A Requiem for Innocence
Chapter Four
Anyone could tell they were really in trouble this time, because there simply was no good explanation for why they were standing on the street, kissing, in the rain, that Yugi's parents would accept. And because of this, they didn't jump apart or try to act innocent. Instead, they just stood there with their arms still wrapped around each other, staring at the newcomers blankly.
Yugi's father circled and grabbed Yami by his shoulders, yanking him roughly out of Yugi's grasp, as his mother clutched her son fearfully, demanding to know if he was all right or hurt or what.
Yugi struggled to get away from her, thinking this treatment was a little too much. "Mom, I'm fine!"
Meanwhile, Yami had twisted out of Mr. Mutou's grasp too, and gave him a venomous look while saying in his calmest voice, "That was uncalled for."
"What do think you're doing?" The man demanded. "I don't know who you think you are, but I'll have you arrested for trying to molest my son-"
"No, Dad, leave Yami alone!" Yugi spoke up, then clapped a hand over his mouth when he realized what he'd given away.
His parents appraised the person named and ignored Yugi for a moment.
"So, this is the infamous Yami." His father finally said, his eyes resting on Yami's choice of clothes: flair-legged jeans, a tight shirt, and various bracelets which gave him a sort of feminine-bishounen look. This first impression was not one that went over well. "The oh-so-wonderful friend that you wanted so badly to stay with. Now do you see, Yugi, why you shouldn't trust people like him? Those rich young men, they're all the same, out trying to molest teenagers. I've seen coverage of a lot of trials like this in America. I've always said Japan doesn't take this sort of thing seriously enough."
"You've got it all wrong." Yugi snapped.
"Yugi, it's going to be alright." His mother tried to comfort him. Yugi took a step away from her and shouted at them,
"Would you just listen to me? Yami wasn't doing anything I hadn't invited!"
"You mean…?" They were finally listening to him. Yugi took advantage of their attention at last and informed them, almost defiantly,
"Yes, Yami's my boyfriend."
Yami felt incredibly proud of Yugi at that moment and would have run to give him another hug if Yugi's father still hadn't been standing in his way. Meanwhile, the elder Mutous were struck into silence.
"So…so that's why you wanted to go stay with him." His mother finally uttered, blinking.
"Part of it." Yugi admitted.
"I don't believe this…" She murmured, as if to herself.
"Yugi, I don't understand, why would you-" His father began.
Yami started to step forward, to tell the man that Yugi didn't deserve to be yelled at and to leave him alone. But Yugi beat him to the mark.
"Look…I guess I should have told you when I moved in with him. But I knew how much you didn't like Yami and if you knew, you never would have let me go."
"Got that right." His father was still eyeing Yami's bracelets with a nasty look. Commonly clothed in a crisp business suit, he didn't approve of guys wearing bracelets at all.
"I know you don't approve of his job, and I know you're leery about his age, but Yami's never hurt me or forced me into anything. He's really kind and understanding, and I love him."
"Yugi…" Yami whispered.
"Listen Yugi, we know things have been difficult." His mother spoke up. "And we know that you really don't want to move. But you don't have to…to go shack up with some guy to find comfort."
Yugi's eyes flashed, but he seemed to be forcing his voice to remain clear. "Mom, you've got it all wrong. We're not even sleeping together, we have an agreement. I'm just living with him, that's all."
"But clearly you're not averse to kissing, and that's quite enough already." His father stepped in. "Yugi, go get in the car. We'll talk about this in the morning."
"What?" Yugi and Yami demanded in unison.
"Go get in the car, Yugi. You're coming home with us."
Yami knew that Yugi respected his parents and their orders greatly, and felt his heart sink. He closed his eyes, thinking how awful it was that not only did Yugi have to leave him, but that he had to leave six weeks early. Nothing was fair anymore.
Then he heard Yugi's voice: "No."
"What?" his parents demanded. Yami jerked his head up in surprise.
"I said no, I'm not going home with you." Yugi announced, this time his tone clearly defiant. "I'm staying with Yami till the move."
"Oh no you're not-"
"Yes, I am!" Yugi snapped. "I love him, and he loves me. He treats me better than anyone else ever has. He's the sort of person you would want me to be with."
"No he's not! Yugi, I thought we've made this very clear. We're trying to help you. We want what's best for you. We're not going to let you make a mistake and be called a freak. It's wrong for you to be with another man, and we're putting a stop to it before this goes too far. Now go and get in the car!"
