This is What You Get for Writing Fanfiction
Attack of the slash-hatters
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or Piggly Wiggly. Piggly Wiggly scares me (o_o;)
***
Sadistic Adolescent Torture. Partially the reason for the late update. I've been forced to peruse countless dauntingly large study guides in preparation for this. It is also known as… the SAT. And it is the great evil of the universe.
Arrg – a few of you said, "Thanks for updating quickly!" and now look what I've done! GOMEN NASAI!!! ;_; Part of the reason I could update so quickly before was spring break, which is now over. -.-; I've been writing this chapter in bits and pieces when I've been bored at school (somehow, I'm still keeping up in my classes. ^.^ But I feel like a zombie… .;)
Alright, I've got a lot of notes about this chapter. I sincerely apologize for running on so long – I hope this intro doesn't end up being longer than the chapter itself. I have a lot to address, so please bear with me!
About the title: It's sort of a play on words. Ryu-ran is the name of a card, which means "dragon egg," I believe (Pegasus has one). But ran could also be the phonetic pronunciation of the English word "run" (basically, ran is how you would spell the word "run" in Japanese). So hence, Ryou-ran means…well, you'll see. ^.^
About slash: okay, I was under the impression that "slash" was any kind of pairing – basically, anything with a "/" (ex. Kaiba/Shizuka, Malik/Bakura, etc.) so the last chapter was based on random, mostly out-of-character pairings. Some of you said it meant just gay couples; I guess I just take things too literally sometimes. (A-chan thinks: slash= / ) But thanks for the feedback! Well, chapter 6 was all about straight couples…but how could I write a proper spoof without yaoi? Don't worry, that's for a later chapter…
About episodes in Japanese: I'm such a fool! I've been scouring Chinatown for them (that's how we got the ones we have – we have the first three seasons). E-bay, Good Lord!! (Slaps forehead) thanks TypoNumber5! Incidentally, I can almost always pick out the names of characters (I watch way more anime than is healthy for a human being), but the mistranslations crack me up to no end. It was kinda neat how they called Mai "Phoenix" for the longest time, but that series of episodes where Jounouchi was "Serenity" sorta threw me off. And then, there was some dramatic moment where Yugi apparently yelled out "Seahorse!" (The first time I saw that done to Kaiba's name, I had to pause the DVD I was laughing so hard…)
Oh, and SatanBarbie: if you're talking about upper hell, I guess that there are seven, but lower hell is still a part of hell, and all together there are nine. For some reason, it's a common misconception that there are only seven. But I have the book right here! I'm not sure if you're talking about the Inferno, but Dante was the one who came up with the whole concept of "circles" of hell, and besides he's just cool. There are even these cute little maps in my addition… see, first seven circles… the virtuous pagans and unbaptized children, the carnal, the gluttonous, the hoarders and wasters, the wrathful and sullen, the heretics, and then the suicides and some other people which I forgot and it doesn't specify, then there's the waterfall, and below that circle eight, which has all sorts of nasties (the violent and bestial, and the fraudulent and malicious), and then finally, deep down in circle nine are the betrayers (so says Jack Sparrow!). Just so you know, I'm not using those as guides for the chapter subjects. But I figure, if nine is a good number for Dante, it's a good number for me!
Last notes on the chapter: for this one I split up the Yami and Hikari of Yugi and Bakura, but not Malik. Why? I'll rant about that after the chapter. Also, I switch suddenly to past tense first-person (Ryou is narrating). It's on purpose; deal with it. And finally… it's really bizarre. I mean, I just don't know what to make of it. I hope you guys like it thought. Thank you so much for the long and interesting reviews! Please continue to comment on anything in the future. ^.^
To make it up to you guys for taking so long, I have provided "links for the bored." In case you have nothing to do after reading this.
First, my sister wrote a fic called "This is a Yaoi," even though it really isn't. You'll have to figure that out on your own. ^.~ It's bizarre but witty and well written, I think. Her screen name is ShiroiYami – look her up. She is super-cool.
