Chapter Nine: Survival

"She's doing WHAT?!" Joey yelled slamming his fists down on the table.

"Her job," Marik replied calmly, "And you are going to keep an eye on them."

"I am?" Joey asked instantly confused, after all, Death and Mercy were the best, they never needed looking after, did they? "What's so special about this assignment?"

"Sit down and I'll explain," Marik said in a reasonable tone.

Joey sat.

"Carla was worried; she asked if they would be getting back-up, so I gave them bugs. We can hear them through this," he said indicating the funny little computer that was recording every word that was coming through the bugs. "I want you to listen to everything that's going on with them. We can't afford to loose them."

"Okay," Joey said moving to the computer and putting on the headphones. He was relieved to hear the sounds of two motorcycles coming in. He pulled up a chair and settled himself down to a long job.

**************************************************************

"I can't believe that I forgot about Grandpa," Yugi said as he rejoined the group.

"Was he upset?" asked Tea. They were all still outside, sitting in the bleachers watching the newbies run laps.

"No, he wasn't. It was almost like he expected something like this to happen. Actually, that's what he said. And I suppose he had a point."

"What exactly did he say?" asked Mokuba.

"He said it had been too quiet since the puzzle and ring had returned. He said that it was only a matter of time before some psycho showed up, or something crazy started to happen. He's right. I should have noticed it myself. We can never have a normal life when the items are involved."

"Do you want us to leave?" asked Yami, materializing next to his hikari.

"NO!" Yugi said loudly, "I mean that, well you have to admit, that we tend to attract trouble. If it wasn't one problem it was another. I guess we are really overdue for saving the world from someone who wants to take it over."

"You're right. We're really getting it now. Spies and bombs and all that stuff. But it doesn't really seem to be our problem this time," Yami said thoughtfully.

"What's that sopposed to mean?" asked Bakura, who had materialized behind Ryo.

"Well, think about it. Normally the bad guy comes straight for us, but this time it seems to have come after Joey, Heather, and Carla. The only reason we have anything to do with it at all is because we decided to follow them. We haven't had to do anything at all and besides all that, Joey has been fighting this particular evil for ten years. And it sounds as if the other two have been doing it for even longer. Maybe it's not our job this time. Maybe we are just so used to it being our job that we involve ourselves when we don't have to."

"Doubtful," Seto scoffed, "Since when was anything that happens to you been a coincidence or an accident."

"Wait a minute. Hold everything! Since when did Kiaba believe in fate or destiny or any of that stuff?" Bakura asked staring at Kiaba with a look that told Kiaba, 'You're hiding something and I am going to find out what it is.'

'Go ahead and try,' Kiaba shot back before standing up to go do some work on his laptop and see if he'd had any luck with his most recent search for 'her.'

************************************************************************

"Dear Ra," Carla said quietly to Heather, "I can't believe this place. It's even grander than his mansion in the US."

"I know. He really put a lot of effort into this place. To bad he hasn't learned to improve his guard on the stupid place."

"It's probably for the best. I know you love a challenge, but still," Carla whispered, "Come one, we might as well go. We've seen the whole place and something doesn't feel right. It was almost too easy to get in."

"He's getting sloppy, that's all," Heather replied turning and following Carla back down the hall.

"Wait," Carla said coming to a halt, "What did you just say?"

"He's getting sloppy?"

"Since when was anything Tommy did ever sloppy?"

"Ah crap! You're right. Let's get out of here before we fall into what ever stupid trap he has planned for us."

"But you already have fallen into his trap," a voice said from behind them.

Before they could even turn around something hit them in the back of the head and everything went black.

****************************************************************

"Quickly, get them down into the dungeon." Joey heard the voice say before the line went completely silent.

"Crap!" He yelled jumping up and throwing the headphones to the floor.

"What?!" Marik and Odion exclaimed in unison as Joey fiddled with the dials to replay the last few seconds of live feed the bug had recorded.

"-get out of here before we fall into whatever stupid trap he has planned for us."

"But you already have fallen into his trap." Two thuds.

"Quickly, get them down into the dungeon."

Joey hit the stop button.

"We have to go get them, now, while we still know where they are."

"You're right," Marik said, "Odion, get Mekiahl and-" He was interrupted by the door opening and Seto walked in.

"I'm going with you," he said looking straight at Joey.

