See Chapter One for disclaimer.
The Lonely Child
A Story by Cosmic Jester
Chapter Two: Acquaintance
Voices. She was sure she heard voices. Words were beyond her comprehension at the moment, but at least she could hear. She tried to open her eyes and succeeded, and instantly regretted it. The light overhead stabbed into her eyes, causing them to shut instinctively.
One of the voices shouted and she winced. Another mistake, for the instant she moved pain shot throughout her body. She felt a shadow fall over her eyes and she risked opening them again. Backlit above her was a shape she recognized as a head. A bald head.
As she shut her eyes again against the throbbing headache her battered voice managed a soft whimpering sound of agony.
"Are you alright," the bald man asked slowly and softly.
'Oh sure, just peachy,' she thought sarcastically. The only thing she was able to slowly force from her dried lips however was a single whispered word. "Huh... hurts..."
Moments later she felt a cold, sharp new pain on her arm. A stinging sensation. It didn't last long, and she let the sweet oblivion of unconsciousness take her in and soothe her pain.
Hours or days later the unknown girl breached into awakening again. Presumably a pain drug had been given to her, since the pain that had held her captive before had been dulled along with her thoughts, and her pounding headache had been dimmed to a mild throbbing. Morphine was her guess.
There was a soft, steady beep like a heartbeat in the background, and after a moment she realized it was indeed a monitor of her own heartbeat. 'I must be in a hospital,' she mused silently. Since the light was no longer on above her head she opened her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. The room was bare and functional, and though a small bouquet of cheerful yellow daisies rested on a table near the single window and the walls were papered in soothing colors it had a cold, sterile feeling to it.
"Ah, so Sleeping Beauty awakens."
Startled golden green eyes snapped towards the doorway and the balding man standing there. His voice was familiar; he had to have been the one who had asked her if she was okay. "Who are you? Where am I?"
He smiled warmly and stepped towards her with his hand extended. "My name is Doctor James Fuller." As he shook her left hand gently he continued. "I work here at St. Mary's Mercy Hospital, where you have been sleeping for eleven days."
"Eleven days?" Confused, the teenager looked down at her own body. Her right leg and arm were both in casts, and there was something wrapped around her torso to hold her immobile. Seeing her horror and confusion the doctor spoke softly. "You were in a car that was hit by a drunk driver. You're a very lucky young lady to have survived."
Sumiko took a moment to process that in her drugged haze. Her eyes were becoming heavy, so she let them shut. "Where are my parents...?"
"We'll talk about that after your nap." He squeezed her hand gently. "I need to check some things first. What is your name?"
"Sumiko Matsura." The answer was half spoken, half sighed.
"Who is president?"
"George Bush."
"Who was the US just at war with?"
"Saddam Hussein in Iraq."
"What year is it?"
"1991."
Doctor Fuller's jaw dropped until he saw the smile the girl was fighting. He chuckled and patted her hand. "Very cute."
"I try."
He smiled down at her peaceful face. "Well for now you should sleep and heal."
The girl mumbled sleepily. "I want to see my parents."
Fortunately she was out cold the next second, sparing the doctor the hated task of giving terrible news. He sighed as he checked her charts briefly and wrote in a summary of their conversation, and then signed the bottom of the form. She had shown playful wit under stress, which was usually a good sign.
As he clicked his pen so he could replace it in his pocket he gave her one last pitying look, feeling sorry for her and for whoever had to tell her that her parents had been DOA.
"OHMYGODLOOKOUT!"
Sumiko glanced up from the grass just in time to get walloped in the chest by an off course volleyball spike. Giving a small grunt her hands moved up to ruefully rub the sting out of her skin, hoping there wouldn't be a bruise.
After Earth Sciences was gym for the Sophomores of Domino High. The modest American had been relieved to hear that there were two gymnasiums and the two classes were divided by sex. She was even more relieved when the coach said she could sit the day out because she lacked the proper uniform on the condition that she have one by their next session. Sumiko readily agreed, and hard been taken to a corner of the locker room to be weighed and measured.
Now she was sitting on the grass with her legs pulled to one side, crossed at the ankles. She was supposed to watch the volleyball game in progress before her, but her mind had drifted thousands of miles away and several months in the past.
As the girls swooped in around her, offering help, she waved them off and got up to her feet. "I'm fine," she said with a smile. "It startled me more than anything." The others headed back to their game, not caring about it, offended by her dismissal, or disappointed that she wasn't really hurt.
Anzu, who was the only one to remain behind, didn't look convinced. "Are you sure, Sumiko-san? I hit that ball pretty hard..."
"Really, I'm fine," she insisted. "It hurts a little, but it was my fault for daydreaming in the middle of a full-contact volleyball game!" As the pair laughed they received a LOOK from the coach; the kind of look teachers give students as a silent warning. The brunette hurried back to the game and the green-eyed American leaned back against the tree to watch.
As she was watching the girls run about hitting the ball towards one another Sumiko's eyes caught on something white and flowing; a man in a long set of robes with a matching turban was staring at her from beside a tree on the other side of the volleyball court. A pure white feather was tucked into the winding folds of the turban, and a large, peculiar golden ankh dangled over his chest on a cord that went up and vanished under the folds of his loose garment. In his left hand was some sort of scale, which also gleamed of gold. His eyes were hidden, but his skin was dark and his lips were drawn into a serious line.
Oddest of all was the fact that noone else seemed to see the rather conspicuous man.
Sumiko pushed off from the tree and gazed directly at him. 'Who on earth is this guy?'
"Okay girls," yelled the female coach. "Pack it in, time to go! You too, Miss Matsura!"
Hearing her name, she turned to look at the coach near the door of the school. She dusted off the back of her fuku as she turned back to the where the man was standing. Or rather, where he HAD been standing. Somehow the rather tall man had vanished, leaving prints of his sandaled feet in the grass, confirming that he hadn't been a figment of her imagination.
"Odd guy," she murmured softly as she headed back into the building.
~ % ~
The sun shone brightly as the teens walked down the busy sidewalk. Sumiko trailed behind the others, watching and listening to their conversation in silence as they chatted about inconsequential things. She turned her face up into the sunlight, closing her eyes behind her dark sunglasses as she smiled a little. Her skin welcomed the warm, gentle touch of sunlight.
"So Yugi," Honda was saying, "What are you going to get?"
"A number two special extra large!"
Yugi's enthusiasm was infectious--the new student's small smile broadened. Her eerie gold-green eyes opened again as she spoke. "You really do like burgers, don't you Yugi-san?"
"Un!" Beaming a smile up at her the boy with three natural hair colors pointed to a white building about a half block ahead of them. It had a large smiling anthropomorphic cheeseburger on top and she could make out the words "Burger World" in English. "Look, we're almost there!"
Sumiko's mouth opened for a reply, but at that moment her small black macramé purse began chiming out Fur Elise. Blushing, she apologized as she dug for her cell phone. "Excuse me, that's my grandmother, I have to take this."
