OMFG ARI! This thing is like 15 pgs size 10 front on my comp! Sorry this took so long. Bold is meand Regular is Ari, cause we wrote this at her house. Read Yami of The Opera by Yami Adithra (spelled wrong sorry)
Balcony Scene Krystal's Story
Krystal pov
"Damn you, Jacks I'm gunna kill you!" I yelled, running down the girl at school the day before her big balcony performance. The reason for my anger? When I specifically told her that I would never sing in front of a crowd, she had asked me to sing FOUR songs at her show! Four! After I had expressly said that there was no way in hell that I would sing. She better have made funeral arrangements, that's all I have to say.
Jacks looked over her shoulder. "And dad always said that Ryo was so polite!" She yelled. "Krys, it won't kill ya to sing just one night! I promise!"
Jacks
'I am SO glad I joined track!" I thought as Krys chased me throughout the schoolyard. ''I don't understand! All I did was volunteer her to sing at my performance! Okay, so I didn't exactly get her permission to do it, but she's too good a singer to waste!'
"You best keep running, Jacks!" Krys yelled from behind me. "Ra, help you if I catch up with you!"
'Aw, crud.' I thought as I forced myself to run faster. 'Where the hell are all my friends when I need them!' As I looked back once again, I felt myself slam into a body. "Oh, double Crud." I muttered. Then I saw whom I'd run into. "This goes WAY beyond crud!" I had run into my worst nightmare at a time like this; Ashley.
"Are you actually running from something, Jacks? She scoffed.
"Sorry no time to diss you. Krys is going to kill me." I panted. I quickly looked for the best escape route and ran that way.
"Jacks!" I heard Krystal yell. "Damn you get back here!"
"If I was allowed to swear, I would make the worst NC-17 actor look like something out of Blue's Clues." I mutter, shoving Ashley out of the way as I continued to run. Not a hundred yards later, I slammed into another person. "Damn it!" I yelled as the blacktop marked the bottom of my jeans. "Can't I see today?""Jacks, are you okay?"
'Thank God, Daniel.' I thought, looking back over my shoulder. Krys was gaining "Oh Triple Crud" I muttered, "Hide me!"
"Wah? Jacks, what-"
"I was never here!"
"Your boyfriend can't save you!" Krys yelled. "Daniel, you value your manhood, get out of my way NOW!"
"Sorry, Jacks." Daniel said, quickly moving out of the way.
"What? Wait! No!" I yelled in a high-pitched voice not my own as Krys was only a hundred yards away from me. I night add that I was again on the ground, as Daniel running had caused me to fall once again. "Help me up at least, you idiot! Ahhh!" I yelled. It was too late. Krys had caught up with.
"Give me ONE REASON why I shouldn't pound you dirt!" Krys threatened.
"Um… we aren't even on dirt?"
"That's stupid."
"Shut up, Daniel." Krys threw a punch. It missed, but it hit Daniel instead.
"Oh my god, Daniel!" I cried, as he hit the pavement.
"It was her!" Krys cried, pointing at me.
"I think you broke my nose." Daniel mumbled, as his nose was bleeding profusely. Krys looked in closer.
"It's a bloody nose you baby. You'll live." She muttered.
Daniel shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose in an effort to stop the blood. "Hell of a punch, I'll give you that." He said.
Krystal
Jacks went over to see if Daniel was okay after the punch that I'd accidentally given him. After assurance that he was fine, she turned to me. "Now you have to sing."
"What? I don't have to do anything." I snapped.
"Daniel might not be able to sing. You have to now." She told me.
"Yea, sure, whatever." I said turning to leave.
"Don't you whatever me!" She cried. "You will sing weather you want to or not! Besides you owe it to him!"
"How do ya figure?" I snapped. "Look, on one tells me what I will and will not do, alright? Besides, its called common courtesy to get someone's permission before doing something like this! And it's more courtesy NOT to do it if they say they won't!"
"So we'll just take your part out, then." Jacks said, crossing her arms.
"Thank you."
"No, thank you for putting a huge hole in my show. Just don't blame me when there's a riot outside your room one night."
"You neighbors don't know where I live!" I yelled. "I don't even think you do Jacks!"
"Yeah, well chances are my does!" Jacks yelled back, her face growing read.
"Can I get some help, please?" Daniel asked, blood dripping down his hand. Jacks helped him up with the other hand. "Can someone point me in the direction of the nurse or nearest bathroom/" I pointed down the hall. Daniel nodded then headed in that direction.
"Thanks for ruining my show." Jacks said, walking away.
'Oh great the guilt card.' I thought. 'Damn, she knows me too well.' "Fine, Jacks," I sighed, "I'll sing in your show. But this once, you understand?"
Jacks turned and put a grin on her face. "You will?" She asked, sounding slightly like knew she'd get to me in the end. Which she must have, despite all appearances, I was really a big softy at heart.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll do it." I muttered. 'Ra, dad's not gonna like this." I thought to myself.
The next night
I waited in Jacks's room, barley believing my luck. Good or bad, I didn't know which yet. By some miracle, my dad had let me come and sing at this thing. He even volunteered to do a number with a few parents who Jacks had 'persuaded' to sing. Just as a backup, but it was still so unlike my dad, I had to wonder if his Yami hadn't taken over and gotten drunk or something? 'Ra, I'm nervous.' I thought. 'I've only sung along to my CDs alone, when on one's listening. I've never done it in front of a crowd before.'
Jacks was pacing in the room behind us. "Daniel, when's that brother of yours getting here?" She practically yelled in frustration.
Daniel shrugged. "Jen went to pick up him at water polo. Then she was going to try and drag Dad away from work."
"Good luck with that." She snorted.
I spun around at Jacks's question. "He has a brother?" I asked.
Jacks looked surprised. "Yeah. His name's Arlen. Why?"
'Oh Ra…' I thought, 'I'm in love with Kaiba's son with his second wife! What the world has come to…"
"Krys? You okay?"
I snapped out of my thoughts at Daniel's question. "Ne?"
Daniel shook his head, smiling. "Geez, you're out of it, aren't you? You gonna remember your lines?" I glared at him, and he put of his hands in defeat. "All right, I'll stop. They're here, is all." Jacks turned to see Kaiba, Jenny, and Arlen walk in.
"Ah! Jean Valjean!" She cried pointing at Kaiba.
"Shit it you slut." Kaiba growled.
"Dad…" Daniel sighed, shaking his head.
"We're here!" Allysa cried, walking in with her mom Rebecca.
