A/N: Ah, just got back from Texas……hey, I got more reviews this time! ^^ Thanks everyone!
Koishii No Tenshi: *bows* Thank you, thank you.
Ranma Higurashi: I know, wasn't it? (thanks!)
Hillary Nguyen: Here they are, thanks for waiting!
Random Thoughts: I'm flattered, thank you very much. ^^
keisan: *gasp!* He eats squirrels!? ...eh, no surprise, really. (and here he comes!)
laDy SaSaMi7: No, no! Don't cry! Here's the new chapter!
Female-Yami/Yugi: *wipes tear from eye* Thank you so much for your review! It was BEAUTIFUL!! ...ooo, does that mean I get a Bakura plushy!? XD SWEET!
Joey: *is giggling like an idiot*
…what is it?
Joey: ….it's nothin'…*laugh*
…ookay. Well, here's the chapter everyone's been waiting for! ^^;; I think…
Disclaimer: …uh, check the other chapters. It should be in there. *runs away from lawyers* YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!! BWA HAHAHAHA- *trips* Aw crap…
~*~*~*~*~*And the Spirits Emerge…*~*~*~*~*~
It was Friday. Friday at last. The last day before summer vacation. (I know I said break before, but break, vacation, same thing, right? ^^;;) The school was in a buzz. The students were happy. After all, they got to screw around after exams. It was, in a word, a free day.
(Shut-up, I know that isn't one word…)
It was then, just before school got out, in a sixth hour advanced math class, that Yugi noticed a certain someone at their seat who wasn't there the day before.
That certain someone being: Seto Kaiba.
Sure, they weren't the best of friends, but he was workin' on him. Why not go talk to him? It wasn't like they'd see each other over vacation or anything…right?
"So, Kaiba, uh…think you did good on the test?"
"Hundred percent."
"You really think so? I thought it was kinda hard and--"
"What do you want, Yugi?" He looks up from his book irritably.
"…well, nothing really." The smaller boy frowns.
"It's obvious you want something. What is it?"
"Have you seen Joey?" He blurts out.
"…perhaps."
His face brightens slightly. The question was just on a fluke, but 'perhaps' didn't mean 'no'.
"Why, is he in trouble?"
"Oh, no!" He quickly shakes his head. "It's just that…well, have you seen the news lately?"
"Yes."
"Then you probably already know…they arrested his father."
"Where are you going with this?"
"Kaiba…they put him in jail for shooting Joey!"
Several students' heads turn at his shout.
"I…I need to know…if he's okay." He looks at him with pleading eyes. "If you know anything…anything at all…please, tell me."
He shuts his book. Why couldn't the imp just leave him alone? A minute goes by before he quietly replies, "What if I told you…he was staying with me?"
"…what?"
"Oh, don't look so surprised."
"Are you serious!?" He nearly jumps on the other teen. "Is he hurt!? What happened?!"
"Yugi, you're making people stare…"
"I don't care, just tell me!"
He gives an exaggerated sigh. He hated explaining things. "I was in the neighborhood when I heard gunshots and found him running away from someone."
"…it's true then…he really did get shot…"
A small nod. "I picked him up and brought him back to the mansion so he could rest. It was only his leg, but he seemed to be in a lot of pain…"
"Is he awake yet?"
"Almost burned down my kitchen, he better be awake."
A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. That was Joey alright. "Well, what do you plan on doing with him?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Does he even know who you are?"
He puts on an all-too-familiar smirk. "Of course not."
"You have to tell him!"
"Why don't we let HIM decide what to think about me first? The less he knows, the better."
"Have you told him ANYTHING? What about his dad!?"
"What about him?"
He stares, a little shocked. "You have to tell him about that…"
"He doesn't need to know anything yet."
"But, Kaiba…"
The bell rings, signaling the end of school. He puts his book away. 'This is getting lame.' "I'll take care of it."
"What're you gonna do?"
He leaves without another word.
