Tearing Pieces from the Dark

See part one for details.

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Yami opened his eyes groggily to the sound of a low groan of pain. Mumbling he attempted to move to find all of his muscles stiff and aching. He looked around in confusion momentarily unaware of where he was or how he had gotten here. With a blink it all came crashing back to him. "Aibou!?" He jumped startled as fear for his hikari's welfare came over him.

"Yami?" The soft voice asked from his side weakly. The Pharaoh glance down to see his hakari right as he had last seen him…except for the albino head on his lap. Yami blinked and stared, his eyes travelling down to see that the head was attached to the rest of Ryou. Who was unconscious and looking to be in no better condition and just as naked as his own aibou.

"Aibou…how did…when did Ryou?" Yami stuttered.

Yugi looked up to him with his large innocent eyes, though Yami noted with anger that one was swollen near shut. "I woke up a couple of minutes ago…he in hin here with me, I brought him over…he doesn't look good other OtheOther Bakura doesn't look well either." The large eyes gazed in wonder and concern over the Pharaoh's shoulder.

Yami blinked and his shoulders stiffened. Slowly he turned to see that he was now locked in a cage that was joined with his aibou's. A wall of bars was satinating the two confinements. His crimson eyes scanned the rows of metal and came to rest at the far side of his enclosure where a muscular form lay sprawled in unconsciousness. Unruly white hair projected in all directions obscuring the face. He was clad in an Egyptian style white linen kilt, a long sleeved robe and adorned with bangles of gold on his arms and legs. The Pharaoh's eyes narrowed as he snaked his arm tightly around his aibou and his eyes went dark. "Tomb Robber," he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Is he…ok?" Yugi's small voice asked as he hugged the devastated body of Ryou to him.

Yami glared spitefully at the body of yami Bakura sprawled on the cage floor. "Aibou, considering how my luck is running, I would say he is fine."

Yugi frowned slightly at that and was aboo coo comment when a groan from the white haired yami captured his attention. Bakura was twitching slightly as his body came back to consciousness. The two tri-coloured haired youths watched as the tomb robber raised himself to his hands and knees, his hair hanging over his facial features and broad shoulders as he made pained complaints. "What the…?" Bakura mumbled looking down his body and reaching up a hand to touch his matured and defined abdominal muscles. "My…body…? But…wha?" He looked up, brown eyes foggy until they spotted the Pharaoh sitting across from him. Instantly his expression darkened accusingly. "You. What have youe toe to me? Where am I?" His hand went to his bare, muscular chest and his eyes widened. "What have you done with the ring Pharaoh?!"

"I've done nothing Bakura. If you hadn't noticed I'm without the puzzle and in the same circumstance you are.'ve 've been given our bodies back and the items were stolen." Yami could feel his headache returning.

Bakura leaned back to sit on his knees, his hands touching his own skin in wonder for a moment before falling limply to his sides with a smirk. "Then I'll just have to steal them back now won't I?" He rubbed his hands briskly together. "Well now, I'm free from my host and back into my own form to do whatever I wish! And the millennium items are within my grasp! And the Pharaoh has a body that I can beat to a pulp, I'd say this is the best day of my life!"

A small gasp from behind Yami alerted Bakura to the presence of others. "Don't you dare hurt other me!"

Bakura leered as he leaned to the side and craned his neck to peer around the Pharaoh, "your little friend is here t-" His brown eyes widened and his mouth hung open. "What happened to them?!"

Yami's hand gently rubbed the soft skin of Yugi's side that was below it, cringing at the feel of dried blood and the sharp definition of his ribs. "We happened to the Bakura. Look at them, we were torn out of them and they were used to give us form. It's why they're so weak and thin."

Dark brown eyes gazed around Yami as Bakura remained silent a moment. Emotions flicked over his features like a dying fluorescent light. "This is all your fault Pharaoh!" He bellowed accusingly.

"Mine?" Yami's eyes flashed. "What did I do to cause this?" He released Yugi and gestured to the hikaris and to both Bakura and he.

"Obviously you did something that pissed off the wrong person!"

"What?! How can you say that?"

"Easily. Your arrogant, self-centered, holier than thou, know-it-all attitude, destroying people's lives. Coming in and screwing things up for no reason but furthering your own power! Then having the nerve to drag us all down with you when you get caught!" Bakura's eyes were violet with rage as he worked himself up.

