So I'm extremely down right now and decided to update the story. I found Von Fowst dead this morning. I'm not going to say how he died so don't bother asking. It wasutterly unexpected.Anyway, I'm completely crushed and stayed home from school. Life's a bitch, that's all I have to say. (Sorry if my responses aren't too thrilling.)

bamf2me: Haven't seen you in a while, honey. (huggles) How have you been? Like moppy Yami and semi-sane Kura? Well...enjoy it while it lasts, that's all I'll say on that. (smiles) There aren't any pairings in here. Friendships not romance. (Some people will no doubt consider Kura and Marik romance but that's not my intention)

Wish-full Thinker: Glad I'm doing well so far. I know homework's a bitch. I've got AP bio. Yuck. (which I SHOULD be studying for right now...)

Kit-Cat Caitlin: Adorable pics, honey! (huggles)

Tenshibabe: Hi dear! How are you? It's been a while, hasn't it? (snuggles) Missed you! But we're back on now! woot!

Under Finger and Thumb: Yes, let's beat Yami. I'm in one hell of a mood. (Stomps toward pharaoh with baseball bat) Sorry Yami.

BluegrassElf: It's true. I aboslutely adore that couple. Another one I've grown fond of is Yugi/Kura. Weird, eh? There was this one story...can't think of the title but it was damn awesome. Actually made me grow to like that pairing.

Sirithiliel: (sigh) Honey, what did I tell you about the confetti?...oh well. (tosses more into air just for the heck of it)

DreamingChild: (smirk) He leans that way, hmm? Some of you will probably think that with he and Marik's relationship but I will continue to tell you it's not!

DayDreamer23182: Yes yes, they're returning to Domino...eventually...some day...in a few chapters...-.o

Spryte: Yup. Civility is key...ah but so temporary! heheh.

Joey-lover: Happy kura won't be around for much longer. "grr I have an attitude" Bakura is destined to return.

Satra: You're right, honey. There wouldn't be a story without those two. (huggles yamis) Yami: You were just hitting me with a baseball bat in one of the other responses and now you're HUGGING me? Ferris: Deal, loser, I've got issues right now.

AnimeLoverAngel: I loooove Kura with black hair too! (AnimeLover and Ferris: Drool) Kura: Umm...-.o;

Silver Mirror: (frown) What do you mean? You're still going to write another story...AREN'T YOU! (pounces on and shakes violently) AREN'T YOU! AREN'T YOU!

Tabby: (smiles) I can't kill them off, eh? Sure honey. Whatever you say. (crosses fingers behind back) And it's true, me hates Anzu. She's the most annoying little...(runs of on tangent)

blackalbino: I love the happy kura too. Of course...erm...nevermind. (smiles innocently) Ah yes, Charlie and the Chocolate factory. I hated that movie...the old and new one. (Dodges fruit) Hey! Easy now! I'm entitled to my own opinon! Ack! (watermellon lands on head)

dragonlady222: Wellll...they're kind of friends. The word friend might be stretching it a bit...hehe. But that's okay. Tis amusing when they're together, all the same.

Note: I got the riddles in this chapter from a book titled "Dragonology". I'm not clever enough to come up with this stuff.

Purgatory

Silence deafens my ears

Darkness blinds my eyes.

I cannot sense a thing

Am I alive or have I died?

Floating all about

In some timeless, deep abyss

Will I have anymore chances?

Is there something I have missed?

I do not understand

But I cannot make a sound.

I guess I'll just relax and wait

While nothing floats around.

Chapter 2: Riddles and Remembrance

Yami woke with a start to the sound of a coffee grinder. Moaning, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, sitting up slowly. He'd slept like a log all night. He'd been quite comfortable on the couch…it was leather after all…

He stood up and stretched before wandering toward the kitchen where the sound of dishes clattering was now audible. He entered the room to find Bakura pouring a large mug of coffee for himself, black hair disheveled.

"What time is it?" Yami asked groggily, noting from the window that it was still dark outside.

"Four."

Yami's eyes widened before he slumped down into a chair.

