Chapter Two-Death of an Apprentice
Another dull night in Domino. I swear, I'd give anything to be back in New York. But it's not too bad in the day time. Bakura hasn't made me go to school yet, and Rakura...well, he's happy to have me around. Even if he doesn't show it. Johanna sighed, looking around the dark streets. She was out past curfew again, but she didn't seem to notice. Something had drawn her out of the house. Yami Marik was around again. Even if he wasn't her yami , Jo had always kept an eye on him for Victoria. She watched him now, as he was about to enter the Ishtars' residence. She panicked. Certianly the Ishtars, including Victoria would be sleeping. "Psst!" She hissed from their front gate. The Yami turned his head.
"You." He snarled. "What are you doing here, foolish girl?!"
"Looking for you." Johanna replied calmly. Her hands were already clammy though. "What are you trying to do? Don't you know it's not fair to murder someone in their sleep?"
"Go home, Johanna. You are not my target. I have no desire to dea l with the likes of you." Nor do I have the desire to get into more trouble with that tomb raider. He added silently.
"I won't let you hurt Victoria or the Ishtars." Jo replied firmly. "I have a proposition for you."
The evil yami laughed in amusement, turning to face her now. "And what is that, little Jo? Are you going to blast me with your toy Ring?"
"Of course not. We're going to play a Shadow Game." Jo returned smoothly. "If I win, you agree to leave Victoria alone."
"And if I win, you spend an eternity in the Shadow Realm. Fair enough?" She brought this on herself. She should've left well enough alone. Fool!
Despite how badly she was trembling at the prospect of losing, Johanna nodded. "Fair enough." She had just enough time to pull out her self made Bakura deck before a dark screen of fog surrounded them. Cool! Just like the anime , I'm in a Shadow game.
"This is far fro m being a cartoon, little girl. Everything that happens here is very real indeed." Yami Marik smirked, pulling out his own deck. "The first move is yours."
Johanna chose carefully. I have to win this duel. I have to win at all costs! It may be the only thing that will save Victoria from his constant torment. She played Gross Ghost of Fled Dreams in Defense mode, and laid a trap card face down. "I play Gross Ghost of Fled Dreams in Defense mode, and lay one card face down. That ends my turn."
"Is that all you've got in that pathetic excuse of a deck? I thought being a tomb robber's apprentice would serve you better than that. Too bad." He then played Revival Jam and Jam Breeding Machine in his rather popular and predictable opening move.
"Is that the only move you know?" Johanna retorted lamely. She played another card face down. "Your move." She felt herself getting weak, and wondered at that. She and Victoria had both been in the Shadow Realm several times since they were little, but nothing had happened like this before. Especially not to her.
"What's the matter, Little Jo? Not feeling good?" Yami Marik smirked to himself. "Why don't you make it easier on yourself and surrender?"
"Never! I'll never surrender to the likes of you!" Johanna exclaimed angrily. He's not playing fair. He's wasting me away in the middle of the duel! "You're a liar and a cheat!"
"Did you expect anything less?" The yami made his move smirking. "I sacrifice Revival Jam,Earl of Demise and 13th Grave, to bring forth Winged Dragon of Ra!"
"Ra?! But.....Marik's supposed to have that card!!" Jo felt her whole body go numb as the beast emerged. Not wanting to be done in by her best friend's favorite card, she hung her head. "I surrender....."
"I knew you'd see it my way." There was a flash and the fog lifted. "Now, I believe we had an agreement..."
Johanna attempted to scramble away, but a shock of Shadow Energy knocked her to the ground. She shrieked in pain. Breathing with an effort, she turned to face Yami Marik one last time. "This is not over!"
"But it is, Jo. See, you lost, and now, you're never going to see your friends again." The yami was laughing rather insanely. "And your little friend Victoria? She's mine."
"You won't get to her. Marik won't let you!" Jo sp at on him, as he sent a final, fatal wave of energy at her.
"Oh, he will. Believe me." Yami Marik told the dead body. He picked it up, and carried it to the tomb raider's host's house. "Now I think I will leave something for Bakare to find." Dropping the body off, he vanished, with a menacing laugh.
Had he looked back, he would've seen the black and white cat that was in the window. Oreo leaped down, and meowed at the door. She hoped her master Yami Bakura would hear, and open the door. Soon enough, he came. "What is it, cat?" The thief watched Oreo paw at the door. "Outside at this hour?" He grunted. "Very well." He opened the door to let her out. His eyes narrowed, seeing Johanna's lifeless form on the porch. "WHAT THE BLAZES?!!!" He knelt, and began to shake her. "YOU MORON! WHAT HAVE YOU GOTTEN INTO NOW?!" He slapped her hard, as if that would wake her up. He didn't even notice when his hikari appeared beside him. "WAKE UP, YOU DOLT!"
"Yami? What's going............" He clapped a hand over his mouth in horror. "Oh my!" Bakura knelt, to feel for a pulse. "S-she's dead...."
"NO SHE IS NOT!" The thief yelled at him, picking the motionless girl up. He brushed Bakura aside, carrying Johanna into house and up to her room.
Bakura was left on the porch, tears streaming. What could've done that too her?! What in the world was she doing out past curfew anyway? I guess we'll never know now..... He got up numbly and went into the house to call Marik. Despite the fact he knew Victoria and Johanna generally disagreed on a lot of things, he knew Victoria would be upset over her friend's death. But he needed to tell Marik. It would be up to Marik to tell Victoria. As he dialed Marik's number, he heard the yami upstairs still yelling for Johanna to wake up. He closed his eyes briefly. Despite how much pain the yami had caused him in the past, Bakura had become really close the thief over the years. Hearing him so distraught and in denial tore him up inside. He could only imagine how much more upset Victoria was going to be when she found out. His heart when out to both of them, as he hit the final digit of Marik's number.