Tori didn't get home from her date until an hour later- she and Joey just sat on the rooftop and talked. That was it, just talked. It was ten o'clock when Tori came in the front door, walked into the living room and plopped on the couch. Seconds later, she was fast asleep and pretty much dead to the world.
The next morning, Tori let out a huge yawn as she stretched her arms out above her head. Okay, how did she get here? She'd fallen asleep on the couch but now he was in Yugi's room. She shook her head as she started off to find him. Before leaving the room, she grabbed the Millennium Puzzle. As soon as she touched it, she felt a strange power fill her being. It caused her to freeze in her tracks, but only for a moment.
/Well, that was strange,/ she thought. /Now to find that brother of mine./ She headed downstairs first. Grandpa was in the kitchen making breakfast.
"Well good morning, Sleepy head!" he said. "Did you have fun last night?" Tori nodded with a yawn.
"Yeah, it was great," she replied. "Where's Yugi? On the couch?" Grandpa shook his head.
"Nope- I'm thinking he's up in your room, considering you were in his." Tori didn't bother asking how he knew where she slept. She simply nodded and headed to her room. Seconds later, she let out a blood curdling scream.
"GRANDPA!" The old man instantly dropped what he was doing and rushed to Tori's room. She was standing in the doorway, pale as a ghost.
"What's wrong?" he asked. Tori pointed to the hall that led to her bedroom.
"Yugi..." Grandpa hurried down the hall and saw exactly what she was talking about: Yugi was gone, along with the blankets on Tori's bed and her Millennia Diamond. Tori was in shock- how could this have happened?
Meanwhile, Ryou Bakura was also thinking of the previous night. He had slipped in through the unlocked front door of the Moto home- stupid girl had forgotten to lock it after she came in from her date. While Pegasus had told him that Torina was asleep on the couch, when he went to get her, no one was there. Remembering that she had the room, the apartment, in the attic, information courtesy of Pegasus, he headed for the stairs. He looked through the doorway- the bedroom was down the hallway, if Pegasus' Intel was right. He walked down to the back room. The figure in the bed was fast asleep and the Millennia Diamond was on the table next to the bed.
'Got the right room,' Bakura thought, and walked over to the bed. The covers were up over her head, so Bakura simply picked her up blankets and all and hauled her over his shoulder, hitting the girl's head on the bed post as he did so. As an afterthought, he grabbed the Diamond necklace off of the bedside table and slipped it into his pocket. Then he crept back downstairs and out into the still night. He headed down the street where a car with one of Pegasus's henchmen was waiting. He tossed her in the backseat and climbed in the front. They took off, with an unsuspecting Tori lying on the floor.
Moments later at an old apartment building on the outside of town, Bakura unceremoniously dropped the bundle of blankets in front of Pegasus. He had been waiting for Bakura to pull this stunt since stopping Ryou on the street at the beginning of the week. Just by giving the boy the Millennium Ring, he had been able to recall the spirit, Bakura and make him an incredible offer: kidnap Torina from the Moto's and be rid of Ryou forever. Fail and be sent to the Shadow Realm... again... permanently. How could he refuse? Pegasus then pulled the blankets away from the limp body to reveal... Yugi?
"What the-" Bakura's jaw dropped and the ex-tomb robber was left momentarily speechless, "But- How-"
"You idiot! I give you a second chance and you waste it!" Pegasus fumed.
"I got this too," Bakura said quickly, pulling the Millennia Diamond from his pocket. He didn't like taking orders, but he wasn't particularly thrilled with the prospect of getting stuck in the Shadow Realm, and he still wanted to rid himself of Ryou permanently. Pegasus studied his possibilities.
"Perhaps," he said slowly, "There is a way to salvage this mix-up. Take him down to the basement for now- make sure he's locked up tight... and put that necklace with him." He looked down at Yugi and let out an evil laugh as Bakura hoisted him onto his shoulder and exited. "Perhaps there is a way to salvage this after all," he repeated, taking a sip from his glass...
