A/N : Hello! Sorry for the delay... have been struggling to write this, but inspiration hit me this fine evening. So... In this Chapter I wanted things to start moving on with the idea's I have in mind for this story. I really hope I'm doing alright with this story. I've never wrote a story like this before, with the main guy a villain. any way, as ever if you have any thoughts, please don't hesitate to let me know. Please enjoy! Xx

Disclaimer : I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter 9

Hina slowly opened her eyes as the sleep that had overcome her wore off. Despite herself she felt better than she ever had before after a sleep. She felt comfortable and refreshed, her body didn't ach surprisingly. As soon as she realised this, she felt the soft surface beneath her and gasped sitting up straight. The room was in darkness but still left Hina feeling disorientated. Where was she? She felt panic rising up as she realised she hadn't a clue where she'd been sleeping. She forced herself to calm down and as she did, the memories came slowly back to her. She'd been summoned to Bakura's room. He'd forced her to take a bath before he'd attempted to torture her in the shadows. After that it became a little blurry. Hina swung her legs off the bed and stood up. She stretched out and yawned. How long had she been asleep for? She felt great, but now what? Should she wait here or just sneak off? What would she get less punishment for? She was still pondering over the situation when a voice scared her out of her dilemma.

"Awake, I see. About time." She recognised that voice all too easily, the way it both terrified and angered her and the way it sent shivers down her spine along with fire rushing through her veins as blood boiled. The voice came from behind her, back on the bed. Trying to hide her trembling hands Hina turned around and glared towards the owner of the voice. A small lamp was switched on, illuminating the room. Hina resisted the urge to glance around the room and identify where she was. That voice told her the answer without speaking it. The King, Bakura, was laid in the bed. She'd been stupid not to feel another person on the thing with her, but she'd been so shocked to find herself in a comfortable bed Hina had found it hard to concentrate on much else. He shifted under the covers and smirked at her. Hina gulped. He'd slept next to her? Why? Why hadn't he just… kicked her awake or something? Or at least have had her taken back to her tiny stone cell. Why had he just let her sleep?

"Why didn't you wake me?" She demanded scowling at the man.

"You really are way too feisty for your own good." Bakura hissed dangerously. Hina didn't respond other than to glower at the man. He rolled his eyes.

"I couldn't be bothered." He replied harshly. Hina blinked, surprised by his answer. She would have expected him to jump at the chance to cause her more pain.

"But…But I… I slept in your bed?" She asked incredulously sounding genuinely surprised.

"Would you have preferred me to harm you because I can make up for it right now," He growled.

"No, incidentally I don't like getting hurt," Hina spoke darkly, crossing her arms. Bakura didn't reply other than to smirk at her. He pushed back the bed covers and stood up, revealing a bare pale chest. Hina frowned as he walked round the bed. He stopped before her and glared down into her face, but his glare was softer than Hina was used to. He grabbed her by the hair, wrapping his fist into the black locks and, using it as leverage, pulled her closer. Hina gritted her teeth against the sharp pain in her scalp.

"Again with the hair!" She growled through gritted teeth. He sneered at her.

"Only with you, the length makes it very effective," He hissed, his free hand gripping her arm. He examined her face curiously. Even now, when she was helpless against him she still remained determined and defiant. Despite his best efforts, he was seeing less fear in her expressions as the days went by. Foolish girl, pathetic brat, why was she like this? Without realising it, his fingers had begun to relax, easing the tension on her scalp and her fore arm. He only realised the change in his hold upon her as his hand that had previously been biting into her skin had run down the length of her arm and had curled around her hand. He growled feeling the beating of his heart increase. What was wrong with him? He growled again and threw the perplexed girl almost gently away from him. Hina stumbled back in alarm. What had just happened? She stared at the man who's eyes flashed dangerously.

"Go, now!" He snarled at her, turning away from her. Hina hesitated, unsure of what to do. She took a hesitant step forwards, wanting to know… to just know what had happened.

"Go! Unless you want me to hurt you!" The man's voice growled. Hina didn't need telling again. She rushed towards the door and was about to pull it open when he spoke again, causing her to freeze.

"No one is to touch you." His voice ordered harshly. Hina took a couple of deep breaths before nodding and exiting the room. She broke into a run, fleeing down the now horribly familiar corridors and heading towards her tiny prison cell underground. She didn't want to examine the events that had just occurred, not until she was safely back in her cell. Hina didn't stop running until she'd been let back into her stony prison. She sat down in the far corner and huddled into a ball. She wrapped her arms around her head and tried to think straight.

Before Hina knew it the days that had passed by since that strange moment had become a week, followed by another and then a third. In all that time, she hadn't been summoned back to see the King once. The silence and uneventful days made her uneasy and nervous. Why this sudden lack of torture? Hina wasn't going to kid herself and pretend she wasn't glad. She was thankful, but part of her suspected it was building up for something big and bad. She'd also been allowed out of the tiny stone cell to take part in house hold duties, but she always returned to it at night. She was thankful for this. She liked speaking to the man in the cell next to hers. He was the only friend she had there. That was another change she'd noticed. The other prisoners and even the guards who always seemed to be watching her always kept their distance from her, as if she was diseased or something. Hina wondered if it had something to do with the last words the King had spoken to her.

"No one is to touch you."

His words echoed through her head again. Why though? Hina slammed the bucket of soapy water she held in her hands down to the floor angrily, causing the water to slosh over the edges. Cursing, Hina kicked it over angrily. She hated this! She hated everything about this place! It was stupid and confusing! She looked down at the metal bucket laying on its side, water and suds pooling everywhere across the wooden floors she was supposed to be cleaning. She closed her eyes and took a minute to regain control of her anger. When she opened her eyes, she saw to her regret the water had splashed up at a nearby guard, dampening his shoes.

