Flower Petals:Major oops! Sakurelle informed me that I made a mistake last chapter and it's horribly, terribly, true! Apparently, added a new rule about paragraph separater thingies that I wasn't aware of (oh, why do I never pay attention to rules???) so in the last chapter when the scenes switched between Yugi and Taleah's point of view, there was nothing to divide the paragraphs. So I'm very sorry!
A few notes about this chapter.....Sorry it has taken me so long to get it up. It's not going to be all that great of a chapter-I couldn't think of any improvements and it's a lot more sedated than the previous so it might be a little boring. But hang in there! It's just the calm before the storm, hopefully the next chapter will contain some of the suspense that this one will surely lack.
But anygohoobles, thank you to.......
Tamara Raymond: grin Haku and Shoda sound really cute. Do their names mean something? sigh Yup, when I wrote this I had NO idea what Millennium Items were and in fact, didn't know any other Millennium Items beside Pegasus's, Yugi's, and Bakura's so my curiosity compelled me to make up their history and invent several new Items so hence....the Millennium Earing....I'm glad you don't mind that I made up everything I didn't understand. - Your support and wonderful reviews are really what have kept me from giving up on myself. So thank you SO much! And I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you.
TAB: Yay! I'm sooooo close to 200 reviews! I never thought I'd even get past 100, so this really is a blessing. - Thank you sis, for reviewing!
ShadowSpinnerx: laughs You know, I'd have thought Pegasus was gay too, except for the fact that he was once in love with Cecelia (or however you spell her name.....). But he definitely has all those "gay" qualities goin' for him!!! I wouldn't say that I hate Pegasus....After he was "disposed" of, my sister and I actually found ourselves kinda missing his fantastic evil laugh...sighs No one can evil laugh as well as Pegasus.....Thank you for reviewing!
Mina: I'm sorry you won't have your same good ol' band teacher any more. I think sometimes it's the conductor that makes band practices a lot more fun! I hope whoever you have now, you like just as much if not more! Ug, what is it with talented cousins???? Your cousin is writing a novel, and mine is a talented actress/ballerina!!! NOT FAIR!!!!!! But you don't have anything to worry about-you're a fantastic writer and you have TONS of people who luv your work. I, on the other hand, couldn't act to save Hiei's life, and I was kicked out of ballet school because my instructor accused me of being a "flat-footed elephant"..........sighs unhappily But anyhoos, thanks for reviewing!
Sakurelle: Oh my gosh, thank you VERY much for letting me know about the paragraph separater thingies! I would have just kept writing along my jolly way not knowing of the horror!!!! So thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
Mamono: Jeez, after reading your latest work, I'm kinda embarrassed you're reading this story. But thank you for being so supportive! And one day I hope I can write at least half as well as you can!
Schizophrenic Kitten: Hi Jaye! So you're Lyssa's sister? Nice to meetcha! And thank you for reviewin'!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. Or a helicopter....sighs
Flower Petals
Last Song Sung
Surprisingly enough they all fit in the small helicopter. However, because of the additional weight, the aircraft couldn't reach higher altitudes or travel very fast for that matter. But as Taleah saw it, it was either cramped and traveling at snail speed, or watch hopelessly as Pegasus took over the world. The latter, still being a possible scenario.
Conversation had been scarce and sporadic since they first took off. Any attempt would only elicit the slightest reply from the rest. Questions were answered with yes's and no's, and occasionally the nodding or shaking of the head. None could think up anything to release themselves from the stress of their present predicament. Tension saturated the air, choking them of their comfort. Only Mo who was too young to understand, remained unaware.
The little boy gazed up at Bakura. "Excuse me sir, but why do you have white hair? Are you an old man in disguise?"
"Mokuba!" Kaiba chided. He shot his brother a nasty look from over his shoulder, then went back to piloting his aircraft.
"Yeesh!" Mokuba exclaimed. "Excuse me, but white hair is usually associated with the elderly!"
