Author's note: Ok, I'm really sorry about the long wait, I had finals and a funeral, and previously short chapters. But I hope this one makes up for it. oh, and the reason Yami can't find Kaiba's house is if Kaiba challenges him it's either on the streets or at his company. Well I hope you enjoy the new chapter. (and I'm reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy sorry about that!) enjoy!

Abandoned Tears: chapter 5

"Ok." Yami grumbled as he climbed onto the Ra-forsaken dock that he had fallen off of. "That wasn't the right way…" He had to admit it…he had no idea where Kaiba's place was. He knew where his company was (duh) but not his house. Yugi had always been there and never let him out of the puzzle for fear of him smashing something on accident.

"Hey! You!" Yami had just spotted a fisherman and ran to him, asking if he knew where Seto Kaiba's house (coughmansioncough) happened to be located. After getting sufficient directions, the ruby-eyed teen ran towards said Kaiba's place.

Yugi's shrill screams pierced the air and were quickly muffled by his tormentor's large hand. His widened amethyst eyes looked orange from the merciless flames and were filled to the brim with tears of pain. He cried and whimpered into Kaiba's hand as the cruel brunette held his hands deep in the fireplace, smirking at Yugi's anguish.

Pulling Yugi's hands out of the fire, Kaiba hissed into Yugi's ear, "Still think Yami's coming to save you?" his only response was struggled breathing and whimpering from the broken child in front of him. Kaiba had positioned himself so Yugi was practically in his lap as he kneeled in front of the fireplace, using one hand to hold Yugi's hands in the flames and the other to silence Yugi's shrieks of pain. "Well?" He asked, giving Yugi's wrists another squeeze.

With a squeak of pain, the boy painfully shook his head. Kaiba's smirk grew wider.

"Good boy…" And with that, shoved Yugi's hands back into the fire, releasing his mouth to hold him still. A heartbreaking shriek tore through Yugi's throat as he felt the very skin on his abused hands peeling away in the heat.

After a few more minutes of this, Kaiba finally released his hands. Curling up and holding his burned hands into his stomach in a desperate attempt to stop the burning pain, Yugi looked hesitantly up at him.

'I-is It over?' he thought. He was instantly proven wrong as Kaiba leaned over and grabbed hold of his ankles, his grin even wider if possible. Yugi felt the panic rise in his throat, knowing what came next. His scream was squelched in his throat when his bare feet came in contact with the harsh flames, Kaiba's grip on his ankles forcing him to remain still no matter how hard he tried to kick and squirm away. His eyes rolled into his head and the tears framing his face and running down his nose burned in the heat. Oh, God it hurt so much! He'd do anything, just stop! Yugi attempted to form this plea, but his throat hurt too much from screaming and crying. Just let him die…

"SHADOW LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yugi's heart stopped as a bolt of black energy knocked Kaiba off his feet and slammed him into a wall opposite the door and lay there, unconscious, was it really him? Quickly scooting away from the cruel flames, Yugi felt afraid to turn around…and be disappointed. So in compromise, he squeezed his eyes shut, expecting in any minute to feel Kaiba's rough hands grab him and continue their beatings. He heard footsteps and cringed as he felt someone grab him…but it wasn't Kaiba's usual harsh grab, these hands were much more gentle and soon that person was cradling him in their arms. Hesitantly, Yugi opened his eyes and broken violet orbs met panicked red ones. Yugi stared into familiar crimson eyes and hair similar to his, too stunned to say anything…

"Yugi…are you ok?!" At the sound of the voice that had haunted his dreams and struggled to say the name that had eluded him for the last few months…

"Y…Y-Yami!!!" As soon as the name tore from his wounded throat Yugi felt a swell of warmth rise in his chest and new tears started to fall from his now shining eyes. Then, suddenly overcome with pain and relief, Yugi collapsed into his Yami's protective arms, his head resting on his chest. He finally felt safe.

Yami felt rage tear at his chest as his tiny Hikari fell limp in his arms, covered in bruises, scars, and his hands and feet were burned so badly they were black and bleeding. Lifting the wounded boy into his arms, Yami proceeded towards the door when a rustling sound and a click! made him jump and turn around. Right behind him, with a shiny black pistol in his hand, stood Seto Kaiba with a triumphant grin on his face.

