Small Note

Sakura: As my profile says I am extremely sorry for the two month wait. I should have had this chapter out long ago, but sadly college got in the way and I want to make this chapter a good one. On a good note I am happy to say this story will no longer be delayed anymore and I should have weekly updates starting up again for all my stories.

Sorry if this chapter seems a little short, because it's not a major chapter for the story, just to let Yugi bond with the children some more. Oh and I would like to send a thanks to s2teennovelist for helping me with ideas for this chapter.

Last thing I'm please to say this story has been alive for a year! I missed the anniversary but hopefully I will get this story done with before the two year mark.

Chapter 14

Children

I'll love them as if they were my own

By May a whole two months later the garden was complete. The flowers and trees were in full bloom and the fountain was up and running. The water was a crystal clear and sparkled in the sun light. The children added stone benches around the garden in random shady areas for people to sit on. They even added swings tied to a couple of trees. The only time the swings were really used was from Kotaro and Chan, plus sometimes Taylor when he wanted to act like a kid.

Yuugi was currently in the garden on a Saturday sitting beside the fountain. Kotaro and Chan were running around the garden playing tag. It was a bright sunny day, so Yuugi had decided to leave the shop closed for the day and visit his new family. Even though Yuugi and Yami weren't married or engaged yet, Yuugi still considered them his family. Yami would tell him all the time how much Yuugi was to them and no matter what he would be a part of the family as long as he wanted to be.

The wind blew by at that moment causing Yuugi to shiver a little. He was in a simple pair of jean shorts and a black t-shirt with a skull on the front. His bare feet were in the fountain enjoying the cool water. It was quiet for the most part with only the sound of running feet and laughter.

The silence however was broken by a shout of victory from Chan who had just touched Kotaro, "Haha you're it!" This made Kotaro stop and turned around to run after Chan, who had taken off.

A smile lit up Yuugi's face at how child like the two could be even when they were over a hundred years old. "I wish I was that young again…" He muttered to himself.

"Who said you were old?"

Yuugi turned around to see his handsome boyfriend behind him wearing tight black leather pants, leather black tank top and his mask. He took a seat beside Yuugi and brushed his hand over Yuugi's cheek. This made Yuugi lean into the touch and let out a sigh.

"I'm not as old as you are, but just watching the children play makes me feel old," Yuugi explained.

Yami chuckled, before looking around. He took notice his children were not around so decided to take a chance. With a quick hand, Yami took off his mask and kissed Yuugi right on the lips.

This completely caught Yuugi by surprise, before he closed his eyes and enjoyed the kiss as Yami deepened it.

When Yami's ears picked up the sound of feet running their way, he broke the kiss and put his mask back on. Yuugi remained where he was in a small daze as a blush worked its way onto his face, as Yami stood up. The King stroke Yuugi's cheek one more time.

"I have two more meetings in a few minutes, so I'll see you after for our date," He said to Yuugi, who only nodded.

Chan hurried over to Yuugi, but pouted when her father had already walked away. "Damn! I thought he was done with work."

Yuugi's eyes widened at her language and looked to her. "Chan! Where did you learn such language?"

Chan blushed and looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry Yuugi. I just hear my brothers say it all the time."

"It doesn't mean you need to repeat it. You are too young to be talking like that."

Chan for once glared at Yuugi. "I'm a hundred years older than you!" But once she realized she yelled at Yuugi she covered her mouth and started crying. "I'm so sorry!"

Yuugi carefully took the crying girl into his arms and sat her beside him. "Chan, is there something you want to talk about?" He asked her gently.

Chan rubbed at her eyes as she tried to stop the tears. "I'm just sick of people treating me like a little girl. I'm older than most six year olds and it isn't fair."

"I'm sorry, but it's hard to know that when you do look six." Yuugi explained hoping to not upset her more.

"I know that…" Chan exclaimed. "I just wish I didn't. I wish I had grown up more before becoming a vampire. I'll never know what it's like to have a lover or to have children."

Yuugi was surprised by all this. He had no idea Chan had been thinking about this all. She seemed to have really been keeping it bottled up. Hearing her talk, it was like talking to an older person than a little six year old. He let out a sigh and started to rub her back. "I have no idea what it has been like for you growing up like this, but promise me you will talk to me if you feel I have been treating you too much like a child."

