DD: Hey, guys. Sorry it took so long to update. I wanted to stick with GC for a while. Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter.

Reviews:

Guest: Oh, you're new to my works, aren't you? *evil grin*

Ern Estine 13624: Yeah, it was.

BreakfastForLife: Thanks, and no; it's not a movie or a book. At least that I'm aware of.

BlackMoonWolf22: Another newcomer to my works. Oh this is going to be a very fun ride.

Ele15: Thanks; glad you like the idea! And not necessarily. To keep a character in character, you need to evaluate them and decide how you want them to act in this and then progress them in that character through the book based on situations. Based on this situation, anyone could be smirking. And yeah, I saw that. Don't worry; I am too. No, Marik was purposefully cross-dressing. It's a headcannon of mine that he cross-dresses. Thanks; I saw it as one of those 'I'll talk a lot of shit, but if anyone even touches you, I'll fuck them up' kind of relationships. Yeah, he's a great one. Hope you enjoy it after the two day wait!

"Miho?"

Miho looked up with a smile. "Y's?"

A woman smiled at her as she knelt down beside her. Miho's parents were standing behind the woman. "My name's Barbara. It's nice to meet you."

Miho frowned. "B'bra?"

Barbara nodded. "What age are you?"

"I th'ee!" Miho gave her a toothy grin.

"I see." Barbara smiled and took a card out of her white coat. And another. And another. "Can you tell me what colour this is?"

Miho looked at the card and smiled. "P'ple."

Barbara nodded and held up another. "What shape is this?"

Miho giggled. "Sq- Sq- re!"

Barbara held up the final card. "How many ducks are on this?" Miho frowned and held up eight fingers. "Can you tell me how many?" Miho shook her head.

Barbara nodded. "Alright. You can keep playing with the doll now." Miho smiled and turned back to brushing Princess Lu-Lu's hair as Barbara stood up.

"Well?" She heard her father ask.

"She's a very bright girl for her age and doesn't seem to be showing signs of autism," Barbara assured them, "but I would advise taking her to speech therapy."

"How much would that cost?" Her mother snipped.

"About thirty thousand yen a session."

"We're not paying that."

"Yuki-"

"No. She'll have to learn to speak on her own, Ken."

"I strongly advise against this, Ms. Nosaka. It's completely normal; nearly ten percent of children need speech therapy."

"That's not exactly normal, is it?"

"Yuki-"

"I've already said no." Miho only looked up when her mother picked her up. "Come on, Miho. We're going home."

"Kay." Miho smiled at Barbara and waved. "B-Ba, B'bra!"

Barbara returned the smile. It didn't look as nice as the first time she smiled. "Bye, Miho."

Miho smiled at Yami as she picked up the toner. "Did you talk to brother?" She asked.

Yami sighed. He couldn't look away with Miho doing his make-up. "I don't want to talk about it, Crystal."

Miho frowned. "Not good?" She asked, brushing the toner over his face to make him look a bit darker; it made the contrast between him and Bakura sharper.

"No. It didn't go well," Yami agreed.

Miho's frown deepened as she replaced the toner and picked up a tan pencil that she used for contours. "Why no?"

"It just didn't." Yami closed his eyes as the lines were drawn on his face and then rubbed in with a make-up brush.

"Vous me mentez," she mumbled. "You lie. Why lie?"

"I'm not lying." Not explaining something wasn't lying. It wasn't telling the truth, but it wasn't lying. "It just didn't."

Miho put down the brush. "What happen?"

Yami held up the… the… Fuck it, he didn't even know what it was. Miho always used it. It had black stuff on the brush but wasn't for his eyes.

Miho took it and put it on the table. "What happen?" She repeated.

Yami nodded at the brush. "Aren't you going to use that?"

"After you tell what happen." Miho folded her arms. "Or I get Ne'ro."

"No, don't get Necro."

The last time Miho got Bakura when Yami wouldn't tell her something, Bakura had forced it out of him with tweezers. Tweezers.

"Then tell." Miho narrowed her eyes.

"I don't want to." Yami looked away.

Miho looked at her watch. "S'ven minute until stage," she said. "Tell or you up like now."

It took Yami a moment or two to understand what she was saying. Seven minutes until he had to go onto the stage. He had to tell her or she would let him go up with his make-up like it was then.

His boss would skin him alive.

"Fine," he muttered. "It went like last time."

Miho tilted her head. "How?"

"He called me a whore." Yami's arms were stiff as he leaned back on the table Miho had him sitting on. "And tried to talk me out of working here."

"Not good job," Miho reasoned. "Danger."

