A Requiem for Innocence
Chapter Seven

A few weeks had passed since Yugi and Yami had moved to the states. Yami faithfully visited almost every night, and Yugi's parents were thrilled to see Yugi in a good mood-them of course having no idea why Yugi was so cheerful. They had no way of knowing that after saying good-night, Yugi locked his door and would wait for a tapping to come at his window so that he let Yami in-his parents had been getting on his case about leaving windows unlocked.

Despite a few close calls, such as when Yugi's dad forgot to take the trash out early, and ended updoingso later,just as Yami was wandering up the street, (Yami had quickly hidden himself out of sight behind a BMW in a neighbour's driveway), their secret was safe as ever. And as Yugi pointed out, even the close calls seemed amusing later on when they thought back on them. And Yami agreed, because it seemed like a few dangerous moments were worth it to be able to still see Yugi. There was nothing he would trade for the time they got to have,sleeping soundly beside each other at night, willing himself to wake up early enough to sneak back out.

Of course there was a risk. But it seemed worth it…at least until two distinct events happened in a row.

It had been raining that particular night. Yami had stayed and woken up at 5:00 a.m. as usual, to look out Yugi's window and see it still pouring. Disliking the idea of running around in the rain to get home, he decided to wait for it to let up.

But the sound of the rain falling was incredibly soothing. Added to that how tired he already was from all these late nights and early mornings, and the comforting weight of Yugi, whom was using Yami's chest as his pillow; it was only a few moments before he fell back asleep.

The next time he awoke, it was to a loud banging and to Yugi shaking his shoulder with his foot as he re-buttoned his pajama shirt, trying to match the buttons with the right holes.

"Yami, wake up!" He was hissing.

"Wha…what?" Yami blinked. This awakening was a good deal ruder than his earlier one had been.

"We slept in! You forgot to leave and I forgot to unlock the door and you're in your underwear and Mom's banging on the door right now and we are SO busted if we don't act fast!"

Outside, Yami recognized Mrs. Mutou's voice: "Yugi! Yugi, why is your door locked? Are you okay? Answer me!"

"I'm fine, Mom, I'm coming! I just got…uh…a button caught in my sheets is all! Hang on…" Yugi shouted back as he tossed Yami's clothes at him and pointed frantically at the closet.

Yami snatched up his belongings and pulled the closet doors shut behind him, thinking that one of these days he and Yugi should just build a secret room into this thing if he was going to be spending so much time hiding in it.

Breathing slightly heavily, Yugi threw open the door to his room with a broad smile. "'Morning, Mom."

"Yugi, why was your door locked?" she demanded.

"Ahh…guess I forgot to leave it unlocked." Yugi replied, losing some of his cool when he noticed that Yami had forgotten to take his shoes into the closet as well, and that they were still sitting beside the window. He reached and pushed them under the bed with his foot when she closed her eyes and shook her head, reappearing before her when she reopened them. Immediately, he launched into: "I'm sorry for making you worry."

"Don't do that anymore. It's not safe to leave your room locked, you know. What if you fell and hit your head or something, and no one was able to get in here to help you?"

"There's always the window." Yugi offered. "You could break it to get in."

Inside the closet, Yami could only imagine the look that must be on Yugi's mother's face, and had to stifle laughter.

His mom didn't find the reply as droll as Yami did, gave him a suspicious look, informed him to never scare her like that again, and told him breakfast was ready.

Yugi sighed with relief and closed the door as Yami lost his balance inside the closet, dislodged several hangers, and fell out face-first to crash land on the floor, followed by an avalanche of Yugi's clothes. Yugi looked mortified at the sound.

"What was that?" Yugi's mother called.

"Nothing!" Yami called back for Yugi, disguising his voice.

"That was close." Yugi was practically hyperventilating. "Way too close. I thought for sure we were caught. Can you believe how close that was?"

"No, but she does have impeccable timing." Yami remarked with some sarcasm as he escaped the hangers, got dressed and peered around the room. "Yugi, what have you done with my shoes?"

