Okay, I decided to post chapter three as well. I hope everyone enjoys it and please review. I would prefer if no flames were left, thank you.
Ch. 3: Dreams of the Past and Early Wake-ups
Yugi follows Yami up and looks at the now sleeping me. "Do you think that she'll be alright, Yami?" asks Yugi in a concerned voice.
"I'm not really sure, Yugi. I wish I did know. All we can do is try and figure out that riddle she left us with, that's the only clue we have to what's at work here. I do know, however, that we're dealing with the past coming back. Something big will come out of this, just wait."
Yami smiles encouragingly at Yugi who replies, "Yeah, you're probably right. I just can't believe that something happened when she touched that eye... there was something ancient about it... almost magical..." Yugi then walks out of the room, deep in thought.
Yami sighs as he looks at me and he says softly, "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. Sleep well and rest up. The others are worried for you. Don't you ever forget that you'll always have friends and that we'll always be there." Yami then walks out of the room and shuts the door quietly. 'Sleep well and feel better soon, for the others' sake at least, if not Yugi's and my self's...' Yami thinks to himself as he walks back down the stairs to where the others are waiting anxiously.
"How is she?"
"Will she be all right?"
"What's going on?"
Yami sighs as everyone bombards him with questions and then waits for everyone to stop talking. Once it's quiet, he starts to explain, "Yes, she'll be just fine. She's sleeping right now and probably won't be up for an hour or two, at the minimum. Now, in answer to what's going on, I'm not sure. I definitely know that forces of fate, the past, and ancient magic are at work here. Our job right now is to try and figure out that riddle that Yumiko so kindly gave us. Anyone have any ideas on that?" Yami then picks up the paper and hands it to Serenity. "Here, why don't you read it, Serenity."
Serenity nods and reads the paper again for everyone to hear. Tristen then speaks up, "Well. I think that what they're saying is that something that happened in the past is going to happen again, for sure. We also can probably safely assume that Yumiko has ancient powers, if she was able to use the Millennium Puzzle. The last thing that I also understood was that someone's spirit is trapped in the Millennium Puzzle. The rest seems pretty cryptic to me."
Switch view – My room. ((Yumiko tells the story, of course. I love writing in first person!))
Meanwhile, I'm having a strange dream, from the past. I, of course, don't realize this until later...
The Dream...
I sit in a strange chamber, how I know it's me, I don't know if I could tell you. Pretty soon, I see someone identical to me, walk in. 'Hey, that looks just like Yami!!' I greet him warmly and he greets me as well, "Hello, Yumi-chan, my dearest sister." I playfully swat his arm and say, "I'm the only sister you have. It better stay that way, at least." He laughs as he says, "Of course it shall be. I don't think that mom & dad are planning on having any more kids anytime soon. Besides, they already have their heirs, us." I nod and take a sip of the sweet juice in front of me. We then start to eat and in the middle, a servant comes in. "Excuse me your majesties, for interrupting. Here is an especially rare drink. I hear that it is very good, if you don't mind me saying so." The strange Yami look alike smiles at the servant, thanks him, and dismisses him. Yami then takes a sip and then passes the drink to me and I take a sip as well. Pretty soon, the look alike starts to feel ill and realizes that the drink was poisoned. "No! Yami! Please don't die!" I say as tears come spilling out of my eyes.
End of dream
I suddenly wake up, again. ((For a better idea, check out the prologue. It's basically the prologue, except shortened a lot...)) I look up at the ceiling and sigh. "Whew, just a nightmare... only a nightmare..." I mutter to myself as I sit up and draw in another breath, in an attempt to soothe my already pounding heart. 'Where'd that dream come from anyways?' I wonder to myself as I swing my legs over and my feet meet the floor. I look around the darkened room once more before walking to the door, and rubbing one of my now violet eyes. I'm still not quite awake and I walk slowly down the stairs, where I find almost everyone fast asleep on the couch, floor, or just leaning against the wall. I smile as I see Joey shiver from his post on the floor and I walk over to a nearby closet, pull out a light blanket, and walk over to Joey & lay it on top of him.
"There, now you can stop shivering." I say in a soft voice and someone says in an equally soft voice, "I see that you're awake now. Yugi was really worried, but I finally got him to go to sleep on the couch. How are you feeling now?" I jump at the voice, and turn around to face Yami. I sigh and give him a light glare. "You do realize that you just scared the hell out of me, don't you?" Yami laughs lightly and says, "Better for you to be scared and awake than blacked out and terrified." Yami looks at me and I sigh again. "Yes, I know. Sorry that I worried you guys. Is everyone here okay?" Yami nods and I walk towards the kitchen.
