hello. i'm new at this, so i hope that you guys are nice...okay. this is my first story that i've actually turned in, so any suggestions, comments–all are welcomed.

yuugi's friends will not be making any appearances in this, because it is my personal belief that they really screw up the mood of a lot of angst yuugi/yami stories, and i really don't want to risk it (although i am still debating whether i should have ryou and bakura showing up later on in the story.). so sorry.

disclaimer: i hardly own anything in this story. The plot is mine...yay.

warnings: abuse...yeah. that's it, i suppose...

Forgotten Requiem

Reminiscence

As the stretching fingertips of dawn's light filtered through the closed blinds, a soft moan shattered the silence of the tranquil rhythm of intertwined breathing. Through the darkness of the early twilight, in the corner of the small room lay two boys, resting in utter peace upon their tiny bed. Rising from the shelter of the other's chest, the littler of the two wearily gazed up at the other, his amethyst eyes kindling a small flicker of innocent happiness as one of the arms that was wrapped around his waist began to stroke his hair. A tiny smile came to his lips as he breathed a sigh of content.

"Yami, I'd better be getting up," he mumbled softly.

Sudden release about his hips. Yawning lightly, the boy slid to his feet, stretching out his numb limbs. Yami sat up, leaning back against the wall and watching with keen interest, eyes softening as he observed the delicate curves that shaped the boy's body. Showing the smallest hint of a smile, Yami noticed how the small boy snatched up a pair of sweat pants, but left his chest exposed as he trudged wearily back to his darker half. Oh, how Yami loved when he did that. Meeting the child with open arms, Yami pulled him into his lap, his smile widening as the little one snuggled against his chest affectionately.

"I could stay like this forever."

"As could I, Aibou."

Of course, this meant nothing to his petite hikari–at least, not in the ways that Yami had meant. It was innocent love to Yuugi; something to share with a friend. A friend...Yami smiled sadly to himself, burying his cheek into the little one's mess of hair. How it tortured his mind to hold him so close with such constricting limits. He longed to free his every desire; to indulge himself into the last detail of each curve and opening; to explore and divulge the body to no extent–but realization grounds in. Reject. Hate. Disgust. His soul would shatter should even a sign os such terrible things flickered in the eyes of his light. No–this was the type of treasure that must be admired from afar.

"You okay, Yami? You look a little down."

Silence.

"Yuugi! Yami! Breakfast is ready!"

Yuugi glanced up at his yami and let out a soft cry in surprise as the double lifted him to his shoulders, striding out the door with small grin as the halls rang with Yuugi's delighted laughter. Yami had always loved to make his light happy, which was relatively easy if you approached it the right way. Simply sending a gentle smile gave Yuugi a joy that Yami could never apprehend. As he advanced to the bottom of the stairway, he caught something that struck his curiosity, and fell silent as he strained to hear a phone conversation from the kitchen.

"...no. No, I am his legal guardian right now, and it will stay that way...Is that a fact? I suggest you get off the phone right now before I call the police. Good day."

"Who was that, Grandpa?" A stocky, elderly man looked up, smiling at the two as Yami set Yuugi down gently on a kitchen stool.

"No one important, Yuugi," he said quietly, moving to the stove and dishing up a few plates. Of course Yuugi wasn't all too sure with his grandfather's tone, but decided not to pry. Instead, he seized his dish and began to work on his scrambled eggs.

"Thank you, but no, Sugoroku, I am fine," insisted Yami as the old man gestured to a plate. Instead, his gaze fell unto Yuugi, watching the boy eat his meal, oblivious to Yami's stare.

"Yami, after breakfast, may I have a word?" Shaken back to reality, Yami nodded to the elderly man, his eyes involuntarily drifting back to Yuugi.

"Sugoroku?"

Yami glanced quickly around his surroundings as he strode into the room, examining the disarray of the small bedroom. He had always imagined his light's grandfather to take after Yuugi and have a neat and tidy personality, but the chamber was far from well-kept. The room was dimly lit with papers and clothing strewn about the room, several pictures either laying face down or broken upon the dresser, and the sheets and comforter to the bed looked to have been torn and thrown against the walls.

"Oh, I am sorry," Yami gasped as he bumped into Sugoroku. Dull, violet orbs slowly closed as a smile stole the elderly man's lips.

"Yami, you have taught my Yuugi quite a few things over the past few years, no?" he said quietly. Yami blinked several times, nodding skeptically. "You've taught him to be brave; how to take care of himself. I am grateful." He then looked up at Yami, his expression indecipherable as he took a step forward.

