Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Darkness of Heart ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

Key:

(“Bakura to Ryou, mind speech”)

(“Ryou to Bakura, mind speech”)

“Bakura speaking through Ryou”

“Normal Speech”

`Normal Thoughts'

-----------

 

- Part I-

February 12; 9:45 PM

 

 

Whenever it happened, Ryou would feel strangely drained, as if the energy had been sucked right out of his body; and in a way, that actually was what happened. The dark presence, not being able to create a physical body of His own, would absorb any amount of power and life that He could out of His host's body and use it to temporarily free Himself. The body He was able to create was nothing more than a shadow; a specter that only Ryou could see, but that anyone else could hear and feel.

 

Ryou knew that He was still angry from being refused control of their joint body earlier that day, and he should have guessed sooner that the deranged part of his mind would try and break free again that evening. However, because He was making Himself His own type of body, there was nothing Ryou could do to stop Him; he could only sit back and watch helplessly as the Voice, now embodied by a human-shaped shadow that looked like a more sinister version of His host, did as He pleased for the limited time He had free of Ryou's mind.

 

The nineteen-year-old was sprawled on his bed, feeling too exhausted to even move. He could see the creature, which was in fact a personification of the pent-up desires he himself held for Anzu, smirking wickedly. The specter moved effortlessly to His host's side, reaching out a transparent hand and placing it to the pale face of the human boy.

 

(“You are tired. Sleep.”)

 

Ryou trembled as the ice-cold fingertips brushed against his skin. “Don't touch me,” he hissed.

 

(“Why so bitter?”) He asked, the conceited smirk never once leaving His face. He continued to caress His host's cheek; immensely enjoying the disgusted reaction it elicited from the white-haired boy. (“Your anger is misdirected.If you must hate someone, then it should be yourself that you loathe. After all, it was you who created me, was it not?”)

 

Ryou cringed, trying to move his face away from the shadowy hand. The Voice chuckled heartily and grasped his chin forcefully, forcing him to look up into those brown eyes that were both deadly and lustful.

 

(“You are scared,”) the specter observed, crawling onto the bed. (“And you should be. I could very well kill you if I desired.”) He appeared thoughtful for a moment as He placed His free hand on the boy's chest and slowly trailed it downwards. (“But I think it would be a waste of perfectflesh if I killed you. Aside from that, I would be without a host if you were to die, and that would truly be a pity.”)

 

(“What do you want from me?”)

 

The dark one laughed again, pressing His cold lips against the human's ear. (“You know very well what I want, Ryou; youjustrefuse to let me have her.”)

 

Ryou clenched his eyes together tightly, pushing against Him. It was no use; since He was only a shadow, He was unable to be touched... but He could still touch whomever and whatever He pleased.

 

(“I won't let you have Anzu. You can never have her, and neither can I.”)

 

There was a loud sigh. (“Is that the way you truly wish for things to be? I could help you, Ryou. I know you desire the girl just as much as I do, so why is it that you refuse to take her? With my help... if we worked together, then she could be ours. It is foolish of you toturnme away... The more you try to fight me, the more out of reach the girl becomes. If youcontinue torefuse becoming one with me - not just in mind, but in body as well- then it will be impossible for you to win her over. Face it, Ryou... you need me in order to attainher. Why don't you accept it? The sooner you acknowledge that as the truth, the sooner she can be ours.”)

 

`She can never be mine,' Ryou thought sadly. (“Even if we were to become one like you say, Anzu could never belong to us. She would never love me the way that I love her. She believes me to be her brother, and that will never change.”)

 

(“No... Wecan change it,”) the Voice explained, wrapping tendrils of His ghostly form around His host's body. (“We can makeher ours. We can claim her so that she can belong to no one besides us.”) His voice was low and seductive as He spoke into the boy's mind. He could feel the boy's resolve weakening, and could almost taste how much Ryou wanted to give into Him. (“Be one with me, Ryou,”) he proposed. (“Become one with me, and together we can see to it that the lovely maiden gives us the love we yearn for.”)

 

The promise was too good to refuse, and Ryou wondered if it was actually the truth. He wondered if the dark presence would actually help him. Even though almost a grown man, the white-haired boy was still extremely naïve... almost as trusting of people as Anzu was.

