Greetings! Here's the next part.
This one is rather odd, and I have to apologize in advance if I totally get Bakura wrong. He's the one character I haven't been able to understand, but I like Bakura (not Yami Bakura) and I wanted to include him in this. If I get it wrong, someone please feel to explain him to me. I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you, as always, for all the reviews! I'm so glad that you're all enjoying the story.
** .** denotes Yami Bakura to Bakura *.* denotes Bakura to Yami Bakura
Enjoy!
**~~**
Part 5: Control
Bakura quickly walked out of the elevator and headed towards Yugi's room. He'd stopped by Téa's house on the way back from his own to tell her what the doctors had said about Yugi. Her parents hadn't been too happy for the disruption, but they'd understood when he'd explained to them what had happened. Téa hadn't been allowed to come with him, but she'd promised to make it to the hospital before school the next day.
He opened the door to the room and stopped at the threshold. Yugi lay on his bed, his condition still unchanged. Joey sat on the bed beside him, diligently working on putting together the puzzle, which now lay on Yugi's chest.
"Joey, what are you doing?"
Bakura saw Joey's head whip up in surprise, and then his face relaxed when he saw who it was.
"This is going to sound really crazy, Bakura, but the spirit inside the puzzle told me to put it together so he could help Yugi. I can't begin to understand how all of this works, but I'm going to go with him and trust him on this."
Bakura nodded, fully stepping into the room. He closed the door behind him and walked to the bed, his eyes immediately falling on the half finished puzzle. He could feel the spirit inside of his Millennium Ring stirring at the sight of the Millennium Puzzle, and Bakura hoped that he could retain control of the body long enough to excuse himself and leave the room. He was afraid of what his spirit would do to Yugi now that the younger teen was practically helpless.
"Can you really put it together, Joey? I thought it had taken Yugi a long time to do it."
Joey laughed, but Bakura could tell that it was a nervous laugh. "I have no idea. I'm just putting in pieces, hoping they'll fit. I've only managed to put a few in, the rest just keep popping off."
Joey shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. In that moment, Bakura could see the exhaustion in his eyes. "Why don't you go to the cafeteria and get something to eat, Joey? I'll stay with Yugi until you or his grandfather comes back."
Bakura could see the indecision in Joey's eyes and his posture, as he looked from the unconscious boy on the bed to him. He slowly stood up from the bed, nodding as if he were having an argument with himself. Bakura waited patiently, until Joey redirected his attention to him.
"Okay, if you're sure. I'd really like to go take a walk and get something to drink. Take care of him, okay Bakura?"
Bakura smiled and nodded his agreement. "Of course I will, Joey. You go ahead."
With one last look at Yugi, Joey left the room.
Bakura found himself alone in the semi-dark room, watching as his friend's chest rose and fell rhythmically as he breathed. His gaze drifted from Yugi's face down to the Millennium Puzzle, and he felt the tingling sensation in his body that signified his Yami was trying to take over the body. Before he knew it, he was no longer looking at Yugi, but at a dark and dreary hallway that went on for as far as he could see.
*NO* Bakura yelled. *Don't do this, not now!* His desperation was clearly heard in his mind's voice, but he doubted that his Yami would care.
**Quiet, you brat!** came the contemptuous reply. **You have no idea what I'm going to do**
*Yes, I do. You tried to take the puzzle before, remember? You said yourself that it was useless to you unless it was complete*
Bakura yelled as he ran down the endless corridor, even though he knew that he wasn't going to get anywhere. It made him feel as if he were doing something, so he kept running.
**Yugi isn't the only one who can complete the puzzle. I'm sure I'll be able to find someone else. As long as the cursed Pharaoh and this little brat whose body he inhibits are eliminated, there'll be no one else to stand in my way**
Those words cut through Bakura like knifes. He knew that the spirit of the ring was dangerous, deadly even. He'd been the innocent bystander as his Yami did horrible things while using his body, all because he felt that he was entitled. But even the duel in the shadow realm that his Yami had fought with Yugi's Yami for the souls of Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Téa hadn't left him feeling as desperate and afraid as he was now. His Yami would kill Yugi, of that he had no doubt.
*You gain nothing by killing Yugi,* Bakura tried again, even though he knew that reasoning wouldn't get him anywhere.
**You are mistaken. I gain everything by killing him.**
Bakura couldn't see what was happening outside of his mind, but he could hear perfectly well. He heard tinkling, which he knew was due to the spirit picking up the pieces of the puzzle.