"Did you know that a few years ago he was always depressed; that he allowed the bullies at school to harass him to escape inner pain?"

"I presume we are still speaking of Yuugi," Yami said quietly, trying not to look into those numb eyes. "Tell me, where is this discussion leading?"

"Take care of him." Silence befell the two.

"Wh-what?" Yami managed to breathe, fear spreading like fire.

"No need to get upset; nothing's going to happen to me–at least not yet..." The voice grew frail and wavering as he spoke on, pausing to regain his composure. "You love him, Yami." The pharaoh looked away.

"How...when did you guess?"

"For a while now. Your eyes never leave him."

Yami said nothing, a deep flush creeping across his face.

"I can't control what Yuugi may do when he finds out, but please, Yami, you must always watch over him."

"Sugoroku, you said that I have taught him not to depend on me–I believe you are hiding something from me."

"You don't understand! This person–he's capable of breaking Yuugi's will by a glance–he would do any thing to capture the boy. There are many things you do not know about in Yuugi's life–I'd prefer to keep it that way–but I'm afraid all too soon...please, Yami! If not for me, for him! Protect him..."

Sugoroku fell to his knees, staring at his hands with a pained wince as he flexed his fingers slightly.

"Y-you may leave."

"May I come in?"

/Yeah./

As he stepped inside the doorway, Yami felt a smile come across his lips, his eyes brightening slightly. Yuugi was lounging sideways across the bed, his head hanging upside down off the edge, playful laughter ringing throughout the room as Yami took a seat next to him. As he gazed down unto the boy beside him, Yami found the child to be more desirable now than ever. He delicately massaged Yuugi's torso, his breath hitching slightly as the boy leaned into the touch with a groan.

"Something wrong, Yami?" Yuugi asked, propping himself up on his elbows. "Want me to turn off the heater?"

Yami struggled to control his voice, trying to present himself as placid as possible. "N-no, Aibou. Why?"

"Well, you're sweating a little, and you look kind of–er–hot." Yami looked down, his face utterly burning. Yuugi tilted his head in anxious confusion. "I'm turning it off." He made a motion to get to his feet but Yami held out a hand and quickly strode to the vent.

"I w-will shut it off," he said hurriedly, hoping some cool air would clear his mind as he switched on the air conditioner.

Yuugi frowned slightly, sighing. "Today's supposed to be the first snowfall, Yami."

"Yes."

"I hate the snow."

"I know."

"Can we just stay inside today?"

"Whatever pleases you, Aibou."

"...you...sure...?"

"Of course."

As he lowered himself lightly down unto the bed, Yami realized just how difficult each day was becoming. He began to notice how frightened he felt whenever he was around Yuugi; how every breath and motion must be done in utmost perfection. At night, he would look at the underweight figure and begin to weep, drawing the boy closer as he sang gently. But reality slaps him straight. Yuugi was not his, nor will he ever be.

"If you don't mind, I was hoping we could just–you know–lay around."

Yami swallowed hard. "If you do not mind, then I do not."

"Are you okay, Yami?"

"Yes."

Yami smiled, a nervous, quaking laugh escaping him, but Yuugi payed no mind. As the two lay, he noticed how the child would watch him closely, his dazzling amethyst orbs fixed on his own. A flare flickered to life, a spark of innocent delight eliciting as Yami slowly came forth. Slipping his arms around Yuugi's delicate form, he held him close, closing his eyes–he felt complete. He felt a slight squirm, and drew back instantly in fear, but the boy merely turned to nestle against his chest. Yami sighed, lowering arm around the unclad torso.

"You're shaking...and so tense..."

"Think nothing of it, Aibou," Yami whispered, reaching out for the comforter and drawing it over the both of them. Yuugi smiled softly, snuggling against the build.

"I hope it doesn't get too cold," Yuugi yawned, "or I'll have to use you as another blanket."

The assuring flare of the sun's protection slowly began to give way to a sea of murky clouds, a blanket of darkness devouring the two. As if in fear of the sudden insecurities of the approaching shadows, Yuugi moaned, driving his face deeper into Yami. Stroking the boy's hair, Yami put his lips to Yuugi's forehead, whispering smothered words of comfort. His eyes circled the room, his own apprehension slowly surfacing inside his mind. Sugoroku's warning had not yet ceased to torment his mind. His fear of losing Yuugi–the one weakness that would surely be his downfall someday–would deny him the right to rest for some time, he'd wager. Even as he lay, dazed between sleep and wake, Sugoroku's words echoed within.

"Take care of him...Please, Yami, you must always watch over him...If not for me, for him..."