"I know." Yami kept his gaze on his sandals. "But he should let me decide what I want to do with my life."

"Life?" Miho tilted her head. "None here. Danger."

"Don't you start too," Yami muttered.

"Not!" Miho insisted. "Just- Just-" Her brow furrowed. Yami could see her trying to force the words out of her mouth.

"You could write it down," he offered.

Miho shook her head. Her face was beginning to redden. "C-c-c-con-" She gritted her teeth. "W-w-w-wor-r-"

"Worried?" Yami offered.

Miho nodded. Her body relaxed again but her face was still red.

"Don't worry about it; it's a hard word to say." Yami almost winced. He shouldn't have used it; not when Miho had struggled to say it moments before.

Miho nodded, but Yami knew she didn't believe him. "He just w-w-worry."

"I know." Yami sighed. "But he doesn't do it the right way."

Miho shook her head and picked up the black-brush-thing again. "No right way to," she said as she uncapped it and brushed Yami's eyebrows back a bit. "Just way."

Yami hummed. Maybe.

He knew she was right.

There was no right way to worry. There was just the way it happened.

But it still hurt. It hurt so much.

"Hurt; Crystal know," Miho murmured. She cupped Yami's cheek. "But hurt him too."

Yami sighed and nodded. "I know. Thanks, Crystal."

She smiled and flicked a bit of lip gloss over his lips. She made sure that his crown was in place one more time before nodding. "Ready. Go. One minute."

Yami slipped off the table and made his way out to the side of the stage.

Bakura glanced at him. All black. Again. "Which routine?" He asked.

"Same as last time; we don't know the new one well enough yet," Yami decided.

Bakura watched him for a moment. "Hey, you okay? If you're not up for it, I can do the solo routine."

Yami shook his head and smiled. "Don't worry about it," he muttered as he climbed the steps to wait for his cue. "I'll see you out there."

"Hey, hun."

Atem looked up as Mai hopped onto his desk. Her legs were crossed and she was wearing the girls' pants instead of the skirt. Work clothes.

He could also see that her lipstick was smeared and she wasn't wearing that glittery stuff on her eyes. "What's the result, Polar?"

Mai snorted. "What? No 'hello, how are you Polar'?" Atem fixed her with a stony look and she sighed. "Fine. He has it."

Atem swallowed. "Which one?"

"Both." Mai glanced at her nails. It had become a nervous habit of hers. Instead of biting, she would smother them in nail varnish. If she saw even the smallest chip, she would have to redo them. "The tape and audio."

Atem gritted his teeth and stood up. "Follow me."

"But Crystal-"

"She can hang out with Flamingo or Meerkat and Princess for lunch." Atem grabbed Mai's wrist – a little too tightly. "Follow me."

Mai huffed and yanked her hand free, but followed Atem. Her heels clicked through the hallway while his soles slammed down on the tiles with each step.

"You don't know where he is, do you?" Mai asked as Atem slowed. Atem glanced at her, but didn't reply. "Computer room. He generally goes in there with Calico for lunch."

Atem nodded and changed his direction, walking towards the stairs to his left. Tucked under them was the computer room. Sure enough, the light was on inside. He could see Yami with chopsticks in his mouth and Yugi laughing and something he was doing.

"You can always talk to him about it later," Mai tried to reason, but Atem pushed the door open.

"Griffin," he called. "With me. Now."

Yami scowled at him. "I'll be back in a few minutes, Cal," he muttered as he stood up.

Yugi raised an arm as though to stop him, but one look from Atem made him lower it again.

Atem turned and stalked out of the room. He knew Mai and Yami would follow.

Private place; they needed a private place.

The bathroom. Girls' bathroom. Perfect.

Not quite abandoned, but Atem heard constant complaints about it smelling like something died, and then something else ate it, and died from eating it.

And the lighting wasn't good enough to do make-up in. So it was avoided.

"Do we have to go in here?" Mai whined when she saw where Atem was leading them, but when he walked in, she followed.

Yami huffed as he followed them. Atem blocked the door with the wooden peg meant to hold it open.

"This had better be important." Yami folded his arms. "You tore me away from watching Wolverine make out with Hercules on a dragon in space."

Mai blinked. "What kind of shit are you on?"

Yami shook his head. "You wouldn't get it. Comics."

"I get comics. Just not that kind." Mai leaned against the wall. Then she thought better of it and stood upright.

Yami rolled his eyes. "Just get on with it."

Atem glared at him. "Give yourself in."

It took Yami a moment to react. "Excuse me?"

