The final chapter… I'd love to know what you think so please, do comment! You don't have to, it would just be nice :3
The scratchy sound of the thick cotton bag scraping against the concrete ground was most unfortunate for them, as they were trying to keep quiet and secretive about their doings that dark night. Bakura and Yugi tugged at the end of the bag, dragging over it to the large, boiling, burning bonfire. The close the two same to dancing flames, the sorer the heat's claws seemed on their backs. They dropped it to the floor with a thick thump, leaning on their knee caps and catching their breath, both wiping their sweating brows.
Bakura had waited for to snow to melt and the ground to dry before he set his plan into action. He made a pile of tree branches, building them up as high as he could, already for the bonfire.
That fire did look so beautiful on that dark, cold night. Its warmth seemed 10 times stronger against the cold air. If Bakura didn't have 'things' to forever discard, then he could have been happy to lie on the grass and just enjoy the sight of the burning wood.
"He's heavy…" puffed Bakura "For a midget"
"Yeah…" wheezed little Yugi, pulling himself into a straight stand "But I'm guessing the after death process has begun by now…"
Bakura nodded with a sigh, before standing straight himself "Come on" he shrugged "Let's throw him on. I'll take head, you take legs"
Yugi nodded, and head round to the opposite side of the body and taking a tight hold on the corners of the bag; the bag that carried the man that had once been a spirit that had possessed him and taken him to the top of his abilities, helped him get friends, and changed him for the better. The once proud Pharaoh was now only a stiff, bloating cadaver that had already begun frothing out the mouth and rupturing down the back- starting from the stab wound. The liquids being released from various points of the royal carcass had stained the light brown bag terribly, weakening it in places with the dampness. With the material wet and with it been dragged across the hard, rocky concrete, the under part on the bag had been worn away quickly.
Once Bakura got a hold on the other end, the two began to swing the bag back and forth, picking up some force to throw it in the flames. Just as they were about throw the bagged body into the burning flames, a ripping sound hit their eyes, and the pharaoh's decomposing body flew out of the bag and rolled close to the bonfire, the rest of the content of the bag just dropping to their feet. Yugi quickly turned away, not wanting to see the body again. He'd seen it a few days previously when his curiosity had got the better of him, and he found himself scarred for life at the dreaded sight. The carcass was on the bed, eyes wide open and staring up, mouth gaping, lying on the crispy stained sheets.
"Think of it as a favour to yourself" Bakura had told him when he admitted his terrible deed "He's no longer your problem. The same as he isn't mine and will never by Ryou's…"
Yugi didn't know why he'd agreed to all this… Maybe he did in hope that after Yami's body was gone and burnt, he could forgot everything and sleep well at night… Something told him he'd never sleep again…
"I'll do it myself, then…" Bakura grumbled, stomping over to the body, irritated.
Yugi, biting his lip anxiously, turned his head a little to see what was happening. He swung his head back round and closed his eyes tightly shut as he saw the corpse lying close to the fire, one hand actually alight from a jumping flame. Yugi heard Bakura grumbled again as metallic slick-like sound stretched through the air.
Bakura gritted him teeth in annoyance and whipped out the knife he had place in his back pocket, safely protected by a thick leather pouch. The cadaver looked at its worst now, the skin stretched round the forehead, cheekbones and limps, but bloating in a disgusting manner round the mouth, neck and abdomen. A wreck not fit for anyone of any calibre. He took a tight hold on the lit arm with his spare had before holding the knife high. He slammed it down onto the bruised arm, around 5 inches away from the lit hand. Bakura plunged the dagger in to the burning wrist and threw it quickly into the fire, now leaving him the bloating body. He sighed, trying to breath in the foul stench of decay, changing his position so he could slide his pale, stained hands under the body and pull it up into a bridal hold. Bakura choked on the air round his mouth and nose, no officially violated with the smell of rotting flesh. Swallow hard, forcing himself not to be sick, before stepping as close to the blaze as he could, the warmth it gave off burning his eyes and the tip of his nose, before chucking the body lazily into the fire with 'umph'. The body landed upside down against the burning branches, head first into the main part of the blaze.
Bakura took a few steps back and stared for a minute, watching the flames tear the body apart, the multi-coloured hair already ceasing to have existed. The horrid smell of rotting fresh had almost got now, and was now replaced by the stench of burning skin. Bakura didn't know which one was worse to put up with…
He turned round to see Yugi still cowering away with his back to the burning. Bakura rolled his eyes and stomped over to the pile on the floor that also needed to be discarded of.
The pile consisted of bed sheets, pillow cases, Yami's bedroom curtains, along with towels and mop heads and anything else that was covered in Yami's blood or what Bakura believed to be heavy in DNA or clues that could label him to his crime.
The thief snatched a few things from the pile and began to chuck them into the flames in forceful flicks on the arm. Yugi noticed what the lilac haired man was doing, and chose to shake himself from his disturbed state, and help out the murderer. He grabbed a mop head and one of the curtains and threw them into the fire.
