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Fic: Crossover with Shamanic Princess
Title: Gaurdian World
Catagory: Crossover (Shamic Princess. Knowlage of series not needed)
Central Characters: Bakura, Yami Bakura
Summery:
...
Okay, I'm copping out. I can't think of a good summery right now. Read it anyway? *begbeg*
Notes: If you've ever seen Shamanic Princess, the character of Graham sounds EXACTLY like Yami Bakura. I'm serious. Same Va doing the same voice. And he's a twichy, sometimes violent sort. I was rewatching it a few weeks ago and just STARED going "OMG BATHEAD" when Graham was on screen. Japoro also has the same VA, and sounds a bit like Bakura-kun. Crossover doom followed. Enjoy!
---
"You are not originally from this world..."
The words were barely heard as he screamed, feeling the force that had been holding his deformed and bizarre body in shape for so long start to dissolve.
"Your form is only supported by Tiara's power."
"Forgive me."
Flashes of his first memories ripped past his mind as he dissolved, the image of the girl who had called and bound him, first with her magic and then by her force of will, smiling up at him. Almost brokenly, he called her name, as if trying to cling to her existence.
Then he was screaming again, falling through the darkness that no longer supported him, clawing desperately at anything he could to try and stay alive, to stay where he was. His appearance warped and changed, hair becoming shorter, though no less wild, the mask and bandages dissolving as the arm that had been only a stump when he had first been summoned reformed, his feet slimming and regaining human appearance. Slowly, the eye that had been unable to open for so long shot wide open, reddish brown staring wildly up at the golden light that was fast approaching.
No..! He struggled, trying to slow his descent even as the light shot up to envelop him. He screamed Tiara's name, thrashing wildly. He couldn't die! He had to-- had to---
There was a familiar sounding chime as the light condensed on his chest, slowly solidifying into a familiar round shape. He stared, eyes wide as the dark void that had blanketed his mind while he had been Tiara's partner was suddenly ripped away, memories flooding into the emptiness.
Hiding from the guards as screams-- desert sands, blinding heat while-- He'd make him pay for-- the monster from his soul, half man, half snake, slicing through-- Strong power flooding through him as he clung to the gold that had-- In the face of the gods, cackling madly as the Pharaoh-- Falling, falling, clinging to the Item so hard it cut into his hand. Survival. Revenge. He wouldn't lose, he wouldn't be defeated not here, not now, not-- A new voice, wishing with soft longing-- He'd protect. Protect-- Anyone who dared hurt-- He'd use his magic to--
His eyes shot open, staring up at the darkness swirling through the blues and greens of his host's mind as his pulsed raced. Slowly, he sat up, the Ring jingling softly on his chest. His hands were normal, the pale, uncallused fingers of his host's form. He frowned slightly, realizing he was wearing his host's school uniform. Was it that late in the day already? How long had he been unconscious? The last thing he remembered... He frowned again. The last thing he recalled was being bored as his host was working on his homework and heading into his soul room to work on the design for the ultimate dark RPG he had been planning.
Then nothing but that bizarre dream. Keh! As if he'd follow some spoiled brat around, protecting her from her own folly and letting her treat him like some sub-human slave! He kicked at the Darkness, hands buried in the pockets of his host's uniform as he scowled. His host probably had been reading another one of those bizarre books of his while he slept and it had wormed its way into their shared subconscious. After all, it was too coherent of a dream to have been one of his own. His dreams were always full of chaos and blood and fragments of his memories when he had been alive mixed in with those of his host's.
But it had been interesting, barring the indignation of being enslaved to a bratling. Unlike sitting around while his host spent time at school, watching the Pharaoh's host for any signs of his enemy. But he was patient. He would bide his time until--
"Bakura-kun!"
He turned sharply as the void around him became transparent, enabling him to see out into the real world. There was an unpleasantly familiar feeling in the air as he looked down where his host had collapsed across his school desk. What was wrong this time? He reached into his host's mind, intent on checking when the boy had last slept or ate, and froze as he found only empty space.
No... not quite empty...
There was a residual tingle in the air that reeked of a familiarity that make his lips curl back into a snarl. He recognized that magic... that smell...
It hadn't been a dream.
His fists clenched. Now that he had been freed of her enslavement, she was going after his host?! The Ring glowed brightly on his chest as he grabbed hold of the fragments of magic and wrenched the portal back open. No. He wouldn't let her have her way any longer.... There was a flash of gold as he separated off a small part of himself, setting it to guard his host's body and keep it alive before he dove into the portal, eyes hard and determined as he raced to where his host had been taken.
Her magic had been weak... wild and untamed. Her preferred fighting method had always been transforming and then physically attacking. He gave a dark chuckle as he plummeted. All her support magic had come from him. Even her teleporting, she had given him, finding it more effective to let him carry the burden for her. He closed his eyes, reaching out to tap the source of magic that had flowed through him in her world.
The Ring flashed brightly before his form dissolved into a shower of sparks, reforming on the ground. He looked around with a scowl, noticing the change of the familiar world. Months, if not years had past. Time must run differently, he reflected. Which meant his host would have been trapped as her new slave for longer then the brief moments he had collapsed. But it also meant that he didn't have to worry about his borrowed body either.
He held up the Ring, willing it to find its destined holder. After a long moment, one spine swung lazily upwards, pointing to the side. With a small nod, he let it fall to his chest before tucking it under his shirt and beginning to walk.
