Yugi, Tea`, Joey, Mai, Serenity and Bakura were all heading back to the card shop. Tristan had stayed behind to help Mac and said he was going home after that.
"Hey, Joey?" Serenity asked shyly. "Can I walk with Bakura to his house?"
"Huh?" Joey looked back at his sister, who had been trailing behind with the tall English man.
Bakura had been surprised by Serenity's sudden request. "It's quite alright really. I'll be safer by myself."
"But don't you want to spend time with me?" Serenity asked him, blushing slightly.
Bakura's own cheeks were turning crimson. "Yes but-"
"What do you think Yug?" Joey looked at his friend.
"Why doesn't Bakura drop Serenity off at your mother's apartment and then depending on what Bakura wants to do, he can head home or meet us at Grandpa's." Yugi smiled, his bright purple eyes reflecting the streetlight.
They had come to the intersection where Serenity and Bakura would have to part ways.
"Well, I guess that works." Joey said uneasily. "But call me when you get there, a'right?"
Serenity smiled. "I will." She grabbed Bakura's hand as they started to cross the street. "Good night everyone! See you tomorrow!" she called as they walked up the street.
Joey watched the pair until they disappeared into the darkness.
"Let it go Joseph. Let her go." Mai told him comfortingly. "She obvious likes the guy, and you can't help but give them some privacy."
Joey knew she was just trying to help. He reached down and locked hands with her. Even as he nodded though, his mind was still thinking. 'That's one of my friends from school and my little sister. How am I supposed to feel bout the two of them being together?'
"So, you live alone?" Serenity asked.
Bakura shook his head, causing his shaggy white bangs to fall in his eyes. " Sometimes. My father is an archeologist. He travels a lot, so most of the time I have the house to myself."
"That's kinda sad." Serenity told him. "You should get a pet so you're not alone."
Bakura raised his eyebrows. "You think? It would take a lot of getting used to. I'm not sure I could after being alone for so long."
She was silent for a few moments, before her hazel eyes fell on the ground. "Do you mind if I tell you a story?"
The English duelist realized something was up and so he looked over at her. "By all means, go ahead."
She nodded and started her tale softly. "When my parents first got divorced a long time ago, my father bought Joey and me a dog. She was a little border collie and we named her Kitsune*, because she was always getting into things. Kitsune would spend a week with me, and then a week with Joey and then she would come back to me. My eyes had always been bad, and back when Joey turned twelve, it got to the point where surgery was become a mandatory option. I think my big brother felt helpless about the fact, so he let me keep Kitsune as a way to make up for the fact that he couldn't do a thing." She looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Kitsune passed away a couple of months ago. They said she died in her sleep from old age." She stopped walking suddenly and her face fell.
"Serenity, are you alright?" Bakura put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be upset."
Without warning she leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his denim jacket.
"There's no reason to be upset." He said softly, wrapping an arm around her. It was true that he was new to this type of thing and that he usually was very shy around girls, but ever since he'd meet her Serenity was different. He was as comfortable around her as he was around the guys, but they're were times he just couldn't help but blush at how close they had gotten. Now was one of those times. "I'm sure your dog had a great life with you and Joey, and she's gone onto a better place." The words he was speaking were true words of sympathy, although Yami B was throwing his usual insults in his mind about this mortal being to soft. "You shouldn't have told me if you knew it would upset you."
"It's alright. I just wish she would come back sometimes you know?" she looked up, her hazel eyes meeting Bakura's liquid brown ones. "I know she's not going to come back, but I want to get another dog. Maybe I will someday." She shivered and he held her tighter.
"Someday. But right now, I have to get you home before you catch a cold." He stood back and handed her his jacket. "Come on."
Against Serenity's mild protests to keep his jacket, she did end up wearing it. They kept up a conversation until they reached the apartment complex, where it fell utterly quiet.
"Well, we're here." He declared as they stood outside the apartment door.
"Yep." She replied shyly, slipping off the jacket. "Here."
He slipped his jacket back on, smiling. "Thanks."
There was hesitation from the both of them. Serenity timidly, made the first move, walking over and wrapping her arms around him. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Bakura sighed, resting his chin on the top of her head. This was the hardest part. Every time they went to part, he was unsure of what to do. He could kiss her but he didn't want to come on to strong. Hugging her and holding her seemed to be the most comfortable, so he was content to stick with that. "Tomorrow then." He whispered, his English accent making his voice husky.
She pulled away, smiling although her cheeks were bright red. "Goodnight Bakura."
"Goodnight." He responded as she walked toward the door and slowly went inside.
