CM: Sorry for the late posting. College you know? And I'm I science major of all things. Oi...

CHAPTER TEN: The Price of Friendship

The rest of the afternoon went peacefully by with no interruptions. Kairi spent the day taking messages and redirecting phones calls, and even getting an item or two for Seto. When she wasn't busy she would surf the web and read nonsensical fanfictions to give her mind a break. :P It was beginning to get dark when she stepped into Kaiba's office holding a cup of ordered straight black coffee.

"How's it going, boss?" she asked the working CEO kindly.

"It would be a lot better if I didn't have that mad man calling me every 10 minutes to talk about his card ideas," Kaiba grumbled. He was speaking of Pegasus of course. "He's driving me crazy." He took the coffee from her and took a large gulp from it before setting it heavily down on his desk. "You can go home now, and tell Mokuba I'll be late tonight."

"Okay, just try not to work yourself to death," Kairi told him with a smile.

"Hn," Kaiba grunted in reply.

After she was gone, Kaiba opened his drawer to pull out some files. As he did a bouncing clatter caught his attention and he looked down to see a grayish colored marble rolling easily along the floor next to the leg of his desk.

"What… oh," Kaiba thought as he bent down to pick it up. "I almost forgot I still had this thing," he said staring at it. It was a good luck charm that Kairi had given to him when they were still living at the orphanage. It resembled a large gray marble, though it seemed to shine with a life of its own. For the life of him, he couldn't understand why he still had the stupid thing.

"It's just a simple marble with several blemishes," he murmured to himself staring at it. "An imperfection among everything that is perfect. I should really just toss the stupid thing." He glanced over at his trashcan and moved to toss it in, but instead he put it back in his drawer. "I'll just do it later."

Kairi bid the people at the workplace good night before she was escorted out of the building. The sun was already beginning to fade behind the horizon and it would be getting dark soon. She breathed in the cool night air before exhaling it. There was no need for her to worry. Seto wasn't about to throw her away; at least not right at the moment. As long as she still had a home, then she could make it through somehow. With any luck Yugi and the others would have found a resolution to all of this in time. She hoped they were doing alright.

As she walked along the outside of Kaiba Corp. to the bus stop, the wind died down and a strange chill set in.

"This way, over here," a voice called out in her head. "Believe me, you'll want to see this."

Kairi already knew who it was, and she wasn't very inclined to have another face to face meeting with this person. Rather than incur some unspeakable wrath, she followed the pull of the ring from around her neck to guide her where she needed to be.

"You're a rather fast learner, to come when called," the voice chuckled as she came around the final corner into an unused side street. "However, I have to say you're rather slow when it comes to your friends."

There was a single light on the street that illuminated a small portion of it, enough to show her that someone was lying on the ground in front of her. At first Kairi couldn't tell who it was, but upon closer examination of the shape of the outline and the clothes, she realized quickly who it was.

"Ryou!" She knelt down and touched his shoulder, trying to shake him awake. "Ryou, wake up. Please tell me you're not…."

"No, he isn't dead," a voice chuckled and Kairi whirled around and saw to her dismay, Bakura standing half in the shadows, watching her intently.

She took a defensive stance, standing over Ryou protectively. "You… what have you done to Ryou? He didn't do anything to you so why did you hurt him? He did nothing wrong."

"Actually he did," Bakura murmured alluringly. "He brought out your feelings of affection, straying into what belongs to me. And now he's paid for it...at least somewhat. I should have done more for that kiss he gave you, but I wanted to save some fun for later."

"Great… just what I always wanted, a psychotic, overly possessive stalker boyfriend," Kairi thought acidly.

She looked down at Ryou and though he was unconscious, she could faintly hear his breathing. She was immensely grateful that Bakura had decided not to do worse, but she still felt responsible for Ryou's current predicament.

"Are you worried about my former host?" Bakura asked noticing the feelings she was putting out. "If so, then when I next call for you, you will come to me without question as you have done now, and you will do exactly as I say."

