Bakura managed to cleanly get away from the hospital where they thought he was in a coma. Idiots... There would be a lot more 'coma' victims if anybody touched him again. When he woke up he was in one of those paper hospital dresses! So that meant somebody had undressed him-- although he quickly hunted down his clothes and changed back into them. Which wasn't something you should've done to an angry ex-spirit. If he had the Millennium Ring all of those fool doctors would be in the Shadow Realm.
But his hikari had the ring, of course. He knew that since he had taken control of Ryou in Kira's place. Bakura hated feeling so weak then, without a Millennium Item at all. He'd have to resort to physical strength in case of anything, which wasn't his best feat. He'd much rather use magic than anything else, but he was still strong enough to handle himself. That was why he was able to deal with all the annoying others who lingered around his hikari.
Scowling, Bakura remembered how much he hated those people; Girl mostly. As he fumed in his mind, he slipped on a little ice and fell to the ground swearing loudly. Not too many people were out today, of course. Most shops were closed, which was just as well. No need for people to get in his way.
As he tried to spit a mouthful of snow out, he glanced blearily up to see two figures standing over him, one holding out a hand to help him up. Because of the blinding brightness of the snow, Bakura couldn't make out who they were for a moment, but the star-shaped hair gave them away immediately.
Growling now, Bakura pushed away Yugi's outstretched hand and got to his feet on his own. He was easily taller than both the pharaoh and his hikari, which was good for glaring down at them. He smirked, always enjoying the thought of the pharaoh being so small.
Atem matched Bakura's glare, hoping that he wouldn't have to deal with the thief's bad actions today. Of all days, did he really have to run into Bakura today? He silently told himself that maybe if he didn't make any bad comment towards the white-haired yami he wouldn't have much-- or any-- trouble from him.
"Hello, Bakura," Atem greeted cautiously, making sure his voice held no hatred. It was hard for him when an image of Ryou came into his mind, reminding him of the boy's blinded self, thanks to Bakura. "I'm a little suprised to see you walking out here like this. Where are you going?" Arching an eyebrow, Atem suddenly noticed that Bakura didn't have any Millennium Items. If he really wanted to, he could probably deal with the thief for good right then. Smiling-- and forcing himself not to have it a smirk-- he wanted to see what Bakura would do.
Bakura's eyes narrowed at the pharaoh. Was he trying to act nice? He wasn't doing a very good job at it. Though his words and smile held no hatred, his eyes betrayed him. Well, this would be interesting. He noted Atem's eyes flickering towards his chest and could tell that the pharaoh knew he didn't have any items. It'd be best not to start anything right then.
"Actually, I'm going to see my hikari. Shouldn't this be a day you spend with those closest to you?" He asked in an innocent voice, and for once it wasn't mocking. He suprised himself, and could see Atem's eyes widen slightly at his sincerity. "Since I don't really have any friends, besides Marik, I suppose, Ryou's the closest. Besides that, Malik's with Ryou, which means I could see Marik as well."
Atem nodded his head slightly. So the thief was playing along as well. He wondered how long the both of them could last. It'd probably all be over in a little while. Yugi cast him a confused look, wondering why Bakura was acting so out of character. Atem explained it in their mind link, assuring the boy that things were okay and that the thief was no more insane than usual.
"Of course, of course." Atem said to Bakura, looking a little thoughtful. "Yugi and I finished our own celebration of Christmas ourselves and were taking a walk. Do you think Kira-- whose house I assume they're at-- would mind if we tagged along with you? Just to say hello to the others."
Bakura gritted his teeth. He swore to himself that he wouldn't crack, he'd leave that to the pharaoh. He was much more collected than Atem right then, and usually was other times. But he didn't want the pharaoh and his hikari coming along, that was for sure. He'd probably be able to shake them off sooner or later.
Giving the two star-haired boys a bright grin, he nodded his head eagerly. "That'd be great! The more the merrier, I guess. I don't think you know the way. C'mon." He nodded his head in the direction of Kira's home, and started walking.
