Hold On

Koorime13: Nah, staying home with my parents with xmas so I’m not getting drunk. Don’t drink that much in general actually, although alcohol really is good stuff.
And Kumiko… cackling evily… *shudders* Nuh-uh! Not my sweet innocent Kumiko-chan!
Yeah, and now on to the half drama chap *grins* Enjoy!

Red Dragon of Egypt:*grins insanely and gets out her own torture devices* Hell yeah I’m gonna join you! I need to kill Yoru a couple of times, doesn’t matter if I’m the one making him do all that stuff, he could’ve refused. I would’ve happily fired him ya know, but nooooo, he immediately said yes when I told him he got to kill someone, make a deal with a demon, and beat up Yami. Anyway, while I busy myself with Yoru… and Anzu *smirks even more insanely* you go have fun with the chap. Enjoy! *sound of a chainsaw is heard in the background as evil cackling is heard coming from everywhere*

Dragonlady222:Read Red Dragon of Egypt’s reviews, Yoru dies multiple times, and so does Anzu ^^ Ya gotta love reviewers like that. Anyway, have fun with the next chap!

Catti-dono: *shudders* NO WAY is Yuugi topping Yami in one of my fics. I don’t hate it or anything, but dislike is a definite. I’ll read it and all, but it’ll never get me as Yami topping Yuugi. And that alcohol age is the one we use where I live… Ever thought of moving?
Oh, and there is Anzu alright, but there’s a lot more Anzu-bashing ^^ which makes up for the bitch being in my fics. Ya gotta love bashing the friendship-bitch to kingdom comes ne? Well enjoy the latest chap!

Mystic Dodo: TWIN! °glomps° I see you found me even here, and of course I know what you think. PEOPLE! THIS IS MY EDITOR AND SELF-ADOPTED TWIN SISTER (who cares if we’re about 2 years apart) DODO! Well, that’s her nickname but I tend to use that more than her real name, so yeah. During NaNoWriMo she was the one pushing me to keep going since I wanted to beat her ^^ everybody go worship her now.
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Hellp people! Hope I didn't make you wait too long or anything... okay, so you all hate me for making you all wait an entire week. So not the point. The point is that there is only a small cliffie at the end, if you can even call it one at all. Have fun eveythin!
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--: 04 :--
Wake up call

Yami let out a sigh as he lay down on his bed, refusing to meet Yuugi’s eyes as the other closed the door behind him and looked at him worriedly. Yami had refused to answer Yuugi’s question downstairs and had turned around, walking to his room without saying anything. Yuugi had followed him, worried and wanting to help the other.

“Yami-kun?” Yuugi sat down next to the taller and put a hand on his shoulder. Yami groaned and buried his face in his pillow. This was not happening to him. This just couldn’t be happening to him. No one was supposed to know what his father did…

“Please, just say something.” Yami sighed and looked up into the panicking eyes of Yuugi. He looked down at the bed again and clenched his eyes.

“No, Yuugi-kun. I didn’t get into a fight…” he looked at the wall next to his bed, away from Yuugi’s gaze. This was the second big reason why he kept people out of his life; he didn’t want them to see him weak.

“How long…” Yuugi couldn’t finish his sentence and trailed off. The hand on Yami’s shoulder tightened, trying to encourage the other to speak.

“For as long as I can remember. I can’t even remember when it started really,” he sat up and looked at Yuugi sadly, “but I can’t really do much about it so I just have to live with it, ne?” he smiled wryly.

Yuugi frowned, “Why don’t you go to the police? This is child abuse.”

Yami laughed, actually finding the suggestion funny. At seeing Yuugi’s confused and slightly offended look, he calmed down, “That man is more powerful than you think, and he’d get away with it without even the slightest bit of bad publicity,” Yami sighed, “he did last time, after all.”

Yuugi blinked, “Last time…?”

“Forget it, it’s nothing,” Yami looked away again. He couldn’t exactly tell Yuugi that Yoru had killed his mother when had only been 9, and had gotten away with it without the slightest bit of trouble. Besides, he didn’t know if he was ready to talk about that night. It still hurt to even think of his mother, let alone talk to someone about how she died. And he’d only known Yuugi for about two days now; could he trust something like that to the other already?

“Yami-kun… it helps to talk about it sometimes.” Yuugi tried to sound as gentle as possible. He wanted to help the other very much, but Yami would have to tell him what happened first. Whatever it was had obviously traumatized the other, and the only way to heal from something like that was by talking about it.

“He…” Yami clenched his eyes, “just forget about it, Yuugi-kun. It was nothing.”

Yuugi snorted, “Your father’s beating you, and he got away with something bad before and that’s why you won’t go to the police now. You call that nothing, Yami-kun?” It hadn’t come out as Yuugi had intended, but he just hoped Yami would get the message.

