Ba-Ku-Ra!

By: Miss-DNL & RenagadeRexRider

Chap 21: Ever the Presence of Shadows

As the boy headed down the hall, Akefia felt a strange lag in himself suddenly. The sensation a familiar one and he cursed under his breath at his blunder; the cost of materializing his Ka. It had not dawned on him how his current state would affect his energy, and now he was paying the price, he could feel himself weakening, and weakening fast. He tsked in irritation at the revelation; summoning Diabound could not be a consistent deal. Sighing roughly he spoke privately once more to his Ka, 'Return to the card for now Diabound. I have used a lot of energy on that…'

Diabound, still a shadow chasing his master's host, twitched as he simultaneously sensed his master's plight and trilled shallowly, nodding at his master's words, "As you wish."

Akefia smiled despite himself at his Ka's ever loyal response. No questions, no verbal pity… just pure acceptance. Despite the short lived adventure, it was a welcome one, 'It was good to have you fight by me like that again~.'

Diabound trilled, happy to have pleased his master, 'It was an honor to fight for you again, Master~.'

Akefia focused his eyes ahead as Diabound leapt from the wall, his imposing form appearing only briefly before returning to his card in a flash of the Ring's eye. Akefia sighed slightly as he felt his energy level out, although he still felt fatigued. But slowly, he began to feel as if he was slowly being crushed…

The comment as Ryou entered the hall overlooking the arena had more or less just slipped from Ryou's lips and had barely been more than a hushed whisper, but nonetheless it had been enough to draw the attention of his friend Anzu who looked to him, "Bakura, You're back!" she chimed, genuinely relieved at his return, fearing something had happened to him. She paused and looked beyond him as if expecting someone, "Where's Honda?"

Ryou looked at Anzu, momentarily touched by her concern before addressing the more pressing issue, "He's fine, we found Mokuba and my Dad. He's staying with them in my room." Glancing down at the large ominous orb before she could ask or comment he stiffly asked, "What's going on?"

"Yugi is dueling Pegasus." Jonouchi explained, "After he beat Mai and you weren't back still, he challenged Pegasus. He accepted and then they started dueling, Yugi beat his Toon World and then this thing showed up." he said as he motioned to the dark sphere.

Akefia shuddered in his binds as they seemed to tighten the closer the boy got to the arena, prompting the thief to conclude that a shadow game was in effect. Despite this assumption, his eyes widened in surprise as he peered down at the large swirling orb, "That… That's a Dark Gate!"

Ryou paused as the Spirit spoke, 'Dark Gate?' he questioned; he paused as he felt the Ring shudder slightly causing him to quirk a brow… Was something bothering the Thief?

Akefia continued to stare at the swirling mass as he spoke, "It's a direct opening to the Shadow Realm itself… that's raw dark energy swirling around down there…"

"Yugi…" Ryou managed, his brows furrowed worriedly. His friend was dueling in the Shadow Realm?! A shadow game was one thing he supposed… but a Shadow Game in the Shadow Realm…, 'I'm guessing Pegasus is serious then…' he began, but paused when he felt a strange sensation coming from the Thief causing him to pause, growing concerned, 'Is everything alright?'

Akefia grit his teeth, not so much at the Boy's comment, but at the slow, constricting sensation of his binds as the Ring, by some instinct, absorbed the radiating Dark Energy from the gate, "…..It's…It's fine…" he managed somewhat stiffly as the Ring regained its lost energy, 'I think the Ring is just… recharging so to speak…'

Ryou stared down at the Ring unsurely for a moment, the Thief's voice sounding notably strained. That fact had Ryou concerned and he wanted to inquire further, but knowing the Thief would likely get irritable over it, especially if it was just what he claimed it to be, Ryou reluctantly accepted, 'Alright… if you say so…'

Looking back down to the sphere, he wondered just how much longer the thing would be there. Looking to his friends who looked just as anxious, inquired a bit worriedly, "How long has he been down there?"

Anzu hummed and took a deep breath as she shifted, "He's been in there for a while… I hope he's alright."

Ryou sighed to himself… That meant an intense duel… what was worse is there was nothing he could do but wait… he gripped the banister tightly, the weight of what was at stake sending his stomach into knots and making a cold sweat begin to prickle his skin.

