Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The not to distant future ❯ Chapter 10

The not to distant future
By Yami Kitsune
Chapter ten: shadowed mind

Yugi sighed as he sat on the couch, letting his mind wander. Ryou still hadn't told anyone anything. However, he had been letting Bakura into his mind. They were sure that after Bakura had gone into Ryou's mind to find the shadow hiding in there that the silver haired yami would have said SOMETHING about what he saw. But he'd only been going through Ryou's memories for barely five minutes before he re-appeared and looked rather ill. That was the last time Yugi had seen Ryou or Bakura. Yugi couldn't help but wonder if it was really that bad. But then again, if it was anything like what Malik had gone though, Yugi could understand why Ryou wouldn't want to tell anyone.

Yugi frowned as he continued to dwell on this thought. Now that he thought about it Ryou never did talk about his past, not at all. Yugi knew that Ryou's dad was an archeologist and spent more time in Egypt then he did at home. But what about his mother? Yugi wondered. Had Ryou's parents gotten a divorce? Was she still in England? Did he have any other family? Bothers, sisters?

'You know,' Yami said cutting into Yugi's thoughts. 'If you want to know why don't you just ask him?' He suggested. Yugi jumped and turned to face Yami who was smiling at him.

"I was just thinking." He replied.

"I could tell. Even without listening to your thoughts." Yami chuckled softly. "You seem to have a lot on your mind today though. I can't quite keep up with all your thoughts."

Yugi blushed and looked away.

"Well, there's not much else to do. We still can't go outside because we don't know where the shadow is. And even if we COULD go outside, I wouldn't want to until I know that Ryou is going to be okay."

"Bakura is handling it." Yami said. "He's already told me and Marik he's at least close to getting the shadow out of Ryou. What happens after that will depend on how strong the shadow has gotten."

Yami watched the back of Yugi's head for a few moments before walking around and sitting in front of him.

"Yugi, I think it might be safer if you and Malik stayed out of the way once the shadow is out." Yami looked at Yugi locking eyes with him.

"out of the way?" Yugi asked staring at Yami unable to keep the hurt out of his voice. /I'm just in the way?/ He thought frowning and looking down.

//I didn't mean it like that Aibou.// Yami said through their link and made Yugi look back up at him. "I just don't want you to get hurt. We don't know what is going to happen. And we don't want to take any chances." Yugi sighed and nodded, sliding from his chair and standing up. He gave Yami a small smile before going to find Malik. Yugi could feel Yami watching him and bit his lip. All he'd ever wanted was to see Yami again, to be near him. And to be held by him. Yugi had told himself he'd be satisfied with just that. But he wasn't. His feelings for Yami were just as strong as they always were. And Yugi was still just as scared to tell Yami how he felt. Scared of being rejected? No, Yugi knew Yami would never reject him. And if he did, Yugi knew that Yami would have a good reason for it. No, Yugi was scared because he didn't know what would happen after all this was over. After the shadows were gone, would the yami's leave as well?

Yugi stood outside Malik's door for a few moments before continuing on down the hall to his own room. He closed the door and went over to the bed and laid down. He looked around, it was his room, but it didn't feel like his room. It didn't feel like ˜home' Yugi made sure his mental block was up before letting his mind wander again. This time it wandered back to the game shop. He knew he hadn't locked the door when he'd left a week ago. He wondered if Jou had locked it after picking up a few of Yugi's things for him.

"Jou" Yugi said to himself putting his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling. He wondered what had become of his best friend. Was he with the people controlling the shadows? Was the shadow still possessing Jou? Yugi figured it must be because Jou hadn't come back all week. He looked at his bed side table and picked up his cellphone. Flipping it open he tried Jou's cell. But like every day for the past week, there was no answer. Yugi didn't even care if it was Jou who answered, as long as someone answered. Yugi might have been able to find out what happened to Jou. And where he was. Yugi set his cell phone back down and sighed. He felt the guilt start to settle in again. Jou had been there for him for the two years while Yami had been gone. And now when Jou needed help the most Yugi couldn't do a thing for him.

