Twill: Wow, I've got nearly 40 reviews! I wasn't expecting this fic to be
so popular! I'm very glad everyone is enjoying it! This chapter's going to
feature two POV's which is a little different. Oh well, I needed two so I
wrote two! I know there hasn't been much fluff and stuff between Ryou and
Bakura yet but there will be. Or you could suggest other pairings and I'll
see if they can be worked in! ^____^
Seth: Twill does not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters, plots etc. She likes to think she does but she really doesn't
/blah/ = hikari thoughts
//blah// = yami thoughts
~blah~ = I can safely say, Change of Heart thoughts/words etc.
-blah- = And again, this means thoughts of someone
{blah} = Yep, more thoughts
---
Ashes to Ashes: Darkness Reveals Itself
---
~*Bakura's POV*~
I was forcefully shoved from my soul room and out into the world in my body. When had Ryou been able to do that? His back faded from my sight as I just stared after him. What had he meant, 'get out of my head'? I had always been there, why was he now wanting me gone? I just didn't understand it, what had I done wrong?
/Take my place in school, yami. I need some time to think, I need some time...please./
//I...Alright aibou// I'm not exactly sure why I agreed to take his place at school but I guess it was because I wanted him to know he could count on me. I'm not even sure if he heard me. I felt nothing but pain, confusion and anguish from his side of our mental connection, at least what I was able to feel before he severed the link. My hikari was really getting skilled in using the ring. I sighed, collected my thoughts and stepped back into the classroom. Almost immediately I knew the Pharaoh had noticed that I wasn't my light. His hikari's head had snapped up as soon as I entered the room and he was now looking at me with a mixture of contempt and confusion. I returned to Ryou's seat only to get up again as the bell rang for lunch. Yami, however, seemed to be of the opinion that I should talk to him instead of join my fellow classmates in eating lunch, not that I needed to eat mind you.
"Where is Ryou, thief?" I pasted on my trademark smirk and just glared at him. I didn't have to explain anything to him! "Damnit Bakura, you better not have hurt him..." Oh please, why did everyone think everything I did was always violent?!
"It's none of your bloody business oh high and mighty Pharaoh," I gave him a bow just to punctuate my response. "And if it was, I'd have you know Ryou wanted to go home and asked me to take his place!"
"Lies, I know what you're capable of, what you are. What happened to Ryou?" Such an all knowing prick isn't he?
"Oh calm down your highness. You have no proof that Bakura did anything so just go throw your temper tantrum somewhere else!" I cast a glance over at Malik, who was the one to have spoken. He was still seated in his desk, glaring daggers at Yami. I could have laughed at the look of rage on the former king's face. It was priceless! Malik smirked at me and I nodded curtly. Ah yes, it was wonderful to have friends. It made torture that much more fun. Yami spluttered and finally stood in a silent sulk. I rolled my eyes and began to move towards the classroom door. Apparently the teacher had vanished just as quickly as the students, which I was thankful for. It would be hard to explain our little conversation.
~There is an unbalance and I merely wish to correct it before chaos spreads to this world~
/And how do you plan to do that?/
~With your help~
/Me? What can I do? I'm worthless, just ask my yami. He doesn't think I'm anything special, just some sort of inanimate object.../
I couldn't believe it! I...I was listening to Ryou and someone else talking and he thought I still hated him. Why couldn't he see I had never hated him? Especially after I had begged his forgiveness and now, now that I...
~You are the key, child. Through you lies the answer~
-And with another, lies the guarantee-
I suddenly turned and faced the other two in the room with me. Yami was sulking in a desk, apparently talking with his hikari, Yugi and Malik was just staring into space, which wasn't all that unusual. The thing that made this strange was that I hadn't intended on turning nor was I now meaning to stride towards Malik at a purposeful pace.
-Taking darkness is far easier than light! Pity light must be taken instead...-
Malik had finally snapped from his thoughts or daydream and was watching me approach. Something in his eyes was different, not the usual indifferent and cocky glint I normally saw there. He shifted uncomfortably as the last gap closed. My hand reached out towards him, out of my control and he eyed it apprehensively. I also noticed, out of the corner of my eye, that Yami had perked up and was staring at me strangely. What was it they saw?
