The Not to distant future

Reviews
Dragonlady222: ^-^ glad you liked it~ I'm just glad I was able to keep the shadows identity a secret for most of the fanfic~ I've NEVER been able to do that before. And yes, Honda and Anzu will die now~ And I thought it was a good twist. I will admit the shadows WERE supposed to be the ultimate evil and supposed to die at the end. But this makes it much more fun and interesting! Anyway! Enjoy chapter 16

The not to distant future
By Yami Kitsune
Now being BetaRead by: Tavi
Chapter sixteen: Dreamless Shadow

Ryou was sitting on the floor in his room thinking over what the shadow had told him. Mainly thinking about the shadows name. Surely it was only a coincidence that the shadow had the same name that Bakura had had back in Egypt. But Ryou had a feeling that it was more then just a coincidence.

"...Is the shadow really Bakura?" Ryou asked himself frowning.

"No, I am not Bakura." Ryou looked up quickly eyes wide. He hadn't even heard the door open. Akeifa smirked at him and stepped in closing the door behind him. "I was born from Bakura, and you." Akeifa clarified.

"born from us?" Ryou asked slowly backing up.

"I was created by Bakura when he faced off against the pharaoh. And was trapped in the shadow realm when that idiot got himself sealed in the millennium ring." Akeifa growled, advancing on Ryou who let out a small yip when his back connected with the wall. The room seemed suddenly smaller now that he was cornered by the shadow. "And when that idiot came back from the Shadow realm I saw my chance and escaped. I still wasn't a whole shadow. That's where you came in. I fed off of you and became enough of a shadow to brake free." Akeifa explained putting his hands on either side of Ryou's head, pinning him completely to the wall. He smirked when he saw the silver haired boy shaking.

"Now." Akeifa's smirk widened. "Let's finish where we left off when your little yami interrupted us." Before Ryou could even make a sound Akeifa leaned down and kissed him. Ryou's eyes widened and he screamed feeling himself being forced back into his soul room. The first thing that registered was someone cursing up a storm.

"RA FUCKING DAMNIT!!" Bakura shouted as he kicked at the bars keeping him out of Ryou's soul room. He stopped when he saw Ryou appear in the middle of the room. "RA DAMNED SHADOW!! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING NOW!?" Bakura yelled beyond pissed.

"...Bakura...?" Ryou blinked and started to walk over to him but was stopped when someone grabbed him from behind.

"My, my. What do we have here?" A voice hissed in his ear and Ryou could smell alcohol on the person's breath. His eyes widened and he went deathly pale. "You've grown quite a lot little Ryou." The person said his arm snaking around Ryou's waist and pulling him closer. Ryou let out a small whimper as he started shaking.

"...uncle..."

"I bet you are a lot better now then you were when you were younger." His uncle whispered against his ear a hand slipping below the waist band of Ryou's pants.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU ASSHOLE!" Bakura yelled, pulling at the bars. Either the man hadn't heard Bakura, or he was very good at ignoring him. Bakura watched in horror as Ryou was easily lifted and dropped onto a large bed watching with wide eyes as his uncle climbed on the bed leaning over him.

"...please...stop." Ryou said, softly squeaking when he felt a large hand squeeze his member and start rubbing him. Leaning down, the man pressed his lips roughly to Ryou's. The silver haired boy too frightened to do anything. Pulling out of the kiss his uncle smiled down at him.

"You look so much like your mother." His uncle said. "It's no wonder that my brother left you with me. Afraid that he will be the one doing this to you. Pity, he doesn't know what he's missing. Either that he blames you for your mother's death." Ryou shook his head slowly.

"Daddy cares about me..."

"Then why did he leave you with me?"

"He...he had to go back to work..."

"Naive little Ryou. Is that what he told you? He can't stand to look at you, why else would he leave for months and months and not come back? He never did that when your mother was alive."

"You're wrong!" Ryou yelled. His uncle glared and backhanded him.

"Don't raise your voice to me little brat. Be grateful that I'm allowing you to live with me."

"...I'd rather die then live with you..." Ryou said, closing his eyes tightly to stop the tears.

"That could be arranged, but you are far too beautiful to kill. So let's put you to some better use." His uncle ripped off Ryou's pants. "Time for you to start earning your keep."

Bakura watched with wide eyes. Things seemed oddly familiar now. He scanned the room that Ryou was in before finding what he was looking for. Sure enough, there was a package sitting on Ryou's desk, one that his uncle had brought in. Ryou was reliving the memory that led up to him releasing Bakura from the ring. Things were making a hell of a lot more sense now. Why Ryou took all those beatings from Bakura. Why he blindly agreed to anything Bakura wanted.