"I've done nothing but to serve justice on those deserving."

"What gives you the right to decide what is just and who is deserving?"

"Fate does, I was given that responsibility as Pharaoh."

"Guys?" A small voice said urgently. The two yamis were on their feet, nose to nose and unheeding of anything around them.

"Pharaoh of a dead kingdom, you're no more powerful than me, and less powerful then…them." Bakura gestured to the two youths.

"You? A thief? The only thing you Bakura are full of is yourself and shit. How dare you preach me on selfishness and arrogance. You steal from others for the thrill, do you care about anyone other than yourself and your thrills Bakura? As for them…they could be more powerful than me. They are the greatest treasures in all the world."

"I'm just as powerful as you! I'm the King of Bandits! I deserve all that I take because everything I had was taken from me by your justice Pharaoh!" Bakura spat bitterly. "So I will have my own justice and model it after yours. Take what I want and have it my way and shatter those in the way. I don't need to care about anyone. I don't need anything but myself and my own justice."

"Guys! Please!"

"Not now Yugi, what the hell are you babbling about Bakura? I never did anything to spite you. While you've done everything to hurt me. For what reason you get your jollies out of a challenge that destroys lives of people I don't know. You treat everyone like garbage and have no respect for their feelings or things. You can't even care for the treasure you steal!"

"Your father killed my town! He destroyed my innocence and everything I could have been! Why should I show respect and care when no mercy was ever given me?"

"He never knew, he never told them to ificifice those people! It wasn't his fault Bakura, Seto's father was the one who justified and ordered the deed." Yami hissed.

"Guys!"

"Shut up twerp, it doesn't matter that he didn't order it! He was Pharaoh! He should have known and dealt justice!"

"You just said we weren't good enough for that!"

"I said you aren't! Because it wasn't done when it really counted! What gives you the right to choose?"

"God! What gives you the right Bakura?"

"Vengeance is the name of God! And that's my right!"

"You already had your vengeance against my father, you desecrated his grave!" tears fell from Yami's eyes.

"It's not enough." Bakura twitched.

"Is it ever enough with you Bakura?"

"No, it's not! Because it was all taken away!"

"It's over Bakura, why are you hanging on to death?"

"Guys! Yami! Please!"

"Because it's all I have." Bakura whispered. "Why are you hanging onto God?"

"Because it's what I am."

"HE'S NOT BREATHING!" Yugi screamed panic stricken.

Both Yamis turned as one towards the frightened hikari. "What?!" they cried in unison.

"He stopped breathing! I don't know what to do! Yami make him better! Please! Help him!" Yugi pleaded desperately as he clung to Ryou's still form.

Bakura grabbed the Pharaoh's arm in a death grip. "FIX HIM!" he shrieked.

"Why do you want me to fix him? I thought you just said you didn't give a damn and were happy he was gone?" Yami demanded as Bakura slammed him face first into the bars.

"Because you're the all-powerful fucking pharaoh! And I do care…about him!"

"How can you say that? You treat him like crap, you don't even talk to him!"

"Don't you see? I ignore him because I care! I don't want to taint him with me! I don't want to loose him too!" Tears were glittering in the brown eyes of the tomb robber and he screamed. "Do something!"

"Stop arguing, Yami, Bakura save him!" Yugi cried out as his slim arms clung to the pale body propped against him.

"Well, if Bakura would release me…"Yami mutters from where his face was smushed against the bars under Bakura's anxious hold.

The tomb robber jumped back and then instantly took up a hovering position over the Pharaoh's shoulder and breathed on his neck as Yami knelt down and reached through the bars. Gently he took Ryou's hot face between his hands and closed his crimson eyes in focus. Reaching into his own abilities and utilizing the power of the millennium puzzle he began to channel the destructive shadow powers into repairing the damage done to Ryou's frail body. The millennium's ability was to unite. It could heal and connect when used properly; it was the keystone of the items. The Ring that trapped Bakura's spirit was a compass and a guide. Though it held great powers of its own, it could not heal others as the puzzle could.

Yami was anxious as he tapped into the puzzle to perform the healing. Normally this would be fairly simple but with Apophis sharing the link it could be potentially dangerous to Ryou's soul.

