NOTE: Still isn't yaoi ^_~
Yugi and Mai gasped.
Bakura shook his head, his silver hair flying with the motion. "No . . . no . . . he can't!" he cried. "Yami, do you hear me? You can't die!!" A tear slipped down Bakura's cheek and splashed across the tomb robber's vacant eyes. For one brief moment, Yami Bakura's vision cleared and his expression showed recognition as he looked up at Bakura. Then with a final groan, his eyes closed as if they were very heavy and his head fell back, his long, silver locks brushing against Bakura's arm. Bakura sat completely still, disbelief written in his eyes and on his face. "No . . . no . . . oh Yami . . . no . . ." He held the thief's body close while Yugi and the others stood around him, unsure of what to say or do. "I . . . I have to do something," Bakura said quietly, tears streaming down his face. "Maybe . . . maybe it's not too late. . . ." Without another word, he took his Yami's hand in his and closed his eyes, concentrating very hard.
"What's he doing?" Mai asked, confused.
"I think I know," Yami Yugi said slowly. "He's trying to transfer some of his own strength to his Yami to make him strong enough to fight the poison."
Yugi gasped. "But Bakura doesn't know how to do that!" he exclaimed.
Yami Yugi smiled mysteriously. "Perhaps not consciously, but when one is acting out of a love and concern for someone else, they can often do the impossible."
Bakura wasn't paying attention to any of them. He continued to clasp his Yami's hand, praying fervently. He pleaded to his Yami through their mental connection for some kind of response. Suddenly the Millennium Ring started to glow and Bakura could feel his energy passing over to his Yami. He felt himself growing weaker, but then maybe his Yami was becoming stronger. Maybe . . . maybe his Yami would survive. Please, Yami, please . . .
At first nothing happened. But then, suddenly, miraculously, Bakura felt his Yami's fingers move ever so slightly. Bakura opened his eyes, daring to hope. "Yami?" he whispered. He was very weak now, and barely able to keep holding the thief in his arms.
Yami Bakura was silent, but then he stirred and muttered something incoherent. He didn't wake up, but Bakura had the feeling that the tomb raider was going to live. The boy smiled in his gentle way. "You're going to be alright, Yami," he said softly, feeling himself be overcome by the dizziness and darkness that had threatened to envelope him. He slumped backward against the inside of the limo door.
Yugi gasped. "Bakura!"
"What happened?" Mai asked.
Yami Yugi knelt down next to Bakura and his Yami and examined the fatigued boy. "Bakura was weakened by transferring his strength to his Yami, but I believe that both of them will survive," the pharaoh announced presently. He smiled in his mysterious way, gently taking Yami Bakura into his arms and laying the thief back on the limo's seat. Then he did the same for Bakura, placing the boy on the opposite side of the limo. "Everything should be alright now," he said quietly, vanishing into the Millennium Puzzle.
Yugi smiled and laid a hand on Bakura's shoulder. "Sleep well, my friend," he whispered. "You deserve it."
Shortly afterward, the limo door opened and Joey, Tristan, and Tea came in. "Is everything okay in here?" Tea asked worriedly, then gasped upon seeing Bakura laying across the limo's seat.
"He's okay, Tea," Yugi reassured her, and between himself and Mai, they related the events of the past hour in detail.
The trio was astounded when they heard about what Bakura had managed to do to save his Yami.
"Wow . . . our pal Bakura is somethin' else," Joey declared. "Who'd have thought he could pull that off?"
"Hey . . ." Yugi stared at them and blinked in confusion. "Where's Kaiba?" he asked.
"He's here," Seto replied indifferently, climbing into the limo.
"Kaiba was just retrieving his chauffeur," Tristan explained.
"Since he didn't eat the whole sandwich, he didn't suffer all the effects of the sleeping pill," Tea put in, "and the doctor decided that it was okay for him to go now."
The limo started up and they drove off, heading for the game shop.
About halfway there, Bakura started to rouse up. His dark brown eyes fluttered open and he blinked in confusion.
"Hey there, kiddo," Mai smiled down at him. "Are you feeling okay?"
