Hi all, hope everyone had a Happy Easter.
So, here is the next part. Warning: Angst Ahoy! I'm such a fluff girl at heart… but I write what they tell me to.
Random Movie recommendation: The Yes Men. Probably the funniest movie I have ever seen. Some liberal political activists made the movie chronicling some of their stunts. Some include switching the voice boxes of GI Joe and Barbie dolls just before Christmas, and making the (male) extras in a popular video game have sex under certain circumstances. I am so not doing it justice, you must watch.
Part III: Believe
Chapter 11
The next Saturday started like the others. We woke up early for Mokuba's game. I drove since Mokuba would rather be chauffeured by me if I was available, and we picked up Yugi on the way. Mokuba's team won, as usual.
After the game we went to a fair. Rides and games and food vendors and craft booths had been crammed into the parking lots and closed streets of the waterfront to celebrate the founding of Domino. We could wish that the town had been founded in a warmer month, but millions of tiny light bulbs lit up the gray day and with the crowds of people all around, I found the cool air pleasant. The game barkers called, and the rides whirled by in a blur of color and the intoxicating smell of fried food filled every breath. We looked around the whole fair before choosing what to do first.
Hours later, arms laden with prizes and crafts, stomach stuffed with sausage and fried dough and blooming onion, and a little sick from the tilt-a-whirl, I sat on a bench, ill, but content. Mokuba had met up with a soccer friend whose mom was going to drop him off later. Yugi had gotten up to get us some drinks while we waited for the fireworks. I watched him walk towards me, a drink in each hand, neon bracelets and necklaces joining his leather accessories, and my heart swelled.
Just then, a large man stepped backwards into Yugi, a soda spilling on him. He spun on Yugi, a large fist in the air. I was already on my feet, stuffed animals and homemade woodcrafts scattering, trying to get through the crowds in time. I would have been too late… but I wasn't needed. As the fist came down Yugi shifted, and as his eyes looked up they were cold, hard, and dark. They were not my Yugi's gentle eyes. They belonged to someone else.
The Pharaoh gave a small wave of his hand, or maybe he did not move at all. Either way, the large man was launched several feet away. I passed him lying on his back, a blank expression in his open eyes. He seemed uninjured, but his mind… I didn't know. When I reached Yugi he was looking down at his puzzle. He looked up, and I was relieved to see the eyes of my own Yugi. I embraced him swiftly, something I never did in public. We did not stay for the fireworks.
XXXXXXXXX
"What if I duel each of you, separately? You wouldn't be able to help each other at all. I bet I would win then. It's almost as if you are cheating otherwise, isn't it." I don't know why I was so belligerent. I was itching for fight, but maybe a duel would work. We had just returned from the carnival. Mokuba was still out, and I was desperately trying to come to terms with my new belief in magic. Without letting on that this was a new belief, of course.
Yugi looked at me quizzically, and licked his lips before speaking. "I… don't really think that we should duel one another. It doesn't feel right. And besides, the Pharaoh and I are not really separate, we're two halves–"
"You just know you would lose, don't you Yugi. And why can't we duel, it's a game! And we are two of the best duelists in the world. Who else are we going to duel against?"
Yugi looked as though he would have answered but I cut him off.
"And you've been trying, practically since we met, to get me to believe that there are two of you in one body. Now I acknowledge it and you still aren't happy. There is just no pleasing you is there." What was I saying? I wanted to take it back, but the anger just kept building. Yugi was looking down, as if trying to decide what to say. Probably consulting the Pharaoh. Grr.
"What, waiting for the Pharaoh to come fight this battle for you. Can't you do anything on your own! Dammit Yugi!"
WTF! I knew I needed to get away from him before I said anything else. His very presence was annoying and angering me, but somewhere inside I knew I would regret this. I took a breath, to be as calm as I could. "I'm not in a very good mood, Yugi, you should go." My calm was thunderous, grown executives would have trembled before me, but Yugi just shook his head and swatted to his right as if chasing away a bug. "I won't leave. I want to be there for you no matter what mood you are in." His bravery and loyalty should have melted me, instead it incited me further.
"Fine, if you won't leave, I will! My mood won't improve as long as you're here, because you are causing it. God! You are so annoying. Your hair, your clothes, your voice… your 'spirit of darkness:' everything about you is driving me crazy!" I had moved across the room while yelling, to get my coat. I turned back in time to see Yugi's devastated expression before it changed. His eyes narrowed, his mouth set in a grim line, and his back stiffened, making him appear taller. His voice, deep and steady, resounded with as much thunder as had mine just moments before. "I see I've outstayed my welcome. Goodbye." The Pharaoh did not hurry, but was across the room and out the door in the space of a breath.
I sank to the couch, exhausted. My anger evaporated the moment he left. Yugi was gone. Oh God! What had I done? And why?
XXXXXX
I skipped school the first three days of the week. I told myself that I did it for Yugi, so he wouldn't have to see me, but I was avoiding him, and avoiding dealing with what I had seen and done. I went straight to the office instead, to catch up on all the work I had been missing to spend time with Yugi. As it turned out, I really wasn't behind. My assistant had a stack of reports for me to read over and sign, but everyone had really stepped up in my absence. It turns out they really could do the jobs I hired them to do without me having to be involved in every step. So by Wednesday I was able to get home at the same time as Mokuba.
"Big Brother," he began seriously as we ate the snack the cook had left for him, "what happened between you and Yugi?"
I put my cookie down. "What do you mean?" Lame, yes, but it bought me time.
"He hasn't been over, and neither of you have been to school in days."
"Yugi isn't going to school?" I had been trying to shove the feelings of guilt as far from me as possible, but they came rushing back in a flood.
"Serenity said he hasn't left his room, and won't let anyone in. He has been hardly touching the food that his Grandpa brings him. No one knows what's wrong, but Tea is saying it is your fault."
"Tea?" What did she know about anything? She would be happy soon enough. Yugi would get over me and she could try to win him over to her.
"Seto?" Mokuba broke through my thoughts. I turned to him. His eyes had filled with tears, but he blinked them away. "I know this isn't about me, but I thought you liked Yugi?" He continued to look at me with those big grey eyes. God, I've put this kid through some sh.
"I do Mokuba. I do, but… it's complicated. I messed up. Big."
Mokuba got up to go start his homework. As he got to the door, he turned. "So fix it. Or are you giving up?" Mokuba left, but his challenge remained, tangible in the room.
I don't give up.
If I was going to fix this, it would have to be a pretty big gesture. After all, the things I said were about the worst; my apology would have to be the best.
Apology. Not really in my repertoire.
Review responses:
Yana5 – Gee, if you were saying poor Yugi before… wonder what you think now?
Clarity – Welcome! Thanks for the vote of confidence. Alas, as far as your questions about Yami and Yugi's thoughts, I have not been privy to them. Seto doesn't know enough to ask those questions, and so far, neither Y-boy has offered the info unsolicited. But it will become more clear, soon. Promise.
Kis – Glad you like it, even though. I truly started this as YamiSeto… but they have minds of their own. Still some romantic twists ahead, though… And yes, I see Yugi as a very strong character.
Dimitri – lol, not to be a poor role model, but if I had nickel for every time my cubicle-mate caught me laughing or smiling insanely at work… well, I could quit, couldn't I? And I certainly blame you for many of those times, esp. the insane smiles. Thanks for the fic love, means lots.
Streea – Thanks much for that website! I'm having much fun reading through the archive. I love the equality theme, particularly.
