Intertwined fates (book 3)

Chapter 6: Line in the sand

   Yugi hums contently beside me, his fingers gently twirling the engagement ring around his small finger as his friends stare at us dumbfounded. Joey and Honda wear an identical expression of shock and Tea simply looks at the floor. She has avoided my gaze ever since she walked through the door. It would appear that she has become afraid of me...good. She needed to learn the taste of fear, teach her some respect.
   "So you two are getting married?" Honda asks quietly, snapping me out of my dark thoughts.
   "Yes!" Yugi chirps happily as he snuggles closer to me beneath my arm that I had draped across his shoulders. My eyes narrow dangerously at Honda.
   "Problem?" I ask coolly. The boy instantly sits up straighter and forces on an almost cheesy smile.
   "N-no not at all..." He stammers. "Why would there be a problem?"
   "Honda?"
   "Y-yes?"
   "Stop talking."
   "Yes sir." The boy says before immediately looking at the floor.
   /"Yami."/ Yugi scolds.
   /"Yes love?"/
   /"Please stop intimidating my friends."/
   /"It's not my fault that they're cowardly."/ I say matter of factly, meeting Yugi's gaze. /"Just look at them."/
   /"And who made them so afraid?"/ he asks seriously. I can't help but pout as I realize the direction that his question is taking.
   /"Me."/ I reply sullenly.
   /"Very good."/ he teases. /"You could maybe try and be a little nicer to them."/
   /"Ah love, but you see, this is as nice as it gets for them."/
   /"Yami! That's terrible!"/
   /"I regret nothing."/
   Joey clears his throat and both of our eyes instantly snap towards him. The boy visibly pales underneath my gaze and I can feel Yugi subtly poke me in the ribs for it.
   "Tea and I both were wondering when you two had gotten engaged?"
   "Last night." I say bluntly.
   "You're kidding!" Joey says with a shocked expression.
   "Why would I lie?" I ask coolly.
   "Yami that's not what he's saying." Yugi says gently, attempting to placate me.
   "Then what is he saying?" My eyes never straying from Joey's. The boy wavers beneath my gaze.
   "He was just saying that he was surprised." Yugi says gently, with a serene smile on his lips.
   "Ah, I see." I murmur as I fall into silence.
   /"You already knew that."/ Yugi scolds me through the link. A small smirk tags at my lips as I glance at my Aibou subtly. His serene expression still in place as he casually chats with Joey and Honda.
   /"I didn't know actually."/
  /"I don't buy that for a minute."/ I chuckle quietly and pull my Aibou closer to me. My eyes closing as the soft caress of his hair meets my skin. Happiness and warmth overwhelming me as I sigh in contentment.
   "So...um, when is the wedding?" Tea mumbles softly.
   "We haven't really decided." Yugi says with a small smile that I can feel more than see.
   "I see." She responds with a cold tone. "I'm assuming that we're not invited." I open my eyes slightly to peer at her curiously. What is she playing at?
   "Of course you are!" Yugi says quickly. "What would make you think you weren't." Tea looks at me pointedly, her eyes cold.
   "The person you're marrying."
   "Yami?" He looks between the two of us curiously. "What about him?"
   "Isn't it obvious?" She scoffs. "He doesn't like any of us. In fact I'm certain that he hates us." Her eyes are cold as she glares directly into my eyes. Anger rages inside me like an uncontrollable blaze. Yugi grasps my hand in his, anchoring me to his side, keeping me from lunging towards Tea. "Why would he even consider inviting us to your wedding, even though you and I have been friends for years."
   "Tea," Yugi starts but is quickly cut off by Tea's hand.
   "It's obvious that I'm not wanted anywhere near you or your wedding. I've gotten the message loud and clear."
   "Then why are you still here?" My eyes snap down toward Yugi. His eyes are alight with anger and hurt. "You claim to have gotten the message yet you're still wasting my time by bitching at me." Tea stares at him in shock. I feel a strange sense of pride overcome me as I look down at my Aibou. He is standing up for himself at last. It would seem that his time in Egypt has been beneficial to him.
   "Yug." Joey says in shock.
