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Stigmatize - 1. To characterize as disgraceful; brand. 2. To mark with stigma

-------- Stigma - 1. A mark or token of infamy or disgrace.

While this describes Yami Bakura, the title is also mocking the authoress. It is my feel at this story so far if it represented me. Lots of love, eh? Go look up infamy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.



COMMENTS & THANKS:

ASSASSIN OF THE SHADOWS: I used to have trouble with chopsticks. I couldn't hold then for five seconds. My friend was going crazy. He had it all down to pure instinct. I was kind of pathetic with the chopsticks, so I decided I'd learn the proper way. ………………. Oh, and FYI; the spelling is "psychotic".

YAMI KRISSY: Yes, Bakura is a possessive freak. In his mind he "owns" Ryou, so, hehe, maybe he's messed up. …………………….Hey, if I count you friend sans and account, I could say I have 21 reviews! …………………… My friend showed me how to eat everything with chopsticks that was small enough to pick up [sadly, this did not include Southern fried chicken breasts, darn it]

AURORA BELMONT VAMPIRE HUNTER: Bakura has some major issues to work out…

ESCURO DE LA LUS: It's not exactly Malik bashing…it's more of a Yami-Bakura-Hates-Malik-And-Feels-The-Obsessive-Urge-To-Attack-When-The-Fate-Hater-Is-On-The-Same-Planet-As-Him-And-His-Hikari. I'm generally quite fond of Malik and also Otogi [though his is not in this fic] and still make fun of them. If you thought that was my worst a Malik bashing, you should consider this fic a Ryou bashing. A Yu-Gi-Oh bashing for is corniness. *introduces another OC [take that Yu-Gi-Oh stoylines!] ahahahahahahaha!*

NO NAME: I spent forever learning the "proper" way to hold chopsticks. I was eating Chinese at the mall and noticed the abundance of chopsticks in plastic wrappers and the the lessening amount of forks by the second [no one wanted to use chopsticks]. I asked the cashier later when no one was buying how to use them [I do these things at random intervals]. The guy really tried to show me how, but I had to drag my friend Mei [I forget his real name, it's too long, so I shortened it] over the next day so he could teach me too. I love chopsticks now! Whee!

MIRI-CHAN: I've never tried chopsticks in my hair. Personally, I consider it as well as putting a fork in my locks. I think a fork would look interesting. Just wait, I'm going to go stick a fork in my hair and try to make a fashion statement. Chopsticks are getting cliché.

STEPHANIE [ch8]: You're into my fic? Great! So many people are of the same opinion.

SHADOW HAWK: I like chopsticks very much. I've been through Hell learning how they work though [there are very few Orientals where I live equaling very few places that actually have chopsticks. There's just a load of seafood places with lobsters in tanks and stuff].

ALLENBY: I know forks are boring. And you have to stab you food! I just don't like that very much. It seems barbaric almost. I use forks though all the time though. I'm not going to carry a pair of chopsticks everywhere I go.

STEPHANIE [ch13]: No, that is not all. This fic keeps going. When it's done, you'll be will informed, I assure you. So, first warning: fyi, this is NOT the last the chapter. I'm planning on about 18 chapters.

KEMU: I quote: "I wonder what would happen if someone stole the defective Sennen Ring...would the other half notice?" No! My sequel, gone! Ahhhhhhhhhh!………hehe, j/k……… You should learn how to use chopsticks.

SHESHELALA: Yay, another chopstick lover! Sorry about the delay. It's thunderstorm season and I live in "Tornado Alley". I wonder I a tornado will pic me up and drop my computer on top of Seto Kaiba in Yu-Gi-Oh Anime Land, you know, anf knock some sense into him? That would be awesome.

DRAGGY: A spork is one of those spoon looking things with three triangular points on the ends. ………………………Ryou was in the bed when Malik was attacked. He was watching from the bed.

VEGETASGURL: There you go, I wrote more.

