Authoress' Notes: Yes, I've updated after a long period of time. I have a great number of tests coming up. Just this Tuesday and Wednesday, I took the ELA test. This Tuesday coming up, I have another test-, a science test in fact. This may be the last update in a while there is no guarantee.
Alexi Serenitia: I appreciate your comment very much. Rebecca is one of my favorite characters, though I cannot say, my number one favorite. Yes, to answer your question, Rebecca is basically a robot now. As for the reverse effect…you'll just have to wait and see. *sternly* No cutesy eyes, they bug me.
Saphirus*Falcon: By the way, I never told you this, but I love your name and the other name Ariaeos. They are such cool names. My, that was a long email review you sent me. I'm sorry I did not respond sooner. I do not mind the fact that you're sending me your review through email. It's fine with me.
Now, to respond to your email-review.
I am pleased that you enjoyed chapter 6 and 7, well actually 5 and 6, seeing as the prologue does not count as a full chapter. I try to keep angst in almost every chapter (well again, prologue doesn't count), and it seemed that I'm not doing a very successful job at it.
Unfortunately, I cannot exactly pinpoint Rebecca's exact reaction to losing her grandfather. I can guess that she will feel like nothing will matter, mainly, because she grew up with her grandfather alone. Seeing as he is the closet person she's got, it will be a heavy loss to her. And sometimes, having to suffer through so much brings out the worst in you, or it might cause you to do something crazy like Rebecca did, though what she did in this fan fiction can never happen in real life.
Yes, mood swings is a sign of suicide, as well as giving your most prized possessions away. There are more to that, but I shouldn't waste fan fiction space for endless babble about suicide. I take health class at school and I know about this stuff, and if you want to talk about it, feel free to email or IM me, or something.
Seemingly, I did not do a very good job last chapter of describing what Rebecca is like. I will make up for explaining it now. Remember she was getting equipment for creating a new body? The body will look alike like her, but without a human heart. She can't run around like a machine, for it will attract attention. I hope it this explanation clarifies what you asked about. Yes, she is a robot now. This is what the whole point of the supernatural category was about.
Dialogue, indeed, is a very hard thing to write. I even have trouble writing it. Whenever I proofread my chapter, I always try to change the dialogue and stop myself from using 'he said,' 'she said,' too much. It irritates me as well and it makes the story seem very boring.
I certainly found your long review very helpful since it is rare for any reader of mine to give me a long and detailed yet critiquing review. I am happy to know that this fan fiction The Stranger I Once Knew is one of your favorite stories and the fact that this is unique in your mind.
Whew, that was a very long reply. Only two reviews, oh well. Here is the next installment to The Stranger I Once Knew.
Legal Disclaimer: I own nothing of Yugioh, but the plot of this fan fictional piece.
Illegal Disclaimer: I own Yugioh.
Chapter 7: Absent Years
Ten years. Ten goddamn years.
If she had feelings, those words would have been said differently. Unlike the dull, lifeless tone she had used, it would probably be bitter. Long ago, she might have used the bitter poisonous tone, but now, she can't back out of what she had decided. It was too late. There was no time for regret or change. This had all been her doing, the state she was in now, saved for what destiny had done to her that driven her to this one road.
In simplest terms speaking, it was too late.
She remembered the last few days before the changed like it had just happened yesterday. Yet, those days occurred ten years ago. It was the past. It was behind her. She was known as Rebecca Hawkins then, ten years ago. That twelve-year-old girl who had suffered a terrible loss that caused her to have a trauma that had driven her to what humans would call suicide. Yet, that suicide was unsuccessful and she was out cold in a coma for a few months. Throughout those few months, she was in this dream world of some sort.
After seeing what the dream world had shown her, she reached to this decision. This one decision that killed herself-, her human self and gave birth to this emotionless creature. She didn't have a christened name. She dubbed herself None. To her, the person known as Rebecca Hawkins died ten years ago.
"Rebecca Hawkins." She whispered the name as she glanced upon the mirror image of herself over the crystal water. Same pale cheeks, same jade green eyes and same blonde hair. She didn't changed, not how she looked at least. Even her body, her looks, nothing had change. This body didn't age with her years. This body wasn't made to grow. It was made to stay the same and feel nothing.
The name spoken was alien, something of the past. It was like digging up some unwanted memory. When she made this body, why hasn't she erased the memories? The pain still existed in her mind, but she felt none of it. Those memory fragments simply didn't disappear with her soul and beating human heart. They existed, like dusts gathered in her body, refusing to be cleaned away. Yet, even weight with such remembering, it did not stop the fact that she couldn't feel any of it.
And for that, she was glad.
The river's clear reflection gave her a clear image of her appearance. She had a set of dull green eyes and blonde hair. As she reached up and got hold of a tendril of blonde hair, she realized how she isn't able to marvel over the soft silk strands. Such an unfortunate problem it was to have no feelings. She ran her small hand into a long net of blonde strands. She could feel the soft strands as her fingers smoothed them out. Yet, she could say nothing about it. She wasn't mute; she just simply had no opinions.
