Once again, I don't own Yugioh. 

…Do I really have to say that before every chapter?

Okay…just a quick note:  Please be patient while I get the story re-uploaded.  I have to convert the file format, and fanfiction.net isn't being too cooperative.  Thank you for your patience!  ^__^

Chapter 4

The weekend passed with no problem aside from Yugi's parents arguing.  But he was getting better.  His stammering had stopped with the help of Yami, Jou, and Anzu.  And, Yami was always there for him whenever he was beaten.  He would appear afterwards to patch up Yugi's injuries and reassure the boy.  He didn't help out during the beatings because Yugi didn't want Yami to get involved.  He didn't want his parents to know that there was another person living there, or else they'd throw away the puzzle.  And he didn't want that.

Yami didn't like the idea that he had to just sit by while Yugi was beaten up, but he decided that if that was Yugi's decision, then he'd follow it.  And, he secretly vowed to make his parents pay for what they were doing.

But because Yugi no longer stammered, his parents didn't seem to get as much satisfaction out of beating him.  So, his 'stay to the house' curfew was lifted.  He often hung out with Jou and Anzu, with Yami popping up to stay with them, too.  Everyone except Yami found it strange when they read in the paper that 'Local Boy Ushiro Tenrio was taken to Mental Institute'.  When Yugi asked, Yami just told him to forget it.

Between the four of them, they had managed to get Jou a job at the arcade.  He didn't get paid as much as normal employees, but a job was a job.  They were the only ones they could find that would actually hire a fifth grader.

Currently, they were hanging out at the Duel Monsters Center, a casual place where people come to play Duel Monsters with one another or their friends.  Yugi and Jou were dueling, with Anzu and Yami watching.  Yami gave a few pointers here and there to both sides occasionally, which surprised the group.

"Yea," Yami nodded, "The basic concepts of Duel Monsters was around millennia's ago when I was the pharaoh in Egypt."

"Woa!  You was a pharaoh?!" Jou blinked.

"How'd you get in the puzzle?" Anzu frowned.

"Looks like I've said too much already," Yami sighed.

"It doesn't really impact us right now," Yugi stated, looking at his hand, "So we should just leave Yami alone about it.  He'll tell us when he wants to."

They blinked, looking at him.

"So true," Yami nodded.  "I agree completely."

Yugi smiled.  /Yami.  There is one thing I want you to explain to me later./

//What would that be?//

/I want to know what you meant by 'basic concepts' of the game./

//Why?//

/I don't really know.  Something just told me inside that there's more to this card game then the cards.  I want to know./

//Well, some of the information I can't tell you yet.  Let's just put it this way…we had real Dueling Monsters back then.  And they were controlled usually through something called the Shadow Games.  That's as far as I'll go right now.//

/Oka…/

"YUGI!"

Yugi blinked, then laughed, "Gomen ne!  What?"

"I said, it's your move," Jou laughed.

"Hai, hai," Yugi chuckled in embarrassment, "Okay…I sacrifice the Doomed Sorcerer and the Mystical Elf to put out the Dark Magician in attack mode."

"Shit," Jou groaned.

Yugi smiled up at his friend.  "I attack."

"Aw…man!" Jou groaned, "That's the rest of my life points!"

Yugi smiled and held out his hand, "Good game, Jou."

"Yea," Jou shook Yugi's hand.  "Wanna play again?"

"I have to go home," Yugi responded, "It's a school night, and it's getting late."

They nodded.

"See ya tomorrow, Yug!" Jou waved.

Anzu sat across from him as Yugi and Yami walked out.

It was night time, around eleven.  But the occupants of the attic was not asleep.  In fact, nobody in the house was.

Yugi winced as he heard another crash from downstairs, followed by more yelling.  Tears ran down his face as he tried to get warmer under the covers.  A storm raged outside, making him tremble even more.  He hated thunder.  The noise scared him.  He knew it was just a noise and that he shouldn't be afraid, but for some reason, he still was.  He tried to filter out the yelling down the stairs, then heard the familiar dripping noise. 

