"I'll just leave the two of you alone for a while, I'm sure you've got a lot of catching up to do." Yugi said with a smile on his face as he quietly left the room only to see Kaiba standing out in the hallway right across from the door with his arms crossed and the slightest hint of a smirk on his face.
"So Yugi who's your new friend?" he asked in his usual sarcastic 'I'm still your rival' voice as Yugi met his cold stare then transformed into Yami as he answered in his most serious voice.
"She's a young woman who claims that she knew Bakura long before he became the evil thief Yami Bakura who once threatened my kingdom and all my people once held dear." Yami said as Kaiba snorted in disgust and shook his head.
"She seemed to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, are you sure that 'dog' Wheeler didn't drive her up a tree beforehand?" Seto asked casually in his usual monotone voice.
"Joey's too petrified with fear to even go near her Kaiba." Yugi said as though there was nothing out of the ordinary going on. "She's just been through a lot lately, I'm sure she'll calm down after Tea talks to her."
"She'd better get her calmed down otherwise I'll send my people in there with tranquilizer darts." Seto said in a threatening voice as he glanced down the hallway at the waiting room where Tristan was desperately trying to restrain Joey while Mokuba warned him not to disturb Tea if he wanted to see his next birthday.
"Tea I…" Akari started as Tea cut her off.
"Akari it's okay, you did nothing wrong and the doctors said all I needed was some rest and I'd be fine in a few days." She said as Akari looked at her with wide eyes as the tears slowly rolled down her face. "Look I know you feel bad about what happened to me, but somehow I knew this day would come when my grandmother gave me the necklace and told me it's story. She told me that 'the girl who used to wear it sacrificed her life to seal away a great evil and for her selflessness, Halakti the priestess of light preserved her soul in the necklace so that one day she could live again.'"
"It's not true…" Akari said softly as she bowed her head sadly. "the pharaoh sacrificed his life to seal away the evil that had taken over Bakura. Although I tried to stop him, it was too late…both Bakura and the pharaoh were mortally wounded during their fight. As I held Bakura in my arms I began sobbing and confessed my love for him. He gently smiled at me as he told me to save the pharaoh. I went over to the pharaoh knowing that it was too late to help him and as I held his body in my arms desperately wishing it was a dream, the high priestess appeared and spoke to me: 'Akari what transpired here today was destined to happen, nothing you could have done would have changed the outcome. However when this evil awakens again you will be there to stop it, for I shall seal your soul into this locket and your story will be passed on to each generation and your memory will live forever…' Now you know the truth, I am not the great hero your ancestors thought I was. I am a failure…"
"But you're not a failure Akari," Tea said as she got out her bed, walked over to her side, and put an arm around her shoulders. "you just never got the chance to prove your worth. If Yugi ever gave up when things seemed hopeless he wouldn't be the strong young man I know and love."
"Strong of heart he may be," Akari said seriously as she began to smile slightly. "though I can't imagine him competing in the Egyptian decathlon!"
Suddenly a huge smile broke out on Tea's face as she began laughing so hard that she lost her grip and fell on the floor.
"Tea! Are you all right?" Akari asked as she peered over the edge of her bed to see Tea sprawled out on the floor trying to maintain her laughter and after several moments had passed managed to calm down as she grabbed the edge of the bed and pulled herself into a standing position.
"I'm all right," Tea said still smiling as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Although to be honest I can't imagine him wrestling someone like Andre the Giant and actually come out alive!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Joey and Tristan cautiously poked their heads into the room to see both girls holding their sides and reeling with laughter as Tea fell down again.
"Um, is everything all right?" Tristan asked as he surveyed the room making sure nothing was broken or out of place.
"It better be all right or little miss spirit will have to answer to me!" Joey growled as Tristan hit him on the head, hard.
"Shut up you moron!" Tristan hissed as Joey clutched his head and began whining. "She's been through enough already and the last thing she needs is a visit from the 'overprotective idiot squad'!" Then he turned his attention to Akari and Tea who were both staring at them and trying hard not to laugh.
"Nothing happened," Akari insisted as Tea tried to stifle her giggles. "Tea just got out bed to use the bathroom and slipped on a puddle of water."
"You really should be more careful Tea," Tristan said in a concerned voice as he gently pulled Tea to her feet as he mentally reminded himself to ask questions later, "Yugi's worried enough as it is."
"Errrrr…I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" Joey finally exploded as he lunged at Akari and Tristan immediately grabbed him from behind. "LET ME GO! JUST LET ME AT 'ER! I'LL SHOW 'ER WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO DESTROY MY FRIENDS!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING JOEY!" Tristan yelled as Joey tried to bite and claw his way out of Tristan's arms. "You're messing with a ghost. Do you really want to make her mad?" he hissed in his ear as Joey reluctantly stopped struggling and calmed down.
"All right I'll be good…" Joey growled softly as Tristan slowly released him from his grip.
"You'd better or I'll make sure Mai puts you in the pound." Tristan said as Joey shot a threatening glare his way.
"Watch it!"
"I'm sorry you'll have to excuse Joey he hasn't had his distemper shot yet." Tristan said apologetically as Joey glared at him and started growling. "So who's your friend Tea?"
Von Stupor: this story's a very interesting one thus far! i can't wait for the next chapter. i guess joey's pretty paranoid about recent goings on, eh?
AnimeLoverAngel: Uh! Cool! Please keep going!