Yugi stared at them for a moment, understanding registering in his eyes. "So that's it." he whispered.
"What's it?" His mother asked, puzzled.
"So that's why you hate Yami so much! It's not because he's a duelist, or because of his age. The reason you don't want me to be involved with him is because he's another guy! If he was a woman, I bet you wouldn't have had a single problem with him!"
"Damn right! It's one thing for you to go room with him, but have a girlfriend. But it's another thing entirely when you room and sleep with him!" His father shouted.
"I told you we're not sleeping together!" Yugi shouted back. "Do you ever listen to anything I say?"
"That doesn't matter. The mere fact that you fell for him at all. You can't be gay."
"I can be whatever I want. If I love a guy, who cares? It's still love."
"It's forbidden!"
"Maybe by your standards."
"We're trying to help you, Yugi. Life won't be easy on you if you're gay. In America there are very good psychologists, we'll find you a therapist and you can put this behind you-"
"I don't need therapy! I'm just fine the way I am!"
"No you're not. You're making a big mistake, Yugi."
"I don't think I am."
Through all of this, Yami was keeping his mouth shut. It looked like it would be best for him to stay out of it. And Yugi looked like he was holding his ground fine.
"Yugi, you don't understand. Now for the last time, go get in the car." His father finally instructed through clenched teeth. "We'll talk about this in the morning."
Yugi stood there stubbournly, silent as mildew, and surely every bit as annoying to his parents. Finally he replied,
"I'm not leaving Yami. I love him, and I'm staying with him. You guys think you own me! You think you can shape me, but you should love me just the way I am! Yami does! You want to change me so that I'll be perfect, so that the world will be easy on me. But Yami loves me just the way I am! He says I'm fine just the way I am and that the world can take whatever problems it has with me and screw them, and I think he's right! You guys are the ones that don't understand!"
Yami steeled himself to watch Yugi be yelled at again. After an outburst like that…a shouting match was inevitable. But instead, his father's response to this was to stride over to Yugi, and slap him hard across the face. So hard, that because Yugi wasn't prepared for it, the blow threw him to the pavement with a yelp.
Yugi's mother clapped her hand over her mouth, staring back and forth between her husband and son in horror. Yugi struggled to his knees, gripping his shoulder, his head down in what was probably sobbing, but with the rain it was hard to tell.
"You should never talk back to your parents that way." His father snapped, standing over him. "We raised you better than that!"
Yugi didn't respond this time. Suddenly, someone latched onto Mr. Mutou's arm, and yanked him around to go face-to-face with Yami. Yugi looked up at that moment and at first he hardly even recognized his friend.
He'd seen his other self angry before. Extremely angry even. But this was at a level of fury that surpassed anything he'd ever seen on Yami's face yet. The former pharaoh's eyes were ablaze in hatred, his soft features twisted into those of a snarling animal. His entire body was shaking.
"Why did you do that?" he demanded, his voice dripping poison. "Why did you hit Yugi?"
"A boy should respect his parents." The older man replied simply. "Parents have the right to do what is best for their children. I'm teaching Yugi a lesson. And Yami, you should stay out of this. He's my son, and I know what's best for him."
"No one deserves to be hit just for talking back!" Yami snapped. "No one! Yugi has the right to give you his own opinion!"
"He's my child, and I'll discipline him in the way I see fit-"
"He didn't deserve that!" Yami swept his freehand toward Yugi. "You're so stuck on the fact that he's your son, why don't you consider that if you were a real father, you would never have hit him? He was just giving you his opinion. No one deserves to be hurt for that!"
Yugi and his mother watched all this in shocked silence. Yami had lost his magic some time ago, when the Millennium Items were all destroyed after the Ceremonial Battle. When he'd been incarnated into his own body, he'd forfeited the powers he once had. But right now he looked capable of murder, with or without magic powers to help. For a moment, both Yugi and his mother worried they might end up witnessing a killing.
"Okay, you've made your point." Yugi's father wrenched his arm away, rubbing the place where Yami's nails had dug into his skin even through the fabric of his sleeve. "Now it's only fair that I make mine. You and Yugi may have some crazy idea that a relationship between you two will work out. And it won't. You are both men, and I don't know if you're gay or bi or what, but I won't let you corrupt Yugi with freakish ideas about love."
"Yugi's not a freak." Yami hissed. "And neither am I. He's fine the way he is, and I respect his choices, which is something you desperately need to do."
