"Hey Bakura, why don't we take my car?" Yugi asked, stopping in front of Bakura, nodding in the direction of his garage. "We're going to the same places anyway, no sense in taking both of our cars."
"Well, I need to pick up Terryn." Bakura gasped, and slammed his palm against his forehead. "Oh no, we're going to travel to Duelist Island for at least a day. Who's going to watch her? I can't take her with us, Mead will think I'm trying to kidnap her. And Keira just changed her plans on us and isn't going to help me."
"Don't you have family who can help? Can't your dad watch her until you come back?" Yugi asked giving Bakura an assuring smile. "Grandpa told me your dad likes to hang out with him at the Senior Center. And I'm sure they allow kids to come in and hang out with their relatives. I doubt we'll be gone for too long. Terryn's your youngest daughter, right? And how old is she again?"
"She's four."
"Then that's not a problem." Yugi grabbed his car keys off a hook. "If Grandpa isn't ready to leave yet, they have a daycare center there, so maybe she can stay there until Mead can pick her up."
Bakura shook his head, a worried look crossed his brown eyes. "I'm afraid she'll need to go with my father. It's girl's night so Mead's going to be out until late tonight. And her sister, Keira, would of had Terryn overnight. She might have to stay the night with my father."
Yugi's eyes shot wide in shock to hear that Mead was staying out late with her friends. His heart grew heavy for their suffering girls and for the abused Bakura. Yugi couldn't understand how Bakura was able to hold himself together, and not breakdown during one of the worst moments of any parents life's. And he hasn't asked any of his friends to help with his other daughters, only to aid in his search for Janny. "Well, maybe your dad won't mind. He called Mari a little while ago, he said he's at the Senior Center with Grandpa, so we'll pick her up and take her to him. You have her car seat in your car, right?" Bakura nodded as the two men headed out the shop's front door towards their cars. "Let's go grab it. We'll put it in my car, pick her up and then we'll pick her up. Where is she now?"
"She's with her aunt Keira, Mead's sister." Bakura sighed, running his hands over his face. "She, apparently, has unexpected plans that just came up."
"So, she just bailed out on you?"
"Yes, and unfortunately, this isn't the first time. I've had to rely on my father in cases like this many times before." Bakura answered in a slightly irritated tone as though he didn't want to speak about his father, let alone have his youngest stay over night with him. "She has stayed a few nights with me at my father's house, if not me, then with Keira on the other side of town. It's close to the Music Center." Bakura set up the car seat and climbed into the passenger seat. "Are you sure you don't mind? She's going to be overly excited to see me and she can be pretty loud when she's excited."
"I don't mind, in fact, the last time I saw her was at her first birthday party. So, I'll be more than happy to see her. " Yugi answered, starting the car and headed out onto the highway. "I'm happy to help however I can. It, certainly, seems like you're going through a lot of stress lately." Yugi braced himself to ask the same question that was on everyone's mind. "So, not to be pushy or intruding, but can I ask a question?"
"Yes, of course."
Why are you still with Mead? Why not sign the papers and end this?
"How... are the other girl's holding up with this mess? The twins, I mean." Yugi asked instead, mentally slapping himself.
"It's a bit of a mess, actually." Bakura answered in a solemn tone, resting his head back against the head rest. "Turn left at the light. Before her disappearance, Janny was too busy to worry about the situation between her mother and I. Whenever she did, it caused her such heavy anxiety and she would faint. Brenna keeps acting up at school and gives her mother a lot of disrespect. And Lisette just hides out where ever it is quiet and has developed an eating disorder because of this mess. Poor Terry only understands that her mother is furious, her oldest sister is missing and that her dad isn't at home with her."
Yugi pinched his lips together and sighed. "It sounds pretty heavy."
"Yes, and Mead is making a lot of decisions about the younger three without me." Bakura added, running his boney hand through is long hair, frustration and irritation growing hot inside his heart. "Such as allowing the twins to go on this school field trip to Pegasus' Castle without discussing it with me."
