Notes: bit of guy on guy related stuff going on in this chapter. But you know it's all above board/pg-13. Your imagination can do the rest ;)
888
888
Chapter 15
Weight of Darkness
As he woke up, Bakura had never felt such a thing before. A warmth spread all about his body, not just for a few minutes, as he was used to, but a constant, and intense in it's heat.
He hardly dared open his eyes, in case for some reason it drove the heat away, or perhaps it was all some very vivid dream. Not that he had much experience with those.
Still, he opened his eyes.
Marik's eyelashes flickered, and Bakura could have counted each and every one of them. He turned his head just a little, to see Marik's arm hooked right around him, and his leg too, twisted over his own and planting a little bit of the warmth there.
Mostly though Bakura could detect the pounding near his chest, how the sensation vibrated against him in such a steady and lulling way. He bowed his head and pressed into the hollow of Marik's neck, detecting another pulse of life, and just wanting to stay like that for as long as possible.
It wasn't possible really though. His throat was dry with a sickness he remembered from last night, and his headache was coming back unrelenting, making him groan in some discomfort.
Marik was stirred by it.
"…you okay?" he spoke in a sleep filled voice, and his grip round Bakura loosened just a little.
Bakura tipped his head, away from the warmth. His head felt fuzzy. "I'm okay," he said, hoping he appeared half that way.
He squirmed. Suddenly being mostly awake made everything difficult and strange. Perhaps Marik would feel the same, and wanted to get out of this compromising position as soon as possible.
Bakura started to sit upright. He rubbed his eyes and felt a surge of that sickness rise in the back of his throat.
"Bakura!"
Something must've happened, though Bakura could hardly imagine what. Marik's hand was round his back, holding him upright; he couldn't remember falling back either. Everything felt weird, and his mind was quite mixed up.
"I'll clean this up,"
Bakura followed Marik's gaze, blankly seeing the mess all over his own chest. Oh, he had been sick.
He watched as Marik got a towel and some water, and then the tomb keeper started wiping him down. Bakura rolled his eyes to the ceiling. He wished this body didn't react so badly to things. It certainly wasn't doing his dignity any favours.
Marik didn't seem to care though.
"You still feel cold," Marik said, placing a hand on Bakura's forehead. He frowned, mostly to himself. "How am I supposed to know if you're running a fever or something?"
"I feel okay," Bakura thought it necessary to say. "I don't know why…this happened," he wrinkled his nose at the mess Marik was still cleaning up.
"You might want to take the shirt off, get a change of clothes,"
"Okay."
"Bakura?" Marik sounded close, and Bakura wondered when it was that he'd leant back onto the couch again and closed his eyes. Not that it mattered, it had already happened now.
"Mm," he said.
"I'm sorry," the tomb keeper sounded sad. "I'm sorry I made this thing, and it's doing all this to you. I'm sorry I'm this way."
Bakura blinked at him, feeling scornful, but not at Marik.
"This isn't your fault," he recalled Ishizu, standing in the bedroom with him just the other day, and how hopeful she'd looked. "this is just how things happen."
Marik put his hands round Bakura's. "you make it all sound so simple."
8
The autumn air cut through the group, as they reached the stretch of grey that harboured Seto Kaiba's jet.
"Fancy," Joey snorted, not looking impressed at all.
"Alright! Unexpected vacation here I come," said Duke, swinging a bunch of suitcases about him.
Yugi was watching his cell phone anxiously; "We can't wait any longer. We'll have to go without him."
"We can't," Bakura said. He put a hand on the cell phone; "call him again."
"We already tried about twenty times," Joey sighed. "face it, Ryou just ain't the hot climate type. With that complexion, who can blame him?"
Bakura stared resolutely at Yugi, trying to appeal to a wiser judgement perhaps. It didn't seem so bizarre, doing that now. Not when he knew Yugi could be strong in his own way, sitting in dark kitchens, daring to ask Bakura things, like he might get away with it. Bakura kind of respected that.
Yugi seemed conflicted though; "what's so important about him coming-"
"He's here!" Marik said loudly. He wrapped a hand round Bakura's arm, squeezing it. "see, I knew he'd come."
"So you did," Bakura relaxed. As Ryou's lithe figure got closer, he sighed and smiled vaguely in Marik's direction.
888
Only an hour into the flight, and Ryou was already unhappily the most acquainted with the jet's on-air toilet.
He stared at the tiny sink, trying to stave off sickness, and trying to imagine he was on a bus, or perhaps a magical flying bus.
Lord, he was terrible at flying.
He heard a tap on the door, Marik's awkward voice; "you okay in there, Ryou?"
"Yes," Ryou said through his teeth, clutching the sink a little harder. "Just…give me a minute. Or twenty."
"…alright." Marik sounded reluctant, and concerned.
Ryou smiled absently. It was a nice relief there appeared to be no awkwardness between them, after whatever had happened before.
