A/N: Oookay, so I had no idea what this was going to be when I started writing it, but now I think I have it all planned out- except for the end, of course. This chapter was kind of hell to write, and I'm still not sure if I like it or not, but I have been "assured" (translation: my girlfriend beat it into me) that it's good, so whatever. I promise it'll start picking up after this chapter. I do actually have a plot, bear with me. …And there WILL be sex, so help me Ra.

Pairings: Bakura x Ryou, Otogi x Ryou and possibly some other fun combinations therein. =) Btw, apparently Otogi x Ryou is called minorshipping. o_O

Disclaimer: don't own. That's why it's called FANfiction. _

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Ever since I was little, I've always loved riding in airplanes. When I used to be a part of a family- a loving unit made up of a mother, father, sister and myself, we made sure to take frequent vacations to exciting locations all over the world. Tokyo, London, Cairo, New York and even Shanghai- I had seen them all and every time we took off for some new adventure, I made sure I was comfortably seated by the window. There was always something absolutely exhilarating about leaning against that cool glass, big old-fashioned earphones blasting Mozart or Bach from my battered walkman as the clouds drifted serenely past us, just inching along as if we were barely even moving. Sometimes I would even get lucky and I'd be found miles above the surface of the earth right as the sun was setting into the horizon. As fast as we were chasing it across the sky, it always beat us to the edge of the world, and suddenly it would seem like the entire universe was on fire. Crimson reds, deep maroons and dazzling golden oranges painted the clouds like an image straight from one of my fairy tale pop up books. I used to imagine there was some kind of fantastical race of angels or winged people living in those feathered fortresses, just watching us as we passed by, whispering amongst themselves and wondering what kind of bizarre metal creature it was that disturbed their tranquil world. The plane ride always seemed to outshine the trip itself, in my opinion. Being up there with those angels, high above the pain and grit of the 'real world' down below, I felt like anything was possible. I was filled with such optimism and extreme contentment. I didn't have a care in the world.

It was so unlike what I felt now. Looking out the window beside me, I was greeted not with a glorious sunset or even the calm passing of clouds, but a hulking metal dragon, tinted blue by the sun. Beside me, Ryuuji Otogi and Mutou jii-chan were clamboring over my seat, trying to get a glimpse of what I supposed was, to most, an astonishing and even a wondrous sight. Similarly, in the seats behind us, Yuugi-tachi was ooh-ing and aww-ing as well. It seemed the whole plane was captivated by the hunk of iron and gears, actually. I couldn't help but feel like the angels I'd imagined as a child, confused and frightened by the intrusion. The scene just looked wrong, I felt wrong being here. Below us the world seemed so vast and overwhelming and the one place within it that I wanted to be was gone, buried in rubble and sand.

I couldn't help but wonder if the rest of them were as affected by that final 'adventure' as I was. Yuugi was suffering, that much I could discern from the minute twitches in his face, the fragile, broken quality his eyes had taken. I wondered how deeply he had felt for the pharaoh, if he cared for him the way I had cared for my spirit. Did he feel as empty as I did? As lonely?

But then, Yuugi would never be alone anymore. That much was made clear by his throng of supporters flanking him on all sides. Even though he would never admit it, even Kaiba was there for him, if ever he needed anything. No, Yuugi had friends all over the world now. He would survive without his precious other self. Hell, he'd probably even prosper from this departure. There was no doubt in my mind that Yuugi had already grown and matured more in such a brief span of time than I had my whole life.

I was the one left alone now. Alone, betrayed and forgotten. I don't know what I expected. I knew from the very beginning what his intentions were. I knew his motives, I knew his means. I suppose I even knew deep down that he would lose. I just imagined that, come time, I would at least have the chance to save him, or worse come to worse, to join him. I should have known it was a lie when he said that he would always be with me, that he needed me, that he loved me. It's always a lie. Why would it be any different from the mouth of a viper?

"It's just like Kaiba to fly around in a giant Duel Monster, don't you think, Bakura-kun?" Otogi's sudden profession shocked me out of my thoughts. He had finally replaced his rear in the seat next to mine and was looking at me with a gentle smile, his brow slightly raised, as though he sensed that something wasn't quite right. But he was perpetually Japanese and thus kept his thoughts and his questions to himself. "I bet that thing's not even half the size of his ego. Still, you can't deny that it is pretty impressive." He met my eyes and laughed slightly. "The jet, I mean."

I forced a polite smile across my face and joined in the chuckling. I had been around the block, so to speak, enough times to know the proper Japanese response to his subtle inquiry. Hide it all behind a smile and proceed as though your world is not crumbling around you. Everything is okay so long as they can't see the demons on your shoulders or hear the trembling in your voice. No one has to know. I believe that's the golden rule.

"Of course, Ryuuji-san," I said, the smile never leaving my face, "It's so impressive, in fact, that all I can see out my window is metal. Very beautiful, what money can build. Why, if it wasn't for Kaiba-san and his vast riches, I'm sure we wouldn't even be here, at this final stage, miles above Egypt on the return trip from saving the world and all. I must remember to thank him." Otogi looked confused. "I think I'm going to nap for a while. Please wake me when we land, if you don't mind." With that, I turned back to face the window. Mokuba caught my eye from the giant Blue Eyes and waved, his entire face sparkling with childish joy and pride. Otogi's reflection continued to stare at the back of my head, though his jaw seemed tighter than before. I shut my eyes and willed the plane to land.

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A/N: My main characters are going to end up driving me completely insane by the time this thing's over. Ryou's already being a snarky little sourpuss, and Otogi's just plain disobedient. Basically, the writing process on the last half of this chapter went something like this:

Me: Okay, now Ryou's going to have a long drawn out inner monologue about life, love, the nature of good and evil, and-

Otogi: *pokes Ryou*

Me: o_o …Otogi, WTF are you doing?

Otogi: He looks sad. I want to cheer him up.

Me: …Dude, you're not supposed to be in this thing yet. This is Ryou's monologue chapter. Leave him alone.

Otogi: *continues poking Ryou*

Ryou: *bites him* I'm pissed.

Me: I know you're angry, babe, but we still have to finish the chapter. I need some more background info from you, if you could just-

Ryou: NO. My life sucks, the love of my life was possessed by a giant monster with a snake for a penis and banished to the fucking netherworld for all eternity, nobody likes me and there's a GIANT BLUE EYES WHITE DRAGON OUTSIDE MY WINDOW. I WANT OFF THIS GODDAMN PLANE.

Me: o.o

Otogi: … I like you…

Me: OMG whatever. I don't care anymore. Do what you want. You're both hopeless. *headdesks*

Bakura: *floating upside down behind me* OI. YOU THERE. MORTAL. I THOUGHT THIS STORY WAS ABOUT ME. WHERE THE HELL AM I??

Me: …I need a drink. *wanders off to make happy with the Jack and the coke*