Topazia: So far this is the longest chapter. Anyways...a promise is a promise... ::grins::
Bakura's POV
Marik was staying over at my house, saying that I needed to be around someone more than anything now. He had managed to drag me out of my shower prison and wrapped me up in a blanket to prevent me from getting sick. I hadn't moved from that spot since yesterday...
I didn't know what was wrong with me, I was angry, definitely angry, confused, and Ra knows what else. Maybe I was wrong for blaming Ryou from my problems, but something else kept screaming to me that I wasn't and if it weren't for him and that damned pharaoh, none of this would have happened.
"Are you still sulking there?" My eyes traveled up towards the foot of the staircase where Marik himself lounged, a bored look on his face. "Look, I don't blame you for being upset over this but you have to let it go for now. There still might be a way. Come on, we're supposed to go out tonight, remember?"
"I don't know Marik, what's the point?" I answered dully and he glared, stomping over to my location and dragging me to my feet.
"I have something to show you." Shrugging I followed him up the stairs and surprisingly to Ryou's room. The boy always kept it neat and clean, it was so tidy that one would question if he even stayed there. But there was something different about the tidy little sky blue room that caught my attention.
Spread out on the bed was a midnight blue dress; the detail of the dress and the silver moon chocker with silver earrings that accompanied it were beautiful, graceful, something that made my heart suddenly ache for my silver haired hikairi. "What...what is this?" I stammered softly.
"Me and Malik kidnapped him and made him pick out clothes that would suit you." Marik explained with a genuine smile. "He rejected everything we picked, saying that you have to think about color when picking clothes for someone." He continued. "Ryou is right, the midnight blue suits you very well and I want you to wear it tonight."
My mouth opened and closed but no sound came forth. I knew what I wanted to say; it just wouldn't come out so I nodded instead. My light picked this out for me, and after what I did to him I at least owe him this. "Alright, fine...just give me some time. I want to shower." Marik nodded and exited the room, closing it quietly behind him.
With a sigh I walked into Ryou's bathroom and turned on the shower. The warm water cascaded down, falling down on my stressed skin like soft caresses. Ryou's shower was filled with scented oils, what were they called again? Body splash I think or something similar to it. So I picked one up, distributed one to a towel and scrubbed.
It smelled delicious; intoxicating even...cucumber melon was what it was called. The smell was something to help take my mind off of everything. The less I thought about what would happen to me later tonight at midnight the better I seemed to feel. I guess you could say my spirit seemed to lift just a tad.
There was still the issue with Ryou that nagged at me ever now and then. I didn't know how to feel about that situation... The shower ended and I stepped back into Ryou's room, a towel around my body. Dresses weren't really my thing in this body or my last one but...
"Beautiful, Ryou was right. It looks perfect on you." Marik cooed with a smirk and I blushed, pissed that he was picking with me and also ticked that I had let such a comment get to me. I made my way to the center of the room, stomping to glare at him and he chuckled, much to my annoyance, looking like a skinny penguin with a bleached wig. "Let's go Cinderella."
He led me up the door and towards a gold convertible much to my amazement and my jaw dropped in disbelief. "Where the hell did you get money for this?" I asked eyeing him suspiciously. "The car and the black suit. You have no job!"
"The car isn't not mines, it's yours." He smirked, tilting his head thoughtfully. "Think of it as a gift between thieves. Now as far as the suit...Seto won't miss it too much." He opened the door for me then positions himself behind the wheel. As if I wasn't nervous already this fucking psycho had to grace me with his legendary driving skills. The last thing I needed was to die...again. "Relax..." he said, upon noticing my nervousness. "I got everything under control, Malik taught me how to drive." He smirked proudly.
"Thanks, how reassuring..." I replied and the psychotic blonde laughed, backing the car up before driving. Off. He let the hood down minuets later, his crazy laughter echoing through the night streets.
"You're lucky we care for you Bakura, Malik and I." he said after a while and I said nothing, but listened. "Everything be fine, just you wait and see." It was more of a blissful promise to himself than to me. The streetlights zoomed past us overhead like sands passing through an hourglass.
Apparently the club Marik was dragging me to was located in the heart of the downtown area, the part of the city that never sleeps. It was a really ritzy place were all the stiffs like Seto would hang out. Well, scratch that, Seto would go there if he had a life...
Marik slowed down and pulled into the parking lot. "We're here and look." He helped me out and pointed to the entrance where Malik was entering with my light. "We're here just in time."
"Yeah, whatever can we just get this over with?" I snapped walking ahead of him.
He shook his head in reply, following close behind me. "Touchy I see..."
