Hi guys! New chapter! Yay! I hope you guys enjoy!

Oh, and to clarify something, as I stated in the first chapter, this takes place in the U.S. where the legal age of consent, in most states, is eighteen.


Chapter 10


People scurried through the long, narrow halls, brushing past each other without a hint of acknowledgment. To Yami, they looked like they were dancing, gliding effortlessly across the white marble floor with the slightest bit of urgency in their steps. The pitter-patter of a thousand footfalls vibrated through his skull, and he couldn't help but wonder that maybe if these people around him just slowed down, then their steps would no longer sound like a incessant drum but an orchestra of music, designed to sing together, to fit together, like a puzzle; that maybe if they just stopped for a moment, and took time away from their busy lives to just look around them and appreciate everything they had, then they would realize that where they were going was not as important as where they were.

"Are you ready?"

Yami sighed and lifted his face up from his cupped hands to stare at the tall man standing above him. "As ready as I'm ever going to be," he exhaled, standing from the brown bench that he had been occupying for almost twenty minutes now. He straightened out his crumpled dress shirt with his palms and raked a hand through his tangled hair in attempt to make himself look like he didn't just spend the weekend in a small holding cell at the police station.

The man beside him, his court-appointed lawyer, Mr. Hosiko, watched him wearily. "You could have worn something more suitable," he commented quietly.

Yami shot him a tired glare, his russet irises flashing with annoyance. "I apologize that my clothes do not suit you. Perhaps I should go rob a clothing store. At least that way there would actually be a good reason for me being here."

Before Hosiko could respond to the clipped remark, the bailiff walked out into the hall and scanned the crowd of people, all of who were awaiting to bid their case. The dark gray eyes stopped on Yami, and, with a small wave of his hand, he gestured them inside. Yami fell in step behind his lawyer and followed him past the bailiff holding the door open for them. It was only when Hosiko came to a stop behind a wooden table in the center of the room that Yami let his eyes survey the rows of benches behind him. Even he didn't know what he was looking for.

The bailiff shut the door and walked past them, coming to a stop beside the Judge in her high pedestal, a thin woman in her late thirties, hair a crisp, coffee-brown. There was another person in the room; a man with piercing lavender eyes and straight locks of platinum-blond hair brushing his sun-kissed shoulders. Malik Ishtar. One of the most prominent prosecutors in the state with a record-high percentage of cases that end up in his favor. Great. Peachy.

Yami turned his attention back to the bailiff, who pulled out a yellow folder and rummaged through its contents, his posture stiff and rigid. "Case Number TA84737269. The Commonwealth of Domino RE: Domino High School v. Yami Atemu," he recited.

The Judge nodded absentmindedly and flipped through her files. "Let's see. I have one count of unlawful sex with a minor, one count of sodomy with a minor, and one count of kidnapping." She looked up. "How does the defendant plead?"

"Kidnapping!?" Yami flared, scarlet eyes ablazed. Okay, telling him that he was wrong to have sex with a student five years younger than him was one thing, but to accuse him of ever bringing harm Yuugi's way? The insinuation alone was enough to make his blood boil and heat rush the his face.

Hosiko coughed at the outburst, his own way of telling Yami to kindly shut the fuck up. He turned to the Judge, obviously feeling that his client was too incompetent to answer what he presumed a simple question. "Not guilty, Your Honor."

She nodded and scribbled a note on the document. "Bail?"

Malik Ishtar protested. "Prosecution is asking for remand, Your Honor. We believe that Mr. Atemu is a danger to the society, specifically the welfare of the victim in this case. If he is released, he may attempt to repeat his behavior, possibly on other underage teens."

"Your Honor," Hosiko interjected swiftly, "opposing council is being preposterous. Mr. Atemu has no prior criminal record, nor has he ever caused a disturbance in society before. He merely had an attraction for one of his male students, who, may I add, is only a few weeks away from becoming a legal adult."

"Regardless, Your Honor, of the victim's birthday," Malik scoffed, "he was still underage at the time of the sexual relationship."

"Alleged sexual relationship," Hosiko reminded. "And Mr. Motou would hardly be considered a victim in this case."

"This is an arraignment, gentlemen," the Judge said. "Save your arguments for the actual hearing. Bail is set at 10,000 dollars. Next."

The bailiff walked forward and reached out for Yami. "Your Honor," Hosiko said quickly, "would it be okay if I talked to my client for a moment?"

The Judge sighed. "Make it quick, counselor."

"Thank you." Hosiko motioned Yami back out into the hall and towards another room--this one a small conference room furnished with a long brown table surrounded by wooden chairs and a lavish jade green carpet. As Yami was stepping though the threshold, he stopped short at a familiar voice.

"Let me go!"

Yami's head shot up, and his eyes immediately fell upon Yuugi, who was currently glaring down the court clerk, his eyes the darkest shade of violet.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you have no business here," the clerk said, irritated at the boy's insolence.

"Like hell I don't," Yuugi snapped.

"If you don't leave, I'll be forced to have security escort you--"

"If you don't let me by, I'll be forced to report you. The last time I checked, anyone involved with the case could go to the arraignment."

Ignoring his attorney's protests, Yami circled past people, weaving in and out of the crowd, sewing up a scar. "Yuugi?" he said when he was close enough.

The teen looked up, his eyes widening at the sight of his lover. "Yami!" Without a second's hesitation, Yuugi bolted past the clerk, and into the awaiting arms. "Oh, God, Yami, I've been so worried," Yuugi murmured into the fabric of Yami's shirt. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Yami sighed and brushed his fingers through Yuugi's hair. He took the other's hand in his. "Come, Yuugi," he said quietly, leading Yuugi back to where is lawyer stood, cheeks tainted red with aggravation.

