A/N: I really wanted to try out the three omotes with different yamis, and here is the result. It should have been pretty simple, actually. They open their eyes, see that they chose the wrong Item, and so just hold on to it while the others arrive. But do they do that? sighs Nope. Oh well, curiosity killed the hikari. Heh heh.

The stuff Bakura says about the Ring's history in Ancient Egypt IS correct, by the way. I found it on the Internet. Can't remember what site, unfortunately, but it was a good one.

Also, the stuff with the runes in the last chapter was perfectly true. I'm quite interested in runes, and I've been learning all the meanings and everything. Runes aren't mentioned in the book, but I felt like putting them in, so I did.

I've been working pretty hard on this chapter, which is why it has been a few weeks between updates. I'm pretty pleased with the result, even if I did rewrite it six times.

I had to change all my yami/hikari speech methods, as ff.net seems to have abolished the double slash marks and triple asterisks which I've been so fond of using. That's why I had to change all of my other fics as well, because they got so messed up. So slashes have been replaced with brackets, and asterisks with loads of full stops.

Please review! I know I don't give individual thanks to everyone anymore, but I still know the names of every person who has reviewed any of my fics. And I love you all. Just not in that way.

Warnings: plenty of bad language, violence.

Baka: bastard

Zoko: small fry

Chapter Twelve: Mixed-up souls

Malik found himself standing on a grassy slope. The sun was just starting to set, and he gazed at it for a moment before looking around to see where his Item had gone. A faint glow further down caught his eye, and he went down to investigate. "Wow! I got the Ring!" Picking it up carefully, he marvelled at how heavy it was. I'm surprised Ryou doesn't get neck-ache having to wear this thing all the time. Hey, what happens if I put it on? Even though it wasn't really his Item, he had still picked it, and he was secretly burning with curiosity as to what would happen. Shrugging, he slipped the cord around his neck and waited.

His first thought was, Oh my Ra, it's freezing. It felt as if he had put on a wet jumper that was a bit too small, and could actually feel the iciness spreading through his body. Malik shivered, the Ring a dead weight around his neck. He didn't like being cold at all. In Egypt it had always been boiling hot, and he had found Japan absolutely glacial by comparison. But Japan was nothing compared to this.

(B-Bakura?) he whispered nervously. There was no reply. He wondered if the spirit was still asleep. Feeling suddenly dizzy, he wondered if he should sit down. Ra, I'm really tired. Maybe I'll go to sleep.

What the hell? The more sensible part of him thought. I felt fine a few moments ago. What's going on?

Acting on an impulse, he looked down, and let out an Arabic scream of horror.

The Ring's dangling prongs were moving, burying themselves into his chest and glowing brightly. There was an awful sucking sensation, and Malik felt suddenly light-headed. Suppressing the urge to panic, he tugged at the points, which squirmed beneath his fingers and burrowed even deeper.

(BAKURA!!!)

...........

The spirit awoke in his soul room to hear a faint voice calling his name. He frowned, realising it wasn't his normal hikari. ((Who is this?)) He extended himself into the mind of his host, trying to take control. Recognition hit. ((M-Malik? Why the hell are you wearing the Ring?))

(Help me!) his friend yelled. Now that Bakura had taken over, Malik couldn't even try and pull the Ring away, and he was nearly hysterical with fear.

Not quite sure what was actually happening, Bakura split off, releasing control of Malik's mind as he did so. The sight that greeted him caused him to raise an eyebrow in astonishment.

As he split off, instead of the Ring disappearing from the neck of it's host and reappearing around Bakura's, it stayed on Malik's chest. A shadowy, ghost-like image of the Item formed around Bakura's neck. He looked down at it slowly. ((Interesting.))

(Hello?!) the Egyptian yelled. (Can you please help me out here?)

((Take it off,)) the spirit suggested matter-of-factly.

(I can't!) Malik's pull on the Ring was becoming weaker. (W-what's it trying to do?)

((It's flushing out your soul,)) Bakura said thoughtfully. ((Or sucking out your life force, however you want to put it. Speaking of which, did you know that in ancient Egypt if a thief tried to steal the Ring, he'd be forced to try and wear it? The whole point being that only one person is worthy to wear the Ring. Then the spikes of the Ring plunged into him and the man would be incinerated from the inside out.))

This was not what Malik wanted to hear. (So in other words, it's killing me?)

((Yeah, I guess so.))

(Well you could act like you cared! Make it stop!)

((I don't know if you can make it stop.))

With a sudden yank, Malik managed to haul the tines out of his chest. (Ow!) There was no blood, but it hurt like hell. Worse still, he could still clearly feel his soul being ruthlessly absorbed by the Item. With an effort, he held it away from his shirt, the spikes quivering and straining to reach their host. Struggling against the Ring, he still couldn't stop his soul steadily draining away. (For Ra's sake, are you going to help me? Or are you just going to stand there and watch?)

Bakura seemed to snap out of his trance. ((O-okay. Sorry. Um, try and stop fighting it. I think it'll work faster if you struggle. It's getting excited.))

Malik's eyes were wide in terror, and his breathing was coming out in heavy gasps. (What kind of Item is this? It's like it has a mind of it's own!) It was almost impossible for him to heed the yami's advice. Every instinct in his body was screaming at him to fight it.

Bakura was starting to realise that if he didn't act soon he might risk permanently losing his friend, and this thought made him slightly worried. ((Hang on a moment.))

Thinking carefully, he erected a powerful mental barrier around Malik's mind, attempting to protect it from even more damage. Then, after thinking some more, he reached out and took control of the Ring. Bakura could manipulate his Item to a certain degree, but sometimes it ended up being the other way round. With an effort he pushed it away, forcing it to release the soul it ensnared. ((That better?))

