DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi.
Chapter 10: Back to Normal
"So, how was the dance? I bet you enjoyed yourselves!" Mr Bakura smiled at the two teenagers as they both climbed into the backseat.
Kura's eyes sparkled and Ryou inwardly braced himself, half suspecting what was coming. "Not really. The guys kept bothering me and the girls kept bothering Ryou. Still, it was okay once we started dueling."
"D… dueling?" Mr Bakura stared at them in the rear vision mirror. Kura smiled at him.
"Oh yes. Ryou lost spectacularly to Yugi four times in a row. I ended up dueling Joey just to give Ryou a break. He was hardly a challenge, but it was still more interesting than dancing."
"I… see…"
Mr Bakura didn't say another word all the way home. Kura and Ryou stayed silent too; both lost in their thoughts about the evening and how it really hadn't been as bad as they'd thought it would be. Even Kura had to admit that she'd enjoyed defeating Joey six times straight.
They'd been home about ten minutes when the doorbell rang. "Ah! This must be your mother, Kura!" Mr Bakura was all smiles as he went to answer the door. Trading glances and trying not to laugh, the two teenagers followed him into the hall. When the door opened, they stared in stunned amazement at the woman standing on the front step. If they hadn't known it was Dark Witch, they would never have recognised her!
Her gold dress had been replaced by a conservative straight black skirt and jacket over a crisp white shirt, while her ankle boots were now plain black shoes with low heels. Instead of its usual blue-black shade, Dark Witch's hair was now a vivid red just like Kura's, but she had tied it back into a long ponytail with a simple black ribbon. She also wore a pair of glasses with silver frames. The lenses must have been tinted or something because her eyes now looked as though they were an ordinary brown instead of their unusual purple-blue colour. Most surprising of all though, her long Elven ears now looked human!
"Ah, you must be Kura's mother, Mrs…" He held out his hand.
"And you must be dear Ryou's father, Mr Bakura. Ryou has told me so much about you." The slightest of smiles flickered across her face as she turned to smile fondly at Ryou, ignoring the offered hand in the process.
"Um… yes… well… I must say it was certainly a pleasure to meet your charming daughter." He tried to smile but his expression slipped as Dark Witch raised an eyebrow at him.
"Charming? You wouldn't say that if you'd had to get her ready for the b… dance tonight. She fought every step of the way. She absolutely hates that kind of thing. I have no idea what possessed her to go to this one… Or Ryou for that matter, since I know such events make him so uncomfortable. It was a real shame though. They were so looking forward to seeing that movie and it was their last chance to do so." She sighed heavily.
Ryou and Kura glanced at each other, a silent message passing between them. It was time. They'd come up with a convincing reason why Kura wouldn't be coming over anymore. Now it was time to put the plan into action. Lowering their heads, they both sighed. Loudly.
"I… I'm afraid I don't understand. Surely they can go to the movie some other time. Tomorrow perhaps…" Mr Bakura eyed the two teenagers in confusion.
Dark Witch acted surprised. "Oh! Didn't Ryou tell you? My husband works overseas and Kura and I are joining him tomorrow. This is Kura's last night here."
"Oh… I… I didn't realise…" Mr Bakura shot a guilty look at his son, remembering how reluctant they'd been to go to the dance and how he'd practically ordered them to.
Dark Witch smiled sadly at Ryou and Kura. "Well, at least you two got to spend the evening together. I know how much that meant to you." Mr Bakura looked even guiltier. "Come along now Kura, say your good-byes. It's time for us to go. We still have packing to do."
According to their 'script' Kura made a sobbing sound and threw herself at Ryou, burying her face into his chest. Ryou quickly lowered his head, biting his lip so he didn't laugh out loud. He could feel her shaking, but he knew it was with laughter rather than tears.
Although a part of Ryou hated causing his father such guilt, the rest of him knew that it was fair punishment for the way he and Kura had been treated over the past few days. Although he didn't normally believe in punishment, he could not deny Kura the opportunity. It was either that, or he'd have to talk Kura out of sending Father to the Shadow Realm first thing in the morning, when his yami was back to normal.
Dark Witch cleared her throat. "All right, you two. One goodbye kiss and then Kura has to go." Ryou and Kura tensed. That definitely had not been part of the plan! Dark Witch had apparently decided that the script needed spicing up a little.
Ryou looked down as Kura slowly pulled away. There was a moment's hesitation and then Ryou was startled to feel Kura's lips brush lightly over his forehead. "Goodbye Ryou."
"G…goodbye Kura."
Dark Witch put her arm around Kura's shoulders as they walked down the path.
"That was not funny, Dark Witch."
The Shadow Monster smiled slightly. "I didn't expect you to be so eager to take me literally."
As they walked down the street, Dark Witch kept her arm around the girl's shoulders, expecting to have it pushed aside any moment and surprised when Bakura showed no discomfort over it. "So, was it worth it?" she asked softly.
"What? The… kiss?"
