Author's Note: Wow, thanks everyone for your enthusiastic support! I was surprised at the amount of positive feedback. The next chapter will take a little longer to post, as I will be in Costa Rica for the next week and don't have everything previously written, but I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you all for your support!

Chapter 2

Yugi stared blankly out his hospital window. Part of him couldn't believe what he'd done, the other was disappointed that he had failed. Violet eyes fell to the stitches on his wrists. They would heal, with time, but the scars would remain. 'A reminder,' he thought sardonically. The door to his room clicked open, but he made no effort to acknowledge the entrance of his visitors. The bed sagged with the added weight of his grandfather as he sat down.

Yugi waited. After pulling this stunt on everyone, he was forced to come out and explain why. In the end, he had told them everything. Everything Yugi had struggled so hard to keep secret from his grandfather had come out, and the discussion had ended with Yugi sobbing in relief into his grandfather's shoulder. To finally pour out all that had happened lifted a surprisingly heavy load from his shoulders. Except…now everyone knew. He had never been more ashamed and embarrassed in his whole life. What would everyone think of him now? Everyone knew what he had done last night. His teachers, his principal, the students, the police…if Tonto hadn't been arrested and a restraining order put in place to keep all other assailants away, Yugi was sure he would be dead by now.

"I'm sorry, Yugi," Sugoroku murmured after a long silence. Shocked, Yugi spun his head to face the old man.

"N-nani? What do you mean?" he asked. It was he who should be apologizing, not his Ji-chan! Sugoroku took a shuddering breath.

"I just have the feeling that I somehow drove you to do this to yourself," he answered.

"No Ji-chan!" Yugi exclaimed, grabbing his grandfather's hand. "Everything that's happened is because of my weakness. Please, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything!" Yugi buried his face in his knees. Sugoroku rubbed gentle, soothing circles on his back. Ryou walked in at that moment, but halted in mid-step.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I'll come back later…"

"No, it's okay boy," Sugoroku assured. "Come sit down." Ryou obliged, taking a seat at the foot of Yugi's bed. Yugi lifted his head and sniffed.

"I just can't stand it anymore," he said. "I'm tired of being alone; I'm tired of being afraid; I'm tired of everything! Is being accepted and loved so much to ask?" Ryou smiled softly.

"No, Yugi," he answered. "It is never too much to ask. I myself, once felt the same way." Yugi's ranting stopped, and he looked at Ryou curiously.

"Really?" he asked.

"You and I aren't so different, Yugi," Ryou replied with a nod.

"What did you do?" Yugi asked. "What can I do?"

"First, you need to gain a little confidence in yourself," Ryou answered pointedly. His face twisted in contemplation and he hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe…" he murmured.

"Maybe what?" Sugoroku inquired eagerly. Ryou looked up at them both.

"I…have a cousin in the United States," he began carefully. "After my experience, I went to spend a summer at his ranch. My entire outlook on life, myself, and the world changed. Would you be willing to go to the States for a summer and give it a try for yourself?"

"Why a ranch?" Sugoroku asked. "How did that help you?"

Ryou shrugged. "It was a new place, a new beginning. When you're on horseback, nothing else exists but the open plains. It's…an amazing feeling."

"What do you think Yugi?" Sugoroku looked at his grandson questioningly. "It would give you the change of scenery you need."

Yugi looked down at his hands. What was the point? Domino City…the United States…did it really matter where he was? Weren't people going to think the same of him everywhere? When Yugi voiced these thoughts, both his Ji-chan and Ryou looked shocked.

"Yugi!" Sugoroku scolded. "How could you think so lowly of yourself?"

"I said the same thing, years ago," Ryou interrupted. "Trust me Yugi, a summer of saddle therapy will change your life. Nobody there will know what happened. You can start over, gain some friends, and truly be yourself. You won't have to hold back; nobody is going to judge you. My cousin Atemu is a great guy too, I know he'd love you."

"Please do this Yugi," Sugoroku pleaded. "I can't stand to see you so unhappy."

Yugi sighed. Ji-chan looked so hopeful, and Ryou looked like he was counting on Yugi's favorable answer. Maybe…this was a good idea. It would give him some time away from the city and get his mind off things. He nodded slowly in agreement, still a bit hesitant about the whole thing. This drew a relieved sigh from Sugoroku and a broad grin from Ryou.

"Great!" he exclaimed. "I should probably go then, and give my aunt and uncle a call to let them know we're coming. I'll come back later and let you know what you need to bring. We can go shopping, if we have to." Ryou stood and got ready to leave.

"Thank you, Ryou," Sugoroku said to Ryou's retreating form.

"It's no problem Mr. Mouto," he answered back.

"Please," the old man requested, "call me Grandpa. All this Mister Mouto stuff makes me feel old." Ryou smiled and left. Sugoroku's attention was brought back to Yugi as his grandson sighed deeply.

"What's wrong, Yugi?" he asked. Yugi turned back to look out the window.

"What if this doesn't work, Ji-chan?" Yugi asked, his voice laced with worry and doubt.

