A/N : Hello! Sorry for the delay in getting this up, I wanted to put it up sooner but the internet was down :-( I'm back up and running now though, so here we go, The next Chapter. As ever, like most people, I do like to hear feedback so don't hold back if you have anything to say :-) Xx

Chapter 35

Barely forty-eight hours had passed since returning to her room and in all that time she'd had very little contact with the outside world. She was brought scraps of food once a day and that was the only time she saw anyone else. She could feel Bakura moving around the Palace through the piece of his soul concealed within hers, but he never came close to her. It pained her to be so far away from him and yet there was nothing she could do. The door to her room was constantly locked from the outside. It was midday on the second day of her new captivity that something out of routine occurred. Her bedroom door was unlocked and Captain Rokurou entered the room. Seeing him, Hina immediately tensed up. He was the reason she was so injured, in so much pain. He grinned, flashing his teeth, seeing her reaction.

"The King has demanded your presence in the throne room," He smirked knowingly. Hina gulped, her eyes wide and fearful as she watched the man suspiciously from her position upon the bed.

"Why?" She whispered fearfully. She didn't want to face the man. She was afraid to. Rokurou snarled, his mood changing in an instant.

"Girl, if you don't get up and follow me willingly, I'll drag you there myself," He snapped, flecks of saliva flying from his mouth. Hina moved in an instant, convinced her own hurried movements would cause less pain than his brute force. Every movement her muscles made in an attempt to get up off the bed and then to walk across the room caused her immense pain. She winced with each step, pain shooting throughout her entire body. She felt as if she would pass out with the agony, but she clung to consciousness desperately, not wanting to give Rokurou the satisfaction. She limped past him, her head held high, and out into the corridor. She was flanked on either side as she made her slow but determinate journey towards the throne room. Her emotions were a scatter as she proceeded. She wasn't sure what to feel and what she actually felt. Her stomach felt alive with anxiety and nausea kept sweeping over her with the anxiety. She wasn't sure how much she could survive. Hina stopped before the heavy wooden doors leading into the throne room. She felt sick and felt the horrendous fear sweeping over her. Hina closed her eyes, trying to summon any strength she had left within herself. She didn't find a lot, but some was better than nothing. Her eyes snapped open and hardened. She'd found a tiny shallow pit of anger and she drew energy from that now. The doors were opened and she limped in, her eyes finding and fixing upon the man she was so confused about. Once her gaze fixed upon him, she knew there was no turning back.

There were a lot of the Kings guards around the room, but Hina ignored them as she hobbled forwards. She stopped when she reached the bottom of the steps that ascended up to the platform where the King sat in his throne. Hina glared at him, but he never turned his own furious stare upon her. Hina waited, feeling her anger growing at his clear ignorance of her and the damage he'd indirectly inflicted upon her. Hina was breathing heavily as so many emotions she couldn't begin to understand swirled around inside of her. Hina stumbled as she shifted her weight, her throat growing tight as emotions, she had no right and didn't want to feel, pushed her towards tears. Struggling against the confines of a battered body, Hina glared determinately up at the King. She wanted to see him look at her, wanted him to see what he had done to her. He could pretend all he wanted, but he did care for her, but he could still inflict this upon her, the bruises, the black eyes, the split lip and all the other injuries she'd acquired during her time with Rokurou. Still he refused to look at her.

"Look at me!" Hina growled eventually, the strength in her voice surprising herself. She could feel her vison blurring as burning tears threatened to spill down swollen bruised cheeks. His expression never changed and Hina felt the words tumbling from her mouth before she could stop them.

"You call me here, demand my presence, you did this to me, NOW LOOK AT ME!" Hina shouted as tears escaped in a flurry, her voice breaking with distress. He didn't glance her way, not once. Instead his eyes scanned the room and focused upon a guard by the door.

"Fetch him," He spoke calmly. Hina was trembling as raw emotion combined with her physical injuries threatened to floor her. She needed to rest, she wanted everything to go back. She didn't want this to be her life anymore. She couldn't survive, not this time. Hina heard the guard leave the room and she sank to the floor. Her body cried out in pain at the movement, but she couldn't do anything about it.