Bakura's attention was pulled back to Ryou and his uncle when the silver haired boy let out a scream. Bakura saw red as he watched Ryou's uncle spread the boys legs, lifting them onto his shoulders. Ryou was struggling as best he could screaming loudly. Bakura gripped the bars that were stopping him from getting to Ryou. "Ra...please make this stop." He said softly, closing his eyes tightly as Ryou's screams echoed through the room. His screams turned to whimpers before the boy was too tired to make any noise at all.

It seemed like an eternity before his uncle decided he was through and got off the bed, pulling his pants back up. Ryou lay limp on the bed staring at the ceiling with lifeless eyes.

"By the way. Your father sent you a package. I left it on your desk." With that his uncle left the room. Ryou turned his head slowly to look at the package.

"Ryou?" Bakura said softly hoping to get his hikari's attention. But Ryou's eyes were fixed on the package, and Bakura wasn't sure Ryou had heard him.
".Ryou, I'm sorry." Bakura said. Ryou did turn to look at him this time. "After what you had gone through, I only put you through more pain."

"...Bakura..." Ryou forced himself to get off the bed and stumble over to the door. He sat on the floor unable to hold himself up and leaned against the bars. "...it was better being your slave...then living with my uncle." Bakura put his arms through the bars and wrapped them around Ryou as best he could. The next thing Ryou knew he was back in the room with Akeifa, but he was still in Bakura's arms.

Akeifa now had a full human form and was smiling down at the two of them. "Strangely enough, that was the best meal I ever had." He smirked and took the ring off from around his neck and put it around Ryou's. He then looked at Bakura who was staring at him eyes wide and mouth open.

"Hello Bakura." Akeifa smiled. "Long time no see." Before Bakura could say anything, or even THINK of something to say the door burst open and Atemu ran in.

"Akeifa! We have trouble. You know who was an idiot and tried something with Malik." Bakura stared at Atemu, at first glance he would have thought it was Yami. But this person was as dark as Malik and Marik.

"Damnit." Akeifa stood up but stopped when he felt Ryou grab his hand.

"What...what's wrong with Malik?" He asked eyes wide.

"I don't know yet. But if that ass is doing what I THINK he's doing...It could kill Malik." Bakura stood up lifting Ryou with him and glaring at Akeifa.

"What in Ra's name is going on?" He growled. Akeifa glared right back at him then turned to look at Atemu.

"Go get Yami and Yugi. We'll meet you at Malik's room." He said.

"You know, under normal circumstances I would be very offended at being given an order from someone like you. But I'll let it side for now." Atemu said.

"Oh, I'm so honored." Akeifa rolled his eyes and looked back at Ryou and Bakura. "Alright, follow me and I'll explain." Akeifa said, not wanting to waste time in getting to Malik's room. Ryou moved forward to follow but was stopped by Bakura. Akeifa sensing they weren't following him turned sharply.

"Listen you stubborn idiot! I don't give a rats ass if you trust me or not. If you want some quick answers follow me but I am NOT going to stand here and explain everything to you while that asshole is doing Ra knows what to Malik."

"I'll follow you if you answer this. Why are you worried about Malik? After what you just did to Ryou." Bakura asked still glaring death at Akeifa.

"I needed Ryou and you so I could have enough power to make a body of my own. Same with Atemu, he needed Yugi and Yami. Malik however, has already created a shadow. Malik was to be left alone. Because if he is forced to relieve any one of his memories he can easily create a second shadow. But it could very well kill him." Akeifa said. "Now if you're done wasting time MOVE YOUR ASS!" He shouted before turning and leaving the room quickly. Ryou didn't have to be told twice and quickly followed. Bakura hot on their heals.

"So who is this 'asshole' you keep talking about?" Bakura asked catching up to Akeifa.

"Someone I'm afraid you know quite well. His name is Honda. From what I can gather he found out about the shadows and purposely tried to create his own. But the shadow overtook him." He glanced over at Ryou.

"...it's Honda? HE'S the one doing all this!?"

"I'm afraid so. But you have to remember this. The Honda you knew, is gone. He has become his own shadow. So now we can't kill the shadow, without killing Honda. We can't separate them at all. It's all or nothing."

"That's fine by me. Honda was an idiot anyway. Hey! Don't hit me Ryou. It's the truth!" Bakura snapped.

Akeifa stopped in front of the room that was Malik's. They heard footsteps quickly approaching. Ryou turned and saw Yami, Yugi and Atemu hurrying down the hall.

