On his right was the reception area: a tall desk with a computer, a telephone switchboard and general office stationary, a perfect ordinary workplace for a secretary or receptionist. Jounouchi took his gun out of its holster. He didn't know what to expect here, in the lion's den; was it truly a trap, or just a cover? It was a small consolation that he wasn't alone; Mahaado was with him, and he had seen the magician in action. The seating area on his left was furnished with chairs, two sofas and a coffee table with a couple of general-interest magazines on it. A coffee corner made the area complete. The Pharaoh walked around with almost child-like curiosity, as if he had never seen an office building from the inside before. Considering that, Jounouchi thought, he more than probably hadn't. He didn't know whether to feel sorry or sad for the Pharaoh, standing out like a sore thumb in his traditional garb; all his gold and glitter, juxtaposed to the plastic, electronics and concrete of the building. Their footsteps made no noise on the squeaky clean, tiled floor. Jounouchi continued to scout the area. The tall Zorc Security sign behind the reception area was buzzing faintly. He couldn't tell if a silent alarm had been tripped. With the exception of the computer at the reception desk, he didn't see any electronic equipment. Well, as long as he didn't hear any blaring police sirens... a shiver went down his spine. Moving on, he noticed the staircase down the hall.
"How do we get up?" The Pharaoh asked, not using his indoor voice.
"Over here," Jounouchi said, cringing at the noise. "You'll have to walk a few steps, Pharaoh."
"That is fine." He closed the distance between himself and Jounouchi, followed by Mahaado. It was... oddly satisfying that they were willing to, sort of, 'obey' him; Jounouchi had expected the Pharaoh to demand to be carried upstairs, his dainty feet not made to touch something as pedestrian as stairs. He remembered that there was a staircase at the mansion, and felt a bit guilty about his earlier thought. The Pharaoh might not be of this world, he wasn't acting superior or above anyone else. Jounouchi took the lead, the Pharaoh in the middle and Mahaado came up at the rear, climbing up to the first floor.
"Careful," Mahaado suddenly said. "I sense a shift in the nature of the energy. Our presence has been noticed! Jounouchi, watch out! Pharaoh, get behind me, quick!"
Jounouchi raised his gun. "Domino City Police Force!" he announced himself. "Who's there?"
The sound of approaching footsteps was eerie. "Domino City Police Force! Stop!"
The very weak ceiling light revealed a tall young man with short, reddish hair. Jounouchi's eyes went wide.
"Amelda? What are you doing here?"
He didn't answer. More people came to stand close to him: Varon, Rafael, even Kemo, Pegasus' former bodyguard, along with others Jounouchi didn't recognize.
"You shouldn't be here," he said. "Get out of here while you still can!"
"It is of no use, Jounouchi." Mahaado grimaced. "They are under the influence of a very dark spell. I can barely sense their soul under all those layers of darkness. Hatred, anger, despair, envy, disdain... they are filled to the brim with it."
"Bastard," Jounouchi growled. What was Bakura doing? What did he hope to achieve by all of this?
"Enslaving people's minds is not Bakura's method," Mahaado said pensively. "Usually, Marik would..."
Amelda stepped forward. Jounouchi pointed his gun at him. "Don't come any closer!"
Out of nothing, a laser beam swiped at Jounouchi's gun, cutting the weapon clean in half. "What the hell?" He stared at the pitiful remnant of his gun. Amelda's blank, unresponsive look didn't change and he took another step closer. Jounouchi threw the gun at him - but it never landed on him. More laser beams made short work of the gun and it ended in tiny pieces on the floor. This is Kaiba's system! Jounouchi remembered how he had been subdued himself by the very same system, back when he had jumped at the CEO in his office. How the hell did Bakura dispose over this kind of technology? Had he forced Kaiba to give the technology to him? Jounouchi braced himself. The group approached him, with Amelda and Rafael in the front. The tall, muscular guy grunted when an orb of light hit him right in the chest. It wasn't an act of violence; Rafael stared dumbfounded at the orb hovering around his heart area. The light emitted by the orb was calm and warm, opposite the restless darkness inside the other's body, mind and soul. Mahaado conjured another orb of light, this time targeting Amelda.
Jounouchi understood what the magician-priest was doing. "Amelda, Rafael," he said, "don't let the darkness consume you! This isn't who you are! Fight it! Fight the darkness!"
