Kitty: HAPPY NEW YEARS GUYS! ANYWAY, I'VE BEEN RUNNING AROUND ALL DAY TODAY AND AM SOOOOOO HAPPY!

Yugi: *sigh* I told Makayla not to give her those York patties...

Kitty: *hanging from rope on ceiling* BUT IT WAS MEW YEARS! THE COUNTDOWN WAS AWESOME! THERE WERE FIREWORKS!

Yugi: Uhm... I think it's there was fireworks...

Kitty's: *swings to top of bookshelf* NOPE! IT'S SOOOO WAS! NICKEY, LOOK I CAN TOUCH THE CEILING!

Nickey: *holds out arms to catch Kitty* We know she's gonna fall... Everyone knows by now...

Yami: She is accident prone... Kinda like you're sick prone...

Nickey: *sneezes* shut up... I'm not sick...

Yugi: Kitty, down. You're going to hurt yourself.

Kitty: *pouts* You're mean... *sees shiny thing* Ooo~ WHAT'S THE SHINY THING? *goes to shiny thing* HA! IT'S THE RING FIONA GAVE ME! AW, HOW SWEET OF HIM!

Nickey: Did you get that thing I told you to get?

Yami: You mean the thing at the thing, with the thing?

Nickey: That's the thing.

Yami: I got it. It's at home...

Nickey: Good.

Kitty: OH! I WENT ICE SKATING LAST NIGHT! I FELL... One... Two... Three... 30 times! AND NAT AND CAMERON ARE SOOOO GONNA GET MARRIED!

Nickey and Yami: *look at each other* Definitely accident prone...

Yami: And she's on a kick about people getting married...

Yugi: *sigh* Yeah, it's an ongoing joke. Don't worry about it, though. It's been happening since she was in eighth - or was it seventh? - grade. Anyway, enjoy the chapter guys.

The Abused and the Bullied

Chapter 13

Pranks and Pain

Wednesday morning came, and I smiled at my sister as I ate breakfast with her. It had been a while since we'd just sat and talked about nothing. The topic changed from school, to mama, to what she talked to dad about after I went to bed last night, and somehow ended up on Yami.

"So how is he treating you?" Amaterasu asked with a slightly threatening tone. "Because, I mean, I still have that dagger Nana gave me..."

I swallowed my milk and almost choked. "Wh-what?" I asked, certain I had misheard. She repeated herself, and I sighed. "Yami's fine, Amaterasu. There was this one girl, and he embarrassed her half to death because she asked what I have that she doesn't," I answered hesitantly.

"Did he mention that you have a dick?" Amaterasu asked, making sure to catch sight of the blush that surrounded my face. I nodded, and she smiled. "He sounds like my type of person!"

"Yes, I'm well aware, onee-chan," I replied. "He is also my boyfriend, and I wanna see if I can get him to come over for dinner after school tomorrow."

Amaterasu hummed. "Well, that'll be fun! I never got to interrogate him. Daddy did it all for me," she replied with a huff as she crossed her arms. "Tell him he best meet up to my standards or he will lose all hope of ever having children," she said.

"Um... Amaterasu, I hate to break it to you, but he's gay... The only way he'll be having kids is if he decides he's bi or straight, and I don't see that happening anytime soon," I said.

Amaterasu laughed. "So you're not going to let him leave anytime soon?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I didn't say that. But I'm not going to give him any reason to want to dump me, and I highly doubt he's going to give me a reason to dump him," I said.

"What's his number?" Amaterasu asked, and I laughed. "Why? Do you wanna text him?"

"Meh, kinda. I wanna do that song lyric thing," she said. "The one that's all over YouTube?"

I sighed. "Really?" I asked. "With what song?"

She shrugged. "The only one I know of is Treat You Better," she said.

I sighed. "Gimme a minute to make sure he doesn't listen to Shawn Mendes," I said before texting him. Hey, do you listen to Shawn Mendes? I asked.

Um... No... Why...?

