Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and everything related is (c) Kazuki Takahashi
Legacy of Kain characters and everything related is (c) Crystal Dynamics and Silicon Knights.
"You came back!" Ryou cried happily from the cell he was in. He shuffled to his feet as the door was opened and happily accepted the tackle from the woman on the other side.
"I made a promise and damnit I'm going to keep it," she smiled.
"He's safe, a deal's a deal," Yami sighed as he relinquished his hold to Yugi. The smaller boy removed the Puzzle from his neck and walked to Sarah. The woman unwound her arms from Ryou long enough to take the Item.
"Hold it for me, my other half is putting a lot of trust in you and so am I. He's going to count on you to draw strength from for a while. Just enough to get you back out looking for Bakura, that's about all he can do. Protect this for us while it's in your possession."
"Yugi, Bakura and Ryou were able to stand as two persons. Have Yami try the same, I can't take this if he's still able to stand on his own," the woman said. A distortion to Yugi's side appeared before solidifying into Yami.
"See, he can take it now. Not that I wouldn't be honored, but it's not needed," she said as she handed the Puzzle to Yami. The Spirit flexed his fingers and placed the Item around his neck.
"It won't last," he said quickly. "The effect will fade eventually. Then will you carry it for me?" Yami asked the woman. She nodded her reply before kneeling down to Yugi.
"Take care, kiddo. We'll be back for you in no time." She kissed his forehead and gave him a hug. The teen returned the action before Sarah moved away. He got a hug and a thank you from Ryou. Last was Yami, the action was a bit more emotional, both shedding a tear. Sarah turned to Kain while the two halves of one whole tried to pull themselves apart.
"I will return Raziel to you. And I apologize deeply for everything. This is all my fault and I will set things straight." She didn't wait for a reply, instead she stepped past the towering figure. Ryou stayed close by her side as Yami trailed behind.
Kain left the cell door open as he turned his back on Yugi. "He will remain with me in my retreat. The longer you take, the greater the chances of him being placed in this cell." The vampire lord teleported himself and Yugi away.
"We've got a job to do," Sarah prompted as she took both guys by the hand. "Let's do it."
"Agreed," Yami nodded as he shifted them to the Spectral Realm. Within no time they crossed the threshold and arrived back in the Game Shop. Honda, Anzu and Jounouchi were all waiting alongside Yugi's grandfather. Yami looked slightly guilty when he caught their smiles and turned away. Yami wasted no time, as Ryou happily gave persons and objects a hug he relayed the issue to everyone, omitting the part about Yugi. He didn't wish another worry to be set upon the group.
"So much is new to me, things have advanced so far beyond the industrial era Nosgoth is still in," Raziel said as he looked at the landscape below him. Bakura grunted as he hopped down off the guardrail of the high-rise building.
"Magic is a dying art form, it's mainly contained in items such as these," Bakura said as he showed Raziel his Ring and the Eye. "In all there are seven," Bakura put the Eye back in his pocket and smiled, he no longer needed to lie about Malik being a great evil and his quest being for good. Raziel knew who he was so Bakura could now flaunt the fact and flex muscle to keep him in line. "I want the remaining five. I know where most are so searching will be minimal. If you are ready, we may begin," Bakura chuckled as he fingered a pointer on the Ring.
"Our deal has changed slightly, I want to be returned to Nosgoth but death is not needed," Raziel said stiffly.
"Death is such a messy thing to deal with, I can work with that."
Maybe I can lock him away in a card, so long as the card is never ripped or found out he will never be released. It would save me the time and effort of dealing with him when I don't come through in the end. Though I will miss watching him hunt the woman, perhaps I could wait until after he's done that. Make her watch me trap him. I'll never grow tired of messing with her. She tries to remain so strong yet there is so much that could be used against her. It's sad really, the poor dear is bound to snap eventually. I might end up with a pet in the end...
"Come then, I've picked up a slight trace from Malik's Item. Once he's out of the way we go for Pharaoh. The others are easier and can wait," Bakura announced as he made way to the door on the roof. "I'm eager to see you in action."
"I cannot say I'm eager to meet my foe, I'm eager to return to Nosgoth."
"Do this for me and you shall."
"I do not trust you," Raziel hissed as he raised his wraith blade. "Yet you give me no choice as you have appealed to the deranged twin soul bound to me. Disappoint it and nothing will stop me from claiming your rather unique soul. You have no tether to this world, you are vulnerable."
"And you'd ruin your only chance of getting back to Nosgoth?" Bakura scoffed as he flung the door open.
"You are not the only one that can return me. If I can find another being that has the ability to communicate with the Reaver, I will free it from your influence and let it turn it's rage on you."
"You will do no such as I will not allow it to happen. Now walk," Bakura commanded as he jabbed a finger at the stairs. Raziel gave him a cold glare as he obeyed. Bakura watched the fiend's back as he descended the stairs. The limp remains of his wings billowed slightly as they swung lifelessly in the breeze his movements caused. Raziel's foot falls where heavy, the metal on his feet scrapped the stairs and rang dully through the halls. Bakura walked in silence behind him, mulling over his plan to bring Malik down.
"You can't do this alone, Yugi!" Honda protested as the Spirit turned his back on the group.
