Hi there reader LeafeonLover here!
I know what your all thinking...
OMG!
Two updates in one month this can't be happening!
well let me just tell you it is.
There is a reason for this however.
starting tomorrow I'll be going back to school *everyone moans*
That means class work, homework, assignments and general busyness all around to crush my creativity
I desperately wanted to put another chapter up before my holiday ended
so here I am after working tirelessly editing this chapter for a few days now
so if I missed a bunch of mistake its probably cause I rushed it
but I think I added a good few thousand words to it anyway
and I haven't even finished writing a new chapter before updating
so I hope your happy
also you wanted more YamiXKeiko so you got it!
I crammed some loverly fluff in the end after all the serious stuff is over
so I hope that will keep you happy because it may be a while before I update again
anyway without furhter ado
ENJOY!
Fake Fortunes (Episode 13)
I ran through the halls as fast as my short legs would carry me.
"I am late. I am so late."
I ran past a servant –a girl older than myself- carrying a large clay pot full of some kind of liquid. Perhaps wine by the smell that was wafting out of it. I heard the Pharaoh was not unfamiliar with wine as most royals weren't.
Personally I hated the stuff it smell horrible, tasted even worse and gave me a burning feeling in the back of my throat. Though I hated the stuff I swerved so I only almost knocked it out of her hands on my way past. Normally I wouldn't run through the halls like I am now but this was a special circumstance.
"Hey watch where you're going!" the servant girl called after me angrily.
I was already gone and out of sight before she could reprimand me any further. I was headed for the courtyard where my mother would not doubt be waiting for me. The reason I was reluctant to be late was my mother.
While she was very kind, beautiful and smart, one thing is for sure you didn't want to make her mad.
If I'm late for combat training she will skin me alive.
With this thought in mind I swallowed and speed up. She has no tolerance for tardiness as well as countless other things. It has been harvests since the great queens passing. I'm older but still young in everyone's eyes but my own. I lacked experience.
My mother was determined to change this however so I had been given more duties and lessons, as had the prince. We still saw each other often. Sometimes just passing each other by but we still managed to find each other alone at some point.
Sometimes during the prince's hand-to-hand combat practices –one of the few lessons he didn't skip-, I'm the live test subject. I was the only one who was close to the prince's size that had some experience with fighting. I was fast and creative enough to give the prince a good round or two.
I was pretty much useless after that. I didn't have much stamina though and the prince was a lot stronger. Usually if he caught me I end up in the dirt pinned to the ground. My mother would give me instructions on how I could have avoided that. They weren't very helpful.
I was getting tired of having to wash my clothes thoroughly to get the dirt out. Besides these changes in my schedule there had been some 'new' arrivals now time had passed. The newest being a girl called Mana. She was the youngest in the group.
Younger than myself and the prince by a couple harvests but still very… friendly. Which wasn't a bad thing in my eyes. Mahad and Seto were the others though they've been around for a while. I don't like the latter very much. Even though he used to be a commoner –like me- he acts so pompous.
He infuriates me, plain and simple.
They all practiced magic together in sorcery lessons which I do not attend. It was easier to keep a secret when no one expected anything out of the ordinary from you. People expected things from people like Mahad who is most advanced and powerful of the magicians in training.
I hear from Mana he even gives the lessons sometimes. The prince and Seto are a close second when it comes to power. Mana well, she has potential but finds it hard to use it without breaking something. Or so the prince tells me…
Learning all kinds of magical spells and potions would be good but at the same time it wouldn't.
I…I wish I could go…
I was so distracted by my own thoughts I failed to notice I had missed my turn off. I turned trying to redirect myself in the right direction only to skid on the polished floor.
A loud BANG then SMASH rang out in the hall. I had collided with a table sending the vase resting on it to the ground. I rubbed myself sorely at I sat on the ground next to the smashed vase and turned over table. The vase -or rather broken vase- in question lay scattered on the ground.
I winced at the sight of it. It was one of those very old and priceless pieces of pottery. I judged this by how perfect and smooth the shape was and the delicate details in the paint. Worth more than my life if my mother found out I suspected. If anyone finds out I broke this it was pretty safe to say I'd be in BIG trouble.
Realising this I tried a fleeting attempt to stick the pieces back together before anyone came. Of course without any adhesive this was increasingly hard. This only resulted in me getting a long thin cut on my right palm that bled profusely.
It wasn't very deep though so I ignored it.
What a mess I sighed.
By this point mother would kill me for being late. Then someone else was going to kill me for breaking a priceless vase.
There is a solution to this problem you know, a small voice inside me whispered.
I shook my head it was a solution I was very reluctant to use. I quickly scanned my surroundings looking for anyone. I peeked round the corner to check for any signs of life. Nothing but silence greeted me. The hall where I was stationed was completely empty apart from me.
Sighing I shifted into a more comfortable sitting position on the floor. I gathered up all the pieces of the vase into a small pile in front of me. Spots of my blood were spattered on the floor from the cut. I'd have to wipe those up after.
But first.
I hovered my hands over the broken pieces of the vase, this better work.
I closed my eyes my face scrunching up in concentration. I didn't know any spells for fixing broken vases. I could only hope that as I envisioned it, it would happen. There was no telling if this would work. My magic and abilities are limited and rarely if ever used. It was better than not trying anything though.
So I imagined the pieces coming together in my mind. Slowly but surely the pieces of the broken vase began to glow faintly white. The pieces stuck together the cracks disappearing with the white glow as the vase began to reform. It floated off the ground slightly as it did so.
"****?" my eyes snapped open as my heart all but jumped into my throat. My break in concentration caused the vase to drop back to the ground spinning on its base producing a hollow sound. It still had a crack in the side but I was too preoccupied with the person in front of me to fix it now.
Standing in front of me, staring down with a questioning gaze, was none other than the prince. I jumped to my feet instantly hiding my right hand behind my back.
"Prince ****! What are you doing here?" I asked swallowing my heart and regaining my composure. I definitely had been caught in the act.
"I might ask you the same question. Although it looks like your performing magic even though you've never had a lesson in your life." he observed crossing his arms.
Sometimes I think the prince is too smart for his own good.
"Um er." I stammered.
What was I supposed to say now I'd been found out. I looked everywhere but directly in his eyes, twiddling my fingers as I do when I'm nervous sometimes. I couldn't tell him my secret.