The club consisted of two floors, staircases leading to the second story stood on either side of the entrance where tables awaited, most filled with happy couples. The bottom story held a few tables as well, hidden away from the dim golden light of the chandler above but for the most part it was a dance floor with a live band in all. The whole place seemed to glow with golden trimmings, diamond chandeliers, and red carpets. It I was still a thief, which I am occasionally...just not at this moment, I'd call this place paradise.
"They're that way." Marik directed my attention to one of the tables hidden in the shadows. Sure enough Ryou and Malik where there, engrossed in what appeared an interesting conversation. Ryou sure seemed happy, but then leave it to Malik to work his charms on somebody.
As much as I hated to admit it Marik's worlds were coming back to haunt me more than ever. 'Ryou had feelings for Malik before, what makes you think that what you did to him may not open old wounds...' We took a seat and Marik ordered some wine, not that I cared, my attention was on my beautiful blushing hikairi. I suppose that I would deserve it if he did leave me for Malik...
A singer stepped up to the bandstand and Ryou's head jerked up, his eyes wide with excitement. I couldn't hear it but I could tell he wanted to dance, for as soon as I thought it my light jumped up and dragged the Egyptian boy to the floor. "Hey Marik," I started and he casually looked up from his glass of fresh wine. "Can Malik even dance?"
"Not to save his life, the boy has one and a half left feet." Marik barked out a laugh and stood, helping me to my feet. "He catches on...though. Why don't we show him a step or two?" he smirked and I blinked. Not that I had much of a choice in the matter, he quietly led me down to the floor promising that I couldn't get away even if I tried...
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Ryou's POV"I don't know about this Ryou..." Malik shifted nervously and I covered my mouth with my hand to hide my giggle. "I'm not really one for dancing."
"Oh you'll be fine, trust me." I reassured. I had managed to bring him out to a slightly secluded part of the floor, away from all the whirling colors as the couples flew across the floor. He cursed me all the way but his meaningless threats were thrown up to the wind and here we stand now. "How dare you offer to take me out to a club and then not dance with me." I pouted, meddling the material of his suit.
"Alright fine, you win." He sighed and took my hand. It was cute, he was so offbeat and stiff I had to lower my head to keep from laughing at him but he quickly diverted my attention. "Hey, is that Marik...and Bakura?" He blinked curiously, pointing off in the opposite direction.
How the hell did Marik get my Yami into a nightclub? My eyes followed his finger, widening at what they saw. It was Bakura and he was wearing the dress we boug...er...stole from the store. It certainly made him stand out. He seemed pale and angelic, twirling in Marik's arms, the slightly trace of a smirk on his face.
The midnight blue dress fell just like I imagined it would if not better. His milky white skin seemed to glow with an unnatural light, like the moon would in a starless sky as the velvety blue flowed gracefully around him with every move he and Marik made.
His hair was slicked back and I smiled realizing he had dug through my jar for some gel that had been damned to the hell at the bottom of my sock drawer. It had the strangest ability to take even the wildest of hair and make it lay straight and curl at the ends and that's exactly what it was doing for Bakura.
"He wore the dress I picked?" I muttered, completely stunned.
"Looks like it, you surprised?" Malik asked.
"Well, yeah this is Bakura we're talking about and if you don't mind me saying Hell should be a little bit more than frozen over by now." I replied. Marik and Bakura made their way over to us and smiled at me and Malik. Bakura seemed indifferent...
"Hey you two." He smirked. "Having fun?"
"Yeah until we noticed you. You gave Malik an excuse not to dance with me!" I pointed as the players on the bandstand finished their song and a new singer stepped up to the microphone.
The Marik chuckled softly, running a hand through his wild hair. "Getting him to dance is easy if you know what buttons to press. Mind if I cut in?" I stepped back, grinning as Marik led his light away, Malik shooting me a dirty look in the process.
My attention turned back to Bakura, who seemed to shift nervously. "Hey there..." I waved and he nodded. "Hey Bakura I..."
"Look, don't worry about it Ryou and I'm sorry about getting mad at you earlier." He shrugged, his I moving to the floor.
It's to hold my hand...
And take a chance
It's time to pay the band
And start the dance
"Don't worry about it..." I waved my hand dismissively. "You don't mind dancing with me do you? My date seems a little occupied." I nodded behind me to where the two blondes had hidden themselves, engrossed with showing affections...
He shrugged and took my hand and we went to it, dancing. It felt weird though, to have him in my arms this way, but I didn't complain. "They set this up this way and you know it." He said after a while and I giggled.
"It's not that bad, it won't kill you." I replied with a smirk that rivaled his own and he blushed much to my surprise. I had been wondering when Malik would let me in on his plans. He led me right to it without me knowing. All he told me was that he wanted to take me out to get Bakura off my mind...
