Hey YGO fans-
Welcome to Chapter one of Windsong. Windsong is the first YGO fic we've ever tried to write. Please review and tell us what you think! Just a few notes. Thanks to Tim for letting us use his name! We really appreciate it, because it really seemed to fit the character. And Ben, too, for the same reason. Also, thanks, Tristan, for offering to help. Even though we declined your offer, we still appreciate it. Okay.
This story does not start at the beginning, but more in the middle. And when you get to the end of the story, it should all make sense.
When something is enclosed in it means that two people are talking telepathically. Ooh.
Umm I can't think of anything else useful to tell you right now. Except, please don't forget to review! Thanks!
-Moon Shadow & Endless Myth
.Isn't anybody trying to find me? Why doesn't somebody come take me home? It's a damn cold night, trying to figure out this life. Come, take me by the hand, take me someplace new.don't know who you are, but I.... I'm with you.
-I'm With You, Avril Lavigne
* * *
Chapter One
Lebecca backed up into the wall, the rough surface scratching her back. She was moving away from the figure approaching her through the rain.
The fog blurred her vision, and the rain made her blonde hair stick to her neck, but she faced him.
"Dan, leave me alone." She cried, the wind picking up her cry and carrying it through the sky. She could hear the echo. Me alone.alone.alo...
"You owe me a rematch, Lee!" Dan grabbed her arm, but she jerked it free.
"Go get a life, Macio!" She said, shaking her head. "It's just a game!"
"So? That's no reason for you to cheat!"
"Cheat? Hey, Dan, I'm not the one whose deck was rigged!"
"You're asking for it, Lee!" He reached out and slapped her. She gasped and put her hand up to her cheek.
"Cut it out!" She tried to push past him, but he blocked her way, and Lee retreated again. "Look, Dan, I'd give you a rematch, but I don't have my deck!"
"Bad excuse, Lebecca Kaiba!"
"Aw, Dan, lay off!" a new voice broke in, and Lee and Dan both turned to see who was talking.
It was a average-height, blonde hair, brown-eyed boy that Lee knew all to well, leaning against the side of the school building. Tim Lear. With him were Ben Caraway, a tall senior with red hair and a skateboard in one hand, and Matt Delacorte, a tan-skinned, dark-haired boy, carrying a back pack.
Dan turned away from Lee, who let out a silent sigh of relief and gathered her purse off the ground, slinging it over her shoulder.
"God, Lear, can't you mind your own business?" He hissed, his eyes flashing.
"No."
"I don't want you to get in the middle of this! It's between me and her!"
"Not anymore!" Ben pushed Tim out of the way and looked Dan straight in the eye. "Macio, we all saw you lose today! Lee kicked your ass out there, and there's no use denying it."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own deck. "I'd be happy to duel you if Lee won't, but-"
"Caraway, I don't have anything against you, right now, but let me tell you, you're really pushing it!" Dan yelled. "Why are you guys here anyway? Stay outta my business!" he said, staring at Ben.
Lee stood, her back to the wall, watching. Suddenly a movement next to her startled her into seeing Matt, standing next to her.
"You okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" She asked in response to his question, glaring at him.
Matt just smiled. "I'm Matt Delacorte. I was there today when you demolished Tim over there at his favorite game."
"I saw you." Lee started to say something else, but Dan jerked her by the arm and pulled her towards him. Tim straightened up.
"Hey, Dan, didn't your mother ever teach you not to pick on girls?"
"What's wrong, Tim?" Dan smirked at him. "You want her? You can have her, for all I care." Dan swung Lee towards Ben, who caught her hand and pulled her behind him.
"She's nothing but worthless, law-breaking crap anyway!"
Lee looked down and Matt stepped forwards. "You jerk!" he yelled. "Say that again and you'll wish you'd-"
"Matt! Don't." Lee spoke up quietly. Her right cheek was still red where Dan had hit her. "Don't waste your breath. It's not worth it." She shrugged. "Not that I care. I'm outta here!"
She wrestled free of Ben's hold, and made her way out of the alley, into the fresh, open air, leaving Tim staring after her in disbelief.
Lee ran through the deserted, rainy streets; head down, sweat dripping from her forehead. She could see the bus stop a few feet ahead of her, and headed towards it. When she heard footsteps behind her, she sped up, running as
fast as she could. But Tim could run faster then she could, and soon caught up. He dodged in front of her. Lee tried to avoid him and
go around, but he caught her shoulders and held her still. For a few seconds, the only sound was the rain on the sidewalk.
