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Normal Writing: Common Time

Italic Writing: Dream/memory.

(.........) Yami thinking

/........./ Hikari thinking

'.........' Normal thought

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

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

Chapter Thirteen

Ryou tried to use the Ring to find his yami, but it wasn't responding. Panicked, confused, and still aching from the bullies' beating, he searched for Bakura, hoping he wasn't in too much trouble.

Random memories shot through his mind. If his mind drifted, if he got lost in his thoughts, he got another memory snippet. There seemed no stop to them. They just continued, whether Ryou was watching or not. So he saw random moments that didn't seem connected to each other.

Screams.

Wild laughter.

"Scream, scream, scream and cry! Scream and cry until you DIE!"

More laughter, rising in pitch until it was a full blown cackle.

The screams continued, filled with anguish and torment.

Ryou shook his head, shuddering.

It seems that Mariku's death in the dream had finally cracked Bakura's past self.

- - - - - - - - -

Ryou felt it now.

A small tug, almost a nudge.

Bakura was near.

It had been hours.

Red eyes narrowed, surveying the dead guards.

The Pharaoh was next.

- - - - - - - -

Bakura was on a bench, eyes squeezed shut, hands clasping his hair, back bowed.

"Bakura?" Ryou asked hesitantly.

His yami's hands were bloody.

"'Kura?" He asked, using Bakura's nickname.

Bakura's head snapped up, turning to focus on Ryou. His eyes were dark, swirling with pain and rage, and there was a insane glint to them.

Then he recognized Ryou, and relaxed.

Ryou, sensing this, went over and sat beside his yami.

He slowly reached out and hugged his yami, trying to offer what comfort he could.

Considering his yami had killed three people, and maybe more, Ryou didn't know what he could do to comfort his yami.

Not a clue.

- - - - - -

"Guards! Guards, come quick! I've been robbed!"

Bakura crouched behind a stand of clothes, watching as the guards ran, spears outstretched, towards the stall he had just cleaned of any valuable while the shop keeper had been flirting with some girls.

"What happened?"

"That thief, that Kuru Eruna Ghost! He was here, he was! I swear it! I saw him!" The shop keeper exclaimed.

"What were you doing?" one guard asked, as the other looked about.

"Watching my wares closely. He distracted me." The shopkeeper explained.

Bakura snorted.

"Liar. You were flirting with those wrenches." He hissed under his breath, slipping away.

"Hey! Look there!" One of the guards shouted, pointing to Bakura.

Curses, he was seen.

He ran, looking for a good spot to hide.

He was foolish to come out in the middle of the day.

There, a small bale of clothes in a little cubby. He could stay there until the guards passed him by.

He rounded a corner and slipped inside, and watched as the guards ran on. Because he turned the corner before he hid, they didn't see.

"Who are you?"

Bakura froze, then turned to look at the small child who shared his hiding spot.

An innocent child.

Who now must die.

"Who are you?" the kid asked the youth before him again, then backed away in fear as Bakura turned on him with a knife.

"I can't leave witnesses." He hissed, and slashed the boy's throat.

- - - - - - - -

Ryou shot up in bed, screaming.

A kid.........an innocent child.

Murdered.

Ryou breathed heavily.

/Yami?/ He called. Surely Bakura had heard his screams.

There was no answer.

/Oh, please yami, don't do this again!/ Ryou cried.

Emptiness.

Bakura was gone.

Out of the house.

And he had blocked off his mind-link.

And he was in a murdering rage.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Bakura slipped along in the shadows, eyes kindling in a fiery red blaze that glowed eerily in the darkness.

He was lost in his own mind, the memories clouding his thoughts in a red haze.

He was reliving his past.

He sensed something.

Something familiar.

White hair.........gentle brown eyes.........

A glowing Millennium Ring?

Ryou.

Bakura didn't see him as Ryou, though.

He saw a palace guard coming after him.

The glowing Ring transformed into a torch.

He hissed, baring his teeth, unsheathing one of the daggers he held.

"Bakura!" the guard shouted.

He only got a low growl for an answer.

Bakura moved forwards to attack.

- - - - - - -

Ryou had found Bakura, but not his yami.

His yami was locked away in his own mind.

Eyes glowing crazily, daggers in hand, Bakura turned to face Ryou.

Ryou stared, before calling out.

"Bakura!"

His only response was a growl from his yami.

Then Bakura charged him.

Ryou backed away in horror and terror.

"Bakura!"

Flashing eyes.

"'Kura!"

Glinting dagger.

"Yami!"

Pause.

"Yami? Yami, please don't hurt me. It's Ryou. It's your hikari. You're light. Please, Bakura, yami, don't do anything to me. Come home." Ryou pleaded.

Bakura's eyes narrowed.

He approached Ryou, dagger jabbing in the air.

Ryou squeezed his eyes shut, whispering his yami's name.

Bakura came at him.

- - - - - - - - - -

Short chapter, but I'm short on time right now. Thanks to all who reviewed!