Chapter Sixteen: Again

Yami slowly opened his eyes. He had a splitting headache and his left arm was killing him. He blinked then opened his eyes best he could. It didn't take him long to realize he was in a hospital bed. Looking around he saw that he only had an IV in his arm. He sighed, then saw Joey sleeping in a chair next to his bed. "Jo," he said, trying to speak. "Joey," He managed to say in a normal tone. Joey didn't wake up. "Joey!" Yami said a little bit louder. Joey awoke and saw Yami. He sat up immediately.

"Hey buddy!" he said happily.

"Where…what…?" Yami started.

"You're in a hospital," Joey started to explain. "You were in a car accident. And you're Lamborghini's totaled by the way. Oh, and Yugi's fine." Yami sat up immediately.

"Yugi!" he cried.

"Whoa," Joey said standing up. "It's okay. He's fine, I swear." Yami fell silent but still wasn't calm.

"Where is he?" Yami asked.

"With Seigyoku," Joey reassured. Yami sighed and laid back down. "She'll bring him by later." Joey sat down again. They were silent for a while.

"What happened?" Yami asked, to see if he remembered correctly.

"A truck crashed into your car," Joey stated.

"No shit!" Yami said angrily, glared at Joey. Joey said nothing for a few seconds, feeling slightly hurt.

"The weird thing is," Joey said. "That the owner said the keys were out and it was in park. Plus the street you were on isn't a hill; it's flat. No one knows how it went forward." Yami said nothing. "The cops said it had to be going at least sixty miles an hour. None of it really makes sense." Again they were both silent.

"When's Sei coming?" Yami asked, staring at the ceiling.

"She didn't say when I called her," Joey answered. Silence consumed the room permanently that time. Yami sighed and turned on his side. Memories of Yugi filled his mind…and Anzu. Now he remembered; Seigyoku had accused Anzu of molesting Yugi because he said something about a game….though it was kind of blurry. Yami started to feel sleepy. Slowly…his eyes fell shut.

Once again Yami opened his eyes. It was dark in the room now; only moonlight shined through a window big enough to light the whole room. No one was there…except Yugi who was asleep next to Yami. Yami smiled, tears burning his eyes. He turned on his right side; back to the windows and facing Yugi. He gently pulled the sleeping toddler closer to him. Yugi's face was red and swollen, obviously from crying. Yami gently kissed Yugi on the cheek and ran his fingers through his son's lightening bolt bangs. He then noticed a large bandage on Yugi's forehead. Yami blinked and gently lifted it up; five stitches. He sighed in relief, knowing it could have been worse. Yami watched Yugi sleep for a while, gently playing with his hair, his smile never leaving his face.

Yami awoke again in the morning, this time everyone was there. They all smiled when he sat up.

"Morning," Seto said softly. Yami smiled.

"You feeling okay?" Seigyoku asked worriedly.

"Yeah," Yami said with a nod. "I'm alright."

"Samara says you can leave this afternoon." Joey stated.

Yami blinked. "Samara? She's not my doctor." The door opened and the blonde walked in the room.

"Well," Samara explained. "If you work for Mr. Kaiba, you're my patient." Yami chuckled. "How do you feel?" she asked, getting her clipboard ready.

"A little sore," Yami said.

"Where?" she asked without looking at him.

"My left arm," Yami said, sitting up straighter.

"Hm," Samara wrote it down. "That's expected. We did X-Ray it. It's not broken." Yami nodded.

"What about Yugi?" Yami asked. He picked up Yugi, who was still sleeping, and cradled him in his arms.

"Oh he's fine," Samara explained. "Just that cut on his forehead from the windshield and all." Yami looked down at Yugi. "The owner," Samara continued. "Offered to either pay for the hospital bill or the car." Yami blinked. "Which do you want?" Yami thought about it.

"The car!" Joey said. "Put him in debt!" He smiled evilly.

"Be nice!" Seigyoku scolded.

"I'll think about it," Yami said. Samara nodded and handed him a small card. He blinked as he took it.

