Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Past of Sorrow ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: I do not own the song 'Energy' by Keri Hilson

…Past of Sorrow…

Yami slowly caressed the white keys below him. His mind was empty and his heart was heavy with guilt. He wanted to go after Yugi. To tell him he was sorry and to stay with him. That he loved him. Truly loved him. But something held him back. A ghost from the past.

…Flashback…

“Get off of me!” a woman screamed from the inside of her room. A small crimson-eyed boy about the age of ten pressed his ear to the white door of his mother's room. His breath was caught deep in his throat as he strained to listen to the conversation on the other side of the door. The knife that he was smart enough to grab from the kitchen was held loosely in his grasp.

A loud slap echoed throughout the room and vibrated off the door causing the boy's heart to drop into his stomach. He finally exhaled when he heard his mother's voice again. “Don't do this!”

“Why? I know you want it,” a familiar voice said sinisterly.

The boy swallowed a lump in his throat. That was his uncle's voice. A sharp scream was heard next and before he even realized what he was doing, the bedroom door was wide open revealing his mother on her bloodied knees with his uncle standing over her with a gun.

“Yami! Get out of here!” his mother pleaded with her ruby colored eyes. But Yami couldn't move. He was paralyzed where he stood. His uncle turned his sickly brown eyes to him and smiled.

“No Yami watch as I teach this whore what respect really is!” His uncle said with a devious laugh as he began to unbuckle his belt.

Yami didn't know what came over him. It could have been the desperate look in his mother's eyes or the burning sensation inside of him. But whatever it was, Yami tightened his hold on the knife in his hand and made a lunge for his uncle who instantly turned the gun on him. A blast shot through the room and Yami covered his head with his hands preparing to feel death. However, the only thing he felt was warm arms wrap around his body.

Yami looked up to see his mother hugging him lovingly. “I love you Yami, never forget that,” she said in her sweet voice as her hold on Yami weakened and she fell to the ground. Yami knelt to the ground and shook his mother's shoulders frantically.

“No! No! No! Mommy don't leave me! Please I need you!” Yami cried as streams of tears fell onto the lifeless body below him. He wrapped his arms on his mother's stomach and dug his face into the soft fabric, weeping hysterically.

“You damn bastard! You took away my pleasure toy!” Yami's forgotten uncle yelled angrily and then yanked the boy off of his mother's dead body by his uniquely-shaped hair. “That's okay though. You'll be my new toy!” his uncle said cynically and turned Yami's face to stare at him.

Suddenly his uncle's eyes widened in pain as his hands went from Yami's body to his now gushing neck. The blood flowed from his uncle's body onto the ground and Yami watched with tears staining his eyes and the bloody knife still in his hand. The sight was vile to watch but Yami didn't care. He couldn't take his eyes off of the man who had taken away the only person that actually cared for him. It wasn't that much later when the man collapsed on the ground, his hands still clasped around his neck. His almost dead eyes turned to Yami and all he did was smile. But it was a smile that haunted Yami even to this day.

After the life was completely drained out of his uncle, he turned back to his mother and snuggled into her side, taking one of her limp arms and wrapping them around his body with tears seeping out of his eyes. That was how his found him. Sleeping in his dead mother's arms next to the corpse of his uncle.

…End of Flashback…

Every night since that night, Yami's uncle would haunt his dreams. He would see the man everywhere he went. His ghost would follow him everywhere he went. Of course, Yami would never admit any of this to his friends or his therapist for that matter. He handled all his problems by himself. But when Yugi came around, Yami had stopped seeing the ghost of his uncle. All he saw was Yugi. All he would think about was Yugi. The memories from his past would disappear and all that mattered was Yugi.

But now…Yugi was exactly what he had been running away from all these years. Yugi was his biggest fear. His biggest enemy.

Tears fell onto the white piano keys below him. Coming to this room had always eased his mind. It was the one place where he didn't see his uncle. Where he didn't feel his presence. But not now…not this time. Yami was so exhausted. He was emotionally and mentally drained. He had absolutely no energy left to even think.