 

(“Anzu... I want her to be mine. I really do.”) The shadows continued to encircle his frail body, and he was no longer resisting them. (“The only reason I'd do this is because I love her.”)

 

(“Then you have nothing to fear,”) the Voice purred. (“Trust in me... Trust in me...”)

 

Ryou felt his eyes roll back as his body was filled with strong surges of dark energy. He couldn't believe that he was actually giving in, after all the years he had fought to keep Him at bay. He couldn't forgive himself for what he was doing, for the danger he was now putting Anzu in, but it was now as if he couldn't stop himself from letting Him possess their joint body.

 

`Anzu...' he gasped, turning his head in the direction of his bedroom door. The brunette was most likely in her room, fast asleep and dreaming innocently of a bright future; she had no clue what was happening in the room right across the hall of her own, no clue of the hell her life would be turned into if the dark presence was able to completely overwhelm Ryou's spirit. `Anzu... I... I can't...' He moved one of his trembling arms out towards the door, trying to grasp something that was not there. `Anzu...'

 

A ghostly hand slid down the outstretched arm, and freezing fingers intertwined around Ryou's own.

 

(“You have nothing to fear,”) the Voice said again.

 

`No... I can't do this. I can't let Him control me! I can't let my feelings for Anzu get this out of hand! I won't!'

 

(“Ryou,”) He sounded angry. (“Why are you resisting me?”)

 

Summoning all the strength he could, Ryou tore his hand out of the shadow's and rolled himself off the bed. The dark energy left his body and he was left weak and quaking on the ground. He ran his hands over his arms and across his face and chest, making sure that no part of the shadow was touching his skin any longer.

 

(“What are you doing, boy? Are you still fighting me?”) The specter stood from the bed. (“After all that I have offered to do for you, you still refuse to join with me?”) A bitter smile spread across his face. (“You are even more of a fool than I thought. But fine, I will go along with your decision for now. Do not think, though, that I have given up. One way or another I will get you to become one with me, and then I will take the girl as my own.”) With that threat spoken, He vanished back into the recesses of His host's mind.

 

Ryou breathed heavily and rose to a sitting position. He still had very little energy inside of his body, so he could not bring himself to push up onto his bed. He just wanted to stay where he was and try to forget about the encounter between himself and the Voice. He didn't want to remember that he had almost given in to Him, and had almost jeopardized the life of the one he loved more than anything.

 

His brown eyes closed softly, and he leaned back to rest against the side of the mattress. In a matter of moments, a sleep full of unrelenting nightmares captured him.

 

 

- Part II -

February 13; 6:32AM

 

 

By the next morning, most of Ryou's strength had returned to him and he was able to prepare for school without easily tiring out. While he went through his typical morning ritual of brushing his teeth, washing his face, combing his hair, and dressing into his formal uniform, he was left undisturbed by the dark presence that lurked inside of him. His thoughts were uncharacteristically peaceful and quiet and, more importantly, his thoughts were only his own.

 

After finishing in the bathroom the nineteen-year-old clothed himself in the comfortable blue pants, white shirt, and blue jacket that made up his typical weekday attire. He stood in front of the full-length mirror that was attached to the back of his bedroom door and carefully fastened each button of his jacket, being mindful not to miss one. After that task was completed he regarded his reflection casually, making sure that he looked as prim and tidy as he did every day.

 

Once satisfied, he left his room and descended the stairs to the kitchen of the Bakura house. He found Anzu already waiting for him and sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast. She smiled fondly at him when he entered the kitchen table and offered him the remainder of the egg omelet she had been consuming. He declined politely and she frowned, finishing off the meal herself and then rising to place the now-empty dish in the sink.

 

“You're tired,” Anzu stated as she washed the plate.

 

`“You are tired. Sleep.”'

 

Ryou shuddered, recalling the dark Voice's words the previous evening. He suddenly felt icy cool hands dancing across his skin and he absentmindedly wrapped his arms around himself in a vain attempt of protection. “No,” he said to the brunette. “I'm fine.”

