NIGREDO 1.0
Hello! It's my first fanfic on this website and wow, I'm a little nervous honestly. I guess I'd like to get out of the way the facts of this story, I am unhealthily attached to Yuugi so this is essentially a bare-bones Yuugi harem/centric fanfic. Also I'd like to also address the fact that I headcanon Yuugi as trans masc so he is so in this fanfic, but it doesn't really do anything other just be there and hinted towards. Everyone else is cis though, and practically anyone I can get my hands on will be gay or queer istg so if you're not cool with that don't read.
This is basically a Manga/Season 0 rewrite, I'll probably include the anime only episodes because I'm a rabid starving animal.
Anyway, this is a Puzzleshipping fanfic mainly but there will be other snippets of my sillies (Rivalshipping, Wishshipping, etc). I won't do Peachshipping *Shivers* because I'd rather die so Anzu's just a really good friend in this fanfic! I might also have a little bit of Coinshipping (Miho x Anzu) along the line if I want to include her.
I looked over this a million times but I'm human so I might have missed a grammar or spelling mistake! Sorry!
Also I will be using everyone's Japanese names cause I'm a tryhard but there may be a blend between the English and Japanese translations with things with just what I've seen and read. And worth mentioning maybbee?- I'm American but I've also adopted certaining European esque spelling so don't witch hunt be the moment you see something like colour/centre. Just the way I like to type.
Last warning that this fanfic is heavily gay and even though it's sort of a slow burn at the beginning it will and is gay. Thx!
-Kyle
Guide :
Thoughts will be written like this
/Yuugi using his mind link with Yami/
\Yami using his mind with Yuugi\
Hmm...
Yuugi trained his hand steadily as he popped a knife into the contraption before him. He smiled when the head didn't escape the barrel's surface just yet. But it was cutting it close and eventually..
He slid another into a slot and jumped midair when it sprang up in the air and he hurriedly caught it, unaware of the eyes on him. "Hey Yuugi, stop playin' games by yourself and come play basketball for once."
He looked up mid-catch to his classmate, Tonio Kyoushi, basketball resting in his hand as the rest scattered to pick up their gym belongings. "Th-That's okay...My team would just lose..." Yuugi excuses with a weak smile on his face, brushing his bangs from his eyes. "I guess you're right..." Kyoushi nods, shrugging and following a brunette out the door who looked hesitant to leave Yuugi all alone.
"Don't worry about him Mazaki-Chan, I'm sure he'll be fine." Kyoushi brushes off her obvious concern, Mazaki Anzu pouting. "I suppose so...I just wish he'd participate more, maybe he'd feel less lonely..."
They were out of earshot soon to which Yuugi couldn't hear how much his best friend who was always more social and busy then him, had pitied him. Shaking off the guilt and displeasure he sighed and slid the head back into place on the toy. I wish I could play my kind of games with someone... He thought in despair, remembering how he barely had the chance to play games with Anzu. I always bring a lot in my backpack...
Oh but! At the reminder of his bag he tugs it closer to himself, tucks in his previous puzzle and takes out an entirely new one, being shinier and brighter than the last. I'll finish this one today! I always bring it around but I never got the chance to finish it!
The giant box that always made his backpack heavier than he would've liked and pushed on the seams of it was laid out in front of him. He could feel himself beaming, as he looked over it. It was an unusual box, being made entirely out of gold looking material, with an Eye of Horus sticking out of it. Then there was the engraving in it, just as if it were a slate or thing of papyrus.
Something you can show but not see?
Ohh..What could it be? Yuugi grinned to himself in quiet excitement. "I can crack the puzzle's prize riddle by solving it, something you can show..but not see!"
Just as he pried the lid off the opening he looked up in predetermined shock. Someone snatched his puzzle right from his hands!
"Hehe...What're ya' talkin' to yourself about Yuugi? You win the prize for being a creep, that's for sure." No, no, no!
