Disclaimer: NO! FOR ONCE, I REFUSE TO SAY THIS IDIOT DISCLAIMER!
Yami: If you don't, you'll get sued.
Me: If you're so concerned, you two say the disclaimer.
Seto: Nice going, Yami. glare
Me: Just do it already.
Yami: Yu-Gi-Oh does not belong to Macavity, thank goodness.
Seto: But the storyline, the character Jamie Light, and any other interesting perks are all hers.
Author's Notes: Some people had a question for me about why, if they were wearing their school uniforms, Joey, Seto, and Tristan were all wearing their coats. I'm very sorry if that confused some people. See, I based their school and the teachers on my own school. We're forced to wear uniforms too, but in the fall and winter we're allowed to wear jackets or coats over it. This story takes place in September and October, so I decided to let those three guys wear their jackets. I'm sorry for not explaining this in the first chapter; I forget sometimes that not all schools operate the way mine does.
Special Dedication: As in the first chapter, this is dedicated to my good friend (and little sister; don't ask) FOG, as both a birthday present and a thank-you for writing me a fic! (If you want to read it, it's called Haunted with Desire. Very good fic! I recommend you all go check it out.)
All that said, Macavity and Dragon Enterprises present As the Fog Clears, chapter two!
~*~*~
Days passed, then weeks. Shemeeka wouldn't talk to anyone except Jamie. She was uncharacteristically silent in class, and never ate much for lunch. She ate outdoors whenever she could, and in a corner of the lunchroom when it was too cold or rainy.
It had gotten to a point where everyone at the usual table was worried. Over lunch one cloudy morning, they happened to be discussing Shemeeka's behavior. Jamie had kept quiet about the incident, not wanting to hurt Yugi more than he had already. Yugi, on the other hand, didn't seem to be in the mood to talk about it, anyway. However, today the others' curiosity won out.
"So what exactly did she do?" Seto asked concernedly, munching on a French fry.
Jamie looked furious. "She walked in and kissed Yugi, right when poor Shemeeka could see."
"What a-" Joey exclaimed, but Ryou managed to clap his hand over the blonde's mouth before any "colorful" terms emerged.
"I wish I'd Mind Crushed her when I had the chance," Yami muttered, resting his chin on one propped-up hand. He absently hugged Yugi, who welcomed the small bit of comfort. "It's okay, aibou, everything will work out."
"That's not the problem," Yugi whispered. "I can't even talk to her. She won't listen to me. How can I explain that I didn't mean to hurt her when she won't even acknowledge that I'm talking to her?"
Jamie frowned. "She's still not talking to you? It's been a month now! I mean, I've been depressed before, but never for this long!"
"Somehow, I don't think it's just Yugi," Ryou said softly.
All eyes turned to the brown-eyed boy. "What makes you say that?" Seto wanted to know.
"Well.I'm not positive about this, but it seems like something else is bothering Shemeeka. She always seems a little bit distant, jumpy; she wouldn't be that broken up just over Yugi," Ryou explained.
"Are you sure? From what I know, she was pretty head-over-heels for him," Jamie replied.
Yugi bit his lip. "Why do I feel like this is all my fault?"
"No, aibou," Yami said firmly. "Don't even start thinking that way. There is no way that this is your fault. It's that lousy brat Tea's."
"He's right, Yugi," Tristan agreed.
Jamie closed her eyes for a moment. "Look. I'll talk to her after school, okay? Maybe that way I can get some answers."
"I wish I could go with you, but we're going out to pick up a new card shipment," Yugi sighed. "I only wish there was some way I could tell her-"
Just then, the bell rang. Everyone stood up and walked off with their trays except Seto and Jamie, who remained seated.
The brunette girl looked down. "I guess we'd better go to class," she said softly. "I'm so worried about Shemeeka, Seto."
Gently, Seto reached across the table and slipped his hand under her chin, raising her head to stare into her turquoise eyes. "That's just like you, sweetheart-always caring about your friends," he murmured.
"Everything is so confusing now," she replied, biting her lip. "It seemed like Yugi and Shemeeka were perfect for each other. She was just what he needed after that breakup with Tea. But now.what do I do, Seto? What can I do?"
Seto rose, stepping around the table and hugging her, resting his chin on the top of her head. "I don't know, Jamie.I don't think anyone knows but Yugi and Shemeeka. And no one can fix things except them."
She smiled sadly at him. "It's so hard to see them acting this way, when I know they both love each other so much."
"Just like you and me," Seto added softly.
Drawing a deep, shaky breath, Jamie rose and picked up her tray. "Come on," she said finally. "We'd better get to class."
For Jamie, the last three hours of the day were torture. It wasn't that the classes were boring; she was just in such a hurry to get out and talk to Shemeeka that her patience was being tried.
At long last, the bell rang and kids began flooding out the door. "Hey, Shemeeka! Wait up!" Jamie cried, hefting her backpack on one shoulder and racing after the ebony-haired girl.
Shemeeka turned around. "Oh, hi, Jamie. What do you need?"
"Um.do you want to do something after school? Maybe go down to the 7-11 or something?" Jamie asked hopefully.
Shemeeka thought a moment. "N-No, I can't go out.but maybe you could come over to my house." she said slowly.
Jamie flashed her a bright smile. "Great!" she exclaimed, trying to sound perky and upbeat. "Let's go, then!"
So they did.
Shemeeka expertly avoided looking over at the Game Shop as they neared her house. Instead of mirroring Jamie's longing glance, she simply turned on her heel and walked up to the front door, pulling out her keys and slipping them into the slot.
As they stepped inside, Jamie was surprised to see the hallway, perfectly arranged and organized. Not a single floral-print picture was crooked, nor was any of the doors even slightly ajar. The cream-colored carpet was completely untarnished.
Shemeeka removed her shoes and coat and set them in the front hall closet before stepping on the carpet. Jamie did the same with her shoes, preferring to keep her coat with her.
Upstairs yielded Shemeeka's room, once again behind a closed walnut door. It was painted a pale blue shade with white trim and white curtains. The bed was in one corner, blanketed with a pristine white comforter.
A row of bookshelves lined one of the walls, and one whole case was devoted to small collections of trinkets, art portfolios, and other supplies. The others held quite a few leather-bound books.
Other than a desk and a full-length mirror, the room was empty. A small gray tabby cat was sleeping on Shemeeka's bed, curled up in a little ball in the fluffy comforter.
Jamie couldn't help but sigh at the sheer perfection of the room. It was like the room had been taken right out of a dollhouse and placed there. "I love your room," she breathed.
Shemeeka smiled. "Yeah, this is pretty much my own little sanctuary. I have a desk, but it's in the basement right now. We just haven't brought it up yet."
A hanging string caught the brunette's eye. "What's that? A way into the attic?"
"Yup, I discovered it the day Mom and Dad were checking out the house. I figured if I ever needed a hideaway, I'd go there," Shemeeka explained.
"Cool." Jamie walked to the middle of the room, slowly turning in place and taking it all in. "You collect figurines?"
Shemeeka nodded. "Yup. I have been since I was nine."
Jamie whistled. "Long time."
Her brow furrowed as she noted a bronze-colored chain lock on the back of the door. "You think you're going to ever need that chain lock?"
"I.uh.wanted a different lock, but that was the best I could do. We're not exactly the most tool-handy family." Shemeeka was hiding something; Jamie knew it instantly.
However, she decided not to press the issue. "Oh, right. I know what that's like."
For the next hour or so, Jamie and Shemeeka listened to music, talked about school, and related a few personal hopes and dreams. Shemeeka seemed especially interested in hearing about Jamie's parents. Even after the brunette explained how they had died in a car accident a year or so back, Shemeeka still wanted to know more.
Jamie shrugged. "My grandmother used to say we looked like the ideal family: a loving father, a doting mother, and a little perfectly-behaved daughter."
For some reason, Shemeeka sighed at this. "I wonder if there's such a thing as the perfect family," she mused, deep in thought.
"I think all that matters is that you all love each other," Jamie put in carefully. "It doesn't matter if you live with your uncle, like me; your grandpa, like Yugi; your siblings, like Seto; or your parents, like you. Everyone has their own perfect family in their own way."
Shemeeka looked strangely sad. "Yeah, I guess."
"So what's your family like?" Jamie wanted to know, smiling as the little gray tabby cat rose from its nest on the bed and padded into her lap. She giggled softly, stroking the little feline.
"They're okay, I guess," Shemeeka said halfheartedly. "Nothing really special."
Jamie sensed the conversation was becoming too personal for Shemeeka, so she quickly changed the topic. "So. Tell me all about your old school. I want to know everything."
