A Requiem for Innocence
Chapter Thirteen

"He moved?" Yugi's mother was outraged.

The manager of the hotel shrugged helplessly. "I'm sorry Miss, but Mr. Atemu left two days ago. Real shame, you don't often get the long-renters that're so nice and quiet like him."

"Do you know where he moved to?"

"No, I didn't ask."

Detective Saunders put his hand on Mrs. Mutou's arm and said, before she could explode, "We're looking for her son, and we think that Mr. Atemu might know where he is. It's very important that was find him as soon as possible. Would it be okay if I interviewed the tenants around his room?"

"I suppose."

"Thank you. Also, would you happen to know if anyone was staying with him? An older teenage boy, about five feet tall, with very similar looks?"

The man frowned to himself. "I don't really know, I only met him the days he came to sign in and the day he said he was leaving…but we have a restaurant on the property, and while he never came in it himself, he sometimes ordered out, and he'd usually order two meals, they're on his bill." He looked bemused. "The cooks thought it was funny, such a skinny person ordering so much food."

"Yugi's with him!" Mrs. Mutou exclaimed. "I knew it, I knew it, Yugi's been with him the whole time!"

"Now, there's no proof of that yet, he could have had company those days…" Saunders began.

"Don't you try to shush me, I've met this Yami person and he's a very withdrawn sort of man. I can't imagine him having company often, he must have been living here with Yugi."

"So…is that all?" the manager asked, still looking bewildered.

"Yes, thank you." Saunders excused them from the room and out to the walkway outside.

"I know Yugi is with him." She announced stubbournly. "And I'm not going to stop looking till we find them."

Saunders was about to answer when his cell phone rang and he turned away, flipping it open and asking, "Yeah?" He was silent for a few minutes, made some noises of approval, and finished off by saying, "Thank you very much.", as he snapped it shut and turned back to Yugi's mother, saying,

"Well, I have good news. It seems Mr. Atemu is registered in a hotel in Dallas."

"Is Yugi with him?"

"I don't know, but he's just checked in. We put out an APB to all hotels in the states nearby and in the airports, for anyone that sees him to call us. He just checked in an hour ago. Here's what's interesting, though: he apparently told the manager there was going to be two people staying in the room."

"The other must be Yugi! Let's go right now!"

"Okay, I just have to go touch base at the police station first. Remember, they want to talk to Yami, and possibly Yugi, about the murders here."

"No! No touching base anywhere, I want to go to Dallas now and get Yugi!"

"Look, they're not going anywhere overnight, why else would they have gotten a hotel? Tomorrow we'll fly over."

"Fine." She frowned. "The police…do they have to talk to Yugi and Yami?"

"It would be very helpful."

"But they wouldn't have to…right? I mean, so one of them was seen near the crime, but so were lots of other people, right?"

"Let me put it this way. The witness they're relying on is eighty-three years old and is partially blind. She could have seen Elvis Presley for all we know. All they got from her was that she saw a young man that seemed to be wearing some large star-shaped hat. And she's told the police repeatedly what a polite young man he was because he waved at her, and she doesn't understand why they would want to talk to-much less arrest-such a polite young man. So, honestly, who knows who or what she saw."

"So, neither of them is actually wanted by the police, right?"

"No, they're not actually wanted." He sighed. "There's no proof that they were even there. But it would still be helpful if the police could just talk to them. They're not going to put out the manpower to search for them yet, but if we were to find them, see, it would be my duty to tell the police here about it, just in case it might help. What's with the questions, anyway?"

"Look, after I get Yugi back, I don't want any more problems. I don't want to have to deal with some investigation here or something. I just want to get my son and go home. I don't even want to press charges against Yami. My husband does, but that's his problem, and if he was so gung-ho on it he shouldn't have gone to that stupid conference." She was still upset about that. The very idea that he could work while their son was missing was beyond her.

"I'll see what I can do about keeping your family out." Saunders finally replied.

Mrs. Mutou didn't look satisfied, but said nothing, and excused herself to go for a walk while he interviewed people.

