EDITED CHAPTER
Thin legs trapped Kim's own beneath her offenders and pinning her to the cold unwelcoming brick wall. Again Kim attempted her struggle, Bakura allowed this for a moment before raising his hand and bringing it down slashing against flesh. A sudden pain exploded from Kim's left shoulder, a moment later she felt warm blood trickling down, she opened her mouth to scream at him, but nothing except ragged breathing and a muffled choke escaped as Bakura still had his hand pressed against her mouth.
Kim dared to glance at her shoulder to the blood pooling in one area and slowly trickle down her chest and arm. Slowly Bakura pulled the knife from her skin marveling at how fast the blood moved along her flesh.
He released the girl from his grip and she sank to her knees clutching the area just below where he had stabbed her with a trembling hand.
"Interesting, you didn't scream." he commented casually. Kim made no response merely tried to control her trembling body, he smirked ever so slightly seeing the crimson fluid splattered about her lean neck and cheek, along with flowing from her shoulder and disappearing beneath the clothing and dripping onto the ground,
"You shouldn't meddle in things that do not concern you," he said quietly twirling the knife,
"It involves my friends." Kim muttered with clenched teeth, the nagging stinging sensation beginning to irritate her.
Bakura leaned closer capturing her chin with long cold fingers and tilting her head up to look at him.
"It's a pathetic weakness really." he said to her, "You've already risked your life for those fools, only this time...you're just going to betray and hurt them."
"Yeah right." she spat glaring daggers at him, "I'll tell them your plan and reveal who Marik is!"
Bakura's right hand raised and slashed through her already injured shoulder, the girl merely clenched her teeth squeezing her eyes shut as the pain was resurfaced.
"will you now?" he asked darkly as she slumped against the wall unable to support herself. "You won't tell them because you'll only risk their lives even more, not to mention your own," the knife already stained with their blood fell to the girls shoulder again cutting into new flesh and making the spirits victim squirm in his grip. Slowly he took her one hand that was clenching around the injured area and brought it away slashing the knife and breaking skin along her palm,
"I wonder how many times I'll do this and you won't cry out...?" he stated curiously looking at the two injuries, again he smirked. "What will it take for you to scream?"
"Nothing." she muttered dully.
"You've got a breaking point, every mortal does." Bakura said with mild amusement laced into his words, Kim said nothing so he continued "Tell you what, if you tell any of your friends while the plan is in motion, I'll run this blade through one of your little friends,"
"You wont!" Kim cried with daring eyes,
"I wonder just which friend would be the most fun? Jounouchi maybe? Nah, he would only fight back harder," he said looking at her watching for any expressions that he could use for leverage, "Anzu perhaps? Or...I got it, Cat. Isn't that her name? So frail she is, I'm sure one very small slash," he raised her hand forcing her to look at her knew injury "would reduce her into a screaming fit."
something stirred in Kim's hazel eyes and Bakura knew he had her, he moved closer, his legs straddling her own trembling ones, a hand fell to the wall Kim was leaning on as his face hovered just inches from hers,
"She'll probably shed a few tears when I begin to cut at her veins." he continued as if talking about the weather, slowly the hand propped on the wall slid down to her arm, his thumb absentmindly drawing circles into her skin while the rest of his fingers held a tight grip on the upper arm, "Or maybe when I drive this deep within her heart..."
"leave her alone!" Kim screamed and began to jerk out of his grip but Bakura easily threw her into the wall causing her head to slam against the bricks painfully.
"There we go. Your breaking point." Bakura stated with an amused smirk. The spirit pressed the bloody tip to her bare skin right over her heart and leaned closer, so close that he could feel her ragged breath ghost his own lips. "do we have an understanding Kim?" he purred
"Shizuka, I've qualified for the Battle City finals!" Jounouchi exclaimed.
He and Ryota had dueled in the aquarium, there were a few close calls but Jounouchi defeated him, he was calling his sister using Anzu's cell phone.
"That's great Jounouchi! I knew you could do it!" Shizuka gushed.
"I'm sending someone over now to pick you up." Jounouchi informed her with a grin.
"Ok, and the first thing I get to see is my big brother dueling in the Battle City finals!"
