**AUTHOR'S NOTE**

Thank you all for your patience, I was busy with some rigorous fieldwork for school and to be truthfully honest, I was in a bit of rut. A lovely friend of mine helped me fix what was troubling me about one of my stories, a special shout out to you, Kaya.

With dinner done and the dishes washed; Aslan, Ishizu, and Rishid retired to their rooms for the evening while the trio of teenagers settled up in Terry's room. A comfortable silence had settled around them as they listened to the house grew quiet around them. Boys lay on their backs on the floor while Terry sat on her bed cross legged deep in thought. They noticed something was on her mind the moment dinner ended, but were not entirely sure what.

Marik turned to the blonde next to him, a frown on his features which mirrored his own. With a silent nod, the two sat up once more and looked towards the female in the room.

"A'ight, what's eatin' at you?" Jonouchi asked as he crossed his legs and rested his hands on his knees. Terry sat stone still without any reaction or recognition something had been said to her. "Oi, Earth to Terry!" He shouted as Marik got up with a grunt.

"Hey," he poked at her cheek. "I found this cool thing you should check out. I think it's from a pyramid!" He was clearly lying, but it was a trick that always got Terry's attention. However, this time it had done nothing. "Damn, that never fails." He mumbled, plopping on to the bed next to her when he noticed she was holding something. Plucking it from her fingers, he carefully unfolded the note.

"What's that?" Jonouchi cocked a brow as Marik shrugged but the look of shock had the blonde up on his feet. "What's it say? Oi, Marik," frustrated by the lack of answer he swiped the note and looked it over himself. "What the fuck?! He turned to Terry who had not moved the entire time. "Terry, what does this mean?! Hey, Terry!" He shook the girl until she finally snapped out of her thoughts.

"Oh, Jo! Sorry...I was thinking...what did I miss?" She looked to Marik only to see he had an equally concerned look on his face. "What did I miss?" She frowned at this.

"How about you tell us what the fuck we missed?" Jonouchi brought the note up to her face, making her blink. She had no idea when she had given them the note. She had actually been debating whether or not she should show it to them.

Either I gave it or they found it? Her brows knit together as she tried to piece how long she had been lost in her own mind. It was always so troublesome whenever she was so distracted like that. "Did I give that to you?"

"No, you were just glaring at it. Now spill, what's the meaning of all this?" Marik bluntly asked, backing up Jonouchi on this.

"Ah, ok. Well I was going to tell you guys anyway. I guess this way is no better or worse than any other." She shrugged it off. "That note was in my shoe locker today after school. I don't know who left it, but if my suspicions are correct I know who it may be." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. She carefully clued them in on the incident at the library that seemed so long ago now and the four who had been at the library at the time. She gave a quick rundown and how she knew Jonouchi was not a serious suspect and Atem had denied anything to do with it along with Seto. "That only really leaves Kyohei...is he really the one, I don't know. He could know who it really is and is just using this against me or he really did and is trying to get to me. Either way, I plan on going to the meeting and that's where you come in." She looked to both before they were able to protest. "You two and Atem will be coming with me but only staying hidden and nearby. I'll signal for you guys to let you know if I'm ok or if I need help. He knows about this and has agreed to help me. Will you two help me?"

"What do you mean will we help ya, of course we'll help ya! That fucking jackass is asking for ass kicking and I've got a couple of punches with his name on it!" Jonouchi growled in anger.

"We would've tagged along regardless of you asking or not if stopping you didn't work, which I know it wouldn't have." Marik added, throwing his arm around Terry's shoulders. "You're stuck with us whether you like it or not. We'd find you and kick his ass before scolding your ass for going in on this solo. You just cut half of our work is all."

"Oh really, you scolding me?" She laughed off, rolling her eyes "Thanks though, honestly...I have no idea what I'm going to be dealing with since he's the one involved...but I know not to come alone. He sure as hell not coming alone."

"Asshole is gonna get a beat down that he deserves. We got your back." Jonouchi thumbed his nose as he puffed his chest. "Is that what you were worried about just now?"

"No, I just didn't know how to start the conversation and then I kept thinking of possible scenarios of what could go down and wondered what the best things to possibly plan for would be which just spiraled and I just didn't realize how lost I was in it all." She shook her head lightly, taking the note and pocketing it. "I don't want baba to know about this...Ishizu or Rishid either. If I can handle it on my own than I want to do it quickly and cleanly as possible."

"We're calling for help if it's needed though." Marik bluntly interjected. "We won't say anything, but if shit is getting out of hand we're gonna take matters into our hands."

"Atem pretty much said the same thing." She snickered.

"Good man," Marik nodded his head before ruffling her hair. "Alright, we should definitely get to bed. We've gotta be up for school tomorrow."

"I'm the one that wakes up on time...you guys take forever." She rolled her eyes, earning a scowl from each boy before they wished her a goodnight and whacked her with a pillow before they left to their rooms. She laughed at how disgruntled they were at her comment before settling into bed herself. Shutting the lights, she let sleep take over as she found ease knowing her friends would be there for her.