I had planned on finishing this one in just two chapters, but I fancied some opinions as to how this weird little thing is going. It's making it's own plot up; I didn't plan it to go this way. Oh well. Hope you enjoy the next instalment.
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Well I was right about one thing; my head is absolutely killing me. I don't think I got more than half an hour's sleep, and that's only because bloody Ryou dropped a book on his foot. I shouted at him a bit more than I normally would have, but sleep deprivation and general nerves about this upcoming confrontation have got me on edge.
It's a sadistically nice day for it; birds twittering gaily and the sun sending a cold light down on me as I make my way to the Game Shop. Ryou didn't say anything when I left, but I suspect he's been hearing it too, albeit more dimly than I do. He's not as strongly tied to the Shadow Realm as I am. I think I have the right to be jealous of him for that.
I don't notice that I've reached my destination until I'm stood in its shadow. Chewing my bottom lip for a moment, I take a final few moments to decide if this is really the right thing to do. Stupid question there. Removing my hands from my pockets, I stride inside purposefully.
Yugi's just finishing with a customer as I approach him, smoothly navigating the small assortment of shelves and racks before I'm stood on the opposite side of the glass counter. I make the pretence of looking at the rarer cards inside the display as he watches me carefully. I'm actually tapping through the Ring to see if Yami's in the Puzzle. He's not, which is exactly what I wanted. In fact I don't sense him anywhere near here. I don't want him hearing this and charging to the rescue when he feels Yugi getting upset or angry.
"Bakura? Do you want something?" the Hikari asks after a few more seconds of staring through my bangs. I actually take the time to look at him now. He looks happier than usual, even if he's a bit uneasy with my presence: very much in love. Well that's just tough. I'm here for Yami's benefit, not for Yugi's.
"We need to talk. Close the shop," I instruct as I step away from him and walk towards the door leading through into the house. Yugi opens his mouth to protest before doing as I said and scurrying in after me.
It's cosy back here. I'm in the living room now, a rumpled blanket tossed over the back of the sofa and a bowl of half-eaten popcorn nestled against one of the arm cushions. A film was on last night I see, likely an opportunity for them to cosy up against each other. I bet they both enjoyed that even if the screams did get worse at the time.
"Bakura, what are you doing here? Is something wrong?"
It's the perfect opportunity to say exactly what's been going on right now, but for some reason I find myself hesitating. I'm starting to wonder if this is a good idea, if it even needs doing at all in fact. Maybe Yami is happy and it's just a shadow of his former-self making all the noise. If that's the case, then the one I should be talking to is Yami.
"Is everything alright between you and Yami?" I find myself saying. A muscle next to my left eye twitches the moment the words have left me and I curse myself internally. I've never been bothered with their relationship so this approach is somewhat abrupt. It needed to be asked though, even if my reputation is now a little less stable.
Yugi looks, understandable, confused for a moment before he nods. He helpfully expands upon that verbally. "Fine. We're both happy. Why? Has something happened? Do you know something?"
That Motou spirit flares up then, the same one that went against Pegasus, Malik and me more than once. That spirit isn't going to be the least bit helpful right now. I don't need any accusations to come flying at me, especially not whilst I'm still trying to figure out what exactly to do.
I can't exactly tell the truth. That would completely destabilise their relationship, raising doubts and concerns and likely making Yami as miserable externally as he seems to be internally. But it is their business in the end. So who am I to drop a veritable sledgehammer onto them? But that screaming has to be stopped. I don't think I can take hearing it anymore.
"I need to talk to Yami. Where is he?"
Yugi frowns. Now he knows I'm definitely up to something. "He's not here. Wh-"
"That's our business," I cut in sharply, leaning into him and narrowing my eyes slightly. It has the desired effect and he shuts up, watching with concern as I walk out of his home and back through the shop. I'm not going to get anywhere here. I should have gone to the source in the first place. I shouldn't have wasted my time going after the Hikari and just headed straight for the darkness.
Once outside, I look down at the Ring, silently telling it to point me towards him. Two prongs drift up steadily, pointing me towards the park. I waste no time in getting there; breaking into swift jog with the Ring rattling at my chest before the prongs can drop. I don't use it again until I'm stood at the gates, not being able to run in a straight line to follow the given direction making me lose my heading.
After checking, I follow the prongs along a winding path beside the small lake until I find what I'm looking for, half sat and half led on one of the benches. He's watching the water, or maybe he's just listening to something. I don't know.
He doesn't look up as I approach him, merely shifting his legs off of the wood to give me room to sit down next to him. I take the invitation and face him, idly noting that he hasn't looked at me yet.
"You were looking for me?" he asks, dragging his eyes from whatever he can see to meet mine in the middle of that sentence. His expression is as composed as it always is, belaying absolutely no emotion. His eyes are darker than I've seen them in some time though. It is a problem with his soul then.
I don't know if Yugi told him or if he can just sense the residual energy floating around the Ring, which is quite possible at this proximity, and I don't really care. Instead I simply nod and compose my thoughts to begin.
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Just one more chapter to go; Leave a review and it just might appear quicker.