Hey guys! Here's another story! I know I gotta update Taken but Loved and Chosen Mate. I hope to get those done after this first chapter! Well R&R!

Don't own yugioh or characters.

Chapter 1:

Atem Kodai sighed as he sat at his small kitchen table and looked at his bills. How could they be so high when it was just him in his small apartment? His electricity and water were the worst. "What the hell am I going to do?" he muttered throwing them down and grabbing his head. "Still being in high school has me totally fucked. I can't get a full time job and its not as though I can drop out of school. I need to get through it." He sighed. "And I know its just going to get worse when I go to college."

He looked at the clock on the wall. It was 5 pm and he didn't have work today. Going to the fridge and opening it he grumbled as his stomach growled. In his fridge was a half gallon of milk and condiments. That clearly wasn't going to fill his stomach. He didn't bother looking in his cabinets for food, knowing they were empty.

Atem pulled out his wallet and looked at how much money he had. "20 dollars to get me through the week. Yeah I'm fucked." He said throwing his wallet on the table as his phone went off. It was the only luxury besides his crappy tv he had. It cost him 100 dollars to buy and another 50 every month to keep it on. But he needed it. He needed a way for his work to get in touch with him for any shifts available.

Being 18 still in high school and living on your own sucked. You were capable of working a full time job but couldn't due to school. So you ended up taking any shifts available yet only getting paid for part time. You quickly gave up on having things like cars and internet and such. In their place came electricity and water and food and rent. Living on your own is not all its cracked up to be.

Don't get him wrong. He wasn't that teenager who thought he could do it all on his own. This wasn't his choice. It was forced upon him. He had grown up on his own and couldn't take his previous life style anymore. His mother didn't care about him and was always drunk and his father was never around due to work. It wasn't a work where he was doing it for them to have food. No. they had plenty of food and such. Some even said they were rich. When his father was around he would hurt Atem. Hit him kick him throw him. Anything really. He had to be the perfect student and the perfect son. But he couldn't take them anymore. So once he turned 18 he left.

They were angry of course. When he was packing they warned him he would be on his own completely. No help and no money. His response was anything is better than living with them. His father basically threw him out after saying that. He called Atem and ungrateful bastard and slammed the door in his face.

Atem was struggling yes. He was severely over worked and stressed but he refused to go back. Not that they would take him back anyways. And even if they were going to it would only end with Atem in more pain. He wasn't about to do that to himself.

It was now 5 months later and he had truly understood what it meant to be on his own. For 2 months he searched for a job. Once he found one he felt proud of himself. Not bragging proud but proud none the less. He thought 'ok now I can truly live on my own.' He soon found out that the money went quicker than it came. Everything went towards things he needed and bills.

He answered the phone. "Hey Jou what's up?"

"Hey Atem. Seto and I were wondering if you would watch Mokuba for us. We know it's last minute but we wanted to go out tonight and we would be willing to pay you." Jou was Atem's best friend. Jou wasn't one to brag about anything either. His life was just as hard at Atem's. his father was abusive as well and his mother left with his sister when they were children. He was going out with Atem's cousin Seto.

Seto was very successful. He was the CEO of a major game technology company. He had offered Atem a job many times but Atem always refused. Its not that he didn't appreciate what his cousin was trying to do its just that he wanted to make it on his own. Prove to his parents he could do it.

"Sure thing. What time do you need me over there?" Atem asked.

"We can send a car over for you to be here at 6."

"You don't need to. I'll just walk." Atem hated them sending a car for him. It didn't feel right.

"Atem its no trouble. Plus its raining out. Just take the car."

Sighing Atem caved. "Alright. But send it to the gas station down the street. My landlord is an ass and hates me "flaunting" that I have a rich cousin."

"Haha Alright man. See you then."

"See ya." Atem hung up. "Guess I can worry about my bills later."

He put his hoodie on and grabbed his shoes. Sitting at the table he put them on before grabbing his cellphone and wallet. He then grabbed his book bag that had his homework in it. The plus side was he got to spend time with his little cousin. Originally he refused for any payment to watch Mokuba. He said it was what family does but after months of arguing with Seto he finally gave in but only to payments for babysitting. Nothing more. And he refused anything over 50 depending on how long he watched him. There were times he had to watch Mokuba for a couple days due to trips and such.

