"Lady, you've been acting weirdly recently."
One of the young children looked up, pulling at her sleeves.
The lady grunted, scrubbing at her face as she stared intensely in the mirror, "I am fine. I am fine."
"Are you su-"
"Let's just get back to reading."
Yugi shrank in his seat. The judgement poured out from everyone's eyes like little waterfalls. Even Yami looked confused.
He felt so small in the empty silence, the greyed room seeming dark and depressing.
"Miss? What's wrong?"
Yami reached out and pulled on the teachers sleeve, distracting them from Yugi.
She gave a small smile, "Ah.. Um.. Nothing.. Nothing is wrong! I will.. Go over here now.."
She shuffled back muttering repeatedly under her breath,
"Please give mercy… Please give mercy.."
Yami gave a quick look to the boy and asked quietly, " Wha'does she..mean?"
Yugi shrugged, looking away from everyone who was watching and playing with the little paintbrush from the surface of the table.
"Yugi you can.. Just watch Yami…"
The teacher looked back before telling the children in the classroom to get on with their work.
Yami smiled calmly and sat down, looking to the boy again and explaining to him all of the different colours.
He took the brush and painted in a small circle, "I dunno what's up, but 'ere, lemme show you."
He pointed to each colour and quietly whispered the names to Yugi, making sure he wasn't too loud in the silence of the classroom. Yugi listened intently, trying his best to understand the difference between each blob that was placed on the page.
Yugi wanted to understand. Which, of these colours, were different and why?
He watched carefully and tried putting the colours together, giving up after Yami laughed heartily at the mistakes and tried helping him once again.
"I'm going to let you guys off early today!" The teacher stood up, clapping loudly to get the children's attention, "I have some…business to take care of.."
Everyone cheered, quickly scribbling their names on their papers and rushing to grab their bags to leave.
Anzu, Jounouchi and Honda grouped up around Yami's desk, helping him pack his bag and assisting him in standing up without stumbling.
" How's ye chest?"
The blonde asked, grinning proudly as one of the girls in the class passed by. Yami sighed, pulling himself up and responding
"It's….fine.."
"That means no then." Anzu laughed, gesturing to Yugi, telling him to follow them as they all left the room and conspicuously left the building.
"Where are we going?" Yugi called out, following them as they looked around and hid behind some bushes that lined the grey paths.
Honda loftily explained, "A secret base has'ta be secret! Right?"
Yugi gave a small nod, following them still.
They passed a large mass of trees that reached out their twiggy fingers and touched the light, fluffy clouds. Little scraps of dark-toned bark scraped off and made little temporary homes for miniature bugs and fungi.
Some bunched up leaves dropped from the branches and landed on Yugi's head, getting caught up in his hair and making the rest of the group laugh as he struggled to pick them out. He soon laughed along too, feeling safe.
After what felt like hours, they reached a small, rushing river.
It split the ground up and let water race through, making a calming sound as it crashed against the walls.
A little, wooden building sat, alone, near the Riverside. There was a broken swing nestled amongst the trees that swang backwards and forwards with the gentle wind.
"It's.. So pretty…"
Yugi mumbled to himself, walking along the grass and enjoying the cool feel of the blades brushing against his legs.
Jounouchi ran to the wooden cabin and unlocked the door, "I kno' 'ight!"
"We were given this place by a friend of ours,"
Anzu started, leading Yugi to the scratchy wooden door. As she spoke, Yami scoffed and told her to stop talking.
"Oh, right.. Sorry."
She hopped inside and kicked her shoes off, helping Yami with taking his off and gently requesting that Yugi did the same.
Yugi sat down on the little mahogany chair that chilled in the corner of the room. It was creaky, like the ancient floorboards, and slightly broken.
"Should we…" Yami coughed loudly, taking a moment to breathe before talking again, "Should..we let him join….our gang..?"
"Oh! Yeah! Would you like that?" Anzu looked to the small boy in the corner and smiled.
Honda commented, "Well, he has no choice once Yami's decided that he's in."
"True."
There was a long pause. Everyone stayed quiet and thought to themselves.
Yugi wondered, why was it, that despite how pretty the area was, the area seemed empty and 'missing' something?
He swung his legs back and forwards, his feet not being able to reach the ground.
"I.."
Yami breathed, choking loudly and supporting himself,
"I accept you…into ou' group."
He gave a small, weakened smile and put up 6 fingers,
"You'll be….num'er 06.."
"Number 6?" Yugi tilted his head in confusion, listening to the explanation.
"We're given numbers to call each other by! I'm 04!"
Anzu simpered, giving a peace sign. She put her hand down and shuffled closer to Yami,
"Are you okay?" she quavered, placing her hand on his shoulder, "You're shaking.."
Yami simply nodded, facing away from her and coughing loudly in his hands.
"Wanna go play outside?"
Jounouchi interjected, getting up and puffing up his chest, his hands on his hips in pride. Everyone cheered, barrelling out of the building and running to the stream. Yami sat down on the old, broken swing, the ropes holding it up quaking and quivering just like Yami's legs.