"…oh Joey…" The tri-color haired teen gets his backpack and slings it over his shoulder. "I hope you're okay…" He slowly shuffles out the door, a little depressed at the thought of his best friend in the hands of…well, he didn't want to say 'enemy'…but that's pretty much what Kaiba was.
He didn't get very far before he heard his name being called.
"Hey, Yugi!"
He stops long enough for Ryou to catch up.
"How'd you do on your--" The question dies on his lips. "…is something wrong?"
"I know here Joey is."
He pats him on the back. "That's a good thing, right?"
"…yeah. It IS a good thing." He gives a small laugh. "Thanks, I was starting to…well, never mind. It's not important."
"Oh…" He looks at the ground, trying to remember something. "Hey! Didn't you have something to show me?"
"Mm, yeah! Almost forgot!" He unzips his backpack giddily. "It's an ancient Egyptian artifact!" He pulls out a large, pyramid-shaped puzzle. "It's almost done, too!"
His eyes widen. "Great scotts! How long have you been working on it?"
"A while."
"A while? What's that mean."
"…years."
"Really? It takes that long to do?"
"Mm-hmm. Look." He points at several long cracks on the surface. "Those are the edges of each piece. It's kinda hard to tell which are which after you fit 'em in the right spot, though."
"There…there must've been hundreds!"
He laughs again, reaching into his pocket. "Here. Go ahead and try it." He takes out a handful of tiny golden pieces.
"I…" He starts to feel queasy. "I don't think I can do it."
"Sure you can. I'll help if you want!"
"Yugi, something strange is going on…" He clutches at the ring under his shirt.
"Ryou? What is it?"
"I…can't feel my arms…and-"
(Time to call him OUT!)
"Did you hear that!?" It was the voice from a couple nights ago.
"Hear what?" He looks around nervously. "W-What's going on?"
The albino stiffens as if on command. His head lowers. "The time…is now."
"…the time? Time for what?"
His eyes darken. "…for HIM." Pale arms snatch the pieces away and snap them into place on the puzzle at an alarming speed. A smile spreads across the now strange face and the arms begin to work faster, now a blur.
"Ryou?" The smaller boy squeaks. "Ryou! RYOU!!"
The figure before him blinks. "Yugi?" Its features become lighter. "Guh!" The puzzle falls from his hands in surprise.
"Whoa!" The other teen catches it with ease. "Don't wanna be dropping this now!" He puts it away, a worried smile on his face.
"S-sorry Yugi!" He shakes his head quickly. "I…couldn't control myself…it's like I was far away, just watching…"
"It's not your fault, don't worry about it."
"…what do you mean?"
"Well, if you promise not to laugh…" He waits for the other's nod. "…this puzzle…they say it has a dark power trapped inside…like some kind of magic. Under the right circumstances, it can interact with the outside world…or even escape." He closes his eyes, bracing himself for the usual onslaught of laughter.
"…I believe you."
He cautiously looks up. "…you do?"
"Of course!" He smiles warmly. "What are friends for?"
He opens his mouth to reply when he sees something move under his uniform. "…Ryou, there's something on your--"
"Unnhh!!" He crashes back against the wall, hands running across his torso. "My skin, it's burning!" Another agonized shout escapes his throat and he falls to the floor. "Get it, get it off!" He nearly doubles over in pain.
"Ryou!" The smaller boy searches his body with frightened eyes. "Is it there!?"
He points at his chest, earning a desperate nod.
He frantically unbuttons the blue coat and rips off his other shirt, gasping when he reaches bare skin. "Oh my God!"
A glowing ring similar to his puzzle was slowly-but-surely embedding itself into the bone just under his neck.
"…get it…off…" The now completely white teenager chokes.
A group of socializing teachers down the hall see the two of them on the floor. "H-hey!" It looked like they were fighting. "You can't be doing that in here!"
Yugi takes no notice of the shouting adults. He continues pulling on the sinking necklace.
"What's he doing to that kid!?" Several teachers nearby run to the scene.
He grits his teeth together and pulls harder.
Ryou screams.
"Yugi Motou, stop it this instant!" His math professor grabs him by the shoulders, accompanied by two others at his waist and legs.
