Life of a Thief by Ryou Bakura
A/N: Sage: Well, heh, yet another chapter right? You know, I must say I am insanely pleased on how this story is progressing, even if I don't quite know where I'm going with it…
Kaley: Fear not reviewers! It's not that we don't have a possible ending…
Bakura: More like we have too many. Five at the current moment in fact. Two are sad, two are happy and one is kinda a bit of both.
Sage: But that aside, I don't think I've ever been complimented so much on a story or even my writing style. I do work hard to perfect it and I'm constantly working on my vocabulary to improve my writing. After all, my handy dandy thesaurus can only do so much…
Kaley: Alright, let's look at the reviews…well, I've never eaten raw meat so I guess it could be good but I love the way cooked things taste. I mean everything though, like cooked everything. Veggies and such…glad you all like Bakura's little ranting he does ^_^ I rant like that sometimes but not too bad…
Bakura: Heh, TaleneIsMyYami is such a great reviewer…but no envy is necessary. One reviewer already named Kaley her muse! ^_^ We have a regular fan club going on…but my fan club is bigger than hers!!
Sage: Hush you…Imouto-san, you know that you are perfectly beyond special. You are related by uhh…well…related by vocal contract to me! ^_^ Hee, besides that, you're the one that gets on me if I don't keep this story updated regularly.
Kaley: Not really much to say, so many positive reviews and they keep sounding better!! Please keep'em coming and umm…if you could tell your friends about this fic, you know, spread the word? ^_^
Sage: Oh yes and congrats to the 100th reviewer Crazy Hikari, since I decided to update now.
Bakura: (coughs) and now…ON WITH THE RA-DAMNED FIC!!!
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The next morning dawned, the sun's rays eager to wake the sleeping citizens of Domino City. Many of the business men were already up, ready to greet the day but among them was one who would normally have been fast asleep. Ryou stared at his reflection in the mirror and gently pulled the brush through his tangled mess of white locks. It was so early and he'd had a late night typing his report but if he didn't get up now then by the time he did wake up, Bakura would be up too. He decided last night that sure, it was great to have Bakura's story but he needed more than just one point of view. After getting dressed and ready he threw on his jacket and quietly left. Outside, the snow had just stopped falling, leaving a fine coating of dust over the city. He took a breath, exhaling slowly and watching the small cloud that floated up. Ryou knew that Yugi was up at this hour, so he set off for the Kame Game Shop. After all, Yugi always wrapped his presents early in the morning of Christmas Eve.
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Ryou yawned, trying to push away the sleep in his features before entering Yugi's game shop. A small bell rang and instantly the face of Yugi's grandfather appeared from a doorway.
"Welcome to Kame Ga…oh, hello Bakura…" He said, sounding slightly disappointed that it wasn't a customer. Ryou smiled to himself. He was rarely called Bakura anymore, ever since the ritual. Yet Yugi's grandpa always called him Bakura, which had caused a scene once when the other Bakura had been with him. "So, what brings you here?"
"Well, I was wondering if Yugi's around…" Ryou said, stepping further into the warmth that the shop provided. His hands still felt numb from the outside.
"Oh, he's up in his room with Yami wrapping presents. Knock on the door before you go in ok? Just in case you know…" The old man laughed and returned to the back room to finish his previous business. Ryou climbed the stairs and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" He heard the muffled voice of his friend call.
"Me." Ryou grinned, feeling somehow proud of such a brief answer. There was a pause then…
"Ryou?"
"Yes." Another pause, with some noises suddenly coming from the room. The white haired boy stood patiently until the door opened to reveal Yugi. His friend smiled broadly and waved him in.
"Heya Ryou, come in!" Yugi chirped. Ryou nodded and entered the room. It was quite messy, with rolls of wrapping paper, boxes, bags, ribbons, bows and other assorted holiday items strewn about the bed area. Yami was sitting on the bed, bits of tape covering his fingertips, tissue and wrapping paper over his lap and a slight look of discomfort on his face. He smiled calmly however when Ryou entered the room.
"Good morning." He said. Ryou smiled back and waved.
"Good morning Yami, morning Yugi…you guys need help?" He asked, looking directly at the Yami's hands. Yugi's darker half laughed sheepishly and held up his taped up hands.
"I'm just holding things for Yugi. He's doing most of the wrapping." Yami said as Yugi bounced down on the bed next to him.
"So what brings you over so early Ryou?" Yugi asked cheerfully as he began to throw wrapping paper over a box. "Need to go Christmas shopping?"
"Err, not really…" Ryou smiled nervously. The truth was, he'd forgotten all about Christmas and had no gifts whatsoever, except his dad's, which he'd sent a few weeks ago. "Actually, I figured you wanted to see me. I heard you visited the other day."