"Give yourself in," Atem repeated. "He'll give you less of a punishment if you give yourself in instead of letting this drag on more."

Yami laughed and shook his head. "I can't believe you."

"Griffin-"

"I can't believe you!" Yami glared at him. "You think I'm the Artist? Still?"

"Ushio has proof that you're the Artist," Atem snapped. "I had Polar check it out."

"Polar's not the most reliable P.I. you could have gotten," Yami sneered. He glanced at Mai. "No offence."

"None taken." Mai tapped Yami's shoulder. "But I'm the only one he could get that wouldn't run off to Zorc."

Yami glared at Atem again. "Good to know you at least tried not to sell me out."

"Give yourself in," Atem tried again. "You know that if Ushio goes to Zorc with the evidence-"

"He doesn't have any evidence on me, because it wasn't me!" Yami turned towards the door. "I'm done talking to you two."

Atem caught his shoulder. "Well we're not done talking to you. He has evidence, Yami."

"I told you not to call me that," Yami hissed.

Atem growled and spun Yami around to face him. "Would you listen to me! If Ushio goes to Zorc with this, you will die!"

"No I-"

"He's going to publically execute you!" Atem yelled. "You think I want to see my own brother being executed for something like this?"

Yami's glare darkened. "We're not brothers."

The smack resounded through the bathroom and Yami's head snapped to the side.

Atem stared at his hand. No. No, that didn't just happen.

The smack was an illusion. No, his hand wasn't burning. That red on Yami's cheek was just his imagination. He looked at Mai.

The blonde was staring at him with wide eyes and a pale face.

Yami brought a hand to his cheek and touched it. He winced and looked up at Atem again.

No. No, it wasn't his imagination.

He hit Yami.

"I-"

"Don't bother," Yami hissed. "I'm not the Artist. If I was, I would have told you when it started." He yanked the door open. "Now save whatever's left of your pride and leave me alone." He shot another glare over his shoulder before leaving the bathroom.

Atem swallowed the lump in his throat. "Polar?" He whispered. "What did I just do?"

Mai was already following Yami out of the bathroom. "You just lost what was left of your family."

"And… I think that's everything." Yugi looked up at Yami. "Right?"

Yami nodded. He had been silent in the demonstration; not a word unless he had no choice about it.

Banner smiled at the two. "Well done. Thank you for the demonstration of the first ICU Pokémon game."

A few student clapped as the two sat down and Marik leaned over to ask Yugi about getting the game.

Jounouchi threw another glare at Seto as they sat down.

"Everything okay?" Yami mumbled.

Jounouchi glanced over at him as he sat down. "I should be asking you that," he muttered.

"Well you're not." Yami folded his arms on the desk and rested his chin on them. "What's up?"

"Next up…" Banner looked at his list. "Flamingo and Polar."

Jounouchi groaned as the two girls stood up. "Blue and I are next, aren't we?"

Yami glanced at the running order of demonstrations on the board. "Yeah. Why?" Jounouchi groaned again. "Come on; it's not that bad. You just need to go up for five minutes."

"Easy for you to say," Jounouchi muttered. "You barely even spoke."

"Retriever, it's five minutes. You'll manage."

Jounouchi glared at Seto again. "Not if we don't have anything done."

Yami's head shot off his arms. "You what?"

"Keep it down," Jounouchi hissed. Banner shot them a look, but didn't comment. "We don't have anything done. The bastard never showed up and you know I'm useless at this crap."

"Maybe he did something on his own?" Yami suggested. "You know he hates group work. Or any work that he can't do alone. Do you even have a plan done?"

"Yeah," Jounouchi muttered, "but that's it. And all we've arranged is for it to be a stupid virtual pet game."

"Well, it'd sell if we were still kids." Yami raised an eyebrow. "Did you ask him about it?"

"I tried to," Jounouchi huffed, leaning back in his seat. "I cornered him at his locker. But he just pushed past me and called me a mutt, and then we got in another fight, and then I got a restriction so I can only be paid seventy Zira to the hundred, and he got off. Again."

"Then he might have something done for it," Yami pointed out. "Right?"

"You've known that jackass longer than I have; do you really think he'd have something sorted?" Jounouchi snorted.

Yami sighed as Anzu and Mai finished their demonstration. "Good luck," was all he mumbled as Banner looked at the list.

"Blue and Retriever."

"I'll need it." Jounouchi's shoulders slumped as he stood up.

Seto stayed where he was, not even looking up from his computer.

"Blue," Banner called again, "it's time to give your demonstration."

"I didn't do it."

