Disclaimer: No, No, you got it all wrong I don't own Y-G-O
Zoeygirl: Hello! Well hope all of ya are doing fine. This chapter is more of a filler if ya want to know the truth. It's quite short compared to my usual, but I wanted it in here anyways. That and, well I am in the process of visiting relatives so this is what I came up with for my past 3 week visit. Didn't want to leave you guys with nothing of course. .
Anyways I come back tomorrow so I'll be able to write more. Enjoy the short filler.
Muscles straining, skin tightening around the joints, and the cold ugly feeling of sweat trickling down your back and neck in the strangest of sensations. This is what Tea felt as she strained to pull herself up the steep slope that lead straight to her house. Every now and then she would glance up at the distant moon which seemed to laugh at her efforts to move just a few feet every 5 minutes.
"Of all the nasty things for him to do, he leaves a crippled girl all alone in the dark, defenseless and at MY home! He has some nerve!" She kept uttering the same phrases over and over hoping to curse Bakura to hell where he belonged.
With a sudden drop of her will, Tea flung her crutches aside and collapsed to the ground, sighing in frustration and sitting on a nearby curve. She crossed her arms over her knees and stared up at the clearing sky. As the weather report noted, it wasn't supposed to rain for the next 7 days. This would be a nice week approaching. Well...it would've been if she hadn't had the double stress of dealing with two evil forces who by the way, had deliberately made an attempt to stay at her home. Boy, this was going to be a hellish year she knew that for sure. (--)
"I've got to be calm and strong." Tea said to herself out loud with a sudden chill of serenity washing over her conscience. "I have to for my friends and for the sake of Serenity, myself, and Ryou who's still in there somewhere. Sorry Yugi, but I'm afraid I'll have to lie to you and Yami a little longer if I have any chance in pulling this off." Her breath seemed to be stuck at the bottom of her lungs as she sighed again without any realization of it. Her eyes drooped half way as the moon's radiant light hovered over her like a shadow. She was the only one in the neighborhood out or awake for that matter, but it was in fact a beautiful night.
With her eyes shutting without full consciousness of her actions, a dark shadow forced the moon's light to leave Tea's area as it stood covering her own shadow completely. He was staring down at her un amused and uncaring.
"What exactly do you think you're doing girl?" The voice was like ice freezing over the sweat on her back. Her hair felt like it stood on end like a cat being backed into a corner. Her large blue eyes snapped open and abruptly stared up at the blonde haired boy whose arms were stiffly crossed and still. A permanent sneer she could not forget rested upon his lips, cheekbones, and eyes indicating a striking resemblance to Malik.
"Marik!" She cried suddenly trying to play it cool but obviously failing.
"Why are you sitting here? Are you avoiding coming to your own home? Or perhaps you are having second thoughts on keeping this secret of ours. Maybe you have already told a soul and you do not wish to put yourself in harms way terrified that we already know. It wouldn't surprise me." Although his expression did not change, Tea could hear the ego and mocking viciousness in his accented voice.
For the third time that day perhaps, Tea was angry. Angry because he had still not been able to trust her when she had given him her word, angry because here she was abandoned on crutches and being lectured by a sadist at heart, angry because he had no right to play master over her.
"No actually I'm sitting here because I'm tired and exhausted from walking up the hill." Tea practically spat staring up at him without fear.
Marik glanced over at her crutches laying on the walkway. He made no attempt to help her up or grab them for that matter.
With a small smirk Tea made an effort to stand on one leg. "What's wrong, did your own guilt send you down here to find me? I hope it's not pity." Tea said solemnly reaching to grab at her pegged sticks.
"Humph, don't flatter yourself girl. I came down here because I feared you would finally crack and rat to somebody maybe that damn Pharaoh or the weakling whose body he has inhabited. I also came because at this time I am hungry and while I don't know how to cook because Malik does not know how to cook and I hope I must not explain why that is, but I refuse to ask Bakura."
Tea raised her eyes in sudden astonishment. "So...you want me you something to eat?"
Marik did not flinch or move. "Yes in simpler terms for you to understand."
