AN - OK, even I'm starting to get confused by this story now! Keep
reviewing.
After spending most of the night with Serenity, Yami walked her home. They expected to return to a silent city. But when they got back they found that all of the windows were lit and people were running around in the streets. Serenity took hold of Yami's arm for protection, and he walked slightly in front of her to keep between her and danger.
When they reached their houses they found that Joey, Mrs Wheeler and Mr Mouto were standing outside the houses.
"Serenity there you are!" Mrs Wheeler cried, running over to her daughter. "I was so worried about you."
"I'm fine Mum, what is going on?" Serenity asked.
"Maybe I should be asking you that young lady!" Mrs Wheeler reprimanded her daughter. "Out till after midnight!" She glared at Yami.
"It wasn't her fault Mrs Wheeler." Yami said. "I asked if we could go for a walk, I wanted to talk to Serenity, we just lost track of time."
"Well, anyway I'm just glad you are back." Mrs Wheeler said.
"Yeah, you are missing the show!" Joey said to Serenity and Yami.
"Show?" Yami asked.
"Apparently something has been stolen from the palace." Mr Mouto informed them. "The guards are going around people's houses and searching them from top to bottom. They haven't been here yet. Do you two know anything?"
Yami and Serenity shook their heads. "I wonder what was stolen." Serenity said.
"Well, I hope whoever it is gets caught." Yami said. "Stealing is a terrible crime, especially against the high family."
"Since when have you been a crusader for the monarchs?" Mr Mouto asked. "What have they ever done for you?"
"Umm, Mr Mouto." Joey said, jumping in before Yami said something stupid to defend his family. "Maybe you shouldn't talk about the King with all these guards around, they might accuse you of treason or something."
"You're quite right Joey." Mr Mouto said.
"Look!" Serenity said. "The guards are starting on our street!"
They watched as guards went into each house, then came out empty handed and moved on to the next. They reached the Wheeler house in no time at all, and Mrs Wheeler showed them inside. A few moments later they reappeared. One walked up to Mr Mouto and said. "This is your house old man?"
"Yes sir." Mr Mouto replied.
"And your family?" They guard asked again.
"Only my grandson Yugi." Mr Mouto replied. "I'll show you in shall I?"
Yami waited outside, not even slightly apprehensive. He knew that he hadn't stolen anything belonging to his own family. He was so complacent that he didn't notice that Joey was acting strangely, not meeting Yami's eye and scuffing his foot on the ground. Whilst Yami had been out with Serenity, Joey had taken the time to hide something in Yami's room.
A cry came from inside and a guard stormed over to Yami. "Show us your bedroom boy." The guard ordered. Yami obediently led the guard back inside the house and into his room.
"Explain this kiddo." A guard said, lifting some rags off of Yami's bed. Underneath laid what Yami recognised immediately as a piece of his regalia.
"But I." Yami began, but a guard grabbed him by the arm and dragged him outside.
"The item has been located in this residence." The guard announced to everyone in the street. "This boy shall be taken to prison until Prince Yami sees fit to judge him."
"But it wasn't me!" Yami protested, trying to fight the guard off.
"No officer." Mr Mouto protested. "It couldn't have been Yugi."
"Really?" The guard asked. "Can you prove this?"
"Well." Mr Mouto said.
"Were you not at the palace only a few days ago?" The guard asked.
"We were." Mr Mouto replied.
"And did you keep this thief in your sight all evening?"
"No." Mr Mouto admitted. "But Yugi would never do such a thing."
"It looks as if he has old man." The guard said. "Unless you are saying that you stole the relic and placed it in the boy's bed for safekeeping."
Mr Mouto was about to reply, when Mrs Wheeler cut in. "No officer. I was with Mr Mouto all evening, he did not steal the item."
Yami knew why Mrs Wheeler had stopped Mr Mouto from answering. Mr Mouto would have said that he had indeed planted the relic in Yami's bed, just to protect him. Yami knew very little about the conditions in prison, but he was intelligent enough to realise that they wouldn't do an old man with failing health any good.
"I've been framed!" Yami shouted. "It wasn't me."
"You can't prove that kid." The guard said as he tugged Yami down the street. Yami could see people shaking their heads in disbelief. Serenity seemed to be crying. "You should just hope that Prince Yami takes mercy on you and decides to let you off, but I wouldn't be so sure about that. He isn't one to take pity on scum and scoundrels like you!"
