Disclaimer: Okay, since I don't wanna go though those court cases again: 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!
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Chapter #32: Lost and Found
------At the Airport—Reader's POV-----
Kaiba turned around, making his exit, content with his words. [I guess I had to do it like a band-aid.....Quick with only slight pain.]
"Kaiba! What's wrong with you?!" Yugi shouted after staying quiet. [I thought these two were getting along great! What's happening?!]
Elaya, looked on, a tear fell from her face. [How could he think that? How could he--? Oh God....He's leaving me alone......You stupid fuck!] Anger began to boil inside her. [That stupid fuck! How DARE he do this to me! That bastard! That stupid, stubborn bastard! He has no right to throw my feelings away!] As more offending thoughts came into Elaya's head, Joey raced up to Kaiba and stood in his path.
"Get out of the way, mutt." Kaiba stared down at the blonde. [Does he honestly think he can stop me?]
"Don't fuckin' call me that!" Joey shouted angrily.
"I can call you whatever I want. Get out of my way; you don't belong in her affairs...." Kaiba smirked at his little pun. "Unless you ARE involved....."
Joey's eyes narrowed further, pretending not to of heard what he said. "This DOES concern me because Elaya's my friend and I won't stand around and watch her get bad-mouthed by a fuck like you!" [Who does he think he is? Accusing her like that......If he saw that 'vision' back at the ritual, his eyes could have played tricks on him....or it could have been Yami Bakura or Marik screwing with him!]
"I can do what I please. Now step out my way or...." Kaiba paused, not wanting to attract any more attention....More people were staring.
"Got something to say, rich boy?" Joey sneered, challenging him. [No way is he leaving!]
Kaiba scoffed. "You'd need a dictionary and about a week to understand 50% of it...Mutt, get out of my way." Kaiba tried side-stepping Joey, but he mimicked his moves, not allowing him to move.
"Look here Kaiba....I don't know what you saw in there, but it could have been anything! It could have been a prank--!" Joey started to say.
"—I know what I saw!"
"No! You don't know anything unless you have real, hard-core proof!" Joey retorted, standing chest to chest with him. "Your eyes could of played tricks on ya!"
"Fuck off, Wheeler.....My eyes are perfectly capable of seeing things. Especially little tramps like your friend there." Kaiba growled, looking down on the blonde who was sizing him up.
"Big Brother!" Mokuba cried. [How could he say things about Elaya like that?!]
"Mokuba, shut-up!" He shot at his brother. Calming down, he looked back at his little brother, who looked like he was about to cry, he snarled, "Come on. We have to get going."
"But--!"
"--NOW!" Pushing Joey hard to the floor, he stormed out. Mokuba, looking back and forth from a furious Elaya with her friends and a very pissed off brother, slowly made his way to follow his brother. Very slowly.
"Kaiba!" Tristan shouted, helping Joey up from the floor. "You shouldn't point the finger and judge someone until you've judged yourself, you jackass!"
Joey nodded. "Gozaburo would be proud of ya, you jerk...."
The orange haired teen was now furious at Kaiba. [That arrogant--! He can believe what he wants! He's wrong! He can die an old, lonely man for all I care! I HOPE he dies lonely! I hope he can just drop dead!] Her rage was not soothed by Téa's comforting words of 'He's a jerk....Don't listen to him, he's wrong.....'
Without warning, Elaya shouted, "I HATE YOU SETO KAIBA!!" [He doesn't care about me anymore....Why should I care about him?!] She thought, growling. [To throw me away like that without any real proof.......I hate him!]
Kaiba stopped in mid-step, but didn't turn around to reply, "Likewise."
------Driving--Yugi's POV------
The ride from the airport to each of our homes was usually quiet. I mean, Elaya and Téa should have been talking a mile a minute about all the cool things they saw.....but neither of them were saying a word.
Not even Joey and Tristan were talking! They weren't even fighting! Tristan was looking out of the window and Joey was looking at his hands. Bakura had always been the quiet one, so I wasn't too surprised that HE wasn't talking. With all of us in the back rows of the shuttle-bus-thing, the only chatter was coming from my Grandpa and Hopkins.
The first person to get off was Bakura and he left without a word. Next was Tristan who waved from his front steps until we couldn't see him anymore. Téa left with a kiss from me and giving Elaya a tight hug.....She whispered something in her ear that I couldn't pick up but Elaya nodded afterwards.