"What the heck!" Joey exclaimed, "You're not part of the UCSO. You don't have the right training."

"Actually," Marik interrupted, "That's not a bad idea. Odion, get Yugi and the rest of them up here too. Now!"

Odion took off with a nod and returned a few minutes later with the gang and a very confused Mekiahl in tow.

"There's no time to go into detail right now. I need to ask you all if you are willing to become temporary members of the UCSO, are you?"

"Sure."

"Great. I'll fill you in on the way, but right now we need to get to the helicopter. It's waiting for us on the roof." He got up and led the way out into the hall. They had gone up two flights of stairs when Ishizu caught up with them.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked her brother furious.

"We're going to rescue Heather and Carla." He replied not bothering to slow down.

"Are you crazy?!"

"Yes."

"Then I'm coming too. The last time I let you go do something crazy on your own, you nearly destroyed the world."

"That wasn't me! It was Milak! You know that," he said as they made their way to the rather large armor-plated helicopter.

"Still," she replied and climbed into the pilot's seat.

"What exactly is going on?" asked Mokuba once the chopper was off the ground.

"Carla and Heather have been captured. They're being held prisoner in a new base. Joey's going in to get them out. Yugi, Kiaba, how were your marks on B-n-E and rescues at Interpol?"

"The best," Kiaba told him honestly.

"Fine. You two are with Joey. Mekiahl, you're going to guard their entrance. The rest of us are going to wait in the chopper, if you can get out without being seen then good. If not, we storm the place and airlift you out. Joey, Mekiahl, suit up. Get Yugi and Kiaba set up too."

"Come on," Joey said touching Yugi's arm, "Follow me."

He led the way back into another room where there were two closets. He pulled out a four boxes and handed one to Yugi, Kiaba, and Mekiahl. Mekiahl went into a small bathroom and changed. When he was done Yugi went in. The black suit fit him well but he had no idea which pockets all the stuff went in. Joey helped him and Yugi helped Kiaba while Joey changed. By the time they were done and had returned to the rest of the gang Marik had supplied everyone with a small rifle. He handed the four in black pistols and Yugi took it with a sigh.

"Sorry Yug," Joey said.

"No worries Joey. Just because I don't like guns, doesn't mean I don't know when to use them."

"We're here," Marik said recapturing everyone's attention. As soon as they landed he threw open the doors and Joey, Yugi, Seto, and Mekiahl jumped out making their way stealthily to the base that looked more like a mansion.

*********************************************************

"K," Carla called to her friend, "K wake up."

"Five more minutes," she muttered.

"Yeah, you wish."

"As a matter of fact I do," Heather said looking up at her comrade, "Ah man. Why do they always have to string us up like this?" She asked irritated as she tried to move her fingers. They were working but had fallen asleep in the cuffs.

"I think they enjoy seeing our wrists bleed," Carla replied twisting her wrists around so Heather could see the blood dripping from under the cuffs.

"You're probably right," Heather was lucky, her wrists weren't bleeding yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time, "How long you been awake?"

"About twenty minutes. They didn't leave me enough slack to do much of anything. I guess we're stuck for the moment. I can't get loose. How about you?"

"I doubt it. You're the escape artist after all."

"True, but I was hoping that they would make a mistake and assume that you couldn't get out when you actually could."

"Tommy doesn't make those kinds of mistakes."

"True."

"So now what?"

"Wanna talk?"

"About what?"

"I don't know. Joey, the gang, the meaning of life…"

"Heh," Heather let out a hard laugh.

"…why guys have nipples."

At this, Heather snorted.

"No, seriously. Why do guys have nipples? They don't have breasts so why should they have nipples?"

"That's a good point."

They were silent for a while.

"I bet they're listening to every word we say, looking for hidden messages in it."

"Probably."

"I wonder if I freaked them out with the nipples thing."

"I hope so."

"Yeah, me too."

Silence enclosed them again.

"Found the camera," Carla said and grabbing the chain she was dangling from, she swung and kicked it out with her feet.

"Nice."

"Yeah, that's about all I can do though. I really can't get out of these cuffs. The locks in a really bad place and I can't get close enough to get you out. I guess we're stuck."

"For a while anyway."

"You're going to regret doing that," came the voice from before.

"Not likely," Carla told him. It was no one they knew, someone younger than them, obviously. He knew what he was doing though and stayed out of Carla's kicking range.

