Darkness Within

Chapter 15: popularity contest

The warm wind swept around me as I walked home. The stars twinkled and the moon shone bright overhead. They kept disappearing and reappearing as clouds danced by. I licked at the blood on my lip and gently rubbed my burning neck. "I don't think that was worth it."

No... it was... I looked up at the game shop. "No matter what... I wont do it... I wont betray my friends no matter what. I wont play Kaiba's little game. If he wants to win so badly, he can do it himself."

I quietly opened the door, closed it and crept along the walls. All I had to do was make it up the stairs and I would be home free. Simple right?

I made it to the kitchen where Yugi was sitting at the table waiting for me and doing some homework he missed. I'm so close... almost to the steps... "Shit!" What are those shoes doing here!? "Amaya?"

I pulled myself off the floor, wiping any dirt or dust off, trying to delay the inevitable. I turned to the spiky haired boy. "Uh... ya?" I gave a fake smile. "Whats up?"

Shock then concern spread on his face, eyes changing color, as he ran over to me. "What happened.?"

"Nothing. Really, im fine." I still kept that smile though I didn't like lying to him...

He brushed his hand over my red neck and swollen lip. "This isn't nothing. Now tell me what happened."

I sighed. This was exactly why I wanted to sneak in. I didn't want to be interrogated or lie but there's no other choice now. I don't want him or any of our friends to get caught up in my mess. I can handle it...

"Ok..." I thought it over, what would be a good explanation... " I tripped?" Ya... not really what I was looking for but what could I say? What could explain a red, bruised neck and a bloody swollen lip besides ' ya a couple of guys beat me up'?

He sighed and shook his head. I really do hate lying to him even if it isn't believable in the slightest... "Fine don't tell me... just be safe..." The concern and worry in his eyes faded, they became cloudy, cold and dark. "And... if I ever find out who hurt you... I will kill them." My eyes widened and before I could say anything he was replaced by a kid,who was once again confused at his lack of memory's. As if depression wasn't enough...

"Jonouchi you are not entering that contest." I put the emphasize on 'not'.

"Why not? I need the money..."

I sighed. "Because no one wants to see you in a dress! Especially not a bikini!" Sometimes I wonder if you have any common sense...

"But how- who says..." He stammered.

"Amaya does have a point Jonouchi. I don't know why you would do that exactly but still." Anzu told him.

Jonouchi crossed his arms in defeat. "Fine!"

"Are you applying Anzu?" Yugi asked.

"Ya. The prize is tickets to a Broadway musical and I couldn't get any."

"Then I'll cheer for you! Do your best!" He cheered halfheartedly before turning to me. "Are you going to enter too, Amaya?"

I shook my head. "No way. This contest is pointless, its only about looks." And I definitely don't have them... I thought bitterly.

"Oh... ok..." Disappointment was clear in his voice. Which made me wonder what he was thinking about but I shrugged it off.

"Hey Honda, whats wrong?" I called. He was sitting by himself outside of the school.

He literally leaped over to us, kneeling before us with a pleading look. "Yugi, Amaya, please listen!" Tears pricked his eyes and soon began to fall...

The suns setting, sending out an array of oranges, pinks, and yellows. The water to the side of us, shined like fiery crystals as we searched for our purple haired friend.

After a few minutes we spotted her looking through a shop window, a red sale sign above it. "Miho!"

"Oh Yugi, Amaya? What is it?"

"We finally found you. Hey, about the contest..."

"Yugi is entering too? Or Amaya?"

"No Miho. We just want to know why you aren't.?" I told her.

"I don't like musicals."

I smirked. "That makes two of us."

"Hey, do you two want to get something to drink? I feel thirsty. Miho walked into a shop nearby.

At the same moment, waves of some sort, flowed from the millennium puzzle leading towards a boy with fluffy white hair and a dull look in his brown eyes. Yugi placed his hand on the puzzle just as the waves stopped. "This is..."

Ryou... at least it looked like him, you can never really tell with Bakura. A sad, a look of pity graced my face. Such a sad life... No friends, his mother and sister dead, a neglectful father, all alone... no not quite... but he would be better off if he was... I sighed. it all kinda reminds me of my previous life..

"Excuse me, do I know you?"

I snapped from my thoughts. I wiped my away my previous expression and replaced it with a small, almost sad smile. "Oh uh no, sorry. I'm Amaya."

"I'm Ryou Bakura. Pleased to meet you." he smiled. As much as I felt sorry for him, I couldn't help but smile back.

"Guys! What are you doing?" Miho came running up to us. Her eyes turned to hearts and her face, a light shade of pink, at seeing Ryou. Honestly... I cant blame her... "Hey, I'm from Domino high. My name is Nosaka Miho. This Saturday the school is having a popularity contest. I'm definitely going to win, so please take the role of escorting me."

He walked away with indifference, not replying. Probably the right move for the situation. "See you around, Amaya."

Miho waved. "Be sure to come! I'll be waiting!"

"Are you sure you don't know him Amaya?" Yugi asked. I looked at him curiously. "Its just that... your blushing..."

