A/n: Ah, this took forever to do! *faints* goodness, it's been so long since I last spoke to you all isn't it? Okay, a few little anouncements... Great thanks to Crystilia Aerosine .. a new reader and the giver of my elusive sixth review!! *hugs* If it were'nt for her, I'd have gone into hiatus until I'd have got it, and we don't want that right? Right??
Seiri apologises for the late update. She finds it very hard to get into the mindframe to write this story with long periods of time in between, so hopefully the reviews won't take so long next time?
It is NOT I stress NOT because I have lost interest, nor because of writers block. It's just because I find it hard to get back into... Okay... O.o Ah, I think that's all. Randomly, also I must add that I think the chapters are about to go from averaging 6,000 words to about 8,000 or 9,000 so Yay!!. This chappie's also nearing 10,000 words too! :D (However, since I'm out of practice, I don't know if it's as good. Please let me know what you think!)
Ah, a word to Millenniumthief on something you mentioned in a review last chapter, there's a scene you and some of the other readers might enjoy near the end of this chappie. It'll hopefully be quite unexpected...^^'
Disclaimer: Still own no rights to any of these fantabulous characters, or Yugioh in general. I am a fan!!
Chapter 11- Of pride and chains
It had been almost ten minutes since Yugi had showed up to quash Marik's hopes of revenge on the scheming spirit of the ring, and for the last seven of them at least, had been wasted traipsing around in the wake of the gang, while they chattered on pointlessly.
Our villain and the white-haired teen were walking behind, hands interlaced briefly, silent. Every now and again, Bakura would supply a little giggle, or other polite remark to make it appear that they were listening, but really, there was a rough war going on below for who could crush the other's hand the hardest.
Duke, who it turned out owned the shop, had had to stay behind with a promise to meet them later, and Marik toyed restlessly with one of the pointed tips of his rod, protruding from the back of his trousers. After being discovered so quickly, he'd only had time to shove it out of sight, and now it's shaft was wedged down the back of his left leg making it completely impossible for him to attempt to sit down… nor bend his legs too far lest they notice. They must not know he had a millennium item, because if they did, they would quickly come to the conclusion of his real identity.
"I think we should go find Tristan and Serenity. Weren't they only going to get us some food?" asked Yugi, suddenly. Marik dug his fingers furiously and unexpectedly into Bakura's palm, and caused him to yelp slightly.
"…Oh?" he stuttered, twisting our villain's little finger painfully and making him force himself to hold back a wince.
"Yeah… whadd'ya think that slouzer's doin' with my sister?" raged Joey. Marik grinned through the pain in his hand, and continued their little finger-wrestle.
Just you wait, Joey Wheeler… You shall obey my commands very soon… then you'll have no time to worry about your sister…
"Hey, Namu…You okay?" asked the only female present at the moment. Tea. Her dark hair hung low across her shoulders, but despite her gender, our villain's was still comfortably longer, jetting in it's pale golden glory in between his shoulder blades.(Yes, Marik Ishtar was quite proud of his hair… when it was not semi-damp and fluffy…) She was staring at him, concerned at the uncomfortable faces the two were momentarily attempting to cover up from their hand-wrestle. Her sapphire blue eyes darted from one to the other, and down at their entangled hands for a second, until our villain assumed she became a little too weirded out, and finally rested on their guilty expressions.
"Okay, what are you guys up to?"
"Ah…I…whatever do you mean?" asked Bakura, in his sweet little host's voice, while all the while firmly tightening his iron-hard grip once again.
"Y..yeah, we're fine, you know. Actually, I'd be fine with anything as long as I have my little snowdrop there!" Marik invented, leaning into his friend and planting a rough kiss on his cheek, while attempting to struggle free of his hand. The spirit only could laugh apologetically at Tea's response, which suggested she now had become very uninterested by whatever she had originally wanted to know.
"Come on, guys, cut it out!" Yugi chided, gently. Apparently everyone was becoming rather overly-grossed out by their public display of affection.
"Looks like someone needs a hug," Marik grinned back to the haf-pint Pharaoh's host, but finally managed to free himself from the spirit's clutch. To his utter dismay, Bakura promptly latched himself onto our villain's arm like some sort of young female as soon as he had.
"Ooh, hug me!" he giggled. As soon as everyone had turned away, heaving uncomfortable sighs, our villain cuffed him as hard as he could around the head."Cut it out!" he hissed, and finally the spirit released him, an unholy venom passing briefly across his auburn eyes. This was when the tanned little mastermind began to realise he may just pay for that display of violence a little later on. Not that Marik Ishtar was particularly alarmed by the spirit, and if he tried any more strange little tests, he would be very sorry himself too, he vowed. Our villain was very eager to show him how he felt about the recent humiliation he had suffered, the same humiliation which was still spattered ambiguously over the spirit's front.
"So you guys, where are we heading?" again, it seemed, some members of the general public in Domino showed quite an interest in both our villain and the spirit's behaviour, and as they passed a newsagents on the corner of a street leading them back towards town, two youths perched on the seat of bicycles, one sitting licking the side of an ice-cream directed a loud wolf-whistle at the group. Most of the other members, including the host-like spirit, sweat-dropped. But Marik frowned, wishing he go back and teach them not to harass him in such a manner.
"You've got me wanting another ice-cream now…" Bakura sighed convincingly(considering the actual event that took place) and finally Marik halted.
