A/N:

The super intense chapter of Yami and Yuugi begins now! This is the longest chapter I've ever written, by the way. Nearly 8,000 words (16 pages)!

Be sure to vote in my NEW POLL.

DISCLAIMER: I tried very hard to search for what a normal child abuse case would be, but I didn't get many solid answers. All I do know is that the abuser actually being tried as a criminal is very rare, and that disgusts me. So, I'm making a good deal of the court case scene up. Please bear with me.

~Late May~

In England

Yuugi shuffled tiredly to the head of the dining room table, listlessly rubbing the back of his head. The moment he sat down, a servant appeared with a bowl of cereal for him. The servant placed it in front of him, and Yuugi sent her away with a friendly wave of his hand. He then set himself to the task of eating, gingerly picking up the spoon. After several seconds of hesitation, Yuugi steeled himself and scooped some of the food into his mouth. He chewed slowly, wincing with every movement of his bruised jaw. Roku hadn't been happy when he had gotten home after Yami left, and the bruises weren't showing any signs of fading. Apparently his business meeting hadn't gone well.

Looking up and out the enormous, arched window in the massive dining hall, the teen wondered to himself when exactly Yami was going to send the help he had promised. He had received a particularly nasty blow to the head as well as the one to his jaw that evening, so the details of his boyfriend's visit were fuzzy. However, he did know that Yami had mentioned something about helping him. With a shake of his head to move his blond bangs out of his face, Yuugi picked up another spoonful of cereal and gently tipped it past his lips. It was almost laughable that, just as he was getting used to living in constant fear, he was promised rescue. And from someone who wasn't even his family, no less. No, he was being rescued from his family this time.

Yuugi watched through half-lidded eyes as Roku, with his jet black hair slicked back and dressed in a gray pinstriped suit, strolled into the room with a newspaper and the mail under his arm. It was kind of humorous to think how he used to believe that getting along with this man was important; it was what his grandfather had wanted, after all. "Good morning, Father," Yuugi greeted in a semi-cheerful tone, as was his custom. If he didn't acknowledge his father every time the stoic man entered, trouble would surely follow.

"Yuugi," Roku replied with a curt nod, walking the length of the table and sitting down next to his son. "You slept well, I trust?"

"Well enough, thank you," was Yuugi's dismissing reply. He stirred his breakfast absently, noting the particularly large stack of mail his father was now sorting through.

"Bills, bills, bills, bills," Roku muttered to himself, flipping through the stack. He froze suddenly, staring at heavily-stamped envelope with a look of disbelief on his face. "What the-?" he asked, not bothering to direct his question at anyone or even finish it. Tearing open the envelope, Roku pulled out a slip of pink paper. He read it quickly, eyes darting across the page nervously. "This cannot be right. It cannot be right! Someone get on the line with my lawyer!"

"What's wrong, father?" Yuugi asked concernedly, leaning over so as to sneak a peek at the document. If he was calling Maike, the Mutou family lawyer, something big had to be up.

Roku rounded on him. "You!" he roared, jumping to his feet and banging his fists down on the table. "This is all your doing, brat!"

Yuugi cringed, and he gripped the arms of his chair so hard his knuckles were shaking from the effort. "What did I do this time, father?" he asked, forcing his voice to stay as level as he could make it.

"You just couldn't keep your damn mouth shut, could you, brat?" he yelled, pinning Yuugi's wrists to the back of the chair with his hands. He tightened his grip and watched as tears sprung to his son's eyes. "You live here in luxury with all the material goods you could ever ask for, yet you would still sell out your own father?"

Yuugi gasped in pain as Roku continued to tighten his grip. "Father, p-please!" he cried out, "What are you talking about?"

"That was a court summons in that envelope, you wretch!" Roku released the boy's wrists, snatching Yuugi by the chin and yanking his head up so that his body followed suit and he was standing. "I'm being sued by the Ahknemkhanens on behalf of one Yuugi Mutou for child abuse!" he spat venomously.

Yuugi made a strangled noise as Roku's hand moved to grasp him by the throat, holding him suspended in midair. His hands came up to his father's, clawing at them in a feeble attempt to get him to relax his hold. Opening his mouth, Yuugi tried to cry out for help, but all that came out was a hiss. Roku seemed to realize then that he was choking his son, and he released him after a moment where he simply smiled smugly.

Yuugi dropped to the floor on his knees, massaging his neck and gasping for air. He dared not raise his eyes from the floor for fear of what he would see.

"You'll never learn your lesson, will you, Yuugi?"

