A/N: Hello once again! I bring with me another chapter. I've found it getting much harder to write these as the story progresses, especially now I can almost see the ending... Its pretty scary to be fair. Anyway, I really do hope you, my lovely, lovely reader, enjoy this and that its worthy. I'm so, so grateful for anyone who has read this and kept with it especially between my overly long breaks I have a habit of taking between updating, so a million times over, Thank you! Xx

Chapter 38

The girl left shortly after delivering her message. Hina sat in stunned silence as terror washed steadily over her, clinging to her mind and eroding away at whatever happiness and hope she had left. Hina couldn't help but question Marik's sanity. Hadn't he learnt anything from his last attempt to defeat Bakura? It can't be done. He'd lost his brother in the attempt. Surely, if nothing else, that should tell him to stop. Hina shook her head as she glared down at her plate of food, the small appetite she'd had vanishing in an instant. She pushed the plate away from herself and stood up, contemplating her options.

She could tell him, tell Bakura an attack was imminent. If she did that, she might be able to stop a huge amount of blood shed. She'd regain his trust and he might even allow her to have Osamu back. Hina liked the idea, entertained it even. Bakura could just capture those wanting to oppose him. He might spare Marik and his army. Would Ryo ever forgive her if she did such a thing? Would he blame her for betraying them? Even as Hina contemplated taking such an action, she knew she could never do it. She wouldn't be able to forgive or live with herself if she did. Bakura wouldn't be kind or merciful to them if she turned them in. He'd lock their souls away in the shadows that he so easily used and manipulated. Hina could do nothing but let the events unfold. All-out war was coming to the Kings City and there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Her thoughts wandered to Osamu. She missed him terribly, but she knew what he'd want her to do. He would never want her to give in. He would want Hina to keep on fighting. Hina closed her eyes as she tried to remain calm. She'd have to do her very best to distract Bakura, until Marik made his move. The more attention Hina could divert in her direction, the more chance Marik and his supposed army would have to seep throughout the city, infecting it like a disease. She had to do everything in her power to make their job a little easier. Hina didn't fancy their chances much, but she needed to do everything she could. Hina walked back over to her bed and gingerly lowered herself onto its surface. She stretched her legs out, wincing against the dull ache that seemed to smother every inch of her body. She was still suffering from her beating and she doubted the aches would ever truly go away. Lying back, she glared up at the ceiling, suddenly deep in thought. The items the girl had given her were still clutched in her hand. Hina glanced at them and reached around with great difficulty, but she managed to stuff them under her thin mattress. She exhaled and returned to her thoughts. Hina knew what she had to do and she felt sick at the prospect, but knew there was no other way. She'd have to distract him, almost in the same way she had before. It wasn't going to be easy and she didn't want it to be. Hina grimaced against her thoughts.

"Damn," She muttered under her breath as she closed her eyes.

Hina was awoken quite suddenly. Her eyes snapped open. A figure was leaning over her. Hina recognised the person all too easily. The king's eyes were narrowed with scrutiny as he glared down at her. Hina blinked. She hadn't meant to, but she'd fallen back to sleep while waiting for his return. Memories of the girl came flooding back to her. Hina knew she had a plan and she intended to stick to it. Then she remembered what she'd been doing before the girl's appearance. She'd been having a bath. Hina sat up quite suddenly, her hands scrambling to clutch the towel tightly around herself. She'd fallen asleep with nothing but a towel wrapped around her. She winced at her sudden jerky erratic movements, but was glad to find the towel was still wrapped, albeit loosely, around her tiny frame.

"It's not often I come back to find a naked girl waiting for me. Did you really miss me that much?" Bakura teased, an arrogant smirk plastered across his smug face. Hina scowled at him and looked away, trying to disguise the embarrassment that was obvious in her own expression.

"You haven't eaten," He spoke sternly as he straightened up.