"I certainly can't risk the lot of you in this matter, it's bad enough Ryou and Sarah are involved. I won't drag anyone else in."
"How do you expect to find Bakura in time? He and Malik could be anywhere! Let him at least do away with Malik, one less foe to worry about," Jou muttered.
"No, Malik and Bakura can keep each other busy. Having both around will hinder the other's advances. As dangerous as the two of them are, only one of them is even more-so. We don't know what effects Raziel will have on this whole ordeal. Need I remind you that Malik is of two minds as well? The spirit side is stronger and may very well have serious repercussions on Raziel. He's a soul eater, a strong willed entity might have the opportunity to claim him as a host. And that would be far worse than anything we've seen yet," Yami replied.
"And how do you know?" Anzu questioned.
"I know only what Sarah has told me. We don't know how much is fact though, so extreme caution needs to be exercised. We can't overlook anything and that's why she's needed, she can apply her knowledge to things quickly. I don't want to risk her life, but for the sake of Domino I must."
"Nosgoth's fate hangs in the balance as well. Kain divulged information to me while I was there. He said I should know of what might come since I would be trapped there. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, even if I don't understand fully what's going on I can't allow another world to suffer. We can't afford to let any changes happen to Raziel lest it effects Nosgoth." Ryou interrupted.
"But we don't live in Nosgoth! Nosgoth has nothing to do with us, why should we care? Raziel is the only threat to us and he's here. He should be our biggest worry!" Honda blurted out.
"Knowing the fate of any world is at stake changes everything. I don't care if we have nothing to do with Nosgoth, but since someone we have here is a key player in that world I cannot sit idly by and do nothing. Once he's returned our ties with Nosgoth are cut and we have nothing to worry about. I'm not going on a crusade to save that world, only return what belongs to it. Back to the initial issue, you are correct. I cannot do this alone. That's why I'm going to enlist the help of Seto."
"Kaiba! Are you nuts? That psycho won't lift a finger if it's in favor of you," Jou protested.
"We need his resources!"
"Have you asked Sarah's opinion on the matter? Need I remind you that poor woman can't understand us at the moment? She's the one running this operation, you need her input," Honda reminded as he motioned to where she stood talking with Yugi's grandfather.
"These stares are unsettling," Raziel hissed at the Spirit. "I got them in Nosgoth, I do not need them here as well." Though his face was ruined, he still had full use of what muscle remained. His features had been pulled into a ghastly scowl as he shooed humans off.
"Fear is a powerful weapon Raziel, you should learn to appreciate it."
"Appreciate something I did not ask for? It was not my choice to inhabit this ruined form. I was given no choice in the matter, I can't even die!" he growled.
"There's a saying I've heard Americans use, when life gives you lemons you make lemonade. As for what it means, I believe it has something to do with the sour, acidic taste of lemons being turned into something much more tolerable."
"I do not need your pearls of wisdom. You know nothing of my plight and your words are of empty meaning." Raziel paused for a moment then gave a derisive snort. "I never got your name."
"If you must know everyone refers to me as Bakura."
"Well then, Bah-kura, let us leave how you think I should view my curse unspoken. I refused to hear it from anyone in Nosgoth, here will be no different."
"You have your own curse and I have mine. I have been bound to this infernal Ring for centuries, I am a soul without a body. I needed to take residence in others and work through them to accomplish anything. And then suddenly Nosgoth came into the picture, your world gave me a body of my own. I was finally able to rid myself of the pathetic wretch I was forced to share a body with. Everything has changed for me and I plan to use all I have to the fullest now. I should thank you for what your efforts will give me, but it means nothing to you my little pawn."
Raziel whirled around and swung the Reaver at Bakura, the Spirit was caught off guard and howled from the burning sensation that spread through him from where the Reaver had struck. He gritted his teeth and turned furious eyes to Raziel. The taller creature shot his left arm out and closed massive claws around Bakura's throat, he hefted the smaller being into the air. "Never refer to me as pawn again. I'm sick of hearing that word, just as I grew sick of being called a messiah. I want to make my own path, go my own way. But no one has ever let me, I've always been under the thumb of another. You learn things from each 'master' you go through. One day I will have learned enough to break free. I will not take pawns of my own, no, I want nothing to do with the cycle of manipulation. I plan to end it. I will not be drawn further into another cycle while I am here. If you do not learn to keep your mouth shut any help you would have received from me will become forfeit. I will leave you and search for a means to return myself to Nosgoth."
Bakura chuckled despite the hard grip on his throat. "I can hunt you down, little Raziel. You cannot hide from me, and if need be I can exert more force over you than I have now. I can imprison your soul for all of eternity. You will never know freedom," he said darkly. Raziel opened his claws and let Bakura fall to the pavement. He turned away as the figure lay coughing. "Nothing is forever and I doubt your level of power over me. Else you would be using it now. I will play along though, it will most likely turn out to be the foolish decision but for now I do not know enough of your world to set out on my own. Not yet."
"Would you get him to stop staring at me like that, please?" Sarah whispered to Yami as the helicopter they were in headed back to Kaiba Corp.
"I speak English. As a business man it was in my best interest to become multi-lingual. I've learned you can only trust yourself in matters of money," the steel-eyed brunette replied flatly.
"Well alright then. Stop staring at me," the woman grunted.
