Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Time's Up ❯ Chapter 5

Jaden hefted another box of Duel Monster cards out into the shop to do more stock. It was the last box that she had to open and then re-organixe all the cards that had spilled...Jaden's mind numbly went through her task at had as Mr. Moto dusted and cleaned all over the store. From above them, they heard a loud thud, then a burst of laughter followed. Jaden smiled.

"Sounds like Joey lost a game of Duel Monsters again." Jaden said. Mr. Moto chuckled gently.

"Jaden, I can't help but notice that you have the same symbol on your bracelet as Yugi does on his puzzle. Were'd you come across it?" Mr. Moto had stopped dusting and was rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Jaden continued to place cards on the shelves.

"My parents gave it to me after taking a trip to Egypt."

"Oh, so you do have parents!" Mr. Moto exclaimed.

"We all have parents, Mr. Moto. Mine just happend to be dead." She stopped and looked at him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry..."

"You didn't kill them. Hey don't worry about it Mr. Moto. I've been on my own for awhile now. This bracelet was the last gift my parents gave to me. I haven't taken it off yet."

A jingling of bells let the two know that someone had just walked in. It was Bakura, but Jaden had her back facing the door. Bakura looked around and then spied Jaden. She was putting the last card on her shelf, and picked up the empty box. Not knowing Bakura was behind her, she carried it in the backroom. Bakura turned to Mr. Moto.

"Is Yugi here?" he softly asked.

"Yes. Just head on up. A few others are there as well."

Bakura nodded his thanks and headed for the upstairs home. Jaden stepped out of the backroom.

"Hey, is there anything else I can do now?" she asked.

"No, my dear. Everything is doen. YOu may go on ahead now. This shift seemed to work out well. Two hours after school, and we'll see how many days a week later on. Now leave and go have some fun."

"Thank you!" Jaden didn't wait just in case he remembered something he wanted her to do. Jaden dashed up the steps, brushing her hair out of the way. Upon doing so, she didn't realize she left a smudge of dirt on her forehead. She pushed open the door and stepped into the living room.

Tristan and Joey were dueling each other and Yugi, Tea` and Bakura were looking one. Tea` heard Jaden come in and turned around to greet her.

"Hey Jaden. How was work?" asked Tea`. Jaden smiled and walked towards the group smiling.

"It's been one of the easiest jobs I've ever had. I liked it....so far.", she peered at Joey and Tristan.

"Who's winning?" Jaden asked.

"I am of course!" JOey said shoving his thumb into his chest.
"Jaden, watch me kick Tristan's butt! AHA!" he said throwing down a trap card. "You're all mine now" yelled Joey. But his triumph was short lived when Tristan flipped over a trap removal card. Joey slumped and Jaden smiled. Yugi and Bakura were still on the other side of Tristan and Joey while the girls were on the opposite side. Bakura looked up at Jaden.

"Hey, Jaden. How are you?" asked Bakura.

"Good. A bit hungry", Jaden said smiling back at him. Bakura's eyes widened and smiling, he walked around the two duelists and ovet towards Jaden. When he reached her, he pulled out a blue bandana. Jaden looked at him confused. With a gentleness he reached out towards her forehead and softly wiped all the dirt off of her forhead. When he was done he smiled and tucked the bandana back into his jeans pocket. Jaden stood still.

"Oh, tahnk you. I didn't realize I had anything on my forehead." jaden said quietly to him.

"You're welcome. IF you'd like to, we can go get a bit to eat, since I'm also a bit hungry myself." Bakura asked nervously.

Jaden nodded, excused herself and went to change out of her dirty work clothes into something clean...and nice. She came back out and Bakura was already outside waiting for her. Tea` winked at her when she was walking towards the door. Tristan and Joey were chocking back laughter and Yugi's face was beet red.

"Ok, what the hell is so funny here?" asked Jaden.

That just caused Tristan and Joey to howl with laughter, spilling onto the ground, cards flying everywhere. Tea` groaned and looked at Jaden.

"The two morons over there teased Bakura for finally having the balls to ask someone out. He got embarrassed and said he'd wait outside for you." Tea` filled her in. Jaden stood still at the door, her hand still on the knob.

"But its not a date or anything..." Jaden said shocked.

"All the girls in school are after him, so I bet you're gonna make some girls really jealous. Plus, he hasn't gone out with a girl since he moved here." Yugi said simply.

"What's wrong with you guys? You three are cute, how come none of you aren't dating anyone?" asked Jaden sincerely.

All three of the guys turned beet red simultaneously. When no one answered, Jaden shrugged her shoulders and walked out the door. For a moment after she left, nobody said anything, then Tea` started laughing hysterically.

"What's so funny?" asked a still beet red Joey.