Yuugi sunk farther down in the large tub, letting the water come up to just below his eyes. The water was almost painfully hot, but it felt soothing on his tired body. He lifted his head and blew on the frothy bath bubbles, causing them to spray up into the air. Oh, but he was sore. That last punishment has been almost more than he could handle. Lifting his leg to examine a particularly nasty welt from being kicked, Yuugi flinched at the discoloration that was already starting to form.

He sighed, staring up at the ceiling and reflecting on what his father had been yelling as he inflicted the punishment. It would only be another week until their case would be brought before the courts in America. It had been necessary to appeal to a court that had been influenced by neither the Ahknemkhanens nor Roku Mutou. In Roku's case, it was corruption in the English Parliament, while the Ahknemkhanens were so well liked that they were unlikely to get an unbiased ruling either. They wanted an unquestionable victory, no doubt.

"One more week," Yuugi stated to himself, voice echoing off of the walls in the enormous bathroom, "One week until freedom."

In Japan

Yami paced back and forth across the floor of his parents' home office, tugging at his hair and clicking his phone open and shut anxiously.

Mr. Ahknemkhanen, not looking up from his laptop, nudged his wife gently, drawing her attention to their son. She looked first to her husband and then at Yami, raising her eyebrow. "Atem, we are working as fast as we can. This case needs to be absolutely airtight."

Yami's head snapped towards her, but he didn't stop walking. "I know, you guys, and I am sorry. I just can't calm down. Seeing him like that just put me on edge. Who knows what could be happening right now!"

"Honey," Mrs. Ahknemkhanen said, massaging her temples tiredly, "It's best not to dwell on what may or may not be happening. He's an ocean away from us now. Let's just focus on remedying that, shall we?"

Yami's shoulders slumped.

In England, One Week Later

"Fix your tie," Roku snapped, clicking his fingers at Yuugi as they boarded the jet bound for America.

Yuugi would have left it be, but he didn't want to seem insubordinate. Straightening his pale, green tie, he immediately moved to the back of the small plane and dropped his bag by a tiny, leather seat in the corner next to one of the little windows. His eyes followed his father as he barked orders at the flight attendant before sitting down in a large, plushy chair and taking a sip out of the wine glass the attendant had handed him. Only when his father was sitting did Yuugi do the same.

"Let's review, as I want to make sure you behave yourself," Roku said to him coldly, crossing his legs and swirling his wine glass as he glared at his son. "What will you do once we arrive at the courthouse tomorrow?"

"Make myself as small as possible. Make eye contact with no one," Yuugi recited, "Stay close always."

"And what are you to say when called upon to testify?"

"I am emotionally scarred from the death of my grandfather, and, as a result, I desperately seek attention by hurting myself. I told my friend that my father was abusing me, and the situation spiraled out of my control. I will accept my punishment with dignity, for I am only getting what I deserve," he said, voice completely level and devoid of emotion.

Satisfied for the moment, Roku turned away from him to yell orders into his cell phone.

Yuugi slouched in his seat, completely disgusted with himself.

Many hours later, after they had landed in a place called Washington, Yuugi found himself in a very beautiful hotel room overlooking a peaceful scene of large, drooping willow trees surrounding a serene lake. Though it was dark, he could see the picturesque view clearly out of his balcony due to the bright, silvery moon hanging in the sky. As he stood on said balcony, tiny hands gripping the marble railing that enclosed the little space, he stared up into the inky night as a sense of calm enveloped him. For once, he was finally alone. His father had booked a suite for them both, but things had gone awry for Roku in ways that he hadn't properly explained to his son, and the man had to stay in an entirely different hotel altogether. If he had to guess, Yuugi would have banked on the Ahknemkhanens, though he didn't know how they could pull anything like this off.

The hotel itself was an upscale place with a very regal feel; Yuugi's first thought upon stepping into it was that Yami would like it very much. His room was comparable to a prince's bedchambers, though Yuugi had to admit to himself that he really didn't know what such a thing would look like in the first place. Nevertheless, it was a splendid room with a large bathroom complete with a shower and a luxury bath. His favorite feature, however, had to be the enormous four-poster bed. It had long drapes of a deep purple and would easily fit six people twice Yuugi's size in it. The first thing he had done upon entering his room was to tie back one of the heavy curtains and fling himself down onto the plushy mattress.

It was almost a dream come true. To have come this far with Roku, only to be separated from him at the moment when he had counted on being guarded the most. As he breathed in the cool, night air, wrapping the thick folds of the bathrobe he had found on the bed for him tighter around his body, everything somehow seemed right. Sure, he wasn't free from Roku yet, and, yes, he hadn't a clue as to where Yami was. And, make no mistake, he still had yellow and brown bruises covering his skin that pained him when he moved. Somehow, right in that moment, none of it seemed to matter. Later, he mused dreamily, he might wander down to the kitchens to see if he could learn a thing or two about any special "Washington" cuisine. The opportunity to learn something about cooking was one that the teen would never pass up, and not even his current circumstances could make him make an exception.

