CHAPTER TWELVE: Finding Help in Strange Places
Risa was sitting in a large room feeling the warm sun on her face as it shone through the window. She inhaled the warm spicy scent of breakfast cooking in the kitchen below with great enjoyment. Her happiness was shattered, however, as a familiar feeling cut off her air and she glanced at the only door to see Marik standing there with his normal smirk.
Risa stood and went to the window keeping her eyes on Marik so as not to be caught off guard. Before she reached it Marik pulled a card out of his pocket and muttered something under his breath. Suddenly Risa felt herself being held in the air by what looked like a duel monster.
"You've been very naughty, my pet, running away like that," Marik said walking forward.
"I don't belong to you…I can do what I want and go where I want. I don't have to run anything by you first," Risa shot back glaring angrily at him.
"It seems that I've been too lenient with you," Marik said, reaching her. "No matter. Some lessons must be learned the hard way."
Risa could not keep the fear from her eyes when he snapped his fingers and the monster's hold disappeared only to be replaced by his own as he threw her to the ground and pinned both arms over her head holding her wrists together with one hand.
"I'll die again before I let you touch me! Take your hands off-" Risa was cut off with a sharp intake of breath as Marik crushed their lips together, forcing a knee between the girl's thighs.
"Now, now, this isn't just about you, my pet," Marik said removing his lips momentarily from hers. "Your little friend is just as much a part of all of this as you. She too will be taken care of when the time comes."
Risa forced back a moan as the knee between her legs ground against intimate places, turning her head away when Marik tried to kiss her again. Painfully heated lips instead descended to the red head's throat, a hot tongue trailing up cool skin to her jaw.
"You don't have any power over Kairi or any of my friends," Risa hissed in a voice laced with loathing at making her feel this way.
"It doesn't matter, you won't take the chance. No matter how you say it, their lives mean a great deal to you. Not only that, I have ways that would make you beg for death." Marik's breath was a mocking whisper of heat against the skin of Risa's neck and she shuddered.
"Perhaps I'd rather die than let you paw at me." Risa tried to jerk her arms free, but Marik was stronger and held her down easily. The violet-eyed darkness chuckled deeply, the sound vibrating in Risa's ears.
"Perhaps you'll enjoy it," he suggested.
Those darkly spoken words set Risa off, and she thrashed wildly beneath Marik. Malik's darkness had an unbreakable grip on her though, and no matter how violently she twisted and bucked underneath him, Risa eventually fell back, exhausted and panting roughly.
"Are you all done struggling?" Marik murmured in a silken voice, trailing his fingers down Risa's throat to trace her collarbone as the blonde creature turned her head away and lay there, trying to get her breath back.
"You'll pay..." The girl spat venomously.
"I love that look," Marik licked his lips, eyes half lidded with lust as he stared down at his little love slave. "Now, are you going to co-operate, or do I have to torture you until you can't move?"
"What are you planning?" Risa asked, fear once more rising in her stomach.
Marik grinned insanely "Giving you a mere taste of what's to become of your… maidenhood."
"Hey, Risa wake up," a calming voice sounded in her frightened ears.
Risa fought with everything she had to escape the hold that Marik had on her and finally managed to open her eyes. She looked over and saw Joey standing over her worry on his face.
"You okay? You were thrashing in your sleep," Joey told her worriedly.
"Yeah…it was just a nightmare," Risa replied taking deep steadying breaths.
"Well I thought you'd like to know that the plane is about to land," Joey told her.
"Thanks, Joey," Risa said as he took his seat and prepared for the descent.
Risa blinked her tired eyes as she had tried very hard not to fall asleep for the entire day that they were on the plane. Unfortunately she had fallen asleep as the day was coming to an end. The only happy part now was that she would soon speak with her uncle and possibly find a way to bring this whole thing to an end.
After the plane landed, Risa and Joey were met by Risa's uncle who welcomed them with open arms. "Risa…I'm so glad you could grace me with your presence. I see you brought a friend with you as well," Maximillian Pegasus greeted them cordially.
