Author's Notes: Ok, new chapter up! I hope you enjoy it. I have a new story up as well. Well it's old, but you know what I mean. If you guys are Inuyasha fans, I suggest you read it. It's pretty good. Enjoy!
Chapter 17:
Running In Circles
Yami Bakura felt a hand landed softly on his shoulder. He looked up and saw the Pharaoh looking at him. "What do you want?" He asked, tiredly.
Yami shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry…" He said in a low whisper.
Yami Bakura pushed his hand off of his shoulder. "Don't be!" He hissed.
Yami sighed. He looked over at Téa's still form. "Something happened to her…and I think it's all starting to connect to this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his duel monsters deck. He flipped over the top card and 'Yami no Yume' was revealed.
Yami Bakura shot up and tried to snatch the card out of his hand. "Give me that!"
Yami pulled away. "Bakura, you knew about this?"
Yami Bakura let his arms drop to his sides. "I…she showed it to me a few nights ago. Marik had drawn a picture of it for her. I didn't really believe her or care when she told me. I…I was a fool…" He bowed his head, his chin just resting on his chest. His hair fell forward, covering his eyes.
Yami looked down at the card in his hand. "Marik…" He remembered the night that strange broke into the house and he and Solomon attacked him. The man had revealed Aziz plan in tiny detail, but all of this began to point toward Marik and Egypt. This might be where they could get their answers. It's obvious Marik would never intentionally hurt Téa, but he didn't count on her being able to fascinate 'Yami no Yume' as much as she did.
While the two spirits brooding over the whole events, they didn't notice slight movement coming from the bed in front of them. Téa opened one eye and grinned. It wasn't a friendly grin, but an evil almost homicidal grin. She closed her eyes and tossed the blanket off of her body. She sat up and smirked at the two shocked sprits.
"Téa?" The both cried out bewildered.
Téa slid off of the bed and her smiled grew wider. She approached Yami and placed her hand flat against his chest. She moved her fingers down and caressed the millennium puzzle. "Mine…" She breathed as she punched him in gut and ripped the puzzle off of is neck.
Yami Bakura lunged at her, pinning her arms behind her back. "What the hell are you doing?"
Téa slowly turned her head toward him. Her eyes flashing crimson, causing the spirit to jump.
Yami Bakura gasped and before he knew it, he was flying across the room.
Joey just happened to come into the room at the moment, followed by Kaiba and Ishizu. "Hey guys, Kaiba just found out something and you're not going to like it!" He ducked as Yami Bakura went flying over his head, yelling. Joey's eyes went wide. He ducked once again as Yami went crashing into a wall near him.
Yami Bakura stood up and Yami noticed his puzzle was gone. "My puzzle!"
Joey looked confused. "Um, since when was Téa the type of person to throw her friends around like a frisbee and where the heck did she get the strength to do that?" He started to walk toward her.
Yami held out his hand. "Joey wait! That's not Téa!"
Téa hovered a few feet off of the ground, holding the puzzle tightly in her hand. She held up the item and smashed it to the ground, causing the pieces to scatter everywhere.
Yugi was his normal self again. "No! Not again!" He cried reaching for the pieces.
Téa reached down and picked up a piece. She opened the window, smirked one last time and threw it out into the ocean.
"NOOO!!!" Yugi cried running toward the window.
Joey grabbed him. "What do you think your doing? You're going to follow it? We're over a thousand feet in the air, man!"
Yugi sighed and gave up struggling. "Yami…"
Téa laughed. "Looks like your little friend decided to drop out on us. Well, my mission his complete. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed onto the floor. A dark spirit emerged from her body and went flying into the card just inches away from Yugi.
Yami Bakura regained himself and walked over to Téa, kneeling down beside her. "That card…it finally merged with her." He placed his hand on her head, moving the hair away from her eyes.
Yugi reached for the card and tried to tear it in half. A light shot out and shocked him. He dropped the card, wincing in pain. "That thing is indestructible!"
Yami Bakura lifted Téa up and placed her back on the bed. "At least it's out of her now." He covered her with the blanket. He turned to face Kaiba. "What news did you say you had?" He asked.
Kaiba turned to walk away, signalling for them to follow. "This way, we'll talk in the lounge."
"My puzzle…" Yugi moaned.
***
"WHAT?" Yugi shouted out, having trouble believing Kaiba.
Kaiba shook his head. "I know it's a bit hard to believe, but under the control of that card, she was the one to set that room on fire. The card wants us out of the way, that's one thing we know for sure. If you don't believe me, I can show you the security camera!"
Marik leaned forward in his chair. "But if the card caused it, why would it rectify it?"
Kaiba started to pace again. "I don't know. I think deep inside, Téa was fighting with it and was able to control it temporarily. The card has a strange need to protect her, even though it is using her. So that's why the fire didn't harm her."
Yugi slumped back in the chair. "Poor Téa …" He glanced sadly over at the puzzle pieces lying on the table.
Marik stood up suddenly. "It's my fault!"
Everyone look up at him, startled by his sudden outburst. A silent figure was eavesdropping in the shadows, unknown to all.
