Chao- Man, this is not easy.

Warning: Chapter contains graphic bullying and depressing thoughts.

"Talking."

"Thinking."

Chapter 6: Repressed Memories

Yugi sat in front of the lake hugging his knees.

The sky remained a dark gray color, and the water continued to show no signs of life. The teen was curious if he had returned back to square one, but he noticed only four cuts stayed on his wrist. He still had no idea how he obtained them, nor did he understand the purpose behind them.

He reflected on the previous game he played. While being accustomed to playing with a traditional deck of cards, or cards made specifically for the game Concentration, he had turned perplex how the images of his friends and who they were or what they like were made into touchable objects.

He was distracted by that and nearly lost.

"How odd I lost my focus in a game called Concentration…" Yugi chuckled cheerlessly at the irony.

Xxx

A bright light faded around the dark spirit.

Yami looked around to see where he was. The last thing he remembered was Shadi telling him about his partner's situation and the Puzzle wanting to show him something.

"What is the Puzzle trying to tell me?" he pondered. He became skeptical where he was.

Gazing around, he saw old boxes of action figures and game boards. Below him was floor with large green tiles. To his sides were shelves holding a few modeling kits. In front of him was a glass case with puzzles with a cash register resting on top. He soon realized he was in the Turtle Game shop. Normally the store was dripping with posters, card cases, and toys of various Duel Monsters, but none were found. The spirit looked around in order to find his lighter half. He heard noises coming from the room closet to the shop. Entering the den, he saw a small boy with tri-color hair on a couch.

"Yugi!" Yami called out with joy. He raced towards his light, but his heart sank when the boy did not respond. Yami tried once more to say his partner's name, but still the boy did not reply.

He briskly walked around to earn a better view of Yugi, but he quickly learned something was not right. He understood he was transparent upon seeing objects and his surroundings right through him. Coming closer, he saw Yugi appeared shorter. The boy also wore a snow shirt with raven pants instead of his normal sapphire uniform. He held a deep depressed expression on his very younger looking face.

Soon, Yami heard voices coming from the room next from where he was. He listened carefully as one of the voices sounded familiar.

"I think it might be best if I take this promotion," one person said as the sound of a door closing soon followed.

"But then you'll be gone most of the time," the other one replied.

Yami quickly pieced together the second voice belonged to Solomon Muto.

"I know," the first man agreed. "But the shop hasn't been doing so well, has it?"

"Sad to say, no. I'm hoping something new will come along and will help boosts people's interest… Have you talked to your wife about this?"

"Yes, she understands. I know she feels guilty for going into the hospital for being quite ill. I need to accept this promotion in order to help pay bills. Thankfully she's back home and feeling well."

"And what about Yugi? Have you told him about this?"

"Yes… He's older now, so hopefully he can understand why I won't be around as often."

Yami's eyes widened. He glanced back towards Yugi. The younger boy continued to sit on the couch with a gloomy look upon his face.

"His mother was in the hospital?" the spirit reflected sadly. "And now his father is leaving? …. Then this must mean… I'm in Yugi's memories…"

Yami learned the reason he could not be seen by anyone. He only existed in pieces that belonged to a puzzle that had yet to be placed together. For the time now he was not fully conscious, and Yugi was not his partner. His concentration was interrupted when the two men walked into the same room as the boy.

"Yugi," the taller, younger man called out.

The child lifted his head to see his father.

The man smiled a gentle one as he said, "I need you to be strong while I'm gone, all right?"

The child only nodded his head.

"Here," the man walked over towards his son and handed the boy some cash. "Why don't you go ahead and buy yourself lunch."

Yugi rejected the offer and informed stubbornly, "I don't need it. I can make my own lunch."

Both men couldn't help but be a bit amused.

"Bringing a banana isn't really a lunch." Solomon tried to reason. "I don't think it'll hold you down until dinner."

"But—" the child tried to argue before his father stepped in, "No more. Just take this. Go ahead and treat yourself."

"Ok," the child finally accepted.

"I'll drop you off," the man offered as he continued to smile.

Yugi reached for his bag beside him and left with his father.

