Reina sighed heavily and looked at the remnants of her deck. A 'Mystical Elf' and 'The Book of Secret Arts'. All that was left because the boys thought she shouldn't duel because she was a girl. *Am I 5 or 15?!* Reina thought disgustedly, *I'll build a new deck and show them!...*
'Excuse me? I think this is yours.' A soft polite voice said
Reina whirled around and saw the new boy, Bakura? Instinctively she clutched her cards tighter and narrowed her eyes, 'What do YOU want?'
'Your cards,' he said hurriedly, 'I found one. I'm sorry about what they did to you. I-I think you duel well.'
Reina looked him over. He was the new student some of the boys were always picking on. It was that necklace that was the problem. And those brown eyes, and his white hair, and… well, he was different. Reina was shocked that she suddenly had the urge to run her fingers through his hair. Instead she smiled and took the card, 'Thank you… Bakura.'
'It's Ryou.' he blushed and cleared his throat nervously. Suddenly Tea, Yugi, and Joey ran up. Ryou saw Yugi and a strange look passed over his face as he grabbed his necklace. The sharp edge dug into his thumb and a drop of blood hit the ground. Only Reina noticed.
'Oh God! Reina what happened?' Yugi asked looking at the strewn bits of cards scattered across the playground. Reina explained her fight with the boys who had laughed at her challenge to a duel. They'd taken her cards.
'I'll murder 'em,' Joey said massaging his fist, 'How dare they-'
Reina put a hand on his shoulder, 'Don't kill yourself over it, I'll 'murder 'em' myself.'
'So you don't think I can do it?!' Joey said, his fragile pride hurt. Tea smacked him unagressively on the side of the head.
'No, no baka. She just wants to do it herself. So, Reiny, who's your friend?' Tea asked looking over at Bakura.
'Oh this is Ryou-' Reina said catching his hand to pull him over to the group. Ryou flinched and she noticed how cold he was. Reina looked and saw that his eyes were fixed on Yugi. And his necklace.
Ryou smirked and nodded at them in greeting, 'Nice to know that not all the lesser mortals flock together.' What had happened to the quiet awkward boy from moments before? He turned and said loud enough for the group to here, 'Reina would you like to come over today? I'd like to speak to you.'
'Uh, sure, if that's alright with everyone.' Reina looked at her friends who all murmured assent while looking positively pissed. Ryou walked to the fence to wait while she said goodbye. Tea said nothing and Joey just glared. Reina began to walk away when Yugi caught her arm. He seemed taller suddenly and his voice was different, 'Be careful Reina. Something's not right.'
'Chill scitzo. I can handle myself.' Reina answered more scornful than she had intended. 'Sorry,' she muttered hugging him quickly and walking to catch up with Ryou who had shoved his hands in his pockets and begun walking.
*
While all this was happening Ryou was arguing with his yami. 'You want her,' Yami hissed, 'Ever since you got here you've watched her.'
'No I haven't!' Ryou shouted in his head, 'You had no right to ask her!'
Yami shrugged and walked backwards beside Ryou, 'She's pretty you know. Makes me wish I could touch again-'
'I won't do that for you,' Ryou said firmly, 'I don't want her like that, she just looks like she'd understand…'
'Ha! Understand?! She already knows we're different aibou. Just remember I know your mind. I happen to spend a lot of time there.'
*
They walked up to a silent house. Ryou pushed his fingers irritably through his hair. Reina stood behind him truly nervous now. Ryou had kept his back to her the entire walk. Finally he opened the door and threw the jacket from his uniform into a corner. 'You don't know how much I hate that thing.' He said finally turning to her.
'I have a pretty good idea.' Reina said gesturing to the girls uniform she was wearing. It was pink.
'You can take it off if you want.' Ryou said before his eyes widened comically and he turned quickly towards a hallway. Reina slipped off her jacket and dropped her backpack. *I'm following a boy with mood swings and a black tank top…no don't go there…and I'm in an empty house!!* Reina jumped up and followed him down the narrow hallway.
'So, where're your parents?'
Ryou answered but kept walking, 'Mum's dead, dad's away.'
'I'm sorry.'