YAMI NO ELESSARA: Yay, I inspired others to join FF.net! Once you have some fics out I'll try to read them. I just can't stand Mary-Sues [who does?], author insertions, lame Original Character's, and too much Out Of Character-ness. That's really all that bothers me much and I don't write it……………………………..I finally updated! Go me!………..I could help with a fanfic idea. I have lots of first chapters and plot bunnies I come around to every once and a while and work on. Most are Ryou or Yuugi centered if not some Lord of the Rings bit.

NONAME: School impairs my judgment all the time, you're okay. I like the master card joke, an oldie, but a goodie!

CHEESEPUFF: I've seen sporks that aren't sporks. They have these serraded edges and I don't know what the Hell to call them. Sporkives?………………….My friend Mei taught me how to use chopsticks. Before him, I had a poor cashier at the Chinese Food place in the mall try. I'm proud to admit I learned.

CHAOS ANGEL: I'm glad you like the chapter…the both of you. My fic just brings people [things, yamis, daemons, angels] together so well!

A.K.A. TALENTLESS: Yami Bakura is PMSing on us, damn those mood swings [-_-U uh, yeah, he's male….]!…………………I saw a spork with a serraded edge and have no idea what it's called. It's weird. ………………….I can't spell either and my grammar sucks, so don't worry about it! ^_^




This is where Ryou discovers sort of what is wrong with him. Purposively he went to sleep sometime and has woken up for this beginning. It is still around the afternoon. This is the same day as last chapter. It's not very sentimental though. Everything gets all sappy and emotional again next chapters. Oh, and I suppose Yami Bakura is having some control issues with the whole attack-the-Ishtar-guy thing going on here and then just dropping Ryou around like a little rubber ball. I figure he is of the mind he "owns" his Hikari and does whatever the damn well he pleases. He's having more mood swings than most women I know, but he's perfectly evil still! Thank me!

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Stigmatize

Chapter 14: Dizzy


Ryou woke up to terrible pleas of mercy. For a few seconds he figured he had died and come to Hell. The surrounding area seemed very warm and stuffy. The boy didn't want to open his eyes; there was something horrible and inhumane going on distantly. If he were to show his current consciousness out of sleep then the next attack would be on him. He felt this for sure in some corner of his mine.

"Please, I'm sorry!" a voice shrieked. There was a thud as a body roughly slammed into the hard floor a few rooms away.

Instinctively Ryou sat up and looked around in terror for the approach of his other mind. The area was empty, the door safely closed. The boy was about to dismiss the scream as a hallucination before it sounded again. He could even pin point where it had come from; the living room. Ryou almost tried to call his Dark to find out what was going on. He remembered somehow before even trying that this was useless. He would have to find out another way.

Slowly the pale child rose from his stuffy bed and stood near the exit. Someone was being hurt farther down the hall. Ryou imagined briefly that he was out of his own body and listening to his dark attack the poor spirit that had taken over in his own absence. He wanted to watch, to see what was happening from a distance.

Quietly he opened the door and slipped out into the hallway. Halfway to the living room he got cold feet and bailed, turning into his room just a few feet outside from the door to the guest's bed he had started in. He was surprised at the sight that greeted him.

The place was a disaster area. Ryou had to blink a few times just watching it. Everything had apparently been destroyed. Even the poor guitar had gotten a bit of the violence, strings cut and hanging limply. Ryou watched it sorrowfully, wondering why the Fined had gone into the hassle of retrieving the instrument from Malik's.

Ryou walked carefully across the room, trying not to step on anything that had once been something. He couldn't even sit on the bed, he discovered. The springs creaked and threatened to give away loudly. The boy quickly forced himself off the falling structure as some more yelps came from the living room. He tried to ignore the sound, tried to pretend nothing was happening, but the noises just seemed to get louder.

Finally Ryou snapped as a sick crack sounded. Maybe the Spirit of the Ring was going to kill this time. Ryou knew that couldn't be allowed, he couldn't just let a person die when there was the chance to avoid it. The boy, frightened at what might have already been done to the sufferer, left the bedroom and continued down the hall.

