Chapter 10: Opposites Or The Same?

"Hey, Ryou… Good morning!"

I looked up from the ground to see Yugi running up to me, waving his arm out in greeting. I slowly slipped a forceful smile into my lips. Once again, I couldn't let Yugi see me in pain… and find out that my certain discovery about him and the others if they were truly my… I swallowed hard. I couldn't bother to say the word. For some reason, saying it as I used to before has become much harder than I thought. It must be because of… Well, I really don't want to mention it, but you know where I'm going at.

"Oh, hi… Yugi," I replied enthusiastically. "Good morning to you too. Um, shall we get to class then?"

Yugi gave me a nod, smiling back at me in return. "Oh, alright then."

Silently, we both walked side by side with each other, not completely sure of what to say. I kept looking at Yugi to staring down at my book bag whenever he's trying to catch me taking a glance at him. For some reason, something's different. Normally, Yugi would be accompanied with Joey, Tea, and Tristan… I recalled he mostly spends his time with them, including school hours. But… today… It seems that Yugi is by himself. Hmm… There must be a certain explanation behind this. Perhaps he'll tell me.

I sighed deeply. Well, it's worth a shot I suppose. "Hey, Yugi… Can… Can I ask you something?"

"Um… Yeah, I suppose you could. What is it?"

"Well, first of all… Where are Joey, Tristan, and Tea?"

"Oh, well, they're already inside the classroom," explained Yugi.

"Oh, alright then," I softly muttered. Hmm… Probably Yugi must have told them to go on ahead to class… Now I know there's something strange lately today… "So, why exactly do you want to walk with me without them?"

At that moment, Yugi brought his lips into a smile at my question, giving a snort like it was an obvious answer.

"Pfft… That's because you're my friend, Ryou. I mean, you should even know that by now that Joey, Tristan, and Tea are your friends too… All four of us."

I bit my lip slightly, feeling the cold weight of my heart. Hmph... Friends, huh? How can they possibly be my friends?

Like I said, my dear Host... I did say they aren't truly your friends.

I stopped in my tracks, lowering my head. Stop it... Stay out of this.

Hey, I'm just pointing it out, that's all. Is that so wrong?

Leave me alone...

Ah, don't be like that. I was only trying to point out the truth... for I know you much more than them.

No, you don't. You don't know me... You can't possibly know me...

Ah, but I do. I do know you well. Don't you remember that we've been...?

Don't say it... Don't you say it...

"Ryou?"

But you know it's the t –

SHUT UP!

"Ryou, are you okay?"

"Huh?"

I opened my eyes, lifting my head up to look at Yugi. Yugi seemed to express a concern look, worry swimming in the depths of his glassy purple eyes. I then looked at myself at how I position. I found myself crouching low, both my hands clasped to my ears. I don't even know how I became this way. I looked back at him, speechless and a loss of words. Has Yugi saw something that I didn't see?

"I'm... I'm fine," I shakily replied.

"Well, you don't seem fine. Is there something you want to...?"

"N-No, nothing... I'm seriously fine," I firmly said, standing up slowly. I'm not letting Yugi find out... Bakura could be watching over me this instant. I grabbed my book bag. "Let's just go to class, okay?"

Heh, heh... You're denying again, my Host. Heh, heh...

No, I am not denying it.

Ah, what's with that tone? Can you possibly be mad at me?

I scoffed. No, I'm not mad... What makes you say that?

Oh, just a certain suspicion, that's all... Heh, heh...

I tightened my hand on my book bag. What's that supposed to mean?

Oh, come on now, isn't quite obvious?

What? What is? What are you talking about?

I don't think you need a hint. You already know what I meant.

I narrowed my eyes darkly. No... No, I'm not like you. How can I possibly be like you? I'm the very opposite of you. I'm supposed to be the opposite of you.

I heard Bakura gave a snort, probably smirking at me. True, you are my opposite, Host, but that doesn't mean we're completely different from each other. We do have some certain things in common...

Certain things in common? What do you mean by that?

Heh, heh...

I don't know what's so funny for you, but I'm asking again. What do you mean we have certain things in common?

Heh, heh... Very well then... Well, for one thing, we both experience of what it's like to be alone...

My eyes widened. No, this can't possibly true of what he said I'm not like him... I'll never be like him! No...

No, lies... You're lying again. I'm not like you.

Heh, heh... You're just in denial. Search your feelings, you know it to be true...

No, never...

Bakura's just hurting me, breaking me... You can fight this, Ryou. You can fight this. Don't let him get to you.

You know what else we have in common? We both lost things we care dearly...

No, no...

My eyes were watering. Images... so many images... Images of my past memories flashing me, blinding before me. The news about my mother and my sister get caught in a car crash... my rush to the hospital to see them... the remembrance of being beside mother and Amane for their last breath of words... the crying for long hours at a time, begging them to come back to life... the sad moment of seeing them both buried in the funeral...

Those lonely days in my room and my father not bothering to comfort me... the school years I've been picked on and teased... the day I've received the Millennium Ring and father leaving for an exhibition trip to Egypt, never knowing when he'll be back... the times I had fun with the friends I made back at boarding school in London... the times I had passed out and find all my friends comatose... the memories I had that people warned others to stay away from me... the number of times of moving to another school... the day I first came to Japan at Domino High school...

