The Dead of Night
Chapter 1
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I was a fanfiction.net author who
went by the same penname but I was deleted from the site for reasons I’m yet to
discover, so I made my way here!
Dedicated to Shinigami
Tenshi for betaing again!
You are my goddess *bows*
cheer up,” a tall blonde male shouted over the din of the mass, smiling, giving
his vertically challenged friend a shove with his hand, “I promised you, you
were going to enjoy tonight and I meant it.” He stood up from his hunched
position to momentarily scour the crowds and bent down again to Yuugi’s level,
a grin from ear to ear. “Maybe we’ll even find you a boyfriend,” he whispered,
close to his ear, tapping his nose provocatively as he leant back. Yuugi tried
to smile. He did his very best.
“Jounouchi-kun,
w- we’re too young for this kind of thing…” he mumbled, more to himself then
anyone. Jounouchi hadn’t heard him, but what had Yuugi been expecting? It
wasn’t as th any anyone ever listened anyway. He never wanted to go. None of
his friends quite understood how big a step this was for him and the thought
made him feel anxious. Deadly anxious. Yami had warned
him away – no, he’d ordered him away, demanded he
kindness, not rebellion, he’d ignored his other self and defied his
intuition. He only hoped, prayed, Yami would never find out about it.
They hadn’t even gone in yet
and already Yuugi was terrified. All kinds of visions and images were calved
into his mind about this place. Its reputation preceded it, even into high
school and the petite teen hadn’t any intention of finding out the truth behind
the rumour. He dragged his clammy palms over his hips, clad with tight,
black leather, impossibly tight, the silver-black akin to his boots, partially
concealed by a hem that was marginally too long. His shirt was scarlet,
revealing a goectiection of his back- more than the teen felt comfortable with
– but it had sleeves that, thankfully, were long, flaring at the wrist. The
outfit was Jounouchi’s idea. Yuugi had protested against it, but he’d even been
ordered not to wear his studded collar…he couldn’t imagine why.
Shifting from one foot to
the other, he edged closer to his best friend for warmth, but there was no
comfort in the gesture. “Where are the others?” he asked, a sense of panic
embracing him. He wanted Anzu
to arrive soon. She hadn’t been keen on the whole idea either, so at least he
would have someone who shared his qualms and fears. Only, there was no sign of
her or any of his other friends. It was just he and Jounouchi and as much as he
loved the tall blonde, and as much as he wanted to believe he would take care
of him whatever happened he knew that his friend was headstrong and did things
more stupid than he’d have liked.
“They’ll be here soon,”
ouchouchi answered, giving Yuugi’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze, “don’t look
so worried.” Yuugi took a laboured breath, endeavouring to steady his tattered
nerves. He could feel his hands trembling in his pockets, the
making him feel worse. It was cold. All he wanted was to curl up in bed and
sleep, but Jounouchi looked so hyped. He’d talked about this place non-stop all
week and who was Yuugi to tell him he couldn’t go? So, instead of rejecting his
offer to accompany him when the taller youth asked, Yuugi reluctantly agreed
through fear of hurting his friend’s feelings. He was beginning to wish he’d
taken his own feelings into account.
At least he could try and keep
Jounouchi out of trouble.
A clamour rose from the gathered
crowd, screams of excitement, a wave of adrenaline cursing through each person
at the prospect of the unknown, an evocative mystery about to unfold. Yuugi
looked up at Jounouchi. The same anticipation had gripped him. “The doors are
opening!” he said, clasping Yuugi’s freezing hand in his, “I think they’re
letting people in! Come on, let’s get to the front!”
“But Jounouchithe other’s haven’t arrived yet-” he tried to protest as he was dragged through
the throng of people, apologising as he was swung to and fro into those around
him. Before he had time to think, they were both right at the front of the
evolving queue. For a fleeting moment, as the bouncer looked them over with a
keen eye, he thought they might be rejected- after all, they were underage and Yuugi
certainly didn’t look eighteen – but to Yuugi’s utter surprise and dismay, they
were allowed to enter without a word. He thought that was slightly…odd.