Yugi nearly slammed on the breaks at a red light , shocked to hear Mead would allow her twin daughters to go over seas while her oldest is missing. No one had heard a word about Janice's whereabouts for the last two weeks, and none of the officers could find a clue to what happened to her and Moriah. Yugi tried to make sense on how a mother would allow such an even to happen. With Leigha missing just like her friends, Yugi wouldn't let Toni leave the house without him or Mari. Some days, Yugi insisted on going with Mari to the store in fear of the same thing happening to her. Thinking about Mead mistreating Bakura, allowing her twin daughters to be a boat ride away from her, and her youngest being left with someone unreliable made Yugi's head spin.
What is Mead doing anyway? And how could she treat her husband like this? Not to mention her other daughters need her more than they need this trip.
Yugi turned right towards the Music Center. Taking a deep breath, and exhaling slowly, Yugi finally spoke. "Forgive my saying this, but it's not right. The twins are your daughters too. You were suffering along with her when the twins were born prematurely, and you two feared the worst because there was no promise of a happy ending. The two of you were working together to keep each other sane while dealing with that whole terrifying mess. And she just treats you like your not a part of their lives. That's not fair at all. I think you should confront her about letting the twins go, and about going out while her oldest is still missing."
Bakura shook his head, pointing to the next street on the left. "I tried just before coming over to your place, and, although she says she is against it, she insisted the twins go and then hung up on me."
Yugi shook his head, merging into the other lane to turn another left. "Why is she so upset with you?"
"She is upset with me because the spirit scared her. After we received the video from Pegasus two years ago, and Janny slipped on the glove, she passed out and then he took over her body. Or more, she, took over." He said the last few words in a confused manner. "I could tell something was off with her when I noticed her eyes."
"Her eyes?"
Bakura smiled for only a brief moment. He adored Janny's silver eyes, the same eyes Mead has, the same ones that made his heart melt so many years ago. Those shimmering eyes that haven't changed since the day the nurse placed her in his arms. It was the first time the newborn girl had opened her eyes. A pair of glistening silver rings staring up at him. And Bakura's heart melt and tears filling his eyes. Bakura remembered feeling a sudden, strong urge to protect her, to shield her from any darkness, to give this precious and fragile being everything she could ever need.
But that day, when it was revealed that the his curse was harboring his daughter's body, those diamond eyes terrified him.
"You know she has silver eyes? On the day she made herself appear, they were almost white. And she pushed me away with such strength...I didn't know that she was possessed until that moment. My daughters are strong willed, Brenna and Terryn are the daring ones, but none of them are violent. Mead was watching, hearing everything being said. I managed to get her and the other girls out of the room. But she was still terrified and confused beyond reason. And she blamed me."
"But that wasn't your fault. That spirit was inside your Millennium Ring that was gifted to you just like how mine was a gift, you had no control over him."
"It's just the next two blocks, then it'll be the salmon pink house on the left." Bakura mentioned before continuing. "Mead blames me because I never told her about him, I told her nothing about the dark spirit. I just couldn't." Bakura rested his head back against the head rest again, reminiscing about the day the spirit had departed from his body. "When the spirit left my body, I was free, I was able to have my body and mind again, I was able to do things without hearing another sinister voice in my head. But I still had the memories; those I sent screaming and crying to the Shadow Realm, being caged up in a glass prison, fearing I would never get my body back, waking up screaming from every nightmare. The plan to attack you and the Pharaoh during the tournament years ago, I can still feel the pain when he stabbed my arm."
"You were stabbed?" Yugi asked, trying to remember when that attack happened. He thought Tea told Yugi that Bakura was attacked, but didn't say how or how badly he was hurt until Bakura appeared at the Battle City Finals.
Bakura nodded his head. "Yes, by the spirit. It was all a part of their plan. Regardless, I just couldn't tell Mead about my him." His fingers running through his hair, clutching large chunks of his hair, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "All those memories, all those voices, that sinister laugh, the hellish nightmares. I couldn't be in a dark room by myself, I started having horrible panic attacks that I passed out, at time I couldn't even eat. For the longest time, I was still so afraid that he would invade my body again. My mind had fallen into such heavy darkness." Bakura leaned forward, wrapping his arms around his aching and boiling stomach, fighting back hot tears, his head spinning in hot circles.