"But first," Yuugi said aloud to himself, mouth curving up into a small grin as he turned to head back into his room, "That whirlpool bath tub."

"Room two hundred and three, sir," the front desk clerk told the fatigued man standing in front of her, "If you would just sign your name here, please."

The man took her pen and wrote his name quickly where she had pointed. He then motioned for the bellhop standing near the door with his luggage to follow him and, after he had been handed his card key, set off down the hallway to locate his room with a new determination in his step.

"You wouldn't happen to know where room two hundred and three is, would you, sir?" he asked the bellhop in perfect English, stopping in front of the elevator.

The bellhop nodded vigorously. "Yes, sir! It's one floor up and to the right. There's a lovely view of our pond from that room, sir."

"Perfect," he replied smoothly, stepping into the elevator. Once they had gotten back out and walked down the hallway a ways, they both stopped in front of a door with a fancy brass knocker and a plate that read "203".

"Well, sir, this is it," the bellhop announced, voice squeaking a little with enthusiasm.

"I can see that for myself, thank you," he replied, but not unkindly. Taking his rolling suitcase from the worker, he fished around in the pocket of his leather jacket, coming up with some crumpled bills. "I'm not too good with American money yet, so just keep the change please. Good evening."

"T-thank you, sir!" The bellhop scurried away, marveling at the tip he had been given.

The man just shook his bangs out of his face and, with a chuckle of amusement, knocked on the door.

Yuugi sighed in bliss, marveling at what seemed to be magic he was soaking in. Not only were the bath bubbles spilling over the tub, but they were also scented to smell like coconuts. Yuugi loved coconuts. And the best part of making an absolute mess with his bathwater? He didn't have to clean any of it up later. He could splash around in the tub all he wanted, and maids would come by to set everything back in perfect condition in the morning. Yuugi dunked his head underwater, but resurfaced almost immediately, quirking his eyebrow.

Had he just heard a knock?

The teen listened very carefully, and, sure enough, another knock came. It was coming from his hotel room door. Who would be calling on him? It couldn't be Roku, could it?

With trepidation, Yuugi climbed slowly out of the bath tub and toweled off briefly before slipping his bathrobe back on. The knock came again, and Yuugi hastened his pace. "I'm coming!" he yelled, shuffling for the door. Without bothering to use the peep hole, he undid the lock and swung the door open, mentally preparing for another altercation with his father on his unpunctual answering of the door.

"Why are you cringing like that, Angel?"

Yuugi opened his eyes wide. "Yami!" he yelled in surprise, throwing his arms around his boyfriend's middle, "What are you doing here?"

Yami chuckled, returning Yuugi's embrace. "I'm staying here for the trial. My parents' room is right across from us," he explained, motioning to the door behind him. "We took, ah, special measures to make Roku's room in a sister hotel to this one across town."

Yuugi nodded, deciding that the explanation made enough sense for right now. "Wait." He pulled away from Yami, looking up to search his boyfriend's eyes. "You said your parents' room is across from our room. Our room?" he repeated.

Yami smirked, resting his elbow against the doorframe and looking down at Yuugi with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "You don't expect me to sleep alone, do you?"

Yuugi mirrored his expression. "Oh, goodness no. I wouldn't dream of doing that to you. In fact, I was just in the middle of my bath, and you look pretty tired. Why don't you come join me?" he suggested, taking Yami's hand and leading him inside the room.

Yuugi left Yami to lock the door and set aside his luggage, slowly undoing his robe before dropping it on the floor and disappearing into the bathroom. His face was flushed with anticipation; he'd never been so bold about sex before. Though they had almost done it once before, he had been really nervous and made Yami stop halfway through. Before, he had been so filled with anxiety and hesitation, but now all he felt was excited.

He lowered himself into the tub, resigning himself to wait for Yami. He didn't have to wait long. As he walked over, Yami began to remove his clothing. His leather jacket that he was so fond of found itself in a pile along with his shirt, belt, and shoes. Yuugi raised himself up onto his knees and reached over to undo the button on his jeans, sliding them down his boyfriend's hips. All the while, their gazes were locked together. The intensity from Yami's stare was enough to send chills up and down his spine.

Another tug and the boxers were gone, leaving Yami just as bared as Yuugi was. He slipped into the tub, as it was large enough for them both to fit comfortably, and pulled Yuugi onto his lap, running skilled hands slowly up his chest before stopping at the base of his neck in order to drag him down for a searing kiss. "You," Yami started to say, but he gasped as Yuugi's hips moved against his own.

