*AN: Hey Angel fans! Back for more trouble with Angel and Yami? Great! ^-^ First of all, I would like to thank you all for your reviews!!! They really really keep me motivated to continue the story. Sorry if I have gone a couple weeks without updating. ^ ^; I took a break for Christmas. Plus I was sick! Trust me, it really REALLY sucks to be sick for Christmas! Well on with Chapter 11! Remember to R&R!*
Chapter 11- Rising Temperatures and Enclosed Spaces
*Doom, thy name is Yami.* The Game King thought warily, his head throbbing as he rubbed his sore brow. Angel bounced around with her normal energy saying: "Horsey, horsey, horsey!" over and over energetically. Yami was thankful when they reached his apartment building and walked trough the glass front doors. They had had to go out into the city again because the elegant black Frisian, Midnight Angel, had returned to the apartments in search of the duel card. Yami had to take it back to the angry carriage driver who yelled and sputtered for what seemed like forever. Angel had been thrilled that her playmate had come back and was quite unhappy when Yami dragged her and the black beauty back to the old man. but Yami had a feeling that his troubles with the elegant stallion weren't over.
After dragging Angel away from the front desk in the lobby where she was happily ringing the attendant bell, he managed to get her into the gold elevator. He pressed the fifteen button and leaned against the wall. He sighed heavily and closed he wary eyes. He could hear Angel bouncing around excitedly. He then remembered that this was her first time in an elevator. His eyes flew open but it was too late. The small clicking noises seemed to boom like the sea and Yami flew forward only to find that nothing could be done. Every single button on the panel had been pressed.
"Angel!" he moaned in exasperation. The duel card bounced around with glee, giggling happily. 'Creek!' 'Bang!' The elevator shuttered to a stop and both inhabitants fell to the floor by the strong jolt. The lights flickered and went out and Yami's heart dropped to his feet. There was silence, then Angel's amused giggle seemed to echo in the small space. *I'm gonna kill her! I'm gonna kill her!* he cursed. The pharaoh drew himself to a sitting position and slammed his fist into the steel wall in fury. Angel's giggling stopped and a silence wrapped its blanket around the enclosed box. Yami clenched his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut. There was a fizzing sound and the lights flickered on and off. *Ra, why me?!* he demanded. *What have I ever done to deserve this?! I changed my ways! I saved the world! What have I done to deserve this?!* Then there was a soft, warm breath on his face and he opened his eyes as a voice pierced the silence.
"Yami?" Angel asked softly. A wave of light came just long enough to see that Angel's face was right up next to his, her eyes filled with concern. He glared at her. "Yami ok?"
"No, I'm not ok, Angel." he spat fiercely. She jumped a little at his bitterness.
"Why?" she asked her voice fainter than before.
"Because I'm stuck in a fucking elevator that's why!" he yelled. Angel jumped away. When she did not come back to him, nothing more was said.
* * * * * *
It was hot. Very hot. The enclosed box of a broken golden elevator served as the Game King's prison where he dwelt with the most annoying, troublesome being that could ever exist. It was now turning into a scorching sweat box. No relief came from the heat, not even leaning up against the once cool golden walls. He had stripped off his midnight blue coat and was on the verge of peeling off his tight, black sleeveless shirt. He wasn't exactly sure what caused this uncomfortable temperature. He assumed that it was because they were in an enclosed space and possibly Angel? *Wait....Angel?* She only gave off heat when she was upset. There was no reason for her to be upset now....or was there? She had gone to the far corner of the elevator long ago and had not made a sound. this was odd, she always found something to be amused with. Yet she was silent. He sighed heavily, still angry with her. He then stood, and wobbled a bit, his legs weak from sitting for so long. He grasped the rail for a moment then started towards the duel card. A brief wave of dim light guided him to the small girl curled in the far corner. He lowered himself to his knees next to her. He could almost feel the heat of her body. she was not creating it, she was suffering from it like he.
"Angel?" he said. She did not move or look up, although he knew her sensitive ears had heard him approach. "Angel." She still didn't respond. He breathed a short, angry sigh. "Angel look at me!" Slowly, she lifted her liquid green eyes and looked into his. Her face was expressionless and her gaze was locked with his. An odd feeling surged through him and he couldn't bring himself to break from her gaze. Time seemed to stop, his body frozen in that position. All he seemed to see were the depths of those enchanting emerald eyes; as if he were under some kind of spell....She waited, almost expectantly, for him to something.
