Chapter 3: Conversational Findings


Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh, nor do I claim rights to any of the affiliated characters.

Warnings/Notes: Special thanks to all of my reviewers for the feedback and compliments, you guys are great and I really appreciate your patience and support. Expect some potentially OOC scenes and spelling/grammatical errors.


There were no words to describe the conscious feeling of contentment that overcame him as he watched her eyes return to their normal olive color, irises shining vividly against the white. The last traces of her tears were finally gone, chased away by the mild sweetness of her peppermint tea. Shizuka was not fond of hot chocolate, at least, that's what she'd said. However, Pegasus knew enough to understand that the sweet medley on her tongue reminded her too strongly of childhood to be allowed past her lips. Her defense mechanisms were almost telling enough to portray her life's story.

"When was it you said you wanted to leave?" The serenity of the atmosphere seemed uninterrupted by his question.

"I'm not entirely sure yet." She replied, snow had begun to fall again, in mounds of white against the dying branches of the trees outside his window. The frailness of the scene was captured so perfectly within the frame that it's design seemed to have been chosen for such an occasion. Upon catching his gaze the thought did not seem so irrational.

The harsh way the wind blew the crystals across the sky in Japan was almost distracting to watch, but there was beauty in the gentle drift of San Francisco. Here she didn't feel as anxious to wish the winter months away.

"You realize I'll still make good on my offer to fly Jonouchi-boy up here to be with you." He continued, it resounded with irony, in her ears as a silence, the lack of an indication for her to stay, or to go.

Clinging to his words in tightened tension she reminded herself to breathe. Speaking without thinking was an impulse she wished she'd never have acquired, "Jonouchi has separate plans until the 27th, I wouldn't interrupt them for anything." She was politely adamant, more to prove the point to herself than to her companion. The thought that occurred to her was one she dared not speak aloud…she didn't want to go home to her mother…and yet….

"Well it's currently the 24th in Osaka." He sipped at his cocoa, "If the accommodations here are awkward for you I can-"

"That's not it at all!" She interrupted a bit more abruptly than she'd meant to. "I was just…caught up in thought; anyway it'd probably be best for me to leave as soon as possible. I don't want to have wasted your time and the more I can work on this issue the better."

He leaned in a bit closer to her, supporting his weight on hands he'd folded together and tucked beneath his chin, all at once he was consumed…. It was, in a sense, foreign, it's familiarity diluted in the sweet scent of her perfume; but still he recognized it, a subtle yet urgent indication to feel. For a split second their eyes locked and he saw completely through her, into her childhood and beyond, her stained-glass smile holding together the fragmented memories lingering within the creases on her lips.

"At least tell me what it is you're attempting to run away from." Upon looking into her eyes for the second time in a mere hour he straightened himself in his chair and narrowed his gaze. In that moment moisture stirred within her eyes and he smelt roses on her stifled breaths.

"Forgive me." He spoke up when his nostalgia had come and gone, "I was completely out of line."

She wanted to stop his apology, negate it with one of her own and let the tension swallow it, but she did not, what was she supposed to say to the man? I'm glad you forced me to deal with this; I'm sorry I brought you into it…how utterly pathetic.

"You know, when my brother told me you had the ability to read minds…well I thought it was just another one of his crazy misconceptions…but…."

"Reading minds is not so much an ability as it is a test; both a blessing and a curse. Most of it isn't rocket science, and the rest, well that's just complicated." He laughed a bit dryly, "I'm sure your dear brother has taken the liberty of informing you about the chaos that unfolded in the face of such a phenomenon."

Shizuka laughed, "No, he hasn't really said much about what happened in Duelist Kingdom. A lot of what he did seemed like a fairy tale." She replied.

"Oh really." For a moment he was hopelessly intrigued by her, what she knew, her perception of the situation, of him, in that moment he lost track of all thoughts of worry, and allowed only her nervous mannerisms to bring him back to reality. "So he's told you much of what's happened and you're a bit skeptical?" He inquired.

