Bakura and Akia were now alone in his room. The girl started to feel a little nervous, considering her feelings for him. She also wasn't sure if it was Bakura or the Spirit of the Ring that was in control right now.

"How's your injury?"

She went up to him and looked at his bandaged arm. There was still blood peeking through.

Bakura: "It's a bit better. I'll manage. More importantly, did that bastard touch you?"

Akia raised her eyebrows at the comment. She knew Bakura would never say those things.

"You took over again? Since when?"

Bakura chuckled.

Bakura: "Since getting injured back during the prelims. I'm surprised I got away with it for so long."

Akia frowned but then sighed in defeat. She sat down on one of the chairs there and looked up at Bakura.

"I guess it's no wonder you made it so quickly into the finals. What's your goal here?"

Bakura went and joined her, sitting on the other chair across the small dining table.

Bakura: "Ah, no matter how much I'm fond of you, that's something for me to know and for you to maybe find out later."

"Great, another guy keeping secrets from me..."

Bakura: "Is the other guy the asshole you were talking to outside?"

Akia noticed the frown forming on Bakura's face.

"Yeah, the guy that saved you."

The Evil Spirit of the Ring loudly laughed. That caught Akia completely off guard, making her jump a little in her seat.

"Did I say something funny?"

Bakura stopped laughing and turned his head to her. He them got up and walked towards Akia. He stopped right in front of her, took her hand and pulled her up to him, embracing her tightly. Akia blushed but did not fight it.

Bakura: "Let's stop talking about him. I don't like the way he looks at you. I'm the only one allowed to look at you that way."

As he said that, he pulled away from the hug and kissed her before she had any time to react. Akia didn't know what to do. The kiss felt so good, yet so wrong. She wished it was Ryou, but then she wished it was Marik. She also felt the undeniable attraction to the Spirit of the Ring, but she didn't know if it was because of her feelings towards Bakura or if she actually had feelings for the Ring's inhabitant. She decided to just let herself go and be swept away, tired of resisting. Maybe this was what she needed to forget Marik.

The Spirit of the Ring finally felt her reciprocating the kiss. It gave him such a rush that he became even bolder. He started nibbling at her lips and licking them, not letting up until Akia gave in and parted her lips for him. They explored each other's mouths, interlacing their tongues in a wild dance. The one in control of Bakura's body started leading Akia backwards towards his bed where he pushed her on it and towered over her, breaking the kiss to look at her. The look in his eyes was so filled with desire and hunger that it gave Akia butterflies in her stomach. She wanted Ryou so bad. When she realized that, she knew she couldn't go any further with the other Bakura.

"Can we stop...?"

Bakura blinked a few times, surprised by her statement.

Bakura: "Why? Doesn't it feel good?"

"It does, but it doesn't feel right. You're using Ryou's body. What if he doesn't want to do this?"

Bakura: "Oh trust me, he does."

Bakura then proceeded eagerly kissing her, starting to feel his pants tighten in excitement and anticipation of what he wanted to do next. To his dismay, however, Akia resisted and pushed him away. He started to lose patience.

Bakura: "What now?"

Akia's whole being was rejecting this. Her body was getting invaded once more with thoughts of Marik.

"This wouldn't be fair to you or to Ryou in my current state! I can't get Marik out of my head. I'm so sorry. I wish I could do something about it..."

Akia was in tears at her conflicting emotions. Bakura clicked his tongue in annoyance. He got up and walked away, not even glancing her way.

Bakura: "Get out."

"Ryou..."

Bakura: "Get. Out."

