Holy freaking views. I'm a bit overwhelmed, people. So this story officially continues for at least a few more chapters.
I'd like to post an official thank you to all those who favourited/ alerted this. You know who you are.
And to my reviewer, Lightmagegirl4437. You're right on both counts. I really think I could have used more evil. And mixed in some evil, after adding a dash of… you guessed it… cornflakes! Nah, I'm just yanking your chain, its evil.
I do not own Yugioh. Or the Talamasca. Read The Witching Hour. May be the greatest book written. Oh, I also don't own the doctors. Lets see who recognises them.
Chapter 3
Ryou and Yugi slurped soup contentedly, Ryou attempting to do so with his left, un-bandaged hand.
"So, what class is your project for?" Yugi asks between spoonfuls.
"Pardon, my what?" Ryou asks, confused. Behind Yugi, out of the teen's line of sight but perfectly visible to Ryou, Bakura rolls his eyes.
"Your project? You know, that one?" Yugi nods toward the altar.
"Oh, of course, that project. Um, its for… my… history class?" Ryou stammers.
"Wow, you guys are already on the Medieval Witch burnings? We're still stuck on ancient Greece. There are more civil wars to cover than any other civilization we've gone over yet. I keep getting acropolis and Herodotus confused…" Yugi launches into a heated monologue complaining about the writings of acropolis.
The phone rings, interrupting his description of Troy. Ryou sighs as he gets up to answer it. He's actually enjoying having Yugi over. Its nice, being with someone who will carry on a civil conversation. Someone so naive, they can look upon the evil altar of evil and see nothing wrong at all.
A professional voice speaks over the phone. "Is this Ryou Bakura?"
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"Mrs. Pots' records indicate that you were the last student to see her before her breakdown. We would like you to come to the hospital, there are a few questions we would like to ask. Tell the receptionist at the front desk who you are, she'll send you up."
"Oh, alright. I'll be right there." Ryou hangs up as the line goes dead.
"I'm going to the hospital, Yugi. They want to ask me about the nurse." Ryou says quietly.
"I'm going with you. You might need a friend."
In the mirror across the hall, Bakura appears. Behind the glass, he smiles.
…...
Ryou places a hand gently over the school Nurse's cold forehead. Her eyes continue to stare blankly forward, despite numerous attempts to close them. When it was tried, her lids simply slid open slowly, with autonomous slowness.
"Now, did you notice any symptoms? Anything that might have indicated something was wrong?" A doctor in a white lab coat asked, his accent distinctly Australian.
"No, she seemed fine." Ryou responded.
"Did you bring anything into the room with you that might have caused an allergic reaction?" A bald black doctor asked, looking up from his clipboard.
"Um, no?" Ryou says, after thinking a moment.
An attractive brunette rushes into the room just then. "I didn't find anything at the apartment." She shoots a look at Ryou.
"Any luck with him?"
"No."
"People don't just suddenly fall into a coma for no reason." Another doctor states, limping into the room, supporting one leg with a cane.
"Lets do obscure and highly illegal tests on her to determine what her illness isn't."
"Its… crowded in here. I'm going now." Ryou comments, backing out of the hospital room slowly. Yugi was waiting at the front desk for him after all.
Ryou reaches the reprieve of the hallway. He looks back at the room. If he was somehow responsible for this…
"Hello, Ryou. I was wondering, is this the room of Mrs. Pots?" A gentleman asks, speaking in a distinct British accent, much like Ryou's.
"Yes, may I ask who you are? I don't believe we've met." Ryou questions suspiciously. A stranger knowing your name is rarely a good sign.
"Oh, I'm Gregory. Gregory Winehurd." He offers a hand, and Ryou grabs it, shaking formally.
Gregory's eyes narrow.
"You know what? Here's my card. You can contact me if you discover anything about this unusual situation, or if you just want to talk. I am a part of an organization, one might say we collect ghost stories. True ones, at any rate."
Ryou took the card without thinking.
It said
Talamasca.
We watch, and we are always here.
Ryou moved to pocket the card. Bakura, transparent yet present, placed a hand over Ryou's.
*Throw it away.*
Ryou glared at him, speaking aloud without thinking. "Why? What does it matter to you?"
Bakura grins. *It looks like I'll have to teach you another lesson on the subject of obedience…*
Ryou trembles, looking away. The strange man is staring at him, concern and understanding written in his face. Ryou's mouth drops open, and he does the only thing he can think to do. He runs. The paper drifts away on the breeze, settling on the floor. A strange wind catches it, wafting it out the window. The little card is swept down someone's chimney against all laws of physics, and is promptly incinerated. The ashes then flush themselves down a toilet.
"You do know I have more of those, don't you spirit?" The man says aloud to the empty air, chuckling.
He gasps a moment later, as his pocket spontaneously combusts. He hastily pulls his jacket off and stomps on it, trying to put out the flame. The sprinklers start.
"Why didn't you do that with the other one?"
Bakura chuckles demonically in the man's ear. "I didn't know I could. Stay away, scholar"
…...
Meanwhile, at the front desk, Yugi sits on a chair and swings his legs back and forth.
"Tell me again why I can't go up there?" He asks the secretary.
"Because the doctor forbade it." She responds curtly.
"That doesn't even make sense!" Yugi grumbled.
*Is it really a good idea to let Bakura of all people up there? I tell you, Yugi, something is going on.* Yami insists.
/you don't think he's responsible, do you? You banished the ring's evil./
*Yes, I did. Multiple times. Because he keeps coming back, Yugi.*
/point taken. But still, why?/
*Because he's just crazy, Yugi. And he enjoys causing others pain.*
/I still think he had nothing to do with it./
*believe what you will, I'm still keeping our eyes open. Did you see that clearly evil altar?*
/school project, Yami. You really have to stop being so paranoid./
Just then, Ryou came to a halt in front of them, breathing heavily.
"Ryou, what happened, is everything alright? Why are you running?" Yugi asks, panicky.
Ryou looks confused. "I'm not really sure… crazy doctors… British guy… card… lets just get out of here, shall we?"
Just then, the sprinklers turn on.
Well, good times? I can't help but mix a little humour in there. I'm thoroughly enjoying writing this, I hope you all like reading it.