So...apparently I cannot do anything with a deadline when it comes to creative writing...that said I've said screw it to the April prompt and am just letting my imagination go wild! the result...bangs this baby out last night! WOOOOO!
This is Bakura's point of view of the Dungeon Dice arc (which was split into the Dungeon Dice Arc and Dueling Alone in the anime which i think was the worst decision EVER!) Due to the importance of this segment on the plot many of the dialogue lines were take directly from or are paraphrased from the manga: Its obvious which ones are and I make no claim of ownership.
Disclaimer: This segment comes from volume 9 and 10 of the Yugioh Manga and belongs exclusively to Takehashi. I own nothing.
Chosen
The puzzle shattered to pieces. Yugi screamed.
X X X
Bakura was furious.
The ring pulses angrily in his hands its most southern point directed at the now closed shop.
"So... something happened to the Millennium puzzle." Rage shook his fingers. "I guess I'll have to do the King's dirty work again..."
Storms and shadows erupted around the building the closer he got confirming all Bakura needed to know. "I sense an ill omen around the Millennium puzzle...something bad must have happened to it."
That hideous clown mask smiled down at him waving a giant glove hand so sickeningly sweet and creepy Bakura felt obligated to all of mankind to blow the damn thing up and spare everyone the sight of its disgusting face. But he had bigger fish and an actual clown to fry if is theory was correct.
He huffed "What a needy King...still..."
Bakura looked down at his shadow watched as it moved and shifted until it was no longer the silhouette of a young man but something worse, something serpentine, something old and ancient and horned and powerful with eyes that glowed bright and angry and red as a cobra's.
"You know what to." Bakura ordered. "Go!"
The shadow nodded then sprang like a flash through the store.
"Oh Yugi what have you gotten yourself into," he sighed and shoved the doors open. The ring pulsed like an angry heartbeat. Faster and angrier as its inability to sense its counterpart increased. Damnit the Pharaoh better be alright! This wasn't part of his plan. The goal was for the Millennium items to unite the fragments of memories that were once one mind. That wouldn't happen if anything happened to said mind
That was where Yugi came in.
As much as Bakura hates to admit it, he needed Yugi or rather he needed him to wield the puzzle. After all, he was the only host the Pharaoh chose in 3,000 years. And the Pharaoh did seem to like him. And his landlord was fond of him (and he did promise).
For now the brat was useful which meant if any foolish idiot was really stupid enough to mess with him (and by default the pharaoh) then they would just have to go through him.
Exhibit A: the idiot guards that has been so enthusiastically unhelpful earlier that day. Now he understood why.
Bakura smirked. "Out of my way you human scum!"
X X X
Little Wizard died in a blaze of silver and blue smoke.
Yugi looked despondently down at the board. Only Duker of Twin Swords now stood between Orgoth the Relentless and his Dungeon Master. All his other monsters were gone. There was no room left for him to summon monsters. And Otogi still has two left.
Was he going to lose?
"Give up, Yugi," Otogi demanded, impressed as he was he's survived this long, it was time for this to end. He would win and he would inherit the Legend of the Millennium Puzzle and its powers. Even now he could see Yugi was breaking...and yet he still held onto the hope that he might win but it was a flickering candle now. Well, it was time to blow it out.
"Yugi," A victorious smile curled across his face "the Millennium Puzzle will be mine."
Bakura's proudest moment was when his cantankerous laughter wiped that undeserving smirk right off Otogi and his deadbeat clown dad's faces.
"Too bad for you, Otogi" he laughed, harsh and jagged. "You can't handle the puzzle."
Bakura appeared in the door way to the surprise of all, standing cross-armed like an arrogant specter and he played the part well. "For the last 3,000 years only one person has been able to wield the Millennium Puzzle...and that person is Yugi."
