Author's Note: Reposted to my profile. I do not own all of this story; DreamerofLegends and I wrote it together, so be sure to give her some praise too!
Disclaimer: If I owned Yugioh there would have been a lot more hugs.
"Finally, after all this time, I have done it." Bakura practically growled, his eyes alight with malice. "With the powers of the Shadows in my grasp, I have finally discovered a way to weaken the almighty Pharaoh." He spat, pacing back and forth within the Realm of Shadows. He clasped his hands eagerly in anticipation, his breath coming in quick gasps. All of his meticulous planning, his careful studying of their previous duels, he had finally figured out a way to make sure that that pest Yugi would never be able to bother him again. He could finally silence them, and be able to bring his own plans to pass without any interference.
He took a deep breath and began to chant softly, waving his hands in graceful patterns and beginning the spell that would change their lives forever.
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Welcome, to the grand opening of Kaiba Land!" Roland yelled into the microphone. A deafening roar erupted from the huge crowd that stood before the moonlit stage; nearly all of Domino had turned up to celebrate this epic event. Kaiba had finally managed make his childhood dream come true, and the very first amusement park was situated smack in the middle of the city. Mokuba had arranged a huge celebration in honor of the big opening, and they had rented one of the more popular bands to be playing tonight.
"We hope you all enjoy the show, it begins at midnight." Roland explained. "But for now, relax, and enjoy the wonders of the festival!" Another cheer, and then they dispersed, heading for the many games and rides that dotted the vast park.
"Let's go on the 'Rocket Launcher'!" Tristan pointed to a large and rather intimidating looking ride that loomed above them.
"Pfft, sure, if you wanna stick to the kiddie rides." Joey scoffed heartily and pointed to an even larger ride that towered over the rest with pride. "Everybody knows that 'Chaos Melody' is guaranteed to make ya toss your cookies!"
"Eww." Tea made a face. "Why on earth would you want to get sick?"
"That's what makes it fun!" They cheered in unison, running off to seek their respective thrills. Tea sighed.
"I guess I'd better make sure they don't do anything toostupid. You coming Yugi?"
"Nah that's okay, I'll let them have their fun." He laughed. "I'll stick to the game section, that's where my talents lie anyway." He smiled, clearly excited, and she laughed too.
"Alright. We'll come find you in about an hour." She glanced at her watch. "Is that enough time for you?"
"That will be perfect, thanks Tea!"
"See you then!" She called back, weaving in and out of the crowd. Yugi turned to the many rows of stalls, their colored lights and soft toys beckoning to him eagerly.
"Let's get started." He grinned.
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
Forty-five minutes later, Yugi was nearly staggering under the weight of a massive armload of toys. Yami was staring at him with his mouth wide open.
"Why didn't you tell me you were so good at carnival games?" He breathed, completely overawed.
"Why didn't you ask?" Yugi giggled. "Besides, as 'King of Games', I have a reputation to uphold." He was trying to look over the pile of plush in his hands so he could see where he was going, but he wasn't having much success. All of a sudden, a couple of rowdy teenagers pushed through the crowd rudely, hooting and hollering with wild abandon. One of them slammed into Yugi without so much as a mumbled apology as he blasted past. "Whoa!" Yugi stumbled and nearly fell over backwards, but fortunately Yami managed to catch him and keep a precarious hold on all the animals.
"Thanks Yami, that was close." Yugi smiled, and despite having nearly been bowled over his cheery mood seemed unaffected. Yami on the other hand, once he was sure Yugi was all right, glared after the boys with venom.
"Someone should teach them a lesson." He growled under his breath. Yugi was checking to see if he still had all of his toys in his arms.
"Who?" He asked absently.
Yami started slightly. "Those men that nearly ran you over." He stated bluntly, clearly upset.
When Yugi looked up and saw the anger reflected in Yami's eyes his smile faltered a bit. "Hey." He said softly. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure they didn't mean to do that. Besides, look at me Yami, not even a bruise." He smiled wider in an attempt to ease his friend's anger. Yami just shook his head as they continued on. How Yugi could be so forgiving was beyond him.
They stopped to rest for a moment at a large table situated near the borders of the park, jammed in between hastily constructed vendor carts filled with cotton candy and various other junk foods. Yugi had all of his animals spread out on the table in front of him, and he was ticking off names on his fingers.
"One for Joey, and for Tristan, one for Tea, Mai and Duke, Bakura, Grandpa, Mokuba, Kaiba..." He counted out the animals on the table quickly, assigning each one to a person. "There, I think that's everyone."
"What about you?" Yami asked. "Didn't you get one for yourself?"
"I don't need one really," Yugi admitted quietly. "Just giving other people a smile is a good enough gift for me."
Yami sat back as he pondered Yugi's words, watching as he picked out names for all of the toys to help pass the time. It was so like Yugi to look out for everyone but himself. It was in his nature, selflessly caring first for others, and then seeing to his own needs. His heart shone with more light than the Ra-blessed sun, and it truly amazed Yami at how little affected the youth in a negative manner.
Those teens for example. He mused to himself. I was angry with them right away, but Yugi forgave and forgot the incident almost instantly. What a pure soul he is, able to see past the pains of everyday life to look only at the silver lining. With that inspiring and comforting thought in mind, Yami tried to follow his example. He took a few deep breaths and attempted to let go of his anger and push the matter from his thoughts. He looked up at the full moon as he concentrated, willing the anger to leave him. It was hard, but he was confident that with enough time he could grow to be more like his friend.
Speaking of which, he thought, his mind traveling down an entirely new path. That gives me an idea...
Yugi seemed to sense the change in his attitude, for he looked up at Yami with a searching expression. The hard lines on Yami's face had been erased, and his eyes were softened with a touch more compassion and understanding. Yami looked down and caught Yugi's violet gaze in his own, he even managed a little smile.
