~*Darkness Falls*~
Two Months Later…
Tea and Yami had finally settled in Marik's cottage, almost as if it were their own home. After Tea's fever broke, the two finally moved in to the guestroom right at the end of the hall while Marik reclaimed his bed chambers. His relationship with Tea seemed to be nothing more than friendship. The two, without Yami's help, managed to get along rather nicely. To her, it was almost the same way she met Yugi until Yugi was burned to the stake.
"Hmm…" Marik looked around the hallways. "Yami's out looking for firewood and Tea's in the guestroom." It may have been a few months that the two have moved in but with each day passing by, his feelings for Tea seemed to grow into something more than friendship. He knew it was never meant to be since Tea is head over heels with Yami.
With hands shaking, he twisted the doorknob to the guestroom, seeing Tea sitting up on the bed, holding a rather strange box. A light shone from the object and sounds started to stir.
"Tea…" his voice whispered into the air.
Squinting in the darkness, Tea tried to see who it was in the dark. "Oh, hey Marik." He flashed her most winning smile.
Marik made his way towards the bed, sitting next to Tea, looking over at the device she held in her hands very curiously. "Hey, what's that?"
"Oh?" Tea looked down at her video camera, pushing the stop button. "It's a video camera."
"Video camera? Wow." He took the camera in his hands, turning it over. "Boston creates more and more unusual things everyday."
"To tell the truth," Tea turned off the camera. "I am not from here no Boston or even England."
"Is that so?" Marik looked at her in an odd way. "If you're nay from those places, then where are ye from?"
"Tokyo."
Marik's eyebrow quirked. "Tokyo? I've never heard of that place before."
Tea nodded. "Let's just say it is far away from here. Far from Salem, Boston, or even England."
Marik nodded in agreement, watching Tea pressing a few buttons on the camera. "All right, we'll leave it at that." He shifted his body closer to her.
Tea pressed the play button. Marik leaned forward his eyes watched the screen. The screen glowed for a slight second before displaying the young girls from Salem within the forest grounds with a huge fire right in the middle. They joined hands, danced, and sang songs of the dead.
"What in the holy name is going on?" Marik's eyes were glued to the little screen. "Who are these children?"
"These girls are known as the 'circle' in Salem. They have this sort of power in which they could name anyone a witch." She paused for a moment. "And I mean anyone. They have named innocent people. Not too long ago, they have burned Yami's brother on the stake."
"Yugi?" Marik was taken back.
Tea nodded. "The girls have gone mad. They are seeking out revenge on Yami. And now they are after me, Yami, and our friend Shadi."
"Yes, I know Shadi quite well. He's…" his voice fell silent. "Perhaps you can say we are friends. Just like how you and I are."
"That's nice." She smiled to this, as there was a scene in which Chibi-Usa was saying something to her friends.
"Damn that Yami and his little girlfriend Tea." Chibi-Usa hissed. "I swear I don't care if she is a witch or a demon or whatever. I will have him and anyone who gets in the way will have me to answer to."
"And if they are innocent?" Hikaru looked up at her friend.
"I don't care. Yami will be mine. You can count on it."
"Sister," Usagi smiled. "We will help you get there."
Marik was stunned at what he had seen. "And that stupid Reverend Kaiba actually believed them? When was this taken?"
"Yugi and I had a little night out in the markets long back before his death. We decided to be daring that night and so we entered the forbidden forests and saw the girls dancing so…"
"Do you tend to reveal this to the priest?" Marik watched Tea rewinding the tape and turning it off.
"I remember Yugi mentioning that Yami's close friend Serenity tried to break the circle's secret. But at that time, the reverend did not believe her."
Marik took Tea's hand in his, looking down at her. He expected her to fidget, which in truth, she did not. Tea gazed down at his hand for a long while.
"Look Tea," Marik spoke softly, his fingers interlocked with hers. "I…I uh…you know we have been friends for quite a long time right?"
Tea nodded. "Right. It has been exactly two months since we have become friends. Kinda make this an anniversary."
"What is an anniversary?" Marik tilted his head to the side.
"Well," Tea's face flustered as she tried to find the right words to say. "Well, basically, if something special happens for one whole year or more until the exact day, then it's considered an anniversary."
