Ba-Ku-Ra!

By: Miss-DNL & RenagadeRexRider

Chapter 34: Momentary Calm

"Welcome home." Akefia purred in a pleased manner as he looked to his Ka's true, powerful, form. The Ka returned his master's sentiment with a purring hiss from the cobra-headed tail. His wrath was not settled but it would be soon. Seeker unable to do anything to defend himself, and with nothing in the way, the duel was won. Gaze burning with a fierce flame the thief aimed it towards Seeker, and thereby Malik. He smirked in victory, "Failure."

Watching through his minion's eyes Malik hummed before simply saying, {Well. You're fucked.}

With all his furious passion Akefia yelled a loud command to end the duel, "Take him down!"

"Diabounds finish it!" Ryo ordered, immediately following his yami's command with similar zeal. The two halves of the same Ka shot out duel Spiral Blasts strong enough, and real enough, that the impact sent Seeker flying backwards. As his life points quickly plummeted down to zero the rare hunter's body tumbled on the ground like a rag doll. The duel over Ryo finally felt at ease enough to let out a soft exhale, "I won."

With the match won the twin monsters vanished. Knowing that shortly he'd be reunited with his other half and master Diabound God Monster let out a smooth, happy, growl before disappearing completely.

The Thief King shivered from all the excitement before looking to Ryo, he gave an approving nod, "Yes, now…" he turned his attention to the downed Seeker, grinning eagerly, "to claim the spoils."

Ryo nodded, 'Right."

The teen headed over carefully over to Seeker, each step cautious in case the man sprung back to his feet. Reaching him; however, Ryo saw that the rare hunter was effectively knocked out. Still not wanting to risk letting his guard down Ryo kept an eye trained on the man as he knelt down, and took off his duel disk. Taking a few steps back the sliverette aimed to remove the grave yard pile, but then saw that Diabound: The God Monster was still on a summon slot. Recalling that Seeker had still been paralyzed when he destroyed the creature Ryo took the card.

"Got him." He said as he quickly added the card to the deck.

As the card was added to the deck the King of Thieves gave another shiver, feeling the two halves of his Ka being reunited. He hummed smoothly, sending his thoughts out to his Ka, 'You're whole again my friend, and right were you belong.'

Looking through the grave pile Ryo shifts through it until he finds the fake card that caused the whole problem. Getting a hunch, the teen then looked through what was left of Seeker's main deck and sure enough, finds three more fakes in the mix. Putting them together Ryo didn't hesitate in tearing the cards to shreds.

'As I promised.' Ryo thought to his yami, watching the shredded paper fall to the concrete ground.

Watching the boy tear up the fakes, the sight of them making the thief bristle distinctly, from within the ring Akefia felt a very satisfied smirk expose his teeth. He hummed in a pleased manner before giving a pause. With a nod the Thief King crossed his arms, saying, "Thank you, Ryo."

With a smile Ryo nodded a silent, 'It was nothing' in return. He turned his head back to the hunter, there was one last thing he needed to get. 'Now, where is his locator card?' Carefully the teen searched the man's pockets, and thankfully found it in the first one. Giving a sigh Ryo says to himself, mostly, "There. That's four, two to go."

Ryo gave the rare hunter one last look before looking away. He'd be fine on his own until he woke up. Ryo had the semi-finals to make it too, he couldn't waste time. Making his way back to the busier part of the city he continued to speak, "Could take two or one more duel."

"Plenty to pick off at this point." The Thief King said while looking around for any potential targets to take on. The thief's eyes darted around looking for Malik or anymore of his cronies. When he spotted none he went on, "I have a feeling we won't run into his majesty's tunnel rat anytime soon." He frowned stiffly thinking back to the previous duel, it's meaning clear to him. "That duel was a distraction. Probably doesn't want us sticking our noses in his little games."

As they returned to the lively, people packed streets the King of Thieves looked at the few possible opponents, all unimpressive, "Hm, the competition is rather thin otherwise...the real games will certainly be reserved for the finals." Having a very good feeling who'd be there Akefia tightly gritted his teeth, 'And there we'll get some much needed payback on old and new enemies...'

The thought of the finals itself got Ryo to stiffen at the pressure. His yami was right, that would be where the real danger began. Just like at Duelist Kingdom. Ryo pushed himself through it, no time for getting cold feet, he wasn't even at the finales yet. 'No doubt. Getting there is the easy part.'

