Why is that baka, Yami, staring at the ground? Yami Bakura wondered, impatiently. We have a slight problem at the moment, and he's taking no notice!
" Yami..." Bakura said, weakly. Sweat trickled down his face and into his neck. He looked like he was going to be sick again. " Yami...I ..I don't...."
The thief's eyes widened and he caught his hikari as the boy dipped forward. Bakura face fell into his Yami's shoulder.
" Aibou!" the tombrobber shook the boy. " Bakura..."
He had totally lost conciousness. His breathing was rapid and shallow.
' I've got to do something, this place is killing him!' Yami Bakura thought.
Penta laughed cruelly. " That's right little hikari, die. Die like I did. Make your Yami's heart burn with sorrow and despair!"
Yami Bakura smirked grimly. He laid Bakura on the floor, and vanished. His hikari's body seemed to change , and then it was pretty clear he wasn't the hikari anymore. The sennen spirit got back to his feet.
" Sorry to disappoint you." he sneered at Penta. " But this place cannot harm him in the soul room."
Meanwhile, Yami decided to stake everything on his premonition. It was the only way to escape alive now. The only way to break through the magic keeping them there. Yugi was sitting on he ground now, looking very pale.
"Yugi," he said. " I'm going to put you in the soul room. It'll be safer for you there."
Yugi looked at his Yami questioningly. " But what about -?"
" I'll be fine, aibou." Yami's confident smile seemed to reassure the smaller one, and he agreed. To Kaiba, " Get the Sennen Rod."
" Nani?!" said the two brothers in unison. Kaiba glared at Yami like he was crazy. " No! You want to doom me to insanity?! I know what'll happen if I touch that!"
" You think you know. But I don't believe it will drive you insane, because you were it's previous owner." Yami explained.
Mokuba stared up at his brother in awe. Kaiba hesitated as he realized Yami had a point. He remembered seeing himself holding the Rod in a vision that Isis has shown him. He had been able to wield it then.
He looked at the gleaming object on the floor with distrust. If this backfired, it could be disasterous. If he went insane who would run his company? Then he mentally gasped as his worst fear hit him. Who would take care of Mokuba?
He glanced down at his brothers trusting face. It still held traces of innocence that Kaiba had once had himself when he was younger and their family was still alive and together.
" Ni sama - what should we do?" Mokuba asked him.
He glanced across the room to see that Bakura was gone. He must also be in his soul
room. Yami Bakura had the ring in his hand, and was chanting something, obviously trying to keep Penta's magical energies at bay. The Ring was glowing now.
Penta laughed at the thief's meager attempt. Didn't the fool know it was no use? The Thief Bakura never could best him at magic, let alone defeat his spells.
" He's keeping him in check, Kaiba. He won't be able to much longer though." Yami said softly. " Penta isn't a Sennen item holder, but he doesn't have to be. Filthy thief though he is, he's a very competent magician."
Kaiba watched the sweat trickle down Yami Bakura's face, who kept chanting something desperately in Egyptian. But it was obvious he was losing ground. The purple aura surrounding Penta grew bigger and blew the Yami back a few paces.
~ Pharoah, tell you're friend to hurry up!~ Yami heard the tomb robber's annoyed voice in his head.
" You have to decide now." he said to Kaiba.
Kaiba braced himself for whatever he was in for , and took his first few steps towards the Rod, heart pounding.
~ There's a chance the item might destroy me. But Mokuba will die anyway if we don't defeat this cursed monster, whoever he is.~ Kaiba thought heavily, as he knelt down.
His hand grasped the cold metal of the Sennen Rod. A bead of sweat appeared on his forhead. Seconds passed. Nothing happened. He smirked.
" That was easy." he said over his shoulder. " Now just tell me how to work this da - AAHHHH!"
The Rod began to glow, and the golden energy enveloped him. Memories seemed to be flooding through his mind, memories that he didn't know he had.
He remembered holding the Sennen Rod high above his head proudly. He laughed confidently. " As High Priest, no one can match me."
Kaiba's eyes widened as he got over the shock of the memory. He remembered! He knew how to wield the Rod!
