(Koobre: I am saying this here so that I don't have to say it again: I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH! It belongs to Takahashi and only him. This is merely for fun. Enjoy the sequel to Blackwater is Red)

Ch 1 If There Are Clouds, Then Dawn Is Red

"Mommy no!" Yuugi cried as he ran after his mother who held his toy bunny away from him. It had three rings stuffed onto its ear, "Nooooooo!" His face was red with rage and tears.

"Stop, Yuugi! You're are seven years old. You shouldn't have this thing anymore." she kept walking towards the door.

"It's because he left! You don't like that they don't like Bunny! Well, I don't like them!"

"ENOUGH!" Yuugi fell back to the floor while his mom towered over him, breathing heavily through her nose, "You've had this stupid thing for long enough, and it has cost much more than you think. So many of them have left because of this!" she shook the worn toy in the air, "And because of you! It's time to grow up!"

The streets that once seemed empty only a day ago were now full of life. They were crowded, in fact. They were suffocating to be in.

The flow of people seemed to be endless, and Yuugi couldn't tell where anyone was going. Were they guiding him to the castle? Maybe to the portal? Perhaps it was back to the cliff and to the cave he had escaped from? Or were they all just wandering aimlessly? That's what he felt like he was doing. Is a sea of people, he was nothing more than driftwood, floating to an unknown location out of his control.

The blue lamps that illuminated the city did nothing to shed light on his situation. In fact, they were less of the gentle glow that provided safety and security but more the harsh light of an interrogator's lamp. They left nothing in the shadows and they blinded the true path. Yuugi had to keep his head down so that his eyes didn't strain from them.

Still, his feet kept walking forward through the crowd of Lelanians. They reached out and spoke to him, but his ears still rung with the words of the priestess only a few minutes ago.

"Then I now pronounce you, King Yami, ruler of Lelania."

"It's good to see you take the throne, my King."

"You had better not turn out to be like your mother."

"I know you will protect the Land of Lelania."

"Is this really what our goddess Mira wanted?"

Yuugi blinked as some words separated from the buzz around him and became clear. While he couldn't tell who was speaking them, he could at least see how they were affecting Yami: he was the only thing in focus. The new King was only a step in front of him, but Yuugi knew he wore a mask of indifference. Yami would hide his feelings until they were in private so that no one could witness how he really felt; at least, that was what Yuugi hoped he would do. Yuugi knew that this was not easy for his lover, and the signs were clear as day that he was afraid. Although, anyone would be in his situation.

Yuugi cried as he ran out of the house through the back door. His mother had left the house with his bunny in hand, and he knew that he would never see it again. He would never be able to decorate it with his mother's old wedding rings nor cling to it at night when he had nightmares. It was gone. It was gone forever...

Most of the citizens departed once they were at the castle while others decided to follow them in. Even though it was a smaller crowd, it still felt like a sea of bodies were following them, expecting them to do something. Yuugi didn't know what to do, so he just kept walking. If he did, then everything would work out.

The castle had felt off for the last few days but it was like a whisper in the back of his mind. It was something that was easily ignored and pushed away, but now, Yuugi didn't know if he would be able to keep it down. It screamed at him. The halls seemed longer and hollow as if the were the corridors for a tomb and not a home. The blue hue from the crystals cast everything in sadness as opposed to the calm that it used to shed on everyone. Even walls and floors that once felt elegant and secure were overtaken by age and uncertainty. Everything felt like a shadow of its former self but nothing could bring it back to normal.

It started to rain. It started to rain hard. Puddles collected on the sidewalk as Yuugi continued to run with only the street lamps to guide his way. A car would sometimes drive by, creating a wave in the water that sprayed his face but otherwise, it was an empty town. There were no people rushing to get home. No teens taking a midnight stroll. No beggars pandering for money. It was empty.

"My bunny," Yuugi cried, "My bunny, my bunny, my bunny."

"My King."

Yuugi turned to the youngest council member who had stepped away from the crowd and towards him and Yami. The group had stopped and Yuugi noticed that they were standing outside of their bedroom door. Yami stood still for a moment before turning to look at her with a blank face.

She bowed her head, "The council wants to know if you will be joining the feast tonight or if you would rather your food be brought to your room."

"No, just bring the food here. No one else is to bother us for the rest of the night."

"Very well. Good night, my King."

With a final bow, the women backed away from the teens and down the hall with the other council members in tow. Some of the remaining Lelanians followed their lead and left the new King and his lover alone while others lingered for a few seconds. Uncertainty and questions lingered in their faces but one look at Yami's hard eyes told them that they were not going to get the answers they wanted tonight.

With the crowd finally gone and true silence replacing the blur of voices, Yuugi and Yami retreated into the bedroom.

The sidewalk gave way to muddy grass, but Yuugi didn't stop. He continued to run even as the mud cacked his socks and weighed his fragile legs down. He wanted to get away from it all and find something better. He wanted to get away from all the strange men his mother found, the noisy nights, the empty space in his heart. He couldn't take it anymore. He didn't understand anything.

