Darkness within

chapter 12: The wild gang

Spring came and it was finally starting to warm up. Today the suns not shining. Its cloudy, gloomy and dark. Matching my mood perfectly.

Over the last few days I've been trying to decide whether I should get into a relationship. I like Yami but there are a few problems. First I know his past, present, and future because I'm from a different world. I think the problem there is pretty self explanatory. Everything seems to be changing but that doesn't mean certain things will change... like him leaving...

Besides I promised myself I would never become one of those love sick fools, who get into a relationship only for it to end. Yet maybe things would be different? Or maybe I was just over thinking this?...

I was so entangled in my thoughts I didn't notice someone calling my name. "Huh?"

"Amaya? You there?"

Now aware of my surroundings I found to my dismay, I was still at school. Yugi was trying to get my attention and was now poking my shoulder. "You okay?"

" I'm fine, Yug." Though I really wasn't. It could wait till later though. I guess it was my turn to hide my problems. Yugi had been doing so for weeks now and was pretty good at it. Whatever it is, is still bugging him and unlike his friends I can tell. Well I think Jonouchi can see it but the other three, completely oblivious.

I smiled to reassure him. He didn't seem totally convinced but left the subject. "Jonouchi's not here today so everyone decided to check his place after school."

My smile faded.

"This is his apartment building. I've only been here once but if I remember correctly its the third floor on the end."

We made our way inside and sure enough there was a sign that read 'Jonouchi.'

"Here it is. Honda turned the door knob and found it was unlocked. "Lets take a peek..."

"Hey maybe no ones home... lets not..." I began as a beer bottle crashed in the partly open door. Just like old times I thought bitterly.

"Hey you Brat! Where have you been the last two days!"

we ran down the stairs and got out of there. I'm going to say manga.

"That was scary..."

"Um... was that...

"That was his dad." I stepped in. "That's why Jonouchi never has his friends over." I was getting curious looks but continued. "He wasn't home and his dad says he's been gone for two days... so I guess we'll have to look for him."

"No good... he's nowhere." Honda said. "We've tried all his usual hangouts." Anzu added. "I'll keep looking. You guys get home before it gets dark."

"Okay..." I looked down at Yugi and gave him a reassuring smile. I knew any second we would run into Jonouchi.

"Honda's right, Yugi." Anzu told him and we began to walk away.

"Hey man! Why don't you look where you walk?!"

We turned to the shouting behind us. A bunch of guys were ganging up on this guy. "I-I'm sorry" the guy tried to apologize.

"What are you going to give me to forget about it?"

"That's Rintama's school uniform! That place is really bad...better leave em alone..." Honda said to us.

"Honda its him!" Yugi spotted Jonouchi among the gang.

"Why is he with those punks from Rintama!?" Honda asked, shocked.

"Come on, Jonouchi. Lets go to our place. Its called J'Z you'll like it."

Yugi ran a few feet towards the gang. "Why did you skip school, Jonouchi? Why are you with people like them?"

"You know that kid, Jonouchi?" One of the gang members asked.

"Nah. Never seen him... come on, lets go." Jonouchi didn't even turn to look at Yugi. He and the gang began to walk away.

"Jonouchi!"

"Heh...Jonouchi your too nice... don't tell me at Domino High you let kids like that follow you around. You should've come to rintama with us from the start. The leader told him.

"Come back with us, Jonouchi!" Yugi shouted.

"Hirutani! That kid's getting on my nerves... Jonouchi said he didn't know him. The guy from before stated. Then without warning punched Yugi. "Heh... Who said you could talk to Jonouchi? Next time I see your face I'll cut off that hair and feed it to ya!"

We ran to over to where Yugi lied on the ground.

"Yugi are you alright?!" Anzu asked him then turned to Jonouchi. "Jonouchi You're the worst! I cant believe you!"

"Whats with you Jonouchi!?" Honda also shouted at him and Miho was about to join in.

"Guys..." They turned to look at me. I helped Yugi to his feet. "Shut-up." In all of this, I could have done something. Whether to make sure Yugi didn't get hit or make it known Jonouchi hadn't changed but the way I saw it both had to happen. So I did nothing.

They glared at me but didn't say another word. The gang left.

We went the park and Honda told them about Jonouchi's past, Anzu tended to Yugi and Miho went and played.

I leaned against a nearby tree, enjoying the cool air. Watching the kids play though, made me a bit sad. I was never one of them. I never got to just play, have fun, be carefree. And yet despite the current situation I couldn't help but feel relaxed.

