Prologue

Yami Mouto sat in the front row of the church. This was no doubt the worst day of his life. His wife Anzu Mouto was dead…killed by a drunken hit-and-run while she was out for a jog. Casket closed; her face had been destroyed by the left rear tire. He sat there staring at his lap, in a daze. His only son, Yugi, was clinging to his shirt, crying softly. He was only four; old enough to know his mother was dead, but not old enough to know she was never coming back. Someone put their hand on Yami's shoulder; he didn't bother to look up. They walked away, Yami felt Yugi put his small arms around his neck. He out his hand on Yugi's back. The preacher took the front and began speaking. Yami looked up, but not at the preacher; Anzu's photo was sitting on the coffin. In the photo she was in her pink sundress at the beach. Her hair was tied back in a matching pink ribbon. Yami remembered everything about Anzu; her soft hair, her soft skin, her glowing eyes, her chiming voice and laugh. He could feel and hear those things until… "Daddy?" Yugi whispered. "Shh…" Yami said, pulling him closer. Soon after the preacher was finished, they carried Anzu's coffin to the grave. Yugi walked next to his father. When they got to the grave, Yami had a pink rose in his hand. He kissed it softly, then laid it on Anzu's coffin. It was slowly lowered into the ground. That would be the last time Yami would see Anzu in reality…

Chapter One: One Year Later

Yami stood on his porch in the rising sun's light. He started out into bliss, thinking. One year…today. Amazing; he didn't think he'd survive. Anzu had been dead for one year. Yami sighed. Suddenly, old guilt came back. About seven months ago…maybe eight, he had picked up Yugi from Seto Kaiba's house after a three month stay. After he pushed the guilt away, Yami went inside for a cup of coffee. He sat at the table, trying to make it through the day. He looked up at the clock; six am. Yugi should be getting up. "Daddy?" he heard. Yami smiled behind his coffee mug. When he put it down, he saw his look-alike son in his sky-blue pajamas with white clouds on them.

"Morning," Yami said, before briefly kissing Yugi on the forehead. Yugi smiled, then rubbed his sleepy eyes. Yami chuckled and sat Yugi at the table. "So," Yami said. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Waffles!" Yugi said with a smile. Yami smiled again and nodded. He put some frozen waffles in the toaster and fixed Yugi a glass of milk. Yami leaned on the counter. Yugi was sitting quietly.

"How's school?" Yami said after blinking at his son. Yugi was in kindergarten and the top of his class. Yugi shrugged.

"Fine." he said. Yami raised an eyebrow.

"No one's bothering you?" Yugi shook his head. The waffles popped up and Yami put them on some plates. He put Yugi's plate in front of him and handed him a fork. Yami sat down himself. He was afraid Yugi might be having trouble in school, socially. Yami had read that kids missing one or both parents usually become socially inept. Yugi looked up at this father. Yami had been very protective ever since he got back from his 'vacation'; that's how Mr. Kaiba had put it.

"Daddy?" Yugi said after swallowing a bite.

"Hm?" Yami asked, drinking his coffee.

"Are you worried about me?" Yami put his mug down and looked at his son.

"I'm not worried; I'm just making sure you're okay." He smiled.

"Is that a yes?" Yugi asked.

"No."

"No?"

"Yes."

"Yes?

"Yes."

"I knew it!" Yugi said smiling. Yami glared at him.

"Go get dressed." He said in a playful way. Yugi giggled as he went to his room to change. Yami could only smile as he watched Yugi run up the stairs. When he came back, Yami helped him with his school backpack. They got in Yami's red Lamborghini and Yami drove Yugi to school. "Why do all the kids stare at you?" Yami said when they got to Domino Elementary and before Yugi got out.

"Cause no one has a cool car like this." Yugi said with a smile. Yami chuckled and said goodbye to Yugi. He then drove to work; at Kaiba Corporation. After Anzu had died, Seto gave him a job at KaibaCorp so he could be near friends. Yami parked his car, next to Seto's sapphire Ferrari. He went inside and to Seto's office.

"Morning," Yami said.

"Don't remind me," Seto said as he turned his desk chair around. Yami chuckled.

"Got a morning meeting?" Yami asked. Seto rolled his eyes.

"With…" Seto hesitated. "I forgot his name…"

"Wow," Yami said, enforcing the sarcasm. "You really are looking forward to this!"

"Am I that obvious?" Seto asked with a smile.

"Good morning!" a cheery voice said.

"Oh God…" Seto said putting his head down on the desk.

"Morning Joey," Yami said. Joey rubbed the back of his head.

"What up Kaiba?" he asked.

"Why did I hire you again?" Seto asked with a groan.

"For security reasons!" Joey said happily. Joey was kind of like a body guard, but Seto insisted that he dress like a normal worker. In a way, Joey was undercover, that's how he put it. "Have a meeting, Kaiba-boy?" Joey asked.

"Again," Seto said. "Am I that obvious?" They all laughed lightly. Yami smiled as his two friends. When they were teenager, those two wouldn't work together for anything, but ever since Anzu died, they've been friends as well. Yami knew they had done that just for him and that knowledge made him smile.

"So Joey," Yami said. "What put you in a good mood this morning?" Joey smiled.

"He got laid last night." Seto said, before Joey could answer. Yami burst into laughter as Joey glared at Seto, who calmly took a sip of his coffee.

"Let me remind you," Joey started. "That I have a girlfriend!"

"So what," Kaiba said. "Don't act like you don't have a secret life."

"No," Joey said, shaking his head. "That's you!" Yami started to laugh again. Seto started to lunge at Joey, who took a step back, but the phone rang. Seto answered it and put it on speaker.

"Yes?" Seto said.

