Chapter 2

Disclaimer : I Don't own Yu Gi Oh! & I Don't own Shaman King!

Thought / Dreams / Event from the past

[Voice from the past]

'Telepathic Voice'

"Spirit Talking"

-Telephone-

Letter

"Dialogue"

Emphasis

Dangerous Tone

The beating was paused in order for the men to look and who was interrupting them, Yugi also take a peek to see who was care enough to help him instead of ignoring him like many people would.

Standing on the entrance to the alleyway was a boy around Yugi's age, about 15 or 16, he couldn't be sure since it's dark already. The boy was wearing a simple white t-shirt and green jeans with a Claw Necklace around his neck, his hair was brown and a bit above his shoulder with an orange Headphone on his head, his onyx eyes were piercing the group of men who were beating Yugi in a disapproving manner. The boy's right hand was on his hips while the left hand was carrying a backpack, what was making Yugi's eyes widened was the fact that the boy carrying a Sword on his hip.

"Who are you, kid?" One of the men asked angrily with narrowed eyes.

The boy narrowed his eyes as well and dropped his backpack to the ground, "Who am I is of no business of yours, but I demand that you let the boy go this instant." He said in warning as he walked closer to them.

"Heh, want to play Hero, kid?" The previous man spoke, it's clear from his manner that he was the Leader of the gang, "Let us show you what will happen to a kid like you who like to play Hero." He snapped his fingers and the other men charged at the boy.

The boy sighed before knocking the men out with his sheathed sword, and in a short time too seeing how fast the boy moved, Yugi's eyes couldn't even follow the boy's movement due to his high speed. In no time at all, the group of men who attacked the boy were on the ground, unconscious. The boy then looked at the Leader of the gang and raised an eyebrow, "Still want to show me what you said earlier?" he asked calmly.

The Leader paled but glared at the boy, "You will pay for that." He growled and charged at the boy, again he got knocked out in a short time by the boy.

Yugi stood up slowly and walked to the boy, "Thank you for saving me." He thanked the boy with a smile, "I'm Mutou Yugi, mind if I ask who are you?" He asked politely.

The boy grinned at him, "Asakura Yoh, but just call me Yoh." He said cheerfully, "Are you alright though?" he then frowned when he saw just how bad Yugi got beaten, "You need to be treated, and quick." He then looked directly to Yugi's eyes, "We better go to a clinic or Hospital, in case you got a broken bone or something".

"Ah, it's only some bruises, don't worry." Yugi said with a shake of his head, "My home is nearby and it's nothing too bad, I will treat them at my home".

Yoh shook his head, "Well, I will accompany you to your home then, better than going home alone in the night." He said before he grinned, "No offense, but you don't look like the type who can fight".

Yugi smiled and shook his head, "No offense taken." He responded, "I don't like violence, and I can't fight either, so thank you for your offer to accompanying me home." He grinned then, "You are strong, by the way, and you could beat them without unsheathing your sword too".

Yoh chuckled, "Well, they didn't have any weapon, so there's no need to unsheathe it." He explained before walking to his backpack, he then looked at Yugi, "Show me the way to your home then, I have never been here before".

"You are new here?" Yugi asked as he walked beside Yoh to his home direction, "Where are you going to stay then?".

Yoh shrugged, "Maybe in some Hotel, I'm still haven't decide where I'm going to live from now on." he answered casually but Yugi noticed that the boy was smiling bitterly when he said that.

Searching for a place to stay, I wonder if he is a traveler or a run away kid or he has a family problem? Yugi thought as he looked ahead and saw Kame Game Shop was already in sight, an idea then entered his mind. "Yoh, how about you stay in my home for the time being? As a thank you for saving me back there." He offered a big smile but then hissing in pain when a bruise on his face stung by the action.

Yoh looked at Yugi in concern, "Are you okay?" he asked as he slowed his step to observe Yugi's bruised form.

Yugi waved the concern away, "Don't worry, I'm fine." He said with a smile, "So, are you going to accept the offer?" he asked then.

Yoh sighed but smiled, "Yes, thank you very much." he said gratefully.

Yugi nodded, "I'm staying in Kame Game Shop." He said as he pointed at the Game Shop ahead of them, "I live with my Jii-chan (Grandpa), I'm sure he wouldn't mind to let you stay in the Guest Room".

"Jii-chan." Yugi heard Yoh mumbled the word, he looked beside him and saw that Yoh wearing a frown and his eyes were sad and bitter.

"Is something wrong?" Yugi asked quietly in concern.