The Tomb-Keeper let out a weak gasp of relief as the Ring-points went suddenly limp. (Y-yeah.) The Item vanished, and then appeared a moment later around Bakura's neck. Slightly unsettled, he looked down at it, but the Ring didn't move. He lifted up one of the tines cautiously, and examined it. ((Hmm.)) Releasing it, he let the spike drop back down to its natural position, where it tinkled as it came into contact with its neighbour. Malik gave an involuntary shudder at the sound.

Bakura shrugged to himself, and met the hikari's eyes. ((Do you think I should keep the barrier up? I think the Ring might have stopped now.))

Malik silently disagreed, but didn't say anything. With another shrug, Bakura let down the mental shield cautiously. Malik cried out in pain as icy waves of agony engulfed him. The spirit hastily brought the barrier back up, looking apologetic.

((Sorry about that. You okay now?)) He looked at "his" hikari in some concern.

Malik nodded dumbly, not trusting himself to speak. After a moment he whispered, "Is it always so cold?" The pain was mostly gone now, but the cold was still there, and he could feel it eating through his body. He shivered again.

((The Ring? Yes, I think so. My proper yadonushi is probably used to it by now. I think the reason the Ring was so aggressive was because you weren't the one destined to have it. Although it really seemed to hate you. Anyway, where is my yadonushi? And how did you end up with the Ring? Somehow I don't think my host would just give it to you. Although I'll kill him if he did.))

(N-no, he didn't.) Malik explained everything haltingly, while Bakura listened in silence.

Finally he said, ((So I'm your yami for now?))

(Yeah.)

((Great.)) Bakura grinned evilly. ((Just think of all the things we could achieve with the two of us in one body. We could go after the Items and the God Cards together. The Pharaoh would have a migraine just trying to figure out who he was talking to.))

(I guess.) Malik was too tired to think about things like that. The aftershock of what had happened when he put on the Ring was beginning to sink in, and he sat down on shakily on the damp dewy grass. (We have to stay here until Will finds us though, so I don't think we can exactly go out and try to conquer the world today.)

((Oh well.)) Bakura sounded genuinely disappointed. Then a grin lit up his face. ((I've always wanted to try being in a different body for a change.)) He went back into the hikari's mind and took control easily. Annoyed, Malik tried to push him back but couldn't.

((Are you trying to fight me, my temporary host? I really wouldn't bother.))

Malik's emotions now consisted of frustration and anger, mingled with a slight fear. This was a side of Bakura that he had never seen before, and he didn't like it. (Stop talking to me like that. We're equals.)

The yami gave a lazy yawn, fiddling with the tines of the Ring. ((Keep telling yourself that, if it makes you feel better. Yamis will always be stronger than their hikaris. All lights are weak really.))

(Don't call me weak. That's what my yami always says to me. I don't like it.)

((Did I offend you? I'm so sorry.))

(Why are you acting like this?) Malik demanded angrily. (Treating me like I've suddenly become inferior, just because I happen to be wearing the Ring and you can control my body? Hell, we've always been allies, friends even, and now you're acting like I'm just a good little vessel for all the things you want to do.)

Bakura was unmoved by Malik's outburst. ((I always act this way with Ryou. You never minded.))

Reluctantly, the hikari admitted to himself that the spirit had a point.

Bakura heard this thought and smirked. ((So, what are we going to do now? I'm bored.)) Idly, he started looking through Malik's memories. ((Hmmm, I wonder if there's anything interesting here…))

(Stop it!)

Ignoring his host's anger, the spirit continued his search. ((What's this one?)) A particular memory kept evading his grasp, and it was obvious Malik didn't want it opened. Bakura chased after it, but it kept hiding, not wanting to open up. He could tell it was often near the surface of Malik's thoughts, and this made him smile. ((Is it an embarrassing one? I hope so. Ryou has so many embarrassing memories. It's so fun to tease him about them.))

(Leave me alone! You touch that and I'll kill you!) There was panic in the Egyptian's tone.

The Ring-spirit found this amusing. ((And how do you plan to do that?)) He lunged forward and grabbed the elusive memory with his mind. It wriggled, trying to escape, but he held on grimly. ((Got it.)) He prised it slowly open, and started watching.

Flashback

Gripped ruthlessly by the two Egyptian guards, Malik was half-dragged down the stairs. He fought them, screaming out his terror, but they ignored him. It was all in a day's work. He was thrown on to the table and tied down, thick ropes knotted around his arms and legs. The knives were coming out from under the cloaks, and soon the cutting would begin. The Pharaoh's memory would soon be safe, carved onto the back of a twelve year old boy. More people appearing, including his father. Fire around the room…The first blade entered and he was nearly crying now, sobbing out his pain and helpless rage. He wanted to black out but his mind was stubbornly aware, and every fresh cut entering his pain-soaked consciousness just made him more aware of exactly what was happening –

(You fucking bastard!)

Bakura mentally jumped. Malik was screaming again, but in pure anger this time. (I bet you found that entertaining. Now get the fuck of my mind. Get out of my body, get out of me. I don't want you anywhere near me, you hear? YOU BASTARD!)

Shaking, the Tomb Robber separated. He was grabbed by his shirt and lifted off the ground. Malik was panting hard, his rage filling every inch of his body. There was a dangerous look in his eyes not unlike the one his yami had.

Bakura realised, too late, that he had gone too far. He had never seen Malik's temper fully unleashed before, and tried to apologise. "L-look, I'm r-really s-"

He was thrown to the ground. "Don't you dare try and say you're sorry," the Egyptian hissed. "You have no idea how that felt when they did that to me. You fucking little-" He kicked the spirit, hard, who backed away. "If I had the Millennium Rod with me right now I would kill you. I know you find stuff like that funny, making people relive the worst moments of their life over and over again, but I don't. And don't say anything. You say anything and I will kill you. Although I don't even know why I should bother. You're not even worth my time."

He was shaking from trying to hold himself back. Bakura was making a silent promise to himself that, if he ever got out of this, he would never make Malik angry again. Okay, I know I went too far, but he's acting like he's crazy. Although what do you expect from someone who has so much anger that their yami was born from it?

