Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ A Figure from the Past ❯ The Meeting ( Chapter 3 )

A Figure from the Past

Chapter 3: The Meeting

Heaven Sent Tenshi

 

Standard disclaimer applies

 

Lea waved, shifting the strap of her book bag as she rounded the wall and began her journey down the sidewalk. Yugi watched as Joey stirred. Joey had been acting very strangely since he had run off with Tristan to send the principal into the water of the dunk booth.

 

“I gotta go,” the fair-haired boy murmured, “See ya guys later.” Yugi frowned as the teen jogged off, turning the same direction as Lea had not a minute before.

 

“Hey, Joey, wait up!” Tristan called, following after. “Bye guys!” He waved, leaving Téa and Yugi alone among the thinning crowd of fair-goers.

 

“Did you see that?” Yugi asked, watching the empty space in front of him.

 

“See what?” Téa asked. Yugi faintly noticed how related this conversation was to the one he had had with Yami earlier.

 

“Joey; it looked like he followed Lea. And that's not the direction he usually goes to get home…”

 

Téa paused. “You're right… that's weird… you don't think he followed her, do you?”

 

“Yeah… I think he might of… Haven't you noticed how…” he looked up at her, “odd… they've been acting…”

 

“I think he likes her…”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yep… clear symptoms… he likes her…”

 

“Since when, do you think?”

 

“I'm not sure… a few days ago, maybe…”

 

“And it's getting worse…”

 

“Yeah… ever since he went off to find her after we got food…”

 

“And he never got anything to eat…”

 

“Scary, isn't it?” Téa smirked. “Love makes people do crazy things…” Yugi nodded as they walked out, together, and headed for their respective homes.

 

*****

 

Yugi stood before the mirror of his bedroom, staring into his own purple eyes. Yami leaned against the computer table near his bed, watching his fleshy counterpart.

 

“So, what did you mean when you said you recognized her?” Yugi asked, turning and sitting on his bed.

 

“I'm still not sure… but I remember seeing her face somewhere… but I don't know where…”

 

“Hm… This is weird…”

 

“And have you noticed the bandana she wears?”

 

“Yeah… I've kinda wondered about that…”

 

“I think she's hiding something… I've seen a little bump under it…”

 

“A bump? Like she hurt herself?”

 

“No… something else…”

 

“Like what?”

 

“I don't know… but I have a bad feeling about it…”

 

“You don't think it has anything to do with the Millennium Items, do you?”

 

“I don't know… I didn't sense anything… but that is a plausible explanation…”

 

“Maybe we should tell the others…?”

 

“That might be best…”

 

*****

 

Lea listened to the tapping of her shoes on the cement. Her eyes were glued to the ground; Joey knew one of her secrets… now what? If she avoided telling the others, would he break his promise? She prayed he wouldn't. Her eyes left the ground and turned to the sky. She stared at the infinite blue and its little fluffy friends. Maybe if she told them, they wouldn't do anything? Maybe she could tell them, and nothing would change? Maybe it would; had she just dug herself a grave? Or had she, in fact, filled in that hole?

 

Lea's eyes dropped and she pressed her hands to her head. She shut her eyes, squeezing away the tears. What was she to do? Where was she to go? Would she keep running? Or did she finally find a place to stay and rest? Taking several deep breaths, she dropped her hands and opened her eyes. She would worry about it later… for now-

 

“Lea!” Joey called, running up from behind. The girl froze, turning her head toward him slightly.

 

“Joey… what are you doing?”

 

“Walkin' ya home.”

 

“Oh, no, Joey, really… you…” Her eyes drifted over his shoulder. “Tristan's followed you.”

 

“Huh?” Joey looked back to see Tristan's head disappear back around the corner.

 

“Go, I'll be fine…”

 

“No, lemme walk ya home.”

 

“Joey… really, go. You don't need to…” She shifted her book bag again as she started forward.

 

“Hang on,” Joey called, taking her arm in his hand for the second time. “I wanna talk. It won't kill Tristan if I walk ya home.”

 

“Yeah, but it'll blow everything out of the water.”

 

“Then meet me somewhere; I just have a few questions.”

 

Lea paused and looked up at Joey. “… Alright… when and where?”

 

“The park… in an hour.”

 

Lea nodded and Joey released her. He turned around and went to Tristan, who was straining to listen in on the conversation. As he reached the corner, Joey grabbed Tristan, shoved him back and punched him in the same arm as earlier.

 

“Ow! Joey, what was that for?!”

