~ ~ ~ O.O Wow...I can safely say that I am thankful for the quick reviews.
@_@ I have to admit - I was VERY surprised to see so many in my email box.
Arigatou!!!!!! ^_^ I am TRULY loved!!
Okay, like I said in my other story, I'm updating every weekend, snow days, vacations, or other free days. And on the past snow day I had, I was too busy trying to draw chibis of the Greek Gods for an Ancient Medieval History project. (Hades was surprisingly easier than Zeus. Who would've thought that?)
I'm getting off topic, ne? ^_^; Gomen - I'm trying...
Anyway, I don't own YugiOh or any of the characters in it. Here's another warning about serious language, child abuse, and the other stuff I mentioned in the first chapter. Probably no lemons - I'm only sixteen, and I can't write that stuff.
Back to business...-_- Here's chappie number two - hope you enjoy!! ~ ~ ~ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
CLICK.
Yugi grinned as another piece of his golden puzzle fit into place. Searching the golden box for another piece, Yugi took a look around him. He was at Domino Junior High School, and students were beginning to file in for class. He carefully placed the puzzle and the golden box in his backpack, knowing that first period was about to begin.
"Yugi!!"
Yugi looked up as his friend Anzu walked over to him. Setting her backpack down on the desk nearby, she brushed her brown bangs from her eyes. She straightened out her girls' uniform that she was required to wear, and then she flashed Yugi a big smile.
"Good morning, Yugi! How're you doing?" Anzu asked politely as she sat down at her desk.
"F-Fine," Yugi managed to stammer out.
Anzu blinked her blue eyes. "Is something wrong?" she asked, concerned with her friend's well-being.
"I-I-I-I'm all right, Anzu." Yugi bowed his head, staring at his desk. =(Hope she doesn't suspect something,)= he thought, a warning from his father flashing in his mind.
"Well, you should talk to somebody, okay? You've been stammering for a few months now, and that worries me. Promise?"
Yugi hesitated. He didn't want to make a promise he couldn't keep, but he also didn't want to lose a friend. He had met Anzu a few years ago, and since then they had been the best of friends. But after a while, he looked up at Anzu and replied:
"Hai...I promise."
* * * * * * *
WHAM!!!
Yugi let out a whimper as Ibaru picked Yugi up by the collar and pressed him against the lockers. It was a few minutes after the bell had rung, signaling the lunch wave to begin. Yugi, after getting his money from his locker, had been cornered by the school bully. Again.
"All right, you little punk," Ibaru snarled as he slammed Yugi once again into the lockers. "It's time to pay for some 'life insurance'. You know the drill - 5,000 yen!!"
Yugi whimpered again as he reached into his pocket for his lunch money. Pulling out 100 yen, he placed it into the bully's outstretched hand. After counting it, Ibaru frowned and turned to Yugi angrily. "This isn't 5,000 yen, Yugi," he said dangerously. "You know what happens when it isn't the right amount, ne?"
Yugi's eyes widened with fear as Ibaru raised a hand to punch him. Knowing what was coming, he closed his eyes tightly and waited for the blow.
But it didn't come.
Instead, Yugi heard Ibaru whine, "I was just having some fun, you know? Wasn't gonna hurt him TOO much."
Yugi felt Ibaru's hands leave his collar, and he collapsed to the ground. Opening his eyes again, Yugi saw a tall blond boy facing Ibaru. His boys' uniform was ruffled, as if he had been in a minor scuffle. His brown eyes were narrowed as he told Ibaru, "Well, either way, if anyone decides ta mess with my buddy, then they'd hafta face ME." He raised his fists, ready to fight. "Ready?"
Ibaru growled and turned back to Yugi. "I'll get you later, punk," he said, green eyes narrowed and menacing.
Yugi whimpered as the blonde piped up, "Then, I'll be there, too!"
Ibaru cast one final glance at the boy before shaking his head in defeat and wandering off.
The blonde snorted before he held a hand out to Yugi. Mistaking it for a fist, Yugi flinched and tried to back away.
"Hey," the blonde replied, puzzled by Yugi's actions, "I'm only tryin' ta HELP you."
"O-Oh," Yugi stated before he took the boy's hand. The blonde carefully pulled him to his feet.
"Dat was close," he said casually. "One more second, and you'd have been toast." The boy smiled. "Name's Jounouchi Katsuya, but my friends call me Jou. You're Yugi, right?"
Yugi nodded as he brushed back his golden bangs. "A-A-Arigatou, K-Katsuya," he stammered as he picked up his money that Ibaru had dropped.
"Hey, hey, HEY!!" Yugi winced as he heard the loud voice.
"I SAID, my friends call me Jou. Dat means YOU."
Yugi looked up at Jou and smiled. "A-Arigatou," he said again, eyes shining.
Jou winked. "Don't mention it," he replied as he and Yugi walked towards the cafeteria. "Anzu's a friend of mine, too, and she told me 'bout ya. Figured ya might need some help, ya know? And ya know Honda? He's a friend of mine, too, so you don't hafta worry. 'Kay?"
Yugi laughed shakily. "Hai!!" he replied, happy knowing that his friend - change that, FRIENDS - were there to help him.
* * * * * * *
"Freedom at last!!" Jou cried out as he, Yugi, Anzu, and Honda ran out of the school. The final bell hand rung, homework had been given out, and now they had the rest of the afternoon to relax.
