Destined to be Yours

Chapter 81: The Sacrificial Shadow Game

Akia, Jounouchi, and Otogi cheered loudly when Yugi won his duel against Kaiba. The latter was not taking the loss well. He admitted defeat since it was a fair fight, but he swore he'd get a rematch in the future. Honda had opted to stay with Anzu to make sure she was alright after what had happened with Marik.

The pharaoh switched back to Yugi who then got down from the dueling platform and joined his friends and sister.

"That was insane, Yugi! I knew you'd win," Jounouchi gave his friend a high-five.

"It was definitely challenging." Yugi said with a bashful smile. He then looked to his sister worriedly. "Akia, your match is next. I wish you had left it to me..."

Akia shook her head, "no, Yugi. This is something I need to do. For our friends who fell victim to the darkness, and also for him. For Marik's sake. I have to bring him back as well."

Her brother let out a short sigh. He knew that he could not talk her out of it. Once she set her eyes on something, Akia would do anything to attain her goal. "Just be careful. I can't lose you..."

Akia gave Yugi a reassuring smile and held his hand in hers. "Don't worry, Yugi. I've got this."

Isono's voice sounded through the many speakers built-into the tower and dueling arena. "The next match in the Semi-Finals will begin in fifteen minutes. Please make your way to the dueling arena at the top of the Duel Tower."

Akia felt a lump of anxiety well up in her throat. This was not going to be an easy duel. It might even be the hardest duel yet. There was so much at stake. She knew that she had to save Marik somehow. She excused herself from her group of friends just so that she could be alone and collect herself. She went to the elevator area and leaned on the wall, trying to steady her racing heart. She then took out her Millennium Scale and stared at it for a bit. "I wonder if there's something that I can do with you..."

The Millennium Scale then lit up, showing her a flash of the past. She found herself teleported to Ancient Egypt, much like the vision that Ishizu had shown her when she had met her at the museum. In this current vision, she saw a man wielding the Millennium Scale. There were two monsters in front of him that he then fused together using his item, creating a new monster.

"Fusion...?" Akia mumbled to herself. The vision then ended, leaving her standing in the same spot, staring at her Millennium Scale, trying to make sense of what she had just seen.

The elevator doors opening snapped her out of her thoughts. Marik walked out of it, carrying his usual smirk. He stopped in front of Akia, facing forward, his side to her. He glanced to his left at the red-eyed girl. "Finally, the battle you've fought so hard for. I've prepared a special Shadow Game just for you. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I will." He ended sarcastically.

Akia didn't answer him. She was feeling way too stressed out to think of a witty comeback. So many lives depended on this duel. She gulped her excess saliva and followed her opponent to the fated stage.

The sun was setting, it was getting colder. Akia was shivering slightly, but it was mostly because of nerves. As she stood at her position, facing the one her heart longed for, she knew she had to do everything within her power to get him back. She glanced at her friends who were there, ready to cheer her on. Yugi, Jounouchi, and Otogi looked back at her and gave her a thumbs up. Shizuka was staying by Mai's side, while Honda was by Anzu's. Jounouchi had reassured Yugi about Anzu, just like how Akia had reassured the former. She looked back to Marik who was grinning widely.

"The Duel between Mutou Akia and Marik Ishtar will now begin!" Isono announced.

Akia and Marik readied their duel disks. The latter then chuckled. "Akia. Let's start our Game of Darkness. I have two very special guests to introduce to you." As he said that, the field was engulfed in the familiar darkness. Again, Akia felt unsettlingly comfortable in it.

"What are you saying?" The red-eyed girl inquired. "What guests?" As she was asking, two figures started appearing. One suspended behind Marik, the other behind Akia.

"Now I'm sure you're familiar with at least one of them... The other was very hard to find in the confines of the darkness, but she surfaced every time you were present in a Shadow Game," Marik explained.

Akia gasped as she saw the real Marik suspended behind his evil personality, seemingly unconscious. The girl then turned her head around to see the person suspended behind her and felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. "You...!"

"Oh, it seems you have figured it out," her opponent chuckled.

The woman suspended there was also unconscious. There was also something very odd about her. She was wearing some ancient looking white garments and a lot of golden jewellery.

"Is that... Akia?" Jounouchi asked, shaken like everyone else.

"She really looks a lot like her," Otogi muttered.

"Could it be...?" Yugi said.

"My past self?" Akia muttered. "The owner of the other voice?"

"The link to your destiny," Marik's evil personality added. "That's what we're wagering in this duel. Our link to each other. By the end of this duel, one of us would have gotten rid of the shackles that bind us together. If you win, my weak personality will be lost forever. If I win, your past self will be disconnected from you for good. This duel marks the beginning of the end of our fate."

Akia couldn't help but feel the ball of anxiety get bigger. So big that she gagged, bringing her hand to her mouth to prevent herself from vomiting. She felt sick to her stomach. She did not know what to do. She would lose Marik either way. If she won, his dominant personality would be gone forever. If she lost, she would also lose her link to her past. Her past self had helped her so much and she had wanted to help her out of the darkness. While this was her chance to do so, she didn't know if she could sacrifice either of the two victims. This duel was not a mere game anymore. Even more lives were at stake than before. Akia took out her Millennium Scale and squeezed it to calm herself.

"Akia!" Yugi called out to his sister. She looked to him, tears stinging her eyes. "If anyone can get out of this, you can. You're strong, kind, and quite stubborn. We all believe in you! If there's no path, create your own!"

"Yugi..." Akia whispered.

"Show him who's boss, Akia-chan!" Otogi shouted.

"Akia! Red Eyes! You both have saved me countless times, against all odds. I know you can create a miracle!" Jounouchi yelled out his words of encouragement.

"Otogi... Jounouchi...! Thank you, everyone," Akia smiled as she rubbed her eyes. She then faced Marik with newfound determination. "I'm ready for anything you throw at me. I will defeat you, and save everyone, including your dominant personality!"

"Hahahaha, this promises to be entertaining. I'd like to see how you struggle and break down as our little game goes on," Marik laughed.

"Duel!"