Yasha: So? What did you think of the first chapter? Sucked, huh? Well, I wrote this early in the morning, the day after I got home from NYC, so gomen ne. *falls to knees* PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! I'm sorry that this ended up in the G rating at first, I had to keep reposting it because I couldn't get any skipped lines or indentations and I didn't know why, it's now in R in case you didn't read the fine print below the title. Thankies to Ly the Werewolf, Zypher, Wolfspeaker, review (that's what the person's name was *shrugs*) and any others who reviewed...but didn't leave their names; you've made me soooo happy! Huggles for everyone! *hugs reviewers* OK, I got a review from one person who seemed a bit worried about Yugi. Don't worry, he'll turn out fine, he's just a little sad and depressed and stressed, you'll see why later. (To Princess Strawberry: Why would you be sorry for Yugi being a wolf? It's not a curse or anything...sure, he's sad now but, he'll get better...maybe)

Anrui: Yeah, I mean...wouldn't you be kinda sad too if you woke up from a dream about your parents who later ended up...MMPH!

Yasha: *covering her Anrui's mouth* YAMI! You'll give the whole story away!

Anrui: *sneering* But don't they have a right to know that Yugi...*BANG* *falls to the ground*

Yasha: *holding a frying pan* Grrrrrr, damn spoilers, no pudding for you tonight!

Anrui: *Sits up-gags* What makes you even think that I WANT pudding?

Yasha: *evil grin* Because it's DEVIL'S FOOD!!! (Note: Devil's food is REALLY good! It's like really REALLY dark chocolate...just a note. Oh, and Devil's food pudding with angel food cake? *drools*)

Anrui: *gasps* NO! You SADIST!

Yasha: hehe, I know. But sweet talk won't get you sweets, sweetie.

Anrui: O_o ...You DO realize how redundant that was, right?

Yasha: *growls-raises frying pan* Shut yer pie...er, pudding hole!

Anrui: *raspberry* Meanie...

Yasha: *sighs* I know the story may seem a little slow at first but it gets better, believe me!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Yugi awoke the next morning to the feel of the warm sunshine caressing his bare skin. He was in his bed, unclothed and exhausted from last night's woe-fest. Slowly, he turned over to let the sun warm his pale chest and he stayed like that, basked in the sultry waves of natural light that filtered through his window. Sleep was about to engulf his senses again when there came a loud knock on his door.

"Yug! C'mon man I know yer in there! Get up, it's time for breakfast!" an enthusiastic voice called through the wooden barrier.

Yugi let out a loud groan and laughed. "Not now, Jou. Come back in another six months." Jounouchi Katsuya let out a gasp of feigned disbelief and then a small growl of farce disappointment. "Yugi Motou," he declared like a scolding mother, "if ya don't get up this instant I'll break down de door and drag ya out by the ankles if ya don't get yer lazy ass downstairs."

Yugi's eyes flung open, realizing that Jou would indeed do such a thing, especially when it came between and the first meal of the day. "Okay, okay! I'll be down in ten minutes." he yelled.

Jou groaned in agitation, "Ten minutes! C'mon Yug, I'm starvin' here. I'll be wasted away to nothin' in ten minutes."

Sitting up in bed, Yugi started to yawn and rubbed the sleep out of his large eyes. "Fine, five minutes," he heard Jou whoop of joy and run down the wooden stairs. He called after him, "but if I'm cranky and smelly it's all your fault." Two delicate, human feet placed themselves on the soft carpet, relishing the feel of them between the toes. Yugi raised his thin arms and stretched, reaching for the ceiling while he stood on the front pads of his feet. He arched his small back, shut his eyes, and let out a loud moan of release as he felt the stiffness of the sleep leave him and energy flow through his nerves. Opening the door, he checked to see that no one was roaming the long halls before he scampered to the bathroom. After washing all traces of fatigue from his face, he combed his hair and brushed his teeth. Upon returning to his room, Yugi picked out a pair of purple boxers, followed by light blue pajamas, decked with small crescent moons and stars. He savored the silky feel of the fabric on his skin after being bare the whole night. Small digits traveled up the top of his pajamas, slipping the buttons into their corresponding holes. When he reached the top, he felt smooth metal under his fingers and realized that it was his pentagram, still remaining from last night and he wondered why he hadn't noticed it before. Shrugging it off, he slipped on two light blue slippers and burst out his bedroom door.

