Chapter Fifty-Four:

Sentoryou smiled brightly. Yami had just told him that he believed him when he said he had nothing to do with Buck's attempt to kill them. Yami wasn't sure if it was a good decision, but Sentoryou seemed so sincere. There was argument for his innocence.

And yet Yami kept a bit of suspicion to himself. The fact that Sentoryou was always present when things happened could be just odd coicidence, but it would be foolish to believe in that wholeheartedly. Buck was a minion of Takanawa and Sentoryou was Buck's uncle, which gave him a link to Takanawa, however roundabout and no link should be overlooked.

"Thank you, Shadow Flare." Sentoryou blinked and made an apologetic face. "I'm sorry, I know you're not Shadow Flare anymore. But since I don't know your real name..." He shrugged.

"Hey!"

Yami turned. It was Roger, standing right near the doorway leading to the stage. He winced slightly when Yami looked at him, but he stood firm. "You don't work here anymore. Get lost."

Yami turned with a smirk and headed towards the exit of the Fire Room. He paused at the bar, seeing Dana there, cleaning a whiskey glass with a cloth. She smiled when she spotted him, so he walked over to her, not caring in the least what Roger thought.

"Hey, Hot Stuff!" Dana said. "What's going on? You tick Roger off?"

"I quit."

Dana looked disappointed. "Aw, too bad. I'm going to miss you."

"I assure you, I'll miss you, too," Yami said truthfully.

Dana smiled, setting down the glass and the cloth. "Well, good luck then. I hope you'll come back and visit." She grinned and gave him a wink. "I'll have you dancing on the bartop for me sometime, I'm sure of it."

Yami returned her smile. "Goodbye, Dana."

She waved and headed down the bar towards a patron who had come up. She wasn't a sentimental woman, he'd learned that in the year he'd worked here. Yami turned and left the Fire Room. It was late afternoon, after six, but as it was March, the sun had not yet set. It was very cold outside, an early spring cold snap settling over the city. Yami hunched in his jacket as a wind blew against him, pushing his bangs back from his face.

Sentoryou had left with him, but when Yami turned towards him, he just smiled slightly. Maybe he understood that by not giving him his name, Yami was showing he did not entirely trust him.

"I agree with Dana," he said. "Good luck."

Yami looked up at him with uncertainty. There was a problem. If he didn't really believe Sentoryou's insistence that he was innocent, perhaps he shouldn't return home right away. Sentoryou could follow him. And yet, Sentoryou had known all along where he lived with Yugi and Joey before they'd been thrown out by Cheval and he had never attacked.

"Thank you."

Sentoryou nodded and slowly turned away. Yami stood and watched him walk down the street towards the nearest corner, where the white limo suddenly appeared. Sentoryou got into the backseat and the limo took off, disappearing around another corner.

******

Yami walked into the hotel room, tossing the keycard down on the table and sliding off his jacket. He'd just gotten home from the Fire Room, still feeling pretty good about finally putting Robert back in his place. And even better than that, he no longer worked at the Fire Room. He and Joey were both free of that place.

To Yami's relief, Yugi was standing by the stove. He was stirring something that smelled delicious and he turned and smiled when Yami walked in.

/Hi, Yami. I didn't think you'd be home for dinner!/

As Yami had had an evening shift, he'd told them he wouldn't be home until eleven. He hung up his jacket in the closet and turned towards the kitchen.

//Hello, Aibou.// Yami blinked, spying the note he'd left to Joey before he'd gone. //Did Joey not get this?//

/No. He's still asleep./

Yami glanced at the clock. Joey had gone in to sleep around 3:30. It was now a quarter after seven. Yami would suspect jet lag, except that Yugi didn't seem to be the least bit tired. Joey, on the other hand, seemed to be tired a lot lately.

/Are you hungry?/ Yugi asked.

//Yes, thank you.// Yami walked in to begin setting the table. He saw that Yugi had made stir-fry, rice, and tofu soup with chicken broth. //That looks good.//

Yugi smiled, but Yami could see he still looked vaguely upset. /Do you think I should go and wake him?/

Yami glanced at the closed bedroom. //No, not yet.//

Yugi was silent a moment, stirring the chicken and vegetables in the skillet. Yami finished setting the table, then glanced up as the bedroom door opened. Yugi turned around, his expression looking a mix of hopeful and anxious. Joey came out of the bedroom, rubbing one of his eyes, his face still pale from sleep and his clothes wrinkled. He stopped when he saw them, his gaze briefly flicking over Yami before coming to rest on Yugi.

"Hi, Joey," Yugi said tentatively.

Yami glanced between them. Joey came over and peered down into the pots and skillet, before looking at Yugi. He stared at him for so long that Yugi started to look away, dejected. Then a smile slowly appeared on Joey's face.

