AN: Okay, anyone who was confused by the last chapter, Ryou was having a hallucination. It happens when a serious user goes into withdrawal. And even though Ryou said he hadn't done much, he got addicted quickly! All right then. Shadow realm game up next. Okay, It's a bit sticky on the lines, but I tried to keep it close to the episode. Cut me some slack, okay? Oh, and ignore my spelling errors. I'm trying but spell check only gets so much, and I'm trying with gloves on. Stupid nail biting habit. Been trying to break it forever. Got to be a better way than gloves!

Ryou's Problem 4

I stretched and took control of Ryou's body.

"The forest? What the hell?" I asked. "Why are we here?"

I wandered over to the edge of the forest and glanced over the dueling arenas.

"Ryou? Ryou! You've been sleeping all day! Look it's almost eight at night. Wake up and find your friends!" I screamed as I wrenched open the door to his soul room. "GO! NOW!"

Tossing him out of his soul room, I felt him take over.

/Now, hurry and find them! / I muttered. He didn't move for a minute, but then slowly began to turn and walk into the forest again. 'What's taking him so long? Doesn't he understand that I need these two items? And the sooner we get off this island the better. I want a shower. I want a bed! I WANT COFFEE!!!'

/Bakura? I hear them. They're sitting around that campfire. /

/Go to them! Smile and laugh with them! Then challenge the boy with the tri-colored hair to a duel. Say that all of his friends should put in a card. Do it! /

/But Bakura! You'll hurt them! /

/Fine. Let's go back home and I'll take you to a rehab center in the morning. Do not test me, Ryou. /

/I... I understand Yami. / Ryou sighed, as he walked through the bushes to the campfire. I tried not to listen in as Ryou talked with the others. It wasn't that I wasn't curious; it simply took energy to listen through Ryou's ears without being in control. Energy I couldn't afford to waste. Sucking those kids into the shadow realm was hard enough, but I needed to have extra energy to spare in case something went wrong. It was the shadow realm; nothing was for certain. /Yami? We're sitting down to the duel. What should I do now? /

/Show them the ring, and let me take over. / I hissed.

"Before we begin," Ryou said. "There's a little something I'd like to share with you all. And especially with you, Yugi."

I allowed the Ring to show through his sweater, and grabbed Ryou by the shoulders.

/YAMI! / He yelled as I threw him into his Soul room. /What the...? /

/Stay there! I don't want you to get hurt. / I told him before slamming the door to his soul room and locking the door. I knew he'd only be sucked into his 'Change of Heart' card when I played it, but I wanted him out of the way until then. It wouldn't do for him to try and stop me. /Finally. Another item. Plus the added bonus of locking away Ryou's drug friends. My day might not be so bad after all. /

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I tried to break my door down, but it was locked already.

'What is Bakura doing?!' I wondered. 'He wouldn't hurt the others would he?' /No, please! YAMI! You can't hurt them! Stop this! /

/Relax, little aibou. Things haven't gone exactly as planned. I will not kill them. Only lock away their souls. /

/Yami, you can't do that! Stop this! / I begged.

/Aww, the pharaoh seems a touch worried about you. It's cute, or it would be if he wasn't a fucking drug dealer! /

/The pharaoh? / I asked, looking through Yami's eyes. My own widened as I saw that Yugi had changed. Not only had he aged, but also his clothes had changed and he'd gotten older. 'Sort of like when Bakura take over my body.' I realized.

/Yes, the pharaoh from my time. The one who trapped me in this accursed Ring. 'Tis a pity he was also sealed away. He always was a bit of a bastard. /

/Please, Yami? They are my friends. Stop this. / I pleaded, remembering the situation.

/Your friends? Your friends are all weaklings and addicts. They deserve this! /

/No, Yami! / I cried. /They never.../

/ENOUGH! I need to concentrate. / Yami commanded and cut off our mental link.

/YAMI! YAMI!!! / I screamed banging on my door. "Asshole. Who or what the hell does he think he is? God? Dragging me out to a island who knows where and attacking my friends? So he could steal Yugi's necklace? Bakura and I need to have a talk about modern laws. Blast him. He must really want that necklace. Humph. Well, if he wants it, then I don't. Let's see. He takes my cocaine, 'kidnaps' me, locks me up and attacks my friends. Grrrr. He's so... so infuriating! I can take care of myself. And I'm going to prove it to you, Yami! Just you wait! I won't let you win anything!"

Grumbling to myself, I sat the floor and waited until Yami let me out.

/Ryou. I'm playing you. Be ready. / Yami's voice came through as I felt my soul being pulled out of my room and onto the playing field. I opened my eyes, surprised to see the others gawking at me in surprise.

'So, they're all right. Thank God.' I sighed, a smile on my face.

"Ryou!" Yugi called.

"I want to help, but we must act quickly." I sighed, running over to the 'lady of faith' card Bakura had played. "I've taken over one of his cards. I can control her, while you attack me. You can win against the evil Bakura!" /Take that, Yami. You're going down! /

/Ryou! Please! Stop this before you get hurt! / Yami pleaded with me.

"No. But attacking her, I'd be destroying you. Sending you to the grave yard!"

"I don't care. It's better than being enslaved by an evil spirit! DO IT!"

"BE QUIET!" Bakura roared. /Stop this! You'll be hurt! Please! I've only ever wanted to help you, Ryou! Understand me! /

/Shut up, you evil bastard. Why should I bother any more to try anything any more? I need a fix so bad it's killing me and all you do is deny me it. Do I ask for much? NO! All I ever wanted you've taken from me. At least, when I go out, I'll be hurting you too. / I spat, shutting off our mental link with a snap.

"I've got a better idea." 'The pharaoh' shouted, his puzzle, glowing. He started to say some other words, but they were lost on me, as I was wrenched off the board and back into my own body.

/NO! / I heard, Bakura scream, as I opened my eyes. I looked down and my eyes widened as I saw Bakura standing where I had been.

"Send him to the grave yard, Yugi!" I heard the pharaoh yell, as Yugi brought his staff down.

/RYOU! / Bakura screamed, as he was ripped apart. /NO! /

/Bakura! / I yelled back. 'He's gone. Yami's gone.' I realized as we descended from the shadow realm. 'Oh, well. Who needs him? I'm free now, right? I can go off and take care of myself. I don't need him. And I DO NOT miss him either. And I NEVER will.' I tried to convince myself.