Chapter Fifteen

As darkness fell, Bakura was growing more and more tense and worried. They were passing into Crump's section now, and there had been no sign of any of their friends and family. Yami Bakura was who knew where. The memory of him repeatedly attacking Johnson in heartbroken grief and rage was still very fresh on the boy's mind. He blinked back tears, gripping the knees of his jeans.

Mai was also silent. It was quite a story Bakura had told—how the spirit had really been the mind-poisoned pawn of the personification of the darkness in human hearts and had returned to Bakura in tatters after Atem had defeated said personification. (Yugi being the vessel of a Pharaoh was a whole other level of shock.) She couldn't decide whether it had been sweet or hopelessly naive for Bakura to want to help the spirit after that, but apparently his compassion really had made a difference. The spirit had changed, accepting and embracing his love for Bakura and becoming a valuable ally for the group. From the way Bakura talked about him, it was obvious that he deeply loved the character in turn—and Mai couldn't help feeling comforted and encouraged. For someone like that to gain forgiveness, maybe there really was hope for her with the others too.

"Why haven't we seen anyone yet?!" Bakura burst out. "If they've been separated into different groups, you might think we would have run into some of them by now!"

"Hold your horses," Solomon told him. "It looks like you spoke too soon. Kaiba and Téa are over there, heading into the museum!"

"Oh!" Bakura perked up. "Téa!" he called, cupping his hands around his mouth.

On the steps, Téa froze. "That sounded like Bakura," she gasped. She spun around with hope in her eyes.

Seto turned too. "It is Bakura!"

Bakura leaped out of the car before Mai had quite brought it to a halt. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you!" he exclaimed. "Do you know where Yami is?!"

"I wish we did," Téa said. "We did find him, but Lector got us all separated again by making a tornado just as we were crossing into his section. But Bakura, where have you been?! We've all been worried that you were killed in that explosion!"

"I was being held captive by one of the Big Five," Bakura said. "I'm so sorry everyone's been worried. But what's happening here?!"

"We're just about to go inside and stomp Crump," Seto said. "He must be holding Ishizu and Rishid captive."

"And maybe trying to figure out that stone tablet in there," Solomon exclaimed. He hurried out of the car, followed by Mai.

Téa hadn't noticed her before. "Mai?!" she gasped. "You've come back!"

Mai definitely felt more than a little awkward. "Yeah. I sure have."

"Well, I'm glad to see you," Téa said sincerely. "I know Joey will be too."

"Reunite later. Stop Crump now," Seto interrupted.

Mai started and looked to him. "Right."

The bikers, who were pulling up now as well, quickly got into the swing of things. They parked and followed the group up the stairs.

Seto marched up to the museum doors and hauled them open. His Battle Ox dispatched of several Nightmare Penguins in the way, much to Téa's pleasure.

As they drew closer to where the Roman tablet was displayed, Ishizu heard them and looked up. Also hearing, Crump looked over with a start. "What the . . ."

Rishid took that opportunity to strike Crump on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.

The penguins went wild. But as they swarmed the Ishtars, Mai's Baby Dragon entered the room and pounced, followed swiftly by Battle Ox and Valon's Marauding Captain.

"I only wish my Curse of Dragon could fit in here," Solomon commented, "but he's far too big."

Ishizu went to the group in relief. "Your arrival was just the distraction we needed," she exclaimed.

"I'm sure glad we made it!" Téa declared. "But what do we do with this sicko now?"

"I say we try again to take a hostage." Seto hauled Crump up and pulled his hands behind his back.

Téa cringed. "We have to take him with us?!"

"It makes sense to me," Solomon shrugged.

"Or we could take him with us," Ishizu said. She looked pleadingly at the others. "Where is Marik? I thought he was with you, Kaiba!"

"He was, until Lector used a tornado to blow everybody into different locations," Seto said in annoyance. "We don't know where he is now either. Or Mokuba." He turned, marching Crump towards the doors.

Crump stirred but didn't try to get away. "You think you're so smart, don't you, Seto Kaiba."

"I know I'm smarter than you and your cronies," Seto coolly answered.

"You may not think so before this is over," Crump crowed.

"Just what are you talking about?!" Seto tightened his grip on Crump's wrists.

