Chapter 18: Duels and Dreams

The next day yielded only one surprise for them, and that same surprise surprised them for the next two weeks: only Ryou and Bakura were in control of their body. The other mysterious entity, known as Zoku Necrophadisu to Harry&co, seemed to have disappeared and didn't even attempt to take control. Ryou and Yugi were extremely grateful that they didn't have any unscheduled interruptions; now that the teachers knew how well each student was going to do in their subjects, they started to pile on homework accordingly. There was also Quidditch training every few days, which took up a whole afternoon and left them to exhausted to do much else at all. Nevertheless, Ryou was advancing much faster than Yugi.

And he still hadn't found Bakura's weapons.

He didn't even know where to look for the weapons.

It was extremely frustrating.

After two weeks, however, all his troubles started up again, specifically on one Saturday. He'd just finished all his homework for the next three days, when Zoku took over, and he was alone in a hallway and couldn't call for help. Like Ryou, Zoku had no idea where the weapons were or where to look, so he gave up his control out of frustration; but before Ryou had a chance to get Yugi and tell him, Bakura announced it was his turn and promptly took over, blocking Ryou from anything he did. He swiftly took off, heading for a spot he'd found one time when he'd been exploring; a small courtyard with a fountain that was open to the sky. Using his shadow magic, he blocked the courtyard from other people's view and drew one of his katagana out of an invisible sheath.

Mind you, it wasn't really an invisible sheath; there wasn't even a sheath at all. He'd hidden his weapons in the one place no one could find them: his own little corner of the Shadow Realm, a place blocked of to other Item holders. And as long as Ryou didn't know where they were hidden, the other entity wouldn't either. Quickly drawing the other blade out of the darkness, he suspended it in the air and began to spar with it.

He was quite proud of himself for learning how to do this; he would suspend something in the air with the shadows and be able to move it around by thinking. It didn't really make a good opponent, but at least he could practice and keep his skills honed; in fact, that was one reason he'd gotten two katagana. Though at the moment, he would have preferred practicing with both in his hands against a real opponent. Like whoever was possessing his host.

With a loud clang, he knocked the other sword out of the air and it flew full-tilt into the ground. Bakura pulled it out and set it in the air in front of him once more, not quite relieved of his ire. He began his combat again, slowly moving around the fountain, enhancing the skills of his 'opponent' as he went. He was so involved in his mock battle and his evil thoughts of revenge that he didn't notice when it began to rain and thunder rumbled through the sky. In fact, he didn't notice anything but his battle until Malik walked up behind and tapped him on the shoulder. He swung around, causing Malik to duck as the katagana flew right through where his neck had been.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Bakura exclaimed angrily once he realized who it was. "I could have taken your head off!"

"What are you doing, playing with those things out in broad daylight?!" Malik countered.

Bakura looked up, finally noticing the rain that was pouring on them. "It isn't daylight out here, Malik. Or don't you notice the water running down your face?"

"You know what I meant," the blonde answered. He threw up a hand in defense and caught the sword that Bakura had thrown at him. "What's this for?"

"Well, you're obviously here for a reason. Might as well be helpful while you're here. You can spar with me." He raised the sword he was holding and pointed at Malik. "Though I would like to know how you got here."

"Same way you did; I walked," Malik answered smartly, blocking Bakura's attack clumsily. "Did you really think that illusion would work on everyone? I'm an Item holder too."

"You're not very good at this," Bakura said as his blade almost made contact. "Why are you here? I was doing fine by myself."

"I wanted to discuss our problem with Harry."

"Problem? I don't see a problem." He looked thoughtful as he jabbed the sword at Malik. "Unless you're referring to his annoying habit of calling me 'Bakura' when I'm in control."

"He's been doing that ever since your encounter with that boggart thing. How does he know?"

"He's got some map that shows your name and where you are, I think. That's what Yugi said anyway. Apparently it shows my name when I'm in control."

"That would mean it would show the name of that other possessor, wouldn't it? And–" Malik gasped and blocked frantically as Bakura intensified his assault– "it would probably show the Pharaoh's real name!"

"At the moment, I'm not sure I really care."

Malik stopped and stared as his friend pulled another sword out of nowhere. "Where'd you get that? I thought you told Dumbledore you only got two swords."

