Keira: So... 'Sup? :D
Ami: *hits hikari over the head* Baka!
Keira: Owie! *turns to yami with teary eyes* Why did you do that?!
Ami: Because you can't expect to be gone for months without a word then come back here and all you say is 'Sup?'!
Keira: But I-
Ami: NO! You need to give them all a heartfelt and honest apology!
Keira: *sighs and gets serious* Okay guys... So, first off. It's a long story. So ya might wanna grab a seat and something to drink-
Ami: Hikari...
Keira: Or not. Well, a lot has been happening over the years, building up you could say... And I had to fight a lot of restraints that were holding me back. See, I finally saw that I wasn't really going anywhere. I was letting depression hold me in one place. It was keeping me from here, because of how low I was getting with personal problems from the past along with heavy family issues.
Ami: Thankfully, though, we seem to have those somewhat solved...
Keira: That, and just growing up and pretty much getting thrown into adulthood was a huge milestone... I didn't take it well :(
Ami: Not. At. All.
Keira: For a long time, I didn't write or hang around the internet. One day I happened across a writing website while googling called Wattpad and fell in love with it. I made an account, and decided to post everything I've ever written on the internet to there. Make it my main account for all of my writings.
Ami: Plus, it was a creative designing and an awesome community.
Keira: It helped me re-discover my love for writing, and I was able to overcome the hold I was in and move on with my life. I'm really nervous about being back here because I know you all want to eat me alive for not showing up in a good while... So sorry for the long wait, I hope there's a way for you all to forgive me. If not, that's fine.
Ami: Wow... Don't you sound mature!
Keira:*Giggles* Why thank you, my dear yami. So without further ado, here's the next chapter to Texts From A Stranger! :D
[DISCLAIMER] HikarixYamixYaoi do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Belongs to Kazuki Takahashi, please support the official release!
. * .
Previously:
The undead army suddenly ceased fighting and faded one-by-one around us. We all turned our attention to the shadowy figure who had slain the Shadow Boss.
"Wow, he did it... He actually did it..." Joey was in shock, and I saw Anzu flutter back down to the ground.
"So what now?" she asked, and you could just hear the smirk Bakura made then.
"Oh, Ra—" Marik voiced in disdain.
"Here we go—" Yami cut in with a bored tone.
"What now? Why I do believe that I'm the Dungeon Master!" Bakura spoke in glee, and then he started laughing one of his insane, evil laughs.
Suddenly, a shout pierced through all of our ears and ceased all noise.
It was Ryou - a very, very, shocked Ryou to be exact.
"BAKURA?!"
Yep, don't you just love it when life throws in a surprise?
Text 10: First Encounters, Close Encounters
The silence from Ryou's sudden outburst stretched on while everyone tried to gather their bearings as to what just happened. For Ryou to act like this... It must have been a personal shock to him.
I remember the time when I was at Ryou's place for his first Christmas here in Japan... How excited he had been to have his father come home for the holiday so he could meet all of Ryou's new school friends, his father even promised he was bringing his sister and mother along too.
All of that had been shot down by one phone call. His mother and sister wouldn't be coming, not even his father would be coming down - not even for New Years! I watched as Ryou's spirit diminished - the broken promise by his family having a greater affect on him than the bullies beating and harassing him at school. All of his running around with extra holiday decorations and presents had been pointless.
Of course, we stayed with him that Christmas - with no parents, and snow-falling outside, it turned out to be the best holiday and group get-together of the year...
So why did I suddenly remember that memory? Because of the fact that after said event, Ryou started controlling his emotions a lot more - keeping himself so closed off so he wouldn't be hurt anymore. There's been a handful of times after that, that Ryou's expressed great emotion and exposed himself...
This was one of those times. The clear recognition and shock ringing in Ryou's soft voice made me backtrack. During the fuss of battle, Bakura's name was mentioned, but I didn't think anyone picked up on it... Well, Ryou was paying attention - but did he know Bakura, personally?
Which came to my other reason for the memory. After that, the only real person Ryou could really rely on from his past was his mysterious friend he always talked about. The friend from Ryou's childhood that (now, when I start to piece it all together) eerily sounded like... Bakura. And Bakura was British - or well, sounded like it. So they had to be connected...
... I just didn't realize how well they were connected until now.
"R-Ryou...?" Bakura's voice was breathless in shock as well.
"Bakura... Bakura Sennen, right?" Ryou was able to talk through his shock, but he needed confirmation.
"Yes, though I thought I'd never be hearing from you again... Ever since you left."
Wow, I really was in one of those old-friends-finally-reuniting moments! It was a little awkward, but gave you that 'precious' feeling.
"Wait, wait, wait! You two know each other?" Malik butted in, heavily confused.
Ryou was in total awe. "Yes, Malik, yes we do."
"Okay, how?"
"Remember that friend from England I always told you about? Well this is him."
"Bakura's the guy you always talk about?" Malik asked incredulously, but by his words I could tell they made Ryou fluster. After all, Ryou and I are a lot alike when it came to getting embarrassed...
You could just see the cheeky grin that Bakura had while speaking, "Glad I left an impression."
"This is all turnin' into one of Anzu's sappy romance movies," Joey said, and I noticed that him and Tristan were exploring the now empty cave.
"Wait a second... So this is the kid you're always goin' on about?" Marik stated in the most serious voice I've ever heard from him since knowing the psychopath.
This time, I think Bakura was the flustered one. "I bloody do not 'go on' about him!"
Marik's smirk was evident in his twisted voice. "Sure you don't, fluffy."
"Yeah, weren't you just telling us the other day how much you missed that old friend of yours in England? And now look..." Yami said, joining in.
Bakura answered with a feral growl, and his character reacted with Dark magic - which happened to shoot randomly.
"Hey, watch it!" Tristan shouted, his character narrowly missing the blast.
"Yeah, friendly fire!" Joey said, which seemed to tense Bakura up even more.
"I'll show you friendly fire!" And with that, Bakura started aiming blasts of Dark energy at all of our characters.
"Uh-oh, Baku's went bat-shit crazy!" Marik stated in an almost giddy tone, all of our characters weaving around.
"As if he wasn't before..." Malik muttered, sticking close to Marik, who started laughing.
"Silence! Or I'll send you all to the Shadow Realm!" Bakura announced in an eerily dark, cynical voice.
I raised a brow and muttered to the others, "He's really getting into character, isn't he?"