"Yugi!" Ryou said, glad that his friend was safe. Yugi smiled slightly at Ryou hugging him. Yami watched then glanced at Akeifa and Bakura shaking his head.

"Things just keep getting weirder and weirder."

"It depends on your definition of weird." A new voice said. They all turned to see Honda standing there, Anzu standing next to him smiling she waved to Yami.

"Hi Yami!" She said happily. Yami glared back at her, wrapping his arms around Yugi and pulling him closer. Anzu's smile vanished and her hand dropped. She glared at Yugi making it very clear that she wanted nothing more then to see him dead.

"What have you done with Malik?" Akeifa asked looking at Honda.

"Watching you two gave me a very cleaver idea." Honda said, stepping over and hitting a switch next to the door. A window opened so they could look in and see Malik strapped to the table. Malik's eyes were wide open but glazed over as he screamed into a gag struggling against an unseen force that was obviously causing him a lot of pain.

"MALIK!" Yugi and Ryou said at the same time, they both went to move forward. But Yugi was stopped by Yami's arms still around him, and Ryou was stopped by Bakura. Atemu and Akeifa stepped forward glaring at Honda.

"You are making a big mistake doing this. I suggest you stop now before you kill him!" Atemu said.

"You think I care? He is the perfect person to create a army of shadows! All of them are going to be as strong as Marik. If not stronger!" Honda said, his eyes glowing. "Think of the possibilities! With an army of you shadows, I can finally have the recognition I deserve!"

"And I can finally have Yami!" Anzu said. Yami looked slightly sick at that and chose to ignore it.

"You know nothing about shadows Honda." Atemu said. "You will kill that boy, and you will not have the shadow army you are talking about. Each shadow that boy creates will be weaker then the first. That is if he even survives creating a second!"

"Then I'll just use THOSE two to create more!" Honda yelled pointing at Ryou and Yugi.

"...Atemu, why didn't you tell me this guy was such an idiot?" Akeifa asked raising an eyebrow. "And for that matter. How come you havn't killed him yet?"

"Because-"

"Because I OWN him!" Honda said smirking. "Atemu? Is that what you're calling yourself now?" Honda snorted. "Fine, whatever you want. Now come over here." Honda said thinking he would now have the upper hand. Atemu just looked highly amused.

"Go fuck yourself." He said calmly. Anzu's mouth dropped as she stared at Atemu and then looked to Honda.

"I thought you said you had him under your control?"

"I do." Honda said, but his smirk had faded. "I said come HERE!"

"And I said go fuck yourself. And in case you can't figure out what that MEANS. It means NO. I do not take orders from you any more." Atemu said, grinning at the look of shock and furry that crossed Honda's face.

"You're not ALLOWED to disobey me!"

"Are you really that stupid?" Atemu sighed shaking his head. "As long as I was a lesser shadow, meaning, as long as I didn't have a body of my own, THEN I was under your control. But you gave me permeation to do what I wanted with the millennium items. So I did, I fed until I had enough power to create my own body. Therefore making me...well, I wouldn't call you my equal. I am surely smarter then you are. But you should get the picture."

Honda screamed and held up his hand which started glowing brightly. "Fine then! I'll just send you back to the shadow realm where I found you!"

Atemu and Akeifa held up their hands as well, followed by Bakura and Yami. "I don't think so." Atemu said as their hands started glowing as well.

"This world has enough idiots. I doubt they'll miss one." Honda growled and the shadow magic burst out from his hand colliding with the shadow magic coming from Akeifa, Atemu, Yami and Bakura. It was practically over before it even began. A scream was heard from Anzu before she too vanished into the shadows. And then, all was quiet.

Ryou and Yugi looked at each other then at the spots where Anzu and Honda had been standing a moment before. Deciding it was safe now the two of them moved past the other four and went into the room where Malik was still tied down. His shirt had been ripped off and the scars on his back looked like they were slowly being carved into his back for a second time. There was no blood but they looked like they had been rubbed raw.

Atemu and Akeifa came into the room quickly. Atemu moved around to the other side of the table and stopped. "oh Ra..." He said softly. "Akeifa! Give me the Rod." He said, staring at something that was on the floor. Akeifa frowned and handed Atemu the millennium Rod, also moving around the table to see what Atemu was staring at then growled. "If he wasn't in the shadow realm already I'd slice him in two..."

"What is going on?" Yami asked as he and Bakura came in along with their hikari's. Malik's body suddenly went limp on the table and there was a bright light coming from the floor. Akeifa knelt down while Atemu untied Malik and checked to see if he was alright. Ryou watched before looking over the table to see what Akeifa was doing. He saw something laying on the floor, something that had hair like Malik's. Before he could ask what it was there was another flash from the millennium Rod and Marik was suddenly standing in the room with them. He didn't seem to notice anyone but Atemu, who was the one slowly turning Malik over onto his back.

