Author's Notes:
Whoo! One month late and I apologize. However, because of how I've been, I promise you guys will get a chapter on Jan 2 (a day I wasn't planning on giving you a chapter).
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A Common Enemy
Seto's P.O.V
"So, you're a Slytherin." The bleach bond boy beside me comments. He eyes me warily as he pokes at the food on his plate. Rolling my eyes at his attempts at threaten me, I pleasure him with an answer.
"That's why I'm here, aren't I?" My response is sarcastic and the boy glares at me. I glare right back, watching him flinch under my much stronger, more practiced glower.
"Well you aren't a wizard." The boy retorts sharply.
Although I'm not one to enjoy Shadow Magic, I can't help but lord my superior magic over this insignificant weasel. "No, my magic is better. Now if you please, I have food sitting before me that is getting cold from all your insignificant babbling."
The boy continues to glower, but quickly returns to cracking jokes and imitating the Potter kid. The two are caught up in an intense stare-off, Malfoy daring the boy to look away. Potter obliges and does turn away, probably deciding the whole glaring contest ridiculous. Once the Potter boy turns away, the blond beside me quickly returns to speaking with his friends. Determined to ignore the brat, I return to my food. Only to be disrupted moments later when the conversation turns to something school related.
"I know, hopefully we'll learn something without that fat oaf around." A girl cheers in delight from across the table.
"Good thing too, I would hate to fail O.W.L.s because that oaf can't teach." Draco agrees. I turn to the blond beside me and cock an eyebrow at him.
"Oh, right, now we're worth your time." The boy drawls with an exaggerated eye roll. I simply watch him, waiting for him to crack beneath my stare.
"No, you still aren't. But, you do have valuable information that I wish to acquire."
"What makes you think I will give you information if you don't think I am worth your time?" Malfoy asks.
"Child, my magic can consume yours at the snap of my finger. Do you really want to challenge me?"
"You're as harmless as a muggle." He sneers.
My fingers itch when I realize that I have forced myself into a corner. I will have to use the Shadows if I want to get any information. Closing my eyes and breathing in deeply, I search for the part of me that I have denied for so long. Whatever's there, it's weak, almost non-existent, and only a wisp of magic comes to me when I pull at it. Opening my eyes, I see Draco laughing at the small brown puff ball sitting on the table and purring at the group. My eye twitches.
"Trust me, this is nothing." I lie. My hands are trembling as I try and scoop more food, trying to pass this off as nothing. I break out into a cold sweat as I try to sustain the monster I have created, but my powers are weak, and splitting my focus makes it even harder.
"Sure." Draco drawls out, turning back to his conversation. I growl, but accept the loss as it is.
Yugi's P.O.V
\Hmm, Seto summoned a Kuriboh with Shadow Magic.\ Yami points out. I nod.
/Yeah, but he doesn't own a Kuriboh, does he?/ I question.
\Perhaps, we don't know all the cards he owns or what's in his soul.\ Yami explains.
"True."
"Huh?" Ron asks, effectively ending my conversation with Yami. I look over at the ginger, tilting my head in question. "You zoned out and then said something." The boy quickly explains.
"Nothing." I respond, hastily switching the topic away from me. "So, what do you guys do here for fun?"
Hermione eyes me, her brown eyes narrowing as she scrutinizes my profile. She looks as though she is about to say something, but is quickly cut off when Ron speaks.
"Quidditch." Ron smiles and is about to continue on, but is ironically interrupted by Hermione.
"We won't be having much time for playing with O.W.L.s this year." The girl states, staring each of the boys down. None of them look at all happy at being nagged.
"What are O.W.L.s?" I wonder aloud. Another brunet decides to answer this question for me.
"It's a test that dictates your entire future." The boy replies in a meek, Ryou-like, manner.
"Oh." Is my only response. Great, one year to learn everything that these people have had five years to learn.
"So Yugi, what are your interests?" Harry asks, moving to a lighter topic.
"Where I'm from, we play a card game called Duel Monsters." I reply, leaving out all the important details that would undoubtedly horrify them.
"Are ya any good?" Ron interrogates. I shrug off the question casually.
"Of course he's good. He holds the title of King of Games. Seto is second, then Marik, and then some guy named Joey, uh, someone named Mai, and then Ishizu, and then I think it's Ryou." Hermione rattles off the names, ticking each one off on her finger. I turn to her, staring at her in curiousity.
"Sorry, I have a slight interest in the game. I love how it is so magical, but at the same time, it requires so much thought." Hermione answers abashedly.
"So, you're like some major duelist?" Ron questions. "And you're friends with some of the top duelists?" He continues.
"Well, actually, they are all friends of mine. In fact, Joey is my best friend and Ishizu is Marik's older sister." I respond.
\Aibou, don't give them too much information.\ Yami warns. I brush him off as I turn to the platters of dessert that magically replaced where dinner once was. The food is delicious and I find myself gobbling up as much as I can. It's not that Jii-chan is poor. But I was raised to be humble, and it's rare that I get to gorge myself.
