a/n: This is the last chapter guys! And I've decided what to do about Carlos. Read to see!
Kai and Yami were waiting in the parking lot for Carlos to pick them up and take them to the airport. They had already had most of their furniture shipped to Egypt, where they were planning to not only spend their honeymoon, but a few years at least. Their car had also been sent there already so they would have a mode of transportation when they arrived. All that was left to take to Cairo were a few suitcases that sat at their feet.
The couple sat on the curb in front of the apartment building, Kai resting her head on his shoulder while Yami's arm draped around her shoulders. The autumn air was crisp and the cool breeze was filtered through the knit of her sweater, making her shiver slightly. Yami tightened his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder in an attempt to warm her up, kissing the top of her head. She looked up and him and smiled as the familiar purr of Carlos' Mercedes became audible. Both looked towards the driveway of the apartment building to watch their friend pull in. Carlos drove along the curb and came to a stop in front of them, grinning.
"What are you doing down there?" he asked, sliding his sunglasses down his nose to look at them. "You want to miss your flight?" He put his forefinger on the bridge of his glasses and pushed them back up before resting his arm along the back of the passenger seat.
Yami and Kai smiled as they stood up and grabbed their bags. "Pop the trunk, Carlos," Kai told him as she went around the back of the convertible.
"Already done miele1," Carlos replied, looking at her in the rearview mirror.
Once their luggage was in the trunk, the newlyweds both got in the backseat. Neither of them noticed Carlos' face fall slightly when Kai didn't slide in next to him. But he quickly cleared his throat and revved the engine. A few seconds later, they were pulling away from the apartment building.
As they drove down the street, Yami couldn't help inspecting the car. The black, leather seat was smooth under his hands and there wasn't a speck of dust on the floor. It seemed the entire car was black except for Carlos' steering wheel cover, which had bright red and orange flames on it. Yami couldn't help being reminded of the mafia as he looked the car over. Even Carlos looked a little like a hit man when he sat at the wheel in his dark sunglasses. Yami's thoughts were interrupted when Carlos spoke, though.
"Like my car?" he asked with a smirk, glancing at the Pharaoh in the mirror.
"Yes. It's very…" Yami paused trying to think of the word he wanted.
"You," Kai finished and the three of them laughed.
"Yeah. Elaine has a Diablo. Which is very her," Carlos said with a chuckle. "The car of the devil."
Yami chuckled, somewhat agreeing. Elaine was a little devil he supposed. She was certainly a take-charge sort of girl. She had come to his wedding without a boyfriend and left with Bakura's arm around her shoulders, Kai's bouquet in her hands. He had to admit that he had been surprised that Bakura, being as quiet as he was, would fall for Elaine with her extremely outgoing and bubbly personality. But then, maybe opposites attract. He made a mental note to wish them well when they came to see him and Kai off to Egypt.
About fifteen minutes later, the trio arrived at the airport. They had an hour before the flight to Cairo left, which was to be the final farewells with the gang. Yami remembered how Kai had cried the last time she had to say goodbye to Carlos and had a feeling she wouldn't be any happier leaving him this time. But then, he knew he wouldn't be thrilled to be saying goodbye to Yugi for the second time either, so he couldn't put her at fault. As they walked to the café in the airport where they were supposed to meet their friends, a part of Yami didn't want to see them. It would have been easier just to make the farewells at the wedding reception instead of now. But he knew he would have felt guilty if he hadn't said goodbye now, so he was also glad he had this hour with his friends.
When they arrived at the café, Tea, Yugi, Mai, and Joey were already there. Kai waved to them and Tea hopped up to hug her. Yami hugged Yugi and Joey in turn and Carlos shook hands with Mai, a silent understanding between them. By the time Serenity, Tristan, Elaine, and Bakura arrived, tears were already starting to flow. Elaine was holding onto Kai's arm as though it were the only thing keeping her alive and was sobbing into her friend's shoulder. Kai was trying desperately not to break down too and, for the moment, she was doing a fair job of only letting a few tears roll down her cheeks.
"I'm only just met you and now I have to say goodbye!" Serenity moaned, sniffing.
"I can't believe you're leaving me again!" Elaine wailed.
"I'm not really leaving any of you," Kai said, putting her arm around Tea. "You can come visit Yami and me any time you want and maybe we'll even come visit you sometimes too."
"Yeah, but somehow Egypt seems so much farther away than America!" Serenity said, wiping away a tear.
"It's not, though. It's actually closer to Japan," Kai said.
"Um, actually, no it's not," Bakura corrected. He stood by Elaine, one hand on her shoulder comfortingly. At his words, she wailed and began to cry harder.
