Author's Note:
Heart: Hello again! Sorry we took a while with updating, Evil and I had exams to study for and take. We sincerely apologize and will try to update on a faster pace.
Evil: A very happy birthday to a guest who commented, 'loveyourfic'. The day you asked us to update the chapter on your birthday was the day we actually started the outline to it, so we're sorry. Because of it though, we dedicate this chapter to you and hope you enjoy it.
Heart: Enjoy! Give us your feedback, anything helps! Also, before I forget, visit my DeviantArt page for spoilers on how some of the characters will look later on in the story! My username is KyteLeonhart, no spaces, no numbers.
Chapter 13: First Dates
The loud, treacherous screeching of the final bell resonating through the halls and classrooms awakening the life in the lifeless students rooted to their seats and to the outside world. With renewed vigor, those dreary desks and hallways filled up with chatter and tangible excitement melted into empty silence like the subtle breeze on the sunbathed trees. Yugi, holding the arm of her new companion Duke, treaded soundlessly matching each step of his to hers enjoying the steady sounds of departure and nature's dancing. Rustling branches and leaves saluted their goodbyes as the hustle and bustle of busy streets welcomed their entrance.
Their journey to Duke's car was a relatively uneventful trek, both lost in thought of the night's previous events. The mention of Bruno was surprising, especially shocking to the raven-haired boy who hadn't heard from his lover for what seemed like eons ago that he was reduced to an uncharacteristic, depressing and overbearing silence. The life in him was almost sucked out had it not been for Yugi. Throughout the day, though he hadn't spoken about his predicament, she comforted him in the only way she knew; encouraging words and soft gestures of friendship. It was limited to how she could comfort Duke but he didn't seem to mind. However, even as he helped her into the car, he still retained his suppressive silence. 'Enough is enough, I need to cheer him up somehow.' Yugi thought.
Adjusting her glasses higher on the ridge of her nose, she steadied her hands and forced a smile. As teasingly and joyfully she could manage, she laughed and spoke to the still unresponsive boy in the passenger's seat. "That test in math was so hard! And to think, we still have a million more to take the rest of the week!"
"Hmm? Yeah?" Duke said sleepily. Sighing, he raised his brow at Yugi and grinned wearily. "Dear Ra, do I hate those tests. You'd think transferring to a school less prestigious than my former school would mean less work!?"
"You're telling me?" Yugi laughed. Comforted by Duke's effort to finally communicate with her, she continued on light-heartedly. "I heard you cursing under your breath the whole time!"
Together, they laughed somberly and gently as they drove by parks and building filled with people frivolously laughing without a care. Silence once again threatened to suffocate the two, driving a pike through their ease with each other. Yugi shivered uneasily, Duke was looking at her, she felt it. But it wasn't the normal warm, fuzzy feeling he gazed at her with, now, he looked at her with unsettling sorrow. 'Maybe… he wanted to talk about it, but didn't know how to bring it up?' Yugi thought.
"Umm… Duke? Are you really okay? You know, with the whole Bruno thing?"
"Am I okay that he may possibly show up in my life again and be taken away in the blink of an eye?" Duke said bitterly. He sat silent for a moment, staring straight at the long road ahead of him deep in thought. He sighed, a heavy and weighted sigh and regained his composure. It wasn't Yugi's fault, it never was. "I'm not sure. It's been a year and a half since I last saw him and the mention of his name made me realize, I still love him. But I can't get him back. I'm stuck in my father's plans and his hate for my 'preferences' as he puts it. As much as I love the gaming industry and I don't even mind marrying you, but… I don't think I can handle the fact that it's not Bruno at my side. HE should be the one I'm speaking to about this. HE should've been the one to comfort me through this. I'm keeping you from going after what you truly want."
"No you're not Duke! You're-"
"Yugi. Stop. I may not be the whole reason, but I'm not stupid enough not to know your relationship with your parents at first sight." He said sternly. "I'm sorry if I'm bringing up unnecessary topics, I'm just upset and I don't want to make you worry Yugi. You do that enough, and sometimes I feel like you purposely help others to stop yourself from thinking about yourself. Trust me Yugi, I've told you everything, why can't you trust me?"
