Author's Note: . I hope a few of you were able to pick up on the dark hint at the end of the last paragraph about "other items having spirits sealed in them," as well. Right now, this is only a potential hint of future guest appearances from somebody...My instinct now is to go with Malik, (Marik's bad Yami, and the younger brother of Isis) but there have been some Bakura fans who have been campaigning for his appearance. He seems to be a favorite with a lot of you, and I am flattered that you think that I can write him into this fic. I make no promises but an attempt...not because I dislike Bakura, but because I don't think I can write him well enough to fit with the rest of this story. He's an intriging character, but...yeah. We'll just have to wait and see. Kaiba lovers should rejoice with the new chapters I added to "The End of All Things."

It was meant to be a simple one-shot, that I wrote when I was in a depressed mood, but I loved the interaction between Yami and Kaiba so much that I had to post it. I hope that it is the right amount of angst and humor to keep you happy. I am hoping that "The End of All Things" doesn't evolve into the spiraling epic that "Crown" has become, but it is showing the definite promise of developing that way. God bless you all for sticking with me this long. Anyway, on with the fic...

It was the best of times for the Moto household. Yami had readily accepted both Solomon and Yugi as family, and they

in turn, welcomed him with open arms. Apart from harmless curiosity, the story of Yugi's "cousin from back East" was accepted without question.

Despite their wild hair, and violet eyes, both of the young men-Yami and Yugi- were so quiet and unobtrusive, they were easily over looked, and for that,

Yami was profoundly grateful. It was liberating to the young king to be free to move about without being dogged by a royal guard, to eat a meal without

an elaborate ceremony, to be able to dress and exist as he pleased, without being forced into golden shackles and pressured to maintain his regal mask.

Yami spent most of his days quietly drifting through the moments, continually searching Solomon's vast collection of ancient literature for some hint, or

fragment of his past, or helping out at the Game Shop. Solomon was mindful of Yami's unfamiliarity with the customs and how to operate the cash register,

so he set the industrious spirit to work stocking the back room or arranging displays. Yami simply did as he was told, to the best of his ability, with a quickness

both alarmed and blessed the older Moto. It was not unusal to find Yami lingering rather shyly in the doorway after a task that should take hours, with his eyes downcast,

almost apologetically asking for more work. On occasion, they would eat a quick lunch, Solomon observing Yami as he ate small, timid bites, eyes continually darting

around the room in that ever present wariness. It was almost as if Yami was expecting an attack. He would flinch with alarm with each friendly chime of the doorbells

that hung over the door, to announce the entrance or exit of a customer. One time, Yami was restocking a shelf, when a young boy looking for a particular dragon

only tapped the spirit on the shoulder, and Yami nearly bolted in blind panic. Solomon watched as Yami visibly shuddered, forced himself to focus with tremendous effort,

and with a hard swallow, politely directed the child to the counter where Solomon was perched and waiting. Yami left the child there with a pleading look to Solomon, retreating hastily to the back room. After assisting the customer, and looking around to see that there were no more people in the store, Solomon flicked the sign outside to

"closed," dimmed the lights, and stared with concern at the empty doorway, wondering if it would be more intrusive than helpful to follow Yami.

Solomon had noticed the bizzarre patern of Yami continually fleeing any situation that required social interaction. He was always gracious, polite, and far too regal in

his restraint to enjoy any of it. It had hurt Yugi to have his offers of outings, meetings with friends, or even a simple meal from a drive-through met with the most genteel

refusal, so softly voiced and distancing, that Yugi was left with no way to rebuff the argument. Indeed, Yugi felt strangely manipulated. Yami would then smile, and simply

...go. The interactions between Solomon and Yami were even more strained. Yami seemed to regard Yugi as somewhat safe. He freely smiled at the boy, and even allowed

himself a chuckle on occasion. But with Solomon, there was an unbearable strain between them, that both tried to ignore, or hide. Yami seemed to be almost afraid of the old man, no matter how Solomon sought a way to ease his fears. It was both confusing and hurtful to Solomon, who thought he had been both welcome and accomodating to the

younger boy. It was on this day, that Solomon decided he was quite fed up with dancing around the issue, and the tension between the two finally imploded.

Quietly, he made his way to the backroom, and was shocked to see Yami's head bowed over a glossy edition of the National Geographic. His fists were knotted on each

side, and he was shaking. Solomon's eyebrows quirked as he angled his head to see what on earth could provoke such an extreme reaction, then blanched with sudden

understanding. The magazine was open, displaying a bueatiful picture of the magnificant pyramids-now ravaged by time and crumpled by the ages, and turning to dust under

the cerilian Egyptian sky that brought the tears to Yami's eyes. His face was crumpled in homesick misery, and one hand was splayed over the glossy page, as if his flesh could force it to yield to his command and take him home. He winced at the longing ache for the Nile's waters to wash over him, the cleansing hot wind, the palace, Isis, his father. It was seeing the sacred places he thought too pure and holy to be brought down by something so low as time that hurt. To see the graves of his ancestors violated, the tombs broken into, the remains of his ancestors casually displayed for the pleasure of gawking onlookers, who all gaped and smiled, heedless of their horrible disrespect...It made him sick. It made him so enraged, as he sat there in helpless, futile trembling. How could they?!

