The Crown of Peace- Interlude II- Pressure
Odion let out a sigh and held the tray of soup in his hands. The mysterious girl has dropped more cards, so it has seemed. Marik kept collecting the pieces but soon the Elder Ishtar woke up from his slumber. The child hastily kept the cards behind his back and there the head of the Tomb Keeper nosily check that the boy was back in his duties as the successor after him. Master Ishtar is all he has to address him. Gil Garth, his current card that he loved. The armour of the fiend beast intrigued his eyes. The embodiment of the Ka within somehow builds a connection.
"Master Marik, here is your soup, I really think you should go back to study soon," Odion advised him. Their eyes locked, as the level of trust has been established over the years. Even if they are not of the same blood, he knew Odion would do anything to persuade the Elder Ishtar to reconsider his mother's wish. "I know you need me—"
"Speak no more Odion, I just have nightmares, it is like someone or something is watching me," Marik whispered.
"How do you know?" Odion sat by Marik's bedside.
"It lingers, and every time I resent the real initiation. Two more years, brother!" Marik nearly shouted but Odion covered his mouth.
"The parasite of the shadows, feed on my repugnance as I doubt every word of this prophecy. Can you be the Tomb Keeper?" Marik now whispered.
"I'll do anything, sir…"
"It's just that I have night terrors after my train of thoughts spiral out of line," Marik said shakily.
"I'll do anything…" Odion place the silverware and the bowl beside him.
"Do you feel like celebrating your birthday?" Odion asked Marik.
"I don't think I do. I miss mother. I imagined what she would have been like." The eight-year-old boy said.
"Khadijah Ishtar, our Mother… She first found me by the well. She used to decorate and pay homage to you grandparents by the sunstone and pray for you to come. When Ishizu was two, she prayed with her as she mirrors the exact image.
"I would love to do the same… but I must concentrate." Marik glanced up and Ishizu was there. Her lavender blue eyes watered as she held pieces of the broken flower wreaths.
She was weeping as someone has torn the precious wreaths.
"Ishizu!" Marik embraced her.
"Shh..."
"WHAT IS THIS?! I WILL DESTROY EVERY FLOWER BED AND YOU WILL PRAY TO NO ONE BUT STUDY! THERE IS NO TIME!" Marik' glared at the direction with pure resentment. Their father has hurt Ishizu by ripping apart what they hold dear.
"Pretend to study again…" Ishizu quickly whispered. Marik had already finished studying but he had to pretend for the Elder to appease him.
"MARIK! YOU HAVE TWO MORE YEARS…." The echo faded to a silence where the storm is just the beginning. The crash of violence frightened the Ishtar siblings as tables and chairs crashed chaotically against one another.
"He's going to the Neith Clan now…" Ishizu whispered. For some reason, she remained strong.
The trio Ishtar helped one another by calming and exchange words. Marik then sensed another presence, so dark as he thought of the Surface World.
DARKNESS CALLS...
Marik turned around and no one was there.
"What's wrong Marik?" Odion asked him.
"Nothing…"
"Master Marik, would you like to pray with Ishizu?" Odion asked.
The boy felt the clamber of weight in commencing more of his studies. However, he would probably read more of the prophecy. Would the Pharaoh really want him to slave? Odion lit another torch to ward off the tenebrosity of the home. Suddenly the animosity of the subsided as Ishizu started praying.
"Whom are you praying to?" Marik asked her.
"To the unknown God, the one that created you and me…" She whispered with a smile.
Eventually, all three followed her, not know who the real God is. The peace suddenly surrounded them and the night of his eighth birthday was clear of any sombreness on that night.
Chapter 21-Tough Layers of Onion Skin!
Authoress Notes: Freedom of Speech in truth and Rights should coincide but not many can achieve that anymore. I personally am not a feminist or a conservative but standing in the middle and accepting that the world is a stale piece of bread that needs to be content and practice equity as you cherish the world for what it is... Political Correctness is killing the vibe…
I do believe I owe my biggest thanks to The Duelist's Heiress for this inspiration recently. Most of all, I like to publish this as an opening for this year's continuation of this story as writing takes a lot of energy and immersing in these scenes with raw imagination and no poem or lyrics to overlap our imagination. If you haven't read a beautiful composition of words in the story of, 'Not As I Know Him', I suggest you read her remarkable chapters. She has Merah, Arlomhe, Bryn and, of course, Marik in her embankment of the R.H world.
Thanks, Miki-mouse 716: For reviewing my story. Welcome to this shipping. :)
The drama of body swap only just began for the two. Luanne wasn't used to all the jewellery that Marik wore. The weight was pressing on her like entering another planet with a heavier mass of gravity. The choker was constricting her vocal chords when she yawned. Marik in her body was preparing kohl for her. He dipped the pot and as he was about to put it on himself, he remembered he had to apply his eyes first on Luanne.
"Like I said until we figure out how to switch back to our original bodies, we have to be…" Marik sighed. "We have to be each other." Luanne watches Marik lean in as her and dipped the pot with the applying stick. He carefully drew the base of the Masculine body's eyes.
"I can't believe you terrorised my drawing just because you feel offended… it was the freedom of expression…" Luanne adjusted the gold wristband.
"I'm not offended," Marik said simply.
"Then why did you flush my drawing down the toilet?!" Luanne in Marik's voice asked with outrage.
"It's 'sinful' to depict a graven image of a god… or even blaspheme against me… my Dear." Marik in Luanne's vessel chuckled, while Luanne in Marik gawked.
"You need your reality checked… Spain may need an Arkham Hospital for the deranged Joker… for freedom of speech is stifling and oppressive." Luanne replied as she could the hard wristband conjuring sweat.
"Uh! Not nice… You know you should be Diana Prince? Actually, I should be Diana Prince, Wonder Woman because I have the Millennium Rod…" Marik smirked inside of Luanne.
"You mean the Lasso of Truth from the Amazonian…Do you even read DC comics or are you just callings shots?" Luanne said. She felt the shivers as her former self as draws the kohl. The liquid substance was cold and sticky.
"Whatever… so when you apply this kohl, just ensure the seal is back on tightly. As for my makeup, I need your foundation, your lipstick, your mascara and eyeshadow." Marik glanced at his own reflection as Luanne and grinned.
"Wait a minute, you've already applied kohl on my eyes!" Luanne in Marik's body exclaimed in realisation.
"Ignore that…" Marik rolled Luanne's eyes.
"Okay… so first apply your foundation like this. Make sure you dab it and not cake the whole foundation all over the face. Otherwise, I will have to go to the dermatologist again." Luanne said so sadly as Marik.
"Why is going to the dermatologist a bad thing?" Marik frowned as Luanne.
"I was… well, when I was thirteen… I was…" Marik saw his own expression of a broken Luanne.
"You were…?"
"I was teased because of my intense break out of acne. I was subjected to being ganged up by mean girls… even popular boys. From then on I just formed my own independence from school as a School Representative Council. I built my toughness…" Luanne in Marik mumbled.
"So you'd let people push you around by reacting to petty remarks… I think you will be surprised how non-conformists and non-activists would have it together. I am kind of in the same shoes as you. I have riled many up and I must admit it is entertaining." The boy inside the female said. "But… didn't you turn out to be a fine lady now? You have a very sexy body…" Marik flexed the feminine leg.
