"I've been looking in the mirror for so long/ That I've come to believe my soul's on the other side/ All the little pieces falling, shatter/ Shards of me/ Too sharp to put back together/ Too small to matter/ But big enough to cut me into so many little pieces."- Evanescence, from 'Breathe No More'

This time she studied the photograph. It had fallen of the wall, where it had sat above two other photos, one of Bakura's parents and one of someone, who looked like she must have been Bakura's sister. Oh, so this is his family… They look so happy… This must have been taken before he go separated from his family… He keeps so much sadness bottled up inside. The glass's cracked, so he must have thrown the ring at it. She sighed, and held up the picture by the edge of the frame. Pieces of glass tumbled out of the frame and onto the desk with a tinkle. Her brown eyes continued to study the photograph. It's sad that something like this would happen to such a beautiful person…

Chapter IV- Shards of Glass

Bandaging his hand quickly, the white fabric wrapped tight against his skin. He looped the last piece of the cloth under another strip and pulled the cloth taut. Then he looked from his hand to the bathroom mirror. He closed his eyes, remembering, "Cover it up and everything's all better now…". His mother's words faded into a mere whisper in his mind.

He opened his eyes, exploring every part of his reflection. He forced a smile. "Hmm… That should be convincing enough…" he whispered to his reflection. He turned from the mirror and left the bathroom.

Hmm? What is Anzu doing at my desk? Curious, he spoke her name, "Anzu…?" and tapped her shoulder.

"Ah!" She let out a startled shriek and dropped something, which hit the desk and shattered upon the floor with the tinkle of glass breaking.

"Anzu!"

Turning her head to him, she let out a sigh of relief. "You startled me Bakura."

"Oh, I'm sorry…"

"Oh no, it isn't your fault! I- well… I guess, I get scared easily… That's it." She brushed her brown hair out of her face.

"Something… fell," he stated, looking at the area of where it should have fallen. "That-" His eyes spotted the shattered object.

"Yeah, um, I'm sorry," she interrupted, "I was just looking at your family photos… and I kinda dropped it… I'm sorry." She began collecting up the fragments of glass into her hand, cutting herself in the process. "Oh, this is such a mess… I'm sorry."

Lightly, he touched her hand, "You've cut yourself."

"Cut myself?"

Without speaking, he pointed to the incisions on her legs and hands.

"Oh! Yes, I have, haven't I?"

He leaned forward and brushed a few shards of glass into his hand, "I can take care of this myself. You should get yourself cleaned up. And please don't argue. I assure you that I can take care of this."

She nodded, her eyes never taking off their gaze into his eyes. Then she blinked, gave him a quick smile, and left the room.

He cleaned the mess up quickly, sweeping the dust and shards into his hand, with his eyes fixed upon his sister in the photo. He gently brushed away the glass on the picture. Tenderly, his index finger stoke his sister's face, cold and smooth and forever trapped in the photograph.

He shook his head. "She used to be so warm and full of life, but now... Now, she's cold and lifeless just like this snapshot. Forever stationary, never moving..." He rose, taking his eyes of the picture. But there is no time to think of you. Anzu will be back soon... with questions... Many questions. Because she cares... Too much.

He made his way to his trashcan can emptying his hand of the glass. "The millennium ring..." he remembered. It's on the desk... I almost forgot." With quick strides, he went to his desk, the millennium ring sitting on top. He shook his head in annoyance. "This complicates things..."

Hearing light footsteps approaching him, he turned to the entrance of the room. "Anzu, all bandaged up?" he asked when he saw her.

"Yeah... Again, Bakura, I'm sorry," she apologized, nervously fiddling with her hands.

"It was nothing. Really. Anyway, I think that we're about ready to leave. Am I correct?" He smiled.

"Oh you're going?" she asked, slightly surprised.

"Well, I did just say that we should leave now."

"That's good! I'm glad that you're coming!" She smiled, all worries and questions about Bakura disappearing momentarily.

END OF CHAPTER IV