Shemeeka laughed at Jamie's eagerness. "Okay, fine. All my teachers were the same as usual. My wretched science teacher gave us tests every Friday, and they were always about these really nasty, obscure topics that no teenager in their right mind would ever care about."
Jamie rolled her eyes. "Ooh, you're going to hate Mr. Roberts, then."
"Oh, no! Not another teacher obsessed with tests!" Shemeeka groaned.
Jamie nodded. "Exactly. Okay, what else? Ever had a boyfriend?"
"What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?" Shemeeka teased.
The brunette grinned. "Who knows? I try not to pay attention in history."
"Really? It's my favorite subject."
"Well, yeah, I know that. I mean, I love it too and everything, but the trouble is they make it so boring! I could recite the Preamble if I wanted to, but just because I like the subject doesn't mean I like the way they teach it."
"Don't tell me: worksheets, right?"
"It's horrible! Busy work every day!" Jamie moaned, perfectly playing the part of a damsel in distress.
"I can see someone also likes drama as much as history."
"Yup. Drama queen, that's me. Starring role in the school play two years running."
"Cool! You'd best watch out though, Jamie Light; I'm not such a bad actress myself," Shemeeka teased.
"We'll see about that," Jamie replied with a smirk not unlike Seto's.
Apparently, Shemeeka noticed. "You and Seto are so much alike."
A dreamy look came over Jamie's face. "Yes.it's strange sometimes, it's almost like he knows exactly what I'm thinking at the same moment I do."
"Must be nice," Shemeeka murmured.
Jamie cocked an eyebrow. "Hmm? Little girl unlucky in love?"
Shemeeka sighed. "You got me. I had a boyfriend at my old school, Aaron Anders. He was a nice enough guy, I guess, but after a while things started to get rocky. I started noticing him watching other girls when we went out, ignoring me when other people were around.after I caught him kissing my best friend I made it clear that we were over."
Jamie's mouth dropped open. "I don't know who to be more angry with; your boyfriend for doing that to you, or your best friend for doing that to you! What a creep! What a jerk! Man, if I had only been there!"
Shemeeka smiled, slightly ruefully. "Well, I moved. And now I have a new best friend." At this, she smiled broadly at Jamie, who grinned.
"And don't worry about that happening again; I'm quite happy with my little Seto."
"Little?! He's like six inches taller than you!"
"Oh, hush. You know what I mean."
"Ah. The return of sweet little pet names."
"If he ever calls me snookums in public again, I'm going to do something drastic. Really drastic."
Shemeeka was intrigued. "And what kind of drastic are we talking about, exactly? I mean, what can you do to a multi-billionaire?"
"Well.I could dye all his trench coats pink.I could exchange his blue silk sheets for Barney ones.I could braid his hair."
For some reason, Shemeeka found this hysterically funny. "Braid his hair?! Oh, man, would I give money to see that!"
"I once drew a picture of him with his hair like that," Jamie recalled, the corners of her mouth twitching in a barely suppressed smile. "He tried to tear it up. I convinced him to get it framed and now it's hanging on a wall in his house."
"Really? I thought he hated it!"
"Well, yeah. I said it was hanging on a wall-a wall that happens to be the back of his closet. In the dark. Where no one can see it."
Shemeeka seemed to be in a better mood, so Jamie decided to take a risk. "Do you want a boyfriend here?"
Shemeeka bit her lip. "I.I wanted someone in my life.but I'm not so sure anymore. It seems like everyone is already happy."
"Yugi's not," Jamie almost blurted. Then, eyes widening, she clapped her hands over her mouth. "I mean-"
"No, no, it's okay," Shemeeka murmured. "If it wasn't for Tea.well, if she wasn't in the middle of it all, Yugi would be my first choice for a boyfriend. But he's already got someone in his life, so what's the use?"
Jamie was silent for a minute, not knowing quite what to say. "Maybe." she offered finally. "Maybe not."
"I don't know what it is about him, but." Shemeeka trailed off sadly.
But then she brightened. "Oh, well. Would you like a snack or something?"
Jamie shrugged. "It's up to you. I'm always up for a treat in the afternoon."
They headed down the stairs and into the kitchen, once again talking about trivial, unimportant things. Jamie made sure to keep the conversation light and well away from the topic of Yugi.
But when they pushed open the door, Shemeeka and Jamie found Shemeeka's father, who had just gotten home. His keys were still in his hand, and he looked slightly cross.
Shemeeka seemed a little nervous. "O-Oh, hi, Daddy.I wasn't expecting you home so soon."
Her father's eyes moved from Shemeeka to Jamie, looking the brunette girl over. "Who is this?" he demanded, his voice harsh and cold.
"My friend, Jamie," Shemeeka explained. "From school."
Shemeeka's father walked forward, stopping when he was only inches away from Jamie. The girl shuddered; he was at least six inches taller than her, and Jamie was 5'9". She took a few steps backward, uncomfortable with having him so close.
But Shemeeka's father just advanced again, backing Jamie up against the wall. He bent down to look her over, and Jamie caught the smell of beer on his breath.
Nervously, she slid across the wall and backed into the center of the room. "Um, Shemeeka.I'd better be getting home." she said, trying to keep her voice from trembling.
Shemeeka nodded, her eyes wide. "You know where your shoes are, right?"
Shemeeka's father glared at Jamie, then turned his gaze to Shemeeka. "Did I say you could have a friend over today?" he asked, his voice threatening.
"N-No, Daddy, but I didn't think-"
"No, you didn't think, did you?" he barked.
Uneasy, Jamie left the kitchen and opened the front hall closet, removing her shoes and slipping them on her feet. She had just tied the laces when bits of conversation began to waft down the hall.
"What.think you're.little wretch!"
"Daddy, I.you and Mom.home until eight."
"You know the rules.your mouth, young lady.I said shut up!"
"Daddy.drunk, don't do.you'll regret."
"Shut your mouth! I'll do.I please, hear? Don't.what to do!"
Jamie's hand was on the doorknob when she heard it. A horrible, terrible sound that brought back nightmares she'd had even as a little girl.
She'd heard it before; running home one day, escaping from a brutal fistfight at school.a fistfight between two of her best friends.
It was the bruising sound of a fist hitting a face.
She didn't think; she just ran back down the hall and threw open the door, her first instinct to come to the rescue of her friend.
But what she saw horrified her. Shemeeka's father, in a drunken fit of rage, was looming over the ebony-haired girl. Already one eye was becoming black and swollen on Shemeeka's pretty face. Silent tears ran down her cheeks as she held her hands feebly over her head, trying to ward off her father's assault.
"Leave her alone!" The words had escaped Jamie's mouth before she realized the consequences of saying them.
On the good side, Shemeeka's father turned away from his trembling daughter. But now, he began to advance on Jamie, who stood petrified in the doorway.
For a brief instant, Shemeeka's eyes met Jamie's, and the brunette could plainly see the fear and terror swirling in her aqua orbs. Her lips moved, mouthing "Run!"
But while this was happening, Shemeeka's father had gotten even closer to Jamie. Once again he was towering over her, making Jamie feel tiny and insignificant.
"GO!" Shemeeka cried out.
And then the sheer terror of the situation overtook Jamie's mind. And she bolted.
She raced out the door as fast as she could, long brown ponytail streaming behind her, too afraid to look back and see if Mr. Tsumachiro was following her. She tore across the street and banged on the door of the Game Shop, pleading for someone to be there.
But then she remembered that Yugi, Yami, and their grandpa were going out after school.
Jamie whirled and ran down the sidewalk, dimly noticing that a large, shadowy figure was just coming out of the front door of Shemeeka's house.
Fortunately for her, Mr. Tsumachiro was obviously drunk and having trouble keeping his balance. It was no contest between a young terrified athlete and a middle-aged drunken man. She was down the street almost before he made it to the sidewalk.
Grumbling, he let her go and stalked back into the house. But when he reached the kitchen, he found that Shemeeka was gone. He checked all the rooms in the house, yet she was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, Jamie was still running, running as fast as she could towards the one place in Domino City where she knew she would be safe. But nature seemed to be against her; the gray skies looked like they were about to rain, to mirror her emotions.
Yet still she ran, using the adrenaline rush to keep her going long after she ordinarily would have collapsed. As it was, she reached the Kaiba mansion in about ten minutes.
Jamie was forced to pause for a minute at the wrought-iron gates, but her name and personal entrance code quickly gave her access to the grounds. She bolted for the door, which Seto himself had opened.
He was standing there, chestnut hair blowing slightly in the wind, when Jamie ran up to him. "Jamie, what-"
But he cut off as Jamie threw herself into his arms, shivering cold and crying bitterly. Frowning, he brought her inside and into the living room, instantly protective of his pretty little girlfriend.
He guided her to the couch, bundling her up in several heavy blankets in an attempt to keep her warm. "Jamie, sweetheart, are you okay?"
