[Kitty: Well...after everything in the last chapter, I think we should try and give the chars some comfort...
Yugi: (sniff) Yeah...
Lina: R&R!]
Chapter 28: Let Me Fall
POV: Kara
I watch as Joey is placed on a hospital bed next to Mai, and I feel like crying.
The KaibaCorp doctor says he can't do a thing...and Kaiba won't call for better doctors to come, because he's caught up in his tournament and beating Yugi.
This is all my fault...
Joey...
"Please, Joey," Serenity pleaded from next to his bed, "Please wake up!"
"C'mon Joey," Tea said, "We know you can do it."
"You can beat Marik's tricks any day!" said Duke.
"Yeah," Tristan muttered, "So get up now, Joey!"
I shook my head. They were wasting their time.
"Kara," Tristan implored, "Come here and call Joey. He needs our support."
I looked at Tristan. His eyes were serious.
But I couldn't respond. I was quiet. But I didn't look away.
"Kara?"
I didn't respond. I just turned and walked out the door.
I went out into the hallway, and then I sat down outside Joey's room.
"What's up with her?" I heard Tristan say.
"Dunno," said Duke, sounding annoyed, "But I'd think she'd want to be here for Joey. We all should."
I hugged my knees. Duke just didn't understand...Joey hadn't promised him safety and gone after Malik to do so...
"Don't say that," said Serenity reproachfully, "I would've been surprised if Kara wanted time alone to think. After all...Joey risked his life to help her and Marik..."
I felt a rush of gratitude toward Joey's younger sister. She understood. Somehow, I just knew that she had been given a promise like Joey's to me.
Suddenly, my Necklace glowed, as if to respond to my thoughts.
(((Flashback)))
A little girl and boy were on the beach together, laughing and playing in the sand together.
"This was the best day ever," said the little girl, "Thank you for bringing me here, Joey."
"What are big brothers for?" asked Joey.
"This, I guess," the little girl responded.
She then frowned. "But we'll probably never be able to come back here."
"Don't worry, Serenity," Joey said, "I'll take you back here, and we'll have another great day together."
"You promise?" asked Serenity, putting out her pinky.
"Sure," Joey said, interlocking his pinky with hers, "Just you and me..."
(((A Few Years Later)))
"JOEY!" yelled Serenity in the backseat of her mother's car.
"Serenity, don't go!" yelled Joey, trying to run after the car, "WAIT!"
"JOEY!"
(((End Flashbacks)))
I suddenly realized I had fresh tears in my eyes, so I shoved them away.
So I was right...
I frowned. And I thought I had it bad? Serenity's been away from her brother for six years, and now she loses him to Malik? Isis, bless her.
"Kara?"
I looked up.
"Are you alright?" asked the Pharaoh.
I nodded.
"I...I'm fine, my Pharaoh."
"Call me Yami," he said, "I'm not really a Pharaoh in this century."
"But...I've always been taught..."
"To obey the Pharaoh and those higher than you in Egypt," Yami finished, "And I request that you call me Yami."
I blushed. "Alright, my Phar...uh, Yami."
Yami looked at me seriously. "You know I'm dueling Kaiba next. If I beat him..."
"You face Malik," I finished, "I know."
Yami frowned. "I know you know. But you must also know that Malik will be ruthless in his battle with me."
I nodded sadly. "But I believe you'll beat him."
"If I beat Kaiba, you mean," Yami corrected me.
"You were the King of Games in one century," I said, smiling, "And seeing how skillful you are, I know you'll win. And if you win, you save everyone in the Shadow Realm, your friends, and the world."
Yami smiled. "Thank you for your encouragement. I do appreciate it."
I suddenly felt a sharp burst of pain in my forearm.
I bit my lip, trying not to scream.
"Kara, are you alright?" Yami asked.
"Y-yes," I stammered, "I'm...just a little...tired."
And with that, I ran to my room.
I shut the door behind me, and lifted up my sleeve to look at my Tomb Keeper's Crest.
The three Phoenixes were still there, but I felt the tattoo cut deeper and deeper into my skin...
I screamed in pain. It was like the ritual was being done all over again, except ten times worse...
What was going on?
Blood stained my arm and my shirt, and tears fell down my cheeks.
Why won't it stop?
I tried to think...tried to remember anything that might let me know...