"Excuuuuse me!" Luanne made Marik talk to his own hands. "I don't need to take off my clothes to be desired and here you are wearing a black straight jacket on me and you're calling me sexy?!" She waved Marik's tan arms with a pointed finger sassily.
"Supernaturally I think… I make the hottest fle— mi—nist out there…" Marik grinned as Luanne as he ridiculed her thought of the perfect ideology as a teenage girl. "Perhaps for my meeting in Barcelona, I could liberate your sexuality…" Marik teased her with her own fingers as it twirled provocatively.
"OKAY! As an employer, you should really stop crossing the line! How should I know how to behave as you in this body? Like this?! Or this…?" Luanne posed Marik's body flamboyant masculinity to a macho masculinity and then to a docile masculinity.
"I think… all three… I can't make you react the way I am. My matters with my Rare Hunters are mine, not yours… GOT IT! The male spirit in the girl teen warned the female spirit.
"Marik… this 'Marik' here is going to let you handle your 'con— per— tism' matters. I am not a conservative like you. Waiting for the right to appraise double standards in liberating leftist crimes is a not deal! 'The Apparitions of the left' comes from seeking—"
"Blah Blah Blah… Now that I am a 'girl', I'd appreciate some 'respect' from a 'misogynist' like you. I don't care how dire attempt to save the world is... Just a thought of surrendering a piece of a penny make the world spin in and indeed capitalism from both your upbringing and my incredible hard work should be in empirical research the leftists use." Marik in the girl finally rationalised his views.
"Hey! I will be late for the meeting!" Luanne in Marik's body finally grabbed her lipstick and drew applied a neutral tone. "Do this…" The blond male vessel clasped the lips to smudge the lip pigments evenly. Marik in Luanne's body did so too.
'Marik' and 'Luanne' this time were wary of the manor so they surveyed every corner again to see if the coast was clear. Luanne wasn't sure how to pull the cloak, as the weight of the gold was not easy to move around with.
As time passed, Marik looked up at his own body, "Did you just rub the kohl off?" He hissed indignantly as Luanne.
Luanne looked down at her own body, "Uh huh… sorry, everything you wear as a Rare Hunter is so stifling…"
"WHAT?! JUST— Just reapply it in the car; don't say a word to Lady Fendi, Bryn or Carissa. Just act dejected— I mean…" Marik shook his head in awkwardness.
"Pfft— dejected?! You mean imperturbable…?" Luanne offered innocently as Marik.
"Yes, thanks for that suitable vocabulary…" Marik scowled. He took off Luanne's spectacles off of the eyes he currently possesses.
Coast was clear, actually not really. Gonzales was toying with Marnie's hanging bell and it scared both Marik and Luanne. However, Marnie was acting snarky with her whistles. "THEY MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT THEY'LL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDUUUUUM!" She fluttered and Marik rolled his eyes as Luanne. Where was Gonzales when he needs him?
He looked up at Luanne. "I swear that parrot hates me…" It was as though he was talking to himself, lost self.
Bryn was now dressed impressively as a Rare Hunter. Marik in Luanne's body smiled as he saw Bryn was waiting patiently. "Master Marik… why were, you crying?" He looked at Luanne's current body. Marik in Luanne's body glared at Luanne in his body.
"Bryn, Marik was chopping onions and— well he had some in his eyes so he—" Marik supposedly lied because he wanted that jacked up phenomenon kept a secret.
"What an idiot! He's meant to use cucumber for his facial, not onion! Geez!" Bryn sarcastically spat.
The boy entity in Luanne held back his anger. "Yes, I will tell him that…" Marik narrowed his eyes as Luanne. The cold smoky cinereal orbs eyes shifted as his Millennium Rod was kept in a gym bag.
Then there was breakfast with the criminal syndicates. Luanne wasn't used to eating the jalapeno bagel in Marik's body. To top it off, the hands of the boy was larger and she could hold a large mug easily. She looked at the mug and sighed as she realised there was so much to cook for the family.
"As I said, Luanne… you were a natural cook and for me to see your skills in my body, I'd be honoured to eat… something like a Kushari perhaps?" Luanne watched her own body gather some eggs.
Luanne shook the boy's head with her conscience and began making simple Egg Benedict with salmon. She found the hollandaise sauce in the pantry. "I hope I do make the best breakfast as you and you can observe how to be a hospitable boy."
Marik watched his body behave like a boy with now hatred, a carefree, content individual who can be composed. Luanne has nothing to lose, a girl that desires servitude.
"What would you like for beverage?" Marik finally asked. He used her delicate tanned hands to make a concoction of Milo. He watched how fast the girl's movement inside his body chopped the vegetable patties.
"So are you favour the fact I'm doing a service for you. Finding Egyptian God cards are the only things you kept me doing bad things for you…" Luanne whispered in Marik's voice.
Marik added hot water and looked up at Luanne's side. Smirking with Luanne's rosy lips. "I knew you will show your dissatisfaction at some point. It's about time you have come to terms with your contract. Although, I wouldn't want to fool people around you who you really are." His tone was scoffed.
Carissa carried Gonzales to Luanne, or she presumed it was Luanne. "Morning Luanne!"
Marik's body responded but Luanne's body scowled. "Morning Carissa!" She patted Gonzales as the cat purred and rubbed his whiskers in Marik's hand. The voice of Luanne growled.
"If you see fur in those patties, I will kick the cat and lock him in Marnie's cage!"
"That's right Luanne, I have taught you well to be heartless." Luanne pretended to be Marik complimenting her. Marik in Luanne's body silenced as he realised he did a mistake.
"Oh… why Marik, don't be silly, I was only joking…" The female body glared at the male counterpart. Marik thought that was close. Why would he blow his cover to his Rare Hunter's cover to Luanne?
"I think we should eat now…" Carissa rolled her eyes at Marik as though he was a bad influence. Although it was Luanne, Carissa wouldn't know.
Soon they sat down to consume their breakfast. Lady Fendi was helping Bryn with his stain grass shirt as he recently was playing soccer with some of the neighbouring kids.
"I am pretty sure you'd want to clean your own shirt next time Bryn…" Marik said in Luanne's body sternly.
"Errrr, Luanne… it's called having fun adventurously." Bryn said wryly. Luanne intervened in Marik's body or rather interrupted with an offense.
When both Marik and Luanne finished feeding each of their own bodies, Marik in Luanne dragged Luanne in Marik's form but he was too weak as Luanne.
"Oh Lu, apologise to Bryn!" Luanne was having fun teasing Marik.
"Huh! BRYN NEEDS TO BEHAVE AS HE IS YOUR LITTLE RARE HUNTER!" This was where Marik lost it as Luanne. He was offended. Luanne is in Marik's body chuckling and he wouldn't budge.
Bryn and Carissa glanced at each other as the two squabbled.
"Well, I'm fine eating here. Lu Pee Wee…" Luanne was finding it easy to be Marik.
"No, you're not! I command you to come with me now! NOW, OR YOU WITH FACE SOME CONSEQUENCES! UH!"
There was so much Marik has to get used to, and that is the extra weight on his chest and not between his legs. He stared at the portable mirror of Luanne's reflection with his cold gaze just the way he prefers. He still drew with kohl and hopefully Bryn would not ask why. He looked across and Luanne poorly drew flick down on his eyeliner kohl. Hopefully, a smooth car trip was all they needed to add more awkward tension.
"I think you'll get it when you practice drawing that shape…" the Male Luanne glanced closer.
