Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is a story I wrote for a grade 10 english assignment. It's a fair length, so you might want to have 10-20 minutes free if you want to read it all the way through. Any comments are welcome. I want to make this story perfect, so if you want to open up a Notepad file or something to record the mistakes you find feel free to. I think there may be quite a few mistakes, so don't be too harsh about them. Pointing them out will suffice. (I'm not asking for criticism about my little pre-story rant, just the story itself, so you needn't worry about proof-reading this part.)

The Night of a Lifetime


Stepping from the shower and reaching quickly for a towel hanging nearby in the bathroom Catrina calls out, "Yami!! Are you dressed yet?!" She waits silently for a reply, and it comes within seconds.

"Almost, I just have to finish getting this damn tie on straight, mind coming to give me a hand??" he calls back from the bedroom.

Catrina droops her shoulders a little. "Men," she says to herself as she rolls her eyes, "Coming, I just have to dry off a little bit." She begins to pat at her limbs and torso with the towel.

"Alright, I'll be waiting" is heard from the bedroom, just before the large 'thunk' of Yami dropping his weight onto the bed.

Catrina rolls her eyes again as she finishes drying off, wrapping the towel around herself, "What a lazy bum...” she says to herself, starting off towards the bedroom to help her husband. Opening the door she sees Yami standing in front of the mirror, fiddling with his tie, "Wow, you really are clueless with that thing aren't you?" she giggles.

Yami, hearing her giggle, turns his head "Wha? Oh, yah, I am. I decided to take another shot at it myself, but as you can see it failed miserably." he says, holding up the mess of a tie.

"Here, let me help you," she says, still giggling as she walks behind him and brings her hands to the tie around the front of his neck, untangles it and proceeds to tie it in a perfect Windsor knot. "See, it's that simple." placing her hands on his shoulders.

Yami turns around and takes her hands, kissing them softly and cradling them in his own, "Thank you my dear." he says with a large smile, "Now it's time for you to dash me more than usual by getting dressed all stunning like, so I can take you out and wow all the citizens of the city. I'll leave you to your dressing, don't want to ruin the surprise." he says, kissing her and walking out of the bedroom.

Catrina yells out to him down the hall, "Alright, and you know me, never one to disappoint." as she attacks the closet, sorting out dresses to wear. After fifteen to twenty minutes of debating she decides on a lovely ruby red satin gown, more specifically the one Yami had bought for her on their honeymoon. She had never had a chance to wear it, but decided this would be the perfect occasion. "I've found the absolute perfect dress to wear," she says, walking slowly down the hall to increase suspense, "but you have to go into the kitchen until I get my coat on, because if I can't know where we're going, you can't know what I'm wearing."

A loud sigh is heard moving from the dining room to the kitchen, "Fine, I guess that's only fair, but I'm gonna be itching to see, you know that right?"

Catrina just giggles again, "I know, that's the point," she says, slipping on her long coat, "Ok, you can come out and get ready now."

Yami comes out of the kitchen and into the main hall, "I knew I shouldn't have bought you that coat. Now it's come back to make me pay for thinking about not buying it, I just know it." he says, glaring playfully at Catrina.

She rolls her eyes, "You’re silly. I know just as well as you that you think I look as good in this coat as I know you will when you see what I'm wearing, " she says, winking at him. Then she takes the car keys and goes outside, "I'll be waiting for you in the car."

Yami just grumbles a bit, throwing on his own coat, running outside to the car, and climbing in, "Alright, lets be off," he says, grinning from ear to ear and pulling out a blindfold from his pocket "It's gonna get dark in here for one of us. And I’m driving." he chuckles.

"I hope you don't expect me to wear that." she shoots.

"Why not? It'll increase the suspense, I even promise not to peek at what you wearing." he says, giving her his best puppy dog eyes.

She glares at him, but finally gives in, closing her eyes and crossing her arms, "Fine, but I'm, gonna hold my coat closed, and I'll know if you try to peek." she grumbles, grabbing the edges of her coat and holding them tightly to her chest.

