"I wonder which way is the police station…" Marik asked aloud, as he carried Victoria now. The girl had grown tired quickly from the numerous bruises on her little legs.
"Hmm…." Rishid looked around. "Maybe a gas station would know."
"Dat way." Victoria replied, surprising the Ishtars.
"You've been there before?" Ishizu asked her in surprise.
"Uh huh." The child nodded. "We takes Istar hopital?"
"Not yet. We have to make sure your father cannot hurt you anymore." Marik explained gently.
"That's right." Ishizu agreed. She was worried about what would happen to Victoria once their story was told.
Rishid was also worrying about that, but he knew her father must be stopped. "I think we've found it." He stopped outside the graying building.
Victoria buried her face in Marik's neck nervously. "No…"
Marik held her closely. "We have to, Little One. If we don't, he'll keep hurting you, and I won't stand for it!"
Ishizu felt sorry for the child. She was still carrying the injured feline. "Ishtar wants you to be well too." She told her softly.
Rishid led the small group inside, knowing they needed to get this over with. He walked up to the front desk, and spoke quietly to someone, while his siblings watched.
The officer taking Rishid's report looked over the tall Egyptian at Victoria. "Are you family?" She asked Rishid after a minute.
"No…no. We're long distance friends." It was as close to the truth as he could get without having to explain things, and probably sound ridiculous in the process. "We'd be happy to have Victoria stay with us until a suitable family can be found for her."
"That'd be fine. Can I just have an address and phone number?"
Rishid thought for a minute, then just decided to give their true phone number, hoping it wouldn't cause too much confusion. "We're staying at a hotel while we're in town. We will call when we have that number as well." He told her.
"That's fine." The officer replied. "You're free to go now. I'll get this report processed as soon as possible."
"Thank you very much." Rishid replied, turning to his brother and sister. "She's going to stay with us until they can find her a suitable home."
"That's wonderful." Ishizu said with a smile. "Now we have to see to this poor creature." Ishtar had been meowing off and on in obvious suffering.
"I carry hims." Victoria insisted, climbing down out of Marik's arms.
"Alright. Just don't squeeze him. He's in a lot of pain right now." Ishizu laid the cat in the girl's arms.
Victoria petted Ishtar's fur gently. "You be tay, Istar." She consoled the whimpering kitty. She was rewarded with a light lick of her fingers. She giggled, and looked up at the Ishtars. "We goes now?"
"Yes." Marik said, and led them out of the police station.
*****************************************************************************
The veterinarian office wasn't too busy by the time they got there that night. Victoria clung to the cat comfortingly. Ishtar seemed to realize where they were, and had gotten suddenly antsy. "Dey fixes you, Istar." She tried to explain to the feline.
Marik watched the little girl with her cat, thoughtfully. "Most animals don't like the vet." He told her.
"I knows." Victoria replied, sitting on the floor with Ishtar.
Soon enough, the veterinarian came out. She had a pleasant personality. She knelt at Victoria's level. "What a beautiful cat! What's his name?"
"Istar." Victoria held him protectively, not trusting the stranger.
"Such a royal name! What's wrong with him tonight?" She asked gently, sensing that the girl was afraid to give her precious animal up to anyone.
"He got hurted sabing Maser Mawik."
The veterinarian raised an eyebrow. Then she smiled. "I see. My son also watches that show. Marik's his favorite too."
Marik shuddered at the thought of another child being influenced by his past actions. He stepped forward. "Let the nice lady examine Ishtar, Victoria. She can make him better."
The vet nodded. "Yes. I promise to be very careful."
Victoria reluctantly handed the animal over to her. She walked back over to the Ishtars, sadly.
"He'll be okay." Marik assured her. He pulled the small child into his lap, hugging her close.
Ishizu smiled, watching her youngest brother with his young friend. He seemed to really enjoy her company, and she obviously took comfort in his companionship. Perhaps Shadi had been on to something, sending Marik to her. They would have to wait and see what unfolds.
