the_campus | Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

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Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

[It's a bit of a pain, being in a school with no teachers.

Ryou Bakura isn't the type of kid who really likes being too active; he's about on the level of most ordinary teenagers. But after being laid up for so long with the burns to his arms and leg, not only is he extremely restless, but he's sure even his metabolism won't hold up much longer, with the amount he eats. That's why, after checking to see that Henry isn't home to take him up on that training offer, he's decided to try treating this like school and taking an hour or so to do his very own gym class, all by himself. It'd be easier with teachers, but... he doesn't have a choice right now.

Most kids probably would just take the break and be lazy, but right now, Ryou's working hard. Apart from the occasional break, he can be found pretty easily in the east wing, dressed in gym clothes and doing everything from running laps on the track field to climbing ropes.

...though that last one is more like 'falling off ropes'. Stupid mats... they don't cushion that fall at all. Hopefully nobody's dumb enough to stand below him.]

Ow...

[Time for a banana and some water, he thinks.]

Ah, I'm so tired...

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Hah! If it were like that, I would have bedded Jack a long time ago.

[Nope, teasing still doesn't work. Good try though.]

Ryou is much like a child, so is it a surprise I feel that way towards him?

Who knows? You could have been planning a threesome.

[Such a pity. He'd like to see that cheerful face filled with surprise and embarassment.]

Heh... that's because he is a child, remember? You should have seen him when he was younger!

With all due respect, if I intend to sleep for recreation rather than childbearing, I'd certainly not make it a public affair!

[He chuckles, going back to playing with the Disk.]

I may have to ask him about that sometime.

Heh heh... You'd be surprised. Someone like that, coming from such a lonely childhood... it's impressive, even if it's stupid.

Care to share with me, then?

I've been watching over him for some time now. I can tell you. But it might be better to show you.

[Getting up, he strolls into the bedroom to grab something, returning with a sheet of paper to offer it to him. It's written in Japanese, but it looks like a letter.]

Can you read Japanese? It's fine if you can't. I'll explain what this is anyway.

Not well enough to understand this, no. What does it say?

It's one of my host's letters. He writes them to his only companion in his youth, now long gone.

Amane Bakura-chan.

He writes them, even now... though they're as boring as ever. Letters to the dead. That loneliness of his is like a pit of despair in his heart.

Somehow you've managed to dull that loneliness... along with at least one or two others. But it seems he can't forget.

...I see.

[Writing letters to his sister who had already passed on... it's sad, but touching, at the same time. Ryou... poor child. Henry had known he suffered, but to still hold it like this...

His smile is soft, affectionate, as he carefully hands the letter back.]

He truly is just a child...

[Though it may be surprising, Bakura doesn't handle the letters with the disrespect he usually offers things. He returns it to the bedroom before sitting down again.]

Back then... because of his odd looks, he always had to endure viciousness from others. The usual cruelties of the young... the occasional foolish comment from those that should know better. After the accident that claimed Amane and his mother, it only got harder for him to reach out to others.

That's why he clings so tightly to games of all kinds. Because 'fun' is something he fell in love with.

He was always thinking "I wish this could go on forever".

[Henry closes his eyes, a gentle breath coming out mixed with a smile of an affectionate, if somewhat sad, father.]

Poor thing. Such hardships will never die out, no matter how much time passes, it seems... they just take on new forms.

[Henry's fingers go to his throat, brushing along something hidden under the armor and the cape briefly.]

He truly is something innocent.

It's foolish... That innocence. It seems nothing truly taints it. Even those desires to not be alone... can't be tainted.

He made that clear long ago.

[Innocent... yes, in a way. That boy...]

I tried to grant his wish... and his rejection of it was firm even after facing the consequences of fighting with me.

True innocence is the one that remains even through the wounds and the hardship.

[Henry raises an eyebrow, leaning back on the couch some.]

I have a feeling I know why he did, with how you twist words.

Heh... It was both out of gratitude for this body, and my own desire for entertainment, I'll admit. And nowhere near in a way he'd accept. It wasn't out of kindness, you're right...

But those people who considered themselves his friends were the type of losers who lost their souls so easily, anyway. They gave up their rights to be 'people' the moment they entered into a game with me and lost.

Of course, once he found out, he began fighting me quite violently. He even managed to wrestle control of this hand- [He waves his right hand thoughtlessly.] -without my noticing, and interfered with the game to make me mess up.

Even after I stabbed the hand he was controlling, despite the pain that both of us felt, he kept fighting endlessly. That's why I don't let him wake up when I'm in control.

[Henry's face is carefully controlled, but there's a definite tenseness to his shoulders now. He's never forgotten this dangerous game he's playing with you... but things like that only reinforce his inherent caution.]

Hmph. Unless they willingly accepted your terms knowing very well what it entailed... I'm inclined to disagree with you. I'm glad to hear that Ryou fought you so strongly, inflicting such a thing on those he had tried to befriend.

[But that's interesting. So it's Ryou's will that makes Bakura plunge him into sleep... now he wonders if there's a way to guard Ryou against that as well.

...One step at a time.]

He fought me even with the pain of the Ring's defenses... That foolish child.

But I didn't say it was a view that humans would agree on. It's the rules of the game. Even if they don't know the consequences, once they accept the game... if they didn't ask, they still don't get away. They still have a chance at freedom even then - the soul-transfer is reversible... and recent events have proved it can be done multiple times if the initial loss has occured. But if nobody's willing to continue the game, then they're screwed.

'I won't let you hurt my friends'... What a strong-willed boy. He was willing to even sacrifice his own soul.

...A good child.

[Henry closes his eyes, the note in his voice almost wistful. Perhaps it was a simple mind of his... but a child like Ryou was something he had dreamed of, if not exact. That he has such a son now is a wonderful comfort... but the feelings are still enough to make that ring true.

After all... Ryou hadn't decided yet. He could choose to stay home, but if he did... Henry's certain a piece of his heart would as well.]

His feelings for you are strong... I can tell. Even with his sleeping right now, that warmth resonates.

[He can't locate those memories, and nor does he want to. But that wistful tone... coupled with Ryou's loving feelings, it's strange.]

What is he to you, Henry Tudor? The way you act about him is something I don't understand.

To me? Hm...

[Henry's eyes remain closed as he thinks.]

He's an example. As close to an angel as a simple human can get. He's soft and warm, giving me a view and a comfort I've never been allowed. ...He's a son, one that I've wished I could have to hold close to me. A son who tries to hold me close as well... who I can look to, and who I can feel looking up to me.

He's important... very much so. Not the most important thing here by far... but one I would give up most anything personally for.

...

Heh. No wonder he loves you. You're practically complementing his nature.

But admitting such a thing so openly to me... is it really wise?

No less wise than telling you about where, precisely, the souls of my monsters are, is it? Or do you intend to use him against me?

The latter seems a bit unnecessary... you already know that I'm willing to make a deal with you, after all, aren't I?

I don't intend anything in regards to my host. As long as I can keep using this body, he can do what he likes with whoever he wants.

...Assuming he doesn't get it into his head to start kissing Yugi or something.

Unfortunately, I don't feel inclined to simply abandon this body.

I never said that you were.

[Henry leaves it at that. No need to let Bakura in on his plans... especially since he has no idea how well any of them will work.

Instead, he sweeps his cards off the duel disk, storing them away despite Eria's slightly disappointed whine.]

...How do I turn this thing off?

It'll shut off on its own if detached, but there's a switch, too. Here. On the underside.

[He points it out.]

[Henry flips the switch, moving it off his arm and rubbing that spot a little.]

Those must take some getting used to in order to wear for long periods of time.

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