AN: For the record though you probably could've figured it out- Bakura: yami, Ryou: hikari/ Yami:yami duh, Yugi: hikari/ Malik: yami, Marik: hikari? Yup, that about does it. Comments and suggestions are welcome and deeply appreciated!
Chapter Eight
Akeno groggily rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up.
"What happened…?" she asked aloud.
She was in a bed. Her eyes widened. The duel! Bakura! She noticed a warmth beside her. Looking down she saw the sleeping form of Bakura next to her.
"Ahh!" she screamed and leapt off the bed.
She'd be dead if he caught her lying next to him! It was bad enough he was angry with her, this would be the final nail in her coffin! Cautiously, Akeno peeked over the covers at him. He was still sleeping. She let out a breath. The blast must've knocked him out cold…
Akeno studied him, frowning. He looked calm. But which one is he? She gasped. The Millennium Ring wasn't around his neck! She gently pulled the covers down slightly to make sure. It's gone! Did someone take it?
She stood and hesitantly sat on the bed. They called him Ryou… I wonder how long the spirit was controlling him. I've only been around Bakura for a few hours and it's been unbearable… or wait, has it been days? She looked out the window- it was dark out but that didn't mean daylight hadn't passed in the time it took her to regain consciousness. She frowned. The door slid open, startling her.
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," said a boy with sandy colored hair and tanned skin.
He looked familiar. She had seen him with the rest of Yugi's friends; he was a finalist.
"Oh… its okay," Akeno said.
He walked over to her. "I don't think we've been properly introduced," he said extending his hand. "My name is Namu."
She took his hand. "Akeno."
Namu held onto her hand a few moments longer than necessary. She looked away. "How long have I been out?"
"Not too long," he said. "The second duel is about to begin. Why don't you join us and get some fresh air?"
Namu grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door.
"Oh, uh I don't know, Namu!" she said, trying free her hand. "Ryou's still not awake and I want to be here when he gets up!"
"I'm sure he'll be fine, Akeno," he said smiling, placing his hand on her back trying to guide her out of the room.
She put her hand firmly on the door frame. "No, really! I'm going to wait here!"
Namu reluctantly let her go. "Alright… I'll come see how you're doing after the duel, okay?"
She nodded and watched him leave. She let out a breath and pulled a chair over to the bed. The Millennium Ring is gone. Does that mean the spirit is too? She frowned. Ryou…please wake up. There's so much I have to ask you!
Akeno waited for hours without any clue as to what was going on outside of the room. There was a feint roar from time to time or a flash of light from above her but that was all. More than one duel had to have gone by… I wonder what happened to Namu.
At some point, she fell asleep leaning over the bed but her slumber was interrupted by the door opening. She jolted upright.
"Whah! Who's- oh Tea, its you," she said turning in her seat. "How are the duels coming along?"
Tea said nothing but approached her slowly. Akeno stood. "Tea, what's wrong?"
Again, Tea didn't reply but pulled the Millennium Ring from behind her back.
"Tea! What are you doing with that!" Akeno yelled as Tea came closer. "Keep it the hell away from us! Are you insane?!"
"Akeno…" Tea said in a hoarse voice.
"Y-yes?" she replied hesitantly.
"Move!" Tea cried, punching her in the face.
Akeno fell to the floor and Tea took the opportunity to bring the chair down on her head. Feeling dizzy, Akeno groaned, looking up at the brunette. Tea's eyes... they look... empty... As Akeno collapsed, Tea placed the Millennium Ring beside the sleeping Ryou and passed out herself. Immediately, Bakura's eyes snapped open.
He sat up and slipped the Ring around his neck. Marik's soul appeared before him.
"Bakura, I need your help. My body has been taken over by an evil force. I need you to purge him from my body. He's going to head to the seventh finalist's room to finish him off," Marik informed. "We must get there before he does and stop him!"
Bakura didn't answer him- he was staring at Akeno's limp form on the ground. "She's my property, Marik," he growled. "Touch her again and I promise you'll deeply regret it."
Marik frowned and seemed uneasy- he hadn't expected that to be the first thing out of Bakura's mouth. "Fine," Marik said impatiently, "But will you help me?"
"Why should I?" Bakura snorted. "Helping you last time harmed my host and therefore jeopardized myself. What's in it for me?"
Marik hesitated. "I-I'll give you my Millennium Rod."
Bakura smirked. "What's stopping me from finding this force and taking it on my own?"
"He's powerful," Marik told him, "You'll need my assistance to defeat him. Only I know his weaknesses."
Bakura considered this a moment. "Fine, Marik, but if I find you're being less than honest with me, you'll lose more than your body."
Satisfied, Marik disappeared as Bakura rose and knelt by Akeno.
"Girl…" he growled.
Akeno stirred slightly. He sneered then slapped her across the face. She snapped into consciousness.
"Stand," he commanded.
She looked at him and her eyes widened. "No!" she cried, scooting away from him. "It can't be you! Not again!"
He seized her arm and pulled her to her feet. "I don't have time for your games."
"Please, let go. Just leave me alone!" she begged.
Bakura released her. "Are you trying to double your punishment?"