Henry Kaarlo, the third and only surviving member of the gang that had raped Yugi, hadn't been able to sleep well for the past few days. When he'd heard that Akkei and Maanou had been killed, he'd at first suspected it had been Yugi, coming back for revenge. Then he thought maybe it was Yami instead, coming for the same reason. And he'd been about to call the police, when he'd realized that calling them would mean giving away what he and his friends had done, and he wasn't interested in being thrown in jail for rape any more than he was in inviting the killer to come after him as well.

So, in the interest of tiring himself out so badly that he had to fall asleep, he took a walk all around town and ended up in the trailer park where Akkei and Maanou had used to live. Their parents had been rounded up and, once sober enough to realize what had happened, both were inconsolable. Henry knew that Maanou and his brother had often just complained about their parents, but it seemed that deep down they'd been cared about after all. They were now enrolled in alcohol and grief counseling. The trailer, draped in yellow police ribbon, stood empty.

Standing beside the trailer now, he noticed a woman watching from not far away. She approached and asked him,

"Did you know the boys that were killed?"

Henry hesitated, then nodded.

"Do you live here?"

He shook his head, wondering what the questions were about. She noticed his confusion and added,

"My son is missing. His name is Yugi, he-or a friend of his perhaps-was seen here in this town around the time of the murders."

Henry's eyes widened and he stared in shock at her. "Did…did you say, your son's name was Yugi?"

"Yes, why?"

"What's…what's his friend's name?"

"Yami. Yami Atemu. Do you know them?" She was starting to look anxious.

"Well…" he wasn't sure what to say to that. "Um…no, not exactly…but…"

She looked curious. He still paused. He'd been thinking that this could be a good way of telling the police what he knew without really telling them. He would ask this woman to relay the information, and that way wouldn't have to risk accidentally spilling the beans and landing himself in trouble. So he added, quietly, "I might know who killed them, but…well, if I told the police, they might find out my whole story of how I know, and…I could get in trouble. I mean, I don't want the killer to come after me, y'know."

"Who do you think did it?"

"Yami Atemu."

Mrs. Mutou was struck into silence for a moment. Then: "Why that?"

"Because he…he had something against Akkei and Maanou." Henry replied vaguely. "So I think he did it. I think he would have had a reason for revenge."

For some strange cause, the woman suddenly took his hand and said, emphatically, "Thank you, thank you very much." before turning and hurrying off.

Henry furrowed his brow, then turned to go back home, very puzzled at the whole turn of events, because that really hadn't been the reaction he'd expected.

Yugi's mother had gotten an idea; an idea that she was sure would work for getting Yugi to come home. So that evening when Saunders came to her hotel room to inform her about the next day's travel plans, she was already gone. A few quick calls to airports nearby explained it all to him. She had, fully intent on getting Yugi back and avoiding any connection with the murder case, already left on an early flight to Dallas to find him herself.

Yami was not pleased about checking into a hotel now of all times, because he didn't really want to make his name public, aware that the mysterious third boy was still alive and might very well tell the police about them. But with no false identity to go with, (and with using Yugi's name out of the question), he had no choice. He was equally as upset about having to reveal that Yugi was staying with him, but it wasn't like he could hide the fact that there was a second person with him when he checked in.

"It's only for one night." He said with a sigh, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Then we can get the hell out of here. How does England sound?"

"England sounds great, but I don't think anyone would be looking for us anyway." Yugi spoke up. "There's no reason to worry."

"I'm glad you're an optimist. I, meanwhile, just feel so solemn right now." Yami fell over backwards and ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. "Man, when did life get so complicated?"

"The day we were both born as guys, I guess." Yugi scooted onto the bed beside him and stared up at the ceiling. "You think that if one of us got a sex change, if it would help things?"

"Probably not. Besides, I like you just the way you are."

"Who said I was talking about me?" Yugi asked. Yami paused.

"Good point. But who said you were talking about me, huh?"

Yugi laughed. "I know, I was just kidding."

"Ah! You laughed! Do it again."

"Yami…"

"Come on, please? Don't make me tickle you."

"Yami! I thought you were in a solemn mood!"

"I was, till you laughed."