Yami shrugged. "He's a good actor."
"Damn, I'm beginning to think that Bakura could become one of the Shadow Bosses." Tristan said.
"Oh God." Anzu said in outright horror. "Don't let him hear you say that!"
"Ooooh! Can I be a Shadow Boss?" Marik asked almost childishly, I could just see him in a classroom holding his hand up eagerly.
A resounding "No!" was heard from the group before the ground started to shake under us.
"Whoa! What's going on?" Malik asked curiously.
"I think the newest land is opening for us. C'mon, let's head to the end of the cave." I told them, already running to where I could see a dim light shining through.
Well, we all made it, and we lightly inspected the newest land (it was called 'Sealed Atlantis') before calling it a night and logging off.
I stretched once off, my mind racing. I wonder what Ryou's doing now? Maybe calling Bakura to catch up?
I rose up from my bed, in thought, just as my phone started ringing. I blinked and looked down at it, seeing the familiar face of my Egyptian best friend.
I smiled and answered, "Hey Malik."
"Yugi! What are we going to do? I mean, we have a full-blown crisis on our hands!" Malik ranted all in one breath.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down! What are you talking about?" Because though my hyperactive friend tended to freak out over the smallest things, I could tell when he was truly freaking out over something - if that makes any sense...
"It's Ryou! He left without saying a word to anyone! Even me!"
"Have you tried calling him?" Because believe it or not, Malik sometimes forgets about the obvious during his freaking-out.
"Yes! Multiple times, and he isn't answering! Not even my texts! I'm getting worried, Yugi. You know how emotional Ryou can get about things to do with his past - what if he's gone into shock and there's no one there in that big house to help? All alone and—"
No. "Meet me there?"
"Hell yeah!" And with that, the line went dead and I started racing around my room to gather necessities.
Some say we might be exaggerating, but both Malik and I knew Ryou, the real Ryou. Someone had to be there for him, especially when he received a huge shock such as this over the internet.
My eyes narrowed, feeling a familiar heavy pang in my heart. I would be damned if I let my friend be alone. The fact of the matter is - I've been through a lot of crap, and I don't want anyone (especially my close friends) going through any of that like I had to. The emotional inner turmoil just isn't worth it...
Quickly throwing the excuse of 'group emergency' to Grandpa, I was out the door and running into the brisk night.
. ~ * ~ .
The month of April was starting to come to a close, and with it, warmer weather. But the nights still got a bit cold - I'm glad I brought along something warmer than my school jacket.
I was running through the streets at a break-neck speed - I may be short, but I'm relatively a fast runner once I have my mind focused - when it happened. Everything happened at once, and I lost my focus.
First, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight as a shiver ran through me that wasn't from the cold - it was my hyper-aware senses warning me. Second, it finally hit me that I happened to run out alone at night into the city, after I promised everyone that I would always have someone with me ever since...
"Well, well. Look guys, what do we have here?"
I stopped, frozen in my tracks. No. Not again.
I slowly looked to my right down the dark alley and realized that I was running by a dark corner of the street I was on. It was night out, and gangs patrolled these streets like ghosts at a haunted cemetery. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like always.
The burly figure sauntered closer with groupies flanking him. "It looks like that shrimpy kid that Ushio liked to beat daily."
With shock and shakiness, I realized this small gang was the one Ushio had been in - the one that made school a true nightmare for me...
"Yeah, isn't he the reason Ushio got sent away?" One groupie questioned, provoking.
The bigger, burly guy smiled maliciously. "Yep, he's the one. What say we return the favor?"
I gulped as he cracked his large knuckles, the gang of three drawing closer. My limbs were frozen, why couldn't I move?!
A small whimper left me as they towered over me - making my fear rise as ugly memories surfaced. No! I couldn't remember my awful past now! I had to fight! I had to get away somehow...
My hand lightly felt of my pant's pocket, where I keep my phone...
And found it empty. No. This couldn't be happening... I left my phone! In my haste, I must have forgot it on the bed...
My breathing started coming out irregularly. Don't freak out! I stared up at the larger bullies fearfully. But, but I don't have Yami... I don't have any other connection to get to him!
Just as I thought I would lose myself to the throngs of darkness, and the bigger bully roughly grasped my arm, headlights lit up the suffocating darkness. The abrupt sound of squealing tires and a revving engine broke me from my stupor and I jerked my head up and back to stare at the fastly approaching light.
A sleek black car pulled into view as it revved up straight onto the sidewalk and toward the bullies crowding me.
Yelping in fright, the burly one let go of me and stumbled back along with his goons. The force made me stumble back too, and I numbly felt myself fall right on my bottom to the cold sidewalk.
The gang of bullies had their eyes wide and watching intently as the owner of the car swiftly got out.
I gasped when I saw who it was.
"Ami...?" I mouthed as I lost my voice in sheer shock, watching as the calm, taller girl stride up to stand right in front of the bullies. Her dark blue eyes appeared even darker as they narrowed while her teeth gritted and formed a frown. Her stance was tensed and poised for attack.
The gang quickly got over their fright as they studied the nineteen-year-old. The burly one outright laughed. "And what do you think your doing here, girly?"
"I should be asking you the same." Ami's usually bored, emotionless voice was dangerously calm, her eyes fierce as they seemed to pierce straight through the bullies. It was unwavering, making the air incredibly tense and I barely managed to swallow.
The gang leader's nostrils flared and he proceeded to stare down Ami. I was suddenly worried, she couldn't go up against them! No! She can't get hurt because of me!
Finding my voice, I reached out toward the older girl. "Ami, don't—"
"It's okay, Yugi." Ami cut me off, her tone steely. "I know what I'm doing." A calm confidence seemed to wash over her as the gang leader smirked nastily.
"You really shouldn't have interfered, but you should be more fun." He licked his lips, eyeing Ami's form from head-to-toe. It was sickening.
Suddenly, Ami's face showed disgust before I saw her leap and kick the guy right in the face!
The gang leader stumbled away with a loud groan as Ami landed soundlessly, staring hard at the bullies now.
I stared, awe-struck, just as the others spoke up.
"What the hell was that?! Some kind of kung-fu?!"
"Shit," The gang leader then voiced, recovering and turning back to glare right at the cool ravenette. "Bitch, you'll pay for that!"