That was his grandfather's gift to him and Honda Hiroto had taken it from his with no sympathy in sight! He shook his head and took note of how there was another person, somehow taller than even Honda. Jounouchi Katsuya looked at him with disinterest on his face and he yawned. "Something you can show but not see?" Honda continues, mocking Yuugi as he stares down at the treasure in his hands.
Yuugi is out of his seat in an instant, marching up to Honda who backs away despite being a few heads taller. "Give it back Honda!" Mutou begs aloud, reaching up at the ravenette who lifts his arms in the air. It was safely out of reach of Yuugi's wingspan, unfortunately. "Give it back! That's my treasure!"
"Catch Jounouchi!" Honda yells and tosses it without a care and Yuugi wipes some sweat off his forehead. Thankfully none of the pieces came out in the transfer from one to the other and Jounouchi had caught it without much trouble. "Geez, leave it to a girl to care so much about a box." The words tumble out without so much as a thought and he looks pensive for a second at the utter grievance on Yuugi's face.
"I mean...Listen Yuugi, I'm gonna teach ya' how to be a man!" Jounouchi tries to brush off his mistake, being well aware that Yuugi was on the verge of bursting in tears from the looks of it. He knew he hit a sore spot but he wouldn't admit it, patting his chest. "You want the box back? Then gimme all you got!"
"No way! I hate violence!" Yuugi screams in exasperation, voice overwhelmed with emotion. To this Jounouchi plugs his ears up with a finger, huffing. "Oww, shut up...You got no guts.." Jounouchi avoids pointing out how shrill the kid's voice is, not aiming to make him cry.
"A-Anyway, just please give it back..." Yuugi tries again but is pushed away by Honda who's fixed with a shit eating grin. "No way!"
"Wat's in 're anyway? Let's take a peek..." Jounouchi says and pries it open looking at it for a second. "You can look but-but don't lose anything! That's really important to me!" Yuugi says lenience in his tone as Jounouchi looks in for a brief moment and everything looks to be just a scattered puzzle. That doesn't interest him too much but...
He snatches the main piece, ignoring a twinge in his consciousness. "Bo~ooring. Here Honda, catch." He throws it back to where Honda is who opens his hands to catch it.
Luckily, more feminine hands grab the box before the goon can and she sneers. "If you think it's so boring then you should give it back to Yuugi!" Anzu lectures, ignoring the little hopeful 'Anzu!' Yuugi gives in relief.
"Mazaki!" The two tallest yelp, knowing how prone to rant the brunette is. "Bullies who prey on those weaker than them are what's boring! And dumb! Get out of here!" She hounds and they scatter, and they chase themselves out of the classroom.
The door shuts loudly as it's slided shut. "Here you go Yuugi..." She lays the box back on his desk, huffing and glaring at where they once were but it softened when she saw the rough shape Yuugi was in. "Anzu, thank you...!" Yuugi cries happily, running his fingers on it. "Just one word from you and they went and ran away..." He mumbles, wishing he had been able to fend for himself but he just troubled Anzu instead...
"Boys...They're all the same y'know!" Mazaki leans her chin on the palm of her hand, grinding her teeth. "Ah..Not you though Yuugi.." She says gently and gets a nod and sighs, leaning back in an exasperated way. "On the basketball court I swore the boys were passing to the girls a lot. And normally they never even attempt to pass to any of the girl's...Then I found out they were looking up the girl's skirts when they took their shots! Damn them...I quit the moment I found out and came back here!"
Yuugi gulped, feeling lucky he was able to wear pants even more now. "Geez...I'm sorry Anzu..." He mutters sympathy in his tone.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it." She excuses despite herself and then looks down at the puzzle. "By the way Yuugi, what is that?" He's fighting off a grin when he remembers he has it back and it's gonna be here for awhile thanks to Mazaki-Chan. "If you promise to keep it a secret I'll show you..."
