it's been two months since i updated??? wow... that's, um, interesting... heh heh heh...
dodges rotten fruit i'm sorry! i swear! college is busy! really! well, that, and i've had all my creativity painfully extracted by the evilly "moral" mutated pot roast of the freshman production that i am being forced to help write....sigh
okay, so in other words, i've been really bad about getting to this, but at least i did, and here's another chapter. it's far from my best work, seeing as how it's mostly transition and cheesy bits of cliffhangers, but i figured i had better at least get something up, right?

first, a few words of thanx, b/c you guys have been so great:
to Sakura30 - sighs i pretty much made you wait the full two months, didn't I? i hope u can forgive me, and i hope that you continue to enjoy this, despite my sometimes irregular schedule...
Isis47 - yeah, u were waiting a while too, weren't ya... feel free to rant all you want, i can take it...lol... (yay, i'm in college now! isn't that exciting?! insane and very tiring, but also exciting) anyway, luv ya, hope to hear from ya soon!
Cettie-girl - hardly unexpected, but still very much appreciated. you've been awesome about "standing by me (and my story)" oh mou! i'me being cheesy again, will somebody please smack me?! (sorry 'bout that...anyway) we all love ryou, no matter what! and yet, his troubles aren't over...i'm so mean...lol. and thanx for the cake, i hope i don't disapoint!

Phantom-Phoenix - yay! more power to Ryou! thanx for the encouragement, and i hope u continue to enjoy!
silverdragon/darksilverdragon - wow, you've given me some definate compliments. i hope i can continue to prove as worthy as you seem to find me... also, thanks for keeping me on task and for the positive, um, encouragement? lol...luv ya! (ps - i'm updating at 11:53pm Sunday, so i technially did update this weekend...lol)
kalathetrumpeter - i have one reply:

Fyredra - and as always, my dear Fyredra - i know i can count on you to keep me thoughtful and deep when it comes to this story, confusing as it can be...
i think you have the right idea in thinking of the yami as energy beings. and yes, good over evil, but still plenty of emotional moments and plenty to keep you curious. i've rewritten the ending so many times already (just in outline form) so i'm still not positive about the "final battle". i think the last big shadow battle between bakura and the good guys ( grins and about the "twist" with Bakura getting a soul, it was something i hadn't even thought about daring to hope to see until it really happened...lol, but i like it, and i've got some interesting plans for that.
i'm also glad u like the part about Yugi's eyes. i have a tendancy to focus on character's eyes a lot in general, because i think that eyes are sort of a window to the soul - the one part of a person that can strengthen or betray them. Go Yugi!
anyway, hope you enjoy!

sheezies, that was a long intro. so anyway, read on, and whether you enjoy this particular chapter or not is fine by me. transition may be necessary, but you can only leave a story in transition for so long...

Part 2 (Chapter 15) – Uncertain Future

Kira.

Hmm?

Isn't it about time to get going?

Huh? Why?

What do you mean, "why"?

I thought we agreed to come back for a while - to gather our strength before we tried going after Bakura again.

Yes, we did. But now it's time to get up.

I don't want to... Sticking her face in her pillow, Kira tried to block out the voice in her head. I'm still so tired. There's no way I could fight an evil spirit in this condition. Leave me alone...

Now I'm confused.

Good. Now be quiet so I can get some more sleep.

But I never said anything about going after Bakura now...

Then why bother me?

Don't your classes start soon?

Kira opened a sleepy eye to glance at the clock. Seven fifty-five. School started at eight...

Kali had to hide mental laughter as Kira's blankets went flying and the hikari girl jumped out of bed, searching for her uniform and book bag, and cursing her yami the entire time.

It shouldn't be my job to make sure you get your lazy self out of bed every morning.

Yes, but you don't have to be so happy about the fact that I'm late to class, Kira growled mentally. The two had been arguing the entire way to school. Kira let that thought hang as she stepped into the classroom, made a brief apology to the teacher, and found her seat, sinking into it with relief. Kali didn't have any more arguments to make, and for that, Kira was grateful.

However, before she let her mind wander too far away, Kira stole a quick glance at Yugi, who, despite the bags under his eyes, still seemed a bit tense. She followed his gaze, and her eyes met with Ryou's empty desk in the back corner of the room. Kira sighed, No wonder.

You didn't exactly expect Bakura to show up in Ryou's body today, did you? Kali asked.

No, Kira sighed. Not after last night. But that doesn't stop Yugi from being so worried.

I don't think Yami would let Bakura anywhere near Yugi again if he could help it, whether Bakura was inside Ryou or not.