"Why won't you look at me? Do my injuries upset or sicken you? Does it make you feel guilt? Or are you afraid seeing what you've done to me will provoke Ryo into making an appearance?" Hina asked quietly, her eyes gazing at the man sat high above her. Her words finally triggered some reaction from the man. He stood up furiously and Hina winced, suddenly afraid of him.

"Do not speak to me about my weaker host. He is nothing and has no control here!" Bakura spat savagely. "And do not make the mistake of thinking I brought you here to examine your pathetic worthless body. Do not fool yourself into believing I feel remorse at the sight of your pitiful face, girl," He sneered, his eyes finally finding Hina. It scared her to see real hatred in them.

"Then… Why?" Hina choked the words out as her heart shattered into an impossible jigsaw of pieces.

"Do you really believe your short time spent with Captain Rokurou was punishment enough for your wretched crimes?" He spat out, smirking, his voice echoing around the silent hall.

"What do you me…an…" Hina's voice trailed off.

"Fetch him"

The words he'd spoken previously came floating back to Hina. She'd paid no attention when the order was given, but now, now she knew. She forced herself to her feet as quickly as her battered body could manage. She was shaking her head as if pure denial could change the inevitable. The look of intent in Bakura's eyes accompanied with his words spoke of his true intentions and reasoning for bringing her here. He was going after Osamu to punish her. Osamu was to pay for her crimes. Hina stumbled backwards, terror ripping away at her. She shook her head in disbelief as overwhelming sickness overcame her. She had to warn him, to stop it from happening. She could lose a lot of things, but not Osamu, never him, not again. He was family. The only family she had left.

"No," Hina whispered as she staggered, backing away from the King whose smug expression still fixed upon her. Hina fled the room in desperation. She could no longer acknowledge the pain her movements caused her, couldn't care any less if her sudden erratic movements caused further injury to her already abused body. Nothing else mattered than saving Osamu. She dashed out into the hall way and followed it as quickly as she could, her teeth gritted against agony. She reached the entrance hall and dashed out of the main doors into the light of day. She took several painful steps across the court yard and watched with terror as, sure enough, through the open gates she could see three figures making their way towards her in the expanse. Hina recognised the middle figure even at this distance. A strangled sob escaped Hina's lips. She had to warn Osamu.

She'd failed in her attempt to flee the city, but maybe Osamu could succeed. He was stronger than her and he'd never lost a race against her. He was fast. He could make it. Hina dashed forwards, stumbling a couple of times before reaching the gate. The guards either side of the open gate looked at her suspiciously but did nothing. Without bothering to hide her intentions, Hina waved her unbroken arm above her head as she gasped for breath. She was sure he'd spotted her and a second later he waved back.

"RUN OSAMU! RUN!" Hina shouted out as loud as she could.

"RUN! GET AWAY! PLEASE! RUN!" She gasped out. She was about to shout out again when an arm snaked around her waist and a hand clamped over her mouth. The person lifted her up and dragged her backwards. Hina thrashed around as much as she could, trying to break free, but there was no loosening on her. Instead she bit down hard on the hand clamped across her mouth. The hand was retracted from her lips as the person carrying her cursed and dropped her onto the hard floor. Hina leapt up and tried to sprint forwards again, ignoring the person who was trying to restrain her.

"RUN! GET AWAY! RUN OSAMU! PLEASE RU…" Hina was cut off as fabric was stuffed into her mouth and tied around her head, silencing her. She was once again dragged back until she disappeared back inside the palace, no longer able to fight and going limp in her captors arms as tears shed without restraint.

Osamu had heard Hina's warnings and had seen her been dragged backwards. He knew then something was very, very wrong. Hina was in trouble. He stopped in his tracks, staring at the door Hina had been pulled back into. He could listen to her warning, try and make a run for it, or he could try and save her. As he stood there, pondering his options, the two guards flanking him nudged him in the back, hard.

