I knew something was off when I woke up. Gods, I knew
something was wrong since that rainy night in the alley. Bakura had always
been... strange, I believe is the word... but that had been beyond the pale
for even him. And then... what happened with Kaiba... that was also so very strange.
I don't understand it. Not that I usually understand the way Bakura
operated, but maybe I am getting a faint idea now.
I was wrong about a lot of things where Bakura was concerned, it seems. I
can see that now, admit that now. Mostly, that was
because I had been forced to sit across a gaming table from a not-Bakura for what had to have
been the most difficult challenge of my life. Everything till then had
been a warm-up.
No, that wasn't quite right. It hadn't been a warm-up. Now that that
I can really think about it, I can see a pattern: each time I faced
Bakura, the challenges had been greater and more difficult. Bakura had
been building me up for the final battle all along. How long had he know
about Zork? How long had it tormented him? How long had the beast
been sealed within him? Since our ancient times? It had to have
been. It's a wonder he was as sane as he was then. Had he known he
was going to lose control to the creature one day? Was that the reason for
all our fights? To prepare me to face Zork in the world of my memories?
And I won. What choice did I have after all? Let that monster rule
both the Memory World and the real world? As much as I had been able to
spare the concentration, I tried to find a way to save Bakura and defeat
Zork. Maybe I am as stupid as the white-haired man had often proclaimed me
to be. I never came up with a single solution, after all, and had been
forced to kill - No! "Murder" was the word. I
murdered him. - murder Bakura.
If I could spare a half a second, I would glance over at Bakura's lighter half,
or rather what was left of the boy. There was something missing behind his
eyes, and now they looked so much like Malik's. They were both broken,
doll-like. Ryou seemed a little better, or perhaps Malik was simply tired
of trying to hide it. This is my fault as well, both due to my ignorance
and my vast overconfidence. And now I can't think of any way to set things
right with them, except this...
I lost. It was inevitable. I played well, I had to give Aibou that
much as my final gift, but I didn't play at my best or with my heart in the
game. A few small mistakes here and there and a big one at the finale, and
my final duel is over. It ended as it should.
The Gates of the Afterlife are opening. The Sennen Items are falling into
darkness. It's finally all over. Well, Bakura, shall I proceed to
the next stage of our game? You are going to be waiting there for me,
aren't you? No one else is a proper challenge for me, so you'd best be
here waiting.
I can hear the doors closing behind me, locking me in this white prison.
Around me, I can see faint images of my priests, my father, people I knew in my
first life, before I had my Aibou. Where are you, thief? If you have
let Ammut consume your heart and cast you into the land of Apophis, I'll truly
never forgive you. You know that, don't you? I never said anything
either of the times we were living, but... I miss you. Duat is not...
Oh, there you are.
22 February 2005
Whew, finally done with the plot kitty too. I can breathe a little easier
now. Now I can go enjoy my birthday instead of wanting to beat Yami Yuugi
for being an angsty dork.
Sorry, it's so short, but it was torturing me and I didn't want to try to extend
the torture any further. Forgive me?