Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ I Care ❯ Coexisting ( Chapter 14 )

Emmy: Once again I am sorry for the delay! I have a list of excuses! One: I'm working on my web site, Two: I had a sleep over, Three: I went to a party, Four: I had to help clean the entire house, Five: I'm a procrastinator, Six: I have writers block, and Seven: I have not had total access to my computer. (Struggles to get lose of binding) Can you let me go now? I've been here all night!

 

Bakura: All it took was a chair and some chains and she got right to work.

 

Raven: And no you can't go until the end of the chapter.

 

Emmy: (Pouts) Anyway, before we continue I would like to introduce you to my newest muse! Without further ado, I present to you, the fantabulous Marik Ishtar!

 

Marik: Finally I'm out of the closet! It's about time!

 

Bakura: I thought your yami was Marik.

 

Emmy: That was for the story but so the reviewers don't get confused we'll call him Malik.

 

Marik who is now Malik: Whatever.

 

Bakura: Does this mean you've replaced Ryou?

 

Everyone: (gasps)

 

Emmy: No way! I love Ryou! There's no way I could ever replace him! (Tries but fails to hug Ryou because of the chains)

 

Ryou: Oh joy…

 

Raven: Oh-we do not own Yu-gi-oh.

 

Coexisting

 

BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…BE-WACK!

 

Aly slammed her fist down the portable clock and gave a little moan. She peeked at the time.

 

7:00 AM

 

Groggily she sat up and rubbed her eyes. It took a moment for her to realize she wasn't in her bedroom. Aly's eyes darted around the new room until she remembered everything that had occurred last night. She saw Malik was stretched out, drooling in the recliner and Ryou was flat on his back, eyes shut. She watched them both for a while, unsure what to do.

 

It was a school day so she'd have to get dressed and ready. Quietly Aly slipped off the couch and blindly tip toed through the darkness.

 

“I can't see a thing,” she thought. “Wait, there's a window right over there. Duh!” Aly felt for the curtains and pulled them back. Light entered the room, blinding Aly for a moment. But it a few blinks she was already used to the light. Malik stirred so Aly quickly closed the curtains a bit. They were just open enough for her to see.

 

Instead of heading for the bathroom Aly went directly to the kitchen. Ryou's kitchen was also his dinning room but instead of a Japanese style table, like the ones she'd seen in both Yugi and Tea's houses, he had taller table much like the one she used. Aly wondered why and made a note to ask about it later.

 

“Let's see what he's got in his fridge…” Aly thought. To Aly's surprise, and dismay, there was hardly anything in the fridge. She saw a liter of soda, some cheese, lunch meat, raw hamburger, and a few old strawberries. Aly closed the fridge door to inspect the freezer, which contained some frozen lunches and canned juice.

 

“Okay, we really have to go grocery shopping. Or maybe I can just pick up some food from my house after school.”

 

Aly looked through the cupboards, inspecting each one so as to remember where everything was. She finally came across a drawer with a loaf of bred and a few packets of what seemed to be prepackaged cream puffs.

 

“Sugar senses tingling…” Aly examined the little pastries, the looked sooooooo good.

 

“Be strong! You can fight this!” she told herself. Aly could smell the sweetness through the plastic.

 

“No! Don't give in! Think of the calories! Think of what that could add up to! Think about buying a new bikini!” Aly's stomach growled.

 

“But they look so good…” she whined softly.

 

“You'll be breaking your diet again!” her conscious told her.

 

Aly could imagine the little cream puff saying, “Eat me! I'm sugary sweet!” Was she drooling?

 

“I'm sorry body but I must!” she said, opening the packet and happily taking a bite of the first cream puff. She'd make up for it later.

 

Ryou's P.O.V

 

As usual Ryou hadn't slept a wink that night. He had been pretending to be asleep till around eleven for he could tell by Aly's breathing that she hadn't been sleeping either. Ryou's own fake deep breathing, plus the calming smell of his scented candle had made it hard to refuse sleep. The coffee had worn off and his body was too tired to say no.