Tea blinked helplessly. "So uh....what do I get out of it? I don't do stuff like that for free you know."
Marik considered the thought for a second. "I suppose I could threaten you to make me something to eat."
"I suppose I'd rather die at this moment then be brought down to THAT level." She barked suddenly not realizing what she just said.
"If I carried you back, you will cook me something." It was more of a command then a question at heart. Frankly that also caught Tea off guard. She really didn't want to be near the jerk let alone being carried by him, but it was still a few blocks away from her house and this walk was becoming just ridiculous. She was about to crawl home if it came to that. Hell she'd get there quicker.
"I...guess." She took his injuries into account when she answered, but Tea figured the evil spirit wasn't much on remorse from others. Without another word, Marik shoved the crutches Tea had been clawing for earlier, shoved them into her arms, and lifted her up without so much as a sound. He started up the hill walking straight and steadily as if he had no injuries or problems. It was Tea who felt oddly embarrassed and stiff. She felt like she shouldn't even breath or move a single joint in her whole body. To state it simply, she was uncomfortable.
"Can you make lamb?" He said abruptly, his slanted dangerous eyes looking ahead. This random and sudden question made Tea wonder if this really was the Marik that she remembered. His personality wasn't even the same. Wasn't he the one who used to laugh evilly 24/7??? Wow this had gotten weird for her.
"Well...uh.....I don't think I have...any....lamb..."
"Use a substitute then." He said simply as her home came into view.
"Err.....okay..." (OO)
"Joey you can't go to school!! You're sick remember what the doctor said!?" A pleading voice yelled only a half a mile away from Tea's home. Serenity followed Joey's moving body as he went from kitchen to family room in a hurry. He was collecting his stuff for tomorrow's first day of school. Serenity was looking like a nervous mother. Her hands were clasped together and her eyes were practically trembling.
"Joey I'm really worried about you. You don't even look better! You look worst!"
"Sis will ya stop worrying! People go places all da time and some of them have da flue. I'm fine."
Serenity bit her lip. She wondered if she should call her parents. They could handle this. It wasn't just Joey's health she was worrying about though. It was Tea's welfare. She knew exactly who it was in the emergency room and how close Joey was to finding out. She was scared to death because Tea was hurt and it was no coincidence. Who knows what they had done to her. But Serenity promised her friend she wouldn't say a word. It hurt her, it scared her, she probably knew deep down that this wasn't right, but it was almost like blackmail now. If she told someone, anyone, who knew if those evil spirit guys had a mind reading power or some other way of knowing, and if they did, Tea's life would be at risk. The only thing she could do at the moment was keep her mouth shut.
Lowering her head to where her face couldn't be seen, Serenity pleaded one more time for Joey's sake. "Please...brother please do it for me. You're going to make me a nervous wreck bro." Serenity laughed lightly, nervously at the end of her plea, trying to be as loose as possible.
It was strange though...Joey always complied with her wishes and then some. Why was he becoming so weird? All day today he had refused some of her offers, ignored her a little, and even lectured her when she came in late. He had always trusted her before and she'd been late at Tea's numerous times and he had never shown any worry. He trusted her. Was it because he was sick? She hoped not...it was scaring her.
"Brother are you even listening to me?"
"Hey sis have ya seen my dueling cards? I'm gonna bring em tomorrow. Ha I'll kick everybody's butt!" He smiled gleefully eating a cookie as he went through some of his junk piled in the corner next to a fern plant.
"Joey are you listening to me?!" She cried finally stopping him in his tracks.
"Sis why are ya flipping out? Ya don't need to worry Serenity I'll be fine. I've been worst really." Joey smiled scratching his head in a goofy manner, while gleaming his teeth in a grin.
"Joey if you don't stay home tomorrow I'm...I'm...I'm going to call Mai and have her keep you here! She'll put you in you're place if I can't."
Joey blushed deeply looking away. If a threat could do it that sure as heck was the one.
"Ah sis will ya cut it out. Ya might as well have sent Tristan or Duke or someone. Eh dat's okay Mai doesn't worry about me like dat."
