Here's the next chapter. Enjoy. ^^
XXX
"Damn it!" Joey roared as he slammed his fist on the dining room table.
"Dude, you won the duel, isn't that good enough?" Tristan asked.
"No!" Joey turned to face Tristan and the others "Namu was Marik this whole time, he tricked us, not only that but now he's ten times more evil than before! Grr, sometimes I wish I had a millennia item or whatever to show him who's boss!"
"Joey, please calm down" Serenity begged, "You should be resting now"
"Serenity's right" Duke joined, "You did get struck by a bolt of lightning, and we're all under a lot of stress. I think we should all rest"
"Thank you Duke"
Joey sighed as he calmed a little, and nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, but still, there's so much that's bothering me right now…"
"Just forget about the whole 'Namu being Marik this whole time' issue, Joey" Mai cut in, "You can worry about him tomorrow"
"That's not the only problem here that I'm worried about, Mai"
"Hmm? Then what else is there?... Oh, is it the fact that the pharaoh's still protecting Bakura?"
"Yeah! I just don't understand it. They hate each other's guts and more. I mean…" Joey's face saddened as he continued, "He even yelled at you all, and I know that was directed at me too cause I hate the guy as much as you all do. Is he really choosing him over us?"
"No way!" Yugi joined, "The Pharaoh is not like that"
"Do explain" Mai said.
"Well, I know him well enough that I can say he's doing this to change Bakura, to give him a second chance. He doesn't want to push everyone away, but he has to in order to protect him from those who want him dead. At the same time he's still our friend. You see? He's just trying to show us and Bakura that he's not taking sides at the moment… that he's neutral"
"Ooh… I get what you're saying" Joey said, "So, do you believe Bakura can change?"
Yugi lowered his head, his eyes sad. He then lifted his head once more to look at his friends.
"I should hope so, who knows… he might actually be a nice guy in disguise"
:::
Yami had already gotten his pajama pants on, he had finished buttoning his shirt when he noticed Bakura hadn't changed into his pj's yet, the only thing that was off was his jacket. All he did was sit on the bed, arms resting on his lap as he stared at the floor. Yami couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. What the evil Marik had said to him… those words haunted Yami as well… 'Your life is in the hands of the pharaoh, don't you think I can just take it away in your sleep?' Yami's eyes narrowed, His life is in my hands… I have a responsibility to protect him from those that want to take it… though he says he trusts me, I still find it hard to believe he does… I have to break the curse as quickly as possible, but how do I know when our affection is actually taking any real affect on this curse? Yami continued to watch Bakura, worried about him, He's probably deep in thought about this as well… well, Yami thought as he walked over to Bakura, now's the best time to actually make some progress.
Once in front of Bakura, Yami knelt a little, placed his hands on Bakura's face making Bakura look up at the sudden touch and quickly pressed his lips against Bakura's. Immediately Bakura gasped as he pulled away from the kiss causing him to fall back on the bed as Yami was dragged down with him. Yami lifted himself off of Bakura, but only enough that he was on all fours staring down at him.
"What was that for?" Yami asked.
"I should be asking you that! Why did you kiss me? My life is full red, nothing is white on the leash!"
Yami shook his head, disappointed, "Don't you remember what Ishizu said?"
"What?"
"If we show affection when the leash has no white we have a better chance of breaking the curse"
Bakura did not answer. Instead he averted his eyes, or so it seemed for a moment. What he was really doing was staring at the leash in the Pharaoh's hand. Yami's eyes glanced at the leash too, then back at Bakura. He knew just what Bakura was thinking.
"Bakura…"
Bakura's attention was on the pharaoh once again, but his expression, it seemed uncaring, yet… he seemed worried as well.
"I won't force you to do this, but if we don't free you soon, then who knows what the evil Marik might do to you… and we both know I can't protect you twenty four seven"
"…I don't understand you sometimes, we're supposed to be enemies. You know if you were in my situation and I was in yours-"
"You would have let me die right away… I know"
From the way Bakura looked at Yami, it seemed as if he didn't know what to say to the pharaoh's words. He spoke the truth, Bakura would never let him live after what happened to his village. Though Yami's reasons for keeping Bakura alive in the first place was to hopefully change Bakura into someone he can trust… but reasons change, and so did Yami's reasons, some changed, some stayed the same as others piled up on another. He wanted Bakura to change, he wanted him to trust him, he wanted to show him that he wasn't the evil pharaoh he thought he was… these reasons and more came and left. Even so, Yami only wished he could see what Bakura was really thinking. If only he knew how Bakura really felt.