"I… I wasn't hungry…" Hina replied stubbornly. Hina shifted her weight awkwardly and winced as her joints creaked in protest.

"Do you need a hand?" Bakura smirked. Hina scowled back at him, but couldn't bring herself to protest. He held a hand out to her and Hina took it. He grinned toothily at her before dragging her up off her simple bed. He used too much force in pulling Hina up, causing her to trip and stumble into him. Hina cried out before falling against his chest.

"You know, if you wanted to touch me, all you had to do was ask," Bakura spoke smugly. Hina pushed herself up off him and stepped backwards, looking away from him in what she hoped was a bashful manner as she still held her towel in place. Hina felt the unmistakable sensation of colour rushing to her cheeks. It was the first time she'd truly appreciated just how easy it was for this man to make her blush.

"What… what do you want? Why'd you wake me?" Hina demanded, refusing to look him in the eye.

"I have my duties to attend to," He replied, turning his back on Hina and walking across the room until he reached his bed. He threw himself on to it, lounging back, his arms folded behind his head.

"Duties?" Hina asked scornfully.

"My kingdom needs checking on, once in a while. Surely you haven't forgotten the city patrol we went on previously." He sneered. Hina remembered all too well. It had been a blood bath. People desperate for freedom had acted exactly as they needed to and in return they were cut down and slaughtered like animals. She would never forget that.

"I won't go." Hina scowled, folding her arms as best as she could with one arm still in a sling.

"Unfortunately, you don't get a say," He snarled back at her in response. Hina shook her head slightly as she tried to pull together a valid argument. She had to come up with a legitimate reason. She couldn't allow him to go in to the city. He might see or sense something was wrong and then Marik's plan would be over, done with. Hina had to buy them some time. She had to try.

"Please… I'm begging," Hina choked the words out as she met his gaze with imploring eyes.

"I look a mess… I look awful and… I don't want anyone seeing me like this… Let me heal up a bit first… Please…" Hina pleaded with him, approaching Bakura cautiously. Bakura watched her with disdainful eyes. He didn't care what pleas she made at him, if he had to throw the girl over his shoulder, they would still be going.

"You'll travel like you did last time. No one will see you, if you behave that is. Hina gulped and shook her head desperately. She didn't want to go. She had no desire to leave this room at all. In a way she had become fearful of the outside world. Here, in this room, she knew the only monster she needed and had to survive was the one stood before her. Out there, there were so many unknowns. It dawned on Hina that it wasn't just the prospect of allowing Marik more privacy from the Kings eyes to conduct whatever insane plan it was he had, but it was also for herself. Locked away in the Kings room, she felt somehow safe. She was away from the Kings Guard, she was safely out of Rokurou's grasps.

"I'm scared," Hina admitted out loud as she physically began to quake. Bakura glanced at the girl. She looked pathetic, more so than he'd seen her look before. He hated to admit it, but he felt a deep seated twinge in his heart at seeing her looking so distraught. Her hair was messy, wisps of it standing at strange angles from sleeping on it straight after her bath. One arm hung limply by her side and the other clutched the pure white towel around her damaged body. The bruises she'd acquired had long since turned a sickly shade of yellow and tainted her skin horribly. She was biting her lip as she obviously held back tears. Bakura shook his head as he stood up off his bed and approached the quaking girls.

"What do you have to fear, I'm the scariest thing on this planet and I won't harm you," He said with a toothy grin as he patted Hina on the head. Hina winced and took a shaky step back.

"No one will hurt you, without my say so, at least." He finished, his expression going serious as the implication of who he was referring too became all too clear. Hina knew instantly what he meant. Rokurou wouldn't hurt her, not without permission. She had nothing to fear. That didn't stop her from feeling scared though. She hadn't just acquired physical injuries from her time at the palace, they had of course run a lot deeper than that.

"I… I can't…" Hina whispered. She didn't want to go. She couldn't imagine facing it. She didn't want to leave the familiarity of the room. The outside world and the prospect of suddenly finding herself exploring it really did make her fearful. She couldn't say exactly what it was she was afraid of out there, but it felt horrible.

