Kind Hearts

Many are familiar with the phrase 'Don't judge a book by its cover' to remember that looks aren't everything. Rachel agreed with her daughter that Yugi looked special on the outside, but she still encouraged Emily to take time getting to know him; to find out if he was just as special on the inside. For that matter, Rachel suggested to invite Yugi over to visit. Emily liked the sound of that.

At first, Yugi was a little nervous about the idea, but he decided to give it a chance. He also figured he should at least share a few things about himself, so he brought along some Duel Monster cards and introduced her to the game.

Emily looked at the cards, admiring the pictures of the monsters and the colorful backgrounds. Some monsters, like the fairies, looked cute, and some, like the fiends, looked a little funny. The ones Emily liked were the spellcasters and she even revealed to Yugi about how she liked magicians and thought about becoming one.

"I like magic," she was saying. "But I also like singing and dancing. I want to be a performer when I grow up, but I don't know what kind yet."

"Well, I heard magic takes a lot of time and effort," said Yugi

"I guess," Emily said in agreement. "But it's all just cheesy and fake anyway." She looked at the Duel Monster cards in her hands. "I bet if these magicians were real, they could do real magic." She thought about it, then decided, "Actually, I really would like to be a singer. But I'm not very good at it."

"Oh, I don't believe that," Yugi told her. "I'm sure you could do anything."

"Do you really think so?" Emily asked. She was used to hearing her mother and Téa tell her so, but had never heard it from anyone else. Other than that, when Emily felt like giving up, her mother would always encourage her to tell herself she could do anything.

"Sure," Yugi answered. "You should follow your heart."

Emily smiled at Yugi's words, but her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a scraping sound. She turned around and saw a silver tabby cat pawing at her door. "Oh, Silver," she said with glee.

"Is that your cat?"

"No, he's a stray," she answered. "Stray cats always come over to visit. My mom and I enjoy their company and after a while, we help them find new homes." She opens the door and steps outside and kneels down to stroke the cat's fur. He purrs and rubs himself against her legs.

"He seems to like you," Yugi observed.

"Mm-hmm," she answered. "I love cats and cats love me."

Yugi smiled as he was watching Emily show kindness to the stray cat. He invited himself to join her. He held his hand close to the tabby's face. Silver sniffed it, then rubbed his head against it.

Emily smiled and said, "Oh, he likes you too."

He laughed and began stroking his ears.

"You know," Emily was saying, "a lot of the other kids at school make fun of me because I talk to cats like I'm talking to people. Sometimes I even think I understand what they're saying. At least, I like to pretend I understand."

"Some people are like that with their pets and other animals," Yugi reminded her.

Emily knew, but somehow, she felt differently. "In my opinion, animals aren't really all that different from us. You know how they say some animals are considered our closest living relatives? I think it's true." To explain what she means, she tells Yugi to think about the chain of evolution. "Before life on land, there was life in the water, starting with little microorganisms that turned into fish, then reptiles, then mammals. Also, in the Bible, God created animals before He created man. In either case, animals have lived on this Earth long before humans have and that kind of makes them superior to us."

She thought of something else. "Do you know of the author E.B. White?"

Yugi did know. "That's the author who wrote Stuart Little."

"He also wrote other books like Charlotte's Web and The Trumpet of the Swan," Emily added. "I thought of something as I read those books. Animals aren't really all that different from us. And just because they don't talk like we do doesn't mean they don't have voices like we do. Like us, animals think, feel, and have ways of expressing themselves. Yet, some people think less of them and treat them as lesser beings. Well, I think they should be treated as equals because in many ways, they are equals and yet, they're also better than us in many ways."

Yugi was amazed to hear Emily express her opinions so broadly. It made him want to agree with her. He also admired her kindness and understanding. He had often heard other students tell rumors that Emily was troubled and crazy, but seeing her like this made him tell himself that those other students had to be wrong about Emily.

A gentle breeze passed, but the two began to feel chilly and want to go back inside. The silver tabby left by jumping up the wall and going to the other side. Emily found a blanket and placed it over Yugi's shoulders. "You can use this to warm up," she offered, and they both sat down on her bed.

"You're very kind," he said appreciatively. He gathered his courage and asked a personal question. "Do you… really think there's more to me than what you see?" He faces her directly and adds, "That I have something more to give?" He had to ask because he wanted to know if she really did see something special in him and wasn't trying to take advantage of him like the bullies at school. Yugi was shy, but he was also naïve and had been warned by his mother to be careful.

"I do," she answered. "I've never met anyone like you, Yugi. When I finally noticed you for the first time, I saw how you stood out. You were different from the others. Not because of what you looked like, but because of how you treated me. You were nice to me, you didn't think badly of me. You're special, Yugi, inside and out." She stops herself and begins stammering. "Oh, but please don't take it the wrong way. I'm not saying that just to be nice or just because I like you. I mean, I am trying to be nice and I do like you, but I'm serious and really think you are special and –" she finally stops herself and looks away, feeling embarrassed. "I know I can talk too much and I can be weird." She sighs dejectedly and assumes, "You must think I'm weird now; stupid too."

But he didn't think that at all. He was happy to hear that she really did like him and think he was special. He places a reassuring hand over her cheek. "I'm happy to hear you say that." As she looks at him directly again, he returns the words to her and says, "You know, Emily, I've never met anyone like you either. I mean, you see the world differently in your own unique way. In my opinion, that makes you understand it better than anyone else."

The blonde girl felt flattered to hear that. "Do you really think so?"

"I do," he answered. He takes out some of the Duel Monster cards he brought with him. "I'd like for you to have these." They were the cards of the spellcasters she liked. There was Magician of Faith, Blast Magician, Rapid-Fire Magician, White Magician Pikeru, Ebon Magician Curran, and Magician's Valkyria."

"Really," asked Emily. "Is it really okay for me to have these?"

"Sure," he insisted. "If you'd like, I can also take you to my grandfather's game shop sometime and help you obtain more cards and build a deck."

"I'd like that a lot. Oh, I have something for you too." She went to her desk and opened a drawer and pulled out a drawing. "I drew this for you." Yugi took the picture and looked at it. It was a drawing of himself dressed in a white and blue tunic with gold accessories. "In one of my dreams, I saw you dressed like that."

Yugi marveled at the drawing. "I look like a prince."

"Do you like it?" she wondered. "If you don't, I understand. I'd feel awkward too if I received a drawing like that with the impression of something thinking I was their prince or princess."

"Maybe a little," he replied. "But I don't mind. I'll hold on to it." He set the blanket aside and stood up. "I should be going though. My mother will be here soon." He smiles and tells her, "Thanks for today, and thanks for the drawing."

"You're welcome. And thanks for the cards. And thanks for coming over. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

"You bet." Yugi leaves the room and heads to the front door.