IRTB 12 EDITED

In order to look nice for this event, Sam had borrowed the skirt she had bought for Isis, and wore a nice white blouse. Stepping up to the ticket counter on the dock, the man behind the desk gave her a flyer for the event along with a map of the ship, and a list of activities. I know it's a bit late, but why not? Sam thought even if my lead ends up to be a dud, the ship is beautiful and I was interested in coming here anyway. Stepping onto the massive Navy ship, Sam glanced down at her map. Now, where shall I start?

Bakura looked out at the water's edge through the porthole of the ship. Beautiful lights were reflecting off the water from the party above on the flight deck. "It's been difficult to remain unseen on this blasted thing," bakura said aloud "now what?" Bakura had to dodge people a lot that night. There seemed to be more people going his way unusual. Dodging out of sight of couple walking down the corridor, bakura noticed that they dropped a piece of paper. When they were gone, bakura went and picked it up: it was a map of the ship and its festivities. Huh,bakura thought I could've used this a while ago. Looking at the paper in his hand and listening to the chatter echoing halls from above, bakura became curious. I really don't understand this place, bakura thought perhaps I should see what all the fuss is about. A sneer spread across his face. Perhaps he could have a little fun?

Some sections of the ship were still open to the guests, but the flight deck hosted most of the party. The airplanes and helicopters covered the edges of the deck. The open area in the middle however, was filled with large round tables with chairs, with a small buffet of food. There was a small stage put aside with the microphone, which Sam guessed was for speeches about the ship. This was after all, an anniversary party. Seeing that she had already paid for it, Sam decided that despite the fact she had already eaten dinner, she would try some of the food prepared for the guests. While grabbing a few things to nibble on, Sam thought about her purpose there. Considering there was a party going on, Sam highly doubted that bakura was on board the ship… But even if he wasn't currently on the ship, that does not mean he hasn't been before and now. Spotting a man in uniform, Sam decided to start asking some questions. "Excuse me sir," she said as she approached the man. "Yes? May help you ma'am"? He replied "do you work here, on the midway?" should mark she asked. "Yes ma'am." "Well then, I was wondering if you knew anything about the food break in to the kitchen here." "Yes." Said the man "we have had a few break-ins to our kitchen, but I can assure you nothing of value was stolen, and we are fairly certain of the safety of the guests tonight." "Well that's a relief. I only read the article this morning." She said "I honestly though, I thought it was strange that the person only stole food, and nothing from the cash registers or any money at all." "It was probably for the food, perhaps a homeless man." He replied. "Well," Sam continued "that's the thing that bothered me the most sir. Even if someone was homeless, if they were to break into the kitchen for some food multiple times… even if they were homeless, wouldn't they take the money too? They could use the money to buy food. It's not a really thought about detail." "It is strange, now that you say that." the man said. We don't have security kept in the kitchen, Or much else anywhere but the gift shop. This is after all the old Navy ship: there is no place to mount them, or attach the unit. This ship wasn't made originally for the purpose of becoming a historical museum."

Sam ended up having a nice long intelligent conversation with the crewman. Unfortunately, her new friend was called away to work about the party. Continuing on, Sam just decided to sit down with the food she gathered for herself and think quietly while she ate. It was about that time that everyone else sat down as well, and a man went to the speakerphone onstage to start talking about the midway. Sam just drowned out the sound of his microphone with her own thoughts she continued to ponder the possibilities of bakura still remaining nearby.

Far above the party at the captain's lookout, two violet eyes looked down on the commotion. What a loud and obnoxious man. Bakura thought to himself about the man at the microphone. Never knew anyone could speak so loud. It was quite a sight from up above, and bakura enjoyed it. He was at the very top of the ship, and luckily for him the stairway up to where he was had been roped off so he would no longer have to worry about running into other people. The outside stairway to the captain's lookout point served to be somewhat of a balcony for him, as he exited that door and sat down on the cold metal. The breeze was nice, if not a bit cool in comparison to the Egyptian night air he was used to. Bakura loved feeling invisible, and so also being high above them all added to his pleasure. He could attack them all with one blast from his Diabound and they would all be dead in that one shot. Looking down on the party, he tempted the idea but decided it was too much effort. They weren't worth his time. And so, he just looked on from the darkness high above them.

