Note: Thank you everyone who has stuck around so long and made it to this point! I am finally proud to present Controller of Minds!
Any and all comments are appreciated! I will keep editing the story as people suggest revisions.
Day 1:
"Are you sure you're alright in there?" Touta Matsuda's electronically amplified voice echoed around the small chamber that filled the many screens of a surveillance station.
The whitewashed cell's lone inhabitant gave a shallow nod in lieu of an answer. The young man sat in a stark metal chair, his legs crossed as though meditating. His wide, sunken eyes were transfixed on the golden ring that lay before him on a table. His hands were cuffed together in front of him and a long chain dangled from his ankle, pooling on the floor in a small mound. The other end of the chain wrapped around one leg of his chair.
The chair for the detective and the table for the ring were nailed to the floor in the middle of the room. One wall jutted out into a concrete bed, topped with a thin mattress and sheets. A metal toilet and sink were nailed into a far corner. There was only one door, bolted shut. A dark one-way mirror was set in the middle at eye level, reflecting the cell back at itself.
The Ring glimmered under the harsh interrogation light. The eye at its center seemed to wink. L stared back at it, his face a mask of intense boredom. He watched the Ring with over-wide eyes, cushioned by heavy bags and lined with crows feet. His mouth was set in a perpetual shallow frown. Wild black hair threatened to block his line of sight all together, sticking out at odd angles.
Every few minutes, he lifted his hands with a clank of the cuffs tying them together. His hands moved towards a porcelain teacup, filled to the brim with tea and sugar, sitting on the table between him and the Ring. Holding the teacup daintily with one hand, the other dangling behind, he lifted the gradually cooling liquid to his lips and took a single sip. Then, he returned the teacup to its saucer with a clink and returned to his vigil. His eyes never left the Ring.
Light seemed to dance across the Ring's shimmering surface and ricochet between the spikes splayed out around it.
The detective may have blinked.
L moved his hands, lifted his teacup to his lips, took a sip, and returned it to its saucer. His gaze did not waver, matching the frozen, unblinking eye set in the center of the Ring. Sip by sip, the teacup slowly emptied of liquid and sugar until only dregs of either remained.
Day 2:
L blinked into awareness under the harsh interrogation light. The eye of the Millennium Ring glared at him from the table.
He unfolded a little, and stared back at it. It did not yield.
L opened his mouth to speak and let out a horse noise that could not be identified as words in any language.
He tried again, "I have experienced no change."
After a moment's pause he asked, "For how long was I unconscious?"
"Er… About five hours, I guess," Matsuda answered. He sounded a little foggy.
The crinkling of papers and clicking of keys followed, echoing over the intercom. L lifted his teacup from it's saucer between the thumb and forefinger of his lower hand, only to find it empty of tea and sugar. He avoided the unblinking gaze of the Millennium Ring, which sat unmoved, glistening in the center of the table.
Matsuda spoke again amidst the sound of shuffling movement, "I'll send you down another teapot." Then, he remarked, "Why haven't you touched it yet? Do you think something's going to happen otherwise? I didn't feel anything while I was taking it to you, only when I touched it."
L chewed at his thumb in thought, before finally answering, "It may be able to communicate without contact."
"You think so?" Matsuda exclaimed.
"It's a possibility," L said.
Matsuda hesitated to ask, "Do you think it could also take control of you like that - without having to touch it?"
"It is unlikely. If it could, I suspect it would have already. Unless touching the Ring just makes it more powerful..." L chewed at his thumb in contemplation.
"I hope it can't do anything remotely like that!" Matsuda hastily tacked on, "Except just talk, that is. Then you won't even have to stay locked up!"
"Don't be careless."
"I won't!" Matsuda protested, "I was just saying…" he trailed off.
L ignored him. His wide-eyed stare was already affixed to the Ring.
Day 9:
Watari's crisp, accented voice sounded over the intercom, "I have the latest reports on the suspects."
L gave a shallow nod in lieu of a reply. His eyes did not leave the center of the Ring, and he continued absently swirling the latest cup of tea with a miniature spoon as Watari spoke.
Watari continued, "Chief Yagami is still unable to locate Mr. Howard. Mr. Muto, Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. Bakura all continue to appear to be ordinary children. Mr. Bakura has been searching for the Millennium Ring. His wanderings have brought him nearly to our doorstep, but he does not seem to have focused on this building specifically. Otherwise, he has done nothing unusual. Miss Valentine still has not been seen since she went to work at the Kaiba Corporation three days ago. Mr. Kaiba also appears to be missing. Chief Yagami cannot say for how long on account of the difficulty of trailing him.
"According to Mr. Kemo, Mr. Kaiba is being held hostage in his own headquarters by the five executives who worked with Maximillion Pegasus to take over the Kaiba Corporation during the Duelist Kingdom Tournament. Apparently he is being kept unconscious inside a virtual reality game of his own invention. Miss Valentine was hired to test the game and has been working continuously for the past three days. Despite this, she appears to be doing fine. Mr. Mokuba Kaiba was also detained, but escaped and has been missing since."