Next, if you're in an angsty mood or just like music, go here: www.deathmetalproject.com
It's a community service project by my friend Dark Metal Mercy. She recorded three original tracks and is selling cd's for five bucks including shipping – all proceeds go to a local animal shelter (death metal for the dogs… sweet, neh?) She has an awesome voice and a matching diva attitude (just listen to the mp3 sample!).
And finally, go visit www.briantravis.com Why? Because Brian Travis is one of the more awesome people in this universe. Click on "music" (under the heading The Present) and download stuff! I highly recommend the Conspiracy song – it's a surefire way to cheer yourself up after a bad run-in with the government (or if you just feel complainy ^.^) I also suggest Best in Me, All that Remains, and Trampoline, although they're all good. And if you like the stuff – buy his cd!
Okay, finally, here is your chapter. You sure waited long enough for it!
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Drenched and unhappy, we find "our heroes" awkwardly avoiding each other's gazes while standing before the fourth gate. Kaiba is utterly inconsolable, and is shooting death glances at anyone so insolent as to even think about stepping near him. Honda and Otogi are sulking. Anzu is apologizing to Yugi (in a somewhat confused manner) and Malik is shivering from the permanent trauma left by his too-fresh memories. Mai is trying to explain to Jounouchi that she has no idea what happened in there, but didn't mean anything she said about Kaiba. Really. Jounouchi is slowly coming around. But something is slightly different. There are a few more people than before.
Yugi: Yami! You have your own body!
Yami: Yes, although I'm not sure how.
Anzu: But wait, doesn't that also mean –
Bakura: HA HA!! Free! Utterly free!
Ryou: You guys, how did we get here? I passed out in the carnival and now I'm confused…
Jounouchi: Wait! What about Malik?
There is still, apparently, only one Malik. However, before they have the chance to ponder this, the Loudspeaker crackles back into use.
A-chan: Hey people! Enjoying your stay in lovely sunny Downtown?
A-chan's voice is met with an angry, incoherent uproar.
A-chan: Whoa, hey, calm down already! I'm just the messenger. Well, okay – I'm also the sadistic controller of you're futures. That's life for you! Anyway, my announcement is this: from now on, you can only escape the fic by making out in the rooms between circles, because you're not always under control of your actions within the circles themselves. That is all! ~*crackle*~
Jounouchi: Wait, that's not fair!
Honda: I hope the next circle isn't something… unnatural… *shivers*
Bakura: Well, let's see.
All stare at the gate. It reads:
RYOU-RAN
All are momentarily baffled. Suddenly, Bakura cries out.
Bakura: No! We can't go in! We'll just stay here –
Kaiba: - For eternity? Hmph. It can't be worse than the last one.
Kaiba takes the handle of the next gate.
Bakura: Ryou, ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnn!!!!
The gate swings open faster than Ryou's reflexes, and the group falls through the threshold.
~~~~~
"You've been cheating on me!" Bakura screamed as he slapped me across the face.
"No I haven't! Really, I - " I attempted to protest, but it was no use. As usual. My former Yami took me roughly by the shoulders and threw me against the wall. The plaster cracked behind me, and bits of that irritating "cottage cheese" ceiling rained down like snow.
"Goddam you kids! I'm trying to cook here!" Our upstairs neighbor yelled through the floor.
"You came home from Malik's awfully late last night," Bakura growled. As I began sliding down the wall he caught me by the arms and dragged me back up, pinning me. "Well! What were you doing, playing Twister?!"
"Shut the hell up, you're going to ruin my Soufflé!" cried the man upstairs. I rolled my eyes. Why didn't he ever call the police?
"Don't you roll your eyes at me!" Bakura screamed, mistaking my meaning. He hurled me to the floor. I heard something crack besides the floorboards.
