QueenOfHearts: Yeah, I know the "Tea's leaving for New York" scenario's been done several times over... 'course never by me! hehe... ^_~ No, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or this new song. I just heard it on the radio a few days ago and thought it'd make for a great songfic (just my opinion. You are, of course, free to form your own! lol). It's a wonderfully sweet, angsty kind of thing, really. If you like that sort, I strongly you get the CD it's on, Testify (I'm gonna, once I scrape together enough pocket money.^_^ And yes, I know that was a shameless promo. I just think it's a wicked cool song, what can I say?) I might also take an artistic license with the lyrics here to make 'em fit better, but seein as how I'm writin this note before the actual fic, I don't really know! I'll give ya the original lyrics here(I copied these by ear from the radio, and it took a good bit of time. So, if u wanna copy 'em yourself, go right ahead. Saves people a lot of headaches this way, trust me! ^_^) in case I actually do butcher 'em in the fic. lol Oh, and since I'm watchin YGO on Kid's WB, I've only seen the 1st season and a little bit (so far) of the 2nd, so if I get info wrong, I don't mean to! I'm gonna try and stay faithful to what I've seen so far, but farther than that, I can't help you. Newho, you know the drill from there!
Can't Stop Loving You (Phil Collins)
So
you're leaving
in the morning,
on the early train.
Well, I could say everything's all right,
and I could pretend to say goodbye.
Got
your ticket.
Got your suitcase.
Got your leaving smile.
Oh,
I could say that's the way it goes.
I could pretend and you won't know
that I was lying.
'Cause
I can't stop loving you.
No, I can't stop loving you.
No, I won't stop loving you.
Why should I?
We
took a taxi
to the station.
Not a word was said.
And I saw you walk across the room,
for maybe the last time, I don't know.
Feeling
humble,
heard a rumble
on the railway track.
And when I hear the whistle blow,
I'll walk away and you won't know
that I'll be crying.
'Cause
I can't stop loving you.
No, I can't stop loving you.
No, I won't stop loving you.
Why should I (even try)?
I'll
always be here by your side.
I never wanted to say goodbye.
(Why
even try?)
I'm always here if you
change (change) your mind.
So
you're leaving
in the morning,
on the early train.
Well, I could say everything's all right,
and I could pretend to say goodbye,
but that would be lying.
'Cause I can't stop loving you.
(Can't
stop loving you.)
No, I can't stop loving you.
(No,
I won't stop)
No, I won't stop loving you.
Why should I?
(Why should I even try?)
'Cause I can't stop loving you.
(Can't
stop loving you)
No, I can't stop loving you.
(It's
all right)
No, I won't stop loving you.
Why should I?
(Why should I?)
Why should I (tell me why)?
Why should I...even try?
italics = thoughts
*italics* = mental conversations (ex. Yami and Yugi talking)
~italics~ = lyrics
Sweet SorrowChapter 1: The Letter
Yugi's Journal
Late Tuesday night, July 30th
It's finally come. Tea's gotten her acceptance letter to that ballet school in New York. I've known that this would happen for a few years now, known they'd take her in gladly. She's too good not to be welcomed with open arms. To watch her dance is to float away on a wave of concentrated euphoria. 'Course I might be a tad biased...
I'm happy for her, of course. Really, I am. How could I be anything else? She's one of my best friends, and this is her dream. She's always supported me and cheered me on in everything I ever did. No matter what, she stood by me, even fought for me when it was necessary. It's just that her dream is turning into my nightmare!
The guys say I should tell her, namely Joey. He doesn't think I have anything to lose if I do. No offense to Joey, but how would he know? He's not the one who'd have to do it! I know they're all trying to help, but I think their advice is making matters worse. Yami says that's just Life. You know, one of those things you have to learn to deal with when they come. Why, though? Why does anyone have to say goodbye to someone they love? Why do I?
****
That afternoon
The Game Shop
Tristan and Bakura watched as Joey and Yugi played yet another game of Duel Monsters while Yugi's grandfather re-stocked shelves.
"Ok, I'm gonna beat ya this time, Yuug!" Joey yelled in his typical "energetic" fashion as he slammed his Flame Swordsman onto the field, "And I'll add Salamandra to boost his attack power 700 points!"
"Good move, Joey. You've really improved your skills well in such a short time," Yugi commented serenely as he flipped over a couple face-down cards he'd placed on the field on his previous turn. One was a De-Spell card, the other, the Dark Magician.
Joey took one look at this and immediately sat back down, slightly put out at the fact that he'd lost again, "How do you do that Yugi? I know you're not psychic or anything like that Pegasus creep was, so what's your secret? How do you seem to know what I'm gonna play before I play it?"
