(A/N: OK, this is gonna turn out to be quite a long story, from the way things are heading. I've drafted out a couple more chapters, and by the time this fic is finished I'm guessing there will be around twenty, and probably about 40,000 words.

This chapter seemed to flow quite well, and I didn't spend all that long writing it (although I re-wrote it four times. Damn my perfectionist nature!)

Oh, and in answer to a question asked:

Q: Why did Bakura and Malik want to steal the Subtle Knife in the first place, if only Will can use it?

A: Because Bakura gets these kleptomanic urges from time to time, and if there's something valuable lying near him, he HAS to steal it. It's his nature. Malik helped him cos he likes getting together with Bakura and causing trouble. Which, believe me, is exactly what happens in this chapter.

Warnings: Bad language, a few yaoi hints/references, and some violence.

Che: shit

Gomen: sorry

Daijoubou desu ka? : Are you alright?

Desu ka: I'm fine

Mou hitori no boku: The other me (please note that 'boku' is the modest form of I/me, and that arrogant people like Yami Bakura use 'ore.')

………………

Chapter Nine: Anger...

Bakura woke up feeling tired, which was unusual for him, and gave a massive yawn that lasted at least a minute. Then he remembered the knife, and his face split into a triumphant grin. Still yawning, he got changed and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for his hikari to wake up.

…………

Ryou also woke up feeling tired, and automatically tried to turn over before he found he couldn't move. Panic gripped him; it was replaced by miserable resignation as he realised his yami was in total control. He must have been awake already – Ryou could feel his dark half mentally watching him.

The spirit of the Ring bounced their body off the bed, and Ryou sensed that he was in an unusually good mood. He was still wary though, as his yami was extremely temperamental and was capable of losing his temper very suddenly.

Bakura stood in front of the mirror, carefully checking his reflection to make sure he looked exactly like Ryou. He flattened his hair, which was trying to spring into his trademark devil horns, and made sure his eyes were Ryou's puppy dog ones, and not narrowed. Hmm. Was his posture too confident? He imagined a thousand people all staring intently at him and his stance easily became more self-conscious and nervous. ((Perfect.))

Malik had already gone down to breakfast, and Bakura spent at least ten minutes trying to find the dining room. He eventually asked a maid for directions, and found that by giving her sad little puppy dog eyes she was more than willing to help. "You poor dear!" were her exact words, and Bakura made a mental note to send her to the Shadow Realm.

He sat down between Yugi and Lyra, and the former gave him a warm smile. "Morning, Ryou! Would you like some cereal?"

Bakura forced himself to smile back. "Yes please." ((My Ra, I can't believe I actually used that word. Ugh. I'm going to have to wash my mouth out with soap after breakfast.)) Yugi passed him the box and he tipped some into a bowl and poured milk in. Being a spirit, Bakura didn't actually need to eat, but Ryou did, and Bakura wanted his body to stay in fairly good condition. He ate the food slowly, thinking hard.

(Where's the knife?) Ryou asked timidly.

((None of your business.))

"Ryou, do you want some water?" Malik passed Bakura a glass and added in a whisper, "It IS Ryou, isn't it?"

((If I can fool Malik, I can fool anyone.)) The spirit gave his friend a smile. "Yeah."

Ryou struggled against his yami almost without realising it, but stopped when his cold voice said, ((Fight me and I'll give you a beating that'll make yesterday look like fun.))

The hikari sat huddled miserably in the corner of his soul room, arms wrapped around his legs. (G-gomen.)

After breakfast, everyone trooped back upstairs to their rooms. Bakura looked the door carefully before turning to Malik and saying, "Shall we try out the knife now?"

Malik gave him a look of slight amazement. "At breakfast…that was you, wasn't it?"

Bakura laughed softly. "Fooled you, didn't I?"

Malik nodded reluctantly, then drew the subtle knife out of his pocket and handed it to Bakura, handle first. The white-haired spirit tested the sharpness of the knife by running his finger lightly along the edge of the blade. A thin red line appeared on his finger. The cut was shallow, with little blood, but he licked it anyway.