The second incident was even more serious. Yugi knew something was wrong when one night a few days later he heard tapping at his window-Yami's usual method of letting him know he was there. But abruptly the sound stopped, and there was a scuffling noise outside. About fifteen minutes later, Yugi saw the flashing red and blue lights of a police car pull up, followed by two others. Yami never reappeared that night. And after three days, he was still missing. Yugi had scoured the newspaper, but seen nothing indicating that he might have been arrested. He'd just disappeared, and apparently had no way to get any information to Yugi about why.

Yugi was sick with worry, to the point that he really did throw up after the third night that Yami was AWOL. His parents made him stay in bed, and muttered over the awful timing of this cold, as school began in a week. Terrified that something bad had happened to his friend-and that it was all his fault since clearly it had happened that night when Yami was trying to come see him-Yugi was unable to eat or sleep and nearly passed out from weakness the next afternoon. His father, (whom had been taking special care to return home far more often than he used to, much to Yugi's displeasure), had returned to Japan on a trip the day before, and so his mother was left to worry about what was wrong and how to help. She had a job as a part-time housekeeper, and that afternoon she drove off to it, instructing Yugi to stay in bed or die…or something equally as threatening. The thing was, he wasn't even sick. If he weren't so miserable, Yugi would have thought it was funny.

About a half hour after she left, the phone rang. Yugi didn't feel like getting up to answer it, but when it rang again five minutes later, then again five minutes after that, and finally for a fourth time not long after, Yugi considered it must be important. The person wasn't leaving a message, and that puzzled him.

On the fifth round of rings, Yugi finally picked up. "Hello?"

"Yugi?"

Yugi nearly passed out again. In fact, after staggering to the couch, he did collapse and just about screamed into the phone, "YAMI! Where are you? Are you okay? What happened? I saw the police cars the other night…what happened?"

"I'm okay. I'm really sorry if I made you worry."

"You're SORRY? I'm about half dead over absolute terror for you, and you're just SORRY?" Yugi yelled.

"And now I think I've lost my hearing in my right ear…"

"Okay, now I'm sorry." Yugi apologized. "Tell me what happened." And he listened as Yami told him the whole story. When finished, Yugi could only stare blankly forward and stumble over an apology for yelling.

What had happened was this: Yami had arrived as normal, but the neighbour that shared a fence with the Mutous, (the owner of the BMW he'd hidden behind before), had been out in his yard for some unexplainable reason. And he'd noticed the silent figure creeping up to Yugi's window. He'd yelled at the stranger, whom had been Yami, and hurried inside for the phone. Yami had taken his chance and run like hell before the police showed up. The trouble was that now, every night, a police cruiser patrolled that street. Yami'd had no way of sneaking over. He'd been keeping an eye on the house, and once he knew Yugi's parents were both gone, (so there was no danger of them picking up the phone), he'd called up.

Yugi now felt awful for being angry with him. The fact that Yami had gone through the trouble to watch their house and call when he knew it would be safe was something that other people might not go through the bother of. He was grateful for the update, and said so.

"It's not a problem. I didn't like leaving you there without a notice, but there was nothing I could do up till now. Someone was always home."

"Really, it's okay." Yugi assured him. "I got sick, that's why."

"You got sick?" Yami asked, concerned.

"It was no big deal…just stress. I collapsed and my parents were really concerned, so they stayed home-"

"Collapsed…Yugi, are you okay?" Yami cut him off.

Yugi winced, realizing what he'd just done. "Eh…I'm sorry Yami, I didn't mean to make it sound that bad! I'm fine, I promise."

"Well, that's good." He paused. "Yugi…" From the sudden drop in tone, Yugi sensed that this was not going to be followed by good news, and he was right. In his ear he heard Yami say the four most awful words of any relationship: "This isn't working out."

"…What? What isn't working out?" Yugi asked, voice growing fearful.

"Me sneaking into your house. This is twice in the same week we've nearly been caught. I hate to say it…but…" He paused.

"So…what are you saying?" Not that you're leaving…please don't say you're leaving.

"Maybe…we should stop this sort of thing. School for you begins soon…if you wanted, after school you could stop by my place before going home. Just make the sign of the cross, say a few words about "Lord is My Saviour" to anyone you see, don't look gay, and they'll send you right on up. I live near all the Catholics, so…yeah. I wish we could think of a better arrangement, but for right now I don't want to put you in more danger than you already are. And…at least we'll still be able to see each other for a little bit. And we'll be able to talk instead of whispering." He was trying to sound upbeat about it.