"It's great to see you again, Uncle Pegasus," Risa said giving him a hug. "I'm really glad you decided to see me on such short notice."
"Of course, anything for my favorite niece," Pegasus said smiling.
"Yeah right…I'm your only niece," Risa muttered.
"True, so let's head to my home so we can talk about whatever it was you wanted to speak to me about without any interruption," Pegasus said gesturing toward the enormous limo behind him.
Risa and Joey gladly hopped in with Pegasus and rode in luxury to the millionaire's estate. Once there Pegasus led them to his private room where they could have a private conversation.
"Alright, so explain to me what's going on and what you need my help with," Pegasus said looking over at Risa and Joey from across his desk.
Risa took that time to explain what really happened to the millennium items and what she and Kairi had seen during that time. Joey interrupted her, surprised about what she described and wondering why she didn't tell him before. She waited until he settled down before continuing explaining everything except the fact that Marik was after her, attacking her mentally in real life and in her dreams. Other than that she told them everything she knew.
"I see…so then why come see me if this has to do with Egyptian artifacts?" Pegasus asked once Risa finished.
"Because I know you went to Egypt a while back and I was hoping that you heard something that might give me a clue…possibly a legend about a light of some sort," Risa explained. "And I knew you had some knowledge of the millennium items."
"Well I do know a thing or two about the millennium items and I found one of them just the other day," Pegasus replied thoughtfully. "I was wondering how it managed to get in front of my house." He then reached into his pocket and pulled out the millennium eye and handed it to Risa. "I would be most grateful if you would return that to the museum where it belongs." Risa nodded and put it away before Pegasus continued. "As for hearing any legends….I did hear about one that said something about Rah shedding seven tears that formed into some strange stones. I don't remember all of it but I'm sure it had something to do with a light."
Risa's eyes lit up at this prospect, "What happened to those tears that Rah shed?"
"Well I heard that they were deliberately scattered throughout the world," Pegasus told her sadly. "Though if I remember right I did manage to get a hold of a strangely shaped stone the last time I went traveling. I thought it was a neat piece so I took it home."
"Is it here?" Risa asked excitedly.
"It's been so long I don't remember where I put it…so I'm sure it is but I couldn't tell you where," Pegasus told her. "If you manage to find it, however, you are welcome to have it if you really want it."
"Thanks, Uncle Pegasus," Risa said rushing from the room. "Come on, Joey. Let's go stone hunting."
Kairi sat on a long couch with Ryou on her right. They were watching a movie and Ryou slowly moved his hand to where he was holding hers. He glanced over at her and smiled as she looked at him in surprise.
"I-I really like you, Kairi," he murmured nervously.
She smiled as well and leaned her head against his shoulder. All of a sudden she felt Ryou slide out from under her head and she looked up worriedly to find that he had been forced from the couch by none other than Bakura.
"I don't think you quite understand the fact that we are connected and no matter where you go I am never far behind," Bakura told her as he knocked Ryou on the head causing him to fall unconscious where he vanished.
Kairi merely glared at Bakura in annoyance.
"I certainly hope that dear Ryou isn't the cause of your continuing disobedience," Bakura said standing in front of her. "Because if so, then perhaps I should remove the problem."
"Don't tell me you're getting jealous," Kairi said and the corner of her mouth lifted in hilarity at the idea. A second later Bakura's hand was over her throat and he had slammed her up against the couch.
"Don't test me," Bakura whispered warningly.
Kairi stared up at Bakura, steel in her eyes. "Ryou's just a tag along, a nuisance. What I'm doing is my own decision. I don't see why you're feeling so threatened."
"It's not a matter of feeling threatened…it's more me not wanting to have to shorten your leash like Marik has toward your friend," Bakura explained. "I will, however, resort to that method if provoked enough."
