Guardians

Note: I tried to get this one to you faster. Now that I have about five hours or so a day of being home with no internet access, I think I'll be writing a lot, and this baby should start flying off the press, unless I get writer's block again. Thanks so much for the reviews, and please continue! With that said and done, it's time to move forward with the plot, which has been somewhat stagnant for a while. Review!

Disclaimer: Haven't had one of these for a while. Still, I claim no ownership to Yu-gi-oh, because those claims would be false. I also do not own Fly by Hilary Duff, or Wake Me up Inside, by Evanescence. I do, however, own Karmina.

Chapter Fourteen: In Her Head

Karmina sighed and threw herself down on the bed. It was so weird, having Kaiba hear her thoughts. And it wasn't exactly a good weird. He shouldn't be hearing some of the things that went on in there.

"GAAHH! I hate this! HATE IT!" she screamed. Then, breathing deeply to calm her nerves, she racked her brain for a song that would help her. "In a moment, everything can change… feel the wind on your shoulder. For a minute, all the world can wait… let go of your yesterday. Can you hear it calling? Can you feel it in your soul? Can you trust this longing… and take control. Fly… open up the part of you that wants to hide away… You can… shine… forget about the reasons why you can't in life, and start to try. Cause it's your time… time to fly!" She stopped. It wasn't working the way it should. She wasn't calm. Now she wanted to get out of the stuffy little room and really take control. "Darn it, Hilary!" she screamed. "Your stupid lyrics are gonna make me crazy!" (AN: I don't mean any insult to Hilary Duff, so don't be angry with me.)

She sighed again and stood up, going to the window and finding a balcony. Fresh air, good. Maybe it'll calm me down and air out the bad thoughts.

She tried to think of another song to sing, but without her CDs, she felt as if her voice was missing something. "Wake me up inside, wake me up inside. Call my name and save me from the dark," she sang softly. That song always made her a little sad. She didn't have anyone to do the other part for her. A brief thought of Seto Kaiba standing next to her on a stage made her laugh and then want to cry. He was the closest to a friend that she had, besides Wingweaver, and that was just sad.

"I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems, got to open my eyes to everything," she mumbled, still paying careful mind to hit the notes. "Why isn't there anyone out there… to help me?" she asked the sky which, besides changing a different color, did not react at all. (AN: The disaster at hand is making environmental catastrophe.)

She thought back to the romance of all the books she'd read and movies she'd seen, and not once did it involve a shy girl who couldn't even manage to speak for herself. And if it did, she always got over it by the end. Nothing of the sort was ever going to happen to her. She didn't even have friends; the chance of ever getting a boyfriend was even less likely.

"I hate you," she told herself unhappily. It just wasn't fair that she had to be the way she was when other people got to take center stage and be happy all the time.

Kaiba's POV:

I could hear her singing even though she was all the way across the hall. She doesn't realize it, I don't think, but she sings very loud, unlike when she talks. It's not really bothering me, but I know I should say something, or else she might think I like her. I open the door and then I can hear something else, too. She's crying. Again. Suddenly, that beautiful singing stops and all I can hear is her muffled sobs. Why won't she shut up?

End Kaiba's POV

Karmina tried hard to stop crying, but she just couldn't. She was so alone, always alone. A lot of the time, she tried to act like it didn't matter, but it did. Very much.

Once, she thought she heard a door open, but it was probably just her imagination. No one could hear her anyway. And no one cared.

That's just it, then. No one cares and it's gonna be that way for the rest of my life. I should just give up trying to be nice, or trying to look presentable. It's hopeless. There isn't any reason for it. No one would notice, not even if I had a neon sign saying 'Notice Me.'

She took another deep breath and put her head in her hands. Her eyes kept streaming tears and she just sat there, hoping it would all just go away.

Several minutes later she was interrupted from her pity by a soft touch to the arm and the sound of someone sitting next to her.

I really, really wish I had the sense not to come here. I can't do this. She's… she's just… something I can't handle. She isn't like what I'm used to.

Oh great, he's come over here to make me feel even worse. I wish he'd just leave, just like everyone else.

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what you're doing out here," he said in his usual, mean tone.

Just go away.

She didn't say anything. She didn't even look up. It was too embarrassing.

"I always knew you were weak," he said.

What on earth is that supposed to mean?

I hope I'm not being too hard on her… I just want her to stop acting like this.

"You can't just give up on everything because it gets to confusing, or too hard, or too lonely. That should just make you try harder."

Oh, shut up. You have no right to talk about giving up. You gave up on yourself a long time ago and… hold on. That's what I'm doing right now, isn't it?

"Karmina, don't do this." This isn't like her. Normally, she tries to hide everything she feels.

"Don't… don't give me that," Karmina snapped softly. "Y-you're the one who never s-shows emotion." Hypocrite.

"What are you talking about? I am not a hypocrite!"

Oh yes you are. "Sorry, I-I'm just n-not very happy r-right now."

Must she stutter so much? "Stop stuttering; it's annoying."

He hates me. They all hate me. "Sorry."

"I don't hate you, Karmina."

Sure acts like it. "I n-never said y-you did."

"I can hear your thoughts, remember? And they sound suicidal."

Oh yeah sure, let's go jump off a bridge again, shall we. Only this time, I won't miss. "I-I… but I wouldn't… I'm just upset."

"Then stop acting like a baby about it."

I'm not being a baby. "Sorry."

"STOP APPOLOGIZING FOR EVERYTHING!"

"S- oh… never mind."

They sat there for a few minutes, neither one saying anything. Finally, because the silence always makes people say and do stupid things, Karmina looked at Kaiba to see that same faint touch of red on his cheeks.

"Are you… b-blushing?"

Oh no, she noticed… quick, make a mean remark to distract her! "Of course not. You're seeing things."

"I d-don't think that c-cover up w-was necessary… I know w-what you're th-thinking."

Naturally. "Right. I think we should both keep that in mind, or we'll drive each other crazy."

Aren't we already? "I-I'll try."

He nodded, and then another uncomfortable silence ensued. This time, it was he who tried to fill it.

"Why do you think everyone hates you?" he asked in his usual tone, even though it was supposed to be a gentle question.

"Well… no one r-really… pays attention to me. It c-can be very lonely. Sometimes… it's just t-too much, you know?"

He did know. "I guess. But it doesn't mean everyone hates you. You just don't do anything to get noticed."

Wow, I had no idea. "I'm just… not a v-very outgoing person."

"No, you're not. But people don't hate you. They just don't know you." I sound like a sap. She's gonna hate me after this conversation. Come on, Seto, stop being a weakling.

"Please don't. I… I like it w-when you're like this." Oh no… he's gonna be so mad… I should-

"DO NOT apologize."

"Okay, I won't."

He nodded and stood up. "It's getting late. I'm going to bed."

Karmina watched him until he was out of sight with a strange flutter in her heart. Good night, Seto.

End note: sigh Wasn't that romantic? And what's this… Karmina's heart is fluttering around Seto Kaiba? Review, please!