Me: You came back!

Toli: We're glad to see you!

Me: Chapter 7! Yay! We've made it so far!

Toli: And if you haven't figured out yet we don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, then you have not been paying enough attention!

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE RECOGNITION

So it was discussed. Yugi and Tea had explained the circumstances to Tristan, and then they had called Joey, told him to come over, and told him everything too. At their urging, he brought Serenity too, because she could also be used against Yugi.

"Okay, so we know now. How's it gonna help?" Joey asked.

"Maybe, since we know about it, if whoever it is tries to use one of us again, we can resist," Tea said thoughtfully.

"It all sounds scary to me," Serenity said.

"Me too, considering I'm the target," Yugi said.

"Our next mission should be to find out who's doing this and stop them before Yugi gets really hurt," Tristan declared.

Everyone agreed. "But how?" Yugi asked.

Everyone shrugged.

After discussing the subject even more, everyone else left. Yugi, discovering how late it was, realized he was supposed to have called Grandpa half an hour ago. Before he could get to the phone, however, it rang.

Yugi picked it up. "Hello?"

"Yugi, it's Grandpa."

"Hi," Yugi said, knowing exactly why Grandpa had called.

There was a short silence. "Yugi, you were supposed to call me an hour ago!" Grandpa said. "Really, I thought something had happened to you."

Despite his grandfather's well-placed concern, Yugi felt himself getting exasperated. It had only been thirty minutes. "I'm sorry, Grandpa," Yugi apologized. "I guess time got away from me."

Grandpa asked the usual questions: how was everything; who had come over; did the alarm ever go off; did you get to school; are you all right.

Yugi gave the usual answers: fine; Joey, Tea, Tristan, and Serenity; no; no school on Sunday; perfectly fine in every way. They chatted some more, and then Grandpa hung up.

As soon as Yugi was off the phone Yami spoke. "Yugi, you lied."

Yugi turned to see a transparent Yami behind him. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"You said not one word about the three attempts on your life."

"I had good reason," Yugi argued. "First, he wouldn't really understand, second, I'm not injured, third, why worry him when he can't come back and see about it? Besides, I can handle this without adult supervision."

The last sentence Yugi hadn't really meant to say. He wanted to take it back as soon as he said it. He immediately saw Yami's chastising look cross his face.

"'Without adult supervision'? Yugi, this isn't something frivolous like staying out past curfew or breaking something. Someone is trying to murder you. You shouldn't take it so lightly."

"I'm not!" Yugi snapped.

Yami's thin eyebrows flew up. "Did I offend you in some manner?" he asked with obvious sarcasm.

Yami was right. Yugi was overreacting at Yami's reprimand. Yugi sighed and sank down on the couch. "You're right. I'm sorry. I just wanted a chance to show how responsible I am, and now all this has to happen! I mean, it's scary!"

Yami sat next to Yugi on the couch. "I know it's scary. It's even worse for me, since I'm supposed to protect you and I barely managed to save you those two times. But we cannot give in to fear. Whoever is after you, that's what they want. They want you to become afraid, to feel like every shadow is attacking you, thus making you easy to kill."

Yugi shivered when Yami said kill. Someone was out there, deliberately trying to take away his life. It was a not too pleasant thought.

He was surprised when Yami said, "Yugi, I'm sorry."

Yugi looked up at him in surprise. Yami continued. "I shouldn't have brought those kinds of things to light. Especially since you're about to go to bed. You might have another nightmare."

"Oh I won't," Yugi assured with a smile. "Really."

In the next half-hour, he changed into pajamas, brushed his teeth, and checked all the locks. Then he went to bed.

Yami stayed awake, walking through the house. He rarely needed to sleep, so he spent most of his time now watching over Yugi. His mind was on disturbing thoughts as he walked around the house, periodically checking locks again and again. What if—perhaps—the next time this mystery person struck, he was not able to help Yugi in time? What if they accidentally let their guard down for just an instant, and then it all came crashing down? Was it possible to keep Yugi safe long enough until they could stop this madness?

Yami was so busy thinking scary thoughts that he bumped into a wall. Of course, he didn't feel any pain. He just stopped, looked up at it, and turned around.

Just in time to see something dark rush up the stairs silently.

Yami stared, then immediately made for the stairs. He ran up them. When he got to the top, he saw the dark figure entering Yugi's room.

A few seconds later, Yami appeared in Yugi's room. The dark figure was over beside the bed. It was holding something in its raised hand.

Suddenly, Yugi's eyes flew open. Immediately his arms shot out and shoved the figure hard. The figure slammed into a wall, its long hair falling into its face.

Yami dashed to the bed. "Yugi, are you all right?" he asked worriedly.

Yugi nodded, although his face was pale. "I'm fine." Both their heads turned to the dark figure that was slowly rising. The figure came into the moonlight shining from Yugi's window.

Yami's eyes widened. Yugi's face got paler.