Yami Bakura collapsed to the ground, gasping, drenched in sweat and twitching. Penta loomed triumphantly over his opponent. He placed his hand over foe's forhead, prepaing to kill him.
He uttered one final word." Die...."
The white haired Egyptian's eyes widened aganst his will. Then , " I don't think so scum!"
Before Yami Bakura had times to take it in, Penta was blasted off of his feet, caught off guard by this new, unexpected attack.
" AHHHHHHHHHH!" the yellow eyed thief screamed.
Kaiba continued focusing all of his thoughts into the Rod. Penta seemed to be sucked into an invisible void as the Shadow Realm consumed him.
His dying howls filled their heads as he vanished. Malik awoke with a start. His violet eyes darted around suspiciously as the scene faded back into Bakura's living room.
His head jerked, and he sat up. He looked at Yami Bakura who was apparently feeling better, because he was standing. He was glaring at Kaiba and shouting, " WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, YOU IDIOT?! I WAITED FOREVER!"
Kaiba politely roared back , " SHUT UP YOU BAKA, I SAVED YOUR SORRY -"
Err...you get the gist of it. Mokuba merely grinned up at his brother, while Yami and Yugi stood by sweatdropping.
Then Malik noticed something was missing.
" Where's my Rod?!" he demanded in panic.
Kaiba shoved it at Malik. " Take it, I won't miss it. It's more trouble than it's worth."
" What happened? Where's Bakura's hikari? Why are these two here?" the blonde Egyptian inquired Yami Bakura, gesturing at the two brothers.
Yugi sighed. " Ano...who wants to explain?"
Everyone face faulted. It was Yami Bakura who explained everything to Malik , with Yami filling in the gaps every now and then.
" Nani?!" Malik groaned in disbelief. " I was under a spell this whole time, and I'll always have to remember I was saved by HIM?"
Again he cast Kaiba a look.
A vein went in Kaiba's head and he nodded towards the Sennen thief. " You're as ungrateful as he is!"
Yami Bakura merely turned a finger in his ear pretending not to listen.
Kaiba took Yami aside. " How did Other Bakura know about your plan?"
" Like me, he's a spirit." Yami explained. " I could speak to him in his mind."
" And that arrogant guy agreed?" Kaiba said dubiously.
" Well he was very concerned about his other half." Yami said, smiling. " Whether he shows it or not."
" I thought he hated Bakura." Kaiba said confused.
" Maybe he did." Yami said seriously. " Or convinced himself he did. But something Bakura has done seems to have changed him. I don't know what happened in the time they spent together while Bakura was sick."
Yami Bakura had taken his gentler counterpart out of his soul room. He was trying to carrying his hikari up the stairs without being noticed.
Unfortunately Yugi did notice, and Yami Bakura caught him grinning.
" What?!" he snapped irritably.
" It's just...whatever I thought of you as a person. You're a pretty decent Yami." Yugi said.
Yami Bakura laughed sarcastically. " Yeah right, after all I put him through these past years, after the things I've done."
" I'm not saying you were then." Yugi said sweetly. " Just that you are now."
Yami Bakura shuddered at what the pharoah's hikari was suggesting. " Mind your own buisness, you don't know what I'm like."
"His fur looked ruffled, what did you say to him,aibou?" Yami asked, as Yami Bakura disappeared up the stairs with his light. Yugi simply giggled in reply.
Kaiba interrupted this moment as he approached Yami.
" Yes?" Yami asked, slightly uncomfortable with the gleam in Kaiba's eyes.
Kaiba put on a frighteningly pleasant grin. Almost like one of Mokubas. " I just wanted to say, that if I wake up tommorow morning with a voice in my head telling me that it's my 'Yami' - " And here the fake grin vanished. " - I shall kill you."
Yugi's jaw dropped and Yami sweatdropped.
"See you in the next tournament. Come, Mokuba."
" Hey!" Mokuba said suddenly, remembering. " We ordered allot of pizza before we came here, we could share!"
" We ARE NOT sharing our food with those two ungrateful EGOMANIACS!!!" Kaiba shouted.
" I don't want anymore from you as it is!" Malik snapped.
