Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ A Figure from the Past ❯ Return and the Past ( Chapter 5 )

A Figure from the Past

Chapter 5: The Return and the Past

Heaven Sent Tenshi

 

Lea rubbed her back lightly; it ached from the soft bed she had been sleeping on for the past few nights. She pushed the door of the lobby open as she looked over at the museum. It still displayed the Egyptian exhibit. The museum was open… and she did have an hour to kill…

 

As she ascended the steps of the large building, she pondered whether it was the correct time to visit the exhibit. She knew she would see it; she had had a dream several weeks ago that involved it. She nodded to herself and paused at the door. She hadn't the money to go in. She sighed, turning around. Standing behind her was Ishizu.

 

“Not yet,” she assured the girl. Lea paused and nodded.

 

“You'll take me in, won't you?” It was now Ishizu's turn to nod. Lea made her way down the stairs as the other went in. She would see it soon enough.

 

~~~~~

 

The school grounds were bustling with the chatter of teens as they made their way to their classes. Lea lingered by the wall, watching as students passed by. She sighed and leaned against the buttressing near her, staring at the sky. Today didn't feel like any other. Something was bound to happen, but she wasn't quite sure what.

 

As Lea dropped her book bag on the ground, easing the small pain in her shoulder, she heard Joey running over to her. “Hey Joey,” she greeted, rubbing her shoulder.

 

“Hey; seen anyone else around yet?”

 

Lea shook her head. “No, you're the first one I've seen all morning.”

 

“Maybe they're inside, c'mon.” Joey took Lea's hand, paused just long enough for her to retrieve her bag and re-shoulder it, and then pulled her into the school. As the crowds around the pair grew thicker, Lea grasped Joey hand a bit tighter, trying her best not to lose him amongst the sea of bodies. Soon, they stopped in front of their classroom. “You didn't see `em on the way in, di'ja?”

 

“No, they're probably already seated.” Indeed, Yugi, Téa, and Tristan were conversing as they sat at their desks. They waved the pair over as they spotted them.

 

“Hey guys; where were you?” Yugi asked. Tristan sniggered. Joey, upon hearing him, backhanded the top of his head.

 

“Hey, watch the hair!”

 

“Guys; no fighting,” Téa hissed. “If the teacher catches you when she gets in here, you two are gonna end up with another lunch detention.”

 

“And then we won't have our lunch-time entertainment,” Lea added, a smile splitting her lips. Yugi and Téa snickered as the other two deflated.

 

“Fine, fine,” Joey murmured, lightly elbowing Lea and taking his seat. Lea rubbed her arm as she made her way to her desk beside Joey.

 

“Something wrong?” Yugi asked, seeing her nurse her arm.

 

“Nah… my muscles have just been sore lately…” Joey looked concerned as she said this, but Lea waved it off. As she pushed her bag beneath her desk, Lea's eyes wandered over to a seat at the other side of the room. She had never once seen anyone sit there… either the student had been absent this entire time, or something else was going on… “Who sits there?” she asked, pointing at the desk.

 

Yugi was the first to answer. “You remember when my grandpa mentioned something about Kaiba being in this class?” Lea nodded.

 

“That's his seat?” she asked. The others now nodded. “How long is he expected to be gone?”

 

“Actually…” Téa pondered for moment, “Wasn't he supposed to be back today?”

 

“Yeah,” Tristan nodded, “He was just supposed to be gone for the week.”

 

“Then, shouldn't he already be back?” Joey asked, counting the days on his hand.

 

“I've been here for ten days,” Lea thought aloud, “he should have been back by now.”

 

Just as Lea finished her sentence, the door opened. The group glanced back and witnessed the entrance of their teacher. She smiled sweetly and laid her suitcase on the desk. “Alright, students, the bell will ring soon, everyone go back to your desks.” Hurriedly, classmates scrambled to their respective seats, praying they wouldn't be tardy. Lea sighed, leaning back in her chair. As the bell rang, the door opened, sending a flood of late students into the class. The teacher sighed and while taking names, made to close the door again. As it was about to shut, someone pushed it open again.

 

