Before I start the chapter I'm terribly sorry for my absence and lack of activity.
The backlight on my laptop died and I was without it for near over two weeks while it was getting fixed.
:)
Without further or do, please enjoy ^_^
Chapter Eight – Odd Sleepover
Before she made her way back down the stairs she grabbed the box of freshly made cookies she'd baked that morning from her suitcase and slung her backpack onto her shoulder.
She could hear the voices of some more people and when she entered the living room she discovered that Joey and Tristan had both arrived. Joey was already being told off by Rebecca for a smart remark he'd made – she was punching his arm as he was backing himself into a corner – and Tristan was tinkering by the television with an Xbox 360 along with several connection cords.
This night was definitely going to be interesting.
Victoria decided not to bring any attention to herself; she just placed the box of shortbread, Christmas themed cookies, now opened, onto the coffee table, dumped her bag by the lounge and walked towards the kitchen. She found Yami and Yugi standing and simply talking as the kettle was coming to the boil. "Hi guys."
Yami turned and Yugi looked around his 'brother'. The both of them still looked a little worried.
"Hey, are you feeling better?" Yami asked.
Victoria shrugged, holding a hand up to view the slight shaking. "I'm nearly back to normal." She said. "Is my tea nearly finished?" She asked, putting on a tone that caused Yugi to laugh and made a point by leaving the kitchen, as she leaned her elbows against the counter to watch the kettle.
"I'm not your slave." Yami joked.
"You offered to make it." Victoria countered.
Yami huffed out a sound of laughter resting his hands on the countertop beside her. "Well, I'll make it in my own time, Tori."
Victoria grinned as the kettle clicked. "Come on then, slave. Make the tea." She teased.
Yami didn't say anything, but tried not to smile as he poured the water into the waiting mugs. He'd made several teas for her, and many times with her closely observing him, this time around though there was something oddly different.
So much so that he couldn't quite pick what it was.
He knew one thing though: whether it was intentional or not, she had begun to lead him on.
It was clear through her continuous and adamant denial of any further relationship that proved this to him time and time again whenever Rebecca would bring it up. It was stupid of him to keep it on his mind, but nothing that he'd attempted had worked. It didn't help that Yugi continuously brought it up with him every time that Victoria left the house – or any time really.
But then, there were the suspicions. The obvious secrets that she had that she failed to keep concealed. She didn't tell them the secrets, but the whole group knew they were there. It was their respect for her and the fact that she'd only recently joined the group that kept them from asking questions.
Everyone had secrets, Victoria just happened to have more than all of them at that point.
"Whoever made the cookies, they're mine now!"
Victoria giggled. "Leave some for everyone else, Joey!" She called.
"You made cookies?" Yami asked, handing her the mug of tea.
Victoria shrugged. "I was making some for my brothers so I just doubled the batch."
"You're quite the chef, aren't you?" Yami asked.
Victoria smiled a little with another shrug. "I just enjoy cooking. I don't get to cook very often anymore." She explained. She took a long sip of the tea. "Ugh, we forgot the milk." She said, placing the mug down and walking to the fridge. She was so familiar with the Motou residence that she knew where everything in the kitchen was and she knew she could go looking for anything that she needed without asking.
"Sorry, Master. I forgot." Yami teased, sipping his tea.
Victoria laughed. "That's right, you did." She agreed playfully.
"Come on you two lovebirds!" Rebecca called.
"We're not lovebirds." Victoria stated, pouring milk into her tea and then putting the carton back.
Ignoring the complaint, Rebecca continued. "Téa's here and we're ready to start the challenge."
"What challenge?" Victoria asked to Yami, placing the milk back into the fridge.
Yami sighed. "Halo."
"Halo…?"
"Don't tell me I just heard that word used in a question." Tristan stated, suddenly appearing in the doorway.
Victoria picked up her tea and shared a glance with Yami, her eyebrows raised in confusion. "Have I said something wrong?"
"Halo is like the best game. Ever." Tristan stated, grabbing her free arm and dragging her into the living room. "How can you not know what it is?"
