Snowy Spirits

Part 1

And so it begins

Hikari: Hey guys! Here's a new story for you. I don't feel like being witty right now, so you'll have to go watch YGOA to entertain yourself. Don't know what it is? Too bad. You're missing out. Anyways, here's the story!

~ * ~ *

"Take these," the Egyptian woman said, handing six locator cards to the golden-eyed girl.

"But…Isizu…!" she protested, "How can you save Marik if you aren't on board? You know I have other things to do, like making sure my brother isn't taken over by his evil spirit!"

"I will be there, but as a spectator. Kaiba shall let me on. He knows me and owes me."

The younger girl nodded, "I guess. But I don't know their fighting styles."

"You don't have to."

*In*The*Arena*

By the time the conversation had completed, the other seven duelists and their friends were on the blimp. The girl who first entered was the one with the locator cards, her golden eyes flashing, "Apologies for the delay. I believe you were waiting for me and my friend."

"Friends are not allowed," the bodyguard replied gruffly.

"There are others on the vessel who are not competitors," the woman behind her stated.

The bodyguards blinked, "Fine. We'll let Mister Kaiba know there's another person on the blimp. We'll find you another room, Miss…"

"Ishtar," Isizu Ishtar replied.

"And you?"

"Bakura," the 5'4" female smiled, "Brandi Bakura."

*Outside*The*EatingArea*

Brandi stood outside the banquet hall, her hands flat on the doors. Her black hair was pulled back in a long, hip length ponytail, her left eye covered. She was wearing a two colored shirt in yellow and black that revealed her flat stomach. A strip of eyeliner ran under her right eye, the one that was seen. Her face contorted in a look of pain, "Stay… down!" she growled.

You will be under my control.

"No… not now!" she hissed.

Fine. But one day…

"You don't have to tell me that again," Brandi said, finally standing again, "But for now, you're going on my wrist. The bracelet was shaped like the eye on all the millennium items, the edges of the eye connected. The voice instantly silenced.

With composure regained, she pushed the doors open, and strolled into the hall.

The room instantly went silent, nearly every person recognizing her, the others wondering why said people were gaping.

The first reaction was from white haired Bakura, who yelled, "BRANDI!" and launched himself at her.

"Ryou!" she squealed, all traces of her inner turmoil gone. She hugged him, burying her face in his bushy hair, "I've missed you so much!"

The people who didn't recognize her stared harder, "Bakura, who is this?" Joey asked.

The albino disentangled himself from the girl, "This is my big sister, Brandi. She's 18."

Everyone's mouths hit the floor, except Duke. He stood up, "Brandi?"

Brandi looked up at the boy, gold eyes wide, "Duke?"

Duke followed Bakura's suit, only a little more controlled. When he was only a few feet away from the new comer, he stopped. They stared at each other briefly, giving everyone a change to see the complimentary black marks under their eyes and matching dice earrings before they embraced.

This was the point that Yugi saw the bracelet peek out from the wide sleeve, the gold catching the light, "I think I speak for everyone when I say we need some answers."

"I'm busy," she said, her voice muffled by Duke's hair.

The latter muttered something, the girl in his arms laughing. The mush was getting old.

"Seriously, can't that wait?" Joey yelled, breaking up the mush fest.

Only Tristan was happy, because it meant he didn't have to worry about Duke moving in on Serenity.

The new girl smiled at Yugi, her golden eyes flickering with joy, "Little Pharaoh, it's a pleasure to meet you," she said, offering him a hand, which he took, surprised, "My name is Brandi Bakura. I can only assume you are the one I am to thank for keeping my brother alive in my absence?"

"Um…" Yugi stuttered, "Sure. It's nice to meet you, Brandi."

"ENOUGH!"

The group turned to see Kaiba, really pissed off, "The duel between Yugi Moto and Ryou Bakura is to commence immediately. Leave the run for after the duel."

Brandi stared at her brother, "Ryou, I don't think I have to point out that you're screwed."

"Brandi! That's not nice!" Duke said from behind her.

She snorted, the regality she had established dissipating, "It's true! Unless…" she broke off, her eyes locking onto "Namu", aka Marik. Her eyes narrowed, "Well well well, what have we here?"

"You know Namu?" Tea asked.

Brandi smirked, "You could say that. So, Namu," she grinned, curling her lips menacingly, "How's life been since you became an ass?"

"What?" Joey asked, "But Namu's a friend!"

"Namu" smiled softly, "Are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?"

"No," Brandi hissed, "I'd know your face anywhere." She stomped towards him, and held the bangle on her right wrist up to his face. In a voice so low no one could hear, she continued, "I don't know what charade you think you're playing, Marik, but I will. You're the reason I have this damned thing. Oh, and," she poked him in the chest, "You do one bloody thing to hurt my brother, and you're dead."

"Too late," Marik grinned, "The person you think is your brother is actually the spirit that inhabits the ring. With our combined power, we pushed Ryou under the surface."

"This is why I hate you," she growled, "I'm not done with you, but it looks like we need to head to the upper deck to watch the Pharaoh crush what was once my brother."

"Do you think that's the spirit of the ring?"

"Yes."

*On*The*Upper*Deck

After they reached the upper deck, Brandi split from Duke, and stood near Marik. He glanced at her once, back at the field, then double-taked at her wrist, "Has she awoken yet?" he muttered so no one could hear him.

"She's been awake since the moment I touched this damn bangle. The only way she'll shut up is if I wear it."

Marik smirked, as everyone became horrified over the development of the spirit of the ring being Yugi's real opponent, "That's the whole reason I gave it to you. So you will suffer for your impudence."

A hurt expression landed on Brandi's face, "All I ever did was love you. The real you."

Marik sniffed, "This is the real me."

"You're an ass."

"Takes one to know one."

Brandi stiffened, He's acting the way he used to, she thought, smiling slightly. Maybe the spirit of the rod hasn't sent him to the shadow realm yet.

"I'm in complete dominance, you twit," Marik snapped.

A grin lit the black-haired Bakura's face, "You'll soon learn from your mistake, Marik. The repercussions will be far greater than the mistake. You never should have picked up that rod."

Darkness enshrouded the playing field. Brandi grinned, pulling a card out of her deck. The spell card was Dark Sanctuary, the identical card that had just been played. That meant the spirit was playing with her brother's deck.

"What's with the smile?" Marik demanded.

"You made one fatal mistake in your plot."

"Enlighten me."

Brandi turned to the boy beside her, "That spirit is fighting with my brother's deck."

"So?"

"So, it sucks."

~ * ~ *

Hikari: Do I think Bakura's deck is strong? No. Do I think he's a good duelist. HELL no. But I do love him to death (Ryo, not Thief King Bakura or Zorc!Bakura. Those two creep me out. I've had NIGHTMARES with them in them. Seriously. They're that scary. Anyways, I'm going to post the next part maybe next week. Maybe I can post once a week… who knows. I've got 8 parts written up, though a few are the same chapter, broken up. This chapter is a little longer than the others.