More editing… Ugh.


Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh copyright Kazuki Takahashi

Warning: AU, mature themes, child abuse, foul language


Mou Hitori no Boku: Chimei Teki na Machigai

The Other Me: Deadly Mistake


(Atemu)


Well, well, well... Is the little peasant angry? He's lucky I'm feeling generous enough to ignore his cheek. I've grown tired of reprimanding him, but at least the little one has learned enough to hold his tongue. Pharaoh can only be so patient, after all.

I found myself drawn from my musings by a twinge of emotion emanating from the seemingly empty room. He's worried about what I'll do if he tells his friend about me, and what his friend will think of him when he does reveal his story. I could care less, as I'm positive that anyone he tells will think he's crazy.

Of course, it would be a bit harder to move freely if he's locked away, but it's nothing Pharaoh couldn't work around. I have my powers, after all. In the end, his confinement would probably help me break his spirit so I can take over permanently.

Unless his friend believes him.

I shook my head, banishing the thought. That could never happen.

Turning my attention to the outside, I observed my vessel as he approached a lanky blonde boy roughly two feet taller than him. What was this heathen's name again? I'm certain I've heard his name a few times before...

"Good morning, Jonouchi."

Ah yes- I remember now. His name is Katsuya Jounouchi, a former bully who also has an abusive father. At least he knows where his father is, unlike my wretched host.

The little one must have picked up on that stray thought. He stiffened abruptly, leading the blonde boy to ask him what's wrong.

"N- nothing... It's just, well... How to say this...?" my host muttered nervously, fiddling with his bangs.

This was it- he was going to tell him about me. I reclined in my throne, watching as the little one attempted to gather up enough courage to go through with it.

"Jou, can... can I tell you something? I- it's kind of important...."

"Sure, Yuugi. Go ahead."

"O-okay...but you have to promise not to laugh or anything..."

Ha. No matter what he says, he's still going to think you're insane, little Yuugi. He'll be the first to shun you, and then who will you run to?

"Yuugi, you know I'd never do something like that! Just go ahead, already."

"Here goes..." he took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "I... You know what happened to Ushio, right? How I supposedly did that to him?"

The blonde frowned, but nodded, obviously lost. He was rather pathetic, really, but I had always been told that commoners weren't very bright.

"Well, they... they weren't all that off..."

The taller boy's eyes widened and my vessel rushed to explain. "I guess, technically I did it... But I wasn't controlling my actions. You see, I was unconscious at the time."

He risked a tentative glance at his friend, who looked more confused than ever. "It… It was an evil spirit inside of me... He knocked me out and took control of my body, then did that to Ushio."

//You dare call Pharaoh evil? I, who have become one with Osiris!//

I clenched my fists, willing myself to achieve calm. It would not do to lend support to my host's claims.

"You mean- you're possessed or something?!" the buffoon exclaimed, leading my charge to cover his mouth and hush him.

"Shh!" he hissed, then retracted his small hand. "Sort of... He came out of my puzzle, and now resides in my mind. I can't force him out or control him, he's too strong. We're separate people, but we can somehow sense each other's feelings, too. He can openly sense mine, anyway... I only sense what he wants to reveal to me."

"If he's causing you so much trouble, why don't you just destroy the puzzle?" the blonde asked.

I was surprised he had managed to follow along as much as he had. Perhaps he's smarter than I thought...

"I tried that already. As soon as I tried taking it apart, a piece of my own soul felt like it was taken with it. The pain was unbearable, even worse than all the beatings I've endured combined. I had no choice but to put it back together, and as soon as we both recovered, he said if I ever tried to do that again, he'd 'treat me to something worse than death'. B-but I… I can't control him or hold him back anymore... I'm scared of him, of what he could do to everyone...

He's strong, Jou. Unbelievably so. He shattered Ushio's mind without any effort at all, just because Ushio had damaged his vessel. That's all I am to him—a body he can control, and nothing more. He tries his hardest to get under my skin; tries to break my spirit so he can take over permanently when I can't fight him anymore...

I... I can't do this for much longer, Jonouchi. I can't do this alone anymore. Please... please say you believe me. You're the only one I felt I could tell. The only one I can trust with this. I don't know what I'd do if you turned away... Please believe me...."

I frowned, watching the boy's face carefully. I think the lack wit actually believed him. This isn't good... Not good at all....

"This sounds like some pretty weird shit, Yuugi... But... I trust you. You wouldn't act like this if you weren't serious. I... I believe you. I'll try to help in any way I can." the blonde replied.

"Thank you. Just- if I start acting strangely, or if I try to hurt anyone, try to stop me, okay? And... Promise me, if it gets too dangerous, if you can't stop me, promise you'll stay out of his way. That you'll go somewhere safe... I don't want him to hurt you. I don't want him to hurt anyone I care about..."

