Hi, everyone! Now, before I begin this chapter, I need to explain some stuff. This chapter will slightly veer away from the original story line. Instead of Bakura going out and defeating Bones and his crew the same time Yugi and the gang are headed to the Finals, I will be messing around with the timing aspect, mostly because I want to include the part where Bakura duels Bones rather than leave it out. Besides, I want some more screen time with Bakura and Ava, especially since their pasts are connected in a "semi-romantic" sort of way, as cliché as it might be. So, the pace will be a bit different. Thankfully, I know the majority of you mostly won't mind, as those of you have told me you enjoy when things veer into "original territory".

Let me know what you think of this chapter in the review section.

So, with that all said, let's get to it, shall we? Chapter begin!

"Guys, I don't need a hospital…" Ava said for the tenth time, everyone riding in Mai's car, although it was a miracle they even all fit in it. Here was how the seating was: Mai was (of course) driving, Serenity in the passenger seat, Yugi, Tea, and Joey in the back seats, Tristan and Duke carefully positioned on the doors, and Ava on the upper part of the back seat directly behind Tea. Luckily, this car was a convertible, or else the seating arrangements would have never worked. Even with how they were sitting, things could easily get dangerous for Tristan, Duke, and Ava had Mai chosen to get a bit reckless.

Ava continued her protest. "Seriously, guys. My neck is sore, yes, but I don't need serious medical attention! We have the Finals!"

"You're going to hospital, even if I gotta drag you there!" Joey said as he turned back towards her direction. "Stitches or no stitches, you're goin' to see a doctor!"

"Joey…" Ava warned, but she was cut off when Yugi spoke.

"Ava…we'd really feel better if you get looked at…" The short duelist said with those huge puppy-like eyes of his, giving emphasis on the "we" part of his statement, much to Ava's irritation.

"You guys like using that card a lot, don't you?" She criticized, folding her arms in irritation. But, ultimately, she relented. "Fine, but we can't take a lot of time. A few band-aids and we're gone!"

"I think you're gonna need more than a few band-aids…" Duke said with a sweat drop forming.

Ava just looked at the new face, blinking, "Not to be rude, but…who are you again?"

"The name's Duke Devilin," he said as he pointed to himself while giving her a flirtatious wink. "Ava, right? Tristan kind of filled me in about you. Just the little things. According to what he said about Kaiba's ranking system, you're a pretty good duelist, huh?"

Ava shrugged. "You'll see soon enough…"

"Hey," Tea said a thought occurred to her. "Since we'll be there, we can stop and see how Bakura's doing in the hospital. Thank goodness for Namu stopping and helping him."

Ava blinked. "Namu? Friend of yours?"

Tea and Joey both looked at each other, Joey speaking to Ava, "Hold on…you don't know him? You said he was a good friend from your childhood…"

"Joey, I travelled everywhere. I was never around long enough to have any close friendships…" Ava said, suspicions beginning to rise. "Sure, I met people, but I never could form a good bond with them to remember their names today. Even a face would be a stretch for my memory…"

"Are you sure?" Tea asked, growing confused. "He seemed to know you pretty well…"

Ava felt her apprehension growing even higher. Who was this "Namu"? What did he look like? Ava couldn't remember, not even a small bit. Tea and Joey must have seen all this when Ava was under Malik's control. So, then…was Malik "Namu"? It sounded completely plausible. If so, then she would know him immediately. She needed to try and remember any detail she could. Concentrating, she remembered when Malik and the Evil Spirit of Bakura's Millennium Ring spoke to each other, and, based on her memory, it seemed like they'd formed some sort of partnership. Still, she couldn't afford to go on suspicions alone. So, for now, it was best to just keep at the back of her mind.

"I can also tell grandpa about Joey and me getting into the Finals!" Yugi said in a triumphant voice.

At those words, Ava felt a depression come over her for a bit. That's right…The Finals were getting extremely close. Both Joey and Yugi already qualified, not that Yugi's qualifying shocked Ava. She only had three Puzzle Cards—how was she going to get into the Finals? She knew there weren't many duelists left at this point. Perhaps, it was best to just stay as a bystander? No, Ishizu said she would fight alongside Yami.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Yugi asked, Ava looking at him.