"Just as well, this is where I change clothes anyway," Anzu said, motioning to the door of the taco place they were in front of. "I'll be just a minute."
While she hurried off to the girls' restroom the boys began talking quietly and their new companion answered her phone in English and reassured her grandmother that she was okay.
"Some of my fellow students invited me for a meal at Burger World on Fourth Street, Obaasan. We're almost there."
"Good! You're making friends! Now Yume-chan, be home by eight o'clock."
Sumiko rolled her eyes faintly at the nickname. Little Dream was what her family called her ever since she was a baby; her mother wasn't supposed to ever be able to have children and the miracle of a daughter was a dream come true. 'Leave it to Gram to remember my most embarrassing nickname,' she thought. Aloud she said, "I should be back at the house before then. This shouldn't take nearly that long. I'll call you if we go somewhere else."
"That's fine, dear. By the way, who are you with?"
"Mazaki Anzu, Mutou Yugi, Honda Hiroto, and Jonouchi Katsuya. They're all in my class. Mutou-san is my assigned guide."
"Mutou? That name sounds familiar..."
"I'll tell you about Mutou-san later."
"What about Yugi?"
"Shh!" She covered the mouthpiece and spoke softly, returning to Japanese so her friend could understand. "I was saying Yugi-san is my guide." Flipping easily back to English, she returned to her grandmother. "Sorry, Jonouchi asked me something."
"Oh-ho! So there's no "san" there? I think someone has a crush," Obaasan teased.
Sumiko flushed. "It's not like that at all!" Her color further reddened when her volume drew the gazes of the three boys and nearby pedestrians.
"Uh-huh." The older woman didn't sound convinced at all.
"Quit playing matchmaker already!"
"Whatever you say dear."
The teen took a slow breath to keep herself from continuing to make a scene then noticed Anzu stepping back into the restaurant proper and head towards the door. Sumiko was slightly surprised to see Anzu in a flat, pleatless skirt and a sleeveless white collared shirt. "Look, we'll talk about my day when I get home. I'll call you later or if we go anywhere else, alright?"
"Have fun, Yume-chan."
"Talk to you later, Gram." She hung up the phone and sheepishly tucked the device into a pocket of her purse as Anzu reached them, tucking the Hello Kitty lanyard charm a certain way so she could grab it easily. "Gomen nasai, minna," she mumbled. "Excuse me, everyone. Obaasan worries about me."
Jonouchi grinned at her. "Hey, it's okay."
Anzu nodded enthusiastically. "Even though Domino is relatively safe there are still plenty of people that will hurt you one way or another." She started the group walking again as she continued to speak. "Your grandmother is right to worry."
The group continued walking until a waitress with a chirping voice greeted them. "Welcome to Burger World, may I show you to a table?" Seeing their large party she settled them into a large back booth. After taking their soda orders she vanished into the kitchen as Anzu glanced at her watch.
"Anou ne, Anzu-san?" The addressed girl looked up at Sumiko. "May I ask why you changed out of your fuku?"
She looked at the new girl intensely. "Can I trust you to keep a big secret?"
"Of course." She smiled. "Who would I tell anyway?"
The taller girl nodded. "Well, the secret is this." She motioned the other girl closer and whispered softly. "I work here without school permission." After sitting back up she continued, at her normal volume. "And I have a shift in a few minutes."
Sumiko blinked several times as her brows furrowed, rather confused about why a school would have to give consent for her to get a job. Scenarios ran through her head until her eyes brightened as the answer visibly clicked in her mind: In Japan students can't have jobs without their school giving them a permit. She nodded brightly. "Don't worry, Anzu-san. I won't tell a soul." She offered out her pinky, which a relieved Anzu accepted in her own. "Yubikiri genman," she said with a smile. "Cross my heart, hope to die."
Anzu repeated the words, then as they both giggled at the childishness of it she noticed a flash of silver by Sumiko's throat. "Is that a necklace?"
"Hn?" Momentarily thrown off-balance the orphan reached to her neck. "Oh. Hai, it's a necklace of sorts." While half-blushing she pulled a pretty silver chain that had a silver ring with a simple round sapphire hung on it out from under her fuku jacket. The chain had been slipped through the ring then looped around so that one could remove it without taking the chain off the neck.
"Wow!" Anzu gazed appreciatively. "That's very pretty."
Sumiko nodded slightly. "Thank you, but I'd rather not talk about it. It was a gift from my parents."
While everyone nodded their understanding Yugi smiled slightly. 'So that's where her third ring was. She wanted to keep it close for comfort, but not too close while she was at school because of the bad memories.'
As the group began to talk about school the hostess arrived to distribute their drinks. She looked at the brunette, slightly confused, and asked, "Anzu-chan, aren't you on in five?"
"Hai. I was about to go get on my tie and nametag."
"Well hurry. Yamano-san isn't in a very good mood today."
Anzu rolled her eyes as she stood up. "When is that guy EVER in a good mood, Hisae-chan?"
Hisae giggled, holding up her tray to hide it as she watched Anzu pick up her book bag. "Still, you don't want to be late," she warned as she peered impishly over the tray's rim.
"Sou." Anzu smiled at her friends. "Thanks again for coming with me."
Jonouchi gave her a thumbs-up. "No problem!"
"Yeah," chimed Yugi.
Honda nodded. "We were coming here anyway."
Anzu waved at them and headed to the back with her coworker. After she had vanished behind the doors Sumiko looked back at the water drops condensing on her glass of Dr. Pepper and toyed with them with the nail of her pinky finger. After peeking around for anyone who shouldn't overhear she asked quietly, "Why is Anzu working here?"
"She's saving to go to an exclusive dance school in America," explained Yugi over his cola's rim. "Her dream is to dance professionally."
"It's good that she's working toward her dream," Sumiko said before she took a sip.
Deep brown eyes peered at her curiously. "Do you have a dream, Sumiko-san?"
"I used to, Honda-san" said the girl dully as she fiddled with the silver chain holding the ring. "I wanted to go into law with my father." The silver ring came loose and was slipped onto her middle finger as she kept speaking. "Now that he's gone I'm not sure what to dream."
As Honda took a sip of his tea his blonde companion spoke, rather awkwardly trying to change the subject. "Is there anythin' you like to do on Sundays?"
Sumiko blinked, momentarily confused. Then she chuckled softly to herself. "I'd forgotten that I won't get Saturdays off from school anymore. You see," she continued while she returned to playing with the water droplets, "in the States I got both Saturday and Sunday."
Jonouchi groaned. "That's so cool."
"You WOULD think so," muttered Honda. "Lazy bum."
"To answer your question," she continued, before Jonouchi could attack his friend, "I read a lot, write, and play lots of strategy games."
'Ask her how good she is, aibou!'
Innocently, Yugi spoke for his other half. "Are you any good at them?"
