Hello again guys. I am back from my wedding and honeymoon for those few that noticed. Thanks for all the well wishes and such. It was fantastic and easily the best thing that's happened to me yet. I'm definitely living my own romantic comedy. It's the dream!

Now back to the story. First, I'd like to give a proper shout out and thank you to those that reviewed last chapter. OddDangerSpiritualCyberLover17, whitlaw123, Guest, Guildsnake , Guest 1, CottonCoccon , Fan skyisthelimit, watermellow , and Cornflower27.

Agreed Watermellow. Most stories only have the love interest making their mark, but I wanted to not make Yuugi the stereotypical icon of desire in the story, partially because Yuugi used to be a man so he'd probably still have some of those more 'dominant' tendencies left over. (Not that all men are dominant, but it is gender role our (America at least) society still sticks on them). Glad you noticed it. XD Ohhhh, guess I'd better flesh out bronzeshipping now. hah. AND I HOPE YOU KILLED THOSE MIDTERMS CAUSE THOSE SUCK!

Cornflower27, you're the first to ask for tendershipping! I actually have that one mapped out pretty darn well, especially considering it's a harder ship for me to write. Yeah, this story basically encompasses the before and after and during chapters of the original story.

I actually wrote this next chapter about a month ago but didn't like it at the time. After a few edits, I can now say it it publishing worthy. Hope you enjoy this next bit of fun.

(I've given up remembering the high school ages and things for Japan instead of America. It's FF I can do whatever the heck I want fools!)

Now enjoy!

=7 years old=

"You don't have any parents?"

Yami stared at the boy in front of him. Yuugi's head was down, hands gripping the chain link of the swing as it swayed softly. He seemed so much smaller. Well, he was small to start with but this… Yami's heart physically hurt for Yuugi.

For a moment, he contemplated the feeling. It was reminiscent of his own ache of loneliness. A hole that he'd been using Yuugi to fill. They'd only been friends for a few months, but Yami had found a home in the Mutou household he'd never felt anywhere else. So to see his new friend so distraught, it killed him.

"I'm sorry," was all Yami could muster. He didn't know what else to say. He hated his own parents. Constantly complained about them. Gosh, Yuugi must think he was terrible. Here Yami was, day after day complaining about his parents when Yuugi didn't have any.

Yuugi shook his head, rocking his legs back and forth. "You asked…. so that's why I live with my grandpa instead of my parents. It was a car wreck. I was at home with a sitter…"

Another piece of information clicked.

"That's why you care so much about the cards," said Yami before he could stop and think of how insensitive it might be to bring that up. He winced at the memory of their first meeting and again when he realized Yuugi had given him one of the cards. The Dark Magician.

Yami fumbled at his belt for the card, bringing it out.

"Here," said Yami. "Take it back."

Yuugi finally raised his head, looking alarmed. "No, I gave that card to you," said Yuugi. "It's a present."

"But it's from your parents," said Yami. "I can't take it."

"You can. Mom and Dad gave them to me, so I can give them away if I want to."

Yami hesitated, partially for the selfish desire to keep the card but mostly because of the vehemence Yuugi persisted. The boy was meek so often that moments where he spoke his mind were rare.

Yami retracted his hand, looking at the card while feeling completely useless.

"Then, what can I do?" said Yami.

Yuugi looked at him as if he were crazy. "Nothing," he said, then his face lowered again. "You can't bring them back from the dead."

Yuugi probably hadn't meant for that to hurt as much as it did. Now Yami was also looking down, his own legs reaching the ground. It prevented the swing from moving. Kept him completely immobile unlike Yuugi, whose legs were too short. Yuugi had no anchor to prevent him from wobbling on the suspended swing.

Yami looked at the card between his hands, The Dark Magician. It was the card Yuugi had given him. To Yami, it represented his friendship with Yuugi. The love and warmth he felt in their household. He didn't want to give it up and was glad that Yuugi had let him keep the card but…. He still felt terrible.

The swing jerked a second later. Yuugi had swung his legs out. They pumped forward and backward, slowly increasing in strength and height. Yami watched as Yuugi eventually stopped using his legs, the momentum continuing his rocking motion.

