have friends now but there's something else. What is it?" She felt tears roll down her cheeks as she continued to stare. 'Why do I feel this way? Why is it hurting?'

"Are you alright?" Kisara piped up.

Yugi jumped and sat back down to wipe her tears away. "Yeah I just feel like part of me is missing." She smiled at her before standing up and turning to the shower. "You can cut my hair now... I kinda want it to be past my shoulders at least 3 inches passed."

Kisara frowned and took Yugi's long blonde hair, placing the scissors at the right spot before letting the scissors do their job.

Yugi felt her hair being cut and falling down her back to the tiled floor. 'My head feels a lot lighter.' She breathed.

"There. That should do it." Kisara stepped back and smiled at her work.

"Thanks."

"Let's get your shower taken care of!" The woman helped her step in the shower. "Ready for the water?" She giggled as Yugi nodded and felt cold water hit her back before relaxing. "Do you want to be alone for awhile?"

"Please? I just want time to myself."

Kisara left the bathroom and let the girl be alone. She headed downstairs and saw the guys looking at her. "What?"

"How is she?" Atem stood up.

"She said it feels like something is missing. Like some part of her is waiting for that something. I think I know what it is but I'm not sure."
"What do you think it is?" Seto asked just a bit curious.

"I heard her say she has friends now... I think what she's been missing all her life is... Love." Kisara walked back up the stairs to wait for Yugi.

'Love.' Atem thought with a broken heart. 'No one loved her? Not even her family? Has she really been all alone her whole life?' He started walking towards the stairs but was stopped by Joey.

"Let her adjust. She's been homeless since she was 13 plus the only thing she knows is hatred and betrayal." Joey stared into Atem's eyes sadly.

"What was she like in high school?" Atem asked.

"She was more of loner unlike that damn sister of hers. But she always laughed and smiled and joked around whenever she and I hung out for awhile. Her sister hated her even though she was popular and beautiful. In my defense, I'd say Yugi was way more beautiful than her plus she got amazing grades and even helped me study when I got confused. Sure I was a year older but I knew nearly everything about most of the kids. Like Tea for example. She was the biggest bitch in the school and she was snobby and bragged to everybody that she was dating you. I don't know what you saw in her but you never really paid attention to anybody."

"I'm gonna have to agree with Wheeler on that. You were always so out of it in class I had to get your assignments for you." Seto agreed and stood from the couch. "I'd say she was just using you but maybe she loved you at first until after you proposed."

Atem didn't really know what to think of his fiancé. 'What's Tea's relationship with Yugi? They're related somehow.' "I guess I have no choice. I need to -."

Atem was cut short when he heard Kisara running down the stairs. "We have a problem." She said with worry in her voice.

"What is it?" Joey slightly demanded.

"She locked herself in the bathroom and when I tried getting her to talk so she would open the door, I heard something break. I'm really scared for her."

Yugi had shut herself in the bathroom after standing in the water and thinking about Atem. 'Why am I thinking about a guy I just met? He's a good man but if he keeps helping me, I'm afraid I might love him. And I can't do that!' She cried as the cold water washed away the dirt from her body and oil from her washed hair.
She turned the water off and got out, locking the door in the process. 'I just want to be alone. I want to go back outside and die in the cold.' But she was trapped. She looked at herself again in the mirror and saw only ugliness. Ignoring Kisara, she grabbed the blow dryer from the side of the sink and smashed the mirror. Realizing what she did, she fell to her knees in torment and despair.

The boys rushed upstairs quickly and knocked on the door only to hear crying. "C'mon. Open the door. Please?" Atem pleaded. Hearing the door unlock, he went to grab the doorknob but the door was swung halfway open.
They just stared at each other until Yugi demanded she talk to Joey.

"What's wrong?" He asked after the door was shut and locked again. He avoided looking at her. He didn't want to make the situation worse than it already was.

"I'm so scared." She whispered. "I keep thinking about him." She grabbed a towel from the rack so Joey would look at her.

"Who?"

"Atem." She hugged her knees. "I don't even know why. It hurts just thinking about him. It isn't right."

Joey turned his head to look at her in surprise. 'She met him a few hours ago and yet she keeps thinking about him?' "Where does it hurt?" He whispered back.
"My chest."
'I think she's already fallen for him. But I don't know anything about love.' "I'll send Kisara in. Okay? She might be able to help you more than me." He turned to the door after receiving a nod.

Waiting patiently, the two boys finally watched as Joey came out. "What's wrong?" Atem stepped forward. But Joey only shook his head and whispered to send Kisara in.

"Why?" Seto asked.

"Let's just have Kisara help her out with her problem. It's already painful enough for both me and Yugi to talk about. I never experienced it but I think Yugi's fallen hard." He watched the white haired girl step into the bathroom and lock the door behind her. Joey sighed and walked back downstairs leaving only Atem and Seto to wait again.

"What should I do about this pain?" Yugi whispered.