{You will not take him, Dragon!}
Another voice, I was surely going mad. I would have to ask Malik what the best ways to deal with insanity were. My hand was hovering just in front of Malik's face and I still had no control. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't pull it back, look in another direction or even cough. Somehow, I didn't feel concerned over my lack of motor ability. I felt strangely detached from myself. My face twisted into a grin and I felt myself begin to tense. I was about to take the final step forward, the one that would bring my hand in direct contact with my friend. There was a sudden flash before my eyes and everything went completely black. The last thing I heard before losing consciousness was Malik's yami, Marik, call out my name.
~*Malik's POV*~
The day had just gotten a lot weirder.
Who knew that I would be facing these sorts of things today? If anyone had told me this morning, I would have laughed and proclaimed the messenger crazier than I was. But sure enough, here I was, staring down at the unconscious form of one of my friends. However, perhaps I should start at the point where things began to turn odd.
We were given the assignment of describing a hobby or interest or passion we had in life. Ryou had been sent into the hall for an outburst which had him screaming at the teacher to shut up. I, personally, was quite happy to see the look of shock and anger on the old bat's face when he did this. I was also a bit surprised. Ryou was always the polite, quiet student who always took notes and listen to every word any teacher would say.
//I think he's finally decided to show a little backbone. Perhaps Bakura's rubbed off on him and about time too//
/Maybe, but I don't think so. Ryou's never like this/
//If you say so hikari, he's your friend not mine//
I quickly turned my attention back to the assignment at hand. So far I had two paragraphs about studying Egypt. It didn't seem right, more something my sister Isis would do. She was beginning to rub off on me, in ways I didn't like. So, I switched topics to duel monsters. No more than three sentences in, I decided that at least half the class would be writing about it. What else did I do or like? After several minutes of pointless thinking, I decided to go with my desire for revenge and love of causing people pain. This was it, the perfect topic. I managed about three pages before we were told to hand in our work. Ryou hadn't done anything out in the hallway, which was another surprise, and had been told to do it for homework. Now, with only seconds to go before the bell rang for lunch, Bakura walked in and took Ryou's place. I couldn't understand what would possess him to do that, unless he figured he could get Yami's puzzle.
The bell rang and everyone was gone before you could say 'go'. Everyone but me, Yami and Bakura. The Pharaoh was busy being an idiot by asking Bakura pointless questions.
//Go save him, hikari. No one should have to suffer one of the Pharaoh's rants//
With a nearly silent chuckle I spoke up, glaring intently at Yami. "Oh calm down your highness. You have no proof that Bakura did anything so just go throw your temper tantrum somewhere else!" He reddened slightly and tried to find words to express how insolent I was, or something. I guess Yugi managed to dissuade him because he decided to sulk instead. I smirked at Bakura and he nodded in acknowledgement for my assistance. Bakura then began to walk towards the exit, which I couldn't blame him for doing.
-I can smell him; my Illusionist is close at hand. I sense his heart, smell his blood, he will be MINE!-
/Marik...did you hear that?/
//Hear what Malik? All those voices getting too much to handle?// I felt his mental smirk.
/No...never mind/
-Closer, closer. Touch him, he will be mine then, TOUCH HIM FOOL!-
I jerked out of my thoughts and tried to take inventory of what was going on. I was hearing a voice that Marik couldn't and it, as far as I could tell, was talking about me. What I saw next nearly caused me to faint, something I don't do very often...in fact ever. Bakura was stalking towards me but he wasn't the Bakura I knew. His eyes were reptilian although I could see the brown behind them. Instead of Ryou's sweater outfit, he was clothed in nothing but scales, and perhaps crude armor but I couldn't be sure. The normal clothes were still visible beneath this...underneath. His hands ended in claws but I could still see his fingers. In all respects Bakura was a dragon with bushy white hair and the image of one of my friends underneath.
