Finding Light in the Darkness
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Pairing: Atemu x Yami (monarchshipping)
Warnings: AU(alternate universe), drug use and some violence/blood
Summary: Atemu is the typical school bully. One of his everyday targets is Yugi, who is too afraid to tell anyone about the constant beatings he receives. When Yugi's brother, Yami, finds out, he would know more about Atemu than he wanted to, discovering in the way Atemu's dark secret. Can he find the light that has been lost?
A/N: Thanks to my reviewers! Here's the second chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 2
"I have to admit that it is a surprise to see you here, Mr. Motou. Your behaviour has always been outstanding, may I know why that suddenly changed?" asked the principal, looking at Yami.
"I'm really sorry, sir, but I just couldn't control myself" said Yami. "Though I know I shouldn't have done that…"
"But you did it, nerd" interrupted Atemu.
"Mr. Hikari, that's enough. For once please show some respect"
"Why do I have to show respect for someone who obviously didn't show any to me when he attacked me like that?" questioned Atemu.
"Well it was really you who started, or what you don't remember already? No wonder why you have such bad grades" commented Yami, glaring at him.
"Oh I'm sorry Mr. Perfect, but some of us have other things to do besides eating books all day!"
"Yeah, other things like taking pleasure in beating someone who is younger than you! I may be Mr. Perfect, but you surely are Mr. Coward!"
"You two stop it now!" exclaimed the principal. "Mr. Motou, please don't make me change my concept of you" he warned. Yami seemed to calm down.
"I'm truly sorry, sir" he said.
"I hope you are. Now you may be an excellent student, but you know very well that rules are rules. I'm really sorry but I'll have to give you three days of suspension… and for you Mr. Hikari, one week of suspension will do" declared the man. Atemu looked at him with anger.
"What? That's not fair! You know the name of that? It's called favouritism!" he said, standing from his sit.
"Be glad that I don't kick you out of school in this very moment!" exclaimed the man. Atemu just murmured something under his breath before taking his sit again.
"Good, you're finally understanding" said the principal. "Now, Mr. Motou, I'll have to give a call to your grandfather and inform him about this. As for you Mr. Hikari, I'll have to talk with your father for the hundredth time. He's such a great parent. He really doesn't deserve this behaviour from you" he declared.
"Yeah, he's great… so sweet and loving… just the perfect father" Atemu murmured. Yami looked at him after hearing these words. They had sounded so… broken… maybe even sad.
He saw Atemu looking at the floor, as if it had anything interesting to say. His fists were holding a strong grip in his pants. He looked as if he was about to… cry…
"Mr. Hikari, I'll ask again. This behaviour of yours has something to do with your mother?" he asked. This time, Atemu's face changed to rage. He stood up.
"For the last time, it has nothing to do with her! Nothing at all! Why would it anyway? I have a father that gives me everything that I want, right? He's always patient with me and loves me more than anyone else in the world! Why would I even consider thinking about my dead mother!?" Then without warning, he went to the door.
"I haven't given you permission to go, Mr. Hikari" the man said.
"Go to hell" The boy whispered, before opening the door and exiting the room.
Yami look at the spot where Atemu had been just seconds ago. He was really confused. He turned to the principal.
"What happened to her mother?" he asked.
"She died years ago in an accident. The school's psychologist thinks that's why he behaves like that, though he denies it every time we ask him" the man explained.
"I see" he said. He had to admit that he was… worried, no, not worried, he couldn't worry for someone who had harmed his precious brother. Maybe the best word would be curious.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at the principal, who smiled at him.
"Go home Mr. Motou" Yami nodded, standing up and walking towards the door.
"Good bye, sir" he said, before exiting the office.
He walked through the corridors for some time, until he finally reached the exit door. He opened it, and was met by Yugi.
"Yugi? What are you doing here? Are you alright?" he asked.
"I decided to wait for you, brother. And yes I'm fine, don't worry" Yugi answered, smiling warmly at him.
"Are you sure?"
"Haha yes mom, I'm sure" the smaller one said.
"Don't be like that. I'm just worried for you"
"I know, but I'm fine really. So how did it go? You didn't get in big trouble, right?" the younger asked, showing this time deep worry.
"They gave me three days of suspension… and they will call grandpa. So I guess I will be grounded for some days" he said with a shrugged.