I shook my head, hoping it would go away. "No I don't. Promise." I lie too much... even though I'll have to tell them eventually and maybe... sooner than I had hoped. He still looked uncertain but shrugged and let it go.

Apparently unaware of our conversation... "Alright! Miho's going to do her best!"

"Miho..."

Miho walked away, sending her fist through the air. "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"What was that just now?..." Yugi whispered.

"What?" I asked as though I didn't really hear him or know what he was talking about...

"Oh nothing... never mind..." He looked as though he really did want to tell me but I wasn't going to pry. I had already tried and it didn't turn out well... and after all, I have my own share of secrets...

Miho looked herself over in the mirror. "I'm so nervous."

"But Miho, I'm amazed you entered. What happened?" Anzu asked.

Her face turned a light shade of pink as she stared off into the distance. "Just something."A smile crept to my face, knowing her thoughts. I thought it was funny but hey a girl can dream, cant she? That's all I used to do...

"Alright! I'm definitely going to win!"

Suddenly, the purple curtain was pulled back and a devious looking red head stepped in. Two other girls were behind her. All of them quite ugly, if you ask me. "I heard something about winning just now. Miho and Anzu looked almost curious, while I glared. "You should know your place. Though I suppose there is dignity in just participating.

Anzu's and Miho's curiosity turned to anger. "Hey! You don't know who'll win yet." Anzu told them. Miho got this overly sweet look. "Please be gentle, all we have is our youth. Its like the contest is between how tight our skin is. Anzu snickered.

That really pissed red head off. "How rude! Kaoruko-san is also..." Her friend tried to back her up but she was cut off by kaoruko, who seemed to have calmed down. "Very well. When the results are in we'll see."

I stayed back while the contestants were shown. I peeked from behind, making sure I was out of sight. The crowd is situated into three groups, one for Miho, one for Anzu, another for kaoruko.

I looked over to Anzu section where in the anime, Yugi had been cheering with so much enthusiasm for Anzu. It definitely wasn't enthusiasm, I would barely call it cheering. He still held up the sign but his expression... it was boredom. I gave a smug look even though there was no one to see it.

After, kaoruko's performance, which was really boring, I watched her switch Anzu's tape. I debated whether I should help her or not... it would make the contest more interesting, something I haven't seen before but then again she's an annoying, nagging, jealous, bitch soo... nah.

"Mazaki Anzu's hip hop dance." Anzu walked out on stage, expecting to dance and give it her all. That didn't happen. The music came on and it wasn't her song. She looked around in confusion, then down in embarrassment.

I stepped back behind the curtain as everyone exited the building and headed to the pool. I leaned back and sunk down against the lockers as Miho got ready. "Miho, You've got to win not matter what now."

"Leave it to me! I brought a swimsuit that I really like." If I didn't know better, I would have said that its probably ugly though, I still don't approve of the color choice.

"Really?" Anzu leaned against the locker next to me.

"Don't be surprised when you see it." She opened up her locker. "Ta-da!" She gaped at what she saw. "Its not here?!"

"Huh?" Anzu looked into the empty locker.

"Try this one." I got up, gesturing to the locker I had just been sitting by.

Miho opened it to find her pink and yellow swimsuit in one piece, not torn or damaged in any way. "Whats it doing here?"

"Eh, I just figured that red headed skank would try something so I hid it and kept guard just in case."

Before I could even blink Miho was suffocating me in an unbearable hug. "Thank you!" She squealed. I gently tried pushing her away. "M-Miho, I cant breathe." She let go of me after another second. "Oh sorry."

"Its no big deal. Now, get out there and win."

A few minutes later, Miho came walking back. "Alright. One more step till victory. I wonder if that person will come?" she closed her eyes, blushing. I wasn't sure whether to tell her his name or not but eventually decided against it. Not for any particular reason, of course. I also wanted to tell her not to get her hopes up but why take that away? False hope can be better than having no hope at all...

"Nosaka?" One of kaorukos 'friends' voice was heard by the door. "Behind the school there's a person who came to see you."

At hearing this, Miho became so happy, excited and over joyed. "Really?! Alright!" As soon as the girl closed the door, Miho began quickly putting on her yellow and green dress, the same one she wore to that party. Which by the way, I regret, I had gone to.

"Miho... this isn't a good idea... you shouldn't go..."

She looked at me with a mad but mostly curious expression. "Why not?"

"Well for one that guy you want to see, you don't know him, not even his name! Then how do you know this isn't some trick?!." I tried to sound as gentle as possible, though it came out a little harsh. Oh well, I had to get my point across...

She had finished and was half way out the door when she finally replied. Up till now she had looked as though she was contemplating the matter. Now she looked determined. "I'm sorry Amaya, but Miho is going."

I sighed. "Guess I should follow her..."

I waited a second before getting up and running after her. I didn't want her to see me and if I didn't make it in time... she should have listened. I don't know how someone could be so obsessed with someone they've never even met...

