Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Something To Believe In ❯ Released ( Chapter 7 )

Yuri: Hi guys! Um, I really don't have any interesting news for you today so we'll just get right into the story. Thank you to the extraordinary Death By Storm for being my beta!

Yugi: Yuri does not own Yu-Gi-Oh. Trust me, it would not be rated PG if she did.

...Released...

Moments passed...

Minutes...

Eternity...

Or at least that's what it felt like.

No matter what Yugi did, he couldn't tear his eyes aware from the man leaning against the wall on the other side of his room. Thousands of thoughts flowed into his mind and at this moment, Yugi couldn't focus on any individual one. Was this his savior? This beautiful teen in front of him? Where did he come from? How did he get in his room? Who was he? But most importantly, was he even real? He didn't look real. He looked too transparent.

Yugi's eyes widened in realization as the thought struck him like a bullet. Was any of this real? Did he even wake up from last night? Did he even survive?

It all made sense. Why Yugi didn't have any scars on his arms. Why he felt so happy today. And why this image of human perfection was standing within his grasp. He was either dead or dreaming. Yugi began to hyperventilate as he frantically scanned the room for some evidence that this was all real. His eye quickly caught on the sharp glint of one of the shards from the broken cup on the floor. In one rapid movement, Yugi grabbed a shard and placed it to the inside of his arm... only to have someone violently snatch his wrist and yank his hand away.

With a shocked expression, Yugi looked up to see blazing crimson eyes, which suddenly didn't look as safe and alluring as they did moments before.

"DON'T even think about it!" The mysterious stranger hissed in a tone that clearly dared for the smaller one to defy him.

Yugi swallowed the lump of fear in his throat and let the shard in his hand drop to the floor. Slowly, the taller boy released his arm and retreated to the other side of the room. He stared out the window, letting his ruby eyes fall on a tall tree that was littered with different colored leaves. Yugi kept his gaze on the older boy while he rubbed his arm that still slightly hurt from the rough grasp of the older boy. It struck him as odd that even though the crimson-eyed youth was transparent, his grasp was as solid as any real person.

"W-who are you?"

"My name is Yami. I am the spirit that resides in the Millennium Puzzle," the young man said, his eyes still focused on the tree.

"The puzzle?" Yugi inquired. He glanced down at the puzzle wrapped around his neck.

"Yes, Aibou. It is my punishment," Yami replied. A touch of bitterness colored his voice.

"Your punishment?" Yugi asked, puzzled. He ignored the other's nickname for him for the moment. "Why?"

“I was a cruel and sadistic ruler. And so the gods locked my spirit away, determined to keep me in solitude for all of eternity. But...it appears as if the gods have given me another chance. My sole purpose is to protect you by any means necessary. If that includes protecting you from yourself...," Yami said. He cast his eyes down to the ground. "Then so be it."

Yugi didn't know whether to believe the incredible story but, nevertheless, he looked from the handsome spirit down to his clasped hands with saddened eyes.

Yugi's shoulders slumped. "I don't deserve to have you protect me...I mean, look at me. I'm pathetic. I'm worthless. I'm—"

The next sound that Yugi heard was the sound of the lamp beside his window smashing loudly against the wall.

"DON'T YOU EVER SPEAK OF YOURSELF LIKE THAT! I WILL NOT TOLERATE IT!" Yami said, his temper flaring, as he turned from the window to face the smaller boy. Yugi jumped at the other's harsh tone and looked at Yami in shock and disbelief. However, he didn't have time to say anything as Yami walked up to him and cupped his chin bringing their faces only inches apart.

"Do you understand?" Yami asked dangerously and all Yugi could do was nod his head. Yes, Yami was frightening, cold, and distant but it didn't matter. Yugi had already fallen for the boy the moment that he had looked in his lovely ruby eyes and he didn't even try to deny it. For a moment, Yugi wanted to lean in and claim the older boy's lips, but he quickly faltered. He wasn't about to chase away the only person who actually showed him some concern.