Anzu nodded in instant agreement. "Okay." She leans down to get a closer look as Yuugi's lifts the lid off displaying all the shining pieces that catch the fluorescent and natural lights of the classroom. "Wow, it's so pretty! Are these pieces of something?" Anzu observes, picking on a corner piece up and since it's well Anzu, Yuugi has no qualms with her touching it.
"It's a puzzle!" Yuugi beams and Anzu stiffles back a grin at seeing just how giddy Yuugi looks about it. Yuugi and his puzzles... Anzu teases him in her thoughts and listens to him rant. "I've never completed it before so I have no idea what it looks like finished but, this box says that the key to it is 'Something you can feel but not see!'" He shuffles the box in his hands. "My family runs a game store, remember? I mean, I got it from jii-chan so it's sort of like a memento I'll have incase he passes..."
It's grim but true. "He gave it to me after he found it on the back shelf of the Kame Game Shop when they first bought it. He said he couldn't finish it and decided to just give it to me." Yuugi recalls the tale like it's written or scripted somewhere. "And they say it came from Egyptian ruins!"
"Egypt huh..." Anzu blinks, training her eye on the box. That explained the material that's for sure. "Yep! And there's these other hieroglyphics that I believe say 'Whoever solves this puzzle shall be granted one wish!' He beams, and already knows exactly what his wish is. "Y'know what I mean? But maybe it's far reach hehe..."
He blanches when Anzu bursts into laughter, face morphing in a hint of hurt. "Urk...Are you laughing at me? My wish, it's a secret..." His lip wobbles and Anzu shakes her head. "It's not that at all, Yuugi. Seeing you so happy makes me happy." Anzu smiles, peach lips pressed together in a smile. "Urgh...But this puzzle is really difficult. I've been working on it for years and I still haven't gotten it solved! It's kind of depressing..." Yuugi admits and Anzu shakes her head.
"Well, don't go giving up, Yuugi. Your heart is in it and that's all that matters." Anzu smiles down and Yuugi peers up at her gratefully. They may not get a lot of time to hang out outside of class but Anzu really was the closest thing he had to a friend. "I-I'll do my best!"
"Hehe...So what's your secret then..?" The confusion on her friend's face has her waving a hand. "Your wish?"
"Huhh? Hah, Anzu no way...That's top secret haha!"
"Fair." Anzu smiles at him.
DING DONG=
They both exhale briefly. "Well, that's the final bell. I'll see you tomorrow, Yuugi."
"Yeah see you!"
Scooping up his stuff he stuffs the puzzle in his bag and wanders down the stairs. Too bad I didn't get to work on it...
As he leaves out of the front gate and yawns. Okay, I'll just go home and work on it from there-!
"You're Yuugi, aren't you?" He turns to see a male and recognizes him, stiffening a little. "Y-Yes?" He asks reluctantly, not wishing to say anything out of his polite company restrictions. After this is the hall monitor brute, Tetsu Ushio... "I want to ask you something. I know this may be a sore subject but, are you being bullied by certain students in class?"
How did he find out-? Yuugi gasps in his head and finds himself stumbling on his words. Jounouchi and Honda would probably get mad if he told on them- "W-Whaaa? Nothing like that happens to me." Yuugi claims boldly, gripping the straps on his backpack.
"Wait a minute! Victims often lie and defend their bullies! Ya see I've been investigating...And now you can stop worrying Yuugi-Chan!" A large hand finds its way on his shoulder making Yuugi's brain shutter to stop. "Huh..." He looks up with big worried eyes at the 'moral compass' with an armband strapped on his bicep. "I'll be your bodyguard from now on!"
"Hh...Actually that's not necessary. Really there's nothing going on so..." He shrinks away from the grasp and finds himself trying to become smaller. Anything to get away from Ushio. "Thanks, but I'm alright so...Bye..!" He could feel the hard gaze on his back as he walked as far away as his tiny legs could carry him. He had a bad feeling in his stomach over that guy. What was that about? What a weirdo...Insisting and everything! I can deal with things myself!