Then, it was only me, Joey and Elaya....More silence. Joey coughed, clearing his throat. "E?"
"What?" She responded bitterly.
"Don't worry about Kaiba. He's a fuck. He didn't know what he was saying and I'm sure he didn't mean it." Joey said all in one breath, not looking up at either of us.
"Yeah. Whatever." Elaya just looked back at the window, not wanting to engage in that one conversation.
"Don't 'whatever' me!" Joey started to say, but stopped.
"Look, you don't say those kinda things without meaning them Joey, so just shut-up okay!?" Then, the van went silent again. "Just drop it."
"Elaya, come on—" I started to speak.
"—NO! Just drop it, okay? I—I don't wanna talk about it right now, alright?" She shouted the first part, but softened at the last. "Leave me alone..."
"If ya ever wanna talk about 'it'....we're here for ya, okay?" Joey put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Leaning in towards her ear, I heard him whisper, "And if ya want me to rough him up, don't be afraid to ask, alright-y?" He grinned. "I know some guys who owe me a favour and they're—"
"—Joey, stop. Don't worry about it. I'll get over 'it'.....He's just another guy. He's a stupid fuck, but he's just another guy." There was still anger in her voice, but she had cooled down.
"Elaya, it's your stop! Joey, you too!" My grandfather called from the front. Helping them with their luggage, both of them went inside their houses after saying goodbye.
God, I hope she'll be alright....
------Elaya's Apartment—Elaya's POV-----
I watched as Yugi drove away and as Joey walked into his apartment across the street. I sighed heavily. I feel like the loneliest person in the world right now.....You know what? Kaiba is just a stupid arrogant moron who doesn't believe in the 'two sides to every story' thing......God, I HATE him SO much!
With those thoughts in mind, I open and slam the door hard, jostling the hinges a bit. I just wish I could talk some sense into him! Doesn't he get it? That was Justi! SHE was the one who was romantic with Yugi's other side, Atemu! Not me! This is just so freakin' frustrating!
Growling, I throw my luggage into my room, deciding that I'll unpack when I don't feel like smashing something in a mirror and using the sharp pieces to kill someone. Storming into the kitchen, I bury my head in my hands. God.....Why the hell did this happen to me?! The one person who I've made a difference in their life throws me away like trash.
You know that feeling when you feel like you're gonna have a heart attack: it gets all racy and it really hurts? Well, I'm not sure if that IS what happens when you have one, but that what it feels like to me. It just really hurts right now. I feel like crying, but then I don't. I feel like wanting to break a mirror or a window, but then I stop. God, why does this have to be so hard? Kaiba's a jerk. You know that! Just forget about him already!
"E-BABY!" My mom screams from the doorway. "YOU'RE HOME!" She runs into the kitchen and hugs me until I can't breathe.....This is NOT making me feel any better.....
"Let go! I can't breathe!" I cry, prying myself from her. She smiles at me, not seeing my 'obvious pain' as Téa called it.
"Tell me everything that happened!" My mom smiles even more, practically jumping up and down.
"Not right now, I'm not up to it...." I grumble, walking past her. I just didn't feel like talking....about anything.
That's when she caught on. "Elaya, honey, what's wrong?"
Oh no.....God, I DON'T wanna have one of these talks.... "Nothing. I'm just tired." Putting on a fake smile, I add, "Being on a plane for about ten hours will cause one to do that." I put on a fake laugh and try to go into my room so I curse 'he-who-no-longer-has-a-name' in private.
But she grabs my arm. "No, tell me."
Don't you get it?! I don't want to talk about anything! I shake her hand off—a bit too roughly. "No."
"What is this attitude?!" She asks a bit angry.
She's pissed off at me?! "When I say I'm tired and don't wanna talk about it, DON'T ask questions!" Suddenly, all that rage towards Kaiba was boiling towards my mom.
"Regardless, you don't give me that kind of lip!"
Throwing my hands into the air, I sigh angrily. Why the HELL can't anyone leave me alone?! When I say I want to be alone, why doesn't anyone GET that?! GOD! I stomp my feet down the narrow corridor to my room, while my mom is still jabbering about something.
"—LOOK!" I shoot cutting her off. "I'm REALLY pissed off right now!"
"Then tell me why! I want to know!"
