fluffydeathdealer | [CAMPUS/IC] II

[Having stayed over the night before, Harriet's found herself the first one awake. ... Which is a bit awkward. Not feeling like getting off the couch yet, she eventually picks up the nearby video game to idly mess with it.]

[Ryou is sleeping later than usual today. He's usually an early riser, but today, it seems both he and Malik are sleeping in. Waking up, he rolls over, slipping out of bed. There's no point in getting dressed since it's just them, but he doesn't feel comfortable wandering around naked even so. It's not because of teasing, just normal modesty. So he tugs on his boxers and heads out into the living room to go get a drink, yawning and rubbing his eyes. Drink first, dressing later.

Or at least that's the plan.]

[He walks right past Harriet before pausing and taking a few steps back to stare at her.]

...eh?

[Wait.

Wait.

WAIT

After about a second of staring, the realization that she's actually there kicks in. His reaction is surprisingly fast. Going wide-eyed with shock, he lets out a startled cry and bolts back into the bedroom.]

I'm sorry!

[WHY IS VAUGHN-SAN HERE?!]

Edited 2014-02-13 20:13 (UTC)

It's fi-?

[DOORSLAM. Harriet blinks.]

... Okaaaay ...

[she'll just- go back to her game then? While he gets some pants? This morning is already weird.]

[Malik was sitting up now, that scream startling him from his sleep. He looks over at Ryou, seemingly just as bewildered.]

What's wro-- [And then it hits him. His expression relaxes, and he lets out a little laugh.] Oi, oi, Ryou-kun, what are you screaming about? I got you a new roommate, just like you wanted!

[It takes him a minute to realize what Malik means, too flustered by his faux pas to make sense of it.

Jeez, Malik, that sounds like you gave him a gift. And it's a girl. ...Oh god, karma is getting him back for feeling bad for the other Ryou sharing living space with a girl.]

V-vaughn-san is...staying here? But you said that wasn't going to happen!

[No, no, calm down. He's being ungrateful...]

U-uhm. Thanks?

[Now he really wants pants. And a shirt. And Bakura's coat. Maybe his jumper too. Just going to go get dressed now.]

[Well at least Ryou believed it. Of course his reasoning had nothing to do with their compromise, but why not kill two birds with one stone, so to speak?]

I figured Harriet was somebody we could both agree on~ After all, we were going to invite her to play Monster World anyway, so why not?

[Clearly these two trains of thought are entirely related.]

Edited 2014-02-13 20:28 (UTC)

...you invited her to live here because she's playing Monster World with us?

[What a flimsy reason... Or was it just so you could sleep with her ACK BAD THOUGHTS.]

W-well... I guess I'm grateful, anyway.

[Okay, he can just... calm down. He's dressed now, just has to wait for his face to stop burning and he can go make her breakfast if she hasn't had any already.]

Actually, I had more reasons than that. [He shrugs his shoulders.] What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help someone when they needed me most, hm?

[It wasn't entirely untrue, but he was still hamming it up.]

Ah... [That makes sense. If Harriet is in some kind of trouble, being with Malik is probably a good place to be. Malik is dangerous after all.]

I see...

It was kind of rude of me to run away, so I'm going to go make breakfast. If you're tired, I'll set some aside for you for later. I'll keep it warm, okay?

[Malik stretches and yawns. He was still tired from exhausting himself the night before; he'd pushed himself further than usual.]

You better go apologize~ Kahah. I'll be up in a little bit.

Un. Sorry for waking you.

[Pausing at the door, he steels himself, taking a deep breath - really, he felt as tense as if he was going to face a rabid dog - before stepping out. Determinedly, he marches over to where Harriet is sitting.]

Have you eaten breakfast yet, Vaughn-san? If you'll let me know what you like, I'll go make something for us both.

Hm? [She blinks again at being approached with such determination. Ryou, you're funny.]

Err... I'm not picky. I was probably going to put some tea on though.

[She smiles a bit. It's actually nice to see him - it's been a while, though she definitely startled him.]

I hope my being here isn't too much of a problem?

Edited 2014-02-13 20:56 (UTC)

[He just embarrassed himself! It's taking a lot of effort not to hide. Well, she doesn't seem mad at him or anything, so he can relax a little. Not terribly much though, his words are a bit more formal than usual.]

No, not at all! You can stay as long as you like. ...Please accept my apology for my rudeness before. I didn't know there was anyone else here.

[He gives her a friendly smile.]

You're not allergic to anything, right?

Oh it's fine. Seriously. I'm the one that showed up unexpected, after all. But I'm happy you don't mind.

[she's not sure how long it'll take to decide what to do. If she can patch things up with Henry, or find another place. She doesn't plan to take more than a few days, but who knows.]

I'm not allergic, no... thank you for asking! [he's such a thoughtful guy. Though remembering last night and breakfast, she suddenly wonders if she should have told him she's allergic to natto. ...But he wouldn't, right?]

It's actually a little nice. We don't get a lot of other people hanging around here, so it's a good change.

[He does consider it, but she's foreign. And probably not like Malik, either, who had eaten all of his natto the first time he'd had it (or so he thought). Egyptian food habits are probably different to English ones... Natto's an acquired taste, as popular as it is, and he doesn't want to put her off her food. ...that may be an excuse to avoid eating it.

It seems like he takes a long time, especially when compared to breakfast standards outside of Japan, but the reason is easily seen when he returns with a tray. Laid out carefully in well-kept bowls are soup, steamed white rice draped delicately over with strips of nori and broiled salmon, vegetables and a single fried egg. And tea of course. It seems the entire tray is for her, since he disappears back in to return with his own and sets that on the table as well, sitting down.]

Here we are! Please enjoy.

[Waiting for her...]

Oh... [Harriet says nothing more. She doesn't have the heart to tell him she comes over to watch movies all the time. At least he went straight to the kitchen so there wasn't an awkward silence. Her eyes shift back down to the game which she prods at blankly, trying not to think about that. Meanwhile she keeps an ear out, a bit curious of what he could be taking so long to make.

The breakfast he comes back with is like nothing she's seen before. She's not sure what she was expecting - she really hadn't thought of it at all. Well, this'll be a new experience? Harriet quickly flashes a friendly grin as he puts the first tray down, but doesn't say anything until after he goes back. He might hear her still, though.]

Wow. [well it doesn't seem bad. No natto! And there are a lot of side dishes. Does he always cook this many, she wonders? Even if it's normal, when he returns she's sure to admire it.]

Thanks for making all of this!

[...does she have to use chopsticks though. what do]

Edited (no repeat icons allowed) 2014-02-14 10:58 (UTC)

Hehe. It's no trouble at all! I usually eat about this much anyway.

[And yet he's a stick figure compared to Malik. Where does all the food go?

It takes him a moment to realize the factor of the equipment and he grins sheepishly and goes to get her some actual cutlery. He'll be using chopsticks, but there's no reason she has to.]

Sorry. I wasn't thinking.

[Sitting back down, he holds his chopsticks up for a moment, murmuring something, before breaking them apart.]

Er, no worries!

[What was that? She's about to ask, but on second thought, it didn't look like he was talking to her, so she just gives another appreciative look and then briefly surveys the food again to decide what to try first. Well, the soup should probably be eaten before it gets cold, so she goes with that. It tastes of fish, somewhat... it's pretty good though.]

Ah, thanks again.

[she has another few spoonfuls before speaking up again.]

So how have you been, anyway? I haven't seen the real you since that whole amnesia thing... you were a real help back then!

[He should have brought in some bread to dip in the soup... oh well. Taking the bowl in his hands, he lifts it to his mouth and sips at it. It's a curious question. He has been less stressed now that they've got a bit more space to themselves, and he's been having a lot of fun lately. But is that really a wise thing to say? Not everyone's as calm about this whole imprisonment thing as he is.]

Truthfully... I've been pretty good. I'm glad to see you're back to normal! ...or I assume so, at least.

[She seems to be acting normal, at least.]

Did your memory just come back on its own?

That's right. The next day I woke up remembering everything, and except for Jack asking me some questions, it was like it had never even happened.

[...And then Jack disappeared, just like he had never been there. Harriet frowns sadly for a moment, but she doesn't want to bother Ryou with it.]

Very few things are permanent here. Everything changes so quickly.

Edited 2014-02-15 06:06 (UTC)

I see... that's something, at least.

[Ryou looks a little downcast at the mention of Jack, but doesn't comment on it. He just settles for eating his rice. If Bakura eats wildly, Ryou is almost as bad; he's polite, but quick, and the amount of food he can take in during a short time is surprising.]

But that also means that nothing bad really lasts, right? So it's not entirely terrible to live like that.

But good things don't either. Truly, we are living in the moment.

[Harriet quietly tries the rest of her food. The fish is pretty salty, she's not used to that. But the rice is a counterbalance to that, and she decides it's indeed tasty. She's realizing she said something a bit gloomy, so she tries to put a good spin on it.]

So, you been to the arcade and the gameroom yet?

But that's the same as anywhere. The one constant in life is that everything disappears in the end.

[That is pretty gloomy... He turns his attention to the food for a moment, scarfing it down with his usual enjoyment, and answers her after swallowing most of his rice down.]

They're probably my favourite places here! I was really excited to find them!

They definitely liven the place up a bit. And now you can play all the games without having to make them yourself first! Heheh.

I heard you were making something for Malik though. How's it coming?

Eh? Do you mean the Monster World set? That's almost all done! I just have to finish making your piece. But this is kind of fortuitous! I wanted to ask you what class and species you were thinking of playing. Malik said to just make you a pixie-fairy that could fit into any magic using role, but I wanted to know before I put any details onto it.

Do you have any ideas of what your play type might be? I can give you a rundown of the species and classes if you don't.

[Harriet blinks. He was just gonna pick for her? She'd be annoyed, but he was pretty much on the nose, so she lets it slide with a bit of a hesitant look.]

...He knows my taste. If there's a fairy race then I'm not likely to pick anything else.

As for classes, a rundown would help, but whatever does the most damage is fine by me!

Pixie-fairies can fly, have high wisdom stats and aren't very physically strong, so the best classes for those would probably be...

Magician, Enchanter, Diabolist, Illusionist or White Wizard. I usually play the White Wizard role myself, and it's not very dangerous in terms of attack, so that shouldn't be a problem... I'd say Magician or Diabolist would probably be the most dangerous if leveled right. Magicians focus on magical damage, while Diabolists focus on summoning. For direct damage, Magicians are probably better. Diabolist is kind of a weak role early on, so leveling is a pain.

[she nods thoughtfully.]

Magician sounds just fine. I prefer direct damage, to be honest!

[Ryou grins a little and nods.]

Then that's easily done! If you think you'll stick to that race, I'll make her wings non-detachable. It's easier that way.

{Maybe he'll give the magician a rose staff...]

[pretty~]

Yeah, go ahead. It sounds lovely, Ryou.

[Finishing his food, he gives his thanks quietly before picking up his tea. It's gotten a bit cold, but he sips at it slowly anyway.]

It's going to be fun! I've missed TRPGs, so I'm really glad you agreed to it.

Maybe we can play sometime soon then. I'm probably going to be here for a few days at least.

Un! It won't take me long to finish your figure so, giving it time for the paint to dry, after a couple of days it should be fine.

Edited 2014-02-26 20:17 (UTC)

Good. Then I hope Malik's ready~

Who knows...? He's had months, but he's been really busy a lot. I usually write my campaigns up ahead of time but I think he's just going to try to do it from memory. Either that or he's making his up when I'm asleep.

[He looks a little sheepish.]

It's possible...

[Isn't he asleep most of the time? Or maybe it just seems that way to Harriet since the spirit appears to like her. Though the idea that maybe Ryou gets less time because he comes out to see her... man, why do things have to be so complicated?

She's just gonna focus on her food a bit. That won't last long though, since she's very nearly done herself. With a small smile, she looks up again.]

This is all very delicious, by the way.

Ah, thank you!

[Truthfully, the opposite was probably true. The more the Spirit came to like people, the more he reluctantly handed control of 'his' body back to its' original owner for their sakes. Though it was still very limited, it was more freedom than he'd had since the last couple of days of Duelist Kingdom.

It was kind of sad that to Ryou, this was an improvement worthy of being happy about. Sipping his tea, he gives her a friendly smile.]

I've always liked cooking. It's probably a good thing, since I've lived alone for a long time, but it means I get a lot of practice.

[He'd probably make a good wife someday.]

You must really enjoy it. I moved out on my own at the soonest opportunity, but I always felt odd cooking elaborate meals for just me.

...eh? This is elaborate for you?

[Ryou blinks at her as if she grew another head.]

[what's with that look?]

...W-Well yeah. You've got so many side dishes! I'd usually just get some cereal.

This is a pretty ordinary breakfast back in Japan... I can't imagine just having cereal. People only really eat things like toast and cereal when they're in a real rush in the mornings.

...well, maybe I make a little more than usual in terms of quantity, but it's still pretty ordinary as traditional breakfasts go.

Hmm... well, if you put it that way, I suppose the "full" English breakfast is more complex as well. I guess I'm just lazy!

If you like living that way, it's fine, isn't it? You're not hurting anyone, after all. Would you rather just have cereal in the mornings?

Oh, I don't know. I wasn't saying my way is better or anything. Just that if I'm alone, I'd tend to make less things. So back home, I wouldn't say my time on my own made me a better cook. I could learn from your example.

Though, since there were so many of us here, I did make breakfast for my roommates sometimes. Maybe I'm already improving.

Edited 2014-03-10 08:56 (UTC)

Un, I'm sure you are! Do you enjoy it? Cooking for lots of people?

[He grins brightly as he speaks, entirely at ease. It seems his nerves with girls and people he doesn't know well are pretty easily swept aside once he gets onto a topic.]

Yeah! It can be hard work, but somehow that makes it worth it.

Un! It's way more fun when there's other people involved, isn't it? Like most things.

[With the language barrier now dropped and people talking in ways that weren't complete and utter gibberish, curiosity has led Tenar to going to look for Bakura. The guy seemed pretty interesting, if creepy, and what Kai said has only led him to be curious rather than wary.

It shouldn't be too hard... even if he didn't look like anything special, that Ring sure is!]

Bakuraaaa!

...who are you?

[The voice doesn't sound really familiar, and it's not until he actually comes out and sees who's yelling his name that he recognizes it. That was right... the kid with the superpowers.]

Hoh... if it isn't Tenarrrr~.

[He draws out the last syllable, referencing his earlier trouble speaking it.]

Great, your voice isn't broken anymore either!

[He's so happy about that. Other languages are crazy and weird.]

Yeah, the curse faded away. [Folding his arms over his chest, he leans against the wall.] It's a relief.

[He was about to stab someone if he didn't goddamn well get his ability to communicate with someone other than the thief king back.]

No kidding! This place is really weird.

[Don't mind Tenar, he's just gonna "sit" in the air here, kicking his legs some.]

But you can say my name right now, at least!

And you're not having trouble with mine.

[Truthfully, he's a little unhappy still, but the 'sitting' definitely catches his attention.]

How the hell are you even doing that?

Doing what?

[...Oh, wait, he made gestures about this before.]

You mean flying?

Yeah. The only person I've seen flying around here was a dream guy. Some flying jester kid.

[Moving swiftly on...]

It's like you're not human.

Nope, I'm human! I know because if I wasn't, I wouldn't be working so hard.

[There's no trace of bitterness in his voice, really; even if Kohlrain and Surito can get ahead without as much effort, the fact he can stay neck and neck with them just through effort is something he's proud of.]

But flying's an easy thing to do, if you've got enough ki for it.

You mentioned that word before... What is this 'ki' thing? Some kind of magic?

[Because he is very interested in this now dammit.]

Nope! Ki's kinda better and kinda worse. It's worse 'cause it can't do anything like Kai can with magic, but it's better because everyone has ki, you just have to actually train hard to be able to do anything with it.

Anyone can learn how to fly if they work hard enough, for instance!

Wait. Everyone has it?

[Even Ryou-? Because that definitely piques his interest.]

Well... kinda? Every human has it. I think most aliens have it. But I know, at least, mechanical people don't.

My dad doesn't have anything that's actually ki ki, he just generates unlimited energy.

[Then his host probably does... interesting.]

Fascinating! You'll have to explain this to me in more detail at some point.

I can explain it whenever you want! Flying's kinda hard to learn, but it's the easiest technique there is to actually do, once you know how. But you gotta train your ki up a lot, or you won't be able to do it very long at all.

[And the fact that he's just floating here purely for the fact of floating should say a lot.]

You must have a lot of it, then... I'd like to hear about it, if you're willing to...

Talk... about...

[Hold on. What did that kid say just a moment ago?]

You said your father doesn't generate ki?

[Mechanical people don't. Cogs whirring...]

Your father is a robot?!

My dad's an android!

...what.

My dad is an android.

[He says it slower, as if it was the actual sentence Bakura had trouble understanding rather than the meaning behind it.]

Auntie's one too, but me and my cousin are humans.

...Are you bullshitting me?

[First, most important question:]

How the hell does an android have a kid?

Edited 2014-02-18 07:18 (UTC)

It's because Dad and Auntie were made from humans. That's why they can have kids.

[He shrugs a little, as if the idea of converting a perfectly normal human to a mechanical infinite-energy death machine is completely average.]

...all of this science crap does my head in. You hungry? We can probably talk better somewhere more comfortable.

[Like the lounge. 'cause he ain't taking this kid to his dorm.]

Yeah, that sounds great!

[He actually is pretty hungry, now that he thinks about it. Tenar stretches, then drops to the ground beside him.]

Let's go!

[Okay then! First to the home economics room to grab some stuff that can't be found in the lounge, and then to the lounge where he reclines on a comfy chair and swings his legs almost childishly. Ah, soda, beef jerky and potato chips~ He very much approves of this. Whatever Tenar wanted is left on the table for him.]

So how does a person train and use this ki stuff?

[He's not very picky when it comes to food, perhaps surprisingly for his age, but when you live in the wilds with a half-Saiyan to train stuff up, you learn to take what you can get.]

By training... normally, I guess? It's a part of you, so if your body gets stronger then you'll get stronger in general. My friends and I practiced martial arts and fighting and stuff like that, and it trained it up! But you can also use the ki you have to train it too, especially for control.

[Munch munch.]

I'hm nhot rheally shure how to esplahn khi chontrul though.

Hoh... that's a shame. It definitely sounds interesting.

[Bakura simply chomps down on his own food, tearing the jerky apart like a wolf eating a sheep.]

I'm actually kinda jealous! Being able to fly like that must be amazing.

[He swallows the mouthful he's got, pausing before taking another.]

Wow, you eat like Kohlrain.

[...Oh, yeah!]

Um, kinda! It's just normal to me, but I guess it'd be amazing if you didn't know how. I could show you if you wanted.

Kohlrain?

[Mmrphle. Did the kid just say what he thought he did? Swallowing his mouthful down, he chases it with a swig of soda and sits upright.]

I'd love that!

One of my teammates! She's a half-Saiyan -- [Oh right, different worlds.] -- half-alien, and her race eats a lot! She can eat twice as much as the rest of us combined!

[Back to munching!]

You're really gonna have to train hard, though... if you never heard of it you've probably never trained it, so I dunno how much you've got to work with.

Hah! Sounds like someone I know.

[Namely his host. And... Karasu.]

...

[...distraction time.]

I'm fine with training. For something like that, anyway.

I can help you out with ways to train, too. You just gotta tell me when you want to.

It's not like there's any pressing engagements in this place. We could just pick a time.

Sure! You can do a lot of the training on your own anyway, since it's... um... [Think.] Pretty much anything that makes you stronger should help. Running and doing push-ups and living outside... stuff like that. I spar all the time with my friends, so that helps too, but I'd have to be really careful that I didn't break your arm or something...

Considering how hard you can hit, I'd be surprised if you were able to handle me without breaking something of mine.

[He shrugs a little.]

It's not really hard. It's just like handling a ball, or a glass, or something like that. You just figure out how hard you can touch it before it hurts it, then make sure you use less than that.

[Being compared to a glass is fucking humiliating.]

I'd be willing to try it. Just don't damage me too much. Unlike the Ring, I can break.

I won't! I don't really want to hurt you, even if Kai says you're a creep. You seem like an okay guy for a ghost, anyway!

[Nope, choking on his crisps now.]

That Shade-kun said what now?

[STOP SPOILING HIS FUN, YOU STUPID SILVER-HAIRED BRAT.]

What a rude thing to say...

Well, you are kinda creepy. I mean, that laugh was really freaky and being a ghost in something is really weird to me. But you don't seem all that bad.

[And he could break you like a twig if you tried anything anyway.]

...oi. Making personal remarks isn't very nice.

[He likes his laugh. :(]

But you're still alright with teaching me this shit? You're more relaxed than you seem.

Sorry! It's true, though.

[He bites into another piece of beef jerky, blinking a little and shrugging.]

It's not like you can copy my Kamehameha! And I wouldn't teach that to you anyway. Flying's easy and if you were gonna hurt people you'd train anyway. Besides, it's also kinda loud and anyone can sense your energy going up if you use it, so you can't sneak up on anybody or anything.

I don't care about the turtle-thing. It was interesting to see, but it's yours.

[Sense energy, huh...]

You know most people can't sense energy, right?

Yeah, I know. But you're still a human, even if you're a ghost human, so I can sense you. And Kai can, or will be able to later.

So you still can't really hide with it.

Why would I want to hide from Shade-kun, anyway? Kai's a dear person to me!

[...the crazy part is he actually makes that sound like he's not lying. Even though he's lying through his teeth.]

Really? Kai said you probably just wanted to kill him.

[Tenar's looking at him curiously now.]

...what has that boy been telling people now? [Sigh. Oh Kai... trying to turn everyone against him? What an annoying child you are...] I don't intend on anything of the sort! I owe him my life after all~! I even sent him a valentine, though he retaliated by setting me on fire in effigy. Ours is a forlorn love.

[Resting his head on his hand, he stares back at Tenar.]

What would you even do if I did?

...I really don't think Kai goes that way. I think he likes girls. So maybe that's why he burned a doll of you up?

[He takes a drink, then glances over at the question. When he speaks, it's very matter-of-fact, as if he's simply commenting on the weather.]

If you tried to kill Kai, then I'd have to hurt you. Really bad.

Edited 2014-02-18 08:18 (UTC)

Maybe he hasn't found the right man yet. Maybe if I keep trying, he'll realize I'm the only one for him! ...Or maybe I'm just screwing with you.

[He chuckles low in his throat, relaxing back into his chair again.]

Actually, I'm taken. And I don't kill people for no reason. So if Kai doesn't try to harm me, I won't have to hurt him.

[Hurt him... heh. What a foolish boy. Did he really forget so easily the other caveat of 'spirit possession'?]

Maybe! Screwing with me sounds like what you'd do. But it doesn't matter to me either way.

[Tenar shifts, then turns around to sit sideways in the chair, letting his legs dangle over the armrest.]

That's good! Then nobody has to hurt anyone else, and we can just all be nice.

[No, he didn't forget it at all... he's just willing to hurt someone to protect someone else, especially if one of those two are his friends.]

Edited 2014-02-18 08:28 (UTC)

[Laughing:] Oi, oi, is it alright to assume that? You don't even know me.

[Chomping into the beef jerky, he tears it apart with his teeth and swallows it down. Could use more blood... Or, well, any.]

You're a weird kid.

Is it wrong?

[He turns over on his side, resting his chin on one of his arms and looking at Bakura curiously.]

No. It's just odd that you assumed something like that so fast. You're pretty quick to decide on shit that should take weeks, if not more, with anyone else.

[...really, Bakura's far too relaxed for someone discussing his host's inevitable crippling if that shit happened.]

Maybe. But I'm not afraid of hurting people I like to protect other people, so it's easy for me to decide it. I don't like hurting or killing people, but I can't be a real hero if I'm not willing to stop someone doing that just because they're my friends, right?

And even if we can't all be nice, if nobody's hurting anyone else, then it's okay to just keep going.

It's a fine line between hero and vigilante, Tenar. If you're willing to hurt even the people you like to stop them doing something you don't like... that doesn't sound like a hero.

But it doesn't matter to me. Do what you like. Though Kai won't be too happy with you if you damage my host too badly.

It's not to stop them from doing what I don't like. It's to stop them from hurting people who don't deserve it.

[He sticks his tongue out, apparently taking offense to the assumption he's just going around beating people up for disagreeing with him.]

Then I'll just stop you without hurting your host! I can tie you upside-down to the railing outside.

Edited 2014-02-18 08:44 (UTC)

My, my... what an unfortunate person you are. Like I said... do what you like. It's no concern of mine.

[Chomping down on a crisp.]

I'm not going to be intimidated by a thirteen year old boy.

[You're a jeeeeerk. Tenar just grumbles a little, reaching over to grab a bag of chips and just munch on them.

Nope, not gonna talk to you for a while, Bakura. Just going to pout.]

[Jeez... what a child. But he does still want to keep him relatively on his good side. So after a a while:]

I already said I don't kill people needlessly. I wasn't joking when I said I owed Kai my life either. That bastard's not in any danger from me.

I believed you when you said that.

[He's just grumpy because you shot down his whole "hero" thing. :T But it's clear he's not really that angry, just doing that childish pouting that brings his age into question again.

So after a bit more, he just stretches out, making a noise and moving his shoulders to the armrest, his head hanging down off the chair now.]

So what's it like being a ghost?

...Boring. I can't really do anything but sleep or think when I'm not using someone else's body. I can't touch anything physical, or even hear or see things.

But there's enough entertaining things when I do have a body to mess around in to make it worth it. You wouldn't understand most of it. Not that it's difficult; but the thing that makes it interesting comes from three thousand years of being bored enough to find anything new interesting. Someone as young as you can't comprehend that level of boredom.

Wow... you're a really old man, huh?

[Thankfully, for all his childishness, being told he's too young doesn't seem to be something that bothers him, and he just shrugs a little after thinking.]

No, probably not like you. But I live in a place like this with my mom and dad -- our house is in the middle of a huge forest and we don't go to the city a lot, so I didn't see a lot of stuff before I went to Uncle's school and started traveling with my friends.

So I can kinda understand, at least a little!

...

[Goddammit, he's usually the one making jokes like that, you little brat. Don't give him a complex!]

How good's your hearing?

[He's younger than you, he is contractually obligated to mock you for your age. Come on, Bakura, get with the times.]

Really good! Why?

[And he is contractually obligated to be annoyed at him for it!]

At some point, try something for me. Go somewhere quiet, so quiet you can't even hear the birds, and plug your ears. Take that bandanna of yours and fasten it over your eyes. Lie still for a while.

Five minutes of that should be enough to show you what I'm talking about. I can't take away your ability to feel, but that's close enough.

Um... that'd probably be somewhere inside, right? I could find somewhere like that...

That already sounds really boring, though!

And already you start to understand!

[He laughs again, a short, sharp barked-out laugh as he relaxes.]

I've lived out human lifespans like that~! Being a ghost's a total pain. You should treasure your life while you have it.

Back home, you'd just go to heaven or hell if you died... I don't think we've got ghosts that get stuck in stuff!

But I'll make sure not to die in your world. You probably can't bring people back to life, either, if you're in the Ring...

...

You're definitely bullshitting me now.

...No, you really go to heaven or hell.

[The point.

Tenar's head.]

...

