Disclaimer: Nope, no ownership here. I wish though. Oh well, the only character that is mine is Raya. But if anyone wants, they can use her.
Author's Note: Just a quick explaination of some questions I got in the reviews.
Keeper of the the Millenium Items - You're right, the way I brought Raya in was confusing, but I sort of did that purposely. I didn't want to come right out and explain everything about her. Her role right now is mysterios. Sorry for the confusion. The next few chapters will explain her better, promise.
Moon Angel - Thanks for complimenting on being mysterious. That was the affect I was going for, but I wasn't sure if I obtained it at all.
Shamanic Guardian Lena - Yes, cliffhangers are the most evil things in the world, and if you thought the first chapter was bad, you're really going to hate me after this one.
Also, Big thanks to everyone who gave me such great reviews, I really appreication it!
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Raya ran breathlessly into her final class of the day, taking a seat next to Yugi. "Finally, I made it to a class on my own."
Yugi laughed. "Unfortunately, you made it to the one were you want to be late for."
"That bad?"
"Yes." Joey stated striding in. "It's not too horrible when we do projects or watch movies, but when Mr. Li lectures, it is Z central. Everyone, I mean everyone is asleep."
"How does he know if he is sleeping?" Raya whispered to Yugi. He just shrugged. "I thought as much." Grinning, she opened her notebook, prepared for the worst.
By the first 5 minutes of class, Joey was out cold. Raya was attempting to catch up on all the notes she had missed, plus takes today's.
/Yami?/
//Yes Yugi?//
/Did you hear Tea earlier about going out to Raya's?/
//Raya? Is that her name?//
/Yes, why?/
//I am getting a strange feeling from her. I can't tell if it is good or evil yet.//
/She seems generally nice. Maybe you should meet her./
//Not yet, I want observe her first, without her knowing that I am there.//
/Isn't that spying?/
//No, not at all. This is called watching out for possible enemies.//
/I don't think she is evil, Yami. I would have felt something./
//I'm not sure aibou, but there is something about her, familiar even.//
/You felt that too?/
//That should be my question to you.//
/It is like I know her, but I don't./
//That is exactly it. I can't tell what her motives are yet, but if she has already gained your trust, then she can't be overly evil.//
/Don't you always say I find the good in everyone though?/
//I am trying to reassure myself here Yugi, you're not helping.//
/Sorry./
//It's okay. Just be careful today. Until we figure out what these feelings are, we both need to stay on guard.//
/Okay./
Yugi broke the link and went back to paying attention to Mr. Li's lecture on Ancient Greek Civilization.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raya, Yugi, and Joey were sitting on the front steps waiting for the others to arrive.
"Did you call your brother Yugi? I'm sorry, I forgot his name again."
"Yami, and no. He has to help our grandfather out at the shop."
"What kind of shop is that?"
"A game shop. We sell all types of games and puzzles."
"Like Duel Monsters, right Yug?"
"Right Joey."
"That game was just becoming popular in the States when I left."
"Do you play any Raya?"
"Not really Joey, I'm not a very good strategist. You really have to think ahead in that game. But I do have a few cards, not many though."
"Which card is your favorite? Or do you have one."
"Actually I do, this one." Raya replied, reaching into her backpack and drawing out a card.
"Hey, that is the Mystic Elf." Tea said, leaning over her shoulder.
"Ah, Tea. You scared me." Yugi said.
"Sorry, I had to go find these two before we came out here."
"Two?"
"Tristan and another friend of mine." She pulled a white haired boy in front of her. "Raya, meet Bakura."
"Hello, it is an honor to meet you."
"Hello to you as well Bakura."
"Just out of curiosity here Raya, why is the Mystic Elf your favorite card. No disrespect here, but she is a weaker card."
"Granted, she is a weaker and quieter card. But, when she is played right, she is strong, determined, and even deadly."
Yugi gave a small shiver. 'I don't like how she said that. It was almost like she was referring to herself.'
"Well, if everyone is ready, shall we head to my place?"
"Sure, how far away do you live Raya?"
"Not overly far Tea. It is about a ten minute walk."
"Are you living alone, or with a foster family?"
"By myself in a smaller apartment, but the government is going to send someone to check on me like ever two weeks to make sure I am okay and everything."
