Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh and I probably never will, but, I can always dream!!! J
PLEASE READ BELOW!
A/N: This has some flashbacks and I wanted to say that flashbacks are in 3rd person view so, don't be confused!
Miss Jiu, er, Jiu and I, (she's asked me plenty of times not to call her by "Miss") were walking down Domino street to get me, as Jiu called it, "registered" for a paper that said that I was her monster until further notice.
"Jiu," I asked, walking slowly so she could keep up with my rather large pace. "What do you mean by me having the need to be registered? I thought you could just say that I was your monster and you were my mistress, and that would be the end of it." Jiu sighed and briskly kept her pace to mine so we could walk together. "I know that if I said you were my partner, people would believe me. However, there are duplicates of you running around Domino, not to mention the world, so I have to go to the police station at Domino and get a paper proving that I'm your partner." Stopping to adjust her red hat, she sighed. "And Celtic, don't call me your mistress cause I'm not. And don't call yourself a monster cause you aren't." Confused, I stopped and stared at her as she walked up a little bit ahead of me before she realized I had stopped. "But I thought…" I stammered very confused.
Turning around so she could look at me, Jiu grinned. "Celtic, I meant that for one thing, yes, I am your duelist until I find you a home, but the fact is that I want to be more of your friend than your master. So that's why I asked you not to call me by "Miss".
You're my partner, not my slave. Second, the word "monster" is a negative term. I know it's your scientific name, but…well…" Trying to come up with an answer, Jiu shoved her hands into her pockets. "Just don't. If you really need to call yourself something, call yourself as you are."
I'm lost.
Blinking in even more confusion, I stared at Jiu with my amber eyes. "I'm sorry Jiu, I do not understand." I said quietly. "How can I call myself what I am when I do not yet know what that is?" But Jiu just smiled and doffed her hat. "You'll find it," she said reassuringly. "It's your special essence. The thing you and others think about you. That's all." Nervous yet curious at the same time, I asked innocently, "Well, what do you think about me?"
What would Jiu think about me?
A monster?
A burden?
Maybe a…
Friend?
Jiu blinked at me and smiled. "I see…" she began. "I see a guardian who cares a lot about his honor."
I'm still confused.
But I guess I didn't have the time to think it over because Jiu walked up silently and took my hand. "C'mon," she said. "We gotta go and get you registered." Nodding, I folded my fingers around hers and squeezed gently. "Yes." I said. "Yes, we have to go do that still don't we?" Smiling, I gave another squeeze. "Don't worry about Sam. I'll make sure of that." Jiu said nothing, but sadly smiled and began walking. "We only have a few more blocks to go." Jiu said quietly. "Are you going to be hungry after we leave the station?" Feeling my insides shift nervously, I shook my head. I don't want to look like a pig in front of Jiu, and especially not waste her money on me. I have learned that money is a very important thing here in the real world, and if you don't have a lot, then you have a disadvantage of getting ahead in the game of life. I can distinctly remember Sam getting angry at his deck because his mon-…um…partners, for costing so much.
***
"Six bucks a pack!" Sam screamed at Celtic and Dark Magician, throwing rocks at Dark and Celtic, which bounced off their armor. However, some caught them in the head, making them wince a bit. "Six dollars! Do you have any idea how much that costs? I have to take care of you and you get food from me, and you guys cost SIX DOLLARS?!" "Master!" Dark cried through the hail of stone. "It's not our decision to decide what the price is for the boosters and the starter decks! The people who sell them to you decide that! Please, we have done nothing-!" but before he could finish, a stone whizzed through the air and caught Dark in the forehead, causing him to fall back in pain, blood beginning to creep from his forehead. "Dark!" Celtic cried through the hailstorm he was going through. Swiftly, Celtic stooped over his fallen and dazed friend shielding his with his own body. "Master, please, stop!" Celtic begged.
But Sam kept going as he only paused to pick up the bigger stones with both hands. "You stupid freaks!" he screamed. "It's all your fault!" And he roared more insults and curses at the two bleeding duel monsters, which trembled before the anger and wrath of their abusive master.