---
Tiara walked with the stride of someone who was very, very bored. After fighting against the Throne of Yord, the source of magic for the Guardian World... tracking down escaped shadows was a dull and very tedious assignment. She didn't even need to power up to her magical form most days, and some of the shadows Japoro could have even taken on. It was almost like nothing had changed. Only she now knew Sara wasn't coming back and Graham...
She let the thought trail off. She couldn't hate Kagetsu for it... Graham was always stubborn, wanting to do what he felt was best to protect her, not listening to anybody else. He would have killed Kagetsu if Kagetsu hadn't unsummoned him. She had been so angry with them both; Graham for disobeying her and Kagetsu for killing her partner and then running off. If she had wanted to, she could have probably gotten Graham back when she summoned a new partner. But she had wanted someone who would listen to her and obey her and be *like* Graham, but better. Easier to control. Not someone who act out on his own and have the ability to kill.
And she had gotten what she had asked for... Minus the listening to her part. In many respects, her new partner was a lot like Graham, but was cheerful, and easy to cow when she felt the need. Graham never stayed out of things when she ordered him to, always staying just out of sight, watching her like he always did, jumping into the fight to battle for her at the first hint of danger. He'd never back down. Even when she was the one he was going against, she had nearly had to kill him to get him to finally leave her alone. She'd never have to use magic to control Japoro the way she had Graham. But Japoro...
She looked down at where Japoro was trotting in front of her, sniffing the air experimentally as he tried to track down the escaped shadow. Japoro was a ferret. He was more a pet then a companion. His personality was so... mild. He'd talk back a little and could be annoying with his little seemingly fake aura of politeness, but compared to Graham... Where Graham had been intense, Japoro was laid back. They were similar, yet polar opposites. Japoro was safe. And dull.
She paused, noticing that Japoro's tail was bristling. "Did you find it?"
Japoro hesitated. "I... don't think so..." he said slowly, looking somewhat disturbed. "There's... something there, but it's different then anything else I've felt before."
"An enemy?"
"I... I don't know." Japoro hesitated a long moment, seeming distracted. "I'll put up a stasis field," he said a bit quickly, closing his eyes in concentration before scampering up to rest on Tiara's shoulder. "Be careful. It smells powerful."
The woman's lips curved into an almost dangerous smile. "Good. Then it won't be boring..." With a yell, she jumped into the air, magic trailing behind her as she flew.
"Getting closer..." Japoro bristled as he hunched against Tiara's shoulder. "Closer--- There!" He pointed to where a pale haired figure was walking idly along the streets below.
Tiara swooped down, landing gracefully on her feet before taking an authoritative stance. "Who are you?!" she demanded, pointing.
The man gave a dark chuckle. "Don't recognize me?" he asked in a voice that caused Tiara to freeze at its familiarity. "I'm not surprised, really. Last you saw me I looked... a bit different." Red-brown eyes looked up from the curtain of ice-blue hair. "You look different too, seen with two eyes instead of one."
A small shudder ran through her, but she pushed it off. "Who are you!" she demanded again, not liking the familiar tone the man used, or the riddles he spoke.
The laugh was lighter sounding this time. "I shouldn't be surprised you still don't pick up hints. You always needed everything spelled out for you." He chuckled slightly. "And the bastardized body that you bound me in for all those years is gone. You never did see past it, anyway... or rather, you never saw past the mark that made me yours." He tapped a finger to the center his forehead, eyes narrowing. "Ten years of mindless devotion, following you around and protecting you from your own mistakes. The least you could do is remember me.... Tiara-sama." He said her name mockingly, eyes wild for a brief moment.
Tiara shuddered, feeling suddenly cold. The voice was exactly... She shook her head. "Don't screw with me!" she shouted. "There's no way you could be him!"
"Shall I recite the books you read last year? Where you like to sit best? How many dates you had with Kagetsu? How long each of them lasted? How many times you cast me aside because you were angry and I was the most convenient one to blame?" His voice was cold. "Knowing nothing else but you... I won't allow you to inflict that hell on my host!"
"Host?" Tiara repeated uneasily.
The man nodded towards Japoro. "Didn't even give him a human body," he scoffed. "Partners are so much easier to control when you can fling them across the room if you so choose, aren't they, Tiara!"
Japoro bristled from her shoulder. "Don't you talk to Tiara like that!" he shouted.
"Stay out of it, Yadonushi!" the man barked, glaring. "I'm doing this to help you!"
The ferret froze, seeming almost stunned. "H--hai..." he stammered, slinking back to hide against Tiara's hair.
The woman looked at her partner in alarm before turning to glare at the man. "I don't know what you're after--" she began.
"Haven't I made it clear enough?" the man interrupted. "I want my host back," he said pointedly. "HE'S who I should have been protecting, instead of following you around! I won't let you use him as your slave!" The air billowed around him dramatically as the pendent on his chest glowed brightly. "Come forth! DIABOUND!" he shouted.
Tiara's eyes went wide as a large monster materialized behind the now cackling man. It looked... solid and unlike any other monster she had seen. And he hadn't had to awaken the symbol before he had called it...! "Japoro, get out of the way!" she said quickly before starting her chanting and gesturing. She was going to have to--
"Too slow!"