"Nice going, Bakura," Tristan said, looking at the girls, who had pulled numerous chairs into a huddle and were crying on each other's shoulders. The men were either sitting on the table or standing, trying not to laugh at their female companions. Bakura blushed and rubbed Elaine's shoulder comfortingly.
"It's okay, guys, really! I'll still see you!" Kai said. Tea leaned her head on her friend's shoulder, silent tears falling from her eyes.
"I'll miss you, Kai," Serenity said, drying a tear.
"And I'll miss all of you!" Kai said, sniffing.
While the girls kept up like this, the men gathered in their own group and began bidding each other good-bye. Before long, there was an announcement for Kai and Yami's flight. All the girls with Mai as an exception gasped. Serenity, Elaine, and Tea all wrapped themselves around Kai as she stood up and they group hugged, none of them wanting to let go.
"I have to go!" Kai said, finally managing to pry her friends off her. She was about to say something more when she felt a hand tap her shoulder. When she turned, she was facing Carlos. Now was when the tears started coming.
As Carlos hugged her, she buried her face in his chest and cried. She had known she'd cry when the time came to leave him, and for a split second, she reconsidered going to Egypt. But when another announcement came over the speakers for her flight, she realized she had to go.
Kai pulled reluctantly out of her friend's arms and wiped her tears away. He muttered, "Good-bye, Kai," and she immediately scolded him. "No!" she exclaimed, sniffing. "This isn't good-bye; it's not forever. I'll see you again. I promise."
"I'll hold you to it," he said, giving her a thin smile. Then he nodded to the door of the café. "Go, you'll miss your flight."
Kai nodded and hugged him one more time before walking over to Yami. She hugged everyone else one last time before leaving and heading to the gate, tears streaming down her face.
The rest of the gang sat and talked for a few more minutes before finally dispersing, spirits considerably low. Carlos sighed and followed the last ones out of the café with his hands in his pockets. He wasn't driving anyone home; Elaine was riding with Bakura. He had nowhere to go and no one to see and he didn't know what he wanted to do now. The only thing on his mind was Kai and the fact that this was probably the last time he'd see her for years.
He was wandering around the terminal, unsure of where he was going and why, when someone collided hard with him. He cried out as he stumbled backwards, ripping his hands out of his pockets. Stars flew in front of his eyes as he lost his balance and fell, hitting his head on the hard floor. He blinked and rubbed his eyes as he tried to focus on the person who was apologizing profusely above him. By the time he had managed to sit up, he had made out that the voice was female. He looked up to see a dark haired girl drop to her knees beside him, concern in her eyes.
"Spiacente Signore!2 Spiacente! Are you all right?" she asked. Carlos' eyes widened as her accent registered in his brain.
"Spiacente…" he muttered, surprised.
The girl blushed. "Oh, it means 'I'm sorry,'" she explained.
"No, I know. Carlos sono, tu?3" he said, grinning as her expression changed from worry to shock.
"Rosalita sono… Tu parle Italiano?4" she asked, helping him up.
"Ci, sono Italiano,5" Carlos replied, smiling. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you just flying in?"
"Ci, from Sicily," Rosalita said, getting her suitcase from the floor. "I wanted to see America."
I guess I won't be leaving as soon as I thought, he thought with a grin. "Well, I don't know much about America either. I just flew in from Japan for my friend's wedding."
"Oh really? Were you best man?" she asked.
"Well, not exactly," he laughed. "My best friend was a girl, so I was sort of a second best man in place of the maid of honor."
Rosalita laughed. "I see. Well, I'm glad for you."
Carlos shrugged, feeling slightly down again with the mention of Kai. He quickly shook himself out of it, though, and replied to Rosalita. "So, where are you headed?"
"Some where to get a cappuccino," she said with a laugh. "I need something to keep me awake."
Carlos smiled, jumping at this opportunity. "There's a café just down there. It's pretty nice."
"Perfect!" Rosalita said, smiling. "Would you mind showing me where it is?"
"Only if I can join you," Carlos replied, grinning.
She laughed. "Of course."
"This way," he said, nodding his head in the direction of the café. As they walked, they passed the gate for Kai and Yami's flight. Ti amo per sempre, Kai,6he thought with one last look at it. Then he turned back to Rosalita, resigning to getting on with his life.
1 – Miele - Honey
2 – Spiacente Signore – I'm sorry sir
3 – Carlos sono, tu? – My name is Carlos, you?
4 – Rosalita sono… Tu parle Italiano? – My name is Rosalita… You speak Italian?
5 – Ci, sono Italiano – Yes, I am Italian.
6 – Ti amo per sempre, Kai – I love you for always, Kai
a/n: I'm glad I figured that out for Carlos. Anyway, that's the last chapter of my fic, which means this thing is finally over. lol Hallelujah! Don't forget to review amici! (friends)