The last thing Téa wanted right now was to go home. . .that would seem like
the last port of call for her. Guilt tore at every chord of her heart as
she hurriedly bustled through the quiet forest undergrowth. Her hair was a
mess by the time she emerged back onto the quiet twilight streets of Domino
city centre, slumping her hands back into her lycra shorts and bowing her
head to the floor.
Walking quickly, her mind drifted once more, stumbling once or twice over the loose paving stones, as she became engrossed in her thoughts. And the one person who popped into her mind immediately as she began to wander, was Joey. She smiled ironically and laughed a little.
Of all the reactions she could have made, the least she thought she would do was laugh. . .though it was funny how fate seemed to have her best interests at heart one minute and then throw it straight back in her face the next. And it was funny how Joey had never been that secretive before now, when he REALLY had something to hide. . . and it was funny how her life was such a mess.
She wondered why he'd never told her how he'd felt.and how long he'd kept it a secret from her. But no one really knew Joey for his private life, as it was something he liked to keep personal. After all, you wouldn't go around letting people know that your father beats you every day when you come home from school, would you? Turning the corner from the dusty highroad, Téa found herself walking towards Yugi's house again, stifling the laughs that embodied her heartache.
When she reached the porch of the game shop, she stopped. Noticing the 'closed' sign dangling from the inside of the doorway, she paused in her thoughts. By this time of day, Sugoruko and Yugi would be unpacking the familiar cardboard boxes for tomorrow's trade, shifting the empty duel monsters boxes and replacing them with shiny new ones. It was like that every day until three weeks ago. . .
She turned her head away as tears began to form in the corner of her eyes, wiping them submissively, before turning back to the shop window.
Even after Yugi's release, Sugoruko had managed to keep the shop alive, though he often relied on Joey and Tristan to help with the sorting. She laughed again as she remembered how Sugoruko would shout at the boys if even ONE box was laid out-of-place. Then he would continue to open the boxes, muttering about how things used to be so much more simple. . .
Looking back through the window though, Téa could only see empty boxes littered along the floor. There was no gleam from the sunset on the 'Latest in' sign. . .nor from the glass counter. The shelves looked dusty, and the cards on show seemed to have lost their vibrant colours. Everything was different, dull. . .and blurry.
But it was getting late. . .and why wasn't Sugoruko back from the funeral yet?. . . Fiddling in her pockets, Téa brought out a deck of cards and sorted through them.
They were Yugi's. . .she had found his deck in his jacket, and managed to recover them just before the blood. . .
She shook her head again, concentrating on the task at hand. "Celtic Guardian, Mystical Elf, Kuriboh. . ." she listed to herself under her breath, "I wish I had cards like Yugi's. . ."
She laughed meaninglessly again.
"Shame I didn't think about looking at them until now. . ."
She continued to browse through his deck as the sun gradually laid in wait for the moonlight to illuminate the night streets, seemingly looking for a particular card. Her hand finally laid itself on his last creature. . .
"This has to be it," she muttered to herself, flipping the flat portrait over. She sighed as the familiar monochrome painting of the 'Mammoth Graveyard' appeared on the flimsy piece of paper, "But where's his Dark Magician? His favourite. . ."
Leaning her hands out in front of her and placing the deck back in her pocket, she noticed a card fall out from the centre of the pile. As it floated to the floor, Téa noticed a glint of light sparkle from the back of the card. Coming to rest on the pavement, she carefully picked it up and observed the back of it, watching it glint in the moonlight once more.
" How could I have missed this? It's laminated, and so well kept. . .this must be it" she confirmed, admiring the soft exterior of the coated card, flicking it over.
But as she finally held it out in front of her, her eyes began to widen, her lips trembling.
"No. . .no it can't be," she dismissed, shaking her head in denial at the sight that fell upon her. Again she felt the tears. . . breaking down again.
Her whole body was shaking as she continued to flick the card over and over again, still never accepting the portrait that continued to appear time and time again. It was as if it was mocking her, every time her eyes laid to rest on the aquamarine backdrop. . . the tiny wings. . .the rounded, passive face. . .and the halo looming over it. The Shining Friendship card.
Clenching her hands at her hair, Téa bolted down the road as the tidal wave of unwanted memories arose in her heart, breaking down all that she had tried to cope with for the last three weeks. Her auburn hair lay strewn about her face as droplets of sweat and tears cascaded around her features, after every footstep. . .every tormenting stride. Yugi must have replaced his favourite card with one of mine, she thought to herself.
She brought the image up to her face again, studying each shimmering fibre of the card scrutinously.
"1300/1100. . .it can't even compare with the Dark Magician," she mumbled between sobs, teardrops accentuating the shimmer of the card's glittering texture. Yet it remained clear as to why Yugi had made the switch. . .though she couldn't bring herself to admit it. A sign of dedication.
Raising her head to her surroundings again, she was surprised to see that her reaction had gone unnoticed. No one was in sight, and everything felt so cold. . .and it wasn't the familiar bitter autumn breeze. Loneliness had finally sunk in.
"Maybe it doesn't have to be this way. . ." she mumbled to herself as she eyed the tower blocks conspicuously, her sight blurred by the watercolour smears covering her aquamarine orbs of light. Taking in her new environment, she realised she was now standing just yards away from Joey's porch. . .
"It doesn't have to end this way. . ." she repeated to herself, calmly tapping on the door. She stopped almost as soon as she had begun to tap the door, however, when she noticed a mournful string on moans coming from the top window of Joey's house. . .which didn't seem particularly likely to actually BE Joey's. . .
Téa set her eyes on the floor again as she rested her back against the door. . .
