Disclaimer: I don't own Yugi or any of the characters.

'Thoughts'

Yugi Laughs

Yugi smiled to himself as he got ready. 'Yami is so nice to me' Yugi thought as he walked out of his room, 'I can believe how lucky I am to have found him.'

Yugi was so lost in his thoughts that he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. He bumped into someone, but he felt someone's arms catch him before he hit the ground. Yugi noticeably tensed and the person quickly removed their hand. Yugi stayed on the ground and fearfully looked up to see who he ran into. Yugi felt all his emotions crash over him like a tidalwave and he was so overwhelmed by the sudden rush of emotion, that he didn't see Bakura standing there instead his mind suddenly was stuck in the past and he imagined that he was back with his parents again. Yugi whimpered, quickly looking at the carpet thinking he was going to get yelled at for not watching where he was going.

Bakura, confused by Yugi's actions, tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. Yugi refused to look at him, his parents liked to try and get him to look at them, so then when he did, they could punish him worse for disobeying. Bakura was about to try again, when Yami came out of his room. He quickly walked over to Yugi and kneeled down in front of him. Yami tapped his shoulder and was worried when Yugi whimpered and started shaking, so then Yami placed his hand under Yugi's chin and gently made him look up. When Yugi saw Yami instead of his parents, his memory returned back to the present.

When Yami knew he finally had Yugi's attention, he asked, "Yugi what's wrong?" Instead of answering, Yugi just latched onto him in a fierce hug. His hands clenching tightly into Yami's shirt. Yami looked at Bakura confused but returned the hug.

"Bakura, what happened?" Yami asked.

"I don't know," Bakura admitted, "I was coming out of my room and I accidently ran into him. I tried to get his attention, but he flinched away and refused to look at me, it looked like he was in some sort of trance and I couldn't get him out of it. I'm just glad that you happened to be walking by since he only seems to respond to you." Bakura sighed, glad that Yugi was going to be alright, "Well since you're here now and he finally calmed down, I'm going downstairs to start breakfast, are you two going to be okay?"

Yami just nodded and rubbed circles on Yugi's back to soothe him. Bakura just smiled at them then went to the kitchen. 'At least Yugi is more comfortable around Yami now,' Bakura thought, 'but I wonder why he was suddenly so frightened of me?'

After Yugi finally calmed down, Yami raised his head so Yugi was looking at him, "Are you okay now?" He asked, Yugi nodded, "You know Bakura wouldn't hurt you, he's your friend also."

Yugi nodded again, but refused to release his hold on Yami. 'That was Bakura?' Yugi thought, 'why did I imagine I was back with my parents?'

Yami just sighed and then picked Yugi up. Yugi gave a startled squeak, but quickly settled down into the warmth and security of the embrace. He rested his head on Yami's shoulder and let Yami carry him downstairs. Yami smiled at his reaction.

As he neared the kitchen, He heard his friends quarreling as usual. He walked in to find Bakura and Ryou cooking breakfast, and Marik insulting Bakura's cooking as usual. Malik was sitting at the table laughing at the scene.

"Let's have another cook-off," Marik was saying, "Yugi, Ryou and Malik can be the judges. I refuse to think that my cooking is that bad."

"Believe me Marik," Yami said laughing leaning against the doorframe, "Your cooking is really that bad."

They all turned to the sound of Yami's voice and were surprised to see Yugi in his arms. Yugi noticed everyone staring at him, so he buried his face into Yami's shirt again.

"Is he okay?" Bakura asked, "I didn't mean to bump into him, I just didn't see him standing there."

"Yeah," Yami answered "I think he's just still tired. He had another nightmare last night."

After a few minutes of coaxing, Yami finally got Yugi to look at him. "You hungry?" Yami asked, "Breakfast is almost done." Yugi nodded and finally released his hold on Yami and sat down at the table next to Malik.

Malik looked at him worriedly and whispered, "are you alright?" Yugi nodded his head and handed Malik a small piece of paper. Malik read over the note and looked at Yugi even more worried, "Was it as bad as the other ones?" he whispered again.

Yugi nodded again as tears suddenly came to his eyes, Malik silently just held him and rubbed his back as the younger continued to cry. Malik looked up and saw the others looking at Yugi as worried as he was, but he shook his head silently asking them to talk about it later. The group nodded and quickly understood. With the exception of this morning, the others were amazed at how quickly Yugi had responded to Yami.

"I'm impressed," Malik exclaimed while everyone started eating their breakfast, "I have never seen Yugi warm up to anyone, other than me, that fast."