He hesitated. "M-Malik?"

"What the fuck do you want now?"

"I-I'm sorry. Really."

The Egyptian's fingers twitched, as if he would like nothing better than to wrap them around Bakura's throat. "Oh, so you're sorry now, are you?" He was getting even angrier with each passing moment.

"Yes, once I've finished with you, you'll be very sorry, I can promise you that."

The Ring-spirit stood there, saying nothing.

Malik took several deep breaths, trying to calm down. It was a good sign. "Just…just give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you."

Bakura thought for a moment. "…It would be very messy."

After a moment, the corner of Malik's mouth curved very slightly upwards. "I suppose." He took another deep breath and then sat down slowly, still keeping his distance from the spirit of the Ring. His temper had burned itself out now, making him feel hollow inside. Glancing up, his gaze met Bakura's, and the spirit recoiled slightly. "Huh, not so arrogant anymore, are we?"

"No," Bakura said in an extremely small voice. He was still looking wary.

Malik laughed softly. "All right, calm down. I'm not going to kill you. At least, not now."

"Jolly nice of you to say so," the spirit mumbled.

"Well, as you've just found out, I can be a very nice person." Malik gave him an Evil Look™ and saw him relax slightly, now that things were returning to a slightly more normal situation.

Bakura gave him an Evil Look™ of his own, making his eyes glow red in the gathering darkness. His hair formed into its infamous devil horns, spiky bangs defying gravity.

The hikari sighed. "How does your hair do that?"

Bakura grinned. "Magic." Smoke unfurled from behind him, just enough to make Malik wonder whether it was actually there or not. The light watched the smoke wisp skywards, towards the large round moon. It was full tonight, a gleaming pearly button.

Lying back on the grassy slope, he could hear Bakura hum something under his breath. He recognised it as an Arabic lullaby, quite a nice one.

(I thought you couldn't remember anything from Egypt?)

((Some things start coming back after a while. Can't think of the name, though.))

Malik shrugged and looked back up at the sky. It was actually quite pretty, he thought, with the stars twinkling like fireflies in the rich velvety mass... I'm getting quite poetic, aren't I?

((Only a bit,)) Bakura said sleepily. ((It could be worse. You should hear some of the things my yadonushi thinks.))

(Are you tired?) Malik didn't really need to ask. He could feel the spirit's drowsiness pulling at his mind, affecting him too.

((Yeah. Spirits need lots of sleep.)) With that, his temporary yami curled up into a little ball and fell asleep. Malik felt it happen, a little tug at his mind, almost like a candle being extinguished. Settling down next to the Ring-spirit, he closed his eyes and, after a few minutes, dozed off.

...........

Ryou woke up to find himself in the middle of a beautiful meadow, surrounded by prospering bushes and trees. The atmosphere around him was tranquil and peaceful, but he was in anything but a peaceful mood. He knew that soon he would have to go and retrieve the Item he had touched, and was not looking forward to his yami's reaction at being left on the banks of the World of the Dead. Although he hated the Ring with all his heart and would do anything to be rid of it, the idea of just abandoning his Item simply didn't make sense to Ryou. How could you abandon something like the Ring? He'd lost count of the amount of times he'd thrown it away, buried it, tried to smash it…only to have it return again. And people like Bakura didn't take too kindly to being thrown away. Every attempt had meant another 'lesson,' another chance for his yami to prove the futileness of trying to defy him.

There was also the possibility that he had accidentally chosen the Puzzle or Rod by mistake, which would result in an even worse beating. His other would interpret it as an attempt to choose another yami over himself, another escape attempt. As bad as it would be to have chosen the Ring, it would have been far, far worse to have chosen another Item instead. Although, if he had touched the Rod, maybe Malik's yami would kill him before his own had a chance to get near him.

Uh huh, sure, he thought sarcastically. And maybe my yami'll be pleased to see me… Letting out a bitter laugh, he got to his feet with the intention of looking for his Item. Starting to search half-heartedly, with the air of a person walking to the gallows, he thought of all the things his yami would do to him once he put the Ring back on.

All too soon he spotted that familiar golden glow, and hastily picked up the Item, being careful not to look at it. He took a deep breath in a last attempt to calm himself, but it didn't work. Okay, this is it… He glanced down at the Item in his hands. "Oh G-God…"

It was the Puzzle. Ryou stared wildly at it in mounting horror. Of all the yamis in the entire world, he had to pick the one that Bakura hated most… Actually, I think he hates Yami Malik more. But still…

What would Yami do to him? He already had Yugi as his hikari and aibou, and somehow Ryou didn't think Yami would like the light of his worst enemy wearing the Puzzle. But what should he do? Maybe…maybe if he put the Puzzle on and tried to reason with him, Yami wouldn't hurt him so much… Ryou was sure that if he didn't put it on soon, the Puzzle might just appear around his neck the way the Ring did, and Yami would be even angrier…

Hesitating, his hands shaking uncontrollably, Ryou slowly lifted the inverted pyramid and hung it around his neck. The chain that acted as a cord rattled slightly, and he shivered.

After a moment, when the spirit of the Puzzle didn't appear and start beating him up, Ryou began to calm down slightly. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad after all. He knew that Yami wasn't as sadistic as Bakura, because of the way he acted towards Yugi, but the mere fact that he was a yami was enough to make Ryou nervous. Suddenly becoming aware of how tense his body had become, the way it was braced for an imaginary blow, he tried to relax, feeling the shape of the Puzzle warm and somehow comforting against his shaking chest. The Puzzle was a lot lighter than the Ring, and a part of Ryou's mind registered this in slight surprise.

He wondered who had picked the Ring, knowing it had to be either Yugi or Malik. Oh Kami-sama, I hope that if it's Yugi then my yami doesn't hurt him too much…That would mean yet another thing for Yami to be angry about, and Ryou had learnt to become very frightened very quickly when Bakura became angry.