Serenity heard the hint of sadness in her brother's voice which was quickly pushed away when he discovered a couple 8 YEAR OLD folders that were HALFWAY decent surprisingly.
"I'm not joking Joey. If I must I'll call Mom and Dad and-
Serenity stopped mid-sentence as Joey grimly rose to his feet standing there, his arms dangling by his side. He had a baseball in his left hand and his face showed signs of mixed emotions and anger. Serenity's eyes darted from his face to the baseball. Why did she suddenly feel uncomfortable? A cold chill raced up her spine, sending shivers coursing through her body.
With a swift motion of his wrists he whirled the baseball at the floor. Serenity jumped just a little and winced as a sharp thud came in contact with the wooden floor. She heard it bounce away, down the hallway into another room finally stopping when it connected with the wall. Joey stood there staring at her, he looked upset and heavens knew why. This was a side to Joey that Serenity had only seen when he was really pissed off at an enemy, like Kaiba or Marik. But never at her! He had never acted this way towards a friend in which he threw things.
"And what exactly would dey do anyways sis? They don't care! They sure as heck didn't care when they split up. Mom and Dad's only concern was each other. No not even dat! Cause they never took into account our feelings. Don't mention them sis I don't want to hear what Mom and Dad may or may not do." Joey didn't say anything else. He grabbed his book bag and ran up the steps towards his room.
"Joey this isn't you. What's wrong with you?" Serenity whispered clutching her elbow in a nervous reaction. "There's something just not right with you brother."
A new day and a new school year for the University of Domino! It was certainly a glorious day. The sun was shining, the sky was a deep ocean blue, the wind was blowing peacefully, and the birds were chirping. Oh were they chirping! Words could not express the sound of their melodies as they danced from fence post to fence post.
A bundle of messy white hair charged up the basement steps, to the backyard window, and snapping its glass open just as the sweet song birds were reaching their opening climax.
"SHUT UP!!" Bakura snapped without control, the bloodlust growing in his venomous eyes. "OR YOU'LL END UP LIKE THAT DECAYING BIRD OVER THERE!!"
There was not so much as a squeak that could be heard in a mile radius around the perimeter. The birds and living creatures knew to avoid the giant white looking lab rat, learned to stay away and fear he and the other cobra-like male in the house.
An hour later, Tea sat at the table eating some cereal and toast in nervous bites. This was her second year at the University and the courses appeared not to get any easier. This was also Serenity's first year too and she was anxious to show her friend around. On top of that, Tea was thrilled to discover she had a class with every one of her friends in one or more courses, even Mai!
Realization dawned on her though, when her eyes traveled to the two men sitting in eye's view in the dining room. They were discussing something private because they were whispering. Hmm maybe they were discussing whether they should let her go or not. It had been decided that she should not leave the house for extended hours because they feared she would blab or run to someone for help, but Marik had proposed her friends would get suspicious. In the end, they decided to let her do as she wanted. They would know when she gave them away. They always had their ways.
Feeling a bit foolish, Tea thought it best to offer them some breakfast in order to be maybe polite, and possibly cross over to their good side. Eh it was wishful thinking just the same.
"Uh...do you two want something to eat?" Tea asked aloud, interrupting whatever they were talking about. The two men stopped their discussions and turned to her with cold eyes, neither of them answering her. Tea sweated bullets, winced and went back to eating. So much for being polite...
Ding Dong!
The doorbell rang and Tea was all too relieved to get it. She could tell Marik and Bakura were waiting to see who it was, hiding behind the wall where they sat. Only Tea smiled somewhat confidently, knowing all too well it was her friend...
"Hello Tea!"
Serenity...
"Oh hi, come on in." Tea smiled opening the door all the way, while managing her crutches.
Serenity smiled politely, her blue carry bag strapped over one shoulder, but suddenly stopped halfway, hesitating. "Um...."
Tea blinked and smiled bashfully knowing all too well why Serenity was just standing there sheepish.
"Oh its okay, their just uh talking really. It hasn't been like THAT really. Hehehe, I've been bothering them more then they've been hovering over my shoulder."
Before Serenity could object, Tea had grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in shifting on the weight of her left crutch. Little were they aware that Serenity had been followed the entire way.