"I was the local league champion in go and chess, so I suppose so."
The three boys exchanged a series of glances. "Boy do we know someone who'd love to meet ya," Jonouchi said as he picked up his Mountain Dew. Yugi sent a quelling look at him to shut him up before he said too much.
Luckily, before Sumiko could ask about this person their waitress arrived to take their orders. She and Yugi couldn't help but giggle at the size of Honda and Jonouchi 's orders, which were shouted in unison. The waitress blinked, taken back, but turned to Yugi who ordered his number two special, extra large please.
"And you, miss?"
Sumiko glanced up from examining her ring. "I'd just like a small salad, if you please."
Their waitress nodded, bowed, and hurried to get their food order in to the cook.
"So," Yugi said hurriedly, before anyone else could say anything, "what kind of a Duel Monsters deck do you use, Sumiko-san?"
There was a pause while Sumiko closed her eyes for a moment, as if in deep thought, then her sharp, blue eyes sparkled with glee as she took her deck out of her purse. "Well to be honest I have five decks that I play with."
The boys' eyes bulged and Jonouchi cried out, "Why do you have so many?!"
"Different strategies," she said simply as she flipped through the cards. "The idea behind this one is to keep monsters on the field until I can pull out my hard hitters, while simultaneously whittling away life points."
Honda frowned "You mean cards like 'Fireball', right?"
She smirked darkly. "Not 'Hi no Tama' specifically, but that's the general idea."
Yugi grinned. "We won't ask you for more detail about it. It'll be more fun to learn as we go what your cards are." He gestured to Jonouchi. "Jou plays an advanced beat-down, and I use a balanced and single-monster deck."
"By the way, Sumiko-san." Jou smiled at her. "Ya never gave me an answer."
"Huh?" Sapphire eyes blinked in confusion. "An answer to what?"
"To my duel challenge. Ya didn't say yes or no."
The girl thought quickly. "I'm still debating about it. Perhaps I'll accept if you make it... interesting."
His response was a roguish grin. "Whattaya mean, like duelin' for stakes?"
"Why not? My terms are fun." Her lips turned into a smug, challenging smirk. "Unless, of course, you're a coward."
The grin faded. "Name your terms, lady."
She grinned broadly with a slightly gleeful glint to her deep blue eyes. "Eight thousand Life Points apiece, standard tribute summoning rules apply. There are five monsters, five normal magic and trap, and one field card limits on one side of the field at any given time." Her grin turned into a smirk. "And the winner wins whatever was put up as a wager."
"Wagered? Like... stakes?"
"Mmhm." She nodded at him. "Name something you would like from me, or for me to do. But," she added as an afterthought, "keep it rated for family viewing. I ain't that kind of girl."
Jonouchi blushed and waved his hands defensively. "Of course you're not," he said quickly then rested his hands once more on the table. "But how about a date?"
She blinked in surprised, then laughed. "Forward, aren't you?"
"No guts no glory," he said with far more confidence than he felt.
"Alright," she said with a slightly vicious chuckle. "If you win I'll go on a date with you. And if I win..." She gazed at him thoughtfully a moment. "If I win you have to help me with the repairs of my Grandmother's garden."
He blinked, confused. "Huh?"
"When my grandparents got married Grandpa made Gram a beautiful garden in their back yard. Noone has been maintaining it for years, and it's too much for me to fix the gazebo and bridges by myself."
Jonouchi thought about it a moment. Win or lose he would still get to be alone with her... And he happened to enjoy woodshop work, so it wouldn't even be a chore. 'Once I beat her,' he thought gleefully, 'I can offer to help anyway. She'll be so impressed I'm a great duelist and a gentleman too!'
Yugi and Honda, knowing their friend as they did, knew exactly what was crossing the blonde's mind and exchanged a look across the table. 'I hope he knows what he's doing.'
'He'll be okay, aibou. It's just a friendly match, and it's doubtful she's on Jonouchi's level.'
'I guess so,' returned Yugi doubtfully, 'but there's something about her that makes me nervous.'
His other half chuckled. 'And here I thought you liked Anzu,' he teased.
Yugi's cheeks flamed. 'I just feel like there's something important we're overlook--'
"Uh... Chikyuu to Yugi-san?"
He blinked a few times rapidly, returning his attention to reality. With a sheepish smile towards the girl beside him he apologized. "I'm sorry. I was... talking to myself."
Eyes of sapphire sparkled as she smiled a bit. "I know how that can be."
Honda smirked. "I'm not so sure." He sobered and fell quiet after a glance from Yugi's violet eyes flashed crimson momentarily--a warning from Yami not to say too much.
Sumiko blinked, confused. "Did I miss something?"
Honda waved it off. "Not really."
"Alright then, I accept your terms." Jou turned to the smallest boy with a grin. "Oi, Yugi? Is my duel disk still at your place? I put my name on it like you suggested so it wouldn't get confused with anyone else's."
"Uh-huh. You forgot it the last time you stayed over." His soft, slightly feminine voice continued in a mild scold. "You wouldn't believe what I've had to do to keep ojiisan from putting both of our duel disks up for sale as autographed Duel City memorabilia!"
Jou sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Oh. Well... Uhm... Oops?"
Honda groaned and set down the tea he was drinking. "You'd forget your thick skull if it wasn't attached."
The group broke into laughter, into which even Sumiko joined in.
Recovering, Jou grinned at her. "So do you have a duel disk?"
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask ever since you mentioned them during lunch." Innocently and naively she set down her soda after her sip. "What's a duel disk?"
~ % ~
My Computer | My Documents | public | myjournal.doc
September 15, 2003 7:43 pm
Dear Diary,
I'm writing this on the bus on the way over to Yugi's family's store (Honda and Anzu were busy so aren't coming). Apparently my "other half" accepted the challenge from Jonouchi and they want to use some high-tech hologram system to add realism or something. I'll tell you about how it is when I get home.
As I'm typing this I can feel her stirring in my subconscious. She's really eager to duel Jonouchi for some reason. Can't say I blame her; she's had nothing to do for a long time and has been cramped into the back corner of my (our?) mind during the whole legal mess and the move. She's got to have cabin fever as it were. Still, I'm going to try to duel alone. It's not fair to Jonouchi for me to have another opinion. Besides, if word of my second self got out even Yugi and his friends might desert me.
She's been pushing her boundaries lately. When my friends and I went to a restaurant after school she came out right in front of Jonouchi, Honda, and Yugi. I was lucky noone noticed the eye thing or my ring. Maybe I should have a word with her about not taking over in public. There was an odd man in white watching me today during gym. He vanished when I wasn't looking, but noone else saw that he was even there to begin with! That freaked me out a bit, but not as much as it would have seven months ago.
So many strange things have happened to me since she came to me. Was formed... remembered... splintered off... whatever. Not quite sure how to describe what happened. I don't even know whether or not I'm crazy for--
Jonouchi is coming over to sit by me, so I'm ending it here.