He opened his front to find it was in fact raining. He pulled his hood up and started heading out. He locked the door behind him. Where he lived you couldn't leave the door unlocked. Not that he had anything worth stealing but still. Atem had his mind so focused on his current situation with his bills he didn't notice he had walked into a fight until he got pushed out of the way.

"You dipshit! Get the hell out of my way!" a tall man said as he turned to punch someone. Atem blinked surprised then moved to see who he was going to hit. There in front of the man was a boy with tri-colored hair similar to his own.

"Wait!" Atem yelled stepping between them. The man stopped his fist just in time.

"What the fuck are you doing!? Move!" the kid yelled from behind him.

"No. look man he's just a kid." Atem said.

"That kid owes me money." The man growled. "I spotted him."

Atem was shocked by this. This kid was doing drugs and he owed a dealer. This kid wasn't the brightest kid around. "How much?"

"Excuse me?"

"How much does he owe you?"

"20."

Atem pulled his wallet out and shoved the 20 at him. "There. Now you have your 20, back off." The man took the 20 dollar bill and left. Atem turned to the kid. "You dumb? Why would you one do drugs and two have a dealer spot you?"

The kid scoffed. "Its none of your biz geezer."

"Geezer? How old are you kid?"

"17." The kid shoved his hands in his pockets looking away.

"And you're calling me a geezer? I'm a year older than you! Whatever. You're lucky I had that 20." Atem said. 'Not so lucky for me. I'm out 20 dollars. Thank god Seto and Jou wanted me to babysit or else I would be in real trouble.'

"I didn't ask you to pay my debt. I could've handled him. Ushio is nothing."

"Ushio!? You had Ushio spot you!? Are you really that stupid!?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Wow. You must be really dumb. Anyways you should consider quitting."

"Its none of your business so why do you care? You don't know me."

"I know kids who are like you. Besides shouldn't you be at home? Its pouring out."

"No I shouldn't." the kid turned away. "See ya. Thanks for the help I guess." He was about to walk away.

"Wait kid." Atem called. The kid turned and looked at him. "What's your name?"

"Why?"

"Just wondering what idiot I have to tell my cousin about." Atem shrugged.

The kid looked confused but shrugged. "Yugi Moto." He said before walking away. Atem was going to go after him until he noticed the car pull up. He considered calling them and telling them to wait a bit but got into the car anyways.

15 minutes later the car pulled up in front of Atem's cousin's mansion. He got out of the car and stood there for a moment before walking in. he didn't bother knocking. They yelled at him every time he did anyways.

"Atem!" Mokuba ran to him. He had long black hair and big dark gray-blue eyes. He was a happy 9 year old who loved to play and have fun.

Atem smiled and ruffled his hair. "Hey kid. How are you?" he took off his coat and shoes. He tossed his book bag down.

"Good. Big brother said you are going to watch me tonight while he and Jou go out."

"Yes I am. Did you eat dinner yet?"

"No. Not yet. Can you eat with me?"

"Of course. Come on buddy. I have to talk to your big brother before he goes."

"Ok." Mokuba took his hand and pulled him to the living room where Jou was fixing Seto's tie.

"Aw look how cute you two are." Atem teased.

"Shut up." Seto frowned making Atem laugh. "Thanks for doing this on such short notice."

"Nah don't worry about it. I love spending time with this crazy one. He's the cute cousin." Atem said. Seto rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry babe I think you're cute." Jou said to Seto. "So Atem how are things going?"

"Good though I ran into a kid I need you search for me." Atem said sitting down.

"Who?" Seto asked.

"Yugi Moto. I found him about to get beat up for owing Ushio money for a spot."

"Wait. Yugi Moto? Looks like you but smaller and more childish?" Jou asked.

Atem thought. "Uh yeah actually. Why?"

"Atem he goes to our school. He's in three of your honors classes." Jou said.

"Really? Well what do you know about him?"

"He's 17, in mostly honors classes, and smokes."

"What does he smoke?"