The seen in the living room was startling. Ryou could barely believe what he saw. The young man, Tony, was on the ground bleeding and moaning like a great wounded beast. Ryou watched him, staring grimly on. Tony wasn't looking at him; he looked up at the Spirit before above petrified. Another sharp punch to the jaw was soon delivered with cruel accuracy.

The pain in Tony's face was almost fascinating suddenly. It was obvious the Fiend was really hurting the bully. The blood pouring in a steady stream became a slight river running down Tony's face, into his gapping mouth and blossoming on his thick shirt. It was sickening to watch but Ryou couldn't locate any desire to turn away. He did not hate the young man any longer, just was interested in his suffering. In fact, Ryou wasn't feeling anything, just observing distantly like the viewer to some violent television movie. Of course, he wanted it to stop, but that was his Dark attacking. He could do nothing for the pegged down mortal tormentor who now cringed and cowered so idiotically.

Ryou was alarmed at the absence of feeling. He didn't care enough to help but wasn't holding any grudge that let him allow another to have such treatment. He felt a little sorry finally at Tony's pathetic whimpers. Slowly Ryou realized Tony could easily die with no debt to the Fiend. He didn't want to, but he began to see a bit of himself in the other's crying and terror. The little movie playing before him became more terrible, but there was still nothing he could do.

Ryou distracted himself with how Tony had returned. Malik had tried to prevent this, letting the bully run. Either Tony had foolishly returned now or the Spirit had tracked him down. Whichever, the young man's whose group had hurt Ryou was on the floor and barely holding reality in his consciousness as he begged, not unlike Ryou before he'd accepted the Spirit of the Ring as the Master.

Ryou waited patiently as the sight of the other mortal turned to him. The eyes grew wide in recognition and terror.

"Ryou, help me, make him stop!" the wounded man pleaded, "I'm sorry, plea-"

"Quiet!" the Yami commanded, kicking the other hard in the head. Though not causing him to black out, the blow did make Tony silent quickly.

Ryou took a nervous step back, shaking his head in disgust.

"Nice of you to join us, Little One," the Spirit greeted, nodding to Ryou before turning back to his prey.

From a back pocket, the Fiend pulled out the one object Ryou most feared.

"Oh, you know, I'm going to kill it," the Daemon informed him, gesturing to Tony on the ground.

Ryou watched the thin item, scared of the sharpness. The knife shimmered coldly in the electric lighting. What was the Spirit going to do? Was he bluffing or was he for real?

"Yami, no. Please don't hurt Tony anymore," Ryou begged finally, the first words he had spoken since waking up.

"I don't want the guy dead," he informed his Dark, steeping forward timidly.

Seriously, Ryou didn't need Tony killed. He had thought he wanted the bully hurt, but that hadn't even been real, just some demented form of spite. How terrible was that old saying: 'Be careful what you wish for'! He had gotten his manic temporary desire for revenge and more. The knife showed things were getting out of hand.

"I don't care if you want him dead. I want him dead. Don't worry so much, Hikari. I promise not to hurt this fool anymore when I'm done, okay? Of course, no one else will either unless he drops to Hell. Too bad I can't kill you too, eh?"

Ryou watched horrified as the Fiend drew towards the huddling mass of human again. Tony just sat there staring stupidly as his end approached. Resting his hand lightly on the mess of face, the Spirit lifted the knife hand high above his head.

Ryou didn't know what he was doing; all that crossed his semi-rational mind was the knowledge that he could never allow such a thing. With amazing speed, he ran at the Spirit. He grabbed the wrist with the blade as he threw his weight into the Yami's chest, successfully knocking him over. Ryou and Dark fell back, pale angry child on top. With the above advantage, Ryou held down the knife arm with both hands while the Spirit instinctively tried to slash into him. With a surprisingly clear voice, Ryou yelled at Tony to get out at the same time.

Ryou hardly noticed as the other person, now free, disappeared on command. He only dimly saw the idol of fear he was trying to keep down. The Spirit's eyes flames as he recovered from the shock. Ryou was in entirely the wrong position to keep anything pinned to the ground. With amazingly swift movements that devastated Ryou, the Fiend was able to grab the boy's shirt material in two fists without drooping the knife. Ryou could only let out a yelp as his Yami tossed him on his back victoriously and resumed control of the altered situation. Of course, Tony was long gone so the Hikari had no more to fight for.

