I suppose this chapter should be longer considering the long wait, but it was too important to throw unnecessary bits into it. This story is now officially off Hiatus, and I will try to not leave you guys hanging for years again. I do not own Yugioh. [JAPANESE] Warning: there is some slightly mature content in this chapter, but because this fic is rated T I made sure to keep the graphics to the least amount as possible. Enjoy!

Chapter 22

Yugi burst into his chambers, breathing heavily. Mira looked up at him as she put fresh bandages on her friend. Yugi sighed in relief and motioned Malik in. He grabbed one of the spears off of his guards and shut the door. He put the spear through the handles. He wasn't going to take it out until she was covered again.

Like Malik, Yugi didn't want anyone to see the marks upon Penny's back either. Let alone the angry red one that was put on her just today. He squeezed his eyes shut, covering his mouth, and turned away.

The shame. His shame. A fist sized circle on her back, just below her shoulder PYMP. In a perfect little square imprinted in the circle. He slid down the doors, and started to cry. He felt one of his servants curl up into his side, and he just wrapped an arm around them, pulling them closer. They could never offer him comfort for this sin, but he appreciated the gesture.

"Open the door!"

Yugi shifted, lifting his head from his knees. That was Prince Yami. Why was he still not at lunch? It was rude in Japan to excuse yourself from the table without proper consent. Prince Timeaus…he was such a bad example.

"Uh, we would if we could your Highness, but um…you tell him."

"It's your spear. Your responsibility."

"Spear? Aren't all of you supposed to have one?"

"Yes. However, kawairashi-sa no ōji needed it more, and took it into the room with him."

"What does that mean?"

"When the Prince is ready he shall tell you."

"Yugi, I think you should tell him," Mira said softly.

"But he-"

"No, he's already asking questions. Besides he's your fiancé, and has a right to know. You should also tell him about these," Mira said gesturing to Penny's back, before placing the final layer of wrapping on it.

"Are you sure you want him to know?" Yugi asked looking at her in sorrow.

"He has the right to hear it from you, and only you."

"Very well, if you're certain."

"Ask me that again, I dare you."

Yugi gave her a small smile, as he heard his fiancé huff in frustration on the other side of the door.

"Yugi, please just open the door and tell me what that was about. It seems to me like you and Timeaus have some history, but no one wants to say what it is. Just tell me, please. I don't like being in the dark."

Yugi didn't even move. Mira was giving him a firm look of 'go on', but he wasn't ready to drudge up those old memories yet. Those memories of…no, he couldn't even finish the thought. It was too painful, frightful, and…and…disappointing. He heard Yami sigh.

"Fine don't tell me. I'll just ask around instead. Someone will tell me what's up."

Yugi balked as he heard him start to walk away. He quickly took the spear out of the doors, and opened them, shoving the spear into one of the guard's hands. Looking both ways, he saw Yami dawdling as he walked away, barely three feet away from him.

"Wait!"

"For what?"

"I'll tell you, but not here, not now. Let's take a ride tomorrow, just you and me to one of my favorite places. I'll…I'll tell you there." Yugi looked at the ground wrapping his arms around himself. His skin felt hot, but his body cold.

What he was going to share with Yami, was more shameful to him than anything else. The very thought of it made his skin crawl, and his heart ache. His skin went pale, well paler, and a light sheen of sweat started to collect on his brow. What was wrong with him? He hadn't felt like this when he told the Pharaoh. So why was he feeling like this now? Maybe because Yami had had a first hand look of how he treated his servants, and this story would explain why he kept them tied so tight to his side.

"Are you okay?" Yami asked as a hand touched his shoulder.

Yugi visibly flinched under that hand. "I just need rest, and time to attend to my new servant."

"Okay, but, Yugi, what is your history with him?"

"Yami, that man…he was my first fiancé, at the age of 12. It was supposed to be that way until I turned 15, but…"

"But?"

Yugi said nothing, just leaned up and kissed Yami's jaw before laying his head down on his chest. Yami was confused, but wrapped his arms around him placing his cheek on top of his head. He heard Yugi sniff and suddenly became aware of him crying in his tunic.

"Yugi what happened to you when you were engaged to him?"

"Nothing, not to me." With those words Yugi broke down in heavy sobbing, and Yami couldn't get another word out of him.

"Your highness, perhaps in here would be better for this?" one of the guards asked opening Yugi's door slightly. The other guard's eyes shifting from side to side down both ends of the hallway.

