A/N: I know it hasn't been much of a change, but bear with me? The major changes will come with the later chapters (the really, really bad chapters).

I've changed 'Yugi' to 'Yuugi', but haven't changed the spelling in chapter one… ignore it. XD

Sweet Perfected Naivety Meets Its Counterpart

Chapter 2: Something to Remember Me

by LilPurplFlwr

Muttering softly to himself, Yuugi rolled over under the warm covers before he decided to check what time it was exactly. Opening one eye carefully, he noted the cloudy gray weather outside. Realizing that his grandfather had already come in and drawn open his curtains, Yuugi rubbed his eyes blearily and stared blankly past his digital clock. It took him several seconds to register that the bright neon numbers changed to 11:07.

"Oh, god!!" he gasped, recoiling slightly from panic.

He jumped out of bed and ran for his closet. He carelessly grabbed several articles of clothing and threw an outfit together, praying he matched. He rushed downstairs, the kitchen table cleared and set for lunch without a grandfather in sight. Yuugi had managed to sleep so late he was, not only too late to help open the shop, but late for a meeting with his friends. Nearly skidding into the door that connected the house to the game shop, he bumped against it firmly, wincing as he did. As Yuugi threw open the door of the shop, his grandfather peered at him amusedly from behind a few new boxes of dueling cards.

"Ohayo, Yuugi," greeted his grandfather, his expression twisted to maintain a straight face. It wasn't every day his grandson overslept and ran into a door.

"Ohayo gozaimasu, grandpa!" Yuugi responded automatically, before childishly blaming the elderly man, "Why didn't you wake me?? I wanted to help! I'm not lazy," Yuugi muttered to himself, as if trying to convince himself.

His grandfather remained quiet, keeping his own opinions to himself. Irritated, Yuugi glanced around the store, trying to calm his nerves that had been rudely jolted awake this morning. Everything had been swept and dusted, the clean glitter of the clock's time winking at him.

"Oh, shoot!" Yuugi exclaimed again, giving his grandfather a transient embrace before he readied himself to sprint for the park.

Halfway out the door, his grandfather's voice caught him again, "How did I come to have a midget for a grandson?"

Whirling around heatedly, Yuugi put his hands on his hips and pouted, "Grandpa! I'm surpassing you, aren't I?"

He flicked the sign on the door to 'Open'. Once the door had closed behind him it cut off the sound of Sugoroku Motou's laughter. Trying to slow himself down, knowing how his clumsy side appeared when in a hurry, Yuugi took a deep breath of air and began to walk down his street, tensing when he realized he would, again, have to cross that foreboding street.

"Where are they?" Honda asked, looking at his watch, "Didn't we say eleven?"

"Well, you know Yuugi," Anzu said, trailing the tips of her shoes in the sand as she sat on the swings, "He is probably helping his grandpa with the store and then coming here."

A white-haired boy trudged slowly through the sand, grimly stepping over a crumbling sandcastle and wincing at the high-pitched shriek of alarm that came from the toddler, "Ohayo."

"Where have you been???" both Anzu and Honda yelled at the boy, almost sending the poor teenager reeling backwards.

"You might as well start greeting with 'Konnichiwa'," Honda joked.

"Oh dear. Konnichiwa then," Ryou Bakura corrected himself, missing the joke totally, as he politely covered his mouth as he yawned.

"What made you late, Ryou?" Anzu asked curiously; Usually dubbed as perfect, Ryou Bakura was rarely late.

"Well," Ryou started, running his hand through his hair, "The street I usually take was blocked off. Seems like the gangs decided to pick another street to splatter more blood on."

"The blood stains are going to be expensive to get out," Honda added, having heard some floating gossip around his neighborhood as well.

"You're kidding!" Anzu's eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth, "God! Is nothing around here safe anymore?"

"No kidding," the boy shook his head, "Yuugi's not here yet. I'm guessing he's having the same trouble as me. Besides, I also overslept--"

"What?!"

"Ahh," Ryou rubbed his ears, frowning at his two overly, more so than usual, emotional friends, "Calm down. It's not like you guys have never overslept before."