Jou, in the meantime, was anxiously waiting in the dining room for Yugi to come down, the smell of food wafting into his nose, a small puddle of drool forming on the table. Laughter followed by a light 'thud' signaled Yugi's entrance via the banister.

"It's about time ya got down here, I was just about to eat my chair." Jou's statement was further emphasized by a mock growl that came from his mouth. The sixteen year old wolf-boy's legs were covered by green pajama pants and he wore a white tee-shirt, adorned with the picture of a Red Eyes Black Dragon. "Geez, what kinda beauty routine do you have?" Jou shook his head, his golden hair falling into his chocolate-brown eyes, "Too bad everyone can't wake up lookin' this gorgeous every mornin'."

Yugi sat down at the table, laughing at his friend's pompous attitude. He could hear his grandfather making breakfast in the kitchen with the help of his friends Anzu and Ryou. He looked around, realizing that someone was missing. "Where's Honda?" Yugi asked. At that moment, Honda stepped in the room, his hair was a deep brown and came to a point on his head, golden eyes were strong and hard, his almost seventeen year old muscles glowed with a light tan. His pajamas consisted of brown pants and a cream colored sleeveless tee. He had a small limp and was glaring at Jou, his eyes filled with a slight anger that reflected his wolf instincts.

"Sorry I'm late," he apologized, "I tripped on someone's sneakers as I was coming out of the bathroom and landed on my knee." He held up a pair of black and white sneakers and flung them at Jou, who yelped as the shoes his head and he fell off of his chair.

"WHAT DA HELL WAS DAT FOR?!" Jou screamed at Honda, his face turning red and a bump forming on his head where the shoes had hit him.

Honda shrugged. "Just a reminder to KEEP YOUR SHOES OUT OF THE DAMN HALLWAY!" His eyes met the blond's, challenge shining in them.

Sighing, Yugi got up from his seat and pushed the two fuming friends apart. "Now, now boys. Let's all play nicely..."

"It's probably because they're so hungry," Anzu Mazaki laughed from the doorway. Pancakes were on a plate in her right hand, scrambled eggs in her left. Blue eyes mirrored the happiness that her laughter had just held, her short brown hair swishing as she walked to the table and placed the plates on the surface. She too was sixteen and wore a pastel pink tank top, pale yellow pajama shorts, and a pair of fluffy pink slippers. Tailing her was Ryou Bakura, he was smiling in his usually shy manner, brown eyes calm and innocent though, everyone expected that Ryou was not as innocent as he seemed. Snowy hair cascaded down his white tee-shirt clad back. Like the rest of the sixteen year olds, he was wearing pajama pants, though his were a light blue and cottony. A sneaky hand began to reach for a pancake as soon as Anzu's back was turned. Jounouchi gave a startled yip when the she-wolf spun around and whacked his hand. "Not until we're all here, Jou," she warned while shaking a single finger at the boy, she and Ryou then went back into the kitchen to retrieve the rest of the food.

"I'll help," Honda declared and followed Anzu into the kitchen.

A pouting Jou plopped himself into his chair and let out a groan. "Awwww, why do we always have to wait for everyone to be at the table before we eat?" he asked to no one in particular.