"I didn't know you could do magic." his head tilted to one side suspiciously.
Almost like he was saying you didn't tell me.
"Well I never said I couldn't do it at all." I corrected smiling sheepishly this only made the prince frown.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked in an exasperated kind of way finally voicing his thoughts.
I faltered now what?
"Because." I replied which wasn't much of an explanation.
Picking up the mended vase I placed it softly on the table angling it so the crack couldn't be seen. Hopefully no one would find out about this.
"Because why" the prince urged. "Because…"
Thinkofsomethingthinkofsomethingthinkofsomething!
I couldn't tell him the truth. No one could know about that. Not even him.
"Because… I'm a servant! Servants aren't supposed to learn magic." I stated.
It was true there had never been a servant to learn magic. Even Seto a commoner was higher ranked than me. He was a priest in training. I wasn't anything until I inherited my mother's title. My wounded hand lingered on the vase momentarily trying to keep it out of sight.
"Servants aren't supposed to have any magical talent in the first place either." the prince stated.
His features growing gentle after his brief moment of anger ended. There was silence for a moment as I breathed slowly. I couldn't tell him. What would he do? What would others do?
"Please… don't tell anyone." I pleaded quietly finding my sandals interesting.
I nudged the ground trying to cover any spots of blood I could find. I heard the prince sigh straightening up.
"I won't… but I still think you should learn… with me, and the others. Knowing some simple spells may come in handy one day." he reasoned.
"I'll think about it" I replied relieved.
"But right now I have my duties to attend to." like a mother seething with anger.
I bowed my head to the prince gratefully. As I tried walking around the Prince as fast as possible I kept my head low my eyes on the floor. I didn't get very far as I was stopped in my tracks when he grabbed my wrist and grasped it tightly.
We stayed that way for a moment before he slowly brought my hand up to his face. It had streaks of crimson blood covering it from the cut. The edge of his lip tweaked up in a soft smile.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" his eyebrow ticked tsking at me saying I should have known better.
Why does he have to be so perceptive…
I tried pulling my wrist away but the Prince's grip held firm.
"It's nothing just a small cut. I'll- I'll take care of it later." I assured.
I was more concerned about what my punishment would be when my mother found me than the scrape on my hand. The Prince didn't respond to this. Instead choosing to tear some cloth from the bottom of his tunic and wrap it around my palm.
"You shouldn't do that ****. I-it's not that bad." I reprimanded wincing slightly as he pulled the cloth into a tight knot.
"Maybe so, but it will still need to be tended to by one of the healers." he decided finally.
Taking my other hand he began leading me in the opposite direction from where I was supposed to be going.
"B-but what about-"
"Your wound is more important right now." he stated firmly.
He said it in that kind of tone you have to give in to. He didn't have to do that. He didn't have to take me to the healers himself either. I knew where they were and he knew that perfectly well. Even though I didn't give him a proper explanation he still trusted me.
Still took me, and I couldn't help but feel safe when near him.
I awake to the blaring sound of my alarm clock beeping. Time for school! Time for school! That's what it's beeping meant. It was a sound I had grown to hate in so many ways but loved in so many others. I jolted upright in bed flinging Meko halfway across the room in the process.
I hyperventilated shortly sweat beading on my forehead. It seemed like a strange reaction after all it hadn't been a nightmare. I clenched my right hand a sharp pain radiated from it. In the semi dark room I brought it up to my face to examine it.
I stared at the very thin white scar that was slashed across the palm. I blinked in disbelief only for the scar to disappear when I opened my eyes again. I breathed in deeply calming myself.
Okay Keiko don't freak out now it was just another 'dream' though it felt so real…
I brought the hand to my face brushing away for sweat.
I'd better have a shower before school though.
The walk to school was quiet as usual it was a whole different matter once I got to school however.
"Get Back!"
It was like some strange fad had overtaken all the girls in the school.
"Get Back!"
A group of girl's wearing strange head bands and beaded necklaces shouted at everyone in the hallway.
"Kokurano is passing by!"
Scratch fad it was more like some kind of weird cult.
"Open the way!" a green haired girl declared.
Her fellow cultists pushed some people to the side roughly. School girls of all grades marched through the hall. Their footsteps drummed in time on the ground loudly almost making the floor shake from the group's large number.
"What is this?" Joey wandered watching the girl robots as they went by.
"You don't know?!" Tea asked like the reason behind this was common knowledge.
Before today I'd never seen anything like it.
"It's the recently-famous boy with supernatural powers." Miho continued after Tea.
"Boy with supernatural powers!" the three males of our group cried in unison.
"Yeah, he can see the future and he's pretty accurate they say." Tea told.
I snorted softly to myself. Predict the future there's no way.
"All the girls that are gone during lunch are the ones that go see him, to get their fortunes told." Miho explained.
If that's true girl students at this school are really gullible.
"He was right about the recent fire at a student from Class A's home. He became famous because of that." Tea added worriedly.
"If he knew it was going to happen he should have done something to stop it. Whoever this Kokurano guy is he's selfish and there is no way on Earth he could have supernatural powers." I scoffed crossing my arms.
My friends just looked at me.
"There's no such thing." I added trying to cover for myself.
I knew it was a lie obviously. Luckily I didn't have to cover any further as cult girls and the "fortune teller" himself passed by.
Joey's eyes sparkled "I'm going to get my fortune told!" he declared.
This statement only got him a whack to the back of the head, curtsy of me.
"Did you not just hear what I said!" I cautioned irritated.
He'd believe a rumour over his own friend that hurt but not as much as Joey's sore head. Joey rubbed his head tenderly.
"He's almost always right!" Joey defended turning to Yugi hopefully.
"Yugi, let's go get our fortunes told!" Joey decided.
"But I really don't want." Yugi confessed glancing sideways.
At least someone had heard what I said even if the last part was a lie. Waving his hands in front of him Yugi looked like he wanted to back away slowly from the crazed maniac that was Joey.
"Leave Yugi alone Joey. You shouldn't need to drag him with you on your downward spiral." Joey just glared at me.
"Yeah! Don't let shady motivation like that trick you. It's absurd! As a beautification member I can't overlook this." Tristan affirmed.
He grabbed Yugi in a head lock and started dragging him away.
"Let's go Yugi." Yugi couldn't protest much as he was being choked.
"I can't breathe" Yugi wheezed squirming in Tristan hold.