Right now Yugi was trapped in little game called love and as good as Yugi was at games, he felt as if this one was unbeatable. This was all so fast, but Yugi couldn't help it. His emotions ran rapid and all Yugi could think of was staying with Yami for the rest of his life. The moment he had seen those eyes, his fate had been sealed. He would fall madly in love with the one person whom he was positive he couldn't have. An untouchable, gorgeous spirit that embodied the darkness. His Yami.

It was at that moment that Yugi realized that Yami still had his hand clasped around his face and that they had been staring at each other for a good minute or two.

Slightly embarrassed, Yugi turned his gaze onto the floor. “I-I'm sorry.”

"Good," Yami responded to the quiet remark and then released his hold around Yugi's face. The dark spirit stalked back over to the bed and took a seat on the edge. He then settled for staring at Yugi with an unreadable expression that made Yugi squirm at the uneasiness in the room.

"Why don't you have your own body?" Yugi said.

"Because...," Yami said and then trailed off.

"Because what?" Yugi encouraged. His eyes narrowed with a small amount of annoyance.

Yami sighed impatiently. "Getting my own body would require a lot of strength from the both of us. It's very dangerous and you could die because of the immense drain of energy."

"But—" Yugi tried but was stopped by Yami's hand. How Yami knew what he was going to say was beyond his comprehension.

"Do not argue with me Aibou. Have you not noticed how much energy you are drained of when I merely try to use our mind link? I could have even lost you when I separated from you and escaped from the puzzle last night when you tried to kill yourself out of stupidity," Yami explained rather coldly.

Yugi flinched at the harsh comment and for a moment he could have sworn a pang of hurt flashed through Yami's eyes but it was gone as quickly as it came. "I'm sorry," Yugi repeated ashamed.

"Just don't do it again," Yami said.

Yugi nodded and then went back to their previous conversation. "So is that why I've been feeling more tired lately?" Yugi inquired. He had, in fact, been falling asleep a lot earlier than usual. He wasn't surprised when Yami nodded his head absently.

"And the dizzy spells?" Yugi asked. Everything was starting to fit into place.

"A mere side effect of all the energy that you have been losing lately," Yami said, leaning back on his hands. "You see Aibou, we are one. The moment you solved the puzzle, our souls became connected. In one sense, you could look at it as if I am your darkness and you are my light. When I finally gained enough power to take over your body today, it became too much for you and you fell unconscious. It's going to take a while became you become accustomed to using so much energy."

"Well that would explain the memory lapse earlier today..." Yugi said. "What happened that made you want to take over my body?"

"You wish to visit your friend, Ryou?" Yami said completely changing the subject.

"Oh no you're not, you're going to answer my—wait a minute...how did you know?" Yugi asked shocked that Yami knew exactly what he wanted to do.

"We have a mind link Aibou. I know what you feel and what you're thinking," Yami explained. At the horrified expression on Yugi's face, he hastened to add, "However that doesn't mean I intrude on all your thoughts. You can easily block me out if you wish."

Yugi, however, widened his eyes at the confession. "You're that voice I've been hearing lately?"

"Yes," Yami said.

After a few more seconds of silence, Yugi looked up and smiled weakly. "Will you come with me to Ryou's house?"

He didn't want to leave the spirit alone fearing, that he would disappear forever if he so much as blinked.

"Okay Aibou," Yami said and in an instant the older vanished. When no trace of the older could be found, Yugi began to hyperventilate again, thinking that Yami had disappeared.

"I'm right here Aibou. I'll always be right beside you," a deep voice said reassuringly in the back of his mind.

Yugi's heart slowed as he placed a small hand over the puzzle around his neck. For a moment, he thought that he was just imagining everything. "Promise?" Yugi said hoping that what the other spoke was true.

"Yes," was all Yami said and Yugi sighed in relief.

It still surprised him how quickly he had fallen for the other but then again Yami was smart, beautiful, confident, and strong. However, even though Yugi had only known the spirit for a short time, he could tell that the other had a raging temper which made him beyond dangerous. Hopefully he wouldn't do anything to get Yami mad because it really hurt him when the older yelled at him. At this point, all he wanted to do was make Yami happy.

Yugi pushed those thoughts to the side for the time being and instead threw on his coat and walked out the door.

…

Jou slowly dragged himself down a street in his neighbourhood. He wasn't exactly sure if he was going the right way, but he had lost his sense of direction a few days ago. And besides, it didn't really matter to him. He was in no rush to get home to the unbearable silence that greeted him day after day.