 

Anzu looked unconvinced. “You have bags under your eyes. Did you not sleep well last night? Maybe you should go back to bed and rest for a while longer. We still have about an hour before we have to leave for school.”

 

“I said no!” Ryou snapped, his russet eyes narrowing dangerously and his hands squeezing his arms tightly to the point where his nails left imprints on his pale skin.

 

The brown-haired girl gasped, taking a step back. Her heartbeat increased and her blue eyes were wide with fear. He had yelled at her again; Ryou wasn't one to raise his voice, but lately he had been acting far more aggressive towards her. Why? She turned her face away and fixed her gaze on the white-tiled floor of the kitchen. “O-okay,” she whispered finally, dropping the subject. “W-would you like something to eat?”

 

The white-haired young man stood from the table and walked over to the refrigerator. He grabbed a carton of milk and poured himself a tall glass to drink. He then reached into a nearby cabinet and pulled out a bottle of pills. He removed two painkillers and popped them into his mouth, drowning them down with the milk.

 

Anzu frowned when she noticed the pills. “Big brother..? Are you sure you're all right? Do you have a headache or something?” she wanted to know. She moved forward and placed an arm on the older teen's shoulder; she hoped to bring him whatever comfort she could if he was in any sort of pain.

 

“Or something,” Ryou echoed, closing his eyes momentarily. Hearing reminders of what that Voice had said was beginning to make his head throb, so he had taken Tylenol in hopes to make to make the thoughts go away. “We should get going soon,” he said as he placed his cup in the sink and rinsed it out.

 

The brunette nodded her head silently and exited the kitchen to go and find her backpack. Ryou watched her leave and sighed, running a hand through his hair in order to keep his bangs out of his eyes. `Why did I yell at her? All she did was worry about me.' He exhaled again. `I feel like I'm turning into some sort of monster. Even when He is dormant inside my mind, I act so differently... What is wrong with me?'

 

“Okay, big brother. I'm ready to leave,” Anzu spoke as she re-entered the room. Hitched over her shoulders was an ugly, olive-colored book bag and replacing the indoor slippers she had been wearing previously were a pair of black outdoor shoes. “Shall we go? We can pick up some muffins or something on the way, since you didn't eat any breakfast.”

 

“I'll be fine,” Ryou assured her. “Let me get my things.” He hurriedly climbed the stairs and entered his room at the end of the second floor hallway. His black backpack was lying innocently on the floor, packed with all the necessary books and supplies that he would need for the school day. His shoes were also on the floor right next to the bag. He slung the backpack over his left shoulder and took the shoes in his hand before going back downstairs.

 

Anzu was standing near the front door, holding two packed lunches in her hands. Ever since Mrs. Bakura had passed away, the brunette had taken it upon herself to perform morning duties such as preparing homemade lunches for both herself and for Ryou. She put her heart into every meal she made - especially the ones she cooked for her dear elder sibling - and always loved to see the people's reactions to her food; she almost always received positive feedback, of course.

 

“Ready?” She asked, her blue eyes sparkling with the specks of morning sunlight that shone through the curtains covering a small window on the wall. She reached to him and softly grasped his hand. She smiled when his fingers instinctively closed around her own and she opened the door for them. “C'mon.” She led him outside, pausing a moment to lock the door behind her, and then began dragging him down the street.

 

Ryou fought hard to keep down the blush that threatened to engulf his entire face. He glanced nervously from Anzu's face to their adjoined hands; he always felt so uncomfortable touching her like this. Even though they were intimate - well, more intimate than a brother and sister should be, at least - he still couldn't stop himself from feeling weird... and not because it grossed him out, either, because it definitely didn't. He felt pleasured whenever his skin came into contact with hers; it had always been that way... and even though he accepted it, just as he accepted his feelings towards Anzu, it never ceased to frighten him.

 

He closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the sound of his own footsteps against the pavement. Anzu was chattering enthusiastically about how the principal of their school had asked her to show around a new student that would be arriving on this day. He was he was lost in his thoughts, but he tried to pay attention to what she was saying so that he'd be able to answer if she sprung a question on him.

