Book Dragon: frowns "Hmm…no reviews. No matter. Next chappy."

Chapter 2: Old Friend

The first week was a frightening one. Aunt Marie stayed over the weekend in the house and made sure they got use to living with their dad. It was peculiar. He had set rooms for all of them, including Aunty. Some how he must have known ahead of time that she would be staying with them a while. He let them choose their rooms. Mat chose the large room on the right of the hallway and Christa choose the tiny room on the left. Aunt Maria took the room next door to Christa's, it was cramped but in an odd way homey. Kaede, not caring much in the first place, took the last room gratefully. Her room was medium sized, with a twin size bed and very large puffy blue blankets. Her walls were a creamy color, like her siblings, and also had a small closet and desk and a small mirror on that. There was even a small green rug over the polished wood floor that pleased her. The first thing she did was examine the closet. The knob turned easily, and the inside was vacant except a few shoe boxes way in the back. She opened these and found only mothballs and tissue paper. Satisfied, she took off her shoes and promptly threw herself onto the bed, letting it bounce under her weight, and stared at the odd designs of the ceiling created by the paint brushes while Mat started blasting his music on the other side of the wall, rattling her new desk. She ignored his binging and pinging, and quickly started to unpack the clothes from her suitcase, which she had thrown up there earlier.

After she stuffed the few t-shirts and jeans and the many, many, many pairs of socks into all the drawers she thought about going to see the grass again. She wasn't completely sure she wanted to meet any other plants until she was actually comfortable. However, as she was thinking this, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." Christa opened and shut the door behind her gracefully and almost quietly.

"I wanted to see how you were doing." She said as she sat on Kaede's bed and looked around her room.

"Your room's bigger."

"Yeah, I know. What do you want?" Christa looked surprised.

"What makes you think I want anything? Why can't I just say hi to my little sister?"

"Because you never do. You hate it here. I can see it on your face." Kaede said matter-of-factly, and went over to rearrange her clothes again to keep herself busy while Christa was here.

"It's true! How did you know?" Christa asked her eagerly.

"Easy, there are no shopping malls in sight, and there are no handsome boys living next door." Kaede said, while stuffing her socks into another empty drawer.

"I resent that."

"But it's true." Christa wrung her hands a little, and snorted with annoyance.

"I've got better things to listen to than your sass!" She said lightly and slammed her door on the way out, leaving Kaede muttering the word 'sass' in confusion.

The third day she had to help dad in the garden. Kaede was happy to go, since the grass seemed sort of timid of her…must have been something she said. Mat also came with them, mostly because he had nothing better to do, or that's what he said. She knew he was lying. He probably wanted to get to know dad a little more. Kaede in her own little way did too. Christa had been offered to, but she refused. She didn't like to get dirty much. That and Aunty was taking her shopping. Nothing wins out over shopping. Except dating.

The rest of the green house was more spectacular on the inside than the outside. The bit of forestry she had experienced earlier had been nothing compared to the main room. Every inch of space, but the walk ways, was consumed in potted plants of all types and flowers. There were sunflowers, daisies, roses, lilac, marigolds, foxgloves, and even a few small maple trees. The scents intoxicated her senses with the first step, making her feel a little light headed. The only thing keeping her on planet earth was the range of voices chorusing and babbling in the tinted heated room. Her eyes darted from plant to plant as she flexed her fingers nervously in her gardening gloves. Mat looked over all the foliage and glanced at dad, noticing him smiling as he started out along the path, his offspring following.

"I do wish your sister would have reconsidered, gardening helps you unwind after a long day, or that's what your mother use to say." He gave them a smile and stopped, watering a purple tulip with his watering can.

"She doesn't like plants every much…" Mat told him, waving his watering can as he talked. Kaede muttered a few 'your welcomes' to the plant life that got splashed.

"She thinks its dirty work." Dad nodded, bouncing his white locks. Mat started to water a patch of near by clovers, and Kaede copied him quickly by tipping her watering can on some spongy type plant she didn't know the name of. Perhaps out of boredom or that fact he was trying hard to make conversation with a man he hadn't seen for practically his whole life, Mat added.

