Yami Yugi

The situation was worse than I had originally feared. Unfortunately, nothing could be done at the moment. I had to wait for an opportunity. Bakura had mentioned returning to school. That would make it easier for Yugi to keep an eye on him and watch for anymore strange behavior.

I was able to sense Bakura’s lack of energy while he was with Yugi. This allowed me to come to both good and bad conclusions. The good news was that if he was weak, Yami Bakura was as well, and so, was limited. This meant that we had more time to prepare. The bad, however, was that Bakura seemed unnaturally weak. Much the same way that Yugi was when I over-used the power of my millennium puzzle. This meant that even though he was weak, Yami Bakura was very active when it came to using magic. Yet the millennium ring itself (the source of his power), didn’t seem to be affected. The millennium items do not have limitless power. If he was using magic, the ring should have revealed some sign of it to me. That is, unless he had another power source… If he did I couldn’t sense it. But that didn’t mean that there wasn’t one. It just meant that if there was one, it was so drained of power at the moment that I couldn’t sense it. I didn’t see how he could possibly have another source of magic. I knew of no other powers besides the millennium items, and the only other one we had come across, the eye, was supposed to be buried with Pegasus in America. I just couldn’t piece together this puzzle. I couldn’t make sense of it…
 
 

Yami Bakura

Damn that Yugi! He was getting too involved. No doubt that Yami Yugi had him snooping about. There was greater risk now. I had to be careful. I could no longer use my false form. Even a moment in it left me vulnerable. There was also something else. A vast majority of my strategy against Yami Yugi required me using Ryou’s body. With him as a hostage and two millennium items at my disposal, I had quite an advantage. Plus, the emotionally attached Yami Yugi didn’t want his host to be hurt, whereas I didn’t give a damn what happened to mine. Unfortunately, if I was going to use Ryou’s body, I needed it healthy. This meant I couldn’t hit him. Which was hard not to do, considering how angry I was with him.

<How could you be so stupid?!!!>

<I…I’m sorry.> was his only reply.

<First, you allowed him to stay too long, and then you tell him that you will return to school tomorrow without even asking me! I said nothing about allowing you to return to school!>

<But Yami, I have to!> he pleaded. <It will be too suspicious if I stay away any longer. Yugi probably came in the first place because it was strange for me to miss so much school.> He was being entirely too bold. I really wanted to put him in his place, but I couldn’t. But I couldn’t let him know that either. I had to rely on tough talk and empty threats.

<HOW DARE YOU ARGUE WITH ME!!!> I felt Ryou cringe. So far, so good. Ryou quieted down. Unfortunately, he did have a point. The damage was done and Yugi was expecting him to return. Nothing could be done at this point. <How do you intend to hide the eye?> I asked, still making myself sound threatening.

<Same way I did today.> he said, submissively. I had succeeded in intimidating him. <Make excuses for the bruises, not that anyone will ask me.>

<I certainly hope they are better excuses than the ones you had today.> I said harshly. The boy couldn’t even lie right. There was no hope for the kid. How had I ended up in the body of a person like this?

<Yes, sir.> he said. He paused for a moment, then <Yami?>

<What?>

<What if the millennium eye activates at school?>

<Heaven help you boy if you let anyone find out. Heaven help you…>
 
 

Ryou

Well, I had won one battle, though I wasn’t about to brag about it. I was being allowed to return to school. Yami Bakura had begun his mental yells and insults as soon as Yugi had left. But surprisingly enough, he didn’t hurt me. I wasn’t about to push him, though.

The millennium eye activating in school was a concern. It had activated once before with no warning; I supposed that it could do so again. At least now I would know what it was. But that wouldn’t help with the pain of all those thoughts screaming in my head. If the problem should arise, I would have to find some place where I could be alone until it passed because I doubted I could hide it otherwise. That may be a problem in a school filled with hundreds of other students. But I was willing to accept the risk. Anything to keep Yami Bakura from blowing all my energy on that blasted eye everyday.

The following morning I prepared to return to school. I managed to find some hair spray to help keep that eye covered (I was right. That DID sting. But the eye was healing quickly.). Somehow the night before I had managed to catch up on my schoolwork and clean up the mess of blood. I guess I was just trying to get my mind off of other problems. My father had called as well, just to check up on me. I told him I was fine. I hate lying like that.

The walk to school was fairly uneventful. Yami Bakura was dormant, so I was truly alone until I reached school. As I expected, no one, save Yugi and his little gang of friends, noticed I had been gone. They were friendly enough. They greeted me and joked with me about playing hooky. I knew they had to have noticed the bruises, but they didn’t mention them. Partly, I was grateful not to have to come up with anymore explanations, but I wondered what Yugi had told them.

I felt the warm glow on my face, and quickly turned away. Oh, no! Not already! I prayed that they didn’t see. But most of all, I prayed that Yami Bakura was still dormant and hadn’t noticed the eye’s activation. He said “I told you so” with a fist.

“Something wrong, Bakura?” came Anzu’s voice.

{he’s acting strange; Yugi said he may seem weird; what’s up with him; now what is it}

Judging from this I guessed they hadn’t seen. But I had to get out of here, and fast. I could already feel more voices creeping up and the pain was starting. I tried not to cringe. I quickly glanced at the classroom clock. Fifteen minutes until class started.

“I’m f-fine,” I stammered. Then I faked a few coughs. “I just need some water. Be right back.”

I walked out of the room, but as soon as I closed the door behind me, I ran for the bathroom. The pain was coming fast. The flood of voices…

{I wish I had stayed home; I wonder if homework will be checked; I shouldn’t have stayed up so late; is he flirting with me?}

I reached the bathroom and ran in. Luckily, no one was in there. I locked the door and found the corner furthest from the entrance, where I was less likely to be heard if I failed to repress a scream. I held my head and gritted my teeth. It didn’t help, but it was all I could do to keep from yelling out loud. I fell against the wall and slid to the floor. I cowered there, trying to keep from passing out.