There was a legend once that each Priest Keeper was to always give the High Priests with ever-lasting loyalty and faith, and commit no sins under their name, or else they'd be scarred for eternity...
But what did I do?
I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on my "sins" instead of my pain.
'I called the Pharaoh Yami...I betrayed my so-called lover...I...told the Pharaoh he would win his duel against...'
My eyes widened.
"Kaiba," I whispered.
-!-Kaiba's Duel Tower-!-
POV: MalikThe Pharaoh and Kaiba are facing off now.
I smirked.
It doesn't matter who wins this duel...
Either way, I'll get the Millennium Puzzle, the God Cards, the world...and Kara Rozene.
POV: YamiI closed my eyes.
There is so much lying on the line here...
My link with Yugi...
Joey...
Mai...
Bakura...
Marik and Kara...
...And the entire world...
I opened my eyes.
Alright, Kaiba, it's time to duel!
-!-Downstairs-!-
POV: KaraI snuck into Kaiba's computer room, and quietly closed the door behind me.
If I know Kaiba, he'll probably have looked up everything he could about the Winged Dragon of Ra so he could beat Malik after he beat Yugi.
I looked at the computer screen.
If he did, it's likely he would've found lots of Egyptian stuff before he found what he was looking for...
If that's the case, I can look through the Egyptian stuff to find out what I want to know.
I clicked on a File called, "WDOR," knowing that the initials must stand for "Winged Dragon of Ra," and a password browser came up.
{Running identification protocol,} a female voice said, {Please state your name.}
I gulped. "Kara Rozene...?"
{Who do you think you are?!} the computer said, {You can't be in here-}
At first I thought the computer was talking to me, but I was wrong.
Someone appeared on the screen and looked at me with a smile.
He had blue-green hair and eyes, and he looked scarcely older than Kaiba's brother Mokuba.
In an instant and a glow of the Millennium Necklace, I knew who he was.
"Noa Kaiba?" I whispered.
"The one and only," said Noa from the monitor, "You are Kara Rozene, am I right?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Yugi's friend Joey mentioned you," Noa said, "He kept wondering if you were alright."
I sighed sadly. "That sounds like him alright."
"So what are you doing on my step-brother's computer?" asked Noa.
I was tempted to say, "I could ask you the same question," but instead I told him my situation.
"Egypt stuff, huh?" asked Noa, sounding interested, "I can look and see if I can find anything...if you want."
"Would I ever!" I replied.
"Cool," Noa said, smiling, "I'll get you over here when I find something."
"How?"
"I have my ways," Noa said mysteriously.
"But don't tell Kaiba, will you?"
"No problem," said Noa, smirking, "I've hidden lots of stuff from him before...I can always do it again."
"Much appreciated," I said, before running out of the computer room and back down the hall.
I sighed in relief. What a lucky break.
Pain went through my forearm again, and I bit my lip.
In the meantime, I'll just have to wait. Maybe the priests' torment will end. If not...well...then I'll just have to fall down to the afterlife in pieces...
'Let me fall
If I fall
Though the phoenix may
Or may not rise
I will dance so freely
Holding onto no one
You can hold me only
If you too will fall
Away from all these
Useless fears and chains...'
-Josh Groban, 'Let Me Fall'
[Kitty: Chapter 28.
Noa: YAY, I'M IN THIS STORY!
Kaiba: (glares at Noa) Kitty, I hate you.
Kitty: (smiles, and ignores Kaiba) Well, I thought it'd be fun...no, he's not actually in the series at that moment, but hey, Kara should meet him ONCE, don't you think?
Lina: Reviews?
Bakura: (covered with stings thanks to my jellyfish Squishy) 9.
Kitty: Let's answer them.
Mystic Chaos said:
Ahem. That was a good chapter and since Helen had a safe plane ride...
Me: Though I made her nervous...
Laura: Yeah...you called her before she left saying, "OSAMA BIN LADEN WILL HIJACK YOUR PLANE! MWAHAHAHAHA! AND THE RING GHOST WILL KILL YOU IN SEVEN DAYS!"
Me: She hung up on me after that...
Laura: (ahem)
Me: Oh! Laura is the replacement and also...
Laura: MALIK LOVER!
Me: ...An obsessed freak that likes a mentally challenged sick white haired Yami...
