Painful Memories: Part III: Consequences

Heading to the Airport

She could hear Rishid outside cleaning all the extra materials out of the Jeep as she awoke. The morning sunlight was just beginning to turn her room a deep grey and orange light streaked across her dresser mirror. She still felt exhausted, but her skull wasn't throbbing like it had been last night. She had showered and cleaned up before lying down, which at the time seemed an impossible feat, but now she appreciated. She heard Rishid come back inside and walk across the house, heading to her room. She put a hand up to feel the Necklace at her throat and a buzz of electricity hummed through her. It was eager to tell her something, eager to share some knowledge, and was simply waiting for the right moment.

"Not yet," she whispered. The buzz that flowed through her seemed to settle somewhat, but remained just beneath her skin like a bout of nervous energy. She sighed and sat up. She wasn't sure if she had awoken on her own, or not. If she had, then perhaps she had truly healed enough from her wounds. But if not, then it meant that the Necklace had awoken her early, possibly knowing that Rishid was heading in to check on her before he left.

No, he comes to ask you to join him.

Ishizu couldn't help jumping at the voice. She ought to have expected it, but she hadn't heard the voice of the Necklace in years. She had almost forgotten what it sounded like. The words weren't spoken exactly, so there wasn't a sound to go along with it, rather the words were just pictured in her mind unbidden. Only when the Necklace needed to tell her a phrase would it etch words onto her thoughts like that. Usually it would simply use images, emotions, scents, any of the other senses. She got the impression that words and language were difficult for it to convey.

The door to her room opened and Rishid stepped in, barely making a noise as he walked across the carpet in his thick boots. His eyes must have taken a moment to adjust to the light, because he didn't realize she was sitting up at first. "Ah, you're awake."

"Yes, only just."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make so much noise."

She sighed, "Don't worry. I don't think you're the cause. What did you want to ask me?"

The Necklace made him nervous. She had found that it had that effect on many people who knew its powers, and she couldn't deny that it made her equally uneasy. Perhaps that was the reason she had fought against taking it up again to begin with.

"I was about to drive to the airport to pick them up."

"Do you think they'll all fit into the Jeep?"

He shrugged, "It shouldn't matter. I'm sure Pegasus will want to procure his own transportation, and possibly Kaiba too. I'm more interested in making sure they can find their way here."

"You could have just sent them the address."

"Those things... can be so untrustworthy. You never know if they will work or not, and I don't want anyone to get lost."

She smiled at him. He was always such a gentleman. It really wasn't necessary for him to make the long trip to the airport and back, but he felt that it was the polite thing to do for guests. He probably felt like his hands were tied with all of this trouble with the Millennium Items. Especially last night when all he could do was watch as Ishizu struggled with the Necklace. It was illogical of him to want to go, but she wouldn't chastise him. She couldn't take away what he believed made him useful.

"Alright, just don't stay away too long."

He nodded and was about to leave when he stopped and turned, a beam of orange light glinting across his dark skin. "Are you sure you'll be alright while I'm gone? If you're not feeling well, I can stay. I could send them the address like you said."

"Go. Quit arguing with me. I'll be fine here. It's our home, isn't it?"

"Yes, but-" His gaze fell on the Necklace at her throat.

"It's settled. I believe I need some time alone with it actually. You go ahead, and if I need you I'll call."

He nodded and headed out. She listened to his footsteps echo throughout the house, then the Jeep engine turn over as he left. Only once the sound of the engine disappeared did she take a deep breath.

This was going to be difficult.