"But you're Ryou," Honda pointed out, a challenging grin on his face as he dropped the worrisome facade, "You're supposed to be perfect for everything," he teased.

"Would you please stop making me feel so guilty?" Ryou said again, starting to feel a little annoyed how much even his friends expected of him, and of something so trivial.

"Excuse me?" Honda asked, testing when Ryou would finally break.

"Just shut up and put a sock in it," Ryou finally said bluntly, narrowing his eyes. He was, apparently, not a morning person.

"I don't know about you, but I definitely don't feel so great today. I must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed," Anzu put in, stretching her arms and grimacing, ignoring a comment about 'PMS' from Honda, "I had some pretty graphic nightmares with sound effects that I never would have dreamed I could imagine."

Ryou raised an eyebrow, semi-amazed that she had yet to put two and two together, "That's the thing, Anzu. Have you read the newspaper this morning?"

Shaking her head, the girl replied quizzically, "No, I haven't. Why do you ask?"

Yuugi blinked owlishly at his path's obstruction. Like last night, this street was also roped off with yellow CAUTION tape, and police cars were scattered among the perimeter. Rubbing his eyes and thinking it was an illusion, he found it was not. His eyes widened as his eyes caught sight of a very messy blood splatter on one of the nicest mansions on the street. His eyes trailed down to the ground where he saw something bagged up.

"Hey, kid!"

Yuugi turned to see an indolent policeman addressing him.

"Get out of here if you know what's good for you--"

Yuugi turned around quietly and began to walk down the street he had taken the night before, noticing the street name in the noon sunshine – Rieki(1). He muttered to himself, "Well, I can't help it if I LIVE here…"

"Yami..."

Yami groaned at the blurred sound, too loud for his liking. All he saw was comforting darkness, until he began to feel a stabbing pain in his chest. Not knowing where he was and unable to grasp the memory of what had happened to him, he stayed still.

"Dammit! Open your eyes!"

Yami recognized Jou's slightly accented voice swearing a few more sentences.

"…Is that why I can't see?" Yami murmured through a dry throat, cracking open both eyes and seeing a hazy sight of Mai, Jou, Bakura, and Malik.

"Oh. Good," Bakura snapped waspishly, his figure crouched closest to Yami's head through the ambiguous vision, "You're not dead."

Yami waited until his eyesight cleared and focused in on his surroundings. He found himself lying on the worn, but still snug, couch in their modest living complex.

"Were you worried about me?" Yami asked amusedly, tilting his head to peer innocently at a peeved Bakura.

"You wish," retorted Bakura with a death glare, "I just feel you shouldn't go to hell before I get there." He then retreated to the other side of the small room with a brooding glance at the other three seated on the floor.

"Aww—We all know what a softy you are, anyways," Mai cooed at Bakura, who looked close enough to spit acid.

Yami struggled to sit up, but when he finally reaching his goal, it left him dizzy and he wanted to roll off the couch in the process. After recovered from the wave of vertigo, he glanced down, eyes widening when he found his typical black shirt was gone. Instead, his chest was wrapped up securedly with bandages.

"Done by yours truly," informed Malik, giving Yami a pat on the bindings, and grinning as the smaller teen winced in pain, "I'm such a genius."

"Gee, thanks," Yami said half-scarcastically, warily watching Malik, just in case his sadistic friend decided he liked seeing Yami in pain. "You must have been trying to cut off my circulation at the same time."

Malik shot an indignant look at Yami, looking rather insulted for the comment on what was a rather professional, flawless bandaging. Simultaneously, the injured teen shot his friend a look that said, 'Now we're even.'

"But, thank you. I appreciate it."

Satisfied, Malik stood up and brushed off the seat of his pants. With a nod of acceptance at Yami, he went to find Bakura, who had disappeared once no one was watching.

"You were bleeding so much. It barely stopped after a half an hour," Mai informed, looking down at Yami, a rather motherly worried look grazing her features, "That's quite a lot of blood loss."

"Right," Yami answered dismissively, rubbing his unruly hair, "Where's my shirt?"