Yami looked down at the small boy to make sure he wasn't paying attention. He told Yugi's friends what happened in the hallway and then asked Malik, "Do you know what was wrong with Yugi this morning? Bakura said he seemed like he was a million miles away."

Malik nodded his head, "Yeah, occasionally, Yugi get's these flashbacks where in his mind he is suddenly back at his parents house, this morning sounds like one of those times."

Yugi looked up from his breakfast, trying to figure out what they were saying, everyone went back to eating before Yugi could read anyone's lips. He just shrugged his shoulders and continued eating.

Just then the phone rang, Yami got up to answer it. "I am kind of busy right now," He tried explaining, "All right fine, I am on my way now." Yami hung up the phone and walked to Yugi.

He tapped his shoulder and Yugi looked up with questioning eyes. "I hate to do this to you Yugi, but I have to go to work for a few hours," Yami explained, "There's a minor problem that for some reason my staff can't handle alone. Are you going to be all right?"

Yugi looked away from Yami and hesitantly nodded. Yami could tell that he was still scared. Yami gently tapped his shoulder, and Yugi looked up, "I will be back as soon as possible, if you need anything just ask Bakura and Marik okay?" He asked.

Yugi just nodded his head again. Yami then went back upstairs to change. Then he said goodbye to everyone and went to work.

After breakfast, everyone went back into the living room. Bakura and Ryou were really getting along well, and they were sitting on the couch chatting. Marik and Malik were sitting on the other couch. Bakura noticed Yugi standing in the entryway, looking at the front door. Bakura got up and walked over to where Yugi was. He tapped Yugi's shoulder to get his attention, but Yugi refused to look at him. He tried to catch his gaze with his fingers, but still Yugi refused. Bakura put his hand on Yugi's shoulder to guide him to the chair. Yugi flinched away from his touch and walked into the living room. He sat in the chair and looked sadly at the door. After a few hours, Bakura glanced over to where Yugi was sitting and saw that he had fallen back asleep. 'Poor guy, after what Malik told us I'm not surprised that Yugi is still uncomfortable around us.'

Yugi was still tired. The nightmares kept him up late last night. He fell asleep on the chair, curled up in a tight ball.

Marik and Malik decided to go for a walk, while Ryou went upstairs to finish putting his stuff away. Bakura went into the kitchen to clean up the mess from breakfast. He was just finishing the dishes when he heard a noise coming from the living room, he rushed in there quickly and saw Yugi whimpering softly in his sleep. Bakura walked over to him and gently shook him, tying to wake up the small boy. The moment his hands touched Yugi's shoulder, Yugi started to cry and thrashed around violently. Bakura had to duck to avoid getting kicked by Yugi. He tried to wake him again, and this time Yugi woke up. He looked around fearfully and Bakura was really starting to get worried. He kept trying but Yugi refused to look at him, his eyes kept darting around looking everywhere but in Bakura's direction, and then to make matters worse, Yugi started shaking uncontrollably.

Bakura decided to see if Ryou could calm Yugi down, so he quickly ran upstairs. In a matter of minutes, Ryou and Bakura were running back down the stairs and into the living room. Ryou cautiously walked up to Yugi and lightly tapped his leg, but Yugi still refused to meet anyone's gaze. Ryou tried everything he could think of, but nothing that either of them tried had worked. Bakura decided to call Yami, since Ryou and he were out of ideas.

"Hello, can I help you?" A voice asked.

"Yeah, this is Bakura I have to speak to Yami," Bakura said urgently, "It's important."

"Okay," The voice replied, "Hold on a second, I'll transfer you." There was a click then the phone started ringing.

"WHAT!" Yami yelled.

"Yami?" Bakura asked.

"Bakura?" Yami said surprised, "What's wrong?"

"It's Yugi, he had a nightmare and neither Ryou nor myself can calm him down." Bakura explained quickly, "he is sitting in there just freaking out, I am really worried especially after what happened this morning. I tried to get him to look at me but he refused. I really think you need to get back here now."

"All right, I'm on way," Yami replied quickly. "Bye."

"See ya soon, bye." Bakura hung up the phone and went back into the living room. He saw Yugi didn't move at all since Bakura had left the room.

Yugi was sitting in the chair with his knees brought up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs. Ryou was sitting next to him looking very worried. Yugi was rocking back and forth with tears flowing down his face. Bakura tried once again to get Yugi to look at him, and once again Yugi refused. Bakura was thankful when he heard the front door open. He got up from beside Yugi, with Ryou following and walked over to meet Yami.

"Yami, I am so glad your back." Bakura said relieved. "He still won't respond to me. He just sits there hugging his knees and rocking back and forth."