Bakura smiled back weakly. "I'll be alright. But what about my Yami?" He turned to look at Yami Bakura, who was still unconscious but seemed to be at peace now.
"You saved him, kiddo," Mai told him.
"That's right." Yugi nodded. "He's going to be okay because of what you were able to do for him."
Bakura smiled in relief and started to sit up.
"Whoa, pal, just rest," Tristan said from his seat, gently pushing Bakura back down. "After doing that energy transfer thing, you've gotta be exhausted!"
"I am a bit weak," Bakura admitted, laying back down on the seat.
Before long the conversation switched to the mystery and what they were going to do about it.
"I think maybe we should give this one up," Tea said firmly. "It's just too dangerous!"
"I'm not giving up," Seto said coldly. "I'm going to find out who did this to me." His long bangs fell away from his forehead slightly, revealing the bandage over the deep cut. He growled in anger at the thought of someone beating him and then leaving him for dead in the cornfield.
"Heck, I don't wanna give up either," Joey spoke up. "I wanna find out what's goin' on around here!"
"If the headless phantom really has all of those horrible powers, he must be stopped," Bakura declared.
Yugi nodded. "That's right." He paused. "Kaiba, did you say there's an alien movie being made around here?"
"There is," Seto confirmed. "Some of the scenes are being filmed on KaibaCorp property near the edge of town."
"See what I mean? You own half the city!" Joey remarked. Seto ignored him.
"Do you think you could get us into the studio?" Yugi asked.
"Most likely." Seto crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "But if I do, you can't create an uproar."
"Come on, would we do that?" Joey said with a too-angelic grin.
"You're very capable of it," Seto replied, not amused.
Before long they pulled up in front of the game shop. "Bakura, why don't you and your Yami stay here for the night?" Yugi offered.
Bakura looked grateful. "Thank you, Yugi," he said softly as he sat up shakily. "That would probably be a good idea in case . . . in case he gets worse again," he added in a near-whisper, glancing at Yami Bakura.
Yugi nodded, not quite sure what to say. "Um, I'll go inside and tell Grampa," he said, getting out of the limo and hurrying through the game shop door.
"Hey, me and Tristan'll help you carry your Yami in," Joey volunteered. "You still must be pretty weak, pal."
"Oh, I can manage," Bakura tried to protest as he climbed out of the limo. He grabbed the door, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. Mai rushed to steady him.
"For once, Joey's right, kiddo," she said.
"Heeey!" Joey complained at the barb.
Mai ignored him. "You need some help getting inside yourself," she told Bakura.
Bakura blushed. "Oh . . . that's really not necessary . . ."
"We don't want you fainting on us," Tea chirped, and she and Mai each took one of Bakura's arms and helped him into the game shop.
"Thank you," Bakura said softly, looking embarrassed.
"Hello, Bakura," Grampa Muto smiled as he and Yugi came downstairs into the game shop from their residence above.
"Hello, sir," Bakura greeted shyly. "Thank you for letting us stay here tonight."
"Oh, we're happy to have you here," Grampa Muto replied.
"That's right," Yugi smiled. He looked at the others. "Well, let's meet here tomorrow and decide on our next plan."
"You got it, Yug," Joey said as he and Tristan carried Yami Bakura up the stairs. Grampa Muto looked a bit taken aback, but quickly recovered.
****
After everyone had left and Yugi was preparing to go to bed, he went to check on Bakura in the guest room. The other boy was sitting in a chair next to his Yami's bed, looking worried. Yami Bakura was muttering incoherent speech in his sleep and tossing around on the bed.
"Hey Bakura," Yugi said, concerned, "are you okay?"
Bakura smiled weakly. "I'll be a lot more okay when my Yami wakes up," he replied. "I've been so worried about him. . . ."
Yugi smiled comfortingly. "I know. But I'm sure he'll be okay now, thanks to you, Bakura." He turned to go. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said. "I'll be right across the hall if you need anything."
"Thank you, Yugi," Bakura said softly.
Yugi nodded and went out of the room, gently shutting the door behind him.
****
In spite of the late hour when he got to bed, Yugi found himself up quite early the next cloudy morning and he decided to see how Bakura was doing.
