Title: Hope for Tomorrow
Author: Crimson Eyed Dragon
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 10

Bare feet walked silently into the guest bedroom. The only sound that could be heard over Yami's steady breathing was the soft jingle of silver charms that dangled from the ankle bracelet that Mai constantly wore. Wisps of blonde locks that had fallen from her ponytail, hung loosely framing her curious face as she bent over the sleeping figure.

Inquisitive amethyst eyes, devoid of any makeup, swept over Yami's body trying to figure out what Seto saw in this person.

In all the years Mai had known the blue-eyed man, she had never known him to be generous to anyone other than his family. And ever since Mokuba had died, Seto had closed himself off even more, only communicating with his partner and her. And even then Seto still hasn't opened up like he use to.

So what was it about this Yami person? He didn't look like much. Sure he was attractive if you looked past all the scars on his body. His hair was weird but it seemed to suit him. But she could remember the one time she had seen his eyes. They were strikingly beautiful, that she could admit to. There was something behind those exotic crimson colored pools that would draw anyone into their depths.

Maybe she should see if she could get any contacts with that same color?

Mai shook her head, ponytail swaying back and forth with the motion, as she leaned even closer to the sleeping male. The scent of cleanliness drifted to her nose and she was suddenly thankful the nurses had taken the time to give him a sponge bath before the ambulance transported him here.

It couldn't be his personality that attracted Seto to him could it? This one was a bit rough around the edges, so unlike the younger of the Mutou brothers. But Kaiba was a cop; maybe he had a strange fetish for danger?

Short, dark, and dangerous….wonder if he uses bleach to get his bangs that color?

A delicate hand stretched forward, wanting to touch the golden hair, when her wrist was caught in a surprisingly tight grip. Wide amethyst eyes stared unblinking into cold crimson.

"I'd watch where you put that hand of yours if I was you." Yami hissed, releasing her wrists and watched with mild amusement as she took a step back and rubbed the slightly red skin. "Where the fuck am I?"

"You're at Seto's house," she answered, backing up slightly. "You were brought here yesterday."

Crimson eyes widened slightly as their colored darkened. Instantly he remembered what had happened to him. He could see Seto holding him, preventing him from escaping as he nurse approached him. Then those words….

Please forgive me; this was not the way I wanted our first kiss to be.

Could Seto have meant that? He scrutinized his memories, looking for any sign of deceit. Those blue eyes had looked almost sorrowful. So the rookie did want him too. That was good, cause he was more than willing to fuck his brains out as soon as he was able.

A snapping of fingers in front of his face brought his out of his musings with a growl. "Don't ever do that again or I'll snap those pretty little fingers off, so you'll never have to worry if your nail polish matches your outfit again."

"Humph." Mai turned to sit in the lounge chair. "And here I was trying to figure out what Seto sees in you."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but there is nothing special about me. So stop wasting your time and mine."

"You and me may know that but there has to be something Seto sees or he wouldn't go through all this trouble.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't you know hon?"

"If I did, do you really think I would bore myself with asking stupid questions?"

She narrowed her eyes; "You're an asshole."

"One of the best," he smirked, crimson eyes lit up with amusement. "But flattery won't get you fucked by me. Sorry, but unless you got a nice, fat package dangling between your legs, I don't want any."

She sat there, totally stunned for a moment before she smiled. "I like you. You've got spunk." And she meant it. There wasn't many guys that acted like this one around her. Most were so put off by her looks that they made fools of themselves. Yami just didn't give a damn about what people thought of him and she was the same way. Hell if he wasn't gay and a bum she might have gone after him herself.

Yami snorted. "Spunk? Not a term I would use, but if you say so. Anyways, what don't I know?"

"Seto paid for your medical bills so you could receive immediate attention. And he's letting you stay here rent-free so you can be protected. That is not the Seto I know and love."

Yami just looked at her, surprise clearly etched on his face. Seto paid his bills? What hadn't he been told about that until now? What in the world made him do that? You don't pay thousands of dollars in medical bills just so you could fuck someone.

What the hell was going on? If what Mai said was true, and this wasn't the way Seto normally acted then why would he….his eyes got impossibly wide. No, no, no! He couldn't!

Forgetting Mai was still in the room watching him curiously, he stuffed his face into the pillow with a sigh. Damn that fucking cop! All he wanted was a good romp in the sack and that son of a bitch wanted something more, something Yami couldn't give cause he didn't know how. His heart and soul had died long ago.

Now he understood why the blue-eyed rookie had visited him everyday, why he had gotten his box for him without looking at it, why he was letting him stay here. Did Seto really think Yami was capable of giving his something like a 'normal' relationship with sweet words, loving touches, and dependency?

Yami had given up on the possibility of things Seto was offering. His life had been damned for years now and there was nothing he could do about it. But he knew somewhere deep down inside him he did want what was being freely offered. The chance to let someone else take care of him, to have some one to love him no matter what.

But Seto didn't know whom he wanted to get involved with. He was a killer, a thief, everything that Seto stood against.

Why the hell did his father have to screw this all up in the first place? They were all happy and had a good life or so Yami thought until his father had come home drunk as hell one night and decided that there was something about his mother that needed to be taken care of.

