Yami brought Yugi his schoolwork, just like he promised, and Yugi was grateful for the distraction from his situation. Really though, what am I doing to do? he thought. He looked down at the math homework that Yami brought, expecting it to solve his problems for him, not the other way around.
He sighed. Even if he told everyone, nothing would be the same anymore. Now, Grandpa rarely let him out of the house, after he finds out, Grandpa won't even let Yugi out of his room. The gang would look at him with even more pity, and feel like they had to protect him even more. No one understands this feeling… he thought.
Maybe only in girly manga would anyone like to be constantly protected like this. It's like I'm in a cage. A safe cage, but a cage nonetheless. I've got to leave. Now. Yugi sat up in his hospital bed, and detached the blood line that was attached to his arm. He grabbed his shoes that were stored under the bed, shoved them on his feet, then simply walked out of the room. He didn't feel like going through the process of actually checking out of the hospital, so he hunched his shoulders and walked out the visitors entrance.
Safety far from his mind, Yugi walked down the sidewalk, headed for home, and when he finally reached the Game Shop, he almost collapsed from exhaustion. Doing nothing for two days does that to a person. Yugi allowed himself a small smile. He opened the front door and headed straight for the fridge. I've also learned that hospital food tastes like crap. He opened the fridge and frowned, finding nothing. He closed it, turned around, then opened the fridge again, expecting something to appear. Again, nothing. Jeez, am I going insane or something? Talking to my math homework, then thinking that the fridge can magically make food appear? I really need a nap.
He walked to the counter and laid his head on his arms. He didn't keep this position for long though, because just then Grandpa walked in from the living room. "AAAHHH!" he yelled, placing a hand over his heart. "GYAAAHHH!" Yugi fell backwards in his chair legs folding over his head.
"Yugi? Yugi!" Grandpa ran over to his grandson and helped him into a sitting position. "Yugi, what's going on? Why are you in a hospital gown? How come you're not at school? Why didja have to almost give me a heart attack!" Grandpa's tone was a mixture of concern, anger, and a laughing tone.
"Umm, Grandpa, we better sit down." Yugi led Grandpa to the counter where they sat next to each other. "So, would you like to answer any of my questions?" Grandpa asked, arms folded across his chest.
"Actually Grandpa, I can answer all of your questions with just one explanation."
"Oh, you can, can you?" Grandpa smirked. "Can you tell me how Atem and Ishizu are going in their new relationship? Can you tell me why Yami's failing all of his core classes?" Grandpa smiled and so did Yugi. They started laughing. So hard in fact, that Yugi had to wrap his arms around his sides to keep from bursting.
"Thanks Grandpa." Yugi said, when he finally calmed down. "I guess I can't answer all of your questions."
"That's all right my boy. Now really, tell me."
"Well, I was hanging out with Jounouchi, and his old gang members found him, and thought it might be fun to pick on me too. So one of them used a knife to slit my arms, forehead, and cheek." Yugi slightly smiled. Grandpa's expression was unclear, so Yugi cleared his throat and continued. "The doctors checked for any contamination in my blood where the knife hit, but they found none, so they gave me my stitches and sent me home." That last part was a lie though, Yugi thought. He didn't want to admit to his Grandpa that he ditched the hospital just because it was suffocating him. He probably wasn't even fully recovered yet, and they still had to take his stitches out. In hindsight, it was a bad idea leaving the hospital early.
Grandpa just nodded, eyes closed while he thought. When he finally opened his eyes, he looked at Yugi with…was that pride? "Yugi, my boy. You are one of the bravest people I know! Not just anyone could talk about a knife attack like it was a normal subject like the weather! I'm proud of you!" Grandpa clapped him on the back and Yugi forced a smile. But Grandpa, I'm not like that. I'm a coward. I let people hurt me, I could stop them, I could get away…but I'm too weak.
There was silence for a few minutes as they sat at the counter. Yugi finally spoke. "Grandpa, can I be homeschooled?" Grandpa looked at Yugi with confusion in his eyes and laughed a little. "Ha ha ha! Why would you want to be homeschooled, boy? You know you wouldn't learn a darned thing from me!" Yugi smiled because Grandpa smiled. His smiles were contagious.
"Is something going on that's school related though? I can't figure out why you would want to be homeschooled, all your friends are there, your getting good enough grades. Can you tell me?"
If I can't tell my Grandpa, my family, who can I trust with this? Yugi thought this quickly, allowed himself a moment of panic, then took a breath. I should tell him, he's already so worried about me, I hate to see him worry over me. Yugi opened his eyes and faced his grandfather head-on.
"There…there are these guys at school. Always different people, but it all started with the same guy…over and over again." Yugi took a shaky breath then continued. "Um, they were hitting and kicking me, threatening me, they would always corner me when I was alone. I never told anyone because, because it's too embarrassing to admit." Yugi clasped his hands together and didn't look at his grandpa for a long time. "I'm sorry." He mumbled.
Yugi's breaths were shaky, but he tried to focus on keeping them steady. Breathe in, I just told Grandpa. Breathe out, it feels nice. A large weight just fell off of his shoulders. He could breathe again.
"Yugi," Grandpa said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "That is nothing to be sorry for. The guys who are doing this to you should be the ones who are sorry, not you." Yugi looked up in surprised. He had expected that Grandpa would be mad at him, for what reason he didn't know. But there was something different in Grandpa's eyes. And it gave Yugi hope. That maybe someday, maybe even in the near future, that it would be all over.
Yugi leaned over and hugged his grandpa around the shoulders. "Thanks Jii-chan." Yugi whispered and cried tears of joy and relief on Grandpa's overalls. Grandpa smiled and patted Yugi's back. "Your very welcome."
DAAWWW! Dat's just too cute! I love this chapter sooooooooo much! Ok, now I shall go shed tears of joy~ (PS: this story is almost over...I think...now I'm really going to cry...)