Sacred Soul – Sequel to Dark Blue
Chapter 1: Union
It was silent. The scent of Clorox and isopropyl alcohol permeated the air. There was something sacred in the white lined, hospital room. A soul without a body, longing for a chance at freedom. The small orb of light approached the sleeping figure in the hospital bed.
"Bakura, my dear friend… I'll be needing your assistance once again." Bakura roused from a drug induced sleep, the white hot burning penetrating his chest. With a gasp he clutched his upper body, trying to rid himself of the searing, smolder of pain. His efforts were futile.
It was then, he heard the voice. His heart raced frantically as the tenor speech rang in his ears.
"Ryou Bakura, you are now working for me."
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Bakura stood, palms down, observing himself in the small, bathroom mirror. He didn't look any different. He didn't feel any different. But there was definitely something different about him. He continued to eye his appearance. Staring with charcoal eyes at the parody that was once his private mind.
"Malik, I will not tell you again. Get out of my head this instant!" The respondent laughing was mocking, and Bakura flinched as he heard it, unused to the sound echoing inside his mind.
"I thought I had made myself clear. I don't have anywhere else to go, and besides, I am not sure exactly how to separate myself from you. I have never entered another human so completely before."
"Human?" Bakura gave a rather detestable sneer at the word. "Is that what you think I am?"
"Human, blood-sucker, it makes no difference to me. Whatever you are, I need you at the moment."
"And what do I get out of all this? Surely more than your uninvited company." Bakura folded his arms stubbornly across his chest.
"All I want is my body back, and in return you can have the Millennium rod, I've no use for it anymore."
"Are you mad!? I'm still recovering from my last encounter with that fiend."
"Well, if the Millennium rod means so little to you…"
"Nonsense, I am perfectly capable of the task at hand. But how do I know you'll honor this agreement?" Bakura continued the conversation with his image in the mirror.
"I've no intention of breaking our deal, as I've said before, I need you to help me."
"Well I don't trust you, but it seems I have little choice in the matter." Bakura scoffed at his reflection.
"So we're in agreement then?" Malik's voice echoed with appreciation in Bakura's head.
"Not exactly, but at this point I'll do whatever it takes to get my body back. The Millennium rod is just an added incentive."
"Good, then you acknowledge our verbal contract. We'll need to prepare ourselves, I know of somebody that can help us."
"And who is it that you have in mind?" Bakura jeered sarcastically.
"My sister."
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Bakura didn't need to knock on the door of the apartment house. A quaint, modernized brick building, surrounded by lilies of every shade. The small landscape was charming and well kept, a direct reflection of the sole occupant, perhaps. Before his closed fist had a chance to knock the bright, cherry door, Ishizu had opened it in anticipation of his arrival; astounding the white haired teen as he stood, motionless before her.
"Forgive me for startling you, it was not my intention. Due to my unique gift, I am able to know things before they occur." Ishizu pointed at the Egyptian artifact, held fast to her neck by a gold chain. Bakura eyed it greedily.
"Could it be? The Millennium necklace?" Ishizu's warm smile once again, caught Bakura off guard.
"I see that I am not the only one gifted with such rare and valuable items. Ishizu's gaze fell upon the Millennium ring, hanging guarded around Bakura's neck. "Please, come in, I have been expecting you." She motioned kindly to the inside of her fashionably decorated apartment. Bakura entered, hesitant.
"If you were expecting me, then I assume you already know why it is that I am here." Ishizu's radiant smile held him captive in the warm, clean room.
"I suppose it has something to do with my brother, Malik." Bakura eyed her, entranced by her clairvoyant ability.
"Yes, although that is as much as I was informed of, as well."
"Sister, can you hear me?" Malik's voice left the confines of Bakura's mind and projected outward, towards Ishizu's ears. At that moment, a vague reflection of his former self, ghost-like in appearance, materialized faintly next to Bakura.
"Brother! Is it really you?" Bakura rolled his eyes at the joyous reunion. He remained silent, not hindering the siblings communication.
"Sister, I need your help. I have entered this vessel and I cannot seem to part with it. Though I am in need of it now, I must be able to separate soon, so I am able to join my true body again. Can you help me find a way?"
"Vessel?" Bakura, realizing that Malik was referring to him, huffed the bangs out of his eyes and folded his arms against his chest in frustration.
"Brother, I am unfamiliar with your situation. But I shall see what I can do to help you." Ishizu closed her indigo eyes and sat in silence, concentrating with much effort on something unseen. After a few minutes, a crimson blush flushed her copper cheeks.
"Oh, my." Her words were lined with embarrassment.
"Sister, what is it that you see? Tell me!" Malik's voice was heavy with question.
"There is a way, a temporary way, but I am afraid that you will not like it." She smiled in apology at Bakura, who met her gaze with a profound look of confusion.
"Certainly it cannot be that bad," Bakura spoke hopefully, unaware of the thoughts that clouded Ishizu's mind. I am willing to try almost anything to rid myself of this nuisance." Malik looked towards Bakura and frowned, clearly irked by the snide remark.
"Bakura, do you know of the ancient Egyptians belief in the ka, better known to us as the soul?" Bakura shook his head, still confused. "The 'ka', what the ancient Egyptians believed to be the ultimate life force and soul of a person, was separated from the body upon death. Some would say, that it is this force-- what is left of my brother-- that resides within you now.
The Egyptians also believed that a person could be brought back from the brink of death, if ka was breathed back into them. In this way, a person could receive added energy from another persons' soul, to regain their own strength and survive. Many of the Egyptian fables are based on this belief, as are many other cultures."
"Sister, you don't mean…" Malik's expression became grim, and though faint, Bakura could see that he was troubled.
"What? I don't understand." Bakura looked back to Ishizu for further explanation.
"You see, the ancient Egyptians believed in a legend that describes a way to recover ones 'ka' from another person, and because of this, they could prolong the life of the dying. It is this way that will help you to regain your body back, but it is uncertain how long it will last."
"Well then, tell us how to do it and lets' get on with it." At Bakura's determined words, Ishizu blushed a second time.
"Two people's souls can only meet at one junction. It is this junction that connects them, and breaths life and energy into one another. It is unfortunate, but I believe it is the only way." Bakura, still not quite grasping the situation, was becoming impatient.
"Well, what is it already?" he snapped. Ishizu smiled warmly again.
"A kiss."
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"At what else does that touching of lips aim but at a junction of souls?"
You don't want to miss Chapter 2: Junction