Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Lost & Found ❯ The Music of the Night ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: christianqueen doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh or the lyrics to Into the West

Sometime later the gang was sitting around the campfire chatting.

It was nearly midnight when everyone fell asleep.

Ryou, on the other hand, couldn’t sleep.

Strumming his guitar, he tried to sing himself to sleep.

This motion woke Tea. “Ryou? Are you still awake?”

Ryou nodded. “Yes” he answered. “I couldn’t sleep”

Tea sat up. “I noticed.” she smiled.

Ryou grinned. “Hey, how old are you?” he asked.

“I’m 17” she said. “What about you?”

“I’m 19” he answered.

Tea nodded. “What’s your full name?” she asked.

“Ryou Josiah Stevens” he said, remembering the teasing.

“Josie” Tea whispered. “Anie” Ryou whispered back.

They stared at each other. “Tea?”/“Ryou?”

Tea got up, and with cat-like reflexes, jumped over Yugi, Joey and Tristan.

Ryou caught her when she fell. They both started to cry.

“Shh… dear it’s alright now…Mother’s safe…. And Da-Daniel is in Michigan”

Tea looked up at him, a giggle escaping her lips. Ryou laughed along with her.

“Oh, my baby sister!” he whispered as he held her tight.

“Mmph… Ryou? You’re squishing me!”

“Whoops” At this Ryou let go.

“Alright now young miss, you need to go back to bed.”

Tea frowned, then slowly fell asleep in the arms of the boy she assumed to be her brother.

She was wrong. Norin delightedly carried the sleeping girl back to her quarters.

Besides the fact that he’d wanted to carry her, Ryou could only lift 130 and Tea was 140 being weighed down by muscle, hence her Navy training.

Norin himself, was able to lift about 175 and Tea was 35 lbs lighter than usual.

//You’re as light as a feather, my dear// he thought gleefully.

Gently he put her down back on her sleeping bag, being careful not to disturb her as he placed the blankets over her.

Ryou took over again, kissing her forehead and carefully crawled over to his guitar.

Softly he started to sing as he strummed his guitar.

Lay down, your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey’s end
Sleep now; dream of the ones who came before
They are calling from across the distant shore

Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see, all of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms… you’re only sleepin’…

Ryou stopped as he heard a muffled sound coming from the woods. It sounded like someone was crying.

“Who’s there?” he called quietly. He got up slowly.

Just then the Millennium Ring glowed. Two needles pointed straight forward.

/Just like when I tried to find Chrissie!/ he thought.

The muffled crying grew louder.

Norin had stopped Ryou just before he stumbled over something.

“Who’s there?” the person said.

/Wait a minute…. Serenity?/ “It’s Ryou” he whispered.

“Oh!” it sounded like a cry.

“Serenity? Love, are you alright?”

Deep wrenching sobs were his answer. He found her stuck in the bushes.

Instinctively, he picked her up and held her close. She was so incredibly light!

“Shhh, love everything’s going to be alright now, I’m here…shh” the young girl’s sobs soon became whimpers.

/What in the world happened when we landed? How did she get over here? And why is she all wet?/

Ryou’s answer was a soft sneeze.

Hurriedly, he carried her over to where he had been sleeping.

He lay her down by the fire. “Here, love let’s warm you up a bit eh?” Ryou said softly as he fished a spare blanket from his backpack.

Serenity smiled sleepily. “Mm.. thanks”

Ryou smiled as he placed the blanket over her. “You’re welcome” he put his arm around her protectively.

“Serenity, how on earth did you get over there?”

He was interrupted by a strange ringing.

Serenity crawled over and rummaged in Joey’s backpack for his cell-phone.

“Hello?” she whispered. “Oh, Hi Daddy! Yeah we’re ok…uh huh…yeah but he’s asleep. Hm? Oh, no not yet. I am kinda sleepy though. How’s Mom? Uh-huh…”

she giggled softly. “No, Daddy” she giggled again.

Ryou loved her laugh, so sweet and full of humor.

“Ok… I’ll tell him… I love you too, Daddy… Bye” she hung up and put the phone back in the backpack.

