Shadow Rising

D’Ceandre: Here we go. Time for the party, finally.

Demi: Yeah, party. *He grabs a party hat and noisemaker.*

Trouble: Remind me again why we keep him around.

******

“Has anybody seen Ryou?” Jounouchi asked, the next day in homeroom.

“No.” Anzu said thoughtfully. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Malik either.”

“I hope Bakura and Marik aren’t hurting them.” Yugi worried.

“If those two are up to their old tricks again…” Yami commented, from where he sat on Yugi’s desk.

“Hey guys.” Honda came up, gasping. “I barely made it. Stopped to talk to Malik.”

“Is he here?” Anzu asked.

“No. He was on his way over to Ryou’s. Said he was supposed to help with some treat Bakura had planned.”

“Well…” Yugi frowned. “If Malik’s in on it, it can’t be anything bad. Malik and Ryou are best friends, after all.”

Just then the teacher called the class to order, and there was no more time to talk about it. Yugi glanced at the clock, deciding he was going to get a hold of Ryou at the first chance.

******

Ryou opened his eyes and looked around, confused. He sat in the kitchen, tied to a chair. Folded cloths had been wrapped around his wrists, to protect them from the ropes that held them to the arms of the chair.

“Bakura?” Bakura had his back to him, frowning at something in a box Marik held. Malik was once again perched on the counter in spirit form, looking over his yami’s shoulder.

“Hey, Ryou. You’re awake.” Malik smiled. Bakura looked over his shoulder, then returned to the box.

“What’s going on?” Ryou asked. He tugged his wrist, felt the cloth slip.

“Stop that.” Bakura said, without turning again. “What about those ones?” Malik frowned.

“Too heavy. You have to wait for them to heal before you can get to those.”

“For what to heal?” Ryou was feeling more then a little nervous.

“Relax.” Malik told him. “It only hurts for a second.”

Ryou tried to calm down. He reminded himself that Malik probably wouldn’t be in on anything that was really dangerous to him. But then again, Malik had odd ideas about what was dangerous.

“Those will do.” Bakura said, and stepped back. Marik lifted a small pair of gold cross drop earrings out of the box. “We won’t have to replace them for the party.”

“T-those are clip-ons, right?” Three amused faces looked at him.

“Relax, Tenshi.” Bakura sighed. “Marik’s done this lots of times.”

“Marik?” Ryou squeaked.

“Just don’t jerk.” Marik warned, setting the earrings down on the table by Ryou. A small bag of ice (the frozen kind) and a needle already lay there, along with another cloth.

“Bakura!” Ryou pulled against the ropes again, hoping they would give way so he could put some space between him and Marik. They held.

“Maybe we should just get him drunk first.” Marik suggested. Ryou turned his head, trying to keep an eye on the sandy-haired Egyptian.

“The party’s tonight.” Bakura reminded him. “Pharaoh’d have a fit if I brought him half passed-out, or worse, hung over.”

“Hmm, good point.” Marik straightened Ryou’s head out, so that he was facing Bakura and Malik again, and he let out a small whimper. Bakura had his arms crossed, watching with a half-frown, and Malik was smiling at Ryou, trying to encourage him.

Ryou’s gaze returned to Bakura. The spirit was staring straight at him, and Ryou became so entranced that he didn’t even notice that his ear was suddenly cold. He yelped when he felt a sharp sting and pulled his head away from Marik’s grasp.

“There. That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Marik asked, letting him go. Ryou shook his head. He could feel the needle still in there. His movement had pulled it out of Marik’s hand. Marik picked up one of the earrings and pulled the needle out, replacing it with the earring.

“Half done.” He said conversationally. Ryou grimaced at the heavy feel of the new earring.

“Tenshi, look at me.” Bakura said. Ryou ignored him, instead watching Marik out of the corner of his eye again.

“Ryou!” Bakura snapped, and Ryou jumped, his eyes flying to his yami’s. Again that oddly absorbing stare, and Ryou was sucked in until another flash of pain awoke him again. Marik put the other earring in, then stepped back, tilting Ryou’s head to study his work.

“Perfect.” He said, then tugged on the knot that held Ryou’s left wrist. It came off easily, as did the rest of his bonds.