Jounouchi's jaw clenched as Banner raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"I didn't do it; I didn't have time." Seto glanced up from his computer. "Retriever and I planned it out but I didn't have time to develop it with him."

"Bullshit," Jounouchi muttered under his breath.

Banner glanced at him but his focus was on Seto. "Blue, this assignment is mandatory."

"Talk to Principal Sheppard about it." Seto looked at his laptop again.

"I have." Banner folded his arms. "And he agrees that you need to work on assignment with the rest of the class, despite your company." He pulled Seto's laptop away from him.

Seto's eyes widened. "Professor-"

"No buts, Blue." Banner saved Seto's work and closed the computer. "No more computers in class. I'll give this back to you at the end of the day."

"Sir, I have work that I need to finish!" Seto protested.

"You'll need to get it done outside of school." Banner slid the computer into a drawer under his desk. "Come here once the bell rings and I'll give it to you. Now you and Retriever go to a desk at the back of the room and work out how you're going to get your project done. Because if I don't see it by tomorrow morning, you'll both be getting restrictions."

"Sir-!"

"Strix and Lion?" Banner called.

"Professor-"

"The conversation is over, boys." Banner frowned at them. "Finish planning your project at the back and stop disrupting the class."

Jounouchi scowled at Seto but grabbed his bag and made his way to the back of the classroom. Seto huffed but followed him.

Jounouchi slid the notebook over to him once Seto sat beside him. "I did all of the work last time," he growled as Heba and Atem began their demonstration. "I planned all of the characters and backgrounds and everything while you were tapping away at that damn laptop of yours." He leaned back in his chair. "Now it's your turn."

"Look, Blue," Anzu sighed, "what you need to do is apologise."

Seto folded his arms. "I'm not apologising."

"You w-wrong," Miho pointed out. "Triev'r did w-work. You no."

"Crystal's right. Retriever did the work, and he set up times for you two to meet up so you could work on the game together." Anzu adjusted her bag strap. "You, on the other hand, left all the planning to him and didn't show up to any of the meetings, and when he tried to talk to you at school about it, you fought him. Multiple times."

Seto kept his gaze ten metres in front of them. "I'm not apologising."

"Plea?" Miho smiled at Seto.

Seto didn't look at her. "I'm not apologising."

"You're impossible," Anzu muttered as they turned the corner into the alley that led to their section. "I don't even know why you wanted our help."

"I didn't." Seto folded his arms. "I wanted to rant. Then you cut in saying that I need to apologise. I don't. Banner does. I'm running one of the companies that keeps the ICU going, and he's saying that I need to take part in a class activity that would take time away from it."

"He r-right," Miho protested. "You no friend. He w-want you t'have."

"You two are my friends."

"You barely talk to us," Anzu pointed out. "You're always working."

"I work with you two around me." Seto shrugged. "That should be proof enough that you're my friends."

Miho tilted her head. "How?"

"I can work with you two talking, and I can talk to you while I work." Seto glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "I can only do that with you two, my cousins, my brother and-" He stopped himself.

"And?" Anzu prompted.

"No one."

"Then why did you say and?"

"It's not important," Seto insisted.

"Retriever?" Anzu grinned.

"No!" Seto glared at her.

"Crystal?" Anzu's grin grew. "What do you think?"

Miho smiled. "Blue like Triev'r."

"I do not." Seto looked ahead again and his pace grew quicker.

Anzu frowned. She and Miho moved faster to keep up with him. "Don't speed up; we're wearing heels!"

"Well you should have thought of that before suggesting that I like that mutt," Seto snapped. "I only insult him."

"While you're working!" Anzu pointed out.

"The day I let him interrupt my work is the day Griffin says he's the Artist." Seto slowed but didn't stop. "I insult him so he'll leave me alone and let me keep working."

"But you can insult him while you're working," Anzu repeated.

"You insult, he anger and fight," Miho added.

Seto scoffed. "That's his own fault. If he wants to get his ass kicked on a bi-daily basis, it's not my place to stop him."

"But it's your place not to fight him."

"I-" Seto stopped walking. At the end of the alley, just in front of them, stood a figure. Black-clad, nothing showing but cold blue eyes.

"Move." Seto glared at the figure.

The figure moved towards them. Seto pushed Miho behind him. Anzu could take care of herself.

The figure's eyes zeroed in on Miho and they lunged. Seto caught them and slammed them against the wall.

The figure wriggled out of his grip, but Anzu barrelled into them from the side.

The figure hit the ground and scrambled to their feet. Their eyes flickered from Seto to Anzu to Miho. They pulled something out of their pocket.