Yugi got out of bed and crawled over to the leaking area under the tiny window, dripping with rain water.  He grabbed a towel he kept in the attic for rainy days and stuck it underneath.  A huge clap of thunder hit, making him wince from the volume.  He could still hear the crashing of more things hitting downstairs, and his parents' yelling.

Yugi crawled back to bed, trying to get warm under the thin blankets.  He shivered, curling up tighter.  He gripped the sheets when another clap of thunder sounded.  He could still hear the yelling from downstairs.  And on top of that, what originally woke him up was a nightmare.  The last place he wanted to be now was the dark, dank, musty attic.  He cried.

/Yami…/

The puzzle glowed on the desk where he had left it, and Yami came out.

Yami instantly went over to Yugi, and gently took the boy into an embrace, holding him close and rocking him back and forth.  He could hear the objects smashing downstairs and the arguing as well.  "Shh."

Yugi cried into Yami, trembling with tears and fear.  

A huge clap of thunder hit, and Yugi grabbed into Yami's arm in fear.

Yami shook his head, "It's just thunder…"

"I know…I know it's just a noise…but it still scares me," Yugi whispered, burying his head into Yami's shoulder.

"What's wrong aside from that?  You cold?" Yami held the smaller boy closer to warm him up.

"I had a bad dream," Yugi whispered, "It was…there was someone running.  I don't know who it was…and it was raining.  The man was carrying something in his arms.  Something small and…it was moving.  And something big and horrible with big teeth and blood red eyes and long claws was chasing him.  And then he tripped, and the thing chasing him started to attack him, and…whatever he was holding…it was a child, I think, went over a cliff into a forest.  Then I woke up."

Yami rubbed Yugi's back, "It's just a bad dream.  It probably means nothing."  Yea, right.  It was probably either something of the past, the present, or the future.  This dream seems a little too realistic and unusual to just be a harmless nightmare.  But I don't want to upset Yugi. 

"It feels…familiar for some reason," Yugi sobbed, "I don't know why…"

"It's alright," Yami whispered, "You don't have to think about it."

"Yami…," Yugi whimpered.

"Shh," Yami held him.

It was quiet for a while, aside from the arguing from downstairs.  The doors slamming downstairs signified that both parties had gone to their respective rooms.  It went quiet, save for the thunder.  The rain beat down overhead, the sound magnified by the proximity of the attic to the rooftop.  Occasionally, a flash of lightning would come, then thunder.

"Yami…?"

Yami looked down at the boy in his arms, "Hmm?"

"…"

"What's wrong, Yugi?" Yami asked gently.

"I…I don't feel well…," Yugi sniffled, leaning against the taller boy.

Yami brushed Yugi's bangs out of his eyes, pausing to feel the other boy's forehead.  He then wrapped the blanket around Yugi and had him lay down.  He lay down next to him, and held him close for warmth.  Yugi did feel a little warm to him, and he didn't want to take any chances.

"Yami…is it okay…?"

"Shh," Yami whispered, "Just close your eyes.  Go to sleep."

"Thank you, Yami," Yugi whispered, closing his eyes.

Yami continued to rub Yugi's back until he was sure the boy was asleep.  He shook his head.  He looks just like a little angel in his sleep.  Like a small child.  How could anyone want to hurt such purity?  He closed his eyes.  One of these days…when the time is right, I won't let them hurt you ever again, aibou.  I promise you.

The next morning proceeded like usual, except Yugi still looked a little flushed.  But he didn't want to stay home.

"If I stay home," Yugi told Yami, "Then mom or dad would have to call the school to tell them I'm sick and need to stay home.  Then, one of them would have to stay home.  That happened once…when this thing started."

"And?  What happened?" Yami asked, getting a bowl for Yugi so he didn't have to climb up on the stool.

"…I made a very easy target."

Yami didn't question him on that any farther.

Yugi walked to school, the puzzle around his neck. 

//Are you sure you're alright?//

/I'm okay./

"Yugi!" Anzu waved, and ran over, "Hey, what's up?  Killer storm last night, huh?"