"What about Light Yagami?" L asked. He lifted the spoon from the still swirling tea and laid it back down on the saucer with a clink.
"Miss Miasora has little to report. He continues to achieve the highest marks at school, attends cram school in the evenings, and spends most of his remaining time studying. This past weekend, he went on a date with a girl from his class. Miss Miasora has not seen him take out the Millennium Puzzle. He appears ordinary to a fault." Watari concluded, "No more comatose criminals have been reported."
L took a sip of tea and sugar, then he said, "Thank you, Watari."
The intercom turned off with a click and the faint buzz that had accompanied it stopped. L was left alone with the Ring once more.
Day 10:
Streaks of light shivered across the pyramid that formed the heart of the Ring, bending into arrows around the eye. Shadows curved around the outer band, pooling on the edges and stretching out to encircle it. L stared at the Ring with wide eyes and the Ring stared back at him, unblinking. And yet, nothing happened.
L took another sip of sugar tea.
Then, he settled the teacup back in its saucer and picked up the miniature spoon between the forefinger and thumb of his upper hand. He maneuvered the spoon across the table, past a bowl half-filled with brightly colored candies, toward the golden Ring. He held it just above the Ring so its tip was almost touching the Ring's outer circle.
Then he closed the distance. The tip of the spoon tapped the edge of the Ring with a faint metallic chime.
Nothing happened.
The Ring did not move. L did not recoil, or change position.
His eyes closed and opened in a slow blink. L removed the spoon from the ring, put it back down on the saucer, and took a long sip of tea, but his gaze remained fixed upon the ring. After another sip, he put the teacup down and picked up the spoon once more.
He prodded the Ring with the spoon again. Again, nothing occurred.
He tapped one of the spikes attached to the outer circle. Nothing.
He poked the triangle at the center. More nothing.
He touched the spoon to the center of the eye set in the triangle. No response.
He tried prodding each part of the Ring again for good measure. Still, nothing happened.
As the ringing of metal hitting metal faded from the cell, L returned the spoon to the saucer where it belonged.
He stared at the Ring as he took yet another sip of tea, and then another.
The cup was nearly empty by the time he turned his attentions back to the bowl of candies beside it. He picked up a blue one and instead of popping it into his mouth, as he had with all the others before it, he held it up to his eyes and examined the glossy sphere from all angles. At last he lowered it towards the table. He extended his arms until the candy, hands in tow, was a few inches above the eye of the Millennium Ring.
L held the candy there for a moment and turned it one way and then the other as though he were showing it to the Ring, offering the candy to it.
The Ring made no move to accept.
L lowered the candy and tapped it against the eye of the Ring. He elicited no response from the artifact.
He touched the ball of hardened sugar to the Ring again and held it there.
Seconds passed. Still nothing.
L removed the unscathed candy from the unaffected Ring and ate it.
Some time after he was done, he spoke, "I have experienced no change."
Day 11:
It appeared there was no alternative.
L lifted his hands from his lap and moved them past an assortment of empty dishes, toward the Ring. He stuck out the index finger and thumb of his lower hand as it approached. He hesitated a centimeter from the Ring's golden outer circle.
Then, his index finger made contact with the metal.
For an instant, L sat upright, his chest puffed out and both legs firmly on the floor. His hair seemed to become wilder, a puffy mane sticking up at all angles. His eyes narrowed.
He yanked his finger away as though it had been burned, pulling his other hand after it. He immediately deflated. His hair fell, his back doubled over in a slouch, he drew both legs all the way up to his chest. His eyes opened wide to stare at the Ring. All the while, he chewed at the skin of his thumb. The repetitive motion seemed to reflect the rapid turning of the gears in his head.
After many cups of tea filled to the brim with sugar cubes, accompanied by the remainder of a bowl of cookies and now a full tray of pastries that had since been largely decimated, L spoke, "When I touched the Millennium Ring, I suspect another individual entered my mind."
His words faded into silence.
Day 12:
Finally, he picked up his hands and moved them towards the Ring once more. He refused to hesitate. In one fluid motion, he tapped it and withdrew his hand. There was barely time for his posture to shift, but for an instant, again, his back straightened and his expression sharpened. His legs remained close to his chest.
Once he had returned to himself, he reached out again and picked up a tartlet from the tray. He took small bites until it was gone. Then he filled and finished another cup of tea, staring at the Ring all the while.
He tapped the Ring again. The same change occurred and vanished.
"Are you alright?" Matsuda asked over the intercom.
A minute passed, and then another… A voice sounded over the intercom and then stopped before it could form into words.
L finished the remainder of his cup of tea, sip by sip.
Then, he answered, "I am fine."
"You're sure this is a good idea?" Matsuda blurted out the question. "We've seen what this thing can do…"
"My answer has not changed," L's voice was flat, but resolute.