A dark chuckle sounded in his mind and a voice purred through their link. //Go ahead and heal the runt…it will allow us more fun…later.//

Yami's jaw clenched as he brought forth the power of the puzzle and began to heal Ryou. //You will leave the little ones alone.// The eye on the Pharaoh's brow opened in light and an aura of soft glowing shadow flowed from his hands to surround and permeate the still form of Ryou. Slowly skin grew over the burn marks over his chest and the blood and bruises vanished. Abru his his chest filled with air along with the telltale gasp. As he exhaled the power flowing from Yami ceased and the Pharaoh crumpled back wearily.

Bright green eyes flew open with a whimper of shock. Ryou jumped up startled, his hands running over his chest, his eyes darting around the cage in fright. Not understanding what was going on having awoken in a strange place. Bakura whooped in glee and danced around his cage after slapping Yami on the shoulder.

The Pharaoh crawled back to a kneeling position and reached out his arms to cradle his wounded aibou's tender face gently between his palms. "You too little light, before he changes his mind."

"Are you sure Yami? You look tired." Yugi's large eyes studied his Yami in concern.

The Pharaoh smirked slightly and nodded. "I'll be fine Aibou, better if you let me heal you."

"Ok," Yugi whispered and placed his hands over Yami's against his face. The Pharaoh's mile turned soft as he once again reached into the puzzle and began channeling and converting the shadow energies to heal his little light. The glowing shadow enveloped the little light and began to seep inside mending the internal damage.

Yugi sighed with relief and the pain that had shadowed his innocent eyes began to seep away. "It tickles and itches." He laughed squirming a bit as the magic worked its way to his skin causing the purple marks and swelling to ease and vanish into renewed alabaster perfection. Yami smiled weakly as his hands slipped from his hikari and his weight collapsed against the bars.

"Yami?" Yugi pressed up close to the enclosure and wrapped his small arms tightly arouhe Phe Pharaoh.

"Just tired Aibou." A tanned hand reached up to caress the ivory cheek fondly.

Beside them on Yugi's side of the enclosure Ryou was standing there staring from Yami to hikari in complete shock. "Y-yugi...how...but…how?" his face turned and if possible his eyes got even larger as he watched the tomb robber practically doing cartwheels. "Bakura?" he squeaked in wonder. Looking down he realized how naked he was. His hands going down to cover himself, as he blushed fuchsia and yelped sitting down and curling into a ball.

Bakura pranced over to the adjoining bars and beamed maniacally at his hikari, "you're alive! That Pharaoh is good for something after all!"

Ryou stared up at his Yami, "you're happy I'm alive?" he whispered.

Bakura paused, as he seemed to gather himself. The moody, shifty-eyed demeanor returned instantly. And he stepped back from the bars and folded his arms against his chest pulling his shields about himself. "Yeah, just because I don't want you dead doesn't man anything. Consider us even now." He sneered, then turned and glared at the Pharaoh. "See? I can manipulate your stupid ass! I win! HA!"

Ryou lowered his head and the disappointment and his hair covered hurt on his face. Yugi stared at Bakura and clenched his fists in anger. "Why you…just two minutes ago you were saying you cared about Ryou and the only reason you pushed him aside was so -" Yugi yelped and leaped away from the bars as Bakura lunged at him.

"SHUT UP!" He screeched. Ryou looked up and stared at Yugi and then at Bakura.

Yami lunged up and knocked Bakura away from the bars and his aibou. "You lie and steal from yourself thief. I would say you are the stupid and deceived one." The Pharaoh closed his crimson eyes tiredly and slumped against the bars. Sinking back down to sit on the floor.

"Well, you would, you tend to talk a lot." Bakura paced over to the far side of the cage and sat across from the other yami. Glancing up sharply after a few minutes of silence he snapped. "And why would you say that, exactly?"

"Because…you…the self entitled 'King of Bandits' can't even steal the greatest treasure in all the world." Yami snickered to himself. "When it's under your very nose."

Bakura puffed himself up in indignation. "I can steal anything! Anything I tell you. I am the best."

Yami laughed loudly truly amused. "The most precious and priceless gem in all of the world, sought after by many for its purity so that they might possess it as their own, and given only to someone who can appreciate and wields the power to keep it from those unworthy to touch it. You Bakura, throw it about. I'm amazed someone hasn't stolen it from you yet."

The tomb robber's pride was now awakened full throttle as he growled at the Pharaoh. "No one steals from the King of Thieves."

Yami smirked. "Apophis did."

