I DO NOT OWN YUGIOH
The phone buzzed twice before it went silent again.
"Saru texted me." Yugi whispered
Yami was about to ask how Yugi knew it was Saru that texted him but figured that Yugi only had him and Saru on his phone.
Yugi rose from the floor and swayed a bit before he walked over to the phone. Before Yami could stop him, he flipped the phone open and read the message.
"'Times up. I'm coming for him.'" Yugi turned to Yami. "What does this mean? I knew he would find out that I was gone but the message..."
Yami turned to the clock on the wall and saw that his ten minutes were up.
"Crap. He is coming." He got off the floor and faced Yugi. "Saru... he did find out that you were gone and called you but you were asleep so-"
"You answered him?!" Panic started to ebb its way back into Yugi's mind. He didn't know what was said between the two of them but either way it couldn't have been good.
Yami saw Yugi start to panic again and rose his hands in front of him. "I did and he told me that if we weren't at the edge of Kaiba's territory in ten minutes that he would come get you himself."
Yugi's eyes widened as he finally understood the text. "The ten minutes are up." He started to turn in place, searching for anything he needed before he left. "We have to go. If we meet up with him then maybe you won't get hurt."
In truth, Yugi didn't want to leave, but who would? He knew what the consequences were for leaving the apartment without Saru's approval, and now that they had a chance to meet him but failed, his punishment would be doubled. If he was lucky then during the punishments he would pass out so that he wouldn't really have to feel the pain, but that problem was for later. The most he could do now is hopefully make sure Yami gets out unhurt.
'But what about me? Who's going to protect me?'
He didn't want to face Saru again, he just wanted to be safe.
"We have to go." Yugi said, ignoring his thoughts. He turned to the door to leave but Yami blocked his path.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, we can think of something else." Though Yami didn't have a plan, he couldn't let Yugi go with Saru. However, if they didn't meet with Saru, then Yugi was going to get hurt more. Either way, Yugi wasn't listening to him.
Yugi looked down at his clothes. "I can't wear these, Saru would kill me. Where are my clothes?" Yugi looked back at Yami with pleading eyes. Though Yami was sure the plead wasn't just for his clothes.
"They're still in the washer, you won't be able to wear them." Yami explained as Yugi's face became more crestfallen.
"Then do you have any other pants that are longer that I can borrow? I don't..." he stopped to find the right words. "I want to be more covered when I see him."
Yami nodded once in understanding before he dashed off into his room. He looked through his drawers , not caring if he left them in disarray, until he found a pair of black pants that Yugi could wear. He also took out a long box out from under his bed to grab a pair of tennis shoes for Yugi since his were still caked in mud. Turning back to the door, Yami jogged over but stopped as something caught his eyes. Even though his mind was screaming that they had no time to spare, he stopped to look at the item on top of his drawers.
It was his gold ring with three real gemstones embedded in it: a spinal in between two topaz.
The ring was a family heirloom that had been passed down to him from his mothers side of the family. It had been in his family for as long as anyone could remember and has brought good fortune to the family supposedly. According to the legend, the ring would bring its bearer protection from harm and sadness, while at the same time, ensuring their happiness. It was just a legend but what if the ring could work if the bearer was outside the family...
Making up his mind, Yami grabbed the ring and a gold chain that was laying near by and slipped the ring over the chain. A call from the living room caused Yami to hurry out of the room with the now necklace in hand. When he entered the living area, he saw Yugi pacing back and forth, twisting his fingers together. When the other spotted Yami, he hurried over and took the pants and shoes form Yami.
"Thank you. I promise I'll repay you as soon as I can." Yugi rushed over to the bathroom to get changed.
"It's fine, you don't have to." Yami called after. He still had the necklace in his hand but he figured he would just have to sneak it on Yugi. He knew that Yugi wouldn't take it if he just gave it to him.
Sunlight glinted off the red spinal as he turned the ring over in his hand.
'A fabled promise.' Saru's words whispered back to him.
Yami shook his head. He wouldn't let Saru's words get to him. Yes while a lot of the things that he does get shot down or undone, in the long run they have an effect. Yami was sure they would. Over the few things he had already done, Yugi was able to leave Saru and come to him. If Yami hadn't done anything then Yugi would not have done this. So no matter how may times people undo his work or no matter how tough the times will get, Yami wouldn't give up. He will save Yugi from Saru, no matter what.
