Angelus Fletus Est (English translation: Angel Weeping)
Me: Okay, you guys are spoiling me WAY too much!!!! 235 REVIEWS!!!! I'm so spoiled!!!
Gomen nasai for the LONG wait. A nasty thing called writer's block hit right after I posted last chapter. WELL! On to the oh-so-wonderful and incredible reviews!
To KarenWindstar: STOP GIVING ME SUCH GOOD IDEAS! I'LL START DEPENDING ON YOU!! Lol. Once again, you saved me and started my ideas working. Domo arigatou!
To MoonFairy: LOL go you and seto!!! glomps back thank you!
To LilSheepi: You and KarenWindstar think alike. Arigatou for the idea!
To IrishJade: *blushes* thanks a lot! I'm glad you like it!
To B-Y-R: *squeals and hugs the DM and BEWD plushies* THANK YOU!!! THEY'RE SO COOL!!!!
To Rutu: *gasps and hugs Yugi* NOT YOU TOO!!!!!!! ARGH, YOU EVIL CHILD!!! Thank you, though, happy holidays to you too!
To Ihire: Gomen nasai -.-;; I've been sooo busy and THIS IS MIDTERMS WEEK! *cries* so I haven't had much time.
To EVERYONE: Oy, vey. I'm running out of ways to thank you!!!! You're TOTALLY spoiling me rotten! DOMO ARIGATOU! MUCHAS GRACIAS! GRATIAS AGO! MERCI BOUCOUP (sp?)!!!
Yugi: FINALLY!!! You're WRITING!!
Me: It's called Writer's Block and No Time Available. Sound familiar?
Yugi: *laughs* yeah. I was only teasing.
Yami: *pouts* I'm still a bastard!
Me: you have to wait and see.
Yami: I DON'T WANNA BE A BASTARD!!!
Me: like I'd tell you my big diabolical plan. Uh-huh. Sure. NOT!
Yami: *pouts*
Yugi: *giggles*
Me: ENJOY! And thanks to KWS and LilSheepi for their ideas!
I really don't think I need to tell you guys this, but oh well:
/Yugi to Yami/ //Yami to Yugi// \Private thoughts\
3 days later
Yugi shivered slightly as he walked to class. The pleasant April weather had turned foul and cold; they'd gotten a snow-and-ice storm 2 days ago. Why they still had school, Yugi really wanted to know.
Seto wasn't in school that day. His executives had called an important meeting, as Tax Day was coming up. Yugi was entertained by the stories that Seto had told him about how badly he could frighten them. He could only imagine what Seto was doing now.
Yugi sighed as he took his seat. Unfortunately for him, he had no one to talk to. It was a letdown to not be greeted by Seto as he took his seat, and Yugi felt the old despair of being invisible stir again. \The past 3 days have gone to your head,\ a nasty little voice in the back of his mind said. \Did you really think that Seto would be around all the time? Or that he'd want to spend all his time with you? Did you really think that Yami wanted to apologize over the phone?\
Like usual, Yami was hanging out with his friends, not taking much notice of anything else. Yugi noticed today that he seemed to be giving Tea the cold shoulder. \I wonder why...\
"Yugi!"
Yugi jumped and turned around. "Hi, Ryou." He said, lowering his gaze. He braced himself for a tongue-lashing.
"What's up?" Yugi's head snapped up, and he stared. Ryou sat down in Seto's vacant seat. "Yugi...um..." Ryou fidgeted nervously.
"Yeah?" Yugi said before he could stop himself.
"I wanted to apologize." Ryou suddenly blurted out. "I had no right to ignore you like that, and the fact that I didn't notice is unacceptable. After all you've done for me...well...I'm sorry." He said, looking at the top of Yugi's desk.
Yugi couldn't help but stare in open-mouthed shock. Ryou had just apologized? To him? Ryou was looking sadly at his desk, taking Yugi's silence for a 'no'. Yugi instantly felt bad, and said quietly, "It's okay, Ryou."
His white-haired friend looked up. "Are you sure? I mean...we were pretty cruel to you..."
Yugi nodded. "It's okay. I forgive you." He meant it.
