I don't own Yugioh. I do own the two detectives, however.
Chapter 9
"WHAT?!" Yugi was incredulous.
Seto and Yami sighed.
Mokuba just ate his breakfast, clueless to what was going on in the next room over.
"Y-you want me to t-t-tell the p-police?!" Yugi's eyes were wide in fear.
"Listen, aibou," Yami looked at him, "You don't have to say anything. All you have to do is show them the attic where you live."
"That's right," Seto nodded, "They may ask you some 'yes-or-no' questions. You can just nod or shake your head. You don't have to speak."
Tears ran down Yugi's face, "But do you know what they're going to do to me?! Mom and dad…do you know what they'll do when the police come…!? You don't understand!"
"Aibou, we understand better then anyone else," Yami responded.
"All we want to do is help," Seto responded, "I already contacted the police."
"They'll know…," Yugi cried, "They'll know! They'll know I told…!"
"Nope," Seto grinned, "I told. Not you. And nobody really told me. I found out in my own ways. So you didn't tell…I found out. Got it?"
Yami put an arm around Yugi and nodded, "That's right. Don't cry."
Yugi wiped his eyes.
"I'll be right there with you," Yami whispered to him, "So you'll be just fine. I'm coming to school with you, too."
"But…"
Seto stood up, "I already made the arrangements. Yugi. Do you trust Yami?"
Yugi nodded, "Of course! I'd trust Yami with my life!"
"Do you trust Seto?" Yami asked.
"Yes," Yugi nodded.
"Do you trust Mokuba?" Seto asked.
Yugi nodded, "Yes."
"Then you don't have to worry about a thing," Seto nodded, "We wouldn't betray your trust."
"That's right," Yami nodded.
Mokuba peeked into the room, "Did someone say my name?"
"Nevermind, kiddo," Seto shook his head, "Just go back to eating…"
"I'm all done," Mokuba shrugged, walking in, "Ne…what's wrong with Yugi-niichan? Why are you crying?"
Yugi wiped his eyes with his sleeve and smiled, "Don't worry about it, Mokuba-chan."
Mokuba nodded, "If you say so…"
"Let's get to school," Seto gathered his things, "Mokuba, did you clean up your stuff?"
Mokuba nodded, "Of course!"
"You guys ready?" Seto asked, throwing his school coat on and buttoning it up so that it flowed out the back like a cape in the back.
They nodded.
* * *
"Ohayo, Yugi, and…YAMI!?" Anzu blinked.
"What the hell?!" Jou exclaimed.
Yugi laughed as they walked into the classroom. It was a bit of a nervous laugh, though.
Yami glanced at him, then at his friends, "I'm 'visiting'."
"Why…?" Anzu frowned, sitting on a desk.
"The secret of the puzzle was activated, and I can't go back into it," Yami smiled, "The seal was broken. Seems Yugi and I figured out how."
"That's awesome! Um…what does that mean?" Jou blinked.
"It means that Yami is free," Yugi smiled, "He's like one of us now…except he's a few years older."
"A few millennia's older…," Yami muttered.
"Your soul is," Yugi blinked, "But you…that body is of a 15 year old."
Yami paused, "Hn? Never thought of it like that before."
Yugi sat down at his desk.
"Some'n wrong, Yug?" Jou blinked, "Ya seem kinda down in the dumps."
"That's because he's nervous about something," Yami responded.
Jou sighed, "Yug…does it have anything to do with home? Yer home? Maybe…you get beat'n?"
Yugi burst out in tears and put his head in his arms on his desk.
"Woa…what'd I say? Sorry, Yug," Jou put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Yugi sniffled and got it under control, "It-it's okay…"
Yami walked over, "How did you find out about that, Jou?"
"Woa…I was right?!" Jou blinked.
"There's a new one," Anzu kept her voice down. "Why didn't you tell us, Yugi?"