Yugi giggled and pounced on him, their faces inches apart. "You're silly, Yami, you know that? You try so hard to be serious and quiet and intense but deep down you are so soft and silly."

"You bring it out in me." Yami replied, twirling a lock of Yugi's hair around his finger. "I don't know what I'd do without you in my life."

Yugi smiled and hugged him. "Stop being so solemn. I like it when you laugh too."

Late that night, Yugi's mother arrived in Dallas and located the hotel. And then she settled down to wait till she could get hold of Yugi on his own, because she didn't want to have to meet Yami.

She had no doubt it was he that had killed those boys now. She'd known it all along, the first time she'd seen Yami's face she'd felt that he was not only capable of it, but that he was ready to kill anyone that he might have to. For some reason he must have felt as though those boys deserved death. The whole story didn't interest her, but she was certain after hearing it that she didn't want to come face-to-face with Yami anytime soon.

As luck would have it, Yugi emerged from the room, alone, around 11:30 and she followed him down the outside hall as he went to buy some gum from a vending machine. On his way back, she hid around a corner in the hall and grabbed his arm, slapping her hand over his mouth and hissing,

"Yugi, it's okay! It's just me, your mom."

"Mom?" He asked.

"Shh!"

"Mom, what're you doing here?"

"Looking for you! Oh Yugi…I've been so worried." She hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead. "I've been so worried about you! You just went missing…and we didn't hear from you, I thought something terrible had happened-"

"Mom, get off me!" Yugi pushed her back. "I'll ask you again, why are you here and why're you snatching me in the middle of the hall like this at night?"

She looked hurt by this treatment. "I've come here to bring you home, Yugi."

"I don't know how you found me here, but I'm not going back with you. That's not 'home' to me anymore."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not!" He snapped. "I'm not leaving Yami."

"So, you are staying with him."

"So? I just told you, I'm not going to leave him, and there's nothing you can say to make me change my mind."

"What if I told you I know that Yami is a murderer?" she asked.

Yugi was shocked into silence now. "How…how'd you know?"

"I wasn't sure, to be honest…until now. So, it was really him, those killings back in Arizona, wasn't it?"

"That's none of your business, Mom."

"It is too my business. Yugi, don't you realize you're living with a murderer? How much danger you're in?"

"So? Yami wouldn't kill me! Those other guys…they deserved to die! Yami killed them because they hurt me first."

"They hurt you?" She grabbed his shoulders. "What did they do to you?"

"Why does it matter now?" Yugi shot, pulling away. "They're dead anyway. I think Yami did the right thing, and I'm not afraid of him because I know he cares about me. And I'm not coming back with you."

"We're thinking of moving back to Domino." She offered. "You can go back home and see all your old friends again."

"I just finished telling you that I'm staying with Yami! To me, 'home' is with him, wherever that is. Here, in Japan, wherever."

"But Yugi-"

"I love him, Mom. Why don't you understand that? You can't get me to leave by trying to make me think he's dangerous, or by trying to bribe me. I'm not staying with him out of spite for you or because he's forcing me to. I'm staying with him because it's my choice, because I love him. Haven't you ever loved anyone that much?"

"Yes, at one time I thought I did. But we broke up and then I met your father, and I found out that he hadn't been 'the one' for me after all. You're too young to base your entire life around this one person. And he's twice your age!"

"He is not twice my age!"

"He's still too old for you! You're too young to have a…a relationship with someone in their twenties! You're too young to even decide if you're gay or not!"

"I am not too young to decide those things!" Yugi argued back, his attempts at keeping his voice low starting to fail. "You don't know anything about Yami!"

"Oh, I don't?" Her voice was rising too. Yugi was glad their hotel room was far down the hall.

"No! You're comparing him to the people you see on TV, just because of his age and his gender and his job, you think he's a pedophile that's being nice to me just for sex, but he's not! Yami has never once forced me into anything, he's told me he'd love me all the same even if I never slept with him, and he was telling the truth, and I'm not too young to realize that!"

His mother's patience was starting to wear thin. "Yes, you are. You're only seventeen. You don't even know enough to know what love really is! This is your first relationship! I'm just trying to keep you from getting hurt!"

