Bakura's POV

Bakura threw his head back and cackled loudly as Diabound attacked at last. He kept ordering it to use several attacks while holding the green stone in an almost crushing power. He grimaced however when the pharaoh ordered the dragon to attack again. He was so close to crushing it…if he was just distracted for a moment longer he could have-

A green glint shone at the corner of his eyes and he quickly whipped his head around. Not bothering Diabound to attack again, it knew what to do he was sure of it. Diabound was no normal obedient ka, this one seemed to have a mind of its own sometimes.

''Where did you get that stone?!'' He yelled out and almost threw himself onto the other to grab it from him. There was no mistaking it, it glinted and show off the same power as his own stone did. He also never seen the stones before Dartz showed him it...Did he gave one to the pharaoh too?! He promised him power and now he gave his enemy the same as well?! ''Answer me!'' He roared, green light seemed to cover around him and fed him more with anger and rage.

Atem's POV

The thief surged toward him, his anger amassing in a green radiance around his body, his crimson tinted eyes burning through the mist. Atem backed off, grabbing the knife from before to defend himself, though he doubted it could do much to hold off the raging man.

'Answer me!' he roared, not even pulling a knife as he surged toward him. Would he try and kill him with his bare hands?

'I was given it. By an ally!' As the thief reached him, he fell back with the force of the man and felt the barrier send sharp pains up his back. Gritting his teeth as the barrier fought against him, clearly the magic was designed to keep the two inside. Dangerous and dark magic. Ally, Atem thought, was he sure of that anymore? Judging by the state of the man in front of him, that stone was not something he should have accepted so thoughtlessly. The thief was manic with wrath, the maddening effects of the stone driving him and his ka forward, pinning Atem to the barrier.

'Why do you care? Thief?' He challenged, staring up into the wild eyes of the thief…

Bakura's POV

He easily dodged the knife that was suddenly before him. Did the pharaoh really think he was better with a knife than him? Even without any weapon on him he was sure he could have easily beat the other. He slapped the knife away from him and cornered him against the edge of the wall. He grinned with pure pleasure as the magic was hurting the pharaoh, warning him to not try and escape. Even if Dartz had given the pharaoh the stone he was at least lucky that he did not even seem to want to use it. He knew the pharaoh was stupid but really? Not even going to use extra power? Did he truly have a death wish?

He called to Diabound to keep attacking, especially since the pharaoh was distracted by pain of the magic from the wall.

''An ally...'' He spat out with sarcasm. ''What an ally that man is...'' He raised his hand to wrap it around that tanned slender neck before him. ''He wanted you out of the way only to give you the same power?'' He growled and his hand twitched around the neck in response to his anger. His breathing turned harsher as he felt his other hand starting to shake because of all the sudden fury. It felt like it was starting to become hard to contain...all this extra fury to the large amount of hate he already had.

Atem's POV

Out of the way? What did he mean, Atem thought, but he barely had a second to consider it as the thief seized his throat. The pain was unbearable, as the man's rage caused him to tighten his grip on Atem's neck, and the barrier continued to burn into his back. But he noticed that the thief's hand was trembling, was he losing control of the stone? Maybe this was his chance, he thought, but how could he possibly fight back?

The thief was physically more powerful and he was not exactly in the best position to risk a counterattack. If only he could even the odds; empowered by the stone, the thief could overpower him with pure rage. It was then he felt a pulse of energy from the shard hanging around his own neck. A vision of his father's body cruelly hung from the thief's horse flashed through his mind. It hurt, but he pushed it away. He knew the stone was tempting him, but he couldn't give into it. The thief was being driven mad by the power it gave him, he could see him struggling within himself. Atem wished him knew what had had happened to this man to make him so angry, but it wasn't the times to consider it now. He had to get out of this situation before anything else

The thief's breathing became heavier, almost trembling with rage as he gripped Atem cruelly. Just a moment before, he had been taking great pleasure from his own pain, now he just seemed uncontrollably wrathful. Atem knew he couldn't last much longer, his own breathing constricted, he had to act. He felt the stone around his neck react to his panic again and glow brightly, sending more hateful images into his head. Without thinking, he gripped the stone in an attempt to pull it off, to block it out of his head. But in that second the shard in his grip reacted, possibly to the other stone? All he knew was that one minute he was struggling against the thief and the next there was a blast of power as the two stones seemed to react, hurling the thief and Atem away from each other, with each ka rushing to protect its master…