Atem was utterly baffled. He hadn't expected this. Wondering if the thief was planning something, he looked at Yugi, who had a nervous expression on his face. Atem forced himself to look sure of himself, and nodded his head. Even if Bakura was planning something he'd be able to handle it. He and Yugi followed Bakura, and Atem continued on in their conversation. Wait. He was actually conversing with the soul stealer?!
"I don't suppose you've gotten Ryou a gift, have you? If you haven't I must suggest that you do. It's so much more pleasant if you do." Atem said cheerfully, actually feeling as though he were speaking to somebody normal other than the insane, sadistic tomb robber.
Bakura pretended to consider this. He could try to get Atem angry, but that would ruin his fun. Instead he nodded his head to the pharaoh's suprise. "I hadn't thought about that. I'm not too familiar with the customs of people today." He glanced around himself. "I doubt that anyplace would be open right now, though."
Atem followed Bakura's gaze around them. "Well there has to be someplace open. Let's look around a bit more before giving in, hm? I'm sure that even if there isn't anything you could maybe make something for your hikari."
Bakura looked a little suprised at the pharaoh's suggestion, his eyes widening. Gods... He was actually talking to the pharaoh as though they hadn't tried to kill each other in the past. What was worse was that he didn't hate this. "You could help me with it if I decided to try and make something." He said, nodding his head and smiling slightly. "If you want to, that is."
Atem bit his tounge for a moment before responding. "Of course I'd help. But let's first try and find a store." After about a half-hour of searching, they found a Wal-Mart like store that was open, just as Wal-Marts always are. They went in and Bakura purchased something-- actually dug out money from his pocket and paid for it!-- then started to head back towards Kira's place. Atem felt no more pressure to give in to this game, to start acting with hatred.
Bakura looked over at the pharaoh when they were near Kira's home, and was truly suprised not to see the hatred that was in his eyes. He turned away and glared at a wall, reminding himself that he should be hating Atem. Dammit... He shouldn't've started to play this 'game' in the first place. A smile replaced his glare as they reached the front door, and he started to reach for the handle before Atem coughed slightly, and he froze. His hand moved away from the handle and he knocked on the door, wondering why he couldn't've just opened it, or picked it open.
But his hikari had the ring, of course. He knew that since he had taken control of Ryou in Kira's place. Bakura hated feeling so weak then, without a Millennium Item at all. He'd have to resort to physical strength in case of anything, which wasn't his best feat. He'd much rather use magic than anything else, but he was still strong enough to handle himself. That was why he was able to deal with all the annoying others who lingered around his hikari.
Scowling, Bakura remembered how much he hated those people; Girl mostly. As he fumed in his mind, he slipped on a little ice and fell to the ground swearing loudly. Not too many people were out today, of course. Most shops were closed, which was just as well. No need for people to get in his way.
As he tried to spit a mouthful of snow out, he glanced blearily up to see two figures standing over him, one holding out a hand to help him up. Because of the blinding brightness of the snow, Bakura couldn't make out who they were for a moment, but the star-shaped hair gave them away immediately.
Growling now, Bakura pushed away Yugi's outstretched hand and got to his feet on his own. He was easily taller than both the pharaoh and his hikari, which was good for glaring down at them. He smirked, always enjoying the thought of the pharaoh being so small.
Atem matched Bakura's glare, hoping that he wouldn't have to deal with the thief's bad actions today. Of all days, did he really have to run into Bakura today? He silently told himself that maybe if he didn't make any bad comment towards the white-haired yami he wouldn't have much-- or any-- trouble from him.
"Hello, Bakura," Atem greeted cautiously, making sure his voice held no hatred. It was hard for him when an image of Ryou came into his mind, reminding him of the boy's blinded self, thanks to Bakura. "I'm a little suprised to see you walking out here like this. Where are you going?" Arching an eyebrow, Atem suddenly noticed that Bakura didn't have any Millennium Items. If he really wanted to, he could probably deal with the thief for good right then. Smiling-- and forcing himself not to have it a smirk-- he wanted to see what Bakura would do.