Yami sighed, “No, but I just… I don’t want to talk about it. It’s just…”

“Too painful?” Yuugi offered. Yami nodded and stared at the bed below him. “And that’s exactly why you have to talk about it. You’re never going to be ready to talk about it if you keep it bottled up inside you,” Yuugi smiled, “and something tells me I’m the closest thing you’re going to get since I already know you won’t go to a counsellor or something like that.”

Yami looked at him for a moment, contemplating whether or not to tell Yuugi what he’d been keeping inside for so long. What he’d been keeping from even Kumiko. Yuugi didn’t seem like the person that would go ahead and spread rumours about him. So far he’d been the closest thing to a friend Yami had ever had, and would probably get too. Could he trust the other enough to tell something like this? Would Yuugi be so scared of Yoru after it that he wouldn’t want to be around Yami anymore? God these questions were driving him nuts. Well, only one way to get an answer ne?

“He… killed my mother.” Yami’s eyes clenched and he held back the tears that wanted to come out. He’d finally said it out loud, and damn it only made it more real. Of course he’d always known it was true – he’d been there – but saying it out loud to someone just… made it too real.

Yuugi’s eyes widened, “He… killed your mother…? But how…” Disbelief laced his voice and Yami’s heart dropped. Yuugi didn’t believe him, and would probably think he was crazy or something. He’d leave in a couple of minutes and would stay away from Yami now.

Yami was expecting Yuugi to get up and run, but the exact opposite happened. He felt Yuugi’s arms wrap around him and pull him into a hug. Yami was shocked, but didn’t pull away. The tears he’d been holding back came out, and he cried. The mask he always wore around everyone that showed confidence instead of how weak he really was burst, and the scared 17-year old he really was came out. He leaned into Yuugi’s chest, and continued to cry as Yuugi just stroked his hair, whispering sweet nonsense to try and soothe him as much as possible.

After fifteen minutes Yami finally calmed down, but didn’t move out of Yuugi’s arms. He actually felt safe here, and that was a feeling he hadn’t had for a very long time.

He let out a shaky breath before he started to talk again. He told about all the beatings he could remember, and that his first memory was actually one of those beatings. About the night his mother was killed, and that he’d watched it all. About only nimbly escaping death that night as well, and about his promise to Kumiko.

Yuugi stayed quiet during the entire story, and just kept holding Yami. He knew this was hard for the other, but it was the only way for him to get over it. Keeping it inside would only make it worse in the long run.

Yami finally stopped when he got to the present which Yuugi already knew. He had to admit that he felt a bit better now that he’d finally told someone, but he was still half scared of Yuugi’s reaction. The other had listened to him the entire time, but how would he react now?

Yuugi pulled away from Yami and the older immediately panicked. Yuugi was going to leave him now, he just knew it.

“Don’t worry; I’m not going anywhere, Yami-kun.” Slowly Yami looked up into concerned amethyst eyes. “I’m not going to run out of the house to tell the entire town what happened just to make a fool out of you.” He smiled gently at Yami.

Yami’s eyes showed doubt for a second, before he let go of Yuugi’s shirt. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding it in a death grip to prevent Yuugi from going away. He slowly sat up, keeping a close eye on Yuugi still.

“I know you’re not going to trust me on this for a while, “ Yuugi started, “but I’m really not going to leave you for something like this. I want to help.”

Yami nodded slowly, but his eyes still didn’t leave Yuugi. After eight years of having only Kumiko as company and telling himself over and over that he didn’t need anyone else, his own lie had finally broken and he didn’t want to be alone anymore. He had Kumiko of course, but he couldn’t talk to her really, as she was only 9.

Yuugi threw a quick glance at the clock and then out of the window to see that it was dark. Well that was no wonder as it was already 10 o’clock. He hesitated for a second. If he’d go home Yami would freak. The other was in no state to be alone right now. On the other hand, could he just stay here? Wouldn’t Yoru get mad about it? The man hadn’t exactly acknowledged his presence and he actually doubted the other knew he was in the house, but he didn’t want to get Yami into more trouble.

“Yami… it’s getting late and… Uhm…” Yuugi looked back at the other to see panic already flashing through the crimson depths, and he knew he could never leave the other alone right now. Yami would probably be a bit more himself – the real him hopefully – tomorrow, but right now he was still too broken.

Yuugi sighed and smiled again, “Want me to stay over?”

Yami’s face lit up with hope, “Would you mind…?”

Yuugi shook his head, “I wouldn’t have offered if I did,” he yawned and rubbed his eyes. Spending the entire day with a hyperactive 9-year old was tiresome if you weren’t used to it.

Yami chuckled, a spark of his normal confident self shining in his eyes again, “I don’t think you’d get home anyway.”

Yuugi yawned again, “Probably not, no.”