"Even after he was gone, I suffered. There was no end to it." Bakura said in a low voice. "I was still being tormented by him, and it didn't stop for years." Bakura stopped for a moment, closing his eyes tightly as he began using a coping strategy. He inhaled a deep breath, honing in on the vibrating sounds of Yugi's car, allowing his body to settle down. Slowly, he exhaled his breath before continuing. "I...I managed to put all those thoughts to the back of my mind, I was able to move on and started regaining my life. In order to do that without breaking down meant that I needed to forget him all together. But, obviously, it wasn't possible. It's my burden, my sins and darkness. How could I drag my family into that? Mead is dealing with her own darkness, and has been since we met sixteen years ago. So, it didn't make any sense to mention something that sounds like a fantasy movie plot. I just wanted to move on with my own family."
Bakura stopped himself before his stomach boiled and burn any hotter. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his hands against his face, inhaled deeply and sat up. "She'll come to her senses, she'll settle down and this will be behind us. All we need to do is find our daughter and things will start getting better."
Yugi pulled up to the first salmon pink colored house and parked. He sighed quietly, feeling overwhelmed imagining Bakura's situation, his heart aching. He had no idea that Bakura had been suffering back then. He didn't realize how much the spirit of the Millennium Ring had affected Bakura. He thought about the days after high school, and although Bakura was at the graduation ceremony, Bakura had disappeared for a few years. It wasn't until Yugi's grandfather informed him that Bakura's father was hosting a graduation party. Bakura told Yugi and the others that he was taking care of a sick relative in Tokyo.
I have a feeling he wasn't taking care of anyone, Yugi thought to himself.
"I can only hope for the best." Yugi whispered halfheartedly, bringing himself back to reality.
I'm fortunate that mine didn't hurt me like that.
"Not again!" Bakura shouted.
"Wha-" Yugi snapped out of his thoughts as Bakura barged out of the car and up to the wired fence. His hands gripping the top and leaped over. "Terryn Bakura, get down from that tree!"
"Tree?" Yugi opened the door and peered over the top of the door. His purple eyes followed Bakura up to a large oak tree and looked up. "Whoa!" He shouted, running up to the fence,and pushing through the unlocked gate. He stood watching a young girl sitting on a tree branch. The tree was as tall as the house and and was filled with children's toys like a Christmas tree. Terryn sat on a large branch, her light brown hair tied back into a pony tail, laughing and swinging her legs.
"Come down right now!" Bakura commanded, about to climb the tree.
"Wha-Bakura, wait! Lemme get her down!" Yugi shouted in a panicked voice, running up to the tree. "Oh, I don't want him to break a bone climbing that tree."
"Daddy! You're here!" Terryn shouted with a wide, excitable grin. Pulling herself up to stand on the branch, and straightening her blue dress, her dark brown eyes staring down at Bakura and her smile lowered slightly. "Look out, Daddy! Here I come!"
Stammering and stumbling, Bakura pushed himself off the tree.
"Here I come!" She shouted as she jumped off the branch. Bakura gasped in shock and fear, backing up quickly with his arms spread out.
"Whoa, Bakura!" Yugi shouted as Bakura caught Terryn into his thin arms, and stumbles back into Yugi's chest. Yugi managed to wrap his arms around Bakura, and collapsed onto the ground. "Phew, close one."
"You must be Terryn." Yugi grumbled, wondering if the four year old weighs as much as her father. "What were you doing in that tree anyway?"
"I wanted to see into the neighbor's window." Terryn pointed to the neighbor in the navy blue house next door. "They're watching my favorite cartoon. And Keira's watching tv, so I can't watch it. So, I thought I could watch from the tree."