*I just can't bear to see Joey putting himself through this. . .and his friends too. . .*
Téa closed her eyes tightly and shook her head, softly moaning to herself as she recalled the night she and Yugi had spent together in the same porch.
"I miss you Yugi. . .I just wish we could be together one last time. . ."
She was cut short. Before she realised it, the door was giving way from behind her. Stumbling inside the doorway, she tried to recollect herself. . .why was the door open? The moaning from above was becoming louder too, with the odd sound of a sniff or two now and again. Catching her breath, she decided to climb the stairs, noticing the gut-wrenching cries coming from the direction of Joey's bedroom.
It took a lot out of Téa to just approach the door. . .so close to where she thought Joey would have taken her on the night she was going to meet Yugi. . .
Turning the handle, she cautiously peered her head around the doorway to see a figure crouching on the bed, facing away from her towards the front window. Golden locks of hair ran across the back of her grey overcoat, her veiled violet eyes reflected in the light of the window. . .her head bowed down to her feet.
Téa quickly turned her head back into the hallway. She didn't need to take another look to know who it was.
"Mai. . ." she mumbled to herself, closing her eyes and resting on the wall opposite. But it appeared that Mai had heard the door creaking. . .the next thing Téa saw was her walking out into the hallway. Their eyes met, as if disbelieving that one another was there. Mai almost immediately turned away. . .
"I know I shouldn't be here," she confessed, staring longingly back towards Joey's bedroom, before turning her gaze on Téa again.
"But I needed to say goodbye to him again, properly, one last time. . .and I didn't let him know I was there. . ."
Téa eyed her oddly, feeling a new twinge of comfort arising over the desire she felt. . .the desire to hate her for what she'd done to Yugi, and almost her.
"What. . .what are you talking about?" she replied, standing rigid, though almost her entire body was quaking with fear and hurt.
*Flashback*
"Yugi didn't die just to save Téa. . ."
"What's that supposed to mean? Talk sense!"
A dark figure paced along the rafters of the church roof, scaling the wooden beams along the top of the hall as Seto decided to make his presence felt. Waves of grey and white flashed now and again from the hidden darkness above the pair, as a set of narrow, watchful eyes gazed down on the congregation. Completely unnoticed.just as she'd planned.
Mai knew that they'd never allow her to take part in the service. . .whoever heard of a murderer attending their victim's funeral? But she still felt the guilt of her deed too much to bear. . .she had to prove that she was truly sorry.
It wasn't hard to lose the cops from when she'd last seen Joey. . .a little chloroform here and there was enough to put them out for a while, and enough time for her to make a quick exit. The only problem then was the simple matter of where to go. . .if she went home they'd surely find her out.
So for the last few weeks she'd be 'around'. . .invisible to the human eye. Days of hiding and scrounging. . .even her usually glossy purple jacket was beginning to lose its vibrant tint.
"Kaiba! You were sayin' bro?"
Mai quickly snapped back into the present, realising that Joey had now pinned himself against the back wall. Joey. . .the guy who made her cry, scream, lie. . .and even drove her to kill. But he was honest. . .Mai smirked to herself as she remembered that. In her experience guys were always hiding something, and the only way to get it out of them was to find out for herself. But Joey. . .he'd been completely honest with her. Sighing, she rested her head on the wooden beam, remembering how well they had got on until a few months ago. And even now, she still wanted him. Sure he'd put her through pain, but Joey wasn't just the ordinary guy. . .he had skill, spirit, courage, and determination. . .the ideal properties that made up a real man.
"He. . .he saved me from myself. . .I dunno what I woulda done if he hadn't bin there ta hold me back. . ."
What was he talking about now? Something about Yugi holding him back. . .what did that mean? This was becoming more and more confusing to her every second. She unintentionally leaned her head out from the darkness of the rafters and took a better look of the sight below her.
"But there's no-one ta save me now. . ."
Several people below her seemed to be moving uncomfortably, before the brown haired youth on the edge of the row began to stand up. . .
"Err Joey, you're really starting to freak me out here buddy, c'mon, sit down man" No mistaking that voice, it had to be Tristan. Mai's eyes sprung from him to Joey. . .the intensity of the moment they shared was obvious. Joey didn't appear to be listening to him though. . .yet again he seemed distant, and far away.
"No Tristan. . .I can't stay here anymore. . .not with all this."
Before she could look back at Tristan, Mai noticed a gleam of light shining from Joey's jean pockets. She glanced back towards it quickly, but the light had been dulled by the shape of Joey's fist balling over it. A knife. She wanted to scream out to him. . .but then she'd only be caught. She wanted to turn away. . .but that was useless too. . .her whole body was fixed in position.
"Joey NO!"
Mai watched through terrified eyes as Tristan flung himself towards Joey. . .but missed him by an inch. She gasped back tears as Joey revealed the object he kept in his pocket, watching how Tristan pleaded with him not to do this to himself. . .and then the blade tearing through him. That was enough. . .Mai quickly looked away from what she saw, crying into her hands as she thought of what she'd done to him. . .what she'd done to make him take something so precious. His life. Her heart told her to take one last look, but her head argued against it.
Peering over the edge, she saw Tristan shaking Joey, blood smeared over his white T-shirt and green jacket. Staring down at him, she could see he was still clutching the knife in his hand. Crying through tired eyes, she looked up from his body to his face. Then she gasped. . .he'd seen her. Even from high above she could now see him staring at her. She returned his gaze, yearningly waiting for him to say something to her, even if it did mean her being taken away again. She watched as his mouth seemed to curl up at the edges, and then. . .it was almost as if he mouthed something. Thank You. But after a second the knife clattered from his hand to the floor, and she cried openly as his body followed suit. But her tears went unnoticed, even as they fell to the floor of the hall. . .lonely once more. Shaking her head and wiping the tears across her face, she feebly gripped to the window above her and climbed back off of the church, running back off into the shadows again.
