Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or the song Evil Angel; they both belong to their respective owners.

Chapter Seven

Dartz watched the pack of young girls race around the small backyard that they had, often leaning over to keep things from falling down in the midst of their hyper stampede. Iona was often in the fray, never seeming to be worn out from the boundless energy. Most of them had already gone home, but a few had parents running a bit late. Dartz chuckled to himself and carefully pushed another plate back up onto the table.

From the front yard, a car horn blared, sending the girls rushing around the house to see which parent had arrived, Iona following at a slightly slower pace. Dartz hesitated before following his wife around, smiling as he saw that the rest of the children had gone, leaving Rebecca and Iona to wander into the backyard. They picked up a small bowl of chips, sitting on the back porch and eating them in silence.

Rebecca was the first to speak, staring morosely at the empty yard in front of her. "Can daddy really see me from up there?"

"Of course, darling."

"Does he know how much we miss him?" Dartz swallowed back tears at this, walking over to sit where his accustomed spot would have been, had he not died. He sat on the step right beside his wife, the height difference enough that he could lean back against the railing and wrap his arm around Iona, something that he couldn't do now.

"Yes. But I told you that he is watching over us."

"Would he…" Rebecca fiddled with the chip in her hand, "Would he come down for my birthday?"

"Yes. He was probably here all through the party, watching his little princess." Rebecca gave her adopted mother a smile, reaching over to steal a chip from her mother.

"You'll spoil your dinner." The two of them laughed, Dartz having to finally force himself to walk away into the house. He wasn't part of their lives like that anymore, he was just an outsider. But he could still guide them.

He walked through the walls into the kitchen, searching around for the pen and paper and Iona always kept around. He smiled when he found it, picking up the pen and pondering over what he was going to write. Dartz looked outside, seeing that his family was still out there and began to write, leaving the kitchen for the roof when Iona came back in. Dartz balanced himself before taking off, heading for Domino at a slow pace.

There was no need to hurry. It was becoming a nice night, calm and peaceful. Dartz took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, looking around before spotting a roof to sit on. He leaned back on his hands, watching the sunset, only stalling like this in memory of the times that Iona and himself had done so many times before. He relaxed, remembering what he had written his wife.

My Dearest Iona,

Sadly, this is the only way to contact you now, but it is better than nothing. Tell Rebecca that I wish her a Happy Birthday and that I was there at the party and that I'm very proud of my little princess. I am also very proud of you, Iona, for staying strong through all of this. I am sorry that I cannot be there for the both of you all the time from now on, but I promise to try and make it around for the holidays.

If Rebecca begins to beg for a sibling, I know someone who can help. Just head into Domino and go to the Kame Game Shop. There should be a teenager there who knows a few kids who live in the slums of Domino who need a good home, one where they won't be treated like dirt. Also, it's a nice little shop, family run like the ones from my hometown.

I still love the both of you very much and want you to be happy.

With love, Dartz

Yami stretched as he walked over the bridge back towards Domino, dodging to one side as Yugi tried to poke him. He retaliated with a poke to Yugi's side before darting off, hearing Tomoya laugh as Yugi chased him over the bridge, the absence of foot traffic allowing them to play like this.

The blonde jogged a few steps to get ahead of them, Yami passing him in the next instant as he attempted to move away from Yugi's next attack. Yami glanced over his shoulder, seeing Yugi close behind him before looking back in front of him, coming to a quick stop. He felt Yugi run into his back, the teenager's fingers curling in his jacket as they both stared at the six teenagers that waited for them, blocking their way across the bridge.

Yami immediately recognized the one that he had run into at Domino High, shifting so that he could easily protect Tomoya and Yugi if they attacked. For now, they seemed content to just stand and glare, their leader crossing his arms and the first to break the silence. "Where do you think you are going?"

"Back home."

"Turn around then, scum, because it's back there." Yami growled, automatically looking for escape routes. While he was sure that Yugi could hold his own, it was better that they ran while they had the chance instead of staying and fighting. He froze at what the teenager said next. "And take your whore with you."

"What?!"

"You heard me, that wimp clinging to the back of your jacket. Everyone knows that's what he had to do to survive." The teenager laughed. "Don't tell me you actually thought your little boyfriend was still a virgin."

Yami tensed. The guy was lying, he knew that. But he wouldn't let anyone insult Yugi and get away with it. His eyes landed on the spaces in their line, ones that they wouldn't be able to close fast enough. He smirked before rushing at them, Yugi following his lead with Tomoya right behind.