A sudden flash of light sparked. Yami shield his eyes with his hands. When the radiance dimmed, he was in a completely new area; a place he had never seen before. There was a white building with many windows, but it was not as vast as the high school he was accustomed to. He quickly saw many students passing by with the boys wearing white shirts and black pants while the girls wore white blouses and black skirts. Yami figured out the area he was in was a school, but it was not Domino High School.

He quickly searched around to find his partner. He soon saw a child with tri-color hair surrounded by other students who were taller and stronger. Yami sensed something was wrong. Quickly, he followed the boys.

Yugi was reluctantly led into the boy's restroom. He appeared afraid but knew he could nothing. He was shoved by one of the students. He fell and hit the floor.

"Hey!" Yami called as his eyes narrowed. He couldn't stand witnessing anyone beat an innocent child.

He tried to stop the older student, but the whole group simply had passed through the former pharaoh. Yami stared at his hands. He remembered this was only a memory, so he could not take any action. He could only watch in sorrow as Yugi struggled to stand up only to be knocked down once more.

"That's enough, boys," an arrogant voice called out.

Yami glared towards an older pupil who could clearly be seen as not only a bully but the leader of the group of mean kids.

"What have you got for me today, Yugi," the same ring leader ordered more so than asked.

The small boy wobbled as he struggled to stand. He pulled out of his bag a banana he had packed earlier.

"This… is all I have…" he whispered as his hands shook.

The haughtily smile on the tallest boy faded. He yelled out annoyed, "This is it!?"

"I'm sorry," the smallest child said.

The angered boy slapped the canary fruit out of Yugi's hands, and the child only winced in pain.

"Not the best choice," the boss stated in frustration. He snapped his fingers, and the other boys gathered around Yugi.

They grabbed the defenseless child by his shoulders and dragged him into a stall.

"No!" Yugi screamed as he tried to break free. However, his actions turned vain as the bigger students successfully hulled the weak student in.

They thrust him on his knees and forced his head into the toilet.

"Stop! Please!" Yugi begged, trying to keep his head out of the bowl. "I promise to bring something better!"

"Do it," the head of the bullies ordered.

The child with the tri-color hair was jammed into the water with one of the boys pulling down the silver handle of the toilet. Yami could only watch in agony as his younger light suffered from the hands of his tormentors. The boy gasped for air when he resurfaced from the filthy water. He fell to the floor and coughed as he tried to clear his lungs.

The group of misfits only laughed as they walked away.

Yugi allowed several tears to fall off his face as he lied on the dirty floor with tainted water around him.

Yami raced quickly towards his fallen friend. He wanted to comfort the child, but he only went through the boy's body.

"Yu… gi," Yami choked as he witnessed a horrific event within the memories of the boy he had watched over.

The pre-teen struggled to stand up. He placed his arms on the seat of the wet toilet only to slide off and bang his head against the white top. He tried again once more and was successful. Rubbing his injured area, he walked towards the sink to wash off the sordid water.

He looked up at his reflection. His hair was messy, and his gold bangs flopped in front of his childish face. His puppy dog eyes were watery, and his nose had snot hanging out. Immediately, he looked away, embarrassed and ashamed to see himself.

Again, a flash of light kindled, and Yami now stood in a classroom, but it was smaller than what he was adapted to. He saw Yugi and a younger version of Tea eating their lunch. Yami smiled seeing Yugi was already grinning despite what happened to him.

"Thanks for buying." Tea smiled with gratitude. "I can't believe I was such a dork and forgot to bring my money!"

"It happens to all of us," Yugi laughed with empathy.

Tea continued on with eating her food she had been given.

Yugi took another bite of his peanut butter cracker but went on with looking at his female friend. He closed his eyes for a moment and blushed.

"Is there something wrong?" Tea asked.

"Oh… um," Yugi struggled to find the correct words that he wanted to say. "Well actually… there's something I'd like to ask…"

"What is it," the girl questioned. "Is it about paying you back?"

"Oh, no," the boy answered. "Don't worry about that… It's… about something else."

Yami couldn't help but chuckle. He had an idea of what the smaller Yugi wanted. He smiled as he encouraged, "Come on, Yugi, you can do this."

"Tea… um… I was wondering…" Yugi began nervously. "Since… since we're almost in high school… and… and if you're not busy this weekend… Do… do you think… do you think we could… hang out?"