Within the Ring, Akefia barely paid any mind to the Boy or what was happening as a growing chill seemed to invade the Ring. Although the Ring was in fact absorbing energy, he couldn't help but grit his teeth at the increasing pressure around him, barely holding onto his own thoughts to keep the Boy out of his increasing discomfort, 'I say that…but something… isn't right…'

Akefia continued to hold out, grinding his teeth as the pressure became near unbearable, almost as if he were suffocating as the binds seemed to grow more oppressive, as if something were pulling them tighter. Then without warning, Akefia felt a very distinct jolt rip through both his binds and the Ring itself. A very powerful surge that caused his mind to almost completely blank, tensing at the oncoming rush. There was no time to think, only act as he realized what a burst would do. Using what energy he still had in himself, he took control of a small portion of Shadow Energy and immediately directed it at the Boy's very essence, yanking him from his control and slammed him into his soul room as the torrent of Shadow Energy ripped through the Ring. The sheer force and strain of the action locking the Boy in tight and knocking the Thief out cold, limp once more in his bonds as they continued to strengthen.

Ryou had no opportunity to neither react nor realize what was happening, and in mere seconds he knew no more as the sudden action left him unconscious in his soul room, unaware of the darkness that began to flood his body…. The hall that comprised the boy's soul plane now flooded with an inky darkness that began purposefully creeping towards the silent door that lingered in the darkest corner of Ryou's soul plane… a slow, horrible creaking echoing as it opened once more, the entity within stirring. A cruel grin twisting into view as the entity opened its glinting malevolent eyes once again.

"Ahh…What's this~?" a whisper like cold venom asked as it treaded through the murky darkness, sharp eyes peering out the open door. Glancing around, a much darker grin slowly broke across the Yami's face, a deep mocking laugh bursting forth as the Shadows continued to pry the door open, "Geheheh…. HAHAHAHA! Got a bit too close to a Dark Gate didn't you little Ryou?~"

With a focused thrust, the door opened wide and the Yami strode out his soul room and into the boy's soul hall. Turning his eyes towards the lighter end, he grinned maliciously and made his way towards his host's door, intent on greeting his dear host properly. As he approached the door however, he felt his grin falter realizing that the door was sealed tight, "Eh? What's this…?" he thought aloud.

As he inspected the handiwork, an amused chuckle rattled the Yami's throat, "Trying to keep me out are you Thief King?" he called into the darkness around him, "Doesn't matter… I'll deal with that soon enough~ But for now…"

With that the Yami took control of Ryou's body once more, the snowy white bangs on his head seeming to grow sharper and into a hornlike shape as the darkness crept into every fiber of Ryou's being. Opening his eyes, the soft expression that belonged to Ryou was replaced with a chilling and sinister glare and grin to match as he gripped the banister tighter, savoring the sensation of the mortal's pulse as if it were a victory.

The body having slumped slightly into the wall upon its loss of its owner, the Yami righted himself and gave the room only the briefest of glances before taking full focus on the Dark Gate that swirled below them, "Ah… A shadow duel…" he muttered, his smirk growing ever more chilling as the Ring reacted to the warring combatants below, 'Against two Millennium Items no less!'

No wonder his door had been so easily pried open. A shadow duel in of itself was strong, but with the focus of two embodiments of Shadow Heka in the heat of conflict, it was all too easy. The Ring's swell of life once again was a testament to that. Yami hummed as he stared down at the Gate, curiosity tickling him… A cold gleam glinted in his eyes as he turned his attention inward… the boy was off limits to him for the moment… but the tightly bound soul of the Thief King was another matter entirely. After all… why waste that kind of energy right away? It would fade on it's own.

Using the raw energy around him, he easily broke into the Thief's unguarded mind, shifting about through his more recent memories before finding what he wanted, 'Interesting…' he thought to himself as he looked over the recent events and the appearance of the Eye. He paused at the fool's ever so predictable mindset and smirked coldly…

Barely repressing the chuckle in his throat, Yami turned and headed down the hall away from the duel to make better use of his renewed freedom. The Shadow Game could not be interrupted, but it mattered little in the end… all he had to do was be patient and find the right place to strike. A cruel gleam flickered in his eyes as he sifted about the Thief's memories once more, smirking at his present agenda, 'You'll get what you want, Thief King~.' He hissed shallowly as he took up the Ring, its prongs jolting into position as they began to lead him through the castle.