"No, NO!" He cries, still latched onto the ring. "I have to help him!"
"Then let go! You're hurting him!"
"Hrrrrrr! He gives a final yank before letting himself be dragged off.
"…ungh…" Blood trickles down the limp boy's stomach. He weakly touches the now resting ring. "…it's done…"
"Whoa, hey! Are you alright!?" The remaining teachers gather around him.
"…where's…Yugi?"
"They took him to the office. It looks like you'll have to come, too."
He nods, allowing them to carry him down another hallway and into the said room.
"Urg! Let me GO!" The violet-eyed teen struggles against the restraining arms. "I have to see him! I have to see if he's okay!" He stops thrashing as his friend comes into view. "Ryou!"
He moans in acknowledgement. They set him on the bench. "It wasn't…him…"
"Shh, shh. Don't talk." The nurse quickly examines his chest. "He'll be okay after he rests a bit." She bandages him up before putting him in another room.
She returns shortly, a displeased look on her face. "Mr. Motou, you should be ashamed of yourself!"
"But, I didn't-"
"I don't know how you did it, but you managed to give him several deep cuts with that necklace!"
"Are you even list-"
"You're lucky school's out young man, or you'd be in big trouble!" She hands him the phone. "Now hurry up and get yourself a ride home before I kick you outside myself!"
"But-"
"No buts!"
He sighs and punches in his grandpa's number.
"Yeah, it's me. No. I was just wondering if you could come and pick me up from school. I know, but something weird happened and- …yeah. Alright, see you in a minute. Bye." He sets the phone back on its hook, not looking at the nurse's face.
"Never thought I'd see the day…"
He didn't have to wait long before a knock was heard on the door and an elderly man walked in. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah." He hops off his chair. "…sorry Mrs. Nurse."
She taps her foot on the floor. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."
"…right. I'll remember that." He leaves the room with his grandfather, then the building. Soon they were in the car.
"What happened, my boy?"
He stares out the window, numb to his surroundings. "Remember the boy I told you about yesterday?"
He scratches his beard. "What, that Ryou fellow?"
"Mm-hm." He opens his backpack, taking out the puzzle. "He did this."
"But…it's nearly finished!"
He faintly nods. "All that's left is the eyepiece. He…seemed different when he was doing it…like he was darker…I couldn't believe how fast he was going. And then his ring started-"
"Hold on. What did the ring look like?"
"It was gold, with five little dangling parts…and a symbol just like the one on my eyepiece. I can remember it so clearly…"
"Did you sense anything special about it? Like with your puzzle?"
"It just seemed…dark…and powerful. It had a strange aura about it."
The car comes to a stop just outside the game shop. "…it's as I feared."
"What?"
"Yugi," his grandpa turns to him. "That artifact your friend has…it's called the Millennium Ring. Just as yours is called the Millennium Puzzle."
His eyes widen. "Are you saying-"
"I don't want you to see that boy anymore. He should have never touched the puzzle. Your items should never even come NEAR each other."
"But, grandpa…"
He gets out of the car. "Try to understand, Yugi…only evil can come of it."
"Grandpa, wait…"
He gives him an apologetic glance before going inside.
"…this can't be happening." The teen follows suit and retreats to his room, slamming the door shut and sitting on his bed within minutes.
'What should I do?' He watches the floor intensely, as if expecting it to move. "…I've waited this long. It'd be foolish not to." He retrieves the eyepiece from his pocket with a trembling hand. "If I complete it…will the darkness be released?"
He shakes his head. "No, no. All this power can't be bad. I know there's something good in it. There has to be…" He clicks it into place.
'…what the hell am I doing?'
A tremor races through the room.
"Ugh!" He grabs onto his dresser for balance.
A quiet chanting reaches his ears. "Wha-What is that!?" Its volume increases, words starting to form.
He runs to an open window. "Who's there!?"
The chanting stops, the shaking ceases. He takes a step back. Light below catches his eye. "What's going on?!" The puzzle glows brightly, clattering against the floor.
His eyes become large. "Is this--!" A flash and he covers his face. "Nghhh!!" A cold wind rips through his clothes.