Marik crossed his arms and started to walk back and forth. "After I found the card, I released it accidentally. I think it was using me anyways. Uncle had sent the hunters to attack me and for some reason the card protected me. It took me to Japan; it seemed to know where I wanted to go. I was afraid and thought Yugi might know just what this was all about. Ishizu never told me the full truth. I gave it to Yugi and that's when…I accidentally bumped into Téa."
He paused for a moment. Yami Bakura was narrowing his eyes at him.
"She…we…we became close and the card seemed intrigued with her. It wanted to feed off of her. It wanted to also fulfill my desires. That is what the card is meant to do. It…saw how infatuated I was with her and started to follow her. Once it found out she liked someone else…it took on the form of the person her heart desired. After a while, it grew attached to her thoughts and under the control of my uncle, it's finally merged with her. That card is uncontrollable, but my uncle has those documents. I'm sorry…I really am…I've wanted Téa since…since the first time I saw her and…I never thought a mere card could see into my deepest desires. I caused this." He bowed his head. He felt someone approach him and as he looked up a fist met with his face.
Yami Bakura was hovering over him, breathing heavy.
Marik sat up, rubbing his cheek. "What's the matter with you?"
Yami Bakura smirked. He gripped Marik tightly by the shirt and lifted him off of the ground. "I was very happy before your thoughts ruined me and my plans. I didn't care about love or people or that girl. And now I find out it was all because of you and your damn hormones! I swear, if I could I would kill you right now!" He threw Marik down and walked out of the room.
Ishizu knelt before Marik. "Its not your fault…he's just confused."
***
Yami Bakura heard footsteps behind him. He spun around to greet a very familiar face. "Téa…"
Téa had tears in her eyes. "I heard the whole thing." She looked away, her hands balling into tight fists. "You…you were happy before me, huh?"
Yami Bakura stared in shock. He had no idea she had been eavesdropping. "Téa …I…
"Shut up! I want the truth Bakura. Are you happy with me? Or do you want things to be the way they were again…because I…" She choked.
"Téa, Marik told me something and I want to here it from you. Before we become friends…Marik said that you had wanted me…maybe even since Battle City to be exact. I want to know why. It's obvious I was your enemy and trying to mess up everything. How could you want me?"
Téa looked up at him and into his eyes. "When Yami beat you and you ended up in the hospital…I…took care of you and Bakura. I don't know why, but I started to grow attached to Bakura and soon you. I held onto your ring for you, and it made me think about just who this spirit was and why they were hurting Bakura. I started to think about Yami's past and knew somehow that you were connected to it. That's why that day by the tree; I said what I said. Well…after I woke up alone on your bed I started to panic. I knew something had gone wrong and I went to seek Yugi. I was afraid though…for him to go into the shadow realm. I held him back and then…it was too late. You were gone and so was Bakura. I thought I would never see you both again. Then…we saw you in the kitchen after the tower fell and…and…that's when I knew that I never wanted you both to leave me ever again!" She started to sob. "I become intrigued with you and wanted to get to know you…then that card came and showed me what I really wanted. I didn't go after it though. But now look at where we are!" She cried out, punching the wall.
Yami Bakura was very tongue-tied. He had no idea this girl had taken care of him. No idea she cared so much about both of them. He walked over to her and placed his hand underneath her chin. He lifted her head up.
Téa blinked and more tears rolled down her cheeks.
Yami Bakura pulled her face closer to his, inspecting her eyes. "I didn't lie when I said I wish things weren't like this."
Téa started to sob again.
"But…it can't be changed. I won't deny I've always been fond of you either. Téa I meant it when I said I loved you and that I was afraid. When I thought you were going to leave me…I confessed everything to you." He leaned his forehead against hers. "But you…couldn't hear me…"
"Wh…What did you say?"
Yami Bakura smirked. "I said…" He kissed her lightly on the forehead. "I wanted you to stay…" He kissed her on the tip of the nose and then her cheek. "That I didn't want you to leave me…" He kissed her just above her jaw. "I said I wasn't much and I knew it. "His lips brushed against her jaw line, working their way down to her neck and then back up. "And I said I would give you the Nile if you wanted it." He lifted his hands up and plunged them into her soft silky hair. "And…" He made her look directly into his eyes. "I said I loved you." He leaned in and captured her lips.
Téa wrapped her arms around his neck. Her hands slid down his shoulders and around his back.
Yami Bakura pulled away, kissing her lightly one last time. "Is that enough to convince you?"
Téa nodded and giggled. "More then enough." She leaned against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
Yami Bakura wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and rocked her gently back and forth. Soon he felt her weight drop and he lifted her up into his arms. He walked into one of the bedrooms and laid her down. He covered her with the blanket and leaned down next to her. "I won't leave you Téa…ever."
***
"What are we going to do now?" Joey asked, stretching out with his feet on the table.
Kaiba winced. It took hours to keep that table clean. "First you will put your feet down before I CHOP THEM OFF!"
Joey quickly obeyed.
