QoH: *does a happy dance* WOW! ^0^ Over a hundred reviews total, now! :D You people are the BEST! hehe Seems like people picked up on my little hints… ^_~ teehee! Don't worry, peeps, it's still Yugi/Serenity, as you'll find out here ^_^ I just figured Serenity needed an ally for things that may come later… *evil teaser* hehe
DJ: What, I fooled the psychic? lol Amazin… You've been askin about ur idea, and I think I finally get to implement it! :D
BlackBallon: No, it's not… not this fic, anyway lol I am rather contemplating Bakura/Serentiy, tho… They do seem like a sweet possible couple, don't they? ^0^ And I already have a Bakura/OC fic in the works, if you'd like that :D
Shadowblade: Hey, lay off my 3rd fave charrie, will ya? lol Nah, just kiddin, o'course. You can rag all ya want, since u like the ficcy so much… :D But, seriously, Bakura HAS a spine, thanks. He's just a quiet person (like me. As to Yami B, well, remember when Tristan chucked the Ring off that broken castle balcony, way into the forest? Well, in that very same ep, didn't he come back? He must have some freaky power that keeps him locked with Bakura if he wants to stay -_-' More's the pity for poor Ryou, I must say… (I about DIED when Yami and YB were fightin in the shadow realm, ya know? Particularly when Bakura was ready to sacrifice himself for his friends… O_O If that's not "spine," I don't know what is! Good thing Yami had a better idea! ^0^)
Kaial and Luke SkyWolf: Gomen! *bows* I really thought I had it right… -_-' Rats. Anyways, I'm glad you liked the chapter! Hopefully, that goes for this one, too! ^_^ hehe Well, you haven't seen the worst of Yami B yet… *another evil teaser* teehee
Reflections: ^_^ Don't they, though? I'd never really thought about it before starting this fic, actually
Diffinity: I do hope this is soon enough... @_@ arg… evil work schedule…
Yami Jenny: ^0^ You broke the hundred mark! *hands her the entire line of "anti-writer's block" products* Hope ya like that ^_^
MaidenOfTheMoon: *nods firmly* Most definitely in need of a high-security mental institution o_O Like the psych ward in a federal prison… *shakes her head* Anyways, as I said before, this is still Yugi/Serenity lol If I changed the pairing now, I'd hafta abandon my entire storyline… *thinks of how many people would be after her blood if she did such a thing* Eh… I think I like my scalp where it is, thanks though… o_O *hides under her desk with her keyboard*
Chapter 11: The Road Less Traveled
Serenity sighed, walking along the sidewalk after school. The bright sunlight made her shade her eyes a bit, something that was a novel thing for her of late. It felt kind of strange to have nothing trying to obscure her vision, in public, at least. Since she'd smashed her sunglasses in that little fit of anger she'd displayed a week ago, she didn't want to go to the doctor to ask for a new pair. Besides, Tea had seen it, so it didn't really matter, anyway.
When everybody had seen her without the stupid things, they all reacted in the expected way, all happy and congratulatory. Joey was ecstatic, as she knew he would be. He'd played a major part in her recovery, what with the money he'd won at Duelist Kingdom, and it was important to him to know that he'd helped, somehow. Bakura had never once let on that he'd known ahead of time, which she was grateful for. Naturally, Tea had also played her part to perfection, or so well that no one really noticed the malicious glint in her eye when she'd "smiled" at Serenity. That look said, quite clearly, "I'll get you for this." I imagine I'll have to watch my back, huh…
She hadn't forgotten the threat she'd overheard, that day at the arcade, or the attempt to carry it out just recently. Who could? That'd be like asking someone to forget there's a contract out on them... She laughed bleakly at the comparison, tilting her head back as she trudged along. She'd even gone as far as to start avoiding Yugi's offers to walk her home, as of today, in fact.
Yugi had seemed a little hurt, quite confused about her change of attitude. She'd felt his sad gaze on her back as she'd forced herself to walk away. As much as she wanted to rip out her tongue for putting such an expression on his face, she didn't see how she had much of a choice. It was better to take whatever would come on her own, rather than face the alternative. If something were to ever happen to him, simply because he was with her, she didn't imagine she could ever forgive herself.
She smiled wistfully, thinking of how he'd been so gentle, so kind this past week, helping her with her homework, taking her to see all sorts of wonderful places. The hill where he liked to watch the stars come out. A lovely little stream he'd discovered in the forest, after the storm had hit. A seemingly abandoned garden on the edge of town that was amazingly well kept. When she'd commented on that fact, he'd blushed and admitted that he'd found it a couple years ago, almost completely strangled with weeds and near irrevocable decay.