"What was that, Fool?" the Fiend asked dangerously.

Ryou gapped at him. He could not put to words suddenly the reason he had intervened. It was obvious he didn't want death for Tony, but he couldn't even find a way to say that.

The Yami glared at him. The edge of his terrifying weapon pressed involuntarily on the boy's skin, freezing him below the chin. Ryou tensed and cringed. His Yami did know he hated knives. The Spirit smirked at the pleasant accident that put everything back into his rein. Ryou was so scared and it showed beautifully in his expression. The Fiend was proud of his Hikari's insane attack, but this was much better. This was how much he appreciated his Hikari. The pretty little hurt child, completely paranoid; what had Ryou seemed to the rest of the world?

Without thinking, the Spirit tried to see his Light's memories of where he'd been to answer this question. Nothing happened. He scowled at this as he remembered. He felt less intelligent suddenly for he had put up a strong mental block while he was beating up that punk. Ryou couldn't communicate with his Yami at all.

"Well, Child, what did you attack me for? To save some idiot?" the Fiend growled.

Ryou watched him nervously as the blade still rested on his skin. The Fiend opened his mouth to hiss another threat while Ryou fought the urge to close his eyes and pretend nothing was happening. To the boy's surprise, the angry face twisted in some momentary distraction. Ryou was startled to recognize the expression as that of slight physical pain. Was something ailing his Yami?

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, still nervous with the knife at his throat. A small growl escaped the Fiend's stomach.

"What do you think, Fool?" the Spirit snapped, glaring at him again. Slowly he stood off of the boy's form and pocketed his weapon.

"I need some assistance in your horrible kitchen. Do you mortals really want all that machinery to be so confusing? What's wrong with all of you?" he commanded and griped.

Ryou just watched the couch unmoving. Did Yamis need to eat? What was happening now?

"Owe!" Ryou yelped in pain, looking up to see the Fiend sneering at him. Okay, so the attack wasn't malicious, but it still hurt.

"Wake up, Hikari," the spirit ordered, "Believe me, I know how fascinating the couch is, I admit to looking at it a few times, yes, but really. How can you watch the thing so intensely? I don't think it's quite entirely that captivating. You look down right obsessed with that bit of furniture."

Quickly Ryou blinked several times and tried to concentrate on what the Yami was saying. It wasn't very easy.

"Not sorry to wake you from you little musings, but I need mortal expertise on modern laziness in the kitchen," the Spirit informed him, suddenly not angry or annoyed.

Ryou stood up and followed his Yami to the food. This mood swing that always seemed to twirl his Yami about never ceased to amaze the boy. Now Yami Bakura was almost chipper and funny. Was this the nature that had cause Ryou to fall in love with the Fiend? Truth be told, it wasn't very hard to not like the Spirit when he was in a good mood.

"Make something with meat in it, Mortal," the Yami ordered, sitting down at the table and waiting.

The Hikari soon had a sandwich made up with lots of turkey. The Fiend took it greedily, remarking in a rude statement that not eating made you slower and if Ryou decreased speed and further, he'd be devolving. This force Ryou to some bread and an unusually tall glass filled to the brim with clear water. The Yami didn't speak up again till he had finished his meal.

"Are you planning on eating that?" he asked, watching the bread next to Ryou's glass.

"I have a choice?" Ryou asked as the Spirit grabbed the food. He sighed at this behavior and reached for his glass, careful not to spill a drop. The liquid suddenly seemed very precious to him. The boy took a small, incredibly slow sip of water, feeling it flow down his throat. It had the common thin and tasteless, yet the experience was much more sensual than Ryou ever remembered drinking anything. The movement of the liquid made him almost dizzy. Nervously he sniffed the water. It was all right; it was normal and straight from the tap. So why did he feel so close to becoming light headed? Indeed, one sip and Ryou felt well on the way to semi-drunkenness.