"Yugi! I got you!"
Anzu gleamed, splashing cold water onto the boy, making him wet and cooled down. Yugi giggled quietly, dipping his legs into the cool liquid and smiling.
Yami slipped off the swing and sat against the trunk of the tree. He curled up, closing his eyes heavily. The kind wind blew through his hair and gently coaxed him to sleep.
Yugi noticed, pulling his feet out of the water and making his way to the sleeping figure on the ground. He seemed so peaceful. Yugi took his jumper off and wrapped it carefully around him.
"That was kind of you, Yugi,"
Anzu praised, running out of the water and petting the boy. Yugi blushed,
"Th-thank you.."
Yugi seated himself next to the sleeping teen and mused as Yami's head fell softly against his small shoulders.
"Le's hang 'ere tomorrow as well!"
Jounouchi joined the group, kneeling down to ground level.
"I think Yam' needs ta rest"
Yami mumbled to himself in his sleep, making everyone decide that it would be best to meet the next day, when he would be feeling a little better.
"Yami, wake up.."
Anzu shook him gently. He stirred, groggily opening his eyes a crack and getting up, half-asleep. They led him out of the forest, laughing quietly as he groaned and mumbled sleepily.
"Mnn.. Where.. Nm.."
His head dipped slightly, stumbling over and making Jounouchi carry him home.
Yugi followed the blonde, seeming as they lived next to each other. Yami grumbled quietly as the blonde called out for the boy's mother.
"OI!"
"I'm comin'!! What's the matter?"
Yami's mother, Aika, ran down the stairs and, after seeing her son fast asleep on the others shoulder, rushed over there and carried the boy in her arms.
"Is he okay?!"
She sounded concerned, her fiery red eyes gleaming. Jounouchi nodded and slowly turned away, dragging Yugi with him. Yugi peered back at the mother, who was busy doting on her child to even say a goodbye.
Jounouchi slipped his hands into his pockets and sighed, "You'd betta' go 'ome too."
Yugi struggled to understand much of the blonde's speech due to his heavy accent, but he nodded, getting the basic jist of it.
There was a feeling of something touching his side, as if something slipped into his pocket, as the blonde passed by. He gave the other a quick wave and ran to his home. The little blackboard outside was topped over, so Yugi fixed it up before entering. A little bell jingled softly as he opened the door, being greeted by his grandfather.
"Oh, hello, hoho!" The old man waved, "How was it?"
"It was.." Yugi remembered the moment with the teacher, and the colours and the staring.
"It was…fine!"
He smiled brightly, like the sun, and slipped his shoes off.
"That's good then, why don't you go sit down? I'll make you a snack!"
Yugi nodded, running to go sit down, when he noticed a small sheet of paper in his side pocket.
"Oh, right, where is your jumper?" Grandpa asked the boy, "Did you lose it?"
"Oh… I.. I forgot I gave it to Yami.."
Yugi blushed in embarrassment, covering his face with his palms, which sweated nervously.
The old man told him it was okay and started fixing up food in the kitchen. Yugi took a glance at the paper, which he unfolded cautiously.
He read it to himself, staring in confusion at the words.
'If you curse any of us I WILL hurt you.
Cursed fucker.'
"H-hey grandpa?"
Yugi stuttered, taking a moment to pause before finishing his question.
"Wha.. What does it mean when I'm 'cursed'?"
The old man looked back in shock at the boy.
"Who.. Who called you that?!"
Yugi seemed shocked, scooting his chair back and nervously handing the man the note.
He shrugged, jumping as soon as the man he called his Grandpa put his big hands on Yugi's tiny shoulders.
He had a serious look on his face," Yugi, I'm begging you, please be careful."
"Hm? Why?"
Yugi's grandpa didn't speak, he released his grip and heavily walked over to the wooden bookshelf. A book fell into his large hands. Its greyed pages seemed old and crumpled.
Yugi looked at the old book, taking on all of he tiny, rustic details that spread across the hardback cover. Sugoroku smiled at the boy's interest, sitting the book on the table and not speaking, giving Yugi even more confusion.
"Yugi.." He finally spoke, Yugi perking up, "You should go to bed, for now.."
Yugi wondered to himself, why?
He didn't need to sleep yet, he had just gotten home and it was still somewhat light outside!
However, he obeyed and ran upstairs, his feet pitter-pattering up the wood.
"Poor kid.."
The old man whispered, as soon as he reached the top and onto the landing.
Yugi ran into his room and flopped down on his bed, letting his mind race around with hundreds of clouded thoughts.
And, without knowing, he fell asleep.
The lady curled up on the chair. Her skin sagged and was covered in stray wrinkles. She covered her broken hair with a hood and slammed the book shut.
"Now. Leave."
The children stared at her, fearful. They escaped the room as quick as possible.
She sighed, turning to face the mirror
"What happened?! Why am I so…so.."
"Disgusting… "