Yami no Bakura (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
denyamenti) wrote2014-04-14 09:27 pm
denyamenti) wrote2014-04-14 09:27 pm
What Is Real Is Fake
His first coherent thought was am I back inside the Ring? because of the weightless blackness, the feeling of being buoyed in nothingness. Bakura couldn't tell if his eyes were open or closed, but suspected in the absolute pitch it would make no difference either way. It was peaceful -- no, that was wrong. It was numbing... merely comfortably numb. It was an undeniable relief to just... float and not have to think about anything.
Time had no meaning in a place like this and the thief drifted in the silence, curled loosely in on himself until something moved in the opposite direction against him, causing him to stir and open his eyes. As he suspected, it was just as dark with them open as closed, but he knew something was there and slowly, a mist just a shade lighter than black could be discerned.
The apparition coalesced from mist into a familiar form, although not one that Bakura thought he'd ever see again. His posture straightened in an unconscious mirror of the teen in front of him. "Landlord," he greeted sardonically. "Is this not a dream, then? It does not feel like my soul room... or yours."
The image of Ryou shrugged. His mouth moved and though no sound came out, he still spoke. Does it matter which one? You're an intruder either way.
The thief's mahogany eyes, darker than his modern counterpart's, narrowed at the words. "You're a little too late for spiteful words, Host."
It doesn't have anything to do with me, spirit. You don't belong in this world or any other. You're supposed to be gone. Ryou's image displayed no expression other than the detached politeness he had so often worn in real life and his 'voice', such as it was, betrayed no animosity.
Bakura scowled, already feeling the familiar ire of dealing with his passive reincarnation. "And I well know it," he spat in response. "Dead and Judged and dead again, I know it. But my goals have not been met and so I remain."
Why can't you just disappear? the figment covered his face with his hands and then vanished himself.
---
The second time the apparition appeared, Bakura fully intended to ignore it. He didn't open his eyes but he knew the other was suspended in the void there before him. But he could not stop the copied not-voice from reaching his ears.
You're poisoning another world by bringing your hatred and evil there. What did those people ever do to you? The not!Ryou's expression finally changed, but it was to one of resignation as though he were partly responsible for the accusation he spoke.
Bakura's head snapped up and despite his intention, his eyes opened and glared daggers at the ghostly form. "I did not willing go there!"
You inhabit another body not your own. You're not needed... or wanted there.
Bakura raked his fingers across his pale arms, knowing that the apparition's words were true; his form was nearly identical to the image of the boy who stood opposite him now. "Not by choice! I would rather have my own body back rather than this weak--"
Your body is dust. Your ka is destroyed. Your cause is lost.
The thief gave a wordless roar of rage, taking a jerky step forward though he already knew he could not touch the boy in front of him. "It is not! So long as I exist, I can still avenge them--"
You don't exist.
The placid statement caused him to stumble mentally. Nothing else that the not!Ryou had said thus far had been a lie, and so he had automatically been accepting it all as truth. When he didn't retort, the teen's apparition took a step towards him, his expression becoming gentle and kind. You died... you ended when you lost the Memory RPG to Atem. That was why he was able to move on. That was why there was no Ammut waiting for you, spirit. There's nothing left of you but the afterimage of your rage. The truth is that you can't help them now.
The words hit him like a punch in the stomach, leaving him stunned and nauseated. Was such a thing really true? Could such a thing even be true?
"But..." He fumbled for a rejoinder but the ghostly figure was gone again, leaving him once more the darkness's only occupant.
---
The third time Ryou's image appeared, looking at him sympathetically, it took nearly all of the effort Bakura could dredge up to even raise his head and regard him. In the darkness he'd felt himself slowing down, losing his ability to even put his thoughts in order.
You did everything you could. You couldn't change this fate. But you don't have to exist on suffering anymore.
"Shut your mouth," Bakura said hoarsely, clenching his hands into tight fists. "I... won't give up."
You don't have to fight anymore, spirit. It's all right. The apparition reached out, though didn't actually touch Bakura's arm. I understand why you did everything that you've done... to me, to my friends. And I'll forgive you... but you need to let go of it all.
The thief lashed out verbally, putting the force into his words however rather than a blow. "Forgiveness?! You think I need that, Host?"
I think you want it. Someone who's seen every terrible thing you've done... if even only one person forgives you... that's enough, isn't it?