When Marik had greeted him he'd just been happy he'd turned up. No more surprise kisses, definitely no proclamations of love…
Ryou was entirely relieved about that. He wasn't the type to go breaking peoples hearts. Besides, he noticed the way Marik looked at Bakura.
Ryou recalled the shock he'd felt upon seeing the Spirit a few hours ago. It had only been a couple of days, and yet it didn't take a genius to know that Bakura was in some trouble.
Through the link he'd felt it too, when he'd been away from the group and panicking to his father about golden eyes (turned out he'd given Ryou's room a good tidy out since he'd been away, leaving the Eye in his pants drawer). Something unpleasant had pulsed though his link even then, and he had guessed Bakura was under attack.
It didn't really hurt, not physically. But he didn't like the idea Bakura might be in such danger. The Spirit really wasn't that bad. Least when he wasn't busy trying to kill people.
"Not much of a flier?"
"Huh?" Ryou looked up, seeing another reflection in the portaloo mirror.
Bakura was watching him, a grin on his face.
"I could have been…doing something," Ryou said, feeling embarrassed.
Bakura slipped properly into the toilet, closing the door behind him.
"Were you?"
"Well…no," Ryou considered the sink. He didn't like Bakura thinking he was being sick.
Bakura folded his arms. "Really?"
"Okay, I'm not a great flier," Ryou noticed his smirking. "it's not funny. I feel awful."
"Yes, you do look it,"
Ryou looked Bakura up and down none too subtly. "You're one to talk."
"Thanks,"
"I mean," Ryou amended. "It's not surprising, with everything that's happening…" He didn't bother to finish. If Bakura was pissed off with him there was little Ryou was going to be able to do about it. Considering the possible consequences, Ryou found he wasn't exactly afraid anymore.
"You shouldn't feel too bad," Bakura told him. "I imagine our link still allows you to experience some of my feelings, even if you don't wish to."
Ryou straightened, turning away from the mirror to look at the Spirit properly. The harsh light of the toilet made his skin look waxy and his eyes purplish, though Ryou wondered if that was already the case.
"Are you feeling sick too, then?" he asked.
"Another side effect," Bakura didn't seem keen to elaborate. He moved almost awkwardly, as though he didn't really want to look at Ryou.
Ryou suddenly understood why the Spirit had even bothered invading the toilet in the first place.
He felt in his pocket; "I got it."
As soon as he'd taken the Eye out, Bakura was snatching it away from him.
"Thanks," he added, as a lofty afterthought.
"Welcome," Ryou turned back to the sink.
He supposed Bakura might leave, but the Spirit seemed more interested in watching him in that intent uncomfortable way of his. Ryou took comfort in knowing they were on a jet, so any potential rampage should be quite restricted.
"I might be sick again, and it won't be pretty," he said.
"I don't imagine it would be."
Ryou cleared his throat, watching Bakura out the corner of his eye. He was no good at recognising reactions, particularly those of Bakura, whose mostly ranged between deadpan and sarcasm. At worst anger.
Now though, Bakura looked like he had words on the tip of his tongue, but wasn't sure how he was supposed to say them.
Ryou had no doubt what it was about.
"I don't…it wasn't anything, really," he said. "I mean back at the apartment."
Bakura watched the sink, his face neutral.
Ryou considered his words. "You should know. Sometimes people, humans, they do these weird things. But only because they really like you."
"Marik likes you," Bakura said factually.
"Yes, but…he really likes you. I mean…really likes you." Ryou stared at the sink too. "You know what I mean?"
Bakura's expression was hard in concentration, as though attempting to process what Ryou had said.
Then he smiled, and it was almost shy, and definitely extremely odd on his face. "I appreciate you telling me."
"I don't really like Marik," Ryou added quickly. "I mean, of course I like him…just not like that. I really like him as a friend, just not really like him the other way. You know, that way?"
Bakura raised a brow. "that way?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm just going to shut up now. Or be sick. Whichever happens first."
"Okay,"
Ryou concentrated on the sink again, sort of lulled by his faint link with Bakura for some reason. Then it occurred to him just how bizarre all of this was. Only a few days ago he had been quite terrified of Bakura, and now he was sitting in a tiny toilet offering him up mysterious millennium items like they might be candy.
"This is all a bit strange isn't it?" he looked at Bakura wryly.
"You could have just given me the Eye, before we got on the jet," Bakura bypassed the question. Perhaps he didn't understand it. "What made you join us?"
"Besides the amazing view and the free unwanted adventure?" Ryou wondered with faint sarcasm. "well, maybe I'm not so wimpy as you give me credit for. And anyway," he dared a smirk at Bakura. "Maybe you're just not a good flier either."
He surprised himself, feeling less fearful as he was amused, when Bakura pulled a face. Lord, he even felt himself laughing, even if he did want to throw up as well.
"Hey," at that moment the door swung open, and Joey was standing there, out of breath and excited about something. "you guys, you have to come right now. Freaky stuffs happening."
