two and a half years since Ryou left Yuugi & Co. ::grin:: Seriously, if any one is confused
by this just tell me and I will make a timeline for you. I have no problem with that.
Also, for this chapter, let's just say... ::singing Eminem:: Guess who's back... back again...
::wink::
Enjoy.
GUIDE
: Ryou to Bakura :
: : Bakura to Ryou : :
Blah is thoughts
-----
SAME TIME
NO POV
"BA-KUR-A!"
"You screamed, Marik?" Ryou watched, amused, as Bakura leaned his head back across
the back of the chair to stare up at the most psycho of the Egyptians.
"WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING IN OVER A MONTH! I'M GOING TO GO
INSANE!"
"Don't you mean insane-er?" Ryou said. He received a passing glare before Marik turned
his attention back to Bakura.
"WELL?!"
"Well, if our neighbors didn't think we were a little nuts before, they sure do now,"
Bakura replied dryly.
"Or they think that you two are, you know, together," Ryou said, making quotes in the
air. Where's Malik when ya need 'im, Ryou thought.
"Oh ha, ha, fucking ha," Marik growled sarcastically. Ryou shrugged.
"It sure sounds like that to me. Now would you mind keeping that expression for a little
longer? I'd like to add it to my collection," he said, holding his sketch book up.
"THAT'S IT! I'M OUTTA HERE!" He stormed out the door and slammed it.
"Yeah, I'd say the neighbors are thinking that they've just heard a lover's quarrel right
about now," Ryou said, returning to his sketch of Bakura.
"Want to spend the rest of the week in the Shadow Realm?" Bakura threatened, still
leaning his head back.
"Not particularly," Ryou replied, mimicking Bakura's earlier dryness. "He is right, though.
We haven't done anything in over a month. I'm getting restless myself, and besides, cash
is running low. We've been in India too long."
"Well, what the hell am I supposed to do? Pull a heist out of my ass?"
"Well, that certainly would be remarkable," Ryou answered. The look on Bakura's face
told him he was pushing it. He sighed and laid his sketch down. "Truthfully, I don't know.
You're the planner, not I."
"The only place that we haven't ravaged is Japan," Bakura muttered.
"Well, then, why not head there? Can't leave it all by its lonesome, now can we?" Bakura
leaned up and turned around at that remark.
"Are you sure? That's the first I've heard you speak of home."
"Notice I didn't call it my home. My home's here now, not there. And why not? There's
plenty of things to steal, and besides, there are a few loose ends that need to be tied,"
Ryou said. Bakura studied him for a moment.
"You still have that knife I gave to you?"
"Of course," Ryou said, patting his right leg, where it was strapped.
"Take it out. You remember what I told you about it?"
"Yes, why?" Ryou said, taking the knife out of its sheath.
"That knife did belong to Khalid, the first King of Thieves. It's been passed down through
the millenia, until I managed to retrieve it several years ago from its previous owner,
proving that once again, I was the King of Thieves. Understand?"
"I think so. You're saying that to become the King, you have to steal this from the current
King, correct?" Bakura nodded. His hikari was certainly quick to catch on. "If that's true,
then why did you give it to me?"
"Think of it as a preview of coming attractions," his dark replied mysteriously.
Ryou looked at the knife. It hadn't lost a bit of luster since Bakura had given it to him. He
hadn't ever used it, except for practice a few times, but he always kept it on his person at
all possible times, and when it wasn't, it was always in view and in arm's reach. It still
remained Bakura's only gift to him, and he was going to take very good care of it.
Just what exactly does he mean, 'preview of coming attractions'? Is he saying that he
wants me to be the next King of Thieves? I mean, sure, I can lift things of his without his
even noticing, but this is different. This knife is special. He'd protect it with his life, Ryou
thought, ignoring the bad phrasing. He held the knife out to Bakura, who shook his head.
"Not yet. Soon," he said, standing. "I'm going to go tell Marik of our new destination."
"And give him a new excuse to get drunk," Ryou added. Bakura just threw his hands up in
the air and walked out of the room. Ryou put the knife back in its sheath and leaned back.
This is it. I'm finally going to face the last of my past life and move on. I don't know
what's going to happen, but I'm not backing down this time. Never again.
He had more or less come to complete terms with Bakura's actions that night in the
museum. He couldn't justify it or unjustify it, so he eventually just let it go. He had to
move on, and he did. Deep down, he knew that he still blamed himself for not putting up
more of a fight, but it wasn't as if he could go back and change it. He had to accept it and
move on.
He hoped, that when he arrived in Japan, the others could only do the same.
-----
A WEEK LATER
"I'm assuming you're going to want to go on this little adventure of yours yourself?"
Malik asked. They were standing on the deck of his ship, enjoying the cool sea breeze.
Japan was only an hour away.
"At first, if you don't mind," Ryou said. "Give me a day or two. Time enough for them to
get over the shock but before they began asking too many questions. I'd like to have all of
you there for that."
"Are you sure? I mean, we haven't exactly been on the best of terms with them," Malik
said, leaning against the railing. Ryou snorted, confirming that.
"I'm well aware of that; but I'm not sure they'd believe me otherwise. It is kind of out
there," he said. Malik shrugged. "Think about it, Malik. Quiet, unassuming, straightlaced
Ryou becomes a member of the greatest thief team in the world? And not just a member,
but an actual co-conspirator?"
"It does seem like a complete turnaround," Malik admitted. He closed his eyes, enjoying
the sunlight. "I'll never get tired of the sun."