Then he held the knife in the air and tried to open another world, but nothing happened. He tried moving it slowly through the air, slashing with it like a normal knife, and about a hundred other ways. After several (thousand) unsuccessful attempts he started getting frustrated. "Stupid thing…"

"May I?" Bakura shrugged and handed Malik the knife. The teenager looked at it thoughtfully. It didn't seem to be enough to simply use it like a normal knife, he mused. You had to be one with it, to let you soul flow into it. He pretended it was the Rod. Like part of you. He raised the knife and felt in the air. There it was – almost a ripple, a slight disturbance. He cut along and down. Bakura let out an involuntary gasp of amazement.

A window hung in the air, a pathway to another world. Looking through it they could see a barren desert, with swirling winds and endless plains, with the occasional cactus. Malik reached up slowly and closed the window. It was easy – you just pinched the edges together.

The Tomb Robber looked at his friend with awe and genuine respect written across his face. "How the hell did you do that?"

Malik just shrugged modestly.

There was a bang, and the door flew open to reveal an absolutely furious Yami. "I knew it!" he shrieked.

Malik glared at the Ring-spirit. "I thought you locked the door."

"I did!" Bakura protested. "He must've kicked it open!"

"Well?" Yami glowered daggers at the guilty pair.

Fortunately Malik had had the presence of mind to shove the subtle knife in his pocket at the sudden sound, and he stood there looking the picture of innocence. "What?"

"Empty your pockets!" Yami demanded.

"Why?"

"Because…because I'm the Pharaoh and I order you to!"

The Tomb Keeper snickered. "You haven't been Pharaoh for three thousand years."

"Just empty your pockets!"

Malik calmly put his hand in his right pocket and brought out the Millennium Rod. "Anything else?" he sneered.

"And the other one!" Yami snapped.

"…What's in this pocket will do. I suggest you leave us, Pharaoh." Malik's voice was menacingly low as he held the Rod loosely in one hand, looking Yami right in the eyes. Leave us leave us leave us…

Yami's body shook as he fought it. He kicked out, suddenly, and Malik dropped the Rod in surprise. My Ra, the Pharaoh has a strong will.

Yami was seething in anger. "How dare you try and use that thing on me?" The Sennen Eye was glowing brightly on his forehead, and Yugi split off and looked at him pleadingly.

"Aibou, please calm down…"

"Like hell I will!"

Will appeared in the doorway, with Lyra standing behind him. "Yugi, have you found my knife yet – oh." He blinked. "Um, am I seeing double or are there two Yugis?"

After a moment the Sennen Eye flickered away, and Yami sighed. "I…think we have some explaining to do."

Bakura snorted. "Why? I'll just erase their memories."

The Ring glowed, but Yami cried frantically, "No! We should just tell them the truth!"

"Why?"

"Because they were bound to find out at some point! Anyway, you owe them an explanation, about stealing the knife at least."

The Ring spirit smiled nastily. "Well, if that's how you feel, I'm sure a more permanent solution can be arranged…" Black mist appeared around Lyra and Will.

"You – you stupid Tomb Robber! You can't just send them to the Shadow Realm!" Yami spluttered.

The smoke disappeared; Bakura raised and lowered a shoulder in acquiescence. "Fine. Explain everything. But make it quick."

"Why are there two Yugis?" Lyra asked, her eyes flicking from Yami to Yugi, and back to Yami.

Yami sighed, thinking he may as well start from the beginning. "Well, actually that's the real Yugi." He pointed to his aibou. "I'm his…er…dark half. His yami."

"Yamis are evil," Bakura interrupted.

"You're not helping, Tomb Robber! And I'm not evil. Anyway, Yugi is my reincarnation. I was woken up when he solved the Puzzle. Together we are one whole person."

"Wait a moment. Are you saying you live in that?" Lyra pointed to the Puzzle around Yami's neck.

"Yeah, sort of."

"How do you fit in there?" Lyra was confused.

