Chapter 7: Wounds of Betrayal

A.N. *sigh* I'm REALLY sorry about not posting more of this story. Not only have I been busy, but I also haven't been in the right... mood to write this. For some reason this was a really hard chapter to do... Anyway, thank you for your patience! I hope it will be worth the wait!

Disclaimer:

Me: DEATH TO BLASTED DISCLAIMERS!!!!! Gaaaahhhh!!! *Grabs Malik's Millennium Rod and starts stabbing disclaimers* Bwahahahahahaha!!!!

Malik: HEY! That's my Rod... and what's so bad about saying that you don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of its characters?

Me: *Too busy destroying disclaimers with Millennium Rod to pay any attention*

Malik: -_-

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His eyes met mine, and once again, we looked not at, but into each other, in that way no words could ever describe. I could see the tears, almost invisible, in his eyes... in his soul. he whispered again. He seemed unable to say anything else.

In my eyes, there was nothing else that needed to be said. A sort of... understanding had passed between us, in that fleeting instant that seemed to last forever. Stepping closer to him, I realized that he was trembling, ever so slightly. I realized I was, too.

Reaching forward, I took Bakura's hand in mine. I had expected it to be icy-cold, but it was as warm as mine. Almost gently, I led him out of the alleyway, back into the daylight. Our eyes never parted.

Now, as we resumed our walk, I was almost glad that the streets weren't too crowded. Bakura didn't say anything more, but it was a comfortable silence. At least, it was for me; he had a faraway look on his face.

I could only guess at how long we walked. Hours passed like seconds - or maybe it was the other way around. I couldn't say. And it wasn't really important. For some reason, it didn't matter how long we walked... I could have gone on forever.

Eventually, we ended up back in the suburbs. We passed through a park; as if by mutual agreement, we both sat down on an ornate wooden bench. Watching the local children play and the clouds roll across the sky, I had never felt more at peace with the world.

It was then Bakura finally summoned up the courage to speak. Thank you. he said, still whispering. I don't think his voice was strong enough to speak louder.

I turned to him. Something I had said had impacted him, and my curiosity to know exactly what it was was killing me. Thank you... for what? I asked, though not unkindly.

He shook his head. Just... thank you. No one's ever bothered to care...

About what? I answered. My voice wasn't much more than a whisper, either.

His voice was so soft, I could barely hear it, as he whispered the word we both knew, yet dreaded to hear:

I - the loner that had never felt compassion, the cold-hearted bully, the indifferent, logical child - I took Bakura's hand in mine. His left hand. I caressed it gently with my fingers, and looked up into his eyes.

Where... where is this scar from? I asked. My fingers traced a semi-mishealed wound that appeared on both sides of his left hand; the scar was slightly paler than the rest of his already almost-white skin. The healed wound was slightly larger on the back of his hand than the inside. There was a strange feel to it... something that I could not describe.

He shook his head - I could tell the scar conjured up painful memories. It's just... just a scar, a reflection of the deeper wounds on my heart. He stated this without any emotion, like a cold, undeniable fact. It probably was.

I didn't feel any pity, though I did feel understanding washing over me, like a wave upon sand. I breathed.

Bakura nodded his head, and looked at the ground. How many scars does he have? I found myself wondering. How many times has he been backstabbed? How many people have labeled him evil' without a second thought? How much has he suffered?

You're the first person... he began, still looking at his feet, who has ever listened to what I had said... all of the others - Ryou, Honda, Miho, Jounouchi, your Yami, as well as Yuugi and his Yami... they couldn't see me as anything more than... a monster...

If I were a sensitive person, I probably would have been crying by that point. Bakura's words struck my heart in the only vulnerable place it had. Bakura. Was that even his name...?

In the Shadow Realm... I would have said more... but Yuugi's yami, Yuugiou... he would have mind-crushed me right there and then, had I told him who I was. He didn't remember me... but I remembered him. How could I forget my own brother?

