Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten Love ❯ Speaking Up ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I don't own “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. It is one of my favorites, though.

 

 

Speaking Up

 

Things had changed. Things were better now. She had a home, a place to sleep at night, food to cook and eat, everything she had lost before. And most of all, she had someone to share it with.

 

His eyes would fall on her every day, and a smirk would play on his face, taunting her cheeks to make them turn red. His hands would make her body twist, and her heart seemed to be lost in his.

 

It was all so perfect, so happy.

 

Then, the fire….

 

“Psst, psst Reiko.” `Is someone speaking to me?'

 

“Miss Reiko!” Reiko shot up out of her daze. “Care to join the class today? Or would you rather let me let you sleep?”

 

“Sir, no sir professor.” She said looking up at her physics teacher. `Had that been a dream? It felt…so real…'

 

“Then please, answer me this simple question. Which professor was it that created the Periodic Table of Elements?” The professor said, gazing at her sharply.

 

“Umm…it was….” `Come on Reiko, you have to know this. We spent an entire class period yesterday talking about the man.' “It was….”

 

“Who, Miss Reiko? The whole class is waiting to hear your answer.” He said impatiently, tapping his foot nearby her own.

 

Gulping her own saliva, she said firmly, “Professor Mendeleev, the Russian.” She looked over at the professor to see him, mouth agape, at her actually knowing the answer. He pushed his glasses up his nose and turned away.

 

“That would be correct, Miss Reiko. You may sit down now.” He said. She sat down, leaning back against her chair, taking a deep breath.

 

“Psst, Reiko.” `So someone was talking to me.' She turned slowly to see Deidre there, holding her thumb up. “You shocked the professor. Good work.”

 

“Thanks.” She whispered meekly, bringing up her hand in a small thumbs-up sign.

 

“Miss Deidre, perhaps you can be the next one to answer a question since you seem so eager to speak.” The professor said, turning abruptly to stare at her from the from of the room. She froze up, looking at him with small shock written across her face.

 

“Yes, yes sir.” She said, standing shakily to look at him.

 

`Poor Deidre.' Reiko sighed, smiling sympathetically. She turned back down to her notebook. In it, she had scribbled small notes from her dream. `Why am I having these dreams? I just don't….understand. And, this mark…' She touched her stomach, `Does it have something to do with the dreams?'

 

“Group 2, sir.” Reiko sat up to see Deidre looking at the professor with a smirk now plastered on her face. She followed her gaze and found it not to be on the professor, but on the Periodic Table of Elements to his left, in big print on the side board. The professor gave her a grim look.

 

“Yes, that's correct. Please, sit down.” As Deidre did so, some of the class erupted into small chuckles. Reiko muffled hers with a smile. Deidre turned to her and gave her a double thumbs-up.

 

* * * *

`I wonder if he's okay.' He thought, sweeping the floor of the restaurant by the front revolving door. He sighed and leaned on the straw broom, `Perhaps I shouldn't have let her go to school today. With that burn mark and all…'

 

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the revolving door begin to move. Looking up, perplexedly, from the floor, he found that someone was coming through. When he stepped in the door, he recognized it to be one of the young men she had served the other night. He flashed on thinking that the two were brothers because of their striking resemblance to one another. The man's brown eyes stared at him with an air of silence surrounding the two of them suddenly. The manager finally sputtered out, “Can I help you? We're closed right now, so I'm afraid I can't serve you.”

 

“I came here to ask you about one of your waitresses.” The young man replied, still staring at him with a serious tone.

 

“You mean Reiko, the one who served you last night? What would you like to know about her?” He smiled, standing erect, `Guy probably wants to ask her out or something. She could use someone like that.'

 

“I wanted to know about her history, like where she came from, her relation to you, that sort of thing.” He replied strictly, his arms crossed.

 

The manager, a bit suspicious now, locked his eyes on Bakura, “Why do you want to know about Reiko so much?”

 

“I think I might know her from somewhere else, in my….my past.” He said, drifting off for a moment into a dazed look. Then he locked back onto the manager's eyes with frustration, “I'd just like to know if she's the same person or not.”

