A Story for a Line

by Dark Angel Bakura

Basically identical to my series "A Story for a Word", except each chapter is based on a quote. All chapters are still Bakurae-centric. Generally will be rated T for language, blood, and occasional swearing. Non-yaoi. Chapter 10 - Strongest. "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars." - Kahil Labanese

7. Power

"He who controls others may be powerful, but he who masters himself is more powerful still." - Lao Tzu

Pain usually accompanied the blackouts, but today was worse. Today, he had reddish dirt in the cracks of his skin. But he knew it wasn't reddish dirt. He switched his train of thought to avoid remembering what he must have done. He scrubbed his hands clean and looked at the clock, the calendar. Last he remembered, it was evening. Now it was early morning. Next day. Okay.

He took a deep breath. School was in a few hours, but he wouldn't be able to get any rest. He was too jittery. The Spirit must have been put in danger again. The adrenaline was too much. So Ryou put on his coat (which he most definitely did not leave in a pile by the door.) and walked outside. The security guard in the lobby nodded at him. "Going back out?"

Ryou nodded. "Can't sleep." He explained. The guard laughed.

"If I had a nickel every time you've said that to me, I'd be rich." He waved Ryou through.

Ryou laughed back. He had never said that to the guard before now.

He crossed the road into the park just across from his apartment building. It was small but secluded, with a short path along a cherry tree grove.

Too bad all the cherry blossoms were dead.

In the safety of the seclusion, Ryou took a deep breath. He was himself now. The Spirit might be in control of him, but Ryou was in control of himself as well. He was breathing steadily, he was calming down his heartbeat. He could feel the Spirit prickling at the corners of his mind, but Ryou concentrated on his slow, steady breathing and his slow, steady heartbeat. He couldn't control the Spirit, but he could control himself. He was calm, he was steady.

The prickling grew stronger. The Spirit wanted to rile him up. He felt panic and fear rising in his chest. With a slow breath, Ryou wiped the feeling away. It was just a feeling. No actual danger. The Spirit could do whatever he wanted to Ryou's mind, but Ryou knew that he could fight.

Best of all, He could win.

A/N: Because Ryou needs to win at least a few battles!