Ryou smiled. "I was wondering if you'd like to come over after school tomorrow. Bakura promises to behave."
Yugi laughed a little. He doubted that last statement highly, but it was amusing to see the tomb robber make an effort. "Sure. I'll just have to tell Seto." Seeing Ryou's questioning look, he added, "I've been staying with him since...you know..." he added, slightly embarrassed.
It was Ryou's turn to look embarrassed. "Yeah...well, I'll try to have the house in semi-order so you won't kill yourself over there tomorrow." Yugi giggled a bit. "Um...want to eat lunch with me?"
Yugi gulped a bit. "With Yami?"
Ryou seemed to notice his discomfort. "No, just us. I know you're not ready to face them yet."
Yugi was relieved and felt a smile come to his face. "Thanks Ryou."
The bell rang. "See you at lunch."
Yugi sighed and sat down at his usual table. Ryou had come up to him in the halls and sadly told him that one of his teachers was keeping him in at lunch for talking in class, so he couldn't be there. Yugi really felt for him, that teacher could be really evil. \I hope he comes back in one piece...\ She had a nasty reputation for having the ability to make even the toughest students quake in fear and the less tough ones cry.
Yugi threw his food away and walked outside. The frigid air took his breath away, and he was about to go back inside, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him and spun him around. Looking up, he saw the last person he wanted to see.
"So, little Motou is by himself again," Ushio sneered. "Poor baby."
Yugi gulped but said nothing.
"What, not even a hello? I think that you need to be taught manners..." His only warning was the fist coming straight at him before Ushio caught him in the eye, sending him flying onto his back. Yugi made a mental note not to come outside alone again when it was icy...it hurt.
"So good to have my doormat back..." Yugi didn't bother to get up as Ushio kicked him in the stomach. \Please, please be over soon...\
Yami walked outside, pausing until he got used to the freezing air. Snow had always fascinated him, and he liked to walk outside when it was still fresh. \It truly is beautiful to see everything covered in white and glistening because of the ice...\ His thoughts were interrupted by a thwap and a grunt of pain. Frowning, he turned the corner and gasped.
Yugi was lying on the ice, curled up, and Ushio was advancing on him. A vicious kick sent his hikari sprawling, his head hitting the ice with a sickening crack.
"Have we learned proper respect, yet, Motou?" Yugi flinched from the taunting voice but said nothing. Yami started forward, slipping momentarily as he got his bearings, and caught Ushio's wrist as he prepared to strike.
"It seems that it is you who needs instructions in proper etiquette." He said calmly. Ushio jerked his head to face Yami, stopping his next punch short when he saw who it was. Yami had built a reputation that if you messed with him, you were dead meat.
Ushio growled. "What th' hell do you care for? Motou's a loser!"
Yami glared. "If our similar features haven't told you yet, then I suggest you look at our last name." He lashed out with a fist, catching Ushio square in the chin. "Look at a book on etiquette before you start 'teaching' anyone," he sneered, hitting the bully in the jaw again. "Otherwise, get your sorry ass out of here."
Ushio saw the murderous gleam in Yami's eyes, and decided to do what he said. Muttering darkly and rubbing his jaw, he trudged back inside.
Yami turned his attention to his aibou, who was struggling to get up and slipping on the ice. Yami held out his hand. Yugi stared at it for a moment before taking it, and Yami helped him rise. "Are you all right?"
Yugi let go of Yami's hand and took a step. "Yes," he said, and looked up. His eyes widened when he saw who was speaking to him and his gaze fell to the ground. "I'm fine," he said, softer this time. He started for the door, Yami following closely in case he slipped again. Yugi opened the door, held it for Yami, then stopped. "Arigatou, Yami," he whispered, without facing him. Then he gathered his books from his table, and left.
\He still doesn't trust me...\ Yami thought. \But why would he?\ Still, it hurt slightly, as he watched his hikari's figure walk with the smallest of limps down the hallway. \Oh, Yugi, if you only knew how much I want to apologize...\
Yugi swung his backpack onto his shoulder and slammed his locker closed. \Why?\ he thought as he headed out, \Why did he help me? Does he really want to apologize? Has he really turned around?\
He was reminded of a day just like this as he made his way to Seto's. It was only 6 weeks ago, in late February...