Joey blinked. "'Associated'? Wow, dat's a big word. I don' thin' I knew da meanin' of dat a year ago!"
"That's what makes you who you are," Mai said, fondly, "a clueless, oblivious, obnoxious, moron." She gave him a wink.
Mo wasn't ready to give up just yet. "Are you old? You don't look old. But you might be. You do have the white hair after all."
"Well, um." Kury's face reddened. "Actually, it's because I have a lack of pigment. So as a result, my hair is extremely light. No one has ever asked me that before. They've all just stared!"
"Pigment is a substance that produces a characteristic color in plant and animal tissue," Mo's older brother explained. "Now, no more questions from you!"
Mo pouted and sank lower in his seat.
The pilot and passengers fell into an eerie silence. They all felt their heart pace quicken as they approached Domino Town. No topic of conversation could distract them now. Until Mai spoke.
"Here's a little game," she prompted. "Why don't we all express what we fear the most? The rules are simple enough. We'll each take turns telling our deepest fears, and after one's done speaking, the rest will come up with ideas to conquer their fears. How about that?"
"Anythin' is better dan dis," Joey stated. "Hmm, wha' do I fear? Probably drinkin' dat Diet Coke crap."
"Here's my advice," Yugi said, "don't drink it."
"Seriously people," Mai insisted. "Yugi, why don't you go next?"
Yugi thought about this for awhile. There were so many things he feared. But only one thing stood out. "My grandfather falling back into depression. I'm afraid of losing him again. I try my hardest to keep him focused on the happy times and tell him to live day by day. But it doesn't always work. Not too long ago-" Yugi swallowed. "Not too long ago, I thought he had left me.
"It was on a Saturday and Grandpa had slept in so I decided to open the Game Shop without him and catch a few of the early customers. But as the day continued to progress and there was still no sign of him coming down from his room, the customers and I began to grow worried. So around midday, I went to check on him. I-I went over to the bed and he was barely breathing. I tried everything to wake him but it seemed he was in a catatonic state. He looked so peaceful, I almost didn't want to wake him. I-I"
"Ya shoul' have told us dis sooner," Joey said. "Ya didn' have to wait until now."
"Your grandfather is a strong man, Yugi," Tea assured. "He won't go away again. There's too much to live for."
"He's lucky to have you," Taleah added. "You're probably the world's greatest grandson! There would be no point in being depressed."
Mai turned to Tristen. "Okay, what's yours?"
"I have a fear of everything! I don't like change, especially at the last second. I don't like people, poisonous plants and snakes, bugs, cars, traffic, blue socks. . .I could go on forever."
"It seems to me your biggest fear is losing all that you hold dear," Kaiba analyzed. "You can't control everything and it drives you crazy. You don't have any say in what happens to and around you. What you've got to understand, is you can't prepare yourself for everything. You must take life as it comes, and learn. . ." Kaiba took a breath. "Learn from your mistakes."
Tea went next. "My all time fear is that I'll be a burden or get in the way. It just always feels like that."
Taleah was shocked. And by the look on Yugi's face, he was too. They both hadn't known she felt that way. Tea was pushy, and would always speak her mind at the worst possible times, but she was the one person they could always count on. The one person who would be there, and stick by them to matter what end.
Yugi told her so, and she blushed. From a rear view mirror, Yugi could see Kaiba roll his eyes. But what he did not see, was that Kaiba managed the slightest of smiles as he averted his gaze to look upon Taleah. She met his gaze and managed a smile of her own.
"I'm afraid dat my sister will go blind before I can do anythin' da prevent it," Joey admitted. He brought his hands together. "But I'll do anythin' I can ter help!"
"And so will we." Taleah swallowed. It was her turn. "I'm afraid of failing, of not reaching expectations that are mostly my own. And I'm so scared I'll fail my parents."
Mokuba looked appalled by that notion. "I'll make sure you won't! Not that you would anyway." He grinned.