Yugi wiped his eyes fervently as tears ran down his face, "They'd…they'd…"
"Don't worry 'bout it," Jou grinned, placing a hand on Yugi's shoulder, "Ya don't hafta tell us. I bet they threatened ya, didn't they? Well, if Yami's involved, we don't gotta worry. Besides…you're out buddy, Yug. Ya think we'd let them do anything to ya without us stepping in?"
"Jou…," Yugi smiled, wiping more tears away.
"Jou's right, Yugi," Yami walked up, "Don't worry about it."
Anzu looked at Jou for a brief time, then glanced back at Yugi, "That's right…we'll come, too."
"You don't have to…"
"That's what friends are for!" Jou grinned.
"We're going to the Kaiba mansion," Yami explained, "And then over from there."
"You may not want to come and see," Yugi whispered.
"Don't you worry about a thing, Yug," Jou grinned, "We're right behind ya!"
Yugi looked at the ground, "I don't know…I…I didn't want you…you guys to see…"
"See what?" Anzu blinked, "Where you live?"
Tears filled Yugi's eyes, "Where I stay. My…room."
"It can't be that bad, Yugi," Anzu stated.
Yugi burst out in tears again.
"Woa…woa…I'm sorry, Yugi," Anzu stammered, then glanced at Yami, "What did I say wrong?"
"I don't know," Yami shook his head, equally as puzzled, "This is the first time something like this has come up." He placed a hand on Yugi's shoulder, "Hey. Aibou, what's wrong?"
"I don't…," Yugi cried, "…want them to see…"
"Want us to see what, Yug?" Jou asked in a quiet voice, "It's no big deal. It ain't gonna change the fact that we're friends, if that's what'cha worried about."
Yugi sniffled, his crying abruptly stopping.
"Wow…Jou hit the nail on the head, I guess," Anzu blinked.
Yami's eyes narrowed a bit. He glanced at Jou. I'm getting concerned for Jou. If he knows all of these sort of things, then what's going on with him…? Come to think of it, he gets a lot more bruises then someone who just gets into fights all the time.
Just then, another voice broke into the group, "Aw…wazzis? Widdle Yugi's cry'n again?"
"Bug off, Honda," Jou spat, "It ain't none of your concern."
"That's right," Anzu nodded, "Leave Yugi alone."
"You tak'n this, Yugi?" Honda sneered, "Be'n stood up for by a girl? Eh?"
Suddenly, Yami grabbed Honda by the shirtfront and slammed him against the wall, glaring at him and lifting him off the ground, "Listen up, kid. You think you're so great? You think you're so tough? What you're doing is cowardly! It's the lowest of lows! Real courage is what these three have! They have the courage not to listen to you and to stand up for each other. That's what real courage and friendship is. I can't say the same for you. I don't see anyone with you. All your power has gotten you is loneliness."
Yugi, Jou, and Anzu stared in amazement and disbelief.
Everyone else in the class was watching.
Honda's eyes were wide as he looked at the older boy.
"And let me warn you of one thing," Yami had yet to blink while talking, the third eye on his forehead glowing faintly, only visible to Honda, "If you ever lay a finger on either Yugi, Jou, or Anzu…I will personally kick your ass. Not even your soul will be safe from my punishment. Got it?!"
Honda nodded in fear.
Yami dropped Honda, "Thought so."
Just then, the teacher walked in. She was a bit early, still, so while she took attendance, everyone started to settle down.
"That was amazing!" Anzu smiled.
"Wow," Jou grinned, "I'm even more impressed by yas."
Yugi wiped his eyes and offered a smile, "Arigatou, Yami. But did you really mean what you said? That I have…courage?"
Yami nodded, taking the empty seat next to Yugi, "Yes. I did. You are courageous. More then you know it, aibou. Just by having the will to keep on living with what was happening with your home life. That is courage."
Yugi wiped at the tears coming down his face, a smile stretching across his face.
Anzu smiled, then turned to Jou, "I've never seen Yugi smile so big since I met him."
