A Light In The Darkness...
5
The ship filled up gradually...Shizuka stayed close to Bakura...waiting of course until it felt safe enough to talk about what he had just done for her.
"Here, seems good." said Bakura as they made their way to a less crowded part of the ship. Alot easier to miss, and therefor, less likely to be noticed.
"Bakura-kun...thank you." she said softly, holding her hand out to him to return the star chips he had loaned her, "I don't know how I will ever repay you for what you've just done for me..."
"Don't worry about it." He said softly, "But the rules that I have read about this tourney that state in order to compete you will be wagering star chips in order to gain a certain amount to grant you entrance to the Castle..." he explained, "In other words, you are going to need Star chips in order to even play so- keep one." he said softly, retrieving the other for himself.
"I see...that makes sense." she said softly, "Thank you but...won't it put you at a disadvantage?" she asked curiously, "I mean, as an actual invited contendor, having only one star chip...people might take advantage of you...and of me, not only for just having one but also for not being offical in the first place-"
"So then be hush hush about it, hm~" he hummed softly tapping a finger to her lips to silence her...
She kinda needed that-
She was beginning to ramble.
"But Bakura-kun...If I may ask..." she paused for a moment while his eyes shifted to grant her his attention, "...Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked curiously, "What I mean is...why is it that you are going out of your way like this so as to put yourself at a disadvantage just to help me enter?"
She couldn't help but wonder, honestly.
This was a lot to do for a practical stranger...
So..What was his game?
Bakura took a moment to respond...
"Well for starters, I feel that if you want to compete then you should." he said softly, "But...that's not the only reason..." he began to look nervous. Swallowing a thick ball of nerves in his throat while he pondered on how to explain himself properly about what he was about to tell her...
He sighed.
"Look I just...please...don't be angry, all right?" he asked of her softly, "But I..." he paused, "I know, about your little brother, right?"
Shizuka gasped softly.
"You...know about Tobi?" she blinked, "But how?"
"I followed you." he said softly, "I know I shouldn't have but...I don't know I guess I was...sorta concerned you know? A bit worried that- maybe you were in trouble or something and thought maybe I could help but-" he paused, "But what I found out- wasn't about you at all..." he said gently, "It was...about him...your struggles and tardiness...it's all due to being sick with worry for him, correct?" he asked curiously.
She...didn't know how to respond...just shifted her eyes down cast while he explained.
"I know I shouldn't have...that was wrong of me, and I'm truly sorry." he said softly, "...The reason you want in this tourney...it's because you know about the cash prize, right?" he asked, "You...want to try and win it to help pay for his medical expenses...is that it...?"
She was silent for a long time. She didn't know wheather to be angry...or relived that somebody somewhere finally saw all the stress she was under...
While he did it in a sort of round about way...
She knew his concern was coming from a good place...and she couldn't be angry at that.
"...Yeah." she said softly, "My little brother...Tobi...he's very sick." she said softly, "He was born weak and frail and spent a lot of his time in and out of the hospital until it's finally gotten to a point that he needed round the clock attention..." she explained, "My parents...they travel a lot for work...they send us money and stuff to help take care of each other and front for some of his bills but...it's not a lot...and the bills just keep piling up." she sighed as she made her way to the railing, leaning over it while she watched the water gently treading beneath them as the ship set sail.
"Tobi really likes Duel Monsters." she said softly, chuckling, "So I learned how to play for him, that way we could play together when I went to visit him at the hospital."
"I see...Bakura said softly, leaning over the rail and smiling warmly at her, "That's actually very sweet." he said to her, "The two of you are rather close, yeah?"
"He's my best friend." she smiled, "He means everything to me..." she sighed glancing up at the starry night sky, "With our parents gone all the time like they are, Tobi and I only have each other..." she said softly, "I'm his big sister, It's up to me to take care of him...I SHOULD take care of him..."
Bakura's eyes narrowed sadly, hearing the pain in her voice as it cracked he took his hand in hers and gave it a warm squeeze.
"That's a lot of pressure to be under..." he said softly, "I'm so sorry...but...you shouldn't have to be forced to push yourself so hard." he said to her, "Regardless of being the oldest, you're still a kid yourself, and I can't imagine how hard it is to be a kid under such stress that your parents should be handling-I don't think Tobi would want this for you..."
"Yeah well...my parents aren't around to help so..." she sighed, "So I will."
"And I will too." said Bakura.
"What?" Shizuka blinked.
"Your my friend, Shizuka." he said to her, "If you're in trouble...and I can help in anyway I can...then I want to." he paused, "I mean...that is what friends do yeah? And...we ARE friends...aren't we?"
His eyes shifted to her as he asked this question with a curious tone in his voice. With that...her own eyes grew wider.
"Friends? You and me? Really?"
"Well...yeah." he said softly, "At least...I would like to be...if you'd let me?" he smiled.
Her eyes narrowed down softly, a warm heat on her cheeks.
She hadn't expected this...not at all.
So all along he was being so nice to her...because he really did want to be her friend? That information hinestly baffled her...
But then as her mind was always elsewhere...it was hard for her to really make friends...which was probably why she didn't really have any...and was so surprised that someone was standing her now, genuinely trying to offer his hand.
"Yeah..." she said softly, a warm smile on her face, and a subtle tone of red rosying up her cheeks as she averted her ganze and softly ran her fingers through her fringe, tucking it back behind her eat to reveal her whole face to him while she smiled.
"I think...I'd like that."
"Wow..." he said softly in a whisper, seeming rather awe stricken as he looked at her.
"What? What is it?" she asked curiously.
Had she said or done something weird already?
"Oh- ah- n-nothing it's just..." he paused for a moment awkwardly,"You...have a very nice face you know...?" he said softly smiling at her, "You should really show it more." his smile grew warmer...
and so did her cheeks.
Compliments like that weren't exactly something she was used to receiving...
"Well...come on then." he said softly, "It's starting to get colder out here...we should head inside before we catch our death." he chuckled.
"Oh right..." she laughed softly. It wasn't until he said something that the nippy temperature got to her. She may have been wearing long sleeves under her black dress, but it certainly didn't leave much covering for her legs.
"That's probably a good idea."
The two shared a soft chuckle together as they tried to find there way to the common room. Shizuka stayed in the hall at first to keep warm while he wandered around in search of the right door...
"Get down, someone's coming!" said Tristan. He and Tea hid with the cargo, having snuck on to support Yugi and Joey...waiting patiently for the right time to come out of hiding-
"Bakura-kun...I don't think this is the right way." Shizuka said wandering out soon after him, the two ended up back outside...just on a different part of the ship this time-
"Hey look." said Tea, "Isn't that Bakura?"
"Bakura?" Tristan blinked, "You mean Bakura from school?"
" Yeah, and Shizuka too." said Tea, "What do you think they're doing here?" Tea asked.
"Huh..." Tristan said softly with a curious expression, "I guess they're in the tournament too..."
To Be Continued...