**Such innocence, such youth** Yami Bakura said, and Bakura could practically see the smirk that would surely be plastered on his face. He could also feel the unadulterated hate that his Yami felt for his friend. **A flick of my hand is all it takes to end your short life, Yugi**
Bakura drew into himself, calling upon every ounce of stored energy and power he possessed. He was going to regain control of his body, or die trying. There was no way he was going to stand by while the spirit of the ring killed his friend. He knew that he could be signing his own death warrant if he managed to regain control of his body before his Yami was willing to surrender it, but it would be preferable to living with the guilt of watching as a friend was killed.
*YOU WILL NOT KILL HIM*
Suddenly, Bakura could see again. He regained his vision to find that his hands were wrapped around Yugi's throat. He felt the strain in his fingers and immediately relaxed his hands. He immediately stumbled back, gasping in horror at what had almost happened. The heart monitor attached to Yugi was beeping loudly, the heart rhythm indicator dancing wildly all over the screen. Yugi's breathing was labored, but was still there. Bakura clenched his hands into fists and continued to back up until his back hit the wall.
He stood there, gaping, until a doctor and two nurses ran into the room. They took one look at him, and then looked at Yugi. They immediately rushed towards him and swept the puzzle pieces off his chest and onto the bed as they removed the blanket to gain access to his chest.
Bakura didn't stand around any longer. He ran out of the room, almost knocking over a shocked and worried Tristan.
"Hey," Tristan shouted, but Bakura didn't pay him any attention.
He continued to run down the hall, until he came to a lounge area. He saw a small balcony to one side of it and immediately went outside, roughly closing the door behind him. He sank to his knees in the darkness, tears already spilling down his cheeks.
Why had he been cursed with such a wretched and evil spirit? How was he supposed to live his life when he had to constantly be on alert for what his Yami might decide to do? He couldn't do it. he couldn't take it anymore. He covered his face with his hands and began to sob.
He was lost in his misery, until he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. He immediately pulled away and then turned to see a very worried Tristan staring back at him.
"What's wrong Bakura? What happened in Yugi's room?"
Bakura couldn't speak. Instead, he continued to stare at his friend, trying to stem the flow of his tears. He knew that Tristan would understand about Yami Bakura, because Tristan had deal with him for a short while on Pegasus' island.
"He tried to kill Yugi," Bakura finally whispered, deciding to be honest.
Tristan's eyes narrowed in confusion, before he seemed to understand. "The spirit of the ring, you mean?"
Bakura nodded. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been there. I tried..." he broke off, not sure how to explain what had happened.
"You fought him and you won, Bakura. Yugi's fine. Well, he's as fine as he can be under the circumstances. The doctors seem to think that his heart arrested momentarily, but he's going to be okay."
Bakura nodded again, relieved that he hadn't done any more harm.
"What am I going to do?" Bakura whispered, mostly to himself.
"What do you mean?" Tristan asked, looking at him kindly and without blame.
"Help me, Tristan."
****
Joey sat beside Yugi on the bed once again.
The doctors had just left the room after stabilizing Yugi. Joey didn't know what had happened, except that Tristan had said he'd seen Bakura running out of the room. Tristan had gone after Bakura and hadn't returned yet. Joey hoped that Bakura's evil spirit hadn't returned. If he had, Joey didn't know how they were going to fight him.
"Alright, Yug, it's time for you to wake up. I'm not going to be able to put this thing together, so you have to help me. Come on, buddy, open those eyes. The spirit of the puzzle is trying to help, but he needs me to do it and I can't. I really need you to be here with me."
"You are doing fine, Joey."
Joey jumped at the sound of the voice, but calmed down when he realized that the spirit of the puzzle was talking to him again. He looked down at the puzzle piece in his hands and carefully slid it into a slot on the side. The piece clicked softly as it went in and Joey sighed when the piece stayed in place.
"Glad you think so. I, for one, am not convinced."
"You do not have to put the entire puzzle together. I am getting stronger."
Joey nodded. "You said you were going to help Yugi, but you never told me how you were going to do it."
There was a pause.
"Yugi has lost his faith in himself and in his friends, and is teetering on the edge of an abyss. One wrong move and he will be lost to us forever. I must remind him that his life is worth living; that he has something to come back to."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Talk to him, Joey. Tell him that you want him to wake up."
"What good is that going to do?" Joey asked, examining his friend's peaceful face.
"It will give him a reason to live."
****
Yugi was finally able to pull oxygen into his lungs, the effort having left him completely exhausted. He was on his knees next to the stream where he'd talked to Téa, shaking and sweating with the effort to draw air. He wasn't sure what had happened, except that he suddenly couldn't breathe. Once he'd managed to restore his breathing to normal, he looked up to the silently observing Pegasus.
"What happened?"
