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The gray mists shifted endlessly. For a while, I thought I would get lost, until I realized that the Puzzle was ...calling to me? No, that's too strong. Rooting me? Anchoring? Well, at any rate, I could tell where the Puzzle was, and it seemed I could get there easily enough.
Why do I speak of distance and direction in the Shadow Realm? Because they exist. They're tenuous and confusing, but most definitely there. The Puzzle is like a building, invisible but there. It's a...presence, a force that keeps one corner of the Shadow Realm empty of everything but me. Or rather, the Pharaoh, I suppose. Which amounted to the same thing, at least for right now.
So I trudged about the Shadow Realm, guided by half-felt feelings and ideas. There were the usual roars and squeals, but I saw nothing. I concentrated on finding the mysterious man. Distance seemed to be governed as much by desire and force of will as anything, and I guess I did pretty well. I found myself outside something, probably another Item. I figured I might as well ask about the person here, thought I wasn't sure who, or what, was in this Millenium Item.
/H-hello?/ I called into the dark. There was no answer. /Hello, is anybody there?/ Again I waited, but there didn't seem to be anybody there. /Um.../
/Go away. I'm busy,/ a voice snarled. It was the same man from earlier, though this time he seemed angry.
/Oh...I'm sorry... I just wanted to thank you for earlier... I'll go now./ I started to walk away when suddenly a hand grabbed me.
/Wait. I know you,/ the man said, turning me. I gasped. I knew him too. He smiled. /Yugi Mouto./
/Ba...Bakura!?/ This couldn't be. Ryou couldn't enter the Shadow Realm like this... /What are you doing here, Ryou?/
Bakura's smile grew wider. /You know better then that./ He glanced around, then motioned to the Item. /Why don't we talk inside?/
I looked at the mists where the Item's presence was. The Ring, it had to be, I guess. /I-inside? I can.../
/Of course YOU can. Coming?/ Bakura turned and vanished into the Millennium Ring. I stood outside for a while thinking. I'd thought that Honda had freed Bakura from the Ring back on Pegasus' island. But thinking back on things... If Bakura still had the ring, things made a lot more sense. So the question was, would I be safe if I took not-Bakura's invitation? There was a roar from somewhere close to me, and I shrugged. I didn't really see how it could be much more dangerous for me in there.
I concentrated, and found myself slipping into the Item with no difficulty. He was waiting for me. /Ah, so you did come. Pharaoh, I suppose?/ I nodded hesitantly. /Well, well, well. I'd heard rumors of a new Pharaoh, but I didn't expect you. Please, have a seat./ He motioned, and 'furniture' appeared, as substantial as anything else was here.
/Thanks, uh...?/
/Oh, my name IS Bakura. But not Ryou./
/Uh, right, then...ur...Bakura. Um... Thanks for your help back there./
/Back there...? Oh, with your hikari./ He shrugged slightly. /It was nothing. If I may ask, what was going on?/
/Hi-hikari!? Anzu's not my hikari!/ I protested.
Bakura gave me a condescending look. /If that it was you wish to believe, then I guess it does not matter. What was happening? I do wonder./
I shrugged. I saw no reason NOT to tell him. He seemed a lot nicer here in the Shadow Realm. /Anzu was dueling Kaiba, and losing. I...didn't take over in time to help her.../
/From your tone, I would guess that you lost more then the duel,/ Bakura commented, almost comfortingly.
How much to tell him...? I hadn't even told Yami yet. /Y-yeah.../ I muttered, trying to add a "don't ask" to my tone.
Bakura smiled. /So, the Millenium Puzzle has yet another new master, I take it? Kaiba, I suppose./ His grin widened and became almost predatory. /Have you spoken to him yet?/
/I...no.../ Sure, he seemed nicer, but why did I have the feeling that he was going to try to use me?
He started laughing. /Oh, you have to let me see his reaction!/ Bakura chuckled. /He doesn't even believe in us!/
I stared, then started laughing myself. I hadn't thought about it that way yet. /But...what do you mean 'let you see'? I don't think you're going to be invited to his house anytime soon.../
/Oh, no, what I meant was you could let me into the Puzzle, like you're in my Ring. But I'll settle for just hearing about it./
/Wait...wait a minute! Even IF I let you in, you still couldn't see anything!/ I protested.
He shot me a look of disbelief, then shook his head. /You really are new to this, aren't you? You're in the Shadow Realm; you're the Pharaoh! Magic is your new way of life! Here, look./ Bakura pointed to the mist between us and concentrated. A picture of the real world appeared a desk and some homework. /This is what Ryou is seeing now./ The picture faded, and Bakura grinned again. /Now you try./
/What? But...I can't! It's your Item!/
/And you're in it. AND you have my permission. Now go on, I want to see how you do./
It didn't seem quite right, using Ryou's eyes like that. But then I thought that that might explain why Yami always knew what was going on. He'd probably done this all the time. It was probably possible to get sound, too... I started focusing, using that same part of my mind I used to move around with. Slowly, the image re-appeared, along with the sound of Ryou muttering to himself. Then Bakura laughed, and I lost my concentration.
/Oh, very good, very GOOD, Yugi!/ he said in delight. /You catch on quick! It took me weeks to get the hearing, too./ A wide, genuine smile lit his face.
I smiled back. /Thanks for showing me. I tried something like this earlier, but.../ I shrugged.
/But you didn't really know how. So...are you going to go talk to Kaiba now...?/ My reluctance must have shown on my face, because Bakura shook his head. /No, too soon yet. Humm... want to meet my deck?/
I...don't think anyone reviewed the past chapter... oh well. I got off track, but I think I know what I'm doing now. I think.