The teen standing behind the door was tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. Lea stared at him for a moment. A picture flittered in her mind for a fleeting moment. She frowned. “Couldn't be…” she muttered. The others looked over.

 

“Oh, great,” Joey grumbled, “guess Kaiba is back.”

 

“That's Kaiba?” Lea asked. The others nodded.

 

“Nice of you to join us again, Seto Kaiba,” the teacher invited, “I'm sorry, but that's tardy for you…” Kaiba waved it off as Lea froze, sitting stock-still.

 

“Lea?” Joey asked, waving his hand in front of her face.

 

“Seto Kaiba?” Lea mouthed. “No… i-i-it can't be…” But it was.

 

“Lea?” Joey asked again. “Lea!” The girl blinked, suddenly breathing again. Her eyes drifted over to Kaiba's seat.

 

“Seto…? That's his first name…?” The others nodded again.

 

“Yeah, why?” Joey inquired, confused by this odd reaction. Lea rose from her seat abruptly, hiding her face with her hair. She hurried to the front.

 

“Miss?” she asked the teacher.

 

“Yes, Lea?”

 

“I… I don't feel well… would it be alright if I went to the health office?”

 

The teacher, looking somewhat startled by this new ailment, nodded. “What's wrong?”

 

Lea thought for a moment. “Stomach ache…” The teacher sighed, retrieving a pass from her suitcase.

 

“Alright… but come back as soon as you feel better… lots to do this period…” Lea nodded, taking the slip from the teacher.

 

“Lea,” Joey called, standing up.

 

“Tut tut, Mr. Wheeler, I don't think she needs an escort.” Joey paused as Lea looked back at him. The look she gave him was one that confused him.

 

Meanwhile, Kaiba was watching the girl from his desk. `Lea?' he thought, `I knew someone by that name… I wonder… No… she left this place…' As Lea hurried toward the door, he caught a glimpse of her face. Brown hair… blue eyes that resembled sapphires… and the bandana! Kaiba quickly sprung to his feet, following the girl out the door. Joey stood by his desk, looking befuddled.

 

“Mr. Kaiba!” the teacher called, running to the door.

 

Lea nearly broke out into a run when she heard Kaiba's footsteps. `No… no, don't follow me! For goodness sake, leave me be!' As she neared the corner in the hall, she ran. Kaiba growled in frustration. He needed to figure this out; if it was her, he wanted answers. He broke out into a run not a moment after she did, and having height on his side, which accompanied longer legs, caught up to her quite quickly. Grabbing Lea's arm, he forced her against the nearby wall. She screeched, fighting to be free of his grip, but he was determined.

 

“Lea?” he asked, realization crossing his face. “It can't be…”

 

Lea's breathing was shallow. Her chest heaved as she stared up at him. “Let me go…” she respired. Kaiba's grip only tightened. “I don't want to have to hurt you, Seto!”

 

“Hey, Kaiba!” Joey cried, attempting to tackle the CEO. “Get away from her!” As this was said, Kaiba threw his fist into Joey's jaw. He stumbled back, falling to the ground.

 

“Joey!” Lea cried. Kaiba's eyes drifted over to psychic.

 

“I see you've made some new friends…”

 

“Release me, Seto; I swear it, I'll blow you into last week!”

 

“You don't have the heart…” Kaiba sneered. Lea paused. “Otherwise, you'd have done it the day you left.”

 

“Joey, Lea!” Lea and Kaiba looked over to see Yugi, Tristan, and Téa advance up the hall.

 

“Kaiba!” Tristan yelled, “Let go of her!” Kaiba growled, looking back at Lea. She had tears in her eyes now.

 

“You owe me an explanation…” he hissed, “you just ran off… and Mokuba and I never saw you again…” The four others paused.

 

“Lea, what's he talking about?” Joey demanded, slowly getting to his feet again, rubbing his jaw.

 

Kaiba pulled back, releasing Lea from his vice-grip. She stood there gasping for air like a fish recently placed in its tank after five minutes of lying on a table. And she felt just as helpless.

 

“You four won't know anything until we have this straightened out,” Kaiba snarled. He took Lea's arm in his hand again as he went to drag her away.

 