"Now, it seems Bakura's ring is almost impossible to steal, which is why he was spared. This leaves us with Yugi. Without his puzzle, he has no way to contact the Pharaoh. And if that nut learns how to harness the powers, we could have a lot of trouble on our hands."
Mai
nodded. "This is our last chance. If we don't stop him now, it
might be too late. We need to find a way to destroy the card."
Kaiba sighed. "Yes and in order to do that, the host must be destroyed in
order to make the card vulnerable."
Ishizu's eyes widened. "We can't kill Téa, Seto!"
"I know that! We need to convince the card to become attached to Aziz."
Marik looked over at Ishizu. "I agree. He may be family, but…he's not the uncle I remember anymore. Let's end this."
Everyone nodded.
"We'll prepare tonight and confront him tomorrow. I think everyone needs a rest." Yugi stated pointing at the group who was half asleep on the couch."
"Agreed." Kaiba said.
After everyone had left, Yugi and Kaiba were still in the room. Yugi approached Kaiba.
"Kaiba? What…what are we going to do about my puzzle?"
"I really don't know."
Yugi laughed. "You know, for someone who is leading us, you sure don't know much."
Kaiba rolled his eyes. "Spare me…"
"Kaiba, that ocean is huge, there is no way we could ever retrieve that puzzle piece. I think…I think we should forget about it for now and try to save Pegasus and Rishid. They are innocent and don't deserve to be puppets in anyone's plans. I think I'm going to go have a chat with Marik's darker half. Goodnight."
Kaiba started to head off in the opposite direction. "Goodnight and Yugi…?"
Yugi turned around. "Hmmm?"
Kaiba still remained emotionless, but his words were sincere. "Be careful…"
Yugi smiled. "I will." Yugi left and went off to find a computer that could locate where Marik's other half was. He found one and looked puzzled when it showed a dot running around the kitchen. "Marik?"
"Yes?"
Yugi noticed the good Marik and turned to greet him. "Um, why is your other half running around the kitchen?"
Marik's eyes went wide. "Oh no! It must be the coffee!" He shot off down the hall and toward the kitchen.
"Coffee?" Yugi asked, running after him.
"Yes, he's been hooked on caffeine lately. I doubt Kaiba's going to have a kitchen when we get there."
They reached the kitchen and opened the door. Yami Marik was swinging a large knife around and shouting curses. The kitchen was completely destroyed. The tables were broken, the fridge door hung off loosely and the cupboard doors were broken off. Yami Marik turned to face them. "My master says to 'kill,'" He laughed insanely.
Marik gulped. "Ok, so maybe it wasn't the coffee. Someone is controlling him…"
Yugi laughed nervously. "Does this mean someone is controlling him?"
"Aziz!" They both shouted in realization.
Yami Marik smirked and nodded his head. "Yes, that's my masters name." He flung the knife at the wall, just slicing a few piece of Yugi's hair off.
Yugi ducked, but his hair was too big to be missed. "Damn…he's gone nuts!"
"What…do you want?" Marik asked, bravely approaching his other half.
"Your lives!" He reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out eight stake knives, each in between his fingers. "And I can do it any way I want too!" He started running toward the stunned boys.
Marik regained himself and grabbed Yugi's hand. They started to run out of the room and down the long corridors.
"Great, now that Aziz has the ability to use mind control, anyone could be our enemy!" Yugi shouted as they ran blindly through the blimp.
"Master said you are in his way, master said he would reward me greatly if I bring him the girl, master sa –
Just as they were turning a corner, Mai opened her door, wincing when something loud connected with it. "What's going on out here? I swear, a girl can't get any beauty sleep anymore!"
Yugi and Marik paused in mid run and turned around to face her. On the floor was an unconscious dark Marik.
Marik wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Well, that shut him up."
Yugi started to try and life dark Marik up. "Come on, let's get him into the spare room."
Mai sighed. "I don't know what to say to this, so I'll just help you boys and then you can explain." She lifted Yami Marik up with more ease then Yugi.
Marik helped, but lifting up his legs.
They dragged him into the room Mai was in previously.
Mai noticed the stake knives on the floor. She picked on up and ran her finger across the edge. "Ow!" She hissed as it cut her finger. Blood started to drip down her finger. Her eyes went blank suddenly and she turned to face Marik. She smirked. "Marik?"
Marik eyed her suspiciously. "Yes…?"
"Catch!" She laughed as she hurled the knife at Marik. It went right into his arm.
Marik shouted out in pain and yanked the knife of his arm. "Mai what are…oh no…"
Mai picked up the rest of the knives. "Master says 'kill'
Yugi smacked his forehead. "Not again!" He started to run once again down the hall, with a slowly weakening Marik by his side. "We need to get you to the hospital!"
Marik sweat-dropped. "Any idea where that is?"
Yugi looked around him and noticed they were on a floor he didn't recognize. "Nope…"
"HEEEELLLLLP!!!" They cried out as Mai began to catch up to them, flinging knives at them. Seeing as they were on a different level of the ship, no one was around to help them. Their only help was Mai, but now she was under Aziz's control.
To be continued…
