Kawaii-hikari3: Hey! waves This is my first time that I say anything to the people reading!

Yami: What was with the silence?

Yuugi: And no disclaimers?

Kawaii-hikari3: ; I forgot!

Yami and Yuugi: anime fall

Kawaii-hikari3: Well, I'll post declaimers on my profile! Enjoy the story!

Chapter 1

Pain and Prayers

He stood alone in his room as the silent night surrounded him. His thoughts filled with worry and distress. His stepfather would be home shortly. He closed his eyes and took a sad breath. He knew how much his stepfather loved to torture his soul. Sad violet eyes opened as he heard footsteps. He saw his stepfather walking closer to his house. They boy held his breath as his heart began to race. He watched in horror as the door opened and the man went inside.

"YUUGI! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"I'm in my room..."

Yuugi's stepfather walked into Yuugi's room and glared at the young boy. Yuugi turned slowly to face the cold glare. His stepfather's face was flushed as his eyes were bloodshot. He was very drunk and Yuugi knew he would be limping in the morning. His stepfather grabbed Yuugi's collar and the heavy scent of alcohol filled Yuugi's lungs.

"I heard you got a 93 on your last test..."

"I-I did...but I got the best grade in the class!"

"It's still not good enough, Yuugi."

Yuugi nodded as he felt the grip on his collar tighten greatly. The lack of air caused Yuugi to start panting. He could hear his stepfather laughing at him. Yuugi began squirming as the air in his lungs grew close to nothing. His stepfather laughed harder and decided to tighten his grip even more on Yuugi's collar. He moved his hand around Yuugi's neck and squeezed it tightly. Yuugi started screaming in pain, but it grew silent quickly due to a lack of air. Tears spilling from Yuugi's eyes and he tried to move his stepfathers grip away from his neck. All of Yuugi's efforts in vain, as they always were.

"How long can you hold on this time? The longer you last, the less beatings you get after." His stepfather mocked.

"L-let go...I can't b-breathe..." Yuugi barely whispered.

"You want more pain?"

"I-iie..." Yuugi shook his head.

"I guess that's enough of this..." Yuugi's stepfather let Yuugi go and Yuugi dropped to the ground, gasping for breath. "After you catch a little breath, you'll get your punishment for getting a 93..."

"Stepfather...please don't..." Yuugi whispered in a small pleading voice.

"Quit begging for mercy." His stepfather kicked Yuugi's stomach and flung him across the room.

Yuugi hit the wall and all the air he just received was instantly taken away. Yuugi cried out in terror as the pain began to surge through his whole body. His stepfather approached while Yuugi held his stomach and tried to sit up. His stepfather punched Yuugi's cheek and trusted him to the ground. Yuugi slammed against the ground as his lip began to bleed. Yuugi cried out as onslaughts of punches and kicks hit his body. Seconds felt like long and never-ending years to Yuugi. Time was slipping away, but it still lingered and allowed the beating to continue at a furious and quick rate. When it was all over, Yuugi lay almost motionless on the floor as blood and tears spilled onto the ground. His stepfather smirked in victory.

"Yuugi...I hope you learned your lesson...do you promise you'll do better next time?"

Yuugi could only cough with raspy tone. His stepfather grabbed Yuugi's hair and pulled him upright. Yuugi, not having enough strength to fight back or even yell, grimaced at his stepfather. His stepfathers cold gaze sent a cold shudder down Yuugi's spine. Yuugi felt a slap across the cheek, but Yuugi didn't flinch this time.

"Do you promise you'll do better next time?"

"I...promise..." Yuugi nodded as he mustered up a whisper.

"Good." His stepfather threw Yuugi to the floor as he left.

Yuugi forced himself up and wrapped his arms around his aching body. Cold sweat dripping down his forehead and neck and beginning the run down his back. The blood made his clothes cling to his flesh and when Yuugi moved, the pain from the clothes being pulled off his flesh was unbearable. Yuugi ignored the immense pain and limped to the bathroom. He grabbed bandages and medicine for his bruises. He cleaned his wounds and wrapped the bandages around them tenderly. Yuugi ran coldwater from the faucet and cupped his hands. He got a handful of water and washed his face. Yuugi dried himself off and limped into bed. Staring out the window, he prayed silently.

"Please...please let someone save me...I can't take much more of this...I need someone to love me and care for me...please...I need someone..."

A star blinked in the distance. Yuugi smiled a little, but it only resulted in his cheeks hurting. Yuugi frowned and laid on his back. Closing his weary eyes, he kept praying the same little prayer repeatedly in his mind. Hoping that his prayer would be heard and answered, he prayed until darkness consumed him.

Kawaii-hikari3: So what did you guys think?

Yuugi: ;; I'M ABUSED?!

Kawaii-hikari3: nods sadly Yeah...I have a good reason for it...you'll see later on...

Yami: YOU BETTER NOT KILL HIM!

Kawaii-hikari3: Oo EEK! runs away Please R&R!