The Heart of Protection

Summary: Yugi has a pet dog named Yami. When Yugi becomes severely injured, Fate has it that Yami is transformed into a human to protect him. Falling in love...wasn't part of the plan. YxYY AU

A/N: Thanks a million to those who reviewed! Yikes, this update took longer than expected. Not to worry, I am finally free on a 3-day-weekend to write as I please. (cheers) Wahoo, there's a doggy battle scene in this chapter, so please tell me how I did. My first time with this whole action-theme, so be nice. (hehe)

Disclaimer: Well, it's not mine. On with the story!

Chapter Three:

Yami barked and ran through the debris, eyes full of determination and concern for Yugi. With his forehead still shining, his legs moved as fast as they could take him down the roads.

He knew something was wrong with his master...

Yugi struggled to stay conscious as he felt those heavy paws knock the breath out of his system. Gasping for the need of oxygen in his lungs, he tried his best to keep his face away from the beast hovering over him. He scowled as he heard that damned bully laughing in the background.

The beast named Rex looked at him with a hungry gleam to his eyes, tongue hanging out of it's mouth. Hot, sticky, saliva dripped all over Yugi's face. Yugi was about to vomit with the reeking smell.

"Tear him up, Rex!" Yugi heard the bully shout. Instantly Rex responded, using his powerful jaws to clamp onto Yugi's shirt and shake him viciously. Yugi shouted as those canine teeth tore into his chest.

"Stupid mutt get your furry ass off of me!" Yugi yelled out of anger and frustration. He was nearly pinned down to the concrete ground as this creature ripped his shirt open, tossing it aside. It looked back at Yugi with anger. Yugi's sudden out burst was going to pay the price. Even the bully looked pissed off.

"Make him pay for that, Rex!" The bully shouted, extending his finger outward toward Yugi. Yugi's eyes dilated as he struggled to stand, or even crawl away, when he felt a searing pain in his leg. That damned beast just stepped on him. Yugi screamed in pain as he felt the over-grown claws dig deep into his shin with the heavy weight, blood forming rivers down into his shoes. He didn't realize that his body was slowly being pressed against the ground again, as the beast walked over his entire form, using one paw to shove Yugi down.

Small tears of pain trickled from Yugi's eyes as he glared at the large dog. He wouldn't give up this fight, he had to get home to--!

Bark!

Yugi stopped. That single bark seemed to make his nerves freeze with shock. The bully tilted his head in confusion, the beast raised his ears and tail in alert, and Yugi just gazed it in awe. A bright light was running down the street, racing toward the scene at amazing speed.

What the hell? Yugi thought to himself. He squinted his eyes in the rain to get a closer look, and seeing a black, dog-shaped figure made butterflies soar in his stomach. It's...no, it can't be...

Bark!

The figure with the shining light leaped into the air, landing perfectly with claws out on the beast. Yugi found freedom as he felt the beast get tackled off of him, and began wresting with another...dog? Yes, it was a dog, a dog with a shining forehead, black fur, and an eye emblem around his neck...

"YAMI!" Yugi suddenly shouted, getting up on his feet in less than a second.

"Oh no you don't!" Yugi spun around to see the bully behind him, a loaded gun in his hand. Shit! Yugi thought, jumping off to the side to avoid a bullet. How'd the hell he get a gun! Yugi continued running in strange patterns, dodging every bullet. "Dammit, kid! Stay still!" The bully roared, reaching in his pocket for another hand gun. As soon as he was about to pull the trigger on both weapons, the new hand gun was instantly knocked from his hands.

Yugi smirked as he twisted his foot around, using his aimed foot to knock the bully in the face. The bully's head flew backwards, making him lose his balance. Perfect time for Yugi to aim another good kick.

"That's for before!" Yugi shouted, kicking the bully square in the stomach. The man fell to the ground in a heap of bloody mess. Yugi winced at the pain in his leg, ignoring it for now. He dusted his wet clothes off, and frantically looked around.

Bark!

Yugi gasped as he saw a black dog fly across the street. Bells and alarms rang through his head, telling him to run away, but Yugi stayed plastered to his position on the street as he watched with horror.