"Alright that's it!" A door slammed upstairs, and I heard loud, thumping footsteps in the hall. Finally, our angry neighbor burst through the door carrying a pathetic, deflated blob on a platter. "Look at this!" He shoved the platter into my roommate's face. "Look at this!! Do you have any idea how long it takes to prepare? Witness your destruction of my masterpiece!" The man's face was red, and his eyes bulged as he waited for Bakura to respond. Bakura gazed at the ruined Soufflé, then licked it. This was a little more than our neighbor could take.
"IF YOU LIKE IT SO MUCH THEN EAT IT!" He cried as he smashed the plate into Bakura's face and stormed out of the apartment. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to crouch to the floor and attempted to crawl away.
"Not so fast," Bakura said as he grabbed me by the collar. "Go get me a towel." He tossed me roughly aside. I staggered to my feet and fetched a hand towel from the bathroom. My roommate hastily wiped his face and threw the towel to the ground. He turned his gaze on me again. I shivered involuntarily.
"Ryou…" he spoke softly as he strode toward me. As he got closer I took a short step back, but he caught my wrist and held me. "Don't you love me?" He murmured, thin eyebrows raising a little.
"I'm not cheating on you," I responded.
"Prove it," He said and kissed me. I almost wished our disgruntled neighbor would come back. Bakura brushed my hair aside and bit my neck.
"I sort of wish you didn't have a blood fetish," I mumbled to him.
"God damn it!" He yelled suddenly.
"What?"
"It's all over the carpet," he pouted, referring to the blood he had spilt. "The landlady's gonna kill me… Ryou, clean this up," he ordered, and flopped down on our couch.
"Yes, master," I grumbled sarcastically. Bakura grinned.
"And when you're finished, we're going to have a little talk," he told me, but I knew that our "talk" wouldn't involve any talking at all. Somehow, I had to get out of the apartment.
"Ah, Bakura, I think we're out of carpet cleaner," I told him while rummaging through the cabinets.
"Don't worry about it now, I'll go pick some up later."
"Um, well, I figured I'd get some drinks too, if I went now," I offered. He perked up slightly at the prospect of alcohol.
"Alright, sure, whatever," he said, turning on the TV. I made my way outside as unassumingly as possible.
As I hurried down the stairs of our apartment building, I took out my cell phone and dialed Malik's number.
"Hai, moshi moshi (yes, hello)," he responded on the other end.
"Hi, Malik, do you think you could pick me up right now?" I spoke rapidly.
"Ryou? What's wrong - "
"Never mind, just please get here as quickly as you can." I hung up and reached the front doors. I didn't have to wait long before I heard the rumble of a motorcycle approaching. I sighed with relief.
"Oi, hop on," Malik cried from the sidewalk. I gladly obliged, and soon we were speeding off toward his apartment.
"So, what's going on?" Malik yelled over the roar of the engine.
"What about prawn?" I yelled back, confused.
"I don't care about your lawn, tell me what's the matter!"
"Yes, my shirt is tattered."
"My bladder is none of your business!"
"You got a ladder for Christmas?"
"It was a lad and some misfits?"
I sighed. "I can't hear you - let's talk when we get there."
"No one puts chalk in their hair," He responded, and increased our speed. I was not sure how I offended him, but he was silent the rest of the way there.
~~~
"Now," Malik said as he closed the door behind him. "Can you tell me what's going on?"
We had arrived at Malik's apartment. It was a little smaller than mine, but considering that only Malik lived there it was pretty nice. It wasn't exactly clean, though.
"Geez, Malik, I never figured you for an alcoholic," I muttered while picking up pieces of a broken bottle. The whole apartment looked like it had been ravaged. "How did this happen? Everything was fine when I left yesterday - "
"- Never mind about that. And stop it, you're not my housecleaner," Malik said, taking the glass shards out of my hands and throwing them away. "Why did you call me?"
I hesitated. I knew that if I told Malik about what Bakura was doing, he'd want to go over there and settle it himself. But he was no match for my roommate, and I would only pay for it later.