The man watched with anxious eyes as the door closed...now was his chance.
"Do you want something to eat or drink?" Tea asked noticing Serenity's somewhat odd behavior.
"No thanks." She said, rubbing her elbow and staring at the ground.
Tea frowned, staring at her friend. "Is everything alright?"
Serenity looked up, concerned and sort of confused. "Your foot...are...are you okay? Tea if...if something-
"No please don't think that." Tea interrupted quietly. "It really wasn't their doing, it was mine, I mean that. I would tell you if it were them... I fell down after some thugs tried to...well chase me down." She chuckled, although Serenity didn't find it all that funny.
"Yup um they actually saved me if you could believe it." Tea said comically. Serenity gawked at her friend in disbelief.
"Wait, is there something else wrong?"
Serenity stared towards the window, her hands fidgeting by her side. "It's Joey...he's been acting weird."
Tea merely blinked. "Well that's a shocker for you. You just realized this?" Tea teased.
"No it's weird. Yesterday night, when we got back from the doctor's, I told him to stay home tomorrow because he looks even worst, and well I mentioned my parents and he became hysteric. He threw a baseball at the wall and stomped upstairs...he...he...he scared me."
Tea's eyes widened in astonishment...no that couldn't have been Joey. What the heck caused him to do a thing like that was beyond her. "Maybe it was because he was sick."
Serenity nodded. "Maybe...he's going to school anyways. I can't make him."
Sighing, they both stood there.
"Well it could be the idiot has obtained some sort of disease and he's finally going to die."
Serenity squeaked in surprise and Tea whirled around to find Marik and Bakura standing there in the doorway.
"That's not funny." Tea warned, gripping her crutches.
Bakura shrugged. "It wasn't meant to be."
Marik only scoffed staring down at the uncomfortable girl. Serenity was trying hard not to make eye contact.
"Hey!" Tea snapped. "Why don't you-
Knock, Knock, Knock!
The front door thudded multiple times.
Without ever thinking, Tea hopped over to the door and opened it, while Marik and Bakura yelled in unison, "Wait don't do it!"
There in the doorway, helping himself in, was-
"TRISTAN???"
"Hey Tea...OH HI SERENITY funny seeing you here!" He gleamed grabbing her hands and staring dazedly into her eyes.
Serenity sweat dropped, her hair frizzing in surprise. "Uh...errr....hi...Tristan..."
Tristan blushed madly, obvious he didn't take the two strangers into account.
Bakura slapped his forehead as Tea made a silent "Oops."
"I was just paying tea a visit...hehehe didn't know you would be here too."
"Riiggghhhttt..." Tea grumbled closing the door and waiting for the screams.
"Yup...oh hey Bakura and Marik...anyways Serenity maybe we could-
Yup it took him that long...
Tristan dropped Serenity's hands...and slowly ever so slowly he rose his head to the two spirits less than 6 feet away from him.
OO..........uh.........Tea?.............
"Sigh...yes Tristan?" Oh boy this wasn't going to blow over well....especially if Marik and Bakura decided to kill him.
"I....uh.....don't usually scream but um..." Tristan glanced down to Serenity for an answer who only smiled sheepishly and innocently. He found no response.
"Th-th-those two are uh....AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHH!!!" Tristan released the most blood churning scream Tea had ever witnessed from any human response.
Bakura covered his ears, grinding his teeth...'Must...not kill...just YET!'
Marik gawked at the pointy headed guy in dismay. The guy was staring at him screaming his lungs off and pointing. Looking for an answer, Marik glanced from side to side.
Oh...guess he was screaming at him. Marik thought cocking an eye at the horrified mortal guy.
Serenity winced, or rather grimaced as Tea lost balance and fell down.
Supposedly...there was one more soul who knew about this secret. The question was whether Marik and Bakura would allow this soul to stick around.
OIUOUOIUOIUOUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIU
Zoeygirl: Well there ya go. I promise this'll be the crappiest one but I just had to put this in here, I dunno. Anyways this has been by far one of my shortest chapters lately. (Shrugs) Oh well I'll try not to let it happen again. Hehehe...