Yoh shook his head before smiling at Yugi, "Nothing's wrong." He said in assuring manner, "Thank you for your concern, but I'm alright"

Yugi could clearly see that Yoh was smiling to hide his own pain, he would know, for he was like that himself. Because he didn't want for his Grandpa and friends to worry about him, he smiled at them and said that he was fine, even though he was not fine at all. Who would be fine when they lost half of themselves? Yugi asked himself rhetorically, he know the truth since he was not fine with the fact that he didn't have his other self anymore. Again this make him wonder if Yoh had lost someone to him as well, the boy's smile was really similar with that of his own smile when he thought about his Yami.

Yugi looked up when he felt Yoh had stopped walking and saw that they were standing in front of Kame Game Shop already, he blinked and walked to the door that lead to the house part of the shop. He looked at Yoh and nodded at him to follow since the boy was still standing in front of the Game Shop, Yugi then unlocked the door and opened it, "Jii-chan, I'm home!" He announced as he let Yoh to enter the house.

"Welcome home, Yugi." Yugi looked behind him when he heard his Grandpa's voice and smiled, but then his Grandpa gasped and rushing to him, "What happened to you?" he asked in worry.

"Just like usual, some bullies beat me up." Yugi answered dryly before he smiled, "Someone help me earlier." He stepped aside to let his Grandpa saw Yoh, "He saved me before I get more damage than this".

Yugi's Grandpa smiled and bowed to him a bit, "Thank you for helping my Grandson, not many people care enough to help around here." He said gratefully.

Yoh laughed as he scratched the back of his head, "Nah, it's no problem at all." He said cheerfully, "I would be damn if I saw something like that and do nothing to help".

The elder man grinned, "Such a noble boy." He complimented, "My name is Mutou Sugoroku, but you can call me Grandpa like everyone else".

Yoh bowed to him, "Asakura Yoh." He said with a grin as well, "Nice to meet you, Grandpa (Jii-san)".

Sugoroku nodded, "Nice to meet you as well." He answered before looking at Yugi for further explanation of why Yoh was there.

"Jii-chan, could you let Yoh stay here for the time being?" Yugi asked as he caught the hint, "He is new in here and is still searching for a place to stay".

Sugoroku raised an eyebrow before smiling warmly at Yoh, "Of course." He said before looking back at Yugi, "Show him the Guest Room, and then get to the kitchen so I can treat your wounds".

"Okay, Jii-chan." Yugi answered and motioned for Yoh to follow him.

XXXXX

"This is the Guest Room." Yugi said as the star shape three colors haired boy opened the door at the end of the hallway of the second floor, the one near the door with 'Bathroom' written on it.

Yoh looked around the room, it's just a simple room with a bed, a nightstand beside the bed and a wardrobe at the other side of the bed. He smiled at Yugi, "Thank you again for letting me stay, Yugi." He said as he placed his backpack on the bed.

"No problem." Yugi said with a shake of his head, "Well, I will let you by yourself now, I need to get to the Kitchen downstairs." He left after receiving a nod from Yoh.

"He is a kind boy." Amidamaru commented as he appeared in the room after Yoh closed the door.

"I agree." Yoh said his agreement before letting himself fall on the bed beside his bag, "I'm glad that he offered to let me stay with him, at least with this I could save the money to buy an apartment instead of renting a hotel room".

"Are you going to stay here?" Amidamaru asked curiously.

Yoh looked at the ceiling of the room, "I guess." He said softly, "Yugi is kind and his Grandfather also very nice, I would like to stay in this city and get to know them more".

Amidamaru looked at Yoh's sad face and sighed, "Yoh-dono." He called softly, Yoh hummed in answer as he closed his eyes, "Let your pain out of your chest, you can let yourself to cry now that you are away from them".

"I know." Yoh murmured softly as a single tear escaped Yoh's closed eyes, "Finally".

Yoh let himself to cry silently and let the pain he felt in his chest to flow out through his tears. His pain of having to kill his own brother, his pain of having to keep up with his family controlled his whole life, the pain he felt because Hao brushed him off like he was not important and denying him of being his own person despite being a part of Hao's soul, and the pain because the emptiness he felt after Hao died. He let them all out of his chest through his tears, he let himself crying his heart out until sleep claimed him.

Amidamaru watched silently in sadness before he heard a knock on the door, he went into invisible mode and keep a watchful eyes at the door. He saw the boy from before, Yugi, entered the room silently and looked around before his eyes landed on Yoh's sleeping form. A small smile appeared on his face before he approached Yoh and covered the sleeping boy with the blanket, as he did so, he noticed the tears that keep flowing from Yoh's eyes in his sleep.