He was actually thinking about the events that took place a few days prior. The night that he had run into Keith and his infamous gang. That night, his clothes had been stripped and he had been touched in places that made his body shiver and vomit rise in his throat. However, by some unknown miracle, he had managed to escape with only being molested instead of being raped as well.

But now, he had become paranoid. The overwhelming fear that Keith was right around the next corner made his senses go into overdrive. He couldn't sleep and he couldn't eat. His mind was so badly deprived that he couldn't think straight. He felt as if his body would give in at any moment and he would crumble into a lifeless heap on the streets.

There was only one thing keeping him sane. One light in his darkened life. And that came in the form of a blue-eyed CEO. The hope that one day Jou would be able to confess to Kaiba his undying love kept him breathing. However, the belief that Kaiba felt the same way was dissipating with each passing day. And once that assurance was gone, Jou feared that there would be nothing in this life to live for anymore.

His memories were put on hold when a rough hand pulled him into a nearby alleyway and threw him up against the wall. “Thought you could just get away like that and I wouldn't come looking for your sorry ass, you little shit!” Keith yelled in Jou's face.

At this moment, Keith was alone and if Jou wasn't in such poor shape then he could have probably taken Keith out. As Jou struggled and squirmed within the tight grasp, he could feel his eyes getting heavy and his body growing weaker. Those sleepless days were finally catching up with him. But why did it have to be right now? His pleas fell on deaf ears as Keith continued to beat on the blonde youth.

He guessed, in the end though, it really didn't matter. Eventually, Keith was going to find him and rape him anyway. Why not just get it over with. He was already traumatized enough as it was. What Jou didn't put into account was the possibility the man of his dreams would come rescue him.

“Let. Him. Go.” A deep, icy voice spat.

Keith glanced warily to the side to notice a tall brunet and completely ignored it when the blonde in his hold gasped. “Says who?” Keith asked, amused

The blue eyes of the newcomer narrowed tremendously. “I do. Now if you would please hand me over Katsuya, then maybe I will spare your life.”

Keith's laughter rang throughout the small alleyway. After a few seconds, the blonde bandit turned his attention back to the broken boy in his arms. “Why are you interested in such a dirty piece of shit like Katsuya? What does he mean to you?” Keith ran a finger down Jou's cheek.

The brunet growled in the back of his throat and hissed out: “He obviously means nothing to you, so why not just hand him over. If you disobey then there will be dire consequences.”

Keith glared at the other boy and eyed him suspiciously. The tone in his voice was intimidating to say the least and Keith was all alone. Deciding that he would have plenty of more opportunities later, Keith shoved Jou towards the blue-eyed youth.

“Take him, but I will find him,” Keith said before disappearing into a nearby corner.

Kaiba was well intent on killing Keith at that very moment, but the fact that Katsuya had passed out prevented him from doing so. Kaiba leaned the blonde up against the wall and searched his body for any external injuries but what he found was even more horrifying. It was obvious that Jou hadn't eaten in several days and the same went for sleep. The teen's body was so thin that Kaiba's stomach turned at the sight of him.

Flipping out his cell phone, Kaiba dialed a number and quickly ordered the person on the other end of the phone to send a car. Collecting the large bundle in his arms, Kaiba stood to his feet and walked out towards the main street and waited impatiently for his car to arrive.

Making sure that he was aware of his surroundings in such a miserable neighborhood such as this, Kaiba watched every movement on Jou's face with a critical eye. As much as he wanted to deny it, he knew that it was pointless. Whatever Jou was going through, it was his fault. When Kaiba had left school all that time ago, it wasn't because he had a project at his company to work on, it was because he had began to have feelings for the blonde.

He refused to let himself believe it, but every day that Kaiba spent in Jou's company, it had become painfully evident. Kaiba couldn't allow himself to fall in love with Jou, so he thought that separating himself from the blonde was the only way to avoid to that catastrophe. However, with each passing day, Kaiba felt the need for Jou grow stronger and eventually he had let himself see the truth that had been staring him in the face all this time. He was in love with Katsuya.

