"Jenna! Wake up!" A voice broke into my dreams. My eyes flickered open. Yugi was leant over me with an excited expression. I sat up. The city scape rolled slowly past the window of the train. My parents were gathering our bags as the Tannoy crackled.

"The next stop is-London King's Cross, where this train will terminate."

"We're here?" I asked sleepily. Yugi nodded. I looked about.

"Where's Yami?"

"At the food carriage."

"Oh, ok..." I ran my fingers through my hair, before frowning. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah, you kinda touched his hand while you were asleep, so he went all visible and freaked your parents out. He decided to take advantage and go buy some food." Yugi explained.

"Remind me never to do that again." I glanced at my parents. "What did they do?"

"They thought he sat down when they weren't looking. They thought he was just being a perv or something. Well, your dad did. Your mum just thought he sat down cos there was no seats." Yugi giggled. "Oh!" He jumped slightly. "Yami's back!" He tapped the Millennium Puzzle. He widened his eyes, obviously having a conversation with his partner. "Wow, we're going to have a feast!"

"Leave me out why don't you?" I pouted, and Yami swished into existence, now fully invisible.

"It's for your birthday Jen." He informed me.

"Can I see?" I begged, but I was denied access to their Soul Room.

"We haven't finished putting the decorations up yet! Besides, it isn't your birthday until tomorrow!" Yugi winked, putting his fingers into the peace sign.

"You guys!"

We collected our baggage, and got a taxi to the hotel. It was a really beautiful Hotel. My parents had really splashed out. They said it was because I'd had a hard year and they were happy with how well I was handling it. Some excuse it turned out to be.

That night, I lay wide awake in bed, anxiously watching the clock, waiting for 12 o'clock. I would be 14! Some how, I felt older already. I know it was only a year, but I felt a little like I was more mature. This year had brought a lot on me, and I think, despite all the mess, it had done me some good. I feel like I had matured in ways, even if my parents didn't see it.

All these thoughts swimming around my head were making me sleepy, and despite all my attempts, I couldn't stay awake for midnight.

"Jenna?" Yugi's voice awoke me. I sat up in Yami's spirit room with a snap and looked about me in awe.

Red and Green paper rings were strewn about the stairs and doors, feeling vaguely reminiscent of a Christmas party. There was a table opposite me with a large chicken and potato dish, along with a bowl of crisps and some pretzels. I stood up and was greeted by Yami, holding a pink iced birthday cake, the 14 birthday candles illuminating his smiling face. Yugi ran to his side excitedly and they burst into a rendition of "Happy Birthday to You", Yami albeit slightly reluctantly. By this point I was in tears.

"Oh, you guys! You didn't need to... Oh!"

"Make a wish Jen," Yami held out the cake. I shut my eyes and blew out the candles.

"I wish we could stay like this forever and ever and never end ever!," I wished without thinking. In a frenzied burst of hyper active-ness, I had said the first thing that came into my mind. Immediately, I took it back. I didn't want Yami and Yugi to stay prisoner to me forever, but somewhere, deep in my heart, the selfish side of me cried out for their eternal companionship. They were the two truest friends that I'd ever had, and I wanted it to stay like that.

I opened my eyes. Yugi clapped excitedly, and Yami smiled. We caught eyes as he did so, and my heart leapt as I saw a dull light behind his eyes.

"He knows! He read my mind!" I cursed my foolishness. Yugi called to us and I cut the cake with aid of a fancy looking knife, probably some ceremonial one that Yami had.

A few moments later and we were sat upon the stairs, munching on chicken with a delightful pretzel and potato topping and cake to match. We ate the cake first though, in a weird backwards meal.

"Are you happy Jenna?" Yugi asked.

"Am I happy? I'm ecstatic! You two are so great! This is the best birthday already and it's only just starting!"

Yugi smiled. "It was all Yami's idea really. He organised most of it. I iced the cake though. Did you like it?"

The cake sported a fetching Dark Magician Girl design, bright sparkles erupting from her wand.