Ryou quickly pushed the glass away.

"Why, thank you," the Spirit smirked, grabbing the drink and taking a gulp. He put it down again with a sigh.

"Why it tastes so plain? It's nothing like it was before," he remarked at the water.

"H-how was it before?" Ryou asked slowly, not sure he really wanted an answer.

"A lot different. Water was so great; I used to go insane in three large swallows. It was so strange. Maybe you'd call it…otherworldly? Food was much the opposite. I used to choke and gag with the stuff. Now it is so easy to consume," the Fiend mused at the bread he held left strangely still uneaten.

Ryou nodded hastily. He didn't want more water.

"Yami?" he asked quietly.

"Hikari?" the Spirit mocked in the same slightly urgent tone.

"I haven't eaten for three days," he confined.

"I'm not giving your bread back," the Fiend replied, misinterpreting the message.

"I'm not even hungry," Ryou sighed, watching the food with zero desire.

"Stop being an idiot. Eat something," the Spirit ordered. He shoved a piece of crust into his Hikari's hand. Ryou just stared at it.

"Eat it," the Spirit commanded with a menacing glare at the boy.

Ryou cautiously placed the food in his mouth. He had no sudden ravenous desire to devour the morsel. In fact, it was like a strip of paper or slip of plastic on his tongue. He didn't want to swallow it, much less even work his jaws to chew.

"Eat," the Fiend growled again.

"I don't feel like it," Ryou stated reaching to take the crust out of his mouth.

"You swallow or I'll make you, Fool. Chew and swallow, there's nothing wrong with you. You're just insane. You're starving. You can still consume food," the Spirit coached, his voice snapping anxiously to see if there was really something the matter with the boy before him.

Ryou stopped trying to spit out the food. Feeling like he was eating paper, he chewed the uncomfortable "substance". Fighting a slight gag, he forced the pulpy nothing down.

Ryou winched. It felt like his throat was trying to close up entirely. He thanked gods that his Yami had given him a small enough crumb be coughed out in seconds. When it was completely gone his mouth was parched. There was a complete absence of moisture. Ryou could hardly stand the dryness. He started rasping as his Dark just watched.

Ryou hit his knees; he had so much trouble trying to breathe. His throat, windpipe and all, had not opened up after trying to stop the bread. If Ryou passed out from lack of air, would he just find himself in the Shadow Realm where that wasn't required?

Ryou never thought Yami's or others needed oxygen. But as dots stared forming on the edges of his vision, the boy just stopped worrying about it. He was on his hands and knees hacking his lungs out and trying to get air at the same time. He felt a familiar blackness forming. He was going to pass out soon.

Ryou felt in his sudden blindness the rim of a cold glass being pressed against his lips. The water that he feared to drink was trying to pour into his mouth as the container was tilted. Ryou let it slip in, holding it on his tongue to moisturize the dryness before unwillingly taking a gulp.

Quickly all his sense came back to life. He stopped gasping instantly, like the fluid was some miracle tonic. Ryou had never felt so relieved. His senses heightened as they returned. He felt a warm arm over his shoulder and noticed for the first time that he was quite cold. It was another change from before.

Ryou's awareness was so advanced he grew dizzy with all the information around him and a recognizable drunkenness crawled up. It was like energy with nothing to do. The boy almost passed out again from his boredom of being still. He quickly lost coordination and let his head sink limply into the neck and shoulder of the warmth holing him. He started apologizing into the fabric, for what, he didn't know, just assuring the form he was terribly sorry.

Slowly Ryou was lifted to a standing position, head still buried in the other's shoulder. He was half walked, half carried to the living room again. The gyrating shapes in his mind were making his thoughts impossible. He just pondered vaguely why water had to be so terrible, canceling out the dryness but also making him ill.

Ryou tried to protest in mindless mutterings as the support pulled away. He was in a large chair, a very soft chair that didn't warm up at all. He was able to see around him again. He rested his heavy, yet mentally light, head in one arm, watching his Yami pace around in front of him.