“I think you should be asking Reiko about these things, not me. Besides, I don't know much about Reiko.” The manager said, turning away. Bakura's eyes followed him to the bar, where he discarded the broom in a small closet. “If you must know our relationship though, Reiko and I are just boss and worker. She lives up here with me because she doesn't have family here.”

 

“Where's her family then?” Bakura asked, with mock interest. He walked over to the bar and leaned against the counter, smirking at the manager.

 

“Her parents died, and her relatives live far away from here. She was living with a friend before I offered her a home here.” He replied, turning away from Bakura as he dried off wet glasses that he took out of the dishwasher.

 

“How did they die? Her parents, I mean.” Bakura asked. His tone, the manager found, seemed to have gone from serious to truly interested.

 

“I'm afraid you have to ask Reiko about all that. I keep my worker's confidentiality.” The manager replied, “Now if you would be so kind as to leave, we don't open until 5 pm.”

 

“Thanks.” Bakura said. The manager turned to see him smiling with satisfaction. Bewildered, the manager turned away, going back to the glasses to hide his confusion.

 

As Bakura walked out the revolving doors, he glanced back at the manager, who had watched him leave. He chuckled, `Foolish humans don't know how to hide their thoughts. They don't think the supernatural exist.'

 

As the man had been speaking, Bakura had picked up plenty from what he didn't say, `Terrible fire. Reiko had a burn on her stomach. It showed up again. Terribly worried about her.' “Guess the man didn't have to speak up after all.” Chuckling, he made his way down the street.

 

* * * *

“Hey Ryou.” Ryou looked out from his locker door to see Deidre standing there, smiling. He closed his locker, pulling his bag over his shoulder.

 

“Hello Deidre. Can I help you?” He asked, confused as to her presence.

 

“Well, I thought you and I could walk together over to the theater for the tryouts.” She smiled.

 

“Oh, the tryouts. That's right. Listen, Deidre, I don't think I'm going to be trying out today.” He said, smiling.

 

“Hey Ryou!” He turned to see Malik coming over with Jordan, Malik silent and boiling while Jordan was waving his hand. “Hey Deidre.”

 

“Hey Jordan.” She smiled, waving politely. “Looks like you found another one of our new friends.”

 

“Yea, I told Malik we could all walk over to the theater together.” He smiled, patting Malik on the back.

 

Malik looked over at Ryou and Ryou caught his drift immediately, `Let's get the hell out of here.'

 

“Well, shall we get going?” Deidre said, smling. She had obviously ignored what Ryou had just said to her a moment ago. He sighed.

 

“Sorry, you guys, but Malik and I won't be trying out for the play this Spring. Both of us have a certain stage fright issue.” Ryou said politely, trying to get them out of this mess before Malik boiled over.

 

“Oh, come on. If you have stage fright, I'm sure Reiko can help you with it.” Jordan smiled.

 

“We all can help you. We were all novices, too, once, you know.” Deidre winked, “So please, come with us.”

 

“We can't. Our boyfriends are waiting outside for us by the gate.” Malik said, a tinge of anger apparent in his voice.

 

“Oh, I see.” Deidre pulled back, pondering. She raised her finger, smiling, “I have an idea. Why not ask them to come watch you try out? I'm sure they'd love to see their boyfriends in action.”

 

“I'd really rather not.” Ryou said, putting up his hands in a stopping gesture. “But thanks, both of you, for trying to get us into it. Maybe next season.” Ryou turned and grabbed Malik around the arm. They began walking away.

 

“See you guys tomorrow then!” He heard Jordan call. He stole a glance to see Jordan waving his hand and Deidre standing there, confused as to their sudden departure.

 

“I told you it was a mistake.” Malik grumbled. Ryou sighed and they continued to walk out towards the gate.

 

* * * *

“What's with that look?” Marik looked questioningly at his Light as he came out with Ryou next to him.

 

“Don't ask.” Malik said strictly, causing Marik to become interested. He turned back to Ryou, a dark glint in his eyes, “See you tomorrow.”

 

“Bye.” Ryou said, waving with a sigh.

 

“Come on, let's go.” Malik took Marik by the hand and the two walked away, Malik leading Marik away.