Flashback"Well, I just couldn't stand to see something like this just shrivel away, just because nobody else cared about it anymore." Yugi's eyes held a melancholy sort of quality for a moment, but then it was gone, making her wonder if it had been there at all. She hoped not, but she wouldn't be surprised. He looked around, smiling at all his floral friends before turning back to her, his hand sweeping out to encompass the small, misty enclosure, "How could anyone deny this?"
"How indeed…" Serenity whispered softly under her breath as he took her hand, leading her deeper into the greenery, showing her this plant, and that flower. It was all so beautiful, she thought she might cry right then and there. Every type of flower, every color of her dreams was there, thriving under his tender care. It boggled her mind that such blinding splendor had gone unnoticed by most everyone. And she wasn't thinking just about the plants.
End FlashbackIt's funny, really, she mused to herself, not noticing how the sky had darkened considerably as dusk approached. It's almost as if he's courting me, and just hasn't said the words yet. She closed her eyes, laughing silently at her wishful thinking. If only I were that lucky. He hasn't the faintest notion of how any of that affects me. That's just who he is. So caring… thoughtful... beautiful… so...real…
Serenity leaned against the wall behind her; her body was beginning to feel the effects of her whirling brain. Something had to happen to break them free of this spiral of destruction. She wasn't at all sure she wanted whatever that was to actually occur, but how long could it keep going like this? The tension was even felt by Yugi, Joey and Tristan, and they didn't even know what it was. It was like living in a time bomb, not knowing when it would explode, but you could hear it ticking. With each moment gone, we're all one step closer to chaos, and there's nothing I can do.
She ran her hands through her reddish-brown hair, wondering if it'd be better if Yugi did what was needed all on his own, without ever knowing what Tea had done. She smiled slightly, realizing that she was grasping at straws, and very thin ones at that. What are the chances that Yugi would dump Tea for reasons of his own? That he'd look at me as more than a friend? About likely as somebody being struck by lightening multiple times... and that being a good thing.
~I know there is gonna come a day,
he will tell her,
"Girl, be on your way."
Maybe then he'll turn to me,
then how happy I will be, that...
she's a fool.~
Serenity, so caught up in her musings, never saw the darting forms approaching her, not until it was too late. She had no idea anything was out of the ordinary until a voice she'd never wanted to hear again jerked her back to reality, "Well, well, guys... Look what we've caught..."
She gasped as she realized several sinister-looking boys in their late teens had surrounded her. All eight of them sported black outfits from head to toe, blending them into the gathering shadows of the unused side street she'd unknowingly strayed into. The only thing that distinguished them from the darkness was the unholy brightness of their eyes, gleaming with malice and she didn't want to know what else. Unfortunately, she had a fairly good idea, anyway.
"Pretty little girls like you shouldn't wander outside after dark," the tall leader smiled evilly and sauntered up to her, his "ranks" closing around the two of them, cutting off any and all possibilities of her escaping, "You could get hurt..."
Defiance surged through her as she held her ground, tilting her head up to look him directly in the eye, "I've never had a problem before," she smiled sweetly, her expression at odds with the emphasized insinuation, matching him point for point.
Her adversary just smirked, leaning uncomfortably close to her face, "That was before you threatened my girl, wench."
"Gee, what is it like being an attack dog?" Serenity raised a sarcastic brow, "I've never met one before."
She knew this was the wrong thing to say the moment it had left her mouth, but he reacted more violently than she'd expected. He snarled at her, smacking her hard across the mouth, "Watch your tongue before you lose it."
She staggered into the wall of flesh behind her and they grabbed her roughly, throwing her back again, making her fall face-first to the ground at the man's feet. She struggled to push herself up on her arms, trying to meet the threat in front of her. As he had before, he kicked her fully in the midsection, forcing her onto her back with the power of the blow. The man she detested above all others bent over her, reaching toward her face with a cloth.
Knowing what he meant to do, she fought with every iota of her strength, trying to evade from his harsh grasp. Try as she might, however, he was just too powerful for her as he clamped the rag over her mouth and nose. She tried to hold her breath, sensing that if she didn't, she probably wouldn't be able take another after this. The conversation between him and Tea echoed tauntingly in her head, as though they were saying gleefully, "I told you so!"
Instinct had other ideas, and her body betrayed her. When she began to run out of oxygen, her mouth opened on reflex and she unwillingly took in the biggest breath she'd ever inhaled. The effects of the chloroform were immediate, as the world began to spin and lose focus. Yugi's face swam to the forefront of her fading consciousness and her hope latched onto thoughts of him like a lifeline. Every moment they'd ever shared whirled out of control in her mind, blurring together in a bittersweet collage as she went limp. Yugi… I love you…
QoH: *phew* Well, that was an intense writin session… o_O And I'm in a marvelous mood to write the next installment, seeing as how my boyfriend of nearly half a year just broke up with me last night… *sniff*