"You know, Kaede is obsessed with plants. Sometimes I even find her talking to them." Kaede winced at this information and wondered why her brother had said that. She turned to give him a look but found Dad staring at her with fascination and wonderment.

"Do you really?" Some what speechless she nodded and turned back to her work.

"Yes, I like plants…and I've heard talking to them helps them grow…" She said slowly.

She more than liked plants. She had the gift of speech with them, after all. She often joked with herself that instead of a green thumb she had a green tongue. She wasn't sure how she could actually speak with them, since she had learned they didn't have brains or mouths. She often wondered that maybe they could speak because they had souls and settled on that answer.

She missed the pot all together and spattered water on the floor, causing the leaves on her particular plant to shutter as it shouted how much on an idiot she was.

"Sorry." She uttered and gave it an extra little trickle of water. The conversation varied after that, from the different types of plants and what medical uses some of them had what kinds of flowers look and smell good, and how to take care of them. Mat was talking just to keep Dad talking of course, he didn't like planting very much, and Kaede was too scared to make much of an effort. Mat seemed disgusted with her for that.

"Many types of collie-flower can be used as-Hello!" Kaede jumped at Mat's sudden out burst and turned in time to see a black thing disappear under one of the plant infested tables with the sound of scattered underbrush.

"What was that?" Mat asked anxiously, more curious than afraid. Dad looked at him warily as he glanced at the floor at where the thing had been.

"I…don't know. Probably one of the cats that like to intrude the garden." And as if on cue, a small black cat emerged from the top of a table, poking out of the small rose bush and staring at them with a pair of big brown eyes.

"See." Dad hesitantly looked at the cat and went back to his work. Mat stared back at the cat wonderingly and then asked.

"How did he get in here?" Dad shrugged.

"Don't know, he just does…" After another brief glance, Mat went back to work. Kaede looked at the animal a little longer, until it looked straight at her, blinked, and ducked back into the bush and disappeared.

That night she had a nightmare. It wasn't a wake up screaming kind of dream, but a sort of learning someone had gotten you. It was vague in her memory when she rose sleepily from her bed. Something about a large black…thing chasing her no matter where she turned. A classic run until you trip and fall but not get eaten when you are caught. In fact, she probably would've forgotten it if she didn't hear a loud smash and some cursing from across the hall. A sort of curious yet worried feeling poured over her like a bucket of cold water, peeling her eyes wide as she scurried to the door and threw it open.

Christa was shouting something loud, and rushing about with a broom. It would have been funny if something jet black didn't come flying out of the room and down the stairs faster than lightning. Then it was easy to be reminded of what had been hunting you in your sleep. Kaede shivered as she pushed the thought aside and heard her father running up the stairs.

"What is it?!" He asked wildly at the top of the stairs, wearing blue pajamas and standing in bare feet, looking concerned and…tired. He had large purple bags under his eyes, which seemed striking since his face was always so pale.

"OOohhh! There was a mangy dog in my room!!!" She was starting to burst into tears. Dad walked carefully over to her, hair tied back and bouncing, and took her in his arm and said comforting things. Mat finally opened his door and took one step out of his room and saw them, noticed Kaede, and gave her a curious look. Kaede shrugged and gestured, to the best of her ability, they needed to go outside. Mat nodded, somehow understanding the mess of jerking hand movements, and disappeared into his room. Kaede quietly shut her door after her sister and father disappeared slowly down the stairs and started pulling out clothes, jumping into a fresh pair of socks, unmentionables, a blue t-shirt, and an old ragged pair of jeans. She took her shoes and was about to slam her door when Mat caught it, hit her squarely on top of the head like older siblings do when their younger sister/brother does something stupid, and wildly shook his head. He pointed to his sneakers in his hands and made a motion. She nodded and held her footwear in case of making any noise while she crept down the stairs behind Mat. She noticed him giving off a confused look at the steps, the kind of look you see in Math classes during algebra lessons, which was strange to see on his face, since he was actually excellent at algebra.

From off the stairs they snuck quietly down the hall, passing a few book filled rooms and many pictures. They ignored these, as they were now accustomed, and where about five feet away from the door when an erupting cries of anger busted down the hall faster than wind and caused the teens to panic, throwing the door open with a loud bang, and running through the lawn. It wasn't until several blocks and at least a hundred gasping treads did Kaede sit on the sidewalk, exhausted, while Mat was holding his knees and calming himself down. It was a while until they had the breath to say anything.