"Becca! Yay!" Jacks cried, hugging her. "I'm so glad you came!"
"Nice to see you again." Rebecca said, nodding at Kaiba.
"You too, Pegasus." Kaiba replied.
"Calling me by my maiden name are you?" She said, walking past him, smiling seductively.
"Can we practice please?" Allysa said, trying to stop a war. Arlen hadn't taken his eyes off me since he got in. His hair was slightly wet from water polo.
"Jacks, you dad not going to show?" Daniel asked, giving her a look.
"No I got him out for the day."
"Who is your dad?" Kaiba asked.
"That's unimportant." Jacks said, casually, so that it wouldn't arouse suspicion. We all knew why. "So Jenny can you sing?"
"Not very well." She said, blushing.
"What are you talking about, Mom?" Arlen said, crossing his arms and causing me to blush. "You sing in the shower."
"Sh." She said, playfully pushing her son. Kaiba laughed slightly, putting an arm around her waist. Rebecca made a gagging gesture behind Kaiba's back.
"Uh, okay." Jacks said, getting nervous. "Becca, you gonna sing "On My Own?""
"Probably. Got any other song for me to sing?"
"I was thinking everyone, including the parents sing "One Day More.""
"Please tell me you're not making me play Valjean." Kaiba grumbled. Twin looks of evil crosses Jacks and Becca's faces.
"Um.." I said hesitantly. Everyone turned to me expectantly, and I quailed slightly at their gaze. "I have no idea about anything that has to do with Les Miserables." I said, feeling more foolish and stupid by the moment.
"Neither do I just go with the flow." Arlen said, smiling, making me feel less foolish.
I smiled weakly, and dad put an arm around my shoulders. Kaiba looked piercingly at him, almost angrily. I knew why, dad had been a friend of Yugi's. That in itself was enough to make Kaiba your mortal enemy. I sighed, leaning up against dad. I could feel a huge headache coming on and soon.
Kaiba looked at me expectantly. "This scrap of flesh can sing?" He asked, raising an eyebrow mockingly.
"Ouch, Kaiba-boy." Rebecca said as dad pulled me slightly closer and narrowed his eyes at Kaiba. "Don't judge a person by their size." She smiled with a false sweetness. "I think you heard that the hard way, didn't you?" Jenny and Kaiba both glared at Rebecca, who only smiled their threat off and turned away.
"Yea she can sing." Jacks spoke up. "Very well I might add!"
'Right.' I thought 'Now all I gotta do is live up to that. Ra, Jacks, why do you do this to me?' I looked over and saw Arlen's eyes slide away from me as mine lined up with him. He'd been watching me, to what purpose I couldn't guess.
Honda, Anzu, and Yukio suddenly burst in, all clutching stitches in their sides. "S-sorry we're late!" Yukio panted, doubled over and clutching his side.
Kaiba glared at Daniel. "I thought I raised you better." He hissed so that only his son could hear. I was close enough, though, to read his lips. A useful talent of mine, considering my father's Yami was an ancient Egyptian tomb robber. There were advantages to things like that.
Dad bent down slightly. "Don't listen to him, Krystal."
"I know dad, I don't care." I whispered back. "It's not like it doesn't happen everyday at school."
"Okay!" Jacks yelled over the conversation. "We can start practicing now!"
"I thought the show was in ten minutes!" I said angrily.
"It is." Jacks said casually. "I just thought the adults could use some practice."
Honda was standing behind Kaiba, trying to get Jacks's attention by making a slashing motion across his throat. Kaiba turned just as Honda's hand was about to go across again. "Hi there." Honda said, hesitantly, waving the hand slightly.
"You'd best stay out of my way." Kaiba growled.
Jenny snorted with laughter as Rebecca said jokingly, "Please, you call that a threat?"
"So.. Um.. Yukio, you dad coming?" Jacks asked her short friend.
"No, he's not. Neither is my mom."
"Darn, Yami can sing and Tea was supposed to teach us a dance. We'll just go with the old one."
"Wait dance?" I said nervously, paling. People may tell me I can sing, but I try and dance and I always trip over my own two feet. "No way are you making me dance."
"It's simple. Don't worry." Jacks assured me with a wave of her hand. "Honda, want to practice our duet? No mess ups like last year?" she teased, taking out the CD.
"Yeah, where's Ribbon?" he said, nervously.
"Outside. Mom tied her up. She's not ruining this performance again." Jacks put the CD in her machine and pressed play. "I'm gunna skip to the part where we both come in." Honda nodded.
"We all lead. Such elaborate lives. We don't know. Whose words are true. Strangers, lovers, husbands, wives. Ought to know who's lovin' who." They sang together. I saw Rebecca throw a look at Kaiba, who wasn't looking.
"Jacks!" Anzu cried from the window. "I think we should start."
"Okay," Jacks said, suddenly getting nervous. "Anzu, your song first, then Krystal, then me and Honda, Allysa, Daniel, and Arlen. Okay, the parents will perform with the kids in "One Day more." I have the song booklet on my desk, if you don't know the words. Okay? Okay. Breathing, breathing." Jacks said, all in one breath.
'Damn, she's more nervous than I am." I thought, shaking my head. 'And this is her own performance.'
" She talks faster than you, Becca." Kaiba laughed.
"And that's saying something." Rebecca agreed.
"Okay, wish me luck." She said, hugging Daniel before she went out. Daniel blushed as he ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself down.
"Why'd she do that?" Rebecca wondered aloud.
"Duh, it's obvious she likes him." Allysa said without thinking. Once she realized what she was saying, she clapped a hand to her mouth. "I mean, I dunno."
"Wow, she really is your kid, Rebecca." Kaiba laughed.
"Shut you butt, Kaiba-boy." She snapped, looking away.
I went over to the booklet that Jacks had said lay on her desk. I flipped through it, but it didn't do much good. I couldn't really connect lyrics with songs without the music. My mind just worked like that. My movements were getting more and more stiff and the booklet slipped through my sweating palms. I bent down to pick it up, and another hand crossed my vision to hand it to me. I brushed the hair that escaped my ponytail out of the eyes and straightened. "Thanks Arlen." I said quietly.
"No problem." He said, smiling at me. His smiled was different than the countless other times I'd seen it before; it seemed more nervous and self-conscious. Before I could question him about it, he walked away.
Jenny
I looked over to see where Arlen had gone. I saw him bending down and picking up the small booklet and handing it to Krystal. The shy smile that played over his face, the smile I had noticed that he'd put on every time he'd looked at Krystal. I smirked. "How sweet." I said, mostly to myself.