"But we have nay been friends for years Tea. It has only been months."
"It's not only years," she gave him a warm smile. "It works well with months."
"What do you do at this anniversary?"
"Where I come from, sometimes couples take each other places to get a little romantic. Then some tend to celebrate it, you know, have a party? But that's just if you're married. But since we're friends, we don't have to do anything."
"Well, I have a gift." Marik smiled.
Tea's eyes lighted up like a small child. "Really? What is it?"
"Close your eyes."
Smiling, Tea closed her eyes. Marik slowly leaned forward, inching closer to her. He then whispered softly in her ear. "I hope you forgive me."
"Huh?" Tea quirked an eyebrow, her eyes closed still. "What do you mean?"
Marik looked down at Tea for a long time. His fingers cupped her chin, lifting her head up. Hesitating at first, he then made his move, brushing his lips against hers before parting it, softly kissing her.
Tea's eyes opened wide at that instant of the kiss. The grip of Marik's hand on hers became tighter. No!! she called out in her mind. Marik…Marik, he's just a friend. He is only a friend. She closed her eyes. Yami…I feel a strong connection when I am with him. But when it comes to Marik, it feels the same as how I am with Yami. It can't be!! She felt his body weight pressing her down on the bed.
"I didn't know it myself." Marik whispered in her ear. "I know you love Yami. I, too, ended up falling for you. More than just friendship. That is why I ask you to forgive me when I told you I love you."
"You what?" Tea was even more surprised.
"Aye, twas a sinful bliss indeed. I thought it was something I could control. But nay, after so much time has passed, no longer can I keep it inside."
"Marik," Tea struggled weakly but he was too strong for her, both of his hands held hers down. "I…I don't know. I like you too. I really do. It's just…it's just…"
"Enough Tea." His voice was stern, nonetheless a dark turn-on, which secretly, that was what Tea always fantasized in a man. Marik leaned forward once more, pressing his lips onto hers. He had enraptured her into a dark, twisted world where her own dark dreams could come alive.
"You wouldn't mind explaining this little game you're playing?" a dark, familiar voice raged, shattering the fantasy world.
Tea was horribly startled as she quickly sat up on the bed, her eyes gazed at Yami, who held a candle for light. "Yami…"
Marik sat up slowly, heading towards the door. "Twas a sinful bliss indeed, Yami. Perhaps this was the test Shadi has told you about, no?"
"You know Shadi? But…but how?"
"Let's just say my mother knew him quite well."
"Your mother was dead ever since you were a child." Yami clenched his fist tightly.
"Or so you thought." Marik took a glance at Yami. "You and I have known each other since my father was alive. Apparently, the cold-hearted bastard lied to you. My mother was alive until a few months back. In the hands of Kaiba, she was to be burned at stake but she was found dead the day of her burning."
"You mean to say Ishizu was your mother?" Yami and Tea was surprised at what Marik was telling them.
"Aye," Marik nodded. "Twas Shadi who visited me the months back. Nay, I could not believe it at first. But I was always skeptical at the stories my father told me of my mother."
"Enough of your family stories Marik. I know you're trying to lead me off the real subject that has set afoot within the room."
"Yami…" Tea reached for his arm.
Yami yanked his arm away from her. "Stay out of this Tea." He then glared at Marik. "I believe we should settle this." He cracked his knuckles.
"Ah," a smirk curled Marik's lips as he turned around, facing Yami. "Aye, it has been a while since we had a settlement. The last time we had this little fight was when Serenity was alive."
"You are aware that Serenity has been hanged and burned months back." Yami rolled up his sleeve. "I may have forgiven you for seducing Serenity but you just don't know when to stop now do you?"
Marik removed his shirt, tossing it to the floor. "Though we are nay brothers nor related, our blood runs along the same path."
"So that means you're an incubus?" Tea was stunned at what was taking place.
"Aye my dear." Marik shifted his gaze towards Tea. "Although our bloodlines are somewhat related, I have come from a darker species of an incubi."
"What's the difference?" Tea wondered.