Much to Yugi's dread, the school day ended soon. Jou, Anzu, Yami, and Yugi met up with Mokuba and Seto at the mansion.
"These are you friends?" Seto glanced at the two.
Yami nodded, "Yea. Good ones."
"I'm Anzu Mazaki."
"Everyone just calls me 'Jou'. Katsuya Jounochi. Yo!"
Seto nodded, and walked over to the house, "My name is Seto Kaiba."
"I'm Mokuba! Hi!" the little boy smiled.
"Are you coming with us, Mokuba?" Yami asked.
Mokuba nodded, "Seto-niisama said it was alright cause that way he knows nobody'll try to grab me."
Yugi gulped. This was becoming more and more nerve-wracking.
"Aibou? Hey, you okay?" Yami whispered as Seto went inside to get the police who were waiting, "You're awfully pale."
Yugi whimpered but nodded.
"Don't worry, Yug," Jou put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "We're here for ya."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Yugi whispered, "What if today…what if they decide to come home early? What if…what if…"
"Shh," Yami shook his head.
"Don't cry, Yugi," Anzu whispered, "It'll be alright."
"No one's gonna hurt ya anymore," Jou nodded.
Yugi sniffled.
Just then, Seto came out, followed by four men. Two of them wore brown clothing, one with an overcoat and the other with just a suit. Detectives. The other two were police officers.
"Everyone," Seto pointed them out, "These are the men." He indicated the short officer in the suit, "This is Yamata-san." He then turned to the tall detective, "This is Toshiba-san." He indicated a police officer with short, spiky black hair, "This is Officer Houdo, and this is Officer Nakumano."
"Hi!" Jou grinned.
"Nice to meet you," Anzu nodded.
Mokuba bowed politely like he had been told.
"Thank you for coming," Yami nodded.
Yugi just nodded his head, too petrified to do anything or say anything.
"Well, now," Toshiba pulled out a small notebook, "Shall we get started?"
"Which one of you is Yugi?" Yamata asked.
"I-I'm Y-Yugi."
"We're not going to hurt you, Yugi," Toshiba smiled at him, "We just need you to bring us to your house. Okay?"
Yugi stood there, unable to move. The men were at least three or four times his size, and were very intimidating. He found himself shaking in fear, with tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at them. "I…I…I…"
Anzu put a hand on his shoulder, and gave it a reassuring squeeze, "It's alright, Yugi."
"Let them help you," Yami nodded, taking Yugi's hand, "Please?"
"It'll be alright, Yug," Jou nodded.
"Don't be scared," Mokuba stated, "If you start to cry, then I'm gonna cry!"
"Are you ready?" Seto asked kindly.
Yugi whimpered but nodded. Keeping a grip on Yami's hand, he started to walk to where his house was.
"Here?" Toshiba asked as they stopped in front of a plain house with three floors. A base level, a second level, and an attic.
Yugi was shaking uncontrollably, even with the presence of his friends. He gazed up at the house that had caused him so much pain and grief.
"Um…I don't want to rush you," Yamata coughed, "But we've been standing out here for five minutes now…can you show us to your room?"
Yugi whimpered, tears running down his face as his shaking hand gripped the door handle. He dropped his hand and sunk to his knees.
"Yugi?" Anzu blinked.
"Yug?" Jou frowned.
"Yugi-niichan?" Mokuba looked over.
"Yugi?" Seto questioned.
Yami bent down next to him, "What's wrong, Yugi?"
"I…can't…," Yugi whispered, tears streaming down his face, "I can't! I'm too scared!"
"Yugi, listen to me," Yami placed both hands down on the boy's shoulders, "You can do it. Tell yourself that you can. We're right here with you. We're not going to let anything happen to you. Nothing is going to happen to you. Be brave, Yugi. You can do it." He stood up, offering his hand to Yugi.
Yugi wiped his eyes, sniffling, then took the hand up. He reached out and opened the door. It was quiet inside, and all seemed alright.
