I know that the first two chapters weren't the best, but hopefully this chapter is better. ALso, this chapter is setting the stage for the central even in the next chapter.

There's some talking in the mind. This is how it works.

(blah blah blah)-Ryou to Bakura

((blah blah blah)) Bakura to Ryou

[blah blah blah] Maytrine to Menthos

[[blah blah blah]] Menthos to Maytrine

Chapter 3- Distance and Fear

"What the hell?! Why did Yugi just run form us?" Joey exclaimed.

"He was just forced on. He's upset." Ryou said.

"We'd better find him. I know we're on school grounds, but in the state that Yugi's in, he's bound to be too upset to comprehend much of anything." Malik said.

"Come on. Let's find him." Atemu said.

The group split up, hoping to find Yugi.

Yugi ran to a group of bushes before he collapsed to his knees. He was sobbing and brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around his knees before burying his face into his arms. 'Why is this happening? I can't take anymore. I just wish everyone would leave me alone.' Yugi thought.

He didn't hear the footsteps coming near him, but felt a hand on his shoulder.

Yugi instantly recoiled back, looking up through tear-filled eyes at Ryou. "R-Ryou." Yugi said.

"Hey, Yugi. Are you okay?" Ryou asked, sitting down beside him.

"I-I'm fine, R-Ryou. You d-don't need to worry about me." Yugi said through the sobs,

Ryou sighed. "No, you're not. That guy pretty much molested you. You're upset. We all know that." Ryou said.

"Ryou, please just go. Leave me alone." Yugi said.

"I can't do that. Yugi, you're upset. I think that maybe you should go on home. Bakura and Marik would gladly leave school to take you home." Ryou said.

Yugi tried to stifle a sob. "Please, Ryou. This isn't your concern." Yugi said.

"Not my concern?! Yugi, that guy could have raped you! It is damn well my concern!" Ryou exclaimed.

Yugi looked up at him. "I was scared, Ryou. If Yami hadn't been there and stopped him, he might have-" Yugi couldn't continue as he started crying again.

Ryou wrapped an arm around Yugi and let him cry. "It's okay, Yugi. Right now, I think that maybe you should go home and lay down." Ryou said.

Yugi tensed. He had no way of knowing of his father would be there or not, and he knew that if his father as there, he would most likely get beaten all day, "No, Ryou. I'll stay at school." Yugi said.

"Are you sure?" Ryou asked.

Yugi nodded. "I don't want to go home. I just want to stay here." Yugi said.

"All right, but I want you to stay near one of us so that if they guy comes after you again, you won't get hurt. He might try to corner you again." Ryou said.

"I met him this morning before school. He asked me to show him around. He didn't act like he wanted to hurt me." Yugi said.

Ryou gently brushed Yugi's bangs from his eyes. :Come with me." Ryou said, he helped Yugi up and headed back inside the school.

(Bakura) Ryou said through the mind link.

((What is it, Ryou?)) Bakura responded.

(I found Yugi. Tell Yami to come to the bathroom on the front hall by the cafeteria. I'm taking him there to help him calm down.) Ryou said.

((Okay. I'll bring the pharaoh in a minute)) Bakura replied.

"You can stop searching. Ryou found your Hikari, Pharaoh." Bakura said.

"Is he all right?" Yami asked, worried since he hadn't been able to reach Yugi through their mind link.

"I don't; know. Ryou said he was taking him to the bathroom on the front hall by the cafeteria to calm him down." Bakura said.

Yami was gone, and Atemu went with him.

Both were very close to Yugi. Atemu looked at Yugi like a little brother and was just as upset as Yami.

"I can't believe that anyone would do that to Yugi. He's never done anything to hurt anyone, and this guy goes and does this." Tea said.

"That guy's a dead man if I get my hands on him. That jerk had better stay away from my little buddy." Joey said, clenching his fists.

"That goes for me, too." Tristan said.

"You all want to hear something really strange?" Seto asked, looking up from his laptop.

"What?" Sayora asked.

"There is no record of a Menthos Transey in any database. Not even the school's." Seto said.

"He's going here. How is that possible?" Marik asked.