Something resembling a shriek comes from the distance and the wind dies down, along with the blinding light.
He shivers and waits. 'What….what…' He slowly opens his eyes. "…oh!"
It was like looking into a mirror. Minus the height and lightning-streaked hair, the figure before him…well, looked like him.
'…he certainly is handsome…'
A hard slap to the face brings him back to reality.
"Guh!" He cups his cheek with a hand. 'He hit me!?'
A stream of Egyptian shouts comes from the stranger.
Yugi looks at him, confusion etched on his face. "…what?"
Another shout and his look-alike runs from the room.
"W-wait a minute!" The sound of a door shutting leaves him by himself once again.
He sits in silence, shock coursing through his body.
"What…what WAS that?"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::MEANWHILE::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ryou stumbles through the streets, dizzy, just minutes after leaving the school. His hands grab at anything within reach, trying to regain control.
"What's…happening to me?"
He leans against a stop sign, nausea overcoming him.
"Oh no! Are you OKAY?"
'Go away…go…away…'
"What's wrong Ryou?"
He tries to ignore the high-pitched voice.
"I know!" The brunette comes closer, arms outstretched. "You need a HUG!"
A smile spreads across his face. "…what I need?" His arm shoots forward, hand closing around her neck. "Is for you to die."
"Ynnnnn!" She claws at the strangling hold.
He tightens his grip.
"NO!!"
She falls to the ground, coughing.
"…Ry…Ryou!?"
"Run Tea!" He restrains his arm.
"What's going on?!"
"Just…get out…while you still can!"
"Think FRIENDSHIP, Ryou!"
His body lurches forward. "GO!!"
"Friendshipfriendshipfriendship!"
"GRR!!" He dives at her. "SHUT-UP!" His fingers form another chokehold.
"…geh!...guh!...gi!..."
He shakes. "No, no, NO!" His hand drops to the ground. "I won't let you hurt her!"
(And I won't be IGNORED!!)
Clouds move swiftly overhead, covering the rising moon. "Ugh!" Something knocks him on his back.
Darkness engulfs him.
'…
…
…
…I'm…
…
…still awake?'
He feels a pressure on his chest. "…what…" His eyes open. "Uh!" He draws back.
Inches away from his face was the same one he saw that unforgettable night.
"It's good to see you again."
That voice! Commanding, powerful…raspier than his, but powerful all the same.
He shivers, just as he did the first time he heard it.
The white-haired figure runs a finger up his side. "And under such close…circumstances."
He breaks out into a cold sweat.
"And how convenient," he shifts his weight to his stomach. "That I should have you on the ground…" He grabs one of his wrists. "…with your shirt already open…" He moves his hips forward, grabbing onto the other one.
'W-What's he doing? Is he…oh God, please, no…'
He lets out a small whimper, his lip trembling.
'What?' The other pauses. 'He's…afraid?'
His eyes wander down to his chest. 'I hurt him earlier, didn't I?' He mentally slaps himself. 'So what? It was his fault for not letting me finish the…wait. The puzzle's done?'
He sighs disappointedly, watching a tear run down the smaller boy's face.
'…damnit.'
He lets go of his wrists and climbs off.
Ryou blinks, confused. "…why--"
"You're just 5,000 years too young." He stands up. "That's all."
"…5,000…years?"
He turns to walk away.
"W-wait!" He sits up. "Where are you going?"
"To take in the new scenery, of course. It's been a long time." He takes a step out onto the street. "And don't worry," he throws the bewildered teen one last glance. "We'll see each other again, hikari."
…
…
…
And how true he was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Ahh, there ya go. Yami and Bakura! ^^ Hope you liked it.
Ryou: …keep him away from me…
Aw, come on. He was just messin' with ya! …at least I think he was. He hasn't been able to tap that ass in five millennia, ya know…
Ryou: Shut-up! Shut-UP!!
XD Hahahaha...
All will be explained later on.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
(please, please, please, please…)
P.S.- I'll update my other stories later, for all you Trigun fans! (hey, I have an excuse, so don't yell at me!)