"I have a question for you," Yamata was writing a description of the inside down, "Have the windows always been plastic?"
Yugi shook his head, "No."
"Were they glass before that?" Toshiba asked.
Yugi nodded. He hiccupped on a sob in fear.
Yami gripped his hand, and Yugi squeezed back, frightened.
Even though the house seemed clean, there was evidence of where something had been broken. There was even something shattered in the corner of the room, and some pushed under the rug to hide it. Of course, the two officers easily found it.
"Glass," Houdo stood up, "Small pieces."
"Probably smashed," Nakumano agreed.
Yugi started to cry, throwing his arms around Yami, "Yami! I can't do this!"
"Yes you can," Yami whispered, brushing Yugi's tears away.
"Don't worry, Yug," Jou nodded, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, "It's alright."
"You can do it, Yugi," Anzu agreed.
"Waaa! Don't cry!" Mokuba bawled.
Seto patted his brother on the head, "It'll be alright, Yugi. Take a deep breath. Come on…you can do this. You're strong."
"I'm not strong!" Yugi cried, "I'm weak!"
"How did you get that idea?" Yamata suddenly asked.
"Yamata-san!" Seto barked.
"G-gomen, Kaiba-sama," Yamata stammered, then thought for a moment, "Um…did your parents tell you that you were weak?"
Yami answered for the crying boy, "They said much more then that, didn't they, Yugi?"
Yugi nodded, pulling apart.
"Can you give us a tour of your house, Yugi?" Toshiba asked.
Yugi hesitated, then nodded, "Y-yes." He started to walk inside, and closed the door after everyone was in. "Th-this is the entrance. Over there where the g-glass is…that's the living room." He walked to the other side, to where a small table was with four chairs around it, "This is the dining room."
Everyone followed as he walked into the place with the refrigerator.
"This is the kitchen," Yugi finished.
The officers were looking around while the detectives were jotting things down.
"Can you take us upstairs?" Toshiba asked gently.
Yugi hesitated.
"Go ahead, Yugi," Seto urged.
"You can do it, Yugi," Anzu nodded.
Yugi took a deep breath, then led them to the stairs. He started up, with them behind him.
"What's on this floor?" Toshiba asked.
Yugi pointed down the hallway, "On the l-left is where I used to be…but mom stays there now. The right is where dad is. Down on the left is the closet, so is the door at the end of the hall. The other door is the bathroom."
The officers were already poking into the rooms. They met back.
"Well?" Yamata asked.
"Found a lot of alcoholic beverages in the designated father's room," Houdo reported, "A lot of them were illegal. Also found some narcotics. Marijuana, mainly."
"Anything from your direction?" Toshiba asked.
"Some alcohol, but other then that, not anything suspicious," Nakumano reported.
"Okay, Yugi," Yamata turned to the boy, "I have two questions for you."
Yugi glanced at his friends, who all nodded encouragingly. He looked back at them, but still couldn't stop shaking. Even as Yami gripped his hand to assure him that it's alright.
"First," Yamata was poised to write, "Does your father drink? Excessively, I mean?"
Yugi nodded shakily.
"Okay," Yamata nodded, "Second question. We found narcotics in the room. Do you know what narcotics are?"
Yugi nodded.
"Were they prescribed to your father?" Yamata asked.
Yugi shook his head.
Yamata nodded, "Thank you, Yugi. That's all the questions I have."
"Yugi…does your father go out to drink? Say…to a bar?" Toshiba asked.
Yugi nodded, "Y-yea…"
"Does he have a steady income? A job?" Yamata joined in.
Yugi shifted from foot to foot and nodded, "Y-yea…"
"Does your mother work?" Yamata asked.
Yugi nodded, a tear running down his face.
Seto held up his hand, "Woa there, you two. Ease up on the questions. Give him some time. This isn't easy for him."
"Gomen, Kaiba-sama."
"My apologies, Kaiba-sama."
