Chapter 14: To Duelist Kingdom

A week later, Yugi filled his friends in on the details.

Yugi: "The boat will be departing at 10:30pm. I should be boarding from Domino Pier."

Anzu: "So your grandfather is there, on that island?"

Yugi: "I don't know..."

"He will be. Wherever Pegasus is, is where grandpa will be."

Jounouchi: "You sound sure..."

"Because I am."

It was that cursed millennium eye. It had power over people's souls, just like her own millennium scale. Yugi still didn't fully comprehend the extents of the powers of his millennium puzzle, because he just recently solved it. She didn't know the extents of her own millennium item either, but she knew enough to understand that her grandfather's soul had been taken by that eye.

Yugi: "Yeah, I think Akia's right. In any case, I have no choice but to go to that island."

Honda: "But it sure is weird how your grandpa was just taken like that while we were out cold."

They all stare down at the cards sent by Pegasus. There was a total of five cards. A card with the picture of the island, another with a ship, a third one with a glove and stars, a fourth one with a pretty valuable looking treasure titled "Glory of the King's Hand", and, finally, a blank card, with just a white background. That blank card kind of unnerved Akia.

Jounouchi: "Dammit! We can't get on the boat without an invitation card! We have to find a way to go there with you."

Anzu: "That's right."

Honda: "Aren't you going too, Akia? How are you planning on getting aboard the ship without an invitation?"

"I'll manage, but I'm definitely getting on that boat."

Anzu: "Not without us!"

Honda: "By the way, that "Glory of the King's Hand" card is a huge cash prize!"

Jounouchi: "Cash prize?"

Yugi: "It means the winner will receive a huge cash prize."

Jounouchi: "Hey! Let me see that!"

Everyone was surprised at Jounouchi's reaction except for Akia. She knew how badly he needed the money for his sister's operation. Akia then felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned her head around, and saw that the owner of that hand was Bakura.

"Ryo!"

Bakura: "Heh, I see you're doing much better now."

He smiled sweetly at her. She smiled back.

"You're not going to start ignoring me again, now that I'm fine?"

Bakura's smile disappeared. He looked a little ashamed.

Bakura: "I'm sorry about that... I don't know what got into me."

"It's alright, just don't do it again!"

Bakura smile instantly returned.

Bakura: "Don't worry, I won't."

"That's a relief."

Akia giggled shyly. She and Bakura went and sat down in their usual positions: her on her desk's chair, and him on the chair in front of her desk, facing her.

Bakura: "So, you're going on a boat?"

"Wait, how do you know? Did you eavesdrop on us?"

Akia playfully teased him while poking his arm.

Bakura: "No, I just overheard. I didn't really catch everything, though."

"I was actually planning on telling you. It's that I was all caught up in my emotions, and I needed a little time to calm down."

Bakura started petting Akia's hair, causing her to open her eyes wide in surprise. After the surprise passed, Akia started blushing, realizing just how good that actually felt.

Bakura: "I wish I could've done something to help you get through those hard times."

"Ryo... It's alright. I was being difficult."

Bakura took away his hand, and smiled.

Bakura: "So? What happened to get you so depressed?"

Akia broke eye contact with Bakura, trying to gather her thoughts. Then, she took a long breath, and brought her gaze back to Bakura's.

"Do you know about Pegasus J. Crawford?"

Bakura: "Isn't he the creator of Duel Monsters?"

"That's right."

Bakura: "What about him?"

"He's hosting a tournament. A Duel Monsters tournament."

Bakura: "Go on."

"Yugi was invited to that tournament, but... a little forcefully."

Bakura: "What do you mean?"

"...Ryo... Pegasus has a millennium item, just like you, Yugi, and me."

A strange spark lit up in Bakura's eyes. Even though the spirit of the ring hadn't manifested himself, he was listening to every word Akia was saying. He had been doing this ever since he first came face to face with her. He wanted to find out more about her, and now, she was giving him important information on where another millennium item was. Since he made it his goal to collect all of the millennium items, she was being a great help right there. He couldn't let her get suspicious of his goals, though. That was why he always kept a low profile, examining her through his host's eyes. The last time when she tried to banish his soul, it wasn't all that pleasant. It took him a while to fully recover. That was why, for now, he planned to quietly listen to what she had to say, waiting for the moment where she would drop her guard around him. He was slowly taking over his host's consciousness to get as much information out of her.

