Moons: Okay next installment. Can't talk long cause I'm in car and I don't want to run out of battery power before I get to finish writing this chapter. Enjoy!
Aurora: And read and review!!
Have You Ever
CHAPTER FIVE
Raye sat on the steps of her temple staring off into the star filled sky. Her and her grandfather had long since closed the temples to visitors for the day and now she had time to think about the events of the previous night. It had all been so surreal.
Somehow Yami had been able to tell their true identities. Promptly after that he had passed out. Lita had carried back into his room and slipped into his bed, being careful not to wake his little brother, Yugi.
Raye sighed and rested her chin in her hands. Was Yugi even his real brother? They seemed to have a close relationship, and they looked way too much alike for them not to be brothers. But with everything that had happened last night, how could she be sure? How could she even be sure that he was human?
Drawing in another deep breath she turned her gaze on her guardian planet Mars. Her eyes softened and her thoughts eased. Who was she to think wrongly of him based on these new discoveries? She wasn't entirely human herself. Maybe that was a good thing. Maybe they were meant to be together because of that.
She blushed deeply and pulled her gaze away from the planet. What was she thinking? She had just really met Yami yesterday. How could she starting thinking something like they were meant to be together? It was as silly as it was preposterous.
"Raye?"
Raye jumped when she heard the new voice. Looking down to the last stair she saw a shadowy form that stepped into the light. She gasped when she realized it was Yami.
"Yami?" She questioned her own eyes. "Is that you?"
He grinned sheepishly and lowered his head. But not before Raye could see the blush that rose in his cheeks. He rubbed aimlessly at the back of his head before taking a step up.
"Yeah, it's me." He answered. "I like walking at night and saw you on the steps. I figured I'm come over and talk, you know, about the other night. When I woke up you guys were gone and I figured I owed you an explanation and possibly an apology."
Raye smiled and patted the ground next to her. Yami scaled the stairs and lowered into the seat next to her. He leaned back on his arms and stared at the sky that just moments ago Raye had found so interesting.
"Sorry," Raye's voice drew his attention back to her face. "We really shouldn't have just left, but we couldn't stay. We didn't want to wake your brother Yugi, and we had houses we had to get back to before we were missed."
Yami smiled warmly. He covered one of Raye's hands with one of his own. She looked into his eyes and only found warmth. Her heart tightened and then skipped a beat.
"It's fine." He said. "I came to apologize, not to get one, remember?"
Raye grinned and nodded. Yeah, she remembered. But she felt that she owed him one back because they had just left before knowing if he was okay. He had said he was, and that odd glowing eye and his ability to see through their disguises was enough to convince them to believe him.
"Yes." She finally answered. "But my apology still sticks because it is deserved."
"All right." Yami nodded with a light chuckle. "Apology accepted. But now I must make one of my own. I'm sorry if I frightened you last night, but you were right. I am different."
"I know." Raye placed her other hand on top of his. "But you also know that I'm different as well. I'm not going to hold anything against you. But I want to know the truth of the real you. And then I'll tell you everything about me."
Yami sighed and looked back up at the sky. The stars sparkled back at him, giving him the confidence he needed to tell his whole story. Taking a deep breath he began to tell his tale.
"Thousands of years ago I lived in Egypt." He snorted. "Not only did I live there, I ruled it. I was the Pharaoh. And being Pharaoh I was blessed with powers from the Gods to keep my people safe. We had a game called the Shadow Games that we played with stone tablets and monsters' souls.
"But one day an overzealous force released the monsters on my city. I had created seven items forged of the purest gold and used them to seal the monsters back into the shadow realm and sealed it off for what I thought was forever. But in exchange the millennium items had to seal off seven souls to make the spell complete.
"My soul was sealed inside the Millennium Puzzle." He gently stroked the golden trinket that hung around his neck. "But along with that, I had written into the spell that the items would come to life if the shadow realm was ever reopened. And it was. Yugi's grandfather gave him my puzzle when he was young. It took him eight years to complete it. But when he did." Yami raised his free hand and shrugged. "There I was."
Raye sat back and examined his features. They were tight and drawn together in frustration and sorrow. He missed his past, that was for certain. But she could tell by his frustration that he wanted to stay in the present with Yugi, his friends, and Grandfather.
"So Yugi really isn't your brother," She squeezed his hand, "Is he?"
Yami shook his head. "No." He sighed. "He's not. Yugi's my counterpart. My light half. I'm tied to him by the magic of the puzzle. At first I had no memory of who I was even what my name was. But with Yugi's help I regained all that back. Some parts of my memory are still forgotten. And not only that. I used to not be able to materialize outside of the puzzle, but with rejoining of my memories I was given my own body, my own life. Now me and Yugi just consider ourselves brothers. And I've tried the hardest to put the past behind me but it's hard. Sometimes I wish I had never regained my memories at all."