"No. The b… dance." She filed away for later the fact that Bakura had thought of the kiss first.
Bakura was silent for so long, Dark Witch thought she wasn't going to answer. "Yes. It was."
They stopped at the corner. "So… now what?" Bakura looked down at herself. "This spell… Ryou said it would wear off at midnight, right?"
Dark Witch sighed and shook her head. "Ryou really shouldn't believe everything he reads in fairytales. Midnight was just the most convenient time to lift the spell the last time it was cast. But, naturally, it got added to the story as though it were important! The truth is, I can lift the spell at any time. Right now if you wish." She waited while Bakura thought it over.
"Yeah… I guess that would be best. I can't really climb in this skirt."
"Climb?"
"There's a tree outside Ryou's window. It's how I used to get in and out of the house at night back when I…" Bakura fell silent, looking away as she shifted uneasily.
"Back when you used to borrow his form while his soul slept." Dark Witch lightly brushed Bakura's hair off her face, smiling at the girl when she looked up in surprise. "I could magic you back into Ryou's room, you know. It would save you from climbing."
"More magic? No thanks. I'd rather duel Kaiba."
Dark Witch laughed softly. "You know Bakura, magic does have its uses."
"Oh, I know that. It's just that my track record with it hasn't been too good lately." Bakura scowled. "Mainly due to that cursed magician and his cursed book of child's tricks." She gasped as Dark Witch suddenly pulled her into a hug. "Dark Witch!"
The Shadow Monster held the girl close and was mildly surprised at how quickly Bakura stopped struggling against the embrace. "I don't always see eye to eye with the Dark Magician, it's true. But even though I have been known to curse his name and yell insults at him and put sneezing powder in his hat, there is one thing that I have never done. I have never underestimated him. He is far stronger than you realise. The same is true for that book of his. Curse him by all means, but don't ever doubt his power, or that of the Book of Secret Arts."
Bakura slowly pulled away and Dark Witch let her go. "You… like him." Bakura scowled at the witch, feeling oddly betrayed.
Dark Witch laughed and shook her head. "It's not that simple, Bakura. I'll admit that he does have his moments, but for the most part, no, I would not say that I 'like' him. I do respect him though. He earned my respect a very long time ago. Now come, my mistress! Enough idle talk! The hour grows late and Ryou will be wondering where you are." Bakura could not deny the truth of that. Her light had always been something of a worrier.
As they started back to the house, Bakura looked up at Dark Witch, noting how serious she looked. There even seemed to be a slight hint of sadness in her face. "So… what did the Dark Magician do to earn your respect?"
The witch looked down at her and she could clearly see the sorrow in her eyes. "Ask me anything but that, my mistress, and I will answer you truly. But that answer is not mine to tell." Bakura could get no more from her than that.
One minute, Dark Witch was keeping a look out for Mr Bakura, the next she heard an ominous crack from behind her, followed by a stifled cry.
The witch whirled, her spear appearing in her hands, but it was too late. Bakura hit the ground with a sickening crack and lay still.
"No!" Dark Witch gasped as she ran to the girl and knelt down by her side. She felt ill as she noticed the awkward angle of Bakura's left arm and the bloody cuts and gashes on her bare arms and legs. But it was the large gash above Bakura's left ear, and the paleness of the girl's face, that made her start to tremble.
Grasping her spear tightly in one hand, Dark Witch placed her other hand lightly on Bakura and summoned her power. They shimmered faintly and then were gone.
"Ryou! She's hurt!"
Ryou hurried out of the bathroom at Dark Witch's urgent words. He gasped when he saw Bakura lying still and pale on the floor with Dark Witch kneeling by his side. "What…? How…?" He dropped to the ground on Bakura's other side and carefully felt for a pulse.
"She was climbing the tree to your window. The… the branch broke. She f…fell." Dark Witch took a shuddering breath and fought desperately to pull herself together, for Ryou's sake.
"Help me get her onto the bed." Dark Witch silently touched Ryou's hand and motioned him back. Her eyes flashed and Bakura floated up and over the bed, then lightly down until she was lying on it. Then it was her turn to step back and watch as Ryou bustled around making Bakura as comfortable as he could and dressing her wounds. He was just dabbing some antiseptic on the head wound when Bakura groaned and opened her eyes.
"W… what happened? Ryou?" She looked up at her light, confusion filling her eyes when Ryou gave her a watery smile, his own eyes filling with tears.
"You'll be all right, Bakura. You just have to rest until dawn, then you'll be fine." He paused as a thought struck him, then turned to Dark Witch. "This won't affect…" She quickly shook her head and he sighed in relief. "Good."
Dark Witch came to stand beside the bed. She lightly brushed the hair off Bakura's face, then did the same to Ryou. She smiled at them. "You're safe now, both of you. I'll enchant your father's sleep so he will not wake until after dawn. He will not disturb you. Try to rest."
"You're… going?" Bakura seemed oddly reluctant to voice her question. Dark Witch bent down and lightly kissed her forehead, then Ryou's. "Yes, my dear one. I must. My task here is done and I can feel the Shadow Realm growing impatient with my continued absence."
