Ryou Bakura, Film Maker

Honestly, with the last chapter implying a search for a Yami look-alike…who do you think finally comes in here?

Chapter 7

Stunt Double

"What do you think?" Bakura asked, looking over the applicants. Malik raised an eyebrow.

"I think you're gonna turn me into a homosexual if you insist on my help." He replied. Bakura frowned.

"Why do you say that?" He asked. "Number 4, could you shake your hips a little?" In front of them stood 7 men all in a nice little row. All of them with their backs to Bakura and Malik. And all with their pants down. Bakura had decided to actually go through with the 'fabulous ass' comment. Malik grimaced as Number 4 obeyed.

"You just did that to annoy me, didn't you?" He muttered. Bakura grinned.

"Yes, yes I did." He chuckled.

- - - - - - - - - -

"I, um, took drama in high school…I got good marks, B's, mostly, and an A in my senior year." The last applicant stuttered. "I, uh, took part, in the school productions. Usually as an extra, often as a, well a stage hand, or an assistant. I ran lighting during a rehearsal, when a crew called in sick." Bakura nodded. So far, despite the little stutter, this guy was the most qualified for the job. He had the tri-colored hair, the violet eyes. His voice was a little higher than Yami's, but other than that…

"Can you speak in a lower voice?" Bakura asked. The applicant shrugged.

"Well, I uh, could try. Hold on, uh…" The applicant cleared his throat and coughed. "How's this?" He asked. Bakura was stunned. It was dead-on Yami!

"Great, that's great. Um…is your hair color natural?" He asked. The applicant nodded.

"Yeah, it uh, is natural. It's a family trait, my father had blonde hair, my mother had brunette…the red came from my grandmother on my father's side." He explained. Bakura nodded.

"Do you have any past experience with films?" He asked. The applicant nodded.

"Oh yes, I have quite a bit of experience, actually. I've worked, at Blockbuster, and I am a current member of their rewards club. I have an extensive movie collection, around…100 movies, VHS and DVD." He explained.

"Would you be willing to style your hair?" Bakura asked. The applicant winced.

"Well…I guess so, but I'd really prefer it if someone else did it. I've had some…accidents." He said. Bakura nodded again.

"Alright then…in addition to being a stunt double, would you also be willing to run errands for us?" He said. The applicant shrugged.

"Well…sure I guess. I mean, honest work and all."

"One final question." Bakura finished. "In addition to being a stunt double and running errands, would you be willing to show your naked rear end on camera?" The applicant blushed and giggled.

"Well…yeah, I guess so." He muttered. Bakura grinned. Malik cleared his throat.

"Could you step into the other room for a moment?" He asked, pointing to the living room. The applicant nodded and left the office. As he closed the door behind him, Malik glared at Bakura. "Damn Ryou, are you serious? You want him?"

"Look at him, he could be Yami's brother for crying out loud!" Bakura protested. "We just need his hair in the points, and he's practically his twin."

"Ryou, he stutters, he's dense, he's uneducated…" Malik listed.

"He's perfect. Honestly, yeah, he's a little on the duh side, but hey! With what we're trying to pull off here, do you really want someone competent?" Malik thought about that, than nodded.

"Yeah, good point." He admitted.

"And as a bonus, now that we have a guy who we don't have to con, we can run those new scenes Joey wrote." Bakura explained. Malik smiled.

"Then I guess he's it." He said. Bakura stood and opened his office door.

"Excuse me, what's your name again?" He asked. The applicant looked up from the sofa.

"Uh, Yugi." He replied. Bakura walked to the couch and shook Yugi's hand.

"Congratulations Yugi, You're now Yami Muto's official stunt double."

- - - - - - - - - -

"Okay, first of the new scenes." Bakura cheered. The crew was assembled at a freeway just outside of town, at the edge of the road. "Yugi!" Yugi emerged from the back of Malik's van wearing a black T-shirt and black jeans. "Good, you're in costume." Bakura sighed.