Yami nodded, shifting Yugi slightly so he could pick him up like a bride and carry him into the room. The guard shut the door behind him, and Yami realized that they all knew what he didn't. Or at least they knew something of what happened to their Prince all those years ago.

Yami looked down at the bundle in his arms, before his head snapped up to a door opening. It was only Malik who looked worried as he rushed past him and out the door. Yami set Yugi on the bed and started to approach the door, but was stopped by Mira who stood at the door.

"Just stay with, Yugi, okay? You don't need to see this, not before he tells you about it anyway. I can never tell what he's more shameful of. What he did to us, or what happened to us."

Mira shut the door, and now he was slightly less confused. Not to me, Yugi had said. The old Emperor had told them not to let them be hurt. The female servants walked in groups whenever around Timeaus, like there was strength in numbers or something. What he did to us, or what happened to us. Us, she had said. But the male servants weren't walking around in groups, so how was it an us thing? That was only thing he couldn't place. Just what had happened when Yugi was engaged to Timeaus?

"Malik, is this really necessary?" A female voice asked as Yami saw Malik drag Isis of all people into the room. Wait, no, Isis was back in Egypt, so was this Malik's older sister? Ishizu? No wonder the boy had hugged Isis when he saw her, they really could be twins.

"You must be Ishizu," Yami said.

"Yes. Move, I need to see to my new previously unknown patient," Ishizu ordered giving him a slight push to the side as both walked into the room behind him, the door shutting as soon as they were through. Nearly on Malik's heels it sounded like.

"When she says he, she doesn't mean Timeaus, she means me."

Yami turned to the bed to see Yugi watching him with weary eyes. He could clearly see that the Prince wanted to sleep, needed it, but for some reason wouldn't. Yami sighed, walking back over to the bed, and slipping under the covers with him. He pulled Yugi close, and the other turned onto his other side so his back was pressed to his chest. Yami didn't even question it, just pulled him closer.

"Yugi, what happened to you?"

"Nothing."

"Stop telling me that. I get it, nothing physically happened to you. But someone did touch something here," he tapped Yugi's temple, "and here," he tapped Yugi's chest. "Something to cause enough damage that you're scared that it might happen again."

Yugi broke down into heaving sobs in his arms, leaving Yami to feel like someone that had just bumped a glass vase that had been sitting on the edge of a table all this time. And he was the one to not ignore it but wonder why it was so close to the edge to begin with. To want to move it back away from the edge, but actually sent it smashing to the ground instead.

Yami pulled Yugi closer, trying to console him in any way he could. It was hopeless though as Yugi just cried. Even after he fell asleep, tears still fell from his eyes. Yami was wiping one stray line of water from his face when Emperor Otogi burst into the room looking ready to yell.

Yami quickly put a finger to his lips, shaking his head. He glanced briefly down at Yugi, and then back up to his brother. It had taken hours for Yugi to fall asleep, and he didn't want his brother waking him back up. Yugi needed to sleep, even if that sleep was restless, he still needed to sleep.

"Just keep your hands to yourself," Otogi said before he left with a wave of his hand.

Yami smiled slightly, so he wasn't the only one who'd noticed the lack of sleep on the younger's face. Or perhaps that exhaustion was still showing which was why he didn't push it. Yami snuggled down behind Yugi, pulling him even closer as he too fell into a restless sleep.

;p;p;p;p

Yugi sat upon the horse, as Yami mounted the one next to him. He had left Daisuke and Shin in charge of his quarters. No one was allowed entry he told them except Ishizu, Rebecca, and Shiloh. Shiloh was a trusted member of his Grandfather's court, and it would've been disrespectful to ask anyone else to see that Mira, Malik, and Penny were fed as often as they needed to be.

Yami had left Keira in Marik's and Bakura's care. One full day with the girl, and he found that she had them wrapped around her little fingers. He should've known better, they had always been suckers for cute faces. Pretty soon he imagined they'd be taking her orders over his. This was a ridiculous thought of course, but it was easy to imagine.

Yugi looked towards him, and Yami nodded at him. Turning Yugi urged the horse forwards into a trot. Yami followed easily as they made their way through the open lands. It was a half a sun movement before Yugi stopped and dismounted, pulling the horse under a weeping willow tree. Yami did the same and followed him.

As soon as they were both comfortable upon the blanket that Yugi had brought with him, Yami realized that were anyone to pass by, they'd never be spotted. Yugi sat cross legged across from him, and refused to let Yami get any closer to him.

