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
Soft but painfully audible crying awoke him, causing crimson eyes to blink open only to be filled with the sight of a mass of tri-colored hair. Carefully, he raised his hand up, ignoring the slight pain the pulling of his muscles caused, to run silky, soft strands through his fingers.
"Hikari." It came out in nothing more than a whisper but it was enough to get his brother's attention.
Red-rimmed violet eyes lifted upwards, as Yami's hand drifted downward to wipe away the salty wetness that marred the youth's face. "Don't cry, Hikari."
"A-Atemu," came out in a choked cry as Yugi buried his face down into the sheets again.
Sighing, Yami wrapped his arm around the back of his brother's neck and pulled him as close as he could, trying to comfort him as much as possible. He bit back a groan of pain as small arms snaked around his own neck to pull him even closer to the sobbing child. He wouldn't let his brother know just how much pain that one action was causing him.
Gently he buried his face into the top of Yugi's hair, kissing it, whispering soothing words of comfort, all while letting the emotional child cry out all his fears and worries.
How long they stayed like that, Yami didn't know. Even though he would never admit it out loud, he needed this as much as his brother did. He needed to feel the smaller one as a reminder that Yugi was alive, well, and safe. Pain ebbing away, Yami soon found him self being drawn back into slumber, only for his brother's muffled voice to bring him back again.
Chuckling, he released his arm from around him. "Yugi, I can't understand a thing you're saying as long as you have you're nose stuck in the sheets."
Smiling slightly, Yugi sat up. "I thought I had…" More tears began to fall as Yami took his brother's hand into his.
"You're not alone. And you should know it takes more than a knife to do me in, or have you forgotten what I promised you?"
"No. I haven't forgotten."
"And what did I say?"
"That you would kill God, Satan, and every demon on Earth, including your own, to keep me safe."
"Is that what you were doing then, Yami? Keeping your brother safe?"
Growling, Yami tore his gaze away from his brother to look at the intruder while mentally cursing himself at being so careless to not sense another in the room.
"How long have you been there Bakura?"
"Ever since you woke up. You should know I wouldn't leave Yugi alone." The white haired cop was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed over his uniform. "You didn't answer my question."
"And I won't be giving you one," he snarled, "Now why don't you leave?"
"Atemu!" Yugi pleaded with his brother; he didn't want a fight starting between his brother and his guardian right now.
Crimson eyes looked back at violet but didn't soften. "Not this time Yugi. There are just some things cops shouldn't mess with especially when it concerns me." Then he turned his eyes back to Bakura. "If you're in uniform, then why aren't you at work?"
"I'm going as soon as Mai gets here to take Yugi home."
"What!" Yami's eyes flashed dangerously. "No stranger is going to take Yugi anywhere! What the hell is wrong with you!"
Sighing, Bakura pushed himself off of the wall and went to stand behind his charge. "Mai is Kaiba's roommate and they have known each other for years now. Mai was the one that watched over Yugi when Kaiba called to tell me you were here. You should know me better than to think I would leave him with just anyone."
"Get. Out. Bakura." He ground out through gritted teeth.
Raising his hands up as a sign of surrender, Bakura looked down to Yugi. "I'll be outside. When Mai shows up I'll let you know."
Nodding his head, Yugi watched as the white haired cop walked out the door before turning to his angered brother. "Atemu, why do you have to act like that towards him? Bakura's done nothing wrong."
Crimson eyes slid closed as he squeezed the smaller one's hand. "I know, but you are still my brother and I will always be concerned about you and your safety. Bakura just gets on my nerves sometimes. Just because he's a cop doesn't mean he always knows what's best."
Yugi looked carefully at the strained expression that was etched on his brother's face. He could tell that Atemu was hiding something. Taking a chance, he placed a gentle hand on an exposed shoulder, "It hurts doesn't it?"
Opening his eyes, he sighed. "Yeah, I guess it does."
Yugi bit his bottom lip, released his hand from his brother's grip and stood up. "I'll go tell a nurse to bring you some pain meds." He started to walk away when he heard the sound of a painful groan and felt a strong hand grab his wrist. Violet eyes looked back towards the bed. "Atemu?"
"Don't leave yet," he breathed out through the pain that shot through his body when he had moved to stop his brother.
"But.."
"Yugi, I'm fine as long as I don't move. Besides I don't like the way that stuff makes me feel. Just sit and talk to me."
Nodding his head, he sat back down. It hurt to see his brother like this. Atemu was always strong and independent. To have him want someone to stay with him could only mean that what ever had happened to him had affected him more than the other was willing to admit. But still it was nice to know that he was the one Atemu wanted to remain. It was rare that he got a chance to spend time alone with his brother.
"So…what do you want to talk about?"
"Why don't you tell me how school's been going?"
With a smile on his face, he reached over, took his brother's hand and began to fill him in on all that's been going on in his life.
"About damn time you got here."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Seto and Mai approached the white haired cop who was currently leaning against the wall beside the door to Yami's room.
"I've been waiting out here for over an hour now! What took so long?"
Raising an eyebrow at Bakura's behavior, he turned and pointed to his roommate. "Blame her, you know how girls are."
"Well excuse me! It takes time to look this good ya know!"
Seto rolled his eyes, unimpressed as usual, and turned back to his partner. "So what's really got your panties in a wad? It can't be just the fact that we're running late."
