I awoke again to the sound of footsteps in the hall. I rolled over, pretending not to hear, trying to go back to sleep. Then suddenly, the door opened, then was closed again softly, as if whoever it was didn't want to wake me.

The footsteps approached my bed, and a moment later, the mattress sank down as the presence sat beside me. My mind, still foggy from sleep, panicked slightly, wondering who the visitor was. It only took a moment for me to remember where I was, and that they could only be Bakura.

But the realization that Bakura was sat beside me on my bed made me tense. Why was he here? What did he want from me? And did he know how I got back from the Shadow Realm? Who was pulling me along in my dream?

I then felt a cool hand on my forehead, brushing my white hair out of my eyes, before it rested on my shoulder.

"Sleep, Aria. Everything is alright."

Bakura's voice was soft and kind, and at his command, I felt myself drift off once again.

*

The next time I woke up, it was mid-afternoon. Bakura's presence beside me had disappeared. Not that I had expected him to just sit there and watch me sleep.

I sat up and stretched. Finally, my strength had returned. Well, enough to keep me from passing out, at least.

I got out of bed, and the first thing I looked for was my journal. I found it on the bedside table, along with my purse and Duel Disk, which Bakura must've removed from my arm while I was sleeping.

I picked up my journal and quickly scanned the pages, checking if there was anything different. It seemed to have gone untouched, and I relaxed as relief washed over me. I put the journal back on the table, then left the room to search for Bakura.

I found him on the couch reading a book. He glanced up at the sound of me entering, and I saw his shoulders drop slightly and the smallest hint of a smile on his lips. He was happy to see me okay.

I crossed the room and sat down beside him, suddenly feeling tired again. Was staying in the Shadow Realm really supposed to make me this exhausted?

"How long was I out?" I asked, closing my eyes and leaning back into the soft cushions.

"About a day or so. You sure have some catching up to do in the tournament. And your stupid friends haven't left me alone the entire time."

I sighed. "Sorry. I'll make up something to tell them." I opened my eyes and faced Bakura. "But what happened? All I remember is going to the Shadow Realm. Sometime after I blacked out, I had this strange dream, and, the next thing I knew, I was back."

"Well, your escape fooled Yugi. He searched the room for you, then left when you weren't there. Then, when you hadn't returned, I had to go in and find you. You were unconscious and had dropped your journal somewhere along the way."

I felt my shoulders slump. "I'm sorry. I've just been nothing but trouble to you recently."

"Don't blame yourself. Blame Yugi. If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't have to be hiding."

"You're right," I said, sitting up a little taller. It was all his fault. And I hated him for it.

I shook my head. What was I saying? I didn't hate Yugi. What was going on with me?

"Well," I said, trying to shake the thoughts from my head. "I should get going, or else I won't have anyone to duel against."

"Are you sure? You aren't back to full strength."

"You could always come and keep an eye on me." I smiled at him while standing.

"I can't, Aria, you know that."

"Yes you can. Isn't hiding in the shadows what you do best? No one will see you."

I could see Bakura's resolve wavering. I smiled at him, and the next time he glanced up at me, he looked away, then stood.

"Fine. But you can't acknowledge I'm there."

"Deal!" I exclaimed happily.

He sighed, then made his way to the door. "Let me go first to make sure no one is watching for you."

I nodded and Bakura left the house. In the few minutes I waited, I went back upstairs to collect my things, shoving my journal into my purse and strapping my Duel Disk to my wrist. I was back downstairs a few minutes before he came back to let me know that the coast was clear, and that we should leave immediately before someone came around looking for me.

When we reached the edge of the city, we split off, him tailing me wherever I went from the shadows, and me searching for my first victim.