I meant the other part. We have heaven and hell in my world too. But people can't come back from the dead.

Oh! No, it's real, too. You can get wished back to life by Shenlong, but it only works once.

...

Your world is really weird.

Yours is just as weird to me!

Besides, that's the only "magic" we have in mine, wishing on the Dragon Balls.

You wish on... a dragon's balls?

...

I guess I've heard of weirder shit.

Not a dragon's balls, the Dragon Balls. You find them, put them together, call out Shenlong, and then tell him your wish. If it's something he can do, then he'll grant it.

...still sounds pretty weird.

[Giving a dragon back his balls in exchange for a wish... huh.]

Anyway, my world is pretty ordinary.

Dunno... having ghosts that possess people and not knowing what ki is sounds pretty weird to me!

It's only natural. Ki doesn't exist in my world. And there's only two ghosts.

Well, that's not natural to me, so I wouldn't call it ordinary!

[He sticks his tongue out again, but it's playful this time.]

But your world isn't ordinary either, since it's so different from mine... heheh.

We'll just have to agree that neither world is ordinary.

Works for me. We both live in weird places as far as anyone else knows!

Anyway, since you're helping me out, I'll fill you in on anything you're curious about regarding my world.

Whatever you want to talk about, I wanna hear about. I don't really care what it is!

...well, unless it's boring average stuff that's anywhere, like working.

What kind of loser do you think I am?

Dunno! I don't know anything about your world, remember?

The correct answer is "None".

[Deadpan.]

Anyway, I'm not going to just ramble at random.

Okay, then...

Tell me about how fighting works. You don't know about ki, so do you guys do martial arts at all? Or do you just use weapons?

Fighting's frowned upon. People can learn martial arts for fun or self-defence, but they tend to leave fighting to the police.

There are weapons, but using them is considered very bad, and killing or harming another person will get you imprisoned. If you're caught, anyway.

[He sounds amused.]

I guess there's not many strong people in your world, if the police can handle it?

[He sounds incredulous, like Bakura just told him wars were solved by kittens.]

Of course there aren't. I just told you that ki wasn't a thing there. Most people can't do worse than bruise each other without weapons. And weapons can be duplicated.

Apart from exceptions like me, there's very little the police can't handle.

Wow... I guess it's really quiet there, then.

[Sorry, he's just having trouble processing it, considering the world he's from has been blown up at least once now.]

You could say that. Most people live their entire lives without experiencing the slightest threat.

That's... well, pretty cool for them, I guess. I think it'd be way too weird for me, though...

Are there not even any martial arts tournaments?

Nothing major. There's a few rare ones you see on movies and you can visit small ones every so often, but martial arts isn't really that common a thing.

[Now card games, on the other hand...]

Wow... so what do you guys do for fun?

[Flicking a hand up, he holds one of his cards - Dark Necrofear - between two fingers.]

We play games.

What kinda games?

[...wait a minute, he recognizes that.]

Hey... I think that's the same kinda card that the one guy had!

This is Duel Monsters. It's one of many games we play and the most popular. Whoever it is you met before must be a duelist; you should probably ask them for details if you're interested.

[Bakura doesn't have the patience for teaching people jack shit.]

Yeah, I probably should go find him. He was trying to teach me when we couldn't understand anything each other was saying! He was talking the same garbled language you were, too, so it was even worse.

...hoh?

[The same language? Then that probably means...]

That was probably Yugi-kun. Our very own "Duel King".

Yugikun? That's a... really weird name.

Uh... he had some kind of upside down arrow thing that felt really hollow. And he was wearing a lot of leather.

Was that him?

...heh. [He's not even going to correct him. That amuses him too much.]

The Millennium Puzzle is a Pyramid, not an arrow. But that's him.

Oh! ...yeah, I guess it did look like one of those, now that I think about it. I just hadn't really seen any before.

I guess the way it's made, it'd have to be hollow or it'd be really heavy... though it and that Ring thing of yours still look pretty heavy for normal people to wear anyway!

They are. They're pure gold after all...

[Well. And blood. If the thief king is right. The thought makes his lips twitch into a smile.]

The Puzzle is literally that; it's made of a bunch of pieces that fit together. That guy's the only one who can wear it. It chose him.

...Your world's really weird.

[Yeah, they agreed it was the same for them both, but that just really needs to commented on. A puzzle chose him? What the fuck man.]

Um, you said he was a king? A king of what?

Duelists. [He waves the card at him again.] He won a big tournament back at Duelist Kingdom and now he's pretty much the top duelist there is.

...So he's a king... because he won a game of cards?

[trying to comprehend this what]

Not a game. A tournament. They invited the top duelists of the world to compete and he won. He even defeated the creator of the game!

[And him.]

So he became the king.

But because of a card game thing.

That's right! We don't have many martial arts tournaments around, but Duel Monsters tournaments are far more common.

...

Your world is weird.

What happened to our agreement that both of our worlds were weird? You don't have to reiterate it.

Sorry, it's just.... really really weird that you make kings just 'cause someone's good at a game!

A king. He's the only one. There's nobody out there that can compare!

[He licks his lips, smiling. Ah well... he'll help the kid out just this once...]

It's not like he got anything out of it but money and prestige, anyway.

Wow... he must be really, really good, then.

[Tenar kicks his legs a little, twisting a bit in his position.]

So it's kinda like if you win at the Martial Arts tournaments.

Beats me... I've never been to one of those.

[Aw. Now he's out of beef jerky.]

He's the best.

You sound like you either really like him or really hate him.

[Yes, you are. Because Tenar's got the last bag, so nyah nyah!]

We're old rivals. Ever since Duelist Kingdom.

[You jerk, Tenar! See if he gives you any of his crisps!]

Ah, that makes sense! So it's kinda both?

[He doesn't want your stinky crisps. They've got old man all over them.]

Hm... Maybe. It's complicated.

[Then he'll have them all to himself! He didn't want to share anyway.]

Why?

[Sharing is for wussies!]

You wouldn't understand.

[Clearly your mother taught you no manners.]

Why's that?

[She taught him plenty of manners, thank you. Usually at knifepoint.]

[Gods, you're annoying... asking so many foolish questions.]

Because it's none of your business how I feel.

...Alright.

[He shrugs a little, able to pick up the annoyance, and just goes back to munching the jerky in silence.]

[That Pharaoh... As if I'd ever feel liking for him. Some day, I'll bury him in the darkness of Hell...]

So Shade-kun told you all my dirty little secrets, then?

I dunno. He said you were a creep and a ghost in the Ring, and that you're using Ryou's body...

I think that was it.

'Creeper' is the word he uses, I think. There's a difference.

[A subtle one.]

If that's all he said, then I guess that's fair. Though I prefer 'spirit' to 'ghost'.

Why, was he supposed to say something else?

[He'll try to remember to use the word spirit for you then, Bakura. But you're still a freaky ghost.]

No. I just wanted to make sure he wasn't slandering me. Shade-kun doesn't like me all that much, after all.

You stabbed him, so I probably wouldn't like you much either.

[Said with all the matter-of-fact tone he can manage.]

Heh... No, he hated me long before that. That was fairly recent, after all.

He never got over the fact that his love interest liked me first, so the two of us never managed to get along.

Would Kai be that upset about it?

Who knows? He's been trying to break apart our friendship since then.

[And in the end it was Ryou that did that... how frustrating.]

Hmm...

[That's about all he's got to say on that. He doesn't really believe that's it, especially since Kai did talk about a friend Bakura was messing with when he explained how he got stabbed in the first place.

But eh. He's not really old enough to care about all this yet. So he'll just file that away to ask Kai a little later.]

But you know... you're kind of strange, kid. Kai warns you away and you come running to find me. Even if you're strong, that's reckless.

You're kinda interesting. You... well, you are a lot of stuff I've never heard of before, because of the whole different worlds thing. And so I wanted to know about it and you.

[He shrugs a little, rolling over again to look at Bakura with his head rested on his arm.]

I'm strong enough to take care of myself, and I wanted to know.

...

Heheh...heheheheh...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Throwing his head back, he bursts into peals of laughter.]

We have more in common than I thought! Maybe you would understand my enjoyment of interesting things more than I expected.

[Annnnd there's that freaky laugh again cripes man, do you have to put that much into it?

He frowns a little at Bakura, sitting up and rolling his shoulder back, a little on edge with the chill that sent down his spine.]

Really?

You're annoying, but I like you, kid!

[Lifting a hand, he points at him dramatically as he speaks.]

I think you and I are going to get along just fine.

[Him? Annoying? Admittedly, he knows he can be a little overeager, but "annoying" has never exactly come up.

...then again, he's not talked to many people. So he lets it go, blinking a bit but giving a grin.]

Works for me!

Heheh. [Drawing his hand back, he tosses the wrapper for his snacks aside and finishes off his soda.

...come to think of it, Kai will probably be even madder that they're getting along. Oh well~.]

So how's your hand?

Kai healed it up, so it's back to normal now! Didn't even scar that bad because of that!

I still don't get why he did it, though... it wasn't that big of a deal.

It could have killed you, you know. Infection's a nasty thing. You're supposed to at least disinfect things like that to avoid having to lose 'em.

But that wound was pretty serious, as human wounds go.

If I was going to die that way, I would've done it a long, long time ago. I've gotten worse wounds while fighting, you know! We all did.

That kinda cut wasn't gonna do anything. It didn't go deep enough or hit anything important enough.

[Yes, he just brushed off a Ring-stabbing as something to not be concerned about.]

Edited 2014-02-18 22:33 (UTC)

...hoh... Tenarrrr-chan~, you didn't notice, did you? Even if you don't believe yourself vulnerable to infection - which is foolish at best, if you're human - there's another risk from this thing. You narrowly risked death when you tempted the Ring's anger.

All I can think is that the reason you weren't harmed was that only one of the prongs managed to penetrate. That or how fast you drew away.

...My name's just Tenar, not Tenarchan. Why did you call me that?

[So much confusion. But he just shrugs a little.]

No, stuff can get infected. But I've fought since I was a little kid, and my body's really strong -- strong enough that I can ignore stuff like that for a while before I take care of it. I was gonna clean it later, but Kai got to healing it first.

But... what do you mean? I know the Ring's prongs are sharp, but I wasn't in a spot where you could stab my heart or anything...

Edited 2014-02-18 22:37 (UTC)

...It's an honorific.You don't have those in Bizarro Fighting Magic World?

[Waving a hand dismissively, he sits up.]

This Ring of mine has a secret... and it doesn't need to penetrate your heart for it to work. It's better if it does, but... the defensive measures of this Ring have nothing to do with their sharpness. It's got a special defence mechanism, you see. So it's probably best not to antagonize it again.

Nope. What's an honorific?

[...Special defense mechanism? Tenar's eyes flicker with both wariness and curiosity. What could that be? More magic stuff?]

What does it do?

It's something you add to the end of a name to denote their status and display politeness. Little kids like yourself get "-chan" added to the end of their name, adults get "-san". There's a whole bunch more.

[He smiles slowly.]

Heheh. It incinerates you from the inside.

...Um. Why do you do that instead of just calling them by their names?

[Oh. Oh dear. Tenar's eyes go wide, and he eyes the Ring with a lot more suspicion now.]

How does it do THAT?

Beats me. It doesn't talk or anything, so hell if I know how it does anything.

...

I just told you why we do it.

So... it's just to be polite. Okay...

[He can't exactly argue the idea of that, but geeze, a whole kind of system just for that? No wonder they didn't have any fighting tournaments, they were too busy with silly stuff.]

I'll make sure not to touch it again, then.

It shouldn't really try to do that unless you try to put it on... but it's pretty feisty, so who knows?

[Silly stuff? He agrees. Shit like that's totally boring.]

Are you surprised, Tenar?

[Ever since Ryou shattered her happy little delusion, Karasu has been doing a mix of hiding out (in both forms) or just avoiding Bakura like the plague and trying to talk with other people like nothing was wrong. Honestly... she knew the Ring could find her if it really wanted to, so she's grateful about the fact that Bakura seemed willing (or just as inclined) to stay away from her right now.

As it is, with the language barrier now gone, there's one person she wants to talk to more than anyone. Which is why she's rapping on Kai's door.]

[The knock catches Kai in the middle of drawing; he has his mom's sketch of Hollow Bastion spread out on the coffee table, and he's been trying his best to copy it without tracing. The result so far has been...well, nothing to shout about. He's actually glad to abandon it to see who's at the door, and the grin that spreads across his face at the sight of Karasu quickly fades as he really looks at her.]

...Hey. What's wrong?

...can I come in?

[She avoids answering, because... well, right now, she feels exposed and still more than a little upset.]

You know you can. [He steps aside to hold the door for her, frowning. He's going to get to beat someone up, right?]

It's really good being able to understand people again. Especially you.

[Because seriously, that was killing him.]

Yeah... it is.

[She steps in gratefully, glancing around before going to sit on the couch and folding her hands in her lap. This is the last thing she wants to think about, but... she has to know.]

Tell me about Bakura. Really about him.

[Somehow he wasn't expecting this. Kai shuts the door quietly before going to join her on the couch. Starting off with 'He's a complete and utter dick' would be a bad move. Okay.]

He's a creep.

[Sigh. Idiot.]

I'm not saying that because of the fact we don't get along. He really is. He keeps Ryou asleep most of the time and walks around like the poor kid's body is his, and manipulates people to get what he wants. He sent a monster of his to pound down my door- [After you froze his Necro Soldier and dropped it on his head Kai, be honest] after I tossed one of his other monsters back out at him. He sent it in my room unannounced, it was self-defense.

[Getting away from the point here. Kai sighs, pushing his bangs out of his eyes in an almost nervous gesture.]

The day we walked you back to your room, and he and I went off to talk? I basically was hoping to get him to admit to what he was up to in regards to you. I had a little recorder in my pocket and everything. He didn't, exactly, but he said other stuff...it might've helped. But then I was an idiot and got the thing wrecked. [Kai scowls, mostly at his own stupidity that day, and pushes his sleeve up to show her the scar on his arm.]

He did that, to try and stop me. Ruined the recorder, too.

[Karasu is dead silent through everything Kai says, with a blank, almost broken expression on her face. Her eyes flick to the scar when he pulls up his sleeve, half-closing as he finishes.

For what probably feels like far too long, the silence in the room is heavy and thick. And then, Karasu just pulls her legs up to the couch, buries her face in her knees, and cries.]

[He's waited for this day for what seems like ages. He wanted her to see that Bakura wasn't some saint, wasn't anywhere near good for her. He just wanted her to be safe.

And now that it might actually be here...

Damn.]

H-hey, Karasu, don't-

[Not finishing that sentence. 'Don't cry', after what he just said? He's wondering what exactly happened before this, to make her come to him about it. Biting his lip, he scoots a little closer and tries to hug her gently. He doesn't even know if she'll let him, but he can't stand watching her cry like this.

It sounds like her heart's breaking.]

[She just shakes her head when he speaks, but when he comes over, she does more than let him. She turns and buries her face in his shoulder, just clinging to him as everything that's twisted and sunk and bottled up inside of her finally shatters and starts flowing.]

Why...

[She thought he was her friend. Her real one. So why did he do that?]

[Kai just hugs her as tight as he can once she latches onto him, trying to ignore the urge to go sic a few dozen Shadows on Bakura right now.

Later. He can make him pay for this later.]

I don't know.

[At least it's an honest answer. Who knows what the hell the Creeper's motivations are?]

Nnn...

[But... no, she has an idea. She is the Blue-Eyes, after all. If he's as nasty as both of them are saying... then of course, he'd be manipulating her for that.

But... was it really all manipulation? So much of it seemed real... could it have been?

Or... was it just a dumb hope that was making her blind and thinking it was?]

I... have to talk to him, eventually...

['Over my dead body' is the first thing to come to mind, and Kai squishes it so fast he can almost forget he thought it.]

Do you want me there when you do? I don't know if it would help or not.

[They probably wouldn't get anything productive done, honestly. Unless 'productive' meant another episode of shanking and Darkness-tainted Barrier to the face.]

...

[A part of her does, if just to have someone to cling to about this whole thing. But... no, she knows that wouldn't work.]

Thank you... but I have to talk to him alone. I don't think... he'd say anything if anyone else was there. So it has to be just me.

I'll be outside the door then. [Yes, he means that.] Won't even know it.

[He can be pretty damn invisible when he wants to. Never mind that right now, invisible is the last thing he wants.]

I appreciate that, but... I think he'll know. I promise... I can be safe.

[Kai makes a bit of a face at that, pulling away enough to look at her.]

What, is he psychic now? And I know you can, I just- I need to do something, even if it's only standing guard.

[Even though that makes him feel pretty useless in this situation, to be honest.]

No, but he could check with the Ring. I don't know. I just... I need to do this myself, Kai-kun. I'm sorry.

[She untangles herself from him, standing up fully and smoothing down her shirt.]

...Thank you.

...

[He just sort of blinks up at her as she pulls away, then shakes his head.]

Naw, I understand. And you're welcome.

[He flashes her a bit of a smile before standing himself and tugging his sleeve back down.]

I'll be here if you need me. [Plotting. He barely manages to stop himself from rolling his eyes at that thought. Who was going creeper now?]

I might after this is over. I'll... see you later, all right?

[And she'll be going out the door quickly now, before she loses her nerve to.]

[The one blessing of this entire event is that his ill-humor could be easily attributed to frustration over being unable to speak. But now that the problem of speech was resolved, it was harder to hide his grouchiness. More so since there was no longer just Malik to hide it from. Malik's irritation at his affection for the dragon meant that he couldn't even talk about it. How annoying.

Sitting on the beach, his back leaning against a tree to avoid the inevitable rain that has been pouring down in bursts today, he stares moodily out at the ocean and ignores the book in his hands. Tch, it's enough to make him want to hurt people. Especially his wayward host. Traitor.]

...Bakura.

[It probably only gets worse, then, when her voice comes out from the other side of the tree.]

Didn't think you'd be out in the rain.

Edited 2014-02-18 22:00 (UTC)

-?!

[Dropping the book, he turns his head in the direction of her voice. What the hell-?]

...Rain doesn't bother me. It's weird as hell, but as long as I don't get soaked, I don't mind it.

It's kind of calming, in some way.

[The silence settles in for a little bit as she looks up, watching the rain fall herself. She holds her hand out, letting some of it fall on her and just watching it flow off.

...Tch.]

How much?

[Leaning back against the tree, he stares off into the sky.]

...tch. I don't know unless you tell me what you're asking.

I know you lied to me. I know you were manipulating me and using me because I was the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

What I want to know is how much. How much of everything we did, we said, that "friendship"... how much of it was just that lying? How much of that was you manipulating me to use me?

...

Karasu. You're asking something that's almost impossible to certify.

It's true that I started to manipulate you. But you're forgetting one thing.

[Lifting a hand to his face, he stares at it for a moment before clenching it into a fist suddenly.]

What the hell would I even be able to use you for while the barrier's here anyway?!

After it became evident that it couldn't be broken, I could have discarded you at any time! Death doesn't last here, so I wasn't in need of your protection. Remember... I never tried to get you to do anything that wasn't just us playing around. The most I did after that point was to conceal my nature.

Ask yourself that. Why would I bother?

[A part of her wants to point out that death doesn't have to be permanent to still want protection from it, but she resists, just listening silently as she watches the rain fall some more.]

That's what I'm asking you.

[Sorry, but she's feeling difficult right now, Bakura. It kind of comes with being justifiedly angry.]

You already know the answer. If you're not useful to me, why would I keep you around?

[Staring out at the sea, he frowns. Yes... that was right. This stupid human emotion... was liking.]

I kept you around because I had fun with you. Even with that stupid light of yours making me crazy, I enjoyed being around you, talking with you, playing games with you... It was something I couldn't explain.

[He lifts a hand to his face, fingers tracing over the scar there from Malik's rage about her.]

You probably figured it out, but the real reason Malik was so angry at you... was because he was jealous as hell over my liking you so much. If I'd kept it at just using you, it might have been fine... but once that usefulness vanished, he got madder and madder about it. Because it was more and more obvious that I was keeping you around for other reasons.

[The words sink in, soothing some of the pain from the wounds that Ryou ripped wide open and Kai only aggravated. She breathes in, slowly, then out, as if thinking deeply.

...She doesn't need to. She already knew the choice she was going to make if it turned out this way.]

No more.

[Her voice is quiet, and tired, but there's a hint of that powerful creature behind it.]

No more lies, no more manipulation.

[She knows how that sounds, especially with the pause. Maybe a part of her wants to dangle him, a little... but no. It's just so she can get her words together.]

Act the way you really are, no matter what that is. Because...

I still owe you everything. Even if it started out just using me, it still gave me what I needed. And... even if you are everything they said... you're still someone I'm indebted to, Bakura. And you're someone I enjoy being around, too. At the least, I think I do, and I'm willing to see if that's still true.

I don't want to see that fake "you" anymore. I don't want to be tricked or lied to. But I do want to stay friends... if that's possible.

[At first he wonders if she's planning to kill him or drive him away. If that happens, it won't be easy for either of them. But then she continues and he pauses, blinking in surprise.]

You want to see the real me?

[A being born of darkness, and a being born of light. He doubts she'll be as okay with the real him as the him that she knew. Not that there were many differences beyond his calmer attitude.

Well, it would be a relief to let the act drop. Restraining his words was such a bitch...]

Fine, then.

[Lifting a hand, he beckons for her to come sit down.]

But if you want the 'true' me for your friend, the question is if your guilt can handle it. After all, you're talking about befriending someone who's associated with a whole lot of darkness.

[At the answer, she does come around the tree, sitting next to him and pulling her legs up to rest her chin on her knees.]

I know I am... and I know I won't be happy with a lot that you do, if what Ryou-kun said is right. But...

Like I said. I owe you a lot... and I still want to at least try. I really enjoyed doing all those things with you, and if you felt the same, then I'm sure everything else... it'll fit somehow.

[Hah... who knew? He didn't need to repress her memories after all.]

...Karasu. Sit still for a moment.

[Moving so he's in front of her, he reaches out a hand to rest it against her chest. Closing his eyes, he focuses. Enough of this. Come out. he orders the fragment, drawing it free. Between the glow of the Ring and the visible energy of the soul fragment, it might be unnerving.]

I put this inside of you a while back. I'm taking it back now. Consider it a gesture of goodwill.

[Holding the soul fragment in his hand, he looks down at it with a strange smile. It probably won't be able to be re-absorbed... Should he just destroy it? Even though it's something so precious?

For the moment, he just fuses it into his knife.]

Edited 2014-02-18 23:04 (UTC)

Mmm?

[Karasu tenses up visibly when he's in front of her, eyes narrowing a little but making no move to stop him. It is unnerving, very much so, but she'll go on a bit of trust for now.]

What is -- was -- that?

["Goodwill"?]

...heh. I split my soul a while back, and put part of it inside of you. That's the real trick behind that special communications method I spoke of. So it won't work again.

[Moving back, he leans against the tree again.]

I probably won't be able to reabsorb it. Once it's split, it's split. Souls aren't easily reconnected.

I see.

[She closes her eyes a little at that, blowing out some air.]

Let me guess... it knew everything that was going on with me?

Of course it did. While it was inside of you, it was always aware.

In that case...

[And this will be her out and out bitch-slapping him across the face.]

It's not polite to spy on a lady in the bathroom!

[OW GODDAMMIT LIKE HE HASN'T BEEN HURT ENOUGH LATELY.]

O-oi! I didn't do anything of the sort! It's not like I could see through it or anything! It may have observed everything, but it didn't tell me shit unless it was important!

...besides, I've already seen you naked.

It doesn't matter if you've had or not, it's still rude. And it's not like I can hit it, so you'll have to deal with it!

[Really, she doesn't care that much about it. But being able to argue a little like this makes things almost feel normal again.

Their friendship... it's definitely changed, but maybe it's not as much as she's afraid of. Her voice calms a little, but there's almost a hint of teasing in there, if Bakura listens carefully.]

Besides, since it's you, you could've just asked for it. I've let you sit on my lap, after all.

...heh. [He grins a little. That barely-noticeable playful note makes him feel like nothing has changed.]

Your soul could have hit it. Or worse. It seemed pretty comfortable in there~.

[...you know, that makes him sound like he's the girl here,since he was the one on her lap.]

What, you mean you'd have invited me in with you? Isn't that a little risky for a teenage girl?

But I wouldn't have known about it, so it wouldn't have made me feel better anyway.

[She sticks her tongue out, letting her legs stretch out and blowing one of the bangs out of her face.]

But I'm a teenage dragon girl. Wouldn't that make it more risky for you? What if I sneezed and randomly changed? Then you'd be stuck under a naked dragon butt.

...that one would be kind of hard to explain, wouldn't it? Though your dragon butt is usually naked, unless you've somehow developed the ability to magic a dragon-skirt on.

Sadly, not yet. I don't think a skirt would suit me anyway.

Maybe a dragon suit? Then I'd look well-dressed while breaking down walls.

Heheh. It'd definitely be something worth seeing. Maybe it'd get you on that billboard! "Warning: Occasional well-suited dragon causes structural damage on occasion. Beware of being sat on by dragon butt."

Maybe I should add a monocle, too. And learn how to drink tea with my claws.

Then I can be a gentlelady dragon.

We'd have to get you a pretty big cup. Short of ripping out a bathtub, I can't imagine where you'd get it.

I could always carve the bathtub up! I'd have to get a LOT of tea for that, though...

Just get coloured water and add some nice flavouring. Nobody'll know!

But that wouldn't taste very good!

[...Ah. She quiets for a moment.]

Let me talk to Ryou-kun.

It's about the same as soda.

[...He makes an annoyed face, but retreats into the Ring.]

...huh?... Kurokawa-san...?

[He can be annoyed, but this is important.]

Good... well, I guess afternoon, Ryou-kun.

...ah. Is it-?

[He has to check his watch to confirm it. Right, so it is... He nods, looking a little awkward.]

Good afternoon, Kurokawa-san!

Edited 2014-02-19 17:30 (UTC)

...Ryou-kun. I'm sorry I ran away. I really am, because... nothing has to change between the two of us. I still want to be your friend, and do everything we said.

If you want to.

No, you don't have to apologize. I understand.

[He gives her a friendly smile, relaxing slowly. To be friends again... he's glad for that. Really, really glad.]

I'd really like to, nee-san.

Then there's nothing to worry about, right?

[She smiles, reaching over to hug Ryou briefly before pulling back.]

I'm thankful that you told me what you did, though. Things... well, I think they'll at least be a little better now.

Is that right...?

[He hugs her back in an awkwardly formal manner, feeling uncomfortable with it. Things will be better, huh... He really hopes so. Karasu is a nice girl. She deserves better.]

I'm glad. I was worried about you.

I hope so. After all, we're still stuck here.

[It's just a matter of if she can take it when it comes.]

...Thank you. It's still nice to hear there are people who worry about me.

You're not hard to worry about. You're really nice, after all.

[And kind of naive, to fall for the spirit's tricks.]

I guess that's true enough.

[She'll let that topic fall, however, moving on.]

Don't forget that we still have that contest sometime soon!

Un! I remember! [...he'd forgotten, actually.] We should think of a prize, too.

[Good thing she brought it up.]

That's a good idea. Hmm... I wonder what, though?

...I could make a trophy or something.

[Giggle.]

That sounds like a good prize to me.

