*At the party*
Honda: So, who won the "Get out of torture" card?
Yami Bakura: No one here has the right to judge! No matter who decides, it will be a bias choice. If White Angel picks, you know she will choose Ryou. If Isis does, she will pick Kaiba. Anzu would pick Yugi or Yami, and anyone else would pick themselves. It's not fair!
Malik: Like you had a chance anyway.
Yami Bakura: That's not the point. Besides I got stuck with all the girly songs. Of course I didn't have a chance. If I had had a real song, it would have been different. I've got all Ryou's talent and all my attitude. You'd be amazed.
White Angel: Care to try your luck again? *shakes bag of songs* Promise we'll be fair. We'll vote. Winner gets the card.
Yami Bakura: *eyes the bag nervously* I don't know...
Yami Malik: Come on, Yami Bakura! *grins* It's fun!
Yami Bakura: You think sniffing household cleaners and fighting with Yami over whose hair sticks up more is fun.
Yami: *disgruntled* I STILL say my hair sticks up more...
Yami Malik: And...? Your point? You find eating raw meat and stabbing yourself fun.
Ryou: Excuse me, stabbing who? He insists on doing that in my body. He has his fun and I'm left to deal with it. I still haven't forgiven him for that time in Battle City.
Yami Bakura: And do I give a damn?
Mai: Oh, just do the song, Yami Bakura!
Jounouchi: Quit being a big baby.
Yami Bakura: Oh, all right... *reaches in bag* Please, Ra... *pulls out paper* Ha! Alright! A decent one! "Hanging by a Moment"
Yugi: That hardly seems your style.
Yami Bakura: Well, Slim Shady didn't seem your style either, now did it? But you sure got into that, didn't you?
Yugi: *blushes*
Yami Bakura: Besides, this song require talent and is the perfect opportunity to showcase my skills.
Seto: I somehow doubt that.
Yami Bakura: You'll see....
..................................
Ryou:
As always, my yami knew just what to say to make me doubt myself. He compared me to him... and he was right. I was acting more like him than myself. Deceiving, manipulating... Was I losing myself in my quest for freedom? If I was, was it really worth it? I could no longer look at him and I cast my sights to the ground. I clinched my fists in frustration. I was ashamed of myself. Had I really picked these things up from him? Was I really just standing up for myself and the safety of my friends? My yami continued his verbal assault.
"That's it. Bow your head, boy. So you got one weak attack on me, so what? I can barely feel it now. What good do you think will come of it? When are you going to realize that it is useless to stand up to me? You can't without resorting to the things you dislike so much about me."
I looked up and he was standing right in front of me. I took a step back in reaction. He grinned with his usual malice and cracked his knuckles, as if daring me to do anything. Then he invoked the millennium eye himself. I made no attempt to stop him. The eye glowed wickedly, casting an eerie light across his face as he read my mind. Try as I might, I could not use the eye to block the eye. My yami's gaze narrowed. He had found out everything he needed to.
"So," he muttered, "That's how you were able to hide from me. Clever boy. I don't know that even I could have come up with such an intricate plan of deception. And you even allowed your dear friend over there believe you dead as well. Nice going there."
I continued to stare at the ground, unable to look at my yami or Yami Yugi. The praise of my darker half cut into me like a knife, making me question my every action. But I could not question long, for my yami suddenly reached forward, grabbing me by the collar and lifting me clear from the ground. I was terrified.
"Surprising as it may be to see that you actually have a spine, I will not let you go unpunished," he said harshly.
"Leave him be!" Yami Yugi yelled. "Haven't you done enough to that poor soul already!"
"Stay out of this, Yami!" my dark half bellowed. "This is between me and this treacherous boy! I'll be back with you shortly, seeing as you are in such a hurry to meet your end." He turned his attention back to me. I struggled with my best effort to free myself, but I was too weak. My efforts were futile. In a last desperate attempt, I struck out at the burn that I knew was on his arm, trying to shock him enough for me to break his grip. He gasped slightly but his grin only widened. He pulled me closer so that I was an inch away from his face and he stared into me, his icy glare seemingly enhanced by the coldness of the millennium eye. I could feel his breath on my face as he whispered harshly to me.
"Did you think that would work?" he said. "Striking at a weak spot, hoping to distract me with pain. I like it, remember?" He lifted me higher again and shook me a bit. I was out of ideas and could do nothing to stop him. I was at his mercy, and mercy was not in his vocabulary.