When he opened the door to the guest room, he found the silver-haired boy dozing uncomfortably in the chair he'd been sitting in. Yami Bakura had apparently knocked the quilt to the floor sometime during the night, because the tomb raider was laying uncovered on the bed, clutching the pillow tightly. Yugi had to chuckle at that.
Carefully the boy picked up the quilt and spread it across Yami Bakura again. Then he found another quilt and draped it around Bakura, who didn't stir. He was exhausted after the long night and the energy transfer and definitely needed the sleep.
With a smile, Yugi crept back out of the room and went to plan the day's agenda.
First he called Seto's mansion. Velma answered, sounding perky as usual. "Hello! You've reached the Kaiba residence!" she chirped.
"Hi," Yugi returned the greeting, "is your boss there?"
"He sure is," Velma replied cheerfully. "You wanna talk to him?"
"If I could, please," Yugi requested.
"Sure thing! I'll find him for you in a jiffy!" Velma put the phone down and went off to get Seto.
Yugi didn't have long to wait before the other boy picked the phone up. "Kaiba," he said in his usual, cold voice.
"Hey, Kaiba," Yugi acknowledged.
"Yes, I did manage to get studio passes for you," Seto told him shortly.
"Oh," Yugi said in surprise. "Well, thanks, Kaiba. . . ."
"And yes, I will be there," Seto added. "Nothing will stop me from finding out what's going on and why." He and Yugi hung up shortly afterwards.
Yugi then called Joey, Tristan, Tea, and Mai and they planned to meet after school that day and catch the bus to the movie set.
Bakura was still sound asleep, so after a quick breakfast of cereal Yugi was heading off to school, deciding that the other boy shouldn't be disturbed.
****
It was several hours later when Bakura woke up. For a moment he didn't remember he was sitting in a chair and he nearly fell on the floor. He blinked in bewilderment, looking around. "Oh my . . . have I been asleep?" he said aloud to the walls of the room.
"You certainly have been, young man, and from everything Yugi told me about last night, you deserved every bit of it you got!"
Bakura looked up to see Grampa Muto standing in the doorway, smiling. "How are you feeling today, Bakura?" the elderly man asked now.
"Better than last night, Grampa Muto," Bakura replied with a shy smile. He turned to look at his Yami, who was laying prone on the bed and gripping the pillow.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Grampa Muto said comfortingly. "You, young man, should be thinking about getting some breakfast."
Bakura shook his head. "Oh, no . . . thank you, but I'm really not hungry right now, sir," he said.
Grampa Muto nodded. "Alright. Well, I'll be down in the game shop if you need me." He paused. "Oh, Yugi wanted me to give you a message," he remembered. "He said that he and the others are going to the movie set after school. He figured you wouldn't want to leave your counterpart, but he wanted to let you know anyway."
"Thank you," Bakura said appreciatively.
****
After school the others met as planned and were soon en route to the studio.
"Cindy's gonna meet us there," Joey said enthusiastically.
"She'd better have a pass," Tristan sighed.
"She does," Joey replied.
"How's Bakura?" Mai asked.
"He's a lot better," Yugi smiled. "We called and talked to him at lunchtime."
"Hey, is that the studio over there?" Tea said suddenly, pointing at a group of long buildings just up ahead.
"Looks like it," Tristan replied.
"I wonder what's going on," Tea remarked. "It looks like there's some kind of trouble!"
"You're right, Tea," Yugi exclaimed. People seemed to be milling around wildly, and every few seconds a truck or a van would pass by, full of equipment.
"Eh, it's probably just show biz stuff," Joey said with a shrug as they got off the bus and walked up to the front gate. He glanced around. "Cindy must already be inside."
"Passes, please," the guard requested, looking scared out of his wits.
"Right here," Yugi replied, and everyone showed their cards.
The guard nodded and went to open the gate. "I wouldn't go in there if I was you," he warned.
"Why not?" Tea asked.
"Strange things go on in there," the guard exclaimed in hushed tones.
"What kinds of strange things?" Yugi wanted to know.
The guard shuddered. "The place is jinxed! Props vanish without a trace and then turn up flying around by themselves. Cars start moving with no one to drive them. And just a few minutes ago, one of the actors was nearly killed!"
