Teratos High: Demon Hunters

A/N: Something I neglected to mention in my last note... I'm in the process of editing all the early chapters while ZombieBlinky works on the next one, so there will be a little delay as I get them up (and I fully intend to get them up as quick as I can ^_^), but hopefully not a long one.

And special thanks to Tavi and KiraRaven for your kind reviews! You made me and ZB smile! :)

~~~~

"Are you kidding me?" Yami snarled. His heart was pounding as his earlier fear returned tenfold, but he'd be damned if he was going to let them see it.

Ms. Teana kept her hands folded neatly on her desk, her index finger pointed upwards, "No, I'm afraid not." She said in clipped tones, her British accent barely covered her contempt, "For some reason, this nice family specifically requested you..."

"Well tell them no!" He snapped, glaring at the family, "Throw me out on my ass for all I care, I'm not going with them!"

The man stepped forward, Yami had trouble averting his eyes from his bald head, "Now Yami, we don't want any trouble. Just a son."

"Well fat chance getting one from me," Yami sneered. He absently brushed his blond bangs out of his face, red eyes narrowed daringly. “I never needed a family and I never wanted one either.”

The landlady shifted uneasily in her leather seat.

“I’m terribly sorry for his rudeness,” Ms. Teana’s voice came from her desk, glaring coldly. Yami smirked. “I can understand if you don’t want to adopt this... boy. He has quite the history of breaking up families.”

Ms. Teana with her apologetic voice, was less motherly sounding and more like a psychotic Nazi trying to play nice with a playground full of Jewish children.

“Please,” Yami snapped, “Don’t act like you’re Azirphale; that’s damn right perverse.”

Teana glared at Yami, but said nothing.

The orphan turned to the couple, his red eyes made prominent against caramel skin, “Thank you for your generous offer, but since I’m almost of legal age I think I’m going to have to deny your request.” He moved to the door, eager to escape back to his room where he could forget his two prospective guardians and their chilling aura.

“Are you sure you want to do that Yami?”

The orphan froze, cerise eyes sliding towards the woman who had spoken. She had long straight black hair that reached just below her shoulders. Her cool, blue eyes meet Yami’s fiery gaze with a calm smugness.

“What do you mean?” Yami gritted through clenched teeth.

“My name is Marilyn Sobek, and this is my husband Cobalt. We live in Brooklyn, New York; you might have heard of us?” The woman introduced herself. Yami felt his heart freeze in his chest; he did know them.

But who didn’t?

The Sobek’s were owners of the large company Martyr Inc. They were well connected, and were widely known to stick greedy fingers into every type of business worldwide. They were even believed to have under the table jobs with the mafia and other contraband dealings, but the police were unable to pin anything on the huge corporation. No one dared to breathe a word against Martyr Inc. Or the two powerful CEO’s.

They had the media wrapped around their finger, and consistently fed the public the image of goodwill by donating to charity, making missionary trips to Africa, and funding orphanages...

...And by some freaky coincidence, the orphanage Teana was in charge of was one of the Sobek’s. Scary, huh?

The public believed Martyr Incorporated as the reincarnation of Mother Teresa. They stole from the rich and gave to the poor, the modern day Robin Hood.

Yami wasn’t fooled. He knew the Sobek’s had something going for them, a deep dark secret that they didn’t want anyone to know. Yami didn’t know what their secret was, but that didn’t stop him from disliking them just for the hell of it.

He was suspicious, and rightly so. The couple just mentioned they lived in New York. So what in the hell were they were doing in Georgia in the first place; nevermind adopting a child?

Yami couldn’t understand their reasons in the slightest bit. The same thought seemed to have struck Teana because she glanced inquisitively at the couple.

“Will Yami be returning to New York with you Mrs. Sobek?” Teana directed the question at the woman but she was answered by the man.

“No” He said easily, “We will be staying here in the suburbs, it will be a nice change from urban life.” He smiled at the caretaker winningly, and Teana voiced no more questions. Yami was not quite as easily manipulated.

“Why didn’t you adopt a brat in New York?” Yami snapped, “Orphans breed like rats in the streets; why don’t you just pick one up over there? It’s not like anyone would care.”

“Well, it seems like we found a brat in Georgia just fine,” Cobalt said simply.

Yami glared angrily at the man only belatedly realizing he'd set himself up for such a beautiful retort.

“I doubt you’re down here just to pick up a kid,” He snorted, “I bet it’s just a cover up for whatever you’re really down here to do. I don’t want to be a part of your shady deals, get another orphan.”

A dark shadow passed over both Sobek’s faces simultaneously. They nodded to each other both agreeing to a silent idea.

