Soul Battle

Chapter Seven – The First Cracks

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Yu-Gi-Oh, and I'm not making any money from this fic

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kyla's eyes slowly opened, and she stared up at the ceiling, blinking a little. What happened there? she silently asked her yami.

I'd've thought that was obvious, Nareen replied waspishly.

No, not really, Kyla said cautiously. I mean, it is obvious... Up to a certain point, that is. How come the black energy didn't hit you and Ina?

Because I used my own power to deflect the dark energy, Nareen explained. However, I couldn't stop the effect entirely... Mine and Ina's souls ended up being absorbed and trapped anyway. The only comfort was that Riana couldn't use our power because we technically weren't dead.

So that's what you meant when you said that you changed too late, Kyla realised.

Yes, it was, Nareen agreed. I should have come up with a better way of stopping Riana.

You did the best you could under the circumstances, Kyla said. There wasn't really a lot else you could do.

I suppose you might be right, Nareen sighed. Then, she gave a soft laugh. You know, you're beginning to let feelings through your ice wall, she commented. That might not be such a bad idea now, you know.

Kyla hesitated. Then, I guess you could be right, she admitted. Maybe I could talk to Nia?

Now that sounds like a good idea, Nareen said. Nia's your friend. If anyone is going to understand, it'll be her.

What were your souls sealed inside? Kyla wanted to know.

My soul was sealed inside a crystal star, Nareen explained. And Ina's was sealed inside a crystal bracelet. The crystal items are a little different to the millennium items that Ryou and Yugi own.

And where are the crystal star and the crystal bracelet now? Kyla asked.

Nareen hesitated for a long moment. They are in a safe place, she answered finally. You don't need to know where they are kept yet. Anyway, you'd better start getting ready for school now. You need to start thinking about what you're going to say to Nia.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kyla sat scribbling down notes in Mrs. Okinawa's class, biting her lip every so often to stop herself from gasping with pain.

The night's sleep hadn't really helped Kyla much at all. Her new cuts felt quite stiff, and she had to be careful to avoid reopening them. She already had a couple of times, and had to keep running to the toilets for tissue paper. Not that it did as much good as proper bandages did... But Kyla would have to make do with them.

Kyla had been gradually lowering her shields to Nia, allowing some small glimpses of feelings to show through. It was harder than she had imagined. Kyla had become addicted to her walls, and didn't want to admit the true reasons behind them to anyone, even to Nia.

Kyla was ignoring Nareen's comments. She was going to tell Nia when she wanted to, not when Nareen wanted her to.

Kyla found herself continually looking over at the empty seat that Ryou usually sat in. She missed him more than she had thought would be possible. If only I had been able to tell him how I truly feel about him, she thought to herself. But would it have stopped him from going with Yugi and the others? Somehow, I don't think so. But it might have made me, at least, feel better.

Kyla wondered if Nareen had felt the same when Bakura had turned to darkness, and she had been helpless to try and stop him. Had she felt guilty and unhappy and wished, more than anything, that she could go back in time and undo everything she had done to hurt Bakura... Had she wished that, just once, she could have told Bakura how much she loved him?

Yes, I did, Nareen said in a small voice. And I still do.

With a soft sigh, Kyla returned to taking notes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nia and Kyla were sitting outside the school on one of the benches. They were both eating, but Kyla didn't really taste anything.

Finally, Nia finished eating, and looked at Kyla. "Ok, I've been getting the feeling that you've been trying to tell me something all day," she said. "But, at the same time, trying not to tell me."

Kyla flinched, then looked down. "I... I... You're right," she admitted in a low voice, determined not to hide behind her walls this time. "But, Nia, this is really difficult for me to say... So I'm just going to show you instead."

Nia blinked. "Show me?" she frowned.

Kyla nodded. Her hand moved to one of her sleeves, and she pushed it up to reveal the bandage on her arm.

Nia's eyes widened. "What is that?" she gasped.

"It's a bandage," Kyla explained. She almost stopped there... But she felt that she owed it to Nia to continue. "I have one on my other arm, and on one of my legs."

"Have you been self-harming?" Nia asked, clearly shocked.

Kyla laughed bitterly. "Oh, I don't need to self-harm," she replied. "My foster father takes care of that for me."

Nia stared. "Your foster father did that to you?"

Kyla nodded slowly, letting her sleeve drop back down to cover the bandage again.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Nia demanded, her fists slowly clenching.

Kyla shot a quick glance at Nia's face, and, to her surprise, found none of the expected revulsion, disgust, or pity. Instead, all she saw was compassion and concern. There was also anger, but Kyla knew that it wasn't directed at her. Rather, all of it was directed at Kyla's monster of a foster father who shouldn't even have the title of 'human'.

Her words, not mine, Kyla realised, staring at Nia.

The beginnings of a strong bond had been formed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read and review, please!