"Stupid shadows!" He said softly rolling over onto his side and closing his eyes deciding to take a nap. Maybe when he woke up he'd find out that all of this was just a dream. He found himself thinking as he drifted to sleep, was having his yami back worth losing his best friend? Yugi couldn't help but feel that the clock was ticking closer to the time when he would have to choose between his other half, the person he had grown to love more then anything. And his best friend, the person who had always been there for him.

~~~~~~~

Jou groaned as he sat up slowly putting a hand on his head. He didn't know why he felt like this, all he knew was that he wasn't getting any better. And having to stay at Seto's house wasn't helping matters at all.

//Finally awake.// Jou groaned again and fell back onto his pillow.

"...not you again!" He said sounding tired. "What do you want now?" He asked. Jou was surprised that over the past few days he had grown accustom to hearing that voice in his head. Even though he still didn't know who it belonged to. All he knew was that it was annoying and he wanted it to leave.

//I can't leave, I've told you that already.// The voice said. //I am ordered to stay right where I am. And if I have to stay here and starve, I am NOT going to be bored out of my mind while doing it!//

"Well, if you tell me what you eat I'd be able to get something for you." Jou said, even though he still didn't know HOW he would get the voice to eat since he didn't exactly know where it was. Though he had a pretty good feeling.

//You can't help me with that. Unless you can think of something that get's you upset, or causes you pain. Then you can't help me.//

"Does thinking of Kaiba count?" Jou asked.

//No. Not in the slightest.// He grumbled. Jou shook his head again.

"So, you feed off people's feelings?" Jou asked trying to see if he got that right.

//Not quite. I feed off negative feelings. Pain, fear, hatred. Stuff like that.// The shadow didn't know why he was having this conversation, especially with someone who was just supposed to be his hiding place, but it just went to prove how bored he'd gotten in just the past few days.

"So, if you're that hungry why don't you leave me alone and go find something to eat? And stop giving me a headache." Jou could actually FEEL the shadow thinking about that and it gave him the creeps. He wondered if this is what Yugi had felt when Yami had been around.

//That is actually a good idea. But, I can not leave.// In a flash the Shadow had taken over Jou's body and frowned at how heavy it felt. "Are you sick or something?" The shadow asked as he stood up pulling some pants on and a shirt. He looked around the room deciding not to use the front door, he headed to the window. Opening it, he jumped out onto the tree and climbed down. The whole time ignoring Jou's yells of protest.

//Hey! You can't just go using my body like that! What if you get me killed!//

"Then I won't be hungry any more. I heard dying hurts like a bitch. And then I'll just find another vessel to hide out in for a while." The shadow said simply and left Kaiba's house. He walked down the street looking around. He was soon becoming rather frustrated however when no one seemed to be having a bad day. No one was in any pain. At least not the people he was passing.

//Are you done yet?// Jou asked not liking the fact that the shadow was using HIS body and he was still awake to actually see what was going on. It was kind of disturbing now that he thought about it. //Note to self, ask Yugi about this next time I see him.// Jou said. The thought had meant to be for himself, but it made the Shadow stop walking and smirk.

"Thank you, I know just where to get a good meal now." chuckling the shadow took off at a run. It didn't take him long to reach the building where he knew Yugi was. He looked up and could easily spot the penthouse. Unlike humans, the shadow could see the magic still surrounding the penthouse.

//oi! Leave Yugi alone! You're causing enough trouble!// Jou shouted and the shadow ignored him. He decided the best way to Yugi's window would be to go up to the roof and climb down from there. He headed into the lobby and straight for the elevator taking it to the top floor before climbing the stairs to the roof.

//What the hell are you doing up here?!//

"Would you shut up already?" The shadow snapped. "You're making it really hard for me to concentrate, and if I miss this let's just say I don't think your body would look too good spread across the pavement." That shut Jou up for a moment or two. The shadow looked down at the balcony below him and jumped down onto it. He looked over the edge again, he could see the penthouse, it was two more floors down. Climbing over the railing he swung down onto the next balcony and did it again until he reached the right one. He looked inside and a smirk appeared on his face.

"Well, well, well. Looks like things are getting VERY interesting indeed." He said when he spotted Yami sitting in the living room. "Perhaps after I eat I'll deal with him." He said and climbed onto the railing of the balcony carefully climbing over to Yugi's window the whole time cursing his orders to stay inside this body. If he'd been able to just come out he could easily make it over to Yugi's window. Sitting on the ledge he pushed the window open and climbed in careful not to wake the sleeping boy, at least, not yet. He went over and locked the door looking down at Jou's hands. "This body does have it's advantages I suppose, I never would have made it through the shield otherwise."

//Yeah, whatever. Listen, I don't care WHAT you are...if you harm Yugi I'll...//

"You, foolish one, can not do anything. So don't make empty threats. And I don't plan on hurting him. He's hurting enough without my help. I can get a decent meal from him." the shadow said moving over and sitting on the bed reaching over he placed a finger on Yugi's forehead. //Don't do anything stupid.// The shadow ordered Jou as it slowly left the blond boy's body. And as Yugi breathed in deeply the shadow entered the sleeping boy. Jou fell back off the bed landing with a small 'thud'. He growled. Don't do anything stupid huh? Well, going to get Yami wasn't stupid. Jou stood up and quickly headed over to the door unlocking it. As he tried to open the door however, the door locked itself. When Jou tried to unlock it again he found that he couldn't.

"Son of a bitch." He growled and looked over at Yugi who was still sound asleep. "You are so going to pay for this." He said to the shadow who was doing only gods knew what to Yugi.