No reason in particular. Just curious what music you listen to... I texted. "You're good, 'Rasu," I said before reciting his phone number.

She smiled. "Well, come on! This'll be fun," she said. "You look up the lyrics, and I'll send the texts."

I smiled and went to azlyrics to look up the song. Amaterasu sent the first text: I won't lie to you...

Um... That's good, but who is this...? Are you sure you have the right number...? Yami replied a moment later.

I know he's just not right for you... Amaterasu replied with the next line. "Good luck with figuring that out," Amaterasu answered his question out loud to me.

You mean Yugi...? Yami texted. Because I don't know who this is or how the fucking hell you got my number, but he's the only person in my life that you'd be talking about.

Amaterasu and I shared a glance before my phone dinged. I listen to whatever I feel like. When I have the time. Never have I listened to him, though... I read before he sent another. Sorry that took a while. Some random person - probably a slut from school - is sending me texts saying she's better than you.

I laughed with Amaterasu and sent him an "ok" text before going to the website and showing Amaterasu the next line. And you can tell me if I'm off but I can see it on your face. I rolled my eyes as we talked. "I'm going in late. I gotta see this whole thing," I said when my alarm to leave rang.

Amaterasu laughed. "Good. I was gonna make you stay anyway," she said as her phone dinged with a new message: What the fuck? What's on my face? Where the fuck are you?

I laughed with Amaterasu, picturing Yami looking around his house, paranoid that someone was watching him. Yugi, THIS PERSON IS CREEPY!

Amaterasu and I laughed as she typed the next line. When you say that he's the one that you want and you're spending all your time in this wrong situation. After that, Yami stopped replying, and I ran to school, not bothering with Yami's texts until I got to the gates just before the bell rang.

I ran to class, wondering if the teacher would mind that I was late. She didn't usually care about much, but no one had been late to her class since I got there. I made it to the classroom and was shocked to see that there was no teacher when I walked in.

"Yugi, guess what!" Malik exclaimed when I walked into the room. I smiled and walked over to him. "The teacher got in an accident and there aren't enough free subs, so we're free to do whatever we want during class as long as we stay in this room!"

I sat down on the window sill with a nod at Malik. "Thanks for letting me know," I said before taking out my phone and texting Yami. I got a free period today! I said.

And how is that? he asked.

Teacher is absent and there are no subs. I have to stay in one room, and as long as I do, I'm good to do whatever! I replied.

"Who are you texting?" Malik asked as he looked at my phone. "Yami... Are you sure he's really into you? I mean, he could just be faking it..." I looked at him, slightly hurt, and he rushed to explain himself. "Look, I don't mean to hurt you, Yugi, but he might. Yami... He isn't the best person in the world... And he's done awful things..."

I nodded. "Yes, I'm aware, Malik," I said, "but I'm also aware that no one is perfect. If I looked for someone perfect, I'd never find anyone. You've judged him based on rumors, but you haven't taken the time to get to know him, Malik. I'm inviting him over for dinner tonight; you should come hang out. He's a good guy..."

Malik sighed and nodded. "Right, sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to come off as a bastard, and I am sorry that I did..."

I smiled. "It's alright," I told him. "Everyone makes mistakes and does stupid things sometimes. Tell your sister you're coming over, and you can come hang out before school. It'll be fun."

Malik smiled, and we hugged each other, his face hiding in my neck. "You're one of my best friends, Yugi," he told me, his breath tickling my neck.

I chuckled. "Well, I'm glad..." I answered. "Because you're one of mine, too..." I blushed at the confession since I had never had many friends or openly stated someone was my best friend.

Malik and I pulled away and smiled at each other as the bell rang. "I'll see you later," I told him before running to the gym. "Hey, Ryou," I said as I passed him at the door and walked to find Yami. "Where the hell is he?" I muttered, looking for him.

"Where is who?" someone whispered, wrapping their arms around me. I jumped and forced my elbow back into the stomach before I heard cussing.