"Tristan your choking Yugi." I told him blatantly causing him to drop Yugi to the ground.
I went over to help Yugi up and make sure he was okay.
"In the end you just want your fortune told too. Like your compatibility with Miho." Joey taunted making a kissy face.
"What are you saying you bastard!" Tristan shouted.
Now pulling Yugi was being pull by his arm -like a parent would with they're naughty four year old- by Tristan.
"W-wait." Yugi stuttered fighting Tristan's strength best he could.
Of course being almost half Tristan's size, it didn't go well.
I sighed loudly "You guys stop dragging Yugi around like a rag doll!" I yelled striding after them quickly.
"Kokurano has arrived." green haired robot girl publicised.
Thanks for letting me know about it, I glared at her.
The crowd of girl's in the classroom clapped happily, excited to just see him.
"He's so amazing."
"What a great person."
"Oh Man! Tristan loves fortune telling so much he dragged me along!" Joey publicised shrugging his shoulders.
"Hey you bastard don't drag me into this!" Tristan cried angrily.
"Over there! Be quiet!" the lead robot girl ordered pointing at us "Kokurano is focusing all his nerves."
"We'll be however loud we want to be. You can't tell us what to do!" I shot back loudly.
Nor do you have any right to tell us what to do. Do the teachers even know about what's going on here? The whole crowd turned to stare at me with a look like did she really just say that?
Did she really mean that?
Should we do something about her?
"How dare you! Your negative energy is disrupting Kokurano. If you're going to be noisy then get out!" her voice shook with rage.
She looked so angry that she might grab us by the collar and throw us all right out of there. Not that that would work well if she even tried. Joey pushed past me before I could give her a snippy reply.
"Sorry sorry, don't say that, how about telling my fortune." He soothed pointing at himself.
"You!" Kokurano who had been quiet this whole time pointed at Joey.
It was the first time I'd gotten a good look at him. He had long hair, a large cloak or mantle that covered his whole body and his eyes drooped with darkness shadowing them. He was really creepy.
"You're a bit misguided I am not a fortune teller. Palm reading, water reading or fortune telling, I do none of that." creepy guy told.
Kokurano looked at us seriously "My power is a super ability that lets me see visions of the future, it's Prophecy!" I chuckled to myself.
Now I was in the same room with the guy I could sense all the auras in the room. I believe if there was anything supernatural about Kokurano I would know it. The only thing that was special about Kokurano was how his aura was dark, so dark it was almost black.
"I can't believe any of you actually listen to this guy." I muttered.
Shaking my head at his group of fans sadly I left the room. Even if I didn't have supernatural powers I could see through his façade easily. I walked back to homeroom but stopped halfway leaning against the wall. Now that I knew he was lying anger bubbled inside me. I gritted my teeth.
How dare he!
Pretending to have supernatural powers is insult to those who did.
And taking advantage of everyone like that!
He's a jerk!
He has no idea what it's really like to have such a curse your whole life.
If he really did have any supernatural powers there is no way he would flaunt them like that.
He'd hide them out of fear… like me.
I took a deep breath pushing myself off the wall and entering the classroom. Tea and Miho were already there but I wasn't much interested in conversation.
I'll have to do something about Kokurano.
When the guys got back I was sitting at my desk brooding. I was thinking about all the possible things I could do to stop him. My mood lightened when Yugi entered the room. Surely he wouldn't have fallen for Kokurano's lies.
"What did I tell you he's no psychic, right?" I grumbled loudly glaring out the window at nothing.
I sighed looking back for confirmation namely from Yugi.
"Fool, he's the real thing!" Joey claimed.
Well obviously he had fallen for the lies.
"Pft yeah right!" I snorted.
I almost felt bad for Joey he was too naïve.
"It's true! My future is to be a policeman in Los Angeles it seems." Joey told adamantly saluting me.
It seems those with nativity flock together.
"Somehow I don't foresee that happening. Don't you want to stay here with Miho?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
Tristan seemed to freeze processing this information.
"Your right he isn't a fortune teller." Tristan decided finally.
"What?!" Joey exclaimed.
I ignored Joey's outburst and turned to Yugi.
"I'm just glad you've not been brain washed by this guy." I told him honestly.
And I really was. Yugi seemed like the only one who hadn't fallen for it. The only one that believed me.
"Me! Brainwashed! Never!" Yugi laughed making me smile.
I was glad. It didn't matter if the others weren't with me at least he was with me. So I smiled.
-Time Skip to After School-
Finally the torture that was school was over. As the bell rang for the end of class, I packed up all my books going down the stairs to my locker. I switched my shoes, not bothering to untie then retie them instead just stomping them into place.
I put away my books and collected the ones I would need for homework into my book bag. Grasping the heavy bag filled with text books in both hands I looked around. The locker room was strangely empty today.
Either everyone was taking their time to get down here or they were all extremely eager to leave school grounds. I shrugged my shoulders. Not my problem. The more empty the better. I strolled over to where I knew Yugi's locker was seeing him tapping his shoes on.
I wanted to thank him somehow for what he did today. It may have been only small and Yugi himself might not have realised he'd done anything at all. I didn't want to blow it out of proportions by saying it out loud but still… I wanted to thank him. He trusted me, he trusted my word.
I wondered if him trusting me was a good thing. Because just like today sometimes lies were all I could say. I wondered if he knew when I was lying. It certainly seemed like he did, sometimes.
Am I a bad person for it?
I shook my head.
No.
No one can be all bad.
Besides its self-preservation.
Lies are all I know all I can do to hide things and protect myself.
Is Yugi someone you need protection from though?
Or someone who would protect you if he could?
I shook my head again. I couldn't deal with all these questions right now. I came here to do something and I will do it.
"Hey, Yugi!" Yugi immediately turned to me hearing his name called.
It would help if I had done something like this before.
"I was wondering if you.. would like to go get some afternoon tea together. I'll treat you." I offered.
Oddly enough Tea was the only other student around. I caught her glaring at me for a moment before she slammed her locker shut and stalked off.
Seriously, what is her problem?
I would have gladly let her join us but if that's the way she wanted. Yugi smiled widely -not paying Tea any mind at all- and nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah that'd be great!" he agreed.
I'm not sure but I think he understood why I was doing this. I think… I smiled about to say more before I stopped, my mouth open in a very elegant (*cough* sarcasm *cough*) fishlike O. A presence almost like an invisible shroud of darkness flitted into the room and with it came him.