Yami just smiles, wrapping the small piece of cloth around his wife's eyes, "No peeking now, We should be there within ten to fifteen minutes." he says, sliding the key into the ignition and turns it to start. He grumbles when it fails to turn over on the first try, but turns the key again, and with a soft press on the accelerator it starts, "And we're off." he says, leaning over to give Catrina a kiss before taking off out of the driveway.

After about ten minutes of silence Catrina finally starts to get impatient, "Yami dear," she whines, "How much farther is it? I'm getting fidgety and I don't like this blindfold anymore. Can I take it off yet?"

"Almost there, give me two more minutes, you won't be disappointed, trust me." He tells her, grinning widely and pulling into the parking lot of their destination, "Ok, we're here, but you have to stay here for a second, I'll be right back. Keep the blindfold on."

Catrina glares at him from under the blindfold. "Fine, hurry back." she mumbles, obviously getting tired of all his games.

After a few seconds Yami comes back and opens the passenger door, helping Catrina out by the hand, "Don't worry, I would never let anything happen to you, just trust me." he says, leading her by the shoulders along the pathway and up the stairs to the restaurant entrance.

"You’re lucky I love you so much, I wouldn't let anyone else lead me around like this, you know that right?" she asks.

He grins, opening the door and leading her through, "Yes, I know, and I'm glad you can trust me like you do. Now just a few more seconds." he tells her, walking her into one of the private rooms of the restaurant. "Ok, we're here." he whispers in her ear, untying the blindfold and taking it off.

As Catrina opens her eyes eagerly, she gasps at her surroundings; A small table, the perfect size for the two of them, adorned by beautiful crystal glasses, burning blue candles, silver cutlery, and bone china plates. The room around them is no less stunning as the table. There was a magnificent glimmering crystal chandelier, beautiful wallpaper, and lush carpet, just an overall gorgeous room. She turns around, eyes wide, "Yami!! It's amazing!"

He just stands there grinning, "Oh yeah? That's not the best part. Come here." he says, standing in the doorway and extending his arm out to the main part of the restaurant.

She gives him a funny look, but complies, coming to his side and peering out in the direction he is pointing and her eyes widen even more, "Oh my! That's the table that we had dinner at on our first date." she turns to face the grinning Yami, "You are the most amazing man ever!" she squeals, throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him for all she's worth, "I knew I shouldn't have listened to my mother all those years ago." She says smiling from ear to ear, after breaking off from their kiss.

"So I take it you like your surprise?" he asks, still grinning, and extends his hands "Now, may I take your coat ma'am?"

She giggles a bit, almost having forgotten what she did to poor Yami, "Indeed you may kind sir. Thank you" she says, dropping the coat from her shoulders into Yami's hands, pulling away when he gets his grip on it, "So, what do you think?" she asks, grinning and twirling around.

Yami stands there, wide-eyed and jaw to his knees "Oh my god, you look amazing! Isn't that the..."

"Yes, the dress you bought me on our honeymoon last year. I haven't found an occasion good enough to warrant wearing it, but I figured this would be the perfect thing to wear." she says, walking over to the table and motioning for Yami to join her.

Walking to the table, his mouth still gaping, Yami hands the coat off to the busboy, and stands behind Catrina's chair. Giving his head a shake he pulls out the chair and motions for her to sit down, "After you my dear."

She giggles again and takes her seat, nudging forward slightly as Yami pushes the chair in, "Thank you my love."

The busboy grins and laughs to himself, "What a couple." he says, leaving to check Catrina's coat.

Back at the table Catrina is still in awe of the room around her as she moves her head around to look at it all from her chair, "I can't believe this, it's so amazing. How did you get it?"

Yami snickers, "You needn't worry yourself with such trivial details, now take a look at the menu so you can decide what you’re going to have for dinner." he tells her, picking up his own menu.

After a short time the waiter arrives, "So, have you two decided what you’re having this evening?" he asks, turning to face them both in succession.
Catrina lets out a soft sound of thought and points to the menu, "I'll have the Chicken Parmesan please." she says, handing the waiter her menu, "What are you going to have Yami?"