"Gone, honey," Mai responded easily, "If you have forgotten, the idiot ruined it when he tried to make you into mincemeat."

"I see," Yami sighed, looking rather defeated, "Damn, I think that was my only shirt..."

"Well, it's not like there's a difference," pointed out Jou, jokingly, always one to tease everyone else about their less conservative attire, "If you haven't noticed yet, wearing it and not wearing it makes no difference at all!"

Yami got up from the couch with a frown, "Stupid bastards. I really liked the shirt."

Swinging his arms across his body to loosen up tense muscles, Yami flinched again as pain laced through his body again. Giving up, he walked over to the front door, planning to walk outside when a knife embedded itself in the wood. Malik, who had suddenly appeared, silent as usual, was pressed against the opposite wall where the back door was.

"… I think I pissed off Bakura… again."

Unfazed by the event, which occurred rather often, Yami dislodged the knife and threw it at Malik, who calmly caught it and stored it somewhere on his body. Shaking his head, Yami stepped outside and hissed, his breath coming in visible clouds.

"Fuck!! I t's freezing!!"

"Sorry," Malik commented snidely, having come up behind him, sticking his head out and exhaling in a large sigh, "But we can't seem to control the weather."

"Shut up," shot back Yami, whose temper rose, knowing he was unable to get by without some kind of clothing. Knowing Malik would respond rather nastily, Yami added threateningly, "Don't make me hurt you."

"You're already slashed up enough, so don't make ME slash you up more," Bakura interjected as he sidled up besides Malik, pointing out the obvious and irritating Yami further.

"Look, Anzu." Ryou said, taking out a copy of the newspaper from his bag.

"Hmm?" Anzu took the newspaper and almost dropped it.

--SUDDEN GANG FIGHTS!

Just yesterday, there were two scenes, where gangs have decided to disturb the peace of our city. The first one occurred on Main Street and the second occurred on 1st Street. Investigators are unable to connect who are involved. The gangs have destroyed all evidence, including murdering the injured. As the saying goes, 'The dead tells no tales'. --



Anzu shoved the paper back to Ryou, looking nauseated, "I can't read this much longer. It's scaring me and… and First Street is where Yuugi lives. I think we better go check on him."

"But Yuugi should be just fine," Honda added, scrutinizing the vague article. He handed the newspaper to Anzu, "Read this right here."

--Fortunately, none of the residents on Main or First Street have been harmed, though they are incredibly shocked and disturbed by the current situation. --

"Whew," breathed Anzu, relief flitting into her blue eyes, and she gave a tentative smile as she brushed her hair back, "Then Yuugi should be coming soon."

Yuugi was walking past where he had been last night and gazed wistfully at the corner he had seen the five teenagers, "I wonder if they're okay..."

Just then, as if on cue, he saw the teenager named Yami walk out the door of a shabby house. Shocked, Yuugi hesitated, habitually knowing to avoid this type of person, and stopped in his tracks. Yuugi blushed when he also noticed Yami was not wearing his black tank top that he was wearing the night before.

"Fuck!! It's freezing!!" Yuugi heard Yami say.

"Sorry," Malik said, leaning on the doorway, "But we can't seem to control the weather."

"Shut up," shot back Yami, "Don't make me hurt you."

"You're already slashed up enough, so don't make ME slash you up more."

Yuugi cringed. He was rather confused on why he kept gravitating towards such a dangerous group of people. They were violent, insensitive, and unbound by restrictions. They did not go to school, Yuugi was sure, and did not look like they worked either. Rather curious on how they lived, Yuugi inched closer, vacillating when he caught sight of Bakura, leaning casually again the blonde, who looked rather irritated himself.

Bracing himself, Yuugi took a deep breath to calm his jittery nerves.

"Hey, are you alright?" came a sweet little voice, just several feet away from him.

Yami had not even sensed the other boy approaching. The wind blew his golden bangs into his face, Yami shaking his head to try and avoid the distractions. He was getting colder, yet he could not bring himself to retreat into the house. He jumped suddenly when Yuugi spoke, hugging himself with his arms even more to fend off the bitter weather. Seeing the amiable smile from the smaller boy, Yami backed up a little from the cute sight.