"What the hell is your problem?"
"Get out of my way!"
"We just saved your ass back there, and you left without saying anything!"
"I didn't need your help!"
"Could've fooled me! And-" Tim broke off and sighed. "And Matt would've gotten beat up for you, if you'd let him!"
Lee stared at him. Tim slapped his forehead. "Okay, maybe that didn't come out the way
I meant it to. But really, Lee. We were just looking out for you! We're just trying to be your friends."
"Well, this may come as a surprise to you, Tim Lear, but I don't want anything to do with you, or Matt, or Ben. So just stay away from me and everything will be cool!" She
walked past him, and her shoulder brushed up against his. She stopped, and for a fraction of a second, she was staring into his deep brown eyes.
"Okay, Lebecca. You win. We'll leave you alone." Tim stepped out of the way. Lee kept walking towards the bus stop.
"Hey Lee!" She heard Tim call. "The reason we were following you-you forgot this!" She turned to see him throwing a package to her. She caught it neatly and tore away the brown paper that covered it. She looked up in surprise when she saw what it was, and saw
Tim walking away, in the direction of a huge black building. He wasn't to far away from her, and she could see, in the shiny surface of the building, his reflection, and her reflection right next to it. She gasped in surprise: They looked almost exactly alike.
Sitting on the bus on the way to Domino, Lee absently shuffled through her dueling deck, which had just been returned to her.
We were just looking out for you. I'm Matt Delacorte. Lay off, Dan!
She remembered the way Matt had had his arm around her shoulders, and the way Ben had squeezed her hand reassuringly. Then she
remembered how Tim had challenged her at school earlier, and she was confused. Maybe it was just a friendly challenge. But with
Dan it hadn't been friendly at all. I didn't want to challenge him. I didn't. He might tell it that way, but he was attacking me and I
didn't want to get hurt. But I did anyway. And besides-
"Honey, you look all beat up! Are you okay?"
"Yes, I-"
"Let me get you a tissue, hon, and we can get that nasty cut all cleaned up!" The speaker, a large, friendly motherly woman rummaged
through her purse, triumphantly bringing out a tissue, which Lee accepted gratefully. If she got to her uncle's house looking like this,
it would raise all sorts of awkward questions that she didn't want to answer.
"Thank you."
"Sure, sweetie, sure." The woman peered closely at the cut. "That's one deep cut, baby! However did you get that?" "Oh-I just got into a fight at school, and, well, you know." Lee smiled as if to say, yes, it's true, isn't that silly? The woman clucked her tongue sympathetically, and said, "My, my. You be careful, you hear?"
She smiled at Lee and rose, taking her purse with her as the bus lurched to a stop. Lee smiled weakly and pressed the tissue harder against her cut. She held it there with one hand and with the
other she turned over the top card on her deck. When she saw it, she gasped and dropped the tissue.
The Magician of Faith.
Lee stared at it, confused. But I don't have that card, she thought to herself. Then she remembered the smile Tim had given her. She
covered her face with her hands, her deck resting on her lap. He had given her more than a smile. That stubborn pig. He was making a promise.
But why me?
Tim Lear ran down the street. I am never going to make it on time. Crud, Cindy's going to kill me if I'm not back in time to see Mother! He thought to himself as he sprinted towards his neighborhood. He heard a car drive up behind him, but he didn't stop to
see, and instead kept running, with his head down.
"Hey Tim!" He looked up when he heard Ben calling him, to see a beat up blue car pull up besides him. Ben was hanging out of the
passenger side window.
"You want a ride, Tim?" Ben's girlfriend, Sara Vole, was driving. Tim grinned and got into the backseat besides Matt.
"Dude, we've been looking all over for you. Where'd you run off to?" Ben had turned around and was looking at his friend curiously. "I mean, why didn't you at least wait for the rest of us?"
"I had to give her deck back, and I wanted to do it before I forgot. Hey Sara, could you take me to my house? Cindy's gonna murder me."
"That's where I was going." Sara looked back at Tim and smiled, her black hair swinging. "It would suck for you to be late to see your mother."
"What did Lee say?" Ben persisted.
"Well..."
"Spill."
"She basically told me to go to hell and take you with me."
"O-kay! That's positive!"
"Well, I put the Magician of Faith in her deck and she should be really confused when she sees it, but maybe she'll get the message."