Yugi realized that Yami wasn't going to tell him they were breaking up, and relaxed. "Oh…yes, well, anything is better than nothing. I'll visit every day, I promise. I'll tell my parents I joined an after school club or something."

"I'm sorry for all this." Yami said quietly. "You shouldn't have to fit your schedule around me, that's not fair to you. But…"

"No, don't be. You're trying your hardest to make things work, I know you are. And I want to do my best to help-" Yugi was suddenly distracted by the sound of a car pulling in. "Yami, I have to go, Mom's home early."

"Oh…okay. I love you, Yugi. I'll see you soon."

"I'll see you soon too. Love you."

"Bye." Yami hit the off button of his new cell phone and kept walking, arriving at his apartment complex soon after. There were three main buildings, and a variety of religions. His building was mostly Catholic, as he'd told Yugi. He knew it was probably the riskiest building of all to live in, considering his tendency toward the "alternative lifestyle", but it was the only one with an open apartment. Mostly older couples lived there, they were fairly friendly. They all nodded to him and said good afternoon. Yami saluted them all back, but said nothing that would indicate he wasn't 'one of them'. Only his neighbour knew his secret.

He hadn't meant to let it get out. But about a week after he'd moved in, the person that lived in the next apartment over spotted him returning home at 5:15 in the morning for the sixth time since he'd moved in, and came out in his pajamas to say,

"So, how've your hot dates been going?"

Yami'd jumped. "What?"

"Well, you've been going someplace every night since you moved in." He was a young man with a mischievous smile who spoke Japanese as well as English. Probably just out of college. Or still there.

"Ah…church. Yeah, I've been going to church." Yami lied quickly, hoping to shake him off, and attempted a botched sign of the cross. "One day we ought to pray together. Go to heaven and all that good stuff, bless you, now excuse me, I've got important stuff to do."

Somewhat to his annoyance, the young man began laughing. "Hey, don't worry about faking it. Half the people that live here are faking it. And by the way, this is how you make that sign." He demonstrated.

"Faking what?" Yami asked, nettled.

"Faking their religion. This place is pretty cheap to live, so they all fake it just to get in. Hell, I'm faking it too. I practice Buddhism myself, but they weren't too happy with that. Still, it's not too hard to fake something else if you have to, so I do. It's all in the attitude. The name's Roger. Yours?"

"Yami." Yami shook his hand and gave him a guarded look. "What do you mean, 'cheap', anyway? I had to pay a bunch for this place."

"That's 'cause you just moved in. If you get on the waiting list, it's way cheaper." Roger informed. "But you wanted to move in quickly. Your apartment was set up for someone else, but I heard you offered them a fortune. Are you rich?"

"Well, that list wouldn't have helped. The move was unexpected and I needed a place to stay. I suppose you could call me rich, though…I'm not sure what constitutes that. Anyway, I've got to be going-"

"So, like, are you having an affair with some guy's wife, sneaking out every night like this?"

Yami couldn't shake the guy off. Roger seemed trustworthy though, so finally Yami told him, "No, it's not that. They're single. Their parents just don't like me."

"Wow, it's like a forbidden love movie! My girlfriend back home loves to watch those. She'll always cry at the happy ending, and then I'll get to comfort her…so I don't mind."

"Well, I'm still waiting for the happy ending." Yami unlocked his door, hoping he'd get the hint.

"Wait…parents?" Roger snapped out of his movie fantasy. "How old is this person?"

"Seventeen." Yami muttered.

"And how old are you? You're definitely not seventeen."

"Has anyone ever told you that asking so many personal questions to someone you just met is beyond rude?"

"Yes."

Yami had to laugh. The guy's attitude was irritating, but amused him nonetheless, and he decided that Roger wasn't a bad person. So he explained, "Yeah, the age difference is one of their problems. But there's a gender issue too. He's a guy also."

Roger looked delighted. "This is the best twisted forbidden love story I've ever heard. You two ought to write a book. Allie, my girl, she'd love to hear it."

"Glad I could entertain you two. Anyway, if the owners here ever find out, they will toss me out on my ass, so don't go mentioning it, will you? Besides, I don't feel like getting arrested for statutory rape since he's underage."

