YA: I'm insane! I should be studying but I can't put this fic down! It's too funny. My friend was laughing so hard during computer class when he read Bakura's question. "Shu-gah Dots?" LOL We almost got in trouble we were laughing so hard!
Bakura: Serves you right, you nut. You make me seem like I'm so stupid.
YA: Well you are from out of town so…I'm trying to make this story as funny as possible.
Bakura: Har har, it is to laugh. -__-
YA: *sighs* Idiot. Anyway, I'm so happy with all the lovely reviews I got! *__* I never imaged getting 30 with just three chapters. I want to get…um…45 by this one. But I'm only hoping. *grins* Shout out time!
Firedraygon97: I'm trying to update as much as I can because I'm going to have a lot on my hands soon. And yes, I hate Sho for being such a jerk…and I sure can't stand Anaku either. Selfish little…okay…
Snowfire: *gasps and faints* Are you serious? You really like this fic and you added me to your favorites? *glomps Snowfire* Oooh thankyou! You're my favorite too! Thanks so much!
Fluffcat: Is this a fast enough update for you? ^___^
Aiko: You're really smart, didja know that? Bakura will eventually get his memories back and if I'm not mistaken…it should happen in the next chapter. Oh and the others will appear in the next chapter as well!
Ryou: Nooooo! He can't…it's too soon!
YA: Hush, Ryou. I'm not done with my shout outs yet.
Lady of Faith: I'm sorry…Bakura isn't beating his hikari…yet…^^;;
Yui Sakurazuka: You're the second one to say that this is one of the best Ryou/Bakura fics!! Do you know how happy that makes me?!? Very happy! Can't…stop…grinning…!!!
YA: Okay, that's enough of my shout outs. And a bigger thank you to the ones I did miss. Once again my brain is on melt down and I need to get this out before I forget! ONWARD!!
*~*~*~*~* Soul brothers *~*~*~*~*
"Aw, is little Ryou scared?" Sho teased raising a fist. "I don't think your smarts can get you out of this one! Don't think I didn't see you finish that test early." Ryou saw as the fist came closer to his face. He closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the upcoming pain, until he felt himself being dropped into an endless pull of darkness…
Professor's eyes widened as he watched Bakura's eyes flash from copper to red to brick red and then back to copper with each blink he gave. All the while, the smile he was giving was growing wider maniacally. Bakura stood up in a fighting position, startling Professor.
//Don't worry Ryou. I'm coming to help you.// The energy around Bakura was starting to show as it moved around him in a rapid pace before covering him completely.
"Bakura! What's happening to you?" Professor asked reaching out toward Bakura. But his efforts went unnoticed. Just as quick as the flash of power was seen, Bakura disappeared into nothing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sho raised his fist high and brought it down to make contact with Ryou's face. The way Ryou cringed in fear only supplied his hunger to pummel the smaller boy. Just as soon as Sho's fist was close enough a bright light emitted from Ryou's chest followed by a firm hold on Sho's fist. Sho's mouth dropped by 'Ryou's' sudden act of bravery.
"Ryou?" Sho asked stunned.
"I'm sorry." Bakura said through clenched teeth. "I think you have me mistaken for someone else." Bakura squeezed the other boy's hand into his own, digging his sharp nails into his flesh making him yelp in pain. Bakura's smile once again grew wider into something satisfying. It was as if the pain he received from the other boy was feeding his own power.
The pain that seeps through his hand runs into the tips of my fingers in such a tingling feeling. It feels good and is just as addicting as the feeling I got from eating those sweets. I must have more of this boy's pain!!
"You got nerve, boy." Bakura growled, his eyes flaring red. "And I'll have the pleasure of ripping every one of your nerves from your body from picking on my brother." Sho continued to give him a confused look while struggling to break free from the grip of Bakura. Each passing second ended up in agony as Bakura continued to squeeze his hand until there was a large sounding crack!
"Arugh!!!!"
"Ooh. That sounded nice!" Bakura laughed. The other hand he held behind his back, preparing it into a fist. "I wonder how your nose will sound if I break it too." Sho shook his head frantically like a scared child.
"Y-y-you wouldn't!" Bakura nodded slowly.
"Oh but I would." He answered. Bakura threw the other fist and made contact with Sho's face. Another crack was sounded along with a rush of flowing blood that splattered all over his face and Bakura's shirt. Sho made another cry of pain, touching his nose to soothe the punishment that was given to him. Bakura became less interested with Sho now that he knew he was a weak person. He blew his wild bangs that were covering his view. "You're a very weak boy. You only bother kids who are smaller than you so you can hide it. Such a coward." Bakura pulled Sho's bloody face close to his, sticking his tongue out in a teasing manner to frighten him more. "You're no challenge to me. Just garbage. And with all garbage…you must rid it."
