Author's Note: You know that mood you get into when you just want to write and then NO ONE will leave you alone? Yeah, that was what was happening to me this entire past week. I was like, "Leave me alone, damn it!"

So, yes, this chapter took awhile. ^^' But, I think my efforts will be rewarded, 'cause this chapter is pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.

(In case there's any confusion, this entire chapter is a flashback. Hope that doesn't scare anyone away… Happy reading!)

Chapter 6

Yugi leaned on the door of her parent's bedroom and listened.

"You don't know what's best for her. You are not her parents. We are. We know what's best for her."

Her father.

"How could you? You weren't even involved in most of her life! I took care of her all those times you went off and abandoned us when you claimed to have more important things to do!"

Her brother.

"We were providing for you! That is why we are the parents and you are not!"

Her father again, his voice now strained to top that of his son's.

"I am more a parent to Yugi than you! I took care of her and protected her entire life! How can you make decisions for her future without my knowledge when I am the one who rightfully deserves to make them?"

Her brother once more, the truth in his words leaving an almost tangible sting in the air.

Yugi was glad her mother wasn't present for this argument. After her brother had began fighting with her father with not hint that he would ever surrender, Yugi's mother had gone on a walk to clear her head. Her mother was always getting headaches, an overused excuse to avoid housework and the raising of her children. No, do not misunderstand, Yugi loved her mother. But, it was true that her parents were off doing "more important" affairs during the most crucial times in their children's lives when they should have been present.

Harsh, rough footsteps came nearer to the door. Yugi scrambled away, not wanting to be caught spying. She knew her brother hated that. But, hiding was irrelevant at that point.

Because, he called her back.

"Yugi! Yugi!"

Timidly, she returned back to the entrance to her parent's room. She asked in a small yet steady voice, "Yes, Brother?"

"We are leaving," he stated calmly.

Then, he began to walk away.

"Brother?" Yugi tripped after him, questioning, "What do you mean we are leaving? Wasn't I supposed to go to the palace soon and be offered to the Prince?"

Her brother's strides stopped. He swerved back to face her.

"That is exactly why we're leaving. You don't belong to them and you don't belong to any Prince."

"Then, whom do I belong to?" Yugi wondered to him.

He was silent.

"You… you belong to…" His voice sounded distant, though he was just a few feet in front of his sister. Finally, he finished, "… me." His tone immediately shifted to that of what Yugi was used to, telling her strongly, "I took care of you; therefore, you belong to me."

"So, who belongs to me then?" Yugi asked, her sight-neglected eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Nobody," her brother answered instantly, "You can't take care of anybody. That is why someone needs to take care of you." He leaned in closer, just a few feet from Yugi's pale face. He whispered, "And, that person who takes care of you will always be me. It won't be our parents, and for certain, it won't be the Prince of Egypt. You solely belong to me, Sister."

Yugi self-consciously began to shiver, her blood running cold. Somewhere, deep inside her, she felt her moral compass crying, "No, Yugi, you don't belong to anybody! Don't listen to him!" But then, in her logical mind, another voice rose, "No! Do as Brother says! He has always taken care of you! And, if you did resist his orders, it wouldn't end well for anyone!" That voice spoke truth, truth too strong to ever ignore. But, did the other speak truth as well?

It was an all too familiar feeling, being afraid of her brother. It went without saying that he was a daunting person. No one in their small town outside the main capital opposed her brother. He had a certain, frightening charisma that made people stay on his side and refuse to do anything that went against him. And, those who didn't were eliminated.

Yugi knew she had to follow him. If she didn't, people may get hurt just as they had in the past.

During this time, her brother had changed his mind about leaving. Instead, a different plan formed. And, he needed Yugi to stay out of it.

Her brother walked past Yugi, stating, "Go to your chambers. Do not come out until I say. Do you understand, Yugi?"

Yugi did not respond.

He turned and repeated in a deep tone, "Do you understand me, Yugi?"

"Yes…" her reply came but soft. This subordinate whisper did not belong to the seventeen-year-old young woman named Yugi but of the small, blind girl being ordered around by her brother as if he was one of her parents.

"Good," her brother approved, disappearing down the hall.

Yugi ran to her rooms and closed the door. She fell onto her bed and finally let the tears flow. While she choked on her emotions, she thought deeply.

Other older brothers were not like him, she thought. They were caring and kind and did not order their little sisters around. Either that, or they were teasing and playful, never stern like a parent. Yet, Yugi's brother was not like either of those things. He was an entirely different person.

He unofficially owned their small town, and Yugi knew it, too. Being blind didn't make her ignorant like her brother often seemed to believe.

Yugi wished her brother's childhood friend Seto had stayed. He had left only two or so years after he had entered the Motou children's lives. Where he had gone, no one knew. All Yugi was sure of was that Seto had made her brother less hostile. And, when he left, he unknowingly made her brother's possessiveness of her and aggression a hundred times worse.

Only Yugi's parents could control her brother and not all the time because of how often they were gone. Only they stood between her brother and the destruction of everything Yugi knew.

"Yugi?"

Yugi sat up, asking in the strongest voice she could muster, "Yes, Mother?"

Yugi's mother walked in, smiling though Yugi did not know. Her walk had been very pleasant, and she was completely oblivious to the fight between Yugi's brother and father.

