Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 209 For the Sake of Bonds!!

No one can question our main characters' dedication to the concept of bonds. Not just in practice, but symbolically as well. One might laugh at the small "bondage" look both Yuugi and Yami sport, but it has been meant to literally represent the links between them and their friends at least in one instance; that chain on the Millennium Puzzle. Not the most subtle of fashion statements, I suppose, but at least it's less awkward than some I've seen.

I shudder at the fact that asshole!Bakura seems to think he can steal Yami's murder-grin while he's not using it, for example. Arms outstretched, he's prepared to receive the attack Yami has just called on him, the whole time wearing that smile like he's Jeff the Killer - which, by the way, is NOT a compliment. He's also spending his final conscious seconds internally defending why he's jumped to the defense of his host when this could be considered an entirely non-evil act. Apparently he's not too concerned with losing this battle in particular, because he's sure he's going to be the one getting those powers of darkness in the end. In order to accomplish the long game, though, his host body needs to stay intact, at least until he gets all the Millennium Items. This tournament aside, asshole!Bakura is certain that Yami will be trapped in eternal darkness not too long from now.

And with that, he's out.

... What was the point of him being in this tournament again? Oh, yeah, Yami had to win against SOMEONE relatively unimportant in the first round. This is made all the more obvious by Moar Cards Guy holding his hand up in a very unflattering salute as he declares that Yami is the winner of this first duel of the semi-finals. KAIBA himself has NO line here. Do the administrators of this tournament not give two shits about the safety... you know, I'm not going to ask the question I know the answer to all too well.

Yami's sideline friends call to him as he runs to Bakura's side, asking if he's okay. Give him time to check, dudes, geeeeeez. They're impatient, so they jump up onto the dueling stage to make sure as well, while Yami kneels to haul poor Bakura's head and shoulders up into a reclined position. Bakura stutters and wheezes, though his eyes are open and he's barely conscious. Yami implores him to hold on, with the rest of the gang surrounding them. He assures everyone that everything seems to be okay, since Bakura is at least AWAKE again, but Honda points out that Bakura's arm is still bleeding heavily and he'll need proper treatment. Maybe some stitches, if it's THAT bad. And a place to rest that's not on top of an airborne blimp. Anzu suggests they take Bakura back to his room. Mokuba, the one person in charge with even a smidgen of empathy, commands Moar Cards Guy to bring Bakura the first-aid kit.

Yeah, no. He didn't stub his fucking toe. Actual doctor. Stitches. For real.

Meaningless as it may be at this point, Moar Cards Guy agrees to but out that lackluster first-aid kit, directing the group once Bakura is lifted piggyback onto Honda and they begin to get him out of the frigid wind. Yami hangs back, contemplating poor, poor Bakura, while Anzu stoops to pick up the Millennium Ring, left behind in the rush to get Bakura to a better place. She regards it thoughtfully, reiterating the fact that Bakura was possessed by the spirit in there and admits she forgot how dangerous wearing it was. Yeah, apparently Bakura forgets that on the regular too.

Yami is considering the ring too, but in a different way. He thinks about its reasoning, sacrificing itself for its host. He can't help but conclude that this must be the fate of any spirit in a Millennium Item, evil or not; unable to protect the other self. Except that asshole!Bakura has succeeded in that endeavor? I'm not really certain if this is a mistranslation or a typo or something...? Anyway, in this way, whatever way that happens to be regarding the nature of protecting one's host, Yami thinks of asshole!Bakura as no different from himself.

Yuugi appears to Yami in the darkness of their internal conference room (I'm guessing), and says he thinks there's a bit of a difference between the two. Yami looks around at Yuugi with surprise, as though he's never been approached in mind-space by Yuugi before. It's weird. Yuugi gives him a meek smile and before making his case, says he understands that there are similarities; the two minds/one body deal is undeniable, as well as the spirit of the ring protecting his host mind. But, Yuugi says he actually WANTS to help Yami and isn't fighting against him. Yami stares silently while Yuugi goes on to say that ever since he finished the Millennium Puzzle and the two of them met, he's been hoping to get stronger, for Yami's sake as well as his own. I'm guessing this is another dig at Bakura for being weak in comparison. Some friend Yuugi is.

Yami considers this sufficient cheering-up, and agrees. Yuugi offers to do the only thing he can to help now, though, which is switch places with him. He argues that Yami should rest after his grueling battle with asshole!Bakura. Again, Yami nods in agreement, and the two of them do a mental high-five, excited to switch like it's a cool party trick. Well... maybe it is, in a way.

Yuugi takes control, I guess in a particularly conspicuous way, because Anzu looks over at him and exclaims his name. Scratching his cheek, he suggests that to her, "this" might be a bit pointless. Not sure what "this" is, because after a moment of confusion from Anzu, Yuugi starts to run after the party taking Bakura below decks, declaring that they have to help Bakura first.

