sorry it's taken me so long to get this out. life is pretty crazy over here - i'm still on the old, slow comp for starters, and i'm gonna have to make a college decision soon, and there's only a few more weeks left until graduation. i really appreciate all the support i got on that last chapter, and i hope you guys will enjoy this one just as much. it's nice and long to keep you busy for a while...

Part 2 (Chapter 9) – Rumors and Revelations

"May I have your attention please..." a voice crackled over the PA with the morning announcements.

As the speaker continued, Joey glanced over at Yugi, "How's Kira?"

"Last I heard, she was doing real well," Yugi replied with a small grin. Yami had found Kali in the Shadow Realms for the latest update on their friend. "I think it was only a bad concussion."

"I don't understand why, though," Mai sighed, looking over at Ryou's empty seat. He had been suspended for at least a week until the staff decided what was to be done.

"I heard that he never said a word," Tristan spoke up. "Not even when the police showed up. Didn't try to defend himself or anything."

"I never knew him real well," Mai added. "But I never thought he'd do something like that. He always seemed sweet enough, if kind of shy."

Yugi nodded. "He still is. Somewhere inside him, he's still good at heart."

"Yugi," Tea gently rested her hand on his shoulder. "You can't bring him back. He's changed."

"Maybe," Yugi whispered, clenching his fists. "Or maybe not." He closed his eyes and spoke fiercely. "There's an evil side to him. He's got a dark spirit, just like me. Only his yami wants him dead. That's not even Ryou anymore. He's just sort of a shell, confused and trapped by Bakura. I just have to believe that he'll find a way out."

"I believe you, Yugi."

Yugi looked up in surprise at who had spoken. Tea leant over him, smiling gently. "Whenever you say something, I know I can trust you. So if you say that Ryou's going to be all right, I'll believe you."

Yugi almost choked in surprise. "Th...thanks." He didn't notice Seto glaring daggers from behind him.

"Seto?"

"What?!" Seto spoke loudly and sounded very annoyed.

Mai cringed, but wasn't about to be intimidated. She walked over to him with an air of confidence, though her face was full of concern. "Maybe we should just call it off."

"What? Why?" Seto looked almost furious.

"The pranks." Mai stared at him in almost disbelief. "With what happened between Ryou and Kira, maybe it's not such a good idea anymore."

"That maniac is gone for now," Seto shook his head. "I'm not going to get cold feet like you."

"But..." Mai sputtered. "Oh, you are so impossible!"

"I thought we all agreed to have a little fun at each others' expense," Seto argued.

"Yeah, that was until Kira got hurt," Mai pointed out. "Besides, you don't look like you're having too much fun with this anymore. You look like you're out for revenge."

"Nonsense," Kaiba denied.

"Or maybe so," Mai continued. "You weren't too happy about Tea and Yugi this morning."

"And what if I'm not?"

"For heaven's sake, Seto!" Mai exploded. "Tea's like that with everyone. She's just a good friend."

"No," Seto shook his head. "She likes Yugi."

"You're blowing things way out of proportion," Mai tried.

Seto sighed, and leaned back against his locker to face her. "Not really. She's always worried about Yugi, she's always supported him. I can tell. She always has Yugi on her mind. Like at the dance? It wasn't me she was dancing with, it was Yugi. And as much as I want to be the one to make her happy, so far, I haven't really succeeded."

"You can't buy love," Mai pointed out.

Kaiba gave her a light slap on the side of her head. "I know that! I'm not as dumb as you think."

Mai smirked. "I never thought that."

"Did you hear? About Kira?"

"No! What?"

"You know how she's always skipping school because she's 'sick'?"

"Yeah? And?"

"I heard she's pregnant!"

"No way! Who is it?"

"They didn't say, but..."

"Try Seto Kaiba."

All three girls looked over in surprise where Yugi was standing with a fierce scowl across his features. He had heard enough.

"Is it really?" one of the girls asked anxiously.

As tempting as it was to say yes, Yugi shook his head. Kaiba had enough coming to him as it was. "No, though I'm guessing that's who you heard it from." The girl who had spoken first blushed, confirming Yugi's suspicions. "Sorry to disappoint you, but Kira's in the hospital because she was shoved down the stairs yesterday. Kaiba just has a grudge against her, so he's trying to mess up her reputation."

"Oh." All three girls looked thoroughly disappointed as the walked off, still talking among themselves.

