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Chapter 14

Yami couldn't remember a time when he had felt more nervous. He sat in the back of the police van on his way to the courthouse wringing his hands and a thousand questions ran through his mind.

Yugi had assured him they had more than enough to make the judge see that Yami was no longer a threat to anyone and there was no reason for him to be locked up anymore. Joey was sitting opposite him giving him reassuring nods and smiles whenever he looked in his direction but he was also nervous. He wanted Yami to be able to walk from the courthouse a free man even though he knew he would be upset to see him go. After all he had several months left to serve on his sentence but at least Seto visited as often as he could and he was glad of that. He was going to be very lonely after Yami left. He had put in a request to remain on his own in the cell but he didn't hold out much hope of that as there were always new prisoners coming in and his was a double cell.

The van slowed and stopped and Yami knew they had arrived. The questions still raced through his mind. 'What if the judge takes an instant dislike to me? What if he says no? What if…' The questions went on and on and he closed his eyes for a moment offering a silent prayer to the gods to allow him to go free.

The accompanying prison guards opened the doors and beckoned for Yami and Joey to follow them. They got out and followed the two guards through a back door and down to the holding cells in the courthouse.

Yugi was waiting outside the courtroom for them to be called in. There were several people milling round talking to each other in low voices but the majority left Yugi alone and he was glad of that. He wanted to concentrate on the events ahead of him and Yami rather than have to worry about answering questions.

The door to the courtroom opened and an official poked his head round it.

"You can all come in now." He said and stood back so they could file in.

Yugi went in first with his lawyer and they all followed taking their places.

When they were all seated the official announced.

"All rise."

They all stood and a door opened at the back to admit the judge who would decide Yami's fate. Yugi had already decided not to get too upset if the judge declined the petition as he needed to be strong for Yami. He knew he would be devastated if the result was that he would have to return to prison today and he couldn't allow him to see how terrible he himself would feel if that happened. He tried to put those thoughts out of his mind and concentrate on the task ahead.

Yami recognised the judge as the one who had convicted him for beating Yugi nearly to death and his heart sank. He doubted whether this judge would let him go free but he tried not to let Yugi see how worried he had suddenly become. He swallowed and waited to see what would happen next.

"The case of Yami Aomori versus the State." The official said. A door opened at the back of the court admitting a very nervous looking Yami with a prison officer following behind. He took his place and everyone except him sat down.

"Yami Aomori you are accused of breaching the terms of the restraining order placed on you. A petition has been made by Mr Yugi Motou to have the order lifted."

Yugi was trying to catch Yami's eye so he could smile reassuringly but he was staring straight ahead. Yugi could see the fear in his eyes and his heart went out to him.

'We will win this.' He promised silently and listened as the official carried on describing what would happen. There would be character references delivered and then the judge would retire to consider his verdict.

Yugi's lawyer stood up when the official had finished.

"I call on Dr Ayanomi." The lawyer said and one of the people seated in the courtroom rose and took the stand.

"Please state your name for the court." The lawyer said and Ayanomi repeated his name.

"You assessed Yami when he first arrived at the prison and for a number of months afterwards yes?" Ayanomi nodded. "Would you please tell us how you found him to be?"

"I have never seen a more broken man in all the years I have been a psychologist." Ayanomi began. "He was full of remorse and tortured himself with the memories. I saw him for many months and always he would tell me how sorry he was and that he wished he had never started."

"In your opinion can he be trusted to be released and return to a normal life. Is he a danger to anyone?"

"No I do not believe he is a danger to himself or anyone around him." Ayanomi said.

"Thank you, you may step down." The lawyer said and Ayanomi returned to his place in the courtroom.

"I call forth Joey Wheeler to the stand." Joey stood and swallowed hoping that he would be able to help. He walked to the stand and stated his name.

"Mr Wheeler, when you discovered that Yami had been released on parole, how did you feel? Mr Motou was your best friend am I correct?"

"Yes sir, I was angry at him and Yugi begged me to go and ask him to come and visit him so I went."

"Would you please tell everyone what happened?" The lawyer said and Joey took a deep breath before continuing.

"Well I asked my partner to find out where Yami lived and then I went to see him. When I got there I asked him to come and visit Yugi but he said he wasn't allowed due to the order on him."

"I see what happened then?"

