Well, people, I'm back with another chapter to this story (sighs) I'm still not very happy with this story, but you still seem to like it, so there has to be something special about it – something I can't see. Add to that the fact that I hate abandoning my stories and you get my reasons to do this.

This also is the longest chapter I ever produced for this story (the other chapters were around three or four pages, which I'm ashamed of). This one is a bit longer – well, if you put the first and the second chapter together, you get the amount of the third.

Enjoy!

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Yuugi's POV:

He paced the room nervously, trying not to let the confused feelings get control over him. He didn't want to cry, he just wanted to go on, to do something that was able to make him forget about his loss.

His mother really had left him. Finally she had had enough of him. Her smiling face on the picture in the pendant... how often had he stared at it in the middle of the night, unable to sleep. How often had he turned it over in the pale moonlight, let his thumb slide over the dove on its back... the silver flashing in the dim light... it always had comforted him to hold it in his hand. It was a sign of his existence, something showing him he still had a life, something telling him that his past hadn't been a mere dream.

He had been a boy like every other, hadn't he?

But now?

"What am I now?"

The question wasn't answered, just swallowed by the loud music. But his heart granted the answer anyway.

He was a nobody. A lost child. Dead to the world.

He stopped in his tracks, looking around, looking at the blank walls, stripped of all life. He remembered... there had been a small comforter standing at the right wall. A comforter with framed photos everywhere on it. His grandpa had loved putting pictures in every room in this house.

But where were they now? What had the other people done with them after his grandfather's death, after he himself had been put to the orphanage? Had they all been destroyed, killed?

Killed like his parents...?

Yuugi stared up at the window, trying to suppress the despair dwelling in the pit of his stomach. The moon shone bright as ever, but it made him feel even worse... like being in a dark hole, a dark abyss, looking up at the light above, the only flicker of hope and freedom.

What if he opened it?

It had never occurred to him to do so. The overhead window was in his reach... he just wished it wasn't so cold. He shivered involuntary. He wanted back to his blanket, but he knew the only way to force the unwelcome thoughts away was to occupy himself with something.

Yuugi stretched, standing on the tips of his toes and reached up to the window. His clam fingers pulled it open carefully, dust snowing down on him. Immediately a cold wind clashed into him, easily reaching his skin through the thin, battered clothes. He flinched back from the icy sensation and tried to shield himself with his arms.

It was much too cold. He knew he should have expected that. After all it was still winter. His breath clouded in front of his mouth the moment it left him as he reached up again to close the window.

Before his hands touched the wood though, a noise not coming from downstairs, nor himself, made him freeze. He knew that noise. It was the old door, its hinges screeching because of the lack of oil. His eyes widened in horror. He turned his head to look over his shoulder, his arms slowly sinking back down to his sides.

There stood Yami.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Atemu's POV:

He grinned to himself slightly as he reached to top of the stairs again. There was definitely something off here and he knew he was about to find out what it was. The old excitement he had felt as a child when exploring his surroundings, tickled under his skin like electricity. He felt like crawling through the woods again, on the way to finding something big that never had been there. Only that now he knew there was something to find. The hand in his pocket closed around the pendant.

Just as he was on his way over to the door, a cold gust of wind swirled through the dusty corridor, catching him by surprise as it hit him. He shivered, the warmth of all the people downstairs still having been holding him comfortably warm until now.

With narrowed eyes he hurried over to the door and shoved it farther open and, upon doing that, immediately spotting the person he had thought he had seen a glimpse of downstairs.

The boy at the window froze the moment he entered, surely having heard the loud sound the door had emitted over the music. Wide amethyst eyes were turned to him, shock and fear flaring up in their depths.

Atemu stood still, watching the young teenager curiously from his spot at the door. He looked oddly thin, like not having eaten anything in a long time and his clothes hung from his body like grey, tattered rags. His eyes wandered up to the shadowed face. Even in the dim light he could see the smeared dirt on the boy's face and the ruffled, unkempt hair, which didn't look like having been treated with a comb ever.

He didn't know what to say. The boy didn't look like a spy, but rather like a homeless child. What was he supposed to say or do then? He never had been confronted with something akin to that.

The single step he did forward set everything in motion though, and seemingly it all slipped his control. The boy whirled around and jumped up the ledge of the window in the matter of seconds, his legs still dangling in the air. Atemu's first instinct was to hold him back and so he hastened through the room, grabbing the bony limbs and pulling the boy back. A frightened cry came from above him, the resistance getting stronger, but still being weak enough for him to pull him back into the room easily.

Just as he thought he had him securely inside, the small hands grabbed on to the ledge of the window, refusing to let go. He could feel sobs shaking the lithe body, but what choice had he but to end what he had started?

Atemu slung one arm around the much too slim waist of the boy, holding his weight with no problem, his other hand reaching out and grabbing the hands at the window. They were cold and trembling with exhaustion and terror, as was the whole body in his arms.

"Let go." He whispered into the other's ear, noticing the bad smell coming from the stained clothes and body. If he hadn't been sure the child was homeless before, he was now. "I won't do anything, just let go."

