Author's note: Hi, everyone! I'm finally updating! And thanks so much for the reviews! And I even got a mixed review! Thanks for saying I'm talented, and what's worse is that at my age I'm watching Japanese anime. ^^;;; But I love it, what can I say? I'm sorry if you think I'm an obsessed fangirl, but that's your opinion. ^_~
Valon: *looks around nervously* Is it okay to come in now?
Shelly: Hi, Valon! Long time no see! Are you here to do my disclaimers?
Valon: If that's all right with you?
Shelly: Of course! You're so sweet!
Valon: Shelly doesn't own YGO, just her own characters. And she doesn't own me, either.
Shelly: Yeah, you're Schala's wonderful character.
Valon: *blushes*
Shelly: Um, Valon? Who's keeping watch on Mau if you're here?
Valon: O_O *disappears in a cloud of smoke*
Shelly: Bakura's always after his sister in case no one knows. Anyway, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
The Heart of Eternity by Shelly
CHAPTER TEN
She slept peacefully that night without dreaming, waking the next morning refreshed and ready for another day at school. As much as she hated the deaths of her foster parents, she couldn't help but think that her life was better without them. She felt she had suffered enough at their hands and was now ready to face life on her own terms, and that knowledge put an energy into her steps that wasn't there before. Her smiles came more easily, and before long she had most of the workers at the Kaiba mansion charmed.
Even riding to school with Kaiba himself failed to dampen her spirits, and some of it rubbed off onto him as he seemed a little more pleasant to be around. She was a little more attentive in her classes than she normally was, and a few of her classmates even expressed their condolences over what happened. She thanked them for their kind words and even made a few tentative friendships with some.
Lunch soon arrived, and she quickly sought out Yugi and his friends, finding them outside as usual talking amongst themselves. She snuck up on Joey, quieting those who saw her. "Hiya, Joey!" she cried, leaping onto his back playfully.
"What da--?!" he managed to get out before both of them collapsed to the ground, Shari laughing at the top of her lungs and Joey groaning in a disheveled heap of clothing.
"Are you okay?" she asked him, still trying to control her laughter.
Joey wasn't sure what had come over her all of a sudden, but he had to admit it was nice to see her happy and smiling. Wait a minute--wasn't she living with Kaiba? "Yea, I'm fine," he replied. "Ya seem ta be in a good mood today."
"Is there any reason why I shouldn't be?" she said, eying him strangely.
He smiled to cover up his embarrassment. "Na, I guess not."
She turned her gaze to Yugi, who was observing her with a happy light in his eyes. "I do have a problem I wish you would help me out with, Yugi. I don't know who else to turn to, except for you and Yami."
"I'd be happy to help you, Shari," he replied. "Why don't you come to my grandpa's after school? You think that Kaiba would mind?"
She waved her hand at him. "Oh, don't worry about him. I don't think he'll mind, but even if he did he can't say anything about it."
Yugi glanced at Joey, a silent reminder of their conversation earlier when he told his blond friend that she would change. "Great! Then we'll meet here."
She jumped to her feet then. "Thanks, Yugi! Now I've got to go find Kaiba. See ya!"
Yugi and Joey watched as she left, both of them glad that she was pulling through just fine, even though they both were a little surprised at her sudden change in personality.
She searched all over for Kaiba and finally found him sitting alone at his usual table reading the paper. Sitting down opposite of him, she waited patiently for him to acknowledge her presence, knowing that he knew she was there. When he didn't say anything, she reached out and thumped the paper with her finger, jarring one edge of it from his grip. He flashed an annoyed glance at her, picking it up and continuing to read it. She did it again, and this time he grabbed a hold of her wrist, holding it firmly but not enough to hurt.
"Do that again, Shari--" he began.
"Or you'll what?" she challenged, looking him straight in the eye without flinching. There were more than a few students nearby that stopped and looked with wide eyes, knowing that no one disturbed Kaiba at all like she did, much less talk back to him.
Instead of being angry like everyone thought he'd be, he merely smiled and loosened his hold on her, but didn't let go. He let his fingers drift lightly along her skin, and he was pleased to see her reaction. Her green eyes became shadowed by her dark lashes, and he could tell her breathing had become uneven. It was a wonder even to him that he knew to control her like this, and it was a little scary at the same time.
All of a sudden he released his hold on her. "I'll deal with you later," he said evenly as he picked up the paper again.
She hated thinking it, but she hadn't wanted him to let her go so soon. "Kaiba, I'm going to Yugi's after school," she told him.
"And why is that?" he asked behind the paper.
"He promised to help me with something," she replied.
He lowered it a fraction of an inch, just enough for her to see his raised eyebrow. "Oh really?" he said, her reply for some reason rubbing him the wrong way.
She smiled at having gotten him back. "Oh, don't be jealous, Kaiba," she crooned.