Suddenly, the burly guy lunged for her and my heart almost stopped as I saw him cliff her chin. My heart started picking up when Ami - using the closeness to her advantage - abruptly shot her hand up and—
Oh my God! A sickening crack broke through the tense air as blood gushed from the bigger bully's nose. She just broke his nose!
As he screamed and held his bleeding appendage, Ami straightened her hand out and sliced the air to connect with the bully's neck - knocking him unconscious.
One of the other bully's lunged for her next, but Ami ducked down and tripped him and he crashed down into the harsh cement.
Suddenly, without me even noticing, the third bully pulled me up by my jacket collar and with a sinking feeling, I realized he held a knife to my throat. I started hyperventilating. This can't be happening, this can't be happening...
But all of my chanting was useless as the bully got Ami's attention and the dark-haired girl looked up from her crouched position. I saw her eyes widen a bit.
"Take one more step and I'll slice his throat!" The bully made good of this threat as he held me tighter and pushed the blade dangerously closer. My heart was literally in my throat as I grew paralyzed with fear.
"Wow, you guys are growing up - carrying knives now? Sure you can handle it?" Ami raised one dark brow, keeping her eyes on the bully.
"Shut up and—AGH!" Suddenly, Ami threw a rock right at the guy and it hit him squarely in the head painfully. He let go of me and fell to the ground holding his head. I quickly got away from that guy and closer to Ami.
Suddenly, I heard movement and shouted at Ami. "Watch out!" The other bully that she tripped was quick to recover and rise behind her.
The dark-haired girl reached into her belt loop and turned around. I saw her grab something from her side and aim the black device right at the bully's chest.
I watched as the guy started convulsing rapidly before falling limp to the sidewalk once more. My eyes widened. She just electrocuted him! With a tazer! I didn't even know she had a tazer! Holy Ra!
Starting to feel overwhelmed, I didn't even notice the other (the one with the knife) guy rise and aim at my unprotected back. A blur of black, and suddenly Ami saved me again - by tazing the goon. Huh, a tazer sure comes in handy...
"And stay down." Ami stated as the last bully dropped limp as a noodle while she stood tall and unaffected. She turned to me while putting the tazer away. "You okay, short stuff?" she asked me in a concerned way, and I nodded numbly. In fact, my whole being was really starting to go numb... Shoot, was I going into shock?
I barely felt her help me up and walk me to the car - I did, however, turn to look back at the gang that harassed me. They were all lying unconscious, even groaning in pain while unconscious. Huh, I guess Ami really did a number on them. Then again, it probably hurts like crap to get your nose broken and/or tazed. Just saying.
Soon, before I could really grasp what was going on, I was strapped into the passenger side with Ami beside me turning on the heat and driving away from the horrid scene.
Wait... "What about those... those guys?" After all, we couldn't just leave them there...
Ami held up her phone as if to answer my question. "Already phoned it in, the cops will be picking them up soon."
Oh. Well that sounds good, at least I don't have to worry about them hunting me down...
"You're shaking."
Huh? I turned to her, but she kept her eyes on the road.
"You're shaking like a leaf, kid. You can't be cold, with the heat blasting the way it is. You must be in shock. Here, drink this." And suddenly Ami was offering me a cup of something.
"What is it?" I asked, staring at it.
"Sweet tea, I know it's not the best for you right now, but you need to drink up." She told me, her tone emotionless.
I just did as she told me to, feeling like a robot on auto-pilot as I sipped from the drink. The sweet flavor hit the tip of my tongue before turning flavorless as I continued to drink. Surprisingly, within minutes I had drunk the whole cup. Man, I must be thirsty...
Ami, sensing I was done, grabbed the empty cup from me and placed it down in the floorboard.
"Yep, definitely in shock." Ami muttered to herself as she continued driving.
I glanced up at her and finally noticed what she was wearing - a long black coat over her dark purple work uniform, I knew it was that since her name-tag was still in place.
Feeling like I needed to talk about something, I asked. "Did you just get off?"
Ami nodded her head, suddenly looking really tired. "Yeah, pulled a nine hour shift today. Sucks."
I just nodded to myself absentmindedly, glancing out the window... And then freaked a little.
"Where are we going?"
She looked at me with slight confusion. "Taking you home, you do live at the Game Shop?"
I shook my head. "I can't go home, I need to get to Ryou's."
I watched as she turned the car into a dead street before turning to look at me. "Ryou's? Is that where you were heading before...?" She hesitated at the end as her full attention turned to me.
I slowly nodded, and she sighed.
"Well, I'm guessing it's an emergency, otherwise you wouldn't be out on your own this late..." She spoke, talking more to herself as she started backing up to turn around.
I just smiled a little, glad Ami wasn't as probing as... her other half.
"Thank you... for saving me and all," I told her, fidgeting a little.
She smiled. "No problem."
A silence filled the drive as I looked out at the darkened town, not sure what to talk about... At least I stopped shaking.
I looked over and saw half of Ami's chin was already swelled and turning a darker shade. Now I felt guilty.
"Sorry..." I muttered, and she looked up, surprised.
"For what?"
"You got hurt," I told her, and she just shook her head.
"It's not like you're the one who did it. Believe me, I've had worse - he just got lucky." She smirked in a confident manner, before continuing with a frown. "It's not painful or anything, Keira will mother-hen me as soon as I get home."
I smiled at that, and grew curious. "Since when did you learn those moves? And get a tazer?"
She lifted one dark brow, regarding me. "I work in a busy section of a big city, so I got one. As for the moves... I learned them when I took martial arts a few years back."
"Oh." I sat back now. "Cool. Can you do me a favor?"
"Shoot."
"I accidentally left my phone at home, and I'm sure Yami will get worried when I don't respond back, so..."
"So you want me to tell him you're fine and you'll call him in the morning?" Ami finished for me, and I grew hopeful.
"So you'll do it?"
She shrugged. "Might as well, otherwise he'll be blowing up someone else's phone to try and get in touch with you..."
I blushed a little and ducked my head, turning instead to look out the window while I could practically hear Ami snicker.
I had to direct Ami to where Ryou lived, and once she pulled up, I silently got out.
"Hey, Ami...?" I spoke up, looking back in the car as I held the door open. "Will you... Will you tell Keira about this?" Because as much as I love my cousin, she was as bad - if not, worse - as Anzu when it came to worrying about me. I knew she would get hysterical about this.
Once again, Ami smiled and her dark blue orbs showed reassurance. "It stays with us, kid. I got your back."
I smiled genuinely. "Thank you, again."
