A/N : Hello! I hope everyone is well and enjoyed the summer! In the UK, summer is pretty much over already. Typical. Anyway, New Chapter and more to come soon, hopefully! It's unbelievable to think, the story may very well be coming to an end soon-ish! Wow, what will I preoccupy my mind with then? Apologies, as this chapter is shorter than what I'd have liked, but if I didn't cut it down, it would have been way too long. As ever, if you do have a moment to spare, I love hearing any feedback and/or feel free to PM me with any suggestions, questions or anything really. :-)

Chapter 34

Hina blinked back tears as she replayed the events of the moment their plan fell apart again. It had been three days since that horrific moment had happened. Hina had been thrown in a tiny cell and forgotten about. She hadn't left the room in all that time and hadn't been given anything to eat or drink. She was feeling weak, her head lolling to the side, the cool of the stone her head rested against was the only thing keeping her conscious. How had she been so stupid? She should have known all along defeating Bakura would be impossible. It couldn't be done and yet she'd risked everything to try. Hina felt the lump in her throat building up painfully. She swallowed and winced. Her mouth was incredibly dry and the attempt to keep her emotions in was painful. What hurt more than anything else, was the one thing that shouldn't hurt her. He'd played her. He pretended to like her, to care. She believed him all along. Hina shook her head, trying to rid her mind of all the negative thoughts that were filling her mind.

"Please…" She whispered unsure what she was pleading for. How could he have thrown her away like this? Was the real intention here to keep her locked away forever, until she starved to death? Was that what he had planned for her? A slow and painfully drawn out death? Hina shook her head again. She couldn't afford to think like that. Even as the thoughts left her mind she heard the lock in the heavy wooden door scrape. Hina opened her eyes and blinked as light streamed in through the opening door. A silhouette cast a shadow over her menacingly. Hina knew then she wasn't destined to die of starvation. This was all part of the process. She was been softened up before the real punishment would begin.

"Pathetic," A voice sneered observing her slumped like a rag doll. Hina couldn't move. She was too weak. She could do nothing as hands reached out and grabbed at her roughly. She was dragged out of her confinement room. Hina felt as she was dragged, the stone scraping at her skin as she was wrenched away. Hina was tossed into a room. She crashed to the cold stone floor, sprawled out and whimpering.

"Get up." A cold voice barked the order. Hina couldn't have, even if she wanted to.

"GET UP!" the voice ordered as a heavy blow was delivered to her side. She cried out in pain at the contact. She rolled across the floor with the force of the attack. Hina felt her body collide against the wall and gasped as the air was knocked out of her. Hina opened her eyes and her vision swam in and out of focus. With great effort, Hina used her arms to push herself up into a sitting position, using the wall behind her as support. She clambered uneasily to her feet, using the wall once again, for assistance. Hina glanced around this new room. It was bigger than her cell had been. The walls were made of uneven stones a huge heavy looking door built into one of them. The wall opposite Hina caught her attention. It was covered with mirrors. A hundred of the same face stared back at her. It was a weak face, pale and lost. Hina turned away from her reflection, hating how weak she looked. Her eyes darted to the centre of the room. The floor was stained and Hina knew instantly what had caused the brown stain. Blood. Hina gazed at the only other person in the room. She recognised the face grinning back at her with a sickening feeling in her stomach. Captain Rokurou. She knew he would relish this. He had been waiting so long for this moment. He'd savour every whimper that would escape her lips. Hina's eyes then darted to the right of the man. A metal table stood next to him, glinting in the light. Tools Hina had never seen before were laid out upon its surface, along with a small collection of horrific looking knives. Rokurou stepped forwards, his arms outstretched in mock welcome.

"Welcome, girl, to the Kings Torture Chamber," Rokurou exclaimed, flashing a hideous grin. Hina clutched onto the wall for support, her legs quaking.

"Now, most guests to this room are here because they are withholding information," The man began, picking up a knife from the table and examining it carefully, " Torture is an effective and efficient way, not to mention fun, to get information out of a less than willing participant." Rokurou was speaking conversationally, as if they were old friends discussing nothing more than the weather.