Back on the banister, Anzu paused as she watched her friend walk away, blinking in confusion, "Huh? Where's Bakura going?" she wondered aloud.

Jonouchi turned and watched the silverette vanish around the corner and hummed, "Let him go, probably worried about his dad."

Anzu watched only a moment longer before nodding slowly, both turning to look back down at the sphere in hopes of seeing some sort of positive change…

/Pegasus' Private Room/

In the topmost tower of the proud centerpiece of the island, Pegasus' personal abode stood asunder, its guards lie unconscious on the floor of the now locked closet as its attacker continued his less than neat search, desks sat wide open, their few contents skewn here and there. Bandit Keith dumped yet another drawer in hopes that perhaps it would possibly hold what he was looking for, but as with all the others, it didn't, prompting an irate growl from the American thug, 'Where would a rich ass pansy hide shit?' he wondered looking around the room once more.

He paused and hummed as his eyes fell on the portrait of Pegasus' late love sitting quietly against the wall. Keith paused a moment before grinning, 'If I'm right… this is beyond cliché.'

With that he strode over to the painting and unceremoniously tore it away from the wall, earning an amused chuckle as a safe was revealed, 'Heh. Perfect.' He thought as he began carefully tampering with the lock.

With a small amount of patience, in near to no time at all the safe stood ajar as Keith shifted through its contents, a neat stack of papers. He smirked as he found what he was looking for and turned his thoughts to the waiting shadow in his mind, 'Got 'em.' He declared before looking at two other sheet of paper, 'Want me to take the ones on Ra and Osiris too Master Malik?'

Malik perked slightly at the inquiry and thought for a brief moment before deciding better of his pride, {Might as well in case I'm incorrect.}

As Keith took the papers and began securing them safely, Malik paused sensing something… Looking off he momentarily thought to shrug it off as the Shadow Duel, but narrowing his eyes he turned to Keith's senses and paused as he began to hear someone, and they seemed to be heading toward them. He frowned, {Someone's coming, a guard?} carefully he listened closely and hummed, {No, sounds too light… Hm, maybe it's the Thief King.}

Keith paused hearing his Master's words and looked to the door, 'The Spirit that lives in the Runt?'

Malik hummed in response, {Must be waiting for Pegasus so he can claim the eye…} he then smirked to himself at the thought, surely that would not settle well in the end.

Keith felt the smirk on his face broaden at his Master's thoughtful tone, 'What do you want me to do? Take him out?' he asked almost hopefully. Oh he would enjoy that to its fullest. His grin dropped dead however as Malik shot the idea down bluntly,

{No, the spirit has knowledge of how to use the item unlike his host. Leave. It's too risky for you to fight him. We have the papers, there's no reason to stay any longer.} Malik ordered. Despite the idea being amusing, he'd rather not risk what he had needlessly no matter the unlikeliness… such amusement could be had at his leisure at a later and more appropriate time.

Keith scowled, 'Right..' he thought stiffly before he quickly headed to the only other option.

Walking with a sinister and purposeful air, Yami let the Ring guide him up the stairs to the tower, where he took note that guards were not present where they should have been, 'Hmmmm? Seems like most of my work is already done~.' He mused to himself. The idea that the guards were gone could only mean one thing, and looking to the memories of the Thief he had a decent idea who, 'Ah… but that means I have a small thorn to remove… No Matter~.' He mused as he approached the door, which to no surprise of his own, stood slightly open. His eyes drooped lazily as he caught the sound of a hasty retreat.

Without the slightest twitch of hesitation, Yami entered the room calmly yet alertly, taking the mildest of interest at the disturbance of the room, his eyes slowly resting on the window where a grappling hook now sat. Having nothing better to do anyway, he made his way to the window in time to see Bandit Keith making his escape along the roof. The sight urged a whisper of an amused huff from the being, "So the rats have fled…" he muttered dully, it all being the same to him. Turning, he headed back into the room and took a seat in the darkest corner, intertwining his fingers as he gazed cooly at the door, "Now to wait my prize~."