Meeting Yugi, Joey, Tea, and Tristan... the day I've discovered about the spirit of the Ring and who was responsible that made my old friends comatose... the times of getting hurt and injured mysteriously... the number of times I wondered of why I mostly found myself following them... the times I feel like I haven't eaten in days... the time I believed that Bakura was gone from my life... no longer to haunt me... hurt me... to take over me... All those memories seemed to burst inside me, swallow me whole in a black sea of darkness and pain.

—{o}—

Tap, tap, tap!

Oh, now what's the answer to this problem? I only have a twenty-five percent on the correct answer. What to choose, what to choose? It's either A... B... C... or D...

I tapped my pencil against my desk, leaning my head against my hand. Ugh... It's so frustrating... I should have studied more last night...

But you didn't do that, didn't you?

I scratched my white locks of my scalp, sighing heavily. Oh... What do you want now? I'm doing a test here at this moment. You're usually aren't present to bother me during my school hours. I mean, haven't you done enough?

Why, whatever do you mean? I'm not quite sure what you're talking about. Heh, heh, heh...

Look, just what do you want? I'm doing a test right now.

Ah, you are, are you? Heh, heh... I must have not heard you correctly.

I growled softly. I need to keep control of myself. I can't let him have his way. I had to stay low... I'm currently in the middle of class...

Heh, never mind that, Host. I'm still not done talking with you.

Well, make it quick. I don't have much time to stop in the middle of my test.

Heh, as you wish... As I was mentioning before, Host, we certainly have things in common... you and I. And as I said, one of the matters is that we both lost things we care very dearly...

Oh, he's bringing the subject in again... Well, I might as well play along... maybe he'll probably leave me alone afterwards. Hmph, how would you know of what I lost and what I haven't? You claimed that you know me quite well... but you would never understand of what it's like to be in my shoes... like losing people you cared... and wishing for them to come back.

Oh, is that so? Well, believe it or not, you're my reincarnation 5,000 years later. I did say originally that your ancestors have passed down the Ring since the beginning in the sands of Egypt. But I bet you don't know that I was the one that witness the creation of the Items.

I lost my focus, the pencil I'm holding loosened slightly. This was a new piece of information I heard from Bakura. In fact, this is actually the first time Bakura would ever mention about his past. I mean, I know he might have been a person like me when he was a child, but... What was his purpose of being evil though? What made him be who he is?

You witness the creation of the Millennium Items?

Indeed I have, Host, indeed I have. Heh, I suppose your question simply means that you never knew.

Why are you telling me this? You never told me anything about you.

Heh, true... I haven't ever personally mentioned about myself... but so have you.

I nearly dropped my pencil at that statement, but I regained my composure, making sure to keep it in my hand. I honestly don't want to get caught. Meaning?

Oh, don't think I don't know. You always keep things to yourself just like me. But since I've told a bit about myself, why don't you tell me something about you? After all, it's only fair...

I... I need to... I need to go back to my test. You're... You're distracting me.

I immediately dropped the mind link conversation with Bakura before he can say anything further. I gave a relief sigh. Bakura's taking all my time doing this test. Not only that, he was getting too close to the subject... way too close. I rarely mentioned about my own life back then in London because it's honestly very painful ever since... that tragic accident.

Incident? What incident?

I gave a startled jump at the sound of his voice. Oh, why must he do that? I bet he doesn't know when to quit... Ugh...

Heh, heh... Did I startle you? Heh, heh... I must have not made my presence known to you. Oh, wait... I just did that for the third time in a day, Bakura thoughtfully said in annoyance. Now, what incident exactly are you talking about?

I sighed heavily, returning back to my test as I mind link in reply silently. It's not your business what incident I'm thinking of and you shouldn't be going into my private thoughts.

Well, for your information, it is my business, Host. Plus, I can't help myself going into your private thoughts. They're easily heard for me and you lack closing your mind. In other words, you're thoughts are always open minded for me to also easily gain access to. Not only that, don't you remember that we share the inhabitants of your body?

I rolled my eyes, continuing into the next question as I linked back to him. Of course I remember. Aren't I talking to you just now? If you weren't, I would be doing this test more faster in peace and I wouldn't had to worry about my father on the line, who happens to be imprisoned as a doll at your merciless evil clutches.

Ooo... That's strong words to say, my dear Host. I feel so offended, he said back, giving a hint of sarcasm in his tone, chuckling. Heh, heh... So, it seems that you indeed remember that piece of fact after all. How long did it take that for you? Years now?

I tightened my hold of my pencil, feeling myself losing my patience and my concentration.

Grr...

Oh, did I tick you off again? I've must have set a new record. Heh, heh... Now, as I said before, what incident?

…

Oh, come on. You can't hide it from me forever... I'll know sooner or later, whether the easy way or the hard way... That all depends on your choice...

Snap!

I looked down at the pencil I was holding. Surprisingly, the source of the sound comes directly from it. It apparently shocked me that my pencil snapped in two. I swore under my breath. Great... Just bloody damn great...

"Bakura..."

I looked up to see who was addressing and looming over me. My face drained of all color, making me twice more paler than what I normally am. I swallowed my Adam's apple in a gulp. Oh, bugger... Just double bloody damn great... This is definitely isn't one of my better days for me.