Bakura's Choice (Part 2)

DIMENSION: MANGA (The One That Saves the Day

Hanasake's House

Bakura looked at the millennium ring around his neck. It was practically bursting with power. When Ryou Bakura had opened his front door, someone just shoved the ring right in his hands before he knew what happened. Wanting to know who was behind it, Bakura used his ring and went to a strange house. A normal house in an upscale neighborhood. Nothing like Kaiba's and nothing like Yuugi's pathetic Game Store dwelling.

Yet, he could feel dark power within it. He was sitting on the couch, waiting for the host to tell him what was going on. As he was served chips with soda. "Why did you give me back the millennium ring?"

"My boss wants to make a proposition. This is sort of our temporary base. I'm sure that'll be changing soon." He sat down next to someone else on the couch. "You've got a lot of pent up rage for Atem. You were taken down more than once. How would you like a chance for some revenge?"

"That didn't answer my question at all."

///Ryou Bakura/// Bandit King, please, let's go! Please. Please let go of the ring. You don't need it. Please. You've been good so far. A little slip-up with your friend, but everyone has a slip-up. Don't do this!///

"If you follow our leader's path, and do what he wants? You can not only have the ring, but the body you're in too. We have another sealed game of Dragon Cards. If you're good, at the end, Ryou Bakura's soul will be neatly separated from you. No quick blast that's dangerous, you become the host."

"The host?" The Bandit King scoffed. "Impossible, a spirit would perish."

"No, very possible. The gods allow it." He just smiled nicely at him.

"Permanent host." Appealing, but he wasn't what they thought he was. ///Bandit King: Just hold on, we need to know who's in charge of this new order that has these millennium items.///

///Ryou Bakura: I knew you couldn't get rid of me! I knew you just needed time to even out! Thank you!///

///Bandit King: Just shut up./// "What do you need from me?" Bakura continued to talk.

"With the ring, you'll stay in control," his new 'team member' insisted. "Our Pharaoh wants to work with you, a means to make up for a past."

Our Pharaoh? "Another spirit has come into the world again? Isn't everything a free-for-all these days?"

"Don't just call him another spirit. He's a god. I didn't just show up. The wimpy guy next to me isn't half as wimpy as he appears."

"Pharaoh has come back to help correct everything," the wimpy guy next to him said. "Mankind has gone astray, it needs tethered and controlled before it destroys everything."

///Ryou Bakura: I know that man, that's Tomoyo Hanasake! I wasn't friends with him, but Yuugi had been. Oh no. What happened?///

"So I guess I see how Dragon Cards really work after all." Bakura tried to feel something from them. Something separate. A millennium item. A host. Anything.

"Guaranteed. The game's been working for years. Hanasake played it a little too deep though."

"Pharaoh is making his move today. I didn't think it'd be a big deal," Hanasake answered. "Fetch us your sister."

Bakura laughed. "I don't have a sister."

"No. It was the wording back then? You were raised together, brother and sister. Your sister. Surely you know where she is? Masika?"

Oh. Were they kidding? ///Bandit King: They are talking about Rider./// "Far from my sister, but I might have an idea who you speak of."

"Far from sister? Oh, don't you get it?" That spread on his face. That grin, it was controlled. "You know the great thing about life? It comes with more than just names, but lives with names. Did you really believe the only time you lived before was the 'Thief Bandit King'?"

///Bandit King: Oh, now, ooooh. I am so interested in this.///

///Ryou Bakura: Don't go overboard, please.///

"Was I of the royal persuasion, living fancy in the palace?" Bakura teased. No, of course they shook their heads. That would never be him. "Besides fetch my 'sister', what does he want?"

"Guards wear the gods' items," Hanasake said. "To deal with the controversial people who wish not to follow Greatest Pharaoh of All Time."

///Bandit King: The bastard really thinks another ancient spirit is a god./// "You seem fairly convinced."