"Well, the air conditioner broke, and I was getting a little toasty, so - "
" – Oh, cut the crap Ryou. That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard (A/N: truly -.-;)." Malik stepped toward me. "He's been hurting you again, hasn't he?" I didn't respond, but my face must have given it away. (Ryou's face: .;)
"Ryou, stop protecting him!" Malik shouted. "I don't understand you at all. Why don't you just leave him?"
"I don't know," I mumbled to the floor. "It's as if I'm bound to the place, somehow. I've tried to leave a few times, but I always end up back there - as if someone keeps dragging me back, ignoring the laws of plot development…"
Malik sighed. "Well," he said finally, "you know that you can stay here as long as you like. There's not much room, but you can sleep wherever you want, I don't care."
Malik gasped as I crossed the room and hugged him.
"Thank you, Malik," I said.
He smiled. "It's the least I can do," he told me. Then he frowned and pushed me away. "Wait, what am I thinking?! You can't stay here, it's just as dangerous as it is at your place - "
"Malik, what are you talking about?" I asked as he began pacing back and forth. He glanced at me, worried.
"It's nothing, I – I just… I can't let you stay. I'm sorry, it's for your own safety."
"What is!?" I cried, frustrated. "Listen, Malik, I trust you. It's alright, whatever it is, I'm sure it's fine."
Malik looked at me with a searching expression, then closed his eyes and sighed quietly. He spoke, more to himself than me, "Yes, I suppose it would be alright. He trusts me, so maybe nothing would happen…"
"Um, Malik," I asked, a little disconcerted, "now what are you talking about? Are you alright?"
"Yes, fine!" He said abruptly. "I'll get out the extra mattress. Is the floor okay?"
"Fine," I said slowly. I paused, waiting for him to explain, but no explanation came. Instead, he busied himself in the closet.
"Got it! Ryou, could you give me a hand with this?" Malik called. He shoved some junk out of the way, and I helped him pull a tattered, lumpy mattress out of the closet. I still wondered what he had been mumbling to himself, but I decided to let it go. I would probably find out soon enough, anyway.
~~~
I woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. I'd been having a nightmare, and-
…
Someone was breathing down my neck. I didn't move.
"Malik," I whispered, "is that you?"
"Sort of," a voice murmured back. I heard a low, eerie laugh. It made my skin crawl, as though there was an octopus on my back.[1]
"Um, Malik, you're making me really nervous."
"Really now?"
"Yes, um, I kind of have a personal space issue, so if you could just - "
"Oh, am I bothering you?" The voice laughed again. It was a twisted, disturbing voice. Definitely not Malik's. A hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. In the gloom I could barely make out two dark, violet eyes staring into mine.
"I'm glad my other self brought you here," the owner of the eyes grinned. "I was getting lonely."
"MALIK!" I screamed, struggling to get away. I didn't like where this was going.
"Malik isn't in at the moment," the stranger's smile twisted into an odd expression. His grip on me tightened.
"What have you done with him?" I asked, shivering.
The shadow laughed again. "He is weak in his sleep. It was easy for me to take control."
I tried to twist away, not wanting to know more, but the stranger held fast.
"HELP! SOMEONE-" I called out, but was muffled as the stranger covered my mouth with his hand. I waved my arms wildly, hoping to find something to defend myself with. Finally, my fingers brushed against one of the broken bottle shards. I seized it and drove it into my attacker's shoulder. He cried out in pain and released me. As I scrambled away I noticed that he resembled Malik a little, and was even wearing the same nightclothes. But I didn't have time to think about it – before he had the chance to recover I bolted for the door and rushed outside, slamming it behind me. As soon as I was out, I ran.
***********************************
I ran for quite a while before I stopped to figure out where I was.
When I finally did get my bearings, however, I didn't feel much better off. I knew I had to get inside incase Bakura came looking for me, not to mention the fact that I was tired and it was still sometime before midnight – I guessed because there were still crowds milling about. But the closest house that I could take refuge in was Yami's house… and I wasn't sure that I would be welcome there. However, I decided to chance it and took the few streets that led there.
