Big Things Come In Small Packages

Bakura walked down the streets under his umbrella. The rainy weather became more and more persistent, thunder and lightning boomed and colored the skies. He knew the weather would get worse at this rate.

"I think we need to talk Bakura." a familiar voice called out.

Bakura stopped in his place, already knowing who was right in front of him. "Well Yami, I thought you would come by." his lips curled into an evil grin.

"I heard you were going steady with Tea." Yami stood there gazing at Bakura. "What are you up to?"

"The question is not what am I up to but what you are up to. I know the true origin of the millennium bracelet she adorns on her wrist."

"I'm aware that hidden within that bracelet is the spirit of an evil sorceress who was one of my greatest enemies during Ancient Egypt. She tended to challenge my authority."

This sent Bakura laughing. "You only know the reason she wanted to kill you. You are pathetic pharaoh."

"You wanna settle this in a duel?" Yami glared at Bakura.

"Listen Yami, I have no time to play Goldfish, Crazy Eights and Old maid with you." he then brushed past him. "Come with me. We could settle this someplace else that we won't have to tango with mother nature."

Yami watched on as Bakura walked on, arching an eyebrow. What is he up to now? Is there something he knows about the sorceress that challenged me? He then followed Bakura until they reached his apartment. Yami noticed a package that laid right by the door. Picking it up, there was no address nor who it was from.

"Anybody told you it's not right to read other people's mail?" Bakura leaned against the wall of the living room.

"I should know." Yami held up the package. "I think Santa gave you an early gift."

Taking the package from Yami's hand, opening it only to reveal a video tape. There was no label on it. He retreated to the living room, switching on the TV.

"Who do you suppose that was from?" Yami watched Bakura placing the tape in the VCR.

"Don't know." Bakura replied. "Don't remember anything about ordering something." he then pressed the play button.

The images on the TV scrambled for a few seconds. Finally, a clear image came into view, leaving both Bakura and Yami stunned. Tea appeared to be sitting in a room that resembled a basement. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face tear streaked.

"Tea?" Yami couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Bakura, listen," said Tea in a shaky voice. "I…I don't think we should see each other anymore. Y-you see…I have come to realize that I no longer have the same feelings that I once had. It's just…well…I found someone else who is much better than…" she then seemed to be looking up at someone. "I can't do this. I..I can't…" she then looked back at the camera, screaming frantically. "Bakura please, help me!! He's got me!! I'm being held at…"

But before she could finish, the camera had toppled to the side. The screams had muffled and the camera appeared to be broken, causing the images on the screen to scramble once more.

Bakura clenched his fist tightly as he switched off the TV, standing up.

"Do you have any idea who kidnapped Tea?" Yami was quite shocked at what just happened.

Bakura remained silent as he made his way towards the window. "I have an idea on who could have done it."

"Who is it? I need to find her!" Yami was fighting the urge to strangle Bakura.

"I will not tell you." he looked back at Yami. "You shouldn't get involved seeing that this has nothing to do with you."

"I think you're too late on that." Yami cracked his knuckles. "As far as I'm concerned, the sorceress still has me to deal with."

"You have got to learn how to stay out of everyone's business once in a while. Just like when Marik wanted to rule the world, Indiana Yami comes swinging in."

"Hey you!" Yami clenched his fist. "In case the Shadow Realm forced you to lose your memory, Marik was after my millennium puzzle and my three Egyptian God Cards and he was making Tea and Joey into his puppets. If I had let him get away, you would still be a dead man!"

"You better watch yourself!" Bakura sneered. "I'm not saying we should join forces because we never will but hell is going to break loose once again."

"I heard you and Tea were going steady." Yami crossed his arms over his chest.

"I feel that there is a sole purpose for me binding myself with her and it all connects with her millennium bracelet." his gaze shifted towards Yami. "With or without the bracelet, you should have noticed that she is not who she appears to be. Yet you allow desire to control you."

"How much do you know about the sorceress? You were only a low-class thief."

Bakura chuckled to himself. "I am more than what you see me as. There are scribes, scrolls, and stone carvings of our past but unfortunately, they have disappeared long before Pegasus set out on his journey." he then made his way towards the door, picking up his umbrella.

"Where are you going?" Yami followed.

"I'm going to talk with little Anzu." he then headed out the door. "Do yourself a favor and go home Yami. You have no reason to butt in at this moment."

"Bakura," Yami tensed. "You don't know the sorceress. She's nothing more than a conniving witch who is just like Marik. She wanted to rule, take my place as pharaoh…"

"You obviously know nothing." Bakura then disappeared out of sight.

---

"Joey Wheeler," Tristan crossed his arms over his chest. "You've got some serious explaining to do."

"Yeah man," Duke leaned against the door, blocking the only escape Joey could make through. "How about explaining why you played dominoes by kicking me and Tristan down on the sidewalk?"

"Damn it Duke!" Joey glared at Duke. "I told you, for the last time, I don't know anything!"

"Really?" Tristan arched an eyebrow. "You know, ever since that party at Yugi's, you';ve gone from being strange to arrogant. Sometimes you remind me of Kaiba."

"Oh shut up." Joey sunk into the sofa, putting his feet up on the table.

"Joey," Yugi sat on a rocking chair. "I'm worried about you. And since you don't want to reveal anything else, I know someone who will make you."