"I wanted you to see me in action in the preliminary rounds, but it'll be even better at the finals." Jounouchi replied. "I couldn't have done it without you sis. Anyway someone will be over soon, see you later."
"Bye big brother." Shizuka agreed. Closing the phone shut Jououchi let out a delighted laugh before throwing the phone in the air. Anzu's face looked horrified watching her cell phone fly through the air, but she caught it anyway.
"Hey watch it on the technology!" she shouted angrily.
"Now all I gotta do is find somebody to go get her." Jounouchi said aloud, Honda half tackled his friend
"I'll go get her." he volunteered eagerly, Jounouchi glared,
"You wish jerk." he started to say but Honda ran off before anybody could stop him, Jounouchi was about to sprint after him but stopped. "Eh, Honda's like family anyway, sorta like those annoying cousins you can't get rid of." he reasoned.
"I'm glad to hear your sister is doing alright." Cat offered with a smile. Jounouchi returned her smile,
"Thanks Cat, I think the two of you will get along."
"Super." she replied.
Unnoticed by the group of friends a trio stood just on the other side of the street, hidden by passing pedestrians and relying on the fact none of the friends would turn around and notice them. Marik leaned against his motorcycle, a boy with long white hair laying on it heavily in pain, beside the boy Kim was sitting on the back still cluthing at her arm inches away from the injury
"Like we rehearsed Kim." Marik said with a cruel smirk. Kim shook her head ademently, and stayed still on the motorcycle, she wasn't going to help.
With an annoyed "Tch", Marik reached for his belt and grabbed the golden object strapped to his belt, it was a rod with a golden ball and bat like wings, as soon as he clutched at it the rod began to glow faintly and Kim felt what seemed to be an icy hand grab hold of her brain.
shivers ran down her spine as she struggled against it by shaking at her head.
The icy grip tightened its hold and soon Kim couldn't even move her body, all of the sudden she heard Marik's own voice in her head.
"Do what you were told," his voice was smoothe, soft, almost hypnotizing,
slowly Kim found strength in her legs, the pain dulled slightly in her arm and she stood up straight, a moment later she helped Ryou up, Marik came over and put the boys slender arm around his neck, Kim felt her legs move robotically, while inside she screamed for release.
"So are you ok with Honda getting your sister?" Cat asked tilting her head at Jounouchi, the blonde sighed
"I think of him as that annoying cousin you can't get rid of." he grumbled "but he is almost family, so I guess I can't exactly complain..." before he could finish his thought Anzu let out a loud gasp.
"Oh no!" Anzu cried looking past the two. Cat and Jounouchi followed her gaze and gave an exclaim of shock and horror.
Ryou was between Kim and a boy with tanned skin and blonde hair, Kim was currently helping support him without collapsing herself. The other boy had Ryou's arm around his shoulders and was pressing a cloth to his arm.
"Hang in there." the boy said to them,
"Kim!" Cat cried
"Bakura!" Anzu shouted. Jounouchi, Grandpa, Cat, and Anzu ran over to the three where Ryou sank to the ground gently. Kim knelt down too gritting her teeth.
"Are you ok?" Grandpa asked,
"What happened?" Jounouchi asked as well.
"I found her trying to help him up but with her arm injury I don't think she was able to do it." the stranger said gently. "Do you know them?" he asked hopefully. "He hasn't said a word and she seemed too out of it to say anything."
"We're buddies, yeah." Jounouchi agreed. "Hey Kim, you ok?" he asked concerned. Kim was unable to look him in the eye.
"Say you're ok!" the voice in her head urged
I-I'm ok." Kim found herself mumbling.
"You don't look ok." Cat protested kneeling down and gently placing a hand on Kim's forehead.
"Jounouchi." Ryou murmured weakly,
"Hey what happened?" Jounouchi asked worriedly,
"It all happened so quickly, I don't remember." Ryou tried explaining, he truly did look confused as to why he had been attacked.
"So how did you end up like that Kim?" Grandpa asked concerned. Against her will, Kim frowned as if to remember.
"R-ryou was attacked. I just wanted to help." another command she was forced to obey.
