A/N : Hello! Happy Halloween! I know its a couple of days till the actual event, but what the heck! Anyhow, Sorry again about the delay. Writers block is a hideous bitch. so yeah... hope you enjoy this chapter! reviews are always welcomed and appreciated! Enjoy! Xx

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

Chapter 10

Bakura suddenly let go of Hina, causing her to gasp and clutch at her throat. He hadn't been holding onto her hard enough to stop her breathing, but enough to restrict it and hurt her. He looked away from her hiding his expression and clenching his fists. Hina took a small step away from him, trying to put as much space between them without him realising. Hina could feel her legs trembling. She couldn't truly begin to comprehend the situation, but she knew he'd become obsessive over her. His god damn play thing. How long could she survive until he broke her well and truly, more than cuts or bruises or even broken bones, which she'd luckily had none of yet. Hina wanted to cry. The man turned back around to her, his temper apparently back under control. He stooped down and picked up the ice pack which had fallen out of Hina's hands when he'd grabbed her. He closed the distance between them in one swift movement and held the ice out to her. Hina refused to take it. She didn't need it. She didn't need anything from this man. He rolled his eyes and pressed it against her still red raw cheek. Hina flinched away, but she couldn't deny her raw skin the soothing cold. Still he stood close to her holding the ice in place. Hina began to feel the awkwardness before truly realising what it was. It made no sense to her, but all the same she felt it as soon as her insides twisted painfully. She quickly stepped away, leaving Bakura holding the ice.

"Am I okay to leave?" She asked, not wanting to stay here with him any longer.

"No." He replied harshly. Hina frowned, but remained where she stood. What did he want her here for? He made to walk towards her but seemed to think better of it. He turned away from her.

"You are to stay here until I return." He ordered harshly before striding towards the golden door.

"Wait!" Hina cried out taking a hesitant step forwards. His hands on the door, Bakura turned around to glare at her, waiting for her to speak.

"What should I do?" She asked completely confused. He smirked at her.

"As long as you stay in this room, I don't care. Have a bath or just sit in silence, just stay here." He sneered at her before leaving the room, the door booming closed. Hina stared at the closed door and felt anger bubbling up inside her. She was about to march over to the door and leave, but stopped herself. If she did, she risked getting hurt or worse getting others into trouble. She frowned and sat down on the bed flopping backwards on to her back and closing her eyes. What was going on? Why was he acting so odd? She could barely believe it but she thought she preferred it when he was terrifying her and hurting her. At least that way it made sense, but he was acting strange and that if possible scared her more. Hina sat up and gazed around the room. She hated to admit it but having a wash did sound incredibly inviting. Trying not to think too much about her current predicament, she marched over to the bathroom and pushed open the door. She was greeted by the sight of the obnoxiously large bath tub. Hina walked over to it and pushed the plug in. she turned the water on and watched as deliciously clean jets of water began to fill up the large basin. It was full rather quickly and Hina closed the door to the room and hurriedly pulled the rough material from her body. She clambered into the hot water and sank down into its warm embrace gratefully. She lay out and stretched her limbs, enjoying the water easing any aching muscles she had. She leant her head against the side and closed her eyes. She could stay in this warmth forever. It was so relaxing, almost too relaxing. She tried to force down a yawn.

Bakura was doing his usual rounds of the Kings city on horseback. He liked it. The way the buildings looked and the twist of modern and old, it somehow reminded him of his home all those thousands of years ago. Even as he tried to focus on observing the city life, he couldn't concentrate. His thoughts kept wandering back to the girl and the strange feeling he could sense inside him. It was something he hadn't felt for ten years. His host. Surely the foolish boy should have died by now. He hadn't allowed him out for a decade and his consciousness should have been extinguished, so why did it feel like parts of him rose to the surface at times? It was the girl. Even as he made the mental note to severely punish her for causing so much confusion, he knew he could never go through with it. Somehow he'd become… weak with her. He smirked to himself. How pathetic, it made him want to laugh. He'd finish off here and head back. He refused to be weak.

