Author's Note: I have no idea if any of my old readers are still active on here, but on the off chance some of you are, I just want to take this moment to apologise for the insanely long wait on me continuing this story. Like, where the heck did those years go? Hopefully this is a case of better late than never. Big, big shout out to Gibbous1992 for helping me get back into this and listening to me ramble on about plot ideas. Honestly, you've been an insane amount of help. So, yeah, if you read, enjoy. Xx

Chapter 42

Hina felt the darkness swallow her up and could do nothing to prevent it. She tried to scream, but no noise escaped her lips. She was drowning, drowning in the eternal darkness that threatened her very existence. The light above her teased Hina as she sank deeper within herself, knowing with a frightening certainty there would be no escaping for her. Not this time. The glimmer of light grew smaller with each passing second as she continued to fall. Cold cruel laughter erupted around her, smothering all other senses. The laughter grew louder and louder, shattering all around her until it reverberated inside her very soul. Hina tried to scream out again as she hurtled further into the dark. The air was knocked out of her as she smashed against the ground with bone shattering force. Hina clambered to gasp for breath against the devastating ache the impact had created within her body. Hina rolled onto her side, winded. She opened her eyes, unaware of when exactly she'd closed them. Hina blinked in the dim light, frowning slightly. Using her shaky arms, she pushed herself up from the ground into a sitting position, marvelling over her apparent lack of injuries. She was sat in a room of the likes she could never recall seeing before. Hina stood up off the floor and felt the softness of carpet beneath her bare feet. She gazed down at the crisp clean floor, her puzzlement growing further. She curled her toes into the soft fibres and felt the plushness of the material against her skin. It felt strangely relaxing. She lifted her gaze back to the room, keen to examine it. The walls were solid and unbroken, a simple glass window set into the right wall, weak sunlight streaming in between the slats of crisp white blinds. There was a comfy looking sofa, a coffee table and a Television set to her right, before the window. Casting her eyes around the rest of the apartment, she saw a small but ample sized kitchen, the white surfaces and appliances gleaming. Hina stepped further towards the strange looking appliances, her eyes growing wide with surprise.

"What is this place?" Hina spoke quietly to herself, her mouth dry.

She'd never seen such a normal and ample home before. Turning on the spot again, Hina saw three doors leading off from this main room. She made to head to the nearest one, made of simple beige wood, when the largest one rattled in its frame. Hina stopped, eyes growing confused. She turned to the large door curiously. It rattled in its frame again as someone on the other side hammered upon the surface. Hina frowned, examining the door. It didn't look right; it didn't look like it belonged in this pretty and simple apartment. The other doors were pale in colour. This door was larger and intricate in design. It boasted grandeur and shone brightly in the light of the room. Hina stepped closer towards it, wanting to run her finger tips over the gleaming golden surface, but stopped in her tracks as it shook violently once more. Fear, deep rooted and terrible, seeped into Hina as she stared at the door as its rattling became violent. Turmoil split across her chest, the likes of which she could never remember feeling before. The realisation she didn't want that door to open hit her rather suddenly. Hina forced herself to step closer to it, wanting to press herself against the door. As she stepped closer, the heavy door swung open with an almighty crash. Hina jumped backwards as dark thick rolling fog crept into the room. She stepped away, body trembling, as a figure appeared in the doorway, shrouded in shadows. Hina couldn't make any details about the silhouette out, only that the feeling of terror further increased the longer she stood, trying to make the figure out. The person stepped over the threshold. Hina stared wide eyed at the stranger.

Hina tried to open her mouth to speak, but found she was incapable of pulling together any words as the person stepped further into the apartment, eyes scanning over the area with disinterest. Hina didn't recognise the man at all. Who was he? Why had he stormed in here, and where even was here? Questions flitted through Hina's mind haphazardly as she examined the man in stunned silence. He was tall and stood towering over her. His body was broad and muscled. Hina reflected that what he wore was peculiar clothing, much of the man's dark skin left on show. Once his eyes had scanned the room, he set his sights on Hina, a cruel smirk spreading across his defined face.