Seto, however, heard my comment. "What's sweet, sweet?"
"Them." I said, indicating Krystal and Arlen. "He likes her, that's obvious, and I'm much mistaken if the feeling isn't mutual."
Seto looked over at his son and snorted. "That scrap of flesh who's that queer Bakura's daughter?"
"Don't talk of him like that, what did he ever do to you?" I said firmly. "Besides, she's not the worst thing that could happen for him, and you know it."
"He's fifteen." Seto grumbled.
"We were when we did it for the first time."
"I just don't want him making my mistakes." Seto whispered, holding me closer. I nuzzled into him, watching Arlen go off to talk with Honda, Daniel and Yukio. They were the only other boys there, which is the only reason Seto allowed him to even look at Honda and Yukio.
"Don't worry." I said quietly. "He's got a good head on his shoulders, he won't do anything stupid. And even if he does, Krystal doesn't seem like the type to let him do anything to her that she doesn't want him to."
"I hope you're right." Seto grumbled.
Krystal
"Anzu!" Jacks called, coming in. "You're on!" I felt my stomach turn over in my body, and got a bad taste in my mouth. I was next.
"Break a leg." Jacks called to her as she went on. "The Crowd's easy today. It's just my neighbors and their kids. Nothing serious."
"What, dare I ask, is serious?" Rebecca asked.
"Once we had a local news crew. That was the day Honda choked." Jacks said, jabbing Honda in the rib. I paled at her words, put so casually. News Crew?
"Ow, hey it wasn't my fault."
"You always pin the blame on someone other than yourself. Admit it. It was your fault." Jacks argued.
"Geez, you two argue like an old married couple." Allysa mused.
"They're cousins." Yukio said.
"And that makes sense, because?" Daniel asked, sitting down on the only chair in the room.
"Dunno." Yukio shrugged. "Just thought you should know."
"Wow, that's helpful, Yukio." Jacks said sarcastically, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"So, Jacks, am I singing "On My Own."" Rebecca asked, holding up the song booklet.
"Yeah."
"Not that song." Kaiba muttered.
"And what wrong with that song, Seto." Rebecca retorted.
"You sing that song too much."
"Either that or "Behind These Hazel Eyes.""
"Oh please not that." Allysa sighed, practically begging.
"See, even your daughter agrees." Kaiba said, making a point.
"Oh please, she's your daughter too." She said, not thinking. She quickly realized what she said, and make a face.
"What was that?" Jenny asked, looking from Rebecca to Kaiba.
Kaiba looked at his wife. "You knew I was with her before we got divorced." He said. "I told you that on our first date as adults."
"Oh Yeah."
All this I didn't actually overhear, but I read the conversation on their lips. 'Thank Ra for a dad who has a tomb-robber for a Yami.' I thought 'So many things can be found out when people don't know you can as good as hear their conversation. ' That, however, was just something to get my thoughts off my upcoming performance. I didn't really care about their conversation. That is, I didn't care until I heard Rebecca comment on Allysa being Kaiba's kid too. 'I didn't know she and Daniel were siblings.' I thought.
Outside, I heard Anzu's song ending. "You're up, Krys!" Jacks said. "Go on, prove to Kaiba that there's more to a person than size!"
I smiled weakly at her attempt to psyche me up. "I'll try." I said. 'Thank Ra I got a short song, and one I know well.' I thought as I went on the balcony. I saw, to my horror that the news team had once again shown up for the performance. "Jacks?"
"Yeah Krys?"
"Remind me to kill you when this is over." Jacks smiled, and just gave me a little shove out onto the makeshift stage. The music started and I closed my eyes, trying to lose myself in it. 'Okay, just another time in your room' I thought. 'Simple, just you and the computer.' Before I knew it, I had begun to sing. "been along road to follow. been there and gone tomorrow. without saying goodbye to yesterday. are the memories I hold still valid? or have the tears deluded them? maybe this time tomorrow the rain will cease to follow. and the mist will fade into one more today. something somewhere out there keeps calling… am I going home? will I hear someone singing solace to the silent moon? zero gravity what's it like? am I alone? Is somebody there beyond these heavy aching feet still the road keeps on telling me to go on…something is pulling me…I feel the gravity…of it all…"
"Wow, you were right Jacks." Kaiba mumbled.
"Of course I am. Wait what?" Jacks said.
"Ow, Allysa. Why'd you pinch me?" Daniel cried, rubbing his arm.
"To see if I was dreaming. Guess not." Allysa said walking away.
"You do take more after Mom than I do." Daniel mused. Allysa just smiled the way her mom does.
"Krystal, that was great!" Jacks said, hugging me as I came in.
"Thanks." I mumbled.
"Good job." Arlen said, holding out a hand.
"Thanks." I said, shaking his hand, blushing slightly.
"I'm so proud of you!" My dad said, hugging me to death.
"Air." I whispered. My dad let me go laughing. He'd hardly laughed at all since his divorce to my mom, and I felt good that I could make him smile again.
"Honda, you and me. Come on." Jacks said, pulling him by the arm.
"Krys, are there cameras out there?" He asked me. I nodded and laughed at the face he made. "Help me." He mouthed. Even though I could read lips, I still had trouble figuring out what he said.
Kaiba approached me later while I was getting a glass of water. "Krystal."
I turned to see him standing there. "Kaiba."
Kaiba shifted his weight a bit. "Well…you were actually pretty good out there." He said, and I could tell he just wanted to wash his mouth out so badly for complimenting someone below his social status. I wasn't about to turn it down however.
I snorted laughter. 'Well, maybe you're just tone deaf.' I thought. "I'm glad someone thinks so." I said aloud. "But I'm not done; I have a duet with yo- with Allysa." 'Stupid!' I yelled at myself. 'You're to supposed to know that she's his daughter.' "And then there's the song that all the kids are singing, and the kid/parent number, then the song and dance one, I'm not looking forward to." I thought I actually heard him snort in laughter.
"Krystal!" Jacks called. "Duet with Allysa is next. Get back up here!" I gulped down my water and ran back upstairs. Allysa and Daniel were in a full blown war.
"Stop blaming me!" Allysa yelled.
"Well, it's your fault!" Daniel yelled back.
"Is not!"
"Yes it is!"
"Nuh uh."
"Uh huh."
"QUIET!" Kaiba bellowed. And I thought Dad's Yami was scary. Daniel flinched, but Allysa stared calmly up at him. 'Probably paralyzed with the shock of it.' I thought. 'Kaiba does have one hell of a bellow, I'll give him that.'
