DD: I finally did it! Chapter four is here! I hope you like this chapter! I own nothing but Akane Bakura. And to be honest, I don't want to own her. Would anyone else like her? If you would, let me know. You can torture her all you like. Just please take her! First come, first served. Also, I'm putting this up for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Watty Pad Awards in the Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Monsters Yaoi Shipping section. If you have a wattpad account, I'd really appreciate it if you voted for it. I understand if you have other stories you prefer as I know this isn't the best story in the awards. But if you do vote for it, I'd be really happy. ^0^ Anyway, enjoy!

Reviews:

Sweetie Cutie Pie: I know, couldn't they? Wouldn't you just love them as your parents? (note the sarcasm)

Petit Muguet: As am I, my friend. :(

Crystallised Snowdrop: So do I :( But it could be worse. At least no one died...aside from Heba and Atemu...

Inori no Uta: I know, but he really does want to get out and he doesn't understand what Yami's going through.

Fluffy Plushie: I really do and I'm glad you like it :)

Umai Dango: I know, he sucks.

Rainbowc: I'm doing my best, my friend. I really am.

Hikari lover: Wow, I'm honoured :D But it wouldn't be much of a story if things didn't go wrong.

San child of the wolves: Thanks; I'm glad you enjoyed :)

Ern Estine 13624: I'm glad you're enjoying it so far :)

Assassin8: Yeah, I actually made a point of checking how much it was worth because I figured Ryou wouldn't have that much money stashed in his room so I just went with what a money converter told me was five US dollars. I'm glad you enjoyed :)

himenoknm: Sorry it's not sooner

Wilbell: Well he won't be in the dark about it forever. Secrets always seem to have a way of getting out.

Pusheen the cat: Agreed!

v flower: I totally agree!

Eschatology: I know, but he'll try.

Mirai Panda: Yeah; when writing it I got so annoyed that I wrote myself in as an octopus and slapped her eight times before taking it out again.

IA Planetes: So do I :(

Fragments of Imagination: That's a great idea! :D

Slinking Fox: I know, I feel the same way.

DarkManedFox: Thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

yuukifudo: Thank you so much! :D

Digidestined Ninja of Sunshine: Thanks so much! I'm really glad you like it! ^-^ And love the nickname. Sadistic snowflake XD

"Grandpa, I'm home!" Yugi called as he walked into the Game Shop, toeing off his shoes.

"Yugi!" There was a large grin on Solomon's face as he greeted his grandson with a hug. "You're home early. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, Ryou's mom came in while we were having breakfast," Yugi replied. "I guess she wanted to spend Christmas alone with Ryou or something…" He shrugged.

Solomon gave him an odd look. "I see…" He rubbed his chin. "Would you remind me who Ryou's mother is? I don't seem to recall meeting her."

"I never met her before today either," Yugi said with a shrug as he took off his jacket. "I think her name's…Akane Bakura."

Solomon frowned at the sound of the name. "I've heard that name before…I'm just not sure where…"

Yugi shrugged and picked up a card and present that he had left on the counter before leaving for Ryou's the previous day. "You probably just heard Ryou mentioning her." He grinned at his grandfather. "I'm just going to bring these over to our new neighbours."

Solomon nodded. "Don't stay for long; they're probably celebrating right now."

Yugi nodded in understanding and left the warmth of the game shop, trekking across the deserted, snowy street towards Yami's house. I hope he won't mind me showing up without telling him…

Banishing the thought, Yugi raised a hand and knocked on the door. All was silent for a few minutes and Yugi frowned. They might have gone to mass or something… I don't know if they celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday or not…

Just as he was about to turn around and go back to the Kame Game shop, the door swung open to reveal a tanned, muscular man with grey hair and hard eyes. "What do you want?"

Yugi looked up at him. "Uh…A-are you Yami's father?" The man narrowed his eyes but nodded. "I, uh…came to give this to him. Well, it's for all of you really, but-"

"How did you meet him?" The man cut him off.

"I-I saw him through the window." Yugi swallowed and nodded across the road at his home. "We're neighbours and from my room I can see into your attic, and I saw him at the window."

The man raised an eyebrow but nodded again. He glanced at the present and card in Yugi's grip. "And those are for him, you say?"

Yugi nodded and held them out to him. "I know he's grounded, but could I maybe come in and say hi to him?"

"No." The man took the objects. "I'll make sure he gets these though."

