Bless the Broken Heart
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh! He belongs to Kazuki Takahashi! Enjoy! (Besides, if I did own him, I would be filthy stinking RICH! (Sighs when knowing that can't happen.))
Italics – thinking
"…" - talking
Chapter 1: Purpose
Shizuka sighed in melancholy as she gently rubbed the edge of a warm thick coffee mug. Her honey-dipped eyes had darkened in thought and in partially tiresome. Life just isn't fair…She thought in despair as she took a dainty sip from her cappuccino, a small dip of her pink tongue licked away the small traces of foam on her upper lip.
She was leaning back in a comfy plastic booth in the far corner of a small coffee shop where it had a small library inside for readers, kind of like a Barnes and Noble, but much smaller and the books were more of fantasy, fiction, science fiction, and non-fiction. If you were looking for study books, go straight forward to Barnes and Noble.
Dressed in a short pink mini skirt and a top that resembled the top of a Japanese sleeveless kimono for special occasions back at home, her silver name tag on her right breast plate, Shizuka was an employee on break. She didn't quite like the length of the skirt, modesty and all, but she needed the money and she didn't want to get fired just because she had a negative opinion on the outfits.
Shizuka sighed again, something she had been doing lately and raised her left arm, causing the loose cuffs to fall back to reveal a simple watch. She moaned under her breath and set her arm back down on the table with a 'thump!' closing her eyes away from the world. I have to work again at 8:30 tonight…Shizuka took the cup, a sudden emotion overwhelming her to make herself cry, and chugged down the hot chocolate/coffee. Yelping, Shizuka fanned her hand over her tongue and turning around when hearing a chuckle.
Turning around, Shizuka found one of her newest and yet dearest friends since her first on campus, Atsuko Yamina. Her small friend wore the same uniform as her, but only with an apron and her hat resembling a sailboat on her head. With the characteristics of a polite and yet wild angel, Atsuko was a gift of god sent to be her guardian angel. Her glittering purple-grape eyes and her light tawny hair only made Shizuka think further into believe in that assumption.
"Double duty tonight at Magic Black Jack again Shiz?"
Shizuka smiled at her and waved her hand, as if thinking that it was nothing she couldn't handle.
"Don't worry yourself." Atsuko smiled cheekily at her,
"I know, but YOU are." Shizuka narrowed her eyes at her close friend, who had taken upon herself to take a seat across from her. Shizuka knew that Atsuko was pushing her buttons and was doing it quite effectively might she add.
"But why ARE you having two jobs Shizuka?"
Shizuka pondered her question. Why did she have two jobs? The job here that she had was enough to pay for her apartment month-daily, so why did she? Her eyes mentally went downcast as the reason popped up into her head immediately, in the shape of a gorgeous man with steely blue eyes matching the BEWD, soft and alluring chocolate brown hair, pale flawless lily-white skin, and the intimidation of his height. She mentally shook her head to find Atsuko still looking at her, her wide violet eyes staring at her innocently. Innocent my butt. Shizuka thought sarcastically.
"I guess…I just want to prove to myself that's all."
"Oooh, you mean the kind where you think you don't have a purpose in life isn't it?"
Shizuka nodded half-heartily, thankful that her friend fell for her white lie.
"Yeah…just like those."
I already know my whole purpose in life…Shizuka's gaze hardened at the cup as if she was talking to her past, to him. It's been two years and I still can't get him out of my head…damn it. Her thumbs gently rubbed against the mug again like before. I came here to New York to get rid of him, and what happens to me? I'm still stuck like a love-sick fool still pondering over a crush. Shizuka couldn't help but feel more childish than she already thought she was. He always did have that effect on her when she compared her to him. Damn him and his perfection. She looked at Atsuko who also looked deep in thought.
"What are you thinking of Ko-chan?"
Atsuko looked at her and blushed lightly while carefully rubbing the back of her head somehow unable to mess up her tawny bun and her hat.
