A big thank you to Sansi for keeping this for me! This is now the original- Chapter 1 has also been updated. I'm so, SO sorry for taking so long to update. I implore you to enjoy!

Chapter 2

Yuugi's whole body ached, head thumping like a thudding drum when he came round. His eyes were still blurred and the dizziness of earlier hadn't worn off either, but he could see objects around him, could reach out and grasp things. His clothes felt damp, trousers especially and slowly he noticed someone in the far corner, lying on their front in a puddle of his own bodily fluids. He grimaced and made an unsteady move to stand, forcing his eyes to stay open, resisting the urge to just slump to the floor again and sleep.

The outside corridor was empty. The music had stopped.

Entering the main area, he found it was practically empty, aside from the members of staff dotted about packing away pieces of equipment, cleaning up, washing glasses …

"Are you alright there, mate? You don't look too well." Yuugi looked in the general direction the voice came from. "There are taxis outside if you need one. You look like you might…"

Yuugi nodded his thanks, staggering to the door, stopping halfway to get his eyes to centre on the exit. Once outside, he searched for one of the taxi's lined up along the street and rushed for the nearest, feeling his stomach turn over in response to his haste. Hopping inside, he leaned back into the comforting warmth of the seats and sighed, relieved.

"Kame Game Store," he mumbled. If the driver said anything, Yuugi didn't hear it, but he felt the car moving. Not soon enough it stopped, and Yuugi dug around in his pocket, surprised to find his wallet was actually still there. The driver opened the car door for him, and Yuugi, who had been leaning against it, almost collapsed onto the pavement. He pulled a few notes from his wallet, holding them out to the driver, but instead of taking them, his wallet was snatched from his hand. "H-hey ... what are you ... d-doing … " Yuugi slurred, weakly attempting to take the wallet back. He was shoved violently to the floor, landing on the cold stone pavement, sharp pain shooting up his spine in objection, the rest of his body's pain intensifying, whilst the taxi drove away with his money, his phone card, his keys and his favourite picture of his friends.

He couldn't take anymore, but at least he was home …

He looked up, expecting to see the store, instead finding that he'd been dropped off several blocks away from it. With a loud wail, he burst into tears, curling his arms around his legs. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.

Again, he dragged himself from the floor, barely caring about the rip that seemed to have materialised in his trousers and the graze on his hand that was bleeding quite badly. Taking a juddering breath, he made his slow way home.

He would have screamed in relief when the store came into view had his better instincts told him not to. Shakily, he reached for the door knocker and rapped it lightly. He didn't care how much trouble he was going to be in. He just wanted to go to bed.

Moments later it opened, and there stood Yuugi's grandfather, visible relief washing over him as soon as his eyes settled on the boy.

"Yuugi!" he rasped, ushering the boy inside, "Thank god you're safe!"

The boy didn't have the energy to speak, not even enough to cry. He fell into the old man's arms, clutching him tightly and Sugoroku held him, helping him to walk. "Where have you been!" he asked softly, no hint of anger in his voice, "When Jounouchi turned up asking if you were here, Yami and I were out of our minds with worry!"

Yuugi's eyes snapped open. Yami! He was going to be furious.

"Where is Yami ," Yuugi mumbled, slumping back onto the couch. Sugoroku sat beside him, briefly examining the grazes on his hands and the cut above Yuugi's eye that he hadn't even noticed.

"He's been out looking for you for the past four hours," the old man answered, and as if on cue, in walked the shadow, wrapped up in a scarf and jacket, eyes filled with worry and anxiety that evaporated as soon as he saw Yuugi's.

"Aibou!" he cried, rushing over to embrace his aibou. His fingers combed through the teen's hair, cupped his head in his hands, roved over his shoulders and arms, just to make sure he was real, "Are you ok?"

Yuugi shook his head, regretting the action almost immediately. He felt dizzy again, and wanting the comfort of his other self he swung his arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. Yami, one knee balanced between the other's legs, held him tightly, picking him up in his own arms so he could gather him into his lap, cradling him to his chest.

Sugoroku sat down opposite, taking a deep breath. "Yuugi, where have you been?"

