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"There has to be an explanation about it coming here" Ashleigh said. This is going to be weird.
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"I've got no idea what it is, but he seems like he's on our side." Melhana said, reaching her hand out to the pheonix, who nibbled her finger lightly. "Seems friendly enough...."
"That doesn't mean anything though," Yugi said. Melhana nodded. "I know." She replied. |
"Look, there's a note on it's leg" Yana pointed out. And sure enough, there was a note, tied onto it's leg.
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Yugi pulled the note off the pheonix's leg and read the note. It was typed, and unsigned.
I've sent this note to give you a warning. The tournament is going to end in tragedy. I advise you not to enter. "That's weird. I wonder, who could it be from?" Yugi asked absently. |
"I received the exact same note and pulled out the next day after the building got destroyed. That's why I didn't leave for the tournament and like the note said, an explosion happened in the finals, which a lot was hospitalized" Yana explained.
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"You still going to enter the tournament, guys?" Melhana asked, grasping Bakura's hand in worry.
Yugi nodded. "Yeah. Nothing comes from running away." "I'm staying in as well." Bakura said. Jonouchi and Selena nodded in agreement. "Just be careful you guys." Ryuji said. "Kaiba's in the hospital already, and the tournament hasn't even started yet." |
"And I guess that the Signers won't be pulling out right?" Yana asked. The Pheonix dropped a package from it's wings and stayed on Ashleigh's shoulder for the rest of the night.
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"I doubt it." Selena typed out on her phone. "If only to get Yusei back, like the rest of us."
"What's that package?" Bakura asked. |
"I don't know. I open this one first" Ashleigh said, putting the present to one side and opening the package. Everyone gasped on what they saw.
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"It's a pair of rings," Melhana said. "It looks like one's for Ashleigh and one's for Yugi."
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The couple took the rings and put it on. They both felt their energy flowing through each others veins for about 2 minutes.
"What was that?" Ashleigh asked, "And there is another note too." |
Yugi picked it up and read it:
In any case, I've enclosed a pair of rings; one for Mrs. Mutou, and one for her husband. They'll help you locate each other to matter where you are. I am quite sure we'll meet at some point in the future. "That's weird." Yugi said as he handed the note to Ashleigh. "Apparently these are supposed to help us locate each other if we're seperated." "Good thing too," Jonouchi said. "It'll help keep track of you guys so we don't lose ya." "We hope." Yugi added. |
Ashleigh opened the last present. It was a number of things. Kingdom Hearts Re-coded for NDS from Rua and Ruka, a set of tattoo pens and lip gloss from Aki, a Biker Chick jacket from Crow, a new CD (Vocal Duel Best Vol. 1. Yugi hid under the pillow again until Ashleigh put it down away from him. She was missing that out of the set) from Jack, and a piece of artwork from Yana (it was an ocean view painting) and a bracelette from Yuzuki.
"Thanks guys" Ashleigh said, "and I mean all of you." |
"No problem," Melhana said. By now she was perched on the arm of the chair Bakura was sitting in.
"So," Ryuji said, cocking an eyebrow, "how's about you two tell us all about why you're acting weird?" Both Melhana and Bakura blushed. "Erm...uh...wha....er......" Melhana stammered. Selena sighed. "Ryuji, do you intentionally try and make everyone nervous?" She typed. |
"You have something on your finger Mel. And usually, you don't wear jewellary" Ashleigh said as she placed her presents in a box which was provided for them only, "Spill!"
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Melhana blushed even more. "Er, uh, do I have to?" She stammered nervously.
"Birthday girl's wishes! Now tell!" Jonouchi pressed. Melhana stared at everyone in the room, her face getting warmer by the moment. Finally, she caved in. "Fine, I'll tell you." She sighed, holding up her left hand. On the ring finger of that hand was a ring about 3/4 of an inch to an inch wide, made up of intertwining threads of white and yellow gold, with small green stones embedded in shapes that looked like leaves and small rubies dotten along the threads, like rosebuds. "Ryo proposed to me, and I accepted. We're engaged." |
Ashleigh gave her a hug.
"Congrats" she said, "You never regret it." |
"I know I won't," Melhana replied, returning the hug. Bakura looked away, blushing.
"Somebody's embarrassed," Ryuji teased. Bakura glared at him. |
Ashleigh placed the crown onto Melhana's head.
"I guess we call that the celebration crown now" she said. |
Melhana gave Ashleigh the crown back. "You're the birthday girl here, not me." She said, blushing. "Besides, it makes me feel weird!"
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"But it's your engagement party we have to plan next" Ashleigh replied, "You hold on to that."
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Melhana groaned. "Greaaat...."
"This is reminding me of when Yugi proposed to Ashleigh, except he was the bashful one." Selena typed. |
"You tell me. And it was at a school reunion too" Ashleigh said.
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"Please don't remind me...." Yugi groaned as Jonouchi, Honda, and Ryuji broke out in giggles.