"And he was only asking about the ones that Snape knows about. I went back and got two more, more for sparring purposes than anything else. Here." He threw one of his swords to Malik and pulled another one out of the Shadow Realm. The blonde boy stared bewilderedly at the blades he held in his hands as Bakura moved into a combative stance; the yami smirked at his friend's confusion. "Come on, you know how to use those. Let's go."

They started their battle again, and this time, Malik didn't act like a beginner and wasn't as sloppy in his moves. They circled and spun around the courtyard, feinting and parrying as they went, eventually developing a pattern to the sounds the blades made as they struck against each other; if anyone had been able to see them, their movements would have seemed almost like a dance. However, it was apparent that Bakura was more able with the blades than Malik, and he made advances again and again.

"So, what are we…going to do about Harry?" Malik asked over the clanking of their blades.

"Leave it. He was sure to find out sooner or later, though later would have been better for everyone. Besides, if we decide he shouldn't know, I can always erase his memories."

"Except that Malfoy knows, too."

"He hasn't done anything yet. I doubt he believed what he saw."

"Okay now I know something's wrong. What is with this indifferent attitude have all of a sudden?"

"That damn other spirit showed up again today, and then poof! just disappeared again."

Malik was almost decapitated again as he stopped in shock. "What?! When?"

"About twenty minutes ago. I've been out here ever since, thinking."

"And you didn't come get me or Yugi?"

"I told you, I was thinking." Bakura shook the rain out of his hair in annoyance and doubled his attack. "I thought he might be gone, and out of nowhere he showed up again." His step faltered slightly as he remembered the closed doors Ryou's soul room. "I couldn't help Ryou when he needed me, and then I just shut him out so I could be alone. He must hate me by now."

"Is that what you really came out here for? To sulk?"

"No, I came out here so I could keep my skills intact, just in case."

Malik scoffed and easily blocked his friend's assault. "If you're worried about Ryou, don't be. He knows how to take care of himself."

"Yes, except when I first appeared to him I vowed I'd protect him. Sure, I beat him sometimes or hurt his friends, usually when he annoyed me, but I never let anyone else harm him. And now I can't even stop something that's happening in his own body. He–"

"–Doesn't hate you," Malik finished for him. "Remember that day two weeks ago when Malfoy saw you and Ryou separate? Remember what that thing said? Even it knows he loves you. Why would you think he hates you?"

"Because I can't protect him anymore, and right when he needs my protection the most."

"Is that all? Believe it or not, Bakura, Ryou's not exactly helpless anymore. And if you don't believe me about him not hating you, you should ask him yourself. But I think you already know what he'd tell you. I know I do." Malik lowered his swords and stared at him in a calculated way. "I think you should stop living in this delusion of yours and get back to the matter at hand."

"Which one? What to do about Harry and Malfoy, or what to do about the other spirit?"

"Both." Malik thrust his swords into the ground so that they stuck up from it, and then he turned to walk away. " 'See inside there is nothing to hide. Turn and face the light.' Isn't that what one of those songs you like says? Maybe you should listen to it once in a while." He nodded once and walked out of the courtyard.

"Touché," Bakura muttered after him. He picked up the two blades Malik had left behind, put one away, and placed the other in the air in front of him. Ignoring the rain that slowly ran down his face, he began his one-person battle again, thoughts more troubled than before.

Harry was a bit confused as to where he was, but somehow he knew he wasn't in England anymore. Nor could he seem to control his own actions as he walked along the dark, musty corridor. Around him walked about ten Death Eaters, wands out, and he finally realized he wasn't himself anymore. The wand he gripped in his long white fingers was not his wand and the robes that covered his body were not his. He groaned inwardly, surprised that he could actually do so and that he was able to tell that he was Voldemort.

"I'm beginning to wonder if you're actually taking me somewhere, Lucius," Harry-Voldemort hissed as the group stopped at an intersection. One of the Death Eaters in front of him turned around and bowed low; Harry could only assume it was Lucius Malfoy behind the mask, which meant he, and probably the other Death Eaters, had gotten out of Azkaban.

"My lord, you will not be disappointed," Malfoy said humbly. He led them down another corridor to a dimly lit room; standing in the middle of the room was what looked at first like a carved block of stone, but under further examination was more like a sarcophagus. In the top of the stone were impressions of different things, two of which Harry recognized as the pendants Yugi and Ryou wore. At the bottom, one of the carvings was filled in with a golden scale. On the wall above the sarcophagus was line after line of hieroglyphics along with a couple of other pictures.