"Umm, I think I'll just have the same." he finally decides, handing his menu to the waiter, "Can we also have a bottle of champagne?"

"Very well, I shall return momentarily with your champagne, and your dinners will be along shortly after." he says, giving a courteous bow and going to return the menus and fetch the champagne.

Yami places his hands on either side of the table and smiles as he asks, "So, what do you think?"

Catrina stops moving her head around from the magnificent room and looks at him, "What kind of question is that? I love it!" she says, placing her hands over his and smiling widely.

"I'm glad you like it. Where we're going after dinner you'll like even more." he says, his grin widening as he leans over and kisses her.

She quirks a brow and slaps his hands, "We're even now, tell me where we're going!"

He just laughs, "Ha, fat chance, this night will be full of surprises" he snickers, his grin wide as it could be.

Catrina sits back in her chair and crosses her arms, "You’re such a jerk, you know that right?" she says, glaring at him.

He nods, "So I've been told, but you wouldn't have me any other way."

She lets out a 'humph', flings her head to the side and closes her eyes, showing a distaste for his mysterious nature this evening.

"Oh come on, I'm trying to make this a special night for the both of us, can't you just co-operate?" he asks, a tone of plea in his voice.

She opens one of her eyes and turns her head enough to look at Yami, but quickly closes her eyes again and snaps her head back once she sees the puppy-dog eye's he's giving her and in a smug tone asks, "And why would I want to do something like that?"

He continues his onslaught of puppy-dog eyes, "Well, because you love me for one, and I know you want to see it, because of your curious nature. So you'll crumble, give it time."

Catrina opens her eyes and glares at him as the waiter returns with the champagne, "Here you are, your champagne." he says, placing the bottle in the ice bucket at the side of the table, bowing again, "Your meals will be here momentarily." and walks off to the kitchen.

Yami pulls the bottle from the bucket and tilts it towards Catrina, "Would you like a glass?" he asks, pouring one into a glass, ready to hand it to her.

She glares at him some more, then her eyes soften and with a fake gasp she exclaims, "Mr. Bakura! Are you trying to get me inebriated so you can take advantage of me?!"

He shifts his eyes in mock suspicion, "Noo...." he says, letting his voice trail off as he hands her the glass.

Catrina takes the glass with a laugh and sips from it, "And you call yourself a man?" she jokes, letting out another laugh.

Yami lets out a laugh of his own and pours his own glass of champagne, and sipping from it he says, "Damn, I knew that was the wrong answer." hitting the table lightly with his fist and snapping his fingers.

Catrina laughs again and looks back around the room, "This must have cost a fortune." she comments, looking back at Yami.

He shakes his head a bit, "I thought I told you not to worry about it? This is our night, just relax and enjoy yourself.

She smiles a bit and nods, "Alright, I'll stop asking questions, except for this one question that keeps bugging me."

Though already knowing what it's going to be Yami asks, "Oh, and what exactly would that question be?"

"Where else are we going?!" she says with a slightly raised voice, leaning halfway over the table to emphasize her point.

He leans over the table, an inch or so from Catrina's face, and with a deep breath as to same something important, he simply says "I'm not going to tell you." as he kisses her quickly and sits back down. She just glares at him, unmoving.

"Jerk." she murmurs, sitting back down and crossing her arms again, her cold gaze piercing Yami's skin, her lips pursed into a tight frown.

Yami laughs aloud, "You’re so cute when you angry, I love it." he says, clapping his hands together lightly.

She just sits there, her once soft eyes glaring at him, unblinking, "This is really getting old Yami." she spats, obviously pushed to the edge of her tolerance with his games.

He droops his shoulders a bit, "Oh come now dear, please don't be angry. This is supposed to be a happy occasion. I'm doing this for you, please understand, and co-operate."

She rolls her eyes and uncrosses her arms, leaning forward, "That's all fine and dandy, but why all the suspense? It's driving me up the wall."