Bakura: "A millennium item? You sure about that?"

"Yeah... He used it to take our grandpa's soul and keep it captive. Yugi has no choice but to go to that tournament to save our grandpa."

Bakura: "You're planning on going, too?"

"Of course I'm planning on doing that. Even though I don't have an invitation, I'll find a way somehow to sneak on that boat. Honda, Jounouchi, and Anzu are also planning on finding a way to get there."

Bakura: "You know, it won't be easy."

"I know that..."

The spirit of the ring had now already taken complete control over Bakura. Akia was too preoccupied to even notice.

Bakura: "I have an idea on how to get on that boat."

"You do?! You'll help me?"

Bakura: "Of course I will. How about we meet up after school today, and discuss how to get there. The boat departs today, right?"

"That's right, at 10:30pm."

Bakura: "Pack your stuff, and meet up at the Domino Pier two hours before the departure."

Akia's eyes started filling up with hope, and she took Bakura's hands in her own. It caught the Spirit of the Ring off guard, but he did his best not to do any sudden movements.

"Ryo, thank you so much! I don't know what I'd do without you."

Bakura: "D... Don't worry about it. I'll take care of things."

The Spirit of the Ring didn't particularly dislike the contact and that fact bothered him. Akia made him feel strange. He then wondered why her hands were cold and why he even cared about that.

Bakura: "Hey, Akia, why are your hands so cold?"

The fact that he asked that caught him off guard. He even felt disappointed when she retracted her hands.

"Well... It's because they're naturally colder than most people. Did it... bother you?"

Bakura: "Not at all! I was just curious!"

He then took her hands back into his. It was really unlike him, but he wanted to somehow keep her warm. Akia blushed at the touch and the Spirit found that quite cute. He kept rubbing her hands in his, trying to warm them up.

For the whole day, Akia kept looking at her hands, remembering Bakura's soft touch. His hands were much warmer than hers, like almost everyone else's hands. She was so confused. Why did Bakura make her feel this way? She thought only Jounouchi could make her heart flutter. And before Jounouchi, she thought it was only Marik, the boy she met so long ago... Marik... She wondered how he was doing. Was he living a good life? Did he still remember her? Or was he slowly forgetting her, just like she was also slowly forgetting him.

After school, Akia headed straight home, not even waiting for her brother. As soon as she got home, she took a backpack and started packing it with food, extra underwear, and some clothes. Of course, she didn't forget to pack her millennium scale, too.

"That should be enough... I hope it'll be enough. Now for my cards."

She took her deck, and a few extra cards, in case she felt the need to change her deck or trade with other duelists. Just as she was closing up her backpack, Yugi knocked on her room door.

Yugi: "Akia, you in there?"

"Yeah, you can come in."

Yugi opened the door, and got in.

Yugi: "Do you know how you're going to be able to get on the boat?"

"Don't worry about me, Yugi. You just focus on winning this tournament."

Akia got up, and took a quick scan of her room, checking if she didn't forget anything.

Yugi: "Wait, you're leaving now? There's still like two and half hours before boarding time."

"Well, I'm not exactly boarding like normal people here... I'm literally going to sneak into that boat."

Yugi: "Are you sure that you'll be alright?"

Akia nodded and started heading for the door.

Yugi: "Be careful, Akia."

"I will, Yugi. See you on the boat."

Once Akia arrived at the Domino Pier, she noticed that the boat wasn't even there yet. It didn't seem like Bakura was either... The sea looked calm. It was already pretty dark out. There was only the sound of small waves crashing on the shore. After a bit of waiting, Akia heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and found herself face to face with Bakura. However, this time, she noticed that he was different. She took a step backwards.

"You're... You're the Spirit of the Ring, aren't you?"

Bakura chuckled.

Bakura: "You actually figured it out this time."

"...What do you mean?"

Bakura: "I mean that the whole time we were talking in the class, it was mostly me you were talking to."

Akia couldn't believe it. How could she have not noticed that it was the spirit of the millennium ring she was talking to? And he even made her blush!

"What do you want from me?"

Bakura: "I don't know what I want from you."

He sounded a little annoyed.

"Then why are you here?"

Bakura: "Didn't I offer to help you? You should be grateful that I even showed up."

"Wait... you actually want to help me? This wasn't just a plan to get me alone and take my millennium scale?"

Bakura: "That would be a good idea, but I don't want to risk getting banished another time. Are we going to end this meaningless chit-chat or do you really want to miss out on the plan to get on the boat?"

