The shadow smiled back at Akihiko, while the shadow Akihiko just sat back and awaited further orders. Without directions to follow, it was just a puppet.

"Hey there," the shadow replied. It knew it had one advantage over Akihiko and it wanted to make use of it before it was too late. "We're friends, right?" it asked. Akihiko nodded, his eyes still glazed by the charm.

"Well then," the shadow said, chancing a step closer to Akihiko. "Since we're good friends, you don't need that, do you?" it asked, pointing at the ring on Akihiko's finger, the only thing keeping him from a sure victory over the younger man.

((I was hoping you would, so that I could get a chance to do this. :P))