"How about hitting the arcade?" Honda suggested, his dark eyes twinkling. His brown hair was gelled up into a spike that arched out from his forehead, an unusual hairstyle for a boy. Yugi was glad to have him on his side, since Honda and Jou had a fighting reputation around the school. The boy had been happy to meet Yugi and didn't mind the instant friendship.
"Nah, too many people," Jou stated dully.
"How about the library?" Anzu asked.
Jou and Honda sent her a funny look. "You've gotta be kiddin', right?" Jou said, one eyebrow raised from the girl's suggestion.
Anzu frowned. "All right, how about we let Yugi decide?" Turning to her friend, she asked politely, "Yugi, where would you like to go?"
"W-What time is it?" Yugi asked, dodging the question.
Honda raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything about it as he checked his watch. "3:30. Why?" he asked.
Yugi's eyes widened as he heard the time. =(I better hurry,)= he thought as he bowed hastily to his three friends. "G-Gomen, but I-I-I have to go h-h- home," he said quickly. "M-Maybe another t-t-time."
Anzu nodded understandingly. "All right, Yugi. We'll see you later!!"
But Yugi had already run off down the sidewalk, not staying to hear Anzu's reply.
Anzu frowned. "It just gets worse and worse," she muttered as she turned back to the boys.
"Nani?" Jou asked, puzzled by the entire situation. "What're ya talkin' about?"
Anzu explained, "Yugi's been acting strangely ever since I met him. He can never stay after school, his stammering gets worse and worse with each passing day, and lately..."
"Lately what?" Honda pressed.
"Well, lately he's been coming to school with cuts and bruises all over his arms. I questioned him about it once, but he just said he tripped on the way home from school one day." Anzu peered up at the cloudy sky above her. "I wonder...I wonder if something's wrong at his home - something he can't tell any of us."
"It's possible," Jou said, shrugging as he walked down towards the arcade. "My dad got really abusive when my parents divorced, and I couldn't tell anyone. It's died down, but I still remember the beatings."
"Oh!" Anzu said, raising a hand to her mouth. "Is that why you fight a lot?"
"Don't matter now," Jou said quickly. "Anyway, we better head over to the arcade before all da good games are taken!!" With that said, he raced Honda down the block, laughing the entire way.
Anzu sighed as he looked once again at the clouds above her. "Please," she prayed as she ran after the boys, "Please watch after Yugi - don't let anything happen to him..."
* * * * * * *
Breathing heavily, Yugi's feet pounded against the pavement as he raced to his house. =(I hope he hasn't come home yet,)= he prayed, thinking of how mad his father would be if he showed up after four o'clock. His parents had set a strict curfew when they began fighting - home by four, no going out afterwards. During weekends, he wasn't even allowed to leave the house.
Yugi sighed in relief as he saw the driveway empty. Neither of his parents were home, which meant he wouldn't get beaten again. He winced slightly as he unlocked the front door and went inside. When Ibaru had dropped him that afternoon, Yugi had fallen on his ankle, sending a small amount of pain through his leg.
Yugi went to the kitchen and pulled an ice pack out of the freezer. Holding it against his ankle, he sat at the kitchen table with an apple and some crackers he had found in the cabinet. He took out the golden puzzle and began placing pieces in the slots. He didn't have that many left, and the pyramid was almost complete.
After an hour of playing with the puzzle, Yugi suddenly heard a car roar into the driveway. Fearing what would happen if he was discovered out of his room, he quickly put the ice pack back in the freezer, cleaned up his puzzle, and brought it up the stairs to his room. With every step, he winced from the pain in his ankle, but he didn't dare stop.
Reaching his room, Yugi closed the door and placed the puzzle on his table. He sighed as he heard the front door open and close, and the drunken voice of his father drifting up from the hall. He heard Akuyo go into the living room and turn on the TV. He wouldn't be up for a while.
Relaxing a little, Yugi flinched as he heard a rumble of thunder outside. A storm was about to begin, and the boy hated them - the noise, the light, and the intense rain. He hoped the towel would keep most of the rain out, not wanting to get wet that night.
He knew he would, though.
* * * * * * *
BBBBOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
Yugi twitched as the thunder outside got louder and louder. Hours had passed since his father had arrived, and Yugi had kept himself busy in his room by doing his homework and playing with the puzzle. He only had five pieces to go before the pyramid was complete.
Yugi felt his heart ache as crashes and banging noises emanated from downstairs. His mother had gotten home not long ago, and the two had begun fighting again. Every night, Yugi hoped they'd stop fighting and be happy again, like they were before his grandfather had left. But he knew it would never happen.
CLICK.
Yugi smiled as a piece clicked into place on the puzzle. =(Four more pieces left,)= he thought as he listened to the rain pound on the roof and pour in through his window. He had tried to force the towel down, so that the cloth stretched across the window. But after a few minutes, it flapped open again, and he never bothered to fix it.
CLICK. Three more pieces...
"You stupid bastard!! I TOLD you where I was - at the office!!"
Yugi sniffed. His mother worked at a clothing store in the next town. Yugi had helped her get organized before the fighting had begun. Now, she just complained about the bills and employees there.
