After All This: Chapter sixteen
Pain flashed through Yami's head as his mind slowly came too. What happened before everything went blank flashed through his head. 'Bakura... Marik has him, I let Marik get Bakura. Even after I promised him that I'd never let Marik lay a hand on him. Yami slowly opened his eyes; tears quickly filled them and rolled down his cheek. Hearing the sound of another crying he glanced over to the left. Danu stood there talking to tall young man and at their feet laid Yugi who held Ryou in his arms. In Ryou's hands was Bakura's copy of the millennium ring, tears coming from Ryou were hitting the ring, making a dull sound. Yami pushed the pain aside and using his hand's he pushed himself up in a sitting position, a small moan escaped his lips. Bring the attention of Danu and the other man, who quickly made their way to his side.
"Yami, be careful." Danu said, as he knelt down and put a hand on Yami shoulder. "You took a serious knock to the head."
Yami nodded, and glanced at the two beside him. "Danu, can you help me stand up, please."
Nodding, Danu took his other hand and grabbed a hold of Yami's hand and then pulled the other up. "Do you feel any dizziness?"
Yami smiled slightly. "No, I'm fine. Thank you." Then he turned and glanced over at the stranger. The man had tan dark skin and green eyes, with a tattoo across his one side of the face. "Who are you?"
"My name is Odion, my Pharaoh." Odion said, with a small bow.
Yami looked surprised at the mention of his title. "How do you know my title?"
"Through my Master of course." Odion said. "He is a tomb keeper, a descendent from a family of tomb keepers."
"Tomb keeper?" Yami responded. "Tomb keeper of what?"
"Of your tomb my Pharaoh." Odion replied. "Once we reach my Master, he will tell you more."
"What is the name of your Master, Odion?" Yami asked.
"It's Malik; I believe you've met his dark half, Marik." Odion said.
"Marik." Yami growled. "He took Bakura."
"The ex-tomb robber?" Odion asked.
"Yes." Yami said, as he looked down his hands sadly.
"My orders are clear. I'm to lead you to the throne room and help you get your lover back." Odion said. "Now, we must hurry."
"I give you my thanks." Yami nodded.
"Thank me, when we get Bakura back." Odion said.
"Hmm." Yami said, as he made his way to Yugi and Ryou's side. Bending down to their level he placed a hand on Bakura's copy of the millennium ring, making Ryou look up.
"Yami?" Ryou sniffed out. "Bakura is in pain, I can feel it."
"Well get him back Ryou, don't worry." Yami said.
Ryou smiled sadly and nodded. "Well then, maybe we should get moving then."
"Yes we should." Yami said, as he helped the two Hikari's stand up. Once the three were standing, they were joined by Danu and Odion.
"So, are we all ready to go?" Odion asked.
"Hell yeah!" Ryou said. "Now let's go and get my Yami back."
Odion smiled at him. "Follow me, It might take awhile. I have to try and remember the way back to where you minds were taken over and controlled."
Yami frowned slightly. "Marik wasn't the one who took over our minds. He stood before me, Bakura in his arms. There was no way that he could have done it. Wait, he mentioned Malik."
Odion frowned, and then turned and head out of the tunnel. "That is correct. Now isn't the time to talk about it."
Shaking his head, Yami quickly followed Odion out of the small room. Yugi, Ryou and Danu right behind them.
Ryou shivered slightly, they had already been walking in the deep darkness for over an hour, with only the millennium puzzle as light. He felt Yugi squeeze his hand, and he took no time to squeeze back.
Yugi sent Ryou a small smile, when the other boy glanced at him. Since they had started walking, nobody had spoken a word and the only sound heard was the one created by the river. It was seriously bugging him, so with a small cough he interrupted the silence and began to speak. "So, uhh Odion. Do you know how much farther we have to go?"
Odion glanced back, and offered a smile to the two younger boys of the group. "Don't worry; another hour and we will be back to where you left off. I know you two fear the darkness. Malik does too; I believe that is why he allowed his Yami such control as he did."
"Oh." Ryou said. "You mean, Marik didn't always just go and take over Malik's body?"
"No." Odion said, as he shook his head. "Marik only forced my Master into his soul room on two accounts that I know of."
"Do you mind me asking when?" Yugi asked.
"Of course not." Odion said. "The first time that it happened, was the day we met Marik's dark side. You see, as a tomb keeper, you're forced to live your life underground. So one day, Isis; Malik's older sister took Malik to see the outside world, while I covered for them. Problem was, there was an alarm neither one of us knew off. Malik's father found out and beat me, Malik and his sister came home and found out what had happen. Marik then took over the body and sent Malik's father to the shadow realm."
"Oh! That's terrible!" Ryou gasped, as he glanced back at his own father. "Did Malik even realize that Marik had done this?"
"No." Odion said, with a shake of his head. "The next time it happened wasn't that long ago, it was the day before you visited the palace."
Yami's eyes went wide and he was frozen in his spot. "That... that was the night of my nightmare! I'm willing to bet that Marik had been there that night!"
"Oh man, I hope not." Yugi said, as he shivered slightly. "The thought of someone walking around and watching you at night in your room, with out your knowledge is freaky."
Everyone mumbled a small agreement, and a lap of silence fell over the group once more. So the group continued on, each with a hope that they weren't too late.