"I – I went to Revelation w-with Jounouch-kun … " Yuugi whispered, feeling Yami tense beneath him. That wasn't what Jounouchi had told him …

"You went where!" Yami gasped. Yuugi buried his head in Yami's chest so he wasn't forced to look at his other self, nor see the anger and disappointment in his eyes. There was nothing worse Yami's disappointed look. Nothing. "Yuugi, I told you not to go there!"

"But I –I thought Jounouchi told you-"

"Jounouchi told me you went to Millennium, not thatawful place! Aibou, Revelation is an over eighteens club, what the hell did you think you were doing?" Yuugi whimpered, desperately trying to remember what happened after he had that drink and before he got in that taxi. He felt Yami's arms tighten around him and sigh, that feeling of safety overcoming him. "What happened to you?" he asked, rocking him gently, rubbing circles against his back.

"I can't remember," Yuugi replied, eyes closing, "I just ... I only had one drink. I felt dizzy so I was going to call a taxi b-but the next thing I knew I was in this room and I blacked out."

"Shit." Yuugi felt his heart tug. Yami only ever swore when he was extremely angry or distressed, "Yuugi , did anyone- " He couldn't bring himself to say it and sighed once more. "Let's clean you up aibou."

The bathroom tiles were icy cold, but Yuugi felt too numb to notice the stinging. Yami eased him onto the toilet seat, turning around to dig in the bathroom cabinet for the first aid kit. After setting it down on the edge of the sink, he turned the bath taps so he could clean Yuugi up. It wasn't long before the cuts and scrapes were tended to, the cut above Yuugi's eye plastered and the grazes on his hands cleaned, a healing cream applied to ease the stinging.

"I don't want a bath," Yuugi mumbled sleepily. Yami tipped his head up.

"That's irrelevant. You need one."

"I want to sleep. "

"You're in no position to be making demands," Yami snapped, undoing the button on Yuugi's trousers. Yuugi groaned in objection, pushing Yami's hands away. Frowning, he took both of the small wrists in his one hand, completing the rest of the job with his other. Releasing the restrained wrists momentarily, he slipped the shirt off his shoulders, tossing it in the direction of the laundry basket. "Take those trousers off," Yami ordered, but Yuugi didn't comply.

"Please Yami; I just want to go to bed."

"You can go to bed when I say," Yami said calmly, gripping a bundle of the material clinging to Yuugi's legs and pulling, sliding the trousers from around his waist and down past his ankles. He could sense Yuugi's distress and met the youngster's eyes, tone softening. "I'm sorry, aibou, but its better you get cleaned up now. I want to check you over …"

"What are you talking about?" Yuugi replied, a sense of apprehension embracing him. Yami took a breath.

"Yuugi, I think you might have been given rohypnol, which means someone may have taken advantage of you. That place is renowned for it. Why do you think I told you not to go?"

Yuugi laughed nervously, "Yami, no one took advantage of me-" He paused, a memory flashing into mind. That man. The one at the bar …

"You don't know that, aibou. Anything could have happened to you during those few hours." The very thought made him sick. He had to check. He had to know.

Yuugi didn't want to think about this, letting out a frustrated, frightened whine. "Yami, I'm telling you, nothing happened to me."

"At least let me check." Yuugi's face scrunched up, shaking his head.

"No!" he said, know precisely what Yami meant. "No! I think I've suffered enough degradation for one night, don't you!"

"Yuugi, please. You could be hurt without realising it. You could have been given any manner of diseases -"

"Yami, I was not raped!" Yuugi all but screamed, tears brimming. His voice softened to a whisper, "I don't want you to do anything. I just want to sleep and forget everything."

"Aibou, please."

"NO!" Yuugi did yell this time. "I'm going to bed!" He barged past the other man, only to be halted by slim fingers curling around his arm. "Yami, let go!" Before he knew what was happening, he'd been lifted off the floor and dumped into the hot water, still in his boxers. "Yami! What the hell are you doing?"

Yami gripped his shoulders and dunked Yuugi's head underneath the water. Yuugi came back up spluttering, arms flailing, whilst Yami proceeded to squirt a small amount of shampoo onto his palm to wash the dirt and grime that had accumulated in Yuugi's erratic hair, only Yuugi was being less than cooperative. He lashed out at the hands massaging his head, crying out in anguish. Yami ignored him and picked up the shower gel, smothering a wash cloth in it.