She gulped and frantically shook her head. "No…"
He grabbed Akeno by the hair and pulled her within inches of his face. "No, what?" he asked tightening his grip on her hair.
"No, master!" she cried.
He let go of her. "I'll deal with you later," Bakura said, heading towards the door. "Come."
Shaking slightly, Akeno followed him, sparing a quick glance at Tea's unconscious form. Here we go again…
He stopped at a room marked with a seven and opened it even though he didn't have the key. Akeno followed him into the room, the lights were off but she could faintly see enough to make out a form in the bed, she assumed he was sleeping. She got closer then gasped when she saw who it was. The man with the Millennium Rod!
"Hush! Now come here," Bakura ordered, standing in the back of the room.
Akeno stood beside him. She didn't understand what they were doing there, were they waiting for him to wake up? The door opened and who Akeno believed was Namu walked in only, he looked different. His hair stood on end and he had a glowing eye on his forehead. What the hell happened to him? He stood beside the bed and laughed.
"Odion, its time to do what I should have done ages ago," he said taking out the Millennium Rod. "In order for me to survive you'll have to be sent to the shadows."
Hold on, I thought he was Marik! And what's Namu doing with the Millennium Rod? What the hell am I doing here?!
"I'm afraid I'll have to step in now," Bakura said, moving forward.
"The spirit of the Millennium Ring!" Namu said surprised.
"Well you're half right," Bakura said. "But I've got company this time, the real Marik is here as well."
EH?!
From beside Bakura, Namu appeared or at least his ghost did. What the…
"I want my body back!" Namu said angrily. "And I brought an old friend along to help me get it."
"He promised me the Millennium Rod if I can successfully do away with you," Bakura smirked.
OKAY, if Marik is with Bakura… then that means Namu must've lied about his name…and the guy sleeping, isn't Marik either… Maybe he's Namu?! But then who's this guy?
"Oh that's right," the scary guy in Marik's body said. "You're the fool trying to collect all of the Millennium Items."
"If you hand over the Rod now, I won't be forced to add you to my other collection, Malik … my victims!" Bakura said with a grin.
Akeno gulped remembering all of the human blobs in the Shadow Realm.
"My Millennium Rod can easily overpower your pitiful Ring," Malik said haughtily.
"Then try me," Bakura dared.
Malik laughed and held out the Rod. It began to glow and his eyes turned red. Akeno gasped as Bakura was thrown into the wall. Bakura grunted but was otherwise unaffected.
"I told you, you were no match for me," Malik said, turning back to the bed. "I'll finish you off once I take care of Odion."
Suddenly, Bakura's Ring activated and Malik froze. "Arh, I can't move! Enough," Malik said angrily.
"We're not afraid of you," Bakura said, releasing him. "Now just hand over the object."
"No!" Malik barked. "Maybe you can withstand the power of my Millennium Rod but what's stopping me from controlling your wench over there?" he asked looking at Akeno.
She paled and backed into the wall.
"Perhaps I'll make her take her life," Malik grinned. "Or try to take yours."
Bakura growled. "You will have to get through me before you harm her."
"How sweet, you're willing to risk yourself for your whore," Malik taunted. "Your weakness will be your downfall!"
"Leave her out of this, Malik," Bakura warned. "I am your only concern here."
Malik grunted. "Fine but it seems to me that our Items are of equal power… Why don't you duel me for the Millennium Rod, if you can handle it?"
"Why don't we raise the stakes?" Bakura suggested, grinning.
Akeno stayed as close to Bakura as possible though at the same time, trying not to make it seem like she was clinging to him for dear life. Thankfully, he didn't push her away. It seemed that he didn't trust Malik either. Akeno was frightened of Bakura, yes, but Malik was an entirely different level of fear. Malik had no real use of her and seemed eager to kill her just for the thrill. For the first time, she was glad Bakura wanted her soul and that she was his pet- at least this way he had a reason to keep her somewhat safe.
In the elevator, Akeno kept her eyes averted from Malik's corner. Everything about him just radiated 'evil psychopath', from his lifeless eyes to his near inhuman voice. She didn't want to be anywhere near him. Even Bakura standing between them gave her only a little comfort. She risked a glance at Malik to find him already looking back at her. His eyes widened in excitement, making him look even more menacing. Holding back a squeak, Akeno stepped closer to Bakura.
Malik grinned. "I can see why your master kept you, my dear. You will be fun to play with and even more fun to break," he said to Akeno. "Shall we find out how loud you can scream?"
Akeno visibly shuddered and Bakura blocked Malik's view of her. "I said to leave her out of this," Bakura growled angrily.
Unfazed, Malik chuckled. "Very well," he replied, stepping out of the lift as it opened but not before shooting Akeno a look that made her skin crawl.
Bakura glared at her before leaving the elevator. As if it's my fault, she thought to herself, following after him. It's not like I'm asking this freak to murder me! Once on the platform, Akeno stood behind Bakura, again thankful that he stood in between herself and Malik.
"The winning duelist will keep the Millennium Rod. The loser will be banished to the Shadow Realm!" Malik announced.
"Draw your cards," Bakura smirked, "and let the Shadow Game begin!"