I'd say we could fill it with sweets, but at the end of that, we're not going to want to eat for a while!

Yeah... that might just make us sick!

What about an IOU to one dinner made entirely by the other person?

Alright! I'm amenable to that.

[It's not like he doesn't love cooking anyway.]

Then it's settled! We just have to figure out when to hold it.

It really doesn't need to be a big affair, right? So we could just do it whenever. The hard part is just having all the food ready.

Maybe I could ask the other me to help...

It couldn't hurt to get the help... though I might need to cook it somewhere else so the Thief King doesn't get his hands in everything.

You could just try giving him something to distract him with?

I don't think I have anything that interesting to get him off food.

...oh right. [Of course his past self would be food crazy...]

Uhm. I could try to keep him occupied?

Wouldn't you need to be cooking your half?

Well, if one of us keeps him occupied while the other works, we can take it in turns.

That might work, yeah! Hopefully, he'll just be out again, but if not, we can do that.

We'd need to get someone to keep track, too.

Maybe Kai-kun can do it?

Edited 2014-02-19 21:59 (UTC)

Un, that's fine! We can pay him in dessert or something.

Perfect! I bet he'll really like that!

Un, I'm sure he will!

[Drawing his legs up, he loops his arms around his knees and stares off into space. The rain is dying down... that's good.]

I didn't bring an umbrella. Did you?

No, I didn't... I kind of wanted to walk in the rain. It felt good, and I liked the cold feeling.

I see... that's good.

[A drop of water from the above tree falls to hit him on the nose and he squeaks, wrinkling his nose up cutely.]

Cold-!

[Karasu blinks, then bursts into giggles at that, smiling at him.]

Too cold for you?

Ehe... A little. [He rubs his nose and grins at her.] You'd think I'd be used to the cold by now, but even after all this time, I'm not used to not wearing sweaters and fastened-up uniforms.

[The spirit's fashion sense had eclipsed his own, to his sorrow. He awkwardly fastens up the top buttons of his shirt.]

I think you'd look nice in the right kind of sweaters. Maybe the Campus will start making them for you!

[She pulls up her own legs again, wet as her pants are now, and crosses both her arms over her knees, resting her head on them to look at him.]

I actually have some, but I can't wear them. [Sigh.] 'He' keeps taking them off.

It doesn't matter anyway.

[Ah... yeah, somehow, she doesn't think a sweater would really suit Bakura.]

I guess that would be a problem... but why not?

Until I'm strong enough to get rid of him, I don't have any choice but to adapt. I've gotten used to accepting things I can't change. The important things are still there. Everything else... I can deal with losing.

...Ryou-kun...

[That's right... Ryou's not sharing the body willingly. She gives him a gentle look, resisting the urge to hug him again after feeling how awkward he seemed about it earlier.]

...At least you don't have to worry about losing me! I promise.

I should hope so. My friends are the only thing I won't ever back down on. Even 'he' knows that.

They're really important... even if it took me a while to figure that out.

[Have a smile that's a lot more cheerful than before, Ryou!]

Un! Friends are the one thing that'll always stick by you. No matter what.

[Even someone like him... has friends who matter and who'll support him. That's a warming thought.]

[She quiets a bit at that, closing her eyes to just listen to the rain, fading as it is. Heh... that's right. Even if Bakura wasn't one...

She did have people like that.

Reaching out, she playfully ruffles Ryou's hair almost without thinking.]

You're a good little brother.

-!

[He grins, not minding at all, though it surprises him. Hah, it was like all the silver haired kids were becoming a family. Kai, and him, and now Karasu.]

You think so? Kai-kun doesn't seem to mind me either, so I guess so!

[Hm...]

You should play with us sometime! Kai-kun says we're going to make swords and capes and do all the stuff I didn't get to do as a kid.

I wouldn't say it if I didn't!

[...capes and swords and all sorts of stuff he didn't do as a kid? She can't help but giggle again, nodding a bit.]

That sounds like fun! I'd love to join you, if you wanted me.

If you don't think you'd feel too stupid pretending to be a sorceress or a knight, then I'd like it!

[He should be more embarrassed about this, but like hell he is.]

I'm a TRPG player, so it's not all that weird to me, but I know a lot of people would find it strange.

I might feel a little embarrassed at first, but that's because I've never done anything like that before. As long as you guys are patient with me... I wouldn't mind!

I'm sure it'll be fine. I've never done it either, but it really sounds like fun. Kind of like LARPing.

[He really needs to find something to use as a cape then. Malik's is too dark and creepy.]

Ryou? Ryou, could you come help me with something?

[Sibyll's voice drifts out from the art classroom.]

Sibyll-san...?

[Hearing her voice is kind of a surprise. He didn't know she was into art. Limping a little still from the Heartless' attacks recently, Ryou obediently steps into the room. His leg feels really stiff. It's really irritating. And nobody'll tell him what happened to it either. Mostly because only the spirit and Karasu know, and Karasu hasn't come back from the dead yet.]

What do you need?

Edited 2014-02-25 01:17 (UTC)

[The strong scent of metal greets him as he walks into the room. The Courier appears to be at work making new bullets for her gun. The room is fairly warm from the kiln, and its vent is running. About twenty or so freshly cast bullets lay neatly in several rows on the counter, and Sibyll is holding what looks to be a mold in a bucket of water.]

Oh, thanks for coming, sweetie. Would you hold onto this while I switch off the kiln? I just need an extra set of hands. You don't have to do anything besides hold it there while that batch cools.

Ehhh, so this is how you make bullets... You're really amazing, Sibyll-san!

[That's kind of scary, but kinda cool too. Crossing over to where she is, he takes the bucket from her without hesitation. It's a little warm, but not unmanageable. His arm aches a little from the wound he took to it, but he's sure she won't be too long.

And considering it's been snowing outside in scattered bursts, the warmth of the room is nice.]

[Inwardly, she steels herself to act, but her expression is nothing but smiles. It's harder when it's Ryou, but ultimately it will be for his own good.]

It's a useful skill when ammo is hard to scare up.

[The woman takes two careful steps away, casually reaching for her gun. Then she spins around, catching the poor boy upside the head. She had aimed her strike carefully, avoiding his face. After all, she wanted to stun him, not seriously injure him.]

-!

[Ryou reels back, dropping the bucket to the floor with a crash. It's too fast for even the spirit to react to, the sharp pain and suddenness of the hit leaving him dizzy and mindless. His mind can't even grasp what just happened. One minute Sibyll was there, and the next... something hit him? What... hit him? What's happening?

Falling back, he lands hard on his backside, unconsciously shooting his hands out behind him to break his fall. The motion hurts his arm more and he just sits there for a moment, briefly paralysed by pain and dizziness. If she'd hit a bit harder he might have been knocked out entirely for a moment.]

I'm sorry, honey, but this was the only way. I'll patch you up as soon as I'm done here.

[She swims back into his vision. As fast as a snake's strike, she reaches out and grabs at the Ring, yanking it off his neck with as much strength as she can muster. It may not help, but her hands are still encased in the thick gloves she was using earlier.]

[The gloves spare her a nasty injury as the Ring's prongs stab out towards her hand. Rather than clinging to the vessel, it seems to be voicing its' annoyance. Ryou groans, vaguely aware that the Ring's weight is gone from his chest.]

Eh- W-wait, what are you doing?!

[His voice is strained at best. He doesn't really want to move right now...

Without actual physical contact, the spirit can't take over her - though his voice does echo in her head.

So that's your plan... What an annoying woman you are.

Maybe if Tenar hadn't wrecked the gold chain, the Ring would have been harder to remove. What a pain.]

[She starts a little when she hears his voice echoing around in her head, but holds onto the Ring with an iron grip.]

You've had your talons in Ryou for long enough.

[With a snarl at the Ring, she lifts the lid of the kiln open. She's doused in a wave of heat. With her free hand, she shields her face. The other arm flings the gold necklace into the kiln. Then Sibyll slams the lid shut and locks it, pressing in a few commands on the keypad.

Back over to the now free Ryou, she gently helps him to his feet.]

Come on, we need to get out of here. I've modified the kiln to burn hotter then it's supposed to and I don't know what's going to happen. Just so long as I turn that thing into slag.

[Wait. Wait a minute. Wait wait wait wait wait-

Ryou's very conflicted. On the one hand, she may have just gotten rid of the Ring. On the other-]

You just melted my one memento of my father...

[Oh god, and Malik is going to kill them both, isn't he? He's totally going to be mad as hell and what if he goes crazy-

But the Ring is gone. Gone, gone, gone, gone, he's free, there's not going to be any more voices in his head... No more using his body to hurt anyone, no more waking up to weird injuries, no more blackouts and worries and loss of control...]

Edited 2014-02-25 02:26 (UTC)

[Injured leg and arm or not, you're getting the biggest hug, Sibyll, and possibly getting twirled too.]

[She hadn't been expecting that, not when he mentioned that it was the only memento of his father. But she smiles and hugs him back, even kissing him lightly on the forehead.]

Sorry about the hit on the head. I didn't want him to try anything.

Sibyll-san... [Sniffle.] Sibyll-san, thank you!

[It's unfortunate for the both of them. Even without the soul fragment left within the wayward vessel, Bakura is not so easily destroyed. The soft voice of Ryou continues, though it's no longer Ryou that's speaking.]

You're so kind...

[An eerie sound heralds the change. An echoing chime fills the air. It happens in a flash. Ryou's face, buried in Sibyll's shoulder, distorts as the Ring reappears around his neck. A dark smile crosses his lips.]

So kind I feel bad for spoiling this happy moment!

[The sarcasm in those harsh tones is almost too thick to miss as he lifts his head to smile at Sibyll, not moving away from her warm body.]

[Her eyes fly open in horror. She places her hands on the boy's shoulders and pushes him back to stare into his changed face.]

No! That's not possible! You should be melted to the damn floor of the kiln by now!

Hahahahaha! That's too bad!

[He grins broadly at her, enjoying the look of shock and horror on her face.]

I told you... it's not that easy to get rid of me! But you can try again, if you like! I won't even try to kill you for it!

Heheheheheh...

[Her expression of horror morphed into one of fury, naked hate. He didn't need to ask twice. Sibyll grabbed the necklace again, yanking it free. She flung it at the work table and grabbed a hammer. Over and over she brought the hammer down on the Ring.]

...

[Ryou just watches silently, feeling all his happiness of before just melt away like the Ring should have. The hammer strikes over and over, but all that happens is the occasional spark from the force of the clash. The Ring remains stubbornly intact, not even the tiniest of cracks showing up.]

M... maybe something with more force...?

[Her eyes narrow, and she turns back to Ryou.]

Get out of the room. I don't want you to accidentally get hit in the ricochet.

[Then she turns back to the Ring, pulling a set of protective goggles. Once Ryou is in the clear, she opens fire on the gold Ring.]

[He dutifully flees the room, shutting the door behind him and dropping down to crouch on the floor with his hands covering his ears.

What was wrong with him? He should have known it wouldn't be that easy. And why does part of him still want the Ring to survive?]

Please...

[His voice is just a hushed whisper, inaudible to the two still inside the room.]

Please just disappear...

[Almost as if it's mocking her, the Ring simply sits there. The most it does is skid from the force of the bullets.

Inside the Ring, the spirit is laughing like a madman.]

[It took everything in her power not to yell out in frustration. She wasn't about to give him the satisfaction. No. She had to think. Forcing herself to breathe, Sibyll paces back and forth, trying to think.

Stepping closer, she looks at the Ring suspiciously. A thought occurred to her, but it was crazy. On the other hand, so was this whole situation. So time to go with insane.

She takes a couple more deep breaths, trying to replace her anger with a different, less destructive emotion. Slowly, almost as if she's afraid it would spring to life, Sibyll reaches for the Ring and takes it in one gloved hand. She presses it against her breast, right by her heart and focuses. She focuses on the warm she holds for Ryou, the maternal affection the spirit in the Ring finds so foreign. Funneling every ounce of her strong will, she tries to shove all that emotion into the gold necklace.]

[He could just have stabbed her with the Ring's prongs, but this is the last act of a desperate woman. It's too amusingly pitiful to end in such a violent way... and he did say he wouldn't try to kill her for it. His voice echoes inside of her head.]

What a foolish woman you are... Swinging from destructive to loving over me so fast! Unfortunately for you, I'm taken.

[It doesn't even frustrate him. That kindness of hers is pathetic. Those maternal feelings are unnecessary. But they don't affect him at all like this. It's the conflict between her hatred of him and those bizarre affections that unnerves him the most. He doesn't remember or desire anything parental in his life.]

Be a good girl and give me back now, won't you?

[And just like a pendulum, hate and frustration comes flooding back.]

No.

[Gripping the Ring as if she was trying to choke the spirit, she begins to look around the room for something suitable.]

Then what're you going to do? You can't break me or melt me... Bullets won't work, and they're your natural response to everything, heheh... So what are you going to do?

[He's far too amused. It's in every word he speaks, a feeling emanating from the Ring itself.]

Put you somewhere where you can't hurt anyone.

[Ah-hah! She grabs a wooden box and tosses the Ring inside. Then she adds several small ingots of lead for weight, the same lead she had been using to cast her bullets. This was far more important use for the moment. Next comes the tape, wound over and over again not unlike the preparations to create a mummy.]

...

[It's not until she's done that he comments, from where he now is, hanging around Ryou's neck in the doorway. When she turns, breathless after the amount of work she's done to keep it sealed, only then does he speak.]

You know, if the locks on the kiln didn't hold me back... this might not do it.

[This time she doesn't even hold back on the cry of anger as she once again yanks the necklace free of Ryou's neck.]

I am going to get rid of you if it's the last thing I do!

Bring it on! I'll prove to you... your power is nothing!

[Bakura's arrogant voice fills her mind as Ryou blinks in confusion.

Oh... his head hurts. Could the spirit stop it already?! He was getting dizzy!]

[Flying past a poor, bewildered Ryou, she sprints out of the room. At top speed Sibyll tears through the halls. Anyone in her way risks being trampled unless they dodge out of the way. This woman is on a mission to be rid of a supernatural Ring.

Once on the shoreline, she slows to a stop, pausing to catch her breath.]

I sure hope you like swimming, you freak.

...!

[That damned fool... she can't be thinking what he thinks she's thinking, right? The Ring glows in her hands as the spirit decides to give something new a try. If he can take over her body, he can use it...]

Oi, oi, isn't this just a little bit petty?

[He's only the unknowing equivalent of the devil after all! It's not like he did anything to her! ...much.]

Petty? Bet Ryou doesn't think so with you stealing and using his body like he's some sort of freak puppet. And damned if I'm not going to try to save him and get rid of... you...

[The Courier staggers at the sudden feeling of something pushing on her mind. It's unlike anything she's ever felt before. Closing her eyes, she presses her free hand up against her temple, trying to simply process what's happening.]

[The spirit intrudes on her mind, trying to smother it, to suppress it. If he can force her into sleep, then he can handle her body with ease. It's an uncomfortable feeling.]

Save him... A mere vessel? How foolish... I'll never let you take him from me. He's my eternal master... until the end.

[It's harder than he expected. Her mind is surprisingly strong.]

[The pressure turned to odd heaviness that weighed down on her, coaxing her into... sleep? Sibyll forces her eyes back open and lifts the Ring into view. It glowed with an eerie light. She blinked at it for a second before her eyes grew wide with horror.]

Don't you fucking dare! Get the hell out of my head!

[With a white-hot fury, she shoved back at the pressure in her mind.]

Edited 2014-02-25 06:17 (UTC)

What did you say-?!

[She's stronger than he expected. Though he resists her, her will is enough to force him out of control. Damn...

The Ring's glow dies down as he returns to it, folding his spirit arms around his spirit body and pouting.]

You damn bitch...! I'll get you back for this!

Good luck swimming back.

[Fueled with an anger she hadn't felt since she squared off with Benny in the arena, Sibyll flung the necklace out into the ocean. It hit the water with a most satisfying splash.]

[Great. Not that he's too worried, since he can just teleport back. Or could, if it weren't for the damn currents.

...shit.

This is revenge for him leaving her in the river that time, isn't it?]

[Well, it was a brand new day, and everyone knew what that meant.]

Bakura! Where are you? We still need to duel again.

[With the inside of the building searched to no avail, Karasu's currently looking around outside; after all, spirit or not, he can't just up and disappear, right?]

[He knows that name. Of course he does, it's his own. And he knows the voice too. The name escapes him a little, but he's sure once he sees her, he'll know. It's the white-haired girl, isn't it? One of his friends. So of course he'll know her once he sees her. He creeps to the edge of his branch, intent on dropping down on top of her, but unfortunately the branch isn't strong enough to hold his weight.]

YAH-!

[He lands with a thud on the ground in front of her.]

Ow... fuck...

[The voice is younger, less harsh, but it's hard to mistake.]

[The yelp quickly gets Karasu's attention and she turns, only to see a... very tiny Spirit?

...Uh.]

Are you okay?

[Okay, checking to see if the kid is wounded first, figuring out if this is actually Bakura second.]

[Grouchily, he pushes himself off the ground, rubbing at his scraped knees carelessly. He doesn't seem injured, beyond mild scrapes and a few scratches from the branches.

Glancing up at her, he pauses, staring. Wow, she's prettier than he remembers.]

I'm fine. You're Karasu, right?

[None the less, she looks over him, checking just in case. A few scrapes, huh... not too bad a fall, then. That's good.

The fact he knows her name doesn't really surprise her much, more erasing any doubts about who this is. As such, she just smiles a little, trying to ignore what surprise there is at this. She really shouldn't be, considering what all the place could do when it decided to...]

That's me. You're Bakura, right?

Edited 2014-03-21 13:54 (UTC)

You figured it out really fast! Congr... Con... [Hm.] Well done!

[Words like that are really annoying. He gives her a curious look. Both she and Kai figured him out really fast... It's kinda impressive. Is he that recognizable even like this? His memories are still pretty scrambled by the process of de-aging, so he's not even remotely sure.]

Your hair's really pretty. Like moonlight.

Well... that's because you're an important friend of mine. I'd be mad at myself if I couldn't recognize you through something like this.

[He's sure different, though... it's a little weird. Guess even spirits were innocents as kids. Or was that Ryou?

...Either way, she doesn't entirely mind it.]

Thank you. I really like it too. But you know, your hair is really fluffy and pretty too, but that doesn't make you look any less tough!

...heh.

[He grins at that, nodding. Yeah, he's tough! Truthfully, it's more of a mix than he's aware of. The past 'him' that he doesn't remember, the innocence of that boy in Kul Elna, mixed with the knowledge of the future and of Ryou's youth... it leads for an interesting mixture.]

Of course it doesn't! Being pretty just means you're content with your looks! It's the ones that strive really hard to look tough that're super weak inside. They're really desperate to hide that they don't feel strong!

[Not counting him. He was just pretty tsun when he wanted to be.]

Hmm, that's a good point! I don't think I've ever thought of that before.

[She shifts to sit on the ground by him, leaning on her legs a little.]

Do I get extra points for being a dragon?

Of course! Dragons are really cool! There's nothing tougher!

[He draws his legs up as he sits beside her, hugging his knees to his chest.]

Cool! I've always wanted to be tough!

[As cute as this is, she's getting curious now. Leaning forward a little, she tilts her head slightly curiously.]

Do you know how this happened?

I dunno. I got lost in the building while looking for the pink-haired girl, and I ended up in a room I didn't know. An' when I got out, I was like this, and I couldn't remember why I was looking for her, so I just looked for the way out.

My memory's all mixed up, so I'm just having fun until it wears off.

[He meets her gaze with interest, wondering what's got her so curious.]

I see.

[Sounds like he stumbled into one of the North Wing rooms... so about average for this place. That was a relief, at least, since she didn't have to worry about some kind of magical deaging wave or something.

...she wouldn't put it past Campus.]

Well, I was looking for you to play with... so I'll stick with you until it does, if you want!

Really? You don't mind?

[He looks more curious now. It seems he really does have awesome friends.]

I'd like that. I don't like being alone.

Of course not. You're my friend, so I like spending time with you. I don't like being alone either, actually. So I understand!

Is there something you want to do?

But... I'm different right now, right? So I'm not really the same person.

I wanna do everything.

You're different, yeah... but you're just younger. You haven't taken someone else's brain, silly!

[She reaches over to playfully push him.]

Hm... do you remember how to duel?

...

[He doubts that, somehow. How can he be younger when he was never young to begin with? Unless he's reverted mentally to the state of the person he was before he became himself. Ugh, just trying to work it out makes his head hurt.]

Yeah. I think so, anyway. [But dueling doesn't sound like a lot of fun right now.]

Can we do something else, though?

[Okay, that's a bit... strange. He must really be feeling unsettled about this, isn't he?

Karasu simply nods, moving her knee up to lean on it, still smiling without missing a beat.]

Sure thing. I don't mind. Let's see...

[Well, she knew one thing they could do.]

Want to go flying?

. . .

I think the words I'm looking for are "fuck" and "yes".

[Snrk.]

Aren't you a little young for that language now~?

[Sorry, she can't help but tease.]

I'm a boy.

[He says that like it explains everything. Please, like he's some prissy girl who can't swear.]

Besides, nobody's got the right to tell me off, 'cause I don't have parents or guardians or anything. Nobody's in control of me~!

[Griiin.]

I guess that's a good point... but having a parent would be nice sometimes, wouldn't it?

...I dunno. Ryou's parents are the only ones I've really known, and one's dead and the other's been absent most of the time for years. So there's nothing I can compare it to that makes it seem worth the trouble.

I've never wanted one anyway. 'cause I've always been grown-up, so I never needed it. I never needed anyone before I came here.

[It seems Bakura's more honest in this state too.]

[It seems so. She makes a thoughtful noise at that, looking up.]

Hm, that would make it hard... I guess it's because I can remember him that I miss my father a lot.

[Oh well. Karasu stands up, stretching some.]

Shall we?

I remembered my mother once, but it was only really brief. I couldn't even see her face. Just hear her voice.

I don't remember it any more.

[He scrambles to his feet, looking more excited now.]

Yeah, let's go!

[His mother, huh... she wonders if it was better or worse than he remembered at all, if it was just that.

Oh well.]

All right!

[A quick flash of light later, and the usual dragon is there, offering a claw for Bakura to climb onto to help him get to her back.]

[Climbing up onto her back is way harder like this. He almost falls off, but eventually gets himself seated securely on her back.]

Woah... I can see forever, and we haven't even left the ground yet.

[She gives an amused, if gentle, growl, looking up and nodding a bit at that, holding her claw over his head to indicate the smaller size.

Once she's sure he seems to be firmly holding on, she stands up, flapping her wings hard to get them both up. It's got to be a lot more jarring as he is now, too, so once she's actually in the air, she glances back again to make sure he's still hanging on.]

[Pout~]

I know I'm smaller! Though I don't feel it.

[WOAH HEY THIS IS KINDA HARD NOW JUST GONNA BE CLINGING TO YOUR NECK LIKE WOAH.]

[She just gives a sound that's probably about as close to a dragon giggle as there is, though the clinging makes her frown a little. She doesn't want to send him tumbling or anything...

Maybe it'll be fine if she doesn't go too fast?

Giving a gentler flap of her wings, she starts her usual flight pattern around the island, though this time she's going as slow as she can to make sure there's no bitty-to-the-ground accidents.]

[She needn't worry, for once his initial nerves are gone, the little boy is all too excited to fly. He watches in awe as the island moves below them, fascinated.]

Ah, this is so cool!

[Finally seeing Karasu after that clusterfuck he'd created has torn Kai in two different directions. On the one hand, he's relieved she's okay (to a point) and talking to him. She'd even forgiven him, and it's more than he deserves. On the other, she's scared of him now. Seeing that in her eyes had pretty much killed him, and Kai had gone back to his room, cried on his dog, then started thinking.

Mostly about poor Surge needing to see Anubis. That got him to thinking about Bakura, and Kai had ended up baking the Creeper some brownies. Just as an incentive to let him take the dog out. Really, that's all it is. Kai doesn't feel bad for him. The fact he'd cried all over him when he was a short stuff had no influence whatsoever.]

Hope you still like him as much as you did then.

[The comment's directed at Surge, who's happily trotting along on his leash, not pulling for once. Kai's grateful for that, because if he drops these brownies he's going to be pissed. It took forever to get them to look like squares and not lumps. Coming to a halt outside Bakura's door, he eyes it warily before kicking it with his foot. Hands are occupied with plate and leash, so why not.]

...Uh, Bakura? You home?

[Bakura hasn't been sleeping much lately. Even with the changed locks, there's something awkward about sleeping with a coma patient in the top bunk of your bed. More importantly, sleeping alone now is... troublesome. Though it was tolerable enough on the first few days, though uncomfortable, it seems to have hit him all at once one night. On top of that, the other Malik is still running around somewhere. Both Ryou and him have been having trouble sleeping because of it, and as a result, their body is somewhat in a lethargic state.

Because of that, it takes a moment or two before the sound of movement from within the dormitory can be heard. Footsteps cross over, the sound of a key turns in the lock, and the spirit pulls the door open to stare out of the open doorway.

Then the door slams shut.

Bakura stands there, unmoving, on the other side of the door. Why the hell is Kai there? And with his dog, no less? More importantly, why is he asking for him? Shouldn't he be asking for his host? Kai doesn't do the whole "Bakura-kun" thing that most of Ryou's friends back at home do, after all.

Anubis, who's grown sleeker and taller over the last few months, trots over and licks at his fingers, whining. He misses Malik too, just as much as Bakura does. On top of that, he can smell the other dog there, a familiar scent. It's making him frustrated. Bakura glances down at him, twitching and drawing his hand away. It's still broken, and the affectionate gesture is painful to him. Still, it brings him back to his senses. He should at least find out what the guy wants.

Less than a minute later, the door opens again, just enough for him to peer out without letting Anubis slip free.]

What the hell do you want?

[No problem with waiting, none at all. After all, Kai's kind of iffy about opening his door lately too. But being stared at and having the door slammed in his face?

About what he expected, actually. He snorts and nudges Surge into sitting, wondering if he should try again. He doesn't want to leave the brownies, someone'll come along and steal them. He didn't put the effort into baking them in the first place just so-]

Uh.

[Whoops, let his thoughts drift a bit too much there. Kai sort of blinks at Bakura in a confused fashion before finding his words again. He nods down at the plate.]

I made you brownies. But I'm mostly here to see if Anubis can come out to play. Surge misses him.

[This is the weirdest conversation ever and they're barely into it.]

...

[The door shuts again.

His first thought is that Kai has clearly poisoned the brownies. His second is that Kai is at least somewhat more direct a killer than that. If they're poisoned, it'll just kill Ryou, anyway. Kai must know that, so there's probably no poison.

Then why would the guy bring him brownies? Home-made brownies, no less? Don't tell him Kai was hoping to make amends for trying to kill him... that was the most ridiculous idea ever. Or was he kidnapped by aliens? Did he get his mind scrambled by this place?

Anubis whines again, scratching at the door, and Bakura glances down at him again. Poor thing. Without Malik here, Anubis must be feeling almost as out of sorts as he is. As fond of him as the dog is, he's no replacement for Anubis' master. The dog can't understand where his master has gone.

On top of that, there is the factor of delicious desserts.

The door opens again. Bakura looks a little awkward, like he has no idea how to react to this.]