He didn't say another word as he proceeded to prepare cuffs for the two girls' feet. He walked up and when Carla kicked he grabbed and cuffed her feet in place before she could land more than one decent kick to his chest. Heather didn't have any better luck.

"Now" he said quietly, "It's my turn."

Whoever he was, he was good. He broke no bones but made every hit hurt like it. Both girls were pretty badly bruised by the time he left but they had not made a sound through the entire confrontation.

"Ow," Carla said blandly after he had locked the door and left.

"Understatement," Heather replied. Both girls sagged and allowed the cuffs and chains to hold them up for a few minutes.

"How long 'till the cavalry arrives?" Heather asked in a calm but tired voice.

"To be honest, I expected them to already be here by now. I don't think they're coming, or if they are, they're having a lot more trouble than they should be." She paused listening, "Definitely having more trouble. I think that's the alarm going off. No, wait, never mind."

"Too bad. I want to get out of here."

"Yeah, me too," Carla shifted so that she was standing again, "Aww man!"

"What?"

"I just realized, they took our guns! Drat. That means I'll have to make us some new ones. That's so annoying."

"Um, Carla?" Heather asked shifting so that she could see her fellow prisoner.

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"Why?"

"You're acting pretty weird. Did he hit you on the head or something?"

"As a matter of fact, I am kinda dizzy," she admitted looking up at the roof, "Really dizzy actually."

"That can't be good," Heather said to herself as she saw Carla sway before relaxing and letting the chains hold her up again. She was about to speak when she heard a tiny noise. She recognized it in an instant and spoke somewhat loudly to cover it up.

"So what do you think of Tommy's new place?" She asked Carla whose eyes were closed to try and stop the room from spinning.

"It's okay I guess, if you're into all the whole head of the international mob thing, but it's not really my style."

"I agree. Little too well done. I mean it's almost like he stole the designs from Al Capone. Think they'll try to make anything out of that. After all, Al Capone could be code for, I don't know, the police."

"I doubt it. They probably don't have anymore than the one listening device that was in the camera and I already took that out. Tommy had no issues with letting us talk so freely to each other. He expects that we can never get out and no one but us can get in."

"True and that's where he's wrong, right cavalry?" Heather directed her voice toward the door which was opening very carefully. At her question the door swung fully open to reveal Joey in the doorway.

"You need to be more careful," He told her coming in and beginning to unlock the cuffs around her wrists.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You're not my mother and you're not Carla, so just shut up," She rubbed her wrists gingerly as he worked on her feet.

"Heather," Carla said confusion evident in her voice, "I think I'm hallucinating."

"Why?"

"Because I think that Kiaba and Yugi just walked in but why would they be here?"

"No, they're really here," Joey said answering for Heather, "Marik seemed to think it would be a good idea, but we don't have time to discuss it right now. We need to get out of here, quick."

Carla wasn't listening. She was looking between Seto and Yugi, "What the devil are you two doing here?!" she asked a little too loudly.

"Getting you two out of here," Seto answered quietly, "Now keep your voice down." Seto was working to free her hands now, he'd already freed her feet and Yugi was standing guard at the door, pistol in hand.

Her first hand came free and she just let it drop still staring at her rescuer in shock and surprise. She wasn't ready when her other hand came free and she started to fall but Seto caught her.

"Can you walk?" He asked holding her up.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said coming out of it and standing up. She looked at Heather and shaking her head said, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get out of here."

"How'd you guys get in?" Heather asked.

"We came in through the side entrance. Mekiahl helped us jump the fence." Joey replied.

"Well we can't go back that way then. Carla you got an escape route figured out yet?"

"Yeah, follow me," Carla said. She began walking and had just reached Yugi when he spoke.

"Follow you? Why should we follow you? We're supposed to be rescuing you."

"Much as I hate to admit it," Seto said joining them at the door, "I have to agree with Yugi."

Yugi shot Seto a glare before turning back to Carla who tapped her forehead.

"Photographic memory," she said simply, "I know every corner of this place as well as if I'd lived here my whole life. Now let's go."

Carla led the way out of the dungeon and up the stairs to the basement. Seto came second followed by Yugi. Heather was next and Joey brought up the rear. Carla paused beside a door, debating. She opened it on impulse and led the way down a narrow flight of stairs.

"Where does this lead?" Joey called out quietly to Carla.