"I wish I lived alone, it would make my life a lot easier." Joey stated
"Living on your own isn't all that it is cracked up to be Joey. It gets pretty lonesome sometimes."
Joey digested that. Granted his home life wasn't always the greatest, but at least he had his sister to talk too, even if she was a town away. He could always call her, but Raya, she had no one. He swung his arm around Raya's shoulder. "As long as I am here, you'll won't be alone."
"The same goes for the rest of us. We're friends, and now you are stuck with us." added Tristan, placing his arm around her other shoulder.
Raya's face lit up. "Thanks." 'Friends. It has been so long so I had them. I told myself long ago that I wouldn't set myself up for heartbreak again, but I miss being around people. I am a people person.'
"Hey, isn't that Seto Kaiba's house?"
"Yes, he and his little brother are my neighbor's."
"Oh, I feel bad for you."
"Why do you say that Joey. I met them both yesterday and the seemed relatively nice."
"You'll have to excuse Joey, he and Seto, along with Yugi, have had a long rivalry going for quite some time."
"Well would you like it if he called you a dog?"
Raya laughed. "Aww but Joey, you would make a cute dog. But I understand the hostility. See the way to deal with people like Seto is not to let them get under your skin. They thrived on that."
"Easier said then done."
"That is it, but you get better at it with practice. Come on, let's go inside."
"Hey Raya, I thought you said you lived in an apartment."
"I did and I do."
"Well that has to be the biggest apartment I ever saw."
"It is smaller inside." She unlocked the door and walked in. The others quickly followed.
Boxes were everywhere, but some things were unpacked. One picture caught Yugi's eye.
It was a oil painting of a pharaoh and child. A pharaoh that was strikingly similar to Yami.
"Did you paint this Raya?"
By now the others had seen the painting as well. Tea's mouth hung open at the resemblance.
"That is one of my favorites. I painted it when I was nine."
"You were nine and did this? Wow. I am impressed. You are a gifted artist Raya."
"Thank you Bakura."
/Yami, her painting, it looks just like you, us/
//Really? What is the painting of?//
/A pharaoh and an infant/
//…//
/Yami? Are you okay?/
//I am fine Yugi, you just caught me off guard, that is all.//
/How did I do that?/
//Forget about it aibou, it is nothing.//
/Yami/
//Yes?//
/I'm worried. The more I am around Raya, the more uneasy I feel. There is something about her, I just can't figure out what./
//If you think she is going to harm you, get out of there right NOW//
/No, it isn't like that, it is like, she is in danger./
//Maybe, just be careful aibou. I don't want anything bad to happen to you.//
/I will be./
"Here it is Tea." Raya said reentering the room. She gave a quick glance at Yugi. "You really like that picture, don't you Yugi."
"I feel drawn to into somehow, connected to it even. Bakura's right, you are a talented artist."
"Thank you, I just dug out my sketch pad if you would like to see some of my other work.
"Sure." Flipping through pad, Yugi could see that Raya's could draw practically anything, from places, trees, and people.
"Yugi, can I ask you a question?"
"Anything."
"That pyramid around your neck, what does it represent? I could help notice it. It is really beautiful."
"It was a puzzle that my grandpa gave me. He never could figure out how to solve it, so he gave it too me. And once I did, I don't know, it just felt right to wear."
"I can see why, it is a marvelous piece of work, oh sorry. There's that artist speaking in me again. Yugi, do you think that it would be okay if I held it?"
"It is alright with me." Yugi lifted the puzzle off his neck and delicately placed the puzzle into her hand.
Grasping the puzzle in her hands, Raya could feel his energy radiating from inside. A feeling of love and compassion washed over her, leaving her shaken and breathless. 'I haven't felt that way since I was with…'
"Raya, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Tristan. Just a little tired. I think the jet lagged just kicked in."
"Then maybe you should get some sleep. We can show you around the town another time," Tea said standing up.
"Thank you, a nap does sound nice."
"Then we will get going. See you in school tomorrow Raya."
"Bye."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yugi walked up the street towards his home. 'I don't understand. How did Raya know what Yami looked like to draw that painting? Yami wasn't even out of the puzzle yet. How? Is it just a coincidence? Maybe, but I can't shake the feeling that there is some more to all of this. First the vision and then the picture. What is the connection?'