"Yugi," Joey glared at his best friend. "You didn't."

Suddenly, a loud knock sounded off.

"Don't you even think about answering it." Joey stood up.

"You mean you know who it is?" Duke stepped to the side, opening the door. There, in the pouring rain, stood the pharaoh with a package in his hand.

"Yugi said you wanted to tell me something." Yami stepped inside, tossing Joey a package. "This came in for you."

Joey caught the package with ease. "Who is it from?" he then proceeded to open the box.

"I don't know." Yami shifted his gaze towards Duke and Tristan before turning his attention towards Yugi. "What did you wish to see me for?"

But before Yugi could answer, Joey yanked out a video tape. "A tape? I don't remember ordering any videos."

"Who is it from?" Tristan tried to find a return address on the package but there was none.

"I don't know." Joey switched on the TV, popping the tape in the VCR. The TV screen scrambled for a few minutes before a familiar person finally came into view.

"Serenity?!?" Everyone except Joey could not believe who they were seeing.

"Joey," Serenity's eyes gazed into the camera for a long time. "I know this is a little awkward for me to do but…" she paused for a moment, wiping her eye. "I don't think I'm going to be home for quite some time. You see," she took in a deep breath.

"What does your sister mean by not coming back?" Yami watched on.

"Marik, well, although I'm not under his control now, I had offered to stay with him for the sake of…" Suddenly, footsteps can be heard in the background. Serenity was startled before the camera blacked out.

"Did she just say what I think she just said?" Duke could hardly believe what he had heard.

"What's going on?" Yami gazed at Joey. "Why didn't you tell me that Marik came back?"

"You knew you were going to go crazy if you found out that artichoke head is still alive."

"It seems to me that you would rather have him alive than do anything to stop him from making Serenity his assassin." he then paused, still looking down at him. "I have the feeling you became Marik's bitch Joey Wheler."

Stunned silence filled the air. Duke and Tristan looked on, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Yugi shifted his gaze uncomfortably, unsure of what to say.

After minutes of tension, Joey stood up, staring down at Yami. He then shoved his hands in his pockets, heading out the door. "If being Marik's bitch means keeping my sister alive, then so be it."

"Wait a minute!" Yami glared at his friend. "Don't tell me you're forgetting what Marik did to you during the Battle City Finals. While you were knocked out cold thanks to his Winged Dragon of Ra, he went in your room, used his millennium rod and sent your mind straight to the Shadow Realm. You have no idea how your friends reacted. Your sister Serenity almost got herself checked into the mental hospital. Tristan and Duke went absolutely nuts. And because it happened during my duel with Kaiba, Yugi passed out! After all that hell Marik put you through, you would sink so low to actually owe him a favor?!?"

"I don't owe favors Yami." Joey twisted the doorknob. "And I am not under Marik's control. We just made a deal." he then left before Yami could say anything.

"That wasn't right at all." Tristan could not believe what happened. "What's happened to him? It's as if Marik and Joey created a pact with each other."

"You can't be serious!" Yugi looked out the window. "What is the world coming to? First Tea and Bakura are going out, Serenity falls for Marik, and now Joey goes from detesting Marik to actually being okay with the sick twisted things he's doing. AM I THE ONLY SANE PERSON HERE?!?"

---

"All I can ask is why Serenity." Tea was sitting on the kitchen chair alone with Serenity. It was already 8:30 in the evening and the two were alone. Marik, in the mean time, was upstairs taking a shower.

"Well," Serenity scratched her head. For the moment, she was her normal self rather than being under Marik's control. "I'm not sure if I could answer that question honestly. I mean, Marik's a real nice guy once you get to know him."

A NICE GUY?!?" Tea shrieked, nearly knocking her chair over. "Serenity, don't you remember what Marik did to your brother? Even after all the hell he put you through, you're still willing to do his every whim?"

"It doesn't matter if I'm under his control or not." Serenity calmly stood up. "Because the truth is…" she then leaned forward and whispered something in Tea's ear.

Tea's eyes widened with shock as Serenity revealed what needed to be said. "You can't be serious!"

"It's my choice Tea." Serenity took out a pair of handcuffs and shackled Tea's wrist onto the chair. She left the kitchen and made her way up the stairs, sauntering in the hallway. She leaned against the wall, her hand on her forehead. "What's happening to me?"

"So it hurts, doesn't it?" Marik stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He placed his hand on Serenity's shoulder.

"I just feel weird. One minute, I'm so concerned about Joey. The next minute…"

Marik pulled her close to him, taking out his millennium rod. "I know exactly how you feel." the millennium rod glowed as he pointed it towards her. "There you go, don't have to worry now all right?"

Suddenly, the sounds of glass interrupted their moment of silence. Growling slightly, Marik released his hold on Serenity, making his way down the stairs. As he reached the kitchen, his mood changed from temperamental to livid. The kitchen window had been busted open with a brick on the table. Jagged pieces of shattered glass laid on the floor. The handcuff had only it's half remained.

Marik noticed kanji writing on the table. Brushing the shattered glass off, his eyes scanned the characters. His mood worsened, slamming his fist on the table. "You stupid ass thief!! I will get you for this!!" He then knocked the table over.

(Uh oh, what do you think happened? Oh well, to be continued ladies and gentlemen)