Title: Coin Toss
Summary: Ryou always thought he was different. The VOICE just confirms his fears...
Rating: PG
Characters: Ryou Bakura, Yami no Bakura
Pairings: None
Spoilers: None
Warnings: This is a take on events that happen before we meet Ryou in the manga or TV series, so some mistakes to canon may be made.
Disclaimer: Yu-gi-oh! and all related characters are copyright to Kazuki Takahashi. I, the author, am making no profit or money from the posting of this fan-fiction. The plot, however, belongs to me.
Author's Note: Every "good" Yu-gi-oh! author has at least one dark fic featuring our favorite British albino, Ryou. Why? I have no idea… it just happens like that. This is my attempt, based on a quote that randomly popped into my head yesterday…
Coin Toss
"Every coin is double-sided…"
Ryou Bakura sat in his room and tried desperately to stay awake. Truth be told, all he really wanted to do was collapse onto his bed and forget about today. But he couldn't, he had homework.
Brown eyes roamed the darkened bedroom and fell longingly on the bed in the corner. 'Homework first,' Ryou reminded himself, 'then sleep.' Scowling, the teen returned his gaze to the slip of paper on his desk. The assignment was simple; he just lacked the energy to even read the next question. As pale eyelids fluttered closed, a voice broke the silence.
//Tired, mortal?//
His eyes flew open. 'Not again…'
//Did you miss me?//
Ryou closed his eyes, speaking calmly to the darkness around him. "You aren't real, just a figment of my imagination. I'm exhausted and my brain's playing tricks on me." 'Again,' he added to himself.
The voice snorted. //Why would your mind play tricks? Tormenting you is my job, vessel.//
"You aren't REAL!"
//Then why to you continue speaking to me? Only crazy people talk back to their delusions.//
Ryou sat ridged in his chair, glaring at his homework and trying not to scream at nothing. "Go away…" he whispered.
//Wanting to be rid of me already?// the voice taunted. //Why, I haven't even begun insulting you! Besides,// the voice became gradually quieter, so Ryou had to strain to hear it over his racing heart. //Don't you want to know what happened at school today?//
The pale teenager flinched. "I fainted," he muttered, "nothing happened…"
Pain. Someone punching him. Bullies laughing, calling names.
//Those I played with would choose to disagree,// the voice purred. //Of course, they would if they could still speak…//
"What did you do?"
The toilets, the sinks… A voice, a cold dark voice… //Want help, vessel?//
The voice chuckled. //I thought I wasn't real, yadounishi. How could I have done anything?//
Ryou suppressed a shudder
Lazily, the voice added //They'd say it was you…//
Shouts, more punches. //All you need to do is ask…//
"I-I didn't do anything!" the teen protested, shouting at the shadows around him. "I fainted! And then I woke up in the bathroom with-"
A flash, darkness. Cold and dark like the voice…
//-with five soul-less bodies…//
Broken glass, the mirror was shattered. The nurse's office. Bruises and cuts, bandages. A laugh, the VOICE! //You're welcome...//
"I DID NOTHING!!!"
//You pathetic mortals are all so alike… When will any of you realize that every coin has two sides?//
The shadows were creeping in again. 'NO!' Though Ryou fought, the darkness began to spread over his eyes, blocking out everything but the Millennium Ring that sat gleaming on his desk.
"I……want…"
A cold laugh sounded, echoing in the dark room. //Does it really matter what you want, yadounishi? My desires are just a coin toss away.//
As he fell into unconsciousness, Ryou could have sworn he saw a shadowed figure emerge from the Ring. Mahogany eyes glistened as it smiled.
//What do you know… it's heads…//
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