"I don't want to be you, Marik… What do I do?" The Female Marik timidly squirmed.
"Look Luanne I really don't want to be in your body but if you remain to be hopeless with my body, I swear to Ra I will make you fail and embarrass you… Or even worse… sexualise you as a blackmail…" Mary Lu scoffed.
"Look Ken Doll, I can ruin your reputation in a matter of seconds… like for instance farting on your throne, crying, reading Charlotte Bronte in front of your goons and hmm perhaps sing with a screechy wail-"
"You know you are not funny, nor are you empty threats? I honestly don't think you should be worthy to be in my body." The male in the girl's body pinned his own body. It was so awkward that almost all his nerves rose. Ken Doll was scared of Mary Lu but now it is a new layer of fear.
Marik found his body irresistible so he used her hands and inched closer to her lips and pressed it against his own. Something unexpectedly flicks their mouths. It was his hand controlled by Luanne.
"I don't think so! Just who do you think you are? HUH!" Luanne in his body pushed hard.
"GRAVE MISTAKE!" Marik said in her body but he realised he was being overpowered by his own body by Luanne.
"I'm sorry… my body is too close… don't hurt me…" Marik saw his own body panic and he sighed.
"I wonder… we will be in two ends of the butter knife. I can control my own body with my Millennium Rod and hence… I can control you…" Marik was thinking out loud. His mannerism was making Luanne look hateful and plotting evil.
"You know they are leaving without us…" Luanne said in Marik's body.
"WHAT!" Marik yelled in her voice. He wasted no time and pulled his own body along with him on his motorcycle.
Luanne thought this was really awkward as her own body was dragging her along. Marik used her foot to kick the house good shut. He then grabbed his keys and turned the engine on.
"You are me, so you will be driving!" The female body ordered.
"But I have never driven a Motorbike before!" The male body of Marik shamed him. He may as well jump off the bridge together if he could not switch back his body.
"I really want my body back so that I can consummate with a real woman and not half breeder wench who had tainted my reputation." Marik pushed his own body towards the motorcycle.
Luanne gawked, then she acted surprised.
" You know I can't balance well." Luanne bit Marik's lip subtly.
By staring at each other, Marik sighed in her body and mounted on the Motorbike first. "Go on, sit behind me Luanne!" Marik watched the former body timidly sit on the motorcycle. It was awkward beyond words as the two tassel for the best balance.
"Marik, do you think the Rare Hunters will notice my difference?" Luanne asked shakily in his voice.
"No… I think… read… I have some issues I need you to address me at the meeting. I will be hiding behind the throne and if anything, I will control my own body if you screw up." Marik said gravely in her voice. The piece of paper was his instructions.
"Really not going to help you by send an employee to this estranged realm for you…" The male body expressed contempt for the situation.
"It'll be so much easier if my soul is in my own body…" The female body expressed.
"Like I want to be in your Body!" Suddenly Luanne's own hand wrung around the male's neck. Marik did not like being insulted by his own body, least a female protesting to go back to her own.
"Say you like my luscious body… and you want to stay there!"
"HELL NO!" Marik earned a slap with his own hand. He placed Luanne's hand the controls to his cheek.
La Sagrada Famiglia
As they arrived, Marik looked at his female counterpart who was waiting for instructions. Marik grabbed Luanne's hair and swept it hard. He hated the messy locks and the fact he had to play with it. Barcelona finally was his meeting will take place to prove to Luanne, again oppression in religion but then it is probably pointless now that she is in his body and he is in hers.
"I am serious when you sit there on the throne, do not fiddle, touch one's body as though it is foreign and…twirl my hair. I'll be counting on you to look masculine for me." Marik said as he looked up at Luanne in his body.
"So you literally got your Rare Hunters to carry your throne to this cathedral? Do you do it to all Seven Wonders of the World? What next, the Great Wall of China?" Marik watched his body laugh femininely in his new body.
"I wouldn't laugh about that if I were you!" The girl spat as the Millennium Rod was drawn. Luanne in his body gasped sassily.
"Come on, it is my thought that you should just control your own body with the Millennium Rod of yours…" Luanne in his body uttered with wisdom.
They both entered the religious monument and eventually the group of hooded goons bowed to Marik, or at least they thought it was him. The cathedral was as morbid as the Addam's Family mansion with Marik's Rare Hunter paying their respect to him.
Luanne tried as best as she can to look fearful as Marik. The feminine body was the real Marik so all she had to do was act like him. Sweat started to ooze out of the masculine head. Marik kept an eye on his vessel in front. For the first time, Luanne felt as though an evil twin was watching her.
When Luanne had finally made sure Marik's vessel was successfully on his throne, her body that was controlled by Marik stood by her. Her lips were smirking and damn Marik had to flash her right leg on the armrest.
She sat on the throne and it was as hard as a stone. She was Goldilocks sitting in Papa Bears hard-ass chair while they all waited for Marik to conduct this meeting. The feminine vessel smirked and decided climbed onto his own throne where his own body was sitting. He did it so sassily he could see Luanne in his body squirm for answers. He glanced at his ranks and pouted, kissing his own body as he locked the girl's lips with his old vessel.
Everyone gasped as though they saw a scandalous scene. "I'm scared and only Master Marik could protect me…" Marik said in Luanne's body.
"What are you doing?" Luanne hissed as Marik.
"It's my seat you fool… Don't forget you are under my contract!" The girl hissed. Unbeknownst to all that is, it is actually Marik. He wanted to commence his meeting but with a twist.
"I Luanne am a girl, your Master has chosen to judge some status reports. I for one know justice." Marik in Luanne lick the lips sensually in front of all the Rare Hunters. Hiding behind the throne was not his plan.
Marik felt the fun was just beginning. He drew his Millennium Rod from behind his back. "Lu… Gavin fail so you have to call him out so that I can send him to the Shadow Realm." Marik whispered in Luanne's body to Luanne in Marik's body.
Luanne with the rundown kohl panicked. "No, I'm not going to pose as you!"
The Egyptian male in the feminine body yelled, "Do it!"
"What did he do?" Luanne hissed as Marik.
"I said Gavin and—"
"It's your job…"
The Rare Hunter came and knelt down. Eventually, Marik couldn't hold it so he screamed as Luanne. "AGH!'
"GAVIN!" The girl in the assembly yelled. And the smirk of the feminine frightened Luanne that is in The Masculine.
The stubby man inched closer and looked up at the female sitting on Marik. She looked fierce. Luanne bit the lips of Marik and shook her head.
"As the Leader of the Rare Hunter, I have seen your failures. Gavin. It is unacceptable…"
"It is repulsive!" The female said pointedly to Luanne in her mind.
"I mean repulsive and you will face a consequence of sending you to…"
"SHADOW REALM!"
Luanne ignored him, "You will learn to pickpocket from Bryn and to top it off, Bryn who is the youngest Elite with sheer talent with hound you all if you fail. Seriously, from this report, you were too visible, the CCTV was not hacked and I could hack and decode those systems in less than three hours. You can't possibly leave expecting untestable consequences. You will be detected…"
"STOP!" Marik intervened.
"Why should I send another to the Shadow Realm if this fellow doesn't learn basic calibrating of teamwork!" The Leader's body was going crazy and pushed Marik off of the lap.
The meeting went out of control as people were laughing at the scene. Marik stood up as the female and pulled his Millennium Rod.
"LUANNE!" Marik felt it all was pointless as he is Luanne.