"Why should I believe you, you fucking whore!! I can't tell if you're working at the stupid office or out fucking with some other rich bastard!!"
"Hey, other men fuck better than you do, Akuyo!!"
"HEY!! How do YOU know? Last time we did it, we had that bastard child of yours!!"
Yugi whimpered, knowing who they were talking about.
CLICK. Two more pieces...
CRASH!!! BANG!!! WHACK!!! WHAM!! CRACK!!!!
Yugi flinched each time he heard an object crash below. His parents had reached the "throw-things-at-each-other" phase of their arguments. The next phase was the one he dreaded the most...
"Watch where you're aiming the lamp, asshole!!"
"Your aim sucks, too, Chihoya!!"
"ASSHOLE!!!"
"FUCKING WHORE!!!!"
Yugi whimpered again. He hated it when his parents fought, even though he couldn't do anything about it. Sometimes, he wished that his grandfather had never left - maybe his trip to Egypt had caused the fighting to begin.
But Yugi knew that wasn't true. =(Before Grandpa left, he gave a letter to my mom and dad,)= he thought as he fumbled with the next puzzle piece. =(Maybe that letter caused everything to fall apart...)=
CLICK. One more piece...
Yugi took a long look at the last piece of the golden puzzle. In the center of it, a golden eye peered up at him. Closing his eyes and clutching the piece tightly between his hands, he said quietly, "Please help me. Help me get out of this life..." Opening his eyes again, he took a deep breath and put the last piece into its slot.
CLICK.
Suddenly, an eerie golden light consumed the puzzle and brightened the dark room. Gasping in shock, Yugi dropped the puzzle and backed away into a corner of his room. In panic, he curled up into a ball and closed his eyes tightly.
A few minutes later, Yugi sensed that the golden light had died down. Slowly opening his eyes, he raised his head, so he could see what had happened. His eyes widened in awe.
The puzzle lay on the floor, but a strange boy was standing next to it. His clothes resembled Yugi's - blue coat, pants, and boots. He wore a sleeveless, tight dark blue shirt underneath the coat, five matching straps with golden buttons across the fabric. His hair resembled Yugi, except for a few extra golden streaks in it. He looked a little taller than Yugi, but the terrified boy couldn't really tell.
Yugi watched as the boy scanned the room with hardened violet eyes. His gaze caught that of Yugi's, and panicked Yugi cowered even farther into the corner.
"You there," the new boy said sternly. "Where am I, and who are you?"
Yugi didn't say anything. He just whimpered some more and curled up even tighter.
"Hey, I asked you a question, kid," he growled as he walked closer to Yugi. "WHO ARE YOU?"
Yugi twitched again from the loud voice and tried not to cry.
"Look at me."
Scared, Yugi straightened up and looked at the boy. He was standing right in front of Yugi, arms crossed across his chest. Eyes flashing, he said, "I'm not going to ask you again. ANSWER ME."
Yugi finally gathered up enough courage to stammer, "Y-Y-Yugi."
"Speak up!!"
Yugi twitched again from the stern voice and said more clearly, "Yugi."
"So your name's Yugi?"
Yugi just whimpered again. (Who can blame him?)
"ANSWER ME ALREADY!!" the boy roared impatiently.
"HEY, YUGI!!"
Yugi's head snapped towards his door, and the other boy turned, as well. Taking another look at Yugi, he could see the fear building up in his eyes.
"I thought I told you to be quiet at night, you little bastard!! I'm heading up!!" Footsteps could be heard climbing up the stairs.
Yugi's eyes widened as he scrambled to stand up. "Y-Y-You have to g-g-go," he stammered as he picked up the golden puzzle and placed it under a pile of clothes in the closet.
The boy frowned. "I'm staying," he said firmly.
"N-N-No," Yugi pleaded. "Y-You have to go, or my d-d-d-dad will f-f-find you and-!"
The mysterious boy was startled as Yugi began pulling on his arm. "Let go of me!" he protested, but Yugi refused to.
"YUGI!!!"
Yugi let out a soft moan as he heard his father's voice getting closer. Before the stranger could complain again, Yugi pulled the boy into the closet with a surprising amount of strength. "Y-You better be q-q-quiet," he stammered as he quickly closed the closet door to conceal the boy.
Yugi had barely enough time to get away from the closet before his door burst open to reveal an angry Akuyo. Slowly backing away, Yugi began to whimper again.
"You goddamn little bastard," the man hissed as he grabbed the boy's arm. "I'll teach you to remember the rules of this house."
"I-I-Iie," Yugi stammered as his father's free hand curled into a fist.
Akuyo's red eyes became rubies as he began punching Yugi fiercely. Yugi finally cried out as each punch sent more pain throughout his body. After a while, Akuyo let go of Yugi's arms and began punching him with both of his fists, instead of with one.
Tears began streaming down his face as Yugi crumpled to the floor from the pain. Akuyo, seeing his son's position, began kicking him harshly. "I didn't tell you to lie down, you bastard," he growled. He bent down and picked Yugi up by the shoulders. Before Yugi could protest, the man threw Yugi into the far wall.
Yugi screamed in agony as the pain in his back increased. Tears clouding his vision, he slumped to the floor and lay limp on the floor.. He no longer had energy to move - Akuyo had beaten it out of him.