"And you, Yami, need to do something too." Yugi's father growled. "You need to face reality and forget this foolish relationship. Yugi's leaving in six weeks, and you two will never see each other again. You need to say your goodbyes and let him go, and above all, you need to keep your hands off of my son."
He turned on his heel and strode toward the car. Yugi's mother glanced back and forth, then followed him. Two car doors slammed, and the vehicle drove off into the night.
Yami and Yugi's eyes followed it, then Yami turned back to Yugi. His face had returned to its normal expression. It was hard to believe that only a few moments before he'd looked like he'd been about to kill someone.
"Yugi…are you okay?" he asked gently, squatting down and running his hand over the bruise on Yugi's cheek.
"Yes, I'm okay. My shoulder's a little sore…but it's just a bruise too."
"I'm glad. Yugi…I'm sorry."
"What?"
"I lost my temper, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled like I did, but when I saw you get hit, I just…"
"Yami, it's okay."
"I can't stand seeing you hurt." Yami shook his head, his eyes squeezed shut. "I couldn't stop myself. You didn't deserve to be hit, and I just lost it when I saw you fall. That's such stupid reasoning, that you can't even give them your side of the story. I can't stand that!"
"Really, it's okay." Yugi replied with a small smile. "You weren't the only one that lost your temper tonight, after all."
"But you deserved to yell at them! I know they're your parents and all, but they never should have called you a freak."
"They called you one too."
"To hell with that. I told you, I've been called worse. But you had every right to say what you did, and your father never should have hit you for it." He held out his hand and helped Yugi to his feet, then hugged him. "I'm really proud of you."
"Thanks, Yami." They began walking back to the apartment again, clasping each other's hands tightly. If the unexpected event had served to do anything, in a round-about way it only steeled their will to remain together.
"I'm never going to forgive your parents for what they said and did tonight." Yami said unexpectedly. "I want you to know that, Yugi. I know you still care about them and love them, but I'll never be able to forgive them."
"I never knew they were that crazy over the issue." Yugi said with a helpless shrug. "I know they like things to be…normal…but I didn't think they were that prejudiced."
"Prejudice…it's a terrible thing." Yami replied, shaking his head again.
"Yes, it is. And I'm really sorry too for the things they accused you of. I know you would never hurt me, not intentionally."
"That means a lot to me, Yugi. Thank you."
"Do you think we can make it through anything?"
"Yes, I think we will. Distance, time, prejudice…it won't stop us."
"I think so too."
Despite the first assault that their new enemy, (and soon prejudice would indeed prove to become their greatest foe as well), had dealt, they were still able to smile about it. Because in the end, they were sure that no one could take away what they had in their hearts.
To Be Continued…
Author's Notes:
Okay people, I'm sorry for the late-ness. I wish I had a good excuse...like alien snails attacking or a lot of homework...but the fact is that there was no ailen attacks and Iactually had no homework.The truth is simply that I spaced out posting last night. I'M SORRY!
Such a short chapter! Eeek…when did that happen? Before you start going on with demanding to know what's up with this short chapter stuff again, try to see this chapter for what it is: a majour plot, turning, and sl point in this fic. Prejudice will become a very important part of this, and this chapter was but the first of the signs. Besides…it's not that short. Right?
More happiness! My god, considering that this is an angst story, I'm just too damn happy! Well, okay, there is solemn-ness, to be sure…but still, this chapter ended on a slightly upbeat note, what with the two of them only more certain that they love each other deeply. Yeah...we'll see where that goes.
I dreamed about writing this chapter for some time, even before I began writing this fic. I wanted to do a scene with Yugi getting hit by his own parent/parents, and then Yami's subsequent reaction. It's fun to write Yami angry! Because he is literally a person with no limits once he becomes angry and in his desire to protect Yugi. And characters with no limits are the coolest of all to write for, because you just never know how far they'll go for the people they love.
Replies:
Cherry Romancer: Aw…while I like messing with people, I wouldn't want to give you a heart attack! Meanwhile…I'm sure that those two would absolutely love it if I left them alone and stopped screwing with their lives like this. xD
Fallen-Angel-of-Repression: Yes, I know! I love it way too much for them to stop playing eps! Still…it's a rumour. I heard the "fifth and final season", which means-at the least-that we'll get one more arc and it's not over yet. (The last arc could be any of the final three…I'm curious which it'll be.) For this we should be grateful…but still! Maybe they'll release the eps they don't show on DVD or something. I hope so. O.O I'm sorry to have depressed you, but…news is news. Aww, thanks for all your kind words though! Yes…fluff is good when used correctly! I'm glad you think I'm doing a good job of it…and also that you won't attempt to behead me if I challenge a religion. But yes! I totally agree! My god, some of this homophobia nowadays is just ridiculous! Woo…soapbox again. xD I'll update as soon as I can!