The crowd was puzzled as to what the female wanted to announce. Instead, it would be best to start the mission instead of the meeting. "Master Marik wants you all to execute CODE: LSF." He had decided to announce as a result as the Rose Gold haired female.
Bryn came up as the Elite that he is. He knew something was up with Marik readily doing the code so he grabbed his Guitar. "When the Overlord command, we abide by his rules. The almighty Leader, May the door open for the guests to hear our chorus…"
"Good Boy, Bryn." Bryn heard his Master appraise him.
He played Evanescence's Lacrymosa and the team had aligned and they marched out like the army of the formation. The hunt begins as Luanne in Marik's throne grabbed the laptop. She keyed in Code LSF and there it revealed the location of the cathedral's stash of cards. Marik watched himself in Luanne's vessel showing them the location, reining havoc to the people that see them, so on and so forth.
"Honestly, you couldn't even keep your Rare Hunters focused on the mission with all your desire to punish them. I'm making up for the lose Obelisk The Tormentor. So sorry Marik for the flaunt earlier." As he heard his own voice through Luanne's spirit, he felt a sense of failure on his part as well.
Bryn sang as he sat on the pulpit hoping that there is a sign of security but they never came for him. He was essentially chilling as he felt the surge of excitement. A security came his way; Bryn punched him hard as he approached him. Carissa watched from outside as she saw her boyfriend fighting alone. Although she could use her powers soon she is not part of the Rank. She then clicked and focused on her powers on the chair and it tripped another. Bryn looked to her way and he knew it was his Gissi.
Meanwhile, a butch Rare Hunter grabbed onto his hoody, "I'm pretty sure Master Marik wanted a more cheery song but thanks to my niece I can stampede you through to the room where CODE LSF is."
"Kjetil!" Bryn giggled at the tatted man.
"As long as we get the stash like old times, Master Marik will reward you pal…"
"I know that… he is also rewarding you cause I think we're in the same division." Bryn cackled.
As they rampaged through the building, Luanne or somebody had already unlocked the security.
"Could we sing Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley? " Bryn grinned.
"But you don't seem sad at all…"
Bryn cover his ear, "NOW I HEARD THERE WAS A SECRET CHORD, THAT DAVID—
"You have to Young Bryn…" Kjetil dropped him.
"I know!" Bryn slammed the base of the guitar on the guard. A couple of strikes injured the man's head. It was an instant concussion for the man and this meant hospitalisation. Kjetil pulverised the men with a single punch. As Bryn approached the man that was standing on near a casket, he stopped. Someone had died and this was meant to be a funeral.
This is meant to be a funeral for a man. He was afraid that he might have disturbed the dead. The guests were mortified as they were mourning. The Priest that was in charge of the service, had bowed to Bryn and Kjetil. They want to yield their cards that were given by the government. They were Duel Monster's cards.
"Chasseur Rares of the Kenosha wants your cards." Bryn knelt down to the priest. Bryn's heart was so soft when it comes to someone that had lost a loved one.
"Cazadores Raros… quieren tu maletín de Duel Monsters Cards." The female counterpart callously stepped over to the casket demanded. She glared at the audience cunningly.
"Lu…?"
The other priest wheeled their government-wielded deck to her. The quarter Hispanic girl, three-quarter Egyptian took the briefcase. She then said, "Your religion won't save you lot of fools…" The female teen chuckled. She turned to Kjetil Rubin, "Hey! Don't ever make the boy fight in a funeral, he as a sensitive soul!"
Although it sounded like Marik, they could be Marik using his Millennium Rod on Luanne but she is somewhat different from his usual mind slaves. The tatted lad glanced at Bryn and they both shrugged. The way she walks is so stalky and with sheer confidence.
"You all may continue with your funeral!" 'Luanne' said.
The other Rare Hunters downstairs cornered new tourists from witnessing the infiltration, via invasion.
"Interesting, Luanne, did Master send you to retrieve the briefcase?" Bryn asked vigilantly.
"Oh, of course he did! And off of which, you all need not question his motives!" Bryn watched Luanne signal the priest to plop himself down on his belly.
"Now kiss my shoes, my stiletto shoes like I will be your ruler!" Bryn was as mortified as the crowd. He stepped back watching the authority melt over the scene of submission.
"I WILL NEVER HONOUR HIM"—
The priest stumbled as the high heels almost punctured his flesh.
Bryn could tell they were Versace shoes his Auntie kept for spares. Eventually, it was hers for the taking.
Then there was Marik that walked timidly earning 'Luanne' the glare of death. Now that Bryn was walking towards the Overlord of the Rare Hunters, he said, "Hey, Master… Luanne got the Priest to yield the briefcase!"
"Oh, he did?" 'Marik' asked.
"Now whoever here displays obstreperousness towards this man will be subjected to retribution to the Shadow Realm!" 'Luanne' declared as she said pointedly to 'Marik'.
'Marik' held his Millennium Rod loosely and the Bryn suspected 'Luanne' hand that was holding the bow of the dress flashed. He shook his head, something did flash like the times Marik banish the other colleagues. The priest was frightened of the female. She was cruel as she kicked him hard. 'Luanne' laughed, as the message is being delivered.
"STOP IT!" 'Marik' yelled. However, to no avail, the priest answered graciously.
"It's…n-not… too late to… turn around and… confess your sins…" 'Luanne' smirked wickedly.
"Then let us all hope that your God hears your cry… if not why was he hung on the tree…?"
"I think you know why, you are loved, dear child and you… UGH!" 'Luanne ' twisted the stilettos heels on the priest's hands and causing excruciating pain. 'Marik's' tears began to fall.
"Master… what's wrong?" Bryn scratched his head.
"Can't 'she' just… take the briefcase?" 'Marik' whined.
"You know, you should tell your Master, to release the witnesses but I guess, it's too late now!" 'Luanne' mused.
As 'Luanne' thought again, this was beginning to be an exciting event. "I know that… but to whom do I pray if you can be a God yourself…? You know there is no peace in your religion." 'Luanne' sibilates through the teeth.
"You are the Vice President's daughter, Luanne Khait! Are you not a devout Coptic Christian? 'Luanne' Khait?" 'Marik' finally approached the real Marik. "That's right… I tried sending these people to the Shadow Realm and you will see that it is futile."
'Luanne' then held the Millennium Rod and then nothing seemed to be working. A spiritual barrier much more powerful than his ancient item shielded the witnesses and so was the priest. 'Marik' cocked a brow, and then gaped. So this Ken Doll's magnificent powers have limits.
'Luanne' growled, grabbing his Millennium Rod and unsheathed the end and stabbed it on the priest's shoulder and callously spat, "BRYN! CODE EXP 10 N10!"
Mission was becoming prevalently complicated. The teen was confused as 'Luanne' sounded just like Marik but Harkin used his phone and pressed something for the vehicle to combust.
'Luanne' hopped off the rail and had successfully landed on the stilettos with pure finesse.
"Now shall we go, little Miss Represented?" 'Luanne' said to 'Marik'. Luckily Odion wasn't here to critique him for the awkward blow out of the mission. At least he has the Briefcase in the hands of the girl.
Driving away was easy enough. 'Marik' grabbed the end of the long robe, as it was hard to move like a long dress that falls with its shapelessness.