She just nodded and watched me make it to Ryou's door before going inside. The welcoming heat was enough to melt the last of my nerves away, and I shut the door with a wave to Ami.
Now that I'm all safe... I wonder how Ryou's doing? Just as I turned around, I was immediately met with Malik.
"Finally! Do you know how long we've been waiting!" Malik started complaining, and I could feel a sweat-drop.
"Sorry... I ran into some trouble, and Ami gave me a ride over." I decided I wouldn't get too into detail about my run-in with the gang of bullies... I shivered a little as I thought back.
Malik raised a brow. "What kind of trouble?"
I shifted a little before taking a deep breath to help calm my nerves. "Just some trouble, how is Ryou doing?"
Malik carried a speculative look as he eyed me, but took me to Ryou's room without another word.
Ryou looked up at our entrance, greeting me with a small smile from his place at his desk. I could tell immediately that something was wrong with our pale friend just by the way his brown eyes didn't shine with a comforting warmness like usual.
I offered a smile back and slowly made my way into his room to sit at the edge of the huge bed - closest seat to him. "Hey, Ryou. How are you holding up?"
Ryou looked down at his hands folded in his lap. "Just remenicsing a bit... wondering what to do next, it's been so long..." His eyes suddenly got a distant look, and I was quick to ground him by reaching to cover one of his hands with my own.
I waited until he blinked and looked up at me. "Hey, just remember that we're here for you if you need an ear."
Ryou slowly smiled genuinely. "Thank you, both of you." He then turned to Malik, who sat across the room in the couch. "Sorry for ignoring you before, Mal'."
"So now he talks to me!" Malik muttered with annoyance, and I wore a confused look that the whitenette noticed.
"I was a little... spaced out, when Malik got here some time ago."
"I'll say," Malik continued to mutter to himself before looking at me. "I tried everything to get his attention! I even started singing! Singing! And you know how much Ryou hates my singing!"
I mentally cringed at that. Everyone has a voice... but some voices, should just not be used at that high of pitch.
"I think you have a very... unique singing talent..." Ryou responded lowly, and I suppressed a laugh - it was just like Ryou to try and be the good guy and still give out compliments.
Malik smiled. "Ryou, I think that's the most beautiful compliment you have ever given me."
That's it. I couldn't keep it in any longer, and a huge fit of laughter just overtook me. They just kept coming, so much so that I ended up falling down to the bed - trying to muffle them with Ryou's pillow. Ra, what was wrong with me? Why was I being so... so...
"Okay, what is up with all the giggles?" Malik questioned for me, genuinely curious.
"Yugi...? Are you all right?" Ryou asked, concerned when I didn't stop after a few minutes. Maybe this was my own after-effect of being in shock?
I shivered suddenly, and pushed those memories back as I finally calmed down. "I... Yeah, I'm okay." I sat up, massaging my aching sides. When I saw both my friends staring at me like I was an alien, I grew slightly embarrassed. "Sorry - random laughing fit."
Ryou cracked a smile before shaking his head. "Well, if you came here to distract me - it's working." He said before regarding us seriously. "So why are you two here?"
Malik and I shared a look before my partner in this urged me to go first with a wave of his hand.
Okay, I guess I'll start. I leveled my gaze with Ryou's as I gathered my thoughts.
"We just didn't want you to be alone. We know how much Bakura means to you, he was your best friend growing up - you have a bond. And when you thought you'd never get to see him again..."
"...He just pops up out of the blue in a video game." Malik finished for me, and I shot him a narrowed look and he grew sheepish.
I heard Ryou sigh, and quickly looked back at him. He had his head down again, thinking. "It's just..." He trailed off before flinching and looking up with a hazed look. "I think he might hate me."
I felt my eyebrows knit together in confusion, and I'm sure Malik was too. Never in any of Ryou's stories did he ever mention that his childhood friend could hate him...
"Explain." Malik was the one to state, and Ryou started - still with a dazed look.
"Because... Because I left without saying goodbye. I couldn't - not to him. He was the one person I didn't want to leave... I wanted to stay by his side forever."
My eyes widened. Wow, I didn't know about this side to Ryou's past... And judging by Malik's equally wide-eyed expression, I take it he didn't either. We kept quiet as Ryou continued.
"I remember he made me promise him..." Ryou trailed off, his face abruptly scrunching up in pain. "He made me promise him..." Ryou let out a whimper and suddenly hugged his knees - burying his face into his pants.
I was quick to be by his side, gently touching his shoulder. Malik was soon on the other side of him, wrapping a tanned arm around that shoulder.
"Ryou..." I whispered, keeping my words and the sound of my voice in check. Emotions were heavy here. "What was the promise...?"
Ryou looked up, his brown eyes milky as his tears started gathering. "He said... 'Promise me that you'll always let me protect you.'"
I blinked suddenly, was this really the same Bakura that I knew that said that?
The tears brimming suddenly gushed forth. "And then I broke it. I left, I had to... I couldn't face him, he would've - he would have tried everything to keep me there..."
"Would you have wanted that? For him to keep you there...?" I asked, my voice still in a low whisper.
Ryou's glassy eyes just stared into mine - so many emotions were playing out in them, it was hard to figure out one. A small smile suddenly graced his face. "I wouldn't have ever met any of you."
That made me smile. We were all important to each other, after years of being around each other we've just sort of... integrated into each other's lives. It was heartwarming to know I had people like that... People so close that they became family.
Ryou breathed in a shaky breath, his frame shaking from it.
"Crap, do you need your inhaler, Ryou?" Malik asked him, worried.
Ryou shook his head. "N-No, I'm fine. I just need to relax a bit." He reassured, smiling.
Ryou wasn't really sickly, but he does have a small case of asthma... He only takes the inhaler whenever he inhales a lot of dust or smoke - or experiences something like this.
We all went over to the bed and got comfortable - both me and Malik made Ryou lay back in the soft pillows so he could control his breathing. Once relaxed, Ryou started talking more - more about his time in England with Bakura.
"Back when I was little, I was more sickly... I was always having to take my inhaler with me and watch what and how much I eat. My mum treated me like I was fragile." He laughed a bit at this. "I caught Bakura outside in our pantry, stealing food - and that's how we met."
Malik and I grew into comfortable positions as we listened to Ryou's story. After all, he was being extremely open right now.
