A Glance



\\Hikari//

\Yami/





\Raven, you might need to show up./ Raven sat in the kitchen eating some soup.

\\Pardon?//

\Well, what better way to show up for a small time as Miss. Raven Mutoh and spend time with the boy and get closer to him? His house is gone. You can use some of the some from your husband's will and rebuild it./ Raven shook her head.

"Can't, how would I explain how I knew?"

\Please, it has been on the news for the past two days!/ Raven sighed and shook her head.

"That would make him know I have been in Domino."

\You're wrong. He's the King of Games! He is the undefeated Champion of Duel Monsters. You can just say that the news got to where you were./ Raven hesitated.

"I don't know."

\Come on, you hide the Goddess Choker, you don't dye your hair, and you don't use those red eye drops and he will never know the difference./

"Ravonia . . ." Raven sighed. "He would notice that his teacher and his mother walk at the same slow pace. And he-" She was cut off before she could finish.

\Then use the cane./ Ravonia suggested. Raven stiffened and stood up straight. Ravonia instantly regretted what she said.

"I. Do. Not. Need. To. Use. A. Cane." She bit out each word. Ravonia felt her temper rise.

\One day! All I ask is one day! Just one! Give up your pride and use the cane when you are with him!/

"No. I will not let him see what happened! I will-"

\You will ruin a perfectly good chance to go to him as his mother! All for your pride!/ Raven was silent for a moment.

\\It will use up all of the money. I won't have any left unless . . .//

\What?! Why didn't you tell me that we were low on money! Why do you think I had some much saved up? I didn't want to worry about money! Why didn't-/

\\Ravonia, calm down. I'll just have to use my old bank accounts. I have enough money to last us until your plan is over and done with. All of my husband's money will be gone but we'll be fine. But it means that I might have to be careful on where I get this card repaired.// Raven pulled out a card that was taped together. She sighed. "I might not be able to have it fixed in time unless I go to an old friend from before I left." Ravonia was silent. She didn't want anyone Raven used to know to come into the plan. Neferubity could be anyone. Finally after a moment she agreed. "Good. I'll give it to Sarah. She can fix it." Raven placed the card in a small plastic bag. 'Good thing I took this when I was there . . . I wished I would have been able to sneak it back in after I had it fixed for both dad and Yugi.'



Yugi walked down a stone hallway. There were some cravings on the walls that he couldn't make out. Yugi came to a doorway. He leaned against the wall right outside the doorway. There was someone in there talking but they were whispering so he couldn't make out what they were saying. A fire was going int there showing the person's shadow on the wall opposite the doorway. There was a person with a cape on so he couldn't tell the gender. They were pacing back and forth muttering something. They were getting louder. Loud enough for Yugi to realize it was a woman. Finally, the stopped and went up to a box shaped shadow. They reached down into the box shadow for a moment. Then a baby cried. Yugi's eyes widened. It was a crib. Right then the woman backed away and shook her head. She reached behind her back. After a moment she pulled out something in the shape of a dagger.

"Die!" Right then someone's shadow ran into the room and stopped her arm in mid air. The two struggled for the knife. The same voice shouted out something at the other. "You will die too, sister!" Yugi watched in horror as the other shadow, which he could now tell was a woman was knocked down. Some hair had fallen out of whatever had held it back. They looked up right when the woman with the dagger stabbed them. Yugi could tell it was in the heart. A blood curling scream was heard from the sister that had been stabbed. The woman pulled the dagger out of her and started to stab her over and over again. A second after she stopped stabbing her sister she started towards the crib. Right then a group of men came running into the room.

"What happened? What has happened to the queen?"

"She tried to kill him! Her own son! I came in and she was holding the knife and I could only think to save the Pharaoh! She was driven mad! The gods were punishing her for something. I came in and she had the dagger! I could only think to save the Pharaoh. He is my nephew and should not be punished for the sins of his mother. I have done no wrong!" The men were silent. The woman straighten up. "You are my sister's guards. But not even you could protect her from the wrath of the gods. Do not fret. I will take the throne until my nephew comes of age. Until then I will raise him like my own. It is the least I can do for my sister."

Yugi shot up in bed. He was breathing hard. 'That dream! It was so real! What was it?' Yugi tried to calm his breathing. Yami was by his side. He jumped when he realized it.

"Yami?"

"Yugi, what happened? You were tossing and turning. Was it another bad dream?" Yugi nodded as he recalled everything. He felt tears weld up in his eyes. Yam saw this. "What was the dream about?" Yugi started to cry and Yami held him.