Moving along, Anzu looks back down at the Millennium Ring and it seems to radiate some sinister energy. Anzu calls out to Yuugi and he turns to look back at her.

Great. Now SHE'S going to be carting it around where it doesn't belong. Fuck this ring.

As Yuugi begins his sprint after his injured friend again, Moar Cards Guy informs him that he's entitled to a rare card from loser Bakura's deck. Yuugi of course yells back at him that he doesn't want a fucking card from Bakura's deck and it isn't the time for that shit anyway. Good boy. Both Kaiba brothers stand off to the side, looking pretty relaxed for guys whose event has some major medical complications going on in there. Mokuba states again that Yami won the match, hands behind his head and elbows in the air as a weirdly reclined pose while he stands.

Elder Kaiba hums thoughtfully, musing that the person who beats Yami would also have to be one chosen by a god (card). He promises to beat Yami in the dueling field, like this is news or something. Why do these panels even exist? I don't know, but Moar Cards Guy announces that the second match's duelists will be determined in twenty minutes. You'd better be serving some hard whiskey during that twenty minutes, bro. I don't generally advocate under-age drinking, but I feel like I need it, and I'm not even THERE.

DOES he seem fine? I don't know if I would consider those dark bags under his eyes as "fine", but I guess that's just me.

Jonouchi warns everyone not to let their guards down, even though Yami won this past match, hunched and serious for once. Yuugi expresses some surprise that Bakura was capable of putting up such a fight, and Anzu reminds him that it's because of that other personality of his. Yuugi is well aware of THAT factor, as is anyone with eyes, so he clarifies that his concern stems from the fact that this intense effort interrupted a potential loss by Yami. Anzu, as if she hadn't been watching the duel at all, seems confused. Yuugi elaborates further that during the last turn, when regular!Bakura showed up on the edge of death, Yami just COULDN'T attack. If asshole!Bakura hadn't come back, Yami would have lost for his lack of attack. Jonouchi is in disbelief at the implication that asshole!Bakura actually let Yami win, but Yuugi amends that asshole!Bakura thought that Yami would attack, and so switched to protect the regular one.

This suggests to Jonouchi that the ploy of switching to regular!Bakura was a complete waste of time, then. Again, Yuugi has to correct him. He says that actually, there's yet ANOTHER mind in Bakura's head, and bringing out regular!Bakura was THEIR idea. Jonouchi and Honda are understandably shocked and confused by the fact that there are THREE personalities in there, even though the third one basically admitted it back when he brought regular!Bakura out. Through a proxy, at least, but shhhhhh, that's a secret.

Yes, Yuugi has concluded that the third person who's taken up residence in Bakura's mind is Marik, a fact that Jonouchi seems rather blown away by, despite being the last person who should. Man, I'm so jealous of this kid's ability to just block out or compartmentalize everything bad that happens to him. He's a fucking champion at it. He asks for clarification that it was the big cloaked guy; you know, the one who made the announcement that he was switching the personalities at the time? So unexpected!

Yuugi is certain that Marik used Bakura's life as a shield in the hopes of winning, but was stopped by asshole!Bakura. Marik was the one who was able to predict that Yami wouldn't be able to attack a severely injured opponent, not the spirit of the Millennium Ring. Weird, considering asshole!Bakura has known Yami a whole lot longer than Marik and should be a better predictor at this kind of thing. But whatever.

If for no other reason than that he's stealing character judgments from people who are more qualified to have them.

Anzu asks Yuugi how Marik even got into Bakura's head. I don't know, Anzu, maybe you should be asking yourself that question. Regardless, Yuugi has the external answer she's looking for: the Millennium Rod, with which Marik can brainwash people. Extreme closeup on one of Jonouchi's eyes as he jumps up from his chair, and asks if this is the same guy who brainwashed him to play that sick match with Yuugi before the semifinals. Has... has he actually forgotten this information? Because he seemed to know who Marik was before and now...

Yuugi hums his confirmation, and Jonouchi growls before thrusting his fist into a nearby wall, cursing, saying that he can't forgive this, and then vowing to defeat this dude. Yeah, good luck remembering with your track record. Just above the dent Jonouchi has put in the wall, Moar Cards Guy appears. As Jonouchi clutches the wrist of his stinging fist in agony, Moar Cards Guy announces that it's time for them to pick the next dueling pair, asking them to gather in the communal area. Jonouchi recovers quickly at this request, declaring himself the duelist of justice and responsible for defeating the evil-doers, aching fist raised resolutely. Yuugi and Honda stare at him, part embarrassed and part put-off.

Shizuka follows Jonouchi and his friends from the room, cheering him with her fist in the air as well. Anzu, however, remains sitting, promising to stay and care for Bakura. The boys agree to this, Honda expressing his faith in her capable hands, and as the door clicks shut behind them, Anzu puts on a suspicious little smile. Bakura continues to snooze, but...

