Going to the airport and parting with Odion and Ishizu was challenging for Marik. There were a lot of tears. Mainly from Marik and Ishizu. Odion didn't cry. He's too badass for that. Evidence being his kick ass face tattoo. Marik is likely to have only continued to board the flight because he wanted independence and Bakura was going to Domino, with or without him. (Or so he said)

We were fortunate enough to have gotten on the same flight as Yugi and his mourning friends. Joey waves to me as I take my seat. Joey never seemed to have a problem with me.

"You are now free to move about the cabin." The robotic voice of the intercom tells us. It didn't take too long for Joey to get out of his seat to greet me properly. I undo my seatbelt and stand to greet him.

I hug Joey, he's staring at me.

"We never really got to talk when we were in Egypt." Joey comments.

"Yeah, sorry about that." I reply.

"It's not only your fault, I saw you when Atem... passed on but didn't talk to you." he bows his head.

"Why are you going home so soon?" I ask.

"Being in his tomb, it makes me feel uneasy." Joey murmurs.

"I agree." I lie.

"You only just got to Egypt though didn't you?" I am asked.

"It's fine, Ry' missed his family. And Kaiba called..." I shrug.

"You still owe him a duel." Joey smirks.

"Oh trust me, I know." I beam.

"Marmalade! Settle a bet for me." Akefia calls, peering over the seats in which Ryou and I were sat in; my best bet is that Ryou went to the bathroom.

"Sure." I reply, turning away from Joey.

"Diabound vs Magic Master." Marik joins the conversation.

"Tough call. I think honestly that Diabound would win if it was a one on one battle but if there were dark attribute cards in the graveyard then the Magic Master would win." I reply.

"I knew it!" Fluffy roars. I giggle.

"Nice to see you Marik." Joey smiles.

"Likewise." Marik didn't really know Joey that well.

"Who are you; I didn't catch your name." Joey asks Akefia.

"Joey! You're taking ages!" I hear Tea whine. I grimace as she struts toward us. "Oh, hello Hadley." She sneers.

"Hello." Akefia unbuckles his seatbelt. "My name is Akefia. I like long walks in the park and to kiss my girlfriend full on the lips." Akefia replies, each word dripping in sarcasm, he then puts his arm around my shoulders. I smirk as Tea's eyes bulge. Despite her reaction, Joey smiles at us warmly.

"It's nice to meet..." he is cut off by Tea's wedged sandal stabbing the top of his converses. "Nyeh! What was that for you dumb broad." He hisses, then being dragged away from us by his ear to re-join Yugi and his friends.

The plane ride afterwards was short. Nobody says much to anyone. I sit there in silence, allowing Akefia's words to race through my mind. He called me his girlfriend. I don't know what to think.

Once we land, Ryou leaves us with a merry wave.

"Ryou, tell them that I'm okay!" I instruct, referring to his parents. He doesn't seem to have heard me.

Once we have our baggage, we leave the airport; I'm ready to go back to the apartment. As soon as the door swings open I sprint inside and spin. I'm home. We're home! Everything will be better again.

"Someone's happy to be home." Bakura grins.

"Shut up Fluffy." I shove him childishly.

Akefia and Marik look at each other and then both collapse onto the sofa.

"Let's put the TV on, I've not seen the shiny box since I was a child!" Marik enthuses. Bakura then switches on the TV; The Card Game Chanel is on. Re-runs of Battle City. I grin perching on a sofa arm, watching the duel between Bakura and Atem take place.

"You're an excellent actress Mala." Akefia compliments, putting his arm around me, only causing me to topple backwards and fall on his lap. Bakura laughs, seizing my camera and snapping a photo of us, picture, now documented falls to the floor, it looks to be under the sofa.

"Fluffy you demonic limey!" I growl, pouncing on my friend.

"Are you just going to let her beat Bakura up?" Marik asks Akefia. He nods at Marik.

"Frig you Scar!" Marik sneers, joining the desperate yet feeble attack on Bakura. Instead of helping me though, Marik rolls me off of his aibou and snatches the camera, tossing it to Akefia.

"Give me it." I command, jumping onto the sofa.

"Look at the picture." Akefia brushes a loose strand of my marmalade hair from my face.

"It's not a bad photo." Marik points out, looking at the shot from over Akfia's shoulder.

"Good point." I note. "Fluffy, if you give up duelling would you go into photography?" I tease

"Sod off Marmalade." Bakura smirks, collapsing into the recliner.

We lounge about for a while, only getting up occasionally for a can of cola or some ice cream or cubes or just to stand.

The peace was interrupted by the landline ringing. I sigh, getting up to answer it, only for Marik to beat me to it.

"Hello, Stevens, Ishtar, Bakura and whatever his last name is residence. Who may you wish to speak?" Marik sings. We all blink, baffled.

"Hadley, its Kaiba." Blondie ushers me forward. I reluctantly take hold of the phone.

"Hello?" I begin.