"Bakura are you okay?" Mr. Taylor questioned as he cradled an arm around the teen.
Ryou stared at James with an odd mixture of hate and sadness in his eyes.
The detective was abruptly ushered out of the room, mouthing a lingering threat to the teen on his way out.
Robert studied the living room letting out a small 'my god' at the state it was in.
"Can you stand?" He asked Ryou cautiously and as much as Ryou wanted to shout out that he wasn't an invalid he merely nodded and allowed himself to be pulled up from the floor and placed into an armchair.
He could tell that Robert was struggling with what to do, the guy had probably never had to deal with a weeping teenager before, he was sure Tristan hadn't cried since he was a baby. The brunette was too strong to shed tears, let alone have a complete emotional breakdown as Ryou was having now.
"It is mandatory that you come to the police station with us...after what we just walked in on...I have questions." The older man commented, his eyes never leaving Ryou.
"I under...understand." Ryou hiccupped through his hysterical cries, his mind remained blurred as he was placed into the police car, his body easily moved around and manipulated by the officers surrounding him.
The white haired teen's eyes glazed over as the blue and red lights from the police cars reflected in his brown orbs.
/
A cup of steamy tea was placed in front of Ryou as he sat in a questioning room at the police headquarters.
He wrapped his bony fingers around the plastic cup and revelled in the feeling of the too hot liquid rapidly warming his fingers, he was almost tempted to pour the steaming drink over his hand but he was sure that would assist the officers in thinking he was crazy.
Robert Taylor took a seat opposite Ryou his knees drawn together with his hands gently resting on them.
"For the benefit of the tape could you please state your name?" He questioned fluidly as if he had spoken the sentence one too many times.
Hell he was a cop, he probably had.
"Ryou Bakura."
He was asked questions about the night of Fredrick's murder- he made sure to answer in a relatively similar fashion as to which he had answered James.
Then the questions about that night began.
"Do you know how Detective Matthews could have entered your home without a key?"
"He must have used some sort of unlocking device; I don't have any spare keys."
"I see. Can you talk us through exactly what happened from the moment you woke up this morning."
"I had a shower, then I went to the cinema with Tristan and Robert-"
"Please specify the times of these events Mr. Bakura."
Ryou sighed before starting again.
"8:30 – I had a shower then I got dressed, 9:10 I spoke to Tristan Taylor we arranged to go to the cinema. I arrived at his house at 10:10." Ryou continued the droning monologue of his day.
"Tristan and I went for a walk then I had dinner round yours that was until 9:00, your son gave me a lift home and the moment I walked in I noticed someone was in the house."
"If you knew someone was in the house why didn't you run away or call the police, perhaps a friend?
"I didn't think of it at the time." Ryou answered meekly.
The questions continued and the teens mind and speech both blurred as exhaustion became apparent.
They were done?
They were finally done and he could go home.
/
Sweet sweet pain and blood.
The teen realises he's never felt more content.
He numbly feels warm broad hands touching him all over desperately brushing his hair off of his tear stricken cheeks.
He dimly hears a familiar voice beckoning him to wake up.
But then he hears his sister's voice and the warm hands and masculine voice are forgotten.
/
The white haired teen slowly opened his eyes, his surroundings unfamiliar however the aura of the place seemed mundane, it reminded him of his soul room.
An alluring whisper caused him to turn around his breath catching violently when he saw his sister. No words were exchanged Ryou closed the small space between them, throwing his arms around his sister and holding her tight.
The teen gasped, a high inhale of breath before he pulled away ran his hands down his sister's face then hugged her once again.
She looked exactly the same. Beautiful rotund emerald eyes, high cheek bones and luscious long white locks. It was as if she had never left.
"How are you here?" Ryou finally managed to ask.
"That's not important right now." She replied her voice hollow and soft.
Amane took a hold of Ryou's hand before they began walking.
They were in a garden of some sorts, the thriving green grass tickling the bottom of his bare feet.
Pink sakura trees surrounded them and Ryou found himself detesting them less than usual as they were a contrast of blue and pink rather than yellow and pink.
"This isn't real is it?" Ryou whispered when they finally stopped walking.
They stopped at a small aquamarine stream; Ryou's sister knelt down before skimming her fingers through the water.
"That's not important right now either."
"How is it I'm able to see you?" Her brother questioned.
"I'm here to talk to you about Bakura."
Ryou frowned.
"What about him?" The white haired teen questioned confused.