"I know enough to know that there's no one else on Earth that I'd rather spend the rest of my life with, male, female, or otherwise. Whether you believe it or not, I do know what love is, and I'm not making a mistake." Yugi stood his ground. "I'm sorry Mom, but I'm not leaving Yami."

"What if I told you I could get Yami thrown in jail for those murders?"

Yugi stared at her, hardly able to believe that anyone, much less his own mother, could be so interfering. "You wouldn't!"

"I would. I met someone today that knows that Yami is the person that did it." Not noticing Yugi going pale, she barreled ahead, "I could find him again and his testimony would be extremely damaging. Plus, there's another witness that could identify him at the scene. I could call Detective Saunders right now and tell him, and Yami would be in jail by morning. So even if you refuse to come home, you two will still be split up anyway. Your choice is if you want Yami to keep his freedom or not."

She was taking a risk in saying this, because she knew that given the lack of evidence, Yami probably wouldn't have to stay in jail. But she was betting that because of the frantic running he and Yami must have been doing, Yugi's knowledge of the amount of evidence that really existed in the case wasn't the best, and by the look on Yugi's face, it seemed that she'd won that bet.

For a long time Yugi was silent, emotions flashing across his face. Shock, fear, desperate contemplation, even an angry glare that reminded her forcibly of Yami's malicious eyes. And finally he just looked defeated and begged, his voice pleading, "Mom…please don't do this."

It was the pain in his voice that really shook her, and she paused, suddenly hesitant. A moment before, she'd been ready to do anything to make him leave. But suddenly…

Yugi sensed her hesitation and pressed on, "I'm not trying to rebel, I'm not trying to make your life so miserable, and I'm sorry about making you so worried. I know you care about me. But I love Yami, and you've always said you wanted me to be happy…I'm happy this way. It's what I want."

Staring at him, as if in a whole new light, her determination faded. For a split moment, she considered the alternative. She could always go home…tell her husband and the detective that they'd been wrong, that Yugi and Yami hadn't been at the hotel and were probably long gone. She could pretend to lose hope and give up the search…could let them go and no one would have to know. It wasn't impossible.

But at the same time she saw it reasonably. Her husband would be furious if she didn't find them, and Yami was a stranger. Yugi was her son. Even though Yugi seemed so certain that Yami would never hurt him…how could she be sure? She'd never met him properly. And she was supposed to just let Yugi go off with him and probably never see them again? And even if Yugi was gay…there were plenty of other boys in the world. Ones his age. Ones that weren't murderers.

She looked at Yugi and saw him looking desperately back. And although she hated the look of anguish in his eyes, she still shook her head, saying, "No Yugi. If you won't come home, I will…I will have Yami arrested."

Looking crestfallen, he seemed to be struggling to say, (or not say), something, and finally asked quietly, "And if…if I came home, you'd leave Yami alone?"

"Yes, I'd tell Detective Saunders that you were with Yami at the time and that Yami had nothing to do with the murders, and I'd refuse to answer anything else about him."

"Fine. If you…if you leave Yami out of it…if you swear you won't turn him in…I'll come home." His voice was dead.

"And you'll make sure that Yami doesn't dare attempt to follow you, too."

"Fine. I'll make sure."

"Then go and pack up your things, and I'll call for a taxi."

Yugi turned on his heel and walked in a daze back toward the hotel room.

His mother watched him from behind, and bit her lip. He was so much more upset than she'd thought he would be, and it was evident that what he was showing was only a fraction of the pain this really caused him. Was it really worth it?

But no, she couldn't rethink it now, and she knew it.

It was the right thing to do…Yugi would understand one day.

Inside the room, Yami had fallen asleep an hour earlier, curled up under several layers of covers because the thermostat was broken and stuck at 65 degrees. He'd been exhausted from the drive, and had opted to go to bed early. Yugi stood beside him quietly for a moment and considered waking him up and telling him what happened, and asking if they could try to run away again.

Yami sighed softly in his sleep and nestled deeper into the blankets, and Yugi stopped, his hand almost touching his shoulder, and knew he couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to wake Yami up and ask him to keep running.