"Don't worry about it," said Yuugi, moving too quickly for Yami to see his face. "I really miss them, but it's just the way things are."

"But it's horrible," said Yami. "And I still don't like the idea of keeping the card."

"Please keep it."

Yuugi shifted in his seat, pivoting so that one of his legs stuck out farther. His foot just managed to touch the ground, dragging him to a stop. Now Yami could see the boy's face. He was upset, of course, but he was also determined.

"I gave you The Dark Magician because I wanted you to have it," said Yuugi. Then he hesitated. "Mom… gave me those cards right before school. A week before they left. She told me to give it to someone important." Yuugi's head went back to the ground again. "And you're the first friend I've made since moving here."

"Oh."

A strange feeling bubbled inside Yami. It was a mixture of sadness, happiness and sympathy. The mixture wasn't bad, but it was new. Yami wasn't used to feeling so many powerful emotions at once and it made him dumb as he continued to stare at the card.

What am I supposed to do? he thought. He felt restless and all sorts of strange bottled up feelings. Yami needed to move.

Yami replaced the Duel Monster inside his deck holder then jumped off the swing, rounding to stand in front of Yuugi. It wasn't until he was right in front of Yuugi that the boy finally noticed and looked up.

"I'm really glad I'm your friend, Yuugi," said Yami. "You're really important to me too."

Yuugi's eyes lit up, much of the sorrow vanishing. Good, that had been Yami's goal. To cheer Yuugi up… except the boy was now looking at the ground again.

"Hey!" said Yami, making Yuugi jump. "You also need to stop looking at the ground so much. A friend of Yami Sennen shouldn't have his eyes glued to the floor as if he did something wrong."

With no experience on how to be gentle, Yami retreated to what he did know. Straight-forward words, pride, and pushy honesty.

Yuugi flushed, slowly raising his eyes. When they finally reached Yami, the young heir smirked.

"Good," said Yami. "You need to learn to stand tall, no more slouching. You're short as it is, you don't need to exaggerate that."

"It's just a phase," Yuugi groaned. "I'll hit my growth spirt, just watch! I'll be taller than you."

"Oh?" said Yami. "You don't even reach my navel."

"I do too!" Yuugi jumped off his swing as well, craning his back and neck to stand up to Yami. It was useless. Even standing on tiptoe, Yuugi head barely reached Yami's nose.

"There!" said Yuugi proudly. "See, I'm almost as tall as you."

"It's useless unless you can walk like me," commanded Yami. "Chin up, shoulders back and no more slouching."

They spent the next twenty minutes trying to teach Yuugi how to walk correctly. Yami was proud of his work by the end of the day, mostly because he had made Yuugi smile again.

= 8 years old =

"Yuugi, what is that?"

Yuugi shied away, but not quickly enough. Yami had seen the dark bruise on Yuugi's eye. Yami was immediately concerned, pulling at the boy's arm.

"It doesn't hurt!" said Yuugi, with the same panic he had shown when Gramps had asked if he had cleaned his room. Why was the lad so nervous?

"Are you sure?" said Yami. "Because it looks like it hurts a lot."

"No, I'm fine," said Yuugi with a nervous smile. "I just tripped, that's all."

Yami let it go, convinced by Yuugi's story. It wasn't until the third major bruise that he realized something wasn't right. That Yuugi's increasingly elaborate stories weren't real.

"Yuugi, where are those bruises coming from?"

"Oh this one? I was walking on the bar between the stairs near the library – you know that one I'm talking about – and I slipped. Thankfully I wasn't too high—"

"Yuugi, don't lie to me."

Yuugi hesitated, fear flickering in his eyes.

"It's nothing," said Yuugi. "Don't worry about it."

How often had he heard those words from Yuugi's mouth? 'Don't worry about it.' They were the lad's favorite phrase. Yami was starting to hate those words.

"Yuugi, who did this?"

Yuugi bit his lip.

"There are some boys at school…. sometimes they pick on me and then… they hit me."

