Chapter 13

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

A week has passed since the incident. Alas and Yami have been switching on and off who would go to work every day. Today was a weekend and they were enjoying their time at home together.

"The weather is going to be clear. The snow has finally melted a couple days ago and we see clear skies for the next couple weeks." The news reporter said.

"That's right spring is coming up. We should be able to see it picking up. Today will be in the mid 70's and will continue to steadily rise this week. So kids put away your coats and boots and prepare for shorts and sandals." The newscast chuckled as they continued to talk about other things in the news.

"Hmm..." Yami mumbled picking up Yugi and walking to the door. He opened it and took a step outside. A cool breeze blew by. It wasn't that bad. The sun was out and the breeze actually felt relaxing.

"What are you doing Yami?" Alas asked coming from the kitchen.

"It's nice out today." Yami said taking a couple more steps outside. "We should do something outside today." Yugi had his head resting against Yami chest as he listened to their conversation. He sucked on his thumb slightly and his other hand was grasping Yami's shirt. He had just woken up and was still a little tired. Yami rubbed Yugi's back as he walked inside and called his buddies. Yami smiled and walked outside. Yugi hid his face when they went outside. Yami laid a blanket on the ground than sat down. He sat Yugi in front of him and held him close. Alas smiled and came outside to bringing some items for Yugi.

"So what should we do?"

"I'm not sure." Yami and Alas talked about ideas as they watched Yugi play with some toys Alas had brought out. A car honked as it drove up in the driveway. Yugi smiled as the two men got out.

"Uncle Joey! Uncle Tristan!" The two smiled and waved at Yugi. Yugi had given' the two men the honor of being his 'uncles' which amused them to no end.

"Hey Yugi how are you doing?" Tristan asked taking him away from Yami.

"Good! Yami says we get to go some where special today!" Yugi squealed with glee. He chuckled.

"And where might dat be?" Joey inquired. Yami smiled and shrugged.

"Me and Alas are still trying to figure that out."

"Alas and I, Yami." Alas corrected.

"Hey I'm not a teacher I'm a police man." Yami said chuckling. Tristan smiled and sat Yugi down on the blanket and watched as he resumed his play.

"Would you guys like a drink?" Alas offered. They nodded smiling. Alas smiled and motioned for them to follow. "I also have some papers I'd like you to look at real quick." Joey and Tristan nodded and followed her.

"So Yugi what would you like to do?" Yami asked as the child crawled over to the edge of the blanket to retrieve a toy that had gotten away from him.

"I don't know." He said as he plumped down on the blanket. Yami watched him play with a smile on his face.

"YAMI PHONE!" Alas screamed from inside. Yami stood up and looked at Yugi play.

"Will you be ok here Yugi?" Yugi looked up at him and nodded.

"Yeah!" He squealed. Yami chuckled and hurried inside to answer the phone. Yugi watched then resumed what he was doing. It was calm out and every so often a cool breeze would ruffle Yugi's clothes playfully. Yugi smiled and picked up a big red ball and hugged it. It squeaked making the small boy giggle. A neighbor came out to get his newspaper and smiled at the boy.

A low mumbling was heard making Yugi snap his head up.

"Damn-" hic "-cops think they know how much I can-" hic "-drink." The gruff man mumbled. The man noticed Yugi and stared at him. Yugi shifted uncomfortably under the man's gaze. "Hey-" hic "-kid get lost." The man said stumbling a little. When Yugi didn't move the man grew angry. "What did I-" hic "-just say!" The man advanced Yugi and roughly grabbed his arm. Yugi winced and cried softly. Afraid to make a sound and making the drunken man angrier.

"Hey! Stop this right now Duke!" The neighbor said walking over. "Get your drunken' ass out of here!" The man mumbled something and grabbed Yugi tighter. This time Yugi screamed in pain. The neighbor growled and punched the man in the face. The man stumbled releasing the boy. He grabbed Yugi and picked him up.

"You ok kid?" Yugi continued to cry. The man rubbed his back to calm him. Yami and the gang rushed to the door when he heard the scream.

