Why Did I Get Married?
By: Xhibit B
Chapter Two
.i do not own yu-gi-oh!.
Atem opened the front door, allowing Yūgi to enter first before he and Yami followed close after her. They each knocked the snow from their boots, wiping the soles on the carpet that had been set there for that purpose, before heading into the living room where the Sennen brothers had left the other men and Tomi. Yami was quick to take Tomi's luggage from his brother and throw it at him, knocking the wind out of the other man before he turned to Yūgi. "He can take that upstairs himself, since he couldn't be bothered to come and get it from the car."
"Oh no, it's quite alright, I can take it up for him," Yūgi said as she moved towards her husband, only to be stopped by Atem's arm.
"Actually, the other ladies are in the kitchen making dinner," Atem said, gesturing to the door that led to the kitchen. "Why don't you join them? I'm sure they could use your help with the food. We'll take care of the luggage."
Yūgi bit her lip, glancing at Tomi who coughed as he stood, trying to regain his breath from when Yami tossed the luggage square into his chest. He had been being a jerk to her and honestly was getting the treatment he deserved, in her opinion, for treating her so poorly. And he had just left her to try and bring both bags in on her own, despite their weight, so the least he could do was take his own bag upstairs himself. And so, she nodded her head, smiling up at the elder Sennen brother. "Of course, I'll go join the other ladies in the kitchen. We have a lot of catching up to do, after all, and there's no time like the present to get started."
"Exactly," Atem laughed, nodding for her to go ahead and head to the kitchen. Once he was sure she was out of earshot, Atem turned to his brother. "Why don't you show Tomi upstairs and help him choose a room, Yami? I'm going to go get some firewood. The resort secretary said that there was going to be a bit of a snowstorm tonight. And we're expecting a substantial amount of snow."
"Of course," Yami said, eyeing Tomi. "C'mon Tomi, I'll help you take your bags upstairs."
Tomi, and everyone else in the room, could sense the underlying tones of anger in Yami's voice as he gestured with his free hand for the other man to go first. Everyone knew how Yami had always felt about Yūgi and seeing her being disrespected the way Tomi had right in his face had been a trigger. And they were all sure that as soon as Yami had Tomi alone, he was going to let him have it, without mercy. Not that anyone would stop him from doing it. Tomi deserved everything he had coming to him for treating his wife the way that he did. No one felt sorry for him.
Together, the two men made their way upstairs, Tomi walking a few steps ahead of Yami. When they disappeared from sight, Bakura turned to the others. "How much do you want to bet that Yami is about to tear into Tomi's ass for the way he treated Yūgi?"
"Oh, it's definitely going to happen, no bets needed," Marik said with a slight laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "That bastard deserves everything that's coming to him. I wish I would treat my wife even a fraction of the way he treats Yūgi. I'd be dead a dead man. Malik isn't exactly the sane type."
"Tomi deserves everything that Yami dishes out to him," Mahad spoke before taking an elegant sip of his tea. He swallowed before he spoke again as he returned the cup to the table. "The fact that he was comfortable enough to say even half of what he said to our faces, is proof that he could care less about Yūgi, and it's sad, honestly. She doesn't deserve that kind of treatment."
"No one deserves that kind of treatment, especially not Yūgi," Bakura pointed out. He was still seething with anger at the entire situation. He could have strangled Tomi. But it wasn't his fight. And he knew that anything he could do would pale in comparison to what Yami would do if he ever got his hands on him the way he knew he was burning to. "But it's alright, because Yami is definitely going to straighten him out before it's all said and done. That much we can be sure of."
"If I know my brother, he's already started." Atem hummed as he sat back down, gathering the coffee he'd been nursing beforehand and taking a slow sip. He was listening to see if he could catch any hint of what was happening upstairs. "If you hear a crash and the ladies ask what happened, play it off like you don't know. The last thing we need is any of them finding out what happened in here."
"I, for one, agree with Atem," Mahad concurred. "This is supposed to be a drama free week after all. We don't need World War III commencing in the living room."
"Then we all agree, no one says anything," Atem asked to which everyone nodded, "Good."
.whydidigetmarried?.