"I am giving you five minutes to get dressed," Bakura barked the order, as he marched over to a set of drawers and opened them. He pulled out a clump of fabric and chucked them towards Hina. Hina let them fall to her bare feet as she maintained eye contact with the King.

"If you haven't got yourself ready in that time, I'll not hesitate in dragging you out naked or not. If you do choose to be naked, I will have to kill anyone who looks at you," He added with a grin. Hina felt her cheeks betray her and flush. She stooped down to pick up the clothes he'd thrown at her.

"Good girl," She heard him mutter before he left the room, the door snapping closed behind him.

Hina dressed quickly, not caring what clothes he'd picked out for her. Hina would have found herself pleasantly surprised if she had given a damn. It was a simple beige coloured dress that fell to the floor and was belted around the middle. Her back and chest were partially exposed by the neckline, but not enough to make her incredibly uncomfortable. Hina ran her fingers through her hair, trying her best to tame it. When she realized it wasn't going to behave, she marched to the bathroom and examined her reflection. She dampened her hands and smoothed the short locks down. She walked out of the bathroom with a resigned grimace only to find herself face to face with Bakura.

"Times up," He sneered. Hina glared at him with as much contempt as she could muster.

"Oh, come now, I thought you'd be happy to be free from your chains for a little while," He smiled holding a single hand up. Looped over his finger was the thin chain that kept her confined to his room. As Hina watched it snapped, just like that. The ends fell to the floor with barely a sound.

"Whatever." Hina dismissed him and walked past him. Before she knew what had happened, He'd grabbed a hold of her by the hair and pulled her back. Hina cried out, startled by his sudden violent act.

"Don't dismiss me so easily, girl," He breathed as his ferocious expression filled Hina's vision.

"I am all you have left in this pathetic world and I will make sure I will be the only thing you ever have in the following." He snarled. Despite the pain in Hina's scalp, she frowned at him, disguising her fear.

"So, if I die, you're dying with me, to follow me to the afterlife? Why didn't you say that before? I'd kill myself if it meant ridding the world of a parasite like you," Hina spat back

"No, foolish girl, If you die I'm dragging your soul back to this wretched planet and keeping it locked away for me to play with as I desire for the rest of time," He smirked before releasing Hina. She stepped back from him, rubbing her head. Was what he'd said really true? Could he do that? Did he even have the power to do that? To pull a soul from the afterlife and keep it for himself? Was he really that powerful? Hina's brain was suddenly full of complicated and inexplicable questions, none of which she was sure she truly wanted answered.

"Are we going then?" Hina asked, turning away from him. Without another word passing between them, Bakura led the way out of the room.

Hina curled up into a ball as she sat inside the carriage. Bakura had for some inexplicable reason decided to travel with her inside it. Hina found herself almost wanting to believe it was to keep her company, knowing that she was incredibly uncomfortable been outside once more. She knew, however, this couldn't be the case. He had an ulterior motive and that put her even more on edge. Hina closed her eyes, refusing to take in any more of her surroundings. The lavish interior of the carriage making her feel sick. Her mind wandered to Marik and the army that was hiding somewhere within the city boundaries. How had they done it? How could they possibly have infiltrated the city without any of the Kings guard knowing? The sudden realisation hit her so hard, she felt stupid for not have figuring it out before. Of course they couldn't have! There was no way an entire army would be able to sneak in undetected, which lead to one possibility. Some of the King guard weren't as loyal as Bakura believed. It was the only way. They would have to of had inside help. How else would Bakura still be completely clueless to their presence.

"What are you thinking?" Bakura demanded suddenly, breaking Hina's chain of thoughts. She glanced over to him and scowled.

"If you weren't such a coward and hid in Ryo's body, I'd have tried killing you a long time ago," Hina spat her eyes narrowed in loathing. Bakura laughed, amused by her detest for him.