"You mind if we catch up with you guys later? 'Kura wants icecream. And icecream you shall have!" Marik called, grabbing his friend around the shoulders a little rougher than necessary and halting him. He hoped the inflexion in his voice wasn't too noticeable.
This was a perfect excuse to get away from the rest for gang for a while, to contact the rare hunters, and get his plan into motion a little sooner than he'd planned.
"See you later, lovebirds!" shouted Joey crudely, and Marik noticed Yugi giving him a little nudge in the ribs.
"Yeah, bye you guys! Enjoy your ice-creams!"
"Oh, believe me, we will…" muttered the dark British snarl, as soon as they were too far away to hear. Our villain, slightly startled, looked up.
"You serious about wanting ice-cream?"
In answer, he suddenly found himself being pushed provocatively around the corner of the shop, where there was a small, dingy doorway to a house hidden by a porch carved into the stone. There were grimy scraps of paper, litter from the shop-front which had been stolen by the wind and stashed here, as well as a broken light above a rotting, wooden oak door.
"What are you doing now?" Marik heaved a sigh, although he was not happy being led around here, this was an even less-likely spot to be discovered in. The doorway led out to a little dingy alley, he soon saw- the sort of alley one would feel nauseous in if the sky was in any way dark. It seemed like an under-developed, rotting part of Domino, one which Marik had not seen before, even though the eyes of his mind slaves. Broken crockery, moss-covered stones and festering splinters of wood populated it as far as the eye could wander… all the way down to the concave bend in the path.
Still Bakura refused to stop; he backed our villain right into the first doorway until he could feel the slightly slimy texture of the wood pressing into his skin.
"Are you done yet?" he asked, unimpressed, as Bakura's face loomed towards his. The dark hazel was swirling with some indefinable emotion, threatening and half-enshrouded by the snowy fringe and Marik became very aware there was nowhere to retreat to; he was unwittingly trapped.
"You realise this is a bruise?" asked the demon, rubbing his nose against our villain's jaw, but he attempted to ward him off with a rough push.
"So? You deserved that for what you did to me," he grumbled back. The wet, half-eroded wood gave out a rather unpleasant smell; it seemed even without looking at them that the houses were derelict- part of the bottom of this door had been stolen by parasites. Marik was rather looking forward to leaving this place.
"You understand that now I must punish you for your recklessness?" whispered the spirit, pressing him harder into the rotting wood, and as he tightened his grip on our villain's shoulder, he yelped slightly.
"Punish? Ha; I'm the one with the information regarding the millennium items, I suggest you remember," Marik snapped back, forcing Bakura away from him. "And if you still want our deal to go through, then you shouldn't be doing such things to me and expect the 'punish' me for your wrongdoings!"
"My…!" furious, the two unruly bits of hair that resembles some sort of animal ears on the top of Bakura's head leapt slightly as he tossed his head. "You remember that I will not hesitate to take both of what I require in this doorway if I so please, and leave you for dead here in this alley if you continue to speak so arrogantly to me?"
"You're forgetting that I own a millennium item too? You're not all-powerful just because you have the ring, it's just as …mmmph-" all of a sudden, the spirit leapt forward, and their lips met. Marik could feel the slight pressure of an exposed fang against his bottom lip, but from what progressed, this appeared to be just a crushing kiss. Finally the pressure was released, and Bakura drew away.
"You're much better help to me when you keep your mouth shut," he spat, less than an inch still from our villain's lips. So close he could feel the breath of every word against them. The heat radiated from his friend strangely, and blocked his view of the small glimmer of street they had just left. It was a powerful, unnatural heat, considering his image… almost as strange as the fridge being used to cook things, to Marik. He'd never felt someone radiate such a temperature, even when they were sick…
"Oh yeah? Well I'd be better off without you full stop. Remember it was you that approached me, not the other way around?" he muttered back, intoxicated by the slight honey aroma choking them. This, of course was not true; if they happened to just part ways here, then sure he'd miss this beautiful wild spirit, but he'd be also slightly glad to see the back of him. Nobody humiliated Marik Ishtar like this demonic presence just had, and got away with it!
"Ah," the spirit leaned even closer again, until the sides of their noses were against each other, and he'd wrapped his arms around our villain's middle, right leg sliding between Marik's.
"You seem to have forgotten that although I approached you, you were the one who decided to run me down…"
"Don't play that card against me again!" the heat of the spirit's body against his was stifling, and no matter what happened he would not allow himself to become aroused around him any more, for fear of another embarrassing 'incident'. However, despite his best attempts, it was not proving easy.
"Well… you are just as guilty as I am for that, my dear. I'd concur; we're about equal, aren't we?" he grinned, revealing two pointed canines once again.
"N..no we aren't! Now stop crushing me and I'll think about forgiving you for what you did in the shop…"
"Oh. Again you forget I'm the one you came all over," responded the spirit, lifting the leg between Marik's slightly, until their thighs were against one another.
"You shouldn't have pushed me that far, then!" our villain was really tiring of this conversation, and Bakura was so beautiful that he couldn't help his body's response…
Damn my Ra-damned hormones…
"Heh…with anyone else, I'm sure I wouldn't have had that problem. Seriously…" here Bakura's hand strayed slowly down his exposed abdomen towards Marik's belt.