"You can't trust him. You shouldn't have gone looking for the necklace when it was thrown away at Pegasus's castle." Amane practically scolded Ryou.
He blinked before his frown deepened.
"How do you know all of this?"
"That's not important."
"How do you expect me to trust you when you are giving me no answers?" Ryou gloomily questioned his heart heavy in his chest, after all this time he was finally able to see his sister and they'd done nothing except disagree.
"I'm your sister."
"And I'm your brother and I'm telling you that there's nothing to fear from Bakura...he's my friend."
His sister sighed a wistful sound that seemed out of place coming out from her young features.
"Really? A friend who would leave you when you needed him the most? He let that detective tear you apart before his very eyes and all he did in return was shake his head at your actions."
Ryou stood still in silent shock. He didn't know what to say, he loved his sister but he was utterly inexplicably devoted to Bakura. They had made plans and what kind of a man would Ryou be if he broke the promises in which he made with the spirit.
"I don't have much time." Amane whispered urgently as their surroundings became tainted with dark colours.
"What's happening?" Ryou asked as he closed the space between himself and his sister.
"It's time for me to leave."
"What!" Ryou exclaimed, his harsh tone forcing some of the shadows away from them.
"Time is precious my dear brother and I am currently lacking any. I'm overdue as it is but I had to see you. I had to warn you."
"Warn me of what?"
"Bakura-"
Ryou shook his head frantically his eyes squeezed shut as a frown creased his forehead.
"Not this again please Bakura is my friend...no he's more than that were one in the same-"
His sister grimaced and Ryou had to swallow heavily because he couldn't believe his sister could ever look at him like that.
"Please don't think like that Ryou, you're nothing alike. He's evil to his very core there's nothing humane left about him. He will drag you down with him to the pits of hell. Stay away from him." His sister warned once again sounding way beyond her years.
Her form began to disintegrate before his eyes and before he knew it Ryou was crying.
"This will be the last time you see me...so I want you to know that me and mum miss you so terribly. You're better than the life your subjecting yourself to brother remember that."
The teen shook his head unwilling to admit to himself that this was it. She was leaving him...again.
Ryou threw his arms around his sister and sobbed when he felt his arms closing until eventually all he held was the air.
/
"Mr. Taylor – Robert you've worked with me for eight years, have known me for even longer. You of all people should know it wasn't my intention to hurt the boy. What you walked in on ... it was... I had no other choice. "
"You always have a choice- you abide by the law."
James set his jaw in a tight line.
"It's not that simple." The younger detective mumbled.
"Then please by all means...enlighten me." Robert communicated.
Matthews sighed before gazing up at his superior.
"He confessed, he admitted to me that he killed Fredrick."
Robert tensed slightly but other than that made no outward indication of the effect those words had on him.
"Do you have any evidence of this confession?" The other male questioned.
"No...but." Matthews paused sighing.
"I swear put him through a lie detector test, we'll get the answers we need, you'll see."
"You of all people should know that the tests aren't one hundred percent accurate therefore cannot be used as a means for evidence in an investigation. " James knew Robert was right but that didn't stop him from being any less frustrated.
"Search his house! You'll find all the knives he has. There covered in blood!"
Robert flinched back at the hysterical demands of one of his men. This wasn't the James he'd known. This person was irrational and careless the man he knew was considerate and hardworking.
Mr. Taylor silently reached over the table to the recorder that sat in the middle of the table between them.
He pressed the pause button.
"James I'm saying this not as you're superior but as you're friend. What we walked in on earlier..." Robert shut his eyes, a thick tight frown forming on his face before he opened them again.
"It's not something that can be easily discarded. An internal investigation is starting not only will your position here at the police department be questioned but so will mine for allowing the situation to go this far. A civilian was physically harmed – a child at that, he's not even seventeen yet. We're lucky he isn't pressing charges." Mr. Taylor allowed himself a moment to collect himself sucking in a shuddering breath.
"The investigation team will decide whether or not you're allowed to keep your job, the decision goes beyond me – I'm merely a witness. So I'm begging you please drop this suspecting Bakura nonsense and concentrate on proving your own innocence."
James lifted his grey orbs locking the slate like irises' with brown eyes.
"I'm not doing anything until that kid's sent to jail." Matthews stated with conviction.
"James-"
"He murdered my brother!"
Both detectives sat in silence the air thick with unanswered questions.
Robert sighed before reaching for the tape recorder. He pressed record.
"Where did you put the weapons you found in Mr. Bakura's apartment?"