Fine, then. But I'm coming with him. Malik'll never forgive me if I let anything happen to him, and this place has a nasty habit of causing trouble.

...

It's not that hard a question!

[Surge whines once the door shuts again, and starts scratching at it in return as he hears Anubis. Kai tugs on the leash, pulling him back. C'mon Bakura, yes or no.

Ah, there he is again...and if things weren't so screwed up right now, he'd be tempted to laugh at the look on his face. Instead Kai simply holds the plate out.]

Okay, but take these, will you? Keep the plate, I don't need it.

[Creeper Cooties. He's going to have to make that rabies joke someday.]

Tch. Hold on to them a minute!

[Letting Anubis out, he steps out of the room and fumbles for his keys in his pocket, locking the door behind him with his left hand. It's a little awkward, but he manages it after a moment, tugging the keys out and slipping them back into his pocket. That done, he reaches out to grab the plate with the same hand.

His right hand is still braced in place, fingers pinned together by it, the hand hanging uselessly by his side.]

...thanks. They look good.

[Kai mocks him soundlessly while his back is turned, stopping as he notices the hand. What the hell did you do to his kid brother now, damn it.]

...Welcome. What happened?

[Now that his hand's free he can point, and he does, half waiting for an answer while absently noting how Surge isn't growling, barking, or attempting to chew on Bakura. The Lab gives Anubis a friendly lick before deciding to quietly sniff at the other boy.]

[Bakura looks down at the dog thoughtfully. Surge isn't being hostile now... he wonders if it's a holdover from being prevented from hurting the kid. The memory of that makes him embarrassed and he looks away.]

Oh, this? Some asshole went to punch me and I dodged. He hit the wall pretty hard. Broke his fingers. He decided to grind my hand under his foot until it was broken pretty badly in retaliation. It's been a couple of weeks since then, so it shouldn't take more than another month to heal up, if the nurse is right.

[He'd pat the dog, but kinda hard without any free working hands. So instead he just watches as Anubis gambols happily around Surge, excitable as a puppy still despite his growth.]

[Kai just facepalms at that, heaving a sigh. Maybe he should've just sent Ryou home with potions as thanks for those cookies.]

You know, I told Ryou if he needed help for stuff like this to come bug me. ...Guess it applies to you too.

[Light damn it Bakura. He still doesn't like you much, you know. Quit making him do...whatever the hell it is. Wait, wasn't his hand okay when he was a short stuff? Unless his sense of time is going bad...Ugh, this school.]

...Least the dogs are happy to see each other.

...

[He'd make a comment about how Kai didn't care so much about Ryou's health when he was setting Heartless on them, but... really, he's not in the mood to be sarcastic.]

Neither of us thought about it. If you want to try to fix it, be my guest. It's annoying as hell.

[This is so awkward... He jerks his head stiffly down the hall.]

Maybe they'll be happier yet if we take them outside. They can run about and play all they want then.

[Good thing too, or else Kai might be tempted to make Surge sit on him. Forever.]

...

[He kind of regrets saying it now. Oh well, not like he can take it back. Kai shrugs, giving Surge a gentle tug to get him moving. Surge lets out a happy bark and immediately attempts to take off in an effort to race Anubis, but comes to a skidding halt as Kai digs his heels in.]

Wait, Surge! Yeah, I'll look at it out there.

[Awkward and disturbing. What was he thinking again?]

[Really, he wouldn't have blamed Kai for withdrawing the offer. He would have. Bakura focuses the Ring on Anubis, making sure he knows where he is even when the dog runs ahead. He glances back at the dorm longingly, half-tempted to go hide back in there again, then reluctantly sets off after the dog in silence.

Once they're outside, he sits on the grass, setting the plate of brownies on his knees so his hand is free. He has to ward off Anubis from trying to taste them. He's not dumb enough to let that happen.

...it's probably a little strange to see the way he talks to Anubis as if he's a friend who can understand him.]

These aren't for you, Anubis-chan. Play with Surge for a while. I know you've been feeling lonely, so go have fun.

[He rather misses the days when he could just tuck the puppy into his shirt and carry him around. He can still carry Anubis around now, when his hand isn't useless, but it's not quite the same. Ah, well. Once the dog is distracted by Surge again, he sits back and stares up at the sky. Should he really be just sitting around like this while the other Malik is freely wandering around? Even if he can't do anything to stop him, something like guilt is rising up inside of him.]

That dog seems to walk you more than you walk it.

[Kai spends a little longer than he has to taking Surge's leash off, mostly because he's just listening to Bakura talk to Anubis in confused silence. Really? This is actually a thing he does?

Wow, there's a weirdly cute mental image.]

Go, Surge.

[He gives his dog an affectionate scratch on the head before urging him toward Anubis and dropping onto the grass next to Bakura. Maybe next time they should just bring a picnic basket. Kai snorts at that, glancing up at the sky himself for a second.]

At least I've got him trained not to jump on people anymore. Besides me, anyway. ...Let me see your hand. I don't know how much I can help, just so you're aware. I managed to help Karasu some, but-

[Ack, no, stop, not talking about her, stopping now.]

[Talking to the dog is a habit he picked up from day one. From the time Anubis and he were locked in the bathroom together to the current day, it's a habit that even Malik's teasing can't break.

...no, don't think about Malik. Not now. He shifts so he can easier offer his hand for Kai to examine. Truthfully, it still hurts to be touched, but he has a feeling Kai will need to do so to see how bad it is. Karasu had tried to heal it a little, but her skills were... pretty low, to be honest. It had been enough to accelerate the healing process a little, and dull the pain, but that had been about it.]

Just do what you can. I'm not expecting a miracle. You're not exactly a trained... physician.

[Come to think of it, on the subject of medical care, maybe Lisa can help a little after all. The other Malik might be a psychological problem, but they made medicine for that shit, right? He makes a mental note to go visit her after this.]

[Even though he's been lucky enough to have never broken anything, Kai's well aware that having a busted hand most likely hurts like hell. He's as gentle as he can be while he examines it, not just because it's Ryou's hand he's dealing with. He's not a jerk all the time.]

Trained or not, if I manage to completely heal it you'll have to pay me. Can't let my awesome skills go unrewarded, right?

[Joking while he deals with something serious, check. Holding Bakura's hand carefully between both of his, Kai lets out a soft breath, casting Cura. The warmth of the green light surprises him for once; it's stronger than what he used on Karasu, but he's pretty sure he's not overdoing things. Once the light sinks into Bakura's skin and fades, he releases his hand, sitting back to rub his forehead. Ouch.]

Don't screw anything else up for a day or two, huh?

[He has no idea how well that worked, and he's not going to admit it.]

[He's surprised by the care, if he has to be honest. Considering Kai hated him enough to try to kill him, even foregoing the safety of his host... that's entirely unexpected. He doesn't resist even slightly, though every instinct in his body is telling him not to let this guy even touch him. And having his hand held like this is humiliating in its own fashion. He feels like a goddamn schoolgirl.]

If you're that talented, you should set up a medical service.

[The warm feeling of the healing spell soothes his pain as it seeps in and he closes his eyes, relaxing for the first time since Kai turned up. Damn, that's a good feeling. He'd almost forgotten what it felt like to not be in pain at this point. When his hand is released, he draws it back to check it out. Carefully, he tries moving his fingers, and is rewarded by a surprising amount of flexibility. It's not fully healed, but after Karasu tried earlier, and with it being a few weeks closer to healing than it was when it first happened, it's close enough that it's only really stiff at the moment.]

Amazing...

Ha, maybe I should.

[Though if using it too often is going to give him headaches, maybe he should wait until he's learned Curaga too.]

So...

[Kai glances away to watch the dogs bounding happily around the courtyard, trying not to laugh as Surge starts chasing Anubis's tail. How to ask how well he did without actually letting on that he's not sure about it...eh, the hell with it.]

It's almost better, then?

That's right! I can't tell offhand, but it feels like it's pretty close to healed. It's not clicking when I try to bend them any more, either.

[Bakura's voice is honestly delighted. This is better than he expected. Another little bright spot in a haze of darkness.]

This is the first time I've been able to move these fingers in ages... Thanks.

[His words turn a little more awkward as he remembers just who it was that healed them. Damn, he kind of owes Kai again, doesn't he? Next time Kai tries to kill him, he'll probably have to let him off with minor wounds...]

Well that's good.

[Clicking...yuck. Kai can't help the grin that spreads across his face at how happy Bakura sounds about this. It's nowhere near making up for what he did (and part of him wonders why he even wants to try in regards to the Creeper to begin with) but at least it helped instead of hurt.]

Eh, welcome.

[He hopes that sounds like it's not a big deal. It'd probably help if he wasn't still grinning like a dork. Kai clears his throat and goes back to watching the dogs.]

...How're the brownies?

[That's a safe topic of conversation, right?]

[Kai's happiness isn't something that can be hidden so easily. It's pretty obvious, and Bakura can't really understand why. As someone who barely understands the concept of guilt, who only feels it in relation to those closest to him, it seems as though Kai is acting utterly irrationally. But then, weren't all humans?]

...that's right! I was distracted and forgot.

[That's right, he has brownies. He'll just be trying one of those now.

They're pretty delicious. Unlike Ryou, who'll eat politely even while he scarfs things down, Bakura's response to deliciousness is to bite right into it, chomping it down in an ill-mannered fashion. It's almost doglike... He pretty much demolishes the brownie.

As a result, he stays pretty silent until he's done devouring the brownie in his hand, licking the chocolatey remnants from his fingers with a satisfied expression.]

Delicious...

I'd almost be insulted, but yeah, your hand.

[Kai waves that off dismissively, but can't help looking back...and then just staring at the way Bakura eats. Isn't that hilariously familiar.]

You ate the same way as a short stuff, too.

[While a lot of that time had been just plain weird or outright disturbing, parts of it had been pretty funny. Licking poor Surge, for example.]

Maybe I should start giving Ryou packs of Oreos for you.

[Sadly, he's only half-joking.]

[Bakura looks flustered, his face reddening with embarrassment. He looks away quickly, trying to hide it. Damn Ryou's stupid pale skin...]

...o-oi! I wasn't in control of myself back then!

[...he wouldn't really, would he? Not that it'd be a terrible thing, since he recalls those oreos tastes damn good.]

Oreos? Those were those biscuits you had, right? They were pretty good.

[And now Kai's torn between either smirking or just laughing. Nope, not doing either. He can keep a straight face...or at least keep the faint smile he's got from turning into anything else.]

Aw, but it was adorable anyway! I was going to draw you hugging my dog, you want a copy?

[He's not being mean Bakura, he's honestly offering. Why.]

Yeah, Oreos are great, especially with milk. They'll crumble pretty fast if you dip them too long, though.

[Kai pulls his legs up and wraps his arms around them, resting his chin on his knees. At least that headache faded pretty fast.]

...Hey, those pictures you found in the North Wing...was that one of my mom the only one you found? Not just of her, but- Wondering if maybe it'd be worth it to go hunting around myself.

[He should've just stuck with the brownies, but he's curious.]

Tch... [Malik and Harriet would laugh if they found it. Once they came back from... Well. Once they came back. But maybe he could hide it in his treasures- wait, why is he thinking seriously about this?! This is embarrassing as hell!]

W-why would I want something like that?!

Edited 2014-03-28 21:54 (UTC)

...

[Kh...]

Fine. Just don't tell anyone.

[Making a mental note of the Oreo tip, he pauses and casts Kai a curious look at that question. Like he'd not have held it over him if there were others...

Well, Kai's being tolerable, and he honestly doesn't feel like being a total bitch right now, so he'll be honest.]

I didn't notice any others of her, and I don't know any of your relatives or anything like that, so it's no good asking me. But there were tons of photographs there. It was like a darkroom with a whole lot of pictures pinned up all over.

['Because it's a good memory' is on the tip of his tongue, but Kai only shakes his head, then lets out a soft laugh as Bakura agrees. Okay.]

Not a soul.

[True, Bakura wouldn't know what else to look for, would he? Maybe that room's still there somewhere. Couldn't hurt too much to look for it, he guesses. Not like he's really got anyone he could be spending time with right now anyway...but most of that's the guilt talking.]

Eh, I figured some of them would have me as a kid in them too, so they'd be pretty easy to identify that way. This isn't exactly common back home, either. [Kai reaches up and tugs at his hair for a second before side-eyeing him.] You know what I realized? My mom might've actually liked you once. That's more disturbing than I have words for.

Edited 2014-03-28 22:14 (UTC)

...what? [Hah. That's a weird thought. If he'd been in Kai's world, he might have befriended his mother before she settled down and came out of the darkness...]

If that had happened, I wonder how different things in your world would be by now? Who knows.

[Shaking his head, he looks up at the sky briefly before choosing to focus on the dogs.]

I don't find white hair all that odd, so it's kind of useless to identify someone with. I used to have it when I was human too. And Amane and Pegasus both had it too.

...

[The side-eyeing is turning into an outright frown now as Kai thinks about that. If she had...well. He wouldn't be sitting here now, would he? No, he has to have more faith in his mom than that.]

Maybe the world would've stopped existing sooner. Maybe she never would've ended up there to begin with. Home for me wasn't originally home for her, you know? She was from somewhere different. I think it came back, eventually. She could've gone back...

[Kai trails off. Bits and pieces of conversation overheard through keyholes and from his bed late at night when they thought he was sleeping told him why she didn't. He shrugs before letting out a snort. The curse of the 'silver but looks white damn you lighting' hair.]

It's silver! Stupid lighting.

[It's a dumb thing to grump over, but it makes him feel slightly better.]

Your past self almost ended up with a Keyblade to the face. [He says that almost conversationally, then grins.] But I ended up being persuaded otherwise. Don't think I'd even bother now, actually.

...if I had been in your world, it may well have been consumed earlier. It's probably better for you that it wasn't that way.

[It's an utterly blunt way of putting it.

Tch. He can tell he's out of sorts, with Malik and Harriet out of commission. Tales of death and destruction aren't cheering him up. Now, brownies, on the other hand... He'll just be eating another of those while he thinks.]

My past can take care of himself. He's pretty useless anyway... he could use all the hits he can get.

[Bakura sounds kind of scornful. The thief king isn't high on his list of priorities right now.]

Silver or white, what does it matter?

[Blunt yet pretty accurate. Kai snorts, the grumpy expression slipping away as Surge runs over to lick his hand before darting off again. Silly dog, checking up on him.]

So does that mean I can smack him around if he ever gives Karasu any more crap?

[The prospect of actually having the okay on that is a cheerful thought, until he remembers that she probably wouldn't approve of the help...or his methods. Doesn't matter that he wouldn't be doing anything batshit insane, Kai still wouldn't be just sitting him down for a pleasant talk.]

Eh, forget it. And the hair...I guess it doesn't matter.

[Now that he's been asked, he doesn't have an answer. Great.]

Feel free! That brat's a little too cocky for his own good. I'd kick his ass myself if I could.

[...that was more of an accidental slip than he'd like. In this body, his physical strength is pretty low in comparison to the thief king's... as he'd found out the hard way.

He moves suddenly, leaning in to stare at Kai's hair. It's a little too close, probably, for Kai's liking... but he can't tell straight away. Hopefully Kai doesn't mind him touching it to see.]

Huh... It's hard to tell. It looks purple-tinted in this light.

[And then he's away again, sitting back as if nothing had happened.]

[The cheerfulness is back. Kai smirks at that, then looks Bakura over. Nope, no rude comments, mouth shut-

Wait, Creeper in his face what even. He doesn't actually jerk away until after his hair's been touched, and by then it doesn't matter. Kai blinks a few times before staring at him. What-]

...See, stupid lighting. Purple tint, white, silver...Don't touch my hair again, huh?

[This conversation's going to lead to a nightmare somewhere down the line, he just knows it.]

Hoh...? Are you afraid I'm going to cut it or something? I can't make voodoo dolls or anything like that, so I don't have any reason to do that.

[This is the guy who stole someone's soul for trying to make his host cut his hair. The obvious explanation to him is that Kai's afraid he'll damage his.]

Cut- no.

[Oh Light, voodoo dolls. The one he made of the Thief King. A snicker or two escapes before Kai unfolds himself enough to flop backward on the grass. He really needs to try sticking pins in that again and see if anything happens this time.]

I just don't like people touching my hair.

[Wait, scratch that.]

Unless you're a friend, I don't like people touching my hair.

[That's better.]

[You could have left it at the first one, Kai. He really doesn't care about the semantics. But he files that away for later. He might be able to make use of this information to torment Kai more eventually.]

I can't imagine most people do touch your hair anyway.

[He sounds amused. What are personal space issues?]

Honestly... You people are so very picky.

[Like most of this entire conversation couldn't be used that way.]

When I was a kid-

[Hair ruffles galore. And 'Jem had had this weird obsession with it for a while, but nope.]

There's a lot of stuff to be picky about. Weren't you ever about anything? Aren't you now?

[Tell him why he cares, this is just ridiculous.]

...hm.

[He has to think about that one. Is he picky about anything?]

Who knows? I don't remember anything about when I was alive... and there was no point being picky when I was dead. Even my taste buds change depending on whose body I'm in.

I guess I'm picky about bodies... If they're uncomfortable, I get kind of antsy. And I've never liked mages, so I refuse to use more than one or two in my decks.

Does that count?

Not anything?

[It's weird, maybe he's just getting used to him, but sometimes Kai almost forgets about the body thing. Not that he's stealing Ryou's, but that before him he would've used other people. Could still use them now.

Such a creepy thought. Kai makes a face from where he's still flopped, then turns his head to look at Bakura.]

I guess. Does the mage thing only apply to your cards?

I was totally blank in terms of the memories of my life until a few months ago... and the only thing I've managed to find since then are what my goals are. Nothing else. Even hearing the thief king speak of them doesn't trigger anything. It must be part of the seal.

[He speaks of the seal as if he's speaking of the sun coming out; as if it's something entirely ordinary.]

Who knows? Magic users still make me feel a little odd, but that's probably a holdover from the past I don't remember. I'd have to be pretty fucking stupid to hate magic when I use it myself. Power is power.

[Items and Doors. He could always try and bug him for more than what he learned from bitty Bakura, but he's pretty sure it wouldn't be a good idea, even with how well they're tolerating each other right now.]

Seal?

[Okay, he can ask about that.]

...It is, isn't it.

[But he's still never making that mistake again. Okay, maybe Bakura's right and he's not a hero anymore. Thing is, Kai never considered himself one in the first place, so that doesn't sting too much. It's the thought he could be considered a villain in any sense of the word that really bites.]

Heheh... The spell that binds me to this thing.

[He picks up the Ring and jingles it leisurely, a strangely amused look on his face.]

It's ancient magic... There's only one other like me out there. I won't be able to break it until I break the seal on him. While the seal's in place, it cuts off our memories. We're playing a game without knowing the rules or the stakes or even the reason we started... it's quite fun~!

[He sounds almost childish. But at least it's distracting him from his low mood.]

[The jingling gets Surge's attention pretty quick, so say hi to at least one dog panting happily in your face, Bakura. Kai makes a half-hearted attempt at trying to shoo him away before giving up to tuck both arms under his head.]

The Pharaoh, right? [Lucky guess, probably.] How's that fun, I'd at least want to know the rules!

[Wait, remember who you're talking to, Kai.]

[Woah, hi there, Surge.]

Oi, oi, don't be so hasty~... This isn't a toy.

[Despite his chiding tone, he reaches out to pet the dog casually, since he's not going away too easily.]

Now go play with Anubis-chan... He's going to feel neglected if you keep rushing over!

[Sitting back, he looks over at Kai.]

That's right, the Nameless Pharaoh. As to that... hahah, you're not much of a gamer, are you? The tenseness of the situation makes it all the more interesting! The risk, the knowledge that your very soul is on the line... heheh, it's a thrill that can't be beaten!

...though it's really a pretty slow-moving game right now! It took three thousand years for my opponent to even wake up and start playing properly, after all.

[Surge doesn't care much about the shiny jingly toy anymore, he's just happy to be getting petted. He lets out a whine as Bakura turns his attention to the dork-in-charge, but almost immediately dashes back to playfully jump on Anubis.

Geeze, that dog. Kai guesses Surge liking Bakura more will make things easier for Ryou, but he's going to miss the Creeper alarm.]

Board games and video games, sure. Normal stuff. I don't mind the thrill of things like that. But what you're talking about...Back home, fighting monsters where my Heart's at stake is bad enough. Not like I could enjoy this like you.

Not like I'd want to, either.

[Kai grunts as he pushes himself back into a sitting position. He's still bothered by the fact he was enjoying siccing Heartless on Bakura. It's just not him.]

...Maybe he's not all that worried about your chances.

He doesn't even know we're playing, so I wouldn't be surprised.

[Yes, he just said he was playing a three millennia long game with deadly stakes against someone who didn't know he was playing.

Drawing his legs up, he gets more comfortable on the grass.]

After three thousand years, I get bored pretty easily. I like normal games too, but the types with risks like that... they're the ones that I really look forward to the most.

Of course, I don't ever intend to lose.

[And that statement leads to Kai simply staring at him for a few moments before rubbing the bridge of his nose. Seriously, what.]

You give me headaches, be proud of yourself. Not much really does.

[Besides overdoing healing spells and warping Barrier into odd shapes, anyway.]

So boredom turned you into a Creeper? [It's not really meant to be a smart ass comment, he's just asking it without thinking. Once he realizes it slipped out, Kai laughs sharply, holding up a hand.] Yeah, forget that. What do you get if you win, besides memories?

[Bakura grins a little at him in response to that expression. Ah, he loves it when people get thrown off by him. It's so fun~!

Though the question turns that grin into a frown. Even if Kai said to forget it... he might as well answer.]

No, not exactly. I don't know the details... but when I woke up in it, I was essentially reborn from the Darkness of the other world. I'm me... but not me.

Boredom just riles me up.

[The other part, though, he's not saying fully. He'll say the obvious part, the part he's open with... but the other part isn't something he's willing to say. To Harriet, he'd told it. Malik knew already, but they hadn't discussed it. That Seal on the gate to the Other World... it was pretty much going to fuck up the world when it got broken.]

What I'll get is power. Isn't that enough?

[They've got that in common, though Kai's mostly just happy when he can throw the Creeper for a loop.]

Reborn from the Darkness... [Oddly enough, Kai has to repress a shiver at that. Ordinarily the phrasing wouldn't have bothered him, but... Maybe it was because Bakura was the one that said it.

He ends up cracking a grin at the boredom comment though. Oh, that was obvious.]

I hope I've been helping with relieving that, at least.

[Kai runs a hand through his hair, shifting to get a little more comfortable. Ugh, that was a fun question. How many times had he asked himself that in the last couple months leading to his epic screw-up?]

Depends on what kind it is, I guess. What're you going to do with it?

[Sunshine and roses and puppies for all, Kai, what do you think?]

I told you once before. I'm the one that's gone furthest along the road to the dark world. Being called a 'Creeper' doesn't offend me... despite your intentions.

[His lips twitch into a twisted smirk.]

It's almost a compliment!

[Too bad, Kai... Your long-term insult really wasn't all that insulting at all! His grin only widens at the rest.]

You've been entertaining! If you hadn't, I wouldn't have bothered playing with you at all.

[And isn't that a little unpleasant wording? True though it might be. Boring people are tolerated, not sought out.

The aftermath of that game is never far from his mind. That goal never leaves. Never disappears. It's a reality he can't forget. Power is power, and power is everything. Being weak like this is distasteful. He may have powers beyond humans, but that's nothing. He wants to have power beyond anything. Gods or demons... mages or warriors. But part of him is aware that if he wins... it's almost a death sentence for him. Winning that game means that everything entertaining will disappear. All challenge... all opponents. Ultimate power is boring, after all. When that time comes... maybe he'll just sleep. Destroy everything that he doesn't like, watch the Pharaoh disappear, his hopes shattered... and then finally rest.

...thinking about things like that is also distasteful. He doesn't want to think of the aftermath of his victory. A hedonistic nature like his isn't one that thinks too far ahead. Enjoyment is everything... and thinking of that... is almost enough to shatter that enjoyment.]

Who knows? The fun part's getting there. The future can take care of itself.

Well, maybe it started out that way. Now it's just habit. [It really is. Even if they ended up friends someday (Never going to happen, ever), he'd still be calling him that.]

Eh, it gives me something to do besides study magic and draw. [Playing with...the image of a cat 'playing' with a mouse comes to mind, but this cat has fangs and batwings. Kai scowls a little at that, then nearly snickers as he imagines the mouse with a teeny Keyblade.]

...I almost wish I could look at things like that.

[He can't believe he actually said that out loud. And to Bakura, for Light's sake.]

Weren't you learning to duel? That's a fun way to pass the time too.

[He stares at Kai. Despite his own tendency to seemingly random mad laughter, the amused look on Kai's face as he holds back a snicker confuses him. What's so amusing? Oh well, it probably doesn't matter. Though being told anything he thinks is somewhat valuable in its own right... surprises him. Kai really does seem to be trying to be nice.

...how weird.]

Worrying about the future? It's a uniquely human trait. Most other creatures don't think farther than they have to. It's too easy for life to be cut short, and won't all that time spent worrying and planning be wasted if that happens?

It's like DMing. You can have the best laid out plan and have it thrown off by a decision your players make. If that happens, you can whine and cry all you want, but you'll still have to change your plans. Better to just roll with it.

[...Bakura has a surprisingly chill philosophy.]

...

[Learning to duel. Thank you very much Bakura, because now Kai's amusement has just given way to him looking like he was punched in the chest. Even despite the earlier mention of cards, Kai'd managed to avoid thinking about his own. That's just been blown to pieces. Almost without thinking about it, he draws himself back into his position from earlier, hugging his knees.]

Yeah, well. It's kind of on hold, considering.

['Kind of on hold' means the deck is carefully wrapped and tucked into the bottom of his backpack where it's safe, but he doesn't have to see it. They might be his cards, but there's too much of Karasu associated with them too. He's not up to dealing with it right now.]

Roll with it...maybe I should try that.

[A faint smile crosses his face before he shakes his head. Today's been pretty weird so far, why not.]

...what's with that look? You're not giving up, are you?

[There's a slightly disparaging note to his voice at that. No matter what happens, or the risk to him, he doesn't back down. Why should anyone else? But humans were so very fragile... in every sense of the world. Perhaps it is tied to Karasu's similar state. The two were close, after all. Close enough for that event to have scarred their moods severely.]

Yeah, it's a good way to do it. You get hurt sometimes, pick the wrong option, but it's not like it's going to kill you. You just have to think fast enough to avoid the worst outcome. And you're pretty good at doing that regardless.

Most humans are.

[Kai's eyebrows raise slightly. Giving up? Ha. He's too stubborn for his own good. Sure, he has his moments where he'd like to toss the world into a pit and light it on fire (especially lately), but...]

What, would you be disappointed? Should I carry on to make you proud of me? Careful, you might end up a father-figure. Papa Creeper!

[And there's his need to be a pest resurfacing. He manages a smirk before dropping his chin onto his knees.]

Depending on the situation, the wrong option might kill you pretty literally. Maybe not so much around here, though.

[Or maybe very much so, now that there's a Creeper!Malik wandering around. Kai wisely keeps his mouth shut on that, deciding to go the annoying route instead.]

You're seeming pretty human yourself these days. Should I be worried?

Oi... I know I'm old, but like hell I'm the fatherly type! I just detest quitters.

