Chapter Eleven – Tears For The Taken
Yami's POV
Yami's walk back to the Healer's house was a blur of tears, with the whimpering pup walking beside him. Both had their heads held low.
Upon walking through doors at the Healer's house, Yami collapsed to his knees, fresh tears falling from his eyes.
The others heard him crying and walked into the hallway to find the distraught male hugging a whining puppy to himself.
"Yug', what's wrong? What happened?" Joey said, going to kneel beside his friend.
Yami looked up at the blonde, tears cascading down his face. Marik, recognising the ancient Pharaoh's usually pride filled crimson eyes, pulled Aria into her room.
"Yugi… He's gone…" Yami's voice cracked as he spoke.
The others all looked at each other then back at Yami.
"What do you mean? How is that possible when we're talking to ya?" Joey asked.
"He took Yugi's soul. This is all my fault; I wasn't able to protect him again. It should have been me; he should have taken me, not Yugi. Yugi didn't deserve this, not again." Yami said, the tears falling faster and harder down his cheeks.
He laid a hand on the whimpering puppy's head. A shocked silence followed his words. A silence that was broken by Téa.
"Who took him, Yami?" she asked, her voice shaking. Though they all knew what the answer would be before Yami had given it.
"The Thief King…" he said, confirming what they had all thought.
Aria's POV
"Why don't we let Joey and the others handle this…" He said, making the Princess sit on the edge of the bed.
"But Yugi's my friend too; I wanna know why he's sad. I wanna know what happened. Tiragon's my puppy and he's affected by this, so I demand to know what's wrong!" Aria said, frowning.
Marik sighed, "The others have known him longer, so let them calm him down. Then you can ask him what's wrong."
Aria pouted, she didn't like this at all. Marik laid a hand on her head.
"Everything will be ok, Aria, trust me." He said before leaving the room
Aria stood up and looked out the window.
Can't we just have one peaceful day… just one day without something happening… just one…
Aria closed her eyes as she thought, her hands clasped together as if in prayer.
Yugi's POV
Yugi opened his eyes slowly, his neck stiff from having fallen asleep inside the cramped space of the box. Looking around, he found himself in a small room with a simple steal door and no windows. The only content of the room being the old mattress he was laying on.
Yugi sat up with a groan – his body ached all over.
"Looks like the little runt's awake. About time too." A voice from behind the door said.
Yugi's head snapped round to face the door as it opened and The Thief King walked in. Yugi went ridged with fear as The Thief King approached him.
"I hope you had a nice sleep, little one." He said, kneeling down in front of Yugi.
Yugi reacted by pressing himself against the wall.
"Stay away from me!" He shouted, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
"Aww, how sweet. You think you can tell me what to do." The Thief King replied, gripping Yugi's chin in his hand pulling him closer.
When their faces were only inches apart he spoke again. "Get this into your spiky little head; you are not the boss here, I am, so watch what you say."
Yugi's eyes narrowed, he had dealt with bullies all his life and knew that showing fear would only provoke them, to get a bully to leave you alone you have to stand up to them. Yugi did just that, by spitting in The Thief King's face.
The Thief King let out a roar of fury and threw Yugi away from himself.
"You insolent little brat! How dare you do that! I will have to teach you to show me the proper respect I deserve!" He shouted.
Yugi grunted in pain as his head came into contact with the cold concrete wall, before he could fully register the pain throbbing at the back of his head, which he was sure was bleeding, he was snatched off the floor by someone using the front of his shirt.
"That's what I was doing, showing you the respect you deserve." Yugi replied calmly.
The Thief King dropped him causing Yugi to crash to the floor, hard. Yugi winced as he came into contact with the cold stone floor.
The Thief King called for some of his followers who obediently came to their master.
"Yugi Mouto, let's see how tough you are once I've knocked you down a few pegs." The Thief King said his voce full of menace.
Yugi gulped.