"I know, I know, I've asked it already, but if you're right and there is something in there that took over Bakura-"
"You are aware of all the precautions in place," L poured tea into his cup again and began to fill it with cubes of sugar, "Your concern is not productive."
There was a pause before Matsuda's voice resumed, "What's happening to you when you touch it?"
L added another cube of sugar to the already syrupy tea. "It appears that someone else takes control of my body, though I can continue to control it if I plan my action in advance. I am also aware of their presence in my mind."
"That's creepy! It sounds like what I felt when I touched the Ring," Matsuda said.
"And what have you discovered?" L asked pointedly, between bites of a pink frosted eclair.
"Oh yeah, I'm supposed to be reporting…" Matsuda gave an embarrassed chuckle. "I talked to Ryou Bakura, but he wasn't able to fill in many gaps. He said his father found the Ring in Egypt. He wants it back, though I told him we confiscated it as evidence."
"You were not supposed to reveal your identity," L said, his mouth still full of the remainder of the eclair.
"I'm sorry," Matsuda answered, as much a retort as an apology. "They don't know I'm working for you, they just think I'm a local police officer. It makes my questions a lot less suspicious than they would be with some other excuse."
"What about Bakura's father?" L cut in.
"He's an archaeologist, he owns the Domino City Museum and is the curator of the Egypt exhibit. His wife and daughter - Ryou Bakura's mother and sister - died in a car crash a while back. He leaves his son home alone a lot. He's on an expedition in Egypt right now. He got the Ring there, at a bazaar, on one of his previous expeditions."
L chewed at the skin of his thumb, his eyes were still directed toward the Ring, but he didn't seem to focus on it.
"I would try to trace it further," Matsuda continued, "But I know you don't want to attract that much attention and I was thinking it might be better to try and follow other leads here in Japan, since a few of the other Millennium Items managed to find themselves here somehow."
"It is probabilistically unlikely," L agreed.
"So what do you want me to do next? While I'm not observing you, I mean," Matsuda said.
L chewed at his thumb in thought before answering, "Act as though it were a normal investigation. Follow up with everyone who was at the tournament, given the connection between the Millennium Items and Duel Monsters, they may have encountered another. Ask Light Yagami about his Millennium Puzzle next, but be careful not to reveal any more information."
"I will," Matsuda said, a tad reluctant.
L said nothing more and let silence fall. His focus returned to the Ring and his sugar tea, taking another pastry for good measure.
Day 13:
For some time, L sat unmoving, his eyes closed and legs crossed on the chair, as though in meditation.
Then, eventually, his eyes opened and he folded his legs up to his chest. He poured himself a fresh cup of tea and began to fill it with sugar. Once it had nearly turned to syrup, he took a sip. Then he reached out to touch the Ring again.
He let his finger linger on the golden outer ring as his back straightened and his chest puffed out. He opened his mouth as though to speak-
He yanked his finger and hands away from the Ring and snapped his mouth shut.
He slouched back over and took another sip of tea. He glared accusingly at the Ring. It only shimmered in response.
After a time and many sips of sugar tea, L said aloud, "Did you hear anyone speak?"
"Not until you did just now," Matsuda answered. "What's going on? What were you about to say?"
There was a pause.
"I heard a voice speaking," L said. "It greeted me."
"Watari, did you hear anything?" Matsuda asked, his voice distant.
"No, I did not," Watari answered, his voice even farther away.
"You're hearing things?" Matsuda said directly into the microphone, with a hint of worry in his voice.
"I believe the spirit of the Ring spoke to me," L said carefully.
"What did it say?"
"'Hello,'" L answered. "It attempted to say more, but I removed my hand."
"You can't hear it any more, can you?" Matsuda asked.
L shook his head. "I also believe it attempted to cause me to speak aloud for it."
"That's what it was doing to Bakura!" Matsuda exclaimed.
L fell into a pensive silence.
Several pastries and two more cups of sugary tea later, he reached out and touched the Ring again, sat up straight for a moment, and then, just as his mouth began to open once more, tore his hand away.
"Did you hear him speak again?" Matsuda asked.
"Yes," L answered.
"What did he say?"
"It attempted to greet me again, though I suspect the spirit's true objective was to speak aloud."
"What do you think he wanted to say?"
L sipped at his latest cup of tea in lieu of an answer.
Once it was empty he said, "The spirit of the Millennium Ring appears to be amused, but frustrated. It wants me to enable it to speak."
Day 14:
"I have concluded that in order to gain the information I require, I have no alternative but to allow the Millennium Ring to speak," L said.
He repositioned himself on the chair and examined the Ring for another moment. He took another sip of tea and returned the cup to its saucer. Then, he reached out his hands and touched the index finger of his lower hand to the edge of the Ring. A war seemed to wage within the detective's form, his eyes widened and narrowed, his legs drew closer and shifted away from his chest, his arms stiffened and relaxed, his lips twitched as a wide range of emotions tried to break free of his perpetual mask.
