Hey everyone! It's been so long since i've updated, I'm so sorry i kinda just forgot about this story. Lucky for those who are following this story though I have a friend who is a super awesome mega writer that pushed me to update this story and finish it. I already know what I want to happen in the next chapter, which should come out a lot faster than this one did ^_^ haha well as long as a get a few reviews. Hope you guys like it, worked really hard on it. You'll notice that I refer to Ryou as..well 'Ryou' while his friends still call him Bakura, we'll see if we can get that changed later on. Starts to veer from actual story line a bit from here on out.
Usual disclaimer applies. If I owned Yugioh there would be SO much more angst :P
Ryou's eyes slowly opened as his mind became more aware of his surrounding, not surprised at all to find himself still on his soul room floor. Memories of before he passed out rushed back to him as he recalled the beating he had received from Bakura. His skin was still covered in bruises and from the way the majority of cuts were still slowly bleeding and the amount of blood that had pooled on the carpet beneath where he lay, he surmised he had been out for a mere couple of hours.
'A couple of hours', he dryly smirked, usually he would stay unconscious for at least a day. Perhaps he wasn't as injured as he had initially thought? Testing the theory, he brought up one of his arms so he could attempt to sit up. His body raged in protest, his stomach giving off a sharp stabbing pain, making his head spin dangerously. But despite the pain he was able to maintain his half seated position. That was an improvement in itself. On weak shaky knees he managed to slowly stand up off the floor and plop himself onto the bed in the corner of the room, slightly out of breath from just the few short steps it had taken him to travel to this spot. Taking a moment to assess his injuries, he started to look himself over. The bruises and cuts were evident throughout his body, although they were just superficial and would heal over time, nothing too much to worry there. Locating the majority of the pain was coming from his stomach, he slowly rolled up the front of his shirt to reveal the sickly scarlet-purple colored skin below, covering the majority of his front.
'well that can't be too good' he though to himself, grimacing. Thin pale fingers carefully began to travel over the skin, lightly pressing where the bruising was most severe. It was all Ryou could do to not let out a scream, managing a half strangled whimper instead from the pain he received from his fingers ministrations. Fractured ribs, was his best guess. Just as long as he didn't take any deep breathes, move around, or laugh he'd be just fine. Actually he could take off that last one from the list, there hadn't been many opportunities to laugh in his life these last couple of years, there was nothing to laugh about. That is unless you counted a deranged spirit taking over your body, long hours of solitude in a soul room, or endless abuse as comical. Then yes, his particular situation was absolutely hilarious. Ryou let out a low groan and let his shirt drop from his fingers, once again covering his bruised stomach. He just hoped the injury would somewhat heal before Bakura came back to 'spend time with him' again. Letting his body slump further into the bed and lowering his head to the pristine white pillow that he had grown accustomed to after many nights spent in his soul room, he tried to will himself to sleep, if only for a second to experience the painless bliss of unconsciousness. But just as his eyes had begun to droop a sudden shake of his room broke him out of his half-asleep state.
'That's weird' he though, things like that only happened when the spirit was participating in a shadow game, the thought passing offhandedly through his head until the weight of his words hit him 'Wait a second! The spirit was involved in a shadow game!' Quickly jumping from his position on the bed to his feet, reminding himself once again of his damaged ribs, he hurried to his soul room door desperately trying to pry it open despite the obvious locked state it was in.
"No, no, no," he half whispered to himself still pulling on the handle. He would not sit idly by in his soul room like a 'good little host', as the spirit referred to it as, and watch as Bakura took another innocent life. He would not continue to be used like this! He wasn't useless, he wasn't. He had friends that were in danger right now, and if he had any chance to do something about it he would do it. The door still did not budge against Ryou's futile attempts. Tears sprung to his eyes, threatening to spill, and he dropped to his knees in front of the door, one hand still hanging loosely on the stubborn handle.
"Come on...you damn door." a few tears leaked down his pale cheeks, leaving streaks against his skin. He lay his forehead against the door, softly banging it against the unforgiving wood, evidently doing more harm to him rather than the door.