Ryou bolted up and backed off. He lifted a hand to touch the metal that now hung from his ear and felt suddenly weak.

“Marik, catch him!’ Bakura warned, as Ryou passed out.

******

“I’ve never had that happen before.” Ryou heard Marik’s voice say.

“He’s coming around.” Bakura replied. Ryou opened his eyes and blinked at his dark, wondering why he was laying on the couch, Bakura sitting on the arm. Then he remembered, and his hand flew to his ear with a squeak.

“Leave them alone, Hikari.” Bakura warned. Ryou reluctantly lowered his hand.

“And try not to pass out again.” Malik suggested. “It’s not a bad thing. People have been wearing earrings since long before even Egypt. Just don’t get them infected.”

“But I don’t want…” Ryou began to protest.

“They look good on you.” Marik said, from his place in Bakura’s chair, and Bakura nodded. “ I still think…” The Egyptian began, but Bakura’s glare silenced him.

“You can try your little oddities out on your own hikari, not mine.” Malik snorted.

“Not too damn likely.” He answered.

Bakura gestured for Ryou to get up. “Go get dressed. And those had better still be there when you come back down.” Ryou trudged up the stairs unhappily.

“And we should be getting our own costumes together, right Kitten?”

“No!” He snapped.

“I’m sure Bakura has a comfortable closet you can consider the idea in.” Marik warned. Bakura nodded.

“A nice little cozy one.” He offered with a smirk. Malik groaned.

“Fine!” He snapped, and followed Marik. “I’m never going to live this down.”

******

“Do it properly, Sagira.” Yami warned. “None of your fancy little editing.”

Yugi tried not to tense at that, as he wondered exactly what Sagira was doing to his face. Of course, with his eyes closed, as Yami had commanded, he could only hope it wasn’t looking too odd.

They had just come home from school, Yami having requested Sagira’s help in getting Yugi ready. Now he sat nervously while Sagira worked with the make-up Yami had bought.

“Hmm.” Sagira took his chin in her hand, shifting his head back and forth.

“That line’s a little longer.” Yami put in.

“Got it. And there.” One last sweep with the pencil, and Sagira stepped back.

“You can look now, Aibou.” Yugi opened his eyes, looked in the hand mirror Sagira handed him and gasped. His eyes were outlined with dark pencil, and gold-hued powder had been dusted over his face, giving him a slightly more bronzed tone. No one would ever mistake him for a real Egyptian, but…

“I look even more like you.” He told Yami. The spirit smiled.

“That was the idea.” He turned to Anzu, who had reclaimed control of her body. “I assume you don’t need any help with your costumes?” He asked. Anzu shook her head.

“We’re fine. See you tonight.” And she hurried from the room. Yami looked back at Yugi, who had resumed studying his face in the mirror.

“Ready for the rest of your outfit?

******

“Honda, if there is so much as a hair out of place on her head…”

“Relax, Jou.” Honda tossed his arm around Shizuka’s shoulder. ‘She’ll be as safe as a babe in it’s mother’s arms.” Jounouchi still looked wary, but didn’t protest when Honda led Shizuka from the house.

Only a few moments later, one of Kaiba’s limo’s pulled up. Mokuba stuck his head out and waved, smiling widely.

“You’re in your costume already?” Mokuba wore a black suit, with a long black cape over it. His smile sported four long fangs, and powder had been applied to give him an extremely pale look.

“Those even look real.” Jounouchi mentioned, gesturing at the fangs as he climbed in. Kaiba had still refused to come to the party, even though it was at his house, and Mokuba had chosen Jounouchi to be his partner. Then he had told Jounouchi what they were going as. Dracula and his son.

“We’re going to have to do something about your hair.” Mokuba commented, then shrugged. “Oh well. The team Seto hired will fix it up.”

******

“Hey, Yug. Nice get-up.” Yugi smiled over at Jounouchi. His makeup had been joined by a pleated white skirt and various gold accessories.

