Chapter XIV: A Dark Angel's Soul

(A/N: I am now using the lyrics from Darkness by Disturbed. Enjoy!)

Don't turn away
I pray you've heard
The words I've spoken

The light shown brightly into the girl's eyes, blinding her almost immediately. She felt lost and scared, yet warm and safe. A soft, warm force wrapped around her, taking over her. She felt the warmth wash over her and fill her body. She didn't know what was happening, or understood what was going on, but as she stepped out of the light, she felt her body had changed. She looked ahead as the light vanished, and saw the boy before her. His golden blond hair fell elegantly against his awed and surprised expression. His amethyst eyes looked on to her, amazement filled through them. The approached him, feeling the cold darkness surround her, but not entering her. She recognized the boy, and smiled sweetly at him.

"Malik, I promise I'll save you and the others," she spoke softly to him. He was silent for a moment, and then at once fell to his knees, bowing in grace to her.

"My other was right. You are the hoste to the powerful Horus. His light flows through your veins," he spoke. "Just like Seth's darkness flows through mine."

The approached Malik and tilted his head back so they were staring into each other's eyes. "Malik, you aren't evil, and though you may have darkness inside you, you're not the only one." Malik stood up in her presence and stared into her eyes, feeling the light surround them both. He did not understand why she was defending him. He was wrong, he was evil. His other was trying to destroy her and her friends.

"How can you be so sure I'm not evil?" Malik asked her.

"Because I can see it in your eyes. You were once lost and confused, and being just a child, we become naïve and trustful. We would follow any path, any lead. That's why you and I both hold darkness inside us. But it doesn't have to be that way," Rika spoke to him. "Only light can find light, it can't set it free."

"What does that even mean?" Malik yelled to the darkness. "I've heard it my whole life, yet I don't understand it."

"It means neither can live without the other. Malik, everyone holds darkness inside them. But where there is darkness there is also light. It just has to balance out. Inside me there is darkness and light, and also in you. Don't banish the darkness, just balance it," Rika spoke. Malik looked at her once more, mesmerized by her sudden beauty and elegance. She was so graceful and lovely. What was wrong with him?

"Rika…I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect you," Malik spoke. Another one of his regretful mistakes. But at that moment, Rika fell forward and her arms wrapped around him in a loving embrace. Her head fell lightly against his shoulder, and he was taken aback by this.

"Malik, don't apologize for things you can't control. As I've said before, I'll set you free," she spoke softly to him. Malik, who was stunned by her actions, returned the embrace, and even gave another. He pulled her away, and stared dreamingly into her eyes. He leaned forward and embraced her on the lips. She was taken aback by this, but fell through temptation and longing for compassion. As Malik pulled away, thoughts ran through her mind a mile a minute. She was far more than confused. Now she was dumbstruck by his actions, but no regrets flowed through her.

"Save our world, Rika…" Malik whispered to her, and she smiled. She knew what she had to do, but what she didn't know was that there was a sacrifice in the process.

Dare to believe
For one last time
Then I'll let the

"Die, Kaiba!" Yami no Malik yelled as he lunged at Kaiba, thrusting the black sword forward and swinging at Kaiba. Voices surrounding them called out in fear, and Kaiba shut his eyes, prepared to feel the painful thrust of the blade into him. But he never did feel any pain at all. In fact, at that moment, he felt like fire was burning in him. So warm, so comforting, so…bright. He opened his eyes and saw Yami no Malik staring down in surprise and fear as the black sword was being repelled away by something…gold? Kaiba looked closer and saw that it was a gold shield surrounding him. But where had it come from?

Yami no Malik groaned as he was thrown back onto the shore of the lake, his ing amethyst eyes staring angrily at Kaiba. "What the did you do!" he yelled at him, swinging the blade over his shoulder. Kaiba, though, wasn't staring at him, but behind him, where a blinding, gold light shown beautifully on the bank. In the gold light a shadow appeared, and from that shadow formed a being. Beautiful, pitch-black hair streaked with crimson, light flesh covering the curved and perfect body, the beautiful black dress turning white and gold in the light, and deep, endless silver eyes staring ahead, light burning brightly in the darkness. Everyone but Yami no Malik smiled in relief and pleasure, seeing that the real Rika, the pure, lovely Rika, the one they knew and loved, had resurfaced. She had conquered the darkness inside of her, and now she was going to banish Yami no Malik for good.

"Ah, so you've learned how to break free? How quaint, thanks to my pathetic other….What a weakling…" Yami no Malik spoke. He turned to her, and she glared at him evilly.

"Yami no Malik, you've threatened the lives of my friends, and mine. You've covered a beautiful place with the darkness and evil inside you, and though Seth's darkness runs through your veins, like Horus' light runs through mine, there's one difference between you and Seth. Seth had a loved one, someone who cared about his health, his life. You, Yami no Malik, have no one. You have no light inside you, and because of that no one will ever care for you. I was fool to think you could've been the one…" Rika's sentence drowned on, and Kaiba saw a few flecks of tears in her silver eyes. The tears of a heart break. Yami no Malik only laughed evilly and darkly.