Yugi sighed and looked out the window of the hotel room. There was nothing to do. It had been four days after the fire. His friends all wanted to come back but he said for them to enjoy their vacations. He really couldn't go outside of the hotel, there were still some news reporters out there. The door opened and Yugi looked at it to see his grandpa. Had he kept looking outside he would have seen a limo pull up.

"Yugi, I'm back. The insurance will be able to cover everything." Yugi sighed.

"I'm really glad. I was so worried that they wouldn't."

"Yes, well as long as you are alright it doesn't matter." Yugi nodded. "By the way . . . where is Yami?"

"Inside the puzzle sleeping. Why?" Yugi's Grandpa laughed.

"Well I wanted to take you two out to eat in a way to thank him for saving you." Yugi smiled.

"Well, I kept him up all night talking. He might not be able to wake up for a bit. But Yami said that is was nothing."

"Yugi, I don't know what I would do without you. You are mean the world to me. Do you understand? You are everything to me." Yugi nodded.

"Everything? Does that include a foolish, proud, and arrogant daughter?" A soft yet commanding voice entered the room. The two slowly turned to look at the door. There stood the owner of the voice. A woman, in her early 30's, wearing a buttoned up brown leather coat over a black skirt, white blouse with a form fitting vest with gold trimmings over it, black leather gloves, sunglasses, a black bandana that covered almost all her hair except some crimson on one shoulder and gold on the other, and black granny boots. She held a black cane with a fancy ivory knob for a handle and the very end of it was silver. A man stood next to her wearing a black suite and a tie with sunglasses and an ear piece. Yugi's grandpa took a step forward.

"R . . . Raven?!" Raven Mutoh nodded.

"Yes, father. I saw on the news what had happened." Raven smiled at Yugi. "Hello Yugi." Solomon looked at his daughter.

"I'd never thought I'd see you again my child." Raven looked away. "But I think the biggest surprise of all is that you are using the cane in public." He laughed. Raven looked up surprised. It took her a minute but she laughed with her father quietly. After a moment she grew serious.

"I know, I should not have left like that." There was a pause.

"Why did you leave?" Raven looked at her father through the sunglasses. He could not tell whether or not she was looking at him or just staring into space. Raven turned to the man.

"Jason, would you be kind and take Yugi to go find something to eat at the lobby." Jason nodded. Raven turned to Yugi. "You don't mind do you? I would have brought the food with me but I didn't know what you liked." Yugi glanced at his grandpa. Solomon Mutoh nodded and Jason and Yugi left.

"What was so bad that you did not want Yugi to hear?" Raven sighed.

"Perhaps we should sit."

"Not until I know why you left." Raven stare at him.

"It is a long story."

"How long?"

"Long enough to sit." Finally the two sat down.

"Now tell me, why did you leave?"

"Very well. David violated his parol and confronted me in a store parking lot. I knew then that he couldn't be stopped. His family hired him such a good lawyer I doubted Yugi's safety. I was lucky that he did not know that he had a son. For that I thank god every day."

"Raven, why didn't you tell me?" Raven sighed.

"It was the same day I left. I . . . I was going to but then I came in and saw Yugi in his crib. I saw that you weren't home yet. My friend Sarah was still looking after him at the moment. She always was a good baby-sitter." Raven paused thinking about the past. After a moment she waved it off. "But that's getting off topic. I saw Yugi and I knew that David would hunt me down. No matter where I went. There was no a way I could take Yugi with me. I couldn't raise him for several reasons. The biggest was the fact that David might be able to get custody. I was young and I . . . I knew nothing to teach my child. How could I raise someone when I was still a child myself? And . . . if I took Yugi with me he would have no life. What life is there when you are running? So I left. Knowing that even if David got to me then I would at least be able to rest knowing he didn't get to Yugi."

"So you left him without a mother?"

"I left him in the best care there was."

"Why come back now? You upset his life so much I-"

"I am only here temporally. I have a few more thing to finish before I can come back." Solomon raised an eyebrow.

"What is more important than your son?" Raven sighed and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but you can't know, not yet." The two sat in silence.

"Who was that Jason fellow?"

"A bodyguard." Solomon looked at her.

"How are you able to afford one?"

"He is a friend of . . . someone." Solomon looked hard at his daughter.

"Someone? Should Yugi be expecting another man to come in and say, 'hey I'm your new dad?'" Raven sighed and stood up.

"I knew you wouldn't understand." Solomon stood up to.

"Understand what? That you were gone for years without a word?"

"I told you my reasons."

"But that doesn't mean you don't know how to use a phone!" Raven shook her head.

"Not everything is black and white, dad. But, your right. I should have called or something. But I didn't. I dropped off the face of the Earth. And I won't be able to see you for a month or two. If everything works out I should be able to come home." Solomon stared at his daughter.

"What are you planning?" Raven shook her head.

