Prologue
It had been a long time since Bakura had felt happy, had felt part of something good, had felt he had a friend. He was still with Yugi, Tristan, Tea and Joey, but things weren't the same. Things felt different, strained, and distant. Sure Yugi was his cheerful self but he seemed to forget about Bakura. He treated the young white-haired boy like a dog, a creature that followed him around and would be there whenever Yugi felt like giving it some attention. The others, well they and Bakura had never been real close but now the relationship was only there only because of Yugi, only because Bakura was still following them around like a lost child.
Since the fateful day when his Yami had challenged Yami Yugi to a duel for his Millennium Puzzle, Bakura had been a part of the gang, a friend. At least, it seemed that way. He was always quiet and polite, making simple observations as he watched the others duel. No one seemed to remember he could duel, that he knew something about the game. It didn't matter to him though, because while he was with them, his Yami couldn't do anything to poor Bakura. Not physically. His taunts echoed through his mind constantly, always mocking his isolation and never expressing any care towards anyone. He had saved Bakura, Tristan and Tea when Pegasus had threatened to steal their souls, but that was only self-preservation. No one really cared about Bakura, no one at all. So he just followed everyone else and stayed quiet. Occasionally he would say something but no one ever heard it.
One night, as he lay inside Pegasus' mansion before Yugi and Joey's tie-breaking duel, he made a wish on his Millennium Ring. He wished for a friend of his own, a friend who would always be there when he needed one, just a friend. He even hoped Yugi and the others would remember he existed. Anything would be nice, just so long as he didn't have to be alone any more. "I wish I wasn't alone, I wish I had one true friend," he whispered just before drifting off into sleep, tears glistening in his eyes. In the shadows of the room, Bakura's Millennium Ring glowed softly.
It had been a long time since Bakura had felt happy, had felt part of something good, had felt he had a friend. He was still with Yugi, Tristan, Tea and Joey, but things weren't the same. Things felt different, strained, and distant. Sure Yugi was his cheerful self but he seemed to forget about Bakura. He treated the young white-haired boy like a dog, a creature that followed him around and would be there whenever Yugi felt like giving it some attention. The others, well they and Bakura had never been real close but now the relationship was only there only because of Yugi, only because Bakura was still following them around like a lost child.
Since the fateful day when his Yami had challenged Yami Yugi to a duel for his Millennium Puzzle, Bakura had been a part of the gang, a friend. At least, it seemed that way. He was always quiet and polite, making simple observations as he watched the others duel. No one seemed to remember he could duel, that he knew something about the game. It didn't matter to him though, because while he was with them, his Yami couldn't do anything to poor Bakura. Not physically. His taunts echoed through his mind constantly, always mocking his isolation and never expressing any care towards anyone. He had saved Bakura, Tristan and Tea when Pegasus had threatened to steal their souls, but that was only self-preservation. No one really cared about Bakura, no one at all. So he just followed everyone else and stayed quiet. Occasionally he would say something but no one ever heard it.
One night, as he lay inside Pegasus' mansion before Yugi and Joey's tie-breaking duel, he made a wish on his Millennium Ring. He wished for a friend of his own, a friend who would always be there when he needed one, just a friend. He even hoped Yugi and the others would remember he existed. Anything would be nice, just so long as he didn't have to be alone any more. "I wish I wasn't alone, I wish I had one true friend," he whispered just before drifting off into sleep, tears glistening in his eyes. In the shadows of the room, Bakura's Millennium Ring glowed softly.