We hear the melody
We know the song
It's time, I think
We're on the brink
Of waiting far too long...
"No I guess not." He replied softly, his head lowered and I smiled suddenly feeling big and powerful, important even. Feeling that Bakura was something I had to protect, for now anyway. "But that doesn't mean I can't and won't kill Malik and Marik."
"Maybe so...but I think they did a good job, don't you?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. "They had you and me fooled. You can at least wait and kill them later." I joked. He actually chuckled and the weight that had been bearing down on his shoulders for the longest of times seemed to lift, leaving nothing but genuine happiness. It was rare when he let lose a real smile so I cherished everyone of them.
Why not believe our eyes
And cross our hearts
Dispense with alibis
Enough false starts
"I never did tell you how nice you looked tonight did I?" I said suddenly. And it was the truth, I hadn't. It was only right to compliment him. Give credit where credit it due and it was definitely due now.
"Yeah, I know." He replied. "This dress has never looked better, it should be thankful it has me." He smirked in reply and I laughed. What an egotistical bastard. Nothing, not even his new body seemed to be able to drown that factor out of him. It was strangely alluring now, that or I wasn't dreaming when I saw Malik slip something in my drink...pretty sure it was a dream though.
His eyes burned through mines, searching me thoroughly causing our movements on the slightly crowded floor to slow a bit. It made me nervous but curious at the same time and my gaze never left his.
Its time to put away
Our childish things
And time to trust
In us...and what tomorrow brings
Bakura leaned in pressing his lips to mine. I froze at first, images of what happened recently flashing through my mind. I didn't push away though; no it was different this time around. His lips were soft and inviting, curious even.
I held him closer to me, not wanting to let go of that warm, slim body that was pressed so close to mines. It was like being trapped in some warped form of a Cinderella story. Bakura broke away from me, licking his lips sensually and my lips formed a pout upon feeling the rush of cool air that followed. "Yami..."
He shook his head, a soft genuine smile on his face. "No..." his voice came out as a soft whisper that I had to strain to here. A single finger reached up to rest on my lips. "No Yami tonight, just Bakura. Bakura is my name."
It's time to risk it all
And shoot the moon
So let go and fall
It's not too soon
I smiled to match his and nodded in return. "Alright then...Bakura. As if I don't call you that already." I stated, my head tilted to show my amusement.
"No more Yami, just Bakura." He replied, crinkling his nose a bit. "I don't deserve the title of darkness. It makes me feel like a damn pansy in a dress." He shuddered slightly and I laughed.
My mind traced its steps back to the last group of paragraphs after the phrase in the song that said 'In us...and what tomorrow brings' The kiss from earlier. "Hey Bakura, earlier, was that real or did Marik get you drunk and you just didn't know what you were doing?"
Before the clock strikes one more chime
Let's see if we can move love off its dime
Cause when we kiss we both can see...
It's time
"Marik slipped me nothing, nor would I be crazy enough to let him." Bakura replied slowly. A hand reached up to run through my hair, bringing our foreheads together. "I kissed you on my own because I wanted too." Came the reply.
I could feel Malik and Marik's eyes on me from somewhere. It was obvious that they were gloating over the 'success of their reaction purple thing...the fucking psychos. "I don't know what to say..."
"Then don't say anything..." Bakura's arms found their way around my neck with his head under my chin. I always wanted my darker half to return my feelings. It had been a dream of mines for the longest of time it seems. To have him here with me now made be feel special, important even. I was walking on sunshine.
It's getting to late For a lengthily debate
So lets go for the win
Lets give forever a shove
So love can begin
"Bakura I love you." I muttered and he seemed to stiffen against me, as if afraid to move or breathe. The grip around my neck tightened. For a moment Bakura's answer frightened me and I felt like a anxious school boy waiting for a new summer action movie.
The trumpets and saxophone from the band seemed to blare suddenly, screaming out romantic notes to the ceiling before the tunes showered down upon the dancers as they moved, mesmerized by the vocalist's alluring voice. A golden pendulum chimed the midnight hour behind the performers, slowly as if warning of some unseen force and as if on cue Bakura released me, holding his head and stomach. "Yami...?"
It's time to let it ride
Cause time won't wait
If luck is on our side
It's not to late
He pushed away from me stumbling towards the door. My eyes widened. "Malik!" The blonde's head snapped in my direction and he joined me in hot pursuit, racing after Bakura. He seemed to fade into the darkness of the night, the only visible thing on him being the milky color of his skin and his white hair as he slummed down over towards the back of the parking lot.