Sugoroku sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "You're just going to have to have a little bit of faith, Yugi," he replied.

"I'll…try, Ji-chan," Yugi promised.

"Are you sure we're going to need all this stuff, Ryou?" Yugi asked, arching an eyebrow at the overflowing shopping cart his friend was pushing. The cart was piled with blue and black jeans, long-sleeved button shirts, muscle shirts and tank tops, flannel shirts, two pairs of leather boots, leather vests, wristbands and belts, and of all things…a cowboy hat?

"Yep," Ryou replied simply. "And don't worry about the cost, I've got it covered."

"Are…you sure?" Yugi asked, embarrassed.

Ryou waved him off. "Like I said, don't worry about it." He checked over his list. "I don't think we forgot anything. Looks like we're all set," he reported. Ryou tucked his list away and headed to the checkout counter.

With all their items paid for, they took their bags and left. Ryou's dad was waiting outside and drove Yugi home. After helping to carry the bags inside, Ryou stopped at the end of the driveway.

"Here's your plane ticket Yugi," he said, handing Yugi a small piece of paper. "We'll meet at the airport at eleven-thirty tomorrow morning. Sound good?"

Yugi nodded mildly, staring at the paper in his hands. Ryou smiled and climbed in the car with his dad.

"Thanks, Ryou," he called softly. Ryou smiled again.

"It's not a problem, Yugi," he answered. "I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Ryou's dad pulled out of the Mouto driveway and left.

"Well," Yugi whispered to himself, "I'd better go pack…"

"Flight 1276 Delta Airlines to Lubbock, Texas USA will now begin boarding. I repeat…"

Ryou perked up from his daze and slung his carry-on bag over his shoulder. "That's us, Yugi," he said brightly. "I'm really excited. I haven't been to the ranch in years!"

Yugi just walked quietly beside him, nodding in acknowledgement. He fidgeted, waiting for the line to move up. It was his first time on an airplane, and he was a little nervous. Ryou suggested bringing a Discman, and now Yugi was glad he did. It was a LONG trip, and there was really nothing to do but sit it out. Plus, Ryou had added, it would give him something else to think about besides being 42,000 feet above the ground. They finally approached the boarding dock. Ryou gave the woman there his ticket, taking back the stub that was torn off and entering the dark connecting chute. Yugi, having never been in an airport before, mimicked him and tread nervously onto the pathway. The darkness didn't last long, as he soon stepped onto the aircraft itself. The flight attendant greeted him with the most annoyingly cheerful smile and happy voice.

"Welcome aboard!" she squeaked.

Yugi offered a weak smile in return and shuffled quickly inside. He found Ryou quickly and plopped into the gray seat next to him. A mental groan swept across his mind at the degree of comfort the seats provided. They were stiff and flat, and stuck to your legs if you sat there long enough. Yugi took out his Discman and set it on his lap for later. He slipped his bag under the seat in front of him and sat back nervously. 'This isn't so bad,' he thought idly, trying to calm his nerves. It actually worked for a while, until the flight attendant went over all the safety precautions and what to do if the plane should "have to make an emergency landing."

"R-Ryou-kun," he asked, "are you sure about this?"

"Just try to relax, Yugi," Ryou replied with a chuckle. "You'll have a great time at the ranch. Trust me."

Yugi gazed out the window at the runway, watching the flight officers give the pilot the okay to take off. The tenants cleared and the plane began to shudder. Yugi's stomach did a flip-flop when the plane started moving. He had to force himself to calm down and settled on staring out the window. Ryou slipped his headphones on and started dancing in his seat to the rock and roll CD inside the Discman. Yugi found it amusing, to watch his usually reserved friend bouncing about and mouthing the words to his favorite song.

Now that he really thought about it, Yugi came to realize just how much he owed Ryou. Had the white-haired teen not shown up when he did, Yugi would not be sitting on the plane right now. Yugi folded his arms behind his head and reclined the seat slightly. He let his mind wander, thinking about what Texas might be like or how Ryou's family would react to him. Ryou had already assured Yugi that they knew nothing about his suicidal incident. Yugi lifted his arm and stared at the leather bands around his wrists. The stitches had been removed and the cuts were beginning to scar, but were still depressing and shameful to look at. This way, at least, they couldn't announce their presence to the world. He sighed and returned the arm to his previous position, closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

Sometime later--Yugi had lost track of the hours spent in the uncomfortable seat--violet eyes peeked open. Exactly when Ryou's battery had died and the boy fell asleep, Yugi could not recall. All he knew of time was that the cabin lights had been dimmed and that it was dark now. He shifted awkwardly, trying to work out the stiffness in his neck and back. Ryou's head lolled to the side and he snored slightly as he fell into a deeper slumber. Yugi had to stifle a chuckle.

Sighing, he pulled his seat back into a sitting position. He couldn't find it in him to fall back to sleep. The apprehension lingering in the back of Yugi's mind began making its presence known once again. Why was Ryou so confident that working on a ranch would help him with his problems? What about this "Atemu" person Ryou kept mentioning? Yugi knew nothing about him, other than the fact that he was Ryou's cousin. 'Well,' Yugi thought, 'it's too late to go back now.'

