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: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the wonderful reviews! (Hugs) Now about this chapter I have one thing to say; The moment you've all been waiting for! (cheers)
Disclaimer: Do not own!
Chapter Four:
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.
Yugi quickly turned a corner, pressing his back up against a wall. I need a break, my ankle's killing me! Yugi moaned while sliding against the wall until his bum reached the floor. He grimaced as he clutched his ankle, which was bleeding heavily. The warm liquid coated his fingers, making the teen hold the urge to vomit right then and there.
He could still hear the pounding footsteps of the bully charging up the staircase. Yugi took a deep breath and ignored the raging pain in his leg as he used the wall as a guide to stand. He had to act quickly. The roof was his best bet. Hopefully the bully would lose him in time...
"Get back here, punk!" the bully roared, his voice booming. Yugi felt the ground beneath him shake.
Come on, Yugi! Move! Yugi lectured himself, running as fast as his legs could take him. After another five or six flights of stairs, the hallway suddenly ended. Directly in front of Yugi was a heavy metal door. In capital letters on a silver plate read the words ROOF. EMPLOYEES ONLY.
Screw that. Yugi thought, grasping onto the handle with stiff fingers. He was just about to turn the knob, minutes away from freedom...
Suddenly a strong hand gripped the back of his shirt, pulling him roughly backward. Yugi screamed in surprise, and put his arms instantly behind his head in defense. He felt the air rush passed him, the metal ends of the stairs collide with his already sore back. He hissed in pain as his elbow banged severely against the corner of a wall. Reflectively extending his legs out, Yugi successfully managed to stop himself before tumbling down the rest of the staircase, back to square one. A wave of relief flooded his mind...
Then instant pain. Yugi yelped in shock as the bully's rough hands grabbed Yugi by his delicate hair, pulling him upward against the wall.
"Get off of me!" Yugi shouted, stomping on the bully's toes. The bully let out a stream of colorful curses, swinging his fist back and aiming to punch Yugi in the stomach. Yugi, being small and swift dodged the blow and winced as the wall shook with impact beside him. That's got to hurt. Yugi thought with sarcasm as he easily pulled away now that the bully was weakened. He couldn't hide that smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"You...little..." The bully seethed, clutching at his bleeding hand, knuckles swollen. Yugi gulped, the smile vanishing. He was unprepared for what happened next.
The bully suddenly went into rage mode, face becoming red with anger and vengeance as he charged at Yugi, knocking the wind out of the petite figure. Yugi's eyes closed instantly as the impact of his back against the wall made him bite down on his tongue, hard. A tear spilled down Yugi's cheek.
Bark!
Yugi gasped and creaked open his eyes, the pain subsiding for now. Yugi could have sworn that birds began to sing in his mind. Yami...it's you. Yugi confirmed his thoughts at seeing his pal rush up and yank the bully off of Yugi. Yugi didn't move, but just stair in utter relief.
Yami was alright...as long as Yami was alright that was all that mattered to Yugi...
Yugi quickly shook his mind. He needed to get to safety, he needed to get Yami to safety. Yugi stood back up and headed for the staircase, glancing at the battle behind him. Yami had the bully pinned underneath him, teeth exposed in a threatening way as the bully thrashed wildly, cursing madly.
"Yami, come on boy!" Yugi whistled to his dog, wincing at the pain still in his tongue. He ran up the few stairs that he fell down previously, and slammed himself against the large metal door.
A pitch black sky dotted with small white specks came into view. Yugi shivered as the cold rainwater met his sweaty, clammy skin. He stopped halfway across the roof and leaned on his knees, panting.
I don't know how much more of a chase I can take. Yugi thought, glancing around. I've got to act fast!
Yugi winced as the pain in his ankle grew, dismissing his thoughts. As if sensing his pain, a black furry creature nuzzled the injured area.
"Oh Yami..." Yugi knelt down, wrapping his arms around his canine. He could feel the blood on the dog's fur coat, trickling down the side of his neck. Yugi's eyes widened, remembering the gunshot from before. "Yami!" Yugi shouted in alarm, he desperately searched around for where the wound was. Yami just perked his ears up, lifting his paw to calm the other down.
Bam!
Yugi let out a short scream, feeling the wind of a bullet just barely graze the side of his cheek, squeezing his eyes hard enough that tears spilled over.
Just go away! Leave me and Yami alone! Yugi shouted in his mind. Digging his head deeper into Yami's fur coat for protection.
Bark!
Yugi felt Yami pull harshly from him. He opened his eyes, looking up at the bully who was once again battling with Yami. No, he's injured enough as it is! Please leave Yami alone! Yugi cried mentally. Oh god, when will this end! Yugi asked himself as he used his knees to stand. Running across the roof to the edge, Yugi peered down. There wasn't an escape ladder in sight, or even a building close enough that he could make a leap of faith for. Yugi gulped and wiped the rainwater from his eyes. Brilliant roof idea, Yugi. Hescolded himself.
BAM!
