Chapter Fourteen
Alone
"Maybe we should call the police." Tea suggested as she clicked off the television and looked over her shoulder at all her guests, who were gathered in her spacious living room. Tristan and Duke were sitting on the couch, Serenity and Mai were biting their nails in nervousness, Bakura stood by the phone while Joey stood at the window, looking out.
"Maybe she just didn't want to come," Duke suggested. "I mean, can you blame her? Hanging out with us all the time? She probably met up with Kaiba and they went off or something." He remarked loudly.
Joey fumed and spun around. "Shut up Duke! That's not funny!" he said, pointing his finger in Duke's direction. "For all we know some thugs coulda picked Roux up and now I'll never seen her again!"
Serenity bit her lower lip. "Oh no.poor Roux."
Yami Yugi, who had been with them all evening, with a certain anxiousness to meet Roux in person, looked up from his gaze on the coffee table. "Tea's right. Bakura call the police. Joey, you, Tristan, Duke and me will go out and look for her after the police have been alerted."
"Okay." Bakura said, and he reached for the phone and began to punch in numbers.
Tristan got up and put on his jacket. The three girls all looked at each other, wondering what they should do. Whether they should go with them or stay. "What do you want us to do, Yugi?" Tea asked, blinking alertly.
"You stay here in case someone calls." Yugi instructed them. "We'll split up and check the corners of the city, and-"
Suddenly the doorbell rang, and everyone jumped at the sound of it. Everyone looked up at the door in curiosity and question, and Yami was the first one at the door.
"Wow, that was fast." Bakura said as he hung up the phone before he could finish dialing.
In no time and without hesitation, Yami gripped the doorknob and with a rather testy look on his face he forced opened the door, as if he were about to yell at the person to come through that door. One of their friends was missing. Everything else would have to wait.
But instead Yami's eyes widened slightly. "Roux!" he said.
At the name "Roux" everyone looked up. Mai and Serenity stood up from the couch and they all went towards the door, with questions as to what Yami saw.
Yami stood there and stared at Roux. She was standing at the door, with Maximilian Pegasus standing behind her, assuredly. Yami inspected Roux very swiftly. She had gone completely pale. It looked as though she had been sick for days. She was shaking, and she seemed cold and clammy.
"ROUX!" Joey exploded, and when he saw her he threw him at her, throwing his arms around her and pulling her tightly to his body. He buried his face in her golden locks and breathed in her scent. "Oh Roux I was so worried!"
"I'm sorry, Joey." Roux said, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around him, so glad to see him, to be with him. For the longest time after talking with Pegasus, she was sure she would never be happy again. But she was with her friends now. She would be fine.
Yami watched Roux and Joey embrace tightly, and then he turned his eyes to Pegasus and narrowed harshly. "Pegasus?"
"Yes, hello again Yugi-boy." Pegasus said with a hint of a smile. He peered into the apartment and smiled at Roux. "Forgive me for worrying you all. I requested Roux's time and presence for a short time tonight. I had no intention of having you all worry."
Joey wasn't listening. He was just glad Roux was in his arms. "Roux, you're cold as ice, are you okay?"
"Do you want something to drink?" Tea asked, coming towards them.
"Here, put this around her." Bakura said, holding out a wool blanket, and Joey took it, thanking Bakura, and wound it around Roux as if it were a cape of some sort. Then everyone brought her into the living room and sat her down on one of the couches.
Yami watched them for a moment, and then turned to Pegasus for an explanation.
"I must request a word with you, Yugi-boy." Pegasus said rather seriously.
Within twenty minutes or so, the apartment had been completely quieted down. In the kitchen Pegasus sat with Roux on one end of the table facing Joey and Yami, who both had troubled looks on their faces. They were all drinking the hot chocolate that Tea had made for them before she gathered everyone into the other room for the last movie of the night, so the four may talk in peace.
Pegasus took the majority of the rest of the evening in explaining to both Yami and Joey, who were listening very intently, about the events that occurred with Roux's ex-husband. He shared with them his beliefs about why the people murdered Kale, and why he thought that these people were perhaps after Roux.