"Begone!" Bakura shouted, and in that instant the apparition returned to mist and dissipated before anything else could be said, though the echo -- that's enough, isn't it? that's enough, isn't it? continued to haunt him in the darkness.
He closed his eyes and the numbness was quick to return.
Time had no meaning in a place like this and the thief drifted in the silence, curled loosely in on himself until something moved in the opposite direction against him, causing him to stir and open his eyes. As he suspected, it was just as dark with them open as closed, but he knew something was there and slowly, a mist just a shade lighter than black could be discerned.
The apparition coalesced from mist into a familiar form, although not one that Bakura thought he'd ever see again. His posture straightened in an unconscious mirror of the teen in front of him. "Landlord," he greeted sardonically. "Is this not a dream, then? It does not feel like my soul room... or yours."
The image of Ryou shrugged. His mouth moved and though no sound came out, he still spoke. Does it matter which one? You're an intruder either way.
The thief's mahogany eyes, darker than his modern counterpart's, narrowed at the words. "You're a little too late for spiteful words, Host."
It doesn't have anything to do with me, spirit. You don't belong in this world or any other. You're supposed to be gone. Ryou's image displayed no expression other than the detached politeness he had so often worn in real life and his 'voice', such as it was, betrayed no animosity.
Bakura scowled, already feeling the familiar ire of dealing with his passive reincarnation. "And I well know it," he spat in response. "Dead and Judged and dead again, I know it. But my goals have not been met and so I remain."
Why can't you just disappear? the figment covered his face with his hands and then vanished himself.
---
The second time the apparition appeared, Bakura fully intended to ignore it. He didn't open his eyes but he knew the other was suspended in the void there before him. But he could not stop the copied not-voice from reaching his ears.
You're poisoning another world by bringing your hatred and evil there. What did those people ever do to you? The not!Ryou's expression finally changed, but it was to one of resignation as though he were partly responsible for the accusation he spoke.
Bakura's head snapped up and despite his intention, his eyes opened and glared daggers at the ghostly form. "I did not willing go there!"
You inhabit another body not your own. You're not needed... or wanted there.
Bakura raked his fingers across his pale arms, knowing that the apparition's words were true; his form was nearly identical to the image of the boy who stood opposite him now. "Not by choice! I would rather have my own body back rather than this weak--"
Your body is dust. Your ka is destroyed. Your cause is lost.
The thief gave a wordless roar of rage, taking a jerky step forward though he already knew he could not touch the boy in front of him. "It is not! So long as I exist, I can still avenge them--"
You don't exist.
The placid statement caused him to stumble mentally. Nothing else that the not!Ryou had said thus far had been a lie, and so he had automatically been accepting it all as truth. When he didn't retort, the teen's apparition took a step towards him, his expression becoming gentle and kind. You died... you ended when you lost the Memory RPG to Atem. That was why he was able to move on. That was why there was no Ammut waiting for you, spirit. There's nothing left of you but the afterimage of your rage. The truth is that you can't help them now.
The words hit him like a punch in the stomach, leaving him stunned and nauseated. Was such a thing really true? Could such a thing even be true?
"But..." He fumbled for a rejoinder but the ghostly figure was gone again, leaving him once more the darkness's only occupant.
---
The third time Ryou's image appeared, looking at him sympathetically, it took nearly all of the effort Bakura could dredge up to even raise his head and regard him. In the darkness he'd felt himself slowing down, losing his ability to even put his thoughts in order.
You did everything you could. You couldn't change this fate. But you don't have to exist on suffering anymore.
"Shut your mouth," Bakura said hoarsely, clenching his hands into tight fists. "I... won't give up."
You don't have to fight anymore, spirit. It's all right. The apparition reached out, though didn't actually touch Bakura's arm. I understand why you did everything that you've done... to me, to my friends. And I'll forgive you... but you need to let go of it all.
The thief lashed out verbally, putting the force into his words however rather than a blow. "Forgiveness?! You think I need that, Host?"
I think you want it. Someone who's seen every terrible thing you've done... if even only one person forgives you... that's enough, isn't it?
"Begone!" Bakura shouted, and in that instant the apparition returned to mist and dissipated before anything else could be said, though the echo -- that's enough, isn't it? that's enough, isn't it? continued to haunt him in the darkness.
He closed his eyes and the numbness was quick to return.