Chapter XVI: Starless

A day after that Rika was commanded to stay in the hospital because there might have been an infection in her wounds and the doctors needed to make sure she was all right. She had grown more feisty and stubborn lately, and the doctors had called some of her friends in to try to convince her to stay. The only one that made any progress was Ryou Bakura. What made this happen, though, was what Yami no Bakura did for her that night before, her first night staying there.

Rika had woken up in the middle of the night due to the horrible pain in her body and the coldness of her room. She was shivering all over, the blankets they had given her were thin and nowhere near warm enough for her. Her whole body was feeling cold and shivering, as well as sharp pains and jolts running through her body. They had given her painkillers, not morphine, but regular pills to ease the pain five hours ago. They should have worked by now. However, no, they were sprinting through her entire body like darts. She had hated it most when they stuck the needles in her arms. She hated needles ever since she was three when one almost went through her entire arm. It was a scary predicament. However, she hated them.

Nevertheless, a noise in the room startled her. She looked down to see someone laying their head on the side of her bed, slumbering peacefully. She at once recognized the untamed brown hair. Seto Kaiba was sleeping, he was willing to spend the whole night with her. She smiled, stroking his hair gently, and then heard something else. Normally, at this time of night, no one would be up, or even here in the hospital, besides the night staff. Therefore, as not to wake Kaiba, she got out of bed and found her jacket that Yugi had brought over earlier that evening on the chair beside her bed. She grabbed it and wrapped it around her body to prevent the coldness. She then quietly slipped out of her room and walked down the hall. She knew someone was there, waiting for her. However, she didn't know where they were. She closed her eyes, feeling the darkness surround her, and then felt the gold light shine into her mind, guiding her. This wasn't her light, though. This was someone else's light. Someone was waiting for her, and their light would guide her to them.

Keeping her eyes closed, she walked down the hall, passing several patients' rooms. She didn't feel anyone else's presence in the building, and then she felt the cold darkness swim over her once more, the light growing stronger than ever. She walked into the waiting room, and then eventually out of the building, her eyes closed perfectly. A voice, strong and stern, yet somewhat haunting, was calling out to her from the light.

"Come find me, Rika….I want to show you something…."

She finally stopped and opened her eyes. At once, she found herself standing in an abandoned cemetery. She remembered that there was one right close to the hospital, and it sometimes scares the patients because of that. But it wasn't the cemetery that was bugging her. It was the person she saw, the one standing before her, a cold smile on his fair face. Dark eyes contorted into a devilish glare, his wild, untamed, long white hair billowing in the night air, his bangs raised slightly to resemble horns. He smiled longingly at the girl, and she felt like she was in the presence of the devil himself. However, at that moment, she also felt safe.

"I'm glad you've found me, my dear Rika. Now I can have some time alone with you," he spoke like a fiend, but she felt warm when he spoke. She grew closer to him, wanting to look directly into those cold, dark eyes.

"Why did you want to see me?" she asked. He also grew closer, and then she saw another side of him. A more serious side of him, a side she was now growing scared of.

"I sensed what happened between you and Malik. I'm quite surprised by your power, but you are still an amateur with the shadows," Bakura spoke, smiling demonically at her.

"Are you saying…are you going to kill me?" she asked emotionlessly. He raised on eyebrow, and smiled.

"No, I will not kill you. However, I'm going to train you with the powers of the shadows. See how strong you are. I will try not to harm you…too much," Bakura spoke sinisterly.

"How are you going to train me?" Rika asked.

"By participating in a Shadow Game. Here are the rules for the loser. If I win, as soon as you're out of the hospital, you owe me a date. If you win, you'll never see me again, deal?" he asked.

"No," Rika spoke. Bakura was taken aback by this. He looked at her, confused, and then smiled.

"Why are you saying 'no'? I thought you wanted to be alone, that you never wanted see any of us again?" he asked. "After all, you were so interested in Yami no Malik that you almost became exactly like him."

"I was fool, then. Blinded by false love and blinded by my stupid teenage antics that I didn't realize what I had until it was gone. I don't want to lose anyone else," Rika spoke sadly. "Especially not you."