"Because," a wise and seemingly ancient voice rung from the doorway, "people these days are always too busy for each other and it's nice to share at least one meal a day with everyone." Sugoroku's deep purple eyes held a stern gaze with Jounouchi's brown ones. The old werewolf was short, shorter than everyone in the house except Yugi, and even he was growing taller, and his silver hair stuck out in short spikes and bangs framed his face in the same fashion Yugi's did; a person would have to be completely blind not to see that the two were related. He set down the plates of bacon and hash browns he was carrying on the table before sitting at the end. Anzu soon followed carrying platters of sausage and toast. An exceptionally large bowl of assorted fruits was brought in by Ryou while Honda brought up the rear and was trying to balance milk, orange juice, butter, and maple syrup in his arms.

When everyone was seated at the table Sugoroku smiled at everyone and took in the aroma of the meal. "Anzu, Ryou" he said kindly, "I would like to thank you for helping me, this all looks delicious."

A large grin formed on the girl's lips and she thanked the elder. Ryou's mouth showed a grateful smile as he bowed his snowy head.

"Yeah, and I bet it tastes even better," the drooling blond said, his foot could be heard tapping under the table in eagerness.

"Ok, you can eat now," Sugoroku declared, chuckling at the wolf pup's eagerness.

"ALL RIGHT!" the blond yelled, immediately grabbing a fork and loading mountains of food onto his plate while the others laughed at his behavior.

Breakfast was filled with the sounds of chewing, the clanking of utensils, laughter, stories of books that were read or dreams that were had, complaints of homework and teachers, and moans of pleasure, expressing the heavenly taste of the meal. During all of this, Yugi has stayed mostly quiet. Jounouchi was the first to notice Yugi's abnormal silence.

"What's wrong Yug?" he asked when he caught Yugi playing with the remainder of the eggs on his plate.

"It's nothing." Yugi said.

"Was it my cooking?" Anzu inquired, "I'm sorry, I knew I put too much salt on the eggs."

"No, it's not that, Anzu," Yugi said, a small smile forming on his lips, "It's just...," his voice faded as he cast down his eyes.

"You have a nightmare, buddy?" the blond asked, concerned. He hated seeing Yugi like this.

"Kinda," the tri-haired boy replied. "A memory, actually."

Everyone stopped eating and looked at the small boy, worry emitting from their different colored eyes. What could have been remembered to make him like this, they wondered, this boy who was usually so full of light and happiness?

A wet shine lidded Yugi's amethyst orbs, "It was about the last time I saw my parents." He was now on the verge of tears again. A hush now came over the table.

Sugoroku's voice finally broke the veil of quiet, "You can't blame yourself for your mother's death, Yugi,", his voice was riddled with care and sincerity, yet it didn't ease Yugi's pain, nor stop the crystalline tear that rolled down his smooth, pale cheek. "She died to protect you, and she did. You escaped from your father, like she knew you had to, if you had stayed you would have been in grave danger." the tone was gentle and seemed to be trying to ease itself into Yugi's woeful mind. " There was nothing you could have done."

"I know, that's why..." he stopped, the tears were coming too fast as the emotions consumed him, "May I be excused?" he asked, his head down, forcing the tears back. His grandfather nodded and he stood up from his chair and left the table, heading up to his room.

The remainder of the young wolves looked at the elder, opening their mouths to speak, only to be silenced by Sugoroku's raised hand. "Leave him be. He still needs time." Sorrow could now be seen in his own eyes; grievance for not only his grandson, but for his lost daughter.

*****

Yugi plopped himself onto his still-warm bed and began to cry. He didn't understand why it still hurt so much, it had been nine years, after all. Nine long years after the fight between his parents in wolf form; nine years since he had heard his mother's voice telling him to run; nine years since he had fallen asleep in the woods, lost and afraid; nine years since he had last been completely happy.