   "Do you know what he did to me?" She screams furiously as she points at me. "He hurt me Yugi."
   "Hurt you how? By telling the truth? Yes I can imagine that was a rather bitter pill for you to swallow." Her face glows red in embarrassment and indignation. I can't help but chuckle at his words. Joey and Honda look at me curiously as I start openly laughing. Tea storms over to me with an outraged expression and I can't seem to stop laughing as she towers over my sitting form.
   Tea's eyes flash as she raises a hand to strike me, but brings it down towards Yugi. Yugi flinches but the strike never falls. Tea's hand is my prisoner as I painfully squeeze her wrist.
   "Tell me," I ask coolly. "In what part of your mind did it say that hitting Yugi would ever end well for you?"
   "Shut up!" She hisses as she tries to yank her wrist free from my grip.
   /"Can I please punish her?"/
   /"No, just...make her leave, please."/ I look over at my Yugi curiously. His eyes are downcast and his fingers have ceased twirling the ring. My heart breaks at the sight of his depressed face. I rise to my feet and quickly yank Tea beside me. She yelps in surprise as she stumbles into my chest. A deep blush coloring her cheeks as she realizes where she is. I growl viciously as I drag her out of the room.
   I shoulder the front door open and shove her harshly through. She stumbles slightly and whirls around to yell at me but I already closed the door. The doorknob turns as she tries to enter the house. I hold it firmly shut as I lock the door and the deadbolt. The door shudders as she slams on it and shouts abuse from the other side of the door. I roll my eyes as I walk away from the door to the room that holds my trembling Aibou.
   "We're so sorry Yugi." Honda says kneeling before Yugi. "If we had known this was going to happen we never would have brought her along."
   "It's fine." Yugi replies numbly. His eyes staring intently at the floor. Joey flinches as he catches a glimpse of my form hovering in the doorframe. My eyes never straying from my small love. I am frozen where I stand in the doorway. Joey and Honda both look at me curiously, a small look of concern crossing their faces.
   "Yami?" Joey asks cautiously.
   "What is it Joey?" I reply softly. Joey looks at me with a stunned expression at my almost friendly response.
   "Are...are you alright?" I look at him sadly for a moment before returning my eyes to Yugi. Honda looks up at me with apologetic eyes.
   "We are so sorry Yami we never meant for that to happen."
   "The fault is mine." I reply as I take long, slow strides towards Yugi. My body collapsing on the couch beside him. "I have treated you all poorly and for that I'm sorry." The room falls silent as I pull Yugi into my arms. His body goes limp in my arms, his breath coming in wavering gasps.
   "Yugi," I murmur into his hair. "It's alright now."
   "Why does my friendship with Tea have to be so painful?"
   "Aibou," I say gently. "If it's an actual friendship you shouldn't be feeling any pain."
   "Yeah Yug, Yami's right." Joey adds sitting next us on the couch. He places a comforting hand on my shoulder and smiles at me. I can't help but stare at him in surprise. "She's not worth all of this stress she's causing you."
   "But I can't-"
   "We're not telling you to make her your enemy. Just don't pretend to be her best friend."
   Yugi sighs in my arms, his eyes sliding shut as his thoughts swirl behind his eyes. I look at Joey with gratitude. I mouth the words thank you to him and he smiles brightly. He nods to me in acknowledgement before grabbing Honda and steering him out of the room and out the front door.
   /"Aibou?"/
   /"Do you really hate them?"/ Yugi asks seriously, his eyes shut tight. /"Was Tea right?"/
   /"No love, I don't hate them."/ I squeeze him tightly in my arms, bringing his form closer to mine. /"I could never hate anyone or anything that is precious to you."/
   "But you hate her." He whispers. "I could feel your animosity as soon as she entered the room." I sigh in defeat as my arms go slack.
   "Some people just aren't as worthy of respect as others." I glance down at him seriously. "She is not a good person Yugi. Tea has done little good. That is why I don't especially like her...do you understand?"
   "Yes." He murmurs as he rests his head over my heart. "Yami, can we not invite her to the wedding?" I chuckle lightly at his adorable expression as he gazes up at me with those innocent doe eyes of his.
   "Whatever you wish, love."