 

As soon as he'd retreated to sleep the haunting images had appeared before him. He'd tried to look away but it had seemed no matter where he looked he'd see Aly laying in a pool of warm, gooey blood with a knife plunged into her chest or a decapitated Yami, or even an evil smirking Bakura. He couldn't tell if he was having a nightmare or if this was still the doing of his yami.

 

Ryou awoke with a start. A high pitched squeaking sounded throughout the house, causing him to jump. His eyes scanned the room for the cause of the sound until they fell upon the electronic device by Aly's head. He exhaled, it was only an alarm clock.

 

Suddenly Aly began to shift. Without thinking Ryou quickly lay back down and pretended to be asleep once more, keeping his eyes open just enough not to see the images. He listened. There were three more beeps and then a loud thud. Aly gave a small moan and shifted under her sheets. A few more minutes passed by before he heard Aly walk across the floor and fiddle with cloth.

 

Suddenly light streamed in and Bakura was forced to shut his eyes completely.

 

A door was opened and shut. Ryou opened his eyes. Well, Aly staying with him had been no dream. The ball of worry that had been concealed by happiness earlier felt like it was about to burst. Bakura would kick Aly out as soon as he found her. Ryou had been afraid of finding her gone in the morning. She was still here but for how long?

 

Carefully Ryou felt for his link to Bakura. He gave a sigh of relief, Bakura was still asleep. Then his ball of worry grew bigger. Bakura was home! He was just upstairs! When he woke up…

 

Ryou pushed back his blanket and tip toed to the kitchen. When he opened the door he had to close his eyes. Sunlight was pouring in through an open window, blinding him for a few moments. He blinked and shielded his eyes with his hand.

 

“Morning Ryou,” he heard Aly say.

 

“Good morning Aly,” Ryou replied, eyes starting to adjust to the light.

 

“I would make breakfast for you in thanks for letting me stay here but, eh, there's not much food. Unless you want creampuffs and toast,” Aly said.

 

“Oh, yeah. I meant to go shopping a few days ago,” Ryou lied.

 

“I can save you some money and we can just pick up the food that's in my house. Some stuff's gotta be eaten or it will just end up going to waste. Back home we'd get my Grandma to house-sit but since we don't have any relatives here there'd be nobody to house-sit except me, and my parents would never let me stay by myself that long,” Aly said.

 

Ryou couldn't help but frown a bit, he lived all by himself all the time, if you didn't count Bakura. And legally nobody counted Bakura, for they didn't know he existed. Aly seemed to notice her little mistake and quickly added, “It's not like I couldn't stay by myself. I mean, you stay by yourself all the time. It's just that they're a little overprotective.”

 

Ryou imagined despite Aly's excuse she probably didn't like the idea of staying alone in her house. Why else would she have come to him after her parents had already left?

 

“We can pick up the food from your class after school,” Ryou said, as he began to make some coffee.

 

“'K. Should I wake up Malik?” Aly asked.

 

“I'll wake him up in a few minutes,” Ryou replied, as he got the cups from the cupboard. “You want a cup?” he asked. Aly shook her head.

 

“I don't like coffee,” she replied before walking out the door.

 

Ryou thought as he waited for his coffee.

 

“Ok, maybe we can keep Bakura from discovering Aly is here. Well, at least this morning. All I have to do is wake up Malik so we can all get ready and leave for school before Bakura wakes up. Oh god, why did I say yes? This was a horrible idea!”

 

Ryou quickly rushed out into the living room. He heard the sound of running water from Aly's bathroom and concluded she was taking a shower.

 

“Malik? Malik?” Ryou whispered as he shook his guest gently. Malik snored a bit but didn't awaken.

 

“Malik please wake up!” Ryou whispered again, shaking his friend harder.

 

“Just…ten more minutes Ishizu…” Malik mumbled in his sleep.

 

“Malik you have to wake up now!” Ryou said a little louder. The cause of Ryou's quietness was his goal of not waking up Bakura before they had a chance to leave.

 

Malik moaned and tried to pull the blanket's over his head. Ryou gave an exasperated sigh. This wasn't working. Looking around Ryou spotted Aly's alarm clock. That might work, if it didn't wake up Bakura as well. He quickly grabbed it and after a few moments was able to figure out how to activate the alarm. He put it up right next to Malik's ear and pressed the alarm button.