"Don'cha worry about a thing." had been Roger's cheerful reply.

And that had been how Yami met his only friend in the apartment complex. Roger had turned out to be a college student taking a late Gap year, and Yami hoped that he'd stay on his Gap year till after he himself moved out. The last thing he needed was for a new neighbour to show up that he'd have to hide things from.

Today, he met Roger on his way up the stairs. The student was on his way down to pick up his mail.

"Hello Yami. How's the forbidden love life? I noticed you went out in the afternoon today. Things heating up?"

"Awful. We can't see each other at night anymore. By the way, Yugi's going to start coming and visiting me here, and if you mention a single word about who he really is to anyone, I swear I will kill you."

"No problem, chief." Roger didn't blink twice at the threat.

Yami waved and continued on his way. It was nice to have friends.

And so he and Yugi stopping seeing each other at night and were only able to see each other after school got out. Yugi suggested skipping school sometime to visit all day, but Yami had sternly told him no way. Sneaking off to visit your lover was one thing, but skipping class was another thing entirely. On the plus side, Yugi and Roger became fast friends, and Yami privately hoped that having another friend here in the US would stop Yugi from feeling so lonely without his old crowd, even though they wrote and e-mailed often.

One afternoon, Yami had made the mistake of trying to help Yugi with his homework, but was hindering more than helping, spending all the time saying that back in Egypt they had much easier ways of doing math, so both he and Yugi were relieved when a neighbour on the other side of the building called on Yami and handed him a piece of mail.

"This got put in my box by mistake." She told him. Yami thanked her and opened it, returning to the living room as Yugi continued with his work on his own. He'd probably get it done faster that way anyway.

After a moment, Yami looked thoughtful and asked, "Yugi, what'd you tell your parents you were doing after class so much? To cover up the fact that you've been here?"

"That I was in a leadership program. My dad was thrilled."

"Is there any chance you could convince them that the program was going on a trip to Las Vegas?"

"Why?"

"A tournament is being held there in a week." Yami held out the paper. "They've invited me to join it and will provide airfare and everything. And they said I can bring a guest. Would you like to come? It would be a vacation for the both of us." He looked hopeful. And for a moment, Yugi looked excited.

"I'd love it! I've always wanted to go to Las Vegas, and it would be great to spend time with you. A vacation, just the two of us…that would be so cool. But, my family…" he faltered.

"That's why I was asking if you could fake a field trip somehow. But it's okay, I understand if you can't make it." Yami sounded disappointed, but erased the emotion from his face quickly.

Yugi looked contemplative, then smiled. "What the hell? Of course I can make it."

"You're sure?" Yami asked, surprised. "There's a big risk involved. Your parents might not fall for it. They might want to meet some people from your 'program'. Or even come with you."

"The risk is worth it. I'll make up a fake permission slip and they won't question anything. Dad's always busy, and Mom wouldn't want to go to Las Vegas."

"Really? Really truly?" Delighted, Yami picked Yugi up and spun around with him. "This is perfect!"

Yugi laughed and took Yami's other hand, twirling him around too in their familiar playful dance. "Really truly."

The next day, Yugi informed his parents about the 'field trip' and made them sign a fake permission slip for the school that Roger had typed up on his computer that morning. Yami instructed Roger to pick up his mail and not tell the more uptight tenants where he'd gone, as some of them in Building 2 were Jehovah's Witnesses, or the equally uptight Catholics in their own building, and they looked down on such a pagan game as Duel Monsters. The next Friday, Yugi packed a bag with what he'd need, and walked down to the school, (as Yami's apartment was in the opposite direction, and he had to make this look realistic), and Yami arrived by taxi to pick him up. (He'd left his car back in Japan.)

They behaved themselves in the taxi, but at the airport and while waiting for the flight, they were giddy, laughing about random things, hugging and not caring who might recognize them. Most of the people that noticed them anyway assumed they were related, anyway.

The plane ride was smooth, they arrived on time, their luggage was not lost, the rental car was right where it was supposed to be, and they drove off to the appointed hotel feeling on top of the world. Nothing could go wrong.