"What are you thinking about?" Yugi asked him, curious. Yami shrugged.
"Just wondering what's taking them so long to show up." He answered. "I think I'll go look for them." It wasn't a lie really, he was wondering where they were, but he needed to see to something else first.
"Alright, I'll stay here then. Don't be gone too long."
"I won't." He promised, and as he disappeared into the crowd Yugi heard him call back over his shoulder:
"And no talking to strangers!"
Yugi rolled his eyes and gave an exasperated huff. I'm not a child, thank you very much. He mumbled through their mental connection. Honestly, Yami could be so over-protective sometimes.
XxxxxxxxxxxX
A low, rhythmic, chant echoed through the blackness. Bakura's Millennium Ring was glinting with a sickly sheen in the night, as he worked to harness it's unmatched powers. He could sense his weaker half pushing against his control, for the child had developed quite a bond with the Pharaoh's vessel. But he just snarled inwardly and beat the 'good' Bakura into submission. He did not take pleasure in torturing the inhabitant of this body, but it would not do to lose the spell now. He grunted in satisfaction as the youth slipped into unconsciousness. That matter of business completed, he again focused his attention on the completion of his incantation.
As his chanting reached a crescendo, his ring flashed once blindingly, and pointed straight into the black heart of the Shadow Realm. Bakura flung his hands out in front of him, dark energy crackling from his fingertips.
"Darkness, hear my call!" He roared. "Submit to my will and obey my command! I am your master!"
An unearthly howl tore through the night at his words, ringing with arrogance and anger. The sentient shadows that made up this nightmarish place rose to meet the challenge with fury, unleashing their suffocating mental attacks upon the impudent mortal. He felt an intense pressure welling up inside of his head, but he stubbornly fought against it as a display of his strength of mind. He sensed the shadows were hesitating, confused at the sheer defensive power of Bakura's thoughts. They attacked again, this time more powerfully, pounding against his mental barriers so that they might consume his mind.
But Bakura had danced with the razor edge of death many times before, and he knew that his will was strong enough to hold off the choking blackness.
The mental assault continued for many long moments, sweat beaded on his skin and his whole body trembled under the stress. But his eyes gleamed with a maniacal, almost psychotic luster, and his wolfish grin only widened as the moments wore on. Soon enough he sensed a weakness in the Shadow Realm, and this time he slashed at it violently. At once the pressure vanished, and the shadows backed away. Bakura threw back his head and laughed, howling with a startling intensity.
"That's better!" He smirked, his thin lips parted in a slight snarl. "Now, mighty realm of eternal night, I summon thee! Bring me your King!"
Insane screams shattered the silence, and he beheld a large, man-sized bulge appear out of the very air itself. Something was attempting to break through the very fabric of reality: the veil between the realms. He held his breath in eager anticipation.
A tiny rip appeared at the tip of the pulsating bubble, from which snarls and shrieks could be heard. Suddenly, the head of a dagger plunged through the barrier, slowly tearing a slit wide enough for a full-grown man to slip through. As the figure crossed the planes between their two worlds, Bakura could see behind him a great many shapeless horrors crowding eagerly at the opening, seeking their chance to escape their prison. But none dared to approach so long as the man stood at the entryway. The man casually waved his hand, and the portal behind him closed with hardly a whisper. Bakura knelt on the ground before him, respectfully lowering his gaze.
"Why have you summoned me, wielder of the Millennium Ring?" The man demanded, sounding bored.
"Who better to help me destroy the Pharaoh?" Bakura answered, adding softly: "My King."
The figure appraised him with a searching gaze. Then he finally spoke, in a voice colder than the northern wind, "What did you have in mind?"
Bakura stood and faced the king eagerly. "The dagger." He breathed. "The blade of separation, of Chaos."
Understanding dawned upon the man's regal features, as he held the pearl-bladed dagger in front of his eyes. Already a plan was formulating in his dark mind, and he smiled a sadistic smile beneath the cowl of his cloak. His servant had done well.
Bakura was not paying any attention, images of bloody glory dancing behind his eyes. "With this blade we can destroy them. Both of them. And with the false king so weakened by it's mighty powers, we can work together to easily finish him!"
Then he blinked, coming out of his fantasy suddenly to find the man's pale face inches from his own. Blood red orbs pierced him, mocked him. The man raised the back of his hand and stroked Bakura's jaw line, the icy touch making him shiver.
"Good, my servant." He purred, his voice perfectly calm. He was the picture of outward control, but those eyes! They were chaos incarnate, insanity twisting behind their swirling depths. "But there is a flaw in your plan." The man murmured.
"What flaw?" Bakura demanded, forgetting momentarily whom he was addressing. "This is foolproof, nothing could possibly go wrong."
The man's eyes narrowed dangerously, but his voice remained smooth, soft. "A small problem, but it is easily remedied." He murmured. Unbeknownst to Bakura, the man's other hand, the one clutching the dagger, was poised at the small of his back. "First, I work alone." Bakura jerked as the magical blade plunged into him, spreading an icy numbness throughout his entire body. His knees buckled and he pitched forward; the man caught and held him easily. "And second, I still need him. He and I have much to discuss in such a short time..."
Bakura gaped at the man in horror, seething with the rage born of a man betrayed. He clutched at his shirt, wondering how long his heart would keep beating.
"Do not fear, I shall not kill you." The man whispered tenderly, as a parent would address a child. "I will simply make sure that you remember nothing of this day." Bakura's vision swam as the magical energy burned through his veins. His eyes were fixed on the man's face with shock, but he could not move.
The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was the man licking the blood off of the dagger with a long, forked tongue.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please review!