"I just don't. My brothers and I only like Duel Monsters. We don't even own a gaming console." Victoria explained – this even surprised her considering the money that they had. They could have any and all gaming consoles their hearts desired. But then that would be endorsing the competition, she supposed.
"Then you're about to receive some seriously needed education." Tristan said, seating her on the lounge adjacent to the television – Rebecca sitting on the one opposite her, holding Yugi's arm hostage. Joey and Téa were sitting on the television facing lounge. "As always, Joey and I are first players, as first and second placed last year." He announced, sitting between Joey and Téa and picked up a black controller.
Yami sat down beside Victoria as the pair started a game of 'Slayer' and instantly began to hunt each other down. "The point of Halo is to save the world from aliens, basically. 'Slayer' however is a one-on-one option where you can fight each other." He explained as Tristan's character found Joey's and easily assassinated him.
Victoria's eyes went wide as Tristan cheered himself before concentrating on the game again. Joey's character respawned and the hunt began again.
"Tristan is like an expert. While Joey, Yugi and I are experts at Duel Monsters. He spends his time perfecting his Halo game play." Yami explained. "He's apparently a world champion, but I'm not sure if I can believe that until I see some solid proof."
"Seems a little more violent than Duel Monsters."
Yami shrugged. "He enjoys it. Though I'm not exactly keen on the game, it can be rather amusing to watch. The screen and the players." He added, nodding his head towards Joey who looked like he was straining way too hard. "Joey is pretty good at the game and he enjoys it when he's able to beat me at it – but he gets schooled by Tristan every time."
Victoria chuckled softly and continued to watch as Joey and Tristan destroyed one another on the video game. She instantly decided that she'd like to have a go – when it was her turn of course. She would wait patiently.
By the time it was Victoria's turn Joey, Yami and Tristan were all in for the next round. She was to play against Téa, who admitted that she wasn't a very good player either so Victoria was very glad for that. But she'd have to play against Rebecca after that – and Rebecca was nearly a pro. Yami sat beside Victoria as she played, instructing her when she needed it and explained which buttons she needed for each function in the game. To her surprise she defeated Téa, thereby excluding her from the challenge.
"Wow! That was awesome for a first try." Yugi complimented.
"She won't survive against me though~!" Rebecca announced, swapping seats with Téa. "I'm a computer genius, these games are a cinch for me."
"Bring it on." Victoria challenged playfully.
Fifteen minutes later and Rebecca was staring at the screen in horror.
"She beat Bec..." Joey muttered.
"I beat her….?" Victoria whispered to herself, also staring at the screen – but with immense surprise. "Wow."
"You're one of the lucky few." Yami stated.
"Hmm?"
"You're a natural." Yami replied with a smile.
"Well, I doubt she'll be able to beat any of us." Tristan said, grinning widely.
. : . : . : .
After the challenge was over, the rest of the group changed into their pyjamas in honour of the tradition – whatever tradition it was – and Téa informed Victoria that she would be sleeping on a futon on the floor in Yami and Yugi's room. "I'm used to using a futon when sleeping at any house these days. I just bring my own so you're free to take Yami's bed. Don't want to waste the space right?" She'd asked with a bright smile.
Tristan was victorious in the challenge – to no one's surprise – but Victoria managed to thoroughly defeat Joey by complete chance, but Yami took her out before she had to face against Tristan.
"I can't believe she beat me…" Joey muttered blankly, pizza still sitting in his mouth.
"Don't talk with food in your mouth." Victoria ordered him, no longer caring about the statement he'd repeated several times in the last hour.
They'd ordered pizza for dinner and opened bottles of soft drink. The awkward part of the situation was that they had been asked by Grandpa to eat their main meals at the table in the kitchen. Therefore they were squished around the table made to set four people – all seven of them. Luckily for her, Victoria was seated between Téa and Rebecca so she was feeling a little more comfortable with her position.
"What should we do now that the challenge is over?" Yugi asked.
"I don't think I want to watch or play anymore video games right now." Téa announced, subtly saying that she was against the Xbox for the moment.