Yugi and Mai gasped.
Bakura shook his head, his silver hair flying with the motion. "No . . . no . . . he can't!" he cried. "Yami, do you hear me? You can't die!!" A tear slipped down Bakura's cheek and splashed across the tomb robber's vacant eyes. For one brief moment, Yami Bakura's vision cleared and his expression showed recognition as he looked up at Bakura. Then with a final groan, his eyes closed as if they were very heavy and his head fell back, his long, silver locks brushing against Bakura's arm. Bakura sat completely still, disbelief written in his eyes and on his face. "No . . . no . . . oh Yami . . . no . . ." He held the thief's body close while Yugi and the others stood around him, unsure of what to say or do. "I . . . I have to do something," Bakura said quietly, tears streaming down his face. "Maybe . . . maybe it's not too late. . . ." Without another word, he took his Yami's hand in his and closed his eyes, concentrating very hard.
"What's he doing?" Mai asked, confused.
"I think I know," Yami Yugi said slowly. "He's trying to transfer some of his own strength to his Yami to make him strong enough to fight the poison."
Yugi gasped. "But Bakura doesn't know how to do that!" he exclaimed.
Yami Yugi smiled mysteriously. "Perhaps not consciously, but when one is acting out of a love and concern for someone else, they can often do the impossible."
Bakura wasn't paying attention to any of them. He continued to clasp his Yami's hand, praying fervently. He pleaded to his Yami through their mental connection for some kind of response. Suddenly the Millennium Ring started to glow and Bakura could feel his energy passing over to his Yami. He felt himself growing weaker, but then maybe his Yami was becoming stronger. Maybe . . . maybe his Yami would survive. Please, Yami, please . . .
At first nothing happened. But then, suddenly, miraculously, Bakura felt his Yami's fingers move ever so slightly. Bakura opened his eyes, daring to hope. "Yami?" he whispered. He was very weak now, and barely able to keep holding the thief in his arms.
Yami Bakura was silent, but then he stirred and muttered something incoherent. He didn't wake up, but Bakura had the feeling that the tomb raider was going to live. The boy smiled in his gentle way. "You're going to be alright, Yami," he said softly, feeling himself be overcome by the dizziness and darkness that had threatened to envelope him. He slumped backward against the inside of the limo door.
Yugi gasped. "Bakura!"
"What happened?" Mai asked.
Yami Yugi knelt down next to Bakura and his Yami and examined the fatigued boy. "Bakura was weakened by transferring his strength to his Yami, but I believe that both of them will survive," the pharaoh announced presently. He smiled in his mysterious way, gently taking Yami Bakura into his arms and laying the thief back on the limo's seat. Then he did the same for Bakura, placing the boy on the opposite side of the limo. "Everything should be alright now," he said quietly, vanishing into the Millennium Puzzle.
Yugi smiled and laid a hand on Bakura's shoulder. "Sleep well, my friend," he whispered. "You deserve it."
Shortly afterward, the limo door opened and Joey, Tristan, and Tea came in. "Is everything okay in here?" Tea asked worriedly, then gasped upon seeing Bakura laying across the limo's seat.
"He's okay, Tea," Yugi reassured her, and between himself and Mai, they related the events of the past hour in detail.
The trio was astounded when they heard about what Bakura had managed to do to save his Yami.
"Wow . . . our pal Bakura is somethin' else," Joey declared. "Who'd have thought he could pull that off?"
"Hey . . ." Yugi stared at them and blinked in confusion. "Where's Kaiba?" he asked.
"He's here," Seto replied indifferently, climbing into the limo.
"Kaiba was just retrieving his chauffeur," Tristan explained.
"Since he didn't eat the whole sandwich, he didn't suffer all the effects of the sleeping pill," Tea put in, "and the doctor decided that it was okay for him to go now."
The limo started up and they drove off, heading for the game shop.
About halfway there, Bakura started to rouse up. His dark brown eyes fluttered open and he blinked in confusion.
"Hey there, kiddo," Mai smiled down at him. "Are you feeling okay?"
Bakura smiled back weakly. "I'll be alright. But what about my Yami?" He turned to look at Yami Bakura, who was still unconscious but seemed to be at peace now.
