Moons: I'm sorry about the delay!! But I was in Florida and I didn't have time to write. So I'm writing the next chapter for you now!
Aurora: So write it.
Moons: Hush you! I'm going!! *runs off to computer*
Aurora: *sigh* Read and review this chapter and give her a reason to go on.
Pharaoh's Spirit
CHAPTER FOUR: FRIENDSHIPS DEEPEN
Yami didn't understand why he was there, but he was. He was sitting on the ground, back pressed against a street light, lit cigarette grasped lightly between his fingers. His knees were brought up against his chest and his head was resting on top of them. Sitting there in the dark, curled up in a fetal position, Yami could feel the dampness on his cheeks. His crying angered him. It showed weakness. Maybe that was what he was. A weakling. After all if he had been strong, this whole situation wouldn't be happening.
He sighed and pressed his face deeper into his knees. Why did Kaiba have to come back? Couldn't he just leave him alone to live his miserable life? More tears began to fall. This angered Yami even more. With an exasperated cry, he slammed his fist into sidewalk. The concrete scraped a layer of skin off his knuckles. Blood began to trickle down his fingers and a pain throbbed just below the torn skin. But Yami ignored it. At this point he figured he deserved to feel the pain. It was just something a weakling like him should learn to live with.
Looking up, Yami still couldn't remember why he was sitting where he was. Across from him sat the quaint little Game Shop that Anzu had told him Yugi lived in. He had talked to Ryou earlier and found out that little Yugi had tried to find him today and thank him personally for saving him. But instead he wound up spending the day with Ryou, talking. Yami couldn't help but wonder how much Ryou had told Yugi. He didn't want the little one to know about how dirty he was. He didn't want Yugi to look at him as though tainted. Or worse, with pity.
When he looked up at the second story, he noticed that a light was on in one window. A dark form was silhouetted against it. Yami squinted, trying to figure out who it was. Before he could distinguish any familiar traits, the form was gone. Yami's first instinct was to panic. He was being watched. The gang leader part of his mind screamed at him to get up and run, not sit there and get caught. Instead he did just the opposite. He sat there. If that person was going to call the cops on him, so be it. A jail cell was better then falling into Kaiba's hands again.
The front door of the shop opened and Yami hung his head. He waited for one of Yugi's parents to start yelling at him, threatening him with an already made call to the cops. Instead, a soft voice called out to him.
"Yami?"
Yami's head snapped up. That was Yugi's voice. Yami peered at the doorway, and sure enough, Yugi stood there in his pajamas. His hair was ruffled from sleep and his eyes were still squinted in a tired narrowness. He spoke once more through a yawn.
"Yami, is that you?"
Yami turned his head away when Yugi started down the steps towards him. He didn't want Yugi to see him like this. He didn't understand why, but he felt like he should be Yugi's protector. And he couldn't very well protect someone who knew he was weak. They would laugh at his tough act.
And then Yugi was kneeling beside him. He placed a hand on Yami's shoulder and tried to force the gang leader to look at him. But Yami only turned farther away.
"Yami, what's wrong?" Yugi was begging for an answer. "Please talk to me."
"Go away Yugi." Yami murmured miserably. "You don't want to get caught up in my fucked up life."
Yugi sat back on his haunches and glared at Yami. Though he still hadn't turned to face him, Yami could sense the anger on the younger boy's features. He crossed his arms over his chest and set an icy stare on the gang leader.
"Well you obviously want me caught up in it if you're sitting outside my house at one in the morning." He grabbed Yami's chin and forced him to look at him. "And you've obviously been crying. Now, if you aren't going to talk to me, I'm going to go back in my house and pretend I never found you out here."
Yugi sat there for a few seconds, waiting for Yami's response. But Yami couldn't respond. He wanted to, Lord knew that. His heart was begging him to talk to Yugi, to find a neutral party to spill his darkest secrets to. He didn't know why, but he felt a tie to the young boy. Caught in his own mental turmoil, he didn't see Yugi rise to his feet, hurt etched in his features.
"Fine." He spoke. "Then I'm going back inside Yami. And if I run into you or any of your friends again I'll pretend I never saw you sitting outside my house crying and allowing a cigarette to dwindle down to nothing. Goodnight!"
He started to walk away when Yami realized he was about to lose his chance to ever look at Yugi as a friend. He clambered to his knees and reached a hand out towards the boy's retreating back.
