Disclaimer: Nope...I Do not I repeat DO Not own Y-G-O...Bummer huh...
Zoeygirl: LOL yup computer problems again plus finals and projects and all...Sorry but my school work had to come before. (sweat drop.) Anyways I'm slowly weaning myself back onto fanfiction since its been awhile since I stayed constant with my work...BUT I will come through no worries. () Mahaha ENJOY!
"Hey you two over there! You know her?" He asked bluntly.
Marik and Bakura looked at each other dazedly. "NO."
The boy cocked an eye. "Really? So you didn't see what took down right here tonight right??" The boy was winking at them, giving them the hint of what he really meant. Bakura rolled his eyes. He was used to this sort of thing and this was no exception.
"Listen, I couldn't care less what you do with her. She's none of our concern." Bakura replied.
Marik's eyes narrowed towards Bakura's position. That's not what he had in mind. He still needed the girl.
The guy smiled wiry, taking off after his buddies, hopefully to somehow stop the girl from running around in circles. He could see his buddies were getting just a wee bit fatigued.
Bakura sighed, breathing in deeply and shutting his eyes just for a moment. The two ignored the ring around the rosy going on a cross the road.
"Why did you say that Bakura?" Marik asked annoyed. "Was it not you who said we could use the girl to get Duel cards from Yugi?
Bakura grinned behind his rather long white bangs. "Relax. You take things too serious. I'm simply having some fun. The girl needs to know how it feels to have her life on the line. I'm predicting the message didn't get through enough when you talked to her. Besides I'll cut in when she drops from exhaustion...eh maybe"
Marik rolled his eyes, mentally pushing aside the "HELP'S" and "Ow's she bit me!" from almost 60 feet away. "You're too playful Bakura. That's your downfall." Marik sighed, taking a few steps ahead of Bakura.
Bakura sneered. How dare he talk to him like that! "Hey wait just the hell-
"Help! Help! Help!!!" A deranged brunette went head first towards Bakura, who quickly sidestepped out of the way. Marik and Bakura stared not knowing what to say, when she and three boys started their game of duck, duck, goose around them! Marik and Bakura didn't move. They merely glanced at each other and nodded.
"Bakura this has become quite enough. When I said we needed a cool down I didn't mean a lap around the damn city."
Bakura's eyes rolled back and forth trying to get a hold of the four idiots movements around his body. He felt like he was babysitting. How utterly annoying.
A hand jumped out and grabbed the nearest man, while a fist hit the center of his stomach head on. (OO) Ouch....
On the opposite side, two more arms shot out from opposite sides. Marik looked utterly bored with them, despite the fact that they were almost equal in size. "This is starting to test my patience." Marik replied raising his voice, just as both guys went limp as a piece of cardboard. Bakura stared somewhat nervously from the corner of his eyes at his subordinate.
'I thought he didn't have any powers left? I thought he was injured!' He thought, hiding his alarmed state.
"AWW!" Tea continued to scream, her eyes shut and her arms straight, flat out in front of her.
Marik curled his lip in annoyance. "Tea."
"AWW!"
"Tea?!"
She continued to run as if nothing else mattered. "Leave me alone!!!"
"TEA!!!" Marik practically screamed causing Tea to practically trip over her own two feet and falling face first onto the pavement below. If Tea had paid extra close attention, she would've had the privilege of seeing Marik's flustered face.
"Idiots." (--) Bakura muttered to himself.
Tea rubbed her elbow and her nose as three more men approached, weapons in hand.
"I thought you said you weren't with her?!!" The leader yelled looking rather peeved.
Bakura smirked one of his genuine smiles that only brought fear to the human soul. The leader shivered mentally. This guy, even though he looked like some rich, snotty nosed, big shot, something didn't seem right in the head. He held his buddy with one hand as if he were some rag doll going in the trash. For now he kept a distance between the two guys that hovered over the girl's form.
"I lied." Bakura replied rather honestly, smiling just a bit wider. His eyes dripped with the need for fear.
"You lied??" One man shot back, pointing an accusing finger as Marik dropped the two men he held, with disgust.
Bakura shrugged, dropping his guy in the process. "Hey you've lived on these streets long enough, you should as well as I do, no one actually keeps their word...well, if it isn't a game. If it's a game you have no choice but to play by the rules." The men didn't understand what Bakura was saying. Actually they didn't stick around to hear anything else for that matter. They were freaked to say the least, so instead they ran for it.
Bakura sighed in the manner of a small child, saddened by the fact that his friends or 'playmates' left him. "Huh, oh well, maybe next time." Bakura said childishly before giving an uneasy glare down to Tea.
"You on the other hand, ugh, I'm not sure if there are words to describe how stupid you are." Tea stared hatefully up at Bakura, sweat dripping from the temples of both sides. Bakura only cocked an eyebrow, not even pleased with the scowl he had received. He was on bad terms with this little member of Yugi's pack.
"What's wrong, has that jog worn you out to the point where you can't speak or are you sweating for no reason at all?" Bakura teased, kicking one of the limp bodies boringly.
Marik, the entire time stayed ever silent as he eyed Tea's left leg. "No, she's twisted her ankle." He said calmly. Bakura rolled his eyes less than impressed by the observation and Tea's obvious hints of pain.
At the same time Bakura couldn't help but notice Marik had gone very mellow compared to the time when they battled. Maybe it was this mortal state or something.
"Oh thanks for showing the sympathy." Tea said sarcastically, trying with both hands to stand up, no help whatsoever from you know who.
Marik could've cared less. "Don't blame your crap on me. Remember who your talking to. You're well being, I could care a rat's ass about." Tea turned red at this remark. Marik said it so calmly, and then without any care at all.
"So what am I supposed to do now?" She asked, grimacing just a bit.
"Curl up and die." Bakura muttered, preparing to leave.
"Now I suppose you'll have to go see some doctor. It looks bad. Start hopping." Marik's response wasn't meant to be funny, in fact he meant it. But Tea on the other hand was infuriated and Bakura couldn't help but smirk rightfully so.
"What are you smirking about?" Marik said calmly to Bakura. Bakura narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Your accompanying her there." Marik began to walk back from the direction they came from, taking care to walk over an unconscious body. Bakura sweat dropped.
"Beg your pardon? I believe you've been mistaken. I'm not her babysitter and I don't think you were ever put in charge dammit!" Bakura's temper rose to the point where Tea stood out of it. She was beginning to feel rather uncomfortable.
Marik glanced back. "True it's the girl's fault but it was you who lied to them and then took your word back. Besides I cannot walk around like this."
Bakura cocked his head to the side. "Oh and you think I can?" (OO) "If one of her or the boy's father's friends see me, I'm screwed!"
"Not to worry. Its dark out, the hospital is right down the road, gee how convenient, and everyone lives at the opposite end. Besides with that outfit I highly doubt anyone would recognize you."
Bakura didn't get a chance to redeem himself. In seconds Marik was out of hearing range. (-)(-) Well, this was just unexpected. Maybe he could just leave her here. He eyed her carefully, reminiscing on the decision.
Tea scowled at him. "If you leave me I'll scream so loud the whole city will wake up."
"Humph." Bakura grunted and sweat dropped. Tea inhaled and puffed out her face preparing to scream. Bakura's eyes widened. "Aw shit! Alright, alright just keep your big mouth shut!" (00)
"Well?" She began
Bakura stared at her as if she were crazy. "Well what?"