I went back to the group after a while, just as they decided to check out J'Z's.

"Okay... One of them came out. That's no problem... I could take three of these punks." Honda told us.

We had hid behind a building waiting for the right moment and I guess this was it. Honda jumped out in front of the guy and beat the shit outta him. "All right! Why's Jonouchi hanging with you guys? Spill it!"

"I dunno."

"Speak up or you're dead!" Honda shouted.

The guy began explaining, while I zoned out. Jonouchi just joined them to protect us.

We ran into J'Zs only to find it empty and practically torn apart. Though there was one guy. The one that had punched Yugi. Honda tried to Interrogate him, to find out where the gang had gone but he was out cold.

It was beginning to rain now and I recommended we split up. Honda went right, Anzu and Miho went left and Yugi and I went straight ahead.

I was soaked now. I wish I knew where that place they were keeping Jonouchi was but that detail was never revealed. I kept on running, never slowing down and trying to keep up with Yugi.

It seemed like forever before we finally stopped and I was relieved. We had been getting no where, fast. He stood there and closed his amethyst eyes and the puzzle glowed. When he opened them, they had become that crimson I had grown fond of.

"Hey." I smiled. I hadn't actually decided what I was going to do or say yet...

He didn't reply or even look at me. I was going to ask if something was wrong even though I knew the answer. I had pushed him away. He grabbed my wrist and we began running once more. I would talk to him later, right now, we had to save Jonouchi.

"Stop!" Yami Shouted. We arrived just as they were about to shock Jonouchi again, he was in such a bad condition, it would have killed him.

"Oh. Heh. I've seen these kid before. These little brats hang around Jonouchi...If this is all the help he has, then he's done for..." The leader sneered.

One of the gang members came towards us. "Hey kid! This is our hangout..."

Without thinking I jumped in front of Yami. "Not your play-ground!" A second later I found myself laying beside an old tire and barrel.

Yami ran over to me. "Why would you do that?!" His crimson eyes were clouded with worry.

I smirked and handed him a metal bar that lied next to me. He nodded also taking off the puzzle and tying it securely around a chain. "I challenge you four to a game."

"A game?"

I got up and stood beside Yami who was now standing on top of the tire. "Haven't you figured it out yet? There a time bomb hidden at your feet... and a switch attached to that bomb. Its already ticking off the seconds!"

"A bomb!?"

"Now the question is: 'can you find the switch?' If you do, you win! Our lives are yours to take. But if you cant the bomb will explode taking you with it!"

One of the gang members held up his stun gun. "Hirutani... the kids bluffing! Lets just stun him!"

"W-wait! Don't use the stun guns! Look we're soaked with rain... That brat stood there just to lure us into the puddle, so we'd get water on us." Hirutani exclaimed. "If even one of us turns on a stun gun right now, the 200,000 will go from his hands to the puddle... and the four of us will be blown away by that kid's 'bomb'. Heh we've found the switch, kid!"

They all laughed. "We win this game! And as promised you both die!"

I smirked. "But you didn't find the switch. "We are the winners."

"And that switch is about to activate... right...now." Yami added. "The switch is his arm!" He gestured to the guy that had been knocked unconscious by Jonouchi a short time before we had arrived. Yami had placed the metal bar under the guys arm and the puzzle above him. And in the guys hand was an active stun gun.

Hirutani shouted 'don't wake up' but it was too late. Water dripped from the soaked puzzle causing the man to wake, the metal bar to fall and the stun gun to hit the water...

We ran over to Jonouchi, carefully so we wouldn't end up getting shocked too. "He's still breathing. He'll be fine."

"Yami I-" I was silenced when once again his lips met mine. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. I guess... I would give this a chance and when everything went wrong well...

We stayed like this for a while when I remembered that the others would be here any minute. I lightly pushed him back, breathing heavily. I blushed as he smirked at me. "I- I..." I was at a loss, I couldn't think, I didn't even really know what to say.

"Yugi, Amaya, Jonouchi!"

whew. Good timing. Though I had made my decision to give it a chance, I still had to tell him that I'm not from here, that I know the past, present and future. That wont go over well.

"Is Jonouchi alright?!" Honda asked.

"Ya he's fine guys." I reassured them. Anzu glared at me. "He'll live!" I snapped at her. I was really getting sick of her attitude.

Sorry for not updating sooner guys but I was busy. The next chapter will probably be the amusement park one. I know you guys have been asking for Death-T but that one will be around the end... and Shadi I may skip for now. kaiba and the Shitennou will be added sometime soon. Anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for the reviews, etc, it really means a lot.