YAY! Those good reviews last chapter brightened my day!
Sorry for the long wait but the homework is piling...but I hope the long chapter will make up for it!
After a long and grueling battle with myself (ok, ok it was like 5 seconds...I sort of knew all along if I was going to kill of Carla...BWUHAHAHA!...or let her live (BUT I did read all of your comments) I have made my decision.
A/N: Just because I put Carla's POV in here doesn't mean she's alive...for all you know this could be while Yami was beating up Marik...
Carla POV
Where was she?
Last thing she remembered were Yami's beautiful, huge crimson eyes before she...died. Then it hit her. She was DEAD. D-E-A-D. Right?
This world was darkness. Utter Darkness. There was no hint of light, and her eyes pained to see that impossible shade of black, her dark brown irises unable to bear the intensity.
She took a step forward, and it was like walking normally on a floor. Yet suddenly she realized how cold it was. She shivered. Loneliness enveloped her, with its suffocating embrace. She struggled to break free of its suffocating embrace.
"Yami...Mom...Dad...SOMEONE JUST ANSWER ME!"
No answer.
Carla began to panic. Loneliness. She wanted to hear a voice, see a person, anything! Something to show she wasn't alone.
If this was death, it stunk.
Carla began to run blindly in a state of panic. She could hear her footsteps echoing endlessly in the space she was in. She wanted to get out of this place, NOW.
Suddenly she saw a white light in the far distance. It emitted such warmth, such...security that she knew if she went there she'd be safe.
Anything was better than the awful darkness that penetrated her soul.
She started walking towards the light, at first thinking it was a way out. Maybe Yami would be there, or someone that existed other than her. Then as she started getting closer and closer...Who cared about Yimi, Yami , whatever...or Marik...or her family...All of those people were now faded memories. She just wanted the light. Attracted like a moth to a lightbulb, she started running towards that beautiful light, not knowing of its consequences.
"She's coming." said a voice as its eyes watched her.
Normal POV
Recap: A second passed and...
HE HEARD A HEARTBEAT!
Another heartbeat followed faintly as if it were trying to reassure Yami that Carla was alive...for the moment.
Yami gripped Carla closer as he rushed towards Carla's house. A hospital wouldn't be able to handle this, I mean how could you explain a sacrificed body?! He needed to heal her himself.
Woe to the person who was in Yami's way as he sprinted towards the house.
Yami remembered briefly that everyone was out for Carla's little sister's teacher conference session. EXCEPT AUNT MARIE. This could produce some complications...
Even Yami, in his mad dash, opened the door with Carla's key cautiously. It opened with a slight ::creak:: and Yami quickly slipped inside and closed the door. No Aunt Marie. Yami quickly walked into the living room (it was on his way to Carla's room). Wait a second...
OH FREAKING RA.
There on the couch was Aunt Marie snoring lightly with her head lolled back SECONDS AGO. The television was playing a Spanish soap opera. Now her eyes blinked wearily open as she dazedly looked at Yami.
Yami: O.O
"Ummm...this is all a hallucination...errr go back to sleep." said Yami nervously as he pondered his options. 1. send Aunt Marie to the shadow realm. Tempting but Carla would kill him; despite all she said she still loved her Aunt. 2. Run. 3. ...NO. oh no he wouldn't. HE WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER THIS OPTION.
But what other choice did he have. He couldn't send her to the shadow realm and running would just be delaying the issue and would waste more precious time than the option Yami was about to do. He gave out a resigned sigh.
He would sing Aunt Marie a lullaby.
Now as Yami had proven it once to Carla, he wasn't a shabby singer and he remembered sometimes singing to some of the subject's younger children to sleep when their parents were working for him. But he would make it quick and well, he'd add a bit of shadow magic...just for effect. He was going to do a favorite of the children and he needed to hurry: Marietta was waking up and she already looked unhappy. Yami cleared his voice and began to sing in his deep, husky voice. If the situation weren't so dire he'd be dying of embarrassment.
Go to sleep
Count some sheep
Go(-ho) into that dreamland...(Aunt Marie started obeying)
Dream high , dream low, but wherever you go...Go to sleep my dear...Marie, and may your dreams just be so.
(A/N: sorry if the lullaby stunk, improvisation is not my strongpoint)
Aunt Marie was definitely in dreamland; her head had drooped back and a light snore was coming out of her mouth rhythmically. Yami allowed himself the tiniest of smiles; she slept like Carla. Yami ran up to Carla's room with his grip slipping on Carla. He'd been holding her the whole time he'd been singing: he'd been afraid to let go.
