Authors note:  In this fic, the eye did have something to do with preventing Ryou from becoming too sick with his injury. I guess I didn’t make that clear enough in the early chapters, so sorry! In the show, when Pegasus gets the eye, he doesn’t get that hurt. Yet when it gets taken, he dies or almost dies. Both procedures were done to Pegasus unwillingly. So that’s where I get this from.
 

Yami Bakura

Ryou was hiding something from me. Too much time had gone by without a single thought. I didn’t know how he was doing it, but he was. He had to be.

When I tried to assume control and Ryou fought back, I knew he was hiding something big. He knew he couldn’t stop me, but he fought anyway. He never fought like this for himself. Someone else had to be involved. Someone he felt I would find reason to harm. This could only mean one thing. Ryou had let someone see the eye.

I managed to force Ryou into his soul room. His body relaxed as the soul transition was made. I looked up to see not one, but two someones. And both Yugis at that. No wonder Ryou had fought. I would have to hurt him bad for this. My first thoughts were that of anger. Then I realize something. There were two Yugis. This meant that one was the dark Yugi in a false form. A vulnerable state. Away from his power. This was a perfect opportunity. If I could kill him now, there would be nothing to stop me from taking the puzzle. I couldn’t waste time. I stood. Yami Yugi was already looking at me suspiciously. The smaller one didn’t seem to notice the switch at all and still spoke to me as if I were Ryou.

“Bakura, are you OK?” he asked.

“Never better,” I said, laughing slightly and looking straight at the small one. A flash of understanding, followed by horror passed over his face. He knew. “Never better,” I repeated and lunged for Yami Yugi.
 

Yugi

Bakura pointed a shaking finger to my yami and stammered, “Get b-back to Yugi…Now!”

What was he talking about? Something upset him greatly. Then he relaxed once more. I thought he had blacked out again. His arms fell limp at his sides and his head bowed. I had no clue what was going on. He looked up again, but he seemed…different. He then stood. He looked at Yami and seemed to be contemplating. Yami returned the look with one of his own. Something was not right. “Bakura, are you OK?” I asked.

“Never better,” he answered with a laugh. He turned to face me. That look on his face… Then I understood. Bakura’s warning, his suddenly relaxing, this strange attitude he had now. This wasn’t Bakura. “Never better,” he repeated as he dove for my dark side.

At the same second I yelled, “Yami, look out!” Yami’s eyes widened and he quickly jumped out of the way. Yami Bakura missed and skidded on the ground and into the locked door. He cursed, but was uninjured. It was strange to hear such words come out of Bakura’s mouth. Yami realized the danger he was in while separate from me, and returned. <Yugi!> he said. <I need to take control. This is very serious!> I complied and retreated to my soul room, leaving Yami to face Yami Bakura. I could not help but worry about the outcome.
 
 

Yami Bakura

Stupid! I had been too rash and now I had lost my opportunity. I had carelessly been over-confident and caught up in the moment. I let the small one know what was going on in time to warn his other. If I could have just gotten close enough, I could have stolen Yami Yugi’s soul. Away from the power of the puzzle, he could have done nothing to stop me. But I had missed my chance. Yami Yugi was already returning to his host. It would be foolish to approach him now.

Yugi’s form underwent the slight changes that showed that his dark side was taking control. I stood and positioned myself at a safe distance, but also one that showed that I was not backing down. Millennium eye or no millennium eye, the showdown between Yami Yugi and myself was going to happen now. I was not going to stall anymore.

Soul transition complete, Yami Yugi glared at me. “We meet again, soul stealer.”

“Always a pleasure,” I returned with obvious false sincerity.

“Even with two millennium items, you feel that you need use sneak attacks. I guess I should be flattered.”

“Don’t waste your emotions. Like yourself, I am not one to pass up an opportunity. But then, you have more than enough emotions to afford wasting them. Emotions are what make you weak.”

“Only you would see emotions as a weakness. You would be surprised what an asset they can be.”

“Do not waste my time with your speeches on the usefulness of friends and feelings. Power is all that matters,” I said, growing tired of his preaching.

“Yes, I see you have made a new addition to your ‘power’,” he said. “Tell me, how much did you enjoy torturing your other? Permanently mutilating him? Making him suffer?”

“I enjoyed it immensely,” I said intentionally to anger him, my evilest smirk plastered to my face. “Heartlessness can be an asset, too. It is easy to do just about anything when you feel no remorse. Nothing gets in your way.” I could see his anger and disgust building, so I decided to push it further. “It can be quite satisfying too… even ‘fun’…”

“Monster,” replied Yami Yugi, dripping with hatred.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. Now how long are we going to stand here talking? We have a shadow game to play.”
 
 

Yami Yugi

“…We have a shadow game to play,” the evil Bakura said.

“Fine with me,” I returned. The shadow realm materialized around us, leaving the school behind. Now was the time to enforce my plan. I only prayed that it would work.

“Now, how do we settle the little matter of rules and consequences?” Yami Bakura said. He seemed confident. Too confident.

“I ask that we both separate from our hosts,” I said. If I could get him to agree to this, Yugi and Bakura would be out of harm’s way. The problem was getting him to agree.

“Now why would I do that? Why would I cut myself off from the power of both my millennium items when you would only cut yourself off from one?” he replied with an attitude that seemed to hint that I was being ridiculous.

“You and I both know that you don’t know how to use that eye. You would only be cutting yourself off from one as well.” He was very angry at this. Apparently, he hadn’t known how much Bakura had told me.

“Well, I also know that you don’t want to hurt my host, whereas I could care less about hurting yours.”

“I will not hesitate to do anything to protect Yugi,” I said, truthfully. “I am simply trying to avoid unnecessary suffering.”

“And what is in it for me to agree to your terms? What are the rewards?” He knew I would have to offer him something big for him to agree. He was savoring the moment.

“If I win, you remain in the shadow realm, never to bother anyone again,” I said.

“And if I win…?” he said, speaking as a serpent would.

“If you win…you get my puzzle.” He scoffed at this.

“Your puzzle is already on the line. That is what this is all about. I’m afraid you will have to sweeten the deal if you want me to agree to your terms.” I had expected this.

“I am not finished,” I said. “As for the game…the rules…the consequences…are all entirely up to you…”