Chapter Two

Yugi awoke and looked at the clock and saw that it was almost two in the morning. Instead of rolling over and going back to sleep he decided he would get up and go crawl in bed with his brother. He was excited to have Yami back home and hoped that everything could be like it was before he left.

He walked out the door and found the door to Yami's room was wide open. He looked inside and found the covers messed up, but the room was empty. He turned and quietly made his way down stairs to see if Yami was in the living room.

Once he reached the bottom he saw that the TV was on, but there was no sign of his brother. He walked around the couch and saw Yami laying there watching something about Ancient Egypt on the History Channel. He slowly sat down on the couch by Yami's feet.

Yami looked over and offered him a small smile as he sat up to let Yugi get more comfortable. "Why are you not in bed aibou?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Yugi smiled as he looked at his brother.

Yami's smile grew a little bigger as he leaned over and placed an arm around Yugi and pulled him closer. Yugi leaned into his brother looking up and into crimson eyes. They were nothing like his wide innocent amethyst eyes; they were angled, outlined with kohl, a look he had picked up in Egypt and held a deep darkness to them.

"I couldn't sleep. It seems not to come easy for me these days." Yami said as he looked down at his brother.

"Why?" Yugi asked wondering what could cause such a problem.

"It started in Egypt…I guess with studying and working late that my body just seems to be accustomed to late nights." Yami knew it was a lie, but didn't want to tell his brother the real reason for his insomnia.

"I think we may have some sleeping pills in the bathroom medicine cabinet if you want some." Yugi said as he looked and seemed for the first time to notice his brothers' eyes.

They had dark circles under them and seemed to hold a great sadness within their depths. His eyes seemed to be sunken and he looked as though he had been sick for a really long time. He was skinny, well he had always been lanky but this was an unhealthy look even for him.

"I am fine Yugi. I have a prescription of sleeping pills in my bag and I took one about half an hour ago so it should be kicking in any time now." Yami smiled.

"Oh okay. Well it is good to have you back. I will see you tomorrow…err…actually later today." Yugi smiled as he rubbed the back of his head.

Yami laughed as he pulled Yugi closer to him and into a tight embrace. He kissed Yugi on the forehead and ruffled his hair. Yugi gave Yami a kiss on the cheek and squeezed him as hard as he could.

"Easy…I am not as strong as I used to be, or young either." Yami chuckled.

"You're the strongest person I know." Yugi smiled as he stepped back and gave his brother a quick wave before running back upstairs.

Yami shook his head and frowned when Yugi was out of sight. "No Yugi I am not as strong as you may think."

Yugi had always been so proud of him and had always looked up to him. What would he do if Yugi ever found out what had happened to him in Egypt and that his brother was not as innocent as he thought? How could he tell Yugi he was addicted to so many things that could end up killing him if he took the wrong amount, which he had thought of doing so many times.

Yami sighed as he stood and walked into the kitchen. He opened one of the cabinets and found Sugoroku's stash of exotic wines and whiskeys. He pulled out a bottle of scotch and saw that it had never been opened. He was too young to drink by three years, but that never stopped him before. He sat it on the counter as he reached for a glass. Sugoroku didn't drink any more and these were all of the different alcohols that he had collected in various parts of the world.

He poured some in the glass and walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed some ice out of the freezer. He couldn't drink alcohol warm, but while in Egypt sometimes he had no choice. He took a long sip and let out a sigh as he felt the liquid burn its way down his throat.

Alcohol along with many of the prescriptions he had was his only addictions, but they were bad ones. No that was a lie he did have one more which he needed right then at that moment. With his half full glass in hand he grabbed his bag, the bottle of scotch and walked outside into the cool night air. He sat the fifth of scotch down and began to ruffle around in his bag until he found what he was looking for, a pack of cigarettes. He pulled one out and pulled the lighter from his pocket. He lit it and inhaled as deep as he could and closed his eyes. It's a wonder no one had smelt it on him and if they did he was old enough to do it. Of course Yugi would worry.

Yami leaned up against the house and slid to sit on cement. He had so many demons to hide and the alcohol or drugs could no longer help him get away from them. He could feel the darkness consuming him and wished that it would swallow him and just let everything end.

He couldn't though Yugi would be crushed by his death and that alone was the only thing stopping him. That was the reason he decided to leave Egypt and come back to Domino. Yugi was the reason that he hadn't completely shut down and let everything end by his hand. He was given every opportunity to end it all, but Yugi's sad pleading amethyst eyes came to mind. He could never continue with what he had wanted to do and all because of Yugi. His little brother was his only reason to live for he had nothing else.

