Disclaimer: It's been two full stories, with over 50 chapters of the same disclaimer; do I really need to say it again? I DON'T OWN IT!
If you have the time, PLEASE REVIEW!
A/N: Yeah, this new editing system does not allow me to put the stars and the swirly lines whenever I have a POV change....So, unfortunately, I'll be using '---' instead...Boring, I know.... (unless..)...OH! And, I've figured out how to use bold and italics too! After I'm done my fics...I'm SO editing ALL of them so they all look the same.....stupid editing system.....first with my stars, now with my slashes...--
If you have any ideas for memories, please leave them in the review!
Chapter #25: First and Lasting Impressions
------In the Darkness--Yugi's POV-----
The memory of Atemu sealing the power of the Shadow Games finally finished and now, me and Téa were back in the dark.
"Yugi?"
"Yeah?" I answer. Her voice was the first thing that broke the silence.
"I don't know. Just wanted to hear someone speak." She admits. "It's too quiet when we walk together."
I nod. "There isn't much to say. We're in a place where anything can happen.....we're all separated....and we don't know where the exit is."
"Yeah...Oh Yugi...I wish we found everyone else!" Téa mutters sadly. "Then everyone would be together and we wouldn't have to worry!"
"Téa....I—" Before I could finish a light comes in front of us and blinds us temporarily. "Téa! TÉA!" I shout, unable to see her or grab onto her. Great. Another memory!
Huh? This is.......This is our cafeteria.....How did I end up at the back, sitting down...? I look down to see that I'm in uniform...and that I don't have my Puzzle! Looking back at the cafeteria table, I see a box. I remember that box! It's what holds the pieces of the Millennium Puzzle!
Oh no....If I'm this far back in time to where the Puzzle has not been made yet....That means that—
"Hey, Tristan...Look at the little dork sitting all alone with his music- box!" That voice is......Joey's....My eyes glance upwards at the familiar blonde teen in his school uniform.
This memory is when I had no friends.......
-----School Cafeteria—Joey's POV----
After talking to Kaiba, I walk into that stupid light and end up in school in the —my favourite place in the whole wide world—cafeteria!
I notice that Tristan and me are walking up to Yugi....where he is sitting alone...This must be before me and him became friends!
"Hey, Tristan...Look at the little dork sitting all alone with his music- box!" I hear myself say. I can't believe I just said that to Yug'! Oh man...I was such a jerk back then. I didn't even know the dude and I was makin' fun of him....
"It's not a music-box!" Yugi shouts at me, tiny fists clenched at his sides. Oh no...I know what's gonna happen next...
"Then what's in it?" Tristan asks.
"None of your business." Yugi stands to leave, taking the 'box' with him.....But I grab him and pull him back.
"Now now....lemme see what you got there little fella!" It's like I memorized this part! I grab his shoulder and pull him backwards. Next, I grab that box and hold it up to my face. "Huh. That looks like real gold." I mutter to Tristan, looking at the 'Millennium Symbol' at the top of the lid.
"Hm. Maybe we could chip it off or something!" Tristan suggests to me. I smile. "If the outside has gold, check the inside!"
"Right!" I open the lid and see ALL the pieces of the Millennium Puzzle not put together. "Dude!" I saw to Tristan and show him. "We could make a killing!"
"NO! Stop! That's not yours! Give it back!" Yugi shouts, trying to pry it from my hands. I easily lift it over my head away from his fingers. I notice tears in Yugi's eyes and decide to laugh.
"Come on Yug'! You can't be a little girl and cry about it! Face your problems like a man!"
"Keep away!" Tristan shouts as he grabs the box from my hands. We continue to pass it back and forth between ourselves—with Yugi trying to grab it from us—until....
"Hey you two! Back off!" It was Téa! I remember....she used to stick up for little Yug' when he was in trouble. "Pick on someone your own size you stupid jerks!"
"Shove off, Téa!" I spat at her. She steps on my toes and grabs the box away from me; but I managed to grab the piece of the Puzzle with the 'Millennium Symbol' on it and tuck it into my sleeve. "Go ahead and ruin our fun!"
"Shut up you good-for-nothing buffoons!" She shouts. She walks towards a distressed Yugi and hands him the box sweetly. By this time, Tristan is already walking away and I follow him. I don't know what she says to him then, since I'm only hearing what I heard when this happened.
Hey! If I'm in my body, maybe the others are too! Okay....How did this work with Elaya and Kaiba.....Oh yeah! Gotta talk through thoughts....Okay...I look at Tristan and shout as loud as I can [TRISTAN! ARE YOU THERE?! If you can hear me, talk to me through thoughts!]
I smirk when I hear in my head [What the fuck? Joey? Is that you?! How are we--?]
[Dude....we are in our bodies and we can communicate through thought as the memory plays out. Get it?] I ask.
[Okay....Well, at least I'm not alone.....And hey, can ya warn me first before ya do one of those shouts again? That really hurt!]
"Hmph. Stupid Téa....If it wasn't for her....." Tristan muttered.
