It's valentine's day. And I have never known a chapter to be less suited for such a day. Oh well. Do I care? No! (well, a little bit) But today is the day (or night, perhaps. whatever works for you.) Time to find out who the daddy is.
I've died my hair (again) and it is a darker brown now. I'm a natural blonde (and sooo ditzy with it!) and I feel much smarter now. Well, I did, until my brother told me I look like Tea (Anzu, but we all watch the dub). As you can imagine, I was not particularly happy with this. But then, that was small compared to when he said that I wanted to "sex with Yami". I fell off my chair. Literally.
Disclaimer: Cheez TV put the second series on, and am in love with Jade and Ryan because of it. (Yes I am joking) Thus, I conclude Channel 10 Australia owns some rights to Yu-Gi-Oh. I don't.
Chapter 28: Going Under
* * *
Mai sat on the couch, her legs tucked underneath her to keep warm. Isis was staring into her cup of coffee, quite obviously stalling. Presently she sighed. "I don't know where to start..."
"Well, how's about I start the story for you, as much as I've guessed?" Mai said. "You were working at the Domino Museum. You met someone, and we all know how long it is since you've let yourself fall for someone, Isis. Anyway, this particular someone was all wit and charm, and he came to see you day after day. And then things got... 'out of hand', so to speak."
Isis gave her a piercing glance. "You're very observant, Mai. How did you figure that much?"
"It was Sakura; the girl at the club tonight. Something about your story just didn't add up, Isis. You would have told me if you were actually going out with someone."
"Well, anyway. You're almost exactly right. I'd been working there just over a week, and everything was just fine, as far as the job was concerned. Then I met *him*; a university student, studying archaeology. He was funny, he was rich, and he was oh-so flattering. And I've never seen such amazing eyes... He came four days in a row, and we would speak for hours."
Her eyes were downcast, still staring at the mug as if she'd never seen one before. "I was stupid. He asked me out, and of course I said yes. He was gorgeous, as I think I've mentioned. I remember he went to kiss me goodbye. But then I felt his hand run up my leg, and I went to push him away, but..." Tears streamed down her face. Mai didn't want to push her, but it was better to talk about these things. Or so she'd heard. "I couldn't scream, he'd made sure of that. He pushed me into this room; it was dark and no-one could hear. It hurt. I couldn't believe how much it hurt. I felt so... helpless. And so *violated*. But it was my fault. I shouldn't have let that happen to myself."
Mai pulled the woman closer. "Isis, you can't honestly think that what that fucking scumbag did to you is in any way your fault? Have you heard from the police?"
"I... I didn't report it."
"You *what*?"
"I couldn't. At the time, I didn't even want to admit to myself that it had happened. I just wanted to move on, get on with my life. Forget. As if I could." She laughed bitterly, such an unnatural thing for her. "Even less possible now."
"You can't let that son of a bitch get away with it!" Mai protested passionately. "Isis, no girl should have to go through what you have! He'll get away with it, he might even rape someone else. He might have *already* done it, and could be spreading... Oh, Isis!"
The elder woman, usually so strong, had broken down, her eyes flooding by now. "I know, and I hate myself for being so weak. But I just couldn't face him again."
Something else occured to Mai, but she was reluctant to ask it. "Isis... have you... have you thought to check for HIV?" She winced, hoping that Isis had and she was clear.
"I have thought of it. But you have to wait three months before you can be tested for it and... Oh, Ra, Mai, if I *did* have... I could pass it on to my baby, too."
Mai was rather taken aback, to say the least. "You're still going to have the baby then? Even if its father is...?"
"Yes. I've decided. I couldn't kill it. As far as I'm concerned, it's a human being, and it's my *child*, and to have it terminated would be murder."
"You could always give it up for adoption?"
Isis smiled ruefully. "In theory. But in practice, if I go through nine months pregnancy, I would be keeping that baby." She was adamant, and Mai had to admit she could see where Isis was coming from. She broke into a smile.
"So, have you thought up any names for it yet?"
* * *
The next morning... well, afternoon more accurately, there were some killer headaches pounding away in their respective owners' heads. Malik's was by far the worst. He snarled at anyone who offered him help or sympathy, or anyone who got too close, or anyone who laughed, or anyone who breathed too loud. He lay on the couch, clutching his head and curled in the foetal position, muttering curses at the innocent bystanders who felt almost as bad.
After coffee, asprin, coffee, asprin, coffee and asprin, they were feeling slightly better.A stereo was produced and they had a pool party on the roof, the volume turned up as much as possible. Jou and Honda were singing along and playing air guitar. Ryou and Bakura were missing, probably in a hot spa somewhere, leaving Malik free to join the immaturity. He actually had a very good voice, and belted out the *colourful* lyrics confidently, to the party's delight. Not to the neighbours' it would seem, though. The doorbell chimed time and time again, Seto obliged to answer it and get rid of the bothersome residents, accompanied by the ever faithful, slightly dripping Yami.