Luanne's Point of View
"I know this sounds weird but Sir, your robe is kind of ripped." One of the Rare Hunters said. Luanne panicked and tripped. The Smoke was consuming my lungs and I could barely breathe. Although I have to say this body is kept well with facials and solarium tanning.
I know that I know it's not the right time to ask Marik about how to be him. He is controlling my body as though he owns it now. I feel the heat from the explosion and Marik is already waiting at the car. Bryn helps me up with a smile.
"Come on Sir! You have to go!" The other crowds of Rare Hunters then help me. I am Marik Ishtar! The Leader and I stumble in front of his goons. What does this guy have to say anyway? I still can't believe Odion got me into this mess!
"HOW PATHETIC!" I heard my own voice say. Although it isn't me it is Marik's spirit inside of my body that he is able to use it from a vantage point. He could not control me with that Millennium Item of his, nor could he do it to the believers in that church. Those grey icy eyes of mine, splendour with a deeper pestiferous hidden in his usual demeanour.
"Lu! You're really scary there!" Brynny says to Marik, in actuality.
"I know! Now get in the car, I need a word with them… boss!" I knew this isn't what I planned but facing the Demonic Ken Doll in in my vessel is kind of intriguing. I could almost imagine him riding on a bull's back in a red dress like the woman that rides the beast or a dominatrix, thus I should try and sever these thoughts in my mind before he does it to a real man.
He pulled my aching hands and glances at me quizzically. "You know you just exposed yourself… while I am in your body, you… huh! You foolishly exposed yourself." Marik then laughs in my body. I guess it is funny to an extent. I guess that it's going to be the headline of tomorrow's news in Egypt and Spain.
"I guess that it's going to be the headline of tomorrow's news in both Egypt and Spain. You have that right on par…" I knew he could trace my mind's thought process now.
"Look you have what you need and you don't need to rub it in my face…" My voice fades; I mean Marik's voice fades.
"You should dazzle in my usual smirk more… it makes me look rather handsome…"
I added, "Narcissistic…"
"Come on… the police are coming…" I follow Marik to a gate with a well-formed barricade, which will hide us well I guess.
"How is it walking on those heels?" I inquire and he purses his lips that is also mine…
"It's very easy, why do you hope that I stack it somewhere." For some reason, I like that I could talk to him on a mutual level. No, what am I saying?
"Duck! I'm sure you know that I have to attend your pathetic Salsa classes now? And you're coming with me!" I couldn't retain a serious face.
"SHUSH!" Marik is really in my body. All I can see is another version of me to follow his lead. I feel fit and amazing his body, it is like he has the best wellbeing. Does he do Pilates or Yoga? He had his hands out but he retrieved it.
"I forgot that you are heavier than me, Luanne…" My face scowls.
"You mean you are heavier than me… look could we just go home?" I reasoned with him.
"No, this is a crime scene now and you need to be the Leader of The Rare Hunters for me! I need to try and save your reputation, because of your relentless religious radicalism. Now that I am you, you must consider that I can manipulate my way around the Egyptian Government. While you are me, you need to take charge of… oh, a whole lot… because I'm the notorious Overlord."
"I don't blame you, but can I take this off?" I am beginning to sweat in his blanket. It is thick and unbearably heavy to be lagging this attire around. Marik grabs my hair and fans himself. He does it in a fashion indicating that my hair is a thick weave.
"Yes you may, just make sure you fold it neatly…"
Marik's Point of View
I answer Luanne with her body, "Yes you may, just make sure you fold it neatly…"
I know that she hates being in my body. I hate her wretched weave just as much as she hates wearing the Rare Hunter attire. I just have to compose myself. I can see how much she wants to go home with Bryn and the other Rare Hunters but I have so much to share about being… oh Ra… me. I mentally cringe at these phenomena, as I cannot wait to go back to my real body.
"I know what you need to do, you have to pretend we are related. I still have tonnes of fake IDs that are valid and you can pretend I have employed you to be a Rare Huntress, not that I fancy hiring girls…" I plan ahead, as I have hoped the circumstance in Barcelona can be altered.
"Your bra strap has fallen…" Incredible! I just saw myself smirk for the first time as Luanne pointed a minor female wardrobe malfunction. I smirk back because I know that it will be the only way to fix the power of dominance. I know that she needs me to save her uncanny reputation for now but then I will destroy it again in the end.
"I know, I like it that way." I tease her but she only arches her brow instead of rolling her eyes.
I survey our location and points to the direction. "That warehouse district, we must go to and chat! Come on!" Luanne nodded, her blonde hair, my blonde locks look amazing. Ah perfect, a Rare Hunter found another location on a rare deck. I guess destiny does play well. I guess my Legendary Fiend is enough to counter them all.
As I manage to cross the road, I turn back and she is still stuck on the other side of the road with my robe in my rightful arms. She looks nervous and ridiculous, I place my left hand on my hips and shake my head in disbelief. She took her foot out but then a shrill of a car warns her so she retrieves it back. I swear if she is in my body and runs it over, I will still haunt her in her grave!
I waltz towards her, making sure there isn't any moving vehicle coming my way and jog my way back. I know she hates being led but I feel as though her contacts are drying her eyes. I have to resist rubbing them.
"Lu, do you have any eye drops?" I ask as I frown. She conveniently pulls her small pearly purse from my pocket and a tube of silicone drop is in an offer.
"Your eyes are red Marik…" She points to the obviousness.
"That is what I said, Luanne and if you remember it is yours, not mine." I twist the nib and squeeze the hydrating substance into her eyes, my supposed eyes for now. She should be thankful that I am doing her a favour.
The next thing is I least expected her to give me a Kleenex tissue. Although something peeves me, my hair is now parted to the side messily. "Duck down for me…" I said almost gently. I drew the parting on my own hair, perhaps I do need a haircut myself but it will do.
"Excuse me, I need to show you basic ways to take care of my vessel." I jeered at Luanne.
"So you know I need a bit of time to get used to your obsessive-compulsive disorder of self-awareness!" So now, she wants to conciliate with me. How ignorant and rude of her!
"I have a self-image to maintain, darling Lu. I also think you can improve your posture in my body and trip moments ago falls on your head!" I jeer aggressively again.
I could tell her pang in her heart is rising. We stared at each other for a moment. Her long face is a trigger on my own body. Is that how I look like when I have a disheartening moment.
"I can tell you one thing, I will try to act like you in the future. It's just that I needed the religious ownership of those cards. Also your God… He's powerful…I confess however, that doesn't stop me from taking what is rightfully mine." I snigger.
Shortly after this, I sigh wishing this mission is easier with Odion. He drives me everywhere. On the other hand, I am also used to driving the motorbike autonomously. I look rather pale, perhaps I do need another solarium session again."
"I'M NOT GOING IN THERE FOR YOU— MMM—"
"I cared for your eyes, you should care for my tan…" We both stroll a little more.
"Whatever…" She has every nerve to retaliate… I guess if she is a Rare Huntress, I would treat her more harshly.
"Master Marik…" I said imitating her. I'm eager to see her reaction as I pressed my lips into a pout.
"I'm Luanne!" She lashes out.
"Not in the public you ain't! Remember, I control your image, from now on. Now, do you recall I currently have Wati in my Ranks now?"
