Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ A Figure from the Past ❯ The Fair ( Chapter 2 )

A Figure from the Past

Chapter 2: The Fair

Heaven Sent Tenshi

 

Standard disclaimer applies

 

 

Lea looked up at the round-fronted building in front of her. She had had no problems finding the shop; in fact, it had been quite easy. She looked down at herself. She was wearing quite a different outfit today. It was mostly purple and black. She wore a black jacket over her dark purple tank top. She also adorned a pair of black slacks and dress-looking shoes. Over top of her pants, she wore a dark purple miniskirt; one that matched her shirt. To top the outfit off, a mesh shirt that fell to her ankles sat overtop of them all and a black belt to hold it all in place. Like her old school uniform, these clothes were a bit stained and tattered.

 

Adjusting the strap of her book bag, which she carried on her shoulder, Lea pushed the door of the quiet shop open. From inside, a voice greeted Lea upon entering the shop. Looking up, she saw an old man, who seemed to be about Yugi's height standing behind the counter. She faltered a moment before finally being able to answer his greeting.

 

“Uh… hello… I'm… looking for Yugi Moto… I suppose you're his grandfather…?”

 

Solomon Moto nodded. “That I am. You must be the new student that he told me about.” He wore a kind smile and his purple eyes were lit with a deceptive youthfulness. “Yugi's upstairs; he wasn't expecting anyone until a little later.”

 

“Oh…” Lea blushed, “I'm sorry… maybe I should come back later…”

 

“Oh, no, no, no; he asked me to get him when someone came. You just so happen to be the first. I'll be right back.” With that said, he turned and disappeared through one of the two doorways, ascending a small flight of stairs. Lea rubbed her arm, looking around at the collection of games. The shop was tiny and she was surprised at how many things they were able to cram into the little space. As she approached the glass-fronted counter, she spied a collection of cards; Duel Monsters among others. She knelt down, placing a hand very lightly on the glass, watching the cards when she heard more footsteps on the staircase.

 

“Lea,” Yugi greeted, “hey; I wasn't expecting you so soon.” He smiled and leaned on the counter.

 

“Yes… your grandfather informed me of that… I didn't mean to be so early… I can come back later, if you'd like…” She slowly rose to her feet, watching the ground.

 

“Nah, stay here; the others should be here pretty soon anyway.”

 

Lea nodded and looked up again. “The shop has a lot of games in it, I haven't seen so many in one place before… and in such a small space…”

 

“Yeah, Grandpa does a great job around here.” The pair of relatives smiled as the eldest took his place behind the counter again.

 

“Well, knowledge of the field comes with age…”

 

Lea looked around and continued her admiration of the shop. Suddenly, she paused, looking back at the pair behind her. “Odd… I noticed you don't carry anything made by Kaiba Corp. Why not?”

 

Yugi looked over at his grandfather. “We… uh…”

 

“We carry the games, not their electronic counterparts,” Solomon filled in. Lea looked over at him.

 

“I… suppose that makes sense…” She would find out later, perhaps.

 

“Kaiba's in your class; isn't he?” the eldest asked, looking over at Yugi.

 

“Yeah…” Yugi nodded, “he is, but he's been absent… something about a business deal in America.”

 

A small bell sounded and the door to the shop opened.

 

“Hey guys!” Yugi called, forgetting, purposefully, the conversation they were having as Téa, Tristan and Joey entered the oblong room. The short teen rushed over to speak with his friends as Lea leaned against the counter. She watched her peers quietly as she again rubbed her arm. An air of separation created a curtain between her and the other four teens. Lea watched, more admiration in her eyes than ever, wishing that she could have experienced such a close friendship a time long before.

 

“So, Téa, how's the class fair coming along?” Yugi asked.

 

“Good, everything seems to be working really smoothly. Are you guys sure you don't want to help with this one?”

 

“No way!” Joey and Tristan chimed.

 

“Last time was stressful enough,” Yugi murmured, massaging his right temple.

 

“And I don't wanna get sucked into bein' another oversized game piece!” Joey whined.

 

“Alright, alright,” Téa muttered, waving her hands in front of her, “I get the idea…” She sighed.

 

“Class fair?” Lea questioned, having not heard of the event. Téa looked over.

