Hey guys! Another chapter is up. A few more things are yet to be explained in further chapters but the point now is that Atemu turned back time with a spell by Ishizu to save his friends, because he needs to kill people in love with him. So less people in love with him means less victims, got it?

Thanks for everyone that read and reviewed. You are awesome.

Chapter 13

"Past Brothers..Enemies Now."

Years passed after that with us working for Blood, assassinating people and getting rid of his enemies. No one had the right to ask on the victim's identity or cause of assassin. Every year Blood would say he would turn Atem into a full vampire but in the end he wouldn't. Atem was his best assassin, he was smart, fast, strong, and he grew to be emotionless. Each year that passed by Atem changed gradually. At first he was angry at himself for killing people, I remember the first time he killed a victim. He just locked himself up and cried his eyes out remembering all the people he killed before. But as years rolled on, he didn't give a damn anymore. He killed with a cold heart. He even killed children. He never felt sorry or shed a tear. His hand would never shake as he killed. I was shocked by his cold attitude and the way his senses started to havoc causing him eventually to become a heartless person. I never saw him smile wholeheartedly anymore. It was always that freaking smirk that he wears. He busied himself with women, sleeping with countless ones, making them fall in love with him so he could kill them on his birthday. It was simple as that. The curse says that he has to kill one of the people in love with him. Considering that I was the only one left, and that I was his friend whom he'd never kill, he tried to make girls fall in love with him in order to kill them. Girls are stupid, he would tell me. When they see a hot and rich guy they literally throw themselves at him.

He killed many girls, and he made sure to do that before his birthday, since if he waited until his birthday he would get sick and weaken, then on the date of his birthday he'd turn to that monster that doesn't acknowledge anyone or anything just like in the past. But if he killed his beloved ones before the symptoms start showing, he would have the ability to choose their identity.

I kept telling Sugoroku and Honda about the truth as a secret. Atem wasn't the same anymore and if he knew I disobeyed him when he told me to keep it a secret between us, he'll kill me and kill the other two. I thought that by saving them from returning to their childhood they'd help me save Atem, but they didn't.

Honda was agitated with me for staying with Atem and deciding to be a monster and a criminal just like him. He kicked me out of his house and told me to never show him my face. It was absolutely distressing. While Sugoroku was nowhere to be found.

Also, after becoming an assassin, Atem changed his name into Yami. I was the only one calling him by his real name when we would be alone. Until one day when he ordered me to call him Yami only.

He said that his name reminded him of his weak self; of that person that lost everything precious to him without a fight back. It reminded him of Yugi that killed himself to help him. It reminded him of all the bad things he did and thus, he didn't want anyone calling him by that.

I had no choice but to obey him and I started to call him Yami. Still, I mistook his name couple of times. He would be angry and threat me. I was confused and so puzzled with the way his real name brought this anger to him.

One day when I called him Atem by mistake, I remember clearly the thunder-striking look he gave me and how he attacked me and tried to kill me. He was about to kill me, causing too many wounds and blood loss. That day, he called for Honda's help and there I knew that he knows about me telling Honda the secret. Honda took care of me and gave me blood, kept me in bed for a long time since I couldn't move an inch for months. He broke my ribs and bones and if it wasn't for Honda taking care of me, I would've died.

Flashback..

Honda gave Jono a blood bag to drink and put a straw in it holding it for him to drink since he couldn't move his hands.

"Thank you Honda.." He mumbled, sipping slowly. Honda gave a simple shrug waiting for his friend to finish his drink, disposing of the bag afterwards with a disgusted grumble.

"You should start walking soon Jono..your body has stiffened so much." He told him, giving him a shot. "This is a vitamin shot to keep you stronger."

Jono made an "ouch" that Honda smirked about as he wrapped his things in his suitcase. Just then, Atem got in the room eyeing them curiously.

"Stop sitting in bed like old men Jono.." He saw Honda send him a glare as he took his suitcase, mumbling under his breath.

"Are you leaving?" Jono frantically asked.

"Yes.." He replied simply as he walked towards the door passing in front of Atem who merely looked away letting Honda leave. Jono watched that with a frustrated sigh.

"You could've at least thanked him." Jono scolded.

"He helped you not me.." He answered simply. "It's enough that I'm still letting him live after he knew about me being a vampire and the time spell thing."

"I only told him about this to help you -"

"Don't justify anything Jono.. You've spoiled everything I did by telling him and that old man. I was supposed to get everyone back in time so they might be safe. Maybe I did a mistake by telling you about my secret."

"You shouldn't be worried about them anymore. They hate you with a passion so I don't think the curse applies to them." Jono said as a matter of fact watching how Atem's face colored with an unreadable expression.