~~~~~~~

In the other room Ryou was curled up clinging to Marik and crying. He could feel Bakura fighting with the shadow inside him. Malik, who had not listened to his yami was sitting next to Ryou stroking his hair.

"It's okay Ryou." Malik said. "Shhh, it's okay I promise." He said soothingly, trying to keep the other hikari calm. Malik and Marik looked over when the door opened and Yami came in.

"How's it going?" He asked.

"Don't know. Bakura's been in there for about an hour now." Marik said.

"..please, please stop! I don't want to.please uncle!" Ryou pleaded. He'd been doing that for the past forty minutes. Marik looked at Yami who frowned, listening to Ryou's words.

"His uncle?" He asked. Malik nodded.

"Whatever happened really hurt Ryou. Me and Marik have decided, we're not going to bring it up. If Ryou wants to tell us fine, but we're not going to push him for details."

"Not that you really need any." Yami said sitting down on the end of the bed. As he did this Ryou's whole body jerked violently and he screamed. Bakura reappeared, collapsing onto the floor as if he'd just been hit. The shadow appeared standing over him laughing. Yami and Marik were instantly on their feet. Malik held onto Ryou who was trembling.

"You're through tormenting Ryou!" Bakura snapped as he stood up his eyes flashing dangerously. The shadow laughed again.

"Yes, I am done with him." The shadow admitted. This caught the yami's slightly off guard but they were very good at not showing it. "HE is here." The shadow said grinning. "And if he is here, then I have no more reason to be."

"What?" Yami blinked and before anyone could even think of moving the shadow turned to vapor and vanished into the shadow realm. Bakura went to go after him but Yami stopped him. "You go in there and there's no way to get you back again!" Yami yelled as the portal to the shadow realm closed.

"Besides, it was too small, I doubt you'd even be able to get that big head of yours through." Marik said putting the millennium rod away.

"Shut it!" Bakura snapped and went over sitting next to Ryou. He watched his hikari as he clung to Malik shaking and whimpering. The shadow might be gone, but Ryou was still tormented by those memories.

"Ryou." He said. Ryou slowly turned his head to look at Bakura. "It's over." He said. Ryou sniffed and wiped his eyes. Bakura mentally growled to himself. He wanted to hold Ryou and comfort him. But he couldn't make himself move. Finally he shoved his pride aside and pulled Ryou onto his lap. Ryou blinked in surprise, Bakura had held him like this when it had just been the two of them in the room. But he never thought his yami would show affection for anything or anyone, especially if Yami was around.

"If I turn around and you are smirking at me I swear to Ra that I'll shave your head while you're asleep." Bakura threatened Yami without looking at him. Marik chuckled watching Yami stop smiling at once. He looked down at Ryou then looked at Bakura.

~We can make him forget.~ He said in Egyptian.

~I didn't want to use that spell on him.~ Bakura admitted. "Ryou." He said gently and waited for his hikari to look at him again. "If remembering hurts that much. There is a spell." Bakura said and Ryou blinked.

"...a spell?"

"To make you forget." Bakura said and watched Ryou look down thinking in silence for a while. Bakura was starting to wonder if Ryou had fallen asleep when the silver haired hikari looked back up at him.

"No." He said making Bakura blink at him. "I want to forget. I mean, I did forget a lot, until the shadow came." Ryou explained. "The past can hurt. But despite that I've still learned from it."

"Learned what? Not to trust your family?" Bakura asked obviously holding back a growl. Ryou shook his head.

"No, it taught me to be strong. I just...I don't like being forced to remember things I'm not ready to remember. But I still don't want you to erase them from my memory. Because what will happen if I suddenly remember again some day?" Ryou said not sure if he was making much sense.

"That's right." Malik said smiling a little. "The longer you run from something, the longer it hurts, and the worse it seems." Malik wrapped his arms around Ryou holding him close. "But you know what? You're not alone Ryou." He said kissing Ryou's cheek making the silver haired boy blush and hide his face in Bakura's shoulder. Yami shook his head and turned heading to the door.

"Oi, where you going Pharaoh?" Marik asked.

"I'm going to get Yugi." He said and closed the door behind him.

TBC>>>