 

“You haven't heard of it? The school hosts it every year. Classes get together and help to organize it! It's fun; do you-?”

 

“I wouldn't be of any help,” Lea stated very flatly. Téa sighed in defeat again. “When is it, though?”

 

“Next week. I'm helping organize it. Everyone will be there; you're welcome to come, of course.” She smiled, a tired look in her eyes. Lea nodded.

 

“It sounds like fun.”

 

*****

 

Lea leaned against the wall that separated the school grounds and the street outside. The sounds of happy teens rang in the air; the owners of the games cried out to their peers, calling them to play and the sizzle of yakisoba noodles and stir-fried vegetables filled Lea's senses. Her newfound friends hadn't shown yet; she was alone for the moment. Her eyes rose to take in the clear sky above her. Soft, fluffy clouds drifted over the blue with the occasional plane slicing the sky in two.

 

Life seemed to be improving for her lately. Things hadn't changed much outside of school, but inside, she had friends. It had been a long time since she had companionship. Her mind drifted down the path of memories, to a time when things were… different.

 

“Lea!” Joey cried, leaning around the opening in the wall.

 

“Hey Joey…” Lea walked over to him. “Where's everyone else?”

 

“They're inside; we're all waitin' for ya!” Joey took Lea by the hand and pulled her inside the school walls. Booths lined the many isles that littered the grounds. Lea looked over at a booth hungrily, eyeing the noodles. But she said nothing and allowed Joey to lead her through the crowd; she would come back later. Soon, the backs of Tristan, Téa, and Yugi came into view. “Hey, guys, guess who I found outside!” Joey smiled and pulled the girl forward.

 

“Hi,” Lea greeted, a bit red at not having come inside to find them.

 

“We've been looking for you for ten minutes,” Téa informed her, “Joey eventually got the idea that you were being your usual shy self and went to look for you out there.” She smirked.

 

“How he got that idea, we still aren't sure.” Tristan folded his arms over his chest, grinning to himself as he said this. Joey punched him in the arm shortly thereafter, causing Tristan to rub his injured appendage furiously. Lea hid her giggle behind her hand.

 

“We were gonna get some food,” Yugi began, trying to ignore the two as he pointed off toward the other end of the fair, “You wanna come with us?”

 

“Sure,” Lea smiled. Suddenly it faded as she looked at the ground for a moment, then back at Yugi. “I saw something at one of the booths back there; you guys go ahead, I'll catch up in a bit, kay?” With this said, she scurried off in the opposite direction.

 

She would have to hurry, in case anyone followed her; she hoped no one would. She darted through the crowds and finally came to the booth she wanted. Looking around revealed to Lea that no one was really paying attention to her. She ducked behind the booth, hidden from the view of the owners of the “soba shop” by an obnoxiously colored tarp. She watched as a student pushed a large mound of noodles around with a kitchen utensil atop a hibachi grill. A stack of plates sat beside the teenage boy. An order was placed by a few students, so he began to move the cooked noodles onto the plates. He miscalculated, however; when the customers left, a plate lay on the table that separated the chef and the other students. A second student, who was taking orders and tending the cash register, frowned at the plate, and, picking it up, she placed it on the table beside the hibachi grill, next to the stack of plates and chopsticks. Lea pulled the tarp back; there in front of her was the forgotten plate of steaming noodles. The boy was busy with the food on the hibachi and the girl busy with her nails. Neither of them saw Lea's hand shoot out from behind the tarp and steal the extra plate of noodles, along with a pair of chopsticks. She backed up, taking one or two deep breaths. When Lea gained her composure, she walked out from behind the booth with the noodles in hand, disappearing into the crowd.

 

As she neared the shade of the building, Lea felt a hand come down on her shoulder. She nearly jumped out of her skin as she whirled around, careful not to spill the contents of her stolen plate. Looking up, she saw that Joey had placed his hand on her shoulder. She placed her own, free hand on her chest.

 

“Joey, you scared me.” She smiled.

 

“Why'd you steal that?” Joey asked, pointing at the noodles. Lea's eyes widened before she conveyed a look of confusion.

 

“What… what do you mean?”

 

“The noodles, you stole them; why?”