Chan nodded her head and lean on Yuugi. "I'm sorry I got mad at you. I sometimes forget that to others I look like a little girl and they have no idea my true age." She closed her eyes and smiled. "I like having you around Yuugi. It seems like the only person I could talk to was daddy, but with you around I can open up more."

"You could have always talked to your brothers?"

Chan shook her head. "In a way their still children too, so I never felt right talking to them about this."

Yuugi hugged the little girl to him. "Well if you have anything you want to talk about, you know where to find me."

They silently stayed close to each other enjoying the closeness, because to Chan she felt like she had a mother figure back in her life that she never truly had. Even if Yuugi was a boy, he would talk to her and comfort her like a mother would. She loved her daddy too, but sometimes he had work and didn't have time for his children. It was nice having Yuugi around and she hoped he wouldn't go away for a very long time.

"Yuugi…?"

Yuugi looked down at Chan. "Yes?"

"Promise to stay with us for a very long time."

A smile came to Yuugi's face again. "I promise to stay as long as you want me around."

The next day Yuugi found himself at the shop working for a few hours. Since he kept it closed on Saturday he figured it wouldn't hurt to open the shop up for a few hours on Sunday. The day was cloudy and it looked like rain was coming. It was a great day to stay inside and curl up on the couch. That is where Yugi hope to be some time after lunch.

When the bell on the door ran, Yuugi looked up from his book to see Jason walk into the store.

He looked like he was dressed to go swimming with blue swim trunks on. He had a duffle bag over his shoulder and he had this nervous look about him.

"Hey Jason, what's up?"

Jason made his way over to the counter. "I uh…" He tried to say what he wanted to say but found it hard.

Yuugi closed his book and gave Jason his full attention. "There is something you wish to talk to me about?" He guessed since it seemed that way.

Jason nodded.

Yuugi smiled and started to get the shop ready to close up. "Help me close up and we'll go somewhere to eat. You're not planning on going anywhere soon are you?"

Jason shook his head. "I planned on going out with some friends to swim after lunch. That is why I wanted to talk to you before. Chan said you were a good listener."

"Let's close up and we'll go get some burgers, because I'm starving." Yuugi said as he started to close up and count the small amount of money he made. Jason cleaned up and put away items that Yuugi still had to price. Once both things were done with, the two made their way out of the shop and Yuugi locked the door.

After that they made their way down to the local dinner to grab some food.

"You want advice on asking someone out?"

Jason was sitting in his seat with his head on the table and huge blush was on his face. "Yes…" was the small reply from the shy boy.

Yuugi smiled at him. He thought it was cute that Jason was in love. "Do I or your family know this person?"

Jason sat up but kept his eyes looking down at his hands in his lap. "My brothers know of her because she hangs out with her brother who is Taylor's best friend. I have been around her so much and it was just recently that I think I started to fall for her."

"Oh…" Yuugi crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm not sure how much help I will be. I've never asked someone out before. I've always been the one asked."

Jason sighed. "It's just so hard to find the right words. I don't want to sound mean by being blunt about it. Plus she is so hard to read sometimes and I can tell she is iffy about vampires."

"So she is human?"

"Yes, but her brother turned into a vampire by his wife. She loves him so much so she isn't scared of him or Taylor, but if I or Ethan came around I can tell she gets scared." Jason let out another sigh. "I figured if I asked her out and we went on a few dates she would open up to me."

Yuugi agreed. "However you fear rejection from her after asking her out." He closed his eyes as he started to think. "Maybe you should take the chance and just try and ask her out. If she is uncomfortable about being around you, I suggest a double date. You could invite her brother and his wife."

Jason looked up at Yuugi. "You really think it will work?"

Yuugi shrugged his shoulders. "You will never know until you try. The only thing I do not think you should do is give up so easily if you really like her. I just suggest you don't push it too much to where you get her brother coming after you for hurting his sister."

Jason nodded. "This has been a big help Yugi. I got so nervous when trying to talk to dad about this and my brothers would just laugh."

Yuugi flashed him a smile. "No need to worry. If you need me I will always try and help as best I can."

It was two weeks later and Yuugi found himself waking up to an empty bed with no Yami around. The children had this crazy idea for Yuugi to stay over at the palace for a sleep over for the weekend. So after much asking Yuugi agreed and closed the shop for a weekend to stay at the palace. It was a beautiful Saturday morning with the sun shining brightly, but the bed felt cold.