Hina was waiting cross legged on the bed when the door swung open almost three hours later. Her hair which had been dripping wet when she'd first sat down was now bone dry. She scowled as the white haired King walked into the room, the door swinging closed behind him. She folded her arms and purposely looked away from him. He smirked seeing the girl's reaction. He stalked forwards.

"Miss me?" He asked stopping just before the bed. Hina refused to look at him. The time he'd been gone had been almost as torturous as when he'd purposely caused her harm. She'd had nothing to do but think everything over and what was happening. It had been exhausting. He felt a stab of annoyance at her refusal to look at him. He grabbed her chin and forced her face round to meet his intense gaze. Hina felt her breath catch in her throat. What was happening? He leant down. Hina froze unable to move. His face had gotten ridiculously close. She could hear his ragged breath. It was only when the smirk split across the man's cruel face she realised the darkness had sprung up around them and swallowed them whole. She felt the bed disappear from under her and found herself sat upon a rough cold rock. Bakura straightened up and glared at the girl, folding his arms.

"You seem to have become too comfortable around me," He hissed dangerously. Hina gulped already feeling the fear snaking up from the pits of her stomach and beginning to entangle around her. Sat on the jagged rock, Hina found herself willing herself to move, but even as she did, she found her body refused to obey her. He began to slowly circle the rock, moving with the stealth of a ferocious predator. Hina gulped again. Her mouth had gone very dry. She could feel her palms beginning to sweat and her fingers tremble. She hated been in this place. She hated everything. Why did this landscape have to be so very dead? It was horrible, like it was taunting her, reminding her that her imminent death could happen at any moment. As the man came back into her line of sight, his expression had changed. He looked angry. He lunged forwards, his fists cracking into the rock either side of Hina. Hina flinched back terrified.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He demanded, his brown eyes holding real fury.

"Do you enjoy aggravating me?" he growled, his head bowing, white locks hiding his face from sight. He stood back up shaking the hair from his eyes. He roared out incoherently causing Hina to jump. He stormed a short distance away from the girl. Hina blinked. What had just happened? Hina stood up from the rock cautiously. She walked a little closer to him, not sure if this was going to be the usual torture session that happened in this world.

He saw her walking closer and felt his temper fly out of control. He stormed towards the girl and grabbed a fistful of her hair. He threw her to the ground. He scowled darkly at her, sending her nerves on edge. Hina tried to scramble backwards away from him, but his glare intensified. She stopped and gazed up at him towering above her. What did he want? Hina felt the tears come to her eyes as she realised just how frightened she was. Hina knew there was no fear of death, after all this had become his usual routine, taking her to the darkness and torturing her there where no one could hear her scream. Even so, she still feared him. He walked closer to her and Hina flinched, expecting to feel pain as he hit her, or cut her. Instead he sat down beside her. Hina's eyes widened. He wasn't looking at her, more gazing off into the distance as if in deep thought. Hina tried to remain as still as possible, not wanting to release his fury. After several moments of silence, Hina edged forwards, knowing she was probably going to regret it. She sat waiting for his anger to erupt, but it didn't. She frowned at him, wondering if he was okay. Had he had a stroke or had his brain just broken? She realised with a jolt she was feeling concerned for him. Why the hell was she feeling worried for him? He'd ruined the world, not to mention her life! He'd killed the only family she could remember and yet here she was feeling worried! He deserved nothing from her! Despite telling herself this, she didn't move away from him.

"Erm… Bakura?" She spoke uncertainly, then realising her mistake,

"Gaah, I mean King… King Bakura!" She exclaimed certain she was about to feel his wrath. She bowed her head ready to accept the blow. When she wasn't struck, she peeked up through a few strands of hair. He'd turned his head to stare at her, but he hadn't raised his hand to hurt her. He had a serious expression across his face, but not one she'd seen on him before. He usually wore a cruel expression with the intention to cause pain, but not this one. He looked… strange, like his head was in turmoil.

