Disclaimer : I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, the characters within, or any references mentioned. Shira is copyrighted by me, and remains my creation forevermore.

Chapter 36

Next day, 3:00pm

Bakura's POV

I clutched the letter from the host in my hand as I walked around the outskirts of the city. Many of the warehouses looked alike, so I had to look at every door I could. The bandaging I had stolen and applied for my skull was getting heated by the sun's rays, and my lips curled into a snarl as I remembered how I acquired the wound. Shira said she would meet me at the Millennium Stone - which meant that she got a letter from R. Sayegh, too - and there I would give her a piece of my mind.

My brows furrowed, then I sighed, unamused. It would've been very APPRECIATED if R. Sayegh had warned me about her...

I found one warehouse that had a poster, unlike all the rest. It was advertising items of the bazaar, and then I knew that this was the place. I tried the doorknob to find it unlocked, and I went in. Miraculously, my head felt much better when I stepped in, which might be because I was out of the sun's harsh light. I heard voices deep inside, so I followed the sound. I was walking through the dark shadows of the crates and machines, and I realized that they were useful in concealing what was going on in the building. I turned a corner, and my breath was cut from lungs in fascination and bliss.

There stood the Millennium Stone, up on this stage-like platform. It wasn't fulfilled yet, so it wasn't at its former glory. Zorc was within it, and he would soon be free.

I stepped into the light and looked around. There were many others, but I only recognized one to be an owner of the Millennium Item. He smirked at me as I walked to him.

"Well, if it isn't the spirit of the Ring. Bakura, right?"

"Yeah," I looked at him, and noticed that the Millennium Eye symbol wasn't on his forehead, where it was supposed to be. I supposed that he could control when it was visible, now that he had his own body. Also, the man's voice was not warped, darkness twisting the voice of his hikari. It was dark, alright, but somehow human. "...your name escapes me..."

"Malik, now that I've ditched the kid," he brandished the Millennium Rod and held it in both hands. "Banished him to the Shadow Realm first hand. I was really pissed with him for his disobedience at the Battle City Tournament. Which reminds me," he smirked wider. "I kicked your ass there!"

"Shut up!" I snarled. "Your hikari was the reason I lost. If I dueled you again, the results would say otherwise!"

"Oh, sure, whatever. Besides, I've found murder more appealing than dueling to fix my problems."

"True," I sighed, and looked around. All the other people, who I found were all men, were huddled in groups, speaking lowly. I couldn't guess which one this R. Sayegh would be. I looked for the person that both inflicted this wound upon me and slipped from my grasp.

"Looking for someone?" Malik asked nonchalantly.

"Tell me when you see a woman with black hair walk in," I told him. "I have some business to finish with her."

"Oh, with a girl, eh?" Malik chuckled. "Planning to get her pregnant?"

I glared at him. "If you're implying that I rape her, then kill her, then yes, maybe. She's the reason I have this blasted bandage on my head!"

"Ah, I was wondering why you had mummy wrap on your head," he commented.

I glared at him more, and mentally cursed Shira for this humiliation. I would see to her punishment.

"You may take it off now."

I turned to see a young man walk towards me. It seemed he had almost-black eyes, and he had black hair, long and loose. He had a jacket and black pants, but no shirt. His skin wasn't dark, so I wondered how he became aware of the Millennium Stone. He bowed in greeting.

"I wouldn't," I told him. "It's pretty disturbing to the weak."

"I insist," he returned politely. "Haven't you noticed how you felt walking in here?"

I stared at him suspiciously, then starting unwrapping my head. I let the bandaging fall to the ground, then slid my fingers through my roots. I felt no dent or gash, nor blood. I took my fingers away to double-check, and found them clean. I looked back incredulously at the man, who was smiling suavely.

"What did you do?" I demanded.

"Oh, I just put a charm on the building," he explained. "I saw your little... hmm... struggle with the spirit of the Millennium Circlet, and thought you'd like that fixed up."

I felt my face burn. How was he able to see, if Shira and I were the only ones in that staircase?! It was humiliating to know that someone watched my failure, especially to a woman. If he healed my wound, as he said, then maybe he was a man of magic, and had been watching through those means. However, it was still invading privacy. My privacy.

"Shira had taken the victory of claiming the Millennium Puzzle from you. Plus, she almost gave you a concussion," he mused. "What will you do when you see her...?"

My face burned harder, and I glared at him. "Kill her, obviously," I growled.

He laughed, and held his hands up in a gesture. "As expected. But please, I would like to ask you that you refrain from any killing. Not until this is all finished," he looked up, and his eyes flashed. "She has a very important role in Zorc's awakening. As well as her hikari."

I watched him in confusion, my mind still fuming. "Are you R. Sayegh?"

He bowed again, laughing. "Why, yes! Yes I am! I'm your host for this afternoon. Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner."

I tilted my head and studied him with hooded eyes. He seemed too young. The way he looked, and the way he talked. He seemed more respectful and formal. It made me feel as if he were mocking me. "What's the 'R' stand for?"

