Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and everything related is (c) Kazuki Takahashi


Bakura kept his pace slightly ahead of the woman, his need to lead wouldn't let him be anywhere else. "Where to?" he asked simply.
"I'm just walking, I have no idea."
He glanced over his shoulder and laughed. "I could lead you anywhere I want if you're going to follow me."
"I know."
"And yet it doesn't bother you? I find that hard to believe."
"I can be hard to predict."
"You're a woman, somehow it doesn't seem all that awkward."
"You want awkward?" she asked before threading her right arm through his left once what she carried had been shifted.
"Ah, you're toying with me. Do you think it's funny?" his tone became dark and threatening.
"Perhaps. Or maybe it's like you said, I'm beginning to see things your way. Being far from home often makes things seem worse than they are, maybe I'm wanting it all to be over and end all ready."
"Do you have to be so clingy?" he growled.
"Yes. You're leading after all and crowds are getting thicker. I'm totally at your mercy."
"Yes, you are. Though once he understands what has happened the Pharaoh won't be too pleased. And if he learns you were the one that met with me," he trailed off and chuckled.
"I'll get chewed out, possibly given up on. Big deal, not like I'd have anything to look forward to once you get what you want," Sarah shrugged.
"I'm hurt," he began in mock sorrow. "You really think so little of me?"
"I don't trust you as far as I could throw you."
"Is that what the clinging is about, waiting for a throw?"
"Do I look like I could do more than shove?" she muttered.
"No, but I'd expect something of a fight. Not this," he motioned to her willingness.
"If I fight now, I'll be too worn out when it counts."
"You are learning," he chuckled. "Very well, it will be just that more fun to break you."
"We'll see."
"Oh I will, there's no doubt about that. I've had plenty of time to think of creative ways to break a soul."
"I don't doubt that, may I ask a question?"
"I suppose it won't hurt."
"What aftershave or cologne are you wearing? I like it."
There was silence then a sigh. "Still toying I see."
"Real question, while you can easily push your way into a person's mind or soul, whatever you do, could they trap you there? I mean keep you from leaving."
He gave her a strange look after stopping fast in his tracks. "I have met persons with minds far more powerful than yours and easily done away with them. If you are thinking you could turn this whole thing around against me, you are sorely mistaken."
"An innocent question, I have a ton more I could ask. Just serve to annoy you with how much I'd pry," Sarah replied.

Bakura prompted her to keep walking and before long a familiar sight came into view, the woman turned to the Spirit of the Ring and gave him an questioning look.
"What? You were willing. I'll get what I need when I want, and it will be when you least expect it."
"So all the odd twists and turns made were just to throw me off?"
"Who says I couldn't play with you while you played with me?" he chuckled.
"You're just going to walk me into the Game Shop like nothing happened, then?"
"I won't," Bakura said before his features softened to Ryou's normal visage.
"Oh my, how did we get here?"
"You walked me back, remember? I folded up the sketchbook not long after you commented. I've been out all day and you didn't want to make me sit there longer than needed." An outright lie, but she didn't want to scare the youth.
"Oh," he replied with a few blinks. "I don't remember..." he trailed off and motioned to the linked arms.
"When you got a dizzy spell I offered to help support you if you needed," she replied simply. "You want me to walk you home? You insisted we go here and you'd be fine. But I don't know..."
"No, no. I think I'll just come inside and sit down for a while, if they'll have me," the white haired teen replied. His face was still set in confusion with a light blush but he was taking what he was told as fact regardless.
"Hey, you're ok so don't worry about it," the woman said in a soothing voice. "Now come on and sit down for a while, I'm sure Yugi is worried about me not being around when he got back."

Yugi wasn't even there, Mr. Mutou said he had gone looking for me, fearing the worst. I promised I wouldn't go out again without an escort, I was going to have a lot of apologizing to do once Yugi returned. But for now, I had to reassure Ryou he was ok. Mr. Mutou reluctantly returned to the shop while we remained in the living room. We talked a bit, Ryou steadily began to get more comfortable and eventually was acting like nothing had happened. Which was good, I liked the kid and didn't want him to feel awkward in my company.