"Aren't you going to help me u-
"No..."
(00) "Fine! I can do that myself!" Bakura watched ignorantly as T.ea struggled to rise to both feet as painful as it was. "Will you hurry up!?" He snapped, ignoring the grimace on her face.
Tea glared angrily but said nothing. Expecting help from this guy was too much to ask.
The walk to the hospital was long and painful, for both actually. Tea insisted on catching a cab but Bakura didn't want to take the chance. Who knows who the driver would've been. For all he knew it was Kaiba. Tea only mumbled to herself bitterly, enduring the pain in her ankle.
Bright blue lights peered back at them from across the street. This area had become all too familiar with Tea. If she wasn't mistaken, she had stood on this same sidewalk trying to assist-well she really didn't want to remember.
"Well? What in the name of Ra are you waiting for, a written invitation?! Go in already!" His voice cracked as he stared at a clock that hung on the side of the hospital. The building looked bare and empty as did the roads. It was late, really late. Yet there were a few gleaming lights on the right that indicated parts of the building were still open. Relieving the pain with a final sigh, Tea limped her way across the street and towards the only open door, shielding her eyes as she walked into the beam of light.
There in the corner was a small desk, a glass door, where activity of some sort was going on, and stretchers on both sides of her. On the other side was a table, a few chairs and a couch with a heap load of magazines, along with a TV hovering above the room. Hmm, the waiting area. Oh how cozy that looked. She remembered this place all too well. Hopefully she wouldn't get the same doctor or nurse.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry the hell up!" Bakura snapped, pushing back a strand of hair that managed to break free from his ponytail in annoyance. Tea ignored him as she made her way to the desk. Uh oh, it was the same woman.
"Please wait behind the line ma'am." Her rather emotionless voice peeped out.
Oh no she wasn't! Not again! (--)))(((--) "Come on, we've already been through this!" Tea heaved, grabbing the woman's attention from her computer. The woman glanced up and cocked an eye at the girl she had recognized all too well. "You again." The nurse said placidly. Tea sweat dropped, while Bakura came up on her right to find out what the wait was all about.
"Why is it taking so long?" Bakura's patience was wearing thin, but he tried his best to remain 'normal' in front of the nurse. The nurse looked at the white hair man next to her and raised her other eyebrow as if asking Tea a question that she had already known the answer to. None of these boys looked like the girl's brother that was for sure.
Tea laughed nervously, while the nurse eyed Bakura strangely. "Another one huh?" The nurse replied bluntly. "What was wrong with the last one, did he die?" Boy, was this woman sympathetic.
Tea swallowed hard. Bakura didn't understand what the woman behind the desk was talking about but it sure sounded fishy.
"So what's wrong with this one young lady? Or are you planning to kill this one too?" The nurse somehow thought that Tea might've been using men. She guessed it did look a bit weird in such a short period of time.
Tea was infuriated. How could that woman say such a thing?!!
"WHAT? No, it's for my ankle! Please ma'am are you going to help me or not!"
"Please wait behind the line ma'am and I will call you up." The nurse interrupted ignoring everything that was said before.
Tea and Bakura stared for what seemed like the longest time. (0)(0) The medical department really needed some new help.
Tea had no other choice but to wait patiently for a whole blasted 40 MINUTES before she could fill out a few pieces of paper and then wait patiently before a doctor or nurse called her in.
Tea watched the hand on a clock move clockwise out of sheer boredom. It had ways of helping the time pass by.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock tick- "This is stupid." Bakura blurted out, growing tired and weary of this wait. "Why don't you just wrap the bloody ankle at your home?"
Tea rolled her eyes in defeat. She wasn't going to argue with this hot tempered gremlin from hell nor did she want to. She really didn't know this guy much and she wasn't going to start yelling at him the same way she did with Joey. Well speak of the devil!!
"JOEY??"
Tea's voice went up an octave as Tea's eyes literally bulged out of their sockets. There was Joey and Serenity walking out of the door that led to the examination rooms. What the hell?
"The bloody Wheeler kid???" Bakura quietly shrieked, grabbing a newspaper just in time and raising to his face. Well this wasn't good.
"Hey Tea! What's up!?" Joey beamed running towards one of his best friends. Tea sweated bullets, as Bakura opened the paper to the kitchen's appliance section and brought it high up to his face. "Why couldn't I have gotten the sports page at least?"
Tea gripped the seat tightly. This would all be over for her friends if Joey found out.
"Tea what are ya doing in a place like dis?"
"Oh well uh I twisted my ankle on the street. Nothing real big."
Serenity frowned and eyed her friend with curiosity and concern. "Did you really Tea?" Serenity asked meekly. Tea saw the concern on her face and the ways he eyed the stranger sitting next to her, who's face she couldn't see.
""Yeah Serenity that's the truth I swear." Serenity nodded her head slowly up and down not taking her word for it completely.
"What about you Joey, what's wrong?"
"Get rid of them." Bakura whispered from behind the newspaper.
Joey laughed out loud, as if he were super man. "Me? Eh some stupid flu. Those Docs said I gotta rest a couple days but what da heck do they know, eh?"
Tea smiled, but noticed the dark circles around Joey's eyes. He really didn't look too well.
"He'll be fine Tea. I just wanted to get a second opinion from the Doc." Serenity cut in smiling politely.
A long uncomfortable silence followed not long after that. No one could think of anything to say. No one, but Bakura.
"Get them out of here or your going to see a lot of dead bodies in a short while." Bakura warned, hiding his voice as best as humanly possible. It failed to do any good as Joey saw Tea's eyes move to the figure whose head was concealed by a newspaper.
Joey's curiosity got the better of him. "Hey Tea, ya know dis guy?"
Tea stiffened to the point where her back made an awful cracking noise and now it was Bakura's turn to have an expression of total surprise. (0))((0)
Tea sweated bullets while Serenity remained silent. "Uh who?"
Joey raised an eyebrow. He wasn't always bright but come on! "That guy right there!"
"Oh him?" Bakura glared at Tea. She wouldn't dare expose him. "Oh I don't know him." Tea said simply.
Joey scratched his head. "Are ya sure?"
"No." She replied too quickly. Bakura winced at her stupidity.
Joey's eyebrows furrowed up at her all too quick response. "So uh ya do know him?"
"No."
"So ya don't know him?"
"No?" Tea wasn't one to lie and this was beginning to get very hard. She couldn't keep doing it. Bakura was sooner ready to kill then to listen to this conversation any further.
Joey sighed, he was getting confused. "Uh Tea do ya know him or not? You're kinda confusing me here."
(--) This conversation wasn't going anywhere.
"Uh yeah I know him, but not that well. He uh escorted me here." Tea said while gripping her left arm.
"Oh well thanks buddy. That was real kind of ya!" Joey beamed a smile of generosity at this stranger, whose face was still concealed.
"Hey do ya hear me there man!? Hey I'm talking to ya!"
"Joey!" Tea blurted out. Joey stared at his friend in dismay. This was getting slightly weird.
"Yeah Tea?"
Bakura eyed Tea dangerously. Any second now he would have to get up and at that point he would send all three of them to the shadow realm and that would be the end of that, enough said.
Tea swallowed hard, thinking quickly. "Uh please Joey he's a VERY shy guy. It's almost like a phobia. Uh he says thank you. Perhaps its time for you guys to get going. We have school first thing tomorrow. Bet that old woman's going to give us a pop quiz."