Marik finally gazed down at Yami, watching him removing his shirt. "My species have been the reincarnation of the soldiers of Lucifer."
"I have read the book of demons before," Tea looked up at Marik. "I know quite much of Lucifer and his demons and you…" she pointed a finger at him. "You have quite a striking resemblance to him."
"Aye. You are rather intelligent my dear. Not a lot of reverends know the exact picture of the true Lucifer."
"You still tend to talk of your life story?" Yami asked quietly.
"Yami, you don't have to beat the living snot out of Marik." Tea finally stood up, making her way towards him. "It wasn't his fault. It's…it's…"
"Tea, don't get involved." Yami warned. "This is something far more than just him seducing you. After all, unlike myself, this one has no ability to control his hunger."
Livid, Marik made his way towards Yami, grabbing him by the neck. "You have no idea do you?" he raged at him. "You are damn lucky I have not betrayed you. You are still on a run from Salem, you and Tea!! I have kept you here and lied to the reverends that I have never seen the likes of you two before. And this is the thanks I get you son of a…"
Before Marik continued on, Yami punched him as hard as he could on the stomach. He then tackled him on the ground, the two started rolling on each other, throwing punches right in the face and chest.
"Yami!" Tea tried to restrain him, trying to pull him off Marik. "Stop this!! This is pointless, not to mention stupid!!"
"Get off me Tea!" Yami shoved Tea off of him as hard as he could, sending her flying back. Little did he know, Tea slammed right into the wall, her head smacking the mirror on the wall, cracking it. Her body collapsed to the ground, her head leaving a trail of blood on the wall as she collapsed.
And neither Yami nor Marik heard a thing.
Ryou's eyes opened, looking around the darkness. What happened to him only remained unclear. Kaiba grabbed him during the morning hours while washing the dishes.
He found himself lying on his stomach. His wrists were bound tightly with rope, his ankle bound with rope. He saw a faint flicker of candlelight only to realize he had been blindfolded. He then heard soft murmurs filling the air.
"Check to see if he's awake." Ryou could have sworn that the voice belonged to Reverend Kaiba but he wasn't so sure.
There was a long pause. Finally, another voice whispered. "I think he's awake."
"I believe now is a good time to ask questions."
Ryou realized that the other two were Joey and Tristan.
"I have brought the whip you have asked Reverend Kaiba." A fourth unknown person spoke. The only thing Ryou could make of it is that it was a guy.
Ryou's head looked around wildly. "What…what's going on?"
Kaiba's laughter sounded off. "My little servant Ryou. I know you have been becoming unfaithful to me the past two months. There are things you know that you are not telling me."
"We know that you know where Shadi, Tea and Yami are." Said Joey. "So out with it."
"I don't know what you guys speak of." Ryou cried out.
"Joey, Tristan," Kaiba smirked as he placed his foot right on Ryou's head. "Take it away until he truly breaks."
"With pleasure." The two smiled an evil grin. Joey and Tristan took turns in kicking and punching Ryou. Tristan even ripped open Ryou's shirt, hurling his bare back with stones.
All in the while, Ryou cried out in pain, feeling his back bleeding.
"Do you give?" Kaiba glared down at Ryou.
"Never." Ryou uttered.
Kaiba shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid I have no choice." He picked up the bullwhip from the floor, striking Ryou's back with all his might.
Ryou's feeble cries echoed in the room. Finally, Ryou shouted. "All right! All right I'll tell you!!"
"Good boy," that sinister grin never left his lips of Kaiba. "So where are they?"
Ryou was breathing heavily. "Shadi is at a cabin by the cliffs. And Yami and Tea are hiding out in High Priest Marik's cottage. All three are out of Salem."
"Did he just say High Priest Marik?" Tristan stammered.
"I believe he said what he said," said the unknown male. "If I know Marik well, he's probably keeping them until the day we show up."
Kaiba released his foothold on Ryou. "Take him away. Better yet, prepare the carriage. We'll bring him along."
Suddenly, Mai entered the room approaching Kaiba. "M'lord…"
"Mai, what are you doing down here?" Kaiba looked down at the petite blond woman.
"It's about Mokuba. He is getting worse. The doctor said there is a great chance that he would die." Mai spoke in a sad voice.
