Chapter 9: Misunderstood

A.N. Yup! An update already! (Well, for me it's early!) Like I said, I'm in a good mood. ^_^

About last chapter... well, I realized shortly after I posted it that not everyone is a Yu-Gi-Oh!/Yami Bakura freak like me, and not everyone knows that much about Monster World (especially considering a lot of people live in the USA and other such places that don't get to see the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh!; so information's really hard to come by in the first place). So I'll tell you what I know. (If you already know about Monster World, then feel free to skip this. I actually don't know THAT much myself, so any additional information would be truly appreciated!)

Um, Monster World is a TRPG game (Tabletop Role-Playing Game) that is mainly played like a normal RPG (where you choose a kind of player and person to be, and you act as that person, with that person's traits, in the game) with a set of 10-sided dice for each player (to determine damage and whatnot). However, in Yami Bakura's version, the person that you play as - a magician, a merchant, a hero, etc. - is the person that you BECOME. Yami Bakura actually turned Yuugi and his group into their chosen dolls; they were granted movement, and they played the RPG from, literally, their character's point of view. Anzu's doll was a witch, Jounouchi was a hero, Miho (not in later seasons) was a merchant, and Honda was... er, someone with a gun. ^_^ Ryou, who appears later in the game (he separates from Yami Bakura, after he possesses his left hand and makes him destroy his own boss monster, Zork, by rolling a 99 (the worst possible score) with the dice), was a whitemage... I don't remember what Yuugi was, sorry. ^_^ Anyway, I could go on a whole nother long rant about how Yami Bakura should have won at Monster World but Ryou and Yuugi betrayed him... but I won't. (*everyone breathes sighs of relief*) ^_^ Um, if you're still confused or you want more info, feel free to e-mail me. Like I said, I really don't know THAT much...

Anyway, on with the fic!

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Yuugi looked up at me, and I could see pain flashing through his eyes. He didn't even seem angry, really - he seemed more hurt and shocked. There was a childlike innocence about him. I looked at my feet. I felt terrible. I had just hurt the only person that had ever bothered being nice to me. I, like the those before me, had paid attention only to my own selfish wants and needs, and didn't even consider how anyone else would feel.

Bakura didn't seem to be shaken. We had both come to the conclusion that it would be futile to pretend that nothing had happened, and hope that he hadn't seen any of the events that had just taken place. Hello, Yuugi... is something wrong? he asked, smirking. Any signs of fatigue had disappeared, carefully hidden behind the mask he wore so well. Yuugi seemed at a loss for words. Do you miss your friend? Bakura sneered. A pity, but she is now back where she belongs.

My short friend turned to me, his eyes swelling with tears. A-anzu... how could you? he whispered.

I... I... oh, Yuugi, it's not like you think. It's not like that at all! Remember, when I went to Ancient Egypt when I was little? You had just transferred into our class... Yuugi nodded his head.

I nodded, too. I still remember you from then, even after all this time. It's been ten years... Yuugi, your friend' Anzu... she was the Yami of the Millennium Scales. She took over my body, Yuugi. I had to banish her...

Yuugi's eyes opened wider, if that was even possible. She... you mean... but I thought YOU were the yami of the Scales...

No... I'm Hikari Anzu. This is my real body, Yuugi.

Something in my eyes must have convinced him I was telling the truth. The boy managed a weak smile, which was quickly replaced by more worry and pain. But... but Yami Anzu was my friend... I... I... I miss her...

For some reason, these words hurt me. I felt like I had been slapped across the face. Of course. Yuugi's just like everyone else, in the end. He likes her better than me. Everyone does... it doesn't matter that this is my body, and my right to be here. No, no one cares about that. No one cares about me... I resisted the urge to cry. Crying was for weak fools. Crying would be letting Yuugi, and my Yami win. Besides, its not like it mattered, anyway. Who cared what anyone else thought...

Yami Bakura chuckled. Oh, right. But let me ask you this - how is your friend' any different than I? Yami Bakura raised an eyebrow apprehensively. Do we not both possess someone else's body against their wishes?

Yuugi faltered for a minute; he slowly answered. Well... well, the difference is... well, you see... well, Bakura, or whoever you are... you're different because, well, you're evil. And Yami Anzu's not...

How. Dare. You. I whispered through my clenched teeth.

Yuugi and Bakura both looked at me in something close to awe. Both had forgotten I was there, mainly because I was only about five inches tall and I hadn't spoken for awhile. I think most of the awe was because of the harshness in my voice; I don't think that I've ever spoken like that before, myself.

Yuugi. How... how DARE you!?!?!?!?!? Who do you think you are, Yuugi!?!?!? What gives you the right to judge who's good, and who's evil!?!?!?!? What do you know, Yuugi!?!?!?!? What do you really know about Yami Bakura!?!?!?!? Who are YOU to decide whether or not HE is evil!?!?!?!? Who are YOU to decide who should stay, and who should be banished, sealed away!?!?!?! Who are you to JUDGE!?!?!?!?!?

My victim looked nothing short of amazed. I don't think he could have strung two words together, had he tried. Yami Bakura looked even more stunned, if that was even possible.

I dropped my voice to a low whisper - though my words were every bit as powerful. How do you know, Yuugi? How do you know what he's been through? How do you know what he's endured? How do you know, Yuugi? How do you know? You don't, Yuugi. You don't know. You don't know how much he's suffered. How many times he's been betrayed. All you know is that he is strong; he will not give up. And for that... he is evil. Right, Yuugi? He is evil, because you don't know his reasons. He is evil, because you don't understand his motives. He is evil... because you are afraid. You're afraid, Yuugi. You're afraid of what you don't know.

Better to call him evil and not worry. Not think. Better to judge him based on what you don't know, what you don't understand, just so you can be done with it. But is that right, Yuugi? Is that the right thing to do? Is it?

I looked him in the eyes. Again, he could not respond. I answered for him. No. No, that's not the right thing to do. But it's the easy thing. It's so easy to just label things - and people. You labeled Yami Bakura evil. You labeled Yami Anzu good. What do you label me, Yuugi? What am I? Am I evil, too? Or am I good?

Yuugi. You hate Yami Bakura for wanting only what is his. Do you hate me for wanting what is mine?

I stared deep into Yuugi's violet eyes. It felt more like looking into his soul. I could almost sense the conflict inside him; I knew he wanted to say something. But it was Yami Bakura that broke the silence. Leave us, Yuugi. I have... business to conclude. My word is my bond - whether you believe me to be evil or not. Now, go!

His words seemed to snap Yuugi out of his trance. The shorter boy nodded his head, and walked back the way he came. As he briefly paused at the curtain of drooping willow leaves, I called after him,

He turned to face me, and our eyes met again. In that brief instant, something seemed to pass between us. We didn't need words to speak. Something within us connected, and the message was clear. Yuugi nodded slightly in understanding. I nodded back.

As Yuugi disappeared, I turned back to Yami Bakura, and raised an eyebrow.

Well, what? he asked; I could tell he was uneasy.

After a tense moment, I smiled. Well, am I going to stay a doll for the rest of my life, or what?

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I didn't mean to make Anzu rant so much, but I needed it for my plot... heehee...

Anyway, as always, PLEASE R&R!!! Thanks!