A/n: Thankee for reviews ! This chapter will be . . . interesting, to say the least. (michevious smile) X3 Oh, and Kaiba's not mad since he wasn't actually kissing her . . .
Serenity Kou - Aw, thankee. I am glad you took time to read it all.
dadspunkin - It's ok, as long as you did, which you did !
VeryShortMidget - Yeah, that's what I was tryin' to do, put a lighter note to the story. You're welcome. :D
Telecoi - No, it won't depress you, I hope !
Disclaimer: I have never owned Yu-Gi-Oh so plz don't sue me. :D
Chapter Eighteen: To Go Or Not to Go
Daybreak...
A pair of eyes was watching the two lovebirds again, as they slept. It was nearly morning on the island, cool as the two muttered in their sleep. This time, the eyes belong not to a human, but to a . . .
"Eee! Eee!" The female monkey, wife to the dead monkey, studied the metal human object carefully. She closed the scissors and let out a yelp of pain. She was grateful to the male human for killing her husband because he'd been a pig. Never giving me flowers! The others thought she was crazy, but he knew.
Sneaking about quietly, the female monkey peered over the edge of the hammock. Her wet black eyes blinked rapidly, jealous at the sight. A strand of Serenity's red-brown hair was hanging over the edge. The scissors blades closed quietly . . .
"ZZzz!" Serenity let out a big snore and rolled over, tugging the blanket. Her hair fell silently to the ground. Seto didn't hear because he was snoring even louder than her.
The female monkey picked up the hair and started to curse it, when she spotted the inflatable raft, lying near the sea. Gripping the small, metal scissors with one hand, she started for it . . .
Later
She didn't even know anything was missing, when she woke up. The sun said early afternoon, not morning. The day looked perfect for a sail . . . This is it . . . this is the last day to be here . . .
It felt like a vacation; at least, it had felt like a vacation, and now they had to return back to reality. To her, reality felt like a big slap in the face. By a brick wall. I don't wanna go back . . .
"But I feel silly for suggesting it." What a weird dream. I dreamed a monkey, a deranged female monkey was cutting off my hair. Sitting up slightly, Serenity ran her fingers over her hair to check. Oh, good, it was just a dream . . .
She tossed her hair back again, a missing piece settled back over her back. Should I wake him up? But he looks so cute . . . He was just lying there, looking as innocent as a baby. "He looks like he could commit murder and get away with it when he sleeps." Even with all that bushy hair. She smiled, somewhat sheepishly. It has been a memorable two-and-a-half weeks. I can't wait to tell it to everybody.
"I'm not going!"
She looked up at him.
"We have to." he said.
"I understand," she sighed. Then, "No, I don't! Let's stay." The words were out as he got up, and she clung to him like a monkey from his neck. A full glomp. And great, those puppy-dog eyes look polymerized! He thought, feeling weary.
"Think about your family. Would they want you stay here with me?" The statement was sly. "They probably, no, I know they miss you."
"Well, maybe I'll just put it off for a while."
He laughed again. "Sorry sweetie, but my family misses me too . . . " He distangled himself from her distracting grip gently, "So go and wash up. We'll be setting sail, soon," he urged her along by a patting her on the rump.
"Okay, okay . . . " She trudged along, and finally disappeared from sight. He watched her for a moment, then went by the shore to check on the raft.
Meanwhile
Serenity found that she couldn't stop from grinning as she dried her face with a soft towel, dried on the clothesline she had fashioned from a piece of twine and a nail. I'm sure going to miss this place. It's so beautiful . . . She watched as the many colorful tropical birds flung from tree to tree. But Seto's right. It wouldn't be fair, just to stay here forever, to the people who love us and miss us. I wonder who misses him, except for his brother. His girlfriend, perhaps?
Her towel dropped to the ground with an unbecoming splat. He said, his family. But what if...? She picked it up again, slowly. I have to ask! Without seeming jealous. What he meant. I'm not jealous.
"The BOAT!"
She nearly jumped out of her skin; at first, she started to run, towards him, but then thought better of it. It sounded very familiar . . .
Telling herself not to be a coward, she crept towards the shoreline, finally, after a good thirty minutes, and saw him bent over something by the sea. It was a boat; but not the raft . . .
"What's going on . . . ?"
"You ready?"
"Yeah, but I heard a yell . . . " She brushed the hair out of her eyes.
He stared for a moment, then said, "Oh. . . " No wonder she didn't come. "Those stupid monkey attacked the boat again. With a pair of scissors." He pointed to a deflated, totally useless raft. "But then this washed up. It's the boat the old man had."
Finishing his explanation, he gestured her to go in. "Uh . . . but there's a big hole in it!" she said, climbing in carefully. "Won't we sink?"
"No . . . that's where the motor was; but I klonked the old man with it, and he drowned - I told you." He showed her some oars. "Start paddling."
She wasn't so sure, but she did as he said, and they started pulling away from the shoreline. Soon, it was a tiny speck in the horizon and they were in the middle of the ocean. "Oh no . . . I forgot to - oh."
