Hey! Sorry it's a few hours late! I had to work... Anyway I hope you like this chapter as this one like chapter 6 damn well annoyed me! I keep editing it. But now, this is the finished result! I hope you like it! :D

Many thanks and cookies to Poseidon's-Princess, Shadow fairy princess, sorecess of the nile, moi and MonaLisa20 for the reviews! I really love hearing from you all and I'm so happy you think it's a cute story! ^^

WARNING: Shonenai and some language in this chapter

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yugioh! or A Christmas Carol

Chapter 8

Bakura groaned as his eyes came into focus. Did he just dream that? Bakura shuddered. No, it felt too real. But didn't Ryou always tell him dreams usually felt real? Bakura growled to himself slightly. He wondered whether Ryou drugged the whole damn place with this 'Christmas Spirit' that Ryou always told him to feel. But as his thoughts went wondering back to what he'd seen, whether it was real or just a dream, it still annoyed him in his mind. His past and Ryou's past. Why was Ryou's past in this? Was it because his hikari is his reincarnation? There's no doubt that Ryou had a troubled past and Bakura knew nothing of his hikari's past that was just shown to him. It was strange considering that he thought he knew everything about his hikari. With everyone abandoning him, it was a wonder why Ryou didn't turn out like Bakura, as he too lost everyone he knew and loved. Bakura shook his head. He couldn't keep thinking like this! Ra damn it! If he wanted to hate Christmas, then he was going to hate it! And no one is going to stop him feeling that way! Spirits or no damn spirits!

"What are you so smug about Akefia?" An amusing deep voice boomed all over his room. Bakura's eyes widened as he turned round so fast that he forgot he was on the edge of his bed and he fell off again with a yell. The voice sniggered as he saw Bakura struggle to get up. When Bakura managed to get up, he stopped as he stared across the room at the only man he had ever respected and hadn't seen in years. Bakura now realised that his mother was right; he did act like his father just by looking at him. He was leaned against his wardrobe with his arms folded and a smirk was in place across his features.

"Father." Bakura acknowledged as he too leaned against the wall and folded his arms involuntary. Damn old habits die hard. He saw that he was neither solid nor transparent like his mother and if it was possible his father's smirk widened.

"How little you've changed, yet you've grown so much." Bakura rolled his eyes.

"So I heard." His father beckoned Bakura towards him. Bakura's eyes narrowed, but out of old habit of respect for the man spirit, he went to him. His father held out his arm and Bakura touched it. He wondered what his father was going to show him, thinking it couldn't possibly be worse than what his mother just did. As Bakura's eyes focused, he realised that he was currently in the Pharaoh's house. He turned to his father with blazing eyes.

"What the fuck are we here for?" His father narrowed his eyes.

"You dare take that tone with me Akefia? I am the ghost of the Christmas Present; you will be shown what it is now." Bakura scoffed and went to walk towards the front door.

"No aibou! I am not letting you go this time of night! It's Christmas Eve and it's like a blizzard out there!" Bakura froze as he heard Yami's voice and it was coming straight for him.

"Let me? What's that supposed to mean? I am going Yami whether you like it or not! Malik is going too! We want to see what's going on as Ryou didn't seem like himself tonight! I'm sorry, but we have to!"

"No! The thief is only going to hurt you if you go there now! Our best bet is to wait until the blizzard has settled and I'm sorry aibou, I'm not letting him near you tonight of all nights! You know how he is, even to Ryou, his own hikari! He's getting worse every damn year and there will come a time I will have to step in and do something about it." Yugi stared at Yami, then looked out the window, which Bakura mirrored. He groaned. More snow? It looked like he was trapped in the house tomorrow! Yugi turned back to Yami and sighed.

"I know Yami, I'm sorry, it's just I worry about Ryou. I mean he has to put up with him and well you know how Ryou feels for Bakura." Bakura's eyes widened. What did his hikari feel for him? Yami nodded.

"Phone Malik and tell him that we'll all go together tomorrow, so if Bakura puts up a fight at least we'll have a chance with Marik and myself to stop him." Bakura's eyes narrowed at these words. Wasn't Marik his friend? Seems he was mistaken. He saw Yugi about to protest, but he turned back to the window and seemed to consider for a moment. With a sigh he turned back to Yami and nodded. His father touched his arm without a word. The scene started to change.

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As the scene came into focus, he saw that he was in Marik and Malik's home. Malik and Marik was arguing heatedly, only it seemed to be at a different angle than the one the Pharaoh had with his runt.

