Ok, now THIS chapter most definantly continas OOC Theif King, but I say because Bakura was being controlled by Zorc...we don't actually know what he really would've been like. Sure he would've had some psychopathic tendancies, but I take this opportunity to say how I beleive he would've acted.

Be warned of sadness and grief. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from yugioh, including the characters.


Chapter 4 – Pain Beyond Death

Ryou hadn't let go of the Millennium Ring once since he'd last attempted speaking to Bakura. He had a feeling that perhaps Bakura had heard him, even a little. The Ring had been glowing quite brightly at the time. It felt good to get all that off his chest and he meant every word. He hoped that they'd all be stuck there. Well, he didn't really have anything against Kaiba, so maybe not all of them, but he had to have Bakura return. Bakura was the other half of his soul. He didn't even want to think of losing that. Time passed as Ryou moved around the room, occasionally prodding some of the unconscious people to amuse himself. Ryou finally settled at the base of the centred stone tablet. He now found the gaze of the eye to be hypnotic. Suddenly he felt it. More pain from Bakura. Ryou screamed as he felt the life being leeched out of his very soul, like his body was being sifted away. His scream was short lived when the pain abruptly stopped. Ryou was panting, sweat covering his skin.

"Show me Bakura!" he commanded the ring. He closed his eyes and was met with a sight that chilled him to the core. Bakura's clothes lay at the base of the Millennium Tablet, empty. Sand was scattered all around them and farther below stood Yami and some of his Ancient Egyptian allies. Ryou began to shake in anger. He wanted to destroy them all. He bellowed in rage and kicked the stone sheet in front of him, not caring about the pain. He gave each motionless body a good kick too. They hadn't even been there but Ryou felt they deserved it. Ryou sank to his knees and numbly stared at the floor. 'Why did he go? I didn't even say goodbye...'

Before he could shed a tear, the ring glowed brighter than before. Ryou's eyes opened wide as he felt a little bit of new strength returning to him.

Bakura? Are you back? he said, using the mind-link. After getting nothing he used the ring.

Oh please tell me you're alive Bakura! Please! I've already seen you die so many times before. Then Ryou's heart skipped a beat.

I'm here Ryou. I'm back. Ryou released his breath as he heard Bakura's voice through the Ring, releif flowing through his mind.

B-Bakura! Oh I missed you so much! I saw the clothes and the pile of sand and I-I, oh God I was so scared!

I know. I heard what everything you said earlier. I'm sorry I never told you what was going on. I'm sorry for everything I've done, and that I have to do. Ryou was confused.

What do you mean?

It's not over yet. Zorc is not yet released and I've just been told how I have to summon him...


Back in Ancient Egypt Bakura was standing on the Millennium Tablet, all 7 items in place. I'm sorry Ryou. For Zorc to be summoned...I must sacrifice myself. Ryou sat in terrified silence as Bakura stood on the tablet waiting for it to rise from the earth.

No...NO! You can't Bakura! You just can't! Bakura could hear the tears in Ryou's voice.

I'm sorry Ryou. I didn't think this would be required of me. Maybe if you remove the ring you won't feel the pain. Ryou sniffled.

No. We suffer together, no matter how painful. Ryou said stiffly. Bakura admired how determined Ryou was, to feel such great pain.

I'll make them all know how much I hate them. When I scream, I'll make them feel the despair and pain that I have. I'll make them know how it feels to have your soul ripped in two. Ryou said bitterly, anger and pain twisting his features as he cried freely in the chamber.

I'm sorry Ryou. Bakura whispered.

Don't be. It's not your fault. They could both feel the beginning of their miserable seperation.

I love you Bakura. Tears trickled down the Thief King's face as the Millennium Tablet rose into the sky.

I love you too Ryou, no matter how it may have seemed. I always will my sweet hikari. Ryou only had time to shed one more tear before it began. It numbed him at first, like pins and needles swarming all through his body.

The pain suddenly turned into a sharp painful jabbing, like someone had stabbed them both with a board of nails then pulled across their skin and ripped into them. Ryou's free hand flew to his mouth in shock as he cried, trying to fend off the pain. The nails suddenly turned into white hot pokers, burning and searing their insides. Bakura was bearing the torture better than Ryou.

It broke his heart to hear Ryou scream like that. Ryou was clenching the Ring so tightly his fist was shaking as his nails bit into his palms. Just when he thought his lungs were around to burst he found the strength to keep screaming, his hate and determination urging him forward. Bakura couldn't scream anymore as he was bathed in a red light. It was too painful. He could feel the final act of pain approaching and Ryou's screaming getting louder.

Everyone heard it.

All of those who were unconscious in the room, those who were witnessing the resurrection of the Dark God, even Zorc himself heard it. And everyone knew it was Ryou. He wasn't just screaming out of physical pain. He was releasing all his pent-up rage that had been building over the years. Ryou was screaming at Yami, Yugi, Tea, Joey, Tristan...all of them.

As the pain reached its peak Ryou's brain pounded against his skull and his lungs were at breaking point. The burning intensified as it moved through his heart.

I'll find you again Bakura, if it's the last thing I do! Ryou bellowed through the Ring-link.

I don't doubt it for a second. I love you Ryou.

I know you do. He replied, his voice getting fainter and fainter.

The last image Bakura saw of Ryou was him on the floor on the old chamber on his knees, holding onto the ring for dear life and screaming, tears flowing. Then Ryou and Bakura were separated and any form of link they had was gone. Ryou's cry ended to be replaced by an eerie silence. His eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed, the Millennium Ring rolling out of his hands. He didn't care the outcome of the battle between Zorc and the Pharaoh. Bakura was gone. The world no longer mattered to him.

He closed his eyes and succumbed to the darkness, half hoping he would die, just to see Bakura again.


I just realised how flipping sad this fic is.

Remind me to stick to sappy ones with happy endings, unless i do a good job.

Anyway as always, please R&R.

I welcome comments and suggestions, even though I'm stubborn and probably won't use them. It's always good to know what I can improve upon. ^^

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