AN: I know I've taken awhile! (ducks thrown objects) There's been so much stuff I had to do and I didn't want to write a bunch of rubbish and post it… so I hope you like it! Suggestions are VERY welcome, I'm afraid I may hit a dry spell soon as far as plot goes so better to fall back on possible ideas, you know? Ah to anyone who cares (lol), I entered in NaNoWriMo where I'm trying to write a novel this month. If you're interested, the link and a better description is in my profile! ^^ By the way, does anyone else not like the new design of the site? It's making me angry! Grr! …Anywho!
Chapter Fifteen
There was no morning sun. Instead, Akeno was roused by the chill of the cave and the slight sound of water dripping on stone. She cracked her eyes open and slowly sat up. Something light plopped on her lap and she looked down to find Bakura's blue shirt. He gave this to me? She quickly looked around the cave to find no one else there. Standing, Akeno went outside to look for them.
The Shadow Realm was just as dark and dismal a place as she remembered. She scanned the area and found only Marik though because of his transparency, she only noticed him because he spoke to her.
"So you're awake now?"
She nodded, standing some ways off from him and hugging Bakura's shirt in an attempt to fight off the goose bumps along her arms.
Marik looked her over briefly then turned back to stare out at the horizon. "He went to scout out the area and make sure it was safe."
"Oh… okay," Akeno said trying to sound uninterested. She was glad he told her before she had to ask about Bakura's whereabouts. She had half expected him to tell her that Bakura had abandoned them both and left to do his own thing- no doubt they were slowing him down.
She sat down outside, leaning against the mouth of the cave. "Did he say when he was coming back?" she asked in what she hoped to be nonchalant tone.
"No," Marik said, turning to her. "But he is coming back."
"How can you be sure?"
Marik snorted. "Well, for one, he went through the trouble of threatening me if I let anything happen to you."
Akeno's eyes widened in shock. "What? He did?" No way, does this mean he… cares?
"His exact words were 'If I find out my property has been damaged because of your negligence, Marik, I'll make you wish your darker half had destroyed you.' I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have gone through all that if he didn't plan on returning."
His property… yeah, my mistake, he's still a jerk. I can't believe I thought he was being decent. But… why'd he give me his shirt then? And after he said he wanted me to freeze to death no less! This just isn't adding up…
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
Akeno jumped up at the sound of Marik's scream. "W-what's the matter?" she cried.
He turned to her frantically. "My body is disappearing!"
She looked to see him steadily disappearing from the bottom up, from his knees down was missing. She backed up somewhat, scared.
"What do you think's happening?! Is the Shadow Realm eating you?"
"I-I don't know! Do something!" he shouted.
"Ah! What can I do?!"
They both watched, horrified, as the invisibility climbed up past his waist. She tried to grab his hand in an attempt to pull him out of danger but her hand only went through his.
"Oh no, Marik!" she cried as the last bit of him vanished before her.
She fell to her knees, staring at the spot where he had been. "He- he's gone…" she whispered.
Akeno suddenly felt the vastness of the Shadow weigh down on her. She was alone in the closest thing to hell. Was she going to die here? Wait, am I going to disappear too?! She frantically inspected herself, making sure that every single finger and toe was accounted for. She sighed then something ahead of her caught her attention.
"Hm? A foot?"
She blinked. Could it be Marik's? Is he coming back? Her blood ran cold when a maniacal laugh reached her ears. It seemed far off but it was enough to unnerve her.
"What- what was that?" she asked aloud.
Someone tapped her shoulder and she nearly jumped out of her skin, screaming. Akeno turned to face an irritated looking Bakura. She caught her breath. How did he sneak up on me like that? He gave her a stern look being speaking, "Where's Marik?"
"I think that's him," she said pointing to the foot.
He stared for a moment as another foot and more random parts of Marik appeared. "It seems my suspicions were correct," Bakura said thoughtfully.
She looked at him inquisitively.
"I saw a dueling platform a good distance from here. It seems as if Malik is dueling the pharaoh ...and needed Marik for something," he explained. "I didn't bother to stick around and watch."
"How do you know it was Yugi though? He could've been dueling someone else."
"I could see Slifer on the field," he said impatiently. "It's obviously the pharaoh so I assume once he defeats Malik, we'll be released from this prison."
"So you really think Yugi can beat him?"