"You lie!" Kaiba screamed. "I know you lie! It can't be!" he then bolted up the stairs, heading towards Mokuba's bedroom.
Meanwhile, Joey, Tristan, and the unknown man kept their eyes on Mai.
"What are you guys staring at?" Mai glared at the three. As she spoke, the three noticed there were fangs right in her pearly white teeth.
"Oh lord." Tristan was taken back.
"Mai…" Joey stepped back. "She…she's a demon?"
"It was my friend, or shall I say my master, who gave me a new life." She brushed her blonde locks over her shoulder, revealing a huge hickey on her neck. "And I swear, if you dare say a word, you three will never see the light of day again."
The three were scared stiff that they ran up the stairs and out the basement. Mai knelt before Ryou, untying his wrists and ankles, turning him over so he could lie on his back.
"I can't believe what I've done." Ryou's voice shook.
Mai aligned her wrist with his mouth, taking out a dagger, making a slit through her skin, watching her blood drip inside Ryou's mouth, which he gladly accepted. With her hand, she stopped the bleeding. "What is it that you have done?"
"Shadi, Tea and Yami," Ryou breathed heavily. "They're going to be dead soon. They now know where they are."
"Some things are the way they have to be." Mai wrapped Ryou's arm over her shoulder, helping him up. "But things can change around." She helped him up the stairs and carried him outside to the carriage.
"My good reverend," the doctor shook his head sadly, rising from his chair. "I know it started off with the flu but unfortunately, it was much more than that. The nurses tried to remove the tumor in his lung, which they successfully did. However, the cancer has gotten the best of him."
"You fool," Kaiba grabbed the doctor by his shirt, shaking him with all his might. "I pay you good money to cure my brother and this is all I get?!?"
"There isn't anything more we can do good reverend." The doctor cried.
Kaiba pointed to the door. "Out! Out! Get the hell out of my house!" he then released his hold on the doctor, watching him squirming and stumbling out the door. He then seated himself on the chair next to Mokuba. Mokuba was staring at the ceiling for a long time before his eyes locked with his brother's. "Seto…"
"Mokuba…" Kaiba placed his hand on his brother's trying hard not to let the tears flow. "I'm so sorry I could not save you."
"Seto…" Mokuba gazed at Kaiba for a long time. 'They are not what they are." He started to breathe heavily.
"Who are you talking about? Mokuba, you've got to hang on. Don't you dare leave me like this!"
Mokuba's lips parted for a moment, trying to say something. His grip on his hand tightened before it was weakly released. A groan escaped him as his breathing ceased.
Mokuba gave his last breath. Kaiba stared on at first before he screamed, taking the lantern from the nightstand, smashing it to the floor as hard as he could. The glass shattered into tiny pieces out of a fit of rage.
Marik and Yami were still fighting, both have been bruised and battered. The two stood up, facing each other, a hungry look in their eyes ready to kill.
Marik glanced at Tea, noticing her body crumpled on the floor. "I believe we should stop from here."
"What's the matter?" Yami sneered. "Have you decided to surrender so soon?"
Marik shook his head. "Nay Yami, I do not tend to surrender but," he pointed his finger towards Tea. "I am concerned of your lady friend over there."
Yami whirled his head around, seeing Tea crumpled on the floor. "Oh shit!" he made his way towards an unconscious Tea. He noticed the blood running down from the back of her head. "Tea!" he shook her. "Tea!"
"Any chance that you would be able to heal her?" Marik gazed down at the two.
I'm not sure." Yami placed Tea's body on his lap. "I don't know much of the dark arts as much as Shadi or Ishizu," he shrugged slightly. "But it's worth a try." He placed his hand on the back of Tea's head, chanting a few ancient words. Suddenly, a small light formed in his hand, going inside Tea's head.
Minutes ticked by as Tea's eyes finally opened. Her eyes locked onto Yami's first. "Wha…what happened?"
"Oh Tea," Yami held her close to him. "I'm so sorry. I can't believe I did that! I'm so sorry!!"
"Suddenly, the door knocked. The three retreated down the steps as Marik peeked outside the window. He then closed the curtain, a strange look plastered his face.
