The Little Sprite
Chapter 37
Best Laid Plans
Soon enough another form appeared in place of the disappeared wolf sprite. The new arrival was a female sprite as well but she had large bird wings on her back and long, curly blond hair. Her deep purple eyes pierced through the darkness and Bakura just knew that this had to be the witch Mai, since he doubted there were many people who could have such cold, uncaring eyes.
"Mai", Jou spoke out and Bakura had his suspicions confirmed as the woman answered: "What brings you little dears out here so late, to bargain with me no less?"
"I want you to let Shizuka go", Jou spoke out, going straight to the point. An amused expression came over Mai's face before she queried: "And why would I do something like that?"
"Because I'm offering to come to her place", Jou answered without the slightest bit of hesitation in his voice. "And I would be much more valuable to you."
"What makes you think you would be of any worth to me?" Mai asked in a tone of voice that indicated that she really did not see Jou as being worth anything. But Jou was not about to give up so soon into the fight and replied: "I think you will hardly be able to keep your greedy fingers away from me when you hear just what I can do for you."
"Oh?" Mai uttered and arched one of her slim, perfect eyebrows. "Tell me then, little dog, what you can do for me."
A smirk appeared on Jou's face and Bakura knew that the blond was certain that he had caught the woman now. He stayed silent as his friend spoke out: "I can help you access the final battle level."
"What?" came the hiss from Mai and Bakura fought back his own similar reaction to Jou's words. Mai came closer to them, looking at Jou with such intensity that Bakura suspected that she had forgotten that the albino was even there.
"Wasn't that what that human told you? 'It's all in the partner'? And I just happen to be the perfect partner", Jou said this all with such confidence, such strong arrogance that if Bakura had not known Jou for years he would have bought it. And so Mai was completely convinced as she mumbled, more to herself than to the two boys: "Of course. There's no way that a human could access a level that demands so much power and skill."
Mai's attention was once again drawn to Jou and the witch said: "Alright then. I accept your offer. The little girl Shizuka may leave if you come into her place." And with that the woman snapped her fingers and in a flicker of magic a red-haired girl joined them.
While Bakura kept a close eye on Mai, Jou went to the girl and brought her over to Bakura. Mai did not make a move to stop this, clearly satisfied in her knowledge that she would get what she wanted. Bakura's attention went back to Jou when the boy placed his sister against the albino's chest and spoke: "Take care of her for me, will you?"
"I already agreed to do it", Bakura said as he placed an arm around the unresponsive girl's shoulders. "Stop being such a pansy."
A brief chuckle escaped from Jou and a second later Bakura found himself captured in a firm embrace by the blond. There was a sharp gasp that might have come from either Jou, Bakura himself or even them both but the white-haired teen had no time to figure out which it was before Jou spoke out quietly: "Bye."
"See ya", Bakura replied sternly, not about to make too big of deal out of this. They would beat Mai and Jou would be free again. Then Bakura could make fun of his friend's melodramatics. But for now he gave the blond's back one single pat before Jou pulled away and made his way to Mai.
"We have a deal then?" Mai questioned in a confident manner. Already knowing what the answer was going to be the witch spoke: "A complete trade. Little Shizuka's complete freedom for your complete servitude."
None of Jou's previous melancholy was present anymore as the blond smirked in a manner that was a complete rip-off from Kaiba before speaking out: "Deal", and offered the witch his hand. Mai wasted no time before grabbing on to the appendage and therefore sealing the agreement.
There was a burst of magic which Bakura could feel all the way in his bones and when he recovered enough he could see how Jou's face had lost all traces of any expression as the blond stared blankly ahead with empty eyes. It was terrible to look at and it was the last image Bakura saw before Mai cackled in a menacing manner and cheered: "Nice doing business with you boys", and disappeared in a shimmer similar to the one she had appeared in, Jou vanishing along with her.
The silence that fell upon the forest after Mai's and Jou's departure was broken by a groan let out by the frail body in Bakura's grasp. The white-haired boy looked down at the girl as saw that she was stirring, her green eyes opening a moment later to look right at Bakura in a lost manner.
"Where?" the girl muttered weakly, followed by an utter of: "Who?"
"I'm Bakura", Bakura spoke, deciding that he had better start from the simplest explanation. "I'm a friend of your brother's. You remember Katsuya, right?" It felt strange to use Jou's first name for the first time ever, but he would have to, since it was not very likely that the girl would recognize the blond's nickname.
A slow nod was the answer Shizuka gave to Bakura's query before she asked softly: "Where is he? Where's brother?"
