This chapter wasn't quite as long. Sorry.


Chapter 12- The Gift part 2

Yugi sat in his study going over several documents. He grimaced and put down his pen, starting to rub his hand.

There was a knock on his door.

"Come in." Yugi called.

The door opened, and Yami walked in.

"What is it, Yami?" Yugi asked, still rubbing his hand.

"Is something wrong with your hand?" Yami asked.

"Cramped from all the writing I've had to do. Nothing to worry about." Yugi noticed the drink he was holding. "What's that?" Yugi asked.

"Water. I thought that you might need it. You mentioned you get thirsty a lot in here." Yami said.

"Oh, thank you." Yugi said, taking the offered drink and sipping it.

This was the first time Yami had been in Yugi's study, so he looked around.

"Like it?" Yugi asked.

Yami blushed, realizing he had been caught looking around the room. "It's nice." Yami admitted.

"But?" Yugi prodded.

"Why is it so dark?" Yami asked.

"It's not usually this dark. One of the lights in the ceiling went out, so it's a little darker." Yugi replied.

"Oh." Yami replied.

Yugi could tell Yami wanted to ask him something, so Yugi said, "What's on your mind?"

"Well, um, I noticed that you were secretive about what you were doing when you left the palace last week, and I was wondering when you were going to say what it was about." Yami replied, blushing even more.

"You'll see soon enough. In fact, I'll be able to say today." Yugi said.

"Okay. Is there anything that you need?" Yami asked.

"No. Have you done your duties?" Yugi asked.

"Yes. I finished them before coming here." Yami replied.

"Then go and spend time with your brothers." Yugi said.

Yami brightened at that. "Thank you, Yugi." Yami said before leaving.

Yugi smiled slightly. 'Just wait, Yami. I think that you'll like my gift.' Yugi thought. He was about to get back to work when there was another knock on his door. "Enter." Yugi said.

Rishid opened the door and walked in. "Have you finished those documents?" Rishid asked.

"I'm on the last tone." Yugi replied.

"I thought that you would like to know that your gift had arrived." Rishid said.

Yugi smiled. "Then I will finish this later." Yugi said. He put the papers in a folder which he locked in his desk before he stood up and left with Rishid.

The two walked to the throne room where Aknankanon and Amara were standing.

"Emperor." Aknankanon said as he and his wife bowed.

"Rise." Yugi said.

The two did as they were told.

"Your things will be taken to your room. You will be shown where it is later." Yugi told them.

The two nodded.

Yugi knew that they wanted to see their sons again and decided not to delay it any longer. "Come with me." Yugi said. He started out of the throne room with Aknankanon and Amara following him.


Yami, Atemu, Seto, Bakura, Marik, Jou, Malik, Ryou, and Heba were all in the lounge with Seth, Crystal, and Inchan, who were playing.

"Don't you all have work that you need to do?" Seto asked.

"Yeah, but we would rather not." Jou replied.

"Well, when Yugi kills you, don't come to us." Yami said.

The brothers laughed at the looks the other four gave them.

"Could I ask a question?" Atemu asked.

"What's that?" Ryou replied.

"Why is it that you all haven't been complaining about having to train?" Atemu asked.

"I guess that attack a month ago made us realize that anything can happen, and that we need to be ready at all times." Malik said.

"In other words, Yugi was right." Marik said, smirking.

Jou growled. "Yeah. Yugi was right." Jou said.

"Well, better that you find out now than later when someone might end up hurt or killed." Bakura said.

"I suppose so." Heba agreed.

The door opened, and Yugi stood in the doorway.

"Brother, is there something that you need?" Heba asked.

"No, but we have a new cook for us and a new blacksmith that I wanted you all to meet." Yugi said.

"Oh. Sure." Malik said.

Yugi stepped aside and let Aknankanon and Amara walk into the room.

Yami, Atemu, Seto, Marik, and Bakura all gasped in shock at who they saw walk into the room.

Amara's eyes started to tear up, and Aknankanon smiled in joy.

"What-" Heba started, but was cut off.

"Mother! Father!" the five brothers exclaimed at once.

It was another family reunion as the sons ran forward to hug their parents that they had all missed.

"I can't believe that you're here!" Yami said.

"It's so good to see you all again. I never thought this day would come." Amara said, tears falling.

"This is incredible. After all this time, we're all together again." Seto said.

"We thought that you were all dead. Yami was the only one we knew anything about." Aknankanon said.

"You didn't write them?" Atemu asked.

"No. I never did. There's not a mail route to Manesh from here." Yami replied.

"It doesn't matter. What does matter is that we are together again." Aknankanon said.

"Yeah. A family like before." Bakura added.

Heba looked at his brother and could see the hidden happiness in Yugi's eyes. Heba looked back to the group that was hugging. 'Could they be-' Heba eyes widened as he realized it.

Yugi had brought their parents to the palace so that they could be together.

"Atemu, you're pregnant!" Amara suddenly exclaimed.

Atemu blushed at his mother's words. "Um, yeah, I am, but I'm not the only one who has a kid." Atemu replied.

Seto, Marik, and Bakura smiled.

"All three of you?" Aknankanon asked.

They nodded.

Jou, Ryou, and Malik walked forward holding their kids.

"Are these your husbands?" Aknankanon asked.

"Yeah. This is my husband, Jou, and this is our son, Seth." Seto replied, motioning to Jou.

