What Once Was is Again
Diclaimer: I do not own any of the characters within Yugioh, minus Strawberry (who you will find out about in my fic). Said characters are also OOC. So live with it it's the way I write! Hehehe.
Warning: there have been minor to extreme changes within the characters of Yugioh, but it is all interesting changes no less and makes for interesting reading I must say.
"Darn! Where is everyone?" "You mean you don't know? Oh great! We're lost and I'm stuck with the dumbest person in the entire group!! You're hopeless!!" Noa turned around and threw a dirty Styrofoam cup at Joey. It hit Joey with a dull slap on the face.
"Darn you Noa! It's not my fault you wanted to come with me and not stay behind with Seto!" Joey brushed off the dirt that was left on his nose by the plastic cup. They've been wandering the city for two hours and seemed to be at an end. The wind had slowly picked up and it chilled the two cranky teens' skin. The sky was darkened now with the slight glow of the sun behind the tallest buildings. The lamplights were their source of light now. Noa pulled his shirt tighter around him. He glanced about the half deserted street with weary eyes.
"This is hopeless Joey. Lets give up our end of the search and retire home. I'm sure the others have found something. They'll come and find us if it's important." Noa walked over to a bus bench and parked himself on the cold stone. Joey looked over to him beaten. Joey was sore from walking too much and not to mention exhausted and cold. Joey dragged his feet over to Noa and looked down upon the shivering teen. He sighed. He didn't want to admit it but Noa was right. They had no chance of finding Ryou like this and night was coming up quick. The wind had gotten chilly and they both weren't prepared for it. It was going to be a long, restless night.
"Yah, you're right. Come on Noa. Lets head back." Noa smiled. "Think of it this way Joey. We're going home to get rest, so we're fully restored for when the time comes to help Ryou. You can't help someone if you can't help yourself." He shivered with the slight pick up of the wind.
"What ever Noa. All I know is we'll catch our death out here if we stay longer. Here, you can borrow my jacket until we get to my house. You need it more then I do." Joey slipped off his jacket and handed it over to Noa. Noa grabbed onto it and held it for a while as if he was going to refuse it. He just sighed and smiled. "Thanks Joey." He slipped the jacket on and closed it up.
"No prob and besides, did you think it had fleas or something?" Noa looked at Joey with a fresh smile on his face and playfully pushed Joey. He then got off the bench and walked beside him. They only walked about ten paces when they picked up to a fierce howl. The sky grew black and lightening sparked from a hole growing bigger in the air. Otogi came sailing throw the portal. He landed on the ground with a light thud.
"Yugi just found out where Ryou is being held." Noa and Joey switch glances to each other.
"Looks like we ain't going to get that rest Noa."
"Suddenly Joey I don't feel tired anymore." The two run over to where Otogi was standing. They grabbed hold of Otogi as the three jumped into the portal and vanished with a light clap of thunder.
A searing white light flashed once, covering that area for a mere 2 seconds. Joey and Noa were thrown down onto the hard, cold pavement face first. Joey sat up, hair tousled from the ride they just had endured.
"Ow. Warn me the next time you're going to do that Otogi. My breath was nearly knocked out of me." He huffed. Joey slowly climbed to his feet, waving his arms to steady himself from falling. When he believed he was steady enough to support other's weight he loaned Noa his hand and helped him up.
"Thanks Joey." Noa dusted himself off. "So this is Ryou's old house." They stood before the house that once bore Ryou's family. This family only consisted of him and his dad but it was still considered a family. The house bore the sign of old age. It seemed to be weather beaten, for the paint was peeling off. The wood planks were being revealed. Joey gapped at the sight. "Wow."
"No kidding. It seems this house is really and I mean REALLY old. Must have been like this when Ryou's father bought the place. Ryou's only been away from the house for so long and look how it turns out."
"Looks like someone has beaten it with the ugly stick." Announced Joey.
"It's an illusion." Otogi walked up and stood beside them. The wind swivelled around his face causing his hair to wave along side it.
"How does he do that?"
"By magic Joey! That was one of your really bad blonde moments."
