Challenge

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh

I've decided to redo my chapter 2 again because that just led to about a bunch of chapters of pure ranting on my behalf TT …Terribly sorry that I've put this story aside for so long except between midterms and term papers all I've manage to do is sleep.

Chapter 2: Sanctuary

Well life has been rather tedious ever since that day. Every day passes as uneventful as the next. At school I remain an outcast as I've always been and in every school that I've been in. My only happiness in the last five days is that dad has been working at the office and hasn't come home. I don't think I've ever felt so at peace with myself before. Not that I've become some happy go-lucky girl or anything.

I spend most of my school time in the library. The school library has become my sanctuary. It's the one place that those cheerleaders like Tea don't go. I find solace in the depths of the books. My mind is free of thought as I drown within the complicated rules and teachings of the text. The librarian even recognizes me when I go there now, she smiles and I give her a simple nod. It makes me think how pathetic my life has gone. Have I become a nerd, a lonely nerd? How sad.

Of course, as life would have it for me, my peaceful sanctuary would not remain. He walked in. Of all people, he walked in. I glared at him as he made his way over, I raised an eyebrow as he took a seat next to me.

"Hi"

I looked at him indifferently.

"What?" he asked, and still I just looked at him, "What?" he asked impatiently. It was apparent my lack of speech irritated him.

I decided to ignore him in hopes of some peace. I moved to the corner of the library where very few went. I think he enjoys torturing me. He sits down yet again this time across from me. I try to ignore him behind my book, but that odd feeling you get when people stare at you was too strong. I put down my book,

"What exactly do you want from me Bakura?" I hissed

"I want nothing from you new girl. I just want to know how you are." He said feigning innocence.

I looked skeptically at him, "Yea right, you care as much as I love fluffy bunnies and rainbows. The name's Abby not new girl, get that through your thick head."

Bakura chuckled, "Well have a nice day new girl. Enjoy your fluffy bunnies and rainbows." And he got up ready to leave

I was stuck between a choice of laughing or being exasperated. Of course being outspoken little me I took the challenge "Abby! A-b-b-y! Get it!" I hissed

"Congrats on learning to spell your name." he said and disappeared behind the books.

I fumed. Men, I was starting to believe that romance really should be left to those damn fairy tales and fiction stories. Honestly, did all the nice men in the world die or something? That's not true though, my subconscious said, what about the nice guy who gave you a ride. Ah well that's an exception, I thought back, he's psychotic with multiple personalities. Then I realized I was talking to myself. I groaned inwardly, my life just wasn't getting any better.

Finally giving up on getting any work done in the library I decided to leave. With all the luck in the world I walked into someone again. Joy, not only am I slowly becoming a bookworm but a first-class klutz. As I looked up, I decided that god hated me, and there would be nothing else that I would like to do better than slam my head against the wall. I had once again walked into Seto Kaiba. This time he dropped his suitcase, I was wondering if I was going to cry when I watched all the paperwork float around me. I was pretty sure the guy was going to blow up at me. For a minute there he looked like he was going to. He had opened his mouth to shout but for some reason his reaction changed when he saw me.

"Oh it's you again." Was all he said as he got down to pick up his papers.

"You're not going to yell at me?" I said doubting my good luck that somehow mr.tall and freaky hadn't blown up in my face.

He let out an audible sigh, "You could at least apologize instead of asking why I'm not strangling your neck or hanging you by your wrist on the top floor of Kaiba building."

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the man. I swear that Seto Kaiba is psychotic. On the exterior he looks human, but lord knows what goes on in that head of his. Suddenly he looked up from his task and with a frown he said, "Instead of staring how about you help me?" he said with a slight sneer. "At least this isn't my laptop. Less breakable by people like you" muttering that last part below his breath he went back to his task. I picked up a couple that had strayed a bit farther and I handed them back to him. I turned on my heel and proceeded home. I would have no further chance to meet him today, there was a beautiful sunset on the path home and not a single cloud in the glowing red sun.

Perhaps I should have taken that as a sign, for another surprise awaited me as I neared my father's property. There in the driveway was my father's car. No good could come of this. I considered running, but what good would that do? I pulled out my keys and opened the locks of the front door. I turn the knob and entered the house. My father was in the living room, working on the coffee table.

"It's about time you got home Abby. Where the hell have you been? Do you know how much shit I would have to go through if something happened to you? You can die for all I care but have the decency to wait till you're 18 and out of my care."

I said nothing. I only looked blankly, letting his cold words whiz by. For many years his words no longer hurt my feelings. I felt no emotions, only anger, hatred and loneliness. If you can even call that last one an emotion. I know he was still talking, but I was in no mood to listen to his ranting. I headed towards my room only to have my hair yanked back and I felt my back hit against the wall. I felt an intense pain that lessened quickly into a simple numbing. I glared back at my assaulter, my father, whatever you prefer, only to receive a slap in the face.