So as silently as he could, Yugi packed away the few things of his own that were scattered around, and then got out a pen and paper to write Yami a letter, and he wondered how he should word it.

If I told him the truth…he wouldn't care about the police. He'd follow me back anyway, just like he followed me here to the States in the first place. If I vanish and leave no explanation at all…that's just cruel, he'll be so worried about me and will never know what happened.

He bit his lip, knowing one foolproof way of making sure that Yami never followed him. If he "broke up" with him…and made Yami think that he, Yugi, had been unhappy in the relationship…Yami would probably be too ashamed to face him, and would stay safely out of the reach of the police.

I can't write that though, it'll break his heart! And after everything he's done for me! And after all the things I've done…to hurt him…

Gripping the pen, Yugi sat down and began to write, his hand shaking.

Even though it was short, Yugi was crying by the time he finished and signed his name, trembling. He knew that when Yami read it, it would break his heart. But there was no other way around it, and he was determined that he would NOT repay Yami for all his kindness by getting him arrested or forcing him to become wanted for the rest of his life. He hated to leave this way, but he really didn't believe that Yami wouldn't follow him back if he didn't. And at least this way…maybe someday he'd be able to meet up with Yami again to explain everything. To explain that he was doing this just trying to protect him. Maybe someday.

Leaving the letter beside the bed next to the phone, he wiped his eyes on his sleeve and bit back tears again as he looked down at Yami for the last time. Everyone was wrong…he knew he loved Yami and that no one else would ever compare. And even if they were separated forever…his memories would still be in his heart, and they could not be erased. It was his only consolation now. Even if he never saw Yami again after this moment, their spirits were forever tied to each other in a place beyond the sky, and that bond…that was a bond no one could ever reach and break. He hoped that Yami would always remember that too.

It was possible to keep running. Even now a wild impulse inside him was still screaming out that they should keep going, that they had time. But he just looked at Yami, sleeping so deeply in his exhaustion, and he couldn't make himself do it. Yami had given up so much for him. His job, his home, his freedom…and in reflection Yugi knew that he asked too much of Yami, but that Yami would never stop trying to please him. If he asked Yami to keep running…Yami would run. He'd probably run till he died if Yugi asked him to, and Yugi knew it. Even if it meant spending the rest of his life hiding from the police, always fearing that he could be thrown in jail, Yami would run, all because Yugi asked him to.

Yugi shook his head to himself. Yami would willingly give up his life for him, and for what? What had he ever done to thank Yami for all this? Nothing…he'd done nothing worth anything, except cause more trouble. Yami deserved so much more.

Swallowing, he kissed Yami's forehead gently, and then backed away toward the door, trying not to think of the future. What would happen when Yami awoke, alone, the next day to an empty room? What would happen when he got the letter? How would he spend the days that would follow? Invariably, his life would go on. And Yugi's life would go on. Separately. They didn't share a future anymore, and it created a huge, terrifying hole in Yugi's world when he thought of it.

Knowing his mom was waiting, he forced himself to put his shoes on and slip outside, staring through the crack in the door for a long time before softly shutting it, locking away behind him the only person he truly loved, and the brief life they had shared; a dream that it seemed he'd finally been forced to wake up from.

To Be Continued…

Author's Notes:

MEMORY ARC STARTS TOMORROW! I SO FREAKING CANNOT WAIT! AAAAAHHHH, I'M GONNA EXPLODE!
:squeels like a fangirl madly and breaks all the windows in the house:

Right, just had to get that out at the start, sorry!

This fic has reached and passed the 200 review mark! I'm not so material that it really matters that much to me, but I have to admit that it's pretty awesome. Congrats to Heavymetalrequiem for sending the fateful 200 review! My total review count has also surpassed 600, but I really can't remember who sent that one. xD Thanks everyone, for helping me get this far!

About the "place beyond the sky": This is an idea that I got from a line in Rave Master and that I've considered for a long time. There's a place beyond the sky that is sort of like the place where Memory lives. Love lives there too, and when people love each other, a bond is formed there in a place that cannot be reached or destroyed. Rave Master called this place the Memory of the Stars. I'm not giving it a name, but the idea is similar.

