Disclaimer: Wow, it's been so long since I've said I don't own Yugioh!

Thud after thud after thud. How long does it take to hammer a board down? I've been listening to the rhythmic taps since they began, flinching at each one being hammered deeper in the wall.

I fold my arms across my chest and lean against the window sill. Out the window the sky is cloudless.

Breathe, Maria. Don't be so tense. You should be grateful, if anything.

Footsteps pick up in the hallway and Crow steps through the doorway with Saiga in tow. They sit across from one another. "It's done. All boarded up," Crow says, leaning back in his chair.

Martha nods. "Do you think that was a good idea?"

"If Sector Security needs to take another look—which I highly doubt they will—all they need to do is pop out some nails," Saiga shrugs it off. "Ushio will understand. It was an eyesore. Gotta count for 'Nuisance to the Public'."

It is a weak attempt at a joke, but at least he tried. No one else does. Descending from shock is a hard fall and I think we're all still midair.

The wall has remained the topic of the table for days. The kids have let it go but only because we've worked so hard to keep it from their thoughts. One inch from their minds is one inch more hammered in Martha's. Although her in-the-zone-ness has finally lessened. Perhaps she's floated enough, and rested solidly on the sidewalk.

Feeling a dry staleness on my tongue, I leave my spot by the window and go to the kitchen. Annie's curled up on a countertop and I pick her up, which she highly disapproves of. When I fill a glass with water and go back to the dining room she follows.

"Did Ushio say he had anything yet?" Yusei asks as I walk by.

Martha's dreads shake no.

Crow grumbles, "What do you expect? Nothing happened to make 'em rush to our aid."

I listen to the conversation without really hearing the words, like background music in a sitcom. I sip from the glass tentatively, not quite wanting it all but needing an outlet for my attention.

The water waivers my reflection; nothing in particular out of place. An average girl can look exhausted, beat-up and fed up but nothing better than average.

"Let's just put it behind us. It's not worth talking about any longer." Martha stands from her chair and leaves out the doorway adding: "I'll be outside if any of you need me."

"I guess she's right," Saiga leans back in his chair, balancing himself on one foot.

"It can't be easy on her," I say. I tug on my braid as I shift from the window to them. "On all of you."

"Don't exclude yourself," Yusei says, so suddenly that my shoulders jump a little. "You're apart of this family just as much as we are, Maria."

The last time we talked was when he found me in the park, when I patted his head; I blush just thinking about it. Other than that, we don't talk much and the sound of my name sounds foreign on his tongue. But it also sounds like how dreaming feels: too fleeting to be real.

I smother the thoughts down with a huff at my bangs and look out the window again. Something in the air catches my eye. Annie weaves in and out of my legs so I pick her up; she stares out the window, too.

"Guys, come take a look at this."

Chairs scrape across the floor and we crowd around the sill to watch the orange flame shoot across the sky.

"What do you think it is?"

"It sort of looks like a shooting star," I say faintly.

"But at four in the afternoon?" Crow asks.

We all share a glance and continue watching as it descends to somewhere off and too far to tell.

Coming up on the square where the boys' apartment is, I spot Ushio and some other officers come through their door. Before I'm close enough to get their attention they get in their cars and drive off with the sirens blaring.

I pick up the pace and push open Poppo Time's door.

"Whoa," Crow chuckles, "where's the fire?"

I can feel myself stiffen on reflex. Don't get mad, Maria. He doesn't know…he doesn't know. "…Is everyone okay?"

"Peachy," answers Jack.

"I-I saw the cars so I figured…"

"No need to worry," says Yusei. "Everyone's fine."

I nod and walk down the ramp. "Why was Ushio here then?" I gasp and add, "Was it about Martha's?"

"No," Crow says quickly. He pauses, a glint of sympathy in his eyes, and finishes: "Have you heard the rumors about the Ghost?"

Before I can say that I haven't, Jack grunts, "Apparently he's some wackjob duelist who rides around making people duel him and forcing them to crash."

"Ushio and Mikage asked us if we could go after him."

"And you aren't?"

"They're Sector Security," Crow states. "That's their responsibility."

I nod. "Hmm."

Crow rolls his eyes. "Don't tell me you think we should go after him, too?"

"No, I agree with you." He raises his eyebrows at the other two; Jack scoffs back. "But—if it's as you say and people are getting hurt and going out there will get him in jail faster—maybe you should go."

Yusei and Jack look at Crow again for a response. "Gah! Well, who asked you!"

He stomps over to the pile of scrambled parts in the middle of the room and tinkers with them while his back faces us.

"I think I should go now," I say, turning on a heel. "Before I'm late and all."

"Come back later then," Yusei says. "The twins and Akiza will be here."

I glance at the floor where Crow is, all dirtied up with black dust. "Maybe. I mean, if everyone else is going to be here and you're not so busy with…whatever that is?"

