"If she's so much like Yugi and his friends, why do you like her so much, and not them?"
Kaylie stopped dead at the sound of Mokuba's voice floating out of Kaiba's office. She had returned home from work early after another one of Erika's tirades against her. While the supervisor was very aware of the vendetta her coworker had, he couldn't fire the other waitress because she was the manager's daughter. Instead, he allowed Kaylie to return home to clean herself up, and gave Erika her section of the restaurant to manage on top of Kaylie's. The best part was that Kaylie would still be paid for the hours she was missing.
"I told you Mokuba, it isn't quite the same," Kaiba's voice caused her heart to pound. She definitely was not supposed to be hearing this conversation, but she couldn't move. "Even you know there are differences between her and them..."
Despite knowing this was a private conversation, even Kaylie had to admit she had wondered this exact thing. The week had already been pretty horrible, so she doubted any scathing remarks she overheard would affect her anyway. She inched closer to the partially open door, listening.
"She teases you just as much as Joey does..." Mokuba started.
"But doesn't lose her cool when I shoot right back."
"She is just as content as Tristan is to take backseat to any action."
"Yet somehow she knows when it's her turn to step forward," Kaiba hesitated. "Like when she gave up her soul to help us beat Dartz."
Wow. I had no idea it meant that much to him, considering how he pretty well convinced himself it was all fake... but then again, when you're listening in on a private conversation between the Kaiba brothers, I guess all sorts of walls come down.
"She's just as stubborn as Yugi. Or the Pharaoh. Whichever it is," Mokuba continued.
"But she doesn't constantly doubt herself either," the elder brother's voice pierced her heart. "She just does what needs to be done, and moves on."
Oh Kaiba... if you could only see the many thoughts that swirl around my head every day... I doubt myself probably more than anyone.
"And she holds just as much passion for friendship and all that sappy stuff that you claim to hate," Mokuba sounded pretty proud for coming up with that one.
"But it's the realism that balances the idealism..." Kaiba's voice got a little softer. "And I don't think you need an example given what happened this week..."
"Right..." Mokuba sighed. "How long do you think she'll spend on her own before she starts being social again?"
"Who knows... It isn't really any of our business."
"Seto, she's our sister!" Came the protesting response.
"And just like we trust each other, we have to trust that she'll come to us when she's ready."
Kaylie stared at the ceiling of her room as the shadows around her grew. She hadn't stayed to listen to the rest of the conversation, instead opting to cave in her room for the evening. Kaiba and Mokuba would know she was home when they saw her shoes sitting neatly near theirs.
It had been hours, but she couldn't get what Kaiba had said out of her head. Despite her glaring faults, he saw something in her she didn't see herself. In fact, since most of what he said was false, she was led to believe he merely fell for the facade she put up... and if that mask is what he respected, she shuddered to think what might happen if she let it crumble.
Probably the same thing that had happened with Yugi and the gang earlier that week...
It had been a long day at work, and thoughts about the Pharaoh ultimately leaving to rest peacefully had been plaguing her thoughts. Despite her best effort, it was clear that the Egyptian sensed she was being distant.
She had been sitting on her bed, mindlessly drawing when the whole gang burst through the door, ready to cheer her up and take her away from whatever depression was holding their friend hostage.
Only seeing Yami and the others made it worse.
She really had tried to smile and laugh. She wanted to let them know she appreciated the gesture, and satisfy them... but it just wasn't working. After awhile she could tell her mood was bringing everyone else down too, and they were getting frustrated with her, and she was exhausted.
"Thanks for coming over to check on me guys... I really appreciate it..." she had started. "It's getting late though, and I have work in the morning."
"We can't leave yet!" Tea smiled. "We're here for you, Kaylie. We want you to be happy."
"And I appreciate it so much. You are all the best friends a girl could ask for," Kaylie gave her best, heartfelt smile. "But I think right now, I need to be alone."
"No can do sis!" Joey grinned. "Like Tea said, we're here for ya, so you don't have ta be alone!"
At this point, she felt anger bubbling inside of her, and she had to take a few discreet breaths to calm herself down, "That's really sweet and all Joey, but I really just need some space to think about things..."
"Think about what things?" Tristan asked.
"It might help you feel better if you talk about it," Tea added.
"I don't think it will in this case..." Kaylie gave a nervous chuckle to hide the rising tempest.
"That's what friends are for," Tea continued. "We're there for you during the good times and the bad times. We listen and help one another. If there's something that's making you sad, then you should tell us so we can overcome it together. Keeping all of that sadness inside isn't going to do you any good..." she must have continued on like that for a good two minutes, and not long after, Kaylie felt her patience snap.
"I don't want your help, okay!?" she glared at them, her voice rising in volume. "This isn't something that friendship can magically fix. It isn't something that is just going to go away with the company of people. When I say I want to be alone, it isn't because I'm worried that I'm annoying you. It's because I actually want to be left alone! No friends! No heart to heart talks! No help with my problems! Sometimes there are things that you just need to work through on your own!"
When she finished, she knew she had gone too far. Tea had tears running down her cheeks, and the others just looked shocked. She should have apologized. She knew that... but the words stuck in her throat like glue.
In an instant, Yugi was replaced by Yami, who simply nodded at her, "As you wish."
And then they left.
Mokuba had come in a few minutes later. She must have been yelling pretty loud, because he told her he had heard the whole thing... That had been three days ago, and she hadn't talked to anyone since. She'd gone to work and stayed in her room between shifts. She barely had an appetite, and couldn't bring herself to do much besides sleep and stare at the wall.
She felt bad. She really did. But how could her friends help her to not be sad when she didn't know why she felt sad in the first place?
It was a vicious cycle that had torn her up for many years. The random depression would hit without warning, and plummet her mood for days, sometimes weeks. She'd learned that the best thing to do was just to let it pass... and in a few days, she'd be back to her normal self.
She could apologize then.