"Well, I still only have three Puzzle Cards…" She sighed in a dismal way. "With Malik's stupid schemes always involving me, I haven't really been able to do anything. How am I supposed to help you if I can't get enough cards? I promised…"

"It's okay, Ava," Yugi reassured. "Whether you're in the Finals as a duelist or cheering us on, you're a valuable friend. You won't let us down, no matter what."

"But, I'm a duelist!" Ava shouted, Yugi jumping a bit from the sudden outburst. "You helped me get my love of dueling back…now, some creep in the shadows is going to pull everything out from under my feet? No way! I could understand if I was too lazy to find some competition, but…"

Ava looked around as the car passed through the city and towards the hospital. "I don't like being cynical, but how many duelists do you see?"

Yugi couldn't really give a good comeback, especially when Ava was very much correct. The city was nearly free of Duelists at this point. Still, if she was meant to fight alongside him and Yami, a door would open for her. For now, it was best to not worry about it. Fate would bring things into the order they needed to be in.

[In the hospital]

"Miss, how did you say you received this injury?" Asked the doctor, to which Ava feigned an embarrassed expression. "Let's just say…this is why I stick to Duel Monsters and not outside work."

The last thing she needed was suspicion of any sort—although, no doubt, the doctor was already weary of her wound. After all, at the very least, it looked like she'd possibly tried to hang herself. The marks clearly showed something had been wrapped around her neck. The cuts produced by the thread-like wire only caused further suspicion, no doubt. Still, the doctor seemed to buy it—or, he at least allowed her to leave.

"Very well," he relented on the subject. "However, if any sort of foul play was involved, I strongly recommend you talk to the police. They can handle these sort of incidents so that they do not happen again."

"There was no foul play," Ava tried to reassure him. "Just clumsiness. Thank you, though. Now…am I free to go? My friends are waiting…"

The doctor agreed to release her, giving her an antibiotic cream and some extra bandages. The bandages she currently wore were better than the torn material Kaiba had used, but they were kind of itchy. A smile came to her face when she saw the faces of everyone in the waiting room, everyone walking over to greet her.

"They say I'm good to go," Ava said with a nod. "The cuts were minor, so it wasn't anything bad. Still, the doctor had a lot of questions. I'm surprised they didn't send others to question me. He seemed to buy the 'I was just being clumsy' story well enough. Thank goodness for that."

"Still," Yugi said. "We're worried. Malik expressed interest in you before…but this time he actually hurt you. He went beyond threatening…and it worries me."

"Maybe that should tell us that he's not someone to take lightly," Ava concluded.

"Yeah, no kidding..." Tristan scoffed.

"What are you youngsters doing here?" A familiar voice sounded, everyone turning around.

"Grandpa!" Yugi said with a smile, running over to hug the old man. "We…Ava got hurt while dueling one of the Rare Hunters, so we came to make sure she was all right."

"Oh my!" The old man exclaimed before coming over to Ava. "Are you certain you're alright?"

Ava nodded. "Yeah. Just a few minor cuts and bruises. Umm…why are you here? Are you okay?"

Grandpa immediately grew confused. "Did you already forget, Ava? Maybe the duel you fought gave you a concussion?"

Ava just blinked. "I don't get it…"

"We already were through this, Av'! You and Namu found Bakura…" Joey said, he now growing confused. "Bakura was pretty badly hurt…you're telling me you don't remember any of this?"

"No," Ava shook her head. "But…maybe we should go check on him? Bakura, I mean…"

As they all walked to Bakura's room, things ran through Ava's mind quicker than she could even process. First this "Namu" character…and now Bakura? Ava might not remember "Namu", but she did remember Malik and "Evil Bakura" speaking. Immediately, for reasons unknown to Ava, it was as if a memory opened up within her. In the memory, she was caught when she'd been spying on Bakura and Malik's conversation. The memory delved deeper—she remembered Bakura getting hurt, but it wasn't some freak accident. The Spirit of the Ring had hurt his host, all a part of Malik's scheme, which would result in Bakura obtaining Malik's Millennium Rod. She remembered her and "Namu" meeting Joey and the others, this being when grandpa had helped the injured Bakura into a taxi cab.