The teen's yami snorted, "With this lot very much so." He grinned, "Even more so now with Diabound." A sudden and demanding growl from Ryo's stomach caused the thief to pause, and the boy himself to freeze up out of embarrassment. The thief howled in laughter, "What an authoritative stomach you have there!" Akefia's laughter died down into an amused chuckle, "but I guess you did have a rather exciting afternoon, you should find means to quiet that demand."

'It rules my life...' Ryo thought embarrassedly to his yami. Blinking he thought over his eventful morning, he nodded in agreement, 'Yeah, it has been a while.' The boy looked around to get an idea of where to eat, 'There's a good place around here.'

"It kind of does." Akefia chuckled lightly, recalling how bossy his own stomach had been when he was alive. It had been the one thing he couldn't disobey.

"Hey, Ryo!"

Recognizing the voice Ryo perks, turning he quickly spotted Honda. Seeing his friend Ryo smiled brightly, waving back to him, "Hello Honda!" Spotting someone with his friend Ryo quirked a brow in confusion. Seeing slightly younger girl with auburn hair and hazel eyes the sliverette felt his face tingle with heat.

'Who is she!' Ryo thought in surprise.

"Well, a much friendlier acquaintance." Akefia commented, letting himself lax after reflexively tensing at the taller boy's call, less threat than reflexive annoyance. The thief blinked picking up on the sudden emotion from his host. Curious he looked to the boy noting his expression then to the look in his eyes, before a broad, teasing grin slid onto his face.

"Ah? What do we have here now?" The Thief King mused, urging a reaction from the boy.

Picking up on the thief's tone Ryo prickled in surprise, seeing the two coming closer; however, he forced himself to calm down. His gaze pulled back to the girl, 'Something new.'

"Something new indeed." The boy's yami chuckled.

"Glad we caught you Ryo." Honda said with a smile as he walked up to his friend, "We were looking around for you and Yugi."

Ryo glanced from his friend to the girl beside him before asking, "Um, Honda, who is…"

His friend blinked as if just realizing they hadn't met. He smiled and motioned to her, "This is Jonouchi's little sister Shizuka."

Eyes widened Ryo exclaimed, "You're Jonouchi's sister!"

"Eh? That straw haired boy?" Akefia questioned at the reveal. Looking the girl over a little he hummed thoughtfully, "Hm, I think I can see it actually." He shrugged, not really caring about that. Still he resumed grinning as the scene continued.

Shizuka smiled and nodded, seeming used to the bewildered reaction. Holding a hand out she said, "It's nice to meet another friend of my brother."

Ryo looked at her hand a moment before taking it, "It's nice to meet you too." Letting go he smiled in return. Ryo then quickly recalled her condition and gave a little gasp, "Did your operation go well? No problems right?"

She nodded happily, "Yes, my vision is back." Shizuka looked around taking in her surroundings with great enjoyment, "It's great to see everything again."

Ryo smiled softly in relief, "I wouldn't doubt that."

Hearing this Akefia recalled the girl's failing vision. He blinked in surprise, "Well then, the modern medicine men do their jobs well." Putting aside his surprise the Thief King put his grin back on and looked to Ryo, "Best get some food in you before your belly decides to interrupt."

Ryo quickly suppressed a blush that tried to surface from his yami's teasing words. Rubbing his neck sheepishly Ryo spoke, "I hope you two don't mind but I need to get something to eat."

Honda subtly quirked a brow seeing something flicker across his friend's face, briefly he wondered what the deal was. Figuring it was nothing he looked to Shizuka, wordlessly asking if she wanted anything to eat. When the girl nodded he looked back to Ryo, "No problem. We could go for some food too."

Smiling Ryo perked happily, "Does the Beef Bowl sound good?"

"I won't argue!" Honda proclaimed with a wide grin, "That place is one of my favorite place!" He looked back to Shizuka to check on her opinion, "What about you?

Shizuka nodded readily, "Sound good to me."

With a smile Ryo began to lead the two towards the restaurant. With a brief chuckle Akefia grinned deviously, "Give her a food offering. That could work."

'You're the one that reminded me I'm hungry.' Ryo countered as a faint blush surfaced on his face.

His yami chuckled again, "You'll thank me later."

"So how are you doing in the tournament?" Honda asked as he walked next to Ryo, the group weaving through the other people on the street.

Turning his attention away from his yami Ryo looked to Honda, "Pretty good I just need two more locator cards to make it into the finals."

"Wow, brother said you were a great duelist!" Shizuka exclaimed in surprise while clapping her hands together.