"What are you doing up at four in the morning?" Yami groaned burying his face in his hands.

Bakura smirked, placing another cup of coffee down in front of the sleepy monarch.

"I've got to be to work in an hour."

Yami looked up. "You're not coming back to Domino with me?"

Bakura rolled his eyes, pushing the cup closer to him.

"Earl will hunt me down and skin me alive if I just take off. We can leave in the evening."

Yami nodded, taking a large sip of the coffee. He looked up to see the thief lighting a cigarette, blowing out a whiff of smoke. Sighing in aggravation, the monarch glanced over at the stove where something was sizzling. Bacon and eggs, it seemed.

They both remained silent for a while, Bakura moving over to the stove to scramble the eggs about so they wouldn't burn. Yami, meanwhile, allowed himself to look around the kitchen in curiosity. It looked like a regular kitchen, no blood spattered on the walls or knives and other weapons lining the counters. He jumped as a plate was set down in front of him, overflowing with food. He blinked at it a moment, causing the thief to burst out laughing.

"Ye gods, you're out of it!" He plopped down in the chair across the table, starting to eat right away.

Yami looked over at him, unable to think of anything to say. He glanced down at his plate, questions eating away at his mind. Bakura seemed to notice this, giving the other yami a quizzical look.

"Bakura…"

"Hmm?" the thief mumbled as he took another gulp of coffee.

Yami looked down at his hands. "What happened to you?"

Bakura stopped, thoroughly mystified now. "What?"

Yami sighed, sitting back. "It's just, you had people who cared about you back in Domino…and they couldn't make you happy. You left them, and well…you seem…"

"Content?" the thief smiled humorlessly.

"At ease," Yami agreed, nodding. "Why did you have to leave Marik and Ryou to accomplish that?"

Bakura leaned forward. "What does this have to do with anything?"

Yami shook his head, fiddling with his fork. "Never mind. Just forget I mentioned it."

"No, I want to know what this is about."

Yami sighed heavily. "It's just…I left as well…but I didn't…"

"Find what you were looking for?" Yami looked up in surprise, nodding. Bakura shook his head, chuckling quietly. "Yami, you couldn't find something that was in front of you the entire time. Marik…he couldn't help me in the way I needed…It didn't really have anything to do with him, per say…"

Yami blinked in confusion. "What brought about your…change in perspectives?" He chose his words carefully, not sure how far he could question this new Bakura. Even though the thief had changed a huge amount, there was still a line no one could cross. He just wasn't certain where it lay yet. Bakura grinned, rising and going over to the counter where an ash tray was sitting, throwing the remains of his cigarette into it.

"Earl."

Yami looked up in confusion. "Who?"

Bakura rolled his eyes. "My boss. He made me wake up…forced me to continue living…" The thief shrugged. "It was what I needed, I guess."

Yami starred down at his plate. "You…wanted to die?"

Bakura glared at the floor, hissing quietly, "Does it matter?"

Yami looked up, expression hurt. "…Yes."

The other glanced up in surprise. Yami stared at him angrily.

"Stop acting like no one gives a damn about what happens to you. Ra, you're so oblivious to everything!" the monarch growled.

Bakura scowled. "Perhaps this is the way I prefer things to be."

"So you only care about yourself? You don't care what your absence might be doing to Marik and Ryou?"

Bakura smirked grimly. "You've got no right to lecture me about abandoning people who care about me."

Yami went silent, eyes downcast. It was true. He'd walked out on his friends…on Yugi. After their unwavering support, their constant boosts of encouragement…this is how he repaid them for all they'd done for him? Not having so much as contacted them in almost six months…

Bakura stood up, taking out another cigarette and lighting it. He walked over and stared out the window into the darkness. This wasn't working. He sighed heavily, inhaling another breath of smoke from the cigarette. Yami was already a mess as it was. Bakura had completed the task he'd set out to accomplish all those millennia ago. It was time to start over. He didn't consider the former pharaoh a friend by any means, but knew what the other was going through. He looked over at the clock, exhaling.