Yuugi stalled by the door while Yami wandered into the room, "Why didn't you want to have dinner with them?"

"I figured everyone needed a break for tonight."

Yuugi looked at Yami's back, "This isn't the best way to make an impression as king."

Yami chuckled but refused to look at Yuugi, "Do you think I care? They don't even want me on their throne."

Yuugi shook his head, "That's not true. Some people are happy and proud to have you as their king."

Yami whirled around to face Yuugi, "But I don't want to be king," he glowered at his royal garb with pure disgust, "I don't want to be responsible for this world or its people. I don't want to be here!"

Amethyst eyes softened, "Yami…"

The new king ripped with fur cloak off of his shoulders and tossed it onto the floor. Then, he tore the plethora of gold and silvers rings, bracelets and necklaces from his body only for them to clang on the floor beside the fur pile. Finally, his pale hands gripped the crown on his head and removed it, but instead of throwing it to the floor, he stared at it.

"I don't want this," he whispered.

With a quiet sigh, Yuugi walked over to Yami silently. Once he was in front of the other, Yuugi reached out to take the crown. When Yami put up no resistance, Yuugi smiled and set the crown safely on the couch before turning all of his attention to his lover.

Yuugi reached up to cup Yami's face, "It's okay to be afraid, Yami. I'll be with you every step of the way."

Yami shook his head and grabbed Yuugi's wrist, pulling his hands away, "It's not…. It's just…."

Yuugi waited patiently for Yami to find his words. He knew he was in a worse position than himself and that many things were confusing him. If Yami needed a few seconds to arrange his thoughts, then Yuugi would wait.

It wasn't long until Yami lifted his head and locked eyes with Yuugi, "It's just….I can't."

"Can't rule?"

Yami shook his head as frustration overtook his face, "No, no I can rule I just can't…." he let out a disgruntled sigh, "I don't know."

"Hey," Yuugi waited until Yami was looking at him before continuing, "I don't know either. This is just something that we both have to figure out together, okay? If something comes up, we can work it out."

Yami sighed and shifted his eyes away, "I only it were that simple."

"Why can't it be?"

"Because nothing ever is, Yuugi," Yami retorted as he backed away, "Lelania isn't simple, people aren't simple, hell, not even Earth was simple." he looked out one of the windows with a forlorn expression and crossed his arms.

Yuugi took a calming breath before he attempted to talk, "Complexity is just a thought, you know. Something may seem impossible and complex but if you give it time, it can become simple."

Yami glanced over his shoulder, "Complex and impossible are two different things."

Yuugi clenched his fists, "Yami," irritation boiled in his stomach as he watched the new king stare out the window silently. Did he always have to make things so difficult? Did he always have to have something else to say on a matter? Could he never just let anything lie?

The ground beneath him gave way, causing Yuugi to slip and fall face first into the mud. As dirt and rain seeped his bones, Yuugi's body shook with frustration. He didn't understand. He couldn't understand. Why did his mom always have new men? Why did she take his bunny away? Why hadn't his dad come back? Why did he leave? Why wasn't he allowed to be happy? Why? Why? Why?!

As Yuugi watched Yami, the heat in his face became softer and the strong emotions became fuzzy. His eyes softened and his muscles relaxed as his eyes jumped from the discarded clothes to the crown, and then back to Yami. Then to the bed, to the window, to the vanity, to the door, and to every little object in the room. The warm feeling began to grow and Yuugi couldn't hold back the smile which turned into soft giggles.

"Yuugi?"

The giggles grew louder until they were a full blown laugh. Yuugi gripped his sides as his laughter overtook him.

"Yuugi? Are you okay?"

Yuugi shook his head when he felt Yami standing in front of him. Instead of speaking, Yuugi unclipped his cloak and set it on the couch beside Yami's crown. Then he took off all of his jewelry and set that atop his cloak. The last thing he took off was his own tiara that he set on the other side of the king's crown.

"Hey, Yami?" Yuugi asked as his laughter began to quiet to a simple smile. His sparkling amethyst eyes locked onto concerned crimson, "Can things just be simple for tonight?"

Yami quirked an eyebrow, "How?"

Yuugi merely smiled as he closed the gap between the two of them and wrapped his arms around Yami's neck. Once their bodies were fully pressed against one another, Yuugi lowered Yami's head so that he could kiss him full on the lips. Both of their eyes fell closed as they relished in the feel of their lover. It didn't take long until Yami had his arms wrapped securely around Yuugi's waist.