"I think that was Aunt Marie..." Kaede said.

"Yeah, that did sound like her shouting." Mat agreed.

"But what was she angry about?"

"Probably found out what happened to Christa and going in on Dad…we shouldn't stay here." Kaede nodded and stood up.

They didn't speak again until they were safely out of range of their home. For some reason, every time Kaede tried to pursue their conversation, he would shake his head and say, "Not yet."

When they finally reached the busy edge of town are were about three blocks in, did Mat start to talk.

"She doesn't like dad very much…our Aunt I mean, I think she blames him for what happened to Mum." Kaede said nothing to this, for she did have nothing to say. Mat was perceptive to this; he was quick with these sorts of matters.

"There is something that is bothering me."

"What would that be?"

"Well," Mat began, "Dad did come up the stairs when he came to see Christa, right?"

"Yeah."

"And the…dog, I heard it run down the stairs…wouldn't have he seen it?"

"Yes, he probably would have."

"Then why didn't he shout or curse or even say something in surprise if he didn't know it was there? I think Dad maybe hiding something…" Kaede turned incredulously to him.

"Dad? Hiding something? What would he have to hide?"

"I don't know…maybe it has to do with Mom and him breaking up."

"Aunt Marie said that was because of a fight…"

"Did you ever believe that?" Kaede looked at her shoes feeling stupid.

"…no."

"I don't either." Mat agreed.

"Maybe it has to do with the fact the house use to be a library."

"Where did you hear that?!" Mat exclaimed. Kaede bit her tongue hard and wished she hadn't said anything.

"…I have my sources."

"Your sources, huh? No, really, where?" Kaede said nothing. Mat casted an amused but annoyed look at her.

"Tell me or I'll do what I almost did on my eleventh birthday."

"Then you're going to have to dunk my head in the toilet. I never reveal my sources." Mat laughed aloud.

"You're worse than an editor of a newspaper! Fine then, all the better when I figure it out." Kaede would have to be more careful with the info the tulips said.

"Hey guys!" Mat and Kaede turned around and found someone bumping through the crowd, swinging her arms out as she jogged, catching a few of the waiters at the near by coffee shop.

"What are you doing here?" Mat asked Christa as she approached in an irritated voice.

"Aunty told me to go out." Kaede and Mat looked at each other.

"…What is it?"

They explained the whole story, walking down the sidewalk, with their hands carefully buried in their pockets, ignoring the staring eyes and murmurs of their fellow city dwellers.

"Hmmm…are you positive that you aren't making a big deal out of nothing? I mean, Dad's a little…

"A little what?"

"Well…he's a little bit too trusting."

"Of course he's trusting! We're the kids he hasn't seen for ten years!" Mat exclaimed, removing his hands up in the air. "He hasn't had to raise us; he doesn't know how to be a father!" Christa and Kaede were silent to this. They stared at him with wide eyes, unbelieving eyes, like he had shouted a swear at the top of his lungs.

"Err…damn it you two!" He snarled and turned around fast to run, but stopped with a jerk.

Right in front of him, was a large black cat, staring with huge brown eyes at him. They started at each other for a moment, just gazed, and Mat quickly stepped over it and started sprinting around the corner and out of sight. Kaede raised her foot to run, but Christa held an arm, blocking her path.

"Let him go." Christa said. Kaede looked at her curiously, but placed her foot back down.

Christa turned back her face with a 'don't ask me' look on her face and turned back, eyes on the cat.

"Oh what a cutie!" She baby talked. Kaede shook her head; it was just like Christa to change so fast. It's what made her unpredictable, and with about twenty lost relationships.

Christa strode over to the cat and picked it up, cuddling in her arms, and cooing things, rubbing her face against its blue tinged fur. Kaede pretend not to know her and let her hands twitch deep inside her pockets. Personally, the cat looked just like the one her and Mat had seen yesterday, and that made her stomach lurched every so slightly. She started to walk, better to try and forget about it than throw up. Christa followed and then caught up. They walked, shoulder to shoulder.