Yugi trailed along after Yami and company as they chatted and joked around, once again getting left behind. This had been going on for two weeks now, and Yugi found himself desperate to get even a 'hello' from one of them.
He kept wondering if Yami would notice him – or the fact that he wasn't wearing the Puzzle. He hated to sit home alone and feel Yami's emotions through their link when Yami was out at the arcade.
He wanted desperately to just run in front of them and shout, "Hey! I exist, you know!" but he didn't want to interrupt them. It would only make them angry, and besides, they were having fun. It wasn't as though he hadn't tried. At first, he'd unobtrusively put his own two cents in, and they'd respond but go back to ignoring him again. Then he'd actually tried standing in the midst of them, but they either talked over his head, or gravitated towards Yami.
Yugi shivered and zipped his coat up a bit more. It was icy cold out; there had been a snowstorm a week ago, but it had been so cold that most of the snow had been covered with an inch of ice before it had a chance to melt. It was slightly warmer than it had been, causing things like thin patches where one had to be extra careful.
CRUNCH
Yugi's foot had gone through one of those treacherous ice patches, and now he was in a 6-inch snowdrift. Yanking on a nearby signpost, he was able to pull himself out, but realized that the group was well ahead of him. Sighing, he followed them as fast as he dared. This wasn't going to be the best of days...
Thankfully, Yugi had gotten through the day without much happening. Ushio had tried to jump on him again, but he'd been able to run away in time. He wrenched his bookbag out of his locker, and slammed it shut in frustration.
Today, Yami had taken his usual seat, and he'd had to draw a chair over and sit at the small corner of space that was left. /What is wrong with them?/ he thought angrily. \What's wrong with me?\ a smaller voice in his mind whispered.
He walked down the stairs towards the gym lockers, which was where he stored his heavy coat and boots. \What is wrong with me that I don't see? There must be something, otherwise they wouldn't do this...\
He reached his destination and twirled the knob until he'd completed the combination. He opened his locker, reached in –
And touched the back of the locker. His coat and boots were missing.
Yugi began to panic. He hadn't opened the wrong locker; the combination had been right. He looked around wildly; maybe he'd accidentally left them out. Nothing. How am I going to get home? Yami's going to the movies today...
Soft snickering met his ears. He whirled, tensing, just in time to see Ushio take off...with a coat over his arm and something in his hand.
"Ushio! Stop!"
Surprisingly enough, he stopped and turned. He smirked when he saw Yugi running up to him. "Need something, Motou?"
"Those are mine! Give them back, Ushio!" Yugi made a wild grab for his things, but Ushio held them over his head, far out of Yugi's reach.
"What, Motou, did you think you could get away with running away? Some punishment is in order..." Yugi gulped. "Punishment like walking home in the cold."
Yugi stared. "But it's 19 degrees out!"
Ushio merely sneered. "Tough luck." Then he took off.
Yugi wasn't going to give up that easily. He followed Ushio outside to the side of the school...where the dumpsters were.
"Ushio! No! Please!!" Again Yugi tried to leap for his items. Again Ushio held them out of his reach. Yugi jumped on his arm instead, trying to drag it down. "Stop!"
Casually, Ushio switched the coat and boots to his other hand. Then, with a careless jerk of his arm, he sent Yugi flying.
He landed on his back, his breath knocked out of him. He gasped for air and helplessly watched the 6 ½ foot tall senior toss his things into the dumpster. Laughing sadistically, his tormenter gave Yugi a contemptuous kick in the ribs before walking back into the school.
Yugi moaned and slowly got to his feet. The air was frigid, the cold biting. Wrapping his arms around himself as tightly as he could, he slowly began the 15-minute walk home.
Yugi was shivering violently after the first 5 minutes. It was taking longer than usual, because he had to pick his way along the treacherous sidewalks. To make matters worse, a bone chilling, bitter wind had picked up, making it seem like the temperature was far below zero.
A tear rolled down Yugi's face, followed by another, immediately freezing. He cautiously drew near the crowd of people who were waiting for the walk light.