She turned back a little bit so it would be easier for Joey to hear her, "They lead to the sheds near the wall. We can sneak from one to another until we reach the-" she was cut off suddenly when she missed a step and was sent plummeting down the stairs. She came to rest in a heap at the bottom after falling some ten or twenty feet.

"Carla!" Seto called out as the group went bounding down the steps to see if she was all right.

"I'm fine," she said sitting up, "Keep your voice down."

Seto placed a hand beneath her elbow and lifted her to her feet. She took a step forward and almost fell.

"Sorry," she told them leaning on Seto's arm, "Someone else is going to have to lead for a while. I rolled my ankle, I'll be okay in a while but I'll need a hand until then."

"I'll go first, but you'll have to guide me," Yugi said moving ahead of the twosome.

"All right. This passage goes on for about twenty feet before we reach the next set of stairs. At the top there'll be a door. It should be unlocked. When we get out we'll have to decide which way to go. It all depends on whether they know we're gone or not."

Yugi led the way cautiously. The group was silent until they were outside.

"There's a lot of activity. They must know we're gone," Heather said, "Now what?"

"Now we call for back-up," Joey said pulling out his small radio that had a direct connection with the helicopter.

"I thought you were the back-up," Carla said good naturedly but Joey wasn't listening. He told the person on the other end of the line that an alarm had been triggered. He listened and replied before putting the instrument away.

"We need to get to the front," he told them and began leading the way.

By the time they had reached the front the helicopter was just in sight.

"What the devil?" Carla asked for the second time that night.

"It's back-up," Joey told her, "They can't get to much closer and we can't get any closer without leaving our cover. We'll have to make a break for it and hope that they don't notice us at first."

But as the chopper got closer it became clear that that wasn't going to be the case. As it began to land those of Tommy's agents that were in the yard opened fire on the armor-plated chopper. The large side door opened and those inside returned fire.

"Damn!" Heather swore.

"Language!"

"Now what?" She continued completely ignoring Carla.

"We'll have to make a break for it," Joey repeated.

"Are you crazy?!"

"No," he tapped his chest, "The three of us are wearing bulletproof vests. I'll follow right behind you so just keep your head down and we should be okay."

"Fine, but what about Carla? I doubt she can run yet and-" but Seto cut her off.

"I'll carry her and Yugi can follow behind us," he said.

"But," Carla began, trying to think of a suitable argument, but she couldn't find one. "Fine. Let's go."

Heather nodded and prepared to dash out of hiding. "On three," she said to Joey.

"Okay," He replied, "Three!" They took off. They were half way to the chopper when they were noticed and the bullets started coming after them.

"All right, let's go," Seto said as he easily picked up Carla and got ready to run. Yugi nodded and they too took off. They were noticed much more quickly and had more trouble. Heather was almost there when she tripped. Yugi ran past Seto and Carla to cover Joey as he helped Heather up. They reached the chopper and several pairs of hands reached out to pull them in to safety. The chopper lifted a little off the ground in anticipation of being able to take off. Carla shifted suddenly in Seto's grip and he fell. The timing had been good. Something whizzed past their heads from the side. Some agents had snuck around to the sides of the lawn to get a better shot but were quickly taken out by those in the chopper. It lifted a little higher; it was now about five feet off the ground. Seto stood and picked Carla up. He raced to the chopper where just as many hands grabbed him and Carla. They were hauled in as the chopper took off for home. The doors were slammed shut abruptly cutting off the sound of gunfire.

Carla looked around her in amazement. Tea, Mokuba, Ryo, Bakura, Yami, Marik, Odion, Rebecca, Duke, and Mia were all there, each holding a rifle and looking a little bit shaken. Well, Bakura wasn't shaken, he looked excited. Carla started laughing as she stood up.

"I don't believe it," she said as much to herself as to anyone else, "Heather, we just had our butts saved by a bunch of rag-tag, untrained, newbies. I can't wait to rub that in Tommy's face. Hey, Mekiahl, hand me the first aid kit." She waited while Mekiahl dug out the case and handed it to her.

"Come on Heather," she gestured to her partner, "We'll go in back and get you all fixed up, but first...who the devil thought it would be a good idea to give the thief king a fully automatic sniper rifle?"

"He has the best aim," Ryo admitted sheepishly.