 

BEEP…BEEP-

 

“Gahah!” Malik cried, jumping at least a foot in the air. He half landed on the recliner and struggled to sit up.

 

“What the heck?-Turn it off! Turn it off!” Malik cried, covering his ears. Ryou quickly turned off the clock and put a finger to his lips as to silence Malik.

 

“You're telling me to be quiet?!” Malik cried.

 

Ryou widened his eyes and hissed, “Malik calm down and be quiet!” Malik gave Ryou an unhappy glare but was quiet.

 

“What's with the rude awakening?! Didn't I tell you about my beauty rest! `Cause let me tell you Ryou, without my beauty rest I can be a very ugly person in the mornings!” he whispered fiercely.

 

“I'm sorry but you wouldn't wake up. We have to hurry and get to school before he wakes up!” Bakura whispered back.

 

“Who's `he'?” Malik questioned. Ryou pointed to the ceiling.

 

“Bakura,” he replied. “He's asleep upstairs. We have to get Aly out of the house before he wakes up.” Malik raised an eyebrow.

 

“Why?” he asked.

 

“Because! He'll get angry and throw a fit and I don't want anyone to get hurt!” Bakura replied.

 

“Oh Bakura can be a bit of a grump but I doubt he'll throw a fit just because you're helping a friend…well ok he might but he probably wouldn't hurt anybody,” Malik said. Ryou gave Malik and astonished look.

 

“But Bakura hates Aly! He tried to send her to the Shadow Realm! Of course he'll try to hurt somebody!” Malik's eyes grew wide.

 

“Bakura tried to send Aly to the Shadow Realm?! Why?” he asked.

 

“You mean you didn't know?” Bakura asked.

 

“No I didn't! Ra, I never would have suggested you let Aly stay here if I'd known that!” Malik said angrily. “Why'd you let her stay here if you knew he hated her that much?”

 

Ryou looked at the floor sadly. “She needed a place to stay…I didn't want to throw her out…even though I knew Bakura hated her I let her stay anyway. God I'm an idiot!” Ryou replied. I little trickle of familiar sadness flowed through him.

 

“Malik is right, you knew Bakura would want to hurt her but you let her stay anyway! What kind of idiot does that?” a faint voice hissed at Ryou.

 

“But-she has that little necklace thing that protects her…” Ryou thought.

 

“Fool, when Bakura is unable to harm Aly he will harm you! He'll go after you and your other friends! Then they'll be hurt!” the voice said a little louder.

 

“I didn't think about that…”

 

“Um, earth to Ryou?” Malik asked, waving his hand in front of Ryou's face. Ryou looked up at him. “Ok, what you did wasn't the smartest thing in the world but that's no reason to get all depressed. You made a mistake, everyone does. What you need to do now is fix it,” said Malik. He got up and reached for his pants, which were behind the recliner.

“Now, let's get out of here before Bakura wakes up.”

 

“You're not going to shower?” Ryou asked, a bit disgusted.

 

“I just won't and say I did,” Malik replied, taking his Egyptian jewelry from the mantel and fastening them to their various places. Ryou stuck out his tongue in disgust, leaving his sadness behind for the moment. Malik chuckled.

 

“I also suggest you don't either,” Malik said.

 

“What?” Ryou yelped, then quickly covering his mouth.

 

“Aren't you supposed to use the bathroom upstairs now? And since Bakura's upstairs and all, if it were me, I wouldn't want to risk waking him up,” Malik replied, finger combing his hair.

 

“It's unsanitary,” Ryou replied, although Malik did have a good point.

 

“It's necessary,” Malik said. Ryou gave a small pout.

 

“My clothes are upstairs too,” he said.

 

“I can sneak up and get them for you,” Malik said. “I learned to sneak years ago so I could get past Ishizu. Anyway it would make less noise to open a drawer then to have water flowing for fifteen minutes.”

 

“Fine,” Ryou said, still pouting. “I can't brush my teeth either?” he asked. Malik shook his head.

 

“Nope.”