"Time to go."


"Come on now, Earl! The Riddle of the Sphinx? That's so old and overdone!" Bakura smirked, scrubbing dried coffee from a table top as the day waned to a close.

"All right, all right…." Earl thought for a moment. "Here's one:

Only one color, but not one size,

Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies,

Present in sun, but not in rain,

Doing no harm, feeling no pain."

Bakura leaned back, resting his elbow on the chair behind him. His eyes were focused as he wracked through the riddle's lines. Grinning suddenly he wadded up the cloth and threw it behind the counter.

"A shadow."

Earl laughed. "Got me again. Your turn."

Yami came out from the back, having just swept the floor. He hadn't had this much fun in ages. He grinned, glancing over at the other yami who was leaning against the counter, concentrating.

"I've got one," Earl spoke suddenly, snapping his fingers.

Bakura scowled. "Fine fine, go ahead."

Earl grinned, ignoring the former tomb robber's attitude. "All right:

Old Mother Twitchet had one eye,

And a long tail that she let fly,

And every time she went through a gap,

She left a bit of her tail in the trap."

Yami mulled over this in his mind, trying to focus on what it could be. He loved riddles, one of his many amusements as a child. He wasn't surprised in the least that Bakura was quick at them as well. It just seemed like something the thief would be good at.

"A thread and needle," Yami answered smoothly.

Earl grinned, slapping the counter. "Beat ya, Kenji!"

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Sure sure whatever."

The three of them laughed, the shop now empty save for them. Earl pulled up a stool, perching on it next to the counter.

"You're pretty good at this, Tadashi. Sure you can't stick around a while?" Earl smirked, offering a cigarette to the pharaoh who politely declined.

"I'm afraid not. Ba—Kenji and I have to be getting back home," Yami said apologetically.

"Your loss." Earl handed a lit cigarette to the black haired yami. "All right, Kenji, your turn."

Bakura thought a moment, staring at the counter. Smirking suddenly, he leaned back.

"In marble walls as white as milk,

Lined with skin as soft as silk,

Within a fountain crystal clear,

A golden apple does appear.

No keys are there to this stronghold—

Yet thieves break in and steal the gold."

He grinned smugly over at Yami who rolled his violet eyes. It figured the former tomb robber would try to include thievery in his riddles. Earl's brow was drawn, brown eyes narrowed as he pondered over it.

'Marble walls…that shouldn't be taken literally…' Yami thought to himself. 'White…lined with thin, soft skin…a fountain with a golden apple…no keys…thieves break in…break in…'

He suddenly burst out laughing. It made sense. Bakura and Earl looked over at him quizzically.

"An egg," Yami announced triumphantly.

Earl whistled. "Nice. Good one, Kenji. All right, Mister Tadashi, your turn."

Yami furrowed his forehead. He glanced over at Bakura who smirked in response, blowing out a cloud of smoke. A riddle? All right, he had to make it a good one. One that the thief wouldn't get. What kind of riddle would be perplexing to him?...Ah yes…

"All right. See if you can get this one:

What force and strength cannot get through

I with a gentle touch can do,

And many in the street would stand

Were I not a friend at hand."

Bakura quirked an eyebrow, face puzzled. Earl closed his eyes, mumbling the riddle over to himself again. Yami sat back, enjoying his challenge. He waited for a minute or two, still no answer. Suddenly, Earl snapped his fingers.

"I've got it! A key!"

Yami nodded. Bakura scowled.

"That's a stupid riddle. Only an idiot can't break into a house."

Earl and Yami laughed, earning a glare from the former tomb robber. Earl shook his head, lighting up another cigarette.

"Kid, you've got issues, you know that," he chuckled, handing it over to the miffed yami who mutely accepted it. The shopkeeper turned back to Yami. "I lost the key to the cash register his first day. He had it opened within two seconds of being informed. Still haven't found the darn thing," he laughed.

Yami frowned. "So…how will you get into it after he leaves?"

