Wow! Five people reviewed my first chapter. Five! I gotta calm down before my head gets too big to fit through the door of my room. Big thank you to loner lover girl, (I don't know how the heck you found and read my fic so fast, but thanks!) T.Lei, ryou's succubi, Lluvia, Anei Aikouka.
Story time!
Chapter 2 – Nighttime and Daytime
Over the next few days, Yami Bakura noticed that his host was in an exceptionally good mood.
Bakura was hurrying to get everything done in time for his holiday: stringing lights across the front of the house, making frequent trips to the mall, realizing he'd forgotten something and having to go back again, decorating his tree with dozens upon dozens of little ornaments… Yet through it all, he seemed as light-hearted and happy as his yami had ever seen him. After a few days, the house seemed to have acquired a kind-of warm glow, an odd comforting feeling.
Yami Bakura moved soundlessly through the halls of the almost unrecognizable building late at night. It was strange, the change that had come over his hikari. He seemed so carefree and innocent, now. It was almost as if nothing bad had ever happened…
The spirit paused next to a small decoration that he hadn't noticed before. Spread out on a little tabletop was what looked like a stable, complete with animal figurines. In the center, a young man and woman were gathered around a newborn baby lying in a trough full of hay. But this thing that struck him the most was the face. It was calm, devoid of any anger or fear.
Yami Bakura frowned and stepped silently into Bakura's bedroom. His host was sleeping soundly, his face so peaceful and innocent. It bore an incredible resemblance to the baby in the decoration.
The yami felt a sudden pang, eerily akin to…guilt. He felt almost… guilty about what he had done to one so innocent…
He closed his eyes. No, he was imagining it. He had no reason to care for the feelings of his host. And yet…
He shook his head and returned to the Millennium Ring. He had no reason to care at all.
And yet he did.
The sky was overcast and gray, but that didn't seem to dampen Bakura's spirit at all. The bright lights and decorations of the streets of Domino cast the illusion of walking through a Christmas snow globe that held the entire city. Snow floated slowly down from the clouds, adding to the effect and dusting everything in a soft coating of white. Bakura joined the crowds of people and hummed quietly to himself as he browsed the shop windows. Yami Bakura watched through his eyes, starting to become genuinely curious about this Christmas thing.
/Shadows. One shop here has more decorations than the whole house, and that's including every ornament on your bloody tree. Why are you so excited about this holiday?/
Bakura shrugged. "It's in our blood, I suppose. We've been celebrating Christmas for over two thousand years after all."
/You didn't answer the question./
"I didn't?" the hikari answered distractedly, walking into the store.
/No. Why are you so excited about this holiday?/
He smiled wistfully for a moment. "Well, Christmas is a time for family. My father's finally coming home for the holidays. I haven't seen him in ages." Bakura picked up a small item from a shelf. "Do you think he'd like this?"
Yami Bakura snorted. /It's hideous./
"Well that's your opinion."
A sales clerk nearby gave him a funny look and walked away to the other side of the shelf.
"Oh, do come out, yami. It looks like I'm talking to myself."
The air next to Bakura shimmered, then became solid as the spirit materialized. He picked up a small figurine from a shelf and considered it disinterestedly. "I can't understand why anyone would want these things. Why on earth are you here?"
"I'm just browsing, to see if there's anything that looks interesting. I want to buy gifts for my friends."
"'Browsing.'" His yami grunted and surveyed the store dispassionately. If his host wanted presents for all his little friends, this was going to be a very long day…
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