"You mean at the arcade like old times?" Tea guessed.

"Well… no… more like…as… a…" As the child continued to find his words, his face turned even redder.

Yami couldn't help but smile. Although the child was bullied and had suffered with family problems, he at least had his loyal friend.

Yugi tried to continue for the words he wanted his heart to say pass his trembling lips, "Like a… da—"

"Uh, Tea," a different voice demonstrating exasperation called out.

The two friends turned to see three girls, all wearing plastic jewelry and their hair in fashionable styles, waiting in a doorway wanting to speak with the young girl.

"We need to talk," another student ordered more so than requested.

Tea stood up from her desk and walked towards the edge of the room. She and the group pulled away into the empty hallway. Despite being at a distant, the voices that spoke were easily within hearing range.

"What are you doing with that Yugi kid?" one of the girls demanded to know.

"What are you talking about?" Tea asked confused. "I forgot my lunch, and he bought me some food. So what?"

"Don't you know you won't be popular if you hand out with Yugi," another girl questioned.

"Popularity? Who cares about that?" Tea argued.

"You should," the third voice stated. "Why else do you think you were voted class president? Besides, that Yugi is so unlikable. All he does is just sit alone and play his dumb games."

"What's wrong with that?" Yugi's loyal companion yelled, becoming annoyed by her so called friends.

"Even the boys aren't interested in playing those type of games," the first girl pointed out. "And since they aren't interested, we shouldn't be. How can you expect to have a cool boyfriend if all you do is hang out with that loser who has no friends?"

Tea grew silent. She didn't have any response towards the mean students.

Yami's eyes widened. He snapped his head over towards Yugi.

The boy hung his head with his bangs covering his features. Just like Yami, he overheard everything the female students had just said. He gathered up his materials and placed them in his bag.

Tea walked into the room with an angry look on her face. The emotion faded seeing her friend was leaving.

"Yugi?" Tea called. "Where are you going?"

Before he left the room, Yugi turned around and smiled.

"I… have other stuff to do," he informed casually. "You can go ahead and finish up the snacks."

Tea became quite.

The boy left the classroom, but once he stepped out into the hallway, he took off running.

Yami quickly chased after the boy, which eventually led him into a restroom. The student was alone in the room, and Yami saw even more tears slid down his hurt face.

"She… she shouldn't have to put up with that." Yugi sobbed to himself. "If she wants to be happy… if she wants to be popular…if she wants to continue on with being class president…if…if she wants a cool boyfriend…then… I'll let her."

The boy fell to his knees to cry.

Yami walked up towards his light but suddenly stopped. A sharp pain emerged from his chest. He gripped his shirt to ease the throbbing, but he grew puzzled as to why he was feeling such ache. His eyes enlarged hearing Yugi's voice even though nothing came out of his mouth.

"No Tea, you're not the dork; I am… I'm the one who likes to play childish games… I'm the one without… friends… I'm sorry I can't be cool."

The word friend pierced Yugi's and Yami's heart like sharp knife against a soft loaf of bread.

"Wait… even though I didn't exist… even though this is a memory… am I still connected with Yugi?" Yami pondered. He then realized what he was feeling was Yugi's heart breaking.

Tears plunged down the spirit's face as well. He always wondered why his partner never had the courage to tell his feelings towards the girl he cared about so much. He understood Yugi was still afraid he wasn't what Tea was looking for or that he was not good enough for her.

A flash of light stirred, but Yami did nothing, and he allowed himself to once again be consumed. He knew he was outside Yugi's old school. Many children were leaving and heading straight for home.

Yami hurriedly raced towards his young partner as Yugi walked alone. The child looked down at a piece of paper and retained his look of depression on his face. Yami peered over and saw what seemed to be Yugi's report card. To his surprise, the boy's grades were low. He remembered Yugi had always tried to study and get his homework done, but he wasn't perfect. He and his friends would have study parties on days before any huge tests were taken.

Yami stopped walking for a moment. He did not understand as to why his partner's grades were low other than he had no one else to study with. He quickened his pace and continued to walk along the boy's side even if Yugi could not see him.

