Haku: Haku is happy.
Yugi: Why is Haku happy?
Haku: Because Haku topped her English lit assignment.
Y. Haku: AGAIN???? God girl! How come you do so well in lit and terribly in everything else?
Haku: Because Haku is stupid.
Yugi: No, Haku doesn't study.
Haku: That too...
DISCLAIMER:
1. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, any related indicia (Except a winged Dragon of Ra model and a duelling deck I bought). All of these are owned by the dude who owns Yu-Gi-Oh! (I can't remember their name.)
2. I don't own the song Hunted written by Evanescence. The owners and artists of this song own it.
3. I want Bubble Tea.
Long lost words whisper slowly to me...
Sugoruku sighed, relief flooding him as he stepped off the plane and into the airport. Japan to Egypt was always a long flight, and even now, he wasn't sure if he liked planes or not. Up ahead, he saw his two work colleagues, Shira and Chiaro Blanc, two famous archaeologists in these parts.
Still can't find what keeps me here
Hanging off Shira's right arm was a small boy, about three, with the most radical hairstyle. It reminded the man of his own Yugi's hair; the way it spiked up in every direction, in fact, the boy looked incredibly like his own little one. The only real differences that Sugoruku could see was that the boy had deep red eyes, almost as if they were pools of blood, the olive pigment of his skin, and the beginnings of sharp features that were developing.
The girl was... beautiful. She had long black hair that fell midway down her back, and had inherited her father's beautiful blue eyes, a stark and vivid contrast against her dark skin. She looked a lot like a blue eyed version of her red eyed mother. Though neither parent had the radical hair that the boy possessed.
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
"Sugoruku. It's good to see you." Shira stepped forward, extending a hand towards the old man, and the boy seemed to go shy, hiding behind his mother as he peered up at the greying gentleman he did not know. Sugoruku clasped hands with the woman, and the man, before turning his attention to the children.
"It has been too long, Shira. And who's this little beastie?" He said, peering around the woman's legs, and meeting red eyes for a second before they were buried inside the folds of his mother's cotton dress.
Shira laughed. "That little ball of fluff is Atemu, Sugoruku. Say hello, you little ragamuffin."
"Hello you little ragamuffin." Was the reply muttered obediently into his mother's dress. Everyone laughed. Sugoruku started conversation with Chiaro as the troop slowly left the airport, heading for the Blanc's house up on the hill.
I know you're still there.
It was later, around the dinner table, that Atemu lost his shyness. He was quite the talker, and seemed to be going to day care, because it was all he talked about, making his parents laugh with his antics. "And then Billy and I played on the swing, and we were going higher and higher, and Billy fell off!" He said it with such an air of happiness, it made everyone laugh.
"Was Billy alright?" Sugoruku asked, and the boy nodded happily, before returning to eat the food that his mother had put in front of him. Sugoruku noticed, that while the boy ate whole-heartedly, there were a few things missing from the boy's plate which had been piled upon the mans. "Doesn't he eat everything?"
Watching me, wanting me
"Does he eat anything is the question better asked, Sugoruku." This reply, offered by Chiaro, made Atemu pout. The boy held up his clean plate, under his father's nose, and Sugoruku wondered how much had actually been eaten, instead of spilt over his clothes and face. It seemed the boy was a messy eater. "Good, Atemu, now go and wash up, and then Sharni might play with you."
"Do I have to dad?" was the indignant reply from the 15 year old.
I can feel you pull me down.
Sugoruku laughed as he watched the boy and his sister playing a rather entertaining game. The boy was dressed up in what looked like a costume his mother had made, complete with crown, pulled hastily over his Pyjamas. He was dancing around, with a wheeled horse head thing, gleefully proclaiming, "I'M DA PHARAOH! BOW DOWN TA ME!" over and over again, whilst his sister was bowing.
"What does the great pharaoh wish for?" Sugoruku asked, deciding to get in on the game.
With an absolute straight face that must have taken much training to pull off, the boy announced "Candy." Before coming to a halt in front of Sugoruku. He looked up at Shira, who nodded, giving the man the go-ahead. And Sugoruku produced a piece from his pocket, handing it to the 'pharaoh.' Atemu smiled, and began eating the candy, announcing 'thank you' through the lolly.
Fearing you, Loving you.
The two children were asleep when it happened, or at least Sugoruku assumed they were, as the three adults went out for a night time walk. Sugoruku learned, then and there that the streets were not a good place to be at night, when an explosion rang out through the city, and a car, speeding away slammed into Shira. The man inside the car, pulled out an automatic weapon, and filled the street full of billets, ripping apart bodies, including the body of Atemu's father. Sugoruku was shot twice, one of the lucky ones who survived the ordeal.
And as he slowly blacked out, he looked up to the window on the second story of the Blanc's large house to see Atemu there, looking horrified at the sights before him.
I won't let you pull me down.
Atemu had seen his parents, and countless other people, die.
My eyes shot open to see a nervous looking Yugi standing over me. He was wrapped in a blanket, and I realised I was rather cold, and uncomfortable.
"You okay, Yami?" He asked me, his worried expression proof of his feelings.