'It's okay, you didn't know.'
They stopped at a door and Reina shivered. All down the hallway a strange tingling had touched her skin whenever she got too close to the walls. When she'd stopped it had passed right through her. Ryou heard her shiver and turned angrily to the air beside her.
'Dammit Yami! I said leave her alone!'
An annoyed breeze ruffled her hair and she thought she saw something stick it's tongue out at Ryou before disappearing entirely.
Ryou pushed the door open and Reina grabbed his hand and pulled him back, 'I just met you a half hour ago. First I was afraid you were like every other boy just asking me over to your house and now I'm afraid that you're not! What the HELL is going on!?'
Ryou studied her face, she was terrified. 'He was right.' Ryou said softly and turned away but Reina caught him again, this time by his shirt, 'Tell me now!'
'Reina I will explain. I need to explain in case I… I just need to speak to someone before- look, I suppose it was right of him to ask you and I need to tell someone before he catches on. I choose to tell you.'
Reina looked into his eyes and nodded even though a hundred questions were pushing at her mind. They entered a room filled with stones and glass cases. Reina walked over to a specific case that held a necklace similar to Ryou's except it had three outstretched hands rather than three feathers.
'Oh Ra…' she breathed against the glass.
'Why did you say that?' Ryou asked right next to her ear. Reina jumped and blushed and Ryou put a comforting hand on her arm.
'It's an obsession I've had since I was little. I know a lot about ancient Egypt, actually, it's almost like I lived a past life there.' She turned and pointed at his chest, 'For example, I know that you wear a fake millennium item.'
'Well, you're about to learn a lot more than that.' Ryou said taking it out of it's case and sitting on the floor. Reina sat across from him and looked warily about the room. It would take more than a pretty pair of brown eyes to make her forget the hallway. Ryou's eyes glittered mysteriously in the dimly lit room, finally he spoke, 'Don't touch the necklace,' he had seen her hand inching towards it. 'I asked you to come here to hear my story because I need someone to understand why certain things will happen. Can you promise to believe me?'
'Yes,' Reina whispered.
'When I was four my mum died. Dad went off to Egypt to work for a few years and when he came back I was ten years old and he had a gift for me. The millennium ring that I wear now. He had no idea what he unleashed on the world when he gave it to me. You call it mythology but I call it reality. My item is inhabited by a deranged tomb robber bent on collecting the other six items. When I put this on five years ago I gave him a body and he gave me insanity. We found the lost seventh item and you see it before you. At first I didn't realise what was happening but the first time he forced me to my spirit room he hurt me. For five years I've had little control except one thing.'
Ryou held out his arm and along with many little scars she saw bandages around his left upper arm. She gasped. Ryou smiled, 'I rather like the pain. It scares the shyt out of him 'cause he's afraid I'll kill myself and leave him without a body. Don't be afraid though. I see your shaking but I won't hurt you. I brought you here for a reason. Tonight I'm going to finish what I started. I thought you'd understand because I can't go without explaining to someone first- shyt he knows.' His voice was strained as he gasped out, 'now, I'd advise you to leave.'
Reina watched horrified as she noticed for the first time the knife on the floor by his hand. Ryou's hand seemed to reach towards her of it's own accord but he stopped and seemed to be struggling with himself. As he picked up the knife there was a determined look in his eye and Reina realised that he really meant to finish what he started.
Ryou pointed the knife at his chest and closed his eyes, 'Thank you Reina.'
All at once Reina jumped on him smacking the knife out of his hand and knocking him backwards. He cursed loudly and then again as they both noticed the gash in her hand and she rolled over in pain. Reina's fingers found cold metal and she closed her hand around it.
'Reina N-argh!' She half opened her eyes and saw Ryou doubled over as if in pain. When he lifted his head he was smiling. Ryou threw his head back and laughed at her sudden fear and Reina realised it wasn't Ryou.
'What a brave little girl trying to save her friend. Not so brave anymore are we?'
Reina watched him walk over to her as she lay helpless on the floor, blood seeping into the rug around her. He knelt beside her and tried to take the millennium item from her hand. Reina tried to squirm away and he caught both her bloody hands pinning her to the floor.