"If not for you I wouldn't be here. Whatever mess you've made caused Yugi to run to me for help. Normally I would have turned him down, but I rather enjoy having him come to me on his knees," Seto smirked.
"Yeah, yeah! I know this is all my fault, why does everyone feel the need to remind me of it?" she snapped.
"Such a foul mood and attitude on her, is this why you called for me? To keep her in line?" Seto chuckled.
"I'm tired, I'm hungry, I made two worlds collide and I'm very far from home. What would your mood be?"
"And what the hell is Ryou wearing?" Seto changed the subject as he turned to the teen next to the woman.
"It's Nosgothic," Ryou waved the question off. "I didn't have time to change. Bakura most likely is dressed the same way minus a shirt."
"Can you be of help or not?" Yami sighed. "I only ask for temporary access to vehicle resources so that we may quickly track Bakura and Raziel. There's really nothing else you can do for us."
Seto leaned forward on his knees and laced his fingers in front of his face. "I request to come with you, power struggles have always been interesting to me and this has to be the largest one ever set into motion."
"Why else are you coming, what do you expect to get out of this?" Yami demanded with narrowed eyes. Seto shrugged and leaned back. "Perhaps it's nothing, perhaps I have reasons of my own. They need not concern you. I will stay out of your way."
"You just remind yourself of that when things start to get out of hand. Raziel is a Reaver of souls, and when he takes one there is no getting it back. Not like what happened with Pegasus," Sarah said coldly. Seto snarled at her momentarily then sat back. "Your concern for my well being is touching, stranger. But not needed, I am capable of looking out for myself. I feel you will need me in the end however."
"We'll see," she said sourly.
"Master Malik, there is something you should be aware of," a robbed figure said as he approached where his master sat. Malik turned greyed out purple eyes to the servant before raising a hand that allowed him to continue. The servant kneeled down and lowered his head, the hood he wore further hid his features with the motion. "The owner of the Ring has been seen with a strange wasted creature. From what we have been able to determine it is not of Shadow Realm origin."
"No, it's not or I would have detected it before hand. Strange, there were a few moments in which the signatures from both the Ring and Puzzle vanished. I want this investigated before I decide if it's worth my time. Send a tracker after Bakura to learn what he can, I want to know what he is up to that he didn't go through me to do."
"Very well, Sir," the servant replied before he rose to his feet and bowed. "It shall be done."
Bakura pulled Raziel into an ally without warning, the Spirit scowled as he looked back out. "We've lost the element of surprise, I sense a presence tainted by Malik's influence nearby." Bakura frowned at the slight face Raziel made, he had done it each time Malik was mentioned. "Is there a problem with the name Malik?"
"I once knew a Malek, in life he had been my commanding officer inside the Sarafan Brotherhood. I renounced that life long ago, but the name still reminds me of it."
"What was this Sarafan thing you keep talking about?"
"A warrior sect of priests. We were vampire hunters," Raziel said sourly. "Genocidal monsters now that I look back upon it. And after I had died a Sarafan, Kain resurrected me as one of his vampire sons. Then had me executed. I returned as the creature you see before you. There is no death for me it seems."
"Quite an amusing joke he had going. Turning you into the thing you hated," Bakura chuckled. Raziel narrowed his glowing eyes but did nothing else. "Follow me, we're going to make ourselves look suspicious on purpose," Bakura muttered as he moved deeper into the ally way. Raziel complied, summoning the wraith blade. Normally he kept the weapon hidden, but it's being in view should help move Bakura's plan along. The Spirit lead Raziel through a maze of back allies and side streets. He moved from the busy downtown high rise section to a more run down area with smaller buildings. They were more spread out and the area was filthy, close to the docks and a major shipping point not many actual points of interest where here. Bakura need not glance behind him, the Ring and Raziel's senses told him they were still being followed. The spy was a crafty one, sticking to the roofs of buildings when possible, but still the taint Malik left on him gave him away. Bakura lead Raziel into an old fish cannery, the place reeked of seafood still despite it's years of abandonment. Most of the equipment had been carted out, machines of older design had been left behind. Crates, broken containers and rotten net lay about the area, occasionally a scrap of paper drifted by or was stepped on.
"I hope you know this stench is maddening," Raziel made a sound akin to a cough. "Dead as I look my senses are very much alive."
"We aren't staying here, not even I can stand it. This just happens to be the fastest way to the wharves," the Spirit replied, his voice muffled by the hand over his mouth and nose. Raziel didn't need to ask about the unique choice of destination, even in Nosgoth the wharves had often been a place of underground business and trade.
"I'm serious, start looking around the docks and that area. I know Bakura does something down there every now and then, I often find my clothing smelling of fish and saltwater," Ryou wrinkled his nose.
"Well it's a start, narrows it down from the whole city at least," Yami shrugged.
"We'll stick out like a sore thumb, especially her," Kaiba said as he pointed to the woman.
"I stick out everywhere, I'm used to it."
"You don't want to stick out here, not if you're a woman," Seto scowled in return. "You don't go anywhere without one of us with you."
Yami tapped the map spread out on the table as he thought. "But if he is there then it's obvious it's to draw attention. We may already be too late, the sun is getting low and it'll be night soon. Most activity will die down in the area leaving all the underground workers to do their thing while the last shrimp boats return."