Ava knew who "Namu" really was…

"It's not the time…" A voice said within her, one she now began to identify as the Spirit of her Bracelet. It continued on, "Events need to unfold as they were destined to. His identity being revealed by you was not part of history's plan."

"I don't care about 'History's plan'…" She thought inside. "I know who he is! Yugi and Joey need to know!"

"They will…when they're meant to. Not before." The Spirit of the Bracelet concluded, Ava no longer able to sense it—or rather, "her"—presence any longer.

She crossed her arms, not realizing what she was doing or saying as she spoke aloud, irritation clouding her tone, "You're the type that irritates me…"

"Umm…" Mai sounded, her walking right beside Ava, who was beside Tea. "I think the old man was right. You sure you didn't hit your head? You're talking to yourself…"

Ava stiffened in shock—she'd said that stuff out loud?!

"Maybe she just needs to rest for a bit," Grandpa stated, him turning to the group. "I'll go get some drinks for you all."

"Why don't you stay here with Ava, Grandpa? We can get the stuff." Yugi offered, everyone following him. Well, they didn't all follow to get some drinks. Joey, Duke, and Tristan wanted to go get something to chow down on and Tea and Mai went with Yugi so he wouldn't have to carry everything himself.

So, that left Ava and Grandpa in Bakura's room. She had the old man sit in the chair, her deciding to sit on the hospital bed Bakura currently laid in. Noticing she was massaging her temples, a feigned attempt to get rid of the headache that had formed, Grandpa went to the bathroom to fetch Ava a wet cloth, as per Ava's request. When she had stuff on her mind, she just liked to lay it on her forehead and neck. While he was away, even though it'd only been for a few minutes, Ava noticed Bakura began acting strange. He looked in pain as he slept, and she would've been lying if it didn't make her a little apprehensive. Not for herself, but for him. Maybe he was having a nightmare?

After his moans of pain seem to increase, she rose from the bed and just looked at him.

Should she shake him awake, or should she leave him be?

[Inside Bakura's mind—or, I think that's where this is supposed to be…]

Malik had travelled through Ryou Bakura's mind, finally finding what he was aiming for, the Evil Spirit of the Ring greeting him, the spirit looking anything but pleased as Malik spoke, "Look here now, I finally found it."

"Why are you in my host?" Yami Bakura demanded to know, glaring at the Tomb Keeper. How had Malik even entered Ryou—that was what Yami bakura wanted to know.

Then, it hit him. When Ryou had been injured, both Ava and Malik—or, "Namu", at that time—brought him to Joey and the others. Yami Bakura's eyes lit up in realization. "So…it was at that time, huh?"

"Correct," Malik admitted, Millennium Rod in hand. "I've implanted a part of myself inside your host, Bakura."

Yami Bakura glared daggers at Malik. "You'll suffer a horrible death someday…now, what happened to our promise, you bastard? I helped you with your plan to kill Yugi. Now, hand over your Millennium Rod."

Malik chuckled just slightly, though it was not the amusing sort. "There's been a slight change of plans. Yugi and I have both gotten into the Finals. If you desire this Millennium Rod so badly…you'll have to get yourself into the Finals."

Yami bakura couldn't contain his laughter that followed, something that began to piss Malik off. When the laughter ceased, Yami bakura crossed his arms, a grin of amusement spread across his face. "So, your little plan failed you, huh? You should know, I don't listen to the gloating of an over-arrogant fool…"

Malik bore a look of irritation mixed with annoyance at those words. "Say whatever you want! The Finals will begin shortly. When that happens, I will have my revenge on the pharaoh, and little Ava will be mine."

"Why exactly are you so keen on the little girl, anyway?" Yami Bakura asked, intrigued.

Malik just grinned. "I could ask you the same."

"I have no interest in the girl's current self…" Yami Bakura admitted. "My interest lies in when she was alive during the time of the pharaoh."

Malik gave another look of amusement. "So, you think they are not one in the same? If so, you're quite incorrect. The guardian that lived 3,000 years ago is truly reborn, but she's not within Ava—she is Ava! The pharaoh's spell indeed protected her, but it was not in the normal sense. No, that hateful pharaoh kept her soul from moving on into the afterlife! I bet if you knew such a thing, she wouldn't be so fond of fighting by his side."