Joey smiled apologetically at the both of them. He wasn't sure where this was going but he had his sister to attend to, and standing around all night wasn't helping the both of them. On the contrary, Serenity frowned down at Tea, which Tea was quick to notice. Her cheeks turned slightly red from embarrassment. It was embarrassment of lying openly to one who knew. It crushed Tea's spirits.
"Alright Tea. Guess I'll see ya at school den."
Serenity took her brother's arm in her own, turning Joey's body towards the door. "That's if you go to school tomorrow. I have a funny feeling he'll be staying home. Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow Tea. Call me if you need anything." Serenity winked when Joey wasn't looking.
Tea sighed in heavy relief, but it was a sigh that came too soon. Before any of the Wheeler's could get outside the hospital, the doctor walked in at that exact moment. He smiled at the brunette nodding to her.
"Well, well, well, its you again. Didn't you have a boy in here awhile back? How is he doing?"
Serenity tried to push her brother out of the door, but Joey was caught with curiosity.
"Wait what boy? Tea you brought a boy here awhile back? Who?" Joey interrupted much to Serenity's dismay. Serenity watched the man who's identity was momentarily covered with a newspaper. His hands gripped the paper tighter, obviously wrinkling the sides into slight rips.
Tea's eyes glinted confusion and fear. Oh this was not going to end well. "Uh I guess he's okay I don't know."
The doctor looked confused. "But you said he was your-
"Oh HIM! Oh he's doing fine just fine!!!" Tea interrupted knowing where the doctor was going with this.
"What boy?" Joey asked.
The doctor cleared it up for him. "She brought a boy in a couple weeks back. He was in bad shape."
Joey stared at Tea in bewilderment. "Who was it? Do I know him?"
Tea shook her head back and forth. "It's no one Joey go on home." She spoke as if it were not that big of a deal. "This really is my business." Tea said somewhat annoyingly.
Joey heard the coldness of her voice and decided it was time to leave. He was obviously upsetting Tea with something he said. "Okay Tea. Uh see ya."
He forced a happy smile before leaving. Tea's eyes softened significantly. She didn't mean to be so negative with her words or tone. She felt really bad. Serenity standing there in the doorway a look of disappointment on her face, didn't make Tea feel any better. The doctor to no extent was confused.
Unaware to any of them Bakura had watched the situation or instead listened to the situation carefully. There was no denying it was Marik the girl was referring to. This was a story he was not entirely aware of. What exactly happened two weeks ago? His curiosity much like Joey's had gotten the better of him.
"Well Miss Gardener, why don't we get you on a wheel chair and we'll take a look at that ankle. Um sir, would you like to come with this young lady since you did bring her in? It would be no trouble at all of course."
Bakura removed the newspaper from in front of his face. He knew as plane as day Tea was avoiding his quizzical stares. She felt like a book with her flaps open. Anyone would've been able to read her much like a novel. She felt bare.
"No I'd rather wait here." Bakura replied suddenly, startling the doctor. The doctor hadn't heard this man's voice yet and though his appearance was deceiving, his voice was rather deep, raspy and commanding as if he had years under his belt. What strange friends this young lady had.
"Alright then, Gardener follow me." Without even a second glance, Tea hopped over to a wheelchair as the doctor wheeled her through the door all the time Bakura's narrowed uneasy eyes following them. It was obvious that she was hiding something more. The Tomb Robber never missed a thing.
"Hey Joey?" Her voice was shaken and sad, Joey could tell when Serenity's voice got like that. It was more then just being polite.
"Yeah Serenity? What's wrong?" Startled by Joey's rather tired voice Serenity peered up leveled with her brother's weary eyes. Joey's dark rings around his eyes made his face seem so foreign to her. He didn't look healthy at all. Even more, she wanted so much to tell him of Marik, of Bakura, and the secrecy involving her friend. But....he just looked....so sickly. He didn't need this at the moment it would only make him worst.
"Um...never mind."
Bakura tapped his long slender fingers irritably. How annoying this had turned out to develop. Where was the damn wench? Where was the damn doctor? And why was this nurse wench staring at him like a wild animal?! It was enough for him to go over the edge...and then the doors opened revealing a brunette woman and a much older taller man covered in white.
The woman was on crutches and her ankle neatly and tightly wrapped. She balanced her weight evenly on both pegs though it was obvious to say she was no expert in the art of crutches.
"Finally." Bakura mumbled unpleasantly standing up and pulling the rubber band from his hair. The pony tail had literally cut off his circulation and he was sick of wearing the bloody thing. Needless to say the doctor and Tea stared at him skeptically as his hair went every which direction.
"Can we go now?" He asked gruffly trying to keep his uneasy temper at a minimum.
"Of course." The doctor replied. "I've already had Tea fill out the papers. Now just keep that ankle wrapped snuggly and firmly, and stay on those crutches for about a week and I think you should be fine. If the pain becomes bothersome take a Motrin. And do any of you have any questions for me?"
"No." Bakura shot out before Tea was given the chance to say a thing. The white haired man turned quickly on his heals proceeding to the doorway. Tea just smiled reassuringly at the doctor, silently apologizing for his behavior. Pulling herself forward, Tea strived to catch up to Bakura who had apparently stopped at the door. Tea looked up in annoyance. Was he going to open the door for her or not?
That's when she noticed it...Bakura's hands were gripping the corners of his pants. His hair looked like cat's fur being scared shitless.
"Well? Are you going to open the door for me or what-
"Shut up." He hissed. "Someone very strange is approaching...I want you to avoid the person if possible. I'm bringing out Ryou for a short period of time. You and he better not try anything or else."
Before Tea could object the door opened up smacking right against Tea's crutches and sending her to the ground. "AYIEEE!!" (OO)
Pow...man was the floor hard...
"Oh jeez, shit I'm sorry! Are you okay? Man I guess this is the type of thing you go to hell for. Hey let me help you up!" Being in a sort of daze, Tea felt a strong hand reach out to her. She felt like a stupid child unable to say a word. Her opened mouth and beaded little eyes seem to gawk at the man offering his hand to her dumbly.
"Oh...uh thanks." Using his other hand, the man assisted Tea. He kept a firm hand on her while he gathered her crutches up. "Jeez I'm really sorry! I'm really not the brightest person."
Tea blinked once or twice forcing herself to recover from the fall. That's when she got a good look at the man. He was smiling politely at her although it did appear that he had the tips of a couple fangs poking out from beneath that smile of his. Kinda cute she thought.
"So...you're not gonna sue me or anything I hope. I'm kinda-
Tea laughed out loud waving her hands in defense with her smile spread on wide. "No of course not accidents happen."
"Yeah but I guess you already had yours." He rubbed the back of his head bashfully.
Giggling Tea did not notice Bakura behind the both of them until a minute or two later. Wincing, Tea eyed the Tomb Robber.
Yet something was oddly strange about the white haired lunatic...He appeared to be clutching his head like he had a huge headache or something. When he looked up level to Tea's eyes they were filled with anguish, guilt, confusion, and horror. It was as if he had been released from prison on a short notice only momentarily never knowing when he'd be dragged back to his hell hole. It was definitely Ryou.
Tea gasped slightly her eyes widening with each glance. The man in front of her looked confused. Following her eyes he traced them back to Ryou who was no more then 5 feet away.
"Aw I'm sorry man I didn't realize you were there. Uh I hope you don't think I'm uh...hehehe its really not what it looks like." The man took a quick defense thinking that Ryou would accuse him of hitting on Tea.