Zoeygirl: Hello! Well hope all of ya are doing fine. This chapter is more of a filler if ya want to know the truth. It's quite short compared to my usual, but I wanted it in here anyways. That and, well I am in the process of visiting relatives so this is what I came up with for my past 3 week visit. Didn't want to leave you guys with nothing of course. .
Anyways I come back tomorrow so I'll be able to write more. Enjoy the short filler.
Muscles straining, skin tightening around the joints, and the cold ugly feeling of sweat trickling down your back and neck in the strangest of sensations. This is what Tea felt as she strained to pull herself up the steep slope that lead straight to her house. Every now and then she would glance up at the distant moon which seemed to laugh at her efforts to move just a few feet every 5 minutes.
"Of all the nasty things for him to do, he leaves a crippled girl all alone in the dark, defenseless and at MY home! He has some nerve!" She kept uttering the same phrases over and over hoping to curse Bakura to hell where he belonged.
With a sudden drop of her will, Tea flung her crutches aside and collapsed to the ground, sighing in frustration and sitting on a nearby curve. She crossed her arms over her knees and stared up at the clearing sky. As the weather report noted, it wasn't supposed to rain for the next 7 days. This would be a nice week approaching. Well...it would've been if she hadn't had the double stress of dealing with two evil forces who by the way, had deliberately made an attempt to stay at her home. Boy, this was going to be a hellish year she knew that for sure. (--)
"I've got to be calm and strong." Tea said to herself out loud with a sudden chill of serenity washing over her conscience. "I have to for my friends and for the sake of Serenity, myself, and Ryou who's still in there somewhere. Sorry Yugi, but I'm afraid I'll have to lie to you and Yami a little longer if I have any chance in pulling this off." Her breath seemed to be stuck at the bottom of her lungs as she sighed again without any realization of it. Her eyes drooped half way as the moon's radiant light hovered over her like a shadow. She was the only one in the neighborhood out or awake for that matter, but it was in fact a beautiful night.
With her eyes shutting without full consciousness of her actions, a dark shadow forced the moon's light to leave Tea's area as it stood covering her own shadow completely. He was staring down at her un amused and uncaring.
"What exactly do you think you're doing girl?" The voice was like ice freezing over the sweat on her back. Her hair felt like it stood on end like a cat being backed into a corner. Her large blue eyes snapped open and abruptly stared up at the blonde haired boy whose arms were stiffly crossed and still. A permanent sneer she could not forget rested upon his lips, cheekbones, and eyes indicating a striking resemblance to Malik.
"Marik!" She cried suddenly trying to play it cool but obviously failing.
"Why are you sitting here? Are you avoiding coming to your own home? Or perhaps you are having second thoughts on keeping this secret of ours. Maybe you have already told a soul and you do not wish to put yourself in harms way terrified that we already know. It wouldn't surprise me." Although his expression did not change, Tea could hear the ego and mocking viciousness in his accented voice.
For the third time that day perhaps, Tea was angry. Angry because he had still not been able to trust her when she had given him her word, angry because here she was abandoned on crutches and being lectured by a sadist at heart, angry because he had no right to play master over her.
"No actually I'm sitting here because I'm tired and exhausted from walking up the hill." Tea practically spat staring up at him without fear.
Marik glanced over at her crutches laying on the walkway. He made no attempt to help her up or grab them for that matter.
With a small smirk Tea made an effort to stand on one leg. "What's wrong, did your own guilt send you down here to find me? I hope it's not pity." Tea said solemnly reaching to grab at her pegged sticks.
"Humph, don't flatter yourself girl. I came down here because I feared you would finally crack and rat to somebody maybe that damn Pharaoh or the weakling whose body he has inhabited. I also came because at this time I am hungry and while I don't know how to cook because Malik does not know how to cook and I hope I must not explain why that is, but I refuse to ask Bakura."
Tea raised her eyes in sudden astonishment. "So...you want me you something to eat?"
Marik did not flinch or move. "Yes in simpler terms for you to understand."
Tea blinked helplessly. "So uh....what do I get out of it? I don't do stuff like that for free you know."