"Think of your friends and loved ones," Mahaado called out. "Repel it! Turn the darkness away!" He guided more of the glowing orbs towards the other people, men and women, appealing to whatever light there was left in their hearts. Even the Pharaoh stepped up to the plate; his Puzzle glowed with the same warm and comforting light Jounouchi had seen when he had healed Mokuba from his shock and trauma.
"You can do it!" Jounouchi encouraged them. "Amelda! Varon! Rafael! Fight it off!" He was excited to see a change in Amelda's eyes. He blinked for the first time and his confusion was obvious. He even parted his lips, as if he was about to talk. Jounouchi was ready to answer any questions he had, relief surging through him. Everything started to turn into their favor - and then there was a strangling, gurgling gasp behind them. Jounouchi whipped his head around as did Mahaado. The magician-priest cried out for his Pharaoh as Jounouchi looked on in horror. Some kind of robotic device had attached itself to the Pharaoh, all but strangling him. The light from the Puzzle flickered and died down. Mahaado grabbed the arms of the robot, trying to bend them away from the Pharaoh. He was so upset and angry that he started to swear in Ancient Egyptian. Apparently, his magic wasn't effective against modern technology. Jounouchi rushed to help him. The Pharaoh almost went through his knees, as one of the robotic arms snaked around his throat, crushing his windpipe and damaging the golden choker.
"Let go of him!" Jounouchi pulled at the metal arms. Robots, right here? What the hell was going on? He put all of his strength into it, tugging and pulling, next to a frantic Mahaado. The Pharaoh fell to the floor, gasping and wheezing. Something latched onto Jounouchi's arm and he looked over his shoulder to see what it was - it wasn't another robot, but Varon. His fist went at such speed at Jounouchi's jaw that he had no time to brace himself, let alone put up a defense. He saw stars when the pain hit him full-force, and his entire world went black.
"...Jounouchi-daimyo, wake up!" Jounouchi grunted at hearing the familiar voice. He felt like he'd been run over by a truck, and he sure could use some of Mahaado's fine healing.
"You told me you stabbed him!" The other familiar voice immediately infuriated him and he opened his eyes, angry.
"Hirutani, you fucking bastard!"
Hirutani looked at him with such cold eyes that it made his blood chill. He just stood there, disdain radiating off of him. "You're a fucking cockroach, Jounouchi. I couldn't get rid of you back in the days, and I can't get rid of you now." He turned to Marik. "Why isn't he dead?"
"I told you I stabbed him," Marik said, voice amused. "I also told you that pretty Pharaoh and his annoying Priest got to him before I could stab him for the second time. Didn't you hear me when I was talking to you, Hirutani-chan?"
The other turned red in the face. Jounouchi would've laughed at him, if he wasn't so worried about himself and the others. His hands were tied behind his back and when he craned his neck to look at the others, he could see Mahaado and the Pharaoh, leaning against him. Mahaado's furious eyes promised death to anyone who dared to approach him, the Pharaoh looked unconscious, with his eyes closed. The golden choker around his neck was damaged from the force the robotic device had used to crush it, his skin underneath already turning an angry black and blue.
"What are you calling me, you psycho freak?" Hirutani protested, but he immediately went silent when another voice called out to him.
"Do not call my associate any name, Hirutani." The hairs on the back of Jounouchi's neck stood upright. He knew exactly who was talking. "Or do you wish to join the darkness like a mindless drone, a slave?"
"No, Bakura-sama." Hirutani stepped away from Marik and made a deep, respectful bow to the person approaching them. The last player on the field. Jounouchi scrunched up his face in disgust at Hirutani's groveling. Bakura looked exactly the same as when he had thrown the heavy table through the interrogation room as if it weighed nothing, pinning Jounouchi to the floor and crushing him. Fear traveled through Jounouchi, at just the memory of that particular event. He had seen and been through a lot with Honda; as detectives they had encountered dead bodies, bloody crime scenes and cruel, lying and backstabbing suspects. Marik Ishtar was one of the worst, with his total lack of morals and the crazy, deranged state his mind was in. But the worst had to be this so-called 'Dark' Bakura, and Jounouchi couldn't meet his gaze. Kind and polite Bakura Ryou had completely vanished from this... person, standing in the middle of wherever they were - Jounouchi wasn't totally aware of his surroundings yet, safe for it being a large room with modest light - and smiling down at him with such a malicious, contemptuous arrogance and hatred that Jounouchi's stomach wasn't tying itself into knots, but trying to eat itself in fear. Jounouchi's body wasn't frozen, but he knew he couldn't get up unless he was helped onto his feet. This Dark Bakura had rooted him to the spot with the malice and darkness he was emanating, and in the middle of his chest hung that infernal, hatefully glowing Ring, the prongs dangling, chiming creepily with every movement.
