It is easy enough to leave this place. I walk through the doors and passages, careful not to acknowledge anyone I pass. They see what they are used to seeing, and do not think to trouble me.

I wish that I knew where the scientists are being held. I do not even know if they still live…

A blink, and I focus on where I am going. Should I try to find Ishuzu first, or should I look for the hikaris? I was given the ability to track them long ago, just before he took over Project Dawn. I do not think that he is aware of that fact.

I hope he is not.

The final door; I pause and search the corridors for any sign of a person. I have already disconnected the security devices, of course.

No one is here to see me leave. I open the door, and step outside.

It is time for me to seek the hikaris. When I have made certain that they are safe, I can find Ishuzu and gain her help.

I only hope that Ryou has found a chance to escape from their clutches – and that the final test has not already taken place… for I do not know that he would survive it, succeed or fail.

---

"So, where's Yami?" asked Honda, staring around the crowded cafeteria.

Jou shrugged, settling himself on Seto's lap. "Wid the kid, where else?"

"So where's the kid?" asked Honda in exasperation. Jou and Seto looked around, realising what he meant. There was no sign of either of them. And two boys with red-and-black hair that adds a foot to their height are not difficult to spot, even in a crowd. "Come to that, where's Anzu?"

Seto frowned, his sapphire eyes narrowing dangerously. "I seem to recall that Ushio was following her earlier," he said softly.

The other two looked at him in shock. "No way we're lettin' dat bastard mess wid Anzu," growled Jou.

"Down, puppy," ordered Seto softly, but privately he agreed. 'I've got too few friends to lose them to that creep,' he thought.

Jou scowled, glaring at his plate. "Maybe we could just give him a little – reminder of what we do to creeps that mess wid our friends," he suggested.

---

Anzu whimpered as she burrowed further into the boxes, hoping desperately that Ushio wouldn't hear her and find her.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" he called softly, laughing coldly at the almost-hidden cry of fear. "Don't worry, sweetheart," he mocked her. "I may be quite gentle with you."

He was stalking into the room with the assurance of any predator in its home territory. 'Of course,' Anzu realised, 'this must be where everyone he picks on comes to escape him.' The thought made her panic worse; didn't he boast of always finding the 'losers' he chased? And then of what he did to the ones that tried to escape?…

Ushio grinned to himself. He knew where Anzu was now, his eyes adjusted to the gloom enough to make out her figure. He licked his lips, anticipating the first…

The door burst open, leaving two figures outlined dramatically.

"Yami!" Anzu gasped with relief, recognising the taller one. Ushio snarled, turning to face the people who dared to interrupt his fun.

He grinned nastily, and pulled a dagger out of his sleeve.

"You just spoiled my fun, and you're gonna pay for it!"

Yami glared at Ushio. Through his link with Yugi, he could sense Anzu's terror, and Ushio's sick pleasure at it. But somehow… he knew more. It was as if he could hear what Anzu and Ushio were thinking. Anzu's mindless desperation tore at his – and Yugi's – hearts, and Ushio's musings on what he was going to do to her made them both sick to their stomachs.

With his hand clasping Yugi's firmly, Yami stepped into the room. The door slammed itself shut behind them.

"It's spring-loaded," Ushio sneered, but something was beginning to feel wrong to him. Neither of the boys facing him had been holding the door open, so why had it waited until then to close? And why were they so still?

Yami scowled, concentrating. It seemed that as well as hearing Ushio's thoughts, he could almost see his mind. And he could sense the right pressure to break it…

The need he felt increased this strange perception. Yami didn't know what was happening in the real world. He didn't notice Jou and Honda's arrival, or that his forehead was glowing with the shape of an eye – a pattern that was echoed on Yugi's paler skin. All that Yami was aware of was the mind before him, and how to destroy it. His right hand flew out before him, fingers splayed, as he cried instinctively, "Mind Crush!"

There was a moment when the world froze, and then Ushio sank to the floor.

"Hey, guys, what just happened?" asked Honda blankly.

Yami looked around as Honda thought that, and the brunet had to fight not to take a step back. There was a shape on his forehead that was glowing, and the expression in his eyes…

Then he recognised Honda and Jou, and his face lightened enough to reassure them. "Ushio lost," he said, gesturing carelessly towards the bully.

Jou and Honda exchanged glances. There was no way that Yami could have beaten Ushio – and beating him wouldn't leave him motionless on the floor. This was not normal.

"Is he dead?" asked Jou.

Yami shrugged. "I don't think so."

The two newcomers stared at him blankly. "Yami, if you killed him you're gonna be in so much trouble!"

"No. I won't be." His calm assurance over that fact took their breath away. "Even if he is dead, there won't be any traces of what killed him," Yami continued, completely unaware of the effect his statements were having on his friends.

Yugi turned to Honda and Jou. "You… scared?" he asked them. "Of-me?"

"No, kid," said Jou in surprise. "Why'd ya think that?"

Yugi pointed at Anzu. "She-is," he said simply.

"What? Why?" exclaimed Honda, staring at Anzu.

She hugged herself, staring at Yugi with terror. "You didn't see. What Yami did to Ushio – and he couldn't do it before he met Yugi." Her voice rose in hysterics. "He's to blame! He caused that!" She flung her arm at Ushio's empty shell. "It's his fault!"

Yami shrugged, his arm around Yugi's waist. His two best friends stared as he asked callously, "So?"