He turned around and headed back down the hill, smiling. Not even Yami B could dampen his mood. He had decided to head to Yugi's for now.
"Grandpa, we're here! Grandpa?" Yugi swung open the door of the card shop to find it pitch black inside.
"No electricity." Joey remarked, flipping the switch by the door.
"Something's wrong, I know it! Grandpa!" Yugi's scared voice cracked as he disappeared into the darkness.
"Yugi!" Tea` called after him, dropping her bags on the other side of the door, and hoping the chair was there to catch them. "I wish I could see!"
"Pweee?" a glittering spark erupted onto the floor and grew bigger and bigger until it became a small golden puffball with fluttering wings and big bright eyes.
"Shining Friendship?" Tea` asked, as the small creature danced around in the air.
"How'd he get here?" Joey asked.
"Do you think you could have summoned him Tea`?" Mai looked over at her.
"Maybe." The other girl shrugged. "Shining Friendship, you can you lead us to Yugi?"
"Pwee!" it began to fly off at a fast rate. The others followed it behind the counter and down the steps into the basement.
A huge roar erupted from close by, making the groups jump.
"That does not sound good!" Joey cringed.
"Look!" as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw what the commotion was about. Mai stepped back in shock, her amethyst eyes wide. "The Harpie's Pet dragon?!"
The massive red dragon had Solomon Muto pinned in a corner, it's nostrils flared and ready to fire flames at any given second. Yami stood at it's back, but whenever the young prince tried to get any closer, the monster would attack him with it gigantic tail.
"B-But how?" Mai stared at the creature; one of her own favorite cards, as it roared again, a threat so thunderous it made the room shake.
"Mai can you do anything about it?" Joey looked back at her. "You knew everything about this card. Can you help us out?"
Mai stared at him blankly for a moment for her grabbed her arm. "Mai!" he yelled.
"Yami, Grandpa, hold on!" Tea` yelled just for comforting the two cornered men.
"T-The Harpie's Pet Dragon can only be controlled by a Harpie. It's gone out of control." Mai told him, not taking her eyes off the beast.
"Well then, summon one! You can at least try! Their lives are at stake!" Joey told her.
'But what if it doesn't work? This isn't a game anymore. My dragon has come to life. I have to stop this!" she scrambled into her pocket and found her favorite card. "Harpie's Lady!"
Moments passed and it seemed like nothing happened. Joey let go of her arm and shot her a sympathetic glance as Tea` kept yelling to Yami. Mai glanced down at the ground. She felt like she had let everyone down. Why had her favorite card given up on her?
And suddenly, it seemed like time had stopped. The dragon froze and everyone seemed to go deaf. Tea` yelled to Yami but it was no use; he couldn't hear her. Then very softly, a flute began to play. It's high-pitched song grew louder and louder. The dragon raised its head and began to look around, its green eyes looking for someone. The long golden chain around its neck began to rattle against the floor and rose up. On the other side of the basement, a figure had appeared.
As abrupt as the song started, it stopped. "Come Kazuhiro**!" a woman's demanding voice shot out from nowhere.
The dragon began to wander over to the figure curiously. Stepping better into the light, the woman had long red hair and blue eyes. Wings sprouted from her back and she carried a whip made of thorn at her side. The dragon snorted happily as the woman reached up and petted its black nose.
"I've been looking all over for you!" she scolded the dragon playfully as she wrapped the gold chain around her wrist as a leash. "Have you been giving Yugi and his friends any trouble?" she looked over to the group. "I apologize. Kazuhiro has been very foul tempered since my brother and sisters slipped through into this world." He eyes fell on Mai and she smiled. "Thanks for calling me, Mai." She winked and in a white flash, they were gone.
"Wait!" Joey cried. "What do you mean 'slipped through to this world'? Answer me!"
"She knew my name." Mai murmured sitting down on the steps.
"Guys are you alright?" Tea` ran over to Yugi and his grandfather.
The upstairs door opened and Bakura came running down the stairs. "What's going on?!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*Kitsune is Japanese for Fox.
** A name I picked out, suiting for the Harpie Lady's dragon.
So, what did you think??? I know it's a bit mushier than the last two chapters, but I couldn't see Serenity and Bakura any other way. Some one tipped me off about the Harpie's Lady, but to be perfectly honest, she was in this chapter since I wrote it back in October. You got lucky, huh? Don't worry, there's more to come, and I'm not done with Mai yet! So be patient. My goal for these is one a week.
Another note: I'm trying to get MacKenzie Taylor's own story "Dragon Duelist" out right now too, if you're interested.
Until I write again, ja ne! (goodbye!)