Artificial sunlight glinted off the blade. "Tell me which one of you is the Artist." They pointed the blade at Miho. "Or she dies."

Their voice wasn't high enough to be a girl. A boy. Seto recognised his voice; vaguely. Someone from another section.

"None of us is the Artist," Anzu insisted.

The figure shrugged and threw the knife at Miho.

Miho shrieked and curled up, but didn't try to dodge it. Anzu's hand shot out and she caught it. Her fingers wrapped around the blade and blood trickled out of her fist.

But she only let the blade drop when it had stilled in her hand.

The figure lunged at Seto, but someone pulled him back. "You little punk, attacking kids in an alley," Jounouchi growled, his arm around the figure' throat.

The figure growled and wriggled out of Jounouchi's grip. "Which one of you is the Artist?"

"None of us!" Jounouchi snapped. "We all have witnesses!"

The figure took a step back. "None of you are the Artist?"

"No," Anzu repeated. "Blue's laptop has confirmation that he's not the Artist, I always seem to be at the dance studio when the Artist hits so I have witnesses, Retriever works at the gym at night and Crystal works late doing make-up at a club."

The figure nodded and turned away. "In that case, sorry. I was just told to attack you."

"By who?" Seto took a step towards him, but the figure was already running. Seto and Jounouchi tore after him, but when they followed the figure around the corner, he was gone.

"Brat," Jounouchi panted. He looked up at Seto. "What was that about? Can't take care of yourself?"

"Shut up," Seto snapped, glaring at the other. He turned back to the alley. "Are we going to your cube to work on the project or not?"

Jounouchi huffed. "Finally."

"Would you help me?"

Seto dodged the book thrown at him, not even looking up from his computer. "No."

"You're the one who fucking suggested this!"

"No." Seto glared at him. "You did. I just asked if we were coming here. I never said I would help."

Jounouchi groaned. "I hate you!"

"I'm well aware of that." Seto opened a new document. "You know, we could just use one of the games that Blue Corp. is coming out with next month."

"No."

"You'll never amount to anything, Kat."

"Why not?" Seto raised an eyebrow. "We're not going to get it done. You know that."

Jounouchi clenched his fists. The computer was taunting him ("Throw me at him! Throw me!"). Maybe he should.

It would look pretty cool to see the screen smash on Seto's ignorant head of brown hair.

"We're going to get it done," Jounouchi gritted out.

"You're never going to finish it, Kat."

"Mutt, give up and use the Blue Corp. game. It's impossible; we have seven hours left to finish it and about three days of work to do," Seto pointed out.

"It's pointless."

"It's not!" Jounouchi glared at the screen. "It's not. We can do it."

"We can't."

"You can't."

"We'll just need to take the restriction."

"You'll just need to take your punishment."

"Shut up." Jounouchi's arms trembled. "Just shut up for once in your life."

"What did you say to me?"

Seto lowered his computer and stood up. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Jounouchi stood to match Seto's height – as much as he could. "Shut up. I don't care. I don't care what you say; I can get this done!"

"Don't talk to me in that tone of voice. You should know better, Kat."

"Don't talk to me like you're better than me," Seto spat.

"Who's the one who did all the work so far?" Jounouchi snarled.

"That's it."

"That's it."

"I'm not taking any more of this."

"I'm not taking any more of this."

"Stand against the wall."

Seto grabbed his computer. Jounouchi flinched. "W-where are you going?"

"Get against the wall, Kat."

"Back to my own cube." Seto scowled at him. "Good luck."

"Get against the fucking wall!"

Jounouchi flinched again when Seto frowned and raised a hand. Seto paused. His hand movements were slower this time.

He placed his hand on Jounouchi's forehead. "You're burning up."

"Take off your shirt, Kat. I'm going to burn you."

"You need sleep."

"I'm putting you to sleep for good this time."

"Please," Jounouchi whimpered. "Stop."

Surprise flashed through Seto's eyes.

He took in Jounouchi's appearance. Pale, clammy skin. Clenching and unclenching and clenching fists. Shaky legs. Glassy eyes that were flitting everywhere.

"Jounouchi." His locket burned but he ignored it. "They can't hurt you."

Jounouchi looked up at him. "I-I don't-"

"Don't." Seto shook his hand. "My stepfather abused my brother and I for years. You know this. Don't insult me by saying you don't know what I'm talking about." Jounouchi looked down. Seto placed his hands on Jounouchi's shoulders. "They can't hurt you."

Jounouchi swallowed. "My-my Ma," he choked out. "S-she… My dad was-was fine… H-he-he was a-a dick, but-but he never… he never…"

Seto's arms wound around him and he pulled Jounouchi close. "I know," he murmured.