"I…" Yugi whispered hesitantly. "I don't want to inconvenience you. I'm not worth worrying about…" Killer! Murderer! Go DIE you God-forsaken cripple! You're not my daughter anymore! You killed him! My boy, my only son! How could you!? Why, why, WHY!? Numbly, she slumped in her seat, trying to ignore the voices screaming in her head. She covered her ears as though she could physically stop the voices, shaking she rocked in her seat. "I- ... Didn't-.. Mean to…"
"Yugi wake up! Yugi!"
The car came to an abrupt stop. Jolting Yugi out of her daymare and into the real world, where she was safe. Yugi sat upright, she felt the leather seat beneath her hands, her own gasping breath resonating throughout the car, and felt the fuzzy gaze of concern on her face. Soft skin encircled a hand above her ear and gentled pried it from her head.
"Yugi… Don't be afraid." Carefully, Duke embraced her awkwardly, as well as he could in a parked car. "I don't know what happened to you, or why you're scared of your parents, but know this. I will be waiting whenever and wherever you need me to listen. I won't force you nor will I ask anyone else like Tristan and Serenity. Now are you okay?"
His voice hushed against her ear oddly comforted her. Breaking her rigid stance, she hugged Duke back, knowing that without words she was fine. Yugi blinked back her tears and sat back as Duke released her lingering in the once more quiet conversation they spoke. 'What would I do without him by my side?' she thought forlornly.
"Hey you know, I haven't properly thanked Solomon for saving me yesterday. You mind passing along the message little one?" Duke said smiling.
Feeling the smile in his voice, she grinned back in mischief. "I will! And last night was kinda funny if you think about it."
Flashback
"Umm… Young Master? Are you feeling well?" Solomon asked hesitantly as he approached the raven-haired teen collapsed onto a couch away from the group.
"No Solomon, I feel like I've been punched in the gut…" Duke grumbled wearily. Like he said, he looked green in the face and his limps looked like jelly replaced them.
Solomon, in mock horror, drew back in shock. Conspicuously loud, he cried out, "Did you eat the cookies in the kitchen?! That was Jaden's science project! Ohhh, I told the boy not to make something so harmless looking!"
Taking the hint, Duke milked the act as best as he could. He gagged and gulped and raced out of the room faster than an Olympic sprinter ever could. And behind him, he left amused looking guests to snicker and laugh about 'the harmless mistake'.
"I'll take that as a yes that he ate the chemistry infused cookies." Yami chuckled.
Concerned, Yugi rose from her place on the piano bench and towards the door. "Ummm.. Solomon, please entertain our guests for a moment. I'll be right back." Because she knew the house like the back of her hand, she left the room hurriedly without raising suspicion to her disability.
"Should we help sir?" Ryou asked sympathetically, half standing in case she was in need to help.
"Who cares!?" Bakura said stretching out like a cat. "Pretty Boy can handle himself! Hey, butler sir! Is there another bathroom I can use?"
"Down the hall, take a left, walk ten steps and turn right at a 47 degree angle. From there it's straight ahead in front of your nose."
"Thanks." The white haired male said curtly. 'Now… Time to listen in on what Pretty Boy and Shorty are doing'
End Flashback
"Seriously, thanks again for letting me stay the night over. I bet Jaden didn't like that, but I didn't want to go home after crying that much." Duke said begrudgingly.
"It's no problem at all! And don't mind Jaden, he's just being stubborn. Hey… do you-" RING, RING, RING! Yugi's phone screeched and vibrated violently in her pocket, startling her. She still wasn't used to the small device in her hands. Running her hands over the Braille, she pressed the 'talk' button as soon as her fingers made contact with it. "Sorry Duke. I'll be just a second. Hello? Yugi Motou speaking."
"Hey Yugi! It's me Yami." A nervous voice said.
"Yami!" Yugi yelped as she blushed madly. As soon as she made that silly like shriek, Duke started laughing over the steering wheel, carefully avoiding traffic while enjoying the scene in front of him. "Hi how are you?"
"I'm fine thanks for asking… Umm… Why does it sound like someone is dying in the background?"