Yami heard the bathroom door open but he didn't see Yugi walk back into the living room. Walking over, he found Yugi lacing up the shoes that Yami had given him by the door. His forehead was creased in frustration as he once again messed up on tying the laces. His hands were moving to fast for his scrambled mind to follow making it difficult for him to tie his shoes. After another fail, a curse slipped past Yugi's lips as he threw the laces to the ground and stood up.
"Here, let me tie them." Yami walked over and kneeled down to tie the laces together. After the shoe was tied, he moved over to the other one. As soon as that was done, Yugi slipped away to the door.
"We have to go. If we don't leave soon then he could find us and if he finds us then he'll punish us and if he punishes us..."
Yami stood up as Yugi continued to ramble on about what might happen. The other quickly reached out for the door to pull it open before stepping outside. Yami saw Yugi's pace quicken and took this chance to wrap the necklace around Yugi's neck where it slipped under the sweat shirt, hidden from sight. Yugi hadn't noticed what Yami had done and kept walking, searching the horizon for his doom.
'Why?' Yugi thought to himself. 'Why must this happen at all? I don't want to go back but I have to. Please, somebody, I don't want to go back.'
Yugi broke out into a jog to try and find Saru faster. That's funny. Why would he be trying to find Saru faster? Oh yeah, so he doesn't a worse punishment then what he knew was coming.
"Yugi wait. Slow down." Yami tugged on Yugi's arm so he would stop.
"No, we have to find Saru." Yugi kept looking around them to see if Saru was near by.
"But you don't want to go back and you can't. Please Yugi, there has to be a different option, there always is. I don't want you to go back there-"
"Then what do you suggest Yami?!" Pleading amethyst eyes were set on Yami's. If there was anything, anything at all to make sure Yugi didn't have to go back, he was all ears.
Yami starred back into Yugi's eyes and it was like looking into Yugi's soul. All his emotions were starring he back in the eye daring him to push their owner over the edge. One wrong word and Yugi would be gone.
Fear, sadness, panic, anger, and even hope flashed back at Yami. The shorter was hoping that he had a plan to help him, but in reality, Yami was just as lost as he was. Yami wanted to do something to help him but again and again he came up with nothing.
"I..." Yami watched as that hope started to fill the amethyst eyes more. It made Yami's heart ache. "I... don't know."
It shattered. A look of despair marred Yugi's face as any last hope he had shattered. There really was nothing he could do, he was forever at Saru's mercy. In the end, no one could really help him.
A feeling inside Yugi started to grow and cloud his mind. It was bitter and cold and it was a feeling that Yugi didn't like but he couldn't control it. Yugi turned away from Yami before he could see the brokenhearted look on Yami's face. If Yami couldn't help him then he should just stay out of the way. At least then he wouldn't have to get involved.
He marched away from Yami and continued to look for Saru.
'Why would he say something like that but not have any plan? He got my hopes up for nothing! Couldn't he tell that it would hurt me more to give me false hope then the bitter truth? That's all he does. He takes me away from all the badness making me think that I'm safe, only to throw me back in alone. He doesn't want me to go back? Ha! He's an idiot, I always have to go back. Nothing changes and it never will. I'm forever stuck in this life!' Yugi thought
Yugi heard footsteps behind him but knew that they weren't Saru's. He ignored Yami and walked faster hoping that Yami would just leave him to face his fate alone if he wasn't going to help. Just leave him alone...
Off in the distance, Yugi spotted a figure walking around as if they were looking for something. It wasn't hard for Yugi to tell that it was Saru. Yugi stopped in his tracks, nearly causing Yami to run into him and turned to face the other.
"You'd better leave now. At least then you won't get hurt." 'Unlike me.' Yugi added to himself.
"No I'm coming with you." Determination was set in Yami's gaze.
"Why? Your presence isn't to change anything. You being there will just tip him off more. Just go and you won't get hurt." Yugi turned his back to Yami and started to walk away when he heard Yami speak up.
"I could try and do something if I'm there. If he tries to hit you I could stop him so you won't get hurt-"
"I wouldn't get hurt then. He would just punish me latter." Yami was starting to get on his nerves. He was trying to act like something he wasn't and in the end it only hurt. Yami wouldn't be able to really stop anything from happening, only delay it, so why couldn't he just stop? Why couldn't he not give him false hope?
