Continued Survival
Summary: As if dealing with the things life has already thrown at him isn't hard enough, now Ryou is being sent off by his Father to England, to stay with a man named Albus... (Harry Potter and YGO, what else!)
Disclaimer: Alright. Before this goes any further, I just want to state that I in no way own either Harry Potter or Yu-Gi-Oh…
Thanks for reviewing! I'm really sorry if anyone gets an alert on this story, I'm just going through today to do up some of my horrid mistakes. One of these days I really should get a beta … … )
Chapter 2 The Game Begins
If he died of boredom, would the professor let his father know in time for the funeral? Would his father bother to come?
Ryou shifted again and dropped his book onto the carpet, eliciting an annoyed grunt from the professor.
"Can't you be still for even a minute?" The man grumbled.
"Sorry," Ryou mumbled. How was he supposed to explain that the ancient spirit possessing both his ring and mind kept complaining and sending restlessness through to him?
He voiced when the silence and stillness became unbearable, "Sir?"
"What now?"
"May I go for a walk?"
"No," Professor Snape snapped, and shot him a dark glare over top of the new pile of papers he had come up with. Ryou was starting to think that the man had a stash of the things in his room somewhere. He didn't know where, as he'd never been in there, but there was nowhere else for the man to keep them.
Wait. No? To a walk? But why? Again Ryou began to wonder what his father might have told them. Could the sudden send off have had more to do with he himself than he had considered?
Running through his memories of the night before last, Ryou began trying to remember if his father's gaze had drifted to his arm at any point, and wondered if the man might have heard of his brief stay in the hospital, or the rough treatment he had given many a stranger… The latter was impossible, though, wasn't it?
But it was already apparent that he had been sent off somewhere where he could have supervision. There had to be a reason for that, and any one of the things happening over the last year, coupled with the not-so-distant past of his, were reason enough to cause a father worry. Even a distant father such as his.
And, judging from what the professor had said earlier that day, he would be attending school in England instead of returning to Domino sometime before fall. The unfairness of it all made him want to claw the arms off of his already cigarette-burn pocked chair. Didn't he have any say in his own life?
But, oh, of course not! His other half had say, his father, whom he hadn't even seen since sometime before Christmas (not counting the man's brief spurt of insanity), had say, but not Ryou. All Ryou got to do was smile and follow orders. If he asked questions, he got ignored, or glared at, or given some empty little response that made him even more lost.
And now, here he was under full supervision. It was the end of his hope for being taken for normal. Domino was a long ways away, and with it, the few who understood.
Digging his deck out of his pocket, Ryou set to shuffling it. A nervous habit he scarcely noticed anymore.
No one else would be able to understand, or want to befriend him. His spirit would see to that.
"I have business today in London, so you can clean up and accompany me," the professor surprised him by saying. "An associate of mine will meet us and stay with you."
Ryou perked up, letting his deck fall onto his lap. Finally! He had been in London for nearly three days now, and had yet to see the sky without the filmy glass obstructing his view. There wasn't much to see out there, since the dreary clouds had finally given in and burst with heavy rain, but outdoors was outdoors.
"When will we leave?" Ryou inquired politely, and received a snappish 'Whenever you're ready for an answer.
Already dressed and cleaned up, all he had to do was pocket his deck and he could leave anytime. Of course, it wouldn't hurt for him to brush his hair out again.
Oh, so he was vain over his hair! Yami no Bakura had an ego to rival those pyramids of his in size. What with having to suffer through that, Ryou felt that he had earned his little quirks.
Finishing the combing and tucking his deck away in its usual pocket, Ryou shouldered his long coat and waited for the professor. He'd ended up in a white, long-sleeved shirt that fell over the top of his jeans, with the ring safely tucked beneath it warm against his chest. There was no sense in flashing about large, ancient artefacts of pure gold. Doing things like that tended to get pour souls locked away in the shadow realm.
And his collection of dolls was large enough, thank you.
"Ready, then?" The professor demanded, raising his long form from the couch like an unfurling snake. "Come along."