At last his body unfolded a little; his chest puffed out, his legs relaxed somewhat, his hair became a little wilder, but he did not change his position, he remained perched upon the chair. His mouth was twisted into a harsh smile.
He spoke in a voice that was only partially his own - it was deeper and rougher, but more fluid, less hesitating - "Finally! You know you've got to let me out of there to answer your questions. I can't do anything without a host."
L had barely finished speaking when his eyes widened and his posture condensed. He fought his mouth shut, cutting off each word that tried to slip through until his lips remained pressed into a thin frown. He remained frozen for a moment or two, his face taut with effort. His eyes were affixed to the Ring and he did not remove his finger from it, though at times his whole arm shook with effort.
Gradually, his expression relaxed until he finally trusted himself to speak. Sure enough his own voice emerged, perhaps a little stiffer than usual in contrast to the spirit of the Ring, "Another entity took control of my body. I have resumed control temporarily."
He paused for a moment, perhaps in thought or to maintain control.
Then, he spoke again, his voice flat, "What are you?"
It took only an instant for his posture to open up once more, the harsh smile returned and he answered, his voice deep with a hint of a cold laugh, "I am a thief and a stealer of souls, I seek the seven Millennium Items."
L's arm twitched as though he were attempting to recoil from the Millennium Ring, but he did not remove his hand from it. Instead, his posture shifted as he regained control of his own body. His eyes were wide, almost fearfully so, though, again it may have just been an artifact of the contrast between him and the spirit of the Ring.
"What are you searching for in my mind?" the detective asked, his stiff voice betrayed no hint of emotion.
He resigned his body to the Ring's control. It twisted his features into a menacing smile.
"I seek the seven Millennium Items," it said and refused to divulge more.
When it was clear he would say no more, his features shifted. A range of expressions warred across his face until, with a final show of force, L yanked his hand away from the Ring, tipping his chair back until it nearly fell to the ground, but it teetered back with a loud clank that echoed around the cell long after it stopped moving.
Day 15:
"What do you know of the Millennium Items?" L asked, his arms extended to touch the Ring.
His posture shifted and he let out a harsh laugh.
When it was clear the spirit of the Ring had nothing to say, L reclaimed control. "Why do you want them?"
He answered in a voice that was not his own, "Who wouldn't want their mystical power?"
L asked again, "What power is that?"
"Let me show you," the spirit of the Ring said, L's face twisted into a malicious smile.
The words had no sooner left his mouth, when L pulled his hands back, away from the Ring.
He took another sip of sugar tea, and then another before he said, "As I anticipated, the Ring will attempt to use me to escape. I do not yet know how it intends to do so."
Day 16:
"Who are you?" L asked.
"I told you," the spirit of the Ring answered in a distortion of L's voice, "I am a thief and a stealer of souls."
"Are you human?" L tried again, his expression and voice flat in contrast.
He let out a harsh laugh as the spirit of the Ring resumed control. "Maybe once."
"Do you remember?"
"How could I forget?" the spirit of the Ring said with a cruel smile.
"What happened?"
The spirit of the Ring only laughed until L took back control.
Day 20:
"I have received a report from Miss Miasora," Watari's voice sounded over the intercom.
L nodded, though he did not open his eyes. He remained seated on the chair, his legs crossed as though meditating.
Watari continued, "According to Miss Miasora, Mr. Yagami was taking his usual route home from school when he encountered Mr. Keith Howard...
...
… Light Yagami noticed the man first. He was almost impossible to miss, sitting beside the quiet suburban street in a dark purple robe with a tell-tale eye on the hood.
It was about time.
The ridiculous man waved his hands over a crystal ball and called out to Light in accented Japanese. He put on a voice that he may have intended to sound mysterious, but only succeeded at being laughable, "Future's told, fates unfold. Step up boy and I'll reveal the secrets of your future." he pointed a crooked finger at Light for good measure.
The charade was all for nothing; the man's voice gave him away. Light already knew that "Bandit" Keith Howard was a fool, and it seemed being defeated by Pegasus yet again had pushed him over the edge. He must have been mad to think Light would fall for his absurd trap.
Light wondered if Howard was just using the Rare Hunters' cloak for his own ends or if they were really so desperate as to turn to "Bandit Keith." Not that Light ever had high hopes for an organization that wasted its time stealing Duel Monsters cards. But if they wanted to underestimate him, who was Light to deny them. All the more he would enjoy bringing them to their knees. Their Millennium Item was as good as his.
He smiled benignly at Howard and strolled over as though his curiosity had been piqued.
"Can you really see into the future?" Light asked, his voice all innocence with just a touch of eagerness to make it seem like he had taken the obvious bait.