Tossing his head towards the door, he replied; "I tried to get Yami to tell me the reason he got attack but he wouldn't and then he tossed me out. I've been trying to listen in on what him and Yugi have been talking about, to see if he would slip around his brother but.."
"Let me guess, nothing was said?"
"No, he's had Yugi tell him about school and his friends the entire time. If I didn't know better I'd say he knew I was listening."
"Well if he's anything like what you and Seto have been telling me than I would say he did know. He doesn't sound stupid to me. And if it were me and I had been attacked by someone like this Taro fellow then I wouldn't spill either." Mai walked around both the cops to look into the little window on the door.
"Look, give it some time Bakura. I'm sure sooner or later Yami will tell us or slip up, which ever comes first. In the mean time we just need to keep an eye on him. The next few weeks are going to be difficult for him."
Bakura snorted, "Since when have you become such a know-it-all?"
Shrugging his shoulders, he walked past Bakura, playfully pushed Mai aside and opened the door, leaving Bakura to grumble to himself about waiting outside.
Yami lifted his head up when he heard the door off to his side open up. Crimson eyes stared curiously as he waited for whomever to step into his field of vision. He kept his expression emotionless as possible when the blue-eyed cop stopped directly behind his brother, but quickly turned it into a scowl when an unfamiliar blonde haired woman came to stand beside Seto.
"Who the fuck are you?" he growled out, making his brother gasp.
A delicate pale eyebrow rose, "I'm Mai Valentine, Seto's roommate. You must be the famous Yami I keep hearing about."
Over the years of living on the street, Yami had developed a certain six sense when it came to judging people at first glance. There was something in the way this woman carried herself and the openness of her eyes that made him instantly relax about having Yugi under her care. Course that didn't mean that trust her completely. He would never trust anybody that much.
Only death comes to idiots that trust completely.
Crimson eyes flickered briefly over to Seto, quietly taking in the slight blush on the rookie's face. Interesting. "I see. What have you heard?"
"More bad than good. But don't worry hon, I'm smart enough to know how to read between the lines." She winked and threw a smirk Yami's way.
He furrowed his eyebrows. What the hell did that mean? Yami opened his mouth to speak but was cut off when Seto cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention.
"It's late and Bakura and I have to get to work." Giving Yami a curt nod and a smile for Yugi, he turned to leave.
Crewing on his bottom lip, Yami quickly made up his mind. "Rookie."
Surprised, Seto turned around just as he had reached the door. "Yes?"
"Umm, I need to speak to you," he cast his gaze over to Yugi and Mai before crimson locked on sapphire again, "privately."
"Come on kid, let's leave them alone. I'll take you back home."
Nodding his head, Yugi pushed his chair back from the bed. "I'll be back tomorrow, Atemu."
Yami smiled as his brother kissed his cheek before he walked out the door, leaving him and Seto alone.
"So?" the rookie cop asked as he sat down in the chair previously occupied by his brother.
"Look I need you to do something for me. Since it seems that I'm going to be in this hell for awhile I want you to go to my place and get something for me when you get off of work."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me damn it," he growled out. "You are to go back to my place, walk to the back of the desk, last drawer, pull out the false bottom and bring me what's in there. And I swear if you try to open it and look inside I will kill you as soon as I can get off my stomach."
Seto snorted and crossed his arms. "What makes you think I'm going to do this little request? And better yet why me?"
A sigh was heard, "Because I don't have anyone else to ask and I need to get that box out of there before someone else finds it. It's important." Yami then turned his head away from the cop to look at the opposite wall. A barely audible 'please' was heard.
Seto just sat there with his mouth hanging open. He couldn't believe that Yami of all people had just said that word to him. But a surprisingly smug and warm feeling came over him also. The hellcat was actually trusting him to retrieve something important for the other.
With a smile he replied to the back of Yami's bandaged head; "Alright, I'll get it for you."
A mumbled 'thanks' was the answer.
Seto clicked his flashlight on as he stepped into the rundown building that had served as Yami's home. The beam of light trailed lazily throughout the expansive room, making sure no one was hiding out in the shadows. The heels of his work boots clicked on the dusty old wooden floor as he made his way towards the desk.
Remembering Yami's instructions, he walked over to the last drawer and kneeled down before it. Pulling it all the way out, he located the false bottom and removed it. Shinning his flashlight into the open space he spied a rather small looking wooden box. Grabbing it with one hand, he pointed the beam of light on it.
It was a rather plain box, it seemed to be made out of pine and was well worn with age. Turning it around in his hand, he noticed that there was a something carved into on of the sides. Angling the box and light better, he made out the childishly etched word 'Atemu'.
Placing the flashlight down on the floor, he ran a finger over the carving, tracing each stroke with care. He smiled as he did this. Obviously this was something very important for Yami to have carried it around with him. Since it had his true name on it and not his alias, he wondered how long he had kept it in his possession. A fleeting thought ran through his mind when he wondered if it had been a gift from Yugi.
He toyed with the thought of opening it up to see what secrets it would reveal about its owner, but quickly discarded them. Seto was just now seemingly getting somewhere with the crimson-eyed teen and he didn't want to throw that away by letting his curiosity get the better of him.
Picking up his flashlight, he tucked the small box under his arm and made is way out of the rundown hotel. At least this gave him a reason to see Yami again tomorrow, and hopefully give him a chance to get to know the mysterious teen some more.
Dragon: Again thanks so much for the reviews!