Title: Hope for Tomorrow
Author: Shadows of Chaos61
Rating: R
Pairing: Seto X Yami
Warnings: language (Yami has a dirty mouth), sexual content, violence, and yaoi.
Disclaimer: Yugioh does not belong to me
Summary: Yami is an 18 year old that has lived on the streets most of his life taking care of his brother, Yugi. Seto is a rookie cop that soon finds himself drawn into Yami's world
Chapter 6
A low groan filled the small room as excruciating pain cause Yami to finally come around. Crimson eyes slowly blinked open as they strained to take in their surroundings. Rolling his head to the side, he hissed when the blood rushed back to his head causing his injury to thump wildly.
Instinct took over making him want to touch the tender area to check on it when he felt warm liquid trailing down the side of his face. He willed his arm to move to the desired location only to find that he was immobile. Looking to the side, his eyes trailed from his bare shoulder down the length of his arm to see his wrist bound by a rope to a metal pole. Groaning, he looked to the other side to find his other wrist equally bound to a similar pole.
Taking in a deep breath, he braced him self before he pulled with what little strength he had left, trying to free the bonds. The futile movement caused his head to pound even more making another moan to escape his dry lips.
Sliding his eyes shut, hoping it would help against the pain, he tried to steady his breathing. Once somewhat calm, he opened dull eyes to once again take in his surroundings.
He was in a small room with no windows and only one door. It lacked any furniture, the only objects in it being him self and the two poles he was currently tied to. The floor was nothing more than rotting wood that seemed to barely support his weight.
Unfortunately, he knew this room all too well.
This was the last place any Taro's 'employees' got to see if they pissed him off. Fighting past the pain in his head, he tried to think of why he was here. He had agreed to do the man's job, it wasn't his fault he had sent men after him, so why was he here? What had he done?
A light shiver ran through his body, making him notice that he had been stripped of his shirt, shoes and socks, leaving him in nothing but his faded out blue jeans. Yami furrowed his eyebrows both in pain and confusion as he tried to figure out the reason behind everything that was going on.
He sighed when he realized that in his current state that it was nearly impossible to make any coherent thoughts. Slowly, he rolled his head to the left, resting his head on his shoulder.
Before long, a click was heard coming from the door. Yami lifted his heavy head up and gazed at it as it opened revealing his boss and a couple of men he had never seen before.
"It's nice to see you're awake." Taro walked further into the room letting his two flunkies close the door behind them.
"What am I here for Taro?" he said in barely a whisper.
Taro walked towards him, eyeing him the whole time. Hands behind his back, the man began to circle the bound teen like a hunter about to go in for the kill. "You know, I never thought you would be the one to betray me, Yami. I always thought that if anyone out there could be trusted to keep secrets and do as told, then it would most likely be you. But it seem I have been mistaken."
"What are you talking about, damnit?! I haven't betrayed you!"
"Oh?" he said as he stopped in front of him and roughly grabbed his chin, forcing Yami to look him in the face. "Don't tell me my informants were mistaken?"
Yami forced himself not to show any signs of pain or wariness. "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Hmm..well then let me enlighten you then." Taro released his chin and took a step back. "Today, you were seen talking to a cop, but not just any cop, no this was Bakura's partner. The same man that has been after us for years."
Realization dawned on Yami. Taro's man, who ever he was, must not have been able to hear what had been said between him and the rookie. "So what if I talked to the rookie? I talk to Bakura all the time and have never said anything about you. So why would I tell his partner?"
"That's what I would like to know. But the way I see it is that you know better than to tell Bakura anything because it would endanger your brother. He wouldn't be alive if I got wind of you doing that. But on the other hand, if you thought that we didn't know about his new partner than it would be safe for you to tell all to him."
Yami fought the urge to roll his eyes. "You're a fucked up idiot Taro. I know better than to think you wouldn't know anything that goes on with the cops and your an even bigger idiot for thinking I would run to one of them."
The bound teenager's head snapped violently as a fist connected with his jaw. "I'd watch that cocky little mouth of yours if I was you. If you haven't noticed I have the upper hand here."
Crimson eyes locked onto the man in front of him, "That's never stopped me before."
"Well I'm about to put an end to that right now." Taro snapped his fingers, signaling to the other two men to walk forward.
"What the fuck are you planning Taro?" Yami watched the two men walked towards him. One stood beside his boss while the other stepped behind Yami, making his intentions unseen.
"Let's just say that if you survive this you will never think about double crossing me again." He looked towards the man standing behind the teen and nodded his head. "Mark him boys."
Yami had no time to react as the man in front of him grabbed him and lifted him to his feet causing the ropes to slide up the poles. Strong arms wrapped him into a strange bear hug; one arm went around his neck, while the other went around his waist making it impossible for him to move.
A second later, Yami felt the all too familiar touch of cold metal pressed into his skin at the base of his neck. Unbearable pain filled him as the knife dug in and slid down his back. Crimson eyes flashed as a scream tore from his dry lips. Survival instincts kicked in making him fight to get away from the man holding him.
The flunkie in front of him increased his tightness making it impossible for him to move as the knife pulled out of his back only to be replaced at his side. Another scream erupted before his eyes rolled back into his head and the blessed darkness took over him again saving him from this torment.
"Can I help you?"
Seto looked at the nurse, playing receptionist, as he pulled out his ID. "Yes, my name is Officer Kaiba and I received a call about a John Doe?"
The nurse smiled and checked out his badge. "Yes, let me get someone to take you to him. If you will just have a seat in the waiting room for now."
Nodding his head, he replaced his ID and walked over to the designated area. Taking a seat in the plastic chair, he placed his metal clipboard in his lap.