"I punched him because I was angry at what he put Yugi through and I wanted to keep him away from him."

"So you lied in order to keep him away." The lawyer stated and Joey nodded feeling very ashamed.

"Yes, Yugi went to see him of his own accord and I went to the police and told them Yami had come and taken him but I lied."

"How do you feel towards Yami now Mr Wheeler?"

"We are best friends again, I realised how stupid I was and that Yami was truly sorry for what he did. He doesn't deserve to be inside still because of my foolish lie. He isn't a threat to anyone especially Yugi, he loves him too much."

"Thank you Mr Wheeler you may step down."

Joey made his way back to his seat giving Yugi a hopeful grin as he passed. Yugi tried to smile back but he was so worried about whether Yami would be with him that night or still be inside, that all he could manage was a crooked smile, which came out more like a grimace.

Yami silently thanked Joey for sticking up for him and began to feel slightly less nervous about this whole thing.

The couple who had allowed Yugi into Yami's apartment block on that night which seemed so long ago now, were called to the stand.

They told of how Yugi had asked to come in and certainly seemed eager to see someone.

More people were called who had been involved with the couple since before and after Yami had been re-arrested and all told of how in their opinion Yami could be trusted not to return to his old ways.

Eventually Seto was asked to take the stand and he did. Joey watched his lover and wished that he could be allowed to spend one night alone with him but he knew it was impossible until his release.

Seto told everyone of how Yami and Yugi had helped him and Joey to get back together.

"So even though you hated Yami, they both helped you."

"Yes that's right." Seto said. "I will always appreciate what they both did and I count them both as my closest friends."

"Thank you Mr Kaiba." The lawyer said and Seto returned to his seat giving Joey one of his very rare smiles. Joey glowed and grinned back.

As things went on, Yugi and Yami began to feel more and more relaxed and less nervous. Not one person so far had said that Yami was a bad person or that he couldn't be trusted. All the reports were exactly as they had hoped they would be and they felt confident.

There were no more character references to be given and the judge announced that he would retire to consider his verdict and that court would resume in two hours time.

Everyone stood as he left the room. When he had left Yugi ran forwards and grasped Yami's hands in his own.

"We're winning koi." He said smiling happily.

"We haven't won yet aibou, don't get your hopes up yet, we will know in two hours."

"I know, I love you."

"I love you too." Yami said as the guard led him back down to the holding cells to wait for the judge to return.

Yami was pacing his cell when the guard returned for him. Joey had already been taken back to the prison having played his part in the proceedings in spite of his protestations. He wanted to wait and hear the verdict but the guard had pointed out that Yami would either be coming back tonight or released and Joey would know then.

Unable to argue with that logic, Joey had gone leaving Yami alone after hugging him and assuring him that all would be okay and that he didn't expect to see him until an official visit. Yami had promised that if he got out, then he and Yugi would visit often.

He was led back to the courtroom and stood waiting for the judge to deliver his verdict.

"I have listened to everything said this morning and I am satisfied that all accounts are true." The judge began. "I see from the people who have spoken about you are confident that you are no longer a danger to yourself or anyone else therefore I hereby lift the retraining order placed against you and inform you that there is no need to detain you any longer. You are a free man." He finished and it seemed as if the very four walls that they were in sighed in relief.

Yugi resisted the urge to punch the air in victory but stood quietly as the judge left. Then he punched the air and ran forwards to where Yami was just stepping down from the stand a free man at last.

A red, black and gold blur flung himself into Yami's arms crying and laughing at the same time and they stood for a long moment hugging.

They were stopped by a tap on their shoulders to see Seto standing beside them..

"Come and see me when you have time. I have something for you both. Glad you're out Yami." He said and Yami smiled at him.

"Thanks for your help Seto."

"No problem, I'll see you soon then?"

"Yes definitely Seto and thanks again." Yugi said and Seto began to walk off then stopped.

"If you can tear yourselves from each other's arms for long enough, perhaps you would like to come for dinner tomorrow night at my house."

Yugi giggled and Yami grinned.

"Thanks Seto we would love to come." He said and Seto nodded before striding from the room.

"Come on aibou lets go home." Yami said, "I believe we have some catching up to do." And he winked at Yugi who laughed knowing exactly what Yami meant and he didn't think they would get much sleep tonight!

Together they left the courthouse finally free to be together for the rest of their lives.

TBC…