Yami sighed as he moved his fingers carelessly over the keys. He listened to the beautiful sound that came out of the black object in front of him. Slowly, Yami began to release his thoughts through his mouth as he continued to listen to the music that his fingers were effortlessly creating.

I wish I could rip out a page of my memory cuz I put to much energy in him and me.
Can't wait till I get through this phase cuz its killing me.
To bad we can't re-write our own history.

Seems only like yesterday, Not even gravity could keep your feet off the ground when were with me. How can two be as one? We've become too divided now.
There's no use hiding from my misery. Cause your taking all of my energy!

Such a mystery when he's here with me. It's hard to believe I'm still lonely.
Chances fading now, patience running out. This is not how it's supposed to be.

Cause your taking all of my energy!

I'm having nightmares from sleeping with the enemy.
We gotta re-reverse the chemistry.
I don't want us to be the end of me.
This love is taking all of my energy, My Energy
Taking all my energy, My Energy
Taking all of my energy…

Yami couldn't continue as he broke out into painful sobs. Across the room stood a long mirror and reluctantly Yami approached it and stared in repulse at his reflection. He hurt Yugi. He shouldn't even be allowed to live. Laughter echoed throughout the room and Yami looked back at his reflection to see those brown eyes that he loathed so much.

“Looks like you're alone again,” the familiar voice mused.

“Shut up!” Yami screamed angrily, his crimson eyes flaming dangerously.

“Too bad, he was a cute one…like your mother,” his uncle said through the mirror.

“SHUT UP!” Yami demanded as more tears escaped his eyes.

“It's okay though. I'll always be with you…forever—“

The mirror shattered into pieces around Yami's feet as blood seeped out of his clenched fist. He was on the verge of breaking. He needed to get out…now!

Yami quickly stumbled down the flights of stairs of his large, empty house and fled the lonely prison heading to nowhere in particular.

…

Jou sat impatiently down at a large table and listened to the incessant typing of Kaiba's laptop. Every now and then, Jou would let out a soft sigh and then enjoy the slight twitch of Kaiba's eyebrow. Mokuba had insisted that they both spend some time together to get to know each other better since they were living together. Both had refused stubbornly but after a few infamous pouts from Mokuba, they both gave in reluctantly.

However, the second Mokuba left the room with that devilish smile of his, Jou and Kaiba had completely ignored each other. Jou was staring to become restless though and Kaiba could obviously tell.

“Don't you have any friends to hang with?” Kaiba asked breaking the silence.

Jou shrugged indifferently. “They're all busy,” the blonde said.

“You sure they're not just avoiding you,” Kaiba said with a small smirk.

Jou glared. “You know you have a serious attitude problem. What do you have a stick up ya ass or something? Sometimes I'm surprised that you even took me in. Why did you anyways? You obviously don't like me.”

Kaiba paused in his typing and threw Jou a cold glare. “I do not need to be questioned about my actions in my own house, especially by someone like you,” Kaiba said the last word with distaste as he rose from his seat and walked out of the room. Mokuba walked in soon after with a frown.

“I guess, it didn't go so well,” Mokuba said sadly. Jou nodded angrily.

“I'm sorry Mokuba. I tried to love your brother; please I couldn't even like him. There's no way that this could work,” Jou said and decided to save the foul names that he was calling the brunet to himself.

“No don't say that,” Mokuba pleaded. “He just needs someone who cares enough about him to take the time and melt the ice around his heart.”

Jou sighed in frustration. “How can I learn to love him if I can't even stand to be in the same room with him anymore?”

Mokuba looked disheartened by the remark but snapped his head to the side when someone entered the room. Jou followed Mokuba's gaze to see a familiar face.

“Yugi!” Jou said with worry as he took in the disheveled appearance of his best friend. Jou quickly ran to his friend and examined him closely.

“What happened to you?” Jou asked brushing Yugi's bangs to the side to reveal bright red lining around his eyes. “Why were you crying?”

Yugi didn't respond. He just broke out into small sobs and clasped on Jou's body for support as his knees collapsed from underneath him. “H-he d-doesn't w-want me any-anymore!” Yugi cried in agony.

“Who Yugi? Who doesn't want you anymore?” Jou whispered to his hurt friend.