"You want something to eat? I'm starving." I comment as my stomach growls to confirm it. Yami laughs as he hears my stomach. "Yeah, I guess so. Now that I think about it, I haven't eaten in a while either..." I smile as I pull down some stuff and say, "Some tuna rolls okay with you?" ((Those things are so awesome!! Tuna rolls are, at least. I tried them the other day. They're Japanese food; very basic sushi for those who didn't know.)) Yami smiles as he walks over, "Sure. Sounds great. Need any help?" I then get out a rice steamer and the special sticky rice that I will need to make the rolls. ((I don't know what the rice is called though... sorry...))
About fifteen minutes later, I set down a medium sized plate with about three rolls cut into four smaller pieces each. I also set down a pot of hot tea, two plates, and two pairs of chopsticks. Yami smiles and thanks me. I sit down on the other cushion at the low table and pick up a pair of chopsticks as well. We both sit there, quietly sipping the hot tea.
Pretty soon, a very sleepy Joey comes in. "Oh, hello. I see sleeping demon's awake," Comments a slightly amused Yami. Joey mumbles and sits down as well. "Would you like some tea and do tuna rolls sound okay to you?" I ask in a kind voice. Joey smiles at me and says, "Sounds good to me. By the way, this looks great Yumiko. I just hope it tastes as good." I smile at him and say, "I better hope that I didn't put anything in that food you're about to eat." Joey pauses mid motion and looks over at Yami, who shrugs and gives Joey the how-am-I-supposed-to-know-look. Joey looks over at me and I smile at him and continue to sip my tea, enjoying the calmness.
Joey then thinks to himself, 'I don't think she put anything in it. Yami's eating it, so it has to be safe. Maybe I shouldn't tease her so much. She's a pretty good cook most of the time.'
I laugh and say, "Of course I didn't do anything to it. Why would I be eating it if I did? Hmmm, well Joey?" Joey looks relieved and starts to eat. "This is great! I didn't know you could make sushi, Yumiko. I guess I should trust your culinary skills more often. Btw, the others will probably be up soon. It's almost five and someone's watch or alarm clock will probably go off."
Right after Joey says this, I hear an alarm go off upstairs and everyone jumps a foot in the air, with the exception of Yami and Joey. "Told you so. Isn't that Yugi's grandpa's alarm clock though?"
Yami nods and soon Mr.Moto himself appears, his gray hair mussed a bit from sleeping. "Ah, good morning Yumiko. I see the others are awake now. How are you feeling? Yugi was really worried last night."
I smile and get up. "I'm perfectly fine, Grandpa Moto. The only differences are a bit physical." ((Yes, it's Yumiko's name for Yugi's grandpa. He's the grandpa she never had.))
Mr. Moto then comes closer to Yumiko and his eyes widen a lot. "Oh Kami, you look so much like Yugi and Yami here, more like Yami though. The resemblance is amazing. Even to my old eyes. You two could pass for twins, if I'm not mistaken."
At that moment, Tea, Serenity, and Tristen come in, all grumbling about being woken up so early. I smile brightly at them and say, "Good morning. Everyone up for a breakfast of tuna rolls, hot tea, and eggs?"
Tristen brightens up immediately at the suggestion. "Sounds great! Need any help?"
I raise an eyebrow at Tristen, "I didn't know that you could cook. How'd you learn, anyways?"
Tristen winks secretively at me, "Now that, my friend, is my little secret. Need any help at all?"
I sigh as I think. "Well, I could use someone to set the table, someone to cut up the fish, and someone to help me make a bigger kettle of tea. Hey Grandpa Moto, want anything?"
Mr. Moto smiles at me, "Some hot tea and tuna rolls sound great. I'll go take a quick shower while you get started on it. We should have enough fish, don't we?" He looks worried for a second.
"We have plenty. Yugi and I got some yesterday. Tuna rolls are one of my favorite dishes. I was planning on making some egg drop soup later...that's Chinese, isn't it?" I reply as I dig through the refrigerator for more of the tasty fish.
Yugi nods, "Yep. That's Chinese food. It is very tasty though... you're a good cook though. It's hard to believe that you've never had any training."
I momentarily stop digging in the 'fridge, "It comes from cooking for you guys. It does give my loads of practice. I'm not that great..." I then smile triumphantly. "Ha. Found it. Who put this unsealed mustard in here? It smells really bad and I think they're something growing in it..."
Joey looks a bit guilty as he says, "Heh. Sorry about that... I made a sandwich a week or two ago and lost the lid..."
I sigh and Mr. Moto heads upstairs. "I'll see you kids in about ten minutes. With all this hold up, the food won't be ready in time..."
I then turn to everyone. "Okay, does anyone want to volunteer or shall I volunteer them?"
Yugi smiles as he says, "I'll set the table, is that okay?"