"Why is he here?" Mr. Hosiko implored as the pair walked past him, through the door and into the room.

"Why shouldn't he be?"

"Well, maybe because he's the reason you're here in the first place--"

Hosiko had to bite his lip to hold back a squeak of surprise when Yami turned on him, his eyes the color of fire with equal burning intensity. "Listen to me," he said, voice low and as thin as ice. "It would be very unwise to insult him." Yami narrowed his eyes. "Unless, of course, you wanted to give me another reason to be here."

"I believe that is your cue to go, Mr. Hosiko."

At the new voice, the three in the room all turned to see a rather tall brunet, adorned in a pressed black suit, briefcase in hand. "Your services are no longer needed, Mr. Hosiko," he continued. The china blue eyes glinted. "I suggest you leave."

Hosiko huffed indignantly and gathered his own belongings before stomping out of the room. Yami breathed in a sigh of relief and shot the brunet a small smile. He turned to the one beside him. "Yuugi, this is my cousin, Seto Kaiba. He'll be representing me now."

Yuugi nodded. "Nice to meet you," he said politely.

Kaiba didn't return the greeting, but instead raised an eyebrow and scowled. "You are both idiots," he uttered.

Yami's right eye twitched, but before he could retort, Kaiba turned his full attention to Yuugi. "I do not think it is wise for you to be around during the trial."

"Why not?" Yuugi asked, annoyed. "I didn't instigate this. I didn't report anything to the school or the police. I don't want this!"

"I said I didn't think it was wise," Kaiba countered coldly. "I didn't expect you to listen. Obviously, reason is way beyond your reach."

"Seto," Yami hissed, side-stepping Yuugi and pushing the teen behind him protectively. "You have no right to speak to him like that."

"Forgive me, but as I see it, you just lost your job, your respectability, and--"

"I don't care, Seto," Yami snapped. He shot Yuugi a fleeting glance over his shoulder, then turned back to his cousin. "I just don't want to lose him."

Kaiba eyed the two for a moment, contemplating. "I'll do what I can," he finally said. "Though it appears to me that this is a pretty cut and dry case. We can beat out the kidnapping, but according to Ishtar, he has a witness who overheard Yuugi confirming that you two did indeed engage in adult relations."

Yuugi nodded, having already found out what happened from Anzu. He hesitantly walked up beside Yami and looked up at him through glossy eyes. "I'm so sorry, Yami," he said quietly. "I was talking to Anzu and her father was listening on the other line. I'm sorry, this is all my fault."

Yami placed his hand under Yuugi's chin and kissed him softly, assuring him that he was already forgiven. Then he looked back at Kaiba. "How much time is that?"

"I've seen teachers get put away for a few years, however, they were usually convicted on multiple charges with a wide range of students, some of them being questionable if it was consensual or not. However, I think its pretty clear in this case. I would say, if the Judge is lenient on sentencing, maybe six months to a year."

A mix between a cry and gasp erupted from Yuugi's lips. "What?" he choked, distraught.

"Shhh," Yami hushed, collecting Yuugi into his arms. "It'll be okay."

"No, it wont," Yuugi said, narrowing his eyes. "I just...I just met you, I just fell in love! And now some fucked up justice system that is supposedly protecting my rights is going to take you away from me! How is that okay, Yami?!"

It was weird. Yuugi was the always the one coaxing him, telling him that no matter what, things would be alright, as long as they had each other. It was strange being on the other side, the tables turned. It was overwhelming, and if he didn't have Yuugi to hold onto, he might have drowned in his fear. But he had to be strong. For Yuugi.

At that moment, the bailiff walked in the room, face emotionless and drawn into tight lines. "Time to go," he said, motioning for Yami.

Yuugi instinctively tightened his arms around Yami's waist and stifled a sob. "Yami, please don't go. I can't breathe without you."

"But you have to," Yami murmured. Leaning down, he cupped Yuugi's face in his hands and ran his thumbs over his cheekbones. "You have to Yuugi," he repeated, wiping away the stray tear. "For me," he whispered and pressed one last kiss to the younger's forehead, before separating himself from the other.

Yuugi let his arms fall limp, by his side, and closed his eyes. He didn't watch Yami leave because his sanity wouldn't be able to take it, because when you're so in love that your partner feels like the other part of your soul, your everything in life, your darkness when the reality's harsh lights blind your eyes, then it might just drive you crazy when they're taken away.

When he heard the door click shut, Yuugi looked back up and his eyes fell upon Kaiba, the brunet observing him with a minimal trace of curiosity. Yuugi inhaled deeply, his voice unsteady, "I want to testify, Seto."

"You can't." The reply was quick, short, and sharp. Yuugi opened his mouth to protest but Kaiba continued. "The prosecution will tear you to shreds. It'll only make things worse for Yami."

"But I love him!" Yuugi said as though that should be enough, as though those simple words could fix everything.

Kaiba nodded curtly. "If you love him then you'll listen to me," he replied. He gazed at Yuugi, waiting for a response that he knew wouldn't come, his words having silenced anything Yuugi could possibly say. After another moment, he turned and left.

Yuugi watched him go, then gasped for air, inhaling a deep breath. Maybe, Yuugi thought as he slid down the wall and onto the carpet floor, just maybe love wasn't as simple as he thought.


To Be Continued...


Reviews/comments appreciated as always.