Yami Bakura scoffed once more. "You obviously no nothing about Yugi and his friends. Even the afterlife couldn't keep them apart…"

"Even so…" Malik continued. "Ava's reborn soul is just as irritating as the Millennium Bracelet she wears. When used properly, it has the power to seal the Darkness the Pharaoh's Tablet will release once all seven items are set in place. Although I don't know how, it seems something within Ava knows how to unlock the bracelet's power. For now, it is weak in strength, but once it can reach its full power, it will be able to shut down any Millennium Item with ease."

Yami Bakura's uninterested expression from before turned into one of irritation as a memory from the Ancient Past flooded him. He remembered when "Amara", as she was often called, wielded the bracelet when it was at full power. During that time, even Bakura had been forced to retreat. A simpleton like Malik, who was highly inexperienced in comparison to Yami Bakura's 3,000 years of experience with the Items, would fall to the bracelet's powers in no time at all.

Still, there was something Malik probably didn't know…

"If she used the bracelet's full power, like you're afraid of, I highly doubt she'd be alive when it was over." Yami Bakura informed. "At the very least, she'd be left in a coma for days, possibly weeks. Even during the Ancient Past, the Guardian's body was not able to withstand the sheer raw power of the Gods, which was ultimately why the Millennium Bracelet could 'shut down' all other Items, if needed. Naturally, tapping into such power had its price. The aftermath of the sheer surge of energy would be the equivalence of what happens during a massive electrical blackout—a total loss of energy. If Yugi and his friends knew this information, I doubt they would ever want Ava to learn the full extent of her Guardian heritage."

"You know a lot about this Guardian…" Malik accused, his body jumping into the air, the piece of him slowly dissolving away as he spoke, "Even so, if you desire my Millennium Rod you will need to gather six Puzzle Cards and enter into the Finals! So, until that time, I'll be borrowing your host a little longer."

"That brat…" Yami Bakura glared, a voice pulling him back to the real world. He looked down at his injured host, Ava shaking him as she called out his name. Yami bakura stared at the girl, raw emotion that had laid dormant inside himself beginning to reawaken.

[The Real World]

"Hey! Bakura, wake up!" Ava called out, lightly shaking his trembling body. "Bakura! Bakura!"

Finally, his eyes opened, and for a moment, Ava felt relief enter her. But, that relief quickly disappeared when the look that was pointed at her caused her to gasp, the realization of the situation coming to her—this was the Spirit of the Ring!

"Good evening, Avianna," Yami Bakura said, Ava immediately removing herself from the bed, namely when he began sitting up.

"I should have figured!" Ava said in annoyance. "I was worried about Bakura, you know!"

Yami Bakura gave a grin of amusement. "When did you care for him so much?"

"He's a friend! It's what friends do!" Ava said in pure irritation, her noticing grandpa walking back in into the room. For a moment, he was happy to see Bakura awake, but his joy quickly turned to confusion when he looked at Ava.

"Ava? Why are you shouting at Bakura?" Grandpa wondered aloud, Ava gasping in shock.

Bakura spoke, "Just a misunderstanding…"

"Oh, I see!" Grandpa said, Ava blinking in confusion.

He didn't want any details? Nothing at all? He just took Bakura's word for it? Wow…

"Guess what, Bakura?! Oh, I bet Ava already told you, but I can't contain myself! Yugi and Joey are in the Finals!" Grandpa announced in pride. "I'm not surprised that Yugi made it, but…Joey made it, too. It seems my training was a success."

Yami Bakura just glared at the old man and his ramblings, Ava narrowing her eyes at him. Yami Bakura continued to play as Ryou, speaking once more, "Just them? What about you, Ava?"

Ava just glared at him. "Not yet…"

"I see," Bakura said, still feigning the innocent act. "So, where are the Finals being held…?"

Ava raised a brow at that question. Why would the Spirit of the Ring care about the Finals?

Grandpa's eyes widened in shock, him gaining an embarrassed expression. "I completely forgot to ask!"

