Darkness Within

chapter 10: Through thick and thin

A few weeks passed. It had gotten much colder, lakes had frozen and snow covered the ground.

I watched as snow began to fall. Just what we need, more snow. I hated winter, snow and above all else the cold. Good thing I didn't like to go outside.

It was early in the morning. I don't know why I didn't sleep in, it was Sunday. Although I would have plenty of time to sleep in considering there is only a day or two left of school before vacation.

I sighed, bored out of my freaking mind. There was nothing to do, I could draw but I really wasn't in the mood. I sat in the kitchen as the hours passed by, complete silence filling the room except for the soft chime of the clock.

Then I heard footsteps behind me, startled I swung around to see Yugi rubbing his eyes. "Morning." I told him. Happy to have some company.

"Morning, Amaya." He sat down across from me.

"Want some breakfast," I offered.

"No, thanks."

"Alright." I sighed. He had returned to his gloomy self but had been making an effort to try and change that or at least cover it up. And I was glad.

We sat there for a while, neither of us talking. When the phone rang. I got up and answered it.

"Who's this?" I asked.

"Jonouchi. Amaya?" the voice replied.

"Hey! Whats up?"

"Anzu wants to know if you guys wanted to go ice skating." Jonouchi said.

I looked over at Yugi for a second, noticing he was looking at me questioningly."Oh sure, but I don't have ice skates and I'm pretty sure Yug doesn't either."

"No prob. Anzu says her and Miho have extra and if that doesn't work out we could just rent a pair or two."

"Ok. Great! When and where?" I asked him, getting excited. I had never been ice skating but have always wanted to try it. Now was my chance.

"There's a pond over at Anzu s and about an hour."

"See ya later." I replied and hung up.

Unable to hold my excitement. "Yes! We're going ice skating! Come on, Yug! We gotta get ready!" He just sat there, looking confused. "Oh right." realizing he had no idea what the hell was going on. "Anzu invited everyone to go ice skating in about an hour."

Yugi smiled, got up and ran to his room. It had been awhile since I had seen him that happy so I gave an even bigger smile. If that was even possible.

An hour later I heard someone knocking on the door. Must be them. I wrapped my purple scarf around my neck and put on my matching hat. I ran out of my room, grabbing my necklace as I did. "Come on Yug! Everyone's here!" I called, just before opening the door.

It was freezing outside. As soon as I had opened the door a gust a cold air blew into my face, making me shiver. "Hey guys!" I smiled, trying to ignore the cold and the glare Anzu gave me.

They said 'hi' back and I went to call for Yugi again but he was already running up to us. "Ready?" He smiled and nodded. We were off.

The entire time we walked, everyone was chatting. Except for Anzu and I. She had kept glaring at me and I kept glaring back as if to say 'what the hell do you want?!'

"Whats everyone doing for Christmas?" I finally spoke, trying to distract Anzu, she was really starting to annoy me.

"I don't know. Probably nothing." Jonouchi shrugged. I didn't really expect anything from him, I mean his dad was well... and his mother? I don't know and I wasn't going to ask.

"Miho is hopefully going to sit by the fire and drink hot chocolate and..." It was a very long list and I kinda just zoned out about half way through.

Honda shrugged and Anzu just didn't reply. Although she finally stopped glaring at me. For a second anyway. As soon as everyone had said what they were doing she went back to glaring. Thank God we had finally made it to the lake.

"Ice skates," I asked.

Anzu held out a pair of ice skates and I went to grab them but she pulled them away.

"What the hell?!" I yelled, finally having enough of her crap.

"We need to talk,"she told me. She began to walk over to the other side of the pond. I'm guessing so no one could hear. I walked after her. Looking back I saw everyone confused and a bit concerned but I gave a reassuring smile.

"What do you want," I asked, clearly annoyed.

"Ever since you got here, you've been nothing but trouble. Yugi has been acting different and I want to know whats up," she demanded me, coldly, not with an ounce a worry.

"How should I know!? And trouble?! What have I ever done to cause anyone problems?!" I shouted at her. She said nothing. "Oh... I get it. Your just jealous that he spends more time with me than you. I sneered. Her cold eyes turned to that of surprise then hatred."Well you know what? That's too bad. Get over it."

She looked at me with hatred and rage and before I could even react she shoved me onto the ice. She smirked. I started to get up, ready to beat the crap out of her, when I heard a loud crack. I looked down and saw the ice beginning to crumble around me.