Marik considered the thought for a second. "I suppose I could threaten you to make me something to eat."
"I suppose I'd rather die at this moment then be brought down to THAT level." She barked suddenly not realizing what she just said.
"If I carried you back, you will cook me something." It was more of a command then a question at heart. Frankly that also caught Tea off guard. She really didn't want to be near the jerk let alone being carried by him, but it was still a few blocks away from her house and this walk was becoming just ridiculous. She was about to crawl home if it came to that. Hell she'd get there quicker.
"I...guess." She took his injuries into account when she answered, but Tea figured the evil spirit wasn't much on remorse from others. Without another word, Marik shoved the crutches Tea had been clawing for earlier, shoved them into her arms, and lifted her up without so much as a sound. He started up the hill walking straight and steadily as if he had no injuries or problems. It was Tea who felt oddly embarrassed and stiff. She felt like she shouldn't even breath or move a single joint in her whole body. To state it simply, she was uncomfortable.
"Can you make lamb?" He said abruptly, his slanted dangerous eyes looking ahead. This random and sudden question made Tea wonder if this really was the Marik that she remembered. His personality wasn't even the same. Wasn't he the one who used to laugh evilly 24/7??? Wow this had gotten weird for her.
"Well...uh.....I don't think I have...any....lamb..."
"Use a substitute then." He said simply as her home came into view.
"Err.....okay..." (OO)
"Joey you can't go to school!! You're sick remember what the doctor said!?" A pleading voice yelled only a half a mile away from Tea's home. Serenity followed Joey's moving body as he went from kitchen to family room in a hurry. He was collecting his stuff for tomorrow's first day of school. Serenity was looking like a nervous mother. Her hands were clasped together and her eyes were practically trembling.
"Joey I'm really worried about you. You don't even look better! You look worst!"
"Sis will ya stop worrying! People go places all da time and some of them have da flue. I'm fine."
Serenity bit her lip. She wondered if she should call her parents. They could handle this. It wasn't just Joey's health she was worrying about though. It was Tea's welfare. She knew exactly who it was in the emergency room and how close Joey was to finding out. She was scared to death because Tea was hurt and it was no coincidence. Who knows what they had done to her. But Serenity promised her friend she wouldn't say a word. It hurt her, it scared her, she probably knew deep down that this wasn't right, but it was almost like blackmail now. If she told someone, anyone, who knew if those evil spirit guys had a mind reading power or some other way of knowing, and if they did, Tea's life would be at risk. The only thing she could do at the moment was keep her mouth shut.
Lowering her head to where her face couldn't be seen, Serenity pleaded one more time for Joey's sake. "Please...brother please do it for me. You're going to make me a nervous wreck bro." Serenity laughed lightly, nervously at the end of her plea, trying to be as loose as possible.
It was strange though...Joey always complied with her wishes and then some. Why was he becoming so weird? All day today he had refused some of her offers, ignored her a little, and even lectured her when she came in late. He had always trusted her before and she'd been late at Tea's numerous times and he had never shown any worry. He trusted her. Was it because he was sick? She hoped not...it was scaring her.
"Brother are you even listening to me?"
"Hey sis have ya seen my dueling cards? I'm gonna bring em tomorrow. Ha I'll kick everybody's butt!" He smiled gleefully eating a cookie as he went through some of his junk piled in the corner next to a fern plant.
"Joey are you listening to me?!" She cried finally stopping him in his tracks.
"Sis why are ya flipping out? Ya don't need to worry Serenity I'll be fine. I've been worst really." Joey smiled scratching his head in a goofy manner, while gleaming his teeth in a grin.
"Joey if you don't stay home tomorrow I'm...I'm...I'm going to call Mai and have her keep you here! She'll put you in you're place if I can't."
Joey blushed deeply looking away. If a threat could do it that sure as heck was the one.
"Ah sis will ya cut it out. Ya might as well have sent Tristan or Duke or someone. Eh dat's okay Mai doesn't worry about me like dat."
Serenity heard the hint of sadness in her brother's voice which was quickly pushed away when he discovered a couple 8 YEAR OLD folders that were HALFWAY decent surprisingly.
