When Worlds Collide

Note: The last few chapters have been mainly about the blooming romance between Lily and the unexpected Seto Kaiba, but we cannot forget that Lil and Steph are in a world that they do not belong in, now can we… May be a bit sad if I feel like making it that way…

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh, but I do, in fact, own Silema and all of the contents of its unpublished (thus far) pages.

Chapter Thirteen: Return to Reality

I stroked the binding of the novel thoughtfully, trying to sort it all out. Was I actually, seriously falling in love?

The phone rang and I jumped slightly. Steph's hand shot out from under the covers and grabbed it.

"What?" she snapped into the receiver.

"Oh… I see… Really? Yes, we'll be there." Click.

"Who was-"

"It was Ishizu, Lily. She says that she knows where we're from and how to get us back. We need to meet her at the museum now."

In about ten minutes, we were standing in the lobby ataring at Ishizu who had just said that we were in danger of being lost to the world forever.

"What do mean we'll become one with this world?"

"You will fade into the atmosphere and become spirits much like the yamis of the Millennium items. Only, it will be harder for you to find a vessel, as you weren't plotted into the scheme of this from the start. You could well be lost forever."

I stared at her, mouth hanging open. Just as I had started to become happy, they throw this at me. Typical.

"But… What about-?"

"Lily, your love life is not the problem here; it's your basic existence. He will miss you, I do not doubt, but you will both fall back into what should have been. There is but one way for your love to be, and this is not it. Time will tell what is to become of you."

I stared blankly at Ishizu. How had she known?

"I knew it! You're in love with Seto! How dare-"

"This is not the time for that, Steph. You do not yet know what it is to love, but do not fear, you will. But now, we must return you to your world."

I did not want to go, but then, I didn't want to fade into the air either. What would that solve? And besides, it couldn't possibly be good for the environment.

"How?"

"This will require the power of the Pharaoh and of my brother, and the understanding of the both of you that you must return. I shall contact the magical ones, you must say your good byes and open your hearts. Return here tomorrow by sunset or I cannot help you."

The abruptness by which this tragedy had struck was heart shattering. Say goodbye already?

"Who should we tell?" I asked Steph, asking for her guidance as if nothing had changed between us.

"I can't believe that you would hide this from me! That you would even go near him! You can say your own farewell."

She huffed off to goodness knows where and I set off to Joey's house, not knowing what else to do.

"Joey? Can I talk to you for a minute please?"

He opened the door and I instantly felt foolish. Why had I come here? Perhaps I still had my girlish crush on Joey, because it would always be mine, but that didn't mean he was really all that important.

"I… We… are leaving tomorrow. We have to go home, or bad things will happen to us. I just thought that you might want to know and all that. Okay, bye!"

I dashed out of the house before Joey's poor mind could register what I had said and began walking slowly to Kaiba's house. He deserved the truth; all of it.

He let me in and I wasted no time in telling the story, from the beginning, of how we had gotten here.

"So… you're from another world?"

"From another plane of existence, yes."

"You actually think I would buy that?"

I sighed and started rattling off random facts about his life, from the TV show, of course. He stared, and then put his head down.

"So then… you just wanted to prove that you could get me to trust you?"

"No, Seto… never. I thought… when I got here… I wanted nothing more than to be Joey's girlfriend, but I see that it could never have been. Opposites may attract, but there is a limit. And besides," I sniffed slightly, "I went and… and fell in love with you."

"Love? With…me?"

I nodded meekly and stood up. "I'll see myself out then. I just had to tell you, before I left."

"Wait, Lily."

He took my hand and I had no choice but to look at him. "I don't… I don't know what love is, but I feel something very special for you, and I don't want you to go."

"I don't belong here. I never did, and clearly I never can. But… just don't forget me. Someday, maybe, you can tell your children a very strange sort of love story."

I sighed and hugged my book (the first one, now, of course) to my chest. This was harder than I had thought.

Kaiba reached up and pulled off the necklace that he always had around his neck and placed it in my hand. "Take this with you, so you'll know that I… that I'm thinking about you."

I nodded sadly and put it around my neck. Maybe this was why I had always seen myself alone. Maybe I would carry this token always and never forget, never heal.

"I'm going to miss you, Seto," I whispered, fighting back tears.

He looked at me, hesitated, and then kissed me right on the lips. I could hardly believe it, and surely knew not what to say. Instead, I just waved sadly and walked away, not so sure that reality was going to be very kind.

As I collected the few things that I needed to take with me to my home, I saw that Steph had already been. I wondered where she was and thought sadly about what life was going to be like now that I had changed so much. There was no denying, now, that I had grown much in my time away. Would my old world have room for me?

I lay on a park bench that night, with tears in my eyes. I would have to act as though nothing had changed, when I was now in love. I would have to go on with the charade that I had never been on a date, never been kissed, when all I wanted was to tell everyone. I was no longer the same lonely, shy little girl I had once been. And Steph was no longer my best friend in the whole world. I was lost.

I did not sleep that night, for my heart was breaking at what I had, for a short while, finally been able to call my own; happiness and love. And for that short while, I had sacrificed my former self and my best friend. Nothing seemed to matter anymore.

And morning came, with the promise of a new place to spend my grieving, and I walked slowly toward the museum, toward the reclaiming of what had once been.

"Now that all are present, you must go back, with haste. Have you said goodbye?"

We both nodded silently, and stared at Marik. Man, he was very tall and very, very cute in person. Of course, I could not find it in me to care about such things at that moment.

The two golden items began to glow, as did their wielders. I gingerly touched the necklace that Kaiba had given me and readied myself to go back.

Steph looked like she had swallowed a lemon or two, and I felt that she may have accidentally eaten my heart as well. We were going back.

In a flash of light, I was in my own room again, but I was not the same. I felt outcast from the place, as if I did not belong.

I soon found out that no one had known me gone and had thought that both Steph and I were still there. How that was, I did not know, nor did I much care. I just ate, and slept and stared out the window.

When school came, Drake walked up to me and promptly asked me out, much to my shock and discontent.

"You've been… different, lately, Lily, and we're both single, right?"

Just looking at him made me sick. "Wrong. I have a boyfriend," I said, brandishing the necklace as proof. "He lives… in another country. But you can keep your grimy hands offa me and go back to your little Brittany. She was good enough before, and she's good enough now."

He walked away, and I knew very well that I had take the first step in being a lonely girl. And beneath my foot was nothing but air. I could not return to what I had been, that was for sure. But, on the plus side, my love stories would be much more accurate. And Silema, my debut novel, was to hit the shelves in two months. Maybe I would get a very cute little dog and name it Seto…

End Note: Well, there it is, the last chapter. I might make a sequel, so keep your eyes open for that. Go on, tell me what you think. I just have to know! Also, if you've got ideas for the sequel, I'm more than willing to hear you out.