There are a couple time skips this chapter, so just to say to everyone, it is in the same point of view as it was before the line (aka the time break) occurs, unless otherwise stated.

Chapter 13

Ryou's POV

How did I take control again? I didn't even see it coming… Everything happened so fast. It felt like a push, then a flash of light, and then here I am, in Lucy's room again, standing in front of her. I stumbled a bit after changing, but Lucy was able to catch me, and help me regain my balance. She seemed to be running at me before I had changed back. I wondered why, but I didn't ask that. Not specifically. "Are you okay, Lucy?"

"Me? You're the one who just nearly collapsed!" I couldn't tell if that was her being kind and modest, or if she was trying to keep the subject off of her.

"I'm alright…" though, truthfully I felt a little light-headed. I had changed places with my Yami a countless number of times before. When we first switched, I had felt almost like this. If felt like a motion-sickness. He shoved me out…that's not like him.

We ate dinner, and it was a good night. Over time, my head began to feel better, and by the end of the night I was back to normal. "The food did me good, I think," I told Lucy with a smile, happy that my headache had subsided.

"You seem better. You also seem a little less pale."

I turned to her abruptly, almost shocked that she would say something like that, "I'm always pale! If I'm out in the sun for more than a half an hour, I start to burn!"

She burst out laughing, and as she did, I said under my breath, "I like it when you laugh…" I felt myself blush a little. "I wouldn't mind hearing that more."

She was still giggling a bit, "What was that, Ryou?"

Suddenly a jolt erupted through my entire body, and I started to get a headache again, only this time it was horrendous. I closed my eyes and held my head between my hands. When I opened my eyes, there he was. Fists clenched, back hunched, ready to pounce. His eyes bloodshot, piercing through me, and sending chill down my spine. He looked ready to kill.

My eyes never moved off of Bakura's crimson ones. I couldn't look away if I wanted to. "Nothing, Lucy…my head is starting to hurt again…"

"Oh, well then you should sit down, Ryou," and she guided me to her bed again, and sat me down. She sat next to me. "Do you want an aspirin? I think we have some…it'll help." She gave me a look of innocence and of hope… I had that look once.

"Sure. Thank you." She went off to get it and some water. I couldn't help but let a groan of pain escape my lips as I leaned forward and held my head once again. I looked up, Bakura was still there, just watching us…watching me. Bakura was only a spirit, having been dead for thousands of years. Yet, I could have sworn I heard him panting. It was almost as painful as my headache that Lucy couldn't see this. Not that I would want her to see this… I feel like a schizophrenic though. I don't know if this is real or not sometimes…Self-doubt is not a rare occurrence to me.

Lucy had returned and gave me the medicine, which I immediately popped into my mouth, then she handed me the water. She doesn't know how grateful I am for this. After I swallowed the pills, I looked up, and Bakura had gone, but my migraine still lingered.

"Are you coming down with something, Ryou? Are you sick?"

"In a sense…" she responded with a confused look, which made me grin and think of how cute she could look without even trying. Following that thought, I felt my stomach churn. And now I know why… "I should turn in, Lucy. It's getting late, and I could use the rest…it's been a long day."

She looked disappointed – sad, even. I don't want to go, and no amount of harm my Yami could bring to me could change that feeling. Lucy was the first real friend I've ever had. She knows my deepest secret, and she doesn't think of me as a freak. She hasn't left me…she's still here.

"Alright, Ryou…I'm sorry you're not feeling well."

She helped me stand and we started to walk. She walked in front of me, and held my arm to keep me stabilized. The wind was bringing the scent of her hair into me. She smelled of exotic fruits and freshly-fallen rain. My sight was becoming obfuscated. I took in one last breath before I fell…

Bakura's POV

I can't take this anymore! "Ryou!"

The boy was finding himself still. I forced him into his soul room, and I think he knew it was only a matter of time before I intervened.

The room was childish – it had always been so. With toys still on the floor, scattered everywhere, books of different sizes on shelves, a single bed with unfolded blankets… Doesn't he ever clean? "What the hell are you doing?!" I yelled at him, my rage climbing to its peak.

