Shattered Realities
When Joey woke up, the sun was streaming into his bedroom window. He sat up and surveyed the mess on his floor. All the aches and pains that had been lost during his sleep suddenly came back to him, making him wimper out loud. Glancing up at his clock he saw it had gone half past seven. 'Crap! Im gonna be late for Zia and she'll think I forgot about her!' he thought, jumping out of bed. 'Why do I have this gift of being able to sleep like a rock. ' he wondered. Luckily for him (or rather unluckily) he didnt need to change as he hadnt the night before....he could thank his father for that. Not even taking time to glance in the mirror he shoved his feet into his well-worn takkies before he raced downstairs and out of the house. His bruised muscles aching in protest to the exercise they were getting so early in the morning, but he didnt want to be any later for her than he already was....anyway she might not forgive him for being this late in any case. Sometimes girls were strange.
Zia sat on the railing over the river staring at the dark water, shivering...it was still dull and overcast all around. It was proberbly going to rain later, and she'd been in such a hurry to get out of the house before Croquete or Kemo awoke, she'd just grabbed the first dress she laid hands on and left.
'His so late...his not going to come.' said her mind rationally.
' Shut up.' she growled back at it. ' I'll give him afew more minutes....he wont have stood me up...he couldnt have!' Suddenly she heard her name being called and looked up from the water to see Joey running towards her. Her heart skipped a beat as he drew nearer and she smiled slightly. He was so perfect, but she didnt deserve him. Not after the danger she put him in each and every day she spent with him.
' Dont lie,' whispered her mind. ' You love him.' she sighed softly, it was true. ' Whats not to like?' she thought back fiercely 'Joey is everything a girl could want. He's funny, cute, strong-willed, compassionate, determined, and eager to see things through to the end no matter what, even when the odds are stacked against him, he somehow always manages to pull through...'
Her thought train was derailed as the object of its affection appeared infront of her doubled over and panting. " Zia...." he gasped " Im...sorry....late....I...."
" Its okay." she said softly and leaned forward, rubbing his back as he was still bent double trying to get his wind back. " I knew you would come." she smiled slightly. ' He could die!!' muttered her concience. ' Shut up!' she hissed back mentally at it, angry it was spoiling the only time of happiness she had had in ages.
As he slowly straightened she looked at his face and gasped. " Joey! Your face!!!"
" What? Did I mess something on myself?" he asked grinning slightly even though it hurt. He knew what she was seeing and was cursing himself for a fool for forgetting it.
She reached over and gently traced her fingers over a bruise that decorated his right eye.
" Who did this to you?" she asked quietly, the breeze blew making them both shiver.
" Its nothin'...really it aint." he said starting to get embarrased by her attention. He wanted to move her hand away, but it felt so good." I got beat up by...by some guys on the way here. Its nothin'." he said lying slightly and wishing he never had to, he didnt want her to know the truth though.
" Oh Joey....Im so sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt."She snatched her hand back and turned away. ' See?!? You always put your own needs before others, and now his gotten hurt because of you.' ever present her concience droned on. Suddenly Joey spoke and the voice in her head grew silent.
" Im okay...really I am. You said you'd tell me whats going on, so spill. Whats happened to you? What did happen to you?" he said trying to change the subject, and it worked.
" Um..." Zia suddenly grew quiet and started to studiously study her shoes. She gave a small laugh and looked up at him " I dont know where to begin. Maybe I should start with : I cant ever see you again. " Her concience started a victory dance inside her head and she shoved it away angrily. She didnt want to do this but she had to.
Joeys jaw dropped. " Wha?" he asked finally, shock settling over him like a cold cloak.
She shivered in the breeze and he wrapped a warm, protective arm around her, his mind mulling over what she'd just said. " What do you mean you cant eva see me again?" he asked.
" Oh Joey..." she wrapped her arms around him and nestled into his shoulder. It was so nice to be comforted like this, to breath in his warm, familiar scent. She didnt ever want to let go.
Where Zia's head rested was right on the biggest bruise. The one from his dad's shoes and it hurt like hell when she was pressed up against it, but it was alright cos she was close to him, and that was all that mattered.
" You dont know how hard it was to say that..." she mumbled, her words becoming distorted by his thick green jacket. " But its true...You'll be in too much danger if this carries on." she said looking up at him. "And I care about you too much to let anything happen to you at all." She smiled sadly. " You want my tale? Well I'll tell it. Starting from the very beginning when we first met."
Yugi, Tristan, Tea and Bakura were all off to the shops.They'd stopped by Joey's place earlier and were met by his father who was also looking for (as he put it) " That good - for - nothing - lay - about - son - of - mine."
" I wonder where he could be?" asked Bakura thoughtfully.
