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Chapter two: Delusion.
When things started crumbling and reality no longer make sense, sanity slowly slipping within grasp as the fine line separating delusions and actuality was smudged. Ryou knew that this was merely a dream, in which Bakura was actually kind.
But it was just a dream, right?
Locked once again in his soul room as Bakura overtook his body, probably using it to harm humanity, Ryou had no rights to rebel against him, for he couldn't. Signing wistfully, he could faintly hear the noises outside, subdued by the thick walls surrounding his soul, Ryou could instinctively make out two voices, one that he had dreaded so much, and another whom he did not recognise. Then, in the following seconds, it quietened. Ryou could predict the upcoming result – an ear piercing scream together with the sounds of Bakura's demonic laughter would reverberate through the makeshift silence.
He was right.
Uncountable tragedies unfolded before him and Ryou was helpless to it. Bakura was just so amused with blood and death that it became a hobby, or rather, a contorted fetish that couldn't be soothed, all in the name of vengeance. To revolt against destiny that had left Bakura to drown in despair, ignored his prayers and thereby unwillingly sold his soul to the demons. This irreversible catastrophe was all Heaven's to blame. And Ryou surprisingly able to commiserate with Bakura's calamity, even when what Bakura was doing was immoral and heinous. Because there was no one else in this world that had actually seen the guilt hidden deep within Bakura's heart, slowly eroding him from the inside, devouring him further on each passing day.
"Even when on one else would forgive you, I am willing to share your pain and corruption…"
If there was anyone able to tranquilize Bakura's hate, it'll be Ryou, but unlike Ryou, Bakura was never that accepting to alleviation. He was stubborn, prideful and determine until everything has fall sullen within his clutches, and Ryou knew about this more than anybody else. Their relationship was rottenly distasteful and Ryou hates him, but Ryou could never manage to really hate him.
How ironic, really.
The door next to him was the entrance to Bakura's hidden memories, Ryou has seen it many times - seen the incompetent young boy muffling his sorrow when his family was slaughtered right before his eyes, the fear in his eyes when his face was scarred, and the despondency and remorse he felt when everything fades to black the moment he made an agreement with the devil.
In the vicious cycle of endless destruction and creation, Bakura was destroyed and rebirthed into malignity itself. If it was God's practical joke, then it has went too far, Ryou had really abhorred him before, yet after acknowledging everything, how could anyone possible not feel pity?
Ryou spoke in a gentle, sombre voice, "You killed someone again, didn't you?"
There wasn't a reply, Bakura was purposefully ignoring him, probably to hide the wavering guilt in the darkest abyss of his conscience, but Ryou was contented enough to know that maybe, just maybe a single grain of benignity had existed in that callous shell. Nevertheless, Ryou didn't dare to wish for too much.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
The subsequent day where Ryou woke up in the comfort of his own room whereby Bakura had relinquished his body, he held the ring and softly spoke to it again, "Please, despite for a moment, forget your hate." hoping for his voice to reach him, hoping for a response, which Bakura had never made.
And he sighed.
Bakura had a tendency of neglected his presence when Ryou attempts to talk to him, but annoying him when Ryou had wanted least for him to come out. As if making a deliberate attempt for Ryou to hate him, yet each time when Ryou tried to be amiable, he could feel this uncertain hesitation of Bakura's heart swinging in a confused momentum, but Bakura would simply snarl coldly at him before disappearing deep into his soul room.
Unknowingly, each time he did so, Bakura felt threatened because Ryou's feelings were slowly decaying Bakura's obdurate heart, and finally, it reached a stage where Bakura was simply denying the cordiality, however, Ryou wasn't aware of that.
Then, the vibration of his cell phone interrupted his daze, reluctantly getting off bed to reach for the device situated on the dressing table; he picked up the call and was greeted by a familiar voice,
"Hey, Ryou, are you doing anything today?"
The recognized pitch of Marik resounded from the other end; Ryou hesitated before replying a solemn, "No." Since Bakura was determined to ignore him on the rest of this weekend, he just may have some free time.
"Cool, I have two free tickets to the theme park, wanna go?"
"Yeah." Ryou replied, almost instantly, it had already being so long the last time he's being to the amusement park… Dating back way before Bakura came into his life and when his family was still alive, sure Bakura will be unhappy if he were to hang around somebody, but Ryou felt that it was okay because it's Marik; after all, they've schemed against the pharaoh together and failed miserably.
A lot of things had happened since then, but Ryou was locked up in his soul room most of the time so he was deprived of the exact knowledge, therefore it's fun to hear from Marik about how much a jerk he was back then and how he came into conscious that he had an evil split personality that was urging him to do all those nasty things.
"Meet you at the entrance?"
"Alright, Marik."
While brushing through his dishevelled hair, Ryou tried striking a conversation once more, "I'm going out with Marik… Are you okay with that?"
