Max and Bakura's Feelings

Max returned to the village of Kul Elna where Bakura was waiting. Her heart was hardened and her anger had built up inside of her. But she wasn't just hateful towards Bakura. She was just as outraged with herself. How could she have not seen it when it was all right in front of her the whole time? How could she not realize that her friend whom she had lived with for years was her parents' murderer? How dare he lie to me about everything, she thought. And I trusted him.

She stormed into the house and saw Bakura standing still with a grin. He was not surprised to see her look like she had lost her temper and was seeking someone to kill. This was actually the reaction he was expecting from her. Before Bakura can say anything, however, Max growls like a rabid beast and tells him, "Bakura, now I understand what you meant. True power can only be achieved by destroying those who have used and lied to you!" She runs up to him to try to attack him, but he stops her. Bakura had learned to defend himself from any attacks Max would throw at him whether they'd be blasts of magic or physical assaults.

"I promised you power, didn't I? As heir of Cobalt, I'm a man of my word."

Max wasn't in the mood for his petty antics. She wanted Bakura to tell her the truth. On top of that, she didn't have the patience for an explanation. She wanted a straight answer. "Tell me," she firmly demands, "why did you do it? Why did you kill my parents?"

Keeping his cool and still grinning, Bakura plainly tells her, "Because it was the right thing to do. One who was abandoned by her family doesn't deserve to be taken back by that family. They never even loved you to begin with."

That was always what Max assumed when her parents came to take her back. When she asked them why they didn't want her, they told her it was because they were poor and sick. They couldn't feed her and they didn't want to risk her health. But the poor girl had a feeling that they were lying after seeing the village and its inhabitants. A lot of the people were poor and had to steal to survive, but no one was sick. Perhaps some weren't exactly sane, but many were healthy.

As truthful as Bakura's answer was, he actually wasn't being completely honest with Max. The bitter truth was that Bakura was tortured by his emotions for her and wanted her to stay with him. The Dark Lord sensed his agony and began reasoning with him; telling him to relieve himself of this torture by hurting the girl he loved. Bakura was helpless to defy that matter. Being a son of Cobalt, thievery and murder was in his blood. Many would do it for the thrill of satisfying their anger while others would do it to satisfy their Dark Lord. Bakura was no different. He thought it was fun as well as his instinct. But he didn't want to hurt Luna. He wanted her. But then the Dark Lord reminded Bakura of how weak Luna was and needed to become stronger. Bakura would do anything to help Luna, but he also wanted to be free of his emotions. So he tried thinking of how he could help himself and his friend.

That night in the village, Bakura saw a young couple leaving their home. He overheard their talk about going to the palace to take back their child and assumed that they were Luna's parents. He also heard them mentioning something about leaving the village and even the country due to the wars. If these people were Luna's parents and they were about to take her back, then it meant he would never see his only friend again. The torture in Bakura's heart grew stronger from that moment. He wasn't going to let them take her away. He even felt like they deserved to die not just because they didn't even love Luna to begin with, but also because they disgraced the Dark Lord by leaving his kin in the care of the enemy.

When Bakura finally finished explaining everything, Max screamed again and dealt a punch for his face. "What kind of pain do you think I've suffered from since that night?" she hollered. "The people who found me thought I lost my mind and killed them after you left. I've lived in chains and have been beaten almost every day."

Bakura stands up and wipes his cheek. "Max, my dear, it was for your own good. You told me so that you were weak. So I saw right away that I had to help you by unlocking your inner fury any way that I could; unleash your true nature as a Cobaltite. True, you've suffered great cruelty, but it's also made you stronger and wiser. You've become a powerful fighter and have let nothing stand in your way."

Max keeps silent, realizing that he's right. It's true, she wondered. Every punishment I've endured has helped make me stronger. But I still can't believe it. He's had me trained like a dog.

But Bakura could hear her thoughts. "Indeed, I did. I also even knew we would one day meet again. But when I learned you knew Mystery and were also her friend, I realized you were still the same weak child I first met and you needed more help."

"So that's why you sold me to the Dark Lord? To make me fight your battles?"

He shakes his head. "You made that choice yourself, Max. I didn't force you to bond with the Cobalt Star. You also said you wanted to help me after I told you what happened after we met again."

"You still used me like a pawn," Max argued, her voice now low. "And I've had enough of your games. I'm sick of fighting, I'm sick of hurting others, and I'm sick of this whole Shadow Game."