"But we're not egomaniacs!" protested Yami and Yugi.
" And I'm starving." Yugi added
" So!" Kaiba retorted. " Why should I feed you?"
Mokuba did his most pathetic puppy eyes. " Pleeeeeeeassssse! I lovvvvvve you Ni sama!"
"Ahh! Fine! But two boxes aren't going to feed everyone. And I'm only ordering more, because the others are probably cold right now!"
Mokuba threw his arms around Kaiba's waist. "Yay! Pizza Party!"
* * *
Yami Bakura gently placed his hikari on the bed. He sat on the end , watching the rise and fall of Bakura's breathing for a time.
~ He's sleeping allot more peacefully now.~ Yami Bakura thought, smiling a little.
He brushed Bakura's white bangs away from his forhead, and Bakura stirred slightly. The boy's eyes slowly opened. He smiled.
" Yami?"
" Welcome back, hikari."
Bakura sat up quickly. His chocolate eyes scanned his room." Where's Penta?! Are the others okay?!"
" Penta will not bother us ever again. He's gone." Yami Bakura reassured him softly. " And everyone is okay."
Yami Bakura didn't sound entirely thrilled about that last part. His hikari giggled at this. Though his aibou would undoubtedly find it hillarious , he decided to save the story of the indignity of being saved by Seto Kaiba for later.
Bakura's stomach growled. He looked slightly embarrassed. " Guess I'm hungry."
Yami Bakura smirked. " I told you to eat, earlier didn't I? You should listen to me."
He got up and walked towards the door. He stopped. " You have visitors downstairs that want to feed us for some reason. I heard their big mouths downstairs. I hope they'll finally leave after this. I'm not really thrilled that it comes from Kaiba, but since you're hungry -"
" Kaiba's here?!"
" Unfortunately he decided to involve himself." Yami Bakura answered sulkily.
Bakura sat there, a little uncomfortable. It was finally over but....what now? Would things go back to the way they were? Or did he and the tombrobber finally reach some form of understanding? He wanted to say something. Thank Yami Bakura for protecting him from Penta, but nothing seemed to want to come out.
When he looked up , his Yami was still by the door.
" What is it Yami?" Bakura asked, curiously. He wished his Yami would turn and face him.
There was a long pause in which Yami Bakura struggled mentally. Then softly , almost inaudible, " You still want a brother?"
He got a more enthusiastic response than he bargained for, as Bakura launched himself at his Yami, and the thief found himself in a very tight hug.
Unable to speak, Bakura thought it a very appropriate response. " I'm glad we both made it out of this together and okay, Yami."
A slow smile found his Yami's lips. ~ Not as glad as I am.~
" We should go downstairs now, they'll want to see you."
" Hai!" said Bakura.
He reached the stairs and saw Yami and Yugi discussing whether or not Yami should be able to take control part of the time so that he could eat as well, the whole spirit thing being what it was, and Kaiba shouting at a very smug looking Malik as Mokuba contently ate his pizza.
Malik seemed to have figured that the best way to show his displeasure at being rescued by Kaiba, was to eat as much pizza before Kaiba could get to it.
" ...and this food is good?" Yami asked Yugi.
" Not as good as burgers...but.."
" ..paid for by my very own hard earned money and you...you.....!" Kaiba was shouting.
" Oh shut up, you're rich. You can have all the pizza in the world." Malik interrupted, rollling his eyes.
Does anyone want some more?" Mokuba was asking.
The door opened and Jounouchi poked his head in. " I heard Bakura was sick, and Yugi was here and I wanted to - oh! Pizza! Great!"
Jounouchi bounded in and sat down.
" OH NO!" Kaiba groaned.
" What?! HE bought it?" Jounouchi gave Kaiba the deepest look of loathing. " Never mind. I'm not eating a bite."
"When will you people ever get out of my house?!!!!" Yami Bakura wailed.
Bakura felt his shoulders shaking. He began to laugh as he hadn't laughed in months.
He could never be a normal sixteen year old. But he had good friends, and his Yami finally accepted him. He felt like now he could come to terms with it. Finally, at last, things were going to be okay.