"Do you not do your….exercises?" Before he'd managed to get this hand down Marik's pants this time, our villain seized his wrist and thrust it away from himself angrily.
"Look, I have no idea what you mean by that, but we don't have time to be discussing this. If you want to help me, then we'll go ahead with my plan! …And if you don't, then just get out of here already!" our villain burst out.
I don't have time for his ridiculous attempts to get into my pants right now… perhaps later, in a controlled environment, with… restrictions in place…
"Ra, Marik! You mean to say you don't…!" here the white-haired spirit leapt away and released Marik, which he was rather glad of. He took the time to dust himself off and peel his back away from the horrible rotting wood, before he thought any about the way Bakura had just trailed off.
"Don't what?" now he was slightly interested, to say the least. If the spirit was indeed trying to embarrass him once again, he'd at least like to know what he was supposed to be out-arguing him over this time, so that he could quickly defeat him and get on with his plan so that he could become Pharaoh. Then he'd find time to play with his handsome associate.
Bakura grinned back at him, in a cunning, maniacal way which clearly stated that he had formulated some sort of his own plan in his incomprehensible mind.
"…My host used to be just like you, you know… and similarly, you'll soon realise it's quite a necessity to indulge in… to avoid all these…accidents from occurring in awkward situations,"
"Look, whatever you're talking about, I'm not interested. I'm going to call the rare hunters now, so you can either help me, or leave. What'll it be?" Marik freed the rod, and held it up to obscure Bakura before him, already searching out the waiting consciousnesses of his puppets, all sitting crouched in position, not about to insolently disobey him like Bakura would if he were given half a chance.
Suddenly, the raised rod was forced down by two pale slender fingers, until he were once again staring into a pair of patient, amused chocolate orbs.
"Do you still require my assistance?" he asked, cheekily, his features curved cockily. (A/n: Not like that! Stop thinking about it! O.O)
"If you want to help me, I suggest you be more helpful. Stop trying to get on top of me, (in both ways,) and stop embarrassing me in front of Yugi and the rest, then! If my cover gets blown because of you, you'll be dearly sorry!"
The spirit only stared back, expression unreadable. He said nothing for a while, and the eye contact alone was beginning to alarm Marik.
Why is he staring at me like that? Is there something on my face or is he just trying to scare me?
"As you wish," he finally accepted, leaning in towards our villain's face once again, but this time only briefly left a slightly moist and gentle kiss against the side of his lips before backing off. Marik was left even more confused than he had been before.
Why the sudden change? Has he accepted defeat, finally? Or is this another of his schemes?
"So are you going to capture these fools and get the duel underway or are we going to stand around in this alley for the remainder of the day? I'm sure if you wanted to do that, I could provide some entertainment to occupy us, but something assures me that's not what you had in mind," Bakura's voice had retreated back to it's normal, startlingly rusty variety, as he stood before our villain with his arms folded, no longer trapping him.
"Yes… I'll call the hunters, if you're ready…""I was born ready, Marik."
………………………………......................................................................
"Hey! You guys! There you are!" the small band of youths at the corner of the road all looked up at the owner of the voice as he pounded into sight.
Marik had once again stashed his rod into his sock, and was now running wildly towards them with Bakura in tow, having had the rare hunters report their exact whereabouts to him, moments before.
"Namu! Bakura! You back?" asked a familiar slang accent. Our villain noticed Joey's sister with the long hair and the teen he'd spoken with the previous day on the train were there, so they must have managed to find them in his absence.
"Yup!" upon reaching them, he slowed.
"Hey! It's Namu!" exclaimed Tristan, "So Bakura got out of hospital okay?"
Our villain grinned, and glanced back at the second, stanched white mane of the spirit bobbing up to meet them. The tall buildings of the city loomed either side of him, closing them into the secluded little park-like green of Domino. There were plenty of shrubs and greenery beckoning for to be used as shade on a hot sunny day, and the little brick path that the members of Yugi's little gang were standing on was winding in a slithery circle around the public garden. Thankfully there were not too many people around, perhaps one or two couples having picnics or lazing around in the shade. A truly perfect spot for kidnap.
"Oh, yes, thank you," grinned the slightly out-of-breath silverette, as he arrived by Marik's side. The long-haired sister's face was still bound in bandages, and she turned in the direction of the voices.
"Is that the same person we met on the train, the other day?" she asked, a nervous hand raised towards her face. Tristan still had his hand on her shoulder, an unspoken sign of reassurance.
"Yep, and he's brought his friend, Bakura. Y'know, the one I told you about… the one he was going to see,"
"Oh… the one you said freaked you ou-"
"Ah…yeah…"
Marik grinned, despite himself, at how naïve she was. He wasn't even supposed to have overheard that conversation, yet even if he had no idea what she'd been talking about it was still not the best thing to come out with in front of the person it was about.
"So, you got into the finals yet, Namu?" asked a sandy-haired Joey, looming down at Marik out of nowhere. Despite himself, he leapt slightly.
"Ah… no… I'm not the best duellist in the world.." he stuttered back, trying his best to appear humble, although he could barely contain the laugh that was clawing it's way for freedom in his chest.
"Well this is Joey we're talking about. Perhaps he can give you some tips," Bakura smiled up at his friend, host-like and amiable.
"Oh, I hadn't forgotten that this was duellist kingdom's runner-up," Marik grinned, while Joey proceeded to look smug with himself.