*End Flashback*
"Joey's gone too. . ." Téa repeated to herself, walking back into his bedroom as if in some kind of trance. She sat on the end of the bed, gazing out through the open window in much the same way Mai had. She herself walked back into the room and sat next to her on the far side of the bed. The last thing she wanted to do was hear about it again. . .it had only been a matter of hours ago, but it seemed like she'd known it all her life.
"I guess Yugi and Joey really did seem like brothers, huh?" Mai sighed, smiling ironically, edging slowly closer to her. Téa nodded slowly, still denying what Mai had just told her. Yugi saved her. . .and then she wasn't there when she could have helped Joey. How was she going to live this down? Bowing her head, tears rolled along her cheeks again as she tried to console herself.
And then her eyes fell on what appeared to be a book edge, sticking out from the top drawer of Joey's bedside cabinet, stained with the sticky decay of beer across the surfaces.
"Mai, have you seen this?" Téa asked, reaching towards the chest of drawers and bringing back what appeared to be a thick scrapbook. Mai turned to see her holding the book out in front of her face.
"No.what do you think it is?" she asked unconvincingly, staring back over towards the windowpane. Her eyes began to slowly drift back towards the pad, though, as Téa started to pace through the title.
"It's called 'My Struggle'. . ." she read aloud. She paused for a moment, before slamming the book down on the cabinet and choking back more tears.
"I can't read it. . .I just can't" she protested against herself, shifting her sights towards the open doorway. She was about to get up and run there and then. . .but something held her back. There was another long pause. . .both of them shifted uncomfortably along the side of the bed, before Mai broke the silence.
"Téa. . .how did you cope after losing Yugi?" she asked calmly. "I've never known what it feels like to actually lose someone I cared about before. . ."
Téa's eyes shot back a glance of uncharacteristic sheer venom, her eyes narrowing as she looked Mai dead in the face.
"How did I cope? After you went and took away everything that was important to me?" she almost literally spat out, disgusted that Mai would ask such a question. Incidentally, Mai just sat there and stared back towards the night sky. . .hardly listening to her reply at all. Like Joey, she was now distant. . .which could lead to only one thing.
Téa appeared to calm slightly as she realised that Mai was paying her no attention. . . she was still bitterly hurt by what she had done to Yugi, but she was in the same situation as her now. Cold. Alone.
"Actually Mai, I don't know how I coped. . ." she finally replied, honestly. "Every day I'd just wake up in the morning, and remember how I could never see him again. Every morning I'd cry. . .but something drove me on. I don't know what it was. . .maybe it was the support that the people around me gave. . .but I blocked them out. I didn't want to hear sympathy Mai. . .I didn't want to seem weak"
After a few seconds, Mai turned her gaze back towards Téa, her eyes now filled with guilt and sadness. The lustrous violet glow of her eyes seemed to have faded away. . . her face was an open book.
"I'm sorry Téa," she spoke quietly," I never knew how much this could hurt until now.but what you had to go through. . ."
She ended abruptly as a stream of tears ran down her face, forming a small patch of water on the bedsheets.
"I thought I had pride. . .I thought I had something to live for. . .but I know I don't anymore," she said, shaking her head submissively.
It's funny how fate seems to have your best interests at heart one minute, and then throws them back in your face the next. Human nature isn't driven by emotions. . .instinct is a very compelling thing. And sitting there on the edge of Joey's bed, her life almost at its imminent end, Téa laid her arm over Mai's shoulder. Comforting the person who'd caused her so much pain.the person, like her, whose only crime was to love someone. Her only crime was to care for a man who was lost in his own jumbled life, a mess of his own emotions. And the only person who seemed to remain stable throughout the entire situation, was Yugi.
Hugging her supportively, Téa began to pour out her heart to Mai too. . .what was there left to hide anymore? Nothing would make a difference now. . .and there was only one way to rectify the past.
"You know, I think they're actually pretty happy up there," Mai mentioned, briefly smiling again as she looked out towards the dark night sky.
Nodding silently, Téa laid her head down on her shoulder, looking out in the same direction. Mai gave a long sigh, resting her head on Téa's.
"But I've let him go once before. . .and I can't lose him again," she spoke, an aura of silent confidence falling around her. "I will be with him again.'
Startled by her new-found courage, Anzu closed her eyes and hugged her tighter. "I know what we have to do. . ."
[There are times when I look above and beyond,
There are times when I feel your love around me, baby.
I'll never forget you baby.
When I feel that I don't belong,
Draw my strength from the words you said,
"Hey it's about you baby. Look deeper inside you baby.
Dream about us together again,
what I want, us together again, baby."
I know we'll be together again 'cause. . .]
"I guess it was always gonna come down to this, huh Yugi?" Joey asked rhetorically. Yugi just stared at him with uneasy eyes and smiled.
"I think you're right Joey. . .but it's such a shame to see them take it this hard." "But you do want to be with Anzu, don't ya?" Joey replied, grinning boldly, "You can't hide it Yugi. . ."
[Everywhere I go, every smile I see;
I know you are there, smilin' back at me.
Dancin' in moonlight , I know you are free,
Cause I can see your star shinin' down on me]
Again Yugi just smiled at his comment, replying accordingly "I do Joey. . .and I know we'll be happy this way."
They both stared down from the clouds as they watched Mai and Anzu climb onto the skylight of the house, their wispy hair wavering in the wind as the cold air rustled Domino City once more. What was heaven without someone to share it with? As they watched the figures beneath them hold hands, Joey tapped Yugi on the shoulder. Turning, Yugi saw Joey staring at him with a worried expression on his face.