Henry Kaarlo: Not that anyone really cares, cause he's just a mean OC, and a brief one at that, but his name and heritage are Finnish. I was going to give him a Japanese name, then I thought maybe an American name, but I decided to bring some other country into it instead! So…Finland. How's that for variety?

And Michelle, Yugi's mom is NOT having an affair with the detective! xD How insane would that be? I mean really. But no, I love you hon, I really do, you're very funny.

Despite a few sort of lighthearted scenes, this was a sad chapter. People being forced apart is sad. You'll find out what is in the letter Yugi wrote, next chapter, as well as the outcome. I'm getting depressed now that I've written the end of this and have begun the next chapter. I do believe we're entering a very dark and lonely period for Yugi and Yami. It's just so sad! My theory to writing is that you have to put yourself in the place of the characters in order to properly give them emotions. Unfortunately, this means I'm stuck role-playing all this sad stuff out in my mind. Feh! You see what I do for you guys?

The new eppy tomorrow will cheer me up though! Or maybe depress me further since Yugioh is in its final stages, but I think it'll cheer me up more than depress me.

Replies:

Spidy007: :glomp: Hurray! Thankies! This fic, I swear, it just jumps all over the place, ne?

YamiNOkokoro26: It is kinda like a Soap Opera, isn't it? Thanks! My mom watches a Soap Opera series that I do believe I could write better sometimes…of course, the fact that the producers are afraid to have a gay couple on it might hinder things. Maybe I'll make my own Soap Opera someday! That'd be pretty cool…nah, no offense taken! I can't even remember if you said anything rude in it or not. No worries. :smile:

LuvngYAMI: Awesome! The entire thing, eh? I feel so honoured! I like to catch people off-guard…call it my theme of choice. :3

Yami Riyunoa: PWP? What's PWP? Well, if it's a bad thing, I'm sure glad the fic isn't becoming…it! Their fragile relationship took quite a blow in this chapter…but we knew it had to come eventually. Poor little buggers…:pets them: Mean cruel society…

Atemu Yugi Lover34: Aw, I love bad jokes. xD Well, if such amazing things can happen that a person is a Light element yet also a maniac killer…it's totally possible for bad jokes to be funny! Or maybe that's what makes them funny…anyway, thanks for the review!

Pharaohess1: xDD Yes yes, the evil parents are back and in full power it seems…though I still have minor sympathy for Yugi's mom. None for his dad though, the guy's just a jerk! Mwahahaha…xD It wasn't like I was counting either…well…okay, maybe a few seconds…teheheh…little Yugi-kun is all grown up…:sniffle: Aww…well, they're playing reruns, hopefully you'll get to see it sometime!

the-silent-magician: Anticipation…such a nice word though. :niko: Thanks!

Padfoot13: Sorry mate, but I can't do it now. Still, I'm glad you thought it was a good idea! Maybe in another fic sometime, ne? I guess I could, but it would mean rewriting the whole ending, and I really don't want to do that. Gomen, but thanks!

HeavyMetalRequiem: Congrats again on sending the 200th review! How awesome is it that you, the 200th review sender, would have the word "Requiem" in their name, and that's a word in the title of the fic! Thanks also for reading and reviewing TPoaH! You ignored your friends for me and everything…:is so touched: Imma write a sequel for that one someday! And don't worry about being corny. :niko: Aww…I have this thing for freaky characters…maybe that's one of the things I find so interesting. The original guys don't come in till later, I've heard.

Darkyami7: Aww…:pets: That would certainly take away from the story, but it might be nice to let those guys have some down time for a change…or maybe not. I had to take the PSATs this week too! Eeep, I so don't like those things! I can't wait for the Memory Arc, even though I just know it's going to be so sad. Record! Jaden Atemu…hehehe, my poor kid's going to hate me for it, but if he's not careful, that's what he'll end up with. If you steal it and use it for your son too…that'd be wild. What if they met one day? xDD That'd be awesome! Two Jaden Atemu's. :smirk:

Neko Yoka: Yugi's parents are taking him away, you got that part right, but luckily Yami has avoided jail. So far…

Fallen-Angel-of-Repression: Well, "tall" by Yugi's standards anyway. I doubt he'll ever reach past 5'5. Still…that's a nice height! And some of that is probably hair. :wink: I hope your head feels better!