"Joey, you might have knocked. We could have been doing something," Ryou frowned.
"Together?" Joey was disturbed. "Wouldn't that be some sort of weird masturbation type thing?…um I don't even wanna think about it," he pulled them out the toilet. "c'mon, freaky stuff!"
88
Joey was quite right about freaky stuff. Ryou didn't think he'd ever get used to it.
Kaiba's jet had a small lobby area where everyone was currently gathered, including the CEO himself. He stood a marked distance away from the group, only occasionally looking over, as though bored out of his mind.
There was one extra person in the room. He was turbaned, with clear blue eyes that settled on everyone for much longer than they needed to. Ryou didn't recognise him at all, and he heard Bakura made a derisive sound next to him.
"I've returned to offer you the final Millennium Item," the stranger announced, as though aware of the newcomers in the room.
Ryou edged close to Marik, whispering in his ear; "Did you lot make a new friend whilst I was gone?"
"No, that's Shadi. He's supposed to be all wise and all seeing. Or something."
"Oh," Ryou said, more confused than ever.
Shadi reached into his robe, then pulled out a set of shining gold scales. "the final item, which I must test you all with now, before I can return it to you,"
"A test?" Duke looked annoyed. "I thought this was a holiday, not a work away camp."
Serenity elbowed him, but looked rather worried herself.
"What sort of test?" Yugi asked. "if it's going to endanger my friends-"
"No, of course not. Not that sort of test," Shadi smiled sympathetically. "You, Yugi, have already passed the test."
Yugi was hardly relieved. "I thought you were helping us? The other items didn't need any tests…"
"Unfortunately it is something I must do," to his credit, Shadi did look regretful, and he bowed his head as he opened up his hand. "I need the Key, just for a moment."
Yugi reached in his pocket and pulled it out. Shadi took it with an expression like greeting an old friend, then he held it out, between the entire group. His gaze settled equally on all of them.
"Not to be rude- well, actually, yes, to be rude," Kaiba cut in. "But what is the purpose of this little freak show? Is this some kind of weird séance you lot have going on? Because I don't believe in that kind of stuff."
"What, you never seen a guy suddenly appear with a pair of scales before?" Joey asked. "you're missing out, pal."
"Shut up, Wheeler." Kaiba glared at Shadi. "I demand to know what you're doing here. This is my jet after all. Legally I could have you chucked off."
"Or not, since that is murder," said Tea.
Kaiba turned his glare to her; "details, details."
Shadi was staring at Kaiba too, his eyes quizzical, and it came off quite creepy. Kaiba smiled sarcastically.
"Why don't you take a photo?"
Shadi's expression didn't change; "even though you are so full of disrespect, I can still see all the good within you Seto Kaiba. Just as you have proven before."
"What are you talking about?"
Shadi turned back to the rest of the group, like Kaiba wasn't even there anymore. His eyes softened when he returned the Key to Yugi.
"I sense so much good within many of you,"
"That's good, right?" Duke said eagerly. "so we can have the nice shiny scales now?"
"Unfortunately I sense a great terror too," Shadi continued. "and so long as that is here, it is a risk for you to own all the Millennium Items."
"What?" Duke was incredulous. "listen, we're not travelling all the way to Egypt just for a tan-"
"You were," Serenity reminded.
"oh, yeah…but still. We need the items, dude!"
Shadi shook his head very shortly. "I am sorry, truly," he looked mostly at Yugi. "perhaps I will leave the judgement up to you, and we can meet again before this is all over."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't deprive you of the item you want," Shadi explained. "I am just the spirit of another time…all I can do is advise. But I do wish you'll think hard on it, and know that what I say is true. It is a risk."
"But we need the items now-" even as Yugi spoke, the spirit was fading away, the scales disappearing with him.
Nobody moved, just staring at the spot for a while.
"A great terror," Kaiba pretended to ponder, breaking the silence. "gee, I wonder what that could be."
Everyone followed Kaiba's meaningful gaze, in Bakura's direction. Bakura didn't do anything, but Marik moved to his side.
"He's helping us. There's nothing wrong with him."
8
Almost everyone had chosen to sleep in the small bedroom area; and according to Seto Kaiba, small was actually a very roomy en suite, plenty enough to fit the entire group and then some. It was five star accommodation compared to their sorry stay at the apartment anyway.
Bakura seemed keen to stay in the flight area though, away from everyone else. Marik didn't think about not accompanying him, and he wasn't everyone else.
"Hey, remember this?"
He pulled the gutted plushie of a rabbit out of his bag, the one they'd got at the arcade.
It seemed so long ago now, almost another time, and yet it was only a few days.
"You kept it?" Bakura asked.
"Well of course. It's cute. In a demented way." Marik attempted to tidy it up a bit. "kind of reminds me of you, actually."
Bakura stared at him. "a rabbit?"
