Crystal: Sorry about the wait I had Writer's Block along with finals come up. I'm so glad I got through both of them pretty quickly though and I'm sorry about the wait.
Kris: And to answer Mukyuu Tenshi's question. Yes, my aibou is going to do VR World. She's already got some ideas floating around in her mind for it. Oh yeah, kanikameskhenet, you'll have to keep reading to find out the pairing.
Crystal: I hope you all enjoy this next chapter and as always I'm just borrowing the YGO cast and storyline, but my OC's are mine. One more thing Ancient Egyptian is now in Italics and Bold.
"Blah" = speaking
[Blah] = thoughts
Blah= yami to hikari
/Blah/ = hikari to yami
Blah = Ancient Egyptian
Chapter Thirteen: Past Joys and Present Hardships
"Crystal, just remember what I told you about Malik." Seto said, as they headed to the main hall with Mokuba.
"Hai, Seto-kun." Crystal nodded, "I'll keep my distance from him."
"I'll make she's safe, Seto." Mokuba chirped, "Crystal won't have anything to worry about."
"I forgot to give Ryou his Change of Heart back." Crystal said in sudden realization, "I need to give it to him. Which room is his?"
"Six." Seto answered, "Have him walk down with you. I don't want you wandering alone."
"I'll take her down to his room." A voice said behind them, causing both Kaiba's and Crystal to turn around.
"You're Namu, right?" Seto asked, "The fifth duelist?"
"Yes, I am." The lavender-eyed blond nodded, "I helped her friend, Bakura Ryou, earlier. I was going to see how he was doing, considering the condition I found him in."
"Fine." Seto nodded, "Go on, Crystal."
"Thank you, Seto-kun." Crystal smiled, "I'm ready to go Namu-san."
"See you at dinner, Neko-chan." Mokuba giggled.
"Yes, who is it?" Ryou's voice asked when Crystal knocked on his door.
"It's Crystal and Namu-san." Crystal replied, "May we come in?"
There was a brief silence, before Ryou's door slid open to reveal Bakura, still pretending to be Ryou. Crystal felt her heart skip a beat in fear for Namu, but Bakura didn't seem to care and asked what they needed. Crystal pulled out Ryou's Change of Heart and handed it to Bakura, explaining that he had never gotten it back the night before. Bakura smiled just as Ryou would have and thanked Crystal, before asking Namu why he was there.
"I just came to see how your injury was." Namu answered, "I see that it's been cared for, so I'll see you two later."
"Keep the card." Bakura said, handing Crystal back the Change of Heart, "I'm not digging through his deck to find yours."
"Oh, okay." Crystal said, placing the card back into her pocket.
"Come along, Nura." Bakura chuckled, "We should eat dinner before the duels."
"Why are you doing this?" Crystal asked, "Never mind. I should have known why you would come here. You want to duel the Puzzle's spirit."
"You've seen him as well." Bakura smirked, "Well, you're probably going to see more of him throughout these finals."
"I know. Act natural." Crystal muttered, as they came to the door to the main hall.
"I would let the boy take over, but the pain would be too much for him." Bakura said, taking a gentler tone, "I thought you should know."
"Oh, well thank you." Crystal said softly, taking Bakura's hand, "And whether you want to believe me or not, I am grateful to have you as a friend."
"You're right I probably wouldn't have believed you." Bakura laughed quietly, "However, I know you aren't lying. Now let's eat some before the duels begin, Neko-chan."
"See I told you they'd be here after me." Namu said to Seto, before smiling at Bakura and Crystal, "What took you two?"
"Well, um, uh." Crystal said flustered, realizing she was still holding Bakura's hand, "We were-."
"Enjoying the view of the city." Bakura finished, blushing furiously and releasing Crystal's hand.
"I'm sure." Seto said coolly, causing Namu to chuckle along with Mokuba, while Crystal and Bakura were at a loss for words.
"I'm going to eat, now." Bakura said, heading for the buffet table.
"Care to explain anything, Crystal?" Seto asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We were just enjoying each other's company." Crystal replied, "Nothing happened, duelists' honor."
"Go eat." Seto smirked, "You should know I like to rile you up like that by now."
Crystal walked away from Seto and headed to one of the buffet tables, but froze when she heard a deep chuckle. Looking to her right, she saw the man who called himself Malik looking at her intently with his cold olive eyes. Crystal quickly turned and hurried over by Yugi and the others, but she still felt Malik's eyes staring at her. With a slight shudder, Crystal placed some white rice and a small piece of steak on her plate. Then she sat down against a wall to eat, while she watched the others laugh and chat amongst themselves.
