Uh. D: So I went a little over my deadline again... (LOL, three- fourmonths? xD I'm so bad). But the good news is I didn't actually abandon this fic completely ;D.
TsukiroKetto Queen of rants: xD! Yaya! I'm glad, thanks :D
dArkliTe-sPirit: xD! Good call ;D
ArraMidnight: Yeh, we will :D (Marik? Yeh, I don't remember either D: j/k ;D sort of...) xD Yeah, we sort of find out... I think D: xD
5animefan: I dunno (anything you can imagine ;D )
Thank you everyone for reviewing! -:DDDDDDDD
communication between host(hikari) and yami:- /.../
this means that the scene is changing(or that the chapter is either beginning or ending):-. -. -. -. -. -. -. -.
disclaimer: I do not own Yugi-oh.
Chapter 21: An Unsuccessful Outing
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Ishizu paced back and forth anxiously as she waited for Bakura. She hoped that he hadn't hurt himself too badly... But he certainly had been gone a long time. What was going on...?
Ishizu let herself be a distracted for a moment as Joey and Téa entered the game shop.
Yami and Mai greeted them, though somewhat stiffly, but Serenity, Duke, and Malik quickly made up for the former two's coldness by being as warm and friendly as ever.
Malik joked that his golf club could probably break Joey's samurai sword in two should Joey ever question his authority- which it probably could considering Malik's was a real, metal golf club, while Joey's sword was made out of aluminum foil (not that that stopped Joey from refusing to 'submit to Malik's authority' anyway).
Téa and Joey both commented on Ishizu's gypsy costume and Ishizu smiled appreciatively at them, though she got a little distracted as she noticed Mai's glare at Téa that said all too well that she'd like nothing better than to tell Téa what she thought of her witch's costume.
Ishizu was relieved when Bakura finally came back down, the steady 'clunk, clunk, clunk' of his scythe against the stairs. As he reached the bottom and as she greeted him, she thought he seemed to be acting a little odd compared to the way he'd acted earlier.
"Did you get it treated all right?" Ishizu asked.
"What?" Bakura said suddenly, being snapped out of his thoughts before he remembered the reason he'd gone up there in the first place. "Oh, yes," he said, blushing. "Well, it wasn't as bad as I thought."
Ishizu smiled, though she didn't miss the fact that he seemed rather distracted, and said, "That's good." She decided to try and start a conversation and asked, "So, how have things been going with your sister?"
'You pretend that you aren't disturbed by your sister's derisive comments concerning your participating tonight in what is considered a tradition for children- or the warmness toward your father she holds that he most decidedly doesn't deserve.' Bakura bit his lip, trying not to think about his other's words from earlier. "Oh- she's fine," said Bakura, forcing a smile. "So- So have you gotten any good cards lately?"
Ishizu noticed the abrupt change of subject, but didn't comment. It wasn't really any of her business anyway. "No, I haven't bought any new cards for my deck in awhile," she said, answering his question.
"Oh," said Bakura. "Well, I haven't either."
A moment of silence followed.
Ishizu couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. Even though she couldn't see his face... had something happened upstairs? But he would have been all alone, so what could have...? Before she had the chance to ask him if he was all right, however, Bakura spoke again.
"So, is everyone almost here?" He glanced around at their friends conversing with one another in the crowded game shop.
"Almost. Joey and Téa came while you were gone..." Ishizu said, while still giving Bakura a slightly concerned look.
Bakura tried to find something to focus on to distract himself, and started looking around the whole game shop, trying to think of who hadn't arrived yet.
Even if some- or all- of the things his yami had said were true, he resolved not to think about them tonight. He'd just have a fun time with his friends... with Ishizu...
"Hey, I think they're finally here," said Yami.
"Who were we waiting for?" Duke asked.
"Tristan was bringing over a little friend of ours," said Yami, smiling slightly.
"Who?" asked Malik curiously, but just then, two people entered the game shop.
"Sorry we're late guys," said Tristan (who was dressed as a werewolf). "But he-" he threw a dirty look at the short figure next to him- "wasn't where he was supposed to be on time."
"Hey, I'd like to see you get through all that security- I'm supposed to be grounded, you know."
"Hey, Mokuba!" Téa greeted. "Cute costume."
"What did you do to get grounded?" Malik asked, grinning.
"Malik!" Ishizu cried, giving her brother a reprimanding look.
"What?" Malik asked defensively. "It was just a question."
"I made him celebrate his birthday," Mokuba said ruefully.
Téa and Serenity both looked shocked for a moment, then giggled.
"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me at all," said Téa, grinning.