Jounouchi practically
bounced in through the doors, Yuugi trailing along behind with his head hung,
the steady boom of the music drifting from within to mimic the frantic beat of
his heart, thudding inside his chest. He suddenly felt like crying.
The far doors, presumably
the entrance, had a small glass window, streams of multi-coloured lights
flickering in the dark corridor to light the way, as if urging the dancers
forward, but somehow for Yuugi, the light was all the more unnerving. Jounouchi
hadn’t noticed his discomfort as the smaller followed like a lost puppy,
clinging to the elasticised waist of Jounouchi’s black jeans as they ascended a
set of stairs leading to the main section, too afraid to let go.
The taller blonde pushed the
door open to be greeted with deep red shafts of light, fading to orange,
yellow, blue, green, and purple. The music had grown louder; deafening base
beat vibrating in their chests, reverberating off the carpeted walls, stimulating
the crowd into motion, undulating guitar riffs lighting a fire of desire. All
around them people were dancing, sweat-slickened bodies grinding against each
other, swinging their hips, all of their cares, responsibilities, and concerns
thrown blindly to the wind. The place felt alive, energy radiating from every
inch of the room. This was what Jounouchi had heard about - the dancing,
the talent, the music. Having
a good time was the only thing on his mind.
There were other concerns
marauding on Yuugi’s mind, much more sordid and perverse thoughts. He shuddered
apprehensively. What if the rumours were true?
“Let’s get a drink! Jounouchi
announced and though he’d shouted it, Yuugi only just caught what he said. He
shook his head vehemently, feebly attempting to pull the taller away from the
direction he was heading.
“Jounouchi-kun,
jii-chan will kill
me if he finds out not to mention Yami!” he whimpered, begging with his eyes as
well as his words. Jounouchi patted his head softly.
“It’s just one drink Yuugi, it Yuugi gawped at the array of “What can I get you, mate?” Yuugi’s “Um… a B a Bacardi please…” “Don’t want anything “Just a Bacardi,” the blonde “--and what’ll it be for Yuugi batted the toxic substance Yuugi considered saying no, but “Don’t worry, you won’t want “Are you going to drink “Y-yes,” he stammered, “Can I buy you a drink, “No, I’m fine with this, “Oh come on, it’s just one “Really, I don’t want “Stubborn one, are we “I told, you…” He Jounouchi-kun, please come back “I’m going to find my
won’t do any harm. It’ll help you to loosen up a bit too.” Yuugi frowned. He
didn’t feel any inclination to ‘loosen up.’ “Please Yuugi, just one, I promise
– then we can go and wait outside for the others to come if you want to?” Yuugi’s
face lit up appreciatively and he nodded, again trailing behind his best friend
towards the exceptionally busy bar. Jounouchi hopped up onto a stool, pulling
up another from beside him for Yuugi, “so what’ll it be short stuff?”
drinks on offer, eyes settling on a small sized bottle of Bacardi
shelf, laden with myriad other alcoholic beverages, some Yuugi had never heard
of before.
gaze transferred, finding the barman standing in front of him waiting for a
reply. Yuugi leaned closer, maintaining the distance between him and the man
beside him who was staring at him lecherously.
he said, trying to force his voice to remain steady and calm. The barman’s
eyebrow arched. Suspicion?
No, there was something different behind that look.
stronger?” he asked, picking up a bottle of Jack
Daniel’s, slamming it down on the bar. Yuugi shook his head timidly,
looking to Jounouchi for support.
demanded. The barman’s gaze shifted to him, eyes narrowed momentarily before
the threatening grimace was replaced by a friendly smile, an almost believable
cover.
you…mate,” he strained, unclipping the metal cap before handing the
bottle to Yuugi. He grasped it between his fingers, considering absent-mindedly
how alien it felt to be holding a bottle of alcohol, but reminded
situation was alien. He felt out of place. Why had no one noticed he was only
sixteen? Perhaps Jounouchi passed for an adult, but…he was only just five
feet.
