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Bakura to Ryou/Battousai - {{...}}

Ryou to Bakura - {...}

Battousai to Bakura - //...//

Chapter 22

The ice pack helped, and Kenshin's leg didn't hurt at all by the time gym was over. Gym was the last class of the day, so Kenshin started walking back to Ms. Someya's room. He hadn't realized how lonely it would be without Battousai. He had been able to talk to Battousai shortly after Hiko started training him. It wasn't until the Bakumatsu that he discovered Battousai could take control of his body, but he had always been in his mind for the past several years. Kenshin had never taken off the Mask, and now he felt alone without the hitokiri's presence. Battousai would always be making remarks about the members of the Ishin Shishi that avoided him in the halls, pointing out an enemy's weaknesses and strengths, pointing out Kenshin's weaknesses so he could counter it. Despite the reputation of Battousai being silent most of the time, he was quite the chatterbox mentally. Kenshin didn't really need most of the advice his yami insisted on giving him, but he listened anyway. Frequently, the constant conversation from Battousai made it difficult to concentrate on what was happening outside of his mind. But, these past few days had been silent. Kenshin didn't realize that the silence he longed for would be so depressing. It was like he had lost part of himself; which, in a sense, he had. Kenshin decided to talk to Battousai again when he got home. Kenshin, who had just reached Ms. Someya's classroom, knocked on the door and entered.

~*~

Bakura had noticed that Kenshin hadn't been wearing the Mask. During gym, he had taken control of Ryou's body and commanded the ring to point to the Mask. It had pointed away from the school. Bakura had relinquished his control back to the oblivious Ryou while he went over a plan in his head. This was the perfect opportunity. He had heard Ms. Someya ask to speak with Kenshin after school. He wouldn't get another opportunity like this. When he was far enough from the school, he took over Ryou's body once again and quickly made his way to Yugi's house.

~*~

"You wanted to speak with me, Ms. Someya?" Kenshin said, as he entered the classroom. She looked up from the paper she'd been grading and motioned him closer.

"Yes, I was quite surprised at how well you did on your test. I just had one question. On question number thirty-seven, the correct answer was a spy had given the Shinsengumi information as to where the meeting would be held. You called the spy Idzuka. Why?" she asked, curiously.

Because that was his name, Kenshin thought, a little confused. Why wouldn't they know his name? Oh, of course! He was a traitor! Why would they remember his name? Oh, blast... Kenshin's mind raced to come up with a convincing story. "Well, Yugi gave me the notes for all of the classes I missed. I must have gotten them mixed up," he lied, convincingly.

Ms. Someya nodded her head. "I just wanted to ask you about that when the class was not present. You may go," she said, dismissing him. Kenshin nodded and left. She seemed to buy that story, so he didn't worry about it too much. He started walking home.

~*~

Once Bakura reached Kenshin's house, he expertly picked the lock on the back door and silently made his way in. Mr. Mutou was tending the shop, so Bakura made his way up to Kenshin's room unhindered. He had to find the Mask quickly before Kenshin got home. He searched all the drawers in the desk, in the closet, under the bed, blankets, pillows, and mattress. He went over to Kenshin's chest of drawers and proceeded to unceremoniously dump out the contents of each drawer, but he still couldn't find it. Where is it?! he thought, frustrated.

He grabbed the Ring around his neck. "Guide me to the Millennium Mask," he commanded it. The spikes on the Ring obediently pointed up. Bakura looked to where it pointed and smiled. Taped to the ceiling next to the light was a piece of cloth the same color as the paint, making it difficult to see at first glance. After clearing a spot on the floor, Bakura grabbed the chair in front of the desk and positioned it under the light. He stood on the chair, grabbed the cloth and ripped it away, allowing the Millennium Mask to fall towards the floor. He deftly caught it and looked at it. Yes! he thought triumphantly, Three items are now mine! He cut his gloating short as he heard the bell ringing on the door of the game shop, signaling the entrance of a customer and reminding him where he was. He left, closing the door to Kenshin's room, hiding the mess he'd created in his search. He exited the house as silently as he'd come, and started to make his way home quickly.

~*~

As Kenshin neared the game shop, he felt Bakura's ki hurriedly leaving the vicinity. Kenshin entered through the back door and quickly went up to his room. He opened the door and barely registered the mess on the floor before checking the light. The Mask was gone.

Kenshin ran back down the stairs silently and left through the back door. If Grandpa saw him, he'd want to know where he was going and Kenshin didn't have time to waste on his questions. He stopped outside the back door and cast out his senses, searching for Bakura's position. Bakura was keeping to the back streets and alley ways.

Good, Kenshin thought, That will make this a little easier for me. He ran ahead of Bakura and circled back, keeping to the shadows out of habit. As Bakura rounded a corner, Kenshin stepped out of the shadows in front of him. "I think you have something that belongs to me," he said, coolly.