"Oh Yami I'm so sorry, it was all my fault" the younger one said.
"Don't worry. It's not a big deal, little one"
"But your grades… and grandpa…"
"It's nothing really. Don't blame yourself for it, aibou" he said.
"Thanks Yami" Yugi said, and attempted to hug him, only to hear a small cry from Yami. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah… don't worry" he answered.
"Let me see" Yugi asked, trying to pull up his brother's shirt. Yami didn't let him.
"I said I'm fine Yugi"
"No! Let me see" Yugi said. Yami sighed, letting go of his grip in his shirt. Yugi pulled it up and gasped. It was a big bruise, the skin was already purple. "Oh Yami, I'm sorry" he said. He had completely forgotten about this.
"It's just a small bruise"
"No it's not. Let's go home. I'll help you bandage them. And no 'buts'!" Yugi said when he saw that his brother was about to protest. "Come on" he grabbed the taller one's wrist, and started walking towards their home.
Atemu walked through the already dark streets. He really didn't want to go home.
"Home? No, it's not a home… it's a jail" he thought bitterly. He was sure his father would be more than angry. "I just hope he'll be a little gentle with me this time" he said to himself.
Yes, everyone thought his father was perfect. But only he knew the truth. Of course, he couldn't say anything, no one would believe him.
He didn't have any friends after all. His father had been very clear when he told him not to have acquaintances of any kind. Not that he needed friends anyway, he was better alone.
"Damn Motou… it's his entire fault!" he thought suddenly. If it wasn't for that boy, he will just received the same torture of everyday, and he was accustomed to that one already, so it wasn't that bad. "Gods I swear I'll kill him" he added with fury.
He looked up, only to find that he was in front of his house. It was actually a nice house, normal as any other. But who would guess what really happened inside it?
He sighed, taking out his keys. He went to the door and opened it. He had to admit he was slightly nervous now.
He looked inside. The lights were off. Maybe his father was not there?
He entered, feeling a little better. It seemed that his father was out. That was good.
He walked toward his room, well, it wasn't really a room. It was the basement. He used to have a room upstairs though, like any normal teenager. But then his father decided to change this. And that's how he ended sleeping in that cold place. He didn't even had a bed anymore. It was just a simple mattress with a very thick sheet, which didn't protect him from the coldness of the night.
And belongings, he didn't have any, just his clothes and his school materials.
That was the 'perfect' life that his 'perfect' father gave him.
"Looks like my 'dear' son is home" Atemu froze. His father wasn't out it seemed. He turned around, but didn't face his father. The man had told him never to look at him in the eyes. "School called, again. Suspension for one week; mind explaining what happened?" he asked.
"I got into a fight, sir" Atemu answered. Another thing his father had told him, always to call him 'sir'.
"Why?" The older questioned.
"I don't know… he started it, sir"
"Oh, your classmate started the fight then. That's strange, the principal told me that you were beating your classmate's brother, so he came to defend him"
"Damn" Atemu thought. He should have guessed the principal had just spit the whole story.
"What have I told you about lying to me, son?"
"I… I'm sorry, sir" Atemu said. Gods, he hated to say that. Apologizing was something that he disliked.
"That's not enough!" he said, grabbing Atemu by the collar of his shirt. "Look at me" he ordered. The boy obeyed, looking at the crimson eyes of his father. That was one of the similarities he had with the man. The other one was the tan skin. His hair, on the other side, was completely different. His father had simple brown hair, while he had spiky tricolour one.
"I'm getting really tire of this calls from school. I hope this is the last time I receive one of them, you heard me!?" he yelled, pushing the boy with force, making him fall to the ground. When he didn't get a reply, he kicked the body in front of him.
"I said, did you heard me!" he exclaimed.
Atemu had to bit his lip to keep himself from screaming. The bruises of his fight with Motou were still there, so it had really hurt him when his father kicked him.
"Yes, sir… It won't happen again" he whispered. But he only received another kick.
"What? I didn't hear you!" Another kick follow these words, and then another, and another.
"It won't happen again, sir!" Atemu yelled. His chest was really hurting. He just hoped he didn't have a broken rib. The kicks stopped. His father knelt beside him.
"You have said that many times, son. Maybe I should leave something that reminds you of your words" he said. Atemu's eyes widened. His father had a knife in his hand. "How about a little mark in that pretty face of yours?" he asked, touching one of his son's cheeks. Atemu bit his lip in pain; that was where Motou had punched him.
