A/N: Go back to the beginning of chapter 1 if you want all the standard crap. I can't be asked to type it twice.

Shorter than chapter 1 but the pace is picking up!

Chapter 2 : Realization

YVO

//Oh Ra. I still can only remember bits of what happened two weeks ago, but it's enough to figure the rest out. I think Seto had drunk enough not to remember too, and he didn't get the added bonus of waking up and getting the truth thrown in his face either, so in all probability he doesn't know. Well, he hasn't called or anything... Damnit! How pathetic does that sound! Stupid female body. And this curse, which I am hating more and more as time goes on with all the confusion this is causing, shows no signs of wearing off.

My head is seriously screwed up now after what happened, and so in a way I regret not being able to remember all of it. I didn't know how I felt about him before, Ra there was an inkling of liking when I was male! And now this has happened and I don't know what is morally correct so that makes me even more stuck. I'm rambling again, I know. I'm starting to get into these trends now meaning that the group has been giving me strange looks when I debate something with myself.

I feel crap most of the time too now, probably some kind of emotional side-effect. I had to tell someone what happened; I needed a more sane perspective on the whole thing, particularly concerning what to do next. Do I keep my mouth shut and not say anything or have a serious chat with Seto? So, in a moment of desperation, I confessed all to Mai.

It made sense. I'm not as close to her as I am to the others so I won't really value her opinion or take it to heart. She also helped me through some of the more embarrassing aspects of being a female for the first time, and sorted out most of my new wardrobe.

Her advice was truly helpful. She said that I shouldn't say anything in case Seto didn't actually remember anything at all, and he should come to me if he remembered and wanted to discuss it, but likely he wouldn't want to talk even if he did remember.

Something inside me clenched when she said that, what exactly I'm not entirely sure. I'm going to need to do some serious thinking about all this before I tie my mind up in any more knots.//

****

Mai was over at the game shop today, rummaging through a box of new cards that had been imported with Yami's help. Her eyes flicked up to the Game King whilst they were both lent over the box, noting how the olive-coloured skin was paler today than she had ever seen.

"Are you alright Yami? You look like crap," she asked quietly, mindful of Yugi and Grandpa at the till.

Yami sighed lightly before answering in an equally soft tone. "I'm fine. I have just got far too much on my mind."

"Whatever you say, but you look like you need to see a doctor."

There was silence for a few more minutes between them as Yami sifted through some new cards with interest, committing their details to memory should they appear in a future duel. Deciding to try a different conversation, Mai spoke again in a quiet voice.

"How are you for sanitary materials? Need any more?" she asked softly, looking up to watch for a blush. She was surprised to see that none came; the first time they had discussed this Yami was positively crimson.

Yami shook her head, eyes still down as she flicked through various cards. "No, and I haven't needed any."

That made Mai frown, eyes darting to Yami who appeared entirely unfazed by the fact. "None at all?"

"No."

"How long since you last used them?" she asked, knowing not to say the word as it made Yami squirm. He wasn't entirely comfortable with the workings of his new body despite having been in it for just under 2 months now.

"Five weeks, nearly six," Yami replied with a slight shrug, finding a card of interest and turning it over, scanning through its attacks typed neatly on paper inside the plastic wrapping.

"You're late? That's it. We're going to the doctors even if I have to drag you," she hissed, tearing the card out of her hand and dropping it back in the box. Before she could manage an outraged refusal, Mai had grabbed her arm, shouted to Yugi that they were going out, and then dragged Yami out of the shop.

Yami did not seem to understand the seriousness of the situation, and rather than explaining it to her herself, Mai decided it would be better to find out what was going on for certain rather than risk upsetting her unnecessarily.

****

The Game King was less than happy at being dragged to the doctor's surgery, standing in her usual pose as they waited for someone to come into the room they had been led into. Arms crossed and legs spread slightly in a defiant gesture, her eyes were practically burning as she stared at the charts on the wall, totally ignoring Mai.