"You saved him, kiddo," Mai told him.
"That's right." Yugi nodded. "He's going to be okay because of what you were able to do for him."
Bakura smiled in relief and started to sit up.
"Whoa, pal, just rest," Tristan said from his seat, gently pushing Bakura back down. "After doing that energy transfer thing, you've gotta be exhausted!"
"I am a bit weak," Bakura admitted, laying back down on the seat.
Before long the conversation switched to the mystery and what they were going to do about it.
"I think maybe we should give this one up," Tea said firmly. "It's just too dangerous!"
"I'm not giving up," Seto said coldly. "I'm going to find out who did this to me." His long bangs fell away from his forehead slightly, revealing the bandage over the deep cut. He growled in anger at the thought of someone beating him and then leaving him for dead in the cornfield.
"Heck, I don't wanna give up either," Joey spoke up. "I wanna find out what's goin' on around here!"
"If the headless phantom really has all of those horrible powers, he must be stopped," Bakura declared.
Yugi nodded. "That's right." He paused. "Kaiba, did you say there's an alien movie being made around here?"
"There is," Seto confirmed. "Some of the scenes are being filmed on KaibaCorp property near the edge of town."
"See what I mean? You own half the city!" Joey remarked. Seto ignored him.
"Do you think you could get us into the studio?" Yugi asked.
"Most likely." Seto crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "But if I do, you can't create an uproar."
"Come on, would we do that?" Joey said with a too-angelic grin.
"You're very capable of it," Seto replied, not amused.
Before long they pulled up in front of the game shop. "Bakura, why don't you and your Yami stay here for the night?" Yugi offered.
Bakura looked grateful. "Thank you, Yugi," he said softly as he sat up shakily. "That would probably be a good idea in case . . . in case he gets worse again," he added in a near-whisper, glancing at Yami Bakura.
Yugi nodded, not quite sure what to say. "Um, I'll go inside and tell Grampa," he said, getting out of the limo and hurrying through the game shop door.
"Hey, me and Tristan'll help you carry your Yami in," Joey volunteered. "You still must be pretty weak, pal."
"Oh, I can manage," Bakura tried to protest as he climbed out of the limo. He grabbed the door, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. Mai rushed to steady him.
"For once, Joey's right, kiddo," she said.
"Heeey!" Joey complained at the barb.
Mai ignored him. "You need some help getting inside yourself," she told Bakura.
Bakura blushed. "Oh . . . that's really not necessary . . ."
"We don't want you fainting on us," Tea chirped, and she and Mai each took one of Bakura's arms and helped him into the game shop.
"Thank you," Bakura said softly, looking embarrassed.
"Hello, Bakura," Grampa Muto smiled as he and Yugi came downstairs into the game shop from their residence above.
"Hello, sir," Bakura greeted shyly. "Thank you for letting us stay here tonight."
"Oh, we're happy to have you here," Grampa Muto replied.
"That's right," Yugi smiled. He looked at the others. "Well, let's meet here tomorrow and decide on our next plan."
"You got it, Yug," Joey said as he and Tristan carried Yami Bakura up the stairs. Grampa Muto looked a bit taken aback, but quickly recovered.
****
After everyone had left and Yugi was preparing to go to bed, he went to check on Bakura in the guest room. The other boy was sitting in a chair next to his Yami's bed, looking worried. Yami Bakura was muttering incoherent speech in his sleep and tossing around on the bed.
"Hey Bakura," Yugi said, concerned, "are you okay?"
Bakura smiled weakly. "I'll be a lot more okay when my Yami wakes up," he replied. "I've been so worried about him. . . ."
Yugi smiled comfortingly. "I know. But I'm sure he'll be okay now, thanks to you, Bakura." He turned to go. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said. "I'll be right across the hall if you need anything."
"Thank you, Yugi," Bakura said softly.
Yugi nodded and went out of the room, gently shutting the door behind him.
****
In spite of the late hour when he got to bed, Yugi found himself up quite early the next cloudy morning and he decided to see how Bakura was doing.