Bakura swaggered into the room. Ignoring Otogi's bark of annoyance. He fixed him with a smile cold and cruel with mirth. "Oh Otogi," he spat like a joke. "I can't believe someone of your level would actually believe he could use the puzzle," he chuckled, laughter dripping with sarcasm and barely controlled rage. "If I were you, I wouldn't even try. If you did you'd die. Horribly." That single word seethed with absolute conviction. And he felt a great surge of pride when the idiot flinched.
"Bakura?" Yugi gasped, recognition quickly settling in. Distrust and uncertainty clouded those dark violet eyes. Guess the kid wasn't as clueless as he looked. "Bakura...are you..."
Bakura smiled at him, an actual reassuring smile he'd only ever used with one other person. "Don't worry, Yugi, just as I promised Ryou I am not here to hurt you. I've turned over a new leaf, you see, so right now I'm your friend."
Yugi didn't trust him. It was obvious in the way his brows furrowed. No matter...
He looked at the board. Stroked his chin in thought.
"I see, you are in a pickle here. The odds are certainly stacked against you." He smirked, eyes glittering with all knowing glee. "But that doesn't mean you've lost."
He fixed a victorious smirk on Otogi, his smile curling when the boy leveled his gaze determined not to show fear even as uncertainty rippled off him. Time to put that undeserved arrogance in its place.
"Ryuji, listen and listen good. In the next few turns, Yugi will turn the tables on you..."
He met the boy's green eyes, the neutral line of his face.
Bakura's smile showed teeth and he had to restrain himself from laughing like a wild hyena. "Take a good look at the power of the Millennium puzzle's chosen host!"
Something like shock flickered in those ice green eyes. Good, Bakura thought. He wanted the Pharaoh's power so he'd let him see what he was getting himself into. Saved Bakura the trouble of having to murder him for that stupidity.
"Do you hear me, Ryuji?" He barked a short bite of laughter. "It's Yugi who'll win this game! Only one person can wield the Millennium Puzzle...and it's not you!"
Yugi looked at him skeptically.
"Don't be afraid Yugi," Bakura said more gently though Yugi didn't mistake the brightness in his eyes for anything other than absolute cunning. "I told you I've seen the error of my ways. I'm your friend now."
It wasn't a complete lie after all.
Yugi's eyes narrowed.
"Heh heh...Still don't trust me?" Maybe it was time to fill the brat in on a few things. After all it could only help if it pushed the Pharaoh in the right direction. "Remember what Pegasus said at Duelist Kingdom? Well, he didn't tell you the whole story...each of the seven Millennium items are pieces of the puzzle of the pharaoh's memories." Surprise flashed in those big eyes but disbelief was still keen. "You and I have the same goal. We want to get your other half back. He and I..." oh how did he explain this without ending the game so soon? "We are partners sharing a greater consciousness...we can't exist without one another. What's there to fear about that?" He let that explanation lie.
He watched Yugi's focus return to the game though he still looked at a loss on what to do next.
Bakura frowned. Come on, Yugi. You solved the Millennium puzzle...you should be able to find the one way out.
Otogi found his bravado and chose that time to boast "You're both crazy!" He laughed puffed up with his own importance. "Not even Yugi can turn this situation around! Well Bakura I guess you usually hide your claws. I didn't know you were so familiar with the Millennium items but let me tell you one thing...the next bearer of the puzzle will be me!"
The arrogance of it made Bakura want to gag. It would be so easy to mock this one that there was no sport in it. Instead, he smiled like a snake and chortled "Your weak soul would burn to ashes the moment you wore the puzzle. No, even before that...I doubt you could even put it back together!"
His gaze flickered to the puzzle sitting in a puddle of its own pieces and it took all of his will not to tear Ryuji and his father to pieces. The shadows flickering about it glowed red like eyes blazing with protective fire.
"Brag all you like," Otogi grinned smugly and demanded Yugi take his turn.
Determination shown in Yugi's eyes.
Come on, Yugi. Focus your mind on the dice!