"Hey! I resent that!!" Grumbled Joey as Noa paced forward. He walked up the sidewalk and along side the house, passing his hand along the paint.
"Otogi is right. The paint doesn't come loose under my fingers." Noa glanced at the house. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing formed on his lips. Instead he recoiled from the house as if his fingers were shocked by electricity.
"What do we do now Otogi? Otogi?" He turns around to only see Joey standing by himself. His face turns to the form of displeasure. Joey, not knowing what's going on, only gives the look of 'what did I do now'. "God, I really hate it when he leaves us high and dry." "What!! He left us!!!" Joey whirls around in a desperate attempt to find Otogi. Knowing that Otogi is nowhere to be found Joey sits down on the curb. "What now?" "We wait for Otogi to return. My only guess is he's off to gather up the others and besides, may be we'll find something out for our selves while Otogi's out gallivanting." "You mean search the house?" "Why not?" "Ok! I'm game!!"
"Is that better Seto?" Yugi handed Seto another cup of water. It had been a whole hour since they arrived at Yugi's Grandpa's game shop. They tried everything to help cure Seto's hiccups from the old never fail scare tactics to making him stand on his head while drinking a full glass of water. They seemed to have problems with that particular one. They were on edge until Seto finally calmed down. He seemed to have a suppressed fit of burps.
"Remind me to burp him every once in a while." Mokuba snickered thinking his little joke was funny but didn't get the reply he was looking for. "Aw come on you guys! Live it up a bit. It was just a stupid little joke." He trails of, mumbling to himself. Yugi sighs, "It's kind of hard to do that Mokuba. Ryou is in trouble and we're sitting at home doing nothing. I just feel so helpless at the moment." Yugi gets up from the couch. He picks up Seto's empty glass and walks off into the kitchen. He sets the cup down in the sink and wanders of towards the window to look out.
"Oh Ryou! I wish I could help you but I don't know what to do. I thought I did but I guess I'm no better then anyone else. I hope Otogi finds you soon."
"THIS SUCKS!!!!" There's a resounding clap as a coke can hits the side of a building. A blonde haired boy walks over to where the can lays and steps on it with a mighty force, splitting the can in two.
"If you shout loud enough we can gather a whole audience of people who would be dying for the chance to meet you. Oops! I meant to say beat you! Malik you can't scream like that. This neighbour hood isn't exactly voice friendly at a time like this."
"What do you care anyways? I'm sure you would be dying to see a late night movie, especially if it has 3D effects." Malik scoured at Marik.
"What would you know about 3D movies?"
"What I do know is they suck! Live entertainment is much more exciting."
"Your so old school. Bring your brain out of that old trash and in to the 21-century. You no longer live in the time were they barely had proper hygiene and were bad at everything else but war and famine. You live with me in the time of computers and machines. Where we have baths daily and have proper wars."
"Is that any better?"
"Well...not exactly."
"And besides, I don't trust your machines. They have problems and anything can go wrong with them at anytime. Your machines will probably be your down fall."
"What? How dare you make sense in my presence about my own time!" Marik and Malik glared at each other, growling silently under their breath. They came nose to nose about to go into death lock when a light flashed in front of their eyes.
"Ahhhh!! My eyes!!" Marik fell backwards from the intensity of the flash. Malik just shields his eyes and grunted. Otogi appears in the middle of the light. He opens his eyes to view what's before him and immediately he snarls at the two before him.
"How dare you to fight at a time like this! You're supposed to be looking for Ryou and look what I find! I find a yami and light bickering over the stupidest thing!! Well fortunately for you Ryou has been found. We're all gathering around the Bakura's old home. Are you coming?" Otogi turned his head back and forth between both Egyptians. Marik stands up and a sly grin slips across his face. Malik just nods in reply. Otogi smiles. "Then she's settled. Let's go." Otogi turns around and rips a hole in the air. He jumps through with ease, followed by Malik and Marik close behind. The tear closes up and vanishes into the night.