When Yami answered the door and realized who it was, his expression confirmed my suspicions. He narrowed his eyes and I couldn't help but shudder, remembering. I couldn't blame him if he didn't forgive me.
"What are you doing here?" He asked coldly.
"I need your help," I whispered desperately. "Please, I have nowhere left to go."
Yami looked me over sternly, then closed his eyes.
"Alright," he sighed. "Come in."
I stepped into the entryway, glancing over my shoulder as I did. I've learned to be careful.
"Would you like anything?" Yami asked almost mockingly as he closed the door behind me. "Tea, perhaps?"
"Yami," I began, but he cut me off.
"Why, Ryou? Why do you still associate with him?! You can't tell me that you forgive him for what he did…" Yami's voice wavered. I looked at the floor.
"Yami… I'm sorry - ah!" I cried out as he slapped me across the face.
"Sorry? Sorry?! Apologies won't bring Yugi back!"
"It was Bakura – I can't control him - "
"You let him control you," Yami spat, his eyes blazing. "Look at you! You're a mass of scars. And that elephant one is just sick…" he said, referring to the design Bakura had carved into my shoulder one long, cable-less night a week ago.
"It was supposed to be a rhinoceros," I mumbled absentmindedly as I traced the scar with my finger.
"That isn't the point," Yami looked me in the eyes for the first time that evening. "You can't go on this way. Eventually your strength will fail you. Yugi…" Yami's voice broke and he closed his eyes. I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Yami… I'm here because I want to escape Bakura, once and for all. Will you help me?"
Yami shot me a fierce glance, then sighed.
"Please," I begged him. "I have no one to turn to."
"What about your parents?" He asked.
I paused, taken aback. "Yami… didn't you hear?"
He shook his head, confused.
"They… they died. Their schooner was hit by a falling jet while they were out fishing."
"That was them?" His eyes widened. "That freak plane-crashing-into-boat accident?"
I nodded.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know…" he mumbled, trailing off. He stared into the distance for a moment, then seemed to snap back to reality. He sighed.
"You can stay tonight," he said, looking me in the eye, "but you must resolve this situation yourself." He stifled a yawn. "I haven't been sleeping well since that night," he explained quickly, giving extra emphasis to the last two words. "I believe I've been sleepwalking, so if I wander in the middle of the night don't be alarmed."
***
I was a little alarmed.
I had woken from my rather restless sleep on the couch to a crashing noise coming from the kitchen. I sat up to see Yami leaning in the doorframe between the kitchen and the living room. His dark form was imposing and a little frightening, and he clutched in his hand something long and pointed that he must have left on the cutting board.
"Fiend…" he muttered, taking a step toward me. "Murderer…"
"Yami, it's me, Ryou," I told him, rising slowly from the couch.
"You can't fool me, tomb robber." He sneered and waved the object at me, which I couldn't make out in the dark.
"Yami, be careful where you point that - "
"What, this? Oh, you're right." He laughed, then strode quickly across the room to me. "I just sharpened it yesterday." As he approached it became clear that his weapon was a carrot. "Wouldn't want to hurt anyone by accident."
Thank God he only wants to kill me in his sleep, I thought. Still, I don't want to take any chances. That vegetable makes me nervous.
"Yami," I said, trying to make my voice sound calm, "why don't you just put that down - "
He interrupted me with a low laugh that grew slowly to an alarming pitch. Then he stopped suddenly.
"Don't play innocent with me!" He thrust the carrot into the air about two feet to my left, then turned in my direction. "You're fast… but you can't run from me!"
I tried to run anyway, but he caught me by the arm and pulled me back. He wrapped his other arm across me and held the carrot to my neck. "I have you now… heh…"
I held my breath.
"Say goodbye, tomb robber." He dragged the carrot slowly across my neck and let go of me. I fell obligingly to the ground.