"Move." They barked the order harshly. Osamu looked up at the palace. Hina was the only family he had left and he couldn't leave her to suffer. Even at a distance, he could tell she was hurt and anger bubbled inside him at the thought of her suffering at the hands of the sadistic bastard who'd enslaved them. He clenched his fists. She should know better. He would never leave and abandon her here. He wouldn't run away. He'd run in only one direction, and that was towards her. Osamu did just that. He set off into a sprint, heading towards where Hina had just been dragged away.

Hina was dumped back on the floor of the throne room without a second thought. She sat to the side, disregarded for the moment as the guards formed a pathway up to the King. He was sat back down in his elaborate seat of gold, a smirk plastered across his face. Hina buried her face in her arm after spitting the fabric from her mouth with disgust, praying to whichever or whatever gods that may exist, that Osamu would have listened to her warning. She couldn't bear to imagine the cruelty which Bakura planned to inflict upon her friend. Several tense moments passed by. The silence of waiting was soon interrupted by a person running into the room, out of breath and scowling. Hina recognised the person instantly and a sense of helplessness like she'd never known before settled over her. She used the wall she was leant against to clamber to her feet. Osamu saw her and made to get to her, but his path was blocked instantly by the guards.

"What the hell have you done to her you sick bastard!" Osamu roared, turning his furious glare upon Bakura who had stood up from his chair to look down at Osamu. Osamu looked like he was about to charge forwards and confront the King in a flurry of fists when Hina tried to approach him.

"Osamu… why didn't you… run…" Hina cried out, walking forwards. She wanted to embrace him, to feel the comfort of his hug and friendly encouraging words, but she wasn't allowed. As the guards had stopped him approaching her, they stopped her from reaching out to him. Osamu cast his warm smile upon her.

"You should know that I'd never leave here without my family," He replied simply.

"You have been summoned here, to pay for her crimes; Betrayal, disobedience and Treason. Your punishment for her offences is death." Bakura spoke, the hideous grin never leaving his face. Osamu glanced Hina's way, taking in her injuries briefly. He flashed her a soft smile before turning back to the King.

"Fine," He responded confidently, stepping away from Hina and into the centre of the corridor made of Guards. Hina let out a strangled yell at his acceptance. She was quivering all over as the reality of the situation began to sink in. The King stood up from his throne, pulling a knife from his pocket as he went. Hina felt sick to the stomach as she recognised the deadly curve of the knife. It was the blade he'd used to kill Odion, Marik's brother. Bakura took the first step down from his podium, the knife glinting dangerously, and its intent nothing short of bloodshed. Hina watched with a sickening feeling as two of the guard broke ranks to shove Osamu to his knees awaiting the King. Bakura intended to do the deed himself. Was he really content with killing her only family? Hina couldn't accept this, refused to. She took advantage of the thinned out wall of guards and slipped through before they could fully reform the brute barrier. Hina ran towards Bakura, stopping at the bottom of the steps. She gazed up at the demon descending the stairs, malicious purpose flashing in his dark eyes. Hina sank to her knees, bowing before him. Although it degraded her to do such a move, she didn't care. She wouldn't allow Osamu to so willingly give up his life for hers. She wouldn't allow it.

"Please, please, My King," She whispered the words desperately, her eyes fixated on the steps just below his step. When she saw him step into her line of sight, Hina gazed up at the man. He was refusing to glance at her, to even give her the briefest acknowledgement. He stared straight ahead, fixated on the man's throat he was to split. Hina stood up. She took a step forward onto the bottom step, still a couple below his.

"Why can't you look at me?" Hina whispered, her wavering voice barely audible. She had never before felt so weak, so desperate, but she could do nothing but embrace the feelings, accepting them as her fate. This was how it had to be.

"Please, I'm begging you… please…" Hina sniffed, tears flowing without restraint. She wished she could stop the tears, but knew trying would be a lost cause.

"Don't do this to me…" Hina begged her wavering tone faint. At her words, Bakura glared down at her, his eyes hard and full of malice.

"You betrayed me," He spat viciously. Hina nodded in agree.