"You have the Magician of Faith?" Matt asked. Ben just stared at him.
"Wait. Why did you do that?" Ben questioned.
"You have the Magician of Faith?"
"What, Ben, can't you see the deep underlying message?"
"Noooo..."
"YOU have the Magician of Faith???"
"Shut up!" Ben shook his head. "It's a good card."
"Ohh, guys, guess what happens tomorrow?" Tim smiled evilly.
"What?"
"I turn sixteen tomorrow. I can drive tomorrow!"
"Wow, Tim, that's excellent." Ben paused. "Guess what happens in August?"
"What?"
"I turn eighteen. I'm going to college next year, me amigo." Ben gave his friend the thumbs up sign and faced forward, whistling under his breath. Tim turned to Matt.
"Sometimes I really hate that guy."
Lee stepped through the door into the apartment her uncle shared with his friend. The front hall was unusually clear and
uncluttered. Lee heard voices and walked into the den, a large, spacious room, with marks on the floor from where furniture had been
been pulled from its original position to where it was now, two chairs at either end of a small table. They didn't notice her come in,
and Lee walked quietly around behind her uncle, peering over his shoulder at a fan of five cards. She studied the field considering the
moves he could make. They were limited. ...And that was not one of them. So much for secrecy.
"I wouldn't play that card, if I were you." Lee bent her head down over the field, her hair falling over her face and pointed her finger at a different card.
"I'd play that in combination with that"-she pointed again- "And attack that."
Her uncle, a tall, blonde haired man started and turned around to see her staring innocently at the board.
"Lee-" he began, but she clapped a hand over his mouth. "I know. I'm late. I was...hanging with some friends. But that's not
important," she continued, slightly turning one of his face down cards so she could see what it was. "Whats important, is that- holy
god! Why don't you just play that monster and then activate this card?" Lee shook her head in disgust as her uncle smiled sheepishly up at her.
"I don't know, Lee. Just forgot it was there, I guess." He reached for a card in his hand and placed it on the field. "I play the Flame Swordsman in attack mode...and activate Salamandra to raise its attack to 2500. And attack the Curse of Dragon, I guess."
"Well, at least we're getting somewhere now." Lee turned and went into the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, "I'm hungry, okay? give me thirty seconds."
"Cool."
Her uncle's friend, who had been watching quietly, drew a card from his deck and smiled. "Well, Joey, You played well today, but
somehow I think I've got you beat." He flipped up a facedown card. De- spell. "First, I'll get rid of Salamandra with this. And now..."
He reached for a card in his hand. "...I'll play the Dark Magician! In attack mode! And after I attack that'll bring you life points down
to...negative 700? Yeah, that seems right." He smiled at his friend. "Good game, he said as he collected his cards off the table. "You
almost beat-" He dropped his cards in surprise as Lee came back in to the room. "Lebecca! What happened to your face?" He ran
towards her, concerned. "Joey, come look at this! God, Lee! What were you doing?"
Joey threw down his hand and rushed to his niece. "Yeah, you look like someone beat you up pretty bad."
"No-no, I just fell getting off the bus."
"Getting off the bus?" Joey looked over his niece's shoulder at his friend. "Whadda ya say, Yug? This look like a fall to you?"
"I don't know." Yugi Motou looked at Lee with his deep eyes. "I believe you, but...aw, c'mon, lets get Lee cleaned up before we do anything."
"Sure." Joey grabbed Lee's shoulders and marched her into the kitchen, where a year's worth of dirty dishes were sitting, waiting to
get washed. When Lee was pushed into view of the mirror that was hanging above the sink, she gasped. Her face was cut where Dan's fingernails had scratched her, and it was bleeding. She had a rip in her shirt, and her some of her hair had come out of it's braid.
If I had known I looked this bad, I would've cleaned up more before I got here. She thought wistfully. Dammit, why didn't Tim tell me I was so beat up?
"God, Lee!" Joey was saying, grabbing a damp towel and wiping the dirt and blood off her face. "Do you have any idea what your sister is going to do to me? Any idea at all?"
"Well, I'll just tell her it wasn't your-Ow!" She flinched as Yugi gently rubbed soapy water into the big cut on her forehead.
"Hold still!" he quietly reprimanded. "It's gonna sting a little."
"You know, Lebecca, if you didn't get into fights at school nearly as often, you wouldn't have to put up with thins."