"No," Marik laughed. "I mean, it reminds me of being with you, at the arcades. It was fun." he paused then and gave Bakura a reflective look. "although now that you mention it…you do look sort of bunny-like." He poked at one of Bakura's spiked hairs, and noticed the way Bakura didn't understand the joke. It made Marik laugh some more.
Ra, it was nice just to laugh, even over stupid things which only he seemed to find funny.
Bakura watched him with interest.
"When all this is over I'm gonna show you some laughs," Marik said, leaning back in his chair some more. "there is so much in the world to see and do, I can hardly wait."
"Like what?"
"Oh you know. Travelling. That sort of thing."
Bakura looked like he was thinking hard on the idea; "It would be different. I don't really remember anything else."
"You mean besides the Ring?"
"Yes."
Marik was touched with empathy; "seems like we've both been trapped inside, for too long."
He looked out the window, where the clouds were breezing by slowly, like mist in the night sky.
"Will you stay?" he asked, not wanting to look at the Spirit. He feared the reaction. "I mean, after all this. Will you?"
"I'd not thought about it."
"You should. I mean…I don't mean you should stay with me, I just think you should think about it…okay?"
"Okay,"
"I mean, where else will you stay? What about money, all that sort of stuff. It won't be easy…" Marik looked at his hands, pretending they were so interesting. "it might be easier if you hung out with me though. For both of us, I think."
"I'd like that,"
Marik faced Bakura, his stomach jumping. "Really?"
"Yes," Bakura's mouth moved uncertainly, mimicking the curve of Marik's. "I like when you're here."
"Me too." Marik thought he'd never been so happy to know a reply.
And yet he remembered all those faces in the lobby, watching Bakura and not trusting him at all. It was all so clear and obvious to them, they all knew who the "dark terror" was.
Marik wouldn't believe it anymore. He couldn't; Bakura wasn't like that with him, and how could anyone else know that?
"You're protecting me, how can they not trust you?" Marik said. "after all that's happened."
"I don't care if they trust me," Bakura said quickly, his eyes on Marik and nothing else.
Marik was taken by the strange defiance in them.
"You're brave," he heard himself say.
"I'm not," Bakura seemed repulsed by the idea.
"Of course you are,"
"To be brave I must be afraid, and I don't feel that."
"You don't get scared?"
Bakura shrugged. His eyes flashed then, something strange, like regret. "I don't have the same feelings,"
"No," Marik shook his head. "That's not right. I've seen you scared. You just don't know these feelings yourself, that's all."
"You think so?"
"Yeah,"
Bakura seemed to process that idea with some clarity. "I must be losing my mind," he decided, with no trace of humour at all.
Marik laughed anyway. "well, you are a bit crazy sometimes," he admitted. "But you're a five thousand year old spirit. I think you're allowed to be. Just a bit."
A smile pulled at Bakura's lips. "I'll remember that for the next time the Pharaoh wants to lecture me."
"He's five thousand years old too, though. I don't think that excuse will wash with him,"
Bakura looked forlorn; "perfect Pharaoh, immune to madness,"
Marik grinned at him, but quickly noticed the way Bakura's face creased, like he was concerned about what he'd just said.
"What's wrong?" Marik asked.
"It's," Bakura paused. "I wonder a lot, when I think about the Pharaoh."
"What about?"
Bakura blinked at him. "If I'm good enough?"
"I don't understand," Marik said. "Good enough for what?"
"I know the Pharaoh is good enough," Bakura explained slowly, like he was thinking carefully on every word. "for his host…Yugi. And Yugi…he isn't afraid of the Pharaoh. He trusts him."
"Bakura," Marik turned his body so he was properly facing Bakura, and he put a hand over the Spirit's. "you do know, I'm not afraid of you, don't you?"
Bakura didn't say anything; his eyes rested on Marik's hand.
"It's true, I'm not," Marik said, feeling so confident in it. "And I do trust you. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Even that weirdo, Shadi...hey, look," he tipped Bakura's chin up, in a way he wouldn't have dared before, finding Bakura's dark eyes staring into his own, and finding something there he wouldn't have found before either.
There was naked emotion there, and no blank mask for Marik to try and figure out anymore. He could easily see the vulnerability flashing, just as he'd found it the other night, when he had tasted Bakura.
Marik reached out and found the Necklace, still safe round the Spirit. "My sister gave you this, and I trust her," he touched it lightly. "So I can trust you."
Bakura's eyes grew wide, and his face froze with Marik's words. His hand twitched beneath Marik's.
"Marik," he mostly whispered. He held the tomb keeper's arm in a needy way, as if he knew no other way to go about showing it. "I'm glad you do,"
Marik's skin burned with the touch, and he held Bakura's wrist. The gentle hum of the jet engine was the only sound for a few seconds, and Marik didn't have to think about it.
There was no uncertainty now, as he tilted his head, only registering Bakura's surprised eyes for a second.
He pressed his lips against the Spirit's, in a soft but wanting sort of kiss. How he wanted it.
