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]

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.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

O-oy! Don't just say things like that and disappear, idiot! I don't want you inside of me any more than you do!

[Silence.]

...kh. That idiot!

[Scoffing, he picks up the Rod and heads into the bedroom. Lying beside Malik, he wraps his arms around him to restrain him as he slips the Rod back into his pants.]

[obeytherod]

[Malik wakes up almost immediately, his expression tired, but not lacking in its usual smugness. He takes a brief moment to turn his head and note his current situation before smirking over at Bakura.]

...That didn't take long at all.

[fluffydeathdealer]

I can put you back in the fridge if you'd like. But that soul fragment of yours spoilt my mood a little. It's no fun.

[His words are a lot less energetic than usual. He sounds almost bored.]

[obeytherod]

Actually... [His smirk fades, expression turning serious, if gloomy.] I want you to put me back in my body.

[fluffydeathdealer]

...

[He had promised, after all. No questions. No hesitation. He activates the transfer without another word until it's done.]

There you are.

[obeytherod]

... [Malik lets out a heavy sigh once the transfer is complete, his whole body seeming to relax.]

I forgot how nice being bound to my own body felt...

[fluffydeathdealer]

Heh... Shall I let you go? You seem less likely to stab me.

[Bakura sounds a little grouchy.]

[obeytherod]

Yes. [Malik wriggles a bit, worming his way out of those arms before Bakura as a chance to do it himself.]

Keh, don't sound so disappointed. I'm just thinking about it...and I'm annoyed at you.

[fluffydeathdealer]

[In that case, he'll just shove you out of the bed and roll over to turn his back to you.]

Then go away! Your annoyance is nothing compared to mine!

[obeytherod]

Ahh--!

[THUNK! Malik hits the floor, his feet still on the bed until he slides them off and scurries back to them.] What do you have to be annoyed about?!

Kehkeh...I didn't even tell you yet! [Malik braces his hands on the bed, leaning over so he can look at Bakura, upside down with his bangs grazing the sheets.] That's right...before I tried to cut your hair...

[fluffydeathdealer]

I don't care! You insolent eyesore! How would you like it if I shaved your hair clean off?

[He scowls up at him, irritably.]

[obeytherod]

Don't make threats you won't keep. [Malik teases, and then continues with where he was going before.] I just wanted to thank you~ I had fun kissing Ryou. You may share the same body, but it was a completely different experience...