[Good times we'll share again; makes me wanna dance.
Say it loud and proud, all my love's for you!
Always been a true angel to me, now above,
I can't wait for you to wrap your wings around me, baby.
Sometimes hear you whisperin' no more pain.
No worries will you ever see now, baby.
Dream about us together again,
what I want, us together again, baby.
I know we'll be together again cause. . .]
"Yug. . .I'm real sorry for what I felt for Anzu. . ." he confessed, his eyes set on his friend's. He didn't get to finish what he was saying though, Yugi was already mucking around with his hair.
"It's ok Jono-kun" he answered, laughing. " I know better than to take you seriously. . ."
"HEY! What's dat s'possed ta mean!" Joey shot back, smiling broadly, "C'mon, I'll take both of you on. . .you an dat haircut of yours. . .can't be as dangerous as Tristan's can it?"
Yugi chuckled again as he slapped Joey on the back. "I don't think Tristan would thank you for that. . ." he replied.
Joey sighed, falling back onto the cloud again.
"Man Yugi. . .I didn't know how hard it'd be to live without 'em," he said unhappily, before looking back at Yugi again, holding his hand out. Yugi grinned and slapped his hand, holding it tightly.
"They'll be with us soon Joey, but right now there's somebody else who needs you" Joey smiled back weakly, looking back over the cloud towards the pair below.
"I love you Mai. . .what I put you through, what I did to you. I only wish I undastood what was bothering ya sooner. . .but this time I swear I'll make it right"
[Everywhere I go, every smile I see;
I know you are there, smilin' back at me.
Dancin' in moonlight, I know you are free,
Cause I can see your star shinin' down on me.]
Anzu smiled again as the night air and moonlight made her hair sparkle, gazing up into the night sky. Her mind was made up. . .what kind of life was there down here for her now?
Mai also stared out at the same star, smiling against the cold breeze. Joey was up there. . .they'd be together again, just as she wanted. Leaning her hand out to Anzu, Mai looked at her with concern in her eyes. Anzu stood there rigid, still mentally far away, and she knew what Mai was about to ask her.
"I know he'll forgive you Mai. . .you've shown me the person you really are, and I know that's the person who's standing with me now"
[Good times we'll share again; makes me wanna dance.
Say it loud and proud, all my love's for you!
There are times when I look above and beyond.
There are times when I feel your smile upon me baby,
I'll never forget my baby.
What I'd give just to hold you close.
As on Earth, in Heaven, we will be together, baby.
Together again my baby, cause...]
Mai returned her eyes towards a distant star, watching the moon rise, the lost vibrant glow of her eyes returning to their normal confidence.
"Thank you Anzu. . .thank you for showing me how much more there is to someone than what there seems," she said, shaking her hair in the cold light that fell upon them, "I don't know how I would have found the courage to do this without you. . ."
Yet again Anzu didn't seem to be listening to her. She could only mumble a few words beneath her breath as she strode towards the edge of the rooftop.
"I will be with you Yugi. . .we'll make it through, this time. . .I know we can"
[Everywhere I go, every smile I see;
I know you are there, smilin' back at me.
Dancin' in moonlight, I know you are free,
Cause I can see your star shinin' down on me.]
Yugi and Joey remained fixed on their perch in the clouds as they watched the pair begin their final descent.
Holding Joey's hand, Yugi looked up at him again.
"We can start again this time. . ." he spoke spiritedly, "I just need to say one thing before we do. . ."
Joey stared back at him, completely perplexed.
"An what's dat Yug?"
Yugi held his hand tighter, staring back up at Joey with tears in his eyes.
"When we start again. . .just remember something will you?"
"Sure Yugi. . .I'll try. . ."
Yugi hugged his friend, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"No matter what happens, I'll always care for you Joey. . ."
Joey was quite startled by the hug, but wrapped his arms around Yugi anyway. After a second however, he pushed him away.
"Wait a second. . .you tryin' ta tell me you're gay Yugi?"
Yugi looked back at him with wide eyes, his smile turning into a playful scowl.
"NEVER CALL ME GAY!" he yelled, pushing Joey over. For a second he laughed. . .and then sighed again. They both crawled back over to their lookout point as they watched the pair fall to their escape from the world.
"And whatever happens, we'll always be with each other"
[Everywhere I go, every smile I see;
I know you are there, smilin' back at me.
Dancin' in moonlight, I know you are free,
Cause I can see your star shinin' down on me.]
End
Well the story's been going for 4 months now.and I thought I owed all of you an ending too. If you liked it please say so. . .I'd have no motivation to write without people like you, and if you want to see more from me I think you should review this story. My thoughts go out to all of you who have been touched by the story. . .I never thought when I started out that I'd get the response that I did. People crying, and literally begging for the next chapter really spurred me on to keep writing, though I know I've taken my time, and I'm sorry for that. We've seen a lot throughout the story's lifetime. . .very nearly lemons, destructive and unloved relationships, and even a string of songs along the way too.
If you'd like to know where to find the songs that I've used in the fic, they're in the 'Confessions of Love' soundtrack below. And if you've never heard 'Together Again' by Janet Jackson before, I think that plays a key role in the emotional finale. . .so download it if you can! ^^ Thank you, and goodnight
Chapter 1: Lonely, by Peter Andre Chapter 3: Earthbound, by Connor Reeves Chapter 5: Finally Found, by Honeyz Chapter 7: End of the Road, by Boyz II Men Chapter 9: Everything I do, by Bryan Adams and Hero, by Enrique Inglesias Chapter 10: You have been Loved, by George Michael Final Chapter: Together Again, by Janet Jackson
Oh, and just for the lyrics in the title,
Entire Story: Wrong Impression, by Natalie Imbruglia
~Yugi Muuto, 9th August, 2002~
Walking quickly, her mind drifted once more, stumbling once or twice over the loose paving stones, as she became engrossed in her thoughts. And the one person who popped into her mind immediately as she began to wander, was Joey. She smiled ironically and laughed a little.
