Hey, I updated! And it's in half the time that I normally update. :) Hmm... Although, this chapter is about half the length of my last one... and I have to say that I'm not nearly as satisfied with this chapter as with my last, but again, that probably has to do with the length...
Anyway, thanks dArkliTe-sPirit(n.n, heh, that's the way I feel too) and Melamory(took me long enough, but I did finally get there! Hey, wait a sec... you changed your name, didn't you?)!
Btw, did anyone else see the new Yugi-oh episode earlier today? Bakura is back! Yes! Hmm... I think that that scene at the beginning has Bakura saying more than he ever has at one time in the whole series. So adorable how Ryou goes to a church in order to get away from his yami. n.n(I wonder if Bakura goes to church? That would be so fitting; he goes to church on Sunday and is possessed by a demon the other six days...) I'm afraid that dear Bakura won't be getting anymore spotlight for awhile, though. But there was one thing that confused me about the scene: When Yami Bakura is talking to Bakura he says, "Does the term 'Millennium Item' sound familiar? Well, you promised to help me collect all seven." When did Bakura promise that? Or is he saying 'Will you promise to help me collect all seven?'...? I thought it sounded like a statement, but never mind...
So, sorry for talking too much(I sound like another crazed fangirl, don't I? I think I must just be hyper right now...), but I kind of decided to post as a celebration for the beginning of the Egyptian Arc... I can't wait to see Thief King Bakura! n.n
communication between host(hikari) and yami/.../
this means that the scene is changing:-. -. -. -. -. -. -. -.
disclaimer: I do not own Yugi-oh. And I don't wish that I did, because I know I would just screw up Mr. Takahashi's ingenious work! (although, I could do with a little of the money he makes...)
Chapter 14: Domino Park
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It was now early afternoon in Domino. Harsh winds were blowing everywhere, all possessing a bite amongst their strangled wails that warned of winter's approach.
Most people chose not to endure the cold with their normal activities that demanded their presence away from the warmth of their houses. But of course, 'most people' does not apply to everyone.
Mai Valentine was sitting on a old, wooden bench in Domino Park, her fur coat drawn tightly around her thin frame. Occasionally, she would pull one one of her silk-gloved hands out of the protection of her coat to glance impatiently at a silver, metallic watch, labeled with Roman numerals.
'Where is he?' she wondered. It might have been a couple minutes before the designated time, but she'd have expected him to come early as it was he who'd wanted this meeting in the first place...
Mai glanced up the path once again and her eyes fell on the an approaching figure.
'About time,' she thought.
As the figure drew nearer, Mai did not bother to stand up in welcome or even in acknowledgment.
The figure stopped beside the park bench, his expression unusually grim. "Hello, Mai," he said quietly.
"Hello, Yugi," said Mai, but her instinct told her that he wasn't really Yugi.
"I needed to talk to you..." Yami started, looking a bit awkward.
"I kind of gathered as much," Mai replied coldly. "And you might as well know that the only reason I agreed to meet you is because I'm going to tell you to leave me alone." This was the reason Mai had supplied for herself; in truth, the thought of simply leaving without speaking to any of them first gave her heart the feeling of being pulled and strained, almost as if someone were trying to break it... But then, it was only natural that she have some regret after all the time she'd spent with them... But she was confident that any discomfort would go away soon enough once she'd left.
Yami looked at her sadly, but also with determination. "Don't leave us just yet, Mai. Take some time... Think about it some more. Don't rush."
"I've already packed my things," Mai said crisply, which was perfectly true; she'd just finished putting her clothes, make-up, and duel monster cards into her suitcases when Yami had called her. "And my plane ticket's already bought. Get it? I'm leaving tomorrow morning no matter what you say now."
Yami did not answer, but instead seated himself next to Mai on the bench. He gazed up at the sky for a moment, before saying quietly, "Do you remember something you once told me, Mai? You told me that one has to have the courage to look inside their heart and find the weakness-"
"I know what I said!" Mai snapped. "And my leaving has nothing to do with my inner demons... Go quote that at Joey and Téa; they could probably use it."