It was not such a happy scene everywhere, though. In a musky-scented room with heavy curtains drawn, a young girl lay broken on the floor. Her eyes were red from crying; yet they were dry, her tears completely spent long ago. Her arms wrapped protectively around a slim body, as if shielding herself from more pain. She couldn't let anything else happen.
She stood, reaching inside the bedside cabinet, her hands shaking violently as she searched. She found it; it gleamed a cold grey in the dim light of her bedroom. She hesitated. Was this really the answer? Wouldn't this be giving up?
She shook her head, her mind made up. She lifted the blade to her wrist, etching a long, deep vertical cut. There was a tiny intake of breath, but it didn't hurt. Nothing could hurt as much as her tattered heart as it feebly beat in her chest, trying to circulate the diminishing blood which trickled down her hand and pooled on the carpet. She slashed the other wrist, and leant her head against the bed, watching as red oozed from her arms. It was over. No more pain.
Her vision blurred, her head span, and the life fled quickly from her body. All was dark now as she took her final conscious breath. It was over. No more pain.
He had won.
* * *
Yugi picked up the phone, then put it down again. It was Anzu's birthday today. He span round as footsteps were heard accross the tiled floor. "Hello littleun. Whatcha up to?" Yami asked, not at all accusingly. He was suspiscious, however, when he saw the look on his light's face.
"Nothing." Yugi said, huge innocent eyes wide. Yami raised an eyebrow. "Okay. I was going to phone Anzu. It's her birthday today, and..."
"Yugi, I'm not going to stop you from phoning that... girl. If you really want to."
Yugi sighed. "I guess I don't. I mean... I dunno... No. I won't. As far as I'm concerned, she can rot in hell."
Yami laughed. "That is the most spiteful thing I've ever heard you say." He grinned. "High Five!"
* * *
I'll update soon. I meant to put that up on thursday, but had an IPT assignment due the next day. 1000 words. Isn't High School just lovely? *sarcasm, sarcasm*
Also: Whooooo! 200 review mark! Am soooooo happy. If you had told me I'd get 200 reviews for this story when I posted it last holidays, I would have snorted, laughed, and called you something quite rude. But, then, y'know. Stuff happens. So thanx.
I've died my hair (again) and it is a darker brown now. I'm a natural blonde (and sooo ditzy with it!) and I feel much smarter now. Well, I did, until my brother told me I look like Tea (Anzu, but we all watch the dub). As you can imagine, I was not particularly happy with this. But then, that was small compared to when he said that I wanted to "sex with Yami". I fell off my chair. Literally.
Disclaimer: Cheez TV put the second series on, and am in love with Jade and Ryan because of it. (Yes I am joking) Thus, I conclude Channel 10 Australia owns some rights to Yu-Gi-Oh. I don't.
Chapter 28: Going Under
* * *
Mai sat on the couch, her legs tucked underneath her to keep warm. Isis was staring into her cup of coffee, quite obviously stalling. Presently she sighed. "I don't know where to start..."
"Well, how's about I start the story for you, as much as I've guessed?" Mai said. "You were working at the Domino Museum. You met someone, and we all know how long it is since you've let yourself fall for someone, Isis. Anyway, this particular someone was all wit and charm, and he came to see you day after day. And then things got... 'out of hand', so to speak."
Isis gave her a piercing glance. "You're very observant, Mai. How did you figure that much?"
"It was Sakura; the girl at the club tonight. Something about your story just didn't add up, Isis. You would have told me if you were actually going out with someone."
"Well, anyway. You're almost exactly right. I'd been working there just over a week, and everything was just fine, as far as the job was concerned. Then I met *him*; a university student, studying archaeology. He was funny, he was rich, and he was oh-so flattering. And I've never seen such amazing eyes... He came four days in a row, and we would speak for hours."
Her eyes were downcast, still staring at the mug as if she'd never seen one before. "I was stupid. He asked me out, and of course I said yes. He was gorgeous, as I think I've mentioned. I remember he went to kiss me goodbye. But then I felt his hand run up my leg, and I went to push him away, but..." Tears streamed down her face. Mai didn't want to push her, but it was better to talk about these things. Or so she'd heard. "I couldn't scream, he'd made sure of that. He pushed me into this room; it was dark and no-one could hear. It hurt. I couldn't believe how much it hurt. I felt so... helpless. And so *violated*. But it was my fault. I shouldn't have let that happen to myself."