Another sob, this time loud enough to even hear above the noise, racked the lump he had in his arms. The hands finally lost their hold on the slippery window, not because the boy did it deliberately, but because the last bit of strength he had had seemed to have left him.

So that was Yuugi, Atemu thought, pulling the boy close to himself to keep him warm. He had expected to find anything but this. Even had anticipated a good fight or at least someone having planned something against their group of teenagers. Anything but this.

With one hand he shoved the window back closed, then walked over to the mattress on the floor to set Yuugi down. With a small whimper the small form crawled away from him as far as it could, watching him out of glistering amethyst eyes.

Atemu just went on looking at him helplessly. He had no younger siblings, nor had he anything to do with kids. It was usually rather the opposite. Kids feared him and didn't come near him, which he always had been glad for.

Well, usually he was able to turn around and walk away. Now he wasn't, because the boy needed help, and he needed it badly. But who was going to do that if he didn't? His comrades downstairs? They were so drunk, they wouldn't even notice Yuugi's condition, not to speak of help him. Now he was glad he himself hadn't drunk much until now. He had planned to. What use had such parties if not to get drunk and drown all the problems?

His eyes stayed fixed on Yuugi. He didn't move, crouching like a wounded animal, his tiny arms slung around his knees, fearful eyes staring at him as if he was a predator on his heels, finally having cornered him. Tears had drawn streaks through the dirt on his cheeks, showing that his skin wasn't of the tone of dark grey but almost pale white. Too pale.

Atemu didn't dare to speak. Would Yuugi even understand him if he did? He looked like a strange creature having come from another world, not like a normal human being.

He couldn't speak. He couldn't move.

What was he supposed to do?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Yuugi's POV:

The music was roaring in his ears, but beside that he still could hear his own heartbeat pounding against them loudly. He pressed himself against the cold wall behind him, looking over at Yami full of fear. Now that he had found him and forced him to stay, what was he going to do with him? Panic pulsed through his veins like something livid, making his blood boil. Was he going to beat him up? Or worse, was he going to present what he had found to all the other teenagers downstairs... so they could maim him and push him around, harass him... beat him... maybe even kill him in the end? He found he couldn't breathe properly anymore, all the possibilities haunting through his head. He had to get away, to flee somehow. And he would take every chance he could get. He never tore his eyes away from Yami as he made himself ready to jump to his feet and run. He knew he was exhausted, not having had much strength from the start, but still he knew the house much better than Yami did.

He began to count to three in his head, preparing his muscles to push his body up fast.

One...

Yami still didn't move in any way, staring at him mutely.

Two...

Maybe he thought about what he could do to him, he mused.

Three.

Yuugi was up on his feet in the flash of a second, running to the door as fast as he could. From the corner of his eyes he could see Yami reaching out for him and dodged, having got used to that during his trips into the city when he had to steal food. He had only survived because he was small and could slip away easily after all.

Panting he ran through the corridor into one of the deserted rooms. All the doors were open, that much he knew, so he didn't slow down, turning another corner and storming into his grandfather's bedroom. His grandpa had a backdoor here, which had been locked since he had come here. Yuugi hoped against hope that he was able to get it open, down the rusty stairs and away from the house. Yami never would be able to find him outside.

He skidded to a halt at the door, gripping the knob and turning it repeatedly. It didn't budge. He pushed harder, even slamming his shoulder against it to force it to open up, but that only caused himself pain.

The door was locked and without a key there was no chance of getting it open.

"Yuugi."

He whirled around, gasping as a strong hand grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the door. But he didn't try to fight against the grip. He felt like frozen, mind numb and body rigid.

Yami had called him 'Yuugi'.

The meaning of that fact he only slowly realised as the silence settled back between them.

He wasn't lost... he wasn't. Someone knew his name.

Yuugi stared up at Yami with a mixture of amazement and fear. Of all people Yami knew his name... whereas he had given him a false one so he had the feeling of knowing him.

Stunned and mind blank of all coherent thought he let himself be dragged out of the room by the arm and through the corridor until they reached the stairs. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes made him snap out of it though and he froze on the spot. What was Yami doing?!

Yami also stopped and turned around to him, face an emotionless mask. No sneer, but also no sign of positive affirmation showed on his features.

"Come on, let's go." He said, voice loud enough to hear over the heavy beat.

Yuugi shook his head with a frightened look, whereas an eyebrow was raised and a cool look was sent his way. Yami grabbed his hand firmly and tugged at it, causing him to stumble forward.

Then he went on down the stairs, ignoring all the kicks and punches he tried to get in. Yuugi was helpless, couldn't evade the hand holding his. He pulled as hard as he could but it was to no use. Yami had more strength and just continued walking as if nothing was wrong.

Desperately and because he knew no other way out, Yuugi leaned forward and sank his teeth into the flesh of Yami's hand. The other flinched and the hand let go, but before he could turn around and run, a hand was in his neck, gripping at his hair until the skin on his head tingled with pain. His head was turned around to Yami's, who glared at him with darkened eyes.

"Yuugi, that's enough." He was grabbed and flung over Yami's shoulder. Yuugi yelped, holding on to the other's shoulder panic-stricken. Why was Yami so much stronger than him?

