Chapter 3:Bloody and Bowed
"Yugi, I want you to listen very carefully to me." Joey said, gazing directly into the miserable boy's eyes. "I never, ever want to hear you say those kinda words again, do you understand?"
Shaking his head sorrowfully, the broken boy whimpered, "It's all true, though. Every word I've said is true. I'm nothing but a toy used for someone else's satisfaction, and--"
"And is that all you're good for?"
Shamefully, the magenta-eyed adolescent nodded. "Yes, that's my only purpose in life: to please others."
The disheartened youth attempted to lower his head, but the blond wouldn't permit him to. Hooking a thumb and forefinger around Yugi's tear-stained chin, Joey forced him to look into his eyes. Upon seeing his depressing features reflected in his friend's dark orbs, the duelist felt more tears slipping down his cheeks. He didn't want to burden Joey with his personal dilemmas, that just didn't feel right to do. Besides, the bouncy teenager was the best friend Yugi had ever had the honor of knowing, and he didn't deserve to be subjected to such emotional trash.
"I-I'm sorry, Joey…" the magenta-eyed teenager apologized, his jaw quivering as he spoke. "I'm so sorry…"
"For what?" questioned the blond, truly bewildered. "I don't even know how to help you, or what's goin' on!"
"For dumping on you like this. It's just not fair to you." answered the disturbed youth, his eyes plastered to the ground
Heartbroken by Yugi's destroyed appearance, Joey removed his fingers from the pale face. Placing one arm around the boy's narrow shoulders and another slightly underneath his bottom, the taller teenager lifted him onto his lap. He looked so helpless on Jounochi's legs, clinging to the blonde's jacket like a child who was suddenly slapped with cold reality. Permitting his fingertips to glide through the boy's matted bangs, the dark-eyed adolescent gently rocked him back and forth. Accepting the open invitation of affection, Yugi buried his face between the blonde's neck and shoulders. Smearing Joey's skin with hot tears, the ruined child's entire body shook from violent sobbing. Wanting to hold his friend closer to himself, the blond repositioned one of his hands to the shaking adolescent's torso. Just as his fingers grazed the boy's chest, Yugi jerked away. Flinching at his own rapid movements, the boy's visage became a mask of total pain. Feeling his own eyes well up with tears at being pushed away, Joey hung his head.
/ I wanna help him, and I know he wants me to, but he won't let me! Why? Why can't I be there for him when he needs it the most? I care about him so much, but I guess that doesn't stand for anything…/
Peeking at his ally with glossy eyes, the blond caught sight of the magenta-eyed adolescent gripping his upper body. Upon closer observation, the taller teenager could see random red splotches being absorbed into Yugi's shirt. It didn't take long for the blonde's mind to register what ghastly secret his friend was concealing. The only dilemma Joey faced now was the fact that he would have to figure out a way to pry the truth out of the boy.
/What if he lies to me?/ thought Jounouchi, biting on his lower lip. /He could be so badly hurt that I may never get him to open up to me. Then again, if I turn my back on him and leave him alone, he'll just continue to cower in the corner. No matter what happens, I gotta keep trying. If I give up now, I'll just be showing him I don't give a damn./
Using a nearby table to steady himself, the blond stood up. As he calmly regarded his ally, Joey made his way to the youth's side. When he was within reaching distance of the cringing adolescent, the taller teen began to stretch his hand out to touch him. Seeing how Yugi turned his face towards the shadows , Jounouchi decided against establishing any contact. Something told the blond that his comrade was deathly afraid of any sort of touching.
/How?/ pondered Joey, unable to understand such a radical change of heart from the traumatized child. /How could someone so loving and altruistic become so introverted and withdrawn?/
Feeling the desperate need to free Yugi from whatever grief he was suffering from, Joey whispered, "Yug, let me help you."
Moving like a rusted piece of machinery, the magenta-eyed boy brought his knees up to his chest. Strands of honey hair stuck to his head, the tresses twined with cold sweat. Letting a low moan escape his throat, the devastated child hid his face behind his hands.
"No!" moaned Yugi, his voice cracking as he forced himself to speak. "Don't make me remember, I don't want to remember!"
"Don't you trust me?" asked Jounouchi, lightly removing the adolescent's hands from his visage.
Caught unawares, the wild-eyed adolescent blinked. "What did you say?"
"I just asked you if you trusted me." repeated the blond, amused by the look of astonishment he was getting.
"Can I?"
Shrugging slightly, the dark-eyed teen said, "I dunno, you tell me. You can choose to stay in your own little world and get to be as sociable as Kaiba, or you can tell me what's eatin' ya so we can fight through this thing together. It's your call." Caressing the boy's cheek, Joey added, "I just want ya to know I'll always be here for ya man, and I'll continue to be here for ya as long as you'll let me stay."
Nodding slowly, the child-like youth managed a weak smile. The expression, though sagging somewhat, made the blond heave a sigh of relief. Yugi, as dazed and distant as he seemed, wasn't lost just yet. Restraining the tremendous urge to smother him in an embrace, Joey settled for giving him a smile. Everything was going to be all right after all, as soon as he could get the tiny teen to spill what was up with him.
"Now, would ya mind telling' me what's up?" inquired the dark-eyed adolescent, hooking some of Yugi's wet tresses behind his ear. "I got all the time in the world to listen."
/Poor, sweet Joey…/ sympathized Yugi, his thoughts and fears jumbled inside of his brain in pure chaos. /He's only saying that because he has no idea what I'm holding back. As soon as I spill it all out, he'll offer nothing but cruel criticism. I'll deserve it, of course, but I just wish there was a way to escape the insults. I can't take anymore of that, the irrational violence, the brutal battery, the way my attacker pinned me to ground and forced me to…no. I can't hold this inside any longer, but he'll turn away from me once I illustrate all the acts I've been engaging in. I didn't enjoy the methods used against me, but I should have been able to get out of such a compromising situation. But how do you escape from the clutches of an individual whose only desire is to take advantage of you? Once you're thrust in chains by that dominant person, it's so hard to get away. Do I really trust Joey? Yes, more than anyone else I know! I want him to hold me, to touch me once more with the same tender emotion I didn't even know he had residing within himself. I want to feel like I belong to him, to be his. Jounouchi, my best friend, I also wish for nothing more than to have you. If you truly believe you have it in you to deal with such precarious issues…then do so. You asked me if I trusted you, inwardly questioned if I would open up to you. I do, Joey, I really do…truly madly deeply do…don't let me down./
Peering at Jounouchi with swollen magenta orbs, the boy unfolded the terribly twisted tale that had changed his life forever.