The door to the apartment opened, chasing the shadows away with a bright light. A figure stepped in from the hot day and closed the door behind himself, allowing the darkness to take control once more.
He sighed at the silence and placed his bags onto the coffee table in the middle of the room. He straightened and glanced at the flashing red light in the corner of the room. Walking over to the small table that the red light was coming from he rubbed his neck, not bothering to turn on the lights. He knew it was strange, but a part of him preferred the dark to the annoying, artificial sun lamps gave off.
"Messages." He whispered to himself. He pressed the button on his answering machine and listened to it come to life.
"You have: 3 new messages." The machine told him in it's robotic voice. He went over to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He grabbed the milk carton and poured himself a glass as the first message began to play. He turned and leaned against the cupboard, only half listening to the woman's voice that droned on over the machine. His brown eyes drooped as he stood, slowly slipping away into thought.
The first one was a notice that his library book was over due. The second informed him that his father's return date from some far off country was yet again postponed. He hung his white haired head and sighed. Both were messages he heard often.
But the third caught his attention. He perked up when he recognized the voice and absentmindedly walked back into the living room.
"Hey, Ryou." The person leaving the message was saying. "It's Yugi. I guess you're not home at the moment. Sorry, but me and Joey won't be able to meet you and the others later today. We're going on a trip, I guess you can say. If you get this before two, feel free to give me a call. But if it's after two, don't really bother, we'll already be on the plane. We'll have to hang out when we get back from, wherever. So yeah, bye."
"End of message." The robotic voice said, signaling the end. "To-"
Before it could say anymore Ryou pressed the erase button. After the machine told him all messages were erased he sat down on the couch. He glanced on the digital clock on the wall. 1:36.
I don't really see a point in calling. Ryou thought as he stood. I'm sure Yugi'd be busy packing.
He slowly made his way across the room, heading to his bedroom. Suddenly he felt very tired.
Must be the heat... Ryou thought as he stopped in the kitchen again, this time grabbing a drink of water. There was a feeling in his gut that was putting him on edge for some reason, almost like he was excited, or nervous.
As he walked past the living room once more something caught his eye. He stopped and turned, then cried out in surprise, dropping his glass. Someone else was in his apartment.
Wait a second... Ryou told himself, calming down a bit. He chuckled. It's just my reflection in that stupid mirror dad brought with him from Indonesia.
Still, it didn't exactly looked like him at first. Now he could see it was him, but at his first glance his hair had looked more spiky and his eyes had looked darker, almost sinister.
Without warning, there came a pain in his chest. He grabbed it, having to hold onto the wall to stay up. His vision blurred.
What's going on with me? He wondered.
Soon, his entire vision was filled with blackness. He had the strangest feeling of floating, as if he had left his body. As he looked around the shadows he shivered.
Am I dead? He pondered.
No. A voice told him. Ryou jumped, then spun around. The speaker stood in the shadows, his back turned to Ryou. He was floating in the darkness.
Ryou looked down and gasped. He, too, was floating.
What's going on? He thought, a bit in a panic.
The figure partially turned to him, slightly glaring at him with dangerous brown eyes. You've been knocked out. You're just in your own mind, that's all.
Yo-you can read my mind? Ryou gasped.
The figure chuckled, then turned fully to him. Ryou gaped at him. It was him, but different. More menacing.
I guess you can say that. The other him said. For I do live here- He waved his arm around grandly before looking back at Ryou. In your mind.
You're the evil spirit in the Ring. Ryou said breathlessly.
Evil? The spirit uttered, giving him a questioning look. Then a smile spread across his lips. Perhaps. On my bad days, of course.
What do you want?
There's trouble brewing. The yami said, crossing his arms and looking at Ryou intently. Feel the bad feeling in your gut? Ryou nodded. That's because something bad is going to happen.
What kind of bad thing? Ryou asked, not liking where this was going.
The spirit smiled a bit. The end of the world as you and I both know it.
What?! Ryou gasped in disbelief. How?
How is not important at the moment. The spirit told him. What is important is you getting to that airport before two so you can get on that plane with your friend Yugi.
You want to get whatever can end the world, don't you? Ryou uttered, staring at the spirit.
What? The other him said, almost disgusted. Where would you get an idea like that?
Well, you always seem to be after powerful things and trying to end the world. Ryou told him.
The yami scowled at him. I don't try to end the world, I try to take over it. Those are two separate things.
Then why do you want me to go with Yugi? Ryou asked. And why don't you just 'take control of me' and make me as you always do?
Because, The spirit said, obviously exasperated. I have no wish to control you. I need your cooperation for once. This is a very delicate matter. If I control you, that damn yami of Yugi's will not take my assistance. If he sees that I do wish to be useful he will allow us both to go.
But why do you want to help in the first place? Ryou questioned, crossing his own arms. You haven't really been a very 'helpful' person in the past.
Because the future and my fate as well as everyone else's is at stake. The yami growled at him. I know what is causing this problem, and know how to find the solution. I was around the last time the Shadow Gems were together, and I highly doubt the pharaoh remembers how to find the last Gem.
Shadow Gems? Ryou asked. What are those?
You'll find out soon enough. He uttered. I'll explain on the way.
Way where?
To the airport, you idiot. Now hurry up, we're running out of time.
Ryou nodded. How do I, um, wake up?
Just will yourself to come to and you will. The spirit told him.
Alright. Ryou uttered. He watched the spirit slowly turned and start to fade into shadows. Thank you, uh... The yami stopped and looked back at Ryou. What am I suppose to call you? Ryou asked.
The spirit blinked at him. Then he smiled. I'm you. So, you can call me Bakura.
Ryou nodded, then willed himself to open his physical eyes. Instantly he found himself staring at the ceiling. He slowly sat up and rubbed his head from where it had hit the floor.
Was that all a dream? He wondered as he stood. It felt real enough.
He glanced at the clock. 1:43.
"It's almost two." Ryou uttered to himself.
Hurry up! A voice in his head cried. Ryou recognized it as Bakura. You're wasting time. You still have to pack and get to the airport.
"So it wasn't a dream..." Ryou said as he gave a mental nod to Bakura.
No, it wasn't. Bakura said. But if you don't hurry up I'll make sure you dream for all of eternity.
Ryou nodded, this time physically, as he remembered the things the spirit had done to him in the past. He rushed to his room and began to throw things into a bag.
Within ten minutes Ryou was already in a cab, heading for the airport. He could faintly hear Bakura mumbling angrily in his head at how slow modern day travel was.
Since we have time, what are these 'Shadow Gems'? Ryou asked, quickly getting the hang of speaking with his yami mentally.
They are insignificant marbles. Bakura uttered. But when they are all together, they can do impossible things...