She gave a loud exclamation as the monster barreled down at her, barely managing to move out of the way in time.
"Tiara!" Japoro shouted in distress from where he had run to.
The woman grimaced, jumping up into the air and flying upwards. She needed time to transform, or at least to call a familiar!
"Not so easy when you don't have me to soften them up for you, hmm?" the man chuckled, his monster carrying him and easily pacing Tiara's speed. "I always thought it was a horrible disadvantage, having to say that mumbo jumbo bullshit before you could do a thing."
Tiara scowled at him, trying to keep her distance and concentration to activate the mark on her palm that would enable her to summon.
"You need your 'Partner'" he sneered the word, "to start everything for you. Do you send Yadonushi out to fight for you as well, even with the pathetically weak form you've given him?"
"Don't insult my partner!" Tiara shouted before quickly summoning her lance. If she couldn't invoke the contract, she could at least use this. With a yell, she swung at the monster.
It easily ducked, its master standing, arms crossed on it's shoulder. "I'm not insulting him. I'm insulting you," he corrected with a chuckle. "He's probably stronger than you are. You're just a stubborn spoiled brat who only fights for herself!"
"Shut UP!" She yelled, swinging wildly.
The monster grabbed hold of her lance, swinging her by it and flinging her back. "Do you ever stop to think where your "partner" comes from?" the man asked as his monster moved in. "Summoned from another world, reborn to be your slave and wet nurse with a new body and name, with no memories of what they used to be! Taking me from my host... and then taking him in my place...!" His eyes flashed dangerously, the pendent on his chest beginning to glow. "I won't forgive you!"
"DON'T!"
The pair froze as Japoro stood between them, looking badly shaken, but firm. "I don't know what's happened before, but I won't let you hurt Tiara!"
The man's eyes narrowed. "Stop acting as if she were Yuugi," he half snapped. "She's done nothing to warrant your devotion!"
The ferret froze, breath nearly stopping. "Yu-- Yuugi-kun...?" he repeated the name, eyes uncertain.
"Yes. Yuugi. The Pharaoh's host you fought against me to protect." The man's eyes were intense as they near bored into the animal. "Yuugi. Jounouchi. Honda. Anzu."
With each name, Japoro seemed to tense more, breath coming a bit quickly. "S--sto--"
"Monster World. Duel Monsters. Duelist Kingdom. Battle City!" the mantra of names continued, the man's voice growing more and more intense. "Even if you hate me, I won't let you rot in this place at her mercy!"
"Japoro!" Tiara cried. "Don't listen to him! Just get out of here!"
"Shut up!" the man yelled, his monster lashing out and driving her back into a building.
"Tiara!" Japoro exclaimed, eyes wide as he looked over at the cloud of dust. Slowly, he turned, eyes fearful as they met the man's. "Who--- who are you....?" he asked in a small, frightened voice.
The man gave a soft chuckle that was almost bitter. "I am the thief that waits in the Ring," he said cryptically. "Who shares your body and name."
"My... my name...?" the ferret whispered, heart pounding loudly in his ears.
The man's eyes were almost blazing in intensity. "Never forget your name, Bakura Ryou." His voice was almost soft, yet strong with a passion born from suffering.
The ferret's eyes went wide, entire body starting to tremble. A paw moved to cover his chest. But the Ring wasn't there, it was--
There was a flair of power as Tiara took advantage of the distraction to finally power up to her magical form. "I won't let you take my partner!" she yelled, diving down, staff in hand aiming for the blue haired man.
Japoro stood, eyes wide and staring at nothing as the battle raged above him. Memories he didn't recognize were starting to bubble up. Flashes of faces of friends, people turning into dolls, a card with a person's face in it, loud laughter in his ears that no one else could hear.
He made a small sound, falling to his knees, breath coming quickly as the assault continued. A boy with spiky hair, the group around him, battling against the dark master, fighting against-- against--
He clutched his left paw as there was the sharp sensation of sharp plastic ripping through the flesh of his hand as the laughter echoed again. 'How do you like THAT, Bakura Ryou!'
His head shot up, breath catching and eyes wide. That voice was...
He looked up where the pair was fighting, flashes of sparks flying off with each hit. No... no that-- it couldn't be! He took a small step back, heart pounding loudly in his ears.
He cried out in distress as Tiara slammed into the ground, her magic flicking.
The ice-blue haired man slowly descended, still perched on his monster's shoulder, the Ring shining brightly on his chest. "Prepare yourself, Tiara!" he shouted, voice tainted with mad bloodlust as his power gathered.
"I WON'T LET YOU!"
Yami Bakura's eyes went wide as a blur of white and grey streaked out, grabbing hold of the Ring and desperately tugging on it. "What are you doing?!" he shouted angrily, trying to shake the ferret off, his concentration broken.
"I won't let you kill another of my friends!" Bakura shouted, his entire body wrapped around the Ring as he tried to dislodge it.
"How the hell can you call her a friend?!" The man yelled, angrily, grabbing hold of the transformed boy. "She's a slave driver, Yadonushi! She doesn't give a shit about you past what she can use you for!"
The ferret hissed, turning to scratch angrily at the hand that had him. "She respects me more than you ever did!" he shouted, voice upset. "You killed my friends, used my body, took over my mind, broke my hand, put me in the hospital! Even if I am bound to her, I'd rather be with Tiara than you anyday!"