Sobbing, she shook her head. Her hands were trembling as she clutched the blankets more tightly to her chest, unable to choke out a single word through her tears.
"What's going on, Jamie? What happened?" Seto asked, his voice clearly laced with concern. He cupped her face in his hands protectively, staring into her wet turquoise eyes with his own sapphire ones.
"I-It was t-terrible!" Jamie stammered, her shoulders shaking. "Seto, I-I was so scared."
"It's all right now, Jamie, you're safe. Nothing is going to hurt you," Seto soothed. "Take a deep breath and tell me the whole thing, okay?"
Choking back a sob, Jamie nodded. "I-I went over to Shemeeka's house after school today.wanted to try and convince her that Yugi still loved her.but then.then it happened."
Seto gathered her into his arms and hugged her supportively. "It's okay, sweetheart, just tell me the whole thing."
"H-Her father came home.I could smell beer on his breath." Jamie recalled. "He got mad at Shemeeka b-because I was over. And he.he.oh, Seto, I can't-"
"We can't help Shemeeka unless I know what you saw," Seto murmured, gently kissing her forehead. "What did he do, Jamie?"
But Jamie just shook her head as fresh tears brimmed in her eyes. Trembling, she reached out and gently touched one of the scars on Seto's arms; scars left by his foster father.
Seto's voice became deathly serious. "Does he hit Shemeeka, Jamie?"
Slowly, torturously slowly, Jamie nodded.
"Did you see him do it?" Seto asked instantly.
Jamie bit her lip and shook her head. "N-No.but I know the sound of a fist hitting a face, Seto. And when I ran back, her face was all red.I think she'll have a black eye tomorrow.he chased me down the street.so I ran to you."
The brunette boy seemed to slump in his seat, his eyes losing all their determination. "If you didn't actually see him do it, it's going to make things much harder, Jamie. Child abuse is a serious accusation. However."
"We can't just leave her there!" Jamie exclaimed. "I can't just sit back and watch my friend get hurt!"
Seto placed a finger over her lips, a strange smile on his face. "Legally, we can't do much of anything. However.morally, we have every right to help, hmm?"
And then Jamie began to smile through her tears. "I guess.but what are we going to do?"
"Who else have you told about this?" Seto wanted to know.
Jamie shook her head. "No one. You were the first person I could get to. Yugi and Yami weren't home, or I would have gone to the Game Shop."
"Well, the first thing to do is to get in touch with Yami. I need to talk to him about this. Then, without a doubt, the next step will be to get Shemeeka out of that house."
"They might be home by now," Jamie whispered. "We could call."
"Sweetheart, I know how worried you are about Shemeeka. But you're exhausted. Close your eyes, go to sleep; I'll take care of everything that needs to be done, okay?" Seto said tenderly, resting his fingertips on her eyelids and gently closing them.
Jamie didn't resist. "I wish you'd let me help."
"Shhh. Go to sleep, Jamie. I promise you, everything is going to be fine."
But as Seto sat there, cradling Jamie in his arms as she drifted off to sleep, he wasn't so sure. Would everything be fine? Could it be?
He didn't know the answers. But hopefully, he could help protect an innocent little girl from a terror he himself had suffered many years before.
Once Jamie was asleep, Seto rose and stalked into his office, snatching up the phone and speed-dialing the Game Shop.
Yami answered on the second ring. "Hello, Game Shop. How may I-"
"Yami, it's me," Seto interrupted.
"Seto? Where are you, what do you need, and why are you calling me in the middle of the day when you should be at work?" Yami demanded.
"Which shall I answer first?" Seto deadpanned. "I'm at my house, and I'm not at work because I didn't feel like going, you idiot. Weren't you the one always bothering me about working too hard?"
"Come on, Seto. I know something's wrong. What is it?" Yami countered.
"Jamie just showed up on my doorstep, crying," Seto explained. "She-"
"Who did it and where can I find them?!" This time, it was Yami's turn to interrupt.
"Being overprotective of my girlfriend, Yami? Yeesh. No, no one hurt her- directly," Seto continued. "She was over at Shemeeka's house today. She thinks Mr. Tsumachiro hits Shemeeka, but she didn't see him do it. But you're quite aware that Jamie knows the sound of someone being beaten, and she has no reason to lie."
Yami nodded. "Yes, I know that. But now the question is, what do we do about it?"
"I want to get Shemeeka out of that house, Yami, and I want to do it now. But the problem is, I can't do it without breaking a couple laws."
"Never stopped you before."
"You know what I mean, you idiot. But I'm not just going to sit back and watch an innocent girl get abused in her own home."
"So why are you calling me?"
"Because I need a loophole to get Shemeeka out of there, and I know you've always got a few to spare."
Yami thought a minute, his cunning mind working on a solution to his best friend's problem. "Got one. But it's going to involve a lot of booze, some empty bottles, and a few conveniently placed police cars."
Seto caught on immediately. "If they get sent to jail, I'd have to take Shemeeka in, right?"
"Bingo. You know, you have the mental capacity to think these things up yourself, but for some reason, you choose to waste it on machines. Tsk, tsk, tsk," Yami scolded.
"So basically, you're saying you want me to stuff their car full of beer, get them horribly drunk, and then send them out onto a street of innocent pedestrians until the police arrive?"
"Not quite. Knock them out, fill their car full of beer, ram the car through the front of their house, and call the police. Then, even if they don't get busted for all the beer, Shemeeka can still stay with you because her house is trashed," Yami explained.
"Gee, while I'm at it, why don't I just put crack in their trunk?" Seto said sarcastically.
Yami looked thoughtful. "That would be good, too.crack would be a very convincing thing.plus the child abuse charge, that could get him a good 20 years."
"Great, but as far as I know, it's only her dad who's hurting her. What do I do about her mom?"
"Convince her that that it would be better for Shemeeka to stay with you. Have Jamie do it. You know she can talk anyone into anything," Yami said with a sly smile.
"Speaking as a personal victim, you're right. Anyway, thanks, Yami."
"Not a problem, man. Call me whenever you need to. And tell me Jamie's phone number so I can ask her out-"
"How about 1-800-YOU-WISH," Seto interrupted, barely suppressing a chuckle. "See you later, Yami."
"Bye, Seto."
Seto hung up the phone, a strangely amused smile on his face. Count on Yami to come up with an insane, demented, yet extremely plausible scheme. "It's almost scary, the ways his mind works," he mumbled.
"What's so scary?"
Seto looked up, startled, at the brunette standing in the doorway. "You're supposed to be asleep.bad dreams again?"
"Worried about Shemeeka," Jamie explained. "What are you going to do?"
"If I tell you, do you promise not to get involved?"
"Why?" Jamie's eyes narrowed. "Why would you make me promise something like that?"
Seto stepped forward, gently taking her in his arms. "Because I know how you feel about car accidents."
Jamie's face went pale. "You can't be serious."
"No one is going to get hurt. All we're going to do is send the car through the front of the house. After it crashes, we'll put Shemeeka's dad in the front seat with a case of beer next to him. The authorities will hold him until Shemeeka can tell them about how he hits her."
"What about their house? And what if something unexpected happens and someone gets hurt? What are you going to do then?" Jamie demanded.
"I can afford to fix the house later. I'll make sure no one gets hurt. I'm sorry, Jamie, but it's the only way I know of to get Shemeeka out of there," Seto said, slightly guilty.
"Please, just let me talk to her before you do anything," Jamie almost begged. "Maybe there's another way. Just please, don't do that."
"I know how hard it is for you," Seto whispered, stroking her hair tenderly.
"I lost my parents because of a drunk driver, Seto. You know as well as I do what it feels like to lose someone you love," Jamie replied, her voice unsteady. "I won't let you take that risk now."
"I never said that I'd be-"
"Don't give me that, Seto," Jamie interrupted, her turquoise eyes hard. "You should know by now that you can't hide things from me. I know that you'd be the one driving that car."
Seto nodded after a moment. "I wouldn't risk anyone else's life on that stunt."
"But don't you see what it would do to me if you got hurt?" Jamie demanded, her eyes filling with tears. "My parents died in their car accident. I couldn't bear it if I lost you, too."
Seto frowned, seeing how much just the idea of it was killing Jamie inside. "Jamie, I promise you, I won't use that idea. We'll think of another way to help Shemeeka, okay?"
Jamie rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes gently. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?"
The blue-eyed boy smiled. "Yes, but say it again anyway. I love hearing it."
She smiled, looking up to meet his gaze. "I love you, Seto Kaiba. Always."
"And I you, Jamie Light. Forever."
When the two finally parted from their embrace, Jamie immediately wanted to go find Shemeeka. "Who knows where she could be?" she explained. "And what that scum of a being that calls itself her father could have done to her while we've been gone?"