"Uh....what's wrong?" he asked a bit more gruffly than he had intended. She finally broke her mesmerizing gaze and looked away.
"Yami mad." she said finally.
"Well yeah I'm mad! I'm stuck in an elevator that's as hot as hell and its all your fault! Ever since you came to me you've been nothing but trouble! You're ruining my life! I was almost raped by a fat lady, almost killed by a huge horse and a wall of produce, harassed by the police, yelled at multiple times by and old man and I can't go out with my friends I have to worry about babysitting you! And-and-" His words and anger faded as a wave of light came and he stared into her distraught face. Her eyes were watering up, her black lips in a confused pout and her brow crinkled in distress. All of a sudden his features softened and he couldn't bring himself to yell at her anymore. She was the cause of all his troubles, yet, he felt his heart softening the longer he stared into her pretty face. The light disappeared and Yami heard her stand and move away from him. He sighed heavily and leaned against the wall, pausing only to peel off his shirt and allow his many chains to touch his skin. He closed his eyes and sighed. What was wrong with him? Suddenly, a loud 'Bang!' cut the silence and Yami nearly jumped a mile. There was another 'Bang!' and a 'fzzt' and light blessed the small area once again, revealing Angel. Her demonic wings had sprouted from back and her eyes were set with determination on ceiling. She leapt up one last time and smashed her fist right through the iron ceiling! He stared at her in shock as she peeled back a large section. he jumped to his feet.
"Angel what are you doing?!" he asked. She glanced over at him, her face set in determination.
"Yami out." she said. He stared at confused.
"What?" But she ignored him, folding her wings against her body, she gave a huge leap and lifted herself out of the elevator! *Oh my gods! She getting us out of here!* he thought excitedly. But how were they going to get all the way to the fifteenth floor? they had only gone about five floors before the elevator had stopped. Throwing his coat over his bare skin he hurried under the opening, welcoming a slight breeze. Angel's small arm reached down from the darkness.
"Yami out." she said. The pharaoh mentally cursed. Now was not the time to be short. Never the less, he jumped up and grabbed her outstretched hand, almost afraid he'd break it by its delicate appearance. But she succeeded in hauling him through the ceiling. It was much cooler out in the drafty drop of the elevator shaft. But he only had a moment to take in the pitch black surroundings when he noticed that Angel had already started to climb up the thick cables. Wait.... why wasn't she flying? He scanned the dark shaft once more, realizing that it wasn't big enough for her full wingspan.
"Hey wait!" he called after her beginning to climb the elevator cables as well.
* * * * * *
Yami's body screamed in pain and sweat pored down his face. He was barely able to hold onto the thick cables that supported the elevator. they had been climbing for what seemed like hours and he didn't think he could hold on any longer. Above him, the duel card still climbed, not seeming to tire. How could she do it? How could she just keep going? The Game King's breath became short and hard as he struggled just to hold on. Angel was beginning to disappear into the darkness above. *No!* his mind begged. *Don't go. I can't hold on!* He squeezed his eyes shut, desperately praying that his strength wouldn't give out.
"A-Angel!" he choked out. "Angel-I c-can't-" There was an ugly sliding noise and suddenly Angel descended from the darkness above. He realized that the sliding noise was her hands on the cords. She lowered herself down next to him a slid one of her arms around him. He warily let go of the thick rope and collapsed into her arms. His fate in her hands now. Holding onto him firmly, she began climbing once more.
What the hell are you doing?! Yami no Bakura's loud commanding voice rang through Angel's head. She winced and tried to ignore it, but Yami no Bakura was not to be ignored. You're helping him?! You're supposed to kill him! he should be dead already! Drop him Dark Angel! Kill him! KILL HIM! Yami seemed to be getting heavier and heavier as she climbed. Her muscles screamed and her entire body ached, but they were almost there! She desperately tried to ignore the evil spirit's orders but she was beginning to think. All Yami ever did was yell at her. He never seemed happy and she didn't think he liked her at all. What if Yami no Bakura was right? She could feel the body of the Game King beginning to slip from hr grasp. She glanced downward at the deadly blackness below. It waited patiently, menacingly for them to fall so that it could swallow them ands consume their souls. That's it. Drop him! He doesn't care about you! He hates you! Kill him! KILL HIM! Almost without realizing it, Yami slipped through her fingers and fell.