He snorted. "I've no confidence in that four-foot brat's dueling capabilities, I assure you, however I'm even less impressed by Malik. The senseless dolt couldn't duel in a paper bag."
Doesn't he mean 'duel his way out of a paper bag'? How didn't he know that, that such an overused saying. Has he been living under a rock all this time?
"If they're such horrible duelists, then how come you lost to them both?" she asked curiously.
Bakura turned on her, flushed and with an angry expression on his face. He pulled her by the hair so that she was inches from his face.
"Need I remind you that in both duels I had the upper hand! It wasn't until you interfered and distracted me that they were able to gain an advantage! It's your fault I lost and your fault we're stuck here!"
"I was only trying to help though!"
"And look where that got us!"
"Well excuse me! Next time I'll just stay out of the way of your superior dueling skills."
"Good!"
They two turned away from each other scowling with their arms crossed. Neither took notice of the slowly materializing Marik. Bakura, having seemed to remember something, turned back around and slapped her.
"Aah! W-what was that for?!" Akeno cried, rubbing her cheek.
"For disrespecting your master," he said simply.
Why you…!
"You really shouldn't abuse her like that."
They both turned to find nearly whole Marik, the only part missing was a hand and the right side of his face. Akeno jumped slightly. "Marik!"
Bakura ignored his statement. "Has Malik finished playing with you?"
"I just possessed Tea's body-"
"I don't care to know of your escapades, Marik."
"-to tell the pharaoh to destroy my darker half at all costs," Marik growled, annoyed. "Even if it means destroying my body in the process, he must be stopped."
"Wonderful news to know you're acting as the self-sacrificing hero but what exactly makes you think I give a damn?" Bakura asked sardonically.
Marik humphed and shot Bakura a glare. "I thought you'd like to know that your stay in the Shadow Realm is almost over! But it could be arranged that you are left behind if you're going to act like an a-"
"That's great!" Akeno chimed in before Marik could finish his sentence. "But what about you? You can't seriously plan on staying here forever?"
Marik lowered his head. "You wouldn't believe the crimes I've committed against mankind, if this is how I can repent for my actions then so be it."
"I still don't care."
"I wasn't talking to you, you fool! I-" Marik stopped and his gaze became unfocused. "Odion…?"
Marik just starred blankly ahead as if he was somewhere else. Akeno waved her hand in front of his face. "Hello, in there…? Earth to Marik, do you read? Calling Marik uh... what's his last name?" She turned to Bakura. "What's with him?"
"His mind is somewhere else," Bakura shrugged, surprising her that he even answered. "Thank Ra he took his mouth as well."
She nodded. "Oh…"
Akeno glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and shuffled her feet. "Here's your shirt back," she said quickly, handing it to him. "Thank you."
Bakura stared at her and despite her trying to ignore his gaze, she forced herself to look at him. "What is it?" she asked, blushing slightly.
He brought his hand down on her again and she stumbled back, wide eyed.
"If I must remind you one more time to always call me master when speaking then I'll rip out your voice box and make you, at least, seem to be well trained!"
She growled under her breath, putting a hand to her cheek. Marik had better hurry up with these escape plans or I am SO going to kill this creep!
There was a rush of energy in the sky and the two looked up, startled, to find a whole army of duel monsters rushing across the sky in transparent forms. Akeno let out a gasp and involuntarily stepped closer to Bakura. Not all of them looked scary though, a few she thought looked human.
"What's going on…master?" she asked.
He glared at her briefly but her eyes were still glued to the sky.
"The runt got lucky, it seems."
They watched as the monsters filed off towards the dueling platform that was just out of sight, most likely hidden in one of the cloaked areas. Are they strong enough to beat Malik? It seems like Captain Jerkface thinks so but… I'm not so sure. Can anything beat Ra?
There was a light in the sky, when she squinted, she saw it purple and looked somewhat like a pentagram. Then a large figure, no more than one, started to fly towards it. It… it looks like Ra! And Yugi's Slifer! There was also a blue giant she hadn't seen before.
"What are they doing?!" she cried, hoping he'd say something positive.
Bakura said nothing but watched with an apathetic look on his face.
The three Egyptian gods disappeared into the ring with a blinding golden light that filled the sky. Akeno stared in amazement, her mouth gaping open slightly. A groan came from Marik's direction and she looked over at him. She screamed and backed up upon seeing that in Marik's place was his darker side. Bakura turned his attention to the cause of her scream and smirked.
