The Fabric of his Face
A moan leaked from the lips of the bloody body Joey carried. Joey had no idea just how dangerous his position had become. He was slow, tired and weak from holding the spirit. With every step Yami lost more blood. And with every passing moment the pharaoh became harder to carry. However, Joey was never the type to give in to a difficult situation. He had faith in his friends...and the once pharaoh of Egypt, King Yami, was certainly a friend by now.
"Shhh Yami. Be still, your badly hurt," Joey said. The sound of his voice inspired him to quicken his pace. "He's alive."
"He's breathing so hard," Tea thought to herself. Every now and again she winced back at Joey who was about an arms length behind her and he would, in response to her glance, lay a hand gently on her back to push her forward.
"Keep going Tea. Don't you dare worry about me. This...guy's gettin' heavier but we're almost...there," Joey panted. His strength was there for Tea's sake, who was grappling with carrying little Yugi.
Tea tried her hardest not to glance down at Yugi, but it was difficult. He had never been so close to her and this proximity, though necessary, was causing her distress. His gentle skin was so full of pain that with every step his face contorted in angst. She pulled him closer and wished with all her might that her arms might offer him some pleasure or comfort.
"I'm here Yugi. You're gonna be okay." she whispered.
She had to constrain herself from laying a hand gently on his forehead for such an act could further rip the fabric of his face. A tear fell. Tea marched on and held Yugi tight so that her body would more readily absorb the shock of the rocky path. It was up to Joey now. Joey was the only thing holding her together at this point. She walked on, step-by-step, and when she slowed, Joey would push her. She had no doubt that with Joey by her side, they would be okay. She knew he was strong and passionate about saving Yugi, but... the sight of a friend's face covered in blood and dirt makes the future bleak.
Each moment was harder... and heavier... and hotter. The sun belted down with no end... like a dream. The trees offered no shade and the forest floor liquefied beneath their feet. The forest melted into a vast ocean of thick green jelly in which Joey and Tea trudged. They held the two bodies high above the surf but the blood drops Yami left behind left them wide open to predators. It was like trying to run underwater...like trying to swim to the surface with 60lbs of weight on each leg...like drowning in humidity. Tea's legs were beginning no buckle. Joey's shirt was soaked in precious fluids.
He collapsed.
His face was now as unrecognizable as Yugi's. His wet face left him a magnet for the forest debris and small insects were clinging to his brow for the prospect of water. Joey was on his knees, consumed by the color green, and hoped that Tea would save him. But she didn't come. She was nowhere. As far a Joey was concerned, this might be a dream and he needed Tea to wake him up. It's over...he thought.
"Tea!" he shouted.
Just as she turned her head hoping to meet his gaze an arms length behind her, his face was buried in the musk 20 feet back.
"Joey!" she screamed. Tea's heart crushed. There was no way she could be strong for Yugi, Yami Yugi, and Joey. She ran to him, burning the rest of her energy and falling to her knees next to him. "Joey, please," she said with tears streaming down her cheeks "please don't give up Joey. We've got to make it to this cabin...You said there was a cabin near by. I need you there to push me Joey!!"
Joey looked up at her face. "Poor Tea. Why does she go through all of this for them...for me?" he thought. Tea's tears carved through the grime on her face and left perfect paths from her chin to her beautiful eyes.
"Tea, don't you know me by now?" he said with a laugh.
Tea's heart rejoiced at the sound of Joey's voice.
"Joey Wheeler never gives up. I thought you knew that by now. I'll always be around Tea...if you happen to need a boost." he confidently replied, pointing at himself.
Her eyes sparkled with joy. Cocky and confident Joey renewed hope somehow...even in a forest of misery.
"Joey, do you need help getting up?" Tea said, offering what she could since Yugi was still in her arms.
"What? Why would I want help gettin' up when were already here?" Joey declared.
"Huh?" Tea's face twisted in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Look." He pointed.
Through all the sweat, mud, and green crap all over the place, Joey had noticed a small hut tucked away about 20 feet into the thick trees. It looked abandoned...the wood it was constructed with had long decayed into green moss-covered planks.
"That's...not a cabin...it's a hut." Tea said disapprovingly.
"Cabin, hut...whatever. It's the answer to my prayers...let's go," Joey asserted as he climbed to his feet carrying Yami Yugi on his back.
Tea couldn't argue. She was about ready to collapse long before Joey did. And who know what's inside Tea thought. She followed Joey into safety.
"You're gonna be okay, Yugi," she said again...this time a bit more convincingly.