"....I wouldn't of gotten a piece of that box!" I say, waving the piece of 'gold' in Tristan's face.
"Sweet!....So...Is it real gold?"
I look down at the Puzzle piece and frown. "Man, when I look closely, it looks fake! It's too shiny to be gold!" I grunt in frustration. "Damn. Leave it to Yugi to have a cheap substitute....What a waste...." My body turns towards the open window that faces the pool outside. With ease, I fling the tiny piece outside and smirk when it hits the pool. Inside I kinda feel bad that I did that.
"Ha! Joey! Can't wait to see that twerp's face when he realizes that a piece of his music box is missin'!" Tristan laughs and so do I.
[Hey, Joey. Don't feel bad man.....It all works out, remember?] Tristan says to me.
[Yeah. I know.....Hey; do you think Yugi and Téa are in their bodies too?]
[Wanna find out?]
From what I remember from the last time I used this 'thought-speaking' thing, if Téa and Yugi are here, they should hear us talking too! Maybe they're too freaked out by the scary voices in their heads to act!
[Joey, shut up! I am NOT scared of you!] Ah....Good old Téa...... [I didn't know how to work this thing!]
[Hey, Téa....It's Tristan....Is Yug' there too?] Whoa....Too many voices....Is this what a mental patient feels like?
[Yeah.....I'm here guys....] Yugi's voice says. [Well, I'm glad we're all together in the same memory now!]
[Just don't go off wandering, okay guys?!] I say. They all agreed. [Good.]
Suddenly, the scene changed. Now, both me and Tristan were on the ground, with cuts and bruises with the school's hall monitor—at the time—standing in front of us.
[Joey! What happened?!] Tristan shouts
[We've changed times! I think we've fast forwarded a bit...and hey! Warn me too if you're gonna scream like that!] I explain to him. Wait....Where's Téa?! And why can't I see properly? Oh yeah....I think my eye got busted in this fight....
"You two want some more?"
"NO! STOP! Don't hurt them! They're my friends!" A faint blur of blue with wild black hair comes into my blurry vision. That's Yugi!
"Huh?" The hall-monitor grunts. "I thought they used to bully you!"
"No! They're my friends!" Yugi spreads his arms out to protect me and Tristan. The hall-monitor begins to beat up Yugi too.......Something about him not paying him money.....When this shit went down, I was practically out of it, so I wasn't able to understand what was going on.....Kinda makes sense since I can't hear it now....
But I knew that Yugi protected me and Tristan.....And that's what made me realize that he's an okay guy. He's got guts and isn't afraid to stand up to people.....especially for his friends.
[Yugi....You're a real pal, you know that?] I tell him in thought.
[Joey, you are too. Don't you forget that.] Yugi whispers. I guess he doesn't like to watch himself get kicked around all that much.
I think my body kinda blanked out until Yugi's beating was over. Poor guy.... [Yugi...If me and Tristan never beat up on you, you wouldn't of gotten hurt!]
[Don't say that Joey! Don't you know what happens next?] Yugi cries in thought. [If you two never bullied me, I never would have become your friends!]
[Come on Joey! Even I know that!] Tristan mocks.
[It could of happened either way, Yug'.....I'm sorry man.....] I shake my head from side to side.
[Joey! Stop that!] Téa's voice sounds in. [This happened a long time ago! You and Yugi are friends now and that's all that matters!]
[Yeah....] I mutter.
[Sorry for calling you two 'buffoons' .....] Téa apologizes. [And jerks....]
[We all know it was because you liked Yugi....] Tristan jokes.
[Never mind. I take my apology back!]
Another black out.....Huh? Where am I--? Oh...Another time lapse. Am I underwater? What the--?! Hey! It's the piece of the Millennium Puzzle I threw down here! Grabbing it, I rush back towards the surface. "I gotta get this back to Yugi...."
-----In Yugi's Bedroom—Yugi's POV-----
I remember this too! After the whole fight scene at school, I'm back in my own bedroom after getting cleaned up from my 'fight'......It's raining outside and I was putting together the Puzzle and then I realize that—
"OH NO!" I shout. "I'm missing the last piece of the Puzzle!" It was the piece that had the Millennium Symbol on it that went right in the front. "Oh no! I was so close! Where is it?!"
After a frantic search in my bedroom, I race downstairs. "Grandpa! Have you seen a piece of that Puzzle lying around anywhere--?"
"—That looks like this?" My Grandpa holds the exact piece that I was looking for in front of my face.
"YES! Where did you find it?!" I jump up and down, thankful that the Puzzle will finally be completed.
"Well, a class mate of yours came back and asked me to give it to you.....He didn't leave a name.... He had no umbrella......Had blonde hair and was tall....."
[That was me Yugi...] Joey whispers in my head.
[I know Joey, I know....]
One thing came to another and the memory ended.....
"Yugi?" A voice asked in the darkness.
"Joey?" I ask. "Tristan? Téa? You guys here with us?"
"Yeah, we're here..." They both reply. After some hand wandering—and a couple of slaps from Téa--we managed to grab on to one another. "No one let go, okay?" Joey said. "Those two loonies can't take us all on!"