"Believe it or not just cigarettes. Ushio must have spot him on cigarettes. He's been forced to take drug tests at school and has always come out clean. I've seen him smoking cigarettes but that's the closest he's gotten to any drugs."

"I don't get it. Why would Ushio spot him for cigarettes? Where does he live?"

"You know that Kame Game shop?"

"Yeah."

"He lives above it with his grandfather."

"Then why was he in my part of domino just for cigarettes?"

Jou shrugged. "Don't know. You'd have to ask him."

"I see. I'll be sure to do. That what classes of mine is he in?"

"Your math english and history." Atem nodded. "But there's something you should know about him."

"What?"

"He's not exactly the most social person. I couldn't tell you how many times he's been invited to stuff and has told people to basically uh f themselves." Jou noted that Mokuba was in the room.

"Alright well thanks. You two better get going." They nodded and thanked him again before leaving. He would worry about that stuff later right now he had focus on watching Mokuba.

He made the boy dinner and ate with him. They then played before bedtime. After Mokuba was in bed Atem sat on Seto's couch and pulled out his homework. He needed to stay the top student in the school. He was trying to go through college with an academic scholarship. If he didn't get one he would have to pay for college. He couldn't afford that.

Seto and Jou had come back from their date by 9pm. They clearly had a good time and Atem felt good for being able to help them. He was also happy he was able to have a free meal.

"Ok Atem how about 35 dollars?" Seto asked.

"Sure. Thanks Seto." Atem said taking the money.

"You do know my offer on that job still stands."

Atem sighed putting his hoodie then shoes on. "Seto I told you. I want to make it on my own. I know I can do it." He tossed his book bag over his shoulder.

"I never said you couldn't but I also know you don't make nearly as much as you need."

"I'm fine. I'll see you later." He opened the door to find it was still raining. Did nature hate him? Why did it have pour down on the night he wanted walk the most?

"The car is waiting for you." Seto said.

Atem sighed again. "Alright. See ya." He left closing the door behind him. He hesitantly got into the car.

The car dropped him off at the same place it picked him up. He didn't mind walking up the street to his apartment. Once the car drove away he was about to start walking when he noticed a figure sitting against the wall of a building. It was huddled into a ball and clearly freezing as it shivered against the cold.

"Hello?" he said gently as he walked towards it slowly. What he found shocked his beyond belief. There in a ball on the ground was the boy from earlier. Yugi. "What the hell are you doing!?"

The boy looked up at him. "N-n-nothing." He stuttered.

"Get your ass up nimrod." He pulled Yugi to standing. The boy was soaked head to toe and his hands were like ice. He could only assume the rest of him was the same way. "Why aren't you at home?"

"I-its n-n-none of your b-business."

"Yugi why aren't you at home?"

The boy seemed hesitant. Like he was considering whether or not to trust this man. "I-I don't h-have a h-h-home."

"What?"

"M-my grandf-father kicked m-me out a c-couple months ago."

Atem sighed. "That's why you're here. Lets go."

Yugi looked at him as if he had sprouted a second head. "Hell no."

"Yugi you can't stay out in the rain."

"I'm not coming with you. I barely fucking know you. I don't care if we have a couple classes together. I am not going with you." Yugi was going to walk away when Atem grabbed his arm.

"Where do you plan on going? At least tell me that so I know you'll be safe."

Yugi ripped his arm from his grip. "As if you actually care. You don't me enough to care about me. You didn't even realize I was from your school let alone in your classes. You had to ask me my name."

"In case you haven't noticed I don't have time to go around making friends. Just tell me where you're staying."

"You're looking at it." Yugi shoved his hands in his pockets again. Atem assumed he did that when he felt uncomfortable.

"What do you mean, I'm looking at it?"

"This is where I'm staying."

"You're kidding right?" Yugi shook his head. "Ok well don't you have any friends you could stay with?"

"If I did do you honestly think I would be out here?" Atem knew that he would be. He hated asking for any help.

"You don't have one friend?"

"No. Haven't in months."

"Then you're coming to stay with me."

"No. I'm not. You think I wanna come spend the night with you so I can hear the you owe me shit? Fuck off."