For the next five minutes, the two were silent as they destroyed all the evidence. It was better to be safe than sorry. All though there was no real proof of Yami's existence in this current time, Bakura wanted to make sure no one picked up on anything being 'weird' or 'off'. Plus, burning everything along with the pharaoh's swollen carcass was kind of like a ceremony of the 'new start' in their lives.
What a better way to start a new then by burning you're a body with one of your enemies?
Once everything was in the bonfire and being finally cremated, the two took a few more steps back to admire the beautiful sight.
"So…" Yugi spoke awkwardly, trying to relax the mood that only he noted "What did she name it?"
"Eh?" Bakura grunted, still staring at the flames.
"The baby. What did Koko name it?"
"OH, right!" Bakura smirked with a nod of the head "Mitsou I think" he sniggered.
"Why's that funny? Mitsou is a nice name for a little boy…"
"Yeah, it is" Bakura nodded "I just think it's funny that KoKo refused to call it Hitsugi after the guy from Naitomea- and then she goes and does it anyway!" he laughed harder
Yugi blinked "huh?"
Bakura rolled his eyes "Ikari Mitsou is the birth name of the guitarist from Naitomea- A.K.A Hitsugi- Which would have been a better name for the kid if you ask me" I mean, what boy wouldn't want to be called The Coffin (Hitsugi)? Its awesome"
Yugi mimed at 'oh' "I-I wouldn't know, I'm not a fan of rock music…"
"You're more bubblegum crap, right?" Bakura sniggered again.
The silence returned like cold chill in the air…
With a gulp, Yugi forced himself to carry on the conversation "How's Ryou?"
"Better" Bakura said, his tone taking a serious tone "Better"
Bakura had been in alarm when he dashed up to his lovers room. The scene was like the one Bakura had only just left behind, only this time, the person was awake with glittering, teary eyes.
Ryou was lying on blood-stained bed, pale skinned by bright rosy cheeks. Yugi was sitting on the bed next to him, holding Ryou's hand comfortingly, his thumb making little circles against Ryou's skin. Yugi eyes whizzed to him as soon as he opened the door. He quickly got up and strode over to Bakura.
"I need to talk to you before you talk to him" Yugi spoke coldly, looking at Bakura with determined, tired eyes.
Bakura, no longer in the mood for any rows or fights, simply nodded and followed Yugi back out the room and into the hall.
"I'm not going to tell him" Yugi announced.
Bakura blinked, confused on the subject.
"About you and Yami" Yugi explained, his voice softening.
"Why?" Bakura asked suspiciously, folding his arms.
"he needs you." A small smile grew on Yugi's lips "But, Ryou is a good guy. You should treat him right." Yugi went on "Show him respe-"
"He'll get the best I can give now" Bakura interrupted, a sneer crawling him
Yugi frowned as he became the one that was confused. Bakura's smirk grew
"Let's just say that I've got rid of a little distraction" Bakura giggled cruelly, before heading back into Ryou's room, leaving and alarmed Ryou outside.
Now back in the room, alone with Ryou, Bakura found himself smiling gently at his lover.
"Hey" he said softly.
"hey…" Was Ryou's weak reply.
Bakura slowly made his way over gingerly, sitting down next to Ryou, and began to stroke the mint hair from his face.
"I thought I was going to die" Ryou murmured.
"Nah…" Bakura whispered "That's not something I'm about to let happen." He kissed his lover's forehead "I need someone to be home to cook for me after a day of thieving"
Ryou giggled, staring up at Bakura with loving eyes. "Did you see him?"
"Who? Yugi?"
"No…" Ryou cleared his throat "The baby"
Bakura nodded "yeah. Looks like us."
"Yep… He looks like us… But he doesn't look like he his ours, you know?" Ryou smiled sleepily.
"You couldn't be more right pipsqueak" Bakura jolted his eyebrows up as he spoke, making Ryou giggled again, before cringing in pain.
"What is it?" Bakura whispered in worry.
"Only my stitches. I'm fine" he replied weakly.
Bakura had to admit to himself that he had been terrified that day that he had lost Ryou.
It was at that moment, sitting, crying in the snow with the bloody roses that Bakura realised who he truly cared for, the real reason by the embarrassing tears that sprawled down him cheeks- Ryou. He was his reason for life. If there was no Ryou, there could be no Bakura.
It had been so long since Bakura had cared so much for the death of another being. The feeling was so strange but so familiar at that moment. It reminded him of long ago, when his village was burnt to the ground, his parents, his friends, murdered right in front of his very eyes. The pain, the mental torture it had caused him, the being he had become from it, and then after zorc entered his world and literally became his life…
His evil demeanour was him now, it was how he was wired, but still some of his old self revealed. And there was just enough of it left for him still be able to feel the desperation for one others life out then his own.
And that other person was Ryou.
After Bakura's reply, the conversation died again. Once again, it was awkward for Ryou, but Bakura enjoyed the vocal silence, with only speech being the talk of the crackling flames.