-----Outside the Orphanage—Elaya's POV-----
Oh...It's nice out today....Sun shining...Birds singing....I'm sitting down on that rickety old bench at the front of the entrance watching flower petals blow by.....So nice....Too bad it was a sad day today....
This was when I got adopted.
And left Seto and Mokuba behind.....never to see them again until grade twelve....
A car pulls up and parks right in front of me. That's Teresa's car before she traded it in for that black 'gino' Honda Civic. It was a simple cream- coloured Ford Taurus Sedan with tinted windows. She came out and walked into the front entrance. Better go follow her....
"Hi, I'm Teresa White. I've filled out your adoption forms and went through all of that paperwork and such and I'm here to pick her up." She greets and explains sweetly.
Hey! It's Doris! Man, she looks really young. Her hair has barely begun to gray! "OH! Ms. White! I recall your applications and interviews and such! Come, right this way! Young Ms. Elaya Roberts must be up in her room.....That girl....She can sure make you laugh....I'll miss having her around...."
Teresa smiled. "She'll have a good home with me."
"Oh! I'm certain of that!" Doris chuckled. I follow them up the stairs to my room. She unlocks the door to reveal a miniature me, folding clothes in a suitcase. "Elaya? Darling? Are you all ready to go?"
After a few minutes of staring at Teresa, I nod, but I don't say a word. I was full of attitude, wasn't I? But I could SO tell I was happy to be going to a new home....Grabbing my suitcase I lug it towards the door. "I'll miss you, Doris." I mumble quietly.
"I'll miss you too, Ms. Roberts!" Doris hugged me and introduced me to Teresa—future foster mom. After a few quick greets and a couple of smiles—from me too—we went downstairs.
We were at her car, the place where I started, when the younger version of me stopped. "Hold on! I need to say good bye to someone!"
As I was about to turn around to go back inside, my eyes locked on to the two people standing in front of the door. Seto and Mokuba!
"Hey guys." I whispered to them. They both nodded. Mokuba broke the silence by running up to me and hugging me.
"I'm gonna miss you!" He murmured into my chest.
"I'm gonna miss you too!" I replied, hugging back. Mokuba kept hanging on to me, but Seto did nothing. He was still mad about how he punched me and all...
"Seto?" I look up at him, but he wouldn't meet my eyes. I started walking towards him, and Mokuba instinctively let go, standing aside, watching.
Suddenly, I'm face to face with the miniature Kaiba. "Seto?" I repeat. "Will you miss me too?"
He looks up at me, blue eyes sad. "Yeah..." He whispered quickly.
I nod and lean closer towards his ear. "I'm gonna miss you the most Seto!" And then, I pecked him on the cheek.
Oh my God. Did I just see myself KISS Seto Kaiba? Whoa. That's what I call destiny! AW! Ohmygosh! Seto blushed! The all mighty 'I –hate-emotions' Seto Kaiba blushed! How cute!
"Goodbye Seto." I say, blushing too. I turn to Mokuba and repeat the same phrase. "I know we'll meet up again!"
I got into the car slowly and waved to them until Teresa drove out of the parking lot and onto the road.
And they both kept waving back.
----------
YES! Done! (take that Jemmie! Beat you! LOL!)
Hope you all enjoyed the lovey-dovey stuff....kind of a breather from all the death and blood from the previous memories... : )
Just a shout out to my fabulous reviewers: (I really have to do this more often)
Lady Elfskye (from the whole trilogy): OMG! I've been waiting for you! Honestly, when I first started this fic, I'm like, "Hey, where's Lady E?" Then I thought, "Ah well, she probably has more important things to do than to read MY story" AND NOW, I'm so happy that your reading my fics again! You were one of the first people to start reading and I'm glad that I've kept you interested! PS. You are very close to why Kaiba was a jerk!
Lady Kikyo (from TMS: III): Thank you so much! I hope to hear from you soon again!
Pirategurl (from the whole trilogy): Thanks for the support! It took you a while to finally open fanfiction.net, but I'm glad you're enjoying it! Make sure your eyes don't crust over!
Adge (from TMS): OMG! You are the best! You made me blush and I'm really happy that you've enjoyed the 'emotional-roller coaster ride' of TMS. Hope you enjoy the rest!
Jemmie (from the whole trilogy): Thanks! And yes, the bet is still on! I'll be finished this story by July! (that's right, I'm closing the deal early!)
Black-skull-dragon (from whole trilogy): I'm glad that you got hooked! And I am currently reading yours! Nice job!
Von Stupor, Sorceress Vanessa, RubyRedYamiGirl, Kiyamasho....and other people who have reviewed a couple of times (then never saw them again! : )): Thanks a lot for your reviews! I hope I hear from you again! Keep on reading!
Wow. That took a lot longer than I thought. Well, hope you enjoyed it! (hey, the title made SENSE this time!)
PLEASE REVIEW!
PS. I'm still not sure when or if I'm getting my Internet cut.