He sighed in relief as he climbed onto the public transit bus and grasped a pole. Soon he would be home and he wouldn't have to worry about all that stuff anymore.
His safe haven...Home...
And there he could finally finish his puzzle!
0
o
Click!
Aha!
His fingers fumble on the odd device, fingers digging through the gold box as he slots more and more pieces together with a little struggle. After some memory paved guidance he finally found himself stumped in the same place he had been so many times. Dang it... He curses in his head.
I wanna finish it! My wish!
He looks up at the sky outside his window and blinks. Then he fires a look at the analog clock ripping a red 3:12 through the darkness.
I wanna...Finish it!
His fingers rotate as he tries to lodge a piece in but fails to do so when it refuses to fit.
I...Have to...
No...
Yuugi's eyelids betray him and he finds himself yawning miserably. It's not complete yet and I really, really want to finish it!
He lays his head on his own forearm, a hand on the half finished puzzle as he yawns.
Well there's always tomorrow...
He thought deliriously, fingers grasping at the jutted pieces in desperation. My wish...
He thinks as he drifts off to sleep with the warm but cold tile giving him some comfort.
NIGREDO 1.1
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP-!
"Wah!" Yuugi yelps, sitting up quickly and races to his alarm clock and swiftly turns it off. "No...I was up late last night wasn't I? Oh brother..." He pouts to himself and stretches before yawning. His eye catches the half incomplete puzzle.
Right, I was almost done with it. Hopefully I'll have time later today to work on it.
He throws it back in the box and goes to perform his morning routine starting with the bathroom, relieving himself and brushing his teeth. The lingering exhaustion rings on his body as he does whatever that morning, and the walk to school is just as boring as any other. And so is the ride back to school as he avoids people who would harass him with practiced stealth. Albit clumsily but he ends up at the school's front gate with not so much as a scratch.
He feels grossly sweaty, Yuugi decides at his seat for the first period. And he's always first to come in and take out his homework, then a pencil. So thwarting the rubbery feeling from his temple with his sleeve he watches those around him come in as well.
"Morning Yuugi." Anzu smiles pleasantly, not seeing any visible marks on the smaller kid. It seems he's managed to have a streak for the past couple days of not running into trouble. "G-Good morning Anzu!" He smiles up at her as she takes her seat next to him.
"Hrm, you look tired this morning. Did you get enough sleep?" Anzu raises an eyebrow at Yuugi who looks back guiltily. "Ahh, well I was kinda up for a while working on the puzzle..." He admits sheepishly and Anzu sighs. "Yuugi...You shouldn't be staying up all night on that puzzle. I know you're excited but..." She doesn't want to completely crush his dreams but the eyebags weren't going away.
"I-I understand, I'm sorry to have worried you Anzu...I'll sleep extra early tonight!" Yuugi promises the brunette who eyes him for any hint of a lie. But of course he just looks as innocent as usual so Mazaki relents. Sometimes she felt like a mom.
"Okay...Well are you close with the puzzle then?" She pulls out her own work and textbooks as more students flush into the room, awaiting for the teacher to arrive. "I'm almost there..! I can feel it." He smiles down at his bag, as Anzu looks at him with a comfortable smile.
She drags a hand through her hair, "I hope you solve it soon. Maybe you'll go back to having a good sleep schedule." She jokes much to Yuugi's chagrin before she shifts and puts her backpack right next to her leg. "Maybe your wish will come true as well at this rate." She mutters and turns away as Yuugi grows a hopeful look at the reminder.
Those damned doe eyes... Anzu sighs internally.
O
o
DING DONG=
That was the bell ending third period... Yuugi yawns as he gets up, waves to Anzu and leaves to go to the next classroom. "Hmm.." Yuugi stops momentarily looking down at the river down below the windows of the hallways. I wonder just how deep they go? If I lost something in there I don't even wanna think about having to go down there.