His eyes widened again when he felt the cold metal against his skin. His father wasn't really going to do that, right?
"Sir… no, please, sir" he whispered. But it didn't have any effect. He choked back a scream when he felt his skin being cut by the knife. He could feel the blood that started to come from the wound. And that, though he hated to admit it, scared him.
Yes, his father had done this before. But never in his face…
"There" the older said, pulling away the knife. "I hope that is enough for you to remember. I'll go for your medicine now. It's the only thing that seems to calm you down" he added, before standing in his feet and going into the kitchen.
Atemu close his eyes when he heard this. The medicine. Gods he hated that stuff. Of course it was no medicine, it was a drug, an illegal drug. He didn't like the effect it had on him. It always made him feel dizzy and he completely lost control of reality.
Suddenly he felt someone pulling up his arm. He already knew what was coming. The needle entered his skin. It didn't hurt, he was accustomed to it. He could even feel the liquid entering in his veins.
And then it was gone.
Something fell into his lips. He tasted it. It was blood, he had forgotten about the wound in his cheek.
"Go to your room, there is no dinner for you today" his father said. Atemu pulled himself up, ignoring the pain, and walked toward the basement, almost falling to the ground several times.
He finally arrived, and went down the stairs clumsily. He was starting to feel dizzy.
The door closed behind him. His father locked it, he always did that.
Finally he entered his 'bed'. He covered himself with the sheets, not bothering to change his clothes. His stomach let out a sound.
"There's no food for you today" he whispered. He hadn't eaten anything. He never had breakfast, because when he awoke his father was already working, and it was forbidden to him to open the refrigerator. He didn't have money so he couldn't buy anything to eat at school. That was the reason why he had become a bully. But of course no one knew that, only himself.
And so the only food he had was dinner, but every time he got into trouble in school, his father would not let him have it. So there were days where he didn't eat at all.
The only thing that always went into his system was the drug that his father gave him. Every time he would just sit and watch him while he was under the effects of it. He seemed to enjoy every moment of it.
Atemu was lucky that today his father had been in no mood for that.
He opened his eyes. He couldn't see. Everything was just a mixture of colours.
This was supposed to feel good, right? That's what drugs were for. Then, why didn't he like it? He still couldn't find the answer to that.
But he didn't care anymore. Nothing was important to him.
"I wish… someone will help me" he thought, though he will never admit it out loud. He didn't like to show weakness. It was easier to put up the mask of seriousness and coldness.
He closed his eyes again.
Maybe, it would be better if he just died…
"…And I saw him hurting Yugi, so I couldn't control myself" Yami said, looking at his grandpa.
"You should have done something else. You know perfectly well that you can't solve anything with violence"
"I know, and I'm truly sorry. I will accept any grounding you have for me"
The old man smiled.
"There will be no grounding this time. But I don't want it to happen again, son" he said. Yami look at him, surprised.
"Really? Thanks grandpa. And don't worry it won't happen again, I promise"
"I hope so… Now go with your brother. He's still worried about those bruises" Yami rolled his eyes at this. His brother had insisted on bandaging his bruises, but in his opinion that wasn't needed. But he just couldn't say 'no' to Yugi.
"Okay" he simply said, exiting the room.
He went to the living room, where Yugi was waiting for him.
"Finally! How many days are you grounded?" the younger asked.
"I'm not grounded. Grandpa said that he will let it pass this time" Yami explained.
"That's good!"
"Of course it's good." He smiled. Then, his face turned serious.
"Aibou, since when have you been bullied?" he asked. Yugi looked down.
"I… I don't remember" Yugi finally confessed, feeling the tears coming to his eyes.
"Oh little one" Yami said, kneeling down and hugging his brother. "You should have told me"
"I'm sorry… I didn't want you to get into trouble because of me" the younger one said, letting his tears fall.
"Don't cry aibou. I promise I won't let anyone harm you again, ok?" he asked, wiping with his fingers his brother's tears. Yugi smiled.
"Ok. But promise me you won't get in trouble"
"I promise" Yami answered, hugging his little brother again.
And strangely, in that very moment, there was something in the back of his mind that couldn't stop thinking about crimson eyes and a single name… Atemu Hikari.
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A/N: well that was the second chapter. I hope you liked it.
Read and review please