End of flashback.

That was the last time I saw Honda. It took me lots of years afterwards to see him again. (A/N: The only time he saw Honda again after this was in chapter 7).

I watched as Jono finished the story with sad eyes. My eyes were wide and shocked at everything I heard. It was more than I hoped to hear in one day and I couldn't believe what had happened.

"I know you're confused Anzu.. But I tried to tell you everything that I remember in details. So, from now on, you're not oblivious to anything."

Moments passed with me looking at my hands, which were interlocked with each other. My head still spun with confusion with everything and it hurt. I pushed my head against my hands shielding the light piercing through my eyes which only worsened my headache. Why couldn't I remember a fucking thing of what he said? The more I tried to remember the more my head hurt, like hell, and my mind could maximumly go back to the time where I was a little baby crying when some woman from the orphanage held me. Mind that, I only needed to know about one thing now.

"Why am I here Jono? You still hadn't answered..." I mildly asked, rubbing my eyes.

He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. His mouth turned down unpleasantly as his shoulders tensed up. It was obvious he didn't want to answer. Or probably he didn't even know why himself.

"I brought you here to sacrifice your life in order to become a full vampire.." The door swung open revealing Atem. Seeing him this time, after this story I've heard, made my heart flutter for some reason. It churned and beat with unbeknown happiness. Kind of like the old Anzu that he threw at the orphanage seventeen years ago was the one seeing him again through my eyes.

Atem cut a look to Jono, the icy magenta eyes freezing him right in his spot. "I think I told you not to tell her about the past.."

I could see Jono's eyes wandering the room tensely, choosing any place to look at other than Atem's dry eyes. "She needed to know.." He said at last.

Atem's eyes ignored him, snapping back at me making my heart tremble. Then, he made his way towards me and I couldn't take my eyes off of him as I forgot about the headache or anything that he said that should possibly scare me.

He sat on the bed beside me, on his knees, his arm going around my head and bringing my face closer to him. When his lips met mine, it was like a flood of memories hit my head and the headache became mild making me bite Atem's lips while I moaned with pain.

"Stop it Yami!" I could hear Jono's frantic calls as Atem pulled back from me. It was then when I realized the tears that were pouring down my face. The pain finally coming to an end as my eyelids, which had been dropping from both pain and the melting sensation of Atem's kiss, now fluttered open. A strange feeling was eating my heart now.

"A-Atem..What happened?" Jono was staring at me like I've grown two heads, his eyes moving worriedly from Atem and back to me.

"You remember everything now...hope you enjoy it.." At that, he swept away, his black, fancy trench coat flapping around his ankles in an elegant, flashy manner, that despite of my puzzled state I had to admire. Jono came to hold my hand, smiling worriedly.

"Are you okay Anzu?" I smiled back, feeling my head empty from any thought.

"Please call Mai and bring her here." He nodded saying that he'll do this immediately as he asked me to lay down and rest a little bit for it was too much what I've heard today. All I did was to pull the blanket up as I fell into a distressing state of loss.

Jonouchi made his way down to the living room seeing Atem looking through the window, his hand tracing the frame idly. He was about to tell him about the way Anzu was acting and the loss she's going through. He wanted to tell him about how he was worried for her and that he should go talk properly to her. The look of anguish on his face kept him quiet, though.

"What's with the look?" Atem inquired. "If it's sympathy then save it." He finished with a growl. Jono pursed his lips before he released a sigh, knowing that nothing's gonna change his attitude so why the pain?

"What now?"

"We have to find Marik. There's no way I'm letting Seto win me."

"Any idea on where will we start the search?" Jono wondered.

"Heh, at Ishizu's of course.." Atem smirked.

XxxxX

Ishizu was lightening up some candles in a triangle shape, before she stood inside of the shape and clasped her hands together in a praying fashion, chanting some stuff to herself. The candles would illuminate stronger with every chant that escaped her mouth. Yesterday, Blood ordered Yami and Seto to track down her brother and bring him dead or alive. The thought was still hanging on her mind and she knew that she could no longer meet her brother secretly or even protect him any further. She was thankful that Blood still hadn't opened up the subject with her considering that he realized Yami was protecting her brother which means he knows she was the one begging Yami to spare her brother's life. For Blood it was a big treason, so ignoring that meant that he was planning out for something.

The candles all faded out suddenly, bringing the room into a creepy darkness. But not for Ishizu who knew exactly who did that.

"Marik.." She whispered without looking behind, hearing him scoffing made her turn with a questioning look.

"It's good you still remember my name." He pointed out sarcastically.

"Why are you saying that?"