"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this." Seto said.

"Why's that, Priest?' Bakura asked.

"I don't know. I just have a bad feeling." Seto replied.

Yami and Atemu reached the bathroom that was across the schoolyard in a matter of minutes. They burst into the bathroom to find Yugi at the fountain with Ryou behind him.

"I'll be going, Yugi." Ryou said. He left the bathroom after giving Yugi a look that clearly said they had better take care of him.

Yami walked over and put a hand on Yugi's shoulder, only to have him flinch. Thinking it was because of what had happened earlier, Yami said, "Yugi, it's okay. It's me."

Yugi relaxed and said, "Thanks for helping me." His voice was so low that Yami and Atemu had to struggle to hear it.

"Yugi, you know I'm always going to help you." Yami said.

"Are you sure that you're all right, Yugi? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Atemu asked.

"No. He bruised my wrists a little and scared the daylights out me. That's it." Yugi said.

Yami frowned and forced Yugi to turn around. He looked at Yugi's wrists and sat that they were indeed bruised.

"Damn bastard!" Yami swore.

"All right. If I run into him again, I am going to send him to the Shadow Realm." Atemu said.

"I'm going to hunt him down and so that." Yami said.

"Yami, don't! You'll cause a scene here at school. You don't need everyone finding out about your magic." Yugi said.

"He does male a good point." Atemu said.

"Yeah." Yami agreed. He looked down at Yugi and said, "I want you to stay close to us today, and stay with Sayora when you are in class."

Yugi nodded. "I will."

The bell rang.

"I better go." Yugi said, grabbing his school bag and leaving the bathroom.

"Yami, did you feel that?" Atemu asked,

"Feel what?" Yami asked.

"Yugi's aura. It's off. There's an air of sadness in it that does not belong, and it was there before what happened with Menthos today." Atemu said.

"What do you think we should do?" Yami asked.

"Stay close to him and watch him. He's in trouble, and I think it's more than we know." Atemu said.

"We need Leo's help." Yami said.

"We'll talk to him right after school." Atemu said as they left the bathroom to go to class.

Yugi had gone to his next class only to find that Menthos was in that class as well.

Menthos saw Yugi and grinned evilly at him.

Yugi looked away from him and took his seat next to Sayora.

"Yugi, are you okay?" Sayora asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Yugi said. His voice betrayed how upset he really was.

"Maybe you should just go home." Sayora said.

Yugi shook his head. "No, Sayora. I would rather stay here the rest of the day." Yugi said. He could feel that he was being watched, and he knew by who.

Menthos narrowed his eyes.

[You acted too soon.] Maytrine said in his head.

[[Shut up, Maytrine. It seemed like the perfect way to break him.]] Menthos said.

[And now, you have alerted his friends, as fickle as they seem, to the fact that you are after him, and I do not think that the Treasure's Dark, Yami, will allow you anywhere near him, nor the others. You can sense the ancient Egyptian magic in them.] Maytrine said.

[[Perhaps, but they will not stop me. I will get the treasure, and his power will be used for our benefit.]] Menthos said.

[Let us hope that no Protector is around. The Treasure has always had a Protector.] Maytrine said.

[[The Protector would already be here if they existed. I do not believe that we have anything to fear, although I did learn something rather interesting.]] Menthos said.

[And what would that be?] Maytrine asked.

[[When I kissed him, I could see parts of his thoughts. It would appear that our Treasure lives with a father who finds great joy on beating his son, and no one knows of his pain, not even his Dark.]] Menthos said.

[Dark's should know everything about their Lights. This makes no sense. Unless-] Maytrine started.

[[Unless this particular Dark has allowed something else to cloud his thoughts, and he had forgotten to pay close attention to his Light. It would seem that this Yami had a girlfriend, and I believe her to be the cause of Yami's distraction.]] Menthos said.

[Shall we use this girlfriend to further destroy their relationship?] Maytrine asked.

[No. I have seen her, and I do not believe that she will do anything to harm either one. I do think, however, that the Treasure's father can be used. After all, a violent man easily thrown in an even greater violent rage.]] Menthos said.