Seto nodded. "Absolutely. We can take the limo. But before we do anything, we're stopping by the Game Shop, okay?"
"Of course," Jamie replied.
Given the limo's cruising speed, the two were at the Game Shop in under five minutes. This time, however, the doors were open and they could see Yugi busying himself at the counter.
Yugi looked up as the bell jingled on the door, signaling Seto and Jamie's arrival. "Hey, guys. What's up?"
"Yugi, we need your help," Jamie replied, her voice anxious.
Yugi's brow furrowed. "Sure, guys. What's the problem?"
"Jamie thinks Shemeeka's father beats her," Seto answered, not bothering to be tactful about it. "We have to get her out of that house."
"What, you didn't like my idea?" another voice protested.
All three looked up to see Yami, emerging from the kitchen. He was holding a cookie in each hand and had a generally satisfied look on his face. "I thought it wasn't half bad!"
Seto cocked an eyebrow, nodding his head at Jamie. "I decided it was a bad idea," he said pointedly.
Yami immediately got his drift. "Oh, right. Well, it was a stupid idea, anyway."
"Look, Yugi, will you come with us? I want to go over and try to find her," Jamie interrupted. "I'm worried."
Yugi nodded. "Of course."
"Yami, you come with us, but stay on the sidewalk, as a lookout and also in case we need backup. Seto instructed. "The three of us will go in and get Shemeeka."
"Roger," Yami replied, saluting.
"Come on, then," Jamie said, a note of urgency creeping into her tone.
They hurried across the street and paused on the sidewalk outside Shemeeka's house. "Well, the door's open," Yugi observed.
"Good, then it's not breaking and entering," Yami said, unable to resist a joke. "It's just entering."
Seto elbowed him, and Yami shut up. "Okay, Yugi, you go look around for Shemeeka," the brunette said, his blue eyes calculating. "Jamie and I are going to try to find some evidence that her father was beating her. Don't spend more than ten minutes in the house, and the moment you find her, get out."
Yugi nodded. "Got it."
Jamie unconsciously moved a little closer to Seto. "This whole thing makes me nervous.why would he just leave the door open?"
Seto reached over and stroked her hair comfortingly. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I promised everything was going to work out. I won't let anyone get hurt, okay?"
Jamie managed a weak smile. "I know, but."
"Guys? I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but I think I saw a face at the upstairs window," Yami pointed out. "Black hair. I'd be willing to bet it was Shemeeka."
"Okay," Seto said decisively. "Let's go."
They carefully entered the building and fanned out; Yugi going up the stairs, and Seto and Jamie exploring the lower half of the house.
Yugi moved up the stairs with the grace of a cat, stepping on the parts of the step closest to the wall to avoid unnecessary creaking. The soft thudding noises his sneakers made on the steps were the only sounds.
Dimly, he registered his heart pounding in his chest. "Calm down," he whispered to himself, his lips barely uttering any sound. "Just find Shemeeka and get her out of here. That's all you have to do."
He made his way to the top of the stairs and gently peeked in each of the doors upstairs. One was obviously a bathroom, and another was the master bedroom. The last door in the hall was slightly ajar, so Yugi decided he should probably check that one out first.
It was unusual that the door was open; all the other doors in the hall were tightly closed. A single ray of light shone off something across the door, and Yugi had to squint to see what it was.
A chain lock. That's why the door was ajar.
"She must be in here," he murmured to himself. Fortunately, his hand was small enough that he was able to reach in and tug the chain, releasing a little more space.
After a few failed tries, he managed to get it open and poked his head in the room.
As it turned out, Shemeeka was just climbing down from her hideaway in the attic when Yugi looked in the door. "Shemeeka!" he whispered, his voice soft but surprised.
She whirled, her aqua eyes wide. "Yugi?" she whispered incredulously. "What are you doing here?"
"Shemeeka, Jamie told us the whole thing. We're here to get you out of this house," Yugi replied.
Shemeeka only hesitated a second before answering. "I-Is Jamie okay? I mean, did she get out before.before."
Yugi nodded. "She's fine. She made it to Seto's house and told him what had happened. He came and got us."
"Are they in the house?"
"Yes, but we can't spend much longer in here," Yugi whispered frantically. "Shemeeka, please, we have to go, now. Is there a way we can get out of the house from this room?"
Shemeeka thought a moment. "Well, there's a window in the attic near a drainpipe.we might be able to shimmy down it."
"Good. Lock your door, grab anything you absolutely can't live without, and let's go," Yugi instructed.
Shemeeka nodded. "Can you take Teresa for me?" she asked, handing Yugi the gray tabby cat. Then she produced a duffel bag from under her bed and threw a change of clothes, her sketchbook, and all the pictures she'd drawn into it. Yugi was too caught up in the situation to notice that all the pictures on Shemeeka's wall were of him.
Then, letting down the ladder, they climbed into the attic.
It was impossible to move through the attic without at least some boards creaking, so they gave up on the silent tactic and settled for moving as fast as they could. Shemeeka threw open the window and opened her duffel bag. "Put Teresa in here," she said quietly. "It'll be easier."
Yami, who was waiting a stone's throw away, looked up and saw what the two were planning.
// Aibou, throw down the duffel bag. I can catch it and make it easier on you both, all right? //
/ Don't drop it, Yami. That has Shemeeka's kitty in there. /
// Drop it? Me? Perish the thought. Just throw the bag, would you? //
/ Are you sure about this? /
// If I drop the bag, you can take apart the Millennium Puzzle. Now just throw it! //
/ Okay, Yami. I trust you. /
Yugi looked up from his momentary trance. "Yami's waiting down there, Shemeeka. Throw him the bag."
"But what if he-"
"He won't drop it," Yugi reassured her.
Shemeeka bit her lip, but then held the bag out the window. "Here goes," she whispered, letting the strap fall from her fingers.
Teresa mewled as Yami leaped straight up in the air, catching the bag as it fell into his arms and landing gracefully on his feet.
Then, one by one, Yugi and Shemeeka shimmied down the drainpipe and joined Yami. "You two go back to the Game Shop. Lock the door behind you," Yami ordered. "I'll wait here for Seto and Jamie."
"But-" Yugi protested.
"Go!"
Yugi knew better than to argue with Yami when he got like this. He hefted Shemeeka's bag onto his back, being careful to avoid jarring Teresa. Then he guided her across the street and into the Game Shop, locking the door behind them.
Yami looked up, frowning. "You'd better hurry, Blue-Eyes."
Meanwhile.
Jamie and Seto split up, each searching a room but staying within earshot of each other.
"Find anything?" Seto asked, glancing over the living room and frowning at its preciseness. The room was way too precise for a family with a sixteen- year-old girl. In fact, the rest of the house was the same way. What kind of family was this?!
"Couple of broken beer bottles," Jamie replied, poking her head in the kitchen. "But-what was that?"
Her ears perked up as she detected the sound of something heavy hitting the floor. "Seto, I just heard something. I'm going to check it out."
"Be careful, sweetheart," he replied, moving into the den.
Jamie took a few steps into the kitchen, her heart beginning to race. "I know I heard something, but what was it?" she whispered.
She had just walked past the door to the basement when a large, meaty hand landed on her shoulder. Eyes widening, she whirled to see Mr. Tsumachiro, his eyes hard yet unfocused, looming over her.
"You're the brat that was here earlier," he slurred, and even at that distance Jamie could still detect the smell of alcohol on his breath.
The momentary shock gone, realization flooded through Jamie like a tidal wave. "SETO!" she shrieked, just before Mr. Tsumachiro clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Shut up!" he growled. "I'll deal with you in a minute."
Terrified, Jamie bit his hand hard enough to draw blood. "SETO!"
Angered, Mr. Tsumachiro slapped the side of her head, sending her senses reeling. Colors spun before Jamie's eyes, and suddenly she couldn't keep her balance. The world was blacking out-
Seto entered the room just in time to see Jamie collapse to the ground at Mr. Tsumachiro's feet, unconscious.
~*~*~
Woo! Another cliffhanger! Whoever invented cliffhangers was a genius.
Seto: You're being malevolent again.
Yami: whistles Big word.
Seto: I have a big vocabulary.
Yami: Don't you just hate it when she does cliffhangers?
Seto: Indubitably.
Yami: There you go again with the big words.
Seto: shrug It's part of my charm.
Don't worry, everything is going to end up happy in the end. But that end will come a lot faster if you review! Nice, supportive, helpful reviews are always welcomed. Hint, hint. Anywho, Joey the Flame Swordsman and Flamina, the angel minion of fire are going to torch, annihilate, wipe out, destroy, obliterate, demolish, eliminate, and eradicate all nasty reviews.