Ryou smiled and let Malik revel in his sunlight. He knew the history behind it-- Malik had
been forced to live underground for most of his childhood, unable to ever see the sun. He
had become so enthralled with it that he had a tribal sun tattooed to his left arm with the
name of Amun-Ra, the sun god, in hieroglyphs inside it.
They all had gotten tattoos. It seemed a bit strange that their yamis-- more or less spirits--
got them, but they did, all similiar, and all on their upper left arm. Marik had gotten a
tribal design of a storm, and inside, the name of Set, the god of chaos. Bakura had a tribal
moon, and inside his, the name Khensu, who was the wandering form of Thoth, the moon
god. And Ryou, he had a tribal Ankh with the name of Anubis, the jackal god of
embalming, inside. They had done it while making a quick run of Europe. The tattoos
weren't little either; the took up most of the upper arm. Easily hid, though. Just wear long
sleeves.
They had all done a bit of a change in appearance, deciding that it would keep Pegasus
and all of the others after them off their trail. Ryou had cut his hair even shorter, except
for his bangs, making it a bit more spiky. He had also picked up Malik and Marik's habit
of wearing kohl around the eyes. Bakura made jokes about him being even more
effeminate, but Ryou did notice that he wore it just as much.
The cool sea air felt good, calming his nerves and his mind. He didn't know what was
going to happen, but he knew he had to do this, and Ra himself couldn't stop him. He had
left on unsure terms, and he couldn't have it stay that way. This was his chance to redeem
himself, and his actions. He shouldn't have left like that, but at the time, it seemed to be
his only way out. He wondered if they still believed his lie or if they had figured out that
he wasn't with his father. Probably have, he thought. They're not stupid. It was there
merely to give me enough time to get away, and it did, so it served its purpose.
Land was in sight by now. Ryou closed his eyes and side.
It's time, he thought.
-----
They had docked in Tokyo Bay at the civilian end, and Malik easily mind-controlled their
way into the country. Ryou never knew how he had missed that before his solo time. He
had jumped ship and told the others that he'd get ahold of them in a few days. They all
shrugged, trying to hide grins. Ryou sighed and hoped that they wouldn't show up too
plastered.
It took him close to an hour and half to get back to his old prefecture, which was on the
other side of the city. It's more crowded then I remember. He darted and dodged through
the crowds. He had arrived at the old school before he realized it. The school yard seemed
a bit empty, but then again, it was just after lunch on a Wednesday. He decided that he'd
come back later and see if any of the others were still in school. Yuugi, Jou, Anzu, and
Honda should be, if his calculations were correct.
Until then, he decided to walk by the game shop to see if it was still open. He had never
really cared for playing Duel Monsters, but the game itself fascinated him. There were so
many strategies and ideas to grasp that it seemed indominitable. He and the the others
would play casual games with each other, but nothing on the level of tournaments. They'd
be in a place long enough to enter, and without any real thing to gain, never bothered to
participate. If they wanted money, they took it, and the same went for any other prize.
He turned the corner, and sure enough, there was the game shop. It looked like it hadn't
changed at all. Smiling, Ryou pulled his floppy hat low, turned his duster's collar up, put
on his shades, and entered the store.
The little bell rang, signaling his arrival to all inside. Since school was in session, it was
mostly empty. There were a few adults browsing, and one was at the counter. He
positioned himself over at the Duel Monsters section of the wall, giving a side glance to
the counter. He took in a sharp breath as he saw Yami behind the counter. As if by Fate's
design, Yami looked directly at him. Ryou quickly turned his gaze to the cards in front of
him.
He could feel Yami's eyes on him. He heard movement, but couldn't tell if it was a
customer or Yami. The footsteps stopped beside him, and Ryou, darted a quick look over.
More like Fate's ironic sense of humor, this time, he thought as he saw Yami. He took a
deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He wasn't going to give himself away like this.
If Bakura, Malik, and Marik had ever taught him anything, they had taught him it was all
about entrances and exits.
"Konnichiwa," Yami greeted. Ryou inclined his head a bit.
"Konnichiwa," he replied, adding a slight accent, so his voice wouldn't be recognzed.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Actually, yes, there is. You see, I've been away from the Duel Monsters scene for a bit,
and I was wondering if there was any new Occult cards," Ryou asked smoothly, which
betrayed the butterflies in his stomach.
"A new shipment just came in yesterday," Yami said. "Here, I'm not much of an Occult
Deck expert, but I believe these are the hot items at the moment." He handed Ryou
several cards, who looked them over.
"Yes, I believe these will do nicely," Ryou replied. "Arigatou." Ryou noticed that Yami
had kept his humbleness, waiving it off.
"Come to the counter and I'll ring that up for you," he said. Ryou followed him and Yami
scanned the items. Ryou gave him the money and took the small bag that he placed them
in. He started to leave, but Yami stopped him.
"Forgive me for asking, but have we met before?" he asked. Ryou smiled openly.
"Perhaps in a past life," he replied before leaving. Once outside he disappeared around the
corner of the building, peering back. Yami was in the street, looking around for him. Ryou
smiled again and disappeared. I wondered how long it would it take before he realized I
said it in Egyptian...
A/N: Now things are gonna get interestin'! ::big Cheshire cat grin:: Will Yami figure it
out? (We all know he can be a bit dense sometimes!)
What do you think of the "new" look? I tried not to change too much, but I mean, c'mon,
it has been two and a half years! Please feel free to tell what you like or don't like.
So, how many of you thought I had forgotten about the knife? No way, José!
Also, if anybody feels up to, say, drawing the guys (or just Ryou), then please do! I love
story-based artwork and if I had an ounce of talent I'd draw, but every god under the sun
knows I can't. ::sheepish::
See ya soon!