"I never heard about how it went." Selena typed. "Remember, I graduated from an American high school since I was a foreign exchance student." "Come to think of it, I never got the whole story either." Melhana said. "Yugi...." "All right," Yugi said in defeat. He launched into the story of his proposing to Ashleigh.... "I can't do it!" Yugi said nervously. He was in his last year of college, and his heart was beating so fast he thought it would burst out of his chest. He was finally going to propose to Ashleigh Velman, and backing out was looking rather tempting at the moment. "Oh no you don't!" Jonouchi said, grabbing Yugi as he tried running off. "You've been talking about asking Ashleigh to marry you for months! Just get out there and say something!" "I'm too nervous!" Yugi countered, struggling against Jonouchi's grip. And succeeding. "Honda! Help me out here!" Jonouchi called. By now his best friend was almost as tall as he was, and had gained quite a bit more strength since high school. "You're not going anywhere, Yugi!" Honda said, grabbing Yugi's other arm. "Like Jonouchi said, you've been going on about proposing to Ashleigh, so just shut up and get it over with!" "Shut it! Last I checked neither of you have gotten up the guts to ask Mai or Shizuka either!" Yugi countered. "Leave my sister outta this!" Jonouchi snapped, once again in protective-older-brother mode. "She is hot..." Honda said. His comment was met with a punch over the head. "If. You. EVER. Touch. My. Sister. You. Will. Die." Jonouchi growled. "Okay okay, I get it. Shizuka's off-limits." Honda replied, getting out of range of Jonouchis's fists. Yugi had a strong feeling that Honda had his fingers crossed behind his back, but he didn't linger to find out. He snuck out of there and went up to the gang's favorite haunt from high school; the roof. I want to propose to Ashleigh, but I just can't get up the courage. Yugi thought, leaning on the railing and staring at the stars. I don't even know if she'll say yes. I'm just too damned nervous.... Yugi was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't hear Anzu come up beside him and lean on the railing as well. "So, what brings you up here now?" She asked. "Jonouchi and Honda being jerks again?" Yugi started when Anzu spoke. "No, not that." He said distractedly. "Anzu, can I ask you something?" "Go ahead," Anzu replied. "You're a girl. If...if I proposed to Ashleigh, what would she say?" Yugi asked. "I mean, I want to marry her, but I'm afraid that she'll say no. What do I do?" "Just ask her," Anzu said after a moment. "I can't tell you what her reaction will be, because I'm not in Ashleigh's head. The best I can give you is to not be afraid of the outcome; if you are, then you'll never get a chance to ask her." Yugi was silent for a while as he let Anzu's advice sink in. Don't be afraid of the outcome. He still wasn't completely convinced. I'm still scared. He thought. But...I may as well give it a shot. He laughed inwardly. Imagine if Atem could see me now; I was nearly killed when Kaiba tried killing us all with Death-T, had my soul trapped in a tabletop RPG figurine, won back my grandpa's soul from Pegasus, stopped Marik from destroying the world, had my soul stolen by the Orichalcos, helped him defeat the Leviathin, and even beaten Atem in a duel after our excursion into the World of Memory. I can just hear him lecturing me over this. A smile crosed Yugi's face as the image of Atem staring at him in incredulity at hearing that after all they'd been through, Yugi was afraid of asking a girl to marry him. A small snicker escaped his lips as he thought of hte lecture he'd get if Atem was there. "What's so funny?" Anzu asked. "Nothing, just thinking of the lecture Atem would be giving me if he were here right now." Yugi replied. "I can hear him now: 'Yugi, we've been bonded for years, and here you are freaking out about asking a girl to marry you. After nearly being killed, had your soul taken, and beating me in a duel, one would think that it would take a lot more than a girl to scare you. Just ask her you idiot!'" He laughed as he finished the impression of his partner, made even funnier at how close it was. "Don't forget about Selena." Anzu said. "'Yugi, you've had your soul taken. Kaiba and Marik nearly killed your ass. All of us risked our lives in Atem's memories. The LAST thing you should be afraid of is a girl.'" They both laughed at that, knowing that it would be exactly what Selena would say in this situation. "Thanks, Anzu. You're a big help," Yugi said, feeling better after their conversation. "I'll head back before the last dance is over. Thanks again!" "No problem," Anzu replied, waving. Yugi headed back to the gym, retreating the familiar steps along the way. He remembered all the times he and the gang had spent loitering in the halls, racing each other up to the roof at lunch, and watching Selena and Jonouchi duel in the classroom. He looked up, his feet having accidentally brought them back to their old room; Class 2-B. He smiled, remembering the time Jonouchi and Honda had played keep-away with his Millennium Puzzle, back before he solved it. That seems so long ago, Yugi thought. Heh. The classroom still looks the same though. He continued on to the gym, passing the place on the wall where Selena had chased Jonouchi through the school with a blue Sharpie. The dent where Jonouchi rammed his knee into the corner was still there. I still don't remember what he did to piss her off... he thought. When he reached the gym the las dance was just starting. "There you are!" Ashleigh called. "Where'd you dissapear to?" "The roof," Yugi replied. "Just...thinking about things." "What kind of things?" Ashleigh asked quietly as "Orenji to Taiyou" came on to start the last song. "You'll see," Yugi replied in a whisper. He and Ashleigh were silent as they danced to the last song with everyone else on the dance floor. When the song ended, everyone left the dance floor, except for Yugi and Ashleigh. "Ashleigh, wait." He said. Ashleigh stopped as Yugi reached into an inner pocket of his jacket, and kelt. "Ashleigh Velman, the love of my life, will you marry me?" As he spoke, he pulled out a small box and openened it to reveal a ring, a gold band with a heart-shaped pink saphhire in the center, bordered by two sparkling white diamonds on either side. Ashleigh stood there frozen as everyone stared. Yugi looked away, his face turning redder than a beet. I knew this was a bad idea, he thought. She's going to say no.... He was caught off guard by Ashleigh kneeling down and planting a kiss on his lips. "Of course," She said softly. "I will marry you, Yugi Mutou." Yugi stayed frozen, bemused as Ashleigh slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. Finally time was moving again. Everyone around them was clapping, and the DJ had put on the song "Ash White Snow" on as everyone started to leave. "Looks like we get one last, private song." Ashleigh said as she and Yugi got back up. They finished the song together, and when they left with the rest of the gang, everyone else had gone. |
"I was lucky to finish school before we got married though. There is a 2 year gap between us" Ashleigh replied, but the wedding is so romantic. The last private dance became our wedding dance and the official last dance became the father - daughter dance" and she sighed.
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