“Aren’t vampire’s supposed to act mysterious?” He asked. Jounouchi turned to glance at Mokuba, who was mock-glaring at everyone from the shadows, trying to seem like he was deciding who to feast on next. Jounouchi’s hair had been temporarily dyed black, and his face had undergone the same whitening Mokuba’s had. Along with a larger pair of fangs, he looked like a perfect vampire. Except for the half-assed grin he wore.

“Aren’t Egyptian Princes supposed to act suave?” Jounouchi returned. Yugi laughed.

“I didn’t know you even knew what that word meant, Jou.” He answered. Jounouchi sweatdropped, and Yami chuckled. True to form, he was dressed as a Pharaoh.

“Hey, look.” Jounouchi exclaimed, to change the subject. Yami and Yugi followed his gaze. Ryou had just stepped in, shadowed by Bakura.

Ryou wore a simple white gown, belted by a length of gold links, the end of which hung loose. A small pair of feathered wings adorned his back. A gold circlet sat on his brow to signify a halo, and he had been dusted with golden sparkles. The final accessories were the large gold cross he wore on a long chain, and the cross earrings. He lifted a hand to touch one self-consciously, and Bakura said something, shaking his head slightly. Ryou’s hand dropped.

Bakura, on the other hand, was the image of a crazed demon. His hair had been dyed red, and teased into an even wilder style then it normally was. Two large black horns erupted out of the mess. He was dressed in a loose red shirt, left open to his waist and then tucked into tight black leather pants. A heavy gold torque hung around his neck, matching the gold rings he wore on both hands.

“Oh. My. God.” Jounouchi laughed. Behind Ryou and Bakura came a widely grinning Marik. His already pale hair had been bleached to silver, or maybe he was wearing a wig. He sported two pointed ears, and wore a red haori, with a long, worn looking sword at his side. He glanced in their direction and they saw that he was wearing contacts, turning his eyes to amber.

Yami had to look again to be sure that it was Malik at his side. The smaller Egyptian’s hair had been dyed black, and he was dressed in a green schoolgirl’s outfit. His lean frame would have made it easy for him to pass himself off as a flat-chested girl, but he certainly wasn’t flat-chested now. Along with the backpack he wore, there was a quiver of arrows and he carried a bow in his left hand. Jounouchi tried to hold back a chuckle, but Malik noticed them, and his glare carried certain death for the former blonde.

“I was beginning to think that choker never came off.” He quipped, as the four came over.

Shizuka and Honda came over then, both dressed in black leather. Shizuka sported bright red lipstick and hookerish makeup.

“Nice biker outfits.” Marik laughed. Honda just shrugged.

“Have you seen the girls yet?” He asked. Anzu pulled her reluctant yami into the room.
“Hey, Yugi.” She called. Both were dressed in blue and white cheerleaders’ outfits. Sagira carried a pair of pompoms and Anzu had a microphone hung around her neck. Anzu bounced up and down, looking exactly the part, and Sagira watched her with a raised eyebrow. She gave Yami a what-did-I-do-to-deserve-this look. He only smirked.

Suddenly, the lights went out, and the room was dropped into sudden darkness. A candle lit up and everyone looked over to see Kaiba. Only it wasn’t Kaiba. This person was dressed in an Egyptian Priest’s outfit. His hair, instead of light brown, was dark, nearly black, and was cut shorter, and his blue eyes were paler.

“Set.” Yami whispered. The Priest raised a hand, revealing the Millennium Rod he held. It began to glow, and revealed Kaiba standing a few feet behind him. He was also dressed in a priest’s robes. The CEO’s glare took in the entire room, but he moved instantly when Set gestured. It seemed odd, because while most of the yami were taller then their hikari counterparts, Set was actually a few inches shorter then Kaiba.

“Welcome,” Set intoned, “to your worst nightmares.” Yami scowled and drew Yugi closer to him at Set’s evil laughter.

******

D’Ceandre: Oh dear, what does the Priest have planned? A horrific bloodbath? A deadly Shadow Game? A Haunted House?

Hime: Okay, where did that last one come from?

D’Ceandre: Demi’s input.

Trouble: Right….

D’Ceandre: As for the earrings, that was Bakura’s treat, from a few chapters ago. Ryou probably wouldn’t have minded so much if it hadn’t been Marik doing it, but, heh, I just can’t resist torturing the poor boy.