AGKamon: Hey~! I got another chapter out before I have to go to that camp for school, and this is the tenth chapter! Also, one more review until we have twenty!
Kayla: Alright! *cheers*
AGKamon: I also uploaded another piece of artwork onto my Deviantart, I didn't edit it at all on the computer, so it's paper, pencil, and pen, but I think it's really awesome. Who wants to say the disclaimer?
Marik: I will. AGKamon doesn't own anything related to Yu-Gi-Oh! She only owns Kayla Kossori, her OC.
AGKamon: Start the chapter, also, I hope Yami Marik's still in character. And the random appearance of Zorc doesn't affect anything much, but he's the creator of the Shadow Realm. I thought it was fitting in that point of the chapter; I think I made him way too friendly. Whoops~!
Bakura's P.O.V.
I quickly reviewed the ways of escaping the Shadow Realm, most of them would take time. We don't have that kind of time to spare, I'm sure of that.
"What are we going to do, Bakura?" Marik inquired. I could hear a hint of desperation and worry in his whiny voice, as well as a bit of guilt.
Good, he should feel guilty. It's his psychotic dark side that got all of us in this mess, and now Kayla's in danger because of it.
"Shut up, Marik, I am trying to think," I growled back.
Let's see, the ways to escape the Shadow Realm are:
1. Remind Zorc of a debt he has to repay to you (Darn, I already used that one last time I was sent here…)
2. Wait for the Pharaoh/anyone else to defeat the being who sent you to the Shadow Realm (That'll take too long…)
3. Appeal to the Egyptian Gods (Ugh, they already hate me…and most likely, Marik…)
4. Do a favor for Zorc (No…it'll take too long, and there's no way I'll do a favor for him.)
And 5. Sacrifice a large amount of my power; Zorc will absorb this power, and in return, will create a portal for one soul to escape the Shadow Realm (Well, it's the only one left, but should I go, or should Marik?)
"Marik, if there was a way to escape, but only one of us could leave, what is your opinion on who could protect her better?" I questioned. I wasn't sure why I was asking him; the words simply came out of my mouth before I could think them over. That's been happening a lot lately; everything about me seems to be changing slightly ever since I met her.
"Well, normally, I'd answer with myself, but I can tell, Bakura, you need to see Kayla again. So you go ahead; I'll be fine here for a while. After all, I'll be let out as soon as my dark half's gone, right?" he replied. I sent a very slight, thankful smile his way, but he didn't notice because of the darkness. Thank Ra, he'd probably think I was going soft.
"Hm, you're still annoying, but you're not as bad as most mortals I've met. …I have to say thank you; I'll make sure that you escape this horrible place."
"What? Wait, you were serious when you said there was a way out?"
"Of course, why would I ask otherwise? Marik, you already decided, I'm going." I held my hands out in front of me, palms-up, and shut my eyes. I felt a warmth leaving my body and fleeing to my hands, slowly I opened my eyes again. Two small spheres of glowing, golden light were floating inches above my palms. As if I were tossing a ball, I threw the lights above me, and they faded away. My body felt heavier, as if I were injured or had lost a large amount of my blood, but that feeling would go away eventually. I have escaped the Shadow Realm enough times to know that.
"Who is asking for permission to return to the human world?"a booming voice asked. It came from nowhere, and yet, you could hear it everywhere. It sounded like Zorc was in a good mood.
"I have, Zorc. May I be allowed to return?"
"What reason do you have to sacrifice your power? It must be important…" he inquired.
"I do not have time for this Zorc! There's someone out there that I need to protect!" I remarked.
"Oh? Then, I shall not let your sacrifice be in vain, Bakura. However, I think it's a good idea that you come visit after you finish protecting this 'someone'."
"Sure, whatever. ...Farewell, Marik, if I'm not around when you come back, take care of her for me, alright?"
"Of course, I've started to think of her as a friend as well," he said. I felt myself floating upward, and then, everything vanished.
Kayla's P.O.V.
I began shaking severely when the automatic doors opened to reveal Dark Marik.
"My dear, how have you been?" he asked, kneeling down to look me in the eyes. Once again, I pulled at the cuffs made from Shadow Magic that he'd put on my wrists using the Millennium Rod; they only dug into my wrists in return. I was unable to speak due to my fear, so I simply attempted to move farther away from him, but I was already backed against the wall.
