Game of seduction

Chapter 2

   "He is absolutely vicious!" Grandpa exclaims as he returns from upstairs, his hands swaying by his side furiously as he retreats. I grin from my seat on the couch, arms crossing as I study his shocked and wounded expression.

   "I tried to warn you." I chuckle, leaning back my head as I stare up at the ceiling. "He doesn't like being woken up."

    "Yami tried and almost succeeded to punch me in the face...in his sleep!" He exclaims as he flops down beside me, my words falling on deaf ears. "What kind of beast is he?"

   "He's Yami." I giggle. "He's in a species all his own, but we already knew that."

   "You couldn't have said anything more true, my boy." Grandpa chuckles, reaching over to tiredly ruffle my hair. "I'm not too eager to give that another go, he may just hit his target next time."

   "He wasn't really aiming for you," I nudge him gently. "he just lashes out in his sleep, so don't take it personally."

   "Asleep or not, I'm not going back up there." He huffs good-naturedly."I suppose we'll just have to wait for him to wake up naturally before I can tell you my news."

   "What is this all-important news?" I ask curiously. Grandpa looks over at me with an excited gleam in his eyes. "You can tell me and then catch Yami up later." I persist, my interest outweighing my sense of manners. Grandpa laughs as he turns to face me, resting his arm on the back of the couch as he meets my gaze head-on.

   "I'm opening a second game shop...in America!"

   "Grandpa!" I exclaim in excitement. "That's amazing, congratulations!"

   "Thank you, my boy." He replies with a smile, his pride practically radiating from beneath his skin. Ever since I was little he had told me stories of America, promising me that one day he would open a store in the states, introducing duel monsters to American players. It seems that he's finally realizing his dream, his happiness is obvious, but I know my Grandpa. If he really manages to successfully open a second game shop in the states I don't imagine he would ever want to come back here permanently.

   "When is the opening?" 

   "In a week."

   "Are we going with you?"

    Grandpa frowns and drops his gaze, his happiness dimming like a dying flame. "I'm afraid you can't come with me...you'd miss far too much school." I'd like to say I was heartbroken by the news, but I also can't honestly say I didn't see this coming. His sadness is distressing, but I know once he gets to the states all of this stress will be forgotten. The selfish part of my brain wants to argue with him, demanding that he take me with him but I'm no longer the little boy Grandpa had been forced to raise for the past fourteen years. He deserves to go wherever his happiness takes him and I won't allow myself to impede his happiness any longer than my welfare already has. "I hope that you can forgive me."

   "It's not a problem," I smile halfheartedly. "I would have loved to have been there with you, but I understand. You have to do this Grandpa, you've wanted this for years, you deserve to go and be happy."

   "Thank you, Yugi." He sighs in relief, his smile returning as he leans in closer. "I feel my absence will be good for you and Yami as well." 

    "What do you mean?" I ask with what I hope is a convincing impassive expression. My heart pounds in panic as he continues to stare at me with a smile. He can't possibly know about my feelings for Yami or their maddening depth. I've done everything within my power to keep him at an arms-length, doing everything I can think of to keep him from getting involved, but it seems my efforts were in vain, Grandpa's knowing expression makes my stomach churn anxiously as I try to maintain my look of impartiality.