"Just that the Big Five is hardly licked yet," Crump crowed. "And even if you defeat each one of us, we still have more surprises in store!"

"That's not a surprise," Seto retorted. "I already figured on that."

"At least you've been taken down, bird brain," Téa scowled.

Crump just chuckled. "We'll see about that," he said ominously.

"Oh dear. . . ." Bakura tensed. Such overconfidence upon capture was not likely to be a good thing for any of them.

"Anyway," Crump grinned, "I can't be too upset about being caught when I'm surrounded by lovely ladies."

"Hmph," said Mai. "Well, at least you have a good eye for beauty."

They stepped outside. It was night now, and fake snow was falling from the overcast sky. The nearby penguins continued to play on glaciers and roofs, and sometimes on cars. One of them slid down Mai's windshield.

"Hey!" Mai cried. "Get off of that!"

The penguin just warbled in reply.

"We'll take Mr. Crump in our van," Ishizu said.

"But I'll come with you," Seto said. "I know this lunatic, while you don't."

"Well, have fun, kids." Mai looked to Téa. "So, who are you riding with, Téa? I can tell you'd like to be as far away from Crump as possible."

"You've got that right," Téa shuddered. "Maybe I'll come with you, Mai. It's really a surprise to see you back. A nice surprise," she added.

Mai smiled. "It's nice that people feel that way. I'm glad to be back, although it feels strange too."

Everyone got into their respective vehicles. Téa sat up front with Mai, while Solomon got into the back with Bakura. When Rishid drove off in the van, Mai moved into position behind him. The bikers followed behind her, although Valon drove up on his motorcycle to ride next to her again.

"I'm sure you'll quickly get into the swings of things," Téa told Mai. "We'll all be happy to welcome you back!"

"Well, except maybe Tristan," Mai said with a rueful smile. "I ran into him earlier and he wasn't so thrilled. But you can't blame him; he's worried I might hurt Joey again."

Téa blinked in surprised confusion. "Tristan didn't mention anything about meeting you," she said. "I wonder if that was also why he was so uptight. . . ."

"Probably," Mai said. "That and thinking Bakura was dead would do it." She glanced at the boy in the rearview mirror. Bakura, not realizing he was being watched, was gazing worriedly out the car and off to the side.

Téa looked down. "Yeah. . . ."

Mai smiled a bit. "I always did think Bakura had a cute face. Except when he dueled. Then he looked cruel. But it was hard to believe there was an evil spirit controlling him then. I just figured he had a game face. Maybe a game personality too. Now, though, after everything, yeah, I can believe there was another person altogether."

"And you'll meet him, with any luck," Téa said. "He has to be around here somewhere. . . ."

Without warning, Rishid swerved to the side up ahead. Stunned, Mai swerved with him. "What's going on?!"

Bakura came to attention. "Oh no!" he gasped. "It's Joey's dragon!"

Indeed, Red Eyes was lying sprawled in the road and across the opposite sidewalks. He roared as the groups approached and slowly got up, revealing he was shielding Joey and Serenity under his wings.

"Joey!" Mai cried. Immediately she stopped and got out, running over to the scene. Alarmed, many of the others chased after her.

Joey stirred at the sound of high-heels on the pavement. "Who's that?" he mumbled.

Serenity also stirred. "Mai?" she whispered, catching sight of the purple boots.

Mai dropped to her knees in front of Joey, while Téa hurried to tend to Serenity. "Joey, are you alright?!"

The voice penetrated Joey's consciousness and went deep into his soul. "It can't be," he rasped. "Mai?!" He woke up more, staring at his long-lost friend. "Mai, it really is you! You've come back!" He beamed, looking thoroughly close to outright glomping her in sheer joy.

Mai gazed at him. Her smile was both happy and sad, as were her eyes. "Yes, Joey, I've come back." She had hurt him so much, far more than any of the others, and yet here he was, overjoyed to see her, just as everyone had told her he would be. Just as she had really known he would be, even though a frightened part of her had still doubted.

"Why? How?" Joey exclaimed. "I mean, you just didn't wanna come back. Not even Serenity and Duke could convince you. . . ."

"I know." Mai sighed. "I wish now that I had come back with them. Instead I just wandered around, doing a few more odd jobs for Pegasus and dueling in any tournaments that came along. And I found myself in Los Angeles."

