Pharaess Cleopatra: Sorry to end the last chapter the way I did, but it kept you wanting more, didn't it? Hope so because we're onto another chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 3: A Bond We Make

"My stepfather..."

Yami's eyes went wide with shock as Yugi said this. "What...?" He was in disbelief. Yami just couldn't believe someone would something like this to an innocent person, especially one as beautiful as Yugi.

"He always did things like this to me; I've got the marks to prove it..." He croaked in a slightly hoarse voice.

Yami suddenly got up, causing Yugi to lift his gaze. "I shall return in a moment. I must get you some ice for your cheek. Stay put, alright?" Yugi just nodded before Yami disappeared out of the room.

Yugi just sat there, his cheek throbbing every so often, tears staining his face, eyes puffy around the edges, the whites of his eyes red and bloodshot from his crying, throat sore from all his crying, body aching, and just feeling so drained... However, if there was one thing Yugi feared, it was that if Yami wanted to see his marks, he would be stunned at what he saw, maybe even shun Yugi for it. He didn't want that, and that's why he never showed anyone the marks littering his body, mostly his back though. Yugi hated those marks, each one just another of his horrible past, and they all started after his mother passed away. How he missed his mother... Her gentle hands whenever they wiped his tears away or stroked his hair and back to comfort him, and her sweet voice that would always coo to him, calming the boy whenever he was upset. He missed that, even more after she passed and Dartz's true nature was revealed. In that moment, Yugi felt truly alone as he wrapped his arms around himself. This was his way of comforting, though it felt more like he was holding himself together so he wouldn't fall apart at the seams once again. Yugi wanted to cry, he wanted release, he wanted comfort, but he knew no one was there to do that for him, not now... The boy felt so lost when he was upset, not knowing what to do. His mother always knew, and right now, he wished she was there, comforting him like she always did, whispering sweet nothings into his ear as she gently stoked his arms, back, and hair, letting him cry in her chest or shoulder. He didn't know what to do, something he always hated... Yugi wasn't sure if he should be happy or depressed. What was he to do? He felt so lost, like a wandering child in a maze of emotions he couldn't escape from. Tears slipped out of Yugi's eyes as he began to cry again, softly this time though, trying to suppress his swirling emotions. Suddenly though, his bedroom door opened as Yami came back in, but he didn't notice until the prince sat down in front of him. Yami saw tears sliding down Yugi's face again as he reached over to gently lift his chin, Yugi now realizing Yami had returned. Yami gently wiped those tears from that beautiful face before handing a glass of water to Yugi. He stared at it for a moment before slowly taking it in his grasp.

"Drink this." Yami told him as Yugi hesitantly took the glass from the prince. "You seem very weak, but at least this will help, if only a little..."

Yugi nodded and drank the water, downing almost all of it in one go before handing the glass back to Yami, giving a small "thank you." Yhe prince then lifted Yugi's chin again and grabbed the bag of ice he went to retrieve, gently placing it on Yugi's bruising jaw. He flinched and whimpered softly, Yami quickly apologizing, only to have Yugi wave it off. "Usually no one ever apologized to me... I was always the one to do it, but I guess I had just gotten used to it, that life I had been living for so long..."

"No one should have to live a life of pain and suffering." Yami said a bit sternly. "You have been through so much, haven't you?"

"I don't know about that..." Yugi said, mainly to himself.

"I can see it in your eyes..." Yami noted, catching Yugi's gaze with this comment. "I can see the pain, the hurt, and the agony you have endured for so very long... How could you ever live such a life, Yugi?"

He shrugged a bit, his shoulders slumping. "I didn't have a choice..." Yami was about to say something until Yugi continued. "After my mother passed away from an illness she got, I had no choice but to live with my abusive stepfather and spoiled stepsisters, one more spoiled and bratty than the other... I didn't have anywhere to go, so I had to shut my mouth and take whatever came my way otherwise my stepfather threatened to kick me out, and I knew he would, knowing everything else he's done in the past... He follows through with his threats, and that always terrified me of him..." He said with a sad look in his eyes, seeming as if he would cry again. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't bother you with my past..."

Yami turned Yugi's chin, forcing their eyes to meet this time. "Yugi, you are no bother to me. If anything, I wish to hold you, comfort you in any way I can to ease your hurt and your pain."

"No, you don't need to do that... I'm alright..." He lied, trying to avoid eye contact, but Yami wouldn't let him.