"Don't move…" He whispered, raising the pistol so the barrel was right in between Yami's eyes. Yami froze. He felt a lump of fear rise in his throat but forced himself to keep calm. However his surprise must have shown on his face because Kaiba chuckled darkly.

"Surprised? It's about time you showed up…" Confused, Yami barely registered a slight movement in his arms as Yugi woke up. Seeing Kaiba holding a gun to Yami's head, Yugi gasped and clung to Yami's shirt, eyes wide and fearful.

"What are you talking about?" Yami growled, he could feel Yugi's heart beating wildly against his torso and wished he could calm him down without getting shot. Kaiba's smirk intensified.

"You mean you haven't figured it out yet?" Yami simply continued to try and stare Seto down, Ruby clashing with sapphire. "Yugi was simply the bait…I've known for a while that you were the one beating me all this time, and I've merely been biding my time until I figured out your weak point…" Kaiba's face seemed distorted in the light of the fireplace as he smirked down at the injured and starved boy in Yami's arms. "And it looks like I found it…"

"You bastard!" Yami screamed, realizing Kaiba's plan now. It had been him he was after all along, not Yugi! But instead of challenging him like a man (If it was NOT Duel Monsters again), Kaiba had taken Yugi away in hopes of luring Yami to him. And it had worked…but not for long. He felt the shadow realm's magic build up inside of him in his rage. Kaiba had crossed the line. No one could hurt his Hikari in this way, or any way!

"With you out of the way, there'll be no one to stand in my way of becoming the new King of Games…you'll be dead…" Looking down at Yugi's sharp intake of breath he grinned evilly, "And Yugi will be too hurt and weak to play so much as tick-tack-toe…"

While Kaiba was monologing on, he failed to notice Yami slowly raising his knee until he had sharply jammed it into Kaiba's groin. Hard. With a grunt of pain, Kaiba doubled over and Yami ran for it, making sure to keep a good grip on Yugi, who had passed out from the pain again.

Bang!

Yami felt a rush of panic at the gunshot, but kept running (Kaiba had missed) until he had found the exit and sped through the door of the Game shop. Panting, Yami placed Yugi on a couch and went into the kitchen to get Grandpa's first aid kit…and to permanently banish the old man to the shadow realm. He felt a rush of anger as he gently peeled off Yugi's grimy-blood-stained-too-big-T-shirt and saw the layers of scars and bruises. He made a mental note to get one or three of those box dinners Joey kept buying and make Yugi eat twenty, for he could count every rib in this boy's back. He was extremely malnourished and in need of food and an ER. Yami felt tears spring up in his eyes as he cooled and bandaged Yugi's wounds, careful not to injure any internal injuries further. No child deserved this. And especially not his innocent Hikari…

When he could stand it no longer Yami scooped Yugi up in his arms and held him tightly, wishing he could crush the suffering Yugi had gone through the past few months. Yugi didn't deserve this. Yami's shoulders began to shake as sobs racked his body, his tears falling on Yugi's pale face.

Yugi awoke to something wet on his face. Opening his eyes he was overjoyed at seeing Yami and not Kaiba. He went to hug him, but stopped when he saw his tears. "Y-Yami? W-why is you crying?"

Yami's head snapped up at Yugi's soft words and held him close. "Yugi thank Ra! You're ok!"

Yugi stiffened for a moment, it had been so long since anyone had shown him any sign of affection in any way. After a while, he relaxed in Yami's embrace and struggled to old back the tears.

"Yugi…it's ok to cry…" At Yami's soft words, Yugi finally broke down and all of the mistreatment he had endured the past few months flowed from his eyes in torrents of tears. Once the sobbing boy had stopped crying, he buried his face in Yami's shirt and fell into a peaceful sleep at last. He was finally home.

Yami sighed as Yugi fell asleep in his arms. He knew it would be difficult, and takes a long time until Yugi healed, physically and emotionally. He also knew that Yugi would most likely never return to the carefree boy he had once been. But he silently promised him that he would be there for him now and forever to see him through this.

Unnoticed by the two reunited teens, a dark figure stood outside the shop. Seto Kaiba smirked when he realized that Yami had been in such a rush to help Yugi, he had forgotten to lock the front door. His gun gleamed in the moonlight as he slowly turned the doorknob. It was time to finish what he started.

Author's Note: one of my attempted cliffy's! evil grin what happens next depends on the reviews I get. (I only got one last time!) so I'll try to update soon, so review! Bibi! (and I'm sorry if this one's kinda short too -')