But Akuyo wasn't finished with Yugi yet.
"What's wrong, Yugi?" Akuyo said mockingly as he dragged Yugi towards the center of the room. Yugi didn't reply as he breathed heavily, his arms spread out on the cold floor. Seeing this, Akuyo's eyes gleamed, and he raised his foot above Yugi.
An enormous amount of pain jolted Yugi into a horrified scream as his father's foot slammed into Yugi's outstretched right arm. Akuyo didn't listen - he just kept pummeling his foot into Yugi's arm, grinning at each of Yugi's pleading cries.
After a few minutes of stomping, Akuyo stopped and kicked Yugi onto the mattress. Yugi curled up immediately and whimpered loudly as Akuyo advanced on him. He pulled Yugi's hair up, so that he could look into Yugi's tearful amethyst eyes.
"Remember," he said angrily, "if you mention ANYTHING to ANYONE, I'll take the one thing you could never get back. YOU HEAR ME?!?"
Before Yugi could respond, Akuyo released his hair and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Lightning flashed, revealing the small form of Yugi as he whimpered softly.
Yugi heard the closet door open and footsteps approach him, but he didn't move. The pain in his arm was worsening, sending more tears down his wet cheeks.
"Yugi," a voice said softly, and he looked up to see the stranger kneeling next to him. "Are you all right?"
Yugi sniffled but nodded, and after a moment he sat up, clutching his injured arm.
"Yugi, how long has...how long has this been going on?" he asked, eyes scanning Yugi's cuts and bruises.
Instead of replying, Yugi just shook his head. "I-I-I-I c-c-can't tell y-y- you," he said between his sobs.
"Why can't you?"
"Y-Y-You heard my dad - if I t-t-tell anyone, he'll t-t-take the o-o-one thing I could never get b-b-back." Yugi whimpered as his arm ached even worse than before. "And I don't w-w-want him to t-t-t-take the p-p-puzzle."
The boy stiffened as he heard Yugi's words. =(It wasn't the puzzle he was talking about,)= he thought. =(That bastard - what was he thinking?!)=
"Yugi, come here," the boy ordered softly as he sat down on Yugi's mattress.
Not knowing what the boy was going to do, Yugi slowly crawled over to him. In a moment, the boy had brought Yugi to him and wrapped him in a warm embrace. Shocked by the movement, Yugi began to panic, but when he saw that the boy meant no harm he relaxed.
"W-W-What's y-y-your n-name?" Yugi asked as he felt sleep begin to overcome him.
The boy smiled. "You can call me Yami, Yugi," he replied. "And I'll tell you right now - I'm not going to let anything happen to you. All right?"
"H-Hai, Y-Yami," Yugi murmured as he closed his eyes and snuggled closer to the boy.
Yami squirmed from the closeness but didn't complain as he comforted Yugi. After a while, when he was sure that Yugi was asleep, he moved him to the mattress and covered him with the blankets. Standing up, Yami covered the window with two more towels to keep the rain out. When he was done, he placed the puzzle next to Yugi and sat down next to him.
=(Poor boy,)= Yami thought as he watched over Yugi. =(He must have gone through so much pain before I came. I'm guessing he solved the Millennium Puzzle, and that's why I'm here. But I can't help wondering how Yugi has been able to put up with that...man!)=
Yami twitched as he felt a drop of water fall onto his hand. Thinking the ceiling had a leak, Yami stood up and absentmindedly licked the moisture off.
"What?" he remarked softly as he tasted salt in the liquid. Puzzled, he looked up at the ceiling. It didn't look as though a leak had formed, so nothing could've leaked. =(It was a tear,)= Yami realized. =(But...How did a TEAR fall on my hand? No one else's here, and I certainly don't think ghosts can cry, so...)=
But Yami finally gave up on his question. He sat back down next to the sleeping Yugi, crossed his arms over his chest, rested his chin on his chest, and fell asleep. All other questions faded from his mind as sleep enveloped the two boys.
Yet, Yami had failed to notice the fact that two other tears had fallen...onto Yugi's injured arm. Slowly, the tears vanished into the boy's skin, and within a few minutes his arm was healed. Neither boy woke up as a cloudy figure stood in front of them, casting its gaze from Yugi to the new stranger. As new tears formed in its eyes, the figure knelt suddenly in front of Yugi and buried its face into its hands. Weeping sadly but quietly, the figure faded away.
Yami was right - ghosts can't cry...but angels can. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
~ ~ ~ *shudders* I REALLY didn't like doing that to Yugi. But at least YAMI's in the story now. ^_^ He's my favorite Anime character...hence my name.
And, of course, we can't forget Anzu, Honda, and Jou. (Tea, Tristan, and Joey for those people who only know them by their American names.) And Seika - the cloudy figure. My original character (OC). *sees angry faces* Don't worry - no OC-pairings in here, people!! Promise!
Now, I know I didn't answer the questions from the last chappie, but I PROMISE they'll be answered in future ones. Okay? ^_^
And in the meantime, here are some more questions...
Now that Yami's in the story, will he help Yugi out or make things worse for him? Are Anzu, Honda, and Jou ever going to figure out Yugi's problem? And why is Seika crying now?
