Crystal: Sorry about the wait. I had to work on a speech for one of my classes. I've been busier than I thought I would be.
Kris*big grin*: I liked her speech; it was on Ancient Egyptians, like me.
Crystal: Yes, I made my muse very happy about my choice of subject.
Kris: Oh yeah. One note about the story, Crystal made Malik the hikari and Marik the yami.
Crystal: I found a site with the Japanese names and that's what I'm going by in this story.
Kris: Crystal doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh, but she would love to. ^_^
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"Blah" = speaking
[Blah] = thoughts
//Blah// = yami to hikari
/Blah/ = hikari to yami
Chapter Nine: Dragons, Dreams, and Disappointments
"Jono, where are you?" Crystal shouted as she and Ryou ran through the dark streets, "Oh Ra, give me a clue. I beg you."
"Crystal, that you?" a weak voice asked from an alleyway.
"Jono-kun!" Crystal shouted, running to her fallen friend, "Are you okay?"
"I've been better." Jono replied, "I have to get to the hospital. Shizuka's countin' on me to be there for her eye surgery."
"We'll help you get there." Ryou said, "Crystal, you be on his right, and I'll be on his left."
"Okay, Ryou." Crystal replied with a nod.
"I just realized something." Jono said just before they entered the hospital.
"What's that?" Ryou asked.
"Crystal, you called me Jono-kun when you found me." Jono replied, "You've never done that before."
"You're a close friend to me, Jono." Crystal replied, "Even though you did hate my guts for the second week of school."
"You call Kaiba Seto-kun all the time. What does that make him to you if I'm a close friend?" Jono asked.
"I've known him for a long time, and he's like an older brother to me." Crystal replied with a shrug.
"So what am I?" Ryou asked, "You never call me Ryou-kun."
"Well, I, uh, never really had a friend that is close to me the way you are." Crystal said, a crimson blush staining her cheeks.
"I think I can make it the rest of the way myself." Jono said, excusing himself from the awkward situation, "See you later, and I won't say anything to anyone."
"I'd better get back to the Manor." Crystal said quickly, "It's almost eight thirty. See you later, Ryou."
"Not alone, you aren't." Ryou said firmly, "You're having an escort. What if you get beat up like Jono? Kaiba will kill me."
"I'll be fine Ryou." Crystal said coolly, "According to Jono, those guys were after rare cards, and all of mine are at home."
"I won't let you go alone, and that's final." Ryou said even more firmly, "You know Kaiba will be furious with me if I don't bring you home, even if nothing happens."
"Fine." Crystal sighed in defeat, "Come on. The Manor is this way from here."
/Bakura-san, could you take over for me, for a little while./
//You're willingly giving up your control to me? Why?//
/I have a bad feeling about this./
//Fine, but forewarn her.//
"Bakura-san will be escorting you." Ryou said, "I have a bad feeling about what happened to Jono, and Bakura-san will be able to protect you better than I."
Crystal watched as Ryou's gentle features melted away and his hair become spikier and more silver. When she looked at Bakura in the face, she noticed he had the same firm expression that Ryou had had on his face. He started walking quickly in the direction of the Manor, Crystal falling into step beside him. Crystal could tell Bakura was keeping a sharp watch for anything that seemed out of place, so she remained silent through their trip. When they arrived at the Manor, Bakura walked Crystal up to the door, before relinquishing his hold over Ryou.
"Thank you for insisting on walking me home, Ryou." Crystal murmured, "Even though I was being stubborn."
"Like I said earlier, I had a bad feeling about what happened to Jono." Ryou replied, "It seemed too organized, like they were waiting for him."
"I'd better go inside, before Seto decides to send out a search party." Crystal said softly, "Like I said before, thank you."
[I'd better do this fast.] Crystal thought, before giving Ryou a quick kiss on the cheek.