"May I join you?" A voice asked, causing Crystal to snap back to attention.
"Of course you may, Namu." Crystal smiled, "Got tired of standing?"
"No, you just looked lonely." Namu replied.
"Oh, I was just thinking about everything that's been going on lately." Crystal replied, "I tend to tune out most everything when I'm in deep thought."
"What's that around your neck?" Namu asked, motioning to thin leather cord around her neck.
"Oh, that's just the cord for my necklace." Crystal replied, "It's nothing."
"May I see it?" Namu asked.
"Maybe later." Crystal replied, rising from where she sat, "I think Seto's ready to start the drawings for the finals."
"The first duelist is number six, Bakura Ryou." Isono said, causing Bakura to chuckle nervously as he acted surprised.
"He's dueling Yugi." Namu muttered seeing the white ball with the number three rolling out.
"Good luck, both of you." Crystal said as Bakura and Yugi entered the elevator.
"Thank you, Crystal." Yugi smiled, "We'll do our best."
"If anyone wants to watch, follow me up to the observation deck." Seto said coldly, before heading to a separate elevator.
"You coming, Neko-chan?" Mokuba asked seeing, Crystal lagging behind.
"I think I'm going to lie down; I don't feel well." Crystal replied.
"Fuguta, escort Crystal to my suite so that she can rest." Seto said into his lapel radio, "When she's ready, bring her up to the observation deck."
"Arigato, Seto-kun." Crystal said softly, giving a small wave as the elevator doors closed.
"Hikari-san, are you ready?" Fuguta asked, coming into the room.
"Yes, and thank you." Crystal replied.
[Rest well, innocent Little Kitten.] Rishid thought, watching Crystal follow Fuguta out of the room, [For I do not know for how longer you will be safe.]
The girl turned, feeling Rishid's eyes resting on her back as she walked. Her sapphire eyes met his olive ones, fear flashing from within them, as a small gasp escaped from her. He broke his gaze and headed over to one of the buffet tables, eating for the first time that evening. Rishid glanced up again, seeing the young girl hurry out of the room at a swift pace. Her face and eyes showed that she was not only afraid, but also very worried.
[It is so unsettling to see one so innocent faced with such perils.] Rishid thought to himself, [Why and how could she be a target of malice?]
Kaiba's Suite…
"I will be outside when you are ready to go to the duel, Hikari-san." Fuguta nodded to Crystal.
"Thank you, Fuguta." Crystal replied softly.
Fuguta walked out of the room, locking the door behind him so that no one could enter from the outside. After Fuguta left, Crystal lied down on the bed that was in the suite, curling in the fetal position as she fell asleep. Had anyone been in the room with her, they would have noticed a glow coming from the Eye on her heart-shaped Locket, which had slipped out from under her shirt. The golden light eventually surrounded the young girl completely, basking her with its gently glow as she dreamed about another memory of her past self.
Flashback Crystal/Sanura's PoV
"Sanura, it's dangerous for you to wander off like this." Seth said firmly, his sapphire eyes boring into me, "There have been sightings of the Tomb Raider, Bakura, in the area."
"Brother, I will be safe from him." I replied defiantly, "My monsters will be able to protect me if I get into any trouble."
"What about if Priest Marik happens to corner you again?" Seth demanded, "You know that his Shadow Powers are very strong, even though he has no Item."
"I managed to escape him." I retorted.
"By using my Blue Eyes White Dragon." Seth countered, "You realize that if you had failed to summon it correctly that you could have been destroyed, along with it."
"I was able to summon and control your dragon with ease, brother." I said calmly, "Any one of your three Blue Eyes would give their lives to protect me, just as they would you; they trust me, Seth."
"Prove to me that you can keep yourself out of trouble, and stay inside today." Seth said, "Please promise me that you will, Sanura."
"Fine, I'll stay inside today." I sighed dejectedly, "Now, hurry up and leave, before you are late to your meeting with the Pharaoh."
"Behave yourself, Sanura." Seth called as he headed out, "I'll return before sundown."
"He's gone now, Bakura." I said in a soft voice, feeling my lover's eyes on my back, "You can come out."
"I love it when you do that." Bakura chuckled, hugging me from behind, "I have to agree with your brother though; we're staying inside today."
"But Kura." I protested, turning my head, "I don't-"
Bakura had silenced my protests with a gentle kiss on the lips, leaving us blushing slightly when we broke it. Bakura chuckled deep in his throat and released me from his gentle grasp, which allowed me to turn and embrace him. Bakura held me close, in a way that seemed almost too tender for a thief, allowing me to smell the musty, spicy scent that hung in his long white hair. We stood in silence, just holding each other closely, not wanting to shatter the peace with words.