Kisara felt upset. "I think I know what's wrong."

Yugi stared at her new friend. "What's wrong with me?" She begged.

The other woman paused, trying to be careful on how to word it. 'I have to take it slow with her.' She took a deep breath and said "I've felt that same pain before. Seto was with another girl when I met him. My chest ached. But I knew I wouldn't have a chance with him if he stayed with that girl so I could only watch from the sidelines. However, when Seto noticed I was looking at him," she handed Yugi the sweatpants and hoodie she'd taken from Atem. "He would always smirk and then turn away. It hurt even more when I found out she broke his heart. I tried helping him by being there for him and it just didn't seem to help at all until..." Kisara thought back to the memory. "He surprisingly kissed me." She looked over at Yugi.

"I've heard things like that. Your heart hurts just thinking about him while he's with someone else. You want to help him anyway you can when he's hurt or upset." Yugi could feel the tears again. "Does that mean... I love him?" She was filled with fear and stood, her legs no longer wobbly.

Kisara tried calming her down but she wasn't listening. "Please! Just relax!"

Yugi though couldn't relax. 'I have to leave! I can't let him know how I feel!' She slammed the door open and told Atem 'thank you' before looking back at Kisara. "I'm sorry but I can't let it happen!" She ran passed the boys and down the stairs to the front door. 'If I stay, I'm sure I'll get hurt.' She opened the door when she heard Atem calling her name. 'Don't look back! Don't look back! Do -!' She could only take one step out the door before being pulled back and pushed against the white wall.

"I told you earlier you were staying here. I can't let you go out there again." Atem stared with concern at Yugi who only shut her eyes so she didn't have to look at him.

"I can't stay here!" The tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Why?" He asked as he wiped her tears, causing her to snap her violet eyes open and stare at him.

"I'll just be a burden and I don't want to get hurt!" She cried as she continued to stare into his worried and violet eyes.

He sighed before saying he wouldn't hurt her. "Besides, you're still not well enough to leave the house." It may have been true about both but all in all, he didn't want her to leave. "And...if you leave... What will I do?"
'Is he joking around right now?' Yugi forced herself to look away. "Stop playing. It's not funny." She clenched her fists tightly, wanting to get away.

Atem was getting annoyed with her and he'd only known her a few hours. "I don't play around when it comes to serious situations. So either you go back upstairs and dry your hair or you tell me the real reason you're trying to leave."

Yugi definitely wasn't gonna tell Atem why she wanted to leave so badly or say he had Akane to talk to. She gave up and trudged back up the bathroom. 'Why did he have to save me? Now I feel as if I'm a captive or something. Plus I'll have to see his face everyday.' She didn't know if she would be able to handle it but she was going to try.

Atem watched her with soft eyes before noticing his cousin beside him. "What do you want?"

Seto smirked as he replied. "I want nothing. I just followed you so I could watch happened between you two."

"Huh?"

"Are you that stupid?"

"No. I just need to know why she was planning on leaving. It doesn't make sense."

"It does make sense. She was leaving because of her forming feelings she was starting to have for you. Joey and Kisara didn't need to tell me that. I noticed the look in her eyes when she ran passed you." Seto looked over at Atem to see him staring at the entrance to his room.

"But we just met..."

"Ever hear of love at first sight? I'd say she's a keeper for annoying you. It's adorable when you get annoyed in front of Yugi." Seto laughed hysterically.

'What kind of feelings is she having towards me?' Atem ignored his cousin and continued thinking about Yugi. 'She is a handful but it's kind of cute to see her that way...not the tears though. I am definitely gonna have to break it off with Tea and soon even if she decides to pretend we are still together.' He sighed and retrieved his phone from the coffee table. 'Let's see what will happen if I text her saying I want to break up.' He typed his 5 word message and sent it. He chuckled as he read Tea's response not even a minute after.
'Excuse me? I know where you live you bastard! I will find you and kill you! You told me we would always be together!'
'Back in high school. But I might just have found someone who actually loves me and doesn't lie about it.'
'Who is she? Tell me her name now!'
'I don't have to. You're not the boss of me.' He got no reply back and could tell something evil was coming his way. 'I'm just going to wait and see what she's going to do.'

Kisara ran her hands through Yugi's hair as she dried it. The girl hadn't said a word when she got back up and seemed lost in thought. "Yugi?"

Yugi looked up a bit agitated. "He only gave two options: either tell him why I was actually trying to go or come back up to dry my hair!"

Kisara blew a strand of white hair from her face before speaking. "Atem isn't usually like that and it's strange to see him like this."

"Really?"

Kisara nodded. "Yeah. It's weird. And when I saw him holding you, I noticed he had never held Tea like that."

Well that's chapter one. It's my first Yugioh fanfic and I know there's not a lot of description. It took me awhile to come up with this but I don't mind if you enjoyed it or not. I just like getting my ideas out before I forget them.