In a different Light

Chapter two

Yami Yuugi bit his lip lightly in consternation. Usually he never got this anxious this early in a game but… this was different. He needed to think. He could generally play games without having to think at all, just acting on instinct or following one of the myriad of tactics he had memorized. It wasn't that Yami wasn't good at thinking, he just did all his thinking outside of gaming.

In games, you don't think.

You act.

Which is exactly what Yami Bakura did.

Yami watched as the Yuugi in the mirror quickly raised a hand to his mouth, sinking to the floor as he began to choke, soon coughing up blood.

"Yuugi…" Yami breathed, having to quickly remind himself not to rush to Yuugi's side.

Yuugi raised his head, eyes glazed slightly in pain.

"Y-Yami… save me…" he stuttered out before letting out a cry of pain, clutching at his forehead.

Yami stared at his hands, which had clenched instinctively into fists in his lap, measuring his breath in an attempt to calm down. Remember what's at stake here. If you lose, Yuugi loses the Puzzle. Your bond with him with be broken, and he'd be unprotected. You have to protect him… which means for the moment, you have to harden your heart against him.

Yami licked his dry lips. He knew he couldn't win by simply playing defense… he had to coerce Bakura into turning away, somehow.

He closed his eyes, hoping his plan would work, then acted.

The mirror's Ryou let out a gasp and flew backwards, struck in the stomach by an invisible hand. Yami chewed the inside of his lip anxiously as the image of Ryou managed to get onto his elbows, coughing and choking for air. Hopefully Bakura couldn't tell Yami wasn't harming his actual host…

A strain of amused laughter rippled through the air, and Yami glanced at Bakura to see him laughing at Ryou's "pain". Yami frowned. He knew Bakura was evil, but he didn't seem to get this amused over pain usually…

Once Bakura had recovered, he shook his head in reprimand. "You'll have to try better than that, Ou-sama. Do you really have that little imagination? Here, let me help you."

Yuugi let out an ear-piercing wail, and Yami saw his hikari's reflection thrown into the air, crashing into the floor with a wide, red gash on his chest.

It took all of Yami's willpower to keep himself from spinning around.

Bakura chuckled. This was even more fun than he thought it would be.

Yuugi clenched his teeth as he saw his distorted reflection. He knew Bakura wanted to create a Shadow Game that would be heavily in his favor, but did he have to toy with Yami's head so cruelly? He was purposefully using their bond as a weapon, while he could care less about his host's condition unless he was in danger of dying, leaving Bakura most likely dead as well, but certainly hostage-less.

Yuugi frowned sadly. He never liked how tenuous the bond between Ryou and his yami was. Of course he would never wish for his friend to be fighting against him, but he also wished the two Bakuras could have the same friendship Yuugi had with Yami. It must be quite a strain, sharing a body with one who opposed everything you were. Funny how Bakura turned even that weakness into a strength…

Suddenly, Yuugi realized something. According to the rules of the game, Bakura was allowed to harm Yuugi in any way he'd like, yet all the thief's attention went to the image in the mirror.

"Why… why isn't he hurting me?" Yuugi muttered.

"Because I don't particularly want to harm you. Besides, if I cause the Pharaoh to fall because of a mere illusion, that would be even more entertaining."

Yuugi's attention snapped forwards, to find Bakura looking him in the eye, grinning darkly.

"I thought you liked causing gratuitous violence."

"Oh, certainly, in most cases. But I think in this case it would be nice if all the Pharaoh's worries and concerns were for naught."

Yuugi frowned. "Why are you even talking to me? If Yami knew you weren't actually harming me his will would be a lot stronger…"

Bakura leaned back in his seat and smirked. "Because sound distortion is also allowed. Currently he thinks I'm taunting him."

Yuugi raised an eyebrow. "While making eye contact with me?"

Bakura chuckled slightly. "Well, you don't know what I'm telling him, do you?"

Yuugi did his best to full-out glare at the yami, although he himself realized that he did a pretty pitiful job of it.

Bakura frowned slightly. Yuugi realized Yami must have said something that upset the other spirit, which caused Yuugi's face to brighten.

"Way to go, Yami." Yuugi murmured, in praise of whatever his yami had said. Bakura's eyes snapped sharply back to Yuugi.

"I could hurt you for real, you know."

Yuugi snapped his mouth shut.

Come on, Yami… you can beat him. I know you can!