Pegasus shrugged. "I don't know, Yugi-boy, but I'd guess that someone just tried to end your life prematurely."
Yugi frowned. "Why?"
Pegasus actually laughed, irritating Yugi. He got up and stood facing Pegasus.
"You are such an innocent boy, Yugi. Why do you think you're standing here, talking to me? Or I should say lying in a coma in the hospital. Do you not remember what happened to you on the way home from school?"
"I remember," Yugi whispered, once again seeing the dark alley and feeling his body being battered. He felt a shudder run through him and unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself.
"Well then, by now you should know that the world is a dangerous place, and that you have your own enemies; people who would rather see you dead."
Yugi drew himself back from the memories of that dark alley, instead choosing to focus on Pegasus.
"I don't want to hurt my friends."
That was what was really scaring him. What if the people that had attacked him chose to go after his friends instead? He couldn't let that happen.
"Ah, such sweet devotion, Yugi. I'm very impressed. Friendship isn't going to keep you safe, however. It isn't going to keep you from being hurt."
Yugi shook his head, denying what Pegasus was saying. "You're wrong, Pegasus. Friendship is what allowed the spirit of the puzzle to beat you on the island, even when you thought you'd destroyed my soul. Friendship is everything, but you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? After all, you have no friends."
Pegasus' smile faltered, and then disappeared altogether. He frowned instead, before turning on his heel and walking away. Yugi watched him go, before finding a small rock and plopping down onto it. He was tired of fighting, tired of arguing. He wanted peace and quiet, he wanted to be left alone.
He claimed to believe in friendship, and yet his friends had shown up to him only to denounce him. Joey and Tristan had, at least. Why would they do that? Was he kidding himself in believing that he'd finally managed the one thing he'd wanted for as long as he could remember? He'd been tired of being alone then and had wished for a friend. The puzzle had given him Yami, but it had also given him Joey, Tristan, Téa and, indirectly, Mai. Was it all real, or had he been imaging it the whole time? Had their friendship simply been a figment of his imagination?
"Do you really believe that, Yugi? If you do, then there really is no hope."
Yugi turned around and saw Yami walking slowly towards him. He frowned, wondering what was in store for him now.
**~~**
YAY! Yami finally makes an appearance. I couldn't have Joey put together the whole puzzle, just enough to make Yami stronger. More to come soon!
This one is rather odd, and I have to apologize in advance if I totally get Bakura wrong. He's the one character I haven't been able to understand, but I like Bakura (not Yami Bakura) and I wanted to include him in this. If I get it wrong, someone please feel to explain him to me. I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you, as always, for all the reviews! I'm so glad that you're all enjoying the story.
** .** denotes Yami Bakura to Bakura *.* denotes Bakura to Yami Bakura
Enjoy!
**~~**
Part 5: Control
Bakura quickly walked out of the elevator and headed towards Yugi's room. He'd stopped by Téa's house on the way back from his own to tell her what the doctors had said about Yugi. Her parents hadn't been too happy for the disruption, but they'd understood when he'd explained to them what had happened. Téa hadn't been allowed to come with him, but she'd promised to make it to the hospital before school the next day.
He opened the door to the room and stopped at the threshold. Yugi lay on his bed, his condition still unchanged. Joey sat on the bed beside him, diligently working on putting together the puzzle, which now lay on Yugi's chest.
"Joey, what are you doing?"
Bakura saw Joey's head whip up in surprise, and then his face relaxed when he saw who it was.
"This is going to sound really crazy, Bakura, but the spirit inside the puzzle told me to put it together so he could help Yugi. I can't begin to understand how all of this works, but I'm going to go with him and trust him on this."
Bakura nodded, fully stepping into the room. He closed the door behind him and walked to the bed, his eyes immediately falling on the half finished puzzle. He could feel the spirit inside of his Millennium Ring stirring at the sight of the Millennium Puzzle, and Bakura hoped that he could retain control of the body long enough to excuse himself and leave the room. He was afraid of what his spirit would do to Yugi now that the younger teen was practically helpless.
"Can you really put it together, Joey? I thought it had taken Yugi a long time to do it."
Joey laughed, but Bakura could tell that it was a nervous laugh. "I have no idea. I'm just putting in pieces, hoping they'll fit. I've only managed to put a few in, the rest just keep popping off."
Joey shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. In that moment, Bakura could see the exhaustion in his eyes. "Why don't you go to the cafeteria and get something to eat, Joey? I'll stay with Yugi until you or his grandfather comes back."
Bakura could see the indecision in Joey's eyes and his posture, as he looked from the unconscious boy on the bed to him. He slowly stood up from the bed, nodding as if he were having an argument with himself. Bakura waited patiently, until Joey redirected his attention to him.
