Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ A Different Kind of You ❯ Search and Rescue Part2 ( Chapter 24 )

Yugi couldn't understand it. He sat there on the bed, clutching Yami in a death grip as his tears fell freely. So many different thoughts raced through his head so fast that none of it made any sense and all of it was one blur.

 

Where was Yami all day? How did he know where to find me? Did he bring Nile here? Why did that dream suddenly start occurring again? All those questions and no way to ask without choking around his tears.

 

It was true. That dream was definitely no stranger to Yugi. It had stopped though, once he'd settled into his new life at the whorehouse (as well as taking some pills Malik had given him).

 

The amethyst-eyed teen didn't know how long he sat there holding onto Yami, nor how long Yami had stood at the edge of the bed holding him tightly Right then though, all he could think about was Yami's comforting embrace.

 

When he finally managed to calm down he pulled away and offered an embarrassed, watery smile to the crimson-eyed teen. His cheeks were a light pink as he found himself unable to look away once his eyes had locked with blood red. When Yami blinked, however, he looked down. “Hey, Yami,” he squeaked. “I've been worried about you.”

 

“I could say the same for you. It was lucky that Malik saw me in the park. What happened? Why'd you come here?”

 

“Nothing,” Yugi looked off to the side, self-conscious from the state his boyfriend had found him in. “Where were you? I tried looking for you.”

 

An annoyed and frustrated look crossed Yami's face and Yugi wondered if he shouldn't have asked. He was about to apologize when Yami replied, “Nile; the jerk had the nerve to start arguing about how `he doesn't agree with my way of living'.”

 

“He came over at three in the morning to say that,” Yugi asked with disbelief, his eyes wide as he glanced shyly at Yami.

 

“Can you believe that? All these years he couldn't have cared less about what I did or even if I was still living and now he decides to show up only because of his wife and then takes it upon himself to come over at three in the morning to say something like that.”

 

“I know; I heard the yelling.”

 

“That's why I took it outside. I hadn't actually meant to be that long and didn't really realize it until we found ourselves on the other side of town. I didn't want to wake you and I certainly didn't want to have break down the door with that pounding on the door. If he found us together in bed then you'd have been caught up in the middle and I really didn't want him making you a target.” Yami explained, running a hand through his hair in agitation.

 

“Then what happened after that? I thought it was the neighbors and that you'd left to go tell them to be quiet or something, but then Corrine came over and everything happened so fast after that.”

 

Taking a deep breath, Yami started to explain what had happened after Nile had stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door in the process.

 

~Earlier that Morning~

 

Yami led the way down into the parking lot where his brother would be able to yell without disturbing anyone, most of all Yugi. Thinking of his boyfriend he'd hoped that he'd get back to the apartment before Yugi woke up and started getting worried. He'd rather not have him know about this confrontation.

 

Upon reaching the parking lot he didn't stop until he was in area devoid mostly of cars, just in case Nile wanted to get physical. Sighing, and still wanting to prolong the inevitably, he turned to face his older brother and tiredly stated, “What do you want?”

 

“You already know what I want, Yami? How is that so hard for you to understand? Just give the flee-infested apartment to your little room mate and leave,” Nile demanded, rudely emphasizing `room mate'.

 

Yami was forced to bite his tongue against Nile's snippy attitude towards his boyfriend. This was why he opened the door in the first place, so Nile wouldn't find out about his relationship with him. Instead of mentioned Yugi at all, he replied, “What makes you think I'll just do what you want me to? When have I ever done that before? I'm happy where I am and I don't want to just put it behind me.”

 

“You could be better than this, Yami, I know you could.”

 

“Let me guess, you want me to go back to school and get some high-classed job like you do.” It was said more as a statement than a question. Nile replied to it either way.

 

“What's wrong with having a stable life with someone I love? At least I've come that far whereas you don't even have a girlfriend yet.”

 

“What makes you think I don't have someone I love?” Yami's eyes narrowed. He wouldn't allow this conversation to deter him of his decision. He likes his job at the restaurant. He's in love with the perfect person for him. He likes the apartment he's in, no matter how small or `flee-infested' it was. And he wasn't going to give any of it up no matter what Nile or anybody else said to him. “The job I have is doing just fine and if the need comes up I'll take another one.”

 

“You realize father isn't going to help you when you run out of money to pay for the apartment. I doubt he's sending money to you for the rent as it is, if even keeping into contact with you.”

 

The younger shook his head. “You're right about that, he isn't helping me and I like it just the same as even if by some miracle he did. All he did was drink anyway, as well as take up space. At least Yugi's helping out with the apartment instead of making the place reek of alcohol constantly.”

 

“What exactly does he do? He doesn't even look old enough to drive,” Nile snapped back.

 

Yami could feel his blood boiling as more insults rained on Yugi. No! No, I will not explode. This is pointless and I just want to get back to bed and forget this ever happened. “He quit his only job a while ago but he paid well enough to keep for at least rest of the year, not that I'd ask him to help unless it was needed. He cleans up the place while I'm gone and makes sure it's a complete mess all the time. That's well enough for me to keep him around.”

 

“What is he, your little maid? How long do you expect to keep him around for something so significant?”

 

“It might seem that way, but it isn't,” Yami answered indifferently.

 

“Damn it, Yami, don't you care at all!”

 

“And why should you care what happens to me at all? Is it because your wife will somehow place the blame on you and how you didn't even try doing anything to help me?”