He watched the game unfold. Watched Yugi roll the dice and get the attack crests he needed to unlock his monster's secret power. Watched as Otogi selfishly sacrificed his monster to keep his prize. Watched as Yugi's final monster fell to Orgoth. Watched Otogi beam with premature victory as though he'd already won and felt vindicated when Yugi moves his deck master in a desperate attempt to stay in the game, only for Otogi to attack it next turn. Watched Yugi sink into despair once again while Otogi and the deadbeat clown celebrated their victory. Watched as the moronic old man held up the puzzle like it was a trophy, handed his son the pieces, the two him laughing and bragging how he would solve it right in front of them. Watched as Otogi tried solving the puzzle (emphasis on the word tried) and smirked waiting.
He didn't have to punish these two imbeciles for their ignorance and stupidity. The Pharaoh would do it himself.
"Haven't we been through this before?" Bakura sighed flamboyantly "You can't solve the puzzle."
That only made Otogi even more determined. Anger and pride always did make foolish men stupider.
"Then I'll just say this," Bakura's eyes glittered like a demon's "It's Yugi who will win this game."
That single statement was all it took. Yugi clenched his dice, examined the board for a way to turn this around. No ideas came. Otogi's confidence and concentration faltered as he failed to fit the puzzle's pieces in place. Beads of sweat poured down his face, his jaw tight with how hard he clenched his teeth and his forehead creased. His face rigid with stress. Good, Bakura grinned. He was breaking.
"I feel like a broken record," he laughed "Ryuji, you can't solve the puzzle," he practically sang it. "Only Yugi can."
Something clicked in Yugi's mind. Bakura's smile curled at the corners. And there it was: Yugi rolled the summons he needed and it unfolded and fit perfectly into the last remaining spot where he could summon a monster. The look on Otogi's face was priceless! The puzzle couldn't get away from him fast enough!
"Do you see now?" Bakura retorted his smile so wide it showed fangs. "Yugi solved the Millennium puzzle. You're little board game is nothing!"
But Otogi's pride wasn't ready to give up. "Sorry to rain on your parade, Yugi. Good job summoning a creature but how do you plan to fight with no weapons and zero attack points!"
He readied to attack with Orgoh, taking advantage of Yugi's doubt.
Bakura growled. He'd have none of this. "Yugi! Stop being a baby!" he scolded, harsh, but fair. "Stand up! This is another test for you...This is the King's final challenge to see if you are the true successor of the Millennium Puzzle!"
Curiosity transformed Yugi's face. "What do you mean "the king"?"
All the humor vanished from Bakura's face. If Yugi was going to win this then perhaps it was time for Yugi to learn the truth of his destiny. "Listen to me, Yugi. Only one person on earth can solve the Millennium Puzzle. Only one person is chosen for the duty of awakening the king's memories. That person is you." Yugi's eyes widened.
Bakura's voice became heavy with the gravity of his next words "I came here to make sure of that." Because if anyone, anything was going to drag the pharaoh down into the fiery pits of hell it was going to be him. Surprised by the declaration, Yugi couldn't help but wonder...
Mr Clown started laughing and it sounded like a maniacal psychopath. "Bakura was it? It's useless to kibitz! The Millennium puzzle goes to whoever wins this game! And if you take a look at the board you know the winner will be my son?" He did a victories happy dance.
Cold, silent rage consumed Bakura's face: eyes fired, lips peeled back in a snarl, his face a mask of frozen rage. Yugi saw it building inside, so black, so fierce like the fact that this man saw the puzzle and the spirit inside of it as a bargaining chip, as a vessel for power he could pass around and use as he saw fit, as though he had a right to do so, was the single worse crime he could've ever committed. "Rot and die, old man." He said it so low, so dangerous as though he was uttering a curse.
But it gave Yugi the confidence he needed. And when Otogi overzealously attacked, Yugi activated his monster's hidden power and rolled just what he needed to defeat Orgoth once in for all.
His trump card gone and with no way of summoning another monster with his remaining dice, let alone one strong enough to defeat the Dungeon Master's Sword, Otogi collapsed in his chair, staring at the board and its outcome with a mixture of shock, horror, and disbelief but above it all: defeat. Pure and absolute defeat.