'This wasn't fair! He wanted to help for once, not live out the rest of his life locked in his mind. That damn spirit thought he could control him as easy as someone could manipulate a little kid. No. Not this time.'
Hate rose inside of Ryou, angry at the spirit for all that he had done to him, but more so for his helplessness. He would show them, show them all that he could fight back. Wait a second, had his soul room suddenly become dark? Taking a look around, he found to his surprise that it was not his room that had been shrouded in darkness, it was the shadows surrounding HIS body. The Millennium ring that both Ryou and Bakura wore inside his mind was glowing upon his chest, pulsing along side his heartbeat making the shadows around him flicker wildly. It gave off a warm sense of power and heat.
Getting over his initial astonishment Ryou stared blankly at the shadows being given off by the Ring. Was he supposed to use this somehow? He had no idea what to do! It's not like Bakura had trained Ryou in the art of shadows. No, that would have been a means of fighting back for Ryou. Well, it was said that experience was the best teacher. He just hoped he could manage that enough without killing himself. Worth a shot though, its not like he had anything else to lose. Closing his eyes he focused his attention on the still pulsing ring on his chest. He could feel it, somewhat, within his being- the shadows, the darkness, it swirled through him. Like a replacement for his blood it slowly traveled along his veins. The glowing ring on his chest began to grow hot, almost unbearable, his thin layer of clothes doing nothing to protect his skin from its onslaught. The power was there, undoubtedly, and he would become the master of it, control the shadows as he had seen several holders of Millennium items do. Eyes still closed and trying to ignore the blazing heat of the Ring, he reached his hand back up to the door handle. The shadows that covered his hand spread to engulf the entire door.
'but what now?' He thought. He had it, he knew. The shadows danced fiercely waiting for his command. Sweat was beginning to form over his skin from the exertion. He had better do something quick before he had no strength left.
"...Destroy," He spoke in the most demanding tone he could muster, a bit unsure that anything would happen.
He was obeyed. The door splintered and finally shattered beneath the onrush of shadow power. Ryou instantly lost his concentration and pulled his hand back to protect his eyes from the chips of wood that had been blown throughout his room. What once was his 'door' was now an empty opening leading into the dark hallway that connected Bakura's mind from his own. The shadows retreated back into the now cold and unmoving Ring leaving Ryou tired and breathless. None the less, Ryou stood from his kneed position on the floor, bits of wood falling off his clothes as he stood. The Millennium Ring jostled against his skin making him hiss in pain, looking down he found that the pendent had burnt right through his thin T-shirt and had set to burn the next thing underneath. His skin. A slightly blurry outline of the ring on his skin occupied the space where it normally would lay over his clothes. The angry red-blistered design of skin stood out in pale contrast to his normally marble white complexion. He had been branded by the damn thing! As if he didn't have enough scars already.
Sighing in hollow defeat he turned his ring around so it would lie on his back instead of his damaged front and tried to push the weariness and pain he felt out of his mind. How was it he could feel so much pain inside his mind anyway? Ahhh, too much thinking- he could contemplate that another time. A time when he had not just managed a way to escape. Smirking to himself he cautiously started to leave the confines of the debris filled soul room and set out into the dark hallway of their connected minds. Blinking, he found himself once again watching events of Bakura's doings unfold. His earlier suspicions were proven correct as he saw that they were in a duel with.... he paused to look across the platform for the opponent, with Yugi?! No, more like the Pharaoh of the Millennium puzzle. Yugi's Yami that shared his body, yet wasn't evil and pent on destroying the world as his Yami was. STILL, this was not good. Ryou felt he would have a panic attack, that is before he became aware of the playing field. Bakura had no monsters on his side of the field and was faced by Yugi's god card, Slifer. Not only that, but it was Yugi's turn. The spirit seemed to be in too deep of thought to feel the sudden rush of happiness that flooded Ryou through their link. Another one of his friends would not be sent to the shadow realm, this time rather, it would be the parasitic spirit of the Ring. But this did raise one question, why wasn't Yugi attacking? Everyone's head was turned to the side lines focused on a man wearing a long robe. Half of his face was covered in hieroglyphic tattoos and he was holding a...long gold pole? The eye of Horus could be made out at the top of the ball. So a millennium item? It flashed gold and everyone's heads swiveled to look back at him. What were they looking at?
