After All This: Chapter fourteen
Bakura frowned as he turned to catch Yami, before the other fell into the small river of water located along the path. "Are you okay Yami?"
Yami nodded, and turned to face Bakura. "How long does this river run through this trail?" He asked, as the once again started walking.
"It lead's you straight to the throne room." Bakura answered.
"Err, that's pointless." Ryou said, as he looked around confused. "If anyone was to learn that, they'd just follow the river to get to the throne room."
"You'd be foolish to follow this river to reach anywhere." Bakura told him, as he glanced back for a second. "What I should have said, is that this river runs through pretty much all of the tunnels down here."
"So there is a few that don't?" Danu said. "Do they lead straight to a location?"
"Yes, they do. The paths that don't have the river running through are called shortcuts. It takes you half the time to get anywhere because all you have to do is wake." Bakura said. "You can actually find locations of many shortcuts, there is one not too far up from here."
"Is that the one you were trying to find earlier?" Yugi asked.
Bakura nodded. "Yes, it leads straight to the throne room. Except, it does join up with this path, just off the fork."
"The fork?" Yami responded.
"This path splits up into four, and it's quite lucky that I've managed to remember which too go down as well." Bakura said, as he disappeared around a corner for a moment. Soon his voice carried back to the others. "Found the fork, now let's go and try to find that short... Oh Ra... Yam..."
"Bakura? Bakura!" Yami yelled, as he heard Bakura scream. "No!" Yami quickly raced to were he believed Bakura's voice had come from. He gasped at what he saw before him. Bakura was lying on the ground; his waist down was located in the river. On his forehead was a large cut, and blood was quickly coming from it, but the worst part of it all was who stood over the unconscious sprit. Yami clenched his fist, and let out a growl from the back of his throat. Standing over Bakura, his Bakura! Was none other then Marik.
"Hello Pharaoh." Marik smirked, as he watched the Pharaoh for a moment before bending down to look at Bakura. "Quite beautifully isn't he?" Marik bent down and took Bakura in his arms. With a frown he pulled the millennium ring away from the other sprit and placed it on the ground.
"Put him down Marik!" Yami shouted. The eye on his forehead was shining brightly as was his millennium puzzle.
"No, I quite like were he is right now." Marik smirked. Glancing behind Yami, he caught sight of the other three, who were with the Pharaoh. "Hey look, more!"
Yami glanced over his shoulder quickly. "Guys! Stay back!" Yami ordered. "There's no telling what this crazy guy will do."
"Hey! I'm offended by that!" Marik shouted. "No wait, I am crazy!" With that he laughed.
It was now that Yami realized something important. The millennium rod. Marik's millennium rod was no were near him. "Where is your millennium item Marik?"
"Wouldn't you like to know!" Marik sneered. Then he frowned, glancing down at the millennium ring around Bakura's neck he realized the ring would pick up on the rod any moment now. With a small curse and frown he pulled the millennium ring away from the other sprit and placed it on the ground, and then he stood in full height. "Malik! Now!"
"What the?" Yami stared at Marik confused, and then he felt that something had happen to Yugi. He turned around quickly but before he could see anything, he fell into darkness.
Marik laughed as he watched what took place before him. "You have full control of all their minds?" He asked.
Malik nodded, as he stepped out of the shadows, carrying the glowing millennium rod. "Now what do you wish for me to do, Marik?"
"Make them go down any of the path's here except this one." Marik said, as he pointed to the one to his left, as best as he could. "That leads them to the throne room and we don't really wish for them to go there."
"No we don't." Malik frowned. "You know what. I'll be back really soon, you continue on your way." With that, Malik turned and walked down the far tunnel. His four mind control slaves right behind him.
Marik smirked as he watched them go. "I've trained that boy well. Now hopefully our unwanted guest does not ruin anything." Hugging Bakura closer to his chest he turned and headed down to the tunnel he had pointed at and the continued on from were he came from.
Malik was slowly leading the group down the dark tunnel. The only light was the one created by the rod. Every once in a while he glanced back at the four with him. He didn't really wish to be doing this but in his eyes he had no other choice. He glanced ahead as he saw another fork in the tunnel and once again he took them down the far tunnel, which lead the group further and further from Bakura and Marik. Knowing that they were being followed, Malik kept his pace slow. Allowing the other to keep up.
