Shadow Rising

D’Ceandre: *Laughing madly.* It lives…. Okay, so now we’re actually getting into the main plot. Finally.

Trouble: Malik and Marik’s idea. That spells trouble right from the start. I really like them.

Hime: you would.

******

“Hey, Marik. I just got a great idea.” Marik glanced at his hikari, curious.

“What, a new way to annoy the Pharaoh?” He asked.

“No.” Malik lifted a magazine he had been reading. “We should have a Halloween party.” Marik frowned. He knew what this Halloween was, Ryou had told Malik about it while he had been listening in.

“Why?” He asked. “If you want to have some fun, we can just go out to a bar or something.”

“I don’t want to go to a bar.” Malik sounded annoyed. “You always take over and we end up getting home drunk. Then I have to deal with the hangover.” Marik’s eyes narrowed as he decided he didn’t like Malik’s tone.

“Watch it, Kitten.” Malik flushed, closing his eyes and taking a deep breathe in an attempt to cool his anger. Marik might not abuse him physically as Bakura did Ryou, but he was a master at psychological torture.

Malik shuddered as he remembered the last time he had upset Marik. Marik had taken control, walked into a closet, then had had Bakura lock the closet and had left their body. Malik had been forced out, alone with his claustrophobia. He had been hysterical by the time Marik had finally let him out.

“I want to have a regular party, with my friends, without any drinks or drugs.” He said, keeping his voice quiet. Marik made a noise and Malik looked up at him.

“As long as you’re still remembering your last lesson…” Malik shuddered again and looked away, closing his eyes. “Stop that. Your unreasonable fear is a weakness. I’m doing you a favour by helping you deal with it. Anyway, you can have the party, as long as it’s not here.” Malik looked back at him. He had expected a flat out no.

“Don’t look at me that way. You’ve been behaving yourself lately, and I decided you’ve earned a reward. But not in my house.”

“All right.” Malik thought. “Maybe Ryou will have some ideas.”

“We can go see them tomorrow. The way Bakura was looking, they’re going to be busy for a while.” Malik nodded, hoping Ryou was all right.

******

“Grandpa, I’m home. Grandpa?” Yugi frowned, and looked around, not noticing the note that the breeze from the opening door had knocked to the floor. He wandered through the empty house with a frown.

:Grandpa didn’t say anything about not being here, did he, Yami?: Yugi asked. He got no answer.

:Yami?: He was starting to feel a bit nervous now. He didn’t like being alone. He had been alone for so long the night of the car crash that had taken his parents. It had been morning before anyone had come down the lonely road and heard the cries of the five year old still trapped in the car. Yugi was just lucky the car hadn’t blown up.

He was starting to feel very nervous, and sat down in his favourite armchair, pulling his legs up under him and hugging himself.

:Yugi?: Yami said, stepping out of their body.

:Yami!: Yugi yelped in relief, jumping up to hug the spirit. Though he wasn’t sure exactly how he could hug someone who technically was only a ghost. Oh well, it didn’t matter right then.

“First Grandpa was gone, and then you didn’t answer me, and I was afraid you were gone again…”

“Relax, Aibou. I’m not going to leave you. Even if we do somehow become separated, I will find you again.” Yugi felt Yami’s gentle arms pull him closer. They stood like that for a moment, then Yami let him go.

“Feeling better?” Yugi nodded. He saw the piece of paper, and picked it up.

“Oh, he just went shopping.” Yugi looked sheepish. “I guess I really overreacted.”

“There is nothing wrong with being afraid.” Yami answered. “Just don’t let your fear rule you.”

Yugi nodded.

“Now how about we go try to finish that game you bought yesterday.” Yugi grinned, his fear forgotten.

“Sure. Race you to my bedroom.”

******

When Ryou awoke, Bakura was gone. He sat up, and his mind started to cloud with fear again. He took a deep breath, forcing it away.

:Tenshi?: Well, that was a good sign. Ever since Spirit Island, Bakura’s had developed a new code of names. When he was in what Ryou referred to as a friendly mood, it was Tenshi. At any other time Bakura referred to him as ‘Hikari’, except for when he was really angry or upset, when he used Ryou’s real name.

:Yes, Yami?: Ryou answered.

:Good, you’re awake. You can come out.: The collar suddenly dropped off his neck. Ryou frowned at it. Bakura must have been in a really good mood. The collar, which had been simple steel the night before, was now made of woven silver, and the heavy steel chain was now fine silver links. It looked like it could be broken easily.

:Tenshi?:

:Coming.: Ryou floated out to assume his spirit form. He was barely formed when Bakura pulled him into the body. Ryou didn’t struggle, only settling down in the back of Bakura’s mind. Here he could see and hear everything that happened, but couldn’t affect anything.

Bakura didn’t often let him here, as it was too easy for him to try to sweep in and take control. At a wrong moment, that could seriously mess up Bakura’s plans. Usually he was just banished to the ring.’

:Oh, no. Bakura.:

:Problem?: Bakura asked, with the slightest hint of warning in his mindvoice. Ryou sighed. He shifted, still very sore, and decided not to start anything.

:No, Yami.: He answered. Apparently Bakura had decided he wanted a night out. Ryou just hoped it wouldn’t get too carried away.

******

Surprisingly, Bakura’s night out was pretty tame, for him.

They were in Bakura’s favourite strip joint when Ryou awoke. He was sure that if he had been in control, he would have looked like a beet. And just where had he gotten that fake i.d.?

But then, as usual, Bakura found a party to crash, and when it was over, another.