"Yes," Howard stage-whispered, his voice hoarse for overdone effect. He even gave a small chuckle that reminded Light of the spirit of the Millennium Ring's unending maniacal laughter. "In order to tell your future I must hold a personal item."
Did he think Light would be so foolish as to hand over his Millennium Item?
"Of what sort?" Light feigned ignorance.
"Your necklace will do nicely…" he held out his hand expectantly.
"What? I'm not wearing a necklace."
"I sense it," Howard insisted, his voice wobbling with what he thought power sounded like as he waved his hands over his crystal ball, "A pyramid... once broken, now whole... an eye. I can see them..."
"Wow. How do you know I have a necklace like that?" Light exclaimed in mock surprise, "You must really be a psychic."
Howard chuckled again, as though he were the one in control of the situation. "Now, boy, I need your necklace in order properly read your aura, to see what fate has in store for you. You do want to know, don't you?" He held out his hand again.
Light pretended to hesitate and dropped his voice, "It's solid gold, you know, I don't want to take it out on such a busy street. Is there somewhere a little quieter that we could go?"
Howard smirked, clearly this was what he had wanted all along. "I understand, of course. Follow me."
With that, Howard stood and led Light down the alleyway behind where he had set up his table. He tried to maneuver Light into going first, but Light was too polite for him and eventually he surrendered into leading the way. Their path was marked with bright red arrows pointing down the alleyway. Howard did not intend to grab the puzzle and run, no Light suspected it was a duel he was after - a shadow game. That was fine by Light, he had no doubt he would win, punish the cheat, and gather some information about the Rare Hunters and their Millennium Item in the process.
Howard led him down a winding path to an abandoned building that had certainly been condemned. It was a miracle it hadn't fallen over already by the looks of it. Light had half a mind to fear for his safety upon entering it on the suspicion that it would collapse on him in the middle of the duel. On the other hand, it was perfect; secluded, a place no one would think to look. As for whoever was following him, they would only see the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle acting in self defense.
Howard beckoned Light inside and light flooded the dark hall. In the center of the decrepit room was a dueling arena like the ones Light had seen on Pegasus's Island. Howard had the same idea - this would be easy. Of course, Light had to play nice for his tail, but the puzzle didn't have to.
"Why the arena?" Light asked, all innocence.
"I thought we might have a friendly duel," Howard said, as though that was perfectly reasonable.
"That sounds like fun," Light said before Howard could ask for his puzzle again, "That way you'll be able to get a sense of who I am so you can read my fortune."
"Certainly…" Howard trailed off - Light had clearly interfered with his plans. "But first, if I could see that necklace of yours…"
Light hesitated a moment for effect, and then drew the puzzle out of his bag. But before he could hand it to Howard, he let the pharaoh take control of his body.
Light felt his posture shift and his arm jerk back to put the puzzle around his neck.
Remember "Bandit" Keith Howard, the liar and cheat? Now is our chance to give him his due.
Light felt the pharaoh hesitate, but it soon turned its sights on Howard.
"Who are you? What do you want?" the pharaoh demanded. Light felt his mouth move of its own accord, producing a voice that was harsh and a little deeper than his own.
Howard seemed taken aback, "I-I'm a fortune teller, you were just going to hand me your necklace so I could use it to tell your future. Is something wrong?"
"You want the Millennium Puzzle? For what?" the pharaoh barked.
"Just to tell your fortune. You do want to know what fate has in store for you, don't you?"
Duel him.
The pharaoh could sense the power of another Millennium Item, Light could feel it. Through the pharaoh's eyes, he could almost see the strings tying Howard to the distant Item, which controlled him like a marionette
"You conceal your Millennium Item," the pharaoh charged, "I will not hand you mine if you refuse to even let me see yours."
Howard held out his empty hands palm up, "What are you talking about? I'm just a fortune teller."
Duel him for it.
"Let us duel!" the pharaoh declared, "Then I will see your soul and determine if you are telling the truth."
He had left out an important detail.
Wager your Millennium Puzzle against his Millennium Item!
Light tried to force out the words, but the pharaoh instead insisted upon his own foolish plan, "If I find that you are genuine, then you may see the Millennium Puzzle."
"Very well," Howard answered with a small smile that Light would gladly wipe off his face.
They mounted the dueling arena and the game began.
By the time the duel was won, Light had little doubt he would soon claim the Millennium Rod - there had never been any doubt.
...
Watari concluded, "After the duel ended, Miss Miasora reported that a glowing yellow eye, matching that depicted on the known Millennium Items, appeared on Mr. Howard's forehead. He began to speak in third person, referring to himself as the unwilling servant of a man by the name of 'Marik Ishtar' who was controlling him using a 'Millennium Rod' - possibly the leader of the Rare Hunters. He appears to have some vendetta against the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle, known as the Pharaoh.