Finally an older man with thin-framed glasses and a warm smile came in, holding a clipboard and a pen. Smiling, he extended a hand to Yami and introduced himself before indicating that she should get onto the bed. With a glare at Mai she did as instructed, sitting quietly on the edge of the bed and toying with the paper sheet.

After a series of questions the doctor opened a draw and produced an instrument wrapped in plastic. Smiling again, he turned to Yami still holding the small device.

"What is that for?" Yami asked suspiciously, noting the sharp tip of the thing.

"I need a sample of your blood to test," he replied, a tone of amusement lacing his words.

Yami tipped her head to the side with a smile of her own. "If you come near me with that, I will carve a part of your anatomy into the same shape."

Apparently the doctor was used to less than willing patients as his expression did not even flicker. "It will be over quickly and is relatively painless," he assured.

Seeing that the doctor wasn't going to get anything out of Yami aside from verbal abuse if he continued along that track, Mai stepped to her side and smiled at her brightly.

"Yami! I do believe we have found something you are afraid of! And I thought it would be something impressive rather than a puny little needle.'

Glaring venomously at both occupants of the room, Yami muttered her consent and sat still as her sleeve was rolled up and the small amount of crimson fluid removed. Nodding his thanks, the doctor then assured that he would be back in a few minutes and left them alone, Mai staring at her shoes and Yami holding a piece of cotton-wool to her arm.

They remained in total silence, Mai uncomfortable and Yami confused, until the doctor returned, the smile on his face now even broader. Mai came back to Yami's side from where she had stood against the wall, waiting with baited breath. Yami was still blissfully ignorant.

"Congratulations Miss Mutou. You're pregnant."

Yami blinked. And then blinked again. When the scene didn't frazzle out as it would in a dream she felt the world fall out from under her feet. Absently she realized that Mai had clamped a steadying hand onto her shoulder, likely to prevent her from falling off the bed. She suddenly felt very sick.

The doctor frowned slightly, the smile now flickering. "I take it this was not planned pregnancy?"

Mai shook her head slightly, her hand still on the small woman's shoulder. Yami swore that when the man had said 'that' word again the world tipped crazily. One more would make her pass out.

"Alright. Well, everything here looks fine so go home, think and talk things over, and I'll see you again in two weeks."

Leaving the surgery was a blur to Yami, Mai leading her out with a hand on the small of her back. Returning to the car, they began driving around the city not really knowing whether to return or not. They were passing a street comprising mostly of abandoned buildings on one side when Yami whispered a plea for her to stop.

Parking, Mai barely had time to register Yami leaping out of the car and running into one of the buildings, kicking the boarded-up door open and disappearing into the dark inside.

Worried, Mai hurriedly followed and stopped just inside the door. Loud screams and shouts could be heard, followed by various crashes and bangs from the floor upstairs. Chewing her lower lip, she walked carefully up the rotting staircase and stood in the doorway of the room that Yami was currently in.

Another shout as she threw another wooden box at the wall, watching with satisfaction as it shattered into a thousand pieces. Chest heaving, hands clenching and unclenching, Yami stood uncertainly in the center of the room, staring at nothing in particular, her back to Mai.

After a few minutes, her breathing slowed and a hand came up to her mouth, closing over the lower part of her face as her other arm came up about her waist. A choked sob before she dropped to her knees, Mai running up behind her and enveloping her in a tight hug, rocking her lightly.

"What am I going to do?" Yami mumbled in her hair when her breathing had returned to normality.

Mai paused in her movements, really thinking about the question. "I don't know. But remember it's your decision so don't listen to anyone else when you decide. I'll respect whatever you want to do, you know that."

A pained sigh. "Urgh, I'm going to have to tell him, aren't I?"

"Most likely."

"It can wait."

They remained in the house for another few minutes before an embarrassed Yami wiped tear-stained cheeks, rising slowly and following Mai back to the car. They drove around for a long time after that before returning to the shop, resuming their pursuit of new cards, although this time neither really saw them.

****TBC****