Yugi smiled. "Thank you. Merry-" Before he could finish his sentence, the door was closed in his face. "…Christmas…"

Yugi sighed but turned back towards his house. The snow had started to fall again, and it was already thick enough that he could only just see his house. He didn't want to be caught outside in it any longer. He glanced both ways out of habit before crossing over to the game shop, but just as he was about to push the door open, he saw the silhouette of someone staggering through the snow. His eyes widened and he shoved open the door. "Grandpa, someone's caught in the snowstorm!"

"What?" Solomon looked up. "Who would be crazy enough to go out in this weather?"

Yugi shook his head and ran out again, just as the silhouette came into full view. His eyes widened at the shock of white hair that matched the snow. "Ryou?"

"Y-Yugi…" The fifteen year old stumbled to a halt, shivering in only a thin jacket, a t-shirt and jeans. "H-help…" He staggered and collapsed.

Yugi yelped and darted forwards to catch him. "Grandpa!"

"I'm coming, Yugi!" Solomon limped outside. Yugi felt a pang of guilt, knowing that the cold always made his grandfather's hip act up. "Come on; let's get him inside before he catches pneumonia," Solomon said, helping to support Ryou's weight.

Yugi bit his lip as they carried the boy inside. Ryou…please be okay…

Yami sighed as he sat up, not having slept all night. He doubted his brothers did either. "Morning," he mumbled.

"Merry Christmas!" Marik cheered, an excited grin on his face.

Yami chuckled at his brother's childish excitement. "You too, Marik."

"So what'dya get me?"

Yami rolled his eyes and reached beneath his pillow, pulling out two wrapped presents. He handed one to Marik and threw the other at the back of Bakura's head. Somehow, the albino managed to catch it without looking.

Marik grinned and shook the present before tearing the wrapping paper off. Underneath the paper was the action figure of Wolverine that Marik had been looking for. It had taken Yami while to get. He had to wait until Aknamkanon was out before ordering it online and having the postman leave it on the doorstep before using a few hangers to pull it up to the window. "Thanks Yami!"

"Don't worry about it," Yami said as Marik hugged the figurine. He sometimes worried about Marik's sanity.

Bakura glanced back at them before opening his own present. Inside was a new black trench coat – he had outgrown his old one. "Hn. Thanks, Pharaoh."

Yami nodded in response as Marik pulled the presents he had gotten them from underneath the couch and handed them to him. Yami opened his, finding a pair of leather pants. He chuckled and thanked Marik. Bakura mimicked Yami's actions, finding a blunted knife with 'Tomb Robber' carved into it.

"What'd you get us, Fluffy?" Marik looked up at Bakura.

Bakura rolled his eyes and stood up, pulling two presents out of the closet. He tossed them at his brothers before sitting on the couch again.

Marik tore off the paper in an excited frenzy. His eyes widened, finding a figurine of The Winged Dragon of Ra. "Yes! Thanks, Fluffy!"

"Stop calling me that!" Bakura snapped as Yami opened his own present to find a t-shirt with the Dark Magician on it.

Yami nodded his thanks. Bakura nodded in response. That was what their relationship was based on as neither liked thanking the other; to express gratitude, they would nod. It was a good system. To them, anyway.

They all relaxed, Marik playing with the two figurines, Bakura thumbing the blade of his knife and Yami just relishing in the peace. After a few minutes of this, however, they heard footsteps.

They looked at each other and cursed in unison before scrambling to hide their gifts. If Aknamkanon knew they were able to contact people, they would be killed.

The only reason that they even had phones and laptops was because Atemu and Heba had been able to buy them for them with the money the brothers had given them – which Bakura managed to steal from Aknamkanon without him noticing.

If he knew that Yami had managed to hack into someone's internet, order things online and that he was texting Yugi, they really would be killed.

Within moments, they had managed to slide the laptop under the couch, shove their phones under Marik's pillow and their gifts into the closet with practised ease. Marik lay down just before the door was opened, just in case Aknamkanon saw the lump under his pillow.

The door was opened in a soft motion rather than thrown open for once and Aknamkanon strode into the room holding four wrapped objects and a card. "Yami." Yami looked up, his heart pounding. "Our new neighbour came by today. He had a gift for you; said that he saw you in the window."

Yami swallowed and nodded. "We had a small conversation."

"How?" Aknamkanon's tone was growing colder with each word.

Yami hesitated. "We just said hi and asked each other a few questions using a marker and paper."