"Here," he said, holding it out, "are you going to wash yourself, or would you like me to do that too!" Yuugi glared at him fiercely and snatched it from his hand. Now he was dripping wet, he might as well have a bath. Growling inwardly, he lay back in the water to relieve himself of his sodden black boxers, swishing them around in the water before throwing them violently at Yami's chest, who, not to his surprise, caught them before they collided with his shirt. Without needing to be told, Yami exited the bathroom, keeping the door ajar and stood just outside, leaning complacently against the wall of Yuugi's bedroom.

"Do you have to stand right outside?" Yuugi called to him, though he sounded more mournful than irritated.

"I'm here in case you need me," Yami replied, turning his head to listen. He heard Yuugi snort, "Aibou, it's no use acting so resentful, I'm doing this for your own good – just like telling you not to go in the first place was for your own good. I can't believe you were so stupid."

"Don't you think I know that?" It was easier for him to shout at Yami when they weren't face to face, "I've had the most terrifying night of my life, and all you can do is tell me how stupid I've been! I was mugged by my taxi driver, and then thrown out into the cold, blocks away from home! I don't need any more grief from you!" And then there was silence. Not even any splashing. Yami peered around the door.

Yuugi's eyes were bloodshot, tears in his eyes.

"Aibou," Yami began, moving into the room to encircle the teen in his arms. The least he could do was comfort him, even if he was furious. "I'm so sorry. I've been a complete-" He stopped to sigh, "Please forgive me."

"It was awful. I tried calling you but you weren't answering me…"

"I didn't know you called me!" Yami said, dragging the wet bangs from Yuugi's face, "You know I would have come to find you if I had." Yuugi nodded, "I wish you'd told me where you were going at least."

The shadow picked up the flannel that had been discarded and began to rub circles over Yuugi's back with it.

"You wouldn't have let me go," Yuugi said, purring softly in the back of his throat. It felt nice to have someone touching him so gently, no force or malice behind the contact. It made it all the more special that that someone was Yami. He closed his eyes, leaning forward over his knees, for the first time that night feeling calm and relaxed. He absentmindedly wondered what time it was and when he heard Yami chuckle he turned his head to look up at him, leaning on his knees.

"Are you enjoying this?" Yami said, wiping some foam against his nose. Yuugi's features wrinkled cutely and Yami laughed, "I should do this more often. It's the first time you've been quiet in weeks."

"Is not," Yuugi snorted, resuming his relaxed position, prompting Yami to continue rubbing his back.

"Aibou, your back couldn't get any cleaner." Yuugi let out a muffled whine from the niche his arms had created on his knees, "What did you say?"

: It felt nice :

"Well I gathered that. I think you're clean enough; you can get out now." Yami moved to hook his arms beneath Yuugi's's and lifted, taking great care not to let his eyes wander, and handed the teen a towel to dry himself with. Hit with a sudden wave of dizziness, he slumped backwards into the shadow, allowing his warm inviting arms, the one's he loved, to lift him up into them. The tiredness had returned full force, accompanied by an unsettled feeling in his stomach.

"You feel sick?" Yami guessed, sitting him on the edge of the bath. Yuugi nodded groggily, feeling his insides lurch.

"I just need a drink of water," he concluded, yawning. Yami gave him a sceptical look.

"I'm not so sure you should have anything to drink at all," he said, drying his aibou's hair lovingly, "Who knows what you've taken. If anything we should call a doctor and have you looked over properly for any other injuries."

"I haven't taken anything," Yuugi said obstinately, doubting it himself. The thought of admitting he'd been drugged was frightening alone, but the thought of admitting he might have been abused whilst lying unconscious was horrifying. He wanted Yami to tell him everything was going to be fine, that he was sure nothing bad had happened. Why wasn't he consoling him? Why was he scaring him like this?

Sensing the question, Yami spoke, "I'm not saying this to frighten you aibou, I- I just want to make sure nothing did happen to you, regardless of what you might believe."