Yami Bakura stared, seeming almost shocked. "Wha-- I was protecting you!" he finally snapped. "That asshole pharaoh--"
"I didn't even know Yuugi-kun when you put everyone into comas!" Bakura shot back, eyes starting to water under the emotional strain of the painful memories that had returned.
"You wanted them to stay, so I made them stay!" The yami returned with a glare.
Bakura tensed. "I wanted not to be alone! I wanted to have fun with my friends, not have them be soulless husks in the hospital!"
"Then you should have been more bloody specific!"
Bakura snarled before biting into his yami's hand, sinking his teeth in deeply.
"What the hell, Yadonushi!!" The man swore, trying to pry the ferret off.
Stubbornly, Bakura held on, bitting has hard as he could. 'I won't let you drag me back to that hell again!' he thought loudly, somehow knowing the other man could hear it.
"What do you know of hell?!" Yami Bakura shoot back, expression darkening in anger. "Your cushy life where your biggest worry is whether or not you'll pass your bloody exams--"
'My biggest worry is you!' Bakura shot back, clenching his jaw tighter. 'Wondering who's body I'll wake up to find next! What memory you've destroyed this time! Wondering what you've done with my body when Yuugi-kun looks at me in worry and fear, and if my father will ever come home again or if you've already killed him and are hiding it!"
"Keh! You're better off without that bastard!" Yami Bakura scoffed, grip tightening slightly. "He left you alone far before I was aware and you know it!"
The ferret tensed in both physical and mental pain. Angrily, he scratched at his yami.
"Yuugi, ha! For all his friendship speeches, all his bull shit about saving you, when has he EVER come to your rescue, huh?! You saved HIS ass in Monster World, not the other way around! *I* saved his little entourage in that freaking maze, not him! *I* saved Yuugi from that maniac clown because YOU were worried! I may do things for my own sake, but at least I don't put on fucking airs and there like a smug bastard while everyone's distressed like he does!" The fingers of his hand reached up to hood under the collar that the ferret wore. "You can hate me all you want, but damnit, you're going to be HUMAN when you do it!" he half snarled, pulling tightly on the collar until it snapped.
"JAPORO!" Tiara screamed.
There was a swirl of multi coloured magic around the ferret, enveloping him in a shifting cloud that swirled upwards and outwards, forming into a ghostly echo of the man before him, half curled in on himself as if just being born.
"Don't go back just yet..." Yami Bakura whispered, reaching out a hand. The Ring chimed gently, its golden energy reaching out to the transparent figure.
Bakura made a small sound, arching back as the energy poured into him, condensing into an echo of the Ring his yami wore. Slowly, his feet lowered to touch the ground, form slowly solidifying, brown eyes opening to look at his yami with tired pleading. "Can't you just let me be...?" he asked softly, voice weary. "Everything's so simple here..."
"It only seems that way because you can only see the world though her eyes. I could make your world as simple as she makes it for you, but somehow I think you'd just hate me more for it." Yami Bakura's voice was almost kind and fond. "I know I haven't been the best tenant, and we've been on opposite sides more often than not, but everything I do has a purpose to it, and I never had the intention to make your life miserable. Just stay with me a little while longer? It's almost over."
Bakura looked up at his yami curiously. "I-- I don't understand.."
"You aren't suppose to," the man replied with a chuckle. "Now sleep," he soothed, placing his hand over Bakura's eyes, his arms going around his host as he went limp.
"Graham, wait--"
Yami Bakura turned to glare at Tiara. "Don't even think of trying to summon either of us again," he half hissed, voice sharp and threatening as he carefully hefted Bakura in his arms. "You're only alive now because of him..."
"Graham, wait, I--"
The white haired man ignored her, closing his eyes in concentration.
"GRAHAM!" Tiara screamed, lunging after the man as he vanished into the air. She stumbled slightly, falling to her knees.
Bakura gave a small groan, shielding his eyes against the glare of the over head lights.
"Bakura-kun!" Yuugi exclaimed. "You're awake!"
The pale haired boy turned, giving his friend a small, tired smile. "Sorry, I-- I think I fell asleep in class," he laughed with soft embarrassment, slowly sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"You gotta take better care of yerself," Jounouchi admonished, giving Bakura a good natured slap on the shoulder. "Scared the shit outta us, conking out like that!"
"Sorry, sorry," Bakura laughed, ducking his head slightly, cheeks pinked slightly with embarrassment. "I guess I've been staying up too late cramming..."
"You should let us help you," Yuugi insisted. "We can do group study together after school, right?"
"Yeah! That'd be awesome!" Jounouchi agreed, more or less in unison with Honda.
"Some how I don't think he'd get much studying done with Jounouchi needing help every five seconds, " Anzu smirked at the blond. "Maybe it should just be us three."
"Hey!"
Bakura covered a laugh, smiling as he watched his friends. This was as it should be, he reflected fondly, not quite knowing why. Maybe he had hit his head when he had fallen sleep, but he felt somewhat different then he had that morning. Better.
Yami Bakura nodded from the depths of their shared mind. His host shouldn't remember anything that had happened in the Guardian World, and if he had, it would be just as if he had been dreaming. Which was as it should be. Bakura belonged here, with his friends. If the Dark RPG was lost, his host would still have protectors around him, people to watch over him. He slowly began floating backwards, letting the scene from outside fade as he moved deeper into Bakura's subconscious.