"Smells good, Yug'."

Yugi returned his smile twofold. It was clear that Joey's anger had melted, or at least that he was willing to forgive Yugi. Joey patted Yugi lightly on the back before going into the bathroom to wash up. Yugi set the food on the table with a visibly more cheerful mood and they sat down to eat companionably.

"So, Yami, something happen?" Joey asked. "You're home early. Didn't you have a shift today?"

"I quit the Fire Room," Yami said.

Joey looked up, pulling his chopsticks out of his mouth and speaking with his mouth full. "You did?"

Yami nodded, serving himself a second helping of the soup. "Yes. Patricia tells me her cousin Annie will give me a job at her art shop."

"Awesome." Joey grinned and swallowed his mouthful with an audible gulp.

"That's great, Yami," Yugi said. "An art shop? That might be interesting."

Yami agreed. "By the way, Aibou, Dr. Ashford wants to make an appointment for next week. What day would work best for you?"

"Doesn't matter," Yugi said with a sigh. "Did he say what it's about?"

"No, but I suspect it is just a regular check-up. You're supposed to have them periodically for the next year."

Yugi nodded, looking pensive for a moment before he raised his head and smiled. "Well, he'll probably just see how well I'm doing."

"You are doing well, Yug'," Joey said. "You can't even tell your back was broken when you walk."

"Yeah, but I do still have a ways to go. My legs still get tired pretty easily and I can't use stairs or run."

"That will come later, Aibou," Yami said. "You just have to give it time."

"Yeah, I know. But after a year off my feet, I just want to be normal again."

Joey was busy wolfing down a bowl of rice and stir-fry. Yami glanced briefly at Yugi, but made no comment. Yugi turned to his own dinner and the conversation lapsed. They finished the meal and Yami did the dishes while Yugi and Joey sat and watched TV. He'd volunteered for the chore to give the two of them time alone. He could hear them talking quietly beneath the noise of the TV and he smiled, setting the bowls upside down to dry.

"Joey, Patricia told me your sister called," he said as he joined them, settling down on Joey's other side on the couch. "She wanted to apologize to you."

Joey frowned slightly, then shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess I'll give her a call tomorrow."

"Aibou, how about we set up your appointment for Tuesday?"

"That's fine, Yami. Maybe I'll be cleared to get a job myself so I can help you."

"Yes, perhaps."

Joey yawned, stretching. "Man, how am I tired? I just took a nap!"

Yugi looked up at him in concern. "You've been tired an awful lot this weekend. You went to sleep as soon as we got to Greece and you took a nap yesterday afternoon before the rehearsal dinner."

Joey shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, I'm probably getting a cold."

Yugi raised his hand and rested it against Joey's forehead. "You do feel a little warm."

"Great. Of course I'd get sick right when I'm supposed to start my new job."

"Would you like me to go and get you some medicine?" Yami inquired. "There is a gas station just down the street."

"Nah, Yami, it's not that big a--"

"You probably should jump on it early," Yugi said.

"Well... Yeah, I guess you're right. But I could get it myself."

Yami stood up and went to get his jacket out of the closet. "It is very cold outside. You'll only make your cold worse. I'll be back in few minutes."

He left the apartment and made the trip to the gas station. Returning with a small paper bag containing some aspirin, Nyquil, pepto bismol, and ginger ale, in case Joey got sick to his stomach. When he walked in, Joey and Yugi were sitting together on the couch, but now closer and the TV was off. They looked up when he entered and fell silent, but he had the feeling they'd been talking very seriously with each other.

Joey got up and took the bag from him. He peered inside and whistled. "Damn! No cold's gonna stand a chance against this arsenal. Thanks, man."

He walked into the kitchen area to store the ginger ale, then opened the Nyquil and took a shot. Swallowing the green medicine, he made a shudder. "Bleh."

Yugi smiled affectionately. Yami hung up his coat and went into their bedroom to change into his pajamas for the night. Yugi followed him in, changing into his own.

//So, how did it go?// Yami asked, knowing Yugi would know what he was talking about.

/Good, I think. I told Joey I was sorry for interfering with his family and I promised I wouldn't do it again. I think he forgives me./

//Of course he does, Aibou.//

/I know./ Yugi sat down on the edge of their bed and looked up. /I don't know why I did it. I guess...I just don't want Joey to miss out on his family, you know?/

Yami did understand. He sat down next to his hikari and put his arm around his shoulders. //I know you do, but Joey's family isn't like yours was.//

/I know that now./ Yugi sighed. /Boy, do I know now. I can't imagine someone yelling at their mother that way./ He shrugged his shoulders. /But I understand. I think he and I are going to be okay./ Yugi looked up at him and smiled. /I invited him to come out with a movie with me on Friday. He agreed./

//That's great, Aibou.//

Joey entered the bedroom and changed into his own pajamas. He looked over at them and smiled. "How about tomorrow we go down to the beach? Bet the sand'll be good workout for your legs, Yug'."

