Yu-Gi-Oh!

Static Code Analysis

By Lucky_Ladybug

Notes: The characters are not mine (except Khu) and the story is! This is part of my post-series Pendulum Swings verse, where Yami Bakura survives Zorc's destruction and returns to Bakura. It takes place shortly after Until You Find the Answers. Thanks to everyone who has helped with getting this story rolling!

Chapter One

"Khu?! Why are you getting into my treasures?"

"You're such a naive fool, Bakura. You actually thought I wanted to be your friend. All I wanted was to get close enough to you that I could steal from you when you amassed enough of a fortune that it would be worth my while."

"What?! Why?"

"I want them to fund my revolution, Bakura! You know I don't like the state of the kingdom. You don't, either."

"But that doesn't mean I want to be betrayed by my only friend!"

"Please. Would you have given me the means to fund my revolution if I had asked? A greedy tomb-raider like you?"

"Well, I guess you'll never know now, will you."

"I guess not. And don't think I'll let you go so you can try to take my stolen gains away from me."

"So, it's a battle to the death, eh? You won't win!"

"We'll just see about that."

"Yami?! Yami, wake up! Please wake up!"

Yami Bakura jumped a mile, nearly falling out of the windowseat. He barely caught the edge of it in time and gave his descendant Ryou Bakura a put-out look. "What was that for?"

Bakura sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry, Yami, but you seemed to be so distressed that I thought you should wake up. . . ."

Yami Bakura growled, running a hand through his hair. "Well . . . you were right. I didn't need to experience that episode from my past again." He sat up and gave a weary sigh.

Bakura sat next to him. "What was it?"

Yami Bakura didn't look at him. "When Khu betrayed me. You woke me up just as Khu threatened my life."

Bakura's eyes filled with sadness. "I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve such a horrible experience or such a cruel false friend."

"It was definitely a low point in my life," Yami Bakura growled. "And yet . . . because of that, we met for the first time when you time-traveled to the past to save me."

"We would have met at some other point, if not then," Bakura said kindly. "I wish we hadn't met under such terrible circumstances." He hesitated, then reached over and laid a hand on Yami Bakura's.

Yami Bakura looked at him in surprise, but let him. "At least it's over now."

"And hopefully you'll never have to see Khu again," Bakura soothed.

"I shouldn't have to," Yami Bakura agreed, "but people seem to have a way of coming back from the dead around here."

That shouldn't have struck Bakura as funny, but it did. He laughed, slumping against Yami Bakura. "In this case, Yami, I'm so glad of it!" he declared. "We wouldn't have separate bodies right now if it wasn't for that."

"I can't deny that," Yami Bakura gruffly admitted.

Bakura straightened and looked at the thief in sudden concern. "When Khu hurt you so badly, did the wounds leave scars?" he wondered.

"No, actually," Yami Bakura said. "Probably because you doctored them with modern medical knowledge." He glanced down at his open robe. "Meanwhile, I suppose this wound from the Rare Hunter's knife won't permanently scar either."

Bakura shuddered. Right now, the stab wound had healed to the point that it had scarred; the skin was lighter than the skin around it. He hoped Yami Bakura was right, that the scar would fade in time.

"That was such a horrid experience for you too," he said.

A shrug. "I've had worse."

"I know, but after so many terrible ones already, you shouldn't have to have any more," Bakura said.

"And why not, after everything I did to people?" Yami Bakura retorted. "I will very likely never stop paying for my crimes."

Bakura frowned. "But when you're trying to be good now, that wouldn't even be fair," he protested. "And Zorc was responsible for so much of what you did. Surely that would be taken into account!"

"I suppose," Yami Bakura grunted. "But Zorc wasn't entirely responsible. I did most things on my own, albeit with Zorc's influence poisoning my mind and soul."

"Then you weren't doing them on your own," Bakura said firmly. "Zorc let you think you were in control, when he was all along. You've shown that you're different when he's not poisoning you!"