"No, you are not. You are not alright, I can see it in your eyes... You need someone to lean on, that much is clear." He said. "Yugi, I do not know what pain you have endured, though I know it was substantial and it has done a number on you. However, I can also sense when someone is in dire need of comfort, and as of right now and from what I have seen when I returned, you were desperately seeking comfort, but it was too far out of reach." He said as he removed the ice from Yugi's face, the swelling on his jaw having gone down.

Yugi just stared at Yami in shock and disbelief. It was as if he was reading him like a book. Yugi did need comfort, he needed someone to hold him, comfort him, love him, but it has been so long since he experienced that. Has he forgotten what it was like? He didn't know, nor did he care, for in that moment, Yugi threw himself into Yami, clinging onto him like a lifeline. Yami didn't complain though. He just held Yugi, held him close as he gently rubbed his back and stroked his hair, whispering sweet nothings into his ear, just like what his mother used to do whenever he cried like this when he was younger.

"It's alright..." Yami cooed. "You can cry, no one will hurt you anymore, you're safe here..."

As Yugi cried, Yami gently gathered the boy up in his arms and carried him to his own bedroom, making sure no around saw him do this, though it's not like they could really say anything either way. Regardless, once in his own room, Yami managed to quietly close the door before setting Yugi down on his large king sized bed. After a few minutes or so, Yugi was finally able to calm down, or at least compose himself. It was then he gazed up at Yami with his tear-filled eyes, the prince lifting a tender hand to gently wipe his face of those tears before placing a hand on his cheek, giving a warm smile as Yugi leaned into his gentle touch.

"Do you feel a bit better now, Yugi?"

He nodded. "A little... Thank you, Yami... The last time someone comforted me the way you did was my mother before she passed away... It's been eight years ever since she passed, so I was left to try and comfort myself since no one else would..."

"You need not worry, Yugi, for I will always be here if you need a shoulder to lean on. You will no longer have to suffer in silence, I promise."

Yugi nodded again, but gave a small, grateful smile, one Yami thought was the most beautiful on his adoring face. "Thank you, Yami."

"You are most welcome, Yugi..." He smiled warmly. "Now then, let's get you changed into something more suitable to sleep in, shall we?"

Yugi looked down at his clothes when Yami stood up from the bed to get some pajamas for him. "I guess these are kinda tattered, huh...? Though they were all I really had since my stepfather never got me anything else..."

"Then we shall fix that. Here, put these on." The prince said as he handed Yugi a pair of white silk pajamas.

He took the clothing and thanked Yami before sliding onto the floor. As the two undressed themselves, Yugi went to pull his shirt up over his head when he flinched. "Nugh...!"

"Hmm?" Yami looked over to the boy. "Yugi, is something wrong?"

"Oh, umm, no, I'm alright..."

It was then Yami noticed something peeking from underneath his shirt located on his back. The prince walked up to the boy when he gently began to lift the shirt, his eyes widening at the sight before him. "Yugi, remove your shirt."

He sighed softly. "I was hoping you wouldn't see those..." Yugi mumbled before he pulled his shirt off, cringing as he did so, but when the shirt was removed, Yami's eyes damn near popped out of his head, for nothing could have prepared him for what he was faced with.

Littering Yugi's back, chest, and arms were various scars, slashes, cuts, bruises, and burn marks scattered everywhere. It was mostly scars now, except for a new one, but it seems to be nearly healed by now, though it was rather large on his back. This wasn't a cut, not a slash mark, definitely not a bruise, and it sure as hell wasn't a burn mark. No, this was something far worse... It was a whip mark, several to be exact, but they were nearly healed by now. To say Yami was shocked would have to be the understatement of the year. No, if there was a word for what he felt, then that's what you would use to describe it, because no words could tell the emotions Yami was feeling. He was horrified at the sight before him, outraged to see such a thing marring Yugi's once porcelain skin.

"Yugi... What...what has happened to you?"

"Like I told you, my stepfather... He did this to me... If I disobeyed him, broke something by accident, or didn't clean it well enough, he would cut me. If I didn't do something right, he would burn me. If I woke up late, talked back to him, or raised my voice, he would hit me. And if I accidently did something wrong, he would whip me... I've just gotten used to all the punishment he gave me, though one thing I never got used to...was the pain it caused. I always had to put on a smile just to get through the day. I always woke up early and went to bed late... And after mother died, I...became a slave...in my own home." He choked on those words as he grabbed the white, long sleeve, silk button up shirt, slipping his arms through the sleeves before buttoning the front. Once the shirt was buttoned, Yugi turned to face Yami, but didn't make eye contact for he felt too ashamed to. "I can understand if you wanna get rid of me since I'm covered in so many scars... I can—" Yugi didn't get a chance to finish as Yami pulled Yugi forward into a crushing hug, but not enough to hurt him, of course.