"I have a gift for you Nura." Bakura whispered in my ear, "I found it buried in the sand, about half a day's walk from here."
"Do you swear you didn't steal it?" I asked softly, pulling out of our embrace.
"Nura, I've never told you a lie, and I don't plan to start now." Bakura replied in a firm yet gentle voice, "Close your eyes and hold out your hands."
I did as Bakura told me to do, waiting for him to give me whatever gift he had brought me from the desert sands. I felt a light, warm weight placed in my cupped hands, causing me to open my eyes and gasp. It was a golden, heart-shaped locket, with the Eye of Anubis staring up at me. Bakura told me to open the locket and look inside, which I did obligingly. Inside was an inscription that said, "I will always be there for you." Bakura smiled as tears of love trickled out of my eyes, while he placed the locket around my neck by its leather cord.
"That is my promised to you, Nura." Bakura whispered, "I will never break it, I swear it on my honor."
"Thank you, Kura." I whispered in reply, "You've made me the happiest maiden in all of Pharaoh's kingdom."
Flashback Crystal/Sanura's PoV
Crystal's eyes flew open as the dream ended, gasping as she stared out the window to see the coils of Osiris slithering across it. Crystal jumped out of the bed and ran to the door, opening it hurriedly and racing past Fuguta. Feeling dread consume her mind, Crystal sprinted to the main hall's elevator. Not caring that she had to run past Malik to enter the elevator, Crystal burst through the room and entered the elevator. When the elevator doors opened, Crystal ran out on the deck, seeing Osiris towering over the Spirit of the Puzzle.
"I admit I lost this time. Go ahead and attack. Don't worry." Bakura shouted, "I won't let your friend Ryou die. Attack me! This body is very important to me. I won't let it die."
"No, Bakura-san!" Crystal shouted, as the other Spirit ordered Osiris to attack.
[[Don't worry, Nura.]] Bakura's voice chuckled in Crystal's mind, [[Ryou will be safe from harm.]]
Then he was engulfed in Osiris's attack, cackling insanely as it consumed him. When the bright light faded, Crystal fell to her knees, tears rolling out of her sapphire eyes as numbness spread all over her body. She couldn't believe what had happened to her friends; she had lost two friends that had become very dear to her. Looking up when she felt a hand on her shoulder, Crystal saw Yugi staring at her, guilt written all over his gentle face.
"I'm sorry, Crystal." Yugi said, "I'm sorry you had to see that happen to him."
"Your friend will be fine, Neko-chan." Seto's firm voice assured her, "He just needs to rest, and he'll be fine."
"Neko-chan." Ryou murmured weakly as Honda carried him past Crystal, "He saved me."
"I know. I know, Ryou." Crystal nodded, trembling uncontrollably.
"Come on, Crystal." Yugi said, "I'll walk you down to his room."
"Alright, Yugi." Crystal said, rising shakily to her feet.
"I'll be in my suite." Seto said turning and walking to the elevator, Mokuba right behind him.
"Will you be okay, Hikari-san?" Namu asked, talking a step towards Crystal's still trembling form, "You look pale."
Crystal remained silent, unsure that she would be or wouldn't be okay after what she had seen. Yugi looked at Crystal and frowned, seeing the sorrow in her eyes and face. Then he told Namu only time would tell if she would be able to heal from the incident. Namu nodded and walked away, leaving the two of them to stand alone in the cold, harsh wind. Crystal's tears were blown across her face as she stared straight ahead, not caring how cold it was.
"You knew about Bakura." Yugi said, "How?"
"First day of school." Crystal replied, "After I met him, he always seemed to be keeping a sharp eye on me."
"Why's that?" Yugi asked, genuinely concerned.
"It's not my place to say why, Yugi." Crystal replied, "Please, no more questions about Bakura-san."
"Just one last question." Yugi said, "Why didn't you tell anyone that you knew he was around."
"He never hurt me, and you never asked me." Crystal replied, heading to the elevator, "I'm going in to see Ryou, now."
/I can't believe she knew about Bakura./ Yugi said to Yami, walking Crystal down to Ryou's room.
I'm more surprised that she hadn't said anything.Yami replied, However, that doesn't explain his fascination with Crystal.
/She could probably tell the difference between him and Ryou, like she did with you and me. I remember how you were muttering about it for a week after she saw you./
"Yugi, what is his name?" Crystal asked, "The Spirit within your Puzzle, I mean."