"Mr. Yagami argued with him a little before making the same gesture Mr. Muto did after his duel with Pegasus; he pulled back his right hand to just over his shoulder and rapidly extended it forward with his palm out. Immediately after Mr. Yagami completed the gesture, Mr. Howard collapsed. Then Mr. Yagami removed the Millennium Puzzle from around his neck. After he put it away, he suddenly appeared disoriented, going so far as to call out to see if anyone was present. After some time evaluating his surroundings, he found Mr. Howard collapsed on the other side of the arena and called for an ambulance. In Mr. Yagami's report to the police, he claimed that the dueling arena must have malfunctioned."
While Watari had been speaking, L maneuvered into a crouch and began chewing at his thumb in contemplation, his eyes fixed upon the Millennium Ring. At last, he said, "Use all available resources to locate this 'Millennium Rod' that may have been controlling Howard."
L took another sip of sugar tea and reached out to touch the Millennium Ring. It took control for an instant and he seemed to expand, but he forced his expression flat and asked, "What do you know about the Millennium Rod?"
The spirit of the Ring regained control, and he said with a twisted grin, "You seem to know enough to know that it's too dangerous to be left in anyone else's hands."
"What are the limits of its powers?" L asked.
"Why take my word for it when you can try it for yourself?"
L removed his hand from the Ring and took a sip of sugar tea.
Then he touched the Ring again and tried another track, "What do you know of the Millennium Puzzle?"
He let out a harsh laugh. "The poor Pharaoh," he taunted.
"Pharaoh?" L asked.
The spirit of the Ring took control with another humorless laugh. "You really want to know? Yes, I can feel you knocking at my soul room."
He did not let L regain control to answer.
Instead, the spirit of the Ring sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Long ago, in ancient Egypt, there ruled a noble, benevolent Pharaoh. But all was not well in the two kingdoms. They were plagued by threats from within and without. So, this wise Pharaoh decided to eliminate both with the same cursed stone. He ordered his high priest to create the seven Millennium Items that fascinate you so. Their power calls to you, doesn't it? It calls you with the voices of the 99 souls of Kul Elna!" He let out a wild laugh.
L cut the laughter short as he regained control. "What do you mean?"
It continued with a wicked grin, "You didn't think you could make such powerful items without paying a price, did you? But the Pharaoh was so wise, he turned the dreadful price into another victory. You see, Kul Elna was a village of thieves. They would not be missed, instead their loss was celebrated throughout Egypt.
"But the Pharaoh made one fatal mistake. One boy survived the massacre of Kul Elna. He watched it all from the shadows and then, when the terrible deed was done, he fled into the night. Fueled by vengeance, this boy became a powerful magician and set out to reclaim the seven Millennium Items from the noble Pharaoh. By then, the old Pharaoh had died and his son took the throne, but it did not matter to the King of Thieves. The new Pharaoh still wielded the cursed Millennium Items and called them his own.
"He nearly succeeded. He claimed all but the Pharaoh's own Millennium Puzzle. However, within the Millennium Items was an even darker power than the 99 souls of Kul Elna. They housed a dark god that the Thief King released into the world to wreak his final vengeance. But the noble Pharaoh sacrificed himself to seal away the dark god, taking himself and the Thief King with it."
With that, the spirit of the Ring let loose a torrent of uncontrollable laughter. L's arm shook, but his finger remained glued to the Ring. With a final show of force, L yanked his hand away, knocking his chair backwards onto the ground. He fell with it and curled up where he had landed.
Day 34:
L stared at the golden ring as though that alone could bore a hole into it. The Ring remained intact. His cup of tea went untouched so long it had turned cold, and the plate of cake beside it went likewise ignored.
The intercom buzzed to life. The quiet noise seemed loud enough to echo around the cell and startle L into motion. He shifted around in his chair so the leg that had been dangling was pulled up to his chest, and the foot that had rested on the chair now brushed the ground.
Watari's voice sounded over the speakers, "I have a report from Miss Miasora."
L nodded in assent, but his eyes never left the Ring.
Watari continued, "This afternoon, Mr. Yagami met up with Mr. Bakura...
...
… It was too easy. A smile here, an understanding nod there, and the occasional trite word of sympathy, and Ryo Bakura would do just about anything for him. Light Yagami had suggested they meet up after school, so they were talking at a cafe in Domino City without any of Bakura's foolish 'friends' to get in the way.
Bakura was saying, "Tristan said Taro Matsui took the Ring, but he won't tell me where he took it. Matsui just keeps saying that it's being kept as evidence. I should probably be grateful, I'm my own person for the first time in so long, but I can't help but worry about it. I hope Matsui knows what he's doing. I wouldn't want anyone else to end up under the Ring's control." The boy shuddered at the thought.
Light nodded and said, his voice soft, "I'm afraid the police probably don't know how dangerous the Millennium Items are. How could they?"
"Matsui saw what happened at the tournament," Bakura insisted, but even he didn't sound convinced, and he went on to say, "But who knows what he believes. Just trying to find out more about the Ring would be dangerous!"