"You, however, have no information I require. You are here because I want some fun," He spoke maliciously pointing the blade of the knife towards Hina. Hina didn't move, she couldn't move. She was here to be tortured. Had she really expected anything different? No, was the answer to that internal question. Bakura couldn't do it himself, so he sent the most brutal evil man he could to fill his boots. Hina swallowed down her fear. She mustered together any strength she had left in order to face this horror head on. She wouldn't give Rokurou the satisfaction of appearing weak in front of him. No, she would remain as strong as she could. Hina straightened up, pushing herself from the wall, pretending she didn't need it. Hina crossed the room as confidently as she could, stopping only when she was stood before the man.

"Do your worst," She spat at him venomously. The words had an impact on him. His expression faltered at the lack of fear in her tone and flashing in her eyes. Within the blink of an eye, Rokurou recovered and lifted his arm before swinging it back down, striking Hina across the face. Hina felt her cheek explode with pain as the blow literally threw her off her feet and across the room. She collided with the wall painfully and slumped to the floor toppling over. Her cheek rested against the cold stone floor, but Hina barely had time to register that before the next attack came. A heavy booted foot came crashing into her stomach with such force Hina knew if she'd had anything left in her stomach she would have thrown it up. She gasped, half choking as the onslaught came. He kicked her again and again. There was no escaping the blows as they came one after another. She was trapped between her attacker and the wall, each kick slamming her back against the brick. She was gasping out, desperate to pull air into her lungs, but any attempt was quickly thwarted when the next kick came.

"Pathetic," A voice grumbled from above her, his word dripping with the sneer that would be plastered across the man's ugly face. The assault stopped and Hina gasped. She wasn't sure how many blows she'd taken but her torso was in agony.

"I really have no idea what the King saw in a horrible brat like you," He laughed walking away from her where she remained slumped, still trying desperately to regain the ability to breathe. Hina somehow found the strength to speak.

"You… Idolise… a… mon…ster," she whispered, the words breaking and sounding pained.

"Foolish brat," He snarled at her, turning back to her. He lumbered forwards and wound his large hands into Hina's hair. He dragged her across the room until she was in the centre. He left her sat there as he returned to his equipment table. When he turned back, Hina's eyes had closed. When she tried to look, everything was spinning and made her feel sick. She felt as his rough grasp wrenched her arms behind her back and cool metal clasped over each wrist tightly. She felt as her arms were pulled upwards and had to help her body go with them. She stumbled to her feet as her arms were lifted high above her head. Hina snapped her eyes open as her arms strained. She felt as the chain's she was bound in were hooked over something. She cried out, realising her toes could barely touch the floor. Her arms felt like they would tear off any minute and she struggled against the lack of strength to keep her toes on the floor, trying to desperately relieve some of the pressure her joints had been put under. Rokurou reappeared in her line of vision and stepped back, clearly impressed by the sight of her suffering. Hina was almost completely suspended in the centre of the room, like a gruesome puppet. She couldn't move. Her body screamed at her in agony and she could do nothing about it.

"The King you idolise is a coward!" Hina spat out, her pain forcing the words to tumble from her lips. Hina had to wonder if the King was watching this from somewhere, or if he was too afraid to do so. Would watching her be tortured provoke a reaction from Ryo? Rokurou punched Hina in the stomach. Hina was thrown off her toes by the attack and swung from the force of it. She whimpered at the pain that intensified in her arms. She was sure her arms would pop out of their sockets. She could feel the muscles tearing from the strain. It hurt so much. Her feet scrambled and scraped across the ground as she tried to regain balance.

"Do not insult our King!" Rokurou spat harshly, screaming in her face.

"What angers you more Rokurou? That the king chose an insolent brat like me over a devoted fool like you, or that I got his attention when you didn't?" Hina retaliated, knowing that she would suffer for doing so. His hand shot out and clutched around her throat, squeezing. Hina spluttered and gasped as stars sprung before her eyes.

"What made him choose you, Whore? I see nothing but a scrawny pathetic girl, not worthy of anything. Hell, you're not even worth giving to the whore houses," He snarled bringing his face closer to Hina's. Hina was gasping for air as darkness began to gnaw at the edges of her vision.