"Just thinking of your statement." Shizuka looked at her,
"About purpose?"
She nodded,
"I remembered what my grand-mama had told me before she passed away when I was 13 when I was pondering over the same thing you were. She had said 'Do not think of a reason for living, but living it to the fullest. Every one of us has a purpose, a soul-purpose to live happily. If we forget what that means and ponder of our selves, we lose what we most love in life.'"
Shizuka nodded sadly, unshed tears were beginning to settle in her eyes. It made sense in someway. What Atsuko had said was partially true; we all have a purpose made from god when they created them, to live. But was that all they-she was meant for? Just to live, to see, to hear, to taste, to feel, to be hurt? Her eyes saddened even more as she once thought of her purpose back during the times where she thought life was so simple, until she lost the people she cared most, her friends and only living relative. Her eyes if possible, saddened even more. Onii-chan…
Atsuko watched her friend, her gaze still a little stoic although her eyes gave away that she was curious and at the same time concern. What aren't you telling me, Shizuka? I want to help you but you don't let anyone near you, physically and mentally. You don't know how much this hurts me…
"YOU TWO STOP FIDDLING AROUND!"
Shizuka and Atsuko squeaked as they were startled out of their seats. They turned sharply around to find their boss. At first glance, you would have thought that the old woman before them couldn't even manage a glare, but when you know her to a certain extent, you know that she has the capability to set the fires of hell loose and run amok.
The 4'5" woman was skinny and scrawny in her granny clothes and apron wrapped around her, it looked as if she couldn't see through her coke-bottle glasses since her eyes resembled them looking like slits. They gulped. The woman may look tiny and frail, but she does give a good whack on the head. Take Atsuko for example, she had plenty of experience with her.
"Yes Mrs. Evans!" Bowing hurriedly, the girls ran behind the counter, Shizuka grabbing an apron from another female employee who held it out without thinking as she was walking out, it became a normal routine in the every-day life of the staff. They hadn't even noticed that Shizuka forgot her cup of coffee abandoned on the table. Mrs. Evans shook her head in a scolding way that a mother would do to her children for misbehaving,
"Those girls, even forgetting to clean up after themselves…" Muttering incoherent things under her breath, the woman took the cup with a finger and thumb, having a phobia of germs.
She turned around to the now frightened customer with a sugary smile that would have you cringe from the false sweetness.
"How may I help you?"
Shizuka tried juggling her books, her uniform and backpack as she tried scrambling along the immensely large groups of people of a likes: business, dorks, college students, gothics.
God I hate rush hour…cranky Mrs. Evans just has to hold me back just over an almost done cappuccino…Grumbling to herself, Shizuka managed to get into the subway, so close that her backpack was almost cut off her straps as she narrowly missed the automatic doors. Sighing, Shizuka leaned heavily against the partial glass doors, her chest ballooning up and down.
"Shizuka, how nice to see you again!"
Shizuka mentally groaned. Not now! Plastering a welcoming smile, Shizuka turned around to find exactly who she thought it was,
"Erin! How nice to see you! Has year-end college exams kept you busy as well?"
The boy grinned at her when he finally made it to her. Tall of 6'1", a nice built, a pair of kind light blue eyes, layered shoulder length chocolate brown hair, peachy skin, and a charming smile, Erin was what Atsuko liked to call "hot". Sure Shizuka thought that he was easy on the eyes, but to say the least, he was kind of slow in the brain department.
"You bet! So Shizuka, why haven't I heard back from you yet?"
Shizuka sweat dropped and laughed almost shakily,
"I'm so sorry Erin! I've just been busy with cramming every night and my two jobs. If you don't believe me, check my apartment, it looks like its been hit by a tornado."
Erin nodded in a knowing way,
"I understand, so where are you going now?"
"To work; you?"