"Yugi!" He choked out. "Don't go!"
Yugi stopped and turned to look at the broken down Yami. His crimson eyes were moist. He looked truly miserable and sorry. Yugi's heart broke at the sight and he sighed. He turned and gave Yami a light smile.
"Yami, I won't go." He walked over and kneeled down beside Yami. "But are you going to tell me why you're sitting outside my house so late at night and obviously upset?"
Yami nodded slowly. But instead of talking, Yami only drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Yugi saw his bleeding knuckles and snapped to attention.
"You're bleeding." He announced, grasping Yami's hand. "Quick, come into my house. I can patch that up for you."
Yami's eyes grew wide and he pulled his hand away from Yugi. He quickly rose to his feet and turned away from Yugi's house.
"I can't go in your house." He murmured.
"Why not?" Yugi's eyes were narrowed in confusion.
"What if your parents see me?" Yami shifted for foot to foot. "They'd call the cops. And they know who I am and that's all they need to put me away for a while. I can't risk that over a couple bloody knuckles."
Yugi started laughing. His tiny frame shook as he bent over and placed his hands on his knees. Yami stared at him in wonder. Was Yugi laughing at him? He couldn't think he was that pathetic, could he?
"Yami," Yugi finally choked out. "Lighten up. There's no one in my house is going to call the cops on you. Trust me. You have to learn that you can always trust me."
Yugi suddenly stopped talking as though he had said too much. Yami stared at him with some question but decided to allow whatever lay just beyond the young teen's tongue to stay there until he was ready to let it slide out into the open. Instead he took a step towards the Game Shop and turned expectantly to Yugi.
"Well, if you're sure it's safe," He tried to sound brave, "Let's go. At least I can wash the blood off my knuckles."
Yugi smiled and grabbed Yami by the hand. He lead him to his house and into the kitchen. Pulling out a chair, he motioned for Yami to sit. Glancing around him uneasily, Yami slowly lowered himself into the chair. He watched as Yugi bounced around the kitchen, making what was in his mind too much of a racket.
"Yugi," He begged. "Please be a bit more quietly. I don't want you parents waking up. Mothers tend to have a bad reaction if they see me talking to their kids."
Yugi grabbed one last thing before turning to the antsy gang leader. He placed the medical supplies on the table. Wetting a cloth with a some anti-bacterial solution, he grabbed Yami's hand and began cleaning the bloodily knuckles.
"That would be kind of hard to manage." Yugi shrugged while cleaning Yami's wounds. "I don't live with my mother. Or my father for that matter. And my grandfather sleeps like the dead. I could set off a firework in the house and he wouldn't hear it. So we're safe."
Yami's eyes widened. He had no idea that Yugi didn't live with his parents. Yugi hadn't mentioned that outside when Yami had mentioned parents before. He felt bad for bringing that up because he knew what it was like to not have a mother or father around. At least Yugi had his Grandfather to love and care for him. Unlike him, he who had no one.
"So can I ask what you were doing sitting outside my house last night?" Yugi's question snapped Yami back into reality. "I mean you seemed upset about something."
"I, uh," Yami stopped. He couldn't tell Yugi why he was upset. That would entitle telling Yugi about his past and he wasn't ready to do that yet. Or ever. He didn't want anybody knowing about that.
"It was a blast from my past." He lied. "And it was something I couldn't handle yet."
Yugi glanced up from finishing patching up Yami's hand. He could see the uneasy feeling in his eyes. There was something Yami wasn't telling him that was really bothering him. Like just who was a blast from his past and why he couldn't handle it. Part of him figured it had something to do with his past with that other gang leader, Seto Kaiba. But he knew better then to bring that up. He didn't want Yami to know that he knew. That would defiantly put a damper on their relationship. Whatever it was at that point. Yami quickly rose to his feet and flexed his knuckles. He gave Yugi an approving smile.
"Fighting fit." He announced. He glanced once more around the house. "And if you're sure that we won't wake anyone I'd like to see more of your place."
Yugi blushed and nodded. Yami wanted to see his house, learn more about him. The very thought of that thrilled him beyond belief. Maybe he would become friends or more with Yami. And that would suit him just fine.
"Sure." Yugi grinned, leading Yami into the living room. "This is the living room."