"Oh!" Yugi nodded and grabbed some tape off Yami's fingers. "Yeah, I just, you know, wanted to see what you were up to…"
"Is that all?" Ryou asked as he sat down in a chair by the bed.
"I wanted to know what that thief was doing." The former Pharaoh said with a suddenly angry tone. "I heard he was very rude to Yugi, not that I expected him to be anything else." He paused, then sighed as Yugi ripped more adhesive off his fingers. "You really didn't have to watch him."
"I don't mind it at all." Ryou shrugged. "He's not so bad."
"Not so bad?" Yami repeated, sounding a bit shocked. "The things he did were unforgivable things, you should know this. Not to mention that he's ruthless, he'd turn on you without a second thought."
"Well…" Ryou hesitated, somehow feeling embarrassed. "I'm getting to know him…we've been spending some time together lately and…I don't think he's really all evil…besides, what happened to him…I think I'd hate the world too…"
"What happened to him?" Yugi stopped wrapping and looked up. "That's right…he said you two were doing the report together, at least I hoped that's what he meant. So you're learning about his past and stuff?"
"Yes…um, Yami do you remember anything?" Ryou glanced at the game king. "I mean, he told me you probably wouldn't…not sure what he meant but he said you were always hiding in pots or something but he did say you wouldn't remember…"
"He's right, I don't remember anything…but what you just mentioned does bring about…what's that French sounding word…déjà vu." Yami frowned. "Why would I hide in pots?"
"I don't know…but he had a really bad childhood…it was terrible…" Ryou trailed off a bit and to his surprise Yami smiled.
"Listen, this is something I believe to be very true. Life is what you make of it. If, the thief decided to hate the world then that is his decision but…don't you think it's not right? It's an act of cowardice to me…to hate someone when they did nothing to you. That man has no reason to hate and be the way he is…" Yami shook his head, his eyes sharp as he turned to Ryou. "The thief is a danger to everyone, he's insane…"
"But this whole life was destroyed." Ryou argued. "He told me himself, how it all happened. I mean, his whole family and his village and all because of these…" He tugged at the ring around his neck.
"No matter what his story is, I still believe he has no right to be such a…demonic person…" Yami winced as Yugi dumped a few bows in his lap. "I'll never understand what it is you felt that day that made you stop me and the others from destroying him…" Ryou was quiet, unsure of what to say. He'd never told anyone what happened on the day of the ritual. He had a suspicion though that Yugi had gone through something similar.
"Yugi? When you guys did the ritual and Yami got a body…um…did anything strange happen to you?"
"Well…" Yugi seemed to be thinking hard then he grinned. "Oh yeah, I remember, when Yami's spirit was leaving my body and was going into the new one…I felt so…wonderful, very happy and warm but at the same time…I also had this…suddenly sadness…mixed with fear…it was terrible…but then the warm feeling returned." Yugi's smile faded a bit. "Why? What did you feel?"
"…Nothing, same thing really. Must be what the ritual does huh?" Ryou smiled back but he knew it wasn't very convincing. "Umm, I need to go shopping…for Christmas presents so…I'll see you around…" He quickly made his exit from the room. The two star headed boys sat silently, both in deep thought.
"…I thought that when the spirit left your body, you felt a mix of every emotion they ever felt?" Yugi asked, breaking the silence.
"You do…" Yami tilted his head back. "I can only imagine what the poor boy felt…or maybe…" He shut his eyes. "Maybe it was what he felt…that really saved that damn thief…" Yugi blinked back his confusion and went back to wrapping.
"I hope he'll be alright." Yugi muttered.
"He'll be fine…he's the only one the thief cares about…" Yami sighed and shook his head. "But I'm the one you should be worried about…I think a piece of tape got stuck in my hair…"
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Ryou began his walk home, then turned right around walking towards a different part of town. In his mind, he kept replaying the scene over and over again. When it was decided that they'd separate the thief king and himself.
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"…So Bakura, it'd be easier to get rid of the spirit if you went through the same ritual I did." Yugi said, a determined look on his face. "This way, you'll be in no danger of harm and Yami will be able to destroy him once and for all."
"But…I…" He frowned, his body shaking slightly. He could hear the spirit laughing insanely in his mind.
Go ahead and do it…that idiot isn't the only one that would be able to fight without holding back. You want me out of your head don't you? You want to be free, I know you do…it's not a hard choice kid.
"I…I guess so…" Ryou sighed.
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Later on, Ryou joined Yugi in Marik's living room. The owner himself was standing against the wall, holding his Millennium Rod tightly in his hand.
"Yami almost ready with that chant?" He asked.
