(I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh)

Wow. Chapter 11 already... thank you all for reviewing! please, continue!!!

*************Chapter 11*************

Shit, he should have known this wouldn't last... he'd been far too happy for the last few weeks. Things were never that peaceful around the house...

"I'm leaving, you worthless asshole!" His mother had been rushing around for the last hour before his father had gotten home, stuffing her clothes and belongings into her suitcase as Yugi begged her not to leave, and Yami sat there in misery. Not that he cared that she was leaving... Unlike Yugi, she hadn't exactly been a loving mother to Yami, so he didn't feel too kindly towards her; he knew, however, that the repercussions of this would be... less than pleasant, for him especially. Sure enough, when their father had returned home, already pissed off about another day at work, all hell had broken loose. There had been lots of screaming and yelling, and Yami could hear glass breaking as some projectile missed its true target and crashed through the window.

"Yugi, I don't want you here tonight," he urged his brother in hushed tones. There was no way the two downstairs could hear him, but it never hurt to be careful. Yugi nodded tearfully.

"But... but what about you? Where are you going to be?" Yami cringed inwardly.

"I'll be fine, Yugi..." He knew full well that he would not be fine, but he also knew that if he were gone, his father's rage would only build and make things so much worse later on. He had been there before, and he was planning on never going there again. "Where are you going to be?" Yugi hesitated, and Yami thought he looked... embarrassed?

"I'll be at Ryou's... his parents are in the city." Yami nodded his approval. Yugi had known Ryou since they were in kindergarden. They were pretty good friends, and although Yami had never gotten along well with Ryou's brother, Bakura, he knew that Bakura was, for the most part, an okay person. Their parents often stayed in the city on business, but their children looked after themselves and the house fairly well (although, as was to be expected, there were parties and the like that the parents didn't know about). Bakura was fiercely protective of his younger brother, and since Yugi was one of Ryou's friends, Yami knew that he wouldn't let any harm befall him, either.

"Okay. Have fun, okay?" Yugi stared at him mournfully.

"Yami, please, you don't have to do this." Yami felt sick to his stomach, forcing out a thin-sounding laugh.

"Yugi, what are you even talking about? Dad will just get drunk and pass out like always. I'll be fine if I lock my door." God, he hated how naturally lying came to him...

"Dammit, Yami! I'm not retarded, okay? That's bullshit and you know it! Please, just go to Seto's or something! Please!" There were tears in his eyes, and Yami felt torn in two. He wanted to give in, to promise to go somewhere, anywhere but home, but he couldn't. He didn't want his brother to worry, though, so he plastered on a fake smile, nodding his consent.

"Fine. I'll call Seto; maybe he can come get me. Okay?" Yugi's shoulders slumped. He knew that Yugi didn't believe him, but he also knew that he wouldn't pressure him any more. It would have been useless; when this kind of thing came up, Yami would just feign cooperation, insisting that he would do whatever it was that Yugi was asking.

"Yami... god, Yami. I'm so sorry... I love you, okay? Please, please call Seto. Get out of the house. I don't want to turn on the news tomorrow and see that he's murdered you." Yami grimaced; if only Yugi knew how close it had been, once or twice... no, better that he didn't know.

"God, Yugi. Chill. He's not gonna kill me. How are you getting to Ryou's?" Again, Yugi paused.

"Bakura is going to pick me up..." as if on cue, his phone vibrated, and he checked the text. "Oh, he's here."

"Ok, whatever. That's good. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Yugi nodded, not looking too happy. "Have fun. I love you."

After making sure that Yugi was safely out the door, Yami paced in his room nervously. This was bad... Mom had been threatening to leave for so long, he didn't actually think she'd ever do it. Apparently, she'd found some guy, wealthier than Dad, who was less of a bastard. He couldn't blame her for wanting to get away from Dad, but she had made it clear that she had no intention of bringing her sons with her. What the fuck? Weren't parents supposed to look out for their kids? Fucking fantastic job she'd done... He knew there wasn't much he could do at this point. He was so close to being 18. Just a couple more weeks! She'd put up with his sorry ass for 18 years; couldn't she wait another two weeks? If she didn't want him, then his dad was in charge of his affairs... his dad had complete control. Of course, what else was new, right? He made damn sure that Yami knew how powerless he was...

Seto had just finished eating dinner with Mokuba when he felt his cell phone go off in his pocket. He was disappointed when he saw it wasn't Yami, but concerned when he saw who it was. Yugi never called him unless it was an absolute emergency.

"Hello? Yugi? What's the matter?" He snapped, sounding sharper than he had intended.

"Mom left." Those two words held so much... Seto knew how Yami's dad was. He knew that he loved control. He knew that if his wife had left... that would leave him in a dangerous mood.

"Shit! Where are you? Where is Yami?"