"So after I made sure I had put all his underwear in the freezer my brother was left without any clean unfrozen ones. I didn't think far enough ahead to the fact he could instantly thaw a pair in the microwave the next morning. So my April Fools prank didn't go very far," the woman laughed as she finished her story.
"Interesting concept, how did this April Fools come into play?" Ryou asked as he took another drink.
"I honestly don't know. It's not a real big thing, only a few people take advantage of the prankster's holiday."
There was the sound of familiar voices from the shop before a mad dash of many sets of feet into the living room.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault she wasn't here. I met her where she sat and apparently got dizzy, she helped me walk back here," Ryou apologized once he caught sight of Yami's mixed emotions. He had chosen to speak in Japanese so Jou and Honda could understand as well.
"Man, you guys had us scared outta our minds. Please, never do that again," Jou said as he scrubbed his hands in his hair.
"I'm sorry," Ryou repeated as he lowered his head.
"Nothing happened?" Yami questioned. Ryou knew full well what he meant.
"I don't think so. She didn't say."
"That would be a first," Honda raised a brow.
"Just be thankful nothing did happen," Anzu answered.
"Yes, very thankful," Yami murmured as he cast an unsure glance towards Sarah. The woman stiffened a bit under his gaze. "Jou, Honda? Would you two walk Ryou home, I want to make absolutely sure nothing happened," the Spirit of the Puzzle said.
"Um, I'll just wait in the Shop," Anzu excused herself.

The room cleared out fairly quickly, a final thank you aimed for Sarah came from Ryou before he and his escorts departed.
Yami sighed and sat down across from the woman. "Did something happen?"
"Yes, but I didn't want to worry Ryou with it. Bakura toyed with me after he found out I was toying with hi-"
"You did what?" Yami barked, more in surprise than anger.
"I was testing the waters. I wanted to get an idea of how much he knew or thought he knew by how quickly he would take things. He walked me around in circles just to wind up here. Told me he would try on his whim, not mine. So, all we did was talk about the issue and when he would try something. Other then that, nothing happened," she gave a small shrug.
Yami shook his head and chuckled for a bit. "I suppose you caught him off guard. But don't do it again, please. There's something, rather someone else you might need to worry about. Bakura's a kitten compared to him."
"Malik?"
"I thought you said you only knew of events from Duelist Kingdom? This is well beyond that time frame."
"I got ahead of myself, translations take a while but if you know where to look you can find the information. And I love kittens."
"Funny, you know what I meant."
"I know, but Bakura is a kitten. Play with him and he's docile. Though like a kitten, he can and will get tired of playing. Unlike a kitten, he's packing far more power and I don't want to be there when that play phase wears off."
"Interesting analogy. Just don't rub his belly or anything."
"You don't rub a kitten or cat's belly. Especially a male's. They take it as something a bit more... friendly."
Silence.
"Then really, don't. I have no idea just how the Tomb Robber would act."
"Hmm, with what I know he'd probably lash out, use a few choice words and make it very clear that it should never happen again."
"Or he might-"
"No," Sarah cut him off. "No, do not go there. Don't even think it. The thought scares me more than anything else he could do."