"I knew you would bring them to me, Jounouchi," he said, his voice devoid of any compassion or empathy. "It took a bit longer than I expected, but I am a patient man. Time is on my hands. It has always been, for millennia long."
He took a step forward as if he wanted to check up on the Pharaoh, who had regained consciousness. Mahaado wrestled himself in front of him, spitting at Bakura.
"Do not dare touching him!"
"I wouldn't," Bakura said disdainfully. "Not yet. He's not worth my attention."
"Do not be a fool, thief." The Pharaoh's voice was hoarse and raspy. "Stop this right now, and I will grant you access to the afterlife without your soul being devoured."
Bakura snorted so hard that he could give Kaiba a run for his money, if the CEO was around. "Do you really think I care for what you can grant me? Do you think that I care for the afterlife, or wherever my soul goes to?" He cackled. He moved up his hand and Hirutani appeared again, and this time he had brought someone with him.
"Yuugi!" Jounouchi cried out. His friend didn't respond. Hirutani threw Yuugi casually to the floor. Neither the Pharaoh nor Mahaado made a sound, both looking shocked.
"Yuugi!" Jounouchi tried to get up, but his body refused to obey him. Frustrated, he glared at Bakura. Marik had walked over to him and stood next to him as if they were the best of friends. "What have you done to him?"
"You've always asked too many questions, Jounouchi. Tonight, it's going to end. All of you are going to end."
"Bakura, stop this insanity!" The Pharaoh had managed to get up and still maintain some kind of dignity, despite his hitching voice. "You will not achieve anything by killing us!"
"Not achieve anything?" Bakura narrowed his eyes. "Except for removing all of you from my life? I have waited long enough!"
"You cannot use the Sennen Items without their owners," the Pharaoh spat.
"Pharaoh, do not bother arguing with him," Mahaado spoke. "The thief will never change his mind, misled and deluded as he is."
"Deluded?" Bakura yelled, and the prongs of his Ring stood up straight, pointing at the magician. "I killed you once, priest. I'll kill you again!"
"Enough!" Jounouchi hollered. "Stop this, Bakura! I won't allow you to plunge the world into total darkness!"
"You won't allow me to?" Bakura grinned. "What exactly are you going to do to stop me?"
"You are talking nonsense," Mahaado spoke up again. "You do not have all the Items, let alone the Eight Key, to resurrect your beloved God. You do not hold all the cards, thief!"
Jounouchi struggled against his bonds. His eyes traveled all over Yuugi, lying lifelessly on the floor. He couldn't determine if he was breathing or not. Had he already been killed? He couldn't see any blood... and if Bakura had put that dark spell on him, or mind-slaved him, like Amelda and Varon... to his relief, Jounouchi saw a slight twitch. Yuugi moved his arms.
"They really don't like you, pretty thief," Marik snickered. "Why don't we stop talking and start killing them?"
"Let me do it, Bakura-sama!" Hirutani pulled out his gun, eager to shoot. He pointed at Jounouchi.
"We won't stain our hands," Bakura said and the Ring chimed ominously. "We're done talking." He turned to say something to both Hirutani and Marik. On the cold floor, Yuugi shifted and managed to get on his knees. Disorientated, he tried to determine where he was, and who was with him... he noticed Jounouchi and smiled at him. All of the sudden his eyes went wide and his lips widened in a massive smile. Jounouchi looked in the same direction as Yuugi and saw that he was looking at the Pharaoh. How weird could it be to see someone looking exactly like you? From the Pharaoh's reaction, his eyes widening as well and gasping, Jounouchi could gather that he was just as surprised.
"Mou hitori no boku," Yuugi said, at the same moment when the Pharaoh sighed: "Aibou."
"What?" Jounouchi arched an eyebrow. Something was flying right over his head, he was sure of it.
"We have to get out of here!" Mahaado tried to get up, twisting and turning, as his arms were also tied behind his back.
"So soon already?" Bakura pulled something out of his pants pocket. It looked like a cell phone, or a small tablet, and he moved his fingers over the screen with ease. Jounouchi cringed. If Bakura had better understanding about today's technology than the Pharaoh and his Priest, that could be a real disadvantage. Another robotic arm dropped from the ceiling, and as Yuugi was making his way over, it attached itself to his leg and forcefully dragged him over the floor.
"Jounouchi-kun!" He yelled out in pain as he was hoisted upside-down in the air.