Bakura melted into him, making a small murmuring sound. Vaguely, Marik took it as a good sign, and he shifted on top of the Spirit, against sharp knees and slender hips.
He felt hands move experimentally around his back, and Bakura's chest crushing into his own. The Ring pressed into his skin for a few harsh seconds.
Marik gasped with all the sensations; the ice cold and the hard metal, and felt Bakura's sharp exhalation beneath him. The way he moaned when Marik dared deepen the kiss, parting the Spirit's mouth and feeling sharp teeth and a warm tongue twining into his own.
A myriad of emotions lanced through their link, and Bakura's chest trembled, telling Marik how new it all was to him. Marik curved hands over Bakura's face, lining his jaw with careful fingers and finding his neck with a sound of pleasure.
Bakura twisted a bit, hands clinging near Marik's shoulders, holding onto him like he wouldn't let go.
Marik pulled back only slightly. He felt so hot, and Bakura was breathing hard in front of him, his usual white pallor all flushed, and his eyes heavy-lidded and dancing in a feverish sort of way. It made Marik feel dizzy.
"Alright?" he asked, and found he was breathless too.
Bakura nodded and licked his lips. They were wet and red, inviting Marik all over again. He leant down, touching them with softer intentions. Bakura arced up, and the Ring felt so familiar against Marik.
Bakura made a soft sound of pleasure, and it was all so overwhelming that Marik barely felt another heat pulse against his chest, not until it became too hot.
He flinched back, his chest burning, and he looked down to see the Ring glowing far too brightly.
Feeling sick, he looked back up at the Spirit. He was watching Marik in a dazed sort of way.
"Bakura, is he calling you? My dark half?" Marik whispered, not wanting it to be.
Bakura blinked at him, as if all his caution had been dulled. "Probably."
"What do you mean?" Marik gripped his wrist; it felt cold and loose. "Can you sense him? In your mind?"
"It's...tiring." Bakura was distracted. He raised a hand, curling it around Marik's face very lightly. "It felt wonderful...to be with you, like that."
Marik shook his head, his throat all dry and his eyes stinging; "Please, Bakura. Try to focus. Is my dark half trying to reach you right now?"
Bakura didn't seem to hear. He tilted his head and moved the rest of the way to touch Marik's lips.
His mouth was still warm with what had already happened, and for a moment Marik thought that he could forget everything.
Instead he held Bakura's shoulders and pulled him sharply back. It hurt to do it, to see Bakura's bewildered face like that, but there was no time.
"Bakura! Listen to me! You must tell me what's happening!"
"Marik..." Bakura sounded pained, then he sank back.
Marik pressed his arms all round the Spirit, closing his eyes tight when he felt the body against his own become so slack and cold.
888
Yami was always ready now, always on the edge, to take over his host's body if it was needed.
Now he stood in Bakura's Soul Room, waiting for something.
It was strange though. Usually Yami was so braced and ready for that cold that always hit him, that was so Bakura and harsh and awful. Yet now he could feel…not exactly warmth, but like the remnants of it. As though something warm had been there, and left not so long ago.
Something else was different too. As his eyes adjusted to his surroundings, Yami noticed a strange object, a few meters from where he stood. It was extraordinary really; the Soul Room was not exactly known for it's furniture placement.
Yami approached it warily, keeping his eyes half on the thick cloud that always hung above.
It was a slab, or more a tablet. Shapes melded into it which Yami recognised at once.
"The Millennium items,"
They were all there; except for two; the Rod and the Scales. All placed within those carved stone shapes, fitting like a huge jigsaw.
"What it this?" Yami reached out and touched the nearest; his own Puzzle. It felt so real, just like his own. For a second he had to check with some panic that he was still wearing the real one.
Of course he was, but he still felt uneasy. None of this made much sense, and coming from Bakura's mind it was more than a little worrying.
Something echoed from around him, and Yami spun, to see the dark figure leaning against a stone wall, near enough that Yami could make out his leer.
"Bakura, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," even as he spoke, the figure slipped down the wall onto the ground. Yami ran to the Spirit. Bakura's eyes were wary and tired close up, the leer more of a frown. He started to cough and Yami saw all the blood in his mouth.
"Keep still, don't try to get up," Yami instructed, placing a stern hand his chest. He noticed the Necklace, and where the Ring was supposed to be.
"Where is.." he held his tongue, recognising the creeping darkness all around them, and knowing what the answer would be. And anyway Bakura looked like he might be passing out.
"Come on, don't do that," Yami pulled Bakura away from the wall, as though it might help somehow. Bakura gave him an irritated look;
"You're worried?" he frowned.
"Isn't it obvious," Yami shifted the Spirit mostly against himself, feeling the coolness spread all about his chest. It was easy to slip into it, and he grabbed Bakura's essence with some vigor.