 

“What's the matter with blondie?” Bakura asked, confused.

 

“Please, don't ask.” Ryou sighed, waving his hand. Bakura, still perplexed, grunted and turned away towards the direction of home.

 

“Wait Ryou, have you seen Yugi?” Yami asked, confused as to have not seen his Light with his friends.

 

“Oh, that's right. I never did see Yugi.” `But then of course, we were trying so hard to get away from Jordan and Deidre that we didn't have time to stay around and wait.'

 

“That's strange. He usually is with you two every day.” Yami said, a touch of anxiety in his voice.

 

“How about I go back inside and look for him?” Ryou said, `Poor Yugi. Might still be waiting at my locker for us.'

 

Yami nodded, “I'll start looking for him around the campus.”

 

“Are you going to help look, Bakura?” Ryou asked, turning to his yami as he stood before the gate entrance.

 

He sighed, “Fine, I'll help look for the squirt.” Yami casted him a glare, then went inside the campus to begin searching.

 

Bakura and Ryou walked inside the main building and up to the second floor to his locker. Jordan and Deidre were long gone, probably at the audition for the spring play. `Wait, the spring play…could Yugi have…?' Ryou stopped short a few inches from his look, his head down.

 

“What is it, Ryou?” Bakura asked, perplexed at his sudden stop. “Did you think of something?”

 

Ryou turned around and nodded, “I think I know where Yugi is. Come on, follow me.” He stepped past Bakura and back towards the entrance to the main building. Bakura went after him, confused as to their destination.

 

* * * *

The duo had found Yami by the fountain, still thinking as to where Yugi could have gone. When they came out, Yami looked up to see them coming his way, “Did you find him?”

”No, Pharaoh, or else he would be with us, wouldn't he?” Bakura said sharply. Yami glared at him.

 

“Stop it, you two.” Ryou said seriously. The two looked at him, ignoring one another. “I think I know where Yugi is. Follow me.” The two nodded and he went west from the fountain towards the arts building. It was a 3-floor complex, each floor containing a different art. On the bottom floor was the theater, which they entered into through the double steel doors.

 

When they reached the inside, they found the entire room was completely dark, save for the large stage lights illuminating the stage. On it was Jordan, who seemed to be reiterating his part as Julius Caesar from last year's play. Ryou picked Reiko out of the crowd, surrounded by everyone else as usual. She stood up suddenly, clapping her hands, “Thank you for the audition, Jordan.” She looked down at what seemed to be a clipboard with names. “Okay, who's next?”

 

Jordan moved down the side steps of the stage, and after a few seconds, Yugi appeared, walking slowly towards the center of the stage. The room was silent, and Yami muffled a cry of his name. Ryou nudged him by the shoulder, and he turned to see that Bakura was sitting and Ryou was motioning him to sit down with them. Yami did so, sitting a few seats from them, watching Yugi intently. “This should be good.” Bakura said, smirking.

 

“Hush, Bakura.” Ryou said angrily. He did as he was told, but the smirk stayed on his face. Yami glared at him quickly, then turned his attention back to the stage, where his light was now standing in the center, his hands clenched at his sides, his face covered in red.

 

Reiko was smiling, “All right Yugi, we're ready.” She sat down, and the room's eyes were all on him.

 

`Come on Yugi, you can do this.' He told himself. Shaking visibly, he brought his head up and began to speak in a small, barely audible voice, “T-two road diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel b-both…”

 

“He's not going to make it.” Bakura sighed, leaning back. “He's just too damned scared.”

 

“Have faith in him, Bakura.” `Ra knows he needs it. Poor Yugi.' Ryou said, looking up at him.

 

“Come on Yugi, I know you can do it.” Yami said silently.

 

“A-and be one traveler, long I stood…” Yugi continued. He could hear muffled chatters from the audience and his heart quickened even more. `I-I can't do this.' He thought, ashamed.

 

“Your poem is one of my favorites, too.” He felt a hand touch his shoulder gently. He shot up his head to see Deidre there, smiling. He looked at her, confused. “Come on, we'll do it together.”