It was darker in the house now that the sun had set a while ago. Shadows grew bigger and started to consume the rest of the house except one room. Ryou had his desk lamp on and his door shut. He was lying on his bed, crying silently. His hands were bandaged up from the previous lesson. Ryou placed his hands on a cold ice pack. He whimpered as the cold bit into his injured hands. He remembered how Bakura had laughed at him after he had placed his hands on the stove. He watched Ryou rip his hands out of his grip and fall to the floor convulsing. Ryou tried to stifle his tears because his yami would just beat him more if saw them. But of course nothing slipped past his yami. Bakura placed a well- aimed kick right for his chest. The force of the blow knocked Ryou into the counter causing him to lose his breath. Bakura just laughed at him and said he needed it, that weaklings needed to be toughened up and this was the only way to teach him. He then smiled wickedly at him and turned and left. His cold voice echoed through the house has he laughed harshly. Ryou closed his eyes at the memory and shuddered. He wiped away his tears so Bakura couldn't have another reason to come and beat him senseless.
Ryou? Are you all right? Ryou jumped a little as he heard Strawberry speak to him through their link.
/Oh! Yah. You just startled me Strawberry. I'm sorry I have you so worried. That's all I do is worry people. /
Don't think like that Ryou. That's probably what Bakura wants you to think.
/That I'm a burden on everyone's shoulders. / Ryou curled up into a ball under his blankets and started to shiver. Strawberry looked at his master with worry. Ryou griped his knees even harder when he heard the dull thump of feet coming towards his door. He sucked in his breath and tried not to make the slightest move. 'Maybe he'll just walk past my door. Oh god, please let him walk past my door and forget about me!' Ryou thought has the footsteps got closer. Strawberry sensed the insecurity in his master's thoughts. Ryou had enough suffering for one day. He took over his master's body and calmed himself. He made sure there was no fear to be felt through the link and in Ryou's body. He held his breath as the footsteps stopped at the door. 'Please just keep walking and leave your light alone for once.' There was a chilling silence for a couple of minutes and then the footstep pressed on to their own room. Bakura passed by and closed his own door to his room. The door left a resounding click down the hallway. Strawberry released his breath with a deep sigh of relief. The gods must have been on Ryou's side that time. He let Ryou take over again and reassured him that the danger has passed. Ryou poked his head out from his covers, his chocolate eyes quivering with tears. Ryou started to sob silently again.
Ryou, what's wrong? Bakura spared you tonight. Why are you still crying?
/He could have hurt you Strawberry. You were going to take my punishment and it would be my entire fault because I'm a weak stupid fool. /
Don't think like that Ryou. I believe you have a strong will and are very brave to be able to put up with those underhanded tactics. He is the weak one.
/Do you really think that Strawberry? /
Of course I do, just think about it Ryou. People like him are always afraid and scared. They're the loneliest type of people you could every cross. He just can't admit it because he doesn't want to appear as a weak-minded fool in front of you.
/Well I guess. It dose make sense if you think about it. But what could he be so afraid of? / Ryou sniffled a little as he started to feel a bit better.
I'm not sure Ryou but we can find out. The more Ryou thought about it the stronger he felt. Ideas started to form in his mind and he felt like he wasn't what he thought he was. No, what his yami thought he was. He came to the conclusion that he was no burden on his friend's shoulders but that he was taking the burden off of their shoulder so that they didn't have to suffer the same fate he had to with his yami. He felt more responsible for keeping them safe from harm then him self. But his best conclusion of all made his stomach churn with joy. He was no longer the scared one, Bakura was. Ryou figured Bakura was afraid of being backed into a corner so as a result he fought back with brutality and force.
"Bakura is afraid to be loved. He's afraid that I'll get to close too him and turn him soft. He refuses to know what love his because it must be new to him."
What?
/Strawberry, I'm not afraid anymore. There's no reason to be. The answer was right before my eyes all a long but I was too scared to realize it. Bakura was afraid of us! But we just have to work at him that's all. I think I can stand the beatings know if he puts up a fight. /
I think you lost it Ryou.
/He just wants to be saved. The signs were small but I can see them now. Strawberry? /
Yes?