Jounouchi whimpered and tried to pull away.

"Or maybe… maybe I'll let you live. You're always fun to play with, Kat."

He stopped trying and hung limp in Seto's arms. "Fuck," he whispered. "I'm s-so weak…"

"Yes, you are," Seto agreed. "But when you're weak, you need help. That's what makes you strong again."

Jounouchi bit his lip and brought his hands up. Slowly, he dug his fingers into Seto's shirt.

"Come on," Seto murmured, walking backwards to Jounouchi's bed.

Jounouchi hesitated before following him. Seto sat them down, still holding the other. "Get some sleep," he murmured. "You need it. Badly."

"But-"

"I'll stay with you," Seto assured him. "I won't let her hurt you. Okay?"

Jounouchi nodded and his eyes slipped closed.

When he finally felt Jounouchi's breathing ease, Seto laid him back on the bed and stood.

If they weren't going to use the latest Blue Corp. creation, he had a lot of work to do before morning.

"Not 'gain…"

Miho grabbed Shizuka's hand, clenching it in hers.

Same place, different time. Alley after work.

Shizuka was looking from side to side – blindly. "What? What's going on?" Her seeing-eye dog Kiko growled at the figure.

Mai glared at the figure in front of them. "Just stay behind us, sugar." She glanced at Miho. "Think you can fight?"

Miho shrieked. "L'out!"

Mai whipped out of the way just in time to avoid the blade. Miho pulled Shizuka out of the way as well.

Shizuka stumbled, falling into Miho. "Crystal, what's going on?" She whispered.

"Bad," Miho whimpered.

Mai regained her footing and glared at the figure. "Care to tell me why you're preying on us?" She snapped.

The figure returned the glare. Cold, green blue eyes.

"Which one of you is the Artist?" He asked, pointing the knife at Shizuka and Mai.

Miho shrank back. "T-tell you; no."

"I know you're not, ditzy," he snapped. "I'm talking about these two. You can leave."

Miho grabbed Shizuka's arms and clung to them. "No go!"

The figure ignored her and turned to Mai again. "I'm just doing my job. So if you would kindly tell me which one of you is the Artist, I can be on my merry way."

"How do you even know about the Artist?" Mai snapped. "You're not from our section!"

"I have my sources." The blade swung at her again.

Mai dodged, dropping her bag. She pulled a length out of the side pocket and dodged the knife again.

The figure eyed Shizuka. Miho whimpered and pulled the other girl closer.

"Stay away from them!" Mai snarled. She unfurled the length of rope that she had fashioned into a whip and she lashed it.

Her aim had gotten better; the knife clattered to the ground.

The figure tried to pick it up again, but Mai lashed the whip. It hit his hand and he jumped back.

"She's blind," Mai snapped. "You really think she could be the Artist? And I'm a model. I can't afford the amount of sleep the Artist loses. If you want alibis from me, call Blaire. She's my modelling partner; I work with her until curfew. Most of the time, I'm with her when the Artist strikes."

The figure's eyes narrowed. "And if I don't believe you?"

"Then come after me on my own, coward, and I'll give you a fight," Mai snapped. She lashed the whip at the ground by her feet. "Now get out of here."

The figure darted out of the alley.

Mai rolled up her whip again and turned to Miho and Shizuka. "Are you two okay?"

"What just happened?" Shizuka asked. Her voice was shaking, but she seemed more confused than afraid.

"Bad man," Miho whispered. "Scare Crys'al an' Blue an' F'amin'o yes'erday. Think we Ar'ist."

Shit. Miho was scared. This wasn't good.

Her voice was smaller, but it was her speech that gave her away. Falling letters. More than usual.

Shizuka heard it as well. "Crystal, are you okay?"

"Crys'al fine," Miho mumbled.

Mai looked over at Shizuka. "Think you can get back to your cube without us, Princess?"

Shizuka smiled and nodded. "Yeah; Kiko can get me back," she assured her. "And Meerkat is meant to meet me there so I'll be fine."

Mai grinned. "Right. Have fun on your date, hun."

"Thanks." Shizuka waved in their general direction before shuffling after Kiko.

"Di'n't need," Miho mumbled, "to do."

"Yes I did." Mai laced her arms around Miho. Miho buried her head in Mai's shoulder, clinging to her. "You got a fright?"

Miho sniffed and nodded. "Bad man," she whispered.

"I know," Mai cooed, brushing Miho's bangs away from her face. "You're not hurt though, right?"

Miho shook her head. "I fine."