Catagory: Crossover (Shamic Princess. Knowlage of series not needed)
Central Characters: Bakura, Yami Bakura
Summery:
...
Okay, I'm copping out. I can't think of a good summery right now. Read it anyway? *begbeg*
Notes: If you've ever seen Shamanic Princess, the character of Graham sounds EXACTLY like Yami Bakura. I'm serious. Same Va doing the same voice. And he's a twichy, sometimes violent sort. I was rewatching it a few weeks ago and just STARED going "OMG BATHEAD" when Graham was on screen. Japoro also has the same VA, and sounds a bit like Bakura-kun. Crossover doom followed. Enjoy!
---
"You are not originally from this world..."
The words were barely heard as he screamed, feeling the force that had been holding his deformed and bizarre body in shape for so long start to dissolve.
"Your form is only supported by Tiara's power."
"Forgive me."
Flashes of his first memories ripped past his mind as he dissolved, the image of the girl who had called and bound him, first with her magic and then by her force of will, smiling up at him. Almost brokenly, he called her name, as if trying to cling to her existence.
Then he was screaming again, falling through the darkness that no longer supported him, clawing desperately at anything he could to try and stay alive, to stay where he was. His appearance warped and changed, hair becoming shorter, though no less wild, the mask and bandages dissolving as the arm that had been only a stump when he had first been summoned reformed, his feet slimming and regaining human appearance. Slowly, the eye that had been unable to open for so long shot wide open, reddish brown staring wildly up at the golden light that was fast approaching.
No..! He struggled, trying to slow his descent even as the light shot up to envelop him. He screamed Tiara's name, thrashing wildly. He couldn't die! He had to-- had to---
There was a familiar sounding chime as the light condensed on his chest, slowly solidifying into a familiar round shape. He stared, eyes wide as the dark void that had blanketed his mind while he had been Tiara's partner was suddenly ripped away, memories flooding into the emptiness.
Hiding from the guards as screams-- desert sands, blinding heat while-- He'd make him pay for-- the monster from his soul, half man, half snake, slicing through-- Strong power flooding through him as he clung to the gold that had-- In the face of the gods, cackling madly as the Pharaoh-- Falling, falling, clinging to the Item so hard it cut into his hand. Survival. Revenge. He wouldn't lose, he wouldn't be defeated not here, not now, not-- A new voice, wishing with soft longing-- He'd protect. Protect-- Anyone who dared hurt-- He'd use his magic to--
His eyes shot open, staring up at the darkness swirling through the blues and greens of his host's mind as his pulsed raced. Slowly, he sat up, the Ring jingling softly on his chest. His hands were normal, the pale, uncallused fingers of his host's form. He frowned slightly, realizing he was wearing his host's school uniform. Was it that late in the day already? How long had he been unconscious? The last thing he remembered... He frowned again. The last thing he recalled was being bored as his host was working on his homework and heading into his soul room to work on the design for the ultimate dark RPG he had been planning.
Then nothing but that bizarre dream. Keh! As if he'd follow some spoiled brat around, protecting her from her own folly and letting her treat him like some sub-human slave! He kicked at the Darkness, hands buried in the pockets of his host's uniform as he scowled. His host probably had been reading another one of those bizarre books of his while he slept and it had wormed its way into their shared subconscious. After all, it was too coherent of a dream to have been one of his own. His dreams were always full of chaos and blood and fragments of his memories when he had been alive mixed in with those of his host's.
But it had been interesting, barring the indignation of being enslaved to a bratling. Unlike sitting around while his host spent time at school, watching the Pharaoh's host for any signs of his enemy. But he was patient. He would bide his time until--
"Bakura-kun!"
He turned sharply as the void around him became transparent, enabling him to see out into the real world. There was an unpleasantly familiar feeling in the air as he looked down where his host had collapsed across his school desk. What was wrong this time? He reached into his host's mind, intent on checking when the boy had last slept or ate, and froze as he found only empty space.
No... not quite empty...
There was a residual tingle in the air that reeked of a familiarity that make his lips curl back into a snarl. He recognized that magic... that smell...
It hadn't been a dream.
His fists clenched. Now that he had been freed of her enslavement, she was going after his host?! The Ring glowed brightly on his chest as he grabbed hold of the fragments of magic and wrenched the portal back open. No. He wouldn't let her have her way any longer.... There was a flash of gold as he separated off a small part of himself, setting it to guard his host's body and keep it alive before he dove into the portal, eyes hard and determined as he raced to where his host had been taken.
Her magic had been weak... wild and untamed. Her preferred fighting method had always been transforming and then physically attacking. He gave a dark chuckle as he plummeted. All her support magic had come from him. Even her teleporting, she had given him, finding it more effective to let him carry the burden for her. He closed his eyes, reaching out to tap the source of magic that had flowed through him in her world.
The Ring flashed brightly before his form dissolved into a shower of sparks, reforming on the ground. He looked around with a scowl, noticing the change of the familiar world. Months, if not years had past. Time must run differently, he reflected. Which meant his host would have been trapped as her new slave for longer then the brief moments he had collapsed. But it also meant that he didn't have to worry about his borrowed body either.
He held up the Ring, willing it to find its destined holder. After a long moment, one spine swung lazily upwards, pointing to the side. With a small nod, he let it fall to his chest before tucking it under his shirt and beginning to walk.