"I don't know, he should be almost done…we've got to be ready though." Yugi pressed the palms of his hands against his knees. "It's hard telling what he'll do once he's freed…probably go after Yami. The room upstairs is ready for them right? So that we can just…get this over with?"
"Yeah, my sister got it ready this morning. All we have to do is go up there." Marik shrugged and came over near Ryou. "Hey, you're going to be ok, so don't worry."
"I think he should worry." Yugi said before the white haired teen could reply. "I mean, the spirit might hurt him first then go for Yami or if Yami loses…" He trailed off, looking nervous.
"Ah, even if that happened the spirit wouldn't touch him." The Egyptian grinned broadly. "I know he wouldn't, I've dealt with him before after all."
Enough talking, what's taking that idiot so long? He did it before, for himself. Of course he probably went quicker for that. Damn Pharaoh, probably is taking longer because he knows he's going to lose…Ryou sighed and felt like banging his head into the wall. All the way over, he'd heard nothing but ranting and yelling about Yami.
"So what should we name him?" Marik asked suddenly.
"Name…the spirit?" Yugi started. "Why would you want to name him?"
"Well, you named Yami got to make up a name. But I figure the spirit won't feel like it so we should name him…" The tan boy laughed as his eyes fell upon Ryou. "Well, how about this: We start calling you by your first name and we'll call the spirit Bakura since he came second!"
"That's…Marik…" Yugi shook his head. "I don't know I mean…"
"I don't care." Ryou shrugged. "Go ahead and call me by my first name from now on. I don't mind…I guess…everyone needs a name…"
"Yep!" Marik nodded cheerfully. "Everyone needs a name and who knows? Maybe you'll need to call him by it sometime!" Just then the door opened and Yami walked in, carrying a slip of paper in his hand.
"I have the chant ready…is the room prepared?" He asked. Marik bobbed his head. "Then let's go…" He said somberly, as he and the others ascended the stairs. The room had been made up as that a single circle of sand with a gold dagger in the middle was in the center of it. The rest of the room was bare. Yami walked over to Ryou and pulled a hair from his head. Ryou twitched but made no other move. The former Pharaoh placed it in the center of the sand. "Marik, Bakura, I need your items now…" Ryou handed over his.
"His name's Ryou now actually, the spirit is Bakura." Marik smirked as he gave his rod to Yami. The star haired one smirked back. "Lastly…Ba…Ryou, stand in the center and hold the dagger. This will be tricky but…you'll have to take the dagger and make a small cut in your arm when the chant is finished. It's important."
"I will…" Ryou walked into the circle and picked up the dagger. He was starting to feel very excited, or maybe that was just the spirit's feelings leaking into his own. Yami started the chant, waving the rod in a strange fashion as all the items began to glow. Marik and Yugi stood by quietly watching. Soon the sand erupted up, shielding Ryou from his friends eyes. To his surprise, he was no longer in the bedroom but in what appeared to be a dark corridor. Still holding the knife, he walked down the hallway until someone grabbed him in the darkness. He yelled out in surprise, as he was spun around to reveal the spirit.
"Hello…" Bakura grinned, his grip tightening on Ryou's shoulders.
"Huh? How'd you…where are we?" He asked.
"Well, I don't know either. I was just ripped from my soul room. I figure, we're probably in some type of limbo while my body is being made." The thief paused. "So, my name's Bakura huh?" He chuckled and shook his head. "Stupid name but at least now you have a name that suits you better. Your first name."
"Umm…" Ryou began to speak but Bakura grabbed the dagger from his hands and smiled.
"Sorry, rules are rules." He said. With that he stabbed the knife into Ryou's arm. The second the blade broke his skin the room around him disappeared, even the spirit vanished, all replaced by an empty cold darkness. Ryou shut his eyes tightly and hugged himself to keep warm. Yet this was the kind of darkness that seeped into his heart, bones and soul to fill every inch of him with a terrible feeling. He oddly felt no pain though. Only…hate…hate beyond anything he'd ever even thought possible. This suddenly madness filled his mind, the need to get revenge. That's all he wanted, all he cared for. He wanted to kill someone…for what they did to him…what they did to…everyone…they needed to die…he didn't even need a weapon. Yes, he'd make them pay. No one was there for him, no one tried to help him, he was always alone and no one cared…so they all would suffer…no matter how long it took…days…months…years…his whole life, it'd be worth it. No one in the whole world wanted him…wanted to save him…so they would all fall…yes, falling…he was falling…until finally someone caught him.
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"Hey, Ryou are you alright?"
"Get away from him spirit!"
"I thought Marik said my name is Bakura? Besides, oh high and mighty ex Pharaoh, I'm here to fight you, not him. No challenge in it either way though I guess…"
"Spirit! Step away now, it's time for our duel."
"Am I the only one wondering why Ryou is still knocked out?"