At that moment in time, Yugi was dreaming- about what had happened the night before. He had gone downstairs to grab a drink when he noticed a pair of feet hanging off the end of the couch and shook his head. Tori must have had fun with Joey- they probably had an eating contest or something. He wouldn't exactly put it past them.
/That couch can't be very comfortable,/ he thought. /But, how do I get her to her room? That's two flights of stairs... but my room is only one./ Yugi managed to pick up Tori and carry her to his room, where he placed her in his bed and tucked her in. He turned around and was about to head up to her room when he stopped. He went back over to her side and kissed her cheek.
"Good night, sis."
Tori had been sitting alone on her bed for the longest time, since Grandpa had called the police, only to have them say there was nothing they could do.
"But I know who did it!" Tori had yelled. "My uncle has him! We have to go after Yugi before my uncle does something to him!" Seconds later, Grandpa shook his head in defeat and hung up the phone.
"It's no use, Tori," he said sadly. "They won't do a thing for twenty-four hours. They said if he's still gone, we're to call again." Tori's eyes welled up with tears.
"But... Yugi..." It was more than she could take- she rushed up to her room, the Millennium Puzzle still in her hand and locked herself inside- not even Joey could bring her out. He, Tristen and Teá had rushed over as soon as they heard what had happened.
"Tori-girl, it's not your fault!" he called through the door. "No one could have known Yugi was gonna switch places with you, not even your uncle!"
"Joey's right, Tori!" cried Teá. "We'll get Yugi back!" There was no reply, causing Joey to sigh. Seconds later, he began to walk away.
"Where are you going, Joey?" asked Tristen. "Aren't we gonna get her out of there?" Joey turned slightly and shook his head.
"We should just leave 'er alone. I know Tori- she'll come out when she's ready." As they walked away, Tori cracked a slight smile. It often amazed her how well Joey knew her. It reminded her of stories Hikaru had told her about Yami's best friend, Juno. Juno had been the first to welcome Hikaru into his circle of friends after her escape from her uncle, much like Yugi had done with Tori- because of that single act of kindness, a special bond was formed that couldn't be broken. Tori's smile increased as she thought back to a specific story: when Juno introduced Hikaru to Yami.
"I'm gonna get you for this, Juno!" Hikaru called as she chased him down the street, dripping wet and dodging people left and right. He had just played a rather childish joke on her, arranging a bucket of water over her door, so it drenched her when she stepped outside, and the sixteen-year-old girl was less than amused with him. And Juno was running like there was no tomorrow.
"Eh, come on, Hikaru!" he cried, not slowing down a bit. "Can't we talk this out, maybe?" He heard his friend's laugh fill the street... and took it as a no.
"You just wait until I get my hands on...oof!" Tori suddenly slammed into something and fell on her back. As she began to pick herself up, and muttered something about a stupid boy, she discovered that the something she ran into was really a someone- a boy not much older than she, holding his hand out to her, and smiling. He was very attractive- reddish-purple hair streaked blonde, bangs of the same color, violet eyes... and that smile was amazing.
"I must apologize," he said as she took his hand and he helped her to her feet. Hikaru just looked at him for a second longer before smiling.
"Not at all," she replied. "I should have been watching where I was going... besides, it's all Juno's fault anyway."
"Hey! If you're gonna accuse me of something, at least let me be here to defend myself!" Hikaru looked over the boy's shoulder to see Juno standing behind him, looking rather pleased with himself. "Hey, Yami," he continued. "I see you've meet my friend, Hikaru. Hikaru, this is Yami... better known as Pharaoh..." Yami put his hand over his friend's mouth, an exasperated look on his face.
"Shh, Juno!" he cried. "I'm not supposed to be out here, and you know that!" He then
looked at their female companion. Hikaru- what a beautiful name... what a beautiful girl; a Bishoujo. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hikaru." Hikaru simply smiled.
