Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue – get the picture?
Chapter 8
Yugi walked into the bedsit having finished his shift at the factory. He had successfully taken over in Yami's place the boss being only too happy to take him on when he heard the situation and not having to look for a new worker. In spite of the fact he worked with the prison and employed the people who came out on parole, he could never be entirely sure that those people were going to be trustworthy.
He had liked Yami finding him to be pleasant to work with and who worked hard for him and Yugi was no different. He had wished him luck today because it was an important day for them. Today was the day of the hearing to see if Yami would be allowed access visits from Yugi.
It had taken two months to get this far with many letters and phone calls to various figures of authority to finally get a date for a hearing. They had needed to get several character references from people who knew them both and would be prepared to say that Yami could be trusted round Yugi and not try and hurt him.
Yugi was relieved this day had arrived but at the same time he was really nervous. What if the judge said no? He hadn't been able to see Yami properly since that first visit and had been reduced to contact by mail and the phone.
Yugi had every letter stashed under his pillow along with a photo that Shanti had kindly taken for him. He kept them there in the hope that it would somehow bring him closer to his koi. He couldn't wait to see him again and if the judge agreed to the visits then maybe they would be able to hold each other even for a few moments.
He hoped with all his heart that they would be able to convince the judge and he sighed as he changed into the outfit he had lain out ready for the hearing.
Yami paced his cell nervously. He had been moved to a local prison to await his main hearing but that was not on his mind now. He had waited for this day with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. He was nervous in case the judge declined and exited at the prospect of seeing his aibou again.
Like Yugi, he had all letters received from him under his pillow and he had read and re-read them many times. They helped him during the long hours he was kept locked up. Every night he went to sleep thinking of Yugi and every morning he woke wishing he was in his arms but being met with cold grey walls and on his own.
He was dressed and ready for court in the smart suit that had been loaned him from the prison wardrobe. He carried on pacing his cell until he heard a key turn in the lock.
"Yami Aomori, it's time to go."
Yugi arrived at the courthouse in plenty of time and paid the taxi driver. He wished he could learn to drive but with all that he had to pay out, he couldn't really afford it.
He entered the large building and checked the letter he had received a few days earlier telling him the date and which court he was due in. He made his way through the maze of corridors having first asked directions in the reception and sat on one of the chairs outside to await his lawyer whom he had managed to find at a reasonable rate. They had spent many hours gaining information and references between them and his lawyer was confident that everything would be okay.
Yugi drummed his slender fingers on the chair arm as he waited. The one thing he had looked forwards to more than anything else was seeing Yami again for the first time in two months. It had taken a lot of will-power for him not to keep going to the prison and begging to see his koi but he had been strong and concentrated on gathering information to help them both.
"Hello Yugi." A voice said and hr turned to see his lawyer standing there smiling at him.
"Hello Mr Yakomoto." Yugi said managing a nervous smile before the other seated himself next to Yugi to await the time for them to be called in.
"Nervous?" he asked and Yugi nodded. "Don't worry, Yami has impressed a lot of people with his general demeanour and I'm sure we have more than enough to pretty much guarantee success." He continued and again Yugi nodded.
"I hope so." He said and was about to say something else when the court room door opened and a court official stuck his head round it.
"We're ready for you now." He said and stood back holding the door for him.
'This is it.' Yugi thought and taking a deep breath he walked into the courtroom.
His breath caught when he saw Yami already in there and noted that he looked pale and drawn.
'He's suffering being locked up again.' He thought but smiled as brightly as he could to try and reassure his koi that everything would be all right.
Yami watched his aibou walk into the room. He too noticed that Yugi was looking tired and he longed to reach out and hold him but knew that he couldn't.
'Soon aibou.' He silently promised.
Everyone took their places and the proceedings began. Yugi's lawyer gave the various character references and spoke about how Yami was a changed person and deserved to see Yugi on a regular basis. The judge listened to everything nodding his head occasionally before finally retiring to make his decision.
The court session broke up until the judge was ready to return and Yugi left the room with a hopeful glance at his koi. Both felt that things were going well but neither allowed themselves to get too eager just in case the judge came back and denied the visitation rights.
Yugi paced nervously outside while they waited to be called back in keeping his fingers crossed. What if the judge said no? What if he thought Yami still couldn't be trusted? What if? What if? The questions and worries ran through his head like a fast flowing river and he had no answers.
They were called back in after about two hours and took their places again. The judge leaned over and rested his head on his hands studying both men before leaning back in his chair.
"I have studied the case history of Yami Aomori and listened to the petition put forwards by Yugi Motou." He began and Yugi crossed his fingers longing for the next sentence to be a good one.
"I hereby find no reason to disallow weekly visits for two hours without supervision." The gavel fell echoing round the courtroom and the judge rose and left everyone standing while he did so.
It took a few moments for reality to sink into to both of them before Yugi punched the air in victory being unable to stop himself. He ran from his place and hugged Yami tightly hoping that the first visit would be soon.
"We did it koi." He said smiling at Yami who was looking overjoyed at the verdict.
"Yes we did it aibou now we have other things to prepare for." he reminded him and Yugi broke the embrace to look into Yami's wonderful deep red eyes.
"Yes I know, we have to get you out of there and back where you belong, by my side." He said and Yami nodded.
"I love you aibou." Yami said before a tap on his shoulder indicated that it was time for him to leave and return to the prison.
"I love you too Yami." Yugi said and watched as his koi was led away again.
He turned to face his lawyer who was grinning at the two of them and grinned back.
"Thanks for everything Mr Yakomoto." He said and the other nodded.
"It was my pleasure Yugi, I hope you will allow me to help with the next hurdle."
"Yes definitely." Yugi said enthusiastically and Akiko Yakomoto laughed.
"I'll give you a lift home, unless of course you have a taxi booked?" Yugi shook his head and walked out of the courthouse with Akiko and to where his car was parked.
A week later was the first official visit and Yugi had been hardly able to contain himself. He arrived at the centre where it had been arranged for them to have a private room to see each other instead of at the prison and Yugi was very grateful to Shanti who had arranged it. She had become a good friend to both of them and he could never thank her enough.
"Don't worry about it, it's my pleasure." She had reassured Yugi but he'd made up his mind that when this whole mess had been sorted out, that he and Yami would do something for her to show their thanks. It was she who had gained many of the references that they had needed and without her, they wouldn't have had so much in favour for Yami.
He walked into the centre and was shown to a comfortable room where he waited for Yami to arrive.
The door opened and there he was. He walked in and stood while the door was closed behind them. He turned and locked it before being almost knocked flying by a blur of red, black and gold as Yugi flung himself into Yami's arms and kissed him with a passion borne of waiting so long.
The spent the time in laughter, cuddles and intimacy before the two hours was up. It came too quickly for both of them but now they had something to look forwards to. Once a week they would be able to find peace from the day to day pain of living without each other and both hoped with a passion that the up and coming court case to nullify the restraining order took place
TBC