Ryou to Bakura: "You should go see a therapist."
-.-.-.-
Bakura Is So Done
(So, So Done)
-.-.-.-
"I don't need to win. I just need to get close enough."
Famous last words. Famous last words uttered internally before things began tumbling downhill.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," he hisses, because that was most definitely the Pharaoh's vessel jumping overboard. "I was gone for five minutes!"
Nevertheless, Bakura quickly makes his way towards the railing, joining up with the remnants of the friendship gang. And yes, that is most certainly Yugi in the water. And Jonouchi. Why in Zorc's name would they−?
A deranged giggle draws his attention, and Bakura immediately zeroes in on its origin: a green-haired, mostly green-clad boy that reminds Bakura an awful lot of− Yes, now he remembers: Bug Boy.
It does not take a genius to figure out that Bug Boy must have something to do with this whole situation, and Bakura is far too annoyed to keep up appearances; he simply grabs him by the collar. The incessant giggling cuts off and Bug Boy looks at him, surprised at first, then smug. It is a very 'as if you would dare to do anything. You can't touch me' kind of look. Oh well−
"No, no, no, no, what are you−? Let go of me! Who do you think I am?!"
An annoyance. Well that, and trash about to be thrown overboard.
-.-.-.-
"You didn't need to do that, you know? But−"
"−But that was awesome, man! I didn't realise you had it in you!"
Bakura smiles, but the smile feels very awkward on his face; in an effort not to cause unnecessary suspicion, he makes the effort not to grin like a madman in public and to imitate Ryou's demeanour to the best of his ability. "Thanks, Jonouchi! I'm a bit surprised at myself actually…"
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Insector Haga slinking away, still dripping and likely plotting his revenge. Bakura is rather excited by the prospect though because things would probably have been rather dull otherwise. You know, hanging with the friendship gang and all.
Besides, Bug Boy was bound to earn enough star chips to qualify for the finals, and if he would come after Bakura after that, well− the winner takes it all. And after that, well−
"Hey, man! You'll be sticking with us, right?"
Yes, but hardly by choice. Because really, if Bakura had had a choice in the matter, then he would have split from the group, broken into the castle at top of the hill and put an early end to this farce of a tournament. But alas, Bakura has become increasingly certain that the Pharaoh or his vessel (or both) would fall into another body of water (or alternatively off the face of a cliff) the very minute Bakura turns his back.
Bakura is not entirely certain as to when he had gone from evil mastermind to the Pharaoh's minder, and the mere thought makes him want to stab someone. But stabbing someone is a no-no, at least for now, because who knows how long it would be until another suitable vessel came along. But oh, was it tempting!
"Hey, man? Are you okay? Coming down with something?"
Bakura rather doubts it, but it is entirely possible. Idiocy was alleged to be a lot like the common cold after all, and considering present company, Bakura would have to take proper precautions from now on.
-.-.-.-
The Duellist Kingdom Tournament is a joke as far as following the rules is concerned, but when had Bakura ever given a shit about rules?
No, the dirtier the tricks, the better. Insector Haga had certainly tried; keyword: tried.
So yeah, Bakura is enjoying himself a whole lot more than expected. That said of course, there is also the expected downside of things… which is Ryou, kicking up a fuzz whenever he senses that Bakura is about to practice his soul-snatching skills.
If not for Ryou's incessant nagging (which is giving Bakura a serious migraine), more duellists would have ended up as soulless husks after crossing his path. It really makes Bakura regret waking his landlord up to the fact that he is not quite alone in his body.
Still, annoying or not, the chatter is a definite improvement to the alternatives: the whispers of Zorc, the silence that makes Bakura want to tear his own throat out and the memories that makes him want to do the same.
"You should go see a therapist," Ryou had suggested at one point, full of earnest goodwill.
Bakura might have snapped at him then, just a bit, because while his landlord might actually have a bit of a point in how Bakura should probably talk to someone at some point, Bakura is not about to explain to some therapist how he is in fact a graverobber from Ancient Egypt on a quest for vengeance while getting fucked over by a vengeful God. Bakura certainly believes that people have been thrown into padded rooms for stories that sounded far more realistic than that. Granted, if any of them would actually try that, then Bakura would obviously−
"Hey man, hurry up! We'll leave you behind at this rate!"
