A/N Hello! Sorry for the delay again! Writers block! But I certainly hope it was worth the wait! As ever, any feedback is highly appreciated to a super special awesome degree! Please enjoy! Xx

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

Chapter 21

Hina stepped cautiously out of her room, glancing around nervously as she did. When she was certain she was alone, she let out a relieved sigh and closed the door with a quiet snap behind her. She stood alone for a few moments thinking to herself. Already the tugging sensation within her chest was trying to pull her to the left and down the corridor, but she refused to give in to the dull aching. It was bearable and so, she would endure it. It suddenly occurred to her that whatever Bakura had done to her, might just have its benefits. It was as annoying as the man who'd done it to her, but…

"I know where he is…" She whispered the words aloud her fingers brushing against the part of her chest where her tormented soul writhed about uneasily. Hina glanced the way her soul was trying to pull her. She knew where he was, she could feel it. Hina could estimate his distance from her. He had given her a tool in which to sneak about, undetected by him. Hina, smiling to herself, took a step in the opposite direction, away from where she felt she needed to go. It felt almost wrong, almost un-natural. She took another step, resisting the urge to turn back and head towards where he was. Each step away, going against instincts rooted deep within her, felt difficult and it only got harder, but she pushed on. It became, not easy, but routine with each corridor she found herself walking purposely down. If she wanted to avoid Bakura, it would be easier to do if she kept in tune with the sensations writhing about in her own soul. So she did, she felt the wretched tension and anxiety twisting and flailing around inside her, scared that at any moment her resolve would break, but never letting the fear hold her back.

Hina knew it would be impossible to roam too far without the need to be by Bakura's side consuming her and every logical thought with it. She walked a familiar route, her destination the cold stony cells that lay beneath the palace. She hoped Joey was okay. Hina hated thinking of him alone down there. The knowledge that her friend suffered down there did nothing but instil the Dark Magicians words in her. Bakura was evil. He was cruel and she was foolish if she bought into any tiny shred of kindness he showed her. It wasn't real. It was all fake. He was a monster! Despite telling herself this, she couldn't help her mind wandering back to that kiss. If Marik hadn't interrupted, what would have happened? Would she have allowed the idiocy to continue? Or would she have eventually come to her senses and pushed him away? Hina didn't have a clue and wasn't sure she wanted to know. All she seemed to be able to do was re live the moment, feeling awful for doing so. She knew it was wrong on so many levels, but she couldn't help herself trying to recall the warmth of his lips. Hina shook her head violently, trying to rid the thoughts from her mind.

"Get a grip, Hina!" She spoke one hand clutching her head as if she could reach into her mind and drag the thoughts out.

"You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of madness." A voice spoke, suddenly breaking the silence Hina had become comfortable with. She felt herself start as her heart sped up with fright. She whipped around and stared wide eyed as a man stepped out of the shadows of a door way. Hina recognised the man, from his white blonde hair to his tanned skin. She took a cautious step back. It was Marik. Hina knew this man worked for Bakura and she couldn't trust him. She felt herself physically slump, her shoulders drooping with disappointment as her stomach sank. She'd been caught. Hina would never make it to see Joey. Hina stared at her feet, toeing the ground nervously.

"I couldn't sleep," Hina lied, bringing her eyes up to stare fiercely into Marik's. No, she wouldn't give in. If she could make him believe her, she would be fine. Bakura didn't have to know about this.

"And just decided to go for a walk, did you?" He snapped suspiciously.

"Yes." Hina answered her heart beating fast as she tried to keep cool.

"Pretty far from your sleeping quarters, aren't you?" Marik demanded, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he folded his arms. Hina could feel her knees trembling fearfully. Hina felt herself lose the fight. It was as if the energy to fight drained right out of her.

"Please…" She whispered, bowing her head,

"Please… I swear I wasn't trying to escape… I can't… I wouldn't try…" Hina spoke as tears began to brim in her eyes. She forced them back before looking up again.

"Please don't tell him. I wasn't trying to escape! You have to… to believe me," She spoke sadly. Marik seemed to consider her for a few moments longer before he spoke.

"You shouldn't wander about at night. You could get in trouble," He spoke, his eyes softening minutely. Hina felt a stray tear spill over and trace a path down her cheek.

"There's no need to cry. I won't tell him." He spoke irritably. Hina brushed the salty tear away and sniffled.

"You… you won't?" She asked not daring to believe her ears. She blinked at him and saw his face relax. He walked forwards and examined Hina again. She stood where she was, hardly daring to breathe.