[If we throw him into too much of a rage, he might inadvertently kill the Treasure.] Maytrine said.

[[fear not. I will allow no such thing to befall this boy. However, what better way to bring greater distance between the Light and Dark than to have the Dark not come when the Light's father beats him so severely that he needs a hospital.]] Menthos said.

[A devious one you are, my master. Shall I go ahead and instill the thought of killing the boy into the Treasure's father's mind?] Maytrine asked.

[[Yes. Have him enact the plan after school. I know that he goes straight home.]] Menthos replied.

[Very well. The Treasure will suffer pain like he has never faced before in his life.] Maytrine said.

Menthos wore a hidden smirk as he starred at Yugi. 'Soon, Treasure you will belong to me, and the power that you posses will be used to serve my purpose.' Menthos thought.

At lunch, Yugi sat with his friends as he always did, but he didn't pay listen to them once again. He barely even noticed that Yami and Tea were merely sitting beside each rather than Tea being in Yami's lap.

Yami watched Yugi carefully and noticed the distracted look on Yugi's face. 'What has gotten into you, Yugi? You have not been yourself lately. We barely talk anymore, and I wish I knew why.' Yami thought.

"Hey, guys! I have a great idea. Let's go to the mall after school." Kyla said suddenly.

"Not on your life! I'm not going so that you girls can force me to carry those damn bags of yours!" Bakura shouted.

"Oh, come on, Bakura. It's not like we buy something every time we go to the mall." Sayora said.

All of the guys looked at her.

Sayora giggled and said, "Okay. Maybe we do."

"Sayora, you can't go to the mall without having to go into every clothing store we pass and go in to buy at least one thing." Joey said.

"Shopping is a girl thing, not a guy thing." Tristan added.

"You go shopping when you have a girlfriend." Kyla pointed out.

"Yeah, which is why Yami's not going to have a choice but to go." Marik snickered.

Yami glared at him. He wished he had never asked Tea to do this considering the fact that Marik and Bakura tortured him constantly because of it.

Tea looked at Yami and sighed inwardly. 'I knew I never had a chance, but I thought he might fall for me. I know I was wrong. Yugi and Yami belong together. I can't change that.' tea thought. Still, she could enjoy what little time she had left as Yami's "girlfriend". "That's a great idea. I think that we should all go." Tea said.

"No way." Joey said.

"We do go when you all want to do your guy things." Tea pointed out.

"We'll go." Ryou told them.

Atemu frowned. He was wanting to talk to Leo about what was going on with Yugi. "Actually, I think that I'll skip out on this one. There's something that I need to do after school. Sorry, guys." Atemu said.

"What do you have to do?" Malik asked.

"I'm going to the hospital to talk to Leo about something." Atemu said.

Yami realized what Atemu was doing and silently asked him with his eyes if he wanted him to go with Atemu, but Atemu said no back.

Atemu knew that Yami didn't want to go, but he had decided to make him suffer for lying. 'Sorry, brother, but you wanted Tea to date you so that Yugi wouldn't find out that you love him, so you have to deal with the consequences.' Atemu thought.

"Hey, Yug. You coming with us?' Joey asked.

Yugi didn't answer since he hadn't heard the question.

"Yugi." Joey said again.

Still, Yugi didn't answer.

'Maybe nothing will happen. Maybe it will all blow over. Maybe Menthos is just a perverted freak and not after me. Maybe-' Yugi was thinking.

"Yugi!" Joey shouted.

Yugi jumped since the shout at been right at his ear and exclaimed, "What?!"

"Come back to earth from La La land and tell us if you want to come with us to the mall after school or not." Joey said.

"Oh, no. I can't. I have to go home." Yugi said.

"You always have to be home." Sayora said.

"I know, but my dad's kind of strict." Yugi said, smiling a fake smile.

The smile didn't fool Atemu and Yami. They saw that it was fake.

Atemu and Yami walked toward their next class, which they had together.

"Yugi was forcing that smile. Something is wrong." Yami said.

"I know. Since I'll pass Yugi's apartment building on the way to see Leo, I'll walk with Yugi and make sure Menthos doesn't try and pull another stunt." Atemu said.