"Keiko Tamori…" A chill rippled up my spine at the sound of his voice.
What does he want with me?
"It's Kokurano." Yugi mumbled his eyebrows knitting together.
Clearly he was asking himself the same question.
"Aren't you interested in your future?" Kokurano asked.
I didn't realise for a moment his question was directed at me. I quickly clamped my mouth shut instead glaring at him.
"You, Tea and Miho are the only three female students who haven't asked for a reading." he clarified almost looking hurt.
"Miho doesn't take life seriously and Tea doesn't believe in the supernatural so they can't be helped." he sighed though it sounded rather condescending.
He was basically making fun of our friends right in front of us. If he knew the first thing about me he would know not to do that.
His gaze shifted to me "But I can't figure out why you don't come, I'm worried."
What does he mean?
I was there just this morning?
Granted I didn't get anywhere near him and don't have any intentions to do so.
Still, I was there.
I frowned at him wondering what in the heck he was playing at.
"I'm sorry but I don't believe you can tell the future." I told him so bluntly he looked hurt.
Really I wasn't sorry at all. I had considered telling him I found him incredibly creepy but I kept that to myself.
"No one's future is sent in stone anyway. If you work hard enough you can always change it and make it better. Always." It was quiet threat.
That if he continued to insult my friends and try to trick me, he'd be sorry, very sorry. One of the girl's that had escorted him here –the green haired one- grew angry.
"You dare to insult Kokurano by doubting his powers! Insolence! Rude little girl." She raged.
Rude?
This seems to be a common word used to describe me. If the incident with Miss Chouno had taught me anything at all, it was that I do not like being called rude or insolent for that matter.
I narrowed my eyes at the girl. I had wanted to stay calm but my anger was now resting just below the surface ready to spill over into action at any moment.
"Whether I believe or not is no business of yours. My mind won't be changed so easily." I told them in a low dangerous voice.
Or at all.
Sparks flew as green haired girl follower and I had a glaring contest before she broke it off. Obviously she was scared by my superior glaring capabilities.
"Come on Yugi let's go." I decided marching off.
I had to get out of there before I got so angry I called him out. If Kokurano found out I knew he was a fake who knows what would happen. I couldn't do that. Especially not with Yugi right there.
"O-okay" Yugi stammered in surprise.
Still he looked happy, his cheeks growing rosy for a split second.
"Come on slowpoke let's go get that afternoon tea." I commanded dragging Yugi away by the collar since he was so slow.
Even after we had left I was fuming. I couldn't just let it go. Every time I thought about it, about him, and what he was doing. My hands automatically coiled crushing the empty soda cup I was holding on reflex. Yugi eyed me. I know I looked like a psychopath.
He'd probably never seen me so worked up over something so seemingly small. I looked at him and relaxed with a sigh.
"I- I just! Can't believe this!" I spat angrily.
I couldn't explain myself any further than that. I couldn't even articulate a reason to why I was so angry. I sighed sinking into the seat in an effort to calm myself.
"How can they be so blind?" I muttered.
"Don't be upset Keiko telling people what they want to hear isn't bad." Yugi soothed touching my hand softly.
I looked at Yugi then at his hand that was rubbing against mine in a comforting manner. This method of calming was surprisingly effective. Only after a moment Yugi seemed to be just realising what he was doing and quickly jerked his hand away.
He blushed instead using the hand to help him take a bite of his afternoon tea. Not only his aura was light and peaceful almost like the smell of lavender wafting about him but all his actions were too. I smiled weakly.
"Not necessarily but it can be, when it gets out of hand. I just have bad feeling about all this. Kokurano doesn't seem to care for anyone but himself." I sighed my shoulders dropping as I relaxed.
And by 'have a feeling' I mean I know, and by 'Kokurano doesn't care' I mean he's up to no good.
"Well then we'll just have to be careful around him." Yugi nodded to himself like he'd just decided something important.
I stared out the window of the store with a hard gaze.
If he isn't careful Kokurano will lose himself in his own lies.
My night was restless so I had no visions. I could only toss and turn with the dreams of something horrible about to happen. It probably wasn't a good day to be tired because we had P.E that morning. I brushed off my weariness as best I could and nobody seemed any the wiser.
The boys came out of the changing room with Joey rolling his shoulders.
"I'm all stiff." he moaned.
How can he be stiff we haven't even done anything yet.
"What's wrong? You look terrible." Tea questioned.
I stiffened but then relaxed when I realised she was addressing Joey. I'm not sure why she would say that to me in the first place. Even though we're friends she still doesn't seem to like me sometimes.
"Ha it's nice to be a girl isn't it! You only have to play tennis. I have to do judo, JUDO!" Joey replied irritated complete dodging the question.
"I'm all stiff." he repeated walking off.
"At least Tennis requires some hand eye coordination and skill of which you have none. Even so, I bet I could beat you at your precious Judo any day." I challenged raising an eyebrow at Joey.
This was sure to get him fired up.
Joey stopped then turned around to face me.
"What did you say?" he asked leaning forward.
"What? The part about you having no hand eye coordination and skill or the part about how I could beat you at Judo?" I questioned innocently.
Really, he was too easily riled. Though I suppose I shouldn't be saying that after yesterday.
"As if! You're a girl, you couldn't even do a push up!" Joey laughed.
My eyebrow twitched. Okay, that was crossing some kind of line.
"I could do a hundred and still beat you." I defended getting into a fighting stance.
I'm a very good liar. Joey seemed to almost believe me. Push ups weren't really my thing. I may be okay at sports but I'm not athletic, not even in the slightest. But sports is more fun than math soooo here I am.
"You've never been to a Judo lesson in your life!" Joey glared at me.
"Your right."
He smirked triumphantly.
"But I could still beat you."
His smile dropped.
I grinned to myself. I had never had Judo lessons but I did know self defense.
"I don't fight girls." Joey brushed off.
A fact Joey still had to learn.
"Funny I have no quarrel about beating you to a pulp."
The only problem being I had a rule about bullying –which I hate- and a rule about beating up your friends.
Darn.
"You're not worth my time."
"Funny I was about to say the same thing to you."
In the midst of our glaring contest I didn't notice Kokurano approaching. Joey however did. Like that he snapped out of our rivalry mode and into praise this guy like he's king mode.
"Oh the boy with supernatural powers!" Joey jumped over sitting on his knees with sparkling eyes.
