Jaid: Hi guys! This is the second to last chapter and then there is the Epilogue. This was going to be the last chapter, but the dance part turned out being long enough for its own chapter, so I split them.
Naga: Like they care! Just get on with it!
Jaid: -__- Enjoy the story guys. I have to go beat my muse.
Naga: MUSE ABUSE! You'll be called up before the Council!
Jaid: In this case I think they'll sympathize.
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Isis yawned and got up, just as the alarm went off. She shut if off and mentally considered getting another one. She hated the way this one sounded. Getting out of bed, she walked over to her vanity to pick up a hair brush, when an envelope caught her attention. Frowning, she picked up the card and opened it. Inside was an elegant white card and inside that, was a poem. Isis blushed when she saw the short thank-you statement from Shadi and his signature. Isis placed the valentine on the table and just sat there for a moment, a soft smile upon her lips.
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Shadi woke up to the sound of the spirits quarreling in the living room. Again. Shaking his head, he got up. It would be best to separate them before Isis woke up.
Too late. He heard her voice in the room. Shrugging, he opened the door and was about to step out, when he saw an envelope in front of his door.
'What the…?' He picked it up and closed the door after himself, then sat on the bed and opened it.
Inside was a red and gold card, with a simple love poem. At the end, it said "Welcome for everything. Isis". Shadi could only read a few words from the poem, but looking at the heart motif on the front, he was sure of the meaning. Standing, he debated whether he should give Isis his card.
Then his brain kicked in and he re-read Isis' note. He scowled. Either she had known about this or….
Shadi opened his door. "Ankh!" he called.
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"Stay still." Mai directed. Tea sighed.
"I think that we have plenty of time. The dance isn't until this evening."
"I know." Mai critically looked at the pale blue gown Tea was wearing. "But I want to make sure we get the right hair style."
Tara giggled from her place on Tea's bed as the red-head sighed again. Katya was on her cell-phone. Talking to Tristan of course.
"Are you going to do all our hair?" Tara asked. Mai looked over at the blonde.
"Sure." she grinned. "It'll be fun."
There was a knock on the door and it opened, revealing Rei. "Dare I enter the harem?" she asked, somewhat sarcastically.
"Ha, ha." Tara said, chucking a pillow at her as Mai chuckled and Tea rolled her eyes. Katya grinned and waved as the dark-haired girl came in.
"I brought some hair stuff and make-up for you guys to have fun with. I'm going off to practice track and then I've got some extra credit assignments to do." she said, dumping a bag on the bed.
"Oh brother." Tara hopped up and grabbed her friend. "Katya, get off the phone and help me tie down Rei before she kills herself from over-working."
"Tara…" Rei said in a warning voice.
"You haven't met Mai, have you?" Tara said in a bright tone, dragging her to where Tea and Mai stood. "Mai, this is Rei Yukimona. Rei, this is Mai Valentine."
"Nice to meet you." Mai said coolly.
"Likewise." Rei said in the same tone. "I'm going now. Bye! I'll see you this afternoon!"
Tara sighed. "That girl has issues."
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"Okay, you got it?" Duke was saying. Joey looked at him.
"Well, you only repeated it a hundred times." he commented sarcastically.
"Have to get it through this thick skull of yours." Duke said, tapping Joey on the head. Yugi giggled.
He and the other boys were in the Turtle Game Shop. Yugi was seated behind the counter while the other boys were scattered around the shop. Ryou stood apart, looking out the window wistfully.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Tristan asked teasingly. "I mean, we all now how prone to accidents Joey is."
"It ain't like I'm driving." Joey commented, then paused. "I ain't, am I?"
"No." Duke said. "You are not."
"Oh good." Joey blew out a relieved breath. "How much do I owe you?"
"We'll discuss that later." Duke said. "I've got some things to get done."
"Well, I'm off!" Joey stood.
"To see Serenity?" Tristan asked.
"Yeah."
"Tell her hi!" Yugi told him.
"Will do."
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"What is this?" Scales asked, poking at his breakfast.