"No answer? That's really too bad; are you already losing your voice? Hm, there's only one way to test that theory seeing as you won't talk to me, and I think I've stumbled upon a new idea to accompany this little 'test' of mine." I pathetically whimpered out something that vaguely sounded like a 'no', but I couldn't be sure.
"Everyone on the blimp left, my dear, you can be as loud as you want…" he purred, moving me so I was facing the wall and my back was facing him. I shuddered as his strangely cold breath fanned over my neck, and the blade of the Millennium Rod traced along the wound it had left on my arm before, which had begun to scab over. I flinched at the combined feelings, and I felt his nose trail down the side of my neck until his chin hit my shoulder.
What's he doing this time?
"I assure you, my dear, you're going to enjoy this just as much as I will." Suddenly, a flash of golden light coming from the Millennium Ring around my neck made him pause whatever he was doing. Apparently, he never needed it, and I was a better 'prize' as he'd told me later. As quickly as the light appeared, it vanished and took the ancient golden artifact with it.
My blood chilled when I felt his slightly pointed teeth scrape against my skin while his fingers danced up and down my spine. I waited fearfully for the blade to pierce my skin, so I yelped loudly when his teeth unexpectedly bit down, enough to draw blood.
Why is he doing this? Where's Bakura?
Bakura's P.O.V.
It felt like I was falling from an extreme height when I suddenly appeared in my old room on the blimp. My eyes quickly scanned the room; she wasn't here, no one was. A small weight on my neck made me look down to learn that the Millennium Ring was with me once again; mentally, I briefly questioned how it got back to me as it was with her before, but that thought was discarded quickly. I could think about that later, but for now, I needed to find her.
"Where could they be?" I whispered to myself as I exited the room; it was too quiet, I noted. I knew where they'd probably be, Marik's room. After all, that monster had taken it over when the real Marik left. I was about to continue down the hallway toward said room when I heard a fairly loud scream, in the opposite direction. Nonetheless, I turned on my heels and sprinted in the direction of the cry that I knew belonged to the girl I was searching for.
The sound of murmuring from behind one of the doors caused me to lean against it to listen better.
"Ah, you see, my dear, I knew that'd make you scream. How about one more?" the dreadfully familiar voice belonging to Dark Marik said; my blood boiled at the way he talked to her. His voice sounded sickeningly seductive, and although I knew she was terrified of him, not attracted, the tone he used still made my stomach turn. I glanced at the lock next to the doors, and quickly forced it open, rushing through the doors only to reveal that there was no one there.
"But I was sure I heard him in here…" I muttered angrily, glaring at the shadows scattered in the farthest reaches of the room. A low chuckle filled the air, and I looked toward it.
"I never knew you'd be back so soon, Bakura; I wanted to have some more fun with you female friend, where'd she go anyway?" Dark Marik said.
"Just give her back to me!" I exclaimed. The display of anger shocked me; did I really care about her that much?
"Oh, where would be the fun in that?" he taunted, tilting his head in an attempt to look innocent. It was something he'd never be able to do. A soft whimpering caught my attention, and I turned toward it.
"Looks like she gave away her hiding place; such a disappointment. Ah well, I might as well bring her out now." He clicked his tongue, and the shadows next to him shifted and basically spat out a weak-looking dark-blue haired girl. She stayed kneeling on the floor; I could tell her entire body was shivering. A small trail of what looked to be blood ran down from the crook between her neck and shoulder, and another injury on her upper arm was beginning to scab over.
"Kayla," I breathed, slightly stunned at how her current state reminded me of a glass doll set on the edge of a table. A single wrong movement would send her tumbling over the edge, and she'd break. What would break first: her body or the little sanity she had left? I had to worry about that.
"N-no more…" The pitiful tone was heart-wrenching, even to me. I never knew that there'd ever be a person, a mortal, who could cause the changes in my demeanor that she unknowingly did.
"Let her go! She doesn't deserve this!" I shouted, taking a threatening step toward the being. He didn't flinch, and a smirk curved on his face. I could now see a hint of red tainting his lips from where I was standing.
What did he do? Bite her?
"Oh? And what does she deserve?" he inquired. I blinked, confused by his question, but I took a moment to think it over. My words were chosen carefully, and I spoke slowly so I didn't say anything that I didn't want to say.