"Oh?" Bakura was astounded by this girl's words. She was telling him, flat-out, that he meant a lot to her. But why?

"Why do you care so much about me?" he asked.

"You're the only one I can get along with. I know who you are. While I'm asleep, I have these dreams. Dreams of you. I know you're not Bakura Ryou, so why don't you show me your real self? I don't want to be friends with the fake Bakura, I want to be friends with Thief Bakura!" Rika shouted at him. Bakura's eyes widened, slightly, and then lowered in a sinister way.

"How much do you know?" he asked.

"Well…not everything. Only bits and pieces," Rika spoke.

"Right. Right now, you're not supposed to know everything, but soon everything will become clear to you. You are just like me, and Motou Yugi. You are hoste to an ancient power, an ancient soul, and that's as far as you need to know. You may know of me being a thief, but that is all I can tell you. I know very little about myself, like the Pharaoh, and like you. Eventually, the truth will be known to us, separately, but you will see the light of Egypt once again," Bakura spoke. I want to know about you, also. The power you hold inside, the secrets that hide, they are confusing, yet tempting. I want to know about them, I want to know everything about your powers.

"I just…I don't want to leave Japan and not know who my friends are. I don't want to push everyone away like I did last time," Rika spoke solemnly. Bakura smiled once more, enjoying the taste of night with her.

"You're not pushing your friends away at all. In fact, you're pulling them closer by telling them that you're leaving. Now, do you want a Shadow Duel or not?" he asked.

"I guess…" the unknowingness in her voice really surprised him, but for the next few hours Bakura taught her how to play a Shadow Game, trained her in controlling her powers, and eventually, she beat him at his own game. By the end of the night, the young girl was exhausted, weak, and a few of her bandages were torn off during the game.

She fell to her knees in exhaustion, and Bakura released them from the dark realm. She had controlled her powers and those of the shadows far better than he could comprehend. In fact, from her time being in the darkness with Malik, she had learned to fully understand the circumstances and the consequences from such a dark power. Bakura looked at her bowing on her knees, her head dropped to an angle to her chest. He approached her and gripped her chin into his palm. He tilted her head back so he was looking directly into her cold, dark silver eyes.

"Tell me, why are you deciding to leave us? Is it something someone did? Perhaps Kaiba?" Bakura asked. She let out what sounded like a whimper, and then looked away.

"No, it's not that. It's just…I want to learn more about myself, about Horus. This power…I can't fully control it. And I'm dreadfully missing an old friend of mine," Rika spoke, standing up onto her feet, but she pulled away from him.

"Which old friend, my dear? After all, you seem to have several!" Bakura teased her, wrapping his arm friendly around her shoulders. She laughed and smiled at him.

"He's a celebrity, a rock star, for an American band named Korn. Jonathan Davis and I grew up together, and I miss him a lot," she said. "Will you do me a favor?"

Bakura looked at her, confused and pulled away. "No," he winked at her, causing her to laugh.

"Will you stop acting like Ryou and tell me how you feel about me? I know that you were trying to get close to me for my power. But I want to know… what is your opinion about me?" she asked him, her eyes swimming like pools of liquid silver in the moonlight. Bakura looked into her eyes, seeing the depths go on for miles within her. He didn't know what to say, and a moment of silence passed between them.

"Someday…when you return, give me a call. I would enjoy having you as a companion," he spoke softly to her. She smiled and looked up at the half-moon in the sky. It sparkled like a diamond in the black mist, and she knew someday she would see Thief Bakura again.

"Miss Yukari, you need to calm down!" ordered one of the doctors.

"No! Get those things away from me!" Rika demanded, staring fearfully at the needles in the doctor's hand. It was the morning after, and although Rika was extremely exhausted and fatigue, she still had enough energy to fight the doctors off from sticking a needle in her arm. She was hunched in the corner of her bed, yelling and throwing things at the doctors to keep them away.

"You're not even going to feel them!" one of the nurses spoke.

