Lily of the Black Rose: Chapter Two
"Oh, come on, it is so you!" Misti Ryou said to her brother in the boy's section of the department store. Bakura gave her an exasperated look when he saw the shirt she held up to him. "Ya' know, it's times like this that I wish we weren't twins. You look so much like me, it embarrasses me when you protest like this," she said. Misti and Bakura were twins. Misti had made it a point to look just like her brother, just to make him mad. Misti's accent was one you didn't often hear. It wasn't just plain English, like her brother's. Her accent was an uncommon blend between English and American, since she had lived in each country for at least a few years at a time.
Even though Misti had loads of friends in Japan, her favorite city so far, was New York City. Misti was a spoiled city girl, and she knew it. She shuddered at the thought of living out in the country, where your closest neighbor was a quarter mile away. She had always thought of country people as walking around on a farm in cowboy boots, and ten-gallon hats. She pictured them getting up at four o' clock in the morning to feed the pigs, then talking with a slow drawl and a long stalk of grass poking out of their mouth. Misti's best friend was also Lily Kaiba.
"Do I really have to try it on? After all, you forced me here," Bakura said, crossing his arms.
"Yes, because I can totally see you wearing it and don't try to tell me it's not your style." After all, you know what I can do to you if you refuse me, she thought.
"All right, all right, just stay out of my head!" Bakura cried, desperately.
Misti absolutely loved her secret powers. Misti was psychic and telepathic. Plus she could teleport and use telekinetic abilities. She often threatened Bakura with her powers, just teasing of course. But there were times when they came in handy. Amazingly, with all the friends she had, Lily and Bakura were the only ones who knew. Except Lily was the only one who was used to the idea.
Misti watched Bakura disappear into the dressing room with a huge grin on her face. Then the smug look was replaced by one of shock as another vision crept into her mind. She saw Lily on the edge of the bridge, about to jump, then some blonde guy pulling her off, and well, you know what happened next. Misti searched through her handbag for her cell phone. If this vision was true, Misti had to know if it was of the past or future. After all, you never knew what crazy thing Lily might do next.
She dialed as quickly as her fingers would let her, and finally she heard ringing on the other end.
When Lily heard her phone ringing, her first instinct was to answer it, then she remembered that her arms were completely useless. Yugi and Joey apparently heard it too, because they both turned and looked at her. Lily grinned and said, "Umm, could one of you get that, it's kind of a bad time for me."
Lily directed Yugi to the pocket where she kept her phone. "What don't you keep in those pockets?" Joey asked, incredulously.
"I can think of about a billion answers to that. Oh, thanks," Lily said as Yugi held the phone up to her ear. She knew this scene would look ridiculous to anyone passing by, especially someone from Domino High, but what power did she have over that? "Hello?" she said into the phone.
"Thank God, you're still alive!" Misti shouted on the other end of the phone line. Misti's face was creased with worry for her friend. She stood with the phone pressed against her ear, and Bakura picked that moment to emerge from the dressing room.
"Misti, did you get another vision?" Lily asked. "Don't worry, it was in the past, and it all worked out for the best... Of course my arms are still broken, did you think I wouldn't have called if that happened... Well, yeah, but I was kind of busy... Okay, I'm going to have to call you back, bye."
Yugi lowered the phone from Lily's ear, and he and Joey exchanged questioning looks. "So, what was that all that about?" Joey asked.
"Oh, just my friend, Misti. You met her once, Yugi, even though you didn't know it at first. She was calling about, uh, you know," Lily said, nodding toward the bridge.
"You have friends!" Joey said, jokingly.
Lily snickered. "Just the one," she said, uncomfortably. She had laughed at Joey, but not because of his joke. She was relieved that she hadn't revealed Misti's secret. Unfortunately, Yugi had figured it out on his own.
"Wait a minute, how did she know? That little "incident" only happened a minute ago." Yugi asked.
"Are we just going to stand here all day, or are we going to the hospital?" Lily broke in quickly, and started moving faster.
Yugi left the subject alone, but never really put it out of his mind. Eventually, the little group made their way to the E.R. The place was full of activity. Nurses rushed around, pushing IVs, people tore up to the front desk to sign in. Patients were whisked away to rooms beyond the waiting area. In between all this activity were three teenagers standing by the door, who didn't know what to do next. Lily decided to take charge.
"Joey, you go and get us signed in. Yugi and I will sit down over here and wait for you," said Lily, already searching for three seats to sit at.
"Uh, okay," said Joey, and he walked over to the front desk.
Lily finally spotted three seats together on the edge of the room. She nodded her head in their direction and she and Yugi walked to the edge of the room, dodging hurrying nurses and worried people. By the time the two of them had made it to the seats, Yugi couldn't take it anymore.
"How did your friend know about... that?" he said, glancing at her arms.