"I never knew if anybody could ever shut you guys up. The impossible has happend!" Tea' laughed at all three guys expressions.

Yugi felt Yami stirring.

"~Yami, do you think we should go with them? To make sure they'll be ok?~" Yugi asked.

"~No, I have a feeling Jaden will be fine.~" Yami said, and he continued to watch Tea` laugh.

***Jaden and Bakura***

Together they reached the small restaurant a few blocks down from the Game shop. After waiting in line, they ordered, got their food and sat down.

"So, I'm betting you want to know about my bracelet." Said Jaden before taking a bite into her sandwich. Bakura sat still for a breath before nodding his head.

"Alright, My parents are dead. They gave me this bracelet after going on a trip of Egypt. They were both archeologists. They loved their job...but anyways...
They died when they were out on site...I am still not really sure what happend. The bank came and reposesed everything. I had nowhere to go and no one to help me out. No family. I had a few things with me, and one of them was this bracelet. I finally decided to put it on. It looked and sure as heck felt heavy, but as soon as I put it on, I felt this warmth flood through me and a sense of peace. I felt this peace and strength no matter where I was. At night I dreampt about ancient Egypt, but not as it is now, as it was. I know that Yugi's other spirit was the Pharoah and Seto was High Preist. He scared me in the dreams or visions I was having. To tell the truth he still does today."

Jaden stopped talking and started eating. She looked over at Bakura who swallowed and looked at her.

"Yeah, that's how it is with most of us Millenium bearers. In Seto's case, He is the same soul from then and is here toay. His memories aren't completely back. None of ours are. It's all a part of living, just like breathing...for us anyways." Bakura said.

From a table nearby, Jaden kept hearing a bunch of girls talking and giggling and heard Bakura's name more then once. One of them stood up and walked over towards their table. A girl with blond hair trailing down her back with bangs and brown eyes looked at Jaden for a mere second then turned a full smile on Bakura.

"Hey ya Bakura. I was just wondering what you were doing later tonight. Do you want to go out and see a movie with me?" she asked sweetly.

Bakura's eyes widened and Jaden had a huge grin on her face. Bakura looked back at the girl and frowned.

"I'm sorry Ashley, but I already have plans." Bakura replied. Ashley pouted.

"With her? I thought you didn't have a girlfriend." Ashley said twirling a lock of hair. Behind her back, Jaden made a gagging sound. Ashley spun around with malice in her eyes towards Jaden, but by then Jaden had a fake smile plastered on her face. Ashley turned back to Bakura.

"Well fine. But if you get lonely, you can always come and see me. Bye Bakura." Ashley walked away before blowing him a kiss. Her other friends and her dashed outside and were gone. Jaden started laughing.

"Oh, poor Bakura. Why didn't you want to go out with her?" Jaden asked. Bakura shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not interested in fake people." Bakura said. "Plus I heard she puts out, pretty darn fast too." he said smiling at her.

"Gee, couldn't tell!" Jaden said sarcastically. They left the restaurant and headed back towards the game shop. Jaden felt herself relaxing bit by bit as she talked more with Bakura. When they reached the game shop, it was closed so they went around to the back of the building to get it. Stopping at the door, Jaden fished around in her pocket to get her keys out when she felt Bakura's hand on her cheek. She stopped her search and looked at Bakura.

He brought his face within inches of her own. She didn't even breathe, unsure of what was happening.

"It's so nice to be with someone...who understands what its like to be a 'bearer' of these items. To confide in. Whatever you do, please don't run away. And if you have to, run to me." he whispered to her. He let his hand fall down her face he reached down to her free pocket. He shoved a piece of paper in and Jaden felt small shivers running up her spine. He stepped back and Bakura was Bakura again. Shy and a bit goofy.

"Right. See you in school tomorrow Jaden!" he stepped back, waved and turned around, walking down the street and around the corner. After a minute, Jaden pulled her keys out and let her in. She walked upstairs to the living quarters and let herself in. Mr. Moto was reading and Yugi was doing homework. She went into her bedroom and went to sleep.

***the next day***

Jaden was the first one up the next day and was heading towards school earlier then Yugi. She didn't know how to react around him yet and yesterday's events after work had her mind reeling. She just needed some time to herself before the day really started.

When she got to the school, there were some groups of people milling around outside the school talking or playing Duel Monsters. She got to her homeroom and with relief, no one she knew was in there. But the one girl...Ashley was there with her friends already. Jaden ignored them and went to her desk. Their giggling ceased for a moment before erupting loudly within a few seconds. Jaden had a sketchbook out and was idly drawing when she felt someone's presence. She looked up into the face of a jeering Ashley. Jaden looked down and continued to draw.

"Hello Ashley." Jaden said.