That's when it hit Tori- the Millennia Diamond was with Yugi, which meant Hikaru was also with Yugi... and Tori was completely hopeless. Her powers may have been rekindling, but there was no telling what she was and wasn't capable of yet... and without Hikaru, there was no way she could save Yugi. She put a hand to the Millennium Puzzle- she had put it around her neck shortly after locking herself in her room. A childish gesture, she knew, but she hoped it would make her feel even a little better. It didn't.
"Oh Yami," she whispered. "If only I could bring you here. I don't know what to do- Yugi's gone because of me and I... I..." Tears began to roll down her cheek and one landed on the Puzzle. "How I wish you could help me now."
Suddenly, the item began to glow brightly and Tori felt the surge of power fill her once more. When the light died down, Yami was standing in front of her. Tori gasped, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"Yami?!" she cried, confused as possible. The Pharaoh nodded. "But, you... you're... Yugi's... wha... how?" Yami sat down beside her and wiped away one of her tears with his thumb.
"Thanks to your love and concern for Yugi, along with the bond you two share, I am here- just as you wished."
"Bond?" asked Tori. "What bond?" Yami gave her a soft smile.
"I felt it this morning, " he replied. "As soon as you touched the Puzzle, I knew that you and my aibou had formed a special bond, one of a strong family love, which allows me to assist you as well. And together, we will bring Yugi home, where he belongs." Tori let out a relieved sigh and wrapped her arms around Yami's neck. The spirit was taken by surprise, but slowly returned her embrace. Yugi was never this emotional, so it was going to take some getting used to. "Do not worry, Bishoujo. Everything will be all right."
Meanwhile, in his prison, Yugi was feeling less than comfortable. Sitting on Tori's blankets and leaning up against an old dishwasher, he was scared and confused- why was he here? His only clue was the Millennia Diamond at his side- whoever had kidnapped him must have been after Tori. Well, that narrowed down the possibilities a bit, but it scared him even more. What would Pegasus do? The boy lost himself in his thoughts.
/I wish Hikaru could come out... but that's impossible without Tori... just like Yami can't get out.../ He placed his hand on the Millennia Diamond and to his surprise, it began to glow. The next thing he knew, Hikaru was there, standing next to him.
"Hikaru?" Yugi asked, surprised. The spirit nodded.
"Since you and Tori have grown so close, I can help you, and Yami can help Tori," Hikaru replied to his unspoken question of 'How?' "Are you alright? Uh, and exactly where are we?"
"A basement of some sort," Yugi replied, "I'm fine, just a small headache. I just wish I knew what happened." Footsteps approaching made Hikaru go back in the Diamond. Neither wanted the fact that both Yami's could help them to get out just yet. A moment later, Pegasus himself was standing in front of the door.
"Hello, Yugi-boy, enjoying your stay?" Pegasus said, mock cheerfully. The glare Yugi was giving him would have rivaled anything Yami could have. "Now, now Yugi. That's not a polite way to act to your host. You weren't the intended guest for this room, but none the less, you are now apart of my plan to get her here. Aren't you pleased?" Pegasus was smiling at him in a way Yugi didn't like.
"Leave her alone!" Yugi cried.
"Ah, the loyalty of youth," Pegasus sighed, "But if you honestly think your weak pleading will stop me, you are wrong, Yugi-boy."
"What did she ever do to you!?" Yugi shouted. Pegasus pretended he didn't hear him.
"Bakura will be contacting her momentarily. Knowing my niece, she'll be over immediately to rescue her 'brother'. That's when the real fun begins. But don't worry, Yugi-boy, you'll get a front row seat of the show. Trust me- It will be worth watching." Pegasus laughed and left. Yugi let out a relieved sigh.
/(Yugi to Hikaru/Yami) Hikaru... you can come back out now./ She did, a highly worried expression on her face.
"We can't warn her..." she whispered.
"We'll find a way to help her," Yugi said determinedly. "I'm not going to sit by and let Pegasus hurt her again." Then he sighed. "They've gotta be worried sick by now. I hate being this helpless."
