Chapter Fifteen- Broken Bonds

The sun began to tear through Yugi's curtains while the boy tried to sleep. Yami, who had gone back to the puzzle after Yugi got to sleep, attempted to wake his hikari, but it was proving very difficult.

(Yugi, you can't sleep all day today.)

The boy grunted and didn't try to communicate telepathically, "What rule says I can't?" Yugi mumbled, burying his head further into his pillow.

(Come on, I've only seen Bakura, Kaiba and Joey since I've come back. I wanna see everybody else.)

But Yugi, against Yami's pleas, threw his pillow at his other half and tried to continue his rest.

Normally, Yami could talk Yugi into things with his charm, and Yugi was beginning to pick up on that. But Yugi had his own 'attack' that Yami was finding useful, whining. Yugi opened one eye to see his yami attempting a puppy-dog pout face and he laughed. "Yami," Yugi whined back. "We can see everybody else later, I was up until eleven-thirty; I need sleep."

After both of them practicing their whining attacks, the younger of the two decided that he wouldn't get anymore sleep even if he tried. While Yami happily pranced in the kitchen, Yugi fetched some breakfast for himself. I wonder how happy everybody else will be when they see Yami again. Joey's probably told them all about last night by now, so no sense in surprising them.

Knock, knock.

"Yu-gi, some-one's at the do-or!" Yami sang.

Yugi shook his head, "Yami, no caffeine for you." He moved to open the door before turning back, "No sugar either."

"No fair." Yami humped, but seemed to calm down a bit.

Yugi opened the door to reveal Joey, "Joey? What are you doing here, at this time in the morning?"

The blonde yawned, "I- awg- wanted ta see how Yami was doin' afta his firs' nigh' back." He stepped in and saw the said yami sitting on the counter like a child being reprimanded. "Didja catch him eatin' da suga, again?"

Yami pouted, "Aibou won't let me."

His hikari shrugged, "You were close to kissing the floor; I had to set some boundaries."

Joey smiled, "Ya guys act like nothin's happened. Dat's good." He looked around the kitchen as though he was out of place, "So Yuge, couldja spare a piece a toast? My old man kicked me out early an' I didn't have time ta get food." Dat's not entirely wrong. I mean, he did kick me out early, maybe earlier than it sounded.

"Sure Joey. Help yourself," Yugi pointed to the cupboards.

With that said, the blonde made a mad dash to the food and started scarfing down anything within three feet of his mouth. "Mmm-chomp chomp-das' good," he took a break to finish off the milk carton. "So you's guys want ta hang out taday? I t'ought dat it was so- glug glug- nice out dat we could- crunch- have everybody hang out." He looked up, "What?"

Yami stared at him with a raised eyebrow. Yugi's eyes followed Joey's and went, 'oh'.

(He asked if we wanted to hang out with everybody else today.)

"Oh. Yes, of course. We'd love to!" Yami grabbed the phone and started punching in numbers.

Joey grabbed Yugi's arm, "Hey, could we talk?" The boys walked into the hallway, leaving the few thousand years old pharaoh to the telephone. "So Yuge, you an' Yami gettin' along?"

"Yeah! It's great," Yugi said with a bright smile on his face, "You know, I'm starting to feel foolish because I didn't listen to you before."

"Jus' startin'?" joked Joey.

The shorter boy scrunched up his face, and then sighed in defeat, "I guess I deserved that one." I guess I shouldn't take him for granted anymore. His advice is good... when I want to listen to it. I wonder if he could think of any good advice about my dream. "Hey Joey, I was wondering-" the tri-haired boy started.

"Guys?" Yami walked into the hallway, now his normal, regal self again, "I got a hold of Tea, Tristan, and Duke, but Bakura doesn't sound like he's picking up the phone."

Joey looked concerned, "Do ya think he's hurt?"

"I hope not," said the yami, "But it can't hurt to check. Tell me," he looked to the two boys, worry lining his face, "Has the spirit of the ring acted up at all in my absence?"