He looked away, the sorrow in his features now more evident then the frustration. Raye felt her heart go out to him once again. He seemed truly troubled by the fact that he wanted to go to the past, relive the time that he was ruler. It was killing him to feel that way because he felt as though he were abandoning Yugi and his friends. But he didn't need to feel that way.
"Don't say that." She gently placed her hand on his cheek and redirected his gaze back to her face. "Everyone deserves to have their memories. Even if they tear you apart, they are yours and yours alone. And sometimes you miss them and want them to come back. But trust me, it doesn't make you a bad person."
Yami sighed and gave her smile. He stared deep into her eyes. They were a lovely shade of violet. The color reminded him of Yugi's eyes and everything he held close in his present life. Maybe losing his past wasn't such a bad thing.
"What's your story?" He asked suddenly. "Where did you and your friends get the power of the planets? I highly doubt it fell into your lap."
Raye laughed and looked back at the sky. She knew where to begin her story. It began much like Yami's.
"A long time ago there were kingdoms on all the planets." She pointed at Mars. "Each kingdom was ruled by a princess who in turn inherited their planets' powers. They became warriors that helped protect the most important princess. The Moon Princess."
"Serena." Yami murmured looking at the moon.
"Yes." Raye continued. "And as you probably guessed, I was the princess of Mars. It was lovely up there and we all loved it. Lita was more feminine, Mina had her prince, Amy knew how to throw it all back and attend a party, and Serena was elegant. And me," She smiled and laughed lightly, "I wasn't so different.
"But one day the Negaverse attacked and we all gave our lives to save the moon and its kingdom. But Queen Serenity saved our mortal souls and transported us to earth where we'd be reborn if the Negaverse ever raised its head again. And I didn't have my memories either. I didn't get them back until Luna gave them to all of us.
"And just like you I sometimes wish I didn't get my memories back." She had to laugh to keep the tears from coming. "Because with the memories came my job as a Sailor Scout and I realized how different I am from everyone else. And that fact hurts."
Raye sighed and this time it was her that looked away from Yami. She pulled her hand out from underneath his and pressed it against her chest. Her difference always got to her and she hated that weakness. Right at that moment she didn't want to be there. She didn't want Yami to see her cry.
"You know," He spoke quietly. "I wise person once told me that everyone deserved to have their memories. Even if they tear you apart, they are yours and yours alone. And sometimes you miss them and want them to come back. But trust me, it doesn't make you a bad person."
Raye turned to him and slowly raised her eyes to his. They sparkled in a sad smile. But nothing seemed so beautiful to Raye as the gleam in them seemed at that moment. She leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I guess we're two peas in a pod." She sighed. "So different but alike in those differences. A prince and a princess. It really makes you wonder about life."
Yami laughed and leaned his head to the side so that his cheek rested on the top of her head. Who would have ever thought he'd be in this position? Just yesterday some random guy named Chad was throwing punches at him, and now he was star gazing with Raye. A girl that he had known was special from the beginning.
"When you were a princess, was there a prince?" He asked suddenly, a blossom of jealousy rising up in him.
"I don't know." She answered, the honesty evident in her voice. "I didn't get every tiny detail of memory back. I see a man, but I can't place who he is what he did for me. I feel love around him, but that could also mean he's a father figure. How about you, any princess?"
Yami laughed sadly and watched as a star streaked across the sky.
"Yes." He watched as the star's trail fade into the black sky. "But I don't remember anything about her. All I know is she wasn't normal. There was something different about her and that's the reason I loved her so dearly. I just wish I could remember her face. I know she had such beautiful eyes, like my mother's, a lovely shade of violet." He reached down and grasped Raye's chin, forcing her to look at him. "Much like your eyes."
In that moment Raye felt an incredible urge rise up from deep within her heart. She tilted her head up just as Yami leaned down. There lips met and Raye felt the fire within her spring to life. She wrapped her arms around Yami's neck and his arms snaked around her waist. They pulled each closer and deepened the kiss, allowing their tongues to dance in the moonlight. Raye gasped into his mouth and Yami moaned.
Suddenly a memory flashed in Yami's mind and his pleasured turned into surprise a shocked gasp wormed its way up his throat. He pushed away from Raye and jumped up as he saw a flash of brunette and angry eyes as a fist came flying at him.
"Yami?" Raye questioned, a lustful blush still hot on her cheeks. "Yami what's wrong?"
"W-we can't do this." He turned away from Raye. "I can't have you."
Raye cocked her head to the side and gazed at Yami with hurt in her violet eyes.
"What are you talking about?" She started to get up. "I didn't stop you. Actually I provoked it."
"I know, but that's not what it is." He cried out. "I can't have a woman who can't love me back!"