Only ten more minutes until freedom... Yugi stared out the window as the afternoon sun streamed in. It was his last class, and all the better. "Attention, please," the intercom came on again suddenly, interrupting the teacher's lecture. "We have an important announcement to make before the end of the day." Yugi sat up to listen attentively, as did most of the rest of the class.

"Two of our very own students have just been given an incredible honor," the voice continued. "Joey Wheeler and Tristan Taylor have just been named as this district's representatives to a national convention for losers seeking guidance and need help pretending they have some semblance of a life. These all-star rejects..." the voice trailed off. "Who wrote this?!" There was some muffled conversation before the intercom cut off completely, but the whole class was already cracking up.

After the bell, Yugi could see where Joey and Tristan were because of the crowd.

"All-star rejects, huh?"

"Do you get a certificate for being losers?"

"I'm thinking they'll do a good job representing the lower-end of society."

More laughter.

"Shaddup already," Joey glared angrily at the kids gathered around him, and the voices died down to at least whispers.

"Joey! Tristan!" Yugi hollered, waving.

"Hey, Yug'," Joey had an extremely sour expression on his face.

"Um...you might want to go take a look down the hallway," Tristan said, avoiding Yugi's eyes.

"Huh? Why?" But neither of them answered.

Curious and a little afraid, Yugi walked past the humiliated Joey and Tristan and turned the corner to find another large crowd just before him, gathered around something on the bulletin board.

With several apologies, Yugi forced himself to the front of the group only to stare up in dismay at what was before him. My diary!

Or part of it anyway...

Yami!

Sorry.

Yugi felt close to tears. What do I do?

Take it down?

Then people will know it's mine.

They do anyway. Your name's signed on there.

Yugi groaned. But maybe some of them don't know who I am.

You can hope, but I'd still take it down.

Debating what to do, Yugi didn't notice another person approach the bulletin board. Moments later, he heard the papers being ripped from the staples.

"Get out of here!"

Yugi looked up in surprise to see a furious Tea facing off the crowd. Under her stare, everybody looked uncomfortable.

"You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Reading something that's private to someone else. Go find something better to do with your time."

Slowly, the crowd dispersed.

About five minutes later, the hall was finally empty. "Here you go," Tea handed the papers to Yugi with a kind smile. "Don't look so scared."

Yugi glanced at the papers and clutched them tightly to himself. Tea didn't notice, but instead, spoke in a low whisper. "Don't worry, they'll get what's coming to them."

Yugi could only stare at her in surprise as Tea gave a small wave and walked off with a friendly "see you tomorrow". Did she mean what I thought she did?

Sounds like she's got a prank of her own planed.

At least she didn't read my diary for herself. At least, I hope not.

Yami looked down through Yugi's eyes at the papers in his hands and laughed. It had been seven pages, four of which were all about Tea.

Seto frowned as he flipped through the mail that afternoon. Two bills, his latest issue of Duelist Techniques, and three business reports. There were also five personal letters from various families across town with whom Seto had no connection whatsoever. "What the heck?"

Tearing open the first one, his confusion was only increased. The card front was decorated with flowers and lace, and the inside said simple, "Best Wishes." Signed, "The Johnsons." The rest of the cards were similar.

Seto sighed uneasily. "Something's wrong."

She felt the transfer before she completely realized it. The air itself felt dark, and she was breathing in a sort of mist. But other than the sudden rush of cold air in and out of her mouth, everything was quiet and still. Reluctantly, Kira opened up her eyes to see the shadow realms.

To her surprise, there was no one around. But someone had pulled her here...hadn't they? Still, there was no sign of Kali, Bakura, Yami, or even that annoying child anywhere. But I can't come myself... Kira was confused. Can I?

"Why?"

Kira whirled about at the voice, though no one was there.

"Why can't you just let me alone?" Whoever it was continued. They sounded strangely familiar.

"Because destiny doesn't." An answer came, though Kira could see no more of this speaker than the first. "Sometimes the wills of different beings clash. Not everyone can win, and some people lose. Sometimes people are pulled into something by circumstances around them. Eventually, everybody gets a choice. And if that choice is big enough, the consequences may involve the fate of others."

"But...that's not fair."

"No, but it is life."