Amidamaru heard Yugi sighed sadly, "I guess I'm right about him hiding his pain with his smile." The star shape haired boy touched his necklace and smiled sadly, "I wonder what happened to him?".

Amidamaru frowned, Was Yoh-dono really that obvious? Or maybe this boy is just more perspective than the Asakuras until he could see behind Yoh-dono's smile? He thought to himself before focusing back to the boy when the boy shuddered and looking around the room, the boy was wearing a wary expression before he shook his head and walked out of the room, he turned off the light as he did so.

Amidamaru blinked, Could the boy somehow felt my stare? He thought to himself before he shrugged and went back to watching the room for any possible treat to his young Partner.

XXXXX

The next morning, Yugi woke up feeling stiff all over his body due to the beating he received the previous night. He sighed and get a clean clothes for the day, he might didn't have to go to school with it being Saturday, but he still had to help out in the Game Shop since his Grandpa's back started to ache again, the old man's fault for carrying heavy box by himself again.

Yugi walked out of his room and heading for the Bathroom when he saw Yoh walked out of the Bathroom with a bath robe on, "Good Morning." He greeted his new friend.

Yoh saw him and grinned, "Morning." He greeted back, "I hope you don't mind me using the Shower".

"Of course not." Yugi assured him with a smile as he walked to the Bathroom, "Are you always wake up this early?" He asked curiously as he remembered that it was 6 in the morning.

Yoh's grin turned into a soft smile, "I need to keep up my training or I will losing my skill." He explained before heading for the Guest Room.

Training? Like . . . his swordsmanship? Yugi thought with blinking eyes before shrugging and entered the Bathroom, as he take a shower, he thought of a way to cheer Yoh up, and to keep himself from thinking a depressing stuff like the emptiness he felt after his Yami gone to the afterlife.

Yugi still remembered the tear stained face he saw when he went to Yoh's room to ask him to join dinner with him and his Grandpa, he saw Yoh cried himself to sleep, and even after Yoh had gone to sleep, the tears were still flowing from his closed eyes. He also remembered the feeling of someone or something watching him, he had shuddered then, but the feeling gone after he left Yoh's room.

With him having experience with Shadow Magic and all, he wouldn't surprised if Yoh turned out to be not a normal human at all. Yugi could tell that Yoh was not an ordinary person, he could feel that there's something more about Yoh than meets the eyes. Yoh was hiding something about himself, but Yugi wouldn't press the boy about it. Everyone have a secret that they didn't want for other people to find out, and he respected Yoh's wish to keep his secret since he was keeping secret by himself. But even with Yoh hiding something, Yugi was still wanting to cheer his new friend. The question was . . . How? How should he cheer Yoh up?

Yugi finished taking a Shower and dressed himself with the clean clothes he brought with him, as he walked out of the Bathroom, he heard his Grandpa's voice telling him that Breakfast was ready. He went downstairs and to the Dinning Room where his Grandpa and Yoh were already waiting for him, he grinned and sat down on the seat beside his Grandpa and the opposite of Yoh, they then started to eat their breakfast after they said their praying.

"Oh, Yugi?" Sugoroku called as Yugi stood up to carry their dish to the sink to be washed later.

Yugi stopped in his track and looked at his Grandpa, "Yes, Jiichan?" he answered questioningly.

Sugoroku smiled, "There's a new Duel Monsters packs arrived today, could you help me sort them out later?" He asked his Grandson, "I promised Yoh that I would help him searching for an apartment".

"Ah, if you are busy then it's alright, Grandpa." Yoh interrupted, "I could asking people around by myself".

Sugoroku chuckled, "Don't worry, it's not like Yugi never did it for me before." He assured him with a warm smile as he stood up, "It's better if I help you out instead of you asking people around by yourself, the people around here was so busy with their life that they often ignoring strangers even if they need help. Besides, with me going with you, they wouldn't mind helping out a bit since they know me".

Yoh looked at him in surprise before he smiled in relief, "Thank you." He said honestly and cocked his head to the right, "Um, what is this Duel Monsters that you talked about?" he asked curiously.

Sugoroku and Yugi blinked at Yoh, "You don't know?" They asked in unison, Yoh shook his head in answer, causing Yugi to exchange glance with his Grandpa.

"And here I thought that Duel Monsters is famous throughout the whole world." Yugi commented with a blink of his eyes before an idea popped into his head, he grinned at Yoh, "Do you like game?" He asked first.