-later-

The duel had finally come to a close… the victory proving to be a joyous one… but to the wrong person.

Maximillian Pegasus had felt the sting of defeat creeping in on him swiftly as the duel reached the pinnacle, something that was all but unfamiliar to him, at least when it came to this. He had not intended the duel to have actually forced his hand into the Shadow Realm itself, nor had he anticipated that the Spirit within the Puzzle would be such a ferocious adversary… and in the end, even there he had failed to overcome him even when the edge had been his…

He had been certain that he could not be beaten, he was certain that everything would go according to plan, he was certain his love would prevail! But upon the final blow, he found himself beyond dumbstruck… words could not describe the disbelief in losing his own game… nor the intense pain in his heart as he fled to his tower as if doing so would somehow ease it.

The Spirit in the puzzle had won. The Shadow Game appeased, and as per his own honest word, the souls of his prisoners had been freed… and the chance to obtain the Puzzle lost. That thought sent yet another pang through him…. his love… his love was lost….

So blinded by his loss, Pegasus didn't even notice the door being opened as he stumbled in trying in vain to repress the pain he felt, his deck cast haphazardly onto a desk… for a moment he just leaned against the post of his bed trying to process it all when he turned his eyes up to the portrait of his beloved in hopes the sight would somehow ease some of his pain…. But instead he felt a rush of dread and confusion as he realized the painting had been cast aside, the safe itself sat opened, "Wha-?!"

Looking about now, he realized that his safe haven had been notably ransacked. He couldn't believe it! How could this have happened-?

Pegasus froze as he felt an ominous presence for the first time, its presence so foreboding it was almost suffocating. Even his Millennium Eye sensed it and Pegasus whirled around seeking the source, "Who's there!?" he managed, his voice less even than intended. He felt himself stall as a figure stepped out of the corner, his brows furrowing in surprised confusion as he immediately recognized the form… The Bakura boy. What was he doing HERE? He felt himself tense as he saw the look the boy was wearing… something was definitely not right, his very presence was somehow dark…

"Well well~. Still so sharp even though you've lost so much energy…" "Bakura" began, a baleful grin that could not possibly be the young boy's hung leisurely on his face as he gazed out at him in a shadowed glare that was beyond imposing. Pegasus felt himself stiffen completely as the boy turned his gaze to the painting, grinning maliciously and in a knowing manner, "And so much more it seems~."

It was at this that Pegasus flinched visibly. This… was certainly not Bakura… and curiously enough, it was not even the Spirit within the Ring. This was an entirely different entity… a far darker one, "Who are you? You're not the Spirit that was with the boy before!" he felt himself stall as the entity turned his malevolent gaze back to him amusedly, causing Pegasus to actually step back, "Further…what do you want?" he added hesitantly.

The Yami simply smirked and stepped forward, effectively cancelling the distance Pegasus had made between them, "Heheheh~ Who I am is of no concern of yours really~. But you are correct that I am not that fool Thief. As for what I want…." He grinned wider as his eyes looked pointedly at the hidden item, chuckling darkly as he saw the look of fear rise in the man's eye as he spoke, "I want the Millennium Item that you bare~. Care to wager yours over a little game~?" he inquired tauntingly as he took up Pegasus' discarded deck, the Ring glowing faintly as if excited at the notion, "A SHADOW game~? Think of it… if you win you might earn the chance at another Item after your little failure over the Yugi whelp."

For the briefest of moments Pegasus felt himself falter at the entity's tempting offer, if nothing else he would have just one more piece of hope… another shot at getting on with his plan. But he shook it off as as he observed the smirking creature, a knowing and evil gleam glaring back at him, "I'm no fool. I know I'm in no condition for a Shadow Game."

The Yami merely huffed at the response, mockingly shuffling Pegasus' deck before laying out five cards on the table in tarot manner, flipping the first over and grinning at the result, "Oh of that I am aware…But tell me…" he asked in mock question as he flipped another, again grinning at the result, "Do you think that your heart is not strong enough to bear the fruits you so desperately desire?" Flipping the final card he glanced at him knowingly with half laden eyes, a cruel grin on his lips as he observed the man.

