Thank you Hiei Dragon Girl, devilface1034, pirate22 and AnimaniAshley for your reviews the last few chapters! Enjoy!

Chapter 10

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea." Said Yuugi.

She tugged the hem of the skirt further down, unable to rid herself of the feeling of being exposed. The booty shorts she wore underneath didn't help much either. Why were the school uniform skirts so short! It was just asking for trouble. Maybe they were bought for a discount since they appeared to be missing the bottom half of the material.

If the length of the skirt wasn't bad enough, there was the blazer. It was basically just a tailor suite… that was bright pink.

"I mean, It's been, what? Three days since I emerged?" said Yuugi, throwing up her hands. "I'm still adjusting to it."

Yami, who was standing on the sidewalk next to her house, didn't say anything. He just watched her, eyes taking in her whole appearance. His scrutiny just made her feel more nervous.

"Argh, forget this. I'm going back inside." Said Yuugi. She went to the house, walked inside and shut the door before immediately yanking it back open to yell: "You're supposed to stop me!"

"Am I?' he said, not having moved from his spot.

"Yes, and you're supposed to drag me to school!"

"We're going to be late unless we leave right now."

"You are not helpful!" said Yuugi, grumbling as she shut the door and walked towards him, dragging her feet. "I honestly can't tell if this is a good idea or not. What if I'm not ready to face everyone?"

"Think of it like this Yuugi." Said Yami, coming to her and clapping a hand on her shoulder. "If you stay at home today, Gramps is going to put you to work in the shop. Then you'll have a ton of customers asking you about your emergence. Perhaps even Rebecca will come by and demand to know why you didn't tell her you emerged."

Yuugi gave an involuntary shiver at the thought of facing her self-proclaimed "darling's" wrath.

"Hell no. Let's get out of here." Said Yuugi, zipping past Yami. She heard him chuckle before striding quickly to catch up.

They walked in silence for the first few minutes, Yuugi's trepidation growing with each step. What if it all turned out like her dream? What if all her friends refused to talk to her?

"We could skip school." Said Yami, his voice snapping her out of her thoughts. She considered it for a moment before shaking her head.

"No, it's fine." Said Yuugi, squaring back her shoulders. "I know you're concerned, but I decided to embrace my new life. I'm not going to run away. It's better to face these hurdles sooner rather than sit at home and let my worries fester until I'm too scared to move. You know how I tend to freak out if I'm left alone with my thoughts too long."

"True." Said Yami.

There was at least one thing in her dream that wouldn't come true. She knew Yami would never turn his back on her like that. If he was there, she could withstand any amount of bullying or harsh treatment her nightmares turned real could conjure.

"How did your parents react to you missing school?" said Yuugi. As they waited at an intersection. The walk light lit up and they joined the horde of people crossing the crosswalk.

"It wasn't anything dramatic if that's what you're thinking." Said Yami. "They just wondered what had happened and I told them my friend had an emergency. They listened, then told me that it meant that the year of perfect attendance had started over."

"So they're not going to let it go?" said Yuugi. She wasn't surprised based on the stories she had heard about Yami's parents, but she had still hoped. "Surely they can make an exception for this."

"It didn't matter" Said Yami with a shrug. "They said: 'the emergency must have meant more to me than my ability to move out. I made a choice so I have to live with the consequences.'"

"Yami." said Yuugi sadly. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let you skip…"

"Nonsense." Said Yami, waving her apology away. "I was the one that chose to stay. Besides they were right. The emergency was more important. My eighteenth birthday is only half a year away. What's three extra months compared to before? Then they can't legally keep me there against my will."

No, but they did promise to pay for your housing, that promise no longer applicable. Thought Yuugi sadly. She felt terrible.

Someone in the crowd jostled her and she nearly fell. A tug on her arm kept her upright, and she looked up to see Yami smiling at her, pulling back the arm that had helped her.

"I thought we already went over this. I don't want to see anymore moping from you." He said, giving her head a light tap with his fist. "Where did all that optimism from before go?"

