Chapter 13. Talks and Doubts

Marik stared at the closed door. Let's pray he doesn't have a millennium item, or the Oricalcose stealing souls is the least thing we have to worry about.

LAST TIME

"Are you missing any millennium items?" He asked.

"What? No. They're all there." Yami said. "Why?" He demanded.

"Because Marik thinks it's a possibility that Yugi could have a millennium item and it could be hiding his true intentions. But that's only a theory. It could be genuine, but do we really want to find out the hard way? We have to be sure. He was part of the Oricalcose remember?" Ryou said. Yami sighed and shut his eyes.

"I'll check and see if he has any millennium items. He'll be asleep any time now." Yami muttered.

NOW

Yami walked up quietly next to Yugi's sleeping form. His breathing was deep and even. Yami looked over Yugi's angelic face and his eyes landed on the slightly swelling bruise above his right temple and purpling on his left cheek. He slowly let his senses go over Yugi looking for the presence of a millennium item. He sighed as he detected no aura. He went to get up when Yugi muttered something.

"Hmn?" He asked and looked at Yugi's sleeping form and realized he was having a nightmare. He gently went to shake Yugi.

"Yugi." He said grabbing his shoulder lightly. Yugi's eyes shot open and he grabbed Yami's wrist. He was breathing hard and was sweating slightly.

"Yugi it's me, are you okay?" Yami asked gently as Yugi released his wrist slowly.

"Uh, huh. I'm fine. Just a nightmare, that's all." Yugi said and he wouldn't look Yami straight in the eye.

"You're not fine, tell me what's wrong Yugi." Yami asked concerned.

"I said I'm fine just a bad nightmare." Yugi said turning around facing Yami with a small smile. "You know those dreams you have that aren't so neat? I get those sometimes too you know?" He lightly joked. Yami looked into his eyes and felt concerned. Yugi's eyes held a slight tinge of fear and sorrow.

"If your sure." Yami said and Yugi nodded and lay back down. "Goodnight Yami." He muttered softly.

"Goodnight Yugi." Yami said softly and left the room. He met up with Marik and Ryou upstairs.

"So?" Ryou asked.

"He didn't have any items on him." Yami said but he still looked worried. Marik noticed and looked at Yami inquiringly.

"What else?" He asked and Yami looked startled for a minute.

"Nothing he just had a nightmare." Yami said trying to knock what happened from his mind.

"What else happened?" Marik asked.

"Uh…well I woke him up and he had a bad reaction that's all. Almost like he was terrified of something. But that is what usually happens with most nightmares is it not?" Yami stated but he still looked thoughtful.

"What else?" Ryou asked.

"Well he said everything was fine but his eyes held much fear, but I could tell the fear wasn't for himself." Yami said. "Something is going on and I will find out what it is."

With Yugi

He's gone. Finally. They suspect something, and I should've realized that Marik would be here. They would go that far wouldn't they? Yugi thought his eyes closed. I should've been more prepared. This isn't going the way I hoped it would. He opened his eyes and sighed softly his eyes holding a soft confusion. Ryou still trusts me as does Yami. I don't believe it. I think they're just using me. Like they've always done. His eyes narrowed. But Yami held no lies on his face when he answered my question. I didn't even expect him to answer.

FLASHBACK

"I feel…I wanted to know if you trust me? I need to know…do you still trust me. I-I wouldn't b-blame you if you don't. I-I was just wondering." Yugi stuttered out sounding scared of the answer he would receive. He clenched his fist. Yami looked shocked he didn't know what to say and he gazed at Yugi's face. He had sweat beading his forehead and he looked slightly stressed.

"I do. Though I'm not so sure about the others." He said after a moment.

END OF FLASHBACK

He's lying. Yugi thought shaking his head trying to convince himself. He's always lied to me. They're just using me. I know it was no coincidence he was down here earlier. He was obviously making sure I didn't have something. Probably like a millennium item, or anything from the Oricalcose. Yugi smiled slightly. He looked at the bag none of the others had noticed he had with him. He looked around casting out his senses making sure no one else was there. He quietly went over to his bag and opened it. He looked inside and lying there was a gold scale and on it was a millennium eye. He quickly zipped up the bag and walked over to the couch and sat down.

