QoH:  Hiya ppl ^_^ Lookit, u get an early update hehe This chap went fast in the writin process, which explains that part lol I figured I'd better get it up so u guys don't scalp me 4 keepin it from ya :P And we have a review alert, 2! ^_^ Not long, cuz I'm not sure if ffn's gonna take this chap, long as it is, neway.

crazy hyper person: eh… o_O 1 reason 4 the update… "alright, you more write me no kill"? lol

MaidenoftheMoon: *grins happily* whee! 1 of my fave authors likes my fic! ^_^ me happy now. Yeah, its gonna have a good endin, just a while til they get there… hehe ^_~

DJ: Dude, ur gonna keel over when ya read THIS! (im particularly proud of my characterization of tea here, how she puts on a diff front 4 diff ppl lol) hehe u got that right, with serenity havin it bad… :D this actually kinda ties in with ur idea 4 later…

Cassie: hey, that's 1 of my nicknames! ^_^ lol yeah, just a lil bit when it comes 2 my writin hehe

Shadowblade: lol if ya want the tourney in here, SOMEBODY needs 2 gimme duelin advice! I know next 2 nothin about the game!

KaTyA: O_O lol is my writin THAT transparent? hey, DJ, u got company in the psychic dept! lol

Kirby X: er… I can't tell, is this guy actually readin the fic, or just stickin in random comments cuz he feels like it?? I emailed him 2 tell him about the update, and he called it spam and banned me o_O Neways, if ya R readin this, KirbyX, no he DOESN'T know. He has no earthly idea, in fact

Chapter7: Secret Revelations

                Serenity found herself on the floor the next morning, confused as to how she'd gotten there for a few moments until she remembered what had happened before she'd finally fallen asleep. Standing up, she wandered to her window and looked out at the bright Saturday morning sunlight. Normally, this was her favorite day of the week, but she couldn't force herself to smile as the birds flitted from tree to tree. Sighing to herself, she turned and walked to her closet for something to wear. Passing by her dresser, she snagged her sunglasses before she forgot them.

                When she came downstairs, Joey asked her if she was all right, as she looked kind of ill. She replied that she was fine, that she just didn't get a lot of sleep the night before. Her brother eyed her worriedly, but didn't say anything more. Standing outside the front door, she listened to the happy sounds of children playing in the nearby park. Calling back inside, she announced that she was going for a walk, and would be back soon.

                Before she knew it, she was downtown, passing by a busy arcade. She had to cover her sensitive ears as she hurried past it, as the cacophony of competitive yelling, metallic beeps and clangs of the machines pounded through her head. When she finally stopped jogging, she looked nervously around at the alley she'd somehow managed to get herself turned around in. It was a narrow, dingy space between the brick walls of the arcade and the noodle shop next to it, graffiti of the local gangs scrawled all over it. This is giving me the willies. I've got to get out of here... Trash fluttered freely about in the slight wind, and a yellow newspaper brushed up against her leg, making her yelp a little. She clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes darting around for signs of life, aside from the record-sized rats that scurried here and there. Hearing a heavy door slam off to her right a little ways down the building, she scrambled to the relative shelter behind the large, over-stuffed dumpster beside her. She thought she might faint from the revolting odor, but it was better than being found by those who would frequent a place like this.

                "Same time next week, then?" a hard, cynical voice asked, and Serenity had to brace herself against the filthy wall as she nearly fell over in shock when his companion answered.

                "You know it." Tea said off-handedly, the friendly note gone, "He's totally oblivious, so it's easy to get away from him."

                "If he gives you problems, I'll break his legs," he laughed maliciously, "Literally. And what about that girl you talked about, the one who's suspicious? What do you want to do about her?"

                "The chick's blind, so it's kind of hard to tell if she actually is. She just acts slightly different toward me than the others, that's all. Besides, I don't really want to mess with her for right now, since she's the baby sister of one of the other guys. I don't need him getting suspicious if she turns up dead in some alley." Serenity gasped silently from behind her hands when they seemed to think this was funny. This is... insane...

                "All right," he sounded a bit disappointed, "Just let me know."

                Tea laughed, a much different laugh than Serenity had heard before, much colder and careless, "Don't worry. If she gives me any real trouble, you can take care of her any way you want." Serenity shuddered as the man chuckled sadistically. If I reveal her, she'd really hand me over to this guy? Dear Kami above...

                "And that creepy dude, what about him?" he asked, clearly wanting to kick somebody's butt, "Have you given up on him?"

                "Yeah, you can say that," she snorted, "I'm only still 'with' the runt because the other one threatened me," she laughed again before he could speak, "No, that's one guy you don't want to take on, I'll tell you that right now."

                They walked by Serenity's hiding place, and she saw them for the first time as they headed for the street. Tea was dressed up to look about ten years older than she actually was, all black leather mini-skirt and tank top, both of which looked more suited to a doll (albeit a trashy one), as small as they were. The man she was with looked like something out of a bad rap music video. Serenity scowled in disgust, thinking sarcastically, What a pair...

                When they'd finally gone, Serenity poked her head out before slowly emerging. As soon as she knew it was safe, she pelted for the entrance to the alley. Forcing herself to calm down, she walked out into the bright sunlight once more. Shielding her eyes for a moment, she looked back to the shadows, surprised that she hadn't noticed the change before. "Well, naturally," she muttered to herself, shaking her head as she resumed her stroll, such as it was, "I didn't realize I was even in an alley to begin with until it was too late..." By some miracle, though, she didn't smell like garbage. It's sad when that's the bright spot of your day...