back and forth between his hands, deliberating if he should drink it or not
whilst Jounouchi downed the shot he’d just purchased; shoving half a lemon
between his teeth seconds after the burning sensation assailed his throat. “Hey
Yuugi, I’m going to find out where the toilets are – will you be ok by yourself
for a few minutes?”
thougetteetter of it. “I’ll be fine…” he settled for, smiling weakly. Jounouchi
returned the smile with more enthusiasm, ruffling Yuugi’s hair.
to leave when we have to – don’t go anywhere,” he laughed, winking. He hopped
off his seat, in seconds vanishing into the crowd of clubbers, leaving Yuugi
all by himself. He folded his arms, hands gripping his forearms, feeling
suddenly vulnerable and exposed. The man beside him had moved closer, so close
the teen could smell the spicy scent of his aftershave.
that?” Yuugi turned his head sideways, looking the man in the eye for a second
beforeningning away again. His hair was dark, almost black, the light giving it
a slight tint, and balanced on the edge of his nose was a pair of sunglasses,
his grey eyes peering over the top of them, straight into Yuugi’s.
nervously fingering the base of the bottle. He could see the man smiling out of
the corner of his eye, and he took a swig from the drink to prove his point. It
didn’t taste so bad, in fact, it tasted just like
orange fanta.
sugar?”
thanks,” Yuugi replied. He wasn’t stupid enough to fall into that trap.
drink,” he persisted, leaning around the teen to see him better. He pointed at
the bottle in Yuugi’s hand, “that won’t last you all night- hey, barman!” The
aforementioned finished dealing with the previous customer, unaware that Yuugi
had seen him pass a key to another man in exchange for some money –quite a
lot of money. What tha that about? “G and T for my friend here,” he
continued, slapping him on the shoulder quite roughly. Maybe he was drunk.
disposed.
another drink,” Yuugi said stiffly, shrugging the leeching man away.
sugar?” he slid his glasses up his nose with his index finger, “I’m sure I can
change that – barman, make that two G and T’s.”
stopped short when he found a hand on his leg, sliding back and forth along his
thigh. “W-what are you doing?” The man wasn’t smiling anymore, he was grinning
in amusement like this was a fun game. To him, it
probably was, but to Yuugi it was the unfolding of a nightmare. Didn’t it
always started out this way?
soon, he thought to himself, watching,
frozen, the spider-like fingers trailing his leg. The barman placed two glasses
down, one in front of each of them, oblivious of the goings on beneath the bar.
His concerns no doubt lay elsewhere.
friend,” he said, sliding off ttooltool, relieved the creeping hand was away
from him. He squeezed his way past people, dodging beneath flailing arms until
he encountered a sign for the toilets. Jounouchi was nowhere in sight, but then
he could have been inside. He took up a position beside the door, leaning up
against the wall. It seemed he’d stumbled into the lover’s corner.
Surrounded by couples, kissing, groping, confident probing of each other’s
bodies in places too private for polite conversation, the teen felt grossly
uncomfortable, embarrassed, nauseated
by the humidity. What on earth was he doing in a place like this? Knotting
his fingers together, Yuugi swallowed deeply, hoping beyond hope that Jounouchi
would be out soon. He daren’t go in there alone. Jounouchi could take care of
himself, but he knew he was at risk. Or was he being paranoid…? He wished Yami
was with him. At least when he was around, Yuugi felt safe, loved, not leered
at like fresh meat to be devoured.
with Yami for a moment, hoping it would distract him. If he ever found out he
betrayed his trust after promising not to come with Jounouchi, his life
wouldn’t be worth living, not to mention, Yami would be truly and deeply hurt.
He’d once told his hikari that he felt he could trust him
whole-heartedly; no flicker of doubt ever embracing his mind, knowing that deep
down Yuugi would never defy
his wishes. They’d promised to trust one another.
How wrong he’d been. Yuugi felt a
pang of guilt overcome him. Yami had uncanny ways of finding things out. He was
stupid to think he wouldn’t know what he’d been up to as soon as he walked
through the door the following morning.
