(As far as I know, I will be trying to updating stories never updated for so long. Please see profile to see what stories are on hold for now. Thank you. --Kris)

Confrontation:

The images of Tea falling and screaming strained Bakura's mind. Falling to his knees on the floor with his hands on his head, he screamed Tea's name over and over again. Gritting his teeth, he tried to shut out the images that have plagued his mind.

It's a dream, right? he thought to himself. Tea can't really be in danger…can she?

"What you saw was not a dream." Shadi approached Bakura, appearing from the shadows.

"Explain yourself Shadi!" Bakura scowled. "Did you use your stupid key to scramble my mind?"

"The images that you have seen in your mind…" Shadi's voice trailed off.

"Yeah? So what about it?"

Closing his eyes, Shadi slowly approached Bakura, looking down at him. "Tea's heart and soul is no long what it used to be."

"What does that supposed to mean?" Bakura stood up. "What have you done to Tea, Shadi?"

"It's more along the lines of Mari's little chat with Tea."

"You saw it, didn't you?" he proceeded to shake Shadi with all his might. "What happened to her?"

"I was afraid you would ask that." Shadi's eyes shifted to the floor. "I did not want to tell or show you." With his hands, he unclasped the chain that held his millennium key before handing it to Bakura. "If you gaze into my mind, the end result will leave your mind numbing."

"And I'm supposed to care because…"

"Something you might find surprising was the cause of her falling. Sad to say that I have seen it with my own eyes." Closing his eyes, he waited for Bakura to work the key. But after a minute, he opened one eye, then the other, looking up at the thief. What's wrong?"

"Shadi, you and I both know that only you and Yami could wield the millennium key very well. I am, after all, a thief of items…well…in a way."

"Very well," standing up, Shadi made his way towards the window, gazing at the rainy atmosphere. "I will tell you exactly what I saw in Tea's min." he then went on to tell him about the accusations and manipulations Mari planted in Tea's heart. The more he told, the more Bakura became livid. Shadi, however, left off the part about Mari creating an illusion of Bakura, the actual cause of Tea's submission.

However, Bakura noticed Shadi's expression changing. "You said everything you saw. I sense you're holding something back."

"I'm telling you everything." Shadi's voice tensed.

Grabbing Shadi by the shoulders, with all his might, Bakura hurled Shadi onto the wall. He then grabbed Shadi's robe by the neck, glaring at him. "Listen to me Shadi. I have a girl who's starting to become a total bitch and I don't need you fucking up my hour as has it been already."

Calmly, as usual, Shadi straightened himself up. His eyes bored onto Bakura's before he finally spoke. "You really want to know what else happened?"

"You're not going to tell me anyway." Bakura hissed.

"As you wish. But I won't tell you." Opening his hand, a dark sphere emerged from his hand before making a swift motion. As Bakura looked on, the images of Tea and Mari materialized before his eyes. When the image of himself appeared, there was no doubt of trace of shock washing over his face.

"She…she did this?"

"I was unable to get through her." Shadi closed his eyes. Right after Tea had fallen into the pits of hell, he made the images disappear. "Even calling out to her was useless."

"That whench used me to get her way. She had submitted to the dark then and now ever since Ancient Egypt." Bakura clenched his fist. "Where is she?"

"Unfortunately," Shadi shifted his attention to the window. "After confronting her, she disappeared. There's no telling where she could have gone off to."

"That's a lie Shadi! You for some reason have the ability to see in the future."

"I know. Doesn't it suck?" he took a step forward, placing the millennium key around his neck. "Listen to me Bakura. You won't like to hear this as much as me telling you but you and the pharaoh will have to work together to seal Mari and bring back Tea. There is a chance after all."

"Now you just hold it right there," Bakura obviously didn't like the idea. "Why must I get Yami involved? We aren't in the same league after all."

"Because the pharaoh is the only one capable of sealing Mari's soul back in the bracelet. You, on the other hand, are capable of waking up Tea. Otherwise, she would be smothered in her own darkness forever." he then turned, walking in the darkness. "Think about it."

(-)

Rishid's eyes opened wide as id he had awaken from a nightmare. "Come out! I know you're hiding around here somewhere!"

"Rishid?" Ishizu slowly sat up on her bed, looking up at Rishid who slept above the top bunk. "What's wrong?"

"Huh?" Rishid looked over, seeing Ishizu. "Oh, it's nothing." Sliding off the bed, he made his way out of the room, closing the door from behind. All of a sudden, his head throbbed violently. Groaning, he fell to his knees, holding his head.

"That's right Rishid." a soft voice called out to him. "Always falling to your knees, just like how you were for Marik." At that point, Mari stood before him, crossing her arms over her chest. "A pity, brother, you never used to bow down to anyone."

"How many lives have you already taken already?" Rishid struggled to his feet to stand up.