~S~
File | Save
File | Exit
Start | Shut Down | OK
As she closed her computer down she turned to smile up at the former delinquent as she teased, "Are you coming to forfeit?"
He sunk down onto the seat beside her with a snort. "Yeah right." He grinned at her. "I was just wonderin' where ya wanted ta go on our date when I win!"
Sumiko's cheeks colored. 'Oh lord, what's she gotten me into now?' Her smile didn't falter as she shrugged. "I don't know what there is to do around here." She gave him a wink as she made a guess. "Remember, though, it's only *if* you win."
Jou smiled a half-smirk. "If you say so."
She laughed and gave his arm a playful, light push. "Confident, aren't you?" Her golden jade eyes peered up at his deep honey ones. "You've never seen me duel before, Jonouchi-kun. I might surprise you."
"True," he conceded while studying her gaze, oddly thoughtful for him. Under his scrutiny her face pinked slightly, but she didn't look away.
How long the pair remained like that they couldn't say. Finally Jou reached his left hand to gently clasp her right. "Sumiko, I-"
"Yahoo!" Yugi hopped up from his seat in front of them with his excited whoop. "It's our stop!"
The two teens snatched their hands back, both looking embarrassed while Sumiko slid her laptop into her bookbag. They exited the bus in silence, a confused Yugi trailing behind.
As they stepped into the game store the bells over the door chimed merrily, announcing their arrival. The smallest one called out into the seemingly empty store. "Oi! Ojiisan! Tadaima!"
"Yugi, okaeri!" The reply came from the rear of the building and was followed by the sound of footsteps approaching. Sumiko nervously smoothed her fuku jacket once before the door opened and an older man that looked a great deal like Yugi stepped in. He wore a bandanna tied around his head with a kanji symbol at his forehead that the American didn't recognize. He had an unkempt beard and mustache that matched the wild glint in the short man's eyes.
"Ojiisan, this is Matsura Sumiko-san. She just joined our class today." Yugi's violet eyes turned towards his friend. "This is my grandpa. I live here with him."
"Err... Hajimemash'te, Mutou-san." The girl bowed politely towards the shopkeeper.
He inclined slightly. "Pleased to meet you as well." His aging eyes slid appreciatively along her figure. "I'm surprised you keep making such busty friends, Yugi. She's what, a 34-D?"
"OJIISAAAN!" Yugi cried out in mortification.
His friend colored deeply and clenched a fist. 'What a perverted old geezer!'
Jonouchi watched her shoulder shake as Sugoroku laughed. Then her spine stiffened and as she strode forward with purpose in her steps her right hand reached back. The old man was too busy laughing at his grandson's embarrassment to notice until she was glaring down at him, fire in her dark blue eyes.
A moment later a resounding slap filled the air with an angry yell. "YOU PERVERT!"
Sugoroku landed on his rear with a throbbing red handprint on his cheek. Sumiko's sudden and uncharacteristic outburst stunned Jou and Yugi. It was a long moment before either of them could move. Jonouchi grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back while Yugi darted to help his grandfather up. "Ojiisan, are you okay?"
"Ho ho," laughed the shopkeeper as he reached up to rub his smarting cheek. "It's alright, I deserved that one." As Sumiko blinked several times, her gentle golden jade eyes wide with confusion, Sugoroku smiled at her. She returned it shyly.
"Gomen nasai Mutou-san," she murmured as she bowed deeply. "Sometimes my temper gets the better of me."
He waved it off. "Forget about it, Matsura-san. You kids go run and play."
Yugi beamed a smile at him. "We're going to grab the duel disks and go duel in the park."
His guardian nodded as he winked at the boy. "I want to see her come back to our store often, so be good to her."
Yugi darted past his guardian as he rolled his eyes. He hurried upstairs to his room and rummaged briefly in his closet for both disks, having hidden them under a pile of plush animals. He slid his own into place on his arm, smiling.
'I thought we were going to let Jonouchi duel her.'
'Oh sure, but it's awkward to have two stacked on top of each other. I don't want to break anything.' He hurried out and closed the door behind himself, Jou's disk held firmly in his right hand. As he clunked down the steps he heard three laughing voices. Encouraged that his grandpa had finally stopped being weird in front of Sumiko he hurried out.
Jou burst out into even louder laughter when he saw his friend, which prompted the other two to giggle and "ho ho" louder as well.
Yugi blinked. "What's so funny?"
Sumiko's hand darted up to cover her mouth in an attempt to stop her giggles from escaping. "Ah, nothing hee hee... nothing at all, Yugi-san!" Her attempts failed and she burst into another round of giggling laughter.
"I was just showing them one of our family picture albums. We got to that section of you in the tub as a baby and I was telling them about how you still have your rubber ducky--"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
~...~
[Yugi's voice:] Eh?! Who would've thought that gentle Sumiko could be so vicious while dueling! Wait! What was Shadi doing spying on Sumiko-san? Does the Egyptian eye on Matsura-san's sapphire ring have something to do with all of this? Is there be more to the Millennium Items than we've been told? Find out next time!
Author's note.
Wow, over 5000 words in one chapter! In my defense I had planned to include the duel and aftermath in this chapter, however after writing about 6000 words and not being into the duel I decided to split this supposed chapter into three. Now on to explain some potential culture clashing.
It's true that in Japan students must have permission given to them by their school in order to be able to have a job. I'm not sure why, but it's clearly stated in the manga that Domino High has a "no jobs except under extenuating circumstances" policy.
"Yubikiri genman" is more or less equivalent to "cross my heart, hope to die; stick a needle in my eye". It's used when making a serious promise, usually accompanied by a pinky swear. Although it's slightly childish high school girls will occasionally do it too.
The Japanese school week is Monday through Friday, usually until late in the afternoon, and then again on Saturday morning. Students have Saturday afternoon and Sunday off.
Go is a game of strategy that I am personally very fond of, although few people my age had heard of it until the "Hikaru no Go" (Hikaru's Go) manga had begun to be translated in Shonen Jump. It's played on a board with many crossed lines, and the idea is to claim as much territory on the field as possible by placing your black or white round stones in the places where the lines meet. While I enjoy the game I never said I was good at it. Ahem.
In Japan you only have close friends over at your house. The most common exception to this rule is if you live above your family store, like Yugi, though they aren't usually allowed into the private area. It was very bold of Matsura to have a stake be having Jonouchi over to her house. It's an invitation of sorts, and that's just generally not done. Then again, she is sort of a Gaijin.
Oi: Roughly translated as "Hey you".
Chikyuu: Our planet Earth.
Ojiisan: "Grandfather".
Tadaima: "I've returned", or "Hi honey, I'm home".
Okaeri: "Welcome back".
Hajimemash'te: "Pleased to meet you" or just "Hello" when you first meet a person.
Gomen nasai: "Please forgive me".
Gaijin: Foreign barbarian.
