Bridging the Void

Note: I hope things start to make a little more sense in this chapter. Thank you for the reviews, and please continue to write them. It's only a clickie away!

Guide to the text:

Normal

"Someone talking to Lily when she's in her dream state thing"

POV some character besides Lily.

'Memory/worry passage'

"Dialogue"

Chapter Nine: Best Friends Till the End

KAIBA'S POV:

Why did she need her friend Steph? Because somehow, I knew that she did. Somehow, she had told me. I didn't know how… but I knew that she'd asked for her.

"Why?" I asked her still form. Too still.

What could I do? Chris was not looking very pleased.

"She'll die unless I reverse it, rich boy. Give her to me and I'll save her."

"What did you do?"

"A spell. It was supposed… to make her love me… but she is too iron willed. She refuses to leave you. Stupid girl. I don't want her anymore. She isn't beautiful with those burns."

"Is that all she is to you? A trophy to be won?"

"I'm the only one who can save her, you fool."

"She doesn't need you!"

"Then you try and stop it… stop the onslaught of all her fears and pain and worries. Then we'll see where your love gets you."

I didn't know what to do, but I had to do something. "Lily," I whispered softly into her ear. I noticed that the edges of her hair were charred and that she was burned pretty badly. I knew better than to ask if the damage would carry over to real life. It was never that simple. "Hold on. Don't you dare die on me!"

"It's no use. She can't hear you over the roar of her own thoughts. And no one but her… and that stupid Steph… have any idea what goes on in there. Not even you."

"Send us back. You've done enough damage!"

"No… I think she should die here, in my domain. But… I will grant you one thing, any one thing but going home, just to see you struggle to save her with a little more sport. What do you want?"

I didn't need to think it over. Lily still needed her best friend… just like I needed my little brother. We didn't know each other's pasts.

"I want… her friend Steph to be here, too."

"Suit yourself, although I don't know why you'd waste perfectly good magic like that."

And then the strange Steph herself was standing before me, her lips locked with Marik Ishtar.

STEPH'S POV:

One minute I was kissing Marik in the comfort of my own home and the next, we were standing before Chris, Kaiba, and some other people I did not know.

"What the- Lily! What's wrong with her?"

"Chris… tried some spell… and it didn't go too well. She asked for you."

"Wha-"

Marik clapped a hand over my mouth. "Don't ask questions. Your closest friend needs your help, and I think you owe her."

I bowed my head and glared at Kaiba. "This is your fault, isn't it?"

"No!" he declared, brushing Lily's burned forehead with his lips. "And you're lucky that I'll tolerate you."

"No… you're lucky that I care enough about your girlfriend to tolerate you."

He narrowed his eyes, and reluctantly let me closer to look at my friend. I wasn't sure what she expected of me, but I knew that she had a strange sense for these things.

"Well, Lil, I'm here. What do you need? And tell your boyfriend to cut it with the glares."

I was amazed when Kaiba held his tongue. I hadn't thought he had it in him. He really did love Lily. I couldn't wait to see how she reacted to that.

LILY'S POV:

"Well, Lil, I'm here. What do you need? And please tell your boyfriend to cut it with the glares."

That was my Steph, all right. Somehow, he'd gotten her to come. Now… how to explain?

I am eleven years old… I cry and say goodbye to yet another friend. It doesn't matter… I'm nobody. I only had one friend anyway. And I'd made so many mistakes… so many…

Someday, I realized, I wouldn't be on this earth anymore. As the rain came down, my first tears over the concept of death poured along with it. The first… but no where near the last.

I had to stop it. The leash I used on my mind, that figurative image, was shattered. How could I stop the onslaught by myself.

"Lil, girl, we're waiting. Kaiba's starting to tick me off."

"Lily… can you hear us? Over the rush of your thoughts? We're here."

"We? There is no we. I'm here for ya, Lil. And I guess the boyfriend is here, in his own way.

I have to say something. "I'm not okay, but don't worry. I just need… talk me through this, Steph. Like the nights on the phone. Make me not afraid again."

' "The fear again? Oh, Lil… why are you always so scared? Just relax. Don't think about it… Think about Joey…no, I guess, Kaiba now, isn't it? Yes, think about your boyfriend… picture him in your mind. Focus on him and him alone. Picture his deep blue eyes… his perfect brown hair… every part of him you know and love. Don't let your mind wander… hold it close on the task at hand… let no detail escape you. Do you have it now?"

I can see him, in my minds eye. Steph ought to be a therapist. Therapy…?

"I think she needs help, professional help."

"Don't say that, she's your daughter."

"But she isn't eating. She isn't sleeping. She just cries and writes, and stares at that TV. I'm worried."

Why did I have to make them worry? What was my problem?'

"You're losing me… Steph. I can't… focus…"

"I think you've said that your mind is wandering. Somehow… you've told me… But no, don't think about me. Think about Kaiba… would it help to call him Seto? Yes… picture Seto. Don't lose that image. Do you have it? Yes… you can see him now, holding your body… making sure that you're alright. His eyes are the deepest, coldest blue. Now focus on the eyes. The eyes… just the eyes."

I focus on the image of Seto's deep eyes. Eyes full of pain, and life, and love… full of so many things. You could lose yourself in the sea of his eyes. You could drown in them… Drowning…

'What if I died in my sleep? What if there was no more tomorrow? What if I never got the chance to fall in love… to get married. Any of the things that mattered. What if I never saw them again? What if… what if… oh, what if they died instead? Was I going to drown… drown in the sea of my tears?'

Focus… I can't dwell on the past. Seto… I must see only Seto.

"You're twitching, Lil. Is that a good thing? Seto says you're cold. He's holding you closer. Can you feel it, Lil? Try to feel it for me. Don't lose the sound of my voice… just focus on that for now. Do you feel him holding you? Can you feel that he's keeping you warm… holding you still? His hand is on your forehead, Lil. Do you know it? I think he might be something special, after all. Tell me that you can feel it, Lil. Try hard… try hard for me… for him."

I do… I feel it. Just barely there, the warmth of his arms encircling me. The touch of his hand… it feels so gentle, to belong to someone so tough, so cold inside. If only I could help him. Talk to him. Focus, Lily… concentrate on that feeling. His arms around you. Seto's arms around you. He's holding me so tight.

"I think you're waking up. Seto looks ready to kiss you about now. I think you wanna be awake for that. Don't you want to meet my new boyfriend? I've finally followed your advice and followed my heart. Now you follow yours back to us, okay? Follow my voice, follow Seto's arms. Come back to us."

I want to come, but I'm scared. I know that I'm likely burned. That was no play fire. What if…

"And none of your what ifs, Lil. You're gonna be fine. We'll make sure you're fine. Just come back to us. Can you see us now? Your eyes are opening, but they aren't all there. Your eyes are black. You aren't following my voice. What must we do to get you back? Are you fretting? Don't. Just follow my voice. You want to be with him, don't you? You've got the boy worried sick, Lil. Now come on, no more fear. He's holding you close. I've never seen anyone look so afraid… no one except you. Now come on. I'm getting impatient."

She always was. And she always would be. I can see her now… just barely. Mostly I can see Seto. He's so close to me, all I want to do is stay that way forever. And then the pain, oh the terrible pain, kicks in.

End note: I hope that made sense! Just ask for clarification in the reviews if it didn't and I'll do my best to explain!