The 17th Roll: May 12th, night [Text/Private to various]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Private to Yami Bakura]]

Can I ask a favor?



[Private to Mello]]

Do you have a moment?

Comments

[Text | Private]

[feelsgoodinyou]

[The answer comes almost immediately.]

No.

[Text | Private]

[shiromadoushi]

Please.

[Action| Private]

[feelsgoodinyou]

[Only seconds after Ryou has typed the plea there is a muffled sound of an incoming message coming from right behind him. The Spirit of the Ring had once again made himself at home at his good double's place earlier and hadn't felt like revealing his presence up until now. But now he is looming behind his host, looking semi-pissed.

It is still rather rare that Bakura finds himself truly wanting the presence of another living being and tonight is not one of those times.]

What do you want? Say it quick so that I can deny it and be over with this.

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Bakura nearly jumps out of his skin scrambling to his feet to stare at his double]] How long have you been....?!

[Action]

[feelsgoodinyou]

[He rolls his eyes with an annoyed expression as he steps forward and more into the light that's cast by the paused video game.]

You don't usually call me out for favors. [His communicator clatters onto the plate of the table after he disables it was two quick motions that make it clear that he could have also done the same with his unsuspecting host.] Out with it.

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[He flinches just a touch at the clatter, eyes lowering.]]

I... I need your help... [[His voice is soft, as if he's expecting rejection.]] I need to get stronger...

[[need to not be so useless. Not mess everything up. Not be a victim, a weak spot, someone that others had to cover for...]]

You're the one I resonate best with... and you know how to fight, even with how weak I am...

I don't want to be a burden any more. Please...

[Action]

[feelsgoodinyou]

Stronger? [He echoes the word with an odd emphasis. As Ryou continues he only listens and crosses his arms in front of his chest in a display of impatience.]

First of all you'll tell me what brought that change of mind on. [It is no question.]

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[There's a slight hesitation]] There's been a lot of things... but...

[[one more short hesitation]]

I met someone today... from Ryuzaki's world...

[[how to even explain it...]]

Someone that Ryuzaki's afraid of.

[Action]

[feelsgoodinyou]

[He snorts, suddenly looking darkly amused.]

Really now.

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[looks down more, feeling rather uncomfortable]] And with everything going on with the riots and kidnappings... even more now... I don't want to keep being this weak...

[Action]

[feelsgoodinyou]

Hm. That doesn't sound like a bad idea. [He looks thoughtful for a moment. Then he leans forward and smiles.] I refuse. Can I go back to reading now?

[Action]

[shiromadoushi]

[[and Bakura utterly deflates, shoulders slumping the rest of the way.

He really should have expected that.

Slowly, he nods.]]

Ne...

if you want to stay... I don't mind. Ryuzaki isn't going to be over any time soon....

[[and right now, having the spirit in the other room was a comforting presence, despite how much of a jerk he was.]]

[Action]

[feelsgoodinyou]

[He makes a soft humming noise under his breath, his bad mood apparently pacified by the blow he had just dealt.

Pushing himself up from his position he starts sauntering back to 'his' room. His communicator is left lying where he had tossed it.]

You really should have known better than to come to me with a weak reason like that. Go to your 'friends' if you want to be sentimental.

[text | private]

[want_the_world]

Not really, but what's going on?

[text | private]

[shiromadoushi]

Have you talked to Ryuzaki this afternoon...?

[text | private]

[want_the_world]

Yes.

How much did you tell the new arrival?

[text | private]

[shiromadoushi]

Not much at all... nothing about anyone.

But I thought he was Ryuzaki, so I called him that name when I saw him...

that was enough.

[text | private]

[want_the_world]

He's impersonated Ryuuzaki before.

[text | private]

[shiromadoushi]

I couldn't tell he wasn't until I looked closely. After he said things that weren't right.

You would think I could have been able to tell sooner.

[text | private]

[want_the_world]

What did he say? I see he's claiming amnesia.

[text | private]

[shiromadoushi]

That he couldn't remember anything, just that the name Ryuzaki was familiar.

And that he wanted to meet the person who had his name and looked like him.

[text | private]

[want_the_world]

I'm not surprised. He's obsessed with him.

[text | private]

[shiromadoushi]

Do you know why? The reason they look alike isn't a coincidence, is it?

[text | private]

[want_the_world]

[If this were audio, Bakura would be able to hear a sigh, as Mello resigns himself to telling some of the background.]

Has Ryuuzaki told you, or have you figured out, what the deal was with where Near and I grew up?

[text | private]

[shiromadoushi]

Only a little... You were supposed to be come the next him, right?