I cursed as the blonde placed a comforting hand on our shoulder. I never should have allowed this.

"Okay, Yuugi. I promise."

I briefly entertained the idea of shattering the boy's mind, but thought better of it. The fewer who knew of my existence, the better.

My thoughts were interrupted as a new presence made itself known.

"How sweet. The little dog is comforting his master. I think I'm getting cavities..."

The blonde growled, glaring at the newcomer. Perhaps he was a dog after all...

My host gazed up at the new boy, and I was able to get a good look at him. He had brown hair and icy blue eyes that radiated arrogance. He was dressed in the normal, boring school uniform, and carried a silver box instead of a backpack like ours. I bristled, wary of this boy. His face was all too similar to that treacherous priest's.

"Fuck off, Kaiba. Go play with your little duel disks, you egomaniac..." the lack wit seethed, clenching his fists.

The new boy smiled coldly. "What's the matter, little puppy? Get rabies?"

"Leave him alone, Kaiba. There's no need to fight like this..." my vessel intervened, stepping between the two.

The brunette smirked. "You're right. I shouldn't be wasting my time on a coward who hides behind someone half his size."

"What'd you say?! I'll kill you!" the blonde yelled, lunging at Kaiba.

The brunette merely stepped a little to the left, leaving the other to fall flat on his face. I must admit, I wouldn't waste my time on him either, save for the fact he's aware of my presence. I have a feeling he'll be a thorn in my side in the near future.

"Jonouchi!" My host rushed to assist his friend, scowling at his upperclassman.

/He's as bad as you./

I snapped, memories of that infuriating smirk clouding my judgement.

//HE IS NOTHING LIKE ME!! HOW DARE YOU EVEN THINK THAT!!// I roared, and the boy shuddered, closing his eyes so that neither of us can see.

"What is it, Yuugi?" a voice asks.

"He- he's coming... I- I don't think I can stop him... Help me, Jonouchi!" my charge pleaded, weakly protesting as I viciously tugged at his consciousness.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" the arrogant boy snorted, and I dragged Yuugi to me before he could answer.

"You little bitch..." I hissed, keeping his arms in an iron grip as he winced in pain. "How dare you... You made a deadly mistake, comparing me to that conniving sonovabitch!"

He flinched, tears streaming down his face. Good... let him feel terror. Let him fear me... I want him to remember this.

"Look at me." I commanded, "NOW..."

He reluctantly complied, violet eyes wide. I pulled him closer, meeting his gaze with cold fury, and his breath catches.

"Your insolence shall not go unpunished... You need to remember your place, boy. Perhaps the death of your classmates will help remind you…"

His face grew pale. "No… You can't..."

"I can and I WILL. Do not doubt the limits of my power!!" I snarled, throwing him against the wall, leaving him too weak to stop me.

"Yuugi?! Yuugi, are you okay?!"

I opened my eyes, noting the worried expression on the lack wit's face. Should I enlighten him? Yes… I want him to watch the light fade from their eyes as they realize their fate.

"Yuugi? Yuugi is far from okay. In fact, he can barely move right now..." I smirked, and the buffoon's eyes widened.

"I- It's you…. WHAT DID YOU DO?!" he demanded, his grip tightening on our shoulders.

"He has ignited Pharaoh's wrath. He needs to be taught a lesson..."

"What's going on here? You know the rules- no fighting!" a high-pitched voice cut in.

A brunette girl with a short uniform skirt sauntered up, stopping before us. She began lecturing about how we should all be friends and support world peace in our public schools, and I began to grow tired of her. World peace? Ha! There will never be world peace! Not when the human race is still around... It's our nature to destroy for the sake of ambition. World peace is just a hopeless little dream that can never be attained with people like Them around...

"Are you done running your useless mouth, girl? Your little friendship fantasies will obviously never happen." I retort, and she turned to me, shock evident in her features.

"Peace isn't a fantasy! It's people like you who keep us from-"

"MIND BREAK!!" I snapped, facing my open palm to the girl's head.

She hung there for a moment, frozen in time, then crumpled to the ground, soulless. I lowered my hand, delighting in the petrified faces of those who had seen.

I smirked, grabbing a vial of clear liquid and a strange blue candle with flame coming out of a metal pipe.

Kaiba and the lack wit were intelligent enough to back away, racing out of the building as fast as they could. The others, however, were still paralyzed by fear...

I poured the liquid in the vial on the floor before me, watching it seep into the girl's clothes. I smiled coldly, recalling a scene from a film I had seen shortly after my awakening. Looking up at the immobilized students and teacher of Yuugi's first period chemistry class, I saluted them with my middle finger.

"See you in hell..."

I threw the flame onto the wet floor, shielding myself from the raging inferno I had unleashed upon the hapless peasants as I walked through the door and away from the burning building.