Yami's eyes widened. Furry pumped through him with such intensity that it surprised him. He'd never felt this angry for someone else's sake. He felt more raw. More helpless. More driven to right this horrible wrong. He immediately wanted to punch those boys and anyone else that had hurt Yuugi.

"Where are they?" growled Yami. "Those boys that hit you?"

"They're probably at the park," said Yuugi, looking at the damn ground again. Shoot! This was why he was so meek. "They like to chase me around there sometimes…"

Tears were in Yuugi's eyes. Yami couldn't take it anymore.

Yami marched out the front door, ignoring Yuugi as the lad chased him out. Gramps was at the back of the shop, a fact Yami was glad for. Gramps probably would have tried to stop him.

Ten minutes later, Yami was there at the park, and so were the bullies.

Ten minutes later, Yami was laying on the ground, every inch of his body hurting more than it had ever hurt in his life. Yuugi was sitting beside him, looking not quite as bad, but still ruffled.

"Damn it!" yelled Yami at the air, even more pissed. That had freaking hurt! He hadn't thought about the fact that he'd never fought in his life. Hell, he'd never thrown a punch before, but how hard could it be? Apparently pretty freaking hard as every time he'd gone for a punch he'd missed entirely.

His pride was hurt. His body hurt, but even worse, he'd led Yuugi back into the lion's den. The lad hadn't escaped the confrontation and they'd both suffered the consequences of Yami's thoughtless actions.

"Oh, Yami, I'm so sorry," Yuugi was saying as if it was his fault. It just pissed Yami off more.

Yami pushed himself to a sitting position, wincing at his hurt shoulder.

"Don't you dare," growled Yami. "I ran out here like an idiot and did this myself. You should have stayed at home."

"But why?" said Yuugi, looking seriously upset. "I hate fighting Yami. I hate getting hurt, but I hate you getting hurt even more."

"If it means getting those punks to leave you alone, I don't care! I'm going to learn how to fight, and I'm going to teach each and every one of those punks a lesson."

Yuugi reeled back. "So… you're not going to get rid of me as a friend? You know… since you got beaten up?"

"Why would I—Yuugi!" The lad jumped. "No! Why would you—"

"Because that's what happened with all my other friends."

Yami stared, understanding dawning. Yuugi had no other friends, not because of his shy personality. It was because they were all pushed away. Beaten and bullied in the same way Yuugi was if they showed any sympathy.

Yami's anger towards those bullies grew.

Yami stood up, grimacing at the scrapes in his jeans. His mother was not going to be happy about this. He might not be allowed to see Yuugi for a while.

"Listen to me Yuugi," said Yami firmly. "I will get those jerks to stop picking on you. Anyone who messes with you, messes with me, do you understand?"

Yuugi's brows scrunched in concern. "But you'll get hurt again."

"I don't care," said Yami. It wasn't just about Yuugi anymore. Yami's pride had been hurt, and he wanted to make those boys pay for laying a hand on him.

=9 years old=

Izumi Sennen turned in her chair, giving Yami her full attention. It was a mark of how surprising his request was. She usually only gave him a fourth of her attention. Sometimes half if it was a good day.

"You want to go to school?" said Izumi. "A public one?"

"Yes," said Yami, stating his words carefully. He'd been practicing them for weeks. "I feel the need to increase my social interaction with other kids my age. Parties and having friends over is great and all that but... I don't want to shelter myself from the world. I need to know more about it."

"Really?" said Izumi as if she didn't believe his made-up reasoning. "And you have to go to this particular school because…?"

"It's the best," said Yami eagerly. She was actually listening to him! "And it's close by, so that's really helpful. And they have a gate to protect the school and really good security."

That was about as far as Yami had gotten with his prepared speech. He held his breath, watching as Izumi calculated.

"No," she said, dashing Yami's hopes. "If you want to go to a school, we'll pick the best one. I'd hate for you to come home with dirty habits picked up from the rabble at public schools. They're so poorly managed."

"But…" said Yami, growing desperate. "It's the same school Seto Kaiba goes to."

That made her pause. Yami waited, heart thumping. He'd had to use his trump card so early. What if it didn't work? What if he couldn't go to the same school as Yuugi?