"Don't apologize to me," Seto shook his head.
Yami squeezed Yugi's hand. //How are you holding up?//
/I'm scared…I want to leave. I don't want to be here. I don't ever want to come back!/
//Easy there.// Yami gripped Yugi's hand.
"Are you alright, Yug?" Jou asked gently.
"Just take some deep breaths like Seto said earlier," Anzu suggested.
Mokuba couldn't find anything to say. He sort of understood what was going on. He was smart for his age, being the brother of Seto Kaiba. But he didn't know what 'narcotics' were and all the other things they talked about. What did his parents having jobs have to do with this?
"When you're ready," Toshiba smiled down at Yugi.
Yugi walked forward and reached up to the rope hanging down from the ceiling. He pulled it, and a staircase pulled down, revealing a door at the top. Here, Yugi paused.
Yugi looked at Yami.
Yami nodded, offering a smile, "It's alright, aibou."
"Is your room up here?" Toshiba asked kindly.
Yugi nodded, pointing a shaky finger up the stairs.
Anzu walked over to him and embraced him briefly, "Stop shaking. Everything will be alright." She pulled away.
Yugi wiped his eyes.
//She's right. Go ahead. It's alright.//
Yugi glanced at Yami, then slowly started up the stairs. Tears ran down his face, and he was so scared he thought he was going to pass out. My heart's racing…my hands are sweaty…I'm dizzy…it's hard to breathe…there's a lump in my throat…my stomach hurts…Yugi continued up until he reached the top. Shaking worse then ever, he took hold of the door knob, and pushed the door open, letting more tears fall down his face. He choked on a sob, stepping into the musty attic room.
The others followed him in.
The officers didn't have much to inspect. But they looked at the conditions. The detectives were so busy writing things down a mile a minute, they didn't ask any questions yet.
Mokuba's jaw dropped open. Seto had told him not to say anything, so he bit back what he was going to say.
Jou's eyes flashed a bit angrily. At least I have a room…all Yugi has is this cold attic and some meager things. Plus the beatings…damn, I wanna beat the shit outta his parents.
Anzu's hands flew to her mouth in shock. This is what Yugi's had to live in for the past few months?! This is horrible! You can't even call this living!
Seto's eyes narrowed. Those people…they must be sick bastards to treat a child this way. A little boy who is no more then 10 years old.
Yami looked around. Everything was there just like they had left it.
Yamata approached them as Toshiba took notes while the officers inspected everything.
They looked up.
"This is the serious part," Yamata said solemnly, "Yugi, you have to answer these questions. Can you do that for us?"
Yugi whimpered but nodded.
"How long have you been living in the attic?" Yamata asked.
Seto hissed at him, "Yes or no questions was the deal, Yamata-san."
"Kaiba-sama, I apologize, but I have to know," Yamata responded, "This is serious child abuse, here."
"No breaking the deal," Seto responded, "Find out with yes or no questions. This is hard for Yugi as it is. Don't make him explain things."
Yamata sighed in frustration. He turned to the shaking boy, "Okay…Yugi…have you been living in here for more then two months?"
Yugi nodded.
"More then four months?" Yamata asked.
Yugi nodded again, shaking harder.
"More then six months?" Yamata asked.
Yugi whimpered and nodded, then burst out, "Around eight or nine months!" Tears ran down his face.
Yami gripped his hand.
"Yug…," Jou whispered.
"Oh, God…," Anzu felt tears of her own run down her face.
Mokuba gripped his brother's leg, squeezing his eyes shut to block out the dirty place. I don't understand…how can anyone survive living in something like this for eight or nine months?
Yamata nodded, writing it down, "Now, Yugi, you have to answer me truthfully. We just want to help you. Can you answer us honestly?"
Yugi gulped, butterflies in his stomach. He nodded, putting a hand over his stomach. I have never been more afraid I my life. I feel sick…
"Yugi," Yamata said sternly, "Can you answer my questions honestly?"
