Yugi: Another update!

Sorry that it's taken so long to update. I wanted to be sure that the chapters were going to mesh together perfectly and I have limited access to the Internet. We're moving and all the service is at the new place, plus I haven't been to the library in months.

Ryou: Hope you enjoy this and the next chapter since she's doing a double-post.


Yugi slept on the couch in his father's home office with Aknamkanon watching over him. He wasn't about to let Atem and Yami sneak in and possibly traumatize him further. Solomon had been notified of the situation so that the elder didn't have to suffer when he came home to see that Yugi was missing and the signs of blood littering his hallway carpeting. Atem and Yami were going to re-carpet the hallway, the hard way, as part of their punishments.

Aknamkanon had asked that Yugi's belongings be transferred to the East Wing, nearest his own rooms. This was to ensure that the youngest would be safe and that the other two would leave him be. Nobody, not even family, was permitted in the East Wing unless he gave them permission as those were his private rooms. He had a few robots keeping the Wing clean, but even these were limited as to where they could go.


Morning came and Yugi was still sound asleep, looking much like the five-year-old that he had been before everything went wrong. Aknamkanon had Mana prepare and bring their breakfast. While he waited for the android, he gently nudged Yugi's arm, "Time to rise and shine, my little gamer."

Yugi moaned and tried to curl up, "No-wanna. Sleepy."

"What if I said that you could skip your lessons today and explore your new rooms and the mansion?"

Amethyst eyes snapped opened, "No lessons?"

Aknamkanon chuckled at his boy's response, "I promise. You have the whole day to get reacquainted with the mansion and to explore to your heart's content. Just stay away from the two doors with caution tape and random signs."

"Promise Papa," Yugi yawned as he sat up.

Mana entered the room carrying two trays, "Good morning Master Mutou, Yugi."

Yugi smiled sleepily, "Morning Mana."

Father and son ate their breakfasts and talked about Yugi's stay in Metro City.


Atem and Yami were sulking as they got off the bus. Bakura noticed this, "Pops still won't give you guys back the keys?"

"That and he ordered us to stay away from the brat," Yami grumbled.

That got Marik's attention, "So Yugi's finally home? Any idea where he was?"

"No. Dad won't tell us," Atem replied.

"Well, I, for one, don't blame him," Namu began. "You two have hated the kid for his whole life, broke into your grandfather's house and stabbed the poor thing, and expect everything to be fine? You're lucky that he didn't hand you over to the cops for the weekend for the breaking and entering."

The rest of the school day was tiring for the Mutou brothers.


Yugi wandered through the mansion, trying to get the layout re-memorized. After all, he was living with his grandpa in a much smaller house for two years. He had explored the basements and the first floor, and was now on the second floor near the West Wing. Mana suddenly entered the room he was in, "There you are! Your father said that you can skip tomorrow's lessons as well to wander some more, but for now, we must get you to the East Wing!"

"What's wrong Mana," Yugi asked, noticing that the android was sounding worried.

"I've been looking for you all over the mansion and was scared that you had gotten hurt is all," she stated.

"Oh, okay."

Yugi headed out of the room, much to Mana's relief. She chanced a peek outside and saw the two Mutou teens stepping off the school bus. The android scurried out of the room and after her charge.


Yugi was bored and wanted to explore some more of the mansion, but Mana pleaded that he stay in the East Wing at least until morning. He sighed as he pulled a worn journal from his bag. The seven-year-old had yet to unpack his belongings. Yugi opened his journal up to an empty page and began writing.

I can't believe that I'm living with my dad now! He says that I'm to stay in the East Wing of the house after 3 p.m., but he lets me explore until then. I even was told not to go near the entrance to the Wing because it's not safe for me after 3. I heard my brothers complaining to Dad that they have a right to see me, but Dad said no. They scare me. I wish they would have accepted me from the start; but for some reason, they hate me. I saw a disc in the library, I'm curious to see what's on it. I might ask to watch it tomorrow.

~Yugi

Yugi pulled up the mattress and slid his journal the middle before letting the bed drop into place. He sighed as he began to assess his 'new' room and put his belongings away. The seven-year-old felt like his own family were strangers to him after living with his grandfather for two years. Yugi had tried to block out all memory of how Atem and Yami treated him since he could remember, but the night that the two had broken into his home brought all those painful memories back. The poor boy had felt elated when he heard them call him by his given name, but with the stabbing, he had become leery of them.


Two weeks after Yugi had returned home, Aknamkanon decided to have the family try to eat together. He watched as Yugi pushed his food around on his plate, barely interested in eating. Atem and Yami had tried to talk to the youngest member of their family, but Yugi didn't respond. "Papa, I'm not feeling well," Yugi sighed, "may I be excused?"

Aknamkanon understood, "Very well, Yugi. You may return to your rooms. I'll send Mana in later with some broth and crackers."

"Thank you Papa," Yugi said as he left the table.

Atem and Yami were not happy as they watched Yugi leave. "Why'd you let him leave without clearing his plate and not eating everything," Yami demanded. "You never allowed us to do that!"

"Your brother has had a difficult time adjusting to a new environment, Yami! A situation that wouldn't have played out had you boys stayed away from your grandfather's in the first place! He's also terrified of you boys," Aknamkanon pointed out. He glared at Yami, "All his life, Yugi's looked up to you two. But every time I turned around, you two were always hurting him or leaving him alone. I nearly lost him three times; two of those times were because of your selfish and disobedient ways! He's all your mother left us. Don't tarnish that last gift with your anger and pride. I'm going to bed and I suggest you boys do the same. You have school in the morning."


Yami: *glares at me*

Yugi: *Sighs* Yami don't glare at the author. PhantomBrat's doing her best to write and update with limited time and access. She's posted another chapter to apoligize and reward her faithful readers.