"Yeah, but I feel a little weird. These clothes aren't really me." Yugi protested.

"You're fine, you great, like an action star. You look tough." Bakura assured him. "This is Téa, she's the woman you'll be working with the most." Téa and Bakura shook hands. "Okay Yugi. In this scene, you're confused. You don't understand what's happening and why it's happening to you, but you feel in your gut that you can trust this woman. You're confused and want to know what's happening, so you run to her for answers. Okay?"

"Sure, alright." Yugi nodded.

"Good, I'm glad you're willing to do this, because you're running to her from across the freeway." Bakura said. Yugi blinked.

"Huh? You mean across traffic?" He asked. Bakura nodded.

"Exactly." He brightly.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Yugi asked, scratching his head.

"Oh no, we have stunt drivers doing the driving, you may get close, but you won't get hit." Bakura assured him. Yugi bit his lip.

"Okay, I'll go."

- - - - - - - - - -

Yugi stood wide-eyed and shaking, plastered firmly against the wall at the other side of the freeway. Opposite him, Bakura was talking to crew.

"Hey Drake, how's that robot coming?" He asked. Drake shrugged.

"Meh, it's okay. The teach was real easy to con. We got the metal and we're weldin' it when we have time. Don't worry, it'll be ready for the final scene." He assured him. Bakura nodded and looked up.

"Okay, it looks like Yugi is ready to wet himself, so let's go." Drake turned on the camera, and Bakura held his hand up, then pulled it down. "ACTION!" He yelled. Yugi shook his head and remained still. Bakura groaned and waved him forward. Yugi gulped.

"C'mon." Bakura urged quietly. Finally, Yugi broke away and dashed across the freeway. He stopped short a few times as cars nearly sideswiped him, honking their horns. Finally, he made it across and fell to the ground.

"OHMYGAWDOHMYGAWD!" Yugi wailed.

"Yugi, that was amazing!" Bakura cheered. Yugi gulped.

"R…really?" He sobbed, getting to his feet.

"Yes, not people would dare do that, even with stunt drivers! Incredible!" Bakura insisted. "Now, we need you to run an errand. We need you to go to Starbucks and grab some coffee. It's a big order, and you're just the man to do it."

"I'd like that." Yugi whispered. "I'd like to get coffee, I'd like that."

"Good." Bakura said. "But first, Drake forgot to put film in the camera, so we need to do this again, okay?" Bakura said, clapping. Yugi's jaw dropped.

- - - - - - - - - -

Malik drove the crew back to the house, while Bakura sat in the passenger's seat with his lunchbox of cash.

"Malik…we have a problem." Bakura muttered. Malik looked over, and Bakura opened his lunchbox and held it upside down. Four bills floated out. "I've blown a lot of money on the actual actors working for us, not to mention film and sound equipment."

"So what do we do? We're only about half-done." Malik reminded him. Bakura nodded.

"I know, I know. I just need another…" Bakura ran some quick figures. "Never mind. God, I need a miracle." The van pulled up in front of Bakura's house, and the gang jumped out and walked inside. As they neared, Téa stopped.

"Hold on a sec, I forgot my purse in the van." She said, turning.

"Go inside and watch the film, I'll get it for you." Bakura assured her. Téa nodded and followed Malik inside. Bakura opened the van rear doors and spotted the purse inside. He pulled it out and cursed as it fell on its side, the contents spilling out. Bakura picked up the purse and started replacing the contents. Nothing a golden glint, Bakura picked it up. He whistled. A Visa GOLD. Bakura leaned back to make sure no one was coming back out, and slipped the credit card into his pants pocket. Then he picked up Téa's things and entered the house.

"Thanks." Téa said, taking her purse.

"So what's the plan for our finances?" Malik whispered as Bakura covered. Bakura shrugged.

"Don't worry. I took care of it."