His fist connected with the guy's chin, Yami ducking under the swinging arm to make use of the hole he had just made, seeing Yugi and Tomoya sneak through the other one. He then took the chance to run, rushing over the pavement towards safety. Tomoya and Yugi kept up, ahead of him by a little bit.

Then he felt something grab the back of his jacket before swinging him around, giving Yami a glance at the bleeding face of the leader. "You're going for a swim for that."

He was tossed into the air, disoriented for a moment before he hit the water, forcing his eyes open and making for the surface. He coughed up water as he bobbed up, wiping his face before looking around for the stairs that would lead to the road. Yami shook his bangs out of his eyes and began to swim towards the stairs, hoping that Yugi and Tomoya would have the sense to keep running.

His heart sank as he watched two of the six teenagers stomp down the stairs, effectively blocking his escape. There was no way out of the river on the slums side, meaning that Yami would have to swim up to the next set, something that would take longer and have him trapped again. Or, he could fight his way past these guys.

"Where are you going, sewer rat?" Yami growled at the nickname, picking himself out of the water and intending to storm past them when the leader nodded to one of the others. Yami jumped to avoid a punch, only to feel a hand clamp around his neck before he was forced underwater again, the hand not letting him up.

Yami hung motionless underwater for a moment, absorbing this information before he realized what was going on. He was underwater, and he couldn't get back up. His eyes widened as he began to struggle, ignoring the rational part of his mind that said that struggling would not help. All he could think about were all the times he had been held underwater, sure he could hear his heart slowing the longer he was held under.

Unable to hold his breath any longer, Yami gasped, water rushing into his lungs at that move. He clawed at the hand that was around his throat, slowly going limp as he ran out of oxygen. His eyes were fluttering shut when the hand was suddenly removed, the absence taking him a while to notice.

Sluggishly, he burst to the surface, coughing as he looked at the teenagers, all rubbing their head and all of them in the water. He looked up, eyes widening as he saw Yugi with another rock held in his hand, ready to throw it. Yugi look at him and motioned up to hurry up, Yami struggling to comply with his shaky limbs.

He scrambled up the stairs, collapsing at the top to cough up the water that had gotten into his lungs, barely aware that Yugi was clinging to him, trying to get him to move. Yami could barely stay on his hands and knees. He gave one last cough before looking blearily up at Yugi, using the shorter teenager to get up.

All too soon, Yugi was encouraging him to run, the frightened look in the teenager's eyes enough to keep Yami going even when he was feeling like he was going to fall over at any second. Every once and a while he would catch a glimpse of Tomoya waving them on, realizing after a while that Yugi had sent the blonde ahead to act as a guard.

Yami stumbled, falling to the ground outside and alley, coughing again before sliding to the ground. Immediately, Yugi was kneeling beside him, trying to pull him up. He shook his head, coughing weakly before he was able to speak. "I can't go further Yugi."

"There's right behind us!" Yugi was tugging at his arm, looking nervously at where they had just run from.

"Aibou-"

"No!" He yelped as he was hauled partially upright, Yugi attempting to drag him along. Yami whimpered, struggling to get his feet under him to at least help Yugi out. "I am not leaving you behind again!"

"Yugi!" Tomoya came running up to them, panting heavily. "They've surrounded us. There's no way-"

"Hello, sewer rat."

"-out."

Yami pushed away from Yugi, swaying unsteadily on his feet as he looked at the ground surrounding them, shaking his head when his vision blurred. They were definitely in trouble now. His quick planning was interrupted by a punch through by one of their attackers, sending him backwards. He heard a cry from Yugi, turning to watch as another teenager shoved him back into the alley, Yugi fighting him the entire time.

He was picking himself off the ground when he was kicked in the side, rolling over the pavement until he came to a stop, coughing as he tried to get up again, only to have the leader grab him by his throat and back him into the nearest wall. Yami clawed at the hand around his neck, looking frantically around for the two he had promised to protect.

Yugi was pinned up against a wall as well, still fighting the one that held him there, the teenager covered in bruises and scratches. Tomoya had ducked into a corner, two of the teenagers glaring at him.

A punch to his gut brought Yami back to the leader of the group, glaring at the teenager as he pulled back. "Better, sewer rat. Now, we're going to let your little followers watch, so they remember the punishment for those who step out of their place. As for your little whore, he'll be sent on his way soon enough."

"You will not harm my-" Yami choked on the last word as he was slammed against he wall, the world spinning for a moment. He began to hear the sound of laughing, looking up weakly as he watched the other teenager's follow their leader's example. He had a moment to recover before he was dropped to the ground.

"How well do you fight, sewer rat?"

Yami managed a smile. "Well enough."