Carla's pulse was getting slower. Yami's arms were too late in preventing Carla from slipping: she already was.
Carla POV
Almost there. She finally understood why some people talk of "seeing the light" to the point where it became a cliché. To put it simply, Carla had never wanted something so badly before. Her heart was beating faintly for some reason and with each step she took her life became more meaningless, and the light became the only thought in her mind. Finally.
Just one more step. Rays of light streamed temptingly on her cold face. Carla, with a look of utter bliss upon her face, lifted her foot up and-
"Not yet little one." said a voice as its speaker blocked the light. He was a very tall figure with an oddly memorable hairstyle, and his face was hidden in a shadow. Carla really wanted to tell this person some very inappropriate words and shove pass him so she could get into that light.
But the figure's voice was very forceful, and Carla knew that there was no reason why he should NOT call her little; a person of that height had every right to call every person he met little. He was THAT TALL. The figure kneeled down to Carla's eye level. He still wouldn't look her in the face. He looked a bit familiar...
"Carla...(Carla didn't even wonder how he knew her name)...you are a hikari aren't you?"
He didn't ask it as a question but Carla answered it anyways, though the word 'hikari' sounded a bit foreign to her ears.
"Yes...I think...I don't remember what that word means."
The figure gave a gentle smile. Why wouldn't he look her in the face?!
"Don't you remember? (Carla shook her head impatiently: the light was waiting) I don't think so...you've come so far...a hikari is a yami's light, his aibou, his partner."
Carla's mind was a blank.
"Yami...?"
The figure grinned wider.
"It's odd that you could forget Yami, the pharaoh...he makes such an impression on people, especially me...Well, maybe I can refresh your memory." said the amused man. Carla kept looking at the figure's hair, infuriated with herself for being unable to place it.
"WHO ARE YOU?" cried Carla unable to keep her curiosity in any longer. The figure gave a soft chuckle.
"My curious Carla, I think you know who I am..."
The man lifted his head up and Carla's mind registered blank, then recognition hit her. Yami had told her often about him.
His innocent, amethyst eyes were unmistakable.
"YUGI?!"
Yami POV
Stupid, stupid little hikari!
She was so...far away. He was healing her with everything he had but it didn't seem to be enough. His and what little was left of Carla's energy had been absorbed into Carla's body. He had willed the heart to beat strongly, the organs to function properly, and the lungs to keep fighting...but as each second passed they grew wearier, and paid less attention to Yami's pleas.
WHEN CARLA CAME BACK HE WOULD SHE WAS GOING TO BE IN SOO MUCH TROUBLE WITH HIM!!!!
But a nagging, persistent voice kept saying the Ifs, not whens in his head. Reminding Yami that Carla would most likely NOT be coming back.
Yami then noticed that his Egyptian clothing was in rags and showing more skin than necessary. Might as well change. He returned five minutes later in Carla's heart-shaped boxers with his bare chest showing. Unable to find a pajama top, he just let it show. He was too tired to care.
Yami gazed into Carla's now-pale face. He traced her cheek gently with a finger, saddened that it was so cold.
"Carla...you adorable little fool, come back to me."
Carla POV
Yugi looked at Carla with a grin.
"He told you about my quote 'innocent amethyst, jewels of light' didn't he?"
"Yup."
"He can get so dramatic sometimes...and it's rather funny, in everything other than dueling he's rather..."
Yugi and Carla both chorused the next word, "Clueless."
They both chuckled and Yugi's eyes glazed over in reminiscence. After about a minute as Carla's memory began to trickle back, she remembered something.
"Erm...Yugi I'm sort of curious...not meaning to be rude but Yami portrayed you as being...short."
Yugi gave out a merry laugh, and Carla was amazed at how innocent and carefree his eyes looked even though he was a grown man.
"Well...maybe this is the afterlife's way of showing me what I missed. I'm even taller than Seto. Ironic, no?" said Yugi.
"Very." said Carla putting it simply. They both chatted a bit about how complicated being a hikari is. Suddenly, both hikari and former hikari whipped around as they heard a voice.
"Carla...Wake up, wake up...I can't lose you!" cried the voice faintly, its voice coming out, as it obviously seemed to be crying. A choked sob was heard distinctly afterwards.
Yami, Carla thought. Yami. He's crying...for ME. Why?
"I didn't know he cared." she whispered.