Jack makes a noise something like a snort and turns to help Crow clean up. "Who knows when that'll be."

A shadow had cast itself down on New Domino's bright lights, just as it does every night. The moon is so high in the sky that it is almost low and as Ushio trudges over to his D-wheel he notices the time—12:41 am.

Ushio pulls up his leather gloves and mounts his D-Wheel. He doesn't rev it up just yet and speaks into the mic of his helmet, saying one last thing to all the responding officers on patrol.

"Alright men, if you see any signs of the Ghost you tell me and I'll head your way. Got it?"

With that, Ushio starts off down the street and eventually onto the D-Wheel lanes. It had been so long since he rode around on his own, just his deck and a mission. Not that he could ever complain about Mikage's company (although he wished she'd pay him half the amount of attention she pays to that dead-brained blond Jack Atlas).

But there are bigger fish to fry right now.

The guys were right, Security did need to do this—he needed to do this. If any of them could be heroes, then why can't he? A deck and iron-like determination are as good as any birthmark.

The screen on his D-Wheel flashes red, knocking him out of his thoughts. Someone is forcing him into a duel, which is just what he asked for.

"Well what do ya know," Ushio chuckles. "I've got a biter. I activate the field spell Speed World Two!"

"Awaken."

I sit upright in my bed, suddenly so awake that it was never like I went to sleep. And It feels like I have never breathed before, and maybe that's why I gasp for as much air as possible. I place a hand to my chest, controlling my breaths by a quivering palm, and stare ahead.

My legs draw over the bedside and lift me up.

Am I awake? Everything looks fine but I feel glazed over, unfocused and out of control. I open my door, expecting to see the hall but instead step out into an abyss. The door slams shut behind me.

I jiggle the knob, pull at it too and when neither of those work I bang on the door. But it's a useless and tiresome effort—one only rewarded by the door fading away to yellowed dust.

I don't want to look around. There's nothing to look at, I know, but that's what I hate the most.

"Not again," I whisper. "Please not again."

I wish there were things to describe, beauties I could ramble on about or the most peculiar things I could question. But there is only darkness.

"What do you mean?"

My hands slap against my cheeks to cover my eyes. "I don't want to have this dream again. I hate this dream."

"Then do not."

Hands pull away and even though I swore I wouldn't, I scan the empty space of land for both the voice and a way out.

"Where are you? Who are you?"

"We have met before long ago and back then we were friends."

"Why don't you show yourself, friend?"

A clinking sound happens, and I think of the wind chimes that used to hang from our back door in the summer. The noise, which I admit is somewhat calming, keeps going almost like it is swirling around me.

"Do not fear."

"What makes you think that I'm afraid?"

The voice doesn't answer.

I begin walking since there's nothing else. But dreams worked like that. If there isn't something now, there will be something later.

"You said we were friends," I start tentatively. "Was I a good friend to you?"

"There was a...misunderstanding and I lost you."

I stop in my tracks and stare at where I imagine the voice is. "Lost me?"

"It was long ago, as I spoke."

It occurs to me that this voice must belong to someone—some being or some creature, and with a body comes a mind and then feelings. The reason it refuses to answer my questions completely is not because I don't deserve to know but because thinking about the answers might be too painful to let me.

With that, I continue my aimless steps. "Why am I here?"

"I have brought you."

"How? This is just a dream, right?"

"Far from it. I called out to you and you responded."

"How?"

"You are my mark bearer. Our connection is always there."

"Mark bearer…"

"Do you still seek escape?"

I stop again, sighing as I say, "If it's the only way I'm going to get out of here."

"Then concentrate. This is your mind and you are in control."

My eyes close and I try relaxing and thinking of a path at the same time. From an unknown place wind blows and pushes hair in my face. Wind chimes ring again and I open my eyes.

"Nothing happ—"

I raise up my foot, feeling a prickle underneath it and bend low. A flower, a marigold, grows from a bud and spreads its leaves wide. Another one grows and another and another and soon a path of them extends far away. In the distance I can see a faint light illuminate the dark.

I walk without saying anything more to the voice and listen to the wind chimes ring by my side the entire time. I reach the light, which is revealed to be the same door I came through. I wait for it to fully materialize.

"This is the way out," I say, "so where does it lead?"

"Back to your world, and in dear time, back to me."

"Why is it so important that we meet again?"

"Because your Fate is unraveling. The Three Cursed Ones have arrived in New Domino and you must be prepared—you all must be prepared."

The door is almost complete when I ask, "What if I need help? How will I find you again?"

"The card…the card will come to you and it will shine a way."

"What if it finds me too late? What if it doesn't come in time?"

"Time is up."

The door swings open, its force much stronger than I expected, and the glow brightens to absorb me inside it.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns don't be afraid to drop a review. Other than that I hope you're having a wonderful (and belated) New Year's~!

TTFN