/I'm going to save my yami. /
Diclaimer: I do not own any of the characters within Yugioh, minus Strawberry (who you will find out about in my fic). Said characters are also OOC. So live with it it's the way I write! Hehehe.
Warning: there have been minor to extreme changes within the characters of Yugioh, but it is all interesting changes no less and makes for interesting reading I must say.
"Darn! Where is everyone?" "You mean you don't know? Oh great! We're lost and I'm stuck with the dumbest person in the entire group!! You're hopeless!!" Noa turned around and threw a dirty Styrofoam cup at Joey. It hit Joey with a dull slap on the face.
"Darn you Noa! It's not my fault you wanted to come with me and not stay behind with Seto!" Joey brushed off the dirt that was left on his nose by the plastic cup. They've been wandering the city for two hours and seemed to be at an end. The wind had slowly picked up and it chilled the two cranky teens' skin. The sky was darkened now with the slight glow of the sun behind the tallest buildings. The lamplights were their source of light now. Noa pulled his shirt tighter around him. He glanced about the half deserted street with weary eyes.
"This is hopeless Joey. Lets give up our end of the search and retire home. I'm sure the others have found something. They'll come and find us if it's important." Noa walked over to a bus bench and parked himself on the cold stone. Joey looked over to him beaten. Joey was sore from walking too much and not to mention exhausted and cold. Joey dragged his feet over to Noa and looked down upon the shivering teen. He sighed. He didn't want to admit it but Noa was right. They had no chance of finding Ryou like this and night was coming up quick. The wind had gotten chilly and they both weren't prepared for it. It was going to be a long, restless night.
"Yah, you're right. Come on Noa. Lets head back." Noa smiled. "Think of it this way Joey. We're going home to get rest, so we're fully restored for when the time comes to help Ryou. You can't help someone if you can't help yourself." He shivered with the slight pick up of the wind.
"What ever Noa. All I know is we'll catch our death out here if we stay longer. Here, you can borrow my jacket until we get to my house. You need it more then I do." Joey slipped off his jacket and handed it over to Noa. Noa grabbed onto it and held it for a while as if he was going to refuse it. He just sighed and smiled. "Thanks Joey." He slipped the jacket on and closed it up.
"No prob and besides, did you think it had fleas or something?" Noa looked at Joey with a fresh smile on his face and playfully pushed Joey. He then got off the bench and walked beside him. They only walked about ten paces when they picked up to a fierce howl. The sky grew black and lightening sparked from a hole growing bigger in the air. Otogi came sailing throw the portal. He landed on the ground with a light thud.
"Yugi just found out where Ryou is being held." Noa and Joey switch glances to each other.
"Looks like we ain't going to get that rest Noa."
"Suddenly Joey I don't feel tired anymore." The two run over to where Otogi was standing. They grabbed hold of Otogi as the three jumped into the portal and vanished with a light clap of thunder.
A searing white light flashed once, covering that area for a mere 2 seconds. Joey and Noa were thrown down onto the hard, cold pavement face first. Joey sat up, hair tousled from the ride they just had endured.
"Ow. Warn me the next time you're going to do that Otogi. My breath was nearly knocked out of me." He huffed. Joey slowly climbed to his feet, waving his arms to steady himself from falling. When he believed he was steady enough to support other's weight he loaned Noa his hand and helped him up.
"Thanks Joey." Noa dusted himself off. "So this is Ryou's old house." They stood before the house that once bore Ryou's family. This family only consisted of him and his dad but it was still considered a family. The house bore the sign of old age. It seemed to be weather beaten, for the paint was peeling off. The wood planks were being revealed. Joey gapped at the sight. "Wow."
"No kidding. It seems this house is really and I mean REALLY old. Must have been like this when Ryou's father bought the place. Ryou's only been away from the house for so long and look how it turns out."
"Looks like someone has beaten it with the ugly stick." Announced Joey.
"It's an illusion." Otogi walked up and stood beside them. The wind swivelled around his face causing his hair to wave along side it.
"How does he do that?"
"By magic Joey! That was one of your really bad blonde moments."