 

“Gross…but ok,” Ryou replied. Once Malik was done he snuck upstairs to fetch Ryou's clothing and Ryou began to put away the beds.

 

Aly's P.O.V

 

Aly pulled up her fresh blue jeans and slipped the T-shirt over her bra. As she put up her hair she looked at herself in the mirror and frowned.

 

“God… I'm fat!” she whined in her head. “My diet-whichI'vebrokenlotsoftimes-isn't working!”

 

“At my old school I never even had a boy friend. Now I've got a so-called secret admire?” Aly asked her ugly reflection as she slipped on her necklace. She'd only taken it off to take a shower.

 

“I'm still hungry...there was bread in one of those cupboards. Maybe I can have toast...Gah! Oh my, it's like some type of psycho-somatic what not! Must. Stop. Being. A. Hog! Hog…? Oh that poor girl. What kind of dude with the last name of Hog names his daughter Ima? She'd be Ima Hog. Wait! I'm getting off focus here! ”

 

“Aly?” a voice called through the door. Aly was brought back down to earth.

 

“Yes Ryou?” Aly asked, preparing to brush her teeth.

 

“I'm not trying to rush you but are you almost ready to go?” Ryou asked.

 

“I'll be done soon but school start till around eight and it's only seven-thirty,” Aly replied, glancing at her wrist watch.

 

“Uh yes, but Malik wanted to stop by his house and uh that's farther away,” Ryou said. Aly couldn't help but think he was lying. He could mess up even the easiest lie.

 

“Sure, I'll be out in a sec,” she said before scrubbing her teeth with the minty cream.

 

“I wonder if Bakura is home. I assumed he wasn't home last night but what if he came back? I bet that's why Ryou wants to get out early, so that Bakura won't see me. Thank God-and Bastet-that I have this necklace. Now I'll be able to defend myself from Bakura. It's a symbol of protection and friendship. Hey I wonder if Millie, Kara, and Erica's do the same thing. Oh-I have to tell them my plan worked! At least for now.”

 

Aly made sure she was totally ready before stepping out of the still steamy bathroom. Malik was sipping coffee by the wall and Ryou was packing his backpack.

 

“Are your books and supplies at your house? We can pick them up on the way to school,” Ryou said.

 

“Oh yes, and I need to feed my cats,” Aly said, walking over to the door and slipping on her sneakers.

 

Suddenly Ryou grabbed Aly's arm. “Ok let's go!” he cried, almost running out the door with Malik right behind him.

 

Bakura's P.O.V

 

“Had enough yet pip squeak?” the large thug asked the trembling boy in the corner.

 

“Please stop it,” the boy pleaded. The other thug gave an evil laugh.

 

“You're not such a tough guy now,” he taunted. Then he gave a kick the cowering boy. The boy yelped in pain, causing the pair to laugh again.

 

“Hey,” a voice called. Both thugs turned around to see Bakura.

 

“Whoa, I think I'm seeing double,” one thug said.

 

“What do you want Spiky?” the other thug asked.

 

“If you know what's good for you you'll get out of my sight in the next ten seconds,” Bakura replied, giving them a threatening glare.

 

“Ha! If you're anything like your friend over here we could take you down with both hands tied behind our backs,” the first thug taunted. The other thug laughed and nodded in agreement as he popped his knuckles.

 

“You have made a grave mistake,” Bakura said. With that a fight broke out. Both thugs rushed at Bakura only to run into the wall as Bakura easily dodged them. Bakura gave a punch to one thug's face and as the other charged at him he flipped the teen over his back. There fight continued, with Bakura winning. He dodged their punches and kicks, giving them bruises of his own. He gave one fallen thug repeated kicks to the stomach, laughing evilly. The other thug shakily stood up and clumsily ran out of the alley.

 

Bakura looked down at his trapped victim. “If you ever go near the boy again I will kill you in one of the most painful ways I can imagine.” He whispered in the terrified thug's ear.

 

The thug nodded rapidly and Bakura took his foot off his stomach. The thug quickly crawled after his friend. Bakura gave a satisfied smile before going over to the boy in the corner.