After a whole life behind him Yugi knew what was brewing and gave a secretive smile, which was interrupted as Carla doubled over in pain, clutching her head. She had a tremendous headache.
Memories were flooding into her mind and she remembered all of them clearly. She truly believed that any second now her mind would bleed from all the information, or her head would explode. Yugi was very concerned and picked Carla up like a kitten. Carla immediately felt the pain leave as soon as she made contact with him.
"The memories hurt don't they?" Yugi said quietly.
"Why did they stop?"
"I'm an angel; I can relieve some of your pain" Yugi said simply.
"Why do the memories hurt when you're...dead?" Carla asked meekly.
"No they only hurt when you're...(then it hit Yugi)...WAIT A SECOND. You still think you're dead?! You're alive- that's why you're memories hurt! That's why I stopped you!"
Carla was shocked. "So...I'm alive? And you stopped me...?"
"YES. You're almost crossed over but I stopped you."
"Not to be ungrateful, but that seems to be not allowed...I mean when you go, you go, right?" said Carla. Somehow this transition realm seemed to be making Carla think quite logically.
Yugi gave a quirky smile. "Er well most people do. There are exceptions...and hikaris are an example of one of those exceptions. I mean being a light or a dark side can mean being...different (That's an understatement thought Carla) and when you ARE one...Well, let me put it simply you're a hikari for an important reason, saving the world, that sort of thing. So if you excuse me you need to go. NOW. Too much time here and you'll be dead whether you like it or not."
Carla was still shocked that she was being given a chance to live so all she managed to say was "Thank you."
Yugi smiled his carefree smile as he said, "Nothing to be thankful for, Carla. Give Yami my best wishes," he continued, muttering to himself, "You obviously already have his l-"
"What was that?"
Yugi turned pink. "Nothing..."
"Yugi you're a horrible liar."
"I know. Tea tells me the same thing." Yugi said cheerfully. But his face became serious as he picked Carla up and said to her,
"You'll have to be taken back, yet as you get closer you'll be tempted to sleep, but whatever you do, DON'T...I'll be the first one.
"First wha- AGHHHHHH!!!!!" Carla shouted and immediately found out. Yugi threw her like she was a baseball and as she was literally flying away he shouted,
"GOOD LUCK! I'll welcome you when you come back next time. Hopefully that won't be for a while! It was nice meeting youuuuuuuuu!"
Carla smiled as she heard him yet however hard she strained her ears, she couldn't hear any of the rest of Yugi's goodbyes. Everything was fine for the first mile of flight (Yugi must have some inhuman strength here Carla thought) and then she started going downward. Oh dear. Carla instinctively started making useless flapping gestures, yet as she was about to collide with the floor, something caught her. It was a very furry with two great yellow eyes staring at her...it was a...? The creature answered Carla's unspoken question.
"Kuribo!" (a/n: hope that's how you spell it)
More painful memories came to Carla as the Kuribo thing carried her. Yami had told her about duels where he had used the low-power monster to his advantage. Though there were no wings on the kuribo, it flew quite quickly across the darkness. Not only being a strange sight; it seemed unable to say anything but its name. It was annoying.
"You're one of Yami/Yugi's cards aren't you?" said Carla with a yawn. She was becoming quite tired. Uh-oh.
"Kuribo."
"Uh, say that again?"
"Kuribo!"
"It a yes or no question, just answer me like that" Carla replied exasperated. Either Kuribo had a very low I.Q. or he was just annoying her to keep her awake.
"Kuri, kuribo kuribo!" (In kuribo talk this means "This is all I can say!")
Carla finally realized that kuribo could only talk kuribo talk. She was becoming rather tired so she just leaned into the fuzzy being. She vaguely remembered being handed off to another duel monster, then another and another...She was too tired too count or care how unreal this all was. Death did not take it kindly to lose her to life, and it was doing a fine job of making Carla sleepy. Then she was handed off into Dark Magician's arms. She had a feeling he was the last one. He gave her a kind smile, and she gave him a small one in return; he had a nice, protective grip on her. Carla's body couldn't take the pressure of death any more; her eyelids began to close. The Dark Magician gave her sharp jab in the ribs with his staff.
Ow. Carla's eyes widened in pain. He continued to poke her whenever she began to doze. She was sure she had a bruise now, and she tried to point this out but found she had lost her ability to talk in this strange realm. Maybe she was becoming more alive. She sure felt it, she started to become painfully aware of her body parts. Like how much her lungs ached to breathe or how she was utterly devoid of any energy to move. Things like that.