When he opened the door to the guest room, he found the silver-haired boy dozing uncomfortably in the chair he'd been sitting in. Yami Bakura had apparently knocked the quilt to the floor sometime during the night, because the tomb raider was laying uncovered on the bed, clutching the pillow tightly. Yugi had to chuckle at that.
Carefully the boy picked up the quilt and spread it across Yami Bakura again. Then he found another quilt and draped it around Bakura, who didn't stir. He was exhausted after the long night and the energy transfer and definitely needed the sleep.
With a smile, Yugi crept back out of the room and went to plan the day's agenda.
First he called Seto's mansion. Velma answered, sounding perky as usual. "Hello! You've reached the Kaiba residence!" she chirped.
"Hi," Yugi returned the greeting, "is your boss there?"
"He sure is," Velma replied cheerfully. "You wanna talk to him?"
"If I could, please," Yugi requested.
"Sure thing! I'll find him for you in a jiffy!" Velma put the phone down and went off to get Seto.
Yugi didn't have long to wait before the other boy picked the phone up. "Kaiba," he said in his usual, cold voice.
"Hey, Kaiba," Yugi acknowledged.
"Yes, I did manage to get studio passes for you," Seto told him shortly.
"Oh," Yugi said in surprise. "Well, thanks, Kaiba. . . ."
"And yes, I will be there," Seto added. "Nothing will stop me from finding out what's going on and why." He and Yugi hung up shortly afterwards.
Yugi then called Joey, Tristan, Tea, and Mai and they planned to meet after school that day and catch the bus to the movie set.
Bakura was still sound asleep, so after a quick breakfast of cereal Yugi was heading off to school, deciding that the other boy shouldn't be disturbed.
****
It was several hours later when Bakura woke up. For a moment he didn't remember he was sitting in a chair and he nearly fell on the floor. He blinked in bewilderment, looking around. "Oh my . . . have I been asleep?" he said aloud to the walls of the room.
"You certainly have been, young man, and from everything Yugi told me about last night, you deserved every bit of it you got!"
Bakura looked up to see Grampa Muto standing in the doorway, smiling. "How are you feeling today, Bakura?" the elderly man asked now.
"Better than last night, Grampa Muto," Bakura replied with a shy smile. He turned to look at his Yami, who was laying prone on the bed and gripping the pillow.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Grampa Muto said comfortingly. "You, young man, should be thinking about getting some breakfast."
Bakura shook his head. "Oh, no . . . thank you, but I'm really not hungry right now, sir," he said.
Grampa Muto nodded. "Alright. Well, I'll be down in the game shop if you need me." He paused. "Oh, Yugi wanted me to give you a message," he remembered. "He said that he and the others are going to the movie set after school. He figured you wouldn't want to leave your counterpart, but he wanted to let you know anyway."
"Thank you," Bakura said appreciatively.
****
After school the others met as planned and were soon en route to the studio.
"Cindy's gonna meet us there," Joey said enthusiastically.
"She'd better have a pass," Tristan sighed.
"She does," Joey replied.
"How's Bakura?" Mai asked.
"He's a lot better," Yugi smiled. "We called and talked to him at lunchtime."
"Hey, is that the studio over there?" Tea said suddenly, pointing at a group of long buildings just up ahead.
"Looks like it," Tristan replied.
"I wonder what's going on," Tea remarked. "It looks like there's some kind of trouble!"
"You're right, Tea," Yugi exclaimed. People seemed to be milling around wildly, and every few seconds a truck or a van would pass by, full of equipment.
"Eh, it's probably just show biz stuff," Joey said with a shrug as they got off the bus and walked up to the front gate. He glanced around. "Cindy must already be inside."
"Passes, please," the guard requested, looking scared out of his wits.
"Right here," Yugi replied, and everyone showed their cards.
The guard nodded and went to open the gate. "I wouldn't go in there if I was you," he warned.
"Why not?" Tea asked.
"Strange things go on in there," the guard exclaimed in hushed tones.
"What kinds of strange things?" Yugi wanted to know.
The guard shuddered. "The place is jinxed! Props vanish without a trace and then turn up flying around by themselves. Cars start moving with no one to drive them. And just a few minutes ago, one of the actors was nearly killed!"