"Let's start with what my house does to our personal servants when they come into our care," Yugi started after a short period of silence. "If you look at the lower right side of Mira's back you'll find a mark that is in the shape of a circle, and has the letters PYMP in a square in it. Malik has one on his left thigh. Penny, my new servant has one just below the bone on of her right shoulder. The letters stand for Prince Yugi Mutou Property. If they were to ever run away, and found with that branding they'd be brought back here, to me. Those marks, which I hide, are burned into their skin, and takes at least 15 days for them to heal."

Yugi paused as he let his words sink into Yami. Yugi didn't need to pause, Yami had opened his mind for anything to sink into it. He was stunned by the revelation sure, especially after all his ridicule of how they treated their slaves and servants. But he also knew Yugi well enough to know that this hadn't been his choice. This was something his House had just been doing for generations, and was something Yugi should've accepted as normal, but instead he questioned it.

Yami supposed that that was one of the things that made him unique, at least for a royal anyway. Certainly too kind for the role he was born into. He probably would've been happier born as someone else. At the same time though, if he had been born as someone else, he wouldn't have been able to do all the good that he'd done in this life either.

"Please say something," Yugi whispered when Yami remained silent.

"What is there to say, Yugi? This wasn't your choice for them. I have no doubt that if you could, you'd have prevented it from the first moment that Mira was assigned as your personal servant. By the time you noticed it, you must have been much older."

"Malik, that's when I noticed them, and was horrified by it. My Mother and Father told me that that was just how things were, and to put it from my mind. I couldn't though, still can't. I find myself questioning it every day, and wondering if there might have been a better way to claim them as under my care without them being maimed like that."

"Yugi, stop stalling and tell me what happened to Mira and Malik when you were engaged to Timeaus."

Yugi sniffed, looking away, his eyes closing before he said anything. Yami opened his mouth to tell him to just tell him, but Yugi spoke first.

"He raped her."

Yami had no words to that. His mouth had gone dry. Rape? It was a sin, even in his own country, to have sexual intercourse with anyone who was unwilling. So how could he say something so forwards like that without even pausing? It was heavy words to accuse of anyone.

"I can see your thoughts, Yami," Yugi whispered.

Yami looked up to see Yugi looking at him with sad, but understanding eyes. They both knew he could not just take his word for it. He'd need the whole story to comprehend the burden of Yugi's pain, and the truth of his words.

"We were engaged for a solid year," Yugi started his story, his memory. "It was just after my 12th year of life that it happened. I trusted him, I trusted him to be alone with them. It is a mistake I will never repeat. I was coming back from doing something that day. I can't even remember what it was. What had been so important that I left them so vulnerably unprotected?" Yugi shook the thoughts off, and went back to his story. "I heard muffled noises coming from my bedchambers. They were irregular, and made me hasten in my steps. I burst open the door to see my Mira, tied to the bed, and Timeaus on top of her."

Yugi paused pushing down a choked cry, as he tried to push past the memory of that unforgettable sight. It took a few deep breaths, but he continued. His voice was less controlled than it had been before.

"She had been gagged, and tears were streaming from her eyes as Timeaus ruthlessly pounded into her. I was frozen in the doorway for a moment before acting. Timeaus was 16 years into his life at the time. He was bigger and stronger than me, but I still ran at him, leaping at him, pulling him off of Mira as we both tumbled over the other side of the bed.

"That's where I found Malik. Bound to one of the table's legs, also gagged, he was struggling to break free, to help Mira. He didn't even care for his own injuries, cuts up and down his inner thighs. I was told later that he had not been penetrated. A small mercy compared to the overwhelming price he paid that day trying to help his friend."

Yugi paused again as the memories flooded him. It took him longer this time to control the on rush than it had before. Yugi pressed his palms into his eyes as he tried his best to hold back the tears. After some time, he finally got his emotions under control and continued. His voice was even shakier than before.

"Timeaus roared like a banshee as he knocked me off of his back, and kicked me across the room. I was in pain, yes, but I didn't let this stop me as I got back up, my hand gripping the bedside table. He made to move back towards the bed, when I grabbed the vase off of the table, chucking the flowers out as I swung it above my head. I screamed and he turned around as I threw the vase at him."

Yugi face formed a small proud smile. Like he was remembering something happy. Then the look was gone, and replaced by the sorrow.

