II. Hikari no Kamen: Mask of Light
"Good morning, Bakura-kun!" Yuugi's voice rang out through the classroom. Ryou's head snapped up from his book as his classmate neared his desk.
"Good morning," he replied.
"Ready for the math test?"
"I hope so." Ryou showed Yuugi the book he was reading—his math textbook.
"You don't have anything to worry about, Bakura-kun. Your grades are always so good," Yuugi said enviously.
Ryou shrugged, feeling the cold metal of his Millennium Ring brush against his skin as he did so. "I didn't get so much sleep last night."
"Why not?"
Ryou shrugged again. "I don't know. I guess I'm just restless."
"Yeah," Yuugi said. "Isn't it weird being back home after being at Duelist Kingdom? So much happened there."
"Yeah," Ryou agreed.
Just then, Jonouchi entered the classroom. "Yo!" he said to the world at large as he flung open the door. As intended, he got everyone's attention, including Ryou's. The white-haired boy swiveled his eyes towards the entrance. As he did so, a sharp pain shot through his left eye. Giving a faint moan, he massaged the sore skin surrounding it.
"Is something wrong, Bakura?" Jonouchi asked as he sat down on top of his desk, which was right next to Ryou's.
"Ah—my eye just hurts," Ryou replied, dropping his hand immediately.
"Oh, yeah, I noticed it was a little red," Yuugi commented. "It's not infected or anything, is it?"
"No, it's just sore," Ryou said nervously. "Please don't worry about me." He hoped this would deter Yuugi from asking more questions. It didn't.
"Why is it sore?" Yuugi continued. "Did you hurt it?"
"I…" Ryou faked a smile and made up a story on the spot. "Heh… I ran into a doorknob." A doorknob?!
"A doorknob?" Jonouchi repeated skeptically. "That high from the ground?"
"I was crawling… in the dark."
"Awfully silly thing to do," said Anzu, entering the conversation.
"Yeah, well, now you tell me," joked Ryou. He continued chatting with his friends, letting the surface of his mind carry on their cheerful discussion. While he did, though, he cursed himself in the deeper part of his mind for lying again, putting on a light-hearted mask to hide his pain.
But it's safer to lie, he argued to himself. Then they won't think they're still in danger… And they won't be in danger. I can control him if I need to.
"Hey, Bakura-kun…" Yuugi said thoughtfully as the teacher entered and began passing out the math tests. "Wanna walk home together? Maybe we can play Monster World or something…"
Ryou hesitated. But it's still wise to stay away from them. Just in case. "Maybe some other time, Yuugi."
"Some other time" turned out to be the next day. Ryou reluctantly agreed to Yuugi's smiling invitation to walk home together, but claimed he had too much homework to play games. It was better not to tempt his other self.
The walk was fairly quiet for a while. Then, as they passed a figurine shop, Yuugi asked, "Hey, Bakura-kun? How's your eye? It looks worse today."
Ryou was not surprised. That morning, he had woken up in the bathroom, unaware of ever leaving his room during the night. When he had awoken, he was clutching the Millennium Eye in his hand. His own eye hurt worse than before. Looking in the mirror, he discovered that a crimson trail of dried blood ran from his left eye down to his chin. He desperately washed it off; rubbing near the bleeding eye was incredibly painful. His yami had obviously become more determined to install the Eye.
But Yuugi certainly didn't need to know that. "Yeah, it's getting a little bruised," Ryou said, wearing his usual fake smile. "I could always tell people I got in a fight."
Yuugi laughed. "I can't imagine you fighting, Bakura-kun!" he exclaimed. "Besides, who would want to hurt you?"
Ryou shrugged. I can think of one person…
"Seriously, you're so innocent and quiet, most of the time people don't even know you're there."
"Who says I'm innocent?" Ryou asked, willing Yuugi to believe he was joking.
"You are innocent, Bakura-kun. You're the most innocent person I know. I don't know how you manage it, especially with your—" He stopped abruptly. "…Never mind."
Especially with my yami, Ryou filled in Yuugi's train of thought as the two walked in silence. Especially with him living inside of me, tainting me from the inside out.
Suddenly, Yuugi said, "Hey, Bakura-kun…?" Ryou looked at him questioningly. He seemed very uncomfortable; his face was red and he fiddled with his Millennium Puzzle.
"Do you… does… um… do you ever have problems with… with your other self anymore?"
Ryou's heart seemed to stop for a moment, then sped up. "Ah…" He tried not to let his fear show on his face. I could tell him. Why shouldn't I? I should. I should stop hiding behind this stupid mask.
But what if he avoids me, then? To keep safe, like how I avoid others to keep them safe. What if he decides to do that? It's better not to tell him….
"My other self? You mean the spirit in the Millennium Ring?" Yuugi nodded. "…N-no… I haven't had any trouble… I haven't… I haven't had any sign of his existence… for a long time. And… and even if I had, I… I promised not to let him control me, remember?"
Yuugi nodded again, but he continued to look nervous.
Ku ku ku…
Ryou tensed. /Go away./
That was an awfully silly promise to make, yadonushi. You shouldn't make promises you can't keep.
/Go away!/
Why should I?The dark spirit laughed. What if I do… this?
To his horror, Ryou felt a familiar tingling spread from his chest to his arms. /No!! Don't!/ Blindly, Ryou started to run towards his home. His yami's laughter echoed in his head.
"Bakura-kun…?" Yuugi's startled voice said.
"I… I have to get home right now!" Ryou cried desperately over his shoulder. He ran until he reached his apartment, the numb feeling gradually wearing away. But his yami continued to laugh as Ryou flung himself onto his bed in tears.
"Go away…" the white-haired boy sobbed. "Leave me alone…"
No. I will not.
Ryou reached into his school uniform and brought out the Millennium Ring. He thought about taking it off, ending the dark spirit's power to control him, but the instant he thought that, his arms went numb. Not a chance.
Ryou's other let go of the Ring and then relinquished control of his arms. Ryou used the returned control to wipe his eyes, careful not to rub the left too vigorously. All the same, the eye stung, and as he lowered his hand, he saw a smear of red blood across it. He shuddered and, with a shallow sigh, went into the bathroom to wash off his hand.
You're not helping yourself, you know.
Ryou pretended to ignore his other self.
That despicable façade you put on, like an angel. You're not like that.
Ryou turned on the water and ran his hand under it. The blood washed down the drain.
They can't really be your friends if they don't really know who you are.
Ryou turned off the water and dried his hand, still ignoring his yami.
You're only helping me.
At that, Ryou gasped and stiffened. Oh, did that get your attention?the spirit asked.
/Liar,/ Ryou accused, shaking.
You hide my continued existence from them,the dark spirit explained maliciously, making a surprise attack much easier. This lie you tell, this false face you wear… It's an act. And it helps me, not you. They'd never expect to be assaulted by "the most innocent person they know"…
/It's not an act. I'm not like you./
Ryou, Ryou…In his yami's sickeningly fawning voice, Ryou's name seemed like a curse. Do you lie even to yourself?
"I—don't—lie." Ryou spoke these words aloud, adding force to them.
He felt his other self retreat. Believe what you like, yadonushi. Continue to lie. Continue to wear a mask of light… you can't cover your darkness.