"I think I know where I'm gonna put this..."

Moar Cards Guy is just as enthusiastic as ever once everyone is gathered around him, declaring it's time to pick the next two duelists on the docket once again. He's holding a hand high over his head as he announces the start of the Blue Eyes Bingo Machine again. His excitement seems to overshadow that  of the duelists themselves. Kaiba, give this dude a raise.

The lots bounce around in the dome, minus the seven and five, of course, representing the remaining six who haven't had a turn yet. Jonouchi demands that the machine spit out his number, but Mokuba insists that Seto's number is next. Which one of them is right? The two lots roll into the mouths of the dragons at the bottom and Moar Cards Guy says that the next two lucky semifinalists are...

If this isn't a cautionary tale to be careful what you wish for, I don't know what is.

Jonouchi hasn't figured out how fucked he probably is, though, to NO ONE'S surprise. He glares over at "Marik" with hatred and shaking fists. He promises to beat the brainwashing bastard with those very fists. A short time and a speed-line panel later, Jonouchi and "Marik" face each other on the dueling stage on top of the blimp, glaring. Yuugi cheers from the pit next to the stage, shouting that he has to win and Mai cheers next to him. Shizuka calls at him to do his best. He's not paying much attention to this, dwelling instead that there won't be any love lost between he and "Marik" when the duel concludes, bidding "Marik" to prepare himself. "Marik" of course just glares right back, but I'm pretty sure that's just how his face looks.

The real Marik describes Jonouchi as a little mouse who is caught easily by small traps, so mentally urges Rishid to use the trap method to quickly dispatch him. Yuugi just stares at the man he believes to be Marik with anger. Kaiba smirks, thinking that if this Marik guy really has the Ra card somewhere in his deck, Jonouchi will make a perfect lab rat for its use. Man, everyone is referring to Jonouchi as a rodent right now. If Marik in Kaiba's head too?

Anyway, Jonouchi calls for the start of the duel, eagerness fueled by pure rage.

Aaaaaaand here we go again.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? This translation was a bit difficult to parse, so there were a couple of parts that I'm not sure what the conversation is trying to convey. That comment that Anzu might find something unspecified pointless? I'm just honestly baffled. The best I can guess is that she might have thought the switch between Yuugi and Yami was pointless, but I can't imagine why Yuugi would think this. It's just bizarre. I tried to find a better translation but couldn't, so...

Regarding the difference between the Yuugis and Bakuras, I'm a little surprised at how short the conversation was. It seemed to try to open back up that old insecurity Yami had about being an "evil" spirit, way back at the end of Duelist Kingdom, but it just... stopped? Part of this quest to find his memories includes the possibility of finding some not-so-flattering bits to his character, so you would think this might be an understandable insecurity to build on as the tournament goes on and Yami gets closer to learning those memories. But Yuugi appears to resolve this issue with some commentary on his own place in their relationship - his consent in the process. It's a great place to go, because it's obvious that Bakura is just not as active in his relationship with the spirit of the ring, and at worst is very against it. Both this and the evil-spirit conflict deserve a lot more attention than this, and it MIGHT get that attention, but... I don't know, this interaction seemed so abrupt and FINAL. We'll see.

Speaking of that evil-spirit conflict, this is certainly Marik's attitude toward Yami (another reason this should be addressed in greater detail for Yami's personal unease). He's constantly referring to Yami as the reason Marik and his family have suffered so much over the millennia, and he's gunning to get rid of him for this primary reason. So WHY would he turn around and believe that Yami is capable of withholding an attack and losing for the sake of his friend's life? This is something that is fundamentally good, showing mercy and wielding power with caution and benevolence. It should go against Marik's characterization of Yami entirely, yet here he is, pitting Yami against friends and putting said friends in danger to make him hesitate, the way he wouldn't if he were the villain Marik constructed in his head.

For that matter, WHY is Marik trying to make Yami lose AT ALL at this point in the tournament? I know I've asked this question before, but it doesn't make much sense that Marik isn't willing to wait to face Yami like everyone else. Sure, sure, I can see Marik using his Rare Hunters and Ghouls as a window into Yami's strategy to prepare himself rather than going in blind. But out-and-out trying to get him to lose long before he faces Yami himself? It's gone beyond toying with the enemy and straight to what looks an awful lot like cowardice.

Or, more likely, outright nonsense. Marik is another Kaiba - just doing and saying and believing whatever the plot requires in order to make outlandish things happen. Just think of how different this duel might have been had everyone acted in accordance with what the characters had already established. Asshole!Bakura would have been the one to bring out regular!Bakura in order to trip up Yami, Marik wouldn't have switched them back at all because he doesn't care a whit about regular!Bakura and thinks he's an inert soul anyway, and Yami would have had to lose.

That corner KT wrote himself into assassinated a LOT of characters, now that I think about it.