"It was lovely, thank you." I hugged him. Yami had said nothing in the past few minutes, but suddenly rose and put his plate to one side.

"Jenna, would you come with me?"

Yugi rose with me, but Yami put out his hand. "I'd rather you stayed here partner. We won't be long."

"Ok." Yugi agrees sweetly and proceeded to stuff his face with cake.

Yami and I walked together until we were out of Yugi's sight.

"Jenna, I had a dream last night. Would you mind if I told you it?"

"Not at all."

Yami breathed in. "Last night, I was standing on a ledge with a dark pit stretching in front of me. I was in a duel, but the pit was so wide I couldn't see my opponent. I was using Magician's Valkyria and we were just going "in for the kill" when my opponent activated a trap card. It was one I've never seen before. It was a chair, with arm and leg clamps. Can you picture it?"

I affirmed that I could think of something like it. Yami continued.

"It clamped Magician's Valkyria down and began to... I can't really explain. It was hurting her, she was in great pain. Then, she just... snapped, and the force of her snap threw me away from her. I called out, but I couldn't find her." The Pharaoh looked hard at me.

"What are you suggesting?" I asked, a little perplexed to why he would be telling me this.

"You don't know anything about this?"

"No."

"You're lying."

I was horrified. "I certainly am not! Why would I lie to you?"

"You won't tell me about my past when I ask! Is that not like lying to me Jenna?" Yami's voice was accusing. I was close to tears.

"How dare you? You know why I do that Yami! You kno-oh!"

Yami grabbed me by the collar and pushed me up against the wall.

"Lying little sneak. All you are is a little liar with selfish ambitions. You don't want to help us, you're just keeping us here to fulfil your sick little fan-girl fantasies!" He hissed into my face.

"Yami no! No! I'd never-"

I was cut off as Yami slammed me harder against the wall, and in a weird turn of events, kissed me.

Holy Ra, that was the first and best kiss I'd ever had. It was exactly what I'd imagined my first kiss to be like, except I was a bit more emotionally charged with anger and crying. I can't even describe what it was like, but my head literally imploded. Memories and images of the spirit kissing me deluged my consciousness, overwhelming every other feeling I had. All I could think of was him, lost in the twisted, confusing moment as our kiss deepened...

And then it was over. Yami let go of my collar and I dropped to the floor like a limp rag doll. As my head was clearing, I spotted Yami leant back against the wall opposite me, palms pressed to the smooth stone. He was panting slowly, and when he saw me staring he gave the smallest shake of his head.

"Forgive me Jenna," He said in the quietest possible voice, his tone childlike. "I didn't want to go that far, but it was necessary."

"Why?" I whispered too.

"I had to get you upset so your mind would be open to me. When a person gets emotional, they lose their grip on what memories they shelter most. The kiss was the final stage. I knew it would surprise you and I'd be able to get deeper into your mind."

"I swear, if you've been looking up your past, I will actually sock you!" I stood shakily, furious. Yami straightened his back.

"I give you my word that I wasn't. I just had my suspicions about something, I needed to check."

"You could have just asked me Pharaoh!" I yelled. Yami turned away from me.

"You don't understand Jenna. I don't fully either, but I know I will at some point." He looked back at me. "Yugi's been waiting long enough, eh? We need to get onto the business of your presents."

Me: Hey ya'll! How are you? I'm not dead, you'll mostly be pleased to hear...

I really regret to say this, cos I never ever wanted to say it about a story, but Close Encounters is going on a bit of a hiatus. I have a shed load of exams coming up in May/June and I honestly cannot spare the time to write this particular story. (My Tintin fic is being uploaded sometime in the next couple of weeks cos that's quite an easy story, I can sorta put myself on cruise control with that one KWIM?) I apologise to all the new people who have started following this story (and the faithful old ones) cos you're not getting updates for a while. My deadline for uploading Close Encounters chapter 13 is July 14th so check back then for more!

(Please R&R if you can find the time, I really apprectiate it. Thank you for all being so loyal, it makes me really happy! (cheesy sniff lol) Red xxx