"So he's made it this far…" Yami observed. He became impressed Yugi had survived something as horrific as these events, yet he knew this was only the past and nothing more could be done.

A part of him was relived the school day was over, but his heart still ached over the agony his light underwent. He soon feared the young Yugi experienced this much pain every day before the completion of the Puzzle. The young boy walked straight home without saying goodbye to anyone. There was no one for him to say, "See you tomorrow," or any similar friendly departure.

The boy only had to cross the park that wasn't too far from his house when tragedy struck once more.

"Hey, Yugi," a familiar, evil voice called out.

Yami noticed Yugi's body trembled in pure terror. Soon, the young student was surrounded once more by the same group of misfits.

"What do you want?" Yugi wanted to know. He had already given the bullies his small lunch, so he really had nothing left to offer. School was over, and he had assumed his torture for the day was over.

Two boys made room for their horrible leader.

Yugi's eyes enlarged with fear seeing the same ring leader that had ordered for his head to sink into the toilet.

"Heard from my girlfriend you bought Tea some lunch," the tall boy said as he lit up a cigarette.

"What of it?" Yugi asked, trying to sound brave.

Yami felt his partner's heart waver between his feelings for Tea and the fear of having courage in front of boys that could easily beat up him up.

"You only handed me my banana," the boy said as he inhaled a breath of smoke. "I could really use that money."

"For your nasty habit," Yugi assumed as he eyed the white, smoking stick with disgust. He hoped he never would develop the unhealthy habit, the same one that took his grandma away from him.

"Of course," the student said with his arrogant grin. "I buy mine from some high school students over at Domino High. They think I'm cool."

Yami once again felt his partner's heart tear upon hearing the word cool.

The boy only sighed as he reluctantly took his leftover change from his pocket.

"Here," he said passively.

The tall boy strolled towards the small student and took the money with a quick swipe of his greedy hands. The evil ring leader took a step back and nodded his head towards his group. Before Yugi realized what happened, he was grabbed once more by his shoulders. The nails from the students pieced through his shirt, and he yelled in pain.

"I… I gave you the money," Yugi grunted, trying to show courage.

"But not all of it," the boy informed, casually tapping his cigarette and allowing the burnt ends to fall to the ground. "You spent some for that chick."

Yami felt anger build up within Yugi.

"Tea isn't some chick!" he spat valiantly. "She's way cooler than any of you and your so-called girlfriends!"

Yami felt proud of his small light even while being tormented once more.

But, the master of the mindless boys was not at all happy with what his victim had stated. He narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"Let's see who is cool."

He snapped his fingers.

With that order, one student punched Yugi in his stomach. The boy gasped in pain as a fist plunged into his abdominal area. He then was smacked across the face with another hit from a different peer member. Blood cascaded down his face as he received another punch from a pupil with a ring on his finger.

"You like that," he taunted. "I got this from one of my cool girlfriends."

Another student briskly grabbed Yugi from behind and placed his hands down the back of Yugi's pants. The child yelled in pain as the same student pulled out half of the boy's underwear. Yugi then received a hit to the nose and started bleeding. He closed his eyes and gasped for air, waiting anxiously for his torture to end. The only support he had was from the firm, cold grip the two tormentors had on him.

Yami felt helpless watching his small friend receiving a beating once more. He wanted to take action like he had done in the past, but he couldn't. He clinched his fists together with anger, frustration, and hatred. Although the word hate has been tossed around too often that it had lost its meaning, it was exactly how he felt towards those who harmed his innocent companion.

The pair of bodyguards released the boy, and Yugi dropped to the ground in complete pain while his bullies laughed at him.

"Next time I demand your money and your food," the boy ordered as he walked up towards his easy victim. "But you're not smart, so I'll just get some nerd to do my homework."

As the last of the words left the boy's mouth, the ring leader lifted up his foot. Yugi could only close his eyes in defeat as the boy's foot gently pushed the child. Down Yugi dropped as the boys laughed once more then left.

Yugi descended to the bottom of the hill, and his body ungratefully passed by many sharp rocks and twigs hidden beneath the crunchy blades of the dead grass. The form stopped as he came to a puddle of water. Tears mixed with mud slide down his face, but he did not have the courage or the strength to open them.