He had run away from the house, the fight, and most of all, his father. Falling asleep in the woods had caused him to awake trembling from the cold, the dread of his being alone, the fear or being found by those who wanted to hurt him, and his weeping, though he could no longer cry. Suddenly, a crack came from behind him, a rustle of leaves came from his left, a bird call from his right, and a figure emerged from the front. Panic swept over him but he found himself unable to move, the terror had shackled him to the ground. His eyes shut and he curled himself into a defensive position, hands covering his head, unable to look at the shadow that emerged from the forest. He waited, quaking until he heard a deep voice wash over him, soothing his fears and ceasing his tremulous body. Gingerly, he raised his head and opened his eyes to fine slits. There, emerging from the shadows, was a man. Ancient wisdom and knowledge was what emitted from his aura, yet he had a playfulness about him. Spiky silver hair adorned his head like a magnificent headdress, like those once worn by the great pharaohs of Egypt. Spiked bangs framed his face, which held a warm, kindly smile. His eyes were a deep purple in color and held a dancing laughter in the depths; they reminded him of those that his mother had. He felt a strange bond between him and this man, Yugi knew that he could trust him.

"W-who ar-are you?" the boy managed to stutter out. The man kneeled down in front of him and pat Yugi's head.

"There is no need to fear me, Yugi." he smiled and helped Yugi sit across from him, "I am your grandfather, Sugoroku Motou."

Yugi's head cocked to one side. "Grandfather?" the word seemed foreign to the boy, "What's that?"

"I am your mother's father and your grandfather, Yugi. I've come for you."

At those words, Yugi's eyes widened with fear. His father had said the same thing. Backing away he said, "No, I'm with my mommy."

Realizing the essence of fright that radiated from the boy, he explained to the child, "No, no, Yugi. Your mother felt that your father would come back one day, and she knew that you were in danger. She tried to keep you safe but, about a week ago, she felt your father's presence. She didn't want to believe it, but the feeling grew stronger and she knew that she had go get you out. She called me and asked me to come and take you to my home, where you would be safe and cared for." Grief now shadowed Sugoroku's face, "It was too late. I came as fast as I could, hoping that I wouldn't be too late...but I was."

"Too....late?" Yugi's breath caught in his throat. "Is she...?"

Before the boy could finish, Sugoroku continued, "I went to the house, looking for you and...," the man looked as if he might start weeping, "she's dead, Yugi. The fight between her and your father ended in the death of both of your parents. It seems that your father was killed first but, her wounds were too severe to be treated...even by our best healers." He cast his eyes toward the young boy. Yugi was paralyzed and looked like he would weep though, he was too tired to shed any more tears. His grandfather wrapped a comforting arm around the boy, who immediately grasped the man and hid his face in the man's chest.

Words could not describe the kind of anguish that pained the heart of that boy. He had lost his mother, the only one who could keep the nightmares at bay or make him feel fully secure. Even in the arms of his newly discovered grandfather, who's soul held such kindness, he now felt more alone than he had ever felt in his entire life.

Since that day, Yugi had lived with his grandfather, whom he now called Grandpa and who became a valuable friend and advisor and began to heal the hole that Yugi's mother had held, though never fully mending it. He now lived far away from his old home and was currently living in a spacious house near the edge of Domino City. The house was charming with it's cabin- like wood features and the spirit of the wilderness that seemed to flow through the senses of the residents. It was enchanting. Even more enchanting were the beings that lived there; werewolves. Sugoroku had told Yugi of his being a werewolf, just had his parents had been, and his own werewolf nature, like his late daughter.