"I did… and I'm sorry, I'm so… so…sorry," Hina trembled, "I… never… I mean… I know now… you… you can't be beaten… I was a fool…a stupid… pathetic… fool," Hina sobbed. Bakura looked away from her and back down at the man he was to kill. He took a step closer, almost desperate to spill the man's blood. Hina cried out seeing his determination to carry out her punishment.

"No! Please… It… it can… be just… just like… before…" She sobbed desperately, "I swear… I will belong to you… I promise myself to… to you… I will… never… disobey… or fight… against you… Please…" Hina begged and pleaded with him, her head bowed in a show of respect. Osamu heard her words of promise and felt sick to his stomach. He was mortified to hear her words and couldn't stop himself from retaliating to them.

"Hina! What are you saying?" He demanded from where he knelt, awaiting death. He wanted to grab her and pull her away from this monster. He didn't want her to bargain her dignity and devote her existence to this monster. Ignoring Osamu's outburst, Hina continued.

"I swear to you… I have… never… regretted anything more… than what I tried to do to you…" Hina whimpered. Hina could cope with her injuries, but the pain of overwhelming emotion was too much to bear. It felt as if she would explode with the strength of them. It astounded her, leaving her feeling like she was caught in a storming river, unable to escape, barely able to keep her head above the torrents of water, twisting and bashing against her. There was nothing she could do. She wanted to sob, to punch the wall, to scream, all at once. She had no clue as to how to escape the current her actions had pushed her into. Words could only do so much and she hoped she had enough knowledge to string some together to make a compelling enough argument.

She inhaled, desperate for any strength she could muster. Falling apart right now was not an option. Hina reached out and gently pressed her hand against Bakura's chest. Her breath hitched as she recognised the feel of his heart beat. She stared up into his face, desperation mingling with the tears that swam in her eyes.

"Please… I am begging you, I will absolutely do anything for you, whatever you ask of me, I'll do it. Please… Just…. Don't kill my family…" Hina spoke her voice cracking as she choked on the words.

"Hina! STOP IT!" Osamu shouted out, "I am willing to die, I would rather die here than hear you promise yourself to this murderer!" Osamu was growing agitated at the exchange he was witnessing. He was struggling against the hold the guards still had upon him, but he couldn't give a damn about them. He had to protect Hina. He had to save her, not her save him.

"I am not asking for your trust… I know I will need to earn it. Just let him live. Please…" Hina whispered, closing the gap between them and stepping up onto the ledge just below the one he stood on. Hina saw his expression, which was still livid and blood thirsty, soften ever so slightly as he surveyed her.

"I never lied… not about how I felt… how I feel…"Hina whispered to him, her fingers pressing harder into his chest, creasing the material. She was hanging onto him desperately as if she would die if he didn't listen to her, if he didn't believe her. Desperate wasn't a word that even matched the shattering need she had. If this didn't work, if she couldn't repair her transgressions with words and promises, Osamu would die. There was no escaping that fact. She wasn't lying when she said she would do anything. Hina knew without a doubt she would go to the ends of the earth if he asked her to. She'd be his devoted little slave girl, the way he'd always wanted her to be.

"I love you…" Hina blurted the words out.

"HINA!" Osamu shouted out from behind her in revulsion. She loved him? Was she really just saying that to free him! She had to know the consequences of such a promise. He would take advantage of her words. He couldn't allow her to do that for him! She could still live a life. She needed to get away from him.

"Hina! Don't promise yourself to this monster!" Osamu shouted out again. Hina turned her head to glance towards Osamu, a weak smile crossing her devastated face.

"I'm sorry… But it's the truth…" Hina responded before turning her attention back to the monster she needed to believe her.

"Please… understand… I was afraid… afraid of what I… What I felt, for you… Please… I'm not… afraid anymore… I'm afraid of losing you…" Hina trailed of in a whisper. She stared up into the man's hardened eyes, her own distorted with her absolute desire and need for him to believe her. Bakura stepped down onto Hina's step and reached out with his hand to wipe a tear away from her cheek. Hina closed her eyes gently, enjoying the warmth of his fingertips. When she opened them, he was staring at her his expression soft.

"I will never betray you again. Just… let me belong to you again…" Hina whispered almost desperate for his touch, not wanting it to end. He dropped the knife he'd been carrying and it clattered on the floor.