"He was an orphan, and trying to steal food for him and some of the other kids. Apparently, the orphanage was mistreating the children and was too poor to give them proper meals." Ryou shook his head with a frown before moving on, "He thought I was going to yell for help - and I was - but then I really looked at him, and saw that he wasn't just stealing for himself. He was just trying to survive, and help others too... So I helped him."
I tilted my head a little from where it rested on my open palm - I was laying on my stomach. I could just picture it all in my head... Ryou, as a child, carrying that gentle smile of his.
"We introduced ourselves, and I found out he was just a year older than I was... He was eight, and I was seven." Ryou smiled softly. "He would come by almost everyday after that, and I would be there to help him get necessary food items. My family, at the moment, was financially secure, so I wanted to help those less fortunate as much as I could..."
"After a while, Bakura and I started to talk and... hang-out. It was nice, since I didn't really have any friends due to my frail body - I wasn't allowed to go to public schools... He was my first friend."
I smiled once again, it reminded me of Anzu and me...
"We would sneak out to the forest and to the playground - those were our favorite places. I had never been to a playground before, and Bakura was there to show me how fun it was." Ryou's fond smile fell slightly at the next memory. "One day, though, our charade was discovered by my parents. They had caught us taking the food out of the pantry and immediately made us explain." He sighed before continuing, "Before I could start speaking, Bakura lashed out saying he forced me to help him steal the food—"
I heard Malik gasp at this while I widened my eyes.
"But I quickly shut him up so I could explain." At that, we both laughed a bit, and a smile came back on Ryou's face. "After explaining the situation... My parents decided to investigate the orphanage and put a stop to things... for the better. Soon, everything was resolved, and the orphanage was overseen by another group that got things right from then on."
"And you and Bakura kept hanging out after that?" Malik asked, looking childish with his eyes shining in curiosity as he grasped the pillow he was holding - completely enthralled in the story.
Ryou nodded. "We did everything together - eventually we even went to the same school, since I started becoming healthier. The funny thing is - Bakura and I actually look very similar."
"Really?" Malik asked in innocent curiosity once again while I raised a brow. Come to think of it, I don't know what Bakura looks like...
"Yes, Bakura's actually albino like me; albeit half, but he has white hair just like me. His seemed more silver though..."
Wow, now that was an interesting surprise.
"His hair is spikier than mine, especially in the front. It was like that even when we were kids! His skin is a bit more tanned than mine, and his eyes were the most interesting to me... They were a darker brown with red, which fit him naturally."
I smiled at this. Ryou never told us this much, especially how Bakura looked... Though both Malik and I knew the rest - they went to school and grew up together, becoming indefinitely closer. Best friends. And Bakura always protected Ryou from everything - especially bullies. Right when Bakura seemed to head down a darker path, Ryou was there to talk reason to him. It was almost like Ryou was his light, and Bakura was Ryou's dark.
I shook my head. That's ludicrous.
"We did so much together... I was even there when Bakura finally got adopted."
Wait. "Adopted?" I didn't remember this part of the tale...
Ryou met my eyes and nodded. "By the Sennen family - now I know why that name seems so familiar when you told me. He was able to stay in the same neighborhood as me and everything, it was a dream come true that we wouldn't be separated." Ryou's face fell then. "Until... My dad was forcing me to leave..."
I frowned with him, knowing how much Ryou fought this decision, how it tore him apart inside, all because he had spilled and told me one day...
. * . * .
It happened a year after Ryou came to Japan, and we were celebrating. At the time, Ryou hadn't told me much about his past... And I respected that, since he didn't probe me about my own. But, although appreciated, our celebration really made him sad... Made him remember...
I remember following Ryou up to the school's rooftop when he left the party we held after school unexpectedly. I was worried about the forlorn look he had, and I wanted to remind him that he wasn't alone.
When I had reached the rooftop, I found him sitting by the fence, staring out at the city from the edge. He was sitting with his knees up to his chest, his chin resting on them.
I had sat by him in a similar fashion, and just watched as the sky turned to a multitude of colors as evening rolled in. The sun would be setting soon.
Finally, after some time had passed, Ryou spoke up in a soft voice.
"Have you ever felt incomplete? Like there's pieces of you missing?"
At that, my hand instinctively grasped the fabric over my heart. "Yes." All the time, I wanted to say, but figured it was something that shouldn't be mentioned at the moment.
Ryou sighed. "That's how I feel. I really like it here, because I've made so many friends, yet I left a big piece of myself back... back there." He didn't have to say it for me to know that he was referring to England.
I turned slightly to look at him. "It's like a puzzle. You're missing the one important piece that would complete everything, that would make everything suddenly make sense and right. Without it, you'll never be completely whole, instead you'll just be left wondering... Wondering what life would be like if you had that missing vital piece... " I trailed off, getting lost in my thoughts. I wasn't sure where the last of that came from, because at first I was just thinking about a puzzle, and then my own forgotten memories...
Ryou's eyes suddenly got misty and he ducked his head - biting his lip as his face scrunched up, trying to keep tears away. "Yes... I am missing that important piece, and it's all my fault..."
I blinked, my attention instantly turning to my white-haired best friend. "Ryou?"
He gazed up at me, but his eyes were glassy and unseeing. I knew that look, it was the look you got when you were trapped in your own mind, your thoughts and memories... "I feel like I abandoned him, my best friend."
My eyes widened slightly, was Ryou really going to tell me about his past?
"Dad and Mum were splitting up, because of money and arguments... They wanted to leave England behind them and go on to other businesses far away, but I..." His head went down, a curtain of white falling and shielding his face from my view. "But I had so much there... Even if it was one person, he was still enough... Everything I needed."
I inched closer, my face drawing up. I never knew about what Ryou suffered coming here...
"My parents argued for months, and I hated it. I would always find him and he'd comfort me and take my mind off of it. W-When I found out th-that my parents wanted to leave the country itself to get away from each other... I-I didn't know what to do. A-And when I told him he wanted u-us to just runaway - it was the only way for us to stay together. I-I needed him, Yugi. I still do. He was, he was—"
"Your other half?" I said in a low voice, smiling suddenly as I abruptly remembered my mother's words...
Ryou looked up at me and nodded. "I tried talking to my father, begged him for us to stay. I even tried to help solve all of the fighting, but just got in the way... My family was really splitting up, and there was nothing I could do about it. A-And in the end, I lost courage to runaway... to be with my friend. I was so selfish - I couldn't face him, couldn't tell him goodbye, it was going to kill me, I couldn't—"
I wrapped my arms around him tightly as he started sobbing, his tears soaking my shirt but I didn't care. We stayed like that well until the sun went down, and I let Ryou get out all of those torn emotions he held inside until that moment.
