Alia: Hello everyone. Now while I'm sure that everyone is waiting for updates for HHR and SI, you have to wait a little bit longer. SI is up next on the update list, but other things have been on my mind. Since I am currently waiting for a new job assignment (or a new job), I figured I'd let my muses play a bit.
What you'll see are going to be one-shots or excerpts from various story ideas I have. This is actually the third one as 'Someday' and 'Marriage of the Suns' were both one-shots and scenes.
I don't have the time to actually write these stories to their full capabilities which is how they end up here.
Enjoy.
Title: Tiny Beast of Burden
Author: Alia D
Part: 1/1
Rating: R
Pairing: future Atem/Yami, mentions of Yugi/Heba and Malik/Yami
Spoilers: YGO series
Warnings: Mpreg, Yaoi, Mentions of Non-Con, Violence, Abandonment, Family Issues
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh anime series, or the game or anything else that I might mention. I am making no money with this.
Summary: Yami's lost so much that he fears for the future. His friends? Not so much.
Author's notes: Don't get too mad because of Yugi. This is only a part of a larger story.
Tiny Beast of Burden
Running a hand roughly through his hair, Yami bit his lip as he looked over the worksheet. He glanced again at the listing price on his laptop. Lifting his pencil, he scribbled in ¥52000 into the rent column of his budget sheet.
Duke glared at him out of the corner of his eye while pulling a soda out of the fridge. "I don't know why this can't wait longer."
His lips quirking up in the corner, Yami replied, "Because I need to be a responsible adult."
"You are a responsible adult!" With a noise of disgust, Duke rolled his eyes and opened the icy can in his hands. "You're graduating high school this month, you've got a job you hate yet work a scary amount of hours on, and you're taking responsibilities you shouldn't have to take on alone."
Yami knew exactly what Duke was implying. He sighed. "Duke. I can't keep mooching off you."
"You aren't mooching!" Duke was exasperated with his friend. Yami was under a lot of stress currently. His friends were doing their best to help, but Yami was stubborn. It took a lot of effort, and even more yelling from Bakura, for Yami to move in with Duke. "You know what a mess this place was before you came. You buy groceries, do our laundry, and keep the place clean. You do that between work and school."
Duke took sip of his soda. "I don't want you paying bills, Yami. We both know you need to save up your money. You've only got five months to go." Duke scowled. "Which is why I think you should wait a while before moving. At least until you're further along."
He went quiet. Yami knew Duke was right.
It wasn't that Yami's new job as a translator didn't pay well. While he'd had dreams of going to college to prepare for a career in game development, it wasn't likely to happen now. Unable to contact his grandfather and disowned by his parents, Yami didn't believe he'd have enough money for the local university. He'd need at least one more sizable scholarship to attend Domino University as a full-time student. Loans could be used for the next four years injunction with his awarded scholarships, but money wasn't the only thing preventing Yami from attending college.
"It just doesn't feel right. I'm grateful, Duke. Don't you dare think otherwise, but I got myself into this situation." Yami tapped a few numbers into his calculator. "I should take care of it on my own."
"Bullshit." A deep voice from the couch had both men looking at the lounging figure. Lifting the pillow from his face, Bakura glared at Yami. "We all know you had extra help getting into your 'situation'. For fuck's sake, Yami, you were drunk and got screwed over by someone you trusted."
Yami winced and Duke gave Bakura an incredulous look. He couldn't believe the jerk had phrased the situation that way in front of Yami. Not that it wasn't completely true.
"Nevertheless, I still made the final choice." And that choice had cost him his lover, his family, his education, and maybe his future. Yami regretted all of it deeply, but he didn't change his mind. He never changed his mind.
Duke shrugged. "Still doesn't mean you have to move out so soon." The brunette nodded at the rental price online. "Fifty-two thousand yen? You can save that for a few more months. That'll buy you furniture when you move out so you won't have to take so much from your savings."
Yami nodded. He could see Duke's logic, even if he didn't want to. He'd need basic furniture for an apartment: couch, table and chairs, a bed, and a crib. Yami would also need various items in any household, such as pots, pans and dishes. The high school senior sighed. The various changes in his life were stressing him more and more.
Feeling nauseated, Yami stood. "Right. I need the bathroom."
The two friends watched Yami stumble out of the living area holding his stomach and rubbing his forehead. Bakura snorted while Duke took another sip of his drink. The brunette looked at the annoyed white haired man. "We need to keep him here at least three more months."
Bakura nodded with a scowl. "At least until the old man comes back."
"Still no contact with Solomon?" Solomon Muto was the only real chance Yami had for family assistance. The old man hadn't cut off Yugi when he learned the truth. They knew he wouldn't ignore Yami either.
"No," snarled Bakura. "He's still out at that expedition. They can't give him the message until he returns to Cairo."
Duke tapped his fingernail against the aluminum can. They needed Solomon back immediately to help Yami since his parents kicked him out. "And did you ever get in contact with Yugi?"
The sneer on Bakura's face was rather well deserved. The man hated stupidity and what Yugi had done to his older brother after everything was stupid. "Yes, I found him. He's still running behind Heba, sniffing around him like a good bitch. I called, but the moment he realized who it was, the little shit ended the call."
"I actually tried talking to Anzu, Tristan and Joey." Duke shook his head. "They were no help at all. They still think Yami helped kick his baby brother out. Can you believe it?"
"Don't you remember who we're talking about?" Bakura scoffed. "Thank all that Yami isn't as foolish as his brother."