He shivered at the thought of his lungs being flooded as he attempted to get whatever from in there- But it was just a daydream. Even the thought of being trapped in complete darkness had him shaking his head. "Yuugi!" He spun around to see Ushio looming over him. How did he miss him sneaking up on him!?
"Uh...Ushio..." He stammers, backing up a little and peering up at him with a frown and furrowed brow. "Could I borrow you for a moment? I'd like to show you something."
Like a rabbit his eyes flickered around him for any way to get out of this. "Well...I guess but..-"
"Great!" He was grabbed by the shoulder and shoved forward roughly and he struggled to regain his steps. "Woah!" He holds his palm in front of his face braced for impact of the ground but he's snatched by the uniform. His sleeves strain against his weight. "Watch out Mutou, you almost fell.." Ushio says and Yuugi gulps, righting himself as Ushio's hand lets go of his clothing.
"Th-Thanks..?" He mutters as Ushio walks right past him with a slacked posture and hands shucked in his pockets. His demeanor... Yuugi followed behind hesitantly, scared witless but had his fists clenched. Whatever this is...Can't be good...!
As he was led down the steps of the second floor and outside he wondered just what he was walking to. He could be getting led to a beating, Ushio didn't seem above that. Swallowing he adjusts the choker strapped to his throat. But Ushio was the hall monitor of the school...Surely he wouldn't.. "Um, Ushio, what was it you wanted to show me?"
The narrowing of the Domino Highschool building had him looking at the foreboding object in front of him. The behemoth kept the pace up as he smirked. "Hehe, just come with me I know you'll like it." Yuugi's face soured at the unknown tone lacing his voice.
Alarms rang in his head, "Ushio...I just remembered that I have to...-!" Just as he's about to make an excuse his eye catches a shoe on the ground. "Huh...?"
His footsteps gained traction before he skidded to a stop, gaping. "Look Yuugi!" Ushio sneered at the bodies leaning right up on the building and Yuugi instantly recognized them. "Ah...Ah!" Yuugi screams, eyes swirling as he looks down. "Jounouchi?! Honda! W-What in the wor-rld?!" The beaten up look Jounouchi sent up while Honda squirmed in pain...This..!
This can't be real! Ushio what did you do!? Yuugi finds his body acting as he collapses in front of them, looking over them with worried eyes. "I told you Yuugi-Chan, I'm your bodyguard! I just decided to teach these bullies a lesson!" He hovered over their bodies, a looming threat. "N-No..." Yuugi stares up like a lamb, fear quivering and hands shaking. "One that they won't be forgetting anytime soon."
Yuugi felt himself tear up. This guy..! "What're you saying!? I said I didn't need one...I wasn't getting bullied!" He whips out defensively, trying to help Jounouchi up to get him to their school infirmary. "Yuugi...You bastard, are ya' happy now..?" Jounouchi sneers at him, snapping his hand away from the smaller's reach. Yuugi felt sadness ripple through him. "It's not true Jounouchi! You think I asked him to do this to you?! I...I-!"
Abruptly shoved out of the way his palms hiss against the concrete and he whimpers when his temple is smashed into the ground. "Move it Yuugi! I'm not finished punishing them!" Ushio yells through Yuugi's dizzying surroundings and he hears a choking sound. Looking up he sees a foot connecting Jounouchi's ribs.
Giving a rabid inhale he picks himself up and uses his whole upper body strength to tear the foot from his torso. Opening his arms wide in the most shield-like way he can muster he covers the two with his own body. "Stop it!" He screams at Ushio as he can feel building up sobs racking through his lungs.
"What? Why are you protecting them Yuugi? You're so weird...This is your chance to get back at them! Go ahead, hit them, kick them!" Ushio orders as his sneers twist into a growl when Yuugi refuses. "I won't do it! Not to my friends..!"
"Are you serious? C'mon these are the guys who pick on you everyday!" Ushio says with disbelief, smirk widening. "Th-They weren't picking on me...They were teaching me how to be a man..." Ushio shrugs with a snotty air around him. "Well, whatever. But remember Yuugi, you've still gotta pay what you owe me!" Huh? "Bodyguard charges are 200,000 ¥!"
