Legacy of a Nightmare: Ryou's Tale
Blessings of the god in Solitude.
~*~
Hallo, everyone. Hoping you're well-sorry it took me so long to update once again! Whew.
Things in this chapter are going to be slightly...irregular. The nun is actually based on one of my loving old teachers who had the personality to boot. Lol. *Kidding.* ^^
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh. Point and simple.
Ryou is being extremely gullible (Or just innocent; seeing as how he's lost any companionship other then a deranged ornament hanging around his neck....the poor little dear...D:) and, in this chapter, things are just going to get worse.
*Sighs. Well, let's get on with it, shall we?*
~*~
Quote:
"Don't cry.
Give me your heart, and I will free you.
Give me your heart, and I will save you.
Give me your heart and feel fear, pain, and hurt no more.
I will make it all stop."
(Ever really noticed how creepy that quote is? *Shudders.*
The creamy eyelids quietly closed over the soft emerald orbs as the porter fussily began to untie Ryou's few belongings from the top of the cab, occasionally muttering words to himself that Ryou faintly remembered Mother classifying as "No-no" words. What exactly did they mean?
Ah, well. The boy swallowed, heart still continuing to thud as violently as ever beneath his small ribcage, the Millenium Ring trembling in sympathy for each synchronised beat.
He swallowed with difficulty. He faintly wondered whether or not he was going to be sick....
....again. Ryou had been nauceous more then once on the long trip that had concluded with him coming to this place-which, after peering up at the grim, starkly alabaster walls fitted into the debonair foundation of the marble brick, looked rather like the morgue he'd been forced to visit after Amane and Mother had....
...........
................
.....he certainly was not going to begin thinking about that.
He closed his eyes, unconciously sweeping up petite hands to his chest cavity, pressing the metal underneath his royal blue sweater closer to his shuddering flesh, closing his eyes as Bakura began to funnel reassurance into his body once again.
On the way here, Bakura had constantly kept up the gentle stream-only to at last note, after two hours had adjourned-that it was not being successful in warding off Ryou's anxiety, and, with a slight huff of frustration, he'd given up.
The touch of the Ring was the closest thing he could get to hugging another sentiment being-metalloid or flesh-that would not freeze against him or push him away angrily. It was the main reason Ryou never consented to taking the Ring off, anymore.
He'd grown so accostomed to Bakura's prescence in his mind, that Ryou was now quite unwilling to ever let go of the Spirit that began to take residence in his subconcious with the construction of his "chamber".....whatever that meant.
Ryou found it rather difficult to care, however. His desperate phobia of being left alone once again was more potent then ever, and, he held Bakura's sunconcious tightly within his own, for fear that Bakura might cease to hold his own subconcious in an almost painfully tight embrace, interlocking inbetween tendril and tear.
The little boy cast a glance at his gleaming shoes that were a little large for him, biting his lip as he did so, creamy hands squeezing against the front of his chest once again, pressing the Ring in closer to himself. He knew the pointy bits of the piece would leave small marks against his skin, but he couldn't care less about that.
It was a regular habit he had fallen into these days-the press of the reassuring cold-sometimes warm-metal against his soft, pitifully small stomach and chest was a comfort. It was the closest thing he could come upon to actually physically embrace the boy who resided in the Ring-and the throbbing of the metallic heartbeat that belonged to the Ring was more then reassuring.
But now.....
Ryou cast a glance up at the building, face rapidly turning to cement again as the driver triumphantly freed the boy's valise, and sent it crashing to the ground.
Ryou paid it no heed, questions continuing to flood through his mind like rapidfire.
Would there be anyone nice here? Would he get along with his teachers?
Would classes be easy enough? Was the food good?
The boy's tiny hands readily clenched into fists.
.....would Ryou make any friends?
~*~
A slight hiss, and Ryou started slightly as Bakura began to whisper from inside Ryou's conciousness once again.
Why do you worry about that? You have me. Is that not good enough?
The boy blinked for a minute, ducking as one of his suitcases came flying towards him. The driver was still having slight trouble.
For the first time that day, Ryou managed a slight smile as he quickly fired back in a slight whisp of thought-
'...of course it is, Kura. I just thought it would be nice to have someone else to play with us.' Ryou thought for a minute or so.
'I can introduce you to them, and then, the three or more of us can-'
No.
The boy doubled back at Bakura's abrupt answer. Since when was the spirit so short with him?
After a brief period of silence, Bakura hastily began to rectify in the bewildered boy's mind:
.....your father gave you to you, and only you, little one, he ammended, voice toning back to gentle diplomacy once again.
I don't want you to share me with anyone. Quite frankly, I'd rather not share YOU with anyone.
Bakura halted in midspeech for a moment or two.
It will only bring cause for heartbreak, my dear Ryou, he warned, Ryou unable to hear the threat behind his tone.
The child only blinked as the driver released the final suitcase with a triumphant, "A-HA!" as he sent it spinning to the ground, looking ready to dance an impromptu jig.
Ryou turned his head to the side, feeling, for the first time, rather skeptical.
'C'mon, Kura....you can learn to share. You'll always be my best friend-but we can play more games with more then two people.' After glanicng back at the building once again, Ryou's frame shook violently, but he set his jaw into a determined pout.
'We can do this, Bakura. You ready?'
Silence. Ryou might have detected a sigh-but he supposed that was his imagination.
....if you say so, my dear boy. Just a warning...you may be, as you put it-'singing a different tune soon enough.'
As Ryou uncertainly scurried his way up the steps-taking little heed of the early morning sunshine-he paused as soon as he reached the door.