"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" Marik shouted swinging a fist at Atemu and taking Malik from him. Marik looked down at him and removed the gag. "Malik? Malik open your eyes." Malik didn't move, and it looked like he wasn't breathing at all. "Ra please!" Marik begged, holding his hikari close.

"He'll be alright." Akeifa said, standing up holding what looked like a small dark skinned boy in his arms. Marik blinked, looking at him then looked at the boy he was holding and seemed to relax a bit. "It's weak. He didn't use a lot of energy to create it." Marik said then looked back at Akeifa then glanced at Atemu. Looking behind him he saw Yami and Bakura standing there. Ryou and Yugi moved closer to see for themselves how Malik was.

“Why do I get the feeling I missed something?” Marik asked.

"You're not the only one." Bakura said smirking. Malik shifted on the table making Marik turn his attention back to him. Violet eyes slowly opened and he looked up at Marik.

"...hi..." Malik said softly, but was smiling. Marik smiled back.

"Hi."

"Is it over?"

"It's over." Atemu said. "We sent the ones responsible to the shadow realm. They won't be bothering you again." Malik nodded and then looked over at Akeifa, then at the boy he was holding. Sitting up more, Malik winced at the sore muscles in his back. But never took his eyes off the boy. Everyone seemed to be watching the body that Akeifa was holding. Akeifa shifted him a little so everyone could see him better. Ryou giggled softly when he saw that the boy had both hands wrapped tightly around the Millennium Rod holding it close.

"Is...is he?" Malik asked.

"He's alright. You're a lot stronger then I gave you credit for. You survived creating another shadow. And the shadow instead of being full grown and weak, is a child. Very clever." Akeifa said. The boy in his arms stirred slightly his eyes opening and winced at the bright light in the room. Akeifa slowly set the boy down on his feet making sure he didn't fall over. Malik frowned when he saw the boy didn't have any clothes on. He looked around and found Ryou holding out his sweater for him.

"He needs it more." Ryou smiled. Malik smiled back and took it, sliding off the table he knelt in front of the boy who blinked at him.

"Hi." The boy said smiling. Malik smiled back at him and slipped the sweater over his head.

"Hi." He replied. "you ready to go home?" Malik asked making the boy blink. "With me." Malik clarified. The boy looked back at Atemu and Akeifa who just shrugged.

"It's up to you kid." Akeifa said.

"Don't call me kid." The boy pouted.

"Well, you havn't told us your name yet. So what are we supposed to call you?" Atemu pointed out.

"Call me Namu." He said then looked back at Malik and smiled. "Alright, let's go home." Malik stood back up, smiling down at the boy who was literally a younger version of himself.

"Like I said, things just keep getting weirder and weirder." Yami said again. Yugi looked back at him frowning lightly and Yami saw a worried look in his eyes. "What's wrong Aibou?"

"Now that...now that things are over, does that mean you have to leave again?" He asked. This question brought silence to the room. Ryou looked at Bakura silently asking the same question. Malik avoided looking at Marik, but was also wondering the same thing. Yami smiled and stepped closer to Yugi putting a finger under his chin lifting his head slightly leaning down he pressed his lips to Yugi's.

Bakura shook his head. "I hope he knows that doesn't exactly answer the question."

"Then why don't you answer it?" Ryou asked looking at Bakura who smiled at him and shook his head.

"No hikari. We're not leaving. The Gods are giving us a second chance. But!" he held up his hand when Ryou opened his mouth to ask another question. "We won't answer any questions here." He looked over at Atemu and Akeifa. "You." He pointed to Akeifa. "You can come back with us." He looked at Atemu.

"I don't care what you do."

"What I do is up to Yami and Yugi. If they do not wish I stay with them, I'll stay somewhere else." Atemu said looking over at Yami and Yugi. Yami had broken the kiss leaving Yugi flushed and slightly dazed.

"I guess...that means you're staying?" Yugi asked smiling a little. Yami chuckled and nodded. Looking over at Atemu. "You are welcome to come back with us as well." And with that the group of nine left the building. Namu riding on Marik's shoulders the whole way out.

TBC>>>

What's this? Another to be continued? ^-^ Yep! One more chapter people! And then that'll be the end of this fic. *sniff* such a lovely fic, I'm kinda sad that it's ending. But all good things must come to an end at some point. Anyway! Let me know what you think! Ja ne for now!