Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Differences Don't Matter ❯ A Little Mistake ( Chapter 6 )

Yugi flinched as Shigure's wife, Minako, slapped his reddened cheek for what seemed like the tenth time that day. Most of the time the slaps were for nothing more than amusement to see him look up at her with tears in his eyes than for things he actually deserved being punished for. This particular slap was for him accidentally tripping over a bump in the rug and breaking the plate he was carrying.

 

“It's bad enough having to see you everyday, but having to touch you is even worse,” Minako muttered to herself, washing her hands furiously in the sink enough to turn the skin red.

 

The small, violet-eyed elf's eyes watered and small drops fell down his cheeks as he looked towards the floor, ignoring the glass from the plate cutting into his pale, thinning arms.

 

“You don't even do your job right,” the woman snarled, glaring down at him.

 

“Mother, he put my clothes in the wrong spots again,” the youngest son, Jeremy, complained, holding up his shirts.

 

“Oh, baby, I'm sorry,” the woman hurried over and cuddled him. “You,” she barked out at Yugi, causing him to jump and flinch as his arm hit the corner of the wall. It looked like Minako was about to blow a gasket when she saw the blood that had smeared on the wall. “Would you pay attention to what you're doing,” she yelled.

 

Yugi glanced at the wall and nodded brokenly. “I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll get to the shirts and the wall immediately.”

 

“At least he knows how to speak to those higher than him,” she stood and took her son's hand, leading him out of the room.

 

The elf looked down and waited for the sounds of the woman and her son's footsteps to die away before going to the sink. Filling a bucket he couldn't help but curse himself for going with Shigure instead of letting Makoto handle himself.

 

He told me not to worry about it and I still butted in. Now I'm soar all over and bruises that will never go away. I wish I were still with Makoto. He repeated the last sentence over and over as he scrubbed at the wall with a moth-infested rag, the only one the cruel family would let him use since they didn't want him touching the “nicer cloths”.

 

Yugi had been working for Shigure and his family for a little over a month and they weren't getting any easier on him. If anything they were getting harder. Of course, Yugi had to force himself to stop acting like he would around Makoto because it was obvious the family didn't like it all and cursed the bartender for “going easy on him”. The violet-eyed elf knew far too well it was just as Makoto had explained to him: that the people in the town called it working, but it was really just slaving. That they didn't care how the well being of the elves were as long as they did their chores and didn't put up a fuss about it. Thanks to Makoto, Yugi learned to keep far away from the family as much as he could while he was working or he was going to be found on the loose end of the master's belt with red welts shining on his arms and back. After having it happen once already during his stay in the home, he'd rather not have it happen again any time soon or at all, but avoiding it altogether entirely was a very slim chance.

 

After finishing with the blood on the wall and making it as clean as possible, Yugi hurried to Jeremy's bedroom and put the clothes in correctly, not seeing how it mattered since he was just going to wear them again and get them as dirty as possible for him to clean on purpose.

 

I'd bet my ears that Shigure and Minako pulled their sons away and paid them to be as nasty as possible to me Yugi sighed, finishing with the clothes. Afterwards, he hurried down to the rat and bug infested basement where his luxurious suite awaited him. The elf always made sure to be on his rags and moth-eaten blankets pile, which the family ordered were his quarters, when he was finished with his regular chores so the family wouldn't see him doing nothing. It was rare they ever ventured down to the basement and would usually call down to him when they wanted to order him around a bit more so he was relatively safe there.

 

“Hey, dork,” the Jeremy called down the stairs. “Mother wants you to go pick some things up for her!”

 

With a groan towards his aching muscles, screaming at him to get some proper rest, Yugi trudged up the stairs and took the list shoved at him from the little boy and the pouch of money.

 

“You better not lose any of that and if any of those vegetables are bad you'll be in for it,” Minako threatened from the kitchen.

 

“Yes, ma'am,” Yugi croaked, walking out the door while vaguely hearing Shigure hollering out that he better be back before dark or they'd leave him in the cold. The elf wouldn't know though as he inwardly smiled at closing the door, finally able to be outside after so long. If he had to stay in that house a while longer he knew he'd go crazy.

 

Carefully going down the few short steps to the street, slippery with ice, he came face to face with a familiar female elf with markings on her face and glaring eyes.

 

“Isn't so luxurious now that you aren't with your precious bartender, is it? You know, it's pretty cold out here,” she started walking away, holding her hole-filled, wool shawl around her tightly, “I hope you freeze to death in it.” At her cold words an even colder wind nipped at Yugi's exposed skin and he just realized how under-clothed he was.