Looking around I saw a girl in a red dress walking out of a dark alley. I was to late. I waited until she was gone before running over to Miho. She was out cold, her dress was torn, she had lost... seeing her, I felt a bit guilty. Which is a rare thing. Believe me.

I knelt down next to her. "She really wanted to win... and its my fault. I could have stopped this..."

"Amaya? What happened?!" Yugi came and knelt down, the other side of Miho's motionless body. "Who did this!?"

I shook my head. "I don't know... I found this." I handed him the cloth, washed in chloroform and the rose petal. "Its chloroform."

"I have to go...I have to go..." Miho mumbled. "Because im going to win..." With each word Yugi grew angrier and angrier... it reminded me of that time he had been mad at me...

The puzzle glowed, lighting up the whole area. A dark shadow appeared on the wall, glowing eyes and the eye of Horus on its forehead. "Lets go, Amaya."

I got up and followed him when it dawned on me... maybe I hadn't saved Miho because I wanted to see him? I trailed behind and looked down, smiling sadly, tears pricking my eyes. Every time... subconsciously... How selfish I really am... I shook the thoughts away, wasn't going to feel sorry for myself... not now.

Yami held up the rose peddle. "You dropped this."

"Who are you?" Kaoruko demanded more than asked.

He stepped out from the behind the curtain. I didn't follow, I stayed behind and listened. I figure I can keep this the same. "If you are going to do cowardly things to your rivals, prepare to regret it."

"What are you saying? Whom are you addressing?" A b with an itch.

"Pathetic... play dumb as much as you want. However... only if you beat me. Its game time." I smiled. It had been a while since I had heard those all too familiar words.

"What are you inviting me to do?"

"Its a really simple game. We'll take turns pulling from the flowers you have. The person who pulls the last on loses. We're free to pick from one to three."

"Your right, it is simple. Then go ahead."

I could hear the flowers being picked by ones, twos, and threes. "Fool, I've won. There're are five left. Whoever picks first will definitely lose." She continued to explain why that was the case.

More flowers were picked. "I told you. You lose." I peeked as she held up the 'final rose.' "Go ahead."

Yami's hand went past the rose and up to the one in her hair. "I said the flowers that you had. I didn't say just the bouquet."

She looked surprised with the realization she had actually lost. "What?! that cant be!"

"The door of darkness has opened." I stepped out as everything became dark, eery, the last rose withered and so did Kaoruko. Her skin became old and wrinkled. It seemed so real to her and me even though I knew it was just an illusion just like the fire had been.

She looked in horror and sadness at her face in the mirror. "I... this is me..."

Yami came up behind her. "Beauty does not last forever. Remember that." Snakes, that were actually ropes, wrapped around kaoruko as she tried to stop us from leaving, probably wanting him to reverse what had been done.

We ducked to the side as the curtain was lifting up, having been announced, Kaoruko's the winner. She got the message. She would never forget. She hung her head in shame, pulling the ropes around her arms, water splashed all over her. She ignored the cries and then the laughing from the crowd as she walked away.

"She wont forget."

It was getting dark, quiet, warm breeze stirred the first few stars appearing in the sky. The street lights illuminating our way home. "You should have entered."

I moved closer, our shoulders brushing. "Are you kidding.? Do I seem like the type?" Or have the looks... I would have said, but he probably would have told me otherwise...

"No... I guess not."

I smirked. "Maybe you just wanted to see me in a swimsuit." I only half teased. This was Yugi's darker side after all.

He looked away, his face turning a light shade of red. I couldn't help but laugh and be a bit surprised, as far as I can remember, he had never blushed before. A few seconds later, laughter began to die down. "I'm just kidding." I nudged his shoulder yet he still avoided my gaze.

We finally made it to the game shop, the moon now bright, glowing orange, high in the sky. "Home already huh?" disappointment lined my words. It wasn't often Yami and I actually got to just hang out and talk.

" I suppose so." Disappointment hadn't been in his voice but when he looked at me, it was obvious. His crimson eyes shown so bright in the dark, filled with sadness and resentment.

The lights were on, I could hear gramps inside as we stood at the door. "We should probably head inside." He began to open the door. I grabbed his hand and he looked at me confused.

Incredibly nervous, I leaned in, my heart fluttering our lips touched. He couldn't always be the one to make the first move. It was the same as before. Perfect. After a few seconds the kiss got deeper and I just wanted to melt in his embrace. It was comforting, warm, I could forget my worries, I felt safe and most of all, loved.

Though we had probably been here for a few minutes, it felt like seconds. I never wanted it to end, unfortunately it had too. I pulled away, taking a breath. "Now we can go."

I smiled, one I only gave when I was really, truly happy. And he gave a warm smile back as I opened the door. Then I remembered... no, I shook it all away. Nothing, and I mean nothing is going to ruin this. Not now.

Wow... im really not good at writing fluff or whatever you wanna call it, much better at the depressing stuff, I think. Sorry for not updating last week guys, I've been really busy. Hope you enjoyed the chapter because honestly im not very happy with it. I couldn't keep you guys waiting any longer. This story is actually almost over, maybe six or seven more chapters and Ill only continue if you guys want...