Akia started relaxing a bit, but she still didn't fully let her guard down.

"That still doesn't explain why you want to help..."

Bakura: "I want to get to that island just as much as you. But I have a different goal..."

"What goal...?"

Bakura was really starting to lose patience at this point. He took a deep breath, and tried to answer her as pleasantly as possible.

Bakura: "Are you really that gullible? I'm going there for the millennium item Pegasus has. Now let's end this conversation before I change my mind!"

His voice had so much authority, that Akia just nodded. This calmed him down. He took her wrist and dragged her behind one of the warehouses.

Bakura: "Here should be a good place to tell you what we're going to do."

Akia simply nodded again.

Bakura: "It's pretty simple. When the boat arrives, there will probably be some people standing at the entrance to keep an eye on who enters. One of us will need to distract them so that the other one gets on the boat. Then, the one who was distracting them will swim behind the boat, and the one who's already on the boat will bring the other one up using those buoy things they probably have."

"That sounds smart enough. Now all that's left to decide is who'll be the one to distract them and who will be the one to sneak on the boat."

Bakura: "You'll distract them."

"Wait, what? I don't even know how to swim!"

Bakura: "Great... Now that complicates things."

"You know how to swim?"

Bakura: "Of course I know! ...Wait..."

"So that settles it! You'll distract them, and I'll pull you up on the boat."

Bakura covered his face with his hand in exasperation. He sighed, and looked at Akia.

Bakura: "Don't bother. I'll find a way to get on."

"If you say so... Now we just have to wait for the boat. By the way, how do you plan on distracting them? Also how do you plan on getting on the boat?"

Bakura: "That's my business."

"Fine..."

Akia crossed her arms, and looked away. Bakura just kept staring at her. He was wondering why he took so much interest in her. She looked like an average girl, with average looks, and annoying character. If anything, he should be hating her. In fact, a portion of him despised everything about her, but... another part of him wanted to protect her, and take care of her. And those two parts didn't even include his pathetic host who was terribly fond of her.

Akia, who didn't notice Bakura staring at her, started walking towards the shore.

Bakura: "Where are you going?"

"I think I heard something."

Akia looked at the horizon, along the sea, and she saw a small light. She pointed at it, and looked behind her at Bakura who got up and followed her.

"There! I think that's the boat!"

Bakura: "It looks like it'll be here in a few minutes. Half an hour at most. You should look around and find a good place to hide where you'll be able to still see everything that's happening."

"Alright..."

Akia looked at the floor in front of her feet, taking a deep breath. Bakura glanced at her. She looked a little nervous for some reason. It made him want to know why.

Bakura: "Is something wrong?"

She snapped her head up and looked at Bakura.

"I'm just... a little scared that's all. I mean I don't exactly sneak up on boats every day so... I'm scared I might mess up."

Bakura chuckled.

Bakura: "Cute..."

"What...?"

Akia was startled at what he said. Bakura kept a straight face.

Bakura: "Nothing. Just do as I said and you'll be fine. If you mess up, I'll cover it up."

"...Sure. I'll go look around. By the way, you should give me your sweater."

Bakura: "Huh? Why?"

"Well, all your clothes are going to be soaked, so at least the sweater will be the only dry thing."

Bakura: "Who said I was going to jump in?"

Akia blinked confusingly.

"Didn't you say the one who is supposed to distract them will have to swim after the other one is on the boat?"

Bakura: "That was because I was planning to have you distract them. I didn't think I'd be the one doing it."

"Wait, so you have your own plan to get on?"

Bakura: "Yeah. It's something only I can do. All you'll have to do, is get on the boat when I clear the entrance."

"I... guess."

The boat had finally arrived. Akia had found a good place to hide behind a few boxes piled up in front of a warehouse. She could see Bakura standing in the shade, keeping a low profile. Some men, who looked like they were part of security got down from the boat, and stood at the boarding area, making sure nobody got in without an invitation. It didn't seem like anyone of the duelists who were invited was here yet. Bakura then held his millennium ring.

'So the thing that only he can do has something to do with his millennium ring...'

She then heard the guards exclaim, and run away from the entrance.

'What? What happened? Why are they running away? Now's my chance, though. I'll ask the Spirit of the Ring about it later.'

Akia ran towards the entrance, and got on the boat. She hid in between a few boxes, and waited for Bakura to arrive.