Heather sighed and followed Carla into the room into which Joey had taken Yugi and Seto to suit up. A few minutes later Carla had applied bandages soaked in some herbal remedy to all of Heather's bruises as well as her own. She dug out a couple pain killers and a bottle of water to take them with and handed them to Heather. Heather took them and Carla left.

After a moment Joey came and joined her on the bench being sure to shut the door behind himself.

"Heather?" he spoke her name tenderly.

"What?"

"How do you feel?"

"I hurt," she told him honestly, "And I'm tired. But I can't sleep, the bench is too hard."

"Here, lean on me," he placed an arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder. They sat there for several minutes in silence before Joey spoke.

"Heather?"

"Hmm?"

He paused, "Never mind."

"No, what?"

"It's nothing really."

"Sure it is," she shifted and let the whole thing slide. After a moment she noticed that Joey was fiddling with something in his pocket. She sat up and he froze looking at her.

"What?" He asked.

"What's in your pocket that's making you so nervous?"

He looked at his pocket but didn't say anything. Heather's hand shot out and pulled his hand out. A small box fell out and they both dived for it. Heather snatched it and sat back down. Joey sat down too and didn't bother to try and take it back. Heather examined the box. It was small, black and velvet covered. She opened it and found a small silver ring with a diamond set into the face.

"What's this for?" she asked, not wanting to think about what it reminded her of.

"Well," he took a deep breath and it all came out in a rush, "I want to ask you to marry me, but I know that you wouldn't even consider it until Tommy is in prison or dead, the latter being preferable, but I still want to marry you and Carla has suggested that I just ask you anyway right now and…and…I love you." He fell silent and Heather just stared at the ring in shock. Slowly she closed the box and handed it back to him.

"I can't, not now," she said quietly.

"I know," he said taking the box back and placing it in his pocket, "Just know that as soon as Tommy's gone, you're spoken for and I will want an answer. I'll help you take him down. I'll do whatever needs to be done to make sure you and I both live through this because I love you and I…" he trailed off.

Heather leaned up against him again and he wrapped both his arms around her. They slept the rest of the way home.

****************************************************************************

'K, why do you have to be so stubborn?' Carla asked herself. She'd been standing outside the door and heard the whole conversation. 'What's it gonna take to get you to marry him and be happy? You could die. He could die. He's so much like Masaya, and I don't want a repeat of that. I don't want you to lose another love. You've been given a second chance at true love; I'm not going to let you waste it.' She turned and walked back to the cockpit to sit with Ishizu. Most everyone was asleep except Kiaba who was working on his laptop. She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. 'I guess I'm out of options now. I've got to do it. For her sake.'

*****************************************************************************

Heather and Joey were roused out of a light sleep by a quiet nock at the door and Carla's voice calling out to them.

"Heather, Joey, we're back at headquarters. It's time to get off and go to bed."

"I don't wanna," Heather mumbled snuggling up closer to Joey.

"I'll carry you if you want," Joey whispered in her ear. He stood and picked her up, gently carrying her through the empty, dark halls of UCSO Headquarters. He took her to her room and placed her carefully on her bed. He turned to leave but she had a hold of his sleeve.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked him her voice stern.

"To bed."

"No, you're staying here," she said, "With me." She moved over slightly and he crawled onto the bed next to her.

"Why?" He asked and added hastily, "Not that I'm complaining."

She sighed, "Because I can't sleep."

"But you were sleeping just a little while ago."

"Whenever I'm alone, the nightmares come back."

"Nightmares?"

"Of losing," she paused, not finishing her sentence.

"Of losing?" he prompted her.

"Never mind," she told him resting her face on his chest, "Just stay."

"'Kay," he said quietly. He placed his cheek on the top of her head and fell quickly into a deep sleep.

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"Yugi," Tea said as they climbed into the bed in their temporary room, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied hugging her to him, something he had not done in a while.

"Are you sure?" she asked enjoying the embrace.

"Yeah. It's a bit like going back in time, back to when Seto and I did that training," he told her kissing her forehead.

"Why didn't you ever tell me about that?" she asked looking up at him.

He looked down at her his eyes clear, "I didn't want you to worry, and it's not like I ever actually worked for them. We just trained with them." She nodded, understanding how much she would have worried if he had told her. They were silent for a while before Tea spoke again.

"Aren't you going to take you're sleeping pill tonight?" she asked. He looked at her surprised.