But his endeavour was denied, proven by the silent treatment; Ryou just couldn't understand why Bakura was being exceptionally cold today, yet whenever Bakura wasn't making a ruckus, he somewhat felt disquietude and lonely. He never thought he'll actually miss his voice. The very voice which he dreaded so much, but Ryou could only sigh as he would never convey his feelings to the apathetic spirit. Because maybe, just maybe, he was starting to feel a twisted form of affection for his Yami half, that he wants to be closer to him, it was just a thought; - he had wanted Bakura to accompany him forever, and Ryou was certainly not accustomed to this peace. Peace that was all too sentimental and painful and nostalgic whenever he starts reminiscing the past.
The train ride had being remarkably short, too short perhaps, only because he was caught in a chain of flowing thoughts, he was starting to feel lonely. Normally during a time like this, Bakura would talk to him, their exchange would not be productive or agreeable, yet at least there was someone to keep him company, to be left alone was really depressing. Ryou had always wanted to oppose to the fact that sometimes, sometimes he might just have enjoyed Bakura's company. But he wonders if Bakura feels the same way, of their contradictory relationship that only the both of them could explain.
Upon reaching the congested area, Ryou wonders how on earth he was going to find Marik, but apparently, it wasn't very difficult since blond and lavender really stands out in the crowd, pressing his way through the human traffic, "Marik!" He cried his name in the loudest voice he could manage to capture his attention.
Marik, in response turned his head towards Ryou's direction and gave him a little wave, two tickets in hand, "Ryou! You're here!"
"Yah! I'm sorry about the wait." Ryou apologized, uncomfortably crammed like canned sardines as people grazed his shoulder when they pass. Bakura, who would normally complain about this mass assembly, was instead like before, wordless. But Ryou tries to overlook this negligence, finding himself being too uneasy over this superbly long aloofness.
"Its fine, I have just reached too, come on, let's go!" Marik chirped, hoping to sound cheerful because once turning his back, he nibbled his lower lip, a little worried after comprehending that Ryou was still wearing the millennium ring, even after that incident.
Marik gripped onto Ryou's wrist in order to prevent separation and manoeuvred their way through the flooding humanity, "So which ride are we taking first?" Ryou inquisitively asked, clumsily being allowed to drag along, carelessly running into people.
Pointing to the gigantic structure excitedly, "Let's go take the roller coaster!" Marik exclaimed, leading Ryou to the attraction.
The queue was horrendously long so Ryou suggested on coming back later, but Marik insisted that it'll be fun, having a docile nature, he went along with Marik's request without further arguments. He was waiting for Bakura to yell at him for being too submissive always but this time, there wasn't any complain, Bakura didn't shout at him and Ryou wonders what was wrong. Did he really do something that angered Bakura? He couldn't help but to furrow to himself and Marik noticed.
"Are you alright? You seem kind of sad" He asked.
Shaking his head, "it's fine, really." Ryou replied, not wanting to trouble the already concerned Egyptian.
"It's not…" Marik frowned and persisted for a truthful answer, "Come on, tell me."
A little reticent, Ryou spoke through sad, half lidded eyes looking at the ashen concrete floor while he gently placed his hand on the millennium ring, "its Bakura-" caught in midsentence when the crowd moved forward and it was their turn to get on board, with the park keeper rushing them, Ryou was forced to leave his statement unfinished.
Fastening their seat belts as the safety bar lowered to their waist, "Grab on tight passengers, the ride is about to start!" he announced as he pulled the lever.
The engines rumbled and jerked to a slow and rough start, climbing the steep vertical rails and when it reached the highest point, it came to a little halt. Gravity will soon drag them down, plummeting them back at the acceleration of ten meters per Second Square. Ryou instinctively grabbed onto Marik's hand as they were falling, his shoulder length hair being put into disarray by the wind, entangling them into messy locks while the surroundings were disorientated into a swirl of unfocused colours. After that, they were being tossed around in random directions at a high speed on distinct fluctuations and sudden sharp turns.
He had loved thrill rides. This was the life supposedly to be pursued by an average teenager, enjoying their adolescence in mindless games and wasting their life on a meaningless seek for excitement, this was the childhood which Bakura had deprived him of, and which Marik brought back.
Laughing as they jolted to an abrupt stop, "That was fun!" Ryou exclaimed, brushing a strand of white out of his eyes when the duo exited from the gates, together with the rest of the crowd.
"Hey, come on, let's go get something to tie those messy hair up, Ryou, you officially look like a madman escaped from the mental institute."
Ignoring Ryou's side of the argument and their hands still interlocked, Marik conveniently dragged him into the gift shop where the hairbands are located, the section frequented mostly by girls. And naturally Ryou was embarrassed, waving his hands as he backed away,
"You're kidding right?" He said, sceptically.