"Good." Mai smiled. She leaned in and pecked Miho's lips.

Miho's eyes widened and she glanced around. "M-Mai, pu'lic!" She hissed. Her anklet burned.

"No one saw," Mai assured her. Miho relaxed and nodded. "Come on. You can stay with me tonight. Okay?"

Miho smiled and nodded again. "'Kay!" She hesitated before taking Mai's hand.

Mai raised an eyebrow. "What happened to being in public?" She asked with a teasing grin.

"No one here," Miho pointed out. "Right?"

Mai nodded. "Right." She squeezed Miho's hand. "No one's here."

He glanced left and right.

The coffins were all blackened. Most people had chosen to take their two hours of privacy half an hour ago – as they were going to sleep.

Retriever's coffin had just gone dark. Blue's was empty, but with all the work that he did for the ICU, Zorc wouldn't punish him. Even if he was caught.

But that coffin was too precious. He had seen some of Blue's files. Far too important to lose.

He passed by some coffins. Strix. Griffin. Calico. Necro. Flamingo. Polar. Meerkat. Princess. Giraffe. Phoenix. Shrew. Lion. Diabound. Skele. Grizzly. Panda. Koala. Panther. Chimp. Jaguar. Dove. All dark.

Lynx's was empty – he was still at the zoo. Another few days and he would be out on good behaviour.

It was ideal. But what was the point in ideal?

If he used that coffin, it would be pointless. He wouldn't pass on the message.

Another empty coffin caught his eye. Crystal's.

He made his way over to it.

He didn't bother looking out for the new security cameras. They couldn't see him properly in the darkness.

They couldn't even see him in the light. Or anyone. They didn't work.

Zorc had put them up to try and scare off the Artist.

It hadn't worked.

He checked inside.

Bed. Empty.

Couch. Vacant.

Kitchen. Spotless.

Floor. Clean.

Bathroom door. Open.

Bathroom. Empty.

Coffin. Empty.

He smirked. "Perfect."

He paused and looked around. Shit. He wasn't meant to talk. He was meant to stay silent.

No one. No one came out to grab him. Perfect.

Perfect.

He turned to Crystal's coffin and pulled something out of his pocket. Sparks broke the darkness.

What matters most is how one walks through fire.

And he planned to dance through it.

"Miho. Miho, wake up."

Miho blinked open her eyes. "What?" She mumbled rubbing one eye.

It was bright. Too bright.

"What time?" She asked. "Late?"

"It's late, but we're not. It's three."

Miho blinked.

"In the morning."

Miho groaned and turned onto her side again, squeezing her eyes shut. "Sleep more."

She expected Mai to chuckle and wind her arms around her waist, kiss the side of Miho's neck, apologise for waking her and go back to sleep.

Or at least go back to sleep.

"Miho, wake up!" Mai insisted. "Come on!"

Miho groaned and looked up at her.

Mai's hair was a tousled mane of gold. Miho still wasn't sure how she got the name Polar.

Harpy would have suited her better. Or Dragon.

Or Harpy.

Had she said that already?

"Miho!"

Miho sighed and sat up. "What?"

Mai tugged at her hand. "Get up! Come on!"

Miho frowned. Mai was still in the silky purple nightdress she wore that night.

"Why no dress?"

"Just come on!" Mai tugged her hand again. Panicked now.

Miho stood up and stumbled after her. "Wait! Shoe!" She whined as Mai pulled her to the door.

Mai ignored her and pulled her outside. The heat hit Miho first.

Her eyes widened. Fire. She squeezed Mai's hand. No wonder she was panicked. "What happen?"

Mai shook her head and pulled her closer to the fire. A group was outside it. Some were sobbing.

Some were clinging to one another.

Zorc was glaring at the fire.

"What happen?" Miho repeated. Louder.

A few people turned towards her.

"Crystal!" Anzu shrieked, lunging at her and throwing her arms around her.

About six others followed her lead.

Miho staggered slightly. "What?" She whimpered.

"Guys, give her some room!" Mai snapped.

People stepped back a bit, giving Miho view of the fire. Her eyes widened. "That… That my cube?" She whispered.

"Yes," Zorc hissed.

She flinched as he strode closer to her. "What… What happen?" She repeated.

"The Artist," Yugi mumbled. "He… He burned it down."

"And why weren't you in it?" Zorc asked.

Miho glanced at Mai. Mai stepped forward. "She was with me. We were attacked by someone earlier on our way home from work, and Crystal was panicked so she came to my cube for a while and fell asleep. I didn't want to wake her."