"Show me."

Yami pulled the pad of paper off of the coffee table and handed it to Aknamkanon, who flicked through the messages he had sent to Yugi.

He nodded and handed the paper back to Yami. "I'm warning you. If you tell him…" Yami nodded, looking away. Aknamkanon smirked and dropped the gifts and card on the floor before leaving the room. "Merry Christmas, boys."

When Ryou's eyes fluttered open, he was assaulted by a headache. He groaned, forcing himself to sit up and bringing a hand to his aching head. "Where am I?" He mumbled, looking around.

Hearing a small gasp, he looked up to see Yugi standing in the doorway of what he now recognised as the Mutou's living room, a grin on his face. "Ryou! You're awake!"

Ryou nodded, swinging his legs over the edge of the couch. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?" Solomon asked, coming into the room with a glass of water and painkillers. Ryou shook his head, taking the water and panadol with a grateful smile. "You were walking in the middle of a snowstorm, Ryou. It was lucky that you made it here. If you didn't, you'd probably still be out there." Ryou looked outside to see that it was still snowing, even though it was noon – as far as the clock over the fire said – and it had begun at half nine.

"Why were you outside, Ryou?" Yugi sat down beside his friend.

Ryou looked down, swallowing. "I…my mother…"

"Akane, am I right?" Solomon asked. As opposed to moments before, his voice was cold.

Ryou nodded. "You've heard of her…"

"In the newspapers," Solomon replied in a stiff voice.

Ryou sighed. "She ran out of money and…and heroin. She came back to replenish her supplies and tried to make me take some of the heroin."

Yugi's eyes widened in shock. "But… she's your mother…"

Ryou shrugged. "She doesn't remember who or where she is half the time. I'm surprised she even remembered my name when she came back." Yugi pulled him into a hug and Ryou couldn't help but relish in the comfort that it provided. "Thanks, Yugi," he whispered after pulling away.

Yugi nodded with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about your mother," Solomon said, his voice warm again. "You can stay here for a while. And if she even tries to come near you again…well, I'd like to see her try." He smirked and chopped the air, following the chop with a kick. An audible pop rang through the room and Solomon winced, gripping his hip.

"Grandpa, the nurse told you not to do that!" Yugi protested, but Solomon waved off his concerns.

Ryou chuckled. "Thank you, Mr. Mutou."

"Think nothing of it, Ryou," Solomon replied with a grin. "You can stay here for as long as you need."

Ryou nodded, his heart sinking as he realised that whenever his mother came home, she stayed until she met someone else. I might need to stay for a while longer than he expects…

The sombre mood that had fallen upon the brothers when Aknamkanon arrived had faded away again and Marik was busy tearing open his last present. "Aw… he got me a bear…" He muttered, scowling at the stuffed toy. "Here, Fluffy; you can have it." He threw it over to Bakura.

Bakura scowled. "Why would I want it?"

"You can stab it with your knife or something. I don't know." Marik shrugged. "Since I gave you my present, can I have yours?"

"Sure, whatever," Bakura muttered and threw the package at Marik. Once again, the blonde tore off the paper, grinning at the bag of candy inside.

Yami sighed, shaking his head. "No more than one, Marik."

"But why?" Marik whined. Yami raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Right." Marik cringed, remembering the last time he had gotten hyper. "Okay, but I'm not throwing the rest away."

Yami shrugged. "Fine by me." He looked at the two presents in front of him, deciding to unwrap the gift from his father first. Inside was a booster pack of duel monster cards.

He shrugged, knowing that he could have gotten worse. Then he turned to the gift Yugi had gotten him and unwrapped it with care that he hadn't shown the previous gift.

Inside was a small framed picture of what seemed to be an old Pharaoh from ancient Egypt whose hair was identical to Yami's. Yami blinked in surprise before opening the card accompanying the gift.

Yami,

Merry Christmas! I hope you like your present. My friend's sister had part of a wall covered in hieroglyphics delivered to her museum recently and I saw the picture of the Pharaoh and it reminded me of you because of your hair and how you said that your brothers call you 'Pharaoh'. I know it's not much, but I hope you like it.

Love, Yugi.

Yami felt his heart skip a beat and he re-read the last line a few times to make sure that it was what Yugi had written. Then he grinned and placed the framed picture and the card by his bed before checking his phone.

As he suspected, he had received a text from Yugi.

Merry Christmas, Mou Hitori!

