Chapter Three- Party

-Ryou-

I turned to glance at Bakura and Kaiba before going inside. I didn't like the idea of leaving the two of them alone to talk things out. But Kaiba nodded to me to go forward, so he seemed to think he knew what he was doing.

((Like he's even known what he should be doing.))

((Don't scare me like that!!!))

((And what did Kaiba want? Don't tell me he just kept you out there to have a conversation about the weather.))

((What do you think? He told me to behave.))

((Funny. I thought Yami would tell you that...))

((Mr. Kiss-my-ass Pharaoh has decided not to grace us with his presence.))

((Nani?))

((He's not here, baka.))

My yami cut off our connection, but he wouldn't have heard anything anyway. Yami's not here? Why? Why would he leave? Especially with the whole 'Bakura' thing?!

As the two of us had mentally conversed, we walked into a huge room with a jumbo-screen TV, games, and every kind of party food known to mankind.

Yugi and Joey were at the PlayStation2 with Mokuba, apparently deciding which game they should play.

Ishizu and Tea were talking about clothes, make-up, boys, and whatever else girls talked about.

Duke and Tristan looked like they started with Twister but ended up wrestling each other. Marik was standing next to the twister game/wrestling match, cheering on the two competitors.

That left Odion to the snack table to 'pig out', something I seriously doubted he did that often.

Bakura's voice in my head brought me back to our conversation.

Why on earth am I... hanging out with you? I came to get away from my boring everyday life and yet here I am, talking to my worthless 'partner'.

Bakura's eyes turned a darker hue as he mumbled, "Later" and went off to see his partner in crime, Marik.

Bakura was right; that was the reason I had come too, so I walked over to see how Yugi, Joey and Mokuba were doing.

"...what do you mean? A'course we can play baseball!"

"But Joey, baseball is two player and there are three of us."

"Mokuba's got a good point, Joey. How about snowboarding?"

"No, Motocross!"

"Uh, hey guys." I said, trying to get rid of the timidness that was in my voice. "Need a fourth player?"

Joey's smile perked up. "Yeah Ryou! You can play, but you had better choose which game or we'll be here all night."

"Technically, you'll be here all night regardless of whether or not we can pick a game." Mokuba pointed out. He's definitely his brother's brother; Kaiba wouldn't waste a chance to bug Joey either.

"Dat's not what I..."

"How about snowboarding?" I suggested, breaking up the potential fight.

"Yeah!"

-Bakura-

As I walked over to Marik, yadonushi joined Yugi and company. It may be difficult to do what I was about to do but lady luck must have the hots for me because that old 'pharaoh' has not decided to grace us with his presence. This has got to be the most perfect opportunity to get the millennium items that I've had in the past five thousand years! I have two already, the ring and the eye, and here I can get three more, the rod, the necklace and the prized millennium puzzle. Just too easy.

Way too easy. It bothered me, that after my second attempt at stealing little Yugi's puzzle, Yami was nowhere to be seen. What? Was he taking a leave of absence for a week or two? I'd doubt it. That spirit is too damn protective of his vessel. He'd never leave him alone and unprotected, not in his right mind. And that was what worried me. Did he have a trap set, that by stealing the items here, I would set off? He was a puzzle. And I'm not just comparing him to one. He was literally a puzzle. I should know. I had to seek refuge in that God-forsaken place when I lost the duel to Yami Marik.

For the love of Ra, why don't I think about these things when I start making plans to theft, instead of now, when my plan- half-baked as Ryou would say- was about to take place?

I'll tell you why. When you hear something about the millennium items- anything- the rest of that thick head of yours goes on cruise control. That's why.

There's only one thing I hate more than pesky, little mortals telling me off: pesky, little voices in my head telling me off. Ryou tells me (when he's not afraid to anyway) twenty-four/seven that I don't think things through- like my plans to steal the millennium items. I don't need myself to tell me that too now.

Which reminds me: I really need to get disciplining that boy. He has some nerve, telling me I don't think. I really have to disagree. I may not be a forward-thinker but I do think... eventually. I've always been the spontaneous type when it came to thinking. Such as when I was facing Slifer the Sky Dragon I realized that it had probably been a bad idea to slice up my arm. I can't help it! For the love of Ra, I haven't had a body of my own for the past millennia; how am I supposed to remember that a person can die from blood loss? I haven't had blood to worry about for eons. And now Ryou says it's a health issue.