"Well you should have." Zorc grabbed Miho's wrist. "You know the rules on restrictions. No-"

"No exceptions," Mai finished. "Yes, we know."

No exceptions bar Seto and Atem. But Miho was in enough trouble already; she didn't want to add to it.

"Exactly."

"But she's alive!" Mai exclaimed. "If she had gone in there, she would have burned to death!"

Zorc snorted and turned away, dragging Miho behind her. "Follow me."

Even if he hadn't commanded it, they would have. More than half the section was already following him.

Mai knew where they were going. Miho did too. She began struggling, but Zorc's grip was too strong. He pulled her up the wooden steps and strapped her hand to the wooden block.

She whimpered and pulled at it, but it wouldn't break.

The rest of the section watched as Zorc picked up a knife from the table at the edge of the stage. He walked back to the knee-high block that Miho was strapped to in the middle of the stage and forced her to her knees.

"I want everyone to watch closely," he called. "This is a message to everyone who thinks that they're an exception to the rules. Everyone!"

He held Miho's hand steady and swung the knife. She shrieked as her pinky finger hit the floor with a tiny thud.

Mai took a step forward, but Mana held her back.

"You'll make things worse," she mumbled, even as Miho's wails rang through the air.

Zorc unstrapped her hand and she held it to her chest, cradling it.

"This is also a message to the Artist," he called. "Whoever he – or she – is, they need to know this. If they don't give themselves in, I'm not above hurting others to get to them."

He looked down at Miho and pulled her to her feet. She sobbed and shuffled down the steps.

Zorc glared at Mai as she rushed forward. "Keep her in your unit for now," he commanded, "until we get hers running again." He cast a glance at the still-ablaze cube. "I'm going to call the ICU fire brigade." His gaze raked the group. "Everyone back to your units now!" He barked before stalking away.

Everyone rushed up to Miho – even Ushio. "Here," he muttered, handing her the bandana he always wrapped around his arm.

Mai took it and tied it around Miho's stub of a finger to stem the blood. "Thanks Grizzly," she mumbled.

"I'm going to kill him," Mana mumbled. "Whoever he is."

Shizuka took her hand and squeezed it. "We don't even know if it was the Artist."

"It was," Atem muttered. "There's a quote written in ashes."

Miho sniffed and looked at the ground in front of her cube. Tears blurred her vision, but she didn't need to make it out. Yugi read it.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. You may spill our blood, but we won't let it rust…" He looked up. "What does he mean?"

Anzu's eyes were wide. "That's… That's from an essay I wrote last month," she mumbled. "The main character died and his sister was saying it. She meant that even though he had been killed, they would keep him alive by fighting to avenge him, hence we won't let it rust."

Bakura growled and kicked the ground. "That bastard," he whispered.

"Shut up. All of you," Mai snapped. Miho was still sobbing, and the blonde held her to her chest. "Get back to your cubes before Zorc does something again."

The crowd began to disperse.

Ushio glanced at Miho. "I have a remedy in my cube that helps shock," he offered.

Mai smiled and shook her head. "Thanks, Grizzly, but not right now. In the morning?"

He nodded and followed the group to the cubes.

Mai cupped Miho's face and gently dried her tears. "It's okay, Gem. You're a big girl; I know you can handle this."

Miho sniffed and shook her head, a fresh onset of tears pouring down her cheeks. "I-I s-sorry, M-Mai…"

"What for?" Mai murmured.

"S-Shoul'n't 'ave gone to you cube," Miho sobbed. "Shoul' 'ave stay in my…"

Mai shook her head. "Gem, don't think like that. If you had stayed in there, you could have died."

Miho sniffed again. "B-B-Bu' now you w-wor-wor-"

"I can handle a bit of worry," Mai assured her. She brushed Miho's bangs away from her face. "I can take care of myself, Gem. I'll be fine. Think about yourself for once."

Miho sobbed again and shook her head. Ca't…"

"Yes you can." Mai pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "I believe in you." Miho sniffed and nodded. Mai dried Miho's tears again. "Let's get you back to our cube and cleaned up. Okay?"

Again, Miho nodded.

Our cube. It hadn't been five minutes and Mai was already saying 'our cube'.

Mai kept her arms around Miho the whole way back. "I sorry," Miho kept whispering.

She knew Mai couldn't hear her, and if she did, she would only assure her that there was nothing to apologise for.

But sometimes, Miho just needed to apologise.

Even if there was nothing to apologise for.

DD: Well that was the longest chapter to date. I included Puppyshipping, Glamourshipping and Sparkleshipping for you guys so I hope you enjoyed. Please vote and review!