It took about five minutes, before she saw him getting on the boat. He looked around, probably trying to find where she was. She got out of her hiding spot, and tapped him on the shoulder. Bakura turned around.

Bakura: "Good. I guess sneaking on the boat was a success."

He took her wrist and dragged her to a place where they could hide until the ship sailed.

"By the way, what did you do to those security people? They just ran off."

Bakura: "Oh, I showed them a few terrifying images. Humans are so weak sometimes."

"So... you're not human?"

Bakura wasn't expecting that question. It caught him off guard. He looked at Akia with a confused face.

Bakura: "I don't know."

"There's a lot of things that you don't know, huh?"

Bakura looked away. It was true, though. He didn't know anything about who he really was or why he was in that ring. All he knew is that he should gather all the millennium items, and then he might figure out about who he really was. He felt Akia fidget next to him. Now that he noticed, they were sitting really close to each other in between a few cargo boxes.

"How long will it be until the contestants get on?"

Bakura: "It's ten. They should be here in half an hour."

Akia yawned. She was really sleepy due to the fact that she spent most of the night before working on her deck. She would let herself fall asleep, but she didn't trust the Spirit of the Ring. He could steal her millennium scale while she was asleep.

Bakura: "If you're sleepy, go ahead and sleep."

"No way. You'll just take my scale while I'm sleeping."

Bakura: "Good point."

Akia then took her backpack, put her knees up, and hugged it tightly. Like that, even if she fell asleep, she'd feel it if he tried to take her scale.

Bakura: "Hey... Wake up..."

Akia slowly opened her eyes.

'...Oh crap! I ended up falling asleep!'

She realized that she was leaning against Bakura's shoulder. She quickly sat up, and looked around. She was still a little dazed. She looked at her backpack, that she was still hugging tightly. It didn't seem like Bakura even tried to touch it.

"What time is it?"

Bakura: "It's 10:35."

"Is Yugi here?"

Bakura: "I think so. It's safe to go check now."

"Alright... You're not coming?"

Bakura: "I'd rather stay behind the scenes."

Akia shrugged and got out of her hiding. She went to look around the ship. A lot of people were starting to get on. She looked over at the pier, and saw a ton of people still lined up to get on the boat. She looked more closely, and she noticed Yugi, and Jounouchi getting on the boat. She ran towards them.

"Yugi! Jounouchi!"

They were both surprised, and, when they finally got over their surprise, Jounouchi patted her head.

Jounouchi: "I don't know how you made it on this ship before us, but it's nice to see that you can handle yourself."

Yugi: "Akia! I'm glad you made it. I wouldn't be able to go through this tournament without you."

"Where are Honda and Anzu?"

Jounouchi: "I don't think they'll be able to come."

After a bit, the ship started moving.

Jounouchi: "I'm so excited!"

"Same here."

Yugi nodded. A female voice from behind them resounded.

"Unbelievable."

All three turned around and came face to face with a blonde woman, who seemed to be in her early twenties.

"Well those are some massive boobs..."

Akia whispered to Yugi.

Yugi: "Akia...!"

"What?! It's true!"

"Are you that boy, Yugi?"

She asked Yugi. Jounouchi looked so awestruck that all that was left was to see him drool.

Jounouchi: "Alright! What a nice woman!"

It got on Akia's nerves seeing him fawn all over that woman. What was worse was that that woman was taller, prettier, and older than her. On top of that, she had one awesome body-line. How could Akia even compete? Akia hoped that Jounouchi wouldn't actually start drooling over her.

"It's really unexpected that a shrimp like you beat Kaiba."

She got close to Yugi, who also looked like he was about to drool.

'Do all guys just fall for any pretty girl that comes along?'

"You're famous, you know."

Yugi: "R-Really? Thanks!"

Jounouchi: "Miss, I'm a friend of the famous Duelist Yugi! I'm a great Duelist, ya know?"

Akia face palmed herself. The woman turned to Jounouchi, with a completely disinterested look. She then almost immediately turned back to Yugi.

"In a duel, even if the opponent is a shrimp, I won't go easy on them. I'll beat you down."

She turned around and started leaving.

Jounouchi still looked like an idiot with his mouth agape.

Jounouchi: "Woohoo! Duel me~"

The woman then turned her head towards them.

"I am Mai Kujaku. See you around, kid."

She then left.

"Glad she's gone..."