"You sure that you don't want me to go with you?" Yami asked.

"No. You have to go on your date." Atemu said.

"It's not a date." Yami muttered.

"You wanted to do this, so deal with the consequences." Atemu said.

"Why are you attacking me on this?" Yami asked.

"Yami, you do not like Tea like that, but you knew that she was in love with you. Did you even think that she might get hurt by this?' Atemu growled.

Yami stopped and starred at him, "What in the world are you talking about?"

"Yami, Tea is in love you. She never got over you even if she said she did. She been trying to make you fall in love with her through this. Yami, Tea's being torn up by this. It's going to hurt her a lot more when it does end even though it's already hurting her now. Yami, you did not think this through." Atemu said.

Yami's crimson eyes widened in shock. "I-I never meant to hurt Tea. I didn't think that it would bother her." Yami said.

"It does, Yami, and you're hurting yourself, too. Denying the truth isn't going to make it go away. You hate dating Tea, so just stop it. You do and always will love Yugi, just like I will Heba." Atemu said the last part softly.

"Atemu, you don't talk about him." Yami said.

"Because it hurts. I have a second chance at life, but without my husband. I loved him in ancient Egypt, and I always will. That's why I don't bother looking for someone. I know no one will ever take his place. I could never love another, just like no one will ever take Yugi's place in your heart. I know I will never find happiness in a relationship where I know I will truly love the person. I think you need to start accepting the fact that you'll never be happy with anyone other than Yugi." Atemu said before walking off.

Yami stood in shock at what his brother had said before letting out a sigh. 'He's right. How could I have been so stupid?' Yami asked himself.

Yugi had left the school gates and started when a voice yelled, "Yugi! Wait up!" Yugi turned to find Atemu running up to him. "Atemu, what is it?" Yugi asked.

"Nothing. I'm going to the hospital to talk to Leo, so I thought I would walk with you since I'll be passing your apartment building anyway." Atemu said.

"Keep in an eye on me?" Yugi asked.

"That, too." Atemu agreed.

The two started to walk down the sidewalk.

"Does this have anything to do with what happened on break?" Yugi asked.

"Yes. I don't want Menthos to try anything else. That startled us all." Atemu said.

"How did you know I was being forced though? It must have looked innocent from your viewpoint." Yugi said.

"It did until Yami acted. I think he must have felt you panic over the link and realized you didn't want it." Atemu said.

"I'm surprised he even noticed." Yugi said bitterly.

Atemu looked down in surprise. He had never heard Yugi talk in such an angered way. "Yugi, are you okay?" Atemu asked.

"Yes. Why?" Yugi answered.

"You sounded angry." Atemu said.

"Sorry." Yugi said.

"Yugi, come with me." Atemu said, taking Yugi by the wrist and dragging him into the park.

"Atemu, I need to get home and you have to talk to Leo." Yugi said trying to get away before Atemu took him by his shoulders and forced Yugi to sit down.

"Yugi, something is wrong. You wouldn't have said that without reason. Why do you think that Yami wouldn't care that that guy was molesting you?" Atemu asked.

Yugi looked away. "It doesn't matter." Yugi said.

Atemu took Yugi's face in his hands and forced him to look at him. "Yugi, I know something so wrong. You're upset and Yami seems to be at the center of it. What is it?' Atemu demanded.

Yugi tried to keep a strong resolve, but failed. He couldn't stop the tears that's started to fall. "I don't think he cares about me like he used to." Yugi said brokenly.

Atemu was startled. "Yugi, why would you think that?" Atemu asked, wiping the tears away with his hand. He knew that Yami cared more than he used to, so why would Yugi think something like that?

"He doesn't have time for me anymore." Yugi said quietly.

Atemu shook his head and kneeled down in front of Yugi so that he was at eye level with him. "Yugi, you are not making any sense? Why do you feel that?" Atemu asked.