Kairi's eyes flashed with a hint of worry at the mention of her friend. "Where is she?"
"That's not something you need to worry about," Bakura told her loosening his grip on her neck. "Know this…no matter where you go I will always be able to get to you…especially if you continue to travel with my former host. I could have easily forced you to return by now…the only reason that I haven't just yet is I find your attempt to elude me to be amusing."
"Figures," Kairi said with a tiny roll of her eyes. "Forgive me for not getting down on my knees in gratitude."
"As amusing as your sarcasm is," Bakura started grabbing her chin roughly with his hand, "I will not be spoken to in such a manner."
"You're the one who did this to me. You're the one who planted this dark seed in my heart. Am I not meeting your expectations?" she asked him spitefully.
"Oh you are…better than expected even, but you will treat ME with respect…as I hold your very life…and the lives of your friends in the palm of my hand," Bakura whispered dangerously.
Kairi felt a twinge of concern for her friends within her heart and she didn't open her mouth for another smart comment.
"That's better," Bakura murmured, his hand sliding from around her throat to grasp her at the nape of the neck with both hands and pulled her lips onto his.
Kairi did not even bother resisting. Doing so would just cost her much needed energy.
"Hey, Kairi..." a voice called out through the silence of the room pulling her from Bakura's lustful embrace. "Come on, Kairi, you need to get up."
Kairi opened her eyes and spotted Ryou looking excited about something. He smiled as she looked at him and grabbed her arm to pull her up.
"I didn't want to wake you because you looked really tired but you won't believe what I found," he continued joyfully.
"Calm down, Ryou," Kairi mumbled both grateful and a little perturbed to have been pulled out of the thief's grasp in such a manner. Kairi rose from her bed in the cheap motel room they had been staying in and went to wash her face in the sink. "What's this thing you've found?"
"It's a library, quite an extended one too for such a moderate sized town. And I think it might have the information we're looking for," Ryou explained with enthusiasm.
Kairi's lips twitched into a smile. "Alright. Just let me shower and dress and we'll go." Just before she entered the bathroom, she muttered, "Thanks, Ryou," and shut the door behind her.
"I can't believe it's so hard to find one large strangely shaped stone," Risa muttered scratching her head as darkness fell and the time was getting late. "I knew his place was big but this is ridiculous. Who knows how long this'll take."
"Are you going to give up?" Joey asked surprised.
"No…I just wish I had more to go one. I mean Uncle has so many strange things that one strange stone blends in quite easily," Risa replied rubbing her forehead.
"Why is it so important to find that stone?"
"Because Uncle said there were 7 stones right? Well my bracelet has seven slots in it…I'm assuming that the seven tears fit in here somehow," Risa explained pulling up her sleeve to emphasize what she was saying.
"Alright so we'll stay here as long as it takes to find it," Joey said patting her shoulder. "I'll help you find it no matter what." His arm went from her shoulder to her back and pulled her into his chest. "I'll always be here to help you. Just name it and I'll give you a hand."
Risa felt her heart flutter as her nostrils filled with his scent making her feel very warm and…safe. She didn't realize where her hands were until she noticed they were wrapped around his back
Suddenly she felt his hand firmly but gently beneath her chin lifting her face toward his. She stared up into his eyes and felt her breath taken away before their faces met with a passion she never knew. The moment she tasted his lips she knew what true longing for someone was and didn't want the moment to end. However, her enjoyment was interrupted by an eruption of pain coming from the mark on her neck that was still hidden from Joey's view.
Risa's lips slid off of his as she cringed violently and her hand flew to her neck out of sheer instinct.
"Uh, Risa…. Is something wrong?" Joey asked in worry.
"Eh… n-no…. nothing. Just cricked my neck is all," Risa said quickly. "I think I'm gonna go to bed."
"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable or anything like that," Joey apologized, thinking perhaps he had tread where he should not have.
"No it…it wasn't you, Joey. I wish that…no never mind," Risa said turning toward the door.