He lunged for the teenager, ducking one blow to slam his shoulder into the guy's stomach, sending him tumbling backwards. Yami hurriedly moved out of the way, kicking the back of Yugi's captor's knee, and watching him fall. Yami smirked as Tomoya got the idea and sprinted for the exit, Yugi close on his heels. Yami pushed off the ground to run after them, making the entrance to the alley before he was grabbed again, Yugi turning to see it. "Yami!"

Yami tried to scramble away to freedom again, only to have his legs swept out from under him. Yami grunted and rolled, managing to break free and having Yugi and Tomoya haul him up from the ground, the latter shaking badly. He tore his gaze away from the blonde teenager as the leader spoke up. "So you have friends. Good."

That was the only warning he got before all six of the teenagers came at them. Yami tried his best to keep the worse of the blows from landing on Yugi and Tomoya, but soon he was forced to his knees, grunting as he was beaten. His world quickly shrunk to Yugi calling his name, the sound meaning that Yugi was still alive, which was all that mattered to him. His arms quivered finally giving out as the teenagers continued to kick him. Yami allowed them to, too tired and sore to do anything about it. He had fought as hard as he could in this condition and he had tried to get them out of there.

The beatings slowed around the time that Yugi stopped shouting. Yami tensing on the ground and trying to lever himself up, only to be pushed back down by the leader of the group. For a moment that seemed to last forever, the beating increased in speed. Rain began to patter down from the sky, becoming a welcome distraction for him.

Yami was hovering near a state of unconsciousness when the final kick was delivered, the leader leaning over and pulling his head from the ground by his hair. He blinked slowly, his vision not focusing as the leader of the group spat in his face before releasing him. "I hope you learned your lesson, sewer rat."

He heard the teenagers start to laugh as they walked away, loosing consciousness quickly after that.

Yugi groaned as he moved, all his muscles protesting. He raised himself to a sitting position, reaching over to shake Tomoya until the blonde boy woke up. With the air of two people used to waking up in this condition, Yugi and Tomoya carefully stood up, taking stock of what they still had.

Tomoya was the first to finish, giving Yugi a shaky smile. "Just like old times, huh?" His answer from Yugi was a shudder and a wince. The blonde teenager shook his head. "I'll head home. See if I can get those people identified. Send Joey after them."

They both gave a weak chuckle at that, Yugi turning to look towards the exit of the alley, his laugh cutting off. Through the rain that was escalating into a downpour, he could see Yami splayed out on the ground, still not moving.

Ignoring the protests of his body, Yugi raced over to the spot, dropping to one knee and trying to shake Yami awake. "Yami? Yami wake up."

He shivered as Yami didn't respond, his mind flashing back to another time. Yugi shook his head, trying to force the thoughts away. Yami just couldn't be dead. He couldn't be.

"Yami! Yugi!" He looked up at the sound of his name, tensing where he crouched over Yami. It took him a minute to recognize it. Yugi perked up then, trying to sit up as quickly as he could.

"Ryou! Over here!"

He relaxed as Ryou jogged through the rain, his sure strides slowing as he saw Yami. Uncaring about the soaked pavement, Ryou knelt beside Yami, staring at his big brother before looking up at Tomoya. "Can you walk home alright?"

Tomoya flinched but nodded. "I'm used to this."

Ryou gave a curt nod, returning his attention to his big brother. "I'm going to take these two back with me because it's closer. I'll send someone to talk with Solomon."

Yugi reached down to hold Yami's hand, watching as his friend stumbled off, heading back towards the main thoroughfares of Domino. A nudge to his shoulder drew him back to what was going on, helping Ryou haul Yami upright and attempt to hold him there. After a moment of fumbling, Ryou shook his head. "I'll take his legs."

Yugi nodded and positioned himself at Yami's shoulders, lifting with Ryou and beginning to move. He shook water out of his eyes, glancing back over his shoulder before looking at Ryou. "How did you know?"

The British teen shrugged, jerking his head to one side to help Yugi avoid running into things. "I don't know. I just suddenly knew that I needed to find you guys. Probably because I had been an angel once or just some sixth sense."

They fell silent, concentrating on moving as quickly as they could as the two of them began shivering as they were soaked. Yugi made a sound of annoyance as his bangs fell into his eyes, shaking his head to get them out of his way. He sighed with relief as he realized that they were nearly jogging down the street to the house. He could also see which one it was, the door open and Bakura leaning against the frame.

The thief pushed away from the frame of the door as they walked up, looking shocked. "Whoa, you weren't kidding then Ryou?"

The British teen shook his head, maneuvering them inside and down the stairs. He looked over his shoulder at Yugi. "His bedroom should be clean. You two can stay there for now."

Yugi nodded, biting his lip as Bakura opened the door to Yami's room, keeping out of their way as they heaved Yami onto his bed. Yugi clambered up beside his guardian angel, reaching for his hand as Ryou stared at him. At a nod from the British teen, they peeled off Yami's shirt, flinging it to one corner of the room.

Carefully, Ryou prodded Yami's sides, checking for any broken bones, the British teen watching Yami's face for any signs of discomfort. Finally, he sat back, shaking his head with a sigh. "Nothing broken, thankfully. But battered and bruised. Just a few cuts."

Yugi gave a nod, looking away from Ryou as the teen leaned against the bed and gave another shaky sigh. He heard Ryou shift, tensing as the British teen rested a hand on his shoulder. "How about you?"

"Bruised." Yugi smiled back at Ryou. "But that's nothing new."

Ryou nodded and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Yugi wrapped his arms around himself and shivered, slipping off the bed and walking across the room to the closet. He rummaged around in the clothes that Yami had left here, finding a set of sweats for the both of them before changing, glad to be out of his wet clothes. He then moved over to the bed, carefully removing the last of the wet clothing from Yami before redressing him in the sweats.

Yugi paused at the soft moan that Yami gave, watching his eyes open briefly. "Aibou?"

"Here." Yugi snuggled beside Yami, awkwardly pulling the covers out from under them. He pulled the blanket over them, smiling as he felt Yami shift towards him. He rolled over and made sure that Yami stayed on his back, his sides too bruised to allow him to sleep at all in that position. Yami gave a confused him before slipping back into sleep, Yugi carefully arranging himself close by.

Tomoya paused at a corner, leaning against a building and panting. He hadn't lied to Ryou when he said that he was used to this, but it had been a while since his last beating. He groaned and pushed away from the building, stumbling a few more steps to the crosswalk. Automatically, he pushed the button and leaned against the pole, praying that the light would take long enough for him to rest.

It seemed like someone pitied him because the light stayed red long enough for him to catch his breath and rest his complaining leg. He took a deep breath before pushing off the pole and stumbling across the street, his mind already working to trace the path back to his house. Just a few more streets and then he was home, but it still felt like miles.

Tomoya took another break, letting himself have a minute to clean the rain off his glasses before continuing onward. He managed a few steps before nearly falling; suddenly being caught by something he couldn't see. Tomoya slowly stood back up, using his guardian angel for balance.

Then he heard it, seeming to come from a great distance, a small whisper. "What happened to you?"

Excitement over being able to speak to his guardian angel would have to wait until later. "Got beaten up. They got Yugi and Yami too, but they've gone back."

"Why didn't you go with them?"

"Because I can make it home," Tomoya contemplated the distance he would have to travel, "eventually."

"Let me help you then."

"Thanks." He didn't care that he looked stupid leaning on something that wasn't there, he was a bit too tired. And now, with someone to help him along, the distance didn't seem too bad. As much as Tomoya wanted to talk with his guardian, he refrained from doing so, just concentrating on forging ahead.

He relaxed as they turned the corner to his street, picking up the pace as he caught sight of the green roof that made up the game shop, his house the one before it. He was almost there, almost home.

Tomoya jogged the last few steps, despite the complaining muscles, to his house, hurriedly letting himself in. His joy was short lived as his mother and father immediately swooped down on him, Tomoya realizing that he was later than he had thought.

"We were worried sick! What happened?"

Tomoya swallowed nervously at his mother's question. To them, he had spent the day wandering around Domino with Yami and Yugi, which was technically not a lie. He just hadn't spent it all in the 'good' section of Domino. He gave a weak chuckle, shivering before looking up at his parents. "Some kids beat me up."

"Where were your friends in this?"

"Same thing." Tomoya shivered, realizing that he would have to answer as to where Yami and Yugi were now. He swallowed before giving an overdramatic shudder. "Can I take a shower and change clothes? Cold."

Immediately his parents stopped their interrogation, allowing him to limp up the stairs and head for his room. He could almost sense his guardian angel's presence beside him, the angel waiting until they were alone in his room before talking again. "Are the others alright?"

Tomoya nodded absently while searching for warm clothes. "Yugi should be, but Yami wouldn't wake up immediately. They should be fine, but they were closer to that side of the river than the game shop, so they took him back there."

The angel said nothing for a moment, Tomoya having the time to walk to his door before the angel spoke again. "Why?"

"What?" He paused, running his mind back over the conversation before realizing what the angel had asked him. "Oh. Because," Tomoya shrugged, "because we were there. Because we aren't like the others. There are tons of reasons."

He walked out, leaving the angel to sit and brood in his room.

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