"It's just something I learned to make. You'll like it; it has chocolate." Isis told him. Ankh sat down at the table, looking rather embarrassed. Isis smiled at him and handed him a plate.
"Where's Shadi?"
"He's coming." Ankh said.
A few minutes later, Shadi did appear. Breakfast was rather silent. Even Scales and Ankh didn't speak.
"So." Isis said. "I have the day off. Is there anything you guys would like to do?"
No answer. Isis blinked. This was getting a little freaky.
"Scales?" she asked. He glared at her.
"Ankh?"
The healer shook his head.
"Shadi?"
"Hm?" The man blinked his ice blue eyes. "No, whatever you plan is fine."
"I'd rather stay home." Ankh said quickly, staring hard at Scales. The other spirit stared back. Ankh kicked his shin under the table. Scales scowled even harder.
"Me too." he muttered, thinking 'This had better be good chocolate.'
"Okay, then." Isis said. "We'll just stay home I guess."
Shadi nodded in agreement. Ankh felt panic coming on.
"Just because we're staying doesn't mean you two have too." he said. The two Item holders turned their gaze on the green-haired man. Ankh grinned innocently. Isis suddenly looked down at her chocolate chip pancakes, fearing she might burst into laughter. Shadi did the same, but they both made the mistake of looking up at the same time and catching one another's eyes.
"I think that would be okay." Isis said, trying to swallow her laughter. Shadi was chuckling.
"Okay then." Ankh gave a more believable smile and relaxed.
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"Sis?"
"Joey!" The girl cried happily. Joey came over.
"Here. I got ya some Valentine candy. Figured it wouldn't hurt." he put a small heart shaped candy box in her hand.
"Oh Joey!" Serenity laughed. "Thanks." She held out her arms. Joey hugged her, then sat back down.
"You want some?" she asked, blindly opening it.
"Me? Refuse food? What'd ya, nuts?" Joey said and grinned as his sister laughed again.
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"I just have some things to drop off at the museum and do some shopping. After that, I don't know. You want to go to the park? You haven't been there yet." Isis said as she and Shadi walked.
"All right." he said.
Above, Ankh and Scales watched them walk away through the window. As soon as they were out of sight, Scales turned to his fellow spirit. "Hand over the candy."
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It was late Saturday afternoon. Most of the girls were in the school auditorium, fixing up for the dance. Mai had come along because she had nothing better to do. Rei showed up a little later, still in her black jogging sweats.
"You and black." Tara said as they hung a banner. "Don't you ever were anything else?"
"Hey, you like puke green, I like black." Rei said.
"This isn't puke green." Tara said, referring to her turtle neck. "It's lime green."
"Whatever." Rei rolled her brown eyes. "Same difference."
"Tara, where are we putting the photo backdrop?" Katya called. "Ayame and I have to set up the cameras!"
"In the back, behind the tables." Tara called back. "But don't put them in front of the door."
Katya gave her a look that said, 'Duh-I-know-that.' and went off.
"Dare I come in?" Duke asked, sticking his head in the door. Katya grinned at him.
"Sure. We can always use a few young men around to help."
Duke grinned back. "Okay." He entered, Yugi and Tristan behind him. Tristan's face instantly got a goofy grin and he waved at Katya as he passed. She blew him a kiss and his grin got goofier.
"Hey, hon." Duke wrapped his arms around Tara as she got down from the ladder.
"Hey back." she grinned and they kissed. Rei made a face at Yugi and he laughed quietly behind his hand.
"So what do we do?" Duke asked.
"Anything you can think of." Tara answered. Duke's grin got mischievous.
"Really?"
"On second thought, I'll supervise you. Tristan, help Rei tack up the second banner. Yugi, go find Mai and Tea. They can order you around." Tara said, dragging Duke away.
Yugi chuckled, then went in search of the two other girls. He found them in a small room that was going to be used for storage of the food and drinks. Mai looked up and saw him first. Glancing at Tea, who was concentrating on something else, she grinned.
"Hey, Yugi!" she called. "Tea and I are behind the table here."
"Oh." The boy walked around then smiled down at them. "Hi."