Yami sat and never moved a muscle as he listened. When Pegasus had finished explaining the long, complicated story to them both, Yami merely nodded. "I agree with you, Pegasus. Your entire story is the logical explanation to this mystery."
Joey looked at Yami. "You really think so Yug?"
"I'm almost positive." Yami said persistently.
"And as you can see, I believe that Roux may need just a bit of protection while this is going on." Pegasus said, and he gently put his hand on Roux's shoulder. She was falling asleep, Joey and Yami both could see it in her eyes. It had been a long night for her. Pegasus looked up at Joey. "Thus, Joey-boy, I would imagine that, since you're her closest friend in Domino, that you would kindly look after her until I've returned from my business trip."
"Absolutely!" Joey declared. "Yeah, it'd be no problem at all."
Pegasus nodded. "Good. I have faith in you Joey. I know you'll keep her safe." Then Pegasus turned to look at Yami. "And Yugi-boy, I know our histories have clashed before in the past, but you are Roux's friend, and as her friend I would wish that you would help her as well."
Yami nodded. "Of course. In a time of need I will be there to help."
Pegasus nodded, and he rose from his seat. "Good. I have confidence in both of you. When I return from my trip I should gladly bring Roux to stay with me, if she so wishes." He checked his wristwatch and made a disdainful look. "Now I really must be going, I have to leave early tomorrow morning."
"Well thanks, Pegasus for doin all this for Roux!" Joey said, suddenly taking Pegasus' hand and shaking it. Pegasus gave him a confused look. "I always used to think you was a real jerk-off, but I guess I was wrong!"
Pegasus smirked. "Well I'm flattered, Joey-boy. Now I must leave, but I am trusting you to take good care of Roux."
Before Pegasus could leave Roux hugged him very tightly, the blanket falling off her shoulders as she hugged him. Pegasus hugged her back, patting her back.
"Thank you, Max." she said to him.
"For what?" Pegasus asked, amused.
"For lots of things. For caring about me, and about Kale." They were apart and smiling at each other. "And for telling me. Thank you."
Pegasus nodded, and he kissed her forehead. "I'll be back before the tournament begins, I'll be sure to see you then. Goodbye."
Roux watched from the window and waved goodbye to Pegasus before the limo rolled off down the street, and Roux let out a deep sigh.
"How are you feeling, Roux?" Tea asked. "Can I get you anything?"
"I'm fine, thank you. Really I am." Roux gave a tired, sad smile. "I'm just very tired. I'd like to rest."
Joey nodded. "Yeah, we should get back. I told Pegasus that we'd take good care of Roux until he got back. So she'll be staying at the Wheeler clan for awhile!"
Duke rolled his eyes and exasperated. "Oh great, in no time at all Roux will be talking just like Joey.monkey tongue!"
Joey fumed. "Hey, what'd you say about my tongue?" he demanded, grabbing Duke by the collar, and making everyone in the room, even Roux, laugh for the first time that eventful evening.
~*~
Joey and Serenity took Roux back to their apartment, and Yami went with them just for safety reasons. There wasn't too much conversation between them as they walked, except for how Joey talked about how he thought Pegasus had changed from a "cruel dirt-bag" to a "caring sonava bitch".
Yami had to agree with Joey on a level. This was probably the most gracious think Yami had ever seen Maximilian Pegasus do. But he guessed that Pegasus and Roux were good friends, and she had mentioned before that her ex- husband and Pegasus had been good friends.
They arrived at the Wheeler apartment in no time at all. They were all pretty tired, except for Joey who was pretty wound up. When they got there Roux's mood lightened a little, and Serenity got all excited about the fact that Roux would be staying with them for awhile.
"Wow, it's going to be so great!" Serenity was saying, clasping her hands together. "It'll be just the three of use together, we're going to have so much fun!"
"Yo Serenity, we're trying to help Roux out, not throw her a slumber party." Joey said.
Roux gave Joey a smile. "Actually Joey, the idea of a slumber party is enlightening." She gave him a very sweet look, making him know how much she appreciated what he was doing for her.
