Hey everybody. It's me, Kubo-chan. I'm officially fed up with having the original Drowning posted on fanfiction as it's so pathetic. My writing style sucks ass, but at least this re-write is better than the original. There will be a lot more detail in this version, and a lot of things will be explained in more depth.

As for couples in this fic, it's basically Yami/Anzu (There's nothing about them) at first but then Yami/Yugi. Bakura/Ryou will be a side pairing just because I love them so much and Marik will star as sir not appearing in this fanfic. Though Malik is here; he's a loner.

Anything you guys might not understand about the beginning of this chapter please just ignore. It's only a couple lines about Physics and Chemistry… (In grade 11 we get course selections… So this is the first year Yugi and everyone else can choose their schedule.)

Just a side note: I hated Physics last term. Kinetic Energy is the devil.

Warnings: Shounen-ai, swearing, Anzu bashing (but not that bad), and there will be major OOCness… But I'll try to keep that to a minimum, despite the plot.

"Blarg" – Talking
'Blarg' – Thinking
Blarg - Mind link

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh, or any other things you may recognize in this fanfiction.

Drowning
Chapter One

The Cut That Never Heals

Yugi continued to stare out the window when the bell rang, waiting for most of the students to file out of the room before packing up his physics book. Silently he cursed the subject and wished he had never taken sciences to 'keep his options open'. It was okay, though, he supposed. He and Ryou were in the same class.

"Do you understand that, Yugi?" The white haired teen walked over to his friend, slinging his book bag over one shoulder. "Kinetic Energy is not my thing… I don't get the pendulum question at all!"

"It's not that hard, Ryou. I'll help you if you want." It's not like Yugi had a life at home. All he did was study. He couldn't hang out with any of his friends. And by friends he wasn't thinking of Yami, Jou, Honda, and Anzu. No, they were history. If they didn't want him around, he wasn't going to strain himself to try and be accepted again. When Yugi thought of friends now-a-days, Ryou, Bakura, and Malik came to mind. They were always busy. Ryou and Bakura were both working part time jobs, even though it wasn't permitted for students to do so, and Malik had gotten a job at his sister's museum. They always had Sunday off though, and so, that was their day to hang out.

Yugi walked with Ryou down the hall to their locker. They were in the same homeroom, so their lockers were close to each others. Yugi unzipped his book bag once his locker was open and started piling in the books he would need for over the weekend. Today was Saturday. And it was lunch, meaning school was out! Another week over… Yugi could almost jump for joy.

"Okay, so…" Yugi muttered to himself as he traced a finger down the spine of his Chemistry book, wondering which subjects he had homework in.

"We need to translate those verbs for English class. Or did you finish that?" Ryou chimed in, hoping to help out his friend. He had already switched out his books and was now waiting for Yugi to finish up before they went to meet Bakura and Malik. Although the three teenagers had jobs, they didn't start until after usual school hours, so they had a few hours to blow before they had to work.

"Yeah, I almost did. Jou hasn't given me any private lessons for a while, so I'm getting a little rusty…"Yugi scratched at the back of his head sheepishly. "Chemistry…" Yugi muttered remembering they had to write out the balanced chemical equations and predict the reactions for Monday's lab. He grabbed the book and shoved it into his book bag with the rest of his homework.

"Ready?" Ryou, who had been kneeling next to Yugi, stood up and pulled the loose strap of his book bag around his free arm, securing its place on the teens back.

"Yeah!" Yugi replied, pulling his book bag on as well, being sure to avoid rubbing the fabric against bruises he had received from school bullies out for his lunch money. "Let's go! Finally, it's the end of the week! I didn't think it was going to ever get here!"

"I know what you mean… This week seemed long." The pair walked down the hallway towards the front doors, where they would meet the other two members of their group.

Bakura was waiting on the steps, but Malik still wasn't there. Yugi and Ryou walked over to the yami and sat down next to him. "So, what do you want to do today?" Ryou asked his yami, not taking his eyes off the busy street in front of him. Bakura worked at a call center. He liked it, because it was good pay and it was relatively easy to do.

"Doesn't matter to me," Bakura stated. "We can do anything you guys want until 5:30."

"How late are you working until tonight, 'Kura?" Yugi asked leaning forward so he could see Bakura past Ryou's fluffy white hair.

"Eleven." The yami said with a sigh. "And if another person hangs up before I can get 'Hi, would you like to buy or product' out of my mouth I'm going to hurt someone." He looked up at Malik as he arrived. "And it just may be you. What the fuck kept you!?"

Malik raised an eyebrow, "what might be me?"

"He's threatening people again." Ryou told Malik who replied with an 'oh' as though this happened all the time… which it did. Death threats from Bakura were a daily occurrence. If someone wasn't targeted for murder, Bakura was sick… or he wouldn't be getting any sex if he did.

"So, you guys want to go somewhere now? These uniforms are so itchy!" Yugi complained, pulling at the neck of his shirt. "Can we stop by my house so I can change?"

"Well, if you're going to, then let's go." Bakura got up from his spot on the school's front steps and began walking down the street. The Kame Game shop wasn't that far, so it wasn't like it was a major detour or anything. Yugi got up and jogged to catch up with Bakura, Ryou and Malik right behind him.