"Don't you dare look at me like that you little shit. So as long as you live under my roof you are mine to control." Over the years I had learned that fighting against this man would only bring more pain. I've chosen to take the initial anger and

I lowered my head in despair. If only I could live away from here. But where could I go? I had no relatives, I had no friends, and I had no one. So what am I doomed to die here, beaten by my only family in pure loneliness? Seemed like a crappy way to die, but it seems it was my only option. What a blissful thought, to die all alone, by the hands of those I have been delivered to. And what will happen after? Probably nothing, they may not even notice I've gone. When they do, it'll be a simple, "The invisible one is gone, oh well." Fuckers, I don't need them.

I looked into the mirror after my father had left the house, probably off to pour alcohol down his throat again. My face had a slight bruise from the slap, nothing that a bit of make-up wouldn't fix. I took out what I need to conceal the wounds in the morning and I headed for bed. I closed my mind as my head hit the pillow. Darkness closed in at I was finally at peace.

The peace was soon interrupted by the shrill noise of my alarm. My eyes were assaulted by the light of the sun. Joy another bright sunny day. After putting on my uniform I applied what was necessary and when I was satisfied with my work, I put away the items and headed off to school. I was happy to see that my father was drunk as hell on the couch completely unconsciousness. Lord I wish he were out of my life. I glared down at the bane of my existence. "Asshole" I sneered.

When the school came into view, I looked at the grey building. Even my library sanctuary had been screwed. Where else could I go? I opened my locker to find a note, it read, "Under the cherry blossom (the one at the front of the school) at 5 today". I laughed silently. What kind of crude joke was this? I crumpled the note and threw it out.

It was nearly 4pm by the time I had gotten back to my locker. On my way I noticed a door labeled roof. Perhaps this was exactly what I was looking for. I left my books safely locked in my small cabinet locker and made my way to the door. I walked up the flight of stairs and walked onto the roof of the school. Who thought such a place could be so beautiful. I leaned against the wall as I watched the early sunset. That's the thing about autumn isn't it? The sun goes down much earlier then it should, much like most of my life. My life was over almost before it began.

Arms wrapped around my legs, the sky glowing a beautiful blood red, I began thinking about my life; from the beginning my father never wanted me, my mother was the one who wanted to keep the life that she had inside of her. Keh! Some mother, she gave birth to a child only to abandon it with someone who loathed the sight of it. My father and mother hadn't maintained a very good relationship and when she was pregnant their relationship was nearly in shambles. Since mother passed away, father has always despised my presence, says I remind her of the bitch that left me here. I wouldn't know, I don't remember my mother well. Sometimes I think I'm more familiar with the cheap floozies he brings back every once in a while. They say everyone has a purpose for being born. I have never found mine, I don't even have a hint on why I'm here. People are supposed to be able to contribute to society, I seem more like a disturbance. I buried my head into my arms.

I was so immersed in thought I didn't realize another's presence, "There you are! I've been looking for you, where the hell…hey, are you ok?"

I looked up to see the intruder upon my only privacy. I groaned a buried my face further into my arms. "What do you want?" my voice was muffled by my sleeves.

"I simply asked about your well being. If you don't want to answer I really don't care."

"Then go away."

"You don't own the roof Aiden. Maybe I like the fresh air…"

I don't know what came over me, years of keeping my emotions hidden away at the farthest part of my head suddenly burst through the damn and came flooding out in the form of tears. I sobbed deeply into my arms.

"Oh god you've got to be kidding me." I heard him say, but I didn't care. I couldn't stop the tears, I hated myself for this weakness, especially in front Kaiba, I was just so tired. "Pick yourself up Aiden. You're a lot stronger than that."

Anger rushed through my veins, I stood up and glared at Kaiba, I had to stand on my tip toes to get close enough and I shouted in his face, "Don't tell me what I am asshole! I'll be whatever the hell I want. If I want to cry I'll cry as much as I want to damn it!" I poked him in the chest to emphasize my last point. "I'll be damn weak if I want to. I'm sick of you people trying to control my life. All I want is a little peace, just a small sanctuary…" after that huge outburst I suddenly felt really tired, "Is that too much to ask for?" I whispered. My legs could no longer support me and the last thing I remember is falling into Seto Kaiba before utterly blacking out.

Well this chapter was slightly longer than usual hehehe. I'm not sure if I should raise the rating due this chapter. If it is please inform me and I will change it right away. Hopefully this new chapter is better. Any constructive comments are welcome, and reviews are adored.

Love y'all, see you soon…I hope. (Possibly after finals)