"Girl, Hina, come here." He ordered. It took Hina a couple of seconds to register the order, then a couple more to realise he'd spoken her name. He'd actually used her name for the first time. She moved closer feeling curious, closing the gap between them. She sat next to him, feeling terrified under his stare. He raised his hand and Hina flinched away, expecting him to hit her, but she felt his fingers brush against her cheek. She opened her eyes and gazed in shock up at the ruthless man. His fingers were tracing the scar he'd created when he'd first brought her to this desolated land. Hina sat as still as possible, her heart thumping painfully as every nerve told her to run, but she couldn't. Even if she made the decision to try, her legs wouldn't move. His hand dropped down to her chin and his thumb began to trace the curvature of her lips. His dark eyes were fixed upon her mouth. Hina gulped. What the hell was going on? Why in god's name was he acting so peculiar? Why was he staring at her lips? Hina felt dizzy from all the confusing questions she had spinning around in her head. Her heart was beating so fast it was becoming uncomfortable. Then he leant forwards. Hina's eyes widened in shock. He brushed his lips against hers in a gentle and intimate kiss. She froze, unable to move. What was happening? He pulled away from her and stood up, not looking at her. As he did the darkness seemed to melt away. Hina was left sitting in the centre of the room, gazing up at the King, who seemed determined not to look at her.

"Leave." He ordered suddenly. Hina sprung to her feet and walked quickly over to the door. She was about to pull it open when she felt a hand clutch at her wrist, turning her round. She was pushed against the door. It hurt but she didn't focus on that. Instead she couldn't take her fearful and confused eyes off of the man who was leaning over her, his hands now either side of her head, his body almost touching hers. She shied back, her cheeks turning pink at his expression. How she wished she could melt through the door behind her right now. How was she supposed to cope with this? He moved his hands down the surface of the door, finding her hands, which were shaking uncontrollably. He took a hold of them and pulled them up by her head. Hina was finding it immensely difficult to breathe. Her mind was blank as she struggled to process her thoughts. What was happening? Why was this… this man, the one who had found great amusement in torturing her and hurting her, why was he now trying to kiss her? Still pinning her hands against the door, the King leaned forwards, his lips inches away from the girls.

Hina saw something change in the man's lust filled gaze. Those eyes darkened and became threatening again. He let go of her hands and without warning, he punched the door, his fist denting the metal just besides Hina's face. She managed not to whimper, but couldn't disguise her flinching away. He growled at her, his previous self back in control. Hina closed her eyes, expecting to feel the cold harshness of a blade, or her skin burning as he hit her.

"Go." He ordered. Hina opened her eyes and saw he had moved further away, back into the room. Hina watched shocked. Was he not going to hurt her? He turned round and smirked at her.

"Don't tell a soul, or you'll regret it." He sneered at her. Hina was confused. What had happened?

"B...but…" She began, unsure of herself and even more unsure of Bakura.

"Go!" He roared at her. Hina gulped and did as she was told. She wrenched open the door and escaped into the safety of the hall way.

Hina sped along it, not even paying attention to where she was going. It was different now. It was all different. He'd changed it the moment he'd kissed her. As she thought this, Hina lifter her finger tips up to her lips, touching the skin there gently. She shuddered, unable to figure out what she was feeling about the events. His emotions towards her had changed, or had they? Was this just another game, another way of making her suffer? She couldn't be sure, but Hina didn't think so. She had seen the turmoil in his eyes. He was just as confused about this as she was, but it was different for Hina. She couldn't stay here anymore. She needed to escape. At first, she'd wanted to exact revenge, but now she just needed to get away. Bakura had changed the situation the moment his emotions towards her had changed. She needed out. She didn't care about anything anymore. All that mattered was she escaped this hell. Hina moved past a window and saw it was night time already. She carried on and walked into her cell. Hina marched over to her bed, leant down and felt beneath her pillow. She found what she was looking for and straightened up, holding the card in her hands. The Dark Magician card, her only belonging. She was getting out of this place. She was escaping the Kings City tonight. It was time to go.