Without warning Ryou suddenly found himself shoved into his body. Previous wounds, which had been slightly numbed, now flared alive unmercifully along with a new source of agony erupting from his left arm. His vision swam and he fell to his knees in shock and his eyes shut against the physical onslaught he gripped the burning arm
"My arm...it hurts," he moaned, surprised to hear how weak his voice came out. Many cries of 'Bakura!' were yelled around him making him slowly pry his eyes still stood on the opposite side of the field looking quite surprised, as did everyone else, to be staring at Ryou instead of the spirit in his place. But no one made any step forward to help him.
"Yugi, please help me. Where are we? What am I doing in this duel? What happened to my arm?" Ryou had never been quite so confused. Lifting up his sleeve to stare in horror at the blood stained bandage covering the upper part of his arm he couldn't help but let out a gasp. What had the spirit done to him? His ears were ringing and he struggled to keep his vision straight, wincing as the pain in his arm flared. The man in the cloak was talking again but Ryou could barely make out the words, he was feeling sicker by the second and wasn't sure whether he would throw up or pass out first.
"I don't feel very well, Yugi," he tried again. Why wouldn't they stop this duel? Was Yugi really going to finish him off? No, Yugi would never do that. He was Ryou's friend. He let out a groan as the world began to spin making him squeeze his eyes shut again.
"Please...someone help me..please," Ryou shivered from the cold night air. No one moved, he assumed Yugi was still unsure about attacking. Abruptly he was pushed from control making him land roughly in the middle of his Soul Room.
Curling in on himself on the floor he just lay there in pain, not quite feeling like moving. That had been.. interesting in the very least. Bakura must have thought the Pharaoh was going to attack to take control. In the end, the spirit just needed him to stay alive in order to survive as well. But then, this meant the Spirit would lose the duel. Didn't it? His suspicions seemed to confirm themselves as his soul room began to shake violently. There was no doubt that Yugi was attacking with Slifer. The rumbling began to die down seconds later. Although Ryou wasn't given much time to realize what had just happened and what this ultimately meant. Blinking, he found himself back in control of his body lying stomach up on the dueling platform. All this body switching was making him dizzier than he already was. Yugi was suddenly at his side helping Ryou sit up, a bit too quick for his liking though as his ribs twinged in discomfort making him wince. The rest of the gang instantly appeared as well in front of him muttering words of concern.
"Hey, so where am I?" He all but whispered.
"You're with your friends now, Bakura," Yugi- er the Pharaoh replied. What an incredibly cheesy thing to say anyways, he wanted answers! If only he weren't so tired.
"Help him onto my back so we can get him to his room." Tristan was now kneeled in front of him. Yet Ryou felt as though something was wrong, off place. Realizing the familiar weight on his chest was missing he quickly glanced down.
"No..no," Ryou muttered, struggling against the arms lifting him up.
"Relax Bakura, you gotta go rest." Joey said, still holding onto Ryou's uninjured arm so he couldn't slip off of Tristans back.
"No...the Ring's..gone.." Ryou said with effort, not missing the surprised gasps of people who were unable to hold it in.
"It must have been blasted off from that last attack from Slifer. Tristan, take Ryou back to his room. Tea and I will stay here to look for the Ring." The pharaoh said, taking lead of the situation. Worried glances were shared but they listened none the less. Tristan stood up from his crouch nodding to the Pharaoh and set off with the rest of the group towards the exit. Ryou turned his head to the side straining to look back at the pair still standing on the platform without much success, only catching a glimpse of Tea searching at the end of the field. Hopefully the Ring had been blasted off the blimp and would be lost forever, although with his luck he highly doubted it. His vision started to turn fuzzy and dark around the edges, but this time he found he couldn't shake. Darkness was taking over his senses and seconds later Ryou found himself victim, yet again, to unconsciousness.
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Yup, there you have it. Chapter two! A little bit on the fence about finishing this up. Help me decide with some reviews guys. pleeease. the more reviews, the faster the next chapter will be up.
Hope you liked :)
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