Yami screamed as he plunged hundreds of feet downwards. He flailed around desperately for something to grab, but there was nothing. He screamed desperately as the darkness swallowed him, pressing in on his body. Angel had long disappeared. He had slipped from her grasp what seemed forever ago. He felt himself beginning to panic as he plummeted through the darkness. He was going to die! No! He couldn't! there was so much he needed to do; so much he needed to say. And he'd never even fallen in love....*Angel....*
Angel seemed frozen in time, her eyes locked on the falling pharaoh. It seemed like it wasn't real, like what she was seeing was an illusion. She could almost hear Yami no Bakura shrieking with laughter. Her heart pounded and Yami's panicked face flashed before her eyes. Her breathing quickened and the suppressed, battling confusion in her heart began to grow with each beat. It was tearing at her, ripping at her soul and the only thing she seemed capable of seeing was Yamis terrified face. Suddenly, she pushed herself away from the cables, gave a powerful flap of her wings and shot straight downwards and a little desperation and she pushed herself to plummet faster, streaking towards a feeble hope.
Yami desperate snatched at the endless shadow. Grabbing for anything that would save him from the jaws of death. There was nothing. *No! I can't! I didn't survive three thousand years to die now!* his head screamed in panic. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Angel appeared! She stretched out her slim arms and grabbed him! Wrapping her arm around him and drawing him close to her body, she slapped her wings and snatched one of the cords. The piercing, painful sounds of Angel's wings scraping against the steel shaft and her hand getting ripped up by the cable cu the air as they still rapidly descended. Yami was in shock as he blankly stared at the quickly approaching top of the stalled elevator. She was saving him! But why? All he ever did was yell at her and hide her from the world that amused her so. He yelled and screamed and threatened to throw her back to the place she feared. Yet.....she was saving him....
Angel managed to stop herself right before they hit the elevator. Then, without even pausing, she touched down on the rood of the elevator and pushed off with incredible strength, firing them upwards. The wind from the force whipped back his tri-colored hair and he couldn't ignore the warmth that surged through him pressed against her chest. The floors roared by and the top floor drew nearer. Before he knew it, they were at the top and Angel snatched the cables.
"Yami hold!" she called to him. Yami reached out feebly and clung to the cables with the last of his strength. The demonic girl pushed herself away from him and landed just barely on the edge of the closed doors. Then with incredible strength, she slowly wrenched open the doors revealing the sun bathed hallway. A breeze swept into the shaft, feeling cool and refreshing. Yami's body began to shake with effort and he was barely able to draw breath. He was going to fall any second!
"A-Angel...." he choked out. Angel swung around and stared at the struggling pharaoh.
"Yami!" she whispered under her breath. Her next fete he didn't know how she possibly accomplished. She spun around, launched herself off the ledge, snatched one of the cords, grabbed him, twisted around and just barely landed on the edge of the door frame. Suddenly, Yami felt a force pulling him backwards! Angel had landed with her toes just barely on the ledge and she was loosing her balance! She flapped her wings desperately, painfully bashing them against the wall. Yami could do nothing wrapped in her arms and struggling would only make it worse. They were going to fall! Suddenly, Angel shoved him forward into the hallway and he fell to his knees, but he whipped around just in time to see her fall... *No! Angel!* his heart screamed. *No...I can't lose her....* The desperate man threw himself forward and shot his hand out to the darkness just barely grasping soft skin.....
The duel card dangled from Yami's hand, just barely saved from a fatal fall. For even she would not have been able to catch herself in that enclosed space. She could feel the Game King's entire body shaking. He did not have enough left to hold her. She clenched her teeth, reached up, and hauled herself into the open hallway.
Yami collapsed fully to the ground and Angel's knees buckled and she slumped to the floor. Both breathed hard and their bodies were covered in sweat. Yami lay sprawled on the hard carpeted floor, completely exhausted. He then slowly pushed himself up to a sitting position and looked over at Angel. She was slumped over, her long ebony curtain of hair shielded her face and her wings lay limp at her sides. So many questions swam in his mind. Why did she save him? Why did she risk her life to save his?
