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(.........) Yami's thinking

/........./ Hikari's thinking

"........." Normal speech

'.........' Normal thoughts

(A/N: .........) Author's Note

Normal Writing: Common Time

Italic Writing: Dream/memory.

Chapter Ten:

Bakura ran desperately.

The guards were getting smarter.

He had to try harder and harder to escape with whatever he had taken at the time. He had even snuck into the palace a time or two, and now had a new name.

The Ghost of the Desert.

Or, more commonly used, just The Ghost.

The name came from his pale skin and silver hair.

He had been glimpsed by guards and bystanders often enough that now he couldn't go out in the light of day, otherwise he would be taken in by the guards.

He could only go out at night.

Ryou awoke to a loud boom of thunder, and shivered as a cold draft came through his open window. He got up and closed the window, shutting out the wind and rain.

Unable to sleep, he went downstairs to watch TV.

He stayed that way until he fell asleep.

As he slept, Yami Bakura appeared in his spirit form, watching his hikari's chest rise and fall.

"Oh, Ryou. I promised not to hurt you anymore. Seeing the memories that will come sooner or later will hurt you, of that I'm sure." He whispered to himself, before fading away.

"I have to figure out how to block them."

- - - - - - - -

The memories came quicky, Ryou saw almost three every night.

Each one got steadily worse, with Bakura having to do riskier and riskier things to get away from guards.

He had to kill anyone who saw him now.

Whether they were women, men, soldiers, elderly.

Or children.

Bakura killed them.

Bakura slipped through the palace corridors, slitting the throat of the nearest guard with impossible ease.

The body fell without a sound, guided by the hands of the youth behind him.

Bakura grinned, revealing sharpened teeth.

He was slowly losing his qualms about killing when necessary. He now killed whenever he felt like it and didn't feel bad.

He could kill without thinking about it.

And killing began to become fun.

A whole lot of fun.

- - - - - - - -

Bakura snapped awake, gasping. He had unconsciously taken over Ryou's body.

He glanced outside, to see bright sunshine.

It was a weekday, so there was no school.

Yami Bakura felt the sudden need to walk outside. To hear the birds and feel the wind.

So he dressed and left, not bothering to eat anything.

After all, he was immortal.

Ryou could eat when he got control back.

- - - - - - -

/Yami?/ Ryou asked, waking up.

There was no answer, but Ryou looked out through their shared eyes and saw the park.

Bakura was sitting in the park, staring at nothing.

/Bakura?/ Ryou began again.

(What is it, Ryou?) Bakura finally asked.

/Yami! Why haven't you been talking to me?/

There was no answer.

Ryou felt his body tire, he had not slept well that night.

Bakura let his chin drop to his neck and his eyes closed, deciding a small nap would be alright.

After all, what kind of dream could he have in five minutes?

- - - - - - - - -

Bakura had heard news that a traitor to the pharaoh had been captured and was going to be executed in an hour.

Naturally curious to see who had been foolish enough to get caught, Bakura pulled the hood lower over his features and climbed up to the roofs, running swiftly until he reached the town center.

He gaped in shock at what he saw.

Mariku was hanging limp between two posts. He was unconscious, and beaten black and blue. There were whip lashes across his back, and the chains around his wrists were cutting the skin.

"Mariku." Bakura whispered.

"Yes, Thief. We have your friend. So, give us the Ring of a Thousand Years and we will release him."

Bakura snapped around.

A priest stood behind him, with the Sennen Rod in hand.

It had been a trick. Someone had found out about Bakura's and Mariku's connection, and had baited him to coming here.

"They won't release him, even if I had given up." Yami Bakura commented.

Ryou blinked and looked at him, then turned to watch the drama being carried out.

Bakura bit his lip, and hesitantly backed away from the roof.

"Careful, little one." The priest said, moving closer slowly, treating Bakura like a wild, dangerous animal that could spook and take off or attack at any moment.

Bakura toed the edge, watching his friend the entire time.

The priest reached over, carefully, and pointed towards the motionless figure below them.

"Give yourself up, and your friend will be released." The priest said.

Bakura turned and looked back at Mariku.

The pharaoh stood just to the right of him, a lot of guards clustered about him.

The pharaoh was looking right at the young thief.

Bakura sighed, and stepped away from the edge.

"Friendship is a wonderful thing, isn't it? For my friend I would have given up all the power I had gained. I would have given my life for my friend." Bakura whispered, watching the scene.

"Thank you. And now, as I promised, your friend shall be released." The priest smiled slyly, and gestured at the guards.

One of the guards raised a knife, and Bakura had a sudden premonition.

"Mariku!" He cried, as the knife flashed down, not at the ropes holding him, but at his unprotected neck.

The priest before him grinned, and swung a blow with the Millennium Rod towards Bakura's head.

What happened next was distorted. Everything was filmed in a red haze, but Ryou could see the priest look up in shock as the Rod missed as Bakura ducked and lashed out, drawing a dagger swiftly.

His friend. His only friend had been killed.

Bakura's eyes narrowed to slits, and he snarled like a wild animal as he slit the priest's arm.

Bakura turned and ran.

"Mariku.........

You shall be avenged."

- - - - - - -

(End Chapter.)

Thanks to all reviewers!

Seethe: Thanks for your review!

Yami No Marik: Thanks for your review, I completely agree!

Telly: Love the word rampage. It's great. Thanks for your review!

Zircon: Lol, I agree. Thanks for your review!

Youkai no tenchii: Thanks for your review! Is this chapter depressing enough?

Fast-Talking Johnny: Thanks for your review, and hope you liked this chapter!

HANDHELD Uber Rei Model 05: Thanks for your review!

Anime Craze: I haven't seen any of the shows of Bakura's past. All I know is what I read on the episode guides. Thanks for your review!