"I'm hungry, what do you eat anyway? Vegetable balls?" I grinned, that is correct. Looks like she doesn't need the Millennium Rod to decipher that fact. I nod as a response. Who knows where this will result in a heap of mess. I have to now write about my organisation…
Carissa and Bryn sat by the piano and they both watched 'Spirited Away' together. Carissa leaned her head on Bryn, as Haku in the movie dragged Chihiro through the bridge as she was dashing her way pass the spiritual creatures to the bathhouse.
"I feel sorry for Chihiro!" Carissa yelled. She designed another dress for herself and Luanne. One that is of scarlet and flared sleeves and a veil was her inspiration from Lois Vuitton.
"I don't... she should have just stayed with her parents…" Bryn huffed dully as he was trying to remember what happened a few hours ago. Marik's Millennium Rod never reacted like that before.
Lady Verda turned off the television and huffed, "Marik should be home by now because I released the prisoner. He is not useful anymore…"
"Aww… so what now?!" Bryn kicked the couch.
"There is Salsa, which if they don't return before 7 pm, I will have to ask Marik to send her there!"
Bryn and Carissa packed their space to get ready for their Salsa lessons. Marik must be very late. Bryn dialed for Marik but Marik did not pick up.
"Come on you two, I'll leave a message for the two of them. I wear it the girl is causing trouble to Marik, I will boot her out of this accommodation!"
Both Bryn and Carissa now grabbed the gym bag and slung it over their shoulders.
"Bryn, I think this is going to be an exhausting night because we have to be at the New Years Festival straight after this…" The pastel-haired girl said disappointedly.
"Maybe we should have called him earlier. He's being a little tied up with 'A little Lu pee wee time'…" Bryn gently kicked the door open and then Carissa hugged him from the back.
"Bryn! What happened to your arm?" Carissa asked with a trembling voice.
"Oh, that was from the hustle and bustle of today's siege. I mean would you want to get it treated?" Dane sounded frightened. Carissa is worried sick, as Bryn didn't get it treated as fast as he needed to.
"Master Marik and Luanne were strange today…" Bryn then showed Carissa his snapshot of Luanne standing over the Priest. "Who do you think this person is? She looks dominant and very—
"Kinky…?" Carissa tilted her head.
Bryn gaped at the word, which was an intense idea. "That was not the word I expected Gissi, uh, probably like a 'she-devil' or something. It's like they were playing each other or something."
"I don't know, if there is something peculiar, perhaps you might want to clarify some incidents."
"No, it was like Luanne ordered the mission like she is in charge of the whole siege. Could it be…"
"Body Swap…?" They both asked each other.
Marik's Point of View
I tie her hair back as she has the curliest locks and taking her to a restaurant is going to blow my pocket again. Look at her, the pathetic innocent sol in my body. Perhaps if I could just destroy her spirit enough, I can claim a reign in the world as I have planned. I can almost taste the victory— Oh, my bladder is full…"
"Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom…"
I have to go to the bathroom, wonderful… I could have sworn we just had an earl grey tea. Luanne wants tea; I, on the other hand, need Coretto. No wonder I feel giddy every fifteen minutes. As I push the door open, a couple of men were staring at me as though—"
"GET OUT GIRL!"
I am in the wrong bathroom for this body… I growl audibly as I grabbed his sleeve and pushed him to the wall. "No one yells at me!" I stare at him gravely. The man is frightened of me and he quickly cowers away to the exit door.
"What is wrong with you girl?" He calls from behind. I glance at the mirror… I am Miss Khait for now. He is right and I am in the wrong gendered bathroom designed by the patriarchal society of the world. I climb onto the bench top and I fashionably like her body. It is lean, she is toned but she consumes… ugh… poultry.
I know she needs to release her bladder and I shall go to the one next door. I leap off the bench and open the door and to the female lavatory. Yes, this is normal now. I close the cubicle and of course pull down my panties and of course, hell freezes over when I witness the release of Luanne's bladder. I guess I can get used to her body. I look down at her breast and I could say it is mine for now. Peeping inside the breast of the teen...
Phone call… Oh, it's the baby Brynny Boo! What does he want? No… it is a text message now.
"Hi Master Mariky Oh Highness, Luanne is acting weird, is she okay? BWH"
'Master Mariky Oh Highness'… that boy is out of his mind.
I type, "I assure you Luanne is learning from the best like you did, Dear One.
Yours Truly, Mariky O'Highness. ;-)
I place my phone back in her jacket pocket and finish my business. I wonder if I could erase the witnesses' memories. Yes, I can, it's just that their souls are unseizable to the Shadow Realm. I know for sure that the mind is a labyrinth of endless possibilities.
Being a girl isn't too bad at all. I grabbed a roll of paper and yes it is a taboo part and I shall conceal that from one's imagination. Marik Ishtar has officially seen the wonders of Luanne's body.
The press cannot identify me now that I have erased all possible witnesses' memories in La Sagrada Famiglia. I shall also mark the fact that there is a more powerful God that protects certain religious groups of the society, but then when I become pharaoh, I can dethrone that power when I reform the society in the Pharaoh's demise! I washed Luanne's delicate hands. She doesn't labour much with those fingers of hers. She anticipates her written work dearly. She is different…
Her mother is a psychologist and I happen to know just as much as her. Sadly she fails to analyse my mind in employing her. Her Doctorate degree is valuable…
As I open the door Luanne is just about to come in. "You're a male…" I hiss. I will clarify her reaction is of offence. Yes, the usual political correctness of the journalist in the making.
"YOU DIDN'T SEE IT DID YOU!" Her expression is so petty as she tells me about her.
Luanne's Point of View
"YOU DIDN'T SEE IT DID YOU!" I squirm.
"See what…?" Unbelievable! He expresses this innocently. "Weren't you supposed to wait for me and be mindful that we are eating soon?" Gee… I do look fierce as ever.
"Bu—"
"GO BACK NOW!" I follow the supposed girl. This is getting too confusing. As we both walk back, the food was ready.
I clutched my stomach as I ran past him to the lavatory and there, the men were there. I am on a new planet of Mars where I must do my business through, 'hosing'. What bothers me is the fluorescent light is flickering. Some of the men walk past without a proper hygiene check! They did not wash their hands! Yes, some without soap. I fake a cough, as this has to be the worse witness of improper sanitary in the face of Spain. I'm pretty certain Marik does wash his hands, otherwise, he will tell me otherwise, "I will haunt you on your deathbed."
As I finish, yes, whizzing… I'll just wash my hands…
'Marik' sees 'Luanne' chowing down portions of their food.
"I'm glad you make the right choice about my hygiene." 'Luanne' said, without looking at 'Marik'.
"I see you needed some clarifications to how I use my current state." 'Marik' said.
'Luanne' then sips the beverage. The dark substance had a tinge of vodka and 'Marik' pinch 'his' own nose.
Everything was raw and grilled. 'Luanne' then conveyed a fake apology. "Oh, I forgot you wanted Earl Grey."
'Marik' smiled brightly, and waved it off. The most rewarding afternoon was a peaceful meal as they symphonising a unique bond.
The class was full as Bryn and Carissa waited for 'Luanne'. Then they figured she just arrived. However, 'Marik' is with her, still shy, a little as both of them were already giggling sped through the staircase, which led them up to the crowd of students stretching and warming up for the class.
"Master… Are you joining us for Salsa dance?" Bryn asked sceptically.
"I have to come attend because of Lu Pee Wee's demands… before I forget useful skills…" 'Marik' said. 'Luanne' growled as a waned warning to them.
"Grab a partner!" The dance instructor said. "Toma un socio, todos. Sí, incluida la pareja recién llegada. Por favor, no más chateando.