"What do you mean, might believe!" The harshness of Yuugi's own voice made him feel woozier. He closed his eyes, taking a breath before continuing, "Yami, if I'd been ... been …" He made an obscure gesture with his hands, "then I think I'd know!"

"Not necessarily," Yami said, scowling, but not at Yuugi, "Yuugi, please, please let me just make sure you're not hurt anywhere else. I would hate to think I had missed something happening to you because of your embarrassment. I would never forgive myself for being so careless."

Yuugi's jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Careless? Yami, this is my body!" he growled, shoving his hands away from his head. He unsteadily walked back to his room, the shadow following close behind him.

"You're just prolonging the inevitable," he murmured, watching Yuugi stamp around the room, staggering here and there along the way, "and will you calm down and stop making so much noise! Your grandfather is trying to sleep. He's hardly had any-"

Because of you – the unspoken words echoed in Yuugi's head and he halted, lowering himself down onto his bed.

"I've been such an idiot, haven't I?" he murmured numbly, reflecting upon the night's events. He glanced at his alarm clock. 4:37. It would be time for school in three hours. That fact depressed him even more. Only three hours of sleep.

Yami pulled back the covers of Yuugi's bed, gesturing for the teen to climb inside. He considered following, but decided it wasn't good idea.

Yami had a strange, niggling feeling there was something Yuugi could remember, only, had felt burdening the Shadow with more of his mishaps would be unfair. Maybe that had made him so hostile and uneasy; keeping secrets from him. He let it go for the moment. The whole night had been a raucous of emotions. Adding to it would only succeed in making a bad situation worse.

He had gotten used to Yuugi's temperament, his raging teenage hormones, and the erratic day to day behaviour. Sure, to everyone else he was calm, sweet; the lovely boy everyone who knew him loved, but to Yami, he was something quite different- all those things and more. He was Yami's whole world. Even now they were separated; the focus of his existence lay solely with Yuugi and probably always would, no matter what. He knew him better than he knew himself. Yuugi wore his heart on his sleeve. He was strong, enduring, a survivor, and for that Yami was proud, so proud, sometimes his heart wanted to explode with emotion. But he would not spoil that perfection.

Was it even perfection anymore? The relationship had begun to drift. That night had proved it. Yuugi was hiding things from him, refusing his help, pushing him away. Something was missing, something important to them both, vital to their relationship.

Yami sat beside his aibou, entwining his hand in his. "You were being a good friend. Jounouchi couldn't ask for one better than you. Sometimes I just wish you would say no though, for both your sakes." Yuugi nodded, leaning against his darker half's shoulder sleepily. Yami turned slightly to press his other hand to Yuugi's's forehead. "How're you feeling now?"

"Awful," Yuugi sighed, smiling lazily. "Can I go to bed now please?" Yami jerked his head slightly in affirmation, tugging the covers up over Yuugi's shoulders as he slipped between them, tucking him in gently. Yuugi closed his eyes, and for a lingering second Yami watched him contentedly. "Yami?"

"Hmm?"

"Would you stay with me, just for tonight? Talk to me while I'm going to sleep?"

Yami smiled warmly, nodding, "Of course aibou. Anything you ask." There was silence for a few moments longer.

"Yami?"

"Yes, aibou?"

"Would you lie next to me? I know it's not fair to ask but I just need this. I need to know you're here, so you're there when I wake up." Yami almost laughed at how ridiculous the statement was. Why would he ever leave him?

"Are you sure I wouldn't make you uncomfortable?" Yuugi opened his eyes sleepily.

"Positive! Please Yami. I need you to do this for me."

Did Yuugi feel so insecure and unsafe without him, or would anyone have sufficed at that moment. Had he been Jounouchi, or Anzu, Ryou or Honda – would he have asked the same thing?

Without another word, Yami peeled back the covers and slid inside, fully dressed aside from his shoes. He expected the teen to turn his back to him, but instead, he snuggled into the crook of Yami's arm, draping the duvet across them both. His breath tickled Yami's collar, but it was a nice sensation, calming, soothing.

"I do love you, aibou," he murmured into the teen's hair, breathing in the peach smelling shampoo. Yuugi 'hmmed' softly.

"Love you too," he replied before sleep claimed him.