"A quiet dock makes it easier to find who we're looking for," Sarah said.
"We'll start there, see what we can turn up. Speak to no one, we don't know who we can trust. No one wanders off alone," Yami announced.
"The Wharves? Do we have any information on shipment arrivals that may be of interest?" Malik asked as he walked alongside another servant.
"None Sir, nothing was scheduled for today unless it was late from the day before."
"And?" Malik prompted.
"Only a logging ship from the Philippines docked."
"There might be something of interest there. Very well then, I'll take my leave. Prepare my cycle, make sure the tank is topped this time," the dark skinned figure scowled.
"Sit, Raziel. Just sit. Bide your time," Bakura's voice echoed from the second floor of the warehouse. Raziel was pacing about in the rows of stacked crates below, studying all he could get his claws on. Bakura on the other hand was peacefully sitting cross-legged on a crate, he listened to the sound of slowly swinging rope and chain pulleys as he calmed his nerves for what he knew lay ahead. The crash of waves and carrying voices of workers helped add to the atmosphere. His nose wrinkled when a breeze brought the smell of fish, sweat and salt to him. The Spirit opened his eyes and took in his surroundings in case he should need to play hide and seek with Malik later. The dangling hooks provided plenty of swinging space for quick movement from second floor to first. Crates were stacked in areas that could be climbed easily, the tall rows allowed movement atop them as well. The wooden stairs that lead to the second level sat over an office of some kind, machinery for moving the pulleys and crates was housed there, in the back of it was another door that lead into the deep warehouse. Less organization was employed there, only lost items and damaged cargo was placed in that room. It was a storehouse for temporary overflow items until the buyer could come around to claim it. Some things never left, if too much time passed without cargo being claimed the workers were allowed to take what they wanted.
"Raziel, someone approaches. Hide in the Shadow Realm until I summon you," Bakura said just loud enough for the fiend to hear him. Raziel's form melted away without a word. Bakura took his time in hiding away on the second floor; he wanted to draw Malik far into the building and would allow minute traces of his magic give him away, enough to keep the other Item holder interested.
"You're playing with me, Bakura. I can already see this," Malik said to himself as he removed the helmet he wore and placed it on the motorcycle's handle bar. "I can play along and still best you, though," he chuckled deeply. He took a moment to shake his bleach blonde hair back into shape and out of the smashed fashion the helmet had given him. Malik placed a hand on where he had his Item fastened to his side, just long enough to use it for a reassurance that Bakura was indeed in a building before him. He let his gaze drift over figures and buildings in the dying light. Shadows were mixing with shadows, movement was harder to catch. Dim lights came on in storehouses that weren't in use, brighter lights marked ones with activity. Knowing full well activity would drive off Bakura from whatever he was looking for, Malik strode up to the only building with dim lighting. He rolled the wooden door open and let his eyes adjust to the slightly green light that poured out. The black tattoos under his eyes were more functional than decorative, they helped cut down on glare and thus kept his eyes from becoming over fatigued in periods of harsh light; much like the sun over the desert. His nose wrinkled at the scent of damp wood and netting, but nothing was overwhelming. The musical sound of chains and creaking of floor boards was all he heard. As he entered the heart of the warehouse, long shadows from stacks of crates danced over him. He casually walked along the length of the building, streams of light followed by shadows washed over him as he passed rows. Satisfied that nothing awaited on the bottom floor, the Egyptian made his way to the stairs. He checked the door under it first, locked and un-tampered with he moved on to climb the stairs. Malik frowned for a moment then sneezed, he muffled the sound slightly and was more unpleased with the fact he had sneezed rather than made any other sound. It didn't seem right to let a sneeze give one away rather than announcing their presence themselves. He decided to do just that, Bakura already knew he was there long before the sneeze.
"I'm not quite sure what your interest in this old place is, but I feel I should know. Allies don't go behind one another's back if they expect to remain allies," he said quietly. The sound echoed and carried despite the fact.
"You have your secrets and I have mine," Bakura replied simply. The echo wouldn't let Malik pinpoint his location. Instead of moving further into a possible ambush, Malik remained where he stood on the stairs.
"Come now, must we play a game for answers every time?" he asked.
"If it suits my mood then yes," Bakura laughed.
"Your mood always seems to call for a game," Malik arched an agitated brow.
"Live a little, even lighten up just a bit in the face of a challenge," Bakura said as his figure dashed from one shadow to the next.
"Just what are you up to? I'm in no mood for hide and seek, Bakura."
"No doubt that you felt the absence of the Ring recently. Do you care to know why?" Bakura's voice sounded to have come from the right, Malik turned that direction and a laugh came from the left. Or was it above?
"The Ring came with me on an interesting little excursion. I managed to snare something that I've wanted so long, something you would understand. We're in a similar boat, the spirit and host bit. I found a way to break free from my host, I'm here in a body of my own. No one to share it with. How comfortable are you with the presence that shares your skin?"
"It is of no concern to you the relationship I have with my twinned spirit," Malik growled in return.
"I've met another like us on so many levels. Its interesting what you run across when you aren't looking."
"Ah yes, where is your blue demon?" Malik asked. "I'm rather disappointed in his lack of attendance."
"In time, don't worry. I'm not done playing just yet," Bakura chuckled.