"All right. Take care and don't worry. I'll look after Bakura." Ryou hugged her and she closed her eyes as she held the boy close.
"I know you will, my sweet one. Just as you always have." Lingering just long enough to stroke Bakura's cheek, Dark Witch opened a portal of black shadows and passed through it. The portal closed, leaving Bakura and Ryou alone.
For a moment, Ryou stood by the bed, his hand resting lightly on Bakura's. Then he turned away. "Ryou?" Bakura's voice held an oddly vulnerable note that tugged on Ryou's heart. He smiled over his shoulder at his yami.
"I'm just going to get changed. I'll be right back."
Ryou lay on his bed with Bakura nestled safely in his arms, her light even breathing letting Ryou know that she still slept peacefully. Ryou was tired too, but at the same time he was unable to sleep. He looked up at the window and sighed softly. It was dawn.
As the first light of day crept through the window, Bakura began to glow with a faint golden light. She stirred and her eyes opened. She blinked sleepily up at Ryou and he smiled at her. "It's time."
"I know." As the glow brightened, Bakura suddenly did something that she very rarely did. She smiled sweetly at her light. Then she did something even rarer. She snuggled against him. "Don't leave me alone," she whispered sleepily.
"I won't," Ryou promised softly.
When Ryou's father came to wake up his son, he found the boy lying in a deep sleep on top of the covers. He also found a girl's school uniform lying on the bed next to Ryou, laid out as though someone had been wearing it and then dissolved into thin air, leaving the uniform behind.
In Bakura's soulroom, Bakura and Ryou blinked sleepily at each other as Father started shaking Ryou's physical body awake.
"What in the Shadows is he going on about?" Bakura complained as he closed his eyes again.
"Um… something about a girl's uniform and… wanting to know what I was doing with it," Ryou replied with a small yawn as he shifted to a more comfortable position.
Their eyes suddenly snapped open as the words penetrated their sleep-fogged minds.
"Oh dear…" Ryou looked at his yami questioningly. "Any ideas?"
"Give me a minute. Never mind. Just give me control. I'll deal with it." Bakura sighed as he reluctantly left his nice, warm bed to deal with Mr Bakura's latest Ryou-induced panic attack.
Ryou smiled contentedly as he went back to sleep.
Everything was back to normal.
Meanwhile, in the Shadow Realm…
The dull thud of a spear hitting someone on the head echoed through the main hall of the Castle of Dark Illusions. It was immediately followed by a male voice.
"Ow! What was that for?" D Human rubbed his head and frowned unhappily at Dark Witch, who glared back at him.
"'The tale will vanish into obscurity in no time.' Does that ring a bell?"
He blinked and then winced. "You're never going to let me forget about that, are you? So I made a… small miscalculation… There's no need to go hitting people over the head because of it! Hey! Are you listening to me? Dark Witch? Dark Witch!" The woman had turned and was already halfway out the door. "You just got back! Where are you going now?"
"I have to see an idiot about a book." The door closed behind her with a bang.
D Human sighed. "Translation, she's off to see the magician. I'd better get started on dinner. Revenge always makes her hungry." Still muttering to himself, he headed for the kitchen.
Dark Witch strode purposefully through the corridors of the tower where the Dark Magician lived. Her eyes blazed with fiery determination and she didn't blink as a figure stepped in front of her, holding up her staff threateningly.
"Hey! You can't just barge in here and… ahh!" Dark Magician Girl cried out as Dark Witch raised a hand and swept it through the air, sending the magician's assistant flying. She hit the wall and crumpled to the ground, groaning softly. "There was no need to do that…" she muttered as Dark Witch passed by without a second glance.
The Dark Magician looked up from the book he was reading, as his door was all but blasted off its hinges. "Hello, Dark Witch. Were you looking for me?"
As she strode towards him, a wary look entered his eyes. "Oh dear. Apparently you were." He stood up as she approached. "So, what …" The sound of a dull thud echoed through the room. "… have I done this time?" he finished softly as he rubbed his head. He was much stronger than Dark Witch, so she hadn't hurt him, but he really didn't want to tell her so. Knowing her, she'd probably call in reinforcements. Blue Eyes White Dragon-sized reinforcements. He'd just finished repairing the damage from the last time.
He blinked at her. "You might have warned me. I could have put on my hat. I assume you think I deserved that?"
"Don't play games with me." The furious hiss in her voice caused the Dark Magician to look surprised. "I know what you did."
He blinked at her again. "Um… I've done quite a few things, actually. Could you possibly be a little more specific?"
Her eyes blazed. "'Quick Make up Tips from Cinderella's Fairy Godmother'. Specific enough for you?"
"Oh. Yes. Quite." A loud and very familiar roar came from downstairs. The Dark Magician sighed.
"Would you mind if I went outside to get blasted this time? It's just that I haven't quite perfected my spell for getting scorch marks off floors and walls…"