"Now how to punish you?" he said threateningly. "You're only a soul, so physical damage is beyond you. But..." he paused, seemingly savoring my terror. "A soul is not immune to suffering. I could use one of my magical attacks on you. It would seem fitting to destroy you with the millennium eye. Or, even better, I could use our link to take all of your magical energy. That way, you will be left with no defense against the shadow realm and I will be even stronger for my duel against Yami Yugi. Yes, that seems right." He lowered me, so that we were eye to eye once more.
"Pity that you never got it through your skull that you cannot act against me without being punished eventually. I might have let you live. But you never seemed to get it. I am the master, you are but a slave. I am wise, you are a fool. I am everything and you are nothing. Prepare for your death, mortal!" He grabbed my wrist roughly, still holding my collar with the other hand. I struggled weakly, unable to put up much of a fight. Panic had overtaken me and I could not find the concentration necessary to fight back with the millennium eye. But I did sense a build up in power, and it was not coming from my yami.
I sensed the energy building up steadily and at astonishing speed. But my panic-stricken mind could not comprehend its source. My yami must have either sensed the energy himself or sensed my confusion, for his grip on me loosened slightly and he seemed to be thinking. Then realization became obvious on his face. He pulled me harshly around and fixed me in the spot he was just in. Seconds later, a sharp, intense pain hit me in the back, and I screamed in both shock and pain. It coursed through me, my body going numb in the process. And then everything went black...
..................................
Yami Bakura:
Ryou had never seemed more pathetic to me than he did at that moment, even with all the times I had seen him broken and bloody. After his one moment of courage, he quickly reverted back to his natural submissiveness. It disgusted me. How could anyone be so weak?
I was mere seconds away from ending that weakness forever, when I noticed a look of confusion pass over Ryou's face. What was it now? What could have distracted him from me and his impending doom? I was curious now. I focused for a moment. I sensed... I sensed strong energy. It was Yami! I'd been focused so on Ryou that I had forgotten him! My back was turned to him and he was seconds away from attack. I became enraged. Enraged at myself for being careless. Enraged at Yami Yugi for daring to attack me. But most of all, enraged at Ryou for distracting me. I'd find an escape that would make them both pay.
I pulled Ryou sharply around, switching our positions. I saw Yami release the attack, and then stare in horror after he realized what I had done. It was too late to call off the attack. Ryou was placed directly between Yami and myself. The energy blast hit him in the back. There was one short scream as he strained from the impact. Then he went limp. I released my hold on him and he crumpled to the ground, his eye closed, and lifeless from appearances. But I knew better.
"Lucky for you, Yami," I said, turning my attention to him, "you were not aiming to kill. I assure you I would not have done the same in your place. You should take your opportunities as they come. But..." I prodded Ryou's form with my foot, rolling him over a bit. "You might as well have killed him in that shot. He will die anyway. You knocked him out with that attack. Now he is left defenseless against the shadow realm and you still have me to deal with."
Yami's eyes were narrowed in frustration and guilt. In trying to save an innocent, he had doomed him. There was little for him to do. I laughed.
"You should not try my underhanded tactics if you are not prepared for the consequences of them going wrong. Once again, your emotions have gotten the better of you. Not only have you condemned the one you were trying to save, but you have left yourself weaker as a result, and so you are less likely to save the others. Ha! Why don't you just give up now and save us both the trouble?"
"I will fight to the bitter end." He said simply.
"And I don't think you will have ever tasted such a bitter end, Yami."
....................................
Yami Yugi:
Yami Bakura had an amazing talent for turning my every effort against me. When I saw him place Bakura in the path of my attack, horror overcame me. I had never imagined him doing that. It is hard for me to understand how he could put his host through the things he did. I have never felt anything but trust and protectiveness toward Yugi. Yet, Yami Bakura - a spirit much like myself, who had been trapped in a millennium item until the day his host unknowingly released him- seemed to live to torture his reincarnation. I'd never seen such heartlessness. All my other rivals had at least one touch of humanity in them. Kaiba, as harsh as he was, cared deeply for his little brother. Even the departed Pegasus had the love for his fiancée behind his diabolical actions. But Yami Bakura had nothing but his quest for power. He was entirely selfish. How someone such as him managed to survive the centuries, I will never know. But I could not allow such evil to continue on. Somehow, someway, I would put a stop to him. Even if I had to risk it all...
....................................
*at the party, Yami Bakura was actually wowing the group*
Yami Bakura: *sings* ...hanging by a moment here with you...
