Disclaimer: Just a quick note to let everyone know that I make no profits from the posting of this story. And that while I enjoy playing with the Yu-Gi-Oh! gang the only characters and cards that I lay claim to are the ones of my own creation. Enjoy. These were posted a few years ago on another site under another name, I came across them when I was cleaning out my old hard drive and thought I'd give it a new life here. Warning these are not Beta'd so all mistakes are my own and don't worry. . . .the writing style does get better later on.
Prologue
*Lily's POV*
I sigh softly to myself wondering if this was one of my better ideas, after all I hadn't seen or even talked to Duke in almost three years. There was no way to know that he would even want to see me let alone help me out but I had no one else to turn too, lets hope that 10 years of friendship still counted for something with him. I take my sunglasses out of my trench coat pocket and slide them on before leaning against a tree waiting for Domino High to get out for the day. A few people looked at me oddly as I waited, a couple of guys even tried to hit on me but all it took was a quick look from over the tops of my shades and a few biting words from my sharp tongue to send them on their way. Lucky for me the bell rang and students were starting to leave the school before too long.
*Duke's POV*
"Can you guys believe that math quiz today?" I asked the gang as we walked out of school.
Joey laughed "Yeah, it was real hard. Who wants to go get some pizza?"
"Do you ever think will anything besides your stomach, Joey?" asked Tea as we headed towards the sidewalk in front of the school.
"Come on Tea, you know Joey can't think unless he gets his eight meals a day." Tristan joked and ducked as Joey just said "Hey" and tried to crack him on the arm.
It was Yu-Gi who pointed out the girl by the tree, "Hey guys, look over there. Do you think she's lost or waiting for someone?"
I looked over at the girl he was talking about and my mouth dropped open, It can't be I thought. There standing by the tree was a vision in black, her long dark brown hair fell to her waist in a braid and her black trench was open in the front to revel a black T-shirt that boasted Not Even If You Were The Last Guy On Earth. Her long legs were encased in tight black jeans and her black high heeled boots look like they brought her to about 5'10. Her eyes were hidden by a pair of black sunglasses and her mouth was curled up in a small smile as she looked over at us. Joey's eyes almost bugged out of his head when he looked over in her direction.
"Hey Beautiful, wanna join us for pizza?" he called out to her, the sound of her throaty laugh reached my ears and made me smile; it had been a while since I head that sound.
"Be right back guys." I called over my shoulder as I ran over to the girl and grabbed her up in a big hug spinning her around.
*Lily's POV*
I laughed as I found myself being swept up and spun around in Duke's arms, I returned his hug and then pulled back slightly placing my hands on his shoulders so I could look at him. I grinned as I asked "Missed me?"
Duke's response was to put me down and hug me tightly; "What do you think, Lily?" he asked his voice thick with emotion.
I lay my head on his shoulder and hugged him back, "I missed you too, Duke."
"So Duke, are you going to introduce us to your friend?"
I pull out of Duke's embrace just as he chuckles "Sorry, Yu-Gi, I kinda forgot about you guys for a minute." He stands next to me and keeps his arm around me as he introduces everybody. "Lilith Tao, Meet Yu-Gi Moto, Tristan Taylor, Tea Gardner, and the one that invited you out to pizza is Joey Wheeler."
Duke pointed out who was who as he spoke, Yu-Gi was the short kid with the tri-color hair, Tea was the brown haired girl, Tristan was the guy with the pointy brown hair and Joey was the blonde who was now blushing and stammering "Duke, I...um...didn't know...she was like....a girl of yours..."
I look up into the warm green eyes of my best friend for 10 years and grin, "Girl of yours? Something I should know about, Devlin?"
"Not really, Lil. She's not a girl of mine Joey, she's my best friend."
Joey stopped stammering but was still blushing "So she's not your girlfriend?"
"Gods NO!" both I and Duke say at the same time causing everybody to laugh at the two of us.
Duke grinned down at me "So, Lil, wanna join us for pizza?"
I tilt my head to the side and look up into sparkling green eyes and grin back, I knew I would have him all to myself later and pizza did sound good especially since I hadn't had anything to eat except crappy airline food all day. "Sounds great, Duke. Lets go."
Duke kept his arm around my shoulders as all of us walked to the pizza parlor and I just listened to him joke around with everybody, occasionally answering questions as they were asked of me. Before I knew it we all were at the pizza parlor and stuffed into a large booth in the back, I found myself seated between Duke & Joey.
"So, Lilith, what brings you to Domino City?" Joey asked after the waitress took everybody's order.
"Just thought I'd take a break from the Los Angles scene for a while and visit with Duke for a bit. And please call me Lily, Joey."
Joey blushed and was about to say something when my cell phone rang, I pull it out of my pocket and flip it open "Tao."
