Next chapter! Yay! Okay, let's get started.
The next few weeks had gone by so fast, it nearly made Ava's head spin! Everyone hung out on the weekend, Ava being immediately included. When she had suggested that she felt "intrusive" on their usual outings, well, everyone looked at her like she was some sort of alien, or that she had just spoken the most sinful and unbelievable thing in history. Either way, everyone assured her that she was, in no way, "intrusive". And, after a short while, she believed it.
"Hey, Ava!" Yugi shouted, catching up to her.
He had stopped her during her usual route home. Which was odd. Wasn't his house, after all, the other way?
"What's up?" Ava asked, blinking as confusion showed through.
Yugi begin to look a little flustered, "I just thought of taking a different route home. You know, for a change of things."
"Is that allowed, since some schools kind of forbid it?" Ava asked.
"Umm…" Yugi began, growing even more flustered as he searched for an answer, "Well, it's not too far out of my way. As long as I am not found out, it shouldn't be a big problem."
Ava smiled, holding back a laugh, "Oh…Yugi's becoming a rebel, eh?"
Blushing Yugi at twelve o'clock!
Ava laughed aloud this time, speaking after she regained some composure, "Sorry. I couldn't help it. By the way, thanks for suggesting that game. You know, the one I got last time I visited the shop with you and the gang. I am picky on games, but you just seemed to pick one I was bound to love."
"Even best is that you can play with as few as a single person to up to five people!" Yugi added.
Next, he became a little shy, speaking again, "Maybe, next time, I can play it with you. You know, to see how good you've become. I can play every game we own, after all."
Ava shook her head, "If you want a game partner, all you have to do is say so…"
Yugi blushed big time, "I-I…uh…"
"Next time, I'll tell you." She said, smiling.
Suddenly, a new presence entered the scene: Bakura. Both Ava and Yugi thought this strange; Yami thought it more suspicious than strange, considering he never knew if the Spirit of the Millennium Ring was secretly controlling poor Ryou.
"Ava! Yugi!" He called out, sending a smile to both. "Mind if I join you? I'm going this way today. There's something I need to get before heading home."
Ava shrugged, Yugi feeling a mixture of emotions at the sudden intrusion; although, Yami claimed it was because Yugi just wanted to be alone with Ava. As Ava and Yugi spoke, Bakura speaking every once and a while before going quiet, Ava felt herself begin to grow anxious. He wasn't a talkative fellow, that was sure, but…something just felt off about him today.
And she wasn't the only one feeling it. Yami sensed Ava's anxiety, as well as its never-ending growth the longer Bakura lingered around. And, even stranger, he kept looking Ava's way.
"Yugi…" He warned but fell silent.
#
[Bakura's POV]
Dark Bakura looked from Ava to Yugi and back to Ava. Currently, like many times in the past, he was in control of his host's body. Currently, his sight was set on Ava. Something about her was familiar, and it was nearly driving him mad. He had to figure out who she was, what made her stick out so much in his mind…
"And I have the perfect plan for it…"
"Well, this is where I have to part. Sorry for intruding!" Bakura said before parting ways.
#
[Normal POV]
Ava didn't mind his leaving. And Yugi could tell.
"Something must be bugging Bakura today. He was quiet…" Yugi said, adding, "well, more than usual, that is."
Ava nodded, seeing the beginnings of her hose, which meant it was time for her and Yugi had to part ways, "Well, this is my stop. See you later. Call me, if you'd like. I'm always home it seems."
"Okay, bye!" Yugi said, leaving for his own home.
"Maybe it's a good thing you followed her," Yami said, unable to get the feeling of something was soon about to go wrong out of his being.
Something felt wrong. And, soon, he felt he was going to know why!
It was later that same day, the moon shining high in the sky. Ava sat on her bed, looking at her ceiling. It was quiet, something she wasn't completely used to. Not yet. She was alone. Her parents were elsewhere, although she had told everyone else that they merely worked late into the night. Honestly, though, she didn't know where they were. Was it Paris this time? Maybe Hong Kong? Timbuktu? Okay, that one was a joke. Still, it wasn't far from the truth.
"They have nice jobs, jobs that allow them to travel everywhere." She whispered to herself, a sigh escaping. Her voice became its usual volume, "Too bad I can't go along. Not anymore."
"Really is a shame," a voice suddenly said.