---
Tiara walked with the stride of someone who was very, very bored. After fighting against the Throne of Yord, the source of magic for the Guardian World... tracking down escaped shadows was a dull and very tedious assignment. She didn't even need to power up to her magical form most days, and some of the shadows Japoro could have even taken on. It was almost like nothing had changed. Only she now knew Sara wasn't coming back and Graham...
She let the thought trail off. She couldn't hate Kagetsu for it... Graham was always stubborn, wanting to do what he felt was best to protect her, not listening to anybody else. He would have killed Kagetsu if Kagetsu hadn't unsummoned him. She had been so angry with them both; Graham for disobeying her and Kagetsu for killing her partner and then running off. If she had wanted to, she could have probably gotten Graham back when she summoned a new partner. But she had wanted someone who would listen to her and obey her and be *like* Graham, but better. Easier to control. Not someone who act out on his own and have the ability to kill.
And she had gotten what she had asked for... Minus the listening to her part. In many respects, her new partner was a lot like Graham, but was cheerful, and easy to cow when she felt the need. Graham never stayed out of things when she ordered him to, always staying just out of sight, watching her like he always did, jumping into the fight to battle for her at the first hint of danger. He'd never back down. Even when she was the one he was going against, she had nearly had to kill him to get him to finally leave her alone. She'd never have to use magic to control Japoro the way she had Graham. But Japoro...
She looked down at where Japoro was trotting in front of her, sniffing the air experimentally as he tried to track down the escaped shadow. Japoro was a ferret. He was more a pet then a companion. His personality was so... mild. He'd talk back a little and could be annoying with his little seemingly fake aura of politeness, but compared to Graham... Where Graham had been intense, Japoro was laid back. They were similar, yet polar opposites. Japoro was safe. And dull.
She paused, noticing that Japoro's tail was bristling. "Did you find it?"
Japoro hesitated. "I... don't think so..." he said slowly, looking somewhat disturbed. "There's... something there, but it's different then anything else I've felt before."
"An enemy?"
"I... I don't know." Japoro hesitated a long moment, seeming distracted. "I'll put up a stasis field," he said a bit quickly, closing his eyes in concentration before scampering up to rest on Tiara's shoulder. "Be careful. It smells powerful."
The woman's lips curved into an almost dangerous smile. "Good. Then it won't be boring..." With a yell, she jumped into the air, magic trailing behind her as she flew.
"Getting closer..." Japoro bristled as he hunched against Tiara's shoulder. "Closer--- There!" He pointed to where a pale haired figure was walking idly along the streets below.
Tiara swooped down, landing gracefully on her feet before taking an authoritative stance. "Who are you?!" she demanded, pointing.
The man gave a dark chuckle. "Don't recognize me?" he asked in a voice that caused Tiara to freeze at its familiarity. "I'm not surprised, really. Last you saw me I looked... a bit different." Red-brown eyes looked up from the curtain of ice-blue hair. "You look different too, seen with two eyes instead of one."
A small shudder ran through her, but she pushed it off. "Who are you!" she demanded again, not liking the familiar tone the man used, or the riddles he spoke.
The laugh was lighter sounding this time. "I shouldn't be surprised you still don't pick up hints. You always needed everything spelled out for you." He chuckled slightly. "And the bastardized body that you bound me in for all those years is gone. You never did see past it, anyway... or rather, you never saw past the mark that made me yours." He tapped a finger to the center his forehead, eyes narrowing. "Ten years of mindless devotion, following you around and protecting you from your own mistakes. The least you could do is remember me.... Tiara-sama." He said her name mockingly, eyes wild for a brief moment.
Tiara shuddered, feeling suddenly cold. The voice was exactly... She shook her head. "Don't screw with me!" she shouted. "There's no way you could be him!"
"Shall I recite the books you read last year? Where you like to sit best? How many dates you had with Kagetsu? How long each of them lasted? How many times you cast me aside because you were angry and I was the most convenient one to blame?" His voice was cold. "Knowing nothing else but you... I won't allow you to inflict that hell on my host!"
"Host?" Tiara repeated uneasily.
The man nodded towards Japoro. "Didn't even give him a human body," he scoffed. "Partners are so much easier to control when you can fling them across the room if you so choose, aren't they, Tiara!"
Japoro bristled from her shoulder. "Don't you talk to Tiara like that!" he shouted.
"Stay out of it, Yadonushi!" the man barked, glaring. "I'm doing this to help you!"
The ferret froze, seeming almost stunned. "H--hai..." he stammered, slinking back to hide against Tiara's hair.
The woman looked at her partner in alarm before turning to glare at the man. "I don't know what you're after--" she began.
"Haven't I made it clear enough?" the man interrupted. "I want my host back," he said pointedly. "HE'S who I should have been protecting, instead of following you around! I won't let you use him as your slave!" The air billowed around him dramatically as the pendent on his chest glowed brightly. "Come forth! DIABOUND!" he shouted.
Tiara's eyes went wide as a large monster materialized behind the now cackling man. It looked... solid and unlike any other monster she had seen. And he hadn't had to awaken the symbol before he had called it...! "Japoro, get out of the way!" she said quickly before starting her chanting and gesturing. She was going to have to--
"Too slow!"
She gave a loud exclamation as the monster barreled down at her, barely managing to move out of the way in time.