 

Wrapping his arms around himself, Yugi walked along the street being wary of the crowd also out that day. He clutched the list and money bag to him tightly thought, not wanting to have the wrath of his “new family” brought down on him.

 

After all, if Minako went crazy over a cheap plate with a flower design on it, think what she or Shigure would do over their money.

 

~~

 

Yami stalked of his father's office and house, knowing he wouldn't follow with the temperature as low as it was. He couldn't believe that his father would go through such lengths to get him married.

 

That girl didn't even look innocent the way she sat in that chair like a common tart. How much I wouldn't give to find out that she was currently taking up residence in the nearest whore factory and found father and put up the cheapest act ever to make him take her home; what a second-rate trick.

 

Zipping up his coat and snapping in the buttons, Yami shoved his numb hands into his pockets and enjoyed the way the crowds split away for him to walk through like a blind man in a market place.

 

“Yami,” that sickly sweet voice called back to him.

 

With a groan of frustration and annoyance that he was going to have to deal with this in public, Yami turned to face the girl chasing after him. His eyes cold bore into her being and she stopped a few feet away from him breathing heavily and making large puffs of frozen air ever couple of seconds from her small mouth. Her long, golden strands cascaded down her back to stop at her waist, protruded from the blue winter hat sitting on her head. She had on a long, thick skirt and snow boots were barely visible underneath the edge. Her puffy winter coat hid her slim waist and long-sleeved blue shirt that he saw her wearing back in his father's office.

 

“Yami, you aren't even giving me a chance,” she whined, ignoring the curious looks from the onlookers that were looking back and forth between them much like a championship tennis match.

 

“A chance? A chance for what? For you to get down my pants like every other man you come across,” Yami shouted, enjoying the embarrassed blush that covered her face even if she was able to get away with it being from the cold.

 

A collective gasp went through the gathering crowd and they stared intensely at the stuttering girl.

 

“I-I don't know what you're talking about, Yami. I'm in love with you. I want to be with you. Don't you want that too,” the girl cried melodramatically.

 

“No, I don't want to marry a whore. I prefer my girl to be only mine,” Yami admitted, leaving out the blatant fact that girls annoyed him and he had a better chance of marrying a skunk than a woman. At least skunks smell better he inwardly grinned, careful to keep his impassive expression.

 

“Why do you keep calling me that,” she cried, tears falling slowly down her cheeks, her voice beginning to crack.

 

“Because, as much as it pains me to admit it in a crowd, which is your fault by the way since you followed me out here, you are one. I can smell the filth of other men on you from a mile away. Besides, if you were in love with me, you would've known from the start not to come after me because leaving the house means `leave me alone'.”

 

“I wanted to…make sure you were okay,” she admitted, dropping to her knees, not caring how the icy snow melted into her skirt.

 

“Cara, nobody does that. Ask anybody in this town: nobody ever comes after me when I leave that house, which I have done many times now.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes, forcing not to shiver when a cold wind stung them.

 

“I care, Yami, I do. I want to be with you. Your father will see to it that we're married so we should get to know each other.”

 

Yami turned away and listened to the crunching of ice and the slush of the snow underneath his heavy boots. “Give me a break,” he muttered just loud enough for her and the people at the front of the large crowd to hear, “my father wouldn't force me to do anything I didn't want to. He isn't that stupid so I'll give him that credit.”

 

“You aren't being fair, Yami,” Cara shouted back, her hair blowing out in front of her. The crimson-eyed youth continued to walk away, ignoring the sobs that reached his ears. He didn't turn around and didn't stop to check; he knew no one would help her.

 

In fact, Yami didn't stop until he saw his little helper, as he seemed to be referring to as the violet-eyed elf, shivering in a huddled ball next to a building with a basket of food in his arms.

 

~~

 

Yugi found all the things on the list and was grateful when he could finally go back to Shigure's house and warm up from the biting cold. The family might've had frostbitten hearts, but their house was definitely the warmest thing Yugi could go to right then. His knees were aching and protesting against the added weight of the produce, but he tried to push the pain away long enough to get to the basement: his main goal.

 

I can't rest now, it'll be dark soon and I'll be in for it Yugi thought brokenly shivering as snow fell on his face. And it's snowing again. Now I'll never be able to tell if I have time to walk slow or not.

 

The violet-eyed elf was determined to make it back to the house and avoiding punishment at the same time. He had wanted to stop by and say hello to Makoto, but with the new snow falling the sky was entirely gray and the time of day was impossible to predict since he didn't know how long he'd been out shopping.

 

His nose was frozen and Yugi was sure it was as bright a pink as the rabbits in the forest's noses, and that was saying something. His fingers were terribly numb and felt like they would break off, but that also could've been because of the heavy basket he'd been carrying for hours now, so much that the wooden handle was giving him splinters. It was as a stranger passed by him and kicked snow into cold face accidentally that he sneezed and he dropped the basket. Thankfully, nothing had fallen out.

