Chapter 7

Yugi's PoV

Haa…haa…haa

I was panting heavily as I ran. Why was I running? I haven't had to run like this in so long. I turned a corner and caught a glimpse of my enemy, a generic brunet with black eyes, looking a lot less tired than me. He had a cocky smile, he knew it was only so long before I ran out of luck. I pumped my legs faster.

I was tired, so tired. Everyone had gone home already, why wouldn't they, it was pretty late already, I was only out because I had to go pick up something for the Pharaoh. Why he couldn't have picked this up himself, I don't know.

It wasn't long before I tripped on an uneven part of the concrete. As I fell the bag I was carrying flew out of my hand. Before I could worry about that, I heard an evil chuckle behind me. He had caught up to me.

"Well, well, looks like I got myself a little rat running around, huh? I'll just have to clean up a bit," he said with an evil grin.

After that I black out, once I come to I'm lying in an alley, my whole body pulsing in pain, I get up and head towards the game shop. My body throbs with each step, it's been a long time since I felt this much pain. I brighten as I see the familiar building, thinking that I'll be able to forget all about today, wrapped up in the arms of my loving yami.

As I enter the shop and go upstairs, I keep feeling I'm forgetting something. I ignore the feeling and press on. I make my way to my room and push open the door, Yami is laying on the bed he doesn't turn to look at me when he hears the door open.

"Hi, Yami," I say meekly, a little hurt that he still hasn't turned to look at me.

"Did you get what I asked you for?" he replies, still not looking at me.

"Sorry, I forgot," I answer, feeling tears come to my eyes as the pain starts to build.

"Yugi, I only sent you for-" he finally turns to look at me, and sees the forming bruised and dried blood, and his eyes narrow slightly, "What happened?" he asks.

"Um…well, I kinda had a run in with an old bully while walking back from the store and he…well, he beat me up…" I said reluctantly.

"Yugi, I keep telling you, you need to make them stop, you are my hikari and I do feel bad about this, but you bring it on yourself," after that I stopped listening, I couldn't believe it, instead of comforting me, he lectures me. How did I bring this on myself, I didn't insult the guy, I didn't taunt him, I didn't say 'hey, how about you beat me black and blue'. The tears I had been holding back finally broke through.

"Oh, Yugi, don't cry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound that harsh," he apologized and wrapped his arms around me as I sobbed. If only I hadn't believed him, if only I had known it was only the beginning, that it would get so much worse in time, then maybe, I would never have had to cry myself to sleep for months, and saved myself from-

"Yugi, wake up," Ryou said gently shaking me awake. I looked at him surprised to find him looking blurry.

"What is it, Ryou?" I asked wearily.

"You were crying and shaking, I guessed you were having a nightmare, so I decide to wake you," As he said this I felt the moisture on my cheeks and wiped the tears away.

"Thanks, Ryou, sorry if I woke you up," I apologized.

"It's fine, actually I couldn't sleep so…," he looked away.

"Ryou! That's the fourth time this week, have you been taking your sleeping pills?" I asked worriedly. Lately, Ryou's been having trouble sleeping, ever since the yami's came over.

"I know, I know! It's just…well, every time I go to sleep I keep having awful nightmares," he confided.

"Me too, but we just have to get through that, right?" I asked, a bit unsure myself.

"Yeah, but we can pull through, after all, if we were able to leave this place, we can get over some nightmares," Malik said, shocking both me and Ryou.

"Sorry, did we wake you up, Malik?" Ryou asked apologetically.

"Well, ya two don' exactly keep it down, ya know," Joey said, apparently also awake due to our conversation.

"Sorry, everyone, we didn't mean to wake you up…," I apologized.

"It's fine, what's wrong with a little bonding at…four in the morning…," Malik said trailing of.

"Maybe we shou' deal wit tis in ta mornin'," Joey suggested.

We agreed and tried to go back to sleep. I didn't want to risk another nightmare, so I just laid in bed watching the minutes on the digital clock pass by. I tried to keep my eyes open, but eventually my eyelids got heavy and I succumbed to sleep once more.

"Aibou, wake up," I heard a voice say, the voice repeated the phrase and I had no choice but to open my eyes. The first thing I saw was the beautiful face of my yami. I looked around and recognized the room I was in, it was my soul room. "Aibou, it's time for you to go back," he said.

I recognized this memory now, this was the first time Yami had shown himself to me, the first time I became aware of his presence, though I had suspicions' about his existence ever since I'd solved the puzzle. I was so comfortable, did I have to go back? When I voiced the question, he chuckled.

"Yes, after all, it is your body, I cannot live your life for you, so go on," he said kindly. I huffed softly and stood up, heading over to the door of my soul room. Before I stepped out he said one last thing to me.

"Don't worry, little one, I will always shield and protect you from the harshness of the world," I could hear the sincerity in his voice, it made me tear up a bit. I mumbled something back and stepped out, his soft chuckling ringing in my ears.

After that I woke up, wiping the tears that had formed throughout the dream. I remember that memory, it was one of the first memories I had of Yami. Remembering that time again, I only have one question.

'Where's that protection now, Yami?'