"I never stopped owning you," He responded softly. Hina felt a smile pull on her lips. She leant forwards and met his kiss with an eagerness she couldn't quite understand. She didn't want to acknowledge just how much she'd missed him or how much she'd craved to be this close to him, touching, feeling his fingers graze over her bruised and beaten body.

She felt the muscles beneath her touch loosen and relax. She exhaled the deepest breath she could ever remember taking. She lent forwards, resting her forehead against the man's chest, burying her face against him and closing her eyes. She smiled against him as she felt his hand drift over her body, coming to rest at her hip. She'd done it. She'd somehow broken through to him, got him to stop, to understand she regretted her actions more than he could ever comprehend. She exhaled a breath again. This was where she belonged. She didn't mind promising herself, her everything, to this man, not if it meant her only living family surviving. She would do whatever he wanted, be whatever he wanted, and give him whatever he wanted. Hina nestled her head further against him peace and relief washing over her.

Something was wrong. Something was very spectacularly wrong. Hina frowned against him, the fabric of his T-shirt soft against her battered skin. Hina recognised this feeling, but couldn't remember why. What was it? The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as the sense of dread opened up cavernously in the pit of her stomach. Hina, with as much force as she could muster, pushed herself away from Bakura stumbling back down the steps, her eyes wide with panic. She gazed at him almost in confusion, but there was no mistaking what was about to happen. The air around him was pulsing with power before it burst from him. Tendrils of a dark mass exploded outwards, his body suddenly the source of the shadows. His expression had changed to one Hina didn't recognise. He was evil, pure evil in that single moment. The vines moved, curling about sickeningly before locking onto their target in less than a second. They darted forwards faster than a speeding bullet, swerving around Hina and heading towards the figure knelt on the floor several meters behind her. Hina felt the scream die in her throat before she'd even had the chance to cry out a warning. There was no escaping the shadows. Hina turned in time to see the ribbons of darkness enveloping Osamu, wrapping around his body as if trying to squeeze the life out of him. Osamu writhed about trying to free himself, but once in the clutches of darkness, there was no escape. Hina stared open mouthed as her eyes met Osamu's in a last terrifying stare. She watched as the vines warped and sucked him up, smothered him, stealing those eyes from her. Emotion choked Hina as air left her lungs. Everything was moving so slowly. Hina watched as the shadows disappeared almost as suddenly as they had appeared, dissipating back into the nothingness they'd been summoned from. In their wake, a body remained swaying precariously on his knees for barely a second before pitching forwards. Hina found the ability to move again. She ran forwards, falling to her knees with a skid as she reached Osamu's side. Not caring how much it hurt, Hina pulled the body and rolled him onto his back with shaking fingers. Hina stared down into a face she should recognise, she did recognise it, but didn't at the same time. It was Osamu, it looked like him, all the details were there, but it wasn't him. His eyes were dull and glazed now. Hina felt the whimper leave her mouth as she knelt over the man. Her whimper quickly became anguished cries. She clutched onto Osamu's hand and noticed how it was still warm. The warmth was disappearing slowly but surely.

"No, no" Hina let out the strangled groan, her voice breaking, elongating her words. She pressed her face against the man's chest, she couldn't breathe. The emotion was so raw so painful she couldn't find the strength to inhale oxygen properly.

Osamu please…" Hina cried bringing her face back up to stare down into his void of life one. Her tears spilled over and down her chin, dripping onto Osamu's rough weathered skin.

"Please… Please… come back to me… Osamu… please…" Hina begged hysterically, her voice breaking. She rested her forehead against his and stared into his half open lifeless eyes. She continued to sob helplessly burying her face into Osamu's chest once more, her arms wrapped around him.

Hina continued to violently shake as she tried to adorn herself to Osamu's body, as if that would somehow bring him back to her. The room was silent, other than for her noises of increasing despair. She couldn't stop, she couldn't pull the hole she'd just had teared into her, closed. There was no way to repair herself, not this time. She felt herself flush with a rage like never before, a hatred so vile and venomous it burned like acid in her bones. She lifted her head up from Osamu's chest as she heard footsteps approaching her from behind. She didn't care. She knew who to expect. Her face felt red and eyes tired from her crying. She knew without a doubt she would look horrendous.