"Me? What about you?" he had the nerve…! "I was spending time with Lucy, talking to her! Was this not your plan? Did you not tell me to be with her tonight at her home? Why are you doing this? Standing in the corner, like a shadow, waiting to emerge for the kill, you have no right—!"

"Indeed I do!" His anger was obvious, but he was hiding the truth. He forgot I could read his mind. He forgot that I could see what he sees, feel what he feels. I can feel his emotions for Lucy growing. "Your feelings for Lucy…stop them."

Ryou looked dumbfounded, "What?"

"You heard me, Ryou, and I warned you before: we do not have time for such ridiculous things as love!"

His face turned to scorn, "Are you telling me that, or are you telling yourself?"

I could not help but laugh at his failed attempt to turn the tables, a practice I had perfected in my lifetime, and continue to do so in this millennia. "When do you think was the last time someone like me ever had such feelings as love?"

Returning to his look of innocence, he said, "Surely you must have…at some point?" he had the look of a child looking for a ray of hope in a dull situation, as most do…all except me, for I knew better. "What about your family? Your village…?"

My fury escaped me and spread like fire in a dry field of hay, "DON'T! You DARE…bring up Kul Elna!" Ryou began to back against the wall. "You don't even deserve to mention it!" I spat. I am close to hitting him. I can feel the rage well up within me to do so. Save the rage…save it for those who deserve it. "Don't ever talk to me like that again, or I will make your life a living hell."

"Fine…I'm sorry. I know your life is your business. I'll leave you be," and with that, it was finished.

Ryou began to walk out of the room. "Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm going back to Lucy, since she's probably worried out of her mind that there's an unconscious body in her room."

"Oh no you're not!" I said, walking to the entrance and blocking his path, nearly stumbling over a scattered train set on the floor, "You're not going anywhere!"

"What?" he sounded, again, like such a child, "You said I could be with Lucy…"

"That was before I realized that you are developing feelings for her. No, you're going to stay here and clean up this bombsite."

"Well then why do you keep dragging me in my room when you have a room to your standards that we could use?"

That question reminded me of Lucy, and how she had asked about my soul room, "You are never to go into my room! It's not a place for the likes of you, nor anyone else, for that matter."

"Well, what about Lucy?"

I glared at him through thin eyes, "What about her?"

"She still wants to talk to me…"

"Well, she'll have to settle with me," I concluded.

"But—"

I gave him no time to speak while I commanded his body once again.

I awoke to find myself lying on her floor. Lucy was leaning over me, her arm blocking my vision of her. She gently laid a wet cloth on my forehead and began to dab at different areas of my forehead and my temples. She didn't notice I had opened my eyes.

She sighed, and under her last bit of breath, she said, "What am I going to do with you?" A part of me thought she knew that this is what happens when no soul is in control of this body.

She dipped the cloth back into a bucket of water, pulled it out, and twisted the rag and let the excess water fall back into the bucket…she still hadn't noticed I was watching her every move. The water drops falling into the bucket reminded me of my past…the secret waterfall I would go to with…wait… "Lucy?" I had let her name escape my lips.

Still straining the water, she turned to me, her long brown hair flowing with her every movement, "Bakura? What happened to Ryou?"

There was a slight twinge in my chest when she asked that, "He turned in for the night. Just like he said he would."

"Oh…alright. I thought he meant 'go home' when he said 'turn in,' but I should be used to surprises when it comes to you two." She chuckled as she ended her sentence. "You could have at least lied down first instead of trying to walk and change. I barely caught you in time before your head hit the floor…"

I sat up, putting my weight on my arms as I leaned back, "It seems as if you don't want my company."

"No, don't think that… Of course I want your company," The way she said that sent butterflies to my stomach…What is this? "I just don't want to keep trying to catch you, because I usually miss."

There was a period of silence after that. Lucy had laid the rag down, and I had leaned my head forward to rest. "Hey, Bakura?"

"What?" I asked, sudden alertness in my voice after nearly falling asleep from the peace of the room.

"Tell me about your past."

My head jolted up and eyes widened, "Why do you want to know?"