“Seto!” Lea cried again, pulling at her arm. Joey growled, charging forward. Kaiba glanced back at him, then side-stepped, clothes-lining him with his now outstretched arm. Lea gasped, pulling away again. But Kaiba refused to let go, drawing her away from the group.

 

“Lea!” Joey stumbled to his feet again, making another run at him, but only ended up causing further injury to himself. Lea stopped, watching as Joey sat kneeling on the ground. “Let her go!” he growled

 

Lea's eyes went out of focus for a moment. She didn't want Joey to get hurt again, and she only knew this would continue if she kept fighting Kaiba. Joey leaned against the wall, tending to his bleeding nose as he glared daggers at Kaiba, who didn't even seem to notice. “Stop, Joey…” she pleaded. “Seto and I must talk… no more fighting, please… I'll go with him and then come back…” Joey stood there, watching her as she followed Kaiba down the hall and around another corner. Tristan came up behind him.

 

“Hey, man, that looked like it hurt…”

 

“Which one?”

 

“All of it…”

 

Joey spat out a small amount of blood on the floor in response, sinking down to the tile beneath him. It hurt even worse to see Lea go off on her own with Kaiba.

 

Kaiba stopped, releasing Lea again as she shrunk against the wall, frustrated tears filling her eyes. “Alright, now, tell me what happened. Why did you leave?”

 

“Why else?” she cried, sinking down to the floor. Kaiba growled.

 

“I want an answer!”

 

“You discarded me like an old play-thing! You didn't care if those brutes killed me or what!”

 

“Discard?!”

 

“You threw me into the lions' pit! You didn't care! You wanted me gone! So why do you keep pestering me?!”

 

“Wanted you gone? Lea, I was trying to help you, not kill you!”

 

“Help me? How is standing back as those… those bullies hit me like a punching bag trying to help me? You aren't making any sense!”

 

“You don't remember it at all, do you?”

 

“Better than you, apparently!”

 

“Then tell me what happened.”

 

Lea paused. “Eh… what?”

 

“Recount to me what you believe happened.”

 

“I just did!”

 

“No, in greater detail. Apparently, you have something instilled in your mind that you've made yourself believe. Odd that you don't seem to understand the situation at all when you have that jewel in your forehead…”

 

Lea shook her head. “I can't believe you still remember… Nor that you still believe in it…”

 

“Just tell me already!”

 

“Yell at me again, Seto, and I'll pull this bandana off…” Seto growled, crossing his arms over his chest. Lea sighed.

 

“The sun was shining, and there weren't many clouds in the sky…”

 

“Enough about the weather…”

 

“Don't rush me, Seto!” Silence filled the hall for a moment before she went on. “I was waiting by the fence, just like normal. I hadn't seen either of you, you or Mokuba, that whole day. I didn't think you were ignoring me, at least, I hoped you weren't.

 

“The other orphans went off to play hopscotch or jump rope, or wallow around in the sand box, but I waited for you like I did every other day. I enjoyed talking to you two; you guys were the only people who understood and accepted me… until now…

 

“You were late; the both of you… and those bullies knew it, too. I guess they figured that if you hadn't shown up yet, you might not at all… and they knew you were the only one they had to worry about… I guess those boys grew restless… they hadn't been able to pick on me since the day we met, when you chased them off… They started threatening me… but I wasn't worried, I knew you'd chase them off again, just like always…. But you didn't come. I remember looking up, seeing you and Mokuba standing on the other side of the playground… you were holding his hand and he looked anxious. But you just stood there, a placid look on your face… your once friendly eyes cold and icy…. I knew right away something was wrong… they noticed it too…. When those boys decided you weren't going to help me, they got a little rougher, pushing me around and sending me to the ground…. I was crying… I was scared… I was confused, most of all…. You'd thrown me to the lions' pit… something had changed radically, and you didn't care… you didn't like me anymore… but I hadn't done anything wrong…” Lea shook her head, wiping at the tears in her eyes. “I thought you were my friends… I really did… but I guess I was wrong…”

 