"Bakura...?" I asked timidly, reaching out to him as we neared. His voice came out in short breaths and his hand over his heart. The sight made my heart ache. He seemed like he was in so much pain. And the fact that it happened so suddenly didn't help me neither. Oh sure Bakura, give your light a heart attack.
It's time to let it ride!
'Cause time won't wait
If luck it on our side It's not too late
Before we stumble past out prime
I know together we can make this climb
Cause I believe for you and me...
It's time!
"Ryou..." came the strangled reply and I winced, going forwards to help only to me pulled back by Malik's strong grip. He was fading; I could feel it slightly through our link. There was something going on with my yami and it scared me. As the last note of the song belted out into the night I told myself that this was all just a bad dream.
That if I were to close my eyes and open then again Bakura and me would be heading over to Malik and Marik, laughing over one of Bakura's plans to gain revenge. But almost as soon as this was though another cry echoed through the air and my eyes snapped open, facing the cold reality. My eyes desperately searched Malik's.
"Look before you act, love." He said softly pointing at Bakura as my darker half slumped to the ground. My eyes widened...
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"Bakura...?" My eyes fluttered opened, squinting at the bright that greeted me as a welcome. My head was racing and to make matters worse my stomach felt like it was doing flips."What the hell...?" The last thing I remembered was dancing with Ryou at that club. Ra knows that if he weren't there I would have walked away reach with all the stuff I could have stolen. Couldn't think to much on that thought unfortunately seeing as someone threw themselves on me. Can you see I'm in pain people?!
My eyes narrowed, focusing on a certain white haired person I know. "Damn it Ryou, what's wrong with?" I snapped irritably. Malik giggled softly receiving one of my glares as well, not that he minded, the bastard flicked me off.
"I'm glade you're alright Yami, you had me worried!" The younger boy wrapped his arms around my neck rambling on about how he should kill me for almost doing something to his heart and whatnot.
"Yeah, that's nice and all Ryou...but I can't breathe!" He released me slowly, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "You trying to kill me again?"
"No but even so me strangling you would must likely be less painful then what they put you through in Egypt." He giggled, pulling a mirror to my face. "Take a look, besides being slightly paler then usual you look perfect."
I snatched the mirror from his hand expecting my body for the first time I had awakened...I was normal. I was back to normal. "I'm me again..." I muttered, reaching down for the pants of what appeared to be Ryou's pajamas.
"It's there, trust me." Ryou grinned, swatting my hands away and I frowned grabbing his wrist in return.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"I had to give you a bath." He replied gleefully.
Oh, well I'd get him for it later. As of now my first task back in my old body was to feed the pharaoh my fist on a silver platter. Followed by my foot for dessert. The tri-colored game king's words seemed to haunt me now...
"I don't want you to change for me, but for Ryou. At any rate, it can't be done anyway. If you had done what you had been told in the first place you'd have been back to normal."
"That's a bunch of bullshit! No one ever asked me if I wanted any part of this."
"Do what I asked you of and you'll get your body back I promise. But be careful, your feelings must be genuine, or else you risk losing everything." Yami warned, reaching beneath the counter for what appeared to be an hourglass. "You only have three days left before your change is permanent..."
Yesterday I had forgotten about the damn curse, let loose and had fun. Last time I did that half the neighborhood went up in flames. That was the last day...it was the final day and I didn't even realize it. Nor did I realize what I was and whom I was doing it with.
I blame those damn female hormones. Is it me or is do they go haywire at the first male they see? Honestly it makes no sense. Cause I'd be damn if I'd ever fall for my light on in my right mind. "It's about damn time I changed back."
Malik looked at me through narrowed eyes and I glared back. "I don't like where you're taking this Bakura." He stated calmly. Ryou's eyes shifted between us.
"Then you obviously won't like this. Get out, I have things to do today and I don't need you around breathing down my back." I snapped.
"Yami...I...thought."
My eyes rounded on Ryou's and I let out one of my old scary 'run there's a psychopath running lose bent on destroying the world with darkness!' laughs. "A little acting to get my body back was all. You're not my type Ryou." I sneered, flinching inside when I sensed something from within Ryou break.
He stood slowly after a while, shaking. "You stupid bastard...is that all I am to you? A play thing? You never did care!" His fist connected with my jaw before he raced from the room, Malik at his heels.
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Topazia: Now that that's over we have a little business to take care of, don't we Bakura? ::holding a diamond cut bat::Bakura: What the hell? ::sweatdrop::
Topazia: And I quote "I blame those damn female hormones. Is it me or is do they go haywire at the first male they see? Honestly it makes no sense." glare, glare Does that ring a bell?
Bakura: Oh...well, it seemed to fit? ::nervous laugh::
Topazia: I'll show you female hormones! ::cases after him the almighty bat of justice followed by an angry female mob!::