"I'm sorry," Hina apologized, flinching at the man's furious glare. He was middle aged with pointy features and hard eyes. He probably only took this job to provide for his family. He stepped forwards livid. He lifted his hand and struck Hina hard across the face. She gasped as she was flung to the floor.

"Pathetic worthless little wretch," She heard the man hiss. Hina clutched at her burning face. It stung so badly and her eye felt like it was going to explode. She forced herself to breathe. She turned back around and glared up at the man. She felt her stomach flip, as though she'd fallen down the stairs. The man had his hand raised, preparing to hit her again, but someone was standing in his way holding his wrist, stopping him from proceeding. Hina gulped recognising the white hair. She barely breathed as the tension mounted insanely high.

"I told you, no one was to touch her," The King growled, fury evident in his tone. The guard's expression had suddenly become like that of a frightened child, terrified of a monster hiding under his bed. Unfortunately for him, this monster was real, all too real.

"bu…but…sir…" The man stuttered. Hina saw Bakura's grip on the man's wrist tighten hideously. The man cried out in pain.

"I told you all, not one person was to lay a hand on her." Bakura snarled. Hina glanced around terrified. The surroundings had become dark and shimmered as if caught in a heat wave.

"Didn't I tell you?" Bakura demanded taking the man by the scruff of the neck. He shook the man hard.

"Didn't I?" He demanded. The shimmering grew darker and more terrifying. Hina wanted to save the man, but she could barely find the strength to force oxygen into her lungs.

"y..ye…yes, sir… I…I…" The man stuttered completely terrified.

"And you disobeyed me!" Hina could hear the smirk in Bakura's tone now. Oh God, was she about to witness him Kill? As she watched, Bakura lifted the man off his feet and held him out. As he did, the darkness that had formed all around them moved in. It smothered the man's body in black shadows. The man screamed a blood curdling shriek of terror as it ravaged him. Hina tried to look away, but found herself transfixed by the writhing mass of shadows Bakura easily held in his hand. When the writhing seemed to have slowed to just a horrible pulsating mass, the shadows ebbed away leaving a limp body in Bakura's hands, which he let crumple to the ground. Hina gasped, only now realising she'd been holding her breath. Bakura turned around and made eye contact with her for the first time. He walked forwards, stepping through the puddles of water. He stopped just above her and glared down. Hina stared back at him, completely unsure what to do. He'd saved her, no, saved wasn't the right word. More like he'd reserved all rights to beat her for himself. What had he done to that man? What was going on? He leant down and held out his hand to her. Hina almost gaped at him, but she was lucky enough to catch herself just in time. She didn't take his hand though. She pushed herself off the floor and stood up on her own. Without hesitating, Bakura was stood before her in a split second. Hina was about to step away when he took hold of her chin, swivelling her head around so he could examine the mark on her face.

"That looks painful," He mused. Hina stepped away from him feeling oddly uncomfortable. She stooped down and picked up her empty bucket before glaring at the man.

"It's nothing I can't handle. I've had worse." Hina said coldly. The man smirked at her.

"I'm sure you have." He replied amused. Hina turned and marched away from him. She needed to get something to clean the spill up.

"Come here." He spoke. Hina gritted her teeth angrily. What was he playing at? She turned around the bucket swinging with her movement. He was watching her, his usual arrogance in place.

"No. I have work to do." Hina replied flatly.

"Girl, I'm not giving you a choice," He growled through gritted teeth. Hina took a deep breath and nodded.

"Fine." She replied angrily knowing there wasn't much else she could do. She marched back to his side and forced herself to keep calm.

Hina flinched as ice was pressed roughly against her inflamed cheek. She held it in place with shaking hands. Already she could feel the relief it brought to her burning skin, but she wasn't about to admit that. She was as stubborn as Bakura was cruel. She watched with cautious eyes as the man who'd caused her so much torment gazed at her with satisfaction. They were sat in the Kings room, the room Hina was so used to been tortured in it made her feel uneasy just sat in there. He'd forced her to sit on the bed as he'd sent for the ice.

"Why are you helping me?" Hina asked suddenly, not truly aware of making the decision to question him. He smirked at her.

"I'm not all bad," He replied quite softly for him. Hina raised an eyebrow as she examined the man. Was it her imagination or did his features seem softer, and it looked like he'd run a brush through his wild hair. His eyes seemed softer too. This was all too confusing for her to handle.

"Why did you give the order that no one was to touch me?" Hina demanded. The man's eyes were harsh again, she must have imagined it before.

"I don't want anyone else touching what's mine." He growled. Hina scowled at the man who was sat across from her on a chair he'd pulled up. She stuck her chin out.

"I am not yours." She grumbled. The man let out a merciless laugh. Hina cringed away from the cruel sound. In one swift movement he was looming over her, his face full of harsh amusement. His hand shot out and grabbed her around the throat. He pulled her up, forcing her to her feet. He glared at her with darkness spreading across his face.

"I want you to remember this, girl. You are mine. I own you, body and soul. What I say, goes. If anyone is to touch you, I will find out and I will punish whoever laid a finger on my property. I am a stealer of souls and I will leave them all an empty shell. You belong to me." He spoke amused. Hina felt her body beginning to tremble.

"Say it." He hissed

"no." Hina breathed back, the true horror unfolding. He shook her violently.

"Don't make me hurt you." He threatened. Hina gulped. There was nothing else she could do.

"Fine. I'm… I belong to you." She answered

"That's right, and if I have to cover you in paint, or keep you by my side around the clock, I will make sure no one touches my property."