Okay, I have to admit I lost interest in this fandom for a while, but finding out that this series made somebody's story alert list had me revisiting the old files on my computer.

This is an older piece, so let me know what you think. Feedback and constructive criticism are welcome, and all flames will be banished to the Shadow Realm.

I own neither Yu-Gi-Oh nor Hellsing. I'm just temporarily borrowing the characters for a little while.

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Bakura never...was afraid of the dark.

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"Explain to me again, yadonushi," the thief said, "why you were planning on leaving the Ring behind."

Ryou squirmed, trying to free himself from the thief's grasp. "My c- " He gasped as Bakura twisted his arm even closer to the breaking point. " - cousin Integra...she's coming to visit this weekend."

"So you want me to hide for the sake of a mere woman?" Bakura released his grip on Ryou's arm and got to his feet. "Keh. You're more pathetic than I thought."

"No," Ryou panted, struggling to sit up. "Integra's...strange. Even by our standards."

"Strange?" Bakura said, "This from the holder of the Milennium Ring, and my own little landlord?"

He nodded. "She just got out of jail. Supposedly tried to assassinate her Majesty."

The thief smirked. "Sounds like my kind of woman."

"Yami, will you listen to me?" Ryou said, "She ran some kind of group that hunted monsters...demons. Mother never really did explain it to me." The spirit's skepticism hung heavy in the air. "Just look at my memories, if you don't believe me."

Bakura never had taken a lot of interest in his other self's past, except where it concerned himself, but he did as his other self asked. After a few brief moments, he sat in the chair at Ryou's desk, his face as white as his hair. "Mother Isis protect us..." he breathed. "Why did you not tell me that she...associated...with that?"

"...Yami? What are you talking about?"

Whatever it was, the thief was utterly rattled. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let Ryou see the terror in his eyes. "Darkness, yadonushi," he said. "Total darkness."

"I thought you were the darkness, Yami," Ryou said. "Why would you be afraid?"

"There are some things," the spirit said, "that even the darkness is afraid of. Her...pet...is one of them." He took a breath, as if to steady himself. "Very well. I will do as you ask. For my sake, if nothing else."

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