"If I believed that, you'd have outlived your welcome a long time ago," Bakura sneered. Hina looked away from him and glanced out the window. When she'd ridden in the carriage thing before the curtains had remained drawn, but now they were fully open, exposing the city to them.

"How do you think this is okay?" Hina asked as her eyes spotted a child in ragged clothes rooting around in a bin, clearly looking for scraps of food. Hina turned back to Bakura and stretched her legs out.

"People, your people, are starving and struggling to survive. Didn't they agree to obey you in exchange for food and a home? So why are you so cruel to them?" Hina demanded. Bakura had watched her with his arms folded across his chest, a smirk across his lips.

"I mean, okay, yes, your rule IS a dictatorship. The people had no choice in it, but you could do so much with it. If you treated your people with respect and actually did your job, looking after them, making sure everyone had enough food, then the loyalty you would gain in time would be much more powerful than the fear you clearly enjoy creating." Hina spoke, unsure when she'd really started to waffle on. She was, after all, talking to the king of evil intent. Sometimes, despite everything, she forgot that. She was covered in injuries from him, her will to survive had wavered greatly because of the man sat opposite her, yet she still managed to forget just how horrible he was.

"Are you really trying to talk me into doing good?" He sneered at her. Hina exhaled slowly as a lump formed in her throat. It was useless, she should have known that from the start. There was no way he would ever be talked around, he'd never understand humans and their complex needs and emotions.

"No," Hina replied before adding, "I'm not stupid enough to think you'd ever be able to change," She grumbled, sitting back and looking back out the window.

"What would you have me do? Take in poor starving orphans?" He pursued the topic with arrogance and amusement in his tone. It frustrated Hina to no end. She shouldn't have ever started on the idea. Hina folded her arms across her chest and glowered, refusing to give him eye contact. She hated him, hated everything he stood for. He was evil and there was no getting around that. She wanted to shudder in disgust at the very memory of how she'd allowed him to ever touch her. It made her sick.

"Or should I free all my slaves, give these fools free will?" He continued. Hina tried to block him out. He was draining her with each moment she spent close to him. His very presence exhausted her.

"Maybe I should pay the workers…"

"STOP MOCKING ME!" Hina exploded suddenly, his constant suggestions sending her over the edge. She glared at him, her anger overloading rationality. She was sprung like a coil and would lash out at him should he provoke her. Bakura was sat, his arms still folded, smirking at her triumphantly. Hina took a few deep breaths.

"I get it, alright, I get it. You're not a nice person, you don't want to be good. Fine. But understand this. You will die. Whether it be tomorrow or in fifty, a hundred years, you will die and when you do, you'll suffer" Hina scowled.

Bakura listened with mild interest to her outburst. Once again, the girl intrigued him. Firstly, her idea that loyalty would win him more than the fear he inflicted did. He had seen just where loyalty got people. Look at the Pharaoh's friends. They were all separated and suffering their own eternal damnation. That's where Loyalty got them. Fear, fear had gotten him the entire world. Hina was still fairly young and completely inexperienced, she had no idea of how the world worked. Bakura thought about his death, and whether it truly was inevitable as the girl seemed to believe. Of course, his hosts body would age, wither and die. His presence in it wouldn't change that, but he could quite easily find another body to inhabit when this one became too old. If Ryo even survived that long, he would ensure he'd give the boy a swift and painless death as a thanks for housing him. He could continue the process for an eternity. There would be no escaping him. This world was his as he claimed it. He would never relinquish control.

"I'm sorry," Hina whispered quite suddenly, pulling Bakura clean out of his thoughts. He focused in on the battered looking girl with curiosity.

"I… I don't wish you dead… as much as I want to… I can't," Hina muttered, gazing at the man in what she hoped appeared timid. She had gone off target completely and needed to get herself back on course with her mission. She couldn't allow him to see much of the city, in case he caught wind that something was different. She had to keep him distracted until they returned to the palace. It was imperative. She had to give Marik the best chance she could. It was the only thing she could do.