(answers to your reviews are on the next page.)
" Yami..." Bakura said, weakly. Sweat trickled down his face and into his neck. He looked like he was going to be sick again. " Yami...I ..I don't...."
The thief's eyes widened and he caught his hikari as the boy dipped forward. Bakura face fell into his Yami's shoulder.
" Aibou!" the tombrobber shook the boy. " Bakura..."
He had totally lost conciousness. His breathing was rapid and shallow.
' I've got to do something, this place is killing him!' Yami Bakura thought.
Penta laughed cruelly. " That's right little hikari, die. Die like I did. Make your Yami's heart burn with sorrow and despair!"
Yami Bakura smirked grimly. He laid Bakura on the floor, and vanished. His hikari's body seemed to change , and then it was pretty clear he wasn't the hikari anymore. The sennen spirit got back to his feet.
" Sorry to disappoint you." he sneered at Penta. " But this place cannot harm him in the soul room."
Meanwhile, Yami decided to stake everything on his premonition. It was the only way to escape alive now. The only way to break through the magic keeping them there. Yugi was sitting on he ground now, looking very pale.
"Yugi," he said. " I'm going to put you in the soul room. It'll be safer for you there."
Yugi looked at his Yami questioningly. " But what about -?"
" I'll be fine, aibou." Yami's confident smile seemed to reassure the smaller one, and he agreed. To Kaiba, " Get the Sennen Rod."
" Nani?!" said the two brothers in unison. Kaiba glared at Yami like he was crazy. " No! You want to doom me to insanity?! I know what'll happen if I touch that!"
" You think you know. But I don't believe it will drive you insane, because you were it's previous owner." Yami explained.
Mokuba stared up at his brother in awe. Kaiba hesitated as he realized Yami had a point. He remembered seeing himself holding the Rod in a vision that Isis has shown him. He had been able to wield it then.
He looked at the gleaming object on the floor with distrust. If this backfired, it could be disasterous. If he went insane who would run his company? Then he mentally gasped as his worst fear hit him. Who would take care of Mokuba?
He glanced down at his brothers trusting face. It still held traces of innocence that Kaiba had once had himself when he was younger and their family was still alive and together.
" Ni sama - what should we do?" Mokuba asked him.
He glanced across the room to see that Bakura was gone. He must also be in his soul
room. Yami Bakura had the ring in his hand, and was chanting something, obviously trying to keep Penta's magical energies at bay. The Ring was glowing now.
Penta laughed at the thief's meager attempt. Didn't the fool know it was no use? The Thief Bakura never could best him at magic, let alone defeat his spells.
" He's keeping him in check, Kaiba. He won't be able to much longer though." Yami said softly. " Penta isn't a Sennen item holder, but he doesn't have to be. Filthy thief though he is, he's a very competent magician."
Kaiba watched the sweat trickle down Yami Bakura's face, who kept chanting something desperately in Egyptian. But it was obvious he was losing ground. The purple aura surrounding Penta grew bigger and blew the Yami back a few paces.
~ Pharoah, tell you're friend to hurry up!~ Yami heard the tomb robber's annoyed voice in his head.
" You have to decide now." he said to Kaiba.
Kaiba braced himself for whatever he was in for , and took his first few steps towards the Rod, heart pounding.
~ There's a chance the item might destroy me. But Mokuba will die anyway if we don't defeat this cursed monster, whoever he is.~ Kaiba thought heavily, as he knelt down.
His hand grasped the cold metal of the Sennen Rod. A bead of sweat appeared on his forhead. Seconds passed. Nothing happened. He smirked.
" That was easy." he said over his shoulder. " Now just tell me how to work this da - AAHHHH!"
The Rod began to glow, and the golden energy enveloped him. Memories seemed to be flooding through his mind, memories that he didn't know he had.
He remembered holding the Sennen Rod high above his head proudly. He laughed confidently. " As High Priest, no one can match me."
Kaiba's eyes widened as he got over the shock of the memory. He remembered! He knew how to wield the Rod!