It was so faint but it was there, and he latched onto it, trying to remember how he fed the Spirit energy, how it was all supposed to work. If only Bakura was sensible enough to realise he needed it, of course.
"Urgh," Bakura was trying to pull away, in a stubborn but very weak sort of motion. He groaned and more blood leaked from his mouth, positively scarlet against his white face.
"Bakura," Yami shook him. "this is important! We can't let him get through again!"
He read Bakura's barely focussed face, willing him to try. Then in a decisive action, he pulled the Spirit close to him, ignoring his surprised sound, and the warm spill of blood that dripped on his shoulder. Yami spoke into Bakura's ear;
"Listen. I'm giving you my energy now. You have to take it."
Bakura made a cracked sound, but nothing else.
"It's important," Yami continued, speaking lower. "It's the only way to help Marik."
Bakura's body twitched against Yami. He sighed very quietly, and Yami moved back, feeling the heat of the Spirit's link start to find his own.
"That's it," Yami encouraged, holding his shoulders. Bakura looked at him, his face laboured and flushed, but a marked surge was emitting from his link, telling Yami he was taking some energy from him.
"I..." Bakura breathed, his voice faltering and his shoulders shaking.
"It's okay," Yami found himself stroking the Spirit's back. "It's helping you," he held Bakura tighter, even as he started to wheeze and more blood escaped his mouth. The Spirit's shoulders slumped though, and his expression relaxed a bit.
Yami pushed the rest of the energy into Bakura's essence, making it twist with a small sense of revitalisation. It wasn't very much though, and Bakura didn't seem to be accepting any more.
"Stop it..." he croaked, and the link disconnected suddenly between them. He swayed, and Yami held him steady.
"You should have taken more, you idiot."
"No more," Bakura whispered. He heaved then, and the blood pooled out of his mouth. Yami held him forwards.
"Are you alright now?"
"I can't do this…not for much longer…"
"I know that," Yami nodded. He noticed the way Bakura looked at him, only because it was so different.
"I don't want to let Marik down..." the Spirit said, and his hands dug into the stone floor with tension. "And I don't like caring about it...I don't want to."
Yami shook his head; "you...you can't help that. That's how it happens."
"Is this how it feels for you?" there was urgency in Bakura's voice. "For you and your host? Have you always felt that way, Pharaoh?"
Yami realised what Bakura was asking, and he was struck by the desperate confusion in his old enemy.
He didn't know what he was supposed to say to make things better. He knew Bakura couldn't properly comprehend, that he couldn't help what he was. Yami couldn't get angry about that anymore.
"I... I have always cared about things," he decided after a moment. "Yugi just happens to be a big one."
Bakura looked unhappily at him; "I don't want to feel things like that."
"It's not always so terrible," Yami told him.
He watched with some anxiety as Bakura pulled a hand through his hair, more like a shaking sort of fist, and his mouth was trembling between a grimace and a grin.
"You're right. It's not always so terrible," he said. "I was...there was a minute, just before I came back here, when I'd never felt such feelings...do you know those feelings, Pharaoh?"
"I think so-"
Yami's curiosity was broken by a strange shifting sound, not from above them, where the darkness still hung, but definitely somewhere on the ground. Yami twisted round fast, to see a jagged shadow lurching across a stone wall, just opposite them.
Though it was mostly obscured by the dark, Yami easily saw it's black skin, and the way it's claws folded. And then sharp teeth that twisted into a snarl as it got closer.
Yami had seen that thing before. Whether it had all been in his mind or not, it hardly mattered. It was here now, and it made Yami's chest tighten with wanted memories that just wouldn't come.
"What is...what is that thing?" he whispered.
"It comes by every now and then," Bakura said faintly. "Sometimes it calls to me...not so much as it used to, though. Not very often at all, anymore..."
"Will it hurt us?"
Bakura shook his head. "It's not...I don't think it's as strong as it was, for some reason."
"Well," Yami watched as the creature seemed to skulk back into shadow. "We have to-we have to get the Ring back," his voice felt strained, he wasn't sure why.
"We won't have to wait very long for that," Bakura was watching the cloud of dark, and as he spoke it began to move, slowly descending a few feet in front of them.
Yami immediately scrambled up, pulling the Key from his pocket and holding the Puzzle tight in his other hand.
Dark Marik appeared through the folds of dark, swinging the Ring delicately in his hand. He looked at Yami;
"More items, just for me? How thoughtful."
Yami wasn't saved any further conversation; an immediate wave of black met him, his mind, attacking it and pulling at his shields.
He concentrated hard, pointing the Puzzle and Key as well as he could in the direction he hoped was Dark Marik. It was hard to tell; the darkness had formed a thick smog all around them.
Some of the items' powers must have gotten through though, when some of the pain subsided. Yami took a second to gather himself together; he was shaking and the items were hot in his hands.
Then another attack, somehow fiercer than the first, almost physically knocking him back. The dark wasn't just playing around anymore.