"How did you know-" he began, but she cut him off.

"It was obvious. Why else would you always be asleep after only a few minutes every night, no matter how stormy?"

"I don't think," he told her slowly, "I don't think that I'll be needing them anymore. Joey's safe, well I suppose safe isn't the best word but still."

"Good," she said and stopped all further discussion by kissing him.

**********************************************************************************

'Be safe,' Carla ended her letter with her usual comment before signing her name. She glanced up at the clock. It was just after six in the morning, 'Everyone should still be asleep,' she thought as she sealed the letter away and placed it in a prominent spot on her desk. She stood and grabbed the tray filled with coffee cups. Her own special brew sat steaming in each cup as she went upstairs to her friends' rooms.

Her first stop was room 314. Inside she found Mokuba and Rebecca. They were both sleeping peacefully and looked quite content in each other's arms. Carla placed two cups of coffee on the table beside the bed and left. Yugi and Tea were next and as fast asleep as Mokuba and Rebecca had been. She left two cups and continued down the hall to Mia and Duke. They hadn't even bothered with the sheets, choosing instead to just plop down and sleep however they landed.

Next was Ryo's room on the fourth floor. Inside she found that Ryo and Bakura had separated and were both asleep. She left a cup for Ryo by the bed and another for Bakura by the sofa. Then came the dangerous room. Kiaba was more likely to be awake than asleep and so Carla opened the door with great care, but it turned out there was nothing to be worried about. Kiaba too was fast asleep, his laptop was still out on the table by his bed and he hadn't even bothered to put on pajamas. Carla tiptoed in and turned off the computer before putting it away and replacing it with a cup of coffee.

Upstairs she came to her own room that she shared with Heather and was slightly and pleasantly surprised to find Joey still there. He was holding Heather lightly as they slept and Carla smiled to herself as she left them their coffee.

Up in Marik's office she found all three Ishtars. Ishizu was curled up in a chair, while her two brothers occupied either couch. There were papers scattered all over the coffee table between them and Carla had a hard time finding a place to put the three cups.

She went back down to her lab and grabbed her jacket and pack from just inside the door.

'Well,' she thought to herself, 'Here I go.' And with that she left the safety of UCSO headquarters to find the Villa Franka and put an end to Tommy once and for all.

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Yazani: (to Marik) How do you like it so far?

Marik: How should I like it? It's accurate if that's what you're asking and it's very well written.

Yazani: (beaming) Thank you.

Joey: You were listening!?

Yazani: Of course I was. You'd have listened too if you'd been in my position.

Seto: (to Yugi) You're off the sleeping pills now?

Yugi: Yeah. I haven't needed them since that day. No more nightmares. Kind of weird, huh? When everything is fine and there are no psychos threatening us everyday I have nightmares but as long as there's something to be dealing with I'm fine.

Yazani: So what are you dealing with now?

Yugi: (sarcastic smile) You.

Yazani: Hey, (pouting) that's not fair. I'm not a psycho and I'm not threatening you.

Everyone: (laughs)

Yazani: (smiles sadistically) Of course if you want me to be psycho and try to take over the world I can. I'll even recruit Bakura and Milak to help me.

Bakura and Milak: YES!!

Seto: (feigning insult) What, I'm not invited?

Yazani: (shrugging) Sure, why not. (evilly) With Seto, Bakura, and Milak on my side we will defeat the light and bring about a reign of darkness, the likes of which have never been imagined!!

Yugi: Sure ya will.

Yazani: (shrugs) You'd be surprised how many times I choose the evil side in games. I remember this one time in my English Compositions class we were told to describe a cube in the desert and also a ladder, a field, a horse, and a sandstorm. What we wrote was supposed to tell us what we were really like on the inside. Mine told me, and I quote, 'You are drawn to the Dark Side.'

Kitsune: (laughing) You? Drawn to the Dark Side? Yeah right!

Yazani: That's what I said, but it had a point. It said I was drawn, not that I joined it. And the Dark Side is somewhat fascinating. It's a lot easier to deal with because you don't have a conscience and thus don't have to worry about other people and what they think or feel. It's got to be easier, not as happy, but easier.

Everyone: (stares, confused)

Yazani: What?

Ryo: (shakes head) You're crazy.

Yazani: Yeah, I know. Now go to bed. It's getting late.