"Yugi!" He saw a man flat on his face and his neighbor holding Yugi. "Oh thank Ra!" Yami ran over to them. He lifted Yugi away from his neighbor and held him close. "Thank you so much Bakura. I don't know how to thank you." Yami said rubbing circles on Yugi's back.

"Please! Please! Ryou. No need to thank you me. I was only helping the young one. By the way is he ok?" Yami looked down at Yugi and smiled seeing that he had stopped crying. Alas walked over with Tristan and Joey close behind.

"You're ok aren't you Yugi?" Yugi looked up at Yami and smiled. Then he laid his head on his chest and relaxed. Ryou smiled at the child.

"Here let me see his arm." Yami repositioned Yugi and Ryou gently held Yugi's arm and examined where the man grabbed him. A bruise was slowly forming. Ryou smiled when he noticed Yugi's curious eyes watching him. "I'd put some ice on that." Ryou said giving Yugi back his arm. Yami nodded.

"I guess me and Joey will take Mr. Tough Guy home." Tristan said walking over to the man. "We'll be real quick." Yami nodded smiling at them.

"Ok guys have fun!" Yami shouted chuckling. They only rolled their eyes as the attempted lift the heavy man. Alas smiled and walked over to help. "Hey why don't you join us. We aren't quite sure what we're doing but you can come along. You know Alas, Tristan, and Joey. This here is little Yugi." Yami said gesturing to the boy. Ryou smiled.

"Hello Yugi. Do you like toys?" Yugi looked over at Ryou and nodded slightly.

"I like my red ball." Yugi said softly.

"Really now? I got tons of balls and other toys. You can have them if you want to."

"Ryou are you sure? I mean are you ok with it?" Ryou smiled and nodded.

"It's time I let go Yami. Besides I'm sure my son wouldn't have minded." Yami smiled sadly.

"If you're sure..."

"I am." Ryou said smiling. "So how about it Yugi?" Yugi looked up at Yami then back at Ryou.

"Sure." Ryou smiled and nodded.

"I'll go get them." Ryou smiled as he brought out the boxes of toys he had kept. "Finally they'll go to good use." He said to himself. When he went outside he saw Yugi sitting on the blanket again. This time Alas was sitting with him. "Hey Yugi look what I brought." Ryou said smiling. Alas smiled and stood up.

"Is it ok if you watch him? Yami's on the phone and I got to work on some papers with Joey and Tristan when they return." Ryou smiled and nodded. "Oh and Ryou please come here I need to tell you something." Ryou nodded and walked over to her as they were out of ear shot to Yugi. "Don't mention your dog around him. He is completely terrified of them."

"Ok I won't." Alas smiled. "If you ever need to get him off your hands I'll be glad to take him. I'll keep old Asano outside."

"We wouldn't want to be a bother."

"Oh it's no bother." Alas smiled and nodded.

"Thank you Ryou."

"No problem." She smiled and left to gather the papers. Ryou walked over to Yugi and sat down. "So you like that ball look at this one." Ryou said ruffling through the box. He pulled out a big blue ball that had a yellow happy face on it. Yugi smiled as Ryou handed him the ball. Then he rolled it back to Ryou. Ryou smiled and rolled it back to the waiting child. They passed the ball back and forth for a while. They didn't even notice when Joey and Tristan returned. Ryou also pulled out other various toys from the boxes letting the small boy play with them.

What do you think? I hope you liked this chappie! I luved writing this one! hugs Yugi Yugi's so KAWAII! ok PLEZ RR THANX!

Kayla Tsukino
Thanx 4 ur support I'm glad u really like my work. THANX 4 REVIWIN'!

Mine and mine alone
I'm really glad you liked it! Hm... I don't know I could probably make one. I've never tried with Joey and Tristan. I'll have to get some ideas. We'll have to see, ne? THANX 4 REVIEWIN'!

Chetra-card My E-mail is I've been e-mailing some people but I'm not even sure if they sent. I don't know. Hmm...oh and I luved ur poem With the Wind. If any of you want to read these poems look at my reviews. They are really good. All the ones I've received are good.

Animechik THANX 4 the poem 'accidents' I luved it! It is really great! You know agusty poems are my fav. It really did capture Yugi's feelings.

I'd luved to chat if u have AIM or AOL my name is DragonCanibal56 and my E-mail address is