The next morning, I'm sitting in the kitchen drinking my coffee and quickly typing an email to my brother.

D –

My research has brought me to Japan now of all places. I've enrolled at Domino City High. It's fun. It's also much better than the usa's school system. BIG UPDATE research-wise. Two other students here have Millennium Items. They may simply be mere replicas, but I plan on doing an experiment today. If they are gutsy enough to wear theirs out in the open as mere jewelry, why aren't I? I'll update you further this evening. Send your lizard my regards.

– J


I decide to keep my Key tucked into my shirt. Apparently I'm not fully gutsy enough to wear it out in the open.

I sit at my desk behind Yugi. "Good morning, Javlynne," Joey says. Before I could return the greeting, he asks, "what's that under your shirt?"

In the moment of my embarrassed shock, almost every boy in the room turns to look at me. I glance down and notice over my chest the outline of my Key. I quickly cover myself and stammer, "It- it's a cheesy necklace my dad bought for me."

I spew out a stupid explanation why it's hidden but Joey seems unfazed by my discomfort. "Can I see?" he asks, still ogling my chest.

"Joey Wheeler, leave her alone!" Téa snaps at him as she sits at her desk next to me.

Joey turns around grumbling, "I was just curious."

I glance at Téa and whisper, "thanks."

She smiles. "It's the least I could do since you gave me a new fanfic idea."

I smile back knowingly. "You're ripping off my story, aren't you?"

She giggles, "every bit of it." I couldn't help but giggle too.

The room has quieted down as the teacher walked in. I let out a quiet sigh of relief as I see that no one else is staring at me anymore.

Except, out of the corner of my eye, I see Bakura still looking at me. Does he know what this really is? I wonder as my eyes momentarily glance back down at my shirt.


At the start of recess, Bakura comes to me. "I hadn't had the opportunity yet to tell you," he says shyly, "but I like your necklace."

"You only know the shape of it," I say as I pull a book out of my desk, "and as far as you know, Bakura, it could be pink and covered in unicorn stickers."

I turn and begin heading towards the door. "But," Bakura says in a menacing tone, "why would someone do that to a Millennium Item?" I stop in my tracks.

"So you do know," I state matter-of-factly as I slowly turn back to him. "Is that why you were at my house last night?" I glance down at his Ring. "Did that thing somehow lead you to it?"

"You know of my Millennium Ring," he replies in a way that is neither statement nor question, but something of both.

"My research on the Millennium Items are still lacking." I pull my Key out from under my shirt. "But I do know what this does." Bakura eyes it hungrily, but says nothing. "With this," I continue, holding up the Key, "I can enter one's mind." I step forward. "I can learn your darkest secrets." Another step. "I can make you forget this conversation ever happened." Step. "I can make you a drooling vegetable." Step. "This has no eye on it," step, "but I am certain that I can see more than you, Yugi, Marik, Ishizu, Pegasus, and any other wielder of a Millennium Item can dream of."

I am now nose to nose with Bakura. Not once did he flinch, step away, nor drop his grimace.

"The darkness within you is palpable." I hold the key to my eye. "May I look?" I ask him.

There is a pause. An almost maddening silence. Then, without dropping his smile, Bakura growls, "no."

He steps past me and leaves the room. I tuck my Key back into my shirt then sit at my desk. I shiver. I don't know how I managed to hold up my bravado for so long. What is it about Bakura that unnerves me so much?