'Gosh his confused voice sounds so cute' she thought excitedly. "Oh it's only Duke"
Hearing his name being mentioned, unceremoniously and dangerously, he leaned over to Yugi's side of the car and yelled into the phone. "So lover-boy finally calls! I was wondering when he would make his move!"
"I'm so sorry Yami…" Yugi said, blushing even redder than before.
"No, no… it's okay. He's not wrong. I was actually wondering if you'll go on a date with me."
"Umm… Right now?" She said uncertainly. "I don't know- Hey! Duke! Give me back the phone!"
"I don't think so! And hey is for horses madam!" Placing the phone on the ear out of Yugi's reach, Duke turned his attention to the confused singer on the other end of the line. "She'd love to go out with you! Just have her back by ten because we have a project to work on. We'll be at her house in about fifteen minutes. Meet us there. Sounds good? Okay bye!"
"What was that for!?" Yugi spat.
"Do I really have to spell it out for you? Alright then! You like him, he likes you, and Yugi plus Yami equals happy couple and pretty babies. Now your IQ has been raised!" Duke laughed carelessly.
However, Yugi was not amused. "I am not amused! What about the engagement? We can't annul that on our own! What about our parents?" The tri-color haired girl's voice rose almost beyond the edge of hysteria and worry. Suddenly, she felt the chill of a glare meeting her face, Duke was not amused at her mention of the engagement.
"We've been over this! No more objections! The whole thing was arranged just so they can-.." Duke stopped speaking abruptly in mid-sentence. He stayed suspiciously quiet for a little bit until his normally steady voice spoke once again but more uneasily and anxious. "Never mind. Just don't ask questions okay?"
'Is he keeping something from me?' Crossing her arms stubbornly, she replied submissively, "Fine! But… What do you do on a date?"
"Yugi… Could this be your first date!?" Duke asked incredulously.
"No! I went out with someone before!" She said quickly. "It… just… wasn't your traditional relationship though… It was too hard to keep… Too many, umm… problems between the both of us…" A hint of sorrow tinted her voice, signaling the end ad possible never-going-to-be-brought-up-again conversation.
"Oh… Okay well! From my experience, dates usually go like this…"
Yami's POV
Starting the engine to his old, but restored purple 1996 Chevy convertible (A/N: Don't know much about cars so I apologize!), Yami flipped open his also purple phone and dialed the only number that could relieve him of his nerves, Ryou. Though, he could ask any of his band mates for advice since they ALL had experience and were currently in relationships, the mellow-looking white-haired girl had an air of understanding the others didn't possess too prominently. Patiently, he waited for the girl to answer as he made his way to Yugi's house.
Click. "Ryou speaking! What's up Yami?"
"First date nerves." Yami stated despairingly. "Don't laugh, I have no idea what to say, do, or expect. You think you could help me out?"
Static scratched on the other side of the call, a short screech indicating Ryou was shifting the cell phone deep in thought. "Well, Yami what do you want me to tell you? The best advice I can give is be yourself and listen, not just talk. Take the time to get to know her well, find out her character, her hopes, and dreams. Baby step it though! Don't scare her with so many questions on the first date! Does any of this help?"
"Very much, thanks!" The singer smiled, hope filled his heart as he thought of the bright girl waiting for him. Her smile, her sweet voice, her gentle aura of kindness; it was just slowly becoming overwhelming thinking about her. 'Her eyes would probably jus be as beautiful if she'd take off those sunglasses,' Yami thought solemnly. "Wish me luck! I'm pulling up her driveway. Bye Ryou!"
"Good luck! Tell me the details when you get home okay? Bye!"
And with an audible click, the phone was shut and safely stored in the pocket of his jeans. Yami took a quick look in the mirror to see if he was presentable. His long legs were adorned with dark blue, washed-out jeans and he wore his trademark leather tank top under a blue blazer. Tri-colored hair spiked up in a gravity-defying manner, and his usual leather buckle choker, he was ready to go. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car and strode wistfully up to the driveway meeting Yugi and Duke.