Why the hell was I listening to my worthless 'partner', anyway? He can worry about his blood, I worry about the items and the world worries about staying in orbit. Everybody's happy.

Ugh, I have got to stop having these long conversations with myself.

-Normal-

Yugi and Joey continued with the game of snowboarding as Mokuba went to find Kaiba and Ryou went to see how the match between Duke and Tristan would play out.

"So Yuge..."

"Don't even start Joey," interjected Yugi, obviously knowing what his blonde friend was thinking. "I came here to enjoy myself; not talk about dueling."

Joey looked thoughtful, "What about Yami?"

"I just said I didn't want to talk," muttered Yugi, not looking up from the game.

"You said you didn't want to talk about dueling. You didn't say 'I don't want to talk about Yami'." Joey looked happy at finding the loophole in his friend's mood.

Yugi rounded on Joey, "Well isn't that the same thing?! Yami could never keep his damn mouth shut about dueling or 'destiny'! So why not put them in the same category!"

"But Yugi," Joey was shocked. Yugi never talked bad about Yami like that, they were friends. Better than friends; they were like brothers. What was wrong with him? "Yugi, you and Yami... you're closer than you an' me. Why is your friendship dying now, when we've got our peace?"

Yugi turned his eyes downcast, "Peace or no peace, sometimes friendship just dies."

"Really? Sounds like an interesting subject." Joked Marik. He had had enough of the match; it's only so funny to see two losers to fight over a girl before the dialogue stays the same. "Do tell."

Yugi's wavering mood turned to anger again, "And you, just, just... die would you!?" Yugi huffed off to the bathroom, leaving Joey and Marik alone.

"Well, that went well."

-Yugi-

"Just... die would you!?" After that I angrily stomped to the bathroom. I slammed the door shut before putting my ear to it to listen to my two 'friends' talk about me.

"Well... that went well."

"What's wrong with him?"

What's wrong with me?! Why does everyone assume that I'm the one with the problem?!

"Well Yugi..." Joey's voice trailed, "after Battle City, he's become very... detached."

That's a really nice way to say it; thanks Joey (not).

"He's begun to think that all of us are in danger because he duels, so... he quit."

"What about Yami?"

Who freakin' cares about Yami! He was Pharaoh five thousand years ago! Not now! Get with the times!

"Well, he did try to talk to Yuge, but he got fed up, Yugi that is, and well... broke the millennium puzzle."

"How's that dealing with his problems?"

Again with the 'problems' thing. I still think what I thunk before: I'm right, they're wrong. Though it is fun to see what they think up to bring me out of my 'depression'. Possibly the only joy I have left in life.

"I dunno. I've tried everything that I can think of and... nothing. I just don't think that it's even worth trying anymore. You saw how he acted on the bus; the Yugi we knew is not the Yugi we know now. I'm thinking he's lost it."

Now I've lost it, and I'm not worth it!?! Well isn't that nice! Some friend I've got!

"Should we talk to him or something?"

Oh this is gonna be good. Will it be the 'oh, Yugi, it's not 'your' fault' speech or the 'you know you miss beating Kaiba's butt' speech? Or maybe it's my favorite one, the 'don't you miss Yami and your important conversations' speech. Miss Yami? Like I'd miss fire in hell. It's not like I don't hear what he'd be saying to me anyway; the problem is I can't just break a puzzle into pieces to get Joey to leave me alone.

"I don't think so. It hasn't done any good the last dozen times that I've tried, so why now?"

I heard the sounds of the rest of the party. If no one was going to give me my lecture, I may as well just go out and enjoy myself.

And do what? Who would you hang out with? Bakura? Odion? Kaiba? You want someone who doesn't care about you; is that it?

I paused in turning the doorknob.

Who was that- Yami? I told you to get out of my head, so scram!

Silence answered me.

I had just imagined Yami. Did that mean I missed him? I say I don't... but then I do bring my deck around even though I say I won't duel. Does that mean... No. I'm just imagining him because I am not used to being able to think on my own without... him. I'm confused. Do I hate him or miss him?

At that moment my thoughts were interrupted by what sounded like a person collapsing on the door. I completely forgot about the party! What was happening out there?

Opening the door, I took a deep breath. The air had grown tremendously heavier; my lungs felt like they'd burst under the pressure. The room had a dark blue/purple cloud fogging my vision. I took a second deep breath as I sunk lower to the ground.

The Shadow Realm was here. But who? And why?