He was homesick. Mostly because of him... He missed his childhood friend more than anything.
After Ryou let out some hard emotions, we all stayed up a bit just talking and reminiscing. We were all nodding off as the night climbed into the wee hours of the morning - finally sleeping right as dawn approached.
A brand new day for our world, as we left all of the negativity back in the blackness of night... And moved forward with the light.
. * . * .
So it was now paycheck day! I have been looking forward to this day - I'm really hoping it's a good pay... I was going to give most of it to Grandpa to help him out, and put the rest in savings.
It was a really sunny day, which really helped my already happy mood brighten. I loved it when the weather played to fit whatever mood I'm in...
There were a lot of people out, and I was close to home so I felt safe. In fact, I had stopped by the small park that was a street away from the shop. It was in a slightly forested area with a swing set, slide, and jungle gym. It paled in comparison to the much grander city park on the other side of town.
I just came here when I felt like it, since it was relatively quiet. Today there was only one other couple - who were busy watching their son play on the jungle gym and slide, which left the swings free for me.
Ever since I was little, I've always liked hanging out at swings. It really helped me think, and get lost in my own world - music helped a lot, too.
I started swinging slightly, and my mind wandered. So the paycheck wasn't as much as I expected - but Keira reassured me that it was because it was my first one, and I didn't get a lot of hours in on my first week. I would just have to work a lot more to earn more - I'm determined to help put my Grandpa at ease with the bills and such.
I sighed just as my phone started ringing shrilly. I dug it out of my pocket and smiled when I saw 'Mou Hitori no Boku' displayed on the screen, as well as his picture.
"Hey, Yami!" I greeted cheerfully, waiting for the familiar baritone voice.
"Hi, Yugi. How is your day going?" Yami asked, his voice sounding more subdued than usual, but I just shrugged it off.
"Great so far, I just got my paycheck! It wasn't as much I expected, but Keira-chan told me that's how it usually is on the first paycheck." For some reason, I've been getting into the habit of adding "chan" to the end of my cousin's name. When I was little, that's what I always called her... I guess old habits are coming back to me. My brows suddenly pulled together as a thought came to me... I still haven't asked those two how exactly they know Yami and the rest! Shoot! How can I keep forgetting that?
"Paycheck?" Yami sounded confused, and I shared that feeling.
"Yeah, I told you I was getting it today, remember?"
"Oh, yeah... Sorry, now I remember..." Yami sounded distracted, and I grew curious and slightly worried.
"Yami? What's wrong?"
There was a long pause, before I heard Yami take a deep breath and then exhale deeply. "Oh, nothing... Just watching my house burn down in front of me."
I blinked. Wait. What? Did he just say what I think he said...? "Are you serious?" I asked him, trying to wrap my head around it. Yami doesn't usually joke about stuff like this...
Another deep breath and then exhale. "Completely."
Another pause, and then I hesitantly interrupted it. "Um... how? Are you okay?" I was getting really concerned now!
"I'm fine, I just came up about a half hour ago and found it like this... As for how, my psycho cousins are to blame."
At that moment, I could faintly hear Bakura and Marik in the background, yelling.
"How many bloody times do I have to tell you it was an accident!"
"Yeah, at least we got out all of the sentimental stuff... And you didn't even ask if we were okay!"
I listened to their conversation with mild amusement even within my total shock. I can't believe he was serious, I knew from the stories Yami told me that the two psychos liked to... be destructive. But this? How could Marik and Bakura burn their house down like that?!
"Ugh, you're both giving me a headache." Yami groaned, sounding tired.
"Do you guys have anywhere else to go?" I asked once the thought came to me.
"Yeah, it's already been arranged. Remember the cousin I told you about a while back? The one who owns a gaming company? He's going to let us stay with him." Yami explained, and I shuffled through all my memories of our conversations before I remembered back to our first one and nodded. Yes, I remember Yami bragging about that one...
"Who is your cousin?" I asked him, since he failed to mention a name back then. I had been too busy trying to get to know him to really ask about his relative's name...
Yami sounded surprised, as if he just realized that he hadn't mentioned his name or even talked about said cousin to me. "Oh, you may have heard of him. He's the president over the big game company, Kaiba Corp - Seto Kaiba."
My eyes widened and my mouth fell open. No. Freaking. Way. He was related to Kaiba?! I managed to grasp the phone before it slipped out of my hand during my totally-shocked-episode. I must have looked like a fish out of water to any passerby - my mouth kept opening and closing while my eyes stayed wide. Just how small is this world, anyway?!
"Yugi? Are you still there?" Yami's voice brought me out of my stupor and I managed to close my gaping mouth, my eyes were still wider than normal though.
"Y-Yeah, still trying to process the fact that you're related to one of my oldest friends."
There was a pause on his end after I said that, every word sinking in I suppose...
"Old friend? You mean Kaiba? How?" Yami was completely dumbfounded - well, that makes two of us.
"He used to go to school with me and my friends here in Domino - he still visits occasionally to see us, you know, when he's not so busy with his company." I explained, sounding much calmer than I felt at the moment.
"Wow... this is..." Yami was at a loss for words, so I finished his sentiment.
"Wow." I breathed, before continuing. "Kaiba's never mentioned us before?"
Yami abruptly snorted. "Kaiba's not exactly a social person, he tends to keep to himself... He doesn't really ever talk about friends or anything outside work and Mokuba."
I nodded, this was true. He was like that around us too...
"Where the hell is that fire truck? I called them an hour ago!"
Bakura's sudden angry shout reached my ears from the background and distracted me.
"Maybe they got lost Baku-Baku."
"How?! We're right smack in the middle of the bloody city! How could they not have noticed the huge pillar of smoke?!"
"Looks like Fluffy's in a bad mood..."
"Oh, piss off!"
I couldn't help it, I started giggling like mad. Leave it to Bakura and Marik's antics to de-stress a situation like this.
So after that, Yami and I stayed talking for a while until help arrived (finally!) and he had to go...
I found myself sitting at Burger World with the gang the day after - it being my day off. I was currently telling them all the shocking news that I found out recently...
"So this whole time?"
"Yep."
"And we never knew?"
I sighed. "Yep."