"Is he ok? What happened to him?" It was then that Ryou's full senses returned to him. Besides that fact that everyone was arguing, he also noticed someone was holding him. He opened his eyes and tilted back his head. Bakura stood there, a cocky grin on his face. He glanced down and pushed Ryou up.
"Not unconscious anymore now is he?" Bakura said, pointing at him.
"Are you alright?" Yugi asked nervously, pulling the dazed boy to him. Ryou blinked and looked between Marik and Yugi. Without warning a few tears fell out of his eyes and he buried his head into Marik's chest.
"Ryou!" Marik cried in surprise and hugged him gently. "Hey, don't worry, we're here for you."
"Yugi, Marik, Bakura, please leave the room while we duel…" Yami said, his eyes locked on the thief king.
"You want me to leave the room?" Bakura grinned and tossed the dagger to his other hand. "Heh, it's my name now…why won't you call me by it? Oh wait, I know why, no reason to dirty my name by having you say it."
"I will never call you by that name." Yami growled. "It's his name not yours. You are just a useless, pathetic thief who needs to leave us, all of us, alone."
"C'mon…" Marik tugged Ryou forward, out of the room. He led him to a chair in the kitchen. "Hey Yugi, help me get some tea going for him…"
"Alright…" The two went about the room making the drink while Ryou sat in silence. After the tea was poured, the three waited impatiently for news of the duel. A half hour went by and Marik groaned loudly, breaking the peace.
"Damn, how long is this going to take?" He asked, glancing at the clock on the wall. Ryou jumped up and stared at the ceiling.
"He lost…" He muttered. The two other teens turned to him as a loud, anguished yell came from upstairs. Ryou immediately bounded out of the kitchen and up the stairs. In the room, he saw Bakura glaring pure hate at Yugi's other half.
"You lost spirit." Yami said, a look of triumph on his face. "You know the agreement we made. If I won, then I'd have the right to permanently banish your soul forever."
"You cheated…you cheated Pharaoh!" Bakura yelled. "You know I'm the one with the greater skills…"
"It doesn't matter does it? But I didn't cheat…you lost fair and square…" Yami's puzzle began to glow and smiled. "Now you won't be able to hurt my friends anymore."
"No!" Ryou shouted, running in front of Bakura. Everyone gaped at him, including the one he was protecting. "No…wait, Yami please…"
"What has gotten into?" Yami asked astonished. "This…person has caused us and you a great deal of pain. He deserves what he's going to get."
"No, wait…just…" Ryou felt like screaming. He couldn't figure out why but when Bakura's soul left his body...he'd felt so many things. He had a pretty good idea where they came from. So much loneliness, angry, hate…he had to know. He just had to know what happened and deep in his heart he knew the only one who could tell him was Bakura himself. "There are things I need to know Yami. I can only know from him. So please, I will watch him and he'll live with me and everything! He won't hurt a fly I swear it!"
"Bakura…" Yami's eyes softened. "You know he's dangerous…"
"Please?"
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"It feels like forever ago…" Ryou said quietly to himself. He sighed and looked up at the sky. Like usual, the snow had begun to fall, the dark grey clouds hiding away the sun. He wasn't sure how he had convinced Yami to let Bakura stay. He had a feeling that Yugi and Marik had a say in it as well. Marik well, he was just Marik. Yugi though, he probably had just been trying to be nice or something. It occurred to him then that he was standing at Marik's door. He blinked in confusion, then he remembered his original plan was to go Christmas shopping with him. He knocked on the door only once before it was immediately opened. Marik rushed out, grabbing Ryou's hand as he did.
"HiRyoulet'sgomysisterissopissedrightnowImeangeezallIdidwastakeacouplehundredanditwasforagoodcausebutanywaysweneedtomoveshe'sgoingtokillme." Marik said in one breath, tugging Ryou to his motorcycle. "C'mon!" He tossed him a helmet and jumped on. Ryou climbed on the back, putting his arms on Marik's waist. "You on? Good." He started it up and began to pull out into the road.
"Uhh, Marik?" Ryou groaned. "Do you even know where we're going??"
"Yep, Christmas shopping! I got plenty of cash!" Marik laughed happily as they headed towards the mall.
A/N: Sage: Finally eh? Took us a while…
Kaley: I was aiming for a weekend update so I did that at least ^^;;
Bakura: We held off writing the next chapter of our .hack fic so be happy!!
Sage: Err, it's alright, we're stuck on that story at the moment anyways. This was mostly a flashback chapter but if you look at the title of the chapter you'll see something important is happening!! So hold on tight!
Kaley: And we'll see you next chapter!
Bakura:…just so everyone knows, This chapter took a long time so the next chapter will too so we can write in the other fics…
