Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Spiritual Heart ❯ Chapter 5

"Hey, you guys seen Bakura?" Joey asked as he came running up behind Yugi, Tristan, and Tea. "Haven't seen him since school got out. Was gonna walk with him back to his house."

The others looked up as he approached. It was Yugi who answered first. "Yeah, he said he was going back to geometry to get some extra assignments. He said not to wait for him."

"Where's his geometry class?" Joey asked. "I'll wait up for him. The kid just got outta the hospital, he shouldn't be runnin' around by himself yet."

"I'm not sure," Yugi admitted. "I'm sure he'll be a while if you want to go find him. I have to get back to the shop. Promised Grandpa I'd help unpack some things."

Joey nodded. "Sure, you guys go on. I'm gonna find him and walk with him, kay?"

"Sure," Tristan replied. "See ya, Joe."

Joey waved and headed back into the school. Most of the Freshman geometry classes were in the same wing, so he dashed off in that direction. It was only a few halls down from where he was but he still walked fast. After all, he could not let Bakura sneak out past him. He turned a corner sharply and barely skidded to a stop in time to avoid crashing into the white-haired boy who was coming the other way.

"Joey!" Bakura exclaimed sounding surprised. "What're you doing here?"

"Lookin' for you," the blonde replied. "How was your first day back?"

Bakura lowered his eyes, sighing. "I've missed a lot of new material in most of my classes. Not sure how I'm going to be able to catch up with everything."

"Yeah," Joey agreed. "I betchu got a lotta crap to get done. Bein' gone for what, three weeks?"

"About that, yes," Bakura replied. "I should really get home and start on this."

"I'll walk with ya," Joey volunteered, putting a hand on the white-haired boy's back.

"You don't have to do that," Bakura said. "I'm perfectly able to walk there by myself."

"Yeah, sure," Joey replied. "But I'll go with ya, just in case." The two boys walked together out of the building and onto the sidewalk, side by side. They said nothing for about a block and Joey looked over at his companion curiously. Bakura was staring intently at the ground he was walking on, his white bangs hiding his features in shadows. Joey cleared his throat in hope of lightening the mood.

"So… How've you been doin'?" the blonde asked.

"Well, I suppose," Bakura replied. "Thank you."

There was another awkward silence as the boys continued down the sidewalk. They still had three blocks to go and Joey was not normally one for silent walks. Still, he was enjoying Bakura's company. Ever since their life-threatening situation, he had felt a special connection with him. Like it was his job to protect him now.

"You wanna hang out sometime?" he asked. "Like after school tomorrow?"

"Oh, I don't know Joey," Bakura replied, looking up toward the blonde's face. Toward his face, Joey noticed. He was not making eye contact. "I'll still have a lot of homework to get done."

"Right," Joey nodded, looking into the boy's eyes. Still Bakura did not look directly at him. "Well, what if I-- I dunno, come over and help you with stuff?" That was a bad idea in and of itself. Joey was not exactly an honor student and he could not tell a triangle from a mitotic spindle. Still, it would give him a chance to spend some time with Bakura.

"That would be nice," Bakura said, smiling a little. "I could really use the extra help."

Joey smiled back at him. The kid had no clue how bad his grades were. Bakura went back to studying the sidewalk and Joey was trying to think of something else to break the uneasy silence when a strong hand suddenly shot out from around the corner of a building and grabbed a handful of white locks. Bakura cried out in pain and surprise as he was yanked backwards, dropping his school case and books. Joey immediately ran toward the figure standing in the shadows to which the hand belonged to and with one smooth motion, had knocked the figure out cold with a single punch to the side of the head.

"You okay, Bakura?" he asked the white-haired boy who was now in a seated position on the floor of the alleyway.

"I think so," he replied, a hand massaging the back of his head where the locks had been ripped.

Joey reached down and helped Bakura to his feet. That was when he looked around and saw that the very same teens from the warehouse were slowly surrounding them. He sucked in his breath, gazing at the all-to-familiar faces as they came forward, each holding some form of steel weapon.

"Joey…!" Bakura gasped, having recognized them as well. He grabbed onto one of Joey's shirt sleeves and hid behind the blonde in fear.

"What's wrong, pussy?" one of the teens sneered. "Remember us?"

Bakura made a slight whimper. Joey pushed him behind him farther so that the white-haired boy was practically trapped between the blonde and the brick wall. The opposing teens closed in farther.

"Get the fuck outta here," Joey snarled. "You proved your point last time."

"We didn't even get halfway done last time," the other sneered. "We was just gettin' started."

"You bastards!" Joey spat. "You almost beat him to death!"

An unnerving wave of laughter came from the teens around them. Bakura buried his face in the back of Joey's jacket, his body trembling in terror. Joey backed up a bit more, placing a soft hand on the boy's right thigh. He had to protect Bakura, no matter what happened to him.

"C'mon, you gotta problem with us? C'mon bitch!" another of the teens beckoned. "Let's see whatchu got!"

Joey resisted the urge to dash forward and clock the boy upside his head. He had to stay between them and Bakura. "Fuck off," was his reply instead.

"Joey!" came Bakura's startled cry as he felt something grab his arm and pull him to the ground. Joey barely had time to turn to see what had happened when something struck him in the back of the head, sending him reeling. It took a moment for him to regain his bearings, but eventually he was able to get a solid stance, facing most of the boys before him. He had to duck as a steel pipe came flying through the air at him and he dropped to the ground, using his legs to take out the backs of three boys' knees. He stood up again, leaping backwards as a few fists came toward him. He dashed forward and struck a teen on the side of his head with his elbow. He felt someone grab him around the waist and he struck backwards with his elbow but hit nothing. He reeled in surprise and then a fist connected with the side of his jaw, sending him toppling over. He hit the concrete hard, landing strangely on his side. When he tried to stand, he screamed in pain and fell to the ground again. He felt a harsh kick to the side of his head and another to his ribs and he laid on the concrete, dazed and confused.

"Let me go!" Bakura shrieked at the boy holding his arm. He gave a wild kick and was able to make contact with his captor's groin. He groaned and released his wrist and Bakura turned to find his blonde companion. He saw a large group of the teens gathered in somewhat of a semicircle around something, something that Bakura assumed was Joey. He bit his bottom lip as he contemplated what to do. He was no fighter and the teens had already proven all to well that Bakura was no match for them. Suddenly, his decision of action was made for him when he felt a strong blow to the side of his head and he collapsed, falling to the concrete in a pain-ridden heap. He felt himself being ripped from reality and was only able to utter a small cry, "Yami…?"

The Spirit of the Millennium Ring rose to his feet, tottering a bit from the physical strain. He was dizzy and could barely see straight, but he was able to dodge another blow from the steel pipe that had struck his vessel a few moments before. He then reached forward and grabbed one of the teens by the throat, his strong fingers wrapping around his neck. The boy before him made a strangled sound of surprise. The Spirit sneered evilly, his Millennium Ring shimmering with a bright light. In one instant, the boy's soul, along with the other teens' were gone. Limp bodies fell to the ground. Yami Bakura himself threw the teen to the ground and lowered himself to one knee, blood leaking from the side of his head, streaming down his cheek and into his mouth. He licked his lips, reveling in the taste. But it was not long before the Spirit was forced to lay his body on the ground in pure exhaustion. He would have to have a serious discussion with his vessel about these gang fights when he woke up.