Seto: Macavity, put down the thesaurus.
Hush. Anyway, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
Yami: If you don't, you'll get sued.
Me: If you're so concerned, you two say the disclaimer.
Seto: Nice going, Yami. glare
Me: Just do it already.
Yami: Yu-Gi-Oh does not belong to Macavity, thank goodness.
Seto: But the storyline, the character Jamie Light, and any other interesting perks are all hers.
Author's Notes: Some people had a question for me about why, if they were wearing their school uniforms, Joey, Seto, and Tristan were all wearing their coats. I'm very sorry if that confused some people. See, I based their school and the teachers on my own school. We're forced to wear uniforms too, but in the fall and winter we're allowed to wear jackets or coats over it. This story takes place in September and October, so I decided to let those three guys wear their jackets. I'm sorry for not explaining this in the first chapter; I forget sometimes that not all schools operate the way mine does.
Special Dedication: As in the first chapter, this is dedicated to my good friend (and little sister; don't ask) FOG, as both a birthday present and a thank-you for writing me a fic! (If you want to read it, it's called Haunted with Desire. Very good fic! I recommend you all go check it out.)
All that said, Macavity and Dragon Enterprises present As the Fog Clears, chapter two!
~*~*~
Days passed, then weeks. Shemeeka wouldn't talk to anyone except Jamie. She was uncharacteristically silent in class, and never ate much for lunch. She ate outdoors whenever she could, and in a corner of the lunchroom when it was too cold or rainy.
It had gotten to a point where everyone at the usual table was worried. Over lunch one cloudy morning, they happened to be discussing Shemeeka's behavior. Jamie had kept quiet about the incident, not wanting to hurt Yugi more than he had already. Yugi, on the other hand, didn't seem to be in the mood to talk about it, anyway. However, today the others' curiosity won out.
"So what exactly did she do?" Seto asked concernedly, munching on a French fry.
Jamie looked furious. "She walked in and kissed Yugi, right when poor Shemeeka could see."
"What a-" Joey exclaimed, but Ryou managed to clap his hand over the blonde's mouth before any "colorful" terms emerged.
"I wish I'd Mind Crushed her when I had the chance," Yami muttered, resting his chin on one propped-up hand. He absently hugged Yugi, who welcomed the small bit of comfort. "It's okay, aibou, everything will work out."
"That's not the problem," Yugi whispered. "I can't even talk to her. She won't listen to me. How can I explain that I didn't mean to hurt her when she won't even acknowledge that I'm talking to her?"
Jamie frowned. "She's still not talking to you? It's been a month now! I mean, I've been depressed before, but never for this long!"
"Somehow, I don't think it's just Yugi," Ryou said softly.
All eyes turned to the brown-eyed boy. "What makes you say that?" Seto wanted to know.
"Well.I'm not positive about this, but it seems like something else is bothering Shemeeka. She always seems a little bit distant, jumpy; she wouldn't be that broken up just over Yugi," Ryou explained.
"Are you sure? From what I know, she was pretty head-over-heels for him," Jamie replied.
Yugi bit his lip. "Why do I feel like this is all my fault?"
"No, aibou," Yami said firmly. "Don't even start thinking that way. There is no way that this is your fault. It's that lousy brat Tea's."
"He's right, Yugi," Tristan agreed.
Jamie closed her eyes for a moment. "Look. I'll talk to her after school, okay? Maybe that way I can get some answers."
"I wish I could go with you, but we're going out to pick up a new card shipment," Yugi sighed. "I only wish there was some way I could tell her-"
Just then, the bell rang. Everyone stood up and walked off with their trays except Seto and Jamie, who remained seated.
The brunette girl looked down. "I guess we'd better go to class," she said softly. "I'm so worried about Shemeeka, Seto."
Gently, Seto reached across the table and slipped his hand under her chin, raising her head to stare into her turquoise eyes. "That's just like you, sweetheart-always caring about your friends," he murmured.
"Everything is so confusing now," she replied, biting her lip. "It seemed like Yugi and Shemeeka were perfect for each other. She was just what he needed after that breakup with Tea. But now.what do I do, Seto? What can I do?"
Seto rose, stepping around the table and hugging her, resting his chin on the top of her head. "I don't know, Jamie.I don't think anyone knows but Yugi and Shemeeka. And no one can fix things except them."
She smiled sadly at him. "It's so hard to see them acting this way, when I know they both love each other so much."
"Just like you and me," Seto added softly.
Drawing a deep, shaky breath, Jamie rose and picked up her tray. "Come on," she said finally. "We'd better get to class."
For Jamie, the last three hours of the day were torture. It wasn't that the classes were boring; she was just in such a hurry to get out and talk to Shemeeka that her patience was being tried.
At long last, the bell rang and kids began flooding out the door. "Hey, Shemeeka! Wait up!" Jamie cried, hefting her backpack on one shoulder and racing after the ebony-haired girl.
Shemeeka turned around. "Oh, hi, Jamie. What do you need?"
"Um.do you want to do something after school? Maybe go down to the 7-11 or something?" Jamie asked hopefully.
Shemeeka thought a moment. "N-No, I can't go out.but maybe you could come over to my house." she said slowly.
Jamie flashed her a bright smile. "Great!" she exclaimed, trying to sound perky and upbeat. "Let's go, then!"
So they did.
Shemeeka expertly avoided looking over at the Game Shop as they neared her house. Instead of mirroring Jamie's longing glance, she simply turned on her heel and walked up to the front door, pulling out her keys and slipping them into the slot.
As they stepped inside, Jamie was surprised to see the hallway, perfectly arranged and organized. Not a single floral-print picture was crooked, nor was any of the doors even slightly ajar. The cream-colored carpet was completely untarnished.
Shemeeka removed her shoes and coat and set them in the front hall closet before stepping on the carpet. Jamie did the same with her shoes, preferring to keep her coat with her.
Upstairs yielded Shemeeka's room, once again behind a closed walnut door. It was painted a pale blue shade with white trim and white curtains. The bed was in one corner, blanketed with a pristine white comforter.
A row of bookshelves lined one of the walls, and one whole case was devoted to small collections of trinkets, art portfolios, and other supplies. The others held quite a few leather-bound books.
Other than a desk and a full-length mirror, the room was empty. A small gray tabby cat was sleeping on Shemeeka's bed, curled up in a little ball in the fluffy comforter.
Jamie couldn't help but sigh at the sheer perfection of the room. It was like the room had been taken right out of a dollhouse and placed there. "I love your room," she breathed.
Shemeeka smiled. "Yeah, this is pretty much my own little sanctuary. I have a desk, but it's in the basement right now. We just haven't brought it up yet."
A hanging string caught the brunette's eye. "What's that? A way into the attic?"
"Yup, I discovered it the day Mom and Dad were checking out the house. I figured if I ever needed a hideaway, I'd go there," Shemeeka explained.
"Cool." Jamie walked to the middle of the room, slowly turning in place and taking it all in. "You collect figurines?"
Shemeeka nodded. "Yup. I have been since I was nine."
Jamie whistled. "Long time."
Her brow furrowed as she noted a bronze-colored chain lock on the back of the door. "You think you're going to ever need that chain lock?"
"I.uh.wanted a different lock, but that was the best I could do. We're not exactly the most tool-handy family." Shemeeka was hiding something; Jamie knew it instantly.
However, she decided not to press the issue. "Oh, right. I know what that's like."
For the next hour or so, Jamie and Shemeeka listened to music, talked about school, and related a few personal hopes and dreams. Shemeeka seemed especially interested in hearing about Jamie's parents. Even after the brunette explained how they had died in a car accident a year or so back, Shemeeka still wanted to know more.
Jamie shrugged. "My grandmother used to say we looked like the ideal family: a loving father, a doting mother, and a little perfectly-behaved daughter."
For some reason, Shemeeka sighed at this. "I wonder if there's such a thing as the perfect family," she mused, deep in thought.
"I think all that matters is that you all love each other," Jamie put in carefully. "It doesn't matter if you live with your uncle, like me; your grandpa, like Yugi; your siblings, like Seto; or your parents, like you. Everyone has their own perfect family in their own way."
Shemeeka looked strangely sad. "Yeah, I guess."
"So what's your family like?" Jamie wanted to know, smiling as the little gray tabby cat rose from its nest on the bed and padded into her lap. She giggled softly, stroking the little feline.
"They're okay, I guess," Shemeeka said halfheartedly. "Nothing really special."
Jamie sensed the conversation was becoming too personal for Shemeeka, so she quickly changed the topic. "So. Tell me all about your old school. I want to know everything."
Shemeeka laughed at Jamie's eagerness. "Okay, fine. All my teachers were the same as usual. My wretched science teacher gave us tests every Friday, and they were always about these really nasty, obscure topics that no teenager in their right mind would ever care about."