"Me," Yuugi replied, repeating the action slowly. "I what?" he asked teasingly, slipping his hand under the water.

Yami groaned heatedly, tilting his head back. "You're so, ahh, sexy." His fingers dug into Yuugi's milky white skin, and the little teen found himself fighting off a quiver of fear. 'It's a good touch, Yuugi,' he told himself sternly, 'Yami doesn't mean to hurt you.' Lowering his head to roll one of Yami's nipples between his lips, he dragged his fingernails along what he knew to be his boyfriend's sweet spot; he wasn't disappointed at the reaction.

Yami arched up, head hitting the edge of the tub as he let out a loud cry. His hands went up to Yuugi's hair, and he gripped hard, moaning his lover's name over and over again.

He quelled another surge of fear that the rough treatment brought. "I can handle this, damn it," he whispered against the skin of Yami's chest.

Yami's eyes had taken on a slightly hazy look, and he made quick work of leaving a mark on Yuugi's collarbone. His hands trailed up and down the other's back, but he stopped when he realized Yuugi was perfectly still in his arms.

Wordlessly, Yuugi pulled away from the embrace and stood up. He reached for a towel and wrapped it around himself quickly before making a hasty exit into the bedroom. Yami's concerned eyes followed his every movement.

He lowered himself to the bed, drawing the curtains and curling in on himself. Why? Why was this happening? Yami was finally here with him, yet memories of Roku's abuse floated to the surface of his mind when they were intimate? A tear slipped down his cheek. He never wanted to associate Yami's rough handling with Roku's ever again. A sob escaped his lips, and he trembled at both his realization and the cold air against his wet skin.

The curtain parted briefly, and a half-clothed Yami crawled onto the bed alongside him. Turning Yuugi so that he was on his back, Yami hovered over him, propping himself up on the palms of his hands. A warm, salty tear dripped onto his cheek, and Yuugi realized that it wasn't his own.

"I'm sorry, Love. I'm so sorry. So, so, so sorry," he repeated, laying down next to him and burying his face in the crook of his neck. He repeated those words until they both drifted off to sleep.

When Yami awoke, it was to a completely dark room. He frowned, pulling his partner's body closer to his own, subconsciously relieved at the even rise and fall of Yuugi's breathing. 'Good,' Yami thought, 'He's still asleep. Damn, what time is it?' He reached for the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his phone. The little digital clock on the screen read ten.

With a contented sigh, he laid his head back down on the pillow. Only ten. Wait. Yami's eyes snapped back open. He had arrived at the hotel at ten. That meant it was already morning!

Pulling away from his sleeping lover, who made a soft noise of discontent at the warmth leaving his back, Yami drew back the curtain and quickly slipped out, letting the purple drape fall back into place so as not to let the bright sunlight pouring into the room wake Yuugi. The four-poster bed's curtains were obviously thick enough to block out the sun from waking a person up, and they hadn't set an alarm the night before.

"Good thing the trial's in the afternoon," Yami said to himself, stretching his arms back behind him until his shoulders made loud popping noises. He then moved towards the little kitchenette in the room, starting a pot of coffee for himself. He glanced back at the bed. Yuugi didn't drink coffee. Well, room service could help him there. Picking up the phone next to the coffeemaker, Yami dialed the number quickly and waited.

"Hello. I'd like a pitcher of orange juice brought up to room two hundred and three, please. Oh, and two plain croissants," he spoke in English into the receiver, waiting until the woman on the line had confirmed his order before thanking her and hanging up.

The little light on the coffee brewer went off, and Yami immediately poured himself a cup. The strong aroma smelled heavenly, and he downed the entire cup greedily before pouring himself another.

The curtains shifted. "Yami, where are you?" Yuugi's little voice called quietly.

Yami walked back over to the bed and pulled the curtain aside, tying the one end up so he could sit on the edge of the mattress. A shaft of sunlight hit Yuugi's body, and Yami suddenly found himself very aware of the numerous bruises covering his boyfriend's skin. He quickly changed the frown beginning to form on his face into a soft smile. "Good morning, Yuugi. How are you feeling?"

"I'm good," Yuugi replied, rubbing at one of his eyes tiredly. He sat up, either unaware that he was still naked or just not caring. "How're you?"

"I'm good, too," Yami replied, leaning over to kiss him on the forehead.

Yuugi wrinkled his nose. "So, I see you found the coffeemaker."

Yami laughed, wondering to himself how a teenage boy could be so adorable and child-like. "I ordered you juice, so don't worry. And we'd better think about getting ready soon. It's ten o'clock right now, and the cars are coming for us at twelve."

