"His vitals are all normal," the doctor on deck said after he finished examining Rishid. "However, he remains unconscious. Most likely he fell into a coma due to extreme mental shock."
"How are you feeling, Akia?" Yugi asked his sister.
"I'm feeling just fine, actually," Akia responded.
"That's strange, isn't it?" Jounouchi inquired, "how come Rishid is still unconscious? Especially that you had multiple hits dealt to you."
"And why did it seem like the lightning was targeting you, anyway?" Anzu asked.
"And why did the Red Eyes Black Dragon show up out of nowhere like that?" Honda questioned.
"I'm also wondering why my Millennium Ring resonated with you as you got up. And that voice..." The Spirit of the Ring, still impersonating his host, added.
"What I want to know is why you lied to us," Mai said with a slightly hostile tone.
After Akia took a moment to process everyone's questions, she took a deep breath.
"First, I want to apologize for lying to you all about Marik's identity..." Akia started.
"It was my doing," Ishizu interjected, "I told her to not tell anyone about it, lest it awaken the evil within him."
"Still, you could've talked to me about it," Mai retorted, "what? You don't think I can keep a secret or something? Even this Ishizu chick trusts you more than you trust me!"
"Mai-san, it's not like that...!" Akia tried to defend herself.
"Don't you think you're being a little unfair, Mai?" Jounouchi said.
"Yeah, sure, now it's my fault for feeling betrayed that she blindsided all of us?" Mai replied.
"Yeah! Akia probably had a good reason to do that," Jounouchi was starting to get aggravated by the conversation.
"So you're taking her side? Of course," Mai scoffed, feeling hurt by how the blond young man was taking a stance against her. "Whatever, I don't need you. I've done great on my own so far. This little fake friendship was a waste of time."
The blonde woman then quickly left the room. Akia tried to run after her, but Jounouchi stopped her, "leave her be. She's clearly having a moment. I'm sure she'll come around."
Akia was feeling a lump of anxiety build up in her chest. She hated the fact that she hurt Mai this much. Maybe the latter was right and Akia should've trusted her enough to confide in her. The red-eyed girl was just so confused about everything that she was not able to think straight for the past few days.
"I guess I'll explain myself to Mai later..." Akia took a deep breath. "I had known about the fact that Rishid was not Marik from the beginning. I wanted to tell everyone, but... It seems like it would've angered him and awakened whatever evil that was slumbering within him. I'm really sorry I lied to you guys."
"It's alright, Akia-chan," Anzu put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Yeah, I knew you had a good reason," Jounouchi replied, "Mai is just overreacting."
"No, she's right," Akia said, "I broke our trust."
"More importantly," Bakura, still possessed by the Spirit of the Ring, interjected, "did anyone hear a strange voice as well just before Akia got up?"
The group looked at Bakura and denied it either by saying no or shaking their head.
"Yeah, I heard it... It told me to stand up, and it was really scary sounding. It also called me its priestess," Akia tried to convey what she experienced.
The Spirit of the Puzzle then took over Yugi's body to ask a few more questions. "Priestess? Does that have to do with what you told me when we went to the museum?"
Akia nodded, not wanting to go into too many details, since Ishizu had warned her not to divulge these things in front of the Spirit of the Ring. The pharaoh was also doing the same. Bakura frowned, trying to make sense of what they were saying.
"Oh, Akia," Jounouchi called out, "was it really a system malfunction that made the Red Eyes appear, or was there some other reason?"
"Actually, Jounouchi," the red-eyed girl replied, "the reason why I'm so attached to your Red Eyes Black Dragon card is because, well, it's hard to explain..."
"From what I understand," Ishizu helped her out, "there were people from Ancient Egypt who had a spirit monster. It seems that Akia is still so closely connected to her past self that her spirit monster manifested within her. And that spirit monster, is none other than the Red Eyes Black Dragon. It's also the reason why you feel such attachment to that card, Jounouchi-san."
"Wait, what?" the blond young man inquired, "so the Red Eyes that showed up was a real dragon?!"
"It was the manifestation of Akia's spirit monster," Ishizu further explained, "it is almost unheard of in this era for spirit monsters to manifest as such. Something extreme must've triggered this strange occurrence."
"This is a lot to take in," Honda stated.
"So that probably explains how you withstood the wrath of the god card," the Spirit of the Puzzle concluded. "It still doesn't explain, however, why you were so obviously targeted."
"I have no idea, but I felt such anger and hatred directed at me," Akia replied.
"So many mysteries..." Anzu sighed.
They then all looked back at Rishid who was lying motionless on the bed.
"Speaking of mysteries, I guess we won't learn who this man really is until he wakes up," Otogi remarked.
"Was this man really a member of the Ghouls?" The other Yugi inquired.
"This guy insisted on being Marik's shadow until the end," Jounouchi said, "but Marik's the one I'm really mad at! Making this man act as his shadow and then abandoning him. Not only does he brainwash people... He's rotten to the core! When things got tough, Marik betrayed him and left him alone."
Ishizu and Akia both looked down to Rishid, understanding where Jounouchi was coming from, but hurting at what Marik had become. The black-haired girl then headed for the door, feeling like she couldn't stay there anymore. She didn't want to hear anyone else talk badly of Marik, even though she knew he had done horrible things. There was also Mai that she was worried about.