"You could've asked to go over and watch it." Bakura said, pulling himself and Terryn off Yugi. After setting Terryn down, he turned around and helped Yugi up. "Sorry, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm just fine. As long as she's not hurt." Yugi said with a pained smiled, brushing the dirt off his clothes.
"But I couldn't. Keira won't let me."
"Where is Keira anyway?" Bakura asked, looking around the yard. "You shouldn't be out here without someone watching you."
Terryn pointed to the road just a car could be heard roaring away from the house. Bakura shook his head again, gritting his teeth together. Yugi was dumbfounded. Never had he seen a responsible adult leave a young child unsupervised, and then leave the second the parent arrives.
"Doesn't matter now, let's just go." Bakura said, picking up Terryn and heading towards the fence entrance. "You can pick up your bag tomorrow, Terry."
As Yugi followed them, his heart grew heavy watching little Terryn wrapping her arms around Bakura's neck, a sad smile on her face. Then, Yugi thought back to his last days in high school.
We didn't hang out much. In fact, I think we were just school mates at first. And I think if we didn't go to Pegasus' Island, I doubt we would be friends today. I, hardly, know anything about him. I just know he has a dad and that he had a Millenium Item as well. But what was his life like outside of school? Does he have a mom? Or siblings? Now that I think about it, outside of Tea, Joey and Tristan, I don't know much about my other friends. Like what school did Duke attend? What are Marik's siblings up to these days? In fact, did Marik graduate from any school?
"Nonononononono!" Terryn's shrilling voice woke Yugi back to reality.
"Ouch, hey. What are you doing?" Bakura moaned as his young daughter squirmed in his arms, her little arms wrapped tightly around his neck and her legs around his abdomen. Yugi panicked for a second, fearing she was squeezing him too tightly.
"I don't wanna go!" She shouted.
"Ouch, not in my ear, please." Bakura moaned again. "Do you think I'm taking you to mommy?"
"I don't wanna go with mommy!"
"Well, you have nothing to worry about. Look who's with me?"
Terryn, with her arms still wrapped around Bakura, looked up at Yugi. Seeing her dark brown eyes gazing over at him, Yugi formed a warm and welcoming smile.
"This is my friend, Yugi Motou. He owns the Game Shop in town."
"Oh, ok." Terryn said, releasing her grip. "Are we going back to your place?"
"Well, not yet. I'm taking you to Grandpa at the Senior Center, then he'll take you back to my place."
"Oh, ok."
"She's totally ok with all of this? She trusts me; a complete stranger. " Yugi whispered as Bakura placed her in her car seat. "And is fine with staying with her grandfather out of the blue? No fuss, no disagreement, no tantrum. Just a simple 'ok'." Yugi climbed into the drivers seat and fastened his seat belt. "You probably don't know me, but I've been friends with your dad since high school, Terryn."
"Hi." She greeted, folding her hands together and bouncing her head from one shoulder to the other. "Will you take me back to Daddy's house?"
"Well, not really." Bakura answered, sitting in the passenger seat and fastening his seat belt. "You see, Mommy and Keira are busy tonight. So, you'll need to stay with Grandpa tonight."
"Yea!" She shouted with glee, throwing her arms up.
"She doesn't like staying with her mom." Bakura whispered to Yugi.
"Have you found Sissy yet, Daddy?" Terryn asked as Yugi started towards the Senior Center.
"Not yet, darling." Bakura answered, turning to look back at her. "But, we have an idea of where she might be."
"Where's that?"
"It's called Duelist Island. That's where Daddy, Yugi and a lot of others went for a duel monsters card tournament."
"Oh, the cards BB and Lis play?"
"Brenna and Lisette." Bakura whispered to Yugi again. "Uh, that's right dear. The man who lives on that island, Pegasus, sent Sissy a video two years ago. And Daddy has a few questions to ask him. So, Daddy and a few of his friends are going to talk to him tonight and find out why he sent Sissy that video."
"I hope she's there." Terryn said in a sad tone, twiddling her fingers and staring out the car window.
"Me, too, darling."