Yami's eyes grew wide at the sight of Yugi's living room. There was a large screened TV with three couches surrounding it in a horse-shoe shape. One wall was lined with book filled shelves, the other with CDs. Right below the bottom shelf of CDs was a large stereo, not much unlike the one he had in his room. Granted he had gotten his on a five finger discount years ago. He walked over and began riffling through Yugi's music collection. Slowly his face scrunched up in confusion and disgust. Yugi noticed this and joined him.
"What's with the face?" He asked the gang leader.
Yami jumped as though he had forgotten that Yugi was there. He looked down at the younger boy and then gestured towards his CDs.
"What's all this?" He asked some what bewildered.
"My music." Yugi shrugged. "Well mostly my grandfather's. But I like it as much as I guess I can. Why, is it bad?"
Yami pulled out a CD by some older man that he had never heard of. And by the look of the man on the cover, he had probably kicked the bucket not to long after the CD had entered Yugi's house hold.
"Where's your rock?" Yami asked as he slipped the CD back into place. "Where's you're Aerosmith? Your Doors? Your Bon Jovi? Your AC/DC, Motley Crue, KISS, Guns and Roses, Bryan Adams? For the love of God, where's your Def Leppard?!"
This time it was Yugi's face that scrunched up. He shook his head lightly.
"I don't know who you're talking about." He said. "Never heard of those bands."
Yami's jaw dropped open. The look he was giving Yugi read 'dumb ass'. Yugi huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I don't get out much." He defended himself. "I really only listen to the bands that my Grandfather brings home."
Yami smiled and patted Yugi on the head. The change in his attitude was almost alarming. It was if Yugi alone was able to make him forget his problems and have fun. And if that was the case, then Yugi needed to hang around more often.
"You come by the ware house some time and I'll let you listen to some real music." Yami promised him. "After you rock, you won't ever go back."
Yugi smiled now and nodded viciously, much like the way he had with Ryou. Remembering that he stopped and slowed his nod to a casual acceptance.
"You can bet I'll stop by." He grinned. "Not much goes on around here and I'm always bored."
Yami now frowned. "Don't you have friends that you hang out with?"
Yugi looked down at the floor so that Yami couldn't see the sadness that crossed his features. But even though he couldn't see it, Yami knew it was there. He was very good with body language. After all, he was the master at it.
"Not really." Yugi finally murmured. "I've always been an outcast. That why you caught me getting beat up the other day. That's basically the only contact I have with the kids I go to school with. I'm their punching bag."
Yami bristled and felt a growl rise in his throat. Just the thought of somebody being picked on brought back his past and sent him into a fury. He placed a tense hand on Yugi's shoulder and pointed a finger in his face.
"If it happens again you just let me know." He growled. "I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
Yami felt like a dog protecting his territory. But he didn't want anyone picking on Yugi. He was a good kid and Yami knew first hand what a little teasing could do to a person. All the negatives effects and the very few positives. It was just something he didn't want happening to Yugi.
"Please Yami." Yugi had a light but tense smile. "You can't attack half my school."
"Didn't plan to do that." Yami smiled almost eerily. "Trust me, I have other ways to get my point across." Yami got down close to Yugi's face. "I wouldn't break a sweat making sure you were fine and bully free."
Yugi's breath was caught in his throat. Yami's face was so close to his own, with in reach. He'd only half to move half an inch to plant his lips on Yami's, quench that thirst that had suddenly wrapped him in its grip. Yami must have also felt it because a slightly hungry look flashed up in his crimson eyes.
A sudden noise from upstairs broke the two boys apart. Yugi gasped and began pushing Yami towards the front door.
"Grandpa must be up to use the bathroom." He whispered quickly. "Quick, outside!"
Yami bolted for the door with Yugi right on his tail. When the two were safely outside Yami began to laugh. Yugi looked at him as though he had lost his mind.
"What?" He asked.
"A firework won't wake your grandfather," Yami chuckled, "But I guess he can't sleep through the call of nature."
Yugi cracked a smile and began to laugh along with Yami. With the two of them laughing neither one saw the shadows that crept along the street towards them. It wasn't the shadows cast by the street lights fell on top of their shoes did Yami and Yugi notice their company. But once they did Yami was up in a flash.
"Marik, Honda." He growled as the two rival gang members stepped out of the shadows.
Marik, a teen with long, platinum blond hair and lavender eyes, stepped towards Yami, a threat apparent in each step. He sneered at them, his eyes narrowing into evil slits.
"Dear Yami." He spoke without much sympathy. "Now what are you doing out by yourself?"
