HOSTage
Verse Two: The Sakura of the Mountain Village
"I've taken him to Oujo's house."
"He locked Mikage in his room and left."
"Is he looking for us?"
"Probably."
"Oujo's following him."
They were outside Bakura's apartment building, the only ones on the street. Lamps were planted equal distances on the street before them, giving the impression that it was only seven in the evening. "I'm worried about Oujo," said Moku, opening his eye.
"To think," Hone Onna said with a proud air, "that Oujo would actually use her host to send the boy to Hell. She'll be disowned again."
"So Oujo is to wait until she will be taken to Hell?" asked Wanyuudou. "No doubt the boy will have to use the technique with his host later on. Above them, a window flashed with black light. He pulled on his hat. "She's taken the boy into an illusion."
"Maybe he really was looking for us," said Yamawaro. "He's intent on taking his rivals down just as Oujo is."
Another flash of dark light. "He brought himself back," said Moku, "the Lord of Hell must've instated Oujo's full power in him." There was another series of subsequent flashes of light in the window. He closed his eye, and implanted it onto the inner wall of the apartment.
In the corridor stood Ai and their rival, in a dark leather coat, Bakura. He had one hand reared back, ready to throw his energy, while Ai's was outstretched between them, slowly lowering down.
Moku watched Bakura as he stayed his hand with hers. "Why do we always meet each other with a fight?" he asked. Ai remained silent, and he approached her. But she did look at him from a corner of her eye.
Moku returned outside to the faces of his companions. "They've stopped fighting now. That's what he called it, at least. Oujo told me to leave before anything else."
"It's not the first time she's kept us out of her business…" said Wanyuudou. "Nor was it the first time she fought a Jigoku Shounen either."
Moku bent down and laid a hand on Yamawaro's head. "The first time Oujo stopped fighting this Jigoku Shounen, though."
Hone Onna leaned her head towards the two boys. There was a smirk on her lips. "Speaking of straw dolls…" she turned to Wanyuudou, who smiled. "If Oujo finds out—"
"It was Oujo's orders that I take the other host to her illusion home. Oujo has other orders for you, so remain here."
"What if he sees us?" Yamawaro asked.
"Don't worry," Moku, whose hand was still on Yamawaro, rubbed his head. "Oujo will divert his attention. She wouldn't mind."
"Hnn," said Wanyuudou. "Oujo is not a bad person, but she has to do what she can to stay ahead." He disappeared with a toss of his scarf.
There was a sound of rolling wheels, and Kikuri arrived on her tricycle. "Yamawaro," she said, "wind me, wind me!"
"Yes, Hime." Yamawaro went behind her turned the large knob attached to her back. Kikuri then wheeled around and pointed to where she'd come. "Let's go!" she said.
"Go?" repeated Hone Onna. "Go where?" But Kikuri had already left, Yamawaro following close behind him. She sighed. "What in the world would they be doing next?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Bakura-san! Bakura-san!"
One moment, Bakura was ordering her to get back, and next, she's locked in his room, which has locks from inside and outside.
Yuzuki pounded on the door. Beside her on the floor lay the black straw doll Ai had given her. Kicking it away, she resumed banging. "Help me!"
This was exactly what she had wanted to prevent by going to Domino. Akie had told her that rumor of the Jigoku Shoujo hasn't broken into the city. Yet. And on her first night comes Ai, giving her a straw doll, and telling her to send Bakura to Hell!
Never, she thought, I'm not sending Bakura, or anybody to Hell. Never. "Bakura-san! Help!"
Her cry was met with a rage of the door swinging her aside, and hands fastening her to the floor. When Yuzuki came to, Bakura had locked eyes with her. No…She scrutinized him…Bakura's eyes, Bakura's hair, Bakura's clothing, and yet he wasn't the Bakura she'd met in the cemetery.
"Quiet, you," he hissed at her. It was his voice, but not his tone. She tugged on her arms, and he pressed harder on her. "You think you're the only one with a spirit living inside you? Hmm?"
Bakura had a spirit in him, too? Then the one speaking to her isn't—
"Send me to Hell, and Ryou Bakura goes with me, understand?" he spat onto her face. "And if Yuugi Mutou and his friends hear one word of this, I'll hold you responsible. Are we clear?"
Yuzuki was numbing in her grip. She looked away. Hopefully, he'll have to release one of his hands to redirect her face, and she can struggle herself free.
Bakura's face aligned with hers, and they were locking eyes again. "Are we clear?"
His face frightened her to the point of nodding, and he immediately lifted himself off her. "Stay here, and be quiet." Before she'd gotten up, he'd locked her in once more.
Taking the black doll, she crawled onto the bed and hugged her knees. How could Bakura have a terrible person possessing him? Ai was nowhere near as bad as he was. She looked at the doll, lying still amidst the messy sheets.
If she pulled the string on that terrible person, the real Bakura will be sent to Hell, too. Not only them, she'll go there herself when she dies. And the Bakura who had threatened her…he wasn't afraid, he wasn't angry, and certainly, he didn't care what happened to her as long as he was kept alive.
She held the doll to her face, and caressed the straw. I can't use you…I won't use you. Not if it meant Bakura was going to Hell, too. Never. Never Bakura.
Again, she tossed the doll aside, and waited for Bakura to return. The real Bakura. The one who'd care for her in Domino.
The one, she could tell, was falling in love with her.
Not good.
"Shibata-sensei…help me…"