"You won't owe me. Look I'm not doing this to get money or anything out of you. I doing it to get you out of damn rain. Now either come with me and get warmed up with a dry set of clothes or sit here and get sick in this freezing rain. Its your choice but I suggest you choose to come. Its probably going to last all night."

The boy stood there studying him and debated his options. He looked up at the sky and figured the guy was right. It didn't look as though it was going to let up any time soon. He looked back at the man. "Alright. I'll come." He said hesitantly.

"Alright then. Lets go. My place is just up the street." Atem started leading him to his apartment. He noticed the kid walked with his head down and behind him. Did he not think he could walk next to him? Atem figured he'd find out later. Once at his apartment he went to the door.

"You live here?" Yugi asked sounding surprised.

Atem didn't turn to him or even look at him he just focused on unlocking the door. "Yes. Do you have an issue with that?" he opening the door then turning to look at him. Yugi walked in.

"No its just not what I expected that's all." He stood there in the kitchen not wanted to get water everywhere.

"Yeah well its what I can afford. I'll go get you some dry clothes." Atem walked away before the boy could respond. The boy wasn't much smaller than he was so he assumed he would at least fit a pair of his sweats and a t-shirt. He went to his dresser and pulled out a pair of black sweats and then a t-shirt that said, "Gamers rule". He then went to his closet and pulled out a new pack of boxers. He tooka pair out.

Yugi stood there with his hands in his pockets not sure what to do. The apartment was a crappy apartment. Not that it was dirty. No. It was quite clean. But you could clearly tell the one who lived here didn't have money. He put his eyes down when Atem came out of the bedroom.

"Here you go. You can change into these. I'll hang your clothes over the heater. They should be dry by the morning." Atem handing him the clothes.

Yugi took them but stood there. "Uh where can I change?"

"Bathroom. Down that small hall on the right. My bedroom is on the left. That's off limits. Don't worry about water getting on the carpet."

Yugi nodded. "I understand." He then went to the bathroom to change.

Atem went to the table and pulled all of his bills into a pile. He didn't need this kid seeing them. He tossed them into a drawer before he pulled out a glass and poured himself some milk. Sitting at the table he began to think of his current situation. He was basically broke with no food. Great.

"Hey. Uh thanks for the clothes and giving me a place to spend the night." Yugi said coming over to him.

"Sure. Oh tomorrow we have school. Do you have your uniform at all. Wait do you have any of your stuff?"

"I don't have any of it with me."

"Where is it?"

"I have a hiding place for my stuff."

"I see. Is it near by?"

"No. Or else I would have been there."

Atem had an extra uniform and though he knew it would be a tad bit too big for Yugi he figured it was better than nothing. "You can use mine tomorrow."

"You don't need to let me."

"I know that. I want to let you. You can sleep on the couch tonight. It's not the best but I do believe it is better than pavement."

"Thank you." Yugi went and sat on the couch. He wanted to ask for a blanket but he wasn't about to push his luck. He was lucky enough to be taken in on such a cold and rainy night. Laying down he was caught off guard when a blanket suddenly fell on him. He looked up to see Atem stand there.

"This is the only extra blanket I have. I know its not the best but its all I have." Atem said.

"Thank you. Its perfect." Yugi pulled it over himself. Atem watched as the boy seemed to feel blessed just to have a blanket. He felt sorry for the kid. In the morning he would ask the boy why he was kicked out. Atem said goodnight before locking the three locks on the door. He hung up Yugi's wet clothes then went to bed himself.

Atem woke up to the alarm on his phone. He shut it off and sat up rubbing his eyes. He sighed getting out of bed and went to the bathroom. After that he went to wake Yugi up. There was a half hour before they had to leave if they wanted to be on time.

"Yugi its time to-Yugi?" Atem came out to find the couch was empty. The blanket and clothes were folded neatly on the couch. The locks on the door were unlocked and Yugi's clothes from the night before were gone.

"He left. I wonder why." He told himself before getting dressed and headed to school. He'd ask him there. The boy wouldn't be able to avoid him then. They had three classes together.

So there is the first chapter! I really hope you like it! Please review!