Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Once Upon a Day ❯ Of Children and Dream ( Chapter 3 )

Yuugi sighed loudly, stumbling into the entry way of his home. After the ridiculosly long train ride, they had another two hours in the car. As it turned out, the nearest train station was quite a ways away.

Yami tumbled in as well, setting down their bags which contained the extra blankets, pillows, and food that they had brought with them. He stifled a yawn himself, setting the keys on a nerby table.

"I will never, I repeat, NEVER go on a train again."

Yuugi chuckled, eyes half lidded. "Last time you said something like that, you ended up regretting it." His partner snorted tiredly.

Little Yumi came in right after, sleepy and dazed. The whole trip had yet to truly sink into her head. "Otousan, I'm tired."

Yuugi kicked off his shoes, using Yami's arm for support. "Well, come with me. You're bedroom is upstairs." He held out a hand for her to take, and he led her past the living room to the steps. Yami stayed behind, taking the time to put the rest of their things away.

"As you can see," Yuugi pointed out tiredly, "your room is the first on the right. The first door on the left is the bathroom, further down is the bedroom Yami and I sleep in, and the last room at the end of the hall is the spare."

Yumi nodded in understandement.

Entering her new room, Yumi noticed that it was painted a light blue, with fluffy white carpet. A small, twin bed was set up next to the wall, a cottony blue comforter on top. She held on to her one bag tightly.

"Do you have any clothes, Yumi?"

She lowered her head shyly. "M-my old school uniform, and a dress."

"Hmm..." the man thought. "I'll be right back." And with that, he turned and walked out the door.

Yumi looked around curiously, despite her exaustion. There were some odd toys laying about, hiding in the shadows of the room. Extra blankets were set upon the foot of the bed, in case she became cold during the night. A nice desk was sitting next to the door, with a lamp on it, and a claculator and a blank tablet of paper. A canister of pencils and pens right next to that. It was obviously set up for her school work.

An alarm clock was on the bedside table, and another lamp on top of that. From remembering her old room, this was going to take a lot of adjusting.

In an instant her uncle was back, holding a rather large white t-shirt in his hands. "Here. Take this and your toothbrush into the bathroom. You can change into it there and brush your teeth. If you don't already have one, you can go ahead and use our hairbrush to brush your hair."

She took the shirt nimbly from his hands. "Arigato, Otousan." Retrieving her toothbrush from her bag, she headed into the bathroom.

She found the light switch, eventually, on the wall to her right, and stood quietly for a moment taking in what she saw.

It was small, and quaint. That was for sure. But still, surely, it was from one of those magazines she saw while at the hospital. Walking up to the sink, she saw that it was completely white, and almost sparkling. She vaguely remembered her own bathroom, limescale covered and mirror coated in hairspray.

She shook her head. She wouldn't think about things like that right now.

Brushing her teeth, then hair, she removed her clothes and put on the shirt that had been handed to her.

Yuugi sat on the bed, waiting for her to return. His mind was still plaguing him about what could have possibley happened to his niece to make her so shy.

Noticing her small form standing in the doorway, he couldn't help but feel the corners of his lips pull into a small smile.

She looked at him, with her large crimson-purple eyes, holding a peice of the shirt out for emphasis. "It's so BIG. . ."

Yuugi couldn't help but chuckle. "It'll work for tonight. Tommorow we'll go out and by you some new clothes."

Yumi heard footseps behind her, and turned around to see Yami walking up. Grinning, he picked her up with a playfull "UURRGHH!!!" and plopped her onto the bed. Yumi saw his crimson eyes widen in fiegned wonder. "Why, what's this? Is this a knee? My gosh, I think there are two of them." Grabbing them gently, he squeezed with his thumb and forefinger just above the knee-cap, causing the young girl to burst out in a fit of laughter. "T-that. . .tickles. . ." she panted.

"Oh, wait! I think I see a foot here! Quick, Yuugi! Hold her! We have to take a look at these!"

Yuugi chuckled, and hugged Yumi, effectively pinning her in place. Thus, allowing Yami to tickle her feet senseless. Yumi laughed until she thought she coudln't handle it anymore.