Bakura clenched his fist angrily. "He'll suffer for it. And I'll be sure to take back ample compensation for it."

Yami shrugged his shoulders. "He still stole our items Bakura. And you're right we can get them back. But if he stole that gem…it could never be replaced or reclaimed in its full glory."

Bakura was staring at him oddly. "Who owns it?"

Yami smiled. "It belongs to know one yet Bakura, it has yet to be claimed."

"Oh? Well, As King of Bandits I deserve only the best treasures and I own all the best ones and will claim this as my own!"

Yami shook his head. "You've been too blind to do so in the past Bakura, you don't have the integrity to have something so rare, and now that it's in the open I believe I as Pharaoh should have this rare gem as my own."

"What?!" Bakura fumed as he frantically tried to think of what the hell it was Yami was talking about. Was he wearing it? How could he be so blind!

Yami reached out a hand behind him through to the hikaris enclosure and touched Ryou's face gently. Never taking his eyes off the tomb robber. "Bakura, the greatest treasure in the world is light. Embodied within the souls of our others…there can be no dark without light to stand beside it Bakura. No life to feed the dark without the light to grow it. The hikari are the most priceless and cherished treasure in the world. The are ours to care for. Yet you abuse and ignore yours, and I highly doubt you've thought of the consequences of how it will effect the balance and your own self if your light is stolen. Perhaps since we have a moment, you might like to do that." Yami removed his hand from Ryou.

Yugi and Ryou were starring at their yamis as though they had never seen them before.

The Tomb Robber starred at Ryou's gentle, innocent face as the Pharaoh's words echoed in his ears. He curled his knees to his chest in a defensive gesture. He fell into silence born of intense thought.

After a time of silence the two hikaris were now seated side by side as Yugi's light voice whispered to Ryou, trying to tell him about Apophis and what he'd done and how they had ended up separate from their yamis and without the millennium items.

Ryou was listening intently, though he couldn't help but feel the brown eyes locked on him from across the enclosures. But, every time he glanced over the eyes vanished behind white hair and shadow.

"I was in bed, asleep, the men broke into my bedroom and before I could wake up properly all I felt was pain." Ryou murmured to Yugi with a shiver. The smaller of the youths hugged the albino in an effort to be comforting and nodded. "How powerful can this guy be? Where did he come from?"

"I don't know." Yugi said softly.

Watching Bakura mull over the thoughts he had given him in silence and listening to the soothing banter of Yugi's voice Yami let the waves of exhaustion drown him. Laying down on the floor he turned his face to the side and cringed, "Bakura…please close your legs, I can see straight up your kilt."

Bakura's eyes flickered and he smirked from where he sat, spreading his legs wider. "There's the 8th wonder of the world. Enjoying the view?"

Yami groaned and tossed his arm over his eyes in disgust. "You're frightening the hikaris with that, put it away."

Both Yugi and Ryou were trying hard not to look but were failing and blushing in embarrassment. Ryou's bright green eyes expanded as he caught a full view of his other's manhood. He gasped. "It's huge!" Instantly he turned crimson and hid his face.

Yugi was pink and too embarrassed to speak.

Bakura burst out laughing. "What is it Yugi? Is my…obelisk more impressive than the Pharaoh's?"

Yugi's innocent eyes blinked, "oh no, you're not as big as…" he placed a hand over his mouth. "I mean, Yami's really big compared to…I mean I don't know!…I never …er…I…eep." He covered his face.

Bakura gaped. "What do you mean I'm not?!"

The Pharaoh cracked open an eye curiously, "aibou? When have you looked at me to make that judgment?"

"You're the most impressive I have ever seen." Ryou whispered barely audile.

Bakura was glowering on his side of the cage. "Probably because you always cram yourself into those pants…" he gave his hikari an almost soft look before turning back to the matter at hand.

"Don't mock my fashion sense tomb robber until you take a look at your own. I meant, to whom else were you comparing my size to?" his eyes narrowed.

Yugi's face remained burred in his hands. "Joey's -"

"Wheeler?!" shrieked Yami as he rolled over onto his side, his eyes glowing viscously.

Ryou looked surprised, "Joey? Wow…I would have thought it to be Seto…"

"Seto?!" Yami turned to Ryou seething in rage.

"No! I didn't mean that I…oh!" Yugi whimpered.