James raised an eyebrow; finally they were getting somewhere.
/
Ryou stopped crying long ago, his tear ducts stinging with the ache of having used them so much.
It was hard to remember much of anything that happened before he had appeared in his soul room.
He remembers pain no matter how gratifying it was it burned, stung his pores and seared his muscles.
He remembers cutting his wrist, not for fun - for the kill this time. Deep vertical cuts. Yet he knew he was alive, if he were dead he wouldn't be in his soul room. The only question was where his other half was.
The white haired teen walked, not really knowing his destination. The garden he was in with his sister beforehand had disintegrated along with her - or the cheap imitation of her Ryou's mind had thought up.
He sighed gazing at the odd black swirls of air moving around him. Through the blackness he found a spot of white. His heart thumped loudly once before he stepped forward.
It was him.
Bakura.
Ryou's eyes softened, the thief was standing in the middle of the blackness his back slouched somewhat with a thoughtful look on his face.
The teen sighed with relief- he hadn't lost his other half.
He hollered Bakura's name, catching the attention of the spirit before running toward him.
The lost almost peaceful expression faded from the thief's face, one of anger replaced it.
The white haired teen never stopped his descent he continued until he was standing in front of his other half.
Bakura sneered lifting his fist before thinking better of it, shifting his arm so it rested by his side once again.
"I would hit you if you didn't like it so dammed much." The ancient spirit angrily confessed.
"If it'll make you feel bet-"
The boy didn't get a chance to finish as Bakura had delivered a sharp uppercut to his jaw.
Ryou's head flew back with a sickening crack.
He slammed his mouth shut as vibrations of pain wracked his jaw line.
"You're right... it did make me feel better." Bakura said as he drew his hand back to his person.
Ryou feeling like his gums were bleeding simply looked back up at Bakura.
He opened his mouth slightly testing how much movement he was capable of.
"I'm sorry." The teen finally managed to say.
"I'm sure to say something cruel if I speak so just shut up until I calm down."
The teen didn't need to be told twice. Realising the floor was solid he sat down upon it pulling his knees up to his chest as he watched the swirling air darken around himself and Bakura.
/
The white haired teen felt a harsh slap across his face, the resonating pain awoke him from his temporary slumber. He opened his eyes to reveal his darker half leaning over him, his expression tight and his lip twitching.
"I know you want to laugh." Ryou mumbled sleepily, his words acting as a flood gate as once they were spoken the thief chuckled.
"It was just too tempting..." The thief retorted leaning backward, but not before grasping Ryou's top and pulling the boy up into a sitting position.
"How long are we going to be in here?" Ryou sighed deeply as he rubbed his eyes.
"This is your fault." Bakura grumbled.
"Because of your insistent need to hurt yourself your foolish friend has brung us to a hospital, they seem to have doused us with something, my theory says morphine seeing as I can't seem to break through to your body."
"You mean you can battle illnesses and fatal wounds but a bit of morphine and your helpless."
"I am not helpless." The thief growled.
They were silent as Bakura slowly paced the dark room.
The thief crossed his arms over his chest before gazing down at Ryou's seated form.
"Disobey me like that again and I will kill you." The spirit voiced honestly.
He didn't need to specify what he was talking about. Ryou already knew. Bakura told him not to slit his wrists and he did.
"I was angry-"
"I don't want excuses; you have no idea how long I've waited to exact my revenge I won't allow your need for emotional comfort to get in my way."
Ryou felt like he was on a merry go round, destined to forever travel in circles, Bakura and himself had had this conversation many times before. Ryou disobeyed yet the spirit was yet to dispose of him. One could only wonder why.
"I'll try harder Bakura, I swear."
"When we get out of this mess, I'm going to call upon a contact of mine, she has acquaintances in the shadow realm I'm sure they can aid us in our troubles with Shadi, not without something in return of course but whatever the price it will be small to pay because once we have the items we'll be unstoppable. "
"Who is she?" Ryou whispered as he watched Bakura uncoil from his tight posture.
"A demon."
The small teen's eyes widened.
"A demon...impossible."
"What have I told you?" Bakura frowned.
"Nothings..." The thief began.
Bakura approached and knelt before Ryou, grasping the teens hand before resting it above his necklace.
"...Impossible." They both finished.