A few hours later Yami sat in a prison cell watching the sunrise through a tiny window. He was all alone, but he knew that a guard stood outside the door to his basement cell. The walls were damp and black, and the only light and warmth came from a few meagre flaming torches on the walls. Yami shivered and wrapped his blanket around himself more. He was hungry, but not hungry enough to eat the congealed gruel that the guard had placed in his cell.
"Hey kid, you've got visitors." The guard said. "You can only see them one at a time though."
First of all Mr Mouto was shown inside. He stood on the other side of the partition of bars that separated them.
"Oh Yugi. Why did you do it?" He asked, and Yami could see that he had been crying.
"Grandpa I swear I didn't do it." Yami said.
"I want to believe you Yugi, but even I know that you would do anything to get more money to pay for my medicine. Where were you planning to sell that relic?"
"It wasn't me." Yami said desperately.
"Oh Yugi!" Grandpa sighed. "If you just confess then perhaps the prince will go lightly on you." Grandpa coughed violently. "I can't stay Yugi, the cold isn't doing wonders for my health. Luckily Mrs Wheeler has offered to look after me in your absence. How I am going to pay for food with you doing time in here I really don't know."
Grandpa turned his back and walked out. Joey entered next, looking awkwardly around him.
"If you have come to berate me don't bother." Yami said hollowly. "But I will tell you, I didn't do it!"
"I know you didn't, you couldn't, not from your family." Joey said.
"Maybe I should just tell everyone who I am."
"They'll think you are mad." Joey said. "And anyway, that will put Yugi in more danger."
"More danger?" Yami asked. "What do you mean?"
"N-n-nothing." Joey said, but Yami grabbed him by the arm.
"What do you know Joey?" He asked.
"Look, Yugi had a spot of trouble with some people and he is out of town for a bit, that's all." Joey said.
"How do you know that?" Yami asked shrewdly.
"I heard it on the grapevine." Joey answered.
"Really?" Yami asked sarcastically. "Did this grapevine come and get you out of the shafts yesterday to tell you all this?"
"Maybe." Joey said. "But who cares? Yuge is safe where he is and you are safe here, so let's give it a rest."
"What do you mean I'm safe here?" Yami asked. "Joey? Please tell me what is going on!"
"Last visitor!" The guard called, ushering Serenity into the prison. "Out ya come Blondie!"
"I'll explain everything tomorrow!" Joey said, wrenching his arm out of Yami's grasp and walking over to the door. He shut it, leaving Yami and Serenity alone. She stood over at the other side of the room, so that only the bars separated them. She looked scared and nervous.
"Serenity. I didn't." Yami began.
"I know." She said. "I trust you, and I believe you."
Yami's face softened. He could see that the day's events had scared Serenity. He walked over to the bars and put his arms through them. Gladly Serenity rushed over and let Yami envelope her in his strong arms, despite the fact that the cold metal bars still separated them.
"Shush!" Yami soothed as Serenity began to cry. "It's OK. I'm OK." She stroked her hair softly and kissed her head.
"I was so worried. I thought they were going to hurt you." Serenity said.
"Don't worry. I'm fine really." Yami said.
"I don't like you being in here. Come home." She pleaded.
"I don't have much choice in the matter." Yami said. Feeling Serenity's shoulder droop at these words he said, "But when the Prince returns he will let me free. He knows that this is all just a big misunderstanding."
"How can you be so sure?" Serenity asked. "When I met him he seemed so snobbish and callous." Yami flinched slightly hearing Serenity talk about him. "I could see that he didn't want to be at the party. I think he was only talking to me to try to get me to.you know."
"I'm sure he wasn't." Yami said stiffly. "Those parties can't be much fun, they must get quite boring once the novelty wears off. And I'm sure that he was talking to you because he realised what a wonderful person you are."
Serenity smiled and looked Yami in the eye. "Thanks Yugi. You say the nicest things."
"I mean them." Yami said. "The Prince is nothing compared to you. It's his loss that he can never be with you." Yami sighed inwardly, but remained happy on the outside for Serenity's sake.
"My time is nearly over." Serenity said. "But there is something that I want to say. I wanted to say it last night, but things got in the way."
"What?" Yami asked.
"I love you." Serenity said.
Yami didn't even need to think about his response. "I love you too." He replied. He pulled her towards him and kissed her through the bars.
"Time's up love birds!" The guard called. "Hey, break it up!"
In the end the guard had to come over and pull Serenity away from Yami.
"I'll be back tomorrow!" Serenity promised.
Yami spent the rest of a boring day sitting in his cell. But he couldn't care less. He could still feel Serenity's hair under his fingers, could still smell her, and feel her body close to his. He could still taste her on his lips. He passed the day in a daze, not caring that he was imprisoned, he just wanted to see Serenity again.
