My Dear Son


Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter 2----

Atem walked along the wet concrete sidewalk, rain petaled down on his jean jacket and black cap. He could feel the cold wet rain on his left ear, where it left uncovered. But at this point, he didn't care. Hi crimson eyes watched as people darted away from the coming rain, running into buildings, jumping in their cars and buses, some rushing into their apartments.

Atem's heart fell when his eyes landed on two twin teens that walked together laughing. The girl spun in the rain smiling as her black hair became damp. Her brother smiled and laughed. Running a hand through his own black hair. Atem sighed. He remembered when he and his own sister would run out and enjoy the rain.


"Nadia! What are you doing?" Atem chuckled as the blonde and black haired girl jumped from puddle to puddle while he sat there at the top of the step s of their apartment, keeping dry and laughing at his sister's childish acts.

"I'm making the most of my life and enjoying the rain!" she called out to him. Smiling. Her own crimson eyes soft with love and care towards her older brother.

"But Nadia, you are 17. You shouldn't act like a 7 year old."

"Why shouldn't I? If I'm going to live my life, I'm going to make it fun and enjoyable. Making everything worth while! I can run in the sun and splash in the rain if I want to.," She said back, placing her hand on her hips. "And nothing you do or say can change that!"

A smile tugged at Atem's lips. "Well I guess there is just one thing to do."

Nadia stopped. "What would that be?" she asked curiously.

"Join in." Atem hopped from his position and ran after his sister, making her laugh and giggle as he chased her.


Atem sighed. He knew that he would never see her smile, or hear her speak of how she wanted to live her life. Never.

"It is true what they say, Nadia. One minute you are yelling your lungs out at your sibling, or hugging your heart out of them, and the next you are right next to their coffin, mourning their death." Atem took a breath and let it out. He continued his walk down the side walk, not bothering to look back at the twin teens who at that moment hugged each other and went into the apartment complex.

Atem wandered on to the entrance of the Domino park where he saw a little girl with a dollar standing in the rain with her umbrella. Awaiting the ice cream truck that's jingle could be faintly heard in the distance.

Oh how he remembered how Nadia would be as persistent as to wait in the rain for the ice cream truck to come when they were younger.

Atem shook his head. No. He didn't want to remember. He wanted t forget. Nadia, was no longer in his life, and he would not let tainted memories keep his soul in sorrow.

Atem stared down as the rain started to subside. Allowing people to re-enter the once almost empty streets and sidewalks. Yes. Domino could not be kept quiet for long.

Atem looked up from where he had stopped. He heard laughter. But not any laughter. Children. Laughing. A chant came after.

"Freak show. Freak show. Nothing but a freak show."

Atem looked through the bars, from a nearby building, to see kids pointing at one in particular. A little boy who looked no older then 3 or 4, sitting on the wet ground holding a fading jean jacket close to his thin body as he shut his eyes, trying to block out the other kid's laughs an chants. His hair was damp and limped a bit. But tri colors of red, black, and golden rod was seen.

Atem pushed a hand through his own red, black, and golden rod hair. He blinked twice as he smiled softly. He remembered how kids used to make fun of him. He didn't have many friends. Only Nadia and Joey and Tristan.

Oh yes. They were declared out casts in their schools. Joey. Because of his odd language which he never grew out of, and his way of beating every kid up who made fun of him.

Tristan. Because of his pointy brown hair and his wanting to be like Joey when he was younger, actually punch a kid in the nose.

Nadia. Well. Just for even sticking up for Atem and Joey and Tristan, she was labeled 'freak protector'. But that never seemed to bring her down.


"Freak protector! Freak protector!" a black haired boy chimed. Soon other kids pitched in yelling the name over and over.

"

Nadia smirked every time some one called it out. "Yup. You got that right! And you know what? I'm proud of it! So go on! Give me the best and loudest 'Freak protector' you got!" she would call out. Shocking a lot of kids. Many gave up and others glared at her just as they walked away. Yup. Nothing would surpass Nadia.


Atem shook his head. He looked up at the sign that stood up on a black pole. 'Domino Adoption Center' it read. Atem raised an eyebrow as he walked into the building.