Yami chuckled and responded.

You too, aibou. How are you?

The reply was almost instantaneous.

I'm okay. My friend Ryou's not great though…his mom tried to make him take heroin.

Yami did a double take. "What is it?" Bakura asked, looking over Yami's shoulder.

"Yugi's friend's mom tried to make her son take heroin," Yami replied as he typed his response.

What the hell? That's just messed up.

I know; that's what I thought.

Let's move onto a happier topic; this is depressing.

"No it's not; it's interesting," Bakura protested. At that stage, Marik looked over Yami's shoulder too, but stayed silent.

"Shut up, Thief," Yami muttered.

Good idea. So, did you like your present?

Yeah; I loved it. Thanks, aibou. I have a present for you too; I'll try to give it to you today.

Thanks, Mou Hitori! By the way, there's an awesome online roleplay website if you want to check it out. My friends and I created a group and I can send you an invite to join us.

Bakura's eyes lit up, unknown to Yami. Yami grinned.

That would be great; what's it called?

Capsule Monster Coliseum. It's not a great name, but trust me. The game is amazing!

That sounds great; I'll join when I get the invitation. My email is darkmagicianpharaoh hotmail. com.

Great! Sorry, but I need to go. Talk later?

Sure, aibou. Bye.

Yami turned off his phone and turned to see Bakura grinning like a Cheshire cat. "What?"

"Nothing," Bakura replied, turning back to the bear that he was stabbing with the blunted knife. "Nothing at all."

Yugi yawned as he pulled on his pyjamas, deciding to leave the end of the five hundred piece puzzle that Malik had given him for Christmas until the next day. Out of habit, he checked his phone and found one new message.

"Unknown number," he muttered with a frown.

Shrimp! Why didn't you invite us to join your roleplay?!

Yugi frowned.

Uh…who is this?

I'm your neighbour!

…Who?

-_-' I'll give you a clue. PSYCHO! 8D

Yugi groaned, rolling his eyes.

You're Yami's brother Marik?

Bingo!

Yugi sighed, receiving another message.

You're a foolish mortal with no hope of survival.

His eyes widened.

What?

You will be one of the first to die when the Dark Lord Zorc finally returns and unleashes his wrath upon civilisation.

Who is this?!

Your screams will echo into infinity while the shadows feast on your soul.

By that stage, Yugi was having a small panic attack.

Tell me who you are before I call the police!

Jeez, no need to get drastic, shrimp. I'm the Pharaoh's brother.

Yugi frowned.

But I was talking to Marik just a minute ago…from a different number…

Yugi glanced at his messages from Marik and sweatdropped. "How did he send me twenty messages in two minutes?" He muttered, scrolling through them.

Yugi?

WHY YOU IGNORE ME?!

X_X

It's a whale!

It's sad because you're ignoring me.

Yugi!

Shrimp!

What does aibou mean?!

HELLO?!

Cheese!

Yugi rolled his eyes and went back to his chat with the second number's owner.

I'm hurt; Yami mentioned that psycho and not me?

Yugi paused before his eyes widened in realisation.

Bakura?

He finally gets it.

Why did you text me all those threats! You almost gave me a heart attack!

Almost isn't good enough, I'm afraid. No one likes an under achiever. Now do what all you mortals do best; die.

Yugi frowned.

That wasn't nice.

Neither am I.

Okay, what do you want?

You know that roleplay you were telling the Pharaoh about earlier? Marik and I want in as well.

You mean Capsule Monster Coliseum?

That's the one.

No way; I don't even know you two!

You don't know Yami properly either but you invited him. And besides, if you don't, Marik will just keep spamming you with messages.

Yugi glanced at his messages from Marik and groaned. Fifty. In three minutes. And all of them random.

Alright; I'll send you the invitation too! Just give me your emails.

Mine's tombrobber hotmail. com and Marik's is psychokiller hotmail. com.

Alright, the invites will be there in the morning.

Yugi could almost see the shadowy figure he imagined Bakura as smirking.

Perfect. Sleep well. And next time, do try to die if we give you a heart attack. It'll just save me the bother of killing you while you sleep.

Yugi rolled his eyes.

You've got to stop doing that; it's creepy.

He received no response. Rolling his eyes again after deleting all of Marik's spam texts, Yugi plugged his phone in to charge for the night and checked out the window before closing his curtains and climbing into bed to read for a while.

Just in case Bakura decided to live up to his threat.