[He scoffs, pouting a little. "Papa Creeper"? Seriously... what the hell was with this kid?]

If it kills you, you won't be around to regret it.

[...

Pretty human? Bullshit... He may be getting better at acting the role, but he knows he's not. Even if he picked up some annoying traits. Maybe the other Malik was right... being too human just led to trouble. It was weakness, pure and simple. Attachments like this, that caused him pain... he should sever them, right?

...tch. The most he can do is get used to loss, which isn't the same. But in that regard, the other Malik might have helped him. By separating him forcibly from Harriet and Malik, even if he could enter Harriet's soul room if he needed to, he'd forced him to confront that fear brought on by this irrational fondness. Most likely... he'd be able to recover from it if it did become permanent. That was good.

But still... calling him human...]

I'm not human. Mistaking me for that will only lead to your doom eventually.

I never said you were! [Aw, but Bakura, if you're going to annoy him with 'Dark Kai', it's only fair to return the favor, right? Kai snickers at the pout, barely resisting the urge to reach over and muss his hair. It might've flown with bitty Creeper (barely), but he'd lose his whole arm for it now.]

Unless I end up haunting the place. [Or just certain people. A 3,000 year old spirit with his own poltergeist!]

I'm not mistaking you for it, I know better. [He grins, rocking slightly with his arms still loosely wrapped around his knees. Ah, familiar ground.]

[Eh, chopping off arms was such a hassle. He'd probably just make it an illusion.]

I don't think much of your chances! I met the actual embodiment of Death around here a while back. That explains why there's no spirits here.

[...actually he might like Kai better as a poltergeist, even if he'd be annoying. He does like spirits.]

Heheh. That's good to know! Calling me human's an insult, after all.

[Illusion or not, that would suck. Avoiding the hair mussing at all costs! Though the next time he sees him, yelling out 'Hey Papa!' will be hilarious no matter what.]

Yeah, so did I, at Christmas. It was weird getting asked if I'd been a good boy by a skeleton pretending to be Santa. [Though it actually hadn't clicked in his head what he'd been dealing with until after. Hey, he was distracted by the ring!] He gave me this back. [Kai unwraps his left arm to briefly flash the dragon ring at Bakura before absently tugging at the grass.]

So if I start calling you that on a regular basis, I'm going to get my ass kicked?

[Well, Bakura could try.]

It was easier for me. I confused the hell out of him.

[By sitting on his lap and pretending to hit on him. It had been fun!]

...well, I do owe you one, so you might get away with it once or twice. After that, who knows? I might decide to take your soul and stick it in a Marionette I made!

Weigh your options careful, Kai-kun.

What, was he trying to figure out how you got away?

[That's just...somehow a really amusing thought right now. Something along the lines of 'Who the hell let you out?']

Wow, twice is kind of generous. Sorry, my soul's staying put- speaking of, you want a voodoo doll of the Thief King?

[He has no idea what prompted that. Okay, maybe the mention of the marionette. Probably. Yeah, that was it. Not like he has any intention of giving him the one he made.]

I'll be sure to.

[And end up choosing the opposite of the sane one, most likely.]

No, I just sat on his lap and hit on him. He had no idea I was a spirit.

Death as a person doesn't exist in my world, so I didn't really figure it out at the time either.

[If he had existed there, he'd have known. Death truly was a pitiful being.]

It is generous, isn't it? I guess I'm in a good mood!

[Grin. A voodoo doll? Really? Oh, how charming. He really misses occult stuff. It was always so very hilarious...]

Absolutely. That guy's the one who broke my hand. I'm not very happy with him right now.

[Cue the staring. And then the giggles. Kai coughs suddenly, turning his attention to the dogs long enough that he doesn't outright start cackling. Geeze, he's beginning to be easily amused. Oh, wait.]

Mine either, but I used to read a lot of weird stuff when I was a kid, so it's not a foreign concept. ['Stole creepy books out of the trunk under his mom's bed when she wasn't home', he means.]

I think I like you better when-

[Wait wait what. The end of the sentence disappears into oblivion at that, and Kai's expression goes from mild shock to anger. Son of-]

I knew I should've ki-

[Smacking himself in the forehead, he lets himself sprawl back onto the grass. No, no, no more insane villain funtimes, no. That doll's going to have a lot of pins in it tonight.]

...I'll make you one like mine, I'm going to be mutilating the one I've got.

[Bakura smirks a little when Kai starts giggling. Looks like the kid has a sense of humor after all! Wonders will never cease.]

It's not foreign to me too, but it's still like a fairy story. I don't think something like that could ever happen at home.

[He raises an eyebrow, first at the words, and then at the anger. Of course, Kai doesn't like the thief king, does he... Him hurting Ryou would be enough to make that worse. Heh.]

He's just a brat. Killing him wouldn't even be a challenge.

...I'll look forward to it. Ryou will like it too. It's a secret love of his.

[He got his mother's sense of humor, too. Thankfully it's not quite as...strange as her's could be.]

...Maybe for Halloween I'll dress up as Death for the Heartless. Robe and a Keyblade instead of a scythe.

[He actually sounds serious about that, but he's also still on his back staring balefully up at the sky. Killing the other idiot wouldn't have been a challenge in any case, but it's not something he's doing. Minding himself is something he's doing. He'd promised Karasu, hadn't he? And it wasn't as if he'd enjoyed all that power.

Much.

Kai lets out a sigh, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. Roll with it.]

Eh, I'm not going to bother with him unless something else happens. Then...I don't know. But the doll, yeah. Geeze, maybe I ought to make two so Ryou can have his own.

Haha... you're not really the tall, intimidating figure that death inspires.

[Bakura sounds amused.]

Feel free. But I warn you... Ryou doesn't feel vengeful towards anyone. So play it up as a toy.

Don't have to be tall to be intimidating. I understand my mom was pretty damn scary as a short stuff.

[She'd beat up any of the other kids that had given Geoffrey trouble, after all.]

I noticed that. He's a good kid. [Kai finally smiles, squirming around until he manages to sit back up.] You'll get pins with yours, he'll just get a weird plushie.

Your mother looks like the type that you don't want to cross.

[Huh... so Maya had been short? Photos couldn't tell that so easily.]

...

Yeah, I guess he is. Though I could think of a lot of other words to describe him.

Nope. She never had a problem throwing magic at someone if she thought they deserved it...sometimes if they didn't.

[Maya was actually only a half-inch shorter than Kai is now, but he tended to think of her as being smaller. Protective son thing, and all.]

They'd better be good words.

[Don't forget the flaming plushie, Bakura.]

What? Are you getting protective of my vessel, Kai? Don't tell me you're developing a motherly instinct towards him... You might share a hair colour, but that doesn't mean you're his parent!

Anyway, it depends on how you view 'em, doesn't it~?

What do you mean, getting? I always have been! [Aside from that little screw-up of his, oh yes.] No, just big brother.

[Ugh, maybe he should take Surge in now before they get into something. Magic being flung all over the courtyard, just what they need.]

I'm not sure I'm going to view a lot of things the same as you, no matter what it is.

Then, you know, you're my brother too if you're his~... are you willing to take on that yoke?

[He is a bastard and he knows it.]

I was thinking of 'soft' and 'vulnerable', with possibly 'naive' for a third.

[If Kai'd been eating one of those brownies, he would've choked. As it is, he pales slightly before glaring. Is he serious?]

...You're an ass.

[Oh good, those words he's okay with because they're actually fitting...even naive. But in a good way.]

Guess those aren't that bad.

Hoh... that's a scary face, Kai-kun! Are you telling me you're that unhappy with the idea? And I thought we were getting along so well!

[His shoulders shake and he sits back suddenly, throwing his head back with a peal of raucous laughter.]

HehehehehehAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

...You're epic levels of batshit insane, you know that, right?

[Kai just stares at him as he laughs, resisting the urge to scoot the hell away. Really, what was he thinking, voluntarily going for a visit?

Oh right, the innocent puppy.]

I'm not sure what I think about it. Exactly.

[Besides 'What the absolute hell']

Yeah, maybe. By human standards, I'm absolutely... beyond compare in terms of how insane I am, right?

[He grins a little, sitting back on his hands. Poor Kai~... he seems to unnerved.]

I'm joking, anyway. Regardless of the connection shared by me and my host, I don't consider myself kin to him.

Definitely.

I mean, even when my mom was at her worst I don't think she was as bad as you...not that I have first-hand experience, just stories I shouldn't know.

[He's not that unnerved. To prove it, he relaxes some, looking less like he wants to bolt and more like he's almost bored.]

Thank everything ever for that.

It's understandable. I've been existing immersed in darkness for three thousand years now. Nobody else could compare to my level.

But I haven't done anything all that bad here, right?

[He looks curious.]

I mean, seriously bad.

[Kai snickers suddenly. There's that random 'Darkside's foot to Bakura's face' image again.]

Well, maybe not here, or back home for you. There might be stuff in my world that could at least make you put some effort in. Maybe.

[At least he'd like to think so.]

Aw, fine, probably not.

[Seriously.]

Borrowing Ryou whenever the hell you want counts!

What? I meant in terms of crazy!

[He laughs. It's a poor joke, but fine. He'll be honest.]

Power-wise I'm actually only about bottom-rank. I'm no magician, you know. I can only really curse people and do some minor shit. I'm above normal human levels, but I'm still low-tier, for now.

[Eyebrow raise.]

I don't borrow, I steal.

[Snatching up a handful of grass, Kai considers tossing it at him just for a laugh, then decides against it. For the moment, anyway.]

Summoning monsters out of cards doesn't seem so minor. Makes me wish I could do that. Then again, bad idea. It'd probably eat me.

[Yeah, have one right back.]

Sorry, I should've been more specific. It sucks anyway!

Hoh... are you afraid? They can't disobey, you know! You're supplying them with form, so if you die, they return to the other world.

[He grins a little wickedly.]

Might wanna practice with low-rank cards first though. If you can even connect to the dark world at all.

[Jeez, you're still on this?!]

What do you want me do, ask permission?

I've been scarred enough, I'm not exactly fond of it. [Damn Heartless swarms. Kai snorts at that, tilting his head.] I held up pretty good in that bit of your shadow realm. Who knows.

[Of course he's still on this!]

It's a novel idea. Why don't you try it for a week?

[Geeze, he sounds like his mom trying to convince him to eat spinach.]

Who is?

[He rubs the scars on his cheek irritably.]

You surprised me there. Most humans would have suffocated. But I've never known a non-item wielder to make contact with the other world. Though I've never known one with magic before I came here, either. Heheh...

[Let it go, Kai, jeez.]

If you want me to do something for you, you should offer me something good for it. I'm not going to learn manners just for your sake.

Masochists? [Yes Kai, okay, stop being a smart ass. He grins, flicking the grass off his fingers and onto the ground.]

But are we sure I'm human? [Usually Kai gets pissed when that comment's made, but he seems more or less at ease with it since he's making it himself.]

How about a month's supply of Oreos? Naw...brownies?

[He's trying to bribe the Creeper into asking permission by offering food, THIS SHOULD WORK.]

Masochists like pain, but does that mean they like scars?

[That's a curious thought.]

You act pretty human to me. But I can't always tell!

[But the other part makes him pause. Hm... a month's supply of brownies, for a week of having manners? ...that doesn't sound too bad actually.]

...hoh... you make an interesting proposition.

[What Kai fails to have acknowledged, and the good point in his choice of offerings, is that Bakura is painfully hedonistic. Delicious things? Definitely worth the effort.]

Some of them might? I wouldn't know, not one of my interests.

[His are more tailored to driving people up walls when they annoy him, as Bakura is well aware.]

Eh, who knows. I'm starting to wonder, to be honest.

[That's a disturbing thing to admit, but it's not like he can call his mom and ask.]

Thought so. [Oh yay, he's caught his interest with goodies! ...Wait.]

I know how much you eat though, so I'm putting a limit on how much I bake you a day. Not going to spend all my time in the kitchen.

Hoh... I wouldn't have a clue. I'm more prone to hurting people than taking pain.

[He's so honest about his villainy. ...just don't think too hard about that statement, because they were just talking about masochism, after all. There's no mind-bleach here.]

Maybe I should check out your soul and see what shape it takes~... care to put the Ring on and find out?

[Just gonna let him think about that for a moment before carrying on.]

It seems you're mistaken. I'm not Ryou, after all! My appetite's pretty ordinary.

I've noticed.

[Ugh, grumping again. And not going to think about that statement at all beyond that, because nope.]

...That's- [Why is that even the tiniest bit tempting? Kai frowns at him before tilting his head back to stare at the sky. Much less dangerous, that.] Not happening.

[Maybe so, but he's still not spending all his time in the kitchen.] So what kind of brownies? Double fudge, stuff with sprinkles...I've made ones with butterscotch topping before.

Hoh... [Kai had to take a moment to consider it there? How hilarious! Was he slipping a little?]

That's too bad! You might be able to turn its' power to your hand.

[...damn, those all sound delicious.]

...surprise me. Those all sound unbearably tasty.

[The answer to that might be yes, which Kai would rather not consider. Still just staring at the sky here, making a point not to look at the Creeper.]

Nah. I'll ask my mom when I see her. Or who knows, if this place could throw pictures from home at us, maybe I'll stumble on something more useful. [He knows his mom had kept a diary, once. He'd gotten peanut butter fingerprints on the cover...and his toy dragons taken away for a week when she'd caught him pulling it out of the nightstand. Not that he's sure he could trust something like that anyway, coming from here.]

They are.

[Kai finally looks at him, grinning.] Especially when you just combine all three into one mess. Did that once, it was awesome.

Would you really trust something... you just found in a place like this?

[Something more useful, huh... He doubts this place is kind enough for that.]

...heheheh... That sounds like a terrible, wonderful thing, and I would like to try that sometime.

No, but it'd be tempting.

[Kai gives a shrug, getting to his feet and brushing off his jeans.]

So ask Ryou's permission for a week, and you get brownies. Simple.

[No it's not, and he knows it.]

Surge, c'mon boy! I think you've worn Anubis out now! [Doubtful.]

Right, right. I'll be sure to do that, then. Though I don't doubt he'll take it for a trap.

[He calls Anubis over in turn, letting him sit beside him.]

Later, then, Kai.

I'll have to check in with him then and let him know it's not.

[Where the hell did he leave the leash- ah, there. Surge rushes over, bypassing Kai entirely to try and tackle his puppy brother one last time. Kai lunges and grabs him, clipping the leash on.]

No Surge! Yeah, later.

[Geeze, this dog. More training required, apparently. He rolls his eyes and heads off.]

[Harriet still hadn't woken up. After the place had returned to normal, he'd gone through the trouble of changing the locks and everything to make sure she wasn't caught by Malik again, but he hadn't expected her to still be unconscious. As far as he could tell, her soul was there... so why wasn't she waking up? What the hell did Malik do to her?

The silence of the apartment, quiet save for the sound of Anubis' breathing, was starting to grind on his nerves. With only one working hand, there was no way in hell he could play videogames to fill in the noise, and the tv was just annoying.

Over and over, he flicked back and forth between answers. Books went discarded, unread. He could eat meat all he wanted now, but doing that felt like he was giving in and claiming that Malik wasn't coming back. His guilt over his failure to even save the soul fragment was drowning his mind. Maybe he should go visit Karasu, or just wander around... no, his mood was too frustrated for that. It meant letting people see his vulnerability, because his temper was fraying too obviously.

It was an offhand thought - it's just as boring as being back inside the Ring - that gave him the clue. That's right... He could check up on Harriet that way. She might not like it, but to hell with what she wanted!

He was getting kinda fed up of being alone in here. And maybe he missed her just a little. That was all he'd admit to.

Dragging himself up to the top bunk where she was lying (it being the only way to prevent Anubis trying to annoy her, apart from the obvious factor of Ryou not being happy with the idea of sleeping in the same bed as a chick), he lies on his stomach beside her for a moment, debating how to do this. He could just let Ryou take charge...

But she's warm despite her stillness.

So instead, he just rolls onto his side beside her and rests there, looping the chain of the Ring over her neck as well as his own. It's only for a little while anyway.

He's never tried to enter the soul room of someone who wasn't an Item user before. He hopes this works. If it doesn't, he's going to be even more bored!]

Edited 2014-03-28 20:06 (UTC)

[ It seems to have worked! Harriet's soul room centers in a pavillion of white stone. It's wide and open, the kind used for shelter and entertaining. The stone is weathered, but stands very strong nevertheless. It's a beautiful structure. Underneath it, there are a few large, round tables set up.

One table features a dollhouse that looks like her old home. Inside and around the dollhouse are all kinds of decorative dolls like she had described to collect. This table also has pictures of people that Bakura has never seen before. Along with the other pictures, there's a rather decorative frame that's set up, but completely empty. Behind the frame, there's a particularly large doll with reddish hair that seems a bit chipped, and looks kind of like Harriet but not. Everything on this table is covered with thick dust.

The second table has a vase of flowers, a stack of research books and movies, and pictures of the people she's close to in Campus - the other Rose Duelists, and Malik and Bakura. Jack has a picture too, but its frame has been broken. A sticky residue on the broken part indicates that it may have been taped before, but the tape was ripped off. Weird, but nothing in this table is too surprising.

The third table isn't as decorated, and appears to be for sitting at and talking over a stack of maps. It has enough chairs for three, but underneath the chairs are her sword and her bow and arrows. There's a card on two out of three of the chairs. Apparently this table is where she hangs out with her two main deck leaders and talks strategy. To the side of the pavillion, there's a small clock tower, but its face is broken.

Surrounding the pavillion is a garden of ferns and white roses, encircled rather claustrophobically by a grove of trees. Upon close inspection of the roses, many of them appear to be speckled with blood.

Strangely enough, Harriet is nowhere to be found in this area, even though it's clearly the main part of her soul. If he wants to find her, he'll need to venture onward. Or he could just poke through her shit. Either or. ]

Edited 2014-03-28 20:50 (UTC)

...

[It's interesting, seeing this. The inside of her mind is a beautiful place. He pokes around for a little bit, checking out the things here with interest. It almost distracts him. Almost. If nothing else, his soul is undamaged. Though it's still mimicking Ryou's appearance, it's devoid of injury. Thanks to that, he can rifle through her stuff pretty easily.

The roses take more of his attention than the rest of it, little of which is surprising. They're beautiful. He draws his finger over one of them, smearing the blood over it, and carelessly licks it from his finger.

...soul-blood isn't as nice as real blood. His mind can only replicate the taste from imagination and memory, so it's shallower. How annoying. Oh well. Time to go look for the main inhabitant of this room.]

Harriet?

[Maybe if he goes through the trees?]

[And a good thing too, that the blood wasn't nice. Harriet would probably not be amused if she caught him licking her flowers clean.

But calling her name doesn't seem to have gotten her attention, so with no other paths in sight, into the trees he must go. It's not an easy task - the forest is thick and wild, and many of the trees are covered in thorns. It's a cruel barrier that adds to the claustrophobic feeling.]

Kh... what is this, Sleeping Beauty?

[Even if reality doesn't apply in soul rooms, he's an intruder in this one. He can't manipulate it as he would be able to his own. At least he knows that the feeling of 'pain' isn't real. If he died here, maybe it would destroy his soul, but the chance of that is almost impossibly tiny.

Still, the tightness of this forest is a little unnerving even to him. It makes him feel trapped, and he pushes through it with as much force as he can, just wanting to be past the barrier of the trees.]

[Yes. Yes it is.

Looking out, the forest seems to go on without end. However there is a small clearing up ahead. It's still kind of cramped, but what's in the midst of it seems entirely out of place.

It's a big cardboard box. What??]

. . .

What the hell?

[Scrambling into the clearing with a feeling of relief, he stares at the box suspiciously. It's bigger than he's used to seeing, that's for sure. And weirdly placed.

...his curiosity heightened, he goes to open it.]

[Bakura's curiosity paid off, as inside the box is definitely something interesting: it's a woman! Better yet, it's the one he was looking for! But it gets even more interesting.

At the bottom of the box, Harriet is lying unconscious on her side, bound in several places with thick tape - several strips constrict across her shoulders, arms and upper body, and her hands are tied together behind her back. Her legs are bound together in several places as well, and at the ankle. It doesn't look like she'd be able to move at all.

So that's a thing. Either Harriet's secretly into some really kinky shit, or this has something to do with her coma. But she's fully clothed, so it's probably the latter. She appears to be stirring as the box was opened, at least - there was no tape over her eyes, so it must be the light coming in.]

Edited 2014-04-01 20:28 (UTC)

[He's pretty sure it's the latter. Whatever kinky shit she was into, and as pretty a sight as it is, he's pretty sure it wouldn't involve a cardboard box and clothes.

...still, he was just going to enjoy the view while she stirs.]

Good morning, Harriet. That doesn't look like a comfortable way to sleep!

[He's right. Now that he mentions it, she doesn't feel comfortable at all. But she's been sleeping like this for a while, and having a very long dream while she was at it. There's something unnatural about that, but she can't remember how it started... she opens her eyes, looking sleepily up at Bakura to see that he's staring down at her from the outside of a box. That's weird, so she looks down and sees the position she's in. Once she does, she jerks in surprise and shrieks. The box almost tips. Oh god, this is really humiliating.]

The fuck is this?!

Beats me! This is the weirdest way I've ever found someone's soul.

[Honestly, why the hell does she think he'll know? Still, her reaction is amusing and she's probably not all that aware of the fact that this is her soul room, so he'll let her off.]

I'll explain in a minute. Hold on. I'll try to get you out.

[By which he means "put his foot on the side of the box and make it tip so she falls out.]

Soul?

[She's confused, but never mind that. He's putting his foot on the box? Ack-] Oy, wait! [Nope, she just got unceremoniously dumped on the ground.] You son of a bitch...

This explanation better be good!

[Or what? She can't really do anything right now. But with all this snip, at least he can tell it's really her.

As for Harriet, the ground is cold. And she's still tied up. This sucks!]

Heheh... you're making such a scary face, Harriet!

[He's so scared. So terrified he can't stop grinning. So not scared at all, really.]

But, you really couldn't tell, huh... I guess it really is that way for people who don't get visitors in here.

[Crouching down beside her, he looks her over with a frown, reaching out to tug at the tape curiously. Does this stuff come off?]

[Eh, who cared. Becoming slightly more serious, he speaks in a low and surprisingly calm tone. Though being able to talk to her again is... nice. Now if only he could do the same for Malik.]

To keep it under a millennium long, we're in your soul room right now. I don't know the details, but you're kind of comatose. I thought you might know what happened, so I came to see what I could find out, and found you tied up in that box.

[Like hell he's admitting that he was lonely.]

[The tape barely budges at all when he pulls it. It's extremely tight. Harriet starts struggling more herself after he quickly gives up, but it's futile and awkward, so she resigns soon as well and focuses on what he's saying.]

I thought it was like a dream... [Harriet mutters. She could sort of tell. It's just that she had no frame of reference when it came to Soul things.]

... It must have been Malik's dark side. He challenged me to a shadow game... the rest is fuzzy. It's like those memories are sealed off.

[His chest aches a little at the mention of Malik and he frowns, looking away.]

Tch. I thought so. That guy's nothing but trouble.

[More to hide his ill mood than anything else, he reaches out to ruffle her hair.]

I guess this is less trouble for him than dealing with you reanimating.

....No shit.... [It's sinking in now that she's in a coma. That's the reason why her dream has been going on for so long. Why it's so vivid... her brain is probably doing everything it can to stay awake. And this stupid tape bondage is her soul's representation of that curse. Then they probably won't be able to remove it no matter how much they try. And the possibility that the only reason she's alive is because a coma is more effective in keeping her down than killing her is not particularly reassuring.

She gives Bakura an annoyed look as he ruffles her hair.] You know, if you're going to touch me, you could at least sit me up. This is pretty fucking humiliating.

You could sit yourself up if you wanted. But I guess that's a bit awkward to expect on your first try.

[He looks her over appraisingly for a moment before reaching down to haul her up into a sitting position.]

Can you keep your balance?

[She didn't really want to deal with the flopping around like a fish part of sitting up on her own. Letting him see that would be worse than asking for help in her opinion. She straightens up in the sitting position, feeling better already.]

Yeah, yeah. No problem.

[but as soon as he lets go]

- FUCK!

[she flops over.]

[Whatever snarky comment he was going to make is stopped by the sudden impact of Harriet flopping onto him. He catches her out of instinct. Hah... guess her soul really is helpless like this. Without knowing of the ability most people had to warp the reality of their own soul room when active inside of it, she was enforcing reality upon herself. It was almost cute.]

Oi, oi~. No need to yell that loud. Though if you wanted to be in my arms that badly, you just had to ask.

[...he's a bit grateful that her hands are tied because she would probably beat him up for that joke otherwise. Or try, at least. A little more seriously now:]

You're binding yourself to reality. You just have to trust in yourself not to fall over and you won't. This is the room of your soul. It can't hurt you. It can hurt me, since I'm intruding... but not you.

Oh, shut up.

[She's tempted to headbutt him for that comment... He gets serious before she can, though, and she has no choice but to listen since it seems like he's telling her she doesn't have to lean on him. He's got a point. How could gravity exist inside of her soul, anyway?]

Is that so... Well, I suppose it makes sense. I haven't gotten used to thinking of it as my soul. It doesn't look much like a room either, and it's...

... kind of gloomy, isn't it? It's not pretty at all.

[yeah, she's judging her soul forest. Go figure.]

The pavilion's kind of okay. I could take you there if you want, but you'd have to get through the trees. It was a bitch getting here at all.

[He is also judging her soul forest.]

But, you're the soul, Harriet. This is just the room in which your soul resides.

[By being here he's seen more of her than he's sure she's happy with. Those thorns... are they a protection that everyone must fight through in order to reach her heart? Or was he just special like that? Soul rooms are hard to comprehend...]

Don't worry so much. It's probably... reflecting your state of being. You're in a gloomy situation, after all.

[At first she only knew that the soul room had a big crappy forest, so she was vaguely disturbed but not especially offended by his presence in it. It didn't mean much to her. Her eyebrows raise at his mention of a pavilion though. Just how much stuff is in here, what does it even mean? And how much has he gone through? He'd described himself as intruding before, but it only just started to feel that way. She can't exactly disagree with his motives for coming here, but... it is highly questionable. Harriet makes a face.]

Gloomy is an understatement for the situation. I'm in a bloody coma, you had to come barging into my soul room just to figure it out, and Malik's...

[Gone crackers. Or just gone. It's hard to differentiate, when Dark Malik's out. She simply trails off, before having a realization.

Is he gone? She's suddenly remembered what Bakura had offhandedly said about his presence in Karasu's soul. Harriet looks up at him.]

This is a soul room. Does that mean other soul-y things are awake in here too? Like Malik's fragment inside of me...

-!

[Bakura freezes up at those words. Malik's soul fragment... might be here. If the other Malik hadn't gotten rid of it too, then he might be able to speak to him again. Though he tries to quell the rising tide of hope, he feels the sudden need to try.]

If he's still alive, he'll be in here. Though I don't know how aware he'll be.

[He hides his face in his hand briefly, trying to focus. If Malik is in here... he wants to see him.]

Then, Harriet, shall we go look for him?

[He's already getting up.

...and without waiting for her answer, he casually scoops her up in his arms like a bride.]