"Hey! Do you wanta go to the mall?"

"No." Christa frowned.

"But…I don't want to go alone…it's not as fun."

"Standing around watching you look at clothes isn't at all fun…besides, you just made a new best friend, take him with you."

"Very funny, Kaede…hey, how did you know it was a guy cat? Have you seen him before?"

"No."

"Oh," Christa suddenly squealed and nudged her in the shoulder, "Did you just see that guy in the coffee shop?! He winked at me!"

"Every male on the planet winks at you, Christa."

"Yeah, but he was so cute!" And so the conversation jumped, from begging for Kaede to go shopping with her and some handsome guy walking down the street. It was boring the hell out of Kaede. She always tried to climb trees or make forts with her brother during there younger years while Christa always played house and claimed she was princess of the castle. Then they'd have to correct her over and over again that it was a fort and not a castle.

"I don't get you! How can you not like want to date any of these guys?" Kaede woke up from her dream at the question.

"Um?"

"I said, how can you not want to date any of these guys?" Kaede shrugged.

"Romance is pretty dull. Basically, you trying to find your one true love by rushing into relationships with guys that just want the…you know. It's a whole confusing chaos of courting, turning on and off a light switch, and in the end breaking your heart and loosing your…well…you know." Christa looked up from a sigh in the window they had just past.

"Sorry…I wasn't really listening…what did you say?" Kaede sighed.

"I was saying-"

"Oh! You poor thing…look at this." Christa held up the cat to her.

"I see a cat, Christa, we've been over this."

"No, no, look, at his head." Christa pointed at something caught in the black glinting hair, snarled and tangled in something faintly green. Kaede squinted and made out a leaf of a certain star like shape; she stared in amazement.

"Yeah, I know, you poor thing!" Christa raised a careful hand and inched toward the leaf. At the moment her hand almost touched the leaf the cat struck out. Its claws cut deep, making sudden red lines, faint but there. Christa yelped and took back her hand, glaring at the cat.

"OH, You BAD cat! Here." She suddenly swung her full arms and dumped the animal onto to Kaede, who had to fight her hands out of her pockets so it wouldn't drop, and held it by the arm pits a moment, surprised. Before she had time to react fully it twisted out of her grip and climbed onto her shoulder and up onto her head, clawing up her white locks. Noticing that it did have some sharp claws she raised both of her arms to take it off when it lashed out at her hand, causing some marks much like Christa's, and the battle for the space on top of her head the cat's for now.

And so the day proceeded, Christa was laughing at her, as she kept her arms crossed sourly, and ignoring the strange looks from some business men and the mother's fussing about how adorable she looked. That cat needed to seriously go, but every time she made a move to get it over her head, from just trying to grab it, or cleverly sneaking up on it from the back, but it still got her. By the time it was one a clock it looked like she was a suicide addict, with all the slashes on her arms and wrists, and she was defeated until someone else could do something about it.

"I'm going to go shopping…are you sure you don't want to come with me?"

"I'm positive."

"Alright then. I'll meet you at the house, be there by five, okay? Dad will get worried any later. Enjoy your four hours." And with that she ran off down the side walk, when the pedestrian sign said walk she crossed and emerged with the crowd, heading toward the inner sanctums of the big city, leaving her youngest sister alone…well, not entirely.

Kaede sighed, and returned her hands to her pockets once more, deciding she would probably just walk around. Well, not just walking around, most likely making a mental map, in preparation of the beginning of school. Most likely she would need any good short cuts to the house, a just in case measure for any unwanted attention. After all, she was a completely strange, appearances and mentally. So, she let her muddy-colored orbs travel across the buildings, treading softly, straining her neck when looking up and biting back pain as claws sunk deep into her scalp for doing so, soaking up anything she glances at.

After a while of doing this she was starting to get a headache and the soles of her feet were throbbing. She kept walking as she glanced at her watch. 3:30 it throbbed into her eyes.

"Alright. I'll go home. After all, I can always talk to the...ah, well, you know." The next step she took she spun on her heel, whipping around, and startling some of the people from the path, and started in the direction she came, but walking a little faster. She felt the feline dig its claws uncomfortably into the sides of her head and she cursed, her attempted to be ridded of it failed, but smiled not to be traveling alone.