Serena the Hikari of Love: Wow…all that? Dude, I feel mad special now! Thanks for adding me to all those lists! I hope I'll be able to write a fic worthy of all that. :niko:
Sansi: Yeah! We support the same couple and therefore have at least one thing we are sure to agree on. :niko: Besides, it's fun to sit around and go on about how cute they are together. Yes! They had to be seen…because I am a sadist that puts the poor little buggers through hell and back. Still, it makes for a great sl. As for the solution…well, we'll just have to see where that goes!
Atemu Yugi Lover34: Ah, welcome back! O.O I know, that's exactly what I said when I heard about it! I swear I was about to hurt someone. I cried myself practically to death at the ending in Japanese, and I've been looking forward for so long to seeing it in English! Well…they've been busted and the secret is out! They're still together though…so what will happen? It's a mystery! Such fun. :niko: Ack, school. Man, that sucks. I've been back a little over a week and wish I was done. Well, good luck!
Kittycatneko: Heeey, are you my friend from DevART? I recognize the name! I love cats, so how could I forget your name? Aw, thanks, I will!
LiNes: I see you've got a new pen name, eh? Yeah, I have. I'm not a city sort of person, so I like places where there's "nothing to do". Hell, I live in the Florida Keys. The official so-called "nothing to do" place. We're hours away from the nearest big city. People call us boring all the time, although I personally like our lifestyle, boring though it may be called. But mostly I just want to go for the accents. I love Australian accents. xD I do! Anyway, as for the fic…yes! It was ironic…yet amusing. xD Well, that's true. Luckily, I didn't die! So you won't have to re-kill me yet!
Yami Hitokiri: Oh, I knew all that. I was assuming that by "last" season, they meant they would play the Grand Prix one, and then not the Memory arc or the Ceremonial battle. I would love to see them all, myself. I happen to like, (and follow), both the dubbed and original series, as well as Genecs. (Which I've heard isn't as bad as some people will lead you on to believe, and I've read the translated synopsizes and agree with the view that it's not terrible at all. Mostly people online badmouth it because they want to see the old cast, not a new one, which is a cheap reason to badmouth something, really. But I shan't go into that for fear of verbal assault.) :glance: But don't worry about educating me, I'm aware of that stuff. :smile: Anyhoo…I'm glad you liked the cliffy! It was the first of the fic…which is unusual for me, normally I start springing them in the first chapter! But what the heck. It was fun. xD That's a good idea! Unfortunately…I doubt it would have worked. Yeppers, there will be loads of angsty goodness, (and tears), throughout this fic. xD Be ready for it!
You Know Us: Yep…the first cliffy of the fic! Rather late, eh? Oh, right…"Uh, yes, he had something in his eye. So I was going to like, magically make it go away by kissing him." While I would give Yami mad props for creativity, that would never work. (Though, it's better than the excuse that Yugi was choking and needed CPR…standing up. :wink:) Anyway, bad excuses aside…I decided to not avoid the fire, but to dive right into the center of it with a direct confrontation. Fun! This was the sort of situation that needed no holds barred and no excuses! (Say…Michelle, doesn't Yugi's happiness factor into this anywhere too? xD) As for that first week…WOO…it was nearly a killer, but of course I survived, cause without me, what would y'all do for entertainment? xDD
AngelPrincess17: Hiya! Ahh...I read it in Beckett Yugioh Collector magazine, in the question and answer section. I was like...O.O... But for now, all we can do is hope! Anyway though, thanks for the review!
I've got nothing much to say down here. Well, I DID complete a YamixYugi AMV. It's very cute,the main theme is basically Yami talking to Yugi and telling him how beautiful and special he is. I'm such a sap! But it's a cute vid and I think it's well-done. If you want to watch it, you can download it from my AMV page, (the link is on my profile page here), or I can e-mail it to you. It's 14 MB.
I guess I could lament about school...but none of y'all want to hear about that! xD See you next week, guys!