Yuugi had been sleeping in the room across the hall, but left in the middle of the night to come to Yami's room. He had no idea what the children would start thinking if they saw him and Yami sharing a bed, even if nothing was happening but sleeping.

With a yawn Yuugi set up in bed and rubbed his eyes. It was quiet in the palace for the time being, until it was broken by a scream from down the hall. His eyes snapped open wide and he hurried out of bed and to the door.

Once out of the room, Yuugi looked down each way trying to figure out which end it came from. It was then he saw Taylor walking his way from the left end. He was still dressed for bed and rubbing his eyes.

Yuugi looked up at him with worry when Taylor stood in front of him. "Did you hear that?"

Taylor nodded. "It happens once in a while."

Yuugi looked confused then. "Once in a while," He wondered with disbelief. "Who was it?"

"Kotaro…" Taylor said with a yawn. "He and Chan have rooms down the hall because they don't like to be away from father. They also have rooms in the other wing of the palace which is dedicated to just us children. Kotaro and Chan don't like to stay over there though so father had them rooms made down the hall from him."

Yuugi looked down the hall to the right. "Why would he be screaming like that?"

Taylor started to walk down the hall and Yuugi quickly followed. "Nightmares again… He has them every so often that people around here start to ignore it. Kotaro also doesn't like to talk about them, so we don't worry about it."

A shocked look made its way onto Yuugi's face. "But that's horrible! I don't care how old Kotaro is, if he is having nightmares all the time then someone should be there for him."

Taylor looked down and Yuugi could tell he looked upset. "I've tried helping him out along with everyone else, but Kotaro pushes us away. One time father even wanted to help him, but Kotaro threw a fit and threaten to run away." He stopped in front of a door that had Kotaro's name on it. "Father told us to leave it alone after that because he didn't want Kotaro running off and getting hurt."

"So why did you come this time?"

"Honestly I was coming to get him and Chan for breakfast when I heard the scream." He looked toward Yuugi. "I don't know how he will react to me going in there after that, so why don't I get Chan and you check on Kotaro."

Yuugi nodded and watched as Taylor went into the room across from Kotaro's. After he disappeared inside, Yuugi gently knocked on Kotaro's door and then opened it. He peeked inside to see Kotaro curled up on his bed with the covers pulled over him. The light from the open window showed a messy room with toys all over the place.

Being very careful not to hurt himself, Yuugi stepped over the toys and made his way to Kotaro's bed. "Hey Kotaro… Are you awake?"

Kotaro shook his head and then laid still.

Yuugi sat down on the bed and placed his hand on Kotaro's covered head. "I'm here if you want to talk and I was also told to come get you for breakfast."

It was quiet for the moment until a gentle voice said, "You hear me didn't you?"

Yuugi looked to see Kotaro's head pop out and look at him with red rimmed tear filled eyes. When Yuugi nodded his head Kotaro started to cry more.

A pain filled Yuugi's heart at seeing the little boy like that. He couldn't help but reach out and pull Kotaro into his arms. "I'm sorry for the pain these nightmares cause you and I know I won't understand, but I wish you would talk to someone and not keep it bottled up." Tears started to build in Yuugi's eyes.

Kotaro snuggled into Yuugi's night shirt and continue to cry. "It's just so hard to forget everything even when I want to forget!" He screamed into Yuugi's shirt, so it was kind of muffled.

Yuugi nodded his head. "I used to have nightmares too after my grandfather died, but I found talking to my friends helped because even if they didn't understand they were there to listen. I was able to get my feelings off my chest and have better nights."

Kotaro looked up at Yuugi as if he didn't believe him. "Really..?"

"I would never lie to you."

Kotaro wrapped his arms around Yuugi in a hug. "I dream of all the pain my parents caused me as a child." He said finally opening up. "It used to happen every night, but after a while they stopped. However just when I thought they were out of my life they started back and I keep thinking about it."

Yuugi hugged the small boy tighter. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all that growing up. I wish you could have had a better life, but at least you have your new family to help you out." He said trying to cheer Kotaro up.

"I wish he would talk to me like that." A new voice spoke up.

The two looked up to see Yami standing at the door with his mask on.

Kotaro's eyes started to tear up again. "Daddy…"

Yami stepped into the room. "I'm so sorry I haven't been there like I should be Kotaro, but when you didn't want to open up to me I feared pushing you away by making you tell me."