It took a few minutes to register, being behind the mirror helpless and defenseless for so long but Ryou understood all that he was talking about.
"Oh um...its okay mate we're just friends." Ryou said slowly crunching up his eyebrows to focus his vision better. It had been so long since he had been allowed free access to his body. He wasn't even sure if he remembered how to walk.
The man frowned slightly not allowing the other two to notice. He cocked an eyebrow at the white haired albino boy as if noting what he looked like, who he was, and mentally cursing the both of them.
"Hey are you alright?"
Tea was quick to cut in. "Oh he's fine. Guess we better go then. Um uh sorry again I guess."
The man blew her apology off gently. "Sorry for what? It'd be my fault if anything. Anyways uh I didn't catch your name."
Ryou and Tea glanced at one another both shrugging simultaneously. "Mine's Tea."
"And mines-
(Don't give him your name fool!)
Ryou mentally gasped. That sounded a lot like Bakura.
(Make up a name! Hurry up before he notices your stalling!)
"Uh my name's James." Ryou quickened feeling the hairs on his head stand back.
Tea gave her friend a bewildered look but she figured to was something concerning Bakura. She would ask later.
The man nodded. "Well perhaps we'll meet again Tea and James. But uh see ya!"
"Hey wait!" Hopping on foot Tea tried her best to stop the stranger from walking off. The man looked at her rather amusingly, enjoying her attempt to walk one footed. Ryou stayed silent, feeling nervous more than anything.
Tea breathed and smiled politely. "I didn't catch your name."
Rubbing his head again the man laughed. "Oh yeah guess that would help. Well its Tress. Eh don't ask where it came from. Really crappy eh?"
"Tress?" Tea repeated to herself as if sounding out the word. "Huh...that's interesting. Well um bye then!"
Tress waved them off as they scooted out the door. Playing his cheerful smile carefully, it soon twisted to a mischievous one.
"Something's really weird about that white haired guy. I can't tell what it is though. Well who the hell cares, this place has got some pretty sweet looking women wandering the place. Crutches and all!" He laughed approaching the front desk.
"Can I help you?" The nurse asked unmotivated.
"Yeah um did some guy by the name of Joey come walking in here or is he in here right now by chance? I'm a cousin" He asked smiling the entire time. "He supposedly has blonde hair and stuff."
The woman behind the desk blinked dumbly. "Uh I think there was a young man here earlier but he left."
"Do you know where I can reach him?"
The woman sighed in frustration waving her hands in the air in aggravation. "No I don't. Now if you'll excuse me this isn't Search and Rescue, this is a hospital, good day to you."
Tress winced mentally. Man did these women have serious attitude problems. Oh well at least he was on the right track. Guess he'd have to attend that school tomorrow.
"RYOU!"
Tea's words had no affect on the boy who hunched next to the bench across the street. She tried her best to use the crutches but they had no appeal to her at all.
"You could at least help me...." When she got no response her anger instantly dropped to a frown. She was worried. Then again who knew how long Ryou had been trapped within the bowels of his own mind.
"Ryou its okay he's gone now. We can work this out so you're always in control so don't give up. I have a plan-.........Ryou?"
Ryou's bangs covered the top half of his face. She saw something oddly foreign in him the way the veins tightened from his wrists all the way up to his shoulder.
Tea leaned on her crutch stepping back as best she could "Y-your not Ryou are you? You turned back when that guy w-was gone! Bakura talk to me!"
A slight chuckle mixed with what sounded like a sneer and growl mending together, spoke the truth in Tea's words. Bakura stared up, one eye still covered. He was smirking for a short period of time but it fell quickly.
"You have a plan do you? What is it?"
"Nothing." She said instantly.
"You lie."
"No...I'm-
"Don't play stupid with me girl! I know all too well about pretend!"
Tea released a squeak, her heart beat racing. "Well if that's so then why did you change with Ryou back there? What was it about that guy that scared you?" She regained her nerve.
"Te, nothing. I don't get scared. I've died almost 4 times now and I have yet to cower in fear."
She raised an eyebrow quickly. "That doesn't cut it. You were taking some kind of precaution. Did you know him?"
Bakura's patience was wearing thin. Somehow Tea had stricken a sensitive area because the next thing she knew he was up and laughing at her.
"You've got a lot of guts girl. What concerns me is none of your damn business. But I don't want to hear anymore about what I did back there especially to Marik. And for that you can find your own way home!" Turning on his heals Bakura stuck his hands in his pockets casually, never looking back and laughing the entire time. Tea stared angrily at his back. It was useless fighting with him, he wasn't going to feel any sympathetic just because she was on crutches. Besides, its not like he helped her before jeez.
Fine she could crutch her way home then!
"ass..." She mumbled taking a different road....a shorter one...
Click............The News
Click...............A cooking channel
Click..............Jerry Springer....
"Is this what they do to entertain themselves?" Marik asked himself. He was obviously disgusted and bored to death. He wished that he had stuck around in that alley and had himself a little more fun with the thugs. It was a hell of a lot better then watching this piece of garbage. "What a waste of precious time."
Click.........Barney
((0)))(((0)) "What the hell is this?"
He watched in somewhat confusion as young children danced and sang happy songs with what appeared to be a giant purple and green dinosaur. What the hell was the world coming to?!!
"Ugh I don't believe this." Marik spat staring with an open jaw as a green female dinosaur popped out of nowhere. "Where the hell did she come from? Is that his lover?"
He made an open face of disgust and terror as they all broke out into a different song about sharing. It was enough to turn his stomach.
Click...........Resident Evil
"Humph much better." Marik grumbled to himself planting his elbow into the seat cushion and resting the side of his head on his hand, while the other held the remote.
Once and a while he'd stare down at Tea's pathetic deck. It was rather pathetic. Then again she was a worthless female with no mind set for the game, not that he was all that concerned about it either. Dueling would not stop what he had planned this time. No he had no use for his old plan, Malik's plan.
His eyes drifted over to the door as it creaked open. He knew right away who it was as he sighted the white ruffled hair. He didn't even have to bother turning his head.
"Where's the girl?" Marik asked broadly.
Bakura sneered, obviously still unable to warm up to his partner. He shrugged at the reply just the same. "She'll be here depending how quickly she can limp her way over."
Marik raised an eyebrow turning the channel again. "You didn't kill her did you?"
Bakura rolled his eyes annoyingly. "No I didn't. She's on crutches is all. It may be awhile. You know she isn't very motivated to get back to her cozy little home with the both of us living in it."
Marik smirked. "True." He didn't ask anything else so Bakura stood there for what seemed like forever waiting for Marik to ask something else. When there was no more, his frustration turned Bakura's mood once more. Glaring lightly at Marik's form, he retreated to the basement.
Meanwhile....was it raining? No Had there been some sort of accident? No. Then why was Tea covered in water?
It wasn't...it was sweat. She was working her way up the hill.
(o)) "This is........so much.....harder....then....it looks........UGH!!!"
Zoeygirl: Mahahaha well will Tea make it up the hill? What's up with Joey? What plans does Marik have? And what's school got in store for them? I dunno either but don't worry I'll eventually come up with something...()
To All Those Joey LOVERS-LOL don't worry you will get more Joey believe me....() This is a half and half fict with him in it too.
AnimeSenko-LOL I plan to sometime in the next year or so...LOl thanks. Good luck with your PC though.