Taleah ruffled his hair. "Thanks Mo. Why don't you go next?"
"Sure. I fear that I'll lose my brother. He's the only family I have left. Until you marry him many years from now and become part of the family that is."
"I'm not going anywhere, Kiddo," Kaiba said over his shoulder. "I'll never leave you again."
"What are you afraid of Big Brother?"
"I'm already past that. Right now the only thing I fear is running out of fuel and having to land this blasted thing in the sea."
Tristen held onto his seat tightly.
"Anyone care to know my biggest fear?"
They all turned to look at Mai.
"Being who I really am. I've been so afraid to open myself up that I've built high defenses. I try to make myself as different from who I really am as possible. That way, no one could every know the true me and make judgements and be critical. But now I've realized it was wrong. Because no matter who I pretend to be, there's bound to be someone out there who won't like me."
"I don' thin' ya have to look very far," Joey quipped.
He got punched in the arm.
"What about you Kury?" Taleah inquired. "What do you fear the most?"
Bakura's voice was barely above a whisper. "Being alone. . ."
Taleah switched seats with Yugi so she could sit by her friend. She slipped her hand into his. "You'll never be alone. You have us. And your parents, whenever they return."
"Even all of you are slipping away from me. Or already taken away." He eyed Taleah and Kaiba, then focused his chocolately brown eyes replete with submission and sorrow on Taleah and said softly, "I had finally summoned up the courage to tell you how I feel. But I guess it's too late now." He dropped his gaze to the floor.
Taleah's hand slipped from his to lie motionless on the seat. Was he trying to tell her that he liked her in that way? Long ago she would have felt the same way towards him. But now with Kaiba. . .
"Well," Mai began loudly, "now that everybody has spoken, do we all feel a lot better?"
"Oh, yes," Tea said, excitedly. "My chest feels a lot lighter."
"That's because you have no chest," Mai said with a playful grin.
The helicopter was a mess of laughter, until Kaiba announced that they were just about there. Everyone returned to their original seats and became silent with fear and anticipation.
Taleah felt none of that however. She was upset and frustrated. She felt as if there was something more to say between her and Kury. They had left something unfinished, and she wanted answers. But it didn't take long for the realization to dawn she would get none. Kury had his head hung low and his mind and thoughts were elsewhere. Her heart ached for him. Why hadn't he said something sooner? Then again, if he had, would things still be the same way they were now? What would have happened if he'd told her long ago how he felt?
She turned her head away to look out her window. The ocean lay far below, unspoiled by the troubles of those who crossed it. It remained untouched by impurities and evil, and contained an innocence that could not be found on that of earth's contaminated soil. The damage could not be undone; centuries of man's greed and corruption had impaired the completeness, the perfection, and the unity of the very soil they trudged on. The world had fallen apart, innocence and glory long forgotten in its destruction. The sea was the only remnant of what had once been, and even it too, was doomed to the corruption that eventually claimed all.
Taleah sighed. Times had been so simple back in school when nights were spent hanging out with her friends on top of the school building. And back then, the only cares she had were not being able to dance and get up in front of a few people to play her violin! They seemed like such stupid things to be concerned over to her now. Especially with the weight of so many people's lives weighing in the balance. She would give anything to be back in Domino City under normal circumstances and be at the Game Shop with Yugi and his grandfather or at home watching her parents try to figure out where their lost keys were located, or even in her room, polishing the trophy Kaiba had given her. But those days were over, forever. And now she'd be returning to Domino Town a different person. For she had changed over the past weeks. She was no longer that naive Taleah anymore. She had learned much in her visit to the island, and grown in her experiences. And she had seen the dark-wicked-side of people's souls, an experience she was sure had tainted her perception of human beings forevermore. She missed the old times and her old self. All of which seemed a world away, and a life time ago
It was Joey who broke the silence upon stumbling across a well hidden book. "Keys to Understanding the Financial News. Kaiba? Care to explain?" He waved the book at the pilot.