//...the hell?//
He reached out one of those scaly, clawed hands of his that still looked normal underneath and seemed to want to touch me. Now I knew the voice had been referring to me.
-Why do you pull away? TOUCH HIM NOW!-
I waited in apprehension for the last bit of space between my face and his hand to disappear. Instead the draconic image vanished, Bakura's eyes widened and then he collapsed. Marik separated from me violently and looked down at his friend with concern.
"Bakura!"
So there you are, the reason I came to be staring down at Bakura's limp form. Even Yami seemed to have seen what I had and was looking at him in shock. What the hell had just happened? Without any warning, Bakura's body shuddered violently and his eyes fluttered for a moment. Then, with a small groan he began to push himself up until he was standing, but his eyes were still closed. "Bakura?" I was the first to break the silence that had descended. His forehead creased in concentration for a moment and then his eyes opened.
They were no longer his eyes.
The harsher version of Ryou's chocolate brown eyes had disappeared completely. Instead we were looking at a softer, cerulean blue pair that looked at us quizzically. "I'm afraid I am not your friend." He, it, they, whatever, seemed almost sad at that comment.
"Then who are you and what happened to Bakura?"
"That requires a very long answer. But if you have time, I will be happy to answer it for you." We all nodded and he continued with a sigh. "I...well; I have been given no name. You would recognize me if I were in my proper guise, as a Dark Magician." Needless to say we all just stared. Yami especially was taken completely by surprise. "Since the ancient days of Egypt, during the reign of one Pharaoh strongly connected to the Shadow Games," he looked directly into Yami's eyes as he spoke, "what you call duel monsters have lived and flourished in the Shadow Realm. It is our world, as well the spirits know." Marik and Yami were nodding to themselves. "Each monster is connected to one soul here, the connection's strength dependant on the bond between master and card. Favorites are, of course, the closest to the soul they are connected to."
"That still doesn't explain why you are here."
"When the Pharaoh dueled the thief for the last time, the raider's closest card, a Change of Heart, turned on him as is written its nature may push it to do so. However, when it attacked, its balance was forever thrown off. Its darker half was able to break free of the barrier that separated light and dark. When the thief was sealed into the Seeking Ring, as it was referred to in those ancient times, all of his linked monsters were left to their lives in the shadows. The Change of Heart was further driven from its balance, until finally the darkness had taken over almost everything. As is its power, the monster began to spread its darkness, infecting every other monster it came across. The first being the others in its master's deck."
"This must have been because Bakura was now only a dark spirit. He no longer had any light in his soul." Yami and Marik were deep into their thoughts, both casting glances at each other and then 'Bakura' every so often.
"When this age began and the Ring fell into the hands of a youth, disorder spread. Some of the cards the Change of Heart had touched with its corruption began to regain their light. The monster's own lighter side, that had been subdued and nearly broken, began to stir and try to break free, to regain its balance. The darkness discovered the cause, the youth who holds the ring, and took it upon itself to corrupt him as well. Thus, he would restore darkness, shatter light forever and perhaps cause the Shadow Realm to collapse into eternal darkness."
"And what was the whole draconic thing about?"
"There are other monsters who feel that having supreme reign through darkness would be to their advantage. One is the closest to the wielder of the rod, you." It took me a moment to think of what he meant. Then I realized which card was the closest to me, being my favorite. The Dragon Ra. "I was approached by both the Dragon and the Change of Heart in an attempt to gain my help in their request. I refused and stand firmly by my decision." Yami seemed touched by this expression of loyalty. He smiled, one of the few times I had actually ever seen him do that. "The Dragon Ra decided to take you forcefully to meet his own ends and corrupt all cards in your deck. I could not let that happen and forced him back into this one's mind. As an unexpected result I was pushed into control."
"Why are you two even in his mind?"
"Have you not already guessed? The Change of Heart came to its master. We were summoned into him as well and never returned. To be returned, it requires magic which I am not able to cast in my present state. The Change of Heart had access to the Ring to which it was bound to and was thus able to bring us."