His eyes narrowed, signaling that she was treading on dangerous ground. "You're asking for it," he growled.
Knowing better than to push her luck, she eased up out of her chair. "See ya tonight!" she called out as she left.
He watched until she disappeared from his sight before going back to his reading, thinking that she was going to be the death of him yet.
True to her word, she met Yugi after school and invited Joey to come along as well, both of them walking her to the Game Shop where Yugi lived with his grandfather. Walking inside, she was amazed at the selection of cards that were sold and waited downstairs while Yugi went and found him. She couldn't help but laugh at Joey, who was acting like a little kid in a candy store, oohing and ahhing over this card or that one.
"Shari, this is my grandpa," Yugi said as he returned, and she looked to see an older gentleman walking behind him with dark gray hair fashioned much like his grandson's.
Her eyes lit up, and she came closer to him. "Yes, I remember you, Mr. Mutou! How have you been?"
He was a little surprised at first, but as he got a closer look at her he responded in kind. "Shari, is that you? Why, it's been a long time since I last saw you! You were just a child then! I was saddened to hear of your parent's deaths," he added solemnly.
She figured that Yugi must've told him and didn't mind. "Thank you, Mr. Mutou."
"Please, call me Gramps like everyone else does!" he laughed. "Mr. Mutou makes me sound old, don't you think?" he asked, earning a good laugh from everyone.
"How about we get started on homework?" Yugi asked after he stopped laughing.
She took the unspoken hint. "Yeah, we better," she agreed. "We've got a lot to do! Nice seeing you again, Gramps!" she said as she followed Yugi and Joey upstairs to his room. Once there, she sighed as she rid herself of her heavy bookbag. "Man, is that a load off my shoulders!" she exclaimed as she stretched.
"Ya got dat right!" Joey seconded as he did the same.
"So, what was this problem you needed help with, Shari?" Yugi asked, coming straight to the point as he sat at the head of the bed, his back propped against the wall.
Joey sat on the edge against the wall, leaving her the end opposite Yugi. "Lately I've been having these dreams, and I think they're coming from my Millennium Item," she said, thinking it strange to refer to her necklace as one of the legendary powerful Items of the Pharaoh.
"That's quite possible, judging from what happened the other day when you were in the hospital," he replied.
She was momentarily confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Yugi smiled. "Perhaps it's best if you let someone else explain," he said, looking down at his Millennium Puzzle. "How about it, Yami?"
She watched as the Puzzle glowed, her eyes growing wide as she saw him appear beside Yugi, standing beside the bed with a calm expression on his face. Her dream from yesterday came back to haunt her, and she picked up her own Item to look at it curiously. If what she saw was correct, her Item was in actuality a gift from the spirit standing before her. But who was the woman he had given it to? Was there a spirit residing deep inside her own item?
The spirit came to sit down beside her. "I think that from looking at your expression you are beginning to figure out what has been troubling you."
She gazed deep into his eyes, knowing him for who he was but not knowing if he knew himself. "Who are you, Yami?" she asked.
Sadness crept into his expression. "I do not know," he replied. "I do not remember anything about who I am, or even my past. All I do know is that I have been trapped within this Puzzle for five millenia, and I do not even know why." Then he looked deep into her own eyes. "When I first met you, I hoped that you knew something about me since it seemed you recognized me."
"Only from dreams, Yami," she told him. "I don't even know if what I am dreaming about really happened, or if I'm making it all up as dreams usually happen."
He seemed to think over her words for a moment. "Why don't you tell me about them, Shari? Maybe we can both find some answers to our questions."
Taking a deep breath, she told him of what she had dreamed so far, about the woman and the necklace that had been his gift to her, a gift of love between two people who cared about one another very much. He was quiet, listening to her words as she spoke them, and when she was finished he was silent as he thought upon them and waited to see if they jarred some kind of memory deep within him.
But nothing came forth, and he sighed in frustration. "Why can't I remember anything?" he said. "Even as I look at you, I come up with nothing."
Feeling bad for not being able to help him, she touched his arm, wondering how it could feel so warm when he was obviously just a spirit. "Perhaps if I can find a way to get in touch with this spirit? You think that might help?"
"It might," he finally said, the tone of his voice saying that he doubted it would, but he was willing to try anything if it meant solving the mystery that was his past.
Closing her eyes, she relaxed her shoulders, breathing deeply and sending her thoughts down to a place that she felt deep within her soul, a presence that she had noticed recently after her stay in the hospital. After a few moments, she feared that it wasn't working, but then a sudden light burst forth from her Item. Warmth filled her heart and soul as an image of the Eye flared to life on her forehead.
The spirit looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, wondering where she was until her gaze focused on Yami, lingering on him for some time. Then a smile appeared on her face, full of wonder and happiness. "Yami...is it you?"