"Yeah, I got everything on board," he said through gritted teeth, sweating from exertion.
She turned slightly red. "Um - I'm tired. Think we should take a break?"
The sea was calm and perfectly still, so he agreed because she was looking "tired." And she definitely needs a breather. He frowned at her, catching something - a chunk of hair was missing. It was barely noticible, except when she turned her head ever so slightly to the left, which she was. I'm definitely not going to say anything about it. SHe how she likes it. He was able to keep from smiling by looking back at the island they'd left, and swore he heard angry shrieks, heartbroken shrieks - is that a monkey? H-holding - scissors?
Must be a mirage - a trick of light from the sun on water. He shook his head, feeling the boat, which was big as a canoe so they both had more than enough space to stretch their feet; boy, I will be happy when we get to reality. Sure, I'll miss the island . . . maybe I can buy it . . .
While he was musing, meanwhile Serenity took out the cans of soda, wishing she had some ice. It was getting pretty hot. "Here. Keep up your strength." She lay back a little and propped up her feet on a pile, "You're doing all the paddling."
"I don't think so. Anyway, I think we're almost there . . . I remember seeing land the other time . . . " He sheilded his eyes from the sun's glare, tenting them. "Or . . . "
"S . . . Set . . . " She groped around, her eyes fixed on something on the water.
"What?"
"Sharks!"
Three black pointy fins were sticking out of the water; the sky took on a omnious grey cast.
"Start paddling!"
They started going again, she most of all. It'd been the scariest thing she'd ever seen, and that included Seto when he was angry. After bumping the boat once, the trio of sharks swam away.
"D . . . do you think a giant squid is going to pop out of nowhere?" She was shaking, peering anxiously all around.
"There are NO giant squids." But he didn't sound sure.
"AAH!"
A large black shape was right underneath the boat, too near, she threw her oar at it in fear. Big mistake.
The plastic oar floated away.
Muttering oaths, he tried to grab it back; since if they lost their oars, they were sitting ducks without it. She stopped him just as he was about to jump in.
"The sharks would eat you alive!"
No matter, no matter, he told himself as the oar floated sadly away. We still have one left. She eyed him warily.
"Well, I did tell you you'd have to do all the paddling."
He stared at her. And it was not a nice stare. It was a do-that-again-and-you're-shark-food stare. It really hurt; after all, she hadn't meant to do it.
The sun left. It was silent. Except for the steady whoosh whoosh of the paddle leaving the water, and then he finally spoke.
"There's the land."
She looked where he was pointing; it was too foggy now to see really well. It was starting to get cold too.
"I . . . think it's going to rain," she said slowly.
Cursing, he started to paddle even harder, but she kept staring up at the stone-dark sky. Remembering a time when it was exactly the same . . .
Fire crackling as lightning struck the boat . . . Pure darkness but that wasn't as blinding as the rain lashing . . . The water sea tornado spinning nearer, looking like some giant funnel . . .
"Seto . . . I . . . "
"We're going to make it!" He yelled, angry.
A molten metal funnel cloud . . . and plus, I've heard of the giant squid supposedly that lives here . . .
I can't watch. Rain started to lash down deafeningly.
"We're going to get blown back into the island!" she cried hysterically. It sounded faint.
Dammit . . . I can't get back on my own. If only she hadn't thrown that oar away . . . He stopped stroking, just as the rain stopped, suddenly. "What the-?"
"A little shower?" she ventured, looking around, just as drenched as he.
There was bad news; the rain, as if to prove it hadn't all been a dream, had filled up the canoe; it was toppled off to one side and water was rapidly filling it some more. They both started to frantically sweep the water off; but their effort only seemed to make things worse. Hope was rapidly decreasing, until . . .
"Look!" Serenity screamed.
He looked to where she pointed; half-expecting a giant squid - nothing else can go wronger - but no. A pirate ship, a real pirate ship was appearing from the deep fog, complete with black sails, and skull and crossbones on them. Give me a break, he thought. This is really, too, too much.
I mean really. Skull and crossbones? Someone up there must not like me.
"Omigosh, they're pirates and they want our gold!" Serenity was referring to the pile of gold they had found that her old man had ceded to her. She was completely out of it. "I knew that we shouldn't have left! Now, they're gonna take us hostage - again - and make us walk the plank!"
"Calm down," he advised, "even though we're on a sinking boat," he muttered.
She heard it.
"AND OUR BOAT IS SINKING!"
Her shriek were over heard by a very pirate-y looking dude. "Arr, mateys, need a lift?" He leered, a black patch covering one eye and a fake looking parrot on his shoulder. The thing wasn't even moving.
"Yes, mebbe they have some booty! Tie 'em up!" Shouts of gleeful, jeering laughter filled behind the young man.
'Booty?' I feel like I've stepped in a time warp, Seto thought as he was being lifted up, too exhausted from paddling to put up much struggle. Besides, their boat was sinking, anyway, they couldn't stay on it for very much longer.