Koishii No Tenshi: *bows* Thank you, thank you.
Ranma Higurashi: I know, wasn't it? (thanks!)
Hillary Nguyen: Here they are, thanks for waiting!
Random Thoughts: I'm flattered, thank you very much. ^^
keisan: *gasp!* He eats squirrels!? ...eh, no surprise, really. (and here he comes!)
laDy SaSaMi7: No, no! Don't cry! Here's the new chapter!
Female-Yami/Yugi: *wipes tear from eye* Thank you so much for your review! It was BEAUTIFUL!! ...ooo, does that mean I get a Bakura plushy!? XD SWEET!
Joey: *is giggling like an idiot*
…what is it?
Joey: ….it's nothin'…*laugh*
…ookay. Well, here's the chapter everyone's been waiting for! ^^;; I think…
Disclaimer: …uh, check the other chapters. It should be in there. *runs away from lawyers* YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!! BWA HAHAHAHA- *trips* Aw crap…
~*~*~*~*~*And the Spirits Emerge…*~*~*~*~*~
It was Friday. Friday at last. The last day before summer vacation. (I know I said break before, but break, vacation, same thing, right? ^^;;) The school was in a buzz. The students were happy. After all, they got to screw around after exams. It was, in a word, a free day.
(Shut-up, I know that isn't one word…)
It was then, just before school got out, in a sixth hour advanced math class, that Yugi noticed a certain someone at their seat who wasn't there the day before.
That certain someone being: Seto Kaiba.
Sure, they weren't the best of friends, but he was workin' on him. Why not go talk to him? It wasn't like they'd see each other over vacation or anything…right?
"So, Kaiba, uh…think you did good on the test?"
"Hundred percent."
"You really think so? I thought it was kinda hard and--"
"What do you want, Yugi?" He looks up from his book irritably.
"…well, nothing really." The smaller boy frowns.
"It's obvious you want something. What is it?"
"Have you seen Joey?" He blurts out.
"…perhaps."
His face brightens slightly. The question was just on a fluke, but 'perhaps' didn't mean 'no'.
"Why, is he in trouble?"
"Oh, no!" He quickly shakes his head. "It's just that…well, have you seen the news lately?"
"Yes."
"Then you probably already know…they arrested his father."
"Where are you going with this?"
"Kaiba…they put him in jail for shooting Joey!"
Several students' heads turn at his shout.
"I…I need to know…if he's okay." He looks at him with pleading eyes. "If you know anything…anything at all…please, tell me."
He shuts his book. Why couldn't the imp just leave him alone? A minute goes by before he quietly replies, "What if I told you…he was staying with me?"
"…what?"
"Oh, don't look so surprised."
"Are you serious!?" He nearly jumps on the other teen. "Is he hurt!? What happened?!"
"Yugi, you're making people stare…"
"I don't care, just tell me!"
He gives an exaggerated sigh. He hated explaining things. "I was in the neighborhood when I heard gunshots and found him running away from someone."
"…it's true then…he really did get shot…"
A small nod. "I picked him up and brought him back to the mansion so he could rest. It was only his leg, but he seemed to be in a lot of pain…"
"Is he awake yet?"
"Almost burned down my kitchen, he better be awake."
A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. That was Joey alright. "Well, what do you plan on doing with him?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Does he even know who you are?"
He puts on an all-too-familiar smirk. "Of course not."
"You have to tell him!"
"Why don't we let HIM decide what to think about me first? The less he knows, the better."
"Have you told him ANYTHING? What about his dad!?"
"What about him?"
He stares, a little shocked. "You have to tell him about that…"
"He doesn't need to know anything yet."
"But, Kaiba…"
The bell rings, signaling the end of school. He puts his book away. 'This is getting lame.' "I'll take care of it."
"What're you gonna do?"
He leaves without another word.
"…oh Joey…" The tri-color haired teen gets his backpack and slings it over his shoulder. "I hope you're okay…" He slowly shuffles out the door, a little depressed at the thought of his best friend in the hands of…well, he didn't want to say 'enemy'…but that's pretty much what Kaiba was.
