Untamed
Ryou always found it hard to understand how people mistook Aiyana for Amunet.
Sure, their coloring was very similar and they shared the same body shape, but beyond the physical they weren't anything alike. Aiyana was quiet and dignified and unwilling to stray from her constant place at his left side, occasionally pressing her nose to his hand for reassurance. Amunet was loud, crude, and more likely to be wandering at the very edge of their bond limit than anywhere near Bakura's side as she tested the limits of what they could handle.
Maybe his friends just weren't paying enough attention to their behavior, but how could they not sense the wildness that emanated from every pore of Bakura and Amunet's being? Jackals weren't tame. They were practically the embodiment of not tame, not domesticated, not safe. Sure, one might come and lay by your fire if it were convenient for them, but at the first glimpse of another opportunity they were off and you were lucky if they didn't tear your throat out as they left.
It hurt, to think his friends could believe that Bakura's violent wildness was a part of him. But always, every time they approached, their eyes would briefly dart to the canine padding at his side, wondering who was in control. It hurt that others thought they were that similar. They were nothing alike!
… Right?
Gone Soft
Bakura always hated it when people got Amunet and Aiyana mixed up.
They never seemed to see past the physical similarities, never really realized who the core of their being was.
Amunet's gorgeous brown eyes held a keen intelligence and the ever-present fires of a burning will to survive, to conquer, to thrive despite everything the world threw at them. Lean, hard muscles and a battle-scarred coat proved her ability to survive when thrust against the world. Aiyana was much softer, much more passive, her not-as-gorgeous brown eyes filled with a quiet warmth instead of Amunet's fire.
It hurt when people would look at his daemon and not see the sharpness of mind and body that made them a well-honed weapon, mistaking them for their ever weaker other halves.
They were wild and untamed, no friend of man or beast. They definitely weren't a dog, and anyone who suggested they'd gone soft were likely to get thrown to the Fiends.
After all, everyone else is wrong. They have absolutely nothing in common with those weaklings.
Right?
Sides Of The Coin
Set long after the first two
"The Bakuras are here." Kioku's voice in his ear made him turn to the white-haired pair walking down the street.
The ability to temporarily embody themselves was a privilege the half-souls were taking advantage of as often as they could, Yami and Bakura especially. Now, looking at them walking down the street, Yami had to smile.
Did they even realize how effectively they mirrored each other? From clothing to behavior to daemons, the two seemed to be total opposites at first glance- until you looked closer and saw the similarities.
Yes, Bakura's long black coat contrasted with Ryou's white sweater brilliantly, but they were both wearing identical pants and shirts underneath. Ryou's quiet strength might be masked by Bakura's almost overpowering presence, but both had steel in their spines and enough power to back up that determination. And as for daemons…
The wild canine and domesticated dog walked beside their humans, exactly in step with their nails clicking on the concrete in the same rhythm. They were similar in coloring and shape, though not in attitude; Amunet walked with a jaunty spring in her stride, tongue lolling out of her mouth to expose sharp white teeth and feral eyes glinting madly while Aiyana was much more dignified, controlled… But there was no mistaking the sharpness of her gaze, quietly wary but still ready to spring into action at any moment.
Control and wildness, reserve and boldness, domestic and wild. Two sides of the same coin. Light and Dark, Hikari and Yami. Like all the Mages they existed in a delicate balance, and seeing the two finally stable in their bond was one of the greatest pleasures Yami could imagine.
As slender fingers interwove with his and pure amethyst eyes met his, he knew his own partner felt the same.
Author's Note:
I love the Bakuras. Their dynamic is fun to write and challenging to get them both in character.
Daemon Explanation Time!
Amunet- Egyptian for "hidden", Golden Jackal. I feel that one's pretty self-explanatory. The Golden Jackal is the specific species native to Egypt, and they are the only jackal to exist outside of Africa. In Egyptian cultures the jackal was associated with death, but in Indian folklore they were seen as tricksters and servants of gods, much like the fox is portrayed in Native American tales.
Those of you who have been following this may have noticed that I changed Ryou's daemon- Aiyana is no longer a Pharaoh Hound, but a sable-colored Siberian Husky. I was never happy with her form originally- she and Amunet didn't really look alike- and then I started researching the various colors Huskies could be found in and discovered the Sable coloring. If they have no white patches, a slender sable husky can end up looking a lot like a large jackal from a distance.
Aiyana- "eternal bloom", thought to have either Native American origins or to be an alternate spelling of the Somali name "Ayanna" which means 'beautiful flower'. An acquaintance of mine goes by this name on a forum and I liked its similarity to Amunet.
I hope you enjoyed, review if you feel like it!
SS