"It's the owner's card," she said. "Call him when you've made your decision." Yami nodded. After a quick check up by Samara, Yami and Yugi were able to leave. Yugi still didn't wake up. Yami worried about that when he got into Seto's limo.

"He stayed up till midnight," Seto explained. "Poor thing was scared to death about you." Yami looked down at Yugi and held him closer. He ran his fingers through Yugi's hair. Seigyoku, who was sitting on the right side of Yami, leaned on his shoulder. Yami kissed her on the cheek. They were taken to Seto's mansion. When they got there, Yami sat on Seto's couch and sighed heavily.

"Damn it," he said above a whisper. Joey blinked at him.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," Yami said. "Just a little tired."

"You want to go rest in a guest room?" Seto offered. "When you wake up, we'll fix you something to eat."

Yami smiled. "You don't mind?" Seto shook his head. Yami got up, thanked Seto, and went to a guest room. Before lying down on the bed, he took his shoes off and Yugi's too. He held Yugi close in his arms. He gently kissed Yugi's forehead and whispered "I love you." Slowly he closed his eyes and rested for an hour. When he woke up, he saw Yugi sitting up rubbing his eyes. "Hey," Yami said, with a smile. Yugi whirled around.

"Daddy?" he said. Yami nodded and smiled. He sat up. Yugi ran to his father and started to cry. Yami forced himself not to laugh at how cute Yugi was acting. He picked up Yugi and rocked him.

"It's okay," he said. "We're all right."

"I was scared," Yugi said through sobs.

"I know," Yami said. "I was too."

"You were?" Yugi asked looking up.

Yami nodded. "Yes, I was.." He gently wiped Yugi's tears away with his thumb. "When I woke up in the hospital, and you weren't next to me, I was afraid you were hurt." Yugi said nothing as he looked at his father. "But you're okay," Yami said. "All you have is a small cut on your forehead." Yami gave Yugi a firm hug. Yugi put his small arms around Yami's neck.

"It hurt," Yugi said.

"What?" Yami asked.

"The cut," Yugi explained. "When Ms. Samara was cleaning it and sewing it." Yami smiled gently. "Ms. Seigyoku was with me the whole time." Yugi finished. "She let me sit in her lap." Yami hugged Yugi again.

"Did you thank her?" he asked.

Yugi fell silent. "No…not yet, I mean." He admitted. "I was too worried about you."

Yami chuckled. "Well, be sure to thank her later, alright?" Yugi nodded. The door started to open. Both looked up as Seigyoku poked her head in.

"Hey guys," she said as she walked in and closed the door behind her. "Do you two feel better?" she asked, sitting on the bed. Yugi crawled out of Yami's arms and to Seigyoku. He sat on his knees and hugged her neck.

"Thank you," he said softly. Seigyoku put her arm around him.

"No big, I'm used to taking care of things like that." Yami smiled at her. Yugi looked up at Seigyoku and smiled. "You two hungry?" she asked. Yugi looked at Yami and Yami nodded once. They all got up, Yugi in Seigyoku's arms, and went to the dining room. Joey and Kaiba were already setting the table.

"Hey!" Joey said, when he noticed Yugi. He smiled and Yugi smiled too. Joey took him from Seigyoku. "You feeling better?" Yugi nodded. Joey started to put Yugi on his shoulders, but Seto swiped him from Joey. Joey glared at him and Seto gave Yugi a hug. "You mind!" Joey asked.

"No," Seto said calmly. Yugi giggled. Yami smiled and shook his head. Seigyoku stifled at laugh. Seto put Yugi in a chair and everyone started to sit down.

"What did Samara say about the stitches?" Yami asked Kaiba.

"She said they should be ready in two weeks and if he has a headache tomorrow do let him go to school." Seto explained. Yami nodded.

"You hungry?" Joey asked Yugi as he sat down.

"A little," he answered. Joey smiled lightly.

"You have insurance, right?" Seto asked Yami.

"Yeah," Yami answered. "But I'm not sure if 'driverless' counts."

"I'll help you out." Seto said. Yami nodded.

"What car are you going for now?" Joey asked. Yami shrugged.

"Get a Corvette!" Seigyoku said excitedly. Yami looked at her weirdly.