Sighing to herself, she removed her hand from her hair. Reaching forward, she touched the glacial surface of the water, creating infinite ripples on the surface. Her image marred for a short time. She withdrew her hand and waited for the water to still. It took a while for the water to settle into a still peaceful mirror again. And when it finally did, she looked herself over again.
"None." She whispered to the mirror reflection.
That's right. It's her name now. She was None. The name for this girl without feelings, and yet, had no trouble accepting it. She can experience nothing nor feel for anyone.
"Rebecca." She repeated her original name. No, she chided herself. It was the name of the girl who died ten years ago. Yet, she cannot deny it. Just saying the name of the girl who died ten years ago brought a sense of peace to her. The name felt right.
"No, I'm None." She told herself as she stared at her reflection. She can see her mouth as she spoke, the words tumbling out of her mouth as the sound came from the mechanic body.
She could deny it all she wanted. She can say she is someone else. She can try to forget it all. But she cannot. Such strong contradictions they were.
This mind can say that she is None. But deep down in her mechanic heart, it was all a lie. All None had lived through was a lie. Every day and part of her life, it was all a lie.
And worst yet, she knew it.
She had gotten what she wanted. None was someone she wanted to become, wasn't it? Had she not made this body ten years ago so her mind can live on in this impassive creature while the other dies? Wasn't this what she wanted?
None stared at her reflection for a few more momentarily seconds before finally getting onto her feet. This was her home now.
Home. The word tasted like acid upon her mechanic tongue. She had nowhere to belong. There was no place for her in this world. She remembered reading somewhere that there are those who are born with a place in this world while there are those who will have to make their own. But, she couldn't find a place for herself. None was just this wanderer on the streets, drifting aimlessly through this world without a purpose.
But why…haven't she chosen death over this transformation?
It was true that she had been in death before. Rebecca discovered that it solved nothing. That was why she created this body.
Everywhere None went, she was pursued. In her mind, she wished that Yugi and the others would give up trying to find her. She wished that they thought of her as dead. Yes, she was dead. Not her. Not None. But Rebecca.
None began laughing, no chuckling softly. Yet, the chuckle held no meaning to it. She can laugh, she can sigh, she can sneer, and all in the end, she's doing them for nothing. Why bother doing these things when she couldn't experience them?
So out of character it was for me to laugh, None mused.
Settling down beneath the shade of an autumn tree, she reached for something in her coat pocket, pulling out a faded piece of folded paper. None unfolded the paper, smoothing out the many crinkles as her eyes studied the faded words. The paper looked old, and it looked like it was folded over many times. It was true that she glanced at this piece of paper constantly. None would take it out at times and reread it and refold it and place it away.
Now the piece of paper was useless. She could no longer read the faded words. Yet, she knew the words by heart having reread this so many times.
"October 31st – November 1st. Rebecca Hawkins, twelve had disappeared after a fire had occurred at the Gardners' resident. There had been no signs that she had perished in the fire, for there were no remains. Tea Gardner, one of the occupants of the household happened to brought her friends over when the house was on fire.
Apparently, someone or something had stopped them from going out the door and was forced to use the window. They made it out of the house just in time, though the fire had caused a huge loss of property. The Gardners are without a place to live in, though several generous friends/relatives offered them a place to stay until they can purchase another place of their own.
However, it still remained a mystery to what happened to the twelve year old girl, Rebecca Hawkins.
"I don't know what happened to Rebecca," Quoted Tea Gardner. "But wherever she is, I hope she's doing fine."
Of course, what Tea had told the press was a lie, None thought. They will never tell what happened to her, because it is simply beyond what the human mind could comprehend. They knew what happened to here, they were there to see what had changed in her. They had seen her death, and seen her birth. They saw it all.
But they couldn't accept it.
It is not possible for the young girl to have gotten very far, considering she is not old enough to dry. It is possible that she had taken a train or an airplane or any means of transportation, though it had been checked to see if she did and the result was that no drivers had ever seen her. It is not likely she had suddenly disappeared from the face of Earth and her disappearance will be investigated further on."
This newspaper was dated ten years ago, the exact date of None's birth. Crumbling the paper, she set it aside as her hand reached for the two pieces of wood. Rubbing them vigorously together, she worked tirelessly until there was smoke rising. Extracting more energy, she grazed the two hard surfaces together until there was a small spark. That was all she needed. Reaching for the crumbled paper, she smoothed it out again and held it over the spark, taking care to let the corner of the newspaper catch on fire first.
None watched as the flames easily devoured the corner of the paper and went for the bigger prize-, the heart of the paper. She watched as the flames ate the crinkles of the paper hungrily and didn't flinch as the flames made contact with her hand. It didn't hurt at all, but she dropped the burning paper nonetheless. The flames immediately attached themselves to the pile of wood.
"Fire." She whispered silently, the words unheard by the naked ears of any human being, but herself.