Laura: Need you say more?!
Me: Ahem, well, what do you have to say Laura?
Laura: I LOVE YAMI MALIK!
Me: Wow. Malik actually has an admirer...
Laura: MALIK, MALIK, MALIK!
Me: SHUT UP!
-----
Lina: Osama, huh? (raises an eyebrow) I don't blame her for hanging up on you then.
Kitty: Hello, Laura. As you can see, we did not bash Malik yet in this chapter...
Yugi: Keyword: yet.
Kani said:
(eats Pocky) Yay, my computer's letting me review!
Aw, poor Joey-kun... I don't like it when Malik wins. Evil little porcupine head (Throws Malik into shark infested waters)
-----
Kitty: Yeah, I don't like it when he wins either. (cries)
Yugi: (covers Laura's eyes so she doesn't see Kani throw Malik into shark infested waters)
Lina: Porcupine? People said that's Yugi.
Yugi: (glares)
Lina: (ahem) I prefer to think of Malik as a cockatoo.
Kitty: Make that two of us. But porcupine is cool too.
Josephine Jekyl said:
poor Kara. she has been through the wars, hasn't she? this fic is gonna be nothing but surprises for me from now on cuz I haven't seen these episodes yet. I have no idea what happens. they're showing them on TV now but they're skipping loads of episodes! they've skipped at least 5 of them and gone straight to the battle city finals now! just as well I'm importing the DVDs, id be missing a lot! any way that was a good chapter. I'm looking forward to when Marik comes back. whenever that is. give Kara a bit of peace of mind after this is all over. she deserves it, don't you think? great job you!
-----
Kitty: Yeah, Kara deserves a nice long vacation after all that.
(the phone rings)
Kitty: Now who could that be? (picks it up) Hello? (listens) HI KACEY! (pause) Uh-huh. Wait, let me put you on speakers. (turns on the speakers)
Kacey: HI ALL!
Yugi: Hey, Kacey, what's up?
Kacey: Nothing much. Is Bakura and Marik there?
Lina and Kara: They're here, alright.
Kacey: HI!!!!!!
Kitty: (rolls her eyes) Marik and Bakura fan to the extreme...
Kacey: I'VE READ THE STORY! ALL OF IT!
Kitty: Kewl. What do you think?
Kacey: I want you guys to do something to Malik for me.
Kitty: (smiles) Yes?
Kacey: I want you to sew his mouth shut first, so he can't scream.
Lina: (grabs Malik, and sews his mouth closed) CHECK!
Kacey: Then sew his eyes open, so he can't close his eyes...
Kara: (sews Malik's eyes open) CHECK!
Kacey: Then attach a mirror to his hair so he can only look at himself.
Kitty: (does so) CHECK!
Kacey: Then cut off all his body parts.
Bakura: (does so with a chin saw) MWAHAHAHA!
Malik: (tries to scream, but can't)
Kitty: Back to reviews!
Meanae the Thorn said:
WAH! JOEY! LIFE'S NOT FAIR! (turns evil) MALIK, YOU BASTARD, I SWEAR WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU WILL FUCKING DIE! I SWEAR ON THE NAME OF RA, YOU SHALL PAY! (turns normal) Okay I'm glad I got that out of my system. You have a Squishy too?!? I just got mine the other day, he doesn't like Malik too much.
Squishy: (turns feral and attacks Malik)
Malik: (throws Squishy across the room) Stay away from me!
Meanae: YOU HURT MY SQUISHY! DIE!
Malik: (runs away)
Meanae: Anyway, keep up the good work, the story is really coming along. Ja ne.
-----
Kitty: SQUISHY! (goes over to her fish tank) Say hi to Squishy, Squishy!
Squishy: (goes back and forth in her fish tank)
Kitty: SEE? He's waving!
Yugi: Yesterday, you said that was no.
Kitty: It was in that situation. Now it's hello.
Yugi: (sweatdrop)
Kacey: Kitty, you're such an idiot.
Kitty: SHADDUP!
Spirit of the Gauntlets said:
AUGH! JOEY!! I don't usually side with the guy and I'm upset! Update! And send Serenity my condolences; I had a brother too.
-----
Kitty: (tears well up in her eyes, and suddenly, everyone's wearing black, even the phone in which Kacey is speaking and Squishy) You poor thing...