Joey abruptly scratched at his head, he was sitting beside me in our usual booth. "Aw man, Kaiba's related to Yami, Bakura, and Marik? That's messed up! How come we neva' knew about it?!"
I just sighed once more and started explaining the exact same thing Yami told me yesterday.
"That's crazy." Joey was at a complete loss on what to say about it now... We all kind of were. Some of us were still trying to get over the shock of it all.
"Told you - it's a small world after all." Malik stated, and we all nodded.
"Next thing you know I'll find out Anzu's my sister or something..." Tristan spoke with a perplexed look, rubbing at his face while Anzu laughed.
"I really doubt that, we look nothing alike!"
Malik snickered. "Oh, wouldn't that be the beginning of the next big novel - finding out your BFF is actually your long lost sibling!"
Okay, we all kind of laughed at that.
Ryou shook his head, his features happy. "So the plan is still on, right? We're meeting them in Renka at Duke's stadium at one ol' clock Saturday?"
Anzu nodded. "Yep! It's all set, even our train tickets."
"Train tickets?" I voiced, were we really going to take the train there?
"Beats havin' to walk or payin' multiple taxi's to drive us there." Joey answered, but I remained in deep thought.
I had mixed feelings when it came to trains. I have bad memories... and then I have good memories. I looked up, smiling a little when my friends started laughing at something funny Tristan did. Well, maybe it will be okay... Since I'll be surrounded by my friends.
Suddenly, there was a loud shout just as the door to the restaurant opened and closed quickly. "Malik-pretty!"
Wait a second, it couldn't be...
I turned around in my seat just in time to see Marik - of all people - rush past me and crush Malik's lithe body to his.
"Marik?!" Malik was in absolute shock, his light purple eyes wide.
"I found you! See? I told you I would find you!" Marik's voice was high-pitched in excitement as he let go slightly to look into Malik's eyes - his tanned arms were still around Malik's bare shoulders.
Malik blinked before responding. "I know we talked about it last night, but I honestly didn't think you'd actually come all the way to Domino to see me!" Malik sounded bewildered - as were we, at seeing the infamous Psycho pretty much make himself comfortable amongst our group within ten seconds. And was that a purple cape he was wearing? Along with chains?
Anzu was the first to clear her throat, grabbing the attention of one happy Marik - who was sitting half-way on Malik's lap.
"Oh." Marik's much darker purple eyes scanned over us as we sat around staring at him. When they landed on me, a grin spread on his face once more. "Oh, hey shrimp!"
I blinked before waving. "Uh... hey there, Marik." Okay, shaking the stupor off, I continued. "How did you find us?"
"Malik-pretty told me!"
Everyone shot a look at Malik, who put his hands up in defense. "What? I didn't know that he would come looking for me!"
Marik suddenly looked like he was pouting. "But I thought we agreed that we didn't want to wait so long to meet each other?" He looked like a little kid who got his favorite piece of candy taken away from him.
I could see a blush sprout up on Malik's tanned face as he continued staring at his insaner-looking double. "Yes... but, I..." Whoa, Malik was really getting flustered!
"Man," Joey's sudden voice made me look at him, and he was staring at the duo while scratching his head in obvious confusion. "How can you twos look exactly alike?!"
The two just blinked, then shrugged, before turning to look at each other once more.
Several seconds passed, and then Marik was... smiling softly?
"You know, you look even better in person." Those words made Malik's face turn red (again) in an instant.
Though it did make my Egyptian friend even more embarrassed, I could tell that he really appreciated it. Malik only ever blushed like this unless the compliment was taken to heart... Which means that he must really like Marik. I don't know whether to feel happy or worried about that...
"Thanks," Malik spoke in a squeak of his usual voice, he diverted his gaze shyly. It was really, really weird seeing my usual outspoken friend acting so... timid.
Marik seemed to not mind, he just smiled wider and pulled the smaller Egyptian closer to him.
Of course, the atmosphere was more awkward now, but after a few conversations, it all eased over. Partly because Marik was too absorbed with cuddling Malik to notice.
. * . * .
The sweltering heat wasn't helping with the nerves I had. Not. At. All.
It was now the day of the planned meeting with Yami and his cousins. And, naturally being my usual too-thinky self, I was nervous. Really nervous. Too nervous to even talk really, but I still did to keep up an act that I was fine so not to worry the others... Lots of questions is something I can't handle right now, and I don't want to have a breakdown before even reaching that city.
There's a reason I don't come here... Why I don't like it, why I try to avoid it at all costs... It brings back memories.
I gazed out the familiar window, leaning my head against the glass as I just stared - unseeing.
"See how fast the train is going? It can take us anywhere..." I could still hear my mother's voice, so clear it was almost like she was sitting next to me - just like then...
She always liked the train, and because of that I was fascinated by it too. I remember we used to always sit together on the pastel green seats and stare out the window together as it zipped through the city.
One day, back before my father started hating me, we were at the train station. We were waiting for the train to come and pick us up and take us to another part of the city...
"Yugi, don't go too far! Stay where I can see you," Mom had told me, and I had turned back around to smile and say 'Okay.' It wasn't a busy day at the train station, I knew because we would come everyday because father had to do business in the city. So there wasn't too many people around - it was a crowd, but not a big one.
I had decided to walk around the area to look for hidden treasure - sometimes I would find shiny coins on the ground. The station was full of those kinds of treasures, and sometimes there would be other kids my age, but I would always be too shy to approach them.
I was still within mommy's eye-sight, I knew when I was too far, but that time... That time I didn't expect a rush hour to hit. People started spilling from the entryway, and before I knew what to do, my tiny self was swept away within the crowd.
"Mommy!" I remember shouting at the top of my lungs, trying to protect myself from getting stepped on and crushed from the crowd around me. My desperate pleas were drowned in the multitude of noises from all of the other people. My small voice couldn't reach her...
I remembered how I whimpered from the pushing, the noise, the pain of being stepped on and tossed aside... There were so many people, too many faces that I didn't know...
That was when my breathing started coming out funny, and my chest started hurting... My eyes were stingy as salt water gushed from them. I wanted my mommy, and daddy...
"Yugi."
I wanted to not hurt anymore... I wanted to be found and away from all this.
"Yugi!"
Please... Please someone find me...
"Yugi!" I was roughly shaken awake by Anzu.
"Hm?" I turned to her, realizing I fell asleep while leaning on the glass window.
My eyes started to focus now as I realized everyone was getting off at their spot - Anzu was staring at me with slightly worried eyes.