"Because of you, you dolt," Yami Bakura countered. "Otherwise, I honestly don't know where I'd be right now or what I'd be trying to do, even if I survived Zorc's destruction and Shadi still gave me the Infinity Ring. I know I'd still figure I'd have to try to be good so I wouldn't get incinerated by the blasted thing, but without you I don't know if I'd have any hope of succeeding."

Bakura smiled. "I think you would, but I'm so happy I've been able to help you. And . . ." He hesitated. "It probably sounds selfish, but I'm also happy we're finally friends at last. I always longed for it deep down. You were always there . . . and I wanted so badly for you to be my friend. I thought it would never happen."

"Neither did I," Yami Bakura said. "I picked up on your thoughts, and I couldn't imagine why you would want me for a friend. I figured it was only because you were lonely, not because you actually liked me."

"Well . . . I certainly came to like you more as time wore on," Bakura said. "But it was only after you were given the Infinity Ring and we really had a chance to bond that I realized I had come to love you."

"And it took me still longer," Yami Bakura grunted. "I knew I wanted to protect you, but I couldn't understand why or what it was that I felt for you."

"That's understandable, when you'd been without love for so long," Bakura said. "You'd forgotten what it really felt like to love someone."

"And yet I was protective nevertheless." Yami Bakura looked at him. "There's something I never told you about why I don't regret what I did to Bonz and his cronies."

"Oh?" Bakura blinked in surprise. "What's that?"

"I doubt I will ever regret it, because of what they did to you at Duelist Kingdom," Yami Bakura said. "They sealed you in that cave with Yugi and the others, and to my knowledge they had no idea that there was any other way out. In other words, they deliberately left you there to die." His eyes darkened. "I wasn't about to forgive that. It even meant so little to them that they couldn't remember you several weeks later during Battle City. That was the final straw; I knew I was going to teach them all a lesson they wouldn't soon forget."

"Yami . . ." Bakura stared at him. "I thought you were so angry with me because I wouldn't help you at Duelist Kingdom. . . ."

"I was angry, but oddly enough, your refusal also made me respect you more," Yami Bakura said. "In any case, when I saw you in danger, my anger was put on the back burner."

Bakura smiled. "And you saved me and Tristan and Téa from Pegasus."

"Yes."

"You always did look out for me," Bakura said softly. "I wanted to believe you cared because of that."

"And I always did," Yami Bakura gruffly told him. "Even though I didn't understand it until later."

Bakura hesitated. "Tell me something, Yami. . . . Did the Ring negatively affect everyone who held it?"

Yami Bakura raised an eyebrow. "Odd that you should bring that up. Yes, it seemed to badly affect all who came in contact with it, in some way. Most fell to the darkness. And even though you didn't, you had to suffer through being possessed. The only one who never seemed to be negatively affected by it was Mahad, the Pharaoh's servant."

"Oh?" Bakura blinked. "I wonder how he escaped. . . ."

"Who knows." Yami Bakura shrugged. "I can't even say it was because he was so pure, because honestly, he had darkness in him just like everyone else does. Although I must admit I was surprised when he was the one pulling most of the dirty tricks in the duel I had with him."

"Really?!" Bakura regarded him in surprise.

"Apparently he was so determined to stop me that he didn't care if he resorted to underhanded tactics. First he had his men seal us both inside the battleground. Then he used a Shadow Ghoul to creep around on the walls and attack from behind. And he hid the place's traps with magic hoping I would step into them unawares. I did, and one clamped around my ankle. It looked like a modern bear trap."

"Oh my!" Bakura gasped.

"My leg might have been permanently damaged if it wasn't that it clamped around the ankle bracelet I was wearing," Yami Bakura said.

"Thank Heavens for that," Bakura declared.

"Well, thank something," Yami Bakura shrugged. "I can hardly believe Heaven had anything to do with saving me from that, especially considering my misguided actions at the time."