He didn't get very far before he heard his name being called.
"Hey, Yugi!"
He stops long enough for Ryou to catch up.
"How'd you do on your--" The question dies on his lips. "…is something wrong?"
"I know here Joey is."
He pats him on the back. "That's a good thing, right?"
"…yeah. It IS a good thing." He gives a small laugh. "Thanks, I was starting to…well, never mind. It's not important."
"Oh…" He looks at the ground, trying to remember something. "Hey! Didn't you have something to show me?"
"Mm, yeah! Almost forgot!" He unzips his backpack giddily. "It's an ancient Egyptian artifact!" He pulls out a large, pyramid-shaped puzzle. "It's almost done, too!"
His eyes widen. "Great scotts! How long have you been working on it?"
"A while."
"A while? What's that mean."
"…years."
"Really? It takes that long to do?"
"Mm-hmm. Look." He points at several long cracks on the surface. "Those are the edges of each piece. It's kinda hard to tell which are which after you fit 'em in the right spot, though."
"There…there must've been hundreds!"
He laughs again, reaching into his pocket. "Here. Go ahead and try it." He takes out a handful of tiny golden pieces.
"I…" He starts to feel queasy. "I don't think I can do it."
"Sure you can. I'll help if you want!"
"Yugi, something strange is going on…" He clutches at the ring under his shirt.
"Ryou? What is it?"
"I…can't feel my arms…and-"
(Time to call him OUT!)
"Did you hear that!?" It was the voice from a couple nights ago.
"Hear what?" He looks around nervously. "W-What's going on?"
The albino stiffens as if on command. His head lowers. "The time…is now."
"…the time? Time for what?"
His eyes darken. "…for HIM." Pale arms snatch the pieces away and snap them into place on the puzzle at an alarming speed. A smile spreads across the now strange face and the arms begin to work faster, now a blur.
"Ryou?" The smaller boy squeaks. "Ryou! RYOU!!"
The figure before him blinks. "Yugi?" Its features become lighter. "Guh!" The puzzle falls from his hands in surprise.
"Whoa!" The other teen catches it with ease. "Don't wanna be dropping this now!" He puts it away, a worried smile on his face.
"S-sorry Yugi!" He shakes his head quickly. "I…couldn't control myself…it's like I was far away, just watching…"
"It's not your fault, don't worry about it."
"…what do you mean?"
"Well, if you promise not to laugh…" He waits for the other's nod. "…this puzzle…they say it has a dark power trapped inside…like some kind of magic. Under the right circumstances, it can interact with the outside world…or even escape." He closes his eyes, bracing himself for the usual onslaught of laughter.
"…I believe you."
He cautiously looks up. "…you do?"
"Of course!" He smiles warmly. "What are friends for?"
He opens his mouth to reply when he sees something move under his uniform. "…Ryou, there's something on your--"
"Unnhh!!" He crashes back against the wall, hands running across his torso. "My skin, it's burning!" Another agonized shout escapes his throat and he falls to the floor. "Get it, get it off!" He nearly doubles over in pain.
"Ryou!" The smaller boy searches his body with frightened eyes. "Is it there!?"
He points at his chest, earning a desperate nod.
He frantically unbuttons the blue coat and rips off his other shirt, gasping when he reaches bare skin. "Oh my God!"
A glowing ring similar to his puzzle was slowly-but-surely embedding itself into the bone just under his neck.
"…get it…off…" The now completely white teenager chokes.
A group of socializing teachers down the hall see the two of them on the floor. "H-hey!" It looked like they were fighting. "You can't be doing that in here!"
Yugi takes no notice of the shouting adults. He continues pulling on the sinking necklace.
"What's he doing to that kid!?" Several teachers nearby run to the scene.
He grits his teeth together and pulls harder.
Ryou screams.
"Yugi Motou, stop it this instant!" His math professor grabs him by the shoulders, accompanied by two others at his waist and legs.
"No, NO!" He cries, still latched onto the ring. "I have to help him!"