These questions, maybe some answers, and a whole lot more in the future!!! O.O Please R & R, readers!! I am VERY grateful to those who have already reviewed. ^_^ Anyway, review? ARIGATOU!!! *^_^* ~ ~ ~
Okay, like I said in my other story, I'm updating every weekend, snow days, vacations, or other free days. And on the past snow day I had, I was too busy trying to draw chibis of the Greek Gods for an Ancient Medieval History project. (Hades was surprisingly easier than Zeus. Who would've thought that?)
I'm getting off topic, ne? ^_^; Gomen - I'm trying...
Anyway, I don't own YugiOh or any of the characters in it. Here's another warning about serious language, child abuse, and the other stuff I mentioned in the first chapter. Probably no lemons - I'm only sixteen, and I can't write that stuff.
Back to business...-_- Here's chappie number two - hope you enjoy!! ~ ~ ~ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
CLICK.
Yugi grinned as another piece of his golden puzzle fit into place. Searching the golden box for another piece, Yugi took a look around him. He was at Domino Junior High School, and students were beginning to file in for class. He carefully placed the puzzle and the golden box in his backpack, knowing that first period was about to begin.
"Yugi!!"
Yugi looked up as his friend Anzu walked over to him. Setting her backpack down on the desk nearby, she brushed her brown bangs from her eyes. She straightened out her girls' uniform that she was required to wear, and then she flashed Yugi a big smile.
"Good morning, Yugi! How're you doing?" Anzu asked politely as she sat down at her desk.
"F-Fine," Yugi managed to stammer out.
Anzu blinked her blue eyes. "Is something wrong?" she asked, concerned with her friend's well-being.
"I-I-I-I'm all right, Anzu." Yugi bowed his head, staring at his desk. =(Hope she doesn't suspect something,)= he thought, a warning from his father flashing in his mind.
"Well, you should talk to somebody, okay? You've been stammering for a few months now, and that worries me. Promise?"
Yugi hesitated. He didn't want to make a promise he couldn't keep, but he also didn't want to lose a friend. He had met Anzu a few years ago, and since then they had been the best of friends. But after a while, he looked up at Anzu and replied:
"Hai...I promise."
* * * * * * *
WHAM!!!
Yugi let out a whimper as Ibaru picked Yugi up by the collar and pressed him against the lockers. It was a few minutes after the bell had rung, signaling the lunch wave to begin. Yugi, after getting his money from his locker, had been cornered by the school bully. Again.
"All right, you little punk," Ibaru snarled as he slammed Yugi once again into the lockers. "It's time to pay for some 'life insurance'. You know the drill - 5,000 yen!!"
Yugi whimpered again as he reached into his pocket for his lunch money. Pulling out 100 yen, he placed it into the bully's outstretched hand. After counting it, Ibaru frowned and turned to Yugi angrily. "This isn't 5,000 yen, Yugi," he said dangerously. "You know what happens when it isn't the right amount, ne?"
Yugi's eyes widened with fear as Ibaru raised a hand to punch him. Knowing what was coming, he closed his eyes tightly and waited for the blow.
But it didn't come.
Instead, Yugi heard Ibaru whine, "I was just having some fun, you know? Wasn't gonna hurt him TOO much."
Yugi felt Ibaru's hands leave his collar, and he collapsed to the ground. Opening his eyes again, Yugi saw a tall blond boy facing Ibaru. His boys' uniform was ruffled, as if he had been in a minor scuffle. His brown eyes were narrowed as he told Ibaru, "Well, either way, if anyone decides ta mess with my buddy, then they'd hafta face ME." He raised his fists, ready to fight. "Ready?"
Ibaru growled and turned back to Yugi. "I'll get you later, punk," he said, green eyes narrowed and menacing.
Yugi whimpered as the blonde piped up, "Then, I'll be there, too!"
Ibaru cast one final glance at the boy before shaking his head in defeat and wandering off.
The blonde snorted before he held a hand out to Yugi. Mistaking it for a fist, Yugi flinched and tried to back away.
"Hey," the blonde replied, puzzled by Yugi's actions, "I'm only tryin' ta HELP you."
"O-Oh," Yugi stated before he took the boy's hand. The blonde carefully pulled him to his feet.
"Dat was close," he said casually. "One more second, and you'd have been toast." The boy smiled. "Name's Jounouchi Katsuya, but my friends call me Jou. You're Yugi, right?"
Yugi nodded as he brushed back his golden bangs. "A-A-Arigatou, K-Katsuya," he stammered as he picked up his money that Ibaru had dropped.
"Hey, hey, HEY!!" Yugi winced as he heard the loud voice.
"I SAID, my friends call me Jou. Dat means YOU."
Yugi looked up at Jou and smiled. "A-Arigatou," he said again, eyes shining.
Jou winked. "Don't mention it," he replied as he and Yugi walked towards the cafeteria. "Anzu's a friend of mine, too, and she told me 'bout ya. Figured ya might need some help, ya know? And ya know Honda? He's a friend of mine, too, so you don't hafta worry. 'Kay?"
Yugi laughed shakily. "Hai!!" he replied, happy knowing that his friend - change that, FRIENDS - were there to help him.
* * * * * * *
"Freedom at last!!" Jou cried out as he, Yugi, Anzu, and Honda ran out of the school. The final bell hand rung, homework had been given out, and now they had the rest of the afternoon to relax.