"Yeah, I suppose I can give you some pointers sometime, Namu. After all, you and Bakura seem…er, very close," Was that repulsion in his voice?
Is that right, Joey Wheeler? You want to give ME tips? Ha! You'll give me great pleasure in using, more than any of my other mind slaves. When I am Pharaoh you shall bow down before me, as will Bakura. Close? Was that a hint of disgust I detect?
…there is nothing wrong with being close to Bakura I'll have you know… he's not diseased, like all you people seem to think! You're just jealous because I had enough courage to go and get what I desire, and you are nothing! You are weak! The spirit would never-
"Ah, we are rather fond of each other's company… aren't we?" Bakura nudged Marik and forcefully interrupted his inner monologue.
"Yeah… it sort of makes me glad we had the accident," he responded, naturally, without abandoning his thoughts completely. He hoped it hadn't sounded too empty.
"Yep! Love hit so hard it put us both in hospital for weeks!" joked the spirit, in his honey-ish, galvanised host's voice. Marik almost gagged at how disgustingly sweet he'd managed to sound, but only sighed instead after a moment's deliberation. Nobody said anything for a while; there was still a slightly uncomfortable air lingering over them from his last comment.
"Eh… you guys comin' to the arcade? It's still early, we might as well do something with the day…" suggested Joey, moments later to attempt to break the silence.
"Good call!" Tea exclaimed, and so it appeared that was the chosen destination. Everyone began to move, but Marik stayed behind, Bakura standing loyally at his side. (Just how it should be…)
However, just when he'd wrapped an arm around the other's shoulders, and was lazily following, a little voice caught him off-guard.
"Namu! Namu, can I speak to you for a minute?" Our villain glanced down quickly, his violet eyes meeting this the Pharaoh? Or still his vessel? Marik was unsure for a minute.
"Sure,"
"Er… alone. Sorry, Bakura. I hope you don't mind me stealing him for a sec?"
The white-haired boy with his arm wrapped around Marik shook his head, long white wave of mane swaying like a wind tossed flag as he removed it and they drifted apart.
"Not at all, Yugi. I'll catch up with the gang. See you in a minute," He leaned instinctively towards Marik's face, and was so quick at this that he didn't manage to recieve our villain's death glare behind Yugi's back.
Their lips met very softly and tenderly, and as he drew away, Marik caught the other's top lip between his teeth and pulled gently to get his attention.
"The time has come." he mouthed, slowly against him, until he was sure Bakura would have got the message based on touch alone.
"Like you," the spirit mouthed back with an unkind smirk, and drew away, leaving our villain's pride somewhat bruised and in a position where he was unable to reprimand him for fear of blowing his cover.
"See you soon, Namu,"
"Yeah… snowdrop…" he grumbled back, scowling darkly as the spirit skipped away down the path, casting a sideways glance back while he caught up with the group making their way down the steps of the public garden. Briefly it crossed his mind that he was very unmistakeably beautiful, especially wild, white mane wind tossed behind him… and free and…happy…
"Um… Namu," The little host of the Pharaoh tried to catch his attention, and Marik leapt, realising with a jerk that he'd been staring dreamily in Bakura's direction for a couple of seconds too long.
How could I…! I don't…! Ra, that spirit's messing with my head…
"Yes, you wanted to speak to me?" he grinned, rubbing the back of his neck apologetically. This was no time to be fooling around like a lovesick puppy…
All right, my mind slaves… it's time… you must close in…
"Er… yeah. It's well… it's about Bakura."
You want to know about Bakura? Why don't you ask him yourself, or are you too scared the spirit of the ring is going to come and steal your soul?
"Oh… 'Kura?"
"Yeah. Since the accident you seem to be his constant companion and stuff, and I never seem to see you two apart. …Congratulations by the way. Look, the thing I wanted to ask, you would probably be able to answer easier than anyone else, so here goes.
I'm just a little worried about him. Does he seem a little spacey since the accident sometimes now? I mean, like he's just…living in a daydream most of the time? I've truthfully never seen him act like this… like he's…"
"In love?" Marik grinned back in response, calm on the outside, but within he could feel his anger bubbling once again.
Does Yugi know what he's saying? Or is that Ra-damned spirit of the ring on his way to blowing my cover AGAIN?? I thought he could impersonate his host perfectly! If this little shrimp's noticed a change in his behaviour, that means he's not doing his job properly, and we're in danger of being discovered!
"I dunno… I just never knew that he was… um…well, look out for him for me. He doesn't seem to be himself lately, and I'm not too sure why…" Yugi continued, unable to make eye contact with Marik. Our villain frowned, knowing perfectly well why he wasn't himself, and that the spirit now was not doing the best job of pretending to be him. He might sound like him, but now that Marik stopped to think about it, his host(from what he'd seen of the annoying little bugger) was certainly very uncomfortable with being around another male like that, and seemed perturbed by the relations he knew the spirit was having with our villain while in control of his body. …Not some love-struck kid who savoured the company of some guy who he leapt out in front of and almost killed, acting startlingly feminine…………with his long white wash of hair, sleek curved figure and...
That's completely off the point again! What is he doing to me??
"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing to be worried about. I don't think either of us have been the same since the accident… but you must know him a lot better than I do. I only met him a few weeks ago… so if you're worried, then I guess I should be too..." our villain reasoned, marvelling at how genuine he could sound when the need arose. He was quite proud of his lying skills, and here they did him justice. Or at least, he hoped they did.