For the past year, Yami had grown completely attached to Yuugi. It had taken a long time, but Yuugi was finally one hundred percent comfortable with him. Open and smiling and so much fun that Yami wanted to stay by his side all the time. To bask in that infectious happy attitude, and it was pretty darn hard to do that when Yuugi was gone all the time for school.

Well, Yami would just have to fix that. He'd have to go to school as well… and also as get rid of a few bullies that Yami hadn't been able to get at yet. Yuugi refused to name them, and Yami had already been caught more than once trying to sneak into the grounds. Those school guards did not take their job lightly. He needed a different way in and that's where enrolling in school came in. The plan was perfect.

Except his mother hadn't given her consent yet.

"How about this," said Izumi. "I'll talk to your father about this and think it over. If Seto is going to the school, there has to be a reason."

"Thank you!" said Yami, relief spreading through him. It wasn't a definite yes, but it wasn't a no. He still had time to convince her to let him go.

Yami stood proudly at the front of the classroom. So this was what a normal school room looked like? It was brighter than he thought it would be. After hearing the horror stories of Japanese public school, he half expected everything to be monochrome, including the student's hair. Thankful that was not the case as he easily spotted Yuugi's distinct locks near the middle of the classroom.

Upon seeing his friend, Yami's face split into a grin.

Yuugi's return smile was muted.

Hmm? What was that about?

"This class, is your new classmate," said the teacher, motioning toward Yami. "Would you like to introduce yourself?"

"Sure," said Yami with confidence. He noted with satisfaction that he had everyone's attention. He was used to being under scrutiny, so he understood the looks in front of him. Admiration. Curiosity. He could see it all in their expressions. They were already measuring him in their heads, and so far, he had impressed them all. It was to be expected.

"My name is Yami Sennen," said Yami. "This is my first time going to a public school as I was home schooled and I'm excited to be here. I really enjoy playing duel monsters and any kind of game really. Feel free to challenge me if you enjoy being beaten."

There was an appreciative chatter among the class. Most seemed to be intrigued by the fact he was home schooled and a few chuckled at his challenge. He noted that a few in the back were unimpressed, Yami's initial assessment skipping over them. It made it easy to spot the troublemakers when they didn't sit in their chairs properly and made such obvious piles of spitwads. Even Yami, sheltered as he was, knew what those were.

"We all look forward to getting to know you as well," said the teacher with bright eyes. Obviously a suck up. She knew about his family, that was for sure. "You can have a seat right beside Kurina. Go ahead and raise your hand. Perfect."

Yami waltzed to his seat, smirking toward Yuugi again. This time he got the smile he was expecting. Full of excitement. That was better.

Yami took his seat, nodding to his new neighbors. He'd been so excited about going to the same school as Yuugi he had forgotten to think through the rest of the school part. His insides were dancing with a sudden nervousness realizing he was completely out of his element. He looked to Yuugi for reassurance.

He was greeted with a shy smile and a subtle thumbs-up. It was a small thing, but the gesture restored most of Yami's confidence. He faced forward to pay attention to his very first lesson. After all, to stay here he had to stay in the top two or else his mother would pull him from the school.

Tally of current requests:

Yami's proposal: 9

Yami's crush starts to develop: 8

When Yuugi finds out she's pregnant: 8

Yami/Yuugi friendship developing: 6

Yuugi and Izumi getting closer/working together: 6

More College moments: 6

Puppyshipping General: 5

Future Puppyshipping: 5

How Bakura's and Yuugi's group got closer: 5

Yami and Yuugi as parents: 5

Yami and Kaiba's relationship develop: 5

Puzzleshipping general: 5

Yami's POV last ball: 4

Future jobs All: 4

How Yami got his nickname as Pharaoh: 4

How Kaiba took over his father's company: 3

Marik and Bakura's trip to Wendys: 3

Juudai/Yusei first meeting: 3

Everyone's weddings: 3

How Marik joined Yami's Family: 3

Yuugi/Yami wedding day: 3

Bronzeshipping general: 3

Ryou Emerges: 3

How Bakura became a police officer: 2

Yami/Kisara Drama: 2

Tendershipping: 1