Lee sighed. "I told, you Uncle; I wasn't fighting." She lied. "I just had a bad fall and-" As if on cue, the phone rang. Having some idea who it was, and not wanting to talk to them, Lee suggested, "Let's just let that go."
"Good idea, " Joey said. "We have to get you cleaned up. We'll just let the answering machine get that."
Lee started. "You have an answering machine? Since when?"
"Oh, we just installed it today. For when we don't want to answer the phone, you know?"
*Beep* This is the Motou-Wheeler's house. We're not answering because,
A)We don't want to talk to you B) We're not home Or C) We're home, want to talk to you, but unable to come to the phone. Please leave an un-detailed message at the beep, and we may or may not get back to you. Thanks! *Beep*
"Um, hi, Lee, this is Matt Delacorte, I was wondering if you could give me the English assignment, and I also wanted to make sure that you're okay after Dan-" the voice was cut off as Lee snatched the phone of the hook.
"Shut up!" She hissed at Matt. "You're going to get me in trouble!"
"Sorry, I-"
"I have to go! Good -bye!"
"Wait!"
"What?"
"Can I have the English assignment?"
Lee sighed. "Write a report about something that was invented a long time ago that we still use today!"
"Thanks."
"Good-bye Matt!"
"Later." He hung up. Lee slowly replaced the receiver, and turned to see Joey and Yugi looking at her, arms folded.
"All right, Lee." Joey pushed her into a chair. "You've got some explaining to do."
***
He crossed his arms across his chest and stared at the girl standing across from him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, his heart pounding.
"Well," She said, moving closer, "I was alone, and saw you, and thought that if you're alone, and I'm alone, we might as well be alone together.
"You should leave. It won't look right if they come back, and we're here...together..." His voice trailed off into silence, and she moved closer still, close enough for him to touch.
"Why not? I thought we were friends..." She stared at him innocently.
"I know what you've been doing, and it's not right! I won't be like the others, I won't be so easily-"
"So you've heard?" She cut him off. "So have a lot of the others. But I don't mind." She shook her head, making her blonde hair wave back and forth. "If you know as much as you say, then you know that..." She stepped right up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing up against him.
"I'll know what?" He protested lamely, trying to release himself from her grasp, and failing. Not really wanting to succeed. "What do I know?"
"You'd know that this isn't how I operate," She sighed, and when he looked down at her tears were forming in her eyes. It occurred to him that she might be being sincere.
"No." He said quietly, "It's not." He leaned down and stroked her face with his hand. "But, if you knew me better-" He stepped back, his hand lingering on her cheek momentarily before it dropped back to his side- "You'd know that I don't either."
"I-"
"Don't talk to me! I know what you're trying to do, and I won't give in!"
She looked at him sadly. "How can I convince you that I'm not leading you on?"
"You can't."
"But I'm not!"
"That's what you told-"
"I know. But I'm sorry. The only person I've ever loved is-"
"Let me guess." He said sarcastically. "Standing right in front of you?"
She looked down. "Yes."
"Oh, okay. I guess you are expecting me to hug you, and kiss you and tell you everything's all right?"
"No!" Now she was angry, too. "I just wanted to say that-" But she was cut off when he drew her close and pushed her head against
his shoulder. He pulled her up and kissed her gently.
"I love you, too." They kissed again.
* * *
Moon Shadow: I sorta like it as a first chapter.
Endless Myth: You just say that because you wrote it.
Moon Shadow: Nooo! I like it!
Endless Myth: Yeah, whatever.
Moon Shadow: No, really. And even if it sucks, it's my first Yu-Gi-Oh fic, so you can cut me a little slack!
Endless Myth: Yeah, I can imagine that YGO would be a little different from Ninja Turtle fanfic.
Moon Shadow: You dissing the TMNT?
Endless Myth: Yeah.
Moon Shadow: I hate you.
Endless Myth: That's great. Okay, please read and review! Really, just click the little button and write something.
Moon Shadow: Seriously. It'll take about thirty seconds.
Endless Myth: Oh, FYI, we don't, unfortunately, own YGO. Oh, well.
Moon Shadow: Oh, and, please tell us in your review if you're interested in seeing the second chapter. This is different from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But they rock too.
Endless Myth: Let's try to stick to the subject.
Moon Shadow: Happy multi-cultural winter holiday, everyone!
P.S. from both of us: If you could, in your review please state that you DON"T want Ben to ride his skateboard off the roof, because we're really worried for his personal safety right now.