Hesitantly she shook her head no, "I have a lot of trust in everything my brother tells me, but I can read him better than anyone else. I know when he's embellishing, when he's trying to make someone out to be worse than they are to hide what he's been through. He can't fool me, and so when he explained what happened, even though I couldn't fully understand everything involving you, who you were, why you went to such lengths for the sake of something that I saw as trivial, I wanted to remain neutral. I try not to let family relationships interfere with my judgement of other people, especially when I'm speaking with no life experience to back me up."

He stared at her for a long second, impressed with both her maturity and articulacy. Unlike her brother, who interrupted his own thoughts frequently in frustration, Shizuka knew where she stood and did not falter. She was confident in her assumptions even if they were wrong or impulsive. Being just as forgiving as her brother, if not more so, made her admirable, and though she was shy, she was easily equally as outspoken, the difference was in their self-esteem and Pegasus had always known that.

"Honestly." He said, shaking his head and sipping at his cocoa, "You've got to be one of the most accepting, down-to-earth teenagers I've ever encountered."

At this she blushed softly in embarrassment and looked down into her cup of tea for a moment, "If you knew me a little better you'd see me as impulsive and fanciful."

"You're young, such is only natural isn't it? How many girls you age would deny themselves the motive to hold a grudge against a man in my position?"

She sighed in understanding, "I suppose with that way of thinking I've become an exception to the rule."

"Be that as it may, my psychoanalysis of you doesn't seem to be creating a pleasant atmosphere. Is there anything else I can help you accomplish while I still have you?"

For a moment she sought to find anything that might give the newest issue more of an edge, she thought about asking him if he'd like her to manipulate the layout for such a special occasion, but decided against it. Style was one thing that should never change in journalism.

"Not that I can think of." She replied after a few moments of contemplation. Then, seemingly upon further mulling over the thought, she added: "Unless you'd like me to add something specific to the interview: an announcement, advertisement…even a specific headline you find suitable is fine."

Pegasus shook his head; "I'll leave the reporting to you." He told her with a small smile, "However; should you think of anything else you'd like to know, please don't hesitate to ask." At this he pushed his hot chocolate aside, bored with both its subtle warmth and overpowering sweetness.

"Well, now that you mention, I was curios about one more thing, although it's not related to Duel Monsters."

"By all means." Pegasus coaxed, anticipating some sort of inquiry about his relationship with her brother or one of his companions.

"My brother once told me that you were a painter." She began, a light stirring in her eyes as she saw those of the man across from her widen considerably.

"And how, pray tell, would he know that?" Her elder asked a bit of an edge lingering in his tone.

"I'm…not exactly sure." It was the first time he'd seen her stumble over herself in response to something he himself had said. "I just thought…" But Pegasus held up a hand, there was no need for the girl to continue.

"I'm not willing to disclose any information on the subject publicly or privately, the fact that your brother knows even that much about something he should not is upsetting." He watched her expression dissolve into one of apprehension and sorrow, immediately he knew that she felt she'd gotten her brother into some sort of trouble, and through his anger, attempted to calm himself for her sake. "I'd appreciate if you'd keep anything Jonouchi told you regarding my personal life to yourself."

"B-but I think you misunderstood me, he didn't, Jono didn't…say…."

As he listened to her thoughts interrupt themselves in a frenzied frustration the extent of his anger died down; "He didn't say anything else?" He provided for her. The young girl shook her head to confirm what he'd assumed. Internally he sighed, though she was strong-willed, she was still just a child, and very protective of the only real family she had. It hadn't been his intention to upset her, but nevertheless, it seemed he had.

"Ms. Kawaii, this whole mess was my fault, I overreacted and for that I apologize." He spoke to her in a gentle manor; still, she seemed deeply unnerved. "Ms. Kawaii, Ms. Kawaii, what's the matter?"

"I just…I really…" But she stopped, whether she couldn't find the words to explain, or the composure to, was something Pegasus had yet to find out. "I'm really sorry for any trouble Jono or I may have caused you." She then began once more, her voice trembling, but sincere, "I know I can't just rush off and expect any of this to go away but I want you to know that Jono honestly didn't tell me about anything other than your hobby. I'm sorry that I brought something like that up without thinking, it's not that I wanted to pry, it was more of an observation and I, please don't be angry with Jonouchi…I know he'd never-"

"Ms. Kawaii you're getting beside yourself for nothing." He assured her, "I misjudged you and once again I apologize. It was wrong of me to jump to conclusions, I know Jonouchi-boy didn't maliciously tell you or anyone else about something personal pertaining to me." He explained, "There's no need for you to get upset or to feel you've done something wrong, I won't mention this conversation to anyone and we'll just pretend it never happened."