"How about some movies then?" Rebecca suggested.
"Like what?" Joey asked, instantly knowing that he didn't like the direction the suggestion was taking.
"I don't think the Motou's own any chick flicks." Victoria assured him.
"We don't." Yami agreed. "But if I know Rebecca…"
"I took the honour of bringing a few from my vast collection." Rebecca said with a bright smile.
Victoria giggled in amusement. "You do realise that it's three against four either way, Bec?" She asked. "Though I'm not one for chick flicks, I'd rather a good thriller or subtle horror."
"Subtle horror?" Tristan asked.
"I don't like the really scary ones that are full of suspense. But a movie with a guy running around simply killing people is good fun."
"Fun?" Rebecca asked, absolutely astonished.
"The big breasted blonde, dumb bimbos that run up the stairs when they should run out the front door as they run away from a guy in a mask and a way too big knife? Yes, it is fun." Victoria replied. "No offense to the blonde part."
Rebecca shrugged. "I'm not dumb, so none taken."
Victoria smiled slightly. "Either way, what movie should we decide on?"
"You're all free to search through our collection after you've eaten." Yami replied. "We have a few decent horror films though."
"No way, I can't handle those movies." Téa stated.
"After all of the things we've seen in our lifetime, you can't handle a little horror movie?" Tristan asked, with his eyebrows raised. "Seriously, Téa?"
"No, I can't." Téa enforced.
Victoria chuckled. "No worries, I'm not really in the mood for watching girls being hunted anyway."
"Been through enough of that today, huh?" Rebecca asked.
Victoria nodded and focused on chewing her pizza. "I don't understand what makes those guys think that intimidation and horrible deodorant will ever get them anywhere with a girl of any status or preference." She commented. "I mean, seriously. Other than being rude it's just pain insulting to the female populace along with the rare few men who are actually on a level of normal."
"They're all just idiots." Téa assured her.
"That's stating the obvious." Joey added.
"But I mean…why is that they think it will work? I admit, I'm concerned that I haven't answered that question yet." Victoria admitted.
Yami frowned. "What do you mean?"
Victoria scoffed to herself. "Believe me; I've been in several situations just like that one this afternoon." She explained. "Though I've never been up against so many guys at once, I've been approached by many guys with the same stance, same god awful odour and the same manners. True, many of those situations were when I was younger and most of them didn't know any better – they were copying the actions of their less than honourable fathers who carried their sexist personality on to their hormonal driven sons."
"Where you used to live…?" Téa asked softly, having been curious since she'd met the girl.
Victoria nodded. "I'd rather not state where or what place I was living in, but I – along with several other girls who were much more innocent and much less experienced with handling and knocking back the advances of a less than appropriate male – were in a place that did not provide us much protection. We had to fend for ourselves and even now I fear for the ones I had to leave behind." She sighed. "Téa, that man, who attacked me that day we met. Believe me when I say, I've had closer calls."
"You were attacked?" Joey demanded, standing from his seat.
"Just about." Victoria replied. "Don't worry about it. I've mostly forgotten about it now and I'm not bothered by it too much." Another patent lie. She prayed to herself again that her nightmares would – for once – take a much appreciated night off. "Sorry, I think I've said more than I should have." She admitted, noticing the silence that settled on the group, even Joey and Tristan had stopped eating.
"No, it's okay." Téa reassured her.
"We're here if you ever need to talk about anything." Yami added from his seat beside her.
Victoria toyed with the slight curl of her left twin ponytail. "I'm just…beginning to feel like I can tell you all anything – especially when you guys tell us the ins and outs of your days."
"Don't feel obligated to reveal the ins and outs of our life if you're not ready." Rebecca informed her.
"Hah, I'm not quite that ready. There are things even my brothers don't know about." Victoria explained. "Either way…thanks for not thinking less of me."
"Why would we think less of you?" Tristan asked.
"Yeah, if anything you're a victim." Joey said with a snicker.
"I'll show you victim!" Victoria warned, standing from her seat and causing Joey to – in a panic – flee from the kitchen with her close behind him.