"Why?" he asked. "There's no room in that thing."

"But it looks good," She added with a smile. Yami rolled his eyes. Yugi giggled. Yami smiled at him.

Once the dinner was over and everything was cleaned up, Yami decided to head home. "Thanks, Seto." Yami said.

Seto smiled. "What are friends for?"

"I thought you know everything." Joey remarked. Seto glared at him as he smiled widely. Yami laughed and left with Seigyoku and Yugi. Yami saw Seigyoku's Mazda in the driveway and guessed that she had come here first and Seto had given her a lift to the hospital. As Yami got in the passenger side, he sighed.

"What?" Seigyoku asked, looking at him and starting the car.

"It's so….small." Yami said. Seigyoku glared at him and put the car in reverse.

"Deal with it!" she said as she drove. The ride home was mostly silent.

Once they did get home, Seigyoku opened the door and said "Kiwi! I'm home!" The happy tabby ran from the kitchen and started rubbing on Seigyoku's leg. She kneeled down and started petting the car. "Did you miss me?" A long meow was her answer. She smiled. Yugi started to pet the cat too. Kiwi happily let Yugi pet him.

"He missed us dad!" Yugi said happily.

"He missed you two," Yami said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh Yami," Seigyoku said. "Kiwi's just protective. He doesn't hate you."

"Yeah right," Yami answered. Kiwi gave a short meow. Seigyoku giggled. "I'm gonna go take a shower."

"Kay," Seigyoku answered. Yami headed upstairs, unaware of Kiwi following him. Yami started up the water and got in as soon as it was warm enough. As he was taking his showers, he noticed small cuts and bruises, mostly on his left side, from the accident. It didn't bother him; he knew they would all be gong by the end of the week. After his shower, he dried himself off and put on his robe. He walked into the bedroom and saw Kiwi lying down on his pillow. Kiwi meowed at him. Yami ignored him and looked in his drawer for his pajamas. Once he was dressed he laid down on his bed. Kiwi got up and got on Yami's chest again. Yami opened one eye and looked at the cat.

"You remember what happened last time you were on me right?" he asked. A meow was his answer. "What do you want?" Yami asked. Kiwi gave another shorter. Yami sighed and started to gently pet Kiwi, who started to purr as Yami started to daydream. The crash kept replaying in his mind. He wondered about all the deadly 'what ifs'. If that truck had been going fast enough, Yugi would be…an orphan. His eyes started to burn and when he opened them, tears fell. Yami was sort of surprised he was crying. Maybe he was more worried than he thought. He started to wipe his tears away, when Kiwi rubbed his head against Yami's cheek, as if wiping the tears himself. Yami blinked at Kiwi, who meowed. Yami smiled. "You're not half-bad." Kiwi started to purr again and slightly wagged his tail.

"Daddy?" Yami heard. He looked up and saw the cutest site ever. Yugi was in his doorway, wearing the moon and star pajamas Seigyoku had gotten him, but the sleeves and legs were much too long.

Yami chuckled. "C'mere," he said. "I'll fix it." Yugi stumbled over to Yami, surprised his father by not tripping at all. Yami picked him up and sat him on the bed and began rolling up the sleeves. Seigyoku walked in when he was finished.

"Hey you two," she said. She sat on the edge of the bed.

"Look Ms. Seigyoku!" Yugi said, showing her his rolled up sleeves.

"Oh c'mon!" She said jokingly. "I wasn't that tall!" Yugi giggled.

"Actually," Yami said as he finished rolling Yugi's pant's leg. "You were." Seigyoku glared at him.

"I still like them," Yugi said referring to the pajamas. Seigyoku smiled.

"Glad to hear it." she said. Yugi smiled. Kiwi meowed and they all looked at him. "Aw!" Seigyoku said. "He feels left out!" Yami rolled his eyes.

"Kiwi," Yugi said as he began to pet the cat. Kiwi purred loudly as Seigyoku start to scratch his neck. "He likes it dad," Yugi said. Yami smiled at Yugi. He glanced at the digital alarm clock. It was 9:30 pm.