Yoh was the one who blinked this time, "Um, I don't know." He answered uncertainly, "I didn't have time to playing around before, so I never play any game".

Yugi and Sugoroku gasped in shock, "Never?" Sugoroku asked in disbelief.

"Never." Yoh answered with blinking eyes, confused about their reactions to his statement.

"Wow." Yugi breathed out, "Even the CEO of Kaiba Corp, the busiest Company that I even known, know about the fun of playing games".

"Yugi, Kaiba Corp is a gaming company, of course Seto-kun would play a game once in a while." Sugoroku reminded him.

Yugi blinked again and nodded, "Right." He agreed as he was still staring at Yoh in shock, "Duel Monsters is a game of fighting using Cards, the most popular game in the whole world." He explained Yoh then smiled, "Why don't I teach you how to play the game later? I'm sure you would be interested".

Yoh smiled at the offer, "Sure." He answered before he stood up as well, "I would love to learn something new".

"Um, Yoh?" Sugoroku called out suddenly, Yoh turned to the old man and smiled in questioning manner, "I'm sorry to ask, but how old are you?".

"I'm 13 years old." Yoh answered right away.

"Wow, you are younger than me by 3 years." Yugi commented from the sink in the kitchen, "And here I thought you are at least 15 years old, you acted so mature that I'm surprised that you are only 13." Not to mention the boy had a mature aura around him, like he had known so many hardships of this world. He added in his mind.

Yoh stared at Yugi with wide eyes, "And here I thought that you are 13 as well." He said out loud before clasping a hand to cover his mouth, "I'm sorry, didn't mean to offend you".

Yugi only laughed in answer, "It's alright." He assured him, "My childish feature often make people think that I'm younger than I really am, it's not a surprise anymore, so don't worry about it".

Yoh chuckled and grinned, "Alright." He said before heading to his room to get dressed.

Yugi watched Yoh's retreating back and sighed sadly, "I wonder what did he had to do until he didn't have time to play?" He asked to no one in particular.

Sugoroku sighed, "We could only wait until he himself decided to tell us about it." He answered the question.

"I know." Yugi answered before heading to the Game Shop to sort out the new packs.

XXXXX

"How about this one, Yoh?"

Yoh looked around the apartment for a few more seconds before smiling at Sugoroku and nodded, "Perfect." He answered truthfully and looked at his soon to be apartment.

Sugoroku nodded back and told the owner of the apartment and said that they would buy this one.

Yoh was still under age to buy his own apartment by himself, so Sugoroku helped him out by telling the owner that he was the one who buy the apartment, but pointed at Yoh as the owner of the apartment, saying that it's a gift. The truth though, they bought the apartment using the money Yoh brought with him, how he had that much money was beyond Sugoroku, but since he figured that Yoh having a problem with his family maybe he inherited some money from his family, he decided to just stay quiet and helped the boy to buy the apartment as best as he could.

After the process done, they went back to the Game Shop. When they arrived at the Shop, they saw Yugi sitting on the ground and sorting out the new packs of Duel Monsters. "We are back." Sugoroku announced, causing Yugi to jumped since the boy was so engrossed with his work.

"Welcome back, Jii-chan, Yoh." Yugi greeted with a big grin before wincing in pain, the bruise on his face was not healed yet.

Yoh looked at the packs on the floor all around Yugi and asked, "Is this what you called Duel Monsters?".

"Yup." Yugi confirmed with a nod of his head.

"Alright, Yugi I will leave the shop to you." Sugoroku said as he went into the house part of the shop, "You teach him about Duel Monsters while I call Arthur about our next expedition to Egypt".

"Okay." Yugi said cheerfully.

Yoh looked at the back of Sugoroku as the old man went in to the house part of the Game Shop before looking at Yugi, "Are you going to go to Egypt with him?" he asked curiously.

Yugi shook his head, "No, Jii-chan will go to Egypt by himself then meet up with his friend Arthur Hawkins in Egypt." He explained with a smile, "I need to go to school in here and take care of the shop while he go".

Yoh hummed to show that he listened before sat beside Yugi, "Is there anything that I could help you with?" He asked with a smile.

Yugi gladly accepted the offer and told him what to do, then after they finished sorting out the packs, Yugi taught Yoh how to play Duel Monsters and the rules, by the time Yugi finished telling Yoh about the game, Yoh was staring at the Cards with awe.

"Wow." Yoh commented in the end, still speechless that there's a tournament where people meet up to duel each other using Cards.

