Yay, a new Yu-Gi-Oh fic!

Yami: You sure love abusing people.

Me: *coughs* No, I love hurt/comfort and angst. But honestly I couldn't bring myself, myself who writes horrible shit, to write Yami abusing Yugi, so I gave the job to someone else.

Yugi: Yami would never do such a thing. And since when is abusing me a job? *Looks worried*

Yami: *Glares at me* Since never.

Me: Tell that to the fangirls. Anyways, since I recently finished Angel Without Wings I need a new chapter story and I suppose this is it. Oh, and I'm going to Colorado starting this Thursday and ending Monday or Tuesday so if I don't update in the period of time, now y'know why.

Yugi: Melody's going to climb mountains!

Me: Yeppers. On with the fic! And ignore grammar mistakes. LIFE HAPPENS PEOPLE I AIN'T PERFECT!

Disclaimer: Guess what? I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Yes, you may gasp in utter shock and surprise now.

Warning(s): Yami and Yugi are my favorites (along with my Ryou-chan) and I adore torturing my favorites- I mean doing things to them, so keep in mind there could be some future depictions of violence, but in this chapter there is nothing but some language.

Enjoy chapter 1!

Yami and Yugi use their mind link in this, so here's the guide thingy:

Yugi talks like this

Yami talks like this

"I'll be back in an hour," He'd promised, menacingly jiggling a chain as he stepped out. And ever since then, Yugi had been sitting down his bedroom, cuddling his knees to his chest. An abusive father was something his friends didn't know he had. When his Grandfather said he needed to find some sort of artifact, he naturally sent Yugi to his father, whom he did not know was abusive. Realizing he had his chance, Yugi slipped off of the bed and peered out the window. His father still wasn't here. Running downstairs, he grabbed the phone and quickly dialed the number.

"Hello?"

Just hearing the voice made him feel better. All he'd heard for the last few days was his father's words and no one else's. "Ryou, it's me!" Yugi said, unknowingly whispering the words. "Why are you whispering?" Ryou asked over the phone, confused and slightly worried. "It's my dad." The tri-colored haired boy continued, peeking out the window every so often, praying his father would not arrive within 5 minutes. "What's the matter?" Ryou asked again, now obviously worried.

"He..." Yugi hesitated. His father could have a way of finding out about his call. But he had to let someone know! If he didn't, the abuse wouldn't stop, just like bullying, except one was far worse. "'He' what?" Taking a deep breath, Yugi said as calmly as he could, "He abuses me." He wasn't surprised when he heard a gasp on the other end. He even smiled faintly at it, not having heard that gasp in a long time, as weird as it sounded. Yugi frowned, realizing he hadn't heard a lot of things in a long time.

"What should I do?" Ryou finally answered, shocked by what Yugi had just told him. "I don't know, but I do need help. He'll be back home soon." The memory of jiggling chains flashed in his mind dangerously. Just then, a car door was heard, and Yugi instinctively bolted upstairs. Running to his room, he slammed the door shut and locked it tight. "Yugi, what's wrong?" Ryou's frantic voice on the phone brought him back to reality, and Yugi realized he'd have to hang up. "He's back. Gotta go!" Yugi whispered as loud as he could, visualizing Ryou nodding in response.

"Yugi." This voice was deeper than his own, but not quite as deep as his father's, which could only mean... "Yami!" Yugi exclaimed, standing up and turning around to see his other half, who was smiling at him. But the smile disappeared when he heard swearing and yelling coming from downstairs. "Is that your father?" Yami asked calmly, but his interior was angry enough to kill. Nodding, Yugi cringed when he heard doors being slammed so harshly the door's could've fallen off of their hinges.

"I'll protect you." Yami said while walking over to Yugi, hugging him protectively then putting the younger behind him. What angered Yami the most was the fact that he hurt Yugi in a way where other's wouldn't see it unless Yugi purposely showed them, but just enough so that they inflicted pain. Nor did he treat the wounds. Yami had to do it himself, considering Yugi had no true medical skill. "Thank you." Came Yugi's whispered and grateful reply from behind his back.