Joey gave Roux a bright smile, as if to let her know that he was happy to help, and then he said. "Okay, come on you two. It's time for bed. I dunno about you but I'm zapped!"
"I can loan you some pajamas, Roux!" Serenity said quickly, leading Roux to her bedroom, and to show Roux the guestroom where she would be sleeping. They disappeared down the hallway, and Joey turned to Yami.
"Yikes, what a night eh Yug?" Joey asked, scratching the back of his head. "I'm bushed, and I can't even imagine what Roux must be thinking."
"She'll be very alarmed for a little while Joey." Yami assured. "But hopefully she'll recover quickly. What with the tournament next week and everything."
"Oh yeah!" Joey said. "I completely forgot about the tournament! I hope this whole incident doesn't effect her playing at all."
Yami shook his head. "I think she'll be okay, but we should be there for her. This trip to Domino has been a nightmarish one for her."
Joey agreed, and when Yami left, Joey headed down the hall towards his bedroom and flopped onto the bed, snoring before he could even kick off his shoes.
Roux lay down that night in the guestroom, listening to the gentle slumbers of the Wheelers in the other rooms. She was happy that she was able to stay with them, and Pegasus had been right. This was the best thing to do. She felt better when she was with others, instead of being by herself in the big hotel where she didn't know anyone, and couldn't turn to anybody if she needed help.
She looked at the ring on her finger, and sadly she looked away, and out the window at the moon that hung over the city. She kept thinking Kale, about Osaka, and about what would have happened to her if she had stayed a day later. Perhaps finding her scrapbook in the closet that one day had sealed her fate.
And Pegasus, she was so grateful that she was friends with him, and that he was the one to tell her, and further more that he chose to tell her. She was glad that there were people there to look out for her, even now as one of the most important people in her life had been killed.
Suddenly, upon thinking about all this, even though she wasn't supposed to, she was more awake then ever.
Roux was more awake than ever before. Even though she felt at this point Joey and Serenity and her were all best friends again, and the rest of the gang and them were like a huge family who were there to love and support her, she had never felt more alone.
Alone
"Maybe we should call the police." Tea suggested as she clicked off the television and looked over her shoulder at all her guests, who were gathered in her spacious living room. Tristan and Duke were sitting on the couch, Serenity and Mai were biting their nails in nervousness, Bakura stood by the phone while Joey stood at the window, looking out.
"Maybe she just didn't want to come," Duke suggested. "I mean, can you blame her? Hanging out with us all the time? She probably met up with Kaiba and they went off or something." He remarked loudly.
Joey fumed and spun around. "Shut up Duke! That's not funny!" he said, pointing his finger in Duke's direction. "For all we know some thugs coulda picked Roux up and now I'll never seen her again!"
Serenity bit her lower lip. "Oh no.poor Roux."
Yami Yugi, who had been with them all evening, with a certain anxiousness to meet Roux in person, looked up from his gaze on the coffee table. "Tea's right. Bakura call the police. Joey, you, Tristan, Duke and me will go out and look for her after the police have been alerted."
"Okay." Bakura said, and he reached for the phone and began to punch in numbers.
Tristan got up and put on his jacket. The three girls all looked at each other, wondering what they should do. Whether they should go with them or stay. "What do you want us to do, Yugi?" Tea asked, blinking alertly.
"You stay here in case someone calls." Yugi instructed them. "We'll split up and check the corners of the city, and-"
Suddenly the doorbell rang, and everyone jumped at the sound of it. Everyone looked up at the door in curiosity and question, and Yami was the first one at the door.
"Wow, that was fast." Bakura said as he hung up the phone before he could finish dialing.
In no time and without hesitation, Yami gripped the doorknob and with a rather testy look on his face he forced opened the door, as if he were about to yell at the person to come through that door. One of their friends was missing. Everything else would have to wait.
But instead Yami's eyes widened slightly. "Roux!" he said.
At the name "Roux" everyone looked up. Mai and Serenity stood up from the couch and they all went towards the door, with questions as to what Yami saw.