He could still remember that day well. Him and Yugi had been sitting on the floor in the living room. Yami was quietly doing his homework while his brother was attempting to draw a picture of all of them. Their mother was in the kitchen starting supper, quietly humming to herself like she always did.

And then he came home.

Hearing the door open and then slam shut, Yami knew something was different then and had told Yugi to stay where he was. Quietly, he had walked towards their raised voices, to peer around the corner. Words after heated words he heard, but at the age of twelve he didn't fully understand what they had meant. Wide crimson eyes watched as his mother raised her hand and slapped the man across his cheek. Stunned and enraged, his father grabbed her as he took hold of the butcher knife she had been using before he slammed it down into her chest.

But unknown to anyone else other than himself, his father had killed two people that day and created another in its place.

Yami could still hear the sounds of her cries; still hear the words that flowed from his father's mouth, still smell all the aromas of the dinner she had been preparing.

It was all that goddamn son of a bitch's fault.

His shoulders started to shake as the memories kept poring in. Crimson eyes, still dry, were squeezed tightly, as if that would help. His breathing began to become labored as he tried to suck in air through the pillow he was still faced down in. The thumping of his heart became faster and faster, adding to his feeling of drowning against the onslaught.

Mai looked on in concern as she witnessed the sudden change in Yami. What the hell happened to turn him into this? Standing up from the chair, she walked over to him and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "Yami?"

No answer, not even a flinch, as the shaking continued. "Yami? What's wrong?"

She bit her lip, he still hadn't even acknowledged she was there and touching him. Quickly she left the room to search for the phone.

Seto stared into the panicked face of his roommate as they stood outside the door of the room he had given Yami. Just thirty minutes ago he had received her call tell him what was going on and without a moments notice he had left the station and headed home.

Whispering, so they wouldn't let Yami know they were there, he began to question her. "What happened?"

"I don't know," she said as she shook her head. "We were just talking and everything was fine and then he got all pale, turned away from me and started to shake."

"Was he in pain? Did you give him an medication?"

"I couldn't get a response out of him. It's like he was closed off. That's when I called you."

Seto sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "What was the last thing that you said to him?"

Violet eyes looked up at the textured ceiling in thought. "I think I said something about you paying his medical bills and that wasn't like you."

"What the hell did you say that for? That wasn't something I wanted him to know."

"Why? Don't you think he would have asked about it sooner or later? Besides, I had to tell him, he caught me studying him."

"Huh?" he questioned with an eyebrow raised. "Studying him?"

Mai smirked; "I wanted to know what you see in him. It's obvious to anyone that watches you that you are in love with him. The only one that doesn't know is Yami. But that's because people like him don't think they deserve or can feel love."

"Since when have you got a doctorate in psychology?"

"Oh please, you don't have to go to school to learn why people act the way they do. I know enough of his history through his brother and you to know what he's like. Plus just from the few times we've talked I've seen what he's really like."

"Sure you have. I've been around him more than you and I still don't know him."

"I didn't say I knew him. I said I know more about him cause I'm not blinded by a heart." She crossed her arms over his chest and leaned forward slightly. "A word of warning though, don't push him. He's not ready for what you are wanting, he might never be."

Seto snorted as she ignored him and continued. "Yami loves his brother more than anything and yet he can't even bring himself to really show his true feelings to him. If he can't do that for Yugi what makes you think he can do that for you?"

He shrugged his shoulders; "You know me and challenges." He stated as he opened the bedroom door, walked in and quietly shut it behind him leaving her out in the hall.

Carefully, he observed the teen before him. Yami's hands where fisted in the sheets tightly, every muscle in his body seemed to be coiled like a spring ready to snap. Walking closer Seto also noticed the ashen look to the normally dark skin color. Lines creased at the edges of his eyes, as they were squeezed shut. He paused at the side of the bed taking notice of the slight trimmer that ran through Yami's body.

Sighing, Seto bent down and took of his shoes and unbuttoned his shirt, laying it over the back of the chair. He hesitated in his decision. Would Yami want him in here? The injured teen had no clue to his feelings towards him so would he reject his presence now?

Suddenly, Yami's shoulders started to shake more and quiet but desperate words slipped from his mouth.

"…..he's hidden way…protected……I haven't betrayed you……"

His indecision flew out the window when he heard those whispered pleas. Carefully, Seto slipped into the bed and gently untangling Yami's hands from the sheets. Being mindful of his Yami's back, he pulled him closer to his body, letting the crimson-eyed teen's head rest on his chest. Pale fingers ran through tri-colored locks as he tried to sooth the one that had stolen his heart.

Minutes past before the shaking stopped, letting Yami resume his peaceful sleep. Soft blue eyes watched on as Yami's words ran over and over in his head. Who was hidden away and who betrayed who? Undoubtedly they were questions that Seto would never have an answer too.

He sighed and placed a kiss on the other's forehead. It crushed his heart to hear that once proud deep voice sound so utterly broken and defenseless. Just what had happened earlier to cause all of this?

He stopped his musing and smiled when he felt Yami snuggled closer to him. Even if Seto knew that Yami subconsciously did it, it was enough for him to continue the hope in his heart.

Dragon: Again thank you for the wonderful reviews! And there WILL be a lemon in the next chapter!