Wah-! [BAKURA. She wants to check on Malik too, but do you have to carry her around like some kind of... bondage princess?!

Well, actually, shit. She can't think of a better way. ]

...Ugh, fine. Maybe if we find him, we can fix this rotten mess.

...

[He'll be happy just seeing him. Though fixing this would be the best option. At the least, Malik might have a clue how to fix Harriet.]

I came from over there, so we might as well go this way...

[Though if Malik gets the wrong idea when he sees them, Bakura's going to be very freaking amused. Either way, he's heading off through the soul forest.]

Be good and stop me if anything catches your attention, won't you?

As if I'd want this to go on any longer than it has to...

[she's a little grumpy. She looks around while he navigates through the forest - even if he's now doing it while holding a person so it should really be harder, it seems to have actually gotten easier to get around now that she's there. Imagine that.

For a while, there's nothing too strange. But then she sees what appears to be another box through the trees.]

Oy, look there!

[Interesting... she's helping him whether she knows it or not. He's glad for it, at least.]

And it's not even Christmas...

[Going over to the box, he sets her down beside it and checks it out. Jeez... what the hell kind of weird mind does she have, sticking people in boxes? One was weird, but if this is Malik, that's even weirder.

Well, time to open it.]

[Just like Harriet, at the bottom of the box lies Malik's semi-transparent form, sleeping deeply and bondage-free as it may be. Although "sleeping" may not be the right word for it. Without Malik's external input, the fragment appears lifeless for the moment.]

[Sitting up, Harriet looks over the side and... oh sweet jesus. dead ghost malik in a box.]

Malik...?

Tch... thought it wouldn't be that easy. The one I had is gone. I'm surprised he let this one live at all.

[Maybe he thought it wouldn't be able to do anything anyway. Bakura reaches out a hand slowly to see if it's tangible. If it is, he can pull the fragment out and maybe shake it awake...]

[When touched, Bakura's hand is able to go through, and while there is some magnet like resistance to the touch, it's not enough to move Malik.]

Um. It is alive though, yeah? It looks kinda...

When souls die, they tend to disappear. The fact that he's here at all means he's alive.

Or as alive as a tiny piece of a man's soul that's been sliced off and stuck in someone else can get.

OI, MALIK! Wake up, already!

[The fragment's eyes shoot open in alarm, but his body remains unmoving. His focus snaps to the two people looking over at him, but he doesn't relax.

Something was missing... His connection to his main soul. Right now all he had were residual thoughts; one last burst of panic before the connection had fallen into silence.]

...How long have I been asleep?!

... Good question. [Harriet's not sure how long she's been asleep either. She looks to Bakura.]

If it's the same as Harriet, then just under a week. That is, if you fell asleep around the time your connection to your 'main self' snapped.

[Despite the look on his face, Bakura's words are serious, holding none of his usual humour.]

...I don't remember.

[He sits up, still seated in the box as he looks over at the other two. This severance from the rest of his soul was certainly disturbing. He felt isolated...alone. After a moment he simply phases out of the box and gravitates to Harriet's side, having grown comfortable being so close to her soul.

It's about then that a thought occurs to him.]

...Wait. What do you mean "the same as Harriet"?

[So he doesn't remember either. Harriet frowns slightly - and it's weird seeing him go through the box, but after all, he is just a fragment. For that matter, it's not even a real box. She looks over curiously as he sits beside her... to think this is what it looked like. She hadn't really thought of it as a person, but it's just see-through Malik.

It doesn't surprise her that he doesn't know either. But already having to tell people, she looks a bit grim.]

I'm apparently in a coma right now. Hence the bondage, [she jokes darkly.]

[Wow, rude, Malik. He just told you he hasn't seen you in a week and you're hanging around Harriet? Selfish kid... For a moment, he remembers the vision the other Malik had shown him and has to fight not to let his annoyance show on his face. Instead, he keeps an expressionless look, concealing it as best he can - for now, at least.]

Tch... the other you got to her. It's alright. I'm keeping her safe.

[Moving swiftly on before either of them question that...]

I was kind of hoping you'd have an idea how to wake her up, but it looks like you're wandering blind too. I can interrupt the Rod's activation, but it won't work after the fact. Do you remember anything like this happening in the past?

[Drawing his knees up and wrapping his arms around them, Malik rests his head. His hair drapes forward to cover most of his face from this angle. So Harriet was in a coma because of him; the pit in his stomach could only grow from here.

But Bakura was keeping her safe from his other half. That was good. He's pretty sure he couldn't forgive himself if anything happened to either of them on his behalf.]

...No, nothing like that. But I don't think I have all the memories of my main self. Did you try asking the fragment in the sheath? He might know something.

Edited 2014-04-02 02:28 (UTC)

You don't remember what happened any better than I do, huh?

[Harriet's disappointed. It was her idea to ask it, after all... but it turned out to be no use. ~~And just when she thought a creepy thing like a soul fragment could have come in handy.~~

She has no idea what this sheath business is about though, so she'll just look back to Bakura a bit listlessly.]

...

That fragment... has been destroyed.

[It's hard to say. Acknowledging his failures isn't something he does a lot of. It's usually easy to dismiss failures. "I let you win". "This wasn't something I was trying too hard to do". "Something meaningless like this doesn't matter". Things like that were easy to say. But not in regards to this. There's no way to rewrite the truth in a way that won't reflect badly on him.

Joining them on the ground, he stares off into space.]

I lost a duel against him. He destroyed the fragment... and let me go, because it would be more painful to me than dying would.

Edited 2014-04-02 03:38 (UTC)

...I see. So I'm the only one left? Besides my main self.

[The despair was almost overwhelming. The hopelessness that Malik felt. His very existence seemed to flicker before them, that magnetic nature of his soul and his visibility fading.]

And that guy...is the only way to destroy him by death?!

[Harriet's slightly alarmed by the flickering. She also didn't know that Bakura and Dark Malik had dueled, but of course he would go after him. It seems they were all in pretty bad shape.

As for killing him to put down his other half... that's what Harriet had agreed to do if necessary. But that wasn't something she could do like this, nor was it a solution she particularly liked.]

That can't be right. We'll think of something... Bakura, you should check in with us when you can until I wake up.

[Although it bothers her to wonder how he got into her soul room in the first place, but it seems to be the best tool they have right now.]

Edited 2014-04-02 04:37 (UTC)

[Don't you dare die on him too, soul fragment. Don't you dare.]

I don't think dying is the best option. But the longer he's out, the more in danger the normal you is. But his determination to destroy the things Malik finds important... I wonder if it's got more meaning to it than it seems at first.

Maybe Malik's more inclined to stay alive in there while he has something to hold on to.

[Though the fact that the other Malik let him live also implies he means less to Malik than Harriet does. Tch... these damnable human feelings.]

We'll figure something out. Don't lose hope.

[He nods at Harriet.]

I was already planning to drop in sometimes, so it fits in.

Don't lose hope...? [He already sounds hopeless.]

That side of myself is going to destroy everything I care about! And I can't do anything about it! My own body isn't even my own, why do I have to share it with that psychopath?!

Aahhh...! [He curls his fingers up in his hair.]

Maybe you're right, and as long as we're all still struggling together, he can't truly win...

[Still, Malik is freaking out. She wishes she could hug him or something... Harriet twists a bit trying to get free, before she realizes that one, she still can't, and two, even if she could, he's intangible. He's already stayed close, so she leans on his shoulder to at least offer some comfort. It's his ghosty not!body so it probably doesn't do anything, but fuck it. It's her soul room, she does what she wants.

Besides, she's already feeling incredibly low herself. It really sucks being in a coma and tied up in the middle of a mind forest.]

But it's true that neither of us can do anything when I'm like this.

[she sighs, and mutters in exasperation,]

Bakura, can't you just smuggle him out?

...? [Bakura stares at her.]

You mean the fragment? I could take him out, but I'd need to figure out what - or who - to put him in. But he seems pretty comfortable hanging around with you. There's no point.

[And back to Malik.]

Malik, I told you. I'm keeping us safe. If there's someone else you're worried about, I'll look after them too. That guy won't win.

[Malik makes no effort to move when Harriet leans against him. It doesn't help much, but it's something, and it seems he's able to make himself just tangible enough where she's touching him that she doesn't fall through. After a minute, he calms a bit and lowers his hands.]

I don't want to move. I can't do anything like this anyway... How am I supposed to stop him?

All right, never mind.

[She just keeps leaning then.]

... I just wish I could remember what happened. Maybe there was a clue in all of that.

... [Yeah, he's not looking at them.]

The fact that you don't remember is a little strange. I could try to rifle through your memories, but I doubt you want that. Maybe they'll come back on their own, anyway.

[Even if moving was useless, even dangerous, it didn't feel right for him to just let Bakura deal with his other half alone. But at the same time, it was his fault Harriet was in a coma. He didn't want to leave her to stew here in her soul room alone.

...There wasn't much of him left. Splitting his soul any further could kill him.]

Hey, Bakura... Come here.

Um. Let's wait and see. [It's one thing to have him in her soul room. She definitely doesn't need him going through her memories too, though she would allow it if she thought it was necessary to wake up. There isn't much Harriet wouldn't do to achieve her goals.

She looks over curiously at the fragment, though. What's he doing?]

[Bakura blinks over at the fragment, coming closer. What's he up to? The fragment isn't really of much use now anyway. Unless it remembered something. But he doubts that's the case. Surely it would have just said it, if it was?]

What is it?

[Malik gestures for Bakura to lean over as well, holding out the palm of his hand. At the center, a transparent ball of dull light circulates and grows larger in proportion to Malik's own fading presence. He looks tired as he holds it out.]

I want you to take a part of my soul with you. Just don't put it in the Ring.

Wha- you can still do that?

[Bakura stares at him. How the hell did a soul fragment manage to split itself? Though considering the form it's taken, it can't be more than the tiniest piece of Malik. He reaches out his hand to take it, slowly, then stops.]

[Malik's soul is surely at its' limit. The main Malik is too prone to breaking himself apart... and this fragment, can he truly survive if he starts doing it too?]

No, Malik... you should keep it.

[His voice is quiet.]

The amount of damage your soul has taken is phenomenal. There can't be much left of the main soul. And you yourself are only a fragment. If you split apart... you might disappear too.

[Harriet rolls her eyes, just letting them do their thing. She is so done with all of this soul shit. Though, she looks back over at that, raising an eyebrow.]

Oy, when he says that, he means the dark side doesn't do all this splitting up right?

In that case, you might want to keep as much of yourself in tact as you can. Just a thought.

... [Malik pulls his hand back, that dull light pulling back into his palm and restoring him to his slightly more visible state.

As long as he achieved his goals, he never cared about how much he was hurting himself. After all, he could still function. It never seemed to hurt except when one of his ghouls died.

But that was a frightening thought that Harriet brought up... Was his dark side able to take over because he'd split himself up like this? If it was true, then he doomed himself.

What a fool he's been. He didn't want it to end like this. What about the future? Everything he had planned...

Malik slumps forward in his misery.]

...

Even with all my experience, I've never run into a case like Malik before. If the other Malik's right, then they're not separate souls. The trouble is, how much of the soul is 'owned' by each personality is impossible to tell. It might be that Malik's has been worn down, and that it's easier to take over as a result... but then again, it might be unaffected by that at all. Or it may be that the soul division is weakening you to the point where the darkness within the Rod is slipping in to feed him.

Regardless, I agree with Harriet... There's too much of your soul that's completely gone now. If the 'main you' doesn't cut it out, I'm going to have to take drastic measures.

[Still, seeing Malik like that is rather saddening. He pats it on its' intangible shoulder and sits back.]

...still. This place is reassuring. There doesn't seem to be any real damage to Harriet.

[Harriet eyes her tape, then back at Bakura. She thinks being completely immobilized is real damage. He's probably saying that to make Malik feel better, but for him to say that makes her wonder.]

Um. What were you expecting?

[He gives her a surprisingly honest response, looking over at her with a serious expression.]

...Remember that the soul room reflects your state of being. I wasn't expecting to be able to speak to you at all, let alone to have you be aware and not in pain, or suffering beyond indignation.

I half-expected you to be suffocating in an ocean of darkness. The other Malik did that to me, once. If my soul wasn't bound to the Ring, it'd probably have died.

I see - 'Ocean of darkness' does sound more in-character for the other Malik.

In that case, maybe this was the best he could do. There must be a reason... wait.

[Thinking about this, she's remembering something.]

[scrambling for the memories, they're not quite there, but there is one thing that she's suddenly sure of. Whatever it is, it makes a sly grin appear on her face.]

.... I know what it was. I won.

[Had he really thrown away that much of himself? He'd only been doing what he needed to do. For his family, for Rishid and Ishizu... He'd let them all down, and now he might never get his body back, let alone see them again.

Malik was too lost in his own thoughts to even bother listening to them. His chest was tight and his breath--as unreal as it may be--felt cold.]

...you won, and yet you still ended up in a coma?

[Bakura sounds surprised... and slightly offended. Talk about breaking the rules, Malik! Your other half is a bit of a dick!]

Yeah - real load of shit, that. I guess he's a sore loser.

[it's not that surprising though... except one thing.]

Still, I'm not sure how he managed it. By that point the game would be over... something's wrong with this.

[thinking...]

Have you seen my deck leaders?

Their cards are in the pavilion... but I haven't seen the actual spirits.

[It's surprising to him. Talk about a fucking cheater.]

Hmm... [she doesn't really know if that's out of the ordinary or not, having no experience with soul rooms. And Bakura had never met any war duelists before this, so he wouldn't know either.]

Well, at least they aren't in boxes. But maybe I should try to chat with em'...

I get the hint, already.

[Oh fine. He gets up in a lazy manner, reaching out to pick her up again. He doesn't actually mind it, it being better than the recent solitude that happens otherwise, but it's still tedious.]

Malik, come on if you're coming.

... [Malik slowly rises to his feet and trails behind the two of them.]

Oh!

[Harriet blinks as she's lifted again - she never asked him to do it right the fuck now! Is he sure he doesn't just like carrying her around!?

But anyway, they're up now so they might as well go. There wasn't any point in not leaving immediately anyway. And it was kind of nice of him to just intuit that.]

Err, thank you.

[But having to be carried is still humiliating, especially with Malik around.

... Not that he's even paying attention. He's wallowing in self pity ever since she called him out.]

Oy, Malik. How long are you going to mope about that? It was only a theory. I just meant for you to take better care of your soul, not regret every life choice you've ever made about it.

[though if she knew exactly how many fragments were out there she might think he should regret his choices.]

Edited 2014-04-05 02:04 (UTC)

...

[He doesn't even feel up to answering her. What was he supposed to say? It was too late now to change how he felt.]

...

[Bakura frowns, shifting her in his arms to carry her easier.]

Tch. Maybe it was less depressing outside.

[It's partly joking, but enough of a hint as to how downcast he'd been feeling. Not that he expected anything else, but this atmosphere is depressing even to him.]

It's no good asking him to be careful of his soul. He's frustratingly reckless. Like a kid who keeps playing with a toy even after it's put his eye out.

Shut up! [He shouts suddenly, locking in place as he stares at the other two, a mixture of fear and fury on his face.]

I did what I had to do--and I don't regret it!

...

[He pauses, a few steps ahead of Malik. That came out harsher than he meant it to, didn't it? He supposes even a fragment still has the intense feelings of its' original... Being this callous probably isn't good even to a mere fragment of a soul.

Not that he usually cares what's good but... Malik gets exceptions. Since he is one already. Not that it usually stops them biting at one another, but this isn't the time. Tch...]

Oi, oi... I guess that was a little harsh. I'm just worried.

[Like hell he's apologizing to a fragment.]

I should check on your actual soul next time I run into the other you. See what state it's in.

[Sigh. Well, Harriet's almost kind of glad that he's yelling at them - it's a step up from wallowing, at least.]

That's a good idea. I'm worried too.

[Huffing loudly, Malik begins to move again. He doesn't slip back into his previous despair just yet; his blood's still boiling, his stomach twisting harshly inside of him.]

How can you tell? I mean... How can you tell how much is "left"?

I won't be able to tell precisely. I never knew you with your soul intact. The Ankh would be better suited to it. But I'll at least be able to tell if it's in danger. I've seen enough souls to recognize one that's falling apart.

But, Malik... if your soul was weakened to that point, it'd probably show. You noticed it when your soul wasn't in your body, right? When the fragment had control over it, it was struggling to operate.

[That was before this fragment separated from the main, so it should still remember...]

... Wait, what.

[guess who never knew about that]

Right... I remember. Then you should be able to tell me how close my soul is to that point, right?

[He totally ignored Harriet just now--or he plain didn't notice.]

Hopefully, when this is all over... I can rejoin my main soul. It's not like I'm needed in here anymore.

Yeah. I can do that. I'll be sure to make note of it.

[He glances down at Harriet.]

That's right... you were around, but you weren't involved back then. Long story short, I tried to make him immortal by separating his soul and his body, but he wasn't too happy with it because he kept passing out when his soul container got detached. We tried to anchor him a little by using soul fragments, but they can't really control a body on their own without help. It got to be too frustrating!

[There's a note of amusement in his voice.]

It might be helpful, Malik. If you recall any other little fragments lying around, retrieving them might be useful.

Edited 2014-04-06 04:21 (UTC)

[welp. What can she even say to that.]

You guys are so weird.

[He shoots Bakura an incredulous look.] Somehow, I remember that all happening a little differently. Like the part where you put me in the Rod against my will.

[Getting a little side-tracked here.]

Hoh... If we're digging up unfortunate misrememberings from that time, do I need to bring up what happened right before that in front of your girlfriend?

[Namely, the part where you attacked an injured teenager, took advantage of their wounds and pretended you were being nice by patching them up afterwards?]

Besides, that only lasted a few minutes. You went in willingly enough the second time.

[He grins down at Harriet.]

Don't look like that. You'd think you'd never wanted to be with someone forever~.

[Slight echoes of a certain joke he won't let die there.]

[...WIGGLES AGGRESSIVELY]

Bastard! Shut the hell up! ...And don't call me his girlfriend!

[everything else is irrelevant. only tsun now]

Edited 2014-04-06 04:58 (UTC)

[Malik folds an arm over his chest and covers his face with his other hand, his eyes focused on the ground. Did Bakura seriously just call Harriet his girlfriend?! Maybe spending all this time so near to her soul had had a bigger effect on him than he realized, because he was blushing like mad.]

What happened before that--you deserved it! Don't try to play innocent...!

Edited 2014-04-06 05:10 (UTC)

Hoh... you're one to talk. I'm not playing innocent at all, Malik. I know precisely how far from that I am... do you~?

[Bakura grins and sets off again, ignoring the aggressive wiggling of the pink bundle in his arms.]

Harriet, if you're going to get rude, you could just levitate yourself there... I certainly won't mind!

What are you two going on about anyway...

[she looks between Bakura and Malik, and can't help but notice the tomato red the fragment has turned. Her eyebrows raising, she slowly turns back to look ahead. She'll pretend she didn't see that.]

Levitation, are you serious? Hmph.

[well, she could try, but that'd be weird too. She's considering it though, and seems to have settled down.]

Edited 2014-04-06 06:36 (UTC)

Feh... [Not wanting Bakura to reveal anything unsavory, he falls into silence behind them. An extremely brief silence.]

Levitation is easy.

That's right. Like I said before... this is your 'world'. You can change the rules of it as you please.

I'd say you should think of a happy thought, but you don't even need to go that far. You just stop letting gravity affect you. You just have to want it not to. Like this.

[He lets go of her suddenly.]

Like what- AH! [she falls on her ass, of course. And then just starts thrashing again.]

God damn it, Bakura! Do I look like a baby bird to you!?

[Okay, even Malik is back here laughing at her right now.]

Heheheh...hahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHA! What?! You didn't manage it? I'd have thought the desire to avoid hitting the ground would have been enough... you really must be unimaginative!

[Bakura's laughter echoes through the forest of her soul.]

Arrrgh! That's not fair! I wasn't ready, you...

[Harriet's face turns red from the embarrassment. How dare he insult her imagination!? She imagines herself into the air and spinkicks him right in the fucking face.]

PRICK!

[hey look she finally found a way to punch him in the soul.]

Edited 2014-04-08 00:04 (UTC)

Whoa! [He didn't see that coming. Malik blinks a few times in shock before breaking into a grin.]

Good aim, Harriet! Kehehe...

[Bakura hits the dirt, sprawled there for a moment before sitting up to stare at her in obvious shock.

...really that was more like kicking him in the soul. But close enough!]

Heheh... heheheh... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Looks like you got the hang of it!

[Hey, it's not like it's serious damage. He's lax enough to not mind.]

Heh. It's no wonder. You don't know how long I've wanted to do that, you hyena.

[with that done, she's floating herself down and upright so it can almost look like she's standing normally. As normal as she can be while she's still completely tied up, anyway. She casts a sideways glance to Malik]

Cheered you up, didn't it?

Edited 2014-04-09 14:34 (UTC)

[He catches up to them, no longer moping behind.]

I don't normally enjoy seeing people kick my boyfriend in the face, but somehow you were both just asking for it.

I don't mind. Though you've got a lot of nerve, considering you're helpless in the real world...

[Bakura teases a little playfully. He still can't really deny the hyena joke...]

Luckily for you, I'm not interested in helpless women! I guess that's the most un-hyena-like thing about me.

How was I asking for it? He just dropped me! [huff.

Bakura's point makes her shiver a little though. It's not that she thinks he's considered doing anything - she hates being vulnerable in front of anyone, let alone him.]

That's right... I guess it's hard for me to picture when my soul is literally up and kicking. [she frowns, trying not to let it bother her too much, but...]

Where am I right now? I didn't even ask.

Ah, you're in our dorm. It was safer than the nurse's office, especially once I changed the locks. I put you in the top bunk, like before.

[He sounds nonchalant, but there's a dark note in his voice when he mentions the nurse's office. People coming and going in there so much... it's troublesome for anyone to be vulnerable there. There's no way he could have kept her safe other than taking her in... except maybe giving her to Henry, and there was no way he'd do that. Not that Henry wasn't capable... but this was his responsibility.]

Edited 2014-04-09 15:07 (UTC)

[So she's in their dorm... it wasn't long ago that she was staying with them, but she did not expect to return so soon.]

Oh... that's troublesome. I suppose with the way things are, there really isn't a better way to handle it.

[still, the fact that he's taking care of her is kind of ... not what she expected. She's not sure what to say about it yet.]

Troublesome? I'm not going to let that asshole kill you. Compared to that, this is pretty easy to handle.

...Anubis is a bit confused by it, though. He can't figure out where Malik's gone, and why there's someone else that never comes down.

[He sounds a little amused at recanting that bit of information. Though the mention of Malik is still enough to bother him, even with the fragment here.]

Edited 2014-04-09 15:30 (UTC)

Well, I guess that's true. Scary, but true. [Harriet sighs, not really comforted by any of this, although she didn't expect to be.] Thank you, at any rate.

...Poor pup. [That's not amusing - THAT'S DEPRESSING.]

...

[Tsundere mode, activated.]

O-oi... I'm just doing it because Malik would be unhappy otherwise! That's all!

[The look on his face says otherwise. It seems he's as bad an actor as Malik is when it comes to this sort of thing...]

[So Bakura was taking care of Harriet and Anubis... He doesn't remember if he made him promise that or not, but he was thankful for that much, although his heart ached at the thought. It was easy to forget, being just this small fragment of a soul, but he knew the fondness that his main soul had for the animal and so it hurt him too.]

Whatever. [She was trying to be cool with that thank you, but he had to make a big deal out of even that. It's a little embarrassing. She doesn't want to be in this position!

...But he said that, and Malik didn't even say anything else. Harriet notices he's being a little quiet.]

Uh, you've gone pretty silent! Something on your mind?

Huh? [He looks up, seeming to rouse from his thoughts.]

No, I was just listening...and thinking. I'm not used to having people to talk to.

...huh? But don't you experience the same things Malik does?

Edited 2014-04-09 16:14 (UTC)

He's a soul fragment, Harriet... He can send information back, but he doesn't really receive it from the main soul. Sometimes he'll pick things up, but generally... he exists alone here.

The only time I really receive information is when my main soul contacts me with that intent, otherwise it's...more feelings than memories.

Um... I guess that makes sense. [NOT REALLY......fuckin souls, how do they work.]

...

[Yeah, he can tell she doesn't get it.]

Think of it this way. It's like Malik's chopped a piece of it off and left it here. But it's connected by a thread, just the barest thing. Like a nerve ending that's almost completely severed. And through that, it can get occasional signals. Fear, joy, affection... like a lost limb still feeling sensation because the mind thinks it should.

Occasionally Malik comes back to check on it, which means it's getting information sporadically and only then. Otherwise... it's resting peacefully here, nestled in your soul.

[Harriet looks at the fragment as he describes it, and all she can think is that it sounds positively grotesque. I mean, "chopped off a piece" and "severed nerve endings"? What a terrible thing to do to yourself! Malik, you're really fucked up. Even if it's coming in handy now, she never liked having this thing inside of her.]

Well... I hope you're right and he'll take you back when this is over. I'm sure you'd rather not be here!

[or well. She hopes so. He does look kind of comfortable, but....]

If my main soul really is that damaged, then he'll have to take me back. I'm not needed in here anyway. He hasn't contacted me in a long time.

[He sounds pretty neutral on the whole thing.]

I've never known anyone try... as far as I always thought of it, soul fragmentation was a last-ditch effort that shouldn't be done on a whim. I've never managed to reclaim fragments of my own... but then, my soul isn't ordinary.

I can't get rid of the soul fragment inside of me; Malik definitely can't handle that thing going inside of him. But you might have a chance.

Oh, well cool.

[That means Malik doesn't care to spy on her, she assumes. Good to know.

aaaand once again Harriet's getting a bit lost. What soul fragment in Bakura? But from the sound of it, these fragments aren't so easy to pass on.]

A chance?

My soul's bound to the Ring, so that might be the reason why I can't take back mine. But like I said... I've never known an Item user try to take their soul fragments back. Generally they just assume it can't be done and ignore the possibility.

So I've got no clue if it's even doable or not. And the only person that might know isn't here.

[Not that I'd even ask him, he thinks, a little coldly. Even if he hadn't killed Shadi once already, they'd never gotten along. He'd kill him again if it were possible. Over... and over... His shoulders shake a little with suppressed laughter at the thought.]

Malik'll have to be my test subject on that front, it seems. And if it works, once we're out of here, he can track down the rest of them as well.

Ah. [that doesn't sound very good. Soul fragments seem like a pretty permanent thing.]

... Wait, track down the rest? How many fragments does he have?

Edited 2014-04-09 17:23 (UTC)

...I didn't really keep count. [Just a hint of awkward, there.]

I'd estimate it's near triple digits, but considering I only met him a few months before you did, I'm not quite clear on it either. Could be fewer. Could be more.

That's what I meant by calling him reckless earlier.

Edited 2014-04-09 17:29 (UTC)

Near a hundred?

[Looks over at Malik. JUDGING..............]

...He's exaggerating! It's not that many.

[But it is a lot, and now he's paying for it.]

You can't even keep track of how many you have, and you're saying that?

It's not that hard to figure it out, I just don't have a number off the top of my head.

[While his voice is still low, there's an undertone of warning to it. Bakura, don't press yourself.]

[sigh]

Do I even want to know why you have that many?