"How about hitting the arcade?" Honda suggested, his dark eyes twinkling. His brown hair was gelled up into a spike that arched out from his forehead, an unusual hairstyle for a boy. Yugi was glad to have him on his side, since Honda and Jou had a fighting reputation around the school. The boy had been happy to meet Yugi and didn't mind the instant friendship.
"Nah, too many people," Jou stated dully.
"How about the library?" Anzu asked.
Jou and Honda sent her a funny look. "You've gotta be kiddin', right?" Jou said, one eyebrow raised from the girl's suggestion.
Anzu frowned. "All right, how about we let Yugi decide?" Turning to her friend, she asked politely, "Yugi, where would you like to go?"
"W-What time is it?" Yugi asked, dodging the question.
Honda raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything about it as he checked his watch. "3:30. Why?" he asked.
Yugi's eyes widened as he heard the time. =(I better hurry,)= he thought as he bowed hastily to his three friends. "G-Gomen, but I-I-I have to go h-h- home," he said quickly. "M-Maybe another t-t-time."
Anzu nodded understandingly. "All right, Yugi. We'll see you later!!"
But Yugi had already run off down the sidewalk, not staying to hear Anzu's reply.
Anzu frowned. "It just gets worse and worse," she muttered as she turned back to the boys.
"Nani?" Jou asked, puzzled by the entire situation. "What're ya talkin' about?"
Anzu explained, "Yugi's been acting strangely ever since I met him. He can never stay after school, his stammering gets worse and worse with each passing day, and lately..."
"Lately what?" Honda pressed.
"Well, lately he's been coming to school with cuts and bruises all over his arms. I questioned him about it once, but he just said he tripped on the way home from school one day." Anzu peered up at the cloudy sky above her. "I wonder...I wonder if something's wrong at his home - something he can't tell any of us."
"It's possible," Jou said, shrugging as he walked down towards the arcade. "My dad got really abusive when my parents divorced, and I couldn't tell anyone. It's died down, but I still remember the beatings."
"Oh!" Anzu said, raising a hand to her mouth. "Is that why you fight a lot?"
"Don't matter now," Jou said quickly. "Anyway, we better head over to the arcade before all da good games are taken!!" With that said, he raced Honda down the block, laughing the entire way.
Anzu sighed as he looked once again at the clouds above her. "Please," she prayed as she ran after the boys, "Please watch after Yugi - don't let anything happen to him..."
* * * * * * *
Breathing heavily, Yugi's feet pounded against the pavement as he raced to his house. =(I hope he hasn't come home yet,)= he prayed, thinking of how mad his father would be if he showed up after four o'clock. His parents had set a strict curfew when they began fighting - home by four, no going out afterwards. During weekends, he wasn't even allowed to leave the house.
Yugi sighed in relief as he saw the driveway empty. Neither of his parents were home, which meant he wouldn't get beaten again. He winced slightly as he unlocked the front door and went inside. When Ibaru had dropped him that afternoon, Yugi had fallen on his ankle, sending a small amount of pain through his leg.
Yugi went to the kitchen and pulled an ice pack out of the freezer. Holding it against his ankle, he sat at the kitchen table with an apple and some crackers he had found in the cabinet. He took out the golden puzzle and began placing pieces in the slots. He didn't have that many left, and the pyramid was almost complete.
After an hour of playing with the puzzle, Yugi suddenly heard a car roar into the driveway. Fearing what would happen if he was discovered out of his room, he quickly put the ice pack back in the freezer, cleaned up his puzzle, and brought it up the stairs to his room. With every step, he winced from the pain in his ankle, but he didn't dare stop.
Reaching his room, Yugi closed the door and placed the puzzle on his table. He sighed as he heard the front door open and close, and the drunken voice of his father drifting up from the hall. He heard Akuyo go into the living room and turn on the TV. He wouldn't be up for a while.
Relaxing a little, Yugi flinched as he heard a rumble of thunder outside. A storm was about to begin, and the boy hated them - the noise, the light, and the intense rain. He hoped the towel would keep most of the rain out, not wanting to get wet that night.
He knew he would, though.
* * * * * * *
BBBBOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
Yugi twitched as the thunder outside got louder and louder. Hours had passed since his father had arrived, and Yugi had kept himself busy in his room by doing his homework and playing with the puzzle. He only had five pieces to go before the pyramid was complete.
Yugi felt his heart ache as crashes and banging noises emanated from downstairs. His mother had gotten home not long ago, and the two had begun fighting again. Every night, Yugi hoped they'd stop fighting and be happy again, like they were before his grandfather had left. But he knew it would never happen.
CLICK.
Yugi smiled as a piece clicked into place on the puzzle. =(Four more pieces left,)= he thought as he listened to the rain pound on the roof and pour in through his window. He had tried to force the towel down, so that the cloth stretched across the window. But after a few minutes, it flapped open again, and he never bothered to fix it.
CLICK. Three more pieces...
"You stupid bastard!! I TOLD you where I was - at the office!!"
Yugi sniffed. His mother worked at a clothing store in the next town. Yugi had helped her get organized before the fighting had begun. Now, she just complained about the bills and employees there.
"Why should I believe you, you fucking whore!! I can't tell if you're working at the stupid office or out fucking with some other rich bastard!!"