Yami let his eyes ease shut for a moment to think. Bakura knew as well as him he would be unable to harm Ryou. So, what could force Bakura to turn around? The only times Bakura had really paid attention to his host before was when he tried to defy him, and…

Wait. That actually could work, with a little bit of concentration… Yami focused on the link between Bakura's Ring and the ghostly doppelganger Ryou's soul bore and went to work.

Bakura put a finger to his lips in thought. Now, what could he do to "Yuugi" next?

Suddenly his head shot up, and he gave a quiet gasp. He felt something tugging at the Ring's magic…

His head snapped up to the image of his hikari in the mirror. Ryou's hands were resting on the Ring, which was glowing slightly…

The human smiled weakly at Bakura. "I won't let you do this to my friends. I'll draw away enough of the Ring's magic and end this game."

Bakura frowned as he switched his attention to Yami Yuugi, who was wearing his typical smirk once more. It was true Ryou would be physically able to do such a thing, but…

He glanced back to Ryou's defiant reflection, then let out a quiet chuckle.

"Oh, don't even try that, Ou-sama. It's no use. Ryou knows better than to try and stop me."

Yami's eyes instinctually darted to where Ryou was standing, and was saddened to, indeed, find him rooted to the spot out of fear. However, he quickly shifted his attention back to Bakura, setting his features back to a cocky smirk.

"Oh, so you know Ryou so well? You have him figured out so neatly that he no longer has a will of his own?"

"No, not anymore he doesn't."

Yami frowned slightly, but then a dangerous look came into his eyes. "Very well. I'll just say this; don't get cocky, Bakura. You should know that danger come from the most innocuous places."

Bakura growled softly, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm through playing around."

Swiftly darkness began to engulf the image of Yuugi, and within a few short seconds it went blank. Yami's eyes widened. There was no reflection anymore…

"Yami! Help!" the spirit heard the panicked voice of his aibou call out to him. The Pharaoh couldn't stop himself from reacting. He had to see if the other him was okay.

He spun around in his seat quickly… to find Yuugi standing there safe and sound. A look somewhat of pity, somewhat of horror rested on the boy's face, and Yami soon grasped why.

Yami had lost.

"Yami…" Yuugi whispered, concerned. Even though the game had ended, he was still frozen to the spot, unable to comfort his other half. The Pharaoh was facing his opponent once more, slumping slightly, quite unlike his usual posture. Yuugi knew why, though.

Bakura's going to take the Puzzle… and we might not ever get to see each other again…

Bakura smirked victoriously at the shaking Pharaoh.

"Well… it's seems I've won." Bakura commented smugly, feeling rather pleased with himself.

Yami remained silent, his head bowed, casting his face in shadows.

Yuugi… I'm sorry…

Bakura stood up slowly, stretching his arms in an exaggerated motion. "Well, time to claim my prize, don't you think?"

The Theif King didn't seem very concerned at Yami's lack of response as he lazily circled the area before stopping in front of his fallen foe. He stood there for a second, before reaching a hand towards the Millenium Puzzle. That moment Yami's head snapped up, glaring darkly at Bakura, causing the other yami to recoil instinctually.

"Bakura, you can't do this."

"Why not? You lost the game. This is my prize. Don't worry, the world won't crumble in your absence. At least," here Bakura paused, as if to ponder something, "not until I choose it to."

With that, Bakura's hand latched around the Puzzle, yanking it off Yami's head, being careful not to break the cord. He admired it for a second before sending Yami one last, mocking smirk, slipping the new Item over his head and walking off.

The Shadow Realm slowly faded, leaving Yami in the back room once more, seated on the floor and leaning against one of the shelves. Bakura was nowhere in sight.

How could he have let himself get fooled like that? Yami berated himself mentally. Why hadn't he tried to stop the Shadow Game? Why couldn't he have tried to shift the rules, figure out some way he could gain the upper hand? Now the Puzzle was gone, and…

Yami frowned. The Puzzle was gone, but… he was still in control. He hadn't been taken along with the Puzzle. But, despite the fact he was still here, something felt very wrong, very… empty. Something was very wrong… no, something very important was missing. But what?

Yami's eyes widened with realization.

"Yuugi…"

Author's notes: I am SO terribly sorry for the long wait! This chapter was very difficult for me, but fortunately the next ones will be easier, and the next chapter is almost finished so expect a update fairly soon. Hope this chapter didn't turn out too stilted...

Anyway, I'm very happily surprised so many people like this story so far. I hope you won't be dissapointed in how it turns out. Oh yes, from next chapter on I'll respond to reveiws in this section.

Finally... it's my birthday today! I'm 17 years old now~