He was carried all the way down the stairs, then the crowd of people came into sight. Yuugi looked back over his shoulder at all the teenagers. Curious looks were cast their way, but other than that nobody spoke to them. Until...

"Hey, pal!" The blond boy from earlier appeared in front of them, first grinning, but them looking puzzled. Yuugi swallowed, sure that hell was soon going to come upon him.

"Jou," was the only word Yami said.

"What are you doing?" The blonde came closer, avoiding the dancing people around them.

"Going home." Without further explaining Yami passed the boy named Jou. Yuugi looked at him over Yami's shoulder, seeing the hurt expression on the other's face. Despite his fear he wondered what was up with the two. And what was up with Yami. Why was he taking him... out... home? Yuugi paled. Why would someone take him home...? Yami didn't want to... no, surely not... He was small and dirty. Why would anyone rape him, of all people. But what other possibility...?

The cold air of the night touched his skin, chilling him even more.

There was no other possibility.

As they came to a halt at a row of cars, Yuugi managed to get out of his shock. He struggled, clawing at Yami's back, kicking him.

"Let me go!!" he cried, his voice now unnaturally loud in the silence. The music was nothing more than a distant rumbling in the background.

Somehow he had to flee. He always had managed to, so why not now?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Atemu's POV:

"Just stop that, will you." Atemu tightened his grip on the boy, about to lose his nerve with him. He just wanted to help him, right? He even had abandoned the party so he could get him something decent to eat, a shower and some warm, clean clothes. Couldn't the boy see that?

With one hand he fished for his keys of his car in his pocket, the other keeping Yuugi steady on his shoulder. He found them and opened the vehicle. As he tried to put Yuugi inside though, the boy wouldn't let go of him, gripping him like he was his lifeline.

"Get in already."

"No, no...!" His wails were full of fear, desperate sobs shaking him. "I don't want to!"

Atemu sighed, stilling his efforts to get Yuugi off himself and instead turned around and sat down in the car himself, seating the boy on his lap. He was tired with the fight the homeless boy put up.

He wondered what he did wrong. Why was Yuugi crying now? He didn't understand. Shouldn't he be happy?

"Stop crying." He tried to make his voice sound comforting, but knew it hadn't worked, because Yugi sobbed louder, shivering, trembling like a leaf in icy wind. Atemu wasn't the person to comfort people. He also wasn't exactly the person to get along with other people well. He just didn't know how to react, what to say and do.

Yuugi lay limb in his arms. He felt wet tears through his clothes. At least the tears were warm. Otherwise all Yuugi had been until now was cold. Cold hands, cold body. It couldn't be healthy.

Atemu relaxed slightly, deciding to wait until Yuugi had calmed down. He just wished he could get his jacket from the back of his car. Maybe he could get a bit of warmth into the boy and himself.

Like that he waited for full twenty minutes. During these endless minutes Atemu had begun to draw slow circles on Yuugi's back, maybe just to occupy himself, maybe to comfort the crying boy. He hadn't thought about it, hadn't really realised he was doing it. A sort of shared body heat had developed between them, finally granting them a source of warmth. It was then that the sobs get less and changed into sniffs.

Still Atemu didn't dare to move, nor did he want to. It was really cold and windy and he was tired. He had been tired all day due to the lack of sleep he had got the night before. Only the wish to go home where it was warm and comfy finally was able to get him to get up.

"Can we now go?" he asked with a yawn, sitting up with the boy still leaning on his chest.

"Please, no..." Yuugi whimpered, on the verge of crying again. But Atemu had had enough.

"Why not?!" he asked impatiently, grabbing Yuugi by the shoulders and pushing him up so he could look into his eyes. "I just want to help you, what's wrong with that?!"

"You want to... what?" The boy blinked, tears getting caught in his thick lashes before rolling down his cheeks.

"Help you." Atemu growled lowly. "What else would I do with you?"

The amethyst eyes turned away from him. Atemu followed his look to the big old house. The urge to leave and let that dirty place behind got stronger. He looked back at Yuugi and, without further asking, pushed him onto the seat. He himself climbed out of the car with a shiver as the place where the boy had sat was hit by a gust of cold wind. So Yuugi could be warm after all. He shut the door and walked over to the other side of the car, getting in there. He quickly closed the door behind him.

With a last look at Yuugi, who stared outside with passive eyes, he fastened the boy's and his own belt, then started the car and drove off.

It was time he got home.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

To Be Continued... (?)

Still I don't know what to think of this story. It's just so... rushed and... um... I'm not comfortable with it. I hope you like it anyway. Now Atemu found Yuugi.

And right, there is still a lot that could happen – that is planned to happen – that will happen if I can get myself to do it. But even if some things are planned, this story I mostly think up while I write. It's fun, but also can get complicated. I don't want to stumble over my own twists... Is there anybody doing that? Just writing without planning much? I think it's difficult. (sighs)

Thank you for all the reviews, they were really nice. Here I have a cuddly Atemu and a cuddly Yuugi. Which do you want? (holds them out to the reviewers) For you!