Twill: Hey! I had this really neat idea come to me while I was falling asleep one night. I thought it would make a good fic so I started writing. I won't bore you with details though. Enjoy!

Seth: Twill does not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters, plots etc. She likes to think she does when really she doesn't.

/blah/ = hikari thoughts

//blah// = yami thoughts

~blah~ = other thoughts

Yaoi between Ryou and Bakura in later chapters...implied for now

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True Persona: The Past Awakens

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I flipped through my deck, card by card, looking over each one as it came. It had been awhile since I'd used any of them in an actual duel. The game of duel monsters was slowly beginning to fade. I guess it was only a passing fad after all. Of course there were still those groups that took it seriously, my closest friends being a prime example. Yugi, Joey, Tristan and Tea all still enjoyed playing the game or watching, as he case may be. Me, I just went along with the majority, often watching as well. I can't deny I feel an attraction towards it myself. I do posses a Millennium Item, the Millennium Ring. Both my ring and the game came from Egypt and I guess they're drawn together. The ring also holds my yami, Bakura, the darker part to my soul, a darker me. I'm his hikari, the light of our combined soul. My name's Ryou, just for the record. You should know who everyone is if you want to understand what happened that changed my life forever.

As I said before I was flipping through my deck carefully, reading the information on each card as I passed it. Morphing Jar, Man-eater Bug, Electric Lizard. They didn't really fit any pattern; just cards I thought were interesting. I picked most of them because no one else seemed to use them. I felt they should be recognized for their talents, they too were important to the game. It sounds strange but I think they were glad I used them, glad they had a purpose. There's that link again. Bakura probably felt the same way. Most duelists treasure their cards, but not really as friends. Just tools. Yugi says it's the heart of the cards I feel. He, Joey and some others are the same way. Just Desserts, White Magical Hat and Lady of Faith slipped by. I smiled at each, I couldn't help it. Chain Energy and several others faded to the bottom of the pile after I paid my respects to them. Finally I reached my absolute favorite. Change Of Heart. I guess I liked the idea of a card that could displace the moral compass of another monster. It's picture was split in half, one side light and angelic with a feathery wind protruding from the back of the smiling persona. The other was shrouded in shadow, a large leathery demon wing extending to balance the other side. Not many used it as far as I knew. Who knew why?

"It has the reputation of being a traitor." I jumped and whirled to spot Bakura sitting at my desk watching me. He had once been very abusive and angry. Not particularly with me but with life in general. I just happened to be the one he took it out on, being called a weakling and routine beatings for little or no provocation. Needless to say I wasn't exactly used to him being so benign. My look of shock (and possible terror) must have offended him. He flinched and looked away. "Sorry." That was a first. My yami never apologized to me before or anyone else. It snapped me from my panic.

"No, don't be. I'm still not used to your change of heart." I offered a wry smile as the pun sunk in. He shot me a look that clearly said 'very funny'. "How is the card a traitor?" He smiled faintly and moved over to perch at the foot of my bed, which I was currently sitting on. I shifted a bit closer, wanting to hear the story clearly. I hadn't realized I'd kept going until I found myself close to him. Very close. I blushed at bit and moved back.

"Well aibou," the name sent a small shiver down my back; he'd never really called me that before, "that card can cause a lot of trouble. The Change Of Heart, being half darkness, has been known to act on its own interests. In play it can turn against you, if the odds favor it. I guess you proved that when you possessed the Lady of Faith." I squirmed a bit when he mentioned that. Because of me he was banished to the Shadow Realm, a trip that was most unpleasant I'm sure. "Back in ancient Egypt, I was the only one willing to take the risk of using her in the Shadow Games. In the end, it was my downfall." There was an edge to his voice, a note of sadness. He must miss his past life, even if branded a tomb raider. My curiosity won over my concern of the moment.

"What happened?"

"I was dueling the Pharaoh in our final match. If he won, I was to be sealed away within the ring and serve millennia's of torment. If I won, the Shadow Game would remain and he would surrender his kingdom to me."

"High stakes."

He nodded silently, obviously remembering exactly what happened. "Yes, quite high. We were evenly matched for awhile, our duel going along the same lines as my battle against Yami. I managed to gain a slight lead. My trump monster, the one I figured would win it all, was the Change Of Heart." We both said the card's name in unison, although my voice came out in no more than a whisper. "It result was one neither of us expected. The Change Of Heart took control of one of my monsters and then attacked me head on. I lost and was soon sealed away in the ring." I looked down at the gold trinket hanging from a cord around my neck. Hard to believe something so innocent seeming was a powerful key to duel monsters and contained an ancient spirit. The two of us sat in silence for awhile, me staring at the card in my hand and Bakura I guess staring blankly into space. He must have still been wrapped up in the memory. I glanced idly at the clock I keep by my bedside. It read 10:30.