"Hey, other men fuck better than you do, Akuyo!!"
"HEY!! How do YOU know? Last time we did it, we had that bastard child of yours!!"
Yugi whimpered, knowing who they were talking about.
CLICK. Two more pieces...
CRASH!!! BANG!!! WHACK!!! WHAM!! CRACK!!!!
Yugi flinched each time he heard an object crash below. His parents had reached the "throw-things-at-each-other" phase of their arguments. The next phase was the one he dreaded the most...
"Watch where you're aiming the lamp, asshole!!"
"Your aim sucks, too, Chihoya!!"
"ASSHOLE!!!"
"FUCKING WHORE!!!!"
Yugi whimpered again. He hated it when his parents fought, even though he couldn't do anything about it. Sometimes, he wished that his grandfather had never left - maybe his trip to Egypt had caused the fighting to begin.
But Yugi knew that wasn't true. =(Before Grandpa left, he gave a letter to my mom and dad,)= he thought as he fumbled with the next puzzle piece. =(Maybe that letter caused everything to fall apart...)=
CLICK. One more piece...
Yugi took a long look at the last piece of the golden puzzle. In the center of it, a golden eye peered up at him. Closing his eyes and clutching the piece tightly between his hands, he said quietly, "Please help me. Help me get out of this life..." Opening his eyes again, he took a deep breath and put the last piece into its slot.
CLICK.
Suddenly, an eerie golden light consumed the puzzle and brightened the dark room. Gasping in shock, Yugi dropped the puzzle and backed away into a corner of his room. In panic, he curled up into a ball and closed his eyes tightly.
A few minutes later, Yugi sensed that the golden light had died down. Slowly opening his eyes, he raised his head, so he could see what had happened. His eyes widened in awe.
The puzzle lay on the floor, but a strange boy was standing next to it. His clothes resembled Yugi's - blue coat, pants, and boots. He wore a sleeveless, tight dark blue shirt underneath the coat, five matching straps with golden buttons across the fabric. His hair resembled Yugi, except for a few extra golden streaks in it. He looked a little taller than Yugi, but the terrified boy couldn't really tell.
Yugi watched as the boy scanned the room with hardened violet eyes. His gaze caught that of Yugi's, and panicked Yugi cowered even farther into the corner.
"You there," the new boy said sternly. "Where am I, and who are you?"
Yugi didn't say anything. He just whimpered some more and curled up even tighter.
"Hey, I asked you a question, kid," he growled as he walked closer to Yugi. "WHO ARE YOU?"
Yugi twitched again from the loud voice and tried not to cry.
"Look at me."
Scared, Yugi straightened up and looked at the boy. He was standing right in front of Yugi, arms crossed across his chest. Eyes flashing, he said, "I'm not going to ask you again. ANSWER ME."
Yugi finally gathered up enough courage to stammer, "Y-Y-Yugi."
"Speak up!!"
Yugi twitched again from the stern voice and said more clearly, "Yugi."
"So your name's Yugi?"
Yugi just whimpered again. (Who can blame him?)
"ANSWER ME ALREADY!!" the boy roared impatiently.
"HEY, YUGI!!"
Yugi's head snapped towards his door, and the other boy turned, as well. Taking another look at Yugi, he could see the fear building up in his eyes.
"I thought I told you to be quiet at night, you little bastard!! I'm heading up!!" Footsteps could be heard climbing up the stairs.
Yugi's eyes widened as he scrambled to stand up. "Y-Y-You have to g-g-go," he stammered as he picked up the golden puzzle and placed it under a pile of clothes in the closet.
The boy frowned. "I'm staying," he said firmly.
"N-N-No," Yugi pleaded. "Y-You have to go, or my d-d-d-dad will f-f-find you and-!"
The mysterious boy was startled as Yugi began pulling on his arm. "Let go of me!" he protested, but Yugi refused to.
"YUGI!!!"
Yugi let out a soft moan as he heard his father's voice getting closer. Before the stranger could complain again, Yugi pulled the boy into the closet with a surprising amount of strength. "Y-You better be q-q-quiet," he stammered as he quickly closed the closet door to conceal the boy.
Yugi had barely enough time to get away from the closet before his door burst open to reveal an angry Akuyo. Slowly backing away, Yugi began to whimper again.
"You goddamn little bastard," the man hissed as he grabbed the boy's arm. "I'll teach you to remember the rules of this house."
"I-I-Iie," Yugi stammered as his father's free hand curled into a fist.
Akuyo's red eyes became rubies as he began punching Yugi fiercely. Yugi finally cried out as each punch sent more pain throughout his body. After a while, Akuyo let go of Yugi's arms and began punching him with both of his fists, instead of with one.
Tears began streaming down his face as Yugi crumpled to the floor from the pain. Akuyo, seeing his son's position, began kicking him harshly. "I didn't tell you to lie down, you bastard," he growled. He bent down and picked Yugi up by the shoulders. Before Yugi could protest, the man threw Yugi into the far wall.
Yugi screamed in agony as the pain in his back increased. Tears clouding his vision, he slumped to the floor and lay limp on the floor.. He no longer had energy to move - Akuyo had beaten it out of him.
But Akuyo wasn't finished with Yugi yet.