:It’s a good thing it’s Friday.: Ryou commented later. Bakura laughed.

:Friday night was three hours ago, Hikari.:

:Oh. Right.:

Finally they stumbled into the house just as the sky began to lighten.

And of course, Ryou was just as drunk as Bakura. The yami had made him switch with him in order to win a drinking contest. Ryou couldn’t hold his drink at all, but by the time Bakura was nearly done for, so was the competition.

Stumbling, and laughing too loudly at nothing, Bakura fell into bed.

******

The next morning Ryou was ready to kill his yami again. Or he would have been if his headache hadn’t had him pretty much confined to the floor in front of the toilet.

:Why did you have to drag me into your misery too?:

:You enjoyed yourself, didn’t you?:

:Shh, not so loud.: Ryou felt Bakura’s amusement. Mindvoices didn’t affect the headache. He was just changing the subject.

Ryou winced as someone knocked loudly on the front door. He thought about ignoring it. Bakura summoned up his shadow magic, and the headache lessened slightly. He didn’t like pain, surprising considering how much he liked to give it, and avoided it at all possible costs.

Ryou got up to answer the knock.

“Hey, Ry-“ Malik blinked in surprise as Bakura shot his hand out to silence him.

“Not another word.” He growled. Malik’s surprised expression turned to Marik’s malicious grin.

“Don’t threaten my hikari.” He warned, speaking louder then was necessary. Bakura glared at him, then turned control back over to Ryou. Marik’s grin took on an even more evil cast, and Ryou blanched and fled.

“Stop scaring him.” He snapped. A moment later, a very pale-looking Ryou reappeared. He moved away from the door, and Marik stepped in.

“You should drink some water. It helps.” Malik said. He had reappeared in his spirit form. Bakura appeared in his.

“Gee thanks.” He retorted.

:Bakura, please.: Ryou pleaded, glancing at Marik again. :You’re not helping.: Bakura sighed. His light was such a wimp sometimes. Well, most of the time, really.

They walked into the kitchen. Bakura sat down at the kitchen table, Marik leaned against the door, and Malik sat on the counter.

“Hey, Marik, want to trade hikari?” He asked, more to see Ryou’s reaction then in any seriousness.

“Sure. Malik’s not nearly as afraid of me as Ryou.” Ryou swayed slightly, and Bakura wondered if he would faint from terror.

“You really do have him terrified of you.”

“Of course.” Marik answered. “I’m not a softie like you are.”

“Softie, Hmmph.” He watched his light a moment more. “Tenshi, come sit down before you fall down.”

“I’m fine.” Ryou answered softly. The only remaining seat was the chair beside Marik.

“Sit!” Ryou shifted uncomfortably, raised pleading eyes to meet Bakura’s cold ones. He looked away.

:Don’t make me say it again, hikari.: Ryou sat down, tense. His head still pounded, though far less then it had been, and he was sure he’d freak if Marik so much as touched him.

:Try it.: Bakura threatened. He looked over at Ryou. :He’s not going to hurt you; he knows what I’d do if he did, so relax.:

“Anyway, the reason we came over is that Malik wants to have a party, and I told him he can’t have it at my place.” Ryou shivered at Marik’s voice. How could anyone make such a simple sentence sound so evil?”

“A Halloween party.” :Marik, stop it. You’re scaring him senseless and Bakura’s not going to put up with it much longer.:

:Oh, relax.: “And he wants to know if you guys have any ideas.” He clapped a hand down on Ryou’s shoulder, then jerked back with a curse. Ryou jumped and let out a quickly muffled yelp.

“That wasn’t very nice, Thief.” He said, shaking his burnt hand and glaring at Bakura.

“I don’t remember telling you you could touch him.” Bakura’s aura glowed slightly. Ryou stared at him, surprised. Marik’s eyes narrowed.

:I warned you.:

:Shut. Up.:

“What is Halloween?” Bakura directed the question at Ryou.

“It’s… a western tradition. Kids dress up and go to other people’s houses to ask for candy. Adults sometime dress up too.”

“Then you get to play tricks.” Marik put in. Malik groaned.

“And parties. Hmm, sound’s interesting. Who’s bringing the booze?” Bakura grinned, Ryou shook his head in dismay.

He even forgot who he was sitting next to, until Marik chuckled. Ryou glanced up at the yami. Marik looked back at him, his face expressionless. Somehow that scared Ryou even more then his evil smiles and cruel jokes. He had no doubts that Marik wasn’t nearly as worried about Bakura as Bakura was trying to convince Ryou he was.

After all, it hadn’t really been that long ago that both had been willing to sacrifice him for their own desires.

“Well, I was kind of hoping we could have a legal party. Without alcohol. None of us are really old enough, after all.” Malik suggested.

“You’re barely over one hangover, and you’re already looking for another?” Marik laughed. “You’re stupider then I thought.”

“Watch it, Marik.” Bakura warned. He gestured to Ryou, who was quick to rise and move to stand by him. Bakura took control of their body, and went to the fridge. Ryou looked from Bakura’s unconcerned form to Marik’s angry one. When they started arguing, it usually turned physical quickly.

“Oh, I’m scared now.”

“Why don’t Ryou and I go to the living room to brainstorm?” He and Ryou fled to the living room, just at Bakura turned, eyes blazing.

******

Okay. This and the next chapter would be one except it turned out too long. Sorry.

And those phobias will have uses later. Isn’t it nice to see that Ryou’s not the only one I’m picking on? Speaking of Ryou, there is a very good reason for his fear. That will be explained later as well.