“You leave us no choice Yami,” the woman said regretfully.

Yami braced himself for the blow he already knew was coming, he didn’t know what they would do to him, but he was resolute on his decision.

Cobalt looked at Marilyn and with an encouraging nod from his wife; he turned, not to Yami, but to Teana.

“We’re going to close the orphanage,” He said solemnly.

Shock hit Yami like a ton of bricks. Close the Orphanage? Over an issue as stupid as this? His thoughts were barely cohesive, and with a pang, he thought of the life he had just condemned Leo and the other children to.

“That’s dirty!”

To Yami’s surprise, the outburst hadn’t come from himself, but Teana. She glared hatefully at the Sobek’s calm demeanors and slapped her white palms against her high polished cherry wood desk.

“Where will the children go?” She demanded, “Orphanages are already overcrowded, they’ll be turned away!”

Yami was shocked; he never realized Teana cared this much about the children. The two of them butted heads on several occasions, and each shared a mutual hatred for the other, but Yami was honest enough to admit he had never bothered to give her much of a chance either. Regardless of her unspoken hatred of Yami, she had taken him in and given him a home when no one else had wanted him –not even his parents. The realization that she actually loved them, in her own messed up way, was as much a shock to Yami's system as the Sobeks had been, and the combination left him reeling.

It was even more shocking to watch her as she went toe-to-toe with the two powerful CEO's. Yami shook his head slightly in a futile attempt to clear it. He knew Teana didn't like a confrontation. Hated it with a passion actually (unless it involved Yami and their peculiar, ongoing, head games), which was part of the reason why she had hired Miss. Valentine to break scuffles up for her, but now she was unhesitatingly confronting the two people who could ruin her life. Literally.

Yami's respect for Ms. Teana increased ever so slightly...

As Yami's senses recovered thoughts of Leo, a five year-old who had no one, and the fate that would await him should the Sobek's follow through with their threat returned full force. When Yami left, Ms. Teana was the only one the little boy could rely on, despite his distrust of her. It was a simple truth, and he felt his disgust and hatred for the couple that would condemn innocent children so calmly rise. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Ms. Teana glaring at them both with every ounce of venom she could muster.

Once again, reluctantly, his respect for the land lady increased a notch.

He was unwilling to believe what he was about to do and shook his head.

"Fine, I'll be your son..." He consented, angrily, "But only if you keep funding the orphanage..."

Teana obviously was surprised but Marilyn and Cobalt looked expectant.

"Of course." Cobalt stated, as though it were obvious.

"The paperwork if you please?" Marilyn turned towards the flustered Ms. Teana and smiled, as though she hadn't just threatened to put the landlady out of a job.

Surprised, and barely able to follow along, Ms. Teana fumbled with her leather briefcase and pulled out the papers that would sign over her patronage to the Sobeks. Marilyn quickly filled out the sheets, barely pausing to glance over the fine print. When she was finished, she picked through her purse and pulled out a wad of bills.

She was obviously oblivious to her wealth and Yami was once again reminded of the terrifying possibility that these people could easily shut the orphanage down at any time. They probably wouldn't even miss a wink of sleep over it... Bastards.

Yami shuddered, wondering why these people wanted to adopt him so badly, and briefly prayed to a god he didn't really believe in that he would survive this.

Cobalt Sobek smiled widely at Yami, "It's good to have you join the family, son..."

Yami looked down, already cursing the Sobeks and their threat to close the home down. Leo and all the others would be homeless... it was a deadly combination for boys that young. What was Yami supposed to do? Not even he was that heartless.

He gave the man a poisonous look, "I'm so sure." He replied acidly.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Teana looked at the Sobeks victoriously, "You see?" She said breathlessly, "There was no need to threaten. I knew he'd agree eventually!"

A hot flash of resentment at the words washed through Yami, but he'd also heard the shaky relief as well. This hadn't been planned. She'd stood up to them without any prior knowledge it would come out well, and although he would never admit it out loud he grudgingly respected her a bit more than he did when he first entered the room because of it.

Marilyn and Cobalt smiled broadly. Yami attempted to swallow his disgust: namely vomit.

Silently, he vowed to make their lives hell in repayment for their stunt. They would regret adopting him. He would make sure of that.

But first, Yami faced a personal hell of his own. It was the next day and, as promised, Yami had a game to teach to a five year old.

Chess, Bah-humbug.