"I'm lucky I found you," the strange boy put in "You should probably see a doctor." Kim nodded vaguely, her arm had been crudely bandaged and she was losing a lot of blood. Not as much as Ryou of course but it was enough to make her dizzy.
"Man, she must not be ok if she isn't fighting at all." Jounouchi mused. Marik gave him a strange look "Kim doesn't like doctors. It's a long story." Jounouchi told him. For a brief moment Marik considered having Kim argue against being taken to a doctor, but he shook it off, it seemed the fools were buying the story anyway.
"I'll take them to a hospital. Jounouchi give me a hand." Grandpa offered.
"Sure thing gramps." Jounouchi agreed, the other boy picked up Ryou as Jounouchi helped Kim to her feet.
"You going to be ok?" Cat asked, Kim nodded, she really just wanted to be away from them now.
"They'll be fine, I'll call if there's any news." Grandpa promised.
"Ok."
And as luck would have it Yami and Seto were a street away going into the Domino Aquarium, but due to the taxi and everybody's attention on their injured friends nobody noticed.
"My friends lives are in danger." Yami told Seto, "I hope you've led me to the right place."
"Relax your friends are here." Seto replied with a roll of his eyes.
"How can you be sure?"
"Look. Kaiba Corp's tracking system has traced to Katsuya Jounouchi's duel disk, it's foolproof." Kaiba assured him, Yami nodded then ran towards the entrance.
"Hey thanks a lot er uh, fella." Jounouchi said to the stranger who helped their friends.
"What he means to say is that we haven't properly introduced ourselves." Anzu told him.
"I'm Namu, and you are?"
"The name's Jounouchi." Jounouchi greeted sticking out his hand to which Namu took,
"I'm Anzu,"
"Cat."
Namu smiled politely at them all but his eyes flickered a little knowingly upon seeing Cat's cartouche.
"Thanks for everything you've done." Anzu thanked Namu. Marik smiled even more before rubbing the back of his head.
"It's no problem, I just did what anyone else would've done." he told her.
"Is that a duel disk on your arm?" Jounouchi asked now noticing the object strapped to Namu's arm. Namu blinked before looking back at his arm,
"Er, yeah, But I'm not very good." he replied "You aren't challenging me to a duel are you?" he asked.
"No need to, I've already qualified."
"Wow, impressive. You must be good." Namu compimented "Maybe you could give me tips one day"
"I'll bet I can fit you in." Jounouchi said modestly, Cat and Anzu sweatdropped but smiled anyway.
"I feel as if I've met you all before." Namu remarked.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Jounouchi replied, the three turned around and gave Namu a wave "Smell ya later Namu." and with those words they walked off "Man he seems like a swell dude." Jounouchi said.
"yeah," Anzu agreed
"Those fools have no idea who I really am or what's in store for them." Marik thought to himself smirking,
Cat followed her friends but something didn't quite feel right, it was the feeling she had on the train the day before. When Cat was riding back into town she had this feeling she was being watched, it was the same feeling she had right now. She gave a small sigh, she decided to ignore it for the time being, besides Jounouchi was around, he wouldn't let anything happen to his friends.
"Hey Jounouchi!" a voice called. Everybody turned to see Namu run up to them "I don't want to be an inconveniance but could you possibly show me some dueling strategies right now?" he asked hopefully. Jounouchi nodded
"Sure, I could hit you with a few pointers."
"Thanks, I'd like to win at least one duel in Battle City."
"Something isn't right..." Cat thought, crossing her arms and giving a small frown.
"You've come to the right place, Namu. I got so many dueling secrets; it'll make your head spin." Cat and Anzu smiled. Same old Jounouchi. "Just stick with me, Namu. You'll be a dueling expert in no time."
"Wait, Jounouchi, look behind you." Cat and Anzu gasped as a Rare Hunter grabbed Namu's shoulders. Jounouchi dealt with the one behind him.
"Take that!" he yelled,
"Augh!" Anzu screamed, a Rare Hunter had grabbed hold of her.
"Anzu!" Cat cried, a Rare Hunter grabbed Cat's arm "Let me go!" she told him, Jounouchi ran over to Cat and punched the Rare Hunter keeping hold of her in the face.