'What are you going to do to me?' Reina asked as her voice shook.
'That's a very good question little Reina,' he said using one hand to hold hers and running a finger down her cheek, 'But there's a v good reason Ryou wanted to keep me away from you.' He paused and looked at the blood on his hands and smiled, 'A very good reason.'
'What've you done to Ryou?' Reina hissed through clenched teeth. *I will not scream, I will not scream, I will not…*
Bakura pushed the hair out of her eyes and continued to study her face. There was a hungry look in his eyes that she was sure she'd never seen in Ryou. Or had she?
'Oh he's fine. The stupid bastard let himself get too weak. Besides,' Bakura grinned psychotically at her, 'I wanted to have some fun.'
'Bakura,' Reina said, 'That is your name. Go back to whatever Hell you came from.'
Bakura laughed at her pitiful attempt, licked her blood off his fingers and put his hand on her throat. 'Give me the item in your hand and this can end now.' He tightened his grip.
'Give me back Ryou.' She choked.
'Are you still on about him? I can't do that. Now give me the Millennium Item!'
Reina didn't answer, she couldn't. Her throat was slowly closing up. Abruptly Bakura let go and pressed his mouth to hers. This unexpected turn of events momentarily left her too stunned to react.
Reina tasted blood and hit him hard with the millennium item in her hand. Bakura fell back a few feet and Reina got to her knees.
'You'd better get your priorities in order.' She rasped.
Bakura didn't answer but Ryou's eyes looked back and she heard his voice, 'Reina, please…' There was blood on his face from where she'd hit him and a shallow cut on his arm from when she'd taken the knife.
Reina stumbled over and caught his head before he fell, 'Ryou!'
'I'm sorry Reina. I tried…'
'It's okay Ryou, he can't kill you. And whatever it is he wants I won't let him have it!'
Ryou grabbed her shoulder in an almost painful grip. "No! You can't keep it! Just let him have it. It will-'
Suddenly his eyes turned demonic and Reina found she couldn't move. Ryou fought this time, his face twisted in pain and the blood dripping a little faster from his wounds.
Just as Reina was inching away Bakura won. Reina pointed the item at him and a voice that wasn't hers screamed words she didn't understand.
'Excuse me? I think this is yours.' A soft polite voice said
Reina whirled around and saw the new boy, Bakura? Instinctively she clutched her cards tighter and narrowed her eyes, 'What do YOU want?'
'Your cards,' he said hurriedly, 'I found one. I'm sorry about what they did to you. I-I think you duel well.'
Reina looked him over. He was the new student some of the boys were always picking on. It was that necklace that was the problem. And those brown eyes, and his white hair, and… well, he was different. Reina was shocked that she suddenly had the urge to run her fingers through his hair. Instead she smiled and took the card, 'Thank you… Bakura.'
'It's Ryou.' he blushed and cleared his throat nervously. Suddenly Tea, Yugi, and Joey ran up. Ryou saw Yugi and a strange look passed over his face as he grabbed his necklace. The sharp edge dug into his thumb and a drop of blood hit the ground. Only Reina noticed.
'Oh God! Reina what happened?' Yugi asked looking at the strewn bits of cards scattered across the playground. Reina explained her fight with the boys who had laughed at her challenge to a duel. They'd taken her cards.
'I'll murder 'em,' Joey said massaging his fist, 'How dare they-'
Reina put a hand on his shoulder, 'Don't kill yourself over it, I'll 'murder 'em' myself.'
'So you don't think I can do it?!' Joey said, his fragile pride hurt. Tea smacked him unagressively on the side of the head.
'No, no baka. She just wants to do it herself. So, Reiny, who's your friend?' Tea asked looking over at Bakura.
'Oh this is Ryou-' Reina said catching his hand to pull him over to the group. Ryou flinched and she noticed how cold he was. Reina looked and saw that his eyes were fixed on Yugi. And his necklace.
Ryou smirked and nodded at them in greeting, 'Nice to know that not all the lesser mortals flock together.' What had happened to the quiet awkward boy from moments before? He turned and said loud enough for the group to here, 'Reina would you like to come over today? I'd like to speak to you.'