Kairi didn't say anything as she stooped down next to Ryou's limp form. Using all her strength, she pulled one of his arms around her shoulders while latching her other arm around his middle and hoisted him up off the ground. She imagined Ryou turning out like Sashio and almost cried right there.

"Over time, you will learn." She looked up but saw he was no longer there, but could still hear his voice. "Enjoy your time with that weakling... for now."

She ignored his comment and carried Ryou out of the side street and over to the main street where she called a taxi. When the cab came to a stop, she gently put Ryou inside and gave the cab driver an address. After a long and tense ride, she found herself outside of the Mottou game shop holding Ryou up by his arm. She knocked on the door and waited before the it opened to reveal short little Yugi.

"Kairi what's…." Then he noticed Ryou. "What happened?" he exclaimed.

"Yugi…. I need your help," Kairi said in a pleading whisper.

When the pair was finished with the pizza, they made their way to Kaiba land. Once there, Risa couldn't help but feel the corners of her mouth lift.

"So what do you want to go on first?" Joey asked with a smiled, seeing how his plan was starting to work.

"Um...well...how about a roller coaster?" Risa suggested.

"Fine by me, let's go," Joey said taking her hand and leading her into the park.

Risa felt her heart jump for a moment and couldn't understand why, but her symptoms didn't stop there. With that one touch, she felt her hand start to get sweaty, and her breathing get shallower. Quickly she brushed it off and was determined to get through the night as fast as possible. By the time they were off the roller coaster, Risa was winded and dizzy and she felt like she was still flying.

"Whoa…." She giggled, teetering on the spot. "That was a rush."

"You can say that again," Joey laughed, though secretly he had almost gotten reacquainted with his breakfast. "Why don't we do bumper cars next?"

"You're on!" Risa exclaimed running to the attraction.

Joey smiled at her reaction and raced off as well. She beat him to the bumper cars but he played it off as if he let her, and then once they were in them, they had a fierce battle of who could bump who the most.

"What's the matter Joey, not can't get a hang of that wheel?" she shouted as he got stuck for the third time in a row

"I think mine's broken," Joey said as an excuse.

"Uh-huh, suuuuuuuuuuure," Risa said not believing him for a moment.

By this time she was feeling very relieved. She had almost forgotten what it was like to have fun without having to worry. After the bumper cars, Joey bought Risa some cotton candy and a soda.

"With all this sugar, I'm not gonna get any sleep tonight," Risa commented, popping a ball of pink in her mouth.

"In that case, why not come over to my place for a scary movie or something?" Joey said jokingly.

"Sounds like fun. Though the scary part of the movie I could do without," Risa answered without thinking first. "I could use something like that."

Joey was taken aback by her answer, but did not want to tell her it was just a joke. "Alright then, how about a good comedy?" he suggested.

"Sounds perfect," she agreed with a smile.

"Great," Joey said pumping his fist. "But for right now, let's go check out some of the games and I'll see if I can't win you something." He led her over to where there were games such as ring tossing, ball throwing, balloon popping with darts. But the one that Joey HAD to try was the fishing game.

"Um, Joey, are you sure this is the one you want to do?" Risa asked raising an eyebrow as he dropped a fish again.

"Yep, and I'll get you a good prize," he replied determinedly.

"Uh...okay. I'll just go play some darts while you're at that," she replied before going over to the game.

She came back about fifteen minutes later having won a few cheap dime store prizes and saw that Joey was still going at it. He was so concentrated Risa was worried his head might explode.

"Almost…. Got it," Joey groaned, carefully lifting the fish out of the water. It gave a little flop, tearing the net and landing back into the water. "Stupid fish!" Joey shouted. "Just sit still and let me catch you!"

"You're still at it?" Risa asked in exasperation. "Joey, give it up already, you're going to go broke if you don't."

"No, I'll get it...just one more try," he replied perspiration sliding down his forehead.

She didn't stop him but decided to watch this last time. He paid for another net and carefully but quickly slid the net underneath the fish he wanted and pulled it up. Slowly, and carefully, he pulled the fish up out of the water. Risa watched, not daring to speak or do anything to break his concentration. Just when she thought he had gotten it.

"YOUR MOVE!"

"Gah!" Joey shouted as his cell phone went off causing him to drop the fish. "I'm gonna kill whoever called at such a crucial moment of my life!" Joey growled, reaching into his pocket and opening his phone. "Hello? Huh, Yugi? What's the matter? Wha…. Kairi and Ryou? Yeah, uh huh, we'll be right there."

"What's wrong, Joey?" Risa asked feeling her stomach drop.

"Looks like Kairi showed up at Yugi's just now, and she had Ryou with her," Joey explained after he'd hung up. "He doesn't look too good, and Kairi isn't exactly at her best."

"No...Bakura managed to get to her, even with Kaiba being the overprotective older brother," she guessed in her mind. "Joey, let's go see if they're okay," she murmured to him worriedly.

"Sure thing," Joey agreed leading the way out of the park. "Man, what a time. I promise I'll win you something later, next chance I get."

"Thanks, Joey," Risa said appreciatively, all the while hoping her friends would be alright.

She stared at the ground as they walked toward the Mottou Game Shop and didn't say a word to Joey. He watched her the whole way and could tell just how worried she was, so to try to help her out, he stopped and pulled her head into his shoulder.

"They're going to be okay," he murmured holding her in a tight embrace. "Yugi and Atem won't let anything happen to them, and neither will the rest of us, I promise."

Risa was surprised by his sudden action, but the warmth and shield he provided calmed her down and she felt peaceful. His scent of popcorn, sweat, and water filled her nose and she smiled happily into his shoulder. This all came to a halt, however, when she felt her neck suddenly start burning. She jumped back in surprise realizing where her unbridled thoughts were going and remembered Marik's warning.

"Thanks, Joey, but we should really be getting there now," she said quickly to get his mind off her sudden rejection.

When they got there, Risa was rather surprised to find that everyone was there, even Kairi who was kneeling by the couch where a sleeping Ryou lay.

"What's going on?" Risa asked the group who were gathered in the kitchen.

"Nothing good," Tristan told her up front.

"She just brought Ryou in like that and hasn't spoken a word to anyone since," Tea divulged.

"Ryou's sleeping? It's the middle of the day," Risa muttered surprised. "I wonder if it has anything to do with his counterpart," she questioned herself. "Are you doing alright Kairi?" she asked coming up to her friend. She went to pat her on the back but before she could get close enough the mark on her neck burned heavily and she stopped to keep herself from acknowledging it.

"Mm…" Kairi mumbled in answer.

"This is so weird… she never acts like this," Joey said rubbing his neck once they had all moved into the other room.

"Well, considering the circumstances, I'd say she deserves to be worried," Yugi said. "Atem tried talking to her to find out exactly what happened, but... well, as of now we can only guess."

"So then I take it everyone's filled in about what's going on?" Risa said, dread lining her tone.

"We know that the two biggest freak shows are back on the planet, that they killed those two guys at school, and that it has something to do with you and Kairi," Tristan said.

"Yeah, I wish I could explain more than that...but that's pretty much all I know too," Risa told them with a sigh.

"How is this even possible though? I mean, Atem is a spirit, how did he manage to get his own body?" Tea asked out loud.

"And Marik isn't even his own person," Yugi added.

"I wish I knew," Atem said forlornly. "It's quite possible that Kairi knows but is unwilling to say anything in fear for our safety."

"Unfortunately, it's a mix of both of our faults...but there's no possible way of telling them that without coming off as being a moron," Risa thought sadly. "So, does Kaiba know she's here?" she finally managed to ask them.

They all stood silent for several moments.

Risa shrugged her shoulders in response as Kairi continued to sit where she was unmoving. Then she glanced up and spotted the one person she really didn't want to see standing at the only window within her sight but out of the others.

"Great what does he want?" Risa muttered under her breath as her neck began to burn again. "Hey guys…I think I'm going to go outside for a bit….it's getting pretty stuffy in here with it so crowded. Let me know when Ryou wakes up, okay?" With that she walked out the door and into the fresh air. "Ah…I can breath," she thought the moment she had left the shop.

Her relief didn't last for long, however. She felt fingers enclose around her throat and her air passage was momentarily cut off as she was dragged forcefully into the shadows.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself rather well, my pet."

Risa clenched her teeth in anger and frustration but didn't fight back. "What do you want from me?" Risa gasped glaring at him as best as she could.

"Nothing more or less than…" Marik whispered into her ear as his hand traced along the mark on her neck.

"Heck no!" Risa exclaimed. "There's no way. That's not something I could plausibly do without getting caught so how do you even expect me to pull that off?"

"Your job isn't to ask questions," Marik said, taking a hold of her throat warningly with one hand while pulling the neck of her shirt down with the other hand. "Your duty is to do as I say, otherwise I'll be forced to punish you."

"I can't steal from my own friends, I won't do it," Risa said determinedly. "I won't betray their trust."

"I can see that you still need some discipline," Marik muttered shoving her up against the wall. He reached into his pocket with his free hand, as Risa struggled against his grip, and he pulled out a card. "Tribute Burial."

A giant hand appeared behind her and wrapped its large fingers around her body before beginning to pull her down, underneath the ground. "Wh-what?!" Risa exclaimed seeing the hand. "Woah, this is...this is not..." Her voice grew more cracked and frightened the farther in the ground she went and she could see Marik watching her with his amused smirk. "A-alright, I'll do it! Just let me up!"

"What was that? I don't think I heard you clearly," Marik said.

"I said I'll do it!" Risa shouted. "P-PLEASE!"

He seemed satisfied because he reached down, grabbing her forearm and dragging her back up until she was out of the ground and back on her feet again. Her whole body was shaking, and she thought her knees would fold at any moment.

Marik leaned down and gave the mark he had left a small lick. "When you're done come find me…I'll be eagerly awaiting your return."

He left with only a few strokes down her cheek and neck leaving Risa standing in the darkness alone and breathing heavily. After a minute or two Risa reentered the store with a hand to her head.

"Hey Risa are you alright?" Joey asked watching her stumble inside.

"Oooh…I really don't feel so good," Risa muttered blinking her eyes quickly to clear them of fog.

"Maybe you should lie down. Here I'll clear a space on the floor, since Ryou already has the couch," Joey offered grabbing her gently by the arm and leading her into the living room.

"It might be a good idea if she doesn't go home in that state," Atem agreed worriedly. "If you'd like to stay as well Kairi you're more than welcome."

Kairi was silent for several long moments until she said finally, "I'll stay until Ryou wakes up."

Atem stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know that if anything is troubling you, you can talk to me about it. Though we haven't known each other long, any friend of Yugi's, I consider my own."

"Thanks," she replied, though her voice was dull and hollow.

"No problems, Kairi, with us on the job this thing will be wrapped up in no time," Joey declared striking a pose. He glanced over at Risa who was lying on the floor for approval but slumped as he realized that Risa had already fallen asleep.

"Well, I guess it is getting late," Tea muttered looking at her watch. "I'd best be getting home."

"Yeah, same here," Tristan muttered. "Come on, Joey, we'd better let Risa's aunt know where she went or she'll start doing some sort of séance just to find her." Joey agreed and the two left with Tea close behind them.

"Oh, Kairi, I suppose we should get a hold of your guardian so he doesn't worry," Mr. Motto said walking up behind Yugi and Atem. "If you wouldn't mind giving me a number to reach him by I would really appreciate it."

"You'll never reach him through your phone without going through ten other lines," Kairi said, a faint smile passing over her lips for the first time since she got there and the entire room seemed a little brighter somehow. She pulled out her cell phone and handed it to Yugi's grandfather. "He's on my first speed dial. If he asks for me, tell him I'm already in bed. If he stills asks for me, then just tell him I don't feel up to talking. If that doesn't work… remind him that I know things about his personal life that he doesn't want known publicly."

Yugi, Grandpa, and Atem all sweat-dropped at this. What could she POSSIBLY have over THE Seto Kaiba of Kaiba Corporations?

They decided not to ask and Grandpa called Kaiba, which took about 20 minutes in itself as he wouldn't listen to Grandpa for half of the time and it ended with the CEO hanging up.

"I wonder how she can put up with such a person who never listens to anyone," Grandpa muttered to himself. "Must be one of those Seven Wonders of the World."

After the phone call was made, Grandpa, Yugi and Atem retired to their rooms. "First Kairi comes in with an injured Ryou, and now Risa's not feeling well. I hope we figure this out soon," Yugi said as he climbed into his bed.

"Until they are ready to be open with us, there is not much help we can give them," Atem replied sitting down next to the window.

"They'll tell us when they're ready. They are our friends after all," Yugi said.

"Let's hope so," Atem said.

Risa waited until the house became quiet and she went to the front room where Kairi still sat wide awake. "Kairi? I'm sorry but I really need your help."

Kairi looked up at her. Risa's pleading tone must have reawakened something because her eyes were much more alert. "What's wrong?"

"I've been given an order from Marik...but I can't do it on my own," Risa explained nervously. "And I just know that if I fail...Joey and Malik will pay for it."

Kairi nodded in understanding. There was no need for questioning. She knew exactly what was going through her friend's mind, because she was in the exact same boat. Why not tell Atem and Yugi? Well, the moment they did, they would know and someone would be hurt or worse. They couldn't refuse, for the very same reason.

"How can I help?"

"Well...I have to take Yugi's puzzle," Risa started. "If he has it, it should be fairly easy, but I can't figure out how to get past Atem without him noticing...so could you keep him busy for a few minutes?"

Kairi's lips tightened together but she nodded and wordlessly stood up before dashing up the stairs. Once there she headed down the short hallway until she came to Yugi's room. She quietly opened the door to see Yugi sleeping on his bed and Atem sitting next to the window, clearly wide awake. He was aware of her presence as soon as she walked through the door, maybe even long before that.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," Kairi spoke quietly so as not to wake Yugi. "But... can we talk for a bit?"

He looked over at her and got to his feet. "Of course," he murmured kindly walking over to her. "What's bothering you?"

"I just... can we take this somewhere more private? I don't want to accidentally disturb him," Kairi said, nodding over at the sleeping boy who stirred a little.

Atem nodded and the two of them left the room and headed down the hall a little ways. "So, what is it?" he asked again.

Kairi turned towards him and bent at the waist. "I'm really sorry. I know that this is all mostly my fault. You warned me to be careful but I didn't listen. And now all this is happening." The more she spoke the higher and quicker her voice became.

"Just calm down," Atem said awkwardly. "You're being too hard on yourself...this really isn't your fault."

"Yes is it... because of me everyone is being bothered with all of this," Kairi said, covering half her face with her hand as she straightened a little. "And because of me someone died. I'm as good as a murderer."

Atem gently but firmly took a hold of her arms. "You're not a murderer. None of what has happened is your fault. I should have done more to help in the beginning...but I didn't. The only ones to blame are Bakura and Marik, not you and not Risa either."

Just then there was a loud thud that emitted from the room they just left. "Yugi!" Atem said in a panicked whisper. He told Kairi to stay there before dashing back to Yugi's room.