 

“... He's from Egypt. Isn't that exciting? I can't wait to ask him questions about his culture... It must be so different from ours, after all,” the brunette chirped. “He's starting school as a senior, so I was a bit confused as to why they didn't choose an upperclassman to give him a tour of the school. Principal Ito said that I have the best people skills out of all the others in the student council, and also that my grades and extracurricular activities display our school in the most positive light. Principal Ito says it's all about the first impression, and he thinks that I'll make a great first impression on the new student. I was so flattered that I didn't even say anything!”

 

Ryou smiled gently and squeezed her hand. “Well I'm not surprised the principal chose you. You are an amazing person, Anzu,” he said, staring at her intently.

 

Anzu's face flushed with embarrassment. “Oh, come on!” She shook her head in disagreement. “I'm just an average student. There's nothing amazing about me.”

 

The white-haired boy remained silent after that, the light smile still present on his pale face. The brunette continued to babble on in a carefree manner, only stopping momentarily when they boarded their bus. The two stood together at the very back of the bus, respectively leaving seats open for the elder passengers who had boarded with them.

 

The bus ride seemed to drag on forever, mainly due to the fact that the large vehicle had to stop every few minutes to pick up and let off more rail users, and the two Bakuras were glad to finally arrive at their school. They both removed their outdoor shoes and slipped on their indoor school slippers, and then they parted for the day after promising to meet each other at the usual spot at the usual time after school let out. Ryou headed off in the direction of his homeroom class, and Anzu made her way to the principal's office to meet the new student she would be escorting during the day.

 

 

- Part III -

February 13; 8:10 AM

 

 

“Ah, Miss Bakura; we were waiting for you to arrive.”

 

Anzu smiled and bowed respectfully to the principal of Domino High School. “I'm sorry if I was late,” she apologized. “My brother wasn't exactly feeling... like himself, this morning,” she explained, recalling how he had spoken so harshly towards her in the kitchen.

 

Principal Ito shook his head. “Quite all right, Miss Bakura.” He waved his hand at someone who was sitting in one of the chairs of his office, and the brunette wondered how she hadn't noticed anyone else in the room before. “Miss Bakura I would like you to meet our foreign exchange student from Cairo, Egypt: Mr. Malik Ishtar.”

 

The brunette took a step forward, extending her hand to the new student and also taking the moment to sweep her eyes timidly across his form. He was tall, she noticed right away; probably taller than Ryou would ever be. He wore no uniform slacks and jacket; instead he wore loose-fitting black cargo pants and a short-sleeved navy T-shirt. His arms, she observed with delight, were toned and richly tanned, and she could only guess that his chest and legs were just as well-built. An unruly mop of sandy-blonde locks made up his hair, and his eyes were an unforgettable shade of lilac.

 

He rose from the chair he had been occupying in one graceful motion and gently took her hand in his own, bowing slightly to her. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bakura,” he said, flashing a dazzling smile. His teeth were brilliantly white when compared to the darkness of his skin.

 

“It's nice to meet you too,” Anzu said, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. She returned her hand to her side and looked over at the principal for further instruction.

 

“Mr. Ishtar has already been given his schedule and locker accommodations. Books have already been placed in assigned classrooms for him, so the only thing you need to do, Miss Bakura, is give him a tour of the school. You are exempt from any work you may miss in any of your classes,” Principal Ito informed as he sat down at his desk. He picked up a folder and handed it to the brown-haired student. “This is a copy of Mr. Ishtar's schedule.”

 

Anzu took it and thanked him. The Principal then excused them and allowed the two teenagers to leave the office. The brunette turned her attention back to Malik. “H-how do you like Domino so far?” she asked with a smile, hoping to start a conversation.

 

Malik shrugged his shoulders, glaring down at his schedule. “It's okay, I guess,” he replied. “I guess it's a little better than Cairo, since it's not as hot all the time, but I do miss my sister.”

 

“I understand. It must have been hard to leave your family behind,” Anzu said. “I think it takes a really strong person to be able to do that.” She looked down at the wristwatch on her right arm. “School begins promptly at eight-ten every morning, from Monday through Friday, and lets out at three-o'clock. Domino High is one of the fewer schools in Japan that doesn't have mandatory classes on Saturdays, so we get a two day weekend,” she told him, changing the subject for a moment.