“Y-Yami,” Yugi hiccupped as his eyes began to get heavy. Mokuba stared on in shock but finally managed to say: “There's another guest room besides yours Jou. You can put him there for now.”

Jou nodded gratefully, ignoring for now the fact that Mokuba could even see Yugi but he figured as much. Mokuba and him had a very tight bond. But it was a brotherly bond not a lover's bond. Nevertheless it was very strong so he wasn't really a huge surprise that Mokuba would be able to see his friends.

Jou walked up the stairs with Yugi cradled in his arms. The whole walk, Jou was whispering comforting words to Yugi and by the time they got upstairs, Yugi was fast asleep. Slowly, Jou laid Yugi on the comfortable bed and covered him with the blanket. He turned around see Mokuba standing in the doorway.

“Is he one of your friends? Like ghost friends?” Mokuba asked curiously.

“Yeah, but your brother can't see him,” Jou said and then added mentally: `Because our bond is nonexistent.'

Mokuba nodded. “Okay good because I don't think big brother would be happy about this…Is he going to be okay?” the raven-haired boy asked looking over at the sleeping form.

Jou sighed tiredly. “I hope so…”

…

After taking an extremely long walk, Marik came to rest at his front door. Part of him wanted to go in there…the other part wanted to run away. Sucking up all his courage, Marik opened the door and turned to see Malik sitting peacefully on the couch with a bowl of popcorn in front of him. “I knew you couldn't be away from me for long,” Malik said with a smirk as he turned his attention back to the show he was watching.

Marik scoffed as he hung up his coat and then walked over to the small loveseat beside the couch before falling back on it. Malik smiled as he threw a piece of popcorn in his mouth. “So, he didn't believe you?”

Marik shook his head in defeat. “He just thinks I'm high or drunk.”

“Or crazy?” Malik offered but was shot down with a vicious glare. Malik raised his hands in his defense. “Just saying. You're trying to convince your friends that you can see spirits. Doesn't that sound a little crazy? The only way they would believe me is if they could see me and the only way that could happen is if—“

As if on cue, someone knocked on the door quietly causing Marik to jump. Marik quickly walked to the door, leaving Malik sitting on the couch, and swung the door open revealing a very pale Yami.

“Damn,” Malik said slightly amused eyeing the tri-colored hair youth from his comfortable spot on the couch. “You look like shit.”

Marik glared at his smaller counterpart and then redirected his focus on Yami. The once bright crimson eyes were now dull and puffy. His cheeks were stained with dried tear trails and his entire face was red from crying.

“Yami what happened?” Marik asked with slight concern for his childhood friend as he moved to the side and allowed the pale teen to walk in. Yami, however, walked right past him as if completely ignoring his presence, and sat slowly on the loveseat beside the couch staring directly at Malik.

Malik raised a curious eyebrow at the crimson eyes that were looking intently at him. Suddenly, Marik approached Yami from behind and laid a hand on the stiff shoulder. “Yami?” Marik questioned looking from his friend to Malik in shock. Could Yami see him? No, there was no way. Malik seemed slightly surprised too.

All of their questions were answered when Yami said with a hoarse voice: “You're Malik? Yugi's friend?”

Malik widened his eyes in surprise but quickly regained his smug attitude as he plastered a huge smirk on his face. “Impressive. You have been able to capture Yugi's heart and he has taken yours in return.”

Marik almost fell on the ground at the conversation between the two. “Yami, how can you see Malik? You couldn't see him before!” Marik stated in shock.

Malik only smiled. “Because,” the smaller Egyptian said popping another kernel of popcorn in his mouth, “He's in love with Yugi.”

Marik was completely lost. “Yugi? That kid you kept talking about?” Marik asked looking down at Yami. “He was a…”

“Ghost,” Yami finished burying his head in his hands. Malik chuckled at the remark.

“Well, spirits would be a better word but yeah basically,” Malik said looking down and frowning at the empty bowl in his hands.

Marik took a seat next to Malik and rubbed his temples. “That still doesn't explain how Yami can see you,” Marik asked the boy beside him.