"I should get some sleep, school tomorrow and all." I said it a little harsher than I'd intended. It sounded like I was blowing him off. I cringed to myself and tried to correct the mistake. "I enjoyed the story, thanks for telling me." Bakura offered another slight smile.

"Good night Ryou, sleep well." He tucked me in and placed a small kiss on my forehead before vanishing into his soul room. I was left tingling all over, unsure of why he was being so nice. Something else nagged at me but I couldn't bring it to surface so I just ignored it.

/Yami?/ I tapped into the mind link I shared with him. He gave a mental start but quickly blocked me from sensing his emotions.

//What?// He was back to being cold and distant, snapping angrily. I took a deep breath, turning to face the wall before plowing ahead.

/Could you tell me another story?/ I felt like I was three years old, asking my mother to read to me before bed. But surprisingly he agreed. I fell asleep listening to a story of betrayal and unlikely friendship.

And then I had the dream

The sun was blazing down harshly, a sweltering source of heat. I walked for what seemed like an eternity before stumbling upon an oasis. I wasn't the only one there. Two others stood on the other side, talking in hushed voices. Before I could even think about it, my feet carried me closer towards their low tones. Just as I was about to find out who was here with me, the world went black. We were in the Shadow Realm. I'd recognize the drear and sinister local even if I was blind. There was a feeling of oppression that seemed to suck away your energy. Even as I stood there in confusion I could feel myself growing weaker. As a hikari my soul and body was never meant to stand up to the shadow powers involved with this dark realm. Of course, the Shadow Realm also has no scenery. I was now out in the open. Strangely I went unnoticed by the two. I still couldn't make out who they were. Both were shrouded by the black mists and hoods they both wore. It was a stand off, me a bystander.

"Are you sure we cannot settle another way?" The figure on my left spoke first. The voice was masculine and he seemed quite well off judging by the refinery of his clothing.

"Quite, now play the game." The second was also male, although he looked shabby in comparison. The voices of both seemed very familiar. Regretfully I could decipher their identities though, my mind just wasn't working. I blame it on the fact I was dreaming.

"Be sensible Bakura. Please just submit your item and we can return to how things were. We can be friends again." I did a double take. Bakura?! He was the last person I suspected to be here. Now it made sense why he was so poorly attired. My yami was a grave thief after all, although I don't believe he's proud of the fact. Who would be?

"Are you so worried that I will beat you that you lower yourself to meager begging? I thought the almighty Pharaoh would have been too good for that." There was the identity of the other. Yami, it figured. He would have been the one to challenge Bakura for his item. It was news to me that they had been friends. I wondered, other than my yami being trapped in the ring for thousands of years, what had happened to break them apart. I had little time to dwell on this thought, however. The game was about to begin. "You, great ruler of Egypt, may have the first move."

They both began summoning monsters and magic; lying traps and spells to mislay the opponent or power their defenses. The order of cards played was remarkable similar to that of the shadow game they played in present times. Yami summoned a solider that looked quite alike to the Cyber Commander. Bakura countered with his White Magical Hat or something close enough to it. Play continued onwards. I flinched when Yami was subjected to a play along the lines of Just Desserts. His hood was blown from covering his face and I could see just how painful the attack had been. When these two had dueled during the duelist kingdom, I hadn't been present for most of the fight. I had a general sense of what was happening but nothing as vivid as this. I felt physically sick to my stomach. I never liked the idea of someone hurting anyone. That's one of the reasons I never fought back when Bakura had been beating me. I never ever wanted to cause anyone pain intentionally or otherwise, even if it was in self defense. Bakura pulled back his cloak and I could see the self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips. He was so cold.

Play continued monster by monster. Everything was happening almost exactly the same as the shadow duel I had been a part of. I realized belatedly that this was the same as the story Bakura had told me earlier. Every move made, I knew before they did. I probably felt the same way Pegasus had whenever he used his Millennium Eye. The knowledge I knew their actions before they did gave me a sense of power like none I'd ever felt before. It scared me. It must have been the feeling Bakura wanted, since he had been hell bent on collecting all seven items. Finally the time came for the supposed finishing move. Yami had assembled the Cyber Commander, Magician of Fate, Flame Swordsmen and Dark Magician on his side. It was Bakura's turn. He called forth the Lady of Faith and smiled triumphantly at his adversary.

"I have won Pharaoh. Your kingdom is mine now, old friend. The Shadow Games shall remain, and I will be the new game king." I could barely watch what was to happen next.