"Don't say such a thing... I would never get rid of you all because you are littered in scars..." He said before drawing back to look Yugi in the eye. "Yugi, I will never abandon you, nor will I ever hurt you as long as I live, and I promise to never let anyone else lay a hand on you either otherwise I shall be rid of them. However," Yami paused for a moment. "Yugi, if I am to ever be rid of someone, I need you to promise me one thing. Can you do this?"

"Yes, of course. What is it, Yami?"

"If I am to be rid of someone who has hurt you in any way, you must promise me that if I tell you to do something, you will do so without question. Is that understood? Can you promise me this?"

Yugi nodded. "I promise, Yami."

"I do not wish to have you see such horrors ever again, for you have already been through so much. I do not want you to suffer anymore..."

Yugi felt so touched by those words that without warning, he wrapped his arms around the prince. "Thank you, Yami..."

He embraced the younger male in his strong arms, smiling contently. "Anything for you, little Yugi..."

The two then drew back. "Would you be alright sleeping with me tonight? I would feel guilty leaving you all alone like this..."

Yugi smiled as he gave a nod. "I wouldn't mind at all... I used to sleep with my mother all the time after she would comfort me too..."

"Then I shall have you sleep with me, for I do not wish to leave you alone, not after the hell you have endured."

"Thank you, Yami...for everything." Yugi smiled bashfully, a light blush coating his cheeks that was to die for, or at least for Yami.

He embraced the boy. "You are most welcome, Yugi.

Yugi's eyes slipped open as he gazed around, finding he wasn't back in his old room at the top of the manor his stepfather lived in. It was then he remembered the events of yesterday, how his stepfather had sold him then he was brought to the castle. But Yugi also remembered the prince, Yami, how he had comforted him last night just like his mother always did before she had passed away. Yugi smiled slightly at the events of last night before he then gazed around the room. The walls were a deep crimson red color trimmed with gold and black, the same colors as the covers and pillows on the king sized bed he was on. There was a very large window with royal blue curtain that were pulled back a bit to allow light into the room; a love seat near the window; a large closet; a bathroom; a Cherrywood dresser; and a Cherrywood shelf filled with various books and Egyptian figures. Yugi slid off the bed as he gazed around the room, when he remembered it wasn't his own – it was Yami's. The boy slipped out of the room and wandered down the hall until he saw his name on a door. Unable to resist his curiosity, Yugi went up to the door with his name on it and grabbed the handle, opening said door. Upon entering the room, he found the walls to be a violet purple color trimmed with gold; a large bed consisting of the purple and gold colors; a dresser; book shelf; closet; shower; love seat; and a large window leading to a balcony, just like Yami's. As Yugi went further into the room, he found a set of neatly folded clothes on the bed, a note on top. He reached over and grabbed the note, reading what had been neatly written on it.

" "Dear, Yugi, I hope you slept well. I have sent someone to come get you once you have showered and gotten dressed, but I did not want to wake you, so I allowed you to sleep, for you needed it. Once you have finished with breakfast, come see me in the garden.

-Yami" "

Yugi smiled softly before setting the note back down and going to take a quick shower, though being wary of his healing wounds. Once he exited the bathroom, however, Yugi put on the clothes laid out for him. It had consisted of a pair of black pants; white socks; a black belt; white, short sleeve, button up shirt; and a black button up vest. When Yugi had dressed himself in the clothes laid out for him, there was a knock on the door before it opened, revealing a tall male with scruffy blonde hair and golden brown eyes as he grinned upon seeing Yugi.

"You must be Yugi, right?" He asked in a thick Brooklyn accent.

He simply nodded.

"Just makin' sure; Yami told me you would be in here after you left his room. But anyway, I'm Joey Wheeler and I'm the head and personal servant for the prince's cousin, Seto Kaiba. Since you're all dressed, how 'bout we go get somethin' to eat? You look a bit small, no offense."

Yugi laughed at the comment. "None taken."

"After we eat, the prince said he'd like to see ya in the garden, then maybe later I'll give ya a tour of the castle, unless he gets to it first. Imma probably be busy with Kaiba anyway... But, come on, let's got eat, I'm starvin'! Oh, and don't worry, we get our own place to eat and we won't be gettin' scraps either if that's what you're thinkin'!"

Joey wasn't kidding either. There was a huge table with a bunch of food the servants made themselves and got to eat as much as they wanted! Joey sat down and told Yugi to sit next to him as he put a bunch of food on his own plate, Yugi not putting much on his as the blonde raised an eyebrow. "Not hungry or somethin'?"