"Oh," Yuugi replied quietly, looking away as a blush formed on his cheeks.

He wanted to ask what was wrong, but Yuugi didn't look like he needed an interrogation right then, so Yami stood back up. "I'll get the first shower, okay?"

"Okay," Yuugi replied, deeply lost in thought.

After Yami had gotten in the shower, Yuugi set about making himself semi-presentable for when room service came. He dug through his suitcase and managed to find a pair of dark blue sweatpants and a clean white t-shirt, all the while hearing his father's words echoing in his head.

How was he supposed to win if he lied? Roku had specifically told him to stick to the explanation he had provided for him. If he didn't, the punishment would be more severe than anything he had previously endured. But he couldn't be punished if he was with Yami's parents, right? Roku wouldn't think of coming after him if he was being protected by the Ahknemkhanen's, would he? The whole situation made Yuugi's head hurt. He wanted so desperately to tell the truth and be free at last, but the thought of what his father was capable of made his head spin. His father wouldn't have the guts to kill him, would he?

He began to pace the floor. Furthermore, what if it was revealed that he was lying? Would he be in trouble for defending the guilty party? One thing was for sure, Yami and his parents would hate him if he didn't tell the truth. They had gone through so much stress and dealt with so much trouble to help him, and he was seriously thinking about throwing all of their hard work away?

There was a knock at the door, and the voice of an elderly woman called out, "Room service!"

Yuugi hurried to open the door, and gave the graying server a grateful smile as he took the pitcher and the plate of croissants from her. "Thank you, ma'am."

"You're very welcome, sir," she replied, closing the door for him because his hands were full. "Have a wonderful day."

'Wonderful indeed,' Yuugi thought to himself as he carried the breakfast over to the little table by the kitchenette. He grabbed a cup from by the coffeemaker and poured himself a glass of the orange juice.

Yami stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and using another to dry off his hair. "I heard the door. Was that breakfast?" he asked.

"Yeah," Yuugi replied, taking a sip of the juice.

Yami walked over to him and leaned down to capture his lips with his own. With one hand on the back of Yuugi's head and the other on his hip to steady him, he kissed him with a gentleness that was surprising. Yuugi was glad for the supportive arm on his waist because his knees might have given out at that moment.

They looked into each other's eyes for a long moment. Then, Yami said, "I don't know what's bothering you, but I want you to know that I'm here for you no matter what."

That was when Yuugi decided that he would risk anything for the man holding him, and the consequences of telling the truth at the trial would be absolutely worth the reprucussions.

The courthouse wasn't very busy that afternoon. Since it was a private hearing, no one but the judge, the secretary in charge of taking down the minutes, the Mutous, and the Ahknemkhanens would be there for the day's proceedings.

Roku and Yuugi mounted the stairs of the courthouse together, looking like a father and son team as they both stared straight ahead with grim looks on their faces. Yuugi hated to be seen looking like his father. They were both wearing the same color tie; lavender was Roku's favorite color as well as Yuugi's. It was purely accidental, but Yuugi was horrified when he found out. To be seen in public dressed like his father in the same colors as well as a similar black suit was unacceptable to him. Any reminder that they shared blood was an unwelcome reminder that the man next to him was his only living relative.

Yuugi's thoughts occupied him like this until, before he knew it, they were entering the hearing room. The Ahknemkhanens were already there, seated together and dressed in their business best as well. Yami's crimson tie matched that of his fathers, and his mother was wearing a blouse of a similar shade. 'Great,' Yuugi thought, 'Now it really looks like I'm on his team.'

The judge nodded to them from his desk at the front of the room. "Good morning," he greeted, "Is this everyone?"

"Yes, your honor," Roku replied swiftly, pulling out a chair for Yuugi before sitting down in his own.

Yuugi could have laughed out loud at his father's front. Instead, he took the seat and settled for shooting Yami a "can you believe this guy?" look. Yami winked back at him subtly.

"Then let us begin. Mr. Ahknemkhanen, please present your case."

Mr. Ahknemkhanen opened a file folder and began to read. "It was called to our attention recently by our son Atem Ahknemkhanen that a Roku Mutou had been inflicting severe physical punishment on one Yuugi Mutou, his son. The trouble really began last year when Roku Mutou first came to Japan to live with Sugoroku and Yuugi Mutou. After the death of Sugoroku, who was Yuugi's primary caregiver, we began to fill out custody papers for Yuugi Mutou's care to be transferred to us. However, Roku Mutou intervened, claiming to be Yuugi Mutou's only living relative and, therefore, next in line for guardianship. Roku Mutou rightfully took his son to live with him in England. When our son went to check up on Yuugi and see how he was faring, it became clear that he had been a victim to some severe abuse. We, the Ahknemkhanens, are now suing Mr. Mutou for custody of Yuugi Mutou on the grounds that Roku Mutou is an unfit parent."