Malik sighed impatiently. He was going to have to tell Marik the whole story now. “Okay listen and listen well because I'm only going to say this once. Every century, there are a handful of people with the ability to see spirits, or ghosts as you would like to call us. Each person can only see one `ghost' but they do have the ability to see more if they are able to grow a bond with the ghost.”

Marik raised both his eyebrows in confusion and Malik mentally smacked his head in frustration. “Okay basically this is how it goes. Yami could see Yugi. Yami and Yugi became friends. Yami and Yugi fell in love. Thus, Yami gained the ability to see me and probably my other two friends; Ryou and Jou. Get it?”

Marik nodded slowly and then looked over to where Yami sat in silence with his face still dug in his hands. “So if you and I fell in love, then I could see Yugi and the others?” Marik asked skeptically.

Malik grimaced at the thought. “Yeah, technically but please don't plague my mind with such foul thoughts.”

This comment earned Malik a harsh glare but Marik quickly looked over to Yami to see that his shoulders were shaking slightly which indicated that the shorter teen was indeed crying. Marik felt pity for his friend. Never had he seen Yami so upset.

“Yami what happened?” Marik asked repeating his earlier question. Yami visibly flinched and then, removing his hands from his face, looked at the two curious Egyptians with guilty eyes. “I told Yugi to leave.”

Malik was on his feet in an instant. He had assumed that Yami was upset because Yugi had revealed his secret which could lead to this type of devastation. But never in his wildest dream would he imagine someone who supposedly loved him to react this badly. “What!? You told Yugi to leave?”

Yami nodded, not at all intimidated by Malik's flaring anger, as more tears forced themselves out of the crimson orbs. Malik looked ready to kill Yami but Marik quickly interfere. “Malik, this isn't helping,” Marik said motioning for the other boy to sit back down. Malik reluctantly complied as he plopped back down on the couch with his arms crossed and eyes flaring.

“That was the worst thing you could have said!” Malik exclaimed. “That's what his foster parents told him to do on the night he…”

Yami looked up from his self-pitying and examined Malik suspiciously. “On the night he what?” Yami asked with voice full of concern and eyes pleading. Malik turned his gaze to the other side of the room and closed his eyes. With a small sigh, Malik admitted softly: “On the night he was murdered…”

…

Bakura growled from his seat as he continued to stare at the melting ice cream in front of him. Damn Ryou…and his damn ice cream…

He looked at the said boy who was licking his ice cream cone delightfully. Bakura took in the unintentional seductive way that Ryou licked the ice cream with his perfectly pink tongue. Ryou blushed furiously when he noticed that Bakura was eyeing him.

“It's melting,” Ryou said snapping Bakura out of his trance.

“What?” Bakura said lifting his gaze to stare into Ryou's brown eyes.

“Your ice cream…it's melting,” Ryou said again with a small smile as he continued to lick his ice cream.

Bakura looked down at his treat with a scowl. He didn't want ice cream. He wanted Ryou. Bakura looked back up to the pale boy across from him and said casually: “So where do you live?”

Ryou shrugged nonchalantly. “Um…I don't know.”

Bakura quirked an eyebrow. “What do you mean you don't know?” he asked curiously.

Ryou looked up to meet Bakura's gaze. “I don't really live in one place…I travel,” Ryou lied to avoid suspicion.

“Oh,” Bakura replied. “So do you have a place to stay?”

Ryou shook his head. “No, not yet. I'm still looking.”

Bakura wanted to shoot his arm up into the sky at his luck. Score! “Well,” he asked trying not to sound to desperate, “If you need a place to stay you can always stay with me.”

A large smile made its way onto Ryou's soft features. “You don't mind?”

“Of course not,” Bakura said with a small smirk. He would soon have Ryou all to himself. What a prize…

Ryou thought about it for a moment. “Okay but only for a few days,” Ryou said and Bakura only nodded. That was more than enough time. Little did Bakura know that Ryou was going to use the next couple days to learn everything he could about him. If what Ryou was thinking was true, then Bakura wasn't that bad of a person at all.

…TBC…

Yuri: So yeah that's it for now! Love you all! Kisses! REVIEW NOW!! Hehe please.

As for next time: Malik explains Yugi's story while Bakura and Ryou get to know each other better. Yugi and Yami meet again…