CRUNCH
For the second time that day, Yugi stepped on a thin patch of ice and fell through. He frantically grabbed at someone's arm to keep himself from falling. The young woman snapped her head around to glare at Yugi as he found his footing.
"What the hell is your problem?" she demanded of the short teen.
"G-gom-men n-n-nasai," Yugi stammered, shivering. "I s-slipped and f-f-fell.." he could scarcely talk because of the violent chattering of his teeth.
"Well, watch where you're going, will you?! I have somewhere to go." She roughly pushed Yugi out of her way and crossed the street, causing him to slip again and tumble into a 3-foot-deep, icy snowdrift.
Yugi was shaking extremely fiercely now. Before he had simply been cold...now he was wet all over from the snow, and the wind had picked up. So this is what it comes to he thought bitterly as he stood carefully, his school shoes sliding yet again on the ice, choking back a sob, You either get ignored or get pounded. He didn't know which one he preferred.
Wrapping his arms even tighter around himself, he continued home.
Yugi was nearly frozen by the time he got home. His face was deathly pale, his lips blue. He had fallen several more times and gotten hit by chips of ice as a car screeched around the corner. He couldn't feel anything, and was sneezing and coughing violently.
Dropping his bag on the floor, he slowly dragged himself upstairs, into the bathroom. He turned the heat lamps on, and ran the water for a bath as hot as it could go.
Ignoring the pain of the intense heat on his cold skin as he climbed in, he collapsed into the bath and started to cry.
Yugi was reading on the couch, tucked up in a blanket, when Yami got home. He looked exhausted. He merely nodded tiredly at Yugi as he took off his boots, not noticing the scratch on Yugi's face that he'd acquired on the third fall, or how pale his hikari's face still was.
"I'm so tired..." Yami moaned, nearly collapsing into the closet as he took off his coat. "Make me a cup of cocoa, will you? It's frigid out there."
"Sure, Yami." Yugi unwrapped his blanket, which was wound around him several times, and got to his feet. He went into the kitchen, shivering slightly, and put the cup of cocoa in the microwave.
"Yugi...where's your coat? And your boots?"
Yugi gulped, and came out with the steaming cup in his hands. He put it down on the table, but didn't say anything.
"Yugi look at me." Yami said sternly. Yugi obeyed. "Where are they?"
Yugi had to look down. I can't tell him...who knows what Ushio'll do to me if I do...
"Did you lose them?!" His tone was angry now.
Yugi merely shook his head.
"I can't stand it when you lie, Yugi." Yugi snapped his head up, shocked that Yami didn't believe him. He opened his mouth to protest, but Yami continued. "You lose your winter wear, obviously walked home in the cold, and now you're lying to me?!"
"I'm not lying!" Yugi cried, a tear making its way down his cheek for the second time in less than 4 hours.
Yami merely collapsed on the couch. "Yugi...just..." he said exasperatedly and tiredly, "Just go...go upstairs..."
Shaking with suppressed tears, Yugi complied. He got into bed and curled up into the tiniest ball he could muster. Then he just let the tears come.
Yugi sniffed as he recalled that awful day. \Well, today is different\ he told himself. \Ushio was absent today. And I have my coat and boots.\He'd gotten the janitor to get them back for him, explaining what had happened. The janitor was a kind middle-aged man, and had gladly gotten Yugi what he'd asked for.
\Oh is it so different now?\ That nasty voice made itself known again. \You're still walking home in the cold by yourself. Yami's still going out and having fun without you.\
Shaking his head to clear that train of thought, Yugi pulled on his coat and walked to Seto's.
------
Me: cries I'M SO MEAN!!!!
Yami: growls yes, you are!
Me: oh come off it, Yami, I made you DECENT in this chapter!
Yugi: *sniffs* I didn't have it too good, did I?
Me: *hugs* Yugi No...but you will!
Yugi: *smiles* and hugs back thanks.
Me: okay, please don't flame! I know I was mean! But I love Yug', you all know that! I am prepared for thoughts on how much I suck, so don't hold those back.
Yami: -.-; just R&R.