Moons: Okay, I think I'm back on track! Summer got a hold of me, but now that it's over I think I can update more often.

Aurora: I guess that means I'm working again.

Moons: Yes, and you'll just have to get used to that. Cause I'm back and I hoping to update faster.

Aurora: Oh yeah…*walks of grumbling*

Moons: Anyways, here's the next chapter!

Unbroken

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

            Yami stared at the silver face with many numbers looking back at him. A phone? He remembered hearing about one at the Lab but Master had never let him use one. So basically all he was good for at the moment was dictating the number to Ryou who stood beside him holding a long piece of thick plastic. Ryou began punching the number buttons and then held the plastic part out to Yami. Yami took it but could stare at it in wonder.

            "Put this part to your ear." Ryou said quickly. "And you talk into this part."

            Yami placed the phone against his ear just in time to hear Marik's angry voice grumble a hello.

            "Marik?" Yami was hoping that it really was him and this wasn't some sick prank.

            "Ah, the Pharaoh!" Yes, it was defiantly Marik on the other line. "So nice of you to show some concern and caring for the young innocent!"

            Yami scowled at the plastic part and wished he could send a bolt of white hot light through to fry Marik. But even as naive as he was, he knew that would destroy the phone.

            "Stop playing games." He growled. "Give Yugi back. He did nothing to you and you have no reason to keep him."

            Marik laughed and Yami could feel his anger and disgust towards him rising in him like a black balloon. God help Marik if he was around when that balloon popped.

            "You can have him back." Marik sounded so casually that Yami felt the balloon expand. "I'm willing to make a trade for him."

            Yami's eyes widened and his gaze turned to Ryou. A trade? Did this madman think he would give one innocent in return for another? Maybe he really was crazy.

            "What kind of trade?" Yami asked turning so that Ryou and Bakura could no longer hear his end of the conversation. "I won't let you have the other."

            "No, no, I don't want the other innocent." Marik answered. "Little Ryou already fulfilled his end of the deal. No, I want to trade Yugi for something bigger, better."

            Marik now had Yami's fill attention. He hunched down and lowered his voice even more.

            "What or who do you want then?" He asked, almost afraid of the answer.

            "You."

            Yami almost dropped the phone when he heard that. The color rushed out of his face and he felt his breath coming in shorter gasps. He heard Bakura start to take a step towards him but he quickly waved him off.

            "W-what?" He choked out.

            Marik chuckled lightly into the phone. "Pharaoh, you are dumber then you seem." He laughed. "Haven't you figured it out yet? You're the key to destruction! Whoever owns you has a chance to own it all. What human weapon can stand up to you? You're bigger then a nuclear war-head and more powerful then an atom bomb. If you were mine, I could control it all. And neither you, nor I, nor even that annoying Tomb Raider would have to go back to that lab. The Master would be done for!"

            After only getting silence back from Yami, Marik continued. "Think about your options Pharaoh. Either you come and take his place, or Yugi is mine to do with what I like. You know where to find me."

            After that the line went dead. This time Yami did drop the phone. In the back of his mind there was another tugging and he realized that Marik had also placed his location in his head. He stumbled back out of the phone booth and into the waiting arms of Bakura.

            "Yami?" Bakura's voice was filled with worry. "What's wrong? What happened?"

            "M-Marik wants to trade for Yugi." He gasped, air fleeing him for the moment.

            "Trade?" Ryou asked, his face paling. "Who does he want to trade Yugi for?"

            Yami took another gasping breath before black started chewing on the ends of his vision. He began to go limp in Bakura's arms, but not before uttering one last word.

            "Me."

~*~

            Marik tossed the cell phone aside, a large smile on his face. He wouldn't need to contact Brett again. The next time he talked to that no good, pansy scientist was when he was begging for his life. He would allow Yami to destroy the shop, but he wanted the final crack at Brett, Alan and the Master. They were his.

