(Hey all! This is the second story to be updated for my birthday, and I just wanted to quickly apologize for not uploading on this story as much as I used to. I've been so busy with school, and this past summer I was working really hard on a new story I wanted to post. I want to get back into this story, but as I've said many times, I need to figure out how to execute it before actually writing it, or I'll completely fall apart. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy!)

I searched the city for a while, trying to find someone I knew I could beat. I didn't want to challenge anyone too strong and be eliminated in the first round, but I also didn't want to take on the weakest duelist.

I could feel Bakura's gaze as he watched me from the shadows, and it made me feel so much better knowing he was watching and cheering me on. Well, hopefully, anyway.

It was a few moments later that I laid eyes on my victim. He was wandering the city as well, a duel disk strapped to his wrist and his eyes focused as he scanned the area, searching for someone to duel. He eventually made eye contact with me, and we both nodded.

I approached him with the most confident look I could muster. He didn't appear all that tough, but he definitely wasn't a weakling, either. This was the perfect opportunity to prove to Bakura that I would last in this tournament, and that he had nothing to worry about.

*

The duel went on for a while, and we were surprisingly neck and neck for the majority of it. He countered most of my moves, while I countered his. But in the end, I made the final move and dropped his life points to zero.

"Wow," he said, gaping at me. "Who knew girls were so tough?"

I flipped what I could of my chin length white hair. "I did. Now fork over your locator card!"

The boy approached me and handed over his clear locator card along with a Duel Monsters card. I took the locator card, but refused his monster.

"But the rules-"

"Oh, screw the rules. I don't want to take your monster."

He smiled at me. "Thanks!"

I returned his smile then shooed him off. I had to find other duelists and avoid Yugi and his friends. I had a lot more to deal with then some kid thanking me a million times over.

I made my way toward the center of the city, hoping to find another duelist and get my six locator cards as quickly as possible. But instead of finding a duelist, I found Ally.

"ARIA!!!!" she squealed from the other side of the square. I silently chastised myself for thinking coming here would be a good idea, then looked up at her and forced a smile as she ran toward me.

"OMG!! I haven't seen you for, like, AGES! Where have you been? Yugi and Tea have been searching everywhere for you!"

"Yeah, it's been a whole, what? Three days?"

"Yeah! Why haven't you talked to me?"

I sighed. "I've been busy with the tournament, Ally." I felt a pang of guilt as the lie left my lips, but I ignored it. "I haven't had the time to talk with anyone."

"So you've just been training or whatever?" she asked, pouting.

"Yes. I would never just randomly start avoiding my friends."

She tilted her head. "Then why are you avoiding Yugi and Tea?"

"Because I don't like them, remember? We've been over this."

"Oh. I thought you guys had settled that out, the way they all keep staring at you. But anyway, can I hang around and watch you duel? How many of those shiny clear cards do you have yet? What about..."

I tuned her out as she got excited and started spitting out a never-ending stream of questions. I scanned the area for any sign of a duelist, and my gaze meets the one I was trying so hard to avoid.

He seemed relieved to see me, and started making his way through the crowd.

I turned and grabbed Ally's hand, then pulled her along as I ran through the crowd, fleeing from Yugi.

"Aria! Why are we running?" Ally shouted over the other people yelling around us.

"Away from Yugi!" I called back. "Don't ask questions, just run!"

She seemed hesitant, but ran along with me as I searched for a place to hide. I was so frantically searching, that I didn't realize that someone was in my path until it was too late.

I looked up at him from where I been knocked to the ground. I had never seen this man before. He appeared to be several years older than me and Ally. He had jet black hair, a slight stubble, and was wearing a duel disk on his arm.

Great, this is exactly what I needed right now. I thought sarcastically to myself.

"Well," he said in a deep voice while looking us over. "You're a couple of pretty girls." His gaze landed on my duel disk. "You in the tournament?"

I nodded while Ally shook her head.

He chuckled and gave us what I assumed was supposed to be a charming smile, but really just made him look like a creep.

"Well then, pretty thing. Wanna duel?" He held his hand out to me, as if to help me up. I ignored it and got to my feet, then turned and help Ally up.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Yugi coming closer. I turn back to the man before us.

"Depends. How many locator cards have you got? I don't want to duel someone who isn't a challenge."

"Aria," Ally whispered. "This guy is a creep. Not to mention way too old for us. Let's just go."

I ignored her as he pulled out two locator cards. So he'd won a single duel, at least.

I could hear Yugi calling out to me. I ignored him and nodded to the man in front of me. "Alright. You've proven you aren't a total loser. Let's duel."