Chapter Nine-Yami Marik's Plot Revealed

Victoria blinked, looking around h er. Where she was was not New York. She remembered this place,but vaguely. She moved forward an inch, then gasped. Standing in front of her was Yami Marik. "Y-you! Send me back, right now!"

"Hmmm...no. I need you." The foul being grabbed her wrist in a bone crushing grip, draggin g her off. "You can scream if you want...no one's gonna answer you."

Victoria didn't scream though. Nor did she struggle. She wasn't going to give the yami that satisfaction. "If you hurt me, you'll be in trouble with Marik." She said finally.

"Oh now! Don't be ridiculous,Child." He shoved her into the familiar temple they'd used for shelter from when she was little. "I believe you already know Johanna..."

"Jo!" Victoria gasped, and went to kneel by Jo who seemed compl etely unaware of what was going on around her.

"It's no use. Her soul has been taken." Yami Bakura appeared out of the darkness. "The only one w ho can get it back for her is you."

"M-me?" Victoria narrowed her eyes at the silver haired tomb raider. "How?"

"You're gonna get rid of my weaker self, and his goody two shoes siblings."

"N-no......I can't do that!" Victoria cried. "You can't make me!!"

"Then I suppose you don't need Johanna anymore...." Yami Bakura piped up, taking the unconscious girl into his arms, forcefully. "I could use some company here."

"N-no! Okay! Fine, I'll do it........" The girl felt tears in her eyes, as she turned to face Yami Marik. "You are so horrible!! I hate you!!"

"That's right. Hate me all you want, Little One. It'll help." He smirked, and pulled her by the arm out of the temple. "Stay with that brat, Bakare. We might still be forced to kill her." He vanished with Victoria in tow. Now they just needed her Millennium Rod,and they'd be set.

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Back at his house, Marik had his hands full, without worrying about what his yami was up to. The rare hunters were only three in number now,but that was still a lot to handle alone. Rishid had been knock unconscious while Ishizu and Marik were seriously hurt. "Haven't you had your fun?! Why do you continue to harass my family?" Marik demanded in between gasps.

"Because we find it amusing, like you found it amusing when you took over our minds, "master"."

"Marik has already apologized to you several different times! Why don't you just let it die in the past?!" Ishizu pleaded, as she tended to her older brother's wounds.

"That's right!" Marik agreed, limping over to help Ishizu. He glared at the three hooded figures. "Leave my house."

One of the rare hunters laughed, knocking Marik down with a stick. "Certainly, after we have a little fun with your gorgeous sister."

Marik struggled up. "Why you....you'll never lay a hand on her!" He stumbled to his feet, reaching for his Millennium Rod. He held it out at arms length, glaring dangerously. His foes backed up considerable, apparently remembering the power the Item carried. "That's right. Just get out of here, and I won't have to use it!" He felt his knees buckle as the door closed after the last rare hunter. He collapsed beside Rishid, with a shaky gasp of breath. "I believe.......one of them may have gotten me in the ribs..."

"Marik!" Ishizu moved now, ignoring the pain in her leg that told her it might be badly sprained. She settled herself in the middle,resting a hand on Marik's arm. "Just rest for now,dear one."

"Sister, we have more trouble to attend to..." Marik replied shakily, closing his eyes tightly.

"What is it, Marik? What has happened?" Ishizu asked softly. She could see how troubled her brother was.

"It's.......Victoria. Yami Bakura sent her through a portal to my yami ....I can only imagine what they might be up to again."

"Oh my...." Ishizu frowned in worry. They couldn't do anything right away. Rishid was still unconscious, and she was in no shape to drive their car. She looked down at Marik,and discovered that her troubled little brother was sound asleep in exhaustion. Oh dear. Marik will want to take care of Victoria as soon as possible....But none of us are in the condition to drive right now. She sighed deeply,running a hand through Marik's soft hair. "We will help her,My brother. Very soon."