            And there was no doubt in his mind that Yami would come that night. Yami was a good guy, the knight on shinning armor on his white horse. And because of this…flaw in him he would come riding to Yugi's rescue like any good knight. And then Yami would be his. The Pharaoh's power would be his to control and use.

            Marik turned to the innocent who still lay sleeping in the corner of the room. Yugi had started to wake up on the street so he had to knock him out again. He couldn't let Yugi wake up in public. That could have been disastrous. But now he felt that he could wake him up.

            He was leaning over Yugi when he felt a familiar presences. A desire to be different. Marik rushed to the window and looked out. There he saw the same black haired boy from earlier. The one who deep in his heart wished to be different. A grin spread across his face. Sleeping beauty could wait. A new plan was hatching in his brain. A plan that was fool-proof. Rushing towards the door Marik began laughing. Things were just too perfect!

~*~

            Otogi walked slowly down the street, flipping his bangs out of his face. How he hated life sometimes. After seeing that charred tree in the park he knew that supernatural powers were out there, and he couldn't have them. Instead some loser who blows up trees gets to be the pick of the litter. He sighed and kicked aimlessly at the sidewalk. Yes he hated his life.

            He was about to turn the corner when someone stepped out into his way. Coming to a quick stop Otogi growled and tried to shove past. But the man got in the way again.

            "Move it asshole." He snarled, trying once more to unsuccessfully shove past his blocker.

            "Oh, sorry." The man laughed. "And here I thought you wanted powers to make you different."

            Otogi froze and looked up at the man who had asked him the question. He was met by a pair of fierce lavender eyes and long platinum blond hair. There was no way this guy could know that.

            "W-what are you talking about?" He tried his best to lie. He had never been good at it. "Powers don't exist. And who would want to be different?"

            "Really." The man chuckled and stepped out of his way. "That's not what your heart said when you were staring at that tree I fried. Oh well, everyone changes their mind."

            The man pushed past him and began walking in the opposite direction. Otogi panicked when he realized that opportunity was walking away from him. He turned and grabbed the man by his arm.

            "Wait!" He yelped. "What do you mean that tree I fried? You mean to tell me that was you?"

            The man turned back, a grin set on his face. He held out a hand and tiny ball of fire welled up in his palm. Otogi gasped and took a stumbling step backwards. Awe and horror boiled in his stomach and left him flabbergasted.

            "It was you!" He gasped as the man extinguished his little fire.

            "Marik's the name." He offered a hand towards him.

            "Otogi." He took Marik's hand expecting to feel the heat, but there wasn't any. Marik's hand was cool and seemingly normal.

            "Now Otogi," Marik spoke after the formalities were over. "I know you want the powers I have, and I can grant them to you on one condition."

            Otogi's eyes grew wide as his heart leapt up in his chest.

            "Anything!" He shouted. "I'll do anything!"

            Marik grinned. Perfect. This was just what he wanted, just what he needed. He quickly wiped the grin off and turned serious.

            "There are others out there like me, bad ones." Marik lied much easier then Otogi had. "I have a young boy I'm trying to protect from them. And his brother, who they are holding. Tonight the brother is going to make a break for it. If I give you these powers you must go where I tell you and stop these people from chasing after the brother. Can you do that for me?"

            Otogi nodded numbly. He couldn't talk but he was willing to do whatever he had too to get these powers. Marik grinned at him and grabbed his hand.

            "Good." He laughed.

            A sudden jolt shot through Otogi. His body stiffened but he couldn't muster a scream. His whole world went dark, but he could feel the power surging through his body. He was different.

            Marik watched as Otogi collapsed into his arms. He picked the boy up and began walking towards the house he was staying in. A laugh rippled out of him.

            "Welcome to the other side Otogi."

Moons: Uh oh, there's another powered up bad guy! What will happen?!

Aurora: Oh shut up. You know what's going to happen.

Moons: You hush! They don't!

Aurora: But they will.

Moons: Be quiet and help me start another chapter…