Yami only allowed his own tears to spill down his cheeks as well. His heart tore into pieces watching small Yugi finding the strength to stand up only to slip on the mud. He could see in his view other children running around with their group of friends and classmates. Yami felt the anguish and jealousy emitting from his partner.

The boy only wanted a real friend but was instead given a thrashing from others physically and emotionally. He looked down at his reflection within the little puddle. His hair was messy, his face was covered in mud, and his ample eyes were watery. He shut his pupils with disgust as he splashed away his image. Tears of hatred streamed down his face. However, Yami felt the negative emotion from Yugi was set towards himself rather than the bullies.

The child stood up once more and limp home soaking wet.

Xxx

"Yugi!" both an elderly man and young woman with long, maroon hair shouted in shock. They horrifically saw the small child covered in scrapes, bruises, and even a twig in his messed up hair.

"What happened!?" the young lady nearly screamed with anxiety.

"Are you all right," Solomon asked in a bit more calmer tone so that he would not frighten his grandson.

The child couldn't find the strength to shake or nod his head. He was not all right, but he was unsure of what he could say. He felt embarrassed, ashamed, worthless, and stupid. He was guided by both his mother and grandfather towards the kitchen where they had him sit on a chair. The old man helped Yugi take off his wet, dirty shirt as his mother helped dry and clean up the wounds.

"What happened," she asked in a more collective tone.

"I… fell," Yugi choked, frighten by the events that happened to him.

Although he knew he should have told someone about his problem, he was aware nothing would truly be accomplished. The misfit students would be punished, but they would go back to picking on him. The others would call him a tattle tale and taunt him even more. The boy did not want to hurt his only friend by looking like a fool.

Yugi's mother quickly dressed the cuts and scrapes as Solomon handed the boy a tissue for his nose. Yugi felt his entire body becoming heavy. He titled his head forward as he placed one hand on his forehead. He moaned in pain.

The woman stood up and placed her hand on her son's cheek.

"Yugi, you're burning up," she gasped while trying to remain calm.

Yugi remained silent. As he stood up from his chair, he tried to take a few steps. And just like that, he passed out and fell to the floor.

"Yugi!" everyone yelled at once.

Xxx

The young child was placed into his bed with his whole body aching. He had contracted a terrible fever. He groaned in pain as he tried to keep himself from passing out once more. His breathing was rough, and his skin was even paler than from before.

"I'll go get some ice," Solomon said as he left the room.

The young child cried again in both physical and emotional pain.

"Am I… really that… worthless…?" he thought to himself in defeat. "I'm sorry Dad, Mom, and Grandpa… I'm sorry, Tea… I'm sorry for being so… worthless…"

Yami watched his young friend, who was now very ill. Tears formed once more on his face.

"Yugi… I am so sorry," he sobbed as he shut his eyes. "I… I had no idea about how much pain you endured… And now, you've become ill once more in the present."

He dropped to his knees and cried once more.

For the last time, the bright light engulfed him.

He didn't bother to open his eyes. He understood he had returned in the corridor between his Room and Yugi's.

"Is it really appropriate for a king to cry?" Shadi asked in a serious tone.

The pharaoh continued to sob over the pain his light had weathered for years before they met. He didn't care if was royalty in his past life. He didn't care who saw him. He only wanted to embrace his companion and let him know he wasn't valueless; the boy had meant so much to the dark spirit.

Yami stood up and dried his eyes.

"I will still go," he declared as he calmed himself down.

"Then the Shadows await you," the man said before disappearing.

Despite his heart aching overseeing the pain his partner encountered, Yami knew he had to be strong.

He took a deep breath before entering the dark domain.

Xxx

In a dark world Yugi stood up from his position. He was in the middle of a game. Earlier he walked around and saw he had an option of either going through a door with two stars or three. He chose the one with three stars.

He stopped playing his game. Tears slid down his cheeks once more. He couldn't find the courage to speak or the strength to continue.

For an odd reason, memories from his worst day ever entered his mind.

He always wanted to forget those painful words and actions caused by students from his past.

Despite the attempt, those words and actions continued to pierce his heart.

To be continued…

Chao- Yeah, when writing some of this, Chao threw up… literally…