After spending most of the night with Serenity, Yami walked her home. They expected to return to a silent city. But when they got back they found that all of the windows were lit and people were running around in the streets. Serenity took hold of Yami's arm for protection, and he walked slightly in front of her to keep between her and danger.
When they reached their houses they found that Joey, Mrs Wheeler and Mr Mouto were standing outside the houses.
"Serenity there you are!" Mrs Wheeler cried, running over to her daughter. "I was so worried about you."
"I'm fine Mum, what is going on?" Serenity asked.
"Maybe I should be asking you that young lady!" Mrs Wheeler reprimanded her daughter. "Out till after midnight!" She glared at Yami.
"It wasn't her fault Mrs Wheeler." Yami said. "I asked if we could go for a walk, I wanted to talk to Serenity, we just lost track of time."
"Well, anyway I'm just glad you are back." Mrs Wheeler said.
"Yeah, you are missing the show!" Joey said to Serenity and Yami.
"Show?" Yami asked.
"Apparently something has been stolen from the palace." Mr Mouto informed them. "The guards are going around people's houses and searching them from top to bottom. They haven't been here yet. Do you two know anything?"
Yami and Serenity shook their heads. "I wonder what was stolen." Serenity said.
"Well, I hope whoever it is gets caught." Yami said. "Stealing is a terrible crime, especially against the high family."
"Since when have you been a crusader for the monarchs?" Mr Mouto asked. "What have they ever done for you?"
"Umm, Mr Mouto." Joey said, jumping in before Yami said something stupid to defend his family. "Maybe you shouldn't talk about the King with all these guards around, they might accuse you of treason or something."
"You're quite right Joey." Mr Mouto said.
"Look!" Serenity said. "The guards are starting on our street!"
They watched as guards went into each house, then came out empty handed and moved on to the next. They reached the Wheeler house in no time at all, and Mrs Wheeler showed them inside. A few moments later they reappeared. One walked up to Mr Mouto and said. "This is your house old man?"
"Yes sir." Mr Mouto replied.
"And your family?" They guard asked again.
"Only my grandson Yugi." Mr Mouto replied. "I'll show you in shall I?"
Yami waited outside, not even slightly apprehensive. He knew that he hadn't stolen anything belonging to his own family. He was so complacent that he didn't notice that Joey was acting strangely, not meeting Yami's eye and scuffing his foot on the ground. Whilst Yami had been out with Serenity, Joey had taken the time to hide something in Yami's room.
A cry came from inside and a guard stormed over to Yami. "Show us your bedroom boy." The guard ordered. Yami obediently led the guard back inside the house and into his room.
"Explain this kiddo." A guard said, lifting some rags off of Yami's bed. Underneath laid what Yami recognised immediately as a piece of his regalia.
"But I." Yami began, but a guard grabbed him by the arm and dragged him outside.
"The item has been located in this residence." The guard announced to everyone in the street. "This boy shall be taken to prison until Prince Yami sees fit to judge him."
"But it wasn't me!" Yami protested, trying to fight the guard off.
"No officer." Mr Mouto protested. "It couldn't have been Yugi."
"Really?" The guard asked. "Can you prove this?"
"Well." Mr Mouto said.
"Were you not at the palace only a few days ago?" The guard asked.
"We were." Mr Mouto replied.
"And did you keep this thief in your sight all evening?"
"No." Mr Mouto admitted. "But Yugi would never do such a thing."
"It looks as if he has old man." The guard said. "Unless you are saying that you stole the relic and placed it in the boy's bed for safekeeping."
Mr Mouto was about to reply, when Mrs Wheeler cut in. "No officer. I was with Mr Mouto all evening, he did not steal the item."
Yami knew why Mrs Wheeler had stopped Mr Mouto from answering. Mr Mouto would have said that he had indeed planted the relic in Yami's bed, just to protect him. Yami knew very little about the conditions in prison, but he was intelligent enough to realise that they wouldn't do an old man with failing health any good.
"I've been framed!" Yami shouted. "It wasn't me."
"You can't prove that kid." The guard said as he tugged Yami down the street. Yami could see people shaking their heads in disbelief. Serenity seemed to be crying. "You should just hope that Prince Yami takes mercy on you and decides to let you off, but I wouldn't be so sure about that. He isn't one to take pity on scum and scoundrels like you!"
A few hours later Yami sat in a prison cell watching the sunrise through a tiny window. He was all alone, but he knew that a guard stood outside the door to his basement cell. The walls were damp and black, and the only light and warmth came from a few meagre flaming torches on the walls. Yami shivered and wrapped his blanket around himself more. He was hungry, but not hungry enough to eat the congealed gruel that the guard had placed in his cell.