See you next chapter!
The Lonely Child
A Story by Cosmic Jester
Chapter Two: Acquaintance
Voices. She was sure she heard voices. Words were beyond her comprehension at the moment, but at least she could hear. She tried to open her eyes and succeeded, and instantly regretted it. The light overhead stabbed into her eyes, causing them to shut instinctively.
One of the voices shouted and she winced. Another mistake, for the instant she moved pain shot throughout her body. She felt a shadow fall over her eyes and she risked opening them again. Backlit above her was a shape she recognized as a head. A bald head.
As she shut her eyes again against the throbbing headache her battered voice managed a soft whimpering sound of agony.
"Are you alright," the bald man asked slowly and softly.
'Oh sure, just peachy,' she thought sarcastically. The only thing she was able to slowly force from her dried lips however was a single whispered word. "Huh... hurts..."
Moments later she felt a cold, sharp new pain on her arm. A stinging sensation. It didn't last long, and she let the sweet oblivion of unconsciousness take her in and soothe her pain.
Hours or days later the unknown girl breached into awakening again. Presumably a pain drug had been given to her, since the pain that had held her captive before had been dulled along with her thoughts, and her pounding headache had been dimmed to a mild throbbing. Morphine was her guess.
There was a soft, steady beep like a heartbeat in the background, and after a moment she realized it was indeed a monitor of her own heartbeat. 'I must be in a hospital,' she mused silently. Since the light was no longer on above her head she opened her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. The room was bare and functional, and though a small bouquet of cheerful yellow daisies rested on a table near the single window and the walls were papered in soothing colors it had a cold, sterile feeling to it.
"Ah, so Sleeping Beauty awakens."
Startled golden green eyes snapped towards the doorway and the balding man standing there. His voice was familiar; he had to have been the one who had asked her if she was okay. "Who are you? Where am I?"
He smiled warmly and stepped towards her with his hand extended. "My name is Doctor James Fuller." As he shook her left hand gently he continued. "I work here at St. Mary's Mercy Hospital, where you have been sleeping for eleven days."
"Eleven days?" Confused, the teenager looked down at her own body. Her right leg and arm were both in casts, and there was something wrapped around her torso to hold her immobile. Seeing her horror and confusion the doctor spoke softly. "You were in a car that was hit by a drunk driver. You're a very lucky young lady to have survived."
Sumiko took a moment to process that in her drugged haze. Her eyes were becoming heavy, so she let them shut. "Where are my parents...?"
"We'll talk about that after your nap." He squeezed her hand gently. "I need to check some things first. What is your name?"
"Sumiko Matsura." The answer was half spoken, half sighed.
"Who is president?"
"George Bush."
"Who was the US just at war with?"
"Saddam Hussein in Iraq."
"What year is it?"
"1991."
Doctor Fuller's jaw dropped until he saw the smile the girl was fighting. He chuckled and patted her hand. "Very cute."
"I try."
He smiled down at her peaceful face. "Well for now you should sleep and heal."
The girl mumbled sleepily. "I want to see my parents."
Fortunately she was out cold the next second, sparing the doctor the hated task of giving terrible news. He sighed as he checked her charts briefly and wrote in a summary of their conversation, and then signed the bottom of the form. She had shown playful wit under stress, which was usually a good sign.
As he clicked his pen so he could replace it in his pocket he gave her one last pitying look, feeling sorry for her and for whoever had to tell her that her parents had been DOA.
"OHMYGODLOOKOUT!"
Sumiko glanced up from the grass just in time to get walloped in the chest by an off course volleyball spike. Giving a small grunt her hands moved up to ruefully rub the sting out of her skin, hoping there wouldn't be a bruise.
After Earth Sciences was gym for the Sophomores of Domino High. The modest American had been relieved to hear that there were two gymnasiums and the two classes were divided by sex. She was even more relieved when the coach said she could sit the day out because she lacked the proper uniform on the condition that she have one by their next session. Sumiko readily agreed, and hard been taken to a corner of the locker room to be weighed and measured.
Now she was sitting on the grass with her legs pulled to one side, crossed at the ankles. She was supposed to watch the volleyball game in progress before her, but her mind had drifted thousands of miles away and several months in the past.
As the girls swooped in around her, offering help, she waved them off and got up to her feet. "I'm fine," she said with a smile. "It startled me more than anything." The others headed back to their game, not caring about it, offended by her dismissal, or disappointed that she wasn't really hurt.
Anzu, who was the only one to remain behind, didn't look convinced. "Are you sure, Sumiko-san? I hit that ball pretty hard..."
"Really, I'm fine," she insisted. "It hurts a little, but it was my fault for daydreaming in the middle of a full-contact volleyball game!" As the pair laughed they received a LOOK from the coach; the kind of look teachers give students as a silent warning. The brunette hurried back to the game and the green-eyed American leaned back against the tree to watch.
As she was watching the girls run about hitting the ball towards one another Sumiko's eyes caught on something white and flowing; a man in a long set of robes with a matching turban was staring at her from beside a tree on the other side of the volleyball court. A pure white feather was tucked into the winding folds of the turban, and a large, peculiar golden ankh dangled over his chest on a cord that went up and vanished under the folds of his loose garment. In his left hand was some sort of scale, which also gleamed of gold. His eyes were hidden, but his skin was dark and his lips were drawn into a serious line.
Oddest of all was the fact that noone else seemed to see the rather conspicuous man.
Sumiko pushed off from the tree and gazed directly at him. 'Who on earth is this guy?'
"Okay girls," yelled the female coach. "Pack it in, time to go! You too, Miss Matsura!"
Hearing her name, she turned to look at the coach near the door of the school. She dusted off the back of her fuku as she turned back to the where the man was standing. Or rather, where he HAD been standing. Somehow the rather tall man had vanished, leaving prints of his sandaled feet in the grass, confirming that he hadn't been a figment of her imagination.
"Odd guy," she murmured softly as she headed back into the building.
~ % ~
The sun shone brightly as the teens walked down the busy sidewalk. Sumiko trailed behind the others, watching and listening to their conversation in silence as they chatted about inconsequential things. She turned her face up into the sunlight, closing her eyes behind her dark sunglasses as she smiled a little. Her skin welcomed the warm, gentle touch of sunlight.
"So Yugi," Honda was saying, "What are you going to get?"
"A number two special extra large!"
Yugi's enthusiasm was infectious--the new student's small smile broadened. Her eerie gold-green eyes opened again as she spoke. "You really do like burgers, don't you Yugi-san?"
"Un!" Beaming a smile up at her the boy with three natural hair colors pointed to a white building about a half block ahead of them. It had a large smiling anthropomorphic cheeseburger on top and she could make out the words "Burger World" in English. "Look, we're almost there!"
Sumiko's mouth opened for a reply, but at that moment her small black macramé purse began chiming out Fur Elise. Blushing, she apologized as she dug for her cell phone. "Excuse me, that's my grandmother, I have to take this."