Bakura smirked at the fire, watching the last of the proof born away, to be as if it had never existed.
Ryou gazed at the fire solemnly, staring at the up-side-down burning figure, now decapitated and mostly hidden behind the flames, most of what could be seen of it was just a silhouette, like a person showering behind the curtains.
"What now?" Yugi spoke up again.
"I go home to Ryou" Bakura spoke blankly "What do you do?"
Yugi shook his head "I honestly don't know." He shrugged "Just got to try and live a normal life. Pretend certain things didn't happen-"
"Now, we know you can't do that" Bakura sneered.
"But isn't that your plan, also?" Yugi frowned, confused to why it should work for Bakura but no himself. Or was Bakura's plan not that and instead something unclear?
"yes. But I am me and you are you"
Yugi didn't know what to say. Maybe the thief was actually right there. Bakura was good at forgetting and ignoring, but Yugi was not. Yugi held on to memories and wasn't ignorant enough to be able to ignore anything. The lilac man was right in a horrid way, it would work for him but it wouldn't work for Yugi. Maybe not just because of his personality, but his reasons. For once, his reasons may not be all selfish, but some might actually selfless. Yugi's with neither selfish or selfless.
"You know" for once Bakura was the once to keep the conversation going "I've actually learnt from this"
Yugi couldn't help but be alarmed. "Really"
Bakura nodded "To be truthful, for once," Bakura sniggered at his own honesty "I was really scared for Ryou. When the mind link came back and suddenly I could hear Ryou's thoughts,-" Bakura sighed as if he was failing "I actually realized that his the once thing in this world that feel back for taking the advantage once. It was like I was oblivious the fact that one he could be the next day he might not." He smiled gently, his eyes on the ground "I couldn't help but think about all the little things he does… Even the ones that pissed me off to bad, I-… Well, I came to the conclusion that I would actually miss those little things. I'd actually miss the sound of singing along to those darn, fucking crap, pop music and being fussy over me, and be constantly worried about getting ill or hurt… The way he always makes the coffee just right, the way his makes the bed as soon as I get up, the way he always asks for my opinions on things just be safe… the way he stays with me even though I hurt him…" Bakura looked at Yugi with sad eyes "All these little things… Like how he bites his nails and fiddles with his hair when he watches tele… it's also trivial, but-…" he smile sweetly, truly sweetly "But nothing is really trivial… Nothing is trivial… Not when it's Ryou" he looked back down at the ground, smiling to himself.
"I wish I had someone to say that about me…" Yugi mumbled.
Bakura just nodded, hardly listening.
"I bet Yami once would have…" he sighed heavily "I already miss him… I miss him just being there. Even though I hated him, he was always just there… now he's gone. Officially gone"
A sly look stretched across Bakura's face as he turned to Yugi once again "You miss him, tiny?"
There was a pause for a moment from Yugi as he thought "yeah…" he replied faintly, hardly believing his admittance "I actually do"
"I can solve that" Bakura said in a kindly voice.
If Yugi had had time to think, he probably wouldn't have believed what was happening. One moment he was stand there. The next minute, Bakura was carrying him bridal style. The next minute, he felt hot, rushing air hitting his body. The next; the final minute. He couldn't think.
Hot. Very hot. Burning. He was burning.
Yugi screamed as he was engulfed by the flames, the blaze sinking its teeth into his flesh, melting him like a max candle. The whole time as cried, pleaded and shrieked, as he stared in horror at Bakura, who just stood, outside the fire, watching with evil red eyes and a crooked, sharp grin.
Yugi tried to move, but he was trapped in the morning logs. In a great effort, he attempted to throw himself forward and back on to the glass, but he didn't go alone. Burning wood went with him, burning his back while the grass cooled his front. It wasn't long until the coolness ended, as the crash set fire around him, scorching his face and throat. Yugi tried scream, to howl in pain, but it was too hard now. Parts of him still hurt, but others were numb. The fire had burnt him way part his nerves in some places, leaving him feel almost non-existent. He just twitched and shook as his vision became blurry and his mind began to become blank. One ear caught the rumble of more falling wood, and what was left of him that could feel felt itself be pushed closer with mother's ground. It was long until the flames had eaten him, just like it had eaten his old partner, the Pharaoh.
Bakura stepped closer to over-flood of wood, of which the burning Yugi laid dying underneath. He bent down to flames.
"I know I took Yami from you…" He whispered to the burning boy "But you tried to take Ryou from me…"
The lilac haired man stood back up, still looking in flames "I didn't trust you to stay hush… I'm taking risks"
And with that, Bakura left the scene and headed back home to Ryou.
He had good reason.
Ryou was cooking traditional-Japan sushi that night…
THIS WILL HAVE A SEQUAL!
THANK YOU EVERYONE who had read this!
It's done! It's finally done! I feel so proud of myself right now!
I hoped you all enjoyed it!