Honda: Wow. o.O
Yami Bakura: Told you so. Just give me a chance and I'll amaze you every time.
Yami Malik: 'Cept in a shadow game. You're yet to win one against a fellow item holder, aren't you?
Yami Bakura: *mutters* Shut up, Yami Malik.
White Angel: Alrighty! Votes! Be fair now.
*Everyone writes down a name and Isis tallies the vote. Seto-2 ; Mai-1; Yami Malik-3; Ryou-3; Yami Bakura-5*
Yami Bakura: *in disbelief* What the... I win!
Isis: Yeah, I don't know how you did it either.
Yami Bakura: WHOO-HOO!!! The card is mine!!!
*White Angel rolls her eyes and hands him his prize. Yami Bakura dances around in celebration, being sure to taunt Yami, who didn't get any votes.*
Yugi: You know, there is such thing as a gracious winner.
*Yami Bakura ignores him*
Jounouchi: That had to be fixed.
Anzu: Who would fix it in his favor? He WAS good, you know.
Jounouchi: Don't tell me you voted for him? *Anzu nods* Geez... Well I voted for Mai, who else voted for Yami Bakura?
*Honda, Ryou, Yami Malik, and, of course, Yami Bakura raises their hands. Several odd glances were cast towards Ryou*
Ryou: What? He was good. *scratches head* Just out of curiosity, who voted for me?
*White Angel, Yami, and Seto raise hands*
Seto: *shrugs* I wasn't going to vote for myself. That's tacky.
Yami Bakura: It gets the job done!
Mokuba: I voted for you, big brother.
Isis: I did, too, Seto:
Seto: The brother and the girlfriend. As least I see loyalty isn't dead.
Yami Malik: Then Yugi, Malik, and Mai voted for me?
Yugi: I thought you were funny.
Mai: There was a certain appeal. You really got into it. I'll give you that.
Malik: *shrugs* I didn't want to see you cry if no one voted for you.
Yami Malik: *scoffs* Well the fangirls love me! *signs a picture White Angel took of him singing Dancing Queen "To Yuki Chan. With Love, Yami Malik" and kisses it.* The fangirls must be rewarded.
Yami Bakura: *suddenly stops dancing and stares at his "Get out of torture card"* Hey, this expired December, 1997!!!
White Angel: =P
Honda: So, who won the "Get out of torture" card?
Yami Bakura: No one here has the right to judge! No matter who decides, it will be a bias choice. If White Angel picks, you know she will choose Ryou. If Isis does, she will pick Kaiba. Anzu would pick Yugi or Yami, and anyone else would pick themselves. It's not fair!
Malik: Like you had a chance anyway.
Yami Bakura: That's not the point. Besides I got stuck with all the girly songs. Of course I didn't have a chance. If I had had a real song, it would have been different. I've got all Ryou's talent and all my attitude. You'd be amazed.
White Angel: Care to try your luck again? *shakes bag of songs* Promise we'll be fair. We'll vote. Winner gets the card.
Yami Bakura: *eyes the bag nervously* I don't know...
Yami Malik: Come on, Yami Bakura! *grins* It's fun!
Yami Bakura: You think sniffing household cleaners and fighting with Yami over whose hair sticks up more is fun.
Yami: *disgruntled* I STILL say my hair sticks up more...
Yami Malik: And...? Your point? You find eating raw meat and stabbing yourself fun.
Ryou: Excuse me, stabbing who? He insists on doing that in my body. He has his fun and I'm left to deal with it. I still haven't forgiven him for that time in Battle City.
Yami Bakura: And do I give a damn?
Mai: Oh, just do the song, Yami Bakura!
Jounouchi: Quit being a big baby.
Yami Bakura: Oh, all right... *reaches in bag* Please, Ra... *pulls out paper* Ha! Alright! A decent one! "Hanging by a Moment"
Yugi: That hardly seems your style.
Yami Bakura: Well, Slim Shady didn't seem your style either, now did it? But you sure got into that, didn't you?
Yugi: *blushes*
Yami Bakura: Besides, this song require talent and is the perfect opportunity to showcase my skills.
Seto: I somehow doubt that.
Yami Bakura: You'll see....
..................................
Ryou:
As always, my yami knew just what to say to make me doubt myself. He compared me to him... and he was right. I was acting more like him than myself. Deceiving, manipulating... Was I losing myself in my quest for freedom? If I was, was it really worth it? I could no longer look at him and I cast my sights to the ground. I clinched my fists in frustration. I was ashamed of myself. Had I really picked these things up from him? Was I really just standing up for myself and the safety of my friends? My yami continued his verbal assault.