As she left, the Spirit of the Ring followed after her. He wanted more details on what she knew. He wanted to know why they heard the same voice which felt so familiar. When he caught up with her, he held her wrist and turned her towards him. She flung her arm away.
"I told you not to touch me," Akia said in a cold tone.
The other Bakura put up his arms in front of him in defeat and smirked. "Forgive my impertinence," he replied sarcastically. "I just need to know a few things. Maybe we can help each other if we exchange information."
"What information could you possibly have that would make me divulge anything to you. Ishizu said-"
"Ishizu seems to have made you lose an important friend," Yami Bakura interrupted Akia. "Before you blindly follow everything she says, maybe you should consider the fact that her only goal is to save her lunatic of a brother at any cost. Even if you were the cost."
"I...!" Akia didn't have anything to say against that. She wondered that maybe Bakura was right. Maybe Ishizu was just using her. But then, she seemed so sincere. However, Akia knew that if she were in the Egyptian woman's shoes, she would also resort to anything at her disposal to save her brother. Maybe she should share the information with the Spirit of the Ring. They both might even be able to piece together what all these strange occurrences meant.
Before she had the chance to say anything, she spotted Marik going in the direction of Rishid's room. Even now with his dark personality out, she still felt the undeniable attraction to the Egyptian young man. She also knew that whatever he was planning to do was not going to be anything good.
"Sorry, Ryou, go to the assembly room and I'll discuss all this with you later... I really need to go to the bathroom." Akia apologized and quickly left to follow after Marik, ignoring the Spirit of the Ring's protests. Yami Bakura finally gave up and just went to the assembly room, not knowing that the red-eyed girl had just lied to him.
Right after everyone had left Rishid's room to go meet up at the assembly room, Marik went up to the doctor who was locking up and used his Millennium Rod to take the key card from him. The evil man then entered the area where Rishid was still lying motionless in the bed.
Akia decided to see what he was about to do before interrupting him. She saw him unsheathe his Millennium Rod.
"One by one..." Marik started saying, "I'll sacrifice them to the darkness. Rishid, the seal you carved on your face kept my hatred in check. So long as you exist, you threaten to return me to the darkness."
As Akia heard him say these things, she still didn't know if he was still Marik or if what he really was, but she knew she could not stand by idly, especially as he lowered the blade of his Millennium Rod to Rishid's head. She brandished her Millennium Scale to protect herself in case he tried something against her.
"Don't move!" Akia said with a firm tone.
Marik, hearing her voice, sighed loudly. She irritated him since he could not seem to hate her. On the contrary, even, every fibre of his being wanted her and he knew if he gave in to that, there was a chance that his hatred would subside and his other personality would take back control. He turned around to face her. He sheathed his Millennium Rod and glanced at her Millennium Scale that she was brandishing in front of her. He smirked at the sight.
"And what do you think you're going to accomplish with that Scale, little girl?" Marik sarcastically asked.
"I'll banish your soul if you try anything," Akia's voice was shaking, even though she tried her best to steady it.
"Sure you will," Marik chuckled, "but you do know that I am still Marik, right? If you banish me, my weaker personality will be lost forever."
Akia's eyes widened at the revelation. So he was indeed Marik. She wondered what could have happened for him to awaken such a distinctly different personality. Judging by the Eye of Anubis that's still shining on his forehead, the Millennium Rod was reinforcing the split between the two personalities. That's what Akia theorized, but she wanted to confirm it with Ishizu later. For now, she could not risk banishing Marik's soul, in case he was right about his original personality being lost.
Marik then took a few steps towards Akia. She immediately took a few steps back.
"S-Stay back!" She stuttered out of fear, but also because she was flustered at how close he was getting. Her cheeks were getting warm at the sight of his wide chest and his imposing figure. Standing at a height of 5'11", he was an impressive eleven inches taller than her.
Seeing her cower from him, only made him walk closer and closer, until Akia's back hit the wall. With nowhere to run, all she could do was look him straight in the eyes, in an effort to intimidate him away. When she did however, she did not recognize the boy she had met long ago. His gaze was so filled with cruelty, hatred, and anger, that she actually started shaking with fear.
Marik chuckled at how frightened she looked. "It seems that I'm also attracted to your fear. If I can't get rid of you, then I will keep hurting you and tearing you down until you are but a husk of your former self. This little romance that we might have shared in a past life will turn into your worst nightmare in this life. I will relish in tasting your despair while you beg me to stop."
Akia inhaled sharply as he started reaching his hand towards her. She held her Millennium Scale tightly to her chest. Marik then grabbed her face harshly from underneath, and pulled her closer, his face now inches away from hers, with her having to stand on the tips of her toes. His emotionless gaze made her shudder in fear. Akia felt his breath on her face because of the close proximity.
"Here's the announcement for the final match-up," Isono's voice sounded from the TV screen, causing Marik to avert his attention away from Akia and towards the lit screen. "Kujaku Mai vs Ishtar Marik. Please both players head to the dueling platform immediately."
Marik let go of Akia, which caused her to stumble to regain her balance. "Well, you're a lucky one. I'll deal with both of you later. I have my first lamb waiting to be slaughtered."
After his ominous words, the young man left the room. Akia stood there, horrified by what he had just said. She knew that Mai was in danger, and she couldn't just stand idly by while Marik hurt one of her closest friends. She clutched her Millennium Scale and ran out to join her friends at the top of the blimp.