Duke nodded. Nearly a year ago, Yugi and Yami's parents had discovered their youngest son had a boyfriend. Neither parent had been accepting of the situation and had demanded that Yugi remove Heba from his life. Yami hadn't stood up for his brother for one reason: Heba had been cheating on Yugi with a girl from a different high school. Yami had been more than happy to see Heba out of Yugi's life.
Yugi didn't see it that way. He refused to leave Heba and, much to the siblings' shock, Mr. and Mrs. Muto had disowned him and thrown Yugi out.
The matter had disgusted all of Yami and Yugi's friends, but Yami's friends were outraged at the implication that Yami wanted it to happen. Serenity had kicked her brother Joey in the coinpurse for running his mouth about that topic too much.
It was a great memory for Bakura and Duke.
Duke still couldn't believe it. Especially since after he was thrown out, Yami had been the one to pack Yugi's things from his room, from clothes to precious items. Yami was the one that took Yugi to Anzu's place for the night. Yami was the one that had taken a huge chunk out of his college savings so Yugi could provide for himself.
Out of all his friends, Yami was the only one that handled his little brother's betrayal with grace. He was sad and hurt, but he didn't lash out.
It still pissed Duke and Bakura off that now, when his older brother needed him most, Yugi was still being some immature little asshole.
Bakura shrugged. "Fuck it. We've got the idiot's back."
Duke wore a sly smile. "So you actually did it?"
Bakura gave a slow grin. "Don't underestimate me. Of course, I did. Do you know how easy that system was to hack? In three days, Yami Muto should receive another scholarship reward." Bakura preened. "Right around the time, we get ours."
Duke laughed, though it sounded close to a cackle. Now Yami had no excuses for not attending university with his friends. As an online translator, Yami could work from home and make a decent pay. The scholarships would pay for all of his schooling and most of his books. And as for the last issue with Yami...
Duke drained the rest of his drink and sat the empty can on the kitchen counter. "By the way, I forgot to mention it." He glanced down the hallway to make sure Yami wasn't returning. "Noah got in touch with Ishizu yesterday."
Bakura smirked. "I have a feeling, I'll enjoy this."
"And you will." Because the group of friends wanted Malik's head on a cold, iron pike. They wanted revenge for what he'd done. "He hated to do it to her, but he let her know exactly what her little brother had done to Yami. She's terribly upset," Duke continued with a smile, "But she finally knows why you put Malik in the hospital."
"I'd have killed the worthless shit if not for you and Noah." Bakura remembered the conflicted look on Yami's face the morning after the party. Muto had been so reluctant to confess that he'd told Malik 'No' multiple times only to be ignored. Yami had gone along with it because he'd loved Malik.
Bakura violently losing his temper, and a long talk with Noah and Duke had thankfully ended the relationship.
But the damage had already been done, and Yami was dealing with the consequences.
"She and Rashid are pissed though, and Ishizu swore she'd take care of Malik." Duke winced. There was nothing scarier than an angry woman. "She also said to let her know if Yami needed anything."
"He's fine. He just needs to get his priorities straight."
Duke frowned and took a seat on the coffee table. "What do you mean? Have you not seen what he's been doing? He's got a job to do at home. He's looking for apartments and-,"
"I know that!" Bakura spat. "But he thinks this is the end for him when it doesn't have to be."
"I don't think it's the end." The two men stared at the ill looking Yami exiting the bathroom and walking down the hall. He fixed his shirt, but it didn't hide the small bump of his stomach. "I do know that things have changed."
Bakura stared him down. "And yet you can still have your life. I never thought you'd use a kid as an excuse, Yami."
Yami placed his hands over his little bump. His morning (more like afternoon) sickness grew worse with unexpected stresses. "I am not using my baby as an excuse. I can't get another job because who will hire me when I'm pregnant? I can't go to Domino University without another scholarship and even then, what will I do with the baby during classes? I need to concentrate on being a father before anything else."
"You can do all of that, Yami. You're doing so much better than anyone in your situation. You've kept a level head through everything, and you decided to keep the baby, Yami. Don't give up your dream because of the baby." Duke stood up. "If anything, the baby should push you even more. You want to be a game developer? Do it! You'll be able to take even better care of my niece or nephew."
Bakura gave a bitter laugh. "Yami, if you let those bastards win, I'll never forgive you."
Yami struggled not to smile. His friends annoyed him mightily, but he was very thankful for them. They gave him strength when his heart hurt so much. "That won't be easy. Being a single parent-,"
"Has been done often, idiot." Bakura himself was the child of a single parent. His mother had always worked hard for them both and it turned out alright in the end. She was a manager at an IT firm and Bakura was turning out to be a rather good hacker. "Don't make that kid carry the guilt of being a burden."
Yami looked at Bakura's knowledgeable gaze and nodded. He sighed and turned to Duke. "Are you sure you don't mind your homeless, hormonal pregnant friend mooching off you a few more months?"
Duke brightened. He knew Yami wanted his own place, but it would be after he saved more money, started classes at Domino U, and just before the baby arrived. Duke ignored the fact that Yami would still be around to do laundry. Duke still had a hamper full of pink clothes. "I think it's a great idea! Besides, this puts me in the running for godfather right?"
"Excuse me?" Bakura sat up. "Who's going to be the godfather of his brat?"
"Stop calling my baby a brat."
"I'm going to be the godfather. I mean look at me." Duke brushed aside his bangs. "Can't you see how epic I am?"
Crickets sounded in the background.
Yami sighed. "Right. I'll go throw up again."
"HEY!"
The End
July 4, 2013
Alia: I just really wanted some mpreg. Sorry about Jerk!Yugi.