Chapter 6

Lucy's POV

I hobbled home, or I tried to. I'm still in pain, but it isn't anything I can't walk off. With each step, I felt the sting of a bruise, or the wind in an open cut.

Of course I tried to think of who could have saved my neck. How many people in Domino City – or ANYWHERE really – wear a purple cape and carry a golden rod? Was it a thug? Why did he rescue me then? What would a thug want with me? And what was that golden rod? Whoever it was, I wish I can find him. And thank him.

I tried to retrace my steps, since I still don't know the city. The only problem with that is I was more worried about getting away from those two creeps than remembering which way I took a corner. So, it's hard to tell where I am, and where I am going.

The Kaiba Corp. building is my landmark. It was the first building I wanted to walk by when I came to Domino City. The card game everybody plays, Duel Monsters, has gained extreme popularity for some reason, but I haven't played it, so I wouldn't know what's so good about it. But looking at the Kaiba Corp. building makes me want to try it. Maybe Yugi or Téa may know more about it…or maybe Bakura. But I told myself I'd never ask him another thing again.

I made it about a quarter mile towards the Kaiba Corp. building. The pain was officially unbearable. I collapsed right then and there. My foot feels as if it has been crushed and twisted. I didn't feel the pain before as much as I do now. I shouldn't have walked on it. I groaned at the pain. I should look at my foot. I slipped off my shoe and then my sock. It's bruised. How did I not notice this before? How did I walk so far with this? God, I hope it's not broken.

I decided to sit there for a bit. I can't think of much that I can do. I can either try to crawl back, but that's too degrading, or…I can call my mom! Duh.

I searched my pockets. But there is no lump in my pocket. "Where's my cell phone?!" I said to myself. I spun myself around and checked my back pockets, but it isn't there either. "Great…" I closed my eyes and fell back on the ground, "This is the worst first day of school of my life. Just kill me now!"

"But I didn't bring my gun."

I opened my eyes, and above me stood Bakura. I sat up faster than lightning, "What are you doing here?"

"Does it matter?" He eyed me and my wounds, "You look like hell…What are you doing here?"

I turned to face him, "If you must know, I was chased down by two creeps. They hit me and told me I have to make them their lunch—"

"Like…make them a sandwich?" he said laughing. His laugh sounded dark, like the kind you would hear in the movies when a killer thinks it's funny when his victims are showing fear or being tortured.

I can't help but laugh a little myself, "That's not funny!" I lied. That joke never gets old.

"Then why are you laughing?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well…because I have a slight weakness for dirty jokes. Anyway, when I tried to shake them off and run, I got my foot caught in a fence that I tried to jump over," I showed him my foot, "It's just twisted though. I don't think it's broken."

He eyed it for a good three seconds, "…Where did this happen?"

"I'm not sure. I tried walking to the Kaiba Corp. building, but I have no idea my foot was this bad and I just fell."

"Can you walk?" he asked.

"Is that a hint of concern I hear in your voice, Bakura?" I teased. I meant no harm; I enjoy messing with the guy.

He grunted and glared at me before saying, "I'm leaving," and he began to turn and walk away.

"Hey, wait!" I screamed, and he stopped. Why did I do that? I don't need his help…or maybe I do.

He hadn't turned around yet. He just stood there. "Can you walk?" he asked again.

"No…I can't." I said, turning my head in shame. I hate being vulnerable.

"Do you know what can happen to you out here?" he asked, still not facing me. "This isn't the part of the city girls like you want to hang out at."

"I'm not worried," I lied.

"Well then," he said, this time turning to face me, "if I were to, let's say, walk towards you, like this," he started to slowly walk toward me, "and pull out a pocketknife like this," he said, pulling a pocketknife from his pocket, "and point it at you, what would you do?"

"Um…good…good point. Do you mind putting that away? I don't do well with knives…"

"Really?" he asked while waving the knife in my face, "Why is that?"

I lost it. I hit the knife out of his hand, and used my leg to knock him on the ground and backed away really fast. He looked up with wide eyes. He looked angry. "I TOLD YOU! I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH KNIVES!"

"So you TRIP ME?!" he barked.

"I'm sorry! Well, you did ask me what I would do… I guess I would do that."

He just stared at me. His eyes weren't mad anymore. They were a calm, deep brown. He picked himself up, and he told me, "Stand up." His voice had gotten softer.

"I think I'd need two feet to do that," I said sarcastically.

"You need two feet to walk," he said, "You do not, however, need two feet to get up, just one foot and good balance. Now," he walked over to me, "try and stand up."

"Okay…"

Why am I doing this?

I used my arms and pushed myself up on my good leg.'Good, almost there. Then I tried my best to balance while pushing myself up. Oh my God… I'm standing! I looked at Bakura, and smiled in my pride. He didn't smile back.

"Okay," he said, putting his arm around my waist.

"What are you doing?" I asked frantically, not used to the feeling of being touched. Especially there.

"Let's go," he started walking, forcing me to trudge along next to him.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Someplace I know." Oh, how vague…

While we were hobbling along, something reappeared in my mind, "You never answered my question."

"What question?"

"What were you doing there?"

"I live nearby. I saw you walking, or trying to walk anyway. I figured I would see what you were doing there. That's where I'm talking you: my place. Your mom can pick you up from there."

"Okay. I'll need to borrow your phone; I can't find mine. I must have lost it in the chase."

"That's fine. Do you think you'll still be able to go to the museum tomorrow?"

"I'm hoping so! I wouldn't miss seeing the Egyptian artifacts for the world…" He stopped and looked at me in almost a puzzled way. "I have a thing for ancient Egypt. I don't know why, but it's always fascinated me…like your Millennium Ring. It's interesting. I've never heard of the Millennium Items before Yugi told me."

He stopped mid-pace, nearly tripping over him, or me, "What did Yugi tell you?" His voice seemed scared. It was sharp and to the point.

"Just that there is a total of seven of them in all. And that's really it… though I'm dying to learn more. Can you tell me?"

His grip around me tightened, "Some other time. We're almost there."

"And I have another question, if you don't mind answering."

"What's on your mind, Lucy?"

"Do you know anybody who wears a purple cape and has a golden rod?"