"How did we get on the topic of cats then back to Bakura, again?"
"One of those mysteries. You're simply not meant to know," Sarah chuckled.
"Don't take this too lightly, now. It's just what he's looking for."
"Don't worry, I'm not. There's quite a bit about me that is never shown. I take pride in that mysteriousness and unpredictability factor," she paused when she caught Yami's expression. "I take pride in it, but I don't view it as a failsafe in keeping my ass out of the fire. I will be careful, Yami. I promise. But I do want to go home, and I don't feel like what Bakura is searching for is worth it. He's willing to jump at this when I know it's pretty much just an altered log of history. How much use can that be? How would he, or anyone for that matter, know just what is made up and what is real if it did hint at future events? It's an act of blind faith, really."
"Look at it this way. You are tempted with the promise of something. You know there's a probability it's worthless, yet you also know it could be of great value. Which part of yourself would you listen to?" Yami asked.
"Depends on what it was, the more it appeals to me the more I would want it. I would be very upset if it was of no use to me but at least I wouldn't spend the rest of my days wondering if it really was what it was rumored to be."
"That's just the answer I was looking for. Now, keep that in mind and add this next part to it. Possibly more than just the handful of us know who you are and where you came from. There could be others looking for you. Bakura said it best last time we exchanged words. You are a key, everyone wants this key and what it unlocks for themselves. It will become a race to see who can claim the prize you unlock. It's not necessarily you that's wanted, but the prize. You're only the stepping stone to it."
"I... hadn't really thought of it that way. I suppose then it's not quite how I had it pictured. Hmm, so I really am disposable. Once that 'lock' is opened, that's it. No need for me."
"To reassure you, if anyone is going to use you to unlock a door, it will be myself. My intentions are only to get you home. But I won't do this unless I'm sure it can be done, and if once it is done the door will close. I can't risk it being a permanent door," the Spirit replied.
"Heh, be cool if it was. Hold on, hear me out. Let's go beyond this little power struggle. Look at it this way. Both our worlds have been alone for so long, this would prove to each that life isn't contained to just one planet. And hell, look at how closely our two worlds have evolved. Of course, you can only take my word for it since you haven't seen my world. Beyond that, partnerships can form between companies. I'm sure our worlds would have much to offer each other. However,"
"However all of this rushing in at once can be intimidating," Yami interrupted.
"And it could spark an interplanetary war if cards were stacked just right. It's a double edge sword. A risky situation, but the revelations that would come of it. Think about it, Yami. You're real, how many other worlds in fantasy are based on reality? Not just places my world has 'created', but yours as well. It's really exciting, though a lot to take in at once."
"I'll give you that, it is. My mind is swimming with possibilities. Here's the big question: are our worlds ready for it?"
"No, but how about this, how would you prepare for something like this? You can't, can you? Who expects it? What is there to give you a notion it will happen?"
There was a pause and the rustle of clothing as Yami shifted. "You. Once before you said there had to be a reason you were here, it wasn't just chance. What if this is the warning, the hint that something will happen?"
"Now you're starting to think like me," she grinned. "Something weakened and opened a door to our worlds. What did it is the big question, why is the other. Actually, no, what comes next is the biggest question. Is it good, or is it bad? Is it a two way street or just one? Can I go back is what I mean, if this door is still open that is. This could just be a warning something is happened, who says it has to happen soon though. Could be weeks from now, or years."
"With a whole new perspective on things, maybe you aren't the key. Maybe the key has been used, you just found the door."
"How is what I want to know. I don't recall doing anything that would have put me here. Hell, I went to bed in a whole different set of clothing. I couldn't understand why I was fully dressed, jewelry and contacts with me when I awoke in that ally last week. I'm still trying to pass this off as a dream. But it's gone on for far too long."
"It's an amusing predicament, if you look at it right. We're piecing things together without really finding much of anything. Or maybe we're just fabricating the whole thing and it's something else entirely."
"Well do you have a scientific explanation for all this?" the woman asked.
"No, but with magic as a possible player science is almost useless."
"Exactly, this isn't something that anyone has seen before, so a fantastic explanation might be closer than we know. In any event, I believe Anzu is waiting in the Shop, don't want to keep her waiting any longer than needed, do you?" Sarah asked as she gave the Spirit a playful shove.
"Hey now," he said before he retreated, allowing Yugi control once more.
"Go on you, don't let me keep you from seeing your friends."
"But you're one of them, come on," Yugi chirped before taking her by the hand.