Bakura smiled at him. "I can believe it, for exactly that reason. You were misguided, Yami. You didn't know you were fighting someone who really didn't have any knowledge of Kul Elna. When you finally learned the truth and had a chance for a different life here with me, you changed. And God knew that would happen."

"Eh." Yami Bakura knew there would be no convincing Bakura otherwise, so he just shrugged.

"How did you ever get free?!" Bakura exclaimed.

"Well, to finish it off, or should I say, finish me off, he activated sharp pendulums that fell from the ceiling and tried to cut me in half while I was unable to move."

Bakura was horrified. "Yami!"

"Fortunately for me, I was able to use it to my advantage and get the pendulum to break the trap holding me. And then I tried to use the traps against Mahad." Yami Bakura shrugged again. "I took a great deal of sadistic pleasure in it."

"Under the circumstances, when you believed the priests were in on the destruction of Kul Elna, it's quite understandable," Bakura said softly. "But you wouldn't have even had the idea to use them if Mahad hadn't tried to use them on you first." He paused. "I always heard such good things about Mahad. How loyal he was to the Pharaoh and an eternal friend. . . . This is quite a new side to him. . . ."

"Naturally you would hear good things about him," Yami Bakura said. "He and I were the only ones who knew what happened in that chamber. Of course, then again, who's to say he wasn't justified? I was a threat to the kingdom and to his precious Pharaoh. He went to extremes to stop me and he no doubt felt that it was right. In his position, I probably would have felt the same. As it was, I was going to extremes on a quest that I felt was right as well."

"I suppose," Bakura sighed. "All the same, it does trouble me. Especially restraining you and then trying to kill you in such a horrible way! I don't believe that could ever be justified. Yami . . . did you ever think that perhaps he really was affected by the darkness of the Ring and that's why he acted that way?"

"No, not especially," Yami Bakura said. "Not everyone's dark actions can be waved away by saying they were influenced by an evil force. And I never thought Mahad's actions were. I just assumed he was showing the dark part of himself that had always been there and perhaps just hadn't been let out before."

"Maybe that's true," Bakura said. "But either way, I'm very troubled by this. Have you ever told anyone else?"

"Of course not," Yami Bakura snorted. "What would be the point? It's not likely they would even believe me anyway. Or they might think Mahad was justified."

"I can't believe they would think that," Bakura insisted. "And the point . . . well, I guess simply to show that even one of the supposed 'good guys' doesn't always behave in an exemplary way."

"To make myself look better?" Yami Bakura grunted. "I would never do that."

"I know," Bakura was quick to say. "That's not what I meant. I guess I just feel sad that they think so poorly of you when you weren't the only one doing terrible things. Especially when they praise Mahad so much. . . ."

"They think better of me than they did," Yami Bakura said. "Although I imagine Joey and Tristan are both still confused regardless."

"I think they are," Bakura mused, "but they have definitely been extending more trust to you now. Your saving Tristan and being hurt in the process certainly went a long way toward his and Joey's feelings changing in a positive manner. And your trying so hard to help Marik also helped."

"And I only did either thing because I was the only one around who could help," Yami Bakura flatly said.

Bakura smiled a bit wistfully. "You probably always will think of it like that, won't you, Yami?"

"It's the truth," Yami Bakura insisted.

"I know, but you also didn't want them to be hurt," Bakura said. "So, since you were the only one who could help, you did."

Yami Bakura didn't offer an answer. Instead he said, "I am still a dark soul. In addition to the feelings of hatred and vengeance that can rise in my heart, Zorc infused me with his attitudes and opinions on darkness versus light. I can't even say I disagree with all of them."

"What did Zorc say?" Bakura asked.

Yami Bakura sighed, staring off into the distance. "That darkness grows more hateful each time the light extinguishes it, and it always comes back more powerful and vengeful than before. Darkness is necessary because without it, people can't properly contemplate their existence. The light can't exist without the darkness."

"Oh . . . is that all?"

Yami Bakura turned to look at Bakura in surprised shock.