"I know, Yugi. I know." Suddenly, the door opened and closed again, cuing Hikaru to dash back inside the Millennia Diamond. It was Bakura, along with Pegasus.
"Come on, Yugi- we've got a call to make."
Tori slowly walked down the stairs with Yami at her side. She wasn't sure what the reaction from everyone would be- she was wearing Yugi's Millennium Puzzle after all.
//(Yami to Tori/Yugi/Hikaru) Don't worry, Bishoujo- they won't be angry about the Puzzle.// Tori took a deep breath and bit her lip.
/*(Tori to Yami/Hikaru) You know that, I know that, but do you think they know that?*/ Everyone, consisting of Joey, Teá, Tristen and Grandpa, was waiting in the living room when she came out and Tori noted the look on their faces- complete surprise followed by total relief.
"Yami!" cried Teá. "How did you...?" Yami shook his head and gave everyone the same explanation he had given Tori. Joey nodded.
"Yeah, that makes sense," he said. "Yugi was the first one of us to talk to Tori- the first to become her friend. That would create a bond." Tori let out a mental sigh of relief- out of all the people there, Joey was the one she worried about not understanding the most. She was about to say something when the phone rang. Grandpa went over and picked it up.
"Moto residence," said Grandpa. "This is Solomon. Yes, she is- hold on please." He put his hand over the receiver and looked at Tori. "It's for you." Tori walked over and took the phone.
"Hello?" she asked and almost dropped the phone when she heard the voice on the other end. "Yugi?!"
"Tori!" he said. "Tori, listen to me- what ever he wants, don't do it!" Tori cringed as she heard the sound of a slap, followed by a painful groan from Yugi.
"Yugi?!" A laugh filled Tori's ears. She didn't recognize it, but it still angered her- her narrowed eyes were proof of that. "Who is this?" she demanded. The laughter continued.
"Well, Torina," said a voice, one that matched the laughter. "I believe you know my Hikari as Ryou." There was a pause. "Your silence tells me that you know who I am."
"I knew there was something wrong with Ryou when he came into the card shop that day," Tori admitted. "But I never expected you." The laughter returned.
"You probably never expected me to kidnap your friend either. You know, if you would have just locked the door after you came home it wouldn't have been so easy." Tori mentally cussed herself out.
//Torina!//
/*Well, how could I be so stupid to forget to lock the door?*/
"You also won't expect to get Yugi back," Bakura continued. "Which trust me you will." Tori bit her lip, but only for a second.
"What's the catch?"
"Oh, the catch is you. You see, Torina, this is more of a swap: You for your precious Yugi. Comply and he'll be returned safely. But do anything other than what I tell you... well, I believe the sounds you heard at the beginning of this conversation speak well enough." Tori let out a frustrated sigh.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked. Bakura smiled.
"Listen up, Torina," he said. "If you want your friend returned safely, then come alone to the old High Shine Towers apartment complex on Broadway, tomorrow night at nine. Do anything stupid and I kill Yugi. Are we in agreement?" Suddenly, Tori heard the sounds of a scuffle in the background, followed by Yugi's voice.
"DON'T DO IT, TORI!" His demand was followed by another pain stricken yell, angering Tori even more.
"Bakura!" she said. "You or anyone else lays another hand on that boy, you won't get a damn thing from me!" Bakura began to laugh again.
"Keh- why should that threat work on me?"
"Because I'm guessing you struck a deal with my uncle- you bring him me and he gives you something you want. And I know how he is if he doesn't get his way, so my threat should be working perfectly." Bakura let out a growl. The girl was absolutely right- Pegasus wanted her any way he could get her, as long as it was somewhat alive. So yes, her threat was working perfectly.
"Just be there." With that, he hung up the phone as did Tori. No one needed to ask her if she was all right- they could tell she wasn't. Suddenly, Tori let out an enraged scream and drove her fist through the door of a glass cabinet next to her, completely shattering it.