"Then let go! You're hurting him!"
"Hrrrrrr! He gives a final yank before letting himself be dragged off.
"…ungh…" Blood trickles down the limp boy's stomach. He weakly touches the now resting ring. "…it's done…"
"Whoa, hey! Are you alright!?" The remaining teachers gather around him.
"…where's…Yugi?"
"They took him to the office. It looks like you'll have to come, too."
He nods, allowing them to carry him down another hallway and into the said room.
"Urg! Let me GO!" The violet-eyed teen struggles against the restraining arms. "I have to see him! I have to see if he's okay!" He stops thrashing as his friend comes into view. "Ryou!"
He moans in acknowledgement. They set him on the bench. "It wasn't…him…"
"Shh, shh. Don't talk." The nurse quickly examines his chest. "He'll be okay after he rests a bit." She bandages him up before putting him in another room.
She returns shortly, a displeased look on her face. "Mr. Motou, you should be ashamed of yourself!"
"But, I didn't-"
"I don't know how you did it, but you managed to give him several deep cuts with that necklace!"
"Are you even list-"
"You're lucky school's out young man, or you'd be in big trouble!" She hands him the phone. "Now hurry up and get yourself a ride home before I kick you outside myself!"
"But-"
"No buts!"
He sighs and punches in his grandpa's number.
"Yeah, it's me. No. I was just wondering if you could come and pick me up from school. I know, but something weird happened and- …yeah. Alright, see you in a minute. Bye." He sets the phone back on its hook, not looking at the nurse's face.
"Never thought I'd see the day…"
He didn't have to wait long before a knock was heard on the door and an elderly man walked in. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah." He hops off his chair. "…sorry Mrs. Nurse."
She taps her foot on the floor. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."
"…right. I'll remember that." He leaves the room with his grandfather, then the building. Soon they were in the car.
"What happened, my boy?"
He stares out the window, numb to his surroundings. "Remember the boy I told you about yesterday?"
He scratches his beard. "What, that Ryou fellow?"
"Mm-hm." He opens his backpack, taking out the puzzle. "He did this."
"But…it's nearly finished!"
He faintly nods. "All that's left is the eyepiece. He…seemed different when he was doing it…like he was darker…I couldn't believe how fast he was going. And then his ring started-"
"Hold on. What did the ring look like?"
"It was gold, with five little dangling parts…and a symbol just like the one on my eyepiece. I can remember it so clearly…"
"Did you sense anything special about it? Like with your puzzle?"
"It just seemed…dark…and powerful. It had a strange aura about it."
The car comes to a stop just outside the game shop. "…it's as I feared."
"What?"
"Yugi," his grandpa turns to him. "That artifact your friend has…it's called the Millennium Ring. Just as yours is called the Millennium Puzzle."
His eyes widen. "Are you saying-"
"I don't want you to see that boy anymore. He should have never touched the puzzle. Your items should never even come NEAR each other."
"But, grandpa…"
He gets out of the car. "Try to understand, Yugi…only evil can come of it."
"Grandpa, wait…"
He gives him an apologetic glance before going inside.
"…this can't be happening." The teen follows suit and retreats to his room, slamming the door shut and sitting on his bed within minutes.
'What should I do?' He watches the floor intensely, as if expecting it to move. "…I've waited this long. It'd be foolish not to." He retrieves the eyepiece from his pocket with a trembling hand. "If I complete it…will the darkness be released?"
He shakes his head. "No, no. All this power can't be bad. I know there's something good in it. There has to be…" He clicks it into place.
'…what the hell am I doing?'
A tremor races through the room.
"Ugh!" He grabs onto his dresser for balance.
A quiet chanting reaches his ears. "Wha-What is that!?" Its volume increases, words starting to form.
He runs to an open window. "Who's there!?"
The chanting stops, the shaking ceases. He takes a step back. Light below catches his eye. "What's going on?!" The puzzle glows brightly, clattering against the floor.
His eyes become large. "Is this--!" A flash and he covers his face. "Nghhh!!" A cold wind rips through his clothes.
