Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh, and if I did, I wouldn't have had such a lame ending to the series. I would have had Yami no Malik and Yami no Bakura join forces, defeat the obnoxious Pharaoh, and plunge the world into eternal darkness and despair. I guess it's a good thing I don't own Yu-gi-oh, huh?
Author's Note: I'm not overly content with this chapter, but it had to be done. I somehow don't think people will shed many tears over this loss.
The quiet tranquility was shattered by a loud, obnoxious blast of digitalized music. Shizuka whimpered and cuddled closer to Bakura, letting out an unhappy noise as she felt Anzu's warm arms leave her waist. The dancer slid off of the bed and padded over to her fallen pocketbook, seemingly heedless of her nudity.
She plucked out a small cell phone and flipped it open.
"Moshi moshi?" Her eyes widened. "Honda? Do you know what time it is? No, no, it's all right…is everything okay? Oh, really…"
Bakura quirked a brow and watched her shamelessly, eyes roving up and down her form as he absently stroked Shizuka's side. The girl cooed and nuzzled his chest, yawning. His fingers tightened against her skin, nearly bruising her, but she was too sleepy to notice.
"Sure, I'll be there soon. No problem. Bye!"
Anzu clicked her phone shut and stared at it, an unpleasant grin spreading across her features.
"What was that about?" Bakura asked.
"Honda wishes to speak to me." Anzu stretched and knelt down to collect her clothing. "He sounds worried. I am going to go over there and…bring him to his senses."
"What if he refuses to budge?"
Anzu shrugged lightly, bangs falling across her eyes. "Well, I cannot allow him to squeal to Yuugi."
Bakura grinned villainously, a harsh gleam in his eyes. "In that case, I'm going with you." He gently nudged Shizuka. "Wake up, little songbird. We've got work to do."
Shizuka blinked up at him blearily. "Mmm?" she asked sleepily, tongue darting out to moisten her lips.
His eyes darkened as he rolled over, capturing her small body beneath his. "How much time before we leave?" he growled, causing Shizuka to blush furiously and squirm. Not caring that Anzu was standing there watching, he caressed the girl's throat, hand dipping down to stroke over her chest. Shizuka moaned, closing her eyes, and his grin widened as he bent down and kissed her collarbone.
Anzu's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Twenty minutes," she said before sweeping out of the room.
Honda leaned forward in his armchair, hands clasped around a steaming mug of coffee. He stared at Anzu incredulously, his mouth working but no sound emerging. Anzu sat directly across from him, completely at her ease, legs crossed and arms resting in her lap. Bakura and Shizuka sat to either side of her.
"You're insane!" he blurted out, slamming his mug down on a nearby coffee table. Hot liquid splashed over the side, staining the light wood and burning his hand. He gasped and jerked his hand away, blowing on it gently. "You're insane," he repeated, shaking his head in surprise.
Anzu frowned.
"You won't get away with it," he continued, eyes narrowed.
"What makes you say that?"
"You…just won't."
Anzu's frown deepened.
"Does that mean you won't help us?"
Bakura tensed; Shizuka fidgeted uncomfortably, her eyes pleading with Honda to just agree with their plan.
Honda hesitated, glancing over at the kit and sighing.
"No, I won't help," he said finally. "I don't know how you convinced Otogi, but whatever you said to him won't work on me. Yuugi is my friend, and I won't betray him like that. You are blowing things completely out of proportion." He paused, and then continued on in a gentle tone. "Perhaps you should consider seeing a doctor…"
"A doctor!" Anzu shrieked out, quivering with anger. "How dare you suggest such a thing!"
"You're not well!" He slammed his hand down on the table, causing his cup to overturn and spill its contents onto the rug. "Look, Jounouchi is dead, and nothing is going to bring him back!"
Shizuka let out a quiet wail and buried her face in her hands. Bakura's eyes narrowed as he reached for his deck.
Anzu was deathly silent.
"You've lost Yuugi!" he continued on harshly, ignoring the sense of impending doom that had settled over the teenagers. "We've all lost him. Just get over it already!"
"No."
Anzu stood up, her eyes dark, hands clenched into shaking fists.
"I won't lose," she hissed at him. "I won't lose to her."
"You already have!"
"No!" A trembling hand rose and massaged her forehead, her eyes slightly glazed. "No."
Honda stood up and approached the volatile girl, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "It's okay, we're here for you…"
"Don't touch me!" she shrieked, shoving him away. "You're a traitor! You're letting her win, and allowing Jounouchi's death to be in vain! Jounouchi knew what she was before any of us, and look where it got him! You're doing nothing but spit on his grave by refusing to help! You're filthy, disgusting. Don't ever touch me."
She backed away till she was behind Bakura's chair, gently resting one of her hands on his shoulder. He was glaring at Honda, flipping through his deck ominously.
Honda paled.
"If you are not with us, you are against us." Anzu shifted over to Shizuka's chair, where the girl sat sobbing. She wrapped her arms around the smaller girl and drew her close, absently stroking her hair.
"Honda-san…"
"Gomen. Gomen, Shizuka-chan, but I just can't. I can't betray Yuugi."
Bakura rose from the chair fluidly, the Ring glowing an eerie, sickly blue. Darkness, thick and tangible, emanated from his Ring and pervaded the entire room; insane gibbering was heard just out of earshot, floating around on the edge of awareness, promising an eternity of pain and loneliness. "That's a shame," he drawled as he plucked out a card and held it up in front of him. "That's a damn shame."
As Honda screamed, Shizuka screamed as well, though Anzu kept the kit shielded from the sight. The boys' screams gradually died down, though Shizuka's cries did not abate. She was shaking violently, clutching at Anzu hard enough to draw blood with her nails, crying out the boys name in despair.
"No more!" she whimpered, collapsing at last against the dancer. "No more death…"
"It was necessary," Anzu said, brushing back Shizuka's bangs and kissing her tears away. "He would have gone to Yuugi, and it would have been ruined. You would have been all alone again…"
Bakura dispelled the darkness with a wave of his hand, the glow from his Ring subsiding. Blood mingled on the carpet with spilled coffee, and he stared at the curious sight for some time, crimson eyes contemplating the morbid pattern.
"B-but…Honda-san…"
"Sssh." Anzu placed a finger against the kit's lips. "Come on, we have to go."
Shizuka's body refused to move; her eyes stared into the distance blankly. Anzu swore softly and lifted the girl, half-carrying, half-dragging her towards the door. She paused and glanced over her shoulder at the white-haired spirit staring at the carpet.
"Are you coming?"
Bakura smiled suddenly, kneeling down beside Honda's body. "In a minute," he said softly, pulling out a knife. "I think we should send Yuugi a little present…"
He cackled maniacally as he worked, and Anzu could not stop herself from joining in.