I began to panic. I looked to Yugi and the others as they ran towards me, (not on the ice) shocked and scared. I heard another crack and I fell into the dark waters.

I thought I was prepared for it but I soon as I had hit the water, my breathe left me and I froze. Not literally, though it felt like it. My body was stiff, freezing, I couldn't even gasp for air not that it mattered because I was slowly sinking deeper and deeper into the murky depths.

I heard voices shouting above me. This is it. This is the end. Were my last thoughts before there was nothing.

I awoke to find crimson eyes staring down at me with worry. "What? Where am I?" I managed, shaking. I was so freaking cold!

"You almost died!" Miho blurted. "Miho was so worried!"

I turned to see my 'friends'. Jonouchi, Miho, and Honda looked at me completely worried and concerned. Anzu on the other hand didn't look at me, she just stared ahead with a blank expression as everyone walked. Except me. It took me a while to notice but Yami was carrying me! Bridal style. I blushed trying to push away but he just held on to me tighter. I gave up and relaxed a bit although I was completely embarrassed. All this time he had never taken his eyes off of me.

"We are taking you to the hospital." Jonouchi told me.

"Wait! What! No freakin' way!" I stuttered, still shaking. "I'm not going to a freakin' hospital and that's final!"

"But-" Jonouchi was about to protest.

"I'll take her home," Yami cut in. "You can all go."

Jonouchi and the other looked like they wanted to say something but didn't. I don't really know why. One by one they began to walk back home, telling us to call them once we got back. I nodded and said good bye.

We or rather he walked in silence for a long time. It had become windy and the snow that lightly fell earlier was snow coming down fast, whipping my face and making me even colder. Still shivering from the cold I huddled closer to Yami. I was just to cold and miserable to care about my embarrassment any longer.

We finally arrived at the Game shop and gramps was waiting for us. "What happened?!" He asked running over to us. I looked at him and then at Yami, expecting him to leave like last time. But he didn't. He stayed and explained the whole thing, except... Curiosity began clawing at me. Not really about why he hadn't mentioned Anzu but why he didn't mention who saved me...

"Should I take her to the hospital?" Gramps asked as if I wasn't even there. Which annoyed me but I kept silent.

Yami shook his head. "No, I'll take her to her room."

"Alright." Gramps replied, uncertain.

We went up into my room and Yami lied me down on my bed.

You would think that I would have crawled under my blankets and fallen asleep, but I didn't. Instead I sat straight up on the edge of my bed and narrowed my eyes at Yami, who just stared at me. "Who saved me.?" I demanded.

"It goes without saying. Doesn't it.?"

I looked at him realizing that, like me, he was soaked and pale. I even thought, for a second I saw him shiver.

I sighed. "Ya I guess it does but what doesn't, is why you didn't mention Anzu."

" I didn't think It was important."

"Not important! That bitc- you know what forget it."

He sat down next to me. " I just figured it would cause more problems for everyone, especially you. So you want to tell me why she pushed you in the first place?"

I shook my head. "No... it was stupid. Just forget it." I gave a weary smile and turned from his gaze.

He gave a small smile back but it quickly faded. He grabbed my wrist, making me turn back to him. Our faces were only about an inch apart. He leaned in closer, our lips almost touching but he quickly pulled away, seeming embarrassed.

Despite how cold I was, I felt my cheeks warm. I felt nervous, embarrassed and oddly disappointed.

"I better go." Yami told me. He got up and started to leave.

"I-" I didn't know what to say.

He looked back at me and smirked before leaving.

I sighed realizing I was still soaking wet. I got up, locked the door and changed into a tank top and shorts. I climbed into the partly wet bed, glad to be finally getting some rest.

I wondered what time it was. Looking outside I would say that it was around nine maybe ten. Normally I don't go to bed this early but I guess I could make an exception, just tonight.

Tomorrow... I swear, I'm going to give that bitch, Anzu, a piece of my mind. Now that I thought of it, I might not be able to do anything tomorrow because I'll be sick... shit. That was the last thing I wanted this vacation, but I guess there's no way around it now. Maybe... I held onto my pyramid of light and silently made a wish. For myself and Yami.

Truth is, I could not come up with anything for several days. So im sorry if this chapter was well... bad. I may edit or delete this chapter later. Anyway the next one will hopefully be a lot better.