"What was your life like? What was Egypt like all that time ago?"

What should I say…? "Egypt was…hot."

She smirked at that, "I'm being serious! What was it like…to be free?"

I felt a queer and confused look slither over my face, "How do you know I was free?"

"You…you have that kind of spirit with you…that you were free, physically…"

"And what about emotionally?" I asked, bitterness in my voice, and curiosity taking over the conversation. Surely she doesn't know that I was never free…and I never will be until my task is complete.

She turned away, her hair covering her face. She seemed to shy away from me, which isn't like her. She's not like that…what is she hiding? "Lucy."

She jumped a bit and turned back, her blue eyes looking into mine for a few seconds before she looked away. "Emotionally…you seem…trapped. Plagued by something… I'm not asking you to tell me what that is, if you don't want to tell me. I'm here if you ever need to talk to somebody…other than Ryou."

"I'll consider it," I said, leaning forward, "What do you want to know?"

"I want to know what your life was like. What did you do? Why do you hate the pharaoh?"

I turned my head away to the door. I could feel a slight breeze on the back of my neck from the open window. "Five thousand years ago, I was a king of a different perspective. I was the King of Thieves. Both respected and feared, I was unstoppable…" I glanced over at her; she seemed to have a whole new fascination for me. "In my youth, I had belonged to a village known as Kul Elna—"

"Kul Elna?" she said, jaw dropping, "I know that name…"

Confused, I asked, "How? It isn't found in any history book…I've checked…"

"I had a dream about it." I felt my heart beat faster as she said those words. Was she…? Was she part of my past? Is that what Marik meant? I knew Lucy… I know Lucy.

"Tell me about it," I said, eager like Ryou was on Christmas morning when he was eight years old and he still had a family. I am also fearful. I'm not used to feeling a sense of weakness.

"I had it…the night before I met you…"

That's odd. "I was raised to believe dreams never lie; they tell an alternate truth." She gave me a perplexed look. "Continue," I encouraged.

"I was…on a desert. I was stranded, and my clothes were ripped…I don't know what had happened prior to that… I remember…there was a man," my eyes snapped at this, "He was tan…well-toned…" she started to blush, "dressed in a red robe…and he had white hair like…" she paused, looking up, directly into my eyes, "like you…"

My heart was beating rapidly. My hands were shaking. I was in a fight or flight position, and couldn't fight this…! "Lucy, I have to go. I have to prepare for the Battle City tournament tomorrow. I need to rest in order to stay vigilant."

She continued to gawk at me. Does she know? She knows it's me…or she has an idea… should I tell her? I should tell her. But if she knows anyway, so why bother telling her? "Answer me this…" Oh shit… "Was there anyone else in ancient Egypt with a similar appearance to the one I just described?" she raised her eyebrow at me. Ra, she is adorable…wait, what?

I shook my head to snap me out of it. "Lucy, there is no other man who looks exactly like this," I gestured at myself with disgust, "except for Ryou. White hair was uncommon back then…but so was red hair, and Ramses the Great was red-headed." I'm starting to ramble? What is wrong with me?!

"So…the man in my dreams…was that you?"

I couldn't do anything but panic. Of course it is! I wanted to say. We were connected somehow, Lucy. I think we still are. All things I could say…but I can't. "I have to go," I sounded calm still, though my lying is rusty.

I stood up and walked to the door, or I started to, when Lucy stopped me. She grabbed hold of my arm, her hand warm to the touch. "He had violet eyes…with a scar under his right eye…" she said, her voice barely audible, "Why do I feel like I know you, when I've never seen you before in my life?"

I didn't turn back. I knew if I did, I would never leave, and I would have to answer her truthfully. My line of vision stayed at the door, and nowhere else. "I don't know. And I don't have the time to wonder why." I shook free of her grip and walked out of her room. She didn't stop me this time...

Ooh! Do I detect a hint of jealousy from Bakura? Or is he really just trying to "stick to the plan"? What do you guys think? Thanks for reading! You guys are SO awesome! :) Please, please, please leave any comment you like. I miss hearing from you guys. I want to make this story as awesome as possible!