 

“Eavesdropping.” And he walked away, back toward his house. Tristan looked around the corner to find that Lea had disappeared. He paused, watching the sidewalk in confusion before following Joey to pester him until he got some answers.

 

Lea sighed and walked out of the alley she had ducked into. She prayed Joey would keep his end of their bargain as she started down the sidewalk again.

 

“Ok, so what was with that little conversation you had back there?” Tristan demanded upon catching his friend.

 

“None o'your business.”

 

“Excuse me? C'mon, Joey; tell me.”

 

“No; we were just talking.”

 

“Yeah, but what about?”

 

“None-of-your-business.” Joey said each word with emphasis, in order to convey to Tristan the meaning behind his words.

 

“Of course it is, Joey; now tell me!”

 

“No; she told me not to!”

 

“Joey!”

 

“Tristan!”

 

Tristan paused. Joey's words had been thick with annoyance. He began to ponder whether it was smart to continue.

 

“Alright, man… but I've got the feeling that you and her have something goin' on…” Tristan smirked. Maybe irritating him would get it out of him. But, no; Joey reached over and furthered Tristan's growing bruise.

 

“Ow!!! Joey!!!”

 

“Keep your mouth shut and this won't be a problem!”

 

Tristan whimpered, attempting to nurse his throbbing arm while Joey stomped off to his house.

 

*****

 

Yugi descended the stairs outside his room. “Grandpa,” he called, passing his grandfather as he headed for the door, “I'm going out!”

 

“Alright, Yugi, just be careful.” Solomon smiled as he watched his grandson hurry off.

 

Yugi looked down at the slip of paper he held in his hand. It read “Park, hour after we left school. Meet up with the others on the way there.”

 

`Isn't this… rude?' Yami asked, a frown lining his ghostly face.

 

`Well, kinda… but Tristan said he has a funny feeling about this little meeting… We should at least go and see what happens…'

 

`And we're sure Tristan has a reliable source?'

 

`He said he heard them talking about it…'

 

`So we're going off of a conversation he listened in on?'

 

`Uh… Yeah…'

 

`No, this isn't rude, of course not…'

 

Yugi sighed and continued toward the park. Within a few minutes, he heard Téa and Tristan run up from behind him.

 

“Hey, Yug,” Tristan greeted.

 

“I still don't think we should be spying on them…” Téa murmured, “It's wrong… and what if we see something we shouldn't?”

 

“Hey, I just want some solid evidence,” Tristan retorted.

 

“Besides, Téa,” Yugi chimed, “you don't have to come if you don't want to.” Téa sighed, but never turned around. She was just as curious as they were, but she wasn't about to say that outright. As a group of three, they walked down the sidewalk, headed for the meeting place.

 

*****

 

The park was fairly quiet. Lea padded up the dirt path, passing a group of laughing children. She looked over to find them running, climbing and jumping on and off of a jungle gym. She smiled as a warm memory washed over her. Children were laughing and chasing each other over a large black-top. A child her age and one much younger, were sitting, talking with her, and playing. They were happy together… until it happened.

 

Lea shook her head, closing her eyes. She had worked so long to suppress those memories; why were they so suddenly haunting her? She continued down the dirt path, trying to listen only to the faint rustle of the leaves around her.

 

As the laughter of the children faded, she looked about for a place to sit and wait. She wasn't sure how long it had been, nor exactly when Joey would get there, but she would wait nonetheless. She found a deserted park bench and settled herself down upon it.

 

As Tristan, Téa, and Yugi entered the park, they went on high-alert. Praying neither Joey nor Lea would spot them, they advanced down the dirt path. They figured right away that they would head somewhere secluded, as there were many children in the park. Knowing this, they followed a path that was a bit rougher and less trodden by the many children who came to the park every day.

 

Joey looked down at the watch on his wrist. He was early, for the first time in his life. He had at least ten minutes to spare. Would she even be here, or was her house far from the park? Suddenly, he became worried. Would she come at all? Shaking his head, he started into the park. He noticed the abundance of children and followed a path that headed for the other end of the park.

 

As the group of three proceeded, they listened carefully. Téa looked off through a thick grove of trees and spotted something… odd.

 

“Hey, guys,” she whispered, “look.” She pointed off through the tangle of young overgrowth. A flash of purple disappeared among it. “I bet that's Lea.” The others nodded as they carefully, quietly ducked into the trees.

 

As Joey rounded the bend in the path, Lea caught sight of him. She grabbed her book bag and shoved it beneath the bench, waving him over. He smiled, and hurried to the bench.

 

“Hey,” he greeted.

 

“Hi, Joey… So?”

