Disclaimer : I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, the characters within, or any references mentioned. Shira is copyrighted by me, and remains my creation forevermore.
Chapter 26
Tenchi's POV
"Wow... who would've thought...?"
Tenchi observed the entrance of a rather large, sand-coloured building. It was higher then the rest of the huts, and took up quite a bit of the area. The hotel must've had a lot of room inside.
"We get a lot of tourists, you know," the rebellious girl informed, a little proud. She now returned to speaking Egyptian, figuring out that Tenchi could understand. "So some countries donated a bit of money. But it was only for their personal gain..."
"They donated at least for a hospital, right?" Tenchi asked.
"Well, yeah, but it's not really decent," the girl sniffed in annoyance. "I swear, the government has to learn how to use money effectively."
Shira and Kaleb were further ahead, already climbing the few steps. When Tenchi climbed them as well, she turned around and smiled.
"Thanks a lot, everybody!" she grinned. "Take care of yourselves!"
"You too!"
"Good luck!"
"Have a great vacation!"
After waving, the adolescent went inside into the coolness of the building. Vacation, she thought enviously. Wish I could put it that way...
Shira's POV
"Hurry up, Tenchi!" Shira called loudly. "We're almost at the counter!"
"I'm here, I'm here!" she fussed, running to her yami's side. "Wow. How do you think of the hotel?"
"Fancy. Really fancy," the spirit murmured, looking at all the paintings and furniture. "Wonder how they afforded everything..."
Kaleb nudged her in the ribs and motioned her toward the counter, which was now free. She, him, and Tenchi stepped toward it.
"Looking for rooms, I presume?" the man behind it said.
Shira nodded. "Yes, is there any available?"
"Of course," he turned to Tenchi first, and reaching under the desk he pulled out a key and gave it to her. "Your room is 204, Miss."
Tenchi nodded, accepting the key. She turned to Shira and whispered, "I'll just go check it out, k?"
The yami nodded, and Tenchi went off up the stairs at the other side of the main chamber. The man reached under the desk again and looked at Shira and Kaleb.
"So which of you will hold your room's key?"
Shira looked at him strangely. "I thought you said there were enough rooms?"
"Well, I assumed that the two of you are an item," her eyes widened at this, making her blush. "There's only room left, and that is a couple's room. Or have I mistaken you two for each other? I'm truly sorry if it were rude, and that it had offended you-"
Shira was shocked and was unable to speak. She looked over at Kaleb, who was considering it quietly. He then took the key from the man.
"No need; you thought correctly," he said back to him. "We were just thinking that separate rooms would be more comfortable. However, there's no harm done with sharing."
"Alright, then," the man smiled warmly. "Your room's 207. The pay will be asked for at the end of your stay. Have a relaxing time here at this hotel."
Kaleb reached for her hand and tugged. "Come along, darling."
Shira followed thoughtlessly, wondering what just happened. He lead her up the two sets of stairs required to reach the 2nd floor, and released her hand.
"Couple's room, eh? Pft..." Kaleb breathed. "Ok, you'd be wanting the bed, right?"
The two of them walked down the hall, looking for the door with the same number as the one they were assigned. "Um, but where would you sleep?"
"Don't know. What, you want us to sleep together?"
Shira blushed harder, seeing him smirking at her like that. "N-no way! I thought we cleared up we didn't like each other that way!"
"I was only joking, Tailera," he laughed, arriving at Room 207. He turned his back on her and put the key in the doorknob. She couldn't see his face, so she didn't know if he was talking with a straight face or not; "I would never do something like that to you."
He opened the door and stepped inside, looking around. Shira peeked around the door, then hopped inside, looking pleased. "Looks good. Oh, I love the balcony...!"
The room was big, but not really stuffed with furniture. There was about three chairs, a table, a door to a bathroom, and a large mirror, almost covering the whole of one wall. The king-sized bed was closest to the balcony, which had quite a view of the sky and the surrounding desert. Shira immediately walked toward it, abandoning her trench coat and bag on the bed, and opened the glass doors. She welcomed the wind of the higher elevation with glee. She walked onto the balcony and rested her hands on the rim, looking down at how high and far away from the ground they were. The lower half of her body was the only thing inside the railing, since she was leaning out so far.