"Tori!" cried Joey, rushing to her side, as did Yami. The girl just stood there. She looked so angry, neither dared to get much closer- they didn't want to be her next target, not even by accident. Seconds later, she shook her head and looked at all the surprised faces around her. Then she looked at the cabinet.
"Oh my God," she said. "Did... did I do that?" Everyone nodded. "Oh Grandpa, I'm so sorry! I-I'll pay to have it fixed."
"It's all right, Tori," said Grandpa. "You were just angry and to be frank, I've never liked that cabinet anyway." Tori nodded, then shifted her gaze over to Yami.
"We go after him tonight," she said. "No matter what deal I make with them, he'll never let Yugi go." Yami nodded his agreement and was about to say something when Joey spoke up.
"What time are we leaving?" Yami and Tori looked at him. "What? You didn't think I was gonna let you two go by yourselves, did ya?" Yami and Tori looked at each other- both knew that there was no use arguing with him.
"Before you go anywhere," said Teá. "Shouldn't you do something about your hand, Tori?" Tori gave her a confused look, then glanced down at her right hand- blood was dripping onto the floor from the cuts in her hand, along with a few pieces of glass sticking out. Tori looked over at Teá and shook her head.
"I didn't feel a thing until you said something." Tori bit her lip. "I don't think my powers have returned enough to heal this- would someone please get me the first aid kit?"
Teá rushed to the bathroom to grab the requested supplies and seconds later she was pulling the glass from her friend's hand and bandaging it up. As she did so, Tori's gaze shifted from her hand to Yami. She gave him a soft smile.
"Yami," she said. "I wanted to talk to you about something- it happened a long time ago, but I never really got a chance to ask."
"What would you like to know, Tori?" came the reply. Tori bit her lip for a second.
"That first time you, Yugi and Hikaru rescued me, from my mind prison, you called on the Dark Magician to stall my uncle- how did you do that? We weren't in a duel at the time." Yami looked at her and smiled.
"I wish I could answer you, Bishoujo," he said. "But I'm not sure myself- summoning the Dark Magician came as an impulse, not a thought out strategy." Tori began to chuckle.
"So basically, it just seemed like a good idea at the time." Yami nodded.
"Right."
"Okay, Tori," said Teá. "Your hand's all patched up, but I suggest you be careful tonight." Tori looked at her hand, then at her friend.
"You're not gonna try to talk me out of this?" she asked. Teá shook her head.
"Of course not! I want Yugi back as much as anyone and if you three going after him is the best way to do it, then all right." Tori smiled.
"All right then- let's get ready!"
Once they were ready, she, Joey and Yami headed off for the apartment building. Each being lost in their own thoughts, not much was said on the way over. Finally, they were standing across the street from the old High Shine Towers.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Joey cried.
"Wait a minute, Joey," said Yami. "We can't go rushing in there without a plan. What Tori said back at the house was right- even if we cooperate, Pegasus won't let Yugi go. Not without a fight, anyway." Tori had been studying the building.
"I'll bet my Dark Magician staff there are guards all over the place," she said after a moment. "Uncle Max probably has him in the basement."
"What makes you think that?" Joey asked.
"Uncle Max was going after me," she said softly, "and he'd put me where there were no windows." Joey gave her a hug- he had almost forgotten she was a claustrophobic. Yami interrupted them after a moment.
"We need to find away inside." he said. "Pegasus will probably play it one of two ways- let us get to Yugi with no problem, then ambush us, or ambush us the second we walk in the door. We need to be prepared for both." They nodded.
"Front door, back door, side door or open window?" Joey asked.
"Depends on where the open window is," Yami said. Joey pointed. The three looked at each other.
"Perfect," they said at the same time. They crossed the street, and climbed through. They were on the first floor, with a staircase a few feet away. Silently, they descended down, all watching warily. They headed down the hallway, looking into various doors. Finally, they reached the last door. Hikaru was staring anxiously at the door, standing in front of Yugi who was tied up in a chair in a corner.