"I'm sorry, from now on I won't make any indications of things to come of the night, but as soon as we're done eating we're heading off to the highlight of this evening." he says, smiling slightly.

Catrina lets off a small smile and nods, "Fine, I promise not to ask anymore questions then. I wonder when the food is going to get here." Realizing what she'd said she shoots Yami a look, "That doesn't count." He just laughs.

With that the waiter enters the room with a tray holding their food. Upon reaching the table he places their meals in front of them, tucks the tray under his arm and gives yet another small bow, "Bon appetite." he says and walks out again.

Yami looks at the food, then up to Catrina, "Looks delicious." he says, cutting off a piece and sticking it in his mouth. He munches on it for a few seconds and swallows it, "Damn, that's good."

Catrina smiles at him and laughs a bit, "Well I'd hope so." she says, cutting into her own piece of chicken and eating it, then gives a nod of approval and swallows, "You’re right, that is good."

Yami just grins at her and goes back to eating his dinner.

Throughout the meal not much was said, the occasional belch from Yami was the only thing that broke the silence. When they were finished Yami asks, "So, you want some dessert?"

She looks at him and lets out a laugh, "Ha! You gotta be kidding me, making me endure you’re mystery torture this long and wanting to prolong it by dessert? I don't think so bub, we're outta here, let's go."

He smirks and laughs a bit, "Alright alright let’s go then." he says, getting up and walking over to Catrina's chair, ready to pull it out as she gets up. As she stands Yami pulls away her chair, and receives a small thank you kiss after he pushes it back and blows out the candles that are almost completely burnt out, "Well, we're off now, I'll go get your coat."

She nods, "Alright, thanks. I'll meet you by the front door." she says as they leave the wonderful room behind them, Catrina going left, Yami going right to get her coat and pay the bill.

As Yami come back around the corner he hands Catrina her coat and opens the door, "After you ma'am." he says, waving his hand to motion her outside.

She giggles and steps outside, looking up at the deep blue starlit sky and asking, "Yami dear, where could we be going at this time of night?", then turns to him and adds, "You don't have to answer that, it was rhetorical."

He just smiles and walks out beside her, taking her arm in his, "Good, because I had no intention to." he says, leading her to the car, and breaking away as their paths change to get in their proper sides. Just before opening the door he adds with a laugh, "Don't worry, no blindfold this time."

Catrina rolls her eyes and climbs into the car, "Don't ask where we're going, don't ask where we're going." she mutters to herself.

Yami laughs at her a little bit, "You shouldn't talk to yourself, I’ve heard it's not healthy". He says, starting up the car and heading for the street, flicking on the turn signal.

While they're stopped at the driveway entrance Catrina reaches over and smacks him in the back of the head, "Thanks a lot! You really know how to push just the right buttons don't you?" she says, as they pull out onto the street and take off towards their next unknown destination.

He just grins, "We'll be there soon, don't worry. And I promise it'll be well worth the wait."

She nods, "Alright, I'll be patient." she says, looking out the window for anything special Yami might have had set up, obviously as impatient as she could be.

As they arrive Catrina continues her scanning, "What are you doing?" Yami asks her, pulling into the empty parking lot.

She looks at him with a funny look, the looks back outside, "I don't see anything, what are we doing here?" she asks suspiciously.

With no sound, save a small "Follow me." Yami steps out of the car and walks over the hill in front of them disappearing as he descends down the other side.

With a heavy sigh Catrina unbuckles and climbs out, locking the door as she closes it behind her. As she climbs the hill she mutters to herself, "This better have been worth the agony, for Yami's sake." reaching the top of the hill her eyes widen to the size of saucers and her jaw drops, in the same fashion Yami's had earlier that night. For there stood Yami between two large Palominos, one as dark as the night sky, the other as white as though it had fallen from heaven. She races down the hill and almost tackles poor Yami, uneasing the horses a bit, "Yami, they're amazing! Are we going riding?"

He looks at her, inches from his face because of her arms wrapped around his neck, "No, we're gonna stand here and look at them." he says, an enormous amount of sarcasm in his voice.