A crimson blush overtook both of their faces, as Crystal hurried into the Manor. Ryou stood dumbfound by the action, and even Bakura was silent with stunned shock. Ryou touched his cheek in disbelief, before turning and slowly walking away from the Manor and toward his own home. Bakura felt an unusual, yet surprisingly familiar emotion course through him. He had only felt it before when he was near or thought about Sanura, and now Crystal was evoking the same emotion deep within him.
/What was her name?/
//What are you talking about?//
/The image of an Egyptian version of Crystal appeared in my mind./
//That was Sanura.//
/No wonder you shouted when Crystal told me her middle name. So what happened between you and Sanura?/
//You do realize that you will not remember this conversation afterwards.//
/Yes, but at least you can be rid of that guilt I feel coming off of you./
//I will tell you when I am ready, so don't ask again.//
Inside Kaiba Manor...
"Before you say anything Crystal," Seto said, "I know I should have told you sooner. I never thought you'd want to participate."
"Seto, I'm a third year champ from Tokyo." Crystal replied in exasperation, "Of course I wanted to participate. I don't want to constantly lose against you."
"I was planning to make you a commissioner with Mokuba, but I see that isn't going to happen." Seto sighed, "Unfortunately, there are no more Duel Disks at any of the registration sites throughout the city."
"It's okay, I guess, Seto." Crystal said dejectedly, "I've had a busy day. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed now."
"Crystal, please-." Seto started.
"I'm not angry anymore, Seto." Crystal said coolly, not turning around, "I was earlier, but now I'm just disappointed that you didn't say anything before today."
Seto watched Crystal walk up the stairs and head in the direction of her room. Guilt flooded the CEO as he thought about the lie he had just told Crystal. He wasn't even planning on making her a commissioner. He just wanted to keep her out of sight from the Rare Hunters Isis had told him about. Crystal was too important to him to lose because of a card game.
However, Seto knew that Crystal would most likely always be close to the action, even if she weren't competing. Seto sighed and headed up to his room; he needed a good night's rest before the tournament the next morning. As he walked past Crystal's room he heard her punching in someone's number from her private line. She was calling one of her few friends to spill out her emotions. Seto felt even worse, knowing that Crystal felt that badly about not competing. He finally continued to his room when he heard whom Crystal was calling.
"Good evening, Mutou-san." Crystal said, "Is Yugi still awake?"
"Please, Crystal, call me Gramps; no need to be so formal." Sugoroku chuckled on the other end, "He's still awake, going over his deck for Battle City. I'll go get him for you."
"Hey, Crystal." Yugi greeted cheerfully, "What's up?"
"Seto still isn't letting me compete." Crystal sighed, "He had this crazy notion that I would want to be a commissioner."
"A commissioner?" Yugi exclaimed, "But you were a three-year champ in Tokyo. Not to mention, you had your sights set on dueling against all sorts of people."
"How do you think I feel?" Crystal asked, "He's been acting really protective ever since that Ancient Exhibit's been in town. I think something happened when he was on his way to meet the curator."
"Well, that explains why he's constantly wanting to know exactly where you are." Yugi said, "Speaking of that, where did you go after running to the park?"
"I was with Ryou." Crystal replied, thankful that Yugi would not be able to see the blush on her cheeks.
"Okay that explains why both of you helped Jono to the hospital." Yugi said, "Jono was really glad that you came looking for him, you know. By the way, Jono was curious to know how you knew something had happened to him."
"Remember how I fell into that trance during one of our Pyramid project meetings?" Crystal asked.
"So that's how you knew." Yugi said in awe.
"Yeah, and I still hear the mournful sound of his Red Eyes calling for him." Crystal murmured, "It knows that the one that holds it now is not honorable."
"I'd better go." Yugi said, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay Yugi. See you then." Crystal said, before hanging up her phone.
Crystal changed into her light blue pajama set and crawled into her bed, still thinking of the vision she had earlier. The Red Eyes Black Dragon was standing over Jono, shielding him from Exodia's sight. Then Exodia grabbed Red Eyes in his powerful hands, and shackled it behind him on a stone altar. Then Exodia turned towards Jono and fired a blast of energy at him, causing Jono to shatter as Red Eyes cried out for his fallen Master. Finally Exodia and Red Eyes faded away from sight, and the only thing that remained was the low grieving groan of Jono's Red Eyes.
