Sorry it took so long to update! Ugh, I'm such an air-head. Thank you all for the comments! Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I own nothing, so you cannot sue!

"The thing that appeared in front of my eyes vanished,
The voice that cut my dreams to pieces,
In this world that's full of lies...
Gently rip me up.
Softly embrace me.


Pl-e-a-se-save me!" -Gackt; Nine Spiral

--

I bolted upright in my bed and screamed. Screamed and screamed and screamed. It was overly high pitched, and sounded very foreign to my ears, but I couldn't stop. My body shook violently as I struggled to get a hold of myself. A warm pair of arms wrapped around my body and the familiar voice of my brother comforted me. I didn't even realized that Joey had come in.

"Serenity, it's okay," Joey said softly, stroking my hair. I choked out my screaming by burying my face in his white shirt. In the back of my mind, I was convinced that I was still dying. At least the putrid scent of smoke was replaced by the soft scent of Joey. "It was just a bad dream. You're okay now."

It took a while for the words to register in my head. It was only a bad dream. It was only a nightmare. I really wasn't dying and there was no reason to be afraid; I was awake. My body relaxed slightly and only then did I realize that I had been crying. Joey's shirt was wet where I'd cried, darkening that spot a bit. The room was still dark. I glanced over his shoulder to see the clock. 4:30 AM.

"Joey," I mumbled, looking up at him apologetically, "I'm really, really, sorry for waking you."

"No problem," He replied, unwrapping his arms from around me. He placed his hands firmly on my shoulders and looked me stright in the eye, "Are you alright now?"

I nodded. Joey smiled and stood, releasing my shoulders. He left me alone in my room. It was very dark, and cold. I laid back down, curling up under the covers to keep warm. My thoughts began to stir on their own. I felt truly embarrassed. Never in my life had a dream jolted me so bad. It felt so real though... and to make Joey have to check on me - that wasn't acceptable of myself.

I've already burdened my brother with my presence. Mom was going through depression when I decided to move in with Joey. I couldn't stand to see her like that everyday, so sad and angry at the same time. There wasn't anything I could do for her to make her feel better. When Joey invited me to stay with him, and I gratefully accepted. I tried not to make myself trouble for him, but sometimes it felt like there wasn't anything I could do right.

I laid in bed until six, when it was time to get ready for the day. I hadn't gone back to sleep, childishly afraid to have the nightmare again, so I was a bit tired.

It never took me long to get ready for school. I replaced my ragged night shirt for a pink and blue uniform. Domino High's uniform hadn't changed much from when Joey was going there; the bow that the girls used to have to wear was no longer necessary. By six thirty, I was leaving. Something caught my eye on the way out. A picture on Joey's computer wallpaper. It was a picture taken not so long ago, but long enough. It was a group shot that Tea insisted everybody be in. Joey, Mai and Tea stood together by a tree. Sitting on the grass was Tristan and Duke on either side of me. Yugi was standing to the side of Tristan, making two victory signs with his hands.

I sighed, feeling a bit bad. The picture was taken only two or three years ago, and the only one that really changed was me. My hair had gotten excessively longer; it brushed the back of my knees. Though I had the eye surgery, it didn't keep my eyes from still going bad. I needed glasses to read but, in fear of losing them, I wore them all the time. My body matured more from when the picture was taken. I was taller and more developed. I was still a dull, ugly girl.

I glared at the girl in the picture -the old Serenity- before finally leaving. The day was fairly warm. The sun was piercing, but the wind blew a constant chill. The school yard was unusually crowded when I arrived. I wondered if there was some sort of event happening today. People were gathered in a tight group. Loud chatter and other noises echoed throughout the group. I got closer, trying to see what was going on through the excitement. I realized that everybody was surrounding a black limo. I couldn't imagine what a limo was doing there, until a slightly familiar face stepped out.

Mokuba Kaiba.

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Sorry for this uber lame, short, and boring chapter. I promise to add more before the week is out. Again, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS! It's easier to write knowing that you all want to read more. Please comment more!

-B.