~~~~

"The knight moves in an 'L' shape." Yami told Leo with the patient air of a father.

The mousy haired boy scratched his temple, "Ooooh!" He exclaimed and amended his previous move.

Yami frowned, even with Leo's previous error; he still had Yami on the ropes. Great, he was losing to a five-year old...

Leo hated when Yami went easy on him and despite his age Leo's childish observation hoisted him up to Yami's level. Even if he didn't always understand what he saw. To see and not understand, Yami wished he could return to that kind of mindset.

His thoughts wandered away from the game. Again. How would he explain to Leo he was leaving again? Although Yami was confident that he'd be back at the orphanage before the month was over, he still hated to say goodbye.

"Yami!" Leo whined, he'd grown impatient waiting for the teenager to make his next move and was now entertaining himself by making the knight chase the rook around the board.

Yami directed his attention back to the game and once again had to position a bishop between his king and Leo's queen, a knight blocked her off if she so much as tried to take his new piece.

After a while, Yami managed to drag his king out of jeopardy at the sacrifice of a few pawns in the process. When Yami voiced his dismay at losing the members, Leo looked at Yami questioningly.

"But they're just pawns, what do you need them for?" Leo asked, wide eyes blinking.

Yami smiled fondly at Leo's childish innocence. He realized now would be a wonderful time to bestow upon the impressionable youth a sage, yet inevitably cheesy, quote.

Luckily, Yami didn't look up sugar-coated Confucius sayings in his free time, or fortune cookie ones for that matter, so instead he decided to go with plan 'B'.

"You're supposed to apply chess to everyday life." Yami waved a hand at the board.

"We're supposed to capture people?" Leo asked blankly.

Yami reached a hand across the board and ruffled Leo's hair. The child pouted and squirmed in his seat, "Quit itttttttttt!" He whined.

The older boy smirked and sat back down, "Okay."

He paused and glanced down at the board, "But this draws to a close." He picked up his chipped black knight and moved it into a white square a good distance from Leo's king, blocking its escape between a rook and a bishop.

"Checkmate."

A shadow crossed over Leo's face for a second before disappearing in an angry pout. Disappointment shone clear.

"Aw Yami! You're so mean!" Leo crossed his arms over his chest.

Yami rolled his eyes and stood up, "What is this?" He asked, "Do I hear a bad case of sour grapes?" He smirked, "Would you like some crackers with that whine?"

Leo pounced on Yami's legs, clinging there like the small child he was. If he attempted to knock Yami down the teenager took no notice. In fact, Yami began walking around the room with little Leo still adhered to his leg completely unperturbed.

This made the child forget his bad mood and explode into a fit of giggles, "Go faster, faster!"