That's me, Kira realized. That's me when I talked to that little girl. Kira glanced down at open palms. Does destiny really rule my life? Am I nothing more than a puppet? Will bad things happen no matter what I try to do to stop them? There was no direct answer, though Kira heard more voices this time.

"What?!"
"This is asking too much. You don't understand what I went through. Bakura turned Kali against me, deceived her, and Ryou helped him. He betrayed me. That's something I can't easily forget."

"Kira, please..."

"I'm sorry, but I can't help you do this."

Did he really betray me? Kira asked herself. I don't really know anymore. It's so confusing, and not so clear-cut as I thought. I was so sure that Ryou was the enemy. He seemed nice, but then, I found out he was just getting close to find out about me. He was working for Bakura. And even when I encouraged him to stand up to Bakura, he turned weak. How can I trust him if he gives in so easily?

"I thought I told you; I'm not Bakura. I can't be responsible for the way he is."

"Can't you?"

"You have to believe me when I say I have no choice. I don't try to help him, but I'm forced to. I can't stand the pain."

"No - It's safer this way,"

He tried to apologize. Did I listen? Kira asked herself. I was frightened. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know who I could trust. She tried to reason, but her heart was already turning against her mind. From somewhere in Kira's memory, she heard Ryou's voice again.

"You were right, Kira. I betrayed you to protect myself. I don't expect you to ever understand that. I don't expect to ever be pardoned. But I won't make the same mistake again. Even if I have to pay the ultimate penalty, I'll refuse to betray you any more."

"Forget it, Kali. I'm nobody's slave. Never again."

"Ryou," she whispered, and something deep inside her spirit stirred. There it is again - that warm feeling around me - like being held. She wasn't quite sure what it was from, only that it had happened. Kira didn't quite remember who or when, only that feeling of being cared about. "Ryou," She whispered again. "Did you really stand up for me?"

Then - a voice Kira could never forget. Saishu, the one she had almost lost herself to:

Beware. You have left pain behind. If you return to that, it cannot be forgotten again. You have a choice between a tortured existence of your soul and one of complete and undisturbed oblivion. It is your decision."

He was right, the realization slammed into her spirit. I did have a choice. I could have left all this behind. The world is full of pain and evil, but there are also good things - like my friends. Yugi is the one who saved me. If I left the pain, I would leave the good things too, and even back then, I knew I didn't want to do that. There's still too much for me to do.

"And it was my choice," Kira spoke to herself. "My choice. Saishu held me in one direction, and Yugi pulled on me from the other, but it was the one I decided on that was the one I went with." And Kali. Yami and Yugi gave her a choice. She chose to go with neither Bakura or Yami, but came back to me. And then, she could have destroyed me, but she chose not to.

"And maybe that little girl was right after all," Kira grumbled. "I hate that." But really, I'm the only one to blame for getting so far into things. And when I left Saishu, I took the pain. That's not what I chose, but that's part of what I got with my choice.

Maybe... Here, Kira hesitated. Just maybe...Ryou had a choice. "If what I remember is true, he did try to defend me." And maybe he paid more dearly for that.

Kira sighed, "All right, Yugi. You win. I'm going to help, but it'll be my choice. I'll find Ryou and see what his explanation is. I can't forgive him, not just yet. But I'm willing to do my part."

"What?!" Bakura broke off from his thoughts right in the middle of the spell he was trying. A sudden wave of wrong-ness had washed over him. Bakura glanced at the half-formed swirl of dark energy before him. If it worked, it would allow him to permanently resurrect shadow monsters. From there, it was only a matter of time until if discovered how to release them into the mortal realms. But maybe he needed more power. Bakura drew the half-formed spell back into his palm where it shrank and vanished. There would be time to finish it later.

Ryou smiled for the first time in weeks. With some renewed strength, he had managed to sit up, and was admiring a new flower. Most of the misty plants around him were still wilting, trying too hard to grow without nourishment, but just overnight, a young bud had sprouted and grown quickly, putting out a short shoot with a single, delicate flower. "Maybe there is hope."

"What is that?!" Bakura had approached silently from behind him.

Ryou smiled to himself, not turning around. "Hope."

In anger, Bakura let loose the shadow energy he had so carefully stored up in his grasp. The dark surge of power raced over the plant. It shuddered, and a single petal fell, but the stem stayed strong. Bakura was clearly upset now. This shouldn't be happening. The garden is tied with Ryou's soul. If he's dying, how can it grow again? It's not supposed to be possible. Could he be getting stronger?