"You've probably seen the scar running over his one eye. I did that. The vase smashed into his face, and he's blind in that eye now. It was enough though, between the pain he was feeling, and the blood running down his face from his forehead, I was able to free both of them. And with the help of Umeda, and Akiha transport them to the medical chambers. To Malik's sister.

"We were here, Yami. We weren't in India, we were here in Japan when it happened. Our engagement was broken the same day, and he was sent back to India with bandages covering his face within the week. A note given to one of the guards that had been staying with him from my Grandfather. His Father sent one back to us. It clearly stated that if he had any other heirs, he would gladly strip his son of the crown, but as it was…their line needed to stay alive."

Yugi's face twisted into a bitter look. Like he'd of loved nothing more to strip Timeaus of that crown himself. To take something precious from him, like he had Mira and Malik. No. Like he had Yugi.

"What Timeaus did that day ruined Mira, and Malik. Mira…she can still have children, children she's always wanted, but Ishizu recommends strongly against it. She told us-me that the pain of any type of sexual intercourse would easily mask any pleasure that the action could bring. And Malik…Timeaus cut him for trying to interfere. He couldn't have children even if he wanted them.

"Two attacks in one day. It turned me cold to the world for some time. It was over half a year before Akiha suggested something to get me out of my cold shell. Fighting lessons, with the sword, so if I ever needed to, I could defend not only myself but those closest to me too. I jumped at the opportunity and learned not just sword play, but all kinds of Tai Jutsu too."

Yugi was silent, but Yami said nothing. He had this urging feeling that Yugi wasn't done. So he waited for him to continue.

"Do you get now why I keep them so close to me? Why I get anxious about leaving them in the care of others? Even if they are people you trust unconditionally. That's just not something I can afford to do anymore. Trust unconditionally, I mean. It cost Malik and Mira their futures. It nearly cost them their lives.

"I love them like they're my brother and sister, and I'd give anything to go back and change that moment. Change it so it never happened. I promised to protect them, and I couldn't even do that. I don't deserve the title of Prince. I'll always be the furthest thing from it."

Yami realized that now Yugi's story had come to an end, but he didn't know what to say. It explained everything except who this us was that Ishizu had explained the extensive the damage done to Mira had been. Then Yami remembered how Mira always seemed to be mooning after Umeda whenever he was around. Umeda seemed to go out of his way to not look at her.

"Umeda would've married her wouldn't he? Even though she would never bare his children, he'd still have her as damaged as she is."

"How did you…?" Yugi's eyes were wide in surprise.

"It's almost painfully obvious."

Yugi sighed raising his hands almost like he was about to deny it, but decided not to as they dropped back into his lap with a heavy sigh.

"You're the only thing standing in the way of their semi-happily ever after. Why?"

"No, I'm not. Umeda and I didn't come to this decision easily. You have to understand, we both know Mira very well. She's the type of woman that doesn't care about her own pain and misery if it'll make her loved ones happy. I would've happily married her off to him, but Umeda was the one who said no. He's the type of man who'll sacrifice his own happiness so he doesn't have to see his loved ones in pain."

"A perfect match," Yami said whistling low.

"Fate can be kind, but enjoys the cruelty in life more."

"That's how you got my Father to change his mind, wasn't it?"

"Yes. For some odd reason, as I was leaving he said I looked broken inside. I still don't know what he meant by it."

Yami did though. He could easily see the concept of Yugi being broken inside. So he promised himself that he would try to fix that before they got married. Fix that broken part inside him, the part that couldn't trust. That part that felt the need to bear all of his burdens on his own. Yami inched closer to Yugi, and Yugi let him.

Yami cupped Yugi's cheek, and pulled their heads closer together until they were resting forehead to forehead, looking one another dead in the eye.

"I believe you."

And Yugi broke down crying in his arms for the third time in two days. But it wasn't in grief, but relief this time. Yugi had feared rejection, bit was only received with open arms. It was far more than he deserved, but he was grateful for it all the same.

It's strange...I can still the plot for this story clear as day in my mind. Even though I've just been working on it here and there, the plot itself has never faded. And believe it or not, this is actually NOT the climax of the story. No, that comes later. It does feel good to be writing this one again, as well as the others. I focused way too much on the vampire trilogy and neglected these stories. For that I am sorry. Thank you to everyone who supported this story, even when it was on Hiatus, it kept it strong in my mind. Thank you. Midnight ;p