 

She saw him nod his head through the corner of his eye. “Let's see...” she took out one of the sheets from the folder Principal Ito had given to her minutes ago. Her azure orbs scanned the paper quickly. “Your first period class is Anatomy and Physiology with Professor Nagasawa. The classroom is located in the science wing, which is in this direction,” she explained, changing directions and heading down a corridor which led to a different section of the school.

Malik followed her, a bored expression on his face. Clearly he wasn't all too eager to get to his first period session. Anzu noticed this and stopped in the middle of the hallway, offering him a smile.

 

“It's okay if you're nervous,” she said, mistaking his silence for anxiety.

 

The Egyptian laughed. “Nervous? I'm not nervous. I'm just not a big science fan, that's all. It's probably my least favorite subject, so I'm not exactly enthused by it being my first class of the day.”

 

Anzu giggled. “Oh, well, that's understandable too. Everyone has a class that they don't particularly enjoy or that they don't do well in. For me, it's world history.”

 

“You don't like world history?”

 

“I don't like any type of history in general. There are too many dates and names to remember.”

 

“That's sad, because I'd have to say that history is my favorite thing to study.”

 

Anzu's face flushed slightly. “Well I guess that makes us opposites. My favorite subject is any type of science,” she joked.

 

Malik grinned and nodded his head. “Yeah, well, you know what they say: opposites attract.” He received a nice blush from the girl as a reply and he began walking further down the hallway until he reached a certain door. “Six-seventy - this is me. What class do you have now?” he asked her.

 

“Chemistry. It's in room six hundred, right around the corner from here. After the bell rings we can meet in this hallway and I'll walk with you to your next class.”

 

“Okay, sounds good.”

 

Anzu bit her lip, trying to think of something else to say. She wasn't used to talking to boys that much, aside from Ryou. All her friends were girls. She had never felt a need to socialize much with members of the opposite sex; but now, all of the sudden, after conversing for a short amount of time with Malik she found herself wanting to speak more with him.

 

“See you after class,” she blurted out before hurrying away to the Chemistry room. Since there was no one else in the hall she was able to hear him opening the door to his class and enter the room. She sighed softly when she knew he was gone and held a hand over her heart.

 

That had been harder than she first figured it would be. But now she had a whole class to figure out any questions she wanted to ask him, so she would be able to talk with him a lot longer. That thought made her happy for some reason.

 

 

- Part IV-

February 13; 3:27PM

 

 

Ryou was worried more than words can express. Almost a half an hour had gone by since school had been released for the day, and there was still no sign of Anzu. He was beginning to worry that something might have happened to her. It was ridiculous for him to think that something bad could have happened to her on school grounds, but he couldn't help but be concerned. He loved her, after all. If anything happened to her, he didn't know what he would do.

 

He pushed away from the wall, ignoring the calls over several of his classmates as they yelled for him to come and join the game of basketball they were going to set up. She crossed his arms over his chest, feeling the same anger from earlier that morning build up inside of him. He didn't know why Anzu's being late upset him so much. She was probably busy. After all, she was involved with the student council, and she had had to show that foreign exchange student around the school. Maybe she was still giving him a tour.

 

`Oh... I almost forgot that the new student's a guy,' he thought, frowning. The fact caused him to become even more upset. The familiar waves of jealousy began churning around in his stomach and Ryou could feel himself becoming sick. The Voice was laughing malevolently at him in his mind.

 

(“If you had let me become one with you, I would have been able to stop her from showing around that boy. Now she's late to walk home with you because she is with him.”)

 

(“You don't know she's with him. She could be with Jounouchi-san, or Nosaka-san, or any other of her friends.”)

 

The Voice made a small humming noise of disbelief and said nothing more. Ryou pressed a hand against his forehead as a sharp pain erupted in the back of his skull. He closed his eyes tightly and sucked in his breath, willing himself to hold on and to not collapse in front of the school doors.

 

(“I do not like this little game you are playing, boy,”) the Voice spat. (“Allow me to take control of the body. Let me find Anzu and bring her home with us, where she belongs.”)

 

(“N... no. Go away.”) Ryou hissed, beginning to walk away from the school.