(Y-yami no Yugi?) he called nervously. (Are you there?)

From the depths of unconsciousness, Yami heard a quiet voice calling to him. Struggling with the blackness wrapped around him, he tried by sheer force of will to wake up. His soul room door creaked open slightly as he answered. ((Yugi? Is that you?))

A hesitation. (N-no,) the voice said timidly. (I-)

((WHAT?!?!?!)) Yami jumped up from his soul room floor as if it were covered in burning coals. He had absolutely no idea what was happening, but he had already realised he was no longer in Yugi's body. He was so used to his aibou's presence around him that this piece of news made him extremely worried. And angry.

((Who the hell is this?)) he demanded. ((And where's Yugi?)) He split off from Ryou, and nearly had a heart attack when he realised who was wearing the Puzzle. "…R-Ryou?"

Feeling his anger, Ryou backed away, absolutely petrified. Oh my G-God…

"Where's Yugi?" the spirit of the Puzzle repeated. His eyes were redder than usual, and the Sennen Eye had appeared on his forehead.

"I…I don't know…" The white-haired hikari whispered. "I'm sorry…please don't hurt me…" Bakura had always liked to hear him beg. It gave him a sense of power - to feel his host's terror, and to know that he had caused it.

Yami's anger was changing to bewilderment. "What?" The Eye flickered away.

Ryou retreated even further, until there were a good three metres between him and the spirit. "J-just don't hurt me…please…" Instinctively he pulled up a mental barrier around his mind, to make sure Yami couldn't read his thoughts.

The Pharaoh felt it go up and stared at him, completely nonplussed. He and Yugi had never seen the need to do things like that. They were always open with each other. "Ryou, why would I want to hurt you?"

Ryou was now firmly convinced that Yami was toying with him. Bakura had never actually given him a clear reason why he had abused him, but had often mentioned things along the lines of "weak" and "only my host," and had always emphasised that it was Ryou's fault that Bakura was doing these things to him. While the hikari couldn't think of an immediate cause to justify Yami wanting to hurt him, (apart from choosing the Puzzle and then wearing it, which he knew in Bakura's eyes was a fatal crime anyway) he wasn't going to stop him from doing it. Long years of abuse had taught him that it was always better to submit immediately, and just wait until his yami got bored, instead of risk causing more anger. With only a few exceptions, he had stuck rigidly to this rule.

Wanting an answer of some sort, Yami raised an eyebrow expectantly, but Ryou stayed silent.

"Dammit, stop moving away from me!" The Puzzle-spirit was getting frustrated. For Ra's sake, he's looking at me like I'm about to eat him…

Ryou froze like a panicked rabbit with a shotgun pointed at it's head. "Gomen…"

A sudden thought flashed into Yami's mind, bringing with it understanding. What did the Tomb Robber do to him? He took a step forward, and then another, watching as the hikari started shaking, looking as if he were about to turn and bolt. There were ten steps between them. Nine…Eight…

"Ryou, listen to me. I'm not going to hurt you." Yami made his voice as soft and gentle as he could, but it was obvious from the look on the teenager's face that he didn't believe him for a moment. The spirit wondered how many times the Thief had said those words to him, watching Ryou's face blossom into timid, hopeful relief…and then the next blow coming. That sadistic baka…

"Please believe me. I don't want to hurt you." Yami moved slightly, just to see what would happen, and saw the hikari cringe. How can I prove I'm not going to hurt him if he won't let me anywhere near him? Hesitating, he reached out mentally and touched the edge of Ryou's mind, very softly. For the second that he held on for, he instantly sensed all the places where the Tomb Robber had grabbed, hit, pulled…all the invisible mental bruises…then the lighter half pushed him away, edging even further backwards.

This time, Yami didn't attempt to follow him. He simply stood there, patiently waiting, until Ryou's retreat stopped. He could still sense Ryou's overwhelming fear but, beneath that, slight confusion.

"You…aren't you g-going to look through my mind?"

Sudden Flashback

((Yadonushi, why should I tell you what I'm going to do? You'll enjoy it more if it's a surprise…))

As Yami heard this, he realised in shock that Ryou expected him to pry through his mind, to hurt him, to make him suffer, and this made him gape at the hikari in open-mouthed incredulity. "Why do you think I would want to do something like that? Your mind is private."

Through the mental barrier Ryou had created floated a single thought: Not to some people.

Oh Gods, Yami thought to himself. I'm going to make sure the Tomb-Robber pays for this, even if I spend the rest of my eternal life chasing him. But what the hell am I going to say? He'll deny everything; he always does. Dammit, I need proof…An idea occurred to him. It went against all his morals and beliefs, but it would work. But I've just said I wouldn't do it. Although it would help. Huh, keep telling yourself that, just to keep the guilt away. You'll turn into the Thief if you're not careful.

He sighed, then looked up slowly and met Ryou's eyes again, noticing how wide and frightened they were. That's it: I'm going to do this. I'm going to help him. But first I need to understand…

Reaching out very gradually, he slowly touched the hikari's mind again, but going in a little more deeply than before, so he couldn't be pushed back. Ryou flinched at the intrusion, and jumped back.

Sighing again, Yami came out of Ryou's mind and looked at him. "You don't have to let me do this. I'm trying to help you, honestly I am, but if you really don't like it I'll stop."

The white-haired teenager's fear was coming off him in waves. "I d-don't mind. D-d-do whatever you want. I c-can't stop you."

Yami frowned. It wasn't exactly the acquiescence he had hoped for – more like the terrified babbling of someone too scared to argue. In a sort of resignation he entered Ryou's mind again, and carried on going on, right to the core. Instantly, he was surrounded by a buzz of thoughts and feelings – some primitive, like feeling hungry or tired, but others more complex, like wondering about the ending of a book he was reading. Some were made up of a few simple words, others contained detailed pictures. He went in a little more deeply, feeling vaguely unsettled at how easy it was. It was obvious Ryou was putting up virtually no resistance, or at least not intentionally – his fear at what Yami was up to showed clearly in every little thought.

