Over the next few weeks, Yuya's status in the house slowly deteriorated until he was practically a slave to his step-family. He made all the meals, did all the cleaning and anything else that needed doing. If ever he tried to resist his step-father would have him punished. It seemed he no longer cared to even pretend he liked Yuya and was more than happy to be cruel to him. Varsch liked to bully him around to and always found a way to make his jobs harder. Sylvio laughed and made fun of Yuya when Cánrĕn and Varsch picked on him, but never actually partook in his tormenting. Had Yuya actually noticed this, he probably would have found it strange, but he was far to busy. He was still in grief over the loss of his mom, but only on the inside, outside he kept a smile on his face at all times. Although there were times when it became hard…
"Good morning." He said one Saturday as the others came down. As usual he'd been up since five to begin his chores.
"Good morning?" Cánrĕn asked, threateningly.
"Sorry!" Yuya cried, realising his mistake. "Good morning master."
He felt so degraded addressing his step-father that way, but the last time he'd refused he'd been locked in the attic with no food for two days.
"That's better." Cánrĕn said, sitting down. Varsch and Sylvio did the same, the breakfast Yuya had made was already on the table. He cleaned up the kitchen while they ate, then decided to go back to his room. Unfortunately, as he was walking he tripped and one of his cards slid out of his pocket. It slid across the floor until it hit the leg of Varsch's chair. Yuya watched as he bent down to pick it up and showed it to Cánrĕn and Sylvio.
"Well, well, what have we here?" Cánrĕn asked, examining the card. Yuya scrambled to his feet and tried to snatch it back, but Varsch held it out of his reach. "A duel monsters card? Why would you need this, you don't think you've got what it takes to be a duelist do you?"
Sylvio and Varsch snickered at their father's comment.
"Yes." Yuya said. "I want to be a great dueltainer just like my dad. To keep everyone entertained."
The other three looked at him in silence for a minute, then collapsed into laughter.
"You a dueltainer?!" Sylvio cried through his laughter.
"Get real?" Varsch sneered. "The only thing entertaining about you is when you fall on your face."
"Now there's an idea." Sylvio said. "You could become a clown; you've got the look for it already."
"Yeah." Varsch added, as he and Sylvio snickered again. "You'd be like our court jester."
"Our personal fool."
"Not that you aren't already."
The three of them broke off laughing again. While Yuya had just stood still the entire time, keeping his head down and not saying a word. He peaked out behind his bangs for a moment and saw that Varsch had relaxed his hands for a moment. He saw his chance and snatched his card back. As soon as he did he dashed up the stairs while the others continued to laugh at him. He took his cards out of his pocket and slipped them back in his mattress, then settled himself on top. He tried to push the horrible blush on his cheeks back down again. He felt so embarrassed. But he knew he'd show them. He'd be a great dueltainer, they'd see. Yeah, they'd see…