I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

|~*Tat: Aww, this chapter is cute…

Rhapsody: **sweatdrop** It's just mostly a flashback.

Tat: A cute flashback!

Rhapsody: Sometimes you're a lazy writer.

Tat: I know! =^.^=

Rhapsody: ^^";; Okay, Yu-Gi-Oh! is not our property… Start the fic.*~|

…The caged bird sings…
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom…
--Maya Angelou

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE (by Tat)

"See?"

Yami points at a tree.  "Remember when we came across each other that one day?"

I walk closer to the tree, the wind and leaves blowing through my silvery strands.  Yes… this tree IS familiar. Then my mind takes me to another place, another time…

I sighed as I walked to the park, a book in hand and an old blanket to sit on. I came to my favorite tree and spread the blanket out. Then I sat down and enjoyed my book.

Lately I'd taken a break from my usual fantasy/adventure books and switched to romance. Reading romance didn't really help. It made my lonesomeness even worse.

But still… I kept reading. I couldn't help but turn a page, read the contents and then turn another page, and another, until I was done with the book.

Yes, yes, I KNEW I was a bookworm. What else do you suggest I do? I didn't really like TV, nor did I like to stay in bed all day and mope. Besides, it was such a lovely day, why waste it indoors?

After an hour I was almost done with my book.  Just one more paragraph and I was finished… Oh! The suspense was killing me! What would happen? Would the girl reject the guy, or no? Closer… closer… almost done…

"You read too much." I heard Yami's voice, and he snatched my book from me.

"Could you please give me my book back?" I asked.

He shook his head.  "No."

"Why not?"  I reached out. He lifted the book up in the air out of arm's reach. Curse my height…

"Like I said, you read TOO much. Come on, why don't you enjoy the scenery?"

I sighed.  "I would if I had someone to enjoy it with…"

Yami smiled.  He had a nice smile. It was full of trustworthiness, but also, in a way, kind of plain. Still, I wouldn't let his nice grin stop me.  I still wanted my book. He handed it back to me and I sat back down to finish. When I closed it and sighed because how great of a story it was I noticed Yami has been watching me the whole time.

"Want to go walk around the park?" he asked.

I blink for awhile.  After this, tons of other memories resurface. I do have friends.  I know others besides Bakura, and yes… it is true. I am Yami's. Not Bakura's.

"Yami…"  I turn, falling into his arms (on purpose). He hugs me close.

"So now you remember?"

I nod.  This feels nice, to have these memories back.  Before I was empty, a simple rag doll Bakura toyed with.

"How sweet," a sadistic voice says, "but I don't care much for happy endings."