The words felt like a knife to the heart, more salt to the wound. Pegasus looked on at the being with fear. Fear that the being didn't only look to know what he had been after, but DID know what he had been after… and what was worse, the being's confidence and demeanor said that no matter what he said, in truth he had no choice… Pegasus grit his teeth, sweat breaking his forehead, "Fine." He managed, "I doubt you'd let me leave anyhow…"

The Yami's face split into a broad menacing grin as turned to face the man fully as he observed him. Clearly he knew his fate, "Heheheh~ No indeed~. This Shadow Game is unlike those you have participated in before. You well know that your eye allows insight to the mind…." The Yami explained, the Ring now beginning to glow brilliantly, "Mine allows me to see straight into one's very SOUL. And it is on the field of our minds fueled by our souls that we shall duel! Prepare yourself mortal~. For this suel will be your last~."

Pegasus had only the time to tense before the duel was begun, but he quickly braced himself and fought back. It was indeed unlike any duel he had fought before; in mere minutes he felt everything he had ever experienced in his life. Every pain and every desire and everything in between. Memories, strengths and everything that made him who he was was put to the test, clashing hard to counter the unbelievable swell of dark malice that his opponent threw blow after blow seemingly without end.

Pegasus found himself weakening swiftly… felt himself fading. Even with his greatest strength, the strength of his love, he felt his fight, no matter how brave he would ever have made it, was clearly lost.

In mere moments, with a pained and weakened cry, Pegasus fell to his hands and knees… defeated beyond defeat. He could not even find the strength to look up as he heard the footsteps approach, knowing well what was to come… he felt his heart give a strange tug at the thought, his mind then drifting to his love… the creature before him now seemed far away.

"A very commendable duel, considering your condition~." Yami commented with a mocking grin as he looked down at the man, "And as much as I love prolonging my victory… I'll make this quick~." He hissed as he brought the man's face up to meet his…

The Yami had left the tower swiftly and as expertly as a shadow before anyone could see to stop him. He now strode through the halls with a completely composed air as he watched guards sprinting to the aid of their master out of the corners of his eyes. The man had put up more of a fight than he had thought he would have; the man's love was indeed powerful… but in the end, it was no match for his shadow heka. A malicious smirk tugged on his lips as he felt the item in his pocket, 'One down… Five to go..'

He grinned as he thought about it. So far, he knew where one was for certain, and that one would come to him in due time. And it seemed that the Puzzle was attracting the others swiftly…

The Yami's train of thought came to a sudden halt as he felt something wrong… his energy was…fading? Yami stopped walking and focused on his shadow energy. Sure enough, it was beginning to recede, 'What is this?' he thought angrily. There was no way he had used that much Shadow Energy in so little time for him to be feeling any ill effects. What could possibly be the issue? He then paused as he assessed the receding energy and then felt a sharp jolt of anger as realization hit, 'Oh right… I lost a Shadow Game….' He growled to himself as he glanced at the still locked soul room of his Host.

For a moment he felt the urge to tear the youth from his soul room and send him into the void with him. The thought of eternal torture a glorious comforting thought for ruining his plans. But he paused, humming thoughtfully to himself, a thought occurring to him. He had lost a shadow game… true. So why was he here at all? He grinned at the obvious answer as he cast his eyes into the Ring where the Thief hung motionless, 'I am still bound well enough here by the vermin.' He thought almost triumphantly. The Thief's soul still intricately and firmly intertwined with the Shadow Heka that held his soul to the Ring, a virtually unbreakable shackle even to the Shadow Penalty. But even then, he could feel the weight of the penalty, 'So long as I have plenty of Shadow Energy I can remain here… Ah…. But not for very long…' he thought bitterly. Shadow Energy was not as easy to come by as it once had been, and with the added strain of the binds holding him to the Ring, his presence was draining that energy much faster than it used too. He hummed thinking critically, 'I'll have to bide my time properly.'

He felt himself grin despite himself, 'It matters not…' he thought glancing at the Ring. Had it been only the boy he had to deal with, his position would be well beyond inconvenient… but as it so happened, fortune was dealing well in his favor. The Thief's partial freedom and drive combined with a foolish boy was all the fortune he needed, 'The Thief King will continue his little treasure hunt, and more Shadow Games are well to come… I can wait~.' With that thought he released control of the boy's body and retreated to his soul room, dragging all of the loose Shadow Energy still lingering in the soul plane with him, leaving only his ever present binds before allowing the door to close, smirking balefully as he held the boy's soul room firmly in his gaze, 'And I'll be right here waiting~.'