"So maybe I can't keep you safe when I'm not with you but at least if I'm there now, you won't be alone. At least you'll have someone to share the pain with." Yami's desperation was starting to leak into his voice. He wanted this no more than Yugi did but it was getting harder to stop this from happening and Yugi wasn't being of much help.
Yugi ground his teeth together and clenched his hands. "You can't share this pain. This is something that will always be taken alone. Just go Yami, don't make this any harder." Yugi's muscles tensed when Yami spoke again.
"No, I have to come. Yugi, I want to help you and I can't do that if I'm not with you. If I'm there then I can do something-"
"You can do nothing." Yugi hissed as he whipped around to glare at Yami.
A look of shock came over Yami's face as the words echoed back to him. Saru had told him those exact same words and Yami didn't believe them. No, he didn't want to believe them, yet here he was, the same words being thrown back at him. Empty threats, fabled promises, fake protection... is that all he could give? Defeat started to root itself in his mind. After everything he has tried, is it all in vain?
Yugi saw the reaction that his statement caused and all his anger flushed away. He was angry and he took it out on Yami: the person who deserved it the least. Now look what he's done. He didn't mean to say that, he didn't mean anything that he said! He wanted Yami to be with him, he wanted someone to share his pain, he wanted Yami to be near him. Everything that Yami has done has helped and has done something but that simple statement might have undone it all. All Yugi needed to do to see if it was true was look at Yami. The other no longer looked determined or shocked but rather defeated.
A lump formed in Yugi's throat. He didn't know what to say. How could he fix this? Yugi wished Yami would say something or brush off the comment but he never did. Yugi wanted nothing more then to turn back time and take back what he said but it was too late: The damage had already been done.
Yugi forced himself to turn around and walk away. His legs felt heavier with each step and he never noticed how much he tried to hear Yami's foot steps behind him. Even half way to Saru and still he heard nothing.
His heart began to feel heavy with sadness. In his brain he was too focused on thinking about how he could have changed things and what he just lost to notice the closing distance between him and Saru who stood waiting. It was only when the all too familiar voice spoke up did Yugi notice where he was.
"Hey brat, thought you could hide from me?"
Yugi kept quiet with his head down as he stopped in front of Saru.
"Where's your friend? Did I scare him away?"
Yugi remained quiet.
Saru laughed. "All bark but no bite, he is. Now why don't we head back to the apartment where I can give you a private reminder of what happens when you leave without my approval." Saru reached out to grab Yugi by the shoulder.
Yugi tensed at the thought of going back but kept quiet knowing it would be useless to complain. He waited to feel Saru's hand on his shoulder but it never came. Instead he heard Saru's hand being smacked away. When Yugi looked up, he smiled when he saw Yami standing beside him, his determination back in his eyes.
Irritation crossed Saru's face before he fixed it with a blank expression. "What do you think you're doing here?"
"I'm not going to let you take Yugi." Both Yugi and Saru starred at Yami before Saru broke out into laughter.
"You-ha ha-you really think that you can do that?"
Yami remained silent while Saru calmed himself down.
"What are you going to do to stop me huh? I'm going to bet that you'll do nothing. Watch, I'm going to take Yugi and you're going to do stand there doing nothing."
Yami glared at Saru while the other smirked down at him. The taller reached out to grab Yugi but Yami didn't move. When Saru was about to close his hand around Yugi's arm, Yami finally moved.
With lightning speed, Yami pushed Saru's arm away before stepping in front of Yugi and pushing Saru back even more. There was silence.
Yugi starred at Yami, shocked that that he even laid a hand on Saru while Yami stood surprised at what he did. Saru, however, was less then pleased with Yami's actions and if looks could kill, Yami would be beyond dead.
"How dare you." Saru hissed
Yami narrowed his eyes at Saru. "Don't touch him."
"He is mine. I can do whatever I want with him whether you like it or not."
"N-no." Yami and Saru turned to face Yugi who moved out from behind Yami.
"What did you say?" Saru glared daggers at Yugi who hid behind Yami to avoid it.
"No." Yugi repeated with more confidence but still remained behind Yami.
Yami smirked a triumphant smirk as he turned to face Saru again. The look seemed to be the last straw as Saru got in position to strike.