You have not the slightest idea about him, you fool! Of course he's not himself with the spirit of the ring controlling him! How shocked you'll be when I take over the world as Pharaoh and banish your little friend! He's useless without the spirit! Worthless!
…Now, my mind slaves… strike hard, and strike fast…. And take my precious Bakura hostage too, while you're at it… they'd never suspect I'd take one of my own! …And this spirit needs to be taught a little lesson or two…
Yugi had just started to answer, when a piercing scream arose from somewhere. The sound of a fight, of a disturbance…
"Was that Tea?!" Yugi leapt forward, and Marik struggled to constrain his smirk, unsuccessfully.
Perhaps it was…
"Wait!" now he leapt forward too, and caught the little vessel's arm. "It could be a trap!" he couldn't have him interfering too quickly.. After all, in this stage of the plan, he was not his target.
Yugi struggled free desperately, and began to run as fast as his little legs could carry him.
"Come on, Namu! Bakura's there, too! We have to see what's going on!" he shouted back, and finally Marik began to jog after him.
I suppose it'll look suspicious if I don't?
The steps down to the main road opened out like a funnel, and Marik took them two at a time, almost stumbling once on a rock, and skidded roughly into the main street. Yugi was not too far behind, panting.
Another scream sounded, which he instinctively followed into the alley snaking behind a derelict apartment block on the corner of the street. Here in the courtyard, he could see the scattering of black-cloaked mind-slaves, all closing in on the group of teens.
"Joey, I'm scared…" simpered a little voice our villain decided must have been the blind sister. It seemed the boys were not going down as easily as the girls, and both Joey and Tristan had started a brawl with two of the larger, burlier of the rare hunters. One black-cloaked figure was lying out on the ground already, but many had overtaken the girls, hauling them securely out of the way towards a van parked by the apartment block's doors. He smirked when he picked out Bakura amongst the smatterings of people, his expression contorted uncomfortably beneath a tall, wide rare hunter's arm. His face looked hauntingly terrified, and our villain realised the spirit must have released the pathetic host in the first sign of danger.
He knows this is my plan… perhaps he just thought he was indeed supposed to be in this part of it..?
Yugi reappeared beside him, and he glanced down momentarily.
"You guys!" he yelled, voice piercingly high in fright.
"Yugi?? Stay back, I've got this under control!" shouted Joey in return, but in the interlude was forced violently to the ground by two of his attackers.
"Joey!!"
"Bakura!" yelled Marik, just really for effect. If this was the host, he barely knew who our villain was, let alone would return his concern.
"What's going on? Let my friends go!" Suddenly Marik leapt to his left instinctively away from the little vessel, he felt the rod react from it's hiding place. Was this the emergence of the ancient spirit within?
So you finally show your face, Pharaoh…? Well it won't be much help to them…!
This new Yugi moved with confidence, striding forward towards the circle of kidnappers, coat dropping from his shoulders threateningly. Tristan had finally been overcome in an outnumbered fight, too, and both girls were now securely stashed in the van. Bakura struggled wildly against the large man holding him, but failed to free himself.
"Yugi, help!" he yelled while his captor steered him towards the van too. Marik grinned.
Yes… let him know exactly what he's worth to me…
"You think you're so tough..?" grumbled the tousle-haired Joey, and although it took three rare hunters to finally restrain him properly, he refused to give in. "Yugi, stay back…!"
"Who are you? What do you want with them?" Marik grinned at the sound of the mighty Pharaoh's words. This was beyond his control, and he was not comfortable with that. His whole body now radiated some sort of inner strength, but the transformation very subtle apart from that. Something most would not notice, apart from close friends and millennium item holders, such as he.
Marik followed behind, nervously(or to any onlookers, this was how he would have appeared), his violet eyes scanning over the approaching hunters, closing in threateningly.
It was actually true that Marik himself was in danger here, too. Most of his rare hunters had never even met him personally, and so had not the slightest idea what he looked like. They'd just as easily abduct him, as they would anyone else.
It's me, you fools!
He couldn't get his message across though, something was obscuring the rod from his touch, and still they approached them threateningly.
"Well-well-well… it's Yugi Mouto. To what do we owe the great pleasure of?" asked the first hunter, a dank, dreary voice escaping from the form obscured by black hood as he addressed Marik's one companion.
"Are you working for Marik?" the Pharaoh asked through his vessel, and our villain behind him almost leapt at the sound of the fear and hatred in his voice when he'd said his name.
That's right, Pharaoh. Be afraid… be very afraid… after all these years I've finally come back for revenge and I want to make you suffer! So fear me! Hahahahaa….
"So what if we are?" the man grinned, momentarily offering a glimmer of a toothy grin. The other hunters either side of him cut off even more escape routes, and the spirit king backed up slightly, aware of how dangerous the position had become. Marik leapt forward and seized his arm briefly.
"You let them go! Let Bakura go!" he shouted at the rare hunters, and the man in charge began to chuckle.
"What have we here? Another unlucky victim?"
Oh you'll pay for that comment later, mind-slave…
"Let my little snowdrop go! He did nothing to you! Take me instead!!" he burst out, fairly surprised at how possessive and passionate he'd managed to sound in his effort. The Pharaoh turned and their eyes met briefly, but still Marik would not let go of him. The crimson swirled in the once amethyst orbs, and some sort of primitive recognition sparked between them.