Bakura stopped, startled at Kenshin's sudden appearance. He quickly recovered and pulled the Mask out of his pocket. He placed it around his neck, smirking at Kenshin. "I think we should have a rematch. The last two times we fought, you used the Mask. Now it's my turn," he said, evilly.

// Who are you?!// Battousai yelled, more than a little upset that Kenshin would let someone else wear the Mask.

Bakura winced as Battousai's irate voice tore through his mind. {{Be quiet! I'll deal with you later!}} Bakura said, irritably.

//I recognize you now! You steal my Mask and then expect me to shut up just because you tell me to? Are you stupid or something?!// Battousai yelled. He assumed the Mask was stolen because Kenshin wouldn't just hand it over, no matter how angry he was. But, if the Mask was stolen, then it must have meant that Kenshin did not have it with him. Kenshin left me at home?! Battousai thought, enraged. When he got back to Kenshin, that boy was getting a stern talking to.

"How do you think you will fare now that Battousai can no longer protect you? Are you willing to face me without the aid of the manslayer, little boy?" Bakura taunted Kenshin. Kenshin just continued to gaze at him coolly, while drawing his sword from inside his jacket.

Battousai was laughing. //If you think the Mask will give you his skills, you're sadly mistaken!// Battousai said, enjoying the anger he was feeling through his link with Bakura. // It only increases the abilities you already have! You're still no match for his speed, you fool! Kenshin only needed the Mask to dodge shadow ma--// Battousai cut himself off, cursing vehemently at himself. He was used Kenshin being the only one who could hear him and he'd mistakenly given Bakura Kenshin's only weakness!

Although some of Battousai's curses made Bakura's ears burn, he smirked at Kenshin triumphantly. "So, I see you haven't been on the best terms with your manslayer friend. He's even told me your weakness. You can't dodge my shadow magic without the Mask, can you?" he said, watching for Kenshin's reaction.

Kenshin's eyes widened ever so slightly. Battousai had betrayed him? He couldn't believe it. He sensed Bakura gathering energy for an attack and dodged blindly, barely missing being hit. He probably wouldn't be as lucky next time, so he stuck his sword into the ground. "Do-ryu-sen!" he said, ripping his sword out of the dirt after sending a wave of ki through the ground towards Bakura. The Mask's abilities allowed him to dodge the attack, but Kenshin had reduced the visibility. Bakura had to wait until the dust settled. He had an attack ready, waiting for Kenshin to try and attack him.

Battousai was furious with himself. He had been fighting with Kenshin over giving out too much information and then he turned around and told Bakura Kenshin's only weakness! He was in the middle of verbally abusing himself when Kenshin's voice cut through his thoughts.

"You were right. Your friends will always betray you if they get the chance."

Kenshin was talking to Battousai. Battousai flinched at having his words flung back in his face. Kenshin thought that Battousai had betrayed him, and in a way he had. But it was an accident! Battousai felt Bakura's presence leave, and realized he had taken off the Mask. Battousai was alone again, thoughts of his betrayal his only company.

Bakura had no clue what Kenshin was talking about. He would have attacked, but he couldn't tell where exactly Kenshin's voice was coming from, so he waited until the dust had settled enough for him to see. Kenshin was gone. Smirking, Bakura placed the Mask back in his pocket (so he didn't have to listen to Battousai) and resumed his journey home.

~*~

Kenshin watched as Bakura walked by him, oblivious to his presence. All Kenshin had to do was swing his sword and the thief would either be unconscious or dead, depending on how Kenshin held his sword. There were only a few things holding him back. First, Kenshin would not attack without warning. In every assassination he took part in, he always gave fair warning of an attack. It didn't help his victims in the slightest, but he did it anyway.

Second, he wasn't sure if he wanted the Mask back. Because of it, Hiko tried--and almost succeeded in--killing him. Bakura had attacked him because he wanted it, and now Battousai had betrayed him. That one hurt the most. He had been betrayed before--Tomoe was sent to betray him and Idzuka sold Kenshin's secret and his life for money. This time, though, it was different. Battousai had been with him for years. He knew everything about Kenshin, and he had been one of Kenshin's true friends. A few moments ago, Kenshin would have trusted Battousai with his life with no hesitation. Battousai was half of him, and his betrayal felt like someone had plunged a sword through Kenshin's heart and twisted it. No, he didn't want the Mask back.

He walked back to the game shop, lost in his thoughts.

~*~

Yugi had been at the arcade when Yami felt the use of shadow magic. Yugi excused himself from his friends, saying that Grandpa had wanted him to tend the shop this afternoon. Yugi remembered the last time that had happened--they had found Ryou unconscious in an alley. This time, however, Kenshin wasn't wearing the Mask, and Yami had felt more than one attack. Yami had taken over and was surprised to find an empty alley.

\But, what happened? Shouldn't at least one of them be here?\ Yugi asked, confused.

\\Yes, unless neither of them lost. Let us go talk to Kenshin--he should be home by now,\\ Yami said, quickly making his way home. He walked in the front door of the game shop.

