Welcome! I apologise for the long delay of this story. As promised, I am trying hard to be back on track.

Thank you all for your previous support. I hope you find the continuation to your liking.

Enjoy!


Down the Rabbit Hole

Chapter 3


With a heave Yami dropped on to the sandy shore. His arms pulsed, his stomach did flops. Even his head was pounding- a dull throb pulsing around his brain.

The calm waters turned rough so quickly, and his heart was in his hands the entire time. Somehow he managed to survive, but his limbs were completely tired out, wracking with fatigue like a trembling Chihuahua.

Bakura was not making this easy. But this was a game, he had to remind himself. Something had to help him. There has to be a way he could win. Walking blindly like this was not going to get him anywhere, let alone find Bakura. He would only get lost further.

After a few minutes of laying on the warm sad, Yami got to his knees and reopened his eyes to blink rapidly. The sun shone brightly upon him, a blue sky creating a picturesque backdrop. Did a storm really just assault him? A hand went to his forehead for shade until his eyes grew accustomed to the lighting. Once they did, he turned around and took a look at his new surroundings.

There was nothing but sand on either side of him stretching for what seemed to be miles. And to his astonishment, smacked right behind, was a forest. If you could call it a forest.

Yami was able to see little roofs peeking out from the tops of the greenery, smoke billowing from chimneys. A neatly kept stone path stood at the entrance, and following the road with his eyes Yami noticed that it eventually split into two directions, a little sign sticking out from the intersection.

A forest was dense. Dark. Before him was a brightly lit community surrounded by short, green plants.

Curiosity tugging at him, Yami ventured towards them. Immediately he realised that these plants were nothing like trees. They were thin and straight, almost blade like. And it was completely green from top to bottom. It was strange. His mind told him that this plant was familiar, but he struggled to remember just where he had seen it before.

A tiny whistle blew through the village, and as it did, the memory struck him.

Grass.

"Grass!?" he exclaimed, and he jumped back slightly, his surroundings suddenly new all over again. He was the size of grass. But, how?

Locked in that strange room with Ryou, he had shrunk to fit through the golden door. Was that it? Beyond that door actually laid this miniature village?

Yami's mind went blank. All he could do was blink slowly, absorbing the environment with a renewed view. Should he be thrilled about the exciting new turn of events? Or, should he be concerned? It was concern that came quickly, overpowering his fascination. In a world of small things, he was up against a whole new set of inhabitants.

He didn't see other individuals in the quiet village, but Yami's notion was affirmed with an upside when he caught sight of long ears jutting out of white hair.

Also… this meant that he was now the same as Bakura's height.

Yami didn't hesitate. He took off after Bakura as fast as he could, and as usual the other was not slowing down.

"Bakura! Stop this instant!" Yami hollered, and with a twitch of his eye he watched as Bakura stuck an envelop in a door and sped off again. Bakura was so fast that he left a note at each mushroom, tree base, stick and leaf house before dashing off again without breaking a sweat. And as he did, his eyes flickered often towards that pocket watch he held on to dearly.

"I'm running out of time," Yami heard Bakura say to himself once more, and the rabbit made a sharp swerve to the right.

Yami actually struggled to keep up. His legs shook, his heart racing impossibly fast within his chest.

"Bakura, enough!" he yelled, out of breath and face reddened, but Bakura turned in the opposite direction suddenly. The quick turnaround towards him made Yami stumble, and before he knew it he was face first into the dust. He glared up at Bakura who was looking at him with wide eyes, like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Oh no, not now, Alice. Not now!" and clutching a leather book bag at his side, Bakura took off once again.

Yami's fist hit the dirt and he let out an angry cry. Not again, dammit.

Scrambling to his feet he forced himself to continue the chase. He managed to keep track of Bakura as the other turned down a path that got smoother. Decorative stones through a clearing, and eventually up towards a mansion standing tall and at attention in the vast field, surrounded by flowers and grass.

