Okay, before I begin, I want to make a few things clear. Um, I know, I know… when I began this story I didn't know everyones Japanese names, other wise I wouldn't have used Tea or Serenity -_-; But, in this chapter I decided to use 'Odion's' and 'Mariks' original names.

Oh yeah, and on another note, I apologize for such a long wait!! *hugs readers and reviewers*

~*~

Days turned to weeks, which turned to months that Mai had her yami, and was living out her life to the fullest. Sure she still hung around Yugi and his friends, but she maintained her job in the fashion industry under her name. She occasionally talked to Reha, the beautiful alternate of herself. But, for some strange reason that bewildered Mai to the brink of insanity, her yami (the usually annoying one with all the comebacks to hell) continued to stick herself in her own soul room. For the past two months, the spirit woman remained in the room opposite to Mai's mind room. She never answered when Mai attempted to talk through their mind link, mental or physically. And frankly, Mai was beginning to think that Reha had forsaken her hikari and decided to stay in her soul room or the scales…

… For this, Mai was happy.

This only meant to the beautiful blonde that she could live 'happily' without mental crude thoughts or threats to do her hair in a certain way or other ridiculous things.

Currently, the woman was in her guestroom, yes; she had made it to the finals. A year had past and Seto Kaiba had thrown another tournament. She entered, and being the great duelist that she was, had landed her pretty little boots in the finals. Although she had heard of some strange things going on, she wasn't there in Joey and Malik's duel, but she had heard some strange things had happened. Possessions and such… even the strange place she had heard of since day one of in Pegasus' castle: The Shadow Realm. She had heard so many things of this place, and wasn't sure what to believe. Well, of course she believed it was real, but… from what Yugi and his Yami had told her, the cute foreign guy on the ship was really Malik, and the other taller cute foreign guy was only his slave. She sighed; laying on her soft feathered bed, crossing her legs. Her creamy skin showing, teasing anyone whom would look. She sunk back into the pillows of her headboard, staring at the cards in her hand, and the ones scattered around her. She set them precicily, not missing a detail of possible outcomes and problems if she played this card or that. She didn't bother to look up however, when the familiar 'zzt' noise of the robotic door opened, she expected it to be either Tea or Serenity, just coming for advice and friendship from another female. She didn't expect the predatory half-lidded eyes staring her down from the doorway, eyeing her body from boots to hair.

"Well, don't be shy, come in." Mai said cheerfully, still staring at the current combo she held between her lilac purple fingernails. When she didn't hear anyone advance toward her bed to sprawl out next to her, she looked up, only to drop her cards onto her chest as her eye lined eyes blinked in surprise.

No, she had never seen this man before. Someone that looked like him yes, but not him. She studied him, her eyes carelessly wondering him. From his black leather boots to the khaki pants he wore, the to black belt with the silver square buckle; even up to the tight black muscle shirt that showed the lovely sight of a well toned chest. His skin sun kissed, his eyes satiny violet, lined with kohl to streak down his cheeks. The stranger's hair stood on end, as rebellious as his aura screamed. And on his forehead was the strangest glowing symbol that represented her scales in some way…

Finding her voice, Mai spoke.

"Can I help you?" She asked, clearing her voice as she swung her legs over the bed, careful not to give him a view. She sat on the side of the bed, turning her head to look at him as she stood, straightening her skirt out from the folds accumulated from sitting in such a casual position.

"…" He said nothing as he stared at her, not bothering any shyness, as he looked her up and down. He leaned against the doorframe casually, one arm stretched above his head as he smirked. Something gold winked from his back pocket; but Mai refused to look, not wanting to give this arrogant man the satisfaction that she was attempted to look at his backside.

"You're going to go against me tomorrow, and lose. I will make you an easy deal. You give me your soul, body, and Sennen Scales and I'll let you free. If not, then you lose and I'll torment you my own sweet way."

"H-how do you know?" Mai asked, attempting to be strong and in control.

"My sisters Tauk. Trust me. Go with my deal and you'll be treated 'nicely'."

"Are you implying that I become your slave on some information that is more than likely to be false?"

He nodded.

"I don't even know who you are." Mai mentally slapped herself, knowing how dumb that response must have sounded.

"I am pure darkness. Evil that you have never known or imagined. I am Merik."

"Don't you mean Malik?"

"… Do not compare me with that fool. I am my own self."

Startled, Mai took a step back, only to cause 'Merik' to take a step further. From the appearance and actions, she now knew just what Merik was.

"You're Malik's yami, aren't you?" She dared to ask, shivering as he now stood before her, towering over her with his full six feet.

"Yami's are nice. You are mistaken."

//Aibou? What's going on? Who is that?" Came the familiar voice of Reha.

//The hell would you care? I haven't heard from you in about two months! Where have you been?!//

//…//

Mai sensed Reha to be sitting back, watching Merik actions carefully.

"Now, do we have a deal or not?" He leaned further, his face inches from her own.

"…No." She stated simply, shivering at the way his cinnamon gum enfolded her sense of smell.

"Leave my hikari alone, you fake." Came a familiar voice once again. Yet, Mai could have sworn it wasn't in her mind anymore, but… outside, like a regular person.

"Ah, I knew you'd show up sometime of other. With the power of both you and your hikari's souls, I'll be more powerful-"

"Like hell you will be."

Gaping, Mai looked to her left, to find a voluptuous woman next to her, Reha to be exact.

"R-Reha?! How did you get your own body?"

"Not now hikari, I'm trying to experiment here."

Merik chuckled, a low deep growling laugh from his throat.

"And what are you going to do about it? I'll get the scales and blackmail Bakura to get even more mind slaves and power."

"Fool. Let's make a bet."

"I'm listening." The lavender eyes narrowed at the saucy female yami.

"We win the duel, I'll steal your Sennen Rod- Dagger to be exact. And you are at my disposal, my slave precisely."

"And if I win, then I'll send your hikari to the Shadow Realm, and torture her slowly to lose her mind, and you, my dear, will be at my disposal, slave- exactly"

"Deal."

"Wait! Reha this is my body here!"

But before poor Mai could make any other sort of protest, Merik had taken her hand and kissed it, then left the room with a swoosh of his dark cape.