Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or its characters. I only own Sapphira Takaru, Marina Takaru, Toran Takaru and Zahara.

Chapter 3

The Tombkeeper's Initiation

Sapphira's P.O.V.

Two Years Later...

I walked down the hallways of Marik's home, lost in my thoughts. Today was the day that Marik would inherit the secret to unlocking the Pharaoh's memories. I saw yesterday how scared he was and what Odion tried to do to help him somewhat.

He tried asking Uncle Ishtar to have the ritual done to him instead, but Uncle got so mad and told him not to ask him again. Marik would have to do the ritual because it was his birthright and he couldn't run from it. I only hope that nothing bad comes because of it, but somehow I have a feeling that something bad will happen as a result of being forced into this by his own father. My feelings have never been wrong before and I won't stop following them now when it's telling me something bad is going to happen.

I eventually came to where the initation was being held as I saw Marik being led there by the other tombkeepers with Odion watching silently. I walked to stand next to Odion and looked at him straight in the eyes with deadly seriousness.

"Odion," I began. " Do you get a really bad feeling about this initation? Like there's something bad going to happen if Uncle follows through with it?"

Odion looked at me sadly before he nodded. He knew what I was asking and understood how I was feeling.

"Unfortunely Saph," Odion began sadly. "I have the same feelings that you do. It's one of the reasons that I tried convincing your Uncle to let me undergo the ritual instead of Master Marik. I know that stopping him wouldn't do any good. I just want to find some way to be able to help him in some way just like you do."

We watch silently and after the ritual was done, we saw what looked to be a shadow surrounding Marik. Odion and I looked at each other in shock. We knew exactly what that was and we knew that we had to find some way to keep it suppressed.

Odion and I walked away to talk to each other in private. We knew the damage that Marik newly created alternate personality could cause if we let it run free. We had to find a way to keep it from harming Marik and others around him.

"So Odion," I began. "What do you think that we should do. You know that we can't let it run free to cause havoc. Who knows who it could harm. We need a way to keep it suppressed so that it can't harm anyone close to Marik."

Odion nodded at that. He seemed to have an idea in mind, but I was willing to be patient to see what he had to say.

"I know Saph," Odion answered. " I might just have an idea of how to keep his other personality suppressed for the time being. I don't know what will happen if I'm knocked out, but at least he'll stay supressed as long as I'm awake."

I nodded for him to go on. He took out a scroll that showed the carvings for the ritual that he was going to do. I read it and looked at Odion in shock. When he nodded, I knew that he was serious in doing this.

"Alright Odion,"I answered before I looked at him in equal seriousness. "You can do what you plan to do, but so will I."

He looked at me in shock before I began to explain.

"You see," I began. " I promised myself that one day that I would protect Marik like he did for me. Now is the time for me to uphold my promise."

I held out my right hand to him.

"Odion," I began with the most serious expression that you could see on my face for a ten year old child. "Put the marks for the ritual on this hand. I'll be a backup for when you fall unconcious, so that we can give Marik a fighting chance for when the evil within him tries to break free."

Odion nodded at seeing this and took my hand carefully as he and I began the ritual. I held back any screams of pain that I could. This was for Marik so I could take this pain for him. So that I could protect him like he's always protected me.

A While Later...

I walked into Marik's room while Ishizu was out doing something else. I saw how Marik slept with pain filling his voice as he slept. I looked down at my now bandaged hand that I knew was carved in Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs that I knew was also on the side of Odion's face from the ritual that we just did.

Odion and I agreed to keep Ishizu and Marik in the dark about the truth of our ritual. Odion would mention that he did the ritual by himself to prove his loyalty to Marik, while I would keep my involvement a secret so that I could keep an eye on Marik's dark side without drawing any suspicion from the others. The only thing that I would have to do is to keep my right hand covered so that the others wouldn't see the carvings. It would be easy enough if I just wore some gloves underneath.

I wouldn't have to do much to keep it a secret. I know that I have to keep it a secret to protect Marik. The less that he knows about the evil within him, then the safer that he will be. I can only hope that this will be enough to protect him.

I ruffled his hair as he slept as I looked out towards the hallway.

"I promise Marik," I began softly so that I wouldn't wake Marik. "I will protect you from him. Not matter what I have to sacrifice to ensure that. I will protect you just like you've protected me."

What I didn't notice was the shadow surrounding Marik, smirking at my words before he disappeared like he never even existed.

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