"Well, I don't want to tell you!" I shout back at her. In fact, I don't want to tell anyone right now. Can't I be left alone?!
My mom walks right up to me and stares me in the eye. "Elaya. I have every right as a mother to know what is wrong with my daught—"
I can't take this anymore. "—You are NOT my mother! Stop acting like one! Just leave me alone!" I push past her, and head for the door, not thinking twice about what I just said. I grab my black trench-coat and open it. "I'm going for a walk."
"Elaya White, get back here! Don't talk to me like that! If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have a stable life!" Teresa shouts at me, walking up to me.
I turn around swiftly. "My name is Elaya Roberts." I slam the door and run as fast as my legs will carry me. I think I'll be left alone now....Yeah....finally.....Some peace and quiet....
I hear the door get reopened with Teresa shouting something like, "Stop! Get back here!" But I don't. I have a lot on my mind right now so please just leave me alone!
------Kaiba Mansion—Seto's POV-----
It's been an hour since me and Mokuba got back from the airport and he hasn't talked to me since. Oh well. Once he realizes that I'm better off without 'her' he'll come around....
Hmph. I guess I could use this time for work. I don't get much peace and quiet.....Throwing my luggage on the bed, I open my laptop and start adding in the codes for the creation of my newest project. I notice a picture frame on my desk of the two of us......I don't throw it away. Now, that project, it's a total 3-D simulator—you wear this special gear that allows you to move your arms and body in the different simulations. Right now, I'm working on the 'Level Three' area. Whoever is playing this enhanced virtual reality game is currently walking towards the castle where they'll have to meet with the knights. They'll have to fight them and—
What's wrong with my computer screen?! All the colours are swirling around! Now it's black.....Everything is black....God, where am I?!
"Kaiba, you are a fool to believe in what your mind tells you!" An angry voice shouts at me.
"You should have never raced to conclusions." Another voice—a bit softer in the anger department—calls out. Turning my head from side to side, I still can't see the people where the voices are coming from!
"Over here." The first voice says. It's them! It's Yugi and E....Elaya? Why are they dressed like that for? What is with all the jewellery? They look....different....
"Who the hell are you?!" I glare. Something in the back of my mind tells me these two aren't who I say they are.
"I'm surprised you haven't called me Yugi yet, Kaiba." The one who looks like Yugi replies calmly. Wait! I know him! He's the one that I'm usually duelling! Except he NEVER wore these kind of clothes....
"Or I Elaya." The female says. Huh. Her hair is a lot longer and she's a bit shorter than Elaya.....
"Then why don't you TELL me what you're names are?!" I shout at them.
"I am Atemu, and this is my wife, Justika." Atemu says, pointing to himself and her when their respective names were called.
"Good to hear. Now what?" I ask bored.
"Kaiba. You need to understand. What you saw was not Elaya and Yugi, it was Atemu and I. Look closely." Justika whispers, explaining. Turning my head, I see that scene again. Elaya and Yugi were on the bed, kissing one another and....
Look closely Kaiba.
.....Wait. Elaya never tans....she burns easily.....How could she have dark skin at the time? And when did Yugi get tanned as well? Or so tall? This isn't making sense! What's going on?! It HAS to be Elaya and Yugi! ......But......It's—They don't—! The image finally pauses and I'm left with 'Atemu' and 'Justika' standing in front of me.
"Notice any similarities?" Justika asks sadly. That's her! It was her! I step back, eyes wide.
"Where did you come from?!" I ask sharply.
"You never believed Elaya when she told you, why should I tell you again?" Justika barks at me. Sighing, she explains. "In each of the Millennium Items are either a spirit and/or a power. In the Scales, I was there. In the Puzzle, Atemu was there. Reincarnation occurred and that is why Elaya and Yugi look so much like us. Please tell me you understand now!"
"Elaya had no part in this Kaiba! She is innocent!" Atemu shouts. "Love does not follow a set path Kaiba. Although we say that history will repeat itself with destiny and faith, love is the exception to that rule."
She's—She's innocent? Remembering what I said to her hits me like a wall of bricks. Oh God.
Justika smiles. "He understands.....I just hope it isn't too late...."
I feel like I'm falling.....falling....and there is a ringing in my ears. Opening my eyes, I realize that I'm back in my office, and that the phone is ringing. I pick it up quickly, not knowing how long it's been ringing. "Hello?!"