"Yeah," Yugi agreed. "I'd like that."

They went to bed then. Yami lay awake, looking at Yugi as he lay next to him. He then turned his head on the pillow and looked across the room at Joey where he lay in his own bed. He was glad they'd patched things up.

******

On Tuesday, the three of them entered the Shintaka Center. Susan was at the front desk and she was overjoyed to see Yugi. She came hurrying around the counter and wrapped her arms around Yugi.

"Oh, look at you, honey! Oh, I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks, Susan."

"Good morning, Yugi." Dr. Ashford had just walked up.

"Hi."

"How do you feel?"

"Pretty good."

"Okay. Miyuki is going to show you to one of the exam rooms and I'll be there in just a minute."

The indicated nurse walked them into the empty examination room. She told Yugi to strip down to his underwear and then left. Joey asked Yugi if he wanted them to give him some privacy, but Yugi just laughed and pulled his shirt over his head. They only had to wait a little while before Dr. Ashford came in.

He took Yugi's blood pressure, listened to his heart and lungs, then tested his legs with the same instrument he'd used before. Yugi was a little disappointed that the feeling in his feet had not strengthened, but Dr. Ashford insisted that was no surprise. The chips bypassed the damaged area of his spinal column but didn't repair it. Yugi would never get full feeling to return to his feet and legs.

"But your muscles seem to have developed again quite nicely," he said, lightly squeezing one of Yugi's calves and then letting go and straightening up. "You've been doing all of your exercises?"

"Yes."

"Good. Well, Yugi, everything seems to be in good order. What I want to do now is take you down to the rehabilitation area and we're going to test how far you've progressed."

Yugi got dressed and they went there. In one section of the giant room, a small, mobile staircase on wheels had been anchored in place. It consisted of eight steps that seemed to be covered with shaggy carpet with handrails on either side and was sitting on a thick, protective mat.

"What we're going to do is check your strength, balance, and agility," Dr. Ashford explained. "Going up the stairs shouldn't be too difficult for you, but coming back down requires more balance and power. For now, I'd like you to take a firm hold of the handrail as you move up and down the stairs and to take your time. Let me know if you feel dizzy or shaky."

Yugi nodded and began climbing the stairs. Going up he seemed to have little trouble, though Yami could see that raising his entire body weight on a single leg was difficult for him. He made it all the way up the stairs and paused at the top before turning around and starting to come back down.

On the third step down, he suddenly grabbed the handrail with both hands as his left knee gave in. He hit the stairs, but didn't fall down since he was holding the rail. Joey gasped and started forward.

"Yug'!"

"I'm fine," Yugi said with gritted teeth.

He pulled himself up and then started down the stairs again. This time he made it all the way down without falling again, but as soon as he was at the bottom, he sat down on the bottommost step. Dr. Ashford walked up, holding his clipboard.

"Yugi, don't look so mad. You received heavier damage on your left side than your right and this is your first time attempting stairs since your accident. Now, is there any pain?"

"No. Maybe a little soreness."

"That's to be expected. Have you had any pain at all in your back?"

"Well..."

"Really, Yug'?"

Yugi fidgeted. "It's not that bad."

Dr. Ashford looked at Yugi severely. "Be honest, Yugi, it's important. Scale of one to ten."

Yugi lifted his chin. Though he looked slightly defiant, Yami was certain he was telling the truth when he said, "One. Maybe two." He suddenly looked down and shifted. "Maybe...four sometimes."

Joey made a slight noise of dismay. The doctor looked at Yugi closely, writing on his clipboard.

"Where is the pain generally located?"

"In my back, where the injury is. In my head, sometimes."

"Has it gotten worse since the chips were placed?"

Yugi looked down at the floor between his feet. He was silent for a long minute before slowly nodding and lifting his head again, looking up at them. Yami could see that he was worried admitting it would make Dr. Ashford insist he get rid of the chips.

"A lot worse?" Dr. Ashford asked. "Or just some soreness where the surgery was performed?"

"Not a lot worse."

"Any accompanying nausea, dizziness, muscle-weakness in your torso, or other strange symptoms?"

Yugi shook his head. "Nothing that I've noticed. I feel fine, really."

Dr. Ashford wrote on his clipboard before looking up. He asked Yugi to stand up, which he did. Yami could detect no trouble with it and when Dr. Ashford asked Yugi a final time if he felt sick or dizzy and received a negative answer, he seemed satisfied.