"Shit! Yami, are you okay? I'm so so so sorry!" I exclaimed, blushing. I had so not meant to do that to him... "I did not mean to do that! Well, I mean, I meant to elbow you in the stomach, but not you. I didn't know it was you! God, Yami -"

His lips on mine silenced me. "Shut up," he muttered against them before he pulled away. "Why were you looking for me?"

I tilted my head. "Who said I was looking for you?" I asked. "Maybe I was looking for Joey. Maybe I was looking for Coach Wilson to ask about joining track."

Yami shrugged. "Sure. And my life is perfect," he said. "What did you want that you couldn't wait to ask until science?"

I blushed. "Amaterasu wants you to come over for dinner, and Malik wants to get to know you... Would you mind...?"

Yami shrugged as Joey walked up behind him, wrapping an arm around him. The only sign of being startled Yami showed was the very small jump that wasn't very noticeable, and I got the feeling Joey hadn't noticed it. "Damn it, Yami! Why aren't ya more easier ta scare?"

"Why aren't you easier," I corrected. He looked at me strangely, and I sighed. "It's why aren't you easier to scare. Not why aren't you more easier." The grammar error had been bugging me, since I was a huge freak about grammar.

"Anyway," Yami said, turning to me. "What time do you usually eat?" he asked. "Because I can't get there until ten o'clock..."

I shrugged. "Dad usually gets home around 10:00, and mama doesn't start cooking until he's there so she knows it won't be cold for him. It also helps that we all live off of a couple hours of sleep..."

Yami nodded. "Then I should be able to make it," he said. "But don't get upset if I call last minute saying I can't."

I nodded. "I won't," I said as the coach called us into the gym.

Yami and I looked down at each other's jeans. "You should get dressed," we both said together before looking at our own clothes. "Shit!" we shouted together. We both ran to our lockers and got dressed quickly.

And then... I found out we were playing dodgeball.

At lunch, I went to the tree my friends and I sat under and sighed. The day so far had been boring, with the only upside being inviting Yami to dinner. As I saw Malik, I sighed. I'd forgotten to ask if he minded eating late.

"Hey, guys," I said to the group in general. "Malik, how do you feel about eating late? Like, ten o'clock, late...?"

Malik shrugged. "I'm fine with that," he said. "I usually just eat whenever since my sister is always at the museum and rarely actually comes home."

I nodded. "Alright," I said before looking around. "Any of you who have a problem with Yami need to come with me after school," I said despite the fear of them finding out the extent of my wealth.

No one else raised a hand, and Kitty looked at Nickey in what appeared to be shock. "You don't have a problem with him?" she asked.

Nickey shrugged. "While he may have tried to help me beat those shit heads up, he left as soon as I told him not to join in. I respect that," she said.

Kitty nodded and turned to me, opening her mouth before a pair of arms wrapped around my waist. I shoved my elbow back and - for the second time that day - hit Yami in the stomach.

"You know," I told Kitty after hearing his groan, "I'd apologize, but I think he needs to learn not to sneak up on me..." She giggled and I turned to Yami. "Ten o'clock tonight. Ryou and Malik are joining us at my place for dinner, and I'd advise you to be there by 10:30 or mom will serve dinner without you."

We all talked for a while until the bell rang, and Yami and I went to math.

Choir came, and I entered the room with Kitty, the two of us arguing lightly over what was better : reading, writing, or singing. I said reading, she said writing, and we both agreed singing was second best. "Miss. Ratina, it is your turn for the audition for 'I Hate You, I Love You'. Are you ready?" the choir teacher asked when the bell rang. Kitty looked at me, and I smiled as she walked up to the microphone.

She hesitantly placed her hand on the microphone and closed her eyes before her beautiful voice filled the room. "Feeling used:But I'm still:Missing you:And I can't see the end of this:Just wanna feel your kiss :Against my lips:And now all this time:Is passing by:But I still can't seem to tell you why:It hurts me every time I see you:Realize how much I need you," she sang. I could see tears as they began to form in her eyes, her voice betraying the hurt and sadness the song required to sound real; the capability of doing that was not easily learned. It was a talent you had to be born with.

"I hate you, I love you:I hate that, I love you:Don't want to but I can't put nobody else above you:I hate you, I love you:I hate that I want you:You want her, you need her:And I'll never be her." Kitty continued through the whole song, her voice revealing a level of pain that I had never thought possible.

"You were great," I whispered as she came to sit beside me on the risers while we listened to the rest of the class audition for a part in the talent show. I would be doing mine tomorrow with a song my mom wrote.

"Thanks," Kitty whispered, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I appreciate it..."

I smiled and nodded, and the two of us talked until the bell rang and we had to run to the last class of the day, which also happened to be my favorite class. Yami and I met up halfway to the classroom and walked the rest of the way together. "So how's your day been...?" I asked.

Yami looked at me, his eyes narrowing. "Why do you ask?" he questioned. I shrugged, and he pulled me to him, a smirk on his face. "It was alright," he said, taking a step closer to me.

I stepped to the side as well so there was the same space between us and looked at him with a smile. "Nice try," I teased before someone stepped in front of me. I looked up to see one of the guys who had been picking on me the previous week - Ushio was his name according to the gossip.

I looked at Yami and let out a silent sigh, certain he hadn't noticed it. Here we go again... I knew Yami wouldn't be able to control his anger if anything happened to me; he'd been holding it in all day, and it was obvious now that he was about to burst. "Everyone thinks you're so cool, Sennen. But in reality, it looks like daddy just raised a little faggot!" Ushio yelled. I let out a breath as Yami looked me in the eye before rolling his own and starting to walk away. I was hoping that Ushio wouldn't open his big mouth again, but I realized it was a false hope when he opened his mouth before Yami and I had even walked a foot past them. "And your whore bait boyfriend isn't any better!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, Yami was fighting with Ushio. I was scared; there was no Joey nearby, which meant that I would have been left to stop the fight, and I knew my body and its limits well enough to know that if I tried to stop Yami at that point, I'd end up dead - or at least halfway there. "You got something to say, mother fucker?" Yami asked, getting in Ushio's face. "Cuz my face is right here, you fucking coward. Say it to me face to face."

Ushio snorted as he replied. "I thought I made myself clear, must have too much cum in your ear to hear me. I said your little boyfriend is a whore bait faggot."

Yami started punching Ushio, and I would have done something if I had felt any sympathy for Ushio. He'd had warning enough to take it back after he spoke and chose not to. Not only that, but I didn't think I was ready to die. It took two teachers to pull Yami and Ushio off of each other, and when they did, the three of us were sent to the office. "Yugi didn't do anything wrong," Yami said, glaring at the female teacher.

"Except become a faggot," Ushio snarled, and Yami turned.

"Enough!" the teacher shouted. "Lets go. All three of you!" The teacher followed behind Yami and Ushio to the principal's office, and I followed behind her, holding my notebook to my chest as I looked down. I glanced up and saw Malik and Ryou staring at us and waved a little. The two waved back as I continued on. When we got to the front office, the teacher pointed at Ushio and a couch. "You, sit down," she said. "The two of you," she added, looking at Yami and me, "go in the principal's office. Principal McGee will be in there shortly."

"Yugi still -" Yami began to say before he was cut off. The teacher interrupted him, telling him to go. I grabbed his hand as he looked at me and muttered an "I'm sorry" to me.

I smiled up at him. "It's fine. Daddy will love you," I said.

Yami looked like he was in pain, if the faces he was making were any hint. The principal called our parents before he was even in there and looked at me. "So, Mr. Sennen," he said as my parents walked in, Amaterasu following behind them, "the phone number we have for your parents has been disconnected. Would you care to explain?"

"Not really," Yami said, crossing his arms and leaning back. He looked almost relaxed, but I could tell he wanted nothing more than to leave at that moment.

"Maybe we should just call your father's office," Principal McGee replied, reaching for his phone.

Yami's hand was holding it down before the principal's reached it, and he spoke in a slightly threatening tone. "My father doesn't like to be disturbed," he said. "Why don't you just tell me what you have to say? I'd love to hear your opinion," he added, coating his voice in sarcasm so strong one would have to be extremely naive not to hear it.

"Since you two started this dating fiasco -" the principal began. I scrunched my face up and pulled out my phone as Yami laughed in a creepy way. "Mr. Moto, what are you doing with that phone?"

I shrugged. "I don't see why it's any of your business," I muttered, opening up my dictionary app. "A fiasco is, according to , a complete and ignominious failure... I don't see how we've failed at anything, Principal McGee, but please continue," I said before Yami's laughter died down and he spoke.

"A fiasco? Dating, fiasco... Hm.. So, two straight people get together, and it's fine. Everyone is okay with that. But the popular kid gets with the new kid, as a gay couple, and it's a fucking fiasco?! You wanna know what the real failure here is?" he asked, standing up from his seat and leaning on the desk. "It's this goddamn school. You guys are okay with kids fighting each other, until the blame can be pinned on the innocent. That's when you guys step in!"

"Yugi, are you going to do something about this?!" mom exclaimed, and I shook my head.

"No, mom, I'm not. Every word from Yami's mouth is honest," I said. "I can't be a whore without having sex..."

Yami's rant continued as we spoke. "Yugi didn't do a goddamn thing and you dragged him down here! Why?! Because he's my boyfriend, so why not see if you can blame him for something?! Well FUCK YOU! Yugi didn't fight! I fucking did! You got something to say, got a punishment to give?! Give it to me. Let me fucking hear you! But if I find out that you gave Yugi any sort of punishment whatsoever, I will have Kaiba Corp, and Sennen Inc in here so goddamn fast you won't get time to blink before you get shut down and shit down your throat!"

Yami shook his head, and I stood up, moving to lean against him. His arm wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me into him. "You wanna know what the real problem is here? You wanna solve all your problems? Stop the bullying. I don't care what's said about me, I really don't. But the bullshit on Yugi, it better stop. Or I'll keep going through this school, punching people out left and right, because it doesn't bother me to sit in here and listen to your bullshit. It won't hurt my feelings to get detention, or suspension, whatever you choose to do. But, so help me. If anything happens to Yugi, or anyone bullies him again, hell hath no fury like that of a pissed off Sennen. And you will regret the day you didn't heed my warning." Yami's arm left my shoulder, and he moved to the door. "I have somewhere to be, so if you would kindly fuck off, that'd be the greatest," he said before storming out.

"Gomen-nasai," I said before walking out, staring at Ushio with pity in my eyes as I walked out. "I feel very sorry for you..." I said.

"And why the fuck would that be, little faggot?" he asked with a sneer.

I smiled at him. "You live life in a pathetic way," I answered before leaving the room to find Yami. I walked into one of the bathrooms to see him holding onto the sink, a cut visible near his eye and another at the corner of his lip.

"Look at me, Yami," I said, touching him as I walked up behind him in the mirror. He looked at me in the mirror, and I sighed, sitting on the counter in front of him so that my legs were on either side of him, ignoring the suggestive position. "Look at me, Yami, not the mirror," I said, moving his head so that I was staring into crimson eyes. "Are you okay...?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I'm fine..." he answered, although I could tell he wasn't.

"Don't lie to me, Yami," I said. "I've let it slide once, but it won't be happening again. Talk to me..." He looked away, and I felt the shame radiating off of him. "Yami, the most important thing in a relationship is trust. If you can't trust me enough to tell me how you're feeling, then what does that tell you?" I asked him. "You don't have to say why..."

Yami sighed. "I'm stressed out..." he answered. "And worried. And angry. And I might just kill someone..."

I sighed and leaned against him. "Was that so hard...?" I asked him.

