Disclaimer: ZOEYGIRL SAYS SHE JUST DOESN'T OWN Y-G-O!!!!! NOPE, JUST DON'T.
Zoeygirl: Shue! I got my next chapter out. (^_^) And lookie! I got a bunch of wonderful reviews! I love them all!!! (^_^) Anyways, sorry for not updating for a while. I was putting out my Yu-Gi-Oh in Europe. Anyways uh what was I gonna say? Oh yeah!!! Here we go:
Katsuhito sage: Of coarse you're worthy!!! I'm unworthy of your wonderful review! (Getting mushy I know.) Thank you so much!
Another Tea Fan: Don't worry, all your questions will be answered soon enough. Of course I have a weird feeling this might be longer than 10 chapters. I can never keep them short. (Rubs her head bashfully.) Hehehehe……(O_O)
Rosz of the Angel: Thanks a lot and…CONGRADULATIONS ON GRADUATION!!!!! (^___^) YOU GO GIRL!
Chi: Chobit 13: Don't give up. I'll be more than happy to read your stories! (^_^) I'm honored that you think I'm that good, and I bet your much better then you think you are. That's why I'm going to read your stories as soon as possible! As for inspiration, tell me what you kinda want to write and I'll be more than happy to mention some pretty damn good writers out there that could help you more than me! (^_^) (I bet you have a spark in ya and you don't know it!)
Silvercloud: THANK YOU! (^_^) (Swells up with tears.) Its stuff like that, that makes me keep on writing and gives me fresh inspiration!!! I never considered myself THAT good, but that means a lot! IT REALLY DOES.
Bakura's kitten: Hey! Thanks a lot and I just want to let you know I went on your site and I loved it! You had the cutest pictures of Bakura and Ryou! (^_^) They're adorable. Oh and hell yeah I'll read your Bakura/Tea story when it comes out!!! Even if it wasn't, I'd still love to read it!
Joey's Girl: Glad you liked it. (^_^) And I've heard of cheetah frito before now that I think of it. I've read some of her work! Like THE CHRISTAMS STORY YUGI-OH STYLE! (Very impressive.) And she's updated quite a bit on some past work I've done. (Never forget people like her. ^_^)) I'd love to read her new story! (I'm a Joey fan too, but I like reading about him, I'm not good at writing about him.) Actually, there's just one character I don't and won't read about but yet to see any out and that's Bandit Keith stories. Don't know why though…
Everyone else: Thanks a lot for all your wonderful reviews. They mean a lot!!! And I'll try to update faster for you guys. (It's not my place to make you guys wait and wait.) So here it is!
Tea sat there next to the door, rubbing her temples tiredly. This was suppose to be a good day, but if surprises like this keep getting thrown at her, she was going to have a heart attack.
"Tea is he planning something? It's okay you can tell me." Malik asked sternly, turning his back on Bakura. "If he's trying to use you for another scheme let me know, I can help."
Bakura stepped up, obviously pissed beyond comprehension. A growl ruptured from his throat. It was loud and menacing enough to send even a lion into hiding. Malik turned around facing Bakura this time, his body shaking slightly from the shock of seeing the deceased spirit. His eyes were narrowed as he slowly reached for his rod under his dark poncho. He didn't want to because Bakura was once a friend to him, but if he must he would.
"How do I know, that you are not here to use the girl as a hostage against the Pharaoh, ISHTAR!?" Bakura asked, practically spitting out Malik's last name.
"Because I could've used this before I entered the door!" Malik said, pulling out his rod that instantly turned into a dagger. He gleamed it back and forth in Bakura's face, but Bakura kept his cold, crimson eyes on Malik.
"I'm sure you could've which goes the same for me." Bakura's ring magically appeared over his white and blue shirt, glowing menacingly.
Malik said nothing. He just raised an eyebrow as if taking in what he said. Slowly he lowered his dagger that transformed back into a rod and returned it to where he got it, from under his poncho. Watching carefully, Bakura too repeated his actions. "Hmm, I suppose so."
"Hello??! Is anybody listening to me here?!" Malik and Bakura once again looked at the girl skeptically. She was standing up waving her hands around like a lunatic. The entire time they had been ignoring her, unaware of her presence.