"What's wrong, Yugi?" Akuyo said mockingly as he dragged Yugi towards the center of the room. Yugi didn't reply as he breathed heavily, his arms spread out on the cold floor. Seeing this, Akuyo's eyes gleamed, and he raised his foot above Yugi.
An enormous amount of pain jolted Yugi into a horrified scream as his father's foot slammed into Yugi's outstretched right arm. Akuyo didn't listen - he just kept pummeling his foot into Yugi's arm, grinning at each of Yugi's pleading cries.
After a few minutes of stomping, Akuyo stopped and kicked Yugi onto the mattress. Yugi curled up immediately and whimpered loudly as Akuyo advanced on him. He pulled Yugi's hair up, so that he could look into Yugi's tearful amethyst eyes.
"Remember," he said angrily, "if you mention ANYTHING to ANYONE, I'll take the one thing you could never get back. YOU HEAR ME?!?"
Before Yugi could respond, Akuyo released his hair and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Lightning flashed, revealing the small form of Yugi as he whimpered softly.
Yugi heard the closet door open and footsteps approach him, but he didn't move. The pain in his arm was worsening, sending more tears down his wet cheeks.
"Yugi," a voice said softly, and he looked up to see the stranger kneeling next to him. "Are you all right?"
Yugi sniffled but nodded, and after a moment he sat up, clutching his injured arm.
"Yugi, how long has...how long has this been going on?" he asked, eyes scanning Yugi's cuts and bruises.
Instead of replying, Yugi just shook his head. "I-I-I-I c-c-can't tell y-y- you," he said between his sobs.
"Why can't you?"
"Y-Y-You heard my dad - if I t-t-tell anyone, he'll t-t-take the o-o-one thing I could never get b-b-back." Yugi whimpered as his arm ached even worse than before. "And I don't w-w-want him to t-t-t-take the p-p-puzzle."
The boy stiffened as he heard Yugi's words. =(It wasn't the puzzle he was talking about,)= he thought. =(That bastard - what was he thinking?!)=
"Yugi, come here," the boy ordered softly as he sat down on Yugi's mattress.
Not knowing what the boy was going to do, Yugi slowly crawled over to him. In a moment, the boy had brought Yugi to him and wrapped him in a warm embrace. Shocked by the movement, Yugi began to panic, but when he saw that the boy meant no harm he relaxed.
"W-W-What's y-y-your n-name?" Yugi asked as he felt sleep begin to overcome him.
The boy smiled. "You can call me Yami, Yugi," he replied. "And I'll tell you right now - I'm not going to let anything happen to you. All right?"
"H-Hai, Y-Yami," Yugi murmured as he closed his eyes and snuggled closer to the boy.
Yami squirmed from the closeness but didn't complain as he comforted Yugi. After a while, when he was sure that Yugi was asleep, he moved him to the mattress and covered him with the blankets. Standing up, Yami covered the window with two more towels to keep the rain out. When he was done, he placed the puzzle next to Yugi and sat down next to him.
=(Poor boy,)= Yami thought as he watched over Yugi. =(He must have gone through so much pain before I came. I'm guessing he solved the Millennium Puzzle, and that's why I'm here. But I can't help wondering how Yugi has been able to put up with that...man!)=
Yami twitched as he felt a drop of water fall onto his hand. Thinking the ceiling had a leak, Yami stood up and absentmindedly licked the moisture off.
"What?" he remarked softly as he tasted salt in the liquid. Puzzled, he looked up at the ceiling. It didn't look as though a leak had formed, so nothing could've leaked. =(It was a tear,)= Yami realized. =(But...How did a TEAR fall on my hand? No one else's here, and I certainly don't think ghosts can cry, so...)=
But Yami finally gave up on his question. He sat back down next to the sleeping Yugi, crossed his arms over his chest, rested his chin on his chest, and fell asleep. All other questions faded from his mind as sleep enveloped the two boys.
Yet, Yami had failed to notice the fact that two other tears had fallen...onto Yugi's injured arm. Slowly, the tears vanished into the boy's skin, and within a few minutes his arm was healed. Neither boy woke up as a cloudy figure stood in front of them, casting its gaze from Yugi to the new stranger. As new tears formed in its eyes, the figure knelt suddenly in front of Yugi and buried its face into its hands. Weeping sadly but quietly, the figure faded away.
Yami was right - ghosts can't cry...but angels can. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
~ ~ ~ *shudders* I REALLY didn't like doing that to Yugi. But at least YAMI's in the story now. ^_^ He's my favorite Anime character...hence my name.
And, of course, we can't forget Anzu, Honda, and Jou. (Tea, Tristan, and Joey for those people who only know them by their American names.) And Seika - the cloudy figure. My original character (OC). *sees angry faces* Don't worry - no OC-pairings in here, people!! Promise!
Now, I know I didn't answer the questions from the last chappie, but I PROMISE they'll be answered in future ones. Okay? ^_^
And in the meantime, here are some more questions...
Now that Yami's in the story, will he help Yugi out or make things worse for him? Are Anzu, Honda, and Jou ever going to figure out Yugi's problem? And why is Seika crying now?
These questions, maybe some answers, and a whole lot more in the future!!! O.O Please R & R, readers!! I am VERY grateful to those who have already reviewed. ^_^ Anyway, review? ARIGATOU!!! *^_^* ~ ~ ~