"What's going on?" Malik cried, looking at his ghostly hands. "No! This can't be happening!"
Bakura chuckled and Malik glared at him with his one eye; there was still a chunk of his face missing. Malik's eye went wide and gained a far off look as if he were looking through his other eye.
"You can't do this, Marik! We can still crush the pharaoh together!" he pleaded as if Marik could hear him. "Remember how you wasted away your childhood serving this fool? It's not too late to destroy him and take what you deserve! The infinite power of the pharaoh could be yours! If we win this duel, you and I can claim the three Egyptian God Cards and the Millennium Puzzle! We'll rule the world together!"
He waited as if someone was speaking to him. "You can't do this! You need me!"
The black gap in his face started to bubble and was quickly replaced with the rest of him. "Nooo!" he cried and dropped to his knees. He punched the ground in anger and gritted his teeth.
"It can't be! I was so close!" Malik howled.
"How pitiful," Bakura taunted. "Begging like a dog, it's quite fitting for you, Malik."
Malik growled and got to his feet. "Shut up, you fool or I'll-"
Bakura cut in. "You're in no position to make threats, especially to me." He snickered as his and Akeno's bodies started to fade. "Didn't I tell you, Malik, that I'd have the last laugh?"
Akeno opened her eyes to find herself back in the dueling platform on top of the blimp. The bright midday sun shone down on her as if smiling. There was a small moan beside her. She looked over to see a flustered looking Ryou beside her.
"Ow, my head hurts," he said sitting up. "What happened?"
Akeno beamed at his and threw her arms around his neck. "Look, Ryou! It's the sun! It really is! We're out now! We're back!"
She let go of him, seeing a blush creep up on his face. "I-it would seem so. T-that's great," Ryou stammered.
Akeno smiled, still kneeling beside him. They were quiet for a moment then Ryou's stomach let out a growl. His blush deepened and she laughed, making him smile and feel less embarrassed.
"How about we find the kitchen in this place?" she suggested.
He nodded.
The two of them wandered the blimp and with some luck, they found it. Ryou opened the refrigerator and peered inside while Akeno went through cabinets. "Anything good?" she asked.
"They've got just about everything you can think of," he said pulling a few food products out.
"OH! I've found donuts!" Akeno exclaimed, bringing an assorted box out. "Real food, real food, real food!" she sang as she opened the box. She pulled out a chocolate one and offered some to Ryou who anxiously accepted two.
After eating her fill of donuts, Akeno went to the fridge and pulled out a carton of milk. "Get a load of this! Kaiba Corp has their own brand of milk!" she laughed. "Do they make toilet paper too?"
Ryou laughed as the door behind them slid open. They turned to find Yugi and his friends.
"I'm sorry guys but the donuts are gone," Ryou told them, smiling.
"Ryou! Akeno! You're back!" exclaimed Joey, "But what are ya doin' in here raidin' the refrigerator?"
Ryou took another bite of banana before answering, "We were gone for a long time and there's not much to eat in the Shadow Realm." He smiled at Joey's expression.
"Go figure…" Joey mumbled before helping himself to the food.
"Hey, c'mon guys. We'd better get to the goons flying this thing and see why we aren't taking off," said Tristan, pulling Joey from the fridge.
"Nyaahh! That's right!" Joey cried tossing a half eaten sandwich in the air. "This place is gonna blow!"
"It's what?!" exclaimed Akeno.
"Kaiba said the island was going to explode in an hour," said Tea nervously.
"Let's quit talking and get the heck out of here!" said Duke, already out the door.
The others agreed and hurried out of the room. Ryou got to his feet. "We'd better go with them."
Akeno nodded. "Yeah, it'd suck to get blown to pieces right after we were freed!"
Her smiled dropped as did his. They stared at each other for a moment both thinking the same thing. I'm not really free am I…? Not with Bakura controlling my every move… And who knows when he'll next show his face? Akeno smiled weakly at him. "Let's go."
"Akeno…" Ryou started in a melancholy voice.
She shook her head. "C'mon, we don't want to be left behind, do we?!" she asked grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the door, putting a more convincing smile on.
It's not your fault, Ryou… You can't blame yourself for having a psychopathic arrogant no good sadistic…jerk possessing you! If Marik got rid of that freak, you can too, Ryou! I promise I'll find a way to get rid of him! For both of our sakes…