"Angel," he said. "Why? Why did you do it?!" There was no response even though he knew she had heard him. "Why did you save me when I'm so horrible to you?" but all the demonic girl did was shrug her slim soldiers, stand and walk off in the direction of his apartment. Yami stared after her in confusion, then he dropped his amethyst eyes to the floor and saw small puddles of crimson blood staining the floor in a trail of agony behind Angel. He snapped his tri-colored head up and saw that blood was trickling from the gashes where her wings protruded from her pale skin and it poured from her scraped and slashed wings. *Angel....*
* * * * * *
Yami awoke abruptly, his violet eyes flying open. Something wasn't right. A chill ran up his spine causing a shiver to surge through his body awakening him from his already troubled slumber. But his eyes only beheld pitch darkness. He blinked and sat up in bed searching for his window. Where was the moon? Where were the stars? He swiveled his head and found his window. but the night sky almost seemed a shining light. Yami stared, puzzled. Was it darker inside than out? He swung his legs over the bed touching his feet to the cool, soft carpet. He stood and carefully navigated through the pitch blackness, out the door and out to the apartment. A chill touched him again, sending goose bumps to cover hi bare chest. As he walked, it seemed that the whole apartment was covered in a shroud of shadow. When he stepped into the kitchen he heard the fizzing and crackling of the television. He sighed stepping silently down the stairs. Angel had fallen asleep with the TV on. She was now sprawled on the couch fast asleep. He picked up the remote and switched off the TV then turned his attention to the sleeping girl. His brow furrowed as he stared at her. Her eyes were squeezed shut and a troubled look adorned her face. Her brow was crinkled and her head jerked back and forth. Yami knelt beside the couch, his worried amethyst eyes locked on her face. One other small hands hung over the side. He glanced at it briefly but quickly did a double take. Her entire palm and the lower section of her fingers were entirely scraped off! he stared at it, flashing back to earlier that day. Angel snatched him out of the darkness, saving him from death, her wings scraping against steel and her flash getting burned off from the cords. An overwhelming feeling of guilt seized him and tears almost came to his eyes as he gently touched her delicate hand. *Oh Ra! Angel, I'm sorry!* he then reached over and tried to smooth the crinkles in her brow. but the hills of distress would not melt back into her pale skin. Suddenly, with a sharp gasp, Angel's eyes flew open. they started out black and quickly faded to bright green. She sat up so abruptly she fell off the couch right into Yami's arms! Yami stared at her in surprise and she gazed up into this face in confusion. The pharaoh blinked regaining his composure.
"Whoa, are you ok?" he asked, his voice sounding more normal than he expected. His heart pounded in his ears, he wouldn't be surprised it the whole world could hear it.
"Yami?" she just barely whispered. She knew that he didn't just happen to be there. He fumbled, not knowing what to say.
"Yeah....are you ok? You looked like you were having a nightmare." he asked trying to act natural. he wished she wouldn't stare at him so. Her large emeralds seemed to see straight through him and she made his stomach do flips. He gazed into her pale face, his heart burning. Then, he put his hand gently on her face, leaned down and softly kissed her. She was frozen for a moment, then, she gently kissed him back. A vibrant warmth shot through him, heating every corner of his body. He was glad he was already on the floor otherwise his knees would've surely buckled. Suddenly, something in his mind clicked. *What are you doing?! No! NO! You can't! She's a fucking card!* Then he pulled away abruptly. Angel opened her eyes and stared at him.
"N-no. I'm sorry, Angel. I-I can't. We can't." He then quickly stood and hurried away.
Yami flopped on his bed his mind reeling. What had he done? He had just kissed Angel! Part of him was screaming at himself for what he had done. Even if he did decide he loved the trouble-making girl, there was no way for them to be together. She was a Shadow Card. She was not real. *But she is real! And I...-* his heart protested. The other half of him was spinning, aching, longing for the girl in the other room.
Then, he felt a presence in the room and someone sat lightly on the bed. He rolled over onto his back and came face to face with Angel. he stared at her, frozen. She lay across his bare chest, her face inches from his. Her face was soft and companionate, her bright eyes seeming to glow.
"A-Angel...." she put her finder to his lips, silencing him.
"Yami can't," she whispered leaning closer, "but Yami want to..." She then leaned over and kissed him. Warmth filled him again relaxing his tense body. *No! I can't! But I-....*Then, he gave up. Giving into the warmth of her body and melting into her sweet kiss. He put one hand gently on her face and the other around her small waist, hugging her close to his chest.
*AN: Ohooo! Dramatic! ^.^ And so the romance begins. Finally. Yes, I know this chapter was really long, but I'm pretty sure it was worth all the while! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter! As I said before, I know there have been delays in my updating. So I would like to take this time to apologize to the "Harry Potter and the Forgotten Student" and "Secrets of the Sea" fans. Don't worry! I will update soon! Remember to R&R!!! ^-^