Legacy of Kain characters and everything related is (c) Crystal Dynamics and Silicon Knights.
"You came back!" Ryou cried happily from the cell he was in. He shuffled to his feet as the door was opened and happily accepted the tackle from the woman on the other side.
"I made a promise and damnit I'm going to keep it," she smiled.
"He's safe, a deal's a deal," Yami sighed as he relinquished his hold to Yugi. The smaller boy removed the Puzzle from his neck and walked to Sarah. The woman unwound her arms from Ryou long enough to take the Item.
"Hold it for me, my other half is putting a lot of trust in you and so am I. He's going to count on you to draw strength from for a while. Just enough to get you back out looking for Bakura, that's about all he can do. Protect this for us while it's in your possession."
"Yugi, Bakura and Ryou were able to stand as two persons. Have Yami try the same, I can't take this if he's still able to stand on his own," the woman said. A distortion to Yugi's side appeared before solidifying into Yami.
"See, he can take it now. Not that I wouldn't be honored, but it's not needed," she said as she handed the Puzzle to Yami. The Spirit flexed his fingers and placed the Item around his neck.
"It won't last," he said quickly. "The effect will fade eventually. Then will you carry it for me?" Yami asked the woman. She nodded her reply before kneeling down to Yugi.
"Take care, kiddo. We'll be back for you in no time." She kissed his forehead and gave him a hug. The teen returned the action before Sarah moved away. He got a hug and a thank you from Ryou. Last was Yami, the action was a bit more emotional, both shedding a tear. Sarah turned to Kain while the two halves of one whole tried to pull themselves apart.
"I will return Raziel to you. And I apologize deeply for everything. This is all my fault and I will set things straight." She didn't wait for a reply, instead she stepped past the towering figure. Ryou stayed close by her side as Yami trailed behind.
Kain left the cell door open as he turned his back on Yugi. "He will remain with me in my retreat. The longer you take, the greater the chances of him being placed in this cell." The vampire lord teleported himself and Yugi away.
"We've got a job to do," Sarah prompted as she took both guys by the hand. "Let's do it."
"Agreed," Yami nodded as he shifted them to the Spectral Realm. Within no time they crossed the threshold and arrived back in the Game Shop. Honda, Anzu and Jounouchi were all waiting alongside Yugi's grandfather. Yami looked slightly guilty when he caught their smiles and turned away. Yami wasted no time, as Ryou happily gave persons and objects a hug he relayed the issue to everyone, omitting the part about Yugi. He didn't wish another worry to be set upon the group.
"So much is new to me, things have advanced so far beyond the industrial era Nosgoth is still in," Raziel said as he looked at the landscape below him. Bakura grunted as he hopped down off the guardrail of the high-rise building.
"Magic is a dying art form, it's mainly contained in items such as these," Bakura said as he showed Raziel his Ring and the Eye. "In all there are seven," Bakura put the Eye back in his pocket and smiled, he no longer needed to lie about Malik being a great evil and his quest being for good. Raziel knew who he was so Bakura could now flaunt the fact and flex muscle to keep him in line. "I want the remaining five. I know where most are so searching will be minimal. If you are ready, we may begin," Bakura chuckled as he fingered a pointer on the Ring.
"Our deal has changed slightly, I want to be returned to Nosgoth but death is not needed," Raziel said stiffly.
"Death is such a messy thing to deal with, I can work with that."
Maybe I can lock him away in a card, so long as the card is never ripped or found out he will never be released. It would save me the time and effort of dealing with him when I don't come through in the end. Though I will miss watching him hunt the woman, perhaps I could wait until after he's done that. Make her watch me trap him. I'll never grow tired of messing with her. She tries to remain so strong yet there is so much that could be used against her. It's sad really, the poor dear is bound to snap eventually. I might end up with a pet in the end...
"Come then, I've picked up a slight trace from Malik's Item. Once he's out of the way we go for Pharaoh. The others are easier and can wait," Bakura announced as he made way to the door on the roof. "I'm eager to see you in action."
"I cannot say I'm eager to meet my foe, I'm eager to return to Nosgoth."
"Do this for me and you shall."
"I do not trust you," Raziel hissed as he raised his wraith blade. "Yet you give me no choice as you have appealed to the deranged twin soul bound to me. Disappoint it and nothing will stop me from claiming your rather unique soul. You have no tether to this world, you are vulnerable."
"And you'd ruin your only chance of getting back to Nosgoth?" Bakura scoffed as he flung the door open.
"You are not the only one that can return me. If I can find another being that has the ability to communicate with the Reaver, I will free it from your influence and let it turn it's rage on you."
"You will do no such as I will not allow it to happen. Now walk," Bakura commanded as he jabbed a finger at the stairs. Raziel gave him a cold glare as he obeyed. Bakura watched the fiend's back as he descended the stairs. The limp remains of his wings billowed slightly as they swung lifelessly in the breeze his movements caused. Raziel's foot falls where heavy, the metal on his feet scrapped the stairs and rang dully through the halls. Bakura walked in silence behind him, mulling over his plan to bring Malik down.
"You can't do this alone, Yugi!" Honda protested as the Spirit turned his back on the group.
"I certainly can't risk the lot of you in this matter, it's bad enough Ryou and Sarah are involved. I won't drag anyone else in."