Yugi nodded, feeling a horrible taste in his mouth. My stomach really hurts…and I'm dizzy…I'm gonna be sick…I just wanna pass out…Tears ran down his face.
"Hold on," Jou interrupted, "Mebbe we should wait a bit…"
Anzu nodded, "Yea. Yugi's really scared!"
"We can't wait," Yamata shook his head, "His parents will be home in less then an hour."
//Take a deep breath, aibou. Calm down.//
/…I feel sick…/
//Shh. Let's just get this over with. Then you can rest back at Seto's place.//
/…I think I'm gonna throw up…I feel really sick…/
//You're just scared. Take some deep breaths, and you'll be fine.//
/…I'm gonna throw up…/
//Hush. You're going to be just fine.//
/…I really don't feel well…/
Yami knelt down next to Yugi, and rubbed his back, "You're going to be just fine, you hear me? Calm down and take some deep breaths."
"What's wrong?" Toshiba came over.
"Yugi doesn't feel well," Yami responded. He glanced at Yugi, who was pale and shaky and sweaty.
"It'll be alright, Yugi," Toshiba knelt down, smiling at the boy. He placed a hand on Yugi's shoulder, "You're safe. Your friends are all here. They came here for you. See? Thatta boy. You're doing just great. Don't worry…in a few minutes, this will all be over with, and you can go back to Kaiba-sama's place and get some rest. All you have to do first is answer a couple of minor questions. Can you do that, brave guy?"
Yugi wiped his eyes and gulped. He nodded.
"Atta boy," Toshiba smiled at him, "Now…is it cold in here? Do you feel cold?"
Yugi nodded. He was afraid that if he spoke, he would throw up instead. He was still a bit nervous, but calmed down. In fact, he felt a bit more comfortable around Toshiba. He didn't like the others, but Toshiba was alright.
Toshiba smiled, "This isn't so hard, is it? Do your parents hurt you?"
Yugi nodded.
"Do they hit you?"
Another nod.
"Have they ever put your life in danger?"
Yugi held up two fingers.
"Twice?" Toshiba jotted it down.
Yami glanced at Yugi. He didn't even tell me about this…when was his life in danger?! I bet he didn't tell me because he didn't want his parents hurt. Damn. Yugi's too kind for his own good.
Jou swore in his head. Shit. Yug's life was in danger. Sure, pops beats me, but he doesn't do noth'n more then that. A black eye now and then, a bloody nose…a cracked rib is the worse he's done.
Anzu didn't know how much more she could take. She had a feeling Mokuba felt the same way, since the small boy had tears running down his face.
Seto's eyes shone with tears threatening to fall. Damn…if this had continued any longer……no, I'd rather not think of that.
"Was it your father?" Toshiba asked.
Yugi nodded, gripping Yami's hand.
Yami squeezed back. //I'm here, aibou. It's alright.//
"We'll ask what he did later," Toshiba smiled, "Were you ever sent to the hospital?"
Yugi held up a shaky finger.
Toshiba wrote it down. "Once. Okay…have you ever run away from home before?"
Yugi shook his head.
"Okay," Toshiba nodded, then smiled and patted Yugi on the shoulder, standing up and putting the note pad away, "Okay! We're all done questioning for today. You did a great job, Yugi. You should be proud of yourself."
Yugi continued to cry softly.
"We should go, Kaiba-sama," Toshiba nodded, "We're done questioning for the day."
Seto nodded, "Alright. If you all want, you can hang out at my place while I speak with the detectives and the police before they leave. Yugi, you can rest. Yami, will you stay with him?"
Yami nodded, already bending down to carry the shaking boy.
Yugi gratefully got onto Yami's back, and rested his head into the back of Yami's shoulder.
Yami gently supported him and stood up, "Let's get out of here. I've had enough of this hell hole."
They nodded and left.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Japanese – English
-sama – Master (used at the end of a person's name when addressing that person or referring to that person)