All control released and no one to take the helm, Ryou's body merely collapsed to the floor, completely unheeded by anyone as it remained alone in the hollow hall, all the guards long passed in the halls beyond.

For several minutes or more, the body lay there in a dreamless sleep before finally, slowly, a groggy groan broke the silence, "Ugh…. What… the hell happened…?" Akefia asked thickly. He groaned again and growled shallowly wishing he could rub his head which felt like he had the worst hangover ever. Looking around dazedly, he paused as the Boy had not responded, "Ngh… Boy?" he stalled as he recalled what had happened before passing out and immediately looked to the Boy's soul room which was still shut, "BOY?!" he called loudly. He waited tensely for several moments with no response, growing more and more tense with each passing moment. If the Boy was gone… He perked as he detected a slow reaction through the Ring's connections and waited.

Slowly Ryou came too in a daze. Momentarily confused as to where he was, "Wh-what happened?...uh?" looking around he blinked in confusion as he realized where he was, "Why am I in my soul room?"

Akefia gave a relieved sigh knowing the boy was still around, otherwise things might have gotten difficult, "I forced you in," Akefia explained as he removed the locks, allowing Ryou out, "No time to react really… Powerful wave of Shadow Energy came through. Could have dragged you out." He paused as he shifted in his binds, which were now notably stronger prompting him to scowl angrily. Furrowing his brows he glanced to the dark corner of the Ring where the other door sat, still tightly sealed it seemed. He eyed it suspiciously only a moment more before deciding to shrug it off for the time being as the boy spoke up,

'Oh, thank you Akefia…' Ryou replied, genuinely thankful as he emerged from his soul room.

"…..you ok?" Akefia added almost offhandedly as the boy resumed control. A mild groan was his response.

'I think I landed on my face, but I'm fine…' Ryou thought as he got to his knees, rubbing his face carefully but finding no unbearable pains. Ryou paused as he looked around and blinked in confusion as he found he was not where he remembered being last but instead seemed to be in a completely different part of the castle, "How did I get here…" he began.

Almost immediately Ryou froze at his own words. A chill spread with increasing speed and intensity throughout his body as the words echoed in his head, his blood suddenly going cold as his heart began to race faster and faster, the situation far worse than haunting, "No…" he managed weakly, tears threatening to break loose as fear clawed its way into his brain making his hair stand on end, "No, please no…"

Akefia likewise froze as he realized the change in scenery with no recollection of how they got there, the fact making him bristle rigidly. Immediately he tensed as strong waves of anxiety and fear began to radiate from the boy who was now beginning to hyperventilate, the sheer force of it actually catching him off guard, "Boy. Calm down." He began as the boy suddenly grabbed his head, threatening to scream. Akefia grit his teeth at the thought, the attention the act would bring an unfavorable one, his voice turned commandingly firm as he spoke again, "Not here! Walk… Just go into a separate room or something… DO NOT break down here!" He grit his teeth as he spotted some guards as they sprinted through the halls not far away, his voice rough and harsh as the boy remained where he was, "WALK."

Ryou, body beginning to quake, barely managed a nod as he forced himself to his feet, forcing his shaky legs to move painfully slow down the hall, having no choice but to use the wall for support as he sought blindly for a room, the Thief keeping a sharp eye for the currently stunned boy.

In what felt like an eternity, Ryou made it to a room. Not caring to think what lie beyond, he opened it and stumbled inside, the door shutting behind him by some reflex leaving him alone, much to the Thief's relief. For a moment Ryou just stood leaning against the door, breathing heavily as he stared sightlessly into space, his mind an onslaught of fears and thoughts he could not gain control of… finally, unable to bear it any longer, tears spilled from his eyes and he sank to the ground, grasping his knees into himself, his body trembling against the freezing fear that now paralyzed his mind and mouth allowing him only gasping incoherent whimpers.