Bakura's POV

Just as Bakura was sure he was going to explode or kill them both in result of his anger, the stone started glowing and he was thrown back against the wall, not the wall of the barrier though. That wall had disappeared with the blast. His head slammed hard against it, usually he would thought about his position and make sure he would turn so he wouldn't get such an impact but now the blast was too sudden to do that. His vision blurred and swayed back and forth. He hated this feeling, the pharaoh was so close, HE was so close and here he was on the ground. He could just barely make out Diabound who had come to him in worry. Diabound fussed over him and tried to get him back up but he did not have the strength yet. He hoped that the pharaoh was hurt just as much, if not more, otherwise he would be in a bad position here. He blinked his eyes on purpose a few times to try and get his focus back. The hit from the wall must have really gotten him. Strangely enough Diabound didn't seem unpleased about the situation, he hoped that that meant that the pharaoh was out cold or something. But Diabound was actually glad because the sudden shock had stopped some of the influence of the stone over his thief. It hoped that it would not glow up again.

Bakura growled to himself, he did not like being stuck in a room with his enemy for obvious reasons but there was nothing else he could do. He tried to stand up over and over again, he was stubborn and his pride would not let him otherwise, but didn't seem like he would be able to yet…

If only he could just roll over and away from here. He would have to search for some ka's with more useful escape abilities for Diabound…

Though the stone had stopped its clutches over him for a moment, he could feel his own rage starting again. He felt humiliated at not being able to get away from here and that his attempt had not worked yet. He gave up most of his life to train for this and now he was stuck on the floor..

Atem's POV

Atem was not brought up with foul language but he found himself muttering some rather poor words under his breath as he came to. After being blown across the room by that godawful stone he had collided with the wall behind them. As he pushed himself up, he felt warm blood drip down his cheek. He must have cut his head, Atem supposed.

His vision blurred slightly as he looked across the room to check where the thief was. To his surprise he was still laying on the ground, he looked to be a considerable amount of pain. The thief was desperately attempting to stand as Diabound assisted him. But he looked to be too injured to manage it, falling back to the floor. A pang of sympathy shot through Atem as he watched the man struggle to rise. The anger driving this man must be incomprehensible.

Feeling a nudge at his side, Atem looked up to see Osiris wrapping its tail around him protectively. Smiling slightly at his ka's actions he reached up to the dragon and pulled himself up to his feet. He knew that he should go and find his friends or even a guard and leave the thief to his fate. But for some reason, he didn't. Atem found himself walking across the room toward the fallen man.

Before he got anywhere near, Osiris wrapped its tail around his waist and attempted to pull him backwards. Looking up, he saw Diabound growling at the dragon as it wrapped itself around him defensively. Osiris had more sense than he did, he knew that much Atem thought stroking the dragon's side in an attempt to sooth it. The crimson dragon calmed at its master's touch and curled down around Atem. He pushed himself up onto the tail around him and sat down upon it looking over at the thief. Diabound was still wary of his presence but he knew there was little he could do but sit there calmly and keep his distance.

'What happened?' Atem asked quietly, 'I don't know what you believe I know; but I assure you, I know of nothing that could drive a man this far.'

Bakura's POV

He quickly noticed the pharaoh his ridiculous hair appearing in his view and sneered. So he had hit himself harder than the pharaoh...He immediately took on a defensive position as he used Diabound to stand at last. He was clutching at the scales but at least he would be a little less defenceless than on the floor.

He couldn't help but scoff at the foolishness of the pharaoh who seemed to be coming closer to him and without a weapon probably as well. What was he now underestimated by a man such as him? A man who had never had to fight for himself as he had guards and could just sit around all day...

''What happened?'' Bakura pressed his lips tightly together, he swore he could feel his eye twitching by now. Was he still going to keep up this ''innocent'' act? He put on his arrogant sarcastic face again and held his chin up high.

''Oh I don't know? Seeing everyone get murdered right before your eyes might make a man a little bit and so.'' He looked him right in the eyes, daring him to make a comment on it. ''But you wouldn't know anything about that right?''

''Oh no I'm sure I imagined it all. Your guards slaughtering the whole town.'' He yelled out and held Diabound tighter, though his vision had returned by now and the adrenaline made him feel stronger again.