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~*~Angels Fall First~*~

Yugi was standing at the bridge, he had ran there as fast as he could, collapsing on the pavement. After a while he had managed to stand and was staring down at the icy waters below. He ignored the stinging in his hand from where the razor had bitten into his skin, concentrating on the tears that were slowly sliding down his face and dripping into the dark depths below.

He didn't know why, but he was scared of a confrontation with Yami. He was scared that Yami would see the marks on his arms; although they were small they would be enough to worry his darker half.

He pulled his sleeve down, past the bloodied bandages on his right hand, and ran his fingers over the slightly raised crescent marks. They were not as red as they had once been, having faded to a dull pink colour. But they were still there; still a reminder.

He heard a cry from somewhere to the left, the voice sounded somewhat familiar…no…voices. Two people were calling his name. Turning his head slightly he saw Jou and Yami running down the path to where he was standing, with his sleeve pulled down, injuries full view.

As soon as Yami reached him he felt himself being pulled into a tight embrace. Yami was holding on to him as if he was about to disappear or something. As soon as Yami let go, tears in his eyes, Yugi was given a few seconds to catch his breath before Jou hugged him.

"Yugi, please, don't ever run off like that again. Hikari, what the hell are you doing out here? It's cold and you don't even have a jacket! Yugi do you have no sense at all?"

Yugi looked down at the ground, his cuts were in full view, yet Yami was ranting on at him for worrying them; he didn't even notice. As the darker was speaking, Yugi discretely pulled his sleeves down.

Yami sighed and hugged him again, more gently this time.

"Yugi, come on. Let's go home."

Yugi nodded and followed the other two. They walked in silence, none knowing what to say. It was a relief to finally reach their home, Yami walked over to the answer machine when he noticed the red light flashing.

You have one new message: This is Doctor Hojo from Domino Hospital; I regret to inform you that your grandfather's condition has deteriorated; we request a meeting with you on Monday evening to discuss legal matters involving future arrangements. Thank you.

Yugi stared up at Yami, tears evident in his eyes. Jou was the first to Yugi's side, but was pushed away as the small boy ran up to his room, slamming the door shut.

"Now what? How the hell am I supposed to help him, I don't even know exactly what's wrong with him, he won't talk to me. Jou, what do I do?"

"I really don't know. It's up to Yugi."

~*~

Yugi was lying on his bed, holding a stuffed bear close to his chest. Tears were sliding down his cheeks but he wasn't really crying; he didn't have the energy. He briefly heard a conversation between the other two; Yami seemed to be telling Jou to get to bed as the first day of school was tomorrow.

Tomorrow? Yugi sat bolt upright, and looked up at the calendar. Tomorrow was the first day of the new term, and he hadn't got anything ready. He reached into a drawer and found his timetable for school, noting that he had triple chemistry and double maths.

He found his old brown school bag, and selected a few pens and pencils and a notebook from last term; they would have to do until he went shopping for some new items. Finally he lay down on his bed, turning the light off and listening to Yami closing his bedroom door. Then the house was silent.

Yugi lay in the dark thinking; he couldn't help his mind from wandering back to the nights events. Ami and Jou had come to find him, but had completely ignored his self inflicted wounds; did they honestly not see them? They were on full view, maybe they just didn't care…With this thought in his mind he fell into a fitful sleep.

~*~

Yugi blinked at the sunlight pouring through the gap in the curtains. The clock next to his bed told him it was pretty much time to get up, so he did so. He stumbled a little; he was still tired, and managed to trip over everything in his way.

He heard the general morning sounds from the kitchen; toast popping out of the toaster, the metallic sounds of cutlery, Yami yelling at the toaster for burning his hand…everything was so ordinary. And it angered Yugi. Having just last night learned that his Grandfathers condition was worsening and all of the events before that he somehow expected everything to be different. But it was just like any other day of his life.

He pushed any feelings aside and slowly began to get dressed. This year they were not required to wear a uniform, and though Yugi would miss the blue attire he was in a way glad to be rid of the thing, it served as a constant reminder that he had not grown since the beginning of high school. And still he maintained his petite build.

He searched through the wardrobe, his mother gave him money to buy things like clothes and other luxury items with, but he hardly ever used it on that, instead contributing it towards Duel Monsters Cards, or playing at the arcade. Or 'lending' to Jou at Burger World, knowing and expecting that he would never see the money again. So his wardrobe was sparsely filled.

He finally decided on a pair of faded baggy jeans (a present from his mother whom he had not seen in over six months and had assumed he had grown) a black tank top and black jacket. He ran a brush through his unruly tri-coloured hair but couldn't be bothered to put it up into spikes. It drooped; emphasizing the utter exhaustion he felt, the pale colour of his face and dark patches under his eyes.

Grabbing his school bag he opened the door and came face-to-face with Jou, who was apparently about to inform him that breakfast was ready. This was confirmed by a few swear words from the kitchen and the all too familiar beeping of the fire alarm.

"…as I was saying, breakfast is served! Eat at your own risk…"

Yugi almost managed a smile at his friends joke, but the sound of a tap running indicated that Yami had probably burned his hand in the process of  'cooking' and would require some attention. He sighed and followed Jou to the kitchen.

Yami hand his finger in his mouth and a frown on his face as they entered, but he quickly assured his hikari that nothing was wrong. Commendably, the only thing burned in the kitchen was Yami's hand, the toast was a light golden colour, and just perfectly warmed. Although the picturesque scene was spoiled slightly by the charcoaled squares of bread sticking out of the rubbish bin.

Breakfast went smoothly, and they were driven to school in Yami's midnight black Lotus. Yami hugged Yugi as he left.

"Yugi, I'll pick you up here tonight after school, okay? Then we can go to the hospital together afterwards, and then maybe go out for dinner?"

"Sounds good, see you then."

Yugi walked up to where Jou was conversing with their friends, who as soon as they realised he was there stopped talking suddenly. Yugi sighed, this wasn't how he wanted it to be; he wanted them to just act normally.

Anzu smiled at him, and gave him a big hug before leaving. Honda said nothing, but nodded to him before leaving too, more than likely to go and see Miho before class. Ryou was smiling sadly at him, the look in his eyes showed that he knew more than he let on. Bakura just sat on the wall. At least he wasn't smirking or anything.

Yugi sat, too. He had a feeling that today was not going to go well at all…

~*~To be Continued~*~

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