But Yami didn't sleep. He couldn't stand not knowing. If Yuugi had been abused, assaulted, raped- any of those- he didn't know how he would react. The very thought of anyone touching him in that way made him burn with jealousy and rage. He wouldn't, couldn't let them get away with it, but how could he convince Yuugi that something needed to be done. He knew he was frightened. Yuugi was brave, but not beyond fear. The same notion stood for him. He had to do something and it had to be done soon.

All too soon, the piercing beep of Yuugi's alarm clock hastened Yami from restless sleep. With a grunt of disapproval, he leaned over his still snoozing aibou and smacked all of the buttons at once, instantly silencing the infuriating piece of technology. Yuugi moaned softly, burying his head face first into his pillow. "Time to get up already?" came the muffled voice.

"No, go back to sleep," Yami answered, disentangling himself from Yuugi's arms and legs which had unconsciously curled around him in his sleep. "You need to rest. School is out of the question." Yuugi would have disagreed had he the energy, but instead he settled for a quiet, 'k' Yami only just caught. If Yuugi had been given any drugs, he would definitely need to sleep, but as soon as he was awake, he would drag him to the doctors, kicking and screaming if need be.

"Can't you stay and keep me warm, it's cold in here," Yuugi muttered, now turned over onto his side, eyes still closed. He shivered dramatically to prove his point. Yami's lip curved upwards and he leaned down to press his lips to Yuugi's forehead. It felt as if the night before was just a nightmare. Just a horrible nightmare.

Yuugi's's skin felt cold. He felt suddenly guilty for not offering to warm him, but Yuugi's grandfather would no doubt require his assistance in the store. Said grandson was gazing up at him imploringly and Yami almost relented. "Go back to sleep, aibou," he ordered tenderly, fingertip trailing his cheek. "You had a rough night. I'll take you to the doctors this afternoon when you've rested." Yuugi didn't seem to show any signs of objection, but in his state, Yami didn't expect a reaction.

This reminded him, there was somebody he needed to speak to. Jounouchi was not going to get off lightly for engineering this. He may have been his friend, but what he'd committed would be an inexcusable act to any other, and he wasn't even sure if he had it in him to forgive Yuugi's best friend. He picked up the phone on Yuugi's bedside table, pressing the speedial for Jounouchi.

"Hello?" Jounouchi's sleep-ridden voice mumbled down the other end.

"Jounouchi, it's Yami," he whispered so as not to wake the sleeping teen.

"Yami! Is Yuugi back; is he ok!"

"He's coping, if that's what you mean," Yami replied, undeniable harshness in his voice, "no thanks to you."

"Yami, I-"

"You lied to me Jounouchi, both of you. How could you let him go to a place like that and then leave him by himself?"

"I'm sorry Yami, really, I-"

"I believe he was drugged, you know and then as he was trying to get home he was mugged and where the hell were you? Then when you realised he was missing, you didn't even tell me where you'd really been! Do you have any idea what could have happened to him while you were doing god knows what in that place? Did you ever stop and think of whether he even wanted to go in the first place?" There was silence on the other end, in which Yami calmed his breathing, craning his neck to check Yuugi was still sleeping soundly, "You have a lot to answer for Katsuya Jounouchi. If… if anything did happen to him then I'll hold you accountable for it – do you understand me?" Silence again. "Katsuya?"

"I'm really sorry," and the other put down the phone. Yami felt his blood boil. How dare he hang up…

"You had no right to do that."

Yami swivelled in the chair to look at Yuugi, surprised to find him sitting up with his legs crossed and arms folded in a manner he was so fond of. "I had every right. I'm not stupid aibou; I know you only went because he begged you to and therefore he is partly to blame. If he was anyone else I would have done far worse by now."

"Jounouchi-kun isn't to blame. He didn't force me to go."

"You can never say no to him; I'm fully aware of that. You don't seem to understand the seriousness of the situation."

"Stop talking like that. Have you ever considered that I might just want to forget all about what happened and get on with my life?" Yuugi growled, shifting to sit up on his knees. Yami remained silent. "No, because you never listen do you? We always have to do things your way because of course; you always know what's best!"