"Well…?" Yami said, "Do you? Or don't you?"
Bakura's eyes narrowed, "You know as well as I do that I don't… but I have to since I have no choice…"
"Then I'll take that as a yes"
Yami lowered his head to kiss Bakura's cheek this time. I wonder… Yami thought as he moved to kiss Bakura's neck, …am I too harsh on Bakura? Or not harsh enough?
Just as Yami's lips touched Bakura's neck Bakura suddenly grabbed Yami's shoulders clutching them tightly. His nails tore through the shirt and dug into the pharaoh's skin causing him to moan in pain.
"Bakura stop!"
Bakura let go immediately as the sudden realization hit him. Yami placed his hand on his left shoulder then moved his hand in front of him to see the blood on it. He frowned at Bakura.
"Why did you…?" He paused.
Yami stared at Bakura for just a moment, what did he do that was so bad that Bakura would act out like that? Does he have a sensitive spot...? Or was it because… I kissed lower…?
That was it, it had to be. His reaction must be connected to what he said earlier, about the time he spent in prison… five thousand years ago… he still holds a fear for it… and… Yami thought back to when Bakura averted his eyes from him not too long ago, the look on his face, it told him he was afraid Yami was going to let go of the leash if Bakura didn't cooperate the way Yami wanted him to. Is this what he meant when he said he 'had no choice'? Did Yami really come across that threatening to Bakura? If so, Bakura, most likely, felt he was trapped. That's not what Yami wanted, he didn't want Bakura to feel trapped… So, that's why his attitude has been changing from hate to respect, it's all because of fear…
He smiled softly before taking Bakura's hand. He could tell Bakura wanted to pull his hand away, but at the same time, he resisted.
"I told you, I won't force you to do this. Did you not believe me when I said so the first time?"
"That's not it. What in the world was going through your perverted mind when you decided to go lower!" Bakura growled.
I knew it…
"I was merely trying something a little different. I can promise you though I wasn't planning to go any lower than that if that's what you thought I was planning"
"Doesn't matter anymore… the leash has already-" Bakura stopped himself as his eyes focused on the leash in the Pharaoh's hand, "Wa… wait, there's no white…"
"That's because I'm not turned off"
Bakura gave Yami a confused, odd look. Yami's expression however did not change until he looked at his own shoulders. The wounds did sting a little, but it's not like the blood was gushing from his shoulders or anything. Still, his top was now stained with blood. Looks like I'm sleeping topless tonight… Yami began to unbutton his own shirt, not noticing the strange look he was getting from Bakura.
"...What are you doing?" Bakura asked, his tone making him sound a tad uncomfortable.
"Taking my shirt off"
"I can see that! Why are you taking it off?"
Once Yami's shirt was undone he removed it and threw it on the floor.
"Because I don't want to sleep in something with blood stains on it, besides it needs to be washed now"
Yami blinked as he noticed Bakura's bloody fingers. He stared for just a minute before returning his attention to Bakura's face. For sure he attacked me like that because he truly doesn't trust me… and, that may cause some problems in the future…
"…Bakura" Yami said, "Why do you not trust me? You say you do but it's not hard for me to see that you don't"
"I trust you…"
"No, you don't"
"Don't start a childish argument with me pharaoh! I trust you!"
"Then why do your expressions say otherwise?"
Bakura did not answer. Instead he glared at the pharaoh. Possibly mad at the fact that Yami could read him like an open book. He needs to learn to trust me better, maybe it's my fault he's finding it hard to… maybe I should show him there's nothing to worry about.
Yami's eyes lowered to the bottom of Bakura's shirt. Droplets of blood had fallen onto his shirt and stained it as well. Well, this might be a challenge… but it's a start… The last thing Yami wanted right now was to cause more stress on either of them, but the shirt had to come off… and knowing Bakura, he'd get the wrong idea for sure if Yami was the one that took it off. Yami held back a sigh before looking at Bakura's face once more.
"Take your shirt off"
"What! What's with this sudden command?"
"If you don't wash it right away the blood stains will stay there forever"
"Do you have some sort of germ fetish, pharaoh?"
Yami glared at Bakura's sarcasm.