"Why are you crying, Yugi?" she asked in a motherly tone, sitting down on the edge of her daughter's bed. She brushed some forgotten tears of Yugi's face.

Of course, Yugi could not tell her mother what was troubling her. If Yugi had told her that her brother was planning to take her away, they still would not have been able to stop him. Besides, it would be false information, being that her brother had already discarded that plan for a new one.

"I… I am just upset that Brother and Father were fighting again…" It was only half a lie.

"Hmm, yes," her mother hummed. Her tone hinted that she was smiling as she commented, "It's nothing new, though." She stroked Yugi's head gently and assured, "Don't worry, Yugi. Soon, you'll be at the palace. The Prince is very excited to meet you, I'm sure."

Yugi did not respond. Tears threatened to fall again.

Did she want to meet the Prince? Perhaps. But, more than that, she wanted an escape from her brother. And, her only chance was slipping through her fingers like Egyptian sand through an hourglass.

Her mother's weight lifted off her bed. She began to make her way out, saying, "Your father and I are leaving again for another trip. We'll be gone for a while, Yugi."

"You're leaving?" Yugi began to shake. She wanted to scream, "You're leaving, so that Brother can easily leave and take me far away where I'll never be with you again?" But, the second part was suffocated in her mind before it could reach her lips.

"Yes," Yugi's mother answered and left her daughter's chambers, departing with a small, "Good-bye."

"Good-bye…" Yugi's amethyst eyes flooded with tears. She did not know how long it would be before she heard her parent's voices again or even if she would.

Now, Yugi was not one to hold a lot of resentment. She only rarely showed anger or anything close to that, but her brother was about to deprive her of everything she held close. And, that was nearly unforgivable.

She made up her mind to sneak out, despite her brother's orders, when the sun set. She knew the sun had set when the crickets began to chirp. So, patiently, she waited for that time.

Several hours later, the cricket's song began, and Yugi was ready.

She took just herself and left her chambers, tiptoeing towards the long staircase. But, at the top, she heard voices and slipped into the shadows behind a corner. She gently pressed her ear to the wall and listened to the voices. Only one was recognizable.

Her brother's.

"It is done, Motou," an unknown voice reported to her brother.

Yugi bit her lower lip. What was done?

"And, you made it appear to be an accident?" Yugi's brother asked, not even a hint of emotion infiltrating his tone.

"Yes," another mysterious voice answered, saying, "You are now the only heir to the noble Motou family."

Yugi forgot to breathe, her face draining of all color.

"Good. I don't need to burden myself with them anymore," her brother approved, folding his arms. He continued, beginning to slowly pace back and forth, "Did I ever tell you two of my younger sister?"

"Yes, you did, Motou," one of them replied.

"Good, then I do not need to repeat myself." Motou commanded, "She will not be bothered by any Prince, even the Prince of Egypt. She will stay on the grounds at all times, make sure of it by guarding the manor. Understood?"

"Yes," the two answered.

"I have some paperwork to attend to…" Yugi's brother flicked his wrist and the two men disappeared out the front door to guard the grounds.

Yugi had to place her hand over her heart to prove that she was still alive. Once she was sure, she shakily stood up, leaning against the wall for support. Her mind was clouding, darkness threatening to claim her. The reality of it was crashing down on her world.

They were gone. Her parents, they were dead. And, her brother was the cause.

Yugi couldn't cry. She physically couldn't. The tears refused to come. They had abandoned her just as all hope had.

She needed to leave, that much she knew. And, there was only one place she could think of where she may find salvation.

The only place she could run to for refuge was the palace.

The Prince- he would help her! Yugi was sure.

This must be an act of injustice. She knew if the Pharaoh and Prince of Egypt heard about it, they might be able to help her. So, with all bravery Yugi could gather, she left.

Somehow, Yugi made it out of the manor undetected. She began awkwardly asking everyone on the road where the town temple was. The priests would help her. They knew her very well.

"Yugi?"

Yugi froze.

"It is you, Yugi!"

Yugi was suddenly hugged by someone.

"Jou-Jounouchi?" Yugi managed to ask in a stutter.

Jounouchi was one of her brother's friends. But, she used the term "friend" loosely. He was just a boy that her parents invited over, hoping her brother would make friends with him. They never seemed to be on good terms, and a few years before, he had seemingly disappeared. Although Yugi's brother didn't necessarily take a liking to Jounouchi, Yugi herself did. They became very good friends, and she was thoroughly upset when he had disappeared.

"Yugi, what are you doing outside at night?" Jounouchi narrowed his eyes at her. "You know your brother doesn't like you to be alone."

Yugi's eyes felt tears prick at their sides, and she held onto Jounouchi's shoulders, pleading, "Jounouchi, you don't understand. I need you to do me a favor."

"Of course." He smiled, not noticing Yugi's traumatized state.

Yugi asked him, "Could you please direct me to the temple?"

"Yes." Jounouchi grasped Yugi's arm and lead her through the crowd in the streets. He asked behind him, "Why?"

"I apologize; I cannot tell you. I promise, one day I will repay you for this."

Jounouchi did not realize the seriousness of the subject and replied, "It is my pleasure, Lady Yugi."

Yugi gave her first relieved sigh of the night. Somehow, she knew she would reach the palace. Though, what would happen there was still a mystery.

Author's Note: Yay, now that's done. I feel accomplished.

Please review.