/
Ryou's body twitched as his stomach curled uncomfortably, after the wave of dizziness had passed he registered the thin gown that had replaced his jeans. He then noticed his lack of an undergarment – he blushed. Where the fuck were his boxers. He exhaled breathily as he realised that if he was in hospital they would have had to of cut the material he was sure must have been covered in his blood. He liked those boxers too.
He struggled to open his eyes, they felt incredibly heavy and he could distinctly feel the stinging pain that was running up his arm in sharp jolts as a result of the needle placed beneath his skin that was attached to an I.V drip - the needle most likely attached to a bag of blood and something to keep him hydrated.
The teen felt something cradled within his hand, he rubbed his thumb against the object and came to the conclusion that it was a button - most likely it was a controller that allowed him to pump more morphine into his system if he were in pain.
Ryou resisted the urge, his arm was stinging and itching beneath the confines of tight bandages and his head was aching from the many tears he'd spilt. Bakura would be angry with him if he pressed the button, even more so than he was now.
The white haired boy finally managed to open his eyes to reveal a dark room, he couldn't see much just the outline of a curtain draped around his bed – the least they could do was give him a private room for Pete's sake.
There was no one by his bedside which wasn't surprising in itself – it was obviously too late for visiting hours, the hospital wouldn't make an exception. But then again who would want to see him? Those who already knew about his little 'mishap' would probably feel awkward being around a suicidal teenager.
The boy was tired and in no fit state or mood to riddle himself with questions that would remain unanswered, with half lidded eyes Ryou pressed his thumb onto the button and sinked into the mattress as the numbing drug entered his system.
/
Ryou finally awoke after – to him an unbeknownst amount of time. He opened his eyes a slither to reveal it was daytime.
He heard a startled intake of breath beside him before he heard a voice beckoning for a nurse.
He moaned softly at his itchy stitches and too tight bandages.
The boy turned his head unable to suppress his smile when he saw Tristan perched in the chair beside his bed.
Soft, podgy hands softly manoeuvred his head to face the women in front of him.
Leaning over him was a plain looking frumpy nurse in a pale blue dress, streams of odd white stitching loose over the fabric.
"Mr. Bakura my names Nancy you're at Domino city north wing hospital. How are you feeling?"
Ryou looked to Tristan only to discover the teen was no longer in the battered dark green armchair.
The white haired teen found Tristan standing at the end of the bed piercing him with an angry glare. Ryou had to stare, then blink and then stare some more because surely someone like Tristan was incapable of looking at another with such animosity.
Confusion struck with smaller teen hard and he could only wonder what he had done to make the other teen so angry with him.
Suddenly Tristan shook his head and averted his eyes before exiting the room.
Ryou gasped before moving to sit up, that was until Nancy placed a hand on his shoulder, gently pressing him back onto the bed.
"Mr. Bakura I'm afraid you can't go anywhere at the moment not with your stitches and medication."
Ryou winced; yeah he gathered that by the sharp pull he got from the needle in his fucking arm.
"Are you feeling okay?" The blonde nurse softly asked.
"Hurts." Ryou whispered his eyes on the door the brunette had just exited through.
"What hurt's honey?"
A gap of silence.
"Everything."
/
Ryou begins to get agitated, tired of the repetitive process that is the nurses coming in checking his drip, checking the clip folder at the end of his bed asking if he's oaky then leaving.
No he's not okay he just wants to get the hell out of here.
Get away from the sickening overpowering scent of disinfectant. Get away from the clammy air and ill people on the beds beside him.
A red headed doctor approaches Ryou, the man dressed in a long white jacket.
The doctor smiles, reaching for the clipboard at the end of Ryou's bed. He lifts it, inspects it for a moment before scribbling something over it then placing it down again.
"How are you feeling?"
Rope.
Neck.
Hang.
"Good." Ryou answered abruptly.
"You're body has responded well to the blood we provided you with and your arm shows no sign of infection, so we can discharge you tomorrow morning however we'll have to provide you with some pain medication."
"The pain killer I'll be providing you with is called Co-codamol , you will need to take two Co-codamol tablets three times a day. A how to manual will be provided with the tablets so make sure you read it."
The white haired teen nodded his head throughout the doctor's requests and explanation's.
"Nancy will book you a follow up appointment with us so we can check the progress of your healing."
"I understand, thank you." Ryou answered curtly sighing at how ridiculously boring that conversation had just been.
He could just get Bakura to heal him; he didn't need all these ridiculous appointments.
Nancy walked over to Ryou informing him he had a visitor.
"Who?" Ryou questioned somewhat eagerly.