Upon coming to the house, Yugi was surprised to learn that he was not the only werewolf there. Apparently, the old wolf-man had used his extensive home as a dwelling for young wolves who had been orphaned, abandoned, or abused by their parents. Sugoroku had become like a grandfather to all of them therefore, they all referred to him as Grandpa. Each of the youth had a different reason for being there: Honda's father was a drunk and slew his mother in a jealous rage before killing himself; the parents of Anzu pass away in a car crash when she was three; Ryou's mother had perished during childbirth and his father traveled the world, consequently he could not take care of Ryou so he intrusted him to Sugoroku's care when the snowy- haired boy was but a year old; Jounouchi was the unfortunate son of a drunk, his mother abandoned he and his father when Jou was born, and Jou's father raped during his rages, this resulted in the confiscation of his son and his imprisonment. Shizuka, Jou's younger sister had went with his mother when she left. Jou's mother was presumably still alive because he had not seen or heard Shizuka in several years, something that his mother would have made certain to happen. The blond wasn't sure why his mother disliked him so much, though, he expected, his mother's fear for her husband had caused her to leave Jou behind so that the man wouldn't come to claim him later.

Visions of Yugi's father still haunted his mind. Like Jou's father, Yugi's father also raped him. He could sometimes still hear the scornful names that he called him, still smell his breath as he forced his foul tongue into Yugi's pure mouth, and illusions of fists crashing against his face woke the boy in the middle of the night while he frantically searched his face for the bruises and swells that should be there. The worst feeling was that of his father, the man in which he had confided a naive trust, holding, sometimes tying, the boy down while his hands groped his pale skin, his mouth bit the sensitive flesh, and his length penetrated and being sheathed his virgin skin before his father collapsed, spent. He would then stand up and remove himself while Yugi bled from various wounds and wept silent tears. Time after time, night after tortuous night he would violate the boy in a way that was not even able to express in words, it was too revolting; and each time ended with his sneer plastered in Yugi's mind along with the grim promise that there would be another. Even now, Yugi would lie in bed at night, awake while he envisioned the two lustful, barbarous orbs that preyed on his very soul.

*****

These thoughts and memories had been accounted and analyzed many times in Yugi's mind, even after nine years he could not figure out why they still plagued his hours whether they be dormant or conscious.

'It's probably because I keep examining them that they keep coming back though, it seems that with every remembrance...they seem to grow more feral.' The tears had stopped and he simply stared at the ceiling as he pondered these images; no answer came. A faint rapping came from the other side of his bedroom door. "Who is it?" the boy questioned.

"It's Jou. Can I come in?" the boy's voice was almost as faint as his signaling knock, the usual laughter had faded and was replaced by a dwelling care and slight anxiety. The knob turned, the door opened slightly, and Jou's blond head poked through the opening.

"I think you already have," Yugi pointed out to the fair-haired boy, who, seeing his obvious mistake, let out a good natured laugh.

The floor creaked slightly as Jou stepped towards his friend and the bed sank beneath his weight as he sat down. His amber eyes had regained some of their cheerfulness though, as they bored into Yugi's own lilac orbs, they seemed to be searching Yugi's mind for answers and trying to make his yield into telling them to the yellow-haired wolf, "Are ya okay, Yug?" Jou queried.

Tri-colored spikes swayed as Yugi nodded his head. "I'll be alright, I just needed time to think, I guess." A smile started to brim on his face; Jou didn't fall for the disguise.

"Ya know that cha can always talk ta me, right?"

Yugi nodded his head again. He understood how this silence hurt Jou, for Yugi was the first person that Jou had ever confided his dark secrets in. The blond was pained when the other boy refused to do the same; he hated secrets coming between him and his friendships with others. "I was just thinking about.."

"Your mother." Jou finished, "I know, you had that dream again, didn't you?"

Amethyst eyes widened in shock, then they were cast down to Yugi's feet. "Yeah. I was just thinking about how I can't seem to get the memories out of my head, even after all these years." Warmth blanketed his shoulders as Jou put his arm around Yugi and pulled him into a soothing embrace.

"Don't worry about it, please," Jou begged, "None of us can stand to see you so depressed." He pulled away from the smaller boy slightly, "It's like," he searched for the right words, "it's like all da light vanishes from yer eyes...it's a horrible thing ta see, we worry that ya might not be happy again."

A slight pang of guilt hit Yugi, "Sorry, Jou. I didn't mean to make you worry," a genuine smile began to form, "I'll try not to think about it anymore, okay?"