***
At the police station, Jiu said to me, "Celtic, how about you go sit in one of those chairs over their by the door? I hafta tell the lady at the front desk why we're here…" Nodding quietly and doing as I was told, I slowly walked over to one of the empty chairs and sat down. Watching Jiu with silent eyes, I said nothing as Jiu crossed the room by herself to a small lady at the front desk with large, thick, bright red glasses and say, "Excuse me, I'm Jiu Hi and I'm here to register a duel monster as my own." Looking up from her desk, the lady pushed her glasses up her rather pointed and conceited nose up to Jiu and said crisply, "All right, and do you already have an account here?" Jiu shook her head and said, "No, I need one for my duel monster…"
As the questioning continued, I got bored of listening and looked around the room. It was small, and telephones were always ringing and people always picking them up and speaking in the same crisp voice the lady Jiu was talking to had. Even thought I was the only monster seen at the time, I did see many of the police carrying around cards in thin plastic cases that enabled them to reach them quickly.
But I can't worry about that now either.
A new duelist…a new life…a second chance. That's what the gift was…that's the precious gift that was given to me. I was free from Sam and his abusive ways. But my friends weren't. And I was the only one free while they were busy being crushed and tortured. One day…I promise to go get them back. And then we can all run away and lead happy lives, like this one. But in doing so, they'll have to pay a price…like I paid a price.
I had lost my honor.
The honor of being with one's own duelist, and the honor of staying by his side until the ends of time. But now I was disowned and now I was with a strange girl that promised to be my friend. She promised to take care of me, under all circumstances. A friendly…kind…caring…mystical girl…and I…
And I was getting really hungry…
No, no, no! Celtic, don't think about that! You said earlier that you didn't want to look like a pig in front of Jiu and you know you will if you do eat something! No, just grit your teeth and take the pain. You'll find something later…
I hope.
"Don't touch me!"
Snapping my head up quickly, I looked up to see Jiu, halfway across the room to me, a paper in one hand and her arm held roughly by someone I knew…it was Sam! "Aw, c'mon Jiu," Sam said noticing the police around him look at him curiously and then resumed whatever they were doing when they saw Sam smile at them reassuring them.
The police could use some serious training.
Turing back to Jiu, "I was only playing. You know we're best friends." Sam glared. Jiu winced as Sam twisted her arm on the words "best friends". Jiu muttered something that the police wouldn't hear, but with my elf ears, I heard ever word. "You filth." She spat furiously, yet calmly. "Get off me and go burn in hell!" But Sam smiled and didn't let go of her arm. "Make me cutie." He smirked. " I thought you would miss me after our little fight. I heard from a few…friends…that you were dying to take me back." But Jiu made a fist with her contained hand, her long white gloves trembling with anger, and glared all the more harder. "We were never together and you know it." She hissed. "But you and Liddy Mrandy went at it pretty hard last month…" (Sorry to anyone named Liddy or has the last name of Mrandy ^^) That insult was only rewarded with a harder twist from Sam. "Go ahead." He teased. "Go ahead and break away. You know you can. You're strong enough. Call me a criminal and you know my father will just get me out on bail and we'll blame you for something. The police here in Domino don't care if someone was murdered out on their front porch. There's nothing you can do." Laughing a little too happily, Sam then grabbed Jiu's arms harder and twisted it so that no one would notice and sneered, "Where's your little weak Celtic Guardian now?"
No one noticed, but me.
And I have had enough.
Quickly, I got up from my seat and with three angry swift steps, I had reached Sam. Promptly, I grabbed Sam's arm and squeezed it just a bit to get him to let go of Jiu…and enough to make it hurt…badly. "Ow, ow!" Sam cried tenderly cradling his arm and stepping back. "You big idiot! Look what you did to my arm!" Indeed, there were blue bruises where my fingerprints had been and some were even purple.
I don't care,
He's not my problem any more.
Saying nothing, I glared down at Sam. "It's not nice to hurt ladies." I said quietly. "Leave us alone. Or I'll make sure you do." Stepping in front of Jiu to make my point, I glared down at Sam. "Now."