"Monster! He's innocent! Let him go!" Jounouchi wiggled his body into an upright position, cursing the lack of the use of his arms. Those damn restraints!
Bakura cackled. "Innocent? Watch, Pharaoh, while I crush your light half, crippling you and your power!"
"Bakura," the Pharaoh's voice was soft, but held no gentleness or kindness. "I challenge you to a Shadow Game!"
"No! No, no, no!" Mahaado's panic was so great that it gave him a boost of strength to get up and all but race past Jounouchi to stand next to the Pharaoh. "Pharaoh, please! Do not do this!"
"I have to," the Pharaoh said, the stylized eye on his crown and his Puzzle glowing. "I have to protect my light."
"Jounouchi-kun!" Yuugi cried out, flailing his arms and kicking his legs in vain. Marik was watching him, licking his lips, reveling in Yuugi's anguish.
"Hold on!" Jounouchi cursed exasperatedly. With Mahaado in front of him, he could finally see what was tying their arms together behind their backs: another robotic device, its arms looped around their underarms and wrists, with an electronic lock to secure the whole damn thing. "Mahaado! Can't you do something about these robots?"
"My magic does not work against modern contraptions," Mahaado answered, confirming Jounouchi's earlier thoughts. "I need to have my hands free to summon my Magus. I..." His voice trailed off as their surroundings rapidly darkened.
"What's the matter? What's going on?" Jounouchi stepped aside as dark, purplish clouds filled up the area. No, not clouds... shadows. He gasped. "What's with him?"
The Pharaoh was in a trance-like state, his eyes glowing gold along with the Puzzle and the eye on his crown. "What's he doing?"
"In order to save his light half... your friend, he has challenged Bakura to a Shadow Game. The rules have been set, we are not to interfere. He is Summoning."
Jounouchi could hear the defeatism in Mahaado's voice and he didn't like it at all. It struck him what Mahaado had said a while ago about the Pharaoh and summoning. He summons Gods. He had to get the fuck away!
Bakura's laugh cut through the darkened room. "You're too weak, Pharaoh! Weak, just like you were unable to stop me from robbing your dear father's grave!"
"You will answer for your crimes, King of Thieves!" Despite being bound and restrained, the Pharaoh was strong enough to stand upright, carrying his presence with full regality and authority. "Let him go. I will give you one more chance, before I start the Game and surrender you to the judgment of the Gods!"
"You're always so eager to call your fucking Gods!" Bakura answered crudely. In a split second, he looked at Marik. "Take out your Sennen Rod and kill him!"
"Yes, yes," Marik answered eagerly, but he didn't act upon it with great haste. He was probably trying to decide on which 'him' Bakura had referred to: the Pharaoh all but open in front of him, or Yuugi dangling helplessly in the air. He took the Item from his belt and uncapped the end, revealing the dagger slowly. Its razor sharp end picked up the last remaining light, flickering briefly.
"Marik! Hurry up!" Bakura's voice was filled with anger and frustration, but Marik either didn't hear him or didn't want to listen. He was dividing his attention between the Pharaoh and Yuugi, clearly considering profoundly which one he would kill first. Neither one of them would put up much of a fight. Mahaado stood next to the Pharaoh, and Jounouchi struggled to get to Yuugi. He was going to defend his friend, no matter what! Marik stood still while Bakura yelled at him to hurry up, undisturbed by the rapidly increasing shadows and a menacing, disembodied growling sound. Something was approaching fast... could this be the God the Pharaoh was summoning? Marik showed a diabolical grin; he had taken his decision. Holding up the Rod high, he turned towards Yuugi, caught in the mechanical arm, unable to move or to defend himself.
"Yuugi!" Jounouchi screamed. The shadows pulled at his legs, hindering his movements. "No!" The fear in Yuugi's eyes broke Jounouchi's heart - he was never going to make it in time, he wasn't going to be able to save his friend! Marik raised the Rod even further, grinning like a loon as he approached the frantically flailing Yuugi.
The shadows abruptly changed direction. A loud howling accompanied them as they rolled towards Marik, like a massive fist about to punch him. In a quick reflex, he braced himself by bringing up both his arms, but at the very last moment the shadows changed direction again, this time targeting Bakura. It was a matter of milliseconds, but Bakura didn't show any emotion; no fear, no surprise, no annoyance. The Ring on his chest glowed, the prongs rattling like crazy.
"You want to fight me? The one who is the Shadows? Pathetic!" He made a gesture with his arm while still holding the cell phone. Once the device was visible, the shadows launched towards it, knocking it out of Bakura's hand. This time, he did show emotion: he was flabbergasted. The cell phone landed with a crash on the floor, smashing apart in bazillion small pieces.