The girl truly had a sweet voice and the manner she spoke with made it hard for even Bakura to disappoint her but the albino would need to get Shizuka operating with him as soon as possible, so that they could make it back to the village before Mai decided that she would not be letting the two of them leave.
"Your brother traded places with you to get you away from that witch Mai", Bakura explained, not sure of how much the girl was aware of things that had happened during her captivity. "You've been in her control for years now."
"I remember that", Shizuka spoke slowly, furrowing her brows as she thought deeply. "Yes, I do remember, just not very clearly." The girl's face smoothened itself again. "You're saying that Katsuya took my place? Why?"
"As crazy as it sounds, he has a plan", Bakura replied and saw a confused expression come over Shizuka's face. The albino decided that the rest of the story could wait until the girl was safely within the borders of Kirusae and spoke out: "Shizuka, have you ever imagined looking like your brother did? Like I do? Without the ears and the tail?"
"…No, not really", the girl replied with a brief moment of thought. Bakura nodded his head before speaking out: "I need you to try it now." If Jou was able to change his appearance by will, there was no reason his sister could not do the same. And Bakura would have a lot easier time taking Shizuka back to the village if the girl did not kept floating out of his grip like she was almost doing now.
"Okay", Shizuka said with a nod. "I'll try." And that said the girl closed her eyes and a serene expression took over her face. A moment later she was lowered to the ground as her dog-ears and tail vanished. The girl then opened her eyes to look expectantly at Bakura as she asked: "Did it work?"
"Splendidly", Bakura replied and let go of the girl's shoulders in favour of gripping her wrist. "Now come along. I need to get you to safety."
"But what about my brother?" Shizuka questioned, resisting Bakura's pull. "We have to help him."
"That's why we have to leave", Bakura explained sternly. "We need to go and get help." The albino tugged at the girl's wrist more insistently. "Come on. We need to get moving."
"Okay, okay", the girl mumbled as she finally followed after Bakura. The boy noticed, however, that the girl was walking very sluggishly and became aware of the fact that Shizuka had not really bee able to walk much since her feet hardly ever touched the ground when she had been a sprite. It was going to take them forever to get back to the village if the girl had to learn to walk now.
Releasing an annoyed growl Bakura let go of Shizuka's hand and grunted: "We don't have time for this. I'll carry you on my back." And with that the albino turned his back to the girl and knelt down until he could feel the girl's weight settle on his back. Then he stood up and started to make his way through the trees.
When this was all over Jou was going to owe him a huge favour.
&
Mai could hardly contain her excitement when she returned back to her lair with the blond puppy sprite in tow. This was perfect! She could now access the final battle level and crush Yugi and his friends. And then eternity would be hers!
"I see you're back, precious", came Valon's voice suddenly and Mai turned her head to see the brunet in question walk towards her in the hallway. "What do you have here? He looks new."
"He is new", Mai replied with a sniff, burying her hand in the boy's thick blond locks. "He is the perfect companion for me."
"Um, Mai, aren't you forgetting something?" Valon questioned and Main turned her attention back to the reptile sprite and spoke offhandedly: "I don't think I am."
"But Mai", Valon insisted in a jealous tone. "I am your perfect companion!"
"You were before you proved yourself useless to me", Mai snapped and glanced at the boy in her grasp as she caressed a soft cheek. "But this one is strong and so much more of use than you could ever hope to be."
"I won't let some brat take my place!" Valon snapped and took a menacing step towards the two fair-haired sprites. Mai did not even glance in the brunet's direction as she spoke: "It's too late, Valon. Little Katsuya has already taken your place." The witch then turned her piercing gaze to Valon. "The only use you could be of to me anymore is give me your life's energy."
The reptile sprite froze then, staring at Mai in both terror and incredulous surprise. Valon shook his head in denial as he insisted: "You wouldn't do that, Mai!"
"Watch me", the witch hissed slowly and in the next instant the entire hallway lit up in a brilliant show of light and as it faded away Valon had collapsed on the floor, staring at the ceiling above with a look on his face that was even more blank than the one Katsuya was sporting. But then again, Katsuya had his soul even if it was dormant, unlike Valon.
"Come on now, my darling", Mai cooed to the blond next to her, like she had not just taken someone's soul without batting an eyelash. Katsuya did not object but he did not say anything in agreement either as Mai led him through the dark halls and into a grand bed chamber, where she lead the boy to sit on a chair placed in front of her mirror table.