Sighing, Yugi increased his pace. It had grown considerable darker out. It wasn't overly safe to be out after dark, but Yami was with him so he wasn't overly concerned. He had just walked past the alley when a hand reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder, whipping his small body around.
"So, you are Yugi Motou." The hand squeezed Yugi's shoulder harder.
Squirming under the pressure, Yugi called out to Yami. /YAMI!/
"It's of no use boy, he can't come to your aid."
"What? How…" Yugi's head snapped backwards, before he could finish the sentence.
"I will be the one asking questions." the voice replied, drawing a blade from her skirt.
Fighting furiously, Yugi tried to back away from the knife, but the woman's hand still had a firm grip on him.
"First question. Where is Raya?"
"Raya? What do you want with her?"
"Wrong anwser." Carefully, she placed the blade on the tip of his shoulder and slowly twisted it in.
Yugi cried out in pain, tears streaming down his face. "YAMI"
"He can't hear you boy. But I can hear him. He thinks that you're worthless, shallow and useless."
"Yami would never say that!" The blade dug deeper into his skin. Yugi howled with pain.
"I will ask you again, Yugi, where is the girl?"
"I don't know" Yugi spat. Despite his pain, he would never reveal Raya's location.
"You are truly worthless boy, you know that right? It is no concern of mine though. I will find the girl, with or without your help. And her well being shouldn't be a concern of yours either. After all you wouldn't leave this alley way alive. So I will ask you one final time, where is Raya?"
"I don't know any Raya's"
"Your loss boy." The woman raised the knife high, and brought it down towards Yugi's heart. At the last possible moment, the Yugi's third eye appeared on his forehead, causing a bright light to appear. Blinded by the light's intensity, the woman missed Yugi's heart, instead, slashing him across the chest. Yugi let out a anguished scream and crumpled to the ground.
Once the light had disappeared, the woman glanced down at her victim. Kicking the body, Yugi didn't even respond, chest neither rising or falling. 'Easier than I thought it would be.' Spinning on her heels, she walked deeper down the alley, leaving the unconscious boy for certain death.
~AN: I know I am going to get yelled at for that one. So who is this mysterious woman and what does she want with Raya? More important, what is going to happen to Yugi?
Author's Note: Just a quick explaination of some questions I got in the reviews.
Keeper of the the Millenium Items - You're right, the way I brought Raya in was confusing, but I sort of did that purposely. I didn't want to come right out and explain everything about her. Her role right now is mysterios. Sorry for the confusion. The next few chapters will explain her better, promise.
Moon Angel - Thanks for complimenting on being mysterious. That was the affect I was going for, but I wasn't sure if I obtained it at all.
Shamanic Guardian Lena - Yes, cliffhangers are the most evil things in the world, and if you thought the first chapter was bad, you're really going to hate me after this one.
Also, Big thanks to everyone who gave me such great reviews, I really appreication it!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raya ran breathlessly into her final class of the day, taking a seat next to Yugi. "Finally, I made it to a class on my own."
Yugi laughed. "Unfortunately, you made it to the one were you want to be late for."
"That bad?"
"Yes." Joey stated striding in. "It's not too horrible when we do projects or watch movies, but when Mr. Li lectures, it is Z central. Everyone, I mean everyone is asleep."
"How does he know if he is sleeping?" Raya whispered to Yugi. He just shrugged. "I thought as much." Grinning, she opened her notebook, prepared for the worst.
By the first 5 minutes of class, Joey was out cold. Raya was attempting to catch up on all the notes she had missed, plus takes today's.
/Yami?/
//Yes Yugi?//
/Did you hear Tea earlier about going out to Raya's?/
//Raya? Is that her name?//
/Yes, why?/
//I am getting a strange feeling from her. I can't tell if it is good or evil yet.//
/She seems generally nice. Maybe you should meet her./
//Not yet, I want observe her first, without her knowing that I am there.//
/Isn't that spying?/
//No, not at all. This is called watching out for possible enemies.//
/I don't think she is evil, Yami. I would have felt something./
//I'm not sure aibou, but there is something about her, familiar even.//
/You felt that too?/
//That should be my question to you.//
/It is like I know her, but I don't./
//That is exactly it. I can't tell what her motives are yet, but if she has already gained your trust, then she can't be overly evil.//
/Don't you always say I find the good in everyone though?/
//I am trying to reassure myself here Yugi, you're not helping.//
/Sorry./
//It's okay. Just be careful today. Until we figure out what these feelings are, we both need to stay on guard.//
/Okay./
Yugi broke the link and went back to paying attention to Mr. Li's lecture on Ancient Greek Civilization.