"How can you be sent home?" That question surprised me. Marik had been the one to ask and I never pictured him as the sort to care about something like that.
"You all possess the Millennium Items do you not? Simply concentrate and will us free from Bakura's mind and back to the realm. It is that simple."
"Alright then, I say we do it." Marik and Yami looked at me and nodded, both bringing their items into bear. I too began concentrating on my version of the rod and trying to picture the Dark Magician and my Dragon Ra being swallowed into the Shadow Realm. The image of Bakura draconic kept popping into my head, like some possessed slide show or something. When I felt our collective magic dissipate I finally opened my eyes. Bakura stood, normal as ever, and looked at us all with confusion. Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped forward. My yami caught him before he hit the ground. The worst, however, was what was standing behind him. My Dragon Ra, in his human form, grinned devilishly at the four of us, showing off all his glinting and very sharp teeth.
"I don't think we managed to send him back to the realm." That was the understatement of the year, thank you Yami.
"Certainly you did not. However you did craft me a fine body and banish the spell caster back to the shadows. For that I thank you." He bowed deeply and grinned once again. I didn't like how he managed to show off every single one of those dagger teeth. "And don't think I will be staying here so you may try again. No, I will be leaving now." Even as he spoke he was backing towards the door. There was no way we could stop him. By the time we concentrated through our items he would be gone. Even summoning a monster was pointless, he being a god card and all. With a final deep bow and demonic grin, he stepped out the door and was gone.
"I don't understand, what went wrong?" Marik shifted the limp form of Bakura so he was lying across a couple of desks. Yami was staring darkly at the door where my dragon had disappeared. Both spirits did not look happy. Not at all. It was looking at them that I realized the one flaw in all that we had done. The one error that had given him a physical form.
I felt my stomach wrap itself into a knot and tighten. I had been visualizing my dragon as a human. I was the one who couldn't stop picturing his devilish grin. It was me who messed everything up and who knew if Bakura was okay? I had probably just cost the world a lot of trouble. Trying hard to make my voice not betray my emotion I answered.
"I did."
---
Twill: Aww, well there you have it, a new chapter! Some info has been revealed and all at poor Bakura's sake. Whose POV should I write in next? Let me know, as always, when you R&R!
Seth: Twill does not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters, plots etc. She likes to think she does but she really doesn't
/blah/ = hikari thoughts
//blah// = yami thoughts
~blah~ = I can safely say, Change of Heart thoughts/words etc.
-blah- = And again, this means thoughts of someone
{blah} = Yep, more thoughts
---
Ashes to Ashes: Darkness Reveals Itself
---
~*Bakura's POV*~
I was forcefully shoved from my soul room and out into the world in my body. When had Ryou been able to do that? His back faded from my sight as I just stared after him. What had he meant, 'get out of my head'? I had always been there, why was he now wanting me gone? I just didn't understand it, what had I done wrong?
/Take my place in school, yami. I need some time to think, I need some time...please./
//I...Alright aibou// I'm not exactly sure why I agreed to take his place at school but I guess it was because I wanted him to know he could count on me. I'm not even sure if he heard me. I felt nothing but pain, confusion and anguish from his side of our mental connection, at least what I was able to feel before he severed the link. My hikari was really getting skilled in using the ring. I sighed, collected my thoughts and stepped back into the classroom. Almost immediately I knew the Pharaoh had noticed that I wasn't my light. His hikari's head had snapped up as soon as I entered the room and he was now looking at me with a mixture of contempt and confusion. I returned to Ryou's seat only to get up again as the bell rang for lunch. Yami, however, seemed to be of the opinion that I should talk to him instead of join my fellow classmates in eating lunch, not that I needed to eat mind you.
"Where is Ryou, thief?" I pasted on my trademark smirk and just glared at him. I didn't have to explain anything to him! "Damnit Bakura, you better not have hurt him..." Oh please, why did everyone think everything I did was always violent?!
"It's none of your bloody business oh high and mighty Pharaoh," I gave him a bow just to punctuate my response. "And if it was, I'd have you know Ryou wanted to go home and asked me to take his place!"
