Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Reason to Live ❯ Tension ( Chapter 6 )

Reason to Live by Angela (orangeaura868)

Chapter 4: Tension

(Please note that all A/N will be kept until the end.)

Yugi

I was standing of to the side simply looking on as my aibou argued on with Ryou's yami. It never ceases to bother me that Ryou's yami was the one who had tried to steal all of our souls and take the puzzle. He was dangerous and might still be dangerous for all I know. I was secretly afraid that he would do anything rash. I already know that he can inflict physical damage…Ryou is, hopefully, living proof of it. Here is the spirit in all his dark glory flickering on and off like a light bulb so close to going out. This time it is in all of our best interests that I hope he does not `go out', if not all of our interests…then at least Ryou's.

I know that he never wanted to die. Who could possibly wish for death as salvation? Ryou was the type of person you could instantly see as silent but caring…albeit none of us knew him well…so…it's a shame that this event would be the reason to learn more about him. To sum it all up…I feel guilty. Yami feels guilty too…I could feel it in vast amounts ever since we stepped foot into this hospital.

I can understand him feeling guilty though. Ever since we found out we had been dreading the day that it would come that we would need to confront Ryou's yami on this. Yami would be the type of person you would expect could want to face something head on rather than stowing it away for later. I can't find it in my heart to blame him though. It goes with logical reasoning that no one would want to face a dark spirit and make them go through a change of heart.

I'm even beginning to doubt that that would be possible. Yami must know this too…if we confronted him we would put Ryou in danger and then Yami would eventually be forced to send him to the Shadow Realm. Who knows when he would come back then…and if he did would he have been past the point of negotiations? At least now they are talking.

He's just said right out loud that he doesn't know if he can change. He's admitted that he'll only think about it. That isn't good enough! If Bakura himself doesn't know if it's possible then what chance would there be for Ryou?

I'm worried. That explains everything that is tumbling out right now and every fleeting emotion that I'm feeling. I'm drastically worried for my friend and I hope that he would get better and live…of course he will live though.

What would happen afterwards? Bakura would hurt him still…and his father might not be back for a year. Everything is falling down and everything seems to be out of place and…highly unorganized. A catastrophe…a true catastrophe that leaves someone to dwindle around the edges completely clueless to how to start and rebuild everything.

Everything normal has been rewritten with one single catastrophe and I don't know what to do about it. All the happy thoughts were poured out of me today…today when Ryou's father left…he left everything to fall without his presence.

Can this day turn out any worse? Surely the answer must be no…surely all there is left to be done is move up. This day simply must end on a brighter note…it must.

I come out of my rushed thoughts to notice that I'm cowering against the ice-cold white walls. Both spirits were yelling and nothing seemed to be progressing in any direction. Bakura has mentioned continuously that Ryou might die and that it was hasty for us to mark him as one of the living.

I'm amazed that they haven't physically harmed eachother yet. Bakura really hates Yami for what reason I don't know. I can't fathom why when the two were together the tension would heighten to a level at which you would suddenly realize that you've been holding your breath.

I look back and forth between the two…they're glaring at eachother and I can feel anger radiating off of Yami and I can almost feel his headache too…it's becoming more of a migraine. I hastily offer up my solution.

[Let Ryou stay with us.]

Yami

In truth…I am not in the least bit surprised. I'm angry, yes…but caught of guard? No…of course not. He's just said that he still needs to decide on whether or not to hurt his own hikari! Something like that should not need conscious thought of any sort! For that I can feel my temper rising along with the aching pain all through the back of my head.

The worst part is that he has no idea why he does it! I can't believe it. It's completely not plausible and I refuse to believe that answer however rash and truthful it may sound. I'm split on that fact though. My mind is screaming out for me that that excuse was merely a cover-up while my heart is listening closely and swallowing up every word. It irritates me. He irritates me. Every word that he says, whether it is a truth or a lie, I am still angered.

Call it an excuse for staying away from him. I simply don't like him. Our entire personalities differ so greatly…hear it in what we call eachother…Pharaoh and Tomb Robber. He makes my job harder with every thing that he does. I have to make sure Ryou is safe for the sake of my koi[1] and sure enough he is the one causing the most hindrance. I hate him…utterly despise him and it doesn't surprise me that he won't change.

Be it as it is…Yugi was right to offer Ryou a place with us. That's what I'm angry about then…somewhat. Today is certainly not one of my finer days and I feel equal to any human. I admit it now…I'm hopelessly jealous. Yugi is a caring soul…always kind always considerate and now…he's pouring his heart out to a friend who he barely knows. I'm standing off to the side helping because I love him, but still I feel jealous.

This was how he befriended Jounouchi, I suppose. Standing up for him even after everything he had been put through. The same quality that makes me so amorous with him is the same that makes me jealous.