"I'm not joking Joey. If I must I'll call Mom and Dad and-
Serenity stopped mid-sentence as Joey grimly rose to his feet standing there, his arms dangling by his side. He had a baseball in his left hand and his face showed signs of mixed emotions and anger. Serenity's eyes darted from his face to the baseball. Why did she suddenly feel uncomfortable? A cold chill raced up her spine, sending shivers coursing through her body.
With a swift motion of his wrists he whirled the baseball at the floor. Serenity jumped just a little and winced as a sharp thud came in contact with the wooden floor. She heard it bounce away, down the hallway into another room finally stopping when it connected with the wall. Joey stood there staring at her, he looked upset and heavens knew why. This was a side to Joey that Serenity had only seen when he was really pissed off at an enemy, like Kaiba or Marik. But never at her! He had never acted this way towards a friend in which he threw things.
"And what exactly would dey do anyways sis? They don't care! They sure as heck didn't care when they split up. Mom and Dad's only concern was each other. No not even dat! Cause they never took into account our feelings. Don't mention them sis I don't want to hear what Mom and Dad may or may not do." Joey didn't say anything else. He grabbed his book bag and ran up the steps towards his room.
"Joey this isn't you. What's wrong with you?" Serenity whispered clutching her elbow in a nervous reaction. "There's something just not right with you brother."
A new day and a new school year for the University of Domino! It was certainly a glorious day. The sun was shining, the sky was a deep ocean blue, the wind was blowing peacefully, and the birds were chirping. Oh were they chirping! Words could not express the sound of their melodies as they danced from fence post to fence post.
A bundle of messy white hair charged up the basement steps, to the backyard window, and snapping its glass open just as the sweet song birds were reaching their opening climax.
"SHUT UP!!" Bakura snapped without control, the bloodlust growing in his venomous eyes. "OR YOU'LL END UP LIKE THAT DECAYING BIRD OVER THERE!!"
There was not so much as a squeak that could be heard in a mile radius around the perimeter. The birds and living creatures knew to avoid the giant white looking lab rat, learned to stay away and fear he and the other cobra-like male in the house.
An hour later, Tea sat at the table eating some cereal and toast in nervous bites. This was her second year at the University and the courses appeared not to get any easier. This was also Serenity's first year too and she was anxious to show her friend around. On top of that, Tea was thrilled to discover she had a class with every one of her friends in one or more courses, even Mai!
Realization dawned on her though, when her eyes traveled to the two men sitting in eye's view in the dining room. They were discussing something private because they were whispering. Hmm maybe they were discussing whether they should let her go or not. It had been decided that she should not leave the house for extended hours because they feared she would blab or run to someone for help, but Marik had proposed her friends would get suspicious. In the end, they decided to let her do as she wanted. They would know when she gave them away. They always had their ways.
Feeling a bit foolish, Tea thought it best to offer them some breakfast in order to be maybe polite, and possibly cross over to their good side. Eh it was wishful thinking just the same.
"Uh...do you two want something to eat?" Tea asked aloud, interrupting whatever they were talking about. The two men stopped their discussions and turned to her with cold eyes, neither of them answering her. Tea sweated bullets, winced and went back to eating. So much for being polite...
Ding Dong!
The doorbell rang and Tea was all too relieved to get it. She could tell Marik and Bakura were waiting to see who it was, hiding behind the wall where they sat. Only Tea smiled somewhat confidently, knowing all too well it was her friend...
"Hello Tea!"
Serenity...
"Oh hi, come on in." Tea smiled opening the door all the way, while managing her crutches.
Serenity smiled politely, her blue carry bag strapped over one shoulder, but suddenly stopped halfway, hesitating. "Um...."
Tea blinked and smiled bashfully knowing all too well why Serenity was just standing there sheepish.
"Oh its okay, their just uh talking really. It hasn't been like THAT really. Hehehe, I've been bothering them more then they've been hovering over my shoulder."
Before Serenity could object, Tea had grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in shifting on the weight of her left crutch. Little were they aware that Serenity had been followed the entire way.