"What happened?" Rebecca cried, running up the stairs. "Who died?"
"Our children were fighting." Kaiba said, calmly.
"Bout what?"
"Daniel's blaming me." Allysa whined, pointing the Finger of Blame.
"Well, it is your fault." He said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Is not!"
"Stop it!" Becca wasn't nearly as scary as Kaiba or even Dad's Yami, but she was effective enough. "I don't care whose fault it is, when there's a performance going on, everyone is quiet. Understand?"
"Yes ma'am." Allysa and Daniel muttered.
"Good. Kaiba, have anything to add?" A scared look flickered across Daniel's face.
"No." Kaiba said simply, turning around.
"Allysa, Krys. Duet. Now!" Jacks hissed at us.
'Ra,' I thought,' Here I go again. What the hell did Dad put in my breakfast yesterday to make me agree to this? Well, as least I'm not up here alone this time. That's one thing to be grateful for. That and the fact that I know this song well too. Ra, I've been lucky so far. For the one we're doing with the adults, well, no one will notice me under Jacks, Rebecca, Kaiba and everyone else. My voice is that quiet. Plus on this one, I'm singing the base line, harder to hear.'
3rd person
Jacks collapsed on her bed facedown, exhausted as the first lines of "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" came through her balcony door. She waved an arm. "Daniel, you're in charge until I wake up." She said into the pillow.
"What?" Daniel yelped. But before he could say anything, Jacks was out like a light. As soon as "Hit Me with your best shot" was over, Jacks snapped awake.
"Daniel! You and Arlen are next!" She cried before falling back onto the pillow. Honda fell to the floor in shock.
"I take it he doesn't take surprises well." Becca mused.
"Always quick with wit and the tongue aren't you, Rebecca." Kaiba said.
"Depends on what I'm doing with my tongue." She laughed at the look on his face.
"Ew." Allysa said, giving her mom a weird look.
"Till the day my life is through, this I promise you." Daniel and Arlen sang.
"I'm melting." Anzu said to Krystal and Jacks. They too were melting, but they weren't going to tell Anzu that.
Krystal
'Ra,' I thought, 'he sounds as sexy as he looks...AH! What am I thinking? He's just a guy from my geometry class, and that's ALL!'
"Krys?" Jacks said, not looking at me. "You okay? You look like you just saw your own ghost, what's wrong?"
I shook my head. "Nothing." I said, looking anywhere but on stage. "Nothing at all."
"Come on, I can tell." Jacks said. "Something's up, what is it?"
I turned to her. "It is…none of your business." I said, before going back to her bed. "Mind if I borrow this?" I asked tiredly.
"Not until you tell me what's going on."
"Damn you."
Jacks smiled. "So?" I didn't answer. "Oh come on, what's the point of having friends if you can't share secrets and gossip with them?" Jacks asked in an exasperated tone as she sat next to me. I still didn't acknowledge her, and saw Jacks look out on stage. The look of putting two and two together to get something besides twenty-two came on her face slowly. "Okay, which one is it?" She asked, smiling as she looked back down at me.
I looked up in surprise. "Excuse me?"
Jacks flipped a strand of silver hair over her shoulder. "You like one of them. Which one is it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come on, Krys, you're one of the worst liars I've ever met." Jacks said. "So, which one?"
"Can't I have any secrets anymore?" I grumbled. 'I'm getting out of practice,' I thought, 'if even Jacks can tell when I'm lying.'
Jacks smiled, laughing. "Not when you're my friend." She joked. Daniel and Arlen walked in, laughing and joking. "Okay, Becca, want to go next?"
"If I must." She sighed, not hiding her enthusiasm. "I'm singing "I Dreamed a Dream" okay?"
"Don't tell me, tell them." Jacks gestured to the balcony. "Llysa, your mom is beyond cool." She said, mostly to herself. "She treats everyone as an equal, no matter who they are."
"Not everyone." Kaiba mumbled. Jacks quickly turned her head, silver head flying around.
"Well for some reason, you have a problem with her existence. That's probably not her fault."
"Yes it is." For some odd reason, Jacks burst out laughing, and fell on the bed.
"Ow." Jacks gasped, still laughing.
"What's your problem slut?" Kaiba growled.
"You're arguing with me. I find that funny. You seem to have a problem with Becca who is most likely your equal if not close, and here you're arguing with me, your lesser." She said, giggling.
"I don't find that funny at all." Allysa said, staring at Jacks weirdly.
"I dreamed a dream in time gone by when hopes were high and life worth living. I dreamed that love would never die. I dreamed that God would be forgiving." Becca sang. There was truth to her words.
"I love this song." Jacks whispered, humming along with the music. That reminded me; I had never heard Jacks sing by herself.
"He slept a summer by my side. He filled my days with endless wonder. He took my childhood in his stride, but he was gone when autumn came." Rebecca sang her voice going from low to high.
"You can guess who's she singing that about." Anzu mumbled. All the kids snickered behind their hands. I just stood, my expression not changing.
"I had a dream my life would be… so different from this hell I'm living! So different now from what it seemed! Now life has killed the dream I dreamed." Rebecca sang finishing her song. Allysa ran up and hugged her mom as soon as she walked back in. Daniel looked like he wanted to do the same thing, but feared his dad's reprimand.
"Nice job Pegasus." Kaiba sneered.
"Oh, a compliment laced with an insult. How nice." She laughed. "Suppose you could do better?"
"Maybe. Given the right song."
"Uh huh, right. You do that." Rebecca and Kaiba were playing with each other like children. It was funny but sickening at the same time.
"Ra, this is going to make me sick." I said. "Jacks, can I get something to drink?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks." I was walking out of her room and down the stairs when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and saw Arlen facing me. "Hey."
"Hey Krys." He said. "Listen, I don't know why you don't come out and do this kind of thing more often. You really are so good it ain't funny."
"Was I supposed to be funny?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "That wasn't what I was told."
"I'm serious, Krys, why are you so shy about it?" He asked. "I mean, even around school or something, it's just us. That's nothing to worry about, we won't laugh at ya."
I smirked. "Yeah, wee, I suppose there are things that are more important to me than humiliating myself on a stage. My voice can break glass, and not because I can go that high."
"Come on, Krys, quit the act." Arlen said. "You're good, why won't you admit that to yourself? I know anything you do, you're your own worst critic, but come on! Something like that-"
"Something like that couldn't get me anywhere." I said, sharply. "Trust me, I know." 'Firsthand.' I added to myself, turning away and bowing my head slightly. The memories that Arlen was bringing up were ones I never wanted to see again.