Jou came over as well, "I'll say…"

"I bet little Jou was afraid of the bad thunder," Anzu said in a funny, mock-cooing tone of voice.

"Was not!" Jou shouted back.

Yugi chuckled, trying to ignore the dizziness that was creeping up on him as they entered the school.  He put his things in his locker, and thankfully took a seat at his desk.

Jou turned to Anzu as they got things from their locker when Yugi had gone up ahead into the classroom, "Hey, Anz."

"Huh?" Anzu looked up from her locker.

"Do you know how Yugi gets those bruises on him?  Yami won't tell me," Jou stated.

"Does Yami know?"

"Yea.  He must, if he says that he can't tell me," Jou nodded.

"I don't know, either," Anzu shook her head, "I've noticed them for about two months now.  Maybe three.  Since around February, I think."

Jou rubbed his shoulder, "Those kinda injuries he's got…looks like someone is beat'n him up."

Anzu nodded, "I suppose…how do you know?  I mean, I know you fight and all…"

Jou's eyes flashed with anger as he ignored her question, "If it's what I think it may be, then…"  He walked into the classroom.

Anzu sweatdropped, then raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me!  I was talking, here!  Yo!  Geez!  Boys."  She shook her head, grabbed her books, closed her locker, and followed where Jou had gone.

"We're going to do what?!" Anzu stood up strait.

"Shush!" Jou whispered, glancing back at where Yugi had his head down on the desk during morning break time, "Not so loud!"

"We're going to follow Yugi home?!  Why?" Anzu hissed.

"Cause I have a feel'n…I know what's go'n on.  With his injuries and all," Jou looked away.

"Care to share it with me?" Anzu raised an eyebrow.

"It's just speculation right now," Jou shook his head, "So don't go call'n the police or noth'n.  We don't have proof yet."

"I'm not so sure I want to know now…," Anzu sweatdropped.

"Anz, have you heard of 'child abuse'?" Jou asked.

"Of course I have!  Every child knows…!" realization hit her, "Wait…are you saying that Yugi's parents are…?"

"I'm say'n it may be the case," Jou crossed his arms across his chest, looking at the ground, and whispered, "Ain't some'n I haven't seen 'fore…"

"What did you say?" Anzu blinked.

"Noth'n," Jou shook his head.  Yea, I know what it's like.  When pop gets drunk, I head for the hills.  Either that, or it's pain city.  But I can't tell anyone cause they won't believe me.  Who'd believe an 11-year-old juvenile delinquent?  There's noth'n I can do about my situation.  Pops says that if I tell, he'll kill me.  That he'll torture me to no end.  Yea, it's a lose-lose situation for me.  But Yugi…I won't let him go through this.  He's too kind hearted.  He doesn't deserve it.

Anzu looked at Jou.  He looks so serious…I've known Jou for a few months now, and never have I seen him so serious.  Not even before a Duel.  Then again, it is a serious topic.  I wonder why he believes that Yugi gets abused…?  Then again, it's the only lead we have.  I suppose I'll have to follow Jou for now.  Come to think of it…nobody knows where Yugi lives.  I've never been to his house.  Nobody has.  That's suspicious right there.  I feel like a detective.  I just hope I don't get caught.  Or Jou.

Yugi yawned, sneaking a glance at his friends.  I wonder what they're talking about?  They look so serious.  Even Jou.  That's odd.  Yugi frowned.  I wonder what it could be about…

The teacher coming into the room signaled that break was over.  The students took their seats.

"I hate PE, I hate PE…," Jou was mumbling as they were being picked for teams for basketball.

"I choose Jounochi!" a kid pointed who was choosing.

Yugi yawned, shifting from foot to foot.  He wasn't wearing his puzzle because jewelry wasn't allowed during gym class.  The room felt a little too warm, and he was exhausted.

"I pick Anzu!"

"Then I get Jayne!"

The kids were still picking.

Finally, it was down to Yugi or another boy named Rotori.  Everyone called him 'the germ' because he was always sick.  Nobody wanted anything to do with him.