The man watched with anxious eyes as the door closed...now was his chance.
"Do you want something to eat or drink?" Tea asked noticing Serenity's somewhat odd behavior.
"No thanks." She said, rubbing her elbow and staring at the ground.
Tea frowned, staring at her friend. "Is everything alright?"
Serenity looked up, concerned and sort of confused. "Your foot...are...are you okay? Tea if...if something-
"No please don't think that." Tea interrupted quietly. "It really wasn't their doing, it was mine, I mean that. I would tell you if it were them... I fell down after some thugs tried to...well chase me down." She chuckled, although Serenity didn't find it all that funny.
"Yup um they actually saved me if you could believe it." Tea said comically. Serenity gawked at her friend in disbelief.
"Wait, is there something else wrong?"
Serenity stared towards the window, her hands fidgeting by her side. "It's Joey...he's been acting weird."
Tea merely blinked. "Well that's a shocker for you. You just realized this?" Tea teased.
"No it's weird. Yesterday night, when we got back from the doctor's, I told him to stay home tomorrow because he looks even worst, and well I mentioned my parents and he became hysteric. He threw a baseball at the wall and stomped upstairs...he...he...he scared me."
Tea's eyes widened in astonishment...no that couldn't have been Joey. What the heck caused him to do a thing like that was beyond her. "Maybe it was because he was sick."
Serenity nodded. "Maybe...he's going to school anyways. I can't make him."
Sighing, they both stood there.
"Well it could be the idiot has obtained some sort of disease and he's finally going to die."
Serenity squeaked in surprise and Tea whirled around to find Marik and Bakura standing there in the doorway.
"That's not funny." Tea warned, gripping her crutches.
Bakura shrugged. "It wasn't meant to be."
Marik only scoffed staring down at the uncomfortable girl. Serenity was trying hard not to make eye contact.
"Hey!" Tea snapped. "Why don't you-
Knock, Knock, Knock!
The front door thudded multiple times.
Without ever thinking, Tea hopped over to the door and opened it, while Marik and Bakura yelled in unison, "Wait don't do it!"
There in the doorway, helping himself in, was-
"TRISTAN???"
"Hey Tea...OH HI SERENITY funny seeing you here!" He gleamed grabbing her hands and staring dazedly into her eyes.
Serenity sweat dropped, her hair frizzing in surprise. "Uh...errr....hi...Tristan..."
Tristan blushed madly, obvious he didn't take the two strangers into account.
Bakura slapped his forehead as Tea made a silent "Oops."
"I was just paying tea a visit...hehehe didn't know you would be here too."
"Riiggghhhttt..." Tea grumbled closing the door and waiting for the screams.
"Yup...oh hey Bakura and Marik...anyways Serenity maybe we could-
Yup it took him that long...
Tristan dropped Serenity's hands...and slowly ever so slowly he rose his head to the two spirits less than 6 feet away from him.
OO..........uh.........Tea?.............
"Sigh...yes Tristan?" Oh boy this wasn't going to blow over well....especially if Marik and Bakura decided to kill him.
"I....uh.....don't usually scream but um..." Tristan glanced down to Serenity for an answer who only smiled sheepishly and innocently. He found no response.
"Th-th-those two are uh....AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHH!!!" Tristan released the most blood churning scream Tea had ever witnessed from any human response.
Bakura covered his ears, grinding his teeth...'Must...not kill...just YET!'
Marik gawked at the pointy headed guy in dismay. The guy was staring at him screaming his lungs off and pointing. Looking for an answer, Marik glanced from side to side.
Oh...guess he was screaming at him. Marik thought cocking an eye at the horrified mortal guy.
Serenity winced, or rather grimaced as Tea lost balance and fell down.
Supposedly...there was one more soul who knew about this secret. The question was whether Marik and Bakura would allow this soul to stick around.
OIUOUOIUOIUOUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIUOIU
Zoeygirl: Well there ya go. I promise this'll be the crappiest one but I just had to put this in here, I dunno. Anyways this has been by far one of my shortest chapters lately. (Shrugs) Oh well I'll try not to let it happen again. Hehehe...