Zoeygirl: LOL yup computer problems again plus finals and projects and all...Sorry but my school work had to come before. (sweat drop.) Anyways I'm slowly weaning myself back onto fanfiction since its been awhile since I stayed constant with my work...BUT I will come through no worries. () Mahaha ENJOY!
"Hey you two over there! You know her?" He asked bluntly.
Marik and Bakura looked at each other dazedly. "NO."
The boy cocked an eye. "Really? So you didn't see what took down right here tonight right??" The boy was winking at them, giving them the hint of what he really meant. Bakura rolled his eyes. He was used to this sort of thing and this was no exception.
"Listen, I couldn't care less what you do with her. She's none of our concern." Bakura replied.
Marik's eyes narrowed towards Bakura's position. That's not what he had in mind. He still needed the girl.
The guy smiled wiry, taking off after his buddies, hopefully to somehow stop the girl from running around in circles. He could see his buddies were getting just a wee bit fatigued.
Bakura sighed, breathing in deeply and shutting his eyes just for a moment. The two ignored the ring around the rosy going on a cross the road.
"Why did you say that Bakura?" Marik asked annoyed. "Was it not you who said we could use the girl to get Duel cards from Yugi?
Bakura grinned behind his rather long white bangs. "Relax. You take things too serious. I'm simply having some fun. The girl needs to know how it feels to have her life on the line. I'm predicting the message didn't get through enough when you talked to her. Besides I'll cut in when she drops from exhaustion...eh maybe"
Marik rolled his eyes, mentally pushing aside the "HELP'S" and "Ow's she bit me!" from almost 60 feet away. "You're too playful Bakura. That's your downfall." Marik sighed, taking a few steps ahead of Bakura.
Bakura sneered. How dare he talk to him like that! "Hey wait just the hell-
"Help! Help! Help!!!" A deranged brunette went head first towards Bakura, who quickly sidestepped out of the way. Marik and Bakura stared not knowing what to say, when she and three boys started their game of duck, duck, goose around them! Marik and Bakura didn't move. They merely glanced at each other and nodded.
"Bakura this has become quite enough. When I said we needed a cool down I didn't mean a lap around the damn city."
Bakura's eyes rolled back and forth trying to get a hold of the four idiots movements around his body. He felt like he was babysitting. How utterly annoying.
A hand jumped out and grabbed the nearest man, while a fist hit the center of his stomach head on. (OO) Ouch....
On the opposite side, two more arms shot out from opposite sides. Marik looked utterly bored with them, despite the fact that they were almost equal in size. "This is starting to test my patience." Marik replied raising his voice, just as both guys went limp as a piece of cardboard. Bakura stared somewhat nervously from the corner of his eyes at his subordinate.
'I thought he didn't have any powers left? I thought he was injured!' He thought, hiding his alarmed state.
"AWW!" Tea continued to scream, her eyes shut and her arms straight, flat out in front of her.
Marik curled his lip in annoyance. "Tea."
"AWW!"
"Tea?!"
She continued to run as if nothing else mattered. "Leave me alone!!!"
"TEA!!!" Marik practically screamed causing Tea to practically trip over her own two feet and falling face first onto the pavement below. If Tea had paid extra close attention, she would've had the privilege of seeing Marik's flustered face.
"Idiots." (--) Bakura muttered to himself.
Tea rubbed her elbow and her nose as three more men approached, weapons in hand.
"I thought you said you weren't with her?!!" The leader yelled looking rather peeved.
Bakura smirked one of his genuine smiles that only brought fear to the human soul. The leader shivered mentally. This guy, even though he looked like some rich, snotty nosed, big shot, something didn't seem right in the head. He held his buddy with one hand as if he were some rag doll going in the trash. For now he kept a distance between the two guys that hovered over the girl's form.
"I lied." Bakura replied rather honestly, smiling just a bit wider. His eyes dripped with the need for fear.
"You lied??" One man shot back, pointing an accusing finger as Marik dropped the two men he held, with disgust.
Bakura shrugged, dropping his guy in the process. "Hey you've lived on these streets long enough, you should as well as I do, no one actually keeps their word...well, if it isn't a game. If it's a game you have no choice but to play by the rules." The men didn't understand what Bakura was saying. Actually they didn't stick around to hear anything else for that matter. They were freaked to say the least, so instead they ran for it.
Bakura sighed in the manner of a small child, saddened by the fact that his friends or 'playmates' left him. "Huh, oh well, maybe next time." Bakura said childishly before giving an uneasy glare down to Tea.
"You on the other hand, ugh, I'm not sure if there are words to describe how stupid you are." Tea stared hatefully up at Bakura, sweat dripping from the temples of both sides. Bakura only cocked an eyebrow, not even pleased with the scowl he had received. He was on bad terms with this little member of Yugi's pack.
"What's wrong, has that jog worn you out to the point where you can't speak or are you sweating for no reason at all?" Bakura teased, kicking one of the limp bodies boringly.
Marik, the entire time stayed ever silent as he eyed Tea's left leg. "No, she's twisted her ankle." He said calmly. Bakura rolled his eyes less than impressed by the observation and Tea's obvious hints of pain.
At the same time Bakura couldn't help but notice Marik had gone very mellow compared to the time when they battled. Maybe it was this mortal state or something.
"Oh thanks for showing the sympathy." Tea said sarcastically, trying with both hands to stand up, no help whatsoever from you know who.
Marik could've cared less. "Don't blame your crap on me. Remember who your talking to. You're well being, I could care a rat's ass about." Tea turned red at this remark. Marik said it so calmly, and then without any care at all.
"So what am I supposed to do now?" She asked, grimacing just a bit.
"Curl up and die." Bakura muttered, preparing to leave.
"Now I suppose you'll have to go see some doctor. It looks bad. Start hopping." Marik's response wasn't meant to be funny, in fact he meant it. But Tea on the other hand was infuriated and Bakura couldn't help but smirk rightfully so.
"What are you smirking about?" Marik said calmly to Bakura. Bakura narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Your accompanying her there." Marik began to walk back from the direction they came from, taking care to walk over an unconscious body. Bakura sweat dropped.
"Beg your pardon? I believe you've been mistaken. I'm not her babysitter and I don't think you were ever put in charge dammit!" Bakura's temper rose to the point where Tea stood out of it. She was beginning to feel rather uncomfortable.
Marik glanced back. "True it's the girl's fault but it was you who lied to them and then took your word back. Besides I cannot walk around like this."
Bakura cocked his head to the side. "Oh and you think I can?" (OO) "If one of her or the boy's father's friends see me, I'm screwed!"
"Not to worry. Its dark out, the hospital is right down the road, gee how convenient, and everyone lives at the opposite end. Besides with that outfit I highly doubt anyone would recognize you."
Bakura didn't get a chance to redeem himself. In seconds Marik was out of hearing range. (-)(-) Well, this was just unexpected. Maybe he could just leave her here. He eyed her carefully, reminiscing on the decision.
Tea scowled at him. "If you leave me I'll scream so loud the whole city will wake up."
"Humph." Bakura grunted and sweat dropped. Tea inhaled and puffed out her face preparing to scream. Bakura's eyes widened. "Aw shit! Alright, alright just keep your big mouth shut!" (00)
"Well?" She began
Bakura stared at her as if she were crazy. "Well what?"
"Aren't you going to help me u-
"No..."