" Who knows?" said Tristin, " His proberbly hanging out at the arcade or at the movies or something."
" His dad seemed pretty angry...do you think Joey's okay?" asked Tea. She was concerened. Joey hadnt been himself for ages, and he always seemed to be bruised. He said it was from street fights, but it didnt quite ring true. She was going to get to the bottem of this, and no one was going to stop her.
" Ahh, he'll be fine." said Tristan with confidence. Yugi frowned, he had the feeling that something was wrong, he just couldnt put his finger on it.
Yugi Yami asked
Yes Yami. answered Yugi eagerly.
I think that there is something wrong with Joey....when we meet him again, talk to him.
I will Yami...I know what you mean....his.. Yugi frowned slightly His been acting so different lately. I think its got something to do with his dad.
You and me both Aibou. You and me both
Yugi smiled in delight. His Yami called him Aibou...partner. The only thing better then that was when Yami called him Hikari.... He sighed with pleasure and Tea looked at him strangely. His cheeks coloured. 'They proberbly think Im crazy ' he thought wryly to himself, when he spotted a familiar figure in a green jacket standing by the bridge.
" Hey. isnt that Joey?!?" he asked, pointing in the direction of his friend, who had his arms wrapped around a girl.
Well? What do you think? Is it any good or am I just fooling myself. Im not quite sure what Zia's secret is but I'm hoping for some input in that area. peers round at potential reviewer. Hmmm, I wonder if my hint was too subtle!?!? walks off mutteringJoey: Dont forget she promised to include anyone who gives her a suggestion in her next update, so please give her some input cos she's driving us all crazy Yugi and the gang appear nodding their heads in agreement.
authoress suddenly appears out of nowhere
Me: Hey what are you all doing out? Yugi and gang disappear leaving Joey on his own
Joey: gulps. Bye. Joey runs off and is chased by authoress.
Me: Get back here!!!
Joey: I dont wanna play anymore runs faster and disappears
Me: Oh well.... walks off
Ja ne.
Lord of the Void: Input From Quote THE BEST BROTHER IN THE...starers hard at paper WHAT! NO I REFUSE! I WONT SAY IT!
Luke: Say it or else!
LotV: Why? I'm not even related to her!
Luke: Hmmmmm?
LotV: I...I Mean, er, Not biologicly, or anything. It's just that, Um...
Luke: Its quite all right.
LotV: It is?
Luke: Sure, I'll just put you in one of my FanFics or in my book in a "Compramising" position.
LotV: Go ahead! I am unafried!
Luke: Remember that Situationin that room with, what was her name, Suzan...
LotV: NO! Anything but that!
Quizarly: What happend?
LotV: N...N...Nothing! Nothing at all!
Luke: O, really? It didn't sound like nothing to me.
Yugi: We're going of the subject guys!
Luke: Right!
LotV: Sorry!
Quizarly: I STILL Want to know!
Luke: Quizarly.
Quizarly: Yes?
Luke: Shutup!
Quizarly: Well!
Luke: I'll Tell You Later.OK? Thinks: I need Psycological Help! THREE ME'S!
LotV: Oh BOY From the best GULP! brother in the world! CRINGE!
Luke: That wasnt so bad!
LotV: OH YEH?! SHE'S YOUR SISTER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, NOT MINE!
Luke: You are me, baka! Glad to see you stopped saying those words.
Quizarly: What words?
Luke: CLENSHING FISTS, STRANED VOICE All in good time, Quizarly!
Yugi: The input?
Luke: OH! Right!
LotV: EHEM! Here it goes! Unfold new piece of paper (Dont ask what happend to the old one!)
Zia is really Cecelia Pegasuses Daughter! Not Maxes Daughter, Cecelia's! How? When she was young, say, Eighteen, Ninteen, she was kidnaped in a trip to Wereeveridontcare, and was raped! Wene she was released Pegasus comforted her and promised to look after her Kid. Buuuut! PREGNANT PAUSE. NO PUN INTENDED
She (Baby girl, not Mrs P... baka!) was lost! OK, mabe lost sis the wrong word. Misplaced? Na! Dropped? Now your just being stupid! Well, you get the idea. How? You write, damnit! Im just giving ideas! OK, Heres one scenario: Kidnaper of Mrs P. kidnaped the baby to Cough, Cough "RAISE HIS SPAWN" Quizarlys idea, not mine!Lier! I saw you practasing that line over and over and over and...WE GET THE IDEA, QUIZ.! When Mrs P. Died, and Max got his Eye, Max dedicated his life to:
A) Bringing Mrs P. back-to-Life
B) Finding and rasing Mrs P.'s Kid, aka Zia
C) Geting a better hair cut!
You can take it from here!