"Yugi?" A voice said softly causing Yugi to jump slightly. Damn it. I let my guard down. He thought angrily but his face still held the look of innocent surprise.

"Yeah?" He answered softly as well. Ryou walked into the room

"Are you okay, really okay?" Ryou asked quietly sitting next to Yugi on the couch. Yugi looked at the wall after glancing at Ryou.

"I guess so. I'm here aren't I?" He replied. Ryou gazed at him intently.

"I know you still hold a grudge against us, don't you?" Yugi looked at him quickly and looked away just as quickly as he glanced at the white haired boy. Ryou nodded.

"I thought as much." He murmured and they sat there quietly for a few minutes.

"Aren't you tired? You should get some sleep." Yugi suggested as he saw Ryou yawn. Ryou looked guilty and blushed slightly, he didn't want anyone to notice how he hasn't been sleeping well.

"I'm not tired, really." He said quickly.

"You're a worse liar than I am." Yugi said smiling slightly then went serious again.

"Yugi?" Ryou said after a small pause.

"Hmm?" Yugi acknowledged Ryou without really saying anything.

"Why did you come back? For some reason I don't like the story you gave us earlier." Yugi stiffened. Ryou quickly noticed and quickly tried to repent.

"Sorry, I'm not calling you a liar, it just seemed as though you left some stuff out."

"No…it's okay." Yugi said slowly, trying to figure out what to say. "I honestly don't know…I just got scared. The stuff you kept yelling at me in that ally, I guess it actually sunk into my thick skull. They beat me crapless when I said I was leaving." Ryou just nodded encouragingly. Yugi just seemed to freeze. "I'm sorry." He suddenly blurted.

"What?" Ryou said off guard. "What about?"

"For Bakura. I really didn't mean to get him. I was just looking for you so we could talk. I saw him from the back and I approached him and he…just became…well, like you said earlier, himself. I lost my temper and I don't know why I did what I did."

"Yugi it's okay. It was the Oricalcose stone messing with your head. It was making your soul dark with your anger towards Yami and the rest of us." They sat quietly for a few moments. Suddenly Yugi felt compelled to try and explain himself as to why he was going after Ryou first. Yugi had no idea why he felt this compulsion and he tried to ignore it.

"I wasn't going to attack you." He said quietly. Ryou looked startled yet again.

"What?"

"I wasn't going to attack you." Yugi repeated. "I honestly just wanted to talk to you. Though I doubt you believe me."

"I believe you Yugi. Just what did you want to talk about?" Ryou asked curiously.

"You didn't completely ditch me for Yami like the others did." Yugi said softly. Ryou put a comforting hand on Yugi's shoulder startling the smaller boy. "Anyways I was going to try and talk you into joining."

"Why?" Ryou asked slightly nervous but he didn't show it.

"Because…I don't know really. I was going to tell you how much good it really was. You know how it was going to help save the world and how much more stronger we would be. No longer the weak Hikari's of Yami and Bakura." Yugi sighed. "I'm almost glad Bakura stalled me from getting to you. It was almost as if he knew what I planned to do." Ryou gazed at Yugi's hunched form for a second. He still thought of me as a friend even then? When he was filled with such hatred and anger, he still wanted a friend to go with him. He, like all the others, genuinely thought that by taking human souls he was helping save the world. And he wanted to drag me into that too. I don't know if I should be happy that he trusted me enough or if I should be upset that he even considered dragging me into that.

"Thanks for still considering me a friend, Yugi." Ryou said softly. "Despite what's happened and how I think you still feel animosity towards us, we all still consider you a friend as well. Tristan, Tea, Joey, Yami and I know what happened was wrong and we have all suffered for it. They are sorry, as am I. I should've been there more for you and this could've possibly been prevented." Yugi was tense and felt sad. He made them scared, sad and he knew they felt angry for the actions he did. But they deserve to suffer. I have to remember what I'm here to do. They aren't my friends. Ryou was never with me in the first place. He admitted he honestly would've rejected me if I were to have approached him with the idea of joining the Oriclcose. None of them are really my friends. He argued with himself and he still felt a jolt of guilt. But perhaps they really were worried about me?