A few children rushed passed him giggling at their own game of pirates, swinging cardboard swords at each other yelling 'arg' and covering one of their eyes.

Atem smiled as he watched them play in their little world.

"Hello sir. Can I help you?" a young woman came up to him smiling.

Atem slowly nodded. "Uhh.. Yes. Umm. I was thinking of adopting." Atem said.

"Okay. How old and what gender do you want your child?"

Atem blinked. She was telling him this like if she were selling a car. "Er... around 2 or 5... I don't care about the gender." Atem diverted her amber eyes as he looked down at the kids running about again.

"Ooo-kay! Follow me sir. My name is Melia. This is the play room where most of the older and a few younger kids play. But the ones that you might take an interest in are outside." She lead Atem through the poorly kept building. Passing a hall with doors on each side of the hall. Soon she came up to a door with a window on it and opened it up. Her eyes furrowed when she saw the kids making fun of the other little kid. "Hey! Cut it out!" She called as the kids' heads snapped up and they all ran off as a single kid chased them.

The Melia sighed. "I'm sorry for the bad impression. But. They just love to tease that little boy.," her head looked up. "Well I must be going back inside. You can stay here and observe the children. Pick the one you want and come and get me so you can sign the papers."

Atem nodded, but still cringed mentally. She still sounded like she was trying to sell a car to him, again.

Oh well. He better go pick his new 'car'.

Atem nodded and walked over to a bench that was still dry and watched the children running around, but his eyes kept looking at the single kid that they were making fun of. He sat under a tree, where he had run off to when Atem and Melia had entered. He was cradling himself. Trying to give himself comfort.

Atem stood up slowly, and walked over to where the kid was. "Hey. Can I sit with you?"

The little boy's head snapped up. His eyes were large and colored amethyst. They showed kindness and looked gentle and in the need for love was seen in them. They were so innocent. The little boy nodded and Atem sat next to him.

"What i-is your name?" the boy asked as he looked at Atem.

"My name is Atem Muoto. What is your name?"

"Yu-Yugi."

"I like that name."

"I like your's better."

Atem chuckled a bit at the last comment as the little boy smiled, but soon the smile was gone and he looked over where the other kids were.

"Your looking for a kid?" Yugi asked.

"Yes."

"If I were you I would take either Jennifer or Kyle. Jennifer can cook and wash dishes and can recite her ABC's and holds the record for 110 jumps on jump rope. Kyle is smart in math and he holds the record for 16 throws over the fence." Yugi summarized pointing at a girl with long brown hair tied into two pony tails and a boy with short spiky blonde hair.

Atem looked shocked at the small boy named Yugi. He sounded like if he had gone to school and was in the fifth grade.

"How old are you?"

Yugi held up 4 tiny fingers. "I'm 4 but Alissa taught me stuff." Yugi said with a small smile.

"Who is Alissa?"

"My friend... but she has a mommy and daddy now. She was adopted a few weeks ago." Yugi said looking down.

"Hmm... I see...," Atem said as he watched the other kids for another second. He stood up, slightly startling Yugi. "Yugi, do you want to be adopted?"

Yugi nodded and looked at Atem.

"Good. Come with me." Atem held out his hand and Yugi took it fallowing Atem as he was led back into the building. He caught a few glares from the other kids, but looked up at Atem.

"Hello sir. You found a child?" asked Melia as she stood up from the ground, dusting off her dress.

"Yes I have."

"Oo-kay. Lets get the paper work.," she looked down and slightly smirked at Yugi before leading Atem to a desk with a file cabinet. "Here we are. Yugi Jinsu. Sign here and here.," she said smiling at Atem as he signed off the papers. "Yugi. Go get your things." she whispered to him as he dashed off to grab them.

"Okay. There you go." Atem said as he gave her the paper work.

"Thank you. A social worker will need to go to your house once every month to make sure Yugi is okay. So can I have your address and phone number?" Atem nodded and wrote them down on the paper work.

"I'm thinking I might move though. Not out of the city. But out of my apartment."