"Fresh meat!" Serenity heard them say as she was carried over, the dripping duffel bag on her back, clutching in fear. She couldn't see Seto anymore, only lantern-lit ship deck. The sky began to thunder again; they were taken down into the shelter - down below. Hundreds, it seemed of pirates crowded around, laughing, and she had never been so scared in her life. She was ready to pee her pants when -
"So!" One of them, a big tall and hair one slammed his fist on the wood table, making it jump - "have you got the gold, swabbie?"
"Y-yes, but .. . "
"Don't say anything," Seto muttered.
"Check her bag!"
They wrenched it out of her grip - she wasn't trying to keep it anymore - she had a tight hold because of fear - and the gold was split with a ker-thunk on the weak table. Spill of it spilled out, glittering before falling. Everyone cheered loudly, except of course, them.
After a loud, earsplitting cheering, she didn't think she could take any more of this when - one of the men stepped forward. He wasn't dressed as a pirate, but in a suit and jacket.
"Who found this gold?" he asked in a kind voice, "was it you, dearie?"
"Y-yes. But you can-" She was about to say that they could have it, when-
"Congratulations! You've won the Find The Gold Isnland Contest! Out of three thousand contestants, you are our grand prize winner!"
"W-what?" She squeaked, as news camera flashed but Seto wasn't that surprised. At least, as much as her. I'm just glad they don't recognize me . . .
"What's your names?"
She told him.
The suited man dropped his microphone. "T . . . the castaways . . . ? But . . . but you're declared dead . . . were declared dead . . . " More flashbulbs.
Seto sighed angrily and tried to glare at her, but she was whisked away as the "pirate boat" docked.
Later
Serenity couldn't believe it. Land. She felt like dropping to her knees, but she couldn't do that wouldn't everyone talking around her. She tried to get a glimpse of Seto, one last glimpse, but he was whisked away by the crowd. She did get one last look, at least, she thought she did, before he disappeared as the crowd dispersed. Oh well. He told me that he was going to get his company back, so . . . I'll read about it in the newspaper . . . I guess.
Shouldering the duffel bag, she walked down the road, fighting the urge to go into every one and shout, "I'm alive!" and run right out again. Maybe hug everyone.
There's only one I want to hug, though . . .
She sped up, fueling by the thought. Through the now night, darkening evening. She tried not to think about the sunset view on the island as she opened the door to her house and let herself in. She was still dressed in that baggy white shirt Seto had lent her - with the red shorts underneath and tennis loafers they had lent her, the contest people.
It was like coming home from a vacation . . . everything was normal . . .
It was dark, and the door was locked, but she used the hidden key, then creeped through the small kitchen, fighting the urge to hug again. Hello, stove . . . hello toaster . . . oven, fridge . . . A small TV flickering light.
The "Simpsons" was on. Joey's home . . . A big grin split across her face; she practically bounded forward.
No, I don't want to scare him . . .
Or do I?
I mean, he's watching TV . . . he should be, at least in mourningShe got a second look as she peeked very carefully around the kitchen door; he was alone and the lights were all off; she saw him pick up a picture of her from the coffee table and sniffle. His back was to her, she thought with a newfound calculating, and why is he here at all-? Oh. Maybe Mom let him stay . . . after my funeral . . .
Suddenly, she didn't want to . . . she was afraid . . . that she'd cry like a little baby . . . Tears were already forming . . .
I know! Sneaking up very quietly, she took the remote control they kept inside a drawer - I know this is mean, I know - and pressed "power off." The TV went off with a static noise: Zzt!
It was completely dark. She heard a short silence, then Joey's confused muttering, - she had to bite her tongue to keep in the giggles, then spoke in her most SPOOKIEST, loudest voice:
"hOw dArE yOu . . . wAtCh Tv wHile I'M DEAD!"
"Eep?"
Lightning flashed; it was still thundering. Illuminating her billowing white form, from the white T-shirt, and gave her a ghastly glow. She raised her arms:
"BOO!"
"Ahh!" She started snickering, so hard that she coughed - he fell immediately. "Omigod. Omigod. My sister's ghost has come back . . . go back to your grave!"
"Joey . . . Joey, it's me," she said, seeing he was trembling - he really believed her joke.
"We don't want you here! Go back to heaven!" He started crying.
"I'm alive . . . I'm alive, you see?" She went over to him, no longer laughing. She picked up his hand. "See? Solid."
"Sis . . . " He started crying even harder. And she was crying too as they hugged, and both of them started jumping. "You're alive! How- how-?" Omigod.
She pulled her face to the side to breathe. "I'm sorry- for scaring you," she gasped, feeling like her head might pop off; he was hugging so tightly.
"Yeah well . . . you should," he said, hugging even MORE tight. "And I wasn't scared."
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To Be Continued Next Chapter
A/n: Tee hee, isn't Seren' mean for that joke? Sometimes she is mean. Well, I'm glad they made it okay... DumDumDum. Cue thescary music 'cause next chapter will explain everything ! LOL Review?