This would be the first time he had processed a John Doe by himself. Normally Bakura would be with him, but he was still out with Yugi who got sick yesterday with the flu. Mentally, he went over the questions he would have to ask to get the information he needed.
"Excuse me sir?"
Seto looked up into the face of a young nurse with red hair smiling back at him. "Yes?"
"Are you here for the John Doe?"
Standing up, he nodded his head and extended his hand in greeting.
She weakly shook his hand; "If you will come this way I will take you to him."
"How old would you say he is?" he asked as he followed her down the busy hallway.
"We think late teens early twenties. There was no identification on him so we can't be sure."
The nurse stopped and pushed open a pair of double swinging doors, entering one of the many rooms used for emergencies.
"You haven't moved him yet?" Seto looked around and took note of the many machines being used.
"Afraid not. With no ID or means of payment, he will be last on the list to get a room."
Seto walked over to the gurney, noticing that the male was lying on his stomach instead of his back. Thick white gauze was wrapped around his head, making it impossible to see the color of his hair. "Tell me what he was brought in for."
Checking the rates on the monitors she spoke, "The paramedics received a call about an unconscious man found on the north end. When they got there, they found the male face down in an abandoned alleyway. Poor thing had a wound to his right temple, and two long, deep knife wounds to his back. He must have been out in the elements for several hours before he was found because his core temperature was dangerously low.
We think he's homeless. He was found with just his pants on. There are numerous scars on his torso."
"Can I see the injuries?"
"Well, they are already wrapped and stitched so it will be impossible right now, but the doctor marked it on his chart if you would like to look at that."
"Please."
The young nurse walked to the end of the gurney, removed the clipboard and flipped the papers to the right page. Shaking her head, he handed it over to him. "As you can see, there are only two wounds. One is straight along his spine. When he wakes up he's going to be terribly sore and unable to move. Any bend in his back will be very painful. The next starts at his last rib and runs diagonal to his shoulder blade. It's a strange marking."
Seto's eyes widened as he took in the information she had said and looked over the report. "Shit." He murmured. He knew all too well what that mark was. Reversed neid rune, Taro's mark. The boy somehow got tangled with the wrong person and had to pay. But this was the first person that had ever survived an attack that was ordered by the loan shark.
This was a big break for their case.
"You're positive he will live?"
The nurse smiled at him and took the clipboard back. "Yes, he lost a good bit of blood but he should be fine."
"Good. Is there a way I could speak to the physician that is responsible for treating him?"
Nodding her head, she asked him to wait as she went to go find him.
Running his hand through his hair, Seto walked closer to the injured boy. He frowned when he realized that there was no way to make any identifiable markings in his present condition. All he could do was wait till the teen woke and then question him. Hopefully it would be soon.
Silver doors swung open as a man in teal scrubs and a pristine white jacket walked in.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Keitaro."
Seto held out his hand to the elderly man, "Officer Kaiba. Are you the one that worked on our John Doe?"
"Yes." Dr. Keitaro walked over to the head of the gurney and pulled a penlight out of his front pocket.
"Can you tell me anything other that what your report said?"
"Not really. The boy seemed to be healthy except for the conditions he was brought in for. A little under weight but nothing serious."
Seto stood back and let the doctor examine his patient in peace. He began looked around with vague interest until he noticed the doctor had started to shake his head. Stepping forward, he asked him what was wrong.
"Nothing really. It's just that I've never in all my years as a physician seen anybody with red eyes before. My nurses thought they might have been contacts but we couldn't find any."
Seto paled when he heard the words 'red eyes'. There was only one person he knew that had those strange colored eyes. His heart skipped a beat as he grabbed the small light from the doctor's hand and pried open the unconscious teen's eyes lids.
Forcing the lump in his throat down, he shoved the light back at the stunned doctor before he turned around and walked out of the room in search of a phone.
Bakura lifted the back of his hand from Yugi's forehead. "Well it looks like your fever is finally down. How do you feel now?"
Dull amethyst eyes looked up at the white haired man. "Better, I still feel yucky and weak but other than that I'm better than I was."
Bakura nodded his head and pulled the fuzzy blanket up to Yugi's chin, carefully tucking him in on the couch. He handed him the remote then walked over to the TV and turned it on. "Just rest and I'll go make us some lunch ok?"
"Ok." Yugi shifted over onto his side and pressed the channel button, looking for something to entertain him.
Walking away from his sick charge, Bakura went to the kitchen and began rummaging around in the cabinets searching for something that Yugi could stomach. Deciding on potato soup, the pulled out a knife and started to cut up the potatoes he had gotten from their storage bin.
No sooner than he had dumped the cut up pieces into the large stew pot, the phone rang.
After wiping his hands on a white kitchen towel, he picked up the receiver. "Bakura."
"How's Yugi?"
"Kaiba?"
"Yeah."
"He's better, but he still won't be going to school tomorrow."
There was a sigh over the phone. "Listen, I need you to come down to Domino Memorial as soon as possible. Do NOT bring Yugi. If you need someone to sit with him then call my roommate and have her come to you."
Bakura frowned at the tone of voice his partner was using. Did Kaiba sound upset? "Why? If this is about that John Doe then I think you're big enough to handle it on your own."
"Listen damnit. This is about that but it's not like you think. We, as in you and I, know who he is and I think you will want to be down here for this one. So call Mai if you have to but get down there!"
"What do you mean we know him? What the fuck is going on?"
A frustrated growl, "Bakura, the John Doe is Yami."
Dragon: Can't you just see Bakura dropping the phone with his mouth hanging open? I can! Anyways, I'm surprised only one person has commented on the money Yami is making. Tell you what, if you can correctly guess why he needs the money and doesn't use what makes then I will write you a one-shot of your choice. Sound fair? And no Desidera, you don't count! After all, you know what's happening WAY before anyone else does, lol.