"Calm down!" Yami demanded, and at once Yuugi fell silent, his whole body, as well as his voice, quieting. Sometimes the shadow struck fear into his heart; the side of him neither dared to talk about, festering just beneath the surface of Yami's unconscious mind.

"I don't want this to be happening," Yuugi whispered. Yami frowned.

"I know, but it has and we have to deal with it."

"I don't want to speak to anyone about it. I can't …"

"You have to," Yami spoke softly, comfortingly, persuading Yuugi to lie back in bed again to sleep, but he was no longer tired. The effects of whatever he had taken were gradually starting to wear off.

"I can't go back to sleep. I want to talk to Jounouchi-kun," he said, fingers curling around the phone, but before he could dial the number, Yami's hand had covered his, preventing him from picking up the handset, "Yami, you can't stop me from speaking to my best friend."

Yami nodded.

"I just wanted to say that you shouldn't entirely relinquish him of blame. He needs to know he can't act so recklessly and not expect consequences," and he released the phone, stepping away from his aibou. "I'll leave you to talk."

Yuugi watched him leave; confused by the expression on his face, an expression he couldn't read.

"Hello?" Yuugi flinched, oblivious that the other end had been ringing.

"Jounouchi-kun?"

"Yuugi? Is that you?"

"Hai," Yuugi replied, twisting the curly cable around his finger, "Whatever Yami said, I'm sorry. I don't blame you for anything that happened last night – you asked me if I wanted to leave and I lied and said no, when I should have said yes. Please don't hate me."

"Yuugi, Yami was right. It was my fault. I don't deserve a friend like you."

"That's not true! You know you mean the world to me Jounouchi-kun. I'd do anything just to see you happy." A voice echoed from the other end, one Yuugi recognised as Jounouchi's father. He sounded furious.

"I'm sorry, Yuugi, I have to go. I'll call you later when dad's gone out, ok?" He hung up before Yuugi could respond. Placing the phone back on the receiver, he slid out of bed, pulling on a loose jumper. He still felt awful, like there was a pneumatic drill on overdrive in his head and his stomach only needed the smallest excuse to make him heave. His limbs still felt slightly heavy, a familiar dull ache from the night before lingering throughout, but the room wasn't in motion and his eyes could focus on one thing at a time without difficulty.

Yami wasn't in the kitchen where he'd expected him to be, but he was glad. Another conversation about it all would drive him insane, and that was what he was sure to get. Sighing, he flicked the switch on the kettle and proceeded into the living room, slumping down onto the couch with a heavy sigh. Daytime television was dull. It wasn't worth watching, but he really had nothing better to do so he switched it on.

He couldn't shy away from the fact that he was petrified. Even though he had no direct affirmation, he felt used, he felt like some dirtied rag to be thrown away. His body felt different in a way he couldn't explain. Perhaps it was psychological. He couldn't bring himself to see what exactly might have happened to him whilst bathing that morning in case he should encounter something he didn't ever want to see. He shuddered, curling up into a tight ball, a cushion propping up his head.

"Is everything ok, Yuugi?" Sugoroku said, head peering around the living room door. Yuugi wiped his eyes frantically with his sleeves and nodded, but the old man was unconvinced.

"You know, Yuugi," he said, sitting down beside him, "there's no better way of dealing with feelings than talking about them, and I know you might think I'm just your interfering old grandfather, but I've lived through a lot of things – I know how hard growing up is."

"Jii-chan," Yuugi whined, burying his face in the cushion, "this isn't going to be the start of one of these birds and the bees talks is it because believe me, I'm well informed already."

Sugoroku frowned. "I was going to say, that if there's anything you want to talk to me about, you can," he said, almost sadly. Yuugi forced a smile.

"I know jii-chan. "

"You don't always have to tell Yami. I'm here for you too." Yuugi laughed inwardly. It seemed lately he hardly told Yami anything, "I just feel like I'm losing you to him. I know you can make your own decisions, but- "

"You're not losing me to anyone!" Yuugi said, wrapping his arms around his grandfather, "I'll always, always be here for you. I wouldn't ever leave you." How he wished he knew that for sure. Sugoroku sighed, pulling back.

"I don't know what I'd ever do without you."

TBC