"Fix him," She seethed, the words barely audible. When he didn't reply she glared over her shoulder, eyes narrowing.

"Fix this, now." She commanded with as much loathing intoxicating her words as she could muster.

"No." He responded coldly. Hina was on her feet before she even knew what was happening. She stormed towards him a crazed expression in her face he had never seen before. The guards had been expecting as much and leapt to the aid of their King. Hina pulled against her captors, straining to get close enough to rip his throat out. It took four men to hold her back in her current state of rage, even so, she still managed to pull herself close enough to him so barely 3 foot separated them. She growled at him her eyes burning as tears blurred her vision.

"YOU'VE MADE YOUR DAMN POINT! FIX HIM!" Hina screamed in his face deliriously. The King just surveyed her for several moments, a smirk playing across his lips. He'd never seen her so worked up before, her face streaming and ugly from tears she'd shed, eyes full to bursting with a white hot fury he was sure was on the verge of matching his own when he thought of his people and the village they'd perished in. She had to be restrained by four of his guards and he marvelled at her strength, despite the severe injuries she supported. Bakura leaned in close to her, his lips brushing against her ear.

"You got your wish, he isn't dead," He spoke his tone colder than ice. He straightened back up, expression blank. Hina stopped fighting. She slumped in her jailors grip, her body shaking violently. They released her, where she sunk to the floor at Bakura's feet. Bakura glanced down at her once more before walking past her and out of the room. Upon reaching the exit, he made a gesture with his hand and the guards sprung to life, acting on his unspoken demand.

Hina felt the movement behind her and turned in time to see Guards reaching towards Osamu. She snarled incoherently as she rushed them, pushing them away from his lifeless body.

"Don't you dare touch him, if you so much as lay a finger on him I'll fucking rip you apart," Hina snarled, crouching over Osamu protectively, almost predatory. She couldn't stand the thought of these fools, these idiot traitors touching her friend, her only family. She would kill them. The guards looked taken aback by her violent threat. She had never been a sweet little girl, but she'd never been thought of as a monster, however she was acting very much the latter. They hesitated, but soon enough they moved forwards once again. Hina tried desperately to lash out at them. She didn't want anyone to touch him, she couldn't let them. She was easily over powered. She was dragged away from Osamu, screaming and thrashing out as she was hoisted off her feet around the middle. She flailed, kicking out desperate to free herself and return to Osamu's side. She couldn't leave him like this. In the end, the inevitable occurred, she lost. She was bundled out of the room and taken back to the confines of her bedroom. Hina was thrown inside and the door locked before she even had chance to comprehend what had happened. Hina remained where she lay, sprawled across the floor.

Anguish hit her now, full force. It berated down upon her mercilessly, pounding her down, grinding her into dust. She rolled onto her stomach and retched. She emptied her stomach of its contents and continued the motion for several minutes. Loss was not something she'd ever handled well and this one hit her like a speeding train.