Uh, you mean... on the bridge?" Lily asked, nervously.
"Yeah, that."
"Well, I'm not supposed to say... Can you keep a secret? It's really important that you don't tell anyone," Lily said, anxiously.
"If it's that important, I know I can keep your secret," Yugi said, sincerely.
"Well, Misti is... See, my friend," Lily said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. "She's uh... Wow, this is gonna sound weird but, uh... She's psychic."
Yugi snickered. "Psychic? I've encountered one too many fake psychics" to believe that!"
"It's true!" said Lily, getting defensive. "She can read minds and teleport too! You've even met her before, even though you didn't know it."
"How's it possible to meet someone and not know it?"
"Ah, so young, so naive. Misti's Bakura's twin sister! When you met her she was pretending to be Bakura. I don't doubt you'll meet her again sometime."
Just then Joey came jogging over from the front desk. "I got you signed in, Lily. I told the lady up there what was wrong and she said they'd have a room for ya' real soon." He took a seat next to Lily and the three of them sat in silence for a while.
As Joey watched the little TV monitor and Yugi flipped through his deck, Lily stole a glance at the receptionist at the front desk. She had pretty green eyes and brown hair that fell to her waist. Lily knew Joey would have liked her looks and made a mental note to ask Joey about her when the two of them had a moment alone. Finally, a nurse approached them and said, "Are you miss Lily Kaiba?"
"Yes," Lily said.
"Come with me please, I'll show you to your room."
The three of them stood up and followed the nurse down a side hallway. They walked down a ways until finally the nurse stopped and opened a door. "This will be your room, Ms. Kaiba. Stay here tonight and we'll run X-rays tomorrow," she said, bluntly.
When the nurse left, Lily stepped into the room and said, "Ah, this place brings back so many memories. All those street fights I won (not without cost, of course). That time Daddy caught me fighting and got all protective. Yes, the hospital room." When she saw the two boys staring stupidly, she laughed and sat down on the bed. "Would one of you use that phone and call up Misti? She lives at Bakura's number, so one of you must know it." Joey reached out for the phone and began dialing. Then he remembered something.
"Uh, what do you want me to say?"
"Just ask her to stop by my house and grab my laptop, then come here and help me out."
Joey finished dialing and waited for someone to pick up. When he heard the "Hello?" on the other end he was taken aback by a strange accent. He put it out of his mind though, and began the conversation. "Hey, this is Joey Wheeler, is Misti home?"
Lily watched him intently, making sure he did everything right. With a flirt like Joey, you couldn't be too careful. When she was satisfied she said, "Yugi could you leave? I need to talk to Joey."
Yugi looked surprised and had to ask, "Why?"
"Please just go, its important," then Lily shocked both herself and Yugi, and winked to get her point across. Perhaps Yugi wasn't as softheaded as she had thought because he left promptly and closed the door behind him. Finally Lily and Joey were alone for the first time in months.
When he hung up the phone, Lily jumped right in. "I know you thought the receptionist was pretty. Why didn't you go all gaga like you usually do?"
Joey was a little offended by the implied insult, but he had something important to say. When two people of opposite gender have been friends before and they are suddenly together again, it is impossible for there not to be certain "sparks" between them. Lily had a secret crush on Joey and had never told anyone, but her cover was about to be blown.
"Why would I want her when I can have you?" Joey said. Lily was so shocked by this that she revealed her deep secret.
"Joey, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time." Then she told him of the picture in her locket. Lily stood and opened her mouth to speak again, but Joey put an arm around her and gently pressed a finger to her lips. Then he leaned in for the kiss. Lily closed her eyes, she couldn't help it, this was all so perfect. Joey held her so tight that they could each feel the other's erratic heartbeat.
Lily relaxed, feeling his body press against hers. Or was she pressing against him? Maybe they were both pressing against each other. Lily didn't know quite what was going on, but she did know that it was magical. Then a knock on the door brought them both crashing back to reality. The kiss was over. Neither one wanted it to be, but it was. Lily mumbled something about Misti being here and Joey finally released her to open the door. As he let Misti in, Joey slipped out into the hall, not without leaving his mark however...
Lily sat back down and Misti came in. "Hey, I brought your laptop like you asked. What do you want help with?" she said. Then she noticed that Lily's eyes were unfocused. "HELLO, Earth to Lily. Are you in there?" Misti shouted.
Lily blinked and her mind reluctantly returned to the real world. "Oh, oh yeah. Well, uh, first is to get into those hospital clothes." Lily said it, but part of her was still in dreamland. Misti noticed it too when she set down the black carrying case on Lily's nightstand and was helping her into the clothes. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, what's his name?" Misti said, boldly.
"Jo- I mean nobody. Why do you think it's a guy?" Lily stuttered.
"Yeah, so his name isn't Joey. Sure. And that's why Joey Wheeler left his jacket in here."