By the time the rest of the group found them, Victoria had Joey in a headlock, dragging him back down the stairs. He was severely hunched over because of their height difference, though he looked like he could easily flip her off him if he really wanted to.
"Ugh, let me go, Tori!" Joey demanded.
"Nope. Not yet."
Rebecca laughed, holding Yugi's arm with hers. "You're getting what you deserved Joey!"
Though quietly, Victoria released Joey as the group settled around the television and Yami opened the long drawer cabinet to browse the DVDs. "Thanks for breaking the ice." She said. "It was getting a little awkward."
Joey just shrugged and placed his arm around her shoulders, leading her over to the lounge closest to the kitchen door and seating her down. "Not a problem, Tori." He whispered and stepped over to the television to look over Yami's shoulder.
She sat back and decided that she wouldn't sketch or think about any of her worries. She was surrounded by her friends now and there was nothing that could cause her any problems. Until she would have to go to sleep. Luckily, if most sleepovers were the same then there would be no problem staying up all night with the rest of the group.
After a very long discussion and by process of vote and elimination, a science-fiction movie was chosen – though Yami explained that there was a touch of romance and thriller woven into the storyline.
As the beginning credits and such were playing, Tristan turned off the light in the living room and Yami and Yugi vanished into the kitchen and returned before the main part of the story began – they bought with them an assortment of lollies and chips in bowls to place them on the square coffee table, along with drinks and plastic cups and a permanent marker pen.
"What's that for?" Victoria asked holding the pen up as Yami took a seat beside her.
"To write your name on your cup." Yami replied, sitting back and turning most of his focus onto the movie.
Victoria smiled widely. What a clever idea? She chose a cup and decided to be intelligent and write something amusing on her cup. She side glanced at Yami and silently snickered to herself as she wrote 'Yami's Master' on her cup. She then grabbed a cup and wrote on it 'Tori's Slave'. "You want a drink?" She whispered.
Yami nodded. "Lemonade, if you don't mind."
Victoria nodded and poured the clear sparkling liquid into his cup and handed it to him. She waited patiently, even as he absently sipped the drink and she poured her own. Even as she was drinking it and still paying attention to the movie she waited for his reaction. Waiting for the moment that he would take notice of the writing in her neat script and hopefully make a slight fool of himself – for once.
Sadly it wasn't until the second movie – a thriller and comedy – reached its end that he looked at the cup and saw the writing. Unfortunately for him he happened to be having the last of his third drink and chocked into the cup. After this he began to cough as the bubbly liquid became caught in his windpipe. "Tori!"
Victoria couldn't help it; she began to giggle as the eyes of their friends turned on them questioningly. "I'm sorry, Yami. I couldn't resist. They had to match." She said, showing him her cup. "I didn't have a choice."
"What….?" Joey asked.
Victoria showed him the writing on both the cups, causing the rest of the group to fall apart in laughter – much to Yami's annoyance.
"Don't worry, you can throw the cup out later." Victoria assured him.
"You do realise how bad that can sound though, Tori?" Rebecca asked.
Victoria tilted her head to the side at the younger girl, instantly confused.
"Uum, 'Yami's Master'. 'Tori's Slave'. That really doesn't sound very pure." Rebecca said, grinning widely.
Victoria flushed. "What have you been reading?" She asked, horrified. "Your head is deep in the gutter, Miss Hawkins."
"Say so if you like, but you wrote it." Rebecca said, her grin morphing into a sly smile.
Victoria glared and turned to the television. "Are we planning on watching another movie?" She asked, desperately hoping to change the subject.
"Sure. Why don't we watch something a little more terrifying this time?" Joey suggested.
"No, please don't." Téa pleaded.
"How about this one though?" Joey asked, holding up a well known slasher flick that hinted parodies throughout the whole film. "You've seen this one before right, Téa?"
Téa smiled. "Yeah."
"Ooh, I love that one!" Rebecca exclaimed.
"How about you, Tori? You seen this one?" Joey asked.
Victoria shook her head. "I've heard of it, though."
