well... I'll say at the end. (Yes, I am evil. I know.) There's another time skip here, so, if
you're wondering, it's been just over a year and a half since Ryou has left. Keep that in
mind for later.
Still in Ryou's POV. It'll remain there unless there's a scene with Yuugi & Co., which yes,
there is one coming up soon... but not now. ::grin::
Enjoy.
GUIDE
: Ryou to Bakura :
: : Bakura to Ryou : :
Blah is thoughts
-----
SIX MONTHS LATER
I flitted among the crowd before walking into a doorway. I stood there and observed the
people walking past. No, no, no, definitely not, too rich, too poor, ah-ha! I thought,
finding a target. I joined the crowd once again, and, pretending to be reading a newspaper,
I ran into a guy in his mid- to late thirties.
"Hey, watch it!" he said in Italian.
"Forgive me, sir," I said, making sure I mispronounced a syllable or two. He sighed,
figuring me for a tourist, and walked away. Many liras lighter, I noted happily. I
went back to the doorway, pocketed the money, and dropped the wallet into a bag addressed
to the local police. I'd drop it off later.
I went inside the building and made my way to the roof. I jumped across a narrow
alleyway onto another building. I went down the stairs and made my way to my room.
This way, if I was ever suspected, then the desk clerk can say he never saw me leave. I
smiled sadly. Bakura had taught me that.
I haven't heard from any of them since I left six months ago. We've never crossed paths
and I've been to several countries all around the Mediterranean. It isn't easy now that I
don't have the benefit of Malik's ship and his mind abilites that allowed us to get into any
country without passports or permission. It's hard and complicated, but I've gotten into a
routine and it has certainly improved a few of my skills that had been lacking.
I haven't done any major thefts since I left, either. I've stuck with lifting small things and
pickpocketing, just enough to get by. I'm not on this side journey for the steals. I'm still
trying to figure things out; a self-exploratory adventure, you could say. I've come to terms
with most of it, but there are still things on which I'm still shaky.
I've forgiven Bakura, but I'm not sure whether its because he's my friend and my yami, or
because I really have forgiven his actions. I want it to be the latter, but there are still times
when I think I just do it because it hurts me to be away from him, Malik, and Marik. Sure,
they're rough around the edges and hard-living, but they are the only true friends I have in
this world.
I miss them.
Bakura and I's mindlink is all but completely severed from being so far way from each
other. The Ring has become heavy, and I know that being separated from it has to be
hurting him greatly. I just can't bring myself to track them down. Maybe in warped way
I'm trying to hurt him, make him suffer like I know those men did that night.
Subconciously and all. I don't like to think that way, and usually try and ignore those
thoughts. I'm just not ready, I often tell myself.
Maybe I am, I often reply. Maybe I am ready to face it. Maybe I am ready to face all of
it. I just don't want to, because I know it won't be easy, I usually think. Who was I
kidding? I just didn't want to face them because I was afraid of losing them. If I stayed
away, then I'll never have to come to grips with it.
I opened my window and peered out. I watched the people mill around below me. Most of
the time I like the idea that I'm ahead of them, that I know something that they don't.
That I can take anything I want from them and they wouldn't even notice. Most of the
time. Lately I've been growing sick of it. I like it, but it's no fun when there's no one to
share it with you. What's the point in having knowledge if you can't share it? It's useless.
I sighed. I knew where my conscience was going with this. I had to find them. Whether I
liked it or not I needed them, and I had a feeling that they needed me. I've had plenty of
time to think things over, and the only way to get by these demons was to confront them. I
didn't want to; it was the last thing on earth I wanted to do. I knew I had to, though, and
that until I did.... I would still be the old Ryou.
I packed my bag an hour later and left.
-----
It wasn't easy. It took me almost a month before I finally managed to track Malik's ship
down. And think, I knew what to look for-- I can't imagine what those who try and
capture must. I don't know how Pegs found us, or how he's even still alive. Knowing him,
I'd rather not know.
I found the ship stationed at a dock in Cape Town, South Africa. I braced myself as I
walked aboard... and found it devoid of life (or death). They weren't home. I rolled my
eyes at the irony of it all. Checking around the rooms I noticed that a good bit of their
stuff was here, so they couldn't have gone far. I decided to wait.
And wait I did, by nervously pacing the entire ship several times. I was too anxious to stay
in one place and every second that ticked by I was becoming more of a nervous wreck.
Where are they? I thought. They should be here! They better be or else I'll... I'll... I gave
up on trying to think of a what else and began my sixth circuit.
I was on my twentieth when I was stopped by a voice.
"I don't know who you are or what you're doing here, but you have three seconds to
explain before I dump you into the sea."
"If this is how you treat your friends, then I'd hate to see how you treat your enemies," I
said as I turned around, "Bakura."
"R-Ryou?" I was a thrown a bit by his more rough-looking appearance. His expression
was a mix of confusion, joy, and sadness. "Ryou?"
"It's me, alright. I decided that I had been away long enough," I said. It's not that I had
been expecting an emotional scene with hugging and crying and all, but what I did get... I
should've expected.
"WHERE IN THE SEVEN HELLS HAVE YOU BEEN?!" he neary screamed. I
shrugged.
"Everywhere," I replied. He walked up and grabbed me by the front of my shirt.
"If you ever do that again, I'll make sure you won't just limp away," he growled. I smiled.
"Nice to see you, too, Bakura. Where's Malik and Marik?" He let go and gave me a look.
"Where do you think?"
"Ah, I see, a bar. Well, can't right well let them celebrate my return alone, now can we?
Lead the way," I said. He gave me a smirk and started to walk away.
: Oh, and Bakura? :
: : What? : : he said. I nearly passed out from joy hearing his voice in my head again.
: I forgive you. : He paused. When he did turn around, the smirk was still in place.
"C'mon, before they drink the bar under the table," he said.
It was good to be back. I still wasn't sure on what terms I forgave him, but in the end I
guess it didn't matter. I did, and that's what really counted. I know he only did it to save
us. I sighed, contented.
Yeah, it was good to be back.
A/N: Yes, I know, it's so short and I'm horrible for doing this to you, right? Don't worry,
I'll be back soon!
What I started mention at the beginning was this chapter was to also show and / or
reaffirm Ryou and Bakura's friendship, more specifically on Bakura's part. There'll be
more snatches like that throughout the rest of the story.
Reviews, ¿por favor? ::hopeful grin::