Yami had created a monster...

The orphan complied and jogged lightly around the room, careful not to jostle Leo too badly. Leo's spasmodic laughter filled the air and Yami couldn't help but laugh along with the boy until they both were tired and their lungs hurt from laughing so hard.

Eventually Yami lay down on a couch that sagged sadly from age and use. Yami vaguely remembered a time where it had been a new shade of light tan. Now it was an old and tattered gray. Like pretty much everything else around.

Yami rested his head against the armrest, not caring that the peeling fabric was flaking off into his wild multi-colored hair.

Leo clambered onto the limp cushions and laid his head on Yami's stomach, "What's wrong?" Leo blinked at the teenager. Yami smiled a little sadly, nothing went unnoticed while Leo was around.

"Well," Yami sighed and glanced at the five year old, "I'll be taking a trip for a little while..."

Leo's baby face scrunched up in misunderstanding, "What does Yami mean?" The orphan looked at Leo expressively and tried to convey his feelings without using words. Leo didn't break Yami's crimson gaze. He just lay across Yami's stomach expectantly, tiny fingers folded under his chubby chin.

The teenager knew there was no use beating around the bush, sooner or later Leo would find out. Yami took a deep breathe and prepared himself for all the fury a five year old could release.

"I'm being adopted again Leo..." He said quietly.

At first Leo merely looked stunned, but soon overcame his shock. Tears began to well in the child's eyes and roll in fat droplets down his chubby cheeks.

"B-but, why?" He cried, "Why is Yami leaving Leo? Can't Leo come with Yami?" Sadly, the teenager shook his head and the five-year old erupted in noisy tears.

"Bu-but, but..." Leo sniffled. Tears saturated his face and Yami's black shirt; the teenager busied himself by trying to find Leo a handkerchief, "Every time Yami comes back, he's always so sad."

The older orphan froze in his search to find something to wipe Leo's face. He glanced at the child, once again surprised at the amount of perception Leo showed.

It was true. After all the dysfunctional adoptions he had suffered in his life, Yami had all but given up on humanity. Each time he was adopted, Yami had been broken worse than before.

And each time Yami would have to pick up the broken pieces of his sanity and tape it back together with a cheap adhesive. Yami was afraid what would happen to him this time. The family always looked nice, but that meant nothing to him. Every family looked nice on the outside, but most were a chock full of abuse and drugs. Memories of the Sobek's threat made him shiver, and he wasn't even starting out on a good foot with this one. What were the odds he'd survive at all nevermind unscathed?

Yami gave himself a firm mental shake and focused instead on Leo's innocent concern. He finally fished a worn gray hanky from his pocket and dried the child's face.

"Thank you Leo." Yami said kindly, "But I'll be fine." He tucked the wet cloth back in his pocket and set his hand on Leo's mousy haired head. "And I'll visit you every week. You won't even notice I'm gone."

It was a lie, and Yami felt all the worse for saying it, but there was no way he could explain the fate that likely awaited him to the boy. Perceptive or not Leo wouldn't understand, and Yami was still unwilling to destroy the boy's fragile hold on his innocence. Instead he just wrapped his arms tightly around the small figure in what was as close to a loving hug as he ever got.

Leo wiped an eye with his tiny fist, "Really?" He asked through a watery smile. Yami nodded and pushed Leo's bangs from his face.

"Now go wash up." He told Leo gently, "You don't want the other kids to see you crying do you?" Leo wrinkled his nose and shook his head.

Yami laughed, "There, you see?" He sat up and picked Leo off his lap. He set the child on the floor and nudged him forward, "Go on."

Leo shot him a diminutive glare and went to clean himself off. It would do him no good if the other children saw him soaked in tears.

Yami reclined back on the couch, cerise eyes glued to the cracked ceiling. He was wrapped in his thoughts, aware that he might find himself unable to keep his promise to Leo. It pained him to leave the boy disappointed, but he didn't know where his new 'parents' were going to take him, how far from the orphanage or how near. He hoped it was close.