 

Yugi dropped to his knees and hurriedly picked the basket up and make sure nothing got ruined, but when he tried standing up again his muscles whined and dropped him back into the slushy ice. He shivered and tried again, but each time was the same result. Tears freezing to his skin as they dropped down his face he huddled into the nearest wall, having to crawl with one arm while the other held onto the basket, and sobbed into his arms.

 

A few moments later his heart skipped a beat as something languidly tapped on his shoulder. Looking up he found himself entranced by the neutral ruby-colored eyes looking back him.

 

“Are you alright,” the person asked and the deep voice washed over Yugi, warming his cheeks and darkening them with a pink hue.

 

“Yes, yes, I'm fine,” Yugi quickly looked away while he tried to stand up once more, only to fall embarrassedly back on the ground.

 

“You look more exhausted then fine,” Yami pointed out. “Would you like some help?”

 

“No,” Yugi shouted before inwardly hitting himself for saying it so loudly. “I mean…I mean “no, thank you”.”

 

“Please, it's the least I could do after you helped me,” the crimson-eyed teen said, unzipping and unbuttoning his jacket and handing it to Yugi. The elf looked away and Yami sighed before putting the coat over his quivering shoulders.

 

“No, I couldn't. You'll - ”

 

“Have a warm bath when I get home. You on the other hand look like you're going to freeze to death. What's wrong with that bartender sending you out here with nothing but a shirt and pants?”

 

“Nothing's wrong with him,” Yugi answered quickly.

 

“Then why?”

 

“I don't belong to him anymore,” Yugi whispered, holding out his wrist with the bracelet engraved with Shigure's family name on it.

 

“I see, that's too bad. I don't think I would've given you up if the chance came alone. After all, you seemed to make him really happy. At least, people saw him on the streets more often after he got you so I'll take it as he was happy having you.”

 

Yugi, not wanting to answer anymore, tried getting up again only to slide back down against the brick wall he was leaning against and splashing himself with the freezing water.

 

“You know, you're going to make yourself sick,” Yami told him, picking up the basket with one hand and holding out his hand to the elf. “Let me help you up, I'll walk you back.”

 

“But, you can't…”

 

“I can and I will. I'd feel guilty leaving you here alone after witnessing first hand that you can't even stand.” Yugi nodded and took his hand, leaning heavily against him as he started to wilt again. “You can hardly even stand up with help. You're exhausted; don't you get any sleep where you live now.”

 

“It's been a hard transmission,” Yugi admitted and refused to say anything else. He already felt horrible enough for saying as much as he did.

 

The walk home was silent and Yugi allowed himself to rest his eyes as Yami led him back towards his family. When he felt being turned around a corner though he stopped and forced himself to stay standing when he moved away from Yami.

 

“I'll go the rest of the way by myself. I don't want them seeing you in case they're watching for me. Thank you for your help.”

 

“Just paying you back for when you helped me out.”

 

“I hardly call giving you a drink when you paid for it helping you,” Yugi replied tiredly, yawning.

 

“Ah, but I'm underage still. You didn't have to give it to me and you didn't know I was going to pay for it. Just appreciate it.”

 

“I do, very much.” He was about to turn around when he looked up at the grey sky. “You wouldn't happen to know if it's past dark, would you?”

 

“Very much so, why?”

 

Yugi gulped and nodded his thanks. With a quivering frame, not from the cold, he came into view of Shigure, his wife, and their youngest son all glaring at him as they saw him.

 

“Where did you get that coat,” Minako accused.

 

The elf flinched, realized the human who helped him forgot to take it back. I really need to find out his name if we're going to keep running into each other. Though…it surprised me that he even remembered who I was. “I….It was given to me.”

 

“Stop lying,” she yelled, grabbing him by the arm and forcing the coat from his shoulders, ignoring the way he shivered under the sudden cold. He sneezed again. She gasped and almost dropped the clothing. “I recognize this,” she announced. “This is Lord Yami's; Lord Motou's only son. How did you get your hands on this? Did you take it from him? The poor boy must be freezing without this.”

 

“No, ma'am, I swear. He gave it to me and forgot to take it back when we parted,” Yugi tried explaining.

 

“More lies,” Minako shouted. “It's no wonder Makoto was so eager to get rid of you!”

 

Yugi's mouth fell open and he stared down at the ground, words failed him. He wanted to argue, but he knew it was no use. These people, this family, they were the perfect example of the people Makoto wanted him to stay away from and he walked straight to them willingly. I'm sorry, Makoto. I'm so sorry.