"Hey there. Is this seat taken?" Sam looked up from her plate to find a middle-aged man smiling down at her. "Not at all." she said. "Thanks." he said as he sat down. "So," he continued "are you from here, or from out of town?" "Out of town." She replied, now trying to pretend to be to paying close attention to the speech. No offense to him, but she just needed to be left alone to her thoughts. "Same here." he replied. "Always wanted to come to California, it's supposed to be the best place, and even perfect in some ways. I just got here a few days ago, and I must say I really like the weather. Not to mention that it seems everyone here seems to look like supermodels. You don't really see that anywhere else." Where is he going with this?Sam thought casually. "Well," she replied "that's probably because half the people here have Botox injections just about everywhere on their body." The man laughed "and what about you then?" His arm casually wrapped around her shoulder.

She just HAD to run into a perv today. Being polite, she stayed to continue light conversation for about five minutes more, but insisted on leaving the table after that. Pretending to go search for the washroom, she headed for one of the doors back inside to the ship. As she opened the hatch door, she glanced behind her to see the man slowly following her. Just great,she thought he thinks I was hinting to him. Shutting the door behind her, she quickly ran down the corridor, turned the corner and went up a few flights of stairs so that she would lose him. With not much else to do, Sam decided to just wander for a bit. Glancing over her map that she was given, she turned down another hall way. The captain's lookout sounds like it would have a nice view.

Someone's coming. Bakura dashed inside and hid behind a large table, where maps and papers were placed.

"Ahh, Perfect." Sam said to herself opening the hatch door. It was a small and cozy room, but with enough windows to see the sky all around her. This was just the quiet her time she needed. Leaning forward on one of the control panels, she crossed her legs and looked out the window. It looked so nice and beautiful, seeing the ship from above. She could just picture the midway being at sea, and seeing nothing but ocean and sky as far as her eyes would take her. THIS was a place where she could be left to her thoughts. If I could find the kitchen, perhaps I could find out if bakura was really there. Was there anywhere else in the ship she should check? Sam was making a checklist of places in her head while she enjoyed the peace and quiet that came with the current view.

This woman… bakura was peering over from the side of the table. She seems familiar... I'd seen her somewhere. From where he was, all he could see was her back, but she definitely seemed to be someone he had seen before. Could she have been from that shop that he had attacked? No, that wasn't it... Wait...

Aloud, Sam sighed. "Where could he be?" Standing up straight again, Sam took out a pen from her pocket, circling the areas of the ship she would try to look through before she left. While writing down her notes, she turned to head for the door.

Pain shot through her shoulder as Sam found herself slammed against the wall. "Aaaagh!" She cried out, wincing. She dropped both the paper and pen as she grabbed her other arm. Two hands slammed onto the wall on both sides of her. "You! You're the woman from the storm!" The words were practically yelled in her ear, he was so close. Daring to take a glance at who the man was, Sam looked up into his face. "B…Bakura…." A smirked went across his face as he looked down on her. "I thought so. You seemed to know who I was last time I saw you, but now I know for certain." His grin widened into an utmost evil smile. "What are the chances that I meet you again? You wouldn't perhaps be following me, would you?"