Of all the reactions she could have made, the least she thought she would do was laugh. . .though it was funny how fate seemed to have her best interests at heart one minute and then throw it straight back in her face the next. And it was funny how Joey had never been that secretive before now, when he REALLY had something to hide. . . and it was funny how her life was such a mess.
She wondered why he'd never told her how he'd felt.and how long he'd kept it a secret from her. But no one really knew Joey for his private life, as it was something he liked to keep personal. After all, you wouldn't go around letting people know that your father beats you every day when you come home from school, would you? Turning the corner from the dusty highroad, Téa found herself walking towards Yugi's house again, stifling the laughs that embodied her heartache.
When she reached the porch of the game shop, she stopped. Noticing the 'closed' sign dangling from the inside of the doorway, she paused in her thoughts. By this time of day, Sugoruko and Yugi would be unpacking the familiar cardboard boxes for tomorrow's trade, shifting the empty duel monsters boxes and replacing them with shiny new ones. It was like that every day until three weeks ago. . .
She turned her head away as tears began to form in the corner of her eyes, wiping them submissively, before turning back to the shop window.
Even after Yugi's release, Sugoruko had managed to keep the shop alive, though he often relied on Joey and Tristan to help with the sorting. She laughed again as she remembered how Sugoruko would shout at the boys if even ONE box was laid out-of-place. Then he would continue to open the boxes, muttering about how things used to be so much more simple. . .
Looking back through the window though, Téa could only see empty boxes littered along the floor. There was no gleam from the sunset on the 'Latest in' sign. . .nor from the glass counter. The shelves looked dusty, and the cards on show seemed to have lost their vibrant colours. Everything was different, dull. . .and blurry.
But it was getting late. . .and why wasn't Sugoruko back from the funeral yet?. . . Fiddling in her pockets, Téa brought out a deck of cards and sorted through them.
They were Yugi's. . .she had found his deck in his jacket, and managed to recover them just before the blood. . .
She shook her head again, concentrating on the task at hand. "Celtic Guardian, Mystical Elf, Kuriboh. . ." she listed to herself under her breath, "I wish I had cards like Yugi's. . ."
She laughed meaninglessly again.
"Shame I didn't think about looking at them until now. . ."
She continued to browse through his deck as the sun gradually laid in wait for the moonlight to illuminate the night streets, seemingly looking for a particular card. Her hand finally laid itself on his last creature. . .
"This has to be it," she muttered to herself, flipping the flat portrait over. She sighed as the familiar monochrome painting of the 'Mammoth Graveyard' appeared on the flimsy piece of paper, "But where's his Dark Magician? His favourite. . ."
Leaning her hands out in front of her and placing the deck back in her pocket, she noticed a card fall out from the centre of the pile. As it floated to the floor, Téa noticed a glint of light sparkle from the back of the card. Coming to rest on the pavement, she carefully picked it up and observed the back of it, watching it glint in the moonlight once more.
" How could I have missed this? It's laminated, and so well kept. . .this must be it" she confirmed, admiring the soft exterior of the coated card, flicking it over.
But as she finally held it out in front of her, her eyes began to widen, her lips trembling.
"No. . .no it can't be," she dismissed, shaking her head in denial at the sight that fell upon her. Again she felt the tears. . . breaking down again.
Her whole body was shaking as she continued to flick the card over and over again, still never accepting the portrait that continued to appear time and time again. It was as if it was mocking her, every time her eyes laid to rest on the aquamarine backdrop. . . the tiny wings. . .the rounded, passive face. . .and the halo looming over it. The Shining Friendship card.
Clenching her hands at her hair, Téa bolted down the road as the tidal wave of unwanted memories arose in her heart, breaking down all that she had tried to cope with for the last three weeks. Her auburn hair lay strewn about her face as droplets of sweat and tears cascaded around her features, after every footstep. . .every tormenting stride. Yugi must have replaced his favourite card with one of mine, she thought to herself.
She brought the image up to her face again, studying each shimmering fibre of the card scrutinously.
"1300/1100. . .it can't even compare with the Dark Magician," she mumbled between sobs, teardrops accentuating the shimmer of the card's glittering texture. Yet it remained clear as to why Yugi had made the switch. . .though she couldn't bring herself to admit it. A sign of dedication.
Raising her head to her surroundings again, she was surprised to see that her reaction had gone unnoticed. No one was in sight, and everything felt so cold. . .and it wasn't the familiar bitter autumn breeze. Loneliness had finally sunk in.
"Maybe it doesn't have to be this way. . ." she mumbled to herself as she eyed the tower blocks conspicuously, her sight blurred by the watercolour smears covering her aquamarine orbs of light. Taking in her new environment, she realised she was now standing just yards away from Joey's porch. . .
"It doesn't have to end this way. . ." she repeated to herself, calmly tapping on the door. She stopped almost as soon as she had begun to tap the door, however, when she noticed a mournful string on moans coming from the top window of Joey's house. . .which didn't seem particularly likely to actually BE Joey's. . .
Téa set her eyes on the floor again as she rested her back against the door. . .
*I just can't bear to see Joey putting himself through this. . .and his friends too. . .*
Téa closed her eyes tightly and shook her head, softly moaning to herself as she recalled the night she and Yugi had spent together in the same porch.