Yami stood there and stared at Roux. She was standing at the door, with Maximilian Pegasus standing behind her, assuredly. Yami inspected Roux very swiftly. She had gone completely pale. It looked as though she had been sick for days. She was shaking, and she seemed cold and clammy.
"ROUX!" Joey exploded, and when he saw her he threw him at her, throwing his arms around her and pulling her tightly to his body. He buried his face in her golden locks and breathed in her scent. "Oh Roux I was so worried!"
"I'm sorry, Joey." Roux said, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around him, so glad to see him, to be with him. For the longest time after talking with Pegasus, she was sure she would never be happy again. But she was with her friends now. She would be fine.
Yami watched Roux and Joey embrace tightly, and then he turned his eyes to Pegasus and narrowed harshly. "Pegasus?"
"Yes, hello again Yugi-boy." Pegasus said with a hint of a smile. He peered into the apartment and smiled at Roux. "Forgive me for worrying you all. I requested Roux's time and presence for a short time tonight. I had no intention of having you all worry."
Joey wasn't listening. He was just glad Roux was in his arms. "Roux, you're cold as ice, are you okay?"
"Do you want something to drink?" Tea asked, coming towards them.
"Here, put this around her." Bakura said, holding out a wool blanket, and Joey took it, thanking Bakura, and wound it around Roux as if it were a cape of some sort. Then everyone brought her into the living room and sat her down on one of the couches.
Yami watched them for a moment, and then turned to Pegasus for an explanation.
"I must request a word with you, Yugi-boy." Pegasus said rather seriously.
Within twenty minutes or so, the apartment had been completely quieted down. In the kitchen Pegasus sat with Roux on one end of the table facing Joey and Yami, who both had troubled looks on their faces. They were all drinking the hot chocolate that Tea had made for them before she gathered everyone into the other room for the last movie of the night, so the four may talk in peace.
Pegasus took the majority of the rest of the evening in explaining to both Yami and Joey, who were listening very intently, about the events that occurred with Roux's ex-husband. He shared with them his beliefs about why the people murdered Kale, and why he thought that these people were perhaps after Roux.
Yami sat and never moved a muscle as he listened. When Pegasus had finished explaining the long, complicated story to them both, Yami merely nodded. "I agree with you, Pegasus. Your entire story is the logical explanation to this mystery."
Joey looked at Yami. "You really think so Yug?"
"I'm almost positive." Yami said persistently.
"And as you can see, I believe that Roux may need just a bit of protection while this is going on." Pegasus said, and he gently put his hand on Roux's shoulder. She was falling asleep, Joey and Yami both could see it in her eyes. It had been a long night for her. Pegasus looked up at Joey. "Thus, Joey-boy, I would imagine that, since you're her closest friend in Domino, that you would kindly look after her until I've returned from my business trip."
"Absolutely!" Joey declared. "Yeah, it'd be no problem at all."
Pegasus nodded. "Good. I have faith in you Joey. I know you'll keep her safe." Then Pegasus turned to look at Yami. "And Yugi-boy, I know our histories have clashed before in the past, but you are Roux's friend, and as her friend I would wish that you would help her as well."
Yami nodded. "Of course. In a time of need I will be there to help."
Pegasus nodded, and he rose from his seat. "Good. I have confidence in both of you. When I return from my trip I should gladly bring Roux to stay with me, if she so wishes." He checked his wristwatch and made a disdainful look. "Now I really must be going, I have to leave early tomorrow morning."
"Well thanks, Pegasus for doin all this for Roux!" Joey said, suddenly taking Pegasus' hand and shaking it. Pegasus gave him a confused look. "I always used to think you was a real jerk-off, but I guess I was wrong!"
Pegasus smirked. "Well I'm flattered, Joey-boy. Now I must leave, but I am trusting you to take good care of Roux."
Before Pegasus could leave Roux hugged him very tightly, the blanket falling off her shoulders as she hugged him. Pegasus hugged her back, patting her back.
"Thank you, Max." she said to him.
"For what?" Pegasus asked, amused.
"For lots of things. For caring about me, and about Kale." They were apart and smiling at each other. "And for telling me. Thank you."