"Yugi! You little bitch! Open up this door!" The screams and yelling outside of the door increased greatly, so both knew that he was directly in front of the door. "Don't make me open it up myself." He threatened, and a clinking of metal was heard outside. Yami heard Yugi whimpering uncontrollably, also mumbling 'Make it stop, please make it stop' over and over. At this point, if he wanted to be ready for his lighter half's bastard of a father, all he could do was reach behind his back and squeeze Yugi's hand to comfort him.

This seemed to semi-work, as Yugi's whimpering stopped. The door knob began turning slowly, dramatically so, as if taunting the current occupants of the room to not open the door themselves. But Yami was not moving an inch forward unless Yugi moved there. Backing away from the door, he remained in front of Yugi, ready to defend and shield him, or take his place. Yami was a tough fighter, someone used to being cut or even stabbed. During his time as a Pharaoh, a fake doctor had put salt on his wounds instead of the proper medicine. He knew he could take more than Yugi could, especially since the boy had already taken so much.

Finally, the lock turned completely. Yugi squeezed Yami's hand tighter, knowing his darker half was his only source of current comfort. Swinging the door open, there stood Yugi's father. He had a slight resemblance to Yugi, but Yami dully noted that he didn't have Yugi's hair. Noticing Yami, the man growled in disapproval. "You again." He snarled, slamming the door and bolting it shut. Feeling Yugi start to shake, Yami lifted his hand and gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Stop meddling with other people's business." Yami refrained from saying several things which, though he would never regret, reconsider the use of due to Yugi standing there next to him.

"He's a part of me. It's not 'other people's business'." Yami answered with surprising calmness. Yugi could tell it was taking everything he had to use a level voice. If he didn't do so, it would just anger his father more. Scoffing, the man walked closer. Standing his ground and squeezing Yugi's hand tighter, Yami stood, ready to attack should it be needed. But all his father did was stand 5 feet away from them. Grinning, he took out the chains from earlier. Enjoying the way that Yugi yelped in fear, he approached the two, but did not go towards Yugi.

Confused and afraid for Yami's health, Yugi cried out. "Stop, what are you-" But the cry was cut short when he did nothing but throw the chains towards Yami. Hesitantly, Yami picked them up, examining them. All of a sudden, he was frozen, paralyzed, unmoving. "What-?!" No matter how hard he tried, his limbs were stiff. "Yami!" Yugi cried out, trying to reach his paralyzed half but only succeeded in getting half way before he was stopped by his father, who laughed with evil glee.

"Well, me and Yugi are going to go play." Yami growled protectively when he heard metal clinking in the man's pockets, knowing for it was handcuffs making the noise. "What a shame you couldn't join." The man sneered, laughing when Yugi weakly tried to get away, but the efforts were in complete vain. As soon as they left the room, Yami proceeded to struggle. That's when the memory of that fight he'd had with Bakura came to him. He needed to find the source of the magic, or rather what was making him immobile, in order to break free.

"Hn!" With a harsh snapping of wrists, a whip cracked next to Yugi, who tried to move away from it but found himself pulled back towards it. His father had a sickening grin across his face, and Yugi couldn't help but sadden at the remembrance of him actually loving and caring for his father and vice versa. "Please, don't..." Yugi tried to say, but far to many tears were crawling down his face for him to speak. Yugi froze when he felt tears leaving his face just as quickly as they came, courtesy of a wet muscle known as a tongue.

Looking up fearfully, Yugi saw the devilish grin of his father and tried not to wince when he pulled out another pair of handcuffs. Confused as to why he'd do such a thing when both his hands and feet were captivated, he watched his father open them up and stand up from his kneeling poise on the floor. As he left, Yugi had a strange feeling that he knew where the man was going. He called out for him, begging him to change his mind, but he heard no returning footsteps in response.

A few minutes later, his father was back, but with a barely awake Yami, though the darker half of him still had his lips curled up in an angry snarl. Placing Yami on the ground, he made sure he was sitting up and facing Yugi, who watched the situation with confusion and worry as to what his father was going to do. "Alright. Here's punishment for both of you." His father began, shaking a mysterious bag menacingly. "Yugi, you get your usual." At the word 'usual' Yugi couldn't help but wince. "And you," The man looked towards Yami in recognition, "will watch."