 

“O-okay.” He replied quietly. He turned back to the audience and his voice began to speak again, this time a little louder with the comfort of someone else there, “And looked down one as far as I could,”

 

“To where it bent in the undergrowth.” Deidre added calmly.

 

The two began to speak in rhythm, “Then took the other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim, because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there had worn them really about the same, and both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black.”

 

Yugi was growing louder now, stronger. His smile was large and his eyes were bright with passion. “Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

 

When Yugi had finished, he looked up. Deidre wasn't there. He looked around, trying to find her, and then his eyes fell on her by the side of the stage, smiling and clapping. He heard the rest of the room begin to clap, and he bowed, awkwardly, in front of them. “That was very good. I think you will be wonderful in this spring's play.” Reiko smiled, clapping her hand against her clipboard in the other.

 

“T-thank you, Reiko.” Yugi said, bowing again. She smiled and looked down at her clipboard. He took that as his cue to go down the steps.

 

When he reached the bottom, he found Yami, Ryou, and Bakura were waiting for him. “That was wonderful, Yugi.” Ryou said, smiling.

 

“Thanks…but I didn't know you guys were here. How did you know to find me?” He asked, confused.

 

“I just thought of it, off the top of my head.” Ryou replied, smiling.

 

Yami clasped Yugi's shoulder, “That was very good, Light. Your grandfather would have been very proud to hear his favorite poem read by his favorite grandson.” He smiled.

 

“Thanks Yami.” Yugi replied, smiling sheepishly. He pushed back a tear from his eyes, probably meant for his grandfather's memory. “The Road Not Taken” had always been his grandpa's favorite and he had used to recite it to Yugi every day.

 

“Yugi, you did very well. I think you were one of the best who auditioned for the play today.” Deidre smiled, coming over to the trio.

 

“I couldn't have done it without you. If we hadn't have spoken it together, I don't think I could've made it to the end.” Yugi said. “I should be thanking you.”

“But I didn't say past the first line with you, Yugi.” She smiled, “Right after, I stepped away, and you did the rest by yourself.”

 

“I-I did?!” He almost wanted to faint from surprise. “So I spoke in front of all those people by myself?”

 

“That's right.” Deidre smiled softly, “And you did very well at it.”

 

“That's right Yugi. You did do well, all on your own.” Ryou smiled, “I'm very proud of you.”

 

“Okay everyone, that's it for today. The list for the people chosen to participate in this year's spring production will be listed tomorrow on the board. Those on it should report here to the gym at 3:30 pm where we will determine roles for everyone and then go through a short practice with the script.” Reiko said, standing up. Bags moved against the chairs and people's feet shuffled on the carpet, out through the double steel doors. She walked over to Yugi and extended her hand, “That was a wonderful performance, Yugi. I knew you had the acting spirit in you.”

 

“Thank you.” Yugi extended his hand, and they shook. She smiled and looked over at Ryou.

 

“You can still participate in the play if you want. I won't mind listening to you if you have something to try out on. And if you don't want to be on the stage, then you can be behind the scenes, doing some stuff like scenery, costumes, the like.” Reiko smiled.

 

“Well, I know I'm not meant for the stage, but sure, I wouldn't mind helping out with props and stuff.” Ryou replied, nodding.

 

“Well, there'll be another paper next to the list tomorrow on the bulletin board in the office. Just sign your name there and come at 4:30 pm to the Art room on the third floor. We'll assign jobs to the people who signed up.” She replied.

 

“Sounds great. I can't wait.” Ryou smiled. She nodded, chuckling to herself, then turned her attention to Yami and Bakura, with a bit of shock that melted into a smile immediately after.

 

“I believe we've met before.” She extended her hand to Bakura, “You're Ryou's boyfriend, the one I served the night before at the restaurant, right?”

 

He nodded, clasping her hand for a moment, “Yes, that's me. I'm glad to see you're doing well.” `I know I know you.'

 

“And you must be Yugi's boyfriend, right?” She asked, turning to Yami. He smiled warmly and shook her outstretched hand.