Yugi: (gives Spirit of the Gauntlets some white roses) And we will pass it on to Serenity...
Joey: Isn't she here?
Kitty: (sweatdrop) Uh...no...she's on a date with Tristan...
Joey: WHAT?!?!?!?!
MiraiTrunksLove said:
Me: (yawn) I'm tired!!
Yami Malik: Does this mean u wont hurt me today?
Me: Hell no! (evil grin)
Yami Malik: EEP!! (runs under random bed)
Me: What's up with u and hiding under beds?
Yami Malik: It's the safest place to be here...
Me: Oh really? (drops a million tons on bed)
Yami Malik: Hahahahaha!
Me: Huh?
Yami Malik: Told u!!
Me: (drops Heavy-duty binder on bed)
(Bed breaks, crushing Yami Malik)
Me: Guess u were wrong! Till u get outta there and till the next chappie is up I'm gonna go draw, bye!
-----
Kitty: (smiles) Ah, this is like a daily comic strip.
Yugi: Better than Kitty reading Peanuts.
Kitty: Or the political cartoons. (grins)
Lina: But not quite as good as the Simpsons.
Kitty: (sings the Simpsons theme)
Lina: (sweatdrop) Why did I bring that up?
Kacey: Great question. Now all it needs is an answer.
Story Weaver 1 said:
In a normal duel Joey would have won, Malik is a cheater! I still feel kinda bad for the puppy.
-----
Yugi: That is so true.
Kitty: Yeah, Joey would've won, but do we really expect Malik to play fair?
Everyone: NO.
lc15 said:
lc15:WAH, MALIK YOU EVIL BASTARD! (PUNCHES MALIK VOODOO DOLL)
Jill: WHAT SHE SAID. (WIPES AWAY TEARS) AND IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, lc14 IS NOW lc15!
lc15: (PUTS MANY PINS INTO CROCH AREA OF MALIK VOODOO DOLL) YEAH...SAME TITLE 4 STORY! (PUTS A PIN IN LEFT EYE)
Jill: OKAY...ANYWAY...
lc15: MY JOB!
Jill: (BLOWN AWAY)
lc15: BESIDES THE SAD, SAD, SAD PART...THIS CHAPTER KICKED ASS!
Jill: (unconscious)
lc15: I'M OFF TO TAKE JILL TO THE HOSPITAL (RUNS OFF WITH UNCONSCIOUS JILL) CIAO!
-----
Kitty: lc15 now, huh? Kewl.
Lina: And of course it was sad. I mean, Joey's in the triangle with Marik and Kara...
Marik: (frowns disapprovingly)
sigy, Kitty's more sane-acting step-bro, said:
hi kitty poor Malik and Bakura such good people being treated so badly...
-----
Kacey: I'll agree with you on Bakura, but Malik's been very bad!
Kitty: Kacey, didn't you realize he was being SARCASTIC?
Kacey: (pause) Oh.
Chez, a.k.a. Sigy: (comes in) Talking to Kacey, then?
Kitty: Yes!
Kacey: HI CHEZZIE CHEESE!
Chez: (sweatdrop) Hello, Kacey.
Yugi: (smiles) We were just answering your review...
Chez: Really? I was just finishing my torture on your dog.
Kitty: YAMI? B-BUT... (looks about to cry)
Yugi: (looks angry) WHAT DID YOU DO?
Chez: Oh... I made a fur coat out of her...
Kitty: (begins to cry)
Yugi: HOW COULD YOU?
Chez: Hey, better than having her stink up the place-
A Voice Down the Hall: AHHHHHH!!!!!
Chez: Huh?
Yami, Kitty's Dog: (trots into Kitty's room)
Kitty: YAMI! YOU'RE ALIVE! (glomps her adorable puppy)
Chez: B-but...who...?
The Voice: (ahem)
Chez: (turns around) OH, HELL NO...!
Yami: (now bald and carrying a tri-colored coat made from his hair) DIIIIIIIIIE!!!!!! (picks up Bakura's chainsaw)
Chez: (runs) AHHHHH!!!!!
(Yami chases Chez around, holding the chainsaw, and tries to cut his ass off)
The Yugioh Cast: (sweatdrop)
Kitty: (pets her dog like nothing's happening) R&R!]