Author's Notes: Okay, the Japanese word for "uncle" is "oji-san," which also means "grandfather." It's just an all-purpose word for older males. Oh well, I probably won't use it any time soon anyway. Need to write more… Grr, FF.N's being really dumb and flippy. It'd better fix itself soon! I know I messed up my updating schedule last time, but I couldn't wait another day after the week of no updates! I'll get back on track this week. I don't get many reviews when I update on Wednesdays... My last week at home! Woo hoo!! ^_^ Please let me know if Bakura gets too out of character, because I'm afraid he might. And I'm not exactly sure how soul rooms work, so let me know if I got that wrong too. Oh, and Scale REALLY wanted to do the warnings this time (though I don't think there's anything worth warning about), and he's been good this week, so I'll let him. What a good little muse I have… *pats Scale on the head, much to his annoyance*
Shadi: Indigo does not own Yu-Gi-Oh. She most likely never will, so I would not advise holding your breath for it. She does own Ankh and Scale, which does not matter a bit in this story. I own them as well. You can ponder that mystery as you read on…
Scale: Here's your warning, dung-brains: This is so boring it'll put you to sleep! Don't try any strong magic while you read this story! Too much thinking, not enough action. And once again, the Ring spirit's the Grand High Pharaoh of Stupidity. Why do you fools READ this!?
The Cost of Weakness
The next morning Ryou slowly woke up. He thought about the night before. Had it been just a dream? He rolled over and flinched at the bruises all over him. No, definitely not a dream… He sat up and took the Ring in both hands to look at it. Even though Bakura, who came from it, had hurt him, it still looked just as beautiful.
Bakura. Ryou had been so surprised by him. They looked so similar! And 'Bakura' was Ryou's family's name. He suspected that they were related somehow. Ryou could feel that Bakura was still in a light sleep, so he quietly pondered this.
/ He said something about Egypt… Tou-san always works with ancient things, and this ring is definitely very old. Probably even from the time the pyramids were built. And Bakura thought the light was magic, so he probably came from around that time too. He seems to live in the Ring. I didn't believe in magic before, but after seeing Bakura, what choice do I have? He was probably sealed in the Ring with magic or something like that. Could he be distantly related to me? I'm not sure where my ancestors came from, so it's possible./
It was very early in the morning and the sun was beginning to rise. Ryou looked out his window to watch. The sky had turned bright red with purple clouds. He watched it for a few minutes, smiling sleepily, before laying down again to try to get some more sleep. He and his uncle were only moving about two hours away, so there was no need to leave too early. And when Bakura woke up… Well, maybe he'd be in a better mood. Ryou always felt better after he'd slept, so Bakura should too!
In fact, Bakura DID wake up in a better mood. Ryou'd soft warmth had seeped into his dark, cold labyrinth, and it now felt quite comfortable. Bakura stretched, yawned, and reached out mentally to see what Ryou was doing. The mental link he'd found connecting himself to Ryou felt especially thick, warm, and fuzzy. It felt like Ryou was mostly asleep. Bakura considered waking him up and beating some more weakness out of him, but he just wasn't in the mood today.
Bakura didn't feel like waking Ryou up (he told himself that the boy would need to be well-rested for his next 'lesson'). But he REALLY wanted to look around the room. He didn't quite remember how he had managed to separate from Ryou the night before. So he tried to do it again.
After a few completely failed attempts, Bakura felt something happen. He opened his eyes and blinked. He felt strange. Looking down at himself, he realized he was solid and lying in Ryou's bed. He touched his face to make sure he was real and got up to look in the mirror. His joy knew no bounds when he found out that he was looking at himself, not Ryou.
"Hmm… I'd better make sure I can do this again," Bakura said to himself. After a couple of mistakes, he was standing in his labyrinthal soul room again. //All right, I think I've got it.// He practiced a few more times just to make sure he could do it again. Then, after congratulating himself on being the greatest person in existence, he turned to see a new door in his soul room. It was made of stone and had the Eye of Horus on it. He certainly hadn't made it. And it hadn't been there before he had met Ryou. He went and opened it.
In front of him was a long corridor. He looked left and right, but couldn't see the end to either side. Just across the hall however, was another door. It looked like wood painted pale blue. Bakura went and opened the door. There was a nice, comfortable room inside. Bakura felt Ryou in this room, although he knew that Ryou was out sleeping in his body.