There was no use denying it any longer. And maybe if he hadn't have denied it in the first place then none of this would have ever happened. Jou would already be living at his house and would have been taken care of. That is, if Jou even felt the same way, which Kaiba doubted. But if he didn't leave Jou alone, then maybe the blonde wouldn't be so miserable. But Kaiba was never one to dwell on the past. All he could do now was make up for lost time.

The car pulled up and Kaiba placed Jou on the seat gently before getting in himself. The car door slammed shut and the sleek, black vehicle drove off into the darkening streets.

…

Yugi decided that it would be best to take the shortcut today. Currently, he was walking through the Domino Park which seemed completely void of human life. He still couldn't believe everything that had happened. Yugi had taken to reaching out to Yami through their mindlink every few minutes. Every time Yami would reassure the smaller that he was still there.

Yugi suddenly paused in his walking to gaze at the sight in front of him. The sun was just beginning to set and a small wind accompanied the cloudy sky as the sun took its final bow for the day. In an instant, Yami appeared beside him and stared intensely as the scene as well. The rays of the sun hit Yami's defined features beautifully and illuminated his silky tan.

“I wish I could help Jou with everything he is going through. I wish I could be a shoulder for him to lean on. I want to share his burden with him,” Yugi whispered aloud as he continued to stare at the beautiful colors that the setting sun casted off on the clouds.

“You can't. You are far too weak,” Yami responded icily without looking at him. The knife that ripped through Yugi's heart made a cold chill travel throughout his body. How could Yami be so cruel? Couldn't Yami see how deeply in love he was with him? After a minute of heart-wrenching silence, the deep, baritone voice of Yugi's beloved made itself known.

“Aibou…” Yami spoke in a serious tone catching Yugi's attention all the while keeping his gaze on the horizon. Yugi hesitantly looked up at his secret love and watched as the gentle breeze made the scarlet-eyed youth's hair dance restlessly. The next words that escaped Yami's smooth lips made his heart skip a beat.

“Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something,” Yami said softly. He turned towards Yugi. “Not even me.”

Yugi searched Yami's exotic eyes for any hint of what the older was feeling right now. However, Yami's expression was as always, unreadable.

By the time he had realized what was happening, it was too late. Yami's lips had already claimed his in a desperate kiss. He didn't know what heaven felt like, but Yugi was pretty sure he was in it. The way Yami brushed his tongue across his bottom lip was electrifying. The way Yami pressed their bodies together was exhilarating. The thrill that shivered down his spine when Yami's hands explored his frail body was invigorating.

“Forgive me, my sweet tenshi,” was the last words that Yugi heard before he blacked out. Yami let Yugi's body fall into his arms and held the smaller boy close. “But it's for your own good,” Yami whispered into Yugi's ear as he withdrew the black magic that he had forced into Yugi's mind. It had been what had caused the other to fall unconscious and his memory to be erased.

Yami refused to let his feelings for the small angel to become known, for it would distract him from his purpose, which was to protect the amethyst-eyed teen. He could not let his feelings get in the way of that. If that meant that Yami could never express his unconditional love for the being in his arms that embodied the purest light from heaven, his Hikari, then he would have to learn to live with it.

Yami let his eyes close and felt a warm light surround him. When he re-opened his eyes, he had taken over Yugi's body, fully aware that the other was sleeping peacefully in his soulroom. He glanced in the direction of Ryou's house and then back to where they came from. He let his legs begin to move and whispered to himself that there would be plenty of time to see Ryou tomorrow but that now his Aibou needed to rest.

...

“Ryou!” A dark, sinister voice bellowed from the kitchen. The young teen limped into the kitchen, wincing with every step. Ryou looked up from the floor to see narrowed brown, almost black, eyes that shone with darkness. The owner of those eyes twirled a sharp blade between his fingers, and his pure white hair spiked out in ways that made the youth look even more demonic.

“Yes Bakura?” Ryou said meekly even though it hurt his stomach to talk due to the huge black and blue bruise that colored his pale skin. Bakura was obviously amused.