"A good number, I suppose." Mari leaned against the wall. "Especially that whench Tea. God, she was so annoying but I guess I took care of that."

"We already have one evil man running loose in Domino City. Think of it this way…"

But Mari cut Shadi off. "Ah yes, my late mentor Marik. I gotta admit, I enjoyed every bit of the Battle City tournament, especially his matches with Joey and Mai. But of course, what I enjoyed the most was what Yami did after his match with Bakura."

"I don't give a rat's ass on what the pharoah did after his match or anything!" Rishid hissed.

"Oh?" she tilted her head to the side. "Others will find out eventually but since we share the same bloodline, I think I should share with you." Making her way towards him, she leaned against him with her lips brushing against Rishid's ear. She began to whisper something in his ear and the more she told, the more Rishid's expression went to a state of shock.

"He did that?" he stuttered. "Did that really happen?"

Mari nodded slowly, smirking. "Rishid, I wouldn't lie to you. You're my brother whether it be back at ancient Egypt or even now. But right now, I want you to do me a favor."

All of a sudden, Ishizu opened the door, staring down at Mari. "Stop this insanity Mari! I know exactly what you are planning to do!"

"Oh hello Ishizu." Mari smiled innocently. "It's nice to see you again."

"Don't act so innocent," Ishizu clenched her fist, raising it towards Mari. "Whatever you're planning to do tonight, I won't let it happen!"

"I shouldn't be surprised. I know about the millennium necklace and its ability to see within the future. I suppose your piece of jewelry allowed you to see what will happen." Mari released a laugh. She then shifted her gaze towards Rishid fro a moment or so before sending him to the wall.

"Rishid!" Ishizu stumbled towards Rishid, holding him. "Rishid are you all right?"

"He's not the Rishid that you know anymore." Mari stood a few feet away from the two. "At least for now."

"What did you do to him?" Ishizu glared at the one who resembled Tea. When Mari didn't answer, Rishid's eyes lighted up. "Rishid, are you all right?"

Slowly, Rishid stood up, looking down at Ishizu. His expression remained blank as the two stared on.

"Rishid?" IShizu stood up, reaching for his arm. "Rishid? What's with that look on your face?"

All of a sudden, with one swift motion, Rishid shoved Ishizu off of him, causing her to stumble to the floor. At that point, Ishizu realized the state of mind Rishid was in. Getting up, her eyes shifted towards Mari with a hateful look plastered on her face.

"Damn you Mari!" reaching inside her sheath, Ishizu took out a dagger . "I have to kill you before you cause more trouble!" She then charged towards Mari.

Smirking, Mari's hand shot out. "Fool. You think you can kill me?" Muttering something under her breath, she sent Ishizu flying to the wall, pinning her wrists and ankles. With one hand, she proceeded to flip it over. To this, as if on a spinning table, Ishizu was flipped over upside down.

"Child!" Ishizu struggled against the clear bondage. "I demand you put me down this instant!" she shifted her gaze towards Rishid. "Rishid! Rishid wake up! Don't just stand there!"

"I'm afraid he doesn't know you anymore." Mari continued smiling. "If you know well, Rishid is my brother who died at an age he wasn't ready for." Twirling her index finger a few times, a vine shot down from the ceiling, wrapping and binding Ishizu's ankles together.

Eyes widening, Ishizu stared at the vines. As they bound her ankles, she began to dangle in the air. "What…what in the world?"

"Just because you hold a millennium item does not mean it will protect you." Laughing softly, she twirled her finger once again. Suddenly, another vine shot out from the floor, binding Ishizu's wrists. "After all, this bracelet is not a millennium item out of the seven created. The jewelry is what the damn pharaoh sealed my soul in after causing a few things in the long run."

"The pharaoh and Bakura will get their revenge Mari!" Ishizu struggled against her bondage. "You can guarantee that!"

"I will make everyone see true hell, one by one. Not the Shadow Realm Bakura and Marik have been sending their pathetic victims to." Cupping her hand under Ishizu's chin, she inched her face close to hers. "You're lucky Ishizu," and as Mari spoke, the atmosphere around them changed. Colors of red and black swirled into a haunting mix. Leafless trees with roots grew. Within each branch hung what appeared to be large cocoons. Some of them swayed back and forth weakly. "Many people are worthy to see this sort of hell. However, not everyone is worthy of receiving the purest of torture like you." Snapping her fingers twice, the vines began to wrap around Ishizu slowly, tightly.

As the vines wrapped around her, Ishizu noticed a familiar young girl wandering aimlessly in the forests, her hands out and open as if she were blind, in search of something. "Isn't that…"

Mari glanced over her shoulder, looking at the girl. "Oh her? The pharaoh calls her Mai. She appeared to be his comrade and you should know the rest of the story." Turning around, she made her way towards Rishid. "So sorry Ishizu but I must be going. I hope you feel comfortable in the confinements of your new home."