"I was hoping for more signs of corruption," He mused, folding his arms across his chest. Hina was uncertain why, but she felt like she recognised that cruel smirk. Hina couldn't remember, in fact she couldn't remember anything from before the room she was in. Hina tried to wrack her brain, feeling as if something was gnawing on the edges of her consciousness. There was something important she was doing. She turned away from the man and walked back into the centre of the room, looking around. Smoke curled at the corners, but mostly stayed back from her. She frowned at the shadows. They were swirling like mist, but thicker, denser. She felt the threat they imposed and she recognised the feeling of fear they incited. She turned back to the man. He'd not moved from his spot. He was watching her with a cruel triumphant expression upon his face. Hina felt suddenly compelled to speak to him, her insides squirming uncomfortably.

"Who are you?" She asked quietly.

"Hina!" Marik exclaimed, reaching the collapsed girl's side. He pulled her onto her back and saw her head loll to the side. His eyes snapped up as Yugi approached them. He watched as Yugi bent down next to the girl, his serious eyes searching over the unconscious girl with concern.

"Pharaoh, what's wrong with her?" a small voice whispered from behind him. Everyone's eyes diverted back towards the palace. Bakura had stood up gingerly, his arm wrapped around his middle. He stumbled forwards, his expression pained.

"Ryo," Yugi spoke, striding to the man's side. He took his arm and helped him stagger over to the fallen girls side. Ryo let out a small pained noise as Yugi lowered him down next to her. Ryo winced, but leant forwards, examining the girl.

"Hina," He spoke her name through a grimace. He wanted, no, needed her to be okay. He could feel he was free of the spirit. He was actually in control of his own body, a feeling he'd not felt in what felt like forever. The evident vacancy within himself was freeing and liberating. He needed the girl he credited for redeeming him from the spirit to be okay.

"Hina," He spoke her name again, finding more urgency within his tone now.

"Hina," A soft, barely there voice echoed very gently around the room. Hina glanced around curiously. She knew she'd heard someone speak her name, but there was only herself and the stranger here. The man had still not answered her and Hina found his silence unnerving. She met his cold grey eyes and saw brutality there. Upon hearing her name being whispered, his expression had grown more ferocious. There was a slight tick in his clenched jaw and his eyes had narrowed. Hina could practically taste the fury coming off him and the sensation she was in perilous danger threatened to overwhelm her.

"Who are you?" She asked again, struggling to fight against the blankness of her mind. The man's face relaxed, splitting into a malevolent grin, finding her question amusing.

"How could you not recognise me, girl?" He asked, unfolding his arms and stepping towards her. Hina felt the alarm bells go off in her mind. She realised with awful certainty that she didn't want to be in arms reach of the man.

"After all we've been through together?" His harsh voice asked in mock disbelief. He took another purposeful step towards her. Hina shook her head as he drew closer. She felt the fear creeping up over her, seeping into her very bones. He ignited terror like never before and Hina wanted to run, to escape.

"I… I don't know what you're talking about," Hina said uncertainly. The man lifted a hand and pushed his white fringe from his eyes, throwing his head back and laughing harshly. The sound of his mirthless laugh echoed unnaturally loud around the small apartment. It was so loud, Hina had to clamp her hands over her ears against the consuming noise. The sound of the mans cruel laugh stirred within her mind. She knew the sound. She recognised it. Hina stepped back and felt her legs hit against the side of the sofa. She gazed up at the man as he stopped laughing, a grin still firmly in place.

"Oh, sweet Hina," he spoke eyes glinting. He approached her and Hina shrank away from him. He stopped before her, where she stood cowering, trapped between him and the chair. He leant down, eyes still glinting malevolently. Hina tried to shy away as his face grew closer to hers. Before she had chance to react further, she felt his mouth press harshly against hers. Hina closed her eyes as his lips caressed hers with ferocity. Despite the kiss, Hina felt no affection or warmth within it. There was no fondness. Hina felt him begin to retract from her, and as he did a tidal wave seemed to crash over her. Hina fell back, over the side of the sofa as she was blinded by the sudden flood and onslaught of memories. She tumbled to the floor, knocking the table back. Hina didn't notice, above the shock and confusion exploding within her mind. She blinked and stared up at the man towering above her, a smirk still etched across his face.

