Authors Note: Hello all! I've enjoyed writing this chapter and navigating some soul room scenes. Although I'm beginning to feel a bit emotional as I'm aware I'm steadily getting to the end. Which is scary haha. Hope you're well and that you enjoy. If you do, feel free to drop me a comment because I live for them. Enjoy!
Chapter44
Ryo stumbled backwards, away from an impossible beast that loomed over him, looking ready to tear him apart. He cried out, shielding his face from the ghastly thing when Yugi stepped before him, he brought his sword down upon the monster, slicing it in two. The monster evaporated into dust.
"Ryo! You must get inside." Yugi cried out in his powerful authoritarian tone. Ryo looked up from his position upon the ground, his body trembling. He was weak, weaker than he'd ever been before. The prolonged time he'd spent locked away in his soul room, shrouded in darkness, had mentally exhausted him. He was no use to anybody out here, fighting wave after wave of shadow monsters. He searched the crowd as he stood up, finding the person he sought. Hina was standing a way back, upon an upturned cart, her head and torso raised above the crowd. He could see the unnatural glee upon her features and his heart twisted painfully. That wasn't her. It was the spirit. He was using the girl's body to continue this battle, this war. Anger rose within his chest at the sight of her ordering the next wave of creature's forwards. Wherever she was, trapped inside herself, Ryo hoped she was alright. He turned and met Yugi's purple gaze. He shook his head.
"No, I must fight too," He breathed, standing up tall and facing the battlefield.
"Ryo," Yugi began, but the white-haired boy cut across him.
"No, I must!" He exclaimed. His eyes ran around the surrounding floor. He saw what he was looking for and darted a few feet to the side. Ryo snatched up a discarded sword there and straightened up, clutching the blade between both hands, a resigned but determined expression across his face. The Pharaoh's expression softened ever so slightly, seeing the resolve in the man's eyes. He knew that level of determination well and knew there would be no talking him out of it. Very well. They would fight side by side. The Pharaoh turned back towards the army of monsters and men approaching them. He could see the leader stood above them, in the distance, her eyes glinting maliciously. The Pharaoh could only hope there was a way to save the innocent girl trapped within her body, for this battle could not go on much longer.
Hina cried out as the man hoisted her off his shoulder and dropped her to the ground at his feet. She was glad to feel the sandy floor beneath her had stopped its ferocious movement. She glared up into the man's face irritably. She had so many questions, none of which she was sure he'd willingly give her. Straightening up, Hina looked around them. She was surprised to see she was in a busy looking town, standing before the most enormous gates she'd ever seen. They were imposing and beautiful and reminded her of the ones Bakura had built around his own palace.
"Where are we?" Hina asked, turning back to the man. He grinned at her.
"You want to see how I got my scar?" He asked, although Hina knew she had no say in the matter. She had to question why he was showing her all this? What was his end game here? Did he want her to feel sorry for him, or to understand him? What did it matter, he'd never cared for her opinion.
"I don't have a choice, do I?" Hina replied scornfully, crossing her arms.
"No, you don't." He answered her with a wicked grin. Hina rolled her eyes, resigned. He gestured for her to follow him, and she did so without hesitation. What else could she do? This was his world, his mind, his soul. She could only play along and play the part he wanted. As they approached the gates, Hina was surprised to see them open, by themselves, for them. She watched the white-haired man stroll forwards, coat billowing, as if he owned the place. Hina snorted, unable to help herself. Of course he swaggered around like that. He'd literally taken over the world. He thought himself unstoppable. As Hina thought the words, sadness pricked at her. Here he was, showing himself to her. Allowing her knowledge of his past, and she would betray him at the first opportunity. Again. Were they destined to just screw each other over forever? Hina shook her head, trying to rid the thoughts from her mind. She couldn't think like that. She had to play along and take control over her body at the first opportunity. Her friends were relying on her. She couldn't let them down. Hina's mind faltered upon seeing the palace behind the large gates. If she had thought Bakura's had been impressive back in his city, then this was something else.
The large walls were impressive and tall with dozens of square windows built perfectly into it. There were two ginormous obelisks' either side of the palace entrance, flanked by two statues of, what Hina presumed were, Egyptian gods. As they approached, a group of guards walked past them. Hina tensed, but they didn't look their way. They looked to be dressed the same as the guards who'd attacked the village.
"They can't see us," Bakura mused, glancing over his shoulder at her. Hina nodded curtly, not sure what to say in response. They continued walking and passed through the entrance of the palace. Inside was just as beautiful, if not more so, than the exterior. The walls gleamed and great pictures were carved into the stone. Hina followed the man as he turned down a corridor, his pace quickening. Hina had to jog to keep up. As they went through another large archway, voices reached Hina. The room they were now standing in was huge. She gazed upwards at the large domed ceiling high above them. There were intricate patterns across the stone, leading downwards into huge pillars that supported a walkway that stretched around the entire room. Bakura gestured her over towards one of the pillars to the side. Hina did so, peering around the stone column with interest. There, across the far side of the room, a raised platform stood with a stone throne upon it. A man stood upon the platform, to the left of the throne. Hina recognised him with a sickening jolt in her stomach. That was the man from the village, the one who'd killed Bakura's entire village. Behind him and positioned around the area were more than a dozen guards.