This time Raye did jump up. She glared at Yami with a fire in her eyes that only Yami could ever duplicate.
"How dare you tell me how I can feel and can't feel!" She shouted back. "And I can love whoever I want!"
"Yeah, and his name is Chad!" Yami turned back, the fire now in his eyes.
Raye gasped and placed her hand over mouth. For a moment all words left her. How did he know Chad? She had never introduced him and they hadn't talked about him. So why now, after such a romantic moment, did Yami get the idea that her and Chad were in love? She gasped again. Chad must have seen him at the temple the other day and confronted Yami. She went to tell him that but he was too quick.
"He came to me yesterday and told me stay away." Yami growled taking a step away. "And I promised myself I couldn't fall for you because you were taken. But after you saved me and I found out that you were like me, I faulted. And I'm sorry but I don't want to be anybody's second man. I'm sorry Raye, but I can't."
With that final bit Yami turned and fled from the temple. Raye watched him go with horror. She wasn't with Chad, and Chad knew that. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched Yami turn the corner and dash out of sight. He was the she wanted to be with. Yami was the one she was falling in love with.
The tears in her eyes suddenly disappeared as anger filled the void. She turned her fiery gaze towards the window of the room where Chad stayed. The light was on. Good. Then she wouldn't have to wake him up to kill him. She stormed over to his door and flung it open.
"Raye!" He cried jumping away from the window. The smile that had just been on his face faded.
Raye paled. He had been watching her and Yami. So did that mean he heard them talking? If he had then she was in trouble. Yami too, because he wasn't exactly normal.
"You were watching us?" She asked in a low voice. "What did you hear?"
Chad recognized the beginning of Raye's anger lying just below the surface of her calmness.
"I, uh, I couldn't hear you." He told her the truth. "I was just watching to, to…"
"To make sure he listened to your warning!" She screamed. "Chad you ass, you can't do this! I don't love you and I don't think I ever can. Not if you do things like this. Now stay out of personal life because you're hurting me more then you can imagine!"
She turned on her heel and left, the tears now streaming down her cheeks. Chad watched her go in silence, knowing that there was nothing he could say make her feel better, or stop her and turn her back running into his arms. He had lied. He had heard some of their conversation but that was only because they had started yelling. That punk Yami, thinking he was so good in his leather jacket, had kissed her, kissed her! But then they started yelling and he told her he couldn't be anybody's second man. No of course not. Yami was too good to ever come second to someone. Raye had been hurt, and Chad had felt bad because he was part of the reason for her pain. But then again, a little pain had gotten Yami out of the picture. Granted he had to promise himself not to mingle in Raye's personal life anymore, but that didn't mean he wanted that spiky haired Romeo trying to steal the girl of his dreams.
Chad looked out the window just in time to see the light go out in Raye's room. Yes, he would heed to her wishes.
But that didn't mean that he had to like Yami. No, hell, he hated him. And he would do what he could to keep Yami out of the picture.
~*~
Yami ran down the street, tears trailing down his face. He hated crying, it was a weakness. And he couldn't show any sign of weakness. Raye had said their new enemy was after him. But as long as he stayed away from his friends and family then they would be safe. It didn't matter to him. He could lose as much energy as they wanted to take, it wouldn't effect him (well besides early morning headaches).
All that mattered to him now was the fact that he had lost his chance at having something he had missed since his actual life. Love. Whether it was true or not, Yami felt like Raye could be his present day princess. They had both come from royal pasts, although Raye's a bit more magical then the grimy sands of Egypt. When he had gone overboard and kissed her he felt something shot through him. It was almost like a feeling of recognition, like it had happened before.
He cut his thoughts off with an angry sigh and slipped into a nearby alley. Leaning up against a wall he angrily wiped at his face. The dampness just slicked off the sleeve of his leather jacket.
Now he remembered some things about love. Like the way it hurts. Far in the back of his mind he remembered that he originally wasn't allowed to be with his princess. He couldn't remember exactly what it was but he wasn't allowed to touch her face or talk to her the way he wished he could. Him, the Pharaoh, wasn't allowed to.
He looked up at the dark sky. Ironic the way history repeated itself. Here he was, millennia later, and again he still couldn't have his princess. He pounded the wall behind him with an anger and let out an angry shout.
"Damn you Ra." He growled into the night. "Damn you for playing with my life even now. You couldn't let me live my life with my princess all those years ago in Egypt. And even now you are planning against me. Why don't you want me to feel love? Why!?"
"It might just be me, but I highly doubt its Ra's fault."
Yami gasped when he heard the light voice and whipped around. But only the alleyway's darkness greeted him. He growled deep in the back of his throat and the eye of horus began to glow fiercely.
"Whoa, calm down!" The voice spoke again as a form untangled itself from the shadows. "We don't want a repeat of last night!"