As his barrier began peeling away, the memory of almost losing Yugi flashed in his mind and pulled a tug of determined fight out of him. Still he fell to his knees next to Bakura, grasping to find some more strength.
"I need…I need your help, Bakura! You have the Necklace, you can still use it!"
Bakura moved with some effort to his feet. The Necklace glowed, but not for very long. Bakura gasped, before falling back down again.
Dark Marik laughed; "he can't help you Pharaoh. Don't you see? I took the source of his power…the Ring. Without that he is trapped and can't fight against this Darkness."
Yami watched, feeling hopeless, as the dark crept all around them, a strangling pull curving round Yami's limbs, and the Puzzle burning into him, the Key stinging in his hand. He heard Bakura's cry, and he saw the dark Spirit lie on the floor, quite still.
"Bakura!" Yami crawled to him, through all his pain, pulling the Spirit onto his back. "Bakura, there must be a way! We're so close, you can't tell me it's over now,"
It was hard to see through all the dark, but Bakura opened his eyes and spoke in a tired way; "look, in my pocket."
Yami followed the Spirit's glance, and didn't question it. He reached in Bakura's jacket and found something glowing and round.
"The Millennium Eye," less victorious, more stunned, Yami held the item up, along with the Key and the Puzzle.
Together they formed a great stream of light, and Yami felt the barrier pulling back up in his mind again, and the dark around him was becoming clearer, as though a steamed window was being wiped clean before his eyes.
Something made a sharp noise, not too far away, and as the cloud moved back into the air, taking Dark Marik with it, the Ring spun on the ground, striking light at all angles.
Bakura crawled across the floor and picked it up. He looked up at the dark. "better luck next time,"
Yami crossed over to the Spirit, grabbing his arm. "there won't be a next time. Now come on."
88
Yami gulped in air and looked around, dazed and aware of so many faces watching him with baited breath. He pulled away from Bakura, who was coughing, and Marik was hugging him hard.
"Are you okay? Tell me you're okay?" he was saying.
Yami felt Tea's hand on his own, giving him a frightened look.
"We're all okay," he nodded, mostly at her. "All of us," he didn't need to indicate Yugi in the Puzzle.
"That's nice. And you're bleeding all over my jet," Kaiba commented, a short distance from the others.
"What happened?" Marik was watching Bakura with great concern, who seemed more interested in going to sleep.
"The usual, amongst other things," Yami didn't waste another moment. He held his hand out before Bakura; "Give me the item."
Bakura opened his eyes, an unstable smirk dancing on his lips as he reached into his pocket.
Everyone watched, quite stunned, as he pulled the Eye out, rolling it in his palm.
"Another Item?" Duke said. "our crazy demon friend, just full of surprises, ain't ya?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Yami demanded. "how long did you have it?"
"Come now," Bakura looked amused through his pain; "Are you forgetting Duelist Kingdom so quickly, Pharaoh? After all that trouble you went through with your host-"
"-you took it from Pegasus," said Yami, not helping his horror. "you were the one who did that."
"Did what?" Marik said worriedly, "what did you do, Bakura?"
Everyone looked uneasy, and Tristan made an awkward coughing noise.
"Does any of it matter anymore?" Bakura snapped. "I returned the Eye to you. Isn't that all that matters?"
"Did you kill him?" it was Marik who asked, not in a nervous way; but direct and fearless, like he could handle it.
Bakura kept his eyes on Yami though.
"It was a Shadow duel. He was well aware of the possible consequences of owning a Millennium item. I just did what was necessary to take it from him."
Yami closed his eyes. How angry he was…and yet it was so hard to piece it all together, to make some sort of sense of it.
This murderous Spirit, who had done so much harm, had spoken to him only minutes before, about Marik and protection, and about wanting to help, even though he hated it.
"Pegasus?" Kaiba snorted. "If you ask me that crackpot got what he was coming to him."
"Nobody asked you," Joey jeered.
"It doesn't matter. You all know what Pegasus did. I'm siding with that thing," Kaiba barely spared Bakura a glance.
Bakura didn't seem to notice. He closed his eyes. "I've already told you the items are important to me. I'll get them by whatever means I can. Now, do you want this one or should I keep it?"
Yami hesitated, then reached out and took the Eye. It was cool and only a little heavy, like it wasn't anything significant.
"But why didn't you tell me about it before?" he asked. "If our goal is so common, why would you keep another item from me?"
"You kept it from me too," said Marik,
Bakura turned to the tomb keeper at once. "I'm sorry."
He really looked it too, Yami could tell. And for that there was no point in pursuing it. Yami wouldn't forget Bakura in the Soul Room, and he knew how the Spirit felt.
"You're still bleeding all over my jet," Kaiba said, not seeming a tiny bit interested in anything else.
In a swift motion, he snatched Bakura's arm and pulled him upright.
Bakura grimaced but made no move to resist the CEO, as he started dragging him away.
Marik jumped up after them; "where're you going?"