The door to his right swung open
and to Yuugi’s utter relief, Jounouchi emerged. “Didn’t I say to stay where you
were?” he asked, frowning, but not angrily. It was clear how uncomfortable Yuugi
looked by the giveaway manner in which he was fiddling with the buttons on his
shirt, amethyst eyes set firmly on one target in case they should stray to
something he had little desire to witness.
“I know, but there was this guy at
the bar-” Yuugi began, only to be interjected again.
“Did he try something?” Jounouchi
said, fists clenching defensively. Yuugi nodded sullenly and Jounouchi’s
features contorted in anger. “Where is he? I’ll teach him not to mess with my
friends!”
“Jounouchi-kun, don’t, he didn’t
hurt me or anything!” Yuugi pleaded, hanging off his arm, “he just made me feel
uncomfortable.” He lowered his head. “This whole place does.”
“Do you hate it that much?”
Jounouchi said, big chocolate
brown eyes mournful and sad. He should have known better than to bring his
small friend here, but Yuugi’s heart bled. He didn’t want to make them leave-
it wouldn’t be fair after he’d agreed to come in the first place. Swallowing, Yuugi
shook his head, perking up a little and Jounouchi smiled softly, “that’s the
spirit!! Come on, I need another drink!”
“But Jounouchi, didn’t you say we
could wait for the others-” He was cut off when Jounouchi grabbed onto his hand
again, tugging him through the mass to the bar. Yuugi found his drink was
still there, as was the G and T the creep who was plaguing
took up a seat by the bar whilst Jounouchi ordered another drink, and then
after explaining to Yuugi what his plans were, the smaller watched in amusement
as the tall blonde flitted from person to person, eyeing them up and down,
purposely squeezing between crowds of people, most of which were practically
half naked. Closing his eyes, taking another slow sip, he listened to the
music, giving in to the temptation to tap along to the steady rhythmic tunes
that were hypnotically charging, provoking a response out of his body. He
fought against the urge to get up and dance – he wasn’t the clubbing type,
especially not to heavy metal. He couldn’t do that whole
Jounouchi. He was nowhere in sight. Feeling a very slight twinge of panic,
he sat up straight, scouring back and forth over the heads of the dancers. No
where. He’d gone. Yuugi’s brow creased in frustration and fear. The crowd size
had increased. How would he ever find him this time?!
It was him again, the same man with the same twisted grin smothered
across his face.
“No,” Yuugi said, no longer
in the mood for the flirtatious fiend plaguing him. The man glanced at the full
glass of G and T on the bar, noting it hadn’t been touched.
inwardly at the irony of that statement, but otherwise ignored him. “Oh don’t
be like that!” he sneered, standing to his full height in an attempt to be
intimidating.
“I’m NOT interested!”
Jounouchi amongst the horde. The hindrance standing on front of him chuckled.
“How do you know? Do you even know
what I want?”
“I have a pretty good idea,” Yuugi
answered. He may have been able to see the good in everyone, someone who
trusted easily, but he wasn’t a complete fool and he’d most certainly
had enough. For the second time that night, Yuugi moved to slide from his chair
only this time his admirer moved with him, hands curling around him to pin the
petite youth to the bar with very little hope of escape.
“You’re not eighteen are you?” he
guessed, leaning in close.
Far too close.
“W-what makes you think that?” Yuugi
replied, pulling away. The man stroked his cheek gently, warm breath ghosting
against his ear. Yami often performed a similar affectionate gesture, but
this…this was very, very different. This man didn’t share the same attributes –
not the same warm smile, nor the same adoring eyes, not the tender voice that
calmed him, or the way his arms curled around him if he was scared.
“There are kids like you in here
every week. I can spot them a mile away,” he hissed, tongue whipping out to
taste his skin, “you happen to be one of the extraordinarily cute ones Yuugi
Muto.”
“H-how do you -?”
