Eventine: Ok friends, this chapter is probably my longest yet, and also went through the most changes. To understand the rest of this fiction, you MUST read this updated version.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yu-gi-oh. At all.
Early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, throwing dappled golden colors across Shizuka's fair face, causing her to awake. She yawned, and stretched her limbs, actually somewhat looking forward to the day ahead. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her deep, chocolate eyes, and glanced at the alarm clock on her bedside table. It was five o'clock, and hour earlier than she would usually arise.
She stood up slowly, wary of the bouts of dizziness she was prone too. After a few moments, she walked over to her closet and pulled out her school uniform. Unlike other girls that attended Domino High, Shizuka rarely attempted to 'spice' up her uniform by adding brightly colored scarves or bangles. She preferred it plain and simple, with little or no effort involved. But today for some reason, she decided to do something different.
She walked across the room to the chest of drawers that housed her under-things. Atop the dresser a small mahogany box rested, it's golden hinges shining merrily in the dawn light. She gently opened the lid, and extracted a thin silver chain, with a dragon pendant on the end. It had once belonged to her mother. --'Here Shizuka, I want you to have this. My mother gave it to me when I was your age. See the dragon? It symbolizes strength and courage. I know you'll have plenty of both.' -- She laughed at herself as she slipped the long chain over her head. 'Courage? Strength? It's all I can do to wake up in the morning, knowing the giggles and whispers I hear walking down the corridors are about me. But wait, perhaps today will be different, after all Anzu will be at school today.' Shizuka shivered slightly as she changed, her body exposed to the near-frigid air of her bedroom. She had forgotten to turn on the heater again. The silver coil chain and pendant weren't any warmer, and felt like ice upon her bare chest.
She hastily pulled on her clothing, and slipped into the kitchen. Shizuka walked over to the pantry and snatched out a box of cinnamon flavored cereal. Not bothering to get a bowl or milk, she plopped down on the plush red couch, eating her breakfast dry. She flicked on the television, turning the volume down low, and flipping to the news. Nothing overly interesting had happened over night. A couple car accidents, a bank robbery, but nothing world changing. She sighed as she heard her brothers door creak open. Before he had even reached the end of the hall, the TV. was off, the cereal was back in the cupboard, and Shizuka was nowhere to be seen.
She didn't stop running until she was a block away, panting slightly. She readjusted her navy messenger style book-bag, and continued along at a slower pace. This was the fourth time she had run out of the house as soon as her brother had awoken. They had taken to avoiding each other at all costs, and, in her opinion, it was her duty to disappear. She figured that even if she kept up her snails pace and went straight to school, she'd be more than an hour early.
At a corner about three blocks from her school, she turned left, and headed towards the library. The library was an old building, perhaps one of the oldest in all of Domino. It was a massive piece of architecture, with graceful pillars and arcs, large bay windows, and a beautiful landscaped front. It was built entirely of large stone blocks, in a series of muted grays and browns, and some considered the most lovely building the older part of the city..
Shizuka sighed. The library had become her sanctuary in the time of late, saving her from the accusatory glances everyone seemed to aim her way. The musty smell of books she had come to adore greeted her as she walked through the large oaken door, and strode to the back of the building, which she came to think of as hers.
She walked slowly through the tall shelves where the books lived, running her finger along the spine of each book as she passed. She stopped as one caught her eye. It was a worn red book, with gold pages and text. She took it back to her favorite chair, and began to read. As she flicked through the pages, quickly absorbing every word, she realized why she loved books so much. 'Wow, books do a lot. They never judge me, or scold me, or tell me what I'm doing is wrong. They just sit, waiting to take me away from my problems, into their tales.'
She sat like that, reading for the better part of an hour. At 7:30 she closed the book, making a mental note of what page she was on, and put it back on it's shelf. She scooped up her blue book bag, and walked out into the bright morning sunlight. The sudden change from the dim interior to the sunny outside dazzled her momentarily.
As she walked towards Domino High School, she began to hum. Things were definitely looking up.
As Shizuka walked through the large glass doors of Domino High School, everybody gave her cold glares, or began to whisper fervently too whomever they were with. Shizuka ignored them. Unlike the other days, she held her head high, long brown hair flowing gracefully to the small of her back, and walked confidently down the hallway to her locker.
'Left thirty, right eleven, left seventeen'. As she eased open the door of her locker, a note fell out. It was written on light blue paper, and had her name written in flowing cursive on the front. Before she had pondered it much, Anzu bounced up beside her.
"Hi Shizuka." Was Anzu's ever cheery greeting.
"Hello Anzu, I assume you've done well."
Anzu giggled, she found Shizuka's formal levity amusing. Anzu did her best to imitate what an aristocratic woman in Britain might sound like, and said; "Oh, I have been very well dahhling. It is so kind of you to inquire." That's as far as she got, before her words were drowned out by her laughter.
Shizuka didn't find it as funny as her friend did, and she told Anzu as much. Just than, the bell for first period rang, and Shizuka and Anzu parted. Shizuka headed up to the second story for her Geography class, which she had always found dismally boring.
She barely noticed the looks she received, or the whispers that started as she walked down the middle of the classroom to her desk in back. She plopped down into her chair and pulled the note she had found earlier from her pocket. 'Who could this be from? I don't know of anybody that would write a note on a piece of fancy blue stationary….'
She unfolded is slowly, her hands trembling slightly. She wasn't sure why she was so excited. None the less, as soon as it open she began reading fervently. It was written in the same handwriting as the front and said;
Dear Shizuka,
I am terribly sorry that I couldn't be there for you after you told your brother. I wanted to help you so much, but unfortunately business took me elsewhere.
I am back in Domino, and looking forward to seeing you again. Meet Anzu and me in the bathrooms halfway through first period.
Sincerely,
Mai
Shizuka was rather surprised. She hadn't expected Mai to be home for weeks yet. She suspected that her brother knew when Mai would return, but of course she hadn't thought to ask. 'I wonder why they want to meet me so soon…' Of course Mai already knew about her sexuality, so she wasn't going to ask about that. Perhaps she was going to break up with Jounouchi, and wanted to make sure Shizuka was prepared for it…
Shiz walked up to her teacher a little less than half-way through the period and asked to be excused to the restrooms. As she walked down the deserted halls, a strange noise coming from one of the many janitorial closets attracted her attention.
Eventine: There we are, chapter three, new and improved. The next chapter should hopefully be interesting... Please review!