Welcome to Chapter one of Windsong. Windsong is the first YGO fic we've ever tried to write. Please review and tell us what you think! Just a few notes. Thanks to Tim for letting us use his name! We really appreciate it, because it really seemed to fit the character. And Ben, too, for the same reason. Also, thanks, Tristan, for offering to help. Even though we declined your offer, we still appreciate it. Okay.
This story does not start at the beginning, but more in the middle. And when you get to the end of the story, it should all make sense.
When something is enclosed in it means that two people are talking telepathically. Ooh.
Umm I can't think of anything else useful to tell you right now. Except, please don't forget to review! Thanks!
-Moon Shadow & Endless Myth
.Isn't anybody trying to find me? Why doesn't somebody come take me home? It's a damn cold night, trying to figure out this life. Come, take me by the hand, take me someplace new.don't know who you are, but I.... I'm with you.
-I'm With You, Avril Lavigne
* * *
Chapter One
Lebecca backed up into the wall, the rough surface scratching her back. She was moving away from the figure approaching her through the rain.
The fog blurred her vision, and the rain made her blonde hair stick to her neck, but she faced him.
"Dan, leave me alone." She cried, the wind picking up her cry and carrying it through the sky. She could hear the echo. Me alone.alone.alo...
"You owe me a rematch, Lee!" Dan grabbed her arm, but she jerked it free.
"Go get a life, Macio!" She said, shaking her head. "It's just a game!"
"So? That's no reason for you to cheat!"
"Cheat? Hey, Dan, I'm not the one whose deck was rigged!"
"You're asking for it, Lee!" He reached out and slapped her. She gasped and put her hand up to her cheek.
"Cut it out!" She tried to push past him, but he blocked her way, and Lee retreated again. "Look, Dan, I'd give you a rematch, but I don't have my deck!"
"Bad excuse, Lebecca Kaiba!"
"Aw, Dan, lay off!" a new voice broke in, and Lee and Dan both turned to see who was talking.
It was a average-height, blonde hair, brown-eyed boy that Lee knew all to well, leaning against the side of the school building. Tim Lear. With him were Ben Caraway, a tall senior with red hair and a skateboard in one hand, and Matt Delacorte, a tan-skinned, dark-haired boy, carrying a back pack.
Dan turned away from Lee, who let out a silent sigh of relief and gathered her purse off the ground, slinging it over her shoulder.
"God, Lear, can't you mind your own business?" He hissed, his eyes flashing.
"No."
"I don't want you to get in the middle of this! It's between me and her!"
"Not anymore!" Ben pushed Tim out of the way and looked Dan straight in the eye. "Macio, we all saw you lose today! Lee kicked your ass out there, and there's no use denying it."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own deck. "I'd be happy to duel you if Lee won't, but-"
"Caraway, I don't have anything against you, right now, but let me tell you, you're really pushing it!" Dan yelled. "Why are you guys here anyway? Stay outta my business!" he said, staring at Ben.
Lee stood, her back to the wall, watching. Suddenly a movement next to her startled her into seeing Matt, standing next to her.
"You okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" She asked in response to his question, glaring at him.
Matt just smiled. "I'm Matt Delacorte. I was there today when you demolished Tim over there at his favorite game."
"I saw you." Lee started to say something else, but Dan jerked her by the arm and pulled her towards him. Tim straightened up.
"Hey, Dan, didn't your mother ever teach you not to pick on girls?"
"What's wrong, Tim?" Dan smirked at him. "You want her? You can have her, for all I care." Dan swung Lee towards Ben, who caught her hand and pulled her behind him.
"She's nothing but worthless, law-breaking crap anyway!"
Lee looked down and Matt stepped forwards. "You jerk!" he yelled. "Say that again and you'll wish you'd-"
"Matt! Don't." Lee spoke up quietly. Her right cheek was still red where Dan had hit her. "Don't waste your breath. It's not worth it." She shrugged. "Not that I care. I'm outta here!"
She wrestled free of Ben's hold, and made her way out of the alley, into the fresh, open air, leaving Tim staring after her in disbelief.
Lee ran through the deserted, rainy streets; head down, sweat dripping from her forehead. She could see the bus stop a few feet ahead of her, and headed towards it. When she heard footsteps behind her, she sped up, running as
fast as she could. But Tim could run faster then she could, and soon caught up. He dodged in front of her. Lee tried to avoid him and
go around, but he caught her shoulders and held her still. For a few seconds, the only sound was the rain on the sidewalk.