"How do you expect to find Bakura in time? He and Malik could be anywhere! Let him at least do away with Malik, one less foe to worry about," Jou muttered.
"No, Malik and Bakura can keep each other busy. Having both around will hinder the other's advances. As dangerous as the two of them are, only one of them is even more-so. We don't know what effects Raziel will have on this whole ordeal. Need I remind you that Malik is of two minds as well? The spirit side is stronger and may very well have serious repercussions on Raziel. He's a soul eater, a strong willed entity might have the opportunity to claim him as a host. And that would be far worse than anything we've seen yet," Yami replied.
"And how do you know?" Anzu questioned.
"I know only what Sarah has told me. We don't know how much is fact though, so extreme caution needs to be exercised. We can't overlook anything and that's why she's needed, she can apply her knowledge to things quickly. I don't want to risk her life, but for the sake of Domino I must."
"Nosgoth's fate hangs in the balance as well. Kain divulged information to me while I was there. He said I should know of what might come since I would be trapped there. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, even if I don't understand fully what's going on I can't allow another world to suffer. We can't afford to let any changes happen to Raziel lest it effects Nosgoth." Ryou interrupted.
"But we don't live in Nosgoth! Nosgoth has nothing to do with us, why should we care? Raziel is the only threat to us and he's here. He should be our biggest worry!" Honda blurted out.
"Knowing the fate of any world is at stake changes everything. I don't care if we have nothing to do with Nosgoth, but since someone we have here is a key player in that world I cannot sit idly by and do nothing. Once he's returned our ties with Nosgoth are cut and we have nothing to worry about. I'm not going on a crusade to save that world, only return what belongs to it. Back to the initial issue, you are correct. I cannot do this alone. That's why I'm going to enlist the help of Seto."
"Kaiba! Are you nuts? That psycho won't lift a finger if it's in favor of you," Jou protested.
"We need his resources!"
"Have you asked Sarah's opinion on the matter? Need I remind you that poor woman can't understand us at the moment? She's the one running this operation, you need her input," Honda reminded as he motioned to where she stood talking with Yugi's grandfather.
"These stares are unsettling," Raziel hissed at the Spirit. "I got them in Nosgoth, I do not need them here as well." Though his face was ruined, he still had full use of what muscle remained. His features had been pulled into a ghastly scowl as he shooed humans off.
"Fear is a powerful weapon Raziel, you should learn to appreciate it."
"Appreciate something I did not ask for? It was not my choice to inhabit this ruined form. I was given no choice in the matter, I can't even die!" he growled.
"There's a saying I've heard Americans use, when life gives you lemons you make lemonade. As for what it means, I believe it has something to do with the sour, acidic taste of lemons being turned into something much more tolerable."
"I do not need your pearls of wisdom. You know nothing of my plight and your words are of empty meaning." Raziel paused for a moment then gave a derisive snort. "I never got your name."
"If you must know everyone refers to me as Bakura."
"Well then, Bah-kura, let us leave how you think I should view my curse unspoken. I refused to hear it from anyone in Nosgoth, here will be no different."
"You have your own curse and I have mine. I have been bound to this infernal Ring for centuries, I am a soul without a body. I needed to take residence in others and work through them to accomplish anything. And then suddenly Nosgoth came into the picture, your world gave me a body of my own. I was finally able to rid myself of the pathetic wretch I was forced to share a body with. Everything has changed for me and I plan to use all I have to the fullest now. I should thank you for what your efforts will give me, but it means nothing to you my little pawn."
Raziel whirled around and swung the Reaver at Bakura, the Spirit was caught off guard and howled from the burning sensation that spread through him from where the Reaver had struck. He gritted his teeth and turned furious eyes to Raziel. The taller creature shot his left arm out and closed massive claws around Bakura's throat, he hefted the smaller being into the air. "Never refer to me as pawn again. I'm sick of hearing that word, just as I grew sick of being called a messiah. I want to make my own path, go my own way. But no one has ever let me, I've always been under the thumb of another. You learn things from each 'master' you go through. One day I will have learned enough to break free. I will not take pawns of my own, no, I want nothing to do with the cycle of manipulation. I plan to end it. I will not be drawn further into another cycle while I am here. If you do not learn to keep your mouth shut any help you would have received from me will become forfeit. I will leave you and search for a means to return myself to Nosgoth."
Bakura chuckled despite the hard grip on his throat. "I can hunt you down, little Raziel. You cannot hide from me, and if need be I can exert more force over you than I have now. I can imprison your soul for all of eternity. You will never know freedom," he said darkly. Raziel opened his claws and let Bakura fall to the pavement. He turned away as the figure lay coughing. "Nothing is forever and I doubt your level of power over me. Else you would be using it now. I will play along though, it will most likely turn out to be the foolish decision but for now I do not know enough of your world to set out on my own. Not yet."
"Would you get him to stop staring at me like that, please?" Sarah whispered to Yami as the helicopter they were in headed back to Kaiba Corp.
"I speak English. As a business man it was in my best interest to become multi-lingual. I've learned you can only trust yourself in matters of money," the steel-eyed brunette replied flatly.
"Well alright then. Stop staring at me," the woman grunted.