Akefia remained silent as the boy became unhinged, his emotions an outpour of indiscernible anxieties that the Thief was finding trouble bracing against for some reason of another. For some few minutes Akefia simply bore the strains before, finally he decided he'd had enough, "Boy. Calm down." He demanded firmly. He was met with a fresh wave of anxiety as the boy finally managed to find his tongue,

"Why?!" Ryou cried in distressed agony as he clutched his head, shaking uncontrollably, "He's still here! I'm still just his puppet…" Ryou choked as a fresh wave of tears spilled down his face. He had been a fool! He had thought he had been safe? How could he have been such a delusional fool?!

A flash of anger ripped through the Thief at the boy's outburst. The boy was laying down and simply accepting defeat! The blatant show of weakness and giving into fear something he absolutely detested. Weakness was not something he had never tolerated, it was something to be stamped out, something he had never once in his life since-

The Thief felt himself go completely still, his anger suddenly in check… There had been one time in his life he'd felt the emotions that were now radiating around him. Emotions that had torn him apart and molded him into what he had since become, emotions he had long ago learned to dominate after years of loneliness and anguished memories… Now looking at the boy who sat crying and alone in the darkness, he suddenly saw himself. Releasing a slow sigh, Akefia closed his eyes and focused his mind, and in moments he was kneeling before the boy as a projection of himself once more.

"Ryou…. Listen to me… And you listen well." He said firmly as Ryou looked up at him in surprise, tears still streaming down his face as he stared at the apparition, "Yes, he's still here… My soul is still binding him here, and that can't be helped." He kept his firm determined gaze on Ryou even as he began to feel the boy cringe under his words, "But he's NOT here now. He's locked out. He lost a Shadow Game to you and is limited to what he can do, so he can't control you indefinitely as long as you are still alive…."

Ryou felt a strange calm at Akefia's sudden appearance, but it was almost immediately crushed completely at his words, "So I'm supposed to live like this for the rest of my life?" He choked mournfully, tears dripping onto his arms as he regarded the Spirit who continued to stare at him evenly, "I'll just be a danger to anyone I come in contact with or anyone I care about… Nothing's really changed…"

The young silverett wept bitterly as the crushing reality he had hoped he could cast away shackled him once more. He was not free… he could never be free. He was cursed to be alone, a slave in the darkness… The life he wished he could have would never be his, "Why me? What did I do wrong to deserve this?!" he mourned helplessly as he hugged his legs tighter into himself. As he did so he felt an increasing pressure against his leg.

Ryou paused and felt a lump in his pocket. Curious as to what it was he removed, to his horror, the Millennium Eye. Wet blood still clinging to it and now his hand which he could now see already had dried blood to begin with. With a strangled, terrified gasp that came out as a choking noise, Ryou dropped the item as if it were a still burning coal with a clatter, it rolling away as he stumbled backwards into a corner where he curled up and began to sob hysterically, eyes wide in mortified horror at what that meant.

Akefia listened intently to Ryou as he poured out his pains, watching him sink further into despair with every word. His eyes widened in excitement as the boy pulled out the gleaming item only to feel the victorious thrill die away as the boy scrambled backwards into the wall, once more crying uncontrollably, his emotions spiraling faster into the brink of what he knew to be the breaking point…

For several minutes the only sounds in the room were of Ryou's gasping sobs and sniffling, his only company the ever stoic Thief who watched the boy with a mix of emotions that he himself could not properly pin. But after a moment more, Akefia made up his mind and stood up, glaring down at him sternly, his voice firm, "Have you given up then? Because if you have… then Yes. The rest of your life will be a living hell."

Watching Ryou shudder and whimper softly in response, Akefia looked away, his mind once more drifting to the young boy he once was before looking back, his voice softening momentarily. "Life is cruel… But things can change if you're willing to fight for it. You stood up to that bastard once and already made one step in chaining HIM back." He looked away, his eyes trailing to the glinting item that rested in a corner almost literally staring back at them, its gleaning now a hollow one given the circumstances and he growled at the knowledge, "He caught us both off guard this time. I was stupid to think that would be it once he was beaten… wouldn't be my first mistake believe it or not." He added with the faintest of smirks before looking stern once as Ryou remained whimpering quietly where he was, "And if you somehow think Pegasus' death was your fault, that's a fucking lie. Don't you dare think that his death was your doing, because it wasn't. what happened to him was unavoidable in some way or another, that you can be sure of." He said firmly, allowing a moment of silence for his words to sink in.

