IkutosGirl: Hello everyone! Just to set things straight, this story is set to be happening right after the Battle City arc, but before the Millennium World arc.

Bakura: What's happening to Ryou!

IkutosGirl: You'll see…

Chapter 2

Bakura's POV

"Nani?!" Ryou was… being consumed by the shadows? But what does he have to fuel the darkness that is growing inside him? He has no hatred, despair, or sorrow. Did something happen to him that I don't know about?

"Tomb Robber, has Ryou been… different lately?" The Pharaoh asked, choosing his words carefully.

"Well, he has seemed a little more irritable lately and he's been more… reserved than he usually is." Why hadn't I seen this before!?

Yami's POV

This is just as I suspected. Ryou was, what you could say, becoming a yami himself. But how can an angel survive as a demon?

"But just like me, isn't Ryou a Hikari? How can a Hikari become one with the darkness?" No matter how indifferent he tried to sound, I could tell by Yugi's tone of voice that he was very worried about Ryou.

"Yugi, it's not that simple. Do you remember when we were in that Shadow Duel with Pegasus?" Yugi nodded his head and I began to continue. "When Bakura lost the Shadow Duel with Marik, his soul AND body was sent to the Shadow Realm. The Shadow Realm is much worse than a Shadow Duel on a human being."

"How come?" Yugi asked curiosity and horror plain on his face. He knew what I was getting at.

"In the Shadow Realm your worst nightmares and fears are able to take a physical form. They are able to harm you, scar you. I believe Ryou is acting how he is because he's given up to the shadows of his fears and nightmares. He believes all hope is lost for himself, so he's giving in."

"Oh no! Poor Ryou…" Yugi was clearly at a loss for words, too shocked by my explanation to even make a sound.

Bakura's POV

"Ahhhhh!" I screamed in pain, it felt like someone was tearing my heart in half.

"Bakura, what's wrong?" The Pharaoh asked, clearly worried about me.

"My… chest is… burning!" I screamed again in pain. The pain was already unbearable, but I could still feel it getting worse.

"Ha ha ha…" I heard a laugh that was somehow similar but also different to me.

"Did you hear that?!" I asked the Pharaoh, not knowing what kind of an answer to expect.

"Hear what?" The Pharaoh replied. I was about to tell him to just forget it but then the laughter started again.

"Ha ha ha…" Finally I could recognize whose laughter I was hearing.

"Ryou!" I gasped, shocked that the evil and sinister laughter was his own. His laughter was close to my own. It was maniacal, sadistic, and scary… it was the laugh of someone who was with the shadows.

"Can you finally hear me, Bakura?" Ryou sneered my name as though it was dirt and his tone was somewhat teasing.

"You're not Ryou! You can't be!" I screamed, clutching my head with my hands in a hopeless attempt to get rid of the sinister voice.

"Tomb Robber, are you okay?" The Pharaoh asked, alarmed by my sudden outburst. I tried to answer the Pharaoh, but my voice was lost.

"Silly Bakura, of course it's really me. I've always been here." Ryou said mockingly and then began to laugh sadistically once again.

"No!" I screamed, but then I too, fainted.

Ryou's POV

Bakura is such a fool. Isn't this what he wanted, a stronger me? Am I still a failure in his eyes? Well I'll show him who the true yami between us!

"Ryou!" A voice called my name. It must be Bakura. He is very annoying at times, never minding his own business.

"Ryou!!!" Bakura called again. His voice was louder this time. He must be moving towards my soul room. As if on cue, I heard a 'click' and a 'slam'. This indicated that Bakura was indeed in my room. He could not see me though because I was lying in my bed listening to my iPod again.

"Darling, there's no sense in running. You know I will find you. Everything is perfect now, we can live forever…"

"Bakura…" I called to him, guiding his eyes to my half hidden form beneath the blankets of my bed.

"Ryou… what's going on? What's happening to you?" Bakura asked pleadingly. Bakura is so foolish. Nothing is wrong with me. On the contrary, I feel stronger and livelier than ever.

"My, my Bakura. You sound just like a weakling Hikari. There's such a sad and pleading tone in your voice. You're so pathetic." Bakura looked like I had struck him, he looked hurt. Ha! Feelings are useless; they just get in your way.

"Ryou you baka, get a hold of yourself! I miss you…."

Bakura's POV

"Ba...ku...ra…" For a moment Ryou's eyes had regained their beautiful shine and his voice was innocent again. But as quick as it had come back, it had disappeared again. Ryou's eyes were once again dull brown, lifeless. Maybe I did have a chance at getting Ryou back!

"Ryou, fight it! Fight the shadows away, please! You're a Hikari… you ARE light!"

"Bakura…" Ryou's eyes were once again back to normal. "… what…" The real Ryou was coming back to me!

"Bakura, what is your problem? Do you not want me to be stronger?! Do you want me to be a weakling?!" Damnit! Ryou's voice was sinister, dark, and angry. I reached out for him, because no matter how much he yelled at me I could still see the sadness that was in his eyes.

"GET OUT!!!" Ryou screeched at me , and suddenly I was being pulled out of his soul room by an invisible force. When the energy was finally gone, I was standing in my soul room, in the darkness, all alone once again.

IkutosGirl: On no! Ryou, that wasn't nice! Is the real Ryou really gone, or can Bakura still save him? And when Bakura needs help, will Ryou's friends give him a hand, or shun and blame him?

Ryou: … ummm... can I say something-

IkutosGirl: No you can't because you are possessed by the shadows!

Ryou: What?! O_O

IkutosGirl: Bye byes!