 

He looked to be unconscious so Bakura hoisted him onto his back and headed home. About halfway to the house Bakura felt the boy move slightly.

 

“Bakura-sama…?” the boy asked weakly. Bakura did not reply. Moments passed without another word until the boy gave a sigh. “Thank you…” he whispered. Bakura still did not reply but gave a small satisfied smile.

 

Bakura opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He hadn't thought about that day in a while. He'd almost forgotten how he'd saved Ryou from the bullies.

 

Bakura took a deep breath and got out of bed, ready to begin his day. He stepped past all of the junk of his floor and eventually got to the hallway when he noticed something.

 

Ryou's bedroom door was wide open, and in the bed was a figure. The reason this was strange was because Bakura supposed he'd slept in all day and if so why was Ryou still in bed? Bakura stepped into the room to get a better look. Whatever was in the bed was way bigger than Ryou. The size of…two people! Bakura quickly rushed over and glanced at the bedside clock. It was three in the afternoon!

 

“Alright!” Bakura yelled. “Wake up right now! Who the hell is in that bed?!” he cried. The large figure grumbled before changing its position. A few sandy spikes stuck out from under the covers and Bakura's eye grew wide.

 

“MARIK!” he roared, hitting his friend across the face. Marik yelped and swung his fist threw the air, violently trying to get at his attacker. “Marik it's me!” Bakura cried angrily.

 

Marik stopped thrashing about and took a good look at Bakura. “Bakura? Why'd you wake me up like that?!” he cried angrily.

 

“Marik, what in Ra's name are you doing in my light's bed?” Bakura demanded. Marik rubbed his eyes and grunted.

 

“You said I could go to sleep wherever,” Marik replied grumpily.

 

“So you slept with my light?!” Bakura yelled. He gave Marik an outraged glare. Marik glared back.

 

“No! I didn't sleep with your light! Ryou wasn't in his bed so I took it!” Marik yelled back. Bakura stopped glaring.

 

“He wasn't in his bed?” he questioned. Marik shook his head. Bakura frowned and turned to go downstairs. As soon as he entered the hallway he stopped and moved back. Light was pouring in from the window in the living room. Bakura cringed at the sight but forced himself to enter the illuminated room. The light was literally blinding and Bakura couldn't see a thing. There were too many spots in front of his eyes. Quickly he seized the curtains and pushed them together. Bakura blinked over and over for a few seconds, trying to get the spots to fade. When they did he looked around. The living room was normal, except there was a pile of blankets and a sleeping bag next to the recliner.

 

“One sleeping bag, and two blankets…” Bakura said quietly. He moved on to the hallway and opened the kitchen door only to be greeted by more light. “Ugh! What did Ryou do, open all the windows in the house?” he grunted. Bakura shut the kitchen door again. Something wasn't right.

 

The thief sat down on the couch and began to focus. He felt for his link to Ryou. There was tension, and worry. His light was stressed over something, but what? Bakura growled with frustration and almost asked his light through the mind link what was going on but decided against it.

 

“What are you so worried about?” Marik asked, slowly stepping down the staircase.

 

“I'm not worried. My light is up to something and I want to know what,” Bakura replied.

 

“Just because he didn't sleep in his own bed? There are blankets right over there, I bet Malik and Ryou slept down here last night,” Marik said, heading for the bathroom.

 

“There are two blankets and one sleeping bag. That's enough for three people,” Bakura replied.

 

“So what? You think they invited someone else to stay over?” Marik asked, heading for the bathroom.

 

“Perhaps, although what I want to know is who they invited over,” Bakura said, picking up a portable alarm clock from the floor.

 

“So would you be looking for clues like things that are out of the ordinary or that are here that weren't here before?” Marik asked.

 

“Yes of course,” Bakura replied, setting the clock down.

 

“Then you might want to take a look at this,” Marik said. Bakura looked at his friend and moved towards the bathroom. What he saw inside was quite a surprise.

 

“Looks like it was a girl,” Marik commented, pointing to the abandoned clothes on the floor. Bakura clenched his fists. It couldn't be. Ryou wouldn't.

 

“Hey, little Ryou's growing up if he's already got girls sleeping over with him,” Marik joked. Bakura didn't laugh.