Sorrow and anger burned her, more than any form of torture ever could. She didn't feel herself and part of her wondered if the sense of loss hadn't suddenly caused temporary insanity, but that part of her wasn't big enough to be heard over the ferocity of her loss. She could see red, her mind focused on nothing other than the hatred burning within her chest. Hina felt the anger take over her and let out a strangled animalistic yell, a cry that echoed off the walls and through the room eerily. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, empowering her with strength she shouldn't possess. Hina lashed out at her surroundings, taking her anger, dread and horror out on the inanimate objects. She smashed her way through the room, turning the TV to a smashed up piece of plastic. She kicked out at the coffee table, sending it scattering halfway across the room, clattering loudly as it did. Hina turned her attention to the bathroom. She walked with purpose towards the room and stopped before the mirror. She watched her reflection for a moment, seeing her chest rise and fall dramatically, her expression unrecognisable. Without any warning, Hina smashed her fist as hard as she could into the mirror. It fractured upon impact, a spider web of cracks spreading out across the surface from her fist. Hina withdrew her hand before lashing out again. She repeated the onslaught until the whole thing shattered, pieces of mirror raining down and scattering across the room like reflective droplets of rain. Hina stepped forwards and picked a large jagged shard up from the sink. She held it like a knife, her fingers curling around the sharp edges. Using her newly made tool, Hina returned to the bedroom and proceeded to plunge the makeshift knife into anything she could. She tore the upholstered sofa to shreds, ragged her mattress into ribbons and turned the bedding into scraps of unrecognisable fabric. She spilled the contents of her pillows across the room like some horrid furniture murder scene. Hina turned her furious glazed eyes upon the bed. With every ounce of strength she had left, Hina tried desperately to throw it. She wasn't strong enough and the bed simply upturned, crunching as it did, the head board buckling from its own weight. Once she'd destroyed everything she possibly could, Hina sank to her knees in the middle of the chaos. She gazed at her hands, soaked in blood, the jagged shard still clutched tightly in her palm. With sickening realisation, Hina threw the shard away from herself. Reality settled back into place. She lifted her hand up, gazing at the gash in her palm with numbness. The pain of it never hit her. She couldn't feel it, not really. She was in a daze, unable to understand anything.

"You sick Bastard," Hina choked the words out to no one in particular.

"I wish I'd died. I wish you'd have killed me the day we met." Hina whispered as she watched blood oozing from her palm.

"You want this to be my life?" She asked the room as she lifted her eyes to the emptiness around her. It was as if the room mocked her and how alone she really was now. Joey had been taken away from her. Marik and Yugi were gone, Odion was dead. Now he'd stripped her of the only person that remained grounding her to this world.

"I will die before I serve you again! I will take my own life if I have to, just to get away from you! I want nothing to do with you! I want you dead! I WILL SEE YOU DEAD AT MY FEET OR I WILL DIE TRYING YOU SICK FREAK!" Hina roared out, standing up as her anger flared once more.

Bakura heard her words from the other side of her door. He didn't know if she knew he was there, or if she was just shouting for the hell of it. He'd heard the commotion of her ruining her bedroom. He was well aware of the strength her anguish and hatred had briefly given her. He was also aware of the further damage exerting herself while injured had done. He exhaled quietly. He didn't regret what he'd done, although he did feel remorseful for the pain he'd caused the girl. There had been no other option for him though. When he'd seen what Rokurou had done to her, he had been shaken. It had shaken him, the King of this pathetic mortal world, him, the great Thief King. He'd found her in that room, his torture chamber, barely alive. Blood pooled around her like stuffing from a toy. He had known Rokurou wouldn't hold back, that he'd do what Bakura himself was incapable of doing, but he had never expected to see her so broken and close to death. She was his weakness and the feeling of losing control made his head spin and his stomach clench. He wasn't used to not having control and he was desperate to regain it, to find some control once again. He'd never actually planned to kill Osamu, the girls friend, despite the show he'd put on for her. He had wanted to see her reaction and what she would do in an attempt to try and stop him. He'd always planned to steal the boys soul, to seal it away deep within the shadows in a place only he knew how to access. He could control her once more with this hanging over her head, he was once more in charge of her, above her. He ruled and she could do nothing but obey. He was shocked at the severity of her reaction. Osamu wasn't dead, he hadn't killed him. She could get him back. He wasn't lost to her forever. So why the despair? Why the anger, the pain, the hatred? Hina confused him. Ryo had never before been so active, so strong against him. He was of course much stronger than his pathetic host, but if that were really true, wouldn't he have disposed of the source of such weakness ages ago? The truth was, the idea of killing the girl wasn't an idea he entertained. He could of course give her away, pass her on to one of the families or somewhere worse, but again, he couldn't entertain the idea. He found himself attached to her, like a child with a favourite toy. She was his favourite toy and he planned to possess her for the rest of his life. He smirked at the words he'd just heard her yell. Even in death she could never hope to escape him. He'd pull her soul out of the void and treasure it forever. There was no escaping him, not when she'd played him so well, enticed him in and got him addicted.