"Yami, right?" Yuugi asked again, confirming the name, "Are you alright?" Yuugi repeated his question, frowning at Yami's bandaged chest.

"Yes, I'm fine, little one," Yami said politely, immediately forgetting his earlier annoyance towards the duo behind him.

Mai and Jou came out, suspicious when Yami, Bakura, and Malik had stopped arguing, therefore issuing in strange silence.

"Oh!! It's the cute little doll!!" Mai almost squealed, bounding out the front door and hugging Yuugi.

"Urk!" Yuugi squeaked, not used to being squeezed to death by the bigger girl.

Yami's eyes narrowed, "… Mai. You're suffocating him."

Fortunately, before Yami took matters into his own hands, Mai had been detached by Jou, who looked rather embarrassed for Yuugi, who had turned a rather strange shade of red.

"Where are your clothes?" Yuugi asked shyly, slightly grateful that he was already red (he could blame it on Mai if needed).

"Gone," shrugged Yami nonchalantly, trying to ignore Mai's rather loud conversation with Jou about how Yami was just 'jealous'. "You could say I'm ready to freeze to death."

Yuugi tilted his head for a second, giving the shirtless boy a sympathetic look, "Oh, that's horrible... I have an idea!"

Yuugi struggled in his own dark red sweatshirt and wiggled out of it. He held it out to Yami, who stared speechlessly at the smaller boy, the quizzical look was clear in Yami's eyes.

"Here!" Yuugi smiled cheerfully.

"What? No," Yami pushed it back to Yuugi, "I couldn't... Ah-ah-ah-"

"Oh, shit..." everyone muttered around Yuugi.

"Ah-CHOOO!!!"

Yami's hand flew over his mouth, his nose showing imminent signs of sickness if he didn't wear something soon.

"Bless you, dear," Mai said, looking amused as Yami rubbed his nose ruefully, "Looks like Yami's coming down with a cold."

"Has Yami ever gotten sick?" Jou asked, scratching his head in search of a said memory.

"No," Yami interrupted, "I've got the strongest immune system I know." Yami still sniffed, trying to clear up his sinuses, "Ugh."

Yuugi laughed, a soft, but clear ringing sound of pure enjoyment, "Point proven!" he turned to Mai, blinking cutely, "Mai...??"

Mai blinked back, feeling like she was being pulled magnetically into pools of lavender, "Ehh...yes, dear?"

"Could you do something for me??" Yuugi smiled innocently, hugging his sweater to himself mischieviously at the same time.

"Su-u-u-ure..."

Yuugi gestured for her to lean down and whispered something into her ear.

"O-o-oh," murmured Mai, "You're such a cute kid."

"Here you go," Yuugi said, giving Mai the dark red sweatshirt, before he glanced at his watch, "Oh, shoot! I'm so late! I've got to go!"

Yami watched the little teenager run down the street, before pivoting back to the blonde girl, "Mai - Um-mph!!!"

The sweater was jammed none-too-gently over his head.

"What the hell??" Yami spluttered, fighting against Mai, but losing because he was stuck halfway through the collar. Mai cared more for getting the job done, than getting it done well.

"Put the sweater on like a good boy," Mai said grinning evilly, "Or, I'll have to borrow Malik's knife."

Yami's eyes widened comically as Mai managed the pull the sweater down securedly, "You wouldn't, Mai."

"Malik. The knife, if you please."

Malik handed his knife to Mai wordlessly.

"Alright!! You win!" Yami said, pulling his arms through the sweater, "You traitor."

"What did you call me??" A knife accented the blonde's question.

"I called you a lovely, caring, very beautiful person," amended Yami, averting his eyes, wanting to hide at the moment.

"Uh huh," Mai muttered, throwing the knife back to Malik, who skillfully caught it by the handle and tucked it away. Yami could not help but wonder how many knives Malik currently had on him.

Bakura suddenly slapped his forehead, having been silent most of the time, "Fuck!! Don't tell me the little munchkin knows where we live now!"