Sam glared past me at Jiu. "Don't think…" he glared his eyes twitching. "Don't think that this is over. No…I'll find a way to beat you Jiu Hi. I'll have the pleasure of defeating you once and for all. Until then…" and with that, he disappeared through the door. Hearing a small happy sigh behind me, Jiu stepped out to face me, holding her hurt arm and grinning. "Celtic," she said. "Thanks. But you really lost it there. I thought you were going to rip Sam in half." Feeling a bit shocked and overwhelmed at realizing what I had just done, I gasped. "I um…" I said quietly and hung my head. "I'm sorry I lost my temper Jiu…" Waiting for the punishing blow to come down upon me, I closed my eyes. Sam always hit us whenever we did something wrong. What does Jiu think of me now? Now that I'm some kind of…well…monster? I had threatened and hurt someone! Another human!
But the slapping hand never came
Opening one eye, I saw Jiu with a confused look on her face. "Why did you have your eyes closed?" she asked. "What? You think I'm gonna hit ya?" Feeling myself blush with shame, I looked up and my eyes widened. "N-no! I was just…um…" but I never got to finish, because then a loud eruption came form my stomach. Jiu and I both stared up at each other and I could feel myself blush with embarrassment. "I…I…" I stammered. "I'm sorry." But to my surprise, Jiu just smiled and shook her head. "It's so-kay." She said happily. Then, in a playful tone, she asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were hungry Celtic?" Feeling myself blush again, I turned away. "I…I didn't want you to waste money on me…I know how important money is to humans…" But Jiu took my hand and she led me out the doorway. "Don't worry about it." She reassured me. "Don't worry about financial issues. Where do you feel like eating?" Feeling myself blush again, I said, "Anywhere is fine, really!" Why is she doing this for me? What did I do to deserve such kindness? And what is about Jiu that makes me want to protect her from everything that could harm her? Why do I feel like I could defeat a Blue eyes whenever she says I can? I know I could never do that solely. But there's something about Jiu that makes me want to walk on air…
Oh well…we have to go eat now…thank the gods.
***
At a restaurant called, "Sauce for You" Jiu and I walked in through the red doors. "Wait here Celtic," Jiu said as she turned to look at me as I entered through the door. "I'll be back in a minute." Then she walked over to a counter and called out, "Ehy, Carl! You there?" To my surprise, a little man with a black mustache, a big nose, and a white chief's outfit, popped over the counter and said happily, "Oi, Jiu! It's-a nice to see you! Where have you been all this time?" Jiu smiled and shrugged her shoulder to me. "Oh, around." She said. "Carl, this is Celtic Guardian." mentioning for me to come over with her hand, I obediently walked up and stopped besides the man called Carl. "Hello Mr. Carl." I said quietly. But Mr. Carl did not keep the same dignity as I had. He gasped for joy and leaned so far over the counter to look at me, I thought he would fall off. "Jiu!" he exclaimed. "Is he…your monster?" Jiu smiled and nodded. "For a time." She said. Then turning to Mr. Carl, she said, "We were wondering if we could get a bite to eat." Carl nodded his head furiously and jumped down and begun to disappear through two doors in the kitchen. "Jiu," he said. "You shouldn't leave your monster here, you know. He'll eat too much here, yes?" But Jiu grinned up at me and said, "I think I can let him slide this one time. He deserves this."
Mr. Carl shrugged and said "If you say so. So what'll you be a-having?" Jiu glanced up and said, "Maybe just a plain cheese to get started. I don't want the taste of your pizza's to kill him Carl." But Mr. Carl laughed and turned away. "No-a don't think so." He chuckled. "You sit down over there, and I'll-a bring you some." And then he disappeared completely.