"You don't have a choice," Bakura reminded. "You can't undo what's happened. You also know that the Cobalt Star can't undo its contract with you."

Max hadn't forgotten all of that. She also knew that destroying the Cobalt Star meant ending her own life also. But she still decided that she had enough. For once, Max found herself feeling lost and confused. It seemed like whatever step she took or whatever path she chose, she was just a pawn in a game. She never really wanted any of this. Even now, Max didn't know what she wanted anymore. She was just tired of being something she wasn't. At the same time, she didn't know what she was anymore.

Bakura didn't like seeing Max in silence. He breaks the silence by sighing and saying, "But you're right, I have used and deceived you. I won't apologize because I stand by what I said about it being for your own good. But I do have a lot to own up to. It's time I ended this."

Before he walks out of the house, Max stops him and pleads, "Don't go!" He stops, feeling her arms around him and his eyes widen of surprise. Max's anger fades and turns into concern. "My mother and father didn't deserve to be killed by your hands; even if what they did was wrong. I can't forgive you for killing them, but I can't just stand by and let you continue killing more people for your own satisfaction." Trying to hold back her hiccups, she sobs and continues on. "But I can't forgive the royal family either for destroying my village and serving my people to Millennia. Besides, it's not like the pharaoh and queen are the ones who took everything from me."

This was a very complicated predicament for Max to be in. She never hated Atem or Mystery to begin with and yet she was still fighting them. She actually couldn't despise the royals because her parents didn't meet the same fate as her fellow villagers. The poor woman was torn between two enemies claiming to want to help her.

That was why she didn't want to take part of this fight any longer. She didn't even want to lose the people she did consider to be her friends. "Please, Bakura. Enough is enough," Max sobs. "I don't want you to keep hurting them anymore. I don't want to lose you either because even though you caused me so much pain, you changed my life and I would be lost if I never met you." Listening to herself, Max wondered if she meant any of it. Part of her was telling her to hate Bakura and kill him to avenge her parents. But the other half of her was telling her to be grateful to him. She had to agree with Bakura; she was everything she was because of him.

But Bakura could see it in Max's teary eyes that she didn't want to kill him. He even felt like he knew why. But he wasn't about to explain it in words. Bakura smiles once again, holds Max close to him, closes his eyes, and presses his lips against hers. Max's eyes widen, but she starts envisioning the past she shared with Bakura when they first met. Scenes from the times they played together were playing before her eyes. She even hears Cobalt's lullaby being played out in her mind.

Having had enough, Max forces Bakura off of her. It was clear that he really did have feelings for her. There was no point in keeping those emotions contained anymore after that kiss. She wasn't about to wait for him to say anything, however. Not even she had anything to say. Instead, she runs out of the house and through the streets.

Max gets out of the village and approaches the river. She gets on her knees and looks at her reflection as she continues crying. At first, she saw Max's reflection, but looking a little deeper, she saw Luna's. "Queen Mystery," she sobs, "This wasn't what I wanted. Even now, I wish that Bakura chose another to serve as your foe on his behalf." She began singing to herself. What did I do? What have I done?

I hurt my only real friend

Why did I think I could ever be any good?

By causing pain too great to mend?

She felt Mystery's presence and heard her voice. With pain and sorrow in her tone, Mystery sings, Was I wrong to call you my friend?

To offer a hand to lend?

So much I'll never say

So much I've thrown away, Max sang.

Together, they sang, All I had is gone

So much to say to you, Max sang.

So much to share with you, Mystery added.

All I had is gone, they finished together. All I had is gone.

Listening to herself, Max gazes at the Crystal Ring on her finger. It was supposed to be nothing more than a trinket to keep the queen convinced that she was her friend, but Max started to believe that their friendship was true. But this friendship would once again test her. Max knew the queen too well and knew that she would forgive her, but how would the rest of the royals react? That would also be based upon whether or not she would tell them the truth. If Max was her friend, she would help her stop Bakura. But then she remembered, it wasn't Max who made that promise, but Luna. Other than that, Luna no longer existed, meaning that the promise no longer existed either. Frusterated, she splashes the water to remove her reflection.

Poor Max was now in the same situation as Seto. She had to conquer the darkness inside of her or allow it to control her. She knew what she would have to do if she saw Mystery again and let the truth get out. Max was going to end this fight once and for all in her own way. Quickly settling everything and pulling herself together, she returned to Bakura as a comrade wanting to take down the royal family. Bakura was happy to hear that and ready to put the next plan of attack into order.