Ryou fingered the delicate blossom gently. It trembled under his touch, but remained standing tall. "My friends sent it to me. I can feel them in it somehow."

"No," Bakura whispered. "No!" Reaching over, he tried in vain to pull up the plant or at least crush it. He could do nothing to it.

Ryou looked straight up into his yami's eyes. Bakura stepped back. This time, the blank look was definitely there. It hadn't consumed Ryou yet, but there was an empty look inside the hikari's eyes that seemed to be growing ever so slightly. Ryou spoke as soft as ever, "I don't even remember who anymore. But when I feel this, I feel friendship inside it, and it makes me stronger."

"No!" Bakura threw out his hand without ceremony, and with raw emotion, drew what he needed from his light.

Ryou went stiff as his soul was weakened once again, but again, he didn't cry out. Instead, as Bakura finished, he continued to sit and breathe hard. "It doesn't hurt so bad, not any more." He held out a hand and gazed at it. "I just go numb." Weakly, he let his hand drop, then closed his eyes, and toppled over forwards.

Bakura watched this in a strange, surprised confusion. This time, when he drew the power, there was a slight tingling sensation in his own spirit. He wasn't sure if he liked that, nor did he like what was happening to his hikari. "It's her," he whispered to himself. "It has to be."

"Well, well, if it isn't our dear little Yugi and the all-star rejects."

Joey made a tight fist as his face bunched up, "You gotta lot of nerve, Kaiba."

Seto shrugged without much sympathy, "You had it coming. You joined this little war of ours - you suffer the consequences."

"Still," Tristan growled, "We can take a little detention and name-calling. But you don't need to get so hard on Yugi."

Seto looked down at where the shorter boy stood, clutching his books in front of him, quietly staring away. "I think we've all been pretty thoroughly humiliated. He's not exactly so innocent either."

"But you've been going out of your way especially to get him, even from the beginning," Tristan argued.

Yugi glanced up at Seto before the heated debate could go any further. "I know what this is about."

"Huh?" Joey and Tristan glanced down in surprise.

Yugi continued, "Tea may not have read my diary, but I know you did. I'm sorry it had to come out like this, but I can't change how I feel. This whole revenge thing is getting personal isn't it?"

It was Seto's turn to look away. "No..."

"Of course it is!" Mai broke in, coming up behind Kaiba. "Seto's feeling a little jealous at the moment."

"Jealous?" Joey and Tristan looked puzzled for a moment, then glanced at each other with a sudden look of understanding. "Oh..."

Seto flushed slightly. "You're not supposed to be siding with them."

Mai sighed with a look of exasperation. "Give it up, Kaiba. Tea's probably the only one who doesn't know what's going on."

"Ha! Kaiba's feeling intimidated!" Joey teased.

"Shut up, Wheeler," Seto growled, trying to make the best of his threat. Then he turned and walked toward the school building ahead of the rest of the group.

No sooner had Seto walked in the door, then the group of them were swarmed by excited students.

"Why didn't you tell us?!" Someone demanded.

"Do you think we could get a few quotes?" Someone shoved a microphone in Seto's face. "For the school paper?"

"Um, what's going on?" Mai asked timidly.

"Believe me," Seto grouched, "I have no idea."

"Oh!" someone else grabbed Mai and shoved her into Seto's side. "That'll make a great picture."

"How cute!" another person squealed.

"Um..." Mai stammered, completely confused.

"You don't have to pretend like you don't know. The secret's out. Did you see?"

"See what?" Seto demanded, started to get angry.

"Here," the girl shoved a newspaper at the two of them. "It was in the paper."

Mai looked at the article in front of her and shrieked. "What is this?!?!"

Seto grabbed it from her and grew dangerously pale. The rest of the crowd edged away uneasily. He roughly shoved it in the faces of the other three guys behind them. "Which one of you three is responsible for this???"

"Huh?" Joey, Tristan, and Yugi leaned in for a closer look.

Happy Couple Reveals Clandestine Engagement:

Dueling diva Mai Valentine and Kaiba Corp CEO Seto Kaiba
became engaged this past week. According to our source, these
two have been hiding their relationship for over a year. What
began as competition in the duel arena soon developed into a
beautiful romance. No plans have yet been made for a wedding,
though we can be sure it will be the event of the year...

