Transform Heartache Into Hope
No one would have ever thought that Rachel's fears would be realized two years after the following summer. It happened on the morn of Téa's birthday. On the day before, Rachel asked Kanade if she and Yugi could come over to pick up Emily and take her to Téa's house because she had to get up early and go to work. Before dawn, just when Rachel approached her car, someone came and attacked her. Rachel couldn't see through his hood because he was obscured by the darkness, but she wasn't waiting to identify him. She tried to escape, but she was stabbed and slashed with a knife and left to die on her doorstep.
At daybreak, paramedics came and took Rachel's lifeless body and Emily was taken to the police station. She was able to tell the police how much she had witnessed while hiding in the shadow of the hall, but broke down and started crying again. Who could blame her? She helplessly watched her mother die and did nothing.
A few hours later, Yugi and his mother came to the police station and found Emily. Earlier this morning, when they stopped at her house and saw the crime scene, they asked what happened and were answered that Rachel Briar had been murdered. Worried about Emily, Kanade asked where she was. One officer assured her that the girl was safely taken to the station and offered to escort Kanade and her son to see her.
Kanade told Yugi to stay with Emily and comfort her while she would call Téa's mother and tell her what was going on. Her son understood and sat next to Emily. Still crying and wailing, she wrapped her arms around Yugi. She was happy that he was here for her, but more than anything, Emily just wanted her mother.
At Téa's house, the brunette was getting dressed. She couldn't wait for her two best friends to come over. Her mother came to her room and gave her Kanade's message. Téa was shocked to hear about Rachel and asked if Emily was okay. Given the circumstances of this terrible event, the brunette decided that celebrating her birthday of little importance right now. She had to see her best friend. Her mother understood and agreed to take her to the police station.
When they arrived, Téa immediately rushed out of the car and ran inside. Kanade saw her and took her to see Yugi and Emily. Now all three friends were crying and hugging each other.
Because investigators were still working at the crime scene, Emily couldn't return to her home. So Téa and her mother offered to put Emily up at their house for the time being. The blonde was allowed to return once to gather the supplies she would need like a change of clothes and her purse. At the same time, emergency phone calls were being made out to Rachel's relatives to tell them of her death. Robert got the message too and was crushed.
A funeral was held about two weeks later. It was also decided that Robert would gain full custody of his daughter. Emily didn't like the sound of that. It meant living far away from her best friends and knowing how hateful her father is towards her friends, he might force her to forget them.
Emily wanted to spend as much time with her friends as she could before she had to go. So they would get together at the playground for a few hours. Robert was willing to let her do it if it meant taking her mind off of Rachel's death.
The blonde didn't want her friends to be too sad about her leaving, so she smiled and assured them, "Don't worry, even if I do have to live far away with my dad, I'll… I'll come back someday."
"You will?" Téa asked.
"Of course," the blonde answered. "You guys are my best friends and we're supposed to stay together, right?"
Téa and Yugi agreed. "And we'll always be friends no matter how far apart we are," the brunette added.
Emily stops smiling as she looks at Yugi. "I still can't bear to think about being away from you, but I promise, I won't love anyone else but you."
"Oh, Emily," Yugi sighed. He touched her cheek and began singing.
I will always be with you
Makes no difference where the road takes you to
Even if we're apart
Now we're joined at the heart
Though our moment may be gone
You and I will still live on
Emily held his hand and sang, I will always be with you
I'll be by your side whatever you do
Other memories may fade
But the ones that we make
Are eternal as a star
Now I'm part of who you are
Together, they sang, And I'll be there for you at the sound of your laughter
I'll be in the tears you cry
'Cause the way you and I have touched one another
Doesn't end with goodbye
I will always be with you
Like a guardian angel, constant and true
When you're lost in the night
And you can't see the light
My love will see you through
I will always be there, Yugi sang.
You'll have me there, Emily sang.
Together, they finished, I will always be with you
The scene was bringing tears to Téa's eyes. She took her handkerchief and placed it close to her eyes to keep them from falling.
Yugi and Emily were about to kiss until the blonde felt herself being pulled away. It was Robert. "I gave you permission to play. I didn't say you could spend the day. It's time for you to come back and finish getting your things together." He began pulling her away.
Yugi and Téa watched in sadness. "Why does he have to make things harder for her than they need to be?" the brunette asked.
"My mother said Rachel told her that Emily's dad isn't the most sensitive or understanding and has control issues," Yugi said.
"Well for Emily's sake, I hope that changes," Téa prayed.
Finally, the moving van was loaded and Robert was ready to take Emily and leave. The blonde was saying her last goodbyes to her friends who came to see her off. "I promise to come back someday," she said again.
"Call us sometime," Téa pleaded.
"And write too," Yugi added. "We will."
"Of course I will," Emily promised. Robert had enough and pulled Emily. As she was being forced into the car, she raised her voice and said, "Yugi, Téa, don't forget me! Take of each other! I'll miss you guys! I love-" then her dad finally gets her inside and closes the door.
"We love you too," Téa cried. As she and Yugi watched the car drive off, they waved goodbye with their mothers.