Chapter 9

Feb 25 2002

I found a hunk of hair on my pillow again. This time I started to cry...I really am going bald and there's nothing I can do about it but place a beanie on my head. I don't want people to know about this either...do you know how many people would point and laugh? I guess I won't need my combs anymore.

How cruel it is to go bald at 13! I'm not even old enough to drink! So, this time I showed my mother the hunk of hair, and this time she didn't cry, like I thought she would. She just grabbed my hand and began to stroke it.

"Uhm-Ma! This isn't fair! It just isn't fair!" I screamed while tossing the chunk of hair into the trash. She patted my hand and pulled me into a hug.

"It's just hair. It will grow back."

"I want it to grow back NOW!" I know I sounded childish, but no one wants to be bald and laughed at. So my mother pushed me off of her and walked to the phone.

"I have an idea." She said while pulling out the phone book.

Minutes later I was in our car, heading for Ryou's house. I hopped the fence once again and rushed to his door. I pounded on it and kicked it a few times.

Ryou finally answered it, looking puzzled.

"Come on sleepy head!" I grabbed him and rushed towards my mothers awaiting car.

"Where are we going?" he asked, still trying to fully wake up.

"To get our hair cuts...both of us! You need one!" I laughed as he began to play with his long snow white hair. "But I like my hair the way it is!" Ryou protested. I just grinned.

"Ryou bear, you look like a girl. Were going to make you look like a man!" And I shoved him into the car.

When we got to the hair salon I was the first to go. I held my head up high and sat in the chair, pulling off my beanie. The lady hesitated for a moment then placed the apron around me. Ryou stared at my head, shock apparent on his delicate face.

"Chemo, Ryou...Chemo." Was all I whispered. And he seemed to understand. His face dropped sadly and he began to play with his own hair. I looked away, because I didn't want to see him twirling those long thick locks of soft hair.

The lady went to work on my thin hair. She lightly dragged a comb through it and large clumps fell to the floor. I was trying my hardest not to cry, but it as so hard. I held my hand out, beckoning Ryou to hold it. And he did. He sat there and stoked it as clump after clump fell to the floor. She snipped, cut and shaped my remaining hair into a short bob. So short that I look like a boy.

"This should help some; at least it will be less noticeable."

I looked at myself for a long time, and then turned to Ryou with a large smile.

"Looks like we traded spaces Ryou. You look like a girl and I look a boy." The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile but then it disappeared.

"You next?" The woman asked, glancing at his long hair.

"Yes, just a trim though, we like his hair long." I said jumping out of the chair.

Once we were done my mother drove us to a wig shop.

"Uhm-Ma! What are we here for? It's not Halloween!" I cried while jumping out. She smiled sadly.

"It's for when you go completely bald Nozomi."

Ryou was silent and trudged behind me. I can imagine how he feels...I did kind of drag him into this. But I wanted him here with me while I went through this.

I rushed down every aisle, brushing my hands on the silky hairs.

"What about this?" I cried as I tugged on a long wig that was a bright red.

"I've always wanted to be a red head." Ryou looked at me funny.

"Uh, Zozo, you look like a clown...I don't like clowns." I laughed then tossed the wig aside.

"Oh! How about this!" That's when I pulled on a jet black one that barely covered my ears.

"Now you look like an elf!" he laughed while pointing.

I giggled and tossed that one to the side as well. "Oh, Look at this!" I cried and pulled on a chestnut colored piece that cascaded down my shoulders.

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" Ryou quoted with a smile. That's when it caught my eye.

"You think all those were funny? How about this. It fits me don't you think?" I tugged the pink and blue hairpiece that poked in thick spikes off the rack and shoved it on my head.

"You'll poke someone's eye out!" Ryou gasped.

I laughed and began to dance around in it.

That's when Bakura decided to show up. He stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed over his chest.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked, watching me twirl around the room like a freak. I stopped and glanced at him.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm dancing!" I laughed and grabbed his hands. I began to twirl him with me.

"What the hell! Let go of me! Stop it, you stupid bitch!" he tried to tug his hands away from me, but I held fast. The room swirled around us and I grew dizzy. But I still twirled around. Finally I stopped and dropped his hands. He looked like he was going to puke.

"Dat was FUN!" I squealed and fell forwards on him. He fell backwards, landing on his back, me on top of him.

"Oops, my bad!" I said trying to push myself back up. But I couldn't, the room still swirled around me.

"What's wrong with you? Do you have any mental disabilities?" he asked glaring up at me.

"Nope! I'm all sane!" I said while dropping my head on his chest. I was beginning to feel exhausted. Ryou cleared his throat.

"Uh, are we going to find a wig or not?" He asked. I glanced up at him and smiled. "Don't worry, now we have Bakura's help...want to help Bakura?" I asked glancing back down at him.

He smiled evilly.

"Nah, I want to stay right here...like this...with you..." I smacked him and jumped to my feet. "Nasty!" I laughed. Bakura stumbled to his feet, swaying every now and then, which made me laugh.

"Why do you need a wig...going bald are we?" I know he meant it as a joke, but it didn't hit that way...

"Yes, actually, I am...so will you help me or not?" I asked turning away from him, hoping he wouldn't see my tears. Bakura was silent and when I turned around he had a look of sympathy on his face.

"Don't feel sorry for me!" I shouted while stomping my foot.

"Who said I feel sorry for you! I feel sorry for all the poor animals that had to give up their hair for these wigs."

I glared at him. I couldn't really say nor do anything, so I just glared. Finally I and Ryou bear started looking once again. But we couldn't find any that matched me and my complexion.

"I want to try something different!" I pouted as we searched through the last stack of wigs.

"How about this?" Bakura called out while walking towards us. He held a dark brown, curly wig that would hang just above my shoulders.

"I think you'll look good in curls." Ryou said while taking the wig from Bakura's hands. Bakura growled at Ryou then turned his head away.

I might be dreaming this, but I think they were fighting over me...nah, I'm just seeing things.

Anyways, it looked perfect on me! Besides, brown is my natural color. So I snuggled it down on my head and ran to a mirror to primp.

"It looks wonderful!" I cried as I studied myself. The curls looked as if they were my own. They bobbed with life as I ran my hands through them.

"Yes, this one will do. Thank you Ryou bear, Bakura."

And so now I'll end my entry.

Goodnight Reader

-Zozo

"She looked hot in those curls...I'm so glad that I picked it out!" Bakura said while shoving his thumb into his chest. Ryou glanced at his yami and gave him a rather heated look.

"You're just jealous that she liked me better then you..." Bakura chuckled

Ryou's eyes were blazing now. "She did not like you more then she liked me! She spent most her time with me and not you!"

Bakura only laughed. "You must not be paying attention to her diary...she even says so herself. She liked ME!"

Ryou turned away.

"Ok come on Ryou, get over it. All the girls fall for a bad boy." A smirk crossed Bakura's lips.

"ALL the girls."

Rampant Chaos: I can tell your enjoying this huh? Well, I tried really hard to make this story both funny and sad…Am I doing ok?

Am I making you laugh as well as cry? I should be…

Anyways, the speech will be coming…in the end…you'll have to wait.

Thanks to all other reviewers…