Yami, on the other hand, was getting frustrated. "Because I'm a spirit and that's what spirits can do! Look!" He went back into the Puzzle and it reappeared around Yugi's neck.

Lyra and Will looked at Yugi uncertainly. "Where – where did he go?" Lyra stammered.

Yugi tapped the Puzzle gently. "In here. Although he's in my head as well. While I wear the Puzzle we can talk to each other."

Yami took over. "Or I can talk to you. Hello, by the way."

"You're…different. Not loads. But you look a little bit different." Will scratched his head. "Sort of taller. And your eyes are different."

"That's because it's not Yugi talking to you right now. It's his yami."

"Oookay…Um, does Ryou have a weird spirit thing living inside him as well?" Will asked.

"Refer to me as "a weird spirit thing" again and I'll send you to the Shadow Realm," Bakura growled.

Will looked slightly alarmed. He had no idea what a Shadow Realm was, but it didn't sound very nice. "Can I talk to the other Ryou? The proper one?" Under his breath Will added– "I think I liked him better."

"You don't need to talk to him. He's fine how he is."

(Yami, let me out!)

((Uresei.))

Will looked helplessly at Yami, who separated again. "Tomb Robber, stop being difficult and let Ryou out."

"Why should I?" Bakura challenged.

"You can't treat Ryou like that!"

"I can do anything I want to my hikari. You can't stop me."

Yami was about to strangle him there and then, but Will interrupted him. "What's a hikari?"

"It's Japanese. Like yami is Japanese for dark. Hikari is the opposite, it means light. Its how you can refer to the non-yami parts of us. Or you can use omote. But I really don't like using those words. I prefer 'aibou.'"

Bakura groaned in exasperation. "Pharaoh, you're so kind that it's pathetic." Seeing Will and Lyra's blank looks, he added, "Aibou means partner, if you look it up in a dictionary. But some consider it a bit more. You know, best friend, soul mate, that sort of thing. And of course, when the Pharaoh uses the word partner he means in that way." He rolled his eyes. "Sentimentality is a sign of weakness. I prefer 'yadonushi.' It's a much better substitute."

"Y-yadonushi?" Lyra repeated. "What's that mean?"

A spasm of disgust crossed Yami's face. "It means host, or landlord. That's all he considers Ryou to be. His host." He glared at Bakura, who willingly glared back.

"What do we call you?" Will asked slowly. "Dark Yugi and Dark Ryou?"

"Well, back at home we get called Yami and Bakura. You can use those names, if you want."

Bakura grinned. "Although you can also call him Pharaoh, Baka, Yarou, Zoko, Hikari Fucker…"

"Take that back!" Yami shrieked.

"Ooooh, someone's getting defensive. Why don't you like being called a hikari fucker? Is it because it's true?"

"It's none of your business!"

"Hikari fucker! Hikari fucker!" Bakura chanted.

Beams of shadow power came from the Ring and Puzzle, clashing together several times with loud bangs. Lyra realised after a few minutes of this that she wasn't going to get any more out of them for a while, and sat down on the sofa next to Yugi and Malik. Will joined them.

"Could I have the knife back?" he asked, a little awkwardly. Malik handed it over with obvious reluctance, but didn't say anything.

Lyra stared at the fighting yamis in wonder. "I thought Ryou and Yugi got on so well…" she murmured.

"We do," Yugi said. "But my aibou and Bakura hate each other. They always have."

"It's quite understandable. After all, the Pharaoh is such a baka – "

"Don't talk about my aibou like that!" Yugi screeched.

Malik smirked. "I am so sorry."

More to prevent an argument between Malik and Yugi than anything else, Lyra decided to ask them some questions to distract their attention. "So you're wearing a puzzle, right? What is Ryou's thing called?"

"Ryou has the Millennium Ring. There are seven Millennium Items in all, each with their own powers. But not all of them have a yami inside. Malik also has an Item – the Millennium Rod. Why don't you show them?" This last comment was directed at Malik.

With an uninterested shrug, he took the Rod carefully out of his pocket and showed it to them.

"What does it do?" Lyra asked curiously.

