Beware of plot bunnies. Debating whether or not it should be multi-chap... decisions, decisions... anyway! Based during Season 0-ish. ... ish. Anyway-way, short summary:

Yuugi had always been pure and loving, a kind equal soul to everyone. But like those silent types, they hold in secrets and feelings that may danger themselves, or those around them. What if Yuugi sold himself to the Shadow Realm? Where no one hurts you, where no one will ever, ever make you feel that way again..?

Eh. Been a WHILE since I even touched my account. I just haven't had time... I'll probably be writing some new stories on YGO and Rune Factory, POOSSSIIBBLLLY SNK. (Snk is amazing ok *o* -whispers thankyoudesi-) They're my new babieessss. x3 -Gabby


-XxX-

The assorted collaboration of shoes against pavement and the melodious chimes of the late afternoon bell gave both the feeling of gratitude and freedom to the students of Domino Academy High School. And for Yuugi Mutou, it filled him with fear. Fear of the threats that awaited him on his way home. Honda and Jounouchi, having been caught in a hallway sweep, had detention, and Anzu had a doctors appointment for a physical; she decided to join the afterschool program for dance this spring, and she needed it. Yuugi somehow felt very unaccomplished compared to his friends; his puzzle proving him wrong on one occasion, and from this, said object received a sincere smile.

"I guess it's me and you, today." Not that Yuugi hadn't mind carrying a gold chunk of weight to be his company, at least he wouldn't be denied talking time. If only Yuugi knew of the truth behind the Millenium Puzzle, what it meant, why that myth his Grandpa said about those who tried to solve it were dying for unknown reasons. It hadn't occured to him as all the other have experienced. Never had he actually noticed the subtle warmth that lay pressed to his chest, or upper stomach, (seeing as he is merely 4 feet 6½ inches- a little taller than a couple of months back, but still short,) Yuugi always felt it was his own warmth.

On this particular day, he strode bravely, showing to others that with or without friends, he was still brimming with courage. Outwardly, maybe. Internally, he was eying everyone and everything that past, watching carefully for anything that could perhaps cause harm; through his bangs that hung against his face he could see everyone else, but they couldn't see his main focus. Yuugi couldn't help his abrassiveness to the outer world, having kept to his quiet, shy self, all along the duration of completing the mystical object that now bounced softly against his chest. A gust of wind that swept across the street sent the wavy, golden locks of hair from his face backwards so now he faced the world as an open book. He analyzed store clerks on the street, passer-bys. None looked as worried as Yuugi had. Being worried now, however, would never compare to the anxiety of his eight-year long accomplishment, four days ago.

He could still remember the exhilirating breaths took as he reached for the final piece, what he learned a while after, to be the eye of Wdjat, that wasn't there. His heart had skipped beats and his palms dripped with sweat. Nothing will compare to the fact that Ushio suddenly feared him after being released from Domino Hospital the next night, Yuugi didn't know how to react promptly to the sudden cowardice of Ushio, but he took it with a pinch of salt.

'It's funny how during that time not once do I remember the day before... Maybe they're dreams come true..!' Yuugi smiled pensively, only to realize he had walked down the wrong street, and he was by the shopping district.

Yuugi had been here a few times, when he was much younger and with his Mother, but now everything looked different. Sadly, the thing is, he only knows the way back home from here by bus. With not a single yen to his name, (he hadn't carried any money with him after Ushio's self-implemented body guard charges), he became nervous and his stomach turned. Yuugi continued to walk however, not stopping to gawk and think in a crowd- that being too easy a target for theives and quick snatches; he decided he'd look for that fountain and rest there for a minute to collect his thoughts in peace. (Hopefully.)

There was a light breeze that kissed all along across the bustling late afternoon rush hour of Domino Downtown. Though there was so much noise and conversations that people, unsuspecting of themselves eavesdropped in on, Yuugi found it comforting.

"Hello! How are you..?"

"Are you here? I don't see you!"

"I'm buying it!"

Yuugi watched the crowd go past him as he sat on the rim of the fountain from his youth, to think. He placed his normal blue bookbag in front of him to hide the puzzle and he slouched, staring at his white and gray leathered shoes that hung a half foot away from the floor. He grimaced as his mind reeled, and he remembered he could have just turned around, just walked back. But he kept going, trying to keep up with the flow, but there was none. There wasn't much that Yuugi could keep up with, however, his grades were average, and he had to struggle to keep them up. Perhaps now with the completion of his puzzle four days ago, he could focus on his studies and dreams. Mostly his studies, though.

'I should just walk back and save myself the trouble... I don't belong in a shopping district anyway,' He looked around and slung his bookbag back on his shoulders after he hopped off the fountain to head back the way he came. He hopes the puzzle doesn't attract too much attention down here- muggings around late afternoon were so often, most would just shrug it off. Since they were in the shopping district, they'd just replace it. Or buy something better. 'Oh, none of this would've happened if I was with someone! Or.. Paid attention!'

Yuugi is yanked from his thoughts at the sudden can that pelted his foot. A crushed, twisted can of coca-cola, with soda at the mouth and rim of the can- it must've just been finished. He kicked it away softly as he felt a lump as big as a rock drop in his gut, his eyes glued to the floor. Behind him, there was a whistle, and not a wolf-whistle, more like a sharp, clean attention-grabbing one; Yuugi figured someone saw him kick that can to make that alerting sound. But he didn't drop it, nor is it considered littering if it isn't his, so he continued on with that gut-wrenching feeling.

"It wasn't me, and its just a stray can. Maybe someone missed the trash can.. and someone else passed it around with their feet and.. it landed by me." He felt slightly calmer as he whispered this to his puzzle, but something was insinuating fear, urging him forward with his legs. He felt out of control as he seemed to black out, but he fought against it. He shouldn't be scared, couldn't be. He had felt this heaviness once before, with the bodyguard Ushio incident, and he had never wanted to feel that way again, not since after he couldn't even remember what had happened two hours prior him fainting. Never again.

He even resorted to singing quietly, to get his mind off of everything and that heaviness. With each step, he felt like he was being dragged and he faltered. With every note, he felt colder and slower. By the end of the verse, he stuttered in his walk and managed to trip, landing on his puzzle slightly; hadn't he rolled onto his back, he surely would've been impaled one corner or another. He stared at the sky and frowned when he saw a couple loom over him and ask what was wrong. He was happy someone cared and helped him up, but he was even happier that the heavy disturbance was gone.

He turned the corner from the long shopping district block after thanking the couple again, and turned back onto city blocks, towards his Grandpa's game shop. Yuugi had accumulated two skids on his left knee, slight puncture marks on his chest and a tear in his jacket sleeve, all because of that fall. This has been the most eventful afternoon of Yuugi's life.

For now.

-XxX-


IDK. I FELT I DRAGGED IT THROUGH HTE DIRT. -CRIES- Um... Yeah, this will be /multichapter for sure/. I have the plot written out, but this was... more for introduction maybe. Mehhhh... bluh. ; w;