What filled his crimson-amethyst eyes almost made him almost forget all that Ryou had said to him. Standing in front of Yami shyly was Yugi, but instead of the fierce beauty she showed on the night they met, she was bathed in soft glimmers of natural loveliness. She wore a pure white sundress, fitted to her body and flowed at the hips falling gently just above her knees. On her feet, strappy silver sandals exposed the matching anklets decorated with sparkling bells. Her normally sheet pale skin was painted a healthy white-peach and lips the color of a milky pink rose. The untamed hair she was proud of was pulled into a single braid thrown across her shoulder. And as usual, her bulky glasses rested on the bridge of her nose, though not quite disturbing the image she created for herself. Compared to him, Yugi looked like she belonged in a field of flowers instead of the industrial world she was born into.
Realizing he was staring, Yami abruptly looked away, his face flushed with embarrassment. Almost musically, he shyly greeted Yugi and Duke as they treaded softly towards him. "Hey…"
"Hey..." Yugi replied with an equally timid demeanor.
However, the raven-haired boy at her side wasn't amused with the two's reluctance. Irritated, and visibly perplexed, he intruded curtly, "Is for horses. JADEN! HURRY UP!"
With an earsplitting slam, the door of the Motou mansion came to a closing SLAM as the Kuriboh of a boy hurried across the lawn and to the waiting trio. "Don't get your damn panties in a bunch! I'm right here!" The brunette complained sarcastically.
"What's going on? ..." Yami asked, snapped out of his "blanked out" state eyeing the younger Motou uneasily.
"You really think I'm going to leave my precious Yugi all alone with you?" Duke smirked mockingly, hands on his hips and a brow raised to regard the older man, he laughed dryly. "Ha! Jaden and his date will be watching over the two of you and will be sending me reports." And with a mock salute and a wink directed at the Motou's, he swerved deftly back to the house and left the other's to their own devices.
"Great, an unwelcome guest. TWO I might add…" Yami muttered, not wanting Yugi or Jaden to hear his complaint. Gesturing to the figure strutting away, he regarded the younger brunette with a hint of annoyance in his speech. "That guy is a piece of work isn't he."
"Yes, we all know you have a secret GAY crush on him, but now's not the time to drool or check him out. We gotta pick up Chazz!" Equally annoyed, Jaden replied as he discreetly deposited Yugi to the front passenger's seat.
All the car doors slammed shut, and in no time, they were on the road.
"Who's Chazz?" Yami asked curiously and wanting to start a conversation that was hopefully less awkward than he felt. "Is she that goth girl who hung out with your brother yesterday?"
At this, Yugi beamed. Like a mother bragging about her child's accomplishments, she dutifully patted the brunette's fluffy hair and laughed joyfully. "Yup! He's finally got the nerve to ask her out!"
"Nice bro! Hope everything goes well for you guys! Hey, where did you say she lived again?"
After twenty minutes of misleading directions, bursting arguments, and numerous frustrated sighs of defeat, they were headed to Domino City Park with Chazz coolly sitting beside the nervous brunette in the back seat. "Where are we going?" The Goth girl asked curiously.
Yami, eyes trained ahead, replied immediately, and almost shyly glancing at Yugi as he responded, "Well, I thought going for a picnic in the city park would be nice, but since you guys tagged along, I guess we should go to a movie instead."
"No!" Chazz said abruptly. Realizing her mistake and silently reprimanding herself, she tried again. "I mean, a picnic in the park is fine! It's... romantic!"
Arriving at the Domino City Park in the midst of the noon's soft rays lightened the hearts of the group as they set up their spoils under the lone cherry blossom tree the park proudly boasted. Though Yugi couldn't see it, flowers and greenery of all shades smiled at their entrance, welcoming them to a day of pure relief and subtle enjoyment of nature's gift. Stone walkways and sidewalks shone glimmered silver as the sun rose over them and emitted faint warmth too soft to be felt with the caress of a small palm. Morning dew remained captive in the leaves above and around them leaving behind the wondrous aroma of the ancient earth and soil they rested on. To the touch, they felt like tears fallen from the great cherry blossom tree, blooming with luminous pink buds on its branches. The group sighed in content as they took in the sight and scenery around them and breathed in the scent of an earthy home. However, Yugi sighed in momentary depression. The Domino City Park had once been her favorite place to visit as a child but as her vision faded, so did the memories of the enchanting meadow of flowers and wide open spaces.