"Y'know, you didn't have to throw the snowball that hard," Joey grumbled at the person he was talking to on Skype.

On the screen, Seto shrugged. "You didn't need to start a snow fight with me."

"Touché," Joey sighed, rubbing his arm. "So what are you and Mokuba doing tonight?"

"Mokuba's convinced me to watch a bunch of sappy Disney films with him." Seto shrugged. "I find them boring, but it makes him happy."

"How can you not like Disney films? They're awesome!" Joey protested.

Seto rolled his eyes. "Of course you would say that, mutt."

"I ain't a dog, Kaiba!" Joey growled, only further proving Seto's point.

"Sure looks like it to me."

Joey ground his teeth together only to freeze when he heard the front door of his house slam open. "Sorry to cut this short, Kaiba, but I need to go."

"Wheeler, what's going on?" Seto asked with a frown.

"Can't explain; I gotta go." He logged off his computer without another word. A few moments later, his father stumbled into the room, stinking of alcohol.

"Joseph; c'm'ere," he slurred, glaring at Joey.

Joey gulped and stood up, his muscles going tense. Even on Christmas, he could never catch a break.

Malik pulled off his helmet as he opened the door of his family's apartment and walked inside. It was dark; only a lamp in the sitting room was on. He grinned. Maybe they already went to bed…

He began to tiptoe towards his room only to freeze at the sound of his sister's voice. "Where have you been?"

Malik scowled, now noticing the shape of her head just above the back of the couch. "That's none of your business," he snapped.

"Malik." Odion's voice was calm but demanding. "Don't talk to your sister like that."

Malik ground his teeth together and glared at his siblings. A lot of things that he wanted to say were in his mind, but he settled for the least insulting. "Where's father?"

"Asleep," Ishizu sighed. "You're lucky that he had a bad head cold."

"Yeah; I'm so lucky," Malik muttered in a flat tone, receiving a disapproving frown from Odion.

"I'll ask you one more time, brother." Ishizu stood up. "Where were you?"

"I was out, Ishizu."

"Out where?"

"With friends!" Malik snapped, choosing not to mention that he had taken a trip to the beach on his own and stayed there for several hours before driving back on his motorcycle.

"Is that so?" Ishizu raised an eyebrow. Malik nodded. "Yugi and Ryou, right?" Again, Malik nodded, albeit with a slight bit more hesitant. "So if I called either of them, they would tell me the same story?"

Malik ground his teeth together again, his fists clenching. "Leave me the frig alone, Ishizu!" He snarled. "You don't own me!"

"Malik," Odion said, his tone growing colder.

"And neither do you, Odion!" Malik snapped, glaring at his adopted brother before storming towards his room. "Just leave me alone."

Once he reached his bedroom, he slammed the door and sat on the bed – which, aside from a desk and a chair – was the only piece of furniture in the room. He sighed, his eyes softening and growing sad. He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his head on them. "Merry friggin' Christmas."

When Yami woke up, Bakura and Marik were already awake, the latter messing around with the two figurines he had gotten for Christmas. "Good; you're awake," Bakura sighed, throwing Yami's phone over to him. "You can call Yugi."

Yami scowled. "Bakura, I said I'd ask him for help but you're being unreasonable. He's probably not even up yet!"

"He is," Marik said, looking up from The Winged Dragon of Ra. "We saw him pulling his curtains open from the window."

Yami gave him an incredulous look. "Do you know how much like a stalker you sounded?"

"Yes." Marik turned his gaze to Wolverine but it was clear his attention wasn't on the figures. "But now you can call him."

Yami sighed and glanced at his brothers once more before turning on his phone and calling Yugi's number. He swallowed to moisten his throat as it rang.

After five dial tones, Yugi picked up. "Yami?"

"Morning, Yugi," Yami greeted.

There was a small pause. "Morning. Is there a reason you're calling this early?" There was another pause. "Not that I mind; it's just you said that you were a late sleeper and it's only eight, so-"

"Don't worry about it, aibou," Yami chuckled, cutting Yugi off.

"So why did you call?" Yugi asked.

Yami looked at his brothers once more as if to say 'do we really have to do this?'. Bakura nodded with folded arms and hard eyes, while Marik gave him a sympathetic look.

"Yami?"

Yami sighed and turned his attention back to his phone. "Yugi… My brothers and I… We need your help."

DD: I really hope you enjoyed! Please review! :)