Chapter 4
Sugoroku's jaw nearly hit the floor. He stared at the ex-Pharaoh, his violet eyes wide. "W-What?.!"
"Yugi says he is somewhere dark and warm, in some sort of liquid, and he can hear a heartbeat that exactly matches mine. I can feel him through the link as though he were beside me." Yami explained, his crimson eyes locked on his grandfather's. "He is inside me."
"That… that's incredible! You really think that, Yami?" Sugoroku asked slowly.
"It's the only thing that makes sense." Yami said softly, his fingers skimming over the curve of his belly.
The door opened at that moment, the doctor wheeling a machine in. "Alright, young man, if you'll lie back on the bed we'll get this done."
Yami complied, getting comfortable as the doctor prepared everything. He pulled out a tube of strange gel, and then asked Yami to pull up his shirt.
The spirit blinked, and then slowly pulled up his shirt, revealing his bulging stomach and line of ribs. He jumped when the cool gel was spread over his stomach. As the machine settled against his skin there was a rhythmic thumping, a heartbeat.
/Yugi, I'm going to ask you to do something in a moment, alright?/
//Um… okay.//
"Ah, there we are. Yup, it appears you've got a little one in here. Well developed, a little over 13 weeks, it looks like. Alright, now…" the doctor went on muttering to himself.
/Alright Yugi, I want you to move, do something, anything. Tell me what you're doing and when./
//Alright… I'm going to kick my legs… now.//
"Look at that, looks like you've got an active little one already," the doctor said, pointing at the screen.
/It really is you…/
//What's me?//
/I know where you are, Yugi. You're inside me./
//Say what?.!//
/That person did something, you told me that. It looks like you are inside me. I'm pregnant, Yugi, and you are the fetus./
//That's… insane.//
/Yup. But it's true./
"Alright now, Yami, you need to start taking better care of yourself. It's not good that you are so thin; you need to put on some weight. I'm going to prescribe some prenatal vitamins, and you have to make sure to take them," the doctor said as he removed the machine from Yami's stomach.
Yami cleaned off his skin with the towel offered, nodding. Sugoroku helped Yami up, and then the spirit sighed slightly. Life just got a whole lot harder and more complicated…
Yami awoke hot, sweaty, and nauseous. He swallowed, tasting bile at the back on his throat as he climbed to his feet. Even halfway into his fourth month of pregnancy, week 17, the morning sickness still returned for a visit.
Taking care not to bump his swollen stomach, Yami slipped into the bathroom, collapsing on his knees in front of the toilet and heaving.
After a few moments, wrinkled hands reached forward, gathering his golden bangs away from his face, fingers gently rubbing his back. Dry heaves took him, saliva and stomach acid leaking from his mouth. Yami could feel warm tears flowing down his face, but could not stop them.
Finally his stomach stopped contracting, and Sugoroku helped him to stand up. "Come on, my boy, let's get you some tea, it'll help your stomach."
Yami allowed the elder to lead him to the kitchen, where he gratefully collapsed into a chair at the table. The ex-Pharaoh sat for a moment, and then spoke. "Sorry for waking you Grandpa."
Sugoroku shook his head, handing him a damp dishcloth, which the spirit used to wipe at his face. "I was already awake, my boy, down in the game shop. Now here, drink this tea. Your doctor said it will help settle your stomach."
Yami sipped at the tea gratefully, sighing in relief when the churning of his stomach slowly eased.
He felt much better as he finished off the cup, and he smiled at his grandfather. "Thanks Grandpa."
Sugoroku chuckled. "It's nothing Yami," he said kindly. "After all, I've got to take care of my boys." The elder Moto suddenly blinked as Yami's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. "Yami?"
Yami's eyes traveled down, his hand resting against his stomach. "I felt him move, Grandpa! I felt Yugi move!"
Sugoroku's own eyes widened. "You did?"
Yami nodded, a tinge of excitement coming into his crimson eyes. "I'm sure of it! It was small, but it was there!" The ex-Pharaoh stroked his belly gently, a little in awe at this tiny miracle.
There was a chuckle in his mind. //Am I that interesting, Yami?//
/Always, aibou, but this is just… amazing./ Yami murmured in reply, a smile on his lips. /You are amazing, my little one./
//Yami…//
The doorbell interrupted the conversation, and Yami looked up. "The doorbell? Have you not opened yet?"
"No. I wasn't opening while I was down there, just getting things ready to open." Sugoroku replied, standing and moving down the stairs.
"Oh…"
After a moment Yami heard the loud voice of Joey coming up the stairwell. "Hey, Yami! We came ta visit!"
Yami groaned to himself. "Damnit, they don't know about Yugi! Well, better now than later…'
Joey came thundering up the stairs, bursting into the small kitchen. Seto came behind much more calm, Mokuba trailing. "Hey Yami!"
Yami smiled kindly. "Hello Mokuba."
Téa came behind the black-haired boy, a smile on her features. "How are you, Yami?"
Yami returned the grin. "Feeling much better, thank you Téa." The spirit pushed himself to his feet, smiling. "Please excuse my pajamas, I only just woke up."
Mokuba grinned. "I'm in mine, too, no worries!"
Even though Yami's pajamas were rather baggy on him, you could see his stomach curving out the shirt, and Joey immediately zoned in on that fact.
The blond took a step towards Yami. "Geez, they wanted you to put on some weight, but not this much, Yami!"
Sugoroku sensed it about an instant before it happened. He started to shout, but Joey's hand connected with Yami's stomach in what was meant to be a playful gesture.
Yami cried out, doubling over and then dropping to the floor, curled protectively around his belly, Joey's eyes widened, but he was pushed to the side as Sugoroku ran to his grandson's side.
"Joey, you idiot!" Sugoroku called angrily. "You could have hurt the baby!"
All froze. It was silent, and then Seto moved forward, helping Yami roll onto his back. "I need you to breathe, Yami. Keep calm, panicking will do nothing to help." The brunette held Yami's hand against his chest, taking deep breaths. "Just follow my breathing."
Yami gratefully locked onto the CEO, matching his breathing with Seto's, slowing his racing heart and panicked breathing. After a few moments his breathing slowed from near hyperventilation, and he smiled. "Alright Seto, I'm fine now. Thank you."
Seto released the ex-Pharaoh's hand, nodding. "Now then, I'm sure all of us would like this explained."
Yami sighed. "Well, we've found Yugi. He is the fetus within my body, and I'm a little over four and a half months pregnant."
It was silent, and then Joey broke it.
"Say what?.!"