Yugi smiled reassuringly at his friend, "I don't, really. It's just part of being prepared. Sometimes, in this game, you have to be so ready that you just appear that way."
"Still..." Joey frowned, convinced, but still a bit irritated about his seemingly endless losing streak, "How many games is that, anyway? I've lost count."
"Twelve, actually!" Tristan grinned helpfully, but with a teasing lilt to his voice.
"Thanks, Tristan. You're a real pal." Joey replied sarcastically, eyeing him.
"Want to play again?" Yugi asked quickly, sensing another brawl coming and wanting to steer away from that in his grandfather's shop.
Joey never got a chance to answer, since Tea burst through the door at that moment, looking like she was going to explode with happiness. She was dancing with it. Literally. All over the store. When she came near anybody, she kissed them on the cheek. First was Solomon Moto as he came down off a stepladder, carrying an empty box, then Yugi, Joey, Bakura and Tristan in rapid succession. Nonplused, they all watched as she laughed and jumped from one side of the room to the other. Yugi, apart from his understandable confusion, looked like he'd been outside too long without the aid of sun-block.
"Tea," Mr. Moto interrupted loudly to get her attention, "Would you mind stopping all that twirling for a moment and tell us what going on? You're making this old man quite dizzy."
Tea quit in mid-spin and positively skipped back to plop down next to Yugi, still grinning. He stared at her, amazed. She barely even looked winded, even after all her capering, not to mention the fact that she'd obviously run from wherever she'd been before to the Game Shop. Still bouncing happily, she pulled an envelope out of her pocket and handed it to his grandfather, who opened and perused it.
His face instantly split into a wide grin, "Well, it seems that congratulations are in order! Tea's been accepted at the New York Academy of Dance!" {A/N: I haven't the faintest idea whether that's real or not. I'm too lazy right now to do the research, so I just came up with it. ^_^}
This news had varied effects. Tristan, Bakura and Joey all beamed at Tea and rushed to give her giant hugs in turn. Yugi sat forward in his chair, watching them glumly with his chin propped on his hands.
*You knew this would come someday, aibou.* {A/N: aibou = partner} Yami said comfortingly in his mind. Yami didn't like it when Yugi was in pain. He was his best friend, at the top of what had always been quite a short list.
*Yeah, but that doesn't stop it from hurting.* Yugi answered flatly.
*I know.* Yami shook his head sadly, *It's never easy to say goodbye to someone you care for, regardless of whether they know the truth, or not.*
This distracted Yugi's interest a bit, *You sound like you're speaking from experience.*
*I am.* That short reply was all he would say on the subject, and Yugi didn't bother pursuing it. When the ancient spirit didn't want to reveal something, no amount of prodding would convince him otherwise. Besides, he'd retreated into himself long enough. He really didn't feel like explaining why he was staring into space. With that thought, he stood up and pasted on (what he prayed was) his usual cheerful smile.
"That's wonderful news, Tea," he said when he reached her side, "You've waited for this moment for so long. When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow morning!" she exclaimed excitedly as she hopped up and down, taking his arm with her, since she'd latched onto it when he'd come up to her.
"S-s-so...soon?" he asked with a stutter he hoped he could blame on the fact that his entire body was being rattled around in her exuberance.
"Yeah, I know!" Tea squealed delightedly, "The mail must have been late getting over here for some reason. It was dated July 17th. I'm just glad it didn't get here any later!"
Yeah, swell. When that escaped the recesses of his brain, Yugi promptly chided himself, Hey, that's not fair to her! It's not her fault you can't seem to tell her how you feel!
"How are you going to manage to get there on such short notice?" Bakura asked curiously, his gaze flicking to Yugi's swiftly changing expressions. It was obvious as a neon sign what he was thinking about. Bakura felt a kinship with him in this moment, one stronger than usual. Being a shy person himself, he didn't envy Yugi right now.
"That's just it!" Tea responded brightly, apparently still unable to calm down, "They've sent a ticket with it! Everything's paid for, so all I have to do is show up at Gate 56 tomorrow morning at 8:30!"
Yugi couldn't take this anymore. He needed to get away, now, before he broke down entirely. Darting to the door, he threw over his shoulder to the stunned group, "I'm sorry, but I need to go do something! I'll be back as soon as I can, Grandpa!"
QoH: ^_^ It's me again, obviously. Whatcha think? Please review! I thrive on feedback! I was a bit cryptic with Yami there, wasn't I? hehe... well, he did have a life before... who knows what went on... *grins mischeviously*
Yami: Excuse me?
QoH: O_O eep! I'd better go now... Yami's that famous glare of his going full blast! 'Til next time, yall...I hope! *scurries away before she loses her sanity*