DARK HIGHWAY
Chapter 8/hope

Here we go again. Akane thought, standing by Marik's motorbike that she "borrowed", right after she got out of the plane. Aka got on the motorbike and started it. The engine roared as usual, only notifying the girl that everything is okay. She smiled and stormed off, but was soon distracted by another sound. She stopped, to hear it better. Aka looked behind her.
It was the sound of the jet taking off.
Looks like Kaiba wasn't offering a ride back home. she thought, irritated. But then again, who cares… Bakura should take me home after we're done with the ritual of his. This reminds me that I have to find the guy…
The engine started up again. The first place to look was the hotel that they stayed in.
The time changes messed up Aka's day once more. It was about 7 or 8pm already, and she knew she has to be in the ruins at sunset, meaning there were only a few hours left to find Bakura.
It was great luck that Aka had transport – the hotel was only 10 minutes away.
The wind was blowing in her hair as she was making her way there. I have to admit, I feel so good riding this motorbike… I feel so… free? I don't even know how to describe this feeling… No wonder Marik cares for it so much.
Marik was in her head again. It was Christmas and she left. He knew she's gone; the missed calls in her cell phone gave that away. I feel like a complete bitch. But I promised Bakura I'll be back. For once, Marik will have to trust me…
She tightened her grip on the bike and sped up.

Something. Isn't. RIGHT.
If anyone could hear Marik's mind, they would probably go deaf. His thoughts were screaming inside his head, and not to mention…
"Mar-…"
"WHAT?!"
…he was completely on the edge.
After realizing he just yelled at his sister, who had agreed to help him, he tried to calm himself down. Yet he still didn't want to be bothered, so he turned his head to the window, admiring the fluffy clouds floating by. "What is it, sister?" he asked, with a softer tone.
"Nothing in particular… I thought that maybe you would want to talk, you seem really upset…" she said, sitting by him.
"You don't say…" With that he ended the conversation. Marik was, by far, not in the mood for talking.
This isn't just some traveling she's doing with Bakura. She's naïve… I have to find out what that son of a bitch told her to make her run away… from me. And more importantly what does he want with Akane… It can be as simple as making me jealous for some reason… Or it can be a lot more complicated if he has some ancient magic involved… Bakura still has the millennium items, but can he control them all? For example, the millennium necklace? If it won't even respond to Ishizu, what makes Bakura think that it will respond to him? It makes no sense… Think, Marik, think! Damnit, if I don't end this now, she will just keep running back to Egypt. And I sure don't want to be a murderer… Even if it does sound tempting.

"He checked out earlier today, miss."
"Alright, thank you..." Aka sighed. Bakura left the hotel, but why? He knew she was coming back. Maybe he didn't believe her. She walked out of the hotel. The sun was burning her skin and she could barely see. Akane took out her sunglasses, put them on and looked around again. Decorative palm trees, decorative bushes, decorative red cabriolet…
Wait, what? That's Bakura's!
She ran towards the shiny red car. If he parked here, he should be close! Well that's a relief. Hm, wait, what's this?
The car's roof was down and Aka spotted a little note stuck between the radio and an ejected CD. The note had her name on it. Without hesitation Aka grabbed it.
"I knew you'd come back. Hop in and meet me in the ruins." she read it out loud.
Hop in? To hell with that, I can't drive a car… She gazed across the parking lot. But I have the motorbike. For some reason I don't think this will be too much fun…
Akane remembered what Marik had told her about driving around the desert on a motorbike. The ride itself was never pleasant – it's incredibly hot, sand tends to get everywhere; in your eyes, mouth, even your pants. But the only thing worse than that – sandstorms. "You do not want to get in a sandstorm. That's the worst place to be in when you're riding on a motorbike." His words echoed in her mind, making shivers go down her spine.
Let's just hope the weather isn't a bitch today. Aka thought, getting on the bike.

"She won't answer a single call." Marik said, heading out of the airport. "What the hell do we do now? Ishizu, I would be grateful if I got another hint…"
She glared at her brother. "Let's just head to the hotel you found her in, I'm pretty sure she will be there. And you promised to stay out of this if she's safe, so let me do the talking."
"Call her now then! Maybe we're just wasting time going to that hotel!" he nagged.
"Alright, I'll call her. But both of you go away, I don't want any unwanted noises. Maybe we won't even have to tell her we are here…" Ishizu said, shooing Marik and Odion away.
She took out her cell phone and found Aka's number in the address book. Here goes nothing.

The sun wasn't far from setting down when Akane arrived at the ruins. Perfect timing, no sandstorms and I didn't get lost! She brushed some sand out of her face. Although I wish there was less sand. I really am getting sick of it. Akane looked around the ruins. There was no sign of any vehicle at all, except for the motorbike she arrived on. Maybe Bakura isn't here yet.
Akane adjusted her bag and head to the entrance of the ruins. This time there was no need for a light source – all of the torches of the walls were lit. She continued her way through the corridor; thank heavens there was only one way, otherwise she could get lost for good.
Soon she saw the end of the corridor. The light coming from there was bright and slightly blue, meaning the main room was lit as well.
Akane saw Bakura standing by the pedestal, his back facing her.
"Merry Christmas, sucker! Told you I'd be back!" she yelled to him, smiling.
Bakura turned around, but Aka's attention was stolen by her ringing phone. What the… Oh, it's Ishizu… Damnit…
She answered. "Ishizu, what is it? I told you I'll be fi-"
But her words were interrupted – a strong force smacked her cell phone out of her hand.
Akane glared at Bakura: "Hey! Bakura, what the f*ck?!... Bakura…?"
He was looking at the ground, his white hair hiding his face. Bakura looked up to her, revealing the most satisfied smirk ever, and then letting out a dark laugh.
"Bakura… What is going on..?" she asked, feeling her knees getting weak.
"Didn't your parents ever tell you not to trust strange men?!"
"Oh, f*ck…" Aka took a step back and glanced to her phone, which was soon flung to the wall and smashed. The she looked back at Bakura.
"Did you really believe that crap about me wanting to free Ryou?!" he was laughing like a maniac. "I knew you're naïve, but that much?!"
The laughing stopped and Bakura looked at her with the most horrifying look she's ever seen. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into…"

*beep beep beep*
"Ishizu, what's going on?!"
"Sister, please speak up!"
"What the hell happened to Akane?!"
"ISHIZU!"
The last yell made her snap out of shock. She was wrong. Akane really got herself in trouble. In a whole lot of trouble.
"Ishizu, please say something, your horrified face isn't exactly calming us down now!" Marik yelled.
"She's… Bakura… I don't know where she is… But she's in trouble… Marik, I'm so sorry, I really thought she could…"
Ishizu couldn't finish her sentence – tears filled up her eyes.
"Ishizu… Please, this is not the time to be blaming yourself for what happened; we need your help if we are going to find miss Akane…" Odion said.
She looked up at him, and then at Marik, who only made her shiver. He was standing still, not showing a single emotion. He was staring at her for a while until he could finally speak up: "Please tell me you have some kind of...ANY kind of information on where she is…"
Ishizu looked to the ground and shook her head.
I can't. she thought. I just can't…
Ishizu ignored the scrap of paper in her pocket that was poking her leg.
I can't show him those directions.
With all her heart, Ishizu hoped that the place, which the directions pointed to, was the last place Akane could be in.


AN: I'm going to be nagging Mammeth to draw this one thing for the next chapter. Don't know if it will be out by tomorrow though!
And fyi the rainbow cake came out fabulous! :D

Hey, I know I have silent readers... Well stop being silent, I like reviews! Here, I'll even give you a cookie! *hands out cookies to reviewers*