 

Lea shook her head. “I… I didn't st-”

 

“Lea!” he cried out, firmly. She cringed, looking around at the few people around them. “I saw you do it.”

 

“I… I…uh…” Lea's eyes rested upon a shadowed nook in the building. “Over there,” she instructed, “I don't want people listening in…”

 

Joey pursed his lips, but followed her nonetheless. As the darkness swallowed the two, Joey took her arm in his hand, keeping her from going further. “Tell me.”

 

“I…” Lea looked away, “I have no choice… it's either this… or I starve…” Joey was thoroughly confused now.

 

“Lea, what are ya talking about? Why don't ya just pay for it?”

 

“I can't, Joey… I've no money to pay it with… Please… don't tell the others… I didn't even want you know. Please promise me?”

 

“Why don't you just get money from your parents?”

 

“Joey, please… promise you won't tell them!”

 

“Why don't you?”

 

“I can't, Joey… I just can't!” For a moment, no one spoke. Lea still refused to look at Joey; instead, she stared very intently at the ground. She murmured something beneath her breath as she closed her eyes now. Joey reached down, took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him.

 

“Lea… tell me.”

 

“I… I… can't get money from my parents… because they're dead…” To Joey's surprise, no tears threatened to spill from her eyes, though they looked extremely hurt. He released her from his grasp, watching her, nearly captivated by her solemn eyes.

 

“Ya aren't lyin' to me, are you?”

 

“Joey… why would I lie about something like that!”

 

He shook his head. “I… dunno…”

 

“I'm sorry… I shouldn't have shouted…” Silence filled the air again as Lea's eyes drifted over to the uneaten noodles in her hand.

 

“I won't tell,” Joey muttered suddenly, “I'll let you do that.”

 

Lea nodded gravely.

 

“They're… really gone?” Joey asked. Lea nodded again. “I'm sorry… How long?”

 

“Since I was little… I've… been on my own for a while now…”

 

“Wow… so you steal all the food you eat…?”

 

“It's not much… only a little bit every once in a while… just enough for me to live… That's why I've never brought a lunch….”

 

“Oh yeah… you're right… you've been `lunchless' all week… When were ya gonna tell us?”

 

“I… wasn't planning on it…”

 

“Oh… When are ya gonna tell them?”

 

“I dunno…. When the timing's right, I guess…”

 

“Well, `til then, I won't say anything…”

 

Lea looked up and then hugged him with her free arm. “Thank-you, Joey….”

 

The teen boy looked down, his blonde hair shadowing his face. A blush crept over his cheeks. “You're welcome…” When she pulled away, Lea looked away again, an identical blush upon her face, though more apparent.

 

“We should probably go back and find the others.” Joey nodded and followed her out of the nook, back out into the sun.

 

“Hey, guys, over here!” Téa cried, waving them over.

 

“I heard the principal volunteered for the dunking booth!” Tristan shouted excitedly, “C'mon, Joey!” With that, the brunette raced off.

 

Téa and Yugi sighed. “He's so immature,” she murmured.

 

Joey looked over his shoulder at Lea, who was nursing her plate of noodles. She looked up and caught his glance. Something in her eyes told Joey to go after Tristan and not miss his chance. And so he did, leaving Lea to walk with Téa and Yugi.

 

`Did you see that?' Yami Yugi asked his hikari.

 

`See what?'

 

`Joey looked back at Lea before he ran off… They've been acting odd lately… don't you think?'

 

`Hm…Joey has been volunteering to find her if she's disappeared…'

 

`Do you think something may be going on between them?'

 

`Well, I guess it could be possible…' Yugi looked over at Téa. `I'll talk to Téa about it later… maybe she's noticed it, too.'

 

Yami nodded in his ghostly form. `There's something else I've noticed, too… it's odd… something about Lea… I just… I recognize her from somewhere… but I can't place it…'

 

`You recognize her?' Yugi was a bit confused.

 

“Yugi?” Lea asked, looking over from her plate of noodles. “Are you alright?”

 

He nodded. “Yeah, I'm fine.” He smiled. Lea nodded as well, going back to her plate. She knew better.

 

`You don't think she knows about me, do you?' Yami asked, a bit alerted.

 

`Nah… how could she?'