"That's it. Bow your head, boy. So you got one weak attack on me, so what? I can barely feel it now. What good do you think will come of it? When are you going to realize that it is useless to stand up to me? You can't without resorting to the things you dislike so much about me."
I looked up and he was standing right in front of me. I took a step back in reaction. He grinned with his usual malice and cracked his knuckles, as if daring me to do anything. Then he invoked the millennium eye himself. I made no attempt to stop him. The eye glowed wickedly, casting an eerie light across his face as he read my mind. Try as I might, I could not use the eye to block the eye. My yami's gaze narrowed. He had found out everything he needed to.
"So," he muttered, "That's how you were able to hide from me. Clever boy. I don't know that even I could have come up with such an intricate plan of deception. And you even allowed your dear friend over there believe you dead as well. Nice going there."
I continued to stare at the ground, unable to look at my yami or Yami Yugi. The praise of my darker half cut into me like a knife, making me question my every action. But I could not question long, for my yami suddenly reached forward, grabbing me by the collar and lifting me clear from the ground. I was terrified.
"Surprising as it may be to see that you actually have a spine, I will not let you go unpunished," he said harshly.
"Leave him be!" Yami Yugi yelled. "Haven't you done enough to that poor soul already!"
"Stay out of this, Yami!" my dark half bellowed. "This is between me and this treacherous boy! I'll be back with you shortly, seeing as you are in such a hurry to meet your end." He turned his attention back to me. I struggled with my best effort to free myself, but I was too weak. My efforts were futile. In a last desperate attempt, I struck out at the burn that I knew was on his arm, trying to shock him enough for me to break his grip. He gasped slightly but his grin only widened. He pulled me closer so that I was an inch away from his face and he stared into me, his icy glare seemingly enhanced by the coldness of the millennium eye. I could feel his breath on my face as he whispered harshly to me.
"Did you think that would work?" he said. "Striking at a weak spot, hoping to distract me with pain. I like it, remember?" He lifted me higher again and shook me a bit. I was out of ideas and could do nothing to stop him. I was at his mercy, and mercy was not in his vocabulary.
"Now how to punish you?" he said threateningly. "You're only a soul, so physical damage is beyond you. But..." he paused, seemingly savoring my terror. "A soul is not immune to suffering. I could use one of my magical attacks on you. It would seem fitting to destroy you with the millennium eye. Or, even better, I could use our link to take all of your magical energy. That way, you will be left with no defense against the shadow realm and I will be even stronger for my duel against Yami Yugi. Yes, that seems right." He lowered me, so that we were eye to eye once more.
"Pity that you never got it through your skull that you cannot act against me without being punished eventually. I might have let you live. But you never seemed to get it. I am the master, you are but a slave. I am wise, you are a fool. I am everything and you are nothing. Prepare for your death, mortal!" He grabbed my wrist roughly, still holding my collar with the other hand. I struggled weakly, unable to put up much of a fight. Panic had overtaken me and I could not find the concentration necessary to fight back with the millennium eye. But I did sense a build up in power, and it was not coming from my yami.
I sensed the energy building up steadily and at astonishing speed. But my panic-stricken mind could not comprehend its source. My yami must have either sensed the energy himself or sensed my confusion, for his grip on me loosened slightly and he seemed to be thinking. Then realization became obvious on his face. He pulled me harshly around and fixed me in the spot he was just in. Seconds later, a sharp, intense pain hit me in the back, and I screamed in both shock and pain. It coursed through me, my body going numb in the process. And then everything went black...
..................................
Yami Bakura:
Ryou had never seemed more pathetic to me than he did at that moment, even with all the times I had seen him broken and bloody. After his one moment of courage, he quickly reverted back to his natural submissiveness. It disgusted me. How could anyone be so weak?
I was mere seconds away from ending that weakness forever, when I noticed a look of confusion pass over Ryou's face. What was it now? What could have distracted him from me and his impending doom? I was curious now. I focused for a moment. I sensed... I sensed strong energy. It was Yami! I'd been focused so on Ryou that I had forgotten him! My back was turned to him and he was seconds away from attack. I became enraged. Enraged at myself for being careless. Enraged at Yami Yugi for daring to attack me. But most of all, enraged at Ryou for distracting me. I'd find an escape that would make them both pay.
