Z Star: Hi everyone, it's good to be back! But I won't be for long, because I've got some bad news. Read the authors notes at the bottom. Don't worry, I'm fine! Just read the bottom notes after you've read this.

Gary: They're going to kill you!

Z Star: Shutup! Just say the disclaimer! Ok enjoy this chapter guys!

Gary: Geez. Z Star own nothing but her OC's and this stupid story, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Chapter Eighteen: Jaded

Her tears never seemed to cease, for hours and hours she layed in her bed just crying a river. The poor little girl felt as if her heart had been ripped into tiny little pieces and been made into a mismatched puzzle. The redhead clung to the blue blankets, just trying to bury away the face of that boy that hurt her so. Though she would never admit it, he hurt her. Those words were so harsh, so cruel, she wished they weren't true…

Were they true?

A knock comes to the door.

"Shinju? Can I come in darling?" That was her mother. Shinju didn't want her to see her this way, so she wiped the tears away and sat with her back straight.

"Come in." She said in the calmest tone of voice she could muster, though holding back the sobs were difficult. With a push of the door, she was welcomed by Madame Shui'smile. She came to her daughters side and sat next to her.

"What are you doing inside on a nice day like this? I thought you were out playing with Prince Atemu?" Madame Shui questioned, but she knew what happened. Her daughter's pale and wet face told her all. The little girl sniffled and buried her face into her mother's chest. Madame Shui took her in an embrace, holding onto her tight and nuzzling her head. A muffle sob came from Shinju.

"Mother, am I repulsive looking?" She asked. Madame Shui narrowed her eyes and gently moved her daughters head, so the young Shinju could look into her eyes.

"Of course not Shinju! Why would you ever think that?"

"Well- well, this boy said…" Madame Shui was boiling with anger, she just wanted to take out the person or thing that had ever made her daughter feel this way. But the everflowing tears that came down Shinju's cheeks were enough to burn the enflamed rage that burned inside her.

"Hush Shinju." She cooed, taking her daughter into another hug. Madame Shui carresed the tresses of her first offspring, never failing to smile. "Little boys say the most idiotic things. You should pay no attention to them! You are beautiful, and never forget that." Soon Shinju's lips creased into a smile, her tears vanished and all thoughts of Chibi Yami escaped her mind.

But meanwhile, Chibi Yami could only wish to get rid of the redhead that plagued his mind. Guilt ravished him, he tried walking it off, he tried moving on, he tried not to think about what happened. But still, guilt nagged and nagged at him.

"Why should I say sorry? She's the one who started it! She made it into something it wasn't!" Chibi Yami told himself, circling in the palace gardens. "It's not like I meant to hurt her! It just came out! I AM NOT THE GUILTY ONE!"

I'm not guilty. I'm not. I'm not responsible… I was only a stupid kid! The older Yami told himself. He didn't care about the fact that he was somehow transported into his past, he just wanted to get out of it.

"Yami… was… was that you?" Yugi asked. "Yami? Say something! Did you just break that little girl's heart!"

There was no point. His Yami was in deep space. And nothing could snap him out of it. His little light gently grabbed his shoulders to force him to look at him.

"You're going to have to tell me Yami! Please don't keep it all in… please?" Yugi begged, his big violet eyes glistening. No. Yami wouldn't utter a word. He just couldn't tell the truth.

"… Yami." Tears rimmed the ex pharaoh's face. He deseperatley didn't want Yugi to see his tears, he was the strong one. The dark one, the elder, the one his light looked up to. Nothing would make him break his barrier.

"It's ok Yugi. It all turns all right in the end." He lied. He patted Yugi on the shoulder and turned to leave. He could feel the gentle gaze that was glued to his back as he strolled back to the beach.

No it doesn't Yami. Your end hasn't turned out all right. Something is wrong… and I intend to find out what's going on in that head of yours…

ASH, ELLA AND MISTY

Her knuckles turned red, to match the frustration that burned in her cheeks. Her eyes narrowed at the little boy that walked back and forth, shooting judgemental stares at him. Her grip on the bush branch grew tighter, and tighter. The two distant figures behind her stood silent, consulting each other. Weather to awaken the angry beast lurking or leave the strained silence.