Tears fell from his eyes as he thought of everything life had handed him and all within a year's time. He had learned life and fate could be hard and sometimes it seemed easier to end it all than live with the pain. He cried for Yugi and for himself. He knew that nothing would be the same; he just hoped Yugi wouldn't realize this.

After many glasses of scotch and half a pack of cigarettes later Yami finally stood, placed the half empty bottle of liquor and cigarettes in his bag and walked inside. He looked at the clock and noticed it was already five in the morning. He yawned as he walked upstairs and into his room letting the bag hit the floor beside his bed. He had taken another sleeping pill and mixed with alcohol it was causing him to see double and feel lethargic. He flopped down in bed and soon passed out.


It was now noon and Yami came walking down the stairs slowly as he looked around to see where Yugi and grandpa were. He saw that the TV was on, but no one was in the living room. He walked into the kitchen and made some coffee. Once it was brewed he poured himself a cup and stepped out side to have a cigarette. At this point he didn't care who saw him well except for Sugoroku and Yugi.

He shouldn't the way his lungs felt after smoking half a pack last night and so quickly, but he needed one. After lighting it he took a sip of coffee and looked around. He noticed Sugoroku's car was gone and wondered where he and Yugi could be. He continued to smoke his cigarette and drink his coffee as he watched for Sugoroku's car so he could get rid of his cigarette before they saw it.

Once he was finished he walked back inside and sat down at the table to finish his coffee. He noticed that his hands were shaking worse than normal as he put the cup to his lips. He would take his medicine as soon as he felt like standing up and walking back up to his room, which wasn't going to happen any time soon.

He turned around when he heard the door open revealing a smiling Yugi. "Hey Yami about time you woke up!"

"Hello Yugi." Yami smiled.

"Well Yami you are now officially enrolled in Domino High." Sugoroku said as he walked in the door with a paper bag full of groceries.

"Yeah that is where we were this morning." Yugi said as he sat beside his brother.

Yami smiled as he looked at his brother. Yugi was so happy that they were now going to school together. Yami was glad too and hoped that this school year went better than his last in Egypt.


A week had gone by and it was now the first day of school and Yami and Yugi walked in together, everyone stopped and stared at them. Yami received many seductive looks from both girls and guys as he walked to his locker. Yugi didn't seem to notice as he turned to Yami and smiled. "My locker is down the hall beside Jou's so if you need me I will be down there."

Yami watched his still smiling brother walk away towards his locker. He didn't have anything in his locker, but decided to go ahead and put the lock on it anyway. As he turned to leave he bumped into the person who was standing beside him.

"I'm sorry." Yami looked up at the person and saw narrowed sapphire eyes looking at him.

"Hn…You're new here so I will let it slid this time, but just don't ever let it happen again." The man said as he turned and walked off.

Yami stood dumbfounded as he watched the man retreat down the hall. He wondered who he could be and the thought of him being sexy did cross his mind at least once.

"I see you have met Kaiba."

Yami turned around and crimson met chocolate. He gave a sigh of relief when he saw that it was Bakura.

"So that was Seto Kaiba, the one you warned me about." Yami said.

"Yep that is the asshole himself. Don't mess with him he is quick tempered and isn't afraid to let it show." Bakura said as he placed an arm around Yami's shoulders.

"Come on your first class is with me." Bakura smiled with his arm still around Yami's shoulders as they made their way to class.

That class wasn't too eventful. He stood up when the teacher had introduced him and all the girls giggled. He got so sick of hearing it that he had learned to pretty much tune it out. The class was geometry and he never really liked math, but it had to be done. He wasn't bad at it, just found it to be useless in ever day life.

Bakura had made it fun when he continued to make fun of the teacher behind her back and said that he was going to make a voodoo doll of her to see if it would really work. Yep he was still the same twisted Bakura he has always been.

After math the next class was Ancient History which Yami could really get into. Of course he had to introduce himself again with much annoyance and got the same reaction as he had in his last class. He rolled his eyes as he took his seat. He looked around the room and saw that he was being stared at. Deep sapphire eyes matched his own crimson gaze as he looked at the man Bakura had said to stay away from. He wondered why the other was staring at him so intensely and it was making him very uncomfortable. He turned away when the teacher told them to open there books.

Yami could still feel that cold stare on him and it made the hair on his neck stand up. The man acted as though he was a predator stalking his prey and Yami really didn't like that at all. He couldn't concentrate through class as all he thought about was Seto Kaiba.

He was glad that the bell had rung signaling that it was now the end of the class. He walked out as fast as he could and toward his locker. He opened it up and shoved his books inside and was about to shut the door and lock it when he was grabbed by the shoulder.