"What's wrong now?" Bakura asked, folding his arms tiredly.
"What's wrong? What's wrong??!!! I'll tell you what's wrong! I have an ancient evil spirit that appeared out of nowhere in my home, and a psycho guy with a split personality, both of whom have millennium items, and a lot of problems, that's what's wrong!!" Tea huffed and puffed, as the two guys stared on, each raising their eyes strangely at her.
"What? What's wrong now?" She yelled loudly over the rain.
Malik sighed heavily "Listen girl I was merely-
"Girl? GIRL? Excuse me Malik but that last time I checked I was pretty sure was older than you by like 6 months!" Malik dropped his jaw at the girl's outburst, while Bakura cleared his throat. "You can't use that against me." Bakura mumbled under his breath.
"I heard that Bakura!" Tea yelled out loud, startling Bakura. "And you may be some ancient spirit and all but you sure don't act it sometimes!" Bakura glared at the girl, as Malik smirked unnoticeably.
With a heavy sigh, Bakura walked over and towered over the girl. He was only taller by a couple inches but his form, figure and expression made him seem much taller. Crossing his arms, Bakura's expression loomed over Tea.
"(Sigh.) Tea will you relax? I think perhaps you should sit down." He replied somewhat coldly, while Malik looked on curiously. This wasn't how the old Bakura acted. Oh No, this wasn't the old Bakura at all! 'What the hell happened to him?' Malik asked himself within. 'He would've disposed of Tea if she even dared to talk like that to him.'
"Sit down?" Tea repeated blinking her eyes a couple times. The entire time, Malik was just casually walking around looking at the couch, pictures, plants etc…
"Yes sit down." Bakura said once again. 'They look like a bickering couple.' Malik noted to himself, eyeing the two from the corner of his eye.
"What so you can kiss me again!!?" Tea yelled aloud, not realizing that someone else was in the room. Bakura tensed up, his neck and head getting very hot and sweaty. Tea quickly covered her mouth, realizing what she had just said.
Bakura's eyes widened as he stepped a couple of feet away from the girl. They didn't know that-
BUMP!
Tea and Bakura turned around with quick agility. They stared wide eyed, at the Egyptian Boy lying on the ground, next to the couch. Malik was staring up, horrified by the two figures before him. He quickly stood up, and backed away, his eyes flickering back and forth frantically.
"The hell did you say?" Malik yelled aloud. "What in the name of Ra is going on here!!??"
Bakura was speechless. He had no answer for this, no lye, or made up excuse. He could not cover it up with Ryou's form this time, no he was helpless and bare before both of them.
"I think you should sit down Malik." Tea began quietly, inching forward as she spoke.
"I prefer to stand if you don't mind." Malik said somewhat hastily and stern, crossing his arms, and then bringing them down again.
Tea shrugged and walked passed them both, sitting her romp on a seat next to the window. "Fine I'll sit." Bakura and Malik both stood there, their arms resting by their sides now, but their fists clenched up tightly into tight little balls. "So where do you want me to start?" Tea asked, looking up at Malik.
"From the beginning, starting with him." Malik said pointing to Bakura.
So Tea began her story explaining each and every little detail, except for personal parts, like Bakura's past, Tea's breakdown in the bathroom, and especially the kiss. An hour passed by, by the time Tea was through. Her voice was raspy and dry from her long story, and the rain hadn't lightened up at all.
"And so that's it." She replied simply, peering up at the two forms. Neither had moved an inch, but Malik's face had softened up somewhat and his expression looked as though he were deep in thought. Finally, heaving heavy sigh, Malik sat down on the couch closest to him. Bakura watched his so-called friend, studying his facial expressions and movements carefully, as did Tea.
"So uh if your not here for um…well, why are you here Malik? Tea asked afraid to bring up any of Malik's past events. She heard from her friends that Malik was still alive and well, but he was still moody and vengeful. He still hadn't forgiven Yami for who knows what reason, but he allowed his sister to get him some very special help in Egypt, to make sure another YAMI-MALIK never appeared again. From then on, he assisted his sister in guarding the remaining items and the cards once again without any question, apologizing to all he had wronged. As Yugi put it, Malik was now as moody as Kaiba, but lessening down each day.