Kaiba's face flushed with anger. "Put that down!"
Joey read on. "Er, hem. This updated edition features some forty-six key concepts to help you understand what you are reading in financial publications. Here's clean an' concise information on asset publications, understandin' prespectus, annunities, money market funds, mortgage-backed securities, and more. Shall I read on?"
Kaiba made a swipe for the book but missed. Joey managed to keep it just out of reach while he read the first few chapters about financial news. Around the seventh attempt, Kaiba stole the book away and flung it into the far corner of the helicopter where Joey could not reach.
"Ah, man!"
"Don't worry, Joey," chirped Mo, happily. "He has plenty more of those copies in the manor. I'll even show you where he hides his magazines and favorite newspaper articles. I'll give you a hint: they're not about money stuff!"
Joey grinned gleefully. "Tell my buddy, do they show pictures of really pretty women on the front covers?"
Mo was about to reply when his older brother shouted quite loudly, "We're here! Exit to your left only. No, no, Joey! Wait until we've landed. Then again," he added with a sinister smile, "Go ahead."
"I'm not fallin' for dat one," Joey stated. "Now, have we landed or not?"
"Sure."
Joey frowned and sat back down. He crossed his arms and stared at Kaiba suspiciously. "I ain't goin' nowhere."
"Very well." Kaiba unstrapped his seatbelt and exited the helicopter. The rest followed behind, eager to stretch their legs after such a long and exhausting flight. Joey came last, muttering something to himself about sanity and pride.
The helicopter was perched on top of a helipad that was positioned a little north of the Kaiba Mansion. It was a mile walk to reach the manor through dense wood and thickets of which had long since grown to cover any remainder of the original trail. The nine of them made the journey in less than five minutes and stampeded through the front entrance. Kaiba was in the lead, everyone following close behind in a single file line. He lead them through a few great halls, tore through the library and down the stairs, practically leapt from the kitchen to the Meeting Room, and bolted down the last spiral staircase almost colliding into the butler who was blocking the front door.
"Who's driving?" he demanded. It was fairly obvious that he already knew the answer.
"I am," Kaiba replied, attempting to get by his servant.
The older man made a tsk-tsk sound. "You know that can't be accepted. You don't even have your license." He straightened and adjusted his tie. "I shall be driving tonight."
"But we need someone who goes above the speed limit," Mo complained. "You go too slow."
"It's good to have you back young Master. So I am displeased to tell you, no. Would you rather he drove at a non-safe speed and got arrested? Or travel safely and reach your destination without obtaining a time consuming ticket? Why, I don't know why you would even consider such a dreadful thing. Dreadful. Just dreadful!"
"Out of the way," Kaiba commanded.
"I'm driving. Now get in the car or else stay right here and argue with me. An easy choice."
"We're running out of time," Taleah told Kaiba. "Just this once? We're wasting the little time we have just standing here!"
Kaiba clenched his fists. "Fine. Lets all get into the car."
"The limo," the butler corrected. "It has the most seating. And correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like we have quite a lot of you to seat. Excluding the young Master, that is."
Mo hopped up and down in protest. "I'm coming too! You can't just leave me here!"
"Yes we can and will," Kaiba said, bending down to his brother's height. "It's too dangerous otherwise. You'd be safer here."
"Can I stay here?"
"No Tristen."
"What if the goons come back?" Mo asked. He was shaking, Taleah realized. "What if they take me again? There would be no one to stop them. You'd all be gone! What if this is a distraction? Pegasus will send some people after you and some after me? Please don't leave me here; I'm afraid of Pegasus."
"He holds a valid argument," the butler stated. "Now, are we all going or not?"
"Lets go then," Bakura mumbled, walking out the door. It closed behind him.
"Off to Simmick's I guess," Tea said following.
"Just how fast does this limo go?" Tristen inquired, hugging himself.