Yami paused for a second and rubbed the back on his head sheepishly, “I’m not really used to people sleeping over so I don’t really have a second bed…” he trailed off, figuring Yuugi would get his point by now.

Yuugi blushed slightly, very much remembering the position he and Yami had woken up in that morning. Yami might have a king-sized bed, but he had a feeling that they’d be waking up in a similar position if he slept in the same bed as Yami.

Not that he had really minded waking up like that.

Yuugi shook his head to get rid of that thought; this was not the time for that. He looked back up at Yami who was looking at him questioningly, “Well let’s see how we wake up tomorrow morning then huh?” he giggled nervously as his blush deepened slightly.

Yami blushed as well, though you could hardly see it through his tan. “Uh, yeah. Still sorry about that.”

Yuugi shook his head, “Neither of us could really do anything about that since we were asleep and all.” He let out another yawn, and dropped to the bed.

Yami smiled at the other, feeling a bit more comfortable now that he knew Yuugi really wasn’t leaving him, or going to mock him. Yuugi actually believed him. “You can sleep in one of my shirts if you want to.” He slowly got off the bed and walked to his closet to fish out a shirt that Yuugi could wear.

“Thank you, Yami-kun.” Yuugi walked to the closet as well and took the shirt Yami was holding out for him.

“I should really be thanking you,” Yami looked at the ground, another sad look crossing his face, “you’re the first one that’s even tried to befriend me. Most people stay away from me as far as they can.”

“Well as far as I heard at school, you do try to keep everyone out of you life and everything, so I’m not really surprised by that.”

Yami smiled sadly at the boy next to him, “The less people I care about, the less people that can hurt me.” He sighed before walking back to the bed and grabbing his own shirt, before quickly changing his clothes so Yuugi wouldn’t see too much of the bruises. Yuugi saw enough though, and flinched at the sight. Yami’s body was covered in fresh and old marks, even some cuts that were still healing.

“Don’t,” Yuugi closed his mouth again. He’d wanted to say something about it, but it seemed Yami had gotten eyes in the back of his head. The other turned around after changing, “I’m done talking about it for today.”

Yuugi nodded and they both got into the bed again. Yuugi almost immediately fell asleep, but Yami watched him for a bit longer, wondering how the hell this boy had managed to get into his heart so fast. He’d always told himself that he should keep everyone but Kumiko out of his heart, but Yuugi had managed to get to him in only two days.

Yami sighed as he closed his eyes as well and drifted off into the world of the sleeping.

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The sound of an alarm clock made both boys groan the next morning. Neither wanted to get up yet, but both knew they had school today, and someone had to kill the alarm clock so it’d stop buzzing.

Yuugi was far too content to bother with the alarm clock. His back was pressed against something nice and warm and something was holding him close to whatever that warm thing behind him was.

Wait a second, something that was holding him? Yuugi’s eyes shot open and he glanced behind him to see Yami there, the other’s arms wrapped around his waist once more and this time pressed again his back. Yuugi let his head fall back onto the pillow; body heat could be so annoying since people were always drawn to it in their sleep.

Yami, in the mean time, was getting really annoyed by the damned buzzing, and opened his eyes in annoyance, muttering something about a conspiracy of alarm clock against him in his still sleepy state. Yuugi couldn’t help but laugh at that. He could just see an army of alarm clocks going after Yami while he was trying to sleep.

Yami glanced down as he heard the giggle, and blinked as he saw Yuugi. He remembered what had happened yesterday, and grimaced; damn, so that hadn’t been a dream, huh.

“Morning to you too, sleeping beauty.” Yuugi joked as he noticed the grimace.

Yami chuckled, “Well if I’m sleeping beauty I’m not supposed to be awake yet since I haven’t been kissed yet.” He pouted playfully before ignoring the still buzzing alarm clock and laying his head back down on the pillow. He hadn’t even noticed that he was once again holding Yuugi.

Yuugi sighed and giggled, “Well I’d go look for your princess but you’ll have to let go for that first.”

Yami blinked and only then noticed that his arms were around Yuugi in a rather possessive hold. “Uhm… oops?” he quickly let go and Yuugi shifted off the bed.

“Now let’s see if I can find you a prince or princess.” Yuugi grinned as he exited the room. Yami frowned slightly, wondering what Yuugi was planning.

After about a minute he heard giggling coming from the other side of the door. Not only Yuugi’s giggles, but a female one as well. ‘Kumiko?’ Yami wondered as the door opened to reveal the two.

“I found you a princess that wants to wake you up.” Kumiko happily skipped over to Yami’s bed and sat down next to him, laughing at the confused yet amused look on her brother’s face.

“This? This is no princess, Yuugi-kun. This is my little angel.” Yami pulled Kumiko into a hug and the girl laughed even more.