"I could give you to my men and even they wouldn't want to lay a finger on a pathetic disgusting half creature like you," He snarled. Hina felt her dread bubbling as waves of nausea washed over her. He let go of Hina's throat and she slumped, barely conscious. He snorted, seeing her hanging there, limp. He returned to his table and picked up an item. Hina could barely see what it was through blurry eyes, but the orangey glow soon gave it away. Hina was shocked at herself. How had she not noticed the fire place? The table had been strategically placed before it, but even so. Hina tried to focus her eyes as he approached her once more, this time armed with a glowing hot poker.

"Girl, I'm going to play with you until I hear the sweet sound of flesh rip and bones break," He smirked before pressing the red hot poker against bare skin.

When Rokurou left, the room was stained with pools of crimson and the metallic scent of freshly spilled blood and charred skin. A body slumped in the corner of the room, barely conscious. Every inch of her body was bruised, burnt or cut. Blood seeped out of her wounds as if crying for the girl. Hina closed her eyes, trying to shut out the absolute agony that engulfed her very existence. So, this is what it had all been for, she thought bitterly. She'd fought for everything and for what? This? Life wasn't fair, she had tried so hard. She tried to cry out to Bakura through the link she had with him. He would have felt her agony through the piece of his soul within her own that linked them. Why hadn't he come to save her? Hina wanted to laugh at her stupidity. Of course he wouldn't have come. He'd ordered this.

"I… hope… you're… hap…py…" Hina whispered out with great difficulty. Rokurou hadn't lied. Hina could feel where her flesh had burnt and also where bones had broken. One of her arms lay limp by her side, useless. The other she had clasped over a particularly nasty wound, trying to pull the flesh together. She could feel her mind slipping into the darkness with every passing second. She was consumed by pain. Hina wanted nothing more than to rid the taste of blood that was poisoning her mouth. She wished he'd killed her. There was still time, she reflected deliriously. There was an ever growing puddle of crimson spreading around her.

"Death… is a… privilege," She tried to recite words once spoke to her, a bitter smile upon her broken split lips. She wanted more than anything to end her own suffering, but knew even if she had the courage to do so, she couldn't even move to try. She would have to wait for death to come meet her. Hina allowed the darkness, she'd been trying so desperately to push back, to seep into her. She felt as it spread throughout her body, turning everything numb. Her mind was the last to be taken. It was surprisingly pleasant, she reflected. The last conscious thought to pass through her numbing mind was that, somehow, her heart didn't seem to hurt anymore.

"The Captain really gave it to her,"

"He damn near killed the girl!"

"She'll make it though, right?"

"She best or I'll have each of your heads mounted on the wall!"

The voices sounded far off and distant. Hina couldn't make them out, let alone try to guess who they belonged to. She couldn't even piece the words together nor could she understand what they were discussing. She decided she didn't need to worry about it, not when she was wrapped so tightly in the clutches of this comforting darkness. She snuggled back down into its depths and allowed the darkness to once more wash over her, smothering her mind.

Hina opened her eyes and blinked. The sudden light that engulfed her was blinding. Where was she? Hina sat up and didn't feel anything, no pain or agony that she'd become so accustomed to. Was she dead? Was this death? Hina sat waiting for her eyes to adjust to the brightness. When they did, she wasn't sure what to feel. She could feel sleep pulling away from her brain and her perception suddenly kicked back into gear. No, she wasn't dead. Hina could feel the tightness of bandages and dressings over every inch of her body. Her left arm was strapped tightly to her chest and there were what felt like layers of gauze wound tightly around her middle. Her face was swollen, she could feel it now. Every inch of her body groaned and ached with the gentlest of movements. She'd somehow survived her encounter with the Captain of the Kings Guard, but she would be feeling the effects of it for a very long time. Hina took in her surroundings suspiciously. She was in a room that seemed overly clean. The scent of excessive cleanliness stung her nose. She was laid upon a single bed with clean crisp bed sheets draped neatly over her. Hina had never seen one before, but she knew it had to be some sort of hospital. She was surprised one even existed in the Kings City, but she supposed even the King could get ill from time to time and if he didn't, his army of idiots certainly could. Hina wanted to get out of the room and away from anything that could remind Hina of the King, but she knew that would be impossible. She lived in his damn world. How could she ever get away?