The judge motioned towards Roku. "And now you, Mr. Mutou?"

Roku stood. "Your Honor, I believe my son could tell it better than anyone, but I have never harmed him physically, emotionally, or otherwise. He has been doing it himself and covering it up by claiming to be a victim of child abuse. His charade is merely a cry for attention, nothing more, and I am certainly not an unfit parent. I have provided for my son everything he could ever want or need."

"You may sit, Mr. Mutou," the judge stated with a dismissing wave of his hand. "I don't believe this case will necessarily need to go to trial, do you, gentlemen?" he asked, "No, I rather think it won't. I'm confident that we will be able to wrap this up today quite promptly. Mr. Ahknemkhanen, do you have any evidence to support your claims?"

"Yes, I do, Your Honor," Mr. Ahknemkhanen replied, "Not only are the bruises Yuugi sustained most often in places where he couldn't possibly inflict the damage himself, but I have several eyewitnesses as well, if it comes to that."

Roku's eyes narrowed. "Eyewitnesses?" he demanded, glaring at Mr. Ahknemkhanen, "Nonsense."

"It is true, Your Honor," Mrs. Ahknemkhanen spoke up, "Atem has personally spoken to a member of Roku Mutou's staff that had many times been a witness to the violence."

"I see." The judge made a note of something on a piece of paper in front of him. He then turned to look at Yuugi. "Son, is there anything you would like to say?"

Yuugi blinked, staring at the judge like a deer caught in the headlights. He hadn't been able to follow the conversation thus far very well because he'd never gotten good grades in English class, and everyone was talking way too fast for him. Everyone in the room stared at him as he floundered for something to say. "I'm sorry," he finally began slowly, "I'm not very good at English."

"I will translate for you," the secretary said in rough Japanese with a nod of her head.

"Oh, thank you," Yuugi said, glad that he wouldn't have to give his account in English. With a fearful glance towards his father, whose schooled expression revealed nothing, he began. "I would just like to say that the Ahknemkhanens account of the story is the correct one, sir." He gulped, looking straight at the table in front of him as he spoke. The secretary mumbled the translation in English quietly to the judge. "My father has beaten me more times than I can count, and many nights I wasn't able to sleep due to the pain. There are witnesses to this. I don't know if Mr. Ahknemkhanen included that in his report or not, but the witnesses are the only friends I had in my father's house: his staff. They were the ones who comforted me through those nights." He almost breathed a sigh of relief when he finished saying his piece. Thank whatever gods were smiling on him that he didn't do anything stupid like stutter or burst into tears.

"Thank you, Yuugi." The judge made another note on his paper. "Mr. and Mrs. Ahknemkhanen, do you have these eyewitnesses on hand, by any chance?"

"We do, Your Honor," Mrs. Ahknemkhanen replied, lip curling up into a sort of devious smile, "They are currently lodged in the same hotel as us about fifteen minutes away from here."

"Excellent. Why don't we take a short break in which you will call your witnesses here?" the judge suggested good-naturedly, "Please be ready to begin again in half an hour."

Everyone checked their watches and stood up. The judge reached down behind the table and grabbed a brown paper bag. He smiled sheepishly, pulling out a sandwich. "It's been a busy day, ladies and gentlemen. If you'll excuse me."

As the judge went about eating his lunch, Yami appeared at Yuugi's side and took his hand. "Why don't we go outside for a little fresh air?" he suggested.

Yuugi could have kissed him. He didn't even want to look at his father, let alone be trapped with him for half an hour. Certainly not after what he had just said. So it was with relief and admiration in his eyes that he followed Yami out of the room.

The Ahknemkhanens remained where they were sitting; Mrs. Ahknemkhanen was already on her phone with the hotel. Her husband was reviewing his notes.

Roku strode purposefully out of the room, already dialing numbers on his cell phone. "Maike? It's me. We have a bit of a problem," he announced into the phone, turning down an empty hallway so no one would overhear his conversation. "They're winning. My staff has turned against me, and those damned people are winning!"

"Please relax, sir. Just stick to your story. Theirs is bound to have holes if it's a lie," Roku's lawyer replied.

"Yes, I know, but you don't understand, Maike. They have my staff on their side!"

Maike seemed puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Roku made a noise of frustration low in his throat. "I counted on those rotten people to be loyal to me, and they've all turned traitor for one kid! That blasted Atem kid somehow convinced them that I'm a child abuser!"