Ava jumped to her feet, heart pounding at the intruding voice. She frantically searched the room. Something stuck out about the voice. It sounded like someone she knew, but it was different. It was deeper. Raspy and even gruff. Not to mention sinister. As the clouds revealed the moon's beams of light, the person came into focus, Ava's eyes widening at who she saw.
"Ba-Bakura?" She said in pure disbelief. "What are…what are you doing here?!"
She paused, speaking again, her voice almost at a yell, "…how did you even get in here? I had the door and windows locked. I double checked them, even! Explain yourself, now!"
"Well, it's pretty simple for a thief to get by something as pitiful as a locked door, Ava." He said, his tone completely different from earlier that day. "As for what I'm doing here, you and I are going for a little trip."
"Umm…no." Ava said, taking her cell off the stand to her side, also grabbing a really heavy book. "Not really in the trip-taking mood."
After the book collided with his head, sending him to the ground, unconscious, she fled from the area to hide. She tried all the doors, but for whatever reason nothing would open! Not the door, no windows, nothing! So, she hid. Pressing the first contact that appeared on her cell's screen, she heard a somewhat high-pitched voice come across the other end.
"Hello?" Yugi's voice said, sounding a little tired as he spoke.
"Forgive me, Yugi, I know it's really late, but I need help!" She cried into the other end.
Immediately, Yugi's sleepy talk faded, being replaced with concern and alertness, "Ava?! What's wrong?! Where are you?!"
"I'm at home, and you'll never guess who is here…" She said, catching her breath before she could begin to hyperventilate. "Bakura just…he just, kind of, showed up. Well, more like he confessed to breaking in. And, boy, is he different from this afternoon. I don't know what to do. I tried to get out, but nothing would open! How is that even possible?! Calling the police would help, but, if they take too long…I don't know."
"Bakura?! You said he's…" Yugi paused, a gasp heard from his end, "…you said he's different from before? Oh no…Ava, you have to get out of there! I can't explain, but do not trust him. He's not the same Bakura from before."
She kind of already figured that one out…
"What do I do then? I can't leave! I am a prisoner in my own freaking home!" Ava asked, a little peeved that she sounded so helpless.
"Just stay hidden best you can. I'll be there as soon as I can be." Yugi said, rushing out of his room and getting into his shoes, nearly losing them as he rushed out the house.
"Just get here quick," Ava said, knowing he no longer had his phone even on.
The room was quiet, and it unnerved her. Then, a "click!" came to her ears. She tried a window nearby, surprised that it actually lifted when she tried. Not bothering to question it at this point she got out, climbing down a tree and safely getting to the ground; as she run, she text Yugi, saying she was out but still wanted him to be there.
As she stopped, wiping a bit of stress-created sweat from her brow, she swallowed the lump in her throat. This was insane! How could that be a different Bakura?!
"He looks the same to me!" She complained aloud. "But Yugi sounded like, like he wasn't talking about Bakura from school but another one."
"Little Yugi is right," a voice said.
Spinning around, Ava's eyes widened. How did he…? What, did he appear out of freaking thin air?! She wasn't sticking around to ask. Yugi wouldn't have any idea where she was, though, if she ran from this area. Sadly, she didn't care about that! She tried to run, but Bakura gripped her long hair, pulling her back as though she were nothing but a mongrel on a leash. She cried in pain as he yanked her backwards, causing her to fall harshly to the concrete ground.
"I didn't care for that attack, Ava." He said, glaring at her as he forced her to look into his eyes.
"Yeah? And I don't care for this side of you!" She hissed in return.
He pulled her head backwards, straining her neck into an odd position, speaking, "I have ways of making sure such a thing never happens again, you know. Would you like a personal demonstration?"
"Bakura!" Yugi's voice reached the scene.
Ava turned to it, a smile of relief on her face. When Yugi noticed the aggressiveness Bakura was putting Ava through, he grew angry. He couldn't help but to. Much to Ava's surprise, his puzzle—as he had always called it—began glowing. Brightly. Very, very brightly. How could something glow like that? It was nighttime. When it stopped, Ava blinked. Yugi was there, but…this time he seemed different. The change wasn't as noticeable as it was with Bakura, but, still, it was there.
"BAKURA!" Shouted Yugi.
Ava's eyes widened, and, if it was possible, she would've shrank in slight fear.
That was NOT Yugi's voice. She had heard him get upset and never had she heard such a sudden sound come from him. But, who was this person that looked like Yugi? Could he be trusted?