Ryou jumped back frightened, "yeah, he's always watching Yugi like he wants to devour him and anytime he bends over Seto practically pounces him…"

Yugi looked at Ryou utterly astounded, "he does?"

Ryou nodded.

"But…he's always after Joey…" Yugi mumbled in confusion.

Ryou blinked. "They fight like cats and dogs!"

"Yeah but…Joey...er…likes to fight…like you told me Malik does." Yugi nodded.

"Yugi." Yami said darkly. "When did you have sex with Wheeler."

"Wait one second…what do you mean 'like you told me Malik does?'" Bakura demanded glaring suspiciously at his hikari.

"Never!" Yugi practically screamed. "He's my best friend! I never touched him!"

"Well…er…" Ryou looked at his feet uncomfortably.

"Then what did you mean before?!" Yami demanded.

"Ryou!" Bakura shouted.

"His videos! He makes me watch porn!" Yugi was nearly in tears.

"I…it was juste…wee…we were alone in the bathroom and he threw me against the stall and licked my ear and touched me…but Yugi walked in and we stopped right away! Nothing happened again! I swear!" Ryou whimpered.

"Yugi, have you ever had sex?" demanded Yami.

"WHAT?! I'M GOING TO KILL THAT FUCKING BASTARD!" Bakura screamed and wrenched at the bars. "How dare he even think of touching MY hikari!"

Ryou was in tears. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for anything to happen!"

"No, I'm a…a…I'm a virgin." Yugi started to cry.

Bakura skittered over to the side of the cage and reached out and petted Ryou's hair possessively. "It's not your fault Ryou. I swear to Ra I'm going to kill that Egyptian." His teeth were clenched and his eyes were violent violet.

Yami looked confused as he reached into the adjoining cage and took his upset hikari gently into his arms. "Why are you upset Aibou? There's nothing wrong with being a virgin."

Yugi sniffled loudly and clung to his Yami. "Be-be-because Tea said you hated virgins and only liked a - a- a partner with…ex-experience."

Ryou slipped his thin long arms through the bars and wrapped them around Bakura. "I'm sorry! Please, don't hurt him! It was nothing!"

"What?!" Yami was utterly baffled as he stroked his little light's bare back. "Why the hell would Tea say that? And why would you believe that without asking me?"

"Be-because, she slept with you and you love her and she loves you." Yugi cried against his Yami. "You just put up with me because you had to, now you can be free…and go and be with h"
"

"Uh huh," Bakura said vaguely as he pet his hikari and planned all the glorious ways he was going to kill Malik for daring to touch HIS treasure.

Yami was wearing a look akin to being approached in the crowded street as he walked by a complete stranger and being slapped in the face by a stunned halibut. "Yugi, who told you all this?"

"Bakura, please, promise me you won't hurt him." Ryou pleaded from where he was seated wrapped around his standing yamis waist.

"Tea." Yugi continued to cry thinking that this might be the last time he held his beloved Yami. Surely now that he knew Yugi knew he would stop the charade.

Bakura continued to pet Ryou's hair, rather liking their positions as he continued in his glorious mental blood bath. "hmm."

Yami clenched his eyes closed and hugged his aibou. "Yugi, Tea lied to you…I never slept with her in any form. Nor do I wish to. I've been kind to her because she is your friend and a decent person. I don't return her feelings of affection and I've always thought it cruel how she would encourage you…so that she could speak with me. She not a bad girl…but…Yugi, she's not my type."

Ryou gave up and simply pressed his forehead against Bakura's stomach as he fought with worry for his friend.

Yugi's tear glittering eyes gazed up at his Yami. "Really? You…don't love her?"

"Really, I don't love her, my sweet aibou." Yami smiled down and gently used his thumb to wipe away Yugi's tears.

Bakura shrieked and clutched at his head as he crumpled to the floor in agony.

"Bakura!" Ryou cried out reaching desperately for his yami.

Yugi turned startled at the sudden assault, "Wha- Yami!" he cried out in fear as the pharaoh too lurched away shouting in pain and clutching at his head.

In the darkness around the cages there was the stirrings of movement.

"It's later," Apophis leered as the door to the hikaris' enclosure was swung open.


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*huggles sansi for her continued support in reviews*

Hearing Yami talk about the hikaris as a treasure to Bakura has, of course, spurred my muses into another story idea…oy. Back to ancient Egypt my muses do wander…