-Yami Bakura & Yami Marik
Ryou polished the ring again. Smiling at his reflection and beamed and tossed it up in the air. It landed swiftly on the bed. Ryou stretch and smiled, "That's enough polishing!"
//Yes that is, it's all slippery...//
It's that voice again, that dark voice. Ever since he brought it home and started to talk to himself, the ring seemed to be replying back. Even thought Ryou was a bit scared at first, he had also found that voice rather amazing. Even thought that it doesn't really comment unless Ryou did something to it like over-polishing it.
"Sorry ring," he chuckled "but you do look rather nice and shiny like this!"
//So you use it as a mirror to comb your hair? Fool//
Ryou pursed his lips together. The ring sure can say nasty things at times. He was glad that he got worse taunting before. Holding the ring in front of him, he laughed, "Sorry,"
//And you're apologizing because of that? You weakling//
Ryou smiled again, at first, the ring had said probably all the curses to him that there ever was, but now, it seemed better because they were no threat to Ryou, he had had practice of staying silent at times like that. He figured that the ring must've gotten tired of trying to make him scared. It's either that or its mouth has gone dry.
"I'm amazed that a ring can actually talk," Ryou said "But I did sometimes believe that objects can-"
//I am not a ring//
"Oh, then what are you? A dreamcatcher? Fan?" Ryou guessed. The ring-object had never said anything when he called it a ring before, why now?
The golden ring-like object didn't answer.
"Hello? Ring? You there?" he poked the ring softly by the side.
//I said I am not a ring//
"Fine, what are you then?" he asked, holding the ring up so the eye in the center was facing him.
//I am...//
Ryou waited.
//I am//
"Am what?"
//I am you//
Ryou blinked a couple of times. "What do you mean by 'I am you'? Aren't you a ring?" he asked, questions suddenly erupted and spilled itself into his senses. "And how come you can talk?"
//II knew you wouldn't understand, such a mere mortal you are...//
"I don't understand," he admitted. Then push through his curiosities. "That's why I want you know. Don't you know?"
//Of course//
Ryou put the ring down and hesitated. It was all so strange that he didn't question the ring before. It all happened too quickly, too complicated, too confusing to him to keep up. For the ring acted like it knew everything all along.
"Who are you?" Ryou used his courage to speak up. He was a bit scared now.
//I told you Ryou, I am you//
Ryou stepped back, suddenly unsure about the ring. He swore that he had heard the ring chuckle darkly. Feeling uncertain about it, he backed off even more.
//Come closer Ryou...//
Ryou felt like feet moving towards the ring. And he was standing in front of it before he even realized it. The ring gently and slowly tilted up, now it was right in front of him. Even thought he wanted to run away, he couldn't. Something forced him to stay, and it wasn't all from that someone else. Part of him wanted to stay as well.
He lifted his hand up impulsively, not knowing why, but he just want to, want to touch the surface of the golden ring. Brushing down the side of the ancient artifact, he felt something soothing him lightly.
//I am you. But I am also known as another//
"Who?" Ryou questioned.
//Some knows me as a leader for a dark source, but that was long ago...too long. But you can call me Yami, Yami Bakura//
"Yami" Ryou repeat. He felt the control over his feet again, but he didn't want to move. He held the side of the ring and smiled, "Hello Yami, it's nice to meet you."
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Malik was almost sure that he's cursed. The rod was a foot away from him, lying still on the floor. He had tried to pick it up, but when he did, his hands felt cold and an eerie feeling crept to him. And when he looked into the mirror, he could tell that the reflection wasn't his. Although it looked a lot like him, he knew.
Maybe it was a tradition in his family to have these six-sense things. Isis has one, as far as he knew. Even thought she didn't say anything, not that she would've keep it a secret from anyone, he could tell that sometimes she knew things before they became reality. And it wasn't by coincidence either.
Sitting up, he decided to try again. Maybe it'll be better this time. He walked to it and knelt down, his hand trailed to it and finally gripped on the handle. Feeling the coolness of it. It felt relaxing.
//Was the first time too hard? //
Malik jumped up. The low but deadly voice sent a shiver down his spine. He held the rod closer to him.
//There's always second time//
Malik shook his head to make sure that he actually heard the voice. It didn't sound friendly, not at all, yet he could almost catch a pinch of strange amusement and sympathy mixed in it.
//However, you still don't seem to be in control yet//
His voice was now full of amusement. Malik didn't feel comfortable at all. Whoever said that is sure in control now, over him.
//No, you don't...//
Malik gulped and asked back "Who are you? Where are you?"
//I am here, you can see me if you try...//
Malik turned around. His light blondish hair fell back when he stopped, "Where?" he asked. Then he felt static pinches coming from the rod. Looking at it unsurely with his indigo eyes, he gave a small gasp before dropping the rod and backed off. But the rod never touched the ground. It stayed in the air.
"W-what are you?" he choke the words out. Then shuddered when it came closer, and stopped when it's close enough for him the reach over and grab the handle, but he dared not. The rod was shimmering, making it shinier than it looked before.
//Hmm...? What was that? Oh yes, what am I? Can't you see? //
The icy voice gave enough answer to him already, but he swallowed managed to reply, "A-a rod?" he gasped out unsurely. What was I thinking? He thought.
//To one's vision on the outside, yes. But perhaps if you knew and tried...//
That left Malik puzzled and confused. He wanted to know more than he knows right now. And wasn't sure if he should ask.
//Yami//
Yami? Malik thought, what is that? Some kind of rod? Or was that its name? More suggestions popped within his head. He almost swore that the rod had smirked. Somehow, he just knew it did.
//Yami Marik//
Malik was pretty sure that the rod...Yami Marik it called itself, was chuckling. He could hear the wicked laughter flowing in his head. He found it very surprising that he wasn't afraid of it as he was to those who beat him.
Even thought the laughter was wicked, he felt a bit of...friendliness? No, that can't be, his thoughts argued, the laughter's as evil as hell, no way any pureness could crawl into it.
The chuckling stopped.
There was no sound. The rod was still in the air. Malik reached over to touch the handle with the tip of his fingers. It felt cold, clean, smooth, untouched and fresh. All prepared to fall into his hands.
Silently, he moved his hand closer. Close enough to grip on the handle once again. Instead of the usual coldness, it seemed to be inviting him in. He gripped on the rod with his other hand.
//There we go, you're all settled...//
"Settled?" Malik wondered. The icy cold and deadly tone melted from the voice. The golden eye was smiling. At least, to him, it was. "Yami..." he repeated under his breath "Yami Marik..."
a/n: Y.Bakura & Ryou + Y.Malik & Marik. Okay, Ryou's story isn't that clear, but I tried it on Marik. Doesn't anyone know more about Marik/Malik?
And one more thing (The thing I've forgotten in the last few chapters)
The disclaimer, Yu-Gi-Oh! Does NOT belong to me. (Isn't it obvious?) Nor does the characters.