Yami was unable to continue moving. He was stuck to the ground, eyes wide and staring up at this home that was like a castle. But, that wasn't what forced him to stop. It was the colour.

Blue. An icy blue home from the roof to the door of all shades.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Three quick raps of metal banging against a door stole his attention, and just as he looked towards the source, he spotted a white fluffy tail disappearing within the outrageous building.

Yami brows furrowed. He jogged quickly, following suit.

"What are you playing at, Bakura," he muttered, and he pulled the door open, entering himself.

He entered expecting to see a clear, spotless hallway decorated with the most magnificent pieces of furniture this strange world could offer such a strange structure. But he was wrong. He was met with chaos.

"Make it blue! Make it blue! Make it blue or he'll sue!"

Maids dressed in blue with baskets of white laundry dashed back and forth across the checkered blue and white floor. They sang those words fearfully, and persistently.

Yami was at a loss. In the mayhem he saw not ears or tail of Bakura, and he could barely get by the panicked maids. And as soon as he attempted to pass by, a maid crashed into him. She stopped, eyes wide.

"What are you doing here, Alice?" the maid exclaimed, and a hand went to her mouth. "You're too late! The boss will be mad. The boss will be so mad. Ah!" and grabbing a basket of laundry, the maid dumped them into Yami's arms.

"What-"

"No, hurry! Make them blue, Alice! Make them blue right away!" and she dashed off.

Yami could feel a vein popping from his forehead, a frown plastered on his face. He glared at the laundry, and looked around the wide foyer. Blue chandelier. Brown wooden stairs, with a blue rug running up them. Blue flowers. Blue vases. Blue. Blue. And more blue.

"What's with all of the blue?" Yami grumbled, and just when he was about to toss the laundry in a corner and exit the madness, another familiar voice he didn't imagine he would catch caught his ears.

"I need everything blue! Make it all blue!"

Yami's eyes went wide, his gaze trailing further into the mansion where he heard the voice echoing from.

"Kaiba…?"

Running towards the direction, Yami skidded to a halt when he came across a room twice as bigger than the foyer. Tall windows. Blue curtains. And there, at the far end upon a platform was a white throne. The one sitting on it, none other than Seto Kaiba himself.

Yami couldn't believe his eyes.

Sprawled across the throne was Kaiba. Dressed in white and donning a thick blue cape with a matching crown, Kaiba sucked on a lollipop. With his head resting on a blue pillow and legs thrown over the armrest, he gazed up at the ceiling, barking orders every few minutes. Beside him was Mokuba. Dressed in a grey suit with a bright blue tie and blue eyeglasses, Mokuba clutched a notepad, looking serious.

Yami was once again frozen to his place from shock. Just what was Bakura trying to prove by doing all of this? They were his friends, but complete opposites! No. He couldn't forgive this.

Trying his hardest to come to terms with what he was seeing, Yami jumped out of his skin when the loud voice turned directly towards him.

"You!"

Yami jolted and looked up at Kaiba who was now sitting up, eyeing him sternly. Mokuba gazed at him with obvious disappointment.

"Huh…? Yes?" he somehow squeaked, and Kaiba jabbed a finger towards the laundry he was carrying.

"I said make it blue. Not PURPLE!" and the hairs on Yami's arms stood up as Kaiba slammed his hands down on the throne, the shout ringing in his ears.

"I didn't make them purple-" he started, only to look down and drop the clothes from bewilderment.

The once white laundry was now, indeed, purple of all shades.

"That's… Impossible!" Yami exclaimed, but Kaiba was not buying it. He looked at Yami disapprovingly.

"You, as punishment I command you to eat this," Kaiba said, and getting out of his throne he walked over to Yami and thrusted a purple lollipop towards his face.

Yami gazed at the food warily.

"Kaiba," Yami started, slowly. "This may be pointless, but I need you to tell me where Bakura is?"

"I do not understand this Bakura! Eat this or else!" Kaiba threatened, and once more shoved the lollipop towards Yami.