"Um… Misty? Are you ok?" The boy was the first to fall into the trap. The beast was ready to pounce.

"How could he do that! I mean, what did she ever do to him? First he says all those nasty things to her! Then runs out on her, I mean what a PIG!" Misty screamed, ripping her leafy twig into millions of tiny pieces. The second to react, was Ella. She sat next to her angry friend, stroking her shoulder to try to calm her down.

"And she was only a kid! No wonder Grandma had such issues about her looks! It all came from HIM!" More branches cracked, as Misty's anger grew. "How could she have ever loved him? I don't understand!"

"Neither do we…" Ash barely said above a whisper, looking away into Ella's eyes. Not everyone was lucky like them. Such ashame too… "Oh, don't cry Misty!"

Hot tears trickled down her face. She buried her head into her knees, trying to lock herself away from the world.

"Can I just be alone now? Please?" The other two nodded. They went off to give their friend some space, they both knew she needed it…

YUGI

Yugi was making his way back to camp, thinking things over. Why did Yami have to be so secretive all of a sudden? Ever since he told him that story of what happened to him and Shinju, he had been so distant, aloof. He was still a caring Dark, but… he was closing himself off. But why?

'Sob!'

He couldn't even answer his own question. Yugi turned his head into the direction of where that sob came from. He pushed back the branches and his eyes widened at what was presented to him.

There was Misty, sitting on the ground, her hair matted, her face pale and wet. She was like a worn out fountain, literally!

"Misty?" He was met with blue eyes, that sparkled off the suns rays. Wow… she looks so beautiful…

The girl gasped, jumping to her feet. She ravaged her hands through her hair to try and tidy it, and wiped any stray tears that offended her face.

"Yugi! Uh, hi…" She sniffed, looking away in embarressment. Silence. No words came out of their mouths.

"Misty… were you? Were you crying?"

"… No…" Another tear slid out of her control. "I'm just… I'm just…" She felt a gentle touch to her cheek and a shy smile welcomed her.

"It's ok. You can tell me what's wrong. It seems everyone's been keeping secrets from me." Yugi laughed lightly, earning a smile from Misty. This in turn causing Yugi to blush and remove his hand, as if he had been burnt. She couldn't help but giggle at him.

"Why is that Yugi?" Misty asked, in a attempt to change the subject.

"I don't know…" Before Yugi went off into his own little world, he realised that the girl was trying to change the subject. "But maybe you could share a secret with me, then I wouldn't feel left out." A gentle smile graced his lips.

Misty looked away again, uncertain of what she should say.

"I'm sorry Yugi but I just can't tell you…" She said. You would think I'm crazy.

"Well… you don't have to tell me everything… you don't know, maybe it's something I could help with." Yugi smiled. The water pokemon trainer looked straight into those violet eyes, sincerity glowing off them as the light hit those crystalline orbs.

"Ok Yugi… I'll tell you everything…"

YAMI

The ex pharaoh searched his mind for answers… Was it really his fault that he acted like a jerk? He was only a child, but still… He had no idea how miserable he had made Shinju… until…

"You're intelligent, you're quick-witted and the most radiant women I have ever seen!"

"Ok that last compliment is a lie and you're going over a little over board with the flattery Yami. Stop teasing me!"

That was when he knew. That he had hurt her, in the foulest way possible. He had always thought she was beautiful, always, no matter what everyone else said. She may have been just plain and boring to them, but to him… words just couldn't describe her.

"I'm sorry I made you feel that way for so long…" Yami said barely above a whisper. "But, before I let you die, I hope I made you feel beautiful, on your last moments on Earth…" Sitting in there in silent hope that his wish had come true, Yami did not move. He just sat there reminiscing of his past lover's memory…

"Misty… were you? Were you crying?"

That was his light's voice! The dark one crept over near the bushes and pushed them back, so he could stay hidden and be able to spy on his light.