****

                Several hours later, Serenity found herself outside the Game Shop, where Yugi had told her he lived. She hated to bring him news like this, but she felt he had to know. Stepping inside, she heard the bell ring over her head as it alerted he and his grandfather to her presence. She didn't see anyone around, so she sat down on a waiting chair, just in case they were busy in the storeroom or something. While she waited, she turned over in her mind what she'd heard, wondering how in the world she was going to tell Yugi.

                A few minutes later, Yugi came downstairs from their apartment over the store, "Serenity, what are you doing here?" He came up to her, smiling as he took the seat beside her. Then, he frowned as he noticed her expression, "What's wrong?"

                "Er..." she hesitated, fiddling with a strap on her purse, "Yugi, there's something I have to tell you..."

                Suddenly, there was a flash, and her eyes widened behind her dark glasses when Yugi seemed different, older. He looked over his shoulder, then held out his hand, "I am Yami. Come with me, Serenity. It is too open to talk here."

                Serenity stared, but complied. When they were upstairs, in the Motou living room, she turned on him, "Why did you bring me up here? You're acting like this is all top-secret, or something."

                "That's because it is, of a sort. You meant to tell Yugi about Tea, didn't you?"

                "Well, why haven't you said anything?" she glared at him accusingly, "You should've told him!"

                He smiled faintly, "I understand your anger, truly, I do. But there is more at stake here than a mere relationship."

                Confused now, but still a little angry, she wondered skeptically, "How so?"

                "I don't want Yugi hurt," he replied simply.

                "Neither do I, but don't you think it'll be worse if he finds out on his own? Each day could make it all build until..." Her voice trailed off, and she shuddered at the image in her mind.

                "As much as I wish it otherwise, that's true. It is unavoidable, that he knows someday." Yami sighed sadly, then glanced up fiercely, "But it will not be me who tells him!"

                "Why? You, of all people, should be able to keep him calm and everything."

                "It's not his being 'calm' that worries me. It's the effects such news will have on his heart. On the outside, he will most likely put up a mask that won't show the pain beneath. Trust me, Serenity, I know my hikari. Whatever he feels inside, especially when it's bad, he will keep it there."

                "Why?" she repeated, astonished by the former pharaoh's sincerity. He sounds so sure...

                "I know you realize how special he is," he smiled reassuringly when she looked slightly alarmed, "Don't worry, I won't reveal your secrets. They are yours to tell, not my own. Also, the one you guard so closely is not as obvious as I just made it seem. I only happen to be 'gifted,' so to speak, in the area of knowing one's true heart. The other, well, I sensed you listening at the door when we were in Mrs. Gardener's room that day. Besides, it's only a matter of time before everyone knows, so my knowing a little in advance isn't really that big of a thing when the only other who does is yourself" he noted her expression of relief and continued, "Yugi is among the rarest of people. Despite being a teenager, when many are already hardened by harsh reality, and regardless of all the trials he's been put through, he's maintained an innocence that is almost uncanny."

                Serenity nodded, beginning to understand, "I've noticed that. Most of the time, he's so happy, like a kid."

                Yami's smile turned a little sad, "Yes, he is still a child, in some ways. He trusts people, something a good share of the world, myself included, haven't been able to do since that vulnerable age. His extraordinary forgiveness is that of the young. I'm sure you've heard how Yugi, Joey and Tristan met."

                "Yeah," she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the memory, "I still can't believe my brother did that. He was never a bully when he and I were still living in the same house."

                "Now look at them," he waved his hand slightly, laughing quietly in a way that strongly reminded her of Yugi, "You couldn't tell they'd ever been anything but what they are today, the best of friends."

                "They don't know about this, do they?" It wasn't really a question, but more of a statement.

                "No, they as unaware as he," he looked away, a dark cast to his gaze, "I told her not to say a word of this to anyone, on the threat of her soul being sent through the shadow realm equivalent of a paper shredder."

                "That's intense." Serenity raised an eyebrow at the scene her imagination invoked at that, "Did she take you seriously?"

                "She'd better have." Yami scowled, crossing his arms, "I was being serious. No one hurts him without some painful retribution. I've sworn to protect him, and that I shall, no matter what."

                She smiled slightly, "You really care about him, don't you?"

                "He's my partner, and my best friend. Of course I do. Besides that, it's really hard not to, once you know him. How Tea manages it is beyond me," he shook his head in vague amazement, "Before he solved the Puzzle, I thought there was nothing of worth left for me. When you've been stuck in a shattered Item for five millennia, with nothing to do but brood about the losses you've suffered, it tends to get a bit depressing. When Yugi put it together and we were connected, that all disappeared. I felt, somehow, new again. The true soul he possessed surprised me, and I'll admit that it even overwhelmed me little. His kind nature poured into me, lighting the darkness in my heart, making it as though my life in Egypt had never happened."

                "I see." Serenity wasn't at all surprised Yugi had done something like that without even knowing it. It's just who he is...

                "Do you understand now, why I won't tell him?"

                "Yes, I think so," she frowned thoughtfully, "You're afraid that his very personality will be destroyed, aren't you?"

                "Not 'destroyed,' precisely, but something to that effect." Yami glanced down at the Puzzle, an unreadable expression in his slanted eyes, "He really is much stronger than he gives himself credit for. He'd survive, but he'd never be the same. You see, Yugi is the type of person who loves with all his being, and without question. If anything ever happened to violate that, the results could be disastrous. Though he would believe me, as he might not anyone else besides Tea, I just can't do that to him. When I took over, I even put up a mind barrier, something I've never done to him before, so that he doesn't hear us."
                "And if he finds out on his own?"

                "I only pray to the gods it doesn't come to that."

QoH: Aw, dude, I'm evil... *grins wickedly* hehe Review! Onegai? ^_^