"Okay Bakura I'll go and calm him down," Yami said, then he turned and went into the living room. 'Bakura wasn't kidding, poor Yugi, he looked so frightened.'

Yami walked up to Yugi and put his hand on Yugi's leg, at first Yugi flinched, his mind was trapped in the past once again. Yami tried to catch Yugi's gaze with his fingers and was relieved when Yugi's eyes followed them until he was looking Yami directly in the eyes.

"Yugi, its all right, I'm here now." Yami said quietly making sure Yugi didn't look away. "You're safe now. It's okay." Yugi blinked his eyes coming out of his trance and saw Yami standing there, he jumped into Yami's arms and started crying uncontrollably. Yami just held him while rubbing his back soothingly.

Bakura peaked into the living room and smiled at the scene. 'Well at least Yugi will open up to Yami, I just wish I could have helped him also.'

Yami continued to hold Yugi until his crying stopped. Yami tapped his shoulder. Yugi looked up tearfully. "Are you okay? Did you have another nightmare?" Yami asked gently.

Yugi nodded, again resting his head on Yami's shoulder. Yami held him tightly. Finally, Yugi looked up at Yami and smiled. Yami returned the smile.

"Are you hungry, want some lunch?" Yami asked. Again Yugi nodded. Yami got up off the floor and turned to go into the kitchen, he turned around surprised when he felt something touch his hand. He looked back to see Yugi holding his hand smiling up at him. They walked into the kitchen hand in hand.

Bakura walked up to Yugi and kneeled down, Yugi tried to look away but Bakura gently held his chin. "Are you okay little one?" He asked sincerely.

Yugi nodded shyly and hid behind Yami.

Bakura was confused. "Yami what's wrong?" he questioned. "Yesterday Yugi was comfortable around me, why is he scared of me today?"

"I don't think it's you he's afraid of," Yami explained, "I think his nightmare caused him to have another flashback."

Yami led Yugi to the table and sat him down. Just as they were about to eat, Marik and Malik came back from their walk. Yami pulled Malik aside and told him about what happened earlier. Malik listened but smiled when he heard that Yami was able to calm him down after the nightmare and flashback. When Yami and Malik returned, everyone finished eating their lunches in silence. Bakura and Ryou kept looking at Yugi worriedly. When they finished their lunch. Everyone tried to decide what to do next. Marik and Malik went into the living room to watch a movie.

Bakura walked over to where Yami was standing, "So what are you guys going to do?"

"I don't know yet," Yami replied, the he turned to Yugi, "You want to go to the park?"

Yugi looked confused, he had never been to a park before so he didn't know what it was.

After Malik explain what kinds of things were at a park, Yugi's eyes lit up and he nodded yes. "I guess we're going to the park," Yami stated, "You guys want to come too?"

Bakura looked at Ryou, "Yeah we'll come too, sounds like fun, right Ryou?"

"Yeah, lets go." Ryou said happily.

The four of them set off for the park. No one really said anything on the walk there. Yugi was holding Yami's hand and happily skipping down the sidewalk, While Yami was smiling at him.

Bakura and Ryou were talking quietly amongst themselves. "Yugi sure is happier now that Yami came home from work." Stated Ryou, "By the way he's acting now you never would have guessed that a few moments ago he was shaking and in tears."

"Yeah, I just wish that he felt comfortable around me also," Bakura said, "Don't get me wrong I am happy that you are going to be living with us, I just wish Yugi wasn't so afraid around me."

When they arrived at the park, they saw a volleyball laying on the ground, so they decided to hit the ball around just for fun and not keep score. Yami and Yugi walked to one side of the net, while Bakura and Ryou took the other side. They had a good volley going until Yugi hit the ball toward Bakura, who was not paying attention and was looking in another direction.

Suddenly, Yami yelled, "Bakura! Look out!" But he wasn't fast enough. Bakura turned to see what Yami was yelling about just in time to get hit right in the face with the ball. At first Yugi looked worried thinking he was going to get in trouble, but then Yami and Ryou started laughing. Bakura tried to look angry but it wasn't working. Yugi just looked around at everyone, confused. Then he saw the face Bakura was making and he started to laugh along with them. Yami and Ryou stopped laughing and looked at Yugi.

Yugi immediately stopped laughing, 'why did they stop laughing? Why are they all staring at me, are they mad at me?' Yugi though. He started to get a worried look on his face.

Yami quickly kneeled in front of him. "You're not in trouble Yugi," Yami said, "it's just that this is the first time we have heard you laugh."

Yugi looked around at everyone again, and couldn't help but laugh again. This time everyone joined in, even Bakura.