"That's not all," Light said. "I don't want to worry you even more, but I don't know if Taro Matsui really is a police officer. I knew I recognized his name when I met him, and I finally remembered how - I saw this article in the news a few days before the tournament."
Light handed Bakura the newspaper open to an article about how Taro Matsui was suspected of killing two people.
"That's terrible!" Bakura exclaimed. "Do you really think he'd do something like that? It must be someone else, right?"
"I hope not, but I don't know what to think," Light said, planting the seed of doubt just so.
"What should we do?" Bakura asked, his voice tinged with desperation. "The Ring isn't safe with him no matter what. I don't want to, but we have to get it back!"
Perfect. It really was too easy.
Bakura hesitated. "I think I might know where it is. Not exactly, but something keeps pulling me to the same part of the city. There are a bunch of office buildings and other things there, I don't know which it's in, but I think I can feel that it's somewhere in there. Maybe it wants me to find it. Maybe I just think it's not safe with Matsui because it wants me to."
"I've felt the puzzle changing my thoughts too. I don't know if it's real or I'm just imagining it, but it feels like it sometimes." Light put a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "But you're not alone now. Neither of us is alone," he said with his kindest smile.
Bakura nodded, his expression set with determination. "I'm afraid of the Ring, but I just have to be brave. Who knows what it will do if I don't…" he trailed off. "Thank you, Light. I don't know how I would be able to do this on my own. Have you learned anything about the Millennium Puzzle?"
Light shook his head. "I haven't worn it much since the tournament. I might be a little afraid of it too. The last time I took it out, I woke up in a dueling arena across from Bandit Keith. He's still in a coma. "
Bakura gasped. "Bandit Keith wasn't very nice, but he doesn't deserve that! Why would the Puzzle do that? I should have known! Just because it saved us doesn't mean it isn't like the Ring. Who knows what it's after."
"I know it's frightening, Ryo, but I am certain we can figure it out and stop both of them." Light met Bakura's eyes and held them for just an instant too long.
Bakura glanced away and sat in silent thought for a moment. Then, he said, "I saw a report on the news about a new exhibit at the museum about ancient Egypt. The woman who was talking about it was wearing a necklace with that eye symbol on it. Yugi said he was going to go to the exhibit today with his friends and he invited me along. I wonder if she might know anything, though if her necklace is a Millennium Item, it could be controlling her..."
"That's a great idea, Ryo!" Light exclaimed.
The Millennium Necklace would be his.
...
It was a convenience. The more people who were present, the more difficult it would be for whoever was tailing Light Yagami to follow him and keep track of what he was doing. And they were more people Light could easily manipulate. However, even with all of that, it almost wasn't worth it having to put up with Yugi Muto and the imbeciles he called friends.
Joey Wheeler appeared particularly eager to remind Light of that fact. As Light and Bakura approached the museum, Wheeler called to them from the steps, "Hey Bakura and Yami! Or is it Akira? Or whatever you're calling yourself!"
"His name is Light, you dolt!" Tristan Taylor stepped in, hitting Wheeler on the head in what Light presumed passed for a friendly gesture between these fools.
Light put on his friendliest smile and greeted them all cordially, but not quite as warmly as he had greeted Bakura earlier that afternoon.
Muto led them all into the museum. Taylor and Wheeler ran ahead and Muto took up Bakura's other side. That was the other irritant; it seemed Muto was still set on interfering with Light's plans for Bakura. It wouldn't matter in the end, it wasn't like there was really anything Muto could do to stop him, but it was inconvenient. Still, Muto could be useful to him if manipulated properly.
Muto was talking as they walked through the museum, "After everything that happened, I just want to understand it all better."
Bakura gave an eager nod. "Us too - that's why we're here too. Maybe the curator might know something about the Millennium Items, but I don't know if she's here today and even if she is, do you think she'd listen to us?" He glanced up at Light.
Despite Muto's efforts, Bakura was well under his power.
"I think so," Light said. "If she's a curator of ancient Egyptian artifacts, she would be curious about the Millennium Items."
"I hope she isn't too curious!" Bakura said.
"There's no need to worry." Light put a comforting hand on Bakura's shoulder. "I agree, the Millennium Items wouldn't be safe with her. We won't let her get them."
"Do you feel that?" Muto interrupted.
Beneath his irritation, Light could feel the puzzle calling to him with a faint compulsion to put it on. Could it feel the presence of another Millennium Item?
"What is it?" Light asked.
"I don't know," Muto said. "Sometimes it's almost like I can feel the Millennium Puzzle. I don't know how, but right now I can feel that it's in your bag. It's like it's calling to me and like it knows there's something important over there." He pointed to a pair of double doors at the end of the exhibit hall. They were roped off and looked like they led to a storage or maintenance area.
"Are you sure?" Tea Gardner asked from Muto's other side.
Wheeler and Taylor took the opportunity to barge in with shouts of, "What's up Yug?" and, "Is everything alright?"