Does he know? Surely he can't have worked it out for himself? How did he find out?
"Are you Bakura's…" he trailed off, unconvincingly, finally catching onto something. He turned back to the cloaked men approaching. "Marik, if you can hear me, this madness must stop! Release our friends, and let us go!"
Hahah, of course I can hear you, you fool! And to think you had me worried about discovery just a moment ago! Ha! Where have you been for the past few weeks? Let me guess; the inside of a millennium item! Hahahah!
"That'll never happen," the man sneered, and when he'd crept even closer, Marik noticed thankfully that the van was pulling off; they were gone, and that was it. Phase one was soon to be complete.
Well done, my mind slaves…
"Marik…where are you taking my friends?" the Pharaoh roared, his voice much more threatening in his panic than his vessel's, but still not nearly enough to cause our villain worry.
"Wouldn't you like to know, Yugi…"
Suddenly the possessed host stumbled backwards, to avoid the clutches of the rare hunter, and our villain let him go when he ducked, in an attempt to avoid one of the others. They didn't recognise him… and while this was quite dangerous in one way, it was very advantageous in another. At least it caused much less suspicion on his part.
"Do something Yugi, they have Bakura!"
"I can't…this is all a very bad person called Marik's doing, Namu… I… we're in very grave danger here!"
"Marik? Who's that?"
Well that's the first time I thought I'd hear myself say that…
"I'll explain later… right now, I think there's only one person who can help us!" Finally, when there was nowhere left to hide, the Pharaoh turned, and ducked under one of the caped man's arms as he reached out for them, skidding out of the alley. Marik followed, marvelling at how perfectly his plan was going. The men began to grab at him too, but he ripped the rod free from his sock and pointed it threateningly at them.
"It's me, you fools!" he hissed, glancing over his shoulder to make sure the Pharaoh wasn't watching. He wasn't.
"Now do me a favour and go make sure none of the others manage to escape!" and with that, he'd just forced the rod, still glowing with the heat of his anger, back into his trouser-leg when a familiar pair of crimson eyes reappeared at the corner.
"Come on, Namu! There's no time to lose if we want to find our friends!"
"Y..yeah..!" With one final furious glare at the shocked hunters, Marik was hot on his heels, the warm breeze tugging slightly at his blond hair, and caressing his tanned skin gently.
"Who were those freaks who took Bakura?" he gasped, feigning breathlessness as they pounded down the streets of Domino. The traffic came to a noisy halt as he was led through the middle of a busy road, and through a market square, people scattering in their wake but still the Pharaoh wouldn't halt.
"They're a group of thugs…called Rare hunters. They work for a very wicked man named Marik, who has targeted our friends in an attempt to get to me…!"
"You??"
"Yes… it's because of me they were kidnapped…this Marik has some sort of deal with me, and although I'm unsure as of what at the moment, our first priority is finding where he has taken our friends…!"
Our villain was beginning to lose his breath for real, this time, but still the Pharaoh would not slow. Two coat sleeves billowed out behind him as he sped along, buildings and streets passing them in an instant. Adrenaline surged through his veins, blinding him briefly. Suddenly there was a shout from somewhere behind them.
"Yugi! What's the hurry?"
Looking back at a man Marik had narrowly avoided running into a second ago, his eyes locked with the speaker's. They were the iciest blue he'd ever seen, piercing enough to shatter a pane of glass with only one glance. He was transfixed, but still unable to stop, and for this reason felt something pull at his ankle and next thing our villain knew he'd hit the pavement face-first with a stinging pain clawing up his jaw.
"Dammit!" How could he have let that happen to him?
"Namu?" The Pharaoh skidded to a rough halt, his lithe body ragged from the sprint, and surprise crossed his face, not unlike our villain had, when he acknowledged the speaker.
"Kaiba?! What are you doing out here?" For only one person could own a gaze that powerful.
Said person strolled towards them contemptuously as Marik desperately heaved himself to his knees, sparks dancing ambiguously before his eyes from the quick downing. Seto Kaiba, and the owner of the last God card Marik's sister had unwittingly denied him, loftily side-stepped over our aching mastermind, and instead turned his attention to the Pharaoh.
"What's the rush Yugi? Paranoid that some imaginary person has gone and kidnapped your friends again?" he simpered, gripping the briefcase he had with him tighter. Marik attempted to get back to his feet, and as he did so, one of the long white coat-tails the CEO was wearing happened to catch him sharply across the face, knocking the last shred of dignity out of him, completing his graceless image, almost knocking him backwards again in the process.
"Kaiba you must help us! It's really happened this time! Marik's got my friends!" Our villain slowly rubbed a hand across his aching jaw, and fresh blood met his fingertips.
Oh, you'll pay for that, Seto Kaiba…
"Save it Yugi. Lest I remind you this is the same spiel you gave me last time? Just accept it; this Marik person probably doesn't even exist." Kaiba replied, and our villain grumbled in pain, conveniently forgotten at his feet.
Don't exist indeed…we'll see who doesn't exist…
"Kaiba; listen to me. A madman has my friends for real- I saw them been taken! I need your help again…in finding them…A.. are you okay, Namu?" finally he was acknowledged, and Marik turned around sheepishly.