After some searching. Yami found his target: Ryou's memories. Approaching cautiously, he found it to be in the form of a picture book, or even a photo album. But instead of still images, little scenes played themselves over and over again, making it dizzying to watch. He came nearer, and felt a tiny bubble of pain rise up from Ryou. It was quickly suppressed, pulled hastily back behind the mental barrier, and the hikari showed no outwards signs of it, but Yami had still felt it.

((I'm hurting you, aren't I? Going in so deep…it hurts you.))

(It's o-okay,) Ryou stammered. (My yami…I mean my other one, not you…he does it all the time…I-I'm used to it…) He tensed as Yami went a bit deeper, more pockets of pain bursting silently around them. Then, realising that Yami was trying to treat him very gently, he relaxed a little. It hurt more if you were tense, or afraid. Suddenly it occurred to him that the spirit might be getting frustrated with the slow progress, and he murmured, (You don't have to be so gradual. If you want to do stuff quicker, then push. Like sort of smashing your way in.)

Yami was immediately filled with doubt. Something about the way Ryou had said it… He hesitated, then pushed more firmly. The hikari's innermost thoughts and emotions were instantly shoved roughly out of his way, and he felt rather than heard a cry of pain erupt silently from somewhere inside. Yami stopped at once, almost too appalled to speak. ((That's the way the Tomb Robber always does it, isn't it?))

(…Yes…)

Ripping down the mental barriers, Yami let his indignation filter through. ((Do you think I get pleasure from doing that? In the same sick way that he does? That…that-)) He simply couldn't think up a word strong enough to sum up all his hatred and anger in.

He felt a thin stream of…amusement? Sadness? Resignation? trickle through from Ryou. (I've felt worse.)

Yami had had enough. ((Right, that's it. As soon as I see the Tomb Robber, I'm going to talk to him about this. Forget talk, actually, I'm going to rip his Ra-damned brains out. If he even has any. If that sadist thinks he can get away with doing crap like that to you, then-))

(No!) yelled the hikari. His voice was shrill with fear. (Don't say anything! Please!)

((But-))

(Please, Yami no Yugi. Please promise me you won't say anything to him.) Ryou was begging now.

((He'll do it again. He'll carry on hurting you, in whatever sick, twisted ways he can come up with. Let me speak to him. I can stop him.))

(No! Don't! You can't stop him! No one can!)

((You want to make a bet on that?))

(Please. Promise me you won't.)

((Ry-)

(Please./

My Ra, I'm going to regret this. I know I am. How long can I keep this sort of promise for? I'll end up punching that bloody Thief in the face as soon as I see him. ((Fine. I promise. But I don't like it.))

Ryou ignored the last sentence, and Yami could feel his silent gratefulness. Looking around in shock, he was surprised to realise he was still deep inside Ryou's mind. Memories lay in front of him, almost asking to be opened. He remembered what he had come in here to do, and approached the 'book.'

Opening it carefully, respectfully, he started looking through, observing little flashes of Ryou's life. Going back a bit, he found the ones of the World of the Dead and watched them as if they were films, memories silently unfolding before him. Ryou also watched, without saying a word.

((Did you enjoy visiting the dead?))

Ryou realised with a jolt that he was actually being asked his opinion. (Um… I don't know. It was mostly Will and Lyra's idea. I didn't really do much.)

Yami looked at the memory of Yugi sitting in the boat, crying silently, and felt a twinge. ((My aibou misses me…)) Ryou didn't know what to say. He was almost starting to feel jealous of the bond between Yami and Yugi. The spirit kept looking through, and softened when he saw Ryou put an arm around Yugi in an attempt to comfort him.

Sitting back, feeling slightly better now that he knew what had been going on, and why Ryou had the Puzzle, the Pharaoh turned his mind to the other task he wished to do. He wanted to do it quickly, because he knew it was hurting Ryou more and more the longer he stayed here. Before he could stop it, a sudden feeling leapt from his own mind of exactly how it felt to have your memory poked and pried through, the sheer indignity and helplessness…Yami let out an angry hiss, privately disgusted with himself. Then he pushed the guilt pangs away. He could deal with them later.

Settling his mind down to his task, Yami drew a mental barrier around himself, so Ryou wouldn't be able to watch. Then he opened the book again, searching faster this time, looking for the sort of memory he wanted. When he found one, and it didn't take long, he started to watch it.

It was the one just before Bakura had stolen the knife with Malik. Yami viewed in growing anger how the Ring-spirit had hit Ryou so hard he choked on his own blood. Coughing it up all over the floor. The humiliation, the awful humiliation, of having someone watching. He could feel, as if it were happening to him, the salty nauseating feeling in your mouth, and knowing exactly what it was… When he saw how Malik had reacted, the uninterested shrug, saying "Why should I care?" the way he turned away, black spots began to appear in front of Yami's vision. He was so furious he slammed the book shut, shaking with rage. Coming out of Ryou's mind, very slowly so as not to hurt him, he looked at the hikari standing opposite him. "Ryou, how dare he do something like that to you? Both of them. How dare they?"

He received a blank look in reply. "Do what?"

Yami remembered he had deliberately blanked Ryou out, so he wouldn't have to relive the experience. "Just before the Tomb Robber was going to steal the knife. With Malik." The Pharaoh spat out the name in disgust. "I saw what they did to you. How dare they?"

Ryou blinked, and looked down at the ground. "I…my yami didn't do all that much, really. And Malik didn't do anything to actually hurt me."

They had approached a dangerous subject, and Yami knew this. But he didn't care. "Exactly! He. Didn't. Do. Anything." Yami stressed each syllable. "That baka just stood there and watched. Like it was entertainment. Like-"

"Like he didn't care?" Ryou offered gently.