“Well I’m still gonna kiss you awake, Mi-chan!” Kumiko quickly turned to him and pecked him on his cheek, “There, now you have to get up and go to school!”

Yami pouted, “But I’m comfy.” The look that passed between Kumiko and Yuugi at that moment could only be described as evil. Yami briefly wondered how two normally so innocent looking people could look so evil right now, but he didn’t get enough time to think about it as Yuugi ran over to the bed and both Kumiko and he started to tickle Yami.

Yami had tears in his eyes of laughter by the time he surrendered and promised to get out of bed. Kumiko and Yuugi high-fived and grinned at the now sulking Yami.

“Cheaters.” Kumiko and Yuugi just looked innocently; something they were very good at. Yami groaned as he shoed Kumiko out of the room to get ready for school herself. The real reason was of course that he didn’t want her to see the bruises, but the excuse worked anyway.

Yuugi giggled as Yami fell back to the bed in an overdramatic defeated way, almost as if he was dying, “No no no no no, you have to get up now sleeping beauty, your princess kissed you.”

Yami smiled as Yuugi walked over and sat on the edge of the bed again, “But who says it’s a princess I’m after?” The blush on Yuugi’s face was about as undeniable as the leer shot Yuugi’s way. Yami just laughed and Yuugi turned even redder.

“We uhm… should get dressed and all because uhm… we still have to go my place to get my school stuff?” It really wasn’t a statement but a more like a question to himself if his excuse was any good. For a brief moment Yami wondered if what he’d said had upset Yuugi in any manner, but then pushed it away again; it was a joke nothing more.

Right?

Right.

Yami shook his head to get rid of the thoughts currently running through it. Yuugi was cute, nice, and the only person he considered a real friend at the moment, but that was all the other was, a friend.

Right.

“Yami-kun?” Yami snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the still blushing Yuugi, and smiled.

“Yeah, let’s get dressed first though since I don’t think school is going to let us in like this.” Yami grinned and finally got out of bed. Yuugi pushed the last of his blush down and smiled too.

“Well my school uniform is at my place too so we really need to go there before going to school.” Yami nodded and both quickly changed, Yami into his school uniform and Yuugi into the clothes he’d been wearing the previous day.

They met Kumiko downstairs and quickly ate breakfast, before heading to Yuugi’s house. Kumiko skipped ahead of the two boys while singing merrily to herself, still glad that her brother now had someone else besides her as well. It seemed Yuugi was a very nice person and he could actually make Yami laugh. As if to prove her current thought, she heard Yami laugh softly about something Yuugi had said or done, and the smile already on her face brightened even more.

They quickly reached Yuugi’s place and Kumiko looked around curiously as Yuugi changed. Yami was sitting on the couch, deep in thought for some reason. Kumiko cocked her head to one side cutely and walked over to her brother.

“Mi-chan? What’s wrong?” She watched as Yami snapped out of his thoughts a bit startled, and giggled before sitting down in his lap and snuggling close to him.

“Nothing’s wrong, Tenshi. I was just thinking.” Kumiko looked up at him curiously. Yami wasn’t one to zone out around her, or think too much about stuff. He usually didn’t have to think that hard to figure something out anyway.

“About what?” She tugged on his sleeve as he averted his eyes so he wouldn’t have to look at her, a look of thoughtfulness once more on his face. She briefly followed his gaze to see he was looked at the door Yuugi’d gone through earlier. “Are you thinking about Yuugi-san? You’re not planning on pushing him away too, are you? He’s nice and you like him right?! You shouldn’t push him away!” A look of sadness crossed her face.

Yami smiled and hugged her a bit tighter, “No, Tenshi… quite the opposite actually…” he sighed as he glanced down at his sister again, before shaking his head to get rid of the thoughts going through it and smiling. Before he could say anything else, he heard footsteps on the stairs.

“You two really look cute like that.” Both siblings turned to see a smiling Yuugi walking towards him, now wearing the Domino High school uniform and his book bag. Yami chuckled as Kumiko snuggled even closer to him with a bright smile once again on her face. Yami’s words had obviously calmed her down already.

“Ready to go?” Yuugi nodded and Yami gently pushed Kumiko off his lap. The girl pouted for a second, before quickly going after the two boys who had already started to walk. Before long they reached the school, Yuugi and Yami talking again as Kumiko skipped next to her brother, listening happily to the conversation.

As soon as they entered the schoolyard, some people glanced at the three and whispers were once again heard. Yami’s eye twitched, even more since the people whispering seemed have increased. The twitch stopped and his eyes widened however, as soon as he caught some of the words being said as they walked to the normal Sakura tree Kumiko and he always sat below.

“I saw Atemu-san and Mutou-san… club… drinking… … … date?”
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See? You juat can't call that a cliffie... right? Well not as bad as usual anyway. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you all!