Malik looked up intently, studying Tea with his deep violet eyes. Tea stared down for a moment. Those eyes of his seemed to burn right through her body. It occurred just now that his pupils were almost non-existent. It was creeping her out just a bit, so she thought better to not look directly into his eyes.
"As you may know, I'm tracking each and every one of Yugi's friends down. I want to apologize and try to make it up in some way or another. It has taken me nearly a year to do so. Joey was the last one I've visited so far." Bakura watched carefully as Tea tensed up.
"You were the hardest to find, I thought everyone moved on so far, so this town never even came to mind. I heard everyone was in other parts of the world. But that's when I heard from Wheeler that you were still here."
Tea blushed lightly from embarrassment. She felt slightly uncomfortable talking about such matters.
"Right now," Malik began. "I'm guarding the items while my sister assist little Yugi on his mission. It's not the most sociable life, but it pleases me." Malik's words died down, and Tea said nothing. Bakura arched an eyebrow in agreement.
He knew quite well Malik's position. It was the same reason Malik left Egypt to begin with. It wasn't JUST the death of his father and his vengeance but something more. Malik's life was subtle and isolated.
"So…they've given you all that responsibility after what you had done?" Bakura teased mockingly as Malik sneered.
"Yes." Malik replied simply. "I'm not the same as I used to be."
Bakura narrowed his eyes, as he stuck his hands in his pockets. "I've noticed. You have changed a lot Malik." Bakura's voice was raspy and unpleasant. He spoke as if he were disgusted by Malik's change.
Malik did not change his expression though. He stood there calm and collected, undaunted by Bakura's words. "So have you Bakura." He replied coldly.
Bakura growled lightly and curled up his fists once again. How the hell was he suppose to back that up?
"So um you apologized so now what?" Tea asked somewhat hesitantly. Malik turned his gaze back to the girl. He smirked lightly and walked over to her with steady footsteps. Tea tightened her hold on the pillow next to her, her eyes going right over to Bakura who said or did nothing. Calmly, Malik brought his face down to Tea's level, his warm breath heating the tip of her nose, as his smirk widened. Bakura raised an eyebrow once again watching Malik's actions ever so carefully.
"Well what would you like Gardener?" Malik's words were spoken almost seductively, which Tea never thought Malik was capable of doing. Her face was heating up once again.
'Boy I've had my fair share of experience with guys today.' Tea thought to herself, sweat dropping. (-_-)
"Uh I don't know what you mean." Tea said confused. Malik stepped back and eyed the girl, sighing heavily.
"Well," He began, lowering his eyes as if he was going to roll them. "I could see into your past and answer a question you never knew, or I could buy you an ice-cream." He replied smiling half way, catching Tea off guard. Her face went beat red, and she hoped Malik wouldn't notice, even though she had a gut feeling he was joking around with her. Bakura on the other hand was burning up with rage. His eyes were on the verge of popping out. He couldn't believe Malik just said that to Tea! Of course he couldn't believe he kissed her either.
"Wait you can see into a person's past?" She asked suddenly. Malik blinked a couple of times and replied with a simple yes.
"My sister entrusted me with her millennium tusk Tea, while she was away. She said I could only use it for my trips such as this." Tea nodded and thought deeply, as Malik looked at her somewhat confused. He glanced around, from one thing to another. He quickly removed his sudden glare from Bakura as the spirit growled again.
"Um, not to rush you at all but my flight does leave in about 3 hours. So could you maybe-
"I GOT IT!" Tea yelled jumping up. Malik and Bakura nearly had a heart attack as they jumped a step back, staring at the girl bewildered. ((*_*)) "Yes well?" Malik asked frantically, tempted to clutch his chest, from the almost sudden heart attack.
Tea smiled widely and placed her hands behind her back. Both guys were quite curious into what she had in mind.
"I want you to peer into Bakura's past, just a couple days before I found him." Malik's eyes widened in horror, what the hell was she saying. "BAKURA??"