"It isn't your fault. It was my fault for letting my anger get the better of me." Yugi said not looking at Ryou. Ryou had his hand off of Yugi's shoulder now. "It wasn't anyone's fault alright. I just wanna forget about it, but I know I never will. What I did was uncalled for. I'm just so stupid. I got my friends mad at me and now I'll end up having the Oricalcose after me too." Yugi said trying to sound scared. Ryou looked concerned suddenly.

"I never thought about the Oricalcose coming after you." He murmured. "We were so excited seeing you here we didn't even consider them for a while."

"Sorry." Yugi said quickly. "Don't worry about it, it's my problem."

"No Yugi. We will all stand by you this time." Ryou said. "They are all our problem now." Yugi looked strained for a minute and it was obvious to Ryou he was trying to change the topic somehow.

"…Ryou if I had gotten to you instead of Bakura. Would've you have accepted my offer and joined the Oricalcose?" Yugi said out of the blue. Ryou blinked sleepily and seemed to think.

"…Hmn…I honestly don't know Yugi." Ryou said and stood up yawning. "Now I really am sleepy, I think I too should turn in for the night. Goodnight Yugi."

"Goodnight Ryou." Yugi said to Ryou's retreating form. When he was sure Ryou was completely gone he gently perched his chin on his hands with his elbows on his legs. They were suffering because I joined the Oricalcose so bad…I can tell they haven't bee sleeping very well. Was it because they were worried about me? Yugi scoffed lightly. Probably because they were afraid I would scalp them in their sleep or something…but that's not true. If they truly felt that way then why are they all sleeping so comfortably around now? Yugi gently stood up and quietly walked from room to room. Tristan was sleeping on the chair and Joey was on the floor with his back resting against another chair snoring slightly. He walked to another room and saw an open door. Tea was sleeping lightly on the bed. He slowly continued upstairs and saw Ryou sprawled asleep on his bed. Yugi grinned lightly. Yugi continued to another room and realized it was a library. His eyes fell on Yami, who was sleeping softly in a chair with a book in his lap. Yugi looked slightly nervous. It would be so easy to take Yami's soul here and now. But some how it didn't feel right. His eyes rested on Yami's sleeping face. Yami… He thought and quietly left the room. They're all exhausted, yet they all act as if nothing ever happened. A part of Yugi wanted to be angry at this thought but another part of him felt slightly relieved. He quietly traveled back down stairs and to the couch that was set up for him. He looked outside the window and gazed at the dark starry sky outside. Is what I'm doing the right thing? He thought than gazed at his backpack. He looked slightly confused. Ever since he got the millennium scale from Dartz he's been having second thoughts. He quickly shook his head and returned his gaze to the window and quickly whirled around when he felt like he was being watched. He jumped up and sighed slightly.

"Oh, its you Marik."

"Yeah, its me Yugi." Marik said quietly. Yugi looked nervous for a minute.

"What are you guys on mental alarm clock so that when one person goes to sleep another one wakes up and decides to come talk to me?" He joked lightly. Marik nodded slightly.

"Yeah, something like that." He looked at Yugi seriously. "Yugi you understand you've delved into dark magicks here. Darker than the shadow magic you're used to dealing with." Yugi nodded slowly. Marik continued. "Those magicks can twist the way a person thinks and taint their soul. Yugi I'm going to be frank, I don't completely trust you, simply because I don't know for sure if your soul is truly free of their influences. So do not be offended. I was summoned here to help you and I will." He walked up behind Yugi who was once again gazing outside.

"Heh. It's nice to know at least one person will admit they're uneasy around me. It's better than saying they're not and when I look into their eyes their terrified. I can tell they haven't been sleeping well, and…" Yugi trailed off. Marik didn't push because he knew Yugi wouldn't answer.

"I want an honest answer Yugi. Where is the millennium item?" Marik asked seriously. Yugi froze. He looked at Marik, shock naked on his face.

"W-what are you talking about?" Yugi stuttered. Did he see me open my bag? Or did he sense it? If he sensed it…then how? I know its presence was concealed because even Yami couldn't sense it.