"Do you want to try?" Yugi asked cheerfully, "For your first time, I will give you a discount if you buy a starter deck from us".

Yoh chuckled at Yugi's obvious attempt to make Yoh buy from him, but Yoh nodded since he really was interested in Duel Monsters. "Sure, I want to try and play the game." He said with a grin.

After Yoh bought his starter deck and Yugi closed the shop, Yugi dueled against Yoh to make sure that Yoh understand everything before they duel against each other for real once Yoh got every rule right, Yugi also managed to get Yoh to buy a Duel Disk from him since it was more exciting to play Duel Monsters with Duel Disk than just by Cards.

XXXXX

"Be careful on your way, Jii-chan!" Yugi said as he send the old man off to the airport.

"Be careful, Grandpa." Yoh said also from beside Yugi.

It's a week after Yoh learned how to play Duel Monsters, he was quite good with the game with his luck and skill, but still he couldn't win against Yugi, Yugi was not the King of Games for nothing after all. He had been staying in his apartment for 5 days, but he still visiting the Game Shop often since he got nothing better to do, and dueling against Yugi while keeping the shop was better than doing nothing in his apartment.

The day before Sugoroku went to Egypt, he asked Yoh if the boy want to work part time as a shopkeeper with Yugi since it would be hard for Yugi if he had to do all the work by himself. Yoh agreed since he was indeed in need of a job to make sure he got enough money for his living, and since he was already helping out during the time he stayed with them, he was happy when the old man told him the offer.

Not enough that they let him stay with them when he had just arrived in Domino, they also helped him out with searching for a place for him to stay, they also helped Yoh to signed his new school and make sure he know where to get everything he need. Yoh had grown so close with Yugi and Sugoroku that he considered them as his own family, and truth to be told, they treat him more like a family than his own family, aside from his Mother, of course.

"I will." Sugoroku said as he heard his plane was ready to boarding, he waved them off, "You take care of yourself, both of you." He told them instead, he looked at Yoh then, "Yoh, please make sure that Yugi won't get beaten again, he was just too kind until he let people walk over him like that".

Yoh chuckled, "Don't worry, Grandpa, I will make sure he is safe and sound." He promised, "He already like my own Brother, of course I will make sure he is safe".

Sugoroku smiled, "Then I will get going now, see you next month, Yugi, Yoh." He said before turning around and walked to the gate of his boarding plane.

"You also already like my own Brother, Yoh." Yugi said once they couldn't see Sugoroku anymore, he looked aside to the taller boy even though the boy was younger than him, "I'm glad that you are thinking the same about me".

Yoh smiled warmly at that, "I should say the same to you. I'm glad that you are thinking the same about me." He said softly.

Yoh looked at the sky outside the glass window of the airport, Too bad that my own Twin didn't even think of me as a friend, let alone a Brother, he thought sadly. He inserted his right hand into his jeans pocket and his fingers closing around a round object, it's was a single earring with a big star in the middle. It was Hao's earring, he found it near his feet after the explosion Hao's Oversoul made after he killed his own Older Brother. Hao, Yoh thought as he moved his fingers to traced the shape of the star on the earring, I missed you, you don't know how much I wish we could be like any other Brothers, caring about each other instead of trying to kill each other.

"Yoh?" Yugi's voice pulled Yoh out of his thought, he looked up to find Yugi looked at him with worry clearly shown on his face, "Are you alright?".

"Yes, don't worry." Yoh said with a smile to assure him that he was fine, even though he was not fine at all. He was still haven't told Yugi and Sugoroku the reason why he ran away from home, they know that he ran away, but Yoh refused to tell them the reason. No matter how much they treat each other like a family, his problem with his own family was not something that they should troubled themselves with.

Yugi knew that Yoh was thinking about the reason why he ran away from home, and he was sad that Yoh didn't want to tell him about it, but he respected Yoh wish so he never pressed the matter to him and just try to cheer Yoh up in any way he could.

"Let's get back to the shop, Yoh." He said instead as he called for a Taxi, "We couldn't keep people waiting for us to open the shop any longer, could we?".

Yoh know right away that Yugi was trying to take his mind off of his problem and smiled at the boy beside him. Yugi was not like his own family, they know that he was sad but they refused to accepted the fact that Yoh was sad, aside from his Mother of course. But unlike them, Yugi would let Yoh to be sad but not too sad, and he would try his best to cheer Yoh up even without knowing the problem, and Yoh was grateful for that.

"Yeah." He agreed as he started walking to the Taxi Yugi stopped earlier, "Let's get back".

To be continued . . .

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