Hina tried with great difficulty to push the bed covers off her and swung her legs off the edge of the bed. It was only then Hina felt the unfamiliar tug on her skin. She looked over herself and saw she was hooked up to several machines, some of the tubing connected to needles that sank deep into her skin. Panic overwhelmed Hina in an instant. Was this some further sort of torture? Hadn't Captain Rokurou finished with her yet? Her breathing drastically became uneven. Within moments her head was spinning and she had to lie back down as she fought against wave after wave of anxiety induced nausea.

Within moments, a person Hina didn't recognise came hurrying over to her. They completely blanked her but proceeded to check over the multitude of machines positioned around the bed. Hina watched them with panic filling her wide eyes. She was scared, she couldn't deny it. She didn't want her pain to continue. Hadn't they taken enough from her? Hadn't she paid enough for her crimes? After several moments of this new person checking over some paper work then checking the machines before his eyes moved back to the paperwork, they looked up and met Hina's petrified expression. Their expression softened ever so slightly as they observed the terrified battered girl.

"You're alright now," They spoke. Hina gazed at the man. He was dressed in clothes that seemed as horrendously clean as the rest of the room. He was clean shaved with a mop of curly brown hair and had soft brown eyes that crinkled in the corners, the only indication Hina could see as to the man's age. Hina opened her mouth to respond, but could think of nothing to say so closed her lips.

"We've patched you up as best as we could. You've been given a pain killer while you slept, but that should be wearing off." He spoke softly, almost as if he were afraid.

"Why?" Hina asked the question burning her tongue as she desperately needed to know the answer. Why had they saved her? Why wasn't she allowed to die? The man didn't answer.

"Now you're awake, you'll be permitted to remain here for a further twenty four hours, but after that time, I've been instructed to move you back to your room." He hurriedly told her and turned on his heel, walking briskly away before Hina had a chance to question him further. Hina stared after him as he exited the room. What was going on? She relaxed back in her bed, allowing herself to briefly indulge in the comfort of a bed, not knowing when or if she would next encounter one.

Hina was surprised when, Twenty four hours later, she was taken from what she could only describe as the hospital ward back to her bedroom. She hadn't expected as much and felt relieved at the small but significant luxuries she had been granted. Hina winced as she shuffled her way across the room towards the comfort of the bed. Her body ached and the pain killers she'd had pumped into her system had long since worn off. She was aching all over and could barely find the strength to move. She was suspicious above all else as to why she had been granted her room back, but a massive part of her wanted to believe it was because she had suffered enough. She had almost died. Tears threatened to overwhelm her and she had to fight against them as she surveyed the familiarity of the room and the memories it brought with it. Why had she ever thought they would or even could win? Was she really that deluded? She changed course and headed towards the bathroom. She wanted to see the damage that had been inflicted upon her, see the evidence of her betrayal. When she reached the full mirror, Hina felt the air catch in her throat as a stranger gazed back at her. Her black hair was a sickening tangle, matted with blood. She looked disgusting. Her face was bruised, the swelling around her left eye worse than she'd thought it would be. Her lip was split so badly she wasn't sure it would ever heal properly. Every inch of skin she could see was visibly damaged. Her arm was bandaged up and strapped tightly to her chest and she could feel the heaviness off the thick dressing that felt almost as if it was the only thing holding her together. The girl she saw was nothing like the girl she was so used to seeing staring back at her. No, this girl was broken in so many ways Hina wasn't sure it would be possible to fix. She couldn't bear to examine herself any longer and turned away from the mirror. She headed away from the bathroom and gently lowered herself onto her bed, wincing all the while. Hina had no idea what to expect over the following days and she wasn't anxious to find out. She just wanted to recover from her overwhelming injuries, if it was even possible. Hina closed her eyes. Despite herself, she missed the man who had given the order to inflict this pain upon her. He'd claimed he'd showed her some sort of act, but Hina couldn't believe it. There was no way he could be that cold and cruel as to have faked their entire complicated interaction. She didn't want to believe it.