I lay still for a moment, listening for what Yami might do. I was surprised when, a few moments later, I heard sniffling noises.
"What have I done," he whispered, tears sliding down his face. "Oh, what have I done…"
He staggered backward, then suddenly stared at the carrot in his hand.
"Yugi," he said, his voice barely audible, "I'll join you soon…"
"No! Don't do it!" I cried, scrambling to my feet.
He was too fast for me. He raised the carrot to his head.
"Bang!"
I squeezed my eyes shut, and when I opened them Yami was crumpled on the floor. I glanced out the window and saw a light go on in one of the neighbor's houses – I couldn't stick around. Once again, I escaped into the night.
***
My lack of sleep was starting to wear on me. I began to feel dizzy, but I kept walking, hoping to find some friendly face or place of shelter. I shivered from the cold - Yami hadn't lent me any pajamas and my clothes were wearing thin. I felt that they would tear with the slightest stress.
As I walked toward a nearby shopping center I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped and spun around in alarm, only to find that my assailant was Seto Kaiba. I sighed in relief.
"Oh, Kaiba, thank God it's only you. I was afraid that… well, never mind."
Kaiba gazed at me without expression. "What are you doing out so late?"
My face reddened and I avoided his gaze. What would Kaiba think if he knew of my pathetic situation? I doubted he would help me. "I, er, ran out of milk, so…" I was startled when Kaiba touched my shoulder again.
"You're a mess," he said, noticing my scars and tattered clothing. Then he turned his eyes to mine. "What's happened to you?" There was a hint of anger in his voice. Before I could respond, however, the roar of a motorcycle filled our ears, followed closely by an all-too-familiar yelling voice.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF RYOU-CHAN! HE'S MINE!"
Bakura's face was livid, and I shivered as Malik parked his motorcycle on the sidewalk and he and Bakura got off. Malik looked somewhat apologetic.
"When I came to my senses and realized you were gone, I was worried," he said. "I went looking for you and ran into him on the way." He jabbed his thumb in Bakura's direction. "He insisted on coming."
"Did you do this to him?" Kaiba addressed Bakura with fierce eyes.
"He's mine, what does it matter to you?" Bakura snapped. After a short pause, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Ryou, you didn't run to this bastard for help, now did you? I'll teach you to betray me - " He lunged at me, but Kaiba pulled me back just in time. Unfortunately, my poor exhausted shirt fell apart in the process.
…
There was a brief pause, and all three of them stared at me. I shivered again.
"You pervert!" My yami gasped at Kaiba, his eyes wide. Kaiba was, for once, at a loss. "I never thought you, of all people - "
"I think it was an accident, Bakura," I mumbled in Kaiba's defense, as Kaiba seemed unable to speak.
"Wait, I see what's going on here," Bakura glared at Kaiba, and then at me. He paused, presumably for dramatic effect. "You're cheating on me with Kaiba!" Bakura crossed his arms in triumph after coming to this conclusion. Kaiba turned white.
"How dare you accuse…I…" he stuttered. "I… didn't know he was taken," he finished lamely.
Before I could think about the implication of those words, Bakura charged at Kaiba, who tried to sidestep him but wasn't entirely successful. He was still partly in shock as he attempted to fend off Bakura's wrath. While they fought, I felt a hand grab my wrist. Another hand slid around my waist and pulled me close to some presence behind me. The hair on the back of my neck prickled.
"Fools," A voice muttered over my shoulder, "to let their anger distract them from you."
The hand that gripped my wrist disengaged and began playing with my hair. The other hand still had me held fast, and I was uncomfortably aware that I didn't have a shirt anymore.
"Marik," I whimpered, aware now that he was the same person I had encountered at Malik's apartment – and that he was a darker side of Malik, rather like Bakura was mine.
"Why are you doing this?" I whispered, frightened.
"Because you're just so damn cute," he whispered back.
"Ryou-chan!" Bakura, noticing my predicament, abandoned Kaiba and pulled me away from Marik, tossing me to the side.
