Finding Family

Chapter 31 - History

Amber sat in the large gardens. One knee was pulled up to her chest, the other hanging loosly down off the stones she was sitting on. Her hair, now pulled out, dropped into the water a little bit as she looked at her reflection. She smiled sadly. What was the point of ever being born when I might have to leave this beautiful place forever? Can you answer that Amara?

Amara shook her sadly, I'm afraid not Amber. All you can do is live your life, your way. I know it's scary, and I know you feel like running away. I felt the same way when I was told I had to marry the pharoah. I hated my father and mother. I hated everyone around me. Amara looked down into the water at Ambers reflection.

You were bethored to the pharoah...I mean Yami? Didn't you fall in love with him?

Yes. Eventually.

No I meant that didn't you fall in love before your marrage?

No. I hated him. He always so busy, too busy to pay attention to me. I was constantly being made up by his female servents and being a preistess I did not like that idea.

Didn't you come from the same kingdom as Yami? Amara shook her head no. Then where did you come from?

I came from a far off kingdom. I was groomed to be a priestess but I also had duties as the princess. I hated the fact of my heritage. Priestess and princess did not mix normally so it was hard for my father to find me a suiter. When the pharoahs army saved my peoples poorest village my father thought he owed the great pharoah. So I was to meet him. Amber looked away from her reflection excited by the story.

So...what happened when you met him?

Well...I was sent to palace. A beautiful paradice in many of his peoples eyes. They also flurished so his people respected him. Well the pharoah sent one of his many priests and priestess' out to look after me. He was in a meeting you see. It was very interesting. Well...I was not impressed.

I wouldn't be either.

Yes. I met a young a woman in the palace. She was one of the many servents, high ranking, in the palace.

Really? What was important about her?

Well...she was and still is Cala and Caru's mother. I felt sorry for the poor woman. She seemed so sad. Her husband had died in one of the great many wars.

So, if she was just a normal peasent then how did she get to be a high ranking servent in Yami's palace?

He felt sorry for her. She seemed special. Her name...her name was Harmony.

HARMONY? The one I know? Amara nodded. Yes. I took her under my wing. Soon she became so much more powerful then I. So much more powerful that she could not control her power. It was that strong. She was that strong. She warded off many of the intruders but soon she fell in love with a simple man. His name was Aroga.

AROGA! I thought he was always evil.

Amara shook her head no. No. At one point he was a kind and simple man. She took him under her wing and taught him only necessities of the magic skill. He loved the power and loved her but they could not marry for phoroah Yami would not allow such an atrocity. He snuck into the palace everynight. One night they eloped and married. After the marrige was consimated he left Harmony, heart broken.

Wow...poor woman.

She sat around the palace for days just staring into the water. She birthed a small girl, she looked a lot like you only she died shortly after birth. Her small body not able to stay alive.

Amber looked at her reflection. She looked a lot like me? How is that...possible?

I do not know. Soon she married another. One man the pharoah approved. Do not get me wrong. The man was wonderful to her. He impregnated her and she went through nine months of pregnancy but it was not as easy as the first.

What do you mean?

What I mean is that she was sick, deathly ill. For nine months she was sickly. When it came time for the pregnancy she made it through enough to hold the twins in her arm and smile at them. She handed them to me and told me to name them. I chose Cala and Caru. Simple yet elegant. Just before she died though, all those who had millennium items saved her. They sent her to guard time. A glorious and most ospacious job. She accepted, if only to be able to see who two twin girls grow up to be successful and wonderful wemon.

Wow...she'd sacrifice all that to see her children grow up?

Yes. I have yet to tell Cala and Caru this.

Why?

She wishes me not to tell them and to this day I must agree with her demands. These were her dying words.

That must be a heavy burden.

It is. I raised those two girls gladly. They became two wonderful priestesses. I had hoped that they would not have as much power as their mother since it seemed to kill her. I was sad when their own power became great. In the middle of a battle they got really angry. I was thrown down and almost raped. They stood up for me but soon they started to merge. I absorbed their power which almost killed me.

In the middle of battle?

Yes. It left me open. I found myself weak all of a sudden, an arrow lodged into my chest. The pharoah rushed me to our room. By this time we had been married for a long while. I was taken care of but not expected to make it through the night, this was before he created the items. All his priests and preitess' tried to help me but in the end I died. Before I did though Cala and Caru came and told me of what they were willing to do. I also found out Cala had married the tomb robber in secret. I gave her my blessing and kissed them both. After our sad good byes my husband came in. He wept for a long time. My soul entered the shadows where I waited for you. That is all there is now.

Thats so sad. Tears were in her eyes. Amber stroked them away, I didn't know...I'm so sorry. I must have been a huge burden on you.

No! Don't ever think like that. You are like the daughter I never had.

Really? Amber looked up at her smiling dark.

