monster reborn

            He took a step back from the ghost on instinct before standing his ground, fists clenched at his side. He’d survived possession. He could survive a haunting from the very same Spirit. “ You still need me alive, ” Ryou said. The state of his mind or his soul after that were debatable, but the Spirit, at the very least, couldn’t kill him if he wanted to be anymore than an apparition. That much he could count on. But the Spirit gaining power, taking shape… He didn’t doubt his promise to make things miserable, but…

            “ I can send you right back, Spirit. Don’t think I won’t. ”

            But things had been dull. But he finally had his life back and something was still missing. But this was a terrible idea and he really shouldn’t even be considering it… And yet.

            His eyes flicked between the ghost and his room where his cat was peeking out the door with her ears flat and her tail fluffed. He could ward off his bedroom. Make it a no go for the Spirit. And the rest of the place… well, they both liked games.

“Try me.” He chuckled again. “I’m not going anywhere. It doesn’t matter what you do now.” The apparition moved across the wall, observing Ryou’s room for a moment as if to decide where he wanted to go next and what kind of things he wanted to toy with. It would be no fun if Ryou was aware of all his tricks so soon though. He’d have to wait a while to experiment. 

Receiving praise of a genuine nature instead of in some backhanded way was definitely not something he had experienced from the spirit before, and now he had heard it it dawned on him just how much he needed it. He couldn’t deny that he had a respect and admiration for Bakura that no else would understand, but the way he could battle through everything and come out the other side stronger than before was a trait Ryo had tried to learn for himself. For a few times he felt that he had improved and grown as a person, and hearing those words served as a great reassurance. He knew that there was a softer side to the spirit, no matter how much of a front he put on or how he tried to hide it deep inside of him. Perhaps he had even kept it locked away from others for long that he truly believed that side was no longer there, but Ryo knew different. He truly believed that there was good inside of everyone, it was just that some needed a little more time than others. He refused to believe that the world was just black and white, good and evil, and with no room for change. 

Eyes fell to the hands that had been extended towards him and a small, albeit sorrowful, smile graced his lips. Tentatively did he take hold of the hands that were so much like his own. They might’ve been a little calloused and rough around the edges, much like Bakura was as a whole, but they were also soft in places, warm, and dare he say it..? They provided stability, offering a support that no one else could possibly rival. Carefully did he thread their fingers together, entwining them like their souls had been for years, and moved in closer to rest his forehead upon Bakura’s shoulder. 

The spirit stiffened for a moment as his landlord essentially laid himself on him. He was unused to contact -- for years and years Bakura had been on his own. The last time he’d ever had a friendly, affectionate touch from anyone other than Ryo himself had been from his mother before she passed. Ever since he’d known nothing but anger, violence, sorrow, and pain. There was nothing else. He was convinced that there was nothing else. And yet, here he was, being abnormally soft, and... liking it, deep down. And he hated that he liked it.

“Nope.” Came his simple reply, too much in the zone painting this figure to be bothered to respond with more than a simple word. Or perhaps it was simply stubbornness that kept Ryou from letting the spirit break his concentration. Honestly, he didn’t know himself at this point.

Jillian frowned as he spoke. She wasn’t sure why he thought she kept staring at him, because she wasn’t. She may have shot a few glances at him over the past few minutes, but she hadn’t been staring.. At least, she didn’t think that classified as staring. “I was not staring at you!”she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.

                There was something different about seeing the Spirit like this. When the Ring had been around his neck, the Spirit’s projection was clear and clean, a replica of himself had the world made Ryou sharper and cruel like him. Like this, the Spirit was just another ghost, distorted and caught between the shadows. And Ryou couldn’t just break the image by taking off the Ring this time.

                “ Liar, ” Ryou said, the accusation soft, simple, and matter of fact. “ You miss my body. There’s a difference. ” He glanced at the board and the Spirit and clenched his fist. How had he managed to jump the board like that so quickly? And he was already trying to make a go at him… “ I won’t let you. I wanted to help you move on, not this. ”

Alright, so maybe it was Ryou’s body that he had preference towards, not the boy himself. But those were all unnecessary details. No matter the specifics, he still missed the boy -- needed the boy, even. After all, there had been no other vessel so perfect for him to inhabit. Rather than just corrupting the wearer of the Ring, he’d been able to fully manifest in Ryou’s body and possess it fully. He’d never be able to find another body that he could work with so well.

“Oh so THAT’S who I’m talking to. Well… at least I take risks instead of waiting forever to actually do something like a lazy piece of freeloading shit, but that’s just me.”

                    The planchette jerked suddenly up to NO before the Spirit launched it off the board again and Ryou had a moment to consider that all of this has been a terrible mistake on his part. He scrambled for the pointer but before he could get his hands on it, it felt as though he’d been slammed by an invisible force. Disorienting, but not painful, his body was still his, even if charm around his wrist grew warm against his skin. Ryou’s eyes darted around his living room. “ Spirit! Whatever you’re doing, stop it right now! ” He got his hand on the planchette and slapped it back down on the board, directly over the message he needed. “ Goodbye, Spirit. ”

                    But nothing changed. The presence in his home didn’t vanish. His eyes darted to the shadows as the Spirit manifested himself. This… this was definitely not one of his better ideas. Ryou stood and backed away from the board. “ No… No, I will not be your host any more, ” he said, hand wrapping around the charm on his wrist. 

Amused that Ryou had attempted to end the game despite the spirit already escaping, he let out a laugh. Eyeing the hold on his wrist, assuming whatever it was under his hand was what was keeping him from entering his body. Oh well. He was a step closer than he had been before. And he would do everything in his power to get back in there. Within reason, of course. He couldn’t go weakening himself too much. For all he knew, Ryou could try to banish him while he was recovering.

If Bakura had to be honest, he hadn’t entirely anticipated seeing this woman again. Not after he tried so intently to shoot her. He supposed it could have been worse, he could have actually harmed her. But lucky her, the few remaining pieces of his host had protected her. But what the hell was he supposed to say? Sorry for trying to kill you?

No. That would be too awkward. Instead, he would turn the other way and pretend to do... something else. Anything else.