In between

---Chapter 2---

Yugi sat at the table and nibbled on his spoon after finishing his bowl of Honey Smacks, he stared into the bowl of milk and looked up at Yami who was watching him carefully. A piece of toast resting on the tips of his fingers and a cup of coffee in his other hand, "Yugi, it's okay."

"I know…" He sighed, "I just feel so stupid."

"Well don't."

"I'm not as strong as you are."

"That isn't true."

"I'm--"

"You are perfect, you are safe, you are with people who love you, really love you, and we'll protect you."

"That's right." Anzu smiled fixing up Oreo Pancakes for Yugi. "We'll have a big breakfast and we'll walk to school together," She smiled as she spatulaed a stack of pancakes onto a plate in front of him. "Eat up."

"What if we went to see that New Harry Potter movie? Like we used to, the five of us?" Yami smiled as he looked up from the entertainment section of the newspaper.

"It's all sold out. I wanted to go but Duke said he couldn't get tickets."

"Well I will get the tickets, if you still want to go."

"I do." he smiled instantly. "Okay, this'll be fun." He dug a fork into his pancakes and ate them hungrily. "Thank you Anzu." Yugi smiled.

"You're welcome." She smiled and joined him in a bite to eat.

---

Yugi and Anzu walked to school happily and safely knowing that Duke would be in his shop working to keep his business alive. Anzu smiled as the scene was like old times when they were just starting high school before all the drama. She was happy to hear that Yugi had finally broken it off with Duke. Yami told her every story on their weekly outings. "I'm so stressed; did you study for that Trig test?"

"Well Trig has always been easy for me. I don't think it will be too hard, don't worry, I can help you during study hall if you like." He smiled at her and she knew things would be better now.

"I would love that. Yugi, you know, we will always be here to cheer you up if you need it." she added just as the bell rang. "See you in Second." She ran off and into the building as Yugi ran off in another direction and met up with Tristan.

"Hey, Dude. How do you think you did on that essay?"

"On Egypt? Please, I have the only real first hand source in the world, I nailed that one."

"That is so unfair. Oh well, I think I got at least a C."

"Well that's still passing." He smiled. "Besides you are probably going to take over your dad's dealer ship."

"I want to but without good marks my dad wont let me just take it over."

"Well I think it's good that he's making you work for it." Yugi smiled. "Yami and I had to take over the shop after Grandpa passed. It's been hard but worth it. You can just see your hard work pay off."

"Boys, enough talking, the bell has rung, get inside." Mr. Harris called to them and swept them in as he closed the door. "I was surprised by your papers but more than half of you missed the point of doing research, so I want you all to start over and this time cite your sources." He glanced at Yugi, "and don't make up first hand accounts. Also, I want you to use at least sources from books and only one from the internet. We all know you can use the internet but you have to learn it the old way. So." he placed the marker for the dry erase board on the silver rack on the bottom, "let's go to the Library." He smiled and everyone stood up and followed him.

As the students filed into the library Yugi and Tristan broke away spotting Anzu at the other end of the room, they stopped in front of her "Hey, Anzu, what are you doing here? English paper too?"

"No, just doing to research." She faltered as she held a stack of books behind her back. "Just boring old research nothing you need to worry about."

"They why are you hiding them? Let us see. What's the topic?" Yugi snaked his head around to catch a peak as Tristan bombarded her with questions.

"What is this?" Yugi managed to grab two books from the pile before Anzu noticed and pulled away. Why does he do that?: inside the minds of abusive and controlling men. And Beyond Betrayal: Taking Charge of Your Life after Boyhood Sexual Abuse. Anzu what are these?" he glared up at her.

"Okay I just thought you might want to do some reading on your situation. It could lead to worse things for you if you don't take care of them."

"What situation? That," he held a hand toward the books, "is not me! You put those back for someone who really needs them." Yugi snarled and walked back toward his class.

"What situation? Has Yugi been abused? By duke?" he blinked, "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Yugi never told anyone, Yami found out and told me, he told Joey too because Joey works with them. I'm sorry. But they broke it off. It should be okay, but I think there are after effects. I am just worried about him."

"Well you should have been more careful now he probably thinks that we think he is too weak to handle this on his own. I'll go talk to him. See you after school." He waved her off and went for Yugi. "Hey man."

---

After school Yugi and Tristan walked toward the shop. Suddenly Yugi stopped hearing an all too familiar engine. "He's coming." Yugi said and looked left and right and sure enough Dukes red ford pickup was turning the corner toward him. He would know that sound anywhere, many nights he was left tied up until Duke returned from work and the sound of the truck would make his body shake in fear for he knew what would come next. As the visions of being raped repeatedly came he blinked his eyes and were gone. Duke's truck came to a stop and a bouquet of white roses and an arm were thrust from the window. Yugi slowly made his way toward them and plucked from a card.

"I love you and I am sorry." Yugi read and took the flowers from Duke's hand and looked in at him. "It's over."

"Come on, I make one mistake and that's it. Come on give me another chance." Duke's face held total sincerity

"Yugi, come on Duke, lets get to the shop." Tristan stepped up to them, "Forget this guy."

"You, Stay out of this, Tristan. Come on Yugi get in."

Yugi nibbled on the inside of his bottom lip as the thought it over and grabbed the handled of the passenger's side door and pulled it open. "I'll see you there Tristan." Yugi smiled and hopped into the truck and shut the door.

"Yugi! Come on get out of there!" Tristan yelled but it was too late, Duke took Yugi off and down the road. "Dammit!" he ran full on toward the shop to tell Yami.