"Silence, you pestilent child," The man's cruel voice cut across the room. Hina's eyes moved down from the podium and settled upon the person the man was speaking to. She recognised the boy's white hair gleaming in the flickering light from the torches positioned around the room. Hina glanced beside her towards the presence looming over her. He was watching on, a small smile upon his lips. Hina frowned and returned her gaze back to the scene.
"You killed my village!" The boy shouted loudly, the noise reverberating loudly.
"Insolent brat," the man retorted, stepping towards the young boy. Hina glanced around again and this time, Bakura met her gaze.
"My mother is dead because of you, you killed her!" His younger voice once again cut through the room, the anger evident.
"I have absolutely no idea of what you speak? What village?" Aknadin demanded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his aging mouth.
"Kul Elna." Bakura growled, glaring up at the adult towering above him. "They're gone. All gone. Because of you."
"Kul Elna? The village of thieves and murderers?" He barked with laughter, "The criminals likely abandoned the pathetic crumbling village," He added with a malicious glint in his eye. One that told the young boy before him, as well as Hina and the adult version of the boy beside her, that he knew every word he spoke was a lie and intended to taunt the boy.
"They're gone because you murdered them!" Bakura spat angrily. Hina watched nervously as the boy straightened up before the throne, trying to bring himself to his full height.
"If you won't admit to your wrong doings," He said in a low tone, "Then I'll make sure you remember."
Hina resisted the urge to shout out as the young boy leapt forwards, pulling a small curved blade from his pocket. He leapt towards the tall man, weapon aiming for the man's face. Before he could make contact and inflict his revenge upon the wealthily dressed advisor to the Pharaoh, the guards had leapt into action. Bakura was tackled to the ground with a piercing yell of anger. About six of the guards dragged him back and away from the man roughly.
"You'll die for this treason, boy." One of them hissed nastily as they shook him violently. The guards, holding onto the boy's arms and legs, made to lift him off the ground.
"Wait!" Aknadin called from his position upon the podium. His eyes were narrowed as he glared at the boy, a triumphant grin upon his face. He'd barely even flinched when Bakura had launched his attack. The guards obeyed instantly, coming to an immediate halt, awaiting further instruction.
"You are just a boy," Aknadin began, "No older than the great Pharaoh Aknamkanon's own son. I will show you mercy, boy." The man gestured at the men holding the child and they moved as one, returning to the foot of the raised platform before Aknadin.
Hina watched with horror as the boy, not much older than when she'd seen him in the village, was forced to his knees, held in place by the guards. Aknadin strode casually forwards, pulling his own weapon from his waistband. He began twizzling the wicked looking blade in his hand. Once again, Hina wasn't sure she wanted to see what Bakura clearly wanted her to witness.
"You'll pay for this act of treason, boy," The man sneered cruelly, descending the final step. "But not with your life."
The boy struggled, but could do nothing to free himself as the man approached. Hina tensed. Before she had a chance to take another breath, Aknadin pounced forwards, the blade slicing viciously into the boy's face. The boy let out a strangled scream as blood splattered the ground in front of him. Hina looked away as he continued carving into the young boy. The Bakura standing next to her had a grim but satisfied expression upon his face. He cast his eyes over to her and Hina looked away.
Why was he showing her all this? She didn't need to know; she didn't want to know. What reason did he have for inflicting this upon her?
"This is awful," Hina admitted sadly, then her face hardened, "but how is this any different from what you did to me?"
He didn't react. He looked away from her, arms folding, contemplating what she'd said. Hina found her frustration growing at his lack of response. Her back was scarred horribly and would be for the rest of her life, just like he had been.
"Do you really expect me to feel sorry for you, after you did the exact same thing to me?" She demanded, turning her back on the scene, anger bubbling just below the surface. Hina knew that she was lying to him. She did feel sorry for the boy before her, getting his face sliced at. She just didn't feel the same level of empathy for the man standing next to her. Bakura didn't look back at her, his face becoming stoic as he stared at his past self getting mutilated. Of course, he knew what she said was true. He had inflicted the same kind of punishment upon her and it still brought a sensation of regret when he recalled that day, in the clearing, foolish dwellers of his city staring on.
"Release the brat into the city, so our people can see and mock the boy's failure." Aknadin spat suddenly, pulling Hina's gaze back to the uncomfortable and gruesome scene. She watched as the guards hoisted the limp boy up off the ground and turned, meaning to leave the room. Hina cast her eyes over the spot the boy had been pulled from and saw the flickering of flames reflected in the pool of crimson left behind.