"You're nice friend Tristan he's been here non –stop the past couple of days."
"Oh..."
The nurse either missed or ignored Ryou's reluctance as she left his bedside and told Tristan he could enter.
The brunette entered the ward silently walking past all the other beds until he reached Ryou.
About to take a seat Tristan paused before shutting the curtains around Ryou's bed secluding them only then did he finally take a seat dropping his backpack to the floor beside his feet.
"Hi." The white haired teen voiced quietly his bandaged arm resting across his stomach.
"How's the arm?" Tristan asked his back straight and rigid in the chair.
"Better." Ryou whispered.
"Did you...did you bring me here that night." It was vague but Tristan knew what the other teen was talking about.
"I found you..." Tristan frowned.
"I found you bleeding on the floor. My old man rang me said you were stressed or some shit, he wasn't telling me the whole story but he said you probably needed some company and when I got there it was just well you know." The pointy haired teen sounded indifferent and it hurt.
"I should thank you..." Ryou began.
"No need." Tristan breathed edging back as Ryou's hand moved toward him.
The white haired teen frowned.
"What's the matter?" He asked.
"My mum will be here to pick you up tomorrow; the doctors said you're free to leave then."
If that wasn't trying to avoid the subject Ryou didn't know what was.
Although it did work.
"Why is your mum picking me up?"
"You're only sixteen, still considered a minor so you'll need an adult present when you sign out so the hospital knows you have someone who can take you home."
"Oh..."
The brunette failed to mention Ryou's father, he wondered if anybody had tried to contact him or if his father simply didn't care enough to see his son in hospital.
They fell silent and Ryou curled in on himself, this wasn't the type of reunion with Tristan he was expecting.
"We're friends aren't we Bakura?"
To say the question caught Ryou off guard was an understatement.
He frowned before straightening up in the bed as much as he could.
"Of course we are Tristan."
The brunette nodded inclining his head when he heard a violent cough resonate from the bed next to them.
The white haired teen stretched his hand resting it within Tristan's palm before moving their hands onto the bed, resting them by his hip.
Tristan skimmed his thumb over Ryou's knuckles.
"And friends don't lie to each other right?" The brunette questioned slowly as if giving Ryou a chance to admit to something he had been hiding.
He had hid a lot.
The white haired teen swallowed thickly, Tristan could be talking about anything. Every worst case scenario ran through Ryou's head. There were so many lies built around his life he was unsure of which one Tristan might or might not be talking about.
"No friends don't lie to each other."
The brunette released a laugh through his nose; there was nothing comical about the sound just a haunting emptiness.
The tanned teen released Ryou's hand before standing bringing his backpack with him.
He rested the bag on the bed by Ryou's legs before undoing the zip on it.
Tristan's hand delved inside and Ryou's breathing paused as his overactive imagination began working once again.
But Tristan pulling a rocket launcher out of his backpack was completely ridiculous. Or was it?
The white haired teens pause for breath turned into a sharp gasp when Tristan's hand uncovered a long golden cord, attached to the end his millennium item. The Sennen ring. Bakura.
Fuck.
Ryou opened his mouth, his mind muddled with how the hell Tristan got his hands on it in the first place.
"I think you've got some explaining to do, don't you?"
Shit.
"Tristan-. " Ryou began before cutting himself off because he truly had no answer he could offer the brunette.
How could he have been so careless!
"Where did you get that?" The pale teen whispered accusingly as if Tristan was the one who had been lying to him.
Tristan's body tensed as his face formed into an ugly sneer.
"All this time. All this time you've had the necklace and you've lied to us about it – lied to me. Bakura made your life hell, he tried to kill us and yet you went back for him."
"You know nothing about him!" Ryou protested, bowing his head and tensing when he heard an intake of breath from the bed beside him. He had forgotten they were in the presence of others.
"I know enough." Tristan whispered harshly also having realised their conversation wasn't exactly private.
"He didn't know what he was doing." Ryou answered unable to deny the burning need he had to protect and defend the thief.
"He turned us into cards. Sent me to the card graveyard where a ripper chased me – I'm pretty sure he knew what he was doing." The brunette's voice was a mix between agitated and patronising.
Ryou cast his eyes downward, he had nothing to say, he'd been reckless and got caught. Bakura would be absolutely livid. But Ryou could handle this he could change this.