"I'm never eating again," he stated in a small voice.

"Cowardly Pessimist, of course you are! After I fix this great mess," hi Dark scowled.

Ryou arched a mockingly unsure eyebrow at this.

"Till then," the Spirit growled, "You can eat if you're careful, but you're to thick and paranoid to try, I assume."

Ryou nodded. That made sense.

"Where's Malik?" he asked lazily.

The Fiend's face clouded suddenly with anger. He glared at Ryou fiercely.

"It does not matter. Don't you dare mention him again!" the Spirit ordered.

Ryou tried to nod at this too, but his hand slipped and his head knocked on the armrest roughly. He whimpered at the slight pain this earned him. He hated this feeling. He thought he could do a simple thing like lifting he head up again, but other body parts had been suddenly gifted with minds of tier own. As he tried to concentrate on lifting his hand back up, his arm followed and pushed him from the chair. Ryou slowly decided he wanted to get up and stood shaking.

"You shouldn't get up," the Fiend remarked across the coffee table, not bother to aid the boy.

No sooner had these words been spoken that Ryou felt his knees disappear. He barely felt the pain of his left elbow as it slammed violently into the hard wood table, following the rest of his body to the thinly carpeted floor. A flower vase fell down and crashed nearby.

"I say, Mortal, if you are indeed still one, you're taking the whole mindless much worst than I ever could. I recovered much sooner," the Spirit stated, fingering a small flower he had retrieve from the vase's accident. Ryou just watched him sorrowful, pitying his own state.

"You'll survive," the Fiend beamed.

Ryou glared at him; or at least tried.

"You'll sort out in time enough, you're just slow," the Yami informed him almost brightly, tossing the tiny flower at Ryou's face, where it was successfully caught by the boy's long white hair, "I suggest you just wait this all out. You have nothing to really worry over. It was only water."

Ryou didn't respond. He watched the Dark turn around and exit his vision. He listened distantly to the door opening and closing as the Yami left.

Ryou finally sighed from where he lay on the floor, not willing to get up anything soon. He stared at the ceiling, unknowingly mimicking the Fiend by counting the dots. He decided he was going to avoid water from here on out till his Yami could solve the problem with them both. It was the most he could do for himself now it seemed.



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Damn, I asked for six reviews and got *counts reviews* TWENTY! Awe, sh-*tries to find a word that isn't a curse* Oh, Kami-sama, I'm gonna die. I've never gotten twenty reviews after one update. And here I ask for SIX, six little reviews. If ya'll keep this up, I may reach the 200review marker in no time.

Damn, twenty reviews. I'm not gonna get over this any time soon.

I'm sorry I didn't update anything last week, really. You just can't go on the Internet during thunderstorms, you know. I nearly lost a computer to that because it got overloaded through the phone line even though it was off.

I'm trying to pass school right now. Ah, yes, I have to complete all I have put off. I'm okay though; I have some soothing Yu-Gi-Oh manga scans I can force people to translate. Oh, joy! Oh, joy!

 
THIS WEEKS QUESTION:

Do you know what the Hell I was saying? It's perfectly seventh grade math, I know, and I still may have gotten something wrong [I wonder if anyone obsessed with math will bother to check?]. If I did, let me know. You should see the trig calculations I use out of boredom for no reason whatsoever when drawing anime faces and weapons.

Let me know how boring this was. Did you think it was a waste of time? Who's time did it waste: yours, mine, or both of ours?

Once again, just thought I'd put that there. I have no reason whatsoever to do that to everyone, but still. Maybe I should publish everyone in the cast I haves transferred heights for you and not explain it all? How's that? Better?

[As you all know, this is just a desperate plead for homework. The semester is closing and all the tests were last week. Our teachers stare at us and do nothing while we wait for the final days of school. I need something to occupy myself! I'm going to see if they need a clerk at the music shop down the road, anything with math. I want to be a cashier at McDonald's if it's all that's left, but that isn't safe. McDonalds is in a bad neighborhood. Damn, I'll baby-sit AGAIN like last summer most likely.]