Yami weakly crawled to a stand, recovering from the fierce throw. His face was full of dirt and blood, white teeth bearing in a dangerous manner. His bark was low and dangerous, telling the beast to back off.

The beast had other plans. Ruffling it's mane, the rabid dog took a step forward, yellow teeth bearing with the tips coated with blood. No doubt Yami's blood. Perfect image description; Dog from Hell. His paws scraped the ground beneath him, challenging the other to dare and attack.

Yami willingly accepted. Yugi's face paled as he saw his black canine charge forward, biting onto the beast's foot. The beast let out a yelp of surprise, and reached downward, it's whole jaw encasing itself around Yami's fine neck.

Yugi's mind clicked, he lost control of his whole nervous system, and could've sworn he felt his heart tear in two. He closed his eyes and dropped to his knees while tears coursed freely down his face.

"YAMI!" Yugi shouted in agony. The sound of a delicate neck breaking echoed in his mind, repeating over and over each time with more impact. But they were only in his head...

Happening in front of him, was not only a miracle, but against the force of nature.

The beloved canine had the demon dog's leg trapped in his mouth as he spun the creature around once, letting go with the toss of his head. With a wailing bark, the beast was slammed into the nearby buildings, falling debris coating its demon body. Yami barked loudly in victory, rain pouring over the canine's face as blood and grime washed off it's black fur into a puddle beneath him.

Yugi reopened his eyes after hearing the heart-lifting sound of his best friend's bark. He smiled and gasped at the same time, as two smaller paws tackled him to the ground, a long wet tongue licking him all over his face.

"Yami!" Yugi said happily, grasping onto the canine's collar and burying his face within the wet fur. "Thank god you're okay." Yugi said between sniffles. "I could've sworn that –Yugi snarled- beast was going to rip you to shreds..." Yami's ears perked up at the statement. He offered as much warmth to his master as he could, by leaning his snout down and settling it in the crook of Yugi's neck. Yugi laughed as Yami's warm breath tickled his sensitive skin. He couldn't be any happier than knowing his dog was alive and well.

"Aww, now isn't that sweet?" A voice seethed behind them. Yugi's face paled and eyes widened again. Oh hell no...

The sound of a loading gun.

Bam!

Bark! A struggled one.

Yugi's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets as he felt his beautiful canine fall limp in his arms. SHIT! Was all that echoed through Yugi's mind. He stayed in place, feeling warm liquid trickle into his fingers, feeling a heavy, furry body being pressed against his, feeling the footsteps of the bully behind him. He sat paralyzed, motionless, heartbroken and devastated at the same time.

Yami...Yami please wake up...please say he didn't...Yami...

The bully pressed his gun to the back of Yugi's skull. Yugi's breathing labored as he felt the heated metal tip make contact with his head of shaggy, wet hair.

"This...is for taking my dog away from me..." The bully spat as he loaded the gun. "...again." his finger was about to pull the trigger, end Yugi's life, let out his revenge over something he never really had...

Until one pissed off dog bit down aggressively on his ankle.

Screaming in pain, the bully lost his aim on Yugi's skull and tossed the hand gun in the air, making a loud gunshot echo in the streets. Yugi flinched to the loud sound and reacted instantly, standing up to his feet while running away. Some tugging emotion in the back of his mind told him that Yami was going to be okay.

"Get back here, punk!" He heard the bully roar after him, footsteps could be heard in the rain. Yugi's heart dropped, Where was—his mind was stopped of its thinking as he ran through the doors of an abandoned building, not quite sure on the direct path. Oh shit, where am I? He let his mind guide his heart as he ran through the hallways, running up a flight of stairs. He heard the shouts of the bully, nearly on his tail. If he had one, that is.

Yami whimpered, pressing his paws into the ground to stand up. He used little effort to shake his nerves back together, as he lifted his paw to wipe the small bit of dirt covering his eyes.

Master...where's master?

Yami thought, looking around with concern. The triangle on his forehead began to glow with a golden light. He snapped his head toward an old apartment building, long forgotten over the years. Twitching his soggy ears, he could faintly hear pounding footsteps and shouts from inside.

Master, I'm coming! Yami shouted mentally, determination setting its course as he raced off into the building.

To be continued...if you review!