Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Snow ❯ Chapter 1

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Snow

Delicate is the snow, delicate is my heart…

The city of Domino was blanketed with ice, flurries swirling through the empty town, everyone tucked into the warmth of their homes. No one was on the streets.

Except a lone figure who struggled against the wind.

A hoodie and jeans wrapped around their thin frame was the only thing that shielded them from the wind and ice. But it wasn't enough. Not that it mattered. When you have been cold on the inside as long as he has, the outside didn't matter as much.

Step by painstaking step, he made his way to the largest home in that city. Kaiba Manor. There, he knew, he could find refuge from the storm outside and the one swirling around inside of him if not for a week then for a moment.

He could still remember back then when everything was simple. When hikari smiles didn't conceal cruel intentions. When a duel didn't equal torture and friends…friends didn't cause pain. That person wasn't there when he needed him most but that was ok. He didn't realize that the one who everyone deemed the kindest was the most heartless.

Now he was here, two years later and he hoped that that person wouldn't turn him away. Maybe if he offered something worth their time, he could have a warm bed that night. A duel was out since his tormenter, smiling, had taken his deck from him. No, this offering had to be more…physical…

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Seto Kaiba was having a rare peaceful evening at home. He actually managed to get Mokuba to go to bed though he did hear the occasional sounds of video games coming from his room but he ignored it for now. He sat in front of the fire, a novel in hand, and a cup of gourmet hot chocolate steaming in the mug beside him. Soft jazz played from the stereo in concerto to the smell of rosewood incense sticks that permeated the air. Yes, this was heaven.

Little did he know about the hell outside his door…

The doorbell rang, interrupting his reading. With a sigh, he got up, deeply regretting letting the servants go on holiday leave. But seriously, who in their right mind is outside in this monster of a storm? He went to the door and opened it.

The frail figure standing before him swayed slightly in the wind, the flash of blond his only clue as to the identity of the figure. Seto stepped aside to let them in, his eyes taking in the frayed clothing and wondering why were they in such a state. When they reached down and took off their oversized army boots, the hoodie slid up a bit, revealing the thin almost skeletal form underneath which was covered by a hodgepodge of injuries.

“Yami.”

The named looked over his shoulder at him, granting Seto a look at his face.

Yami had always been delicate but his face now looked as if one would gently glance it, it would break. Deep bags lined where kohl once been, his cheekbones dominantly sticking out. The rest of his face was hollow where the skin streached over bone. His skin tone was an ashen gray, a mockery of his usually healthy bronze. A cut, obviously infected, slashed across his forehead; a bruise decorated the corner of his mouth.

But his eyes, his eyes haunted Seto.

Their usual fire was gone, replaced with the look of someone beaten and kicked many a time. One of them was not pointed at Seto leading him to come to the conclusion that they didn't work right. But the other…

Yami put a smile on his face that somehow aged him, giving him the look of general that has been to war too many times.

“Hello, Kaiba”

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Yami curled up on the couch, watching Seto with his good eye, in his small hands was a mug of hot Tea. He didn't know the elder Kaiba could cook and regretted that he wouldn't be able to taste it without ill effects. But for now, the warmth was enough…

“so…are you going to explain to me why you look like death warmed over?”

Yami looked up and gave a broken smile.

“I would but it is a… complex situation.” The former spirit said, lowering his head to increase his contact with the hot steam rising from the cup.

“so you would rather that I would wonder why that you are barely dressed, injured and skeletal, walking around in what the weather goons are calling the `storm of the century'?” Seto said, glaring at Yami, though with no heat.

“yes. It's simpler that way. No need for you to get involved.” Yami replied softly.

“well that idea ended the minute you walked in, I'm calling Yugi.” The CEO pulled out his cell phone but before he knew it the mobile device was hanging above his head, a good foot out of his reach. “the hell Yami?!”

“I'm sorry but I can't allow you to call him.” Yami said, now on his feet. The cup lay smashed on the floor, the tea slowly staining the carpet.

“why not? Isn't he your light or whatever?!” Seto said jumping in an attempt to reach his phone. In his mind he swore never to make fun of short people again.

“he is but…” Yami trailed off, his eyes dimming as memories flooded back to him.

“but what?” Seto said, giving up on his phone. He'll just have to wait until Yami gave it back.

Yami didn't answer him, lost in his thoughts. After a moment tears ran down his face. Seto became alarmed. The last time he had seen Yami cry was at Yugi's grandfather's funeral. Something seriously must be wrong.

“Yami? Yami, it's ok. I won't call Yugi, alright? Please stop crying.” Seto begged, putting his hand on the smaller man's shoulder.

That seemed to snap Yami out of it. He flinced away from Seto's touch, and whiped his tears away with the back of his sleeve.

“I'm sorry. Just bad memories getting to me. Anyway, what were we talking about?”

“oh nothing, just how you are going to stay here until your wounds heal.”

“what?” Yami looked at him, shocked.

“you heard me.” He said, gently taking Yami's hand and leading him to the first aid room he had set up for when Mokuba hurt himself playing soccer. He dug through the medicines and bandages to find an eyepatch. He tied it over Yami's lazy eye and after stepping back decided that this was the best time to work on the other injuries as well.

“but Kaiba, I have no way to repay you. my deck was…stolen. And I am completely broke.”

Seto had paused at the word `stolen' because he knew Yami was nowhere near that careless so someone must have beaten him near death to prie that deck from him…which would explain the larcerations. Ignoring it, he replied,

“don't worry about it. Just think of it as payback with intrest on the many times you saved Mokuba and I. Now take off your shirt and sit on the table.”

Yami hesitated then sat on the examination table as Seto hunted for medicine and bandages, muttering to himself that he seriously needed to reorganize the room. Once the other man's was back was turned, Yami slowly removed his upper clothing.

Seto turned once he found all the necessarily materials and almost dropped them in shock.

Yami was in a far worse shape than he thought, his skeletal from covered with cuts bruises and various discolorations. On his lower stomach, just above his navel was a burned in infinity symbol as if someone branded him. And this was just the front.

Yami looked up with heavily lidded eyes.

“well, Kaiba…are you sure you want to get involved?”

there was silence as the snow and hail beat against the manor.

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Mitzumi: oh yeah…this is going to be the new A Cutter's Tears, prideshipping edition. No supernatural this time. Mostly horror, abuse, angst, and drama…you get it. Plz review.