"If not for you I wouldn't be here. Whatever mess you've made caused Yugi to run to me for help. Normally I would have turned him down, but I rather enjoy having him come to me on his knees," Seto smirked.
"Yeah, yeah! I know this is all my fault, why does everyone feel the need to remind me of it?" she snapped.
"Such a foul mood and attitude on her, is this why you called for me? To keep her in line?" Seto chuckled.
"I'm tired, I'm hungry, I made two worlds collide and I'm very far from home. What would your mood be?"
"And what the hell is Ryou wearing?" Seto changed the subject as he turned to the teen next to the woman.
"It's Nosgothic," Ryou waved the question off. "I didn't have time to change. Bakura most likely is dressed the same way minus a shirt."
"Can you be of help or not?" Yami sighed. "I only ask for temporary access to vehicle resources so that we may quickly track Bakura and Raziel. There's really nothing else you can do for us."
Seto leaned forward on his knees and laced his fingers in front of his face. "I request to come with you, power struggles have always been interesting to me and this has to be the largest one ever set into motion."
"Why else are you coming, what do you expect to get out of this?" Yami demanded with narrowed eyes. Seto shrugged and leaned back. "Perhaps it's nothing, perhaps I have reasons of my own. They need not concern you. I will stay out of your way."
"You just remind yourself of that when things start to get out of hand. Raziel is a Reaver of souls, and when he takes one there is no getting it back. Not like what happened with Pegasus," Sarah said coldly. Seto snarled at her momentarily then sat back. "Your concern for my well being is touching, stranger. But not needed, I am capable of looking out for myself. I feel you will need me in the end however."
"We'll see," she said sourly.
"Master Malik, there is something you should be aware of," a robbed figure said as he approached where his master sat. Malik turned greyed out purple eyes to the servant before raising a hand that allowed him to continue. The servant kneeled down and lowered his head, the hood he wore further hid his features with the motion. "The owner of the Ring has been seen with a strange wasted creature. From what we have been able to determine it is not of Shadow Realm origin."
"No, it's not or I would have detected it before hand. Strange, there were a few moments in which the signatures from both the Ring and Puzzle vanished. I want this investigated before I decide if it's worth my time. Send a tracker after Bakura to learn what he can, I want to know what he is up to that he didn't go through me to do."
"Very well, Sir," the servant replied before he rose to his feet and bowed. "It shall be done."
Bakura pulled Raziel into an ally without warning, the Spirit scowled as he looked back out. "We've lost the element of surprise, I sense a presence tainted by Malik's influence nearby." Bakura frowned at the slight face Raziel made, he had done it each time Malik was mentioned. "Is there a problem with the name Malik?"
"I once knew a Malek, in life he had been my commanding officer inside the Sarafan Brotherhood. I renounced that life long ago, but the name still reminds me of it."
"What was this Sarafan thing you keep talking about?"
"A warrior sect of priests. We were vampire hunters," Raziel said sourly. "Genocidal monsters now that I look back upon it. And after I had died a Sarafan, Kain resurrected me as one of his vampire sons. Then had me executed. I returned as the creature you see before you. There is no death for me it seems."
"Quite an amusing joke he had going. Turning you into the thing you hated," Bakura chuckled. Raziel narrowed his glowing eyes but did nothing else. "Follow me, we're going to make ourselves look suspicious on purpose," Bakura muttered as he moved deeper into the ally way. Raziel complied, summoning the wraith blade. Normally he kept the weapon hidden, but it's being in view should help move Bakura's plan along. The Spirit lead Raziel through a maze of back allies and side streets. He moved from the busy downtown high rise section to a more run down area with smaller buildings. They were more spread out and the area was filthy, close to the docks and a major shipping point not many actual points of interest where here. Bakura need not glance behind him, the Ring and Raziel's senses told him they were still being followed. The spy was a crafty one, sticking to the roofs of buildings when possible, but still the taint Malik left on him gave him away. Bakura lead Raziel into an old fish cannery, the place reeked of seafood still despite it's years of abandonment. Most of the equipment had been carted out, machines of older design had been left behind. Crates, broken containers and rotten net lay about the area, occasionally a scrap of paper drifted by or was stepped on.
"I hope you know this stench is maddening," Raziel made a sound akin to a cough. "Dead as I look my senses are very much alive."
"We aren't staying here, not even I can stand it. This just happens to be the fastest way to the wharves," the Spirit replied, his voice muffled by the hand over his mouth and nose. Raziel didn't need to ask about the unique choice of destination, even in Nosgoth the wharves had often been a place of underground business and trade.
"I'm serious, start looking around the docks and that area. I know Bakura does something down there every now and then, I often find my clothing smelling of fish and saltwater," Ryou wrinkled his nose.
"Well it's a start, narrows it down from the whole city at least," Yami shrugged.
"We'll stick out like a sore thumb, especially her," Kaiba said as he pointed to the woman.
"I stick out everywhere, I'm used to it."
"You don't want to stick out here, not if you're a woman," Seto scowled in return. "You don't go anywhere without one of us with you."
Yami tapped the map spread out on the table as he thought. "But if he is there then it's obvious it's to draw attention. We may already be too late, the sun is getting low and it'll be night soon. Most activity will die down in the area leaving all the underground workers to do their thing while the last shrimp boats return."