Serenity, who was by now also awake, looked over with a start. "Did you see Snakes?"

Joey cringed a bit at the mention of the scruffy gambler who had become close friends with Duke, Serenity, and David.

"I did," Mai said. "But more than that, I saw Jean-Claude Magnum."

Now Joey made an even more pronounced face of distaste. "Mr. Personality himself?! What did you go seeing him for?!"

"Well, it wasn't on purpose!" Mai shot back. "He was playing poker in the casino where Snakes works!"

"Oh." Joey rocked back. "So . . . what happened?"

Mai sobered. "I saw that he was just the same as before, thinking money and fame were the answers to everything. He still wanted to marry me and challenged me to another duel. This time I turned him down. Seeing him gave me an epiphany I should have had ages ago—we were more alike than I had ever wanted to admit or think."

"You, like him?!" Joey cut in. "That's crazy talk!"

"I'm trying to make a point here!" Mai exclaimed in frustration. She folded her arms and continued. "I thought dueling was always the answer, just as he still thinks money and fame are. I thought becoming a better Duelist would make me feel worthy to come back and face everyone I'd hurt. That was just stupid, Joey. It was just plain stupid. No matter how many duels I won, I still felt empty inside, just like I did after Battle City. All the duels in the world weren't going to take away what I'd done. If I'd come back with a prize trophy from a prestigious tournament and said, 'Look at this, Joey; I've finally made it back to the big leagues,' it wouldn't erase all the pain I brought on you. And I knew you wouldn't care if there was a trophy anyway. Well, you'd be happy for me, but you'd be just as happy to see me without the trophy. Valon would too." She glanced to Valon, who was leaning on his motorcycle handlebars and listening. "So I came back."

Joey just looked at her. "I never thought I'd be grateful to Jean-Claude Magnum for anything," he said. "He tried to take you away before. Now, weirdly, he brought you back. And you're right, Mai. I don't care how many trophies you win, unless that's all you want. I'm glad it's not. Welcome home." He smiled.

Home. . . . Mai had never lived in Domino, but she couldn't think of any other place she really wanted to call home. Now it really could be.

"I know I can never make up for what I did to you, Joey," she said softly. "I am so sorry. But that really sounds trite after everything I did. Trite, and the biggest understatement I could ever make. Tristan told me you worried that you'd been a bad friend, but that isn't true!" She looked at him with urgency in her eyes, desperate for him to understand the truth. "You were the best friend anyone could ever have! You almost got yourself killed trying to save me, more than once! And I . . . I betrayed you. . . ." Tears pricked her eyes.

"You didn't, Mai." Joey reached out, placing his hands on either side of her face. "The Orichalcos made you say and do some seriously messed-up stuff, but that wasn't you. This is you! This is my friend."

"Joey . . ." Mai smiled. "Thank you."

Serenity beamed. "I'm so glad!"

"While this is all very touching, don't you think you should do something sensible, like get out of the road?"

Everyone jumped as Seto suddenly entered the conversation. He was standing outside the Ishtars' van, arms folded.

Téa scowled. "Kaiba . . . !"

"He's right." Mai stood. "Let's get out of here, everyone. We have to find the others before anything else goes wrong. The Big Five must be planning more trouble, from what Crump said."

"You found Crump?!" Joey sprang up.

"We sure did," Téa grimaced, "and he's just as charming as ever."

"How about we rearrange the seating arrangements?" Solomon said kindly. "Joey and Serenity can ride with Mai. Bakura and I can go with the Ishtars and Kaiba. Or with Raphael and Alister."

"Yes, let's," Bakura nodded.

"That's a great idea," Serenity beamed.

Soon everyone had rearranged their positions and they were resuming their journey. There were still more loved ones to find, and with four of the Big Five at large, they were just as worried as ever. But with Mai safely back with them, several hearts were filled with joy as well.

xxxx

Yugi groaned, staring dazedly up into the sky as awareness returned. Through the bubble over the city, he could see it was night. And it was still overcast; there were no stars or moon.

"Atem?" he called.

"I'm here, Yugi." Atem came and stood over his friend. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I think so. And you?" Yugi sat up.

"I'm fine." Atem looked worried. "But the others aren't here."

Yugi sat up with a shot. "Oh no!"