"Well," Yami said. "It's past your bedtime."

"Aww!" Yugi said as Yami picked him up. Yami gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Say goodnight to Seigyoku." Yami said. Yugi did; Seigyoku stood up and gave Yugi a hug. He hugged her neck. She gently kissed his forehead.

"Night," she whispered.

"Night," Yugi replied. Yami smiled and bought Yugi to his room and tucked him in.

"Night son," he said.

"Night dad," Yami turned off the lights as he walked out and Yugi turned on his side. Yami and Seigyoku went to bed as well.

As they all slept, Yami digital alarm clock slowly turned to 6:06:06am. Yami and Seigyoku awoke to Yugi's screaming. They quickly slipped on their robes and rushed into Yugi's room; his pajama shirt was covered in blood. "Yugi!" Yami shouted as he took the toddler out of the bed sheets.

"I'll be good! I'll be good!" Yugi screamed over and over through his sobs. Seigyoku tried to help, but when Yugi saw her he desperately tried to get away. She backed off and let Yami try.

"Yugi!" he said trying to calm his down. "It's okay, I'm here now!" Yugi settled down slightly. Yami bought him into the bathroom and sat Yugi down on the edge of the sink. He saw that the blood was coming from his formerly-stitched cut. It was as if it had never been stitched. "Seigyoku," Yami said from the bathroom. "Go get the first aid kit from my bathroom."

"Okay!" she answered. Yami heard her run from the room and come back a few minutes later. She handed him a small white box.

"Thanks," he said. He opened it and got some gauze from it. He slowly wrapped it around Yugi's head to control the bleeding. Then he got a breakable ice pack from the kit. He broke it and it became cold. "Hold this to your forehead," Yami told him gently. Yugi did so and Yami picked him up. "Seigyoku," he said. "Get the car started," She nodded and went downstairs. Yami grabbed his cell phone from his bedroom and called Seto as he walked to Seigyoku's car.

"Hello?" a very tired voice said.

"Seto?" Yami asked.

"Do you know what time it is?" the CEO asked.

"I know," Yami said. He got into Seigyoku's care and she started driving. "But Yugi's stitches were…uh…ripped. Can you get Samara at your house?"

"Yeah!" Seto said, now awake. Seigyoku was now at a red light when Yami had finished the conversation. She glanced at Yugi, who was still slightly crying into Yami's robe. She always felt so useless when Yami and Yugi had moments like this.

They arrived at Kaiba Mansion Samara's car was already parked. Yami didn't have to knock once he got to the door. Joey had been waiting at the window and let them in.

"He okay?" Joey asked.

"Yeah," Seigyoku answered. "It's just bleeding." Joey nodded and led Yami to a lab room. It looked just like a doctor's office. Samara was washing her hands when they entered.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Sorry to wake you," Yami said.

"I've had earlier," she replied. Yami sat on the examination table with Yugi in his lap, Seigyoku sat in a chair, and Joey and Seto stood in the doorway. "Okay," Samara said as she dried her hands. "Let me see." She walked over to the table. Yugi turned away; Yami frowned sympathetically.

"Yugi," he said. "Just let her see. She won't do anything yet." Yugi looked up at him, then slowly turned around. Samara gently unwrapped the gauze and examined the cut.

"Where's…" she asked in disbelief.

"When I went get him, the stitches weren't there." Yami explained.

"It looks like they were just taken out before they're time." Samara said. "Yugi," she continued. "Who did this?" Yugi hesitated to answer. He looked at Seigyoku.

"It's okay," Yami said comfortingly.

"Mommy," Yugi answered. Samara turned to Seigyoku and looked at her wide-eyed.

Seigyoku glared at her. "He ain't mine!" she yelled in frustration.

"Oh," Samara said. "Sorry Sei,"

"Yugi," Yami said. "Mommy's dead…remember?" Yugi nodded. "She's not coming back." Yami continued to explain reluctantly.

"She is back," Yugi said. "And she's mad at you….and me." Everyone fell silent. Yami looked at Seto and Joey confusingly. They shrugged.

"Yugi," Yami said. "I need to talk to Joey and Seto for a minute." Yugi looked up at his father.