She crawled back over to Ryou.

“Mr. Wheeler I presume?” he grinned.

Serenity giggled.

“Yes, he just wanted to make sure we got here ok. And he told me to tell Joey no wild parties… or boys” she grinned.

Ryou laughed a little. “Why I’d never!” they laughed softly.

Serenity yawned and crawled over to the space between Joey’s and Ryou’s sleeping bags and laid down.

“Serenity? I have an extra pillow…” the girl blushed.

“Oh no I couldn’t….” Ryou nodded. “Of course you can… I insist.”

He hurriedly got the pillow out of his backpack.

Serenity took it gratefully. “Thank you” she looked down sadly.

Ryou noticed this.

Norin came out again. //She’s upset// he said.

/I can see that/ Ryou answered.

“What’s wrong, love?” The red haired girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

Ryou was taken aback. ”I-I’m ok…I’m just….s-scared”

Ryou’s heart ached yet again. “Scared of what, darling?”

Serenity looked up at hearing that term of endearment.

There was something so familiar about this guy, she knew that she had seen him somewhere before.

^He looks so much like Josie. she thought.

She opened her locket that hung on the chain around her neck.

Why, Josie? Why did you leave me behind? Why didn’t you take me with you? Was I a bad girl?

Flashback

those had been the thoughts that had ran through her mind the night the little boy had taken her home and left her with her family.

Of course, she loved her family dearly, but she had gotten so used to being with him, that she thought he would never leave her side.

Then those dreaded words had come from his mouth as tears had streamed down his face.

He had tried not to show it, but Serenity hadn’t been stupid.

Flashback

"Where are you going?" she asked in a small voice.

"To find my family, love" he said with a small sad smile.

"I want to go with you!" she tried to get up, but he pushed her back down gently.

"No, darling, you have to stay here." She started to cry.

"Don't leave me!" she cried. "Josie!"

Josie tried hard not to cry. He wiped her tears with his handkerchief, kissed her forehead, picked up his hat and walked to the door.

"Stay here and be a good girl... I love you." He walked downstairs, trying to avoid Mrs. Wheeler's gaze.

"Promise me you will take care of her?" he asked. Laura and William nodded.

Josie put on his hat and walked out the door, glancing one last time at Serenity's window. He shook his head, and got in the taxi as it drove away.

Be a good girl Serenity! he thought. I love you!

End of Flashback

He had left then, never to be seen by her again.

Or so she thought.

She constantly blamed herself for Josie's departure.

When she had met Seto Kiaba for what she thought was the first time, he had asked her out on a date. She had said no.

That's when Serenity realized that Seto knew about Josie too. He'd said it was a waste of time to wait for Josie to come back, because Josie was probably dead by now.

Serenity had refused to believe him. Then he turned on her and said that it was all her fault that Josie left.

'He probably breathed a sigh of relief when he took you back to your family.' he'd said. 'You're nothing but a wimpy little...' Joey had interfered then, saying that he'd kick Kiaba's butt the next time he ever thought about coming near his sister.

Joey had told Serenity not to believe anything Seto Kiaba said. "He's just a Mista Goody Two Shoes" Serenity had giggled. "Trust God Serenity... he'll bring Josie back... 'Memba Lazarus?" Serenity had laughed then for about a whole 20 minutes. Joey laughed too. "Now let's go get us some Ice Cream!" Serenity nodded and they had left.

End of Flashback

Ryou noticed the silent tears on Serenity’s cheeks.

“Serenity? Are you alright?”

She nodded. Ryou didn’t believe her.

But instead of making a fuss, he got out his handkerchief and gave it to her.

“Here now, dry your eyes, dear… It’s going to be alright.”

Serenity smiled and sniffed a little, dabbing her eyes with the handkerchief.

“What is it that you’re afraid of?” Ryou asked.

Suddenly they both heard a rustling in the bushes. Serenity turned around, and Ryou got up.

/Why is it that every time I try to talk to Serenity, someone keeps interrupting?/

//I’m not sure, but I think I know who it is// Norin said.