"No..." he answered. "Now, when did you get so confident?" he asked, and I could hear the smirk in his voice as he looked down at the counter.

I blushed. "I-I... I was just... Trying to get you... To look at me..." I stuttered before he kissed me. I practically melted against him, sighing as he wrapped his arms around my waist. We stayed like that for about a minute before we pulled apart and I smiled. "You're going to be okay," I told him. "And remember whenever you want to kill someone... There's no Joey in jail."

He smirked. "There's also no you in jail," he said before he looked at me. "I have to go. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

I nodded. "You're still coming over for dinner, right?" I asked.

"If I'm welcome, then yes, I will still be coming over for dinner," he said.

I smiled as he left before looking at myself in the mirror. I made my exit a few moments later and bumped into my mom. "So I have a few friends coming over for dinner. One of them is the son of the guy who pays for the school and its supplies and paid for it to be built. I can get him to ask if his dad will fire the principal, if you want," I offered.

"Good," dad said, "I want him out. If I am called from work one more time because of this dumbass principal, I will hire my personal security to fucking kill him."

Amaterasu giggled. "Daddy's been pissed off. He spent a while yelling at the principal, and then the principal tried to defend himself by saying you and Yami started it. When mom asked why, he said because you two are gay and dating..." she commented, filling me in on the cause of my dad's anger.

I nodded, and we all walked home, laughing and joking together. When we got home, I got on my laptop and started playing Millennial Kingdom, laughing when people challenged me with decks that barely had anything in them. Around 6:30, Ryou and Malik showed up and were led to my room. "Hey," I greeted them. Ryou was looking in awe at the room, and I smiled. "Like it?"

The two nodded, and I laughed. "Come on; there's an Xbox and a PlayStation through the door to your left. They're both hooked up to different TVs, so you can get on both of them. Don't touch them until I get in there, though. I have to grab something," I told them, motioning to a set of wooden double doors to the left of the room.

A few hours later, Yami came over, and I smiled and pulled him into my room before pulling him into the room Malik and Ryou were in. "What do you think?" I asked, sitting down. "Mom went and got it all during school today and finished right before they called her. It's my own personal game room! Amaterasu has one, too, but hers is filled with board games, books, and weapons..."

Yami looked at me like I was crazy. "What the fuck does she need weapons for anyway?" he asked.

I shrugged. "My sister's a fighter. She's mastered using a throwing knife, dagger, katana, and long sword," I answered. "She's probably in there working on the falcata right now..."

Yami nodded, grabbing my arm. "Do you two mind leaving us alone for a second...?" he asked Malik and Ryou. Malik huffed, looking like he was going to say something before Ryou pulled him out of the room.

I turned to Yami with my head tilted to the side. "What's wrong?" I asked. He opened his mouth. "And don't you dare say nothing, Yami," I added.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes. "I really am sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to get you into trouble... And now you're parents probably hate me..."

I laughed. "Why would they hate you?" I asked. "Yami, you did the exact same thing Amaterasu's been doing for years; the only difference is that you didn't use a weapon of any sort like she did," I told him. At Yami's horrified look, I laughed and lifted up my sleeve a little to show an old scar from a past bully. "They liked to pull knives on me, and after they tried to pull one in her, she started carrying daggers in her boot."

He nodded. "Well... I'm still sorry..." he muttered.

I smiled and stood up so that I could kiss him gently. "Don't be," I told him. "Dinner is going to be done soon. Come on; let's go down..."

Yami nodded, and we went down. When we passed Ryou and Malik, I smiled at them. "Come on," I said. "Dinner is going to be done any minute now..." The two nodded and followed me down the stairs. Malik slid down the railing with me while Yami and Ryou actually used the stairs. I rolled my eyes at them. "You know there's a railing for a reason, right?" I asked.

"Yes, but you know there's stairs for a reason, right?" Ryou retorted.