He was standing there, with Misty. Her face was blotchy and her eyes were red. Yugi was right to suspect she had been in tears.

"… No…"

Typical. Of course she was going to hide her feelings. She had only known Yugi for a few days, she would never reveal something so personal. It was typical she would want to hide her feelings…

"It's ok. You can tell me what's wrong. It seems everyone's been keeping secrets from me." What did Yugi mean by that?

I have never kept secrets from Yugi! Well… ok maybe I did! But it was just one…

"Why is that Yugi?" Misty asked.

"I don't know…" Maybe it was because Yami was too afraid to express his feelings, not Misty. He used to always mask his feelings, he was the pharaoh, he had to. Any sign of weakness could have lead him to his down fall. "But maybe you could share a secret with me, then I wouldn't feel left out."

"I'm sorry Yugi but I just can't tell you…" Misty said. Or maybe she did. The ex pharaoh chuckled, the way those two conversed reminded him of his and Shinju's first meeting. Shy and timid, they danced around each other, constantly using evasive manuvers to stop them from getting too close.

"Well… you don't have to tell me everything… you don't know, maybe it's something I could help with." But, now it seemed like Yugi was pressing forward, making the first move. She would come to him, she would.

"Ok Yugi… I'll tell you everything…" And he was there. Why couldn't Yami be a little more open like Yugi was, when he was a teen back in Ancient Egypt? It would have made things some much easier…

Plus I would have got to taste Shinju's lips sooner…

Yami blushed at that thought. Even though he was 5,000 years old, he still thought like a teenager! How shameful!

"But you're gonna think I'm crazy." Misty smiled at Yugi. The little boy shrugged.

"I'm sure it's not as crazy as most of the things I have seen before." Yugi grinned. "Go on…" This was a tense moment, one that could change the relationship of those two crazy kids. The girl grabbed her blue pendant and Yugi let a drip of sweat fall from his forehead.

"MISTY! YUGI! YAMI! COME QUICK!" But unfortunatly, the secret would not come out… not yet. Yugi and Misty followed Max's voice, and Yami shortly followed behind them.

Meanwhile, have you been wondering where Yukiko and Takumi have been doing? Well you're about to find out…

"SNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRR!"

Was the repitive sound that echoed that echoed all morning, from the demon twins. The sun's rays came pouring down on them, nudging them awake from their slumber. A disgusting snort came from the elder, as he scratched his head. After sucking some sap on his lips, Takumi rubbed his eyes. And they widened in a sudden realisation!

"Yukiko! WAKE UP YOU IDIOT! WE OVER SLEPT!" Takumi screamed at the stop of his lungs.

"SNOOR!" Was the response he got. With the pan he and his brother stole from Brock, he raised it into the air and slammed it down on poor Yukiko's head.

"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHH! THAT HURT!" The little demon screamed, rubbing his sore head.

"Good! Now come on! We have to find those kids before they find that clue! Come on!" The red fire ball grabbed Yukiko and headed off, without realising that they were still up on the roof. And several miles away, the demon brother's could be heard screaming their heads off, for their lives.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

May blinked at the sound.

"Did you hear something Max?" She asked her little brother.

"No."

"Hmm… I swore I heard something… oh well… must be just the wind…" May said.

Back with the twins.

"You know, for a smart demon Takumi, you're an idiot!" Yukiko claimed, laying on the ground and spitting out the dirt that flew into his mouth while he was screaming.

"Me? An idiot? Then what does that make you!"

"A smarter idiot!"

"… Why was I born with a moron? Did I do something terrible in a past life? Really! Someone tell me!"

End of Chatper Eighteen

Z Star: I am so sorry that took so long to post, but I have been so busy with course work and my GCSE exams. I won't able to make speedy updates until the 21st of July (When the summer holidays come!) So I would like to apologise in advance. Sorry!

Ash: But until then, we hope you enjoyed this story!

Yami: But what will happen? Will I ever let go of this guilt? Will Takumi and Yukiko stop acting like idiots? Will Yugi ever find out Misty's secret? Hello? WHERE DID EVERYONE GO? Aww her it goes! (Runs off)