 

Shigure grabbed his arm and yanked him into the house. Yugi was thrown on the cement floor of his basement, his shirt ripped off and he knew better than to move where he was put now that the thing he wanted to avoid was upon him. The man of the house returned shortly, his eldest son, Shay, annoyed looking, with him.

 

“Shay, it's time for me to show you how to treat these things the way they were supposed to be treated.”

 

Yugi's eyes widened as he heard the snap of a belt in the air and didn't even have time to bite his tongue when the first slap hit his back. The pain burned through him, exploding on his back and causing fireworks to burst in front of his eyes with each painful surge that touched his frostbitten skin.

 

When it stopped Yugi was about to get up when a heavy boot landed on his back and he was shoved back down, unable to hold back the sobs caused by his torn and abused back.

 

“Oh no, elf, this has only begun. Do you know how long my family was out there waiting for you to come back when the clock had struck dinner time and you still hadn't returned with the very things dinner was supposed to be? Are you trying to starve my family, elf? Did you think it was what we deserved?” There was a pause and a clink of a belt. “Now, Shay, just as I showed you.”

 

Yugi's eyes widened and he bit the numb skin of the arm closet to him when the eldest son slapped his skin with the belt. If he thought Shigure was relentless, it was nothing compared to his son!

 

The violet-eyed elf woke, still in the same soar position he passed out in, and grimaced as he forced himself to kneel. His shirt was torn to pieces next to him and when he felt something warm slide down his arm he looked to see Shay had done a number on not only his ruined back but also his arms.

 

“I see you're finally awake, filth. About time,” Shay said from the top of the stairs where he sat, watching Yugi the whole time he was out. “You're lucky you passed out or father would've made me do a lot worse. I'd have only been too happy to oblige, of course. Your kind disgusts me.” He picked up Yami's jacket that had been sitting beside him and threw it down. “You're to return this Lord Mouto's mansion immediately and come straight back.” He stood and left.

 

Yugi watched him go before picking up the remains of his shirt and tying it as best as he could around his arm to stop the worst of the bleeding. Carefully, he picked up the jacket, glad it hadn't gotten dirty with all the throwing around it had since he returned to his family's house, and pulled a dirty blanket around his shoulders.

 

It took the elf a while to reach the top of the stairs and even longer for him to reach the crowded part of town. The family had completely ignored him as he left the house, which meant they knew exactly where he was going and didn't see fit that they should come along even though he was their responsibility and needed to make sure he returned the jacket safely.

 

He'd had to ask one of the vendors which house was Yami's and inwardly smiled to himself as he walked leisurely along the street, glad that at least one good thing had happened. I finally found out his name.

 

Stopping at the house his eyes widened and his jaw hit the snow-covered ground.

 

This place is enormous. Yami lives here!! That can't be right. Knocking on the door he was met immediately by a man with graying hair and an even more gray mustache.

 

The man looked him up and down, a bushy eyebrow raised and said, “We don't hand out leftovers here,” before starting to close the door.

 

“No, sir, you have it misunderstood. I…found something of someone who lives here and wanted to return it.”

 

“I see,” the man looked at the jacket that Yugi offered, “Yes, that belongs to Master Yami. He lost it yesterday evening.” He closed the door with a soft click and returned shortly with Yami in tow before leaving.

 

“You didn't have to return it. I could easily afford another. What's with the blanket, what happened to your…Never mind. I know what happened,” he glanced at Yugi's arm and the careful way he held himself up.

 

“I suppose I should've gone the rest of the way with you then.”

 

“No, it's better this way,” Yugi said. “I would've gotten beat even worse if you had shown up with me, carrying my things for me.”

 

“I see,” Yami noted. “At least let me get you a proper bandage.” He left for a minute and returned quickly with a thin shirt and bandages. Yami wrapped his open cuts and quietly pushed the shirt into his arms. “I'd give you a warmer one, but I think this one will be safer for you to wear around the family you serve if that's the way they acted about a borrowed jacket. Don't worry about paying me back for it. It's the best I can do under the circumstances.”

 

“It's alright, thank you. This means a lot to me.” Yugi was about to turn around to go home and paused. “Yami,” he tested, “that's your name, isn't it?”

 

Yami nodded.

 

“Why is it that you seem cold towards everything and always so indifferent about what's going on around you? Yet…around me…you seem just like Makoto?”

 

“No reason, really,” Yami shrugged, leaning against the doorframe with a bored sigh. “Everyone else just annoys me, I suppose. You should hurry.”

 

“Of course,” Yugi trudged through the snow again, waving and calling out a “thank you” before walking silently back to his family's house.