Two Years Later...

Yugi woke up later than he was used to and wondered why his grandfather hadn't woke him up. The 7-year-old threw his covers back and got out of bed to find out why. as he wandered through the house, there was no sign of the elderly man. Yugi vaguely remembered that his grandpa was leaving for Egypt early.

He sighed as he pulled a chair over to the counter. In the past two years, Yugi hadn't grown much. As he climbed onto the counter-top in order to reach the cupboard that held his cereal, Yugi realized that today was the day that he would get his newest wristband. It was also the day that his father would come to check up on him and leave Mana to watch him until Solomon returned from his latest trip.

She had been supervising him for his homeschooling while Solomon was traveling. The small boy always looked forward to these times because he could ask Mana numerous questions about the various subjects and she would answer in a way that he could understand.

LINE

Aknamkanon had told Yami and Atem that he was going to check on the game shop as Mana loaded a few bags into the car for him. "Can we go with you this time," Yami questioned him.

Internally the man groaned. This was a repeat of every other time he had announced that he was headed to the game shop for any reason. For the past two years, he had kept the two away from there unless Yugi was out for a while. Aknamkanon was concerned that they would mistreat their baby brother if they discovered that he was staying there. He was also troubled by the fact that the nanites had slowed his aging down considerably, hindering his growth. Yugi still looked like a five-year-old, yet he dressed like those in his age group.

"You boys stay here and finish your assignments," he replied. "I can handle dropping Mana off and checking things over before I come back."

Yami groaned, "You used to leave us there just a few years ago with no problem."

"You boys are still in high school and have to work as well," their father pointed out. "I'll be home in a few hours."

LINE

Yugi watched the National Geographic channel while he waited for his father to call and say that he was pulling into the hidden drive. He had grown bored and was close to dozing off when the phone rang, startling him. It was his father's number.

"Papa," Yugi started, "Did you bring Mana? I can't wait to see you. Yeah. Grandpa changed the passcode. It's the attack of my favorite fiend-type Duel Monster. See you in a few, Papa."

Yugi had always wondered about the whole password thing. All he could remember was that it started a few months after he had started living there and there were a couple of prowlers at the back door. After they had broken a potted plant, Yugi had thrown various junk items out of the spare room and actually hit one of them in the head with an old yearbook. His grandpa had to pull him back from the window and scolded the trespassers.

The next day, while he picked up the stuff he attacked the vagrants with, his father and grandfather had installed the code-protected key-box and changed the locks. The passcode was changed regularly, at least when Yugi was going to be home alone for a few hours and needed checked on. The boy was given a clue to give to his father each time.

The boy ran to his room and changed out of his favorite fleece pajamas and worn t-shirt into a long-sleeved, tan shirt with a lightweight, black, sleeveless shirt and black jeans. He made sure that his new wristband was where he could put it on later and snapped a few other bands onto his opposite wrist. After buckling his choker, Yugi ran to the living room and jumped over the back of the couch, into his favorite place. Just as he landed, the door opened. "I won," Yugi beamed. "Dressed and in the living room before you got into the house."

"Did you do your teeth? Hair," Aknamkanon inquired, smiling at Yugi's antics.

Yugi blushed, "Oops. I guess you win this time, Papa."

"Looks like a certain little boy doesn't get a piece of cake later," a familiar voice stated.

Yugi's eyes went wide, "MANA! I missed you!"

Before the boy could glomp her, the android quickly adjusted her internal stabilizers for the much anticipated hug. She had learned the hard way that an excited Yugi was a very expressive Yugi.

LINE

While Aknamkanon was away, Yami looked to his brother, "I'm tired of Dad leaving us home while he's at Grandpa's."

"We can't even get in there anymore. Remember Grandpa had all the locks changed and the thing his spare key is in is password protected. Dad doesn't even have a 'spare' spare key," Atem pointed out.

"They're keeping something from us," Yami stated. "And I'm going to find out what it is."

Atem sighed, "Just remember that we're probably the reason that Grandpa's paranoid about the shop."

*^*^*^FLASHBACK^*^*^*

In the months following Yugi's leaving for another member of their family's home, the two brothers had grown suspicious of their father's constant visits to their grandfather's home and their being left out each time. After their father had left for a business trip,Yami and Atem left the house and headed to the game shop.

Yami accidentally knocked over a potted flower and broke it. Suddenly a window in a rarely used room on the second floor opened up. Various useless objects ranging from old shoes to heavy books rained down on the two brothers. Atem had gotten hit in the head by an outdated yearbook from their grade-school years.

After the barrage of junk, there was the sound of a muffled yelp and their grandfather looking out of the window, "You kids better not be tagging my wall again! Head home before I call the police!"

Yami and Atem hightailed it home before their grandfather found out it was them.