"Lilith Tao?" The voice ask's
"Yes?"
"This is Ichiro Ulan, with Kaiba Corp you have an interview with us next Friday at noon?"
"Yes, I do" as I was speaking I motioned to Duke to let me out so I wouldn't disturb everybody at the table. I'll be right back I mouth to him before heading outside to talk.
"We need to reschedule your interview because Mr. Kaiba is leaving on a business trip later this evening and won't be back for at least 2 months."
"Two months??" I ask in a shocked voice.
"Yes, so we need to reschedule your interview for when he gets back. It would be easier for us to contact you then to give you an appointment now. Is that all right?"
"Two months??" I practically shriek "What am I supposed to do for two months while I wait?!?"
"I'm sorry Miss. Tao but such things can't be helped...Now do you wish us to call you when Mr. Kaiba gets back for another appointment?"
I sigh and run my hand through my hair "Yes, please." and without even waiting for Ichiro to respond I hang up my phone.
*Duke's POV*
I watch Lily through the glass doors and wonder what it is about that call that had her so upset, I am also answering Joey's constant stream of questions about her. "So, she's 17, and likes to draw and lives in Los Angles?"
"Yeah, I haven't talked to her for a while so I don't know what brought her here."
"Duke, ummmmmm.......Does she have a boyfriend?" by this time Joey was turning bright red.
"Last I knew she didn't who knows about now though."
"You don't know?!?"
Tristan looked at Joey "You like her? Joey likes Lily...Joey likes Lily" He started to sing song while Joey looked angrier and angrier.
"STOP THAT!" He yelled just as Lily came back into the shop. I looked over at her and saw her raise her right eyebrow, the look on her face was one of annoyance and amusement. She walked over to the table and looked at Joey and Tristan.
"I miss something?"
Both of them turned red as Tea said "Nah, they're just acting like annoying children." Tea scooted over and made room for Lily to sit down and pretty soon the two of them were talking about fashion and movies.
*Lily's POV*
After I had dinner with Duke's friends and walked everyone home the two of us went for a walk together. We ended up at a park and were sitting on a park bench watching people while listening to the sounds of the early evening. Duke leans back and places his arm on the back of the bench behind me.
"Well?"
I look over at him smiling slightly, "Well, what?"
His green eyes study me carefully, "Let's just say that LA to Domino City is a long distance to travel just to say hi. What's going on Lily? I've known you too long to not know when something's up, I mean I haven't seen or heard from you in three years and now here you are."
I sigh softly and lean my head back against his shoulder before talking "I'm sorry about that Duke, I really am. You always meant so much to me but I had to get away from everything that reminded me of that duel. Out of everything I lost that day I think leaving you behind was one of the things that hurt the most but it was something I just had to do. I had to be alone to figure out who I was anymore."
He places his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer, "I know, Lil. I still have your deck if you want it."
I shake my head no, "Nothing will ever get me back into dueling again, old friend."
Now it was Dukes turn to sigh but he kept his mouth shut because now was not the time to get into it with me about dueling.
"Things were getting really bad at home Duke, that's why I'm here. I just couldn't stay there anymore, since Adam was hospitalized things just kept getting worse."
"How bad?"
"Really bad," I whisper before taking a deep breath and continuing "so, I sent out some of my designs and I got an interview here in Domino City. And since I was here I thought I'd look you up."
"You might be getting a job here?"
"Uh huh, that what I was hoping but my interview got postponed for two months because the guy got called away on business tonight."
"You're gonna live here?"
I look up at him "Would that upset you? I mean I sent my stuff here because you were here an-" my words were cut off by Dukes shout of joy and the tight hug he wrapped me up in. I couldn't help but start laughing "You're happy about that I take it?"
"YES!" Duke yelled attracting the attention of a few passerby's "Where are you staying?"
"A hotel unti-"
"No, you aren't. You'll stay with me, I've got an extra bedroom you can have."
"Are you sure? I won't be able to pay you a lot in rent 'cause I need to save up to bring Evie here, plus I don't have a job right now."
"No rent and before you argue about that you can help out in the shop to call it even, ok?" Duke looked at me and I saw how happy this whole idea was making him.
I were starting to feel like maybe I had made the right choice after all in coming here. "You sure?"
"Absolutely. But I am going to insist on one thing."
"What?"
"You still have another year of school, right?"
"Uh huh." I knew exactly where this was going and I didn't like it one bit.
"Tomorrow you're gonna transfer to Domino High."
"Do I have too?" I asked looking at him with my puppy dog eyes, a look no man could resist. The puppy dog look that no man could resist . . . any man except Duke Devlin that is.
"Yes, you do." He answered right before he kissed the tip of my nose.
"Ok."