"Don't you hate him? Both of them?"

"I…don't know. Maybe deep inside. But not on the surface."

"That's as good as a yes, Ryou."

"Malik helped me later on," the hikari argued. "He's not as horrible as he seems. He pulled my yami back, and told him to stop. He's not so bad."

"Later on! Not at the beginning! And standing there and watching someone get abused without doing anything is just as bad as doing the abuse!" Yami realised he was almost screaming in his fury, and hastily lowered his voice.

Ryou was looking uncertain. "It's not abuse," he whispered. "That's…different."

"Different? How? For Ra's sake, Ryou, you were coughing up blood. What do you think of stuff like that as?"

"You d-don't understand. The things he does…I deserve them…"

"Bullshit," Yami snapped. "No one deserves to have that sort of stuff done to them. Especially not you. I don't know what crap he tells you, but you don't deserve that kind of treatment from him. Any of it."

He took another step forward. Seven… Ryou shivered, but this time didn't back away. It was a small victory. Six… Five… Yami stopped, aware this would have to be done slowly. It was almost as if Ryou had an instinctive fear of yamis. This made a sort of sense, especially when you took into consideration that Ryou's yami was a blood-obsessed, sadistic kleptomaniac, (in Yami's opinion) and Malik's yami was an insane mass-murderer (in everyone's opinion, including his own).

After a few moments, Ryou let down the very last of the mental barriers. Another victory. Yami thought that if he managed to get near enough to Ryou to actually touch him, they might be getting somewhere.

Four…Three… "I just want to talk to you properly, OK? It's a lot easier than yelling at you from the other side of the field."

Ryou gave a shadow of a smile. After a minute's hesitation, Yami covered the last few steps and stood next to him. "There we go. Not so bad, huh?" He noticed that the teenager was still shivering. "You want to sit down? It's just that you're shaking like…I don't know…like a shaky thing."

After a moment, Ryou sat down on the grass. Yami sat next to him.

There was silence for a few seconds, then the hikari blurted out, "You…you're totally different from my yami." There was disbelief in his voice.

"I should hope so too."

Ryou gave him another small smile. "You both have big egos though."

"Nothing wrong with that," the Pharaoh answered amicably. He glanced at Ryou again as he spoke. Despite his brave smile, Ryou was looking very lost and vulnerable in Yami's eyes. "My Ra, you're almost as good at puppy-dog eyes as my aibou is. When he looks at me like that he can make me do anything he wants." He hesitated, than leaned over and gave Ryou a hug. The hikari shifted slightly, then relaxed.

Cuddling him back, Ryou whispered, (Do you know what I wish right now?)

((What?))

(T-that you were my yami all the time.)

The Pharaoh sighed. "We both know I'd never leave Yugi. But if I could ever have two hikaris, I'd choose you."

Ryou hugged him tighter. Trying to lighten the situation a bit, Yami joked, "Well, not like I have much choice. Hell, I'd rather die than have Malik as my hikari. We'd end up killing each other within seconds. Or he'd grab the Puzzle and run off with it. I wouldn't put it past him."

The white-haired teenager laughed quietly.

...........

They sat that way for a while, talking about anything that came into their heads. Eventually, Will cut through and found them. Both looked up at the sudden noise, and Yami instinctively went back into the Puzzle. The hikari's eyes widened slightly when he saw who was standing behind Will and Lyra: Malik, wearing the Ring. Ryou wilted inside at the sight of it.

Yami split off. "Nice to see you all again." His voice was neutral, pleasant. Bakura split off as well, standing next to his temporary hikari.

"Hello Pharaoh." There was a slight sneer on his face. Malik was silent, his face carefully expressionless. His eyes met Ryou's, just for a second, and the white-haired teen stared openly back. Malik's eyebrow raised just a fraction, but he didn't say anything.

Bakura's gaze also moved from Yami to Ryou. "Hey, yadonushi. You having fun with the Pharaoh?" His eyes were laughing, and Ryou felt as if they could see right through him.

"I'm fine," he said carefully.

For some reason this made the Tomb Robber smile. It wasn't a very nice smile. "Good."

There was a tense silence, then Will said nervously, "Um, should we go find Yugi now?"

Ryou felt Yami go suddenly cold. ((Oh Ra, he…he picked the Rod…))

(Don't worry,) Ryou said more confidently than he felt. (He'll…be okay. Yami no Malik wouldn't dare hurt him, right?)

...........

Yugi woke up in the middle of a thick group of oak trees, up to his ankles in crackling foliage. Then he looked down at the Millennium Rod on the ground, and all thoughts of his surroundings instantly fled from his mind. "Oh my God…" Picking up the Item with the intention of throwing it into a bush, he raised it high, but his nerve failed him and he dropped it. It was possibly the worst thing he could have done. The Rod fell to the ground with a dull thud and Yami no Malik appeared, rubbing his head.

"Who did that? Hikari, I am going to kill you…" He took in his surroundings and blinked. Looking around, he caught sight of Yugi. "Who the hell are you? And where's Malik? I want to kill him. Although if he's run off somewhere than I guess you'll have to do."

It wasn't the best possible beginning in the world.

Yugi edged very slowly backwards, determined not to let his fear show. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "I'm Yugi."

"Never heard of you," the psychotic spirit said dismissively. He looked at him more closely. "You look vaguely familiar but I don't think I've tried to kill you before."

Yugi thought of the Millennium Rod whizzing through the air, and didn't say anything.

"Well, not properly, anyway." Yami Malik thought for a moment. "Wait. I know who you are. The Pharaoh's little pet."

Yugi frowned. "I'm not his pet."

"Whatever." An insane grin formed on the Psycho's face. "Oh, yes!" His grin widened. "What a brilliant way to get back at the Pharaoh!"