Sam's mind raced. WhatdoidowhatdoIdoWHAT DO I DO? She gulped. "n-no…I…I was…" "Yes?" "I was looking … for you." "Oh really?" he said dangerously. "Considering how far we are from our past meeting place, I'd say so. And pray tell, what business do you have with me?" "Y-Yes…I, uh-" "You wouldn't be trying to hunt me down like the rest of those fools, would you?" "No! No I- I want to help you!" It was the only thing Sam could think to say. "Help ME, you say? And just what makes you think I need help from a little peasant girl like you, you little liar?" "Because …you're in the wrong world…I mean, t-the wrong reality." Bakura raised an eyebrow. Sam began to ramble. "This is an alternate reality than where you're from. I-I want to help you get back to Egypt so you can finish off the pharaoh. H-He deserves to die… a-after what his family did to you…" the words Sam spouted were words of betrayal, but what good could she be to her cause if she ended up dead here and now? "A…And-" after another minute, she couldn't think of much else to say. Bakura cut into her words. "And just how is it you know all that?" "B-Because…" then Sam had an idea, and decided to give it a shot. Sam looked to the side, with a forced blush. "Because you're legendary."

After a moment, Bakura sneered. "Oh, am I now?" without looking back at him Sam nodded, continuing her false blush. "Heh." Bakura backed up off her. "Well isn't that something?" he said to himself. "So tell me, just how is it you plan on helping?" he kept his evil grin. "I-I've been practicing magic, and I think I can open a portal back to your world…but there are holes in the spell, I-I'd still need to fix it up a bit…" "I see. Interesting. What is your name, girl?" "S-Samantha." Bakura began to step forward towards her again, but then they both heard footsteps from the stairway.

Sam panicked. Grabbing Bakura's arm, she rushed them behind the table and ducked down. The door opened and Sam recognized who it was. The perv. Sam grimaced. He was still looking for her? That creep. You're the LAST thing I need right now! The man glanced over the room: "you hoo! Are you in here my sweet?" he said as he searched the room. Bakura was distracted by the mans presence, so Sam stuck her hand in her pocket for her phone. This could be my only time to tell them. Keeping her hand at her side, Sam sent a text to Shada's phone: …[ 'I found him' ] … praying that they would understand it: she had never explained a text message. What would happen after this? Sam wasn't sure if she could meet back up with the priests now. Sam slipped the cell back into her pocket.

"That bitch." The perv said as he gave up. He muttered as he left, closing the door again. "Phew." Sam breathed a sigh. With a bit of her confidence back, she stood up. "I think we should get you off this ship. I can find you a much more comfortable place to stay. But you would have to sneak out with me wearing a disguise, otherwise people will recognize you." "Oh?" he said. Sam remembered she needed to play timid. "T-that is, if you want." "Well I can't say I dislike the idea, this place is really troublesome." He grumbled. Sam saw her chance. "… Well then I will need to go back to where I'm staying to get you some other clothes. I could bring them back here tomorrow for you…" A glint of suspicion shone in Bakura's eye. He stood close to her, and pulled Sam's chin in towards him. "Am I to suppose that this isn't some trick to release you? You're going to report me, I believe." "No! I-I wouldn't dare of-" "prove it. Prove your loyalty to my cause." How? Prove loyalty to him? Did he want her to kill? Steal? Probably so. But Sam didn't want to, so on a whim, she took a chance: she kissed him. Doing so, she leaned into his arms and put her hands on his chest. Bakura seemed amused. After a minute, she backed away a bit to see his reaction. He seemed devilishly pleased, and it gave Sam frightened shivers. "Very well." He said. "Please do. However if you do not return, I shall find you myself, no matter who will see me. Understand?"

And so Bakura let Sam go. Exiting the USS Midway, Sam walked slowly. Bakura was still at the lookout, watching her. She couldn't run, she HAD to walk, and the tension it caused almost made her tremble with fear. He had tasted horrible, and losing her first kiss to that monster made her heart sink, but Samantha had to push those simple thoughts out of her head however, because she now needed a plan for tomorrow. She couldn't bear to think of the consequences if something went wrong. In the midst of her fear, she found a thought that she had kept in the back of her mind: How far am I willing to go to help these priests?