"I'm sorry dad but I can't tell you. I needed to help I friend out with some of her own family problems then I can come home. It shouldn't take but two months." He looked at his daughter.

"Why are you here?"

"I heard on the news about what had happened to the King of Games. I got so sad when I saw what happened. I thought maybe since Yugi would be sad a visit from his mother would help. He is very kind. I was right to leave him with you. You were a better parent to him than I ever could be." At that moment Yugi and Jason came in with some food. Raven smiled.



Yugi looked at his mother. Jason had left awhile ago and he, his grandpa, and mother just finished their meal. Raven looked at Yugi. She smiled.

"Yugi, do you have anything planed for the day?" Yugi shook his head.

"No, not really. My friends are gone with their families." Raven smiled.

"Well then, I guess you have a busy schedule, that is, if you don't mind spending the day with an arrogant fool."

"I don't mind spending the day with you mother." Raven sighed.

"Yugi, I . . . you don't have to call me that. I know that your only saying that. I want to be called that after I have proven to you that I am worthy of being called mother. So until then you can call me Raven." Yugi nodded. "Good. Now why don't we get going?" Yugi looked at his grandpa who nodded after a moment. The two left quietly. Raven came to the elevator and pressed the down button. Yugi glanced at Raven. Raven, upon seeing this, smiled. The doors opened and the two got into the elevator. Once more Yugi glanced at his mother. "Yes?" Yugi looked down turning red with embarrassment.

"Umm . . . I was just wondering, where are we going?" Raven smiled faintly as she looked ahead.

"That's for me to know, and you to find out." The doors opened just then. She walked outside with Yugi by her side. He walked slow for her to keep up. Every now and then he could glance at the cane. The two reached the limo and Jason opened the door for the two. Yugi climbed in after his mother. Raven was looking out the window as the car started to move. It had snowed that day, in fact it was still snowing. Yugi glanced at the cane once more. "It's not your fault." Yugi looked up startled at his mother.

"What?"

"You keep on looking at the cane with a guilty look on your face." She looked at him and looked off the sunglasses to show her soft, bright, lavender eyes. "The sins of the father are not the sins of the son." Yugi looked away embarrassed once more. Raven smiled. "You know, I think that you are a kind young man. I wish I had the ability to say I had something to do with it." Right then the limo stopped. "Ah, here already? Times seems to fly sometimes." Yugi was about to respond when the door opened. He climbed out and looked at see where they were at. It was the Opera House. Yugi turned to look at his mother.

"You brought us to an Opera House?" Raven nodded.

"Yes, it is something I like to do in my free time. I find it enriching." Raven made her way into the Opera House.



Yugi exited the Opera House with Raven. They had been in there for two hours. Raven smiled at him after she caught him take another glance at her.

"Yugi . . . you have been doing that all day." Yugi looked up at her surprised that she had seen but figured that she could sense she had her sunglasses on again.

"Huh?"

"Glancing at me."

"Oh . . . sorry." Raven waved it off.

"It's alright. Now, what is it this time?" Yugi was silent. Raven's smiled faded. She raised an eyebrow as she watched him. They had come to an old graveyard. Yugi didn't seem to notice so Raven decided against say anything. The two walked along the graves silently.

"I . . . heard . . ." Raven looked at him confused.

"Heard what?"

"What you said to Grandpa." Raven was silent for a moment.

"Yes well . . . how much?"

"That you were right to leave me. Not much else." Raven nodded.

"Yes well there are reasons. Ones that should not concern yourself. I . . . I forced you to grow up fast. You had to because . . . your grandpa isn't in his prime any more." Yugi stopped and Raven walked a few steps before realizing this and looked at Yugi. "Yugi?"

"You not going to stay, are you?" Raven looked at Yugi a bit surprised then gave him a sad smile.

"Yugi . . . not right now." Yugi nodded and started to walk away. "Yugi." He paused and looked at her. She walked up to him. "Hold out your hand." Yugi did so and Raven pulled something out of her pocket. An oval silver locket about the size of her palm. She placed it in his hand and closed his hand over it. "I want you to make sure nothing happens to it. I want it in the same condition I gave it to you in. You can't take off the locket." Yugi looked at her confused.

"But . . . won't it be harder to keep it in good shape?" Raven smiled.

"Well, I meant don't let it get banged up or anything. If you don't let it get scratched or bent then by the time I get it back it should look almost the same. Also, there is a secret inside of it. My special secret. A special picture of me." Yugi looked at his hand then to Raven.

"You will be back?" Raven nodded.

"Yes, I will. You won't have to be without a mother much longer." Yugi smiled.

"Thanks." Raven smiled. 'I wish I could stay right here with him forever . . .'