Harry laughs as he looks from me to Ron. Hermione, picking up on the secret joke, starts laughing too, leaving Ron and I to look at each other with confusion. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and dinner ceases.
We, along with the rest of our house, head out of the Great Hall. Try as we might though, we can't get through the crowd. Large bodies block my view of what is going on and loud chants and jeers make it impossible to hear. I push my way through, throwing elbows wildly in hopes of getting a better look at what is going on.
"Well, well, look what Dumbly dragged in. It's been a long time." A pale blond taunts, walking around...Ryou. Ryou stands calmly, watching the boy through narrowed eyes as he continues to circle him.
"What do you want, Draco?" Ryou asks quietly. Although his facial features are lax and he wears a lazy smile, his shoulders are tensed, shrugged close to his neck. His arms are folded behind his back and he stands completely erect.
"My friends, did you know that Ryou here is responsible for the death of his family?" He starts, stopping behind Ryou. It looks like a scene from an action flick. One feeding the other lies and the other trying his best to not lash out. "My dad may think that you're some shining star, but let's face it. You're not. You're an embodiment of a demon. A heartless demon willing to kill to get whatever it wants." The boy sneers, gaining confidence with every word. The room erupts in hollers and Ryou's calm demeanor cracks. The boy looks down, allowing his bangs to cover his eyes, a thick clear pearl rolling down his cheek.
But the sorrow is short lived and a moment later, Ryou has the boy by the collar, raising him up with strength that I never knew he possessed. A moment later, I am thrown roughly out of my body as Yami takes control. Caught off guard by the maliciousness of the act, it takes me a moment to regain consciousness and form a shadow body beside Yami.
"Never, ever talk about my family." Ryou, no Bakura, hisses, dropping the boy to the ground. I almost expect more to happen, but he turns and walks away.
People start walking away, expecting the fight to be over; however, the arrogant boy had to get the last word in
"Why not, because your mere existence killed them all?" He asks in a mocking voice.
Bakura freezes, his hands clenched into tight fists. I expect him to turn around and hurt the boy, but Yami is quick to warn him.
"Thief, watch it."
"Ha, Thief, an excellent name for you." The boy drawls out in an annoying fashion.
Bakura turns around, the anger replaced by a psychotic smirk.
"You're-you're not Ryou." The boy mumbles, stumbling clumsily to his feet.
"Wow, you're the first person to notice the difference. I think you deserve a cookie. Well, since you are so smart, I am Bakura. Nice to meet you." Bakura greets, adding a mocking bow.
The boy takes a step back, eyes narrowed wearily, "What have you done to Ryou?"
Bakura smirks evilly, but his eyes shoot to the left where I assume Ryou is in his ghost form. "Nothing. Ryou is perfectly fine." Bakura answers gruffly. A smile finds its way to my face. I've never been a fan of bullies or hurting people. But after what this boy has said, I may make an exception this once.
"So, let's get some facts straight, shall we?" Bakura asks in a cool and confident voice, one that almost mirrors Yami when he sticks up for me.
"We never, and I do stress never, bring up family. Bringing it up is a way to offend, and insulting them is a death sentence." There is no room for argument, and his voice is so absolute that there is no room for bluffing.
"Now, since you know Ryou so well, I will give you a simple warning. Back off." Bakura threatens.
"Well I'm done; however, I think they know a tad too much now. Wouldn't you agree, Pharaoh?" Bakura asks smugly.
Yami nods and holds up his hand to the students. Some look confused whereas others start trying to escape from the strange students.
"MIND CRUSH!" Yami declares, and with that just about every student falls to the ground unconscious. All that's left is the petrified blond boy, who takes off in a different direction.
The yamis relinquish control to us hikaris, and surprisingly, it's Marik who makes it to Ryou first.
"Look, I'm sorry." Marik apologizes as he eyes Ryou.
"Don't be. Look. I know. I lie. A lot. The hat even had the grace to point it out. It's just that I like to keep my problems to myself." Ryou explains. Marik throws his arms around his best friend, pulling him into a tight hug.
"I know how you feel. I just didn't respect your feelings." Marik continues, oblivious to my awkward hovering behind him.
It's nice to see my friends make up. However, all it serves to remind me is that I am a third wheel around those two and that I don't talk with Seto. Here, I am friendless.
Glancing around at all the bodies around me, another thought comes to mind. "Um, guys, how're we supposed to get to our rooms?" I ask.
The two pull apart, and for the first time, I realize that Kaiba is nowhere to be seen.
"Perhaps we should head to the library for now." Marik offers.
"We can't, they have the passwords and the route to our dorms. Ryou says, lying down on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Marik asks, staring at the white-haired teen.
"Blending in." Ryou whispers before turning his head and sprawling his legs to match the many unconscious forms around him.
Marik turns to me questioningly. Shrugging at him, I too imitate Ryou's position and Marik follows suit as we wait for the others to come to.
Author's Notes:
I'm sorry, and I'm really gonna try and hurry on up with writing, all of my writing. Hopefully it works out, but ya know, school is stressful and time consuming.
Review please!