He does have a name you know.
"What do you have to tell me?" I crossed my arms frowning.
I can't believe this idiot actually takes future telling seriously.
"I just had two visions and I came to tell you." Kokurano announced abruptly.
You don't need mind powers to know Joey will fail his next exam because he keeps falling asleep in class. "Visions?" Joey repeated in awe. Kokurano wishes he had visions.
"You!" Kokurano pointed at Joey in the forehead.
"Be wary of the light coming at you." I narrowed my eyes at his ominous statement.
Something like that could only mean bad things were to come.
"W-what?" Joey stuttered baffled.
Obviously he had never heard of a metaphor before.
"Me, no way!"
Indeed.
Then Kokurano pointed at me "Keiko, in places you don't know, there is a man watching over you."
I blinked at this, what now?
"If you want details, come to me." he advised.
I snorted "No thanks."
I walked off catching Yugi give a relieved sigh.
He has no idea what he's talking about.
A man in places I cannot see.
If only I couldn't see so much.
Hearing the skirmish of Miho and Kokurano behind me I left for next class.
"How stupid." I muttered.
Apparently I was really great at tennis. Or so everyone thought. I had played numerous times before. After all it was something sporty high class business people did so I was well versed with it. I only had three matches.
Two singles, both of which I won -Tea didn't seem too happy about being beaten- and one double, which I lost. Though I had to admit my partner in that match was a weaker player. Something the teacher surely did on purpose. I supposed it was fair. Put the weak players with the strong to make it even.
Only I didn't consider myself a strong player. I was only average. Though considering more than half the girls had never heard, let alone played tennis before today. I suppose I was strong compared to that level of familiarity with the game. After the sports lesson we all went to the bubblers to wash our faces.
Miho was messing with Tea by blindfolding her with her washing cloth.
Reminds me of that time at Burger World…
Then a group of girls rushed over to us. For a second I thought they were going to applaud me on my tennis skills –again- but to my relief they didn't.
"Hey, did you hear about what happened in the gym?"
The gym?
Wasn't that where the guys were having they're Judo lesson.
I straightened in my position shaking my head.
No I hadn't heard.
Was something wrong?
"A light from the ceiling fell! Joey nearly got hurt." she explained.
I blinked the light coming at you before my feature hardened. Things are already getting out of control.
"There's a big ruckus over another of Kokurano's prophecies coming true".
I gritted my teeth to prevent an outburst. I knew for sure Kokurano was a fact. While this occurrence for me rang alarm bells for everyone else it was only a cause for more praise. Before I could do anything though I had to find out if what I thought was happening was the truth.
That afternoon I steeled myself for what I would have to do.
"Why do you want to go see Kokurano all of a sudden Keiko?" Yugi asked confused.
He knew I thought Kokurano was a fake. He didn't know I knew Kokurano was a fake. I couldn't tell him without giving myself away.
"I just have to…" I trailed off.
He was probably confused. How could I hate someone one day then want to see them the next. I didn't even have an answer to that question. All I knew was I had to be sure. I had to see Kokurano or my abilities wouldn't work. Yugi stopped his eyes fell to the floor.
"Could it be… You think there is a man that is watching over you?" he looked into my eyes again.
He looked worried and something else. I averted my gaze quickly.
I like this situation about as much as you Yugi which isn't very much by the look of it.
"No I don't. I just need to have a chat with Kokurano." I explained vaguely walking toward the classroom.
"Who would want to watch over me anyway…" I mumbled now going it alone.
No one that's who.
I went up to the classroom door and opened it.
I'm way more trouble than I'm worth.
I went inside my heart sinking further into cold black with every step closer.
"Keiko… wait!" Yugi cried running after me into the classroom.
My heart jumped right back into my chest warm and where it should me.
"Keiko Tamori I knew you would come." Kokurano told reaching under his mantle and pulling out a piece of paper.
I edged my way closer not liking the proximity at all but refusing to run. I reached out to it hesitating slightly before grasping it… nothing happened. I recoiled my arm almost disappointed. Obviously it's going to take more than that.
"Keiko Tamori will come after school."
I read aloud scrunching the paper up in my hand and throwing it over my shoulder dismissively.
I hadn't come here for fortunes.
"Well, you have no more reason to doubt my powers." Kokurano stated matter-of-factly.
It was true I didn't doubt his power. I knew they were completely non-existent. There was no doubt about it whatsoever. I had to play along with it if I was going to get any information though.
"Can you… tell me more about the vision you had of me?" I questioned slowly reluctant to say it at all.
I went closer to him hoping something would happen if I did.
"Very well let me see your hand." I had to stop myself from pull a face at the thought.
Begrudgingly I gave him my hand yelling a mental YUCK!
"What a soft hand you have." Kokurano commented fondling it.
Eww he's molesting my hand…
I gave an involuntary shudder. His aura seemed to have gotten a shade darker since last time I saw him. Now the inky essence was being left all over my hand. In my mind I related Kokurano to a slug, everywhere he went he left a trail of slime or in this case, an aura dirty with bad deeds.
It hadn't started that way but with every great wrong he did it got blacker and blacker. Or that was what it felt like anyway. I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to stop seeing the stuff on my hands, if it would ever wash off. In the back of my mind I knew it would.
Other people' auras didn't linger on a body for long unless they were deeply connected. But still it was like dipping your hands into a bucket of mud. You just wanted to get it off straight away. I gritted my teeth through it and my persistence rewarded my. My vision blurred and faded away until FLASH.
I was there standing and watching. Kokurano was huddled near the corner of a house in the darkness of the night lighting a single match. He dropped it to the ground before running off. Into the darkness he disappeared, his aura blended him in with the shadows of the surroundings.
Casting my gaze back the match fell into a puddle of some substance that ignited instantly setting a section of a house on fire. The fire blazed eating away at the corner of the home. I took steps back feeling the heat of the flames on my face.
Flash.
I then watched Kokurano saw away at one of the many lights in gym room. It wobble slightly from side to side with the sawing action. Kokurano kept sawing and sawing until Snap the light broke off and plummeted to the ground right toward Joey. My mouth opened to cry "WATCH OUT!" but I never got that far.
The sound of my voice died before it could leave my lips as I was taken again to another scene.
Flash!