The porter had promised that he would take Ryou's luggage up to his dormitory soon enough-after advising that the kid seriously take a Tums or an aspirin. Honestly, the kid just couldn't seem to stop clutching at his stomach. It was really a little unnerving, but, seeing as his car seats were no longer in danger of being defiled by the contents in Ryou's stomach, he supposed he could let it slide.
The small boy closed his eyes.
And, hand still pressed over the metal against his heart, one hand uncertainly reached for the door, and then faltered as slowly, Bakura's pervious words drifted into his mind....
It will only bring cause for heartbreak, my dear Ryou.
Ryou shook his head frantically. Honestly. Kura seriously needed to learn how to think positive. It certainly wouldn't kill the poor spirit.
Nonetheless, he was feeling the Earth spin around himself as the boy bit the inside of his mouth, mentally counting to ten before a quivering hand reached for the elegant handle of the academy's front door.
~*~*~
The thin body slowly dragged itself out of the bed, pulling a small sheet around himself as he did so, albeit with a slight wince as he noted an unconcious Bakura turn slightly in his sleep, a small frown creasing his brow as he unconciously noted Ryou's absence.
But be it a few hours or a few seconds, any free time to rest his exhausted subconcious was well and good for the thin teenager, who managed a slight smile as Bakura turned slightly in his slumber, grumbling.
Nonetheless, he still silently turned, and vacated the bedroom.
As the teenage boy made his way down the flight of steps, blankly staring at nothing particular, his mind was only set upon two things-tea, and a few sleeping pills. Honestly, he couldn't take it anymore.
As Ryou reached the bottom step-and felt his stomach rumble slightly, he sheepishly concluded a snack might not be the worst thing, either.
~*~*~
It was late. The wraiths of the witching hour were readily crowing their slumber as the boy wearily glanced at the windowpane.
And, glancing at the small clock steadily perched on the nearby kitchen countertop only reinforced his exhaustion. Two A.M.
At least there wasn't any school, tomorrow. Perhaps, if he were to rest once his mind cleared or the sedatives took affect....or, went to Mr. Moto's Gameshop.....
Glancing at his still thin body, knowing...and feeling-the fine, blade point edges still painlessly (Unless, of of course, Bakura rectified that) that, underneath his pajama front, the spikes of the Millenium Ring were still sunk deep into his alabaster flesh. He shook his head, slightly.
Hopefully, Bakura would pay no mind, and simply sleep through the night....and, perhaps, Ryou could bore him to sleep for the rest of the following day. Baking, cooking, or reading a novel often did that for the thief.
Speaking of cooking......
The boy glanced at his plate-where a steaming croissant and bubbling, porcelain teacup awaited....alongside two sleeping tablets Ryou hoped immensely would settle his aching stomach and throbbing head. Sleep was all the graceful oblivion he could take.
Ryou sheepishly tugged the darjeeling tea to his lips, sighing slightly as he lowered it once again.
Why wouldn't the memories leave him be? Why wouldn't they cease to torment him?
The boy clenched his hand into a fist, readily feeling his nails begin to sink into the flesh of his palms-near the plain crescent that was the scar still marking his skin.
He buried his face in his hands once again, biting back the whimper longing to break free from his mouth.
It HAD started it all. Even if Karo's....abrupt....resignation had not triggered it.....
.....something certainly had done so.....
~*~
"Class."
The old woman in the black habit impatiently gestured to the small, quivering boy in front of the classroom.
"This is a new sinner here to join your groveling ranks, so treat him nicely. Or don't," She added, in a slight afterthought.
"I don't much care. Now, Ryan?" she asked, turning her pale face towards the still remarkably white Ryou, whose knees were about to buckle as he at last managed to speak:
"....ah.....i-it's R-Ryou, ma'am-"
The woman's face blanched, and she tapped her yardstick threateningly from her loose grip, forehead gnarling into a scowl.
"Did I give you EXPRESS permission to speak, Ricky?"
The boy opened his mouth, but no words would flutter out from where he perched-like a frightened bunny-in a snowstorm in a sea of unfamiliar faces peering intently at him. His fingertips made a beeline for his sweatervest, pressing the metal underneath the thin, pristine clothing to his heart.
The nun sighed.
"Ronald, you will take care to remember that I am Sister Agnes."
She loomed menacingly in front of the quivering boy.
"And, if you have anything to say to me now, say it-because if I hear so much as a SQUEAK from you for the rest of the year-!" she barked, looking extremely irritated once again.
Ryou just nodded once again. Huh. His Aunt too, was named Agnes....if only in middle name, but that was hardly worth being brought up just right now.
Agnes nodded in return.
"Keeping quiet, eh? Best, child. Now, take your seat. It's time for Math."
The woman picked up her yardstick, and swung it at the blackboard with a slight CRACK. Everyone jumped.
"If Barbara has fourteen apples and Nicky has nine, how many hours of repentance must be done to make up for their gluttony?
It really had not gotten any better. Elegant the establishment was-pristine and stiff his new dormitory was (The executives of this place had given the child a tour) Ryou had to sigh as he made his journey across the room to his new seat.
Hopefully, it could only get better. Unaware of the eyes boring holes into him, the boy silently made his way to his seat, unaware of the giggles the class were softly emanating as he did so. One boy raised a hazel eyebrow from behind the small child as he sat down, and resisted a snicker as he carefully pinned a small sign to Ryou's jacket:
Old Witch
Heh. The new kid was so girly.....Yagasha snickered.
He was going to enjoy THIS semester....!
~*~*~
Most unfortunately for Yagasha, Bakura flickered from inside the Ring.
And the metal began to pulse.