Knowing the punishment was mostly for Yami instead of himself, Yugi was tempted to plead his father to not force Yami to watch, knowing it would hurt the yami far more than actual wounds would. Kneeling once more, he smirked. "Let the fun begin!"

(Author's Note: There is no actual child abuse in this chapter so even if you're faint of heart this chapter contains no violence or anything, just a cute love confession between Yugi and Yami.)

"How about we do something a bit different from the usual?" His father suggested offhandedly, as if he was discussing dinner or another light subject. "You know, for our guest." He added, relishing in the way Yami growled in response. Knowing his father probably wanted him to beg, Yugi pleaded with him to not change the normal ritual, but his pleas were ignored. Wondering if Yami was disgusted with him for begging, Yugi looked at his yami, but all he saw was sympathy. "I'll be right back, just gotta get my toys!" The man laughed manically before leaving the room, shutting and locking the door to prevent escape. Quickly, Yami opened their mind link:

Yugi, I'm sorry I can't do anything.

It's alright, Yami. It isn't your fault.

If only I'd taken you away from here when he was gone.

Everyone makes mistakes.

Yes, but this mistake may cost you something. No, it will cost you something.

Still, I'll never blame you Yami.

You should.

No, it's my father, not you. You're the only reason I haven't done something such as suicide.

Yugi, you-!

I know, I know. But with all of this pain and hurt, you're my only comfort.

...Thank you.

You're welcome, and thank you as well.

No, I mean thank you for being so tolerant with me. No matter how many times I mess up, you never blame me.

Because you don't deserve it. A mistake is a mistake, no matter who makes it.

I'm working on a plan to get you out.

I'm not going if you don't go.

Yugi...

That's my firm response.

Alright. But it will be harder.

That's alright, it'll be worth it.

The best place I can think of so far is Ryou's house.

Yes, except for Bakura, it's a great idea.

Well I can't do anything about him.

True. It's not like we can kick him out of his own house.

Speaking of that, how come you haven't called the police on your father?

I'm scared.

Yugi, you know I'll protect you with my life-

No, scared that either it won't work or that when he finally comes out of jail, he'll come after me, my friends, or even you.

That wouldn't happen. He's done such horrible things he'd probably get a life sentence.

Really?

Positive.

I just don't want anyone else to get hurt.

You should be more concerned for yourself. Have you seen what he's done to you?!

He does get kind of crazy sometimes. He says it's because I call out for you when he's hurting me, and-

You do what?!

I call out your name when he's hurting me, asking you for help.

And I never come, do I.

How come that's a sentence instead of a question? It isn't your fault.

Yes, it is! I'd wish you'd let me take responsibility or at least share the burden.

No one want's to inflict someone they love with the burden they carry.

...

Yami, what's wrong?

Nothing, just your choice of words.

I know it sounded sort of cheesy and poetic, but-

No, I mean when you said 'love'.

Love?

Yes. You love me?

Of course I do.

When I say love, I mean-Hm, how do I explain this?

O-Oh, you mean like that? I-I never really thought about it, but I actually do-

Yugi broke off from the mind link, blushing furiously. Had he just confessed that he had feelings for his other self? Yes, that one was apparent. But were the feelings mutual? Looking up at Yami, he saw him with a tinge of salmon on his face. "I love you as well." He murmured softly, looking Yugi straight in the eye. Somehow, the fact that Yami said 'love' instead of 'like' or 'feelings' made him feel far better than he had before in the current situation. And for Yami, knowing Yugi loved him made him want to protect the boy even more, which is always the case with someone you care about or love.

"Boooooyyys!" They heard a sickeningly familiar voice call. "I can't find my usual instruments, so it you'll have to miss out." And with that, he walked away. Surprised, Yugi waited for the footsteps to disappear completely before saying, "That wasn't like him at all." Yami nodded in agreement. Both were still thankful, however, that nothing had transpired. But he had left them cuffed and Yami was still partly paralyzed, so he obviously still had plans. But what?

Review my lambs, review! (Nicely, or else OFF WITH YOUR HEAD)