"Afraid, just like the rest of the world." He spoke the words out loud, but it seemed to Hina they weren't really meant for her, more like he was talking to himself, which was quite ironic as he had been the one saying Hina was crazy for talking to herself! Without another word, Marik turned away from her and walked down the length of the corridor before turning of and disappearing. Hina stared after him for a few moments, trying to contemplate what had just happened. She thought that was it, she'd been found out. That was the evenings walk done with, but no. Marik had said he wouldn't tell on her. She was safe from the wrath of Bakura for the time being. Hina quickly pulled herself together and continued walking, taking extra care now, checking around each corner before she proceeded down any corridor. This overly cautious approach added a huge amount of time onto her journey especially with a detour to the kitchens, but eventually she found herself climbing down the familiar cold stone steps until she found herself in the dungeons hidden deep beneath the castle, a small bag and water bottle cradled in her arms. Hina quietly crept along the row of cells, her breath catching in her throat. It was cold down here. It was easy to forget the cold when you'd been freed from it. Her bare feet felt tender as she made her way over the cold floor. She reached the door and exhaled. From the moment she'd descended in to this dark dank and ugly place, Hina had been holding her breath with worry.

Hina pulled the bolt out of the door and dragged the heavy wood open. It was dark inside, as it was the majority of the time. Without hesitation she stepped inside the room and pulled the door closed behind her. Not allowing herself time for her eyes to adjust the dense blackness, she sat down on the floor.

"Joey," She whispered, her eyes squinting to see through the dark. There was no reply. Hina frowned. She placed the water and bag on the floor besides her before reaching out with her hand, searching her way across the mirrored floor. Her fingertips knocked into something, which she quickly realised was the wall.

"Joey?" She spoke again, this time louder and with more concern in her tone. Her eyes were adjusting now, but part of her didn't want them too. She wasn't ready to see what she feared. A knot tightened painfully in her stomach as she began to scramble across the floor, searching for the man. Panic set in quick and sharp, like the blade of a knife. Suddenly, the light in the room flickered on. Hina started, twisting around, seeing only herself reflected along with the emptiness of the room a thousand times. Each reflection of the solitary room seemed to mock her. It felt so much more frightening, seeing the room of mirrors in intense light. The absence of the man she'd befriended, more final. Hina wanted to get away. She wanted to run and never stop running until she was back in her room. She wanted to cry yet couldn't find the strength to do so. She turned on her heel and pelted out of the room. She had to get away from the emptiness, but it was too late. It had already consumed her heart. She felt it opening up within her chest as she fled from the room.

Her run was cut abruptly short. She sprinted straight into someone, much broader and taller than her tiny petite frame. She yelped as she was thrown back, losing her balance and crashing to the floor with a bone shuddering thud. Mild pain shot through her joints but she barely noticed it as Hina stared up into an unpleasantly familiar face.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" the man asked in a mocking tone, his eyes narrowed into a cruel expression of amusement. Hina couldn't think of anything to say to the man stood towering over her. Her luck had run bitterly sour. It was the man who'd tried to take a woman's baby from her in the middle of the street, who'd told Hina he would bite and cut her to watch her bleed out. The Captain of the Kings guard.

"Where's is he?" Hina demanded, deciding there was no use in denying why she was there. It was pretty obvious as the door to the cell remained ajar behind her, light flooding out. The cruel man's face twisted into an ugly expression of contempt. He lunged forwards, grabbing her by the scruff of the neck and dragging her to her feet. He shook her violently and Hina felt her vision swim out of focus at the rough movement.

"You treat me with respect, rat! You hear me!" He almost screamed at her. Hina clutched at his hands, trying to release his grip on her.

"Get your filthy paws off me!" Hina shouted back at him. He snarled incoherently and flung her away from him where she fell back to the floor in a heap. Hina was lucky and knew he could have inflicted a lot worse upon her if he'd chosen to. She picked herself up off the floor, using the wall to support her as she did.

"I have no respect for idiots like you," She growled as she caught her breath. The man laughed a humourless laugh, his eyes retaining their nastiest depth.

"For whatever purpose, the King needs you and has ordered no one harm you, but mark my words, bitch. That will change, and whether that is because of this disobedience or another, I'll be there. I'll squeeze the air from your throat and revel in watching the life leave your eyes." He hissed prowling forwards. Hina glared at him, returning his unpleasant sentiment with a look of disdain. Quite suddenly, he grabbed her upper right arm roughly, fingers nipping into flesh. Hina winced and tried to pull back, but it was pointless. She could feel his strength and new there was no way she'd win in this battle.

"You're coming with me!" He ordered, setting off down the corridor, dragging Hina along with him like a rag doll. Each violent tug caused his fingers to dig deeper in her flesh until she had no choice but to comply and walk with him along the corridor and up the stone steps, leading away from the prison. Hina couldn't resist one mournful glance back behind her before she was ragged harshly to try and keep up with his fast pace. He marched her through the identical corridors and it was only as Hina felt the decreasing pressure within her chest that she had an awful feeling she knew their destination.

