this chapter is dedicated to my good friend, faithful reader, and fellow anime-nut: Chibi! Happy Birthday!!!!

also thanx to Cettie-girl and mom-mi-oh for their regular reviews...the serious and complementary critizism is much appreciated and respected...u guys are seriously the best!

and to new reviewers:
Blade891 - enthusiasm like yours always makes my day,
and to Yami Armegedden - my 50TH reviewer!!!!!!!(omg...so excited!!!!!!!)...and 51st, and 52nd, and 53rd, and 54th...wow! so glad u like and thanx 4 the majorly good mood i'm in...

Part 1 (Chapter 20) – Apologies

She looks so young. Kali floated above her light, looking down on the girl. Like a child, still innocent. How was it that I found it in myself to hurt her? I never even listened to her side, but followed Bakura blindly. What a fool I was...

Kira stirred slightly, unconsciously shoving her covers away. She groaned softly, but her eyes stayed shut. Kali watched the girl another moment, then, tapping into her spirit magic, brought her energies briefly in contact with the physical realm. Her fingers tingling, Kali reached out and brought the covers back up by Kira's shoulders, folding them neatly.

"Thank you."

Kali started at the voice. "Wh-what?"

" 'You're welcome' is usually the proper reply," Kira's lips moved into a soft grin, and her lashes revealed her eyes, wide awake.

Kali floated back to the edge of the room, mumbling quietly, "I thought you were asleep."

"I was," Kira closed her eyes again, "But don't worry about waking me up."

"I wasn't worried," Kali lied. "You just surprised me."

"Oh." Kira stayed quiet, and the silence grew. Kali fidgeted uneasily in the corner, not sure what to do or say, but not really willing to leave yet. Finally, Kira spoke up again, "I suppose I should thank you for saving my life." Kali nodded, though Kira couldn't see it.

Kira continued, "Though I don't remember much. Why did you save me?"

Why did I save her? Kali herself wasn't sure of the answer. "Yami warned me that I might destroy myself if I killed you completely." Does that sound too harsh? It's true though. He did warn me.

"Then maybe I should be thanking Yami?"

"If you want." For some strange reason, Kali didn't feel very happy about that idea, but she said nothing. "Might as well thank Yugi too. He got in my way before I could finish you off."

"Then I owe him my life," Kira remarked, again without much emotion.

"Aren't you happy?" Kali asked suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Happy. That you survived? That I didn't succeed?"

"Of course," Kira said. "I never thought I'd be waking up again after that night."

"You don't sound happy," Kali remarked. Why am I asking this? Why am I even bothering? Why should it matter to me how grateful she is?

"Maybe because there's something missing from your story," Kira suggested.

"Missing? Like what?"

Kira sighed, "You say that I owe my life to Yami and Yugi, that they kept you from killing me."

"True."

"But they aren't here anymore. What's keeping you from killing me now?"

Kali gave a short gasp of surprise. "I...I don't know."

"I think you do," Kira suggested. She opened her eyes again and gazed solemnly at the dark spirit. "And I don't think its because of the possible risk."

Kali opened her mouth, then closed it, unsure of what to say. She's right. I'm not afraid of death, even if it is the destruction of my spirit. But for some reason, I just couldn't let her die. Feeling a strange sensation on her cheek, Kali raised a finger to it and lifted off a tiny sparkle of light. These emotions. Why can I not contain them? I am a spirit – not a silly, sentimental mortal. She looked again at Kira, still watching her with patient reserve. But around her...

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"What?" For the first time Kira showed surprise.

"I'm sorry," Kali said again, more firmly. "I was a fool to have listened to Bakura."

"You only did what you believed..." Kira began, but Kali motioned her to silence.

"Please. Listen." Kali took a deep breath to explain. "I would never let others see me like this. I feel weak, vulnerable. Yet by you, I'm not afraid to...cry. You tried to be a friend when all I wanted was to be your enemy. And even though I didn't believe you, you stuck by what you found to be right.

"And your friends. Yugi especially, showed me what friendship was. I was always alone. It was how I knew life, yet I was bonded to you. I think even long ago, I could sense your honesty, but I refused to accept it. I wanted my own selfish desires to be fulfilled, and ignored what would have been best for the both of us.

"I don't really know what to say, for all the wrong I've caused you. I worked to tear you from your friends and from life itself. I can't ask you to forgive me for all that, it's too much. I'll do what I can to keep you safe from any of that ever again. But if you just want me out of your life, I'll go right away..."

Kira cut her dark off. "No. Don't go."

Kali looked away, "But if it's better..."

"You saved my life," Kira spoke softly. "I felt it. You kept my spirit alive when the end was near. I know you felt my pain, felt what you had caused. I couldn't ask more of you than that sacrifice. I forgive you, Kali. Completely."

Kali closed her shinning eyes and smiled, moving back by Kira. She placed her own immaterial hand over Kira's, and spoke in hesitant gratitude. "Thank you, my...light."

just wanted to clarify in case someone got the wrong idea from this chapter...i don't write yaoi/yuri, don't expect this story to head in that sort of direction...

thanx for reading...:P
joey