"You," She breathed, "You're the spirit," It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Hina knew without being told exactly who this person before her was. She was overcome with an immense wave of grief and confusion as she examined her restored memories, wondering how she could have forgotten them so quickly. Despite herself, a sense of warmth and fondness threatened to overcome her as she stared up into the white haired man's cruel expression. A lump formed in her throat and she fought to swallow it back, not wanting to show weakness in his presence.

"You catch on fast," He mused.

"Where are we?" Hina asked, forcing herself to stand up. She had no idea where this place was and her last memory was of Yugi seemingly over throwing Bakura and eradicating the spirit from the ring. After that, her mind was blank and fuzzy and try as she might, she couldn't recall anything after. A horrible thought suddenly occurred to her.

"Am I dead, are we dead?" She asked panicked. Bakura let out a laugh. It was humourless and menacing, echoing eerily around the room, almost as if to mock her.

"No, but isn't that what you'd have wanted?" He spoke harshly. Hina didn't move. She felt as if she was balancing precariously on a knife's edge as she conversed with the man and that at any moment she would teeter and fall.

"You tried very hard to defeat me," He continued, prowling towards her very purposefully. Hina shook her head, tears springing into her eyes. She gazed at him with sadness, remembering. He'd wanted her by his side as he destroyed the world all over again. Hina had done what she had to, to insure the city's survival. She remembered running down that dark corridor, the golden puzzle clutched within her hands. She recalled, when he'd caught her, how he'd stabbed her. Her eyes drifted down to her stomach. There didn't seem to be a wound and the light-coloured fabric was clean and bore no tears. She looked back up at him, refusing to step away.

"I could say the same to you," She retorted, recalling the searing agony but above that, the shock. She'd genuinely believed him, believed he could care. She'd been a fool. Hina stared up into the mans face, examining his new features. He had a large scar running down the side of his face, marring the tough dark skin. His grey eyes seemed void of light as they narrowed nastily.

"Where. Are. We?" Hina asked again, this time empathising each word pointedly. She was not about to cower away from this demon again, not when she believed she was already dead. What more could he do to her if he'd already succeeded in murdering her? He laughed at her again. Hina refused to retaliate, to show how his mirthless laughter unnerved her. He would not provoke a reaction out of her.

"We, girl, are within your soul," He grinned toothily at her, "And I have taken control of your body,"

"Hina?" Ryo asked cautiously as the girl's eyes snapped open. It had taken Hina a while to regain consciousness and in the time she'd been asleep, Ishizu had redressed the wound upon her abdomen. There had been a small commotion around them as people celebrated the downfall of the King. Kaiba had abandoned them in search of his brother within the palace walls. Yugi had been tempted to go with him and search for his friends, but something had stopped him from doing so. He wanted to find his friends, more than anything. He knew Joey had to still be alive at the very least, from what the girl herself had said, but he had a nagging sensation within himself that he must stay. That maybe his destiny wasn't quite over with yet. He looked over as the girl, Hina, sat up. She turned her eyes to the silver haired man besides her.

"Ryo?" She asked.

"Yes, yes its me," He answered her, taking her hand in his. The emotion was evident within his voice as he stared at the girl properly, for the first time. He marvelled at the fact he didn't have to battle to keep conscious, to keep his own gaze fixed on the girl and not fight with the spirits.

"Is the ring…?" Her voice trailed off as she spoke.

"Gone," Ryo finished, "Yugi cleansed it of the spirit. He's gone. He's finally gone…" Ryo bit back tears as the realisation of those words sunk in. The spirit was finally gone. He didn't have to think about the millennium ring and its inhabitant ever again. He was free. Ryo gestured towards Yugi and a smile split across the man's haggard face.

"Yugi," Ryo spoke as if seeing Yugi for the first time. "Yugi, I'm… I'm so sorry," Ryo spoke, choking the words out. The Pharaoh's face softened and he approached. He knew it wasn't the mans fault. He couldn't have fought the spirit of the millennium ring, no matter how hard he tried. Yugi held a hand out to Ryo, who took it gratefully. The Pharaoh pulled him to his feet and they embraced.