Jiu and I sat in a booth waiting for something called, "Peezaa." Or whatever Jiu had called it. The restaurant was dim, and soft music was playing in the background. "So, Celtic," Jiu said fiddling with a white napkin while we were waiting. "How did you get to be with a jerk like Sam?" Shaking my head, I sighed. "I really don't know." I said. "I was continuously traded and thrown out, until Sam picked me up from the ground I guess and he took me in. After that…I was here with you." Turing my head away so Jiu couldn't see my face burn with disgrace, I was glad for the dim light. I realized then how many people didn't want me. Duelist after duelist and I was still alone. There had been so many hands passed onto me that I had lost count entirely. But at the same time, I could feel my face burn for a different reason. I'm not sure what it was…
But then the peezaa came and Jiu grinned. "Thanks Carl," she said. "How much do I owe you?" But Mr. Carl shook his head and smiled. "Jiu," he said cheerfully. "You're like-a daughter to me. You've always wanted a monster of your own, and you're-a good customer. This one's on-a me." Shocked, Jiu said, "Thanks Carl. I promise to drop by more often." But Mr. Carl shook his head and walked away. "Just enjoy it Jiu." He said. "Don't-a worry about a thing." Then, turning back to me, he firmly said, "You-a take good care of Jiu, yes?" Nodding my head, I stared nervously into his stern face. But then that stern face broke into a smile and he laughed. "I know you will do-a good job." He said. "Enjoy." And he walked over to the counter to serve another customer.
Grinning, Jiu turned back to me. "Carl's an old friend of mine." She explained. "He's always looked out for me and he's like a dad to me. I think you will like him a lot." Nodding, I stared down at the mass of sloppy yellow slime covering a ring of fried (and in some places burnt) bread. "…Um…Jiu?" I asked nervously. "I…" But Jiu smiled and handed me a slice on a plate that she had cut out. "Trust me," she said. "It tastes a whole lot better than it looks. Nervously, I took the plate from Jiu and picked up the piece of slime with two fingers. "Er…Jiu…how do I…?" I asked nervously. Jiu looked up from her own slice that she was busily cutting from the peezaa and said, "Just…bite it I guess."
Oh gods…here I go…
Slowly, I closed my eyes and bit into the "food".
OH GODS, THE FLAVORS!
The flavors of salt and cheese filled my mouth and ran over my tongue, giving me a warm and greasy sensation! Oh, oh, the flavor of the peezaa was indescribable! The taste! The taste was like a million sparks of joy and happiness had been shot off into my mouth and slowly, almost cruelly, make their way down my throat. All I knew as I strained to stop myself from stuffing the whole slice into my impatient mouth that it was the most wonderful thing I had ever tasted! I could feel the juices and even some of the cheese drift down my face and onto my fingers. "Wha…" I managed to say through the sloppy mess. "Wha…*swallow* this…*chew*…wonderful!" Jiu put her own slice down as she covered her mouth with her hand as she waved a napkin in my direction. "C-Carl," she stammered trying not to laugh out loud as she watched me continue to stuff myself. "I think…I think we need a water, don't get a soda, we'll try that later…too much sugar…and a few more napkins…" making stiffing noises, I finally looked up from my feeding frenzy. Feeling sauce and cheese drip from my fingers, I quickly and thankfully took the napkin from Jiu who was giggling madly. I was relieved I could clean myself up after an embarrassment like that…
Feeling like crawling under a hole and dying, I put down the napkin that was now an orange color. "Jiu…" I coughed nervously. "I…didn't mean to act like a…er…pig." But Jiu just tried even harder to contain her laughter and sighed happily. "Celtic," she said putting her arms on the table and crossing them to lean over the table a bit. "I'm sure this was your first slice of pizza, so don't worry." Then, leaning even more over the table and winking one eye at me, she said quietly, "I won't tell anyone. I promise." Nodding my head and feeling myself blush again; I looked down at my half-eaten slice of madness. "Jiu…" I said. "Thank you. I really don't deserve this…" But Jiu waved her hand in the air to silence me. "No, no Celtic." She said. "You're my friend and you deserve the world. You've been loyal to everyone you've met. Even those who hurt you…"
Hearing her say those words made me think of Sam. She's right. I had been loyal to Sam, even though I was abused and hurt by him. I had been loyal to every one of my duelists, and they all traded me away. But Jiu promised she would never give me away until I said it was time.
But would she keep that promise?
Would she break it and get tired of me before I could find a home?
What would happen to me if I were left alone?
I didn't know, and I didn't want to find out.
But…I know I would have to leave Jiu…even though, deep down…I don't know where, but as I watched her thank Mr. Carl for the water, I knew then.
I never wanted to leave her side.