Towards the Light

Chapter 16

''Great, you're back!" you heard a feminine voice, while closing the doors behind you. You blinked when you saw a orange-haired girl with bandages around her eyes. "The dinner is almost ready."

"Uh, okay," you smiled, uncertain, if the girl even saw it. She had her head pointed into your direction, but soon enough she focused on the soup. You sat down beside a wooden table and focused on sweet scent that reached your nostrils. Your stomach grumbled immediately, reminding you that you haven't eaten anything since you woke up. The girl giggled and you flushed red in embarrassment. Then it hit you, that the girl must've been Shizuka, Jonouchi's little sister. And most likely a Gwyllgi too.

You kept silent and turned the Stone in your hands. You wondered if you did the right thing, accepting the gift form a Dragon Hunter.

There was a noise outside and into the small kitchen barged Jonouchi and a man you were unfamiliar with. Behind them trailed Yugi and Atem. Both quiet in contrast of two other.

"You idiot!" Jonouchi grasped taller's male shirt. You noticed bandages around his hands. "Why did you follow me!? I told you two to stay put when I'm gone!"

"Brother!" Shizuka shrieked, making you jump in your seat. You hastily hid the Stone.

"We've had no other choice!" the man, Honda – you vaguely recalled, yelled back. "You have no idea what has been happening outside!"

"I know, that's why I told you to stay away!"

Both of them were glaring at each other.

"Brother, Hiroto, please calm down!" Shizuka reached them and stood between them. Hiroto Honda, so it was his full name then. You gulped and watched as Jonouchi, under the pressure of his sister, let go of Honda's shirt. With red face he turned away and sat down beside you with a loud thump. Atem and Yugi breathed a sigh of relief and also sat down by the table.

Awkward silence continued till Shizuka put a first bowl of soup on the table. You stood up and decided to help the girl. You silently mused that she can't be older by you, judging only by the appearance. The dinner passed, filled with silence, though not as uncomfortable as before. Atem looked dejected most of the time, only poking food a little with his spoon, and you couldn't think of anything to say to cheer him up. His failure from back then weighed him down a lot. And in addition, with your own gloomy mood you couldn't enjoy a meal, no matter how tasty the soup was.

Laegil was absent, Yugi told you she still slept.

"Where have you been?" Yugi asked when you were making circles with a spoon in your soup. You blinked and asked him to repeat.

"Oh, I just... I just wanted to see who are those two weird knights outside," you replied with a brightest smile you could muster. You swallowed a bitter taste the lie left on your tongue. Yugi nodded. "I guess they are made of your magic?"

"Yes, I was able to make them much more human like," he smiled, looking proud of himself. You smiled. You turned to your soup again, and with a sigh you stood up and put the bowl into the sink. You thanked for the meal. Everybody followed you lead, the soup flowing into the sink. You decided to make yourself useful and started to wash the dishes.