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Raya, Yugi, and Joey were sitting on the front steps waiting for the others to arrive.
"Did you call your brother Yugi? I'm sorry, I forgot his name again."
"Yami, and no. He has to help our grandfather out at the shop."
"What kind of shop is that?"
"A game shop. We sell all types of games and puzzles."
"Like Duel Monsters, right Yug?"
"Right Joey."
"That game was just becoming popular in the States when I left."
"Do you play any Raya?"
"Not really Joey, I'm not a very good strategist. You really have to think ahead in that game. But I do have a few cards, not many though."
"Which card is your favorite? Or do you have one."
"Actually I do, this one." Raya replied, reaching into her backpack and drawing out a card.
"Hey, that is the Mystic Elf." Tea said, leaning over her shoulder.
"Ah, Tea. You scared me." Yugi said.
"Sorry, I had to go find these two before we came out here."
"Two?"
"Tristan and another friend of mine." She pulled a white haired boy in front of her. "Raya, meet Bakura."
"Hello, it is an honor to meet you."
"Hello to you as well Bakura."
"Just out of curiosity here Raya, why is the Mystic Elf your favorite card. No disrespect here, but she is a weaker card."
"Granted, she is a weaker and quieter card. But, when she is played right, she is strong, determined, and even deadly."
Yugi gave a small shiver. 'I don't like how she said that. It was almost like she was referring to herself.'
"Well, if everyone is ready, shall we head to my place?"
"Sure, how far away do you live Raya?"
"Not overly far Tea. It is about a ten minute walk."
"Are you living alone, or with a foster family?"
"By myself in a smaller apartment, but the government is going to send someone to check on me like ever two weeks to make sure I am okay and everything."
"I wish I lived alone, it would make my life a lot easier." Joey stated
"Living on your own isn't all that it is cracked up to be Joey. It gets pretty lonesome sometimes."
Joey digested that. Granted his home life wasn't always the greatest, but at least he had his sister to talk too, even if she was a town away. He could always call her, but Raya, she had no one. He swung his arm around Raya's shoulder. "As long as I am here, you'll won't be alone."
"The same goes for the rest of us. We're friends, and now you are stuck with us." added Tristan, placing his arm around her other shoulder.
Raya's face lit up. "Thanks." 'Friends. It has been so long so I had them. I told myself long ago that I wouldn't set myself up for heartbreak again, but I miss being around people. I am a people person.'
"Hey, isn't that Seto Kaiba's house?"
"Yes, he and his little brother are my neighbor's."
"Oh, I feel bad for you."
"Why do you say that Joey. I met them both yesterday and the seemed relatively nice."
"You'll have to excuse Joey, he and Seto, along with Yugi, have had a long rivalry going for quite some time."
"Well would you like it if he called you a dog?"
Raya laughed. "Aww but Joey, you would make a cute dog. But I understand the hostility. See the way to deal with people like Seto is not to let them get under your skin. They thrived on that."
"Easier said then done."
"That is it, but you get better at it with practice. Come on, let's go inside."
"Hey Raya, I thought you said you lived in an apartment."
"I did and I do."
"Well that has to be the biggest apartment I ever saw."
"It is smaller inside." She unlocked the door and walked in. The others quickly followed.
Boxes were everywhere, but some things were unpacked. One picture caught Yugi's eye.
It was a oil painting of a pharaoh and child. A pharaoh that was strikingly similar to Yami.
"Did you paint this Raya?"
By now the others had seen the painting as well. Tea's mouth hung open at the resemblance.
"That is one of my favorites. I painted it when I was nine."
"You were nine and did this? Wow. I am impressed. You are a gifted artist Raya."
"Thank you Bakura."