"Gonna serenade my sister now are you?" Jaden said as Yami had none too discreetly pulled out a guitar case settled in the grass a small distance away.
Glaring, Yami met the younger boy's challenge. "Be lucky I'm feeding you Kuriboh Head!" Ignoring Jaden's protests of the horrid nickname, Yami rested beside Yugi, close enough to hear her faint breathing and close enough to feel her feet beside his. "Let's see. I brought peanut butter and jelly, tuna sandwiches, veggie sandwiches, a large canister of iced tea, umm… a bunch of grapes … and an apple for each of us."
Laughing, Yugi poked where she though Yami's shoulder was and leaned back into the cherry blossom tree. "Are you feeding an army or do you think I'm fat?!" She cried teasingly.
"No! Not at all!" Yami stuttered. "I just didn't know what you might like so I brought a lot!" Blushing like the apples he packed, he hung his head in slight embarrassment. He felt at ease, though, that Yugi was smiling despite how awkward and nervous he felt inside. 'Don't try too hard. Ryou gave me good advice, I should follow it." He thought reassuringly.
"How sweet." Chazz said as she gazed out into the park lost in its beauty.
"And oddly dead on." Jaden chuckled. "Those are some of Yugi's favorite foods. You sure you're not a stalker Mr. Oh-So-Great-Millennium-Rock-Star!"
"On the contrary my friend, those happen to be my favorite picnic snacks! Plus I'm a good guesser. Come on dig in! The food won't eat itself you know!" Yami countered half-heartily, feeling better and more confident about the date.
"True, thanks Yami!" Yugi beamed.
The group continued to talk frivolously about nonsense and humorous stories of humiliation as they ate good food. Yugi, enjoying herself began to drift in and out of the conversation as she felt the bark beneath her back. Like any other tree, the bark was rough and crooked with uneven breaks in the wood, but this one carried an eerily familiar smooth feel. Yami's story became buzzing in her ears as she tried to remember the long-buried memory of the bark. It was important, desperately important as she traced the patterns discreetly in concentration. It felt like the-
"So do you think you'll be able to come?" Yami asked interrupting Yugi's thoughts.
"Wha…? I'm sorry what?!" Yugi yelped.
Chazz, Jaden, and Yami all laughed teasingly at the small girl's aloofness. And even more so as she turned redder and redder.
"I'm sorry for laughing Yugi!" Yami chuckled, his baritone voice comforted. "I was wondering if you'll be able to make it to the debut of "Hero", the song you submitted for the contest. It's this Saturday in Tokyo."
"I don't think I have plans for this Saturday. We'll see! I'll try to come, okay?"
"That's all that I ask." Yami purred, his deep voice lowering to a gentle whisper flowing gently and eagerly to her ears. "Maybe we could hang out afterwards. You should bring your guitar, we could play a few tunes while everyone else messes around."
"That would be nice…" Yugi replied entranced. Yami's voice mystified her, like a magician to his crowd. She was trapped in his words, and there was probably no way out.
"Can we come!?" Chazz and Jaden exclaimed excitedly. Like puppies, their tongues hung out of their mouths in anticipation.
"Don't the both of you have exams coming up this week?"
"Nooooo…"
Yugi chuckled, 'It was too easy with these two!' she thought grinning. "Is my answer. Now go climb the tree or something!"
For a few seconds, no one understood what the small, tri-colored girl meant, and as it dawned on them, the two younger of the group sauntered their way to the other side of the tree. Their grumpiness was short lived as the brunette boy and the crow-haired girl laughed and chased each other around in a made up game in their made up world.
Strumming gently on his guitar, Yami hummed along to the beat as Yugi turned her attention from her brother to the rhythmic beat she craved. It was a slow, solemn melody. One that could make you think of past sorrows and make you feel hollow in the pit of your stomach. Unconsciously, Yugi began to him along; Yami the harmony, Yugi the melody. Together, they sang in complete unison, so pure and everlasting it felt. Mournfully, Yugi began to add words without warning Yami.