Crimson eyes slide shut and Yami was suddenly aware of how very tired the last few days had made him...

All he wanted to do was take a nap...

Just one... tiny... nap...

A sharp pain in Yami's side woke him with a start. He sat up with a jerk and looked around himself wildly. He found the source of his pain sitting across him with a smile on its face.

Sitting with legs crossed on a rickety wooden chair, a teenager with snowy white hair sat before him, "Good morning sleepy head." The teenager said in amusement, "You slept straight through the day." He cocked his head, smiling, "Before you get nervous, Leo has been playing with the other children."

Yami looked relieved, "Thanks Ryou."

"No problem." Ryou replied serenely.

He was a slim youth with green eyes and skin almost as pale as his bleached hair. He and another boy at the orphanage were the closest things Yami had to friends other than Leo.

"When did you get back Ryou?" Yami asked. His eyes raked over his friend's slight frame. He hadn't seen the albino in months. Ryou had been adopted.

Now he was back with a slight limp to his step and bruises decorating his face. Yami assumed Ryou hid more bruises under his long sleeved shirts and cargo pants despite the summer's heat but he didn't comment on them. He understood their cause only too well, and felt a wave of sympathy for the seemingly fragile boy. At least here at the orphanage bruises and contusions showed up on Ryou much less frequently now that Yami was there to back the timid albino up.

Although he didn't seem really timid now. Ryou had apparently decided to take up the habit of poking Yami between the ribs, "Stop it!" He snapped, swatting Ryou's hand away.

Green eyes rolled, "Well while you were off in la-la land! You didn't notice I answered your question." He leaned back in the dilapidated chair ignoring its groan of protest.

"Oh, sorry." Yami rubbed sleep from his eyes and waved a tan hand at Ryou, "What did you say?"

Ryou smiled gently. He was always a gentle soul and like Leo he seemed to know when something was bothering a person, "I've been back since about the time you told Leo you were being adopted again."

This was part of the reason Yami hated talking to Ryou when something was on his mind. Ryou had the ability to read Yami like a large print book, on tape... if that was even possible.

Yami rolled his shoulders and enjoyed the loud crack that resounded in the air. Ryou winced, "You know you're going to get osteoporosis if you keep doing that..."

Yami smiled, "No way, I have strong bones..." And as though proving a point, went ahead and began to crack the bones in his fingers, neck and back.

Ryou shuddered and glared at Yami mildly, "Jerk..."

"You know you love it as much as I do."

Ryou looked around, ignoring the last statement. "Have you seen Malik around anywhere?"

Yami shook his head, "The last time I checked he was causing an unspeakable amount of chaos in the attic..."

Ryou raised an eyebrow, "Without you?"

"Yeah, I've decided to turn over a new leaf."

Ryou looked at him in disbelief, "Would this 'new leaf' happen to be rotten, dried, and about to fall off the tree?"

Nothing got by the albino. Yami sighed, "Yeah, you're right. I was just too damn lazy to walk up those crazy steps."

Ryou pushed Yami's legs off the couch and plopped down on the other side. A large white plum of smoke rose in the air from the force Ryou had used to sit down. The two orphans watched it swirl in the air for a little while, each saying nothing. The dust twisted in the air, hanging suspended. It moved towards the dark, open window before evaporating into nothingness.

The two teenagers sat on the couch, both silent and staring at the spot where the fragments were last seen. For some reason, the disappearing dust weighed heavily on their minds, almost symbolically representing what would happen to them if they tried to escape the fate which condemned them. What that fate was neither knew. But its possibilities weighed heavily on their minds all the same.

Silently Ryou stood up and walked towards the window. He looked back at Yami and smiled, "It's gone..." He said softly.