Kotaro jumped from Yuugi's arms and hurried to Yami. Yami lean down and wrapped his arms around his son. "Please promise me you will come to talk to me when you want to talk?" Yami asked.

Kotaro agreed. "I promise daddy and I'm sorry for worrying you."

Yuugi smiled at the sweet moment. He stood up and walked over to them. Kotaro looked up to Yuugi and smiled.

"Thank you Yuugi for helping me. I'm glad you are a part of this family."

Yuugi blushed a little. "It was nothing Kotaro I'm glad I could help."

Yami stood up with Kotaro holding him with one arm and wrapping the other around Yuugi. "Let's go get some breakfast and then we'll go outside to enjoy the day."

Kotaro and Yuugi agreed with smiles on their faces.

The night fell upon the city before long and everyone was headed off to bed. Yuugi and Yami were walking toward Yami's bedroom after a nice midnight scroll in the garden. Yuugi was lean up against Yami while also holding one of his hands.

"That was nice…" Yuugi commented.

Yami agreed. "The palace does get very quiet after everyone goes to bed. I'm glad you enjoyed the day."

"It was even better since we included the children." The two then stopped in front of Yami's room.

Yami turned to Yuugi. "I'm guessing you will be staying the night with me again?" He asked playfully.

Yuugi chuckled. "I wouldn't want to be all alone in my room now would I?"

Yami opened the door for Yuugi, but a thought came to Yuugi. "Wait, how about I check on Kotaro and Chan first?"

"Do you think something is wrong?" Yami questioned.

Yuugi shook his head. "I would just feel better if I looked in on them after what happened this morning. It would put my mind at ease."

Yami nodded and stroked Yuugi's cheek. "Alright I might be in the shower when you return." He entered the room, while Yuugi headed down the hall.

It took all of five minutes to look in on both children and Yuugi had a smile on his face glad they were both sleeping soundly.

As he headed back down the hall he stopped when he almost ran into Jiro. "Oh I'm sorry…I wasn't looking where I was going." Yuugi said, before looking up at Jiro's blank face. "Is something wrong?"

Jiro's eyes then took on a glare. "You don't belong here."

Yuugi jumped a little surprised for the first time to hear anything come out of Jiro's mouth. They had not said one word to each other since Yuugi came to the city. "Excuse me?" Yuugi asked to make sure he had heard the teen right.

"You heard me…" Jiro hissed out. "I said you don't belong in this family."

It was Yuugi's turn to glare then. "Listen I have done nothing to you, so you have no right to speak to me like this."

Jiro pushed passed Yuugi. "You will regret coming here and interfering with our family." He said not once looking back at Yuugi.

Yuugi turned to say something else, but Jiro was nowhere to be found. He blinked a few times in confusion not sure what to make of that conversation.

The only thing that stayed glued in Yuugi's mind was the pure hate in Jiro's eyes when he looked at him. It scared Yuugi and he didn't like that. So without another thought he hurried back to Yami's room and locked the door after he was safely inside.

Yami came out of the bathroom about ten minutes later dressed in his night clothes. He was surprised to find Yuugi standing with his back to the bedroom door and looking at the floor. "Yuugi is something wrong?" He tried to question, but when Yuugi looked up at him, he saw the scared look in his eyes and that worried him. "Yuugi, what happened?" He hurried to Yuugi's side and wrapped his arms around him.

Yuugi kept quiet unsure if his voice would give away how shaken up he was now feeling. The only thing he did was lean into Yami and calmed his racing heart. He knew that as long as Yami was beside him he was safe.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I just spook myself while walking down the hallway…" Yuugi lied. "It was dark and I thought I heard someone following me."

Yami kissed Yuugi's forehead and lead Yuugi toward the bed. "Well your safe in here so there is nothing to worry about."

The two prepared themselves for bed before curling up in Yami's bed together. It was a while before Yuugi fell asleep, but the last thought on his mind was why did Jiro hate him so much?

Sakura: So what did everyone think?

Yumi: What is the world crawled up Jiro's ass and died?

Sakura: Yumi don't be so mean! Everyone will need to give the story time and they will find out later why Jiro is like that. I am not giving anything away...

Yumi: Whatever… Anyway next time Yuugi will be hanging out with Ethan and Taylor since he didn't this chapter and Yuugi will get a first look into what being Yami's mate is all about and if he can handle it.

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