//Well if I made my soul room in the Ring, I guess now that Ryou has it, it must connect to his soul room. Now I'll know where to look for him if he ever tries to hide. Could he hide in his own mind? I suppose he could if I was controlling his body. What happens to the body if both of us are in here? I guess it just sits there…//
Bakura left Ryou's soul room, closing the door behind him, and returned to his own room. Ryou's room had made him feel sleepy again, so he lay down and durled up, though he didn't fall asleep. Even though the floor was as hard as stone, Ryou's presence made everything feel so soft and comfortable. Bakura felt like he could get used to this life…
//What? What am I thinking!? I'd better not be going soft. I can't let that happen. For Ryou's sake as well as mine. So I'll get him to explain this world's magic to me when he gets up, then I have to start making him stronger…//
Ryou woke up again a couple of hours later to the sounds of his uncle loading some last-minute things into the truck. He was more awake this time, so he stretched and got up. He changed into the clothing he'd laid out the day before, putting his pajamas into a bag along with his other remaining things. He pulled the sheets, blankets, and pillow off his bed and stuffed them in the bag as well. Then he began brushing his hair. No matter how much he brushed it, it wouldn't lie flat. But at least he could get the tangles out.
Ryou felt Bakura's presence. The other boy was lost in his own thoughts, and didn't seem to have noticed Ryou yet. Ryou still didn't quite understand why Bakura wanted him to be strong, or why he had to be so mean about it. But in hindsight, Ryou thought that Bakura didn't seem as horribly cruel as he had thought before. He was probably just confused and afraid. After living in ancient Egypt and suddenly coming to present-day Japan, Ryou couldn't blame him for that. Ryou resolved to try to be as nice and helpful to Bakura as he could.
Ryou touched the Ring softly, and that got Bakura's attention. //Good, you finally woke up. Today you're going to explain everything about this world to me. Like all the magic your uncle does. And those sticks you eat with. And what everything is made of!//
"All right," Ryou said eagerly, glad that Bakura was feeling talkative instead of violent.
//Don't speak out loud.// Bakura berated him. //People will think you're crazy! I can hear your thoughts.//
/Oh that's right, sorry! You can hear this?/ Ryou thought.
//Yes, I just told you that! Must you learn so slowly!?//
/I'm sorry… The sticks we eat with are called chopsticks. We've always used them. Some people in other countries use forks, spoons, and knives./ Ryou's words were accompanied by mental images of each device. Bakura recognized the knife, though it looked too small to be of much use.
//I see. How pointless! That's what hands are for! But what about your uncle's magic? He makes balls of light, heats pots, shrinks people to put them in boxes, and has the largest chariot I've ever seen that must run on magic! Tell me how they work!// Bakura also showed Ryou mental images to go along with his words, which was good because otherwise Ryou would have been a bit lost.
/Well… It's really not magic. The lights use electricity./ Ryou felt Bakura's confusion, so he tried to explain. /It's like… small amounts of lightning. It runs through wires, and when you flip the switch, the light turns on./
//Sounds like magic to me.// Bakura said doubtfully.
/No, it's… well, I don't entirely understand either. I guess if you want to think of it that way you could. The radio runs on electricity too. Somewhere the people on it are talking, and they have special equipment that transports that sound to my uncle's radio./
//…Yes, more magic. All right, I suppose that makes sense.//
/…And he used the stove to heat the pot. It makes a little circle of tiny flames that burn under the pot to heat it. There's a knob to control the size of the flames with, too./
//Just regular flames?//
/Well, I guess so. They're so hot that they're blue, though./
//Definitely magic. And the chariot?//
/Oh, that's the moving truck. Ji-san's friend is letting us use it to move today. It runs on a battery, kind of like a box of electricity, and it burns gasoline for fuel./
/Hmm… That might be possible without magic. More likely than the others, anyway. All right, I'll ask about more when I see it./ Ryou's answers didn't quite satisfy Bakura's sharp, inquisitive mind, but it was nice to have someone at least try to be helpful for a change.
Ryou finished brushing his hair and dropped the brush into the big bag. Then he grabbed the whole bag and brought it downstairs. /You still don't want my uncle to know about you?/
//NO. You'll be in a world of pain if you ever tell that mage about me!//
/He really doesn't do magic. He works in an office. But I won't tell him anyway./ Ryou put the bag in the truck and went to fix himself some breakfast. His uncle went to get their futon mattresses into the truck.
//What was that bag made of?// Bakura asked while Ryou devoured the last bowl of rice in the house.