"I miss you Yugi. . .I just wish we could be together one last time. . ."
She was cut short. Before she realised it, the door was giving way from behind her. Stumbling inside the doorway, she tried to recollect herself. . .why was the door open? The moaning from above was becoming louder too, with the odd sound of a sniff or two now and again. Catching her breath, she decided to climb the stairs, noticing the gut-wrenching cries coming from the direction of Joey's bedroom.
It took a lot out of Téa to just approach the door. . .so close to where she thought Joey would have taken her on the night she was going to meet Yugi. . .
Turning the handle, she cautiously peered her head around the doorway to see a figure crouching on the bed, facing away from her towards the front window. Golden locks of hair ran across the back of her grey overcoat, her veiled violet eyes reflected in the light of the window. . .her head bowed down to her feet.
Téa quickly turned her head back into the hallway. She didn't need to take another look to know who it was.
"Mai. . ." she mumbled to herself, closing her eyes and resting on the wall opposite. But it appeared that Mai had heard the door creaking. . .the next thing Téa saw was her walking out into the hallway. Their eyes met, as if disbelieving that one another was there. Mai almost immediately turned away. . .
"I know I shouldn't be here," she confessed, staring longingly back towards Joey's bedroom, before turning her gaze on Téa again.
"But I needed to say goodbye to him again, properly, one last time. . .and I didn't let him know I was there. . ."
Téa eyed her oddly, feeling a new twinge of comfort arising over the desire she felt. . .the desire to hate her for what she'd done to Yugi, and almost her.
"What. . .what are you talking about?" she replied, standing rigid, though almost her entire body was quaking with fear and hurt.
*Flashback*
"Yugi didn't die just to save Téa. . ."
"What's that supposed to mean? Talk sense!"
A dark figure paced along the rafters of the church roof, scaling the wooden beams along the top of the hall as Seto decided to make his presence felt. Waves of grey and white flashed now and again from the hidden darkness above the pair, as a set of narrow, watchful eyes gazed down on the congregation. Completely unnoticed.just as she'd planned.
Mai knew that they'd never allow her to take part in the service. . .whoever heard of a murderer attending their victim's funeral? But she still felt the guilt of her deed too much to bear. . .she had to prove that she was truly sorry.
It wasn't hard to lose the cops from when she'd last seen Joey. . .a little chloroform here and there was enough to put them out for a while, and enough time for her to make a quick exit. The only problem then was the simple matter of where to go. . .if she went home they'd surely find her out.
So for the last few weeks she'd be 'around'. . .invisible to the human eye. Days of hiding and scrounging. . .even her usually glossy purple jacket was beginning to lose its vibrant tint.
"Kaiba! You were sayin' bro?"
Mai quickly snapped back into the present, realising that Joey had now pinned himself against the back wall. Joey. . .the guy who made her cry, scream, lie. . .and even drove her to kill. But he was honest. . .Mai smirked to herself as she remembered that. In her experience guys were always hiding something, and the only way to get it out of them was to find out for herself. But Joey. . .he'd been completely honest with her. Sighing, she rested her head on the wooden beam, remembering how well they had got on until a few months ago. And even now, she still wanted him. Sure he'd put her through pain, but Joey wasn't just the ordinary guy. . .he had skill, spirit, courage, and determination. . .the ideal properties that made up a real man.
"He. . .he saved me from myself. . .I dunno what I woulda done if he hadn't bin there ta hold me back. . ."
What was he talking about now? Something about Yugi holding him back. . .what did that mean? This was becoming more and more confusing to her every second. She unintentionally leaned her head out from the darkness of the rafters and took a better look of the sight below her.
"But there's no-one ta save me now. . ."
Several people below her seemed to be moving uncomfortably, before the brown haired youth on the edge of the row began to stand up. . .
"Err Joey, you're really starting to freak me out here buddy, c'mon, sit down man" No mistaking that voice, it had to be Tristan. Mai's eyes sprung from him to Joey. . .the intensity of the moment they shared was obvious. Joey didn't appear to be listening to him though. . .yet again he seemed distant, and far away.
"No Tristan. . .I can't stay here anymore. . .not with all this."
Before she could look back at Tristan, Mai noticed a gleam of light shining from Joey's jean pockets. She glanced back towards it quickly, but the light had been dulled by the shape of Joey's fist balling over it. A knife. She wanted to scream out to him. . .but then she'd only be caught. She wanted to turn away. . .but that was useless too. . .her whole body was fixed in position.
"Joey NO!"
Mai watched through terrified eyes as Tristan flung himself towards Joey. . .but missed him by an inch. She gasped back tears as Joey revealed the object he kept in his pocket, watching how Tristan pleaded with him not to do this to himself. . .and then the blade tearing through him. That was enough. . .Mai quickly looked away from what she saw, crying into her hands as she thought of what she'd done to him. . .what she'd done to make him take something so precious. His life. Her heart told her to take one last look, but her head argued against it.
Peering over the edge, she saw Tristan shaking Joey, blood smeared over his white T-shirt and green jacket. Staring down at him, she could see he was still clutching the knife in his hand. Crying through tired eyes, she looked up from his body to his face. Then she gasped. . .he'd seen her. Even from high above she could now see him staring at her. She returned his gaze, yearningly waiting for him to say something to her, even if it did mean her being taken away again. She watched as his mouth seemed to curl up at the edges, and then. . .it was almost as if he mouthed something. Thank You. But after a second the knife clattered from his hand to the floor, and she cried openly as his body followed suit. But her tears went unnoticed, even as they fell to the floor of the hall. . .lonely once more. Shaking her head and wiping the tears across her face, she feebly gripped to the window above her and climbed back off of the church, running back off into the shadows again.