Something resembling a shriek comes from the distance and the wind dies down, along with the blinding light.
He shivers and waits. 'What….what…' He slowly opens his eyes. "…oh!"
It was like looking into a mirror. Minus the height and lightning-streaked hair, the figure before him…well, looked like him.
'…he certainly is handsome…'
A hard slap to the face brings him back to reality.
"Guh!" He cups his cheek with a hand. 'He hit me!?'
A stream of Egyptian shouts comes from the stranger.
Yugi looks at him, confusion etched on his face. "…what?"
Another shout and his look-alike runs from the room.
"W-wait a minute!" The sound of a door shutting leaves him by himself once again.
He sits in silence, shock coursing through his body.
"What…what WAS that?"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::MEANWHILE::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ryou stumbles through the streets, dizzy, just minutes after leaving the school. His hands grab at anything within reach, trying to regain control.
"What's…happening to me?"
He leans against a stop sign, nausea overcoming him.
"Oh no! Are you OKAY?"
'Go away…go…away…'
"What's wrong Ryou?"
He tries to ignore the high-pitched voice.
"I know!" The brunette comes closer, arms outstretched. "You need a HUG!"
A smile spreads across his face. "…what I need?" His arm shoots forward, hand closing around her neck. "Is for you to die."
"Ynnnnn!" She claws at the strangling hold.
He tightens his grip.
"NO!!"
She falls to the ground, coughing.
"…Ry…Ryou!?"
"Run Tea!" He restrains his arm.
"What's going on?!"
"Just…get out…while you still can!"
"Think FRIENDSHIP, Ryou!"
His body lurches forward. "GO!!"
"Friendshipfriendshipfriendship!"
"GRR!!" He dives at her. "SHUT-UP!" His fingers form another chokehold.
"…geh!...guh!...gi!..."
He shakes. "No, no, NO!" His hand drops to the ground. "I won't let you hurt her!"
(And I won't be IGNORED!!)
Clouds move swiftly overhead, covering the rising moon. "Ugh!" Something knocks him on his back.
Darkness engulfs him.
'…
…
…
…I'm…
…
…still awake?'
He feels a pressure on his chest. "…what…" His eyes open. "Uh!" He draws back.
Inches away from his face was the same one he saw that unforgettable night.
"It's good to see you again."
That voice! Commanding, powerful…raspier than his, but powerful all the same.
He shivers, just as he did the first time he heard it.
The white-haired figure runs a finger up his side. "And under such close…circumstances."
He breaks out into a cold sweat.
"And how convenient," he shifts his weight to his stomach. "That I should have you on the ground…" He grabs one of his wrists. "…with your shirt already open…" He moves his hips forward, grabbing onto the other one.
'W-What's he doing? Is he…oh God, please, no…'
He lets out a small whimper, his lip trembling.
'What?' The other pauses. 'He's…afraid?'
His eyes wander down to his chest. 'I hurt him earlier, didn't I?' He mentally slaps himself. 'So what? It was his fault for not letting me finish the…wait. The puzzle's done?'
He sighs disappointedly, watching a tear run down the smaller boy's face.
'…damnit.'
He lets go of his wrists and climbs off.
Ryou blinks, confused. "…why--"
"You're just 5,000 years too young." He stands up. "That's all."
"…5,000…years?"
He turns to walk away.
"W-wait!" He sits up. "Where are you going?"
"To take in the new scenery, of course. It's been a long time." He takes a step out onto the street. "And don't worry," he throws the bewildered teen one last glance. "We'll see each other again, hikari."
…
…
…
And how true he was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Ahh, there ya go. Yami and Bakura! ^^ Hope you liked it.
Ryou: …keep him away from me…
Aw, come on. He was just messin' with ya! …at least I think he was. He hasn't been able to tap that ass in five millennia, ya know…
Ryou: Shut-up! Shut-UP!!
XD Hahahaha...
All will be explained later on.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
(please, please, please, please…)
P.S.- I'll update my other stories later, for all you Trigun fans! (hey, I have an excuse, so don't yell at me!)