Now Kokurano waited patiently in the shadows of the science lab. The desks were bare –expect a glass bottle on the corner of a far bench- and seats empty. The clock ticked loudly in the silence. It was six o'clock the calendar below it read today's date. The door slid open slowly and someone entered the room.
Kokurano seeing the person took out a damp white cloth and then he pounced on the person. The bottle had bottle read in big bold letters CLOROPHORM. With a snap I was out of the vision and back in my body. I almost keeled over from all the new information rushing into my head.
It was him!
He had set that student's house on fire.
He had dropped the light on Joey and he… what was he doing to that person in the science lab room?
Looked suspiciously like he was knocking them out with chloroform that's what. I sure as heck wouldn't let that happen but still. I was right! It had been Kokurano all along making his own "visions" come to life.
I busy fussing over what I should do next that I didn't really pay attention to what Kokurano was saying.
"The man watching over you from the shadows will soon show himself before you. This afternoon in the science room, he waits for you." Kokurano was saying.
I couldn't care less about this man in the shadows. I cared more about this person Kokurano was going to attack.
"There you will lay yourself in his arms." He stated wistfully.
My head snapped in Kokurano's direction. I had all but forgotten he was right there still holding my hand.
What is he going on about?
Before I got a chance to reclaim my hand Yugi jumped in and snacked it away from him. Anger was plastered over Yugi's usually tranquil and happy face.
"Y-Yugi?" I stuttered looking at him surprised.
This was nothing like him. Why was he so angry? I thought only I hated Kokurano this much.
"This… this is fraud!" Yugi yelled angrily.
"What?!" Kokurano's female followers cried in outrage.
"What an interesting thing to say…" Kokurano chuckled eerily.
"My superpower a fraud."
He brushed the idea off like it was ridiculous. I glared at him. He knew it was true.
"Because… because I've seen tricks like this before! For example, the time when Keiko went to you."
Yugi began oblivious to how he was shielding me rather protectively. Even though I was more than a bit taller than him and stronger than him, he still came to try and protect me…
"You could have written a bunch of them and picked the right one when she came; to make it look like you predicted it!"
I was amazed.
Yugi was showing more courage and cunning than I thought could even exist in one person. Kokurano clutched his mantle tightly at this an action that caught my eye immediately.
Just what are you hiding under there?
"I see. It's true that there are tricks like that, but what about the other predictions?" Kokurano answered.
Yugi hesitated obviously not having thought this far ahead. Luckily I knew exactly how those tricks had been done.
"Oh… I don't know… but a prediction that there is someone watching over Keiko is a lie!" he told adamantly.
So true.
Suddenly Kokurano had a spasm attack. It was easy to see he was just playing though. Nothing was really wrong with him. Other than how he almost killed several people in his attempt to become famous.
"I see it! It's your future!" he pointed at Yugi dramatically.
"Countless words will fall from heaven; a great misfortune will probably befall you."
Yugi looked seriously freaked out by this statement.
"You should be careful" Kokurano smirked.
"Yugi…" I looked at him shuffling our positions.
I shot Kokurano a glare that made him flinch but only a little. If he had a psychic bone in his body he'd read my thoughts and my eyes.
He'd know, you don't threaten my friends.
"Come on Yugi let's go."
I decided leading Yugi out of the classroom and away from Kokurano. I had sense enough to put a great amount of distance between the two. Another prediction like that meant Kokurano was going to try and hurt Yugi somehow. I couldn't let that happen but I also had to go to the science room.
I gave Yugi –who was looking rather wilted- a small smile.
"Don't worry Yugi nothing's going to happen to you. Kokurano isn't a psychic so he can't make accurate predictions." I assured.
Or make predictions at all for that matter.
Yugi didn't say anything for a long moment.
"But… you're going aren't you, to the science lab."
It more like a statement then a question, a sad statement by the sound of Yugi's voice.
I sighed not wanting to worry him with the details of my vision or the fact I could have visions at all.
"Yes I'm going." I confirmed with a nod to reassure myself of this fact.
Yugi looked to the side a frown playing on his face. I didn't like it when he was unhappy.
"But, I'm not because I think there is a man watching over me." I continued imitating Kokurano at the last place.
Frankly the idea a man was watching over me was unnerving and most certainly not romantic in any way, well not in the way Kokurano said it. I wasn't overly fond of the idea of having a stalker.
Yugi tilted his head upward looking at me "Then why?"
It was a simply question but one with a not so simply answer.
"Because… I want some answers and I'm going to get them." I told him seriously.
I sighed giving up the seriousness for a moment.
"At any rate you should probably head home without me and try not to stop anywhere on your way." I advised quickly running off.
I had to get to the science room before six o'clock.
"Wait Keiko!" Yugi cried after me but I was already out of sight.
I slowed down to an almost crawling pace thinking about the things I had seen. I checked one of the clocks in another classroom for the time. It was only just coming up to four in the afternoon so I had plenty of time. When I arrived at the science lab it looked empty.. I entered the room slowly looking around warily.
I wandered if I had gotten here before even Kokurano arrived. But no I could feel his uniquely dark presence so I knew he was there somewhere. I gazed up at the clock on the back wall and my eyes widened. The one thing I had forgotten was the clock in the science room was two hours fast.
Kokurano appeared from the shadows and swiftly covered my mouth and nose with the damp white cloth. It was odd. I'd never had a vision that pertained to something that was going to happen to me before.
Though I supposed it had been more centred around Kokurano himself and I just happened to be the subject of his affections. While I hadn't been exactly expecting this I still managed to hold my breath for a few seconds. I didn't panic and flail about that wouldn't do much good for me.
Instead I choose to go limp in his arms like I would have had I not been holding my breath. I almost would have preferred to flail around like an idiot. Being held by him was like having him hold my hand only a million times worse. After I was limp with my eyes closed he dropped the cloth or put it away.
I didn't really know. My eyes were closed after all.
"You see your destiny is to put your body in my arms." he whispered into my ears.
I shivered because it was rather unpleasent. Once the cloth was gone I slowly let myself breath. My appearance was gone in a second though when I coughed over the smell of chloroform residue on my face.
I jumped right out of Kokurano's arms coughing and wiping the blasted stuff off my face with the sleeve of my blazer. Kokurano looked stunned he didn't move. I recovered quickly going into self defense mode.
I stomped my heel of my shoe down on his foot turning to elbowed him in the stomach then smash the heel of my palm into his nose. Kokurano staggered back holding his nose which had begun to bleed as his eyes watered profusely.