[He's not scared of you, Malik... you're nothing but a fragment. But for the sake of the peace... He'll keep his mouth shut here.]

[Malik's keeping his mouth shut too, not even bothering to answer Harriet's question. He just continues to give Bakura a look for a minute before turning his gaze elsewhere.

Here comes the awkward silence.]

[stares at them glaring at eachother into awkward silence. She'll take that as a no.]

... Right then. Let's continue.

[She floats forward toward the pavilion.]

Heheh...

[With that eerie little chuckle, he follows her, tucking his hands into his pockets. It's nice to have two working hands again. Even if it's just inside his mind.

Once they're out of the forest, only then does he speak.]

So what do you think? Kind of relaxing, isn't it?

[Harriet looks around the area. The air is still a bit cold, but it's definitely a lot nicer than the dreadful woods. Dropping down so that her feet are on the ground but she's still standing upright, she can feel the grass under her shoes. This place feels like home. It's her first time seeing it, but it's like she's known it all of her life. Here, she feels more like it came from her head.]

Yeah, that's much better.

[her feet lift from the ground again as she heads into the stone structure to look for her deck leaders.]

[He wanders around a little, eventually settling at one of the tables. He has to move the cards there, but that's fine by him. It's odd... for them to be here, they had to be connected to her soul, but they weren't active at all. Maybe they were waiting for her. Or maybe...

...

No, he wasn't going to think about that. He just waits for Harriet.]

Getting used to it?

[Harriet turns to nod at him, but sees he picked up her card so she goes right over]

Ah, there they are!

[She instinctively moves her arm to try to take the card, but of course it doesn't get very far because she's still tied up. So it just looks like she randomly twitched her shoulder.]

Aww man, this is so annoying.

[maybe she can just summon it with her mind, no holding cards needed. That should work, right? This IS her soul room after all. And she really doesn't want to have to hold the card in her mouth.

So now Bakura's hand holding the card is just getting intensely glared at, sorry mate]

...

[What, is she mad at him for touching it? Fine, you touchy woman...

He lets go of the card, letting it drop to the table.]

Oi, oi, that's a scary expression...

[looking surprised]

What- no, I'm just trying to focus on it! I can't pick it up, so I thought... eye contact....

[deflating somewhat. This is so stupid.]

...honestly. You don't remember a word I told you, do you?

[He picks it up again and holds it out towards her.]

You just have to trust that it'll happen.

I'm not a very trusting person.

[even if it's herself..........

well, she's turning her back so he can put it in her hand, she guesses. Meanwhile, pouting a bit.]

Thanks.

[Closing her eyes, Harriet summons her deck leader. Airknight Parshath does materialize, although the shape he's in makes the Rose Duelist's jaw drop. Rather than standing to ask her commands, he appears on the ground, his legs crumpled up beneath him and his armor broken in several places revealing wounds that have only just begun to heal. He looks exhausted.]

Parshath...!

[Harriet drops to her knees by him, looking on in disbelief. This is abnormal and completely distressing.]

Edited 2014-04-15 00:23 (UTC)

[at that, Parshath grunts and then looks up shamefully.]

My lady... forgive me! I tried to protect you, but I am yet weak from the shadow duel... give me more time. Time to rebuild our armor.

Th-This isn't right. You're my monster... I'm the one that's supposed to take damage!

[The whole area seems a little dimmer in color as guilt begins to choke her.]

Do you not remember? It was part of the shadow game... it was necessary. To disable his summoning ability, we attacked each other's armor. With our victory, he has returned to roughly where he was before Sir Malik's training... he cannot duel in our way without Sir Malik's permission! And for that, I gladly withstand the suffering!

[though he grimaces again because he is very hurt and he is yelling. Not a good combination.]

Edited 2014-04-15 01:02 (UTC)

Ah. Sorry, I don't remember. So that's what happened...

[Airknight frets over her a bit more at this revelation, seeming unable to tone down enough to not completely ruin his rest from before. Harriet responds for a while, but quickly elects to put him back in his card, and then lapses into silence.]

...

Edited 2014-04-15 01:10 (UTC)

[Malik floats nearby, listening to all of this with a troubled expression. Harriet may have won, but she and her deck leader still paid a heavy price.

He's not sure what to say... He feels like this is all his fault.]

[Bakura breaks the silence.]

...sounds like a pretty good price to pay to cut that guy's power level down. If you didn't lose, then he'll probably heal up fine in time.

Maybe I'll wake up when he's finished healing, then - our armor was what protected me from the Millennium Rod. Perhaps that was a bit reckless...

[She looks over at Malik.] But I agree that it was worth it. You don't have to fret. I always said I would do what I had to.

Edited 2014-04-16 07:12 (UTC)

[He closes his eyes with a small sigh, appearing thoughtful. He told Harriet to do whatever she had to to stop his other half, but he had hoped it wouldn't come to something like this. Although it's not as if she had much of choice.]

At least the damage wasn't permanent, and if it weakened my other half, even better. But this is far from over.

Are you expecting to be scolded, Harriet? I think you made a good decision. Even if it's not over, every small victory is a step towards the end one.

[Sigh. What a pain...]

If you don't wake up, I can euthanize you and hope that you come back, like Malik did. But I won't make that decision on my own. Until you open your eyes on your own... I'll keep you safe.

And not because of any reason that isn't selfish.

[Harriet nods. It seems they're all in agreement.]

W-Well, I'd rather not throw away my life, you know. [Please do not even think about euthanizing her, man... but she sees what he's saying.]

It's all right to be selfish in this regard. I'm in your hands.

[She just really hopes she can trust him with that... but it seems she can. What is this strange feeling.]

Edited 2014-04-21 00:27 (UTC)

Bakura... [He looks over at him at that, brow knitted with worry.]

Thank you. You didn't have to do any of this for me, or for her. [He was a spirit, after all. If he wanted he could just let them all perish. What Malik's other half did was ultimately of no concern to him.]

But don't forget to take care of yourself, too.

[Bakura looks a little embarrassed, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking away.]

Hmph... I'm fine.

[Despite the gruffness of his tone, he doesn't seem displeased. In fact, a little a bit of a teasing note slips in as he continues.]

I look after what's mine. That's all it is. Anyway, when have I ever failed to look after myself? [Beat.] ...don't answer that.

[LAUGHS AWKWARDLY. Not to kill the mood, but...] Oy! Isn't that pushing it, including me in what's "yours?"

... [Malik doesn't answer that, even though he could name plenty of occasions. For the moment he just lingers and let's the other two speak.]

What? Are you telling me we're not friends after all?

[Bakura stares at her as if it is entirely normal to refer to your friends as 'mine'.]

H-Huh?

[Harriet blinks. Has Bakura even used the word "friend" with her before... but that aside.]

No, I'm not saying that ... But normally friends wouldn't say to one another that they are theirs. It gives a weird impression.

[does he really not know that? Well, he really doesn't have any friends 8|]

[Malik says that sometimes, and that has him thinking on it long enough to speak up.]

I don't think it's that weird.

Edited 2014-04-29 03:14 (UTC)

Like I ever cared what people would 'normally' do.

[...he has three friends if you count Malik.]

But I don't see why it's so bothersome. It's not like I'm calling you luggage.

[More like a pet.]

I'm just laying my claim on you.

You don't see it? Are you saying you wouldn't mind it if I started saying I had a claim on you?

[because Bakura always acts so high-and-mighty, she can't believe it's an equal thing. And so does Malik really - it's directed at both of them. She is definitely not a pet!!]

Edited 2014-05-03 21:13 (UTC)

Like Malik doesn't get to do that all the time...

You don't really have the right attitude for it, but feel free, if you want to. But if you're going to say things like that, you might want to act the part... hehe.

Malik owns me because he'll shank me if I say otherwise. Also because I love him and bullshit like that. What's your claim on me?

Edited 2014-05-04 16:51 (UTC)

["feel free"? what's with this guy?!]

It's this concept of "ownership" that I take issue with. I belong to me, you know! But after that explanation, I'm dying to hear why you think I belong to you. You're not gonna say you love me too, right?

But as for my claim....... because you just gave me permission. I don't need a better reason after that - you should take offers when they're free. [she smirks, satisfied with herself.]

Edited 2014-05-04 17:55 (UTC)

O-OI-! Like hell! Whatever sick fantasies you have in your head, they're not true at all!

[Oh fine, take advantage of him why don't you?! Women! But now she's got him inwardly flailing.]

What part of tomb thief don't you get?! When I find something I like, I claim it for myself, and I don't care who already owns it!

[Malik had mostly fallen back to people-watching, but the fact Bakura went ahead and said he loved him did make him smile. He's back to looking stoic before long though as he idly hovers by and watches them argue. It was all pretty interesting, and it took his mind off things...]

Edited 2014-05-04 19:56 (UTC)

Umm. I'm pretty sure when it's a person, that's kidnapping instead of thieving. I'm not a piece of gold, unlike some people...

Besides, you're the only one who has sick fantasies here!

[well. as far as she knows. sometimes the fragment creeps her out when he starts staring at them so quietly.... he's much less talkative and assertive than Malik!]

Edited 2014-05-04 20:42 (UTC)

It's the same thing. If I want something, I'll take it... unless it's given to me.

[It's almost a riddle. But Harriet... you're talking like you think he considers humans to be people. You're all just player pieces~... some are just more nice and treasure-y than others.]

Kh... What do you know about my fantasies, anyway?

You know, I'm not even certain I know what you're talking about anymore. [Harriet blinks. Is he legit planning to kidnap her or... anyway, she doesn't care what he thinks humans are. Because he's obviously wrong! She's just taking it upon herself to give him reality checks. As for the fantasies... Harriet suddenly wonders if that's ACTUALLY a path she wants to go down in this conversation.]

...Enough that I don't think I actually want to discuss them at length.

[But didn't he bring up knifeplay in one of their movie nights. And maybe tentacles? And not to mention that he makes a lot of provocative statements toward her in general. He seemed to appreciate her being tied up like this too, unless that was her imagination.]

Edited (because I decided your inbox needed to be flooded with edits. Apparently. Also this was funnier.) 2014-05-05 05:15 (UTC)

...

Well, I guess it's okay that you don't get it.

[Kidnapped? He already has you locked in his bedroom, Harriet... But no, he's just going to tsun at you and help you if you're at risk of death because he is a possessive bastard and maybe if you're very lucky he might do something nice for you if you get too messed up.]

Are you sure you even know anything about my fantasies, if you don't even dare talk about them? Are you just imagining naughty things over there? Clearly being tied up must do wonders for your mind...

[Tease tease~]

Ugh, that! That right there is exactly what I mean! You always say stuff like that, so of course I can guess what you're thinking- god damn it, I knew you were enjoying the stupid tape...

[and that just prompts more squirming.]

I'm a man, aren't I? It's only natural to enjoy the view. But don't worry... I'm not harboring any creepy fantasies about you.

[Much.]

Honestly, you act like I'm some kind of monster.

[Snicker.]

Except for ones about owning me, apparently.

I don't know what you are. You're just Bakura.

That's not a fantasy.

[Griiiin.]

But I guess that's good enough.

[flat look. It just doesn't matter what she says, does it.]

Well, at least you agree it's creepy.

Where did I say that? Don't put words in my mouth!

Just there, "creepy fantasies." You only refuted the fantasy bit.

...

Then I don't think it's creepy.

[He is the least intimidating Satan figure.]

There. I refuted it.

Boy, are you stubborn or what?

Look who's talking? It's like you've got rocks in your pretty head when it comes to this sort of thing!

Oh? We're in my head right now, I don't see any rocks.

There's probably a ton of 'em hiding in the forest or something.

No, there aren't any, cause I believe there aren't. That's how this works, right.

...

That's cheating! I can't manipulate your soul room since I'm not a resident!

Then to me it sounds like I'm following the rules perfectly! Don't get mad when you taught them to me yourself.

[Faintly, from nearby.]

...It looks like the student has surpassed the teacher. Keh keh keh.

Grr...

[Whose side are you on, you goddamn jerk?!]

I'll let you win, this time. But you're still far too stubborn!

[SMIRK] Thank you, Malik. You ought to become a referee.

[Harriet sticks her tongue out at Bakura. This has become increasingly childish, but in her defense, she can't move anything else.]

[He just floats smugly nearby. Apparently dampening Bakura's mood has put him in a better one.]

Don't mention it.

Kh-! You-! I won't forget this in a hurry!

[Bakura sounds almost pouty. He's so dramatic over such a silly thing...]

[Something's wrong with his head. No, something's wrong with this place, and it had messed with his head. Kai remembers making pot roast, and he remembers killing the pot roast. And after that things are just sort of...not there. Almost like he'd just slept a whole week, but he was pretty sure he hadn't...

But that isn't what's bothering him now. It was the fact that sometime this morning, he'd come to the horrifying realization that he'd forgotten Karasu. Not for an hour, or a day, but the whole week. Completely and utterly forgotten her entire existence. It had hit him hard, when he'd glanced over to the spare bunk and seen the cloak and wooden sword he'd set aside for her. She'd said she'd wanted to play with them sometime, right? So he'd gone off looking, found her a cloak and replaced the one the Creeper had sliced to ribbons, made her a sword...

And then forgot her.

Guilt-ridden (which he still was in regards to her, no matter how much he wished he wasn't), he'd grabbed them up and gone looking for her. After checking all the usual spots without success, he'd started trying less obvious ones. When that failed, he'd begun to panic, just a little, and opened a Corridor to every place on the island he could reach. To say he'd worn himself out looking was true. To say that he freaked out when it dawned on him that she was gone was an understatement.

She isn't just somewhere on the island where he hasn't stumbled on her. She isn't here. He can't feel that Light of her's anymore, which he didn't know he'd been taking for granted.]

I'm just not looking in the right place, that's all. That's it.

[Now Kai's outside Ryou's door, leaning against it while one hand grips the frame and the other clutches Karasu's things. He's not sure why he's here; it's either to talk to kid brother or maybe the Creeper, or he just wants to make sure they're not gone too. Because why not? Everyone he gives a damn about keeps leaving him, so why not?]

Hey! Are you there? Open up!

[Kai gives the door a frustrated kick, the panic evident in his voice as he speaks again.] I'll just open a portal if you don't, let me in!

...Please still be here.

[Kai turning up here isn't exactly strange, or at least it hasn't been this last week. No, no matter how 'usual' it was, it would always be strange. But him yelling and banging at the door? That was utterly bizarre. The door creaks open after a moment, Bakura's confused eyes staring out through the gap at him.]

Will you be goddamn specific for once in your life? Who. Do. You. Want. To. Talk. To?

[...huh? Except something's wrong. Unlike the recent appearances of this week, Kai was acting... stranger than usual. His voice is panicked, his eyes wide... And what the fuck is he holding a cloak and a sword for?

Bakura hesitates, then tugs the door open.]

Come in. I'll bring Ryou out if you're looking for him.

[The door opening is a relief; even the fact that the Creeper's the one behind it is. Kai doesn't bother to answer his question, because he doesn't know. Instead he just shoves the cloak and sword at Bakura as he stumbles inside, going to drop onto his couch. He doesn't give a damn how rude it is.

Well, if it'd been Ryou...]

Karasu's gone.

[Yeah, straight to the point. It's about all he can manage at the moment, since it feels like he can't quite catch his breath.]

What did you say?!

[Bakura's voice is filled with disbelief. Gone? She was... gone? His first thought is the other Malik, who's skulking around somewhere, but 'dead' wasn't the same as 'gone' in a place like this. Gone meant... well, gone. It was a loaded and troubling word. He pushes the door shut numbly, clicking it closed.]

You're sure?

[Wait. Wait, why is he asking, the island is only five miles long! There isn't a part of it that's not in his range!

Snatching the Ring, he focuses on it. Karasu... Find Karasu for me right now, he orders, and the prongs lift, chime and waver in the air... and then go dead.]

...kh...

[His dragon... was gone? The girl who'd tried to be his friend even after finding out he'd been lying to her for months... was gone? Karasu, whose brightness was painful as it was drawing, was... gone?

He sat down on the ground suddenly, right where he was standing.]

She's gone.

[Kai just watches him check with the Ring, a small, humorless smile crossing his face. Lot of good that thing'll do.]

Been everywhere. She just...isn't.

[Oh. Well, at least he's not the only one taking it badly. This is nice. Kai starts to pull his feet onto the couch but remembers his shoes at the last second, dropping his feet back onto the floor.]

I went to- to take her those. [He gestures toward the cloak.] I'd forgotten...I'd forgotten her. And she's not anywhere.

I just missed somewhere, right?

[Right? The Ring's actually wrong, and Kai just skipped a place.]

...

Don't be a fool. This thing... can't be thrown off so easily.

[Bakura lets it drop to his chest. His lip curls, draws back to expose those sharp fangs of his - Ryou doesn't have them, so where the hell do they come from? - as he mulls this over.

Malik - crazy, Harriet - comatose. Anubis, fine, for now. Henry - pretty much missing in action, for how much he'd seen him recently. Sera - missing. Karasu - missing... He focuses on the other Ryou suddenly, not knowing or caring why. That kid was just a backup body... that's all. But he was warmth, and light, and human. He might do for occasional company, until he can find a way to dose Malik with the antipsychotic medication that the nurse had given him. The Ring picks him up just fine. That was good... he wasn't alone.

Otherwise, they might as well... have just stuck him back in the Ring. Where there was nothing but emptiness. He needs more power. More of it, more of it, he needs to get back and open the Gate and never have to put up with being under someone else's control again!

Anubis whines, sensing Bakura's worry, and comes out of the bedroom to go lick his face concernedly. Without even looking around, Bakura lifts a hand to pet him.]

This place... can go right to hell!

Got to have hope, right?

Right. Hope. Hope that he'll get out of here and back to 'Jem. Hope that he can make things right with Karasu. But-

So much for that.]

Only just decided on that now, huh? [Kai rubs at his eyes, trying to force the tears away. He doesn't need to be doing this crap here, in front of him. Talk about endless teasing.]

...Why do they keep leaving...

[It's almost a whisper, and then he shrugs. Who cares. He's done with this.]

I'm done. Screw it.

...'hope'?

[Bakura's voice is filled with mocking.]

Hope is what you have when you don't have the power to do anything. It's a pitiful human thing... A mere crutch.

[He can't... just collapse like this. These wretched, pitiful, worthless human emotions... He has to crush them. Getting up, unsteady though it is, he doesn't look at Kai.]

Don't give her the luxury of making you break. If your other crutches are gone, then cling to your sanity out of spite. You've weathered worse things. Even if it doesn't feel like it.

After all, it's not like even death is an escape from this.

[Is he talking to Kai, or to himself? It's not exactly clear. Perhaps both.]

Edited 2014-04-16 00:12 (UTC)

It worked pretty well up to this point.

[Just...going to slouch into the couch here. He should go. He knows that. But he's tired...and his chest hurts.

Light damn it.]

Wasn't talking about death. Was-

[Kai raises a hand, summoning Howling Flame. It's the closest thing to a not-Light aligned Keyblade he's got, aside from Heart's Shadow. It shouldn't bother Bakura all that much, though he's not sure why he cares.]

This. And people too, I guess.

[Except he's not sure what he means about the Keyblade. What, just not do it anymore? But that's ridiculous. He's always wanted to be a hero.

Not like he's done such a great job anyway, and without her...

Howling Flame vanishes, and Kai shifts to sit up properly, eyeing Bakura. If she was really his friend...had he actually given a damn?]

So what now?

[Why's he asking him of all people?]

[Bakura's expression flickers at the sight of that. It's interesting... How many of those things does Kai even have? It's like he has a hammerspace closet of Keyblades.]

I meant... that since death was no escape, the only true escape here is to go mad. And I doubt you'd make a good lunatic.

[His words hold little of his usual mocking humor. This entire situation... bugs him. Karasu had told him about her past, about her home... She didn't deserve to go back to that loneliness. If she'd been one of the few that wanted to leave, like Malik, even if he'd had to be left behind, he wouldn't have cared. But the small part of him that's capable of feeling sorry for people is tuned on her now.]

Now? I don't know. I don't even know what I'm going to do, let alone what you should.

I know what I want to do, but... [His fist hits the wall suddenly and sharply.]

I don't have the power to destroy this place and make it stick.

[Feeling powerless like this is a bitch.]

[Sadly, only four. Five if you include the Keychain for the Blue Eyes that Karasu made him, which Kai is trying desperately not to think about.]

I don't think I could go crazy. Not that lucky. ...The Heartless didn't count, that was a lapse in judgment. [Yeah, downplay that all you want Kai, it doesn't change the fact it happened.]

Maybe if you just kept trying, it would. Or if you had more energy to draw from.

[He sounds eerily serious about that. Enough that he seems to realize it and drags himself up to collect what he brought with him.]

I've got to get rid of these. Can't keep them. Hell I'm putting them back where I found them though, with what happened last time. Wish I could remember any of that.

Heh... I wonder if it can be called a lapse... or a smart move. Sometimes one has to make moves they don't agree with in order to eliminate a threat. Whether it's to sacrifice themselves or others... it comes down to whether they're capable of living with their choice.

[More energy...? Perhaps. The magic generated by the Ring isn't enough for anything major.]

My power is nothing compared to that woman. If the Gate was already open... I'd be able to crush her. But I can't open it unless I return home, and I can't return home until either she wills it or we find a way out.

I doubt all the darkness in your Corridors could boost me enough. Though I'd be willing to try.

[But what it would do to his host, he doesn't know.]

Leave them here, if you like. I'm sure my roommate won't mind.

[Being comatose and all.]

...I sure wasn't as long as she was involved.

[But she's not now, is she? It's not like Karasu's coming back, is it? All he's got to keep himself out of trouble is himself...and Ryou, if he bothers to drag him into it.]

I'd rather vote lapse. I'm not completely screwed up yet. [By which he means that no, he's not serious about helping out with the Darkness, even if he sounded so before. But to clarify:]

I'm not. It might get us out, but I don't want Ryou hurt.

[He still feels bad about that, damn it.

Wait a second. Roommate?]

But Ma- [Shutting up now.] Going to give Anubis the sword as a chew toy?

Too bad! I'll admit I've been fascinated by your particular brand of darkness since day one. Not that I ever made a secret of it.

But you're right about that... I don't want my host ruined.

[Even if he has a spare. Ah. That's right... that kid slipped.]

...

I know. Malik's no longer living here. But a friend of mine is taking shelter here. Hence the locks.

Anubis might like it. We got him a lot of toys, but animals always seem to enjoy the ones you don't get specifically for them.

...Anything in particular you want to see?

[Oh Light, oh Light, what is he even saying. Kai frowns at himself before looking toward the bedroom, then glancing back at the door.] Maybe you could try reinforcing the door with magic. The library's got enough books, you could probably learn something.

[He's only briefly entertaining the idea of suggesting Barrier, but he doesn't think he could hold someone else's door while he was across Campus, and the hell he'd stay here, even temporarily.]

Ah- yeah, they do. Surge likes my sneakers. But- [Unconsciously, Kai's grip on the sword and cloak tighten.] I worked really hard on this, and the cloak was a pain to find, so maybe...Maybe I'll just keep them someplace out of sight. In case... [Giving up her things so the dog could chew on them would just be a betrayal, whether she comes back or not.]

I'm fascinated by any of the things you're capable of. Your corridors... your spells... and even your summons.

[Huh...? Learn magic to secure it properly?]

I? ...it's possible. But I don't know the first thing about magic. Though it would be a great advantage.

[Ah... yeah. That's an unfortunate thought. The idea that Karasu might come back... it's possible, and if she did... having discarded her things would be sorrowful.]

...yeah. You should keep them. And hope.

[...didn't he just basically say hope was pathetic?]

[Cue the eyebrow raise. Yeah, what was that about hope? But he doesn't comment on it, instead going to lay both sword and cloak gently on the couch before crossing over to Bakura.]

The book I learned Barrier out of...it's not magic from my world, but I was still able to make it work. And- ['And Karasu learned Blizzard and Cure from me' nearly follows before he chokes it back.] -you could probably manage that. You'd just have to be careful not to let too much Darkness feed into it, I'm not sure how much it affects the spell.

[To demonstrate, Kai holds out his left hand, making sure he's not pointing at Bakura. Accidents would be bad (and probably considered intentional). The spell activates, the air solidifying with it's usual translucent sky blue tint. The barrier's not that big, about the width and height of a binder.]

This is what it usually looks like, and it can hold up to some pretty decent hits. Drawback, you tend to feel an echo of the impact.

[Kai's nose wrinkles at the memory. Drawback number two, it's a pretty draining spell if held in place for a long while, but he doesn't feel the need to tell him that yet.]

This is what it looks like when you feed Darkness into it.

[Kai turns so he's facing the door, and the spell expands to cover the entirety of it, the blue bleeding away to the familiar purple and black.]

[He raises an eyebrow as Kai comes over, not sure whether or not to back away. He decides not to, not least of all because it'd look weak. Instead, he watches, as Kai draws out the spell.

He's seen it fed with darkness before, once. But for Kai to do it intentionally is interesting. He would have flinched away from it before, wouldn't he?]

You do that so easily... it's quite interesting. Seeing you feeding the darkness into your spells... it shows a level of control you didn't have before.

[He reaches out to touch the spell, curiously.]

I've spent a lot more time practicing since I tried to kill you.

[It's said matter-of-factly, and Kai shoves his hands into his pockets, just watching Bakura reach out. It'll feel weird, he knows, almost like tapping on a piece of Jello...except somehow much more solid.]

And if it amps up my magic some, why not.

[It's not like he's hurting anyone this way.]

Heh... Do you ever think of anything else?

[He admires it, though he'd never say it. Growing stronger. Growing more powerful, in order to win, to destroy one's enemies. Though the kid needs to have more fun... Lots more fun. But it doesn't matter. It's not as if he actually cares.

The feel of it is absurd. But the solidity... A barrier like this might be useful. He's seen Kai's barriers stand up to one of his strongest monsters. If he can learn this... Heh. It might be useful indeed.]

You said you found this spell in the library?

What, killing you or practicing?

[There's an amused little smirk playing around his mouth before Kai shrugs, moving on.]

Yeah. It was in a massive book...I've still got it, I don't know if there are any other copies.

[He's keeping the book, by the way, if Bakura can't find another one, so tough.]

Guess you could come bug me about it if there aren't.

[Okay, he needs to distract himself from thinking about Karasu, but he's pretty sure this is the wrong way to do it.]

Either. Both seem to be your focus of late! I feel rather flattered!

[Hoh... if there is no other copy, then that will be a problem, but...]

I'm going to have to, it seems! I don't wish to have my guest eliminated... so I'll gladly spend as much time as I have to forcing myself into your presence!

Of course, you could spare yourself the indignity of having me as an unwanted companion... and just lend me the book in that case!

[What is he getting himself into.] Well, I promised-

[But she's not here to see it, is she...but he can't.] You're like a cockroach, I don't think a nuke would take you out. So I should just focus on finding a better brand of bug spray.

[He snickers, letting the spell dissolve. Oh, that's much better. He's happy it's not as exhausting as it was the first time he used it like that.]

Uh, no. I'd rather put up with you than let it out of my sight.

[Really, Kai's very possessive of his magic books. Hell, any of his books.]

You're smarter than Sibyll. She had the bizarre believe that a nuclear weapon would destroy me. How foolish... Mortal weapons cannot even scratch this Ring. I've yet to run into any force that could.