"I don't really know what his real name is, but I call him Yami. He doesn't even know his name." Yugi replied, "All we know is that he was Pharaoh of Egypt and he saved the world. Now he and I have to save it from Malik's evil plan."
"Yugi, did Yami ever know a girl by the name of Sanura?" Crystal asked, "She was the High Priest's sister."
"The name sounds familiar, but I don not remember her." Yami replied, taking over for Yugi, "Why do you ask Crystal?"
"I'm her reincarnation, like Yugi is yours." Crystal replied, "Although, I do not know why."
"I don't know why you were reincarnated, but it does explain why Kaiba is very protective of you. I must go now." Yami replied, before releasing his hold on Yugi.
"Yuge, Crystal, Ryou's not doing so well." Jono said when the two of them entered the room, "He needs a doctor. We're going to find Kaiba and set him straight."
"You guys go ahead, I'll stay here." Crystal offered, "I want to spend some time with Ryou."
"Of course, Crystal." Yugi nodded, "Come on, guys."
After the others left the room, Crystal pulled a chair over to the side of Ryou's bed and sat down, watching over her closest and best friend. The others were right, he wasn't doing very well after Osiris had attacked him, but it was Bakura who had taken the brunt of the attack. He had sacrificed himself to save Ryou's body, for both of them to survive in the end. However now Ryou was very weak, and his arm's injury from when he was first attacked had gotten worse.
"Why do I feel this way?" Crystal whispered, tears trickling from her sapphire eyes, "Bakura-san, I know you sacrificed yourself for Ryou, but why does it make me feel so empty and lost inside?"
[[Well you shouldn't, Nura.]] Bakura's voice chuckled in Crystal's mind, causing her to jump in surprise.
"How is this possible?" Crystal asked, spinning around to see a translucent Bakura with a smug expression on his face.
[[I keep my promises, especially ones I swear on my honor.]] Bakura said firmly, [[I sealed part of my Spirit into the Locket with that promise. No one, except you, can see or hear me.]]
"So are you the reason I've been seeing the visions?" Crystal asked.
[[No, I'm not.]] Bakura replied, shaking his head.
"Then who or what is causing them?" Crystal asked.
[[I have been trying to find that answer myself, but I do not know.]] Bakura answered, [[I must be going, now. Farewell for now, Neko-chan.]]
"I am her, Sanura, I mean." Crystal said, causing Bakura's eyes to focus in on her, "I am her reincarnation. I keep on seeing her memories, so I must be."
[[That doesn't surprise me.]] Bakura smirked; [[You are very much like her, especially when it comes to knowing when I'm around or in control. Farewell.]]
Bakura's transparent figure faded away and Crystal turn back to Ryou, brushing his bangs out of his eyes. The numb feeling that had surrounded her was finally starting to go away, but the knot of dread in her stomach only seemed to tighten. There was a gentle knock on the door, which caused Crystal to rise and open it. When she looked up, a pair of intense lavender eyes met her teary sapphire ones, causing Crystal to stumble back in shock. Namu caught Crystal by the arm, before she could fall to the ground.
"Domo arigato, Namu-san." Crystal stammered, as she regained her balance.
"It was nothing." Namu replied, releasing her arm, "I didn't mean to startle you."
"I was expecting Seto or one of my friends, that's all." Crystal explained, "Yugi, and the others went to see Seto about landing and taking Ryou to a hospital."
"I see; you're worried about your friend's condition." Namu nodded, "How long have you known him, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I met Ryou on the first day of school." Crystal said with a slight giggle, as she remembered "His face was priceless when I mentioned he was staring."
"Well, I would have stared too." Namu said with a grin.
"He was staring because I was wearing the boys' uniform." Crystal said softly, oblivious to Namu's remark, "I almost told him why I wore it rather than the girl's uniform, too."
"Why don't I leave you two alone?" Namu said, seeing the teary look in Crystal's sapphire eyes, "Now that I know Ryou's at least better than he was earlier."
"Ja ne, Namu-san." Crystal murmured, "Good luck in your duel if I can't watch."
"Ja mata, Crystal." Namu nodded before walking out the door, [Farewell, Desert Kitten, I shall see you again soon enough.]
Kura is what Sanura called Bakura in the past.
Crystal: I've got to do these endnotes fast because if Yami Kris gets to my laptop before I post, he'll go on another rampage about protecting Neko-chan. I also figured out what the whole deal with Kris's sword is and why I can't find it. It's his Millennium Item. I'll give more info in my bio when I get some, so keep an eye out for it along with info on the Locket (which is not a Millennium Item).
Kris: Aibou,are you still typing?
Crystal: Read, Review and ja ne for now.