"Why is it every time I tell you to do something you rebel? It's not like I'm asking you to hang yourself"
"No, but you're asking me to strip"
"N-No… that's not what I… uh"
"I'm not doing it"
Yami placed his hand on his face. Why must we always start fighting like this? It usually ends in something disastrous… He removed his hand from his face to see Bakura, still glaring at him.
"Then, I'll have to take it off myself"
"You lay one finger on that shirt and-"
Suddenly then Yami grabbed Bakura's wrists and held them down with one hand, at the same time he kept hold of the leash, before grabbing the shirt with his other hand.
"Why must you make such a big deal out of this, Bakura? It's not that bad!"
"It is if you're trying to strip me! You don't think I can't see right through your fake 'kind words'? I know what you're really after!"
"I'd never do something like that to you!"
"Lies!"
Yami resisted the urge to yell back. He was getting nowhere fast with Bakura and this argument wasn't doing much good. Why does he have to be so stubborn? It wasn't exactly the fact that Bakura's shirt was stained with blood that was quickly drying into it, but the fact that Bakura still wouldn't listen to him. He always seemed good for a little while, but after a minute or so he'd go spiralling right back into rebellion. Yami didn't know if it was because he'd every now and then wake up back into his view of reality and realize that the pharaoh was his enemy, or he was simply doing this just to hide his fears and weakness's from him… or maybe, to protect himself from something… a road he wouldn't want to go down again… but what road was that? Whatever the reason, Yami had to show him that he was in charge here, he was the one who controlled his life and at the same time, he cared about him, enough that he had swallowed his pride to help him in ways no other man on this blimp, or even in all of the world would do for their most hated enemy.
"Just take it off… please" Yami said, hoping the nice approach would make Bakura cooperate with him.
"Make me"
At this moment Yami was about ready to punch a hole in the wall, but, he remained calm… or, calm enough. He began pulling the shirt off of Bakura, but unfortunately not quick enough before Bakura started struggling shouting curse words that even a sailor would dare not repeat.
"Bakura! It's just a shirt! Hold still!"
"It IS just a shirt, so leave it on!"
"Why do you have to put up a fight over something so small?"
"SMALL? You're trying to strip me!"
"No I'm not!"
Finally, Yami managed to pull the shirt off of Bakura. He threw it away in time before Bakura could grab it back, but still he kept him pinned, believing that if he didn't Bakura would surely beat the living daylights out of him, or try to. Yami sighed, Finally… I just hope he now see's that- Yami's eyes grew as he looked back at Bakura's face.
Bakura wasn't exactly glaring, nor was he throwing death threats his way, but he didn't look too happy either. The anger that he was showing the pharaoh told him that if he let his guard down for even a second he'd be shown no mercy from Bakura. What will it take to calm him down?
"Bakura, stop looking at me as if I had just murdered your puppy" Yami said before realizing that that wasn't the smartest thing to say to Bakura, especially after Bakura's expression quickly changed from angry to a deathly glare as he growled furiously at the pharaoh, "Uh… sorry… I, uh… Sorry"
Yami felt even more ashamed now. He didn't murder Bakura's family and friends, but his own family did. What Yami said probably sounded cold and a little heartless Maybe I should stay away from sarcasm…
"Well?" Bakura said, eyes still full of hate.
"Well… what?"
"What? You're not going to take my pants off next?"
"Uh!" Yami blushed, "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not trying to do anything like that"
"Then get your royal highness off me!"
Yami was really getting tired of Bakura's 'king jokes', but it's not like he would shut him up, he could, but at the same time he couldn't. He has to do everything I tell him to, or so Ishizu said… but he won't listen to me. If he really has to listen to me then- Yami's eyes widened as he became aware of what Ishizu really meant. He glanced at the leash in his hand, the hand that still held Bakura's wrists down.
…I have to threaten his life in order to do such a thing… Already, Yami had threatened Bakura, but that was only because Bakura wouldn't listen to him, period. Yami only did such a thing to get Bakura to listen to him even a little. As much as he didn't like it, it was the only way he knew how to get Bakura to cooperate… but it did more damage than he had thought it would. For the most part Bakura would resist in fighting back because of this threat. I don't want to be the bad guy here… but how can I show Bakura I'm not. He truly believes I'm the main evil.
"…No" Yami finally answered.
"...What?"
"I won't get off, I'm still going to try to free you"
Bakura sighed in disappointment.