“Where ever did you go?” Bakura asked feigning concern as he circled the hurting boy. The smirk on his face was scary and intimidating, but Ryou didn't even flinch as Bakura lightly dragged the blade down the side of his cheek. Ryou had learned the previous night when Bakura had appeared from that cursed Millennium Ring that he had found that Bakura would never mark his face. It was too pretty, as Bakura put it.

“I had to put my `old' clothes in the wash,” Ryou answered obediently. He didn't mean old clothes though; he had meant the clothes from last night that was stained in his blood from his beating. Since then he had suffered two more and he had felt the third on the horizon.

“Without telling me first?” Bakura said narrowing his eyes even further as he yanked Ryou's head back by his long silvery hair.

“I'm sorry Bakura,” Ryou said slightly panicking. “I—“

Ryou was roughly thrown to the ground and he curled up in a small ball when a sharp kick hit his stomach. “How pathetic,” Bakura spat in disgust. “You are so weak! You have no backbone Ryou and damnit I'll beat it into you, I swear it!”

Ryou tried his best to hold back his tears. Bakura hated it when he cried. It was just another form of weakness and, when Ryou had burst into tears this morning, he had gotten the beating of his life. He was saved from any further scrutiny when the doorbell rang making him jump slightly.

“Pull yourself together!” Bakura demanded harshly. “It appears that we have company.”

Ryou struggled to his feet and tossed on one of his long sleeve sweaters. Cautiously, Ryou made his way to the door with Bakura close behind him. Leaning his back against the wall beside the door, Bakura watched darkly as Ryou cracked open the door just enough to see who was on the other side.

“Malik,” Bakura heard his weaker counterpart exclaim. “What are you doing here?”

Malik, who was watching Ryou intently from the doorway, replied: “You weren't at school today so I came to check on you. Is everything alright?”

“Of course. I just wasn't feeling well,” Ryou answered quickly.

Malik nodded and eyes the suspicious boy curiously. He noticed the way the Ryou had not opened the door to invite him in like the boy usually did. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

“Can I come in?” Malik asked. He watched as Ryou hesitantly glanced at something beside him.

“Oh I don't know. My house is kind of a mess,” Ryou lied, which Malik immediately caught on to.

With a stern and hard tone, Malik said, “Let. Me. In.”

Ryou sighed and reluctantly opened the door all the way and moved to the side to allow Malik full access into his house. Malik took advantage of this and made his way into the living room looking for anything out of place.

“Can I get you something?” Ryou asked while glancing around the room as if he was looking for something.

“What's wrong Ryou?” Malik asked impatiently. He could feel the tense atmosphere around them. Something definitely didn't feel right.

“Nothing Malik—“ Ryou tried even though he knew the other could see right through him.

“Don't lie to me! What happened?” Malik demanded impatiently grabbing the other by the arm only to have Ryou recoil at the touch. Malik gazed at him suspiciously. He hadn't grabbed him that hard. Ryou almost acted as if his arm was…

“Too many questions will get you killed,” Bakura said suddenly appearing from the dark corner of the room. Malik eyed the new arrival wearily and, in an instant, the rod on Malik's hip began to glow dimly. The Egyptian's entire appearance changed including his hair, body, and eyes. Ryou just stared at the person that had been his childhood friend a mere second ago incredulously. He also felt his own consciousness begin to slip away and in the next moment, his mind had been engulfed in darkness.

“Bakura,” the man who had taken over Malik's body said as he watched the said albino take over a smaller chocolate-eyed youth's body who was without a doubt his host.

“Marik,” Bakura said with a large smirk. “It has been a while.”

“Too long,” Marik agreed as he kept a stern stare on his old acquaintance. If Bakura was here, then that also meant that—

“What has become of our dear Pharaoh?” Bakura said, interrupting his thoughts.

“I'm not sure where but he is indeed here,” Marik replied.

Bakura's crazed look intensified and an evil smile crept onto his face. “Good. Because I believe he owes me a rematch.”

…TBC...

Yuri: So by beta pointed out some things that you guys might be wondering right about now and I just wanted to tell you guys not to worry because Marik, Bakura, and Yami's relationship with each other will be described in FULL detail in later chapters. Also Ryou and Bakura's relationship is also going to be put under the microscope, pulling in the next chapter. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! Please REVIEW!!

Yugi: See you all next week!