"Yeah." Honda, a boy with brunette hair that's bangs came a point and dirt brown eyes, stepped up, appearing to be muscles with no brain. "And with only this runt to protect you."
Yugi bristled at that comment. He hated people calling him a runt. Being short had always made his life harder. It made him an easier bully target and kept him off basically every sports team. So the last thing he wanted was some delinquents to start in with that.
"This is my property." He announced some what snidely. "I can have the cops here in a second and you handcuffed in the back of a cruiser in two."
Honda seemed to get nervous with that comment but Marik's grin only widened. He pointed a finger at Yugi and then at Yami.
"Go ahead runt, call the cops." He taunted. "But once they get here your buddy Yami will be taking a ride with them. They have enough on him to not need any other reason to arrest him."
Yugi grew uneasy. He knew Marik was right but that was his only back up plan. With that idea shot, he couldn't think of a way to help Yami. And even though Yami was tough, two on one wasn't fair in any rule book. He went to say something but Yami held an arm to him.
"Don't worry about Yugi." He growled. "I'll take care of these two jokers. Make them think twice about coming here and trying to fuck with us."
Yami pulled a dagger from his waist band suddenly regretting leaving the warehouse with his gun. That would have scared these two lackeys off with just a glint of the metal and save him the aggravation of having to fight them.
"You'll regret that Yami." Marik said as he drew his dagger. He waved a hand at Honda which meant for him to back down.
"I don't think so." Yami snarled, flicking his knife at Marik. "Let's go."
Marik suddenly lunged at Yami, tackling him to the ground. He raised his knife to bury it in Yami's chest, but Yami was quicker. He drove his knee into Marik's stomach knocking the wind out if him. Marik fell off the top of Yami. Rising to his feet, Yami brought his knife high above his head, ready to finish off Marik when he heard Yugi yell from the stairs.
"Yami don't!"
Yami lowered his weapon and looked at the frantic Yugi. There were tears in his purple orbs and the sight broke Yami's heart. Yugi ran over to him and wrapped his arms around his waist.
"Don't kill him because then you're no better then he is." Yugi pleaded. "And you'll defiantly go to jail for a lot longer. So don't do it. Be more of a man then he is."
Yami smiled and was about to say something when Marik jumped to his feet and drove his dagger deep into Yami's shoulder. Yami let out a cry of pain and stumbled backwards. Yugi let out his own shriek and jumped to support him. Marik grinned at him before motioning to Honda. The two stole off into the night, leaving Yami with a dagger in his shoulder.
"Yami!" Yugi was almost in tears at the sight of the gang leader and his friend. "Oh God Yami, are you okay?"
Yami moaned through clenched teeth. His fingers trailed over the handle of Marik's dagger. He moved to pull it out but another bolt of pain flashed through him and he let go, fighting back a scream.
"Yugi," He groaned. "Help me up. I have to get back the warehouse."
Yugi allowed Yami to support all his weight on him as he staggered back to his feet. A bloody hand print was left on the shoulder of his light blue pajamas. The sight of it made Yugi's stomach churn. But he had to push that aside and Yami. He had to!
"Let's start walking Yami." He ordered softly. "The quicker you get back, the better you'll be."
Yami looked down at him through crimson eyes that were pinched in pain. But Yugi could still see the awe through the fog of pain.
"Yugi, you don't have to go." He whispered. "I can make it back on my own."
"No way." Yugi shook his head. "If you go off on your own there's a chance you'll never make it back. I can't have that guilt on my shoulders."
Yami gave a soft smile. They started forward, Yami moving faster then he needed to. But he didn't care. The pain he could handle. He just needed to get back, get this dagger on his shoulder. But he also knew that if asked Yugi to pull it out now he was likely to pass out. And he knew that Yugi couldn't carry him there by himself.
The walk took longer then Yami ever remembered. But finally Yugi was raising his fist to bang on the large metal door to the warehouse. After a few seconds there was no answer. Taking the little reserved strength he had, Yami called out.
"OPEN THE DOOR YOU MORONS!"
Yugi jumped slightly. But the cry had worked. The door was slowly pulled open and Ryou's head poked out through the opening. When he caught sight of Yami, his eyes grew wide and he threw the door wide open.
"My God!" He yelped. "What the hell happened? Jou, Anzu, Otogi! Come here quick!"