The night was a cold one, and dark beyond reasoning. Tension lay in the air and besieged them like a suffocating blanket. They all wondered to themselves in the darkest of nights, was this the end? Or merely the beginning of a new time? Could anything really end? Taleah didn't think so. She believed that no matter what happened that day, there would be a tomorrow. But what the next day would hold, she didn't want to imagine.
The limo was parked in a multiple level garage filled with expensive and luxurious vehicles ranging from sport utilities to highly pricey sport cards. It was a long, sleek, black vehicle made to sit eight. Not ten. Six of the seats were in the center with three on both sides facing each other. The remainder of the six was the driver seat and the passenger seat, in which Joey sat. Taleah, Tea, and Mai sat on one side while Yugi, Bakura, Tristen, and Kaiba sat on the other. Mo was small enough to sit in Taleah's lap.
"I can' believe I'm actually sittin' in da front seat of da limousine!" Joey said, happily. "I've always wishd da. My dream has come true!"
"Speed up!" Kaiba demanded. "You're going the speed limit."
The butler switched on his turning signal and made a painfully slow right hand turn. "Say 'please'."
Seeing there was no other way to get the man to go faster, Kaiba swore under his breath and half growled-half spat something that sounded very much like a malicious, "please."
The driver immediately sped up and wove in and out of traffic at dangerously high speeds. He blew his horn at fellow automobiles and even illegally cut in front of a few. He sped past stop signs without even showing the slightest sign of slowing down and paid no heed to the color of traffic lights.
"Cool!" Mo exclaimed. "I never knew you could drive like Seto! This is fun."
"Why is there so much traffic?" Tristen asked, edging away from Kaiba who was still cursing under his breath.
"It's a holiday," the butler answered. "You didn't know? There's a big party going on down town. About three quarters of this town's population is there, or currently on the way. I would have gone too. And was in fact just leaving when I got your call from the helicopter. Speaking of that, I am extremely curious as to where you two have been. Master Kaiba did not speak much over the phone. Never does. Calls, and then almost hangs up as soon as he says hello."
"Tell me about it," Taleah said. Her gaze met Kaiba's.
"Yeah," Joey agreed. "He's da little antisocial as ya woul' call it. Alright, very antisocial. Extremely antisocial."
"Shut it," Kaiba ordered. He turned his attention back to the butler. "As to where we've been, that is a long story. All you need to know is where we're going."
"To Mr. Simmick's. You managed to get that out right before you hung up. What are we going to do once we get there?"
The rest eyed each other. None had an answer. They had been postponing the question in hopes that the answer would come to them by itself. But it seemed that it was not so. None knew what to do with the four Millennium Items. They didn't want to use Them against Pegasus in fear that he'd be too strong and end up having Them under his control. The only way to prevent him and any other who desired Them from getting the Items was the very answer they all chose to ignore.
"The Items must be destroyed," Taleah said firmly. "We'll destroy Them so that no one will ever die for Them again."
Very good, the voice commented. You made the right decision.
It doesn't feel that way, Taleah countered. But this is what you meant about having to make a difficult decision, right? This is possibly the hardest choice I've ever had to make. I don't want you to go.
I must. All things must eventually go. Nothing lasts forever. It is my time now. Don't feel guilty about anything. Remember what I told you before: I will always be with you. I'll never truly be gone.
It will feel that way.
For a little while maybe. But you'll never be alone. Just as you never have been. For truly, there is no such thing as being alone. I may leave, but some part of me will remain in you. I'll miss you, dear child. Never lose faith. Always believe in the Heart of the cards. Never forget me. For I'll always remember you.
Good bye, spirit.
Farewell, Taleah Dundigan.
Flower Petals: Well, if you made it past that chapter, congratulations! I'm not going to ask for reviews, because this chapter really didn't deserve any, but I DO want to thank you peoples who DID manage to read it and make it through without dying of boredom! So thanks very much! And I hope you stay tuned for the next chapter!!!!
Ja ne!