"You are such a beautiful boy…" Mai mumbled as she caressed the side of Katsuya's face. "I think I will be keeping you around for a long time." The witch released a brief giggle. "Who knows? Perhaps I'll even share the eternity with you." She tilted the boy's face so that she was looking right into the dull eyes of the teen. "In time you will learn to love me, won't you beloved?"
It was a straight question, the only kind a soul slave could answer. Katsuya's mouth opened slowly and the boy spoke in a toneless voice: "I cannot lie, mistress. My heart lies with Seto."
A thoughtful hum escaped from between Mai's full lips before she remembered the person the blond sprite must have been talking about and she said in an amused manner: "That human you were with? He is nothing."
"He is my love", came Katsuya's response and for a moment Mai thought she heard strength behind those words. The witch shook her head and dismissed those thoughts, though. The words were what was powerful. There was no way that the boy could break free from a binding contract. Assured by this Mai moved her thumb over the soft lips of the male and spoke in an alluring tone of voice: "Don't worry, my dear. I can wait for you." And with that she stepped away from the boy and walked out of the room.
After the door had closed behind her Mai's smiling mask broke and she slammed a fist into a nearby wall, all the while screaming in rage: "Like hell I will!" The witch let out a high-pitched, bird-like scream and leaned her forehead against the wall. "That…that…human! I'm going to kill him when I get my claws on him!"
&
Getting punched really hurt. Bakura should know, since he got a fist in his face, courtesy of Jou, on a regular basis. But frankly, as strong as the blond was he had nothing on Seto Kaiba. It was really no wonder that Jou submitted to the brunet so willingly, Bakura thought with little humour as he felt around his mouth to check if he had lost any teeth. Kaiba had monstrous strength but fortunately enough he had not managed to knock out any of Bakura's pearly whites.
"Damn, that smarts!" Bakura spat out as he wobbled back up on his feet. Kaiba looked like he was about to punch the albino again but Otogi and Hiroto and grabbed a hold of the brunet's arms in a joined effort to keep the tall teen from becoming violent again.
"You idiot!" Kaiba roared with his face a bright angry red. "What the hell were you thinking, letting Jou go and do that?"
"I already told you before you tried to break my scull that he had a plan!" Bakura bellowed back, not liking to be clobbered. "He's going to trick Mai into attempting Battle Level Five with him!"
"That sounds like a good plan", Yami pointed out from the side. "I mean, if we can get Mai to use all of her power…"
"Don't you dare!" Kaiba yelled, the words directed at Yami instead of Bakura this time. "Jou is under Mai's control now and all you can think is how useful it might be! There's no guarantee that the plan will work!"
"Why wouldn't it?" Bakura snapped. "Don't you go dissing Jou. It's a good plan."
"Maybe in theory but what about when the fight actually comes?" Kaiba argued. "Unless you all managed to forget: Jou's power returns when he's in the forest. If he's fighting for Mai he will strike even when Mai has been made defenceless."
"That's a good point", Ryou agreed then. "I mean, we might be able to beat Mai but if Jou is teaming up with her it wont be enough. We would have to strike down our friend as well and I don't think any of us have the will to do that."
"So little dog-boy went and did something stupid", Marik concluded in a bored tone of voice. "I'll just go to Mai's lair and nab him. That way I can make sure that he won't be nearby during the big fight." The wolf sprite gave the group a toothed grin. "Isn't that right?"
"If you really are willing to do that", Yami spoke after a while, the first one to give a response to the suggestion. Kaiba also nodded and then said: "I, for one, would prefer it if Jou was not present for the fight."
"It's settled then", Marik said in a final manner. "I'll dognap Jou and make sure that Mai won't be able to use him."
"We will also need you to lead us to Mai's hideout, though", Yami said. "We don't know where she is but we have to take her out while Jou isn't there on her disposal."
"I can lead the way", Shizuka spoke out suddenly. "I can remember a lot of the things that happened while I was in captivity. I know the way to Mai's lair."
"Great. It's settled then", Yami spoke, making the decision for the group. "We will move out as soon as we are able to. Marik will go on ahead and rescue Jou and then we will handle Mai and any cronies she might have guarding the place."
"Sound good to me", Bakura said before glancing to the direction of the kitchen. "Can we eat before we leave, though? I don't think it will be wise to fight on an empty stomach." Even though his tone sounded nonchalant, inside Bakura was anything but. Not only was his friend in peril, he had played a part in placing him there. So, the only thing left for him to do was fix things the best he could.
To be continued…
Ending Notes: Wow, Bakura quilt trip. I don't think that has been seen very often.