Arlen put a hand under my chin and raised my head to look at him. My eyes still avoided his, but he spoke anyway. "Come on, you've got talent. I just don't get why you're wasting it like this."
I looked up at him shyly. "You really think so?" 'No.' I thought to myself. 'Not after mom. I got better skills than going up and humiliating myself in front of people for a living.'
Arlen nodded. "I do."
"Arlen!" Kaiba yelled from Jacks's room. "Get up here, it's time to go on!"
Arlen smirked down at me. "See you on stage." He said, releasing me as he walked up.
I took a deep breath and released it slowly. 'Wow.' I thought. 'Ra has definitely blessed me this time. Wait, what the hell am I thinking! I don't get crushes, dammit! I don't fall in love with random people from my geometry class! But Ra, he's hot and sweet and funny…" With these confused thought racing around my head, I climbed the stairs back to Jacks's room. When I came in, Jacks caught my eyes and smirked, making a motion with her hand like she was fanning herself before turning back to her conversation.
"Okay, it's intermission. I'll assign you your parts for "One Day More."" Jacks said, pulling out a stack of papers." You had that entire thing ready? Wow, you scare me." Arlen said. Jacks grinned at him causing my hands to ball into fists.
'Why am I getting mad?' I asked myself. 'I don't like him…that much.'
"Okay, Bakura, you're Valjean." She said, handing him a sheet of lyrics.
"Wait, that's my part." Kaiba said.
"I thought you didn't want to play that part." Rebecca smirked.
"It's the only one I know."
"Is he blushing?" I asked sarcastically, smiling and on the verge of laughter. "Wow, there's something I never though I'd ever see." Kaiba shot a glare at me and I wisely shut up.
"Kaiba you're Javert." Jacks said, handing another sheet to him.
"He can't sing Javert." Rebecca said, fidgeting. "It goes too low."
"It's just one song. It's not like I'm asking him to sing "Stars."" Jacks said. "Arlen you're Enjolras. Daniel you're Marius. Allysa, you're Cosette. Honda, Anzu, you two are the Thenardiers. I'm Eponine."
"Oh yea, give yourself the best part." Allysa scoffed.
"Hey it's the only one I can sing. Becca, Jenny, Yukio, Krystal; you're singing the chorus and Rebel student parts." Jacks said, handing then all their parts. "Okay? Learn you lines. We have ten minutes." She said, walking over to Daniel and Allysa.
"Great, I have the chorus part." I mumbled. 'At least I don't have to sing by myself. Poor Dad, he has the lead part.' "Hey Dad, you sure about this?" I asked.
Dad smiled down at me. "It's about time I got out more." He said. "It's not my fault your friend gave me the lead."
"It's my fault." Rebecca laughed, walking by. Dad gave her a glare, but laughed it off.
"What about you? Are you okay with this?" He asked.
I shrugged. "I just don't know." I said. "Arlen came up and told me I was really good, but after Mom…"
Dad sighed like he didn't know what to say and sat down with me. "Come on." He said. "I'll help you with your lines if you want."
I shook my head, standing. "You go over yours. You're the one with the lead." I said. "I'll go over with Jenny and them to practice." Dad nodded and I walked over to the other people with basically same part as me.
Jenny
Krystal walked up to Rebecca, Yugi's son, and me rather shyly. A few minutes in, though, Rebecca's tongue got to her and she went and sat in a chair in an almost hidden corner to look over her lines. "What did you say that for?" I snapped at my husband's first wife.
"What?" She said. "All I said was she had a good voice and she should sing more often."
I flipped some hair over my shoulder. "You idiot, didn't you see how self-conscious and shy she was going up there? She didn't want to do this, Arlen told me. She nearly beat up Jacks when she heard that she'd signed her up for this. But She's doing it anyway. The least you could do is cut her some slack, you imbecile."
"Just like her mom." She mused, mostly to herself. "Her mom and I were friends. Lotte would always get nervous before a show." She got a far away look in her eye and stared off into space.
"No wonder you two divorced." I mused.
"Me being annoying is not why we broke up." She said, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"So you know you're annoying? Then why don't you stop/"
"That's like asking me not to breathe, or stop singing." She laughed, looking down at her lines.
"So what part does Seto have again?" I asked, looking over to where he was practicing.
"Javert. He a ruthless cop who's after Valjean. He commits suicide in the end of the play." Becca said, following my gaze.
"Not in this song though?"
"No, not in this song. I love this song."
"What part do you usually play?"
"Eponine, Jacks's part." Becca said, simply. "Krystal, want to come back and practice with us?" She called over to the girl in the corner. She shook her head, and went back to memorizing it by her lonesome. "I tried." She shrugged. I just shook my head. How could Seto have married this woman? Especially after we'd gone out in high school and had gone to bed with each other at fifteen! She was so blind and ignorant! 'I guess I can't really blame him.' I thought. The only reason we'd broken up in the first place was because we had a huge argument after we'd been to bed. 'I suppose it was kinda my fault, and he didn't get me pregnant. Thank God.'
I shook my head again and concentrated on my lines. 'Poor Krystal.' I thought. 'Only just moving here with her dad to look after her, and Jacks getting her into this when she didn't want to be…"
Krystal
I sat in the chair, trying to memorize my lines. My mind kept wandering off, though. 'Ra, how did Kaiba manage to marry that bitch?' I wondered. 'Let alone share a bed with her.'
"Krystal, you want to come back and practice with us?" I heard Rebecca call to me.
I shook my head, reading my lines again. I'd memorized another three or four lines when my thoughts started drifting again. This time, it was because Arlen's pure alto voice was rising up above the others in the group he was practicing with, making me look up and almost stare at him. 'Why am I even thinking about him?' I wondered. 'Yeah he's nice, and he's my friend and al, but why in Ra's name can't I stop thinking about him? I don't think of Daniel or Honda or Yukio or especially Davan that way. Davan's just a bastard. I don't know why Jacks keeps insisting that he hang around us. He's gunna be trouble I know it. But Arlen…Ra, why am I even thinking about him? I've got work to do.' I shook my head, clearing my thought, and blocked out everything but my lines. Rebecca walked over to where Kaiba was practicing.
"A heart full of love," She sang. "A heart full of song. I'm doing everything all wrong. Oh God, for shame. I do not even know your name. Dear mademoiselle, won't you say? Will you tell?"
"A heart full of love. No fear, no regret." Kaiba sang back, smiling.