"Lies, I know what you're capable of, what you are. What happened to Ryou?" Such an all knowing prick isn't he?
"Oh calm down your highness. You have no proof that Bakura did anything so just go throw your temper tantrum somewhere else!" I cast a glance over at Malik, who was the one to have spoken. He was still seated in his desk, glaring daggers at Yami. I could have laughed at the look of rage on the former king's face. It was priceless! Malik smirked at me and I nodded curtly. Ah yes, it was wonderful to have friends. It made torture that much more fun. Yami spluttered and finally stood in a silent sulk. I rolled my eyes and began to move towards the classroom door. Apparently the teacher had vanished just as quickly as the students, which I was thankful for. It would be hard to explain our little conversation.
~There is an unbalance and I merely wish to correct it before chaos spreads to this world~
/And how do you plan to do that?/
~With your help~
/Me? What can I do? I'm worthless, just ask my yami. He doesn't think I'm anything special, just some sort of inanimate object.../
I couldn't believe it! I...I was listening to Ryou and someone else talking and he thought I still hated him. Why couldn't he see I had never hated him? Especially after I had begged his forgiveness and now, now that I...
~You are the key, child. Through you lies the answer~
-And with another, lies the guarantee-
I suddenly turned and faced the other two in the room with me. Yami was sulking in a desk, apparently talking with his hikari, Yugi and Malik was just staring into space, which wasn't all that unusual. The thing that made this strange was that I hadn't intended on turning nor was I now meaning to stride towards Malik at a purposeful pace.
-Taking darkness is far easier than light! Pity light must be taken instead...-
Malik had finally snapped from his thoughts or daydream and was watching me approach. Something in his eyes was different, not the usual indifferent and cocky glint I normally saw there. He shifted uncomfortably as the last gap closed. My hand reached out towards him, out of my control and he eyed it apprehensively. I also noticed, out of the corner of my eye, that Yami had perked up and was staring at me strangely. What was it they saw?
{You will not take him, Dragon!}
Another voice, I was surely going mad. I would have to ask Malik what the best ways to deal with insanity were. My hand was hovering just in front of Malik's face and I still had no control. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't pull it back, look in another direction or even cough. Somehow, I didn't feel concerned over my lack of motor ability. I felt strangely detached from myself. My face twisted into a grin and I felt myself begin to tense. I was about to take the final step forward, the one that would bring my hand in direct contact with my friend. There was a sudden flash before my eyes and everything went completely black. The last thing I heard before losing consciousness was Malik's yami, Marik, call out my name.
~*Malik's POV*~
The day had just gotten a lot weirder.
Who knew that I would be facing these sorts of things today? If anyone had told me this morning, I would have laughed and proclaimed the messenger crazier than I was. But sure enough, here I was, staring down at the unconscious form of one of my friends. However, perhaps I should start at the point where things began to turn odd.
We were given the assignment of describing a hobby or interest or passion we had in life. Ryou had been sent into the hall for an outburst which had him screaming at the teacher to shut up. I, personally, was quite happy to see the look of shock and anger on the old bat's face when he did this. I was also a bit surprised. Ryou was always the polite, quiet student who always took notes and listen to every word any teacher would say.
//I think he's finally decided to show a little backbone. Perhaps Bakura's rubbed off on him and about time too//
/Maybe, but I don't think so. Ryou's never like this/
//If you say so hikari, he's your friend not mine//
I quickly turned my attention back to the assignment at hand. So far I had two paragraphs about studying Egypt. It didn't seem right, more something my sister Isis would do. She was beginning to rub off on me, in ways I didn't like. So, I switched topics to duel monsters. No more than three sentences in, I decided that at least half the class would be writing about it. What else did I do or like? After several minutes of pointless thinking, I decided to go with my desire for revenge and love of causing people pain. This was it, the perfect topic. I managed about three pages before we were told to hand in our work. Ryou hadn't done anything out in the hallway, which was another surprise, and had been told to do it for homework. Now, with only seconds to go before the bell rang for lunch, Bakura walked in and took Ryou's place. I couldn't understand what would possess him to do that, unless he figured he could get Yami's puzzle.
The bell rang and everyone was gone before you could say 'go'. Everyone but me, Yami and Bakura. The Pharaoh was busy being an idiot by asking Bakura pointless questions.
//Go save him, hikari. No one should have to suffer one of the Pharaoh's rants//
With a nearly silent chuckle I spoke up, glaring intently at Yami. "Oh calm down your highness. You have no proof that Bakura did anything so just go throw your temper tantrum somewhere else!" He reddened slightly and tried to find words to express how insolent I was, or something. I guess Yugi managed to dissuade him because he decided to sulk instead. I smirked at Bakura and he nodded in acknowledgement for my assistance. Bakura then began to walk towards the exit, which I couldn't blame him for doing.
-I can smell him; my Illusionist is close at hand. I sense his heart, smell his blood, he will be MINE!-
/Marik...did you hear that?/
//Hear what Malik? All those voices getting too much to handle?// I felt his mental smirk.
/No...never mind/
-Closer, closer. Touch him, he will be mine then, TOUCH HIM FOOL!-
I jerked out of my thoughts and tried to take inventory of what was going on. I was hearing a voice that Marik couldn't and it, as far as I could tell, was talking about me. What I saw next nearly caused me to faint, something I don't do very often...in fact ever. Bakura was stalking towards me but he wasn't the Bakura I knew. His eyes were reptilian although I could see the brown behind them. Instead of Ryou's sweater outfit, he was clothed in nothing but scales, and perhaps crude armor but I couldn't be sure. The normal clothes were still visible beneath this...underneath. His hands ended in claws but I could still see his fingers. In all respects Bakura was a dragon with bushy white hair and the image of one of my friends underneath.
//...the hell?//
He reached out one of those scaly, clawed hands of his that still looked normal underneath and seemed to want to touch me. Now I knew the voice had been referring to me.
-Why do you pull away? TOUCH HIM NOW!-
I waited in apprehension for the last bit of space between my face and his hand to disappear. Instead the draconic image vanished, Bakura's eyes widened and then he collapsed. Marik separated from me violently and looked down at his friend with concern.
"Bakura!"
So there you are, the reason I came to be staring down at Bakura's limp form. Even Yami seemed to have seen what I had and was looking at him in shock. What the hell had just happened? Without any warning, Bakura's body shuddered violently and his eyes fluttered for a moment. Then, with a small groan he began to push himself up until he was standing, but his eyes were still closed. "Bakura?" I was the first to break the silence that had descended. His forehead creased in concentration for a moment and then his eyes opened.
They were no longer his eyes.
The harsher version of Ryou's chocolate brown eyes had disappeared completely. Instead we were looking at a softer, cerulean blue pair that looked at us quizzically. "I'm afraid I am not your friend." He, it, they, whatever, seemed almost sad at that comment.
"Then who are you and what happened to Bakura?"
"That requires a very long answer. But if you have time, I will be happy to answer it for you." We all nodded and he continued with a sigh. "I...well; I have been given no name. You would recognize me if I were in my proper guise, as a Dark Magician." Needless to say we all just stared. Yami especially was taken completely by surprise. "Since the ancient days of Egypt, during the reign of one Pharaoh strongly connected to the Shadow Games," he looked directly into Yami's eyes as he spoke, "what you call duel monsters have lived and flourished in the Shadow Realm. It is our world, as well the spirits know." Marik and Yami were nodding to themselves. "Each monster is connected to one soul here, the connection's strength dependant on the bond between master and card. Favorites are, of course, the closest to the soul they are connected to."
"That still doesn't explain why you are here."
"When the Pharaoh dueled the thief for the last time, the raider's closest card, a Change of Heart, turned on him as is written its nature may push it to do so. However, when it attacked, its balance was forever thrown off. Its darker half was able to break free of the barrier that separated light and dark. When the thief was sealed into the Seeking Ring, as it was referred to in those ancient times, all of his linked monsters were left to their lives in the shadows. The Change of Heart was further driven from its balance, until finally the darkness had taken over almost everything. As is its power, the monster began to spread its darkness, infecting every other monster it came across. The first being the others in its master's deck."
"This must have been because Bakura was now only a dark spirit. He no longer had any light in his soul." Yami and Marik were deep into their thoughts, both casting glances at each other and then 'Bakura' every so often.
"When this age began and the Ring fell into the hands of a youth, disorder spread. Some of the cards the Change of Heart had touched with its corruption began to regain their light. The monster's own lighter side, that had been subdued and nearly broken, began to stir and try to break free, to regain its balance. The darkness discovered the cause, the youth who holds the ring, and took it upon itself to corrupt him as well. Thus, he would restore darkness, shatter light forever and perhaps cause the Shadow Realm to collapse into eternal darkness."
"And what was the whole draconic thing about?"
"There are other monsters who feel that having supreme reign through darkness would be to their advantage. One is the closest to the wielder of the rod, you." It took me a moment to think of what he meant. Then I realized which card was the closest to me, being my favorite. The Dragon Ra. "I was approached by both the Dragon and the Change of Heart in an attempt to gain my help in their request. I refused and stand firmly by my decision." Yami seemed touched by this expression of loyalty. He smiled, one of the few times I had actually ever seen him do that. "The Dragon Ra decided to take you forcefully to meet his own ends and corrupt all cards in your deck. I could not let that happen and forced him back into this one's mind. As an unexpected result I was pushed into control."
"Why are you two even in his mind?"
"Have you not already guessed? The Change of Heart came to its master. We were summoned into him as well and never returned. To be returned, it requires magic which I am not able to cast in my present state. The Change of Heart had access to the Ring to which it was bound to and was thus able to bring us."
"How can you be sent home?" That question surprised me. Marik had been the one to ask and I never pictured him as the sort to care about something like that.
"You all possess the Millennium Items do you not? Simply concentrate and will us free from Bakura's mind and back to the realm. It is that simple."
"Alright then, I say we do it." Marik and Yami looked at me and nodded, both bringing their items into bear. I too began concentrating on my version of the rod and trying to picture the Dark Magician and my Dragon Ra being swallowed into the Shadow Realm. The image of Bakura draconic kept popping into my head, like some possessed slide show or something. When I felt our collective magic dissipate I finally opened my eyes. Bakura stood, normal as ever, and looked at us all with confusion. Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped forward. My yami caught him before he hit the ground. The worst, however, was what was standing behind him. My Dragon Ra, in his human form, grinned devilishly at the four of us, showing off all his glinting and very sharp teeth.
"I don't think we managed to send him back to the realm." That was the understatement of the year, thank you Yami.
"Certainly you did not. However you did craft me a fine body and banish the spell caster back to the shadows. For that I thank you." He bowed deeply and grinned once again. I didn't like how he managed to show off every single one of those dagger teeth. "And don't think I will be staying here so you may try again. No, I will be leaving now." Even as he spoke he was backing towards the door. There was no way we could stop him. By the time we concentrated through our items he would be gone. Even summoning a monster was pointless, he being a god card and all. With a final deep bow and demonic grin, he stepped out the door and was gone.
"I don't understand, what went wrong?" Marik shifted the limp form of Bakura so he was lying across a couple of desks. Yami was staring darkly at the door where my dragon had disappeared. Both spirits did not look happy. Not at all. It was looking at them that I realized the one flaw in all that we had done. The one error that had given him a physical form.
I felt my stomach wrap itself into a knot and tighten. I had been visualizing my dragon as a human. I was the one who couldn't stop picturing his devilish grin. It was me who messed everything up and who knew if Bakura was okay? I had probably just cost the world a lot of trouble. Trying hard to make my voice not betray my emotion I answered.
"I did."
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Twill: Aww, well there you have it, a new chapter! Some info has been revealed and all at poor Bakura's sake. Whose POV should I write in next? Let me know, as always, when you R&R!