Though she understood that the issue had, ideally, been resolved, to her it was still ongoing, another critical mistake to etch alongside the rest of those forever held within the confines of her memory. She thought herself melodramatic for being so pessimistic but, in the same respect, couldn't help herself. She didn't know whether it was best for her to just wait out Christmas with her mother or to face it where she could be no more trouble for someone who'd only ever given her the means to help herself. She remembered making a vow to herself a long time ago to never be so needy again, as this state of mind, in her eyes, was pathetic. And yet despite herself…she felt worn down, out of place, alone. For a moment she saw only a hospital room and heard her mother's voice from beyond the door, a voice that held no emotion, and a woman that barely cared.

Everywhere she went she had this unrelenting feeling of worthlessness. Every time she felt she'd done something right, saving Jonouchi, going off to college, taking control, she was merely passing in the shadow of significance. She looked at the man across from her, merely at him and not into him, as empathy was not truly her gift in the same sense that it was his, and sought what set her apart from him. Why he would always be successful while she would never be, and then, metaphorically, it came to her. Internally, she was like the snow, melting under the heat of a warm spring sun, making people realize their problems and face them while she had enough power to hold them over their heads, whereas Pegasus…. Pegasus was like the wind, he could make a person feel warm or cold, touch their hearts with bitterness, or with nostalgia, he was elusive enough to be truly unseen by the world, and yet powerful enough to influence it without having to be.

In her mind, she would never be successful because she was not strong enough, no matter how hard she tried or pretended to be, she was not emotionally in tact, in reality, she didn't even know the meaning of the words.

"Shizuka." At last, upon rising from his chair and gently but firmly grasping her shoulders, he'd gotten through to her, "Are you alright?" He inquired. She nodded mechanically, without any thought, she wasn't sure how long she'd been just sitting there staring off into space, probably a while to make someone worry about her like that.

"I'm fine, I think it's just all this change of pace." She assured him with a smile, slowly she felt the worst part of her low dissipate under the weight of his hands as they were lifted from her.

"I think you should go lay down for a while." He instructed as he moved a comfortable distance away from where she was still seated at the table. "You'll feel better once you've just taken some time to yourself." He put in before she could protest, and without any further thoughts of arguing she moved to get up. Christmas was almost upon her and there was no sense in spending it miserable. She was determined to stay away from her mother's, no matter what it meant for her, being alone was better than being in bad company.

"I really appreciate all this." She told him whole-heartedly, turning around to face him from where she stood and looking at him as if she'd just done him some great injustice.

"Think nothing of it." He replied in a cheery tone, as such was his way.

"Mr. Crawford, would it be alright if I looked around outside?"

"What ever for?" He asked her with a bout of hearty laughter.

"I love the way the outdoors look after it's just snowed." She informed him rather sheepishly.

"If you're feeling up to it go right ahead." He encouraged, and then, catching a glimpse of what she held at her side he went on to ask, "Is that a notebook or a sketchbook?"

She froze at his inquiry and glanced down to the uncovered keepsake in question, "Originally a sketchbook." She informed him folding the cover back over it to prove such. "But there's nothing visually artistic in th-" Before she could finish her statement he casually slid it out of her hand and began to flip through it, stopping a few pages in and folding back the ones she'd neatly scribbled notes on.

"Mr. Crawford." She hissed desperately, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that, the things in there aren't even my own-" But his gaze cut her off, slowly the edges of his lips curved and the anxiety mounting in the young girl's chest became pleasantly mild and uplifting. Subconsciously awaiting disapproval she found his praise in the most peculiar of statements.

"Lying doesn't become you, Shizuka."


AN: Another chapter is here and gone, I apologize if the ending to this one was a let down. Upon first finishing the chapter I really liked the way it turned out, now that I've worked and re-worked it so much it just seems all mutilated. It's taken me weeks to get it to turn out and I'm still not sure I'm happy with the end result, any way, please feel free to review, critique, and rant.