Mai pulled the woman closer. "Isis, you can't honestly think that what that fucking scumbag did to you is in any way your fault? Have you heard from the police?"
"I... I didn't report it."
"You *what*?"
"I couldn't. At the time, I didn't even want to admit to myself that it had happened. I just wanted to move on, get on with my life. Forget. As if I could." She laughed bitterly, such an unnatural thing for her. "Even less possible now."
"You can't let that son of a bitch get away with it!" Mai protested passionately. "Isis, no girl should have to go through what you have! He'll get away with it, he might even rape someone else. He might have *already* done it, and could be spreading... Oh, Isis!"
The elder woman, usually so strong, had broken down, her eyes flooding by now. "I know, and I hate myself for being so weak. But I just couldn't face him again."
Something else occured to Mai, but she was reluctant to ask it. "Isis... have you... have you thought to check for HIV?" She winced, hoping that Isis had and she was clear.
"I have thought of it. But you have to wait three months before you can be tested for it and... Oh, Ra, Mai, if I *did* have... I could pass it on to my baby, too."
Mai was rather taken aback, to say the least. "You're still going to have the baby then? Even if its father is...?"
"Yes. I've decided. I couldn't kill it. As far as I'm concerned, it's a human being, and it's my *child*, and to have it terminated would be murder."
"You could always give it up for adoption?"
Isis smiled ruefully. "In theory. But in practice, if I go through nine months pregnancy, I would be keeping that baby." She was adamant, and Mai had to admit she could see where Isis was coming from. She broke into a smile.
"So, have you thought up any names for it yet?"
* * *
The next morning... well, afternoon more accurately, there were some killer headaches pounding away in their respective owners' heads. Malik's was by far the worst. He snarled at anyone who offered him help or sympathy, or anyone who got too close, or anyone who laughed, or anyone who breathed too loud. He lay on the couch, clutching his head and curled in the foetal position, muttering curses at the innocent bystanders who felt almost as bad.
After coffee, asprin, coffee, asprin, coffee and asprin, they were feeling slightly better.A stereo was produced and they had a pool party on the roof, the volume turned up as much as possible. Jou and Honda were singing along and playing air guitar. Ryou and Bakura were missing, probably in a hot spa somewhere, leaving Malik free to join the immaturity. He actually had a very good voice, and belted out the *colourful* lyrics confidently, to the party's delight. Not to the neighbours' it would seem, though. The doorbell chimed time and time again, Seto obliged to answer it and get rid of the bothersome residents, accompanied by the ever faithful, slightly dripping Yami.
It was not such a happy scene everywhere, though. In a musky-scented room with heavy curtains drawn, a young girl lay broken on the floor. Her eyes were red from crying; yet they were dry, her tears completely spent long ago. Her arms wrapped protectively around a slim body, as if shielding herself from more pain. She couldn't let anything else happen.
She stood, reaching inside the bedside cabinet, her hands shaking violently as she searched. She found it; it gleamed a cold grey in the dim light of her bedroom. She hesitated. Was this really the answer? Wouldn't this be giving up?
She shook her head, her mind made up. She lifted the blade to her wrist, etching a long, deep vertical cut. There was a tiny intake of breath, but it didn't hurt. Nothing could hurt as much as her tattered heart as it feebly beat in her chest, trying to circulate the diminishing blood which trickled down her hand and pooled on the carpet. She slashed the other wrist, and leant her head against the bed, watching as red oozed from her arms. It was over. No more pain.
Her vision blurred, her head span, and the life fled quickly from her body. All was dark now as she took her final conscious breath. It was over. No more pain.
He had won.
* * *
Yugi picked up the phone, then put it down again. It was Anzu's birthday today. He span round as footsteps were heard accross the tiled floor. "Hello littleun. Whatcha up to?" Yami asked, not at all accusingly. He was suspiscious, however, when he saw the look on his light's face.
"Nothing." Yugi said, huge innocent eyes wide. Yami raised an eyebrow. "Okay. I was going to phone Anzu. It's her birthday today, and..."
"Yugi, I'm not going to stop you from phoning that... girl. If you really want to."
Yugi sighed. "I guess I don't. I mean... I dunno... No. I won't. As far as I'm concerned, she can rot in hell."
Yami laughed. "That is the most spiteful thing I've ever heard you say." He grinned. "High Five!"
* * *
I'll update soon. I meant to put that up on thursday, but had an IPT assignment due the next day. 1000 words. Isn't High School just lovely? *sarcasm, sarcasm*
Also: Whooooo! 200 review mark! Am soooooo happy. If you had told me I'd get 200 reviews for this story when I posted it last holidays, I would have snorted, laughed, and called you something quite rude. But, then, y'know. Stuff happens. So thanx.