Akia had an annoyed face.

Yugi: "Hehe..."

Jounouchi: "Hey, let's get in! I bet she'll be there."

Yugi and Jounouchi went ahead of Akia. She was now beyond pissed. As she started to follow them, she heard voices coming from the cargo on her right. She got closer, and she noticed that Honda and Anzu were hiding there.

"Guys! You made it!"

Honda: "Shh! Keep it down!"

"...Sorry."

She got in with them.

Anzu: "I can't believe those two sex maniacs..."

"I get how you feel, Anzu. I really wanted to punch them hard, but I held myself back."

Honda: "Come on, don't be so harsh. She was pretty damn sexy."

Both Anzu and Akia glared at Honda, who shrunk away.

Anzu: "Oh no..."

"What is it?"

Anzu: "I need to use the bathroom, I don't think I can hold it much longer. Where's the bathroom?"

Honda pointed at the ocean and gave a perverted smile.

Honda: "You can just go do it there."

Anzu got angry and glared at him.

Anzu: "Idiot! I'm not a boy!"

Just then, a door opened, so Honda and Anzu hid. Akia, on the other hand, peeked out to see who it was. She then saw Bakura coming out. She could tell Honda and Anzu about it, but he said he wanted to keep a low profile, so she kept it to herself. After Bakura went back in, Akia sat back down.

"The coast is clear for now. By the way, why are you guys hiding?"

Anzu: "The security saw our faces so they know we don't belong here."

"Ah. Well, at least you were still able to get on."

Honda: "Yup."

They then all suddenly heard Yugi cry out.

Yugi: "Jounouchi-kun!"

"What was that?"

Anzu: "Yugi! I think Yugi is in trouble!"

Honda: "Oh well, it doesn't matter if they find out about us, but friends come first."

Honda, Anzu, and Akia got out of their hiding place and ran towards where they heard Yugi. When they got there, they found Yugi jumping off the boat.

"Yugi!"

Akia went and got the emergency ladder. Honda took it from her and threw it down to Yugi.

Anzu: "Yugi!"

Honda: "Are you alright?!"

They all looked down, and saw Yugi swimming to the ladder, holding up Jounouchi.

Anzu: "Get on!"

Honda: "Hurry it up!"

After they got Jounouchi and Yugi out of the water, they finally all took a breath of relief.

Yugi: "Thanks guys. But how come you're both here, Anzu-chan, Honda-kun?"

Anzu: "We were worried."

Honda: "We didn't want to leave you alone."

Yugi: "Everyone, thanks."

Jounouchi: "Sorry, Yugi... I only found two of your cards..."

"Wait... what cards?"

Yugi: "We met Insector Haga, and he threw out my Exodia cards. But that's okay, Jounouchi-kun."

Jounouchi: "There's no way it's "okay"! I'm always like this... I can't help anyone! Even my own little sister, Shizuka."

"Jounouchi..."

Yugi: "Your little sister?"

Anzu: "You have a little sister, Jounouchi?"

'I guess I really am the only person he told his story to...'

Jounouchi: "My parents got divorced when we were young. She's very far away now, living with mom. When my little sister was born, she had bad eyes. Someday, she will go blind."

Yugi: "Blind?"

Jounouchi: "Last week, she sent me a video tape. The doctor probably told her that the day she was dreading was coming soon. This problem is not easy to heal. There are some experienced doctors with the good equipment in Germany. I want her to see one of those doctors, but I don't have the money... So I have to win this tournament! If I win, I'll get the cash prize. Then I'll have a chance of saving Shizuka!"

Jounouchi was starting to tear up. All of his friends listened to him without interrupting him.

The sun started to rise. Jounouchi and Yugi had gone to dry off their clothes, and they were back out with Anzu, Honda, and Akia.

"I can't believe I spent a whole night without any sleep..."

Honda: "You're not the only one."

Yugi: "I can't believe you actually resisted falling asleep this whole time."

"It's not like I had a choice with all the stuff that happened!"

Honda: "I see the island!"

All of them faced towards the direction Honda was pointing at.

Yugi: "Jounouchi-kun, we will make it. Me for my grandpa and you for your sister."

"Don't forget me."

Yugi: "You're joining?"

"Of course I am."

Anzu: "Yeah, and we're cheering for you guys."

As the island got closer, so did Akia's nervousness.

"Duelist Kingdom..."

'Finally... We'll save you, grandpa.'