 

Suddenly the front door opened. Bakura turned to see who would enter.

 

Ryou's P.O.V

 

They'd only been in the house one moment when Ryou saw him. Bakura stepped out of the bathroom, glaring. Everyone stopped in their tracks. They were all silent. Bakura slowly took a few steps closer. Ryou looked at the ground, but he could still feel his yami's piercing gaze.

 

“Hello Bakura,” Aly said rather calmly. Ryou looked up to see his yami glare at Aly.

 

“What are you doing here?” Bakura asked coolly. Aly set her backpack down on the floor.

 

“Well, actually I'll be staying here for the next seven days. My parents are out of town,” she replied simply. Ryou watched as his yami's glare was replaced by a look of unpleasant surprise. Whatever Bakura had already thought about the situation hadn't compared to what Aly had just told him.

 

“So, now I should probably get this food into kitchen-,” Aly took a few steps forward but Bakura stepped in front of her.

 

“What ever gave you that idea?” he asked angrily.

 

“Well, when food like milk and butter isn't refrigerated it goes bad or gets warm-.”

 

“Not...about that,” Bakura said, putting an emphasis on `not'.

 

“I asked Ryou for a favor and he was kind enough to give it to me,” Aly replied, trying to get around Bakura. He cut in front of her once more.

 

“You're not staying here,” Bakura said.

 

“Yes I am,” Aly replied evenly.

 

“Get out right this minute or I'll-,”

 

“Do what?” Aly asked. Bakura glared at her. “I really don't think you could do much of anything Bakura. Besides, it's rude to be mean to your guests.” With that Aly moved around Bakura. He shot her back a hateful glare and before Ryou could even cry out he saw Bakura lunge at Aly with all of his force.

 

Aly turned as Bakura came closer. His fist was inches from her face when suddenly he was thrown back. They watched as Bakura flew through the air and landed with a hard thump against the wall. Everyone was speechless.

 

Bakura looked quite surprised at the reaction.

 

“Bakura, don't you remember?” Aly asked. “I'm protected by a goddess now.” Aly entered the kitchen.

 

Bakura was silent for a moment before he jumped up and yelled angrily, “You are not staying here! Get out of my house!” Aly didn't reply. Bakura growled and stormed towards the kitchen. Ryou, Malik and Marik followed.

 

“I was thinking pizza for dinner tonight because I'm really not that good at cooking,” Aly said as she put away the milk.

 

“You're not staying here!” Bakura shouted.

 

“Yes I am, now what would you like on your half of the pizza Ryou?” Aly asked, looking over at him.

 

“I order you to get out now!” Bakura said darkly.

 

“I'm staying. Malik, and I suppose you're Marik, are you staying for dinner?” Aly asked.

 

“You dare defy me you miserable urchin?” Bakura cried.

 

“You don't have to be so loud,” Aly commented, then she looked back at Ryou and the others. “Well?” she asked.

 

Bakura gave another angry growl and grabbed Aly's arm tightly only to fly back onto the table seconds later. Ryou gasped as his yami rolled onto the floor.

 

“Bakura-sama are you ok?” Ryou asked. Bakura glared at Ryou and used the table to stand up.

 

“Get out of my house you annoying, little b-!”

 

“No Bakura, I already told you I'm staying for the week. What do you want on your pizza?” Aly asked, putting away the last soda. Bakura walked across the kitchen until he was towering over Aly like a dark shadow.

 

“Get out of my house or I will steal your soul,” he said in the most deadly threatening voice Ryou had ever heard. Aly was still for a moment, Ryou could tell she was afraid and so could Bakura. He smirked. Aly saw this and shook off her fear.

 

“How Bakura? Haven't you already learned you cannot harm me? Don't you remember talking to Bastet? She said she'd told you.”

 

Bakura's smirk turned into a deadly, teeth baring grimace. They stood in silence, just staring at each other. Both seemed to be trying to bore holes in the others eyes. Everyone watched with intensity.

 

“I may not be able to kill you or harm you,” Bakura said. “But I can still make your life a living hell.” Aly seemed unfazed by this threat.