Erin blushed lightly making Shizuka think of how childish he looked like that,
"My grandma's sick and my mother practically used force to get me to visit her or she'll come over here and show all my baby pictures to all my friends, or practically to anyone who would listen."
Shizuka giggled, but inside she rolled her eyes. Diane would be the first to suck up to your mom for her favor. As people could tell at first glance, Diane and Shizuka didn't get along, Diane rubbing against her sore spot of not having a boyfriend where Shizuka would only stab back with her being a hooker. If they were in front of a professor at their college, they would be forced to act all friendship-y and happy. Shizuka saddened slightly as she remembered Anzu. She always looked after me, even if I found her annoying at times with her nagging.
"I could imagine." Erin looked at Shizuka who was now shifting her arms to a more comfortable position. He eyed her books and asked eagerly in attempt to get her to look at him at a different light than she saw him, a friend.
"Here, I'll hold your books for you until your stop." Shizuka lifted an eyebrow in skepticism,
"But your stop is before mine isn't it?" Erin looked up and blushed furiously making Shizuka shake her head. He really is dense. He rubbed the back of his head as the subway went to a slow stop,
"I guess you're right, sorry Shizuka." Shizuka shrugged somehow,
"Don't worry about it Erin, it's not that much of a big deal." Erin shook his head,
"How about next time we meet and you're struggling with something, I'll hold it for you?" Shizuka pretended to blush; she had a lot of time to act thanks to Atsuko when they were room mates at the dorms.
"You know you don't really have to."
Please don't.
"No, I insist!" Shizuka watched the doors as they began to close,
"Better hurry Erin before you miss your stop." Erin blushed and managed to get through. Shizuka blushed now with embarrassment as a woman looked at her with a knowing smile as Erin waved goodbye to her a little too much enthusiastically for public. He grinned causing Shizuka to expect that he thought she was blushing from being shy, not from embarrassment. When will my life end?
Shizuka was grateful to get off the subway and away from the glances she was being given and the statement: "Aw…young love, it's so adorable." My life can't POSSIBLY get any worse. She thought to herself as she started walking towards the large and expensive club before her with flashing green, red, electric blue and yellow neon lights, heading towards the backdoor since the front was for the celebrities since it was booked by a millionaire that was new to the city, the new CEO of some business company. I hate these nights; I always have to work longer than my usual shifts. She sighed to herself, causing a person she walked by to look at her in shock. I sense another cram session tonight before my calculus exam tomorrow.
"Shizuka?" It came out as a whisper, but to Shizuka it felt like as if the person had screamed right in her ear. Shizuka felt her breath hitch painfully up in her throat, her heart pounding so hard against her lungs that she felt as if the person behind her could hear it too. Licking her dry lips nervously, she closed her eyes briefly, her frame going rigid as if she was founded out of some dark secret.
Dreading each second that passed, Shizuka turned slowly while her mind chanted for her to just run for it while her heart seemed to dance with joy at the familiar voice. She looked up causing a gasp from her and the other woman in front of her. Her eyes widened,
"M-Mai? W-What are you d-doing here?"
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I love making cliffhangers; I just hate to read them, don't you? (Smiles deviously) Thanks to the two people who reviewed my prologue! Aliccia and Distant Voice! (Hands a Seto plushy to them with a happy smile) Thank you for reviewing and your comments!
Aliccia: Thanks! I wasn't too sure about the prologue in the beginning, but oh well! -
Distant Voice: Thanks about the prologue! Again about the pairing I'm going to choose…NOT TELLING. (Inserts evil laughter) But personally, I am VERY glad I found another author who sometimes prefers Marik/Serenity more than Seto/Serenity, very rare to find, does my heart good. -
Also thanks to those who put me on their favorites list and on author alert! (I feel as if I won an Oscar Award. -)
So, tell me what you think! (Starts staring at her MSN mailbox, waiting for messages to come. Anytime now…)
C-YEAH! – Miss Artemis