"My name is Marius Pontmercy."
"And mine's Cosette."
"You know you're singing the wrong parts." Jacks called over. Becca and Kaiba just laughed.
'They do look cute together. I'll give them that.' I thought. 'Rebecca's still a bitch, though. Trouble, just like Davan.'
"Cosette, I don't know what to say." Kaiba sang the right part.
"Then make no sound."
"I am lost."
"I am found."
"You do know that's the wrong song." Jacks said again.
"Sh." Daniel said, watching his parents sing. Jacks went over to the balcony and opened the door, as Becca and Kaiba were standing right in front of it.
"A heart full of light."
"A night bright as day." They sang together.
"And you must never go away. Cosette, Cosette." Kaiba took Rebecca's hands in his won. Jacks handed Jenny Eponine's part for "A Heart full of Love," and shoved her onto the stage.
"This is a chain we'll never break."
"Do I dream?" (Kaiba)
"I'm awake." (Rebecca)
"A heart full of love." Becca and Kaiba sang together.
"He was never mine to lose." Jenny sang the words on the paper.
"A heart full of you." Rebecca and Kaiba sang together.
"Why regret what could not be?" Jenny interjected.
"A single look and then I knew." Kaiba sang back.
"I knew it, too." (Becca)
"These are words he'll never say." Jenny sang. "Not to me."
"From today." (Kaiba)
"Not to me. Not for me."
"Every day." (Becca)
"For it isn't a dream." (Becca and Kaiba)
"His heart Full of love." (Jenny)
"He will never feel this way."
"Not a dream after all." Rebecca went to an impossibly high note, as the last cord was struck.
I looked over at Jenny singing with Kaiba and Rebecca, and smiled. It still shocked me to see Kaiba singing, let alone singing a girl's lines and singing them well. Even if he did only sing it in the beginning. I closed me eyes, running through my lines in my head. It satisfied me that I could remember them all after only half an hour. 'It wouldn't have taken as long,' I thought, 'if I hadn't been so distracted. Ah well.'
After the sing was over, Honda randomly started singing 'Mater of the House,' which was about the only song I knew. I laughed, Honda sounded so funny doing a cockney accent.
Jacks shook her head. "Not that song." She moaned, but started handing out the parts. To my surprise, Jacks handed me Madame Thendiers's part.
"What the heck?" I asked, still laughing.
"Well, you're the only one I can see singing that part." Jacks said, smiling. "You gotta admit, it fits ya pretty well."
I rolled my eyes as Honda started the second verse. "Enter, M'sieur. Lay down you load. Unlace you boots and rest from the road…"
I waited for my part to come.
"Dirty bunch of geezers. Jesus, what a sorry little lot!" Honda cried. 'My turn.' I thought.
"I used to dream that I would meet a prince. But God Almighty, Have you seen what's happened since?" I sang, gesturing at Honda. I started strutting around him, as I was wearing something other than my usual jeans and I tee shirt. It was a nice blue top with black on the edges and a black button on one shoulder and a long black skirt. The sleeves were the kinds that were like straps that I could wear halfway down my shoulders if I wanted to. "Master of the house?' Isn't worth me spit! Comforter, philosopher' - and lifelong shit! Cunning little brain. Regular Voltaire. Thinks he's quite a lover, but there's not much there." I was exaggerating the movements of my hips and shoulders as I walked slowly around him to the beat of the music and flipping my hair, down and brushed hurriedly, over my shoulders about every other step I took. I threw him glances like I was actually the person he was singing for. What a cruel trick of nature landed me with such a louse. God knows how I've lasted Living with this bastard in the house!" I cried, knocking him off balance with a jerk of my hip as I walked by.
"Master of the house." Honda sang, giving me a look like if I wanted war, he'd give it.
"Master and a half!" I sang back, accepting his challenge.
"Comforter, philosopher."
"Don't make me laugh!"
"Servant to the poor. Butler to the great."
"Hypocrite and toady and inebriate!"
"Everybody bless the landlord! Everybody bless his spouse!" everyone sang.
"Everybody raise a glass." Honda sang, acting like he was making a toast. It was admittance of defeat.
"Raise it up the master's ass." I sang, putting my victory forth in the notes.
"Everybody raise a glass to the master of the house!" everyone including Honda and me finished.
"That was great!" Arlen cried, running up to me after I walked in and throwing his arms around me in a hug. Hugged him back, unaware f what I was doing.
"Hello!" Allysa cried, bringing us back to reality. We broke apart, both blushing madly. I tied my hair back into a ponytail and tried not to think about what had just happened.
"Uh…you were great." He said, not looking at me.
"Thanks." I blushed even more, if possible.
"Now we see the violence in the system." Jacks said, walking by us.
"Will you stop quoting Monty Python?" Honda begged.
"We shall not be silenced!" She cried, raising a fist.
"I was wrong. She shouldn't be a singer. She should be an actress." Rebecca announced proudly.
"Yea, not even I could have done a better job at humiliating Honda. And that's saying something." Jacks said. "Now can we sing "One Day More?""
"Yea, okay." Rebecca laughed.
"Okay! Hit it Bakura!" She yelled. I rolled my eyes at the too-cliched phrase that Jacks used. 'She's been doing this too long.' I thought sarcastically to myself.
(A/n There was a song here but Ari got mad at me for putting more songs than plot so yea…it's not here anymore)
I practically sighed in relief as everyone walked back inside. It was getting late, and thank Ra there was only one song left. Then I could finally go home.
"Krys?" Jacks asked, coming up to me.
"Yeah Jacks?"
"I want you to take the lead in our last song."
I stared at her, amazed. "I'm sorry, it sounded like you just said you wanted me to take the lead." I said.
"I did." Jacks said. "None of the rest of us know the song all that well. You were the one, who suggested it, remember? You know it best, and the guys can't exactly take the lead. You'll be fine trust me." Before I could protest, Jacks had walked off to tell Anzu and Allysa that I would be taking the lead.
'Damn Jacks, it's called asking a person.' I thought. 'Well, it's not like it's the first thing she's decided I'm doing tonight.'
I saw Rebecca walk up to Kaiba. "Hey, you were pretty good out there." She said.
"Thanks, Pegasus." Kaiba sneered.
"Will you stop calling me by my maiden name?"
"Well, I can't exactly call you Kaiba, now can I?" Kaiba spat.
"You could." Rebecca said, causally.
"Unfortunately for you, that Jenny's-"
"Here we go again…" She sighed. "You make me sick talking about her that much." Rebecca snapped, all pretenses of cheerfulness gone in an instant.