/Yami, her painting, it looks just like you, us/
//Really? What is the painting of?//
/A pharaoh and an infant/
//…//
/Yami? Are you okay?/
//I am fine Yugi, you just caught me off guard, that is all.//
/How did I do that?/
//Forget about it aibou, it is nothing.//
/Yami/
//Yes?//
/I'm worried. The more I am around Raya, the more uneasy I feel. There is something about her, I just can't figure out what./
//If you think she is going to harm you, get out of there right NOW//
/No, it isn't like that, it is like, she is in danger./
//Maybe, just be careful aibou. I don't want anything bad to happen to you.//
/I will be./
"Here it is Tea." Raya said reentering the room. She gave a quick glance at Yugi. "You really like that picture, don't you Yugi."
"I feel drawn to into somehow, connected to it even. Bakura's right, you are a talented artist."
"Thank you, I just dug out my sketch pad if you would like to see some of my other work.
"Sure." Flipping through pad, Yugi could see that Raya's could draw practically anything, from places, trees, and people.
"Yugi, can I ask you a question?"
"Anything."
"That pyramid around your neck, what does it represent? I could help notice it. It is really beautiful."
"It was a puzzle that my grandpa gave me. He never could figure out how to solve it, so he gave it too me. And once I did, I don't know, it just felt right to wear."
"I can see why, it is a marvelous piece of work, oh sorry. There's that artist speaking in me again. Yugi, do you think that it would be okay if I held it?"
"It is alright with me." Yugi lifted the puzzle off his neck and delicately placed the puzzle into her hand.
Grasping the puzzle in her hands, Raya could feel his energy radiating from inside. A feeling of love and compassion washed over her, leaving her shaken and breathless. 'I haven't felt that way since I was with…'
"Raya, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Tristan. Just a little tired. I think the jet lagged just kicked in."
"Then maybe you should get some sleep. We can show you around the town another time," Tea said standing up.
"Thank you, a nap does sound nice."
"Then we will get going. See you in school tomorrow Raya."
"Bye."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yugi walked up the street towards his home. 'I don't understand. How did Raya know what Yami looked like to draw that painting? Yami wasn't even out of the puzzle yet. How? Is it just a coincidence? Maybe, but I can't shake the feeling that there is some more to all of this. First the vision and then the picture. What is the connection?'
Sighing, Yugi increased his pace. It had grown considerable darker out. It wasn't overly safe to be out after dark, but Yami was with him so he wasn't overly concerned. He had just walked past the alley when a hand reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder, whipping his small body around.
"So, you are Yugi Motou." The hand squeezed Yugi's shoulder harder.
Squirming under the pressure, Yugi called out to Yami. /YAMI!/
"It's of no use boy, he can't come to your aid."
"What? How…" Yugi's head snapped backwards, before he could finish the sentence.
"I will be the one asking questions." the voice replied, drawing a blade from her skirt.
Fighting furiously, Yugi tried to back away from the knife, but the woman's hand still had a firm grip on him.
"First question. Where is Raya?"
"Raya? What do you want with her?"
"Wrong anwser." Carefully, she placed the blade on the tip of his shoulder and slowly twisted it in.
Yugi cried out in pain, tears streaming down his face. "YAMI"
"He can't hear you boy. But I can hear him. He thinks that you're worthless, shallow and useless."
"Yami would never say that!" The blade dug deeper into his skin. Yugi howled with pain.
"I will ask you again, Yugi, where is the girl?"
"I don't know" Yugi spat. Despite his pain, he would never reveal Raya's location.
"You are truly worthless boy, you know that right? It is no concern of mine though. I will find the girl, with or without your help. And her well being shouldn't be a concern of yours either. After all you wouldn't leave this alley way alive. So I will ask you one final time, where is Raya?"
"I don't know any Raya's"
"Your loss boy." The woman raised the knife high, and brought it down towards Yugi's heart. At the last possible moment, the Yugi's third eye appeared on his forehead, causing a bright light to appear. Blinded by the light's intensity, the woman missed Yugi's heart, instead, slashing him across the chest. Yugi let out a anguished scream and crumpled to the ground.
Once the light had disappeared, the woman glanced down at her victim. Kicking the body, Yugi didn't even respond, chest neither rising or falling. 'Easier than I thought it would be.' Spinning on her heels, she walked deeper down the alley, leaving the unconscious boy for certain death.
~AN: I know I am going to get yelled at for that one. So who is this mysterious woman and what does she want with Raya? More important, what is going to happen to Yugi?