"That's great!" Joey doubled over laughing.

"Not in the least!" Seto shouted. "The three of you are going to pay for this."

"I honestly didn't know anything about it," Yugi held up his hands innocently.

"Yeah," Joey gasped, "Though I wish I'd thought of it."

Mai glanced from one guy to the next, and strangely, she saw in their eyes that they were telling the truth. "If you guys aren't responsible, then who..?"

"Guys!" Tea hurried up, looking frantic.

"Tea!" Seto stared at her for a long moment, down at the paper, then back at her. "Couldn't be..."

Tea scowled, "Forget that," she grabbed his arm and shoved Mai in front of them. "In class. Something's happened."

Kira yawned, straggling into the building just before the last warning bell. She had stayed up most of the night thinking, and although the doctor had warned her to take it easy, she wasn't about to miss any more school. She was already too far behind.

Entering the classroom, Kira noticed a crowd around her desk. "Um, guys? What's going on?"

"Kira," Tea turned to face her, an almost frightened expression on her face. "You're here."

Mai, Seto, Joey, and Tristan all looked up from their different positions in the crowd. Only Yugi didn't turn, but continued to stare straight ahead at something on her desk. The rest of the crowd, seeing that she had arrived, parted silently to let her through.

Her nerves already rattled, Kira took a deep breath and walked forward. Coming to stand next to Yugi, she stopped in shock. Dug deeply into the wood of the desktop was short but deadly sharp knife - identical in fact, to the one Kali had once used against her. Kira couldn't hold back the shiver that coursed her body.

"There's a note too," Tristan said quietly.

Reaching over, Kira touched her fingers to the edge of the paper pinned beneath the blade, and pulled hard, ripping it free. The message was serious enough, but not surprising:

"The joke's on you, but you don't see me laughing. This is your last warning. Stay out of my business, or the joke might go sour, and with larger consequences than you can afford."

The others around her spoke quietly as Kira read and re-read the note.

"Well?" Mai asked Seto. "Is it too far yet?"

Seto nodded, not really even angry anymore.

"Should we call the police?" Tristan was asking Joey.

"Ryou," Yugi spoke so softly that only Kira could here. "What have you done?"

But conversations stopped as Kira suddenly crinkled up the note, dropped it on the floor, and stepped on it. She reached over and yanked the knife right out of her desk. Examining the blade in front of her eyes, Kira scowled determinedly. "Enough is enough. I won't back down now. You'll pay, Bakura."

Yugi gazed up at her in shock as did the rest of the students. Taking off her jacket, Kira rolled the fabric around the knife, then stuck the bundle in her backpack, then grinned at Yugi. "He can't scare me. I've been through too much already. I'm ready to help you search. We'll fight him together."

Slowly, Yugi smiled and took her outstretched hand. "Thank you, Kira."

btw...

WOW WOW WOW!!! i was soooo excited with all the reviews i got that last chapter. thanx so much u guys!!!
yingfa - hiya again! thankx for letting me know what u thought - i'll keep in mind for the future :) but the pranks are prolly about over now, whether that's for the better or the worse...
shock-a-lot - HEY! thanx back at ya for returning the review! the support is awesome, & u keep it up!
lilandris - yet another thanx especially 4 u. hope u continue to enjoy! ;)
Christina - thanks for keeping up with me!
Johanna, Kay, & yamis - fun review! thanx. & seto's not really, i'm just having a little fun with his character...lol...

Fyredra - gives her comp a nice hard 'bonk', screen shuts off, and suddenly has to get down on her knees, begging for it to turn back on... yeah, kira's definately made improvements in this last chapter. i hope it turned out all right, and wasn't too confusing. oh well... as far as having to duel Yugi - more on that later... and Ryou prolly freaked you out some more - hey, this switch in his character suprised even me!
Isis - yay yay yay - sorry 4 makin' ya wait. and no worries, u're not the only freak out there. (would i be spending all my free time writing a story like this otherwise???) lol....
mom-mi-oh - as always, one of the most inspiring reviews. we'll have to see about Ryou's power and how much he will use it - so far it's just shown up in rather mysterious, unpredictable ways, but well, i guess i'll have to find out with the rest of u...lol
Cettie-girl - yes. and strangely enough, he did start getting strength, thou prolly not how u expected it. more on that soon! luv ya!