"Mr. Kaiba, Seirra is here to see you." Kaiba made a motion to strangle the telephone. Joey and Yami suppressed their laughs.

"Send him in." Kaiba said reluctantly. He looked up to see Yami and Joey wave goodbye as they left his office. Seto gave them a sarcastic smile. Yami and Joey walked to their stations with casual conversations. After work, Yami went pick up the mail before he picked up Yugi. When he did pick up Yugi, he gave him a hug and kiss.

"Had a good day at work, dad?" Yami nodded. Yugi smiled at him.

"What do you want for supper?" Yami asked. Yugi shrugged.

"I'll think about it." Yami started the car.

"Do you have any homework?" Yugi shook his head.

"Hey dad," Yugi asked nervously. Yami blinked.

"Yes?" he said wonderingly.

"Can we go out to eat? We used to do it all the time when…" Yugi trailed off. He turned away from his father. Yami frowned and put his hand on Yugi's shoulder. Yugi looked up at his dad, teary eyed. Yami smiled supportingly. Yugi forced himself to smile. Yami started up the car and they drove home in silence. When they got home, Yami noticed a message on the answering machine. Yugi stopped at the top of the stairs to hear it. Every now and then Uncle Joey or Mr. Kaiba would call to make his dad feel better about his mom. Yami pushed the blinking button.

"Hey buddy!" Joey's voice said. "Kaiba and I are gonna hang out Saturday night. You wanna come?" There was some shuffling in the background.

"If he doesn't go, I'm not spending the weekend with you!" Seto's voice said in the background. Yami smiled. He knew what they were trying to do, but he wasn't ready to start dating again. He turned around and started to wash the dishes from this morning. Yugi went to his room and changed out of his school uniform. He put his backpack on his desk and went to the nightstand next to his bed. There was a small jewelry box sitting on it. Inside was some Anzu's old jewelry. He rarely opened it, in case his father would walk into his room. He wasn't sure if he would get in trouble, but he didn't want to test that. After his was through, he went downstairs and saw Yami was just finishing the dishes. "I'm ready dad." Yugi said.

"Okay," Yami said. "Give me a few minutes." Yugi nodded and decided to watch TV. He sat on the sofa and turned it on. Yami went upstairs to get ready himself. As he was changing, he saw the family picture on the nightstand next to his bed. Slowly he reached for it and slowly he moved his finger down Anzu's body. Tears filled his eyes…no! He had to stop. If Yugi would walk in…he shook his head and continued. "Let's go." He said as he walked down the stairs. Yugi turned off the TV and followed his dad.

"Daddy?" Yugi said. Yami turned around. "Are we gonna go to Mommy's favorite place?" A quick picture of Anzu flashed in his mind. Yami forced himself to smile and nodded. Yugi smiled and followed his dad to the car. They drove to a small, corner restaurant about two miles away. As Yami got out of the car, he saw a few women his age wink at him. He forced himself not to roll his eyes or say anything crude in front of Yugi. "What are they doing?" Yugi asked innocently. One of the women stood up straighter, revealing a very flashy top.

"Walk." Yami said sternly. Yugi quickly walked inside, only a few steps in front of Yami. "Whore," Yami thought. The fact that people like her went around dressed like that, and in front of children, pissed him off. He dismissed the thought from his mind. He picked a spot to sit, away from the window. While they were waiting, Yugi told him about school. Yami smiled, enjoying the time with his son. They ordered their food and waited a little while longer. When their food got to them, Yami started to ask Yugi some question. Yugi hesitated on some of them. One question he couldn't answer, which made Yami worried. He had asked, "Made any new friends?" Yugi never had anyone come over and he never went anywhere either. Yami smiled letting Yugi know it was okay. Yugi immediately smiled back. When they were done eating, Yami paid the bill and they headed for the car. The women were still there. Yami whispered into Yugi's ear "Get in the car; now." Yugi nodded and got in quickly. One of the women smiled.

"Hey," She said. Her two friends smiled as she walked closer to Yami. "How about you take me for a ride?" Yami glared at her. At first he didn't say anything.

"Do the world a favor," he said. "Do something with your life!" He had made it as insulting as possible. The woman glared at him as he got in his car and drove off.

"What did she want?" Yugi asked innocently.

"Yugi don't—!" He slammed on the breaks. A woman had walked in front of the car and Yami hadn't seen her. Yugi's eyes were wide with fear. Yami got out of the car. He walked over to the woman who had fallen to her knees. She had dark ebony hair and was wearing a matching overcoat with an orange dress shirt and blue jeans. At first glance she looked like a teenager. "Are you okay?" Yami asked. He helped her up. "I'm sorry I—!"

"What the fuck is your problem!" she yelled. Her magenta eyes looked red.

"I—!" Yami started.

"What! You didn't see me! God! You think you rich people can buy your way out of everything? I swear you guys should burn in hell!" Yami couldn't believe the scene she was making. "Do you have any idea what kind of crime you almost committed?" Yami knew he wasn't supposed to answer that. "Hit-and-run!" These words pierced Yami's heart. "What do you have to say for yourself?" The woman was finally letting Yami talk. He did the only thing that came to mind. He held out his hand.

"Yami Mouto." The woman blinked then shook his hand.

"By doing this, you know I can sue you?" she said. Yami nodded. Then the woman said. "Seigyoku Son." Yami sighed.

"I'm so sorry. I've been having a rough time." Admitting that felt wonderful.

"It's okay," Seigyoku said. They said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Yami got back in the car.

"Is she okay?" Yugi asked. Yami nodded. They drove home mostly in silence.

Author's Notes…

This is my first story…so be nice. Uh…if you find any mistakes point it out to me through the reviews and be as exact as you can. Thanks…