well, back again with another dramatic chapter. as always....thanx to Cettie-girl and mom-mi-oh for more inspiring comments, including an interest in my little kid/chibi-ish spirit, whatever she is, even i'm not quite sure...lol i swear she's got more of a purpose in the whole thing than just knocking a little sense into everybody, but that won't come for a while (have i confused u yet?)

and a cheer for free-soul! so glad u liked it! u ever seen yugioh? it's an awesome show (but what else would i say...) and i have actually started a sm fic, though i don't know if i'm ever gonna finish it...if i do, i'll post it and letcha know...otherwise, just keep up the good writing!

and finally, R Amythest!!!!!!!!!!!!!! here's a little more on Bakura (the hikari...lol) since u were asking... after all, he is sorta my main character of all the main ones.....' but yeah, also, a SUPER BIG THANX for reviewing my other story, A Happy Ending? it meant a lot to know u liked that too!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Part 2 (Chapter 2) – Soul Stealer

Ryou rolled over in pure exhaustion. Stretched across the ground, his soul was searching for some respite from the pain, but even unconsciousness seemed to avoid him. The ache he was growing used to, but this was something more. "Please!"

"Why?" Bakura's dark chuckle sounded above the tortured boy of light. A dark hand was stretched out above Ryou and was glowing with a deep indigo shade.

Clutching the ground in an attempt to withstand, Ryou buried his face against his fists; his features were hidden by once white hair now dusted with shadows. Crying for help would do no good. He was trapped, a prisoner of the garden, and outside its gates lay only darkness. Even if they could, what spirits would want to help him? Ryou had little faith in this realm. If help was to come, it would have to be from his own world, and so far, there had been nothing.

It felt as though something was ripping into the very center of his being. Sharp, dagger-like pricks of pain slowly coursed his body, prodding through every part of his spirit. A current seemed to flow through his mind, sweeping over memories, thoughts, emotions, and senses. Ryou felt himself slow; his thinking was dulled as he tried to keep up with what was happening to him.

Then, a fierce tug came against him. Ryou felt his body lift slightly into the air, then come to grind back into the ground with an intensity that stole his breath for a long moment. He felt flattened with the pressure that was against him, but something was still pulling on his soul. Ryou struggled to breathe, forcing air into his lungs that refused to fill.

I'm dying. The thought crossed Ryou's mind, but it was gone the next moment when a sharp splitting sensation consumed all this thoughts and senses. Then, as the pain began to ebb, Ryou finally understood why Bakura wanted him, why he was being held prisoner, and the true torment of loss.

There was a hole in his spirit. Small, but it was unlike anything Ryou could have thought possible. Bakura had ripped away a piece of his soul, forever separating it from any consciousness that Ryou still knew. With a certain, intended diablerie, the yami watched the boy go limp from complete shock. Waves of immense power flowed into his outstretched hand, and Bakura made a fist, sealing them with his own magic.

"I thank you," Bakura said mockingly, "This power will help me increase my own strength, and as long as your soul exists, there is still something I can make from its otherwise pathetic existence."

Ryou was too overwhelmed to reply even if there had been something to say, so Bakura mearly shrugged and turned away, disappearing from the garden and leaving his hikari all alone once again. Letting his body lay limp across the ground, Ryou took refuge in long breaths, trying to calm his nerves. They had been shaken beyond belief, and now he was left in a dizzy sort of consciousness, still trying to sort out what had happened. But as the minutes passed, his mind began to blur into a strange sort of haze, and slowly, unconsciousness found Ryou at last.

Kira's eyes snapped open in a sudden alarm, and it took her a moment to gather her bearings in the dark. "A dream," she whispered to herself, sitting up. Her hand brushed her pillow, and Kira was surprised to find it wet with tears. I was crying? But why...? She thought hard, I remember, I was kneeling next to a shape, a body stretched out across the ground. I think, she hesitated, I think it was Ryou. But was he dead or alive?

"Alive," spoke a sudden, solemn voice. "For now anyway."

Kira jerked in fright at the voice next to her, and nearly tumbled out of bed. "Who?"

"You should at least remember me."

Kira looked and saw the young girl who had guided her to Ryou in the first place. "But...I thought...I thought you were just in my dreams."

The girl held out her hand slightly, "I may be a spirit, but I'm as real as you."

Kira groaned, "It's getting hard to tell the difference between my imagination and reality."

The child shook her head, "None of this is from your imagination. You've been given a gift, Kira. You need to use it."

"If you call being able to dream all this crazy stuff a gift," Kira replied bitterly. "This is all just one big nightmare to me."

The girl sighed, "Life itself is a struggle, that's true in any realm. But you have to work with destiny's plan for you."

"That's not so easy as it sounds."

"It isn't going to be, but that's what you're going to have to do if you even want to make it through this adventure."

"Look," Kira was getting upset. "I never asked for any adventure. I was happy with my life until you and all those other dark spirits started interfering. I'm grateful enough that I'm still alive after all I've faced, but I'm not risking myself again."

"Do your friends mean that little to you?"

"Ryou maybe."

"Yet it's your destiny to help him," the child pointed out.

"I'm sick of all this talk about things I can't control. I just want to be left alone!" Kira fairly shouted.

The girl gave a sad sort of smile, and a glowing crystal formed in her hands. "You're already too far in this for now. But how you use your gift will ultimately be up to you. Chose wisely, Kira." She set the bright gem atop Kira's dresser across the room, and shimmered in departure.

The next morning, Kira awoke with a headache. "So was that one a dream or reality?" She glanced over at where the child had set the jewel last night. In its place rested a small stack of cards. Kira walked over and picked one up curiously. Duel monsters. "It's my choice, huh?" she mused. Fine. I'll play along for now, if only to get some peace. Maybe I could use a little adventure in my life, but I'll find it my way, and not yours.

sniffs... poor bakura! i don't know y i'm so mean to him (okay, okay, i like emotional sorts of stuff, but that's besides the point...lol) i swear, he won't have it hard forever....