Her empty jade green eyes mirrored the movements of the dancing flames. For several long hours, None sat watching the endless dance of the fire. However, after the several hours, the fire began to die, as there was no more wood for it to consume for its continuation for existence. Her fingers curled around a bottle of water. Her other hand reached for the cap and unscrewed it. Then, holding the bottle of water over the fire, she tilted it, and water began gushing out at the mouth of the water bottle.
None let the water out slowly and deliberately, savoring the moments as the flames made hissing noises as it was destroyed. The water continued dousing the flames out, creating multiple hisses. Soon, there was none a flame left, but a fog of silvery smoke.
Normally, the smoke would irate a set of human eyes, but it did not bothered None. She watched as the thick, wispy smoke curled upwards, studying how it twisted and turned like in a topsy-turvy ride. As the smoke rose higher, it began to grow invisible, melting away with the surroundings. Recapping the water bottle, she tucked it away and stood up.
Tilting her head upwards, she glanced at the sky briefly. None caught a glimpse of a dying lone star at the end of the vast black sky. The star is like me, None cogitated. We're both alone, even in this crowd of endless people. Even in the sea of human, we do not belong. We are of the non-existent.
Tearing her eyes from the sky, None focused what was in front of her. Beneath the moonlight laid a path. Leaving the grassy terrain, she took the path and began walking forward. There was no time to look behind. She took her sweet time walking down the path. The whole park belonged to her, seeing as no other occupant decided to invade, but her.
Leaving her 'home', None stepped into the world of city life. It wasn't as if she had never set foot on the world outside the park before. She had done so, many a times, but felt that she was unwilling to take part in it-, ever. None had not seen Yugi, Tea, Joey, Tristan nor Serenity. And she did not regret it. Not that she can anyways.
The world of the city did not changed over the ten years. None could see the tall skyscrapers, the tightly knotted communities, and the stores trying to outdo one another. Some things certainly didn't changed.
And some things did, None added in her mind silently. And when it did, it was for the better.
Or at least, what she believed.
There were still lights that watched over the traffic. There were many new models of car. Technology had advanced over the years, though not by much in None's opinion. Ten years ago, Rebecca Hawkins was about to create a robotic creature that could house the mind of a living being. If Rebecca could have done that so many years ago, and the world today couldn't, technology hasn't really improved.
There were no more familiar surroundings, ones she had known ten years ago. But then again, this is a ten-year span of difference. The world had been redone now.
None strolled down the street. No one occupied it, but her. She wondered if people still remember her, the missing twelve year old that mysteriously disappeared in the fire.
But of course, this person haven't turned up in ten years, it's likely that they had forgotten all about her, None thought.
In this body, she did not need food to survive. She needed no sleep, no nothing. Yet, she made sure that her metal did not rust. That was the only care she needed for survival in this body.
Now come to think of it, she no knew how it was like to taste food in her mouth. She can no longer sleep and block out everything in her mind like a human can. In this mechanic body, she cannot consume food or water or anything.
None shrugged as she continued down the street. Next block. Make a turn. Another block. Another block forward. Turn.
She drifted aimlessly through the unfamiliar streets looking around to take in all the changes that had occurred while she hid in the park, cooped up for ten years. She had made visits into the city, but limited them in case she may be discovered. There was no need for the likes of her to mingle into the lives of city civilization when she was perfectly fine where she was.
"Excuse me?" An adult voice rang out, penetrating None's train of thoughts as she looked up. "I just got back to Japan and I'm wondering where should I go to-."
"You're asking the wrong person." None said as she turned to the woman.
The woman looked taken back, but to None, it wasn't to what she had said. It was something else. The stranger's blue eyes trailed down her face, as if taking in all the features. She then swallowed and let out two words that None was shocked, or would be shock to hear if she could feel, to hear.
"Rebecca?" The woman whispered. There was shocked written all over her pretty face. Her tone held full-blown awe as she said that one word.
"None." None put in immediately as she heard the name of the girl who died ten years ago being called.
"Is it really you, Rebecca?" The woman repeated. She took a step backward, forgetting about her traveling packs. Stumbling over them, she landed on her back, but her blue eyes never lost its gaze on None.
None hesitated as she studied the woman before her. She has a set of pretty blue eyes and her face was well shaped. Her complexion was of a nice creamy peach color and she has shoulder-length, rich brown hair. Where had she seen these features before? It had taken a while for these characteristics to register her mechanic mind.
"Tea?" None finally questioned.
End Notes: Okay, crappy boring chapter. Again, I apologize for the long update. Hopefully, the next update will be sometime soon and I really hope to finish this story soon. Before I go, I want to put in a few more words. I've fast-forward this story to take place ten years later. Please note that in this body, Rebecca is a machine basically and machine does not age with looks, so Rebecca looks like she does ten years ago. The name None came to me while I was writing this story on paper. It struck me as how the name None will fit the new Rebecca perfectly seeing as she was devoid of all feelings and no longer exist in human civilization. That's all I have to say.