“Alright, that's enough.” Lea looked up at Kaiba. “You're so far off…”

 

“Well, then, you tell me your side of the story,” Lea murmured, still nursing her tears.

 

Kaiba scoffed. “I was always the one to protect you back then, you and Mokuba. Ever since we'd met, you became instantly dependant on me. I knew that one day, you'd be adopted, and you'd lose your protection. You would go out into the real world and never be able to defend yourself. I knew I had to put a stop to it, or else you would get hurt. I told Mokuba about it, and, obviously, he thought it was a bad idea. I convinced him, though. When we'd gone outside, I saw those bullies harassing you; I knew it would be the time to wean you off of the idea of me playing hero all the time. I wanted to know if you could protect yourself. That's why we never came over, that's why Mokuba never said anything.” Lea sat on the ground, staring at the wall in front of her. Was it true? Or had they been separated so long that he had had the chance to make up a false story? “Mokuba still hasn't forgiven me for doing that to you… I don't know if he ever will… He misses you…” `And so do I…' he finished in his thoughts.

 

Lea pulled her bandana off suddenly. Kaiba recoiled, preparing to be hit by something. But it never came. He watched as Lea activated her jewel; the surrounding area was lit up by an eerie purple light. Lea's hair floated in a halo around her head and she was bathed in the light emitting from her jewel. She was surprised to find that her jewel wasn't acting like it had the last time she had activated it; it wasn't about to backfire.

 

Darkness enveloped her sight as Lea closed her eyes. She was going to get to the bottom of this whole ordeal. Pictures swirled and danced by her, dates and times and events surrounded her. Within moments, she was back at the orphanage. She stood among two lines of beds in an otherwise blank room.

 

“But, Brother, what if she gets hurt?” Lea turned to see Mokuba sitting on his bed while Seto sat on the one beside it.

 

“She won't… if things get bad, I'll step in… Don't worry, Mokuba… I won't let her get hurt…”

 

“But…”

 

“It'll be alright…” The eldest rose and smiled at the younger. “It'll be best for her if she doesn't always depend on me pulling her out of every situation.”

 

“You wouldn't do that to me… would you?”

 

Seto placed his hand on Mokuba's shoulder. “I'll always be here to protect you… but… we might get separated from Lea…”

 

“I don't want her to get hurt…”

 

“Neither do I… but, she won't… I promise…”

 

Lea placed her hands over her mouth as she shook her head. Seto rose from the bed, taking Mokuba by the hand and leading him outside where the young Lea waited for them. She squinted away her tears and sunk down onto the bed beside her.

 

“He… wasn't lying to me… I… I can't believe this…” She shook her head again and a purple light filled the room she sat in.

 

Lea opened her eyes. A blurred figure hovered over her. She squinted her eyes and slowly things went into focus. Seto's face then came into view. Lea was lying in his arms, exhausted; she had nearly fainted during her trip into the past. “You…” Seto shook his head, signaling to her not to talk.

 

Joey had grown restless. He still sat on the ground, Yugi, Téa and Tristan standing around him. “I'm gonna go find `em,” he announced firmly.

 

“Joey, you can't!” Téa exclaimed.

 

“Watch me!” He scrambled to his feet and jogged down the hall. The group sighed and followed after. As Joey rounded another corner, he stopped. Seto was kneeling down on the ground with Lea in his arms. Joey felt as if he couldn't breathe for a moment. “Lea…?”

 

The pair looked back at him. Lea's eyes misted over again as she stared at him unblinkingly. Seto frowned and looked away. Tears leaked down Lea's cheeks, falling to the floor. “Joey…” she breathed. She sat up, Seto attempting to help her. Lea closed her eyes, pressing her hands against her face. She shook her head then doubled over, darkness devouring her sight.

 

“Lea!” was the last thing she heard. She wasn't sure who had yelled her name… perhaps it had been everyone in that hall…? All she knew was that her energy level had dipped down far lower than it should have and she had completely blacked out.