Disclaimer: I don't own anything of importance in this story.

Chapter 23

Dinner at the Mutou household didn't seem different from any other night to Grandpa. Kenshin was his normal cheerful self, and didn't seem at all bothered by his wounds. Yami remained in control of Yugi's body, but that was nothing new. Modern foods were a wonder to the ancient pharaoh, and he would come out and sample things from time to time. Yes, just a normal night in the Mutou household.

While Grandpa didn't notice anything different, Yami did. He had been watching Kenshin throughout the course of the meal and had noticed several things about the young swordsman. First, while Kenshin did take part in the conversation, it was only when he was asked a direct question. He wouldn't give one or two word answers, but he would answer the question and fall silent again. Also, although he did smile, it didn't quite reach his eyes. His eyes were carefully devoid of any emotion. His face showed several emotions, depending on what the current conversation called for, but his eyes were always blank. The longer Yami watched him, the more fake Kenshin's expressions looked. Grandpa couldn't tell the difference, but Kenshin was just putting on a show, pretending like nothing was wrong. Had Yami not been looking for those signs, he might have fallen for it, too.

After dinner, Kenshin excused himself to his room, saying he still had more homework to catch up on. Yami followed him after a few minutes. He knocked on Kenshin's door, and waited for a response.

"Yes?" came Kenshin's slightly muffled reply.

"May I come in? I must speak with you," Yami said.

There was a barely audible sigh. "If you must, you must."

Yami opened the door and entered the room. Everything was back in its proper place and it looked as though no one had broken in at all. Kenshin was sitting at his desk, writing something on a piece of paper. He had several textbooks stacked neatly on the desk and one was open in front of him. He did not look up as Yami entered. Yami closed the door behind him and took a seat on Kenshin's newly made bed.

"We need to talk," Yami said, seriously.

Kenshin continued working on his homework. "So you said. What would you like to talk about?" Although his mood had improved somewhat, he was still prone to be somewhat sarcastic with his remarks.

"You know very well what I would like to talk about. The Millennium Mask," Yami replied.

"And you know very well that I have no intention of getting it back, even if I could help you. What else is there for us to discuss?"

"Kenshin, you're not useless--" Yami began, but Kenshin interrupted him.

"Really? Maybe this wasn't explained to you very well. Battousai has been living in my head for the past eight years. He knows everything about me. He knows every single sword technique I have and can probably recognize most by the stance alone. He knows every weakness for each of those moves as well as the best counter-attack. He knows how my mind works, what I'm thinking. He can read me like a book, and in sword fights that is fatal. He probably knows what I'm going to do before I even decide!" Kenshin said, turning to look at Yami for the first time. His eyes, so empty during dinner, were now filled with anger and sorrow.

"Kenshin, what makes you think Battousai will help Bakura?" Yami asked.

"I think he already has, don't you?"

"No, I don't. I still think that it was an honest mistake on his part. He was so adamant about you not giving out information, it doesn't stand to reason that he would turn around and do that exact same thing," Yami argued.

"Oh, but it does. While we were arguing, he told me your friends will always betray you if they get the chance. He was warning me, Yami. He actually warned me that he would do this the first time an opportunity arose, but I didn't listen. It's my own fault," Kenshin said, turning back to his homework.

Yami was silent as he contemplated this new information, but not for long. "But it still doesn't make sense. What does he have to gain from siding with Bakura?"

"Shadow magic," Kenshin answered, in a monotone voice.

"What do you mean by that?" Yami asked, confused. Kenshin didn't answer, so Yami went back to the original topic. "Will you help me get the Mask away from Bakura?"

"I already told you, I don't want the Mask back," Kenshin replied.

"I didn't say you had to take it back, just help me get it from Bakura."

"One problem. He knows my weakness. I've been rendered useless."

"Perhaps if you told me your weakness, then we could come up with a way to counteract it," Yami suggested.

Kenshin looked at him sharply. He didn't fancy the thought of another shadow magic wielding person knowing his weakness. Sure, he had come to almost trust Yami, but he had also trusted Battousai. Yami seemed to realize this.

"Kenshin, I know it's hard, but you've got to learn to trust people again. The first time you're betrayed--" Yami started, but Kenshin cut him off again.