He summoned his trump; the monster he told me had been thought to be the one to win it all. But things were never to go as planned. The Change Of Heart appeared, angelic and demonic combined into majestic beauty. Seeing my favorite in person, in a reality few could imagine, stole my breath away. I knew the aim was to control Yami's Dark Magician. I knew Bakura placed all his trust and hope within this monster. I knew that in one fell moment, it would turn on its master and assure victory for the other side. A sorrow filled me unexpectedly. I didn't want my yami to lose. I wanted his dreams and ambitions to be realized. Why was I feeling so strongly for him? The something happened that I'm sure no one expected. The Change Of Heart turned in midair and looked directly at me. Straight into my eyes.

I won't lie and say I wasn't afraid. No, I was terrified. This was the sort of thing that happened in scary movies or nightmares that send you into a cold sweat with chills running down your spine. That's exactly what happened with me. I would have run or at least turned around but my body wasn't responding to any of the panic signals my mind was shooting through it. Don't you just hate it when that happens? The Change Of Heart continued to look at me, listless eyes and neutral expression. The look was creeping me out and yet I couldn't look away. I vaguely remember Bakura yelling at his summoned monster to possess the Dark Magician but I wasn't really paying attention to anything else. I was riveted to the spot, my eyes unable to leave those of the duel card. They seemed empty and yet full of emotion. On the side of light there seemed to be a twinkle of innocence and joy. In the demonic half a glint of malice and...desire? They were hypnotic and I couldn't tear away. The distance between me and the summoned monster began to disappear. She kept her gaze locked on mine and I remained paralyzed where I stood. Bakura, in the background, was losing his control. Through my link with him, even though it was before my time in this dream, I could feel him teeter on the brink of rage and desperation. He was risking everything on this game and the sole piece that could win it all wasn't obeying his commands. I guess these feelings snapped me from the trance in which I was held. I was aware of my surroundings, aware that Yami was trying to subdue Bakura who was beginning to crack. Change Of Heart reached out her hand towards me, drifting ever closer. And then she reached me.

It was an experience like none I've ever felt before. When her hand touched my cheek I exploded in pain. Every nerve was enflamed with agony. Even through the torture I could see Bakura was feeling what I was. He was out cold in Yami's arms, jerking every so often from the pain. That hurt me far worse then what my body was going through. I was also aware of the Change Of Heart. Acutely aware. She was, well, melding with me. As her reach deepened, she disappeared. Of course all this was happening patronizingly slowly and thus magnified the anguish. Maybe she read my thoughts because in one fell swoop, I became one with my favorite card. If I thought I was in pain before, it was nothing compared to what happened next.

There was a faint prickling in my back, about where my shoulder blades were. The intensity grew so it became something more like knives. Something ripped out through my back and clothing. It was excruciating to go through to say the least. When the throbbing subsided I turned my head around to see what happened. I was met with probably the last thing I expected. Wings. Two hulking wings. One was shining white and covered in satiny feathers. It was that of an angel. The other was dark ebony black and looked rough and leathery. A demon's wing. I gasped in shock and began to look over the rest of me. My hair was slightly longer and not simple silvery white anymore. One half was pure cotton white and the other was a charcoal hue. Even my skin was different. One hand was my normal pale complexion albeit a bit lighter and the other was a dusky color, grey going on black. I stood there, the true personification of the Change Of Heart.

Bakura had recovered and now stood back in his place with Yami across from them. By the way they looked upon the battle field it was if none of this had happened for them. But I had seen my yami on the floor writhing in pain...hadn't I? Nothing made sense anymore, even for a dream I was at a loss. Maybe I was dreaming within the dream. But then why did I have wings?

"Go Change Of Heart, take control of the Dark Magician." Bakura's cold voice rang harshly through my ears. He waited with a gaze of cold steel pinned on that of the Pharaoh who looked anxiously on. Had they meant me? I was about to protest and explain but found I couldn't. It seemed I had no control of my movements. Then a soothing voice that seemed both mellow and violent filled my mind.

~Strike now the crippling blow to the one who summoned us. Seal his fate within the darkness child. Take your revenge~

And then I woke up.

I must have screamed at some point because the first thing my cloudy vision could define was the worried gaze of my yami, Bakura. I whimpered and shied away from him, still lost in my dream. My body ached with the residual pain from the nightmare. I almost felt as though it had really happened. Blearily I turned to see if I had wings protruding from beneath my pajama top. I didn't, thankfully. I sighed with relief feeling assured it had been nothing more than a nighttime figment of my imagination. That is until my eyes rested on something nestled among the sheets.

Three shimmering white feathers.

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Twill: Well, what do you think? Should I continue? Voice your opinions, I want to hear 'em! Also, vote for who's POV I should do next. You want Ryou, Bakura, Yami, Yugi...someone else? Let me know ^___^ and as always R&R!!