As irritating as they were, their timing was convenient. While they distracted the others, Light reached into his bag for the Millennium Puzzle. All of the pharaoh's inane thoughts and emotions flooded his mind, but he could feel what he was looking for at the forefront. Muto was right. There was something down there.
"What is your connection to Yugi Muto?" Light silently asked the pharaoh, "Why does he know you're here?"
"I do not know," the pharaoh thought back, "But I feel that there are answers here, beyond those doors. Maybe that question will also be answered."
When it was clear the puzzle would be of no more use to him, Light released it and closed his bag.
"Is everything alright?" Bakura asked.
Light nodded. He lowered his voice, "The puzzle wanted to take control, but I was able to overcome it for now. It confirmed what Yugi said - there's something down there."
"Do you think Yugi is alright? Do you think the puzzle has him too?" Bakura sounded like he was on the edge of panic, which would diminish his usefulness significantly.
"He's fine," Light said, his tone firm, but still comforting. "We know that the Items can only control one person at a time."
Bakura nodded, his fears assuaged for the time being, but still present for Light to make use of them when the time came. They followed Muto and his entourage through the door and down the poorly lit stairs.
"Are you sure we're supposed to be down here?" Gardner's voice echoed up the stairs.
"Yeah! It's kinda creepy!" Wheeler said even louder.
Light knew these fools had no sense of subtlety, but he still lamented its loss a little.
He played his part and called down after the others, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
However, the question received no reply, not that it warranted one. Instead, their limited attention had been claimed by large stone tablet in a case at the foot of the stairs. The lights above it were on - someone was expecting them. Light only glanced at the tablet.
If he had not known better, he would have called it a hoax. The tablet depicted two figures facing each other, with monsters above them, all surrounded by ancient Egyptian text. One person was carrying the Millennium Puzzle. He had Yugi Muto's absurd hair, and above him was what resembled the Dark Magician card both he and the pharaoh had. The other was wearing an elaborate headdress and above him was a dragon. Arranged above all of them was a depiction of the Millennium Puzzle surrounded by three monsters, each of which was conveniently contained in a rectangle just shy of card-shaped.
Muto and his foolish friends were awed, of course, not that they knew at all what to make of it. Wheeler began to speculate that it was an ancient game of Duel Monsters.
He was interrupted by the arrival of something much more interesting. Light heard her approaching and turned around just in time to see the figure of a woman in the shadow of the stairwell behind them before she spoke, "My Pharaoh, I've been expecting you."
She emerged from the shadows as everyone else turned to see her. Sure enough, she was wearing a necklace bearing the same eye symbol as the other Millennium Items.
Wheeler screeched in surprise.
"Yeah! You almost scared us!" Taylor shouted. His belated attempt to conceal his obvious fear was pitiful.
The woman ignored them and said, "But there is something wrong. This is not what I foresaw." She stepped toward Muto. "I can see that you are the rightful bearer of the Millennium Puzzle, why do you not possess it?"
She was a fool. What would that child do with the power of the Millennium Puzzle? He would waste it. Light was the only one who could bring justice to the rotten world. If she could not foresee it, she was a fraud. Light would show her why he was the bearer of the Millennium Puzzle.
"How do you know all of this?" Wheeler asked.
She seemed startled by his continued presence - another score against her 'knowledge' - but answered all the same, "Like the Millennium Puzzle, my Millennium Necklace affords me certain powers. With it, I have gazed five thousand years into the past and seen visions of the future."
And it would be his.
"That is remarkable," Light said, giving her his most charming smile. He stepped forward so he was between her and Muto. "It's a pleasure to meet you. You're right, of course, the Millennium Puzzle is mine. Even if Yugi is it's rightful owner, and I'm just holding on to it until Yugi can claim it for himself, don't you feel a kind of destiny in that too?" He poured all the eager innocence he could muster into his gaze.
She stepped back and protested, "This is not what I foresaw. He is the rightful bearer of the Millennium Puzzle. He shares the Pharaoh's destiny, you do not. He is the one who will enable the Pharaoh to rescue mankind once again."
She was obstinate, but no armor was perfect.
"As Yugi's friend, I want to do anything I can to help, and I am certain the others feel the same," Light protested.
A cheer of agreement from the others emphasized Light's pronouncement.
Light continued, "Won't you help us help him? Is that not your destiny?" He held out his hand to her.
She ignored him in favor of Muto. "A Duel Monsters tournament is beginning. If you win it, you and the Pharaoh will find the answers you are seeking." She turned to leave. "When you return home you will discover an invitation waiting for you. Farewell."
"Wait!" Bakura called out after her.
But she did not turn back.
That Millennium Necklace belonged in Light's hands, and nothing could stop him from claiming it.
...
"Contact Matsuda," L said when Watari concluded his explanation. "Instruct him to join this tournament. The Millennium Items cannot remain at large any longer."