"Kaiba, please, snap out of it and listen to me!" Yami pleaded, only to have Mokuba step in.

"How dare you speak to his Highness in such a way!?" Mokuba yelled. "He is the King of Miniature. Show your respect, servant!"

King?

Yami sweat-dropped, looking at the lollipop with hesitation. Title aside, this would be considered food, and he already knew that food in this land was nothing but risky. Anything that you consumed was a risk, basically, and he couldn't help but recall Ryou's tears that shrunk him down to door size.

Some could be good, and some were nothing but trouble. But now was not the time for him to take such a gamble.

"I'm sorry, Kaiba-" he started, only to flinch when Mokuba shouted.

"Your Majesty!" Mokuba reminded him, and Yami could still hear the boy's voice bouncing across the room.

Yami sighed, the sight of his biggest rival this way forcing him to give in to the uncharacteristic demand.

"Yes, I'm deeply sorry, your Majesty, but I cannot accept."

"I don't care. Eat it," Kaiba insisted, and Yami once more felt his heart stop when Kaiba then thrusted the lollipop out to him. The candy was almost the size of his head, so surely he would have sustained injuries if he was hit. Thankfully it stopped right before impact, and the close call forced Yami to re-evaluate his decisions.

Which he still refused.

"No," he said firmly, and he was left gaping a little when Kaiba pouted.

It looked like the CEO would have given up, but with one glance at Mokuba, Yami was held down before he knew it in a tight grip, and Kaiba was forcing the lollipop down his mouth.

Just what kind of strength did this kid have?!

After his struggles, and no matter how much he tried to keep his lips firmly together, he ended up licking it. Lips sore and mouth watering, the taste settled. While Kaiba was seemingly satisfied, Yami could only lay on the floor helplessly.

What was going to happen now? Was he going to grow bigger? Smaller? Sprout a tail and ears of his own now?

With an unsettling sensation in his stomach, Yami would soon find out. Without him noticing he started to get bigger just like Ryou did earlier.

It was Kaiba's scream of outrage as his feet knocked into the throne that he finally saw his predicament, and before he knew it his head banged the chandelier while he watched Kaiba and Mokuba who were staring up at him with eyes impossibly wide. Kaiba screamed once more with horror as his throne broke away, and went straight through the wall and on to the lawn. Yami braced himself as he reached the roof, and heard a crack.

"You-! You giant! You're a giant! You've destroyed my castle!" Kaiba shrieked, but Yami paid no mind to him.

He got up on his feet once his growth seemingly stopped, and as he did, fear took over everyone's faces below when he towered above them like a building twenty storeys tall. They all began running for their lives.

"I told you I didn't want it," Yami said, and his voice reverberated through the small village, birds that were settling flying off as if they had heard thunder.

"You will pay for this you, you, unruly giant servant! I'll make you pay back even the last peanut in my castle! Just you watch!" Kaiba continued to holler, and the man came charging forward with a sword. Yami didn't even wince when Kaiba attempted to pierce his shoe, only watching with pity as the sword got stuck and Mokuba having to hold his brother by the hand to run away.

"Sorry, Kaiba," Yami muttered, and with a shake of his head he stepped out of the house as if it were just an oversized cardboard box.

Each step shook the land, so Yami gently shuffled forward not wanting to disturb anyone. But the damage was done. Seeing a crowd rushing towards him with pitchforks was not a good sign. And after having watched Gulliver's Travels with Yugi one too many times, he knew where this might end up and frankly, did not have the time for.

"I'm sorry everyone!" Yami said, and he took off, the village quaking under his feet.

He had to shrink back down if he wanted to find Bakura, and not get chased by an angry mob wherever he went. Definitely. As soon as possible, he prayed, and ducked for cover when even the birds joined in with sticks and stones in their beaks.

As he ran, he again wondered,

"What kind of messed up world is this!?"


Thank you for reading! Reviews are appreciated. :)