To Be Continued…

Author's Notes:

I'd like to take a moment to wish Ryou Bakura a happy birthday. :niko: He's not really in the fic, but it's his birthday, and he deserves notice.Also, happy early birthday to my dad! xD Birthday tidings all around, ne?

The Pagan game that is Duel Monsters: I'm taking my acquaintance Steve's info on this one. He's a Jehovah's Witness and says that Yugioh is pagan. I've read reviews online from equally uptight Catholics/Christians. (Yes, both, I am aware that they are two separate, though very similar, religions.) Don't start getting on my case for any false info. If you've got bones to pick, go talk to them.

It's really sort of sad that they've having such a good time…cause you know that good time can't last, not if I'm the authoress in charge. Okay little dudes, have fun while you can!

Yes, Roger is slightly deviated from Louis, (from The Purpose of a Heart, if any of you have read that one). I really liked Lou, and so did other people, so I brought in another OC somewhat similar to him because a) I like that kind of character, and wanted to draw him out some more, b) Yami needed a friend on his side, and c) I just wanted to, dammit! xD Luckily, Rog won't die, which is a happy thing. TPoaH was full of death. This fic isn't really like that. At least, not yet. :wink:

Everyone seemed to like Sara…I'm surprised, but glad! I wanted to show their relationship through the eyes of someone that wasn't "biased", so to speak. Like…to show their world from the POV of an outsider…to show that what they feel for each other is obvious to other people too. And I thought that this fic should include some new people for variety, to broaden Yami and Yugi's world. Oh…I'm explaining this very badly…anyway, I'm glad everyone liked her, and I just might bring her in again later, since she was so popular!

Replies!

Yami Yuugi: Yay for fluffiness! It does make a nice diversion now and then. Oh, and I'm glad they're merging it…it would be sort of wrong if they just stopped at the end of the Grandprix, like the sl fell over a cliff or something. It would be like…so un-fitting. The show needs closure, and Yami needs his memories. So…it's good they're merging it. Oh, and thanks for looking me up on DevART! I recognize your pen name now. Glad you like it!

Fallen-Angel-of-Repression: Ah, good, then we are on the same page! Romance is wonderful…tasteless sex scenes are most certainly not. Ugh. I know what you mean. Ah, thanks! Man, I used to be such a cheesy writer. But I've tried to break the habit. One of the reasons I took the scene out was because it got a bit boring. So…yeah. But thank you for saying that! I feel special now. :niko: Shipping? You mean like…"puzzleshipping", and "darkshipping", and that sort of thing? It means…well, it's like "supporting". If you're a shipper, that means you're a mad fan of the couple. I think it's a spin-off of "worshipping". For example, a Puzzleshipper is someone that just adores the YamixYugi pairing. Does that help? Aww, poor you! I dragged myself out of bed at 7:30 to be ready. xDD I think Seto looks a bit naked, really. He is ALWAYS wearing a long coat. Now…no coat. The suit itself is odd. He needs his personal windstorm coat back. xD

Spidy007: Aww, that's cool! Of course, I like to write replies back, and I certainly wouldn't leave you out! Ah, I figured that was likely how you got the name. Well, my class year is technically 2007, abbreviated 07, but we like to use the James Bond theme and call ourselves the "007" class. :wink: Ah, she did damage, but not much, luckily! We just have more tree branches down. Eeek, I wouldn't want that either! Ah, don't worry about getting worked up. I'm glad you like it!

GaaraBelongsToMe: Well, now that would certainly not be good at all! And it very nearly happened this chapter, too…O.O Ah, and I admit, I'm curious…who is Gaara?

Marikslildevil: Wow. When coincidences rain, they pour! I started watching Yugioh because me and my friend…well, we weren't exactly fighting, but we were sort of silently fighting, which is even worse than verbal, really. I was so stressed at the time, since she was my only friend, and one night I was watching TV, flipping through channels, and stumbled on the first ep. Corny as it sounds…I fell in love with Yami's eyes and the stuff he was saying, about his friends, and faith, and love…I felt like I'd walked into that perfect world you mentioned, with all these people that were just a bunch of best friends waiting to happen. Ever since then...it's still my safe place. I just love accidents of this sort…since my watching it was one big accident. Ooooh…could you? Do they have subs? I have a few already that I downloaded for AMVs…but not very many. I have…200, (with subs), 201, 203, 207…(need a better one of that)…and 220, (also subbed). If they're not too big and don't have subtitles…I might take you up on that offer sometime. As for the fic…thanks! I really wanted to show them through the eyes of someone else…so Sara was that person. I'm glad it worked! Nah, he wouldn't wait a few days. xD He's too impatient!