"Oh, I'll tell you all once all are present and when it's the right time. Just call me Sayegh for now."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw black leather, and I turned my head sharply, Shira under my watchful eye. She looked around, stared at the Millennium Stone for a while, then kept looking. Tenchi stood by her, standing cautiously. Sayegh turned to where I was looking and smiled.

"There she is now!" He said, and I couldn't identify it. It sounded a bit like enthusiasm, but it had something dark about it. He turned back to me and bowed again. "Pardon me, but she must be welcomed."

Shira's POV

"Shira, I don't like the atmosphere..."

"What do you mean?"

"I feel something... bad. It's polluting the air. I feel dirty in it, and it feels like there are fingers crawling across my skin."

"Oh, that's Zorc," Shira nodded toward the Stone. "He's everything that's foul and evil in the world. He's war. He's starvation. He's sin."

"Wait," Tenchi began to tremble. "He's not Satan, is he?"

The spirit shrugged, and began looking around the room some more. "I don't know. I don't know if he's Lucifer, or Set. He might be a whole different god. He could be, and yet be of equal power to those that have their own evil roles in religions. I've abandoned belief in religion, so I hardly care. Let him roam the earth."

"How can you say that?!" Tenchi grabbed her yami's arm, and the woman looked at it numbly. "Do you know how much harm this is going to do? Don't you care?! And I thought you were the opposite of that Bakura! He hurt Ryou!"

Shira ripped her arm out of Tenchi's grip. "Let's get this straight," she said coldly. "One, of course I know what harm Zorc will do. This world is slowly dying, so its death will be a relief to all of those who are slowly awaiting to die, anyway! Two, no, I don't care! And three, don't ever compare me with that bastard!"

Tenchi flinched and backed away. "Shira?!"

"What!?"

"How can you say that?! And to me?"

Shira watched her hikari heatedly, then turned away. "Just drop it," she hissed. "Don't speak of this again. Don't question my views."

Tenchi turned her back on the yami, too. She scoffed, "You don't know what you're doing."

"Welcome!"

Shira jumped, slightly surprised by the raised, warm voice in this sudden exchange of harsh words. She turned to see a young man approaching fast, arms wide in welcome. He smiled widely and laughed. The woman had to admit, he was rather handsome.

"Shira!" he took her hand and lowered down, kissing it. She looked over his head to see Bakura standing not too far away, eyes burning hellfire. Hardly concerned on how he had treated his wound so expertly - it hardly looked as if it had ever occurred! -, she smirked, then returned her attention to the man who was so inviting. He looked back at her and straightened. "I am R. Sayegh. You don't know how long I've waited."

"Oh, really?" the spirit said, brow raised. "I didn't know I was to anyone's knowledge. I've only woken up for the first time about two years ago."

"Your coming was foretold, that's all I'll tell you. I've come to know you've brought two Millennium Items with you?"

Shira nodded, feeling the Puzzle in her pocket. The Circlet was deep inside her, only brought out when summoned.

"The owner of the Puzzle wouldn't have cooperated anyway," Sayegh waved his hand dismissively. "One has brought the Rod and Necklace, while our good friend Bakura has brought the Ring and Eye."

Shira looked over at Bakura again, then back. "What of the Scale and Key?"

"Their owner was none other than Shaadi, an Egyptian spirit that's been guarding the tombs for three thousand years. It has only been recently that's I've acquired them. Forcefully."

"What did you do?" she asked curiously. How could he have disarmed a spirit and make it fall into submission? He merely smiled.

"It's rather complicated," he turned to Tenchi, who had been rather quiet and invisible throughout the whole conversation. He took her hand next. "My apologies," he breathed. "I've been waiting for you, too, Tenchi Suzuki. Your presence it almost as equivalent as to that of a... guest of honour."

Tenchi looked at him strangely, then took her hand away. "Um, thank you..." she said uncertainly. Sayegh smiled, and turned back to the yami.

"I would like to have a word with you, 'tis all," he informed. "Over by the Stone, where none will hear us."

Shira nodded. "Just give us a sec."

He nodded in return, and went to the Stone. She turned to Tenchi, who turned her back again, still fuming. The spirit sighed tiredly.

"Ok, Tenchi, be on your guard. There's no telling if any of these strangers are sick in the mind or not. And especially look out for Bakura, and that friend of his." Shira had quickly glimpsed at the porcupine man, who was looking at her curiously.

"I don't need your lecturing."

Shira shook her head bitterly, and walked to the where Sayegh was.

End of Chapter

Vixen: Hey, you know what? I think—

Shira: -smacks palm on Vixen's mouth- Don't say it!

Vixen: o.o?

Bakura: Ah, you think she wanted to say she'll reach a certain chapter?

Star: I see! -smacks head in understanding- Vixen's her own jinx!

Shira: Right.

Vixen: -pushes Shira's hand away- Couldn't breathe x.x

Shira: -sweatdrop- Vixen hopes you liked the chapter, and she loves you all.