Mai smiled. "Hi back." She grinned as Tea's cheeks went slightly red, as did Yugi's as they waved shyly to each other.
"So did you get a nice date for the dance?" Mai went on.
"Mai." Tea whispered in a slightly annoyed tone. Mai ignored her.
"Uh, yeah." Yugi said. "I'm supposed to help you guys in here."
"Great." Tea stood, relieved to have a different subject on the table. "Can you bring the boxes of soda in here? I think they're just outside."
"Okay." Yugi agreed, walking out. Tea blew out a breath. Mai chuckled at the other girl's nervousness. Then an evil look came into her eyes.
"Hey Tea." she said in a low tone. "Better make sure he has some condoms."
"WHAT?!" Tea jumped and stared at her friend in surprise. Mai burst into laughter at Tea's red face. Tea went even redder as she saw Yugi standing there, and the look on her face made Mai almost double over.
'Oh god, tell me he didn't hear that.' Tea prayed.
Yugi set down a box of Pepsi, smiling the way people do when they know they've missed a joke and then went out for more. Mai left the room, still laughing, to ask Tara where to put the snack tables. Tea mentally groaned and hoped the afternoon would go quickly.
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Shadi and Isis were walking again. They had just finished a late lunch and then done some household shopping. Though somewhat apprehensive about his feelings, Shadi had enjoyed Isis' company.
As for Isis, she too had enjoyed the afternoon, but…she didn't know how to broach the subject of the cards. She stole a glance at her companion, but his face was, as always, hard to read.
"I guess we should head home." she finally said. "When do you plan on leaving Japan?"
Shadi looked at her. "I am not sure." he admitted. "Japan has been more pleasant than I expected."
"That's nice." Isis said, not quite sure what he meant by that statement. "You want to sit for a minute?"
They both sat down in front of a fountain. For a while, there was silence, as they watched people go by. Finally, Isis plucked up some courage and spoke.
"Shadi, I found a card on my desk this morning." she began. "It was signed by you."
"Yes." Shadi nodded. It was the card he had signed earlier. Ankh had taken it out of his room last night.
Isis bit her tongue. Just yes? That probably wasn't a good sign. She burst in to speech, speaking quickly. "Look, I don't know what you've been thinking over the past few days, but I am frankly very confused. Bewildered is really the term I am looking for I guess. I just…" she paused. Shadi was staring at her. He had never seen her burst out like that before.
"I just want to know what's going on." she finished quietly.
"What's going on." Shadi repeated, more to himself than to her. "I don't know either."
Isis shoulder's slumped forward a little. "I see. So…"
"Maybe we should talk somewhere else." Shadi commented, looking at the crowds of people.
"We could go back to the park. Not many people hang around the wooded area." Isis suggested. Shadi nodded.
"Let's go then." she said standing.
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Seto entered the hospital room, then quietly back-pedaled. Joey was there. Seto decided that he didn't really want Serenity upset, so was about to turn and go when Joey caught sight of him and frowned. Seto settled for a level stare. Joey turned to Serenity and said good-bye, then left, closing the door. The two of them stared at each other for a while.
"Look," Joey said heatedly. "That's my sister you're dealing with. I don't care if you're stronger, richer or a better duelist than me. If you hurt her, I'll kill you, got that?"
Seto almost smiled. He couldn't help it; the situation was almost ridiculous.
"Yeah." he answered simply. Joey blinked, as if that hadn't been the answer he expected. But he stepped back and walked down the hall way, leaving Seto standing in front of Serenity's hospital door.
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"So." Isis said. She and Shadi were standing under some trees, shopping bags near-by.
Shadi nodded. Neither knew what to say or how to say it even if they knew. Isis started drawing in the snow with her foot. Time passed with an agonizing slowness as the two of them struggled for something to say.
"You said you liked Japan now." Isis said, more to break the silence then anything else. "Why the sudden change? Don't you miss Egypt?"
Shadi turned his full gaze on her. 'Do I tell her? Can I?'
"Of course I miss Egypt. It is my home, the place where I feel I really belong." He said, keeping his eyes steadily on her. "But this place has a claim on my heart that Egypt does not."