"You are one stubborn cat." She told it in all seriousness, not caring if she looked a little crazy.

"But that's strange. That a cat, which as probably been living on the streets, decides to let people pick it up and prefers to ride on people's heads. Maybe you're actually a house cat. You know, use to people." She paused.

"But then, why would be wandering around? Are you lost?" She shook her head slightly, so not to startle it.

"No. You'd have a collar, but you don't…strange. Maybe you lost it?" The cat remained silent.

"No, you couldn't loose that so easy, someone would have to take it off you…" She paused a moment, having the distinct feeling of erroneous. Something wasn't right here, whether it was the smell of the air or her feet increased its steady throbbing beat or something else she couldn't tell. She found herself removing her hands, now fists, from her pockets and widening her sight. She glanced at the grass, thinking of asking it, when she found that it was the cat's claws needling uncomfortably into her skull. Something was spooking it. All of a sudden she found herself turning and looking directly at a blue car parked across the street, the motor running, and two shadowy figures sitting in it. Knowing they weren't there a minute before, she was startled to hear the cat hiss on her head, so suddenly it made her jump and take off like a shot.

Sprinting down the street as fast as she could go, she didn't think. Her senses ablaze and at their limit, her muscles obeyed her commands with ease, and she found her mind just taken in a moment. Something about each foot slam and the murmuring whirl of the grass blades made her head spin, how the wind whooshed in her ears, and her heart jammed in her chest. Feeling as light as a feather, she strides grew longer and longer until each sneaker meet a line ending the cement square. Her arms were pumping, her hair was bouncing and floating, the cat was somehow clinging painfully to her tresses. The world spun by, in an unworldly melee of physical awareness, and the sound of a car engine. Something within suddenly screamed into her ear with suddenly clarity.

They're following me.

Feeling sick as her muscles started to complain of the rapidness, sluggish in rebellion, her heart in her throat, and her lungs burning, she squinted her eyes from the slowing wind and to her wonder; a building seemed to appear into her narrow scope of reality. The building was small, but commanded her thoughts immediately with its green roof, and flashed like a beacon. For a surprised moment her feet averted to it, sprinting up the short lawn, and watching the door fly up into her face with unworldly speed. Fumbling with the door handle she threw it open wide and entered, dimly hearing the bell, and jogging a few steps in before her legs heard the 'Whoa! Easy, easy!' command and halted.

Gasping she stopped, and looked uncertainly out the glass door. The car was gone. She sighed with relief and held her knees a moment, feeling like the wind had just been knocked out of her, but she was smiling with her victory. And she was sweating.

Her vision swum a little as she lifted her head up and looked gingerly around the room.

It was a small room, with counters on three walls, except the door, holding many, many different games. Card games, dice games, board games, word games, puzzles, you name it you could find it. There was an open space between the counters in the left hand corner, opening into a different room, and at the north counter a door stood open. She had to be in a game shop. It had a homey sort of feel to it, and Kaede found herself immediately at ease, feeling the odd smell of a household, and taking it into a count. She leaned carefully over to the left side and looked at a metal jumble puzzle, that ones that you separate by pulling in all sorts of ways, when a voice made her jump nearly five inches off the ground.

"Can I…help you?" She turned her head quickly. A man was standing at the north counter. He was short, but his spiky tri colored hair made him appear taller. He wore a dark blue button business shirt with jeans and white-black sneakers, around his neck hung a triangular object. His skin was pale but his eyes shown a vivid violet. Kaede never before seen anyone with violet eyes. It was truly a rare and beautiful thing, and she had thought it was a myth. Now, she was positive she had been wrong. Her leaned on one hand, calmly and let her take a look at him a moment longer.

"May I help you?" Kaede blushed as she found herself staring and looking quickly at her feet, embarrassed.

"Oh, no…I was just…on my way home…"

"You look familiar." Kaede warily looked up into the stranger's face.

"What's your name, Miss?"

"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers." She said stupidly. He smiled a white sparkly teethed grin.

"A smart laic, huh? Well, in that case, I'm Yugi Mutou." He held out his hand. Kaede started a moment, and then clasped his hand carefully and shook it.