She punches him lightly in the shoulder as she removes her arms from the vice-grip they had on Yami's neck, "Ha ha, very funny."

"Well, ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer. Here, you'll be riding this one." he says, handing her the reigns for the white horse. "Her name is Angel, I though it would be quite befitting for you to ride since you both appear to have come from heaven."

She blushes a little bit and kisses him, taking the reigns and moving to the side of Angel, "She's beautiful. This is so lovely Yami, and well worth the agony. I haven't been riding in ages, I'm sorry I doubted you." she says, stroking the neck of the large animal.

He grins and waves it off, "No worries, I told you that you'd love it." he says, mounting his own horse, Ace. Named from the saying 'Blacker than the Ace of Spades'. "What are you waiting for? Get on, you might want to consider side-straddling though."

She nods and climbs on with ease, both her legs dangling from one side, "Yes dear, I know. I have been riding in dresses before, remember?" she says, guiding Angel over beside Yami and Ace.
"Yes, I know. I was just reminding you. Shall we be off then?" Yami says, and not waiting for an answer snaps the reigns, starting Ace on his way down the beach.

Catrina snaps her reigns too, bringing her and Angel up beside Yami and Ace under the moonlit night sky. "Hey, wait for me." she says on her way to Yami's side, "Thank you for this night Yami, It's wonderful. And I apologize for being so nosey earlier."

He waves off here apology, "Don't worry about it, I'd have done the same thing. I expected you to get impatient, you're cute when you're angry."

She blushes slightly, even after a year of marriage to him, she still gets flustered at Yami's compliments, "Heh heh, thanks." she says, as two horses trot steadily along the beach, seeming to take an interest in each other.

Yami reaches down and runs his hand along Ace's neck, "They're beautiful aren't they, such wonderful creatures."

"Yes, they are." Catrina agrees, running her fingers through Angel's hair as she lets out a soft neigh. "So, where is this wonderful moonlit ride headed anyways?"
Yami just shrugs, "I don't know, but the owner of the horses is coming to pick them up in an hour and a half. So wherever we end up, we have to be back where we started by eleven o'clock."

Catrina nods, "Alright, that means that we can be back home for eleven thirty." she says, flashing him a flirtatious wink.

Yami smiles "That we can my dear, that we can."

As the night draws on Yami and Catrina ride quietly along the beach, hand in hand, the horses beneath them occasionally nuzzling each other in affection.

"Holy s**t!" Yami exclaims, looking at his watch, "It's ten thirty! We're almost forty-five minutes away from where we need to be. We better hurry back."

Catrina gives a small tug on the reigns and moves her dress up a bit to allow her to straddle the horse, "Alright, I'll race you back." she says, snapping the reigns and taking off down the beach.

Yami follows suit and takes off close behind, "Hey! Wait up, you had a head start!" he says as Ace gallops along beneath him, trying to keep up with Angel's pace.

Catrina glances back at Yami, "And whose problem is that?" she asks with a laugh, snapping the reigns again to make Angel move faster.

As they race down the beach Yami & Catrina fly past the owner of the horses, but he gets their attention before they get out of ear-shot, "Hey!" he yells "You've gone too far! Come back." As he says that Yami & Catrina pull hard on the reigns, and turn the horses around, then trot over the horse owner.

"Sorry about that Mr. McQueen, we were a ways away and had to hurry back to get here in time. I guess we got carried away." says Yami, climbing down from Ace, then he turns around and pats the large horses neck, "Thanks for the ride big guy, we should do it again sometime."
Catrina climbs down from Angel and turns to Mr. McQueen as she runs her hand along the horse's snout, "This is a beautiful horse you have, it was a pleasure riding her."

Mr. McQueen takes the reigns from the two of them, "Thank you miss. I'll see you around Yami, nice to finally meet your lovely wife, but I have to get these guys home, we've got a big competition tomorrow and they need their sleep."

"Alright. Good night Mr. McQueen, maybe we'll pop into the competition and cheer you on. You also might want to separate those two a bit, they were getting awfully friendly during the ride." Yami points out, starting back up the hill towards the car.