"Hey, Mokuba, if Kaiba's so mean to ya, why would'you dress up as him?" Joey asked, eying Mokuba's miniature white trench coat.
"Oh, come on, Joey," said Téa, grinning and lightly slapping his shoulder. "Do you really need to ask that?"
Yami cleared his throat loudly. "All right, I believe we are all here now, so if everyone's got their bags, let there be no further delay."
"Yeah, let's go!" Joey agreed, pumping his fist into the air, enthusiastically.
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Late that night, long after the full moon had risen, the group of trick-or-treaters was heading back to the Game Shop. The night had gone fairly smoothly (everyone had gotten a full bag of candy) with the exceptions of when Malik had almost clubbed some poor drunk prankster over the head with his golf club, and when Joey and Tristan got into an argument with a couple of muscular-looking ghouls. Luckily, incidents had been avoided in both cases.
Everyone was feeling like close friends again, the way they'd felt before the whole Téa-and-Joey-started-going-out thing.
Ishizu walked a little behind the group and Bakura fell back into step with her.
"Hello," he said, smiling. "Did you have a good time?"
"Oh, yes," said Ishizu, smiling back. "And you?"
"Yes, fine," Ryou answered, turning away from her a moment and sighing a little. In truth, he was a little worried. His yami hadn't asked for control all evening (it was Halloween after all, a night meant for scaring other people and causing havoc in general) or even talked to him for that matter. Was he really that angry with him? Bakura was used to the spirit doing things abruptly and having apparent violent mood swings ('apparent' because his other didn't actually have the mood swings and only acted that way when he was trying to get a reaction he wanted from someone else).
Was it possible that the spirit was that worried about him? But no, the spirit was probably only annoyed by all his pathetic host's horribly obvious flaws...
"...Bakura?"
Bakura snapped out of his thoughts and turned his attention back to Ishizu. "Yes? I'm sorry, what...?" He hadn't meant to go off into his own little world... She must think he was a real space case.
"Oh, it's nothing," she replied. "It's just... is something bothering you? You seem a little distracted."
"No, nothing's wrong," Bakura said quickly. Then, changing the subject, asked, "So, ah... how's it been going at the museum? Anything new happen?"
Ishizu gave him a slightly odd look, but decided not to press him.
"Well, now that you mention it, Odion's been putting in a lot of hours at the museum to get this new project we received done." She felt a little guilty as she thought about it; she hadn't helped hardly at all. "The owner wanted it done all of sudden, but I don't know-"
She stopped abruptly and both she and Bakura turned their attention to Joey and Duke, who seemed to be having some kind of argument.
"-get what the big deal is," Duke was saying.
"Hey, I don't care what ya' do, so long as it don't involve my siste'," Joey said loudly.
"I was just holding her hand!" Duke defended. "You don't mind, do you Serenity?" Duke beamed at Serenity.
"Uhh..." said Serenity, hoping that someone would spare her from being dragged into this.
"Don't put her on the spot like that," said Tristan, rescuing her. "Of course she doesn't want to hold your hand!"
"And you think she wants to hold yours?" Joey asked, giving his friend a suspicious look.
"T-That's not what I was thinking..." Tristan muttered.
"Come on, Wheeler," said Duke reaching for Serenity's hand again. "You already have Téa; don't be so greedy!"
The three continued to bicker obliviously, but Téa noticed Yami's expression darken, while Mai looked away coldly. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't think of anything that would be helpful. One part of her just wanted to yell, "Oh, just get over it already you two!" while the other part just felt ashamed and like such a traitor she could never apologize enough to make up for it.
She decided finally that anythingwas better than nothing and opened her mouth to speak, but...
"All right, I'm taking off," Mai said suddenly, turning around.
"Uh, hey wait, Mai," said Joey, nervously clearing his throat as he apparently decided that this was more important than the argument. "Don't go yet-"
"I'll accompany you," said Yami, ignoring Joey as well. The two sped off and disappeared around a corner, leaving a heavy atmosphere behind them.
Téa looked sadly at the ground while Joey sighed in frustration, neither making eye contact with anyone.
There was an awkward silence before Malik, munching on a piece of candy no less, finally said, "What's the matter with everybody?"
They rounded the same corner Mai and Yami had earlier with Ishizu telling Malik off for eating too much candy on a school night (of course Malik's selective hearing kicked in again and he didn't listen to a word of it).
Duke had stopped trying to hold Serenity's hand (even he had some sense of what was appropriate and what wasn't) and instead came up next to Bakura.
"Hey, Bakura," said Duke. "I just happened to wonder, do you have a ride back to your place? If not, I've got room in my car..."