"Yeah! That's what you always say! No! Stay away from me!" Rika demanded, throwing a pillow at the doctor holding the needle.

"Where is Kaiba-san? He should've been here by now!" the doctor yelled, quickly dodging the pillow. At that moment, Kaiba walked into the room, having been gone at home for a few hours. Aside him was Mokuba, who was laughing his head off.

"You guys should've known she hates needles!" he laughed. "This is what happened when she got her tattoo!"

"Mokuba!" Kaiba yelled, trying to hide his crimson blushing face. When they had gotten more serious into their relationship, Rika went to a tattoo parlor to get one with his name on it. It was a black rose with "Seto Kaiba" written across it. Kaiba even still remembers what she said when he saw it. "Now, when people see it, they'll know I'm yours." How he found it was far too embarrassing to say. It was the closest he had gotten to third base during that time. Eventually, she had allowed him, though, but that was months after.

"Rika, you have to calm down!" Kaiba ordered her. She glared at him evilly and yelled.

"No way, Seto! Get them away from me!" she yelled. She didn't throw anything at them, but she was really fighting. The next thing she knew, Malik and Yugi had appeared in the doorway, trying to calm her down.

"Rika, they're only going to make sure you don't have an infection. You have to take the shot!" Malik spoke to her. He thought he could calm her down, but she glared demonically at him, a faint golden glow appearing around her. Malik was surprised that she was gaining more control over her powers.

"Rika, you don't want to get sick, do you?" Yugi asked. She didn't say anything, but then, when the doctors got close, she cursed loudly at them and started fighting again.

"Calm down, Rika! You're going to hurt someone!"

No way, Horus! I am not going to let them put that devil's device in my arm!

"Calm down. Now."

Rika looked up at the familiar voice, and saw him standing in the doorway, his white bangs raised to resemble horns, his dark, malevolent eyes lowered in expectation and commandment. She went silent and still, and then sighed with reluctance.

"Yes, Bakura-sama," she spoke softly. He smiled at her respect and obedience, and eventually, after squirming slightly, she took the needle. However, the doctors ordered no visitors until she leaved the hospital, and it was obeyed. However, later on in the day, when someone came to pick her up and take her home, she was already gone. Kaiba was the one who wanted to pick her up, but instead on her bed was a note left for him and her friends.

Dear Seto Kaiba and my friends,

I am sorry about leaving the hospital so early. However, I will not be returning to Japan for a while. Bakura has agreed to take me to the airport, and from there I shall fly to Europe to meet with my dear friend Jonathan Davis. I know that I should've told you in person, but I could not take the stress of hurting you or hurting myself. From now on, life will be different, and we'll choose different paths to take. However, that does not mean the end of our future. I am not sure who I will be with in the future, or who I'm meant to spend the rest of my life with. All I know is that you mean the world to me, and eventually we will meet again.

Mokuba and Seto, I love you guys with my heart and hope you guys live well together. Jonouchi, you're a goof, but you're loyal and kind. Anzu, you're as polite and friendly as the day I met you. Honda, you need to learn to follow your own path, not to listen to others, but you're still as loyal as Jonouchi. Malik, I love you a lot, and hope that you and your sister will live happily together without the interference of your evil side. And Yugi…I don't know what to tell you except thank you. You've been a great friend and loyal person to me, understanding and watching over me. I'll miss all of you and hope to see you again one day.

Until then, live well, and I'll see you losers later.

With all my love,

Yukari Rika

Kaiba read the letter three times over until finally he smiled with satisfaction and concern. Rika was old enough to make her own decisions, and she wasn't that little girl anymore. She was strong enough to face the darkness on her own, and she was smart enough to know where her own decisions would take her. Some day, they would meet again, and when they do, Kaiba will make sure that he'll start treating Rika like who she really was. Not like a child or like the girl she used to be. Like a mature woman, a woman who has experienced life in so many ways. He'll treat her like an equal, if not, more.

As Kaiba looked out the window, he smiled with happiness and knowingness. They will meet again, and by that time, Rika will have changed so much that he will not recognize her. However, maybe this was the start of a completely new beginning for them. Maybe…just maybe….