Solomon huffed in announcement, and lumbered in, making a rather elaborate effort to ignore the crouched, miserable figure at the small table, as he puttered about, straightening things, and clearing his throat. Yami's head shot up, his eyes wide and vulnerable as Yugi's, lingering for a brief moment, before he abruptly shut the magazine, and rose to retreat. "Excuse me, sir." He bowed to Solomon, and turned to leave. He was stopped by the firm grip of Solomon's hand on his shoulder, and a pointed finger gesturing towards the chair. Yami's unease was clearly increasing to outright embarrassment, and he was unwillingly propelled back to the chair. Solomon's unyielding grip gently forced him to sit back down. Solomon noted the frantic dart of Yami's eyes towards the door, and how defeated and trapped the poor boy seemed to be. Yami ground all of his fingers into the metal arms of the chair, and he seemed to be bracing himself for a blow. Solomon hesitated in irritated compassion. It wouldn't do to startle Yami even more. Solomon considered sitting down next to him, but felt a bit of distance between the two of them might be more soothing for Yami's obvious distress. Solomon lowered himself with a groan, as he waved away Yami's concern. "Old age, my boy. That's what happens when you live long enough." Solomon was

struck by the sharp pain that flitted across Yami's features. If he only knew how ironic that sounds.

"Sir?" Yami asked, quietly, as Solomon gave him a warm smile. "Never mind that, Yami. Now..." he shifted into a more comfortable position, cursed his knees, and

spread his hands outward in a gesture of introduction. "Young man, I believe that you and I have a few issues to discuss." Solomon groused sternly, but with a twinkle in his eyes. "We do?" Yami stared at Solomon as if his head started levitating several feet into the air. "Have I done something wrong, sir?"

Solomon negated the quiry with a grunt, and a wave of his hand. "No, Yami, you have done nothing wrong. But, I want to know why you feel so unwelcome here, young man." Yami looked as if he had swallowed his tongue and was now choking on it, as his eyes bulged with suprise pain. "Sir, you have been more than generous with your hospitality and I sincerely apologize if I seem anything less than grateful for it. I thank you for your kindness." Yami offered in the vague hope that his anger would be assaged, and this conversation ended. It was the same infuriating formality that Solomon had come to loathe over these past few weeks. "My boy, your politeness is quite respectful, but don't think that you can hide behind that with me. I am too old for those games, and you are far too young to need them. Why are you so afraid of me, Yami? Have I done something to make you fear me?" Yami looked up at him with a sudden jerk of his head, the wince and torment rattling to his core, as he inhaled with a gasp. Staring into those violet eyes, that were so like Shimon's, but so much those of a stranger...for one terrible moment, he no longer knew if this whole experience was just another fragmented prison from the Puzzle, and he shook himself. To be so kindly probed under that gentle, but uncompromising scrutiny hurt, and for a few moments, Yami did not know why.

Yami raised his pleading eyes to Solomon, silently, then finally spoke. "It...it is not you, sir. Please understand that. I apologize. Please forgive me for this. I don't mean to show my weakness so openly, and I don't wish to burden you or Yugi any more than I already have. But if you wish me gone, then openly admit it, and send me away. Please don't tolerate my presence out of obligation. I could not stand that, sir. But if you permit me to stay, please, please don't ask me to explain myself. I can't! I'm sorry, but I can not..."Yami's voice ended in a choking hitch of breath, as Solomon rose from his chair with a grunt, and strode forth to Yami, until he was inches away from the young king's face. "Young man, that is the most selfish, outlandish statement that you could possibly come up with!" Solomon bellowed out indignantly, and was rewarded by Yami's face twisting as if he expected to be hit. "I am suprised at you, Yami! Is that what you think of Yugi and I? That we would simply cast you out like trash?"

Yami shivered in absolute misery and humiliation. "How do I know that you won't?! How do I know that you won't betray me?! How can I depend on any truth in anything when everything I know has been absolutely shattered or based on lies?! I am sorry, sir. I'm so sorry!" Yami folded his arms against his chest, and looked so small, and

afraid that Solomon forced himself to bite back the fierce words that were threatening to spill forth. Solomon sighed deeply, in shock, as Yami wearily buried his head in his

hands and rubbed his throbbing temples. "Do you really believe you deserve such treatment? That I'd be so heartless? Do you know how much you mean to Yugi, Yami?
How much he has become, and how much you have brought to him and to me? Why would I want you to leave? Yami, you are part of our family." Yami could only

tremble as Solomon reached forward, engulfed him in a protective embrace, and nod, mutely. Solomon narrowed his eyes, and gave Yami a sad look of understanding.

"Yami, my boy, if I could give you one thing, right now, it would be the certainty that you are wanted, and that neither Yugi nor I would ever hurt you. I don't know who hurt you so, but my boy, it's killing you. I won't press you to tell me what's broken you so much, but I am here for you. All you have to do is accept that."

Yami looked at him, torn, and shivering, and so consumed with the sudden agony that he couldn't speak for a moment. Then he whispered, "I know, sir. I just wish I could accept that. But it's not that simple. I...cannot just let it all go. I'm so sorry."

Solomon released him, with a wry smile. "Mayhaps, my boy, it is time you learned. Nobody should have to carry around that much pain alone." Yami gave him a small smile of hope.