Chapter 12: A Safe Haven

Dee Bunny: I thank TIGGI1 for the idea for this chapter.

"I hope that you two are okay with this. I feel that it's the best way to protect Yugi," Yami explained with held breath. Yugi's mother and Grandpa were considering Yami's plan for protecting Yugi better.

"I'm not sure, Yami. I know Yugi needs the best protection in the world but at the same time I'm not sure if living with you is the way to gain it," Yugi's mom replied with a frown.

"I have high tech security, bodyguards, and it's almost deserted around my neck of the woods." Literally. "You can see him anytime you want, he'll still continue his education, or maybe you could home school him there if you want, and you guys could live there too. If not, you are invited to come at any time," he stated hopefully.

"I think that it's a good idea. Yugi will be protected, we can see him as much as we wish, he'll be able to continue school, and he'll be around someone else he loves," Grandpa agreed as he drank some more of his tea. Yami blushed.

"I know all that but I get this feeling that Leo may be able to find ways around Yami's security because I met his mother at a parent teacher conference the other night and she told me how Leo is very skilled with photography and computers. I just worry that he might find loop holes in your system. I'm really not trying to insult you; I'm just being a mother."

"I know the feeling," he said remembering how protective his mother used to be.

"So, you can imagine my worry. I just want Yugi to be safe and I know that with you he'll get the safety he needs, I'm just afraid that Leo will take advantage of the fact that you never leave Yugi's side and that he never leaves yours."

"Yet again, you can stay there with us as an extra precaution and to dampen your worry. He'd probably be more comfortable if he was surrounded people that he knew and loved, anyways."

"If I was there I won't have anything to do. I'm so used to being a housewife that I couldn't stand to have to sit back and watch other people do the work that I'm used to doing. Especially all the things I do for Yugi and Yugi's so used to being around the shop, I'm afraid that it may be hard for him to get used to not being around it and his grandfather is so used to owning it so it may be hard for him to give it up."

"Who said anything about giving up the shop?" he asked confused. "We can keep it, but you would just sleep there, like a place to crash. We'd have dinner there, but you could order out if need be or you're here and can't leave."

"I'm just saying that it would be hard to settle into a routine. We've lived this way for a long time and it would be hard to get used to the change. Besides, we're not the ones in need of protection."

"You may be. Leo's a dangerous person and obsessing over Yugi. If he's driven to it, he may just go after the ones Yugi loves to get him to go to him." Yugi's mother sighed and placed her head in her hand.

"Oh, God. I know that. You don't know how much I wanted to tell his mother but when she talked about how wonderful her son is and how despite being gay he always made her happy and proud, my mind instantly flashed towards how Yugi always made me feel and I could connect with her on that level. So you see, I couldn't tell her." Yami sighed in defeat before nodding.

"I understand. My mother was the same way with me. I was never chased by a crazed stalker mind you but you get what I'm saying. But as I said before I can protect Yugi better if I'm always with him and if I'm there to protect him." It was Mrs. Moto's turn to sigh before she smiled.

"You're right. Yugi needs someone who can protect him better than either of us can. I give you my blessing to have Yugi move in with you and we'll come to visit as often as we can. We should talk to Yugi about this before we make any final decisions, though."

"Of course. I don't want to do anything against his will. I only want him to be happy."

"So do we," Grandpa Moto said as Yugi's mother started to tear up again.

"My boy is growing up isn't he?" she asked with a sad smile as she wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Yes, he is," Yami responded as he handed her a tissue.

"Where was I?" she said with a small laugh as she wiped her eyes.

"Waiting for Yugi to come home so we can ask him if he wants to move."

"Move?" a small voice asked. They all turned to see Yugi standing there shocked.

"No, no little one," Yami said approaching him slowly as if prey that would easily get spooked. "Just moving into my house to keep you safe. The shop would remain and your family would still run it, but you'd be living at my house. Your mother and grandfather could visit whenever they want, or even live there themselves. The decision is up to you, but this plan is just to keep you close and protected from Leo."

"I'll-I'll have to think about it," he stammered nervously stumbling up the hallway. Yami made to follow him, but Yugi's mother grabbed his arm and stopped him with a look. Instead, she linked arms with him and took him into the kitchen for a homemade cinnamon bun with tea.