Yami Bakura collapsed to the ground, gasping, drenched in sweat and twitching. Penta loomed triumphantly over his opponent. He placed his hand over foe's forhead, prepaing to kill him.
He uttered one final word." Die...."
The white haired Egyptian's eyes widened aganst his will. Then , " I don't think so scum!"
Before Yami Bakura had times to take it in, Penta was blasted off of his feet, caught off guard by this new, unexpected attack.
" AHHHHHHHHHH!" the yellow eyed thief screamed.
Kaiba continued focusing all of his thoughts into the Rod. Penta seemed to be sucked into an invisible void as the Shadow Realm consumed him.
His dying howls filled their heads as he vanished. Malik awoke with a start. His violet eyes darted around suspiciously as the scene faded back into Bakura's living room.
His head jerked, and he sat up. He looked at Yami Bakura who was apparently feeling better, because he was standing. He was glaring at Kaiba and shouting, " WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, YOU IDIOT?! I WAITED FOREVER!"
Kaiba politely roared back , " SHUT UP YOU BAKA, I SAVED YOUR SORRY -"
Err...you get the gist of it. Mokuba merely grinned up at his brother, while Yami and Yugi stood by sweatdropping.
Then Malik noticed something was missing.
" Where's my Rod?!" he demanded in panic.
Kaiba shoved it at Malik. " Take it, I won't miss it. It's more trouble than it's worth."
" What happened? Where's Bakura's hikari? Why are these two here?" the blonde Egyptian inquired Yami Bakura, gesturing at the two brothers.
Yugi sighed. " Ano...who wants to explain?"
Everyone face faulted. It was Yami Bakura who explained everything to Malik , with Yami filling in the gaps every now and then.
" Nani?!" Malik groaned in disbelief. " I was under a spell this whole time, and I'll always have to remember I was saved by HIM?"
Again he cast Kaiba a look.
A vein went in Kaiba's head and he nodded towards the Sennen thief. " You're as ungrateful as he is!"
Yami Bakura merely turned a finger in his ear pretending not to listen.
Kaiba took Yami aside. " How did Other Bakura know about your plan?"
" Like me, he's a spirit." Yami explained. " I could speak to him in his mind."
" And that arrogant guy agreed?" Kaiba said dubiously.
" Well he was very concerned about his other half." Yami said, smiling. " Whether he shows it or not."
" I thought he hated Bakura." Kaiba said confused.
" Maybe he did." Yami said seriously. " Or convinced himself he did. But something Bakura has done seems to have changed him. I don't know what happened in the time they spent together while Bakura was sick."
Yami Bakura had taken his gentler counterpart out of his soul room. He was trying to carrying his hikari up the stairs without being noticed.
Unfortunately Yugi did notice, and Yami Bakura caught him grinning.
" What?!" he snapped irritably.
" It's just...whatever I thought of you as a person. You're a pretty decent Yami." Yugi said.
Yami Bakura laughed sarcastically. " Yeah right, after all I put him through these past years, after the things I've done."
" I'm not saying you were then." Yugi said sweetly. " Just that you are now."
Yami Bakura shuddered at what the pharoah's hikari was suggesting. " Mind your own buisness, you don't know what I'm like."
"His fur looked ruffled, what did you say to him,aibou?" Yami asked, as Yami Bakura disappeared up the stairs with his light. Yugi simply giggled in reply.
Kaiba interrupted this moment as he approached Yami.
" Yes?" Yami asked, slightly uncomfortable with the gleam in Kaiba's eyes.
Kaiba put on a frighteningly pleasant grin. Almost like one of Mokubas. " I just wanted to say, that if I wake up tommorow morning with a voice in my head telling me that it's my 'Yami' - " And here the fake grin vanished. " - I shall kill you."
Yugi's jaw dropped and Yami sweatdropped.
"See you in the next tournament. Come, Mokuba."
" Hey!" Mokuba said suddenly, remembering. " We ordered allot of pizza before we came here, we could share!"
" We ARE NOT sharing our food with those two ungrateful EGOMANIACS!!!" Kaiba shouted.
" I don't want anymore from you as it is!" Malik snapped.
"But we're not egomaniacs!" protested Yami and Yugi.