He stiffened at the touch wondering who it could be. He hated being grabbed from behind as it brought back to many memories that he would like to forget.

The person turned him around and he came face to face with Seto Kaiba. He looked at Yami with narrowed sapphire eyes and saw that the man had tensed up. He took in his features and saw how the other looked. He looked like a drug addict. Kaiba huffed as he let go of the Yami.

He turned and opened his locker and placed his books neatly in it. Yami wondered what the hell his problem was and decide to ask that very question.

"What the hell is your problem? You just don't walk up and grab someone from behind like that." Yami said as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the man.

Kaiba turned and looked at Yami with a shocked expression. "Excuse me?"

"What are you deft I asked what the hell your problem is?" Yami was getting angrier by the second.

"You don't have the right to talk to me that way. Do you know who I am?" Seto said between clenched teeth.

"No and I don't care who you are." Yami said as he was about to walk off only to be grabbed by the wrist.

Kaiba squeezed as hard as he could and saw Yami wince in pain. He pulled the shorter man toward him giving a twisted smile. "You're pretty mouthy for a scrawny little bitch."

"Let go of me." Yami yelled.

Seto was about to say something else, but was cut off by someone yelling. "Hey let go of him you son of a bitch!"

Yami turned to see Bakura walking toward them and noticed that Seto had let go of his wrist. He smiled at Bakura who got in Kaiba's face.

"If you want to keep your limbs intact then I suggest you keep your hands off him." Bakura hissed between clenched teeth.

A pissed off Bakura was not something Kaiba wanted to deal with right now so he decided that he would leave the smaller man alone for now.

"Fine, if you want the drug addict you can have him." Kaiba said as he walked away.

Bakura mumbled a few choice words before he turned toward Yami. "Are you alright?"

"Yes Bakura I am fine." Yami gave him a small smile.

"Good come on then let's go grab some lunch." Bakura said as he showed Yami to the cafeteria.

Yami sat down with a can of coke and dug through his bag for his xanax, because his nerves were shot and he couldn't keep his hands from shaking. He hurried up and swallowed the little blue pill before Yugi and Bakura came walking over.

He didn't want any one to know that he was on any type of medication well besides the sleeping pills, for that would lead to questions that he didn't want to give the answers to. It was still too soon for him and he didn't know if he would ever be able to tell any one what had happened to him in Egypt.

"Hey Yami, how is your first day so far?" Yugi asked as he sat down beside his brother.

"So far I like it, but there are some people I don't care too much for." Yami said as he zipped his bag back up.

Bakura knew exactly who those some people were and knew exactly what he meant. He saw that Yami didn't have anything to eat and so he decided to ask.

"Why didn't you get something to eat?"

Yugi looked at Yami waiting for him to answer Bakura's question. He too wondered the same thing maybe that is why Yami looked so thin. He saw that Yami wasn't answering right away and wondered what was going on.

"I'm just not hungry, plus I don't really care for school food." Yami answered simply.

Bakura looked at Yami and knew that something was wrong and he wasn't the type to tell anyone what was going on. He would find out though for Yami and Yugi's sake.

"Oh…okay well maybe we can bring something from home tomorrow." Yugi said.

"Sounds like a plan." Yami smiled at Yugi.


They ate lunch in peace and were joined by Jou and Ryou later on and talked about everything that had gone on in the first two periods. Bakura every now and then glanced over and saw that Yami seemed to be in a daze and never really spoke to anyone. He would have to talk with him later when there wasn't anybody around, especially not Yugi.

After lunch everybody finished their last two classes without any incidents and for that Yami was glad for. He walked out of the school and decided to wait for Yugi by one of the sakura trees out front. He walked over and leaned up against the tree and watched for his little brother who should be out any second.

He didn't feel too good and the lack of food was probably not helping. He knew it wasn't from taking the xanax on an empty stomach, since he'd done it so many times before. His head hurt and he felt as though it was going to split in two at any moment. He felt weak and was getting hotter by the second. He tried to look for Yugi, but suddenly he got dizzy and everything around him started to spin.

He slid down the tree hoping that he was not going to pass out. This had happened once before in Egypt but that was because of heat exhaustion and this was something totally different.

All of a sudden his head began to hurt worse and he knew he needed to get to the nurse as soon as he could. He tried to stand up, but lost balance and fell. He felt his consciousness leaving him and wondered if Yugi or anybody would find him. Then everything went black.

Bakura was walking out of the school to wait for Ryou when he saw Yami lying on the ground. He quickly ran over to him and placed his arm around the lithe teens shoulder and propped his head up against his chest. He noticed his breathing was shallow and wondered if he did anything to cause this to himself.

Tbc….