And at that, the vines covered Ishizu's entire body. A vine shot into her mouth, a few of the t horns piercing the pink flesh on the sides of her mouth as well as the upper part of her gums.

Silence filled the air as Mari watched the vines swallow Ishizu whole. "Poor Ishizu. You were so nice to me but yet again, you were in the way of what I had intended to do. Sweet dreams." With Rishid following behind, the two disappeared from the darkness Mari created.

(-)

Hard rain continued to pound onto the streets of Domino as Bakura walked along the wet roads. As he approached the bridge, he noticed Yami standing in the pouring rain, droplets of water soaked every surface of his body. He appeared to be leaning on the railing.

Shadi's words repeated in Bakura's head. As far as anything goes, he wasn't thrilled with the idea of forming an alliance of any form with Yami. He hated the pharaoh and the pharaoh hated him. That's how it is and always had. Joining forces with Yami would destroy the balance carried in the world of Domino already.

But if things were to carry the way they are, Mari would have the advantage of destroying anyone in her path. And Tea…the slightest image of her made Bakura cringe. He knew from what Shadi had shown to him that within each passing second, Tea's heart fell deeper into the darkness. Finally sighing with dismay, he made his way towards Yami, picking up the umbrella from the road and held it over him.

Yami looked up at Bakura, gently taking the umbrella back. "Ever since the bracelet came along, things have been happening left to right. How Mari seems to be getting powerful without hurting anyone is in question. As far as I'm concerned, I don't sense any evil from Marik."

"I guess your senses haven't been as active." Bakura sat on the bridge railing. "Mari has already claimed Yugi's grandpa, Mai, and also…" he paused, unsure of whether to tell him of Tea's fall.

"That whench kidnapped Yugi too!" Yami slammed his fist on the railing. "If she wants to kill me, why the hell is she after Yugi?"

"There could be two possible reasons." Bakura's arms crossed over his chest. "She's either trying to provoke you or she has mistaken Yugi for you." he kept his head down, staring at his reflection that formed in the puddle.

All was silent as the two stood their ground. Finally, Yami spoke, though not particularly looking at Bakura. "Bakura, did you and Tea get into some sort of fight?"

Just hearing Tea's name shook Bakura. Clenching his fist tightly, the images that Shadi showed him earlier swarmed into his head like locusts in a cornfield. "Not that I know of."

"It's just that earlier in the night, Tea wandered around here looking like she saw one of her friends in an accident. All of a sudden, she kept screaming that it was her fault Yugi was kidnapped. I kept telling her that it wasn't, that Mari was responsible, but she just ran off." he rested his head on his hand. "Something tells me there's something horrible that has taken place to one of my closest friends."

Bakura sighed heavily, feeling the rain soaking his hair and clothes. "Yami, I would hate this as much as you do but in order to end this whole thing, You and I have to," he shuddered at the next words that came out of his mouth. "form an alliance."

"I guess there is no choice." Yami shook his head. "Mari is capable of destroying everyone in her path."

"Especially Tea." Bakura muttered.

Upon hearing this, Yami whirled his gaze towards the master theif. "You can't mean…"

Nodding in reply, Bakura continued on. "I'm not exactly sure what happened but Mari turned Tea's emotions against her about certain things. Shadi had seen the whole thing by entering her mind but was unable to penetrate into her soul. Somewhere along the way, however, Mari went to the greatest lengths to destroy Tea, causing her own soul and heart to fall into the darkness."

"So Mari sent Tea in to the dark?" Yami was much in a state of shock, trying to make sense of things. "That would mean she took control of Tea's body!"

"Exactly the point I was going for." With a long pause, his hands reached out to his soaked hair, twisting, squeezing the water out. "Look Yami, I do not ask this because I need your help nor have I wanted to work things out, call a truce and be friends, whatever. But you and I are capable of sealing Mari's heart."

"Leave that to Marik, the former mentor who made her to what she has become." Yami returned his gaze to the view from the bridge.

Bakura gave a short laugh. "You could put it that way, but we both know Marik and his pride. Why else do you think he was taking it easy on your friends recently?"

"I'm not aware of what Marik's agendas are but I was quite surprised that he's not bringing hell in every shape and form. During Kaiba's little tournament, Marik's always sending his gurus left to right."

"In case you've already forgotten, Marik, whether it be the trouble maker or the hell raiser, only cares about himself so having Mari reek havoc kinda hurts his pride." he then got off of the railing. "The two, after all, are equally matched in power. No questions asked. But the only flaw to having Marik take care of this alone is that if Mari were to be destroyed," his eyes glared down at the pharaoh. "Tea will die along with her."

(-)

To be continued.