Jamie rolled her eyes. "Ooh, you're going to hate Mr. Roberts, then."
"Oh, no! Not another teacher obsessed with tests!" Shemeeka groaned.
Jamie nodded. "Exactly. Okay, what else? Ever had a boyfriend?"
"What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?" Shemeeka teased.
The brunette grinned. "Who knows? I try not to pay attention in history."
"Really? It's my favorite subject."
"Well, yeah, I know that. I mean, I love it too and everything, but the trouble is they make it so boring! I could recite the Preamble if I wanted to, but just because I like the subject doesn't mean I like the way they teach it."
"Don't tell me: worksheets, right?"
"It's horrible! Busy work every day!" Jamie moaned, perfectly playing the part of a damsel in distress.
"I can see someone also likes drama as much as history."
"Yup. Drama queen, that's me. Starring role in the school play two years running."
"Cool! You'd best watch out though, Jamie Light; I'm not such a bad actress myself," Shemeeka teased.
"We'll see about that," Jamie replied with a smirk not unlike Seto's.
Apparently, Shemeeka noticed. "You and Seto are so much alike."
A dreamy look came over Jamie's face. "Yes.it's strange sometimes, it's almost like he knows exactly what I'm thinking at the same moment I do."
"Must be nice," Shemeeka murmured.
Jamie cocked an eyebrow. "Hmm? Little girl unlucky in love?"
Shemeeka sighed. "You got me. I had a boyfriend at my old school, Aaron Anders. He was a nice enough guy, I guess, but after a while things started to get rocky. I started noticing him watching other girls when we went out, ignoring me when other people were around.after I caught him kissing my best friend I made it clear that we were over."
Jamie's mouth dropped open. "I don't know who to be more angry with; your boyfriend for doing that to you, or your best friend for doing that to you! What a creep! What a jerk! Man, if I had only been there!"
Shemeeka smiled, slightly ruefully. "Well, I moved. And now I have a new best friend." At this, she smiled broadly at Jamie, who grinned.
"And don't worry about that happening again; I'm quite happy with my little Seto."
"Little?! He's like six inches taller than you!"
"Oh, hush. You know what I mean."
"Ah. The return of sweet little pet names."
"If he ever calls me snookums in public again, I'm going to do something drastic. Really drastic."
Shemeeka was intrigued. "And what kind of drastic are we talking about, exactly? I mean, what can you do to a multi-billionaire?"
"Well.I could dye all his trench coats pink.I could exchange his blue silk sheets for Barney ones.I could braid his hair."
For some reason, Shemeeka found this hysterically funny. "Braid his hair?! Oh, man, would I give money to see that!"
"I once drew a picture of him with his hair like that," Jamie recalled, the corners of her mouth twitching in a barely suppressed smile. "He tried to tear it up. I convinced him to get it framed and now it's hanging on a wall in his house."
"Really? I thought he hated it!"
"Well, yeah. I said it was hanging on a wall-a wall that happens to be the back of his closet. In the dark. Where no one can see it."
Shemeeka seemed to be in a better mood, so Jamie decided to take a risk. "Do you want a boyfriend here?"
Shemeeka bit her lip. "I.I wanted someone in my life.but I'm not so sure anymore. It seems like everyone is already happy."
"Yugi's not," Jamie almost blurted. Then, eyes widening, she clapped her hands over her mouth. "I mean-"
"No, no, it's okay," Shemeeka murmured. "If it wasn't for Tea.well, if she wasn't in the middle of it all, Yugi would be my first choice for a boyfriend. But he's already got someone in his life, so what's the use?"
Jamie was silent for a minute, not knowing quite what to say. "Maybe." she offered finally. "Maybe not."
"I don't know what it is about him, but." Shemeeka trailed off sadly.
But then she brightened. "Oh, well. Would you like a snack or something?"
Jamie shrugged. "It's up to you. I'm always up for a treat in the afternoon."
They headed down the stairs and into the kitchen, once again talking about trivial, unimportant things. Jamie made sure to keep the conversation light and well away from the topic of Yugi.
But when they pushed open the door, Shemeeka and Jamie found Shemeeka's father, who had just gotten home. His keys were still in his hand, and he looked slightly cross.
Shemeeka seemed a little nervous. "O-Oh, hi, Daddy.I wasn't expecting you home so soon."
Her father's eyes moved from Shemeeka to Jamie, looking the brunette girl over. "Who is this?" he demanded, his voice harsh and cold.
"My friend, Jamie," Shemeeka explained. "From school."
Shemeeka's father walked forward, stopping when he was only inches away from Jamie. The girl shuddered; he was at least six inches taller than her, and Jamie was 5'9". She took a few steps backward, uncomfortable with having him so close.
But Shemeeka's father just advanced again, backing Jamie up against the wall. He bent down to look her over, and Jamie caught the smell of beer on his breath.
Nervously, she slid across the wall and backed into the center of the room. "Um, Shemeeka.I'd better be getting home." she said, trying to keep her voice from trembling.
Shemeeka nodded, her eyes wide. "You know where your shoes are, right?"
Shemeeka's father glared at Jamie, then turned his gaze to Shemeeka. "Did I say you could have a friend over today?" he asked, his voice threatening.
"N-No, Daddy, but I didn't think-"
"No, you didn't think, did you?" he barked.
Uneasy, Jamie left the kitchen and opened the front hall closet, removing her shoes and slipping them on her feet. She had just tied the laces when bits of conversation began to waft down the hall.
"What.think you're.little wretch!"
"Daddy, I.you and Mom.home until eight."
"You know the rules.your mouth, young lady.I said shut up!"
"Daddy.drunk, don't do.you'll regret."
"Shut your mouth! I'll do.I please, hear? Don't.what to do!"
Jamie's hand was on the doorknob when she heard it. A horrible, terrible sound that brought back nightmares she'd had even as a little girl.
She'd heard it before; running home one day, escaping from a brutal fistfight at school.a fistfight between two of her best friends.
It was the bruising sound of a fist hitting a face.
She didn't think; she just ran back down the hall and threw open the door, her first instinct to come to the rescue of her friend.
But what she saw horrified her. Shemeeka's father, in a drunken fit of rage, was looming over the ebony-haired girl. Already one eye was becoming black and swollen on Shemeeka's pretty face. Silent tears ran down her cheeks as she held her hands feebly over her head, trying to ward off her father's assault.
"Leave her alone!" The words had escaped Jamie's mouth before she realized the consequences of saying them.
On the good side, Shemeeka's father turned away from his trembling daughter. But now, he began to advance on Jamie, who stood petrified in the doorway.
For a brief instant, Shemeeka's eyes met Jamie's, and the brunette could plainly see the fear and terror swirling in her aqua orbs. Her lips moved, mouthing "Run!"
But while this was happening, Shemeeka's father had gotten even closer to Jamie. Once again he was towering over her, making Jamie feel tiny and insignificant.
"GO!" Shemeeka cried out.
And then the sheer terror of the situation overtook Jamie's mind. And she bolted.
She raced out the door as fast as she could, long brown ponytail streaming behind her, too afraid to look back and see if Mr. Tsumachiro was following her. She tore across the street and banged on the door of the Game Shop, pleading for someone to be there.
But then she remembered that Yugi, Yami, and their grandpa were going out after school.
Jamie whirled and ran down the sidewalk, dimly noticing that a large, shadowy figure was just coming out of the front door of Shemeeka's house.
Fortunately for her, Mr. Tsumachiro was obviously drunk and having trouble keeping his balance. It was no contest between a young terrified athlete and a middle-aged drunken man. She was down the street almost before he made it to the sidewalk.
Grumbling, he let her go and stalked back into the house. But when he reached the kitchen, he found that Shemeeka was gone. He checked all the rooms in the house, yet she was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, Jamie was still running, running as fast as she could towards the one place in Domino City where she knew she would be safe. But nature seemed to be against her; the gray skies looked like they were about to rain, to mirror her emotions.
Yet still she ran, using the adrenaline rush to keep her going long after she ordinarily would have collapsed. As it was, she reached the Kaiba mansion in about ten minutes.
Jamie was forced to pause for a minute at the wrought-iron gates, but her name and personal entrance code quickly gave her access to the grounds. She bolted for the door, which Seto himself had opened.
He was standing there, chestnut hair blowing slightly in the wind, when Jamie ran up to him. "Jamie, what-"
But he cut off as Jamie threw herself into his arms, shivering cold and crying bitterly. Frowning, he brought her inside and into the living room, instantly protective of his pretty little girlfriend.
He guided her to the couch, bundling her up in several heavy blankets in an attempt to keep her warm. "Jamie, sweetheart, are you okay?"