Yami straightened up and relaxed when he saw it was Sailor Jupiter, or Lita. She gave him a bright smile and waved a finger at him.
"With these new creeps out after you do you really think it's safe for you to be running around at night by yourself?" She scolded.
Yami looked away, fresh tears forming in his eyes. Jupiter caught this and felt a pang in her heart. It was then that she noticed his tear streaked face.
"I don't care." He whispered. "I don't care what happens to me anymore."
Jupiter's heart tightened and she laid a hand on his shoulder. Though tougher in his demeanor, Yami was still a good couple inches shorter then her. His muscles tensed under her touch.
"Don't say that." She said in a soft voice, hoping to make him smile or at least look up at her. "Besides, I know a certain scout in a red skirt who might be upset if she knew you were willing to let anything happen to yourself."
Yami chocked on his emotions and pulled away from Jupiter. Like Raye would care. She was just stringing him along for her benefit.
"No she wouldn't." Another tear trailed down his cheek. "Why would she care about me?"
Jupiter turned him to face her and gave him a hard stare. There was anger in her emerald eyes but Yami knew she wouldn't let it out on him.
"Because she's falling for you!" She shouted at him. "I've never seen Raye defend a stranger the way she defended you when Luna was doubting you the other night. God Yami, she's falling in love with you!"
Yami locked gazes with Jupiter and saw the honesty in her eyes. But so what if she was telling the truth. Raye could be falling in love with him but she could also be in love with Chad and just using him as a fling to make sure that she was truly in love with the other man.
"No she's not." Yami whispered and pulled his eyes away from Jupiter's. "She's in love with Chad. He attacked me the other day and told me to stay away from his woman."
Jupiter pulled back and her face screwed up. Yami waited for her to say something like, 'oh yeah' or 'you're right, I forgot.' But she never did. Instead she doubled over in laughter. Yami's eyes widened and he watched the giggling sailor scout with wide eyes.
"W-what's so funny?" He asked.
"Chad?" Jupiter straightened up and wiped away a tear of laughter. "You think she loves Chad? Yami, Chad lives with Raye at the temple because her grandfather is training him so that he can conquer this supposed stage fright. Raye never so much as looked at him with love in mind. But Chad on the other hand has always fancied Raye, ever since he first laid eyes on her he was in love. He's tried everything he could to keep guys away from Raye and it usually works because he looks tough. But he's actually kind of…"
"Stupid." Yami grumbled under his breath.
Jupiter smiled and patted him roughly on the back. Yami was jerked by the rough movement. He looked up into her grinning face and had to grin himself. But when he remembered what had just happened between him and Raye the smile faded.
"If that's true then I'm an idiot." He murmured. "And she won't want me back anymore. Not after what happened tonight."
Jupiter leaned back as her brow creased in confusion. She glanced at the sky and allowed a smile to grace her lips.
"You know something Yami." She whispered. "I think if you're truly sorry about whatever happened between you Raye tonight, you'll find a way to make her forgive you."
Yami sighed and followed her gaze to the planet Mars.
"What could I possibly do to take back what I said?" He asked the night. "What?"
Jupiter grabbed Yami by the wrist and placed something in his palm. He raised his brow and looked at what had been placed in his hand. It was a small rose earring. When he shifted it to look at it from another angle the moon light gleamed off its edges. He looked at Jupiter to see her walking away.
"I'm sure you think of something." She called over shoulder. "Talk to you later Yami."
Yami watched as she disappeared into the shadows again. He glanced once more at the earring in his hand. The moonlight sparkled off it again, giving it a beautiful appeal. He grinned when he figured out why Lita had slipped him her earring. Now all he needed to do was act out his plan. He slipped into the darkness, a grin now plastered on his face.
But as he disappeared into the night, an extra hitch in his step, a pair of eyes watched his every move…
"He's okay?" She barked, turning to set an angry glare on Regina who sulked in the background, nursing her burned arm. "I thought you drained his energy! He should be nothing more then an empty shell, doomed to lay in a coma until his body gives out on him! What gives?"
Regina looked up from her arm and glowered at her leader. She walked towards the image of the boy Yami buying a dozen roses from a late night vender. He seemed in perfect health, not to mention better then he had before. There was a smile on his face and she remembered how he had been sulking before she attacked last time.
"Maybe the kid's special." Regina shrugged. "You said there was something about his energy that was special and that's why you wanted it. Maybe he has boundless energy or something like that."
Her eyes grew wide as she turned on Regina. Of course! Why hadn't she thought of that? That must be the answer. There was something different about this kid, something that allowed him to replenish lost energy. Which meant he was the key to unlocking Despair.
All she had to do was find a way to kidnap him when no one noticed him missing. But he would be hers.