"Y-you're supposed to be unconscious!" he cried in pain and anger.
My stance wasn't nearly perfect. I was tired from the day and had to shake my head to keep the fogginess out but I didn't let my guard down.
"So you can't really see the future otherwise, you would have known this was coming." My statement was confirmed by Kokurano's look of horror.
I snatched the bottle of Chloroform on the corner of the bench off the desk top. His eyes widened in realisation.
"Now, now Keiko don't do this." he begged holding his hands up in forfeit.
Unfortunately I couldn't just let him go. Who knows what he would do when my guard was dropped. Besides I couldn't put his mantle on display with him hanging onto it.
"Sweet nightmares fake fortune teller." I hissed.
As far as I was concerned this was karma. I threw the bottle down at his feet shielding myself as the bottle smashed and a cloud of gas encased Kokurano. Within seconds he was out cold sprawled out on the ground "sleeping" soundly.
He deserved it for all he had done, heck he deserved way more but I wasn't about to beat him up for vengeance. I had been taught better than that. I couldn't be bothered wasting my time to punish him any further. I went and opened the windows to air out the room of the gas.
Then I bent down beside Kokurano picking up his mantle to inspect it. One glance and I grinned victoriously.
It was as I thought.
As Yugi had guessed.
At that moment –like my thought had summoned him- the science lab door was flung open loudly. I stood up quickly and stared at a seemingly panicked Yami.
"So, you came to save me yet again." I smiled to myself.
I don't know why that thought made me so happy. Yami looked at me surprise flashed in his eyes. After observing the unconscious Kokurano and the uninjured me he let down his guard. He sighed softly before crossing his arms like he had expected the whole thing.
"But it seems you don't need any of my help this time." he noted eyeing Kokurano on the floor with a bloody nose.
I laughed airily at the look I was getting. Like I was some kind of puzzle with a million pieces that he could never quite figure out.
"Indeed."
If anyone was the puzzle here it was him. A puzzle I intended to solve as quickly as possible.
"Did you find the answers you were looking for?" he asked.
I was somewhat surprised he even knew about that but I brushed it off.
"You tell me."
I turned the mantle inside out toward Yami revealing all the predictions pinned to the inside.
Yami's features hardened considerably. He obviously had no tolerance for cheats like I had no tolerance for bullies.
"He had many predictions hidden." Yami stated.
"And he was the one to start the fire at that student's home and drop the light on Joey." I added solemnly.
Attempted murder was no small crime that's for sure.
I sighed "But in the end his web of deceit and lies came crashing down upon him. Now everyone will know who he truly is, a fake."
I draped the mantle back over Kokurano inside out so the next person to find him would know. I had a feeling the police would find out what he'd done at that student home eventually as well. I shook my head at Kokurano. It was just sad.
"Such a black aura you have." I muttered to him even though he was unconscious and couldn't hear the remark.
"You knew all along…" Yami stated looking at me seriously.
I froze spinning slowly on my heels to look at him.
How did he know?
Then he uttered one word "How?"
I bit my lip now fidgeting uncomfortably.
Should I tell him?
Give my secret away simply because he asked?
It's not a question of whether he'd believe me or not. I am sure he is not unfamiliar with things of the supernatural variety. It's just, how can I give away a secret I have been hiding my whole life so easily.
No, I shook my head.
I don't think I can just tell him.
That wouldn't be fun in the slightest.
Then I stopped biting my lip instead turning my nervousness into a grin.
"I know why don't we play a game?" I queried.
Yami seemed to perk at this.
"What kind of game?" he asked suspiciously.
Like he was wondering, why do all this can't you just tell me.
The answer to that was no plain and simply. If I was going to tell him. He had to show me that I could trust him. That he was smart enough to keep it a secret. I paced toward him a finger on my chin.
"I suppose you could call it a game of riddles." Yami eyed me totally unaware I was playful like this.
After all he only ever came out to save me and never stuck around. I can't imagine how boring that would be. At least I could give him something to do. '
"And how would I play this game, what are the rules?" he asked.
I knew he wouldn't refuse.
He never did.
I couldn't stop to examine the previous thought instead moving on.
"Rules hmmm okay! I will tell you three riddles, and for each riddle I tell you must guess the answer correctly."
"But I won't be giving you any hints so you'll have to figure it out on your own and there are no second chances if you guess wrong you lose." I explained simply.
Yami face didn't change he just stayed calm.
"And what happens after the game?"
"When you win, I'll… tell you my secret." I told him reluctantly.
That seemed to spike Yami's interest like it was some kind of golden trophy he had to work toward.
"But! If you lose you get a 'punishment'."
What kind of punishment I hadn't figured out yet.
How could you punish a spirit that resides in a puzzle?
Maybe I could sit him down and get Tea to give him a friendship speech.
Oh I know!
"If you lose your existence won't stay a secret."
Yami thought momentarily seeming unperturbed by this information.
"Very well, I accept your challenge so when do we begin." he affirmed confidently.
I smirked shortly; he definitely knew the extent of his abilities.
"Oh yeah I forgot to mention, every time you guess correctly I get to ask you a question about this." I gestured at Yami or more accurately the Millennium Puzzle.
A smile quirked on Yami's face "That hardly seems fair."
I shrugged "Well you can't back out now, but if it makes you feel better… I am happy to answer any question you may have when you win." I assured.
I wasn't sure why he trusted me so easily. I could go back on my word and not tell him anything. Not that I planned to but still, I could. I wasn't even sure why he was even humouring me in the first place. He could have left straight away and not even talked to me.
He could have left me to defend myself from Kokurano but still he came. It gave me a warm feeling in my chest like I was thawing from the inside out. Yami just nodded in agreement, okay.
"The first riddle is relatively easy and there is no time limit so feel free to answer whenever…"
While I was testing him to see if he was worthy of my secret. I also wanted to know.
Was he the one I kept seeing in my dreams?
"If a yellow hat is dropped in the red sea what does it become?"
After I finished the question I quickly got distracted when I noticed a small amount of blood leaking from his hand. There was silence he stared at me and I stared at his hand then he stared at his hand also then back at me.
He didn't even care that he was bleeding and it didn't look like he was going to do anything about it any time soon.
You can't just go around with your hand like that, that's Yugi's hand too ya' know!
Why are you looking at my hand like that, his face read.
"What did you do to your hand?!" I shouted.