*******************
Well, at least she knows his name...but is that all she knows? Or will she provide the information that Yami needs to regain his own memories?
Thanks for reading! C-ya!
Valon: *looks around nervously* Is it okay to come in now?
Shelly: Hi, Valon! Long time no see! Are you here to do my disclaimers?
Valon: If that's all right with you?
Shelly: Of course! You're so sweet!
Valon: Shelly doesn't own YGO, just her own characters. And she doesn't own me, either.
Shelly: Yeah, you're Schala's wonderful character.
Valon: *blushes*
Shelly: Um, Valon? Who's keeping watch on Mau if you're here?
Valon: O_O *disappears in a cloud of smoke*
Shelly: Bakura's always after his sister in case no one knows. Anyway, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
The Heart of Eternity by Shelly
CHAPTER TEN
She slept peacefully that night without dreaming, waking the next morning refreshed and ready for another day at school. As much as she hated the deaths of her foster parents, she couldn't help but think that her life was better without them. She felt she had suffered enough at their hands and was now ready to face life on her own terms, and that knowledge put an energy into her steps that wasn't there before. Her smiles came more easily, and before long she had most of the workers at the Kaiba mansion charmed.
Even riding to school with Kaiba himself failed to dampen her spirits, and some of it rubbed off onto him as he seemed a little more pleasant to be around. She was a little more attentive in her classes than she normally was, and a few of her classmates even expressed their condolences over what happened. She thanked them for their kind words and even made a few tentative friendships with some.
Lunch soon arrived, and she quickly sought out Yugi and his friends, finding them outside as usual talking amongst themselves. She snuck up on Joey, quieting those who saw her. "Hiya, Joey!" she cried, leaping onto his back playfully.
"What da--?!" he managed to get out before both of them collapsed to the ground, Shari laughing at the top of her lungs and Joey groaning in a disheveled heap of clothing.
"Are you okay?" she asked him, still trying to control her laughter.
Joey wasn't sure what had come over her all of a sudden, but he had to admit it was nice to see her happy and smiling. Wait a minute--wasn't she living with Kaiba? "Yea, I'm fine," he replied. "Ya seem ta be in a good mood today."
"Is there any reason why I shouldn't be?" she said, eying him strangely.
He smiled to cover up his embarrassment. "Na, I guess not."
She turned her gaze to Yugi, who was observing her with a happy light in his eyes. "I do have a problem I wish you would help me out with, Yugi. I don't know who else to turn to, except for you and Yami."
"I'd be happy to help you, Shari," he replied. "Why don't you come to my grandpa's after school? You think that Kaiba would mind?"
She waved her hand at him. "Oh, don't worry about him. I don't think he'll mind, but even if he did he can't say anything about it."
Yugi glanced at Joey, a silent reminder of their conversation earlier when he told his blond friend that she would change. "Great! Then we'll meet here."
She jumped to her feet then. "Thanks, Yugi! Now I've got to go find Kaiba. See ya!"
Yugi and Joey watched as she left, both of them glad that she was pulling through just fine, even though they both were a little surprised at her sudden change in personality.
She searched all over for Kaiba and finally found him sitting alone at his usual table reading the paper. Sitting down opposite of him, she waited patiently for him to acknowledge her presence, knowing that he knew she was there. When he didn't say anything, she reached out and thumped the paper with her finger, jarring one edge of it from his grip. He flashed an annoyed glance at her, picking it up and continuing to read it. She did it again, and this time he grabbed a hold of her wrist, holding it firmly but not enough to hurt.
"Do that again, Shari--" he began.
"Or you'll what?" she challenged, looking him straight in the eye without flinching. There were more than a few students nearby that stopped and looked with wide eyes, knowing that no one disturbed Kaiba at all like she did, much less talk back to him.
Instead of being angry like everyone thought he'd be, he merely smiled and loosened his hold on her, but didn't let go. He let his fingers drift lightly along her skin, and he was pleased to see her reaction. Her green eyes became shadowed by her dark lashes, and he could tell her breathing had become uneven. It was a wonder even to him that he knew to control her like this, and it was a little scary at the same time.
All of a sudden he released his hold on her. "I'll deal with you later," he said evenly as he picked up the paper again.
She hated thinking it, but she hadn't wanted him to let her go so soon. "Kaiba, I'm going to Yugi's after school," she told him.
"And why is that?" he asked behind the paper.
"He promised to help me with something," she replied.
He lowered it a fraction of an inch, just enough for her to see his raised eyebrow. "Oh really?" he said, her reply for some reason rubbing him the wrong way.
She smiled at having gotten him back. "Oh, don't be jealous, Kaiba," she crooned.
His eyes narrowed, signaling that she was treading on dangerous ground. "You're asking for it," he growled.