******************************************************************
Rakura was looking around Victoria's house. He was sure he had the right house. Yami Marik had told him exactly where it was. Yet, the girl didn't seem to be there. There was a lot of destruction in one room, and messes in all the others. The ancient thief started for the stairs, where Jo had gone. "Jo! Is the brat up there?"
"No." Johanna called back vaguely.
"What are you doing up there?" Rakura demanded, as he ascended the staircase.
"Pwaying." Johanna told him as he appeared in the doorway. Victoria had better toys than she did.
"We don't have time to play. We have to find Victoria. I doubt Yami Marik was the cause of this destruction. It's too organized for his taste. That means someone else has begun to meddle in Victoria's life." He pulled the girl to her feet. "Come. We'll have to use my Millennium Ring to locate her."
"I don't wanna…." Johanna whimpered. "I don't wanna hurts Vicki anymore."
"Silence, Child! You do not get a say in the matter." He pulled her downstairs, and out of the house.
"Hmm….my Ring is pulling me in the direction of mid-town. Come." He continued to drag Jo. This is a waste of my talents! And to have to have this child along as extra baggage too! Yami Marik better have an excuse for not fetching Victoria himself! He looked down at Jo, who was now following him sullenly. A part of him felt slightly sorry for her. "Stop sniveling. You're fine." He grunted, and let go of her, putting a comforting arm around her.
"Why can'ts we just go play?"
"We will play, Little One. We will. I've a great game planned ,but first I must do this thing for Yami Marik." He stopped suddenly, pulling Jo behind him, his eyes narrowed. "Interesting…" He muttered, as he watched the scene ahead of him. Either that Yami Marik has possessed Marik again, or that's the other Marik, with his Victoria!
"Bictowia!" Jo called across the street.
Rakura chuckled in amusement at the complications this was going to cause, and led Johanna by the hand over to the Ishtars.
Jo ran to hug her friend. "What happened Istar?!"
"Daddy frowed a heaby shelfs on him." Victoria told her. She gripped Marik's hand tighter seeing Rakura.
Marik's eyes narrowed. "Yami Bakura. What are you doing here?!"
"I should like to ask you the same thing,Boy. That child is off limits except to your Yami."
"He won't be touching her anymore!" Marik's voice rose forcefully.
Suddenly, Ishtar hissed weakly at an approaching figure. Victoria looked down at him, then at the figure approaching. "Two Maser Mawiks!" She yelped, as Yami Marik, cloned as the real Marik, came into view.
The real Marik growled in anger, pulling Victoria behind him. "Why are you here?!"
"You're the one who shall be answering that question!" The yami replied. His glare turned to the child hiding behind his former host. "And you! How dare you betray me! You're going to pay, Child, mark my words!"
"Leave her alone! You're the one who betrayed her trust! You lied to gain her confidence! You know I've repented, and yet you persisted to convince her I was still evil!" Marik yelled at him. "Shadi told us what was going on, so we came to stop you."
"Shadi. Ha! Meddlesome fool! No matter." The evil spirit snickered to himself.
"I banished you to the Shadow realm once, and I will do it again! It's where you belong!" Marik declared, clinging to Victoria's hand tightly.
"I don't have time for the Shadow Realm right now. Sorry. I am way too busy." He looked once more to Victoria. "Be prepared, little girl." The yami disappeared without another word.
Ishizu walked over to her brother now, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"I just wish I could move on with the present!" Marik exclaimed in frustration. "He'll be back to try and take Victoria away. I saw it in his eyes."
"We won't let that happen." Rishid told him firmly. "But I do think we need a hotel to stay in."
"Yes. Of course. We've all had such an exhausting night." Ishizu said softly. She took the basket Ishtar was nestled in. "Would you like me to carry him so my brother can carry you?" She asked the trembling child gently.
Victoria nodded. "Uh huh."
Marik smiled weakly, and picked her up. "Don't be afraid, Victoria. He won't be hurting you anymore." He held her close, as he followed his brother Rishid down the side walk to look for a hotel.
Rakura watched them go, then led Johanna the other way, towards an Egyptian novelty shop.