Ch.2

// yami mentally talking //

/ hikari mentally talking /

Maya mentally talking

Bakura = yami

Ryou = hikari

Malik = yami

Marik = hikari

Kyah's POV

I walked to Bakura's house, eager to tell Kit all about the wonderful night I had had with Yami yesterday. But when my knocks at their door were unanswered, I hoped it wasn't too late to visit and opened the unlocked door. I was greeted with Joey passed out in the living room with beer cans around him and Bakura crashed on the couch -- no sign of Kit. But this one girl came out of the kitchen, surprised to see me. "Who are you?" I questioned, wondering why the hell she was here and where she came from.

"I'm Maya. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you knock, otherwise I would've opened the door and invited you in. I've been taking care of Ryou for the past day more or less, and you are?"

"Kyah. I'm looking for Kit, is she around?"

"I'm afraid not, she went to run an errand about an hour ago and hasn't been back since."

"Oh. So what happened to Ryou?"

"He just, uh, got caught up with the wrong crowd."

"Can I see him?" I asked, not believing her.

That's when Bakura suddenly rose from the couch. "Go ahead, Maya. You can tell Kyah."

"He, well, he got involved with Marik and Malik. Ryou couldn't handle the pain from his wound very well in the shadow realm." She answered.

"Why did he go to the shadow realm?"

"Kit was challenged to a duel by Marik."

"She was?"

"Ugh!" Bakura screamed in frustration. "Shut-up already! You and Joey with your damn questions are giving me a fucking headache!" He said as he walked furiously out of the room.

"Maybe I should explain everything to you." Maya suggested. So she did. She told me every detail that she could remember.

"Kit beat Marik in a duel?"

"Yes ---" Maya said, unsure of my sudden odd interest in the subject.

"I have to see her. I have to ask her how it was!"

"Yeah, well, I'm kind of worried that she hasn't come back yet --" Maya said as she glanced in desperation at Bakura leaning against a doorframe.

"Don't look at me! I can't search for her with my Ring! She doesn't have a Millennium item and she's not with any one who has one." Bakura replied.

I just stood here trying to take this all in. "Maybe Kit is lost." I suggested.

Maya bit her bottom lip. "Still ---" She said uneasily. "Bakura, if you don't mind, could you use your Ring to find Marik and Malik?"

Bakura raised his eyebrow. "Why?"

"Well, don't you find it quite odd that they let us all leave so easily? That's not like them. I'm wondering if -- if they have Kit." Maya stated.

"Nonsense, Kit wouldn't have let them get her!" I said with confidence.

"Fine, I'll try." Bakura cut me off as he searched for Marik and Malik with his Millennium Ring. "What? Why isn't it working? Did Kit mess this up somehow when she had it?" Bakura asked frantically.

"Maybe -- maybe Marik messed with the powers. Can't people with Millennium items manipulate other Millennium items in their possession?" Maya suggested.

We all thought on this for a moment and Bakura broke the silence with some well known profanities. "I bet they have Kit."

Malik's POV

When I was finished with Marik, I threw him across the room and he hit the cement wall with his limp body. I exited the room as I saw him regain his true mind and free will.

Marik's POV

I curled up in the corner and pulled the hood of my cloak over my head as I let hidden tears fall down my face. I can't believe I did that. I know my yami manipulated my mind and had me thinking I wanted him when I know full well that I didn't, but it doesn't matter, I still did it!

I banged my head against the wall. I hate him! I hate me; I feel so disgusted with myself for letting that all happen. And it's not like it's the first time that this has happened. Ugh.

I was about to continue with banging my head against the wall, but Kit had somehow escaped the influence Malik had over her and she entered the room prepared to yell.

"You." She said threateningly and walked up to me. I stood up, but with difficulty, and I hid my tear stained face from her. "You set this up, didn't you? You sneaky, no-good, son of a bitch!" She screamed as she grabbed the neck of my cloak and slammed me against the wall.

I swear, I must have a sign across my face saying 'slam me against a wall'. But, as a consequent to Kit's actions, my hood fell down, revealing my face. Shit.

"You had better let me ---" She stopped in mid sentence and took a better look at me. "Were you -- were you crying?" She asked softly.

I pushed her away roughly. "Heh, don't be stupid." I said with my voice cracking slightly. Hopefully Kit didn't notice.

And ironically, Malik came to the rescue, busting the door open. As Kit turned her attention to Malik, I saw this as an opportunity and turned away to wipe away my tears with out anyone noticing.

"Marik! Get your lazy ass over here, we're leaving now!" Malik hollered and I obeyed.

I saw Kit begin to back away, but I used my Millennium Rod to control her and bring her with us. That way, Kit didn't struggle as much and my yami doesn't have to use his powers on her. Perhaps Kit will forget her first impression of me curled up in a corner with tears in my eyes, now that I was the one to take control of the situation and not cower in the shadows like I am always forced to do.