Chapter 17: Akari's Journey

"Has anyone seen Akari?" Yugi asked anxiously as Mai, Serenity, Joey, Duke, Tristan, Seto, and Mokuba met up again at the end of the day. "We lost her a while ago and haven't been able to find her."

"The only thing we could find was this note." Tea said as she handed Kaiba the note, which read:

Dearest friends,

I'm afraid I must leave you now to save the one I love before it's too late. I'm sorry I left so suddenly, but during my vision I was warned that Bakura is in danger of disappearing from this world forever. Please don't come after me, I couldn't bear it if any of you got hurt because of me.

I will always remember you,

Akari

Yugi was silent for a moment as he looked at each of his friends. "We've gotta go after her."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" the Dark Magician asked Akari as she faced him wearing a pale green knee-length dress with the curved sword sheathed against her back.

"I have no other choice if Bakura is to live again…" Akari said sadly as she stood at the edge of a circular stone-hemmed pool and stared at the peaceful black water within it. Then she closed her eyes as she let herself fall forward into the inky darkness.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb

Without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

Don't worry my love, I'll be there soon… Akari thought to herself as she fell past the black ghostly arms that clawed at her, causing her to wince slightly.

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become

For as long as I can remember no one ever really believed in me…and then I met Yugi and his friends. They gave me the strength and courage I needed to believe in myself. Without your help, I never would have made it this far. Akari thought as she continued to fall, not even caring about the gashes on her arms and legs.

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

Meanwhile in the depths of the Shadow Realm, Yami Bakura watched over Bakura as he lay huddled in a ball on the ground. They would begin attacking him again soon and he could do nothing for him. He bowed his head silently as he remembered the day they first came there.

Flashback

"Where am I?" Bakura asked panicked as he took in his new surroundings with a terrified expression on his face.

"You're in the Shadow Realm now…" Yami Bakura said as he walked towards him from the shadows. "With me, for the rest of eternity."

"You're the one who did this?" Bakura asked as he remembered all the times he'd blacked out and woken up without a memory of what happened. "Get away from me!"

"You can't run from me forever…" Yami Bakura said as a slight smile appeared on his face. "I am you, you know."

"You're nothing like me! And I will never be like you!" Bakura spat as his anger raged within him with the power of a mighty raging sea. "I'm here because of you! I HATE YOU!"

End Flashback

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become

It would take a miracle to save him now…even if she did come… Yami Bakura thought darkly to himself then he sensed a powerful energy coming towards them.

Bring me to life
Bring me to life

So the young angel decided to come after all… he thought as he looked up and watched her descent with a wry smile on his face. she must really care for him.

Frozen inside without your touch

Without your love darling

Only you are the life among the dead

Akari bit her lip in determination as the ghostly arms turned into scythes and began attacking her relentlessly. "Bakura I'm coming for you! Please just hang on for a little while longer!"

All this time I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought without a voice without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life

Suddenly a bright flash of silver light flickered in the cold darkness then disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. But it was all Akari needed and she smiled as she focused on where the light had appeared and began to quicken her descent.

Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become

Can you feel that Bakura? Yami Bakura wondered as he glanced down at his other side. Akari is coming to save you. Although she may soon be the one who needs saving. I only hope she survives long enough to even see you…

Bring me to life…
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
Bring me to life…

Author's Note: "Wake me Up" is by Evanessence