"¡Lo siento!" 'Marik' apologised sassily. 'Luanne' sneered, as Luanne was acting pathetic.
'Luanne' hissed again as 'Marik' acted in fear of critique. "Lu, nunca me disculpo con extraños."
The crowd was staring at the two odd couples. "You are a male! Don't act like you know what you are doing as an apologist or a female!" 'Luanne' hissed incessantly in the echo of the dance hall.
"What do I do? I only know the female stance?" 'Marik' squirmed. 'Luanne' grabbed 'his' hand pointedly.
"Hip! Not Ass!" 'Luanne' said sternly while adjusting her finger locking on the other hand. "Hold firmly… and—
"If you two are done, jabbering… please, we are waiting for you. Or you can take the exit… now to spin your partner, you must never let her fall" The short instructor said. 'Marik' bit the lower lip and 'Luanne's' smirked.
Soon spinning was a horrendous experience for both possessors of the dancing vessel. Marik who is 'Luanne' misstep and tripped and Luanne who is now 'Marik' stacked it hard, releasing each other's hands. As the Male counterpart could not catch the female, they stumbled head on.
"What is wrong with you!" 'Luanne' bellowed.
"¡Lo siento! ¡Lo siento!" 'Marik' apologised with impetuosity. Palms on cheeks as the male's hands could not brace the female body in time. 'Luanne's' stiletto undoubtedly snapped.
"Well, looks like this is the final straw…" 'Luanne' cannot be manhandled. Not by an inexperienced male. 'She' tossed her shoes to the side, and like finesse hit the target of the trash can. "Oh… well, that is skill…"
Meanwhile, 'Marik' maintain composure and felt a tiny whelp on the upper lip. The golden armband has bumped up the gash.
"You're hurt!" 'Luanne' pointed. Soon the instructor then pulled 'Marik's' ear as well as 'Luanne's' ear. But 'Luanne' grabbed the instructor's arm and twisted it. "Don't touch me!"
"I'm not! You snapped the expensive shoe!" 'Marik' yelled.
"Let go of her— now! I mean…him!" 'Luanne' yanked the instructor's hand from 'Marik' and pulled 'him' away out from the class. Another shoe was flung off as 'Luanne' was walking barefoot on the timber floor. All eyes were on them until the safe shone of the exit saved them and that was where 'Marik' did a Samaritan deed.
"You can have your real shoe back Marik…" 'Marik' said to 'Luanne.'
"You are the worse Salsa partner!" 'Luanne' snapped. While the leather shoes are on, the size is finitely bigger.
'Luanne' smirked, "You know you have singing class right…? Lady Fendi is expecting the best from this voice and oh did I mention, that I can sing well."
"Why did Bryn teach you how to sing?" 'Marik' scoffed at the female counterpart.
"It's naturally a hidden talent of mine." 'Luanne' winked.
"Please don't wink at me with my own face!" 'Marik' acted horrified.
'Luanne' rolled his eyes, "Why not?"
"It's just awkward… coming from you that is." 'Marik's' voice was shaken.
"Sure I won't then…" a sincere smile flicked.
An hour has past and Bryn and Carissa were already in the mood of finding the other two. 'Marik' was now barefoot and Luanne has the dark robe draped over 'her' shoulder.
"Sir, you're meant to save Luanne from the fall." Bryn indicated with derision as he spun Carissa, demonstrating his own talent.
"That's right, 'Marik' you're meant to save me from my fall…" 'Luanne' then mimics Bryn's derision in return.
"Now we shall have a little celebration! I'm starving and I want the best tapas, tortilla, Espanola, and paella with minimal sauce. It's going to be too heavy." Bryn grinned.
All of a sudden, all four stomachs growled. "Or maybe I need to feed Marnie first."
"Marnie can die…" 'Luanne' said morbidly.
'"Whoa! Did Master just turn Luanne evil?" Bryn was mortified.
"No! Now shall we go?" 'Luanne' slipped the shoes like a penguin down the stairs. 'She' held on the railings and soon bumped on the sheens. "I want my body back…"
"I know you need a little time to change guys, could the school term get any worse than this? My Information Technology class is cutting some marks for even the top students. My mum just took Abbey to Nepal again just for temple planting. So I can't just bum around." Bryn was feeling rather chatty for some reason.
"Does this mean Abbey will serve her soup in the temple or…" Carissa asked Bryn.
"No, she will be the next Gandharva heir. Master Marik, I hope you can attend her anniversary."
"I—" 'Luanne' looked at 'Marik' and gestured.
"Yes indeed, I will be attending the anni- anni ver sa ry" 'Luanne' gave a death glare at 'him'. Soon the teen quartet rode to the Nochevieja event next to the Montjuïc's Magic Fountain. Bryn and Carissa cuddled each other and found the crowd difficult to weave their way.
"Lu, I hope you are enjoying your height!" 'Luanne hissed. Soon 'Marik' sighed.
"Would you like a boost of a piggyback…?" 'Marik' dawdled.
"I don't trust you with handling your body with me inside it!" 'Luanne' grabbed 'Marik's' chin and went to find Bryn and Carissa. Loud crackles began to tincture the harbour. It replenished the galvanic vibe as citizens of Spain prepares for another hopeful year. 'Luanne' on the other hand had 'her arms folded in his opposition to the celebration. Therefore, 'she' remembered that the read lingerie beneath the red dress was to mark era for his Rare Hunters. It was to mark prosperity and luck. However, inside of this girl's mind trusts a higher being that controls time and space interim. She believes in God, that he had not felt the peace since he first read The Book of Y-meta, Sand of Hwt- ka-Ptah.
Before the Grave keeper's initiation, before he felt the real obligation of an onerous rite written by the hands of a princess and sorceress of compassion and darkness. What was her name again?
Some of those texts were a blur.
There were acrobatic performances forming a tower by tower. As for the parade, of rings of fire were being carried to the main attraction. There it revealed the human figurine, large enough to oblige in the wonderful structure.
The crowd cheered as the chime of the large clock awoke the night, starting from the notion of 10.
"DIEZ!"
"NUEVE!"
"OCHO!" 'Luanne' grabbed 'Marik' shoulder and followed the crowd.
"SIETE!"
"SEIS!"
"CINCO!"
"CUATRO!"
"TRES!"
"DOS!"
"UNO…"
"FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!" 'Marik' could see Bryn and Carissa already making out. However the girl beside 'him' is just a mere employer.
Inside of Luanne's mind, her smile lessens and all her life, she had been lonely. She had only played Duel Monsters so often and attends press meetings; she forgot she has a life. She misses her family.
Marik's Point of View
"Happy New Year…" I whisper.
"Okay, sure 'Feliz año Nuevo…" She replies.
I remember those times when Ishizu used to do my kohl before my initiation. She would blow my eyes every few seconds and help prepare a mix of immortelle, lychnis, jasmine, narcissus, and Epilobium and tie them again in wreaths.
"What are you thinking about?" I ask her.
"About how we can get out body back… I mean it's ironic…"
"What did you say?" I beg for her pardon, as the crowd's voices were too high. I know what she meant. It is ironic that the New Year is spent in another body and not of our own. She has given up on explaining and that is fine by me.