Kairi, however, didn't do as he said. Instead she went back downstairs. She passed through the living room to leave but was stopped by the sound of shuffling on the couch. Turning around she saw that Ryou had woken up and was staring at her curiously.

"Kairi…where are you…" he started to ask but stopped as Kairi placed a finger over his mouth.

"Go back to sleep Ryou…you need the rest," Kairi told him quietly

"Kairi, what's going on?" he asked weakly.

"Everything's fine," she lied. "Now go back to sleep."

He reluctantly closed his eyes and almost immediately fell back asleep. As soon as Kairi was sure he was asleep again she quickly left the Moutto shop and ran as fast as she could. She didn't think she would be able to keep the guilt from her face when they discovered what had happened. Atem would know she had a hand in it. She ran and ran until it felt like her lungs might pop.

"I hope this works," Risa thought as she placed a hand over the Millennium puzzle and gently pulled it out of Yugi's hands. As she turned around to leave, she bumped his bed and woke him up.

"Uh...Risa? What are you doing up here?" he asked rubbing his eyes sleepily. He looked over at her and spotted the puzzle in her hands. "What are you...?"

Risa didn't wait for him to finish as her hand landed on the back of his neck and he collapsed, slipping off his bed with a thump. She stared at him in surprise at what she had done and jumped when she heard the sound of rushing footsteps.

"Oh no," she thought and quickly leapt out the window just as the door to the room opened.

"Yugi! Yugi, are you alright?" Atem's voice sounded. Risa could hear him run into the room and lift him off the floor.

"Uh...the puzzle..." Yugi mumbled through the fog.

Tears threatened to break free as she heard this and she bit back the desire to go see them. She knew she couldn't stop herself from finishing Marik's request so she quickly left her spot from underneath the window. "I'm sorry, Yugi…I hope you'll forgive me one day," she thought sadly as she disappeared down the street.

She wasn't sure where it was she was supposed to go but she kept getting directions from Marik until she reached the spot. When the directions stopped Risa took a quick look around finding herself in an abandoned warehouse.

"Figures he'd want to meet in a creepy place like this," she thought to herself as the hairs on her neck stood on end.

"You did a wonderful job," a deep cold voice said from behind her. "I don't think the Pharaoh would ever think you'd pull a stunt like that."

"You're probably right…and I don't plan to do it ever again" Risa shot back angrily. "What do you want with the Millennium puzzle anyway? I thought you already tried that bit and failed."

"Things are different this time around," Marik told her, taking the puzzle from her as easily as taking a cookie from a toddler. "For starters, I have my own body. And secondly, I have you to do with as I wish, my dear."

"Forget it…I don't know how you got me to go through with this little scheme but it won't happen again," Risa declared feeling the tears at the edges of her eyes. "I refuse to be used by you to get to my friends. I'm putting a stop to this here and now." With that she turned on her heel and marched toward the door she had entered.

"That's where you're wrong, pet," Marik said from behind her.

She ignored him and continued walking, but suddenly she felt a cold sweep over her as if someone doused her with icy water and she saw to her confusion and horror several spirits circling her. She tried to run, but there was no escape. One by one, each plunged itself through her chest, each one a sub zero knife stabbing its way through her body. She felt something inside of her shatter and she fell to her knees.

"What?" she thought before she felt her will power shatter.

She fell to her knees and stared at the ground unable to get up the desire she needed to leave much less move. Then Marik walked up right behind her and pulled her to her feet. He placed one hand around her waist to keep her up and the other went up and down her cheeks.

"This is only one of the many things that I can do to you on a whim," Marik whispered venomously into her ear. "Your will is shattered and until I release it you are completely under my command."

Risa shuddered at his touch but other than that she could do nothing. Her body didn't want to do anything to fight him. She breathed heavily as Marik's hand traced her neck line and moved over her face tracing her lips as well.