"We're here, just thought I'd let you know... Hey, are you okay?" She asked me silently, and I nodded slightly.
"I'll be fine, just a dream." No, a memory. "Let's go," I told her, offering a small smile of reassurance. I could tell she wasn't convinced, but we had to move and catch up with the others. We still had a full day ahead of us.
"Dude, I think Summer comes early here! I'm sweatin' buckets!" Joey sounded exasperated - we all did as we walked in the heat.
"Eh, ya get used to it after a while," Ami told him, shrugging off the heat like it was having zero effect on her. Keira and Ami were there to greet us when we got off the train, we were now walking to Duke's stadium since it wasn't too far from the train station.
Keira was fanning herself - already having put her long red hair up - and then she turned to look at me with a smile.
"How you holdin' up, cuz?" she asked, slowing her pace so she could walk beside me.
I gave a weak smile. "The heat is really bad here, but other than that just fine." A lie. Are you really starting the lying games again?
I cringed a little, but it was easily masked by the sweltering heat. No one was paying any attention.
I felt Keira lightly elbow me before she whispered, "You know what I'm talking about."
I looked down then. "I'm fine." I couldn't meet her eyes as I told an outright lie again. Why can't you just be honest?
Because I don't want to be weak.
I felt her reach and squeeze my hand in reassurance before she went to catch back up with Ami. She knew I wanted to be alone right now. She was one of the ones that knew almost everything. Where I grew up, my history...
I had so many emotions going through me right now... Nervous, because I'm about to meet Yami. Worried, because what if he doesn't like me? Misery... Because of the place I was in. I can still remember how me and my mom used to walk to the store together... before she started growing ill. We would always get Rocky Road ice cream, because that was our favorite. We always got the small serving size kind and ate it while we hung around town. Going from shop-to-shop.
I smiled. I really missed those days... And then, my eyes started stinging, the familiar sensation of those tears being held back...
All of these emotions were grilling me, even more than the sun was. In this heat wave, all of my thinking was giving me a huge headache. Everything seemed slightly dizzy because of it... Wait.
I raised my head from where I had been staring at my feet. Where did everyone go? I started looking around wildly. I was standing at a cross-way in traffic, could we have gotten separated?
Oh no. Weren't we all just walking together? When did we get this close to traffic stops? I started walking around, straining on my tip-toes to see over the crowd to try and spot one of my friends. I thought I saw the tell-tale sign of Ryou's white hair and Malik's platinum blond...
And then from the corner of my eye I saw the walk-way light change and then a hurdle of people from the other side started making their way over to this side. I felt my body stiffen. This can't be happening...
"Mommy..."
This can't be happening!
My eyes were wide as the larger crowd consumed me. The sound of a multitude of voices drowning me, the pushing, the stepping, the suffocating—
"No!" I felt, more than heard, my voice reach a higher-pitch than normal as I shouted. I tried to block out the sounds by roughly clamping my hands over my ears, and then I made a mad break for it.
My legs moved on their own as I ran through the throng of people. I didn't know where I was going or where the others were anymore - I just knew I had to escape. Escape it all, now.
As the adrenaline slowly began to quell, and my breathing turned ragged from running, I stopped. I ran so hard that I was literally doubled-over in panting - just trying to catch my breath. I felt around until my hands grasped the cool railing of a fence. The sun hadn't let up during my run, so I was sweating a lot more now... Stupid heat.
After regaining my breath, I slowly raised my head up to look around.
My heart immediately sunk. I have no idea where I'm at! Frantically, I looked around. It seemed like I was at the edge of town where they had all of those neat shops; there were some people walking around on the streets - but not like the big crowd before...
I squinted a bit through the harsh glare of the sunlight, trying to make out what was on the other side of the walk-way... I gasped suddenly, and my eyes widened and my heart jumped in fear.
It was that guy! The guy that bullied me... The one that said 'he was told to.' He was walking on the other street, and looked like he was about to go into one of the gift stores.
I started walking forward, I had to have some answers... Who was he? And why did he target me? Maybe I can just tail him around... So long as I stay in the public eye, nothing can go wrong, right?
Wrong, I thought just as soon as the blaring sound of a truck horn shook my form and I quickly looked to the sound. There was a very large truck heading straight toward me - and it was then that I realized that in my clouded haste I forgot to look before crossing the road.
I was frozen. I couldn't move. Every limb was like live-wire, yet it rooted me in spot. I could already feel the pain that approached me, all because of me and a stupid mistake...
"Yugi!" I was dimly aware of my name being called somewhere nearby as the deafening sound of the truck's engine grew closer at a faster rate.
I closed my eyes and an image - the picture I have of Yami flashed before my closed eyelids and I bit my lip. We never even got to meet...
Car horns were wailing, and the pounding of my heart started to actually hurt my chest, it felt like time had paused for just a moment...
And then it was over.
I felt something heavy collide with me, but it was from my right side, and me and this other heavy form rolled roughly across the pavement - the speed we were going at made the asphalt tear and rip against my skin. I could hear the sound of clothes ripping in my ears as they started ringing from all the sensations, my brain was all clouded over...
I was still frozen. Petrified. My heart was beating at super speed, and my whole body felt all tingly from the nerves skittering around.
Slowly, my brain started functioning back to normal and it pieced together that someone was on top of me - and that this person must have pushed me out of the way in time from—
I cringed at my near-death experience. Did that really just almost happen? My heart is still beating like a jackhammer...
Suddenly, I felt the person's arms wrap around my back and I felt my eyes widen further as the person raised up from me slightly so that their face was just above mine.
Amethyst met crimson - and my brain clicked all characteristics together as the tanned boy spoke above me.
"Yugi!" That familiar baritone voice carried a tearful note, as did his gleaming eyes. And then he was holding me, cradling my head close to his... It was comforting, and I smiled.
"Yami..." I spoke, but it came out slightly hoarse because of my dry throat. I felt his arms hold me tighter, as if for dear life, and I slowly began to gain control over my limbs enough to return the gesture.
This all felt so real, yet un-real - like one of those morbidly realistic dreams you have sometimes that shock you to your core... And for some reason, my body and mind gave out as everything went dark - and I was out.
. * . * .
Ami: HOW DARE YOU GIVE THEM A CLIFFHANGER!
Keira: Relax, next chapter is coming up right after this one.
Ami: Oh... Well, moving on then.