AN: It's kinda like…a sequel to 'Or So', but not a sequel…nevermind. Forget I said anything. I'm confusing myself. Enjoy.

Disclaimor for all chapters: I do not own YGO.

Prologue

The child glanced behind him, knowing better than to hope that no one was following him. Shadows danced on the alley walls, ensued by a ruckus of shouts. What was he thinking? Of course they were after him, and they were gaining. Gasping for breath with fear evident in his chocolate eyes, the boy ran harder than he ever had before.

If he was caught, he would never feel that sensation again.

It was that one day. When that…person…had found him in the streets, abandoned for the night. That man had, for a few hours, given him liberty, given him choice, given him reason.

Before they claimed him again.

Again, the dark. Fear. Nausea. Pain.

Only this time, it was different. The notion of running away never crossed his mind until that day.

He wanted to live his own life.

Glancing behind him once more, the child's eyes grew wide as a man reached out for him…

Then he saw stars…a lot of them.

---

Bakura sighed in relief as he pulled out the fish bone at last. He slammed it on the table in triumph and pushed his dish away. About a cm in length, that annoying piece of fillet had been jammed between his teeth since his first bite of dinner bliss.

A bustling woman with a teapot in hand and a notepad in the other jogged over to him, grinning. "Finished, Baku?"

He scowled, placing his arms behind his head. "Don't call me that."

She waved the teapot at him, her other hand tucking the paper into her apron. She swept all the silverware to one side of the table with ease, her auburn curls bouncing as she did so. "Be nice, Bakura!" she exclaimed, her green eyes sparkling. Swiftly, she wiped the table down.

The white-haired boy rolled his eyes, placing a five-dollar bill on the table as tip. "See ya, Fay," he muttered, jamming his hands in his jean pockets as he headed for the door.

Fay watched him leave, shaking her head. "He may as well be a lost cause," she said to no one in particular.

The wind hit him full throttle. It brought the familiar scents of fish, rotten fish, and bait. A fisherman's dream, really. But not for Bakura. This stupid town and its smell held unpleasant reminiscences.

Just remembering was painful.

And so was the collision. The crash with the boy who had a collar, that changed his entire life whether he liked it or not.

AN: So what do you think? Feedback please!