'Uh, sure, if that's alright with everyone.' Reina looked at her friends who all murmured assent while looking positively pissed. Ryou walked to the fence to wait while she said goodbye. Tea said nothing and Joey just glared. Reina began to walk away when Yugi caught her arm. He seemed taller suddenly and his voice was different, 'Be careful Reina. Something's not right.'
'Chill scitzo. I can handle myself.' Reina answered more scornful than she had intended. 'Sorry,' she muttered hugging him quickly and walking to catch up with Ryou who had shoved his hands in his pockets and begun walking.
*
While all this was happening Ryou was arguing with his yami. 'You want her,' Yami hissed, 'Ever since you got here you've watched her.'
'No I haven't!' Ryou shouted in his head, 'You had no right to ask her!'
Yami shrugged and walked backwards beside Ryou, 'She's pretty you know. Makes me wish I could touch again-'
'I won't do that for you,' Ryou said firmly, 'I don't want her like that, she just looks like she'd understand…'
'Ha! Understand?! She already knows we're different aibou. Just remember I know your mind. I happen to spend a lot of time there.'
*
They walked up to a silent house. Ryou pushed his fingers irritably through his hair. Reina stood behind him truly nervous now. Ryou had kept his back to her the entire walk. Finally he opened the door and threw the jacket from his uniform into a corner. 'You don't know how much I hate that thing.' He said finally turning to her.
'I have a pretty good idea.' Reina said gesturing to the girls uniform she was wearing. It was pink.
'You can take it off if you want.' Ryou said before his eyes widened comically and he turned quickly towards a hallway. Reina slipped off her jacket and dropped her backpack. *I'm following a boy with mood swings and a black tank top…no don't go there…and I'm in an empty house!!* Reina jumped up and followed him down the narrow hallway.
'So, where're your parents?'
Ryou answered but kept walking, 'Mum's dead, dad's away.'
'I'm sorry.'
'It's okay, you didn't know.'
They stopped at a door and Reina shivered. All down the hallway a strange tingling had touched her skin whenever she got too close to the walls. When she'd stopped it had passed right through her. Ryou heard her shiver and turned angrily to the air beside her.
'Dammit Yami! I said leave her alone!'
An annoyed breeze ruffled her hair and she thought she saw something stick it's tongue out at Ryou before disappearing entirely.
Ryou pushed the door open and Reina grabbed his hand and pulled him back, 'I just met you a half hour ago. First I was afraid you were like every other boy just asking me over to your house and now I'm afraid that you're not! What the HELL is going on!?'
Ryou studied her face, she was terrified. 'He was right.' Ryou said softly and turned away but Reina caught him again, this time by his shirt, 'Tell me now!'
'Reina I will explain. I need to explain in case I… I just need to speak to someone before- look, I suppose it was right of him to ask you and I need to tell someone before he catches on. I choose to tell you.'
Reina looked into his eyes and nodded even though a hundred questions were pushing at her mind. They entered a room filled with stones and glass cases. Reina walked over to a specific case that held a necklace similar to Ryou's except it had three outstretched hands rather than three feathers.
'Oh Ra…' she breathed against the glass.
'Why did you say that?' Ryou asked right next to her ear. Reina jumped and blushed and Ryou put a comforting hand on her arm.
'It's an obsession I've had since I was little. I know a lot about ancient Egypt, actually, it's almost like I lived a past life there.' She turned and pointed at his chest, 'For example, I know that you wear a fake millennium item.'
'Well, you're about to learn a lot more than that.' Ryou said taking it out of it's case and sitting on the floor. Reina sat across from him and looked warily about the room. It would take more than a pretty pair of brown eyes to make her forget the hallway. Ryou's eyes glittered mysteriously in the dimly lit room, finally he spoke, 'Don't touch the necklace,' he had seen her hand inching towards it. 'I asked you to come here to hear my story because I need someone to understand why certain things will happen. Can you promise to believe me?'
'Yes,' Reina whispered.