"Fine." I said, sitting up upon the couch. There was the answer to why I was so uncomfortable at least. Yugi smiled at me as I slowly stood up, cricking my back as I went.
"You sure? You looked like you were having a nightmare." He asked, smiling at me in that way that made me want to tell him everything and then some more, but I knew I couldn't.
I was having a nightmare. I saw the day my parents died. "No, I'm fine, Yugi."
He smiled brightly, and I felt like I had betrayed him. "Alright then." He wrapped his arms around my middle, and reflexively I tensed, before relaxing.
"I hate to break this Yugi, but don't we need to get ready for school?"
"Oh! School!" Yugi was immediately up and running to the kitchen, to put some bread in the toaster. I sat back down, watching as he ran through the kitchen, just thinking. My parents, I would never see them again. The last time I saw them was when I was three years old. Sharni when I was five. I stood, my feet making hollow clicking sounds upon the wooden floor as I made my way to my small bedroom. And All I had to show for my whole life was a room, a few books a computer and an alarm clock! Everything else remained hidden. I gently bent down at the end of my large bed, reached under the folds of the awry sheets and pulled out a small chest. It was about the size of a jewellery box, maybe a little bigger, and intricately carved.
My sister had given it to me for my fifth birthday. She had made it. Gently pulling back on the lid, I heard the hinge give a rueful creak as it swung open, revealing the things I had kept hidden from myself for many years. A golden frame held the picture of a smiling and happy family, a fifteen year old girl holding up an innocent looking, tricoloured haired boy. I was three when the photo had been taken, back home in Egypt. I put the photo down, and turned back to my box.
The next item to be plucked from it was a small, Japanese candy wrapper, nothing special, except I was given it the night my parents died.
And finally? A carefully rolled up picture, which I softly unrolled, knowing what I'd see inside. A beautiful desert landscape, with two people standing slightly to the left side. The female's eyes were a deep crimson red, and she had long, silken black hair that was tied loosely at the nape of her neck. His hair, an unruly brown, provided a stark contrast with his deep blue eyes, features rarely seen together on the one face. He was one head taller than her, and had his arms wrapped around her in an almost protective stance. His strong, stubborn chin rested upon the top of her head, and her silken features were very relaxed. They both looked so peaceful, and almost as if they belonged in the scenery. I felt the sad smile working its way onto my features as I stared at the picture, taking in every intimate detail, noting the way that they seemed to fit each other's forms perfectly. She was beautiful in a form hugging robe, a replica of an ancient Egyptian garb that my sister had imagined as she drew, and he? He was the proud, bold Pharaoh, hugging his queen towards himself.
A slight cough alerted me to the presence of another in the room. My head snapped up, and I locked eyes with the beautiful amethyst that I had grown to revere in such a short time. I hastily put the wrapper and the picture frame back in the box, but was gentler with the drawing. Drawn by my sister, of my parents, I treasured it above all other things.
Yugi smiled. "Who were the people in the Photo?"
"That was me and my family when I was younger." I supplied, sounding falsely cheerful. I could tell he didn't believe the tone, but he didn't ask questions, possibly not wanting to pry.
"Your mum's really beautiful." He said instead, smiling at me, and gently slipping his hand into mine. I returned the smile softly, and gently led him towards the wardrobe. I opened the door, and pulled out two uniforms, one for me, and one for the petit boy in front of me, the first one to show me love since my sister had died. I gently kissed the side of his head, enjoying the way he squeaked in a pleased surprise, and squeezed my hand in a sign of affection. He meant so much to me, more than words could express.
And as he slipped out of the room, uniform in hand, to get changed that Monday morning, I felt two words escape my lips.
"Thank you."
He turned, shooting me a puzzled look, and then blinking serenely. "For what?"
"For being there." He smiled knowingly, and as I looked into the mirror to my side, and saw my reflection, a voice came back to me,
Is that all you are Yami? A reflection with no voice of its own?
At that point I thought I wasn't, but fortunes turn sour, faster than the blink of an eye, a lesson that I was yet to fully comprehend.
Haku: Plot filler, plot filler!
Y. Haku: Duh. Next chapter, things start to heat up, as Yami receives an email from the head of the network.
REVIEW REPLIES:
Flowacat- I'm not overly fond of cats, but I do like 'em. Poor Bastet got shooed away…
Spiritual Winds- O.o You anticipate updates? I feel speshul!
It'sHardToBelieve- Yeah, I know what you mean, math sucks. And blows… even though that's not physically possible… O.o
Saiyan Jedi- w00t! Okies then, one, I shall warn you of major fluffy moments, but little one's I'm not going to bother about… and two… the full blown 'Network after Yami and 'Kura' starts next chapter. You'll also learn something about Yami that really isn't all that surprising… but Quirky all the same…
Karasu8- Okies!
SoulDreamer- Aww, sorry you got in trouble… but thankies for reviewing! And thankies for the kind comments! -Hug-
Jkateel- Glad you likeys! Hooray for fluff!
FOXDEMON1991- Oh my. Updating now!
Yugi: Read and review!