"You'll love it. I mean, Téa can handle it." Joey assured her, swapping the previous DVD with the new one. "Here, read the back." He said, handing the case to her.
Victoria looked over the summary of the slasher film, a small smile forming on her lips. "Awesome."
"That sounded a little wicked." Yami commented.
She poked the tip of her tongue out playfully before leaning forward to place the case on the table.
. : . : . : .
Fifteen minutes into the film and Victoria was clinging to Yami's hand.
She'd jumped twice and screamed at least once – to her knowledge. But there was something about the movie that kept her eyes glued to the screen. That was until the stabbing began in each gruesome, blood splattering murder scene. Sharply wincing and squinting her eyes half shut – she still wanted to see the events, just not in so much clarity.
Unconsciously, with each suspenseful moment of the movie she slowly shifted closer to him.
Without much of a thought, he transferred her hand into his other and draped his now free arm over the back of the lounge.
The night grew later and it was nearly one in the morning when the credits of the movie began to roll. Rebecca was happily accepting Yugi's nervous arm around her shoulders and Victoria's head had lolled to the side against Yami's shoulder, her body completely slumped.
Yami looked down at her, originally thinking that she was relaxing after the constant tensing of her muscles during the suspenseful film, only to discover that her eyes were softly shut. Her chest was slowly rising and falling in her deep slumber. He smiled with amusement and slight awe.
He couldn't deny that he enjoyed viewing the peaceful beauty that she was when she was sleeping.
Without a word Yami rearranged the placement of her arms into her lap, slipped his arm around her back and then looped his other arm under her knees – with ease he lifted her off the lounge.
Téa looked over at the movement and she smiled with a sympathetic chuckle. "Time for the child to go to bed."
"No, the children are already in bed." Yami whispered, motioning with a tilt of his head towards Joey who was fast asleep and falling off the lounge he was sharing with Tristan who had his head leaning far back over the back of the lounge. "I'll take Tori upstairs. I won't be long."
With a steady hold on Victoria he delicately carried her up the stairs, careful not to allow her head or feet to hit the walls of the narrow stairway. As he reached the landing she shifted – he paused mid-step. She twisted, making a small whimper as she nuzzled her temple against his shoulder.
She continued to sleep.
After taking a quiet breath in Yami continued, easily nudging the door open with his sock clad foot, blanketing part of the room with the dim light shining from the hallway light.
Setting his eyes upon his bed he discovered a dilemma – the blankets were right up under the pillow. It would be difficult to place her into the bed without putting her down. Walking over, he placed her down and holding her into a seated position he looped her arms around his neck.
"Keep a tight hold around my neck, Tori." He whispered and to his surprise she responded in kind, her fingers lacing between each other and clamping together. She continued to nuzzle the side of her face into his shoulder with small whimpers that worried him slightly.
Was she dreaming of something troublesome?
With an arm still under her knees he used the other to push the covers back and then finally lay her down, her head on the pillow, straightened her legs out and then quietly pulled the blankets back over the bed and up to her shoulders.
It was a long moment before he could detangle her arms from his neck, her hold stronger than he anticipated as he – one by one – unlinked each of her fingers from each other and placed her arms by her side.
Under the slight illumination of the hallway light she was still shining. Peaceful, until her face shifted and she slowly rolled over, moaning tiredly as she did so.
And in a small voice a name came out in a breath of air.
"Seto…"
Yami's eyes widened and he became to realise.
Two brothers, one older and one younger. She was adopted into their family and she'd never done several day to day things that required a large amount of freedom. How she wasn't at all surprised that he was a Pharaoh and had wandered as a spirit for five thousand years. One of the brothers had to have told her about that at one point. Mokuba the most likely.
And he also knew…he no longer had a chance.
The stabbing pains in his chest still digging in deeper he turned on his heel and left the room, leaving the door a little open and continuing to illuminate her features. Reaching the top of the stairs he took a steadying breath to contain the agony and made his way down the stairs to join his friends.