"Hey kid, you've got visitors." The guard said. "You can only see them one at a time though."
First of all Mr Mouto was shown inside. He stood on the other side of the partition of bars that separated them.
"Oh Yugi. Why did you do it?" He asked, and Yami could see that he had been crying.
"Grandpa I swear I didn't do it." Yami said.
"I want to believe you Yugi, but even I know that you would do anything to get more money to pay for my medicine. Where were you planning to sell that relic?"
"It wasn't me." Yami said desperately.
"Oh Yugi!" Grandpa sighed. "If you just confess then perhaps the prince will go lightly on you." Grandpa coughed violently. "I can't stay Yugi, the cold isn't doing wonders for my health. Luckily Mrs Wheeler has offered to look after me in your absence. How I am going to pay for food with you doing time in here I really don't know."
Grandpa turned his back and walked out. Joey entered next, looking awkwardly around him.
"If you have come to berate me don't bother." Yami said hollowly. "But I will tell you, I didn't do it!"
"I know you didn't, you couldn't, not from your family." Joey said.
"Maybe I should just tell everyone who I am."
"They'll think you are mad." Joey said. "And anyway, that will put Yugi in more danger."
"More danger?" Yami asked. "What do you mean?"
"N-n-nothing." Joey said, but Yami grabbed him by the arm.
"What do you know Joey?" He asked.
"Look, Yugi had a spot of trouble with some people and he is out of town for a bit, that's all." Joey said.
"How do you know that?" Yami asked shrewdly.
"I heard it on the grapevine." Joey answered.
"Really?" Yami asked sarcastically. "Did this grapevine come and get you out of the shafts yesterday to tell you all this?"
"Maybe." Joey said. "But who cares? Yuge is safe where he is and you are safe here, so let's give it a rest."
"What do you mean I'm safe here?" Yami asked. "Joey? Please tell me what is going on!"
"Last visitor!" The guard called, ushering Serenity into the prison. "Out ya come Blondie!"
"I'll explain everything tomorrow!" Joey said, wrenching his arm out of Yami's grasp and walking over to the door. He shut it, leaving Yami and Serenity alone. She stood over at the other side of the room, so that only the bars separated them. She looked scared and nervous.
"Serenity. I didn't." Yami began.
"I know." She said. "I trust you, and I believe you."
Yami's face softened. He could see that the day's events had scared Serenity. He walked over to the bars and put his arms through them. Gladly Serenity rushed over and let Yami envelope her in his strong arms, despite the fact that the cold metal bars still separated them.
"Shush!" Yami soothed as Serenity began to cry. "It's OK. I'm OK." She stroked her hair softly and kissed her head.
"I was so worried. I thought they were going to hurt you." Serenity said.
"Don't worry. I'm fine really." Yami said.
"I don't like you being in here. Come home." She pleaded.
"I don't have much choice in the matter." Yami said. Feeling Serenity's shoulder droop at these words he said, "But when the Prince returns he will let me free. He knows that this is all just a big misunderstanding."
"How can you be so sure?" Serenity asked. "When I met him he seemed so snobbish and callous." Yami flinched slightly hearing Serenity talk about him. "I could see that he didn't want to be at the party. I think he was only talking to me to try to get me to.you know."
"I'm sure he wasn't." Yami said stiffly. "Those parties can't be much fun, they must get quite boring once the novelty wears off. And I'm sure that he was talking to you because he realised what a wonderful person you are."
Serenity smiled and looked Yami in the eye. "Thanks Yugi. You say the nicest things."
"I mean them." Yami said. "The Prince is nothing compared to you. It's his loss that he can never be with you." Yami sighed inwardly, but remained happy on the outside for Serenity's sake.
"My time is nearly over." Serenity said. "But there is something that I want to say. I wanted to say it last night, but things got in the way."
"What?" Yami asked.
"I love you." Serenity said.
Yami didn't even need to think about his response. "I love you too." He replied. He pulled her towards him and kissed her through the bars.
"Time's up love birds!" The guard called. "Hey, break it up!"
In the end the guard had to come over and pull Serenity away from Yami.
"I'll be back tomorrow!" Serenity promised.
Yami spent the rest of a boring day sitting in his cell. But he couldn't care less. He could still feel Serenity's hair under his fingers, could still smell her, and feel her body close to his. He could still taste her on his lips. He passed the day in a daze, not caring that he was imprisoned, he just wanted to see Serenity again.