"We had best start looking for them," Atem said. "They could be in grave danger."

Yugi nodded and got up. "I wonder why the Big Five haven't seemed that interested in us this time," he said as they started walking. "Last time, they were after us for revenge."

"That, and Noa thought defeating us would help prove his worth," Atem said. "I'm not sure why they seem so disinterested in us. You thought Gansley was watching us, but when he appeared, he only wanted to duel Kaiba. Of course, Kaiba was their enemy first. But it also seems like they're unusually interested in Yami Bakura. Bakura is missing, possibly dead, and Johnson took great pleasure in goading Yami Bakura about it until he snapped."

"Yeah, but why?" Yugi frowned. "If they're after the Infinity Ring, why wouldn't they want the Puzzle too?"

"I don't know." Atem frowned too.

"I also kind of wonder what the backstory of the Infinity Items is," Yugi said. "And when they were made, and how. I mean, the infinity symbol has only been around since the 17th century, but that tablet Professor Hawkins found looks ancient!"

"Well, there have been other, similar symbols through the ages, such as the ouroboros," Atem said. "So they may reflect that. On the other hand . . ." He paused. "Even after spending time in the afterlife, I confess that I don't know Shadi's backstory. He is a very mysterious character. Part of me has sometimes wondered if he is a time-traveler. Perhaps the items are ancient, but Shadi had some part in their creation and he knew of the infinity symbol because at some point he time-traveled to when it was used."

Yugi stared at him. "That's a really interesting idea! Maybe that's possible."

"Yes, but it hardly helps with our current problem," Atem sighed. "Now we're approaching the cemetery and there's still no sign of our friends."

"Wait!" Yugi stopped walking. "I think I hear voices!"

Atem stopped too, hope flashing through his eyes. He heard them too, and he recognized them.

xxxx

Tristan was still silent as he and Yami Bakura wandered down the cemetery's rolling hills, their Duel Monsters in tow. He wasn't sure at all how to respond to Yami Bakura's words that he could come to think of all of them as his friends, or whether or not he could say that he felt he could reciprocate.

By now, Yami Bakura didn't expect an answer at all and didn't push it. Instead he said, "You've never even had that much association with Bakura. After Duelist Kingdom, he went back to being a loner and you never made a great deal of effort to include him in anything. The same thing happened after Battle City. And yet you became so upset when you heard of the explosion. Why?"

Tristan looked away. It was a fair question, but he didn't like it. The reason why he didn't like it, however, was because he didn't want to answer rather than that he thought Yami Bakura didn't have the right to ask.

"I always thought of Bakura as a friend," he said. "He was a nice kid."

"He was the same age as you, yet you talk as though you were older," Yami Bakura remarked.

"Maybe he seemed younger, like someone to be protected," Tristan said. "Especially after we knew about you."

"Yet that doesn't change the fact that you mostly let him stay a loner," Yami Bakura said. "If you really wanted to protect him, you wouldn't have stayed away so often. You helped him if he was right in front of you, but otherwise you didn't. Out of sight, out of mind."

Tristan glowered at the grass and at the tombstones they were passing. Yami Bakura was right, and he didn't like it.

"I did what I could," he said at last. "When that didn't work, I guess I was out of ideas. And he seemed to want to be alone, so I guess I just . . . let him." His shoulders slumped.

"The only reason he 'wanted' to be alone was because he felt he needed to protect you and the others," Yami Bakura said. "He abhorred being alone. For him, that was worse than anything else. To be honest, rather than being younger than any of you, if anything, he was older and more mature."

The immediate response that sprang to Tristan's lips was angry and impulsive. Somehow he managed to bite it back enough to reply, "I think any of us would have done the same thing in his place."

"Perhaps," Yami Bakura nodded.

"And I think we've shown some pretty good maturity too. Like how Joey wanted the Duelist Kingdom prize money for Serenity's eye operation. It's not like he's rolling in dough. There were probably a lot of things he might have liked to get for himself, but he wanted to help Serenity more."

"Naturally, when you truly love someone, you put them first and you're not truly happy if you don't," Yami Bakura said. "And yes, I will agree that was a mature act on Joey's part."