"What do you want?" Anzu asked,
"You're real tough, why don't you pick on me!" Jounouchi shouted to them punching another rare Hunter.
"Jounouchi behind you!" Anzu yelled to him,
"Look out!"
Too late, Jounouchi was slammed to the ground,
"Jounouchi are you ok?" Cat asked,
"I've been better." Jounouchi muttered,
The rare hunter who was holding Anzu tightened his grip on her, just then her cell phone started to ring.
"Oh!"
"Expecting someone?" one of them asked. Another one looked through her purse and pulled out her phone.
"I'll take that."
"Get off of my stuff!" she demanded.
"Yeah!" Cat snapped.
"Be quiet," the hunter holding her demanded roughly.
"You heard her, lay off!" Jounouchi added. The rare hunter answered the phone and, unknowingly, put it on speaker.
"Hello, Anzu, are you there? Hello?" Yami's voice asked.
"Yugi help!" she cried.
"Anzu! Where are you? Anz-" The rare hunter dropped the phone and stepped on it.
"No!"
"Yugi! Help us…" Cat thought desperately.
"You're gonna pay for that!" Jounouchi snapped.
"Looks like your friend won't find you now." they sneered.
"Anzu!" Yami cried into the pay phone, (look across the street you fool) "Anzu answer me!" more silence. "Oh no." he murmured remembering Marik threatening the safety of his friends. Twitching angrily Yami set the phone down and walked out the phone booth where Kaiba was waiting.
"Listen, it seems that Marik's gotten to my friends first. We need to find them."
"Hm, Yugi, it's obvious they're after you and not your pathetic friends, they're no use at all." Kaiba told him "Besides my satellite will track them down, Jounouchi's duel disk has a signal so tracking them down will be simple enough; And then you and I will duel and your Egyptian God card will be mine, so prepare to lose." Kaiba said confidently.
"Kaiba, you and I will duel soon enough, but not until ALL of my friends are safe. Is that clear?" (Yami fans "aww")
Kaiba gave a curt nod in understanding.
Kay sat down on a park bench with a small sigh. She now had five locator cards, just one more and she would qualify for the Battle City finals. She scanned the crowd for any duelists, considering the fact she only needed one more she was willing to take on any duelist right at the moment. Spotting one Kay stood up and went to go challenge them, as she neared the person her cell phone started ringing. Kay pulled it out of her pocket glancing at the number, raising an eyebrow she flipped it open.
"Hello?"
"Hi Kay,"
"Uncle!" Kay cried as relief rushed throug her, "You're ok,"
"I'm better than ever dear." Pegasus replied with a small laugh,
"what happened Uncle?" Kay asked,
"I don't exactly remember, but I do know that whoever knocked me out took my millennium eye."
"Do you think it was Yugi Muto?"
"No, I don't think so Kay." Pegasus replied, Kay nodded as guilt replaced the relieved feeling.
"I see, I gotta go uncle, but I'll talk to you later tonight hopefully."
"Ok Kay, talk to you later."
Kay hung up her phone then realized the person she was going to challenge disappeared. She gave another sigh in disappointment and looked around.
Unbeknowst to her three Rare Hunters were closing in behind her.
"Seto!" a voice called through Kaiba's collar (that's right, his coat collar)
"What?" Kaiba asked,
"There's something very wrong. Katsuya Jounouchi's duel disk isn't sending a signal to the satellite, I think something's blocking it." Mokuba said, "I'm going to go to headquarters to get the team to fix it."
"Do it." Seto ordered "and when you do contact me immediately,"
"On it big brother." Mokuba replied closing a laptop and stuffing it in a briefcase. Mokuba stood up but soon a group of cloaked men surrounded him, Mokuba struggled to lift the heavy briefcase and run but smashed into a big man with a tattoo on one side of his face. The younger Kaiba brother fell to the ground hard with the man looming over him.
"And that wraps it up." a doctor joked as he finished bandaging Kim's shoulder. Kim nodded and gave him a weak smile.
"Thanks."
"Now that cut wasn't very deep but if you don't let it be it could require stitches." the doctor told her. Kim paled at that,
"I-is that it?" she asked. The doctor nodded.
"Yes, your friend however might have to remain here for a little while, we're going to do some tests on him."