−Never mind.
-.-.-.-
Bakura had seriously underestimated his urge to kill people.
Maybe it is the present company, maybe it is the present situation. Likely both.
"You're seriously out of it sometimes, Ryou. Are you sure you're okay?"
Well, Ryou can be a bit of an airhead at times, but Bakura? He is just distracting himself from resurfacing homicidal and soul-stealing urges. "I'm fine. Just tired."
And he is tired; that much is true. Being up and about and in control for extended periods of time is exhausting. It is exhausting for him, because he has to keep himself from tearing out souls and throats. It is also taking a toll on his landlord's body because possession wears people down, especially over time.
Considering that, the Prat's vessel is looking surprisingly chipper. Then again, the Prat practically only ever surfaces when there is a duel about to go down, as opposed to Bakura, who has to manage things in the meantime.
Wait. Has to? Bakura does not have to do anything.
-.-.-.-
Bakura does not have to deal with this. Thus, the responsibility goes to Ryou. Ryou is good at comforting people. That said− "This wouldn't even be a problem if they'd just let the guy jump."
Ryou shoots him the internal version of a disapproving glare, but Bakura is right. Kaiba threatening to kill himself if Yugi (well, technically, the Prat) did not throw the duel was his problem, not theirs. Unfortunately, Yugi is just as much of a goody-two-shoes as Ryou. Thus, the current situation is as follows:
Yugi is depressed, having lost his right to enter the finals and by default, his chance to save his grandfather.
The Prat is not around; he is probably sulking.
The Friendship Gang is divided in-between worrying over Yugi and cussing about Kaiba.
And Bakura, well, Bakura is leaving it up to Ryou. Well, to Ryou and those star chips he does not really need, given his ability to break in without them.
"But Ryou, these are yours. I can't−"
Ryou smiles, so earnestly and without ulterior motives. "You came all this way to save your grandfather, and I only really came along to help out my friend. Just let me help out, okay?"
Of course, that blonde woman, Mai or whatever her name is, also turns up to offer star chips, intent upon repaying some earlier debt. She does not need to do that, but Bakura can most certainly appreciate how she flirts with the gatekeeper, distracting the guy long enough for the rest of them to sneak inside. Granted, Bakura would have gotten inside one way or the other, but the larger the group, the lesser the risk that Pegasus will see him coming. Not that Bakura is scared of him or anything; he merely prefers not to announce his presence beforehand, because a mind reader like Pegasus could potentially wreck Bakura's plans way ahead of time.
-.-.-.-
The rest of the Duellist Kingdom Tournament goes about as expected.
Mai comes in third, choosing to surrender to help out Yugi after he manages to destroy her ace monster.
Jonouchi comes in second, having beaten Bandit Keith, who got disqualified for attempting to take Pegasus hostage. (Rash, very rash, but points for effort.)
Finally, Yugi and the Prat end up beating Pegasus by switching minds or something.
All is well, and Pegasus has retreated to his tower to mope or plot or something, leaving himself vulnerable to an ambush.
Because while Bakura realises that he only really needs to bide his time and wait while the Millennium Items and their current wielders gather around the Nameless Pharaoh, Bakura is not quite satisfied with it. And, since waiting is boring as fuck, the least boring alternative is to eliminate a few obstacles in the meantime.
"Don't kill him. Please."
Ryou's voice is quiet but stern. Bakura does not need to listen or care, really. "He is a threat. He tried to kill you and your friends, landlord."
"That doesn't make it right," Ryou argues.
Truth to be told, Bakura could barely care any less about what is right and what is not. On the other hand, the Thief King would prefer to stay on Ryou's good side for now, if for nothing else then for the sake of future operations. He really cannot have the Pharaoh's lot catching on to him this early on in the game after all. "The Millennium Eye; I won't settle for less."
One down. Four more to go.
-.-.-.-