Lily gasped. "Huh, he did?" she said excitedly. "Oops, I- I mean, he probably just forgot it, no big deal." But she knew she might as well have said, "Yeah, I like Joey and he likes me, so now we're going together!"
"You were making out with him! Naughty, naughty girl. You know as well as I do how much your dad hates Joey! What makes you think he'll approve of this?" Misti said, gluing all her sentences together in her excitement.
"What are you, my mother? Okay, okay, so I like Joey- she started, but Misti interrupted.
"And he likes you, so the two of you kissed and now you're gonna be in big trouble!" she yelled.
"Please, Misti, I'm right here, you don't have to yell in my face! Now, see, I won't get in trouble because I have a plan. All you have to do is keep your mouth shut!" Lily said, pausing between each word at the end, to let them sink in. However small Misti's role may have been, it was going to be tough. Misti was nice and all, but she had a little problem that could ruin everything. She was a blabbermouth. Loose lips described Lily, even though she meant no harm. Now I want you to go call my dad and tell him to come here. When you hang up, go look out the window and watch for the limo. When you see it leave immediately and hide Joey's jacket under the bed on your way out."
"Fine, I'll do it, but why do you want the jacket under the bed?" Misti asked, curiously.
"Just do it!"
Misti shuffled over to the phone, a sign that meant she was mad. That was good, when Misti was mad, she didn't talk a lot. If she didn't talk much, there was less chance that she would blab about Joey. Of course, Lily knew that Seto would find out on his own, but it wouldn't be so bad if Misti didn't tell him first. As Misti called Kaiba Mansion, Lily laid back on the bed, thinking everything over. Obviously, she wasn't single anymore, but then there was Panik.
He had hurt her badly in more ways than one. Although she was still in great pain, her pride was more bruised than her person. Revenge had always been high on her list of things to do" but maybe she needed to think this over. She started fine-tuning her plan to tell her father about Joey, but simply decided to throw it out the window. But she was still so deep in thought that she didn't even notice when Misti left the room so quickly and carelessly tossed Joey's green jacket under the hospital bed on her way out. Just a few minutes later, Lily's father, Seto Kaiba came into the room with Mokuba close behind him.
"Lily!" Seto shouted in surprise when he saw her sit up in the bed.
"Don't sound so surprised, it's not like I've never been in here before," Lily said in a biting tone. Not yet, she would mention Joey in...
"What's that under the bed?" Mokuba asked, moving forward to investigate. Seto closed the door and followed his brother into the room. The sleeve of Joey's jacket was sticking out from under the bed... and green doesn't exactly blend in with white. Seto recognized it as soon as Mokuba pulled the jacket out from under the bed.
"Lily, what's this doing here?" he said, holding up the jacket.
"Mokuba, could you take my locket and show it to Daddy, I think it'll answer his question," Lily said to her uncle. Mokuba reached around her neck and unhooked the latch on her gold necklace, which he handed to his brother. Seto clicked open the little heart and saw his and Joey's faces looking back up at him. As he stood there holding all the proof he should need, Lily fiddled with her blanket, digging a hole into it with her finger. Eventually, Seto asked, "What was he doing here?"
"Daddy, I know you hate Joey, but I don't. He saved my life and he brought me here. Then he kissed me." Lily looked into her father's face and saw that he was giving her that cold look again. She looked back at the hole and began digging in it again. "I love him."
Meanwhile, Joey walked back to the Game Corner with Yugi. The two of them entered the shop and Joey hoisted himself onto the countertop to sit. It was late at night by now and well after business hours, so Yugi's grandfather was asleep by now. Joey had been unusually quiet as the boys walked, so Yugi got curious. "What exactly did Lily want to say to you, Joey?" he asked, though he thought he already knew the answer. "Whatever it was, it sure made you think."
Joey answered Yugi's question with one of his own. "Yugi, have you ever wanted to go out with Téa?"
Yugi was startled by the strange question, but answered it nonetheless. "Well, sure but what does that have to do with Lily?"
"I told you I used to be real good friends with Lily. Then that day Panik beat her she walked out on me and Tristan. She started hatin' us more than anything else or, so she said. You know just as much about what happened on the bridge as I do, but then there were "sparks" if you know what I mean. We made out in that hospital room and I got a feelin' that your little group of friends is about to go from five to six." Joey stopped, thinking about what to say next. Finally, he took a shot in the dark. "I got to go. Tomorrow's Saturday, I'll e-mail ya' in the morning." He hopped of the counter and left the shop, still thinking about Lily.
Yugi watched him in silence, and then started for the stairs and his bedroom. Once there, he talked to Yami. "This is just too much to take in at once, especially considering Lily's past image."