"Risa, wait," Joey exclaimed quickly grabbing a hold of her left arm to keep her from leaving.
In doing so he grabbed the arm that had been bruised by Marik and his fingers put pressure in just the right places. Risa flinched at his grasp making Joey raise an eyebrow and he pushed her sleeve down to see what had made her flinch. There still slightly visible on her arm were the remnants of four large bruises…right where Joey's fingers were placed.
Joey's eyes widened at first, then they narrowed. "Who did this? Who's the slime ball who hurt you?"
"Nobody hurt me, it was an accident. I… hit it on something," Risa made up.
Joey wasn't buying it. Not for a second. "That's no bump mark. Risa…is someone hurting you? Please, you know you can tell me anything."
"It's nothing I can't handle, Joey," Risa told him firmly. "I know what I'm doing."
"I don't like seeing you get hurt," Joey told her, his mocha brown eyes staring deeply into hers. "Please, Risa, let me help you. I gotta know what's going on with you."
Risa forced her eyes shut. She wanted to tell him so badly, but another sharp throb on her neck prevented her from doing so. Manabu's dead face loomed in her mind's eye.
She took a deep breath, clenching her fists. "Joey, the personal things that happen in my life are none of your business." Then she pulled her arm out of his grasp and walked away, leaving him hurt and confused.
"I'm sorry, Joey," Risa thought tearfully.
"Not as sorry as you're going to be," the shadow of Marik's voice whispered in her mind, and she gave an involuntary shudder.
Kairi strode into the bar with grace and an attitude that screamed 'don't mess with me'. It was almost comical, in that sense, when awkward Ryou walked nervously after her, looking warily around at the hostile faces that glanced their way.
"Kairi…I really don't think we should be here," Ryou whispered as he tugged at the back of her jacket. "We could get into a lot of trouble hanging around a place like this."
"Ryou, we're fine…besides I need a drink," Kairi replied coldly.
"But you don't drink."
Kairi rolled her eyes and continued on her way until she reached the barkeeper and took a seat. All along the way they had people whispering to each other about the odd pair.
"Strawberry daiquiri, virgin," she told the barkeeper. "And I'll take a chef salad."
He nodded before turning to Ryou. "And you?"
"Um… I'll have a coke," Ryou said after some thought. "And a hamburger."
The barkeeper looked at the pair for a moment before sidling off to get their orders. In the meantime a group of three men sat at a table nearby trying to enjoy their meal but one of them spotted Kairi walking in and grinned mischievously.
"Whoo…that one there's pretty cute. She looks familiar somehow too."
"If you like her Valon then go talk TO her instead of about her to us," the blonde sitting next to him muttered.
"Hey, I think that girl is the one that stole from Kaiba Corp," a nearby guy murmured just loud enough for the group of three to hear.
"Kaiba Corp?" the red headed one of the three asked quickly.
"Oh come on, Alister. We're trying to enjoy our meal, so could you please keep your Kaiba obsessions to yourself?" Valon asked taking a bite of his food while keeping his eyes on pretty brunette. "Hmm... a wanted woman, eh? Always did have a thing for the rebellious ones. They make life more fun."
"So what do we know so far?" Ryou asked Kairi as they waited for their food and drinks.
Kairi pulled out a book from her bag and flipped it open. They had spent an entire day within the library, using both the books and the internet to research Egyptian legends based on what they already knew. They had sifted through many stories and legends, but there was one in particular Kairi had been drawn to, quite literally. In the middle of their research, she had started to hear voices.
At first she ignored it, thinking it might have been something Bakura was doing. But when the whispers became more insistent, she followed them to a closed off part of the library where several books were either too battered and old to be handled or were being preserved for other purposes. It was there she located a book with no title, but it had the Millennium eye and the Egyptian god Ra imprinted on the cover. She ended up taking it without consent, which of course Ryou wasn't very happy about, since Kairi had started acting more strange ever since the incident with Kaiba corp.