"I wish things can last the way they are forever," Yuugi mumbled quietly.

Yami gently slid his hand down Yuugi's side, offering him comfort. "Who is to say they can not?"

Yuugi laughed gently, though it was slightly bitter and hollow. "Nothing lasts forever, Yami."

"Do not say that," Yami whispered, unaware of the tears the child began to shed. "Please...I can not have you speaking like that...not now..."

"Why not? It's true."

"Because I–" Yami stopped himself short; just in time. He chewed nervously on his lower lip as an awkward silence consumed the room.

"Because...?"

"Because I...am very confused right now. So many things that I do not understand...I just do not understand things right now."

"...I'm sorry."

"So...so am I."

Yami shifted over a bit, delicately lifting the boy with a gentle smile as he stretched the small body atop his own. His mind whirled in fear as Yuugi looked questioningly at him, every ounce of will and strength to suppress the trembling of anticipation that shook him within. Surprisingly enough, Yuugi didn't resist the position on top of the pharaoh's torso. Instead, he gazed into the darker half's eyes; searching, hoping...

"Thank you."

A gentle smile graced Yami's lips as the little one settled himself down on the yami's build, releasing a small, quivering sigh of relief. Warmth circularized throughout his insides as hot breath bathed over his breast, a quivering hand passing through the hikari's hair. A groan sounded and Yami's breath caught, squirming slightly beneath the tantalizing warmth of his light's bare flesh upon his. As Yuugi slowly left reality, Yami was trapped in a state of sorrow and overwhelming joy, a single tear slipping pas his realization as he closed his own eyes.

"Rest easy, Aibou. I will find out what is going on, and I will stop it. I will not lose my light again."

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"Stop resisting!"

Yuugi was hurled against the wall with a sickening snap, a choked cry wrenching its way past the lump in his throat before he slumped forward, a pool of blood developing around his bare form. He suddenly felt himself being suspended in the air by the neck, the grip tightening each time a smothered breath made its way past his lips. He struggled weakly against the clutch to no avail, until he finally gave in to the searing painful sensations flowing through his body; his blood. Tears of shame and defeat trickled down his bloodied face as he felt groping fingers trail down his body.

The revolting taste of bile filled his mouth as he felt the repulsive swirl of a tongue upon the ridge of his ear; a nibble here and there along his neck. He drew a shuddered breath, shutting his eyes firmly as a hushed, venomous chortle lingered in the air. A tremble racked his figure as a rough brush ran along his backside, a mute plead mouthed across his lips.

"P-please..." Yuugi managed to whisper, although he was quickly silence as his lips were thrust onto another. He whimpered weakly, the abrupt taste of blood pouring into his mouth as his lower lip was torn open.

'Please...please stop...'

"You still aren't being a good boy, are you?" He hadn't even noticed that the constriction around his throat was released.

'Make it stop...someone...anyone...'

The sickening smell of flesh being torn into lingering in air; the taste of blood; the pain that surged through every vein–it was all too much for the little one to handle. He cried out a long, mangled scream. Blood splattered across the wooden floor as another fierce blow was dealt to the boy's stomach, a pained breath escaping the child's already damaged lungs. Squinting through the tears, Yuugi could just make out the dim outline of a smile.

'Too much...too much blood...'

"You look so beautiful when you're in pain..."

'Stop...'

"It's a shame circumstances couldn't have been different..."

'No...'

"You might actually have enjoyed it..."

'Never...'

"Maybe I'll have to convince you..."

In the dim light, Yuugi could make out the callous shimmer of cold steel. His eyes widened, fear etched all over his face as he stared on in disbelief. He might die tonight. A spray of blood covered the ground, a scream echoed from the room, and the lively glimmer within Yuugi's eyes disappeared.

'Anyone...please...help...'

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"Aibou? Aibou!"

Yuugi threw himself upright, trembling violently in a pool of cold sweat, the subtle tinge of blood biting the back of his tongue. Tears flowed freely down his jaw-line, mixing painfully with the shredded flesh that had been ripped into with his own nails, the crimson liquid dripping into his palm as he stared at his quivering hands. His eyes suddenly clenched shut, the dream playing over in his mind, His breath coming in great gasps as his hands moved instinctively onto his stomach. He suddenly shook his head as if in denial, and pulled the covers over his head.

Taken aback by these actions, Yami indecisively slid beneath the comforter to join his light. A small gasp escaped his lips as gazed into the boy's eyes; the dazzling glint of innocent felicity had vanished, leaving his eyes with an inert haze of emptiness and lost emotions. He cringed as he looked on at the rest of Yuugi's face, reaching out to touch the tattered flesh upon his cheek, but drew back instantly as a tiny whimper sounded. He gazed in shock at the boy, a hint of hurt sparking into his crimson eyes.