Kira couldn't argue. True. Either way, there's going to be a lot to talk about later.

I'm afraid so.

"Hikari..."

It was the first time that Bakura had ever used that name without mocking it. But the dark spirit didn't seem to even be aware of the slip his tongue had made.

"Yu...gi..." Ryou murmured, turning slightly in his still unconscious state. Bakura's eyebrows drew together at the name, and he raised his hand to strike the boy laying before him; but after a few long moments of gathering anger, Bakura simply let his hand fall back to its place at his side.

So much for bad intentions, Bakura thought bitterly. Somehow, I just can't bring myself to strike him. Not when he's asleep at least. There's something telling me it wouldn't be right...

Realizing the thoughts that were running through his head, Bakura drove one fist angrily into the ground and let his head sink down between his knees. Breathing heavily, he growled to himself, "Curse the Pharaoh! Curse the ring that he sealed me into, and curse the boy who found it!!" Loose magic rippled through the earth around the two boys as Bakura seemed to lose the focus of his anger.

What's wrong with me? I've drawn out Ryou's entire soul. I should have beaten the Pharoah by now - him and his pathetic group of minions. Instead, I've been forced into retreat, as though I'm nothing more than a feckless pup. And all because of this boy...this miserable child. Bakura's thoughts slowed as they seemed to come to an unconscious realization. He's nothing more than a shell now - just another form through which to do my bidding...and yet... Yet, I can't quite ignore him as I used to. Everywhere I go, it seems, I am reminded of this boy. He fills my thoughts, and now, I cannot quite bring myself to destroy him. I don't want to see him suffer anymore...

Startled, Bakura jerked his head upward, his whole body stiffening. What am I thinking?! The only reason Ba...that boy, is still alive is because the consequences of destroying him completely are too much for me to risk. "He is alive only for my sake! To do my bidding!!!"

Bakura froze, realizing that he had been shouting out loud. A glance down told him, however, that Ryou was still in a deep, recovering sleep. With a sigh, Bakura turned his back to his boy and walked away, raising a barrier around Ryou as he left. Sleep well... he hesitated, hikari. You must be ready, because next time, we will defeat the Pharoah once and for all.

Turning his attention to what was before him, Bakura walked onward, pushing any thought of Ryou from his mind. No matter how independent he was, there was a point when even the darkest of spirits had to ask for help. And there was only one person's advice that Bakura could use at that moment. It was time to talk to him.

"Sorry, Tea," Yugi glanced up, looking a bit sheepish, "What did you say?"

Tea gave an exasperated sigh. "You haven't heard a thing I said, have you?"

"No," Yugi looked down at the lunch table. "I'm sorry. I'm just really tired today."

"You've been tired every day lately," she pointed out. "We're worried about you."

"Something's going on," Joey spoke up. "Something with you and Kira," he glanced at the other girl who had fallen asleep next to her uneaten food. "And Ryou too, I think..."

Yugi nodded. "Yeah. In the Shadow Realms."

"Whatever it is, maybe you should stop," Mai spoke up.

"No!" To the others' surprise, Yugi managed to raise his voice briefly before letting it drop again. "I can't give up now. We can't."

Mai lifted a hand to stop him. "I know how you feel, but hear me out. You're practically killing yourself over this matter, whatever it is. I don't know all the details, but I know that it's important to you. But I also know that you haven't really been yourself lately. You're just barely making it through each school day. You don't really smile anymore, you're never really awake, and I wouldn't be surprised if your grades are suffering. Kira too. I mean, look at her!" Mai motioned to the girl with her head.

Kira was snoring very lighting, her mouth open slightly, and her cheek crushed against her arm. Her complexion was pale, and there were deep bags under her eyes. Mai continued softly, "The two of you practically live in another world by now. Maybe it's time you came back to this one."

Tea saw the hurt cross Yugi's eyes and tried to make amends, "We're just worried Yugi. We're willing to help you out in any way we can. We know this is important to you, it's just that...we don't want to lose you either."

Yami?

Yes, hikari?

I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt them, but I can't lie either.

Tell them.

Tell them what?

Everything. They should know. It's time.

Yugi swallowed, realizing that everyone was now watching him with some curiosity. He took a long glance at Kira. She too was giving up so much to save Ryou. Was it worth it? Risking both their lives and the feelings of all their friends for one person? His heart told him yes, though he was beginning to wonder otherwise. He might go through with this upcoming battle, but first, his friends had to know. Yugi took a deep breath, "Guys? I'm going to explain about everything that's been going on lately - about me, about Kira, and even about Ryou. I want you to listen and understand. I can't ask anything more than that..."