"I'm Kaede Ryou." He raised his eyebrows, a look of light astonishment.

"I thought you looked familiar. One of the daughters of Bakura and Ryelle Ryou?"

"Um, yes. Have you met them?"

"Meet them? I'm a friend of your father and mother." Kaede started at him with deep shock. No where had Dad ever mention having a friend of his living so close, not once. She would have been doubtful of this if his eyes weren't so honest. Something about them made her believe every word he was saying was true.

"You knew my mother and father when they were kids?"

"Sure did. Your dad was part of the gang back then, still is, even though the gang has separated a bit. We still talk from time to time, but nothing like the old days. Friends forever, through thick and thin, always together and beating the hard ships. The most adventurous days of my life." His eyes suddenly glazed over, probably remembering something from his childhood. Adults, Kaede found, did this a lot, and it was best to let them. He was out of it a moment later and looking at her warmly.

"So, how's your father keeping up?"

"Oh, he's okay. He spends a lot of time gardening, doing business…you know." Mr. Mutou almost looked saddened at this, his smile turning to a slight frown, but he said nothing.

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no, it's just time has probably caught up with him, has for me too…" He touched a few gray hairs in the chaos of black locks and sighed. The necklace swung a bit, catching her attention.

"What's that?" She pointed to the triangular thing. He looked down at it and smiled again back at her.

"It's an Egyptian artifact, a puzzle, and… a bit of a lucky charm, you could say."

"Egypt? From the real desert pyramids? The works?" He laughed.

"It once belonged to a pharaoh, King Yami, or Atem, a little more than 5000 years ago." Kaede puzzled over the name.

"Hmm. Never heard of it."

"There are few who have. He isn't in many history books I'm afraid."

"Why is that?" Mr. Mutou smiled, a wide brilliant grin, which just made her want trust him. Kaede decided she liked him.

"I think it's getting late…your dad is probably worried…do you want a ride?" Kaede thought about it a moment, and then shook her head.

"No, I think I need the exercise…but thank you anyway." He nodded, his hair rebounding in a jerk.

"Bye Mr. Mutou."

"Tell your father I said hi…"

"I will."

"Take care."

"I will."

"See you." Kaede tried not to slam the door on the way out. She walked calmly and slowly down the street, looking for the car, but found it gone. Grinning she started down the side walk, letting the orange sun cast her silhouette upon the lawn. She noticed that the cat was still clinging to the top of her head, and starting to get use to it, like wearing a heavy hat. After a while you don't realize it's there. Then something odd occurred to her, making her pause a moment then leisurely taking slow steps.

Why didn't he ask anything about the cat? It was usually, not an everyday thing when you see someone with a cat on their head, and usually you'd ask why it was on your skull. He could have been being polite, but commonly something in the face says 'why in god's name is there a cat on your head?'

But he didn't even bat an eye. But she couldn't use that as proof as to this guy knew something she didn't or he was just plain weird. Some people are every good actors…some just sort of born with hiding their emotions. But then, that guy seemed a little more sentiment then one of those people. Actually, he was a pretty open, ready to talk to the first person to walk in the door, extremely out-going.

"I wish I was like that sometimes." She murmured to herself.

When she got home she tried to remove the black animal off her head one more time, and to her deep surprise, it was over her head before she could touch it. It leapt off and onto the front step before the door and casually stocked off the step and along the house. She watched it nimbly climb a tree and swiftly disappear into the branches, the tree all the time complaining about how sharp the cat's claws were, making her smile a little wider as she opened the door.

"KAEDE! Where have you been?!" Kaede jumped with shock at her Aunt standing in front of her. Her face was pale and her hair looked a little frizzy and her brown eyes were dark and flashing. In the corner she noticed her father sneaking off into another room, fully dressed now, and looking very determined for some reason.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Kaede looked back into her face.

"I went for a walk."

"For four hours?! Without lunch or breakfast?!" Kaede paused, and nodded her head in agreement. Her Aunt sighed.

"You silly…come on. We'll have dinner early."

As they pasted the door her father entered, Kaede took a quick glance it and found it empty. Confused she almost stopped, but thought better of telling her Aunt that her father had just suddenly disappeared.

Book Dragon: "Please review."