The captain of the first team paused.

"Hurry it up, kids!" the gym teacher roared at them.

"Um…," the kind scratched his head.  He turned to the other team, "You can have the shrimp.  We'll take Rotori."

"I got picked!" Rotori sniffled loudly.  He ran over.

"No fair, Tori!" the kid on the other team shouted.

"If you kids are done, it's time to play," the gym teacher frowned at them.

They nodded.

Yugi shook his head.  Nobody ever wanted him on their team.

Yugi stood by the basket like he had been told.  The action was down at the other end, but they didn't want him to do anything.  He tried, but it was no use.  Suddenly, everything went blurry and started to spin.  His head started to pound, and he felt uneasy on his feet.  He took a shaky step forward as the action continued at the other end, when suddenly, the world spun out of control and he felt himself falling into darkness.  He didn't feel any pain when he fell onto the ground because he was out cold before then.

"Yugi?!" Jou stood up from where he and his team were waiting for their turn.  He ran over, followed by Anzu from her team.

The teacher blew the whistle to stop the game.

"Yugi?!  Daijoubu ka?!  Say some'n!" Jou propped his friend up, "Geez!  He's burn'en up!"

"Jounochi.  Can you take him to the nurse?" the gym teacher asked.

Jou nodded, "Yea."  He picked Yugi up, "I'll get him there.  Right away!"

"Can I go, too?" Anzu asked, "Please?"

"…Okay," the gym teacher nodded, "Only because after taking him, Jounochi, you should go into the locker room and get his things for him."

Jou nodded, "Right!  Come on, Anz!"  He headed for the door.

Anzu followed.

Yugi groaned, and slowly opened his eyes.  Blurry figures came into view when he did.  He blinked, and re-opened his eyes again.

"Hey, Yug," Jou grinned, "Had us worried, there."

"J-Jou…?" Yugi whispered.

"Sure scared me," Anzu blew out her breath.

"Anzu…?" Yugi blinked, "Where am I…?"

"Nurse's office," Jou replied, "Ya passed out during the game."

"You should have stayed home today, Yugi," Anzu put a cold cloth on his forehead.

"No…"

"So then, you knew you had a fever this morning," Anzu sighed.

Yugi nodded slightly, then winced from a headache.

"The nurse tried call'n yer parents ta take you home," Jou stated, "But nobody was there…"

Yugi's eyes shot open in fear, and he sat up, "No!  I-I'll be fine going home by myself…!"

Jou and Anzu looked at him.

"A-after all," Yugi gulped, "I have Yami…"

"Bullshit," Jou shook his head.

"D-did the nurse get through to my parents?" Yugi asked in a small voice.

"She was try'n yer mom, but couldn't reach him.  She's gonna try your father now…"

Yugi shakily got off the bed he was on, and stumbled over to where the nurse was looking for the number.

"Yugi…?"

"Yug?!"

Yugi nearly collapsed a couple of times, but grabbed onto the doorway.

The nurse glanced up, her fingers poised over the phone, "Oh!  You should be in bed!  You were running a high fever…!"

"C-can I call?" Yugi asked, "My parents are usually busy, but I have an older brother who came to visit for a while at home."

"Dear, I tried your home, but nobody picked up…," the nurse stood up and put her hands on Yugi's shoulders, starting to turn him back towards the bed, "Now, go back and rest up where your friends are, and I'll…"

"Wait…," Yugi wavered, grabbing onto the nurse's sleeve, "Please…let me try?"

The nurse sighed, "Very well.  Just sit down."  She gently helped him to a chair.

Jou and Anzu glanced at each other.

Yugi shakily dialed his home number, and concentrated.  "Hi, Yami!"

//Aibou?!  Why are you talking to me out loud…?//

/I'll explain later.  Just play along./

//Very well…//

"Yami, I need to be picked up from school.  I'm at the nurse's office."

//…What do you want me to do?//

"Can you pick me up?" Yugi asked.  /Just say 'yes'./

//What if the nurse asks to speak to me?//

/I'll make something up!/

"You will?" Yugi smiled, "Arigatou, Yami!"