"But hikari-pretty, I don't think now is a good time." Malik's eyes narrowed

"And why the fuck not?" Marik looked desperately at his hikari.

"Because I like Bakura, even though he's a more cruel and selfish than I am, I still like him!" Malik scoffed.

"So you choose Bakura over me do you?" Marik looked crestfallen at being made to make a choice. Bakura looked at Marik and realised something, so Marik will turn against him because Malik will force him to choose. Bakura sighed. He should of realised that this would happen.

"I'll always choose you Malik-pretty." Marik said finally. Even though Bakura was expecting those words, he still felt the blow of losing his only friend. It seemed that Ryou was the only one who was on his side. He stared down feeling slightly hurt and angry. His father touched his shoulder again in silence, as once again the scene changed.

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Bakura heard laughter and he looked up, he saw Yugi's living room and everyone, including Ryou was there except him. Bakura's eyes narrowed as he realised this was the Christmas party that Ryou invited him to earlier. They all looked relaxed and happy, Bakura saw Marik look a little disgruntled, but then again when you're in the same room as the Pharaoh without being allowed to kill him, then he would disgruntled too.

"So he just refused to come?" Bakura heard Yugi ask Ryou incredulously from across the room. Bakura turned and gasped as he saw his hikari nod and look upset, everyone was looking at Ryou in sympathy.

"Yeah, he also sent all my old Christmas decorations to the Shadow Realm." Yugi, Malik and Joey gasped.

"All of your mother's stuff including the golden star?" Yugi asked shocked. Ryou nodded, while Malik growled.

"That bastard! The name Scrooge suits him perfectly!" There was a ripple of laughter that echoed through the room, except from Marik of course who just looked confused.

"Whose Scrooge?" Marik asked. Malik giggled

"Oh just a character from mine, Ryou and Yugi's favourite Christmas story 'A Christmas Carol'. The main character is Scrooge is a rich, arrogant man who lives alone." Marik nodded his head at this.

"Sounds like Bakura, only without the money part. He steals." Yami rolled his eyes.

"Yes. But old habits die hard."

Ryou looked a little upset at this. Bakura watched as Malik went and hugged him. The room went eerily silent as they watched the two hikaris.

"Hey. It's okay. At least you tried to get him into Christmas." Ryou bit his lip as tears threatened to fall.

"I know. But I just don't know if I can take it much more. I've lost everything to do with my mother and sister. As much as he makes me angry I can't just leave him! He's my yami and I love him."

"Ryou, if he hasn't noticed now, I don't think he ever will." Yugi said softly.

"He's right Ryou; I don't think the thief even knows how to love." Yami said harshly. Bakura's eyes widened as the words sunk in. Ryou loves him? That was his hikaris feelings for him?

"But how is Ryou going to survive without him? Isn't the whole point that the light can't live without darkness and vice versa?" Joey asked. Yami looked thoughtful.

"Well Bakura can certainly live without light, he has proven that in the past. But does Ryou have the strength to live without his darkness?" Malik and Yugi looked at each other and they looked terrified of the thought of not being with their darkness. It was what made them feel whole and complete. Bakura watched in numb shock as Ryou looked up at his friends and nodded.

"I will… try to live without him. I see I have just become a burden to him now." Ryou's voice broke and Bakura's eyes went so wide that he almost looked like his respective hikari.

"No..." He whispered. Yugi and Malik looked at each other uncomfortably.

"Are you sure? I mean, even I couldn't even live with my darkness and well... He's insane, but we're still together." Ryou's eyes filled with tears again.

"I know. But I have to try! Bakura will be happier without me…" Bakura clutched his heart. He's lost his hikari... But how did he not notice his hikari's love for him? His heart ached as he barely heard the plans to get Ryou out of there before he noticed. He looked crestfallen as he looked at his father.

"H-he's leaving me?" His father looked at Bakura sadly.

"I'm afraid so." It went into darkness and Bakura saw the ghostly figure of his father who was giving him an indifferent look this time.

"My time is up. Remember, all is not yet but lost." Bakura frowned confused as his father vanished but a scene was already forming around him as a dark, hooded figure headed his way.

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Did you like? ^^ I hope so! It's almost finished! 4 more weeks to go till it's Christmas Eve and that's when you'll get the last chapter! ^^ Review please! I accept Flames, but not insults! Otherwise Yami Marik will "suddenly" give you a hug! xD