"What!" The thief roared. Jounouchi only needed a second to comprehend: the cell phone controlled the program for the robotic restraints, and now that it was destroyed... smirking, he shook off the mechanical bonds, rendered useless. This was the chance he'd been waiting for! Ignoring the muscle pain in his arms, after being forced into an unnatural position for so long, Jounouchi stormed towards Marik. Ever since meeting him, he wanted to punch him in the face - Jounouchi swung his fist, only to be rewarded with a huge sense of satisfaction when it connected. Marik even dropped the Rod as he staggered backwards, and Jounouchi immediately dove for it. He didn't make it; Hirutani jumped on his back, taking him into a headlock. They rolled over the floor, legs kicking.
"Let go of me, you fucking asshole!"
Hirutani breathed heavily. "You're not going to win, Jounouchi," he snarled. "The darkness is too great. Either die or be destroyed - the choice is yours!"
"Fuck... you!" Jounouchi gurgled as he tried to pry himself free. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar appearance. The Magus of Fantasy Illusion pointed his staff at Hirutani. "You're the one who's going to die!" With a last outburst of strength, Jounouchi broke free from Hirutani's stranglehold and rolled out of the way. Hirutani never had any chance to realize what was going on; the blast that followed made short work of his corrupted, miserable life.
"Jounouchi-kun!" That was Yuugi's voice. Jounouchi saw him lying on the floor, the robotic arm still attached to his leg, but not functioning anymore. He quickly made his way over to him, grabbing him at the shoulders.
"Are you okay?"
Yuugi nodded and cringed. Every movement seemed to hurt him. "What happened?"
"We'll talk about it later," Jounouchi said. "We have to get out of here. Can you walk?"
"I..." Yuugi was interrupted by Mahaado calling loudly for Jounouchi. He helped Yuugi to his feet and when he saw his friend had difficulties walking, he simply picked him up and ran over to the magician, cradling the Pharaoh in his arms.
"Help me," Mahaado said, "he is barely breathing!"
"What about your healing magic?"
"I depleted myself by summoning my Magus," Mahaado shook his head. "I am not strong in the healing arts. I would require the Pharaoh's help..."
"I'll call an ambulance." Jounouchi pulled out his phone. No reception. This wasn't his lucky day.
"No, no hospitals!" Mahaado tugged at his elbow. "We have to take him to the mansion. He is at the limit of his strength. What... what are you doing?" He was addressing Yuugi, who looked in enraptured fascination at the Pharaoh. Gently, Yuugi leaned into him and took his hand. Almost immediately, the Pharaoh responded with a loud gasp, his breathing stronger and more even, though he didn't regain consciousness. Mahaado was shocked. "What... what did you just do?"
"I don't know," Yuugi said, sheepishly. "I just thought that... it would help if I took his hand."
"You are not allowed to touch the Great Pharaoh like that." Mahaado folded his arms protectively around the Pharaoh. "We have to leave, right now."
"Where did everybody go?" Jounouchi asked. He didn't see Bakura or Marik anywhere, and apart from Hirutani, there were no bodies on the floor. Jounouchi wasn't sure he was going to mourn him. Apparently, Hirutani had never left his criminal past behind him, a violent past where he would terrorize and extort people as leader of an intimidating gang. He didn't have a wife or children; he was a loner who had chosen to work for the dark side all along. Jounouchi had regarded him as a friend, but this put everything into a different perspective. No, he wasn't going to shed tears over him. He turned his head around. "Let's just get the fuck out of here."
"What about Malik-kun and Kaiba-kun?" Yuugi asked.
"Have you seen them? Where are they?"
"Malik-kun was with me all the time," Yuugi said. "He was desperate, and he kept telling me everything was his fault and that he was responsible for creating Marik. I didn't understand him all too well. I couldn't reach him. Kaiba-kun... I saw him when we were taken from the manor, but when I woke up, I was with Malik. I don't know where they took Kaiba-kun to."
"You'll have to answer a lot of questions," Jounouchi said, "but first we'll look for Malik and get him out of here as well."
"Do not waste your time, Jounouchi," Mahaado spoke up. "He is not here."
"How do you know? Is he dead?"
"I do not sense any energy," Mahaado said. "Malik is tied to Marik and his Sennen Item. I would recognize that kind of energy anywhere. It is not here. He is not here. Please. We have to return to the mansion, now."