It was Yami Bakura who finally broke the unnatural silence.
"I…" he paused, not quite sure what to say. His voice was soft, almost trembling. "I don't know everything about you, host."
Ryou paused, not sure if the thief was telling the truth.
"You don't?" he blinked, still stunned at the spirit's response. Surely it was nonsense. "But you've been through my mind so many times. You've torn through my memories! You've read my thoughts!"
"If they concerned me, yes." Yami Bakura answered, rolling his eyes. "Do you honestly think I care about what happens inside that fucking head of yours? If it doesn't have to do with the millennium items or my survival, I don't give a fucking damn."
He crossed his arms, glaring at his lighter half again.
"Yami?"
"I didn't wait three fucking millennia to sit around and watch slide shows of exotic vacations or pathetic reruns of show and tell." He sneered.
"Yeah?" Ryou replied, standing up. "Well… Well maybe you should!"
He started to march, frustrated, towards the soul room door, but stopped short. Before his hand reached the handle, he turned back around. He came in there with a mission of his own, and this was his only chance.
"And… and I'm not leaving here until you do."
Yami Bakura stared at his lighter half, hardly believing such a petty demand.
"What?" he finally asked, annoyed.
"I'm… I'm not going to let you leave here until you go through my memories." Ryou repeated, with a little more certainty this time. He crossed his hands in front again, and stood his ground. "And I mean it."
"Fine!" Yami Bakura stood up, charging over to where Ryou was standing. "It won't take long to watch your picture-perfect slide show. And if it gets you out of my face one second earlier, than it's worth it!"
He grabbed Ryou by the shirt and lifted him off the ground. The fabric pulled around his neck, choking him slightly. He gasped for breath.
"But once I do, and listen to me, host. You will do nothing else to stand in my way. Do I make myself clear?" Yami Bakura scowled. "You will never again interfere with my wishes to obtain the seven millennium items. And you will do whatever the fuck I tell you to do!"
He tightened his grip on Ryou's throat. The pale boy nodded fervently.
"Good." He smiled, and tossed Ryou aside like a discarded piece of fools' gold. He stumbled trying to climb back to his feet.
"But… but you have to promise not to… not to leave. Not until you've been through all of my memories!"
Yami Bakura looked at him. This was obviously some sort of stalling tactic, to keep him away from the pharaoh until the former ruler of Egypt could discover his past identity. But the prospect of keeping his host permanently out of the way was an enticing one, and probably a bargain he wouldn't be able to seal at any other time.
This time, and this time only, the pharaoh would just have to wait.
"Fine." He agreed, and folded his arms at his waist. He cocked his head to the side, and stared at Ryou. "What the hell are you waiting for? Let's just get this over with so I can get on with my time. I have work to do."
Ryou nodded, reaching for the door out of his yami's soul room. He slowly turned the handle, and the metal door creaked open. The dim corridor erased the shadows in the tomb-like interior, stinging Yami Bakura's eyes momentarily.
"Just get moving, host!" he shouted impatiently.
Ryou stepped into the corridor, opening the door to his own soul room.
It was completely white, the walls barren and chipping. Although light spread into every corner of the sanctuary, it did little to soften the appearance of the room. Instead, it only emphasized the open space and the emptiness it produced.
Ryou motioned for his yami to walk inside.
Grunting lightly, Yami Bakura did so, and Ryou shut the door tightly behind him. Bracing himself against the metal frame, he pushed it harder, forcing his yami to keep his promise.
At least, for now anyway, Yugi and his other friends were safe.