Bakura was just as shocked as Malik. He could barely keep himself stable, while he looked at Tea intently. 'Why would she waste something like that on me?' He asked himself in a state of panic.
"A-are you sure that's what you want?" He asked or rather yelled. Tea nodded sweetly, rocking back and forth on her heals. Rubbing his head, Malik turned around and stared at Bakura. He shrugged lightly as Bakura stared at him, as shocked and surprised as Malik.
"N-n-now just wait a minute, don't I have a say in this?" Bakura asked taking a step back as Malik walked forward. Tea just shook her head back and forth and followed Malik's lead. "You want to know don't you?"
Malik uncovered the millennium tusk and approached Bakura. Hesitantly he stopped and pondered something for a minute. "Hey if Bakura's here than where's Ry-
Malik stopped as Tea cleared her throat loudly. With a simple shrug he continued walking forward until he was less then a step away from Bakura.
"This won't hurt a bit." He stated flatly. Bakura waited as the tusk began to glow brightly, filling up the entire room with bright light.
"I don't approve of being a test subject!" Bakura spat out over the strange humming noise. All three felt as if they were absorbed in some radioactive light, and before they knew it…..they were back in Tea's living room? (--__--)
Malik looked back at Tea and raised his hands as if he had no clue what had just happened. "Maybe Isis should've done this instead of me." He mumbled to himself aloud. Tea walked up to Malik's side and glared at him. "That worked well Malik. I wish you told us sooner you didn't know what you were doing, right Bakura? Bakura?"
"T--Tea is that you?" A meek voice asked in front of them. Malik and Tea exchanged horrified glances. Slowly, their eyes rested on the white haired boy standing right in front of them. His name was-
"RYOU!!!!" Tea yelled covering her mouth while walking back and away from Bakura or Ryou's glowing body and stepping on Malik's foot in the process.
((X_X) "OW!!! Son of a bit-
"Tea is that you?" His British accent was so familiar, so soothing, it was unmistakable from whom it came from.
"Ryou, how…what the-MALIK WHAT DID YOU DO!?" ((O_O)) Tea screamed.
"Uh…well…um…I couldn't really tell you Tea." Malik said, blinking widely, and bringing the tusk down, level to his waist. "Actually this is the first time I've used this particular one." He said, his jaw hanging lifelessly.
Ryou just smiled reassuringly, as Tea tried her best to hold back her tears that were now running freely down her face. "It's okay you two, I'm not going to hurt you and I'm not dead either." He said with kind eyes. Malik backed off, and went as far back as Tea. His heart was racing and his hand was shaking. He never meant to hurt Bakura, but he especially was upset when Ryou's body disappeared as well. He felt like he had to take full responsibility after that catastrophic event. He never was able to explain it to Ryou's father.
"W-what the hell is going on Tea?" Malik whispered through clenched teeth.
"Why are you asking me?!! You're the one with the millennium thingy!!!"
SWEAT DROP. (*_*)
"Please will you two relax? I know how this may look but please just listen to me. I don't have much time." Ryou's voice hummed through both Tea and Malik's ears, assuring them that he was indeed real. His body was still glowing brightly, and brilliantly.
"I may not be experienced with the millennium tusk, but I do know it does not have the power to do this!" Malik yelled out pointing to Ryou as if he were a science experiment gone wrong.
"Your right, it doesn't." Ryou said smiling. "I just want to let you know I'm okay, and Tea please take care of Bakura. He's more fragile then he seems."
"HA! That's a load of shi-
POP!
Tea brought her hand by her side, while a large lump formed over Malik's skull. (*_*) "Ouch."
"Be quiet Malik." Tea said hushing the Egyptian boy up.
"Hehehe, I mean it. He's not good but he's not evil. Sadly my friends I could not protect you from him, and now he cannot protect himself on what lays ahead. I'm afraid I can't do anything about it. I'm sorry for whatever troubles he and I caused in the past, and well please forgive me."
"It was never your fault Ryou, you know that!" Tea said sadly. Ryou only shook his head, and grinned.
Tea was crying and Malik was staring at his friend with a serious expression. He had no idea the tusk was capable of doing something like this. He had to tell Isis about all of this as soon as possible. Perhaps it wasn't just the millennium tusk. Someone else was behind it, he was sure of that.