The girl blinked twice. "Okay. Well. Before you move in, come back here and give us your new address and phone number." she said just as Yugi came in with a small bag and a teddy bear.

"Ready Yugi?" Atem asked.

Yugi nodded and raised his arms up. Indicating he wanted to be picked up. Atem smiled and picked him up resting him on his right hip and taking hold of the small bag. "Have a nice day." Atem said as they left the building.

"What is my new home like?" Yugi asked cuddling Atem's shoulder.

"It is a small apartment. But soon we are going to move into a big house with a backyard so you can play in." Atem said smiling.

"Really?"

"Really."

Yugi smiled and cuddled more with Atem's shoulder.

Atem opened the door to the apartment, resting the sleeping Yugi on the couch. He had fallen asleep when they hopped on the bus. No surprise to Atem. It was probably loud when it was bed time.

Atem picked up all the liquor bottles and placed them in a bag and that bag in two others before putting it in the trash. (A/N: Some one told me once that if you put a bottle in a bag, the bottle might break and tear through it. So you more or less likely have a better chance off putting it in three bags to keep from glass tearing through your trash bags. Back to the story)

Atem sighed as he took off his wet cap and jacket and placed them on the coat rack before he retreated back into the small kitchen to cook something up for Yugi and him. But an annoying buz was heard through the house. 'Great. What do they want now?' Atem asked himself as he trailed over to where the door was and saw Yugi sitting up. 'The buz must have woken him.'

"It's okay. It is just the door bell.," Atem said as he saw worry in Yugi's eye. Yugi just nodded and watched Atem as he unlocked the white door. "Yes?"

"Atem. I saw you coming in with a child and I wanted to say some rules for you and your little kid." said a rather large man with a fat belly. He continued to give Atem rules and such while Atem stood there annoyed.

Yugi watched for a while till he got bored and decided he would look around. He walked into one of the three rooms that were in the small apartment. It was a bedroom. A bed was in the middle, unmade. 'This room is Atem's..' Yugi thought as he walked further into the room. There was a night stand next to the bed. A lamp and picture frame was on it. Along with a wireless alarm clock. Neon red numbers red 6:45. Yugi looked at the picture. The background was a park he guessed. It had trees and a pond. In the middle was Atem. He was giving a piggy back ride to a girl with blond and red hair. Her eyes were crimson, just like Atem's. They both were smiling and laughing in the picture. Yugi smiled and looked around the room some more. There was a dresser and a lamp and another door. Yugi opened the door and saw it was a bathroom. Yugi shut that door and walked out of the room and into the other room still hearing the man telling Atem more rules.

Yugi walked into the next room. It was a bedroom. It had a bed and two night stands. One with a lamp and the other with a picture frame. The same picture as the one in Atem's room. There was a clock on the wall and a bookshelf under it. The books were put in order on how thick they were. Yugi looked around and saw another dresser and a desk with a chair. But nothing more. He walked back out and looked into the last room. A bathroom.

Atem smiled as he tried to get his neighbor to leave. "Yes Mr. Necsu. I got it. No running or loud noises. Yes. Yes. Good bye.," Atem shut the door before the man said anything else. "Ra that man can talk.," he muttered as he turned around to see Yugi standing there. "Whoa! You surprised me!" Atem said placing a hand over his heart.

Yugi giggled a bit, covering his mouth with his hand.

Atem smirked. "Oh you think it is funny eh? Well take this!" Atem said as he reached for the boy and tickled him.

Yugi squealed and giggled as he ran behind the couch. "You can't find me." Yugi called.

"Oh no. He is right! Oh where is my little Yugi," Atem said walking over to the blue couch. "Oh where could he have gone! Oh wait. There he is!" Atem said as he snatched Yugi up and pulled him over the couch. Yugi squealed and giggled as he sat in Atem's lap smiling. A small grumbling sound made itself known as Yugi blushed.

"My tummy says 'grr.'" Yugi said smiling.

Atem chuckled. "Well we better feed that tummy huh?" Atem said shifting Yugi off his lap to the couch as he went into the kitchen.

Yugi got up and fallowed Atem.

"What do you want for dinner?"