Isis looked at her, her cheeks going slightly red and her dark blue eyes going slightly wide. There was a questioning look in her eyes, as if she didn't quite understand or maybe she did and was afraid of what it meant.
Shadi turned towards her and stepped closer. Isis didn't move, but looked up into his ice blue eyes.
"Really?" she asked in a whisper. "I can't imagine what."
"You're not making this easy." Shadi replied, also in a whisper. Isis only smiled as he brought a hand up to her cheek.
This was it; nobody was here on a cold Saturday afternoon. Shadi bent his head down and Isis raised hers to his. Their lips met.
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Ryou was reluctantly walking towards Rei's home. 'What if she really didn't care? I mean, we didn't even know each other that long. I'm just making a fool of myself. But what if she would…? Can I take that chance? She's so strong, maybe she can take care of herself.'
Groaning, Ryou stopped and leaned against a wall. 'I can't do this.'
A voice inside his head (that sounded suspiciously like his Yami) said, 'You're just being a coward.'
'All right, I am. But-'
The Ring glowed and Yami Bakura appeared. He glared at his hikari.
"Are you going to go see her or do I have to drag you?" he demanded. Ryou gulped at his tone of voice.
"I just, I…"
Yami Bakura growled and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him. "Listen to yourself! You're so weak and timid it makes me sick!"
Ryou didn't answer, he just hung his head. With a growl of frustration, Yami Bakura shoved him away.
"If you're such a coward, then you really don't deserve her."
Ryou looked up. "Why do you talk as if you know her? You've only known Rei as long as I have."
Yami Bakura snorted. "I wasn't always a spirit, fool." He turned away and said, so low that Ryou almost missed it, "I wasn't always a tomb robber either."
There was a silence as Ryou stared at his Yami with wide eyes. "You…?"
"What?" Yami Bakura turned to face him. "Didn't think that any woman would ever love someone like me?"
Ryou blushed. "N-n-no, that's not what I meant…it's just that…"
"Her name was Bener. She was…very different. Strong-willed and stubborn. Beautiful, but as untouchable for me as Phaoroah's crown would be." Yami Bakura murmured, almost talking to himself as if he forgot that Ryou was there. "But she knew me…I think she might have loved me. Her eyes…they used to shine gold in the sun." His fist clenched. "But of course, I was only a second son. Her father married her off to a man twice her age and much wealthier than I could ever hope to be. The last time I saw her alive, she was going away…the next time I saw her, she was dead." His fists clenched even tighter, so tight that blood started dripping where he shoved his nails into his skin. "Her husband killed her they told me. They got into a fight and he hit her and she didn't get back up. I should have taken her, ran away. I could have, but I was weak and afraid." Yami Bakura spat the words out.
Ryou was blinking back tears and reached out his hand to his Yami's shoulder. The spirit flinched away from his touch and then disappeared back into the Ring, leaving Ryou standing there alone.
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"Seto, can you stop for a moment?"
The blue-eyed boy looked up. Serenity fumbled for the handle to the drawer next to her. Finally opening it, her delicate fingers searched for something. Pulling out a card, she handed it to him with a shy smile.
"Happy Valentine's Day."
Seto took it, feeling a little awkward. He had forgotten that there was a holiday today; not that he ever kept it in the first place. He looked down at the card, made of construction paper.
"A little boy here; Kento, helped me make it." Serenity said. "I know it's not very nice, but-"
"It's fine." Seto cut in. "its fine." There was a pause.
"I'm sorry." Seto finally said, feeling slightly guilty. "I didn't get you anything; I don't usually keep this holiday and I guess it slipped my mind what day it was."
"Oh, that's okay!" Serenity said cheerfully. "I'm just glad you like it."
Seto nodded. "Thank you." He put the card in his ever-present briefcase.
"You wanna take a break?" Serenity asked. "Joey brought me some chocolates; you want one?"
"Sure." Seto said, closing the book and letting out one of his rare smiles. Serenity handed him the box.
Seto looked at her. He had never really met a girl like her. Was it too soon for him to make a move?
