Seto glared into the alley, his blue eyes narrowed. "Come back here!" he yelled, but his voice only echoed emptily off the dark buildings.

"Kaiba?"

Seto turned to see Tea standing there, looking worried and concerned. "What is it?" he demanded.

Tea came closer. "Are you alright?"

Seto reached for his cell phone. "I'll know in a minute," he replied cryptically. He had to know if his brother was alright. If Mokuba was hurt in any way, then Seto could never say that he himself was alright.

Soon he was rewarded when Mokuba answered the phone. "Hello, Kaiba Manor," he said, trying to sound grownup. Seto could detect a worried tone to the younger boy's voice and realized that he was probably afraid it was the police calling to tell him that his brother was hurt.

"Hey kid," Seto said softly.

"Big brother!" Mokuba cried in delight. "Oh Seto, I've been so worried!"

"I know," Seto told him gently. "I've been worried too. But don't worry—I'll be home soon," he promised. "How are you doing, little brother?"

"I'm fine," Mokuba replied, "but I've been really lonely. I miss you, Seto!"

"I miss you too, kid," Seto said softly.

When he hung up shortly afterward, he found that Tea was still there, watching him. He put the phone away and studied her thoughtfully. Tea stared back, studying him as well.

"I have to be going," the boy said at last, turning to head for his limo. He paused, then turned back slowly. "Are you going home?"

"I guess so," Tea admitted. "There's not anything more we can do tonight."

Seto sighed. "Come with me, then. It's too late at night for you to walk home alone."

Tea blinked. She had been going to walk home with Yugi and the others, so she hesitated for a moment. "Alright," she said finally, deciding she wanted to accept Seto's offer. "Thank you."

Seto didn't answer. Instead he opened the limo door and let Tea go in first. Then he climbed in as well.

They drove in silence for a time, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally Tea asked softly, "How's your arm?"

Seto grunted. "Fine."

Tea had expected that answer. "Really, Kaiba?" she pressed. "Maybe you should see a doctor."

Seto shook his head. "I'm fine," he said again, sounding irritated.

"I'm just worried about you," Tea said softly, looking into his blue eyes.

Seto looked away, a flicker of discomfort showing on his face. "You don't need to be." He glanced out the back window suspiciously, then suddenly ordered the chauffeur to drive up and down several different blocks as quickly as he could.

"What's going on, Kaiba?!" Tea demanded.

Seto didn't answer at first, again looking out the back window.

"Kaiba!!" Tea said in frustration, also looking out and trying to see what he was upset about.

"Someone's following us," Seto admitted at last.
****
Yugi, Tristan, and Marik—whom they had just met up with again—were walking down the halls of KETY Radio in search of Bakura and Joey.

"Where's Tea?" Yugi wondered, hoping that she wasn't hurt.

"I saw her go off with Kaiba," Tristan replied.

Before anyone could respond to that, Bakura opened the door of a studio and walked out, looking extremely frazzled.

"Bakura!" Yugi gasped.

"How did your radio show go?" Tristan asked.

"Terrible," Bakura groaned, but didn't elaborate. He looked around. "Where are the others?!" he exclaimed now.

"Well, Tea's with Kaiba, and Joey went off in a huff," Tristan replied.

"Really? Oh my," Bakura said, blinking at that news. "What is he upset about?"

Quickly Yugi and Tristan explained about Vivalene.

Marik's eyes narrowed as he listened. "I know that name," he muttered. "I knew a Vivalene. She betrayed me."

All eyes turned to him questioningly, but the Egyptian boy didn't say more.

"What did she look like?" Tristan asked finally.

Marik was about to answer when Gabrielle and her partner came out of Bruce's office, looking frustrated.

"What happened?" Yugi asked worriedly.

Gabrielle shook her head. "Bruce is obviously hiding something. He told us about some of the incidents that went on, but he was very vague and nonchalant."

Her partner nodded. "He was trying to tone things down so it wouldn't look as bad," she declared.

"Oh dear," Bakura said softly, his brown eyes wide and concerned.

"Tell me," Tristan spoke up, "what's the impression you got of Vivalene when she told you about this supposed ninja she saw?"

Gabrielle pursed her lips. "She seemed sincere," she admitted, "and yet at the same time there was a certain darkness that she emitted."

"Her on-air handle is 'The Viper,'" her partner added.

Marik's lip curled. "Does she have red hair?" he demanded to know.

"Yes, she does," Yugi said slowly.

"Then she has to be the same one I knew," Marik growled, clenching his fists.

Gabrielle moved in confidentially. "I know I won't be able to stop you kids from investigating this," she said, "but you all must be very careful." She paused. "Especially you, Bakura, since you will be working here."

Bakura blinked. "Oh no, I'm not planning on working here," he said firmly. "Being a deejay was only a one-time assignment."

Gabrielle shook her head, looking vaguely amused. "Somehow I don't think Von Wilkenson sees it that way," she remarked. "He told me he wants you as his permenant deejay for Mandy's time-slot."

Bakura gasped. "Oh, I could never do that!" he cried. "I made such a dreadful mess of everything tonight. I doubt if the show in Mandy's time-slot has any listeners left!" He paused. "And I don't want to take her show away from her," he added softly.