"After what I have done… it wouldn't come as any surprise if you did want me dead," He smirked once more, although this time it seemed slightly forced. Hina shrugged, her very bones aching as she did as if reminding her just how damaged she was.

"I… I don't care about that… I told you before… I… I have feelings towards you… They're not so easily forgotten." Hina muttered as emotions came to life within her chest. They weren't the emotions she was so easily professing to having, these were caused by the memories of when she'd first declared such a statement, back when Osamu's soul was still in his body. She missed Osamu terribly and it felt like years since she'd last seen him, when in fact it was merely days. Hina forced the memory of her friend and family from her mind, knowing remembering him now would only conflict with what she had to do. Hina took a deep breath and made eye contact with the King as her heart pounded away. Old feelings did seem to spark back into being as she gazed at him, although this time she was in control of how much she felt. They were still there, those feelings for him, but now she could harness them like she never had been able to do before. Now they were a weapon she could wield.

"As much as I hate to admit it, you're all I have left and I really don't want to be alone," Hina whispered as her breath caught in her throat. She needed to kiss him, but knew she couldn't make the first move. If she did, he would never believe her. He had to initiate it. Hina needed to know he would let his guard down enough to pursue her in the way he had before. In reality, she knew as he had hurt her beyond anything she could have ever imagined before, he'd also been hurt in some way too. She had tried to overthrow him. She had betrayed him when she'd managed to see something other than the cruel sadistic King the rest of the worlds saw. Any trust she'd gained had been lost. Hina was about to retract and withdraw away from their conversation when he moved. He lent forwards, his face coming ever closer to hers and Hina froze, shocked. She hadn't truly believed she'd get him like this again. Hina lent closer instinctively, waiting, almost needing the gentle caress to grace across her lips. Without thinking about it, Hina closed her eyes. When she didn't feel the softness of his lips embracing hers, Hina opened her eyes puzzled. His breath tickled her skin as his mouth almost touched her ear. He was lent over her.

"Nice try," He whispered maliciously into her ear before withdrawing and sitting back in his place smiling smugly. Hina stared wide eyed at him, dumbfounded.

"Girl, you really think that routine would work on me?" He demanded coolly.

"What?" Hina replied legitimately caught off guard and, despite herself, feeling quite hurt.

"You're only trying to get me to give you your friend back, I'm not so easily played, girl," He sneered. Hina glared at him her brow knitted together as she tried not to feel as upset as she did. She wasn't sure why she was feeling so hurt at his reaction to her, but not knowing didn't make it feel any less horrid.

"You're a complete and utter ass," Hina snapped as she tried to reign in her emotions. She curled back up into a ball and buried her face in her arms, refusing to look up until they returned to the palace.

Bakura looked away from her as amusement tugged at his lips. She really was quite astounding. He couldn't deny how impressed he was by her. She'd almost convinced him then, almost. He was ready to give her what she so adamantly wanted him to believe she wanted. Hina had given him a compelling enough argument to believe her. She'd told him exactly what he wanted to hear. She'd admitted he was all she had left and that was how he wanted her to think. He wanted to be the centre of her world and she'd almost got him to believe he'd achieved such a feat. In many ways, she was just as manipulative as he himself was. Hina was in many ways, almost equal to him in the skills she had. It was an enormous credit to her that she'd very nearly manipulated him, yet again. He allowed the grin to form across his expression at the thought. Did she have any idea just how devious all her scheming was? Did she have any idea how impressed he was by her attempts to control him? It was ballsy at the very least, almost suicidal at the most. Bakura made a decision then and there. He would give her what she seemed so desperate to have, but he would do it on his terms. He would manipulate the situation not the other way round and then, then he would see if it truly was what she craved rather than her manipulation.