Seizing Ryou by the wrist preventing him from escaping,
"Come on, pick one before I choose it for you, and beware, I'll get the most girly one!" Marik insisted, pointing to the frilly pink ribbon speaking teasingly. Ryou knew that this wasn't going to be fruitful; sometimes Marik could be rather relentless once he's decided on something. Unwillingly, Ryou browse through the columns of girly accessories,
"Marik…" Ryou remonstrated, "Do I really have to?"
With an encouraging nod from the Egyptian, the answer has being decided, Marik was going to get Ryou a hair tie regardless of whether he likes it or not. "This one isn't that bad" Marik proclaimed, removing the turquoise band with two alternate coloured skull charms attached. Marik was right, it does look kind of pretty, and if Ryou was actually girl he would love it in fact, yet, he's not. There was nothing but abashment surging through his blood when Marik gripped a portion of his hair and fastened it up in a messy, high ponytail,
"It suits you!"
"Ahh, Marik is this supposed to be a joke, people are looking…" Ryou mumbled, burying his flustered face in his palms as Marik guided him to the counter. Nudging Ryou gently on the side, "Lighten up, you're so cute!" Marik casually commented.
But Ryou was fuzzy inside; no one has ever called him cute before, he knew it was a compliment; the first compliment he had received after a decade. And unlike Marik, Bakura would never flatter him because he was nothing more than an eyesore.
Bakura, which has yet made any comments despite this while…
His melancholy was quickly washed by a new flood of bashfulness when the salesgirl giggled at them, probably laughing at the teenage boys' foolishness. "Yes, it does look good on you." She commented whilst accepting the crumpled bill from Marik.
After leaving the store, they continued their venture into the undying crowd of suffocating death. There had being simply too much people, but of course, this little set back wasn't going to prevent them from having fun.
There were so many interesting attractions to ride and sites to visit and pictures to snap, spending time with Marik was really enjoyable, the light-hearted Egyptian whom was so easily amused with his surroundings, it had temporarily made Ryou forgot about Bakura, forgot the perpetual lone that dwells in him and the fear of being deserted. But happiness was never meant to last just like how memories were meant to be obliterated. When the setting sun slowly paints the sky burnt sienna, the crescent moon shyly removed its veil, and darkness will shade this world once again.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
Their connection was like the day and night itself. Contradictory, illogical and absolutely unable to tolerate, yet was imprecated by the infrangible bond they shared.
"Dusk is beautiful isn't it?" Marik cooed tenderly as they were brought to the highest peak of the Ferris wheel.
Dusk; the placidity of all creation as everything seemed to tranquilize in its wake, a perfect merge between both day and night, but it was also the vivification of forlornness, reminding Ryou that soon, Marik would return home to his own family, and that he would be abandoned again with the unresponsive Bakura. Begging silently, "Please, just answer me…"
"Ryou? Geez, again with the emotional look. What's wrong?" Marik stretched his hand and knocked once on Ryou's head, bringing him back to reality.
"I…"Ryou hesitated, wondering if it's best that he don't say anything since it would annoy Bakura, but again, he was disregarding Ryou all day so maybe by irritating him, will get Bakura to talk to him again.
"Bakura… Bakura is ignoring me all day."
Then, there was this really glum look on Marik's face before he lowered it,
"Marik…?" Ryou timidly murmured sensing that something was off.
Clutching his hands as Marik avoided eye contact, "Ryou…" Marik mumbled in response, cutting off his sentence and bit his lower lip, seemingly to be vacillating and in a low and husky voice, "Ryou…"
"Bakura is dead."
The unpleasant feeling of illusions falling apart and reality cascading mercilessly on him was unbearable, leaving in denial all this while. Of course, life itself wasn't benevolent, it was distasteful and cruel.
Frankly speaking, Ryou knew this, he was present during Bakura's final minute, when Bakura looked at him gloomily and smiled, he remembered the inaudible thank you muttered from Bakura's lips when he fades into the abyss. Yugi killed him… But Ryou has being rejecting all of these deplorable memories until his sanity was no longer clear, until Ryou was living under a delusion whereby Bakura was still alive.
Because he loved him… Love; he had never managed to express, not even until the final moment when Bakura was going to leave him, forever. And now, the pain of wistfulness had finally encouraged him to deny, denying the cruel predestination that forcefully separated them.
It was a fact that Ryou was aware of, but in negation and Marik had painfully brought it back…
Like before, Ryou could only cry, this wound which would never be alleviated of losing half his soul… It hurts… It truly hurts because everything had felt so empty; the millennium ring and his heart. The vacancy which no one was able to fill and to cure the despondency that was hastily devouring him.
He was in Marik's arms, crying into his chest as Marik gently stroked his head. Holding Ryou really close, "Nobody said that it wouldn't hurt losing half of you…" He whispered sadly, "It is not going to be alright either…"
"But, Ryou, if you allow me, I'm willing to share your woe."
"Let me suffer with you."
"Because I've loved him too."
Option path:
1.) Continuum with the current story, (potentially be turned into angstshipping)
2.) Re-select starting point.
a) Classroom
b) Infirmary