" And I'm starving." Yugi added
" So!" Kaiba retorted. " Why should I feed you?"
Mokuba did his most pathetic puppy eyes. " Pleeeeeeeassssse! I lovvvvvve you Ni sama!"
"Ahh! Fine! But two boxes aren't going to feed everyone. And I'm only ordering more, because the others are probably cold right now!"
Mokuba threw his arms around Kaiba's waist. "Yay! Pizza Party!"
* * *
Yami Bakura gently placed his hikari on the bed. He sat on the end , watching the rise and fall of Bakura's breathing for a time.
~ He's sleeping allot more peacefully now.~ Yami Bakura thought, smiling a little.
He brushed Bakura's white bangs away from his forhead, and Bakura stirred slightly. The boy's eyes slowly opened. He smiled.
" Yami?"
" Welcome back, hikari."
Bakura sat up quickly. His chocolate eyes scanned his room." Where's Penta?! Are the others okay?!"
" Penta will not bother us ever again. He's gone." Yami Bakura reassured him softly. " And everyone is okay."
Yami Bakura didn't sound entirely thrilled about that last part. His hikari giggled at this. Though his aibou would undoubtedly find it hillarious , he decided to save the story of the indignity of being saved by Seto Kaiba for later.
Bakura's stomach growled. He looked slightly embarrassed. " Guess I'm hungry."
Yami Bakura smirked. " I told you to eat, earlier didn't I? You should listen to me."
He got up and walked towards the door. He stopped. " You have visitors downstairs that want to feed us for some reason. I heard their big mouths downstairs. I hope they'll finally leave after this. I'm not really thrilled that it comes from Kaiba, but since you're hungry -"
" Kaiba's here?!"
" Unfortunately he decided to involve himself." Yami Bakura answered sulkily.
Bakura sat there, a little uncomfortable. It was finally over but....what now? Would things go back to the way they were? Or did he and the tombrobber finally reach some form of understanding? He wanted to say something. Thank Yami Bakura for protecting him from Penta, but nothing seemed to want to come out.
When he looked up , his Yami was still by the door.
" What is it Yami?" Bakura asked, curiously. He wished his Yami would turn and face him.
There was a long pause in which Yami Bakura struggled mentally. Then softly , almost inaudible, " You still want a brother?"
He got a more enthusiastic response than he bargained for, as Bakura launched himself at his Yami, and the thief found himself in a very tight hug.
Unable to speak, Bakura thought it a very appropriate response. " I'm glad we both made it out of this together and okay, Yami."
A slow smile found his Yami's lips. ~ Not as glad as I am.~
" We should go downstairs now, they'll want to see you."
" Hai!" said Bakura.
He reached the stairs and saw Yami and Yugi discussing whether or not Yami should be able to take control part of the time so that he could eat as well, the whole spirit thing being what it was, and Kaiba shouting at a very smug looking Malik as Mokuba contently ate his pizza.
Malik seemed to have figured that the best way to show his displeasure at being rescued by Kaiba, was to eat as much pizza before Kaiba could get to it.
" ...and this food is good?" Yami asked Yugi.
" Not as good as burgers...but.."
" ..paid for by my very own hard earned money and you...you.....!" Kaiba was shouting.
" Oh shut up, you're rich. You can have all the pizza in the world." Malik interrupted, rollling his eyes.
Does anyone want some more?" Mokuba was asking.
The door opened and Jounouchi poked his head in. " I heard Bakura was sick, and Yugi was here and I wanted to - oh! Pizza! Great!"
Jounouchi bounded in and sat down.
" OH NO!" Kaiba groaned.
" What?! HE bought it?" Jounouchi gave Kaiba the deepest look of loathing. " Never mind. I'm not eating a bite."
"When will you people ever get out of my house?!!!!" Yami Bakura wailed.
Bakura felt his shoulders shaking. He began to laugh as he hadn't laughed in months.
He could never be a normal sixteen year old. But he had good friends, and his Yami finally accepted him. He felt like now he could come to terms with it. Finally, at last, things were going to be okay.
(answers to your reviews are on the next page.)