"You'll get back to your true Master." She promised softly, before falling asleep, "I don't know how, but you will make it back to Jono. I promise."
***Dream***
Crystal found herself walking through the desert at night, heading toward what looked like a Palace. This was much different from her terrifying dream of the Pyramid, making Crystal feel slightly better, but worried at the same time. This new place might have another painful story for Crystal to witness, but there was no way for her to stop walking toward it. As she came closer, Crystal could hear music playing and could see the shadow of someone dancing. Suddenly Crystal found herself right behind two cloaked young men, who were speaking in soft tones.
"That is the girl I want." The one on the left said, "Sanura, the High Priest Seth's sister."
"She is beautiful, but as stubborn as her brother." The man on the right replied, "What if she does not wish to wed you?"
"Then she will not wed me." The first replied with a slight chuckle, "However I may have to add her to my collection of treasures another way."
"Moving from wealth to women?" The second asked, "What did she do to you?"
"She did something no one else has ever done." The first answered, "She-"
***Dream***
* BEEP-BEEP, BEEP-BEEP, BEEP-BEEP, BEEP-BEEP. *
"Stupid alarm clock." Crystal mumbled, "Could've waited just ten seconds more. Wait Battle City is today."
With that sudden realization, Crystal jumped out of bed and hurried into her bathroom to shower and change before heading out. Crystal braided her hair quickly, trying to decide what to wear. She finally decided to put on her sky blue shirt that had a picture of a Wingweaver on it and a pair of white jean capris. Finally to complete the outfit Crystal put on a silver belt with her deck box and her leather sandals. She checked over her appearance in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction. Then she ran out of her room and downstairs.
"Seto, Mokuba, where are you?" She called, not seeing them anywhere, "Kita, have you seen Seto or Mokuba?"
"They left about twenty minutes ago Hikari-san." Kita replied, "You just missed them."
"Uggh! Seto's doing this on purpose." Crystal growled, [Why doesn't he want me anywhere near the tournament?] "I'm going after them on foot."
She hurried into the kitchen to pack a quick lunch and tossed it into her small white backpack-like purse, along with her wallet and cell phone, before hurrying out the door and straight for Battle City. As she hurried down the sidewalk, Crystal heard the low mourning growl of Jono's Red Eyes in her mind. It seemed like the closer to Battle City she came, the louder the growl became. Crystal followed the sound and came upon a crowd. Then the cry of the Red Eyes ceased, as the crowd started to disperse, revealing Yugi and Jono at the center of the mob.
"Crystal, you missed it." Jono shouted waving her over, "Yuge just won my card back."
"That's great Jono." Crystal said, coming up to the boys, "Have either of you seen Seto or Mokuba? I'm trying to find them."
"They're around here somewhere." Jono replied, "Kaiba made it real clear that dueling him would be a mistake."
"We'll keep an eye out for them." Yugi said, "I'll make sure to tell them that you're looking for them."
"Thanks guys." Crystal smiled, "I'd better keep looking, and I'm really glad you got your card back, Jono."
"Me too, but Yuge's keeping it." Jono smiled, "He needs every rare card he can get to win this thing."
"I'll see you two later." Crystal said, before hurrying away to find Seto or Mokuba.
"Thanks for not telling her the reason you're letting me keep your Red Eyes." Yugi said to Jono in a quiet voice.
"Kaiba kept her out of this tournament for some reason, and she doesn't need to worry about something else on top of that." Jono replied.
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Crystal: I know I made Seto more concerned than he was in the show, but I couldn't make him that heartless.
Kris: You still made him mean in the way he protects her. You banned her from Battle City, even though she's a level five duelist. Then you made him leave without her.
Crystal: Kris, it's part of the plot; you know that. I saw you reading the beginning of the next chapter.
Kris*pouts*: I thought you were asleep. Oh well read and review plz.
Crystal*waves*: Ja ne ^_^