The remaining hours ticked by and the sky outside began to brighten with the rising sun in the distance. Outside, golden rays danced off the puffy clouds, creating the perfect image of what heaven would look like. All that was missing were the seraphs and great white gates. Yugi stared drowsily out the window, marveling at the beautiful view. Down below, a wide, grassy plain expanded as far as the eye could see. He couldn't tell for sure, but Yugi had the feeling that this was going to be a summer to remember.

"This is your captain speaking," came the pilot's voice, finally, an hour later. "We will be arriving at our destination in fifteen minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts and turn off all portable electrical devices. If you would like to adjust your watch, it is currently eleven-thirty in the morning."

Ryou's watch beeped when he finished keying in he numbers. He turned his brown gaze to Yugi excitedly.

"We should be at the ranch just after three," he explained. "After we pick up our bags, my uncle will meet us and we'll take the train out of the city."

Yugi nodded and dragged his bag out from under his seat. He couldn't quite dispel the butterflies that were having a fiesta in his gut. It seemed Ryou's eagerness was rubbing off on him. Yugi allowed a small smile to spread across his face.

After they left the terminal and began to make their way to baggage claim, Ryou suggested that he go into one of the restrooms and change. Yugi looked over at Ryou; wearing an icy blue shirt and tan cargo pants. He had to agree--black leather and his school jacket wouldn't go over too well with the Texan heat. Ryou waited for him once he found their luggage while Yugi stepped into one of the stalls in the men's room. It was only a few moments until he emerged dressed in blue jeans, a black muscle tee and a gray cargo vest (which he wore unbuttoned). Gazing out at the crowd, he spotted a head of snowy hair waving a hand frantically in his direction. Yugi waved back and picked his way through the masses of people to where Ryou was waiting.

"My uncle should be waiting just outside the airport. Come on," Ryou said.

Ryou lead him outside into blinding sunlight. Violet eyes widened temporarily before squinting to get a good look at their surroundings. The warm climate and unique cityscape took him by surprise. The airport appeared to be located on the west side of the city. Vast, grassy plains and dry deserts were barely visible beyond miles of brick and steel. Yugi followed Ryou as the teen began waving his hand and running to a figure in the parking lot. The man was middle-aged with sandy brown hair and a moustache and was wearing sun-faded dungarees and a red plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

"Uncle Al!" Ryou called happily. The man's kind eyes snapped in their direction and brightened. Ryou took a hold of Yugi's arm and tugged him along. "Come on!" Yugi struggled to keep up as he was dragged over to the man waiting on the corner. Ryou finally let go of Yugi's arm once they reached him and practically glomped his uncle.

"Wow, Ryou. Long time no see!" Al greeted. "How've you been?"

"Not too bad, Uncle Al," Ryou chuckled back. He turned and introduced Yugi. "This is Yugi Mouto. He and I are friends from school."

"Well, so you're Yugi," Al said with a smile. He held out a hand in welcome. "Nice to meet you. You can call me Uncle Al and well, welcome to Texas."

"Thank you, sir," Yugi replied, returning the handshake.

"All right, let's hit the road," Al said. "The train leaves at 12:15 sharp."

They left the airport and took a cab to the train station. Yugi couldn't help but gawk at the city around him. The tall buildings, busy streets, and wide variety of color sported by the American city were unlike anything that existed in Japan. The people, too, were of all different sizes, shapes, and colors. Yugi's eyes were glued to the window all the way to the train station.

The train took them out of the big city and through some of the smaller towns. Some of them reminded Yugi of scenes out of old western story books. There were cantinas, sheriff's offices, barber shops, various other wooden and sandstone buildings and small businesses. The desert and plains extended in all directions as far as the eye could see. Yugi fidgeted in his seat, having had his fill of sitting in moving vehicles of any kind.

"How far out is the ranch, Ryou?" Yugi asked.

"By train its about two and a half hours out of Lubbock," Ryou replied. "I know it's been a long haul, but we should be there soon."

As if to prove his point, the train slowed to a stop twenty minutes later in a town called Afton. Uncle Al lead them off the train and into the parking lot to and old red pick-up truck. They tossed their bags into the back and climbed into the front. After a quick seatbelt check, they were on their way.

"Ten minutes and we'll be sitting at the dinner table eating fried chicken and biscuits," Al informed them. Ryou looked at Yugi happily.

"Aunt Kiya is a great cook," he said. "And she's really nice. I know you'll like her."

"Atemu and Joey should be around too," Al commented, "unless your aunt scared them away. Lord knows those boys have been wreaking enough havoc in the kitchen."

"Who's Joey?" Yugi asked.

"A friend of Atemu's," Al answered. "He's been having problems with his father, so he's been staying with us for a while. Don't' worry, he's a good kid."

"How are things at the ranch, Uncle Al?" Ryou asked.

"You can see for yourself," Al chuckled. "We're here."

To be contunued...