Pegasus nodded, and he kissed her forehead. "I'll be back before the tournament begins, I'll be sure to see you then. Goodbye."
Roux watched from the window and waved goodbye to Pegasus before the limo rolled off down the street, and Roux let out a deep sigh.
"How are you feeling, Roux?" Tea asked. "Can I get you anything?"
"I'm fine, thank you. Really I am." Roux gave a tired, sad smile. "I'm just very tired. I'd like to rest."
Joey nodded. "Yeah, we should get back. I told Pegasus that we'd take good care of Roux until he got back. So she'll be staying at the Wheeler clan for awhile!"
Duke rolled his eyes and exasperated. "Oh great, in no time at all Roux will be talking just like Joey.monkey tongue!"
Joey fumed. "Hey, what'd you say about my tongue?" he demanded, grabbing Duke by the collar, and making everyone in the room, even Roux, laugh for the first time that eventful evening.
~*~
Joey and Serenity took Roux back to their apartment, and Yami went with them just for safety reasons. There wasn't too much conversation between them as they walked, except for how Joey talked about how he thought Pegasus had changed from a "cruel dirt-bag" to a "caring sonava bitch".
Yami had to agree with Joey on a level. This was probably the most gracious think Yami had ever seen Maximilian Pegasus do. But he guessed that Pegasus and Roux were good friends, and she had mentioned before that her ex- husband and Pegasus had been good friends.
They arrived at the Wheeler apartment in no time at all. They were all pretty tired, except for Joey who was pretty wound up. When they got there Roux's mood lightened a little, and Serenity got all excited about the fact that Roux would be staying with them for awhile.
"Wow, it's going to be so great!" Serenity was saying, clasping her hands together. "It'll be just the three of use together, we're going to have so much fun!"
"Yo Serenity, we're trying to help Roux out, not throw her a slumber party." Joey said.
Roux gave Joey a smile. "Actually Joey, the idea of a slumber party is enlightening." She gave him a very sweet look, making him know how much she appreciated what he was doing for her.
Joey gave Roux a bright smile, as if to let her know that he was happy to help, and then he said. "Okay, come on you two. It's time for bed. I dunno about you but I'm zapped!"
"I can loan you some pajamas, Roux!" Serenity said quickly, leading Roux to her bedroom, and to show Roux the guestroom where she would be sleeping. They disappeared down the hallway, and Joey turned to Yami.
"Yikes, what a night eh Yug?" Joey asked, scratching the back of his head. "I'm bushed, and I can't even imagine what Roux must be thinking."
"She'll be very alarmed for a little while Joey." Yami assured. "But hopefully she'll recover quickly. What with the tournament next week and everything."
"Oh yeah!" Joey said. "I completely forgot about the tournament! I hope this whole incident doesn't effect her playing at all."
Yami shook his head. "I think she'll be okay, but we should be there for her. This trip to Domino has been a nightmarish one for her."
Joey agreed, and when Yami left, Joey headed down the hall towards his bedroom and flopped onto the bed, snoring before he could even kick off his shoes.
Roux lay down that night in the guestroom, listening to the gentle slumbers of the Wheelers in the other rooms. She was happy that she was able to stay with them, and Pegasus had been right. This was the best thing to do. She felt better when she was with others, instead of being by herself in the big hotel where she didn't know anyone, and couldn't turn to anybody if she needed help.
She looked at the ring on her finger, and sadly she looked away, and out the window at the moon that hung over the city. She kept thinking Kale, about Osaka, and about what would have happened to her if she had stayed a day later. Perhaps finding her scrapbook in the closet that one day had sealed her fate.
And Pegasus, she was so grateful that she was friends with him, and that he was the one to tell her, and further more that he chose to tell her. She was glad that there were people there to look out for her, even now as one of the most important people in her life had been killed.
Suddenly, upon thinking about all this, even though she wasn't supposed to, she was more awake then ever.
Roux was more awake than ever before. Even though she felt at this point Joey and Serenity and her were all best friends again, and the rest of the gang and them were like a huge family who were there to love and support her, she had never felt more alone.