"... "

"You think?" Malik said after the interval of silence.

Mai blinked and then giggled.

"What's so funny, Mai?" Jou asked, "It might be more of a problem."

"No, I just thought..."

"Thought what?" Yami asked cautiously, tugging at the sleeves of the warm sweater, having retained some heat from the previous owner. Yami grudgingly admitted he was going to get rather attached to the article of clothing as he snuggled into the sweater.

"You guys look so much alike!"

"We do?" Jou looked around incredulously, "Ya' don't mean I look like this psychotic maniac right here?" he pointed to Bakura.

"We do??" Bakura's eyes widened, "No way my perfect looks can be compared to this ugly one right here," he nodded towards Yami, who glowered at him.

"We do???" Malik yelled, "Are you kidding me, woman?? How could a creature as good-looking as me be compared to anyone here??"

Yami rubbed his temples tiredly, "No, I think Mai just meant Yuugi kind of looks like me."

"Oh…" the other three, looking disinterested.

"Idiots, all of them," muttered Mai.

"Conceited too," Yami laughed.

"Wait... they do?"

"Oh my god, you guys are so stupid!!" yelled Mai, walking back inside.

Anzu jumped off the swing at the sight of bobbing tri-colored spikes.

"Hey! There's Yuugi now!" Anzu waved at the jogging boy.

Slowing down and trying to catch his breath, Yuugi bent over and huffed, "Konnichiwa, minna! Sorry I'm so late!"

"No problem," Ryou responded as he dusted his pants off from resting on the sand. He had felt rather guilty for destroying the child's sand castle and was taking it upon himself to help rebuild it. The little boy gave Ryou a jack-o-lantern grin in return.

"Yeah, no problem – except that we were worried to death!!" Honda added with a friendly glare, then laughing at Yuugi's twisted expression between being ashamed or amused.

"Umm… thanks for caring?" chuckled Yuugi.

"Well, now that everyone's here… I need to tell you guys some… news," Honda said, quickly changing the subject.

"What is it?" Yuugi asked, becoming anxious when he saw Honda's regretful expression.

"The suspense…" Ryou dramatically joked, though he was waiting as patiently as the others.

"Yes, just spit it out," Anzu chirped, patting Honda on the back a little harder than normal, as if indicating that he should 'cough it up'.

"I'm moving."

Three pairs of eyes blinked silently at him.

"Oh! To where?" Yuugi asked innocently, "A new house? We can help you move into ---"

"---No," Honda interrupted, looking sadly at Yuugi's optimism, "I'm moving away."

"You're kidding," Anzu said flatly, giving a calculating stare at her friend, "Where are you moving to?"

"New York."

"What? Why?" Yuugi exclaimed, his violet eyes flashing at the realization, "You're leaving in the middle of the school year? That… that… just sucks!!"

Ryou, having been silent for most of the announcement, looked surprised at Yuugi, "Nice choice of words."

Yuugi managed a weak laugh, "Well…" he turned his attention back to Honda, "But New York is so far away!!"

"Dad got a really, really good job offer," Honda explained weakly, trying to shrug it off, "You would think that I couldn't get any richer," he joked humorlessly, "I'm leaving tomorrow."

"WHA-A-A-A-AT???"

The deadline was far too soon for the three friends, and their surprise reverberated through the park, making little kids flinch at the sound.

Honda rubbed his neck nervously and chuckled, "Heh. Well, aren't you guys glad I told you then?" which earned him three hits on his head from his frustrated friends.

"Baka."

"Idiot."

"Stupid."

"I don't have my New York address yet," Honda mused, "But I promise to write to you guys as soon as I get there," he reassured.

"Good."

"You better."

"… We're going to miss you."

A/N: Revising this chapter was a pain, and I've realized I'll have to do this for 14 more chapters… My writing just isn't good!

(1): Kieki means 'Profit'.

And no, Honda is not going to disappear entirely from my story. I just might bring him into play later.

Please review! I need to know if my story is okay… hopefully getting better? =.= I think it's gotten worse...