*End Flashback*
"Joey's gone too. . ." Téa repeated to herself, walking back into his bedroom as if in some kind of trance. She sat on the end of the bed, gazing out through the open window in much the same way Mai had. She herself walked back into the room and sat next to her on the far side of the bed. The last thing she wanted to do was hear about it again. . .it had only been a matter of hours ago, but it seemed like she'd known it all her life.
"I guess Yugi and Joey really did seem like brothers, huh?" Mai sighed, smiling ironically, edging slowly closer to her. Téa nodded slowly, still denying what Mai had just told her. Yugi saved her. . .and then she wasn't there when she could have helped Joey. How was she going to live this down? Bowing her head, tears rolled along her cheeks again as she tried to console herself.
And then her eyes fell on what appeared to be a book edge, sticking out from the top drawer of Joey's bedside cabinet, stained with the sticky decay of beer across the surfaces.
"Mai, have you seen this?" Téa asked, reaching towards the chest of drawers and bringing back what appeared to be a thick scrapbook. Mai turned to see her holding the book out in front of her face.
"No.what do you think it is?" she asked unconvincingly, staring back over towards the windowpane. Her eyes began to slowly drift back towards the pad, though, as Téa started to pace through the title.
"It's called 'My Struggle'. . ." she read aloud. She paused for a moment, before slamming the book down on the cabinet and choking back more tears.
"I can't read it. . .I just can't" she protested against herself, shifting her sights towards the open doorway. She was about to get up and run there and then. . .but something held her back. There was another long pause. . .both of them shifted uncomfortably along the side of the bed, before Mai broke the silence.
"Téa. . .how did you cope after losing Yugi?" she asked calmly. "I've never known what it feels like to actually lose someone I cared about before. . ."
Téa's eyes shot back a glance of uncharacteristic sheer venom, her eyes narrowing as she looked Mai dead in the face.
"How did I cope? After you went and took away everything that was important to me?" she almost literally spat out, disgusted that Mai would ask such a question. Incidentally, Mai just sat there and stared back towards the night sky. . .hardly listening to her reply at all. Like Joey, she was now distant. . .which could lead to only one thing.
Téa appeared to calm slightly as she realised that Mai was paying her no attention. . . she was still bitterly hurt by what she had done to Yugi, but she was in the same situation as her now. Cold. Alone.
"Actually Mai, I don't know how I coped. . ." she finally replied, honestly. "Every day I'd just wake up in the morning, and remember how I could never see him again. Every morning I'd cry. . .but something drove me on. I don't know what it was. . .maybe it was the support that the people around me gave. . .but I blocked them out. I didn't want to hear sympathy Mai. . .I didn't want to seem weak"
After a few seconds, Mai turned her gaze back towards Téa, her eyes now filled with guilt and sadness. The lustrous violet glow of her eyes seemed to have faded away. . . her face was an open book.
"I'm sorry Téa," she spoke quietly," I never knew how much this could hurt until now.but what you had to go through. . ."
She ended abruptly as a stream of tears ran down her face, forming a small patch of water on the bedsheets.
"I thought I had pride. . .I thought I had something to live for. . .but I know I don't anymore," she said, shaking her head submissively.
It's funny how fate seems to have your best interests at heart one minute, and then throws them back in your face the next. Human nature isn't driven by emotions. . .instinct is a very compelling thing. And sitting there on the edge of Joey's bed, her life almost at its imminent end, Téa laid her arm over Mai's shoulder. Comforting the person who'd caused her so much pain.the person, like her, whose only crime was to love someone. Her only crime was to care for a man who was lost in his own jumbled life, a mess of his own emotions. And the only person who seemed to remain stable throughout the entire situation, was Yugi.
Hugging her supportively, Téa began to pour out her heart to Mai too. . .what was there left to hide anymore? Nothing would make a difference now. . .and there was only one way to rectify the past.
"You know, I think they're actually pretty happy up there," Mai mentioned, briefly smiling again as she looked out towards the dark night sky.
Nodding silently, Téa laid her head down on her shoulder, looking out in the same direction. Mai gave a long sigh, resting her head on Téa's.
"But I've let him go once before. . .and I can't lose him again," she spoke, an aura of silent confidence falling around her. "I will be with him again.'
Startled by her new-found courage, Anzu closed her eyes and hugged her tighter. "I know what we have to do. . ."
[There are times when I look above and beyond,
There are times when I feel your love around me, baby.
I'll never forget you baby.
When I feel that I don't belong,
Draw my strength from the words you said,
"Hey it's about you baby. Look deeper inside you baby.
Dream about us together again,
what I want, us together again, baby."
I know we'll be together again 'cause. . .]
"I guess it was always gonna come down to this, huh Yugi?" Joey asked rhetorically. Yugi just stared at him with uneasy eyes and smiled.
"I think you're right Joey. . .but it's such a shame to see them take it this hard." "But you do want to be with Anzu, don't ya?" Joey replied, grinning boldly, "You can't hide it Yugi. . ."
[Everywhere I go, every smile I see;
I know you are there, smilin' back at me.
Dancin' in moonlight , I know you are free,
Cause I can see your star shinin' down on me]
Again Yugi just smiled at his comment, replying accordingly "I do Joey. . .and I know we'll be happy this way."
They both stared down from the clouds as they watched Mai and Anzu climb onto the skylight of the house, their wispy hair wavering in the wind as the cold air rustled Domino City once more. What was heaven without someone to share it with? As they watched the figures beneath them hold hands, Joey tapped Yugi on the shoulder. Turning, Yugi saw Joey staring at him with a worried expression on his face.
[Good times we'll share again; makes me wanna dance.
Say it loud and proud, all my love's for you!