"Well, sir," Maike replied with an edge to his tone, "Why do you think they'd believe a thing like that? I know your staff well enough, I think, and I am also acquainted with your son. A kinder, gentler group of people you'd never find. And they are all making these accusations against you. Why is that? Yuugi never seemed to be the type to harm anyone, let alone himself. Mr. Mutou, please do not tell me that your story is a lie and that you are trying to hoodwink one of the best judges America has to offer, not to mention me."

Roku was silent. His mouth was slightly open. "You… You dare talk that way to me, Maike?"

"Yes. Yes I do. You know, I had my doubts about you, Mutou," Maike stated, his tone positively icy now, "Your initial report had basically no evidence to back it up, and your track record of relationships hasn't been that stellar, either. You're trying to ruin the life of one of the happiest people I've had the pleasure of being acquainted with, and I refuse to take part any longer. Good day, Mr. Mutou."

And with that, Maike hung up, leaving Roku standing alone in a dark hallway, grasping for an explanation as to why everything was going so wrong for him.

He soon found the answer. Yuugi.

Once everyone was assembled back in the hearing room, the judge put away his lunch, wiped the crumbs out of his gray moustache, and met the gazes of everyone in the room before beginning. "Welcome back. Let's start with the testimonies of the staff members, shall we?"

A large, African man in a gray jacket and tan slacks stood up. He began to speak slowly and clearly, something Yuugi was grateful for. "Sir, I am Roku Mutou's head butler. My name is Alastor Lovelace. It shames me to say that I knew about the goings-on between Mr. Mutou and his son because I did nary a thing to put a stop to it. If you'll consider it, sir, none of us wanted to lose our jobs with this economy. Yuugi Mutou is a special kid, Your Honor. I realize now that I do not care what becomes of my job. All I ask is that you hear the truth." And, with that, he sat back down.

Yuugi's heart swelled. Alastor was always so kind to him. During the times when he had problems using the stairs from bruises around his knees, Alastor would always carry him where he needed to go. Aside from that, the man was positively massive and frightening-looking, but he had a gentle soul. When he could, Yuugi would always make little desserts for him with the help of the cooks in the kitchens.

"Thank you, Mr. Lovelace," the judge said, beckoning for the second staff member to stand up. "If you will, Miss."

"Yes, Your Honor." She was an aging woman with colored blonde hair, a pinched face, and a heavy French accent. She, too, spoke slowly for Yuugi's sake. "I am a chef at the Mutou house, and my name is Margaretta DeLoc. I've worked for Mr. Mutou many years now. He was always a very stern man, but he was a good enough boss if one had tough enough skin. However, when Yuugi arrived at the mansion, I knew the poor boy wouldn't last. He is soft, sir, and unfailingly kind and polite. Roku Mutou not only abused him. Oh, no. He trampled his spirit, as well. Whenever Yuugi came down to the kitchens in those first few days after his arrival, he was full of excitement and wonder. Then the abuse began." She paused and pulled a lacy handkerchief out of her pocket to dab at her eyes dramatically, which were beginning to tear up. "He was losing his light, and innocence is a precious thing to lose. I would know." It became obvious that she couldn't say more without bursting into tears, so she took her seat once more.

"Thank you very much, ma'am." The judge sighed as he penned down another note. "I'm sorry, Mr. Mutou, but this evidence is rather heavily against you. Have you anything to say?" he asked.

"Why, yes, Your Honor. I do, in fact, have something to say," Roku said with a sneer. He was about to continue, but the judge raised his hand.

"Forgive me, but I need to add one more thing," the judge interrupted, raising a hand to silence Roku, "I received a call during the break from a lovely gentleman named Maike Heartwerth, Mr. Mutou, and do you know what he said to me? He revealed to me that it has come to light that your claims are baseless. When even your own lawyer does not back you up, Mr. Roku Mutou, what could you possibly have to say?"

'My mind must be tricking me,' Yuugi decided. He didn't know how else he could be entirely free of his worries and sitting inside a rather greasy fast food restaurant named Kentucky something or other with the love of his life, who was currently ripping apart a piece of fried chicken like he hadn't eaten all day. Across from them at the table was said love's parents, each picking at their chicken with a mix of interest and disgust on their faces. The paperwork had been mostly filed after the hearing had ended, and in less than a week, he would officially be under the legal guardianship of the Ahknemkhanens. 'What a life I have,' Yuugi thought with a quiet chuckle as he jabbed at his own food. Still, he was beyond happy.