Kairi began to read the passage out loud: "Long ago, when the threat of darkness loomed over the land, the high priests beseeched Ra to lend them the ability to harness the power of light. Ra, feeling pity for the people of his land, gave them the light he loved and treasured so dearly, and shed a tear for each entity of darkness that would be created and force him to part with his beloved. The light was placed in a mother's womb, and she gave birth to the child of the light."
Bakura kept calling Kairi, his 'light'. Was there possibly some sort of connection?
"Kairi Mitsuko…you are under arrest for the theft at Kaiba Corp," a deep demanding voice said from behind them.
"That bloke was right," Valon commented. "She is the one who robbed Kaiba Corp. I thought she looked familiar. Oi, fellas, we should 'elp the sheila."
"Forget it!" Raphael and Alister said in unison.
"Come on, mates. Alister, that girl is connected to Kaiba somehow. Chances are she'd be able to get you in to see 'im. And weren't you the one complaining about being bored the other day?" Valon asked Raphael.
"No, that was you," Raphael retorted.
"Then there's no reason we shouldn't lend a helping hand. For old time's sake?"
"Fine, but I'd better be getting a reward for this," Alister muttered. Raphael just grunted. Then the three left the bar in a hurry.
At that moment the barkeeper had returned with their drinks but stopped after putting them down as he spotted the two police officers.
"Well, dang," Kairi muttered grabbing her drink and took of few chugs. Then she turned quickly on the spot and smashed glass on the head of the first officer and shoved him into the second before grabbing Ryou and dragging him toward the exit. "Come on, Ryou, let's get moving."
"Kairi…you just assaulted an officer of the law," Ryou said feeling both frightened and admiration for her action.
"Stop her!" the second officer shouted once he had regained his footing, his partner still lying on the ground.
Almost immediately the front doors were covered by two hulking guards blocking Kairi and Ryou's exit. "This is as far as you go," one of them muttered deeply.
Kairi glanced outside and saw her motorbike was surrounded by a bunch of black suits. She reached behind her, taking the pitcher full of beer a group of guys had been sharing and splashed it into the two men's eyes, momentarily blinding them. While all this had happened, a full blown bar fight had broken out and the place was in chaos. Kairi dragged Ryou through the fighting crowd to the bathroom. She forced the jammed window open and crawled out. Ryou scrambled after her.
"We're trapped, Kairi. There's no way we can out run the police without a vehicle," Ryou said in a panic.
"Don't you think I know that," Kairi muttered irately. "I liked that bike, too."
"Oi! Need a lift, mates?"
Kairi and Ryou looked around to see three people riding large motorcycles. The one that was closest to them offered his hand and Kairi graciously took it hopping onto the back of his bike while the tallest and biggest one picked Ryou up with ease and placed him on his bike. As soon as the two were situated and wearing helmets, the group rode off with a roar as the police tried to calm the drunken bar fight and find the two runaways.
"Whew, that was quite the scene you two made," the one with an Australian accent shouted to be heard over the roar of his bike. "What were the coppers after you two for?"
"They were after me because I wouldn't get rid of my Stride gum," Kairi said in sardonic humor.
"Really, still on your first piece, eh?" He laughed with amusement, taking it in stride.
"You know it," Kairi replied with a smirk. "So, got a place we could lay low for a while?"
"Sure, just stick with us," He told her, then turned to his two buddies. "You guys don't mind, do ya?"
"Whatever, she did make Kaiba pretty angry," the one without a rider replied.
"As long as you don't bother me, I don't care," the larger one muttered.
"Great! You'll have loads of fun at my place, trust me," Kairi's driver told her.
"Easier said than done," Kairi thought with a hint of bitterness.
CM: Hooray! The three motor heads are back in business! Next chapter see what Yugi and the gang have been doing, and will Risa be able to escape Marik's clutches? And can Kairi and Ryou really find help in these three recovered antagonists? Stay tuned!