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Isis and Shadi pulled apart, both breathing heavily. For a moment, they just stared at one another.
"Well," Shadi finally said. "That was new."
Isis looked at him and then laughed. "Yeah, I guess it was." She grinned at him. "But I wouldn't mind trying it again."
"If you insist." Shadi said, leaning in.
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"Well, it looks great." Rei said as she and the other teenagers looked at their handiwork.
"Yep." Tara sighed and leaned into Duke's arms a little more. "Tonight should be a blast."
"So," said one of the other girls. "See you all later?"
"Come on." Mai hooked arms with Tea and Katya. "We really need to get you girls ready for your hot dates."
Katya giggled while Tea blushed.
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Ryou had walked to Rei's house, only to have her grandmother tell him that she wasn't there. He was walking home now.
'I could always call her.' He thought doubtfully. To be truthful, his mind was not completely on Rei, but on what his yami had told him earlier.
'Maybe that's why he's always so mean to me.' Ryou thought. 'He doesn't want me to be weak like he thought he was. In his own way, it's how he cares.' He sighed. "But it doesn't help me with Rei."
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Hello my Reviewers! *Gives you all a big hug* I love you all! *cries*
Naga: Don't start that again!
I'll cry if I want to. Anyways, thanks for all the kind words. Again.
Dr. Vorlon – I'm going, I'm going!!!!
Amberliz – Isn't he though? I wouldn't mind him for a boy friend, lol.
K-chan – Thanks. ^__^ I do too, incidentally. Part of my motivation I guess. Oh good! ^__^
Jellybob15 – Yeah, I thought it was something he'd do. Joey reminds me a lot of my own brother and we actually went through a similar experience a few years ago. Hope you liked this chapter!
Indigo – I used too do that too, but now it takes too much brain work, lol. Ooh, yeah, a red hotel. Definitely him. 'Ha! I have a bigger house than you!' lol. Hey, am I do Ankh okay? I tend to want to make him more argumentative than he probably really is…*sweatdrop*. Well, Bakura doesn't yell at Rei. He may later tho. He yells at pretty much everybody tho, doesn't he? Really? Oh, okay. I knew I heard it somewhere in connection with a female. Hope your story is going well!
Iris – I know! It's scary! She's an older version of you! Aw, but Iris, don't you know I just love to torture you?
Naga: She can use that against you with Anhai you know.
Sh! Don't give her ideas idiot!
Yami Nikki – lol, you're crazy. Must be why I like your reviews so much! So that's a shout-out from one crazy person to another…yeah. Oh Hello Nicholas, Surin, Rioko and Sakura. Hola y buenos dias Dominic y Shataro! (Did I get that right? It's been awhile since Spanish…). Lol, yes but do you know who's better than Merry and Pippin? LEGOLAS! AND SAM!!! THEY RULE! Okay, don't mind me; I'm just a crazy fan girl. ^__^'
Black Mistress – Really? I'll have to try that. ^__^ Does it work with other characters too?
ShadowDragon - ^_____________^
SilverShadow – Um, okay. I've updated! See, SEE!! Heh, heh, don't mind me. No need for violence…lol.
DDW – lol! Yes, chocolate is excellent bribery. Oooh! You like my chapter titles! Thank you!
TK – Yes, they do rock! Glad you like.
Netta1029 – Thanks. Hope you enjoy.
SweetSweet – Hi! Long time no see. Glad you liked it!
FirePendant – Maybe I will someday. But not recently. Yami? Yami's paired with me, HA!
Yami: What!?
Just kidding, lol, Black Mistress already has one. Uh speaking of which, you'd better take him back Black Mistress, because I think I gave him a heart attack…
Steeple333 – Glad you liked! Really? That's the first time someone's said that to me. ^__^
Serena – I know; he is isn't he? I think they are just so perfect for each other. *sighs* Oh, I'm with you there! Lol, they are both cuties! If you liked them here, you should check out Indigo's story "Three in One Combo" which is where these characters were created. It's a good one. ^__^
Lynx wings – Well, if you've read the chapter, you know what Bakura was talking about now. I'm doing my best with Seto and Serenity! Really!