"Hello, Yami. How was school today?" Grandpa asked. It was normal for Yugi to let Yami take over for his classes every now and then. The spirit enjoyed experiencing modern schooling first hand and Yugi was happy to oblige him.

"Fine. Grandpa, have you seen Kenshin?" Yami asked, casually.

"Yes, he just came in. He said one of his teachers kept him after school and he went to his room to start on his homework," Grandpa replied.

Yami nodded and headed to the back of the shop. Grandpa wasn't kidding when he said Kenshin had just come in--he was walking up the stairs. Kenshin had noticed that Yami controlled Yugi's body, but continued up to his room. Yami followed him.

"Kenshin, could I please have a word with you in your room?" Yami asked. He didn't want to risk Grandpa coming back here and accidentally hearing their conversation.

"If you wish to speak with me you may, however, you may wish to change the location as there is nowhere to sit in my room, but if you don't mind standing then you may come in," Kenshin said, opening his door and gesturing to Yami. Yami looked in and was surprised at the quagmire that greeted his eyes. He followed Kenshin in and stood off to the side as Kenshin closed the door and began to clean his room.

"What happened here?" Yami asked, although he already had a pretty good idea.

"Someone came looking for something, and they apparently had a hard time finding it," Kenshin answered, simply, almost as if this were a normal everyday occurrence. Yami looked at him carefully. Kenshin's normally expressive face was emotionless. He picked up the drawers and put them back in place. He then picked up various articles of clothing, folded them and put them in their respective drawers. His motions were calm, there was no anger at all. Yami found that very strange.

He decided to take the direct approach. "Kenshin, what happened?"

"Someone came looking for something in my room, tearing it up in the process," he repeated.

"I felt shadow magic being used just a few moments ago. I have a feeling you were somehow involved. What happened?" Yami asked again.

Kenshin showed no surprise at Yami's comment and his movements did not falter. "I confronted Bakura in an alley. He tried to attack me, but I escaped before any damage was done."

"Kenshin, I don't enjoy playing Twenty Questions with you. Will you please tell me what happened?"

"I felt Bakura's ki leaving the area when I got home. I came up and saw my room like this. The Mask was gone. I followed him and confronted him about it. Due to an unfortunate turn of events I was forced to escape and Bakura left with the Mask," Kenshin explained. He sounded like he was discussing the weather. Yami was shocked.

"Kenshin, we have to get it back! Bakura now has the power to travel through time, not to mention Battousai--" Yami began, until Kenshin cut him off.

"I wouldn't worry about that. He first needs to know the correct chant and, besides, he can travel through time, but he can't control where he'll end up," Kenshin explained. He had finished putting his clothes away, and had now moved on to re-making his bed.

"Well, then, what about Battousai?" Yami asked. From what Kenshin said, the hitokiri didn't seem all that stable. Who knew what kind of havoc he could wreak.

For the first time, Kenshin stopped and looked at Yami. His eyes were blank, devoid of all emotion. "You don't need to worry about him. He has no sword skills. He used mine. I earned the name Hitokiri Battousai long before he ever fought in the Bakumatsu," Kenshin explained, before turning his attention back to cleaning.

Yami was beginning to worry about Kenshin's lack of emotion. It was as if he had closed himself off from everything around him. Nothing affected him. "Kenshin, you need to get the Mask back," Yami said, looking for any kind of reaction from the red-haired youth. He found it.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed briefly before resuming their expressionless stare. "I don't want it back."

Yami saw Kenshin's reaction and pursued the subject. "Why not? What happened between you and Battousai? Why don't you want to try and get him back?" Yami pressed.

"Betrayal is not an easy thing to forgive," Kenshin said, coldly.

Whatever Yami was expecting, it wasn't that. "What?! What do you mean by betrayal?" Yami asked.

"Battousai told Bakura my weakness. That was why I had to escape."

Yami was shocked. Battousai had fought with Kenshin about the unimportant information Kenshin gave out and then he turns around and tells Bakura Kenshin's weakness? "Kenshin, it doesn't make sense. There must be more to it than that. Why would Battousai do that?"

"Why, indeed." Kenshin was not being very helpful.

Yami tried a different approach. "If we work together, we can probably get it back, and then you can ask Battousai why he did that," Yami suggested.

Kenshin glared at him. "And what do you propose we do? Go and ask him for it nicely? I'm sure he wouldn't keep it on the body for fear of Ryou finding it or Battousai taking over Ryou. Ryou won't even know the Mask was stolen. And what do you expect us to do once we do confront Bakura? I've just been rendered useless, so I don't know why you're asking me," Kenshin said, a little angrily. He was having trouble suppressing his emotions and they were starting to break through to the surface. "Look. I'm having a hard time staying calm right now. I'll talk to you about this later," Kenshin said, starting to pick up everything that had been dumped out of the desk. Yami nodded, even though Kenshin couldn't see him, and exited the room, leaving Kenshin alone with his thoughts.