Finally, Yami stopped, and Yuugi pulled the covers over the still giggle and panting eight year old. Smiling warmly, Yuugi gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Good night, Yumi."

He moved, and Yami sat down next to her, still smiling. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Sleep well, kiddo. Sleep in as long as you like."

"Good night," she yawned, and was out before Yuugi even closed her bedroom door.

Neither barely remembered the trek to their own bedroom, as tired as they were. Their dirty clothes were happily placed into the hamper. Then suddenly, Yuugi remembered something.

"Yami. . ."

"Hmm," he mumbled.

"We have to at least keep our boxers on."

His lover looked at him, already wanting to remove his own. "Why?"

Yuugi quirked an eyebrow. "What if someone has nightmares?"

Yami groaned, remembering childhood. "Right." So, he plopped into bed, without removing the gray material.

Pulling the covers over them, Yuugi curled up into the arms of his lover, sighing with utter exaustion. "Goodnight, love." He received a chaste kiss.

"Goodnight. If anyone is up before noon, I will personally gag them, tie them up, then go back to sleep."

Yuugi chuckled. "Yes dear."

* * * * * * *

~The little girl cried, holding on to the pale, bony hand of her mother. "Okaasan, don't leave me. . . " she pleaed.

Her mothers empty crimson eyes looked back at her, black hair damp with sweat. "I'm sorry, baby. I can't stay here anymore. I don't want you to worry, though. You're going to go to a good home. I promise."

"B-but where?" A salty tear escaped her wide child eyes.

"You remember hearing about your Uncle Yuugi, right?" The woman's voice was dry, holding very little emotion anymore.

Yes, the little girl remembered. How could she not? Daddy always yelled about how disgusting he thought that her uncle was, what with his 'partner' and all. Numbly, she shook her head.

"That's where you're going, baby. You'll be loved there. I promise."

"But Okaasan, you promised you wouldn't leave me!" Another tear fell.

Deed red eyes starred back. "I'm sorry, baby. But I have to go now."

No. She shook her little crimson head now. Her mother couldn't leave her now. She just couldn't.

Suddenly, and without warning, one of the machines hooked up to the woman wailed loudly, and the body on the bed began to arch, no longer aware of what was around it.

"Okaasan? Okaasan!?" People in white coates came running in, and in their rush pushed Yumi off to the side.

"Cardiac arest! Quick! Get the surgeon in here!"

So much yelling. So much shouting. And all she could do was watch. Watch as her mother slipped from this world. Watch as her dying body writhed on the hospital bed. Watch as she died. Watch as they pulled out some tools, attempting to shock the heart into beating again.

Watch as the skin turned blue. . . . Watch as the sheet was lifted over the head. . . .~

Yumi sat up in her new bed, erect and panting.

A dream. It was only a dream. She hadn't watched her mother die again. No, she hadn't. She couldn't.

Her face felt wet, and she noticed the tears welling in her eyes, falling down her cheeks.

So alone. She felt so alone.

Otousan. She could go to Otousan. Right? Maybe she shouldn't. They woudn't get mad, would they?

They woudn't be any different sleeping than her mother was when she was alive, would they?

She chocked on another sob.

Despite her better judgement, she got up anyway, dragging a small blanket with her to the bedroom down the hall.

Quietly she opened the bedroom door, and noticed, to her minor relief, that both were sound asleep, sprawled across their queen size bed.

She walked over to the right side of the bed, where she saw, in the gloom of the night, that Yuugi was.

"Otousan?" She whispered.

A snore was her only response.

"Otousan?" She pushed on his shoulder softly. One lavender orb peeked open, looking at her sleepily.

"Hai?"

"C-can I. . . um. . ." she looked around nervously.

"Did you have a bad dream?" He asked. She merely nodded.

Yuugi held out his arm, and she climbed onto the bed, feeling herself be pulled over into the middle, now between Yuugi and a snoring Yami.

Yuugi pulled the covers back up, kissing her on the forehead again to comfort her. In reply, she snuggled into his chest, wanting so desperatly for someone to take that sinking feeling out of her stomach.

To her own surprise, she slept the rest of the night without interuption.

* * * * * * *

Well, another chappie down. R&R folks, and remember. All comments, suggestions, flames, and questions are welcome!