"Okay, if you're sure. I'd really like to go take a walk and get something to drink. Take care of him, okay Bakura?"
Bakura smiled and nodded his agreement. "Of course I will, Joey. You go ahead."
With one last look at Yugi, Joey left the room.
Bakura found himself alone in the semi-dark room, watching as his friend's chest rose and fell rhythmically as he breathed. His gaze drifted from Yugi's face down to the Millennium Puzzle, and he felt the tingling sensation in his body that signified his Yami was trying to take over the body. Before he knew it, he was no longer looking at Yugi, but at a dark and dreary hallway that went on for as far as he could see.
*NO* Bakura yelled. *Don't do this, not now!* His desperation was clearly heard in his mind's voice, but he doubted that his Yami would care.
**Quiet, you brat!** came the contemptuous reply. **You have no idea what I'm going to do**
*Yes, I do. You tried to take the puzzle before, remember? You said yourself that it was useless to you unless it was complete*
Bakura yelled as he ran down the endless corridor, even though he knew that he wasn't going to get anywhere. It made him feel as if he were doing something, so he kept running.
**Yugi isn't the only one who can complete the puzzle. I'm sure I'll be able to find someone else. As long as the cursed Pharaoh and this little brat whose body he inhibits are eliminated, there'll be no one else to stand in my way**
Those words cut through Bakura like knifes. He knew that the spirit of the ring was dangerous, deadly even. He'd been the innocent bystander as his Yami did horrible things while using his body, all because he felt that he was entitled. But even the duel in the shadow realm that his Yami had fought with Yugi's Yami for the souls of Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Téa hadn't left him feeling as desperate and afraid as he was now. His Yami would kill Yugi, of that he had no doubt.
*You gain nothing by killing Yugi,* Bakura tried again, even though he knew that reasoning wouldn't get him anywhere.
**You are mistaken. I gain everything by killing him.**
Bakura couldn't see what was happening outside of his mind, but he could hear perfectly well. He heard tinkling, which he knew was due to the spirit picking up the pieces of the puzzle.
**Such innocence, such youth** Yami Bakura said, and Bakura could practically see the smirk that would surely be plastered on his face. He could also feel the unadulterated hate that his Yami felt for his friend. **A flick of my hand is all it takes to end your short life, Yugi**
Bakura drew into himself, calling upon every ounce of stored energy and power he possessed. He was going to regain control of his body, or die trying. There was no way he was going to stand by while the spirit of the ring killed his friend. He knew that he could be signing his own death warrant if he managed to regain control of his body before his Yami was willing to surrender it, but it would be preferable to living with the guilt of watching as a friend was killed.
*YOU WILL NOT KILL HIM*
Suddenly, Bakura could see again. He regained his vision to find that his hands were wrapped around Yugi's throat. He felt the strain in his fingers and immediately relaxed his hands. He immediately stumbled back, gasping in horror at what had almost happened. The heart monitor attached to Yugi was beeping loudly, the heart rhythm indicator dancing wildly all over the screen. Yugi's breathing was labored, but was still there. Bakura clenched his hands into fists and continued to back up until his back hit the wall.
He stood there, gaping, until a doctor and two nurses ran into the room. They took one look at him, and then looked at Yugi. They immediately rushed towards him and swept the puzzle pieces off his chest and onto the bed as they removed the blanket to gain access to his chest.
Bakura didn't stand around any longer. He ran out of the room, almost knocking over a shocked and worried Tristan.
"Hey," Tristan shouted, but Bakura didn't pay him any attention.
He continued to run down the hall, until he came to a lounge area. He saw a small balcony to one side of it and immediately went outside, roughly closing the door behind him. He sank to his knees in the darkness, tears already spilling down his cheeks.
Why had he been cursed with such a wretched and evil spirit? How was he supposed to live his life when he had to constantly be on alert for what his Yami might decide to do? He couldn't do it. he couldn't take it anymore. He covered his face with his hands and began to sob.
He was lost in his misery, until he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. He immediately pulled away and then turned to see a very worried Tristan staring back at him.
"What's wrong Bakura? What happened in Yugi's room?"
Bakura couldn't speak. Instead, he continued to stare at his friend, trying to stem the flow of his tears. He knew that Tristan would understand about Yami Bakura, because Tristan had deal with him for a short while on Pegasus' island.
"He tried to kill Yugi," Bakura finally whispered, deciding to be honest.
Tristan's eyes narrowed in confusion, before he seemed to understand. "The spirit of the ring, you mean?"
