AN: Wow, third chapter it's a new record for me! -----pathetic
Is anyone really even reading this story? I wonder...
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any animes...sadly, but one day I WILL (not seriously).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yugi! Yami! Somebody answer the phone, I'm with a customer!" yelled Sogoroku to his grandson and his Yami.
In the living room, the said two were in a very complex game of chess, Yami not surprisingly winning.
"I have to go answer the phone, Yami."
"Suuuuure...just because you're losing, you actually bother to consider the phone." Yugi laughed in response and picked up the nearby phone.
"Moshi-moshi. Mutou residence, home of the Kame Game Shop."
"Yugi? It's Bakura, you need to get your Yami on the phone right away."
"Bakura? Uhmmm, sure hold on, lemme go get him." 'Bakura? Wants to talk to Yami? No rude comment, or insult, or anything; it must be something serious.' "Hey, Yami, don't be mad, but it's Bakura and he wants to talk to you. He sounds kinda nervous, though, so maybe you should listem."
"Bakura wants to talk to me? Well fine, but this better not be some kind of trick." Yugi handed Yami the phone, and Yami spoke loudly into the speaker: "Moshi-moshi. It's Yami, what do you want tomb robber?"
"Shut up, pharaoh, I don't have time for you. This is serious so you'd better be listening good, you hear me?"
Yami sighed, "Yeah, fine, but make it quick, I'm busy."
"Busy, huh? I'll bet; busy playing dress-up with your hikari, right?" Although Bakura's voice had it's usual hostile tone to it, Yami noted his voice sounded a little bit hoarse.
"For your information, we're playing chess. Anyway, I thought you didn't have time to spare."
"Right, well Ryou lost his memory. But don't worry, everything is under control."
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!"
"Exactly. What did I do to him? All I've ever done is make Ryou suffer, and I finally realize that, but all that is going to end, because Ryou's never going to have to see me again; in fact, he won't even know I exist."
"What are you talking about? What do you want me to do?"
"Well, since Ryou doesn't remember anything, when I talked to him, I told him that I was only a dream. I told him that it was extremely importatnt that he keep the ring close to him forever. He's so innocent; he ended up thinking i was some sort of guardian angel. and asked me to visit him again in another dream sometime. From my soul room, I'll be able to protect him whenever he needs me, but he won't have to face anymore pain from me."
"Are you serious? This is insane. You would be willing to do all of this, rather than simply apologize? Don't you think you owe it to Ryou to be there to help him regain his memory. Without Yugi, I don't think I would ever have been able to strive on to find my memories. You can't just leave Ryou, you have to be there for him. If you really do care about Ryou then you need to help him, and treat him like a yami should treat a hikari, not run away."
"I'm not running away! I'm just...doing what's best for Ryou, that's all. If Ryou knew I existed he wouldn' t forgive me...nor do I blame him. That's why I've decided, after all I may still visit Ryou's 'dreams' whenever I find it necessary to. I don't deserve to be with Ryou. He deserves a happy life without having to worry about or fear me; the loss of his memory just did us both a favor. Now however, is where you come in."
"I'm listening," Yami had to admit that this situation was making him feel bad for both Ryou and Bakura.
"Well, you are Ryou's closest friends, all of you: Anzu, Honda, Jonouchi, your hikari, all of you. I want all of you to come pick Ryou up right now. Make sure he has the ring, and take him home. Reteach him all of his life and everything he used to know, that is except for me, and all the suffering I put him through. You can tell him about the Millenium Items, and that only one out of the seven has a spirit (you of course). After all, Malik's yami can be explained as a creation of his own, or however you'd like. But don't mention me; I no longer exist and never did. I'm sure that if you all consider yourselves real friends to Ryou, that you'll do what I said. With your support, he should be ok right away."
"Well tomb robber, I have to admit, it's very big of you to go through with something like this, but I'm only agreeing to this for Ryou's safety, but I think what you are doing is not the answer to your problems; yamis and hikaris have strong bonds and it is likely that you will hurt Ryou by hididng your existence from him. I remember, that even before I introduced myself to Yugi for the first time, subconciously, he knew that I somehow existed."