"You pathetic wench! Did you honestly think I could've ever felt anything for you? You are nothing but a depressed and hallow shell for a powerful god. You are nothing to him, and you are nothing to me. For someone to actually care for me would be idiotic and pathetic," Yami no Malik laughed.

"Well, all of that's going to change. Tonight, you will be gone from this world, and the next will never take someone so evil and foul. You ed more than a dozen lives, and you've ruined thousands. Tonight, all of that will stop," Rika spoke elegantly to him. The gold light surrounding her was reflecting off the water rippling in the lake.

"Yes, I agree!" Yami no Malik yelled. He threw the sword down onto the bank and lunged at Rika. His hands wrapped tightly around her shoulders and she fell back hard into the water, her body colliding with the stones and rocks beneath her in the soil of the water.

"Rika!" the Pharaoh yelled, trying to reach the bank, along with Jonouchi and Bakura, but Yami no Malik turned slightly, and struck out a hand, a black shield covering the lake, separating them from the others. Then he turned back to his victim, her head submerged beneath the black surface of the water. The cold water rushed against her face, covering her, smothering her completely as he held her down, trying to drown her. He held her down forcefully and strongly, watching her struggle beneath his grasp. The water rushed into her body quickly, a powerful pull in her chest and then she couldn't take anymore.

"Release your anger, Rika…let the light shine through…."

Rika shut her eyes, and then an image came to her mind. An image of her mother, her father, Kaiba Seto, and Mokuba. All sitting together, waiting for her to come join them. She knew that this will never be a reality, but it was a dream that kept her alive. A dream that didn't come from her soul or mind, but from her heart. It was her light at the end of a dark tunnel. As she opened her eyes, a bright blinding light shone through the black waters and blinded Yami no Malik completely, sending him back into the black shield separating them. He let out a yell of pain as a beam of light hit him. Rika realized what power she was capable of. Now, there was still a promise she did not keep.

Rika let out a scream of pain, and blinding light filled the lake, covering it completely as her scream echoed in the trees.

"Rika!" Kaiba found a strength existing, enough for him to stand up, and he ran forward into the light as well as the Pharaoh. They knew Rika was in trouble, and they had to save her now.

Darkness cover me
Deny everything
Slowly walk away

"Oh, Rika…."

Malik felt something solid collide with his body, and then he couldn't open his eyes, something blinding him. A scream was echoing in his ears, and then it vanished completely. He felt cool wind brush against his face, and then he heard a light whistling against his ears softly. He felt the cool, calming air of the night wrap around him. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew something amazing had just happened. He finally opened his eyes and saw the treetops and fields beneath him. He was about to yell, for fear of falling, when he suddenly realize what was going on. He was flying. But how was that possible?

He looked up when he felt a hand wrap around his. He saw her, Rika, her beautiful hair wisped around her face like a veil, her silver eyes sparkling like diamonds in the moonlight. She smiled sweetly at him, and he smiled back. "Rika…you saved me. How can I ever thank you?" Malik spoke to her. She blushed lightly, and then drew closer to him.

"By this…" her lips were so cool, while her body was so warm, and he returned the kiss passionately. He couldn't believe what was happening. What was this strange feeling flowing through him? His heart was beating so fast, it caused sharp pains to arouse inside him. His head was spinning in the dark night, while he felt far away and lost in the night, watching what was happening. Watching the two of them embrace each other. But then something horrible happened.

Rika was pulled away from him and she let out a painful sigh as her head fell against his shoulder, her eyes closed. Malik felt them lower onto the ground, but then he felt how cold and stiff she had become. "Rika? Rika! Rika, please, wake up! Wake up!" He shook her body as they lowered, but she did not open her eyes. With each second she became colder and motionless. Soon, he had no choice, as they landed, the dark veil lifted, and he lifted her up into his arms. He began wading into the water to the shore, to meet up with her friends. The immediate greeting he gained were the looks of horror and fear and despair on her friends' faces. Mou Hitori no Yugi approached the bank, his eyes wide with fear. Kaiba Seto, being assisted by his little brother, reached them, and Mokuba began to tear in his eyes. Kaiba looked away in pain, and Jonouchi, Anzu, Honda, and Bakura were gathered around, either staring in fear, or crying. Mokuba's cries echoed off the treetops.

"NO! RIKA, YOU CAN'T DIE!"

To breathe again
On my own


FD: I'm sorry this chapter is so short. I've been somewhat busy, mainly because I've just started school again today and I've been tired a lot. But there is only three chapters left to do for this story, and then I'll work on a new story. I've decided to go with both, a prequel and a sequel, but I'll work on a sequel first, and then see where it takes the fic. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and if you like it, please review. Oh, and Happy Birthday, SD! Wish I got you a gift, but you know the reason why. PEACE!