Yami nodded, shrugging his shoulders. "Close the window..." Ryou complied and took a hold of the rusty golden latch. He shut the milky glass, with a click.

Ryou's white face was reflected in the glass and subconsciously he reached up to touched his bruised face. Red eyes bored holes into his back and Ryou quickly withdrew his hand, forcing a smile on his face. He turned around nervously, "Shall we go see Malik?"

Yami frowned, studying Ryou for a long time. He knew he made the albino uncomfortable under his gaze; his ruby eyes usually did that to people, but he could tell something deeply troubled the albino. And he was afraid he could take a few educated guesses on what.

Ryou flushed red under the dark bruises, knowing his darker friend was reading through his attempts at hiding his troubles. He broke Yami's gaze nervously.

"Sure." Yami muttered and smirked teasingly, simply for Ryou's benefit. Relieved, Ryou nodded and beckoned Yami towards the stairs. The crimson eyed teenager groaned, "I hate these damn things..."

He had every right to hate them; because odd things tended to happen to Yami whenever he walked up stairs of any kind. When he was eight and walking down the rickety stairs of the orphanage, he had stepped on a rotten board fell through into the basement. If it weren't for Ryou and Malik hoisting him back up by his arms, Yami would have been seriously injured.

Another time in one of Yami's adoption homes, he tried running away from his new foster father - who had been drinking excessively - when he tripped and rolled his ankle, resulting in a headfirst free-fall down the stairs. He was put into the care of a child service officer for a while, and eventually returned to the orphanage.

Yami and stairs did not agree with one another.

In fact, they were mortal enemies. If the stairs weren't inanimate, Yami was certain they were out to get him. Yami could often be seen at the bottom of the flight of stairs, hammer and nails in hand. He occasionally would mutter a curse or incoherent sentence along the lines of, "Try to kill me, huh? I'll show you..."

Ryou looked back at Yami, who was too busy glaring blackly at the stairs to notice the patronizing look Ryou sent him, "Come on Yami, the terrifying staircase isn't going to bite you." He laughed.

"What are you talking about Ryou, can't you see the fangs and laser beams coming from the safety rail?" The other quipped only half joking.

The albino just shook his head and smiled. "Out of all your bravery, the mighty Yami quails under the fearsome power of the staircase."

"Shut up." Score one for the clever retort committee.

The two orphans walked up towards the attic. Yami clung to the safety rail despite the fangs which grew from them. An explosion racked the orphanage and shook the worn floor. Ryou grabbed a hold of the safety rail as well.

"Just what on earth is he doing up there?!" He demanded. Yami just shrugged and continued his journey up the stairs. "No idea, but I think he's over staying his life expectancy..." He growled shooting a hapless step a withering glare. Ryou snickered.

They proceeded to the landing and Ryou found himself in the company of an irritated Yami. He hammered on the attic door until Malik's tan head popped out from a small crack. Yami kicked the protruding head back into the room, and Malik released a pained yelp before peering out more cautiously this time.

"Oh, it's just you guys."

"Yeah," Yami scowled, "Just let us in now before one of the caretakers finally realizes where these random explosions originate from."

Malik opened the door; his lavender eyes were squinted in pain, "Come on in..."

"Don't mind if we do." Ryou replied.

The attic Malik was usually found in was tiny, with a sloping roof and mildew clinging to the walls. It smelled strongly of disinfect and a pungent odor of chemicals hung in the air like inexpensive cologne which had been discounted several times.

"Dang," Yami wrinkled his nose, "It smells like a cheap Louisiana whore in here..."

"I could say the same about your breath." Malik jokingly shot back. He busied himself with his new explosive. He held it up in the light, showing it off to his two comrades, "I call this one The Boom Master 360."

"Good for you..."

"What does it do?" Ryou asked, polite as ever.

"Well first, you press this button... and this device starts counting backwards..."

Yami drowned Malik's explanation out, he didn't really care what the 'Boom Master 360' did. He guessed it went 'Boom'.