"Just as well, this is where I change clothes anyway," Anzu said, motioning to the door of the taco place they were in front of. "I'll be just a minute."
While she hurried off to the girls' restroom the boys began talking quietly and their new companion answered her phone in English and reassured her grandmother that she was okay.
"Some of my fellow students invited me for a meal at Burger World on Fourth Street, Obaasan. We're almost there."
"Good! You're making friends! Now Yume-chan, be home by eight o'clock."
Sumiko rolled her eyes faintly at the nickname. Little Dream was what her family called her ever since she was a baby; her mother wasn't supposed to ever be able to have children and the miracle of a daughter was a dream come true. 'Leave it to Gram to remember my most embarrassing nickname,' she thought. Aloud she said, "I should be back at the house before then. This shouldn't take nearly that long. I'll call you if we go somewhere else."
"That's fine, dear. By the way, who are you with?"
"Mazaki Anzu, Mutou Yugi, Honda Hiroto, and Jonouchi Katsuya. They're all in my class. Mutou-san is my assigned guide."
"Mutou? That name sounds familiar..."
"I'll tell you about Mutou-san later."
"What about Yugi?"
"Shh!" She covered the mouthpiece and spoke softly, returning to Japanese so her friend could understand. "I was saying Yugi-san is my guide." Flipping easily back to English, she returned to her grandmother. "Sorry, Jonouchi asked me something."
"Oh-ho! So there's no "san" there? I think someone has a crush," Obaasan teased.
Sumiko flushed. "It's not like that at all!" Her color further reddened when her volume drew the gazes of the three boys and nearby pedestrians.
"Uh-huh." The older woman didn't sound convinced at all.
"Quit playing matchmaker already!"
"Whatever you say dear."
The teen took a slow breath to keep herself from continuing to make a scene then noticed Anzu stepping back into the restaurant proper and head towards the door. Sumiko was slightly surprised to see Anzu in a flat, pleatless skirt and a sleeveless white collared shirt. "Look, we'll talk about my day when I get home. I'll call you later or if we go anywhere else, alright?"
"Have fun, Yume-chan."
"Talk to you later, Gram." She hung up the phone and sheepishly tucked the device into a pocket of her purse as Anzu reached them, tucking the Hello Kitty lanyard charm a certain way so she could grab it easily. "Gomen nasai, minna," she mumbled. "Excuse me, everyone. Obaasan worries about me."
Jonouchi grinned at her. "Hey, it's okay."
Anzu nodded enthusiastically. "Even though Domino is relatively safe there are still plenty of people that will hurt you one way or another." She started the group walking again as she continued to speak. "Your grandmother is right to worry."
The group continued walking until a waitress with a chirping voice greeted them. "Welcome to Burger World, may I show you to a table?" Seeing their large party she settled them into a large back booth. After taking their soda orders she vanished into the kitchen as Anzu glanced at her watch.
"Anou ne, Anzu-san?" The addressed girl looked up at Sumiko. "May I ask why you changed out of your fuku?"
She looked at the new girl intensely. "Can I trust you to keep a big secret?"
"Of course." She smiled. "Who would I tell anyway?"
The taller girl nodded. "Well, the secret is this." She motioned the other girl closer and whispered softly. "I work here without school permission." After sitting back up she continued, at her normal volume. "And I have a shift in a few minutes."
Sumiko blinked several times as her brows furrowed, rather confused about why a school would have to give consent for her to get a job. Scenarios ran through her head until her eyes brightened as the answer visibly clicked in her mind: In Japan students can't have jobs without their school giving them a permit. She nodded brightly. "Don't worry, Anzu-san. I won't tell a soul." She offered out her pinky, which a relieved Anzu accepted in her own. "Yubikiri genman," she said with a smile. "Cross my heart, hope to die."
Anzu repeated the words, then as they both giggled at the childishness of it she noticed a flash of silver by Sumiko's throat. "Is that a necklace?"
"Hn?" Momentarily thrown off-balance the orphan reached to her neck. "Oh. Hai, it's a necklace of sorts." While half-blushing she pulled a pretty silver chain that had a silver ring with a simple round sapphire hung on it out from under her fuku jacket. The chain had been slipped through the ring then looped around so that one could remove it without taking the chain off the neck.
"Wow!" Anzu gazed appreciatively. "That's very pretty."
Sumiko nodded slightly. "Thank you, but I'd rather not talk about it. It was a gift from my parents."
While everyone nodded their understanding Yugi smiled slightly. 'So that's where her third ring was. She wanted to keep it close for comfort, but not too close while she was at school because of the bad memories.'
As the group began to talk about school the hostess arrived to distribute their drinks. She looked at the brunette, slightly confused, and asked, "Anzu-chan, aren't you on in five?"
"Hai. I was about to go get on my tie and nametag."
"Well hurry. Yamano-san isn't in a very good mood today."
Anzu rolled her eyes as she stood up. "When is that guy EVER in a good mood, Hisae-chan?"
Hisae giggled, holding up her tray to hide it as she watched Anzu pick up her book bag. "Still, you don't want to be late," she warned as she peered impishly over the tray's rim.
"Sou." Anzu smiled at her friends. "Thanks again for coming with me."
Jonouchi gave her a thumbs-up. "No problem!"
"Yeah," chimed Yugi.
Honda nodded. "We were coming here anyway."
Anzu waved at them and headed to the back with her coworker. After she had vanished behind the doors Sumiko looked back at the water drops condensing on her glass of Dr. Pepper and toyed with them with the nail of her pinky finger. After peeking around for anyone who shouldn't overhear she asked quietly, "Why is Anzu working here?"
"She's saving to go to an exclusive dance school in America," explained Yugi over his cola's rim. "Her dream is to dance professionally."
"It's good that she's working toward her dream," Sumiko said before she took a sip.
Deep brown eyes peered at her curiously. "Do you have a dream, Sumiko-san?"
"I used to, Honda-san" said the girl dully as she fiddled with the silver chain holding the ring. "I wanted to go into law with my father." The silver ring came loose and was slipped onto her middle finger as she kept speaking. "Now that he's gone I'm not sure what to dream."
As Honda took a sip of his tea his blonde companion spoke, rather awkwardly trying to change the subject. "Is there anythin' you like to do on Sundays?"
Sumiko blinked, momentarily confused. Then she chuckled softly to herself. "I'd forgotten that I won't get Saturdays off from school anymore. You see," she continued while she returned to playing with the water droplets, "in the States I got both Saturday and Sunday."
Jonouchi groaned. "That's so cool."
"You WOULD think so," muttered Honda. "Lazy bum."
"To answer your question," she continued, before Jonouchi could attack his friend, "I read a lot, write, and play lots of strategy games."
'Ask her how good she is, aibou!'
Innocently, Yugi spoke for his other half. "Are you any good at them?"
"I was the local league champion in go and chess, so I suppose so."