"She is my wife." Kaiba said, temper clearly was rising, though he was doing a good job of disguising it.
"Well, do you love her as much as you loved me?"
Kaiba's temper snapped. "More than I ever thought I loved you! The only reason I have more kids that call you mom is because Daniel and Allysa are twins! At least Arlen can say that he doesn't have a whore for a mother!"
"What about Daniel and Allysa, hm? What about them?" Rebecca said, taking a step back. Kaiba words had scared her more than his rage. Her voice was weaker than it had been before.
"Daniel can at least say he wasn't brought up by one! And thank God Allysa hasn't seemed to have acquired your record of sleeping with a different guy for each day of the week by fifteen!"
"I never did that!" Rebecca retorted tears in her eyes and voice. "That was something Cecilia made up to spite me and to drive you away from me! I thought you would know better than to listen to my jealous step-sister!" Becca gathered her stuff, then motioned for Allysa to follow her out the door. "I'll see you in court."
"Court?"
"The custody case. I'm getting my son back." She said over her shoulder.
"Not if I can help it." Kaiba seethed.
"But mom, we have one more song." Allysa said.
"Call me when this whole damn thing is over. I'm not staying in the same room as that bastard they call your father." Rebecca said, walking away. Her cell phone rang before she could go down the stairs. "What!" She spat into her phone. "Oh sorry, Sherry. Yea, I'm okay. I just had a stupid relapse. No, no I'm fine really. Yea, I can do that. What airport? Oosaka? Okay, see you there." She hung up her phone and clipped it back onto her belt with her deck tin. "Llysa, you'll need to get a ride. I gotta go pick up Sherry at the airport."
"I'll give her a ride." My dad offered.
"Thanks Ryo. I owe you one." Rebecca smiled then walked down the stairs.
"Who's Sherry?" Kaiba called after her.
"He's helping mom run her company." Allysa said. 'Sherry?' I thought. 'Isn't that a girl's name? I have an Aunt Cheryl, nicknames Sherry, in Seattle, I think. Still, an aunt. Female.'
"What company?"
"Industrial Illusions. The company her step-dad left her."
I bit my lower lip. This was bad; neither Allysa nor Daniel deserved this. But now I knew that I had been right, Rebecca was nothing but trouble. Before I knew what I was doing, I raced out of Jacks's room and caught up with Rebecca at the bottom of the stairs. "Don't you take Kaiba to court!" I yelled.
Rebecca whipped around and glared at me. "What I do about my own family is none of your concern." She hissed as people started coming down to see what was going on. My dad was one of them. "I would advise you to stay out of matters that you don't understand. Especially at your age."
Dad grabbed me and started pulling me back. "Come on, Krys, she's right. Stay out of it."
"Listen to your dad, Girlie." Rebecca sighed.
I glared at her. By this tine, everyone was down, even Jenny and Kaiba. "You don't care about either of them!" I yelled, and every pair of eyebrows present but mine raised. "You don't care how much you'll screw up their lives if you take Kaiba to court! You only care about you and your stupid habit! And where do you come off calling my dad by his first name, huh? You're just jealous, and nothing more!"
Dad was trying to pull me back up the stairs. "Krys, please, stop!" He whispered. "I'm don't wanna get my Yami out, but if it comes to that I will! Now for the love of Ra, hold your tongue!"
The threat of Dad's Yami coming out and getting me to shut up was enough to make me do so, but I still growled at Rebecca. Dad hadn't had to resort to threatening his Yami since I was eight. 'If looks could kill…' I thought. 'If looks could kill she'd never sing in that annoying, whiney voice of hers again.' I gave her one last, long glare before breaking out of Dad's grip and running back up the stairs to Jacks's room. 'I tried.' I told myself. 'I tired. It doesn't matter if she decides to take me to court, she can't. She has nothing on which to get me into a courtroom on. I made sure of that. I only accused her, and a person can't take someone to court on accusation alone. They need evidence. Just as long as Allysa and Daniel are okay, and Kaiba and Jenny too, then I don't care what they do to me.' Dad; He was the disturbing factor. They could do whatever they wanted to me, but if my dad was hurt again, I would make sure there was hell to pay for it.
I heard everyone else slowly come back and went back to my chair in the corner where everyone wouldn't stare at me. I bit my lower lip again, trying hard not to cry.
There was another intermission, thankfully, so none of us had missed the song. That didn't make me feel any better. I just wanted tonight to be over so I could go home. A hot shower, some ice cream, and my computer in front of me. Who needed anything else?
"Hey Krys?" I looked up to see Jacks and all my other friends standing near me, looking concerned. It was Daniel who had spoken. I turned away, not wanting to talk anymore. "Well, thanks." He said, even though I wasn't looking at him. "That was a really cool thing you did, trying to get Rebecca from taking dad to court."
I didn't talk for a moment, still looking at the wall beside me. "What, you aren't calling her mom anymore?" I said, quietly, though I still didn't look at him.
Allysa snorted. "She doesn't deserve for us to call her mom." She said. "I'm ashamed to say that I live under her roof." I could tell she didn't mean it, but I didn't say anything.
I huffed softly as Arlen came over next to me. I stood not wanting him to be near me. "Jacks, where's the bathroom?" I asked. I really needed to be alone.
Jacks looked concerned, but said, "Just outside, first door on the right."
"Thanks." I said, walking quickly out the door.
"I was wrong." I heard Jacks say behind me. "Rebecca doesn't treat everyone equal…Girlie my ass, Krys is more an adult than any of us."
"And technically, she's the youngest," Arlen said. "That's ironic, but I like that kind of irony."
I smiled slightly at Jacks and Arlen's compliments towards me, as I was about to enter the bathroom. But someone called my name out softly, walking to catch to up to me. It was Jenny. "Krystal?"
"Hai?"
Jenny beckoned for me to follow and we went down to the living room and sat on a couch. She looked at me, emerald eyes hard yet kind at the same time. Shoulder length, thick blond hair she had tied back before she'd come she pulled tighter as she sat, every bit as graceful as she looked. She tucked full, long legs under her and sat on them, he poise and ease of a dancer. I just stood, envying this woman's slim, full and downright beautiful figure. Where I had planes and angles (chest, stomach, hips, shoulders, etc.) she had beautifully sculptured curves. I could see why Kaiba had bedded her when they were my age, but I couldn't figure out why he had to go through a bitch like Rebecca first. "Sit Krystal, no need to be formal." I sat, and Jenny smiled. "It makes me uncomfortable, see, when I'm sitting and someone else is standing when they can sit."