"Do you have spaghetti?"

"Yup." Atem smiled as he pulled out the necessary ingredients.

Yugi watched as he tiptoed holding himself up with his hands as he watched Atem put water into a pan.

"Here Yugi. Break these." Atem said. Giving Yugi a handful of dried noodles. Yugi grabbed them and pushed and pulled at them but frowned when he only broke one.

Atem chuckled. "Here. Try this." Atem said as he took half. Placing one end of them on the counter and took hold of th other end and pushed down. Crack. The noddles snapped in half and Atem put them into the bubbling water and heard them sizzle a little.

Yugi stared down at the noddles still in his hands and did exactly what Atem did. Crack. They all snapped in half. "Yay! I did it! I did it!" Yugi called in joy as he smiled up at Atem.

"Yes you did. Now how about you put them in the pot?" Yugi nodded and looked up at the pot. Atem picked Yugi up and balanced him on his waist. "Just drop them in. Don't touch the pot though. It is hot." Yugi did as he was told and clapped his hands as he heard them sizzle.

Yugi smiled as he watched Atem switch pots and pour two cans of red tomato sauce into the pot and poured water in them. Then he put the other ingredients in before setting Yugi down. "Here ya go. Why don't you go watch TV while I finish? Yeah?" Atem said.

Yugi nodded and bounded off into the living room chanting: "I snapped the noddles in half!" (A/N: That rhymed!)

Atem smiled and chuckled a bit before turning back to the half cooked spaghetti.

Yugi turned on the TV after much fiddling with the buttons on the remote. And that was a lot of buttons. Yugi watched the screen as Scooby Doo flashed on. (A/N: I don't own Scooby Doo! It was just the first thing that popped into my head!)

Atem walked into the room smiling as Yugi hummed to the song that was being played on the TV. "Yugi. Dinner is ready."

Yugi jumped up and turned off the TV before going where Atem was. Yugi pushed himself up onto the chair but Atem picked up and placed a phone book under him. "Thank you." Yugi said smiling. Atem nodded and smiled back before sitting next to him.

They both ate and when Atem looked up from his plate he couldn't help but laugh. Yugi had spaghetti sauce all over his face and fingers.

"What?" Yugi asked, a confused look appeared on his small chibi face.

Atem got up from the table and picked Yugi up. "Come my little one. Lets give you a bath.," Atem said smiling. Atem carried Yugi to the bathroom. He sat Yugi on the counter while he turned on the water, adjusting it till it was warm. "Okay Yugi. Come here Yugi. I'll help you get undressed.,"

Yugi hopped of the counter and raised his arms. Atem took of his shirt and was shocked when he saw bruises and scars. "Yugi. Where did you get these?" Atem asked.

"My old mommy... and the kids at the orphanage." Yugi said hugging himself.

Atem looked at Yugi in the eyes and hugged him. "Oh Yugi. I don't know how any one could do this to you." Atem said.

Yugi looked down. "You won't hurt me right?"

Atem looked wide eyed at Yugi. "No. Never Yugi. I would never hurt you.," Atem stated. "No come. Let's give you that bath." Atem helped Yugi finish undressing and sat him in the bathtub.

"Bubbles! Bubbles!" Yugi squealed trying to catch the bubbles in the bathtub, getting Atem all wet.

Atem chuckled. "Yes Yugi. Bubbles.," Atem tried to scrub Yugi's hair but failed with a splash just as an annoying ring spread through the apartment. Atem sighed. "Yugi. I want you to hold onto the edge of the tub okay," Atem asked. Yugi nodded and grabbed hold of the tub. "Don't let go." Atem got up and walked out of the bathroom and whipped his hands and face dry.

"Hello? Muoto residence. Atem speaking." Atem said.

"Hey Atem. It is Seto again. I wanted to see if you were still alive. After our conversation."

"Yeah. I'm still breathing."

Bam.

"What was that?"

"Shit! Hold on Seto." Atem said he ran into the bathroom. "Yugi! Are you okay?" Atem called. Bottles of shampoo and conditioner floated around Yugi who was clinging onto the tub side.