The other gang members appeared and had the same reaction that Ryou had had. Jou ran out and took Yami's weight off Yugi's shoulder. He let out a quiet moan of pain.
"Quick!" Anzu shouted. "Get him into his room! We have to get that dagger out and stop the bleeding!"
Jou hustled Yami into his room. The stereo was playing lightly in the corner. Yami always left it on. He laid him down on the bed and looked at the dagger handle that was sticking out of his shoulder. He was about to turn away when he felt a weak hand on his arm. Jou turned and saw Yami looking at him through half-lidded, pain fogged eyes.
"Take it out." He pleaded in a weak voice. "Please, get it out of me."
Jou looked at him miserably. He couldn't expect Yami to do that. It would cause him more pain and that wasn't something that Jou wanted to cause him. His brown eyes locked on Yami's sweating face and he felt his own brow break out in a stressed dampness.
"P-please." Yami begged once more.
There was a slight sound behind them. Jou turned to see that everyone had joined them in the room. Anzu was standing there with the medical bag all ready to take over. Otogi stood just behind her. To their left stood Ryou with his hands on little Yugi's shoulder.
Yugi. Yugi had the courage to do save Yami and bring him here. He was brave enough to go against things that were bigger and more dangerous then he was. Something bad could have happened to him but he hadn't cared. Jou knew that he could use this little boys bravery to help his own friend.
Turning back to Yami he gripped the dagger's handle as lightly as he could. But Yami's face still tightened and a tiny hiss escaped him. Jou almost wavered, but he knew he couldn't back down. He spoke a mental apology to Yami before pulling the dagger out swiftly.
Yami let out a loud scream as his vision wavered. His breathing came labored but he still managed to give Jou a weak smile.
"Thank you." He murmured before giving into blackness.
"Yami!" Jou yelped when he realized that his friend had passed out.
"He's fine." Anzu jumped in before Jou went frantic with guilt. "Just a few stitches and he'll be perfectly fine. I bit sore, but still fine."
Anzu slowly pulled Yami's shirt off and began to work on his injury. In the time she had spent in Pharaoh's Spirit she had learned a lot about health care. Especially stitches. She had given a lot of those in her time in this gang. She looked over her shoulder and motioned to everyone hanging out.
"Shows over." She announced. "All of you out. And Yugi, thank you so much. But I really think you should get home. It's very late and there's nothing more you can do here."
Yugi nodded and followed Ryou, Jou and Otogi out the door. The four of them walked to the large metal doors. Jou wiped the blood off his hands using his jeans. The sight of it made him shudder. He glanced at Yugi and noticed that he had also had a bloody hand print on his shoulder.
"Thank you so much Yugi." He whispered. "Yami could have died if you weren't there."
"I really didn't do anything." Yugi shrugged as Otogi pulled open the door. I found Yami outside my house earlier. He looked upset and he had bloody knuckles. I brought him into patch them up and we looked around my house. When we went outside these two guys jumped us. Yami went to kill one of them and I stopped him. I didn't want to see do that. While I had him distracted the other took advantage of him. But I don't think he was aiming to kill, just hurt Yami."
Ryou's brow furrowed. He stood by Jou's side and cocked his head to the side.
"Did you catch these guys' names?" He asked.
"Yes." Yugi nodded. "Their names were Marik and Honda."
Otogi bristled. His lip pulled back in a snarl and a low growl rose up in the back of his throat. Yugi glanced up at him, fear and confusion flashing in his eyes.
"Marik?" He snarled. "That no good asshole. I'm going to rip that fucker a new asshole when I see him!"
Yugi involuntarily took a step back, but no one noticed. Yugi found himself almost outside. The cool night air blew up the back of his shirt. He tapped on Ryou's shoulder and gave the white haired gang member a light smile.
"I'm going to leave." He told him. "It's late and I want to get back before my grandfather realizes I'm gone. He'd freak and I don't know how I would explain it to him. I hope Yami's all right, but I'll stop by again."
Ryou smiled and patted Yugi on his clean shoulder.
"You're welcome back anytime kid." He grinned.
Yugi slipped out the door with a quick wave. As he started back towards his house a happiness spread over him. Yeah Yami had been hurt, but before that they had talked and laughed. And Yami had offered an invitation for them to hang out more often.
He turned and glanced over his shoulder at the large warehouse. Maybe he was falling for the gang leader.
But maybe, just maybe, the gang leader was falling for him in return.