Harry-Voldemort smiled as he looked over the room. "You've surprised me, Lucius. I did not believe you could be very helpful, and yet, here we are. Remind me I need to reward you when we get back to England." He approached to stone and ran his long fingers lightly over the gold scale. "The first of these mysterious Millennium Items is mine." He was about gasp the stem of the scales when it disappeared and the space was empty. Furiously, he turned on Malfoy, holding his wand threateningly in front of him. "Where did it go?!" he demanded.

"I don't know, my lord. This never happened before," Malfoy stuttered, obviously as surprised at the thing's disappearance as Voldemort.

"You are lucky I do not kill you where you stand!" Harry-Voldemort exclaimed angrily. "However, seeing I do owe you for bringing me here, your reward will be to live to continue to serve me."

"You are most merciful, my lord," Malfoy said, relief quite apparent in his voice. He dropped to his knees, crawled forward to kiss the edge of Voldemort's robes, and then quickly resumed his position around the Dark Lord.

"However, I would like to know where that Item went. If my plans are to succeed I need all seven!" He glared around the room at the Death Eaters, giving one in particular a long look. "Take pictures of the writing on the walls and translate it for me. I will also require the stone to hold–"

They heard a small yelp from in the hall and a scuffling sound like someone running away. Harry-Voldemort whirled around to see a young boy in his teens running away from the room.

"Impedimenta!" Harry-Voldemort exclaimed, pointing his wand at the boy. The teen fell to the ground as the spell caught him in the back. "Bring him to me," he said, gesturing with his wand. Two Death Eaters went to collect the boy and held him up in front of their master. Harry-Voldemort lifted the boy's chin with his wand and stared mercilessly into his eyes. "So, you have been spying on me and my comrades, have you? What did you see?"

"I did not see anything," the teen answered, his voice betraying a native Middle Eastern accent. "And even if I did, I would not tell you, demon."

Harry-Voldemort smirked slightly at these words and took his wand away. "You think I'm a demon?"

"Only demons have eyes that burn like the fires of the underworld," the boy confirmed.

"Then you are correct. I am a demon. And I have a demon's powers as well. Crucio!" he exclaimed. The boy screamed in pain as the curse hit him, and he fell limp and shaking, only held up by the Death Eaters who were supporting him. "Now will you tell me what I wish to know, or do you want another dose of pain to loosen your tongue?"

One tear ran down the boy's cheek, though he remained silent. Harry-Voldemort laughed quietly, pointed his wand at one of the boy's arms, and proclaimed, "Reducto!"

Harry would have grimaced, had he had his own body, as he watched to lower half of the boy's arm explode in an eruption of red blood and shattered bone. He could see the teen was now fully supported by the Death Eaters, as his shaky legs would not hold him up with so much pain.

"I…I…cannot tell you…anything!" the teen exclaimed. Harry-Voldemort pouted mockingly and stared down at him.

"Perhaps I can change your mind," he said. "Crucio!"

Harry screamed in pain as his scar seemed to spit open, almost channeling the pain the other boy was feeling to himself. He fell out of bed onto the stone floor of the Gryffindor dorm room, which only increased the pain he was feeling. He thrashed around in the sheets that had followed him to the ground, knowing he needed to get to the other boy before he was killed. He didn't even notice he was still crying with pain.

"Harry! Harry!"

"Should I get Professor McGonagall?"

"Why is he screaming?"

Harry grew slowly aware of the other voices in the darkened room and calmed down a bit, though his head still felt like it was on fire.

"Harry! Are you all right?!" exclaimed Ron's voice from close by. He opened his eyes to find his friend leaning over him, wand alight, face shadowed with worry. They heard a soft groan from the doorway, not belonging to any of their dorm mates.

"H-hey, what's going on?" asked Yugi sleepy voice. "Is everything all right?"

"Ron, I…I had one of those dreams again," Harry whispered. His scar still felt like it was burning.

"Which dreams?" Ron asked, though there was fear in his voice.

"I was Voldemort again…We're in big trouble."

"W-why's that, Harry?"

Harry glanced once at Yugi's sleepy figure in the doorway before answering. "You know those pendants Yugi and Ryou have?" Ron nodded once. "Voldemort's looking for them. He's coming, Ron."