"Where are we going?" Hina asked but the man didn't respond other than to wrench her after him, his pace seeming to increase all the time. Hina had to jog to keep up with him. Sure enough within bare minutes, she was been pulled up to the golden door. Internally, Hina panicked. What should she do? She needed a plan! What could she possibly say to justify this to Bakura? Should she even bother? She wanted to know what he'd done to Joey and if she played shy little fool, she'd never find out. The man barely stopped to knock and wait for an answer. He barged in the second he'd been granted permission to, Hina pulled along with him. Hina found herself in familiar surroundings and didn't have to search the room to find the King. He was sat at the table before them, his legs up on the surface, a book balanced on his legs as he idly flicked with disinterest through the pages. He seemed to be dressed for bed, but didn't show any signs of actually sleeping. His stare narrowed as he surveyed the two people who had entered his room.

"I found her in his cell," The man spoke. Bakura's gaze flickered angrily to Hina's who stared at him in anger. He had done something with Joey and she would find out what.

"Rokurou, leave," Bakura instructed in a voice radiating anger. The man, Rokurou let go of Hina's arm, but seemed to hesitate for just a second before walking out. Hina turned to watch him leave. His eyes met hers ever so briefly as he closed the door and in that split second, Hina grasped at the opportunity to be childish, sticking her tongue out at him. He wouldn't see the life leave her eyes today. Hina turned back and, hitching on the biggest fake smile she could muster, said:

"Phew, I thought he'd never leave!" In a split second, Bakura had stalked forwards and grabbed Hina by the throat, lifting her several inches of the floor. Hina felt her windpipe beginning to get crushed and gasped for air, knowing it wouldn't come.

"What were you doing?" He demanded, fingers digging deeper into her skin, threatening to tear it. In the back of her mind, which was a very far place at the present moment, Hina reflected on how she should expect a nasty few bruises after this encounter. The edges of her vision was starting to go black and she could see stars when Bakura finally released Hina, throwing her aside like a piece of trash. Hina crumpled to the floor, gasping and spluttering as she desperately tried to intake as much oxygen as she could. She knelt on all fours, coughing. Her breathing was heavy and sounded coarse.

"Where…where…is…he?" Was all Hina could manage, before collapsing in a quivering heap on the floor, trying desperately to get her breathing back to normal.

"Who?" She heard him sneer from somewhere above her. She forced herself to sit up and found him towering over her menacingly. She fixed him with a scowl

"Joey. What have you done with him?" She demanded. Bakura let out his signature laugh, the sound empty of happiness and full of evil malice. Hina forced herself to her feet, wobbling as she went, but she found her balance quickly and stood tall against him.

"Where is he?" She demanded.

"You will never see him again," He sneered at her. Hina gritted her teeth in anger.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" She shrieked as cold emptiness clutched at her heart. If anything had happened to Joey… because she'd befriended him… She would never forgive herself. A lump formed in her throat at the thought of him been harmed because of her. She would try anything to find out where he was, to know he was alive and as safe as was possible under present circumstances. She bowed her head, hating what she was going to try, but swallowing her pride.

"Please, please…Bakura, I beg you, please don't do this… please," Hina pleaded at his feet, forcing herself to beg like a pathetic creature, but she didn't care. She needed to know. He laughed at her.

"You will never find or see the fool ever again." He repeated his threat making Hina's anger bubble and boil. She stood up and faced him, seeing red. Rage like she hadn't thought was possible set her insides a light. She was beside herself with fury. She'd begged him. It made her feel ashamed and disgusting, but she'd done it. How could he not see that was how far she was willing to go! She would do anything if it meant knowing her friends safety and been able to see him.

"Why?" Was the only word she could speak through clenched teeth. Her hands were balled into fists by her side and her whole body was rigid with the effort it took to hold her anger back.

Why? She'd asked him why? She was going against him, meeting up with the pathetic fool. He'd suspected as much so had removed the problem. When he'd been told by Rokurou he'd seen her leaving the dungeons, shortly after his encounter with Marik, his blood had run cold and hot at the same time. He'd immediately ordered the man, one of the Pharaoh's idiot friends, to be removed from his location with the utmost secrecy. He knew she'd go back to him and here was the proof. A very, very small part of him was echoing a word over and over again, chanting it as if trying to mock him. Jealous…jealous…jealous, but it was easy to ignore and shrug off. He wasn't jealous. Him Jealous? The idea of it was laughable. He was just protective of his property. He didn't want anybody touching his things.

"Why? I'll tell you why, you pathetic thing. You are mine. Mine to command and you follow my orders. You disobey me and I punish you." He smirked, grabbing a fistful of her collar and wrenching her close.

"You can't hurt me." Hina began, whispering the words with venom,

"Not like before, you can't. You're afraid that if you do, Ryo will take control, like he has before!" Hina growled, her voice quavering. She wanted to shout and scream at him till she could no longer make noise. Hina regretted her words when she saw the twisted expression twist across his face. It was awful. She almost wanted to apologise in the vain hope it would reduce whatever punishment awaited her. In one swift movement, he grabbed the little hair she had. Hina cried out as he pulled her even closer yanking her head back, forcing her gaze up to his.

"I can hurt you in other ways," he whispered deadly to her. Hina felt terrified cold shudders run down her spine as darkness sprung up all around them.