"The first time? You think that this is the first time I've been betrayed?! Yami, you really should pay more attention in Yugi's history class. I was the most feared hitokiri in the history of Japan! That was good for the Imperialists, but the Shogunate was desperate to rid the world of my existence and used whatever means possible to accomplish this goal. Yes, I've been betrayed before," Kenshin said, looking Yami straight in the eye.

Yami, for his part, was more than a little surprised. Kenshin was only fifteen! \\To have experienced so much at such a young age...\\ he thought, not realizing he was speaking to Yugi.

\Well, I guess it makes sense if you think about it. But man! I didn't realize...\

Yami jumped slightly at hearing Yugi's voice, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the red headed boy in front of him.

Kenshin smirked. "Yugi decided to join the conversation?"

"Only temporarily. Kenshin, I'm asking you. Will you help me retrieve the Mask?"

"I don't see the harm in Bakura keeping it, but since you seem so adamant...I'll consider it. Ask me again in a few days," Kenshin said, with finality in his tone, signaling the end their conversation.

Yami didn't want to waste a few days while Kenshin decided, but it was still a partial victory. He had convinced Kenshin to at least consider getting it back. That would suffice for now. Yami rose and silently left the room, allowing Kenshin to continue working on his homework.

~*~

It was silent at the Bakura residence. Ryou's father was gone on another archeological dig, so Bakura had the house all to himself. Currently, the boy in question was sitting on the couch, staring into space with an annoyed expression. He had decided that it would be safer to keep the Mask on his person at all times, as opposed to hiding it somewhere. (Wasn't that the very reason Kenshin lost it in the first place?) This meant that he would have to be extra careful when Ryou was in control of the body, to watch and make sure his host didn't accidentally find the Mask. It also meant that he could hear Battousai. The latter seemed to be his current problem.

{{Don't you ever shut up?!}} Bakura demanded, irritated. He wondered how Kenshin had managed to put up with him.

//You don't like talking to me? I'm hurt. And here I was all excited because I got to talk to someone other than my hikari. If you don't like me, then why don't you give me back to Kenshin?// Battousai asked, in mock innocence.

{{Well, that would defeat the whole purpose of my stealing the Mask now, wouldn't it? If you don't shut up, then I'm going to banish your soul to the Shadow Realm!}} Bakura threatened.

Battousai knew the threat was empty. //But, then, who would teach you how to control the Mask? I'm the only one that knows its secrets,// Battousai said, taunting him.

Bakura growled. {{My offer still stands. I'll give you anything you want if you teach me how to travel through time. I'll even give you back to your worthless hikari!}}

Battousai's anger flared at Kenshin being called worthless, but he suppressed the emotion. //And miss all these wonderful conversations with you? I think not. I can't get under Kenshin's skin this easily. I'm rather enjoying our little chat.//

Bakura suppressed another growl. This was getting him nowhere. He decided to try a new tactic. {{What if helping me coincided with your own interests?}} Bakura asked.

//Hmph. What interests of mine could possibly coincide with yours?// Battousai said, in a bored tone.

{{The health of the little red head you seem so fond of, of course. Unless you want him to find himself with a one-way ticket to the Shadow Realm in your place,}} Bakura replied, smugly.

Battousai didn't even hesitate. //Kenshin can take care of himself,// he said, his tone unconcerned.

Bakura wasn't convinced. {{Yes, it worked so well last time. Were it not for that little trick of his, he would already be disposed of. I wonder how much longer the little boy will last without the aid of his manslayer friend?}} Bakura sneered.

// You know, I gave you way too much credit. You really are stupid.//

{{What?!}}

//You keep referring to me as the manslayer and the hitokiri when in fact Battousai is just a name I borrowed from Kenshin. He earned that name, not me. He's just letting me borrow it so he has a name to call me by. He's the one you need to be worried about finding you. The funny thing is, your hikari is smarter than you are. He figured it out three days ago while I practically had to spell it out for you!// Battousai said, laughing.

Bakura fumed. This was not going as he had planned. He had been so sure that Kenshin was Battousai's weakness. But there still might be a way... {{Your hikari isn't nearly as powerful now that he doesn't have the Mask. How long do you think he will last against my shadow magic?}} Bakura probed, trying to feel any emotion from Battousai at his words. There was none. Battousai was too good at concealing his feelings.