Yami waited patiently while Tomi decided between the remaining four rooms. When he finally chose one, he followed the shorter man in, closing the door behind him. No one needed to hear what was about to happen, especially the women. Too many questions would be asked, and World War III would literally break out in the middle of the living room once Joey and the others got their hands on him the way it almost had when his ex-wife had confessed her infidelity. Not that he would be willing to stop them. But he'd already promised his brother he would try to keep this week as drama free as he possibly could. And that meant none of the women could hear him tear into Tomi.
The door closing behind them had startled Tomi, the shorter man spinning around to look at Yami. If looks could kill, he'd be a dead man a hundred times over by now. He was almost afraid to ask what the other, very intimidating man wanted with him, but he was determined to not show that he was actually afraid. That was the last thing he needed.
"Is there a problem," Tomi asked coolly, his shaking hands betraying the tough façade he tried to project. "You look like you have something to say. If you do, just say it. Don't dance around the sit—."
He was cut off when Yami's fist connected to his lower jaw, making his teeth click together and knocking him back on the bed. He could feel a little trickle of blood coming down the side of his mouth and his jaw hurt like hell from being hit. He knew Yami packed a punch, but he didn't realise he actually hit that hard when making contact. Holding his jaw, he glared up at the taller man, his sore mouth set in a scowl.
"What the hell–" Tomi started, only to be cut off by another punch in the same spot and Yami speaking.
"Shut it," Yami demanded, looking every bit as intimidating as Tomi thought he was. At 6'3, he stood a good 6 inches taller than Tomi. Not to mention the muscle that lay hidden beneath his clothing, compared to Tomi's soft build. He didn't stand a chance if a fight actually did break out between the two of them. "How dare you even think that even a fraction of what you said about Yūgi down there was okay? That is the mother of your children, and your wife. And you have the audacity to disrespect her like that? And in front of all of us, no less."
"What's it matter to you how I treat Yūgi," Tomi demanded as he stood, getting in Yami's face as best he could.
Big mistake.
"I suggest you back the fuck up before you have a matching bruise on the other side of your face," Yami voiced evenly. "I'm not the one to play with. I will lay your ass out and make it look like an accident."
Tomi swallowed thickly, taking several steps back from the taller man. He wasn't in the mood to get hit in the face again. Especially not so soon after that second hit had come. He also knew what Yami was capable of, he'd seen it before in the past and now he knew what a punch felt like. And he wasn't looking to be on the receiving end of that ass whooping.
"Now, I'm going to say this one time and one time only," Yami spoke, hard wine-coloured eyes staring directly into Tomi's frightened grey ones. "If you ever disrespect Yūgi like that again, whether it be in front of me or in the privacy of your own home, and I find out about it… those hits to the jaw won't be shit."
"Are you threatening me," Tomi asked, irking a brow.
"Oh, that wasn't a threat," Yami assured him, a subzero smile on his lips. "I don't make threats, Tomi, and you know this. That was a fucking promise. I will literally fuck you up if I ever hear you speak to or about her the way you did downstairs again." He turned to leave, his right hand stuffing itself in the pocket of his jeans while the left grasped the door handle. He turned it, pulled the door open slightly and paused to look back at Tomi over his shoulder again. "And by the way, if anyone asks what happened to your face, you tripped going up the stairs and hit your jaw on the steps. Got me?"
Tomi swallowed thickly. He understood the underlying message in Yami's words. If he snitched and told anyone that Yami had punched him, he was a dead man walking. Especially since it would lead to questions about why Yami had hit him, which would result in the truth about what he said about Yūgi coming out. And the last thing he wanted to deal with, was her friends trying to kill him over the way he'd been treating her. Yami was enough. He didn't need the rest of them down his throat as well.
"I got you," Tomi affirmed before Yami left, closing the door behind him.
Tomi let out a shaky breath when he was finally left alone, running a hand through his dark hair. He'd have to be careful about what he said to or about Yūgi with them around otherwise he wouldn't get off as easily as he just did. And next time, it might not just be Yami he had to deal with, either.
"Fucking prick," Tomi cursed under his breath.
This was going to be a long fucking week, he decided.
.whydidigetmarried?.