 

“Uh, yeah… Ok, so ya said you're… `parentless'… right?” Lea nodded.

 

“Yes, Joey. They died when I was little.”

 

Téa stopped moving. She looked back to see the shocked faces of Tristan and Yugi. “What?” she hissed. Yugi put a finger to his lips and pointed at the pair.

 

Joey sat down on the bench. “So… who's taking care of ya?”

 

“No one, Joey… I'm on my own…”

 

“What? So, how'd ya get into school?”

 

“I'm… still not sure…” She sighed. “Someone posed as my parent… and I suppose it worked… I really don't know how they bought it, though…”

 

“Who?”

 

“No one in particular…” Lea looked away.

 

“Then, where ya do live?”

 

“No where in particular…”

 

“No home?”

 

“No, Joey…” she looked up, “I'm on my own… and I live where I sleep…”

 

“And… you steal all the food you eat?”

 

“Not all… if I find money on the streets, I'll use it to buy food…”

 

“Whoa… How d'ya do it?”

 

“Practice I guess… I've been living like this since… I left the orphanage…”

 

“Why didn't ya just stay there?”

 

“Where?”

 

“The orphanage.”

 

“I… couldn't take it anymore… I couldn't stand being there… I was…” She shook her head. “It doesn't matter… I just couldn't stay there…”

 

“Why?” Lea shook her head. Joey sighed.

 

“Maybe… I think that's enough questions for now…” Lea stood up and turned to leave.

 

“Where are ya staying?” Joey asked.

 

“I… don't know… I never do… not until night falls… I might stay in the park tonight…”

 

“… It's dangerous around here at night…”

 

“Yeah… I know… but I'll be ok…”

 

The trio had formed somewhat of a pyramid in the trees. Yugi, unfortunately enough for him, was at the bottom, being the shortest. He was leaning on a tree, while Téa leaned against him and Tristan against her. Yugi's arms were growing tired and beginning to shake. He bit his lip.

 

“Guys…” he hissed. “Guys… my-”

 

“Shhh…” Téa whispered.

 

“But…”

 

“Sh!”

 

Yugi bit his lip again, squinting his eyes closed.

 

`My arms, I think I'm gonna fall!'

 

`Yugi, don't fall forward! Whatever you do, don't fall forward!' Yami called.

 

But, his instruction did not help the poor teen. His arms gave way and through the trees the trio fell. Joey, upon hearing the commotion, leapt from his seat and turned around, ready to protect Lea should this noise be of any threat. Lea gasped, taking a step back and hovering her hand over the bandanna on her forehead. Upon inspection, the two relaxed.

 

“Guys!” Joey cried, fury twisting his face, “How long were ya there?!”

 

Tristan looked up, attempting to detangle himself from the mound of bodies. “Long enough!”

 

“Lea,” Téa exclaimed, “we had no idea!” Lea stood watching them; it suddenly sunk in.

 

“You… you three eavesdropped…. How many of you do that?!”

 

“Guys!” Yugi's muffled cry yelled, “I can't breathe…!” Téa gasped and scrambled to her feet, helping Yugi up from the ground. He panted, attempting to catch his breath.

 

Lea shook her head. This wasn't the way she wanted to tell the others… this wasn't her plan at all. She took several more steps back. “I… I can't believe this…” With that, she turned on her heel and fled the scene.

 

“Lea!” Joey screamed. But his call had fallen on deaf ears and Lea had disappeared from eyesight. His shoulders slumped. He'd blown it. He turned toward the others. “Look what ya did!”

 

“We just wanted some facts,” Tristan retorted, “You guys wouldn't tell us anything. If you said something earlier, Joey-”

 

“She didn't want me to say anything! I was gonna wait and she was gonna tell you three later!”

 

Téa cringed. “I knew we shouldn't have come…”

 

“It's not like you turned around…” Tristan murmured.

 

“I think we all screwed up…” Yugi corrected, getting to his knees. “And I think she forgot something…”

 

The group looked over at Yugi. He bent down, reaching under the bench. After a moment, he produced Lea's book bag; she had left it in her distraught state. Joey reached down and took it from him.

 

“You guys can go, I'm gonna go find Lea.”

 

“No, Joey,” Yugi interjected, “we need to talk to her, too.”

 

“Yeah,” Téa and Tristan agreed.

 

“We're at fault, too,” Téa murmured. Joey scoffed and walked off. “Hey, you jerk, wait for us!”

 

Joey never slowed, but the others were able to catch up with him. They didn't want to be around Joey when he seemed to be upset, but they knew they would need to talk to Lea as well.