"What the hell is your problem?"
"Get out of my way!"
"We just saved your ass back there, and you left without saying anything!"
"I didn't need your help!"
"Could've fooled me! And-" Tim broke off and sighed. "And Matt would've gotten beat up for you, if you'd let him!"
Lee stared at him. Tim slapped his forehead. "Okay, maybe that didn't come out the way
I meant it to. But really, Lee. We were just looking out for you! We're just trying to be your friends."
"Well, this may come as a surprise to you, Tim Lear, but I don't want anything to do with you, or Matt, or Ben. So just stay away from me and everything will be cool!" She
walked past him, and her shoulder brushed up against his. She stopped, and for a fraction of a second, she was staring into his deep brown eyes.
"Okay, Lebecca. You win. We'll leave you alone." Tim stepped out of the way. Lee kept walking towards the bus stop.
"Hey Lee!" She heard Tim call. "The reason we were following you-you forgot this!" She turned to see him throwing a package to her. She caught it neatly and tore away the brown paper that covered it. She looked up in surprise when she saw what it was, and saw
Tim walking away, in the direction of a huge black building. He wasn't to far away from her, and she could see, in the shiny surface of the building, his reflection, and her reflection right next to it. She gasped in surprise: They looked almost exactly alike.
Sitting on the bus on the way to Domino, Lee absently shuffled through her dueling deck, which had just been returned to her.
We were just looking out for you. I'm Matt Delacorte. Lay off, Dan!
She remembered the way Matt had had his arm around her shoulders, and the way Ben had squeezed her hand reassuringly. Then she
remembered how Tim had challenged her at school earlier, and she was confused. Maybe it was just a friendly challenge. But with
Dan it hadn't been friendly at all. I didn't want to challenge him. I didn't. He might tell it that way, but he was attacking me and I
didn't want to get hurt. But I did anyway. And besides-
"Honey, you look all beat up! Are you okay?"
"Yes, I-"
"Let me get you a tissue, hon, and we can get that nasty cut all cleaned up!" The speaker, a large, friendly motherly woman rummaged
through her purse, triumphantly bringing out a tissue, which Lee accepted gratefully. If she got to her uncle's house looking like this,
it would raise all sorts of awkward questions that she didn't want to answer.
"Thank you."
"Sure, sweetie, sure." The woman peered closely at the cut. "That's one deep cut, baby! However did you get that?" "Oh-I just got into a fight at school, and, well, you know." Lee smiled as if to say, yes, it's true, isn't that silly? The woman clucked her tongue sympathetically, and said, "My, my. You be careful, you hear?"
She smiled at Lee and rose, taking her purse with her as the bus lurched to a stop. Lee smiled weakly and pressed the tissue harder against her cut. She held it there with one hand and with the
other she turned over the top card on her deck. When she saw it, she gasped and dropped the tissue.
The Magician of Faith.
Lee stared at it, confused. But I don't have that card, she thought to herself. Then she remembered the smile Tim had given her. She
covered her face with her hands, her deck resting on her lap. He had given her more than a smile. That stubborn pig. He was making a promise.
But why me?
Tim Lear ran down the street. I am never going to make it on time. Crud, Cindy's going to kill me if I'm not back in time to see Mother! He thought to himself as he sprinted towards his neighborhood. He heard a car drive up behind him, but he didn't stop to
see, and instead kept running, with his head down.
"Hey Tim!" He looked up when he heard Ben calling him, to see a beat up blue car pull up besides him. Ben was hanging out of the
passenger side window.
"You want a ride, Tim?" Ben's girlfriend, Sara Vole, was driving. Tim grinned and got into the backseat besides Matt.
"Dude, we've been looking all over for you. Where'd you run off to?" Ben had turned around and was looking at his friend curiously. "I mean, why didn't you at least wait for the rest of us?"
"I had to give her deck back, and I wanted to do it before I forgot. Hey Sara, could you take me to my house? Cindy's gonna murder me."
"That's where I was going." Sara looked back at Tim and smiled, her black hair swinging. "It would suck for you to be late to see your mother."
"What did Lee say?" Ben persisted.
"Well..."
"Spill."
"She basically told me to go to hell and take you with me."
"O-kay! That's positive!"
"Well, I put the Magician of Faith in her deck and she should be really confused when she sees it, but maybe she'll get the message."