"We are here again, because of him. Everything is because of him. Everything will be because of him," Hanasake said. "The living god who can summon the other gods yet live like a man."

///Bandit King: Why do I get the feeling this is going to be some deep shit we are not prepared for?/// "He brought you here? He brought spirits, from the afterlife, here?"

"Yes and he recreated the Dragon Card games for convenient fun," Hanasake answered. "He can do more than anyone knows, but he's also merciful. He is both your enemy and your savior, as Pharaoh should be. He is even willing to give some rule to the light and dark of Atem, if he plays nice."

///Bandit King: Just who is this man? Who are we dealing with?/// "He has that kind of power? Wow, well, isn't that a nifty leader. I don't suppose he was the one who gave Rider and Pharaoh-"

"That man is not Pharaoh," Hanasake warned him. "His name is Atem and he is no one important."

"Name your city," his 'other team member' said.

"So if I want Tokyo to survive, all I have to do is say 'I want to rule Tokyo'?" Bakura paused. "I don't have any names from you."

"Oh you know how names are," the 'other team member' said. "Just call me Haruto. We all take our host's names since we have their memories anyway. It creates less of a stir."

"Haruto. How many other spirits have found a new body on Earth?" Bakura asked. "I'd just like a general number."

"Greatest Pharaoh of All Time has rescued his original kingdom."

"And that would be?" Bakura asked cautiously.

"Almost one million, so not taking the hosts life would cause potential problems," Haruto stated. "Hanasake, you take care of the rest with him. I have to go greet the mother and father for a dinner with the wife."

///Ryou Bakura: One million people. There were one million people taken over, just so his kingdom was resurrected?///

That is might. ///Bandit King: Whoever this Pharaoh had been, he had power./// "What is his name? The mighty Pharaoh's name? I'd love to know it. Humans have tally boards on these things. It would give me a better way of knowing his accomplishments."

"Pharaoh was not used when he was Pharaoh. However, it fits closest to the term of who he is," Hanasake added. "It's nice here, isn't it?" He smiled. "I like it here much better. Hanasake has friends, goes on great travels, but he always comes back to a nice cozy house and a family. He has two healthy daughters and a beautiful wife. Clearly he was blessed."

///Ryou Bakura: He's raising Hanasake's family? Deceiving his wife and children? It's sick!///

"Funny," Bakura said. "I don't know if I really want to help. I rather like the technology of today. Wiping out everything will put a cramp in today's style."

"You're a commanding leader with the item you possess. Those who wish for continued technology may wield it with those."

"So the next media will be Mixi for millennium items?" Bakura teased.

"Yes, that's right. Your ring is a millennium item. One of the unique weapons, Greatest Pharaoh of All Time admires your skill. Yes, you can use your heka with your item and live as you once did. Others will be less fortunate, but that's the way the world has always worked. The top have always benefited from Pharaoh's power."

"That I believe greatly."

///Ryou Bakura: Not now, Bakura. Can we concentrate please on what to do to not let the end of the world come?///

The Bandit King waited. ///Bandit King: If they aren't crazy and absolute full of shit. I don't think there is a way to stop it.///

///Ryou Bakura: Please stop joking!///

///Bandit King: I'm not joking, Ryou Bakura. The best I can do is make sure we survive this./// "I'll watch over Domino City."

"Oh? I took Domino City too," Hanasake said. "The Greatest Pharaoh Who Ever Lived doesn't care how many are protecting a city, it's just about the protection area overall. The Cities will probably be renamed and redrawn as time goes by and the world heals and begins again."

///Ryou Bakura: The world isn't going to heal, he wants utter destruction and complete reign by some Pharaoh! Bakura? Can't we do anything?///

"I have an affinity for torture," Bakura answered him. "Just in case Atem doesn't want to play, then I want to play with him. I want the part with the Game Shop of the City."

///Ryou Bakura: At the very least. If this is it? Thank you for that.///