"N..No way!? 200,000 ¥! There's no way I can..." He gets a shove, Ushio grinning down at him menacingly. "Hehe...For 200,000 ¥ you can hit these guys all you want. Sounds like a good deal to me." Yuugi couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was he being blackmailed...? "...Urk..." He mutters feeling the area around him spin. Stop...Stop please!
"What are you not satisfied? They aren't hurting enough?"
"Stop! Stop it, don't hurt them!" He wails before an idea pops in his head. If he has to... "If you have to hurt someone then do it to me! Just leave them alone!" Ushio sniffed, looking down at him with a ballistic grin. "Hmph, you're beyond weird, you're a crazy kid. Alright then, as you wish..." Yuugi closes his eyes tightly and they're yanked open when he's picked up by the collar like a cat.
He felt powerless off the ground even more than he did as he stood in front of Ushio. "I'll just show you what'll happen if you don't pay up! Normally, I hate picking on people but consider this a warning!" His veins lit up in anticipation, eyes squeezed shut. Expecting it made it worse though when the fist sent him on the ground.
Yuugi wheezed as he crumbled on the floor but he knew Ushio wasn't even close to being done. And as he got violently kneed he couldn't help but think about his puzzle, his wish...! I wish for friends, those who I can count on...Who can count on me!
He let himself take a beating and Ushio spared no expense on his stomach, face and chest. A minute that passed felt like an hour as the searing pain dragged out second by second. And finally on the floor and coughing, he delivered one final blow to his gut, leaving Yuugi breathless. "Well, I guess I'm done. Bring that money tomorrow got it!? 200,000 ¥!"
He took something out of his pocket away, a swift moment of coughing and Yuugi peered up to see a glint. A blade. He thought with fear in his eyes. "Break your promise and that won't be all you'll get...I'll show you how this knife works Yuugi!" He cackles as he walks away and Yuugi pitifully gets up after a few stalling seconds. He can feel Jounouchi's gaze on him but he bears through it as he wipes away his own tears.
"J-Jounouchi I'm sorry..." He manages out, blinking just to find more damn tears. The blonde just looks at him startled but remains quiet.
He walks slowly up to Honda who has passed out from the pain and exhaustion, looking in worse shape than Jounouchi. How can I get him to the infirmary..?! He beats himself in his head, even thinking he can help Hiroto to get his wounds checked. "Hmph, Yuugi..." Jounouchi glares and grits his teeth watching Yuugi try so desperately to help Honda. "Damn it!" He forces himself off the ground and Yuugi gulps audibly in fear. "Jounouchi! You shouldn't exert yourself!"
"Man...Be quiet and help me bring this lug to the infirmary." Jounouchi groans in his head at the awed look he gets and sends a glare, snapping Yuugi out of his stupor. Despite the fact they just got slapped around relentlessly, they manage to get Honda to the infirmary. Most of the effort was on Jounouchi but Yuugi would've been crushed if he put anything more into it.
The nurse of Domino High sighed, flicking a pen and grimacing. "Again Jounouchi? Jeez, and even dragging innocent kids into your little meetups? When will you learn?" She hissed, Yuugi shaking his head. "I-It wasn't Jounouchi's fault..." He mutters but refuses to elaborate further. He learned what opening his mouth would do.
"Yeah lady, can't ya' see I'm the one hurt here?!" Jounouchi growls, as she slaps a bandaid on his chin after she had scrubbed it of dirt and disinfected it. "Maybe it wasn't your fault but you shouldn't be getting in fights in the first place." She huffs and turns over to Yuugi, wiping his face with a gentler touch.