He knew that they were up high from looking out of the windows, but it really didn't seem that high after taking only three flights of stairs to the ground floor. The spirit stayed quiet as they stepped out into the heavy rain. Ryou knew that he was keeping careful watch over what was going on, waiting for the most opportune time to gain control.
After the long, silent drive, the professor locked the doors to his car and stalked off into a sea of dark bodies and open umbrellas. Looking after him for a blank moment before following as best he could, Ryou found himself unable to navigate well through the busy streets.
"You will behave yourself while in Minerva's care, or I'll be having more than words for you when we get back," the middle-aged man was telling him as he hastened to keep pace. "She'll be your deputy headmistress this fall, and I expect you to treat her accordingly. No straying, no arguing, no foolishness. We do not give up our free time just to look after wayward children."
Wincing at the sharp words, Ryou hoped that he would be able to do as the man ordered.
The woman he was to be left with was a Mrs. Minerva McGonagall, also to be called Professor. With her greying hair trapped in a neat bun, and a straight-to-your-guts way of speech, Ryou couldn't help wondering if she was the science teacher's mother. Those thoughts swiftly shattered when Professor Snape grudgingly gave way to her, and her hard eyes momentarily softened as she looked at him.
"Ryou Bakura," she said quietly, then, in what must have been her actual greeting, "Hello Mr. Bakura. I haven't seen you for quite some time."
Well. This was unexpected.
"Uhn," he garbled unintelligently. The stab of scorn from the spirit shook him free enough to catch the tug at her lips.
"Yes. Your mother was visiting with her uncle and brought you and your sister with her." Here an eyebrow rose. "I do hope that you aren't as busy as you were then. Your sister was bad enough for a baby, without an older brother terrorizing us all."
Amazement that she had known his mother and sister sent a warm glow through Ryou.
"You knew them!" He gasped aloud as he spoke, not thinking to hide his excitement. Professor McGonagall's eyes softened again.
"Yes," she told him gently. "A darling child, and a brave woman."
Ryou noticed then that Professor Snape was gone.
Control had been returned to him over an hour ago, and Ryou was just as lost as he had been the moment he regained it. His spirit, ever the great help, was now a vague, contented presence just out of contact. Ryou was being careful not to consider the things that could lead up to the ancient one's contentment. There was weight in many pockets of his coat which were formerly empty, so he let himself think about that, not the few droplets of darkening red upon a sleeve of his coat, or the knowledge that it took more than a few petty thefts to appease the spirit's own inner demons' thirst.
And, like a knife through numbed flesh, he recalled the Professor's words. Well. A satisfied spirit, a furious guardian. The lesser of two dangers, really. While his spirit never left him, everyone else, even his father, only made short appearances in this life of his.
Exhausted and dripping wet, Ryou spotted a very stormy-faced Professor Snape storming his way. Called by his thoughts, no doubt, he mused humourlessly.
"Sensei?" He called softly, moving forward swiftly. As he passed by an alley, a hand snagged his hair roughly, dragging him off course and into a strong form.
The hand wrapped itself tightly amidst the silver-white locks as a voice Ryou recognized all-too-well crooned, "Is Bakura's little kitten lost? Pretty little kitten is terribly far from home."
Marik? Here?
Footsteps pounded their way, water splishing from disturbed puddles. "I suggest that you release the boy," the professor's cold voice snipped in English as the man came within range. Oh no, no, no, no… You don't challenge psychopaths, especially not ones with mind-control powers! Clenching his eyes shut so tightly that his nose wrinkled, Ryou pleaded with fate not to kill the man. Maybe, just maybe, the Egyptian spirit didn't know English?
"Bakura would let Marik pet kitten." So much for Marik not knowing English. But why was he here? And he most certainly was not allowed to pet him! "Who are you to challenge me?"
With those words, Marik's fist clenched, eliciting a hiss of pain from Ryou. Hold very still, he ordered himself. This will be over sometime. Warn the professor?
Ryou cracked one eye open to find a mystified science teacher.