Bakura nodded. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been there. I tried..." he broke off, not sure how to explain what had happened.
"You fought him and you won, Bakura. Yugi's fine. Well, he's as fine as he can be under the circumstances. The doctors seem to think that his heart arrested momentarily, but he's going to be okay."
Bakura nodded again, relieved that he hadn't done any more harm.
"What am I going to do?" Bakura whispered, mostly to himself.
"What do you mean?" Tristan asked, looking at him kindly and without blame.
"Help me, Tristan."
****
Joey sat beside Yugi on the bed once again.
The doctors had just left the room after stabilizing Yugi. Joey didn't know what had happened, except that Tristan had said he'd seen Bakura running out of the room. Tristan had gone after Bakura and hadn't returned yet. Joey hoped that Bakura's evil spirit hadn't returned. If he had, Joey didn't know how they were going to fight him.
"Alright, Yug, it's time for you to wake up. I'm not going to be able to put this thing together, so you have to help me. Come on, buddy, open those eyes. The spirit of the puzzle is trying to help, but he needs me to do it and I can't. I really need you to be here with me."
"You are doing fine, Joey."
Joey jumped at the sound of the voice, but calmed down when he realized that the spirit of the puzzle was talking to him again. He looked down at the puzzle piece in his hands and carefully slid it into a slot on the side. The piece clicked softly as it went in and Joey sighed when the piece stayed in place.
"Glad you think so. I, for one, am not convinced."
"You do not have to put the entire puzzle together. I am getting stronger."
Joey nodded. "You said you were going to help Yugi, but you never told me how you were going to do it."
There was a pause.
"Yugi has lost his faith in himself and in his friends, and is teetering on the edge of an abyss. One wrong move and he will be lost to us forever. I must remind him that his life is worth living; that he has something to come back to."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Talk to him, Joey. Tell him that you want him to wake up."
"What good is that going to do?" Joey asked, examining his friend's peaceful face.
"It will give him a reason to live."
****
Yugi was finally able to pull oxygen into his lungs, the effort having left him completely exhausted. He was on his knees next to the stream where he'd talked to Téa, shaking and sweating with the effort to draw air. He wasn't sure what had happened, except that he suddenly couldn't breathe. Once he'd managed to restore his breathing to normal, he looked up to the silently observing Pegasus.
"What happened?"
Pegasus shrugged. "I don't know, Yugi-boy, but I'd guess that someone just tried to end your life prematurely."
Yugi frowned. "Why?"
Pegasus actually laughed, irritating Yugi. He got up and stood facing Pegasus.
"You are such an innocent boy, Yugi. Why do you think you're standing here, talking to me? Or I should say lying in a coma in the hospital. Do you not remember what happened to you on the way home from school?"
"I remember," Yugi whispered, once again seeing the dark alley and feeling his body being battered. He felt a shudder run through him and unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself.
"Well then, by now you should know that the world is a dangerous place, and that you have your own enemies; people who would rather see you dead."
Yugi drew himself back from the memories of that dark alley, instead choosing to focus on Pegasus.
"I don't want to hurt my friends."
That was what was really scaring him. What if the people that had attacked him chose to go after his friends instead? He couldn't let that happen.
"Ah, such sweet devotion, Yugi. I'm very impressed. Friendship isn't going to keep you safe, however. It isn't going to keep you from being hurt."
Yugi shook his head, denying what Pegasus was saying. "You're wrong, Pegasus. Friendship is what allowed the spirit of the puzzle to beat you on the island, even when you thought you'd destroyed my soul. Friendship is everything, but you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? After all, you have no friends."
Pegasus' smile faltered, and then disappeared altogether. He frowned instead, before turning on his heel and walking away. Yugi watched him go, before finding a small rock and plopping down onto it. He was tired of fighting, tired of arguing. He wanted peace and quiet, he wanted to be left alone.
He claimed to believe in friendship, and yet his friends had shown up to him only to denounce him. Joey and Tristan had, at least. Why would they do that? Was he kidding himself in believing that he'd finally managed the one thing he'd wanted for as long as he could remember? He'd been tired of being alone then and had wished for a friend. The puzzle had given him Yami, but it had also given him Joey, Tristan, Téa and, indirectly, Mai. Was it all real, or had he been imaging it the whole time? Had their friendship simply been a figment of his imagination?
"Do you really believe that, Yugi? If you do, then there really is no hope."
Yugi turned around and saw Yami walking slowly towards him. He frowned, wondering what was in store for him now.
**~~**
YAY! Yami finally makes an appearance. I couldn't have Joey put together the whole puzzle, just enough to make Yami stronger. More to come soon!