"Tiara!" Japoro shouted in distress from where he had run to.
The woman grimaced, jumping up into the air and flying upwards. She needed time to transform, or at least to call a familiar!
"Not so easy when you don't have me to soften them up for you, hmm?" the man chuckled, his monster carrying him and easily pacing Tiara's speed. "I always thought it was a horrible disadvantage, having to say that mumbo jumbo bullshit before you could do a thing."
Tiara scowled at him, trying to keep her distance and concentration to activate the mark on her palm that would enable her to summon.
"You need your 'Partner'" he sneered the word, "to start everything for you. Do you send Yadonushi out to fight for you as well, even with the pathetically weak form you've given him?"
"Don't insult my partner!" Tiara shouted before quickly summoning her lance. If she couldn't invoke the contract, she could at least use this. With a yell, she swung at the monster.
It easily ducked, its master standing, arms crossed on it's shoulder. "I'm not insulting him. I'm insulting you," he corrected with a chuckle. "He's probably stronger than you are. You're just a stubborn spoiled brat who only fights for herself!"
"Shut UP!" She yelled, swinging wildly.
The monster grabbed hold of her lance, swinging her by it and flinging her back. "Do you ever stop to think where your "partner" comes from?" the man asked as his monster moved in. "Summoned from another world, reborn to be your slave and wet nurse with a new body and name, with no memories of what they used to be! Taking me from my host... and then taking him in my place...!" His eyes flashed dangerously, the pendent on his chest beginning to glow. "I won't forgive you!"
"DON'T!"
The pair froze as Japoro stood between them, looking badly shaken, but firm. "I don't know what's happened before, but I won't let you hurt Tiara!"
The man's eyes narrowed. "Stop acting as if she were Yuugi," he half snapped. "She's done nothing to warrant your devotion!"
The ferret froze, breath nearly stopping. "Yu-- Yuugi-kun...?" he repeated the name, eyes uncertain.
"Yes. Yuugi. The Pharaoh's host you fought against me to protect." The man's eyes were intense as they near bored into the animal. "Yuugi. Jounouchi. Honda. Anzu."
With each name, Japoro seemed to tense more, breath coming a bit quickly. "S--sto--"
"Monster World. Duel Monsters. Duelist Kingdom. Battle City!" the mantra of names continued, the man's voice growing more and more intense. "Even if you hate me, I won't let you rot in this place at her mercy!"
"Japoro!" Tiara cried. "Don't listen to him! Just get out of here!"
"Shut up!" the man yelled, his monster lashing out and driving her back into a building.
"Tiara!" Japoro exclaimed, eyes wide as he looked over at the cloud of dust. Slowly, he turned, eyes fearful as they met the man's. "Who--- who are you....?" he asked in a small, frightened voice.
The man gave a soft chuckle that was almost bitter. "I am the thief that waits in the Ring," he said cryptically. "Who shares your body and name."
"My... my name...?" the ferret whispered, heart pounding loudly in his ears.
The man's eyes were almost blazing in intensity. "Never forget your name, Bakura Ryou." His voice was almost soft, yet strong with a passion born from suffering.
The ferret's eyes went wide, entire body starting to tremble. A paw moved to cover his chest. But the Ring wasn't there, it was--
There was a flair of power as Tiara took advantage of the distraction to finally power up to her magical form. "I won't let you take my partner!" she yelled, diving down, staff in hand aiming for the blue haired man.
Japoro stood, eyes wide and staring at nothing as the battle raged above him. Memories he didn't recognize were starting to bubble up. Flashes of faces of friends, people turning into dolls, a card with a person's face in it, loud laughter in his ears that no one else could hear.
He made a small sound, falling to his knees, breath coming quickly as the assault continued. A boy with spiky hair, the group around him, battling against the dark master, fighting against-- against--
He clutched his left paw as there was the sharp sensation of sharp plastic ripping through the flesh of his hand as the laughter echoed again. 'How do you like THAT, Bakura Ryou!'
His head shot up, breath catching and eyes wide. That voice was...
He looked up where the pair was fighting, flashes of sparks flying off with each hit. No... no that-- it couldn't be! He took a small step back, heart pounding loudly in his ears.
He cried out in distress as Tiara slammed into the ground, her magic flicking.
The ice-blue haired man slowly descended, still perched on his monster's shoulder, the Ring shining brightly on his chest. "Prepare yourself, Tiara!" he shouted, voice tainted with mad bloodlust as his power gathered.
"I WON'T LET YOU!"
Yami Bakura's eyes went wide as a blur of white and grey streaked out, grabbing hold of the Ring and desperately tugging on it. "What are you doing?!" he shouted angrily, trying to shake the ferret off, his concentration broken.
"I won't let you kill another of my friends!" Bakura shouted, his entire body wrapped around the Ring as he tried to dislodge it.
"How the hell can you call her a friend?!" The man yelled, angrily, grabbing hold of the transformed boy. "She's a slave driver, Yadonushi! She doesn't give a shit about you past what she can use you for!"
The ferret hissed, turning to scratch angrily at the hand that had him. "She respects me more than you ever did!" he shouted, voice upset. "You killed my friends, used my body, took over my mind, broke my hand, put me in the hospital! Even if I am bound to her, I'd rather be with Tiara than you anyday!"