"Is it ok if I stay in his room?" Kim asked,
"That's fine."
Kim was led through the hall and into Ryou's room. Her friend was still lying on the bed unconcious. The nurses had bandaged his arm properly as well but stuck a needle in his arm to give him extra fluids because he had lost a lot of blood. Had not "Bakura" attacked her, Kim's sympathetic level would have been significantly greater.
"Oh Kim, how are you feeling?" Grandpa asked, Kim shrugged but winced upon doing so
"Ok I guess," she replied. Grandpa gave her a kind smile,
"That's good to hear, why don't you sit down." Grandpa pointed to a seat near him.
"Yes, that's a good idea , I want you to rest and take it easy for a little while." the doctor ordered, then made his way to Ryou and began checking up on him.
"It's just a flesh wound." Kim grumbled but sat down on the plush chair anyway, as she sat she couldn't help but give a sigh of relief, that icy grip on her brain was gone now, she had control of her own body and thoughts.
"Keep quiet, and I'll allow you that privelege." Marik's voice sang through her head.
Kaiba and Yami walked down the street, Yami hoping he could find either a Rare Hunter to ask about his friends or hoping Mokuba would solve Kaiba's satellite problem soon.
"There they are," a man said at the top of the building.
"Yes, and now it's time to lure them to the chosen dueling arena." a shorter man said beside him.
"do it man!"
The shorter Rare Hunter leaped across buildings and did an epic twirl on some flag poles to safely land on the ground, when he did both Kaiba and Yami stopped.
"A Rare Hunter!" Seto exlaimed.
"What have you done with my friends?" Yami asked angrily.
"That's for us to know, and look who else we've captured." the Rare Hunter said pointing to the sky, a helicopter rounded a corner with poor Mokuba tied to it.
"Big brother help me!" Mokuba cried.
(authors interruption: ok how can the innocent bystanders NOT call the police or something, I mean the kid is tied and dangling from a FLYING HELICOPTER! You'd think they'd try to do something to help.)
"Let him go!" Kaiba yelled,
"He's fine, for now, but his future is up in the air" heh heh bad puns ftw
"If you so much as lay one finger on his hair I swear I will hunt you all down and crush every one of you with the weight of Kaiba Corporation" thinks about the building and winces,
The Rare Hunter didn't seem to take Kaiba's words to heart, he laughed instead.
"If you ever expect to see your brother again you'll duel us on top of that building over there." the Rare Hunter pointed to a building. "And your precense isn't the only one required; your friends are involved too," he told Yami.
"I'm warning you leave them alone!" Yami yelled angrily.
"The choice is yours." the Rare Hunter said then dashed off as poor Mokuba was hauled up higher in the air. "Remember gentleman meet us up on the roof!" he reminded them jumping up onto ledges (insert Mario jumping noises)
"Looks like we have no choice." Kaiba said "Our enemies are one in the same." Yami nodded in agreement "But do remember that I'm in this for Mokuba, so when it comes to rescuing your friends you're on your own now Yugi."
"Fine Kaiba." Yami agreed.
Kay opened her eyes groggily, the last thing she remembered was feeling a sudden pain in the back of her head before everything had gone dark. Sitting up she realized she wasn't in the park, but in a room with boxes.
"She's awake!" somebody announced. Kay looked around and realized Anzu from school, the other girl she didn't quite recognize but she seemed familiar.
"Wh-what happened?" she asked rubbing the back of her head.
"I don't know but I'm guessing the Rare Hunters got to you too." the unfamiliar girl said.
"Those bastards." Kay growled. "I'll get them,"
"Hi, I'm Cat." Cat greeted.
"Hey Cat, you seem familiar."
"Well we go to the same school, I'm one of Yugi's friends." Cat explained, Kay nodded as guilt came back, she had an apology to make.
"Do you happen to know Kim Simmin?" Kay asked, if Cat knew Yugi she had to know Kim, right?
"Yeah, I know her. Kim's not here, she's in the hospital." Cat explained "She and Bakura were attacked."
"Rare Hunters?" Kay asked alarmed. Kim was targeted too?