The three boys exchanged a series of glances. "Boy do we know someone who'd love to meet ya," Jonouchi said as he picked up his Mountain Dew. Yugi sent a quelling look at him to shut him up before he said too much.
Luckily, before Sumiko could ask about this person their waitress arrived to take their orders. She and Yugi couldn't help but giggle at the size of Honda and Jonouchi 's orders, which were shouted in unison. The waitress blinked, taken back, but turned to Yugi who ordered his number two special, extra large please.
"And you, miss?"
Sumiko glanced up from examining her ring. "I'd just like a small salad, if you please."
Their waitress nodded, bowed, and hurried to get their food order in to the cook.
"So," Yugi said hurriedly, before anyone else could say anything, "what kind of a Duel Monsters deck do you use, Sumiko-san?"
There was a pause while Sumiko closed her eyes for a moment, as if in deep thought, then her sharp, blue eyes sparkled with glee as she took her deck out of her purse. "Well to be honest I have five decks that I play with."
The boys' eyes bulged and Jonouchi cried out, "Why do you have so many?!"
"Different strategies," she said simply as she flipped through the cards. "The idea behind this one is to keep monsters on the field until I can pull out my hard hitters, while simultaneously whittling away life points."
Honda frowned "You mean cards like 'Fireball', right?"
She smirked darkly. "Not 'Hi no Tama' specifically, but that's the general idea."
Yugi grinned. "We won't ask you for more detail about it. It'll be more fun to learn as we go what your cards are." He gestured to Jonouchi. "Jou plays an advanced beat-down, and I use a balanced and single-monster deck."
"By the way, Sumiko-san." Jou smiled at her. "Ya never gave me an answer."
"Huh?" Sapphire eyes blinked in confusion. "An answer to what?"
"To my duel challenge. Ya didn't say yes or no."
The girl thought quickly. "I'm still debating about it. Perhaps I'll accept if you make it... interesting."
His response was a roguish grin. "Whattaya mean, like duelin' for stakes?"
"Why not? My terms are fun." Her lips turned into a smug, challenging smirk. "Unless, of course, you're a coward."
The grin faded. "Name your terms, lady."
She grinned broadly with a slightly gleeful glint to her deep blue eyes. "Eight thousand Life Points apiece, standard tribute summoning rules apply. There are five monsters, five normal magic and trap, and one field card limits on one side of the field at any given time." Her grin turned into a smirk. "And the winner wins whatever was put up as a wager."
"Wagered? Like... stakes?"
"Mmhm." She nodded at him. "Name something you would like from me, or for me to do. But," she added as an afterthought, "keep it rated for family viewing. I ain't that kind of girl."
Jonouchi blushed and waved his hands defensively. "Of course you're not," he said quickly then rested his hands once more on the table. "But how about a date?"
She blinked in surprised, then laughed. "Forward, aren't you?"
"No guts no glory," he said with far more confidence than he felt.
"Alright," she said with a slightly vicious chuckle. "If you win I'll go on a date with you. And if I win..." She gazed at him thoughtfully a moment. "If I win you have to help me with the repairs of my Grandmother's garden."
He blinked, confused. "Huh?"
"When my grandparents got married Grandpa made Gram a beautiful garden in their back yard. Noone has been maintaining it for years, and it's too much for me to fix the gazebo and bridges by myself."
Jonouchi thought about it a moment. Win or lose he would still get to be alone with her... And he happened to enjoy woodshop work, so it wouldn't even be a chore. 'Once I beat her,' he thought gleefully, 'I can offer to help anyway. She'll be so impressed I'm a great duelist and a gentleman too!'
Yugi and Honda, knowing their friend as they did, knew exactly what was crossing the blonde's mind and exchanged a look across the table. 'I hope he knows what he's doing.'
'He'll be okay, aibou. It's just a friendly match, and it's doubtful she's on Jonouchi's level.'
'I guess so,' returned Yugi doubtfully, 'but there's something about her that makes me nervous.'
His other half chuckled. 'And here I thought you liked Anzu,' he teased.
Yugi's cheeks flamed. 'I just feel like there's something important we're overlook--'
"Uh... Chikyuu to Yugi-san?"
He blinked a few times rapidly, returning his attention to reality. With a sheepish smile towards the girl beside him he apologized. "I'm sorry. I was... talking to myself."
Eyes of sapphire sparkled as she smiled a bit. "I know how that can be."
Honda smirked. "I'm not so sure." He sobered and fell quiet after a glance from Yugi's violet eyes flashed crimson momentarily--a warning from Yami not to say too much.
Sumiko blinked, confused. "Did I miss something?"
Honda waved it off. "Not really."
"Alright then, I accept your terms." Jou turned to the smallest boy with a grin. "Oi, Yugi? Is my duel disk still at your place? I put my name on it like you suggested so it wouldn't get confused with anyone else's."
"Uh-huh. You forgot it the last time you stayed over." His soft, slightly feminine voice continued in a mild scold. "You wouldn't believe what I've had to do to keep ojiisan from putting both of our duel disks up for sale as autographed Duel City memorabilia!"
Jou sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Oh. Well... Uhm... Oops?"
Honda groaned and set down the tea he was drinking. "You'd forget your thick skull if it wasn't attached."
The group broke into laughter, into which even Sumiko joined in.
Recovering, Jou grinned at her. "So do you have a duel disk?"
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask ever since you mentioned them during lunch." Innocently and naively she set down her soda after her sip. "What's a duel disk?"
~ % ~
My Computer | My Documents | public | myjournal.doc
September 15, 2003 7:43 pm
Dear Diary,
I'm writing this on the bus on the way over to Yugi's family's store (Honda and Anzu were busy so aren't coming). Apparently my "other half" accepted the challenge from Jonouchi and they want to use some high-tech hologram system to add realism or something. I'll tell you about how it is when I get home.
As I'm typing this I can feel her stirring in my subconscious. She's really eager to duel Jonouchi for some reason. Can't say I blame her; she's had nothing to do for a long time and has been cramped into the back corner of my (our?) mind during the whole legal mess and the move. She's got to have cabin fever as it were. Still, I'm going to try to duel alone. It's not fair to Jonouchi for me to have another opinion. Besides, if word of my second self got out even Yugi and his friends might desert me.
She's been pushing her boundaries lately. When my friends and I went to a restaurant after school she came out right in front of Jonouchi, Honda, and Yugi. I was lucky noone noticed the eye thing or my ring. Maybe I should have a word with her about not taking over in public. There was an odd man in white watching me today during gym. He vanished when I wasn't looking, but noone else saw that he was even there to begin with! That freaked me out a bit, but not as much as it would have seven months ago.
So many strange things have happened to me since she came to me. Was formed... remembered... splintered off... whatever. Not quite sure how to describe what happened. I don't even know whether or not I'm crazy for--
Jonouchi is coming over to sit by me, so I'm ending it here.