Yugi didn't like the sound of this. "W-what?" It was slightly disturbing that he couldn't hear the spirit's thoughts. He seemed to act almost completely on impulse, not bothering to think things through. But although he didn't seem to have many thoughts, he definitely had moods. Yugi could feel the yami's mind changing from hyperactive to psychotic, and then back to hyper, almost like a game of roulette. There was some paranoia and depression in there somewhere, but at the moment it wasn't near the surface. He wondered if Yami Malik actually realised who was his hikari at the moment. Probably. Although it wouldn't make much difference.

"If I kill you, the Pharaoh will be upset," the Psycho explained slowly. "Also, killing you would make me happy. Therefore I am going to kill you. Any last words?"

The hikari gulped and continued edging backwards. (Can't we just be friends?)

Yami Malik found this hilarious. Giggling madly: "No." Suddenly he stopped giggling and gave Yugi a murderous glare. "You just spoke to me in my head. Only my hikari does that. How did you do that?"

(Um…)

((Unless you've joined the thousands of other little people who live in my head,)) the Psycho concluded. His glares turned back into giggling. ((Not that I care. In fact, it makes things even better. Now I can feel you die as well.))

(Oh Kami-sama,) Yugi mumbled. And I actually thought he might treat me better if he found out I was his hikari? What was I thinking?

((Nothing particularly interesting. And soon you won't be able to think anything at all.)) Yami Malik's mind starting running through all the different ways to kill Yugi. ((Hmmm, maybe strangling. I haven't done that for a while.))

Keep him talking, Yugi thought wildly. Out loud he said, "W-why do you like killing so much?"

The spirit found this question interesting. So interesting, in fact, that he forgot he was meant to be killing Yugi, at least for the moment. ((It makes me happy. I get a total adrenaline rush when I kill someone. Like when I have too much sugar. It gives me a massive high.)) His face took on a dreamy look. ((Do you have any sugar?))

The hikari shook his head silently.

((Too bad. Now I am going to have to kill you.)) Yami Malik glanced carelessly at the Rod, which lay on the ground. "I don't need that," he announced. "I'm going to kill you with my bare hands." He started laughing crazily.

It looked like the talking was at an end. Yugi was looking around desperately for an escape route. He was just about to turn and run, when out of the corner of his eye he saw the tip of a knife-blade moving in the air. A second later Will appeared, holding the subtle knife, and Yugi could see Malik standing next to him. The Egyptian signalled silently to the Rod, then pointed to himself.

Careful not to look at them directly in case he gave them away, Yugi dodged the Psycho and grabbed the Rod from the ground.

Yami Malik's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Weakling, put that down now. You won't be able to use it, and if you hold it for much longer I will hurt you. A lot."

Yugi didn't answer. Instead, he threw the Rod sideways with all his strength, praying his aim was on target. Why didn't I try harder at P.E?

Malik caught it with one hand. His yami noticed him, and stopped laughing abruptly. His eyes went almost comically wide when he saw that Malik was wearing the Ring around his neck. Bakura split off, and his expression was not a happy one. While Yami no Malik was normally more than a match for one of them or even two, the stakes looked a lot more even now he didn't have the Rod. As his shadow powers came from the Item, which his hikari was now holding, Yami Malik was, for now, virtually defenceless, and he didn't like it one bit.

"Hello yami," Malik said in a conversational tone.

"So now it takes two of you to defeat me? How pathetic…"

In reply, shadow power from the Millennium Rod hurled towards him, and the spirit promptly avoided it. His expression was murderous. The sheer nerve, for his hikari to try and attack him with his Item…Purple flames exploding around him, he lashed back, and Malik blocked it, barely. Another beam came from the Rod, and this time the blue light of the Ring was wrapped around it in a tight spiral. Knowing he couldn't dodge it, he pulled a shield around himself. The beam from the Rod and the Ring struck it head-on. For a moment the shield shook, pushing the power away, then it shattered into a thousand pieces and the beam hit Yami Malik's body. There was an ear-splitting bang, and he was thrown to the ground.

The spirit's body twitched, then floated away completely as he faded away into his soul room.

After a moment, Bakura also went back into Malik's head. There was a strange expression on his face, almost hopeful.

Malik ran over to Yugi. "I'm really, really sorry. Did he hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Thank Ra." The Egyptian looked extremely relieved. Suddenly he winced and placed a dark hand to his head. "Ow."

It was Yugi's turn to be concerned. "You okay?"

"…Yeah. My Ra, you try having TWO yamis in your head. Especially two that hate each other." Malik could feel a migraine coming on.

...........

(A/N: Okay, the speech while in Malik's mind has changed to this:)

((Bakura speech))

(Yami Malik speech)

(Malik speech)

Malik (through Millennium Rod) commands

...........

(Tomb Robber, what the hell are you doing in here?)

((Much the same sort of thing as you, I guess.)) Bakura dropped the façade of politeness and threw himself at his enemy. They both fell to the ground, Bakura underneath. Malik only weighed slightly more than Ryou, but Malik's yami was an inch or two taller than him and several kilograms heavier. He was also a lot stronger.

((Damn you Psycho!)) Bakura relaxed, then arched his back, throwing the other spirit off him.

(I'll kill you!) Yami no Malik screamed back. He kicked out sharply, and the Thief clutched his ankle.

((Baka!))

(Zoko!)

Yami Malik chased him around the confines of Malik's mind, screaming insults. Bakura stopped suddenly and tripped him up, causing the psychotic spirit to fall to the ground again. The Tomb Robber jumped on top of him, causing Yami Malik to belt out several Arabic curses.

(Get off me!)

((You're even more pathetic than the Pharaoh.))

To Yami Malik, there was no worse insult. (How dare you!) Goaded beyond endurance, he pulled the Tomb Robber off him and threw him several metres across the floor.