"Don't lie to me Yugi." Marik said sighing slightly looking out the window. "Prove the others right and just hand over the millennium item." He looked over at Yugi who was staring intently out the window. "I can sense it, I'm a tomb keeper remember, that and Shadi popped by. The others don't know that of course. Not even the Pharaoh." Yugi remained silent continued to stare out the window. "I thought I'd ask you nicely now, I don't want to have to use force. Please give me the millennium scale. Prove the others right, that you're fully released of the Oricalcose." Yugi contemplated what to do. I have to give it to him, or he'll never believe me. Damnit! I should've anticipated it. Shadi would've noticed a shift in the Millennium items. Damnit, nothing is going as planned! And to think I had Amelda punch me in the face for this. Yugi let out a sigh and went over to his backpack. Marik followed him and watched his every movement. Yugi paused his hand hovering over the backpack. Then he swallowed hard and opened the backpack. There lying on top was the Millennium Scale. Gently he pulled it out and handed it over to Marik.

"Now why did you deceive Yami? I know you're aware he checked you out for a millennium item." Marik said and sat leaned on the wall his eyes aware of Yugi's every movement.

"I-I don't know." Yugi muttered and sat down putting his face in his hands. "I don't know what I was thinking. Something just told me not to tell you guys. That it would just make the whole situation worse."

"Well keeping it secret made it worse. You should've admitted to having it right off the bat." Yugi nodded, his face still hidden.

"I was going to give it to you guys tomorrow." Yugi offered softly. That caught Marik off guard, but just as quickly he retorted.

"How do I know that? How do I know your not just lying? You had this and you came here. Now that it's off your hands I can sense it. You still have the darkness of what I assume is the Oricalcose lingering in your soul. For all I know you could've been planning on destroying all of them here." Marik gazed at Yugi with genuine confusion and worry in his face. "Why do you wish to destroy the Pharaoh so bad?" Yugi stilled, he took his hands away from his face.

"What makes you think I still wish to get revenge on him?" Yugi asked in reply. Great, another Yami admirer. I almost wish his dark side hadn't been banished now. Yugi thought sourly.

"Because I can tell by the look in your eyes." Marik said simply. "I am sorry Yugi, I am here because the others feared of what you were doing, they weren't afraid of what you were going to do to them, they're afraid of what you were helping to do to others. I admit I think your story about the Bakura incident was true though." He paused and Yugi now had his back to Marik and he was staring intently at a now seemingly interesting wall with narrowed eyes. "I'm sorry Yugi they called me here to help. I have more than enough reason not to trust you. I'm sorry Yugi but I'm not like the others and am so willing to believe that everything is back to normal simply because your back here tonight. I think it's more than that, but that's just me." Marik stood straight and walked behind Yugi.

"And I'll only warn you once. I will not hesitate to lock you in the shadow realm if you continue to do harm." Marik said softly as he passed Yugi. "Even if you saved me I will do it, because I know that nothing we do can save you, it was your choice." Yugi trembled, not with fear but anger. He quickly tried to quell that anger and get control of himself.

"Why? I chose to get revenge on him, but I stopped. Doesn't that count?" Yugi whispered so softly that he didn't think Marik heard it.

"No. It doesn't, just because you hesitated once, does not mean you will not attempt it again." Marik replied and left, leaving a confused Yugi alone.

Are Marik and Ryou right? Do they genuinely want me back because they missed me? No, they can't have. They only want me back because they want to stop the Oricalcose. I can't allow myself to be lied to! I cannot! All they've been Telling me are lies…right?

Upstairs with Marik

"I really hope Yugi is making the right choice." Marik said.

"Do you really think that he's here with the Oricalcose?" Ryou said softly, he had been awake the whole time and was aware when Yugi was walking the house. He and Marik agreed to each other staying awake to make sure Yugi really was here escaping the Oricalcose.

"I honestly am not sure. But I did manage to get the Millennium Scale from him." Marik said looking at the millennium scale on the dresser across from him and next to Ryou. "He also appeared to be fighting the darkness in his soul. I could sense it as soon as he gave me the item." Ryou sighed. Yugi, please I hope you aren't just deceiving us again. Please, we're all really worried about you, cast your hatred and anger aside and become the innocent Yugi you once were.

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THANK YOU Marick'sDarkSlave or Danabelle(?) U know who you are anyways! I luv ur ideas they gave me even more ideas but keep contributing them. Your latest idea gave me at least three chapters worth!