"A quiet dock makes it easier to find who we're looking for," Sarah said.
"We'll start there, see what we can turn up. Speak to no one, we don't know who we can trust. No one wanders off alone," Yami announced.
"The Wharves? Do we have any information on shipment arrivals that may be of interest?" Malik asked as he walked alongside another servant.
"None Sir, nothing was scheduled for today unless it was late from the day before."
"And?" Malik prompted.
"Only a logging ship from the Philippines docked."
"There might be something of interest there. Very well then, I'll take my leave. Prepare my cycle, make sure the tank is topped this time," the dark skinned figure scowled.
"Sit, Raziel. Just sit. Bide your time," Bakura's voice echoed from the second floor of the warehouse. Raziel was pacing about in the rows of stacked crates below, studying all he could get his claws on. Bakura on the other hand was peacefully sitting cross-legged on a crate, he listened to the sound of slowly swinging rope and chain pulleys as he calmed his nerves for what he knew lay ahead. The crash of waves and carrying voices of workers helped add to the atmosphere. His nose wrinkled when a breeze brought the smell of fish, sweat and salt to him. The Spirit opened his eyes and took in his surroundings in case he should need to play hide and seek with Malik later. The dangling hooks provided plenty of swinging space for quick movement from second floor to first. Crates were stacked in areas that could be climbed easily, the tall rows allowed movement atop them as well. The wooden stairs that lead to the second level sat over an office of some kind, machinery for moving the pulleys and crates was housed there, in the back of it was another door that lead into the deep warehouse. Less organization was employed there, only lost items and damaged cargo was placed in that room. It was a storehouse for temporary overflow items until the buyer could come around to claim it. Some things never left, if too much time passed without cargo being claimed the workers were allowed to take what they wanted.
"Raziel, someone approaches. Hide in the Shadow Realm until I summon you," Bakura said just loud enough for the fiend to hear him. Raziel's form melted away without a word. Bakura took his time in hiding away on the second floor; he wanted to draw Malik far into the building and would allow minute traces of his magic give him away, enough to keep the other Item holder interested.
"You're playing with me, Bakura. I can already see this," Malik said to himself as he removed the helmet he wore and placed it on the motorcycle's handle bar. "I can play along and still best you, though," he chuckled deeply. He took a moment to shake his bleach blonde hair back into shape and out of the smashed fashion the helmet had given him. Malik placed a hand on where he had his Item fastened to his side, just long enough to use it for a reassurance that Bakura was indeed in a building before him. He let his gaze drift over figures and buildings in the dying light. Shadows were mixing with shadows, movement was harder to catch. Dim lights came on in storehouses that weren't in use, brighter lights marked ones with activity. Knowing full well activity would drive off Bakura from whatever he was looking for, Malik strode up to the only building with dim lighting. He rolled the wooden door open and let his eyes adjust to the slightly green light that poured out. The black tattoos under his eyes were more functional than decorative, they helped cut down on glare and thus kept his eyes from becoming over fatigued in periods of harsh light; much like the sun over the desert. His nose wrinkled at the scent of damp wood and netting, but nothing was overwhelming. The musical sound of chains and creaking of floor boards was all he heard. As he entered the heart of the warehouse, long shadows from stacks of crates danced over him. He casually walked along the length of the building, streams of light followed by shadows washed over him as he passed rows. Satisfied that nothing awaited on the bottom floor, the Egyptian made his way to the stairs. He checked the door under it first, locked and un-tampered with he moved on to climb the stairs. Malik frowned for a moment then sneezed, he muffled the sound slightly and was more unpleased with the fact he had sneezed rather than made any other sound. It didn't seem right to let a sneeze give one away rather than announcing their presence themselves. He decided to do just that, Bakura already knew he was there long before the sneeze.
"I'm not quite sure what your interest in this old place is, but I feel I should know. Allies don't go behind one another's back if they expect to remain allies," he said quietly. The sound echoed and carried despite the fact.
"You have your secrets and I have mine," Bakura replied simply. The echo wouldn't let Malik pinpoint his location. Instead of moving further into a possible ambush, Malik remained where he stood on the stairs.
"Come now, must we play a game for answers every time?" he asked.
"If it suits my mood then yes," Bakura laughed.
"Your mood always seems to call for a game," Malik arched an agitated brow.
"Live a little, even lighten up just a bit in the face of a challenge," Bakura said as his figure dashed from one shadow to the next.
"Just what are you up to? I'm in no mood for hide and seek, Bakura."
"No doubt that you felt the absence of the Ring recently. Do you care to know why?" Bakura's voice sounded to have come from the right, Malik turned that direction and a laugh came from the left. Or was it above?
"The Ring came with me on an interesting little excursion. I managed to snare something that I've wanted so long, something you would understand. We're in a similar boat, the spirit and host bit. I found a way to break free from my host, I'm here in a body of my own. No one to share it with. How comfortable are you with the presence that shares your skin?"
"It is of no concern to you the relationship I have with my twinned spirit," Malik growled in return.
"I've met another like us on so many levels. Its interesting what you run across when you aren't looking."
"Ah yes, where is your blue demon?" Malik asked. "I'm rather disappointed in his lack of attendance."
"In time, don't worry. I'm not done playing just yet," Bakura chuckled.