"That boy is my charge, and if you don't release him immediately-"
"Snape-sensei, no, please! You'll only make him-" A tightening of the fingers made Ryou gasp and he cut off, a quiver of fear racing through his body. "Onnegai, Father sent me here, please don't kill him., he whimpered only. The hand gave a predictable tug to silence him again. Having at least tried, Ryou gave in and stood silently, mind alternating between fear for the teacher and worry over why Marik was present there in London.
No, he didn't think that it boded well for the city. Or the rest of the country.
The hand in his hair relaxed as a slightly smoother voice than previously issued from Marik said, "You are a devourer of dead, are you not?"
Malik now. In response to that change, Ryou, too, relaxed. Though both were quite insane, Malik was by far the soundest of the two, if a creation of one's anger and hatred could be considered a separate entity.
And he didn't consider Ryou to be a kitten. Perk.
"Who are you?" The professor demanded, startling Ryou with the suspicion in his words. Had he missed something?
"I am the one in charge at the moment. Now, little devourer of dead, you will bring me to your master."
Okay, Ryou, just keep breathing and stay still, he told himself. Turn and open your eyes to see Malik? No, no, he doesn't want you to move. Watch the professor instead. He looks…pensive. Hm. Since when did Malik and Marik pay so much attention to an insignificant puppet?
"What master?" Snape half-growled. Ryou lowered his gaze from the professor's eyes, finding the dangerous glint in the obsidian orbs too chilling. The knowledge that soon those eyes would more than likely be dull with stolen wits didn't help.
"The same one you're seeing in your mind even now," Malik purred. "Your expressions are schooled, your emotions impressive, but your mind doesn't lie." His other hand must be on the rod… but who could the science teacher know that Malik and Marik would care to meet?
And now the teacher looked very unsettled. Of course, a teen didn't ordinarily walk up to you and tell you what they see in your mind.
"You really should listen to him." Ryou dared to prompt the man kindly.
"Do you expect me to believe that you can read minds?" The professor had caught on well. He was now ignoring him, too.
"And control them if I so wish," Malik countered. "Stop avoiding the topic. I want to be brought to this serpentine master of yours."
Those dark eyes of the professor flickered to Ryou before settling their gaze on what mush be Malik's face over Ryou's head. "None of this has anything to do with the boy. Let go of him and I'll discuss this with you."
There was a jingling of bracelets striking together and Ryou gave a cry as Malik yanked down on his hair, forcing his neck to arch. He couldn't see the professor anymore, as his eyes were shut, but he heard the man growl.
"He comes with us," Malik stated, brooking no arguement.
So he wasn't bait… This in no way comforted Ryou. Malik and Marik wouldn't want him, they'd be wanting his spirit, which hinted at naught but a mess of trouble. Trouble in which they seemed determined to include his present guardian. If his father had been concerned before, he would be absolutely livid now. Bakura and the Egyptians equalled lots of death, pain, and chaos for all involved, and this time Ryou would be friendless in the eye of it all.
But then, had he ever had friends? Not before Yugi, and probably never again. Malik and he could get along, but the larger teen was too wrapped up in vengeance and chaos to really care about anyone, excluding his brother. And, sometimes, his sister. Malik was the perfect host for Marik, as Ryou's own darkness made clear. Yugi to 'the Pharaoh', Malik to Marik, why couldn't he be as suited to his other half as they were to theirs? Even little Yugi was more outgoing than he, and both Yugi and Malik were brave. He was a coward and a weakling.
"I would need good reason to take you anywhere, boy," Professor Snape snapped. "Release Mr. Bakura at once!"
"But kitten and I are friends, little puppet." Marik again. Oh God, Ra, anyone who would listen… "Aren't we, kitten? Ah, ah, leave your stick where it is, and I'll leave mine."
Marik would be meaning the rod, but what kind of stick would the teacher have? A gun?
"You're no muggle." Uh? "You're a foolish little child trying to bully and trick your way into what you think is power. Don't try to manipulate fire, boy, lest you be a lot worse than burned."
Ryou could feel what little colour he had left draining from his face. Little child… He called Marik a little child, and a fool! Oh…
An anguished groan escaped him even as harsh laughter rushed from his captor. "I am the fire, puppet, and no one insults me. You have another chance to bring me to your master of your own will, then I take matters into my own hands. Will you?"