Yami Yuugi: Yeah, the first volume of manga does kick serious ass. Mine's rather…worn. xD I've read that volume soooo much. Yeppers, you got my seal of approval, wear it with pride! You're very…observant. Not many people have paid much attention to Yugi's mom, but you have! That's good! Another approval seal for you! The Leon vs Yami duel rocked! I loved it! Thanks for the review and all your kind words!

Dani Wheeler-Kaiba: They…got caught. :hands around tissues: Poor little guys!

Sansi: Heheheh, maybe I will! There's a lot of pic plans in the works for the future, no harm in adding that little idea to the pool, hmmn? Yeah, the Yugioh charrah's parents are so…absent in the show, yet I know they must exist someplace! Yaay…I've got you curious. :niko:

Red Dragon of Egypt: Got'cha, I'll do that! Might take awhile though, first I gotta figure out what a CSI agent would wear…poor Yami-kun…he gets put through so much, and yet he tries to remain strong…everyone needs to cry sometime! Yugi and Yami are both so adorable…and doubly as adorable when they're together!...and Yugi's dad has NO idea who he's messing with. The guy's so ignorant about Yami's true power and how much he loves Yugi! Yami's eyes…they're such killer's eyes…and yet so gentle sometimes too. He's a pretty deep guy.

Ookami-chan: Now there's an idea! Umm…because they can't speak Spanish?

Koneko Hoshi: :smile: Thanks!

You Know Us: You guys…you really make me laugh. Yugi's mom isn't having an affair, I promise. Although that would be an interesting twist. And then she and Saunders and Yugi and Yami can all take their respective lovers and come hide from Yugi's dad in the Keys! Right? Right, am I right? Well, that's amusing, it's true, but it's not what's going on. xD I'm glad Michelle isn't pouting. When she's pouting…things get dangerous. :slaps Shad-kun's hand away from the gun box: DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT YOU TWO!

HM: Well…they got to them. :sigh: Guess we all saw it coming though, I mean, they were kinda getting circled in from all sides. Poor guys!

OMG…did you see 198? LEON GOT A HUG FROM YAMI! I was watching that and I was like, O.O "I WANNA BE LEON!" xDD I was squeeling so hard! And then I saw the commercial for the Memory Arc…I didn't even know my squeels could reach the octave that they did when I saw that! Man, I'm hyper.

Thanks VERY MUCH to everyone that wished me good karma on my Chem project. I think you guys really helped…I got a 100! Seriously, I did not expect that good of a grade! But it's awesome. Thanks again!

Having had a week to assess GX, my final opinion is that it's really cute, and I'm definitely going to be watching it more. This apparently makes me quite a minority, since everyone else I talked to so far gave me a look as though I'd grown four extra heads and begun speaking Zulu when I told them I liked it. What's so wrong with it? Honestly, I expected to be disappointed, but I wasn't! It may aim toward a younger crowd, but there is still something about it that hooks my hard-to-catch interest. I believe it is far deeper than most people give it credit for. It's a cute series, slightly juvenile perhaps, but still very cute, and the charrahs are pretty cute themselves. Not as cute as Yugi of course, but you know, Yugi's adorable-ness was otherworldly, and it's not fair to expect anyone to compare. It's not Yugioh, of course it's not, so I never expected it to be. Considering the INSANELY high bar GX would have to meet to be on par with Yugioh itself, I'd say they're doing a damn good job! The soundtrack is pretty sweet too. I like rock music!

I just about squeeled myself into an early grave at Yugi, too. He finally hit puberty and the teen-guy voice change…and it changed into Yami's! This is proof that he really is Yami's reincarnation! It also makes me happy because it's like…like something he's inherited from Yami, something to remember him by. Maybe I'm just being sentimental. And he's all grown up…:proud parent-like sniffles: And taller! Tehehe…

That's enough out of me! I hope I haven't ruined anyone's day too badly by posting a sad, rather than optimistic, chapter, and I'll see you guys next Friday! Rock on!