Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

[fluffydeathdealer]

[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...

Comments

[obeytherod]

[He'd be glad to hear Bakura was at least restraining himself that much if he weren't already livid at him right now.

Malik ends up shrugging, reeling the metaphorical line in a little closer.]

You know I'm not that direct... You'll just have to take your chances. Maybe I'm being honest...maybe not! Maybe my revenge will come a few days, weeks, or months from now.

Is it worth the risk?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Malik... you've already proven you play dirtier than even I'm comfortable with. Why should I believe a damn word you say?

[This guy... what the hell was he up to?]

[obeytherod]

Because this is the only time I'll offer it.

Keh keh...mark my words.

[fluffydeathdealer]

For someone who just finds it uncomfortable, you're awfully eager to get out, Malik.

I don't trust your teeth anywhere near my dick right now.

[Nope, not buying it.]

[obeytherod]

It's uncomfortable now...it'll become unbearable over time.

[...He was getting tired. Malik takes a seat on the floor, and then his soul fragment loses control entirely.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

[Slipping his arms under Malik, he gathers him up in them and carries him into the bedroom, laying him down on the bed and wrapping him up under the blankets. His hot temper has already cooled. But he's sure Malik's hasn't. Malik's rage burns longer.

Letting him out now would be a foolish move. But...]

Heh heh...

[...he can at least take him out of the cold and the dark. Malik can't make the Rod fly like he can with the Ring... And with his soul fragment so drained, he can prevent him from taking control of his body too easily too fast. Taking the Rod out of the freezer, he tosses it on the couch carelessly.]

There, then! If you're so worried about old memories coming out. I'll at least let you get warm... h-heh heh...

[obeytherod]

[There was one more soul fragment to worry about. The one in the Ring, which waits to come out only after Bakura's set it's body and the Rod down.

It's been a little while it contacted Bakura--since the main portion of it's soul was sealed in the Rod--but there's something slightly off about it now. It's not just the aura, which had been more vicious last time than ever...but the veins that popped up along its cheeks accompanied by an uncharacteristic half-lidded expression.]

Huhaha...isn't that nice?

[fluffydeathdealer]

...eh?

[It isn't just the appearance. The low laugh. The relaxed expression. The lack of anger. They all combine to make a picture that sends unease down him. Just what was residing within this Ring of his? It didn't seem quite right any more.]

What the hell, Malik? You seem... different.

[obeytherod]

You must be imagining things, Bakura. I don't notice anything different!

[He pats himself down in mock inspection before shrugging.]

You should really stop fooling around and return my soul and body.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Who's fooling around, Malik? I'm not the one that's been acting like a spoilt brat around here.

[Flopping down on the couch, he rests his feet on the coffee table, and scowls over at him.]

Well? Going to try to beg me?

[obeytherod]

Huhaha, no...I'll leave that to the other pieces of my soul.

[Malik sits on the coffee table in front of Bakura, still looking quite...relaxed, even smug.]

I don't beg. I'll just wait for the inevitable...either the other soul fragment will wake up and reclaim the Rod, or your own boredom and foolish affection will have you do it yourself.

[fluffydeathdealer]

...?

[This fragment really is acting strange. He narrows his eyes at him, resisting the urge to kick the air where Malik's soul fragment is sitting. It won't do any good anyway. But this is strange. This fragment of Malik has become almost twisted, in a way.]

You're smarter than the rest of you, that's for sure... it's just a waiting game. I don't want Malik inconvenienced for good, after all.

[...he doesn't deny the foolish statement.]

So what are you coming out for?

[obeytherod]

The rest of me is too easily swayed by his emotions...it's a weakness. You both make each other weaker.

[Another shrug.] But it doesn't really matter to me--I'm not in the Rod. I was just bored.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Don't you think I know that? I can feel this weak human part of me growing within me. It's like this pitiful attachment is feeding it. Strengthening it. But it won't last forever. No matter how wilful that part of me is, it will eventually be consumed.

[Bored... What the hell is happening to this guy?]

Why are you acting so strange? It's like you're turning into someone else.

[obeytherod]

[Malik licks his lips, letting out a low chuckle.] It really is pitiful...

[He'd comment more on that. but he was asked a question wasn't he? Don't want to be rude...] What do you mean? I'm Malik. Or at least, a piece of Malik...

[fluffydeathdealer]

Care to elaborate, or are you just being annoying?

[He could be asking on both, or just the first, but it doesn't matter. Malik doesn't seem to want to answer him. Linking his hands behind his head, he watches him with uncaring eyes.]

[obeytherod]

I haven't noticed anything...but I do seem different from the rest of him, don't I?

[He leans on one hand, briefly tonguing the edges of his teeth in an open-mouthed grin.]

Hmhm, I think you can put this one together, Bakura!

[fluffydeathdealer]

Kh-! You... [No, there's only one connection. This fragment had been sealed inside of him. Had he done this without realizing it? He bared his teeth in a snarl, his posture not changing despite the expression on his face darkening.]

Is this what happens when a soul fragment is exposed to the Ring for a prolonged period?

[This is bad. Not from the fragment. Even if the darkness powers it up, he's sure he can fight it off if it tries to seize control. But if the Ring can corrupt people like that... what about the Rod? He doesn't sense nearly as much darkness from it, but it might not be the darkness itself.

The Items were never meant to have human souls trapped within them. The Seal on his own soul was an immense and powerful one. Could Malik too fragment into a state like this from being trapped in the Rod?]

Don't get cocky! Acting so casual about your own degradation-!

[obeytherod]

[Malik hops off the table and gets to his feet...which are of course floating quite a few inches off the ground. He floats over to Bakura, oddly curling his spirit over his shoulders like some malevolent cat.

He ignores that rhetorical question. If it wasn't rhetorical...than Bakura was an idiot.]

I don't think that's the right word. That carries implications that I'm weaker than before...but I'm not. Huhu.

[fluffydeathdealer]

-!

[He scowls even more at that, confused by the odd gesture. What the hell is this soul fragment doing?]

Like hell you're not! Get out of me! I don't want something like you inside of me.

[obeytherod]

As if I can just waltz out of here...

[Nope, he's just going to settle on Bakura's shoulders, taking his arm and piercing it straight through the other man's torso with an amused smile.]

That'd be nice, but no.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He shivers, more out of the eerieness of it than anything else. Something like a smile twitches at his lips regardless, but mostly, he's just thrown off.]

Kh... What, are you asking me to transfer you into something else?

[obeytherod]

Huheheha... Well, my body would be nice. [He wriggles his fingers inside that warm torso. The warmth...that's the only thing he can feel.]

Then I can recombine with the other soul fragment.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Kh. And then what, corrupt the rest of the soul? Sorry, but I like that soul of his.

[This is weird. It's like being in the company of a very evil cat that's just discovered a way to antagonize its owner.]

[obeytherod]

[He lets out a sigh, loosely hanging his arm inside Bakura.] I guess I'll just be keeping you company for eternity then...

How irritating.

[A moment later, he recedes back into the Ring.]