 

“It's very nice to meet you. My name is Yami Mutou, and yes, Yugi is my boyfriend. I'm surprised you can look at Bakura without being afraid though. He must not have tried anything on you when you served him.” Yami chuckled.

 

“No, of course not. He was very kind.” She replied, giggling and bringing her hands up in a stopping motion. “I should introduce myself to you, since we haven't met before. My name is Reiko, Reiko Kaya. Yugi, Ryou, and I just became friends today.”

 

“I'm glad. You seem like a very good person.” Yami smiled. She blushed deeply.

 

“I can't say I'm that good. But I am glad to have them as friends now, too. And I have a new actor and helper now, too.” She giggled, turning to the two, “So I'll see the two of you tomorrow, correct?”

 

“Yes, we'll see you tomorrow.” Ryou smiled. Yugi nodded excitedly, and she smiled.

 

“Well then, I'll see the two of you tomorrow then.” She said, turning towards the row to get to her bag.

 

“Reiko, um, there's something I wanted to ask you.” Ryou asked. She stopped and turned around.

 

“Yes, what is it?” She smiled.

 

“Today, at lunch, when we saw each other, you seemed sullen and tired. Were you okay or did you have another faint spell?” Ryou asked, worried.

 

“Oh, that.” She said. The smile dropped from her face for a moment and she seemed to fall into a daze again, as she had in class earlier that day. Then, she suddenly looked up and smiled again, “No, nothing was wrong with me. I was just really hungry, that's all.” She said, touching her stomach. She could feel the burn marks under her clothes. She looked down at her stomach for a moment then back up at them.

 

Bakura watched her with curiosity, `So the burn mark she has is on her stomach. If I could just get a look at it…'

 

“Reiko, hey Reiko!” His thoughts and their conversation was interrupted when Jordan came running towards them with Deidre close behind. “We need to head to work or the manager's gonna be mad with us.”

 

“Yes, you're right. I'm sorry.” She smiled, hitting her head and sticking her tongue out as a sign she was stupid to have forgotten. She turned to the others, smiling, “I'm afraid that I need to get to work now. So sorry we couldn't have continued.”

 

“It's all right. We understand.” Ryou smiled. She nodded and waved, turning away to walk over and join Deidre and Jordan.

 

“See you guys tomorrow!” Jordan smiled.

 

“Can't wait to see you at practice!” Deidre called, smiling and waving.

 

“See you later.” Ryou waved. Yugi waved with him. Reiko smiled and waved, walking away with Deidre and Jordan out the side door of the theater. Ryou watched them go and then turned to Bakura, “Should we be heading home now?”

 

“Yes, that would be a good idea. I'd rather not want to break us out of your school because we got locked in for staying late.” Bakura sighed, “It would be a waste of my talents.”

 

“I think we'd better head home, too, Yugi. We can go out to celebrate you making the play cast.” Yami smiled, patting Yugi's head. He nodded and smiled at Ryou.

 

“See you tomorrow at the gate, Ryou.” He smiled.

 

“Okay, see you tomorrow.” He replied. Yugi waved again, and then Yami and he walked off towards the doors Reiko and her friends had left through. Ryou watched them disappear behind the door and then turned his attention to Bakura. “Are you ready to go?”

 

“Yes, let's get home. I'm getting hungry as it is.” He replied. Ryou muffled a chuckle and took Bakura's hand in his, leading him out through the side door.

 

As they went out of the gate, Ryou looked up at his yami, who seemed to be in deep thought, “Is something wrong?”

 

“It really seemed as if something was wrong with her.” Bakura replied, looking down at him. “Didn't you think so?”

 

“Yea, she seemed to be deciding whether to tell us the truth or a lie. I think she told us a lie because she looked down at her stomach anxiously. I wonder what was wrong with her.”

 

`That's something I can't tell you until I see the mark on her myself.' “Don't know. Maybe she'll be better tomorrow though.” Bakura said, smirking.

 

“I hope you're right.” Ryou said, smiling hopefully. Bakura nodded and they continued to walk alongside one another.

 

`I know one thing for certain, there's something about that mark on her that might answer my questions.' He looked ahead, concentrating, `I have to see that mark, or else I'll never figure out that ghost.'