"I don't care about your 'bond' with your little pet hikari, pharaoh, but will you do as I've said? For Ryou?"
"Hai, I will; but only for Ryou."
"Fine. I have to go, come right away, and tell the doctor that I had to go home...make up whatever you'd like so that they'll let you guys escort Ryou home. And...m-m--my pharaoh.." Yami was surprised, he could tell that Bakura had really changed, and that it must be hard for him to call Yami pharaoh wihtout a drop of sarcasm, "My pharaoh, please, take good care of little Ryou; he's closer than a brother to me. And...thank you." (AN: nooo...i've turned them all to sap! --) Yami Bakura struggled through his last line, before finally hanging up the phone, being sure not to give Yami time to respond; he knew the pharaoh wouldn't laugh at him, he was too proud for that and respected Bakura's pride as well; but he just didn't want to hear another word; especially words that he wasn't quite sure how to face, words that would would make him doubt himself and his actions.
Shortly after, as Bakura was wondering how Ryou must be doing he glanced at the entrance only to see a very hurried Jonouchi eating a chocolate doughnut. 'Figures,' thought Bakura. When they spotted him, they quickly came over to him, Anzu and Shizuka, he noticed were drying what were now nearly dry tears, the latter still sniffling a bit. They all stood there, no one really saying a word and only Shizuka's sniffling and occasional sobs/hiccups could be heard. She was, after all, the youngest of all of them and cared immensly, as she did for all of her friends. Yami spoke first, as was expected,
"Bakura, are you absolutely sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, there's no turning back now, this is what's best for Ryou."
"Wait!" Everyone looked at Shizuka, as this sudden outburst was very unexpected of her. "B-Bakura," she looked sternly (as sternly as she could) at the said tomb robber clearly trying to hide the fear that was in her eyes against her will, "Bakura, I may not know you or Ryou that well, adn I may not be as old or as smart as any of you, but I do kow that what you're doing is wrond!" Awe on everybody's face, Shizuka paused, for breath or for effect is unknown, then continued, "If it's true that you want to fix things with your light, then running away is not how you do it. I don't know, and can never imagine what it must be like to have a yami or hikari, but I sure know that I would love them and treasure them, and that no matter how mean they may be I would never ever, ever want them to leave me! Especially if they were ashamed at all the things they had done.
Bakura, if I had a yami like you and they asked me to forgive them, I'd take him or her back in a second, and Ryou has a big heart and I know he would do the same for you. You can't leave now, now that he needs you the most. You two are like brothers, I know it in my hears, and if Onii-chan ever left me I wouldn't be able to go on. Think about what you're doing to yourself! And him!" Finally, Shizuka broke down, leaving Jonouchi to comfort her as Yami gave Bakura stern, but seemingly pleading eyes.
"I...I thank you for that Shizuka, but I'm not prepared to face things; at least, not yet. I've been cruel to all of you, and I can only hope that this is redemption enough for me. I also thank you for taking care of Ryou for me, but I'm afraid I need some time to think, and it's best for Ryou, I know it'll help him to be away from me. I have to go now." Making sure the coast was clear (they were in the hallway of Ryou's room), Yami Bakura dissapeared, for what everyone knew would be forever, into the confines of his soulroom in Ryou's mind, and in the Millenium Ring.
Dissappointed, Yami spoke up, "Come on, everyon, it's time to go see Ryou. Bakura told me what room it was. And remember, no menions of Bakura; we may not always agree byt I think he's really changed, and he's trusting in me to uphold his decision." Teh now rather teary bunch proceeded to the room in which Ryou was.The cold metallic doorknob under his slender fingers, Yami opened the door to room sixteen.
/Yami/ Yugi called mentally.
/Yes/ Yami responded.
/Would you---? Whould you have taken the same decision as Bakura if that had been our situation/
/To be honest, I don't know. After all, those two have gone through a lot; both of them./
/But, you and me, we'll be together forever, right Yami/ Placint a hand on his hikari's shoulder, Yami stepped into the chilly room.
/Always./
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: I'm afraid I may be losing track of where the story is going...I will do my best, ok? . C'mon...even if it's cliche, you knoooow you want to read the next chappie.