Bakura's eyes narrowed at the pharaoh. Was he trying to act nice? He wasn't doing a very good job at it. Though his words and smile held no hatred, his eyes betrayed him. Well, this would be interesting. He noted Atem's eyes flickering towards his chest and could tell that the pharaoh knew he didn't have any items. It'd be best not to start anything right then.
"Actually, I'm going to see my hikari. Shouldn't this be a day you spend with those closest to you?" He asked in an innocent voice, and for once it wasn't mocking. He suprised himself, and could see Atem's eyes widen slightly at his sincerity. "Since I don't really have any friends, besides Marik, I suppose, Ryou's the closest. Besides that, Malik's with Ryou, which means I could see Marik as well."
Atem nodded his head slightly. So the thief was playing along as well. He wondered how long the both of them could last. It'd probably all be over in a little while. Yugi cast him a confused look, wondering why Bakura was acting so out of character. Atem explained it in their mind link, assuring the boy that things were okay and that the thief was no more insane than usual.
"Of course, of course." Atem said to Bakura, looking a little thoughtful. "Yugi and I finished our own celebration of Christmas ourselves and were taking a walk. Do you think Kira-- whose house I assume they're at-- would mind if we tagged along with you? Just to say hello to the others."
Bakura gritted his teeth. He swore to himself that he wouldn't crack, he'd leave that to the pharaoh. He was much more collected than Atem right then, and usually was other times. But he didn't want the pharaoh and his hikari coming along, that was for sure. He'd probably be able to shake them off sooner or later.
Giving the two star-haired boys a bright grin, he nodded his head eagerly. "That'd be great! The more the merrier, I guess. I don't think you know the way. C'mon." He nodded his head in the direction of Kira's home, and started walking.
Atem was utterly baffled. He hadn't expected this. Wondering if the thief was planning something, he looked at Yugi, who had a nervous expression on his face. Atem forced himself to look sure of himself, and nodded his head. Even if Bakura was planning something he'd be able to handle it. He and Yugi followed Bakura, and Atem continued on in their conversation. Wait. He was actually conversing with the soul stealer?!
"I don't suppose you've gotten Ryou a gift, have you? If you haven't I must suggest that you do. It's so much more pleasant if you do." Atem said cheerfully, actually feeling as though he were speaking to somebody normal other than the insane, sadistic tomb robber.
Bakura pretended to consider this. He could try to get Atem angry, but that would ruin his fun. Instead he nodded his head to the pharaoh's suprise. "I hadn't thought about that. I'm not too familiar with the customs of people today." He glanced around himself. "I doubt that anyplace would be open right now, though."
Atem followed Bakura's gaze around them. "Well there has to be someplace open. Let's look around a bit more before giving in, hm? I'm sure that even if there isn't anything you could maybe make something for your hikari."
Bakura looked a little suprised at the pharaoh's suggestion, his eyes widening. Gods... He was actually talking to the pharaoh as though they hadn't tried to kill each other in the past. What was worse was that he didn't hate this. "You could help me with it if I decided to try and make something." He said, nodding his head and smiling slightly. "If you want to, that is."
Atem bit his tounge for a moment before responding. "Of course I'd help. But let's first try and find a store." After about a half-hour of searching, they found a Wal-Mart like store that was open, just as Wal-Marts always are. They went in and Bakura purchased something-- actually dug out money from his pocket and paid for it!-- then started to head back towards Kira's place. Atem felt no more pressure to give in to this game, to start acting with hatred.
Bakura looked over at the pharaoh when they were near Kira's home, and was truly suprised not to see the hatred that was in his eyes. He turned away and glared at a wall, reminding himself that he should be hating Atem. Dammit... He shouldn't've started to play this 'game' in the first place. A smile replaced his glare as they reached the front door, and he started to reach for the handle before Atem coughed slightly, and he froze. His hand moved away from the handle and he knocked on the door, wondering why he couldn't've just opened it, or picked it open.