"Hey! I resent that!!" Grumbled Joey as Noa paced forward. He walked up the sidewalk and along side the house, passing his hand along the paint.
"Otogi is right. The paint doesn't come loose under my fingers." Noa glanced at the house. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing formed on his lips. Instead he recoiled from the house as if his fingers were shocked by electricity.
"What do we do now Otogi? Otogi?" He turns around to only see Joey standing by himself. His face turns to the form of displeasure. Joey, not knowing what's going on, only gives the look of 'what did I do now'. "God, I really hate it when he leaves us high and dry." "What!! He left us!!!" Joey whirls around in a desperate attempt to find Otogi. Knowing that Otogi is nowhere to be found Joey sits down on the curb. "What now?" "We wait for Otogi to return. My only guess is he's off to gather up the others and besides, may be we'll find something out for our selves while Otogi's out gallivanting." "You mean search the house?" "Why not?" "Ok! I'm game!!"
"Is that better Seto?" Yugi handed Seto another cup of water. It had been a whole hour since they arrived at Yugi's Grandpa's game shop. They tried everything to help cure Seto's hiccups from the old never fail scare tactics to making him stand on his head while drinking a full glass of water. They seemed to have problems with that particular one. They were on edge until Seto finally calmed down. He seemed to have a suppressed fit of burps.
"Remind me to burp him every once in a while." Mokuba snickered thinking his little joke was funny but didn't get the reply he was looking for. "Aw come on you guys! Live it up a bit. It was just a stupid little joke." He trails of, mumbling to himself. Yugi sighs, "It's kind of hard to do that Mokuba. Ryou is in trouble and we're sitting at home doing nothing. I just feel so helpless at the moment." Yugi gets up from the couch. He picks up Seto's empty glass and walks off into the kitchen. He sets the cup down in the sink and wanders of towards the window to look out.
"Oh Ryou! I wish I could help you but I don't know what to do. I thought I did but I guess I'm no better then anyone else. I hope Otogi finds you soon."
"THIS SUCKS!!!!" There's a resounding clap as a coke can hits the side of a building. A blonde haired boy walks over to where the can lays and steps on it with a mighty force, splitting the can in two.
"If you shout loud enough we can gather a whole audience of people who would be dying for the chance to meet you. Oops! I meant to say beat you! Malik you can't scream like that. This neighbour hood isn't exactly voice friendly at a time like this."
"What do you care anyways? I'm sure you would be dying to see a late night movie, especially if it has 3D effects." Malik scoured at Marik.
"What would you know about 3D movies?"
"What I do know is they suck! Live entertainment is much more exciting."
"Your so old school. Bring your brain out of that old trash and in to the 21-century. You no longer live in the time were they barely had proper hygiene and were bad at everything else but war and famine. You live with me in the time of computers and machines. Where we have baths daily and have proper wars."
"Is that any better?"
"Well...not exactly."
"And besides, I don't trust your machines. They have problems and anything can go wrong with them at anytime. Your machines will probably be your down fall."
"What? How dare you make sense in my presence about my own time!" Marik and Malik glared at each other, growling silently under their breath. They came nose to nose about to go into death lock when a light flashed in front of their eyes.
"Ahhhh!! My eyes!!" Marik fell backwards from the intensity of the flash. Malik just shields his eyes and grunted. Otogi appears in the middle of the light. He opens his eyes to view what's before him and immediately he snarls at the two before him.
"How dare you to fight at a time like this! You're supposed to be looking for Ryou and look what I find! I find a yami and light bickering over the stupidest thing!! Well fortunately for you Ryou has been found. We're all gathering around the Bakura's old home. Are you coming?" Otogi turned his head back and forth between both Egyptians. Marik stands up and a sly grin slips across his face. Malik just nods in reply. Otogi smiles. "Then she's settled. Let's go." Otogi turns around and rips a hole in the air. He jumps through with ease, followed by Malik and Marik close behind. The tear closes up and vanishes into the night.