 

“Do your worst,” she replied quietly.

 

Suddenly the room grew darker and much colder. Ryou watched in fear as dark shadows began to swirl around them. Bakura was taking them to the Shadow Realm!

 

“Bakura what are you doing?” Marik asked. Bakura didn't answer. He opened his palm and began to summon the shadow magic to his hand.

 

“What's he gonna do, if Aly is protected by a goddess she should be pretty safe from his attacks,” Malik said.

 

The black orbs in Bakura's palms grew bigger and bigger. Each one was pulsing with the pure darkness of the shadows. Aly looked at them with curiosity rather than fear. Bakura gave an insane looking glare and threw the first orb directly at Aly. She gave a little gasp right before impact.

 

“No!” Ryou cried. Bakura laughed madly and everyone waited. Ryou didn't breath. Bakura suddenly stopped when he realized Aly was still there. She looked a little shocked but perfectly ok. Ryou sighed with relief. Bakura grunted and threw the other orb. Once again it hit Aly but she was left perfectly unharmed.

 

“No!” Bakura growled. He summoned more energy to his hands.

 

“Uh, Bakura…it's not gonna work…” Marik said but Bakura ignored him. Bakura threw his shadow magic at Aly again and again and again but every time Aly always came out fine.

 

“Bakura,” Aly eventually called. “If you could wrap this up I need to do my homework soon,” Aly said.

 

“Shut up!” Bakura panted. He had wasted much of his energy. He stood there for a few moments, panting and staring at Aly like she was some kind of alien.

 

(Bakura-sama, are you ok?”) Ryou asked through their link. Bakura glared at him.

 

(You will pay for this!) Bakura spat through the link. (How dare you defy me? You will be punished Ryou, I can make sure of that!)

 

With that last statement the shadows began to disappear and Ryou found himself back in the kitchen. Aly looked around.

 

“Well now that that's done I think we should start on our homework. I hate math and it takes me a while to get it done,” she said. “Oh and Malik, are you and your yami staying with us for dinner?” Aly asked.

 

“Well actually,” Marik said, speaking up. “Malik, Ishizu threw me out of the house. I was hoping you could talk to her.”

 

“She's probably just premenstrual. I'll go talk to her right now,” Malik said. “I'll get back to you on that question Aly.”

 

“Get out of my house or I'll call the cops,” Bakura growled through clenched teeth.

 

“Um Bakura, I hate to break it to you but aren't you on the run from the cops? We met the police on our way to school and they thought Ryou and Malik were the cause of some freak mime accident last night,” Aly replied.

 

“I didn't really mind though, `cause it got me out of a science test,” Malik added. Bakura's right eye began to twitch.

 

“Hey Ryou can you help me with algebra. I kinda-really-don't get any of it at all,” she said with an embarrassed smile. Ryou nodded. He was too stunned by Aly's calm and cool composer towards Bakura to say a word. How was she so brave? He'd tried to kill her again and still she acted as if it were nothing!

 

Ryou sensed his yami's anger through their link and sent a feeling of regret.

 

(I'm sorry Bakura-sama, really I am!) he said. Bakura didn't reply.

 

“You're not welcome here,” Bakura said.

 

“Yes I am. If I wasn't welcome here why do you think I would come?” Aly asked.

 

“Get out,” Bakura ordered again.

 

“No. I've got homework to do,” Aly said breezily. She walked towards the door. “Coming guys?” she asked. Ryou took one last glance at Bakura.

 

(Bakura-sama, do you need anything?) he asked. Bakura did not reply. Ryou gave an inside sigh and moved to follow Aly. Malik did the same.

 

“I'm still welcome here, right Bakura?” Marik asked. Bakura nodded his head slowly but did not answer. Ryou knew it was best to leave and let him fume over his defeat. If there was one thing Bakura hated it was losing.

 

Aly's P.O.V

 

Once she sat down on the couch Aly let out a shaky breath.

 

“I can't believe you just did that,” Ryou said in aw. Aly gave him a shaky smile.

 

“Me neither,” she admitted. “But I can't let him bully me around if I'm going to live with him all week.” As soon as Aly had said it she frowned and looked away. Once again she'd said something she hadn't meant. Ryou lived with Bakura all the time and he never seemed to be assertive.