"We still have to find our friends," Yugi spoke as they pulled apart. Ryo nodded, smiling weakly at the Pharaoh. They turned to Hina, ready to begin exploring the Palace and freeing anyone left imprisoned inside it. Hina stood, swaying on her feet ever so slightly. Her lips were curled and there was a harsh coldness to her gaze that seemed uncharacteristic.

"I think not, Pharaoh," Her voice sounded distorted. The air around her began to pulse and swirl sickeningly. Ryo began to shake as he stepped back from the girl, his eyes growing wide with horror.

"Nnn…nnno" He stammered as he backed away. Hina's mouth opened and let out a shrill ferocious laugh that chilled the very air and shattered the celebrations occurring around them. Marik darted over from a short distance away, his own expression fliting between horror and disgust. He came to a halt besides Yugi as shadows erupted all around Hina. He gritted his teeth.

"She said, before, that he put a piece of his soul within her. My Pharaoh, I… I…" Marik struggled to speak, only now recalling the conversation she had once had with him. Marik couldn't help but curse himself for not recalling the information. Yugi put an arm on Marik's shoulder.

"It is alright, Marik. Although, it seems like our role here is not over yet,"

"My body?" Hina asked glaring up at him, not ready to believe what she knew that meant. Fear rose within her as she stared up into his smug face. He thought he had won over her? Hina wasn't going to let him get away with it that easily. She glanced past him, to the doorway he had entered through. She wondered if she got through there, could she retake control. He let out a bark of laughter, understanding exactly her thought process. His hand shot out, his fingers gripping into her neck painfully. He shoved her back against the wall, trapping her form there. Hina gasped and her hands instinctively flew up to clutch at his bruising fingertips.

"Listen to me, you foolish girl," He snarled, his face awfully close to hers, "I kept my previous host locked away for over ten years. You present no challenge to me," He growled, his fingers never letting up. Hina stopped her feeble attempt of freeing herself and glared up at him. She was not about to allow her body to become a grotesque puppet for him to manipulate. She couldn't sit idly by and allow him to use her to destroy her friends. Her mind wandered to Ryo, the boy finally free of the spirit. He deserved to be completely free and not plagued by the monster before her.

"What's your big idea then, spirit?" She asked, smirking up at him. "Keep me locked away, keep me submissive?"

"You belong to me and I will do with your soul as I see fit," He barked back at her, eyes flashing dangerously.

"I belong to no one." Hina retorted through gritted teeth, "Least of all, you."

He snarled incoherently before shoving her away from him. He walked around the sofa and to the centre of the room, examining the very ordinary surroundings with distaste. Hina spluttered and rubbed her neck, glad to be free from his grip. She glared after the man with fury. He turned back to her, his smirk firmly back in place.

"I have locked your soul away, you have no means of escape. You do belong to me," He laughed sardonically. Hina rolled her eyes at him as fury burned deep within her. He underestimated her, he'd always underestimated her. Even at her most compliant, at her most broken, she'd always found a way back to fight against him. As she surveyed him now, she could see the difference. The difference between the spirit and Ryo had never been more obvious.

"You couldn't control me before and you damn well won't now," Hina retorted almost exasperated in her tone. She knew, knew deep down, that she would win here. Losing to him was not an option.

"I don't need to control you," He growled, "I just need to trap you here, which I've already succeeded in,"

Hina shook her head. There had to be a way out. She couldn't allow him to use her like this. She thought back, over the time she'd spent with the spirit. There had to be something, some weakness there that she could use now. Despite her efforts, she couldn't think of anything. There was nothing she could use against him. She wanted to get out of this room. Its normalcy mocked her. She wanted to be there with Ryo, with Yugi and Marik. She wanted to find Joey again.