"Hi. I just wanted to let you know that Bakura came to my house last night." Ashley said sweetly. Jaden almost stopped moving her hand for a second but made herself keep going. She kept her eyes on the sheet in front of her.

"That's nice. I hope you two had fun." Jaden said smiling. Ashley threw a sharp look at her, her friends then back at Jaden.

"Don't you care he was with me?" Ashley snarled out.

"Not really. He' s not my boyfriend." Jaden said. A lead block just fell into her stomach. For some reason, an image of Bakura getting punched in his cute little face was funny to her and made her smile. Ashley became pissed at Jaden.

"What's so damn funny? You know what's funny? Me wiping that ugly smile off your face!" Ashley yelled. She raised her hand up and Jaden snapped her head up. Before Ashley could even bring it down, someone had grabbed a hold of her wrist. Ashely spun around in surprise, and Jaden was just as surprised at the person who was holding Ashley's wrist! Kaiba!

"Why don't you get out of here Ashley." Kaiba said and threw away her wrist, as though touching her disgusted him. Ashley backed off and retreated back into her group of friends. Kaiba sticking up for the new student was going to be gossip all over school before the first class even started.

Kaiba was staring down at Jaden. She looked down at he sketchbook.

"Thanks." she managed to get out. When he hadn't moved she looked back up at him. He smiled at her and it sent cold shivers down her back and over her body.

"I've heard that you are with Bakura." Kaiba growled at her. She closed her eyes halfway and shook her head.

"No we are not together." Jaden stated.

"He told me everything you said last night." he said. Jaden whipped her head up at him. Kaiba was still smiling down at her. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Get a life." she bit out.

"How about yours." he said. He looked up towards the door and walked away from her just as Yugi, Tea`, Joey, Tristan, Bakura and Duke all walked in. Jaden smiled at everyone but didn't make eye contact with Bakura. He walked over towards her but Jaden stayed forcused on her sketchbook.

"I went over to the game shop this morning to see if you wanted some company to school this morning. Yugi said that you had gone on ahead. Everything alright?" Bakura asked. Tea` and the others were just as curious and stood nearby listening. Kaiba was watching the play between the two as well from his seat.

Jaden nodded. She didn't look up at him at all. Bakura frowned and sat down on the other side of her.

"Is something wrong?" Bakura asked.

"No." Jaden said. Bakura was surprised at her emotionless tone and touched her shoulder. She shrugged it away from him. Inside he felt his spirit stirring but held him back. He wanted to deal with this on his own.

Tea` and the others were at a lost as to what to do. Jaden lowered her head and whispered something to Bakura which made him turn beet red then become angry.

"Who told you that?!" he said.

"Take one guess." replied Jaden. "But what should that bother you Bakura, we are most definately NOT together." Jaden relied, she started filling in shaded areas of her drawing. Bakura stook up and marched over to Ashley and her friends. No one could hear anything but when Bakura came back, Ashley looked like she was going to start crying any second. The first bell rang and Jaden grabbed her stuff and got the heck out of there before anyone could stop her.

She did look over at Kaiba before she left and he was smiling. Enjoying the scene before him.

Though out the day, Jaden wished more then one time that she had never left the street and wasn't in all the trouble she was in. Kaibe seemed to be enjoying her discomfort. Bakura kept looking at her, but Jaden ignored him. She didn't realize, though, that the more she ignored him, the angrier his spirit was becoming. By the end of the day, Bakura was having trouble keeping him inside and quiet.

School was finally over and jaden had gotten her things and was gone before anyone realized it. Bakura ran outside and caught up with Jaden just down the block from the school. He grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"Jaden, you're not being fair. I don't like Ashley. I stopped by at her home to get her to leave me alone, once and for all. Nothing happend!" Bakura louldy said. He was still gripping her arm and wasn't going to let go.

"Sure. Whatever you say Bakura. Now, if you don't mind, I have to go..." Jaden said, trying to yank herself free of him. He wouldn't let go. It was then during that small struggle that Bakura lost the battle with his spirit and his other side took over.

"My dear, you don't understand. I told you once and that's all it should have been. I don't like being treated like this by you!" Bakura growled out.

"Who are you!?" shouted Jaden. Bakura sneered and shoved her up against him.

"So pretty..." growled Bakura.

A wave of darkness hit them and Bakura released her. Jaden saw Kaiba standing behind them, in front of a limo, septer in hand.

"Get in the Limo, now, Jaden." Kaiba growled at her.

Jaden looked at him and back at Bakura. She ran off from both of them down the street towards the game shop.

"Screw you!" she yelled as she ran off. Bakura smiled.

"That can be arranged." he said, and started laughing

Kaiba threw another wave of dark energy at him and jumped back into the limo, to chase Jaden down. Bakura still stayed where he was laughing at the two.