 

“That didn't come out the way I meant it to,” she said quietly.

 

“It's ok,” Ryou replied. Ryou knew he could never stand up to Bakura like that.

 

“It helps that I know I'm untouchable,” Aly added. “So I know I don't have to worry.” Ryou nodded. Aly was getting out her math book when she noticed Malik staring blankly into a science book. This was odd for his face wasn't screwed into a look of concentration or confusion.

 

“Malik?” Aly asked. He didn't reply.

 

“I think he's talking to his yami,” Ryou whispered. Aly frowned, what did Ryou mean? “Yamis and hikaris-like Malik and Marik, Yugi and Yami, and Bakura and I have mental links with each other. We can talk to one another through our minds, read the other's emotions, and much more,” Ryou explained.

 

“Oh,” Aly said. “Of course.”

 

Ryou and Aly silently worked on Aly's math until Malik turned the page of the book. It had been his first sign of movement in ten minutes.

 

“So you've decided to join us?” Aly asked. Malik looked at her in surprise.

 

“Huh?” he asked.

 

“What were you and Marik talking about?” Aly asked.

 

“Why do you think I was talking to Marik?” Malik asked.

 

“Because I really can't imagine you actually reading a science book,” Aly replied. Malik gave her a sly smile.

 

“We were talking about stuff,” he replied. “Anyway, I'm gonna go call Ishizu.”

 

“Ok. Now Ryou?” Aly asked.

 

“Yes?”

 

“How do you do algebra again?”

 

“I just told you.”

 

“I know. I didn't get it.”

 

Bakura's P.O.V

 

Bakura slammed his fists onto the counter. All he wanted to do at the moment was destroy everything in sight. The anger was pulsing through is veins, fueling his destructive power.

 

Ryou had actually had the guts to disobey him and let one of his worst enemies stay in their house for a week? Who did he think he was?

 

“Bakura?” Marik asked.

 

“What?” Bakura hissed.

 

“Who was that girl and why did you try to kill her?” Marik asked. Bakura flared his nostrils.

 

“She's part of Yugi's little crew and she's an annoying, obnoxious, stupid, bratty, soon to be dead, little girl,” Bakura replied. Bakura felt warm blood flow down his hands and realized it had been from clenching his fists.

 

“Well then why wouldn't you want her to stay?” Marik asked. Bakura raised an eyebrow. “I mean, this is your chance. You can totally annoy and torment one of your worst enemies for the next seven days.”

 

“But I can't hurt her!” Bakura cried, pounding the counter again.

 

“True…” Marik said. “But that doesn't mean you can't annoy the hell out of her,” Marik said. Bakura groaned.

 

“Me, the great King of Thieves get back at one of my worst enemy by annoying her to death?” Bakura asked. Marik shrugged.

 

“She certainly won't go. Why not give her the old Thief King welcome?” Marik asked. Bakura didn't reply. He didn't like feeling weak. Aly was immune to his attacks. He couldn't destroy her. The only person Bakura had never been able to beat was the Pharaoh himself. Now he had lost to a teenage girl.

 

“Marik has got a point,” Bakura thought. “If I can't kill, beat, punch, cut, stab, shoot, kick, choke, or torment Aly he would make this week the worst week of her life…”

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Emmy: There it is! There is you nice long chapter! Can I go now?! (Struggles weakly)

 

Raven: Hmm, I'm not sure. This new writing method seems to be doing wonders for your writer's block.

 

Bakura: And Ryou no longer has red marks on his neck from you hugging him all the time.

 

Emmy: That's not fair! Let me go!

 

Ryou: Aw, can't we let her go guys?

 

Raven&Bakura: NO!

 

Malik: That's what super Malik is for! (Hands Emmy sugary Smarties)

 

Emmy: Yippee! I'm hyper today! (Breaks free of chains)

 

Raven: Darn it!

 

Emmy: I'm glad I took you out of the closet.

 

Ryou: Please R-E-V-I-E-W! Pretty, please with sugar on top? (Puppy dog eyes)