Yami Bakura

Name: Yami Bakura/ Dark Bakura / 闇獏良

Age: 3000+ estimate

Height: 176cm / 5'9

Weight: 52kg / 115lbs

Blood Type: AB

Yami Bakura is the spirit inside of the Millennium Ring and inhabits Ryou Bakura's body. He is the amalgamation of Zorc Necrophades and Thief King Bakura, a result from the two entities being sealed away for several millennia. Yami Bakura is arrogant and prideful and enjoys violence. Like Ryou he also enjoys games but prefers a shadow game with higher stakes. His main goal is to collect the seven Millennium Items and unlock their power.

Debuts

Yami Bakura was introduced to the series in chapter 15 of the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga titled: "Millennium Enemy 1: The Mysterious Transfer Student" or "千年の敵１ -謎の転校生-" in japanese. At first, only is prescence is clear, as when his host Ryou Bakura holds Yugi's Millennium Puzzle his prescence is known by the sharp pain Ryou feels, as he was about to tell Yugi about his own Millennium Item. When he goes to the bathroom, we can hear him laughing in Ryou's head, although both Ryou and the reader are unsure who he is yet. Once Ryou gets home after the incident is when we finally see him speak and eventually take over.

Yami Bakura's debut in the first Yu-Gi-Oh! anime adaptation in 1998 was in episode 19 titled: "The Grand Melee!! Popularity Contest" or "大乱戦！！ 人気コンテスト" in japanese. As Yugi and Miho were talking on the street, Ryou, most likely possesesed by Yami Bakura as Ryou asks Yugi "Did I do something to you just now?" However, he only gets a speaking role in episode 24 titled: "Now! The Time of Decision - The Miracle of Friendship" or " 今！ 決着の時 奇跡の友情" in Japanese. Ryou exclaims in private "It's like someone's trying to open up from inside me!" Yami Bakura then finally comes out and comments that Yugi is truly worthy of the Millennium Puzzle and declares himself as his next opponent.

Yami Bakura's debut in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters was in episode 12 titled: "Trial by Red Eyes" or "黒き炎！ レッドアイズ・ブラックドラゴン" in the japanese version. When Yugi agrees to duel Ryou, Yami Bakura comes out and iniates a shadow game, trapping Yugi and his friends' souls into their favorite cards. He plans to take Yugi's Millenium Puzzle before Yami Yugi stops him and duels him.

Yami Bakura's debut in Yu☆Gi☆Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions was at the 1 hour and 4 minute mark. After Ryou's father wore the Millennium Ring, he was deemed unworthy and collapsed, the ring flying off as a result. He orders his son Ryou to retrieve it, and when he does the ring takes him as a host and releases Yami Bakura, who kills Shadi shortly after.

Why I like him

Why do I like Yami Bakura you may ask? Well firstly, I can't help but love an edgy character. An ancient spirit who loves stealing, killing and tasting blood? And looks good in a black trenchcoat? Sign me up! But my love for Yami Bakura extends past that. For one, I love his interesting dynamic with his host Ryou and how different it is to the main protagonists Yugi and Yami Yugi. He's more distant and sinister but still prioritizes keeping Ryou's soul safe and even takes vengeance on his behalf, though does not seem to care about physically harming him. I think this darkness and cruelty make Yami Bakura an interesting contrast for a series aimed at a younger audience and with a more wholesome main cast. I also like him because he's unpredictable, especially so in the manga. He goes from almost killing Yugi, to cheering him on as he duels Otogi. I was always wondering what he'd do next, his character keeps me on my toes! With his arrogant personality it's fun to see him bicker, especially with Malik. I also resonate with his dark actions, like watching him onscreen is a guilty pleasure. As humans, we all have dark thoughts, but I feel as though mine are especially all-consuming, (not diagnosed with anything... yet,) and it's cathartic watching Yami Bakura do horrific things like stab himself or gouge Pegasus' eye or send countless people to the shadow realm, all behind the persona of Ryou Bakura. I relate to this, as sometimes I do feel like a bad person, hiding in a nice person's body. Yeah, these sections tend to get weird lol.

Character Relationships

Marik Ishtar first met Yami Bakura due to the millennium ring tracking him down during Battle City. With Yami Bakura wanting Marik's rod and Marik wanting Osiris and to defeat the pharaoh, the two make a deal and partner with each other. With Yami Bakura going so far as to stab himself for their plans. When Marik decided to confront his Yami, he once again partnered with Yami Bakura, using his body to duel Yami Marik as Marik lost control.

Yugi Mutou has a negative relationship with Yami Bakura, as he's tried to send him to the shadow realm on multiple occassions. He often uses Yugi and his friends to get his way but Yami Bakura did help him when he dueled Otogi Ryuuji in the manga.

Yami Yugi is Yami Bakura's main antagonist, from his side of the story. Because Yami Bakura also wants all seven millennium items and Yami Yugi has the millennium puzzle, their relationship is mainly conflicts and shadow games.