~S~
File | Save
File | Exit
Start | Shut Down | OK
As she closed her computer down she turned to smile up at the former delinquent as she teased, "Are you coming to forfeit?"
He sunk down onto the seat beside her with a snort. "Yeah right." He grinned at her. "I was just wonderin' where ya wanted ta go on our date when I win!"
Sumiko's cheeks colored. 'Oh lord, what's she gotten me into now?' Her smile didn't falter as she shrugged. "I don't know what there is to do around here." She gave him a wink as she made a guess. "Remember, though, it's only *if* you win."
Jou smiled a half-smirk. "If you say so."
She laughed and gave his arm a playful, light push. "Confident, aren't you?" Her golden jade eyes peered up at his deep honey ones. "You've never seen me duel before, Jonouchi-kun. I might surprise you."
"True," he conceded while studying her gaze, oddly thoughtful for him. Under his scrutiny her face pinked slightly, but she didn't look away.
How long the pair remained like that they couldn't say. Finally Jou reached his left hand to gently clasp her right. "Sumiko, I-"
"Yahoo!" Yugi hopped up from his seat in front of them with his excited whoop. "It's our stop!"
The two teens snatched their hands back, both looking embarrassed while Sumiko slid her laptop into her bookbag. They exited the bus in silence, a confused Yugi trailing behind.
As they stepped into the game store the bells over the door chimed merrily, announcing their arrival. The smallest one called out into the seemingly empty store. "Oi! Ojiisan! Tadaima!"
"Yugi, okaeri!" The reply came from the rear of the building and was followed by the sound of footsteps approaching. Sumiko nervously smoothed her fuku jacket once before the door opened and an older man that looked a great deal like Yugi stepped in. He wore a bandanna tied around his head with a kanji symbol at his forehead that the American didn't recognize. He had an unkempt beard and mustache that matched the wild glint in the short man's eyes.
"Ojiisan, this is Matsura Sumiko-san. She just joined our class today." Yugi's violet eyes turned towards his friend. "This is my grandpa. I live here with him."
"Err... Hajimemash'te, Mutou-san." The girl bowed politely towards the shopkeeper.
He inclined slightly. "Pleased to meet you as well." His aging eyes slid appreciatively along her figure. "I'm surprised you keep making such busty friends, Yugi. She's what, a 34-D?"
"OJIISAAAN!" Yugi cried out in mortification.
His friend colored deeply and clenched a fist. 'What a perverted old geezer!'
Jonouchi watched her shoulder shake as Sugoroku laughed. Then her spine stiffened and as she strode forward with purpose in her steps her right hand reached back. The old man was too busy laughing at his grandson's embarrassment to notice until she was glaring down at him, fire in her dark blue eyes.
A moment later a resounding slap filled the air with an angry yell. "YOU PERVERT!"
Sugoroku landed on his rear with a throbbing red handprint on his cheek. Sumiko's sudden and uncharacteristic outburst stunned Jou and Yugi. It was a long moment before either of them could move. Jonouchi grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back while Yugi darted to help his grandfather up. "Ojiisan, are you okay?"
"Ho ho," laughed the shopkeeper as he reached up to rub his smarting cheek. "It's alright, I deserved that one." As Sumiko blinked several times, her gentle golden jade eyes wide with confusion, Sugoroku smiled at her. She returned it shyly.
"Gomen nasai Mutou-san," she murmured as she bowed deeply. "Sometimes my temper gets the better of me."
He waved it off. "Forget about it, Matsura-san. You kids go run and play."
Yugi beamed a smile at him. "We're going to grab the duel disks and go duel in the park."
His guardian nodded as he winked at the boy. "I want to see her come back to our store often, so be good to her."
Yugi darted past his guardian as he rolled his eyes. He hurried upstairs to his room and rummaged briefly in his closet for both disks, having hidden them under a pile of plush animals. He slid his own into place on his arm, smiling.
'I thought we were going to let Jonouchi duel her.'
'Oh sure, but it's awkward to have two stacked on top of each other. I don't want to break anything.' He hurried out and closed the door behind himself, Jou's disk held firmly in his right hand. As he clunked down the steps he heard three laughing voices. Encouraged that his grandpa had finally stopped being weird in front of Sumiko he hurried out.
Jou burst out into even louder laughter when he saw his friend, which prompted the other two to giggle and "ho ho" louder as well.
Yugi blinked. "What's so funny?"
Sumiko's hand darted up to cover her mouth in an attempt to stop her giggles from escaping. "Ah, nothing hee hee... nothing at all, Yugi-san!" Her attempts failed and she burst into another round of giggling laughter.
"I was just showing them one of our family picture albums. We got to that section of you in the tub as a baby and I was telling them about how you still have your rubber ducky--"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
~...~
[Yugi's voice:] Eh?! Who would've thought that gentle Sumiko could be so vicious while dueling! Wait! What was Shadi doing spying on Sumiko-san? Does the Egyptian eye on Matsura-san's sapphire ring have something to do with all of this? Is there be more to the Millennium Items than we've been told? Find out next time!
Author's note.
Wow, over 5000 words in one chapter! In my defense I had planned to include the duel and aftermath in this chapter, however after writing about 6000 words and not being into the duel I decided to split this supposed chapter into three. Now on to explain some potential culture clashing.
It's true that in Japan students must have permission given to them by their school in order to be able to have a job. I'm not sure why, but it's clearly stated in the manga that Domino High has a "no jobs except under extenuating circumstances" policy.
"Yubikiri genman" is more or less equivalent to "cross my heart, hope to die; stick a needle in my eye". It's used when making a serious promise, usually accompanied by a pinky swear. Although it's slightly childish high school girls will occasionally do it too.
The Japanese school week is Monday through Friday, usually until late in the afternoon, and then again on Saturday morning. Students have Saturday afternoon and Sunday off.
Go is a game of strategy that I am personally very fond of, although few people my age had heard of it until the "Hikaru no Go" (Hikaru's Go) manga had begun to be translated in Shonen Jump. It's played on a board with many crossed lines, and the idea is to claim as much territory on the field as possible by placing your black or white round stones in the places where the lines meet. While I enjoy the game I never said I was good at it. Ahem.
In Japan you only have close friends over at your house. The most common exception to this rule is if you live above your family store, like Yugi, though they aren't usually allowed into the private area. It was very bold of Matsura to have a stake be having Jonouchi over to her house. It's an invitation of sorts, and that's just generally not done. Then again, she is sort of a Gaijin.
Oi: Roughly translated as "Hey you".
Chikyuu: Our planet Earth.
Ojiisan: "Grandfather".
Tadaima: "I've returned", or "Hi honey, I'm home".
Okaeri: "Welcome back".
Hajimemash'te: "Pleased to meet you" or just "Hello" when you first meet a person.
Gomen nasai: "Please forgive me".
Gaijin: Foreign barbarian.
See you next chapter!