"You've already kissed me everywhere allowable without going further, what more could you possibly do to me?"
Yami smiled as he let go of Bakura's wrists. He then took Bakura's right hand and pulled it close to his own face.
"Affection can come in many forms, Bakura… but like Ishizu said, the more affection I show, the better chance of freeing you. All I have to do is get creative"
"W…What do you mean by that?" Bakura asked, trying hard not to stutter.
Yami closed his eyes then licked the blood off Bakura's finger. Immediately Bakura withdrew his hand and Yami's eyes opened just as Bakura's hand slipped out of his. What Yami saw now, on Bakura's face, was a bright red blush. This was something he had hoped to see, if he could keep Bakura like this for a long enough amount of time he might be able to make some progress with freeing him.
"What on earth was that for?" Bakura roared, "What are you planning, pharaoh?"
Yami grinned as he leaned in closer to Bakura. Bakura only stared eyes wide, blush growing as Yami placed his hand on Bakura's face.
"Ishizu did say this is like a shadow game, emphasis on 'game'… So, if that is so, I plan to play this game, and win. Now, the cute side of my affection doesn't seem to affect you so much… so…" Yami said before sliding a finger from Bakura's cheek to his chin, "Let's try the sexy approach"
"A-Are you out of your mind!"
"Probably, but ask anyone who knows me. I do what I can to win if someone's life is on the line, and I plan to win"
"You won't be able to free me overnight, you know that don't you? Besides the evil Marik will probably kill me before you can-"
Before Bakura could finish Yami immediately leaned in and kissed Bakura, not in the soft cutesy way like before, but this time, with more passion and slightly rougher. Surely enough, Bakura's blush darkened as his pupils shrunk as well. Yami's kissed deepened causing Bakura to moan into it as he shut his eyes, and as he expected would happen, Bakura tried to push the pharaoh away, but with not any success as Yami grabbed both his wrists and pinned them once more. Bakura struggled with all his might and finally, he managed to look away, breaking the kiss. Now, he only lay there panting, the pharaoh did the same.
"You… you said, you wouldn't go that far…" Bakura said through his breaths.
"I did, and I've kept my word so far, I haven't touched you in any place you'd consider, forbidden" Yami smirked, "Unless you want me to"
"You're insane… why would I allow that?"
Yami could only shrug to that question as he frowned. He looked down at Bakura's chest as he noticed his heart pounding against it. It's working, as much as I dislike doing this to Bakura I must keep going.
Yami leaned in closer once again, but not by much before Bakura suddenly screamed 'stop!'. Yami stopped where he was, his eyes grew just as Bakura had screamed.
"I can't take this anymore!" Bakura shouted, the dark blush had faded into a lighter tone, his chest heaving and his arms fighting to break free from the pharaoh's grasp.
Yami could only stare, before leaning closer until his forehead touched Bakura's. It was time for the cute side to come back. He slid his hands from Bakura's wrists to his hands as he held them softly. His eyes now as gentle as his voice.
"Ok…" Yami smiled, "I'll stop"
Bakura, at first, looked as if he was going to glare at the pharaoh, and maybe throw a couple insults his way, but he quickly changed that expression to a confused look. He calmed only a little, but that was good enough.
"Maybe you didn't trust me then when you said you did, but now, I ask… Bakura…" Yami whispered as he gently placed his hands on Bakura's face, allowing him to push Yami away if he wanted, "Do you trust me?"
Yami had to ask this time, to know for sure. He did stop when Bakura said stop, he did what he could to help break the curse, he kept his promises to Bakura. Now, he only hoped Bakura could recognize it.
"Stop faking your kindness…" Bakura finally said, though it sounded as if he had a hard time saying it this time.
Yami lifted himself enough to be on all fours staring down at Bakura like before.
"I'm not faking it. I promise you I'm not faking it"
"Well, stop trying to change me, there's no way you can make me like you so stop trying"
"To stop trying means I have to let you die… and I know you don't want that"
"…Just stop caring about me then… you can kiss and hug me all you want just stop caring"
"Bakura…"
"This is a dangerous road you're heading down, Pharaoh, not just for you but for me as well"
"Why? Just tell me, maybe I can help"
"No! I don't need your help!"
"You do, if I don't help you you'll surely die"
Just then Bakura pushed Yami off of him and quickly sat up. His glare worsened as he as raised his fist into the air and swung only to be stopped as Yami grabbed his arms, both arms to be safe.