/Plastic. It's… well, it can be thin like that or thick like my action figures. I'm not sure exactly how to explain what it is. But it's used for a lot of things./
//You're not very well-informed, are you?//
/Hey! I know more than you do!/
//Watch what you say, little one…//
Endnote: Okay, maybe Scale was right, that WAS a bit boring. Next chapter will be lots of fun, though. Now I'd better hurry up and get working on the chapter after that! Eep!
Shadi: Indigo does not own Yu-Gi-Oh. She most likely never will, so I would not advise holding your breath for it. She does own Ankh and Scale, which does not matter a bit in this story. I own them as well. You can ponder that mystery as you read on…
Scale: Here's your warning, dung-brains: This is so boring it'll put you to sleep! Don't try any strong magic while you read this story! Too much thinking, not enough action. And once again, the Ring spirit's the Grand High Pharaoh of Stupidity. Why do you fools READ this!?
The Cost of Weakness
The next morning Ryou slowly woke up. He thought about the night before. Had it been just a dream? He rolled over and flinched at the bruises all over him. No, definitely not a dream… He sat up and took the Ring in both hands to look at it. Even though Bakura, who came from it, had hurt him, it still looked just as beautiful.
Bakura. Ryou had been so surprised by him. They looked so similar! And 'Bakura' was Ryou's family's name. He suspected that they were related somehow. Ryou could feel that Bakura was still in a light sleep, so he quietly pondered this.
/ He said something about Egypt… Tou-san always works with ancient things, and this ring is definitely very old. Probably even from the time the pyramids were built. And Bakura thought the light was magic, so he probably came from around that time too. He seems to live in the Ring. I didn't believe in magic before, but after seeing Bakura, what choice do I have? He was probably sealed in the Ring with magic or something like that. Could he be distantly related to me? I'm not sure where my ancestors came from, so it's possible./
It was very early in the morning and the sun was beginning to rise. Ryou looked out his window to watch. The sky had turned bright red with purple clouds. He watched it for a few minutes, smiling sleepily, before laying down again to try to get some more sleep. He and his uncle were only moving about two hours away, so there was no need to leave too early. And when Bakura woke up… Well, maybe he'd be in a better mood. Ryou always felt better after he'd slept, so Bakura should too!
In fact, Bakura DID wake up in a better mood. Ryou'd soft warmth had seeped into his dark, cold labyrinth, and it now felt quite comfortable. Bakura stretched, yawned, and reached out mentally to see what Ryou was doing. The mental link he'd found connecting himself to Ryou felt especially thick, warm, and fuzzy. It felt like Ryou was mostly asleep. Bakura considered waking him up and beating some more weakness out of him, but he just wasn't in the mood today.
Bakura didn't feel like waking Ryou up (he told himself that the boy would need to be well-rested for his next 'lesson'). But he REALLY wanted to look around the room. He didn't quite remember how he had managed to separate from Ryou the night before. So he tried to do it again.
After a few completely failed attempts, Bakura felt something happen. He opened his eyes and blinked. He felt strange. Looking down at himself, he realized he was solid and lying in Ryou's bed. He touched his face to make sure he was real and got up to look in the mirror. His joy knew no bounds when he found out that he was looking at himself, not Ryou.
"Hmm… I'd better make sure I can do this again," Bakura said to himself. After a couple of mistakes, he was standing in his labyrinthal soul room again. //All right, I think I've got it.// He practiced a few more times just to make sure he could do it again. Then, after congratulating himself on being the greatest person in existence, he turned to see a new door in his soul room. It was made of stone and had the Eye of Horus on it. He certainly hadn't made it. And it hadn't been there before he had met Ryou. He went and opened it.
In front of him was a long corridor. He looked left and right, but couldn't see the end to either side. Just across the hall however, was another door. It looked like wood painted pale blue. Bakura went and opened the door. There was a nice, comfortable room inside. Bakura felt Ryou in this room, although he knew that Ryou was out sleeping in his body.