Joey and Yugi looked at each other. How would Yami take it to know that Bakura almost managed to take the puzzle from Yugi again? Yami would understand that we're only keeping this from him because it's for his benefit, right? "No, he's been pretty tolerable actually. We went to a party with him and he was, um, definitely the life of the party." Yugi failed to mention that he was about the only life for a part of the party. "Maybe Ryou's just really tired from doing all the homework he has and didn't hear the phone."

Yami didn't like that response, "But the tomb robber knows about modern technology, why can't he answer it? He's able to create his own body like I can."

The modern day boys looked to each other for help. What were they to say? That Bakura, out of his concern for Yami, looked in the shadow realm for a way for him to talk to Yugi and accidentally got trapped there? "You know, dat's an interestin' statement, Yami. Maybe I should go check on him and meet wicha someplace."

Yugi nodded. Yami doesn't need to know about Bakura right now, "Great idea, Joey. Why don't we meet at-"

"Um, I hope I'm not intruding," interrupted Yami, "But I invited the others to the arcade when I was in there," he pointed to the kitchen.

"Okay," agreed the hikari, "Meet us there Joey."

-Joey-

I knocked hurried on the door to Ryou's house. What could have happened that Ryou couldn't answer the phone? Bakura must have something to do with this! It's da only explanation! I knocked again in frustration, "Ryou? You up?"

I heard some grunting inside and decided that was my invitation inside. I only wish I didn't go in.

-Normal-

The blonde jiggled the handle to see it was locked. Instead of giving up though, he grabbed a pin that was in his pocket. Mr. Door meet Mr. Unofficial Key. After prying at the lock for a minute Joey managed to get the door open. Even though the door was barely open, Joey could hear heavy breathing in the house, like someone had run a mile, "Ryou? You okay?" He opened the door and gasped in shock.

Ryou lay on the floor coated with a layer of his blood. His clothes were torn in numerous places, and his face looked even paler than the albino normally looked. Near his mouth was pile of vomit. He saw next to Ryou's body a knife with dried blood on it.

I don't think he was tired from homework. "Oh my god, Ryou!" He got down on the ground near his friend and tried lifting the boy up so he could get cleaned. He began picking him up when he felt something light and weak touch his arm.

"Don't.. worry.. 'bout me." Ryou choked on his words, "I.. just need to lay down for a few minutes more."

Joey looked mortified, "No way in hell am I letting you die! You've gotta get to da hospital or you'll bleed ta death!" Joey searched the room, "It was him, wasn't it?" The blonde watched his friend's response. When Ryou slowly nodded his head, Joey was enraged, "I'm gonna kill him!"

Ryou reached his hand to Joey, "Don't worry. He's.." Ryou paused for a hacking spell to overcome him, "He's done worse." Before Joey could protest, Ryou pulled himself to his feet. "Don't.. tell anyone. Please, Joey."

"But-" Joey looked at his friend. He didn't want to go against his better judgment of sending Ryou to the hospital, but if Ryou didn't want anyone to know, he should do as he says. He nodded.

"Yami! You're back!" Tea ran and jumped into the spirit of the puzzle's arms, which knocked him over. "Oh, I missed you so much! Do you like being back here again?" Tea kept babbling on and on until Duke and Tristan managed to pry her off.

"Hey guys," Tristan yawned. He looked exhausted even after the whole day they hadn't seen him. "Where's Joey? Wasn't he with you guys?"

Yami frowned, "He went to get Ryou because he didn't answer his phone. I'm really worried though, maybe we should have gone with him to help."

His partner shook his head furiously, "No, that's okay. Like Joey said, he could handle that so let's get playing games." Yugi walked off to a racing game in the center of the arcade. Yami watched his hikari with curiosity before following him which made the others follow the boys as well.

While the gang waited for Joey and Ryou, they all played at the arcade until they used up a large amount of their cash. Tea followed Yami around to every game and acted so girly that she lost every time. Duke and Tristan were trying to have fun, but managed to compete with each other for a girl that they saw at the snack bar. Yugi played every game he could and managed an awesome score on each, but every time he scored high, so did Yami. Yugi started feeling frustrated by the time that the other two boys showed up.

-Joey-

"Can you walk on your own now?" I asked in concern.