He had to play on Tristan's weak spots. They were friends after all and someone as honourable as the brunette couldn't ignore something like that. The tanned teen seemed more betrayed then angry so all Ryou had to do was make it out as if he was the victim. He had to think of something otherwise Tristan would surely tell Yugi and the pharaoh about Bakura's existence then they'd really be screwed. And he'd no longer have Bakura.
A light went off in Ryou's head.
Bakura would be gone.
That was it.
"He's gone." The white haired teen forced out.
"What?" The brunette whispered back.
"I don't know what happened but after Duellist Kingdom he just disappeared, when I got the ring back he wasn't in there anymore, he was simply gone. I know I shouldn't have gone looking for it but it was a present from my father..."
The pale teen purposely choked up a hand smoothing over his supposedly tear filled eyes and through his dramatic show he wondered when he had become this manipulative however can't help but to love how good he is at it.
"He's the only family I have left." Ryou concluded with a sniffle, his lips trembling.
Immediately Tristan's eyes softened his face dropping into heavy frowns of guilt.
The pale teen knew he was taking advantage of the others honourable spirit and loyalty to his friends but he couldn't risk losing Bakura.
"I'm sorry." Tristan breathed.
"I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions it's just that when I saw you bleeding on the floor with that thing around your neck. " The brunette thrust his hand towards the millennium item before continuing.
"I thought it was him, I thought he had tried to kill you and I was just so angry that you didn't tell us about it. I just kept thinking that if you would have died I could have stopped it, I could have done something." Tristan finished.
Ryou's chest warmed. The brunette was honestly just worried about him, which is probably why the smugness Ryou felt before now felt a lot like shame. He was lying to his friend.
"Thank you for trying to protect me but I can look after myself." Ryou voiced softly, he couldn't let Tristan get any more involved in this mess anymore than he already was. If he knew too much Bakura would surely dispose of him and as much as Ryou despised the idea of losing the thief he also detested the thought of losing Tristan.
"I know but that's what friends do right? Have each other's backs?" Tristan clarified.
Ryou nodded.
"Excuse me?" A feminine voice questioned.
Ryou's eyes travelled to the curtain but Tristan's remained on his friend.
"Visiting hours are over now, I'm afraid you'll have to leave but you're welcome to come back tomorrow."
"Tristan." Ryou whispered stretching an arm out to lightly touch the brunettes arm.
The pointy haired teen flinched slightly, his eyes completely lost.
"Oh...sorry." Tristan mumbled embarrassedly.
"Thanks...I'll be done in a minute." The brunette acknowledged the nurse who gave him a smile and a lingering look.
Ryou frowned tempted to tell her to back the fuck off; he swallowed the comment before turning to Tristan.
"Will you be here tomorrow with your mum?" The white haired teen questioned.
"Of course." Tristan answered his hands moving to cradle the necklace.
The brunette lifted the piece of ancient jewellery before tying it around Ryou's neck.
He leant forward peering over the smaller teens shoulder enabling him to tie it correctly.
Ryou inhaled – diesel petrol, apples, cologne and just Tristan.
From his pull away from Ryou, the white haired teen's cheek skimmed his own, Tristan allowed himself to breathe a sigh. His friend wasn't dead. He had saved him. He hadn't known the meaning of relief until this moment.
No matter how many zombie films Joey had dragged him to see, no matter how much synthesised blood the movie's provided, none of it could have braced him for seeing his friend in such a vulnerable deathly position.
The blood was thicker than he expected and slick, the slightest touch of it on your fingertips and it would smudge, remain stained against your flesh. The blood was darker than he expected a deep burgundy that crusted against his skin like drying glue. The teen had never been more terrified of anything in his entire life and he wasn't sure if Ryou completely understood the extent of his concerns.
Ryou placed his hand around Tristan's wrist when the tanned boy began to pull away.
"Thank you... for everything." The white haired teen communicated his eyes locked onto Tristan's.
"Just...don't hurt yourself again."
Ryou nodded his bangs shifting against his softly curved face.
Tristan left and as he did his presence left a burning void in the pit of Ryou's stomach.
What was that?
The long haired teen closed his eyes when he realised exactly what it was.
Guilt.
/
The next day went surprisingly uncomplicated.
Tristan and his mother arrived, he was checked out and the brunette promised not to tell anyone about the necklace.
It was late evening and after churning some food in the food dispenser (Ryou had missed that) he stood in his living room struggling to suppress a giggle as he watched Bakura seethe and shout skyward.