"Zorc was right, really," Bakura said. "If there was no darkness, there would be nothing to compare the light to. How would anyone know right from wrong or good from bad if both didn't exist?" He gave a warm smile. "The important thing is what you do with that knowledge, Yami. You're not committing dark deeds now that you and Zorc are separated and now that you're not filled with overwhelming hate all the time. Just because you know the darkness is necessary doesn't mean you're a part of it. You want to walk a different path now."

"But if darkness is my nature, how can I?" Yami Bakura retorted.

"Darkness is Zorc's nature," Bakura insisted. "Everyone is tempted to do wrong, but not everyone follows through. You're trying to be a better person now, something you never really had a fair chance to do before."

"Just because I'm not doing dark deeds doesn't make me good," Yami Bakura insisted.

"It means you're trying," Bakura said. "I know a lot of it is your fear of the Infinity Ring turning against you, but it's not just that, is it?"

Yami Bakura looked away. "Perhaps not."

"Then what?"

"Perhaps . . . I want to see if I can do it . . . if someday I can truly believe in it." Yami Bakura looked tired. "Right now, I honestly don't know what I believe in. Hatred ruled my life from the time I was six years old. It drove everything I did. Now I don't have that anymore. I don't know what to put my mind to other than trying to command the Infinity Ring. And it apparently requires a user who will use it for good. But what is good? Everyone has their own definition of it. I consider that sending the White Death to the Shadow Realm was good, but some would consider that bad."

Bakura bit his lip. "I don't know. . . . I personally consider that good as well, I have to admit. And honestly, I think it was good when you wanted to fight against an evil that would wipe out an entire village to create magical items. You just went about it the wrong way."

"Perhaps," Yami Bakura grunted. "I must admit, I still don't think it was wrong that I believed the Millennium Items were rightfully mine."

"I think they were, if they were rightfully anybody's other than Zorc's," Bakura said softly. "When you first came to me, I was so much younger. I didn't understand what I was promising when I told you I would help you get all of them. But I remember believing you when you said they were yours." He smiled sadly. "Yami, I think you were always good, really. Just misguided. Then Zorc got hold of you and changed you. But not completely. Not permanently. You were still you inside. Now you finally are again."

Yami Bakura looked away. "I'll admit that in some factions, I would have been considered good in my day, at least when it came to going after the Pharaoh and company to right a wrong I believed they supported. I myself certainly thought I was in the right."

"And had you been right about all that you thought you were, I believe you would have been justified in going after them," Bakura said. "Of course, I believe hatred is wrong and hurts the person who bears it more than anyone else. But it would be hard not to be angry . . . no, absolutely enraged, when you believed they all thought it was perfectly alright to sacrifice an entire village alive to further their sick quest for power."

"Nothing else could have outraged me as much," Yami Bakura said. "And I can't deny that I still have that strong desire for justice, as you pointed out. People's ideas of what is good changes with the times. My justice would be considered too dark or too harsh now, but it wasn't back then. And I still believe in it, when the right people are targeted."

"Your ideas have changed too, Yami," Bakura said softly. "You made those people who tricked me into getting drunk experience what I would feel because of them, instead of sending them to the Shadow Realm. And it wouldn't even be a permanent spell. It would only last until they recognized and were sorry for what they had done to me."

"Heh. Have my ideas changed, or am I just going soft? Or was I just afraid of the Infinity Ring turning on me if I did anything more drastic?" Yami Bakura leaned back. "I don't know."

"Actually, I think it's more drastic to make them feel what they caused me to feel," Bakura said. "More to the point, certainly. I think it taught them quite the lesson. They haven't bothered me since."

"Good," Yami Bakura grunted.

"In any case, you're worlds apart from people who do horrible things like deliberately targeting innocent people and somehow think they're doing good," Bakura said. "Most people would consider that abominable."

"I was just as bad as they when I went tearing through the streets of Egypt forcing the Pharaoh to chase me," Yami Bakura said. "Countless people could have been harmed during our battle."