The hate within his eyes made her gulp, regardless of the times they fought, still this was the first time he stares at her like this. It almost made her feel like he wanted to kill her. He was giving a predatory look, as though as he was ready to shot her some kind of a spell to cut her into pieces or probably his hand held an ax so he could chop her for dinner.

"You sold us out, all of us Ishizu, for the sake of those fucking vampires." He pointed out at her accusingly.

She breathed out, both bored from the same story every time and relaxed that his hands were actually empty, even though the look still remained on his face. It was a bit disconcerting to her. "We've talked this out like a million time.. You know what I did that."

"No.. I don't. All I know is that being wizards; vampires were, are, and will always be our greatest enemies. And you sis are working for them now." He was speaking venomously and she knew the worst was yet to come.

"What can I do? I'm doing this to protect you all -"

"Enough! Stop with the lies! Blood killed our parents! How the fuck can you work for him! You have brought shame upon all of us Ishizu!"

The words he spoke, which she knew were yet to come, broke her heart. She knew that fact that Blood killed her parents. It was a tough story to remember and whenever she met Marik he would remind her of it. Her entire wizard world loathed her because she was working with vampires. How could they not? Her parents were the leaders of the wizard world and after Blood killed them she was supposed to rule them along with her brother who was still young and needed to be trained in magic. But she surrendered to Blood and worked for him. The wizard world lost its best witch upon her departure, or betrayal per-say.

"Why don't you understand? He's way stronger than us. If I stayed there and fought we were all gonna die! I needed to make a deal with the devil just to save you all. I needed to spare your souls! Our parents were the leaders. They were the best wizards ever and they died! Do you think we had a slight chance to beat him up, you and I?"

"This is fucking bullshit Ishizu! You betrayed us all. And don't give me this shit any longer! You went to his side because you loved him not to spare us or anything..." He grunted.

Her gaze flew to him with an insulted expression, before her eyes went again to her interlocked fingers. Could this be the truth? Her mind refused to confess to that. But her heart truly had beaten for Blood for the longest time.

"You were happy he killed Cecilia and you even helped him with the curse he gave to -"

"Stop it! Please..." She pleaded, closing her ears with her hands.

Marik's eyes softened and he stopped himself from continuing. She was his sister. He loved her. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Cecilia was a good woman. It wasn't her fault she didn't love him back. She suffered a lot from him and our parents tried their best to save her and they died trying." His eyes stirred trying to hold back the tears that willed behind his lids remembering how Blood killed his wife along with their parents. "Leave them Ishizu... Come and stay with us. We are planning for a war against that scum bag. We're gonna avenge our parents..."

She negated with her head slowly. "You can't beat him Marik. You're not strong enough."

"With you I'll be stronger... You are our best witch Ishizu. Our people will forgive you if you returned with me now.." His eyes were hopeful, as she pursed her lips, trying to think of something wise to convince him.

"If I betrayed Blood he'd kill me along with all our people." She mumbled, massaging her forehead. "He's already looking for you and he sent Seto and Yami on a search for you. The reward for your head will be the full vampirness which means they're gonna do their best to bring you down."

His hands tugged inside his pockets as his lips curved into a carefree smirk. "Let them catch me if they can," he paused, giving her a meaningful look. "It's the last thing I care about. I need to avenge my parents and I'm not letting anyone bring me down. Those vampires have killed many of us along with humans. We need to stop them."

"What about you? What about that little girl you killed? You're no different than them Marik. Why did you kill her?"

"Some souls need to be sacrificed in order to achieve our goal. I needed that girl to bring Yami to my side."

"You didn't have to kill her. She was innocent just like our parents. But you have turned into a bloodthirsty person just like them."

"I need Yami. He's the only one that could help me bring that fucking Blood's head."

"He doesn't want to work with you Marik. Stop pushing him through your problems! He works for Blood so get over this!" She snarled, her eyes narrowing the slightest bit, a subtle warning that she did not want to start a conflict here. "You need to run away," she tried to calm down, speaking slowly and calmly. "If they find you, they'll kill you! I can't protect you any longer or have any more connections with you or else Blood will kill me. Don't make me lose everything I've built throughout these years."

"Heh, you're still worried for Blood to find out about us meeting." He shook his head in disbelief, "You know, love is pathetic Ishizu. Anyways, mind your own business. I've never asked for your protection. I can help myself out. This is the last time you'll ever see me, I promise!" Ishizu could swear this was the first time she sees that determination and the hatred within her brother's eyes. She was about to say something but he rode over her, sweeping away. "You're dead to me..."

Came the words that squeezed her heart inside her chest. He saw her lip quiver as she held back the tears and he bit his lower lip, swearing to himself he'd never return here before he disappeared.