"Well, you know Yugi, it's hard to judge someone like her. Lily has a lot of different sides to her personality." Yami said. "One minute she's tough as nails, the next crying. She'll be ready to kill one second, the next she's kissing your best friend. The real Lily could be one of these or someone else entirely. Ever since you solved the Millennium Puzzle, it's been hard to know what to expect. For now we should probably just sleep on it and think about it some more tomorrow. Imagine how strange this must be for Lily."
"I guess you're right. It's going to be hard to sleep though, considering Lily's best friend is not only Bakura's twin, but a physic too." Yugi got into his pajamas and eventually fell into a troubled sleep, not realizing the importance of his words, but Yami ended up staying awake all night turning over this bit of information in his mind. He resolved to ask Yugi about her later. But when he saw the sun's first rays of early morning light peeking over the horizon, he finally drifted off.
Joey sat up in front of his computer, searching through all the songs he had saved on his mp3. player, looking for the right one. He knew it was lame; sending a song of all things to his almost-girlfriend, but what else was there was there for him to do? Eventually, Joey found some songs that Serenity had saved and found the perfect one. A really sappy song by some boy band that was called "Something Like You." He clicked on "play" to make sure it was what he was looking for. Yup, perfect. He opened up his e-mail account and sent it to Lily as an attachment to a short little e-mail. The second he hit send, Joey remembered that he had said he would e-mail Yugi that morning.
He clicked on "New Message" and typed in the Muto's e-mail address. The e-mail was short, sweet and to the point, as Lily would have put it. It consisted of a single question, "What do you know about Lily's friend who called her on the bridge?" This was all he wanted to know about Lily before he found her return e-mail. Joey looked out his window and saw the sun peeking out, casting its first pinkish glowing light and heard the sound of true early birds first awakening. This sight finally convinced him to get some sleep and he was already dreaming by the time his head hit the pillow.
To Joey, it seemed he had just fallen asleep when the ring of the telephone so rudely woke him up on his nightstand. Too bad it was placed on the far side because, trying to reach it, he fell out of bed onto a pile of dirty clothes next to his bed. On the third ring Joey was up and finally picked up the phone. He hit the "talk" button and said, "Hello?" Then it rang again. When Joey looked at his alarm clock and saw the flashing numbers, he realized that he had forgotten to turn off the automatic alarm. Groaning, Joey simply unplugged his clock and climbed back into bed. Extra sleep was always worth resetting the clock later.
At the hospital, Lily was tossing and turning uneasily as she slept. A horrible dream was recapping her fight with Panik in the alley. She saw his other lackeys (including Bandit Keith's Minnie-me) grouped around, cheering. She heard their voices yelling, pushing her back up when she fell, and worst of all, she felt the pain when he broke her arms like sticks. She cried out in her sleep and immediately, two nurses on night duty rushed into her room. They saw Lily breathing heavily and reached a silent agreement. It was time to look at those arms.
When Lily was woken up and taken to the X-ray room, she knew what to expect. She laid on the cold, metal, table-like surface and watched the camera sweep over her body, pausing every now and then to take a picture. Painless, as usual and they sent her back to the room while the pictures developed.
Upon arrival, she noticed that her computer was set up and her e-mail open to a particular message. Misti and her telekinesis, shaking her head, Lily read the e-mail and saw it was from Joey. She read the short message and instantly heard Misti's voice in her head.
Did you get the e-mail?
"What do you think?" Lily said out loud.
Judging by the thoughts in your head, yes.
"Thanks, can you open up the attachment and click play? Then get out of my head."
Sure, why not? Anything to help a friend in need!
Then Lily saw the pointer move on its own across the screen. Most people would have been scared out of their wits, but Lily was used to little phenomenon" of this sort. Then the arrow clicked on play" and Lily gasped. When she heard the first few notes of music, she knew to expect a super-sappy love song, but regardless of the night before, Joey was the last person she expected to hear it from. Lily quickly looked around the room and saw a pen lying on the table. She sat down and picked up the pen in her teeth. Feeling ridiculous, Lily walked back to her laptop and clumsily used the pen to guide the mouse along. She managed to click on New Message" and typed in Joey's e-mail address, using the end of the pen in her mouth. Lily only had one thing to say, Why me?"
She didn't mind the fact that Joey obviously had a crush on her. He was the closest thing she had ever had to a boyfriend...he had just never asked her out. But his quote last night, Why would I want her, when I can have you?" was just as good. Now that she thought about it, Joey sounded kind of bigheaded there. But if she gave a damn, she would have said something then.
Just then, two things happened at once. The phone rang and the nurse knocked on the door. Lily had an idea that it was probably Téa calling her. But she needed to get her casts...Such a tough decision, she thought.
"Come in!" Lily yelled at the door. And so what if she woke up the patient in the next room by doing so? The nurse walked in, but since Lily knew both what she wanted, and where the X-ray room was, she told the nurse to take a message.