"I think I dropped it a while back." Said Yuugi, grimacing. Then she remembered something. "Wait a second Yami."

Yuugi started digging through her bag and pulled out a small rectangular box.

"Here."

Curious, Yami took the proffered box, turning it over in his hands. He lifted the lid and Yuugi was rewarded with his shocked expression.

"Yuugi… this is."

"That last piece of Exodia." Said Yuugi happily. "I originally got it for your birthday, but I wanted to thank you somehow for everything you've done for me since I emerged."

Yami had a huge fondness for the popular game 'Duel Monsters'. It was part of how the two of them had met. They both loved games in general and had quickly bonded over the card game. After months of searching she had found the final piece of Exodia that Yami was missing. She would just have to find something else to give him for his birthday.

"Thank you Yuugi." Said Yami, replacing the lid. He gave her a one armed side hug, squishing her against his side.

"No problem." Grinned Yuugi as he pulled away, her cheeks warm with delight. She could tell Yami really liked her present. "So who's the first person you're going to duel with it?"

"Kaiba." Said Yami with no hesitation. "It would be great to see the look on his face when I summon it."

Yuugi couldn't help but laugh at the thought. "That would be perfect. You have to invite me to come watch."

The card still felt inadequate as thanks for all he had done for her, but it was the best she could do at the moment. In the future, she'd have to find a better way the thank him.

The stares started before Yuugi even got to the class room. Apparently her identity as "the guy that hung out with Yami" was well known enough that people were confused at her appearance by his side. Most seemed to assume that Yami had gotten a girlfriend until someone finally recognized her for who she was.

She saw when the first person realized it, nudging their friend's side to point her out to them. It only took a few minutes from there before the questioning looks changes to full on stares that followed them to the class room.

They arrived just as the bell rung, everyone scrambling into their seats. Yuugi was about to do the same when the teacher called her up to the front of the class.

"Yuugi, could I have you come up to the front?"

Trying and failing to ignore the stares, Yuugi stood in front of the class, hands clasped to stop them from shaking.

"As some of you probably noticed, Yuugi here recently went through emergence over the weekend." Said the teacher. "I want everyone to be kind to her as she adjusts through this new situation."

The class kept muttering to each other, a mixture of reactions on everyone's face. Yuugi had taken the time to get to know everyone in the class and she didn't like the way they were all looking at her.

As if she were a stranger.

They're also trying to adjust. Thought Yuugi, taking a breath.

"You guys look like you saw a ghost." Said Yuugi, forcing her body to relax. She placed a hand on her hip, cocking her head as she grinned at them. "Seriously, just because I'm now a girl doesn't mean I won't kick your but in card games."

The comment sent a timid ripple of laughter through the room, and she noticed that several people relaxed.

"Also," said Yuugi, holding up a finger "Sorry Miho, but I will not be your dress up doll."

Miho was one of his classmates that had been begging Yuugi to let her put make up on her for months, declaring that "he" had the biggest puppy eyes she had ever seen. The girl stuck out her lip in a pout at the comment.

"But you'd look so cute!" she said, several of her friends laughing with agreement.

Yuugi chuckled as well, letting the teacher shoo her from the front to start the lesson. She eased into her chair, letting out a big breath. She glanced behind herself at Yami who gave her a thumbs up.

That had gone much better than she could have hoped for. Everyone was probably still in shock about the change, but showing them that Yuugi herself was comfortable with her change made everyone less inclined to tip toe around her. At least, as long as she appeared to be fine.

No, the real problem was the few in the crowd whose expression had looked far from pacified.

Jou and Honda hadn't looked at her, the first glowering like in her dreams while the other just seemed petrified. Then there was Ryou, the boy's expression completely unreadable, eyes empty as he had stared at her. If Yuugi had to guess, he had appeared almost… disappointed.

Jou and Honda could wait, she'd deal with them later. It was that blank expression that Yuugi instantly knew was not a good sign.

Thanks for reading!