Dizzying blackness was dancing before Ryou's eyes, but he couldn't drop. Otherwise his neck would snap, bent as it was. Please, Professor, he begged silently, listen to him. Don't fight, don't argue. It would be hard to explain how he knew the Egyptian as things were. Add in mind-control and he would be locked up with 24/7 watch for life. Or, if those listening were really thick, locked up for life with padded walls, jacket, and all… Would they take his ring? It was sharp in several places.
Would they blame him for the murdered orderlies afterwards? Or missing people? The Pharaoh's mind-crush was so much easier to explain away than his spirit's send-them-to-the-shadow-realm or doll-per-person strategy.
"I grow impatient," Marik snapped when all that his words met was silence. "Take me to this lord of serpents, or you will never make another choice again."
Ryou's legs were starting to feel disjointed.
"What will happen to the boy if I don't?" Professor Snape demanded.
"You never see him again."
Snape scowled at the slim youth before him, donning overly revealing clothes and wearing more gold than Snape bet that Divination fraud even owned. The very decorated brat had Ryou Bakura in what had to be a painful hold. The soft whimpering from moments before seconded his opinion.
"Fine," he snarled in the end. The blonde's answer was a smirk that would match Lucius', which only shifted into a cruel chuckle when the young man between them chose that moment to collapse. Still chuckling, the Egyptian unwound his hand from the pearly strands slowly enough that the smaller boy didn't strike his head too hard against the ground.
"Too much for the kitten's weak little heart. Carry him."
Biting back a retort for fear that he wouldn't be able to carry the child, Snape stalked forward and knelt long enough to gather the limp form into his arms. Standing and looking down at him, Snape's frown deepened at the near translucence of the face framed with silken hair. Where could this timid little creature have ever gotten to know the arrogant one that he was now left with? It was quite obvious that Ryou Bakura was terrified of the Egyptian, and that was no help.
Also, if this boy was cut off from the Wizarding World, how could he have gotten to know an obviously wizard-born child, one who even knew what the Dark Lord looked like!
"It's your show now, puppet. Where shall we go?" The youth inquired silkily.
"I am not a puppet, you arrogant little brat," Severus snapped.
"You are a puppet, I just don't feel a need to take up your strings."
Something about that boy unsettled Snape, and had even before he had called him a Death Eater. Knowing that the boy didn't go to Hogwarts, Snape bet that he went somewhere else, for the brat was undoubtedly a wizard. Who else but a wizard could know of wands, Death Eaters, and Voldemort?
And, again, what did this have to do with the 'kitten' Ryou Bakura? Just who was this child Albus wanted him to protect? Minerva knew. Maybe he would swallow his pride and ask her later, providing that the Dark Lord didn't kill the three of them for his bringing strange children in.
Albus owed him big.
End Ch.2
Thanks for reading, and please review!
Responses To Reviewers:
Seto/ryou4ever: Thank you SO much for reviewing! You were my first ever reviewer! G When I read yours and Antago's, since I got them at the same time, I was pretty much bouncing in my chair! Thank you SO much!
Antago: I can't believe that you came back the next day to review my story! THANK YOU! I'm sorry that my update didn't come too soon, but I got it up as soon as I got back today. Whew. The whole thing's on paper, so it took me a while. I'm soooooo tired of typing XD
Marg: Thanks! Snape's going to be an important part of this story, although I haven't gotten it all worked out yet.
Kamianya: Woo-hoo! Grins I hope that you liked this part, too! Thanks
The Inspector: G Your review made me laugh! Don't worry, please, Snape and Ryou will not be made into an item. That's just… wrong! If I do add any romance, it'll be Ryou and Bakura, of course, but I'm not really seeing any in the near future.
And I'm really grateful that you want me to continue! I hope that you still find my story interesting after this part. Thanks!
Maruken: I won't! Promise! I started it, got a good response from all of you, so I'll finish it. Here's the next part, and thank you!
Well, I'm now off! Sorry to end it there, but the next part needs to be fixed up, and the papers need to be gotten into order. I hope that you guys are all still going to read! And . . . .
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