Chapter 10

'You're not sleeping in here,' Drake glared at her the moment she entered his room.

'Well duh,' Hazelnut rolled her eyes as she took a seat on the edge of his bed, 'I just thought you might like to chat until bedtime.'

'Whatever,' he wrapped his arms around his knees and glared moodily away from her, 'just remember the rule.'

'So, you have a good day?'

'It was alright,' he shrugged.

'Do anything interesting?' She shuffled up the bed towards him.

'If you call looking after my sister interesting.'

'But I thought...' she hesitated for a moment, 'I thought you went out.'

'What gave you that impression?'

'Your Dad did, when I phoned and you weren't in.'

'Well maybe I did go out for a little while,' he shrugged.

'Where?'

'What's with the twenty questions Hazelnut?' He shot her a look.

'Geez, you're in a bad mood,' she turned away from him. 'Anything you want to talk about?'

'Not to you.'

'Gee thanks,' she glared back at him, 'and here I thought I was your best friend.'

'You are.'

'So then why can't you talk to me about it?'

'Because…' he sighed and got up from the bed in order to move away from her. 'Because you wouldn't understand.'

'Try me.'

'I can't,' he shook his head. 'I'm sorry I snapped. I just…'

'It's okay,' she sighed and flopped down on his bed. 'But you really should talk to me about it; I promise I won't tell anyone.'

'That's not the problem.'

'Then what is?'

'You wouldn't understand.'

'Why not?'

He shrugged, lowered his gaze and shifted his feet from side to side in way of a reply. For a few moments she could feel her heart pounding fiercely in her chest.

'Please talk to me,' she twisted herself up onto her knees, 'I promise I won't judge. You used to talk to me about everything, remember, because I don't judge you. You know I don't judge you. Stop shutting me out Drake and just tell me already because… because I think I know what it's about anyway.'

'How could you?'

'Call it female intuition,' a soft smile filled her face as she got off the bed and moved towards him. 'You do know how I feel, don't you?'

'I know,' he folded his arms defensively, 'and that's exactly why I can't tell you.'

'I don't understand.'

'Good, if you understood it would be so much worse.'

'Drake…?' She reached out towards him and he instantly flinched away.

'Don't touch me. You know the rule; you're not supposed to touch me. No one is.'

'I'm sorry,' she pulled her hand away, 'I just thought…'

'You just thought what? That for some unknown reason I might have suddenly changed my mind? That I might suddenly want…' he grimaced in disgust and she couldn't help but feel hurt.

'You're in a bad mood today,' she lowered her head, 'I'm sorry I disturbed you; I'll leave you alone now.'

Struggling to hold back the tears she slowly made her way out of the room. With every step she took she hoped beyond hope the Drake she once knew would return and call her back to tell her whatever it was that had made him so short with her. But a final glance back into the room revealed him to be staring with glazed eyes out of the window, clearly wishing to be somewhere else; leaving Hazelnut wishing she knew where.

Taking a deep breath, Yugi pushed their bedroom door open and peered in. Téa's eyes instantly rose to meet his.

'Well, where was he?'

'That's a good question,' his face filled with a wary smile, 'I couldn't find him.'

'What?'

'I couldn't find him.'

'I knew it.'

'No you don't,' giving a heavy sigh; he made his way into the room and sat down next to her. 'Look, just because I couldn't find him, doesn't mean he's in danger; it just means he doesn't want to be found yet. You know what he's like.'

'I also know what happens to him when…' her words were cut off by a worried sob. 'Yugi, what if…'

'I'm sure he's fine,' he did his best to fill his voice with as much conviction as possible, 'he'll come back when he's ready to come back.'

'And I told you before that wasn't good enough.'

'I know, but there's really nothing I can do. I mean, I can't just go round looking for him all night; what's that really going to achieve?'

'Then call SK.'

'What?'

'Call SK, I'm sure he'll be able to find him.'

'Not if Lus doesn't want to be found he won't,' he shook his head. 'And besides, we're not supposed to call him in on things like this.'

'Things like what?'

'Things like our son needing a little space from his overprotective mother.'

'Humph,' she pouted, before turning away from him. 'If I'm overprotective it's only because…'

'I know why,' he cut her off gently. 'But I really don't think calling SK in will do any good. Besides, I get the feeling Joey needs his assistance more right now.'

'Oh?'

'Yeah, something weird's going on at the Southern Palace, but no one would tell me what. In fact, Joey looked green at just the thought of telling me. Still,' he shrugged, 'I figure they must have called in SK by now and it would be unfair of us to distract him.'

'Not if it's connected.'

'Oh come on Téa, what are the chances of that happening?'

'Surprisingly high in this group or had you forgotten everything we've been through?'

'Of course I haven't forgotten, I just think Lus needs a little time to himself.'

'You're convinced he's taken himself off, aren't you?'

'Of course, but only because he's done it many, many times before and I can't see any reason why anyone would have taken him. Besides, we both know Lus wouldn't unwillingly go with anyone quietly.'

'Wouldn't he?'

'Of course not,' he shook his head, 'for a child so good at being invisible, he enjoys making a scene.'