"You have the Magician of Faith?" Matt asked. Ben just stared at him.
"Wait. Why did you do that?" Ben questioned.
"You have the Magician of Faith?"
"What, Ben, can't you see the deep underlying message?"
"Noooo..."
"YOU have the Magician of Faith???"
"Shut up!" Ben shook his head. "It's a good card."
"Ohh, guys, guess what happens tomorrow?" Tim smiled evilly.
"What?"
"I turn sixteen tomorrow. I can drive tomorrow!"
"Wow, Tim, that's excellent." Ben paused. "Guess what happens in August?"
"What?"
"I turn eighteen. I'm going to college next year, me amigo." Ben gave his friend the thumbs up sign and faced forward, whistling under his breath. Tim turned to Matt.
"Sometimes I really hate that guy."
Lee stepped through the door into the apartment her uncle shared with his friend. The front hall was unusually clear and
uncluttered. Lee heard voices and walked into the den, a large, spacious room, with marks on the floor from where furniture had been
been pulled from its original position to where it was now, two chairs at either end of a small table. They didn't notice her come in,
and Lee walked quietly around behind her uncle, peering over his shoulder at a fan of five cards. She studied the field considering the
moves he could make. They were limited. ...And that was not one of them. So much for secrecy.
"I wouldn't play that card, if I were you." Lee bent her head down over the field, her hair falling over her face and pointed her finger at a different card.
"I'd play that in combination with that"-she pointed again- "And attack that."
Her uncle, a tall, blonde haired man started and turned around to see her staring innocently at the board.
"Lee-" he began, but she clapped a hand over his mouth. "I know. I'm late. I was...hanging with some friends. But that's not
important," she continued, slightly turning one of his face down cards so she could see what it was. "Whats important, is that- holy
god! Why don't you just play that monster and then activate this card?" Lee shook her head in disgust as her uncle smiled sheepishly up at her.
"I don't know, Lee. Just forgot it was there, I guess." He reached for a card in his hand and placed it on the field. "I play the Flame Swordsman in attack mode...and activate Salamandra to raise its attack to 2500. And attack the Curse of Dragon, I guess."
"Well, at least we're getting somewhere now." Lee turned and went into the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, "I'm hungry, okay? give me thirty seconds."
"Cool."
Her uncle's friend, who had been watching quietly, drew a card from his deck and smiled. "Well, Joey, You played well today, but
somehow I think I've got you beat." He flipped up a facedown card. De- spell. "First, I'll get rid of Salamandra with this. And now..."
He reached for a card in his hand. "...I'll play the Dark Magician! In attack mode! And after I attack that'll bring you life points down
to...negative 700? Yeah, that seems right." He smiled at his friend. "Good game, he said as he collected his cards off the table. "You
almost beat-" He dropped his cards in surprise as Lee came back in to the room. "Lebecca! What happened to your face?" He ran
towards her, concerned. "Joey, come look at this! God, Lee! What were you doing?"
Joey threw down his hand and rushed to his niece. "Yeah, you look like someone beat you up pretty bad."
"No-no, I just fell getting off the bus."
"Getting off the bus?" Joey looked over his niece's shoulder at his friend. "Whadda ya say, Yug? This look like a fall to you?"
"I don't know." Yugi Motou looked at Lee with his deep eyes. "I believe you, but...aw, c'mon, lets get Lee cleaned up before we do anything."
"Sure." Joey grabbed Lee's shoulders and marched her into the kitchen, where a year's worth of dirty dishes were sitting, waiting to
get washed. When Lee was pushed into view of the mirror that was hanging above the sink, she gasped. Her face was cut where Dan's fingernails had scratched her, and it was bleeding. She had a rip in her shirt, and her some of her hair had come out of it's braid.
If I had known I looked this bad, I would've cleaned up more before I got here. She thought wistfully. Dammit, why didn't Tim tell me I was so beat up?
"God, Lee!" Joey was saying, grabbing a damp towel and wiping the dirt and blood off her face. "Do you have any idea what your sister is going to do to me? Any idea at all?"
"Well, I'll just tell her it wasn't your-Ow!" She flinched as Yugi gently rubbed soapy water into the big cut on her forehead.
"Hold still!" he quietly reprimanded. "It's gonna sting a little."
"You know, Lebecca, if you didn't get into fights at school nearly as often, you wouldn't have to put up with thins."