"Oh, that's good, I meant to put them together. I lost my last breeding mare last week. So I figured something like this would get Ace to take an interest in her." says Mr. McQueen as he starts off to his truck.

Yami shakes his head a bit and snickers, "That McQueen, what a sly man." he says, then turns back to Catrina and asks, "Shall we be off now then?"

"Yeah, let's get going, I'm itching to get home. Hurry hurry!" she says, dashing up the hill towards the car.

Yami makes his way up the hill close behind Catrina, grappling her around the waist and carrying her to the car "Ah! Put me down you!" screams Catrina while Yami has her suspended mid-air.

"You’re so easy to freak out." says Yami as he heads to the driver’s side of the car, quickly climbing in and starting it up.

Catrina glares at where Yami was standing, then climbs into the car and smacks him, "You’re such an a**! Sneaking up on me like that." she says, crossing her arms across her chest and pouting, her lower lip protruding out as far as she could make it go.

Yami just rolls his eyes, "Oh please, I'll make it up to you when we get home." he says, winking at her as he backs up and moves the car quietly to the desolate street, "Wow, there's no one around for miles."

She glares at him a bit, then her gaze softens slightly, Alright, I suppose I can forgive you, but if I don't like what happens when we get home, you'll be sorry."

"Yeah, I bet." he says simply as he drives along the barren road, occasionally checking his mirrors "We should be home soon, about twenty minutes, half an hour tops."

Catrina glances at the clock on the dash, "Then we'll be home in plenty of time for eleven-thirty." she says, a huge grin crossing her face.

Yami smiles and shakes his head, eyes never leaving the road, then turns on some music and start singing quietly, trying to keep from making a comment.

With a small smirk Catrina says, "Just you wait. You won't be avoiding me. You'll be singing a song of a different tune. Hurry up and get us home. I'm getting fidgety."
He looks to her and smiles a bit, "Ya ya, I'm going as fast as I can, I'd rather not end this night in a jail cell thank you." he says, sticking out his tongue playfully and returns to watching the road ahead.

"Fine, wake me when we get home." she says, leaning back the on seat and closing her eyes.

As Yami drives home in silence, having turned the radio off to allow Catrina sleep, he notices a small deer standing at the side of the road, "Too bad Catrina wasn't awake, she'd love to see this." he says, continuing on his way.

About forty-five minutes later they arrived home. Yami pulls into the driveway, shutting off the car and reaching over to give Catrina a little shake, "Hey, we're home. Time to wake up."

Catrina stirs a bit, then opens her eyes, "Oh, ok." she says, unbuckling and starting to climb out of the car. By the time she had all but her foot out, Yami is already beside her. As she pulls her foot out of the car Catrina's foot catches on the frame, "Ack!" she screams, her eyes wide as she falls into Yami's arms.

"You really should be more careful dear." he says, helping Catrina to her feet. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders Yami helps Catrina to the porch after closing the car door. Unlocking the door to the house and pushing it open Yami swings his other arm from behind Catrina's legs to lift her up, "Need a lift?"

Catrina's eyes widen as she is swept off her feet, "Woah, thank you my love." she says, lifting herself up and kissing him.

"It's my pleasure." he says, walking through the door, closing it behind him with his foot. Starting up the stairs Yami glances at his watch behind Catrina's head "Oh no, it's quarter to twelve."

With a large grin Catrina gets a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "Then I guess you'll have to make that up to me too. Hurry up!" she says, reaching around and giving him a pat on the bum.

"Yes ma'am!" he says, hurrying them up the stairs and into their room, tossing her on the bed as she emits a small 'eep' and closing the door behind him.


The End

Please, tell me. Otherwise they'll still be there and won't get fixed.

I think you should go back and write the story in first person past tense. It sounds awkward in some places because it is in first tense. And check some spelling, especially of colloquial type words, such as "yah" actually being spelled as "yeah". A good story though. Was it partially fanfic???

domokun

How many people in this world actually speak like that? It would sound rediculous.