Serenity stared at them with a confused and scared expression on her face. "What-what am I doing here?" she asked.

"I think we all know," Yami replied, for the moment making himself partially visible to Serenity. Yugi could only stare at the baseball bat clutched in her right hand.

Serenity bit her lip. "You mean—you think I got taken over?"

"That's exactly what I think," Yami replied acidly.

"Yami, calm down," Yugi said, beginning to get a little control over his fear. "It's not Serenity's fault."

Yami sighed. But he did stop glaring at Joey's sister.

Then, there was a laugh. An evil laugh. Three heads looked around to find the laugher.

There was another dark figure standing in the doorway. Yami tensed, sensing evil coming from the figure. Yugi bit his lip and tightened his hold on his covers. Serenity simply stared.

"Greetings, everyone," a low voice said. All three were shocked to hear the voice of a teenage girl. "I'm sorry if I startled you, but unfortunately for you, that's the least of your worries. Yugi, this would make four attempts on your life by your friends, now wouldn't it? And before you protest that it wasn't them, just save your breath. I already know that. And I'm warning you. This lucky getting away of yours won't last forever. Trust me, eventually you'll find out what this is all about. Then you will wish you'd never been born. All I can say is I hope you're ready to run for your life. Literally." Then the figure just magically vanished.

"What…" Yugi seemed to be speechless. "What…who…how…"

Serenity looked scared. "If you don't mind, I'm going to call Joey to come and get me," she said to Yami.

Yami waved in the direction of the door. "Go ahead."

Serenity left. Yami turned to Yugi, who was visibly shaken, and said nothing once again.

But his eyes said it all. Yugi, even though he was still scared, took one glance into Yami's large purple eyes and saw a glimmer of familiarity.

Yami already knew who it was.

END CHAPTER

Me: I—

Toli: AHEM.

Me: I mean, we hope you enjoyed that chapter.

Toli: Sit tight for the next chapter!

NEXT IN CHAPTER 8…Yugi tries to get Yami to fess up about what he knows, and a little more to the villain's story is revealed…

REVIEW RESPONSES

Toli: Welcome! Let's begin. First we shall respond to Krista123. Why thank you! (bows) I am the creepiness master here, so I take your words as a great compliment to my abilites. If you must know how our bad girl is controlling minds...well, I can't tell you. Instead, read on and you'll find out!

Second response is to Millenniumgrl126. You can't tell me you were sitting there for a week! But if you were, well, thanks for the dedication! Although it's a little...scary to think you sat there that whole time, I appreciate how far you're willing to go to see the next chapter.

Mena: Can I interject?

Toli: NO. Next is SilverTiger-GoldenPhoenix, someone who has been there since the beginning. You make me so happy! Anyway, thank you very much for enjoying this story. And Kira, one word of advice. If you truly want to glue your eyes to the screen, you need paste. It works a lot better than hot glue. Mena knows from experience.

Mena: What?

Toli: NEXT. To our next reviewer, Silver Moon Phoenix. When will the girl appear? Well, she just did. And I am STILL not telling anyone how she controls the minds of Yugi's friends. You will have to find out for yourself! And as for Yugi getting killed...well...you might be surprised at what happens. And we're all fans of Yugi. At least, I am.

Mena: May I please--

Toli: No you may not. Next we have spiecas. Hi, and welcome to the story! Thank you for reviewing so nicely. We appreciate it. At least, I do.

Mena: You didn't--

Toli: Anyhow, next up is Aya. Aww, she thinks it's cute...how sweet. Yugi nearly getting murdered four times is so cute! Anyway, thank you very much for the nice review. I do enjoy those things! And BEFORE MENA SAYS ANYTHING ELSE...

Mena: What?

Toli: --we will respond to Dagger Maxwell. Yes. My thoughts exactly. Every time I watched an episode with Tristan in it, I resisted the urge to stab the screen. I think we're both mentally challenged in this department. But oh well, it's hard to be a fan without being insane!

Mena: Hard, but not impossible.

Toli: Our next response goes out to DMoS13. Tell Torru he's welcome to fix the roof on my house as well. Hurricane Frances tore part of it off. I am sunbathing in my living room as we speak!

Mena: Please please please let me respond to this one!

Toli: Whatever.

Mena: Okay! Our final response goes out to StubsMcGimp. Hi! Yes! Let all the sugar freaks unite and overthrow carb counters! (pumps fist and hits screen) DON'T LET THE SYSTEM TEAR YOU DOWN!

Toli: If the system doesn't tear you down, Mena. I will. Will you stop buying those five-pound bags of sugar and eating spoonfuls like some snack? And will you please throw away your sugar packets stash? And stop going to coffee-drinking parties just to consume the sugar cubes?

Mena: How dare you tell all of my business!

Toli: Whatever again. Anyway, to all reviewers, thank you very much. (opens box) Everybody can pick up a full-color life-sized poster of their favorite character. Limit one per personality.

Mena: We'll see you!