At his menacing tone, Akia quickly got up and headed out of Bakura's room, tears flowing down her cheeks. She needed air. She was starting to have difficulty breathing. She was so scared of losing Bakura due to these irrational feelings she was having. She didn't know how it would be with the real Ryou. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him. Thankfully it was only the Spirit of the Ring that she rejected, who definitely did not leave her indifferent, but it was way better to hurt him than to hurt Ryou in this way. She felt extremely trapped by this whole inescapable destiny. As she was walking around frantically, she finally found the elevator. Akia took it and rode it all the way up to the roof. Spotting her from further down the corridor, Marik was concerned at her demeanour. He decided, against his better judgment, to follow her and make sure that she was fine.

When Akia made it out on the roof of the blimp, she sharply inhaled the air around her. It was as if she had just escaped from being drowned in a sea of her panic. Calming down slowly and wiping away her tears, she did not notice the man who was getting closer to her, concern in his eyes.

Marik saw Akia's shaking figure and couldn't help but go and try to comfort her. He put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump a little.

Marik: "Don't worry, it's just me..."

Hearing his voice, a wave of relief washed over Akia, even though he was the cause of all her problems. She turned around and, upon seeing his face, she couldn't control her tears once more. Seeing her in such a state tore at Marik's heart and he pulled her into a tight comforting hug. She wrapped her arms around his back, tightening the hug. They both held onto each other like their lives depended on it.

"Why does it have to be this way? Can't we just be happy together? I just want you... All I want is to be with you! I can't even love freely because we were destined to be together due to some past life. And yet, I want to actually fulfill this destiny because this is the safest and happiest I've ever felt in someone's arms..."

Akia said in between sobs. Marik realized that she had known that it was him. Tears stung his eyes, but he tried to hold them back.

Marik: "I'm sorry. For everything. I wish it could be different, but my hate is immeasurable. My heart longs for you every night and every day and its incomprehensible. Being with you right now doesn't even feel real."

When Akia calmed down, Marik pulled away and lowered his head to be at her eye level. He then softly wiped away her tears, while looking at every detail of her face, trying to burn it into his memory.

Marik: "You knew who I was this whole time?"

He whispered to her. Akia shook her head.

"I didn't know for sure until I saw Rishid. Then I had this feeling in my gut every time I saw you and it just kept growing. I just knew it was you when I looked into your eyes and when I heard your voice. When you came here after me because you were worried... I knew for sure."

Marik brushed his hand into Akia's hair, soothing her.

Marik: "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Ishizu said that it would put you in danger..."

Marik looked down to the floor, knowing what she was talking about. It was good, though, that it kept his identity hidden from the others. He looked back at Akia, wondering why she was so distraught earlier.

Marik: "Do you want to tell me about what happened?"

Akia started fidgeting with her hands. Marik took them both in his, noting how cold and how small in his own hands they were. He brought them up to his heart and squeezed them gently. This seemed to comfort Akia enough for her to feel like she was safe in sharing what had happened.

"When Ryou took me to his room, his character changed. I realized that it was actually the Evil Spirit of the Ring who was in control. He then kissed me and I was okay with it, thinking it would be a good way to... forget you."

When she said that, she looked up at him and, to her surprise, he just brought his forehead to hers and nodded in reassurance. She recounted the rest, not breaking eye contact with Marik.

"But then... he wanted to go further. I was about to go along with it but I realized that it wasn't right since he was in control of Ryou's body. And also... I couldn't stop thinking about you. Thankfully, he ended up letting me go, but... he was so hurt. I feel so trapped and confused."

Marik brushed her cheek with his fingers.

Marik: "I've felt trapped my whole life. That's why, I think we should... keep our distances. If things go according to my plan, you will end up hating me anyway and then you might be free of this destiny."

He let go of her and took a step back.

Marik: "It's over, Akia. I'm choosing my revenge over you. I will kill your brother and destroy the Pharaoh's soul."

His eyes were ice cold. It made him seem like a completely different person than the one who was so gentle with her. Akia couldn't say anything else. She felt empty. She closed her eyes, not wanting to look at Marik as he left. She then decided to go back to her room to prepare for the battles ahead, determined to put an end to Marik's scheme herself and protect her brother from him.