They'd been trying to make contact with Bakura's demonic acquaintance for an hour now. The teen supposed she wouldn't come as the spirit refused to call her by her name he'd been yelling 'get up here you bitch' continuously, even though he was looking upward. It might just be Ryou's opinion but that was pretty messed up.
"Why don't you just ask nicely Bakura?" Ryou asked laughing when his other half sent him a 'you've got to be fucking kidding me' look.
The thief took a deep breath before crooking his neck.
"Get up here...please." The last word was sneered however the lights flickered and the air around them became chilly which was the demon's fucking trademark so Bakura folded his arms over his chest and waited.
"You're host is even prettier in person." A femininely husky voice purred.
Ryou took in a sharp inhale of breath before turning on his heel, his eyes connecting with full bosoms. He blushed before looking up into the red headed demons black eyes.
She reached a hand out before tugging on a piece of Ryou's hair.
"About fucking time." Bakura added as he pulled Ryou towards him, pushing his host behind his body.
The demon bit her lip her crystal white teeth a bright contrast to her red lipstick.
"Ooh Bakura you know I love it when you get all protective." The red head laughed.
"Oh please." The spirit spat, his crimson eyes narrowing.
The demon smirked looking around Bakura to eye Ryou.
"Hey gorgeous." She greeted.
"Um...hi." Ryou mumbled as he looked at the red head through his bangs.
"Look I called you here so stop eye fucking my host."
"Jealous are we? You know jealousy's a sin?" The demon asked as she fluffed the left side of her curly locks.
"As a matter a fact I did and it's still as uninteresting now as it was when I first discovered that fact." Bakura stated before he paused.
"I need your assistance." The thief admitted.
"With what may I ask?" The women asked as she took a seat on the sofa folding one long leg over the other.
"I need you to terminate a ghost – permanently."
The redhead frowned and it was the first time Ryou had seen her do something other than smirk.
"That's a big ask Bakura." The women reasoned.
"Can you do it or not?" Bakura growled honestly bored to shit of the demons cryptic answers.
She studied the chipped black paint on her nails before looking at the thief.
"At a price." The supernatural entity answered.
"Name it." The thief said as he took a seat opposite her indicating for Ryou to do the same.
"One moment please." She chirped with a sickingly sweet grin as if she were a waitress begging for a tip.
Her eyes flowed like silky oil before her head shot up rigidly; veins pulsed up her slender neck as her hands gripped the sofa her nails scratching against the leather surface creating a harsh ripping sound.
Ryou flinched back in his seat, Bakura turned to him.
"Don't be scared." The thief ordered.
"What's she doing?" The teen shakily asked as his eyes flickered from his darker half to the demon.
"Contacting Zorc, probably to find out what I'll have to provide them with in exchange for their services."
"Bakura I-"
"Woah!" The redhead examined as her head shot forward that same shit eating grin upon her face.
"Later." Bakura whispered to Ryou as he folded his arms over his chest and faced the demon.
"Well?" The spirit impatiently asked.
"We want two things my white headed friend."
Bakura scowled.
The demon laughed.
"First things first I want you to call me by my name from now on."
"What kind of demand is that?" The thief spat.
"One you'll have to agree to if you want that ghost of yours to disappear."
Ryou gaped as slyly as he could; he'd never met anyone who dared to speak to Bakura with such sass before – let alone someone who actually got away with it.
The spirit grit his teeth.
"Fine...Lily. What's the next condition?"
That was a beautiful name, an odd choice for a demon but no less mesmerizing.
Lily smirked before continuing,
"In order for us to make your ghost problem disappear you have to give us your soul."
Ryou turned to Bakura.
"I thought you already sold them your soul."
"More like a loan." Lily cut in; Bakura remained silent allowing the demon to continue.
"You see five thousand years ago Zorc found Bakura, he was only a child at the time mind you. Bakura here had just seen the entire demise of his family - of his entire village and as you can imagine he was a little distraught."
Ryou's eyes remained on the thief however Bakura refused to acknowledge him.
"Zorc was about to be locked away, that much he knew but like the genius he is he knew he couldn't remain locked away forever. When the millennium items are brought together it opens a portal to the shadow realm – a tear in reality if you will. Zorc needed someone he knew would be ruthless in their quest for the items. Someone who wouldn't sleep, eat or drink until they collected all those precious pieces of gold. So when Zorc spotted Bakura and felt all that pent up wrath he had in him Zorc knew he had found his champion."
The demon paused her lips forming a thoughtful pout.
"I don't suppose Bakura's told you any of this?" Lily asked, though she already knew the answer.