He enjoyed the two orphan's presence. He didn't consider them 'friends'. That was a strong word to describe people. But they were tolerable company, and broke up the monotony of orphanage life from time to time. Certainly, they were as close to the word as Yami would let them get. He realized that there was a good chance he wouldn't be able to see the two of them again either. For some reason that made his chest ache.

Suddenly depressed Yami stood up, "I'm going to bed." He announced abruptly.

Malik barely looked up from his bomb, "We don't care." His mouth curved into a playful smirk.

Yami decided that everyone was a smartass.

By the end of the week, Yami had all his things neat and tucked away in a worn backpack he had since he was young. The backpack carried all his things since the beginning and he was glad to have something to remind himself of life at the orphanage even if he hated it immensely at times. The bag went everywhere with him and Yami found himself relying on it emotionally as a rock.

Apparently when his mother dropped him off at the orphanage, she came with nothing more than Yami wrapped in a tattered gray blanket, and a black backpack filled with diapers. The teenager no longer had the blanket, but he still held onto the backpack. It was battered and worn, and the long gashes on the sides and tear through the middle had been inexpertly mended and patched over the years. But just like Yami it had managed to survive. And, once again, the back pack would be going on a journey with him, to another crazy foster home. He hoped it would last one last trip.

"Yami, are you ready to go?" Ryou asked from the door way.

Yami nodded and slung his bag over his shoulder. He glanced at Ryou, crimson eyes meeting green. "Take care of Leo for me, okay?" He asked hesitantly, "Say bye to Malik."

Ryou agreed immediately, "Of course."

Yami smiled, flashing the albino a mouthful of perfect straight teeth. "Thank you..." He said sincerely.

Ryou waved his hand and dismissed it, "Really, don't mention it." He grinned, "You make little children cry when you're so grateful. It's creepy."

Yami rolled his eyes. The one time he's nice, it gets smashed in his face. He punched Ryou gently on the shoulder, "Screw you."

"You'd like that wouldn't you?"

Yami didn't grace that with an answer but stomped out of his room and down the stairs (treading ever so cautiously in case they felt the urge to trip him one last time).

Leo and Ms. Teana were waiting in the foyer. Yami found this odd, Ms. Teana almost never ventured out of her office unless she had to eat, pee, or punish someone. She looked at him with her hard blue eyes and frowned. She was very pale and looked physically ill. She gripped his strong arm and said in a flat whisper, "Thank you."

Dumbfounded, Yami watched Teana as she jerked her head towards the Sobeks who patiently waited by the door. Saying nothing else, she marched back up the stairs her heels clicking on the wooden floor. They watched her go, surprised by the abrupt departure.

Marilyn looked Yami, "Are you ready to go?"

"Give me a second." He mumbled in a half hearted attempt to be polite. He still hated them for the stunt they'd pulled, but he didn't have the energy to be more than mildly venomous when he was saying goodbye to the only things in his life he gave even a remote damn about.

He crouched down in front of Leo, "Are you going to be good?"

The mousy haired boy nodded and sniffled, "When are you going to come back?" Yami looked at his new foster parents silently reaffirming his vow to make their lives so miserable they rushed him back.

"Soon." He promised, "But no tears, okay?" He ruffled Leo's hair, "Okay?"

Leo nodded, "Okay..." He replied clearly trying not to cry. He wrapped his tiny arms around Yami's neck and the teenager returned the hug, squeezing his charge gently.

After a few seconds Yami broke the hug off and stood up, "I'll see you soon Leo." He turned around and nodded back to his new foster family resolve firm, "I'm ready to go."

Yami left the orphanage and didn't look back. He didn't know when he'd see it again. But he promised himself that when he did he'd find a way to get Ryou, Malik, and Leo out of that hell hole, and they would prove to Teana, and everyone else, that they didn't need them or their fucked up ideas about family.