Malik gave an unpleasant smile. "Mind control. I can go inside your mind, see what you're thinking. And I could make you do whatever I want. Need a demonstration?"

Yugi opened his mouth to protest, but too late. Instead he said very slowly and clearly, "The Pharaoh is a baka and I hate him. Also, we spend all our spare time fucking each other."

Malik released control, grinning. "There you go."

Yugi was furious. "That wasn't fair! Why did it have to be me? And what did you make me say?"

Malik gave one of his annoying grins. "The truth."

Pan sniffed the Rod with his mouse-nose. "It smells strange."

"Do you have a yami as well?" Lyra asked.

The room suddenly turned silent. Malik turned away from Lyra and looked carefully at the floor. Yami and Bakura actually stopped arguing. Everyone except Will looked at Lyra, who blushed slightly. "Did I say something wrong?" she whispered.

"Um…yeah." Yugi admitted. Malik didn't say anything.

Yami hesitated. "Well, there is a Yami no Malik…" His voice trailed off into silence. He looked at Bakura. "You tell them about him."

"Me?" Bakura demanded. "Why me? And what is there to tell?"

"Well, I don't really know much about him," Yami mumbled.

"What, and you think I do?"

Yami didn't say anything.

"All right! I'll tell them!" Bakura snarled. He faced Lyra and Will. "Malik's yami…well he looks a bit like him, but he has a totally different personality. Totally different. He's completely insane, and just out of control, really crazy. His only hobby is killing people. Psychopathic would be an appropriate word to describe him. Also, he's extremely hyperactive. He get his kicks out of watching people die. There, I said it. Happy now, Pharaoh?"

"Well I thought we should get everything out in the open!" Yami said defensively.

"Yeah, sure! Can't you see Malik doesn't want to hear about him?"

Everyone's eyes slid automatically to the hikari in question, who was still looking determinedly at the floor. Bakura glared at Yami again. "Why do you always have to rub things in, Pharaoh?"

Yami flared up. "Don't talk to me like that!"

"I can talk to you however I bloody well want!"

"Shut up!"

"After you!"

Yami's hands were balled into fists, and he was shaking with fury. Yugi slid off the sofa and ran up to him. "Aibou, please! Don't fight Bakura again. Just ignore him."

Yami looked at Bakura, who was smiling nastily. Yami growled and took a step forward, but Yugi stopped him. "Aibou, if you love me AT ALL you will walk away and sit on the sofa."

"But aibou!" Yami protested. He looked helplessly from Yugi to Bakura, and then back to Yugi.

"Please." Yugi gave him his famous puppy dog eyes.

Bakura smirked. "Come on Pharaoh, do what your little pet tells you."

The Pharaoh looked as if he was about to lunge at the Tomb Robber. "Aibou…" his hikari said warningly.

Yami sighed heavily and turned away. "All right, aibou." He walked slowly towards the sofa and sat down.

Yugi smiled. "Thank you." He gave his yami a hug. Yami returned it, and looked up to see Bakura laughing softly. The Pharaoh closed his eyes. Ignore him ignore him ignore him… He opened his eyes.

"Hikari fucker," Bakura whispered.

Yami let out a feral scream and launched himself at his enemy. Beams of shadow power hurled themselves at Bakura, who calmly dodged them all. He sent dark energy back at Yami, who only just ducked in time. When he stood up, everyone could see that the tips of his tri-coloured hair were smoking. A sudden plan occurred to the Ring spirit, and he gave an evil grin. Yami interpreted this as further provocation and sent a beam of yellow power at Bakura, who didn't bother to dodge. Instead, he separated and let his hikari take the blow.

Ryou didn't even have time to call out before the attack hit him and he crumpled to the ground. Yami turned pale with shock, and Yugi leapt off the sofa and raced to the white-haired boy's side.

Will and Lyra stared in amazement as Ryou 'appeared.' "Are-are you the real Ryou?" Lyra asked nervously.

The Ring-holder nodded weakly.