"O-Oh, yes!" Bakura said quickly, caught off guard by the question. "Thank you, but I already... I mean, I'm fine..." Bakura flushed slightly and didn't make eye contact.
His yami scoffed from his soul room and Bakura sighed sadly.
"Okay... if you say so," said Duke, giving Bakura an odd look.
Ishizu also gave Bakura a questioning look. It just seemed so unlike him, but she could almost swear that he was acting like he had something to hide...
"And I'll be the one taking you home, kid," Tristan said, looking at Mokuba, who was busy looking just as confused at how everyone had gotten upset as Malik had, but, unlike Malik, he'd kept quiet.
"Yeah," he said, snapping out of it. "I just really hope Seto doesn't realize I went out."
"Let us all hope so," said Tristan, laughing a little.
As they reached the Game Shop, they saw that Mai's blue car was already gone and Yami wasn't around either, which meant he'd probably already gone into the game shop.
Everyone said their goodbyes before they all left, Mokuba on Tristan's motorcycle, Téa and Joey in Duke's car, and the Ishtars along with Serenity in their own car.
Malik (who was munching on what was probably his tenth piece of candy) waved especially enthusiastically at Duke's car calling, "Bye! Hope you're more cheerful next time we see you! Bye!"
Everyone in the Ishtar car looked a little embarrassed and finally Ishizu reached over and snatched his bag of candy. Malik wasn't very pleased. ("No fair, Ishizu! I haven't eaten that many yet!")
Soon everyone was gone, leaving Bakura standing all alone in the dim light of the game shop. He sighed slightly.
"I'm saying you aren't facing up to your feelings, Host!"
He shook his head, trying not to think about, but then stopped sighing sadly again. "And what's wrong with with that?" he asked aloud. "Isn't it still early... so what's wrong with a little denial?"
He bit his lip. He wished the spirit would come back and talk to him again. The argument had left them on bad terms and it gave him an unsettled feeling inside.
Now that the moment was long over and he had time to really think about it, he couldn't help but feel that the spirit had a point. He had been sort of avoiding things lately. Maybe, in times of peace when right and wrong, good and evil wasn't so clearly defined... maybe that was when he struggled.
Now he really wished he hadn't been so defensive earlier; it was just that his yami's unusually accusatory tone had taken him by surprise and got him worked up...
Bakura shook his head slightly and walked into the game shop, his head bowed.
He slowly closed the door behind him, sighing heavily.
"I'm back Yugi!" he called. He opened his eyes, prepared to go through the game shop and up the stairs to his room, but stopped, staring in surprise.
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/Yami?-/ Yugi called to his other, biting his lip. His other had been deep in thought for a long time and Yugi was afraid of disturbing him, but he couldn't wait any longer.
/Hmm? Yes, what is it, Yugi?-/ he replied, though he still seemed a little distracted.
/Yami... we can't keep going on like this,-/ Yugi said.
/Going on like what?-/ Yami responded.
Yugi bit his lip, gazing at the ghostly image of his other self, sitting on the edge of the bed.
/I mean we shouldn't keep giving Téa and Joey the cold shoulder like this... It isn't right./
When the spirit didn't answer, Yugi pressed on/Yami, I'm starting to think that this isn't so much about you and Mai being genuinely jealous, as it is you guys getting revenge.-/ Yugi waited for his yami's reaction. He'd been too afraid to suggest it before, but he couldn't just sit by...
Yami gave Yugi a slightly surprised look for a moment- then actually smiled. /You know, Yugi. I really think you've hit the nail on the head.-/ His expression became more serious and he went on/I don't know about Mai, but now that you've said that, I think I... I feel angry at them- but more because I feel they should apologize in some way for what they did, even if it wouldn't make sense for them to and it doesn't even hurt me anymore.-/ He sighed deeply, then smiled again. /So I guess you could say it's just me being stubborn./
Yugi laughed, glad that his other wasn't angry with him. /Could it be that without some evil villain bent on world conquest that you're just looking for someone to be the bad guy?-/
Yami chuckled. /Yes, that could be it./ He turned away from Yugi again and added softly/But I can't lie to myself- I still don't feel ready to forgive them, even if I know it's unfair./
Yugi sighed sadly and answered/I never thought I'd say this, but I think a regular bad guy is what we need- someone we'd all have to work together against. Then maybe things would go back to normal.-/
Yami's expression suddenly darkened. /Yes, speaking of 'bad people', what do you think she could be wanting?-/
Yugi moaned slightly and shook his head. /You're hopeless, Yami. You aren't talking about Bakura's sister again?-/
Yami nodded. /I am. For one, what was so urgent that she needed to come so late at night? It just seems a little suspicious...-/
Indeed, as Yami had come into the game shop after trick-or-treating, he'd seen none other than Amane Bakura standing there. When asked, she said that she was waiting for Bakura (Grandpa Mohto had let her in), because she had some important things to talk to her brother about. There wasn't anything particularly strange about this, except Yami's usual feeling that Bakura's sister was up to no good (come to take Bakura away from all his friends when they needed him the most, no less).