Once she finishes with their cuts and bruises she sends them off so that she could work on Honda privately. They stand there outside of the infirmary for a solid second. "Listen Jounouchi I-"
"Save it Yuugi..!" Jounouchi yells at him and winces at his own temper. It made him even angrier he couldn't keep it under control, just like his damned father! He exhales deeply with a hand sweeping through his long bangs. He knows snapping at Yuugi probably hurt his feelings so he shoves down whatever pride he had. "You said it y'er self Yuugi! It was that damned Ushio Tetsu! I swear when I get my hands on him!"
"N-No!" Yuugi yells, exasperated. "Please don't hurt him. No one needs to get hurt..." He begs and Jounouchi sneers, "That stupid brute just finished socking you in the gut and that's all you can think about?! There's more to life than butterflies 'nd rainbows Yuugi! Toughen up!"
Yuugi swallows the lump in his throat and along with that goes his sadness. He had to be strong. "I know what he has done, I'm not saying he's the best person but no one deserves to get hurt...Please.."
Jounouchi grunted, his knuckles aching from trying to fight back against him regardless of him never standing s chance. He just couldn't understand how Yuugi was so forgiving. "People like him don't change." He grits out but stomps on his guilt before it can even start. "...But...I won't touch him unless he comes for you, I or Honda alright?! The moment he lays a hand on ya' I'm coming for that nimrod's neck and all!"
"Okay..Just..No killing." Yuugi smiled gently at the floor, bruised cheek making it lopsided. "Thank you..."
"Whatever..." Jounouchi barely forces out, leaving Yuugi to himself as he fights the flush on his cheeks.
Yuugi Mutou...You make no damn sense...
O
o
"1,654, 1,655...1,656." Yuugi starts as he gazes down at his money. It was...Nowhere near what he needed. Tears filled his eyes again at the stress and heavy emotions. "I can't do this...I can't..." He whimpers, rubbing his face free of moisture. "Ow...ow, ow!" The searing pain escapes him as soon as he takes his hands away from his face but the soreness lingers.
"Agh...What should I do..." He stares at the money as if it would suddenly increase in amount. It doesn't. "Hh..." He pitifully sobs in the confines of his room as the shadows and lamp light are the only things to catch his whines. How did things end up like this!? He was in debt to someone...Oh god.
Imagining that damned blade made him imagine the horrible things that could happen tomorrow. That will happen tomorrow.
He felt so useless, so alone.
He just wanted a friend!
And look where that got him...
Hiccuping he casts his gaze over the puzzle. No this isn't the time...
He was going to be harmed tomorrow because of his big mouth but he can't go to his mom or grandfather...They shouldn't be burdened and fork over money just because Yuugi found himself under blackmail.
"What should I do...If I don't repay him he'll beat me up again, and who knows if he'll ever leave me alone..." His fingers unconsciously found grip on the puzzle. It's all too much...Too much money, too much responsibility. He just wants to play games and have friends.
Sniffling he stares down at the puzzle he'd been working on, the soft clicks making him relax. Then he jumped, irked. "Ah! What am I doing, working on the puzzle?!" Instead of disassembling it again however he goes further in, twisting around a piece and slot in another from the box. But I can't think of anything to do...Working on the puzzle at least makes me feel better...
Cold metal on his exhausted and scratched up palms has him letting his muscles smoothen out. Like a Rubix cube he folded around a couple of pieces and made a pivot on one of them. "Ah..! It went in. I get it, once you put this piece in, give it a half turn then this one has to go in too."
Click...
"Wah...It's so strange how easily this is going..And despite my crappy day..." He zones out, going with what feels right. Piece after piece he snuck into the outer layer of the puzzle that was like a pyramid.
Click
Click
Clic-
"I...I did it...?"
There was a single piece missing, one that should still be in the box and his heart jumped. "I did it! I-" The reach for it left him empty handed.
His heart caught in his throat. "It's gone..." He says breathlessly, hysterical. This must be some cruel joke...
It's gone!
"No! No, no, no!" Sitting up as if he had pins in his feet he looked around where it would drop if it fell. He found absolutely nothing. Then he took everything out of his backpack leaving the room covered in homework he had finished with an uneasy mind, textbooks, games, wrappers, hygiene products.