"Ryou, daijoubou desu ka? Mou hitori no boku didn't mean to hurt you, honestly…"

"Desu ka…" Ryou whispered haltingly, trying to will the pain away.

Bakura looked down at him without concern. "Oh look, Pharaoh. You hurt my host. I'm going to have to get you for that."

"W-what?" stammered Yami.

There was a sadistic glint in Bakura's eyes. "No one is allowed to hurt my yadonushi…except me." He kicked Ryou in the ribs, and he fell back down with a moan.

Yami's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Make inu…" (Japanese: pathetic dog)

Bakura snickered. "Coming from you, Pharaoh, that's practically a compliment." He looked at Yugi and Ryou with a sneer on his face. "So weak…" He took a step towards them.

Yami's face went, if possible, even paler. "Tomb Robber, you touch one hair of my aibou's head and I'll…"

Bakura shook his head pityingly. "I wasn't talking about YOUR hikari. Although he's not much better." The Ring glowed brightly, and Ryou started shaking in pain. His yami smiled, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Aww…are you all right yadonushi?" The Ring glowed again. "Just start screaming. Then I'll stop."

Ryou let out a mental cry as Bakura grabbed his mind and twisted hard. Yugi helped him get up and, supporting him, managed to pull Ryou onto the sofa, where he lay shaking.

Bakura's eyes bored into him. "Very good, my little vessel. Now do it out loud."

"Where is he hurting you?" Yugi whispered.

"Inside…"

"Can I try something my aibou taught me?" When Ryou didn't protest, Yugi put a hand on his shoulder and concentrated. The white-haired hikari gasped slightly as he felt his friend absorbing some of his pain, taking it away. Bakura felt him starting to recover, and decided to teach the Pharaoh's little pet a lesson.

Ryou's breathing was calming down, and he was caught unaware as a sudden wave of agony washed over him. Yugi pulled his hand away as if it had been slapped. "There's too much…"

Yami turned, keeping his eyes on Bakura. "Aibou? What are you doing? I can feel you hurting." He aimed another blow at Bakura, who side-stepped with a mocking smile on his face.

((Come on host, I want to hear you scream.))

(No…)

((Show the Pharaoh and his little pet how pathetic you are.))

(You bastard I hate you fucking bastard always hurting me I hate you hate you hate you)

Bakura stared. "What did you just say, yadonushi?"

Ryou got off the sofa carefully and walked over to his other half. "I HATE YOU!" he screamed.

The spirit blinked, unsure whether he had heard correctly. "What?"

"I said I fucking well hate you!"

The spirit of the Ring didn't say anything. Then he kicked his host in the stomach. Lyra gasped.

Ryou barely felt it. "Go on, hurt me! That's all you ever do! I'm fed up with it!"

"My Ra." Both hikari and yami turned to see Malik looking at them. It was the first thing he had said since the arguments had begun. "You know Ryou, you really should've just screamed when Bakura told you to. Then at least he would have left you alone. You really are stupid."

Ryou turned pale, and he walked up to him with the intention of doing something, he didn't know what. But Yami got there first. "Ryou's been brave enough to stand up to the Tomb Robber, and all you do is tell him he should've given in? And when you've probably stood there watching him get beaten up every single day for the past year? You-you cowardly bastard!"

Malik's face turned white. "What the fuck did you just call me, Pharaoh?"

"I called you a cowardly bastard, because that's exactly what you are!"

The Egyptian teen rose from the sofa, clutching the Millennium Rod. "I'll teach you to call me a coward!"

There was a pulling sound and Yami Malik split off. His hikari realised instantly. "Che!" he exclaimed.

……………

A/N: Yup, that was an evil place to end. Well, I wanted a bit of a cliff hanger somewhere in this fic, so there you go.

In case anyone didn't realise, it wasn't Malik who said all that stuff to Ryou, it was his yami. And he was silent while Ryou and Bakura were arguing because he was trying to fight his yami's control, but his yami won, and said those things to Ryou about how he should give in. Yami Malik woke up shortly after Yami mentioned his name, and he split off because it would make it harder for Malik to fight him.