(00) "Fine! I can do that myself!" Bakura watched ignorantly as T.ea struggled to rise to both feet as painful as it was. "Will you hurry up!?" He snapped, ignoring the grimace on her face.
Tea glared angrily but said nothing. Expecting help from this guy was too much to ask.
The walk to the hospital was long and painful, for both actually. Tea insisted on catching a cab but Bakura didn't want to take the chance. Who knows who the driver would've been. For all he knew it was Kaiba. Tea only mumbled to herself bitterly, enduring the pain in her ankle.
Bright blue lights peered back at them from across the street. This area had become all too familiar with Tea. If she wasn't mistaken, she had stood on this same sidewalk trying to assist-well she really didn't want to remember.
"Well? What in the name of Ra are you waiting for, a written invitation?! Go in already!" His voice cracked as he stared at a clock that hung on the side of the hospital. The building looked bare and empty as did the roads. It was late, really late. Yet there were a few gleaming lights on the right that indicated parts of the building were still open. Relieving the pain with a final sigh, Tea limped her way across the street and towards the only open door, shielding her eyes as she walked into the beam of light.
There in the corner was a small desk, a glass door, where activity of some sort was going on, and stretchers on both sides of her. On the other side was a table, a few chairs and a couch with a heap load of magazines, along with a TV hovering above the room. Hmm, the waiting area. Oh how cozy that looked. She remembered this place all too well. Hopefully she wouldn't get the same doctor or nurse.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry the hell up!" Bakura snapped, pushing back a strand of hair that managed to break free from his ponytail in annoyance. Tea ignored him as she made her way to the desk. Uh oh, it was the same woman.
"Please wait behind the line ma'am." Her rather emotionless voice peeped out.
Oh no she wasn't! Not again! (--)))(((--) "Come on, we've already been through this!" Tea heaved, grabbing the woman's attention from her computer. The woman glanced up and cocked an eye at the girl she had recognized all too well. "You again." The nurse said placidly. Tea sweat dropped, while Bakura came up on her right to find out what the wait was all about.
"Why is it taking so long?" Bakura's patience was wearing thin, but he tried his best to remain 'normal' in front of the nurse. The nurse looked at the white hair man next to her and raised her other eyebrow as if asking Tea a question that she had already known the answer to. None of these boys looked like the girl's brother that was for sure.
Tea laughed nervously, while the nurse eyed Bakura strangely. "Another one huh?" The nurse replied bluntly. "What was wrong with the last one, did he die?" Boy, was this woman sympathetic.
Tea swallowed hard. Bakura didn't understand what the woman behind the desk was talking about but it sure sounded fishy.
"So what's wrong with this one young lady? Or are you planning to kill this one too?" The nurse somehow thought that Tea might've been using men. She guessed it did look a bit weird in such a short period of time.
Tea was infuriated. How could that woman say such a thing?!!
"WHAT? No, it's for my ankle! Please ma'am are you going to help me or not!"
"Please wait behind the line ma'am and I will call you up." The nurse interrupted ignoring everything that was said before.
Tea and Bakura stared for what seemed like the longest time. (0)(0) The medical department really needed some new help.
Tea had no other choice but to wait patiently for a whole blasted 40 MINUTES before she could fill out a few pieces of paper and then wait patiently before a doctor or nurse called her in.
Tea watched the hand on a clock move clockwise out of sheer boredom. It had ways of helping the time pass by.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock tick- "This is stupid." Bakura blurted out, growing tired and weary of this wait. "Why don't you just wrap the bloody ankle at your home?"
Tea rolled her eyes in defeat. She wasn't going to argue with this hot tempered gremlin from hell nor did she want to. She really didn't know this guy much and she wasn't going to start yelling at him the same way she did with Joey. Well speak of the devil!!
"JOEY??"
Tea's voice went up an octave as Tea's eyes literally bulged out of their sockets. There was Joey and Serenity walking out of the door that led to the examination rooms. What the hell?
"The bloody Wheeler kid???" Bakura quietly shrieked, grabbing a newspaper just in time and raising to his face. Well this wasn't good.
"Hey Tea! What's up!?" Joey beamed running towards one of his best friends. Tea sweated bullets, as Bakura opened the paper to the kitchen's appliance section and brought it high up to his face. "Why couldn't I have gotten the sports page at least?"
Tea gripped the seat tightly. This would all be over for her friends if Joey found out.
"Tea what are ya doing in a place like dis?"
"Oh well uh I twisted my ankle on the street. Nothing real big."
Serenity frowned and eyed her friend with curiosity and concern. "Did you really Tea?" Serenity asked meekly. Tea saw the concern on her face and the ways he eyed the stranger sitting next to her, who's face she couldn't see.
""Yeah Serenity that's the truth I swear." Serenity nodded her head slowly up and down not taking her word for it completely.
"What about you Joey, what's wrong?"
"Get rid of them." Bakura whispered from behind the newspaper.
Joey laughed out loud, as if he were super man. "Me? Eh some stupid flu. Those Docs said I gotta rest a couple days but what da heck do they know, eh?"
Tea smiled, but noticed the dark circles around Joey's eyes. He really didn't look too well.
"He'll be fine Tea. I just wanted to get a second opinion from the Doc." Serenity cut in smiling politely.
A long uncomfortable silence followed not long after that. No one could think of anything to say. No one, but Bakura.
"Get them out of here or your going to see a lot of dead bodies in a short while." Bakura warned, hiding his voice as best as humanly possible. It failed to do any good as Joey saw Tea's eyes move to the figure whose head was concealed by a newspaper.
Joey's curiosity got the better of him. "Hey Tea, ya know dis guy?"
Tea stiffened to the point where her back made an awful cracking noise and now it was Bakura's turn to have an expression of total surprise. (0))((0)
Tea sweated bullets while Serenity remained silent. "Uh who?"
Joey raised an eyebrow. He wasn't always bright but come on! "That guy right there!"
"Oh him?" Bakura glared at Tea. She wouldn't dare expose him. "Oh I don't know him." Tea said simply.
Joey scratched his head. "Are ya sure?"
"No." She replied too quickly. Bakura winced at her stupidity.
Joey's eyebrows furrowed up at her all too quick response. "So uh ya do know him?"
"No."
"So ya don't know him?"
"No?" Tea wasn't one to lie and this was beginning to get very hard. She couldn't keep doing it. Bakura was sooner ready to kill then to listen to this conversation any further.
Joey sighed, he was getting confused. "Uh Tea do ya know him or not? You're kinda confusing me here."
(--) This conversation wasn't going anywhere.
"Uh yeah I know him, but not that well. He uh escorted me here." Tea said while gripping her left arm.
"Oh well thanks buddy. That was real kind of ya!" Joey beamed a smile of generosity at this stranger, whose face was still concealed.
"Hey do ya hear me there man!? Hey I'm talking to ya!"
"Joey!" Tea blurted out. Joey stared at his friend in dismay. This was getting slightly weird.
"Yeah Tea?"
Bakura eyed Tea dangerously. Any second now he would have to get up and at that point he would send all three of them to the shadow realm and that would be the end of that, enough said.
Tea swallowed hard, thinking quickly. "Uh please Joey he's a VERY shy guy. It's almost like a phobia. Uh he says thank you. Perhaps its time for you guys to get going. We have school first thing tomorrow. Bet that old woman's going to give us a pop quiz."