Dip: Yay, thanks! I'm glad to hear that you're on my side in that debate too. More writers and people should think that! I will:3

You Know Us: xDDD Oh man, if they came to the Keys…well, Yami and Yugi would have an excellent time with their fellow peeps in Key West, (provided they could escape my fangirlish clutches), but Yugi's parents, and especially his father, would have an absolute heart attack. (which a lot of people want, so maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing?) That would make a good humour sl. :plots: I should do a doujinshi to it! Syahahaha. Anyway…Sara was cool. People liked her! Perhaps I will bring her back later, ne? I'm glad to have improved your day!

LiNes: Right on with the AMV and anime marathons. I'm totally with you on that one! It is a most excellent way to pass a day. I'm glad you liked her! She was a last-minute addition to the fic, and now I'm very glad I added her in. Yeah, I rated accordingly. Oooh…wow, that's one of my older AMVs, yet also one that I'm very fond of. I think it's my fourth I ever made. JoeyxYugi! xD

Darkyami7: Ah, I couldn't do it. I thought about it, but I couldn't do it. I'm such a wimp. xD Aww, I don't think you're lame! Anyone that gives me compliments can't be lame…that's my theory. :wink: I think I'd be okay even with a half-memory arc, as long as they put the whole one on the uncut DVDs, which is what I think they planned to do all along to make them sell better. Feh. Oh well, I look forward to what is coming, no matter what!

Sansi: Oh yes, very nasty. I'm just glad it wasn't worse when it came through my neck of the woods. We weren't exactly "prepared". But we're all okay! Yeah, not a very pleasant time of year, to be sure. Oh, I'm sure they would throw a fit indeed. Things are already getting tough. xD You're not the only one, my friend, hoping that he gets a heart attack. Well, hope does spring eternal, ne?

W.W.W 147: Ah yes, the joy of making Yami worried…well, I have a good deal planned for him later. Thanks! I'm glad you like it!

Brave Rae: Yeah, I'm making his dad quite the jackass indeed, eh? xD He sure is a villain, considering he doesn't even have a name! Oh well. But I'm so glad you love it, and thank you so much for all the compliments:niko: It is a bit one-track…but like you said, they're the world's most perfect couple!

Atemu Yugi Lover34: Ah, yeah, I saw it too. There were several memory arc scenes, (mostly from the memory arc themes and not the actual anime, but same difference). Some very cute scenes, too. :fangirlish: Down here…not much happened. We had a tornado that tore up a few places, as well as shot our friend Louie's airplane hanger all to hell, but no one was killed or hurt, which is something to be grateful for. Wow, Oklahoma, huh? Don't you guys have tornados? I guess school wouldn't get canceled for those, though, since they don't last all day…well, at least you don't get hurricanes!

Neko Yoka: Everyone was expecting them to get caught this chapter…so I just made them come close, since it was have been too predictable if they actually had been! Although you are so right, that would be pretty funny…not to mention embarrassing for them, but certainly funny!

Big news! I, Chey, am now a proud owner of DSL. Man, it beats the hell out of dial-up. I'll never go back! Anyway, my e-mail address has changed locales from AOL to Bellsouth, (the sn has remained the same). I've changed it in the e-mail field of my profile, so you can find it there, and it should be correct as long as the site has registered the change. If you want to IM me, my AIM sn is now FL Otakuchick163, (with the space). If, because of these changes, I somehow miss your review and don't reply to you, accept my deepest apologies now, and I swear I'll try hard not to miss any of you!

It's FRIDAY! We had a half-day of school. :party: It was supposed to be a whole day off, but the hurricane and all…so they made it a half-day today to make up for our lost day. :sulk: Well, we still get Monday off, at least! And tomorrow is SATURDAY. Which means...:explosion of fangirlish enthusiasm:…NEW EPPIES!

Oh, I am so pathetic…oh well. See you next week!