After wandering half the night, cold, alone, and sleepy, I finally lost myself to fatigue. As I staggered to the side, my vision hazy while I glimpsed Bakura and Malik bitchslapping each other, I tripped over the edge of the sidewalk and fell into the street.
The last thing I saw as the 18-wheeler skidded in front of me was the smiling face of Piggly Wiggly before I mercifully lost consciousness.
~~~
I awoke to a blinding bright room and a gentle beeping sound. At the time I wasn't sure what condition I was in – I was so drugged on painkillers that I was practically numb. I felt like I weighed a thousand pounds, and I smelled faintly of diesel and groceries.
I noticed a man in a white coat standing over me with a clipboard and pen.
"Doctor," I mumbled, barely coherent, "am I going to be alright?"
"You're going to be fine," the doctor said with a doctorly smile. "I wish all our patients who were hit by 18-wheelers were in as good shape as you are!" He gave a brief laugh. He checked himself as he caught my serious expression.
"Yes, well. Like I said, you're going to pull through. However, I'm afraid I have some difficult news…"
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[1] I am so sorry! XD
Oh man, that was weird. Sorry to pull a To Be Continued on you, but if I didn't break up this chapter I might never have updated! And we can't have that!
Okay, you've probably figured out that this is a spoof of Ryou abuse fics. Why must they torture Ryou?! Doesn't he have enough problems? And it's done by Ryou fangirls, on top of that… incidentally, I have some Bakura myths to bust!
Bakura myth #1: Bakura hates Yami, "The Pharaoh"
Actually, he doesn't feel negatively toward Yami or Yugi (at least as far as I've gotten in the series – I could be wrong). He's not specifically against them – they only end up battling when their objectives clash. Bakura is all about getting what he wants, but he isn't gratuitously malicious or sadistic. He just likes to scare people. And at one point he even says (referring to Malik), "Any enemy of Mutou Yugi is an enemy of mine," or something very close to that. Which brings me to my second myth:
Bakura myth #2: Bakura gets along with (or even likes) Malik.
Actually, Malik seems to piss him off. At their initial meeting (when they strike up a bargain of sorts) Malik says he's only interested in killing the Pharaoh, and Bakura thinks to himself, Bastard… (this also supports my first point). Later, when Malik travels to Ryou's subconscious, Bakura is definitely not happy to see him and even yells at him a little. And of course, he ends up breaking their deal during his duel with Yami, and chooses his Hikari over Malik. Which also happens to bring me to the last myth:
Bakura myth #3: Bakura hates his Hikari
Okay, so maybe he totally ignores Ryou, poses as Ryou to fool Ryou's friends, and takes control of their body for days on end, seeming not to care if he injures himself in the process. Yami ignored Yugi for quite a while also. But when it comes down to it, Bakura would protect Ryou from harm, and wouldn't betray him for his own ends. Remember when Malik caused him to switch with Ryou so that Yami wouldn't attack with Osiris for fear of causing Ryou "psychological damage?" (Ryou was soo pathetic in that scene, I wanted to cry). Bakura wouldn't go through with it, even though it caused him to lose (and for someone with his ego, that's something! He calls himself "ore-sama" for crying out loud – the closest equivalent in English is Lord Me.) And of course, he had to go out laughing like a maniac, as though he'd planned it all along. That's just Bakura for you – the guy's got style.
An explanation: I didn't break Malik into his two forms because essentially, while the other Malik is like a darker half, he's not really a different person the same way Bakura and Yami are different from Ryou and Yugi. Bakura and Yami are spirits trapped in the sennen items, and that isn't the case with Malik because (and I think they neglected to mention this in the English version!!) the sennen rod is supposed to belong to Kaiba! Malik's "Yami" is more like the result of multiple personality disorder – a separate persona born of traumatic childhood events.
Okay, I think that's it! Please don't kill me for the delayed update… I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up, but don't forget about me! I'll be around.
Always,
A-chan ^.~