" I like to stand." I said, quietly.
Jenny smiled gently. "I think what you tried to do for Seto…I think that was really good of you." I only nodded, but didn't reply. "I know he didn't expect it, at least." Seeing my expression, she amended her thought. "You did it for Daniel and Allysa, didn't you?" She asked. I nodded again, and Jenny laughed softly. "Well, I can't say I didn't expect that." She said, shaking her head. "Seto's not the easiest person to get along with. I just wanted to thank you for doing it anyway."
I still didn't talk, and Jenny sighed, leaning back. "There's something else I wanted to talk to you about." She said. "Its about-"
"Show time!" Jacks called from upstairs. "Come on Krys!"
I looked at Jenny and she rose. "It can wait, I guess." She said. "Come on, I can't wait to hear that voice of yours again. You're really good." I shook my head. "You don't think so?"
"I don't like to sing." I said, still quiet as we walked upstairs. "Al least…not in front of crowds."
Jenny cocked her head. "Why not?" She asked.
I looked away. "Mom was a singer." I whispered. "In the states, she never made it big. Even with Dad's job, they only made just enough to support us, we couldn't go on trips or anything. We could barely ever go to a fair, and we only just qualified for a middle class life. They got a divorce…because they wanted me to live more comfortably." I nearly choked trying to keep myself from crying. "Dad's never happy anymore, he barely ever smiles or laughs, never sees the woman he loves…because of me. And its been hard for him to find work back here in Domino…"
Jenny was about to reply, but Jacks came up to us. "Everyone's gone!" She cried. "They thought the intermission was the end!"
"I'm sorry, Jacks." Jenny said. All I could do was scream, 'Thank Ra!' in my head.
"Can't we still do it, just for kicks?" Yukio asked. All the adults but Jenny, Dad, and Kaiba had left. Even thought they and Rebecca had been the only ones, it had felt a lot more crowded before.
"Yeah, that would be cool." Daniel said. "And we could do it out on the balcony, if ya want."
Arlen just looked over at me. "Krys is doing the lead." He said. "It ought to be her decision, if anyone's."
I was touched by this quiet act, and Arlen smiled when I looked at him as if to say it wasn't any trouble. "I'm really tired." I said, since everyone was looking at me expectantly. "Nanji desu ka?" (A/n What time is it?)
Jenny checked her watch. "Geez, it's almost eleven. This thing took longer than I thought."
Kaiba nodded. "Arlen, Daniel, Allysa, come on." He said. "We gotta get home."
Dad gave a small cough. "As much as I hate the idea, Kaiba, I did say I would give Allysa a ride…" He didn't need to finish his sentence. We all knew what he was trying to say, just as surely as we knew that it would kill dad to break a promise like that. Even Kaiba knew it, and he just sighed and nodded.
"Fine then." He said. "I need to go to the bathroom, then we're leaving."
"Yukio, Honda, Anzu, do you guys need a ride?" dad asked.
Someone poked me in the arm. I turned, seeing Arlen. "Wha?"
He put a finger to his lips and motioned for me to get closer. I cocked my head, curious. Kaiba would be back soon, what did Arlen have to say to me that was so important? Still, I bent my head toward him. "Daisuki desu." He whispered, then jumped back, blushing furiously, and went out the door with Jenny and Kaiba, who had come back by this time, before I could question him. I wouldn't have been able to anyway. I was in too much shock. 'Ra, did he just say what I think he said?' I thought, shocked. 'Did he just say he loved me?' I couldn't be sure, though I had been taught Japanese as well as English growing up. I swallowed, though nothing seemed to stick in my throat. I'd turned my back on love long before, my practical side knowing that I would never be any high prize on the romance market, but now it came right up and had admitted itself in my ear and ran away before I could figure it out.
I was still trying to figure it out when Dad got me and Allysa out to the car and we were driving through the now steady rain that had threatened Domino for weeks. I swallowed, nervous all over again. The lyrics to some song by a long-dead American group that I still listened to sometimes came back and wouldn't get themselves out of my head. "I just understand, why you're running from a good man, baby. Why you wanna turn your back on love? Why you've already given up…" I just couldn't get those words out of my head, no matter how hard I tried. If it wasn't those words, it was a picture of Arlen's face. "Hey Allysa?" I said, not believing that I was about to ask this. I swallowed, metaphorically swallowing my pride.
"Hai?"
"Um…"
"We're here." Dad interrupted, pulling up in front of Allysa's house. "You want me to walk you up?" He asked.
Allysa smiled. "No thanks, Bakura-San. This isn't Tokyo; I'll be fine. Arigatoo gozaimashita, though." She added, getting out. "Bye Krys!" She called out to me, running up the walk. Rebecca was already there, waiting to pull her in and away from me. I was sure about that last part, just as I was sure she was going to take Kaiba to court no matter what I said. A blonde man came up to stand beside Rebecca, and I got only the briefest glimpse of him before dad drove away. 'That must be Sherry.' I thought.
I sighed. The word of a fifteen-year-old never counted for anything anymore, when something that came 'from the mouths of babes' was what the fate of countries used to be based upon.
"Are you okay Krys?" Dad asked. "You look down."
I shook my head. "Confused." I said. "Sad, angry, stupid…"
A red light came up and Dad turned, looking back at me with warm brown eyes. "What is there to feel stupid about?" He asked, sounding sincere. "You tried to do something good tonight, though the method wasn't the most effective you could have used."
I looked away. "You're not helping, Dad."
He shook his head as the light turned green. "You are so much like your mother." He said. "She would have done the same thing in your place."
"You speak of her as though she were dead."
Dad shook his head again. "I know things have been tough." He said. "I try to do all I can for you, Krystal. I know you miss your mom. I miss her too, but once I get a good job, things will turn out fine. We may go visit her, once we get the money."
I closed my eyes, trying once again not to cry. Dad had loved Mom with all his heart; even his Yami had liked her. He'd gone away, divorced her, all because of me. They'd wanted me to be happy and live comfortably, wanted me to spend my teenage years like a normal girl my age. As much as I tried to hold them back, the tears started dripping from my tightly closed eyes. Dad was too proud to ask for money he knew he couldn't pay back anytime soon, and he made enough to get by. We drove in silence until we reached our apartment complex and parked. I walked up behind Dad, still not saying a word and hoping he just put that to my being so tired. It had been a long night.
Next chappie comeing up! Oh AriChan! (runs after her w/ GakuChan's kabob stick)