Jou's own lips curled into a grin as she saw the light begin to return to this best friend's eyes. He pulled him into another hug as a sign of forgiveness and gratefulness.

Yugi heard feet tiptoing outside, the floorboards slightly creaking. "Uh oh..."

"DOG PILE!" Honda screamed before he, Anzu, and Ryou all rushed into the room, landing on the two boys on the bed.

"AGH! GET OFFA ME!" a muffled voice screamed underneath the file of werewolf bodies, a tawny head managed to poke out and continue it's screaming. "GET OFF, I CAN'T BREATHE!"

'Sorry man," Honda laughed as he and the others clambered off of Jounouchi's crushed body. They all rearranged themselves so that they had Yugi now trapped in a sea of comforting hugs.

"I'm fine, I'm fine now, you guys," the laughter rang from the small boy, snared in the mass of entwining arms.

A questioning gaze came from Anzu's azure eyes. " Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," he convinced her.

"Alright, just as long as you're sure." Anzu gave Yugi another hug before placing a small kiss on the boy's pale temple and leaving the room.

Honda gave Yugi a friendly pat on the back and Ryou's face shown with a grateful smile before they also left the room.

The crevice in the bed began to lessen as Jou stood, before walking out the door, he turned to Yugi. "Grandpa told us that there was gonna be a meeting today at two, don't forget or he'll put worms in da eggs, again." The blond's threat was accented by the spreading sly grin in his lightly tanned face.

One of Yugi's short arms crossed his pajama-clad chest while the other rose up, a single finger touching his lips to give the impression that he was in deep consideration. "Hmmmm, I dunno, Jou. I actually thought that they were pretty good last time." he was desperately trying to keep the corners up his mouth turning up, "All they really needed was a little salt."

The golden-haired wolf's chestnut eyes went wide as he covered his mouth, turned, bent his head out into the hallway, and began to make vomiting noises. Yugi began to laugh hysterically at his friend's show of disgust. "No thank you!" the blond said as his head returned to view, " I think I'd rather eat Anzu's cooking again than have ta face dat!"

"HEY!" a female voice roared from one of the closed doors down the hall. Yugi and Jounouchi broke out in fits of laughter, clutching their stomachs and falling to the floor.

"Aight, I'll see ya later, Yug," Jou giggled as he wiped a lingering tear from his copper eyes. He closed the door to Yugi's room, trying to fight back encoring fits of titters.

Sighing, Yugi leapt off his bed and darted for the bathroom for the second time that morning.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Yasha: So, what'd ya think? Long chappie, ne? *laughs* It took me about three or so days to write and it's nine pages long. I was originally going to make it longer, but I felt that I should end it here and put the rest in the next chapter. I had a heck of a time trying to find synonyms for 'blond'; It was too annoying having to word 'Jou' or 'Jounouchi' all the time and there are too many boys to simple say 'the boy' so I used his hair color...but that became overused. *sighs* SO I had to find other words to describe his hair color as well as those for the others. Geez, writing is HARD! *faints from exhaustion* And yes, I know it was kinda boring...I'm just trying to introduce everything, this is a bit of a different environment when compared to just a human Yugi living in a game shop, this time I have him living in a house with his friends...all of whom are NOT human. I bet a lot of you are looking at the summary and are like...'Hey, this says yaoi romance...where's the romance?!' It's COMING, I assure you! I apologize to those of you who are not patient readers but, you're just gonna have to be!

Anrui: *whispers* That's not the ONLY thing she's slow in doing...

Yasha: *spins around* What was that, Yami-kun?

Anrui: *frantically* NOTHING! *starts whistling and twiddling his thumbs*

Yasha: *sceptic look* Hmmmm...anywhos, READ AND REVIEW, ONEGAI! Remember, no reviews, no lemons for you...I'll just use them to make lemonade. Ja ne! ^_~