DARK HIGHWAY
Chapter 1/alright

"LET'S GET WASTEEEEED!" came Joey's voice, as he was entering Marik's and Aka's apartment, along with Duke and Tristan. They were quick – just a few minutes ago everyone ran out of booze.
"Party host, coming through!" Akane half said, half yelled making her way to the guys. The music was loud. "I'll be taking these!" she grabbed the few bottles of champagne to put them in ice.

Winter. December 23rd. Marik's birthday. Aka, being the loud and active type, threw him a party and invited some old 'battle city' buddies.

"Yugi! Tea!" she greeted, as Yugi and Tea finally arrived.
"Hey, Akane! Where's Marik, we got some boxes for him to open!" he said, holding up his gift.
"Ah, just throw them on the table over there, I don't think he'll be opening anything today!" she laughed, pointing to the pretty drunk Marik trying to play darts with some others.
"Haha, alright! Have anything drinkable?" Yugi asked.
"Ahh, we only got alcoholics… As much as I hate to say it, Yug, I'm not much of an underage drinking enthu-"
She could not finish the sentence – Yugi transformed into the Pharaoh.
"…aaand you're over 5000 years old now – knock yourself out!" Aka said, gesturing to the table full of drinks.

Akane and Marik moved to Domino just a few weeks ago. They were thinking about it for a while, and as soon as Ishizu got a job at the museum, it was settled. Odion didn't want to stay alone back in Egypt either, so Ishizu got him a job at the same museum – as a security guard.
Odion was also asked never to use the words "Master Marik" ever again. Now, they were changed to"brother"…

Ishizu caught up with the busy party host: "Even if I don't like seeing my little brother drinking more than he can handle, I have to admit, Akane, you really know how to throw a party…"
Aka smiled, "I do my best! And I wish I could enjoy it more, I barely got to spend any time with Marik, there's always something needed…"
"Hey Aka, we're out of ice!" came Duke's voice.
"See what I mean?"
Ishizu smiled and left Akane to her duties.
I swore to myself that I'll make this party good, but I didn't really think that it would be so much work…
"Oh, dear, is he really worth all this?"
Yes, and you will never understand it. Now get out, Yami, I have enough things to worry about.
"You're always busy when I come to talk to you."
Yeah, I say that because I hate you, but now I'm actually busy, leave me alone.
"Alright, darling…"

Who said Yami Marik was gone? After everyone thought that they got rid of him, Yami Marik hid himself in Akane's head. Her head was just really easy to get into.
There were a few differences, though:
She never called him Yami Marik. He's nowhere close to Marik. He's just… Yami now.
He can't argue with her much. The first days he was torturing her non-stop, until Aka's head started to hurt like hell. Apparently, if her head hurts, his hurts ten times more. Now she can threaten him and cause him pain. The tables have turned and Aka was in charge now. So they have to get along.
Yet he refuses to leave her head.
And Akane refuses to tell anyone about him being there. Not even Marik. Nobody.

"Hey Aka, Bakura passed out on your sofa…" Tristan said when she was walking by.
"Yeah? Well, someone had to, sooner or later."

The British boy was back. Aka never found out how he escaped the Shadow Realm. And so did the spirit of the ring, but only Marik and Akane know about him. He tried helping Marik back in the tournament, at least, so he counted that as a favor. He's not entirely the Pharaoh's favorite person, as he said, so they were keeping it low.

Akane made more ice and decided to have a break. She found a can of cider and then found Marik, who had just lost another game of darts. "You suck at darts, blondie!" she said, as she was approaching him.
"No, it's because I'm drunk…"
"But Marik, you were just saying that you're not drunk when you were playing a game with Odion…" Joey said.
"I'm not drunk… Who said I was drunk?"
"…Come on Marik, time to sit down!" Aka dragged him to a nearby sofa. "I got a question. Is this your first time drinking?"
"No… Maybe… Yeah… Wait, what's that supposed to mean, you're younger than me…"
"Italy is an interesting place, you know."

For the two years that Akane didn't have her memory, she was living in Italy. As a teenager, of course, she had adventures of her own, which Marik is yet to find out about. Someday.

"Well I can say that I'm fine… I'm damn fine… Ra, I am so fine that…" Marik suddenly stopped.
"Huh?"
"Akane I don't feel so good."
"Need some help?"
"No, the bathroom isn't that far, I'll be fine…" he said, getting up.
But soon Akane heard a crash behind her.
And that's where my break ends.

Maybe it isn't visible now, but Akane was a good influence on Marik. Apart from him collapsing and possibly passing out just now because of what Akane let him drink, she was good influence. He now has friends, he's not a psycho trying to take over the world… he actually has a life now.

"Someone get Marik back on his feet, I hear the doorbell…" Aka said, going to the door. "Who is it?"
"Kaiba Corp!"
Aka opened the door. "Hey, I remember you, you're the guy from the tournament!" she said.
"Why yes! Ah, I am here because Mr. Kaiba could not make it to your party, so he asked me to deliver this gift."
"Oh, thanks, man!" she took a spare can of beer she found standing around. "Here, for the trouble of walking here!"
"Haha, thank you miss Naomi, have a good party!"
Aka closed the door.

She was still Naomi to Kaiba. He never found out because he was too distracted by how rich and selfish he is. But Mokuba knew that her real name is Akane – his little brother, the one than she saved from falling into death. Sweet kid, he is! And at least Kaiba sent a gift. He didn't make it to the party because, once again, he was too busy being rich and selfish.

She put the gift box along with the others.
"Aka, we're out of wine!"
Oh f*cking hell. she thought. It was her turn to do a run to the store. "I'll be right back, guys, don't burn our apartment down!"
Akane threw her coat on and made her way to the door, noticing the sofa that Bakura was in empty. Well look who woke up. I wonder where he went; I didn't really see him… Probably in the bathroom…
It wasn't very cold outside. Winters in Domino were never too cold, they didn't even have snow. She locked the door and spun around.
"Hello."
"Waitwhat-!? Oh. Bakura, you startled me!" she shrieked. "You don't just sneak up on people like that!"
"Sorry. I was getting some fresh air. Or actually attending the party a bit." He said. It was the spirit of the ring.
"Ah, sad that you have to hide like that. You really think people would notice you there? I mean, you look like Ryou…" They started walking towards the store.
"Akane, my hair goes up making me look like I have a bat in my head and my voice is a lot deeper than Ryou's. Believe me, they would. Also, would you like to go to Egypt?"
"But come on, it's not like-wait, what?!"
"Thought so."

If everyone lived happily ever after, there would be no reason to continue this story.

He was as quick as lightning – the cloth with chemicals was soon on Akane's mouth, almost instantly putting her to sleep, without letting her make a single sound.
"Time to go back to Egypt, pretty-face." Bakura said, carrying her to his car.

AN: So welcome to the sequel of DR! Everyone, except Yugi, is now over 18. Because shut up. I honestly don't encourage underage drinking, but I can't really judge people, since I do that myself on occasions.
Some stuff is OOC, like Marik drinking, even. But to hell with it, I mean it's a sequel of a fanfic, things change… Akane changed him, blame her :D
Hope you like this so far. There's gonna be a lot of superstitious stuff later! And MAGICS!