As the teen quartet arrived at Hotel 1898, 'Luanne' texted to Lady Fendi about their stay and when they will be back. Rare Hunters where Wati's probationer ranks have succeeded. However, in his hand, he was wearing the Hamsa bracelet again. If luck was on his side, may the gods undo this strange phenomenon soon.
'She' was along in the room, remembering how the first night they met they had a telescope each. Luanne was a ditz but she managed to get this far.
'Marik' however is in another room as he let out a pungent screech could be heard from the neighbours.
Luanne's Point of View
I cover my eyes quickly as I saw the back of Marik's scars. They are intricately cut; I can't look, as it must have been a result of a ritual. I draw my pinkie to feel the bump and ridges of the hieroglyphs. There were three Ka monsters aligned like a pyramid. An ankh in the centre and the rest are healed scars. Near the shoulder blade was a sun disk with wings on either side. What really happen?
"I see you have noticed my Tomb Keeper's Initiation…" The reflection of me approaches me suddenly.
"I'm sorry, I'm not supposed to shower… I can— Oh my God, Oh my God!" I can't think straight at the moment.
"You are doing fine… it's… those are my scarification for…" As I glance at Marik in my body, I could see forlornness that is weighing in his spirit. He is somehow in the mood of compensating for an explanation. "You've seen too much… get dress now!" I notice the balcony let the gust of wind raffle the loose curtains. Some precipitation of a chance escaped from the wild and soaked the balcony and then the lightning flashes revealing his own spirit through the lenses of his eyes followed by the rumbling of the thunder.
"Who did this to you?" My grey eyes bored by the boy the droplets of the pellucid tears begin to form.
"My father…" He forcefully retches from his throat.
I remain silent but he turns on the faucet. The water gushes out and Marik pushes me to the wall. His whole demeanour changes, but is frightening as it is from my own body I am witnessing the beginning of a cruel event. As I obediently sat on the bathtub, he pinned me to the wall. "When… how…"
"I hope you won't expose me…" He said gravely as he hisses through my own teeth.
"YOU'LL KNOW TOO MUCH!" He screams from my voice. I could have sworn as my back hit the wall, my masculine voice was crying. Then hysteria began as though madness and trauma overcome his memories.
Soon bracelet reacts and snaps as a flash of the lightning blinds our vision to a tomb flashback:
Both our bodies materialised to a spiritual realm. As I look at my feet through a reflection of a mirror, I am ten years old. "I hope you're not snooping around my past." I heard my voice say. It was Marik in my body. The body is also 10 years of age.
This is the memory of when I was bullied. My parents were touring in the Temple of Karnak when I was little. Marik and I watch my punishment.
"So you have been here before…" Marik says in my body. "The surface world, where the cards scattered was from you!" I watched myself being shoved towards the wall of the well by older teenagers.
The boy in urban red hair grabbed my deck and I couldn't reach them. The four boys laugh and one of them is Wati, my very own brother who betrays me for his friends.
The leading gang backhanded me, now who are you going to tell? Your mummy and daddy are too busy with senator Quakes, huh?" Marik was in my body yelling but this only a replay of the past. He tried to punch them with my hands but it only past through like a hologram. Marik in my nine-year-old self is perplexed as the boy decided to play piggy in the middle with the other boys.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU FIGHT BACK?!" Marik screamed at me.
"I couldn't…" I cried. One of the boys picks a stone and aims for the deck that was in the mid-air and it damaged the case. As the case crashed on one of the stone, my cards sprayed into well.
"Because for the past two years, I lost all my cards and to these boys…" Marik's face in my child form showed true remorse. "It explains why there are cards in the well and why you managed to suppress those memories." Gil Garth was one of those cards that fell into the well in those previous years. Another was merchants were too busy dumping cards.
Meanwhile, the spiritual augmentation switched to the tomb where Marik and I watch one of the cards falling. He was eight; I was now an eight-year-old boy and I picked up Gil Garth. "That's the one there!" I watched myself being played on the scene autonomously as I walked to Marik's room.
"Gil Garth was your card?" Marik as me asks me. I nod at him as I was holding the card as he follows me. I nod again.
"Because I found this when I was eight…" Marik explains as the younger me.
"Marik, what is this?" My voice, my hands of my ten years is witnessing a spiritual augmented reality. I respond in his body, as the ten-year-old me suppressed a fear; even I can sense the fear.
"This is where I lived…"
The bleakness of the tomb haunts me. I touch the back and I realise it was clear as a white canvas. Soon Marik who is in my child form folded his arms and leaned on the table of presumably his study desk. A single candle is struggling to keep the flames alive, as the wax cannot survive.
"I used to live here, six years ago when I was just a rudimentary student of the ancient texts." Again I notice an etched voice is suppressing his pain. He is the boy that waited for something terrifying.
"What happened?" I asked the ten-year-old self before me. As I look back, there was Odion. It was as though he has failed to deliver a task successfully. My heart began to ache as two hooded servants capture me. As I look back at Marik in my body, tears roll down and drop down the rose gold hair and follow me.
"Odion, please, could you help him?" I ask as I am Marik passing Odion. He refuses to talk to me. Another girl stood where my current body is. She had a jet black hair.
I was stripped of the beige garment and then men were chanting. My body, however, and I am crying. Marik is witnessing how he received those marks and I am experiencing them now. He tried to stop the elderly man he bears resemblance to pin me. He tried to dodge the elderly's arm but again it passes through. He tries to disarm the knife but it passes through again like a ghost or a dog chasing his own tail…
The slab of plinth was enough to cause so much pain in my anticipation. I shake violently and Marik in my body began to scream. This is the spiritual slavery he had mentioned.
"Please let me go… PLEASE LET ME GO!"
I watch my own mouth whisper. "I'm sorry…" Marik kneels. Some may disagree but I have to rectify this experience with my own eyes. As the knife pierces through me, the first cut is the deepest. I screamed as Marik in my body tries to hold my hand. Blood was oozing out of my own back and Marik is witnessing it for the first time as me. I yell and Marik was going mad, as the things he had done was futile. He had experienced this before. He rocks back and forth. Soon a dark entity loomed over us. I can sense the presence growing, as I am now experiencing slight seizures.
Suddenly darkness looms over me and an elderly man draws his knife over the candle again. The prolonging wait was enough to damage my sanity. His hair is just like Marik's, and like mine. I widened my eyes as the men tie my four limbs. He tries again but to no avail, the vision cannot be altered. Soon enough, Marik shields his body over me. The body of my own, it is his spirit as a force pulled me out of the slab and to the ground.
"MARIK NO!" I reached out and dashed to him. Marik is reliving the experience as he screams. The painful procedure is a curse in itself as the initiation for this boy bares and unmans fate. I embrace him and the memory disappears from the scene.
My back, now his back stings as he begins to vociferate the stings. My voice became my own as my own weeping have an exchange to a softer voice. He then inches forward kisses me, from the nape of my neck. The scene changes and we are back to the hotel. We have returned to our rightful bodies. I reach for his back and he grabs my hand as I suddenly feel his calmness returning.
"Marik… I begin, we're back to our bodies." I caught a glimpse of his smirk of relief as the rightful lilac regains the aperture of a distressed child have now found refuge in my kisses. I swipe his ashen platinum blond bangs to the side.
Meanwhile, he kisses me and then the world begins to spin as my understanding of the spiritual slavery he is bound to fate. The string of fate is tied to my pinky to his. It is spiritual…
The bathtub, of course, was full, none of which the both of Marik and Luanne continued to kiss.