"I suspect the pain really is just something you'll have to live with, considering the injury to your spine. If you don't have any other problems, then I don't think there's anything to be concerned about, medically. The surgery implanting the chips in your body seems to have been performed perfectly. What I'm going to do is prescribe you some stronger pain medication. The prescription you're on now is fairly weak, and I guess I misdiagnosed the extent of the lingering effects of your original injury."

Dr. Ashford pulled a small pad out of his coat pocket and wrote on the top sheet, before tearing it off and handing it over. Yugi glanced at it and then looked back up.

"Get that filled immediately. Make sure you follow the directions for taking it to the letter. In one month I want to see you back here, but at the moment I don't think you really have anything to worry about. Spine and head injuries almost invariably end with life-lasting pain, I'm sorry to say. If you don't consider the pain to be inhibiting, then I don't see a problem. When you come back, I want to see how the new medicine is affecting you and how much advancement you've had with stairs."

"Well...maybe I shouldn't try them out of here," Yugi said reluctantly. "If I'm just going to fall."

"There's a factory that supplies hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, etc with equipment for those recovering from injuries like yours. Like these stairs. For home use, they make some with three steps. I'll put in an order for you and if you can give me your address, I can have it delivered so you don't have to come up here to get it."

"Oh, we don't--"

"We're in the process of moving," Joey said. "We don't have our address yet."

"That's fine. I'll put in the order and you can get me the address when you get it. It'll be at least two weeks before the company can get it shipped anyway."

"Thanks, Doctor."

"Of course, Yugi. I'm very proud of the progress you've made. You walk like you were never injured at all."

Yugi smiled. "Thanks. Doctor, there were a couple of questions."

"Of course."

"Do you think...could I get a job? I really want to help Yami and Joey."

Dr. Ashford looked considering. "Well... Okay, with constrictions. Only part-time. No more than twenty hours a week, no lifting over fifteen pounds, and I want you to sit down for five minutes every couple of hours. I want a promise that if you start feeling more pain or weak, you'll quit. But I don't think that will happen. You're very healthy and you're taking excellent care of yourself. We'll go over how that's working out for you when you come back next month."

"Thanks," Yugi said, looking relieved. "Also, what about driving?"

"No, not yet. Not until we see how you react to your new medicine and how more strenuous activity with your job goes. But we'll talk about it again next month, okay?"

Yugi nodded and this time he looked accepting rather than upset. After that, Dr. Ashford had him try the stairs one more time. He didn't fall, but when he did stop half-way down and sit down for a moment. Then he made it down to the bottom and seemed a tiny bit shaky, but he hadn't fallen. Dr. Ashford seemed satisfied and set up their appointment for the following month on the fifteenth of April.

When they left the clinic after several rounds of reunions and congratulations from the staff of Shintaka Center who were happy to see Yugi again and happier still to see him up and walking, Yugi seemed to be in a very good mood.

"I'll start looking for a job tomorrow," he said as they drove home to the hotel.

Yami saw Joey glance in the rearview mirror. "That's great, Yug', that you're back to normal."

"Almost," Yugi said, but with simple cheerfulness. "When I'm cleared, you can teach me how to drive."

"Promise," Joey said.

"Hey, Yami, want to go with me to put in some applications?" Yugi asked him. "Before you go in for your interview with Annie."

"Of course, I will, Aibou."

They returned to the hotel and Yugi set about making some lunch for them. Because Yugi couldn't work, he had taken all cooking and cleaning chores on himself. Now that he could, they'd take turns, but as Yugi pointed out, he wasn't working yet. He made them tuna fish sandwiches and celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins.

As they sat down to eat, Joey looked at Yugi. "So, you're really in pain?"

"It's not that bad, Joey."

"You said four."

"We'll get that prescription filled and I'll be fine. Look at me, I'm moving around without any trouble."

Joey frowned, but turned to his food without arguing further. Yami looked at Yugi as he bit into his own sandwich. It was true, that Yugi didn't seem to be limited in any way. Still, he wished Yugi had told them he was hurting.

//Aibou, please be open with us.//

Yugi looked over at him. /Yami, I just didn't want to worry you./

Yami could understand that. Had he not tried to keep his accidents with glass from them, and had he not succeeded in keeping the fact he'd been impaled by the piece of wood in the explosion? His injury had healed completely and he'd gotten his stitches removed without their knowledge. There was a U-shaped, three-inch scar on his side, and they were still ignorant of the incident. He'd tried not to let them know of anything that had happened.

//I know, Aibou.//

But Yami also knew that Yugi wasn't keeping his pain a secret just to keep from worrying them, though he knew that was a large part of it. Yugi was also afraid he'd be forced to give up the chips if Dr. Ashford had thought they were the cause for it. Yugi was so fanatical about walking again that Yami knew he wouldn't be able to give it up.

/Dr. Ashford gave me the pain medication,/ Yugi said, picking up a celery stick. /That's all I need./

tbc…