Shira heard Kaleb join her, and she laughed, "Don't push me, now."
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," he put sarcastically, leaning on the railing beside her, smirking at her. "Why would you suspect me of such a thing?"
"No reason. No reeeaaaason at allll..."
The two of them stood in silence, looking around the sight the surroundings were giving. "Nice view, though, eh?" she commented.
"Yes..."
"Just think of it when night falls!" Shira turned around and headed back into the room, followed by Kaleb. "The stars will be out and shining, the moon's most likely still full-"
"What's with you and the night sky?" Kaleb pondered, interrupting her. She sat on the bed and looked at him.
"Hm? Oh... um..." she lowered down to that she could reach the ground with her hands in between her knees. Her hands were folded, though, and just hung. "Well... I just really love them, that's all."
"With such a passion?" Kaleb closed the glass door and leaned against it, observing her. "It can't be just a fascination."
The woman rubbed her hands, searching for the right words. "Well, they've always been there for me, I guess. When I rotted and went my own way, the night sky was the only one who was always present and would never turn its back on me..." she looked at her hands and chuckled. "...and I also have a silly belief that I'll find my parents somewhere up there. And all the others that I knew that are no longer living."
Kaleb stood silently, Shira feeling his eyes on her. She sighed, stood up and stretched, tired.
"Crazy stuff, eh?"
Kaleb didn't respond, so she continued stretching.
"I'm going to check on Tenchi a bit later. You wanna take a shower before I do? It'd save some time."
"...no, no," Kaleb muttered, waving his hand at her, but thinking deeply. "I'll do it later. You go ahead of me."
"Alright... don't touch my stuff!" Shira growled a warning, smirking playfully. Kaleb closed his eyes, smiling. With that, she left the room, going to room 204.
Bakura's POV
She's very strange, I commented to myself, opening my eyes and looking at the spot where Tailera was previously. I pushed off of the glass door and ventured over to the bed, eyes piercing into her bag. She told me not to touch it in a playful dangerous tone; what could she truly do? Would she really kick my ass, or what?
I set my knee on the bed and reached out for the bed. I felt a little spark of guilt inside me for violating someone else's privacy, but I easily scowled myself for that, distinguishing it. I leaned forward and unstrapped the leather, opening the bag up.
All I found was clothing, shampoo and conditioner, and a hairbrush. There were the ID and useless plane tickets, but basically that was it. I tried rummaging inside deeper, searching for any other, perhaps useful, objects that were to satisfy my curiosity of who this Tailera truly was. But the only proof was the ID; Tailera Suzuki.
I retreated my hand and gave an exasperated sigh. As I inhaled afterward, I found a scent follow. I bent down hungrily to get more. Once I realized what I was doing, I moved away, recreated the bag's look of being untouched, and went to a chair, grimacing.
Sniffing to get her scent, I thought to myself, laughing at the weaker half of me, usually reserved for Ryou. But now that he was long gone, I had to pick on the other half of my own soul; the lonely, sad self. What am I, some pathetic dog?
I discarded both my trench coat and shirt because of the heat and draped them on the back of the chair before sitting in it. I put my feet on the table and sighed again.
This is going to take forever, I grunted. Now I'm stuck here with her and Tenchi. How am I going to get rid of her without any suspicion? I'm going to be very easy to find if anyone I knew from Domino came and looked... and even in Egypt, Tailera would eventually find me if I gave her the slip. I can't keep the other owners at the Millennium Stone waiting. They need us all together to restore the Items' power. But I can't move right now, with no lead as to where or when the meeting is...
Looking at the wall with half-closed eyes, I stared at the reflection of myself in the mirror at the opposite wall. I'm going to have to kill her tonight. First her, then Tenchi. I smirked to myself, triumphant. You're not going to stop me, heart; I'm going to take back the title that's rightfully mine. Thief... and murderer... I'm going to steal somebody's life tonight while she's asleep.
I smirked devilishly, my eyes wide with anticipation. I spoke with ravenish hunger, laughing; "And that life belongs to Tailera!"
End of Chapter
Vixen: Well, that wasn't very smart...
Bakura: What wasn't?
Vixen: You said that last part out loud.
Bakura: Pft! You wrote it!
Star: Haha! XD
Shira: Vixen hopes you liked the chapter!