"Ah… well… we must find Bakura! I won't be okay until we find him! A..and of course everyone else…" he gasped, attempting to stem the flow of blood dripping from his chin, earning him a new stripe of red across his forearm. The pain was beginning to get to him, and he struggled to force back the rage building up from his equally injured pride.
"How cute. You've got a new little friend," the CEO cooed vilely while he glanced down for the first time acknowledging our injured villain's presence, crossing his arms sarcastically, offering no expression which betrayed how he was truly feeling. A hand, extended from our villain's true target offered to help him to his feet. But he refused to take it; he would never stoop that low.
"Kaiba, please! You must help me… they took them in a van, a black van… it's only Namu and I who managed to escape. I have no idea what Marik's going to do with them…nor why he waited until now to strike…""Bakura's been taken too…" Marik sniffed, finding tears leaping into the corners of his eyes… not from any real emotional source, the combined strain of holding back his rage and how indignant he was at how they spoke about him, coupled with the stinging pain of his injured face was proving too difficult to do.
"Bakura? Who's that? Why should I care about him?" Seto Kaiba's trademark icy glare bit into Marik, and for all he could do, a single tear found it's way to freedom. His image already ruined, the only thing that reassured him was that perhaps he could use this setup still to his advantage.
"Because I.. because I love him!" he burst out, quite pleased with how convincing he'd sounded. Something tugged slightly at his insides; that was the first time he'd ever admitted(or even lied) about loving someone aloud, and it bothered him slightly. He tried to shake it away, but the feeling gnawed mercilessly at him.
It appeared he'd taken Kaiba's words away. For once, the cold, dry, ruthless business owner had nothing left to say.
"Please, Kaiba. Help us…" a warm hand on his shoulder told our villain that the Pharaoh was now standing behind him, and even without looking up from attempting to glean what little of his self-dignity from the pavement, he knew he was more worried than he'd ever been in his life, which brought at least some sort of pleasure to him at least.
There was a rustle of clothing.
"Mokuba…it's me. The dweebs have got themselves kidnapped for real this time. Can you track the signal on Joey Wheeler's dual disc?"
Silence.
"Mokuba."
"Mokuba!"
Silence.
Then there was a slight crackle of interference. Marik briefly found the base of his rod, which was making sitting like this uncomfortable, and searched for one of his mind puppets to talk through. He found one, as always, and alighted onto his conscience until he could see what they could.
The office… good, they have Mokuba already…. there was a microphone on a shelf near this puppet, and Marik made him seize it.
"Seto Kaiba..?" he forced the man say, into the microphone. To his amazement, the voice came out of the speaker above him on the CEO's jacket. That was a stroke of luck...
"Who is this?!" he heard the deep, sandy voice threaten.
"I am Marik. Not only do I have your friends Yugi, but Seto Kaiba… I now have your little brother, Mokuba, too. So if you don't listen very carefully, they you'll never see any of these people again!"
"Why are you doing this, Marik?!" the worried voice of the spirit Pharaoh behind him shouted. Our villain, still sitting on the pavement grinned slightly, and wiped his face again with another grimace. His arm was now an even deeper shade of crimson.
"This is what I want you to do. Meet me on the pier in less than an hour, if you ever want to see them again. And be sure to bring the God cards…" Then he withdrew from the man's mind, and attempted to move the rod so it was less noticeable and uncomfortable than before. Luckily, neither Kaiba nor Yugi's other half were looking at him, they were both transfixed by the speaker.
"What's going on?? Mokuba!! Is this some sort of joke?"
"Kaiba, stop it! You know as well as I do that this is the work of that madman. Now we must find where he's holding your brother and my friends before it's too late!"
There was another rustle of fabric.
"If you think I'm just going to walk into a trap, Yugi, you're sadly mistaken. …However, this Marik is now our common enemy. And we will do nothing until I find my brother!"
"Stop being so arrogant! You'll need my help if you want to find this Marik character. So can't we put our differences aside and work together?"
That was about all our villain could stand of their arguing. He wanted to get out of here, and do it fast. With another quick hand around the shaft of the rod, he called for a close slave to present himself. Quite a few did so immediately, so he chose one.
Come and kidnap the blonde-haired kid with the dark skin…
"Save it Yugi. This is what we're going to do. I'll call the chopper, and we're heading straight for Domino pier. Understood?"
"But I just thought you said it was a trap?"
Thankfully, he could see a group of shady-looking figures wrapped in trademark navy cloaks appearing from the shadows, unbeknownst to Kaiba and his main interest, the Pharaoh.
Soon your boundless energy will be mine… I'll rule over this world…
"Kaiba! Look! There's some of his men now!"
The two looked up wildly, and Marik grinned at the look of horror painted on both faces.
"Who are you?" shouted the dark-haired CEO, but still the rare hunters advanced silently, stealthily.
"Quickly, we've got to move! We have to get out of here! Namu, you okay?"
Marik nodded, and rose shakily to his feet. He'd been receiving the odd strange glance from other members of the public, with his choice of seating arrangement, but now that he'd gotten back to his feet, he realised his backside had been numbed by the cold street.
"Come on!"
"Who are we running from, exactly?"
"Just move, Kaiba! I'll explain on the way…"
The two sped away, and purposely Marik fell slightly behind. He could see the man he had contacted leap sideways from the shadow of a building, and suddenly everything went black. They had done their job.