Yami Bakura stared, seeming almost shocked. "Wha-- I was protecting you!" he finally snapped. "That asshole pharaoh--"
"I didn't even know Yuugi-kun when you put everyone into comas!" Bakura shot back, eyes starting to water under the emotional strain of the painful memories that had returned.
"You wanted them to stay, so I made them stay!" The yami returned with a glare.
Bakura tensed. "I wanted not to be alone! I wanted to have fun with my friends, not have them be soulless husks in the hospital!"
"Then you should have been more bloody specific!"
Bakura snarled before biting into his yami's hand, sinking his teeth in deeply.
"What the hell, Yadonushi!!" The man swore, trying to pry the ferret off.
Stubbornly, Bakura held on, bitting has hard as he could. 'I won't let you drag me back to that hell again!' he thought loudly, somehow knowing the other man could hear it.
"What do you know of hell?!" Yami Bakura shoot back, expression darkening in anger. "Your cushy life where your biggest worry is whether or not you'll pass your bloody exams--"
'My biggest worry is you!' Bakura shot back, clenching his jaw tighter. 'Wondering who's body I'll wake up to find next! What memory you've destroyed this time! Wondering what you've done with my body when Yuugi-kun looks at me in worry and fear, and if my father will ever come home again or if you've already killed him and are hiding it!"
"Keh! You're better off without that bastard!" Yami Bakura scoffed, grip tightening slightly. "He left you alone far before I was aware and you know it!"
The ferret tensed in both physical and mental pain. Angrily, he scratched at his yami.
"Yuugi, ha! For all his friendship speeches, all his bull shit about saving you, when has he EVER come to your rescue, huh?! You saved HIS ass in Monster World, not the other way around! *I* saved his little entourage in that freaking maze, not him! *I* saved Yuugi from that maniac clown because YOU were worried! I may do things for my own sake, but at least I don't put on fucking airs and there like a smug bastard while everyone's distressed like he does!" The fingers of his hand reached up to hood under the collar that the ferret wore. "You can hate me all you want, but damnit, you're going to be HUMAN when you do it!" he half snarled, pulling tightly on the collar until it snapped.
"JAPORO!" Tiara screamed.
There was a swirl of multi coloured magic around the ferret, enveloping him in a shifting cloud that swirled upwards and outwards, forming into a ghostly echo of the man before him, half curled in on himself as if just being born.
"Don't go back just yet..." Yami Bakura whispered, reaching out a hand. The Ring chimed gently, its golden energy reaching out to the transparent figure.
Bakura made a small sound, arching back as the energy poured into him, condensing into an echo of the Ring his yami wore. Slowly, his feet lowered to touch the ground, form slowly solidifying, brown eyes opening to look at his yami with tired pleading. "Can't you just let me be...?" he asked softly, voice weary. "Everything's so simple here..."
"It only seems that way because you can only see the world though her eyes. I could make your world as simple as she makes it for you, but somehow I think you'd just hate me more for it." Yami Bakura's voice was almost kind and fond. "I know I haven't been the best tenant, and we've been on opposite sides more often than not, but everything I do has a purpose to it, and I never had the intention to make your life miserable. Just stay with me a little while longer? It's almost over."
Bakura looked up at his yami curiously. "I-- I don't understand.."
"You aren't suppose to," the man replied with a chuckle. "Now sleep," he soothed, placing his hand over Bakura's eyes, his arms going around his host as he went limp.
"Graham, wait--"
Yami Bakura turned to glare at Tiara. "Don't even think of trying to summon either of us again," he half hissed, voice sharp and threatening as he carefully hefted Bakura in his arms. "You're only alive now because of him..."
"Graham, wait, I--"
The white haired man ignored her, closing his eyes in concentration.
"GRAHAM!" Tiara screamed, lunging after the man as he vanished into the air. She stumbled slightly, falling to her knees.
Bakura gave a small groan, shielding his eyes against the glare of the over head lights.
"Bakura-kun!" Yuugi exclaimed. "You're awake!"
The pale haired boy turned, giving his friend a small, tired smile. "Sorry, I-- I think I fell asleep in class," he laughed with soft embarrassment, slowly sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"You gotta take better care of yerself," Jounouchi admonished, giving Bakura a good natured slap on the shoulder. "Scared the shit outta us, conking out like that!"
"Sorry, sorry," Bakura laughed, ducking his head slightly, cheeks pinked slightly with embarrassment. "I guess I've been staying up too late cramming..."
"You should let us help you," Yuugi insisted. "We can do group study together after school, right?"
"Yeah! That'd be awesome!" Jounouchi agreed, more or less in unison with Honda.
"Some how I don't think he'd get much studying done with Jounouchi needing help every five seconds, " Anzu smirked at the blond. "Maybe it should just be us three."
"Hey!"
Bakura covered a laugh, smiling as he watched his friends. This was as it should be, he reflected fondly, not quite knowing why. Maybe he had hit his head when he had fallen sleep, but he felt somewhat different then he had that morning. Better.
Yami Bakura nodded from the depths of their shared mind. His host shouldn't remember anything that had happened in the Guardian World, and if he had, it would be just as if he had been dreaming. Which was as it should be. Bakura belonged here, with his friends. If the Dark RPG was lost, his host would still have protectors around him, people to watch over him. He slowly began floating backwards, letting the scene from outside fade as he moved deeper into Bakura's subconscious.