I pulled Ryou sharply around, switching our positions. I saw Yami release the attack, and then stare in horror after he realized what I had done. It was too late to call off the attack. Ryou was placed directly between Yami and myself. The energy blast hit him in the back. There was one short scream as he strained from the impact. Then he went limp. I released my hold on him and he crumpled to the ground, his eye closed, and lifeless from appearances. But I knew better.
"Lucky for you, Yami," I said, turning my attention to him, "you were not aiming to kill. I assure you I would not have done the same in your place. You should take your opportunities as they come. But..." I prodded Ryou's form with my foot, rolling him over a bit. "You might as well have killed him in that shot. He will die anyway. You knocked him out with that attack. Now he is left defenseless against the shadow realm and you still have me to deal with."
Yami's eyes were narrowed in frustration and guilt. In trying to save an innocent, he had doomed him. There was little for him to do. I laughed.
"You should not try my underhanded tactics if you are not prepared for the consequences of them going wrong. Once again, your emotions have gotten the better of you. Not only have you condemned the one you were trying to save, but you have left yourself weaker as a result, and so you are less likely to save the others. Ha! Why don't you just give up now and save us both the trouble?"
"I will fight to the bitter end." He said simply.
"And I don't think you will have ever tasted such a bitter end, Yami."
....................................
Yami Yugi:
Yami Bakura had an amazing talent for turning my every effort against me. When I saw him place Bakura in the path of my attack, horror overcame me. I had never imagined him doing that. It is hard for me to understand how he could put his host through the things he did. I have never felt anything but trust and protectiveness toward Yugi. Yet, Yami Bakura - a spirit much like myself, who had been trapped in a millennium item until the day his host unknowingly released him- seemed to live to torture his reincarnation. I'd never seen such heartlessness. All my other rivals had at least one touch of humanity in them. Kaiba, as harsh as he was, cared deeply for his little brother. Even the departed Pegasus had the love for his fiancée behind his diabolical actions. But Yami Bakura had nothing but his quest for power. He was entirely selfish. How someone such as him managed to survive the centuries, I will never know. But I could not allow such evil to continue on. Somehow, someway, I would put a stop to him. Even if I had to risk it all...
....................................
*at the party, Yami Bakura was actually wowing the group*
Yami Bakura: *sings* ...hanging by a moment here with you...
Honda: Wow. o.O
Yami Bakura: Told you so. Just give me a chance and I'll amaze you every time.
Yami Malik: 'Cept in a shadow game. You're yet to win one against a fellow item holder, aren't you?
Yami Bakura: *mutters* Shut up, Yami Malik.
White Angel: Alrighty! Votes! Be fair now.
*Everyone writes down a name and Isis tallies the vote. Seto-2 ; Mai-1; Yami Malik-3; Ryou-3; Yami Bakura-5*
Yami Bakura: *in disbelief* What the... I win!
Isis: Yeah, I don't know how you did it either.
Yami Bakura: WHOO-HOO!!! The card is mine!!!
*White Angel rolls her eyes and hands him his prize. Yami Bakura dances around in celebration, being sure to taunt Yami, who didn't get any votes.*
Yugi: You know, there is such thing as a gracious winner.
*Yami Bakura ignores him*
Jounouchi: That had to be fixed.
Anzu: Who would fix it in his favor? He WAS good, you know.
Jounouchi: Don't tell me you voted for him? *Anzu nods* Geez... Well I voted for Mai, who else voted for Yami Bakura?
*Honda, Ryou, Yami Malik, and, of course, Yami Bakura raises their hands. Several odd glances were cast towards Ryou*
Ryou: What? He was good. *scratches head* Just out of curiosity, who voted for me?
*White Angel, Yami, and Seto raise hands*
Seto: *shrugs* I wasn't going to vote for myself. That's tacky.
Yami Bakura: It gets the job done!
Mokuba: I voted for you, big brother.
Isis: I did, too, Seto:
Seto: The brother and the girlfriend. As least I see loyalty isn't dead.
Yami Malik: Then Yugi, Malik, and Mai voted for me?
Yugi: I thought you were funny.
Mai: There was a certain appeal. You really got into it. I'll give you that.
Malik: *shrugs* I didn't want to see you cry if no one voted for you.
Yami Malik: *scoffs* Well the fangirls love me! *signs a picture White Angel took of him singing Dancing Queen "To Yuki Chan. With Love, Yami Malik" and kisses it.* The fangirls must be rewarded.
Yami Bakura: *suddenly stops dancing and stares at his "Get out of torture card"* Hey, this expired December, 1997!!!
White Angel: =P