OK so this is my first multi chapter story for this fandom and I hope it goes well.

I just couldn't help but wonder this, you know?

I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh.

Onto the chapter!

"I-It hurts." Ryou gasped out as he feel to his knees, head swimming in confusion as he was thrust into control. "It hurts." He didn't know where he was or what was going on and his left arm was in so much pain. He heard voices calling to him, and he blinked, trying to see past the fog that clouded his sight. He thought he saw Yugi standing across from him, something red and large behind him.

"…Y-Yugi," He called out to his friend, hoping he could help him. "Where am I? Why am I here?" The pain made itself known again and he choked back a cry of pain as looked down at the blood covering his arm. "W-Why do I have this wound?...It hurts…Yugi."

His vision continued to waver, his eyes blinking tiredly. His body was relatively numb, but the bitting of the cold air would cut through and his arm hung limply with pain flowing from it. He trembled and whimpered. He just wanted this to stop. He just wanted help.

Why wasn't anyone helping him?

Yami stared at the trembling form of the host of the Spirit of the Ring. He could hear 'Marik's' retreating form walking away after telling him that to win this game would come at the cost of hurting a friend. His body twitched, wanting to do something but being unable to do so.

/We're not going to attack, right Yami?/ His partner's voice came through his mind just as another plea came from the wounded boy across from him. His fists clenched even more, almost drawing blood from the grip they had.

/No Aibou,/ Yami replied, trying to ignore the shouts from the others. /I do not want to risk Bakura's life. This is a dirty trick being used./ He took a deep breath before continuing on. /However, should there be a chance that Bakura's darker half show himself again, we may be able to force him out of Bakura if he is in control if we attack./

/Yami-/

/I will not harm Bakura, Aibou./ Yami replied, his eyes watching Ryou for any sign of his other being in control. If the Spirit of the Ring was in control, then the attack would hit him, not Ryou. With hope, the attack would banish the Spirit of the Ring, at least for a little while, and they would be able to get Ryou help. But he refused to attack when a friend's life was on the line. At the moment, all he could do was stand there as his time to act slowly counted down.

Meanwhile, Bakura was watching in spirit form behind his wounded host with Marik standing beside him, also in spirit form. He watched silently as Ryou called out for help and no one moved a finger, only standing there calling out. Bakura held back a growl when he caught sight of Marik smirking beside him. While it was true this was allowing him a quick victory, he didn't like it.

He didn't like the sight of his host so vunerable to attack and, possibly, even death.

While he knew they had a connection, he didn't know if it was similar to the Pharaoh's and his host. He didn't know if, Ryou came close to death, he wouldn't die because he was still alive, and he certainly didn't want to test that. Without his host, he couldn't come back any time he was defeated, because while he came back, he didn't know if his host could.

And the worst part was, that he knew the Pharaoh would attack.

He could tell from the other's stance that one wrong twitch from Ryou would have him sending that god's attack right at him. That was something he couldn't have, he need to force his way back into control before that prideful idiot took out his host without a second thought.

"So Marik, I see you have Yugi's hand's tied." He spoke up, never taking his eyes off his host.

"As per our agreement," This made Bakura look at Marik, a scowl on his face at the words.

He scoffed, trying to keep his anger in for the moment. "I'm impressed, your dirty tricks surpass even my occult deck." The smirk that came from the other made him snap and he knew it was time to step in. "However," He slowly began to gather the energy needed to surpass the control of the Millennium Rod. "Even I have ways I like to win and ways I hate to win!"

"Stay out of this Marik!" With that he reached out to seize control of the body.

And that is where it went wrong.

Across the field Yami noticed the Ring begin to glow around the other's neck and gasped. The glow was slowly growing and Yugi spoke up from their link.

/Yami-/

/I know Yugi./ He responded, voice thick as he prepared to attack. Opening his mouth, he shouted. "Osiris! Direct Attack!" With that, the large dragon behind him opened its mouth and lightning shot forth towards the figure still on the ground.

"NO!" Bakura shouted as he watched Ryou lift his head at the sudden blinding light streaking towards him. He fought even harder against the magic, and had just touched complete control of the body when the blast struck. He heard his host's cry of pain and let out a growl, fighting to get to his host's spirit before the attack destroyed him.

When he finally reached his host's spirit, gritting his teeth as he was forced to endure the attack as well now, the two both conscious in the body as neither was directly in conrtol, his breath actually caught as he looked down at his host. While the body would not have any physical marks unless it was knocked down while in battle, the soul and mind of the body was another thing.

His host was writhing on the ground in pain, mouth open in a frozen scream. It was obvious if this continued, Ryou would not live to see another day.

Bakura swiftly knelt beside the other soul and pulled him in his arms while his own soul took control and blocked him from the rest of the attack. Sadly, it seemed, that he was not able to protect his host from the majority of it as it wasn't long before after he took control that the attack ended.

He was lying on the ground, too weak to move while he tiredly looked for Ryou's consciousness within. He could feel him, his soul quite weak at the moment and he knew something terrible had happened. He gave a weak, almost inaudible growl when he could see the Pharaoh rushing toward him, knowing it was his fault.

With what remaining strength he had, Bakura used his powers to hide the Ring from the others' eyes so they wouldn't remove it from Ryou. He knew he would need to stay connect to his host if they were to recover from this. As his power was used up, his own weakened soul slipped from control and back into the now hidden ring and the body was limp.

"Bakura!" Yami cried as he rushed forward to the limp body of his friend. He didn't pay attention as the announcer declared him the winner nor that the battle ground was lowing and the others were able to join him. He dropped to his knees beside Ryou's body and began looking for any sign of consciousness.

There was none.

/Yami, look!/ At his hikari's cry, he took notice in the way Ryou's chest still moved up and down, though slowly and shallowly.

"He's still alive." He told his friends as they came up worriedly before him.

"Thank goodness." Shizuka breathed out, tears in her eyes.

"Get the medical bay ready!" Mokuba ordered turning to the security members with them. They nodded and rushed off to prepare the things needed to help the dulist. Honda knelt down, offering to carry Ryou on his back and Jounouchi helped place Ryou securely on the other's back before they took off after the men.

"Do you think he'll be ok?" Anzu asked, hands clasped over her heart in worry.

Yami swallowed before nodding. "Bakura's strong, he'll make it through."

Marik wasn't listening to the rest of their talk. He stayed behind, staring at the small drops of blood on the ground where Ryou had collapsed. He wasn't expecting any of that really. He hadn't expect the Spirit to fight for control or for Yugi to actually attack just as the Spirit started to take control.

He scowled when he didn't see the Ring anywhere either. The sneaky spirit must have done something and now he didn't even have leverage over the other. With an angry huff, he stalked down to the rooms where everyone else was, knowing that, for now, he needed to keep up his appearance as Namu. Looking into Ryou's room, he saw the boy lying in his bed with a few machines hooked up to him to help keep him alive. The sight made him wonder if the boy would be ok after all of this-

Because right now it wasn't looking too good for him.

So that was that. This is going to be a healing fic mostly and I suppose I'll see where it leads.

Feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.

Until next time! :D