"Aibou?" Yuugi raised his eyes to meet Yami's, though the amethyst orbs were unseeing as tears slowly flowed into the deep wounds about his face. Yuugi winced, giving a shuddering gasp as the haze that veiled his eyes lifted, throwing himself into Yami's arms. Rocking the small hikari, Yami smiled–confused, but happy none the less. "What happened, Aibou?"

"It was...just...had a dream...that's all..."

"Your stomach...are you hurt?"

"Really, Yami, it's nothing...I'm fine."

"May I...may I see?"

Yuugi drew back somewhat, avoiding eye contact.

/Please, Aibou./

/...Yami.../

/Please./

Releasing the clutch upon his stomach, Yuugi gritted his teeth, turning away as Yami examined the flesh. A small sound shattered the moment's silence–a tiny sound uttered in disbelief. Fine scars and several aged bruises marked the delicate skin. They were old wounds, hardly noticeable one might say, but Yami cursed himself as he ran his fingers over the marred flesh. Yuugi flinched slightly, his body instinctively recoiling as Yami growled inaudibly beneath his breath.

"How did you get these, Aibou?" The gentle voice startled him into looking up into Yami's eyes, a soft gasp taking him as he looked into the crimson orbs. The tone did not reflect the expression–he had never seen such rage in his yami. As the child lay, silent, the tone began to change. "Well? Who did this to you? When did it happen?"

"I–it was–" Yami took hold of his shoulders, the grip tightening as several tears escaped Yuugi, a soft snap sounding with slight pressure to the bones. "S-stop it, Yami, you're hurting–" Looking up with difficulty, Yuugi was shocked to see blood trickling down Yami's lip from where he was biting down into it, his chest heaving with sobs.

The vise was released. Yuugi let out a gasp, flinging himself away from his darker half, his head slamming against the wall harshly in his hurry. He closed his eyes, allowing his tears to come freely as he felt strong arms lifting him, resting his head upon the connecting joint of the neck and shoulder blade. Yami choked, brushing his fingertips along the lump upon Yuugi's head, his eyes snapping shut at the crimson tinge staining the flesh. He tried to control his trembling, but he found efforts were futile.

A swirl of fury and fear captured Yami in an uproar from within as he wept silently. Hasn't it been his duty to watch over Yuugi? He was his guardian, was he not? How could he have missed those ugly scars (In his opinion.)? 'Well, Yuugi was relatively happy when I had first met him. There was no indication that would have led to the wounds upon him, despite the bullies. Or...or perhaps is it...that he had escaped from those times?' Sorrow bit at the back of his mind as he reflected over his irrational judgement, stroking his hikari's bruising shoulder with new tears, cringing as the sounds of anguished groans grew more overt in his mind.

"I-I am so sorry, Aibou..." Yami whispered, his arms wrapping round Yuugi's waist. "I am...very...very confused. Even so, what I have done was out of line; I do not know what came over me."

/I-it's my past, Yami...it's catching up to me...it's found me.../

/What?/

/The scars...the past...why is it coming back now?/

Yami could feel the link become strained with emotions of fear and disarray, the image of a smile flashing through his mind; the glint of a knife caught in the light. Slowly, Yami rocked the boy, running his fingers along his fine hair.

/Calm down, Aibou–quiet your mind.../

Silence.

/Now, Aibou, who gave you those injuries?/

/...bullies.../

/Do not take me for a fool, my light. Those wounds have a much deeper impact on you than school bullies, I sense it./

/...would you stop analyzing me? I–j-just please, stop it./

/...I only want to help./

"...don't make me say it, Yami..."

/I would never make you say anything, Aibou. I am asking you to tell me, not ordering. I-I am only doing this to...to make sure everything is alright./

"I know...I know."

/...come...you are trembling now.../

Turning round, Yuugi nudged closer into Yami's arms, a sense of need driving him against the yami's breast as the tears came amply and bittersweet. He let out a hoarse cough as he felt Yami stifle a sob, the darker half nestling his face into the boy's unruly hair, fingers tracing patterns along the flesh. Neither could tell whether it was sorrow or appreciation that moved them to tears. Indeed, it seemed things would not last the way they were forever, but they had each other now–and nothing would draw them apart...not until the time came.

i hope you guys enjoyed it. no, it's not over, in case some of you are wondering. i have a feeling i gave it a kind of 'the end' kind of ending. erm–that didn't come out right...anyway, please review!