His body was like a glowing angel. Much like the Change Of Heart Card. The card may have meant more than Tea thought it did.
"I'm afraid I won't see you ever again, and I'm sorry I couldn't see my father and the others, but I'm glad I was able to see someone I knew. I hope I made the right choice." The two teens looked at him quizzically. They didn't understand what the heck he was trying to say. They were having a hard enough time just believing this was Ryou.
"I hope I made the right choice, giving my body up to Bakura. He and I…I suppose are kind of the same." Ryou said almost laughing, talking more to himself then the other two.
Tea had, had enough of this. This was hurting way too much for her to believe the words he was telling her.
"You said you weren't dead and you weren't going to die! But here you are talking about death and giving yourself up for your Yami!!!" She practically screamed her words out.
Ryou looked a bit hurt and lowered his eyes. "No not death Tea. Never death. He wouldn't do that to us, it wouldn't be fair. Besides that's not what I said."
"He???.......Fair?" Malik and Tea repeated at the same time. "Who is he?" Malik asked.
"And what do you mean by fair?" Tea asked with hurt written all over her face.
Ryou sighed heavily and smiled widely. "Hehehe, I guess this sounds strange huh?" He asked ignoring their questions. "I won't die my friends but I'm sorry this will be our last encounter. I just wish I could see my father and the rest of my friends once more." Ryou said quietly staring up at the ceiling. "Just once more." A single tear formed in his eyes as he wiped it away with a bright hand. Tea watched intently as he turned to her and smiled again. 'He sure was doing a lot of smiling for someone who's not quite alive.' She thought to herself without realizing it.
"He loves you, ya know." The words caught her off guard as she let out a soft gasp. Malik's eyes widened and he covered his mouth in a nauseating fashion. "I think I'm going to be sick." He said dully. (-_-.) Tea sent him a sharp glare but returned her sight upon the amused Ryou.
"I think I would too, if we had the chance. Frankly I'm glad one of us did." His words were confusing her. Was he babbling or what?!
"I have to go now but it was nice seeing you again. I hope this will be the end of Bakura's problems, and the beginning of a new Ryou Bakura in a sense of speaking of course." Malik knew Ryou was going away again any second now, and he put a reassuring hand on Tea's as she tried to approach Ryou.
That's when Ryou looked away, distant thoughts of something else on his mind. His eyes were slightly narrowed and signs of hurt splashed across his face. "I…just wish…maybe perhaps if I asked first it would've been okay. But I guess you can only mend one broken soul at a time. Bye my friends."
Before either could do another thing, another large flash lit up the room, and when they reappeared Bakura's familiar form was lying on the ground unconscious. Malik said nothing. He breathed in deeply as he stared from Ryou's body to the tusk in his right hand. What had he done? "Tea, are you alright?" He asked shakily.
Tea did not respond. Her jaw was hanging loosely open, and her arms hung around by her side as if she had no control over it at all. "Tea?" Malik asked again.
"Ryou..."
That was the last thing she said before she collapsed onto the floor, the shock of seeing Ryou becoming way too much for her. The last two days was enough to kill a healthy, grown man. Malik's eyes softened greatly, staring at Tea's form upon the floor.
Malik looked around from one body to the other. He had no idea what to do, but he had to leave soon. "Oh…shit." (O_O) "Um let's see, um maybe they will wake up soon." He thought to himself intently as he felt the paining effects of a headache crash against his skull.
"I suppose that will be the last time I use this stupid thing if this is what it causes...migraines" He said to himself staring at the wretched item called the millennium tusk. "(GULP.) ISIS IS GOING TO KILL ME!" (--___--)
Zoeygirl: Well, hope you liked it okay. I guess I lied some. The romance will have to wait till next time I suppose. Anyways as you can tell this is way confusing. This even had me confused when I wrote it! ((0___0)) That's never a good thing. Anyways, most of your questions will be answered by the time this story is over, but if anything seems confusing just ask. (^_^, Grins widely.) If you can figure out what's going on just let me know, I'll tell you if you're close. (^__^)