Earl waved a hand dismissively. "You didn't think I would let him get away with that without teaching me how to do it too? I know an opportunity when I see one." The shop keeper grinned over at the tomb robber who smirked in response.

Yami felt something melt in him. These two really cared about one another. It was a rough relationship, yet it was close nonetheless. He could now see why the former tomb robber had latched on to Earl. The man seemed to know what to say, when to say it, and when to be the brutal truth in a person's life. And was he brutal

"Kenji, get your feet of the counter before I knock you on your ass."

"Shut the fuck up," Bakura growled, but removed his feet from the counter.

"Say that again and I'll pound you, kid."

"I'd like to see you try," the thief shot back.

Yami smiled, shaking his head. He'd never seen the other yami so carefree and…happy. Who knew a gruff owner of a small coffee shop in some remote little town could bring that out? Bakura had been in bad shape after the whole ordeal with his memories getting taken and the destruction of the Millennium items. Was this the person Ryou defended and Marik was so affectionate of? Yami's eyes suddenly darkened. Was this the person he'd had tortured for months back in Egypt?...the person Bakura never got to be because a cold world ripped his heart from him and blackened his soul? Yami sat back quietly, his own heart heavy, watching the former tomb robber laugh at some joke Earl had made. He stared down at the floor miserably. Would things have been different for the thief if he hadn't…

"What's wrong, kid?" Earl asked suddenly.

Yami turned, realizing the other two were staring at him. Bakura's eyes were intense; no doubt sensing something deeper was behind the former pharaoh's sudden change in attitude.

"I…nothing," Yami mumbled, running a finger over a crack that spread across the countertop.

Earl glowered. "Don't even try that one, kid. Kenji here tried that when he first came here."

Bakura didn't take his eyes off the other yami. "Earl, could you leave us alone for a minute?" he asked, voice imploring.

Earl looked over in surprise, sensing the seriousness in his worker's voice abruptly. He seemed to know this was something personal that Yami and Bakura needed time alone to talk about. He got up, walking back toward the kitchen.

"I'll just put something in the oven for dinner and leave you to grill him, Kenji," he smiled, disappearing into the back.

Bakura stared quietly at the monarch who sat next to him at the counter. Yami refused to look at the other.

"All right, what was that about?" Bakura asked. He didn't need to worry about Earl spying. The man wouldn't invade their privacy.

Yami stared down, not meeting his eyes. "Nothing."

Bakura leaned forward. "Talk now. Don't make me break your arm."

Yami looked up in surprise to see the thief smirking. He sighed heavily, looking down again.

"I just got thinking on the past again…" he mumbled.

Bakura quirked a slender eyebrow. "What brought that on?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Yami hissed, standing up abruptly.

He wasn't prepared when his arm was wrenched behind his back, muscles forcing to be stretched. Bakura stood behind him, twisting the arm.

"I'm afraid that's not an option," the thief whispered firmly, increasing the pressure.

"Bakura—Ow! Knock it off!" Yami growled struggling only to have his arm jerked further back.

"No. Damn it, Yami, you're falling apart again. You need to get the past out of your spiky head," Bakura scowled, not letting up on his grip.

"I can't! How can I just forget? It's not possible! Do you know how much I want to forget? To just shove the memories back into wherever I sealed them and pick up life where I left off before we went back to Egypt?" Yami shouted angrily, attempting to yank his arm from the thief's iron grasp.

"Yes." Yami stopped struggling when he was suddenly released.

He turned to see Bakura glaring down at the ground, hands in his pockets. Yami could see the other trembling from where he was.

"But we can't, Yami. We're here. We remember the past. It's time to accept it because agonizing over it isn't going to take you anywhere but backwards," Bakura continued quietly.

"Bakura…"

The other shook his head. "I'm going to help Earl get dinner ready."

The thief left without another word, leaving Yami alone at the counter. The monarch stared after the other in silence, unable to think of anything to say. What was there to talk about? It was like Bakura said, they were where they were. That couldn't be changed. He'd just have to find a way to move on, remembering but not dwelling on a past he wished had never occurred at all. But was that even possible?


Review