"Yugi just needs time alone to think. Place yourself in his shoes and think about how he feels right now. If he chooses not to go, he'll feel like he's betrayed you and he'll lack the protection he needs; but, if he does choose to go, he'll be safe and secure with you, the man he loves, but he'll be away from his family, the shop, and everything he's grown up with."

"He won't," he said slightly aggravated. "That's what I've been trying to explain to everybody these past fifteen minutes."

"Everybody feels and deals with things differently than other people, Yami. Even though you say Yugi won't be away from the shop and us, he's so used to being here and seeing us every hour of every day that he'll feel slightly lonely and even though you say we won't have to worry about managing the shop if we choose to live with you and Yugi, I'll miss being home where I feel I have a purpose and it will be hard for Grandpa to make the commute in a way where he feels that he's not losing his pride," Yugi's mother smiled a little at that, "My father-in-law is a very stubborn and independent man. He feels that despite his old age, he is capable of handling himself and the commute from your home to the shop would be hard on him even though he himself wouldn't admit it. Another example is that Yugi will feel like he's betrayed you if he says no about moving in with you but you'll feel that he's made the decision that will make him happy. Yugi is a very sensitive soul and he feels that every important decision he makes always influences the people he loves and he often has a hard time coming up with a decision he feels will help keep balance on both sides. This is why he's so attached to the shop because he feels that it's a special place where he can make those decisions without any outside problems. It's his safe haven of sorts."

"Safe haven?" Yami asked a little confused.

"We all need a place to go whenever our emotions are about to push us over the edge or when we just need time to think. I call those special places our safe havens. Ryou does all his best thinking at that little coffee shop he goes to, Joey's safe haven is the beach at night, Serenity's is the park on a bench next to the fountain, mine just happens to be here in the kitchen where I always have something on hand to do, and Grandpa's is his own bedroom with all of his old research and Egyptology books from back when he was an archeologist," she explained, "Even you have a safe haven, Yami. Yugi told me that you do all of your best thinking and decision making in your music room where you can be alone and away from the stress of the outside world so you have time to think and get your feelings in order. That's what the game shop is to Yugi." Yami nodded in agreement.

"He talks about me?" he asked after realizing only Yugi could have known that or his own blood relatives.

"Oh yes, he talks about you all the time," Mrs. Moto said with a smile as she remembered, "He always gets this far off look whenever he talks about you and he gets this tone to his voice that tells us just how much he loves you. Sometimes I have to snap him out of his trance just to get him to talk about something else." Yami smirked as to how he could tease Yugi about this.

"I'm not even going to ask what that's about," she said shaking her head at Yami's mischievous smirk.

"Just some playful and harmless teasing material for sweet Yugi I came up with," he tells her, "But I think I understand what you meant by this place being Yugi's safe haven. It's a place where he feels out of danger and is given time to think about things he needs to think about and a place where he can sort out his emotions."

"I'm glad that you understand a little better now, Yami," Mrs. Moto announced with a smile, "The shop will always have a place in Yugi's heart just like he'll always have a spot in his heart for you." This caused him to blush before he blocked it by taking a gulp of his tea.

"I'm glad that I have a place in his heart and no matter where he decides to live he'll always have a place in mine," Yami told her reassuring both himself and Yugi's mother.

"That's good since…" They both turned surprised to see Yugi standing in the doorway with his grandfather standing right behind him grinning.

"I've come to a decision," Yugi let out with a deep breath. The two stood in the kitchen tense, waiting for him to tell them his answer. Yugi walked to the table and ripped a piece of cinnamon roll to stuff into his mouth. Yami's action came as if first nature. He used his thumb to wipe the icing away from the corner of Yugi's lips before licking it off his thumb. Yugi grinned and then looked at his mom. She nodded as if she knew his decision. Yami became irritated and annoyed at him being the only one out of the loop.

"Yugi, what is your decision?" Yami asked as he got even more impatient about not knowing about his pretty little lover's choice.

"It took a while and a lot of thinking but I've decided," Yami held his breath and closed his eyes at this part, "I'll move in with you." Yami stood shocked and then grinned before gathering Yugi up in a hug and twirling him around in a circle happily. Now, he'd be with his aibou most of the time and able to learn all there is to learn about him.