Yes. Let's go inside now. Amara took over and held Amber as she cried into her shoulder. Just let it out now. It's okay. Amara heard a sound and looked to her left and saw Yugi, Kaiba and Jeoy. "She's letting out some stress.

"I can see that." Kaiba replied, "It's going to rain soon. We should get inside." Amara nodded and got up. Amber disappeared back into her body. Amara stayed in command of the body.

"Yugi? Kaiba? Joey?"

"Yes? What is it?" all of them asked at the same time.

"Promise me you three will take care of her if she ever needs someone and I'm not here." All three looked at Amara like she was crazy. "Promise me!"

"We promise. We should get in..." Yugi was oddly quiet which puzzled Joey.

"You okay Yug?"

"This whole Sakura thing...it worries me, thats all." Yugi sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

I am also worried my light. We should get home and let you get some sleep. Yugi nodded in agreement.

"Kaiba, if it's not too much to ask, but could I get a ride home?" Kaiba nodded.

"I'm dropping Joey off anyway."

"What?" Joey looked at Kaiba, "I can walk home."

"No. I'm taking you up to your apartment. I want to know why you had that black eye earlier and I'm going to find out. No matter what you think."

"No. I can go on my own!" Joey pulled away from Kaiba which raised speculation from the group. "Just leave me alone!" Joey took a pair of keys out of his pocket and climbed onto a motercycle Kaiba had bought the blonde. "I'll be fine!"

Amber had taken over and looked into the distance as Joey drove off. "I'm going too."

"No you're not!"

"Yes I am!" Amber climbed into a car in the driveway and took off with Yugi on the back.

"What's going on out here?" Sakura asked.

"Amber took off after Joey. Get in a car, we're going to." Sakura bent down in pain. Mokuba rushed out after her.

"This happened earlier tonight, when you guys were looking for Amber." Mokuba helped her up, "We are going to get you home. I'll take her Seto. You go after Amber and Joey."

"Okay. Motou, get on."

"Get on what?"

"That." Kaiba pointed to another motorcycle in the garage. Kaiba got onto one and tossed Yugi a second helmet. The two teens took off at high speeds after Amber and Joey.

On the motor bikes they were able to swerve in between traffic. By the time Kaiba got to the apartment he saw Joey and Amber ad abandoned the bikes in the parking lot. Kaiba ran up the stairs, Yugi following. There was a fight going on in an apartment next to him. He shrugged this off but returned and broke the door open when he heard Joey's voice call out to Amber.

Yugi rushed into the apartment after Kaiba. Amber was being held by a large man who looked out of it. A sharp peice of glass was hovering just above her chest and Joey was slumped against the wall looking in utter pain. Yugi took out his cell phone and called the cops.

"Yes. There is a man holding our friend Amber Kaiba hostage and I need an ambulance for a Joey Wheeler. Hurry please!" Yugi told them the adress and hung up. Kaiba meanwhile was trying to coax the man into letting Amber go while propping Joey up.

"Is this how he's always like?" Kaiba asked Joey who was barely conscious. Joey nodded.

"He can't help it. He's an alcholic."

"Don't stand up for a monster like this. Don't stand up for a man who does this to you."

"But...he's my father." Joey replied, "As much I as I hate to see him do this to me I love him."

"I understand but you don't deserve this." Kaiba helped him up and turned to Mr. Wheeler, "Now let the girl go."

"Oh he will," Amber elbowed Mr. Wheeler in the gut making him let go. The glass ripped against the skin of her shoulder as she did a black flip away from him. "Ow...I got cut. Let's get out of here and into the hall please?" Kaiba nodded and they held the door closed so Mr. Wheeler couldn't get out.

Joey was worse for ware. His shirt was torn at the right sleeve and there was a long gash across his chest. His left eye was bruising around it and his hand looked like it was broken. Joey looked up.

"Thanks for the help."

"You're welcome." Kaiba called his men to come and pick up the motorcycle Joey owned. Amber poked Kaiba in the arm alerting him that the police and paramedics had come. "Okay." He nodded and hung up. He explained all that he saw when he got there. Amber explained her side of the story as did Yugi. Joey's statement would be taken later.

"Would you like to press charges ma'am?" Amber shook her head no. "Are you sure. That shoulder looks pretty bad miss."

"Well..."

"Yes, she will be pressing charges. I will actually. I don't like anyone harming my siblings." Amber smiled at her brother and looked back at the cop.

"It would be a good idea if young Mr. Wheeler were to stay somewhere else for the time being. We would like to search the apartment for any evidince of the attack. Not that we need any with your statements, but you know the courts. I will allow you to pack some things for young Mr. Wheeler. I will watch of course." Everyone nodded and gathered some things for Joey. Amber winced as she moved her shoulder around.

"We'll get that taken care of when we get back, okay?" Amber nodded and hugged her brother.