An hour and several tunnels later, Malik finally hit a dead end. He glanced around and realized that this would do. Walking up behind each of the mind controlled slaves he quickly knocked them out and released them from his mind control. He glanced up at the entrance of the area and felt another standing there. With a sigh he stood up and walked close to the entrance. "You can come out now; I know that you are there Odion."
Soon the figure of a tall man walked into the room. The light of the millennium rod did indeed reveal that it was Odion who had been following them.
"Hello Odion." Malik sneered. "Are you having fun? I do hope so."
"Master Malik!" Odion shouted. "You cannot allow that evil thing control you like this! Do you see what you're doing! Can you not see?"
"I see very well what I'm doing." Malik frowned. "Everyone will get what they want. Everyone but my dear Yami of course."
Odion took a small step back as he watched his master's eyes. "Malik... I do not understand."
"Of course you don't." Malik said. "I allowed you to follow me for a reason; I would have thought you'd figure it out. It will be your job to get these people out of here, and to get the Pharaoh's lover back!"
Odion looked down at Malik, confusion danced along his features. "What? Why?"
Malik glanced down, and he clenched his fists. "I happen to love that bastard Yami of mine!" Malik growled. "No matter how hard I try, I still love him. I won't let someone of his past take him away from me." Malik glanced at Odion, his eyes burned of hatred. "Now you understand."
"Master..." Odion started, but quickly shut his mouth and nodded. "I understand, but I still think there could be a better way."
Malik smiled sadly and walked behind Odion. "Yes, maybe there could be, but for now..." Malik raised the rod and slammed it down, knocking Odion out. "This will have to do." With one last glance around the room, Malik turned and headed back.
It hadn't taken Marik too long to reach the throne room, he now stood near the throne and was busy locking Bakura too the chains attached to the throne, so when he woke up he couldn't leave. He placed shackles on both of Bakura's wrists, and decided to leave his feet free for now. Marik went to stand up, when he heard a groan come from the other boy.
Bakura let out a small moan of pain and went to bring his hands up to his head. Hearing the sound of chains rattling, his eyes shot open.
"Well hello, I was starting to think I hit you too hard and you wouldn't be up anytime soon." Marik said, as he put his hand through the white locks of the other.
Bakura growled and pulled away. "Don't touch me."
"Sorry, but your mine now. I'll do what I please with you." Marik said, as he reached down and pulled Bakura up to him. "It's been too long."
"Not long enough if you ask me." Bakura said, as he struggled to get out of Marik's grasp.
"Now Kura, that's not very nice." Marik said, in a mocking tone.
"What did you do to Yami and the others?" Bakura asked, as he looked around.
"I had someone take care of them. Don't worry about them any more, because you'll never see them again." Marik said a cruel smile formed his lips.
"You fucking bastard!" Bakura screamed, as he started to struggle even more. "Let me go! I'm not yours! I never was yours! Get the fucking hint! I'm with Yami now, and I love him."
"You love him!" Marik yelled, throwing Bakura roughly to the ground. "We all know that Pharaoh Yami had a thing for you five thousand years ago! What did you return those feelings? Is that why you allowed yourself to be locked in the millennium ring!"
Bakura looked up at the other fearfully, and moved into a sitting position. "Of course not, I was with you then. I didn't really allow myself to get locked up in the ring; I did fight for sometime before."
"Liar." Marik said, taking a step forward he struck Bakura across his face. "Listen to me! Your mine now and nobody can change that. I will use you in anyway I see fit! Got that? If not, I can easily have Yami killed before you."
"Please no!" Bakura begged.
"So, we have an agreement. You will stay here with me and put up no fight?" Marik asked, as he put a hand under Bakura's cheek.
"Y...yes." Bakura stuttered out, tears already coming down his face.
"Shh, love there is no need for tears." Marik said, as he wiped a few away. "Come on, get some sleep now."
Letting out a sob, Bakura allowed his head to be placed on Marik's lap and soon cried himself to sleep.