"Huh? Oh, no, it's not that, it's just that I was never allowed to eat more than everyone else, and I really only got to eat twice a day..." Yugi admitted sheepishly.

"You're kiddin'!? They starved ya!? Well we ain't havin' none of that! Eat as much as ya like! There ain't no rules here as to how much ya can eat!"

"Really?" Yugi asked, surprised.

"Course! We're all family here and the king doesn't want his family to go hungry. Eat all ya want!"

Yugi smiled as he nodded, filling up his plate almost as much as Joey did with his. When the blonde saw Yugi had filled his plate up, he smiled proudly. "Thatta boy, Yug! Ya mind if I call ya that? I think it suits ya, ya know?"

"Go right ahead." Yugi smiled while eating a piece of bacon.

Once Yugi had finished with breakfast, Joey told him to go right ahead to see the prince, knowing he was waiting for him. Yugi was unsure at first, wanting to help clean up, but Joey said it was fine and pushed him along after giving him some simple directions to follow so he could find his way. When the boy finally found the garden, he saw Yami, but it looked like he was too busy admiring all the flowers around him to notice Yugi. So taking in a deep breath to calm himself, Yugi went to approach the prince shyly.

"Umm—"

"Good morning, Yugi." Yami greeted, surprising the boy a bit.

"Huh? I thought you couldn't see me..." He admitted sheepishly.

"Oh no, I noticed you, but was curious as to see if you would approach me on your own. I will never judge you, Yugi, and I am aware that you are still very unsure of yourself, however..." Yami turned to face Yugi. "I am here to help you overcome your doubts and fears. Nevertheless, that was not why I have summoned you out here."

"Then why did you, Yami?"

Yami smiled at Yugi's adorable sense of curiosity. "Follow me." He said, walking down the pathway of flowers with Yugi following close behind.

As they walked in silence, Yugi stared in amazement at all the different flowers before him. Lilies, daisies, sunflowers, tulips, roses... You name it because it was all there before him. Yugi was so entranced by all the various flowers as they walked, until one in particular caught his eye, forcing him to stop as he crouched down to get a closer look. It was a rose, but a very rare kind. The rose had brilliant crimson red petals with a beautiful shade of violet in the center of each petal, becoming darker the closer it was to the center.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Yami asked as he crouched down next to Yugi.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Yami, I didn't mean to stop so suddenly." He apologized, but Yami shook his head.

"That's quite alright, Yugi. I was meaning to stop here anyhow. Do you see the colors of the petals on this rose?"

"It's a crimson red on the outside, like you eyes, Yami, and a violet on the inside, like...my eyes."

"Precisely. This is a very rare rose, and that is why I have not picked it simply because it's beauty is so enchanting, therefore, I would like to keep it this way as long as possible."

"Can more not grow?" Yugi asked, looking up at Yami with curious eyes.

"No, more can grow, but this one will have to wilt first before then. Because this flower is very rare, once it had wilted away and dies, another will simply take its place. More of this flower is allowed to grow, but only one at a time. Does that make sense?"

"So once this one wilts and dies, the bud in the center will grow in the ground and replace this one, right?" He asked while staring back at the rose.

"Absolutely. If you stop to think about it, it is as if the red is protecting the violet, just as I am protecting you, Yugi." The boy lifted his gaze to Yami's again. "Your duty while you are my personal steward is to stay by my side and in return, I will never abandon you. I will be your friend, and your protector."

"My protector? But isn't it supposed to be the other way around like with your other past stewards?"

"The truth is, Yugi, that I have never had a steward before you. My father informed me that once I had reached the age of sixteen, I was to choose a steward for when I could marry so that I may take his place on the throne one day. However, for three years, I have never found that person, that is until I met you."

"Me? But why me exactly? There isn't really anything special about me."

"That is not true. When I first laid eyes on you, I knew deep down that there was something about you that simply screamed I would need you. You have a sense of kindness and devotion that I have never seen in anyone, except for you. I can only imagine the pain and suffering you were forced to endure, but that is why I want to help you erase all of those painful memories, and to create new ones – ones you will never want to forget." Yami then got to his feet and held his hand out to Yugi with a tender smile. "I ask you now, Yugi Moto, will you be my steward? Will you be my partner, and my light, and stay by my side?"

Tears filled Yugi's eyes at Yami's heart-felt words as he got to his feet and threw his arms around the prince. "Yes! I will be your steward, Yami!" He cried, causing the prince to smile as he wrapped his arms around the boy.

"Thank you, Yugi..."