Yami exchanged bewildered looks with everyone else, and then Ryou came into the room, whiter than usual.
"What did I miss?"
"Not much," Joey patted his head. "you just get back to trying not to be sick."
888
Kaiba, Marik and Bakura all sat round the CEO's rather plush looking table. Bakura occasionally blinked, as though to remind the other two he was still awake. He had been sick a few times, and Marik sat on edge, waiting for the next time it happened.
"So," Kaiba steepled his hands, leaning forward on the table. "are you two going to tell me what's going on with Yugi and his stupid friends or not?"
"What?" Marik raised a brow.
"I'm not stupid. I know that Yugi needs those God cards for a reason. It's not every day you take random trips to Egypt, is it?" his blue eyes were alight and cunning. "And with the God cards too? Don't tell me that has nothing to do with it?"
Marik fidgeted in his chair; "what are you asking, Kaiba?"
"Perhaps Yugi and his friends won't tell me these things," Kaiba's mouth moved into a vague smile. "But you two seem to have…looser morals, if you know what I mean?"
Marik was affronted. "You really think we're that bad-"
"Oh, c'mon. You tried to kill the Pharaoh," Kaiba rolled his eyes, "also he's insane." he jerked his head at Bakura.
Bakura smiled,, as though it was a compliment. Marik snorted at him; "I didn't want to kill the Pharaoh,"
"But you would have done,"
"Well," Marik eyed the table, not liking what the CEO was confronting him with. "It's different now. And anyway," he looked back up at Kaiba, "I didn't think you believed any of this stuff?"
"There comes a point," Kaiba said ruefully, "where even I have to admit to what I'm seeing in front of my eyes. Or what else is there? Have I actually gone crazy?"
Bakura laughed with such enthusiasm that he started coughing all over again. Marik patted him faintly on the back.
"Well then, have I?" Kaiba directed at Bakura in a demanding way. "You know something about me, don't you?"
Bakura took time to compose himself. "I'm afraid I don't know as much as you think I do," he watched Kaiba as though he was an interesting ornament. "but there is something about you, yes."
"How helpful," Kaiba said sarcastically.
"What else do you expect me to say?"
"I don't know, anything! You said you knew me, from many years ago. Or something like that."
Bakura seemed surprised by the idea. "did I?" he wore a concentrating gaze, then shook his head. "it's difficult…to remember everything. So much happens…"
Marik noticed the way he was still perspiring, and the strong scent of sickness was still there. He put a hand on Bakura's arm and glared at Kaiba.
"He doesn't know, so just leave it."
"Maybe he never knew. He's obviously scrabbled in the brains," Kaiba shook his head. "What the hell is he, anyway?"
Marik frowned. He found it hard to answer. Some part of him didn't want to say it, because he'd been getting so used to forgetting it.
"A…he's just Bakura, that's all," he decided, after a moment.
Kaiba scowled. "neither of you are very helpful, are you? Has Yugi been having words, swearing you to some sort of secrecy? I didn't think you'd join his fan club so easily-"
Bakura seemed to snap out of his temporary daze; he moved like lightning across the table, on all fours and hands clawing to reach Kaiba, before Marik managed to pull him back, but not without some effort.
"Bakura, stop it!"
Kaiba laughed, keeping a wise distance back in his chair. "you really are crazy, aren't you?"
Bakura panted against Marik's grip, glaring hard at the CEO; "I didn't swear anything to the Pharaoh, I would never do that…"
"Pharaoh?…Oh right, that other weird guy who lives inside Yugi," Kaiba laughed again. "No wonder I feel like I'm going mad. You couldn't make this stuff up."
"Shut up, Kaiba," Marik growled. "if you're so interested, why don't you come along?"
He felt Bakura's tension leaving his grip, and then the Spirit started to cough, and he staggered, gripping the table for support. Marik pulled him back into his chair.
Kaiba smiled, seeming to enjoy that he'd gotten a rise out of Bakura. He leant back, arms folded and contemplative.
"Not a bad idea." he looked between them both. "I may as well make use of this trip, since I am the one taking us there," He stood up, his face not so much cold as it was casual; "And keep him in vicinity of the toilets. I don't usually let people bleed and puke all over my jet, you know."
As the CEO left, Marik turned to Bakura. The Spirit was resting his head on the table, though his eyes were wide and he was looking past Marik at something else.
"How're you feeling?" Marik asked cautiously.
"Wonderful," Bakura said, without a trace of irony. "look at the sky."
Marik followed Bakura's gaze to the nearest window.
The sky was lit up a brilliant orange, as though it was on fire, and Marik could already feel the heat of where they were.
888
Notes: Next update won't be for a little while. I'm going to be away for a couple of months in the new year because of my ridiculous life. And since this is early and in time (hallelujah!); Merry Christmas!
Oh yeah; what is the American slang term for portaloo?…I'm pretty sure Americans don't call toilets "loos"… or do you? -confusion-