"Spare me, Ryou…please…" Sho's breath became ragged from exhaustion and without having his nose to breathe from made it even harder. Bakura looked down at the fallen Ryou on the floor. He looked like he had lost all the life in his body, but it didn't worry Bakura at all. Bakura made sure to place him in a special location before he appeared. Bringing his attention back to Sho, he grasped his shirt and held it tightly.
"I'll spare you this time. But if I catch you bothering my brother again…I'll kill you." With another smile, Bakura lifted Sho high and threw him against the lockers across the hall. Sho slid down from the lockers into a crumpled heap behind the crowd of frantic students. The crowd begin to whisper things about Bakura's strength and power, girls giggling excitedly and boys crowing in awe. Running footsteps were heard as teachers were called over to break up the fight, only to find it over. A mess of blood was all over the floor, along with dented lockers and two bodies laying unconscience with one standing.
"What is the meaning of this?!?" A female teacher shrieked. There was more ruffling as Professor stepped through the crowd of teachers out of breath. Bakura bent down to Ryou and gathered him in his arms.
"Bakura?? What happened??" Professor asked looking at his only son being carried in Bakura's arms.
"I can explain once we get home." Bakura said with confidence as he stared down at the sleeping angel.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"It's too close in here! Can someone get me out of here! Please!!"
Ryou traveled down a closed in corridor for the longest time. He begin to panic when it got darker the further he went and the more he was in there; the more he felt the walls closing in on him. Perspiration rolled down the side of his face and down his forehead. He raised a shaky hand to remove the damp bangs out of his eyes, while keeping the other hand on the wall. To his easement, he found two doors on the each side of the wall.
"M-m-maybe a-a way o-out…" he whispered. He looked at the door to his right which was a metal bolted door with a big lock on it. The doorknob wouldn't turn no matter how hard Ryou tried. Once again, he was struck with terror. He prayed that the other door wouldn't be locked. His fear of close spaces was causing him to get sick. The other door to his left was a wooden door, painted blue with white clouds on it. With one nervous twist of the handle, it opened with ease. Ryou sighed of relaxation but choked as it turned into a sudden gasp once he stepped into the room. It was a soft blue, decorated with clouds and a sun in the corner. A small bed decorated with the same design of the room was in the middle of the room. To his right was a swing that hung from the ceiling, to his left was a clear monitor that hung in the air itself. But what stunned Ryou the most was the pictures that hung all over the walls.
"I remember these…" He whispered, lifting a trembling finger to point to them each. One picture was of him as a young boy on the beach with his father and a woman with long white hair and bright brown eyes. Another picture was of him at the park on a picnic day with his father and the same woman. There were many pictures like these, each showing Ryou getting older but still remained close to his father and that woman. He walked slowly to one picture in particular of himself when he was about 11. The scenery was much like the weather they've been having. It was snowing outside but he was inside with the woman and she was brushing her hair, Ryou carefully copying her actions. He touched the face of the woman, activating the monitor in the room.
The screen played the exact same image, only it was moving. To Ryou's delight there was sound added as well.
"Mommy! I want to have hair as pretty as yours!" Ryou said on the screen.
"Alright, take the brush beside me and do as I do."
Ryou giggled and took the brush and stroked his hair gently just as his mother was doing.
"You'll have to do this everyday if you want your hair as nice as mine." She said. Ryou nodded and continued brushing his hair. His father came in with hot choco, laughing at Ryou copying his mother.
"Gwen, you need to cut his hair. It's way to long for a boy." Gwen scoffed at Professor's remark and pointed to the mass of purple hair he had on his head. Professor laughed and they all took a sip of hot choco before the screen ended.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Bakura placed Ryou on his bed but continued to hold his head as he stared into his sleeping state.
"So what's going on here, Bakura?" Professor asked calmly taking Ryou's other hand into his.
"I'll explain it as best as I can. I realized that Ryou need my help so…" With his other hand, Bakura traced his finger over the ring that rested on Ryou's chest. "I used my power to reach Ryou's thoughts and I was able to teleport over to where he was." Professor nodded and waited for Bakura to continue. "Just to be on the safe side, I placed Ryou in the safety of his mind." Professor blinked and narrowed his eyes to understand what was said to him. "That's all I can tell you."
"Well, can you wake him up?" Professor asked when he dropped Ryou's hand with no response. "For all I know, he's dead." Bakura nodded.
//Ryou? Are you alright?//
/Bakura? Bakura! Get me out of here! Please!/
//Don't panic my brother. Just concentrate on me and you'll be out.// There was a long pause before Bakura cringed from the sudden wave of hysteria that Ryou sent.