 

(“Do not make me force you into submission. I will take the body against your willif I must...but I would much rather have to just cooperate with me.”)

 

 

Ryou forced himself to ignore the Voice and continued walking away from Domino High. He stopped moving only when he saw several of Anzu's best friends gathered at the front gate conversing animatedly with one another.

 

“Nosaka-san,” he called out softly.

 

A pretty girl with lavender-colored hair turned around immediately after hearing her name addressed. A small smile formed on her face when she noticed the white-haired upperclassman and she politely excused herself from the discussion. “Hello, Bakura-kun,” she greeted, her violet eyes radiating warmth. “I... I saw you in the hallway earlier today, at the crossover between Language and Maths. I waved.” Her cheeks turned a light shade of red.

 

Ryou didn't take much notice of the blush. Miho Nosaka had had a large crush on him ever since he had switched over to Domino High; he had learned to ignore it by this point. “I saw you,” he replied, giving a polite smile. “I'm sorry I didn't wave back. I was a little preoccupied.”

 

“Oh, I understand,” Miho said, nodding her head.

 

“Nosaka-san... you haven't, by chance, seen Anzu around, have you?” the brown-eyed boy asked. “We're supposed to walk home together after school. I haven't seen her come out yet. Did she stay behind in her last class?”

 

Miho shook her head negatively. “No, she didn't stay behind. She left already.”

 

The nineteen-year-old blinked several times. “She... she what?” he questioned, not quite understanding her statement.

 

“She left already,” the purple-haired girl repeated. “She took Ishtar-kun to Burger World right after eighth hour let out. I saw her walking past the school gates with him when I was heading towards my locker.”

 

Ryou felt as if his heart had suddenly stopped beating in his chest as Miho's words hit him with all the strength of a speeding bus. `She actually... she actually left me so that she could take some stupid new guy for a burger? She didn't... she didn't even tell me. Why would she do that? How could she do that to me?' His eyes narrowed slightly and his left hand clenched tightly around the strap of his book bag. `How dare some new guy try to take her away from me like this... and how dare Anzu actually give in to him?'

 

“Bakura-kun...?” Miho ventured, her brows creasing in worry. She didn't like the expression that was forming on her long-time crush's face. It was dark and frightening, so very different from the usual peaceful look he wore. “Bakura-kun, are you all right? You don't seem too well. Maybe you should go home and rest,” she suggested.

 

As much as he knew he should, Ryou didn't necessarily want to fight back the powerful surges of dark energy that threatened to overtake his being. Without saying another word to Miho, he took off in the direction of the school gates. He hurriedly left school property, and he could sense the dark presence gaining more control with each step he took. At this moment, he couldn't care less. All he wanted to do was locate Anzu and take her back home with him.

 

He wouldn't stand by and allow some arrogant new student to woo her out of his hold; he wouldn't let her be alone with any man besides himself. She was his; she was his, damn it! He wouldn't allow anyone she to have her. She belonged to him, and no other man would steal her away!

 

His breathing was ragged and harsh, and he had to stop several times to catch his breath and to keep from fainting on the spot. The dark presence, surprisingly, helped him; He gave His host the strength he needed to continue walking.

 

Ryou halted when he arrived at a crosswalk. From his standpoint he could easily spot the brightly-painted building that was Burger World, and through the windows on the outside wall he could clearly see two figures sitting together at a small booth laughing happily. One of the figures he recognized instantly - with the glossy, shoulder-length brown hair and the crystal-blue eyes, the girl who sat at the booth could be no other than his Anzu. The other occupant of the booth he had never seen before. No doubt that the handsome, tanned young man was the new student, Malik Ishtar.

 

He growled, feeling the dark energy coursing through him with more force than before. As much as he wanted to struggle or run away from the spot - as much as he wanted to keep the dark presence from taking over - he didn't do anything. He simply stood there, idly observing the sign of the crosswalk turn green, and felt as his consciousness was brutally ripped from his body and thrown somewhere where he had no control over anything.

 

Everything was suddenly as dark as the blackest of nights.

 

And all the while he could hear the Voice laughing insanely - extremely pleased with His newly-attainted power over their body.