With a smile, Yuugi kissed the corner of Yami's lips and trailed down the other's jawline, leaving soft kisses in his wake. As he worked his way towards Yami's ear, Yami kept his hands busy by rubbing encouraging circles on Yuugi's back. Shivers ran down Yuugi's spine when it felt like Yami was brushing against his bare skin. Yuugi had to pause his movements as a wave of pleasure gripped his body the moment Yami ran a delicate finger down the curve of his spine. His warm breath brushed against Yami's skin making him shudder and pull the petit teen closer. Regaining his focus, Yuugi took Yami's lobe in his mouth and suckled the soft skin enticing a soft purr from his lover.

Yuugi released the other's lobe and pressed a kiss to the soft side of Yami's ear, "If things are about to get complicated, then I just want to focus on you tonight and you can focus on me," he pulled back to look at Yami's face with a smile, "Let me make things simple for you tonight."

Yami shook his head and chuckled, "Complicated or simple: it doesn't matter. If it's you, I'll take it."

Needing no more encouragement, Yami pressed his lips back onto Yuugi's and delicately pushed his tongue into Yuugi's mouth. Yuugi smiled as he closed his eyes and parted his lips, savoring the slick feel of his lover exploring him. Crimson eyes stayed open as he began to push Yuugi backward until his back hit a wall. The younger didn't seem to mind and instead began to glide his tongue against Yami's, swallowing the deep purr it pulled from Yami. With his lover at his mercy, Yami closed his eyes and pushed against Yuugi's petit frame eliciting a soft gasp and moan from him.

As Yuugi's fingers tangled and soothed Yami's hair, the new king rubbed his hands down the side of Yuugi's body until his palms rested on his thighs. After taking a moment to kneed the soft flesh, Yami hooked his hands under Yuugi's tighs and lifted the boy up. Yuugi relished int he friction the action sparked and with a moan of approval, he wrapped his legs around Yami's waist, allowing his lover to dominate and control the moment.

A knock sounded on the door before their fun could escalate.

"Excuse me, My King. I have brought you your food."

Yuugi's heart pounded in his chest as a bright red inflamed his cheeks. Yami seemed less than pleased as he set Yuugi down on the ground and broke away towards the door. Still, he collected himself and put on a mask on indifference before allowing the maid to come in.

The maid opened the door and pushed a small silver cart loaded with porcelain dishes filled with a cream soup, a bread basket, and a plater of fruit on top of it. There was a pitcher of water, two bowls, and two crystal glasses on the second level of the cart. It wafted in the savory scent of beef, cheese, and some other Lelanian ingrediant that made Yuugi's mouth water and his stomach rumble.

Yuugi moved all of their royal garb off of the floor and couch, setting them on the vanity, while the maid set up the plates and food on the small coffee table. Yami stood off to the side, watching the two of them as they worked. He didn't offer any conversation or help, but he made sure to stay out of the way if one of the two were going near him. Once the dinner was set up, the maid bowed to both of them and skurried out of the room.

With the maid gone, Yami walked over to Yuugi who still sported a red dusting on his cheeks.

Yuugi gave a shy smiled, "We should probably eat first."

Yami nodded and glanced at the paitently waiting food, "That would be for the best."

Yuugi nodded in agreement and tried to walk past Yami when the elder grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. He didn't have any time to register what was happening as Yami wrapped an arm around his back, dipped him and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. Dazed, Yuugi closed his eyes and gripped Yami's shoulders, enjoying the heat the bloomed in his chest; however, the moment was over before he could become fully engrossed.

Standing straight again, but keeping a firm grip on Yuugi, Yami smiled at the glazed over look in his lover's eyes, "Just remember that you're mine tonight."

Yuugi blinked before he grinned back, "I am always yours." With a quick peck on the cheek, Yuugi left Yami's embrace and sat down on the couch.

Yuugi cried out as another car drove by and sent a muddy wave over his freezing body. His tears mixed his the tainted liquid as he sat in the mud and cried hot tears. His heart ached, his body shook, his mind was fried. He couldn't do this anymore. He just wanted home but nothing looked familiar. Everything was in a haze and he was scared. His body wouldn't move. He couldn't move.

"Mommy…" he cried out.

"Daddy…" he cried louder.

Yuugi let out a loud wail when he was answered with silence, "Mommy! Daddy! Where are you?!"

Another car's headlights washed over his crying form so he curled into a ball, anticipating the splash. Instead, he heard the car stop and the door open.

"Yuugi?!"

Said boy uncurled and turned to look at his mother with puffy red eyes. Seeing her son, she ran over to him and wrapped her arms around his shaking form. Yuugi shivered as her warm body protected him from the pelting rain.

"Oh, Yuugi. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," she repeated as she rubbed his back.

Yuugi sniffled as new tears brimmed his eyes, "Mommy…. I miss daddy…"

She clutched him harder as sobs choked her words, "I know… I miss him too."

Yuugi gripped his mother's coat and buried his dirty face in her breasts, "He's not coming back, mommy…."

She shook her head, "No. He isn't," she pulled back so she could look him in the eye: amethyst to amethyst, "But we have each other, okay? So long as we stay together, we can be a family."

As long as we stay together, we can be happy