Yugi looked up at Atemu, pain etched clearly in his amethyst eyes. "Since I had to move in with my father, Yami and I haven't been able to spend much time together, but we would still talk through the link a lot, but since he started dating Tea, he doesn't have the time. I try to be happy that Yami's found happiness in being with Tea, but it's hurt my friendship with him. I try to talk to him, but he tells me he doesn't have the time because he has to be with tea. I feel like Tea's closer and more important to him that I ever was. It just feels like maybe he doesn't care at all. Maybe he never did. It's like all he needed me for was to use my body when he was spirit, but since he has his own now, he doesn't need me." Yugi said.

Atemu eyes softened as he pulled Yugi into a hug. Yugi buried his face in Atemu's chest and held on tightly to his jacket, sobbing. Atemu started to stroke Yugi's hair and back in a soothing manner.

"It's okay, Yugi. It's okay. I'm right here." Atemu said, soothing him. He continued when Yugi started to clam down. "Yugi, I know it seems like Yami doesn't care, but he does. He pig-headed and doesn't realize when he's doing something wrong. Yami doesn't think sometimes and this is one of them. Yami has always cared about you, and no one will ever take place." Atemu said.

"Then why doesn't he want to talk to me?" Yugi asked.

"Because he's an arrogant jerk who doesn't think and is going to have my temper to deal with." Atemu said.

Yugi pulled away and said, "Don't. He'll think I don't like him and Tea being together."

"Yugi, Yami is hurting you without realizing it. He may be with Tea, but that doesn't give him the right to forget about you, and he would agree. Yugi, if Yami or anyone else does something to hurt you, then make them listen. You can't let them hurt you just because they feel like they need to do something else. Yugi, don't worry. Yami can feel the distance, and I'm sure that he'll make up for it once he realizes what he's done." Atemu said, wiping Yugi's tears from his eyes.

"Will he be mad?" Yugi asked.

"At himself, probably. Don't worry. It'll all be okay." Atemu said.

Yugi nodded and smiled a real smile. "Thanks, Atemu. You're the first person to listen to me in a while." Yugi said.

"Anytime no one else will listen, come to me. I'll listen and then I'll kick the asses of the ones that wouldn't listen. You'll always have me, little brother." Atemu said. It wasn't uncommon for Atemu to call Yugi his little brother. Everyone knew that was how he felt about Yugi.

Yugi nodded. "I'd better go." Yugi said.

"Yeah. Come on." Atemu said.

The two left the park and reached Yugi's apartment building soon.

"Do you want me to come up?" Atemu asked.

"No. I'll be okay." Yugi said.

Atemu nodded and left.

Yugi sighed. As much as he trusted and loved Atemu, he didn't want him knowing what his father was really like. He went upstairs to the apartment and opened the door only to be grabbed by the arm, drug inside, and slammed against the door.

"You're late, I see." Simon said.

Yugi gulped. "Father, I-" Yugi started but was stopped when he was punched in the gut.

"Shut up! You know you're late." Simon growled, slapping Yugi so hard across the face that Yugi crashed into an end table, crying out as the sharp edge pierce his back.

"Time to teach you a lesson you will not soon forget." Simon said, grabbing Yugi.

Yugi's eyes widened in fear.

"A fine job you did, Maytrine. He's so enraged that he doesn't know when to stop." Menthos said.

"Thanks you. It was easy. He's a violent man, and he had already thought of killing him." Maytrine said as they watched through a magical window as his father beat Yugi.

"He would have been good in our ranks had he a magical power." Menthos said.

"Oh, well. Doesn't matter now. Should w stop him yet?" Maytrine asked.

"No. I want the Treasure's will broken. Then, we will have him." Menthos said, grinning evilly.

That was chapter 3. Hope fully it was better than the first two chapters.

So there is no confusion, ATemu and Yugi will have a brotherly type of love for each other. That's why ATemu acted the way he did in this chapter.

The next chpater will center around Yugi and his father's actions and how the others react. You'll see some of Atemu's anger, specifically toward Yami.

I have also put Yugi's father abusing him in this. I want everyone to know that abhor child abuse, and I think that anyone low enough to do something like that in real life is the scum of the earth adn need tp have the exact smeae thing done to them that they do to the child they are abusing, maybe evem worse. Sorry. That's just my rant about that.

R&R.