"This is my husband, Ryou, and our daughter, Crystal." Ryou said.

"This is my husband, Malik, and our son, Inchan." Marik said.

"This Heba, my husband." Atemu said.

"I'm so glad to meet you all." Amara said, her eyes shining with happiness.

"Guys, these are our parents, Aknankanon and Amara." Yami said.

"We're glad to finally meet you. We've heard a lot about you from them." Heba said.

"We're just glad to be able to see them again." Amara said.

Yugi watched the exchange with sad eyes and began to feel more and more out of place in the room. He didn't belong there. This wasn't his family. Yugi started for the door and took one last, sad look at the happy group before he left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Yugi's exit was missed by everyone.

Except one.

Heba noticed and slipped out of the room unnoticed. "Yugi." Heba called.

Yugi stopped and turned back around to look at his brother.

Heba approached him and said, "You brought them here. You brought them here to be with their sons."

"No. I brought them here because we needed a new cook and a new blacksmith. They just happened to be their parents." Yugi replied.

"You find your servants in nearby towns, not ones that take so long to reach." Heba said.

"You're reading too much into this, Heba. So stop." Yugi said before walking into his room.

Heba knew, though. He knew that Yugi had actually done this for them. He just didn't know why. He deiced not to worry about it. For now. He returned to the lounge to find them all still talking excitedly.

"This is such an amazing chance. We never thought that we would be able to see you all again." Amara said.

"We didn't think we would see you, either." Seto said.

Amara looked around and said, "Where's the Emperor?"

"He had work that he needed to do.." Heba said.

Atemu looked at his husband and saw that he was lying.

"Let's sit down and talk." Marik said.

The group did just that.

"Heba, what is-" Atemu started low enough for no one else to hear.

"Later, Atemu. Please." Heba said.

Atemu nodded, and the two joined the rest as they talked.


Yugi's POV

I did the right thing. I know that I did. I couldn't very well keep them apart. It wouldn't be right.

I saw the joy on Yami's face as well as his brother's. I saw the joy in their parents' eyes. They were happy.

Happy like I can never be.

I didn't belong there. That was their family, not mine.

Heba. Jou. Ryou. Malik. They all have a place there. They are married into the family. I have no place there.

In truth, I don't feel I have much of a family anymore.

I feel alone. I did this to give them their family back. I know that's what I wanted to do. I didn't want anything in return.

They all would have felt that they owed me something for doing this for them, and I didn't want that from them. As long as they don't know, it won't matter. They'll never have to feel they owe me.

I raise my hand to my cheek and am surprised when I feel that they are wet.

I realize that I am crying.

Why am I crying? I have no reason to be cry. I have done a good thing for them. I wanted to give them something. I wanted them to be happy.

I wanted Yami to be happy.

I know that's it. I want Yami to be happy, and I know that he is. He is happy to have his family. I want him to be happy.

I know the truth. I like Yami. Not as a friend. I like him in a deeper way.

But I can never tell him that. Why would he want to have anything to do with someone like me? I'm cold. I know that. My own family does not like having me around.

I can feel the tears falling down my face faster as I collapse to the ground. My back is against the wall as he bring my knees up and wrap my arms around them.

When was the last time I cried? I really don't remember. Maybe when my father died. It doesn't matter.

I don't care anymore. I cry here, on my bedroom floor, and no one cares.


Heba's POV

I don't know why he did it. Yugi brought Aknankanon and Amara here, and I know he did to for them.

Something has changed. He's not like he used to be, but he's distant.

I could see something in Yugi's eyes. He was upset, but I don't know why.

I smile as I watch Atemu and the others interact with Aknankanon and Amara. It is truly a great thing.

I'm glad that they will have the chance to get to know their grandchildren.

Atemu keeps blushing at how Amara is talking about being around for this one's birth.

Aknankanon and Amara quickly accept me and my cousins. They are happy that their sons found people who love them.

We're a family.

Family.

That word sounds kind of foreign. Sure, I've had Jou, Ryou, and Malik, but I don't feel it with Yugi, and I miss that. We used to be so close.

Why did he leave?

Why did he say he didn't do it for them?

Why did he lie?

What is going on with him?

I wish I knew the answer to all these questions.


Yami's POV

This has to be the best day since I found my brothers!

I have my parents back!

Mom and Dad were so happy to see us. They threatened us if we didn't start calling them Mom and Dad again instead of Mother and Father. I have my family back.

The only thing is that Yugi left. I guess he wanted to give us time alone.

I was going to go after him when he left the lounge, but I saw Heba go after him.

I got the feeling Heba lied that Yugi had work to do. I saw something in his eyes that has me a little concerned.

I'd like Yugi to open up to me, but he hasn't since that second day I was here. Maybe I can't help him.

I walk back to the room, feeling happy and sad at the same time.

I want to help Yugi, but he doesn't let me. He seems so alone. It breaks my heart that he's like that.

I sigh. Maybe I should just give up and be his servant.

I open the door and walk into the room, thinking Yugi would be in the study.

I freeze.

Yugi is on the floor with his face buried in his arms. His body is shaking.

I know he's sobbing.

I'm in shock.

Yugi was always a strong, emotionless person to me. This is a shock.


That's it. Hope you liked this one.

The next chapter will be about Yugi finally opening up to Yami.

R&R.