Tristan fell silent. "Hey, wait a minute," he frowned suddenly. "If Bakura hated being alone more than anything else . . ." He stared at Yami Bakura, who averted his gaze.

"I shouldn't have said that."

Tristan didn't drop it. "He said he hated you. But he never did, did he?"

"He thought he did, at times," Yami Bakura said noncommittally.

"I wonder if that's why the Ring always came back," Tristan frowned. "Because subconsciously he didn't want to let it and you go. He wanted you around because then he wasn't alone."

"You said that, not I," Yami Bakura said. "But even if he had such a reason then, it wasn't his reason more recently."

"I know. He loves you. He made that pretty clear to all of us when Yami Marik kidnapped you."

"And it's mutual." Yami Bakura looked to him again. "But the point I was originally trying to get at is wondering whether there was something else that fueled your reaction to the news about Bakura, something that was already making you upset so that the news about Bakura pushed you over the edge."

Tristan scowled. ". . . Yeah, I guess there was. This mess with the Big Five is more than enough reason to be stressed, and then I ran into somebody today I wasn't so thrilled to see." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I'm just worried they might hurt a friend of mine again, like I was worried when I found out you were back."

"Perhaps they will," Yami Bakura said, "and then again, perhaps they won't. Are you planning to inform your friend of their return?"

"I don't know. I know I should, but part of me figures I should leave it up to them to make the next move. I mean, if they've really come back for a good reason, like they said, then I think they should find my friend and talk to him. Maybe by keeping quiet, I'm kind of trying to test them and their sincerity."

"That isn't a bad plan, at least for the time being. If you tell your friend now, he may get his hopes up, and if the person isn't sincere and doesn't come to him, your friend will be needlessly disappointed."

"Yeah, that's kind of what I'm thinking," Tristan said.

"It's a mature plan," Yami Bakura said. "For now, just wait and see what unfolds."

Tristan nodded. "I will." It surprised him, how natural it felt to have such a conversation with Yami Bakura, of all people. And he liked that Yami Bakura had not pressed him for details on the people's identities. Even a few weeks ago, he never could have pictured such a thing.

That was when Yugi called out to them. "Tristan! Yami Bakura!"

They jumped a mile. "Yugi!" Tristan ran over to the iron gate and gripped the bars. "Who all's with you?! Are you okay?!"

"It's me and Atem," Yugi said, "and yeah, we're fine! How are you guys?"

"We're fine too. At least, as fine as we can be," Tristan amended as Yami Bakura came over. "We need a way to get out of here."

"If the front gate is open, that shouldn't be a problem," Yami Bakura grunted.

Atem nodded. "We'll walk along the gate with you until we come to the front. We should all stay together to go look for the others."

"Fine with me." Tristan started to walk. "Uh . . . how much did you guys hear?"

"Not much," Yugi said. "I called to you as soon as I realized it was your voices we were hearing."

Yami Bakura nodded in approval.

Soon they found their way to the front gate, which was indeed open. Relieved, Tristan ran outside, followed quickly by Yami Bakura.

"Now, we just have to decide which way to go to look for the others," Atem said.

"Oh, I can help you with that."

They jumped a mile as Lector materialized in front of them.

"Lector!" Yugi cried indignantly. "Where are they?! Are they hurt?!"

"I don't think I'm gonna tell you," Lector said. "I'll just take you to some of them."

"What's the catch?" Atem coldly asked.

"The catch is that you'll be pulled into the duel of a lifetime, Pharaoh," Lector grinned. "A duel against all five of us."

"Well, that sounds familiar," Yugi frowned. "But you're not going to make him face all of you alone?!"

"No, I don't think so," Lector said. "Each one of us will choose somebody to duel alongside you, so it will be the ultimate tag team duel! Five on five!"

"I know someone will choose Kaiba," Yugi said worriedly.

"And I won't be surprised if Joey is picked," Tristan said.

"Just keep walking and we'll see who's picked," Lector said. He started off down the street.

"Of course it's a trap," Yami Bakura growled.

"Yes," Atem said. "But we have no choice. We must go with him. We knew we'd have to face the Big Five anyway in order to be set free of their world."

"Yeah, but I just know this is going to be bad," Yugi said.

"We will still defeat them," Atem insisted. "We've faced far greater odds and triumphed."

Yugi could only nod and pray that would be true this time as well.