"Hello, Mr. Kaiba. This is Teresa White. I was wondering if Elaya is with you right now. And God-dammit if she's telling you to say she's not there—"
"She's not here." I cut her off.
Teresa paused for a moment. "Truthfully?"
"Yes. Lying is not something I do. Why do you ask, anyway?"
"She left for a walk and she hasn't come back yet.....It's raining and I'm not sure where she is.....I'm calling all of her friends and her possible hide-outs...." Her voice trailed.
"I see." Oh shit.....Where is she? Numerous headlines about people getting killed on the spot for walking down the street or in a park flashed in my mind. "Excuse me, I have to go." Throwing the phone back on the hook, I grabbed my purple trench coat and headed out the door.
My God, what have I done?
------Walking—Elaya's POV------
Just my luck. It's raining.....Perfect.....Why must everything go wrong?! I just lost a part of my soul.....I lost Teresa and I lost him....Why the hell am I crying?! No one is dead! This isn't a funeral! I rub my eyes with the back of my sleeve as I trudge forward. I can't go home.....Teresa's gonna have my head.....I can't go back there, everyone is gonna be asking me questions but I don't wanna talk! I pick up my pace and take the road on the right. I'm kinda glad that it's raining.....It covers up my tears. My tears of loss. Crap, why do I feel like I do?!
The rain pours down harder now.....I begin to cover up my head with my jacket, but then I stop. Why do I care if I get wet? Why would anyone? I'm just the loser orphan who can't hold on to anything that is important to her....Not even my goldfish! I'm just the stupid orange-haired freak who has a bad temper and who can't admit when she's wrong. Why did this have to happen to me?!
I walk up the slow incline of a hill. I pause when the small incline stops to find out where I am. I'm on the bridge. THE bridge. I walk towards the pillars that stick out from the platform and slide down it until I reach the bottom. This was THE bridge where we first kissed. I remember that warmth....I remember how I blushed like mad afterwards....I remember what a moron I felt like wearing his jacket.
When I remembered that kiss, my chest started to hurt again, causing me to cry even more. God, why does it hurt?! Why does my heart hurt every time I think about him?! I hate him! He's a stupid jerk! Kaiba doesn't have any feelings for me anymore!
But why does it hurt when I know I'll never get to touch him or see him or kiss him again?
I want to be with him, but I can't be! So why can't my stupid heart see that?! He doesn't want to see ME anymore......but I still want to see him. God, why am I like this?! I look up at the falling rain when an answer comes into my head.
Love.
I love him.
There's something about him that I can't live without. I love him. That's why my heart hurts: because it misses those touches....those kisses....it already misses him.
I love Seto Kaiba. But I told him that I hated him.
And he hates me.
I bury my face into my bent knees and cry harder.
-------In the Car—Seto's POV-----
Flipping the switch to turn on the wind-shield wipers, I look through them closely to find her. I HAVE to find her! I have to tell her I'm sorry.....I don't care if she doesn't want to be with me anymore, I just need to tell her I'm sorry! God, my mistake could leave her dead in some alleyway because some gang didn't want some girl walking on their 'territory.'
Lightning hits the sky and for a moment, the radio flickers off. When it comes back on, however, the volume sky-rockets to the highest possible volume, making me jump a little from the new sound. A song is playing now...
-------
Another day is going by
I'm thinking about you all the time
But you're out there
And I'm here waiting
-------
Forgetting to turn the volume down to a more reasonable listening level, I continue to watch out for anyone who is walking in this weather. Please, Elaya, be out there! I'm sorry for what I accused you of! I'm sorry for all those hurtful names! I need to tell you that!
------
And I wrote this letter in my head
Cuz so many things were left unsaid
But now you're gone
And I can't think straight
------
I press down the gas pedal harder, speeding through the rain. I have to find her! Oh God....I can't believe I said that to her! I should have known better! Elaya isn't that type. Why did I believe that she could be?! Why did I make her go?!
-------
This could be the one last chance
To make you understand
I'd do anything
Just to hold you in my arms
To try to make you laugh
Cuz somehow I can't put you in the past
I'd do anything
Just to fall asleep with you
Will you remember me?