Joey smiled apologetically at the both of them. He wasn't sure where this was going but he had his sister to attend to, and standing around all night wasn't helping the both of them. On the contrary, Serenity frowned down at Tea, which Tea was quick to notice. Her cheeks turned slightly red from embarrassment. It was embarrassment of lying openly to one who knew. It crushed Tea's spirits.
"Alright Tea. Guess I'll see ya at school den."
Serenity took her brother's arm in her own, turning Joey's body towards the door. "That's if you go to school tomorrow. I have a funny feeling he'll be staying home. Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow Tea. Call me if you need anything." Serenity winked when Joey wasn't looking.
Tea sighed in heavy relief, but it was a sigh that came too soon. Before any of the Wheeler's could get outside the hospital, the doctor walked in at that exact moment. He smiled at the brunette nodding to her.
"Well, well, well, its you again. Didn't you have a boy in here awhile back? How is he doing?"
Serenity tried to push her brother out of the door, but Joey was caught with curiosity.
"Wait what boy? Tea you brought a boy here awhile back? Who?" Joey interrupted much to Serenity's dismay. Serenity watched the man who's identity was momentarily covered with a newspaper. His hands gripped the paper tighter, obviously wrinkling the sides into slight rips.
Tea's eyes glinted confusion and fear. Oh this was not going to end well. "Uh I guess he's okay I don't know."
The doctor looked confused. "But you said he was your-
"Oh HIM! Oh he's doing fine just fine!!!" Tea interrupted knowing where the doctor was going with this.
"What boy?" Joey asked.
The doctor cleared it up for him. "She brought a boy in a couple weeks back. He was in bad shape."
Joey stared at Tea in bewilderment. "Who was it? Do I know him?"
Tea shook her head back and forth. "It's no one Joey go on home." She spoke as if it were not that big of a deal. "This really is my business." Tea said somewhat annoyingly.
Joey heard the coldness of her voice and decided it was time to leave. He was obviously upsetting Tea with something he said. "Okay Tea. Uh see ya."
He forced a happy smile before leaving. Tea's eyes softened significantly. She didn't mean to be so negative with her words or tone. She felt really bad. Serenity standing there in the doorway a look of disappointment on her face, didn't make Tea feel any better. The doctor to no extent was confused.
Unaware to any of them Bakura had watched the situation or instead listened to the situation carefully. There was no denying it was Marik the girl was referring to. This was a story he was not entirely aware of. What exactly happened two weeks ago? His curiosity much like Joey's had gotten the better of him.
"Well Miss Gardener, why don't we get you on a wheel chair and we'll take a look at that ankle. Um sir, would you like to come with this young lady since you did bring her in? It would be no trouble at all of course."
Bakura removed the newspaper from in front of his face. He knew as plane as day Tea was avoiding his quizzical stares. She felt like a book with her flaps open. Anyone would've been able to read her much like a novel. She felt bare.
"No I'd rather wait here." Bakura replied suddenly, startling the doctor. The doctor hadn't heard this man's voice yet and though his appearance was deceiving, his voice was rather deep, raspy and commanding as if he had years under his belt. What strange friends this young lady had.
"Alright then, Gardener follow me." Without even a second glance, Tea hopped over to a wheelchair as the doctor wheeled her through the door all the time Bakura's narrowed uneasy eyes following them. It was obvious that she was hiding something more. The Tomb Robber never missed a thing.
"Hey Joey?" Her voice was shaken and sad, Joey could tell when Serenity's voice got like that. It was more then just being polite.
"Yeah Serenity? What's wrong?" Startled by Joey's rather tired voice Serenity peered up leveled with her brother's weary eyes. Joey's dark rings around his eyes made his face seem so foreign to her. He didn't look healthy at all. Even more, she wanted so much to tell him of Marik, of Bakura, and the secrecy involving her friend. But....he just looked....so sickly. He didn't need this at the moment it would only make him worst.
"Um...never mind."
Bakura tapped his long slender fingers irritably. How annoying this had turned out to develop. Where was the damn wench? Where was the damn doctor? And why was this nurse wench staring at him like a wild animal?! It was enough for him to go over the edge...and then the doors opened revealing a brunette woman and a much older taller man covered in white.
The woman was on crutches and her ankle neatly and tightly wrapped. She balanced her weight evenly on both pegs though it was obvious to say she was no expert in the art of crutches.
"Finally." Bakura mumbled unpleasantly standing up and pulling the rubber band from his hair. The pony tail had literally cut off his circulation and he was sick of wearing the bloody thing. Needless to say the doctor and Tea stared at him skeptically as his hair went every which direction.
"Can we go now?" He asked gruffly trying to keep his uneasy temper at a minimum.
"Of course." The doctor replied. "I've already had Tea fill out the papers. Now just keep that ankle wrapped snuggly and firmly, and stay on those crutches for about a week and I think you should be fine. If the pain becomes bothersome take a Motrin. And do any of you have any questions for me?"
"No." Bakura shot out before Tea was given the chance to say a thing. The white haired man turned quickly on his heals proceeding to the doorway. Tea just smiled reassuringly at the doctor, silently apologizing for his behavior. Pulling herself forward, Tea strived to catch up to Bakura who had apparently stopped at the door. Tea looked up in annoyance. Was he going to open the door for her or not?
That's when she noticed it...Bakura's hands were gripping the corners of his pants. His hair looked like cat's fur being scared shitless.
"Well? Are you going to open the door for me or what-
"Shut up." He hissed. "Someone very strange is approaching...I want you to avoid the person if possible. I'm bringing out Ryou for a short period of time. You and he better not try anything or else."
Before Tea could object the door opened up smacking right against Tea's crutches and sending her to the ground. "AYIEEE!!" (OO)
Pow...man was the floor hard...
"Oh jeez, shit I'm sorry! Are you okay? Man I guess this is the type of thing you go to hell for. Hey let me help you up!" Being in a sort of daze, Tea felt a strong hand reach out to her. She felt like a stupid child unable to say a word. Her opened mouth and beaded little eyes seem to gawk at the man offering his hand to her dumbly.
"Oh...uh thanks." Using his other hand, the man assisted Tea. He kept a firm hand on her while he gathered her crutches up. "Jeez I'm really sorry! I'm really not the brightest person."
Tea blinked once or twice forcing herself to recover from the fall. That's when she got a good look at the man. He was smiling politely at her although it did appear that he had the tips of a couple fangs poking out from beneath that smile of his. Kinda cute she thought.
"So...you're not gonna sue me or anything I hope. I'm kinda-
Tea laughed out loud waving her hands in defense with her smile spread on wide. "No of course not accidents happen."
"Yeah but I guess you already had yours." He rubbed the back of his head bashfully.
Giggling Tea did not notice Bakura behind the both of them until a minute or two later. Wincing, Tea eyed the Tomb Robber.
Yet something was oddly strange about the white haired lunatic...He appeared to be clutching his head like he had a huge headache or something. When he looked up level to Tea's eyes they were filled with anguish, guilt, confusion, and horror. It was as if he had been released from prison on a short notice only momentarily never knowing when he'd be dragged back to his hell hole. It was definitely Ryou.
Tea gasped slightly her eyes widening with each glance. The man in front of her looked confused. Following her eyes he traced them back to Ryou who was no more then 5 feet away.
"Aw I'm sorry man I didn't realize you were there. Uh I hope you don't think I'm uh...hehehe its really not what it looks like." The man took a quick defense thinking that Ryou would accuse him of hitting on Tea.
