Me: OMG! Sorry for taking so long to update you guys! The story I plan on releasing as a Christmas present to you guys is really giving me some hassle... I'm working my butt off to get it going just right for you guys! And to add to all that I've been super busy T^T Again, I'm really sorry...

To Ern Estine 13624: Glad you liked it ^w^

To Rose: I know XD that's why I put the funny scene in there ^w^

I do not own YGO or anything pertaining to YGO. Hope this makes up for my absence ^w^ Enjoy!

CID

Chapter 38

Respect

It took three days for Yami to fully heal to the point where he could finally go home. Yuki hadn't said a word to him since finding out about his dog being gone. Akari tried to help the boy, but Yuki always shoved her away. He wanted to be alone, but Akari didn't understand that.

As they pulled up the driveway, Yami noticed that there were an awful lot of cars parked down the street. "What's going on?" He asked his husband.

"You'll see" Yugi said softly before climbing out of the driver seat.

The two of them held hands as they walked up the sidewalk towards their front yard. Yami noticed a rather large crowd gathered around the tree at the corner of the yard. As they got closer he counted out his friends, family, his chief, and all the CID agents with their chief. His kids were standing at the side, Blue looking very depressed while sitting next to them.

"W-What are you guys doing here?" Yami asked once they walked through the gate and over to the group.

"Well, agent Sennen, we felt guilty that your dog got killed doing something that we didn't" Karim said as he stepped forward.

"But, we realized something as we watched him in action" Mahad added.

"I made you a disc by the way" Mai said with a smile, stepping forward and handing Yami a disc.

"Thanks."

"Brutus was more than just an agent of the FDI" Rafael continued. "Much more."

"We realized that a normal burial wouldn't be good enough for him. So" Seto paused as the group spread apart, revealing a decorated wooden box with the dog inside on a bed of white flowers, making his black fur stand out beautifully. His fur had been washed, and brushed over, the once reddened paw was now back to it's sparkling white. His beautiful blue eyes were closed and it looked as if he'd just come back from the groomer. "We kinda put together a funeral for your dog. Sorry, Yami. But I believe Brutus deserved this."

"And that's not all" Yugi chimed in from beside him. "The mayor ordered a statue to be erected in front of the FDI building, of Brutus. I gave him photos of the dog and they're going to put together a bronzed statue of him on a pedastal with a name plate and everything."

Yami's eyes widened a little "Wh-Why would he do that?"

"Because he saw that DVD" Rafael said, pointing at the disc in Yami's hands. "He saw what an amazing agent Brutus truely was. He saw how he pushed himself to the limits, and went beyond just to save his master."

A sad smile crossed Yami's lips, his eyes already beginning to burn. "Thanks" he said softly.

"We understand how much Brutus meant to you, Yami" Mahad said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We thought he was just an agent that you were paired with. But after all the time we spent with you, we realized he was your house pet, and a protector of your family. You saved his life and he repaid the debt. You two were an unstoppable and powerful team, but even you two couldn't both get out of that warehouse alive."

"Speaking of that, I got a view of the main bosses. They all probably think I'm dead, so they won't be too concerned about hiding their identity."

"Great. We'll get their identities then you're on leave for a while" Rafael ordered.

"Good. I don't wanna go back to work for at least a little while. I think we'll go on vacation for a week or two" he chuckled with a glance over at Yugi.

Yugi looked at him with utter confusion and shock. "Y-You're... Serious?"

"I hear the states are nice this time of year" he voiced his thoughts with a wink.

His husband's eyes widened "You are serious! Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

Yami leaned down, his breath ghosting over Yugi's ear. "Besides, we can go somewhere where the kids can play and we can get a real honeymoon" he whispered, causing the man's face to turn red.

Yugi's eyelids lowered in annoyance, giving his husband a sharp elbow in the stomach. "Is that all you ever think about?!" He growled, raising his fist in warning once again.

"Well no.. But a man can dream right?"

"Are you complaining, Yami?" He growled through clenched teeth.

Yami put his hands up defensively, waving them around to further get his point across. "N-No dear... O-Of course not" he said sheepishly with a grin.

The rest of the group sweatdropped at the two, not really knowing what was going on, but getting a pretty good idea. Yugi huffed as he joined them, leaving Yami rubbing his head where he'd left a couple knots.

"You can be so cruel sometimes" Yami whimpered as he rubbed his head. He visibly flinched when Yugi rounded on him, his usually gentle purple eyes shooting a warning glare at his husband. "I-I uh... I mean... I love you... Honey? Honey? Sugar..? Lamb chop?" Yami's voice lowered more and more as Yugi began his approach, coming out as a squeak once the man got in front of him. "Y-You'd really beat up your husband that just got out of the hospital?" He squeaked.

Yugi's eyes softened with a tilt of his head, his frown turning into a bright smile. "Of course not, my loving husband."

Yami breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes widening when he saw Yugi's fist to his left. The fist made contact with the left side of his head, knocking him to the ground with a 'thud.'

"Baka! Am I still cruel?!"

"I.. still... love.. you" Yami groaned into the dirt, ignoring the obvious trap question his husband had asked.

The two finally quit their back and forth talk, ending it with chuckles and smiles as they made their way over to the 'funeral' with their friends.

Yami watched his son the whole time. The boy didn't seem upset, he seemed to just be angry. But Yami saw what was really going on. The boy was bottling everything up. He had all his emotions locked away and refused to show them. Yami loved Brutus too, but it wasn't the end of the world to be without him. Yuki had been with the dog since birth though, so he understood how much it must hurt, but he couldn't keep bottling everything up, it wasn't healthy.

The service ended and everyone turned to leave, allowing the family time to grieve alone.

"Yuki" Yami said once they got in the house, the boy ignoring him as he walked away. "Yuki!" Again the boy ignored him, continuing his walk through the house. "Damn it Yuki! I am your father! Stop ignoring me!"

The little boy stopped in the doorway on the other side of the kitchen, refusing to look at his father. "Does it make you angry when people don't listen to what you have to say, dad?"

Yami blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. What did that have to do with anything? Of course he was angry, his child wasn't listening to him.

"It makes me angry too. Like how we all told you not to do what you did. But you didn't listen. You let us leave, and you went ahead with what you did. You have no feelings for anyone else as long as the job gets done." The boy rounded on Yami, his maroon eyes burning with rage and glistening with tears. "You don't care about anyone but yourself! So don't start worrying now! After that little display, I'm sure you won't be around much longer!" The boy shouted before turning and going to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Yami stood there dumbfounded, he had no idea what to do after that little display. Yuki had never seemed so angry before, he'd never rounded on him like that. His eyes were wide, his mouth hanging open slightly, and not a single thought would come to mind. If he'd turned his head he'd find his husband in the same stance, his daughter next to him with a similar look.

Akari was the first to blink, walking over to her father and tugging his pant leg. Yami blinked, looking down at the little girl with a defeated look in his eyes. "He's just upset over Brutus daddy. Don't pay him much attention" she said quietly before continuing through the dining room to her own room.

"Yeah" he sighed, his whole body taking on the defeated stance. Yami walked away, going into the bedroom he shared with his husband. He laid down on the chest that lay at the end of the bed, feeling too depressed for a comfortable laying ground like the bed.

"Yami" Yugi said softly, joining him in the bedroom. His husband didn't move, didn't make any turns to let him know that he'd heard him, didn't do anything. Yugi sighed as he turned back around, deciding to leave Yami to cool off. "Just don't fall asleep there" he whispered before leaving the room.

Yugi left too soon to hear the sniffle, didn't get close enough to see the tears, and didn't listen close enough to hear the little whimpers that slipped from his husband's lips. Yami had broken. He understood now what he'd done wrong, he was trying to make things right, but it was too late..

"Now what?" Yami whispered to himself.

Me: Again, I'm really REALLY sorry about the delayed update. My past few weeks have been super busy and I haven't had a chance to sit and type up a whole chapter like a normally do. I was lucky to get a sentence done before I had to get up and do something else T^T I kept forgetting what was going on and *sigh* I'm trying my best but my schedule is pretty packed up until the middle of January XD I'm really sorry about the delay you guys, I'll try my best though! Until next time! *waves* Goodbye!