Serenity got up looking rather alarmed, and moaned a little. Ryou noticed this and held her close.

The young girl immediately blushed beet red.

Norin saw this and chuckled. //she really, really likes you// he teased.

Ryou smiled and looked down at Serenity’s face. She was almost asleep.

Slowly, gently, he lay her down on the blanket next to his, her head on the pillow with her soft red locks spilling down to her waist.

I will return my love. he thought.

//Aww how sweet// Norin smirked. Ryou rolled his eyes.

/I need your help./ Ryou said. Norin nodded and took over.

A frown came over his face as he heard the wind in the trees.

Then the Ring glowed. There was someone there!

Ryou took over. Suddenly he heard footsteps.

“Whose there?!” he demanded.

“Your worst nightmare!” said a voice.

Ryou turned and came into contact with something hard. Then all went black….

*
Dizziness and pain were the first things that came over Ryou when he woke up.

Suddenly remembering where he was, he looked up and saw a figure by firelight, looming over Serenity.

Ryou growled, wincing as he got up. He had to protect her!

He’d promised he’d always love and protect her.

Slowly he got up, he didn’t notice Norin had picked up a stick until he saw it clenched in his hands!

*
“It’s no use running anymore, Christine… you’re mine now, and no one is going to come between us!” Erik whispered.

He kneeled down next to her. Touching her creamy soft skin with his fingers, he smiled to himself. Suddenly he leaned over.

“You kiss her and so help me I’ll kick your French toast eating butt from here to Kingdom Come!"

Seto got up and smirked. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Little Josie, come back from the dead!”

Ryou growled. “What on Earth have you been telling her?!”

Seto’s ice blue eyes gleamed evilly. “That you had deserted her, died and were never coming back!”

Ryou snarled. “Grrr I have a mind to bash your brains in!” the boy growled.

Seto smirked. “Go ahead, do it!”

Ryou looked down at the ground. “I can’t kill you…” he said, his voice husky, “…but I can make your life a living nightmare!”

Norin had taken over, he cold cruel eyes glistening with hatred and a thirst for revenge.

Seto looked up, a look of pure horror in his eyes. “Y-you!”

Norin nodded. “Yes, me, Kaiba! You tried to harm Ryou, and the young maiden, and you almost destroyed the Millennium Ring! So beware Kaiba, because there will be a day when your charm and money can’t help you; and on that day you’ll be mine!”

Norin lunged at Seto, but was intercepted by none other than Tea Gardner!

She looked up at Seto, an angry look on her face. Norin sat up and glared at her. “What the heck did you do that for?!! I almost had him!”

Tea raised an elegant arched eyebrow. “Did you? Did you ever think that if you did such a thing, my brother would be taken away from us again?! Did you?! Answer me!” she growled, a scowl on her face.

Norin looked down, quite ashamed of himself. He hadn’t thought about that.

All he had wanted was for Ryou and Ms. Wheeler to be together without interferences.

This he relayed to Tea in Ancient Egyptian. She smiled a little.

“Though your intentions may be heroic, you cannot get away with murder. The court would never believe that you have a dual personality. Even if they did it would mean…”

“The Looney Bin” Seto smirked, now believing what he‘d seen ten years before.

Tea growled and slapped him, hard. Seto growled, and started toward her.

“If you ever touch my sister or Serenity Wheeler, I’ll take you for everything you’ve got!”

Ryou had taken over again, but Seto was walking away. “Whatever dweebs… I’ll deal with you later… right now I’ve got my brother to worry about.”

Ryou and Tea gasped. “Mokuba’s gone?” they asked.

Seto nodded and walked away, a smirk on his face.

Ryou glared hard at the ground, clenching his fist. “So help me, if he harms one hair on Serenity’s head…I’ll pound him 6 feet under!”

Tea shushed him. “Shh… Ryou, ye don’t mean that love… Don’t ye be mindin’ Seto…Now, tell me. What’s this between you and Serenity?”

Ryou took a deep breath. “Well, it all started when my dad kidnapped me and we were living in France…”