'When I was four my mum died. Dad went off to Egypt to work for a few years and when he came back I was ten years old and he had a gift for me. The millennium ring that I wear now. He had no idea what he unleashed on the world when he gave it to me. You call it mythology but I call it reality. My item is inhabited by a deranged tomb robber bent on collecting the other six items. When I put this on five years ago I gave him a body and he gave me insanity. We found the lost seventh item and you see it before you. At first I didn't realise what was happening but the first time he forced me to my spirit room he hurt me. For five years I've had little control except one thing.'
Ryou held out his arm and along with many little scars she saw bandages around his left upper arm. She gasped. Ryou smiled, 'I rather like the pain. It scares the shyt out of him 'cause he's afraid I'll kill myself and leave him without a body. Don't be afraid though. I see your shaking but I won't hurt you. I brought you here for a reason. Tonight I'm going to finish what I started. I thought you'd understand because I can't go without explaining to someone first- shyt he knows.' His voice was strained as he gasped out, 'now, I'd advise you to leave.'
Reina watched horrified as she noticed for the first time the knife on the floor by his hand. Ryou's hand seemed to reach towards her of it's own accord but he stopped and seemed to be struggling with himself. As he picked up the knife there was a determined look in his eye and Reina realised that he really meant to finish what he started.
Ryou pointed the knife at his chest and closed his eyes, 'Thank you Reina.'
All at once Reina jumped on him smacking the knife out of his hand and knocking him backwards. He cursed loudly and then again as they both noticed the gash in her hand and she rolled over in pain. Reina's fingers found cold metal and she closed her hand around it.
'Reina N-argh!' She half opened her eyes and saw Ryou doubled over as if in pain. When he lifted his head he was smiling. Ryou threw his head back and laughed at her sudden fear and Reina realised it wasn't Ryou.
'What a brave little girl trying to save her friend. Not so brave anymore are we?'
Reina watched him walk over to her as she lay helpless on the floor, blood seeping into the rug around her. He knelt beside her and tried to take the millennium item from her hand. Reina tried to squirm away and he caught both her bloody hands pinning her to the floor.
'What are you going to do to me?' Reina asked as her voice shook.
'That's a very good question little Reina,' he said using one hand to hold hers and running a finger down her cheek, 'But there's a v good reason Ryou wanted to keep me away from you.' He paused and looked at the blood on his hands and smiled, 'A very good reason.'
'What've you done to Ryou?' Reina hissed through clenched teeth. *I will not scream, I will not scream, I will not…*
Bakura pushed the hair out of her eyes and continued to study her face. There was a hungry look in his eyes that she was sure she'd never seen in Ryou. Or had she?
'Oh he's fine. The stupid bastard let himself get too weak. Besides,' Bakura grinned psychotically at her, 'I wanted to have some fun.'
'Bakura,' Reina said, 'That is your name. Go back to whatever Hell you came from.'
Bakura laughed at her pitiful attempt, licked her blood off his fingers and put his hand on her throat. 'Give me the item in your hand and this can end now.' He tightened his grip.
'Give me back Ryou.' She choked.
'Are you still on about him? I can't do that. Now give me the Millennium Item!'
Reina didn't answer, she couldn't. Her throat was slowly closing up. Abruptly Bakura let go and pressed his mouth to hers. This unexpected turn of events momentarily left her too stunned to react.
Reina tasted blood and hit him hard with the millennium item in her hand. Bakura fell back a few feet and Reina got to her knees.
'You'd better get your priorities in order.' She rasped.
Bakura didn't answer but Ryou's eyes looked back and she heard his voice, 'Reina, please…' There was blood on his face from where she'd hit him and a shallow cut on his arm from when she'd taken the knife.
Reina stumbled over and caught his head before he fell, 'Ryou!'
'I'm sorry Reina. I tried…'
'It's okay Ryou, he can't kill you. And whatever it is he wants I won't let him have it!'
Ryou grabbed her shoulder in an almost painful grip. "No! You can't keep it! Just let him have it. It will-'
Suddenly his eyes turned demonic and Reina found she couldn't move. Ryou fought this time, his face twisted in pain and the blood dripping a little faster from his wounds.
Just as Reina was inching away Bakura won. Reina pointed the item at him and a voice that wasn't hers screamed words she didn't understand.