It took a few minutes to register, being behind the mirror helpless and defenseless for so long but Ryou understood all that he was talking about.
"Oh um...its okay mate we're just friends." Ryou said slowly crunching up his eyebrows to focus his vision better. It had been so long since he had been allowed free access to his body. He wasn't even sure if he remembered how to walk.
The man frowned slightly not allowing the other two to notice. He cocked an eyebrow at the white haired albino boy as if noting what he looked like, who he was, and mentally cursing the both of them.
"Hey are you alright?"
Tea was quick to cut in. "Oh he's fine. Guess we better go then. Um uh sorry again I guess."
The man blew her apology off gently. "Sorry for what? It'd be my fault if anything. Anyways uh I didn't catch your name."
Ryou and Tea glanced at one another both shrugging simultaneously. "Mine's Tea."
"And mines-
(Don't give him your name fool!)
Ryou mentally gasped. That sounded a lot like Bakura.
(Make up a name! Hurry up before he notices your stalling!)
"Uh my name's James." Ryou quickened feeling the hairs on his head stand back.
Tea gave her friend a bewildered look but she figured to was something concerning Bakura. She would ask later.
The man nodded. "Well perhaps we'll meet again Tea and James. But uh see ya!"
"Hey wait!" Hopping on foot Tea tried her best to stop the stranger from walking off. The man looked at her rather amusingly, enjoying her attempt to walk one footed. Ryou stayed silent, feeling nervous more than anything.
Tea breathed and smiled politely. "I didn't catch your name."
Rubbing his head again the man laughed. "Oh yeah guess that would help. Well its Tress. Eh don't ask where it came from. Really crappy eh?"
"Tress?" Tea repeated to herself as if sounding out the word. "Huh...that's interesting. Well um bye then!"
Tress waved them off as they scooted out the door. Playing his cheerful smile carefully, it soon twisted to a mischievous one.
"Something's really weird about that white haired guy. I can't tell what it is though. Well who the hell cares, this place has got some pretty sweet looking women wandering the place. Crutches and all!" He laughed approaching the front desk.
"Can I help you?" The nurse asked unmotivated.
"Yeah um did some guy by the name of Joey come walking in here or is he in here right now by chance? I'm a cousin" He asked smiling the entire time. "He supposedly has blonde hair and stuff."
The woman behind the desk blinked dumbly. "Uh I think there was a young man here earlier but he left."
"Do you know where I can reach him?"
The woman sighed in frustration waving her hands in the air in aggravation. "No I don't. Now if you'll excuse me this isn't Search and Rescue, this is a hospital, good day to you."
Tress winced mentally. Man did these women have serious attitude problems. Oh well at least he was on the right track. Guess he'd have to attend that school tomorrow.
"RYOU!"
Tea's words had no affect on the boy who hunched next to the bench across the street. She tried her best to use the crutches but they had no appeal to her at all.
"You could at least help me...." When she got no response her anger instantly dropped to a frown. She was worried. Then again who knew how long Ryou had been trapped within the bowels of his own mind.
"Ryou its okay he's gone now. We can work this out so you're always in control so don't give up. I have a plan-.........Ryou?"
Ryou's bangs covered the top half of his face. She saw something oddly foreign in him the way the veins tightened from his wrists all the way up to his shoulder.
Tea leaned on her crutch stepping back as best she could "Y-your not Ryou are you? You turned back when that guy w-was gone! Bakura talk to me!"
A slight chuckle mixed with what sounded like a sneer and growl mending together, spoke the truth in Tea's words. Bakura stared up, one eye still covered. He was smirking for a short period of time but it fell quickly.
"You have a plan do you? What is it?"
"Nothing." She said instantly.
"You lie."
"No...I'm-
"Don't play stupid with me girl! I know all too well about pretend!"
Tea released a squeak, her heart beat racing. "Well if that's so then why did you change with Ryou back there? What was it about that guy that scared you?" She regained her nerve.
"Te, nothing. I don't get scared. I've died almost 4 times now and I have yet to cower in fear."
She raised an eyebrow quickly. "That doesn't cut it. You were taking some kind of precaution. Did you know him?"
Bakura's patience was wearing thin. Somehow Tea had stricken a sensitive area because the next thing she knew he was up and laughing at her.
"You've got a lot of guts girl. What concerns me is none of your damn business. But I don't want to hear anymore about what I did back there especially to Marik. And for that you can find your own way home!" Turning on his heals Bakura stuck his hands in his pockets casually, never looking back and laughing the entire time. Tea stared angrily at his back. It was useless fighting with him, he wasn't going to feel any sympathetic just because she was on crutches. Besides, its not like he helped her before jeez.
Fine she could crutch her way home then!
"ass..." She mumbled taking a different road....a shorter one...
Click............The News
Click...............A cooking channel
Click..............Jerry Springer....
"Is this what they do to entertain themselves?" Marik asked himself. He was obviously disgusted and bored to death. He wished that he had stuck around in that alley and had himself a little more fun with the thugs. It was a hell of a lot better then watching this piece of garbage. "What a waste of precious time."
Click.........Barney
((0)))(((0)) "What the hell is this?"
He watched in somewhat confusion as young children danced and sang happy songs with what appeared to be a giant purple and green dinosaur. What the hell was the world coming to?!!
"Ugh I don't believe this." Marik spat staring with an open jaw as a green female dinosaur popped out of nowhere. "Where the hell did she come from? Is that his lover?"
He made an open face of disgust and terror as they all broke out into a different song about sharing. It was enough to turn his stomach.
Click...........Resident Evil
"Humph much better." Marik grumbled to himself planting his elbow into the seat cushion and resting the side of his head on his hand, while the other held the remote.
Once and a while he'd stare down at Tea's pathetic deck. It was rather pathetic. Then again she was a worthless female with no mind set for the game, not that he was all that concerned about it either. Dueling would not stop what he had planned this time. No he had no use for his old plan, Malik's plan.
His eyes drifted over to the door as it creaked open. He knew right away who it was as he sighted the white ruffled hair. He didn't even have to bother turning his head.
"Where's the girl?" Marik asked broadly.
Bakura sneered, obviously still unable to warm up to his partner. He shrugged at the reply just the same. "She'll be here depending how quickly she can limp her way over."
Marik raised an eyebrow turning the channel again. "You didn't kill her did you?"
Bakura rolled his eyes annoyingly. "No I didn't. She's on crutches is all. It may be awhile. You know she isn't very motivated to get back to her cozy little home with the both of us living in it."
Marik smirked. "True." He didn't ask anything else so Bakura stood there for what seemed like forever waiting for Marik to ask something else. When there was no more, his frustration turned Bakura's mood once more. Glaring lightly at Marik's form, he retreated to the basement.
Meanwhile....was it raining? No Had there been some sort of accident? No. Then why was Tea covered in water?
It wasn't...it was sweat. She was working her way up the hill.
(o)) "This is........so much.....harder....then....it looks........UGH!!!"
Zoeygirl: Mahahaha well will Tea make it up the hill? What's up with Joey? What plans does Marik have? And what's school got in store for them? I dunno either but don't worry I'll eventually come up with something...()
To All Those Joey LOVERS-LOL don't worry you will get more Joey believe me....() This is a half and half fict with him in it too.
AnimeSenko-LOL I plan to sometime in the next year or so...LOl thanks. Good luck with your PC though.