Then, once more his fingers were entwined in her hair and he bent her head back without any resistance. Risa gave a choked gasp as she once again felt his teeth on her neck, not even bothering to be gentle. He attacked her neck, her shoulders, her collar bone. And in the back of her mind, Risa registered a sick pleasure that her body was getting from this unknown attention. She released a breathy moan and felt Marik smirk against her skin that did nothing to calm her body or her nerves.

He kept up his attack for a few more minutes before finally releasing her with a satisfied grin. Risa collapsed to the ground with a sore neck from her head being wrenched backward and from Marik's relentless attack. She took several deep breaths and felt her ability to move slowly returning much to her relief.

"Maybe now you'll see that nothing you can do will keep me from my goals," Marik said with a smirk. "Until next time…maybe then I'll let you stay with me." He left moments later as the tears finally burst from Risa's eyes.

"I can't do this…I have to keep Marik from using me to get to Yugi and the others," she whimpered. "I have to get out of here….I have to leave and I don't think I'll be coming back. Not for a long time."

Bakura heard the door open and turned to see Marik walking through it with the Millennium puzzle in hand. "You seem to be having some difficulties controlling your little pet," Bakura told the tomb keeper with a derisive smirk.

"Hmm…I have no problems at all. She merely needs to be broken. Otherwise it is quite easy to get into her mind and twist it to my will," Marik replied. "After all I just finished having her deliver the Millennium puzzle to me. I doubt you could do any better with your slave."

"Hmph, but your pet needed help from my light to pull it off," Bakura pointed out.

"All because the Pharaoh was present," Marik replied harshly. "I doubt your slave could top what mine has done."

"You're on," Bakura declared grinning widely. "We'll just see whose control is more complete."

Kairi wasn't even sure what direction she was running in. All she knew was her body didn't want to stop. Its desires were disappointed when out of nowhere two hands grabbed a strong hold of her, ceasing her running and pulling her into a dark corner. Her first instinct was to scream, but one of her captor's hands covered her mouth, muffling all sound. She began to struggle, trying to break free, her mind in panic. But the hands were well-trained, and they held her well and tight. It wasn't until she heard an amused, and agonizingly familiar voice that she was able to calm down... somewhat.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, my little light?" he asked amusedly. He removed his hand from her mouth after making sure that she wouldn't scream.

"It's none of your business where I go," Kairi snapped after gulping a few breaths of much needed air.

"You seem to have forgotten that there is no place you can go in which I cannot follow," he reminded.

"As if I don't have enough to contend with," she muttered.

"Are you worried that they might know of your involvement in what Marik's pet has done?" he guessed.

"His... PET?" Kairi repeated. This statement caused anger to rise up inside of her. "She is no one's PET. Why the hell are you involving her in this?"

"She is just as much a part of this as you are," Bakura murmured. "You could almost say you both are a lock and a key to a door of something quite sacred."

"Like I care about any of that," she said crossly. "I'm going home."

"You're not going anywhere just yet," he stated firmly as he pulled her into his chest and held her tightly. "I have a job for you first."

"I'm not your servant," Kairi snapped.

"Such defiance," Bakura chuckled. "It makes you quite fetching, and will be all the more satisfying when I turn that defiance into obedience."

"Just leave me ALONE!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, my little light." He turned her around to face him, keeping his hold tight. Kairi refused to back down, not wanting to give him that satisfaction. "It's a simple task, really. What I want from you is…." He leaned down and whispered a few words in her ear.

Kairi's eyes widened and she shoved him away. "If you think I would do something like that, you're out of your mind."

Bakura merely chuckled. "I guess your feelings for your guardian and his little brother are just for show then, as your failure will cause them to pay the price."

"I won't give you the chance to lay a finger on them," Kairi said balling her fists up, looking as though she was ready for a fight. She would fight him here and now if that's what it took. She would not betray her only family. "I will not do as you say."

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter," he said furtively. He then pulled a small card out of his pocket and said its name, "Change of Heart."

CM: What is it that Bakura wants Kairi to do? And where will Risa go? Find out next time!