Bakura lay there for several moments before managing to struggle upright. Laughing softly, Yami Malik stood in front of him. (Actually, Tomb Robber, I've changed my mind. I'm not going to destroy you just yet. I'll kill your weak little hikari first.)

The world spinning slightly, the Thief leaned against the wall for support. ((Go ahead. He doesn't mean anything to me.))

(Oh, I think he does. You may not have realised it yet, but you care about him. Remember that I can read all your thoughts.) The Psycho paused, savouring every word. (I'm going to get him one day. And then, Tomb Robber, you are going to have to watch him die. It will be very, very slow.)

A shadow crossed Bakura's face. ((No…)) he whispered.

(Oh yes.) Yami Malik gave him his best insane smile.

With a wild scream, the Thief leapt on top of him, kicking and punching every part of him he could reach. Yami Malik went down under the sheer volley of blows, but this time he was underneath.

STOP IT!!! a voice yelled.

Involuntarily, both spirits looked up. Malik was standing there, clutching the Millennium Rod, and looking absolutely livid. (You two are giving me a headache!) He struck out mentally, and his yami, already weakened by his fight with the Tomb Robber, was, to his disgust, thrown into his soul room. He got up instantly, beyond seething at being humiliated in front of the Tomb Robber.

((I wanted to do that!)) Bakura began to protest. ((I had him on the floor!))

Malik put up a hand to silence him. (Next time, try and do it a bit more quietly. I hate it when I get migraines.) He pointed with a slightly shaking hand to the Ring-spirit's soul room. (Now get in there. Before I make you.)

Bakura nodded meekly.

...........

"Now that we're all here, do you want to exchange Items?" Yugi asked.

"Okay," Ryou said reluctantly. (Yami no Yugi? Thanks for, um, being so nice and everything.)

((Ryou, it was a privilege being your yami.)) Yami gave him a warm smile.

Ryou took off the Puzzle slowly and handed it to Yugi. "Here you go."

"Thanks." Yugi received his Item eagerly and put it around his neck. "Was he all right? He didn't get too egotistic or anything? He can do that sometimes."

Ryou smiled. "He was great." He turned to Malik. "I…suppose I should have the Ring back."

The Egyptian heard the reluctance in his voice, but didn't comment on it. He himself was only too eager to be rid of the Ring. Wrapping his hands around the cord, he lifted it up slowly. Ra, it was heavy. Like the stupid thing didn't want to leave him. After a few moments he managed to take it off, with a barely audible sigh of relief.

Ryou put it on, and Malik saw his hands were shaking, very slightly.

The white-haired hikari felt the familiar, icy sensation spread over him and shivered, just a little.

Knowing that it would take few minutes for Bakura to wake up again, Malik asked suddenly, "Is it always that cold?"

Ryou shrugged uncertainly. "Yeah. But I don't mind anymore." It's not the Ring that scares me; it's the thing inside. "Did anything bad happen when you put it on?" It would explain why Malik was eyeing the Ring so uneasily.

The Rod-holder shuddered. "When I put the Ring on it tried to suck away my soul. It was… horrible."

They exchanged looks of sympathy, and Ryou shivered again as he felt his yami wake up. (H-hello yami.)

((So, what have you been up to then?)) Bakura's voice was deceptively friendly. Not bothering to wait for an answer, he started rummaging through his hikari's mind as per usual.

Ryou suddenly remembered in horror all the things Yami had said to him, and waited in dread for the inevitable explosion. It didn't take long.

(("WHAT?!?!?!"))

The hikari winced as his yami yelled both out loud and mentally. He watched helplessly from his soul room as Bakura, quivering with anger, marched up to Yami, who immediately separated from Yugi.

"Pharaoh, what the HELL have you been saying to my host?"

The Puzzle spirit adopted his "reasonable" tone, all too aware that if he angered the Tomb Robber, it would be Ryou who suffered. "We…talked for a while. About things. I'm sorry if I upset you." Oh my Ra, I can't believe I just apologised to the Tomb Robber. But if it stops Ryou from getting hurt-

"I don't want your fucking apologies!" Bakura snapped. "They don't mean anything!"

Yami didn't say a word, but the Eye of Ra had appeared on his forehead, glowing very faintly.

The Ring spirit's voice suddenly turned dangerously calm. "So, my little host chose to put the Puzzle on, did he?"

"N-no…"

(Careful aibou,) Yugi warned.

((What should I say?))

(I don't know…)

"I-I made Ryou put it on-" ((Crap.)) Yami had dug himself into a hole, and he knew it. So did Bakura.

"You made him? How can you make him do it if you were inside the Puzzle to begin with?"

"Er…"

"BAKA!" the Thief yelled. "He's my host! Not yours! It's up to me how I treat him! Not you!"

"Actually-" Yami began.

"Just shut up!" I'm going to kill him…

(Yami, p-please leave him alone. It was my fault-)

((You'd rather have him as your yami, wouldn't you? WOULDN'T YOU?))

Ryou blinked. Was that jealousy in his yami's voice? (I-)

Pushing him away impatiently, Bakura grabbed Yami by the shirt collar, lifting him off the ground.

(Leave him alone!)

((Are you fighting me?))

Ryou hesitated. Well, he had gone this far. May as well go the whole way. (Yes, I am. Leave him alone. Now.)

Bakura smiled nastily. "Pharaoh, my weak little host is begging me to let you go. Isn't that sweet?" He threw Yami to the ground. The Pharaoh scrambled to his feet, eyes flashing in anger.

(ENOUGH!!!) Ryou hit out with all of his strength, and his yami was torn from control.

((You little…))

His hikari slammed his soul room door shut. (Just shut up.)

Yami blinked uncertainly as Ryou's hair softened from devil horns into softer, less spiky bangs, and his eyes turned back to 'innocent' chocolate brown. "What just-"

"I-I pushed him back…" The hikari whispered in disbelief.

"Go Ryou!" Malik said suddenly. He went slightly red as everyone stared at him. "I mean, what?"