Ryo's heart leapt in his chest and he looked to her in utter surprise, "He did?" Shizuka smiled and nodded. The sliverette looked away with a shy blush, "I suppose I am…"

Akefia grinned at the boy's bashfulness towards the praise, "You know it to be true."

Shifting his shoulders slightly Ryo tried to shrug off his own bashfulness, 'I'm not the type to show off…' He slightly muttered to his yami as they came up to the Beef Bowl.

"So I've noticed." His yami replied. Akefia paused as a thought came to mind, he frowned, "Wait…" Dismissing it he turned his attention to the crowd outside, an age-old caution held in his minds forefront knowing that a large crowd is the best ambush. As the group sat in a table and took their orders, the thief took to standing guard.

Shifting a bit Honda looked tensely concerned as he asked, "So…have you run into Malik or his thugs?"

Ryo nodded slowly, "Both of them. In that order actually. I just dueled one of his hunters." Looking off to the side the teen thought for a moment, thinking a bit before continuing, "From what I can guess he's already gone after Yugi twice." He sipped some his drink, thinking to himself, 'And is probably trying for a third time soon...'

"Damn bastard..." Honda growled, fist clenching on the table.

"Damn bastard is right..." Akefia growled in agreement as he listened in on the conversation, whilst his eyes stayed vigil, "I'd like to gut him like the filthy pig he is..."

Shizuka spoke up with a worried frown, "You think the others are alright?"

Noticing Ryo giving him a questioning look Honda explained, "I told her on the way here. She has a right to know," He looked to Shizuka then glanced back to the street outside, "considering everything that could happen and probably will. So I explained while I could."

Ryo nodded in understanding. 'That was good thinking.'

"Maybe..." Akefia commented with a huff, "everyone is a target at this point."

Looking back to Shizuka he gave her a warm reassuring smile, "I'm sure the others are fine. I don't think Malik knows what the others look like yet."

Eyes still trained on the passing duelists outside he frowned and kept his thoughts to himself, 'Don't count on that... with his mind puppets around, and him wielding the Scepter he'll likely know everything he wants and needs to know.'

"Thanks Bakura. I hope your right." Shizuka said appreciatively.

Ryo just gave a nod in reply, unable to say anything further. He knew that things would likely involve shadow magic further, but he was happy her was able to reassure her a little.

"Aw, comforting your soon to be flame are we?" Akefia said, casting a grin towards his host. He chuckled when the boy bristled at his comment.

'Uh, well, yes, of course.' Was Ryo jumbled response. Seeing the food arrived gave him a very quick and welcome distraction, and despite his stomach kicking him he was able to eat calmly. After swallowing a bite, he looked to the others, "Do you want to go look for the others after this?"

"We probably should, considering our situation." Honda began as he looked up from his food and to Ryo, "At the same time you need to get those last to locator cards. So you can join the finals." He ate another bite then continued, "We'll fallow you around so you can duel. I'll call Anzu or Yugi and see what's going on with them."

Thinking over the options Ryo went quiet; that could prove useful… and dangerous.

"I've never been much for help..." Akefia said carefully, likewise mulling the information over, "but considering the circumstances, me not having a body for one..." He lips twitched in agitation as he thought about their foe, "and the Ishtar brat's increasingly underhanded techniques, I'd think it's a good idea."

Agreeing with his yami Ryo nodded, "Alright..."

After taking a drink from her soda Shizuka smiled at Ryo, "I look forward to seeing you duel Bakura. It'll be the first one I've seen!"

Ryo stopped and blushed before looked away shyly, "I'll do my best to make it exciting for you..."

Having seeing the white-haired boy's light blush, Shizuka gave a little giggle, "I'm sure you'll do great."

Akefia was quick to jump in and chuckled with a mischievous wink, "Yes Ryou. Make it very exciting."

'Are you going to tease me every step of the way?' Ryo thought to his yami as he got himself to get back to eating.

"Maybe." The King of Thieves taunted.

The sliverette could only sigh mentally, 'Yay...'

Author's Note: Oh boy...well, it's been nearly a year since this has been updated ^^;

I'd like to apologize for the long wait...but do to unfortunate instances, Renagade lost internet for a long time and as such we weren't able to continue updating this. Me and her kept in touch through other means and so this stayed in the back of our minds. Now, I won't promise regular updates, but of us have long since moved fandoms. But, this story isn't dead. We both really appreciate the patience of those who are still with us or have joined recently. Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter!