Twill: I must apologize. This chapter isn't quite as long as the others but it covers a lot of ground and really kicks things off. More so, I mean, than all the other stuff that's happened so far. If you know what I mean…
Bakura: You're babbling.
Twill: At any rate, here it is. I hope that it's still good despite its shortness. Enjoy!
Bakura: Twill does not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its plots, characters, etc. She likes to think she does, but really doesn't.
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Circle of Shadows: The Gate Unveiled
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-Malik's POV-
I stared in silent horror as Ryou and Ra drew closer. My eyes never left the small sliver of silver in Ryou's hand. This was all too familiar, too real, and too painful. The dancing knife slowly getting closer…
My father slowly getting closer, ready to carve the family secret deeply into my back…
Ra's cold strength held me down as I thrashed to get away. The pain in my shoulder was nothing now, numb and distant. I had to get away. I had to run. It didn't matter anymore, this whole damn conspiracy to take over the world. So long as that knife didn't get any closer then I'd look the other way. Please, please don't…
"Unpleasant memories?" Ryou giggled softly, peeking over Ra's shoulder. He tilted his head to the side and sighed. "It would be easier if you didn't fight."
Like hell it would.
"I'm your friend, Malik. Don't you trust me?" I pushed back against the couch as far as it would give. Ra chuckled but I couldn't hear it. The knife was the only thing I was aware of, the only thing I cared about.
"You're nothing but some twisted monster pretending to be him."
"No. I'm Ryou Bakura. I've just decided to stop letting myself get pushed around. The monster's telling me how to do that." Slowly, painfully slow, Ryou brought the knife down to my wrist, held firmly in place by Ra. My fingers twitched as they tried to get away from the cold, steel death.
In one smooth motion, Ryou cut my wrist and I screamed. Blood instantly welled in the cut and began to spill over. The knife descended on my other hand and soon both wrists bled. This was it. I was going to die. Ryou pulled off my shoes and socks next. I tried to kick him but he merely stepped back with a smile. Then Ra was on me and it was getting harder to think. Both of my feet burned, now. I watch the red streaming from my wrists.
The dragon heaved me off the couch and then let go. I crumpled to the floor without any strength to resist. There was pain everywhere. My wrists, feet, shoulder, head. Was the room spinning or was I just imagining it? I felt someone move me, spread my red limbs so that I was spread-eagled, face up on the thick carpet of Ryou's living room.
Lazily a prickling sensation crawled its way up my legs. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Why wasn't I unconscious yet? Ra watched me smugly and Ryou had disappeared. No, wait, he was there. He had something in his hands which he was quietly placing around my red circle. Something brushed my fingers, toes, but I was sure I was just imagining it. Ryou smiled softly at me as he placed something carefully on my head, lying against my hair. And a sixth something was put where my stomach was but I couldn't feel it. I was numb.
"You're my best friend, Malik. Without you, I would never have opened the gate." I tried to move my head, tried to look at where Ryou was talking. It didn't work that way. I was tired.
So I fell asleep.
-Bakura's POV-
I didn't waste my time staring at the broken ring or wondering why I was still able to exist. Especially when I heard the scream. Crouching, I had peered around the hall corner into the living room wondering what was happening. To say I wasn't prepared for what I saw was an understatement. Ryou was laying into Malik with a knife. My knife.
He carefully slit both wrists and then removed Malik's shoes to slice the soles of both feet. Someone else, someone not quite human, moved him roughly to the floor. Malik wasn't supposed to look this pale. Blood was everywhere. For once, my stomach turned at the sight of it. My hikari, my kind, gentle hikari, arranged Malik so that he was spread across the carpet like a carcass to butcher. Malik moaned and his eyes rolled back in his head.
Then, carefully, Ryou arranged six black feathers around Malik; one at each hand and foot, one at his head and one in the center of his body. The display was a sick pentacle. As Ryou stepped back, shadow magic began to stir. Along the edges of my vision, dark fog was rolling in. It was exactly like when any sennen item possessor went to the Shadow Realm, only I knew Ryou wasn't using the ring. He didn't know how. Then again, he shouldn't know how to do what he was doing to Malik, either.
When Malik finally lost consciousness, I withdrew my head. There was no way I could get in there and save him. Not with both Ryou and the other there, and with obvious shadow magic in play. But I could save Marik, and I could save myself. Carefully, so as to make no sounds, I pulled Marik up off the floor and began sneaking out the back.
It was my specialty, after all.
-Yami's POV-
The call from Bakura just as Yugi was sitting down to dinner with his grandfather was unexpected. I hadn't even known the thief knew the number for the game shop, let alone would willingly call. And he wanted help, of all things. Though I could tell he was gritting his teeth the entire time, forcing himself for once in his life to be civil. It was about time.
"I know you're smirking, Pharaoh, but make sure you're listening, too. We are in serious trouble. Marik is hurt or something, and I need help getting him to you. Malik's… He might be dead."
The last admission pushed all amusement from my mind. "What did you do to him you-"
"Oh, for the love of everything sacred and shiny! Shut up! Just shut up. Get your royal goddamned ass down here and be the freaking hero you always are. When Marik's out of danger, then you can yell at me. I'll even take it. Just shut up and help." The phone went dead. I slammed down the receiver on my end.
"I heard that." Startled, I turned to find Yugi staring at me from the doorway of his room. "Bakura isn't acting like himself."
I scowled, grabbing my deck and pushing past him. Yugi followed me as I stormed down to the front of the shop. "It's probably a trap." That's what I was telling myself. It had to be a trap. Malik couldn't be dead. Bakura was just being the bastard he is.
"Then where are you going?" Yugi disappeared, checking into his soul room. I slammed open the door and took off down the street.
Out. I was going out.
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When I reached the point Bakura had growled over the phone, I was surprised yet again. It was the mall. Three blocks north, six east, across from some fruity ice cream store or something that was pink. The mall. Bakura hated the mall, if what Ryou said was to be believed. It was too public, too crowded. And he wasn't allowed to steal anything.
They were inside in the middle of the food court. Bakura looked like he wanted to kill everything that moved. Marik was snuggled up against him, head propped against the thief's shoulder. It looked like Marik was either telling Bakura some sort of secret or licking his ear. I stared at him.
"About time…" Bakura's voice was so low and primal I almost didn't realize he had said anything.
"I didn't know you two were together." I smirked at them.
/Yami…/
Bakura carefully slid Marik off of his shoulder and propped him up in the chair. Marik's head lolled to one side. And then Bakura was on me, hands wrapped tightly around my throat.
Only with the help of three 'good-Samaritans' was I able to get Bakura off. He retreated, glaring death, to Marik. I recovered my missing breath and stood, brushing myself off.
"We're friends, Pharaoh. But I expect you don't understand the meaning of the word." Bakura picked up Marik and looked expectantly at me. "Well? We'd better get going before… We'd better go." He walked past.
/Yami, that wasn't nice. Marik is obviously really hurt. And maybe Malik really is…/
/I refuse to accept that. But I concede that Bakura was telling the truth, for once/
We stepped back outside to a world where the sun apparently no longer existed. Dark clouds had rolled in while I was busy dealing with Bakura. The air was calm. Something was wrong.
"Call Kaiba. Get a car here. We can't go back to your dorky game shop anymore." Bakura wore an expression I had never seen.
Worry.
-Bakura's POV-
The only thing that told me Marik was still as alive as he could be was his occasional soft moans or jerking. He was still trapped in the memory world, progressing further than was probably best for him. I certainly hoped it would end before the sealing of the items.
I was still troubled by what had happened back in Egypt. The memories I had hidden from myself, the fact that Yami hadn't always been a hated enemy… I was feeling a bit sick. Things had been so different and then everything fell apart as Yami grew into the Pharaoh, and Marik and I crossed one line too many. Was it all really worth it?
I pushed everything away for later. I was just fine as myself, seeking the items and questing to rule the world. Yami didn't remember, so why should I bother wasting a second thought on it? There were more pressing matters at hand. Kaiba was taking a long time.
"You'd think a rich boy would have faster cars." I narrowed my eyes, looking for any sign of a limo or blue eyes white dragon themed vechile. Really, his decorating and architectural style needed help.
"It wasn't exactly easy getting him to cooperate."
"I told you I should've been the one to call."
The Pharaoh rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. I shifted Marik in my arms, growling in frustration. Everyone was entirely too calm about my pronouncement of Malik's peril and what my hikari was doing! When I, Bakura, was the one worried about the fate of the world something was seriously wrong.
Finally, a limo pulled up. The driver helped the Pharaoh in and backed off as I glared at him. Inside sat the pompous CEO and... the dog? The blonde grinned sheepishly and opened his mouth to explain. He was cut off, however, by the trench coat king.
"Explain exactly what is going on."
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Twill: There you are. I'm happy because I can introduce Seto and Jou into the plot a little more and have more POVs. Maybe things won't be so totally focused on Ryou and Bakura either.
Bakura: I think that's what the readers like. Reading about me.
Twill: Well, if he's right let me know. Review away, and sorry for the long wait between updates!