"Come." The Bakura next to her spoke the order, although it was softer than she was used to. Hina fell into line beside him as they silently followed the guards out of the room.
They walked back through the maze of the palace, Hina unwilling to speak as they did. They followed the men through the grand entrance they'd not long since passed through. Hina tried not to pay attention to the very obvious bloody trail being left along the light stone floors. Outside was warm, almost as warm as it had been in the desert Hina had attempted to navigate. The guards, dragging the injured boy, didn't stop. They yanked the semi-conscious child down the steps, his feet trailing behind him. They didn't stop until the large gate, which opened for the approaching guards. Collectively, the men threw the child from them, where he crashed upon the dusty floor in the middle of the bustling street before the palace.
"Rat," One of the men spat savagely. The boy flinched, but didn't move from his sprawled position upon the ground. Hina followed the older Bakura out of the gates just as the guards turned back and the large entry began to close. Hina stood awkwardly to the side, gazing sadly towards the boy, who was starting to move. His small frame was shaking and she knew he had begun to cry.
"What now?" Hina hissed, looking around at the man. Was she supposed to watch this poor boy come apart before her? She didn't want to see the bloodied cut down his face, the same injury that had scarred and remained upon the flesh of the man beside her. Bakura didn't answer her. He folded his arms and watched himself as the boy pushed himself off the floor, droplets of blood still falling to the ground. The boy sat up and Hina couldn't help but stare at the boy's face. The flesh was almost symmetrically split apart, the wound continuously oozing blood that had trailed down his body, staining his rough cotton clothing. His white hair was damp from the gore. Hina swallowed hard, trying to keep herself from reacting to the horrendous injury. She couldn't help but wonder how he'd survived the disfigurement. Was there medicine in this ancient world capable of fighting off infection or other complications that could arise from such a savage wound? The boy threw his head back and glared, with his one good eye, up at the sky. He shook his hair back and laughed. The laugh became maniacal and residents of the city gave him a wide berth as they walked the street, casting the young boy alarmed glances. Hina turned to the adult version of the young boy.
"What is the point of this?" She asked him quietly, her hands shaking. Deep down, she understood what she'd just witnessed. The boy had sought justice for his people. He'd gone to the man responsible and had only received punishment for doing so. Without been told, she knew this was the biggest turning point in the man's history. This had set him on his path.
"Why are you showing me this? All this?" Hina asked when he hadn't answered her. His grey eyes met hers and it suddenly occurred to her. He wasn't sure. He didn't really know why, or he wasn't willing to admit it to himself. He turned away from her and began to walk down the lively street. Hina stared after him, contemplating. She gazed back at the boy, who's laugh had died away. He was still glaring up at the sky, contemplating. Hina bit her lower lip nervously.
"Come!" The man barked at her and Hina turned back to the red cloaked man. He had stopped and was glaring over his shoulder at her. Hina took a deep breath before rushing to follow after him, falling into step next to him. As they walked, the surroundings seemed to shift and shimmer as if caught in a heat mirage, before it faded away.
Hina started. Everything had gone black. She couldn't see. It was as if her eyes had completely shut off, blinding her. She reached out with trembling fingers, turning on the spot, searching. What was Bakura doing? Hina tried to cry out, to call for him, but the noise didn't register with her either. It was as if she was in a vacuum that sucked all her senses from her. She was beginning to feel really, really frightened, when the darkness fell, melting away from her eyes. Hina blinked. She was knelt upon the ground, unable to remember exactly when she had fallen to her knees. She stood up shakily, gazing around her in disbelief. She was back in Kul Elna. His village. It was dilapidated now, the buildings crumbling. There was no sign of the life that had once been present. Hina frowned, turning on the spot.
"Bakura?" She called out grimly, prepared to deal with whatever he tried to throw at her next.
"He's not here." A ferocious and unnatural voice boomed out, chilling Hina to the core. She whipped around frantically searching for the source of such an unnatural sound. At the far end of the village, Hina could see a large, dense rolling black cloud making its way through the village, swallowing everything in its path. Hina stood frozen, shock clutching at her like a second skin as she stared unblinkingly at the absolute darkness as it approached. She wasn't sure what to do, or how to react. Should she run? Surely the thing would find her with ease. Before she had a chance to make a decision, it had reached her. The billowing darkness stopped before her and Hina craned her neck to look up at the thing. It towered above her, blocking out the light, casting her in imposing shadows. Hina started and took a frightful step back as large, red, slit like eyes appeared within the cloud. The eyes, those terrible ferocious eyes, glared down at her. Hina gulped, somehow knowing full well just what, or who, she was looking at. With the same certainty, Hina felt these were her last moments. She tried with immense desperation to draw on what little bravery she had left.