Basically I dived forward grabbing his wrist and jerking Yami forward as I examined the injury. Yami was not expecting that at all.
I also noticed the thin layer of dust covering him and gave him a questioning stare. It was a cross between a stare like a good friend asking you What have you been up too… When there's cookie crumbs all over your face and where's mine? And Explain now!
If there is even a look like that in existence.
Yami winced before hiding it quickly "Like you said Kokurano was trying to make his prophecies come true himself."
What did that mean?
I sighed like this was all so troublesome and really it was. I was so tired but I couldn't just leave Yami with a wound bleeding everywhere like that.
"Well then you should probably come with me and I'll patch you up. You can think about my riddle while you wait."
I decided not giving him a second to argue before I dragged him off to the infirmary.
-Yami's PoV-
I had run to the science lab room as fast as my legs would carry me. I was well prepared to send someone to the shadow realm if they had hurt her. When I got there the scene was very different form how I imagined it would be.
I found Keiko unharmed and unconscious Kokurano clearly harmed if his blood nose was anything to go by. I had been surprised at first but then awareness set in. I really should have known Keiko wasn't one to go down so easily. She never had been from what I had seen previously.
Throughout our conversation I recalled the interactions between Keiko and Kokurano. She hadn't liked him from the beginning, somehow knowing he was a fraud all along. But how? There had been no evidence, and she hadn't been there to witness any of the incidents herself, but… she had known.
The idea of her having a secret was very intriguing for me. I didn't know why. I knew I could win this game of hers. Riddles required plenty of intelligence of which I have, so anything she tells me I should be able to figure out. She knew this too obviously as I took note of how she'd said when I win and not if.
The first riddle she had told me, it sounded so familiar like I'd heard it before. I knew the answer, I know I did. It was like it was right on the tip of my tongue. I just couldn't for the life of me remember, at the moment anyway. Honestly I didn't know why she was trying to be playful with me in the first place.
I knew she liked to have fun with Yugi and her friends but what was the point. Maybe that was it. Friends play and have fun with each other. Did that mean she considered me a friend? As I was pondering these things I heard a loud bang.
I noticed she seemed a bit woozy wobbling about like she might crumble at any moment. Her fabled coordination seemed to have severely decreased for some reason. I had a feeling it had something to do with the bottle broken at Kokurano's feet. What had been in that bottle?
Soon Keiko appeared from behind the curtain rubbing her head sorely.
"Why do they always put the bandages at the back" she was mumbling.
I couldn't help a lopsided smile as I watched her with calculating eyes from my seat on one of the infirmary beds. I hadn't needed to come here. I could handle a light wound but still she insisted.
She walked over laying her utensils out on the bed beside me.
"Needle check, scalpel present."
I knew this was her attempt at humour but I had no idea what either of those things were. I still smiled though if only for the fact she was trying to be funny.
"This may sting a little." she warned.
Getting some disinfectant –as she called it- on a small ball of white fluff (cotton ball) she rubbed it on my hand. It burned slightly but nothing I couldn't handle. Then she unravelled the bandage before wrapping it around my hand slowly, careful not to wrap it too tight.
Was she worried about me?
Or was she worried about Yugi?
The idea of it being the latter scratched at the heart beating in my chest chipping away at it like an eroding stone.
Maybe it was both?
That seemed the most likely. I watched as she worked in silence. She seemed like the kind of person to care no matter who it was.
"You are… quite good at that" I commented.
It was supposed to be a compliment though it didn't really sound like one.
"Well don't blame me. You, Joey, Tristan and Yugi must have some invisible sign over your head reading 'Beat me up' seriously." she breathed rolling her eyes then straightening up.
I noted how she referred to Yugi and myself as different people.
"All done." She announced before pointing at me.
"Just don't do any heavy lifting or operating large machinery."
"Why would I do that." I asked smirking I guess that this was more 'humour' of hers.
More importantly how would I do that. I didn't like to admit but I was pretty clueless about any modern day machinery. What I knew I only knew from observing Yugi but not anything more than that. She shrugged returning the things she had taken and coming back over to me.
"Beats me just don't do it, okay?"
I nodded agreeably following her out of the infirmary. Looking around the school was empty and the sky outside darkening.
Yugi's grandfather will be worried.
I turned back to Keiko looking at her emerald eyes which were so bright even in the low light.
"I think it's my turn to say thank you." I admitted nodding my head at her in approval.
She smiled "No worries Yami what are friends for."
Friends?
"Farewell Keiko." With that I returned to the Millennium Puzzle.
Yugi took my place and noticed almost instantly he had lost part of his memory again. He still hasn't figured out why though. But at the same time he was very relieved and happy to see Keiko. He had been worried about her and even now seemed anxious by how unsteady she was.
He decided to walk her all the way home. Even though she insisted she was fine and he didn't need to. I looked away into the emptiness of my mind room.
He also cares about her greatly…
-The Next Day back in Keiko's PoV-
I had arrived at school and just gotten to my locker to take off my outside shoes. When I opened my locker however, a small folded white piece of paper fell out and onto the floor. I picked it up unfolding it and what I read made me smile. At that moment Yugi walked past and saw me.
"What are you looking at Keiko?" he asked curiously seeing my smile.
I speedily scrunched up the piece of paper in my hand, doing a basketball shot into the nearest bin.
"Nothing." I assured him smiling.
Then looking at the time on my phone I grabbed the books I'd need for first class.
"We better hurry to home room the bell is going to ring soon." I reminded basically dragging the surprised Yugi away.
Leaving behind the scrunched up paper in the bin. It had read only one thing scrawled in pencil right in the middle was the word…
Wet.
YAY!
Now some note worthy stuff I thought I should explain the timeline of the past a little
In my mind the prince and nameless/Keiko meant when they were very young
then a while after they met the queen died
then in the years after that other well known characters came into the scene
Mahad came first since he's the oldest and a good freind of the prince
then Seto and Mana last as she's the youngest
or that's how I imaged it to happen anyway
if im wrong feel free to tell me anytime
Also how'd you like the YamiXKeiko?
was it good?
Heres hoping it was.
It's really hard to keep canon characters IN character when your doing stuff like this
I hope I'm doing okay with that U.U'
Anyway if you have any questions, suggestions or just want to chat send in a review or feel free to PM me any time because I'm always happy to chat.
hope you liked it
LEAF OUT!
REVIEW!