//Well if I made my soul room in the Ring, I guess now that Ryou has it, it must connect to his soul room. Now I'll know where to look for him if he ever tries to hide. Could he hide in his own mind? I suppose he could if I was controlling his body. What happens to the body if both of us are in here? I guess it just sits there…//
Bakura left Ryou's soul room, closing the door behind him, and returned to his own room. Ryou's room had made him feel sleepy again, so he lay down and durled up, though he didn't fall asleep. Even though the floor was as hard as stone, Ryou's presence made everything feel so soft and comfortable. Bakura felt like he could get used to this life…
//What? What am I thinking!? I'd better not be going soft. I can't let that happen. For Ryou's sake as well as mine. So I'll get him to explain this world's magic to me when he gets up, then I have to start making him stronger…//
Ryou woke up again a couple of hours later to the sounds of his uncle loading some last-minute things into the truck. He was more awake this time, so he stretched and got up. He changed into the clothing he'd laid out the day before, putting his pajamas into a bag along with his other remaining things. He pulled the sheets, blankets, and pillow off his bed and stuffed them in the bag as well. Then he began brushing his hair. No matter how much he brushed it, it wouldn't lie flat. But at least he could get the tangles out.
Ryou felt Bakura's presence. The other boy was lost in his own thoughts, and didn't seem to have noticed Ryou yet. Ryou still didn't quite understand why Bakura wanted him to be strong, or why he had to be so mean about it. But in hindsight, Ryou thought that Bakura didn't seem as horribly cruel as he had thought before. He was probably just confused and afraid. After living in ancient Egypt and suddenly coming to present-day Japan, Ryou couldn't blame him for that. Ryou resolved to try to be as nice and helpful to Bakura as he could.
Ryou touched the Ring softly, and that got Bakura's attention. //Good, you finally woke up. Today you're going to explain everything about this world to me. Like all the magic your uncle does. And those sticks you eat with. And what everything is made of!//
"All right," Ryou said eagerly, glad that Bakura was feeling talkative instead of violent.
//Don't speak out loud.// Bakura berated him. //People will think you're crazy! I can hear your thoughts.//
/Oh that's right, sorry! You can hear this?/ Ryou thought.
//Yes, I just told you that! Must you learn so slowly!?//
/I'm sorry… The sticks we eat with are called chopsticks. We've always used them. Some people in other countries use forks, spoons, and knives./ Ryou's words were accompanied by mental images of each device. Bakura recognized the knife, though it looked too small to be of much use.
//I see. How pointless! That's what hands are for! But what about your uncle's magic? He makes balls of light, heats pots, shrinks people to put them in boxes, and has the largest chariot I've ever seen that must run on magic! Tell me how they work!// Bakura also showed Ryou mental images to go along with his words, which was good because otherwise Ryou would have been a bit lost.
/Well… It's really not magic. The lights use electricity./ Ryou felt Bakura's confusion, so he tried to explain. /It's like… small amounts of lightning. It runs through wires, and when you flip the switch, the light turns on./
//Sounds like magic to me.// Bakura said doubtfully.
/No, it's… well, I don't entirely understand either. I guess if you want to think of it that way you could. The radio runs on electricity too. Somewhere the people on it are talking, and they have special equipment that transports that sound to my uncle's radio./
//…Yes, more magic. All right, I suppose that makes sense.//
/…And he used the stove to heat the pot. It makes a little circle of tiny flames that burn under the pot to heat it. There's a knob to control the size of the flames with, too./
//Just regular flames?//
/Well, I guess so. They're so hot that they're blue, though./
//Definitely magic. And the chariot?//
/Oh, that's the moving truck. Ji-san's friend is letting us use it to move today. It runs on a battery, kind of like a box of electricity, and it burns gasoline for fuel./
/Hmm… That might be possible without magic. More likely than the others, anyway. All right, I'll ask about more when I see it./ Ryou's answers didn't quite satisfy Bakura's sharp, inquisitive mind, but it was nice to have someone at least try to be helpful for a change.
Ryou finished brushing his hair and dropped the brush into the big bag. Then he grabbed the whole bag and brought it downstairs. /You still don't want my uncle to know about you?/
//NO. You'll be in a world of pain if you ever tell that mage about me!//
/He really doesn't do magic. He works in an office. But I won't tell him anyway./ Ryou put the bag in the truck and went to fix himself some breakfast. His uncle went to get their futon mattresses into the truck.
//What was that bag made of?// Bakura asked while Ryou devoured the last bowl of rice in the house.
/Plastic. It's… well, it can be thin like that or thick like my action figures. I'm not sure exactly how to explain what it is. But it's used for a lot of things./
//You're not very well-informed, are you?//
/Hey! I know more than you do!/
//Watch what you say, little one…//
Endnote: Okay, maybe Scale was right, that WAS a bit boring. Next chapter will be lots of fun, though. Now I'd better hurry up and get working on the chapter after that! Eep!