"But that was after Zorc corrupted you," Bakura said. "By your own admission, you didn't think of doing anything like that on your own. You only wanted to target the Pharaoh and his priests."

"I still did it. And I still did all the abominable things to you and your friends," Yami Bakura said.

"They're starting to trust you now, Yami," Bakura said softly. "If they haven't forgiven you yet, I'm sure that will come too. They can forgive everyone else, for Heaven's sake! Why not you?"

"Maybe because the others always thought they were doing the right things," Yami Bakura grunted. "But after Zorc corrupted me, on many occasions I knew I was doing wrong and I didn't care."

"You were out of your mind," Bakura said. "And you care now."

"But for my own salvation or because I honestly don't want to follow a path that brings suffering and misery to other people?" Yami Bakura leaned farther back against the window and looked down at Bakura. "I still can't answer that question, Bakura."

"The fact that you're asking the question at all says a lot," Bakura said softly. He squeezed the callused hand. "You'll find the answer. And it will be the right one."

Yami Bakura just regarded him in disbelieving amazement. How did someone as dark and harsh as he deserve the love of such a kind and gentle soul?

That was another question to which he doubted he would ever find the answer.

xxxx

Seto frowned as he sat in his office, typing on his computer. He was putting the finishing touches on his augmented reality program at long last. He had needed to do some overhauling of the program due to Yami Marik's interference, but now, thankfully, it was all done. Tonight he would deliver the program to Kaiba Land and start setting it up.

The rain pelting on the windows took on a new sound. "Seto Kaiba . . . we're still coming for you." At least, that was certainly what it sounded like.

Seto jumped a mile, turning to glower out the window before returning to his computer work. There was nothing out there, of course. He must still be jumpy after his experience with that serial killer. The man had hypnotized Seto into believing Gozaburo was coming back to haunt him. Now the voice at the window had sounded like Lector of the Big Five.

Try as he might to fight against it, the experience with the fake Gozaburo had left Seto thinking deeply on the past ever since. He hated it. He wanted to put the past behind him and focus on the future. But the memories persisted in plaguing him anyway. He had even started to wonder if he could have done something different, both in how he had handled the Big Five and in how he had orchestrated the takeover of KaibaCorp.

On the former he didn't think he could have done much different. He had promised the Big Five that they would rule the company with him, but he had thought they would share his vision of a new KaibaCorp. That had been a foolish and naive mistake. They had wanted the company to proceed as a weapons manufacturer and had been completely against Seto's ideas of transforming it into something fun and family-friendly. And Seto had had no choice but to veto most of their plans and take away much of the power he had promised them.

In retrospect, he should have realized they wouldn't be interested in a gaming corporation. He had thought showing them how profitable it would be would change their minds. But he had always been somewhat naive about them, until they had tried to trap him in his own virtual reality world and he had realized at last how dangerous they were.

As for his plan to take over KaibaCorp, he had wondered more than once if he should have let Mokuba in on it. But he had had a legitimate reason for not doing so, really. He had wanted Mokuba's reactions to be thoroughly believable when Seto accused him of telling Gozaburo, and if Mokuba had known it was all part of a plot to trick Gozaburo, he might not have been able to act convincingly enough. Seto had hated treating him that way; it had been one of the worst days of both of their lives. But he had only done it because he felt that in the end, it would assure their victory over Gozaburo's cruelty, and that then they would be free to live their own lives without him.

Mokuba had never asked Seto why he had done it. Even though he had been crushed, he had rallied to Seto's aid in the end anyway, just as Seto had known he would. And Seto had never explained his actions. Maybe, he thought now, he really should have. Maybe he still should. Only he hated to bring up the past. He didn't want to be the one to do it.

He closed the laptop and stood. It was time to go to Kaiba Land, in spite of the rain. He would collect Mokuba and go. And hopefully, the ghosts of the past would not keep haunting him along the way. Now the rain was starting to sound like the echoing laughter of all members of the Big Five.

His lip curling in disgust, he strode out of his office and slammed the door behind him.