The nurse looked about ready to say something.

"Um…just out of the shower?  Okay, I'll go now!  Bye!" Yugi hung up.

The nurse tapped her foot, "He was in the shower?"

Yugi nodded, "Yea."

"Doesn't he go to school…?"

"He's off this week," Yugi smiled, "He goes to a different school."  Things grew fuzzy again as relief passed through him.

"Well, I guess it's alright," the nurse nodded.

"I'm glad," Yugi closed his eyes, and welcomed the darkness.

"Oh, dear…," the nurse sighed, "Um…Jounochi, wasn't it?"

"Yea?"

"Could you get him back to bed?"

"Sure," Jou came over then picked Yugi up and brought him over to the bed, laying him down.

"Something's going on," Anzu looked at him.

"I know," Jou nodded, "But for now…we gotta help him."

"Huh?"

"Hey, nurse!  I'm gonna get a drink of water from the fountain in the hall!" Jou waved, grabbing the puzzle without her seeing and stuffing it into his pocket.

"Okay," the nurse nodded from her office.

"What are you doing?" Anzu hissed.

"Yami can't come outta the puzzle here!" Jou whispered back.

Anzu realized it, "Oh!  You're a really good friend, Jou."

Jou turned red, then sniffled, "Heh…I'll be right back."  He left the room.

Anzu looked back at Yugi, who was laying on the bed, his face flushed with fever.  She picked up the cloth and dabbed at some of the sweat coming down his face.

"Yugi…what's going on?" Anzu whispered, brushing his golden bangs out of his face.

Yugi woke up to voices.

"So you're his older brother?"  it was the nurse's voice.

"Yes.  I'm visiting from out of town."

"Why would you be out of town?"

"It's a complicated story," Yami sighed, "Very complicated."

"Oh.  Okay.  He's right over there…"

Yami walked over to where the other boy was.  "Yugi.  You okay?"

Yugi smiled, pushing himself into a sitting position, "Yami…"

"It's okay.  Don't cry," Yami whispered, "Let's get you home."

Yugi nodded, wiping his eyes.

"Your friends left when I came," Yami stated, "They had to get back to class.  Your friend got your things for you.  Here."  He put the puzzle around Yugi's neck, then helped him stand up.

Yugi wavered, suddenly unsure of his feet.

Yami knelt down, his back to Yugi, "Get on."

"But…," Yugi blinked groggily.

"It's alright," Yami smiled at him, "You're too disoriented to walk.  I'll carry you."

"Thank you, niichan," Yugi smiled, putting his arms over Yami's shoulders.

Yami braced himself, wrapping his arms under Yugi's legs, and stood up.  He was a bit thrown off by Yugi calling him 'brother', but he quickly shook it off.  He supported Yugi's light weight with one arm, and took his bag with the other arm.

"Take care," the nurse waved.

"You, too," Yami nodded, then walked out.

Once home, Yami gently laid Yugi out on his futon, then covered him with a blanket.  He looked around, and, seeing a coat, placed that over Yugi as well.  He then lay next to Yugi.

"Yami…," Yugi whimpered in his sleep.

"I'm right here," Yami whispered, hugging him, "It's alright."

Yugi grabbed onto Yami's sleeve, but then fell back into a sleep again.

Yami sighed and just stayed close.

***Dream***

"Dear!  I'm home!" a man smiled, entering a white house.  The walls and ceiling were white marble, lined with blue.  The man was average size if not a bit short.  He was lean with spiky black hair and smiling violet eyes.  His smile was warm and caring.  He was dressed in a pair of light khaki slacks with a matching suit top and a violet colored tie.  He even had brown shoes.

A woman smiled, walking over to him.  She wore a light blue dress and had short, blonde hair.  Her sandal-covered feet padded over to him as she greeted him, her blue eyes smiling back at him, "Okairi nasai, anata."  She leaned over and kissed him on the lips.

The man laughed, "It's nice to see you, too, koishii."  He indicated a small bundle in the woman's arms, "And how is little Tenko, hmm?"