Always been a true angel to me, now above,
I can't wait for you to wrap your wings around me, baby.
Sometimes hear you whisperin' no more pain.
No worries will you ever see now, baby.
Dream about us together again,
what I want, us together again, baby.
I know we'll be together again cause. . .]
"Yug. . .I'm real sorry for what I felt for Anzu. . ." he confessed, his eyes set on his friend's. He didn't get to finish what he was saying though, Yugi was already mucking around with his hair.
"It's ok Jono-kun" he answered, laughing. " I know better than to take you seriously. . ."
"HEY! What's dat s'possed ta mean!" Joey shot back, smiling broadly, "C'mon, I'll take both of you on. . .you an dat haircut of yours. . .can't be as dangerous as Tristan's can it?"
Yugi chuckled again as he slapped Joey on the back. "I don't think Tristan would thank you for that. . ." he replied.
Joey sighed, falling back onto the cloud again.
"Man Yugi. . .I didn't know how hard it'd be to live without 'em," he said unhappily, before looking back at Yugi again, holding his hand out. Yugi grinned and slapped his hand, holding it tightly.
"They'll be with us soon Joey, but right now there's somebody else who needs you" Joey smiled back weakly, looking back over the cloud towards the pair below.
"I love you Mai. . .what I put you through, what I did to you. I only wish I undastood what was bothering ya sooner. . .but this time I swear I'll make it right"
[Everywhere I go, every smile I see;
I know you are there, smilin' back at me.
Dancin' in moonlight, I know you are free,
Cause I can see your star shinin' down on me.]
Anzu smiled again as the night air and moonlight made her hair sparkle, gazing up into the night sky. Her mind was made up. . .what kind of life was there down here for her now?
Mai also stared out at the same star, smiling against the cold breeze. Joey was up there. . .they'd be together again, just as she wanted. Leaning her hand out to Anzu, Mai looked at her with concern in her eyes. Anzu stood there rigid, still mentally far away, and she knew what Mai was about to ask her.
"I know he'll forgive you Mai. . .you've shown me the person you really are, and I know that's the person who's standing with me now"
[Good times we'll share again; makes me wanna dance.
Say it loud and proud, all my love's for you!
There are times when I look above and beyond.
There are times when I feel your smile upon me baby,
I'll never forget my baby.
What I'd give just to hold you close.
As on Earth, in Heaven, we will be together, baby.
Together again my baby, cause...]
Mai returned her eyes towards a distant star, watching the moon rise, the lost vibrant glow of her eyes returning to their normal confidence.
"Thank you Anzu. . .thank you for showing me how much more there is to someone than what there seems," she said, shaking her hair in the cold light that fell upon them, "I don't know how I would have found the courage to do this without you. . ."
Yet again Anzu didn't seem to be listening to her. She could only mumble a few words beneath her breath as she strode towards the edge of the rooftop.
"I will be with you Yugi. . .we'll make it through, this time. . .I know we can"
[Everywhere I go, every smile I see;
I know you are there, smilin' back at me.
Dancin' in moonlight, I know you are free,
Cause I can see your star shinin' down on me.]
Yugi and Joey remained fixed on their perch in the clouds as they watched the pair begin their final descent.
Holding Joey's hand, Yugi looked up at him again.
"We can start again this time. . ." he spoke spiritedly, "I just need to say one thing before we do. . ."
Joey stared back at him, completely perplexed.
"An what's dat Yug?"
Yugi held his hand tighter, staring back up at Joey with tears in his eyes.
"When we start again. . .just remember something will you?"
"Sure Yugi. . .I'll try. . ."
Yugi hugged his friend, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"No matter what happens, I'll always care for you Joey. . ."
Joey was quite startled by the hug, but wrapped his arms around Yugi anyway. After a second however, he pushed him away.
"Wait a second. . .you tryin' ta tell me you're gay Yugi?"
Yugi looked back at him with wide eyes, his smile turning into a playful scowl.
"NEVER CALL ME GAY!" he yelled, pushing Joey over. For a second he laughed. . .and then sighed again. They both crawled back over to their lookout point as they watched the pair fall to their escape from the world.
"And whatever happens, we'll always be with each other"
[Everywhere I go, every smile I see;
I know you are there, smilin' back at me.
Dancin' in moonlight, I know you are free,
Cause I can see your star shinin' down on me.]
End
Well the story's been going for 4 months now.and I thought I owed all of you an ending too. If you liked it please say so. . .I'd have no motivation to write without people like you, and if you want to see more from me I think you should review this story. My thoughts go out to all of you who have been touched by the story. . .I never thought when I started out that I'd get the response that I did. People crying, and literally begging for the next chapter really spurred me on to keep writing, though I know I've taken my time, and I'm sorry for that. We've seen a lot throughout the story's lifetime. . .very nearly lemons, destructive and unloved relationships, and even a string of songs along the way too.
If you'd like to know where to find the songs that I've used in the fic, they're in the 'Confessions of Love' soundtrack below. And if you've never heard 'Together Again' by Janet Jackson before, I think that plays a key role in the emotional finale. . .so download it if you can! ^^ Thank you, and goodnight
Chapter 1: Lonely, by Peter Andre Chapter 3: Earthbound, by Connor Reeves Chapter 5: Finally Found, by Honeyz Chapter 7: End of the Road, by Boyz II Men Chapter 9: Everything I do, by Bryan Adams and Hero, by Enrique Inglesias Chapter 10: You have been Loved, by George Michael Final Chapter: Together Again, by Janet Jackson
Oh, and just for the lyrics in the title,
Entire Story: Wrong Impression, by Natalie Imbruglia
~Yugi Muuto, 9th August, 2002~