My eyes opened wide in shock. Your... brother? I whispered.

Bakura raised his head. Yes... ... ...Anzu, you wished to know why I wanted the Millennium Items? I want them... because they are mine. I was the firstborn child, the rightful heir of Egypt... but Yuugiou stole the title from me. He banished me; I was forced to become a thief... while he became the Pharaoh of Egypt.

Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes pleading for me to understand. All I want is what is mine.

I nodded my head slowly. I wasn't sure what to think; while Yami Bakura's story moved me, my yami's memories of him were always full of fear and anger. While my yami was far from reliable, I decided that I needed to look into the matter further; what if Yuugi's yami had ousted him because he was a tyrant?

I spoke slowly, trying to choose the right words. You want to rule your empire - which has, since your soul was sealed, expanded to the world - like you were originally supposed to... but what of the people? My yami's memories of you... are not very pleasant. What of this world, and its inhabitants?

Bakura shrugged, and looked at the sky. People these days... they are a lot fun to terrorize. There is nothing as comical as some mortal's expression of absolute fear. He grinned at me, as if expecting me to understand. (To be honest, I agreed with him to some extent - people did look awfully funny when they were scared - though I didn't frighten people just for kicks.) He continued, However... I would never harm them - excluding circumstances such as self-preservation and the like - or allow any harm to come to them. Not willingly, anyway.

I shook my head back and forth. This made no sense whatsoever. All of my yami's memories - while indeed vividly spiked with fear - had to do with death and/or torture. When I inquired about this, he responded rather sharply, I don't torture or kill anyone unless either they deserve it, I'm using self defense, or there's no other way to achieve my goals.

I raised an eyebrow. He sighed. Anzu, did I kill you or any of your friends when I attempted to take Yuugi's Puzzle? No; I sealed your souls into your favourite cards. If I had wanted to, I could have simply knifed you all, and have been done with it. But no... I did not want to harm anyone more than I had to. If you recall, it was Yuugiou who wanted to Duel so badly...

I nodded my head; he had a point. I have nothing against you or your friends, Anzu. Remember...? After Jounouchi's Duel in the graveyard arena, I lead you out of the twisted underground caverns, via my Millennium Ring. At that time, I was too weak from the last time Ryou, Yuugi, and his yami betrayed me to assume physical form... but I still guided you out, did I not? If it wasn't for me, you could still be wandering in that dark maze...

Not to mention, I saved your friend Honda, what? Three times, would it be?

My eyes widened in surprise. In my yami's memory, all that Honda had stated was that Bakura had attacked him... he had never said that Bakura had saved his life various times.

Seeing my confusion, Yami Bakura explained, Once from his own stupidity - he almost ran straight off of the castle, taking Mokuba with him - and twice from some equally stupid guards. I didn't harm the guards with my magic the first time... I just bound them, as a warning. Only when they persisted, was I forced to banish them to the Shadow Realm.

And what does Honda do? He turns around, calls me evil, tricks me, and then knocks me unconscious. There's gratitude, for you. he concluded bitterly, his eyebrows narrowed. I could see the pain in his eyes as he spoke.

The pieces of the puzzle were coming together, creating the real picture, the truth. Bakura was no more evil then anyone else; his motives were just misunderstood. He was just misunderstood... like me.

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Well? What do you think? I know Yami Bakura's a bit out of character... but it can't be helped; I have to explain him somehow, if my plot is to unfold how I hope... mwahahah... Um, anyway, he'll be more in character later. However, I do think that Yami Bakura is rather misunderstood... I don't think of him as evil. I'm going to stop before I start ranting. ^_^

Oh yeah! I wanted to post something else... heeheehee...

Claimer: Heehee, I DO own something! As far as I know, I own the idea that Yami Bakura was Yuugiou's older brother (I'm writing a separate fanfic on the subject, actually ^_^), and I think I own the idea that Anzu has a yami in the first place. Hey, it's nice to own something. Go me!!! ^_^

As always, please R&R!!!