(A/N: Okay I had so much fun writing the last chapter, I hope I do well on this one too….=^.^=)

Chapter 9: An Old friend

~Tara's P.O.V.~

I was starting to regain consciousness, but I tried my best not to show it. I didn't want to alert Bakura that I was awake. Who knows what might happen next, although I didn't fear him I still didn't trust him at all. Sure he saved me, but I again hardly knew him. Yet, I can't shake this feeling that he is familiar from my childhood, but I don't remember any boy from then. Just my mother saying to me "Don't cry precious, it will all be alright." While I was trapped in my own tears. To this day I don't even remember why I was crying.

I made the mistake of shifting slightly and Bakura's eyes shot right open. His golden brown eyes were torn between relief and pain; I wonder why he always looked at me like that. I opened my own eyes fully and sat up. I returned his look with a "What's the matter?"

He closed his eyes lightly and answered "Oh nothing, I'm just utterly enchanted by you that's all." I was yet again speechless at his words. He could catch me off guard so easily, I was completely tongue tied, which is something I thought only happened with Atem. I felt unusually weak for some reason. "What time is it?" He laughed slightly and said "Love it's been a couple of days I think. I don't know I lost count, I was completely distracted."

I almost jumped out of my skin; I had been away from the campus for more than a day. Atem was probably insane with rage, which made me a little reluctant to even consider returning. But, I was starting to miss him and I wanted to go home. I looked at my arm, the blood had dried away and it seemed like it was almost perfectly healed.

I stood up and said "Well, I must return to school. I will be in a lot of trouble if I put it off any longer. Goodbye and thank you very much for taking care of me, I owe you." I headed for the door when he grabbed my arm and said "How about you make it up to me by staying here a little longer." I twitched a little and said "I can't, I have to go back to the school now."

He seemed hurt that I wouldn't stay, I felt bad because he seemed lonely, but I couldn't stay any longer. Not only would my uncle be majorly upset, Atem would be far beyond that! But, I have to return today, in fact right now. I whispered "I'm sorry and thank you" and I shook him off, he twitched a little and I saw the faintest show of a sly smile. He thought of something, I wonder what it is.

I turned around to see him starring at me intently, now I became frightened. What is he starring at??? Something seemed to cross his mind. I stood still for a moment, and then I said "What are you looking at?" He didn't say anything for a long time so I turned and started walking away. When I heard him say "Love, don't you want to remember your childhood." That caused me to stop dead in my tracks; I could hardly think let alone move from my current spot.

"What are you talking about?" I'll admit my memories are a little hazy, but I remember almost everything. Chunks were missing and hard to remember exactly, but most of my childhood was doing school work and attending my parents banquets and cotillions and ect…

"Darling your childhood is being blocked or the important parts anyway." I was shocked into silence. "What on earth are you talking about? I remember it perfectly." I lied through my teeth.

He smirked as if he had some form of human lie detector, and he said "Are you sure about that love? Hasn't there ever been a nagging feeling that a part of your past was erased or blocked away?" I thought for a moment and he was right, no matter how hard I would think about it my memories felt so planned out.

"Alright so what if there is? What's it to you?" He smiled but not to bug me; it was his normal sweet smile. "What if I told you that this is not the first time we've met and I could bring your original thoughts back to you." I looked at him bewildered, not sure what to make of his statement.

I finally said "How?" I wasn't sure I really wanted an answer. I was between two wants, the want to keep things the same with my happy life or to rediscover my actual memories. I was really scared to find out what was blocking my memories if indeed that was what was going on.

"Just stand still and I'll show you." I was reluctant for a moment, doubting my choice. But, I decided that my made up memories weren't enough, I needed to know the truth.

He approached me slowly and pulled my face into his hands, I didn't move much as his face was mere inches away from my face. I closed my eyes to avoid getting nervous, but I could feel his breath as he breathed, it made my spine tingle.

Finally, he connected his lips to mine. His lips were soft and for some reason Familiar. While my eyes were closed pictures began to form in my head. I felt like I was watching a movie, but I was there, or rather young me.

~Memories~

Young Tara smiling as she is being carried home on young Bakura's back, Young Tara and Young Bakura being chased by her handlers and her nannies while laughing, Playing in the gardens together, and young Tara giving Young Bakura a pink rose and then seeing a lilac and giving it to young Bakura while saying "I don't know what a lilac means but, the pink rose is for you Bakura-chan."

~End of memories~

As we separated the memories stopped flowing and I was grateful. The many thoughts were coming back at once and I must have been in bad shape because Bakura was holding me close to his chest. I looked at myself in a nearby mirror and I looked horrible. My face was tear stricken and my hair was all messed up. I was trembling uncontrollably, which only made Bakura hold me tighter.