A moan leaked from the lips of the bloody body Joey carried. Joey had no idea just how dangerous his position had become. He was slow, tired and weak from holding the spirit. With every step Yami lost more blood. And with every passing moment the pharaoh became harder to carry. However, Joey was never the type to give in to a difficult situation. He had faith in his friends...and the once pharaoh of Egypt, King Yami, was certainly a friend by now.
"Shhh Yami. Be still, your badly hurt," Joey said. The sound of his voice inspired him to quicken his pace. "He's alive."
"He's breathing so hard," Tea thought to herself. Every now and again she winced back at Joey who was about an arms length behind her and he would, in response to her glance, lay a hand gently on her back to push her forward.
"Keep going Tea. Don't you dare worry about me. This...guy's gettin' heavier but we're almost...there," Joey panted. His strength was there for Tea's sake, who was grappling with carrying little Yugi.
Tea tried her hardest not to glance down at Yugi, but it was difficult. He had never been so close to her and this proximity, though necessary, was causing her distress. His gentle skin was so full of pain that with every step his face contorted in angst. She pulled him closer and wished with all her might that her arms might offer him some pleasure or comfort.
"I'm here Yugi. You're gonna be okay." she whispered.
She had to constrain herself from laying a hand gently on his forehead for such an act could further rip the fabric of his face. A tear fell. Tea marched on and held Yugi tight so that her body would more readily absorb the shock of the rocky path. It was up to Joey now. Joey was the only thing holding her together at this point. She walked on, step-by-step, and when she slowed, Joey would push her. She had no doubt that with Joey by her side, they would be okay. She knew he was strong and passionate about saving Yugi, but... the sight of a friend's face covered in blood and dirt makes the future bleak.
Each moment was harder... and heavier... and hotter. The sun belted down with no end... like a dream. The trees offered no shade and the forest floor liquefied beneath their feet. The forest melted into a vast ocean of thick green jelly in which Joey and Tea trudged. They held the two bodies high above the surf but the blood drops Yami left behind left them wide open to predators. It was like trying to run underwater...like trying to swim to the surface with 60lbs of weight on each leg...like drowning in humidity. Tea's legs were beginning no buckle. Joey's shirt was soaked in precious fluids.
He collapsed.
His face was now as unrecognizable as Yugi's. His wet face left him a magnet for the forest debris and small insects were clinging to his brow for the prospect of water. Joey was on his knees, consumed by the color green, and hoped that Tea would save him. But she didn't come. She was nowhere. As far a Joey was concerned, this might be a dream and he needed Tea to wake him up. It's over...he thought.
"Tea!" he shouted.
Just as she turned her head hoping to meet his gaze an arms length behind her, his face was buried in the musk 20 feet back.
"Joey!" she screamed. Tea's heart crushed. There was no way she could be strong for Yugi, Yami Yugi, and Joey. She ran to him, burning the rest of her energy and falling to her knees next to him. "Joey, please," she said with tears streaming down her cheeks "please don't give up Joey. We've got to make it to this cabin...You said there was a cabin near by. I need you there to push me Joey!!"
Joey looked up at her face. "Poor Tea. Why does she go through all of this for them...for me?" he thought. Tea's tears carved through the grime on her face and left perfect paths from her chin to her beautiful eyes.
"Tea, don't you know me by now?" he said with a laugh.
Tea's heart rejoiced at the sound of Joey's voice.
"Joey Wheeler never gives up. I thought you knew that by now. I'll always be around Tea...if you happen to need a boost." he confidently replied, pointing at himself.
Her eyes sparkled with joy. Cocky and confident Joey renewed hope somehow...even in a forest of misery.
"Joey, do you need help getting up?" Tea said, offering what she could since Yugi was still in her arms.
"What? Why would I want help gettin' up when were already here?" Joey declared.
"Huh?" Tea's face twisted in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Look." He pointed.
Through all the sweat, mud, and green crap all over the place, Joey had noticed a small hut tucked away about 20 feet into the thick trees. It looked abandoned...the wood it was constructed with had long decayed into green moss-covered planks.
"That's...not a cabin...it's a hut." Tea said disapprovingly.
"Cabin, hut...whatever. It's the answer to my prayers...let's go," Joey asserted as he climbed to his feet carrying Yami Yugi on his back.
Tea couldn't argue. She was about ready to collapse long before Joey did. And who know what's inside Tea thought. She followed Joey into safety.
"You're gonna be okay, Yugi," she said again...this time a bit more convincingly.