Back in his room, Victoria's face contorted and she tossed her head to the side, her legs twitching restlessly, she twisted and turned her body onto her back again, an arm reaching up, fingers stretched out in a pleading way.
"No. Not Mokuba, too. Please. Yami…Yami where are you? Why aren't you helping me?" As she spoke, her hand lowered and a tear escaped her tightly shut eyelids.
"Please…help me…"
. : . : . : .
Eyes snapped open and panic involuntarily set in.
Where was she? Why was she there? And why was her bed suddenly so small? She was staring at a wall, though it was rather hard to know as it was still very dark. She raised herself from her stomach and turned her view to observe where she was – memory began to return, she remembered that she was at the Motou's and her panic diminished.
From the window came a dim blue shaded light that was still too dark to be any kind of proper hour – with a glance at Yami's clock she confirmed her suspicions. Yet another early morning for her.
And from the completely crashed looks on Téa and Rebecca's faces she knew for the moment it would be a long time until any of her friends would be waking.
It didn't hurt to pass some time she supposed.
Once her eyes had sufficiently adjusted to the darkness she made her way to her bag and grabbed a spare pair of underwear – she decided to just stay in her pyjamas – and a thicker jacket before quietly leaving the room and into the hallway where there was marginally less light. This didn't worry her as Téa had already told her where towels were kept and Victoria found the closet without a worry and just picked any towel that felt big enough.
Upon arriving at the bathroom door – the light left on all night to assist any person in finding the needed room – she tightly shut her eyes and took a step in, closing the door silently, but quickly behind her. She blindly clicked the lock on the door just to be sure. Once the stinging behind her eyelids ceased she slowly opened her eyes again.
Not wasting any time she tugged the hair bands out of her twin ponytails and allowed her hair to fall free and removed the two pins keeping a part of her fringe to the side. She placed these on the side of the sink for her to retrieve later and moved to undressing herself – shyly turning away from the mirror as she did so. Bare skin rose with goosebumps and her whole body began to shiver as her body became exposed to the freeze of winter.
Twisting the knobs in the shower she held a hand under the running water, waiting until it was warm before she stepped in. The shower had room enough for one and a half people. It felt a little claustrophobic, but that didn't concern her enough to prevent her from feeling fresh before she even thought of cooking someone breakfast.
Or be in the presence of others when she felt less than clean.
She simply rinsed through her hair with the steaming hot water and stood for a long moment under the faucet to quell her shaking. She hoped to soak up as much warmth as she could before she would have to leave the confined space filled with heat and back into the larger area of the bathroom that was sure to be damp and cold from the cooling steam.
With amazing speed she shut the water off and reached through the sliding door of the shower to grab the towel from where she'd left it folded on top of the toilet. She awkwardly dried herself off in the small space and stepped out of the shower to get dressed again. With her jacket and socks on she felt warmer already.
The smallish towel wrapped around her hair she walked back to Yami and Yugi's room to place her dirty clothing into her bag and soon found herself wandering down the stairs.
She would make some tea and sit in the kitchen and wait for someone else to wake up.
Unwrapping the towel from her hair she continued to rub the fabric against her hair before hanging it over her arm as she entered the living room. In four different parts of the room the boys were sleeping. Tristan, Yugi and Yami had taken places on the lounge. Joey was crashed on the floor as though he'd fallen off a lounge. Tristan looked the most peaceful, while Yugi was almost invisible curled in a blanket up against the back of the lounge he slept on. Yami was on his side as well, only facing towards the centre of the room, both of his arms hanging off the edge of the lounge.
She carefully dodged this obstacle and walked into the kitchen. As silently as she could she slid the door shut, knowing that the kettle would make too much noise otherwise.
After she hung her damp towel on one of the chairs around the table she filled the kettle with water and turned it on to boil. While she waited she grabbed a mug from the cupboard and decided on the flavour of tea using the light of her iPhone before walking towards the fridge.
She gently rubbed at her eyes, yawning deeply and thankfully silently.
And then, as she opened the door of the fridge, reaching for the milk – knowing where it was by instinct – and light shone towards the door of the kitchen she realised that she was no longer alone.