I smile warmly at Yugi. "Any help is welcome. You know which set of dishes to use, right? You'll also have to pull the other table over to make a longer, low table. Think you can handle that?"
Yami smiles as he says, "I'll move the table. Joey, will you help me?"
Joey smiles and replies, "Sure. Besides, I'm not that good of a chef."
I then turn to Tea. "Hey Tea, will you start the extra tea? We're going to need more. I made a small kettle full because I wasn't expecting you guys up for quite a while now..."
Tea says, "Sure. I can do that. I'm assuming you'll want green tea, since that's what you made." As Tea says this, she goes over to a cupboard and pulls out a container of tea bags.
I then turn to Tristen, "Hey, Tristen, want to cut up the fish for me? I'm pretty sure that you can do it. Please? I've got to keep an eye on this rice." As I had told everyone what to do, I had started to steam the rice.
Tristen smiles and takes a knife out of the drawer. "No problem. You're making tuna rolls with these, right?" I nod and say absent-mindedly, "Yeah. I would greatly appreciate it."
Tristen then begins to quickly slice up the tuna. About ten minutes later, I have the sticky rice ready to mold, the fish has been cut up, the tables moved and set – thanks to Yami, Yugi, and Joey, and the tea ready. Tea then walks over to me and we quickly work together to get the tuna wrapped in the rice and the rice wrapped in seaweed. Tea and I smile as we carry the two plates of tuna rolls to the table and we both say at the same time, "Tuna rolls are ready."
I then quickly make some eggs for everyone else and at the same time I put the huge plate of eggs on the table, Yugi's grandpa walks in. "Mmmm, smells delicious. You kids did a great job, everything looks great!" I smile at him, "Why thank you. We all worked together though. It saved me a lot of time. Oh, and guess who gets to do dishes?" I smile at Grandpa Moto and he groans. "Yep. You get to help me do the dishes, unless someone would like to volunteer in your place, that is..."
Yami then says, "I'll help you do the dishes. All I did was move tables and cushions. Besides, you have to go to the shop, don't you?"
Yugi's grandpa smiles at him as he says, "Why thank you, and you're right. I do have to be there early. Today's a major day for very beginning duelists. Hey Yumiko, would you, Yami, and Yugi like to come with me to show them basics? Besides, I need someone to be the Dark Magician Girl. Isn't it your favorite card, Yumiko?"
"I see you have been paying attention. You're right. How did you know anyways? I don't think that I ever told you, did I?" I look at Mr. Moto quizzically.
Mr. Moto smiles at me as he says, "I didn't need you to tell me. I've watched your dueling; you're as great as Yugi, and even Yami here. Besides, I've become so used to dueling that I can feel most of the time what a person's favorite card is."
((If you haven't noticed, I've used three names for Yugi's grandpa: Yugi's grandpa, Mr. Moto, and Grandpa Moto. I think that's all of them... oh well. Let me know what name you like better. I personally prefer Grandpa Moto or even Gramps... who knows?))
Everyone quickly finishes eating and all thanks me profusely for the great meal. Yugi's grandpa then gets up and waves cheerfully. "See you guys soon. Come down as soon as you can! I'm counting on you!" calls Grandpa Moto. Tea, Tristen, Joey, & Serenity then quickly leaves with Grandpa Moto and walk down to the shop. Yugi's grandfather never did find a car that would fit us all. The only ones were too expensive.
Serenity waves and calls to us cheerfully, "We'll see you guys there! I hope you get done soon. You sure you can do it?"
I smile at Serenity and reply, "Oh don't worry. We'll be fine. Shouldn't take too long..." I sigh and say, "Well. Let's get these dishes done. I can't wait to get dressed up and meet the new duelists. Besides, I'm getting bored here..." I turn on the hot water and start rinsing dishes. Yami takes the rinsed dishes from me and loads the dishwasher. I then run upstairs and take a quick shower. I blow dry my hair and then straightened it.
I ran down the hallway and ended up falling down the stairs. Yami quickly catches me and I ended up falling on him.
"Ouch. You okay?" asks Yami, whom I landed on and was now on top of.
"I think so. Are you? I'm so sorry about that..." I then roll off of Yami who sits up with a light groan. "I am so sorry about that. Not exactly what you would call one of my more graceful moments..." Yami smiles at me and then gets up. He then helps me up and I smile at him. "Thanks. I guess we better get going..." I say, suddenly avoiding Yami's eyes. 'What the hell?! Why can't I look at him?!' Yami nods as well. "Yeah, I guess you're right, after all, Yugi's grandpa's depending on us." I nod and quickly walk out the door. I lock it behind us and we start to walk in the warm weather, toward Grandpa Moto's shop.