After a 20 minute scavenge of getting his hopes up and down meticulously in a cycle of hell he decided rather he was in purgatory. Of course...Of course I come so close to solving it and right when I almost get it...
Hysterically he breaks out into a laugh before crying openly, clenching his teeth as he holds the puzzle to his chest. The puzzle...I'll never solve the puzzle...
I'll never get my wish...
That was enough to have him gripping at his desk as he was consumed in negatives. His nails roughly scratched the wood before he let up, staring down at the chipped paint he just caused. Amazing..
"Woah ho! I'm amazed Yuugi! You finished the Millennium Puzzle..." Yuugi startles at the sudden appearance, biting his lip. Great...Just to add salt on the wound... Rejecting the urge to snap at his grandfather, who had just popped out of nowhere, he just shakes his head. "No jii-chan, I couldn't finish it after all."
He lets the older man scoop it up and inspect it. The missing piece was smack dab in the middle, where an Eye of Horus would rest perfectly. With it...It felt like Yuugi was missing a part of his heart, of himself. "Yuugi, you've poured your heart into this puzzle for the last almost decade. I'd suggest you put more faith into it, afterall I gave it to you for a reason!"
Whatever he was saying just made him feel worse, a guilt tipping on his soul. "Your wish will be granted!" Sugoroku insists and just as Yuugi twists around to look at him he gets a big fist in his face. It opens slowly and is laying on his grandfather's palm- "J-Jii-chan..."
Yuugi jumped on the poor old man, overwhelmed. "You found it for me! Thank you!"
Mutou set Yuugi down with a shake of his head. "Actually I wasn't the one who found it." He admits as he places the piece right in Yuugi's hand. "Huh..?" Yuugi mutters, looking down at it as if it were the world itself. "A friend of yours came by...He asked me to give it you." Yuugi blinks rapidly. Who could that be? Anzu...No he said he. Then his already giddy expression became bigger. Friend...Could it be..? "He was sopping wet when he came up too." Sugoroku laughed remembering the tall male who came over, blonde and shaggy hair encapsulating his facial features.
"Wow...Okay!" Yuugi pivoted on his heel and lunged to where the puzzle was resting on his desk invitingly. Unaware of his grandfather slipping an envelope in his backpack that was completely empty and showing signs of being dumped out, Yuugi hurriedly sat down in his chair. "Thank you jii-chan! Goodnight!" And as Sugoroku strolled out, a happy smile on his face Yuugi's own mirrored his. "Goodnight Yuugi." Then the door shut behind his grandfather. I wish I could thank whoever brought me the last piece..!
The last piece in his hand and triangular 3RD dimensional puzzle in the other he felt as if things were finally starting to look up. Heart thudding obnoxiously on his chest he could hear the blood rushing to his ears. I'm finally going to complete the Millennium Puzzle!
With a swallow he guided the Eye to the missing gap, and aligned it. It wasn't fully in yet so he gave it one more solid push for good measure. "Hah...I did it...I did it-!" A flashbang right before his eyes erupted in his vision frying his retinas and yet that eye was all he could see through it all. There was screaming all around him and he found that he was the one screaming and couldn't rip his eyes from the puzzle. As if in a trance he couldn't do anything as a beam of light lunged at his forehead.
Searing pain flooded through him as the once numbness was replaced with burning flesh, skin boiling past melting point.
He wished to yank himself away from what was causing him so much anguish but his limbs were pinned at his sides, eyes swelling in tears and feeling so not himself.
His eyes grew heavy and without so much as a thought he fell asleep. It felt as if it was all a dream and he was in bed.
That he had gone along with his promise to Anzu that he'd slept early, that there was no trouble coming for him in the form of a hall monitor.
Well that's a wrap y'all. That actually consisted of what what've been two chapters but they felt too short so as a person who loves to read long chapters I combined them.
I'm open to critiques if you've gottem btw. That's really all I've got to say.
-Kyle