"Let me go!"
"Why? So you can injure me?"
"What do you think?"
Why does he act out like this whenever I try to help him, every time I try to show more affection? Suddenly, then and there, the thought hit him. The reason why Bakura rebelled all those times he tried to help more and more, every time he managed to get close to Bakura's heart, He's afraid! He only acts like this when I try to strengthen the affection… he doesn't want me to care for him, because… because he's afraid I'll only betray him in the end. It was my family that slaughtered his village, it was my guards that took advantage of him, and my prisoners… I may not remember what I had done in my past, but he certainly does... this is why he won't trust me. He doesn't want me to care for him… because he's afraid I'll let him down, that I'm just pretending to hurt him even further… That must be it…
Yami softened his grip on Bakura's arms as he pulled him into a hug. One arm around Bakura's waist, and one hand on his head, It all makes sense… no wonder, whenever I tried to reason with him he'd only refuse my kindness and turn my words into something against him.
"You can trust me, Bakura. I don't remember what I did five thousand years in the past, but you do… and I know a simple apology wouldn't be enough for you, but I hope you can accept my apology… I truly am sorry"
"Why can't you understand that when I say 'let me go' that means-"
Yami tightened the hug, still holding Bakura comfortably in his arms. A small gasp came from Bakura just as Yami had held on tighter.
"Let's start over" Yami said.
"…Why?"
"My memory was erased, so I don't know who I truly was five thousand years ago… so" Yami let go of Bakura and held out his hand to him, a gentle smile appeared on his face once more, "I'm the nameless pharaoh at the moment, but you can call me, Yami"
Bakura glared at the pharaoh, of course, Yami didn't expect anything more from him, but he did hope he'd listen this one time. Surprisingly, Bakura reached out his hand for Yami's. He paused for a moment to look at Yami's face for any suspicious expressions, but the only thing he saw were his gentle eyes and smile. Bakura sighed as he looked away from Yami.
"…Bakura…" He said as he took Yami's hand.
Never before had Yami felt so relieved. The one thing he wanted to do right now was raise his hands in the air and shout 'finally!'. Though Bakura didn't give him any eye contact, it was a start… hopefully. Hopefully this time he was actually getting somewhere with him. Hopefully Bakura was actually willing to set aside his hate for Yami and let him help him. The two let go of each other's hands. Yami crawled off the bed, walked over to the dresser, picked out a pajama top and bottom for Bakura and walked back, handing the clothes to him.
"Here, you should get dressed"
"Hmph…" Bakura replied as he took the clothes from Yami, before looking over at his and the pharaoh's shirts that still lay on the ground, "What about those?"
"Hm?" Yami looked over his shoulder at the shirts that lay on the floor as well, "Oh, I'm sure someone will take those to the wash"
"Is that how it works here?"
"…I believe so"
Bakura frowned and rolled his eyes as if to say 'sure, whatever' before slipping his arm through the first sleeve. The blood on Bakura's fingers and on Yami's shoulders had dried by now, even so he still had the intention of cleaning the blood off them both. That was the last of his worries though. Right now, he had to worry about the evil Marik, what will he do if ever Yami let's his guard down? Also, Yami hadn't been able to talk to his friends as much recently, or, not in any friendly manner.
"I am a bit disappointed in something, Bakura" Yami said.
"What's that?" Bakura asked as he slipped his other through the other sleeve.
"I haven't been able to socialize much with my friends ever since this curse activated" Yami smiled as he continued, "I think it would do you some good"
Bakura began buttoning up his shirt as his eyes peeked up to look at the pharaoh.
"What would do me good?"
"If you socialized with my friends too"
Immediately Bakura stopped when he had only two buttons to go as he sat and gave the pharaoh a rather shocked and angry look.
"What! Are you mad!" Bakura shouted, "Socialize with your friends? They hate my very scent what makes you think they'd come near me let alone talk to me?"
"If I'm around they'll listen. Don't worry"
"…Nevermind, we'll talk about this in the morning, If I'm still alive that is"
Bakura's tone was sarcastic, but his words did worry the pharaoh. He barely got any sleep last night because he worried about him, and tonight, he probably wasn't going to get any sleep.
"…Yeah" He whispered to himself, "…We'll talk then"
XXX
Let's see how far Bakura's socializing skills go, eh? Wait till next update. ^^