His anger subdued, Bakura grinned unsurprised "You're the chosen one, Yugi."
He volunteered to get the puzzle and left Yugi to deal with the morons. Otogi demanded to know why he fought so hard and was shamed by Yugi's passionate answer. As Otogi sat there humbled and humiliated, Bakura bent down under the guise of getting the puzzle and hissed like a spitting asp "Be grateful you lost, scum," Bakura let all his anger and hatred bleed into his voice. "A worthless piece of filth like you doesn't deserve the puzzle. Doesn't deserve him."
"Him?" Otogi squeaked shocked. He looked at Yugi who was busy gathering the gold pieces, held them so fondly like…like he was holding a lost friend.
Bakura laughed in his ear. "You really are as stupid as you look aren't you?" It was a whisper too low for anyone but Otogi to hear but it didn't make the words any less harsh. "Why do you think Yugi calls him his other half? What! Did you think the puzzle was just some hunk of magic gold? That winning it would make you his Master and he'd obey your every command like some wish granting genie?" The horror and humiliation on Otogi's face made it perfectly clear that was what he's thought. All his life heal been raised on the stories of the Millennium puzzle, of its legends and magic. How whoever solved it would become the legendary King of Games and be granted ultimate power. Never once did he wonder what that power was or rather who that power was. Where it came from. Never even bothered.
"I should kill you for that alone," Bakura hissed, gathering the Puzzle into his hands, stroking the chain with something that had Otogi not known better might have been...dare he say it, affectionate?
Bakura swaggered away, bothering only one last glance Otogi's way. "Now you know that Yugi is the true owner of the puzzle."
Bakura's smirk was as bright as it was malicious. "If someone with a weak heart like you tried to solve the puzzle. You'd just be trapped in a labyrinth of darkness." He said with a serpent's smile as though the idea pleased him. "You got away with your life this time, Ryuji."
Bakura...who are you? In that moment it was all Otogi wanted to know.
X X X
Bakura handed Yugi the puzzle and pieces with surprising gentleness. The shadow guardian curled at his their feet though it remained invisible to Yugi.
"It's up to you to put it back together" Bakura told him. "The Puzzle wants you to."
Determination fired Yugi's gaze.
Good, Bakura grinned and squeezed his hand around the last piece he'd swiped. Time for the real reason he came to save him. Sorry, Yugi, but there are powers in that puzzle you don't know about. Powers your other self doesn't know about. When all the items are brought together the seal on those memories will be broken and his memory will be restored...and when that happens...
Well, he already knew what would happen. He hasn't waited three thousand years, seduced all matter of fools in a desperate escape to get away from that weasel Shadi and go through all this trouble just to sit on the sidelines and wait.
Now was the time for the pharaoh to actually start putting in effort to recover his lost memories. Time to start unlocking that power he had sacrificed himself to seal away. That he had sacrificed himself to get back.
PARASITE MIND! Now I'm in there with you!
"Ooops sorry," he apologized or at least tried to. "You missed one."
Yugi thanked him.
"My pleasure and now my job here is done."
He relinquished control back to Ryou and split his spirit between residing in the Ring and the piece he's given Yugi. It was a simple enough trick and now he had both incentive and a way to keep that needy king of his out of trouble.
He relaxed in his victory.
It was all falling into place now. And once Yugi solved the puzzle it would only be a matter of time until he and the Pharaoh started to question the power Otogi and his father were so desperate to achieve. To question the memories he himself had brought up. Yes, all the pieces were in place and now it was time for the Pharaoh to solve the puzzle of his past and Bakura would make sure he did just that!
"And with every piece you solve, pharaoh, will take you one step closer...to me!"
That was the moment that the Dark Clown Game shop erupted in flames.
Wasn't that just the BEST place to end this ;)
Next chapter will be Yami's pov during the Dungeon Dice Arc as well as a the aftermath of a few scenes that happened in this chapter ;) (it's already in production!)