Yami Bakura's glare only increased, Ava's narrowed expression increasing as well. Yami Bakura seemed to ignore the look, swinging his legs off the bed and setting his feet on the floor. When Grandpa tried to convince him to not leave, due to his injuries from before, Yami Bakura had apparently had enough of the old man. The Millennium Ring began glowing around his neck, Ava and Grandpa's eyes widening in shock, as well as fear. With that, Yami Bakura rose to his feet, speaking to the old man, "I don't have time to sit around here, old man…"

Ava knew something was going to happen, her grabbing for Yami Bakura's wrist, but before the contact could even happen he grabbed her wrist instead. "Not this time!"

Ava was left completely befuddled at those words—what did he mean by 'not this time'?

Yami Bakura looked back to Grandpa. Without warning, the old man fell to his knees before collapsing completely to the ground, which sent Ava into an immediate panic, her shouting frantically while rushing to Grandpa's side, "What did you do?! You've gone too far this time!"

"You're too loud!" Yami Bakura ordered, Ava sending him an immediate glare, to which he grinned at. "The old man's asleep—no harm done."

"No harm done?!" Ava shouted, repeating his own words. She a moment, she sputtered, finally speaking coherently, "He—he—he's—he's old, you psycho! Do you know anything about the human body?! He could have a heart attack or something, thanks to you using those magic powers!"

Ava, then, inwardly noted that he probably wouldn't even care if he did kill the old man…

"Okay…you can let go," Ava said, trying to pull out of his grasp, but he never budged. "I said let me go! Don't make me scream, 'cause I will!"

"Oh?" Yami Bakura mused. "Then, I'm to understand you'll willingly let me leave here, knowing the power I possess? If by all means, then…leave. Go about your merry way."

Ava felt her breath hitch—she couldn't do that! Talk about irresponsible!

"But…I can't just leave!" She protested. "Yugi and others will be back soon, and they'll be expecting to see us both! Yugi, if no one else, will know what happened—that you were involved! In fact, I'm certain they'd suspect you kidnapped me or something…"

Yami Bakura, again, grinned wickedly. "Worrying about me, huh? Something else you and your past-self have in common."

Ava blinked, confusion sweeping over her. "What do you—"

"Come on," Yami Bakura ordered, pulling the girl along. "We don't have time to dawdle. I need to find six Puzzle Cards for the Finals."

"What do you care about the Finals?" Ava asked.

"It's none of your concern," he replied, to which she huffed in irritation.

A thought, then, occurred to Ava. "Hey…how are you planning to get those cards? You don't even have a Duel Disk. Stealing the cards are one thing, but…you'll need a Duel Disk to duel with, you know…"

"You just assumed I'd steal them? Why such a hasty conclusion?" Yami Bakura inquired, Ava shrugging.

"I dunno…" Ava said, truthful. "You're a villain. Therefore, you and stealing just seems to go hand-in-hand…"

"What an interesting conclusion…" He said with a grin, although Ava wasn't sure why. Yami Bakura continued speaking, "As for the Duel Disk, I have many options at my disposal, Avianna."

"Okay, first thing's first…" Ava said with a glare. "Don't say my name in that tone."

Yami Bakura just grinned, giving a shrug of indifference. "I'll say it however I want."

"You're a real pain in the ass," she growled, her irritation growing even higher.

"I suppose some feelings never change," Yami bakura said, leading him and her out of the hospital and to the street, where he proceeded to corner a defenseless duelist, threatening him.

Ava, obviously, stepped in. "Hold on! This—this is your plan?! Beating up a random guy and stealing his Duel Disk? Seriously?!"

"Get out of the way or I will force you out…" Bakura threatened.

Ava didn't move. "I'm not going to stand and watch you hurt someone innocent, Bakura!"

Bakura paused, a feeling piercing his head for a brief moment. Those were the same words Amara used in their past days, Ava exact pose and expression being the same, too. Bakura formed a glared, him forcing himself past her as he pried the device off the person's arm, realizing the guy had only had a single Puzzle Card, the thief grinning in dark amusement. "I'm surprised! Now, there's one less heck duelist who didn't even duel once!"