Call me a fool…I know I'm being foolish.

I should be thankful Ryou is alive…Yugi is delighted and so relieved to hear the news. The tension between the two of us is slowly dispersing…I look back but he is gone…hiding in his ring and sulking around it's dark corridors most likely. I look to Yugi…but he's left his place as well, rushing to the side of his friend.

If I am to love you…this jealousy must be shattered…I should get used to seeing him aiding others. Love…how extremely inane that it should make me unwilling to share…to be so jealous and pointlessly protective.

Normal

Fitting how the good news of a friend surviving should bring elation, ne [2]? Already the white of the hospital seemed less disturbing and much less immense than when Yugi and Yami had run in. It was amplified then with the anxiety of the moment…the color seeming to jump off the walls to suffocate you and swallow everything up.

Honda had been pacing near the hall where Ryou was. Upon hearing the `ding' he had rushed over…the nurse was wheeling out a bed…with a Ryou on it that was no doubt alive.

"Hey Guys! Ryou's ok!" Honda yelled out…exulting already with high energy seeming to forget that just living was not enough to resolve all the conflict. It was alright to forget…alright to forget the suicide attempt and the abuse…alright to rejoice; simply to forget all the other problems and focus on the one that had just been taken care of.

Jou rounded the corner next with his sister Shizuka. She had stopped crying and now bore a small smile…the red tear tracks were still visible and the group could tell she still was bothered by what had happened. Anzu came next, running slightly and arrived back just in time to see a doctor come out to speak with them.

"He's doing fine now, right?" She asked running up to the doctor.

" Ryou Bakura is fine. He's in a stable condition but he probably would want some rest. He's not to be awakened or visited tonight. If you want to see him it would have to wait until tomorrow. Even then it would be one at a time, family and friends. Speaking of which…where's his older brother?" He answered back looking from a few papers clamped to a tablet.

"Behind you." Called back. The doctor whipped around, spooked, and let out an unconsciously held breath when seeing the white-haired teen. The group looked at Bakura equally shocked at him just popping out of no where[3].

"Good. I'm Dr. Riku and I'd like to inform you on some things we noticed while operating."

"Go on."

"Well…it seems that he has some slightly broken ribs…they've healed significantly so it appears that the injuries were sustained a while back. His body is badly marred and it looks to be small cuts made along his arms and chest. The cuts were thin and didn't go deep…they still worried us though. The skin around them seemed slightly burned almost like by an acid or chemical of some sort. They all show signs of age and are most unlikely to be recent. All in all he has a few fading bruises and possible internal bleeding. The bleeding wasn't that bad and already healing…nothing was punctured. I do have to voice my concern for this patient though…you say he was suicidal?"

Behind the two the group looked on in horror as each injury, wound, and cut was listed and described in more detail. Yami glared at the tomb robber…his anger rising even more to a point at which he was shaking with rage. He clenched his fists controlling himself not to do anything drastic…and example being anything involving the Shadow Realm.

"I suggest seeking psychiatric help and perhaps group therapy. There are organizations made for people like your brother and it would greatly benefit to his wellbeing…" He never got much farther than that…the look on Bakura's face was enough to silence him.

Dr. Riku looked at the teenager before him and that same feeling of fright returned with that menacing glare. It was ridiculous to him that a boy could scare him. Perhaps he would have surrendered to his fear had he known whom he was speaking to. That would not have been an altogether pleasant choice of action either…Bakura was annoyed enough as it were and a foolish mortal forgetting his place was simply the least of his problems right now. Why not get rid of it?

The pharaoh looked him hard in the eye…crimson met garnet, the vibrant red holding the dirtied shade of tainted ruby in place. A stern look that revealed every command and emotion felt but still clearly enforced only one. Don't.

Bakura smirked before turning back to the doctor. "Keep your petty words to yourself lest you poison another mind with your foolish advice. I take my own words…and no one else's"

He finished the last part looking back into the Pharaohs eyes…communicating pure defiance.

The doctor sputtered…speechless. How dare he? He was the best of the best! He was the doctor the others looked up to and that hospital paid him the most…how could he? The bratty little boy was beyond disrespectful and he, Hideaki Riku, was in complete disbelief. His mouth was trying to breath normally while forming the words `Why I never!'

Bakura grinned at the reaction before sidestepping smartly and walking right past the blubbering idiot still soothing his sore pride and dignity.

"I'm leaving now…let the Pharaoh and his subjects handle the rest…"

"Wait right there! I'll have you know that you should be honored to hear my opinion…not only that but your brother needs this help. He is a suicidal person! Who knows if his cuts are self-mutilation!? He is in need of a psychiatrist! Not only that but I'm the top doctor in all of Domino, while you have no medical experience whatsoever!"

Bakura turned still smiling his odd psychotic grin…not bothered at all by the rant.