Yugi looked up and grinned. "Bottles fell and went boom!" Yugi said grinning more.

Atem mentally slapped himself. 'Note to self. Find house with cabinet in bathroom.' Atem smiled. "I think you are all clean now." Atem said.

Yugi raised his arms up as Atem snatched a towel and picked up Yugi and placed him on the floor. He dried of his hair and body and wrapped the towel around his small waist.

Atem picked Yugi back up and picked up the phone. "I'm sorry about that Seto." Atem said walking around in a circle, bouncing Yugi a bit.

"We-ee-ee-ee!" Yugi squealed as Atem sat down, his leg moving up and down.

"Atem. What is that?"

"Seto. I adopted a kid."

"WHAT!

"Say hi to uncle Seto, Yugi."

"Hi touncle Seto, Yugi!" Atem chuckled.

"When? Where? Why?"

"At Domino Adoption Center. Around 3 or 5. I dunno. I felt lonely." Atem said.

Seto cleared his throat on the other end of the line.

"Don't even dare."

"How did you know I was going to?" Seto said laughing.

"Seto. Can you honestly say that after the many years we have known each other, there hasn't bin a single time, I have said 'I'm lonely' and not have you start singing the 'Mr. Lonely' song?"

"No."

"Then there you go."

"What ever."

"I'm thinking of moving." Atem said running a hand through Yugi's wet hair.

"What? Why?"

"Because. First. The neighborhood is.. Er.. Okay. But only if you are older and can defend yourself. Yugi's only 4. He can't defend himself. And plus. It would be good not to have a drunk man upstairs."

"Point taken. Need any help house hunting?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. When are you off?"

"For the rest of the week. After... you know... my bosses gave me a few weeks off. One even gave me a month and chocolate."

"Har. Har. I'll be there at 10 tomorrow. Should I bring Moki?"

"Yeah. Yugi should get to know his new cousin and it would be nice for him to meet another kid that isn't going to bruise him."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll explain tomorrow."

"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye."

"Bye."

The phone went dead as Atem placed the phone on its cradle. "Lets go get you dressed, yeah Yugi?" Yugi nodded smiling.

Atem picked Yugi up and looked through his bag. There was underwear, socks, and a teddy bear and a locket. "Hmm.. I guess we better go shopping.," Atem said. "But.. Maybe there is something in the closet.." Atem went up to a door that was right next to the kitchen. He took out the box and dumped out its continents. There was a bag of children's cloths and a few toys. Photo albums and paper cards also laid on the beige carpet.

"Who is that?" Yugi asked as he pointed to a picture of the girl that was in the frame he saw in Atem's bedroom.

Atem looked down at the open album. "That is my sister."

"Ohh. Where is she?"

"She.. She isn't here."

Yugi blinked. "Where is she then?"

"She is dead Yugi."

Yugi looked down at the picture. "My sister is dead too."

Atem looked at the boy shocked. "What do you mean Yugi?"

"My mommy said I was being bad, so she started to hit me. But Makaira pulled me out of the way and my mommy got mad and punch her here." Yugi said pointing to his left temple.

Atem's heart fell. His sister. Yugi's sister died by murder. Trying to protect Yugi. "I'm so sorry about that Yugi. But. You aren't bad. Understand."

Yugi nodded. "Yes."

Atem hugged Yugi.

"How did your sister die?"

"She got in a car crash. And died in the hospital."

Yugi hugged Atem back. "I'm sorry too."

Atem closed the photo album. "It is okay. It wasn't your fault Yugi." Atem gabbed and old T-shirt and place it over Yugi. It fit him pretty big. Atem smiled and pulled on some underwear and pants. "There you go. A little big, but we're going to go shopping right now." Atem smiled as Yugi grinned.

"Yaay!" Yugi squealed.

Atem grabbed his car keys and held Yugi's hand as they left the apartment, locking it as the door closed.

They walked down a few flights of stairs and Atem placed Yugi in the backseat. Yugi snagged Atem's shirt.

"Your-your not going to leave me. Are you?" Yugi whimpered.

