The Castle, Part 4 - Correction: Most People are So Ungrateful!



A.N. All right, it's up! Took me awhile to update, but it's a longer chapter. Forgive me, people! ^_^

Disclaimer: In an alternate universe, I own Yu-Gi-Oh!. However, this isn't that universe. Sorry to disappoint you, but Yu-Gi-Oh! isn't mine. Just some of Yami Bakura's thoughts are. And I don't get any blasted money for this, either. Life sucks.

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After a few more minutes, we both had our wind back; at least enough to function normally. Tristan peered over the side. Well... seeing as how jumping's out of the question, I'd say we're as good as caught...

It was as if he had triggered the magic words. There they are! came a shout from the end of the hall. This time, there were a whole pack of goons, instead of just two. Come on!

Get another one agreed. I sighed inwardly. What idiots. They still thought that they stood a chance...? No matter how many of them there were, they were still certainly no match for my Shadow Powers. Stupid people really get on my nerves. You'd think that they'd have taken the hint before, but no... dumb mortals. I believe in second chances, but who said anything about a third?

Well... we tried... Tristan, who was now standing next to me, said.

Noting the note of hopelessness in his voice, I raised my eyebrows in amusement. What do you mean, we tried'? We are not captured just yet. I reminded him.

What are you talkin' about? We're totally out manned!

Hm... it's not like you to be so pessimistic, Tristan... I thought. I grinned, pulling my Deck from my pocket. We won't be, after I enlist some help from the Shadow Realm, I replied.

Tristan's surprise intensified; confusion and fear lined his face as well. Eh... the Shadow Realm? This can't be good, he muttered to himself.

Ignoring him, I chuckled as the idiot guards reached the foot of the stairway, completely unaware of what I had in store for them...

It's all over! Give us back our prisoner now, and we still might let you leave in once piece! Face it, you've got nowhere else to run! Huh. That's all the thanks I get for sparing your pathetic lives the first time? Well, I won't make the some mistake twice. Some people are just so ungrateful...

Bakura, he's right... Tristan whispered in my ear. Honestly, hadn't he been listening when I said that these guards were no problem at all? I'd had my fill of morons for the day.

So, punk... what's it gonna be? said another loser.

Idiots who trying to be tough were often rather amusing, I must admit. I laughed darkly. You ignorant mortals... it's far from all over; we have barely even begun to play! And I'll show you the cards that Fate has dealt you...

Holding up my Deck, I noticed the look of utter confusion and annoyance on the guards' faces. Stop talking nonsense, give up! one cried.

Right now! another agreed.

I allowed myself another chuckle. They had no clue how deep they were. They didn't even know what was coming... Thickheaded dolts really were fun to watch. Yes, I'd enjoy torturing these idiots...

Now, I'll teach you the true meaning of fear, as I summon the Man-Eater Bug, I laughed darkly in anticipation - I hadn't gotten the chance to torture someone for ages - and began to channel some energy from the Shadow Realm, willing the card to come to life, with the power of my Millennium Ring!

As my pet came forward, stretching its legs for the first time in a few thousand years, I laughed again. I had forgotten how much fun this could be!

Uh... what's going on? Tristan said, more confused than anything.

The guards were busy shielding themselves from the blinding light of my Millennium Ring. Huh. You'd think with those thick sunglasses, they wouldn't be able to see a foot in front of them. Mortals certainly were odd.

Finally, they looked up. Their looks of confusion were quickly replaced by terror. Oh, no! one cried. He's brought the monster on the card to life - and he's going to sic it on us! Brilliant conclusion, my friend.

Now, you mortal fools, prepare to meet your doom! I cried happily, sending my Man-Eater Bug forward.

Here it comes! one cried frantically.

urged another. Let's get outta here!

They actually thought that they could outrun my monster? What idiots. But I had more... pressing matters to think about. Like getting Tristan on my side. Tuning out the pleasant screams of the mortals, I thought for a moment. Getting Tristan to work on my side would be hard... but I was certain that I could do it. I just needed a plan...

Now. Think: what do people do at business meetings do to form an alliance? They drink coffee, or wine, or something... well, that's not going to work right now; I don't have any beverages in my possession.

They have fancy papers. No, I'm short of those, too...

They discuss what they want done. This I can do... but first, they usually discuss informal, neutral things. To get comfortable. So, I'll start there...

Fixing a smile on my face, I took a stab at pleasant conversation. Present-day humans are so fun to terrorize, don't you think? Perfect. Light tone, an interesting topic, and I wasn't forcing him to answer one way or another; I was asking for his opinion. I smiled inwardly. This wasn't so hard, after all.

No, I don't, Tristan responded coldly. But then again, I am a present-day human - what the heck are you?

Well, excuuuuuse me! I know that you're a present-day human - do I look stupid to you? - but I was hoping that you didn't want to associate yourself with these losers by putting yourself in the same group as them. Psychology was half of stupidity.

Well, there wasn't much that I could do with someone that wanted to be like those idiots. Ugh, I guess the moron wasn't as smart as I had hoped... Well, I wouldn't kill him - yet - provided that he didn't push my buttons. He still had Mokuba's body, and I didn't want to risk injuring my vessel-to-be. Besides, I still had to finish off those guards...

I chuckled to myself, remembering the task at hand. I asked, looking through my deck for a card to finish the job. Ah, there it was...

Answering Tristan's question, I continued, Someone with great power, soon to be greater... But I can't spend the day having fun; I have things to do. I tossed the card in my hand forward, towards the guards; some were still struggling, others had already fallen. So I'll summon the Morphing Jar to this plane, and put an end to their pathetic whining!