Yami looked up from the game he and Jou were playing when the door opened, the familiar 'ding' of the shop's bell informing them that there was a customer. He heard Grandpa greet Yugi and then some other people. 'Who the crap did he bring home? Does he even have friends?' The thought was automatic. Everything in Yami's life had taken a darker shade to it. It was like his anger had returned full blast and was influencing every move he made. His dueling skills had become reckless and he didn't even believe in the heart of the cards any more.

He was only slightly better than Jou now, and that's just sad. He set his hand face down on the coffee table and stood, ignoring the mild looks of confusion on the group's faces as he left the room.

He opened the door to the shop and stood in the door frame with his arms crossed, staring at the customers with questioning look. As though to say 'what the hell are you doing here!?'

Yugi came back downstairs, no longer wearing his school uniform. Instead, he now wore a plain black sweater, that was much to big for him, and baggy dark blue jeans. "Oh, that is so much better!"

"We're stopping by our apartment next, okay Yugi?" Ryou asked, managing to smile even though Yami was staring at him strangely.

"Yeah, sure, Ryou," the group turned around to leave, and Bakura sent a final glare in Yami's direction before he slammed the door.

Yami stared at the door for a moment, eyebrow raised for a moment longer before he rolled his eyes and made his way back to the living room.

Jou looked up from the television when Yami walked back into the room. "Was that Yug'?" The blond asked. He sat up on the couch, and stared fixedly at the yami. 'What is wrong with this guy? This isn't the Yami I remember… Though I guess I never really knew him before… Though, when Yugi talked about him, he seemed to be a genuine person…'

"Who gives a shit?" It wasn't Yami that spoke, but Anzu. Jou didn't know why Anzu was being such a bitch, either. The two of them made the perfect couple. They both shared equal hatred towards the small spiky haired teen that had helped them through so many hard times.

"Whatever, Anzu, no one asked you." Jou snarled at the brunette earning a glare from the girl.

Yami didn't seem to care; he just walked over to a couch and lied back on the comfy cushions. "Are we going to watch that movie, or no?" was all he said.

The four friends had gone to Ryou and Bakura's apartment and changed into more comfortable clothing. The time had passed quickly and soon it was almost 5:30PM; almost time for Bakura to leave for work.

In fact, all three of the working teens would have to go to their jobs soon. And Yugi would be left all alone again until the next day. 'I can get some more studying done, I guess…'

Ryou gave Yugi a hug before he turned to leave with Bakura. "I'll call you on my break, okay?"

Yugi smiled slightly, "yeah, okay." At least he'd get some social in between doing nothing in his room. Sitting alone in the dark was only amusing for so long.

Malik had already left so when Bakura and Ryou left for down town domino, Yugi was all alone. The tri-colour haired teen turned in the opposite direction and made his way back home.

He opened the door to the game shop passed through the door in the counter to get to the door that led to the main area of the house. He heard Yami and the others still in the living room; apparently they were fighting over which movie they should watch. Yugi rolled his eyes and went up the stairs to his bedroom. He closed the door quietly sat down on his bed. He lied back and closed his eyes, listening to the small pitter patter of rain drop hitting his sky light. He opened his book bag and pulled out the forest green and black book of death with the words 'Physics 11' on the cover. Opening the text to the assigned page, Yugi began on his homework.

Jou sat back on the couch with his eyes closed; just listening to the sound of Anzu's and Honda's bickering as they fought over what movie to watch. He sighed in exasperation. They were starting to give him a headache.

The blond heard the front door open and close, and then the soft padding of socked feet climbing the carpeted staircase.

Jou looked over through the open door of the living room and caught glimpse of Yugi's jean clad legs as he ascended the stairs. "Should we ask if Yug' wants to watch the movie too?" Jou wondered out loud.

Anzu and Honda didn't say anything, but looked at Yami. He didn't say anything; he just pulled a movie off the rack and dropped it on the glass top of the coffee table.

"Okay then." Jou said, thoroughly annoyed with Yami's antics. He stood and walked out into the hallway. "I'll be back in a minute."

The blond climbed the stairs and knocked on Yugi's door. The sound of a text book hitting the ground was heard. 'He was probably surprised,' Jou thought and waited for the door to open.

Yugi wasn't looking as he opened the door. The smaller teen had his shirt off, because he was changing into his pajamas, totally exposing the bruised skin that was so well hidden by Yugi's new baggy clothes. "I'm sorry I didn't do your laundry Yami. I'm doing a load now, so I'll wash yours- Oh." Yugi had turned around and was now staring at Jou whose face was filled with pure shock.

"What…" Jou trailed off and half stumbled over to Yugi, who quickly turned, so his back was facing the blond and pulled a plain black t-shirt over his head, covering his abused torso.

Jou grabbed the boys hand and pulled it towards him, bringing Yugi along with it, "how long?" The question was quiet, as though Jou didn't really want to know. Yugi stared at Jou in horror as he realized: Jou wasn't talking about the bruises adorning the his body; he was talking about the long, thin cuts that ran up the underside of his forearm. Yugi just stood there, eyes wide, a look of fear visible in his amythest eyes. When Jou didn't receive an answer to his question, he asked again. "HOW LONG?!"

Okay: end of chapter one. The next chapter will be out depending on how many reviews I get. If I get at least 5 there might be another update by Monday. (Cause we have a 4 day weekend) Please review guys! Flames are always welcome too! Please, give me your opinions.

- Kubo-chan