 

“If you wouldn't have stopped at high school, than you could've maid something of yourself. Don't you even wonder what would've happened if you'd stuck with it?”

 

Yami smirked and turned away, heading for the door. “Everyday,” he called back, “And I'll still glad that I did it.”

 

A low growl was all his warning before he was suddenly slammed up against the wall and held there tightly, Nile's arm digging mercilessly into his back. “I didn't say you could walk away yet. You already did it once and I won't allow you to do it again,” he snarled.

 

“You aren't the boss of me. Now let go!” Yami struggled to get Nile off of him, but it seemed useless with the way his older brother's elbow seemed to tear into him the harder he tried getting away.

 

“I won't be blamed for what happens to you and I know I'll be the one being glared at when father finds out the mockery you're living.”

 

“He's too drunk to realize he has another son to even bother with.”

 

Nile growled again and he shoved again Yami again. “You've got a big mouth for someone who can't even fight back against me.”

 

Smirking, Yami found a good footing on the wall and he looked back and replied, “Why should I fight with someone who's not even worth my time.” With that, he shoved back against the wall, kicking as hard as he could.

 

Escaping at last, he ran as fast he could away from the parking lot and the apartment buildings. He would've rather gone back to Yugi and forget this even happened, but he knew Nile would follow him and he wouldn't bring that Yugi even if it meant being shoved up roughly against another wall with a bony elbow stabbing his back.

 

~~

 

Yami was interrupted by Yugi's gasp and then a lapful of his boyfriend. “Yugi,” he questioned, rubbing his back gently, coaxing him to look at him.

 

“Did he hurt you, Yami? He didn't get you again, did he,” Yugi choked, clutching Yami's shirt in his hands.

 

“No, he didn't, love. Don't worry.”

 

“You're sure? I wouldn't have minded if you brought him up to the apartment. I could've dealt with him.”

 

“I wouldn't have brought that on you, Yugi. I care too much for you to get hurt.”

 

Yugi blushed softly, burying his head in between Yami's shoulder and neck. “I'd die if you go hurt, Yami. I don't want to be the cause of your pain.”

 

“It wasn't any of your fault; it couldn't possibly be. It's my brother's fault and if he can't understand how happy I am with the way my life is going right now than that's his problem and I'll deal with it as I see fit. I don't want you to worry about it. Okay?”

 

The younger teen nodded, rubbing his cheek comfortingly against Yami's shirt. “How did you find out I was here?”

 

Yami smirked and held Yugi closer. “Well, I'm not sure how I lost my brother, but I managed to. It was somewhere around that coffee place on the other side of town and that big super market that's going out of business soon. I ran through there and came out from the back. Just to make sure I doubled back around to the front and didn't see him so I took a bus back here. To stall for time in case he went back to the apartment I went through the park when Malik saw me. He told me that you were here and that you'd been worried about me.”

 

“Yes, I looked everywhere I could think of for you, but I didn't think you'd gone that far. I didn't even think to ask any of the bus drivers that I saw driving down the street,” Yugi looked away shyly. “I should've known you could take care of yourself. After all, you lived with the guy.”

 

“Now, it's your turn.”

 

Yugi's eyes widened, not understanding. “What do you mean, Yami?”

 

“That dream wasn't just nothing, Yugi. I know you better than that and you were calling out no the entire time as though your very life depended on it. Tell me what it was.”

 

Yugi looked away, his blush deepening slightly. “I-I can't.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because, you'll be mad at me.”

 

“I could never be mad at you. Just tell me what it was about and you might feel better.”

 

“No, I won't.”

 

“How can you be sure until you do?”

 

“I just do, Yami!” As soon as the words left his mouth, Yugi slapped his hand over his mouth. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to….”

 

“It's alright. I should've have pushed you. You had every right to yell at me.” He shifted Yugi back onto the bed and stood up. “I'm going to get us something to drink; I doubt you've eaten anything all day.”

 

Yugi watched helplessly at Yami headed towards the door, away from him, because of him. He chest clenched around him, making it hard to breathe. In the one desperate attempt he could think of to keep Yami from walking away he shouted, “It was nightmare!”

 

The crimson-eyed teen paused with his hand on he doorknob. After a second he looked back over his shoulder casually, just in case Yugi hadn't meant to say anything. He waited, then nodded, “You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.”

 

“I do,” Yugi cried. “I want to tell you.”

 

Yami nodded again and walked over to the bed, not objecting when Yugi crawled back into his lap and clutched at his shirt tightly.

 

“I haven't had that nightmare in so long, Yami. I thought it had gone away,” he sobbed. It took a while, but he finally managed to cry out the entire thing from the beginning to the end, explaining with all the horrible details he'd rather just forget.

 

“That really happened to you, didn't it,” Yami questioned, holding Yugi tightly. A small nod was his only answer. “That's really why you can't stand toys, isn't it, Yugi?” Again, another nod. “Then why did you tell me it was because of your parents?”

 

“I don't know,” Yugi cried. “I didn't want you to think I was just being a baby because of one l little thing that happened to me.”

 

“I could never think that of you, Yugi.” Yami pulled Yugi closer and kissed him lightly on top of the head. “I just would like to know why you lied to me. Now that I know I feel even closer to you than before.”

 

“Thank you, Yami.” Feeling tired even after his nap, not knowing how long he was asleep for before his nightmare took over, he closed his eyes and almost immediately fell asleep against Yami.

 

Yami smiled lightly as he felt his boyfriend relax limply against him. Rest for now, Yugi. I'll make sure nothing else disturbs you.