My Morphing Jar appeared from the Shadow Realm with a battle cry, soaring towards the guards, who were beginning their screams of horror with new fear. What is that!? one of them cried. The Jar shrieked again in response, consuming them all...

The Jar's magic will send these ridiculous thugs to the Graveyard. I explained to Tristan, who still hadn't moved - probably out of awe or shock. I laughed to myself. Today had been a lot of fun... and I had a feeling things weren't over yet... I still had a body and the Millennium Eye to gain. And perhaps, later, even the Puzzle...

Well, if I couldn't get Tristan to be my ally, I could at least get him to hand over the boy quietly. I didn't want to kill him; I don't really like killing people, actually. If they deserve it, than so be it, but I saw little point in mindless slaughter. Killing is a last resort.

Calmly, I walked down the stairs with a genuine smile on my face. As you can see, there's not a single particle of those pathetic fools left in this dimension; I've no patience for obstacles that get in my way - remember that! I chuckled. The teen didn't realize how lucky he was to be getting a warning.

Huh... I don't know how you did that, and I probably don't want to know... just tell me who you are, what you want... I know you're not really our friend Bakura. Tristan said.

The idiot was trying to make demands from me? Bad move.

You're the one Yugi beat! Brilliant, he figured it out. Why bother asking a question if you can answer it yourself? Idiot. Now I wonder why I gave him a chance in the first place... He banished you to the graveyard - and in the process, he freed Bakura from your mind control!

Eh, it wasn't mind control - that was the Millennium Rod's power - I just inhabited Ryou's body, same as the Spirit of the Puzzle did to Yugi - but I wasn't going to bother correcting him. It wasn't important, really.

I answered slowly. But that wouldn't have happened if Bakura hadn't betrayed me.

I cringed at the memory. Tristan, although he had died during the game, had suffered very little. My soul had been forcefully ripped from Ryou's body by the Spirit of the Puzzle (who, I might add, is extremely inexperienced in matters like soul exchanges), and then I had been destroyed by the dark magic of an extremely powerful monster. I think I definitely went through more pain than him. Not to mention, the even deeper pain of betrayal... that was the worst kind of suffering.

Coming out of my thoughts, I continued, I've decided I need a new host.

Tristan went on guard almost immediately. You won't take me without a fight!

I rolled my eyes. Stupid mortal. Why would I take his body? The entire point of getting a new vessel was to not have any resistance, and I told him so: Not yours; I want a vessel without a mind or soul of its own.

His eyes widened in surprise and understanding. You want Mokuba...

Well, the genius finally figured it out. I smiled icily as I summoned a bit of power from the Shadow Realm, darkening the room. Now turn him over - or face the same fate as those guards!

Seeing the look of indecision oh Tristan's face, I laughed. Partially to freak him out even more, and partially because, well, this was fun.

So, what will it be, mortal? I asked after a few minutes, as I let it all sink in. Are you going to hand Mokuba over willingly, or do I have to conjure something to consume your soul?

Forget it. No way! Tristan cried, though I could sense the uncertainty and the fear in his voice.

I laughed. You know that I have the power to back up my threats... I began, my voice as cool and smooth as ice. Hand him over this instant, or I'll dispatch you to the Graveyard, too. My Millennium Ring shimmered, as if anticipating Tristan's death.

Hm... yeah, I remember. Your evil power comes from that... The Millennium Ring. Tristan said.

I cringed inwardly at his wording. Evil. I hate when people call me that... Tristan really was stupid, to label me so. That selfish, pigheaded excuse for a life-form didn't know what it was like, being forced to live in agony for centuries... and he didn't care, either. Yet, I said nothing. What good would it do? Mortals were stupid and inferior; incapable of understanding what is different and strange to them. Mortals are afraid of me, the darkness, because they don't understand... and they don't want to understand, for that matter. Nothing that I could say or do would change that.

But honestly, he dares to call me evil after I saved his life four times, for no reason other than because it was the right thing to do? Some people, I swear...

Keeping my face and voice a cold mask over my true feelings, I simply answered, That's right. The Millennium Ring not only allows me to control your friend Bakura; it gives me many other magical abilities as well. I held out my hand, keeping my voice a deadly calm and resisting the urge to beat him into a pulp for his insolence and failure to comply to my wishes.

So unless you want a more personal demonstration of my powers, you'll stop resisting me... since you know any attempt would be pointless... why sacrifice yourself when you know I'll still wind up in possession of the him in the end?

I noted to myself that I certainly was giving him a lot of chances. I was in a good mood today. But this was the last time... my patience was wearing thin.

Tristan sighed, closing his eyes and looking down. ...All right, I give up... You can have him. Mokuba's yours. he muttered. I smiled, putting my hand down and approaching him. Finally, the idiot mortal had seen the logic in my argument. Now all that remained was to take control of Mokuba's body, and find a way to shut Tristan up, so he wouldn't tell the others that I had returned...

Here! think fast! Tristan's voice interrupted my thoughts. To my surprise, he had tossed Mokuba's limp body in the air - right at me! I quickly caught him - I couldn't let my body-to-be sustain damage - but by then, Tristan was on the offensive, charging me. I didn't have any time to react... his elbow strike to the back of my neck was swift and lethal.

Mokuba dropped from my hands as I fell to the floor. As the cold steel raced up to meet me, my last conscious thought was, I was wrong... not some, but most people are ungrateful... ... ...so much for owing me'.

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Yeah, I know it's a been awhile since my last update. But the chapter's pretty long! I've been pretty busy lately, so it might be awhile before I get the next chapter up. Anyway, please review! More reviews = more motivation to get the next chapter up quicker! ^_^