"Well, he is coming to my rescue, so I'm gonna say that, yes, he is trustable," She thought inwardly. "For now, I'll call him 'Other Yugi'. After all, it fits the situation."
"Oh, look who decided to stick his nose where it doesn't belong." Bakura chuckled in an evil manner before delivering a glare of pure hatred. "You would've done better to never come here, Yugi! After all, this has nothing to do with you."
"You attack one of my friends and claim I am not involved?" Other Yugi said, a smirk appearing, a look that Ava knew normal Yugi would, most-likely, never make. "You must be joking. Now, release her and leave this place. If you refuse, I will make you regret it."
Yep…definitely not regular, "short stuff" Yugi. Well, not to mention he did seem to grow a foot in height in mere seconds. Also, his hair looked a little different.
"It happened after that necklace glowed." Ava said in her thoughts.
Was it a magical necklace? Before, she would've said that sounded like a neat joke, but, after watching that, as well as the scene before her, it seemed to be less and less of a joke and more something that was real. Immediately, the puzzle began to glow once more. Bakura, for some strange reason, backed off, growling in apparent frustration. Was he afraid of the item? Was there something she didn't know about? Obviously, that was a big fat "YES!"
"Have it your way," Bakura said, releasing Ava and shoving her harshly to the ground, disappearing after.
#
[Yami/Yugi's POV]
Ava, rubbing her head in a useless attempt to soothe away the pain she'd been experiencing, groaned, "The guy is a freaking magician…as well as a psycho."
"It's alright, Ava. You're safe now." Other Yugi said, Ava snapping her attention his way.
Other Yugi—or "Yami", as the gang would eventually call him—noticed the look in Ava's eyes. It was almost as if she was asking herself if she could trust him. Didn't she think he was Yugi, like everyone else did? Even after knowing he hadn't been Yugi, they stilled called him by his partner's name. Surely, she didn't notice the differences so fast?
"It's possible," Yugi said, sighing afterwards, "although, I hope not. It'll be hard to explain to her. I mean, we just met her a few weeks ago."
"Good luck explaining Bakura and what all just happened, then…" Yami said to his mind partner.
"What I really wanna know is why he went after her. Was it just for fun? Did he have a reason for it? Was it part of a plan?" Yugi asked as Yami helped Ava to her feet.
"I wish I knew those answers, too." Yami admitted.
Ava looked back, her eyes settling on her home. She wasn't sure she wanted to go back, especially after everything that happened just now. Yami—as well as Yugi—could only imagine what was going through her mind. Would he show up, again? Was she truly safe?
"No sleep tonight," she said aloud, sounding a little amused as she did.
Yami's appearance softened, "I…uh…"
"I leave this to you, Yugi." He said, switching with the young one.
"I'm sure grandpa wouldn't mind you staying over," Yugi said, trying to comfort her. "That is, as long as you're okay with it."
"Usually, I wouldn't be for sleeping over at a guy's house by myself," she said, a smile of relent Yugi's way, "however, this time, I'll make an exception. Just let me get a few things, so I will be ready for school tomorrow."
Back at the game shop, Yugi spotted Ava making her bed on their couch. He knew his grandpa wouldn't say to leave her at her place, not after what happened. Obviously, grandpa knew the magical nonsense that seemed to never leave his grandson's life. After all, one doesn't have their soul stolen and so quickly forget.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask, no matter the time." Yugi offered.
"Thanks," Ava nodded in gratitude. "I guess your life isn't exactly normal, huh? For you to know about Bakura in that way, I mean."
Yugi gave an awkward chuckle, "You have no idea."
"Either way, it's okay. I'm just glad I can rely on you, should I need the help. So, thanks, Yugi." Ava said, flashing a smile at her friend.
#
[Yugi's POV]
As Yugi made his way up his stairs, soon lying down on his bed, he couldn't help but have some stuff go through his mind. Yami, obviously, noticed.
"There's no use in letting what happened keep you from sleep, Yugi. After all, it's nothing we haven't dealt with before." Yami said, sitting on Yugi's bed.
"It's not that…" Yugi stated, continuing, "Ava said her parents work late, but…well, when we got there wasn't it almost three? How late do they usually work? There were no cars in the drive-way and no lights on. She was all alone."
Yami thought it over, admitting that Yugi had been right. After Bakura's sudden attack, it wasn't wise for Ava to be all by herself, "Perhaps, then, you ask her where they were. After what happened, it's not safe for her to be there all alone."
"Tomorrow," Yugi said, turning over as he tried to fall asleep.