Sobbing, she shook her head. Her hands were trembling as she clutched the blankets more tightly to her chest, unable to choke out a single word through her tears.
"What's going on, Jamie? What happened?" Seto asked, his voice clearly laced with concern. He cupped her face in his hands protectively, staring into her wet turquoise eyes with his own sapphire ones.
"I-It was t-terrible!" Jamie stammered, her shoulders shaking. "Seto, I-I was so scared."
"It's all right now, Jamie, you're safe. Nothing is going to hurt you," Seto soothed. "Take a deep breath and tell me the whole thing, okay?"
Choking back a sob, Jamie nodded. "I-I went over to Shemeeka's house after school today.wanted to try and convince her that Yugi still loved her.but then.then it happened."
Seto gathered her into his arms and hugged her supportively. "It's okay, sweetheart, just tell me the whole thing."
"H-Her father came home.I could smell beer on his breath." Jamie recalled. "He got mad at Shemeeka b-because I was over. And he.he.oh, Seto, I can't-"
"We can't help Shemeeka unless I know what you saw," Seto murmured, gently kissing her forehead. "What did he do, Jamie?"
But Jamie just shook her head as fresh tears brimmed in her eyes. Trembling, she reached out and gently touched one of the scars on Seto's arms; scars left by his foster father.
Seto's voice became deathly serious. "Does he hit Shemeeka, Jamie?"
Slowly, torturously slowly, Jamie nodded.
"Did you see him do it?" Seto asked instantly.
Jamie bit her lip and shook her head. "N-No.but I know the sound of a fist hitting a face, Seto. And when I ran back, her face was all red.I think she'll have a black eye tomorrow.he chased me down the street.so I ran to you."
The brunette boy seemed to slump in his seat, his eyes losing all their determination. "If you didn't actually see him do it, it's going to make things much harder, Jamie. Child abuse is a serious accusation. However."
"We can't just leave her there!" Jamie exclaimed. "I can't just sit back and watch my friend get hurt!"
Seto placed a finger over her lips, a strange smile on his face. "Legally, we can't do much of anything. However.morally, we have every right to help, hmm?"
And then Jamie began to smile through her tears. "I guess.but what are we going to do?"
"Who else have you told about this?" Seto wanted to know.
Jamie shook her head. "No one. You were the first person I could get to. Yugi and Yami weren't home, or I would have gone to the Game Shop."
"Well, the first thing to do is to get in touch with Yami. I need to talk to him about this. Then, without a doubt, the next step will be to get Shemeeka out of that house."
"They might be home by now," Jamie whispered. "We could call."
"Sweetheart, I know how worried you are about Shemeeka. But you're exhausted. Close your eyes, go to sleep; I'll take care of everything that needs to be done, okay?" Seto said tenderly, resting his fingertips on her eyelids and gently closing them.
Jamie didn't resist. "I wish you'd let me help."
"Shhh. Go to sleep, Jamie. I promise you, everything is going to be fine."
But as Seto sat there, cradling Jamie in his arms as she drifted off to sleep, he wasn't so sure. Would everything be fine? Could it be?
He didn't know the answers. But hopefully, he could help protect an innocent little girl from a terror he himself had suffered many years before.
Once Jamie was asleep, Seto rose and stalked into his office, snatching up the phone and speed-dialing the Game Shop.
Yami answered on the second ring. "Hello, Game Shop. How may I-"
"Yami, it's me," Seto interrupted.
"Seto? Where are you, what do you need, and why are you calling me in the middle of the day when you should be at work?" Yami demanded.
"Which shall I answer first?" Seto deadpanned. "I'm at my house, and I'm not at work because I didn't feel like going, you idiot. Weren't you the one always bothering me about working too hard?"
"Come on, Seto. I know something's wrong. What is it?" Yami countered.
"Jamie just showed up on my doorstep, crying," Seto explained. "She-"
"Who did it and where can I find them?!" This time, it was Yami's turn to interrupt.
"Being overprotective of my girlfriend, Yami? Yeesh. No, no one hurt her- directly," Seto continued. "She was over at Shemeeka's house today. She thinks Mr. Tsumachiro hits Shemeeka, but she didn't see him do it. But you're quite aware that Jamie knows the sound of someone being beaten, and she has no reason to lie."
Yami nodded. "Yes, I know that. But now the question is, what do we do about it?"
"I want to get Shemeeka out of that house, Yami, and I want to do it now. But the problem is, I can't do it without breaking a couple laws."
"Never stopped you before."
"You know what I mean, you idiot. But I'm not just going to sit back and watch an innocent girl get abused in her own home."
"So why are you calling me?"
"Because I need a loophole to get Shemeeka out of there, and I know you've always got a few to spare."
Yami thought a minute, his cunning mind working on a solution to his best friend's problem. "Got one. But it's going to involve a lot of booze, some empty bottles, and a few conveniently placed police cars."
Seto caught on immediately. "If they get sent to jail, I'd have to take Shemeeka in, right?"
"Bingo. You know, you have the mental capacity to think these things up yourself, but for some reason, you choose to waste it on machines. Tsk, tsk, tsk," Yami scolded.
"So basically, you're saying you want me to stuff their car full of beer, get them horribly drunk, and then send them out onto a street of innocent pedestrians until the police arrive?"
"Not quite. Knock them out, fill their car full of beer, ram the car through the front of their house, and call the police. Then, even if they don't get busted for all the beer, Shemeeka can still stay with you because her house is trashed," Yami explained.
"Gee, while I'm at it, why don't I just put crack in their trunk?" Seto said sarcastically.
Yami looked thoughtful. "That would be good, too.crack would be a very convincing thing.plus the child abuse charge, that could get him a good 20 years."
"Great, but as far as I know, it's only her dad who's hurting her. What do I do about her mom?"
"Convince her that that it would be better for Shemeeka to stay with you. Have Jamie do it. You know she can talk anyone into anything," Yami said with a sly smile.
"Speaking as a personal victim, you're right. Anyway, thanks, Yami."
"Not a problem, man. Call me whenever you need to. And tell me Jamie's phone number so I can ask her out-"
"How about 1-800-YOU-WISH," Seto interrupted, barely suppressing a chuckle. "See you later, Yami."
"Bye, Seto."
Seto hung up the phone, a strangely amused smile on his face. Count on Yami to come up with an insane, demented, yet extremely plausible scheme. "It's almost scary, the ways his mind works," he mumbled.
"What's so scary?"
Seto looked up, startled, at the brunette standing in the doorway. "You're supposed to be asleep.bad dreams again?"
"Worried about Shemeeka," Jamie explained. "What are you going to do?"
"If I tell you, do you promise not to get involved?"
"Why?" Jamie's eyes narrowed. "Why would you make me promise something like that?"
Seto stepped forward, gently taking her in his arms. "Because I know how you feel about car accidents."
Jamie's face went pale. "You can't be serious."
"No one is going to get hurt. All we're going to do is send the car through the front of the house. After it crashes, we'll put Shemeeka's dad in the front seat with a case of beer next to him. The authorities will hold him until Shemeeka can tell them about how he hits her."
"What about their house? And what if something unexpected happens and someone gets hurt? What are you going to do then?" Jamie demanded.
"I can afford to fix the house later. I'll make sure no one gets hurt. I'm sorry, Jamie, but it's the only way I know of to get Shemeeka out of there," Seto said, slightly guilty.
"Please, just let me talk to her before you do anything," Jamie almost begged. "Maybe there's another way. Just please, don't do that."
"I know how hard it is for you," Seto whispered, stroking her hair tenderly.
"I lost my parents because of a drunk driver, Seto. You know as well as I do what it feels like to lose someone you love," Jamie replied, her voice unsteady. "I won't let you take that risk now."
"I never said that I'd be-"
"Don't give me that, Seto," Jamie interrupted, her turquoise eyes hard. "You should know by now that you can't hide things from me. I know that you'd be the one driving that car."
Seto nodded after a moment. "I wouldn't risk anyone else's life on that stunt."
"But don't you see what it would do to me if you got hurt?" Jamie demanded, her eyes filling with tears. "My parents died in their car accident. I couldn't bear it if I lost you, too."
Seto frowned, seeing how much just the idea of it was killing Jamie inside. "Jamie, I promise you, I won't use that idea. We'll think of another way to help Shemeeka, okay?"
Jamie rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes gently. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?"
The blue-eyed boy smiled. "Yes, but say it again anyway. I love hearing it."
She smiled, looking up to meet his gaze. "I love you, Seto Kaiba. Always."
"And I you, Jamie Light. Forever."
When the two finally parted from their embrace, Jamie immediately wanted to go find Shemeeka. "Who knows where she could be?" she explained. "And what that scum of a being that calls itself her father could have done to her while we've been gone?"