//You really don't get it. Kenshin only needs to see an attack once before he can come up with a way to counter it. You already missed your chance. Kenshin won't let you get him in a position to attack him again until he's ready for it.// Despite his words, Battousai wasn't very sure of himself. Shadow magic was a hard thing to counter if one did not possess similar powers. Bakura's shadow magic could possibly be canceled out by Yami's shadow magic, but Kenshin would have to trust Yami to allow that to happen. That might pose a problem if Kenshin thought that Battousai had betrayed him. And that was only if Kenshin wanted to get the Mask back. Kenshin's words at their last encounter didn't seem to suggest he wanted it back.

The more Battousai thought about it, the more depressed he became. That's odd, he thought as he analyzed his feelings, I don't usually tend to brood over things. Kenshin does. The more he thought about it, the more abstract the feeling became. With a start, Battousai realized that the emotion was not his own. But it's not Bakura's--he's feeling very irritated right now, but not depressed. But then... His thoughts trailed off. Now that he realized it wasn't his, he was able to examine the feeling more thoroughly. It had a very familiar ki signature around it. Kenshin! Battousai realized with a start, I can still feel Kenshin's emotions! Eight years together must have given us a stronger bond than I realized! he thought, excitedly. He decided to test how strong the bond was.

//Kenshin. Kenshin, can you hear me?// Battousai called, being sure to close his link with Bakura first. The feeling of depression abruptly shifted to one of confusion.

/Battousai?/ came the uncertain reply. Battousai was ecstatic.

//Kenshin! Apparently, we can still talk to each other!// Battousai said, excitedly. The feeling of confusion shifted once again, this time to anger.

/Oh, goody,/ Kenshin said, dryly. This was not, in his opinion, an improvement.

Battousai's enthusiasm faded away at Kenshin's response. //I'm sorry. It was an accident,// Battousai apologized.

Kenshin was torn. On one hand, he was overjoyed to be able to talk to Battousai again, but on the other, he was still upset that Battousai had betrayed him. /You think that an apology is going to make it alright? You know everything that has ever happened to me. You knew that this was the worst possible thing you could do to me!/ Kenshin's anger had come back in full swing. He had always been honest in how he felt with Battousai, and now he was falling back into that habit. He had never tried to conceal his emotions from his yami, and Battousai usually got the brunt of Kenshin's anger. But, the same was usually true vice-versa.

//Don't even try to blame this situation on me! It's just as much your fault as it is mine! How could you leave me at home like that?! After everything we've been through the past eight years, you just toss me aside like some worthless trinket you got tired of!// Battousai's temper was rising at the same rate as Kenshin's.

/Some worthless trinket? If you think about it, all you really are is a Mask! A Mask with incredible powers, but a Mask just the same! I wouldn't have left you at home if you would allow me to have friends other than you!/

//And I suppose being a bloodstained hitokiri like yourself is any better?! You don't need friends! They're just a good way to get yourself killed!//

/Then why are you contacting me? Did I not learn your lesson well enough the first time? Do you wish to teach it to me again?!/

Battousai paused. He realized what he had just said was completely contradictory. He wanted Kenshin to trust him after a betrayal, while shunning those Kenshin trusted who had yet to betray him. There was a long pause in which Battousai felt both his and Kenshin's anger fading away. The silence stretched on for a few more seconds.

//Feel better?//

/Actually, yes. You?/

Battousai chuckled. //Yeah. Look, Kenshin, I'm sorry. I guess I was just so used to being the only one you could confide in that, well, I guess I got a little jealous,// Battousai admitted.

Kenshin sighed mentally. /I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have left you at home, but after you threatened Yugi and Ryou I wasn't sure you wouldn't come out in the middle of class and do the same thing,/ Kenshin said, his voice apologetic. /But, why did you tell Bakura my weakness? Were you really that upset with me?/

Battousai cringed in embarrassment. //Well, uh, actually, Kenshin, I uh, I was kinda taunting him and it just, uh, slipped out...// Battousai trailed off.

/Oro?/ Kenshin couldn't help it--he started laughing. The situation just seemed so funny all of a sudden. Their arguments, accusations, the entire situation--all because of several silly mistakes. Kenshin hadn't realized how much he needed Battousai. He could tell Battousai everything, which served as a release for all of his feelings. Keeping all those strong emotions suppressed within oneself was very taxing on the body. Not only had talking to Battousai served as a release of those emotions, but they had also cleared up the problems that had created those emotions. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door to Kenshin's room. /I've got to go now. Someone's knocking on my door. But rest assured--I will get you back./ And then the link was severed.

~*~