[And as long as the Ring exists... so shall he. Unless his soul is destroyed. Thinking of that... this truly is folly, to grow attached to the short-lived mortals.]

Then you'd better get used to my presence, it seems.

Really? How'd you convince her otherwise? Or don't I want to know? [He probably doesn't.] The Keyblade's the same way.

[He's yet to run into anything to prove otherwise, anyway.]

...This is just going to be disturbing all around.

I just let her try to destroy it. Same with that kid with the bandanna. She didn't have any nukes, but she tried a few other things and gave up.

...though she threw it into the sea in a fit of rage afterwards. I still haven't bothered to let her know I'm still around.

[He snickers darkly, amused by the mental image.]

And yet you chose this fate...

Must've frustrated the hell out of her. Kid with the-

[Tenar. He hasn't seem him around lately, either, but the kid's in and out all the time, so...Nope. Not considering it.]

Geeze, not even the mercy of being lost at sea, huh?

[He means mercy for everyone else, obviously. Yanking his hands free, he fetches his things again. Now that the bad news has been delivered (and sort of dealt with), he should get out of here before he gets himself into any worse trouble.]

Maybe I am going crazy.

It was hilarious.

[That stupid woman... what did she think would happen? That the Ring was mere gold, fragile and melting?]

I've never been a merciful sort, Kai. If you though otherwise, you're sorely mistaken. Or crazy.

Heh.

[The smile's faint, but there. It's not just because he kind of thinks poor Sibyll's predicament was funny.]

I never thought you were. Guess it is just insanity. Come by when you're ready - I really doubt you'll find another copy.

[Just going to let himself out, here.]

[This really is somehow both his worst and best idea ever. Kai doesn't like having Bakura in his room; far from it. He has to keep fighting the urge to make sure he isn't trying to pocket something. At the same time, teaching him Barrier and watching the small successes (but mostly failures) is amusing the absolute hell out of him.

It's only been a couple days, and today Kai's seated on the living room floor flipping through a different spellbook while he eats from a bowl of popcorn. The large brown leather book that contains the barrier spell is open on the coffee table in case Bakura needs it.

Again.]

You know, I'm thinking that if I get all the way up to Aeroga, I could probably make a pretty decent tornado if I threw some Darkness in there. Wouldn't that be fun.

[He's actually picturing a swirling mass of Shadows dancing around the island. That's...huh. Creepy.]

So how's it going over there? Managing anything decent yet?

[Why yes, Kai is taking advantage of this whole thing to be a pain, why do you ask?]

[Luckily for Kai, he has absolutely nothing that Bakura wants except knowledge. But that is proving difficult to grasp. The Ring's power is nothing like this. It's instinctive for him to know how to use it.

This? This is true magic, the kind that magicians would have learnt back in the days before magic left the world. It's tedious and slow, and his natural dislike of it is making him irritable.

Unfortunately, Kai's talking is not helping. Though the idea of a tornado of darkness is pleasing.]

Do you think you could control the tornado if you made it?

[A low growl. This is tiresome.]

I think you'd know if I was.

[Oh, he knows it's not helping. It's why he's doing it, after all. Kai doesn't bother looking up, skimming the page with his finger. Where was-

Ah.]

Probably, if I practice really, really hard. I mean, I can handle it in it's normal form, it's just if I put too much into it...

[Hey, maybe the school would land in Oz. That'd be better than some island in the middle of nowhere, right? Kai finally looks up at the growl, trying not to smirk. It only half works.]

Okay, try this. You saw what it looked like the other day; just imagine that in front of you, about the level of your head. Will the thing to be there. [That sounds ridiculously simple, and it is. It might actually work.] I only had the description in the book to go on.

[Now Kai does smirk, picking up a handful of popcorn.] Once you've got it up, I'll flick these off you. If they hit the barrier, congratulations! If they hit you, you're doing it wrong.

...you're having far too much fun with this.

[One of the many troubles is that Bakura is rarely a defensive player. Protecting things goes against his nature of loving destruction. It doesn't make it impossible, it just means that part of himself is driven against it.

A bigger one is the fact that Kai is being pretty good at riling him up right about now. His lips draw back into a snarl at the jibe-]

And how long did it take you to do it?

[-and he outright glowers at the popcorn. Seriously? ...well, it's better than pelting stones, he supposes.]

Fine. [Closing his eyes, he focuses, calling up the memory of the barrier Kai summoned. It was hardly difficult to remember. The troublesome part is if Kai starts talking, he's not sure he'll be able to focus on it. But in its' own way, isn't that an important part? The other Malik isn't going to avoid talking. Maybe this is necessary. He needs to learn.

It's like the Ring, in a way, only using his host's energy instead of the darkness within it. Focus, and will. It takes time, but he can feel it when the barrier appears. And boy, can he feel it. How much energy it takes is a shock. It drains more than most of his own spells, and those are done using magic that's dead. He lets go of it in surprise.]

What the hell?!

Yep~

[He's hurting over Karasu and any distraction from that is a good one...even ones that'll come back and bite him in the ass later. Frowning in thought, Kai considers the question, absently ticking something off on his fingers.]

To get to the point where I was able to hold off Ha Des? About a week.

[What he's not saying is that he'd never made a barrier that size before that day. It'd been more instinct that intent, trying to keep from getting flattened.] But then this spell is pretty close to magic I'm familiar with, so it helps.

[Kai decides to temporarily keep his snark to himself while Bakura works, simply playing with the popcorn in his hand while he watches. He can feel the magic himself, and it's almost tempting to try and mess with it, but he ignores it, waiting for...

And there it is. The expression on Bakura's face when Barrier activates is worth a snicker or ten...or maybe outright cackling. He's disappointed when it disappears before he gets a chance to throw the popcorn at him. Maybe next time!]

Problem?

[Just going to be eating the popcorn he's holding now.]

Hardly!

[Yes. Yes, there's a problem. But there's no way in hell he's lowering his pride to admit it. Not to Kai. Not to anyone. It's harder to bring it back after that, his mind unfocused and struggling to fix on the task, but he persists.

And finally, it reappears. He mentally curses at the energy drain, knowing he won't be able to hold it for more than a few seconds without practice. His host's energy reserves are too low and his concentration isn't good enough.]

[Oh, this is beautiful. He should have warned him, really. Not to be nice, but because knowing might help later on if (when) there's ever a fight and Bakura needs to use it.

He'll tell him eventually.

Maybe.]

When you can hold it steady for longer periods, I'll show you how to shape it. That's going to be fun, you won't believe the headache you'll get when it shatters.

[Well, he can at least warn him about that. Those headaches suck....and once the barrier's back up, Kai'll take the opportunity to flick some popcorn at the Creeper's head. Whether it goes through the barrier and hits him or just bounces off, causing an annoying echo of the impact, it'll be fun either way.]

[And this? This is Bakura with popcorn in his hair.]

...oi.

[Lifting a hand, he tugs it out of his hair and pops it into his mouth, chewing on it grouchily as he focuses on trying to keep the shield up. It keeps stopping, a side-effect of his lapsing concentration.]

Can you at least use something less sticky?

[Bingo. Kai snickers, setting the book he's reading aside to pull the popcorn bowl into his lap.]

What, you're not hungry?

[Though he's eating what he threw at him, so obviously...

Oh no. No Bakura, you did not just ask him that while he's in this mood and trying to teach you magic. Kai smirks, and holds up both hands. A small ice sphere materializes in one, while a ball of flame crackles to life in the other.]

Would either of these work?

[He's not really going to toss one of those at him, right?]

. . .

You know... If you throw those flames at me, Ryou is going to hate you forever.

[The comment is irritated, if casual. But since he didn't say anything about the ice, it can be considered permission. He supposes it's good for practice... to be put in a semi-dangerous situation to force him to take it seriously.]

...The popcorn's fine.

[At least he can eat that.]

Yeah, I kind of like Ryou not hating me...still can't believe he didn't completely flip out at me over the- but anyway.

[Let's not think about that, it just leads to him thinking about Karasu, and wasn't the whole point of this to not think about her? The flame disappears and Kai grabs another handful of popcorn, eying the ice sphere. Hm.]

If I try throwing this now I might crack your head open. So popcorn it is, then!

[Here, have a handful!

...Which is immediately followed by the ice sphere, but at least Kai shrunk it to the size of a marble before he threw it.]

-!

[The shield deflects the popcorn well enough, but the miniature ice sphere has the unfortunate timing of following up just as Bakura has lapsed the shield, thinking the mild onslaught was over.]

Ow-!

[You little shit, he's just going to grab that marble of ice and throw it right back at you!]

[Kai's so busy cracking up laughing that he nearly misses the marble being thrown back. A barrier of his own pops up just in time to deflect it, leaving it to bounce off and roll away toward the kitchen.]

Hey!

[Well, at least Bakura blocked the popcorn.]

Good job! Want a cookie or a gold star? I can put the sticker on your shirt.

[He's just going to sit here grinning, because success.]

[Oh you jerk, blocking it like that! Well, at least he managed to block something. That's progress. The question is, can he do it again?]

Kh... Gold star? What the hell do you think I am, a five year old?!

[And he isn't even commenting on the fact that he threw it back like a petulant child. Three thousand years old... and yet he still acts like a brattish kid sometimes. He even looks like the age of his body right now, arms folded over his chest and stubbornly glowering.]

[Hey, it was instinct! Sue him.]

Pretty much. I'll make you a chart and for every time you manage the barrier, you get another star! You'll feel so accomplished at the end of your lessons.

[He shouldn't be saying that, but come on. Glancing down, Kai moves the popcorn off to the side because he knows he'll forget it at some point and spill it everywhere. Waste of good food.]

The way you look right now, actually...Well. Maybe you should be big brother after all, having a sulking fit.

I am not sulking!

[He totally is. He's positively grouchy in response to the ribbing. The relatives joke, however, makes him flounder and pout. What the hell, Kai, stop taking his jokes and turning them around on him!]

Don't even joke about that! We could pass for siblings as it is!

Are so.

[Awe, but it's so much fun to drive him up a wall.]

Who's joking? I adopted Ryou, might as well adopt you too. After all, it's not like family has to get along all the time.

[He might be serious Bakura, have fun with that.]

...o-oi. I can't tell if you're joking or just insane!

[Seriously, he's not the family type. Not even close.]

I don't have a single sibling instinct in me, unless you count the instinct to tease you relentlessly.

[These days, it might be a little of both.]

I'm serious! Welcome to the family, big brother!

[Snickering, Kai tosses another handful of popcorn at him, not giving a damn whether he blocks it or throws it back.]

Eh, I think I'm getting used to that.

[He's too confused to block it, and the popcorn tangles in his hair. Grabbing a bit of it, he tosses it at him.]

I don't think I'll ever understand you... you swing from hating me to tolerating me, and now you're adopting me.

What a weird kid you are!

[Well, he guesses it's better than the son thing. Though he'd just been getting used to that.]

That's a good look for you. [Smiiirk. Oh wait, popcorn in his collar. He'll just pick that out and eat it.

...Oh Light, Bakura cooties.]

Good to know I'm doing my job well!

[And if Kai had any inkling at all that that had been a thing, he'd be back to hating Bakura in an instant, just for getting all that information out of him.]

...

[Snicker.]

Even though that was in my hair, you're just eating it? What are you, a monkey?

[Wait, was Kai deliberately trying to throw him off as to his intentions?]

I'm trying to build up a resistance to your bullshit. Consuming bits of you might be the only way.

[He's so proud that he said that with a straight face. Even better is the fact that it's followed by him grabbing his spellbook again to seemingly go back to whatever he was looking at before.]

...!

[What- huh- what?! ...the sad part is that he's actually thinking Kai might be serious. He's given his darkness to people before...]

I don't think that'd work from just my host's body.

[Don't laugh, don't laugh, don't laugh. Kai half-glances up, eyeing him through the strands of hair that fell in his face. Ugh, he hates that. He raises an eyebrow at Bakura, not even sure if he can see it.]

You'd be surprised what tricks you can pick up when you screw around with things better left alone.

[Aaaand back to his 'reading'.]

[Seriously?! What the hell kind of wizard is this kid?!]

...you could just ask, y'know. I wouldn't do it for free, but I could give you a bit of a power boost. More than you'd get from whatever twisted magic you're using, I'm sure.

[Of course, he doesn't know the boy's tolerance for it, so there'd be a risk, but if he could handle the dark world's atmosphere...]

Edited 2014-05-03 04:02 (UTC)

[A damn good one, with all the effort he's put into things since he's been trapped here. Kai almost, almost looks up at that, but manages to not react much beyond a shrug. Okay, he's taking this too far, he can stop now.

Really, he can. He doesn't need any more trouble. Ever.]

Define 'not for free'.

[Yeah, okay, that's not stopping.]

I don't give anything away. Either you find something worth offering, you do something worthy of reward, or you owe me a favour for the future.

[It's a simple enough explanation. His power's ancient, and he's petty. Grasping the Ring, he holds it up.]

Here. Put your hand on this. I'll show you what I'm talking about.

[He'll lower the guards on it... so that Kai can feel the boundless darkness within it. The darkness that has been his home for so long. And in his world, darkness isn't just the absence of light... it's pure, dangerous, power. Worse yet, the Ring has been tainted by the hatred of its' original inhabitants. That darkness is the kind that seeps into you like a poison, corrupting you little by little. It's everything Kai's been warned about.]

Selling my soul to the devil, huh?

[It's said calmly, but his heart's about to pound through his chest. He needs to back out of this right the hell now. 'Ha ha, just kidding, can't believe you fell for that, the look on your face'. Simple.

Except not really. Part of him wants to at least know what it feels like; it's the same part that wanted to know how much the Heartless would listen to him if he called them. Kai tilts his head, watching Bakura silently before he sets the book aside. Scooting closer, his hand hovers over the Ring. So easy to just touch it. Well...not like there's much of a reason not to anymore. His fingers close around it, a jolt going through him as his Darkness reacts to what he's feeling. Oh. Oh, this is bad. This is like every nightmare he's ever had, every wound he's ever gotten in a fight, every terrible thing he's ever done rolled up into one great freezing clusterfuck.

Kai's eyes widen, and his Darkness shoves out at the Ring itself, knocking him back a bit. He sprawls out on the floor, letting out a pained laugh.]

Ha, no thanks, I don't think mine approves...

[By the fierce ache starting up in his chest, that's not the only thing not happy with this.]

Damn...lesson's done for today, get out.

[Seriously Bakura, get out before you see shit he'd rather you never did.]

[He recoils, shocked. That was a reaction he didn't expect. Though it's not terribly surprising. Either Kai's fear, or his Darkness, disapprove of the Ring itself. Poor thing... he looks stunned as hell. For once, he doesn't argue, just getting up and heading for the door.]

Yes, yes...

[The kid can compose himself and figure this shit out on his own. No sense in him hanging around while he's like this.]

[What, no teasing? No smart ass comments? That alone would shock Kai if he were in the mood for it. As it is, he scrambles to his feet as soon as Bakura's out the door, locking it.]

That was so stupid.

[And painful. Kai winces, leaning against the door as his hand goes up to his chest, fingers pressing against it. It feels cold again, the same sharp coldness he'd felt when those claws had been-

Letting out a shuddering breath, he pushes away from the door and stumbles into the bedroom. He's going to need at least two potions for this one.]

[A jolt brings Harriet out of her nightmare, and for a quarter second she is disoriented, before her memories of the place flood back and the feeling of being inside of her soul room calms her slightly. Unfortunately, it does not bring comfort with it, as her body is still tied up in the tape like a kidnapping victim. By now, she does not bother to struggle.

It's been regular visits from Bakura now, since Ryou started leaving the ring with her. Harriet tries not to think too hard about that. But if she's awake, then he's probably come back now, hasn't he? She'll go and meet him, simply appearing in the pavilion.]

Yo, Harriet. How many years has it been?

[Bakura's inappropriate cheerfulness is obvious as he reclines in one of her pavilion's chairs, leaning as far back as he can.]

You look stressed! Something the matter?

That isn't very funny. [years... don't say that! She doesn't have any concept of time in this place. In the dream, she can keep track, but she's not sure how it matches up with the real world, the one that Bakura lives in.

Though, if this goes on any longer, she's going to start to doubt that that world is the reality. If the only tie she has to it is this Room... no wonder she looks stressed. But she'll confess to it, since she doesn't have anything else to talk about really. Comas aren't very exciting.]

It's nothing, really... just that my dream's getting worse. It feels more real than this place, sometimes.

It's hardly so surprising... this room isn't 'real' after all. No one is ever meant to reside in it consciously long term. Even when comatose, usually you'd be sleeping constantly here.

It's only because of Malik and I that you're awaking from your dreams at all. But if your dream is going on in such a realistic manner... That's unusual, isn't it?

[Not that he knows anything about dreams. He doesn't really dream the way other people do. Or sleep, really. It's only when in Ryou's body and resting there that he experiences anything close to actual sleep. In his own soul container there's only silence and darkness. It's not a place for dreams or rest. 'Sleeping' there is merely letting his mind drift, forgetting the outside world for awhile.]

I'm not sure. [Harriet floats over and delicately slides onto one of the other nearby chairs.] I figured it was because my mind has nothing better to do with itself. But we already know this is strange. My body is still in stasis, right?

[magical coma. She's still kind of puzzling that one.]

That's right. You haven't changed even a little since I found you. Not even your hair has grown... it's almost creepy! [Chuckle.] Though I suppose it's for the best, either way. It means less embarrassment and discomfort when you eventually wake up.

[He leans his head on his hand, watching her. She's getting pretty good at this floating stuff.]

Edited 2014-05-08 09:34 (UTC)

I wonder why it's like that... but you're right, I can't complain. As long as that kind of coma is something I can still wake up from. Stasis...

It's a little scary. My condition isn't getting worse, but what if it means I'm also not improving? The only thing I've gotten better at is controlling things in my soul room.

...

[Hah. She's technically in the same condition he is, isn't she, if that's the case? If she can't wake up from it, and her body won't change, she doesn't even have the luxury of death. His shoulders shake with silent laughter.]

Then if you don't improve, I guess I get to keep you forever!

[He's joking... right?]

[SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ANYMORE.]

Wh-what kind of answer is that?!

What? You'd rather I tossed your sleeping body out into the woods or something? At the least I could use you for decoration.

[...it seems he really is joking. Hope that he is, at least, Harriet...]

And at most is what, a coat rack?

[well, she's joking back, that's something.]

I was thinking more like a doll... but I guess you could be used for something like that.

[He laughs, amused.]

Though I guess I could also move your soul into a new body and see if that works...

...You're sliding dangerously into serious answers territory there, Bakura.

[she says on the generous assumption that everything before it was a joke]

I feel bad enough for Ryou, without doing that to somebody else.

Serious? Don't be ridiculous. I like your body too much to suggest that seriously.

[Good assumption! ...possibly wrong, possibly right, either way he isn't going to clarify.]

[somehow she didn't expect that kind of joke here, so it actually makes her laugh.]

You're the one who's ridiculous ... flirting with my soul.

...what? Why is that ridiculous?

[He stares at her.]

I could kiss you right here and you'd never know the difference between it and a 'real' kiss.

Cause my real body isn't- [ghjklfgh] I think I would know!

...

Want to try it and see?

[Yes, he is in fact serious.]

[Harriet blinks, looking at him for a moment.]

Well, I guess there's no harm in it...

[Which is unusually honest for her, but it's her soul. It wasn't 'real'. And her time outside of these visits was a living hell, she could use a bit of fun.]

Edited 2014-05-11 23:56 (UTC)

Hoh...?

[He didn't really expect her to take him up on it, but... he's not going to turn it down. Even if Malik might get a little jealous if he sees. Honestly, that boy... His 'don't you dare do exactly what I do' stuff was kind of a pain. But souls are free reign.

Letting the legs of the chair hit the ground again, he gets up from it, strolling over to where she's sat. He seems entirely at ease, his hands tucked into his pockets as he approaches.]

You're sure? There's no taking it back, you know...

[he seems to be pretty easygoing about it. That's good, she thinks, but she'll still look up at him with a little caution.]

I don't know. Are you going to make a big deal out of it?

Why would I do something like that if it wasn't amusing to me?

[There's a lot of ways to do something like this. But it might be overthinking it to debate it too long. She's right, after all. Making a big deal of it is pointless. And all of that bullshit doesn't matter anyway. It's just a kiss.

So, rather than bothering with anything ceremonious, he casually lifts his hand to cup her cheek. Her skin feels warm against his hand. It's as if she's 'real' instead of merely a soul taking on the form of its' outer body. Would it bleed, if he cut it? He's never tried to do something like that before. He supposes he won't try it later, either. But it's still a thought that intrigues him. As much as he knows about souls, there's still always that endless level of knowledge just further enough away to be unreachable.

He blinks, realizing he's staring at her. That's probably not good, but it was only for a second or two. Probably not enough to weird her out.]

Don't worry. I won't bite.

[It may be a joke, but she hasn't seen those tiny fangs of his up close. They might be too small to be actually dangerous, but they can sure hurt.

Leaning down, he hesitates slightly, almost imperceptibly, his breath hot against her lips, before pressing them together. And just like that, the mental barrier of 'do not touch' has been broken.]

[Harriet smiles slightly.] That's about what I expected.

[It was only for kicks that she agreed, and he should understand that. Harriet's really not sure when she'll wake up, if ever... it's frustrating to the point where it's hard to care about anything else. But when he holds her cheek, her eye follows his hand there. She's almost surprised by its warmth as well, but not entirely. He was also fairly warm when he carried her around on the first day he visited. She looks back into his eyes when she feels that they've been on her for just a little too long - what was he thinking? His expression was strange. It almost looked surprised. The line he delivered next didn't really suit that look, and she laughs at it for the joke it was.]

I'm afraid you've been reading too many vampire novels, Bakura... just go on.

[Harriet encourages him teasingly. If the things he had done in the past and his crazy laugh didn't scare her, his teeth certainly wouldn't. She hasn't seen them up close before, though, it's true. She supposes that's just another way he changes when he takes over Ryou .... wait, no. This is still just Bakura, so she doesn't have to worry about that, even if she is still taking on the same shape. It's made quite a difference talking to him all this time without that barrier in the way. She's become comfortable with him in a way she hadn't been before, especially with consideration to the care he's been taking of her. Still, when he draws in close, she shuts her eyes in anticipation. The hesitation is felt because of that, but ... ]

[...feeling his breath for just that second gives her a last second to prepare her thoughts as well before their lips touch.

She expected warmth, the surface feeling. What she didn't think her soul could replicate was the tingle, the strange shock of pleasure that came from intimate contact. But there it was... wasn't it all in her head? She didn't think she was attracted to Bakura that way, so why would it be? Maybe he'd cheated or done something to her... but he always said that she was the only one who could control things in here. There was just too much that she didn't know. She'll just have to figure it out by kissing him back. ]

Edited 2014-05-16 08:22 (UTC)

[Warm. That's his first thought. He can feel the heat of her body from being this close, the warmth of her skin, and it's almost comfortable. Letting his eyes fall shut, he relaxes, just feeling for a moment. Her lips are softer than Malik's, and he can feel the difference in their heights more easily. It's nice not being the shortest one for once. His hand leaves her face at last, idly drawing down her throat to rest on the front of her chest, fingers pressed against her shoulder.

It's interesting, in a way. He's no stranger to either men or women, and yet his contact with them in ways like this has been so scattered wide across time that it almost surprises him every time. After becoming used to Malik's initial awkwardness and later confidence, this is almost strange. Not in a bad way; that feeling of intimacy is still the same, the casual pleasure of it too - but definitely different. Despite that, his confidence never falters. She can probably feel his grin against her lips. The thing he hated the most in this world or any other was being uncertain. So why let such a thing exist when you could drive it out by action?

He presses her back into the chair suddenly as he takes on a more forceful role, his mouth pressing back against hers in a demanding manner. If he's going to kiss her, he might as well do it right. And right means that he isn't going to hold back even a little. Test or not... this isn't something he dislikes doing. Rather, it's something he's thought about in the past, offhandedly. Never seriously. The mere factor of being denied touch in that regard was enough to make him want it. And now he's getting a taste of it.

He's almost thankful to the other Malik for giving him this chance.]

[His lips are softer than Malik's too, to be honest. She remembers how the rest of his body was as well, when they'd cuddled after their Valentine's romp. Maybe those memories are why it feels the same here. But that was never really his body, was it? Thinking on that, she wonders why he appears to be the same even inside her soul. Maybe it's just so she will recognize him. Or maybe even he doesn't remember what he should be like. But either way, his hand trailing against her feels unusually tender, more than she would attribute to the man. Especially when he's grinning.

So she really has no idea why she feels so surprised when she's suddenly pinned against her chair. Nevertheless, she makes a noise of alarm.]

Mm- aah?! [But there's nowhere for her to retreat to, with him already pushing her down as far as she can go into the chair. As Harriet's arms reflexively jerk out, she's reminded that they're still tightly bound together as well, and her squirming has never amounted to much. More importantly, the cost of voicing her uneasiness was opening her mouth before his greedy lips. She's entirely captive to his fierce kiss. The way this feels has her blushing furiously - no one has ever dominated her like this before, especially not awkward, teenage Malik. Her head is screaming and she can't be sure if it's because she's mortified or turned on. Of course, in the peripheral garden, her flowers are in dazzling bloom.]

Edited 2014-05-19 05:37 (UTC)

[And then the obvious difference in their partnership shows. Awkward, teenage Malik was dating a guy who only looked teenage... who was in fact, so much older and so much more confident in himself. There's no hesitance in him as his tongue invades her open mouth, claiming it for his own like a king riding into a newly-captured territory. He can feel her squirming against him, and it only makes him want to keep going.

He lets his hand move then, fingers stroking over her collarbone briefly, along her throat, feeling her racing pulse beneath them, then down again and over her shoulder. They glance over the tape as he trails them down, feeling the warmth of her skin - but it wasn't real warmth, was it? Or real skin, for that matter - just to feel it. Her skin is surprisingly soft. He wonders if it's soft like that everywhere.

Well, she can't slap him, and if she bites him, all the better... so his hand casually settles on her chest, squeezing a little.

Yep. It's soft alright. But he didn't doubt that. He just wanted to feel it.]

[Her mind wavers back and forth between embarrassment and enchantment, as he begins in his attempt to conquer her mouth - by contrast, her tongue is already rising to the challenge on its own, permission from the workings of the brain be damned. Bakura certainly won't feel unwelcome in this place, and Harriet's already starting to slip into a more relaxed state. After all, she was the one who said it wasn't a big deal. Really, why shouldn't she enjoy it if he's kissing her with all he's got? She even sits up a bit, so she can lean into him more.

But she's still incredibly self aware from her restricted movement. He's already starting to trace all around her upper body, yet she couldn't even do anything back. It's vexing, the way she can't help but want what she can't have - she is pretty sure the thought wouldn't have even crossed her mind if she wasn't tied up like this. And then, while she was fretting over being turned on like this - he went and squeezed her tits! She really does want to bite him for that - a slight nip at his lips on her way pulling back.]

Hey!

[She stares at him, with his hands feeling her up. But she's not sure what to say. She sputters, still blushing a deep scarlet.]

D... Don't be so unfair...

[CAMPUS/IC] II

A surprise guest

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Finally, No More Pantomime! (Feb 21st)

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