Seto nodded. "Absolutely. We can take the limo. But before we do anything, we're stopping by the Game Shop, okay?"
"Of course," Jamie replied.
Given the limo's cruising speed, the two were at the Game Shop in under five minutes. This time, however, the doors were open and they could see Yugi busying himself at the counter.
Yugi looked up as the bell jingled on the door, signaling Seto and Jamie's arrival. "Hey, guys. What's up?"
"Yugi, we need your help," Jamie replied, her voice anxious.
Yugi's brow furrowed. "Sure, guys. What's the problem?"
"Jamie thinks Shemeeka's father beats her," Seto answered, not bothering to be tactful about it. "We have to get her out of that house."
"What, you didn't like my idea?" another voice protested.
All three looked up to see Yami, emerging from the kitchen. He was holding a cookie in each hand and had a generally satisfied look on his face. "I thought it wasn't half bad!"
Seto cocked an eyebrow, nodding his head at Jamie. "I decided it was a bad idea," he said pointedly.
Yami immediately got his drift. "Oh, right. Well, it was a stupid idea, anyway."
"Look, Yugi, will you come with us? I want to go over and try to find her," Jamie interrupted. "I'm worried."
Yugi nodded. "Of course."
"Yami, you come with us, but stay on the sidewalk, as a lookout and also in case we need backup. Seto instructed. "The three of us will go in and get Shemeeka."
"Roger," Yami replied, saluting.
"Come on, then," Jamie said, a note of urgency creeping into her tone.
They hurried across the street and paused on the sidewalk outside Shemeeka's house. "Well, the door's open," Yugi observed.
"Good, then it's not breaking and entering," Yami said, unable to resist a joke. "It's just entering."
Seto elbowed him, and Yami shut up. "Okay, Yugi, you go look around for Shemeeka," the brunette said, his blue eyes calculating. "Jamie and I are going to try to find some evidence that her father was beating her. Don't spend more than ten minutes in the house, and the moment you find her, get out."
Yugi nodded. "Got it."
Jamie unconsciously moved a little closer to Seto. "This whole thing makes me nervous.why would he just leave the door open?"
Seto reached over and stroked her hair comfortingly. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I promised everything was going to work out. I won't let anyone get hurt, okay?"
Jamie managed a weak smile. "I know, but."
"Guys? I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but I think I saw a face at the upstairs window," Yami pointed out. "Black hair. I'd be willing to bet it was Shemeeka."
"Okay," Seto said decisively. "Let's go."
They carefully entered the building and fanned out; Yugi going up the stairs, and Seto and Jamie exploring the lower half of the house.
Yugi moved up the stairs with the grace of a cat, stepping on the parts of the step closest to the wall to avoid unnecessary creaking. The soft thudding noises his sneakers made on the steps were the only sounds.
Dimly, he registered his heart pounding in his chest. "Calm down," he whispered to himself, his lips barely uttering any sound. "Just find Shemeeka and get her out of here. That's all you have to do."
He made his way to the top of the stairs and gently peeked in each of the doors upstairs. One was obviously a bathroom, and another was the master bedroom. The last door in the hall was slightly ajar, so Yugi decided he should probably check that one out first.
It was unusual that the door was open; all the other doors in the hall were tightly closed. A single ray of light shone off something across the door, and Yugi had to squint to see what it was.
A chain lock. That's why the door was ajar.
"She must be in here," he murmured to himself. Fortunately, his hand was small enough that he was able to reach in and tug the chain, releasing a little more space.
After a few failed tries, he managed to get it open and poked his head in the room.
As it turned out, Shemeeka was just climbing down from her hideaway in the attic when Yugi looked in the door. "Shemeeka!" he whispered, his voice soft but surprised.
She whirled, her aqua eyes wide. "Yugi?" she whispered incredulously. "What are you doing here?"
"Shemeeka, Jamie told us the whole thing. We're here to get you out of this house," Yugi replied.
Shemeeka only hesitated a second before answering. "I-Is Jamie okay? I mean, did she get out before.before."
Yugi nodded. "She's fine. She made it to Seto's house and told him what had happened. He came and got us."
"Are they in the house?"
"Yes, but we can't spend much longer in here," Yugi whispered frantically. "Shemeeka, please, we have to go, now. Is there a way we can get out of the house from this room?"
Shemeeka thought a moment. "Well, there's a window in the attic near a drainpipe.we might be able to shimmy down it."
"Good. Lock your door, grab anything you absolutely can't live without, and let's go," Yugi instructed.
Shemeeka nodded. "Can you take Teresa for me?" she asked, handing Yugi the gray tabby cat. Then she produced a duffel bag from under her bed and threw a change of clothes, her sketchbook, and all the pictures she'd drawn into it. Yugi was too caught up in the situation to notice that all the pictures on Shemeeka's wall were of him.
Then, letting down the ladder, they climbed into the attic.
It was impossible to move through the attic without at least some boards creaking, so they gave up on the silent tactic and settled for moving as fast as they could. Shemeeka threw open the window and opened her duffel bag. "Put Teresa in here," she said quietly. "It'll be easier."
Yami, who was waiting a stone's throw away, looked up and saw what the two were planning.
// Aibou, throw down the duffel bag. I can catch it and make it easier on you both, all right? //
/ Don't drop it, Yami. That has Shemeeka's kitty in there. /
// Drop it? Me? Perish the thought. Just throw the bag, would you? //
/ Are you sure about this? /
// If I drop the bag, you can take apart the Millennium Puzzle. Now just throw it! //
/ Okay, Yami. I trust you. /
Yugi looked up from his momentary trance. "Yami's waiting down there, Shemeeka. Throw him the bag."
"But what if he-"
"He won't drop it," Yugi reassured her.
Shemeeka bit her lip, but then held the bag out the window. "Here goes," she whispered, letting the strap fall from her fingers.
Teresa mewled as Yami leaped straight up in the air, catching the bag as it fell into his arms and landing gracefully on his feet.
Then, one by one, Yugi and Shemeeka shimmied down the drainpipe and joined Yami. "You two go back to the Game Shop. Lock the door behind you," Yami ordered. "I'll wait here for Seto and Jamie."
"But-" Yugi protested.
"Go!"
Yugi knew better than to argue with Yami when he got like this. He hefted Shemeeka's bag onto his back, being careful to avoid jarring Teresa. Then he guided her across the street and into the Game Shop, locking the door behind them.
Yami looked up, frowning. "You'd better hurry, Blue-Eyes."
Meanwhile.
Jamie and Seto split up, each searching a room but staying within earshot of each other.
"Find anything?" Seto asked, glancing over the living room and frowning at its preciseness. The room was way too precise for a family with a sixteen- year-old girl. In fact, the rest of the house was the same way. What kind of family was this?!
"Couple of broken beer bottles," Jamie replied, poking her head in the kitchen. "But-what was that?"
Her ears perked up as she detected the sound of something heavy hitting the floor. "Seto, I just heard something. I'm going to check it out."
"Be careful, sweetheart," he replied, moving into the den.
Jamie took a few steps into the kitchen, her heart beginning to race. "I know I heard something, but what was it?" she whispered.
She had just walked past the door to the basement when a large, meaty hand landed on her shoulder. Eyes widening, she whirled to see Mr. Tsumachiro, his eyes hard yet unfocused, looming over her.
"You're the brat that was here earlier," he slurred, and even at that distance Jamie could still detect the smell of alcohol on his breath.
The momentary shock gone, realization flooded through Jamie like a tidal wave. "SETO!" she shrieked, just before Mr. Tsumachiro clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Shut up!" he growled. "I'll deal with you in a minute."
Terrified, Jamie bit his hand hard enough to draw blood. "SETO!"
Angered, Mr. Tsumachiro slapped the side of her head, sending her senses reeling. Colors spun before Jamie's eyes, and suddenly she couldn't keep her balance. The world was blacking out-
Seto entered the room just in time to see Jamie collapse to the ground at Mr. Tsumachiro's feet, unconscious.
~*~*~
Woo! Another cliffhanger! Whoever invented cliffhangers was a genius.
Seto: You're being malevolent again.
Yami: whistles Big word.
Seto: I have a big vocabulary.
Yami: Don't you just hate it when she does cliffhangers?
Seto: Indubitably.
Yami: There you go again with the big words.
Seto: shrug It's part of my charm.
Don't worry, everything is going to end up happy in the end. But that end will come a lot faster if you review! Nice, supportive, helpful reviews are always welcomed. Hint, hint. Anywho, Joey the Flame Swordsman and Flamina, the angel minion of fire are going to torch, annihilate, wipe out, destroy, obliterate, demolish, eliminate, and eradicate all nasty reviews.
Seto: Macavity, put down the thesaurus.
Hush. Anyway, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!