"Yugi? Hikaru?" Tori called softly. Yugi looked up, but neither looked relieved.
"No!" he cried. "Tori, get out of here! It's a..."
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
"Trap," Yugi finished weakly. Tori, Yami and Joey turned around. Bakura was standing behind them. He looked at the group and his eyes rested on Hikaru.
"You again!" he cried. "How many times do I have to deal with you!" Suddenly, the Millennia Diamond around Yugi's neck began to shake. Seconds later, Hikaru vanished.
"No, Hikaru!" yelled Tori. She turned towards Bakura. "What have you done with her?" Bakura smiled.
"I sealed her inside that necklace of yours- she'll be no help to you know."
As he started to walk towards them Yami and Joey untied Yugi, and Tori stood in front of them in a protective stance, her arms out to the sides. Bakura glared at her.
"I warned you of the rules, Torina," he said. "Do anything other than what I said and I'd kill your friend." Tori cracked a smile.
"You're gonna have to get through me first, Bakura," she replied. Before she had time to react, Bakura struck, pinning her up against a nearby wall. Tori drove her knee into Bakura's chest, knocking the wind out of him. She seemed to be holding her own, but that didn't stop Yami from worrying.
//Bishoujo!// Tori sent a glare Yami's way.
/*Get Yugi and Joey out of here- now!*/ Yami nodded back as he continued freeing Yugi and was about to do as he was asked, when a pain stricken scream stopped him in his tracks. Joey's head shot up from he had just finished untying Yugi's legs.
"Tori!" Yugi and Yami looked over at the girl and saw exactly what she had screamed about- she was lying in the ground, cradling her right hand, which now had blood seeping through the bandages. Blood was also on Bakura's left shoe and the floor around it, indicating that he had stepped on Tori's hand and pressed it into the floor. Bakura then kicked her in the stomach, causing Tori to let go of her hurt hand and allowing Bakura to step on it once again, twisting his foot as he did so. Tori's cries were almost unbearable.
Anger instantly consumed the three boys as Yami slipped back inside the Millennium Puzzle, which instantly began to glow. Before Joey could get off the floor, Yugi stood up from the chair. He then rushed over to Tori, knocking Bakura off to the side and on the ground with one hand as he did so. He knelt down at her side and he noticed that her eyes were closed and teeth were clenched together- she must have been in terrible pain and was barely conscious.
Yugi then took the Millennia Diamond and put it around Tori's neck, grabbing his Puzzle, which was still glowing, as he did so. After a second it stopped glowing, revealing a stronger, more confidant Yugi.
"Tori," he said. He lifted up the girl, rested her head on his lap and smoothed down her hair. "Tori," he said again. "I am so sorry for doing this to you..." Tori then began to stir, then looked up at him.
"Yugi?" she asked. Yugi let out a sigh.
"Tori, are you all right?" Suddenly, a blue light surrounded her hand- Yami recognized it as the same one Tori had used to heal Yugi's broken arm. Seconds later, the light disappeared, as did the bandages on Tori's hand and the cuts from the glass. She wiggled her fingers, then looked at Yugi and smiled.
"Thank you," she said. "That was just the boost I needed." Yugi smiled back and helped her to her feet. As Joey rushed over to check on her, Yugi glared at Bakura.
"You didn't need to do that, Bakura," he said, wryly. "And for that you will pay- I challenge you to a duel! I win, my friends and I go free,"
"Oh really?" asked Bakura. "Well, I'd love to comply, but what do you purpose to use for a deck?" Tori cleared her throat as her hand went to her pocket and pulled out a deck of cards- Yugi's deck.
"You think I didn't come prepared?" she asked, handing the cards to Yugi. He nodded his thanks, then looked back at Bakura.
"Are you ready?" Bakura nodded and snapped his fingers, causing a table to appear out of no where. It was designed like a KaibaCorp dueling arena, with a place for each player to put their cards and a field where they most likely came to life. Bakura sat down at one end of the table, Yugi at the other.