Double Meaning

gninaeM elbuoD

(( Mondai Senshi ))

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Alright, I know I got behind, but I'm working on it, okay? Just don't kill me. Yet. Let me finish a few more fics, first.

Disclaimer: None of the characters in this fic belong to me, and no profit is being made in writing this story.

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Ryou's head jerked upright again and he quickly looked around, finding himself laying on his bed, now holding himself up with his elbows. He looked around for a minute, then lay his head back in the pillows. Had he just imagined the ghost, or had it really been there? Before he could decide, he had fallen solidly into sleep.

***

As morning broke, Ryou pulled himself out of bed with little effort and quickly dressed before hurrying to meet Yuugi and the rest of his friends at their usual hamburger shop. The four of them talked for an hour, joking around and arguing about nothing, and ate hamburgers until they were full. Jonouchi Katsuya and Honda Hiroto left at the same time while Yuugi stayed a minute longer, partially waiting for Ryou and partially watching Anzu work.

Ryou slowly pulled himself out of the booth and carefully approached his friend. "Yuugi," He said, choosing his words carefully, "I have a question..."

Yuugi turned to face Ryou with slight concern when he heard his tone of voice. "What's wrong?"

Ryou shook his head. "Nothing's wrong, really, it's just," Ryou shifted uneasily as Yuugi waited in patient concern. "Last night I found myself in a white room, and when I went out the door I was in a hallway - Maybe I was just imagining it, I don't know..." Yuugi seemed very confused by this description, but Ryou continued. "And then I saw a ghost - He looked just like me. I don't really remember what happened next, but then I was lying on my bed, like I'd blacked out or something."

Yuugi stared at the ground as he tried to make sense of what Ryou had described. He blinked a few times before he asked, without looking up, "Bakura, where's your millenium ring?"

Ryou was puzzled by Yuugi's answer, and answered simply, "I left it in my bedroom."

Yuugi nodded. "I think I need some time to think about this." Ryou nodded quickly and thanked Yuugi before he turned and headed home. Yuugi sighed and glanced again at Anzu, then followed suit.

***

Bakura sat in his soul room, eyes glazed over, as he thought. He sighed heavily before deciding to look around in Ryou's soul room to see if anything was out of the ordinary. He stood heavily and walked to the door, then pulled it open. He glanced around, desperate for a break in the silence. He shifted uneasily as he saw a photograph face down on the ground, a couple of shards piercing the thin paper, a few more scattered nearby.

Bakura glanced around, in the way that children often do when they are about to do something they know that they shouldn't. He stepped towards the picture, avoiding the broken glass nearby, and picked it up delicately. He recognized the face of Ryou, though it had Bakura's own fierce torment and hate-filled glare. He never thought it was possible for that face to look so horrible, and began to curse himself for defiling his Ryou in such a way. His grip tightened around the picture frame, and he closed his eyes as tightly as he could.

He was a tomb robber. It is not becomming of a thief to let his tears fall.

Bakura let his hands hang beside him for what seemed like hours, then carelessly dropped the picture as he quickly walked out of the room again.

***

Perched silently on Ryou's bed, Bakura watched him breathe in his sleep. He hated the feeling of weightlessness that always came when he watched Ryou, knowing that it came only with the ethereal loss of his sense of touch. And yet, watching as this boy slept, it seemed worthwhile. There was an emptyness in Ryou's espression as he shifted uneasily in his sleep, and Bakura was infuriated by his longing to comfort him.

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Ryou pulled his socks onto his feet and pushed his hands through the arms of his jacket. He began to dash out of his room, carefully stopping to make sure the door was closed, then hesitated as the Millenium Ring caught his eye. He quickly grabbed it from his bedpost and turned, again, to leave, closing his door with a soft click.

***

As Ryou pushed through the doors of the fast-food resturaunt, Anzu smiled and pointed him in the direction of Yuugi's table, though it was hardly necessary. By this time, Yuugi practically had his own table which, of course, was waited on by Anzu herself. Ryou grinned and said hello to Yuugi and Honda, Katsuya being late again.

Then, as he was about to sit, Ryou tensed, his eyes widening, then slumped again, hair falling before his eyes. As he looked up again, Yuugi was reminded of the time that the spirit of the ring challenged the spirit of his own puzzle to a shadow game - Ryou's soul was trapped within the magic card "Change of Heart," then, and was miserable in every way. The only difference now was the slight annoyance and embarrassment in his voice as he spoke to Yuugi.

"Pharoah, I need to speak to you."

Yuugi looked startled, but reluctantly nodded and stood. The millenium puzzle seemed to glow as Yuugi stood taller, a more serious, almost distrusting look replacing the innocent carefree one. "Bakura." Yhe pharoah spoke through Yuugi, as Bakura had through Ryou. "What do you want?"

Honda shifted, somewhat uneasy, and watched in silence. Anzu, too, seemed to have stopped waiting tables, and was watching from across the room. Bakura spoke quieter than usual, aware that he was in a public building, not wanting to cause much of a scene. "My vessel seems to have lost all memory of my existance. I don't understand why. I just..." Bakura lowered his eyes again, and when he next raised them, they were spiteful and directed, again, at Yuugi. "I need your help."

The pharoah responded carefully in an attempt not to upset Bakura. "How is it that you believe I can help?"

"I am not familiar with most soul rooms, and I do not know what is normal of his. I could use assistance in finding the problem, and in fixing it." Kindness toward the pharoah, even in such small amounts, did not come naturally to Bakura, and he could not help but sound awkward.

Still the pharoah nodded his consent. Yuugi closed his eyes for a minute before they grew wide and kinder than before, and grinned at Bakura, who then followed suit. He closed his eyes for only moments before Ryou shifted uneasily, as though he had a feeling that something odd had happened. Regardless, he grinned and sat beside Yuugi, who only smiled back politely. After a short, awkward silence, Anzu stood beside the table.

"How many hamburgers will it be, today?" She did not bother asking what kind of food they wanted anymore - Yuugi only came for their hamburgers. But the three answered, Yuugi requesting an extra three for Katsuya in case he showed up.

As Anzu turned to go, Yuugi turned to Ryou. "Bakura?" Ryou, in turn, faced Yuugi, who continued talking. "Do you think I could borrow your millenium ring?"

Ryou grinned and nodded. "Sure," he agreed, lifting the string from his neck and handing it to Yuugi. "Mind if I ask why?"

Yuugi smiled triumphantly. "I wanted to show my grandpa. He really loves ancient egyptian stuff like that."

Ryou couldn't help but laugh a little. "Just make sure he gives it back."

"Sure thing," Yuugi nodded.

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I've decided to make a sequal, and I've got the first (very small) part of it done, but not even a chapter's worth. Also I've officially decided on where I'm going with this story, except for the real details. I don't think I'm gonna stop working for a while, but if I do get distracted, I'm apologizing now - In advance.