"Bakura," Hina spoke quietly. The turmoil she had felt before was growing within her again. She hadn't been ready for the abrupt farewell she'd expected before. Now, trapped within her own mind, she felt almost relieved to see the spirit again. She hated herself for feeling that way, but Hina couldn't help it. He glared at her, arms folded over her chest. The doorway behind him was still open and more dark shadows slithered into the room. Hina gulped and forced herself to meet his glare.

"I… I never wanted you dead." She stated. His expression softened ever so slightly, before the stern furious expression slipped back in place. He nodded once before exiting the room, the door slamming shut behind him.

"Sorry, Pharaoh, but you can never defeat me!" Hina's distorted voice cackled out as the monsters formed around her, creating a grotesque army.

"Bakura!" Yugi yelled, his voice deep and angry as he faced his foe. "Leave the girl out of this!"

Hina merely laughed shrilly in response to him, her eyes flashing red. She turned her attention to the weakened Ryo standing besides his most despised enemy. Her grin widened as his eyes met hers.

"As for you, my old host," She snarled, "I shall enjoy destroying you for ever daring to get in my way."

Ryo shook his head, not wanting to see what the spirit was doing to the girl he had known, if only briefly. She didn't deserve this, not after all the he had put her through. Ryo held back tears as he met her eyes again. He saw the traces of abuse across her skin and anger bubbled within his chest. He took a step forwards, fists clenched.

"Leave her alone, spirit." Ryo stated with a furious glare. Hina laughed wickedly.

"Take me instead. Just… just leave Hina alone," He continued, his voice becoming pleading as he bargained with his own life.

"No, Ryo!" Yugi exclaimed. Ryo looked sadly back at him, resigned to his fate.

"I promise you, we will get her back." Yugi spoke earnestly."

"I don't want you back anyway," Hina spat amused, "I'm fond of my new host. She's locked tightly away and there will be no escaping for the girl," Hina grinned, tapping her head mockingly.

"Bakura, that's enough!" Yugi exclaimed.

"I may allow her to witness the moment I defeat you, by her hands," She grinned before throwing her arms forwards and launching the monsters attack.

"Bakura! You can't leave me trapped in here!" Hina cried out, showering her fists down upon the golden door he'd exited through. When it became obvious, he wasn't answering her, Hina stepped back from the door and cast her eyes around the room. This was her soul, was it? Hina frowned, crossing her arms. It didn't look very soul like. It looked ordinary, which was especially extra ordinary to her. Any homes Hina could recall had been crumbling and decayed. Was this somehow representing what she wanted? Hina glared back at the door. What she really wanted right now, was to get through this stupid door. How had Ryo done it, escaped his soul's imprisonment at times? Hina closed her eyes and thought back. He'd appeared or had somehow influenced the spirit whenever she was in distress. Hina tried to picture the sweet mans face as she pressed her body against the door. She remembered the kindness in his expression as he looked at her. She remembered how he'd kissed her, his touch delicate and gentle, as if he feared she'd break under the lightest of caresses. Hina imagined him in trouble, him and the others. Bakura was using her body to enact further revenge upon people she cared about. She thought of Yugi, the weakened boy she'd seen trussed up in chains who was now standing taller and stronger, facing down an enemy he believed vanquished. Anger bubbled deep within her chest. How was it fair? How was any of this fair? She gritted her teeth and let out a growl as she rammed her shoulder against the heavy door.

After all they'd been through, after all she had done to assure their victory. Hina slammed herself against the door again, her fury growing. She was not going to allow him to use her body to hurt any more people. He'd done enough. Hina let out a strangled roar and slammed her whole body against the door a final time. The golden door swung open and Hina stumbled backwards. She squared up to the door, waiting with baited breath, wondering if the spirit was going to come sauntering back into her space. When she was satisfied, she was still very much alone, Hina approached the door and pushed the door further, revealing the dense darkness beyond. She stood, staring into the eternal dark, contemplating. Hina felt fear snake up her spine, the longer she stood staring pointlessly into the opaque shadows. She cast her gaze around the room behind her, appreciating just for the moment, the cleanliness and simpleness of the apartment. Hina smiled sadly, before turning back to the swirling mist. There was only one way out of this and it was to walk forwards, into the unknown. Hina took a deep breath, before lifting her foot and stepping out.