"Don't pride yourself. Think what you want for now but know this…ever since the day you were born you have been dying. Your life is nothing but a tunnel leading into death and it is absolutely unknown when you will reach your final state. Your life is worthless…merely a delay of your death…which I can so easily arrange for…"

He turned again and continued his way out disappearing into the Ring as soon as he turned the corner…leaving shocked faces to follow him till they could follow no more, as well as his shocking philosophy to dwell into the hearts of the occupants in the hall.

"Dr. Riku, please, leave da after treatment to us…Ryou'll be fine without no shrink's help either." Jou said trying to calm the ever capricious rise and fall of stress and tension.

"For once we can actually identify with `his brother' on this one…Ryou doesn't need any of those loony-bin places to help him…he's fine." Honda added.

Yugi nodded and Dr. Riku sighed dejectedly…it would be useless to convince them otherwise how often others had said the same things and how often they were wrong.

"I'm not so much worried about his brother's attitude as I am of Ryou's condition. He's not going to be released until the day after tomorrow and even then…I still recommend he talks to someone."

The group nodded confidently and assured the doctor that Ryou would be well taken care of.

"How is he though?" Yugi asked right before leaving.

The doctor sighed again before continuing, "His blood oxygen level is somewhat lower than normal and his body still needs to replenish itself. The slits were stitched up but they still cut a lot of veins. We're lucky it didn't touch an artery or else he wouldn't have much of a chance. We're monitoring his breathing and heartbeat still just to be safe since his left lung seems to be damaged probably from the ribs caving in on it. To sum things up…even when he is released he should still be resting at home."

Yugi looked hurt. How could he let this happen? They had known about this for a month…just because Ryou's dad came home was still no real reason to stop trying to help.

They were walking out of the hospital now, ready to come back tomorrow. Yami held Yugi's hand and they both could relate to the other's feelings…both felt guilty and they had left that unease in that hallway too.

This time the tension, agitation, and stress stayed in the corridor…not bothering to drift out and calm.

[0][0][0][0]

[1]- koi means love; lover

[2]-ne is a word that seeks agreement. Don't you think so too? Today is really hot, ne?

[3]-This is set somewhere after DDM and Duelist Kingdom with no mention of Battle City. Apparently they have discovered and accepted Yami but they still haven't seen Bakura to many times and even then it was when he tried to trap their souls. They'd obviously be slightly uneasy with everything.

A/N: Shizuka has already had her surgery too just to let you people know. I haven't been writing a lot and for that I apologize. I don't know what else to say except for that this story will have an extremely SLOW moving plot that will be made slowly seeing as I don't have much time to write. I have a lot planned to happen for this fic and hope it turns out like what I've been imagining.

Sorry about last chapter too…I was feeling rather depressed and started looking at my stories all weird…I still could rewrite certain parts to be better and have more flow with everything else but it doesn't irk me quite so much now.

Bakura: Yay…I get to insult that prissy doctor!

Ryou: I still don't see how insulting others can be enjoyable.

Orange: It is…only sometimes though and only if the reaction is funny.

Bakura: Oh yeah! Authoress is being bad!

Ryou: I feel so alone now! Everyone seems to like being somewhat mean and they find it funny!

Orange: Don't feel bad! The reviewers love you! In fact they probably are waiting outside with torches and pitchforks to skewer me because of everything I've done to you.

Ryou: Really?

Bakura: You better believe it…but Orange still favors her reviewers.

Orange: That's right! ::throws out Bakura plushies:: Thank you for reviewing!

Black-Flare-Shadow: You really could feel the emotions? And you're thanking me?! Wow! Thank you so much!

Saffron-Starlight: I guess you're one of the reviewers I could count in the angry mob group because I've been so mean to Ryou…Don't worry…he lives and will eventually be happy. Still need him to be angsty for a while more though.

Chaos and Death: Hey…it's nice to hear from you too! ^^

Dark Magician Girl/Hikaru: Did I ever mention I like your stories very much? Cause I do…yep yep yep…and the poems are spiffy too. Bakura is supposed to be strange, right? You can't exactly expect him to be normal.

Lady-Wicca666: Thanks! ^^

Raven Shadi and Moonlight: Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I have to admit…it's also more of a filler chapter but I did establish the jealousy thing. To me…some chapters were short because if you compare it to the first one…they are short.

ItsHardToBelieve: Thank you! Please keep reviewing!

REVIEW…please?

Till next time…Ja! (See ya!)

Also: Please voice complaints, criticism, and suggestions. It's called a review!

Tell me what you think of Jou's accent thingy…I really don't know how to write it…review?

Bakura: Jeez, woman you're begging!

Orange: Well aren't you Mr. I State the Obvious?

Ryou: ::sighs and rolls eyes:: Review.