Yet the DM was relentless in his jabbing and soon she felt a different light reach her. DM gave her a look that would have been an impish smile on any being less dignified. He hurled a now wide awake Carla towards that other light. Life.
Normal POV
Carla opened her eyes wearily. It felt as if they had been sewn shut and it took a lot of blinking to get used to really seeing again. She then turned her head to the right and saw a certain someone holding her outstretched hand. Yami. His eyes were red-rimmed from tears and Carla knew from the lack of feeling in her hand that Yami hadn't let it go. Yami beamed at Carla, immediately scooping her up into a bone-crushing hug until Carla's protesting squeaks alerted him that he was holding her too hard.
"CARLA! YOU'RE ALIVE!" cried a hoarse Yami as he put Carla down on the carpet beside the bed. He then followed suit.
Carla turned towards him and was about to say "Duh," when she noticed his eyes brimming with unshed tears and his face had lines that were not there before. Why was Yami about to cry? Why did he look so tired?
"Yami why are you crying?...what happened?" said Carla quietly. Carla's mind began to race with scenarios, none of them good. She continued, now franctic, "Did someone die?!...I thought you won the battle with my sacrifice but..."
Yami looked at Carla, shocked. Then he said gruffly as he put her in a gentler hug (Carla was turning red; Yami's chest was HOT AND FULLY VISIBLE) and tears wet Carla's head, "I cry for you my foolish little hikari. Marik (he spat this name) is dead...but first tell me what happened to you. No matter how much I healed you, I couldn't save you so HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?!"
Carla proceeded to let Yami in on all the details. After she had finished her story, she waited for a response. Yami's voice was grateful as he said more to himself than to Carla, "Thank you Yugi, my Dark Magician and all of my other monsters for saving Carla. Yugi...I knew you would grow up to be a strong person. And I would simply love (he gave out a deep chuckle) to see you at this great height."
Carla smiled as she saw Yami in such a happy state. But now it was her turn to hear a story, so she gave Yami a significant nudge and he told her what happened. Carla was a great audience. She was both amazed and slightly frightened with the loyalty Yami had shown her during the rest of the battle. Especially when Marik called her a...toy; she got mad just thinking about it. She would have howled with laughter if she could when Yami told her she had sung Aunt Marie a lullaby if she had energy. Blackmail for another day...(Yawn) How could tired Yami be so energetic, and she be so...sleepy...Oh yeah, she had just sacrificed all her energy to Yami, Yami had said during their conversation that it would take a while for her body to regain the energy.
Only in Carla's half-asleep, half-delirious state could she have uttered her final words before she fell asleep,
"Nice chest Yami. Told you those boxers were good..."
Then Carla's limp head fell gently on Yami's shoulder. Yami was mortified as it hit him that his chest had been quite visible. Carla shivered and snuggled Yami like he was a teddy bear. He picked her up and put her in her bed about to go off into the puzzle to see if there was any way to erase that memory from Carla's mind BUT. Carla wouldn't let go of Yami and her iron grip on him meant that he was going to be spending the night with her.
This would not look good in the morning.
Pushing those kinds of thoughts away and leaving them for the morning, he gingerly climbed in with Carla, his face scarlet. Yami thought that he could always escape in spirit form but Carla's bed was much more comfortable than Yami's. And Carla WAS cold and her blanket wasn't as warm as he was at that moment (the embarrassment was radiating heat). ...In any other state of mind he would have been bewildered with his excuses and just left Carla. In his relaxed state he didn't mind one bit of Carla pressing her cold face (it's almost winter time, and even though it's Florida it still gets cold) against Yami's warm body. As he began to drift off, his mind mused over Carla's last words. "Nice chest Yami. Told you those boxers were good..." He was quite mortified, and resolved to have that memory erased. Yami got redder just thinking about it.
But he was sneakily pleased.
Yes, I let Carla live!
Whew! Major writers' block and not much inspiration. Sorry if the chapter or lullaby was bad.
I tried to keep the whole idea of death quite vague so no one will get offended but if you are once again, sorry. But note this IS MY FICTION.
Also I would like to say that it DOES get cold in Florida, contrary to belief, in the winter well at least to Floridians...it depends what you call cold...Me: (getting dragged off to a mental institute for people who thought Florida got cold in the winter) It's cold I tell you!
Anyways... I'll try to update soon. This story is more than halfway done (Me: ::sob::), but if you haven't noticed already, romance is on my mind...(and a bit of humor of course)
R & R!
-Starlet36