I nodded. "Yes, I know. The stairs are for going up since gravity would pull you down if you used the railing for that. The railing is so you can come down," I answered.

Yami rolled his eyes. "I will not disrespect your house in such a way. Your parents hate me anyway," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "They do not hate you," I told him before looking at Ryou. "By the way, my dad wants a new principal. He's sick of this one calling him from work because my boyfriend got into a fight. Could you tell that to your dad?"

Ryou nodded. "Sure thing. I'll see what he can do, but I make no guarantee," he said.

"Oh, just mention Zachariah Moto; he'll rush to it if you do," I said.

My mom was just setting the table when we came in and smiled. "I was just about to call you all in here. Take a seat, please. Yami has to sit by Yugi though... It's common courtesy for the rest of you to allow that," she said before looking at Yami. "Thank you, dear, for protecting my baby..." she said, trailing off as she took in Yami's face. "My God! What happened to you?" she asked. "No, don't answer that! I know already. The real statement is: that wound looks horrid!"

"Yeah, I know..." Yami agreed as we took out seats. "I didn't have anything to cover it up with..."

My mom left the room without another word, and Yami looked at me in confusion. "Just sit still. She'll be right back, probably with my dad," I told him. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Mom came back in a few minutes later with dad behind her and the first aid kit from their bathroom. She knelt down in front of Yami and began to clean his face off. "I will never understand how you boys manage to get so dirty," she complained as dad took a seat, chuckling.

"Akira, I highly doubt any of us boys - or Amaterasu, for that matter - will ever understand how you stay so clean," dad joked as he sat in his seat.

Mom rolled her eyes as she put a band aid on the cut by Yami's eye. She stood up and looked down to see Yami staring at her in confusion. "Don't be an asshole, Zachariah," she said before addressing Yami. "Does your mother not take care of your wounds?"

Yami shrugged. "I told you; I rarely see her," he answered. I sighed as my mom accepted the answer, although I knew there was more to it than he claimed. I highly doubted they were constantly traveling.

"Well, you're welcome here anytime," she said as the plates were set by the chefs.

About halfway through the meal, I looked at Yami and noticed his neck had a huge bump on it. "Um... Yami... Does your neck hurt...?" I asked.

He shrugged. "A little," he answered.

I pulled out my phone and sent him a text. Liar, it said with the smiley face emoji to show I wasn't insulted. He pulled it out and rolled his eyes. "Really?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yep!" I said.

Amaterasu jumped in, changing the conversation. "By the way, you have my approval," she said. Yami looked confused, and she continued. "This morning, you received messages from Shawn Mendes's song 'Treat You Better', and you didn't listen to what was said. That was me; you have earned my approval to date my brother." Her friendly smile turned to a threatening one in mere milliseconds. "Just know that if you hurt him, I know how to use a good number of weapons."

Yami nodded. "Yeah... I know..." he said with a slight stutter. "Yugi told me..."

Dinner went on without anything else, and Ryou and Malik started warming up to Yami. I made a mental note to look up Sennen Inc later, though, since Yami had mentioned it and they were one of my dad's company's biggest competitors.

Kitty: *sugar crash*

Yugi: Finally. While you readers were off reading, I had to chase Kitty around. She's knocked out now. And what were you two doing? *points at Nickey and Yami*

Nickey: I was watching YouTube videos...

Yami: I was reading...

Yugi: Doesn't mean you should leave me alone to chase a sugar high Kitty.

Yami: Sorry, Aibou...

Nickey: I'm not.. You seemed to have it all under control...

Kitty: *mumbling* No, Hermione, don't do that! Give the thingy to Ron and Harry... I don't care if Ron is too incompetent. Give it to Harry...

Yugi: Oh, god... Hogwarts dreams again... Save me...

Yami: Last time she had one of those, she slept for a while...

Nickey: Then went on about it and attempted to get there when she woke up...

Yami: That didn't go so well...

Yugi: Bye, guys.

Yami: Bye!

Nickey: CIAO goobers and goofballs..