Puzzle Pieces

II

Yuugi blinked as he watched the taxicab pull away from his home, his grandfather waving to him slowly. The pale boy raised his hand a little, and returned the small gesture. He waited until the vehicle turned the corner, and vanished from sight before letting his arm drop to his side. A kind, middle-aged woman who lived across the street gave a call of greeting to him, and Yuugi smiled shyly before retreating into his home.

Jounouchi-kun and Ryou-kun would be there today. He didn't know exactly when, but they promised. And friends didn't break promises. So he'd play a game to pass the time. His fingers cradled around the object hanging from his neck delicately, and the teen gave an absent smile, eyes half-lidded.

His steps were noiseless as he scampered up the stairs, to retrieve an object from his bedroom, and padded back downstairs to the living room. Out of habit, he peeked around the doorway, before entering. No-one was there. He frowned a little, not liking the silence.

It wasn't meant to be so quiet. Not here.

There was supposed to be people working in the shop, and little kids trying to get their parents to buy them games. Or Jii-chan would be watching the news, or moving something in the storage room. Either way, it was never silent like this here.

Sitting down on the couch, Yuugi set his item on the coffee table. It was small, fitting in the palms of his hands, and rectangular. The thing was made entirely of gold, just like his Treasure, and had designs on it. Egyptian hieroglyphics spelling out an ancient text of which Yuugi did not understand adorned its flawless, precious-metal sides. The Eye of Wadjet peered up at him, making the distant teen feel safe and secure as he rubbed a thumb over the symbol.

He took off the lid, and set it to the side. Inside, were cards. Many he had bought and collected over the years. His Duel Monsters deck.

Yuugi gently slid the cards into one hand, another wave of safety filling his mind. The Hearts of these cards were cradling him in an almost loving embrace. Because they loved their Master, who returned the emotion with mutual affections. They had been through so much together. His Treasures had been the first thing he had run to after-

The deck hit the table as Yuugi gripped at his head with a whimper. Dulled purple eyes squeezed shut, and tears gathered on his lashes.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

Was his Jii-chan ever coming back? Or was he going to leave him, like... like...

"Saya, please, DON'T!"

"Mommy, what are you doing?!"

A loud bang. A bloodcurdling scream.

Blood. So much blood.

He gave a small cry of distress as the Memory flashed through his head. Again.

His parents... They'd left him. What was to stop his grandfather from doing the same?

A soft flash of light, gentle as a lightning bug's, illuminated from the item around his neck. His cards fluttered on an imaginary breeze. Waves of warm protection quickly soothed the distraught child, and he lowered his hands from his hair. Safety, his brain registered. Protection. Guardians.

He pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his Treasure, feeling it practically buzz with warmth and affection. He smiled, before glancing down to the coffee table in front of him. His cards had spread over the surface of it, some of which had fluttered to the ground. His eyes went wide, and Yuugi quickly kneeled down to pick up his fallen friends from the floor. (A/N: Try and say THAT three times fast XD)