"Yugi, they've got me!" he shouted, feeling the cold bite of concrete on his knees once again, whatever had been forced over his head was tightened.
"Namu! No!"
"Help!" he tried not to struggle, since he was safe now, and was aware of someone carrying him. The voices of the others all faded away, and he let the sway of gravity take him.
………………………………......................................................................
A little while later, the bag was removed and our villain immediately noted the lack of light all around. They seemed to be in the back of a warehouse, a wide spacious place, empty besides from the small congregation standing around him. Marik realised Odeon was one of the people gathered around him as he sat on the ground.
"Odeon! What are you doing here?" he asked, freeing up the rod once again, and brandishing it at the party.
"What were you doing with them?" he asked, a slight hint of worry beneath his deep accent. The sounds echoed loudly off of the walls.
"What do you think I was doing? I was setting the plan into motion, in a way that neither I nor Bakura would be suspected!! … Where is Bakura, anyway?" He hoped the hunters had done as he'd instructed them to, as this would become essential later on.
"He's in the back, separate from the rest as you requested. Would you like to see him?"
"Yes…" our villain stretched hugely as he rose, the stiffness in his legs quite uncomfortable. They almost threatened to give way as he followed his closest servant towards the back of the warehouse, and he raised his hand to the injury he'd freshly obtained. The blood was sticky and half coagulated already, but it still stung violently.
"Here we are master. I must remind you… he's not too… happy about the conditions…" There was a heavy oak door to his left, which Odeon pushed open quickly.
"He'll be fine." Marik reprimanded him quickly, sliding through the crack in the door.
"Ah yes… well it was you I was worried about…" The servant replied in an undertone, so that our villain never heard.
This room was as dark as the one they had just left, if not more so. A tiny window to the right above them shed a single beam of daylight onto a thin frail figure, securely fastened to a chair in the middle of the room.
"Bakura?"
"Marik why the hell have they tied me up? Release me at once…! This was not part of the plan!" he replied, white crest of hair showing while he kept his head bowed, face forward on his chest.
"Ah, perhaps I just forgot to mention this…" He crossed his arms slowly, unable to take his eyes from the chained-up demon. There was something mystical, something beautiful, something…arousing… about this scene. It felt so good…
"I never would have agreed to this…" The British snarl echoed in the dark, and still our villain stood unmoving, just observing the sleek curve of his long body against the small wood… he was glad this chair appeared to be very miniscule compared to the person chained to it, since it brought out his body's curves better.
The rod began to shine, casting shallow shadows over itself, and the inhabitants of the room. Finally the spirit raised his head, and his auburn eyes twinkled threateningly in the half-light.
"I said release me at once, Marik!"
But still our villain couldn't tear his eyes away. He approached him slowly, contemplating what to do for payback. That punch was unexpected and well-deserved, but he'd rather his punishment was more…carnal…
He arrived before him, a wicked, satisfied glare he knew shone in his own violet eyes.
"Why would I when now I have you right where I want you?" he straddled him roughly, until he was seated in his captive friend's lap, both hands on his shoulders and forced the demon's head upwards to meet his gaze. The curve of his set jaw beneath his forefinger and middle finger was solid… appealingly so…
"I suggest you reconsider that sentence before you pay dearly for it," suggested his captive prey, dangerous fangs flashing in the dim light which surrounded them. Marik, in response, lowered his head until their lips met, and slowly parted the other's with his tongue. The warm wetness greeted him readily, but oddly enough, Bakura did not protest much. When our villain realised he was not responding either, he drew away.
"What was that for?" he asked, snidely, his dark snarl filling the silence. Marik felt his body react to their position, and shifted slightly to the right in Bakura's lap. The rope and chain was efficient to bind him, our villain felt it against his middle, sealing the demon's chest to the back of the chair. He ran a hand through the knotted mane of white hair, curling his fingers around each strand, slowly.
Ra, he looks seductive when he's in chains…
"You must learn to obey my orders properly if you want me to give you my end of this bargain.." he whispered dangerously, grabbing the handful of arctic mind he had violently, jerking Bakura's head back further.
The spirit of the ring could do nothing but grit his fangs against the jolt of pain from the hair-pulling, and grin in false confidence to keep his dignity in his current predicament.
"I never knew you were into S and M, Marik,"
A/n: *covers head* please say it's an okay chapter!! I can't judge my own writing any more!! And Sun-chan, please don't kill me for tying Bakura up like that!!! (which may I just say, was very asthetically pleasing for Seiri to write...:D mmmh...)
I feel like the kidnap scenes were crap, but unfortunately, I won't correct it yet. Perhaps when I'm finished Blackheart.. hmm..
So... want to know what Marik plans to do to him as carnal punishment? Well hurry up and review then!!
And as soon as the duel(which will be done in 2 parts, by the way,) gets underway, the finals are finally going to start in at the most three chapters... for the 15th one? Yeap. Okay! So nothing left for me to say but review please, and make Seiri happy!
Oh, and Seiri has finally opened to the public! If you guys out there want to contribute, feel free, I'd appreciate it! But don't bother flaming, because I'll ignore and delete them. ...Sometimes, if I'm lacking, you can help for the 6 reviews I need for update, but strictly, they WON'T apply for that. However, they're still welcomed openly, and critical appraisal is fine...
Until next time, which is hopefully soon!!!
