The Domino Effect // A Yu-Gi-Oh! Puzzleshipping Fanfiction

Chapter 5

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''Stop!'' A voice squeaked behind Bakura. The crowd shifted to allow the white-haired child through.

''Bakura, please! You can't do this!'' The sophomore-aged kid tugged at his jacket.

''Go on, Ryou. Get back to class.''

''Then why don't you do that too?!''

The older sibling groaned, Ryou's pleading gaze locked onto his as I watched from the ground. He sighed, giving in to his brother's hopeless begging as he turned away.

''You got lucky, Yugi,'' He spat, continuing down the hall. Ryou looked back, flashing a quick smile before running off towards Bakura.

The crowd faded away as teachers walked in to break it apart. A woman in a dark tan suit came up, crouching beside me before speaking softly.

''Would you like to go see a counselor?''

I nodded, a tear streaming down my cheek as I quickly stood up and followed the teacher through the now-lifeless halls. I don't think I've ever appreciated the silence more than I do now.

°°°

September 10th, 2004,

          My face was littered with cuts and bruises as I wiped away spots of blood from below my nose. Marik stood proudly in front of me, his arms crossed as he smirked evilly. Just his gaze alone made my stomach turn.

''You're a feisty one, Yami,'' He remarked, massaging his sore wrist. ''Too bad you're not one of us now.''

''There's no 'us' anymore. You'll fall apart without me!''

Marik laughed at the response, his ecstatic gaze sickening me at such a time. He had the heart of a cold-blooded killer, and he could care less about being caught. All he wanted was to see me in pain.

''Oh, but that's where you're wrong. Look around you, almighty pharaoh.''

I cringed as the words slipped past his lips and into the air. They had nicknamed me that ever since the first day of high school, when I became strikingly popular and the source of their power. They called me a king, saying I ruled the class, while still finding clever and unique ways to poke fun at my unlikely Egyptian heritage. I shook the words from my head, refusing to let them infect me once more, and looked across the schoolyard. There was a flock of students, all watching my every move behind their phone screens and camera lenses. How sick, finding enjoyment in another's pain. I had never noticed this side of people before.

Was I like this before?

''You've already done enough, Yami. Now I control the school, and you're back at the bottom, where you belong with your freakish boyfriend.''

''No,'' I groaned in agony, the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears. ''I.. won't.. let you!''

I struggled to stay up, hunching over as my entire body began shaking. Marik began to laugh, the crowd pointing and following along as I took slow steps closer. My breathing grew faint as I took my last step before collapsing onto the blacktop below, Marik standing just inches in front of me. He looked down at me, his eyes shining with pride as I was left defenseless. I couldn't move, everything hurt too much to try.

''You already have.''

I watched as Marik and the crowd disappeared into the surrounding areas before a group of teachers rushed to my aid. They helped me onto my feet, two teachers holding my arms up on their shoulders and lifting me while the others examined me in a hurry.