In the end, Alastor had produced a video tape from inside his jacket pocket as the final piece of evidence. Realizing what it was almost immediately, Yuugi excused himself from the room while the rest of them watched it. The tape was a surveillance video from inside Roku's home office. Yuugi had been in there listening to music on his father's computer when Roku came barreling in. There was no audio to the tape, but everyone watching could see that Roku was swearing colorfully. That was when Roku grabbed Yuugi by his hair and began shaking him like a ragdoll. Yami's face had drained of all its color. So had Roku's, but his did for an entirely different reason.

After the video was over, Roku confessed to the charges and proposed a settlement. Yami had been unhappy, but they had eventually agreed on 350,000 Euros, which was 45 million yen or around 500,000 U.S. dollars. The money was to be set aside in an account for Yuugi, but he wouldn't be allowed to touch any of it until he turned eighteen. That was also the age that the Ahknemkhanen's custody of him would expire, as well.

Wait.

"Yami," Yuugi said urgently and apparently loudly because it startled everyone at the table.

Yami paused with a drumstick halfway to his mouth. "Yes?"

"Am I your brother now?" he asked, eyes going wide at his realization.

"Oh. Oh, hell." Yami mirrored his "brother's" look. "Oh, damn. We're incest now, aren't we?"

Mrs. Ahknemkhanen laughed. Actually laughed! Yuugi couldn't remember correctly if he'd ever heard her make a noise like that before, and cackling maniacally didn't count. "Oh, boys," she said mirthfully.

Mr. Ahknemkhanen failed to find the humor in the situation. "No, Yuugi. Since we are merely your legal guardians and not your adoptive parents, you two are not brothers."

A part of him was relieved. He hadn't been sure what being taken in by the Ahknemkhanens would do to his relationship with Yami. But Yuugi's face still fell a little. A very small part of him had been hoping that he would get to call these people his parents. He'd never known loving parents, and though Yami's parents weren't exactly loving, they were a far cry from his actual father. Plus, he'd never known his mother. Someone once told him that the reason he was so childish now was because he never knew a mother's love. It didn't make much sense to him, but it was the only explanation he had.

Mrs. Ahknemkhanen must have seen some hint of his thoughts cross his face, because she reached across the table and put her hand over his. Yami and his father both raised their eyebrows at the gesture, but she ignored them. "You can still call us mother and father if you'd like," she told him gently.

A sunny smile lit up Yuugi's face, and he felt himself tearing up as he replied. "I'd love to."

In Japan

A week had passed by in a blur, and, before he knew it, Yuugi had completely moved into both the Ahknemkhanen's mansion and their lives. The servants were more than happy to set the table for four at meals, especially because Yuugi helped with a lot of the cooking; he was becoming quite an accomplished chef. The only thing he didn't have at the Ahknemkhanen's that he used to have at both his grandfather's and his father's was his own room. That wasn't a problem, however. He shared a room, not to mention a bed, with Yami.

Yuugi hadn't had time to back to school because summer vacation had only been a few days away when they had all returned to Japan. He and Yami both had mountains of work to do; Yuugi because he missed a lot of school and Yami because he was a workaholic. They helped each other, though, so they managed just fine.

Yuugi was just up in their room laying on the floor working on a problem set for his math class when Yami walked in, looking unusually nervous.

"Yami?" the little teen asked, setting down his pencil, "What's wrong?"

"There's something I have to tell you, Love," Yami said. He walked over to sit down on the bed, beckoning Yuugi to join him.

"What is it?" Yuugi asked, putting his hand on his boyfriend's knee in a comforting gesture.

Yami took a deep breath. "You know how much I love you, right?" he asked, taking Yuugi's hand in his.

"Yeah," Yuugi replied, "And you know that I love you just as much, don't you?"

Yami nodded. He leaned down and kissed his boyfriend's lips gently. Without pulling back, he continued to talk, their lips brushing occasionally as he spoke. "I don't think you do know how much I love you. I love you so much that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Yuugi."

That's when Yami reached into the pocket of his sweatshirt and pulled out a tiny, black box. Yuugi swore he nearly stopped breathing at that moment. It was actually happening. Yami was actually proposing. He had dreamed about this moment practically since their first date, and now it was finally happening.

By the worried expression on Yami's face, Yuugi realized he must have been lost in his thoughts for too long. "Oh, Yami, of course I'll marry you!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around Yami's neck and dragging him down onto the bed with him.

A/N:

ATTENTION ATTENTION LOOK AT ME I AM IMPORTANT! So, I'm sure all of you nerds are aware that Pokémon Black and White came out a little while ago. Well, I got it, and I'm in need of some people to wifi battle with! So, if you're interested, leave your friend code in your review or PM it to me, and I'll send you mine!