/Yugi, why don't you let me take over?-/ he said, his gaze fixed on the door.
/Why?-/ Yugi asked curiously.
/I want to know what she needed to speak to Bakura about so badly,-/ Yami answered.
"Yami!" Yugi cried aloud, looking shocked. "You aren't planning on eavesdropping...?"
Yami shook his head as though denying it, then said/I wouldn't do any such thing- under normal circumstances. Yugi, there's something odd- out of place. We need to be sure that Bakura isn't in danger somehow.../
/Or maybe you just want to find a reason not to let Bakura go back with his family if they want him to,-/ Yugi said slyly.
/That's not true.../
In the end, Yami won the argument (of course) and took control. The shop bell rang just as he reached the bottom of the stairs and, though he was afraid for a moment, it worked in his favor as Amane was facing the door when he got there, giving him time to dive behind the store counter.
Though he tried not to, he couldn't help but keep thinking how incredibly sneaky, and not to mention degrading, this was for someone who was once a pharaoh of Egypt. Sigh. The things he did to maintain world peace...
"Oh, Amane. What are you doing here so late?" came Bakura's voice from just inside the door of the game shop.
"Hey," Amane greeted back. "Well, I guess it could have waited until tomorrow, but I wanted to go ahead and ask you as soon as possible, so you could have a lot of time to think about it...
"Think about what?" Bakura asked.
"Well..." Amane sounded uncomfortable and there was a short pause. "I-I know you've probably gotten really close to your friends here..." she began.
Yami's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't mean...
"Yes, and?" Bakura prodded gently.
Amane muttered inaudibly to herself, sounding very nervous now and said suddenly, "F-First, before I ask you about that, while I'm here I might as well ask you- there's something Father wanted to know. It was something about... about this pendant he gave you awhile back., or something"
Yami's heart stopped. Suddenly whether or not his friend was leaving to live with his family wasn't so much the issue. Could it really be that these people were really after...?
/Come on, Yami,-/ came Yugi's voice through their link. /We don't know anything yet- asking about the Millennium Ring isn't positive proof that she's up to no good./
But Yami's bad feeling hadn't gone away; he'd had this feeling from the very beginning, but he hadn't bothered to act or find out more, because a part of him had assumed that it was simply his own prejudice (even if he hadn't told Yugi that). He'd been so afraid that Bakura would love these strange people more than his friends and leave that was it possible it had clouded his sight? He'd thought he was only looking for a reason to dislike them, like Yugi had said, but in reality...
He shook his head. Yugi was right; it was too early to pass judgment, but now at least he knew it would be safer to find out more.
"Yes, what about?" Bakura said, sounding as disconcerted as Yami and Yugi felt.
"I don't know, I just think he wanted to know if you had it," she said.
"Well... I have it," Bakura said slowly. "I always keep it on me, but why does he want to know?"
"Well," said Amane, in a manor that sounded as if she was trying to choose her words carefully, "Father said something about hearing it was extremely valuable and could sell it for a high price. We'd be set for life, so he said."
"No," Bakura said abruptly. "he can't have the Mille- the pendant. It means too much to me; I could never let it be sold."
"Why not? Amane asked. Her voice was light and casual, but Yami thought he could sense a little tention in it as well.
"Why does it mean so much to you if you say you dislike Father so much? If you don't plan on selling it yourself and it doesn't have sentimental value- what's so important about it?"
There was a short pause. "It just is," Bakura said simply.
"So you wouldn't give it up? No matter what?"
"No matter what," Bakura answered, his voice serious. Then, lightening up a little, said, "Now, don't ask me anymore about it. It almost makes you seem like his henchman or something." He laughed.
Amane didn't join in however and just said, "Okay then." She sounded a little reluctant as she said it. Then she spoke again, her voice going back to being nervous. "Anyway Ryou, I didn't come here to ask you about that. Ryou... I'd understand if you don't want to, but would you at least consider... Please going back to England with us?"
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So, uh D: I didn't really go into the details of their trick-or-treating. XD D: aw. But the chapter was pretty long anyway ;D
Please r and r!