"No!" he said in a fearful voice. He hugged his father.

"It's okay," Yami said. "Samara's not gonna start without me." Yugi looked up at Yami, tears in his eyes. Yami smiled reassuringly. Yugi looked down. Yami kissed him on the cheek then took him off his lap. "I'll be right back." Yami said before walking out the door.

Yami shut the door behind him. "What the hell?" Joey whispered. Yami glared at him. "Sorry," he said. "But still!"

"You think he's making this up?" Seto asked.

Yami shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "He does read a lot, but he doesn't seem that creative." They all fell silent. Then Yami stated "Seigyoku thinks Anzu molested Yugi."

"What!" Seto and Joey said in unison. Yami told them everything, even what very little he remembered from his conversation.

"Maybe you didn't ask him right." Joey said.

"Well," Yami said, a little frustrated. "You ask him!" Joey said nothing.

"My psychiatrist works with children too." Seto said. Yami looked at him, unsure. "I swear," Seto said. "She won't make anything obvious." Yami still hesitated. He sighed in defeat.

"Fine," he looked down at the floor. Joey put a hand on Yami's shoulder.

"We'll be there for you." he said. They all smiled and went back inside.

Samara leaned against the wall as Yugi and Seigyoku stayed in their places. She looked at Yugi. His cut was pretty bad. She didn't want to, but she knew she had to stitch him again. She frowned at him sympathetically. She remembered the first time she had to stitch him. The poor thing was crying out of pain and fear for his father.

Yugi was sitting on the examination table. He wanted his dad to come back. He looked up slightly. Both Samara and Seigyoku seemed to be in deep thought. He sighed, hoping his dad would return.

Seigyoku just sat in her chair; partly daydreaming. Yami had never actually sat her down and explained to her about his wife. They'd been going out for five months and she didn't even know Yugi's mother's name. Then again, it probably wasn't even her business. She sighed softly, not knowing what to think.

The door opened and Yami walked in. Joey and Seto stayed in the doorway. Yami stopped to talk to Samara. "Are you?" he asked softly.

Samara shrugged. "It was bleeding last time, so I had to do it. But now it's optional."

Yami thought about it. "Which would be better?" he asked.

"Oh, he'll be fine both ways," she said. "But if I don't, it'll leave a visible scar and take longer to heal." Again Yami sighed. He walked over to Yugi and sat next to him.

"Listen Yugi," he said. Yugi's eyes widened slightly. "I know you don't want to do this, but it would heal faster." Yugi said nothing. His stomach turned and couldn't believe he would have to go through that type of pain again. Yami gave Yugi a firm hug; Yugi didn't respond. "It'll be okay," Yami whispered. Samara sighed and started to get the things she needed from the kit she bought. Yugi looked at the floor. He closed his eyes when he heard Samara walk over to him. He felt her rub some numbing cream on his forehead. Yugi squeezed his eyes shut and gasped when he felt the needle prick his skin. Tears slowly flee down his face as Samara continued.

After about five minutes, Samara said "Okay." Yami gave Yugi a hug. Samara put a bandage over Yugi's stitches and started to clean up her stuff.

"There you go!" Yami said as he got up. He smiled at Yugi. Yugi wiped his eyes and rested his head on Yami's chest.

"Who wants breakfast?" Joey asked from the door. Everyone smiled and headed for the kitchen. Seto and Joey had prepared every kind of breakfast.

"Wow," Seigyoku said. "I'm getting hungry just looking at it." Seto chuckled.

"Mr. Kaiba," Samara said. Seto looked at her. "I shall take my leave now." She headed for the door.

"Samara," Seto said, stopping her. "How about you stay?" he said, walking over to her. She blinked.

"Really?" she said. Seto smiled and nodded. "Thank you sir." she said.

"Please," he said. "Call me 'Seto'." Samara nodded. He led her to the kitchen and every sat down at the table. They ate breakfast mostly through conversation and laughter. Even Yugi was cheering up, but even through all the festivity, Yami still felt like the only one who could help Yugi cope his mother's parting….this is, if Anzu had departed.