"I'm glad, love. I would have loved you none the less if you chose to stay with your family because I understand why you'd want to stay here but I'm happy that I'll get to be around you as much as I want," Yami told him as he held him closer. Yugi was content that he made Yami happy.

"I'm happy that you're happy about my decision, Yami. I wanted to find a situation that worked out for the both of us." Yugi's mom and grandpa quietly slipped out of the kitchen giving them some alone time.

"I promise that I'll never let any harm come to you, my light. I'll do everything in my power just so you can live a good and safe life with me," Yami promised as he leaned down and butterfly kissed Yugi's face from his forehead to his cheeks.

"I know," he said resting his head in Yami's neck and taking a deep breath of Yami's scent.

"I hope that we can be happy together and you don't have to worry," Yami whispered to him with a smile as he leaned his own head into Yugi's neck and kissed it, "I won't use the fact that you'll be living with me to force you into anything you're not ready for, just so you know."

"Duh!" he said snorting causing Yami's chest to rumble with laughter shocking Yugi's nerves nicely.

"I love it when you're blunt, my little one. I just love you," he murmured to him before leaning in to kiss him lovingly. Yugi's heart pounded so much, that he couldn't hear over the roar that it created in his ears, but he sure could feel: trapped in Yami's warm embrace, his soft full lips, and the way his hands tightened as if he never wanted to let Yugi go. Yami pulled away and gently leaned his forehead against Yugi's with a smile.

"When do you think I'll be able to come home with you?" Yugi asked with a blush.

"Now if you want," he said grinning, "unless you want to pack and move in when we move your stuff."

"I think we'll sleep here, to spend one more night here. Then, we can make the move right away in the morning."

"We?" he asked appreciatively causing Yugi to blush.

"I'd hoped you'd stay with me again tonight."

"I'd like that." He nudged Yugi's chin up and kissed him again. He tangled one hand in Yugi's hair, so like his own, but unique in its own way. He pulled away from Yugi slightly with a smile on his face, "I think we should start packing or else we'll never be ready for the move tomorrow."

"Why do you say thaaaaat?" he cried before Yami picked him up and carried him to his room.

"We need to sleep, you'll want to cook breakfast, and I plan to have a little time alone with you tomorrow." Yugi blushed at that as Yami laid his little love on his side of the bed before he climbed in himself.

"I think I know how Ryou feels when it comes to having a man who wants me all to himself. No offense," Yugi comments as his blush got even deeper.

"None taken," he said flashing a totally mischievous grin.

"I don't mind the fact that you want to be with me all the time though," Yugi added with a smile as the blush on his face toned down a little as he snuggled close to Yami, "It makes me feel safe and loved."

"I will always love you, aibou," Yami whispered to Yugi kissing his forehead. He started humming an old Egyptian lullaby to sweep Yugi into sleep. He got up slowly when he was sure that Yugi was unconscious. He used a box that he had brought over just in case to start putting Yugi's clothes in. He worked silently as Yugi slept away. He noticed in Yugi's trash can multiple notes on emerald green stationary which he instantly knew had to be notes from Leo, he noticed the one on top had his name written in it. He quickly grabbed it and read it to himself.

Yugi,

When will you stop playing these games and just come to me? Can't you see that Yami doesn't deserve you and that I'm the only one who can make you really happy? He has nothing compared to what I have to offer you and you'll always be mine no matter what. I promise that we will be together and nothing will stop me from being with you.

Forever Yours,

Leo

Yami glared at the note and he was about to rip it when he remembered that he needed to keep it so that he could have evidence against Leo so he folded it up and placed it into his pocket.

"You won't lay a finger on Yugi, Mr. Madison. I'll make sure of it," Yami whispered as he went back to packing Yugi's stuff before he looked back towards Yugi as if to confirm that he was still there. He glanced out the window too, just in case. He looked at his little angel once more, "Yugi, I promise you that even if I have to die in the process, you'll be safe from Leo. I love you and I'll do my best to create a safe haven that is worthy of someone like you."

Dee Bunny: I thank TIGGI1 again for the idea for this chapter and this is for the fan who said they would steal my soul and they would die if I didn't add soon. Please R&R. :-)