I tried to pull myself together and was doing a pretty good job, He let go and said "It's good to have you back love, I'm happy that the real you is back." I nodded and said "I'm going home now, I need to take a shower and I need to return to my room."

He looked sad again and said "But, we might not be able to be around anymore when Atem is around." I smiled at him and said "I promise we can be friends. But, I need to go back to school." Sadly he nodded and grabbed my hand and led me out the door. We were in a small glade and now I identify this place better. It was near a beautiful lake and there were lilacs everywhere, no wonder I smelled them so clearly. I looked around and there didn't seem to be anything for miles. I felt safe for some reason, I don't know what it was about seclusion I liked but, I just did.

We were walking quickly, and I was not paying that much attention to where we were. I was noticing little details not even worth mentioning. Without any warning Bakura took to a serious stop and I jumped a little. But, my luck majorly sucked because in front of us standing tall and dreaded with worry was Atem!

His eyes were drenched in worry and fear, but I saw it disappear into relief when he saw me. I walked forward to meet him, but he had already embraced me tightly. I was unable to break free of his grasp. I could see out of the corner of my eye that Bakura was tensing up, he didn't like that Atem was holding me so tightly.

Yet again I felt so safe, the world just felt right like I was complete. I wasn't worried or scared, I was at peace. I just wanted to stay like that, us embracing each other. His strong arms holding my frail body closely to his, if Bakura hadn't have been there I might have decided to stay that way but……..

"Alright, that's enough! You've seen her now back off, before you regret it!" Bakura was all kinds of pissed, I could definitely tell he was jealous of the way Atem was holding me.

~Bakura's P.O.V. ~

How dare he hold her like that! I've been protecting her this whole time and where has he been, nowhere that's where! And she is happy to see him to….I don't understand at all.

I reached out closer to her and Atem erupted in hisses, I hissed in return and he pulled her away and there was no way he was taking her away from me. I've been her best friend since she was little and I've loved her since then as well.

I growled and he growled at me, I was losing my patience faster and faster and he knew it. She looked scared and confused, she tried to speak out but he stopped her. I was now ready to kill him myself if she wasn't standing there.

"Tara remember what you promised me, you said even if he was around we could still be friends." I said in a matter-of-fact tone, she seemed torn again. I didn't like hurting her but, steps had to be taken in order to get her back.

"I remember……" She said in a sad tone, Atem looked at her and then back at me. He looked at me in utter disgust, and I returned his glance with greater intensity.

For a moment she walked forward ignoring Atem's words and prayers, she walked next to me and wrapped her arms around me in a forgiveness seeking hug. She whispered "I'll see you later, I promise."

She released me and walked back to Atem and walked away, I was frozen from shock. I could hardly believe she was choosing him over me. I just watched her walk away and yet I couldn't bring myself to be mad at her.

I'll definitely get her back and keep her this time. I turned around and left them alone, he can borrow her for now but I know that I'm the one she wants.

~Third person P.O.V. ~

Bakura walked away deeply hurt but, full of hope still seeing that she was still holding the Lilac he left by her. Atem grasped her hand and said "Are you ok Tara?" She nodded quietly and began to move in the direction of the school. Atem accompanied her the whole way.

She was silent the whole time, not a word was spoken from her.

~Atem's P.O.V. ~

Why is she so quiet all of a sudden? I wonder what she said to that snake. He better not try that again or I'll kill him.

I tried to speak to her but, I wasn't sure about what to say. I didn't have to say anything because she was distracted by the sight of the school. She seemed far more relaxed now then when I had seen her.

I wanted to make her feel better but, it seemed like she wanted to be alone. So I walked her back to her room and let her in. She went in and before she shut the door she said "Thank you." And she shut the door softly.

~Tara's p.o.v. ~

I can feel all my memories coming back to me, there are so many forgotten people in my life. I could feel tears sliding down my cheeks as a horrid memory coming back.

"Tara, where are you?" I heard my momma call to me; I ran out of the garden and hid in the woods. I tore my dress and my hair was a mess, but the thing I didn't want her to see was that I was crying. "Precious come out, I have something that will cheer you up." I was certain that she didn't know where I was so I yelled out. "My best friend is gone and it's your entire fault, you told his mom to send him away. I HATE YOU!!!!!" I shouldn't have said anything because in seconds she was up the tree I was hiding in and forcing a liquid down my throat. I felt myself feeling dizzy and hazy. I was still crying but, momma was cradling me on the ground in the forest saying "Don't cry precious, it will be alright. I promise you will forget all your troubles and your mischievous behavior. You will be the good girl I always wanted, ok precious?" I couldn't deny her and I said "Yes momma."