The guy only begged. "I—I didn't buy that for the tournament! It's a memento!"

Ava's heart sank with those words. Why didn't she just leave Bakura to his own nasty tricks and "treats"? Yugi and the gang would've understood her leaving—in fact, a certain few (Yami and Joey, at the very least) would no doubt scold her for sticking with him! So, why stay…?

"Bakura…" Ava said, but he didn't seem to even hear.

"Now that I have a Puzzle Card, I'm qualified to duel…I guess even a hack like you deserves some thanks…." Bakura said, ending the conversation as he pulled out the guy's deck. But, Bakura quickly grew disappointed in what he saw, him dropping the cards like they were useless trash. "Here!"

Ava just glared at Bakura, her looking at her own Duel Disk.

She pressed the release switch, removing the device from her arm, the sound alerting Bakura, who looked at her in irritation. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Back off!" She glared at the spirit, her looking back to guy who sat on the ground in pure despair, offering her Duel Disk. "It's not the one you bought…and—and I can't give you the Puzzle Card, but I can offer this. It must be pretty important, for your Duel Disk to be a memento…so, here."

The guy just looked at her in pure awe. "Miss? I…I can't. It's yours…"

"Not anymore," she said, standing to her feet as she straightened up.

As she walked passed Bakura, he grabbed her by the shoulder and forced her to turn around and look at him. "What were you thinking?! You were just lecturing me about needing that stupid thing to enter the Finals, and you give yours away to some nobody!? Fool!"

"…I guess some things never change," Ava said, walking on, her words completely catching the spirit off-guard. Ava continued, "Besides, somehow…I know I'll get another one when you duel other people. I just fear the fates of those poor souls…"

As they walked along, Bakura overheard a few guys speaking about the Finals. The slots were filling up fast, thus he didn't have time to screw around. He forced one of the guys to turn around, demanding to know where other duelists could be found. Naturally, the guy didn't feel very chatty.

"We've talked about this!" Ava shouted, moving to stand next to Bakura.

Her presence, however, caused more than she ever hoped it would do. The violent nature of the guy Bakura had grabbed instantly vanished, Ava blinking, "Oh no…"

"You can buzz off," he said to Bakura, turning his attention to Ava, the rest of his friends coming over, which only made Ava grow more panicked. "However, I don't mind giving you some information…for a small exchange, of course. Lucky for us, you're cute. What do you say about…ten minutes?"

The reaction that came just seconds later was not one Ava had been expecting.

Bakura lunged forward, grabbing the "leader" by the collar of his shirt, giving the man the deepest, darkest stare he'd ever seen. Just the stare alone made his blood run cold, the grip on his shirt only furthering the feeling

"I'd suggest you don't." Bakura threatened.

The guy quickly talked, "I—I heard there's some duelists wandering around the cemetery…"

"Cemetery…?" Bakura asked, just for clarification.

After a moment or two longer, Bakura released his grip on the guy. Like he'd thought, he didn't have time to be screwing around. Time was running short. Bakura grabbed Ava's wrist, pulling her along. She just stared at him, confused more than she'd ever thought. Bakura—Evil Bakura—just saved her? Why? He'd hurt his own host, after all. So…why?

"Umm…thanks…" Ava said, her still weirded out.

Bakura didn't even look back at her. "Don't. There's no need to thank me. We don't have time to play around."

Bakura couldn't shake it—it was like he was walking right beside Amara, the only girl that'd ever gotten close to him in the long time he'd been alive! Her way of acting, the way she'd word things, her expressions, even the way she stood—everything was the same, damn it!

No—everything would not end the same way it did back then.

He'd never allow it, for Malik had been right about one thing. The Pharaoh had sealed her soul, keeping it from moving on. She was trapped here, the responsible being her "lover". This time, "Amara" would have the ending she should have had, as well as the afterlife she should have had. Even so, that ending was a long way away.

He needed to focus.

Okay, I'm ending this here. I was going to keep going and include the duel with Bones, but this chapter is already quite long. So, we'll leave this one here! So, what did you think? Were you shocked? Even a bit? Maybe a smidgen?

No…? Oh…well, darn…

Oh well. I'll see you next chapter! Bye-Bye!