I stared at my Yami as he made his way across the soul room to me. He face portrayed no emotion, just sheer pleasure in my fear. I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to stand up straighter. I cleared my mind and tried to think of some way, any way out of here. He kept stopped in front of me and smirked. "Well, I'm quite surprised you survived that long. All these years. Maybe you're not as weak as I thought." he said. I looked down. It hadn't always been that bad. When I first got the ring, I loved it. A gift from my father. Well, that was when the spirit left me alone. I looked up timidly at Yami Bakura. He glared back at me. "Yami? What are you going to do? You know... to Yugi... and the others." I asked. He smirked. "Oh, I'll ask them out for tea. I'm going to kill them you idiot. at least I will after I get the millennium puzzle." He said. I looked down again. What could I do about it anyway? I always tried to fight back, but I always ended up being saved. Everything felt hopeless. It always felt that way. Yami Bakura glanced at me and made his way back out of my soul room. I was sorta surprised he didn't hit me the whole time. But I guess he's too happy with his success. ---Yugi--- Back at the dance floor, Yugi looked around. Bakura wasn't as small as he was, he should have found him by now! Letting out and annoyed sigh, he continued his search, occasionally asking some of the friendlier students if they saw Bakura. None of them have, only one remembered him standing in the middle of the dancing floor a few minutes ago. Yugi thanked the student and ran out, determined to catch up with the white haired teen. Yugi ran through the crowd, trying to squeeze his way through the people. He got pushed back and fell on the floor. Some where in the deep reaches of his mind, a familiar voice rang out. //Yugi? YUGI!// his yami yelled. Yugi blinked and closed his eyes, going into direct contact with his darker side. Yami stood there, looking down at him, a frown on his face. Yugi took one look at his yami and ran over to him, a look of great concern on his face. "Yami! Are you ok? You look troubled." Yugi said. Yami sighed and looked up. "I'm afraid I have some bad news Yugi.." He said, glaring at the dark corners of his soul room. Yugi cocked his head. "What? Are you having trouble with Tea hitting on you again?" Yugi asked. Yami's face flushed red and he glared at Yugi. "No Hikari.. It's not THAT." Yami said, looking away from him. Yugi blinked. "Then what is it?" he asked. Yami sighed and looked down. "Yami Bakura is back.." Yami said. Yugi stared at him, dumbfounded. "W-what? But... we beat him! That's impossible!" Yugi yelled, shaking his head. Yami sighed again. He expected this reaction. It wasn't everyday one of the greatest enemies one has ever had comes back from the dead. "Listen Yugi, let me take control. I'll find him and put a stop to him." Yami said, grasping Yugi's shoulder. Yugi sighed and looked up at him. "Ok. just make sure not to hurt Ryou.." -----Yami Bakura's POV------- After I left, I still watched my pitiful Hikari. He sat in his usual corner and sobbed. Weakling. Of course, out of all the people in this new modern world, I'm stuck with him. At least it makes my job easier. He can't even fight back. Yami Bakura went back into control of his body and looked around again. Curse that damned pharaoh... He was catching on. Yami Bakura was about to continue his search when he felt a strange energy behind him. He stood still, listening for any sign of a human. Carefully he turned around and glared at the being that stalked him. "Hello Malik.." ---------------------Bakura's POV-------------------- Bakura hugged his knees to his chest, rocking lightly. For the first time in a long time he felt defenseless. Tired. Hopeless. Even before, when his Yami beated him and crushed him mentally and physically, he always hoped his yami would change. He always had faith in the good in people. But Yami Bakura proved him wrong. That night. ----------Flashback, about a year ago-------------- Bakura, younger then he is now, sits in his room, writing on the computer. His father was away, at some dinner party in his honor. Bakura rarely saw his dad, ever since his mom died when he was little and he went back to work, Bakura never really cared. He met Yugi, Joey, Tristin, Tea, and yes, even Kaiba. He wasn't really lonely. Far from it. He always had the spirit of the ring there, watching him, pointing out his mistakes and punishing him for it. Any normal person would have gone insane by now. But deep in his heart, Bakura loved his yami and thought somewhere in his heart there was kindness. Bakura yawned, finally finishing his essay. He stood up and turned off the computer, rubbing his eyes. It was almost 8, but he felt exhausted. He was surprised his yami didn't do anything yet, but hey, it's a good thing right? Bakura went into his closet and pulled off his sweater, putting on a t- shirt instead. He walked down the stairs, heading for the kitchen. He'd have a quick dinner and then go to bed. When he reached the kitchen, he didn't notice the object of his fear following him. Bakura was about to open the refrigerator when a cold hand clamped his mouth shut and spun him around. Bakura stared at Yami Bakura, who was looming over him, a knife in his hand, a handful of Bakura's hair in his other. "Y-yami? What's wrong?" Bakura stuttered, staring at the knife in his hand. Yami Bakura never used knives when his dad was around. Yami Bakura smirked and brought the knife down, slashing Bakura's face. Bakura yelped and fell, but Yami Bakura kept him up, dragging him to his feet by his hair. "What's wrong Hikari? You seem scared." Yami Bakura said, twisting the tip of the knife into Bakura's arm. Bakura bit his lip and looked up at his dark, on the verge of tears. "Yami. What did I do?" Bakura asked, careful not to look him in the eye. Yami Bakura sank the knife in deeper, glaring at his light. "It's been twice this week you went to that.. Pharaoh's house. twice. You are NEVER to go there. I think this sudden return of your father has made you. what's the word. cocky? Yes. I'll make sure you never think of that again. For all I know you could be planning to kill me when you go over there. Never again." Yami said, sinking the knife deeper. Bakura yelled and so the night began. Yami Bakura beat on him mercilessly, yelling insults and curses. Only when Bakura's father came home, three hours later, would he stop. But the murderous look in Yami Bakura's eyes left Bakura with a cold feeling. Before he knew what he was doing, he was running out the back door, not even bothering to clean up the mess that his father would surely see. Bakura ran, the cold feeling getting worse and worse. Blood leaked for his wounds as he finally made it to Yugi's house. He remembered knocking on the door and seeing Yugi when everything went black. When he woke up in the hospital the next day, Bakura heard the whole story, several times as Joey and Tristin argued over menial details. Yugi sat next to his bed, smiling the whole time, trying his best to bring Bakura's mood up. Tea went to go explain to Bakura's father that a robber broke in and attacker Bakura. Thankfully he believed it and asked no questions. Yami Yugi watched him the whole time, with a gaze that looked as though he was trying to read his mind. Bakura realized the beating, the pain he endured was all part of Yami Bakura's plan. He had gotten into Yugi's home without a second thought. He was just a pawn. It was then Bakura realized Yami Bakura would never care. He's heartless. Everything he believed was broken. But Bakura went on living, trying to keep all this inside and go on with life. He was almost normal again when Yami Bakura came back. And so did all the pain and fear he locked inside. ----------------End of flashback--------------- Bakura squeezed his eyes shut, stopping the fresh tears and standing up. No, never again will he be used like this. Never will his friends be hurt because of his weakness. He was no pawn. A fire lit in Bakura's heart, determined and renewed. No matter what, even if it meant his death, Yami Bakura would be stopped. He would not be used. Never again.

~DMC~