Cuz I know
I won't forget you
---------
Elaya, please forgive me! I hold on to the steering wheel harder, making my knuckles turn white. My heart pounds loudly in my chest, almost to a point of scaring me. How could I do this to her? I'll do anything to find her, just please, God, let me find her!
Making a quick right onto a road that seems familiar, I slow down my car, and open the window to look out of. I don't care if I get my upholstery wet, that's the FAREST thing on my mind right now. Every so often, I would switch windows and look on the other side of the road.
This is a bridge. I know this bridge.....this is where we first.....A new wave of emotions hit me as I remember it. My heart continues to beat hard. I don't want to lose her! Please let her be around here somewhere!
-------
I'd do anything
Just to hold you in my arms
To try to make you laugh
Cuz somehow I can't put you in the past
I'd do anything
Just to fall asleep with you
Will you remember me?
Cuz I know
I won't forget you
---------
Something strikes me suddenly. I still care about Elaya. Sure yeah, I was angry before, so I probably couldn't see that.....but I still care for her. That's why, even after our exchange of words, I went looking for her.....I could of just said, 'She hates me now, so there would be no point in looking for her'.....but I want her forgiveness.....I need her forgiveness.
Something else strikes me hard. I need her.
And that's when I see Elaya. I almost missed her. She was curled up in a tight ball against a pillar. I slowly stop the car. I open the door and I leave it open.
--------
I close my eyes
And all I see is you
I close my eyes
I try to sleep
I can't forget you
--------
I walk towards her until I'm standing in front of her. She still doesn't know I'm here. "Elaya?"
Looking up, she recognizes me but her face is emotionless. "Get away from me."
Instead, I pull her arm, raising her to her feet, bringing her into my body. Releasing my grip on her arm, I use both of my arms to wrap around her in a tight hug. She's fighting me. I can feel it.....She's trying to push away.
"No! Kaiba....Please...Let go...." Her struggled pleas are barely heard over the wind and rain. Regardless, I hold her tighter. Elaya's voice cracks as she starts to sob and fight back harder. "LET GO!" After she yelled this part, she begins to shake and cry louder.
I lean in close to her ear. "God, I'm so sorry." She stops moving. "I never meant to say those things. I was wrong." Her body weakens as she pulls both of us to our knees; I'm still hanging on to her. I notice then that my own body was shaking too. "I thought I saw you, but it wasn't......I realized that afterwards when I wasn't so mad. Please, forgive me. I'm so sorry...." I felt a tear leave my eye; good thing it was raining. I tighten my hold.
Elaya looks up at me, removing her face from my body. She sniffs. "Do you mean—mean that?" Her voice was monotone and her eyes were stone.
"You don't understand how much I do." I reply. "I shouldn't have said those things to you. I'm so sorry. I care about you very much Elaya. Please, I'm so sorry."
------
I'd do anything
Just to hold you in my arms
To try to make you laugh
Cuz somehow I can't put you in the past
I'd do anything
Just to fall asleep with you
Will you remember me?
Cuz I know
I won't forget you
-------
She looked at me for the longest time, before wiping that tear off my face with a tentative kiss. I don't know how she knew, but she did. Elaya continued to rest her head against my chest; her breathing was going back to normal now. "Please, Elaya? I never want lose you again.....I'm sorry for what I did, but I did it and there is no changing that. I don't know what else I can say without repeating myself......I'm sorry! I'm sorry for the pain. I'm sorry for the hurt! I'm—I'm sorry for everything that I did."
"Your apologies help little. You broke my heart, Seto....." Elaya whispers, crushing my own. "Just.....Just give me time."
"O—Okay. I have time." I nod. "I have lots of it." A weak smile leaves my lips as I remember that that is what she said when we first danced......We continue to kneel in rain until she whispers again, "Take me home Seto. Take me home."
-------
I'd do anything
To fall asleep with you
I'd do anything
There's nothing I won't do
I'd do anything
To fall asleep with you
I'd do anything
Cuz I know
I won't forget you ©
-------
© Simple Plan. "I'd do Anything."
So, did you like it? Leave comments! Fast? Slow? Corny? Soap-opera-ish?
SORRY for the long update.....I had some eye problem where they would hurt so I wasn't allowed on the comp for too long each day......That caused a MAJOR slowdown in writing....BUT, I got it done. Was this chappie enjoyable to read?
ONE MORE CHAPPIE LEFT! See ya on the other side!
PLEASE REIVEW!