Lee sighed. "I told, you Uncle; I wasn't fighting." She lied. "I just had a bad fall and-" As if on cue, the phone rang. Having some idea who it was, and not wanting to talk to them, Lee suggested, "Let's just let that go."
"Good idea, " Joey said. "We have to get you cleaned up. We'll just let the answering machine get that."
Lee started. "You have an answering machine? Since when?"
"Oh, we just installed it today. For when we don't want to answer the phone, you know?"
*Beep* This is the Motou-Wheeler's house. We're not answering because,
A)We don't want to talk to you B) We're not home Or C) We're home, want to talk to you, but unable to come to the phone. Please leave an un-detailed message at the beep, and we may or may not get back to you. Thanks! *Beep*
"Um, hi, Lee, this is Matt Delacorte, I was wondering if you could give me the English assignment, and I also wanted to make sure that you're okay after Dan-" the voice was cut off as Lee snatched the phone of the hook.
"Shut up!" She hissed at Matt. "You're going to get me in trouble!"
"Sorry, I-"
"I have to go! Good -bye!"
"Wait!"
"What?"
"Can I have the English assignment?"
Lee sighed. "Write a report about something that was invented a long time ago that we still use today!"
"Thanks."
"Good-bye Matt!"
"Later." He hung up. Lee slowly replaced the receiver, and turned to see Joey and Yugi looking at her, arms folded.
"All right, Lee." Joey pushed her into a chair. "You've got some explaining to do."
***
He crossed his arms across his chest and stared at the girl standing across from him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, his heart pounding.
"Well," She said, moving closer, "I was alone, and saw you, and thought that if you're alone, and I'm alone, we might as well be alone together.
"You should leave. It won't look right if they come back, and we're here...together..." His voice trailed off into silence, and she moved closer still, close enough for him to touch.
"Why not? I thought we were friends..." She stared at him innocently.
"I know what you've been doing, and it's not right! I won't be like the others, I won't be so easily-"
"So you've heard?" She cut him off. "So have a lot of the others. But I don't mind." She shook her head, making her blonde hair wave back and forth. "If you know as much as you say, then you know that..." She stepped right up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing up against him.
"I'll know what?" He protested lamely, trying to release himself from her grasp, and failing. Not really wanting to succeed. "What do I know?"
"You'd know that this isn't how I operate," She sighed, and when he looked down at her tears were forming in her eyes. It occurred to him that she might be being sincere.
"No." He said quietly, "It's not." He leaned down and stroked her face with his hand. "But, if you knew me better-" He stepped back, his hand lingering on her cheek momentarily before it dropped back to his side- "You'd know that I don't either."
"I-"
"Don't talk to me! I know what you're trying to do, and I won't give in!"
She looked at him sadly. "How can I convince you that I'm not leading you on?"
"You can't."
"But I'm not!"
"That's what you told-"
"I know. But I'm sorry. The only person I've ever loved is-"
"Let me guess." He said sarcastically. "Standing right in front of you?"
She looked down. "Yes."
"Oh, okay. I guess you are expecting me to hug you, and kiss you and tell you everything's all right?"
"No!" Now she was angry, too. "I just wanted to say that-" But she was cut off when he drew her close and pushed her head against
his shoulder. He pulled her up and kissed her gently.
"I love you, too." They kissed again.
* * *
Moon Shadow: I sorta like it as a first chapter.
Endless Myth: You just say that because you wrote it.
Moon Shadow: Nooo! I like it!
Endless Myth: Yeah, whatever.
Moon Shadow: No, really. And even if it sucks, it's my first Yu-Gi-Oh fic, so you can cut me a little slack!
Endless Myth: Yeah, I can imagine that YGO would be a little different from Ninja Turtle fanfic.
Moon Shadow: You dissing the TMNT?
Endless Myth: Yeah.
Moon Shadow: I hate you.
Endless Myth: That's great. Okay, please read and review! Really, just click the little button and write something.
Moon Shadow: Seriously. It'll take about thirty seconds.
Endless Myth: Oh, FYI, we don't, unfortunately, own YGO. Oh, well.
Moon Shadow: Oh, and, please tell us in your review if you're interested in seeing the second chapter. This is different from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But they rock too.
Endless Myth: Let's try to stick to the subject.
Moon Shadow: Happy multi-cultural winter holiday, everyone!
P.S. from both of us: If you could, in your review please state that you DON"T want Ben to ride his skateboard off the roof, because we're really worried for his personal safety right now.