"We meet at last, dear," The rumbling layered voice seemed to sneer at her, although there were no discernible features within the cloud, other than the piercing red eyes. Hina opened her mouth to speak, but found herself incapable of forming words as she faced the hideous monster. Her mouth had gone incredibly dry.
"This is what got my host all worked up," The voice echoed around her as tendrils surrounded her, as if examining her. Hina followed the vines with her eyes, unsure what she would actually do, should they pose a threat. Hina returned her glare to the beast.
"Host?" She asked, more to distract herself from the fear than in actual curiosity for the answer. A booming ferocious laugh echoed out around the village, so loud Hina had to press her hands over her ears.
"Both his and my own soul was sealed inside the millennium ring," The amusement was evident within the monster's tone. Hina gulped, unsure what to do with that revelation.
"Why have you brought me here?" She asked, her voice shaking as she spoke. The fear she felt in the beast's presence was immense and consuming. She had to fight to keep herself from falling apart under the monster's petrifying glare.
"To show you there's no defeating us," It bellowed. Hina felt her legs tremble, threatening to give way. She didn't want to collapse, to fall apart.
"I have been orchestrating my victory for over five thousand years and a single girl cannot stand in my way," The creature's voice was growing more agitated. Hina staggered backwards, fearfully. Despite the imminent terror she felt, she couldn't help but frown at his words. How had he been plotting his victory? She thought Bakura had summoned him? She suddenly felt braver than she actually was as she tried to force her body to relax.
"You're only here because of Bakura. Without him, you're nothing," Hina tried to glare up into the red eyes fiercely. She couldn't exactly understand why, but she felt the need to defend the man against this shadowy black creature. Hina had anticipated anger from the beast as she challenged it, but instead, it laughed. She pressed her hands over her ears again as it echoed ferociously around her, threatening to deafen her.
"Foolish girl," It mused, "You think Bakura used me? I used him. I saw him watching at the creation of the millennium items, I felt the hatred growing within him," The voice trailed off and if it had a mouth, Hina knew it would be grinning evilly at her.
"How... How could you have seen?" Hina asked.
"I needed the items to allow me to enter this realm,"
Hina stepped back, an awful realisation settling over her. This monster was responsible for the millennium items creation? She was sure that was what he was telling her. But, how? Aknadin had killed those people, the villagers of Kul Elna. He had done so on the Pharaohs orders. How was this beast responsible?
"I whispered to Aknadin, I influenced him into translating the ancient texts. I used his worst fears against him..." The creature hissed, answering her unasked question.
"Why are you telling me this?" She asked, folding her arms to stop them from trembling. What was to stop her from telling Bakura this, presuming he was of course unaware of the monster's role in his village's destruction.
"So you understand that nothing you do will stand in the way of my victory. You, tiny human, can not interfere with my triumph. And you won't." It roared, the sound deafening. Hina pressed her hands to her ears again and let out a strangled groan. She felt her knees hit the ground and looked up at the looming darkness towering over her. This was why he'd told her what he had, she wasn't going to see the light of day again. The beast moved forwards, the smoky mass pressing in on her, threatening to swallow her up, to smother her.
"Zorc!" a familiar voice shouted. Hina dropped her hands and gazed around her. There was only a small patch of ground around her free from the darkness. Out of the shadows, a figure emerged. Hina recognised the dark skin and white hair and had to admit she'd never been happier to see him. He reached her and turned, glaring up into the beast's red slit like eyes, his red cloak billowing out behind him.
"This girl is mine." He growled, his body tense. Hina blinked and gazed up from her position upon the floor.
"She is an intruder." It replied harshly.
"She is here because I allow it." Bakura retorted. He turned and his grey eyes met Hina's for the first time. He held his hand out to her with a toothy grin. Hina contemplated not taking it for a second, but decided against it. Angering the man currently standing between her and the ultimate monster seemed, even to her, like a bad idea. Besides, she was shaking more than she cared to admit and she wasn't sure she could get to her feet without assistance. She took his hand and felt the warmth of his fingers close around her small hand. He helped pull her to her feet, where he continued to hold onto her hand, his grip tight, but oddly comforting.
"She is a distraction." It replied to him with a disdainful rumble. Bakura glared up at the swirling darkness that seemed to be moving more violently as it surveyed him. He moved purposefully, stepping in front of Hina, shielding her from the creature.
"She is mine." He replied through gritted teeth. The creature laughed harshly. The noise reverberated around them, all consuming, but Bakura didn't flinch. He remained stoic in his stance as he stood against the very creature he'd commanded and used to enslave the earth.
"She is merely a distraction from your destiny." The creature growled as the shadows began to withdraw from them. It pulled back and the ruined village of Kul Elna was once more visible and bathed in the harsh light of the scorching sun.