Yūgi laughed as she sat beside Mana, helping peel potatoes for that evening's meal. It'd been such a long time since any of them had hung out together, and it felt good to catch up with her old friends. She didn't have to worry about being judged when she was with them. No harsh words about her weight, how she raised her children, being beaten when trying to protect them, nothing. And it was a welcome change for the small woman. One that she was going to enjoy for as long as she possibly could.
"So, how are things going at the museum, Yūgi," Ryo asked, glancing at the tri-colour haired woman, brow irked. "I feel like it's been forever since we last spoke to each other, and I have no idea what's been going on with you lately."
"Everything's great at the museum," Yūgi answered smiling as she glanced up from the potato she was working on. "I was recently promoted to head of the authentication department about two months ago. Which came with a substantial pay increase and a bit less free time but that's okay. I'm still getting used to the new position, but I love it so far, honestly."
"That's good," Ryo said, smiling.
They worked in silence for a few more moments before Mana finally broke the silence again.
"So… how is home life," she asked cautiously, gazing at the tri-colour haired woman from the corner of her eye. "Everything okay?"
Yūgi sighed, she knew this question would come eventually. Her teeth worried her lip for several minutes before she finally spoke again. "Home is okay-ish. The twins are doing wonderfully, they're doing great in school-even made it on the honour roll this semester."
"That's great… but that's not what I was referring to," Mana said, laying a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder.
Yūgi couldn't help the tears that welled in her amethyst eyes. Wiping away the moisture with the back of her hand, she spoke. "Sometimes I swear he hates me. He barely ever comes home. And when he is, we don't do anything but argue. We argue about the twins, about if the dinner was too hot or too cold. And please don't let me forget to get the daily chores done. He goes ballistic for the slightest offence."
"Yūgi, sweetheart, you don't have to deal with that," Ishizu said, reaching across the counter to take the other woman's hand. "That isn't healthy. If you want out, all you have to do is say the word. I will happily handle your divorce the way I handled Yami's. I have no issue with that."
"It's not all bad," Yūgi was quick to interject. "We have good days, more good than bad, honestly. I know I'm the problem here. I've gained so much weight. And I do nag him quite a bit. I would be annoyed with myself too."
"Don't make excuses for him, Yūgi," Malik bit out. "What you look like should hold no bearing on how he treats you. You are his wife. He made a promise to love you for better or worse. What he's doing is psychological abuse. Do not take the blame for him being a shit human. If he truly loved you the way that he's supposed to, how you look wouldn't matter to him."
Yūgi bit her lip, eyes cast down to look at her hands. She was trying so hard not to cry.
Ryo spoke then, taking her hands in her own. "Sweetie, you need to do what's best for yourself and your children. You are in a mentally abusive relationship. And who's to say that it won't eventually turn physical. You need to get yourself and the twins out of that situation. I know you love him. But it's obvious from what you told us that he doesn't feel the same way. Occasional good days be damned. We will help you if you need us to. You know we're here for you, you just have to say the word."
It already has turned physical, Yūgi thought to herself, biting her lip again.
"I just want my marriage to work," Yūgi said quietly. "I wanted us to come on this trip so that we could bond again, find the love we had. Make things better. I don't want to lose him."
"Unfortunately, it's not worth saving, Yūgi," Joey said gently. "I'm sorry, but as your friend, I'm going to tell you the truth. Tomi is not worth you trying to work it out with. You can do so much better than Tomi. He's not worth your tears. He's not worth the stress he puts you through. You have to know that."
"But we've been together for so long," Yūgi countered.
"And sometimes, it's best to let it go," Ishizu commented. "Especially in cases like this. We don't mean to upset you, Yūgi. We just don't want to see you get hurt. Tomi isn't going to change, no matter how much you want him to. You just have to see that for yourself."
"I at least want to try," Yūgi pleaded.
"Alright," Mana said leaning on the shorter woman's shoulder. "We'll drop it for now. But if there isn't any change, you have to promise to get yourself, Yuki, and Hiyori away from him. The last thing we want is for something to happen to either of you."
Yūgi swallowed, nodding her head as they went back to working on dinner – a new topic being discussed to try and dissipate the uncomfortable air in the room. In the back of her mind, she knew that they were right. But she loved Tomi. And she wanted to make her relationship work. She was willing to do anything to make it better. But she couldn't help thinking, what if he didn't?