Knowing better than to push her luck, she eased up out of her chair. "See ya tonight!" she called out as she left.
He watched until she disappeared from his sight before going back to his reading, thinking that she was going to be the death of him yet.
True to her word, she met Yugi after school and invited Joey to come along as well, both of them walking her to the Game Shop where Yugi lived with his grandfather. Walking inside, she was amazed at the selection of cards that were sold and waited downstairs while Yugi went and found him. She couldn't help but laugh at Joey, who was acting like a little kid in a candy store, oohing and ahhing over this card or that one.
"Shari, this is my grandpa," Yugi said as he returned, and she looked to see an older gentleman walking behind him with dark gray hair fashioned much like his grandson's.
Her eyes lit up, and she came closer to him. "Yes, I remember you, Mr. Mutou! How have you been?"
He was a little surprised at first, but as he got a closer look at her he responded in kind. "Shari, is that you? Why, it's been a long time since I last saw you! You were just a child then! I was saddened to hear of your parent's deaths," he added solemnly.
She figured that Yugi must've told him and didn't mind. "Thank you, Mr. Mutou."
"Please, call me Gramps like everyone else does!" he laughed. "Mr. Mutou makes me sound old, don't you think?" he asked, earning a good laugh from everyone.
"How about we get started on homework?" Yugi asked after he stopped laughing.
She took the unspoken hint. "Yeah, we better," she agreed. "We've got a lot to do! Nice seeing you again, Gramps!" she said as she followed Yugi and Joey upstairs to his room. Once there, she sighed as she rid herself of her heavy bookbag. "Man, is that a load off my shoulders!" she exclaimed as she stretched.
"Ya got dat right!" Joey seconded as he did the same.
"So, what was this problem you needed help with, Shari?" Yugi asked, coming straight to the point as he sat at the head of the bed, his back propped against the wall.
Joey sat on the edge against the wall, leaving her the end opposite Yugi. "Lately I've been having these dreams, and I think they're coming from my Millennium Item," she said, thinking it strange to refer to her necklace as one of the legendary powerful Items of the Pharaoh.
"That's quite possible, judging from what happened the other day when you were in the hospital," he replied.
She was momentarily confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Yugi smiled. "Perhaps it's best if you let someone else explain," he said, looking down at his Millennium Puzzle. "How about it, Yami?"
She watched as the Puzzle glowed, her eyes growing wide as she saw him appear beside Yugi, standing beside the bed with a calm expression on his face. Her dream from yesterday came back to haunt her, and she picked up her own Item to look at it curiously. If what she saw was correct, her Item was in actuality a gift from the spirit standing before her. But who was the woman he had given it to? Was there a spirit residing deep inside her own item?
The spirit came to sit down beside her. "I think that from looking at your expression you are beginning to figure out what has been troubling you."
She gazed deep into his eyes, knowing him for who he was but not knowing if he knew himself. "Who are you, Yami?" she asked.
Sadness crept into his expression. "I do not know," he replied. "I do not remember anything about who I am, or even my past. All I do know is that I have been trapped within this Puzzle for five millenia, and I do not even know why." Then he looked deep into her own eyes. "When I first met you, I hoped that you knew something about me since it seemed you recognized me."
"Only from dreams, Yami," she told him. "I don't even know if what I am dreaming about really happened, or if I'm making it all up as dreams usually happen."
He seemed to think over her words for a moment. "Why don't you tell me about them, Shari? Maybe we can both find some answers to our questions."
Taking a deep breath, she told him of what she had dreamed so far, about the woman and the necklace that had been his gift to her, a gift of love between two people who cared about one another very much. He was quiet, listening to her words as she spoke them, and when she was finished he was silent as he thought upon them and waited to see if they jarred some kind of memory deep within him.
But nothing came forth, and he sighed in frustration. "Why can't I remember anything?" he said. "Even as I look at you, I come up with nothing."
Feeling bad for not being able to help him, she touched his arm, wondering how it could feel so warm when he was obviously just a spirit. "Perhaps if I can find a way to get in touch with this spirit? You think that might help?"
"It might," he finally said, the tone of his voice saying that he doubted it would, but he was willing to try anything if it meant solving the mystery that was his past.
Closing her eyes, she relaxed her shoulders, breathing deeply and sending her thoughts down to a place that she felt deep within her soul, a presence that she had noticed recently after her stay in the hospital. After a few moments, she feared that it wasn't working, but then a sudden light burst forth from her Item. Warmth filled her heart and soul as an image of the Eye flared to life on her forehead.
The spirit looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, wondering where she was until her gaze focused on Yami, lingering on him for some time. Then a smile appeared on her face, full of wonder and happiness. "Yami...is it you?"
*******************
Well, at least she knows his name...but is that all she knows? Or will she provide the information that Yami needs to regain his own memories?
Thanks for reading! C-ya!