It was darker in the house now that the sun had set a while ago. Shadows grew bigger and started to consume the rest of the house except one room. Ryou had his desk lamp on and his door shut. He was lying on his bed, crying silently. His hands were bandaged up from the previous lesson. Ryou placed his hands on a cold ice pack. He whimpered as the cold bit into his injured hands. He remembered how Bakura had laughed at him after he had placed his hands on the stove. He watched Ryou rip his hands out of his grip and fall to the floor convulsing. Ryou tried to stifle his tears because his yami would just beat him more if saw them. But of course nothing slipped past his yami. Bakura placed a well- aimed kick right for his chest. The force of the blow knocked Ryou into the counter causing him to lose his breath. Bakura just laughed at him and said he needed it, that weaklings needed to be toughened up and this was the only way to teach him. He then smiled wickedly at him and turned and left. His cold voice echoed through the house has he laughed harshly. Ryou closed his eyes at the memory and shuddered. He wiped away his tears so Bakura couldn't have another reason to come and beat him senseless.
Ryou? Are you all right? Ryou jumped a little as he heard Strawberry speak to him through their link.
/Oh! Yah. You just startled me Strawberry. I'm sorry I have you so worried. That's all I do is worry people. /
Don't think like that Ryou. That's probably what Bakura wants you to think.
/That I'm a burden on everyone's shoulders. / Ryou curled up into a ball under his blankets and started to shiver. Strawberry looked at his master with worry. Ryou griped his knees even harder when he heard the dull thump of feet coming towards his door. He sucked in his breath and tried not to make the slightest move. 'Maybe he'll just walk past my door. Oh god, please let him walk past my door and forget about me!' Ryou thought has the footsteps got closer. Strawberry sensed the insecurity in his master's thoughts. Ryou had enough suffering for one day. He took over his master's body and calmed himself. He made sure there was no fear to be felt through the link and in Ryou's body. He held his breath as the footsteps stopped at the door. 'Please just keep walking and leave your light alone for once.' There was a chilling silence for a couple of minutes and then the footstep pressed on to their own room. Bakura passed by and closed his own door to his room. The door left a resounding click down the hallway. Strawberry released his breath with a deep sigh of relief. The gods must have been on Ryou's side that time. He let Ryou take over again and reassured him that the danger has passed. Ryou poked his head out from his covers, his chocolate eyes quivering with tears. Ryou started to sob silently again.
Ryou, what's wrong? Bakura spared you tonight. Why are you still crying?
/He could have hurt you Strawberry. You were going to take my punishment and it would be my entire fault because I'm a weak stupid fool. /
Don't think like that Ryou. I believe you have a strong will and are very brave to be able to put up with those underhanded tactics. He is the weak one.
/Do you really think that Strawberry? /
Of course I do, just think about it Ryou. People like him are always afraid and scared. They're the loneliest type of people you could every cross. He just can't admit it because he doesn't want to appear as a weak-minded fool in front of you.
/Well I guess. It dose make sense if you think about it. But what could he be so afraid of? / Ryou sniffled a little as he started to feel a bit better.
I'm not sure Ryou but we can find out. The more Ryou thought about it the stronger he felt. Ideas started to form in his mind and he felt like he wasn't what he thought he was. No, what his yami thought he was. He came to the conclusion that he was no burden on his friend's shoulders but that he was taking the burden off of their shoulder so that they didn't have to suffer the same fate he had to with his yami. He felt more responsible for keeping them safe from harm then him self. But his best conclusion of all made his stomach churn with joy. He was no longer the scared one, Bakura was. Ryou figured Bakura was afraid of being backed into a corner so as a result he fought back with brutality and force.
"Bakura is afraid to be loved. He's afraid that I'll get to close too him and turn him soft. He refuses to know what love his because it must be new to him."
What?
/Strawberry, I'm not afraid anymore. There's no reason to be. The answer was right before my eyes all a long but I was too scared to realize it. Bakura was afraid of us! But we just have to work at him that's all. I think I can stand the beatings know if he puts up a fight. /
I think you lost it Ryou.
/He just wants to be saved. The signs were small but I can see them now. Strawberry? /
Yes?
/I'm going to save my yami. /