"I wasn't trying to give you advice, Mai," Yami said unexpectedly, causing Mai to look around at him in confusion, her eyes narrowed.
"Sure you weren't."
Yami sighed slightly and did not look at Mai, instead continuing to gaze up at the gray sky above them, as he spoke again. "I was trying to remind you of that duel. The duel that really marked the time when we stopped being acquaintances, and started being friends..."
Mai stared up at the sky as well, as if trying to find what the pharaoh found so interesting up there. "What is it you want from me?" she asked finally, sounding immensely tired all of a sudden.
Yami turned from the dreary sky above to her in slight amazement. "You're our friend, Mai. Do you expect us not to care if you leave and never come back? We all care about you..."
In reply, Mai simply looked down to glare at her hands which she'd clenched in her lap. She supposed that she should probably get some more decent gloves. Silk just didn't seem to cut it...
"Do you honestly expect to change my mind, Yami?" she asked without looking up.
Mai felt his violet eyes upon her, as he considered. "I actually came here to ask you to postpone your departure," he said finally.
"You have any special reason, by any chance? That might make me want to change my mind about leaving today?" Mai asked. She couldn't help but think a little bit funny. What could he have to say that would make her want to stay for even a day longer?
"Halloween's coming up in about a week... I thought maybe you'd want to come with us to... to... ah, it's this tradition that people usually do around Halloween..."
Mai looked at the spirit in incredulous amusement, the tense atmosphere draining in an instant. "I trust you're referring to trick-or-treating," she said, smirking slightly.
"Yes, that's it," said Yami, not showing the the slightest sign of embarrassment. "So will you?" he asked quickly, apparently catching on to the sudden more light-hearted mood and attempting to take full advantage of it.
Mai sighed and stared back down at her gloves. "Trick-or-treating's for little kids," she muttered. "Didn't they tell you that?"
"Well... Someone has to watch out for Joey and Tristan, right?" Mai felt Yami tense next to her as he said Joey's name, as though he'd accidentally mentioned someone who'd died recently.
But Mai just chuckled slightly. She was not offended by the mention of Joey's name; on the contrary, she found Yami reference to him being a little kid quite amusing. "So you want to hire me on as a baby-sitter?" she asked, smiling slightly and looking up.
Yami relaxed slightly, then seemed to consider for a moment. "Yes, you could look at it that way."
"Just say... say I decide to stay for a little while longer. It'll only be to humor you and you've got to understand that I'll be leaving the next day."
"If you agree," Yami said, giving Mai his full attention and looking hopeful, "I promise not to bother you at all, when you decide to leave."
"And the others...?" Mai pressed.
"...won't bother you either," Yami supplied firmly.
"Well, alright," Mai said finally, and Yami smiled broadly.
"I'll stay for Halloween, but after that I'm gone, got it?" Mai said, determined to make her intentions perfectly clear.
"I've got it, Mai," Yami answered, still grinning. "Anyway, we'll probably be meeting outside the Game Shop, but we haven't really got anything laid out for certain yet, so we'll be sure to contact you."
"Right," she said, standing up. "Well, see you later, Hon."
Yami stood up as well, watching her retreating back feeling pleased. "Good-bye, Mai," he called after her. "I look forward to seeing what your costume will be."
Mai glanced at him over her shoulder. "I'm sure you do," she said. "But yours isn't going to be much of surprise to anyone I bet, huh? Mr. Dark Magician-is-my-favorite-card."
"Thank you. Now I've got to go out and find another costume."
Mai smirked slightly. "Anytime." With that, she turned back to the walkway and continued on her way until she turned at a place where the paths branched off and was out of sight.
Yami shook his head. The fact of the matter was, he'd already toyed with the idea of dressing as his favorite card, but the costumes he and Yugi had seen at the stores had been a bit too... artificial for either of their tastes. The only way he could think of to make it impressive enough to even appeal to the pharaoh was if the tomb robber used some shadow magic like he had last time, but, unfortunately, it turned out that costumes of that sort only came in small sizes.
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Please read and review! Constructive criticism and flames are welcome!