The sun was setting low behind the horizon of the ocean on that day, and a small young man stood over the railing, staring out into the sunset, a glimmering smile crossed on his face. His multi-colored hair that spiked up blended into the sunset, as the light shined onto the mystical water. He was amazed by the joy that he had brought to someone who he thought he would never get along with.

"…I hate it when someone so well known for being the best can't take a fight with me. It's being hypocritical, and I seriously hate people like that. People, like you, Motou Yugi…."

Yugi smiled, not understanding how that girl has changed so much since he first met her. At first, she had such an attitude, was really rude, and was acting like she hated him. But now, she was acting like as if he was an angel sent down to save her. She had changed so much, that it scared him. But now she was gone, and he hoped one day they would meet again. In his hand, he clenched the letter that Kaiba had found on her bed, and his smile only widened. One day they will meet again. One day they'll see how much she has changed, how much she has come to understand her own destiny, and maybe that will help him understand his own. But until then….

Yugi released the letter, and immediately a soft wind blew around him, and took with it the letter into the sky. It took the letter high into the sky, it flew into the orange, and red light as the sun disappeared behind the horizon, taking with it the letter, and the memories of Yukari Rika, their new friend, and the reincarnation of a power god of the skies. A girl who is both dark and light, a girl who is the perfect example of a balance in chaos, a balance in light and darkness. Like Yugi, like Bakura, and like Malik, she was a home to two opposite souls. A soul to light, purity, and innocence, and a soul of darkness, a soul of hatred and pain. These were balanced, these were found by each other. And as the last bit of sunlight disappeared, Rika's words, as well as the same words spoken over the millennia, echoed in the wind.

"Only light can find light, but it cannot set it free. Darkness and light must be balanced, and only darkness can set light free from their imprisonment…."

And at last, the darkness of night, and the light of day, was balanced in the skies, as well as in the hearts and souls of everyone that stood beneath them.

FD: Okay, this is the last one before the Epilogue, a bit short, but really descriptive, and, in my opinion, a bit funny, as well as romantic. At least, between Yami no Bakura and Rika. The Epilogue will have a cliffhanger, but in order to find out the rest of it, you'll have to read the sequel, and that I'll have to work on after this. However, an old villain comes back in the sequel, but you have to guess which one. And, no, it's not going to be Yami no Malik. I'm done with him. It's someone else. Someone who seems evil, but also has a reason for his deeds. Here's a hint as to who it is…he and Rika will be related in terms of their positions in life. That is a hard hint, but it's all I'm giving you for now. A few things to clear up; no, Yami no Malik is not dead, he cannot die, unless Malik dies. And to answer Britney's question, no, this season on WB is KC Tournament where an old rival of Kaiba's comes back for revenge. I'm not sure if CN or WB are going to show that season at all, but if they do, that one is right after this one, anyway, so who knows. But I seriously doubt it, because CN is already skipping the DOMA series and KC Grand series and going straight to GX. Their stupid idiots, and I don't know what their plans are. That's why I stick to the original shows and the mangas. They're better, and they don't have anything cut out.

Okay, I have to stop talking now. I'm going to work on the Epilogue and sequel A.S.A.P., but I also have school, like everyone else, and I have original fics of mine that I need to update on, as well as My Space. If you guys are curious as to what type of person I am, what I look like, or even what else I do, visit my homepage, which technically is just a bit that My Space has given me. Visit it anyway, it should be cool for anyone who likes my work, likes me, or plainly wants to make fun of me. I'm cool either way. Do leave me a comment, though. I'd appreciate it.

Alright, I'm talking too much, like Britney. (Just kidding, Brit. No hard feelings? I love the long reviews.) And I have to end this so I could put on. Hope you guys like it, and I hope you read both the Epilogue and the sequel to it. And if you want to read any other works of mine, visit my profile page either on or There, though, I'm not FD, but Goddess of Chaos and Silence. Long name, but you'll love it. Peace!