/I can't do it! I can't get out of here! Ha…ha…ha… I need more space!/
//Okay Ryou, I'll come and get you.//
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shortly after, the blue door that Ryou entered swung open. Ryou turned from his spot on the bed, quite startled but relieved to see Bakura standing in the door way. Try as he might, Ryou couldn't fight back the tears that threaten to fall. He didn't want to cry in front of Bakura, to show his sensitive side, the side that everybody calls weak and vulnerable.
"Come with me, Ryou." Bakura said softly, extending his hand towards Ryou. Ryou reached out while walking to Bakura but he failed to take his hand. Ryou need more, he needed to feel the warmth of his company. His hand slipped from Bakura's and wrapped around his neck along with the other one. He buried his face into Bakura's shoulder and cried softly. Bakura, surprised by the sudden action, wrapped his arms around Ryou in a close embrace. "Please don't cry, Ryou."
It breaks my heart when he's like this. I always see him smiling or laughing at anything or everything. I can feel my heart being ripped from the cage it's sitting within. I'll do anything to see him smile. He is my soul brother after all, for we are both bound by the ring…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Professor waited patiently, rubbing his son's hand fiercely until it clutched his. Ryou stirred from his lying position and his eyes opened slowly and looked straight into his. Professor exhaled as if holding his breath and opened his arms to his son. Just as Ryou had done in his mind, he gave in and fell into his father's arms.
"I saw her dad! I saw her in my memories! She was so real!" Ryou sobbed violently, clutching his father's shirt as if he was in pain. "I miss her so much!!" Professor stroked Ryou's hair with one hand and rested his chin on top of his head.
"Oh Ryou. I miss her too." He choked. "But it's something that we're going to have to accept. Let's go visit her tomorrow." Ryou nodded weakly and closed his eyes as the lull sound of his father's heartbeat allowed him to fall asleep instantly. Bakura leaned against the wall looking away from the father and his son. He missed the warmth he has held not too long ago and he longed to hold it again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The weather picked up the next morning. For a time of remembrance there was no use in making it a bright day. Even the earth itself can sense Ryou's grieving and out of respect, submitted the appropriate settings for him to mourn in. Bakura watched from that stairs as Ryou and Professor prepared them for the sad day.
Dressed in black, they must be mourning over someone. And if I'm not mistaken, it must be for Ryou's mother. I saw the woman in his memories and how loving she was to her son. As I sit here and watch Ryou move around, how his actions are cold and sluggish, I wonder if I can bring the life back to him by getting as close to him as his mother was. If he'll allow me that is…
Both were about to leave when Professor paused and looked around him as if he was missing something. He continued to look around the room until he stopped at the stairs.
"Come with us, Bakura." He said. Bakura shook his head in disagreement.
"This is your time to grieve. I don't know this woman and I can't pay my respects." He replied.
"Nonsense. You're already like a son to me so you're coming with us." Bakura's face twitched. Like a son to him? How can that be? I've only been here for four days and have caused nothing but trouble and confusing times. There is no way he should honor me by calling me a son.
"Please, Bakura. It would mean so much to me if you came." Ryou kept his head bowed, trying hard again not to show the moistness in his russet eyes. Bakura lifted himself from the sitting position and joined the others.
No one was at the graveyard. Perhaps because it was too cold and the snow was beginning to pick up once again. In his hands, Ryou carried a small bunch of red roses. Near the tombstone he placed one on each side and then in the middle.
"May these roses brighten up this dreary day, just as your smiles always have those many years ago." Ryou knelt down beside the patch of roses and remained silent. Bakura was curious of what he was thinking and ignored the thought that he was being rude of listening to Ryou's personal thoughts.
/I'll be waiting to see you again. Just as the sun rises and sets during its routine I'll continue to remember you. The time went so fast, much like the sand that travels through the hourglass. Where you are, live forever and keep searching for me./
Many more words came after that, but just from listening to those few sentences made Bakura's heart wrench. One side of him felt sad that Ryou felt so alone and the other was boiling hot from anger that his mother has hurt him by leaving. How she left him didn't matter but it was the fact that she did leave him. He became frustrated that all of Ryou's feelings of sorrow were behind felt, and he too begins to feel cold in the heart. As if, Professor was reading his mind, he started off to the car, followed by Ryou and then himself. Taking one last glance at the petal scattered tombstone, Bakura made a promise that Ryou would no longer feel this type of pain.
TBC
YA: Okay, now I have the soul thing worked out. They now know that they are bound by the Ring but it is the next chapter when things get more hectic. Because…
Ryou: You mean?
YA: Yes. Bakura will get his memory back and all hell will break loose.
Ryou: Nooo! *hides*
YA: Don't hide yet, do your thing.
Ryou: Oh yes, please send reviews about what you thought about this chapter. Submit the Review by pressing that neat little purple button that says "GO!"