White walls surround us,
No light will touch your face again,
Rain taps the windows,
As we sleep among the dead.
Days go on forever,
But I have not left your side,
We can chase the dark together,
If you go then so will I.
Pausing, Yugi felt an intense stare boring into her, stopping her train of thought and eagerness to continue the song. The stare felt incredulous, shocked almost as it prickled her skin abruptly. Blushing in nervousness, she turned away from the stare knowing full well who it was.
It was Yami. His crimson-amethyst eyes gaped wide at the girl. The unfinished tune in his head was conveyed exactly how Yugi sang it. What he wouldn't dare say or sing aloud, the girl stole from his mind and used them against him. A welcome thief she was, but it was surprising how well she could tell the emotion behind the melody and to add lyrics of such mournful caliber. The older man wanted her to sing more, to hear more of his forbidden thoughts be sung aloud by his mind reader. I wonder if she knew him…
"Yugi? … Are you okay?" Yami said cautiously.
"I'm sorry, I ruined your song didn't I." Yugi replied miserably. She twisted her hands in her lap, awaiting Yami to yell or say words of cruel intentions, she didn't know. She just had a heightened feeling that the song meant more to him than she believed.
"No! You actually sang what I've been trying to say for a long time!"
Confused, Yugi faced to where Yami's voice was. "What do you mean?"
Scratching his head, Yami sought for the words to explain how he felt. He wasn't good at expressing through speech, only song. "Well … About five years ago, a good friend of mine died in an accident. He was a very important person in my life, Millennium's first fan so to speak when we were barely starting out. He gave us hope to go for it, to fight to be heard." Yami smiled grimly. A story as hard as this should be heard by only one person, one he thought he could trust. "Anyway, I wanted to write a song in honor of him but every time I thought about him, I couldn't think of anything that would be suitable. What you did just now, I think he would be really happy to hear, a song of longing, longing to see an old friend."
"Ohh... I'm sorry about your friend." Yugi shivered slightly. She was right, the song was more important than she thought. However, a small burst of happiness filled her heart. She was able to help Yami and that, in itself, comforted her and knew that it comforted him as well. "What was his name?"
"His name was A-"
"HEY! Guys! Let's go for a walk around the park before it gets late!" Jaden interrupted suddenly. Chazz was wrapped snugly in the brunette's arms, grinning timidly at the feel of his foreign but welcome affection.
Sighing, Yami deflated for a moment in grief, and then cheered himself up. "I'll tell you later, just remind me or I'll forget. I'm going to put the picnic basket and the guitar in the car, can you wait out here for me?"
"Yea sure! A walk sounds like fun! Can you help me up before you go though?" A hand grabbed her outstretched one, and lifted her gently back to her feet. Using the tree as support, she squeezed Yami's hand and released him. "Thanks! I'll wait up here for you okay?"
"Can't seem to get there fast enough." He chuckled.
His footfalls faded softly in the grass, disappearing slowly from Yugi's listening range. Feeling the strange bark beneath her finger tips, she walked around it, one hand feeling the bark and guiding her safely. At first, she thought she was being silly, being suspicious of TREE BARK for crying out loud. As she was about to drop her hand in defeat, she felt an abnormal carving on the tree. Tracing it, it felt as though it were cut from a knife, small and unnoticeable to those who weren't looking hard enough. She poked at it mindlessly for a moment until suddenly, she froze. Within a carved heart, the words carved into the bark sent shivers up and down her spine like restless ghosts.
Brother and Sister Forever:
Atemu loves Yugi
Yugi loves Atemu
Author's Note:
Heart: *stretch* Finally done! This was different than the outline, but hey! When given poetic license, take advantage of it! Evil here was a good sport about letting me change dialogue and actions and the like.
Evil: Yup. Sorry if the last chapter was a little lengthy. I was totally my fault. Hope you enjoy! Comment, critique, I don't give a flying f #$, I just want to sleep! =_=
Heart: Night guys! It's eleven at night and I vowed I wouldn't stay up late anymore! Look how that turned out…
Both: Enjoy!