"We're not sure." Anzu spoke up, "And neither of them were in any condition to really say anything,"
"Odd," Kay said with a small frown, Marik had once said he was watching Kim, but could she really have been randomly attacked?
"I wonder what these guys want with us?" Anzu asked "I mean Cat and I aren't duelists,"
"We're Yugi's friends though." Cat replied "Marik has been hinting towards Ya-I mean Yugi that he's going to use us against him."
"How do you know that?" Anzu asked,
"After Yugi's duel with Arkana, Marik used some kind of trick to control Arkana into telling Yugi something. Marik told Yugi he was after the millennium puzzle and that he would use any means necessary to obtain it," Cat started to explain "I'm guessing we're going to be used for Yugi's cooperation." she fingered her cartouche nervously, "They kidnapped me once but I escaped"
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Anzu asked with a twitch. Cat bit her lip.
"Sorry, I guess I didn't really think about that." she replied sheepishly. Anzu frowned a little,
"That doesn't explain why she's here." she pointed to Kay who was feeling even more guilty.
"I don't know why but Marik's targeting me too." Kay said.
The door opened and Mokuba was thrust into the room,
"Mokuba?" Cat asked,
"Ow, hey guys." Mokuba greeted.
"They got you too?" Anzu asked.
"Yeah, I think we're being used as bait to get Seto's and Yugi's rare cards." Mokuba said. Kay twitched.
"Seto...Seto Kaiba? You're Mokuba Kaiba?" she asked, Mokuba nodded confirming her suspicions. "How can that arrogant ass hole have such an adorable little brother like you?" Kay asked. Everybody sweatdropped at that.
"We've wondered that too." Cat said quietly.
"We've gotta get out of here," Mokuba said. Anzu looked up at the high windows.
"There might be a way," she said standing up and going over to the big pile of boxes. Kay, Cat, and Mokuba followed her getting the idea.
In another part of the warehouse Jounouchi was just coming to only to see another man standing over him.
"You creeps think you're so tough don't you?" Jounouchi challenged as he tried wriggling out of the chair he was tied to. "Untie me and I'll show you what being a tough guy is all about, so what do ya say? Let me go now and I'll go easy on ya!" the stranger lifted his hand towards him "Hey! What are you doing? Get your grubby paws away from me! If you touch me you'll be sorry!" he threatened.
"With Katsuya Jounouchi as my mind slave little Yugi's Egyptian God card is as good as mine!" Marik declared using his millennium rod to possess Jounouchi,
the group had managed to stack the boxes high enough for them to reach the top, Mokuba and Cat had climbed first with Anzu and Kay following close behind.
"Go Mokuba!" Anzu encouraged. Mokuba climbed out of the building offering his hand to Cat who was currently struggling to climb out herself, but with the boxes shaking she was having a difficult time balancing herself.
"They're escaping!" a Rare Hunter exclaimed, the three who had checked on their hostages ran forward to the stack of boxes.
"Hurry Cat!" Anzu yelled, Kay punched at a Rare Hunter who was nearing but unfortunately with him falling backwards the boxes gave out. Anzu, Kay, and the Rare Hunters all screamed as they fell to the ground(i can't help but laugh my head off at this scene) Kay and Anzu landed on top of the Rare Hunters. Cat succeeded in grabbing onto the ledge at the last moment and was crawling out the window.
"Anzu! Kay!" she cried.
"Don't worry about us, just go!" Anzu called towards her. Cat and Mokuba nodded and disappeared from site.
Two of the Rare Hunters grabbed the two girls and led them out of the room. Kay and Anzu exchanged glances and nodded.
"NOW!" Kay yelled as she elbowed her guy hard in the jaw, her captor loosened his grip and Kay took the opportunity to step on his foot and smash her head back into his throat. The guy made a choking sound and immediately released her. Anzu wasn't as fortunate, her captor seemed to be a little smarter than Kays.
"Go Kay!" Anzu cried. Kay hesitated but after seeing a few other Rare Hunters down the hall she knew she had to go.
"I'll be back Anzu! I promise!" she yelled over her shoulder breaking into a run. Once outside the building she was successful in getting ten more Rare Hunters to chase her.
"Maybe I should have thought this through." she said to herself picking up speed.
Review and all that good stuff, have a good day!