"Hit him and I'll shoot." All three turned to see who the new voice was.
Seto Kaiba stood halfway out his car door staring at the scene with a gun in his hand. Saru growled as he got out of the car and started to walk over to the group while Yami quirked and eyebrow at him and Yugi smiled happily at the tall brunet.
Cold cobalt eyes met with amethyst. The two starred at each other, recognition flashing between them. Seto gave a small nod to Yugi who gave a nod in response. Yami looked between the two, watching their interactions but he didn't have time to think over it as Saru spoke.
"Don't get involved rich boy. We're busy." Saru growled.
"You can get busy elsewhere. You're on my land and, according to the contract, no gang member shall step foot on my land." His cold gaze moved over to Saru as he spoke.
"No gang member? Last I checked, that coward was a gang member." Saru pointed an accusing finger at Yugi who hid behind Yami again.
Seto ignored Yugi and continued to stare at Saru. "He didn't have a choice on whether he wanted to join or not. Besides, he doesn't hold a threat; however, everyone else does."
"What contract is this?" Yami asked. He didn't know that there was anything that came with this land let alone that no gang member could be on it. If he knew this then he would have used it to his advantage. Either way, if this contract kept Saru off this area, he was happy.
Seto looked at Yami. "The contract says that if any gang member comes onto my land, they can be shot down with no charges attached." Seto turned back to Saru. "And every gang leader was there and approved."
"You only made that contract because you were a coward! If you were a real man you would get rid of it and face us without any protection!" Saru growled.
Seto narrowed his eyes at him. "After what happened? I would say better to be safe then sorry."
A smug smile crossed Yami's lips. He would win this and Yugi wouldn't have to go with Saru. He could do something big to help Yugi. Saru was wrong.
"Yami hand Yugi over to Saru."
The smile instantly disappeared. Did Seto just say to hand Yugi over? Judging by the suprised "what?" from Yugi, he had.
"Yami?" Seto asked when the other hadn't moved.
"You want me to hand him over? No. Yugi can't go back to Saru, not with all that he's done!" Yami couldn't believe what his cousin was telling him.
"Just hand him over Yami. There's nothing you can do for him." An all-knowing sadness slipped into his voice.
Yami moved his gaze from Seto to Saru. The man was sporting a smug smirk at the situation. He knew no one could beat him. Not even Kaiba in the end.
Yami lowered his gaze to the ground and allowed his bangs to fall over his face, covering his eyes. He stood still even as he felt Yugi touch his shoulder. He heard Yugi's shuffling as he walked around him only to stop in front of him. Even when he felt Yugi's hand leave his shoulder, he didn't look up.
Yugi took his hand away but didn't walk over to Saru yet. He felt bad that this happened to Yami. He was trying to help but he kept getting shot down and Yugi wondered if this was the final straw for Yami and he would give up. What made it worse is Yugi felt like it was his fault.
Yugi felt a hand on his shoulder and let Kaiba lead him away from Yami. As Yugi was walking away he heard a faint whisper come from Yami.
"I could do nothing."
Regret and guilt instantly embedded itself in Yugi's heart. This was supposed to be a fun escape, just like the other times, but now it ended in broken hopes. He was sure that Yami would never want to see him again after this and Yugi couldn't help but feel that it was his fault. If only he hadn't left then Yami wouldn't feel defeated and none of this would have happened. Why did it all go wrong?
He felt Kaiba's hand leave as another one was placed on him. He yanked his arm out of Saru's grasp and tossed a glare at him. If only he hadn't been here.
Saru glared back and Yugi's faltered before he looked down at the ground. He felt Saru wrap an arm around his shoulder but also moved out of that grip. Yugi didn't want to be anywhere near that man, let alone touch him. Too bad Saru didn't have the same feeling. Saru again wrapped his arm around Yugi but tightened his grip in a way that gave no other option to Yugi but to accept it. Though his body still repulsed the touch.
Yugi looked back over his shoulder one last time to see Yami walking back to his house, never once looking.
(Koobre: I am so sorry that this is late but 1) I didn't have it finished yet and 2) It has been waaay to weird a week for me. I'll save you from the details. Anyway, thank you for continuing to read, favorite, follow, and comment on this story. It makes me happy to upload. Please review!)