"Marik!" Ishizu called out faintly, the recognition finally hitting her that this was the last time she was seeing her brother. She knew that from this day she was all alone and she had lost her brother forever. Sliding down to the floor, she wept silently in her hands, feeling needles stabbing her heart where other needles had been stuck, ripping open new holes.

I don't want this... Why do I feel so awful all the time? She wondered. Why does it seem like there's no one there? She answered her own question: Because there isn't. The person used to be Blood or Marik. This revelation only caused another wave of tears.

XxxxX

As Atem walked through the hallways of Ishizu's hideout, his mind drifted back to Anzu. No matter how much he tried to get her out of his mind, he couldn't. And now after she knew about her past it would only mean more pain in the ass with her. He shoved his hand in his hair with distress. Stupid Jonouchi.. He shook his head.I should focus on Marik now..

A girl with jet blue hair appeared in front of him next to Ishizu's room and he rose an interested brow as to who was this new girl working here. She appeared to be young, maybe same age as Anzu. She had a pair of blue eyes, not the magnificent shed of his Anzu's but icy and threatening instead, just like Seto's were.

"Are you here to see lady Ishizu?" She demanded seductively, playing with her long shinny hair. He watched her unaffectedly, the least careful about her hopeless tries. Women were seduced by him not the other way around, this was his way, his philosophy of life. There was only one woman that ever drove him crazy with lust that he actually, absolutely and completely got seduced by and went all crazy for...

He nodded finally, not used to the fact that to see Ishizu you need to talk to a secretary first. Licking a dry lip, she pursed her mouth. "What's the name?"

"A-" he closed his mouth, surprised at what he was about to say. The way Anzu was calling him by that name made him remember it after he did the best he can to forget it. "Yami.."

She moved from her place, tentatively touching his face. "I know who you are.. But I was teasing you." She let her finger trace his lips seeing how he didn't make a move to stop her. "Mine is Leen... And I want to fuck you so bad my dearest famous vampire.. Yami."

She surprised him, he had to admit. Not because she was throwing herself at him, he was accustomed to that. It was the bravery of the girl that caught his attention. Even though she knew his identity which means she knows his attitude, she still managed to have the guts to touch him. Even Anzu was scared of him.

His mouth twisted into an evil grin... Without further awaits, he attacked the woman's lips crushing them against his as she moaned fiercely. The sounds of her pleasured moans caught Ishizu's attention and she opened her door to be met with the make out session. She couldn't help but to gasp at what she witnessed.

"Yami.." She sputtered. The male stopped, letting go of the wonder-strucked-from-pleasure Leen who fell to her knees panting heavily. Her eyes gleaming with ecstasy.

Ishizu pushed Atem to her room, sending Leen a meaningful look, her mind analyzing the scene with confusion. "I think you came for a reason other than smooching with her.." She said shutting the door.

Keeping his unreadable composure he gave her a weary grin. "Are you jealous Ishizu?"

She crossed her arms, apparently unpleased with his joke. "I know Anzu will be.." She knew she stroke a sensitive nerve with the bashful look that crossed his eyes for a second.

"Where's Marik?" He said, changing the topic.

"I have no idea.." She wasn't lying. Although he couldn't read her mind, but he knew she wasn't. Still, he could smell him all over the place which was enough for him to know that he was here earlier.

"You know I have to kill him, don't you?" She nodded with a grimaced face. "Good.. I expect you to help me catch him Ishizu."

"What makes you think I would help you kill my brother?"

"Well, because Blood still doesn't know I was helping you save your brother. He doesn't know you're involved. So, if you don't help me, he'll be informed about your treason my dear, and you'll be killed in a way even worse than your parents. So it's either you die or you let your brother die."

"You're really heartless.." She told him with a sick voice, staring venomously at him. He only seemed to feel complimented with what she said giving a shrug. "I thought you and Seto would understand what I feel considering you two lost your only brothers..-"

The thud voice from Ishizu being smacked against the wall by Atem erupted. She gasped with surprise staring wide-eyed at him. "Don't you dare talk about my brother ever again.." She knew that Yugi's subject was sensitive to him, but it was put on test now and unfortunately it was tested on her.

Turning on his heels, Atem left the room, stalking past the adored Leen and totally ignoring her, feeling the heat of his anger going up his neck. The floor could literally crack underneath him and leave him in a ditch any moment.

XxxxX

A/N: I think this chapter was long enough To make up for my absence. I think I've made you more confused by the dialogue of Ishizu and Marik, I couldn't help it though since this story is really intertwined... I have an idea of how to untangle it, but we still have to get deeper into everything. In any case, please leave a review telling me how you liked it!

~POS