The woman laughed.  It was a vibrant laugh, full of energy and laughter and innocence.

The little child in question was only about a year old.  His unruly hair was black and gold, sticking out all over the place.  Wide amethyst eyes peered out.  He was dressed simply in a blue yukata with a white sash tied around his waist.  The child giggled and laughed.

"As energetic as ever, hmm?" the man cooed to the boy, tickling him.

Tenko giggled and kicked his stubby feet in joy.  He held out his hands and babbled something.

"You want to come to daddy?  Okay," the man smiled, picking up the small boy and holding him up, "Where's daddy?"

Tenko giggled and poked a finger on the man's nose.

The man laughed, "He's a smart one!  He already knows who his daddy is."

Tenko clapped his hands together, giggling and laughing.

Things faded into dark.

***

The scene changed.  This time, the man from before was running through the darkness, chased by a large creature.  It looked like a dragon, with huge, glistening fangs and glowing red eyes.  Its hue was as blood red as its eyes, maybe even deeper.  It roared, its claws reaching out towards the man.

"No!" the man shouted, holding the bundle he was holding to him, "Leave us alone!  Why do you want us!?"

The dragon roared, and charged at the man.

The man stumbled and fell.  The little bundle went flying out of his hands, crying.

The dragon started to descent upon the man.

The man reached out towards the bundle that was falling off the cliff towards the forest below, "NO!  Tenko!!!"

Crying came from the little baby as it fell.

"TENKO…!" the man shouted even as the dragon's fire breath engulfed him, tears running down his face, "TENKO!!!!!!"

***End Dream***

Yugi sat bolt upright, sweating and breathing hard.  Tears ran down his face, and he was trembling.  He whimpered, when two steady arms wrapped around him.

"Yugi?" Yami whispered, holding the boy, "What's wrong, Yugi?"

Yugi sniffled, then turned to Yami, throwing his arms around the other boy and crying into his chest.

"Woa…," Yami blinked, then rubbed Yugi's back and rocked him back and forth, holding him.  "Shh.  Daijoubu.  Daijoubu."

Yugi couldn't say anything.  He just cried.

Yami didn't press a question, though he did want to know what spooked Yugi like that to make him cry harder then when his parents beat him.  He warily glanced at the door, hoping that the cries weren't overheard.  His mother had come home already…he had been sleeping for a while after Yami managed to get him some fever-reduction medicine.

"Shh…aibou, it's alright," Yami assured him, rocking him back and forth, "It's alright."

Yugi quieted down after a while.

Yami smiled down at him, "There, now.  Feel better?"

Yugi nodded, pulling apart a bit and sniffling.

Yami gently reached over and wiped one of Yugi's tears away with his thumb.

Yugi sniffled.

"It looks like your fever is gone," Yami smiled, "Probably sweated it off during your nightmare."

Yugi nodded, wiping his eyes with his sleeve, "It…really was a nightmare…"

Yami put an arm around him, "Tell me when you're ready, okay?"

Yugi nodded, then spilled the entire story.

Yami shook his head, "Don't worry about it, aibou."

"If you say so…but that other dream I had already…with the man running and Tenko falling off the cliff into a forest…," Yugi blinked.

Yami nodded, "I'll think about it.  You just relax."  And I'll be doing a lot of thinking.  Having the same dream twice?  In a row?  That's a bit more then coincidence.  And now we're getting names.  There may be something more to these 'dreams' then we thought.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Japanese – English

Daijoubu ka – Are you alright?

Daijoubu – I'm okay/it's okay

Okairi nasai – Welcome home

Anata – You (usually used informally, and translates more to 'dear' when addressing one's significant other)

Koishii – Lover

Niichan – Big brother

Aibou – Partner (used more affectionately by Yami when addressing Yugi)

Yukata – (typical clothing for the Japanese which looks almost like a giant robe.  It's most commonly seen being used in anime's taking place in Japan's past; usually the Sengoku Jidai, Edo, and Meiji periods are most common)