"I'm with B-Ryou. Yami won't go anywhere... he thinks that if he tries to stay away from Dad tonight, it will be worse for him tomorrow or whenever he sees him again. That might be, but... Seto, I'm worried. My dad is scary..."

"I'm going to get him." Without listening to Yugi's protests, Seto snapped the phone shut and rushed out the door, leaving Mokuba extremely confused.

"Dad, what- what are you doing?" Yami's forehead was bleeding as he backed away from the man who towered over him, reeking of alcohol; his mother hadn't been gone an hour, and his dad was already starting in on him... this wasn't good.

"This is all your fucking fault! You know that? She never wanted you! It's your goddamn fault she's gone!" Yami shook his head. No, that wasn't true. She hadn't left because of him. Probably.

"Dad, wait! I'm sorry, Dad! I- if I leave, maybe she'll come back," He babbled; anything to keep the man away from him and buy some time. His father spit on the floor.

"Bullshit. She hates me because of you! You stupid piece of shit! You ruin everything! You're so stupid and ugly... I don't blame her! How could anyone actually love a whore like you?" He'd heard it before, but it still hurt... "Fucking faggot... crying like a little girl." Yami hadn't even noticed the tears that had fallen. Of course, why was he even surprised? He was so pathetic... just like always. He was stupid to think that he could be happy... he was so... worthless. He didn't deserve to be happy. Seriously. He didn't deserve to want to be happy.

"Dad, no! Please, please," He was sobbing, but he didn't care. "Dad, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry...no, no no..." he didn't even know what he was saying. He couldn't breathe. His chest was tight and panicky, and his vision was swimming as he hyperventilated.

"Shut the fuck up! No one will ever love you. Why the fuck are you even still alive?" Yami lost it completely. He hardly felt the rough hands that grabbed him violently, bruising as they gripped him tightly. It didn't matter anyway. He deserved this... he knew he did. He hated himself more than anything at that moment... He actually felt relieved as one large hand closed painfully around his throat. Yes, he though. Please, please just kill me. Get it over with... please... as soon as he felt the man's grip tighten, he was falling. What? His brain couldn't comprehend what was happening... why had his dad let go of him? Why the fuck wasn't he dead? Why did he have to live through this shit? Wait, what was going on? Was that.... No. It couldn't be Seto... maybe he was dying. Or dreaming. Whatever; it didn't matter. But instead of fading away, his vision was getting sharper. He was regaining his senses, and for some reason Seto was still there. He was there, all right, and he was pissed.

"...-you pathetic excuse for a man! You're lucky I don't just kill you right now... trust me, If I weren't so concerned about Yami, I would do it in a heartbeat. He's your son!!! How the fuck could you do this to him!?!" Yami couldn't believe this was happening... No one had ever spoken to his father like that... and why was his father on the floor? What... this was too much to take in. He curled up, making himself as small as possible. This was the safest position... the less of him that was exposed, the less of him could get hurt.

"-and if I EVER- and I mean EVER hear that you've done anything to hurt one of your sons, I will find you and make you wish you'd never been born." The large man laughed stupidly. "You think I'm joking? Do you even know who I am? Seto Kaiba? Ring any bells?" After a moment, Yami's father gasped. "Yeah, that's right. Kaiba. As in K-A-I-B-A corporation. If you lay a finger on either of your sons ever again, I will personally ensure that you're locked up where you will never see the light of day again. Do you fucking understand me?" He hissed into the man's face. Yami had seen Seto angry, but not anywhere even remotely near this.

Seto couldn't think of a time he had ever been more livid... His furious blue eyes softened as they made contact with Yami's terrified crimson ones. "Hey, love. Sorry I didn't get here sooner," He whispered, kneeling beside Yami and stroking his hair gently. "Come on. I won't let you stay here. Do you need anything? If you want, I can have someone come to get your clothes for you..." Yami just stared at him blankly. Seto felt a slight tinge of panic. What was wrong with Yami? He was totally unresponsive... "Yami?" The other boy flinched violently and began trembling. His thin frame was wracked with silent sobs, and he buried his face into Seto's chest. Seto's fury grew again. This was not right, dammit! But there was time for anger later... right now, he had to focus on Yami. In one fluid movement, he scooped the smaller boy into his arms, holding him protectively to his chest. The drunken man began yelling and cursing at Seto, who spat on him before striding out the door, taking Yami away from the hellhole he had been forced to call "home." No more, my love, he vowed. I won't let him hurt you ever again.

A/N: I know, I haven't mentioned anything about Kaiba Corp. until now, but hey. It's a big business. How many high school seniors (especially in small towns) care about or think about big businesses? Not that many, so it makes sense that Yami hasn't given it a second thought.

Come on, review!! Please? I love you all.

~alex~