“You’re a renowned duellist Yuugi,
everyone knows you. I’m lucky I spotted you first…”
“Get away from me!” Yuugi
retorted, attempting to barge his way out, past the arms working as barriers
halting his escape. He considered calling Yami. He may be angry that Yuugi had
disobeyed him, but at least he would be safe…but then another thought occurred.
Yami would be so disappointed in him; maybe never trust him again! That was the
last thing he wanted… “I told you, I’m not interested in you! Leave me alone.” Yuugi
pressed his hands to the man’s shoulders, pushing as hard as he could but he
hardly moved and the other laughed mockingly. Yuugi’s heart thumped wildly in
his chest. How was he going to get out of this one? No one seemed to care how
frightened he looked.
“Please, j-just let go…” His
smile, if possible, widened.
“Alright, I will, but you have to
do something for me first.” Yuugi’s heart sank, “let me you you, and then
we’ll see.”
“Forget it-” He wasn’t having any
of that. Before Yuugi could even finish his dissent, his lips were enveloped
with warmth, an uninvited tongue thrusting into his mouth. Yuugi’s yelp was
drowned out, but no one would have heard him. He felt like being sick – not
even Yami had shared something as intimate with him as a kiss. What did he
think he was doing? He hadn’t wanted his first kiss to come and go so quickly.
At least he would remember it.
He struggled up until and over the
point where he pulled away, flushed with revulsion and anger. Just as he was
about to explode with fury, the man stepped back, releasing him, but Yuugi was
too speechless to move, infuriated that the other just stood their grinning
snidely. “You- you…!”
“Now, that wasn’t so bad was it,
sugar?” he remarked, flicking his hand dismissively.
“That’s sexual assault!” Yuugi
cried, eyes brimming with tears of rage and grief. Evidently the man didn’t
care. Smiling, tapping Yuugi’s thigh with his palm, he walked away. Yuugi’s lip
trembled, but no, he wouldn’t cry in the middle of a club filled with people.
He wished Jounouchi were there.
A wave of dizziness struck him
that moment and he gripped the stool so as not to fall, one hand rubbing his
temples. That was sudden. Surely one bottle of Bacardi
quickly? That was the last straw…
:: Yami? ::
No answer. His mind felt hazy and
clouded. He wasn’t even sure he’d reached his darker half. He tried to blink
away the blurriness his eyes had succumbed to, rubbing them, blinking again,
but to no avail. The whole place was spinning. The dancing figures were
distorting. In fact, where was he? He couldn’t even focus enough to remember.
He slumoff off his seat;
disorientated, knowing he needed to find a phone box to call a taxi home.
Jounouchi would be ok by himself, he hoped. Stumbling forward, gripping onto
every available thing to help him stay on his feet, he found a door he prayed
led outside into the cool air which, perhaps, would help to clear his head, but
it only lead down a corridor filled with people. He groped along the walls,
wondering why no one was trying to help him when…
“Well, well, well, look who it
is.”
Oh God…
He felt an arm slide over his
shoulders, another around his waist. He made a meagre effort to push them away,
without success.
“Hey, I’m only trying to help
you!” a voice said, a voice corded with delight, but Yuugi couldn’t
differentiate between his own thoughts and those around him speaking. He
pushed back again, managed to trip on his own feet and plummet to the floor.
Distantly he heard someone laugh. Roughly he was heaved to his feet, but his
legs felt like jelly and he collapsed again, held limply in the arms of whoever
it was claiming to help him. Through the haze, Yuugi had a pretty good idea who
it was.
A minute or two later, he found
himself sitting on a carpeted floor, leaning against something –a wall perhaps-
eyes drifting in and out of focus. He wasn’t entirely sure if someone else was
there, only that there were voices nearby…who knew what they were talking
about.
::
his other self. The message wasn’t getting through. Fingers
brushed his face softly, lifting his head, but he didn’t have the energy to
stay up right. He was drowsy. The floor was suddenly very inviting.
Yuugi let himself slump down into
a heap, and slept.
~*~*~*~*~
Authoress Notes- Hurrah! First
chapter done at last!!