Chapter 28

When I Grow Up I'll Be Stable

In the distance he could see the sun rise. Warm oranges and yellows lit their pathway as they crept through the dense forest. Keith knew they were getting close to the city and let out a sigh of relief as they made it to the edge. The 5 year old was walking next to his protector, hand secured in the elders. They were dirty, tired, and cold but they continued to head toward the lit city in the distance. A smile was plastered on both of their faces as they made their way through the last of the forest and now had to cross an open field.

"Were almost there, aren't we?" The boy asked relieved.

"Yes. Yes we are." Giggling slightly the boy smiled up at his friend.

"We made it." The boy whispered softly, eyes gleaming with tears. Kneeling down next to the child he wiped away his tiny tears.

"Yes child. You're safe now." Placing his large hand on top of the boy's head he ruffled his hair slightly. "Everything's going to be ok." Hand in hand they raced across the field with renewed energy.

---

"Yami I told you to stay laying down!" Alas yelled as she saw Yami was standing up and looking at the window across the room. Heavily leaning against the window seal for support.

"I can't stop thinking about him Alas. He means so much to me. I don't think I could have ever loved any child as much as I love him." Softening Alas sighed.

"Yami he'll be alright.-"

"How can you know that? How can you be so sure? He could be hurt or o-or worse. I can't stop thinking about what already happened and what could be happening to him this instant. While I sleep and eat is he being starved and beaten! Arg!" Yami yelled in pain as he collapsed to the hard floor below. Gasping Alas ran over. Helping her companion up she dragged him back over to his bed.

"Yami I can't tell that any of that isn't happening. I don't know but you can't do this to your self. I've become attached to him too Yami. I have this feeling that he's just fine. I can't really explain it but it's almost like a motherly bond and I can feel him. He's safe." Pulling up the covers over the young man she smiled. "It's ok. Just sleep."

---

Keith and Yugi were both out of breath as they continued to run. Finally they both stepped foot on to the tar covered streets. Keith chuckled and he reached down and picked up the small child.

"It's all over child. We made it." The child giggled and hugged the man close.

"Thank you. Thank you Keith." Yugi muttered into the man's muddy shirt. Setting the boy down they walked down the street to find the closes store to call the cops. "Everyone is staring at us." Yugi said tugging on the man's shirt.

"That's probably because they are not use to seeing swamp creatures run out of that field." Smiling he heard the boy giggle. Waving at the next person the boy saw he giggled again as the passerby looked startled. "Come on little one. Lets go in here."

"Can I help y-" The cashier stopped in mid sentence. "My lord what happened to you two?"

"I need you to call the cops. I'm going to take him to get cleaned up." Nodding the lady quickly grabbed the phone. Leading the boy to the men's restroom he lifted him up and sat him on the counter. Grabbing a towel he moistened it and wiped off the boy's face. "Well there is a little boy under all this." Smiling Yugi reached up and copied the elder's actions and wiped his cheek with his tiny muddy hand. Chuckling softly the man continued to clean the boy and himself off. A soft knock came from the door.

"Excuse me but Here are extra clothes if you wish to change." The lady stuck her hand in the men's room holding out the clothes. Saying a quick thank you Keith grabbed the clothes and helped the boy get out of his heavy wet clothes. Setting the boy down on his bare feet he too quickly changed.

"There doesn't that feel better?" The boy smiled and nodded. Then he lifted his arms up wanting to be held. Lifting the child he said, "Why don't we go get something to eat, hmm? I'm starved and I bet you are too." Nodding the boy laid his head against on his protector's chest. "We left quite a mess didn't we?" He muttered softly. A soft tired giggle came from the boy as he felt him nod against his chest.

Exiting the room he saw the cops were already there talking to the cashier.

"Sorry about the mess in there." Keith said gruffly. The lady only nodded and said it was alright.

"H-how the boy?" She asked softly. Rubbing the boy's back Keith his lips twitched as he looked down at the boy.

"He'll be ok."

Nodding she asked, "Isn't he the boy that was kidnapped in the town not too far from here?"

"Probably. I didn't think the new would have spread so fast." Keith muttered, but mostly to himself.

"And who are you sir?"

"I helped my little neighbor escape."

"Some how I don't believe that that was the reason you were there." One of the cops asked sternly not wanting to be lied to.

"You are correct." Keith admitted softly. Holding the little bundle in his arms closer he softly said, I'm and ex-gang member of the ones who took him." The officers still looked disbelieving. Sighing to himself Keith thought this didn't look good for him. This type of thing didn't happen often, where a gang member saved a boy from his own 'brothers'.

"We'll just see. Lets head down to the station and figure this out." Nodding the man carried to boy to the door.

"Wait!" He turned to see the lady holding out two bags of fruit, two bagged sandwiches, and two bottles of fruit punch. "Please take this. Don't worry about paying I'll do it. I'm sure you're both hungry."

"Thank you ma'am." Nodding the lady watched as they left.

The officers led them into a flashing car. Holding his neighbor closer, as well as the food, he stepped inside.

"Hey little one are you awake?"

"Cold Keith." The boy muttered as he snuggled deeper into the man's clothes.

"Hey would you mind turning up the heat?" He asked one of the officers that entered with them, while the other continued to ask questions to the lady and bystanders.

"Sure thing." He said and turned them up full blast to help circulate it quicker.

"Ok Yugi it will be warm really quick. Let have something to eat hm?" He held out a bag of fruit and the sandwich. Grabbing them the boy placed them in his lap. Them Keith opened the bottle of juice and handed it to him.

"Thank you." The boy said softly, mouth full of sandwich.

"No problem." He said smiling and starting on his own food. The boy had shifted out of the man lap when he became warm and started to make himself conformable on the seat beside the man.

"When will we get to see Yami and Alas?" Swallowing Keith smiled gently and the boy.

"I'm not sure, but first these nice officers are going to ask us a couple questions." He felt he face heat up with embarrassment as he talked 'nicely' about a cop, which he had an undeniable hate for. Mucking in his business all the time, but now he would really have to worry about that since he was no longer in a gang.

"Ok." The boy said sighing, yet the longing in his eyes lingered.

Next chappie they were have a beautiful reunion and a surprise for Keith, a good surprise that is. Trial is coming closer, ya! until next time.

Thank You!

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