QoH: Happy Holidays, everybody! ^_^ Oh, I forgot to mention in the last chapter that Isis is my character. lol I've heard there's character on the show named that (Ishizu?), but this Isis is of my own creation, inspired (as Yugi mentioned) by the goddess Isis. She'll be playing a more substantial role in the sequel to this story, called "Memories Of The Land Of Eternity." I think that's what I'm going to be calling it, anyway. This one will focus mainly on Yami, and it'll be entwined with the events of this one, though it will have more depth to it, I'm thinking. ^_^ This will probably end up being a trilogy, but the next fic will be the main one, I believe. What I've got in my head is a plot filled with all the good stuff (in my opinion. lol). There's gonna be Ancient Egypt (I've done extensive research on it, I swear! lol), action/adventure, intrigue, dueling (if I can manage it. I don't play, much to my dismay, so I might get some help from friends on this bit), mystery, romance (hehe^_~guess who), a good dose of the supernatural (well, duh. its a YGO fic. thats a given. lol), and all the rest will hopefully be thrown in there, too! ^_^ I'm gonna have fun writin it, I think. I hope you guys will have just as much fun reading it!

Chapter 9: Beginning's End

Yugi's Journal

Late Friday night, November 16th

It's been a while since I've written in this thing, I know. I've just been adjusting to my new life, I guess. I look back at the previous entry, all the way back at the end of July, and can't believe it's been so long since then. It still feels strange without Tea here, even months later. I keep expecting her to come running up to us, making apologies for being late. Yami says this is natural. At first, the guys were all going out of their way to be exceptionally nice to me, as though I might break down crying at any moment. To be honest, if Yami hadn't shown me what had happened in the past, I just might have. As it was, I told them I was okay and didn't any special treatment. Now, it's almost back to normal. I've been helping Grandpa with running the store more lately, since we've been getting more business with all the referrals Duke's been sending over. His Dungeon Dice Monsters game is really taking off. We've even added some new additions to the store, so we could accommodate the products he's sent over for us.

Joey's started working here at the Game Shop, too. With Serenity out of the hospital and everything now, he's wanting some money to help take care of her, his Big Brother mode going full steam. Serenity keeps telling him she doesn't care if she had all the money in the world, she's just glad she can see and is with her big brother again. Joey only grins and keeps right on doing what he wants. I think he might have a surprise planned for her, by the way he's acting. Maybe it has something to do with Christmas, but I don't know for sure, he won't say.

Tristan's still trying to get up the nerve to ask Serenity out, which I don't think Joey's too happy about. I really have no idea why he's so worried about it, actually. I know he's protective of her and all, but Tristan's one of his best friends. What Serenity thinks of all this, I have no idea, she's not saying a whole lot on the subject. I think she knows, though. Serenity doesn't seem like the type to miss much. Tristan's also taken more of an interest in Duel Monsters, and he's not half bad, especially since Grandpa's been training him. He seems to be taking the whole "endless days and sleepless nights" thing better than Joey did, for some reason. It looks like he has something of an affinity for cards of the military variety, and does quite well by them.

Bakura, for his part, seems to have developed something of a crush recently. Who unwary girl is, however, I haven't the faintest idea. I've just noticed that he's been kind of out of it lately, and the signs are easily recognized by someone who's been there (still there, really). I've asked him about it, but he won't tell me. He just blushes and clams up until I change the subject.

Luckily, the spirit of his Ring hasn't made an appearance for some time. I'd really hate to see what would happen if he came out at some inopportune time, like when Bakura's trying to talk to this girl, whoever she is. Not exactly the world's best topic for conversation, I wouldn't think. He says that he's been working on controlling the power for a while now, and he's really starting to make some headway on the subject. Yami's especially glad about this.

Speaking of Yami, he's been acting rather oddly of late, as well. As to why, I think I have a better idea of the cause where he's concerned than with Bakura. There's a new girl at school, a transfer in her final year. She looks extraordinarily familar, although I'm quite sure I've never met her before. Though Yami won't say anything about her, I think she may be the reincarnation of Isis, the girl in his memory. This may make for some interesting times soon enough.

Tea sent us a video letter a couple days ago, showing us some of the sites around a snow-covered New York. She's really having the time of her life over there, I can tell by the look on her face. She took us on a tour of her school, too. I can see why she likes it; it looks like an amazing place. Grandpa doesn't seem to mind that I've watched the tape at least five times. If he comes in and I'm watching it, he just smiles to himself and goes on with what he's doing. I sent her one back, telling her all the things that have been going on lately. Well, most of them, anyway. I really hope she likes it.

****

Yugi shut his journal and picked up a picture of his friends that sat on his desk. He smiled, thinking about the day it had been taken. It was when Serenity had gotten out of the hospital. Tea thought it would make a wonderful group shot, with the whole gang there. Grandpa took it, with the rest of us grinning outside the Game Shop. When the pictures were developped, everyone got their own sets. That was a really great day...

He set it back down and turned out his desk light, then smiled and whispered, "Goodnight, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night 'til it be morrow." Yugi stood up and stretched before going to bed, wondering, as he did every night, what Tea was doing right then. Yami's right, he thought as he started to drift off, I'll see her again...someday...

~No, I can't stop loving you.

It's all right.
No, I won't stop loving you.

Why should I, tell me why?

Why should I...even try?~

QoH: ^_^ Yah, I know that was Juliet's line in Shakespeare, but it fits here, I think. Obviously, this is the end of Sweet Sorrow, but there's still the sequels! ^_~ PLEASE REVIEW!