"What he has or hasn't told me is of no concern to you." Ryou answered.
"Feisty." She purred. "I like that."
"Just continue your fucking story." Bakura grumbled.
"Fine, fine." The redhead sighed.
"The dark lord offered Bakura a deal."
Lily held up her hand her palm up.
"Either die a lowly, scavenging no good, waste of space thief or..."
She held up her other hand in the same position as the first.
"Offer his soul to Zorc in exchange for the power of one of the millennium items and the chance to exact his revenge on the son of the man who massacred his family."
"Oh my god." Ryou whispered as the snippets of information he had learnt throughout the year's clicked into place.
The pharaoh's father had killed Bakura's family so Bakura wanted to kill Yami. That's why Bakura always called Yugi's other half the pharaoh because by right he was now, seeing as Yami's father would have died long ago.
"Indeed." Lily agreed before taking a breath – she was nowhere near done yet.
"Bakura was only allowed to accept Zorc's offer on three conditions one, he would no longer have his own body he'd simply be a sprit- his entity bound to the millennium ring. Secondly when the time came he would have to free Zorc – break the binds that hold him by collecting the millennium items. And lastly once Bakura and the pharaoh had their final fight Bakura would die, his soul would be free and he'd travel to the afterlife."
"I think that's everything, did I miss anything Bakura?" Lily questioned.
Bakura raised a brow.
"You were extremely thorough." He said.
Ryou sat uneasily.
This didn't make any sense. Himself and Bakura are part of the same body- part of the same soul. The thief can't simply leave once they defeat the pharaoh. It's not right.
"The deals changed now Bakura; he doesn't just simply want to borrow your soul anymore- no – now he wants to own it."
"What!" The thief gruffly demanded.
"Once you defeat the pharaoh you won't be sent to the afterlife to rest, you'll become immortal – like me and like me you must follow each and every one of Zorc's demands and trust me if you refuse it's not pretty."
A contemplative looked passed Bakura's features.
Lily leant forward in the chair.
"So Bakura... what's it going to be?"
Ryou shook his head before shooting up from his sitting position.
"Bakura this is ridiculous you can't seriously be considering-"
"Silence!"
Ryou's jaw snapped shut at the thief's shout. The teen's eyes wide with a raw mix of hurt and surprise.
"I'm sorry..."
The spirit inclined his body towards Ryou, attempting to keep his words somewhat private.
"You've embarrassed us both enough... get out of my site."
Ryou did, tears brimming in his eyes as he ran up the stairs.
Lily averted her eyes as a smirk quirked her full lips. That was extremely awkward and oh how she loved awkward situations. They made her feel all tingly inside.
"Trouble in paradise?" She teased.
"Shut up."
"So let me get this straight you'll dispose of this ghost forever if I call you Lily from now on and allow Zorc to inexplicably own my soul for all eternity."
She nodded.
The thief frowned almost hesitant to speak his next words.
"The boy..."
"Don't worry. He'll be safe. Your souls are joined for the moment but that's due to the ring. The moment that's used to resurrect Zorc the bond between you will be broken. You'll become two separate entities. He'll live a happy little life and you'll become Zorc's bitch." She finished with a smile.
"At least we'll have one thing in common then." Bakura grumbled.
"Only one thing! I believe we both share a fondness for torture, surely that counts for something." Lily asked feigning disbelief.
Bakura ignored her words instead wanting to get down to business.
"So I gather were binding this contract with blood." He asked receiving a positive nod from his companion.
Bakura lifted himself up off of the sofa before removing his shirt.
Lily too stood from the sofa before approaching Bakura.
"You really care about him don't you?" She asked.
"Who?"
"You're host."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"You wanted to make sure his soul would remain intact when yours becomes Zorc's. Can you honestly say in over five thousand years of existence that you would have asked that for anyone else?"
Her onyx coloured eyes watched Bakura.
"Just get on with it." The thief snapped
Her hand glowed amethyst.
"Fine."
Lily rolled her shoulders in a swift flexing motion before raising her fist, the limb positioned over Bakura's chest.
"This may hurt a little."
/
(AU)
Hey guys!
Well I am seriously lazy I got back from holiday like two weeks ago but I kept procrastinating and then I realised how long it had been since I'd uploaded a chapter on this story lol. So here we go I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and also Christmas soon (runs around flailing my arms) so excited!
Also holiday was excellent seriously didn't want to come back ahha!
Have a good week guys!
Dolorous Doll
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