"Well…she doesn't deserve to be hurt anymore, that's for sure. She needs to be taken care of and-" I started, but I was stopped when Dark Marik frowned and interrupted me.
"So she's broken and boring, is what you're saying?"
"No, not at all! She's more fragile than she acts is what I'm saying, and she needs someone who'll care about her. Just let her go, why do you want her anyway?"
"It's fun to hear her scream and cry. Everytime I come in the room she starts shaking like a leaf; it's entertaining, honestly," he responded. I walked up to him and grabbed the collar of his black tank top, holding him close to my face. His smirk returned as I glared murderously at him.
"You're twisted, you make me sick. I've told you three times, this'll make four: let her go."
"Why should I?"
"She's of no use to you, she's just a toy. You'll get bored soon enough, why don't I take her off your hands?" I didn't like the idea of bargaining to get her back; it would make her seem like an object and not a person. However, I knew it was the only way I could convince him to give her up.
"It's a tempting offer, but what's to stop me from sending the both of you to the Shadow Realm right now?"
"Nothing, you could easily do so."
"Hm, she is starting to lose her voice; that's all I want to hear…" he considered, looking down at her crouched form on the floor.
"How about we make a deal?"
"I'm listening."
"You let her go with me, in return, we'll both go to the Shadow Realm. You get more powerful with each soul you send there, right? We'll be giving you more power, and you won't have to deal with us. How about it?" I suggested. There was an agonizingly long pause of silence as he thought over my offer.
"…Sure. Take her; the screams I got today were nothing compared to before." I smirked, releasing the Egyptian's collar and kneeling before the girl.
"Kayla, come on, it's me…" I coaxed, holding a hand out to her. Shakily, her head lifted to look at my hand and then my hand; her midnight-blue eyes were tired and teary.
"Ba…Bakura?" she whispered; her hand started to inch towards mine.
"Yes, it's me. Come now, darling, do you really think I'd abandon you like that?" I ran the words over again in my head.
Where did darling come from? Lightly, she placed her hand on mine, and I carefully entwined our fingers.
"I knew you wouldn't leave me alone…" she said, moving closer to me so her head rested on my shoulder. I turned my head and glared at Dark Marik just as he lifted the Millennium Rod and pointed it at me. Then there was a blinding, golden flash of light, and I could feel her hand grip mine tighter while her other grasped my shirt, searching for some from of comfort and safety.
For now, I can give her that... I loosely wrapped my free arm around her waist and awaited my return to the Shadow Realm.
AGKamon: Hm, Bakura really starts to show his protective/caring side in this chapter. I like how I write that side of him; it seems fitting, but not too out of character. Do you readers agree?
Bakura: Reviews, remember?
AGKamon: I know!
sorecess of the nile - *pats you on the back while smiling* Nice job, slapping Yami Marik like that Elecktra. Although, I think Yami Marik's a lot more sadistic, evil, psychopathic, and a lot worst than Kaiba overall. Even though I'm not a Kaiba fan either...
katz341 - Pokemon is mostly win, but the Black/White generation/saga/whatever-you-wanna-call-it is kinda bad in my opinion. I stopped watching the anime because of it, but that's my opinion. People can think whatever they want. Also, I'm glad you think I did well with Yami Marik; I hope he's still great in this chapter. And, I am looking forward to Exercise! *appears with Kayla and encourages you while you continue to type furiously on Microsoft Word*
Thanks for reviewing, let's see which one of you makes reviewer number twenty!
Bakura: It's not like you'll win anything...besides, didn't you have something you wanted to ask the readers?
Marik: Yeah, I remember you complaining how you couldn't make up your mind...
AGKamon: Oh, right. Well, I was listening to the songs from the new album of my favorite singer, Cascada (think Evacuate the Dance-floor and Pyromania), and I thought 'hey, these would make some awesome songfics!'. So, what do you think about the idea of me making a set of Kayla/Bakura songfics based on the songs from that album? (Pyromania's on the album, fitting right?) Also, I need assistance thinking up a shipping name for Kayla and Bakura because Thiefshipping already taken...
Marik: It is? By who?
Kayla: You...don't want to know, Marik. It's yaoi, and AG's not into yaoi.
AGKamon: Try to make sure it's not already taken by another couple first, but I'll check out the names you come up with anyway! Okay, read and review my readers!