Ryou smiled, "Yes, those last few blocks were just a little tiring. I believe we're here."

I looked inside the arcade and saw the rest of the guys already there. It was no surprise to me. I'm shocked that they were waiting that long. We had taken awhile to get from the Bakura residence to here because Ryou first had to shower to get rid of the blood on himself. Then he had to pick out some new clothes from his drawer. We decided to leave the carpet for now and just pray that Ryou's dad didn't come home. When we started out, Ryou looked alright up until the third block. We took a few breaks and he also had to lean on me when he walked so he had some support.

I was surprised that Ryou was much happier after we left. I think he was glad that he had someone to trust with the secret that Bakura still beat him very badly. It's not one of the things that you necessarily want people to know about, but you need someone just to know, so that if it happens again, you can talk to that person about it. Yugi wouldn't make a good person to talk to because he wasn't beaten by someone who was supposed to protect him. I can relate though cuz my dad hates me and beats me some a da time.

"Hey Ryou, you sure you don't need help walkin'?"

The albino blushed at my concern, "Yes Joey, I'm positive." He moved to get away from me but noticed I wasn't letting go, "I- you can let go of me now."

I reluctantly let him go and watched him stagger through the doors.

Tea looked toward the doors and saw us there, "Hey guys! Boys, Joey and Ryou are here!" She grabbed Yami around his waist and dragged him over to us like a huge stuffed animal.

"Hey… Ryou are you okay?" Tristan asked. "You look a little pale."

"Dumbass," butted in Duke, "He's albino. What do you expect?"

"I mean more than usual, jerkface!"

"What the hell's an insult like that?"

Tea looked annoyed by the arguing pair, before she held her Yami 'plushie' closer to her, "You aren't getting out of my sight this time, Yami." She purred into his hair.

Ryou and I forced out a laugh, "Poor Yami."

The brunette's face scrunched up before she smiled, "For that, you guys can pay for our snacks."

"A'right. Fair's fair." I pulled out my wallet and shrugged, "Heh, no can do Tea." I held out my wallet so she could see that it was empty with an exception of loose change and old receipts. "You taking it dis time Ryou?"

Ryou put on a bashful smile and shook his head, "I forgot my money in my other jeans."

"Well isn't that convenient," Tea huffed.

Yami smirked, "Don't worry, it's on me." He pulled out some money and hurried away to the snack bar.

I'll bet he just said that to get away from Tea.

Yugi walked up behind Tea, "Hey Tea."

"Hm. Oh, Yugi, what is it?" she spoke with slight impatience.

My best friend must have either not noticed or ignored it, "Would you like me to get your drink like usual?"

"Oh that's okay Yugi. Yami's getting our food." Tea chirped before going to said yami.

Yugi turned his head downcast, "Figures. He's butting in again."

"What was dat, pal?"

"Yami," he said, as though it was obvious, "He keeps trying to take over my life. It's like he didn't get enough living back in Egypt so he wants to take mine."

"Yugi," came from a surprised Yami. "I had no idea."

Yugi looked back at Yami with the same anger filled eyes that he looked at me with on the bus, "It's not like you care now. You've always had your way as pharaoh so why not but into my life too, just like everyone else you've managed to walk all over in Egypt."

"Yugi what are you talking about?" Yami looked confused.

Yugi just turned and ran out the door of the arcade, "Just forget about it!"

"Yugi wait!" Yami and I ran out the door after my best friend onto the slick street outside the arcade. "Let's talk about this!"

Yugi stopped and turned around, almost slipping on the street, "You want to talk? Let's talk! I'm sick of you always making everything I do seem like nothing compared to what you do! I'm sick of you being the person my friends want to hang out with instead of me! But most of all, I'm sick of you invading my life! This is my life, I worked hard to get here right now, and I don't want someone else taking the credit for what I do!!"

While Yugi let out his anger, none of us notice how it was getting brighter and brighter around us. We didn't notice that all the others were saying to move it. But I finally did notice the car speeding towards us out of control when it was just a few meters away. And I saw how unless someone did something, Yugi would get hit. "Yugi, move!!"