"Who is it?" Tea tilted her head to the side.
Marik opened the door and before either of the three could react, in stepped Reverend Kaiba, Joey and Tristan.
"Oh no!" Tea's eyes widened with fear. "It can't be!"
"How did you find us?" Yami was equally shocked.
Tristan smirked. "Well, we managed to get some answers." He then looked out the door. "All right Duke, bring the selfless bastard in."
At that point, a young priest wearing a cross around his neck stepped in the house, dragging a beaten Ryou by his ankle.
"Good Lord," Yami rushed towards Ryou. "Ryou, are you okay? What happened?"
"They made me tell." Ryou whispered. "I'm sorry Yami. Your friend has betrayed you."
"Yami and Tea," Kaiba said in a firm voice. "You two are under arrest for the crime of witchcraft." At then, Joey and Tristan bounded Yami and Tea's wrist with the rope, shoving them out the door. Reverend Duke dragged Ryou's body outside. From there, they tossed the bodies inside the carriage.
"I see you have been found out as well." A familiar voice spoke up. The two looked up seeing Shadi, his face bruised and had a few cuts on the side of his face, his wrists and ankles bund with rope.
"Shadi…" Tea was surprised to see him yet shocked at the same time when she noticed the wounds he had received. Her hand reached out, gently touching his face.
He didn't flinch as he rested his had on her hand. He then turned his gaze towards Yami. "I have already confessed in practicing the Dark Arts."
"You what?" Yami was stunned. "Shadi, that can't be! Why?"
"I plan to join my sister. Remember what we have told you. Those very few with a pure heart will survive the madness and chaos of Salem."
Meanwhile, Kaiba gazed at the odd artifacts on Marik's coffee table. "I trust that you will come to the court tomorrow. It sure could be useful if you're there."
Marik escorted Kaiba out the door. "I will bear that in mind." He then closed the door. Looking out the window, peeking through a curtain, he watched Kaiba getting into one of the two carriages. The two carriages disappeared into the night. He closed the curtain, dimming one of the lanterns.
"I knew this would happen." A soft voice whispered in the darkness. There stepped out a rather familiar young woman. A necklace wove her slender neck. Her black hair flowed down to her waist.
Marik looked over the woman, realizing that her eyes were like his. At that instant, he knew who she was. "Mother…?"
Ishizu smiled, nodding as she approached Marik. "It's been a while my son. A long while."
Marik's face twitched madly. Suddenly, his hand snapped, slapping his mother right in the face as hard as he could, leaving a huge red mark, "You bitch! Why haven't you at least visited me when father died? I was already fourteen and you pretended everything's okay!!"
Ishizu held her face at the spot where Marik had hit her. "Marik," she took a step back. "You knew I was already on the run from Boston for quite some time. I guess your father wanted to protect you from the truth."
"Why are you here?" Marik closed the curtains, running his fingers through his hair.
"I saw what happened. I suggest you do the right thing."
"What happened to Shadi's words? You, Satan, and Death having a pact and wish to destroy Salem."
"We have done our job Marik." Ishizu slowly vanished before his eyes. "I believe you know what to do from here."
Time to answer a few reviews:
BakuraLuva: You remember in the beginning when Tea was reading that book before getting konked by the workmen? And the scene where she first arrived in the forests making a comment on how she hadn't gotten to read halfway through the book? No, the book is not much of a magical thing. When she was knocked out, she was sent into the story itself. So it makes like she was recreating the story.
Umiko Morimoto: Hey, hey Umiko-chan! ^_^. Anyway, yes, it is quite surprising that Ishizu is Marik's mother. Just a quickie reminder to all the readers: Most of the YGO characters are 100% OOC with the exception of Tea. See that Yugi and Yami are two people, Ryou's a vamp, Kaiba and Duke are priests, Tristan and Joey follow up on Kaiba's orders…I mean, things that they will never let you see on TV. So yes, you should definitely expect a lot of surprises on who's who in this story.
~*Woo-Hoo!! To Be Concluded. ^_^ I already have the last chapter typed up and on my document manager so unless you want to see it, tell me what you think of this chapter pleeease*~