Yugi's heart skipped a beat.
The blood rushed out of his face.
A figure dropped to the floor.
Please say that wasn't...!
He turned around instantly. The moment that would change his life...
Yami lay immobile on the floor, the bully hovering over him with his gun faced down, smoke still rising from the nozzle.
"Heh, two shots to bring this sucker down." The bully laughed insanely. Yugi's mind swam with thousands of possibilities, and without thinking he rushed forward in panic. Yugi knee's instantly collapsed beneath him. He extended his hand outward, placing his trembling fingers over Yami's heart.
There wasn't a pulse.
No... Yugi gasped, eyes never leaving the weak figure of his best friend. No! NO! NO! YAMI! Yugi whimpered. Tears blurred his vision, his mind was incapable of thinking straight. Images of the smoking gun and the limp Yami were all that flashed before his eyes. His heart froze in time, his blood ran cold as it flooded down his ankle. The cold night rain chilled his skin and breath, freezing him on the spot. Tears cascaded down his cheeks in never-ending rivers. If Yami didn't move soon...
...the rain just bounced off the black fur.
The bully looked up with menacing eyes at Yugi. His face was scarred with many scratches, most of them from Yami. His shoulder looked dislocated, and bleeding heavily. His breathing was erratic, his body limping with each step he took toward Yugi. The gun slowly lifted upward, wavering in his hand, nozzle faced toward the whimpering teen.
"S-See? I told...I told you..." The bully laughed, coming closer and closer to Yugi. "Weak, pathetic, that's why..." The bully broke out into a coughing fit, clutching at his chest. He managed to breathe again, wiping the little blood on his lips. "That's why I let you...let you take him... 'Cause he was weak." The bully stopped, about five feet away from Yugi, the gun aimed directly at the spiky mob of wet hair. "...Just like you..." The bully said, reloading the gun.
"...he's not weak..."
The bully froze. Had this punk just said something to him? The bully lifted a hand and stuck one finger in his ear, twisting it around to clear his ears. Maybe it was jus the roar of the rain?
"Excuse me?" The bully asked, leaning down.
Yugi lifted his head, amethyst eyes glowing with sorrow and defeat at the creature before him. He looked up at the bully, eyes locking onto his. Oh how Yugi longed to see that disgusting excuse for a human shrivel up into nothingness, dying mercilessly in his own pool of liquid as he and Yami towered over him, laughing.
Yami...
Yugi's blue lips moved to speak.
"...he's not weak...never was..." Yugi mumbled, barely audible. Tears overflowed in his eyes until it stung. Yugi dropped his chin to his chest, sobs shaking his body as his fists dug into the concrete floor.
And he screamed.
Screamed for Yami, screamed in pain both physical and emotional...
The bully frowned and cringed. He groaned and used his other hand to grab the nozzle of the gun with his fingers, holding the handle outward. "Shut up!" The bully roared, swinging the gun back...
...and using the boot of the gun to knock Yugi out cold across the temples.
The duelist's body fell limp to the ground.
As the rainwater continued to fall, the skies continued to darken, the time continued to pass , the breathing continued to slow...
A light shone brightly...
...Engulfing a breathless, loved, and loyal creature...
In the midst of the battle between the two oblivious humans, Yami began to change. Physically change. From those paws formed two hands and feet, from the black fur formed smooth, tanned skin, from the long snout and pointed ears formed a delicate face, features etched so exquisitely, that one could say a god was born...
A breath of life was taken...
Alluring crimson eyes opened..
...and Fate decided to play...
The bully smirked in victory, glaring down at the boy known as "Yugi." What a pathetic human, what a pathetic dog...The bully thought, looking around for the canine. Where did..? The bully shoved the thought out of his mind, rolling his eyes and turning around...
He blinked.
A gun –his gun- was poised directly between his eyes, fully loaded and ready for the trigger to be pulled. Attached to the gun was a steady hand, then a well tanned arm, then a body, with a soaked, black sleeveless T-shirt and dark leather pants.
Who the hell! The bully's eyes looked up in sudden alarm. Dull eyes clashed with pure crimson. He gasped, jaw dropping to the floor.
"...Y-Yami?" The bully managed to mutter out. Words that would be his last.
BAM!
Another body fell to the ground in a heap of dirty, wet flesh.
Crimson eyes looked down to the boy lying unconscious.
"Master..."
Yami kneeled down, and cradled Yugi's bruised head in his lap. He wiped the sticky blonde bangs off Yugi's face with his newly formed fingers, wincing at how cold the skin was to the touch.
"Master, you tried to protect me." Yami whispered, looking sadly down at Yugi. "I'm supposed to protect you, Master." Yami leaned down, eyes never removing themselves from closed eyelids. He rested his forehead against Yugi's. "I'm supposed to protect you..." Yami whispered, a single diamond tear falling onto pale cheeks. He hoped he wasn't too late.
A bright golden eye appeared on Yami's forehead.
In minutes, police sirens were heard in the distance.
To Be Continued...if you review!