Gabrielle smiled, patting him on the shoulder. "I know you don't. You will have to speak with Von Wilkenson about that."

"Is he still here?" Bakura asked worriedly.

"Yes," Gabrielle replied, indicating his office. "He said he was going to catch up on some late-night work."

Bakura headed for the door determinedly. "Then I must talk to him now!"

The door opened and Vivalene strolled out, her emerald eyes dancing as they lighted on the innocent boy. "Go right in, darling," she smiled.

"Thank you," Bakura said softly, blushing at being called "darling."

Marik now planted himself in front of Vivalene, his lavender eyes full of outrage and anger. "It is you," he said darkly.

Vivalene blinked at him, confused. "Well, I should certainly hope I am myself," she replied dryly.

Marik glared at her, his gold earrings jangling faintly as he leaned forward to look her directly in the eyes. "Do not play games with me!" he cried. "I remember clearly what you did to me those many ages ago!"

Vivalene patted his cheek. "You poor dear. Obviously you have me confused with someone else."

"I am not the idiot you think I am!" Marik fumed.

Vivalene walked around him and headed for the door. "Why, darling, how could I possibly make any judgements on what you are like when I've never seen you before?"

"Come back here!!" Marik yelled angrily, but Vivalene paid him no heed.

"Wow," Yugi said quietly, surprised at that encounter.

Marik shook his head. "That was her," he said vehemently. "I know it was her. There is no way I could ever forget what she looked like or what her voice was like. She hasn't changed at all."

"But why would she pretend she didn't know you?" Tristan asked, confused.

"Because she does not want to own up to her past actions," Marik replied, crossing his arms in frustration.
****
Tea's eyes widened, horrified. "Following us?!" she cried.

"That's right. We'll just have to try some crazy stunts to lose them." Seto began giving his chauffeur directions on what to do, and the man speeded the limo up around the nearest corner and then around another one.

Tea watched as streets zipped by at increasing speeds. "We're going to get in an accident!!" she fretted.

Seto regarded her expressionlessly. "No we aren't." He glanced back again. "They're still coming," he said in vexation.

"This is bad," Tea heard the chauffeur mutter under his breath. Again he tried to turn the limo away, but the other car suddenly rear-ended them harshly.

Both teens pitched forward, but Seto quickly shot out his injured arm to halt Tea's flight. Tea fell against it and Seto grunted in pain.

Quickly the chauffeur took off before the other car could hit them again. "Is everything alright back there, sir?" he asked worriedly.

Seto looked at Tea. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Tea nodded shakily. "What about you?"

Seto didn't answer her directly. "Everything's fine," he told the chauffeur, glancing back at their attackers again. He tried to get a good look at the license plate, but he discovered—much to his irritation—that it was covered in mud. Obviously those in the car weren't about to be discovered.

"What do we do now?" Tea cried, just as a bullet flew past the window.

"Duck," Seto replied, pushing Tea down and then leaning over himself.

Another bullet broke right through the window, sending glass particles everywhere. Tea shrieked in surprised horror, feeling the glass hitting her back. Instinctively she quickly covered the back of her neck, her heart pounding.

Seto had covered his own neck, annoyance and anger burning within him. It seemed that he spent most of his life eluding people who were trying to kill him and the others, he thought grimly, and prayed that Mokuba was still safe.
****
Bruce looked up at Bakura, his eyes flaming. "What did you say?!"

Bakura swallowed hard, but stood firm. "Mr. Von Wilkenson, I cannot take Mandy's show away from her," he said steadily.

"You're a good, decent boy," Bruce replied, nodding, "but Mandy's been giving me this kind of trouble for a long time now. I shouldn't have kept her around as long as I have."

"Oh, but I'm sure the listeners enjoy her show," Bakura said earnestly. He shook his head. "Frankly, sir, I am not deejay material."

"Nonsense!" Bruce said, standing up. "Frankie, the sound engineer, said you did very well for your first time ever on a radio show!"

Bakura smiled weakly. "That was very kind of him, but the truth is I turned everything into quite a disaster. I'm afraid I probably scared away all the listeners for that time slot."

"I doubt that!" Bruce said hotly, coming around to stand next to the silver-haired boy. "But look, kid, I'll tell you what—we'll wait until the overnight ratings come in tomorrow morning and then decide. Is that okay with you?"

Bakura paused. "Well . . . I suppose," he said slowly. "But what about Mandy?"

Bruce sighed. "Look, I'll let you in on a little secret—today Mandy got an offer from our biggest rivaling station, KYTL. I plan to let her pack up and move there."

"Does she want to?" Bakura pressed.

"You're a tough case," Bruce sighed again, then smiled. "But you're a great kid. You're honest and kind—always thinking of others. I like that. Tell you what—tomorrow you can talk things over with Mandy. How does that sound?"

Bakura smiled. "Thank you, sir. That would make me feel a lot better."

Bruce grinned. "Terrific. Be here bright and early tomorrow morning before school," he instructed, just as a horrid crash and a scream sounded down the halls.

Bakura gasped. "Great Scott!! What was that??!!" he cried, feeling a sense of deja vu.

They soon found out. A woman staggered in through Bruce's door, clutching her shoulder frantically. With a moan of pain, she fell to the floor!