"No. No of course not Yugi." Atem said hugging Yugi. 'He was afriad I was going to leave him in the car? What ever that bitch of a mother did, she is going to pay.' Atem cursed in his mind as we walked over to the driver's seat after buckling Yugi in and closing the door.

He pulled out of the parking lot and off to the store. They soon came up to a building with big green letters spelling out 'Wal-mart'. (A/N: I do not own Wal-mart!) "Here we are." Atem said parking the car and getting Yugi out of the backseat.

They walked through the automatic sliding doors. Atem grabbed a cart and placed Yugi in the seat. "Okay.. Boys cloths. Boys cloths.. Boys cloths! There we are." Atem went into the right department and looked around.

"Oh! Look! Lookie!" Yugi squealed as he snagged a t-shirt that had a picture of flames on it and on the back it said 'Hot Rod'. Atem chuckled.

"You want that one," Yugi nodded grinning. "Then we'll take it." Atem chuckled. They picked out a few more cloths, including swim trunks, socks, underwear, and a new pain of black and white tennis shoes.

Yugi, at the moment, was looking at some toys while Atem watched. Yugi picked a plushy of Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl and Kuribo. "I got Kuribo!" Yugi stated showing Atem the fluffy brown toy.

"Yes you did Yugi." Atem chuckled out.

"Oh look. What a cute little boy you have there!" A woman said fiddling with her dark brow hair.

Atem nodded ruffling Yugi's hair. Yugi smiled at his praise.

The woman giggled. "He YOUR'S."

Atem blushed a bit. "N-n-no. I'm not his biological father. I adopted him."

The woman smiled. "Oh. I see." She said.

"Uh.. Yes.."

"Daddy."

"Yes?"

"I need to go potty."

'Saved by Yugi.' "Okay Yugi. Lets go to the restroom.," Atem said smiling at Yugi. "If you excuse me." Atem said pushing the cart away from the woman.

Atem took Yugi to the restroom and helped him wash his hands before leaving the restroom.

Atem grabbed their cart and went off to the cashiers and they paid for the cloths and toys. "Ready to go Yugi?" Atem asked as they pulled out of the parking lot. Yugi nodded hugging his three plushy's small puffy bodies.

By the time they got to the apartment, Yugi hand knocked out.

'You had a big day. You must be tired.' Atem though as he took Yugi into his sister's old bedroom. He placed Yugi in the bed slowly and covered him, kissing his forehead before leaving.


Yugi turned in his new bed before he slowly opened his large amethyst eyes. He rubbed them with his small pale hands and he looked around. "Daddy?" Yugi called in a small whisper. He pushed himself out of the bed, dragging the Kuribo plushy with him. He walked out into the living room before he heard a crash. Yugi fell to the floor and covered his head. "I'm sorry mommy! I'm sorry! I didn't mean too!" Yugi whimpered and cried.

Atem woke up startled by a crash and then a thump. At this moment he could here a faint crying. His crimson eyes grew big. "Yugi." He said as he hopped out of bed and into the dim lighted living room. "Yugi?" Atem called. He heard a whimper from under the coffee table. He bent down on his knees and saw Yugi curdled up hugging the Kuribo plushy close, tears running down his pale cheeks. "Oh Yugi. Are you okay?" Atem reached under and pulled Yugi out from under the coffee table and hugged him, still on the floor. "Shhh... shh... it is okay. I'm here. Don't cry." Atem said in a soft tone. Yugi's crying turned to soft whimpers and hiccups. "Are you okay?" Atem asked looking at Yugi's still tear streaked face. Yugi nodded cuddling close to Atem's chest.

Atem soon got up from the floor and went back into Yugi's room, placing Yugi's small body on the bed and tucked him in. Yugi whimpered and grabbed hold of Atem's pants. "Can I sleep with you?" Yugi whimpered. Atem nodded and picked Yugi up and carried him to his room. Atem placed Yugi on his queen sized bed and laid next to him covering them both as he did.

Yugi cuddled up close to Atem's chest. He felt Atem's warm breath on his head. He felt relaxed. But most importantly. Safe.


BE Dragon: Few. That took a while to write. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please R&R!