OK, So, This is a new approach at an old fic of mine. Before my fic wasn't focused on one specific plot, but was more a bunch of fics rolled into one. Now it's just the one plot affecting all the characters, instead of a milloin things anywhere. Oh, and I should probably warn you about two things. One: there will no tbe lemons, but there will be scenes involving sex. I won't go into detail, not even as far as clothes being taken off, but I figured I should warn you. Two: You won't know what's going on right away. All I, as the writer, will tell you in the beginning of the story, is that Serenity is feeling sadand guilty, and Tristan is consoling her. Rest assured, I will explain what happened slowly as time goes by, and most of you will probably be able to guess before it actually comes out. I won't keep you waiting too long, though. Whwere they're coming from will be revealed in an dearly chapter, and more details will be unraveled as the story goes. anyway, start with the disclaimer, then on with the story, kk? Awesome!

Disclaimer: I don't own yugioh, the tcg, duel monsters, the characters. I have no claim on ny rights to any yugioh merchandising stuffs, nor any brand names that happen to be mentioned in the story. I am just a kid with a computer...

"It's ok, Serenity. It will all be ok." Tristan averted his eyes toward a crying Serenity, whose head was resting on his shoulder. He knew nothing he said could comfort her. Afterall, she had just been through the most horrific experience of her life. No, on second though, Tristan supposed this had to be the second most horrible thing. Second worst was still incredibly bad, however, considering all she had been through in the last two months.

"No, I - Im'... I'm a horrible person!" She let out a sob, and buried her face again into Tristan's muscular shoulder. She wept openly, not caring about the leather seats Tristan had just had installed into his car, which she threatened to ruin. He had saved for those for quite a while, but she knew he wouldn't care, considering what had happened. Tristan was driving her home from a place she swore to herself she would never see again. Serenity still hurt on the inside and out from what she had done. After it happened, a thousand thoughts of guilt rushed upon her at once. She wasn't sure if she had done the right thing or not. She wasn't sure who to turn to, who to confide in. Tristan was the only one who knew, and only because Serenity had to share the burden with somebody. Even he, however, did not understand the full situation: Serenity was far too ashamed to have told him the whole truth. He had helped her come to the decision to do what she did. He was the only support she had, the only rock against the troubled waters.

"No, Serenity, you can't believe that, yo-"

"But, it - it's true!"

"No it's not, Serenity," Tristan pulled the car over, and grasped Serenity's hands in his, tenderly. Serenity looked up at him with a teary-eyed expression, tried to say something. All that came out was a hiccup and a sob. Tristan eyed her for a moment, grasping desperately for words. He hoped the ones he found would be the right ones to console her. "You did what anyone in your position would do. I don't know why this happened. You didn't deserve it. Serenity, ou're a great person! Everything that happened was all Du- that bastard's fault. Don't worry, Serenity. Noone would think any less of you. You deserved a chance at life."

It stung Serenity to hear Tristan call Duke names. He didn't deserve it, really - but if she had her way, this is the way it would stay. "But, S-so did-"

"Not if it would have killed you." Tristan knew that she could argue the reverse, but he refused to give her enough time to think about it to realize that. "You have so many friends that can support you, Serenity, don't worry: We're all here for you."

Serenity looked back up at Tristan, with more tears in her eyes than before. The salty moisture stained her face - not to mention Tristan's seats, he noticed painfully - but it was completely understandable. Anyone who had done what she had would cry.

"Tristan - You're such a good friend!" Serenity once again fell onto his shoulder, weeping. The tears were silent this time, but Tristan felt the hurt in every one of them. "I don't deserve good friends like you. After what I did, and then there's Duke, and, and -" Of course, she knew Tristan had no idea what she meant about the Duke comment, but she didn't care.

"Don't worry about Duke. He didn't deserve you. Serenity..." Tristan searched for the right thing to say. He wanted to tell her a thousand things. He wanted to say how much he loved her, how he wanted to stand by her. But he knew this was not the time, knew that it would surprise her to hear it from him, at least like that. Surprises were the last thing she needed. He wanted to tell her she would be ok. He wanted her to know that he, and all her friends, would stand by her, no matter what, and help her through this. But he knew it was no use. Anything he said would only make things worse. He wanted to say a million things, but instead, he just held her tight. He held her, silent, for hours, feeling her tear-induced trembles, watching her regret and despair. All he wanted to do, since the moment he saw her, was to hold her tenderly, just like this, but when the time came, he felt no joy at all. He knew her sobbing wouldn't stop, not for days.

He was grateful he had helped her choose now to do it, glad Spring Break had just begun. She wouldn't have to face her family now, not yet, and still she could cry until she felt better. This couldn't last forever, though: Joey and his family simply thought Serenity was on a date with Tristan (This was met with a lot of yelling from Joey, but eventually he was calmed, when it was pointed out to him that this meant that she was finally ready to move on). Tristan puzzled over what they should do now. Serenity had an eleven o'clock curfew, and it was now ten thirty-four. Whatever he did, he had to be smooth: If Serenity came home from their "date" crying, there'd be hell to pay from Joey the next day. Tristan was sore just thinking about it.

Tristan was just putting the finishing touches on his plan, now going through the details a third time for fear of alarming Serenity, who had cried her self to sleep, and was curled up in her seat, when she awoke suddenly, in a cold sweat. She cried out "NO!", before noticing the time. "Tristan," she said, her voice raspy from having cried so much. Her face was full of fear and dread, obviously the thought of facing her family terrified her. "It's ten forty-five. I- I can't face my family. Not yet."

"It's ok, Serenity, you won't have to. I've thought of that. She won't know about what happened tonight, but you're going to stay at Tea's. If everything works out, anyway."

"But... But what if it doesn't?" Serenity looked at Tristan in a sad, scared way.

"Well... Let's not think about that."

"You... You won't tell Tea, will you?"

"Don't worry. She won't know anything about what happened tonight."

Tears streamed from Serenity's face as she looked at her dear friend. "Thank you, Tristan. I don't know what I would do without you."

"You won't have to, Serenity. I promise." Tristan felt wierd, talking like this, but he knew that kind words would help her to feel better. He would talk about his feelings for her later - preferably when he wasn't soaked in tears.

See, I told you you'd have no idea! In the next chapter, Tristan tests his friendship with Tea, and a little more of what has happened reveals itself, in the guise of a dream. I'm gonna be leaving little clues here and there, I want to see who gets it first... I suppose I shouldn't be having a contest over something this grim, but why not, a little relief for a dark mood can't hurt. anywho, reply, iffin' you want to read more, and find out what happened to poor Serenity!