Ryou remained on the floor the entire time, grappling with his chaotic thoughts… but slowly, surely, the Spirit's words began to grow clearer and clearer as he continued to speak, a firm, commanding and confident energy radiating from him that didn't feel to falter even once. Slowly he felt his mind growing more manageable and focused on the Thief's strong words, "The Puzzle was solved and the Shadow Games have returned… and that can only mean something is coming fast." Slowly Ryou turned his eyes to the Thief who stared back at him evenly, "I know you're scared…. But if you plan on lying there on the floor for that time you might well miss an opportunity to fix all of this. And frankly… I'm not one to miss opportunity."

Ryou blinked at those words. Sniffling, he wiped his face of his tears as he sat up, hope beginning to push his fears away as he looked up at the Thief King, "I…I don't want to stay like this… But what am I supposed to do?"

Akefia stared back at Ryou for a moment before, to Ryou's surprise, sat next to him and sighed through his nose, "Right now… I can't tell you anything other than to grit your teeth and bear it…." feeling Ryou's still precarious emotions waver, he placed a hand on his shoulder earning a notable perk from the boy, "But you won't bear it alone… I may be binding him here against my will, but he does not own me. You'll have me to help you. For now, the Shadows have barred him and you don't have to worry of him," He smirked as Ryou's expression notably brightened, "In the meantime, we have plenty moving in our favor already. The Puzzle is readily within observation, and that bastard with the Scepter is out there moving in on this little game as well. Give it time and the keys might well fall right into your lap."

Ryou regarded the Spirit with hopeful admiration, the phantom touch on his shoulder cementing some trust in him, and he felt a smile break its way onto his face, "Thank you Akefia… I guess he's at least gone for now." The spirit returned a smirk as he wiped the rest of his tears away and took a deep breath to help calm his body. Glancing to the side his eyes fell on the glint of gold. Swallowing back the lump in his throat, he picked it up and looked at it, furrowing his brows, "How will the Items help? Aren't they what He's after?"

Akefia felt some swell of pride that he'd managed to calm the boy down, but repressed it. He paused at the boy's question and hummed, staring at the Eye, "Fight fire with fire so to put it simply. The "pharaoh" possessed the items and…" he felt his tongue hitch as if dreading to finish the sentence, his hair bristling as he continued, "Used them to help people…." He managed before shaking his anger off to continue, "And considering it's him in the Puzzle, I can't help but wonder if the Items were used against the darkness and actually managed to bind it. I can't be sure. But it's the best lead we have for the moment."

Ryou knitted his brows in some disbelief as the Spirit spoke, "I find it hard to think the items could help people… but if that's all we've got… alright then." He said as he slipped the Eye back into his pocket.

"You and me both…" Akefia half muttered as his eyes trailed to the floor in bitter thought.

Ryou blinked slowly, for a moment pondering to inquire of the Thief, but sensed that now was not the time, and he instead shifted to rub his face in an attempt to ward off the last of his grim emotions. He paused and looked to Akefia, "Thanks for calming me down, Akefia. I think I'll be fine now."

Akefia glanced at him a moment before crossing his arms and huffing in his usual aloof manner, "Don't mention it." he muttered as he tilted his head back.

After a long moment of silence Akefia glanced at the boy, "Think your father has woken up by now?" he felt a small grin tug at his mouth as he watched the boy's eyes light up excitedly. In mere seconds the boy was on his feet and racing down the halls, pausing only a moment to wash the blood off his hands and the Eye, not wanting anyone to see and question where it came from.

Akefia retracted his physical projection as the boy again raced out the door and towards his room, his spirits once more happy. Akefia couldn't help but chuckle at this, 'Heheh… he is indeed stronger than he appears… Strange kid this one.' He mused to himself.

Lol wow we've been on the move lately~! Hope you enjoyed this nice long ch ;) It was a scene we'd been DYING to get to. The first BRO moment~!

At this point we're pretty much done with Duelist Kingdom! Just need to tie everything up~

This chapter was written by Renagade Rex Sphinx and edited by me

Renagade Rex Sphinx-Thief Bakura

Miss-DNL: Ryo, Pegasus, Bandit Keith, Malik, Anzu, Jonouchi

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