This isn't a overly long fic: just 3 chapters from Bakura's pov. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Yugioh characters were created by Takahashi, Kazuki.

Bakura scrutinised a snowflake that lay upon a white blanket of snow. Frigid and pretty, it blended in perfectly with its surroundings, yet it was still different...

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Bakura laughed in the face of his own fury at the sight that greeted him.

He knew that he wasn't looking at snowflakes, or even outside in the freezing cold. He was in the apartment of his Host: Ryou Bakura. He also knew that what he just saw was an illusion.

Fitting that an illusory image, such as this, would come from one as...dainty as him. This scornful thought, of Bakura's, had an expression to match.

This illusion had been cast unto him-in essence-by Ryou's spiritual mind. If he wanted to give it a name-to match-a certain spellcaster that he had encountered before would fit the profile. The avatar from Ryou's own imagination from the monster world rpg game: the white mage.

"Ah! A fantasy from a familiar foe." Bakura said with a wicked chuckle.

This wasn't the first one cast this evening, and distracting or distorting Bakura's vision seemed to be the purpose of these illusions.

Surprisingly enough, by his will every veil was easily rend; cleared away to leave the vulnerable moment unguarded.

So, here Ryou was, sitting at his desk and acting like a starving artist obsessed with his work.

Bakura was sitting-except-with the added indignity of being made to sit on the floor. He glanced at the millennium ring lying sprawled beside him. It didn't concern him much because he knew his Landlord would wear the ring again, soon.

Bakura watched another sheet of paper drift down to land on the floor.

Good, Landlord.

Now he was, presently, free from any trace of the bastard illusions, and allowed himself to hold a wicked grin. This meant he could focus solely on his Landlord, and what he was actually doing.

Today was Ryou's birthday, and he was using his gift set of graphite pencils with which to craft numerous drawings. Ryou finished them, then took the time to banish each one to the floor behind him, then started again in a continuous cycle. Bakura saw all of them in front of him on the white carpet's surface; the sheets of paper lying where they fell from his Host's hand. After a moment, as he observed them, they began to resemble what looked like an imperfect white puddle on a surface of pure white.

It didn't matter to him that another veil had appeared before his eyes. Despite this latest attempt to fool him, he knew what his Host had drawn. When Bakura had the opportunity: he observed what was on every canvas. On each and every one was a group of people he recognised; two of whom are alive and two who are dead. He recognised them as the members of his Host's family. Ryou himself along with his Father-Mother-and Sister were the all drawn in the pictures. They accompanied Ryou in every drawing, and it was apparent that they were in celebration of this day.

It became less of a surprise that on each drawing only uninteresting differences were found on them. Be they a different gift, place arrangement, or setting. Since he could see past the latest veil, a new drawing revealed itself to him. This latest one caught him off guard. He was-now-no longer leaning back against the wall but had moved forward for a closer inspection. In this drawing, the millennium ring was present on the floor where it lay now. He looked up in suspicion. Questions and reasonings-for this-began to form in his mind.

Bakura continued to stare, yet relaxed in contentment after a moment forgetting the message that he seemingly sent to him in that drawing. He began to focus on Ryou's white hair, and the paleness of his skin. Comparing the paper with Ryou, he likened him to a canvas of his own. Bakura's mind began to list over the scars that marked this body, and his thoughts began to wander.

Landlord really could be likened to a canvas of my own...or a porcelain vessel with decorative scars of my own design.

He held a small, wry smile. There was nothing illusionary about this it was a fact that he knew as true.

Disturbing his thoughts, he noticed the mixed colors of gold and orange shine in through the window. He then took notice of the time with a quick glance at the clock on the wall, before settling back to lean against the wall. With the same slack posture as before yet managing to appear even more relaxed than before.

He saw Ryou drop the pencil from his hand, letting it fall with a clatter. A despondent sigh and a sharp intake of breath the only sound from Ryou before he abruptly stood up from his desk, and headed toward the kitchen with quick feet. He paused only for a split second as he walked past the millennium ring, yet continued on his way to the kitchen. Bakura watched his Hosts abrupt actions, and his eyes followed him as he walked past.

Bakura was now standing, and with his arms crossed, his head hung low, and his eyes now closed he waited away the time in silent anticipation. Ryou had been busy with his tasks for over an hour. Starting in the kitchen to cook, then to the bathroom to shower, then to set the low dinner table. Lastly, he went back into the kitchen to collect and put the food dishes on the dining table.

Bakura noticed the meal was almost the same as the one from the previous night: rice, miso soup, pickles, bread, and noodles. Spring rolls, instead of tempura, being the only difference. Several sweets, including a few marsh mellows, also adorned the table. When Ryou returned, once more, from the kitchen with a herbal tea beverage, he noticed the steam rising from inside the cup held in his hands.

I wonder how hot it is... Bakura thought with a vicious smirk that twitched at the corners of his mouth. Being left on this spot caused some resentment toward his Host, and it wasn't above him to want to sear his mouth with that hot drink.

"I like this movie..." Ryou said casually, to himself, as he looked at the tv guide.

Disinterested, Bakura retreated back into the ring and returned to his thoughts. His next encounter with his Host will be important. One that he had to think over carefully before the confrontation that would soon take place.

Later, Ryou checked on the floor bound millennium ring then picked it up. As he stood there in silence; he lightly brushed his hand over its smooth metallic surface. Bakura, not at all suprised, smiled in triumph. Ryou held onto it quietly for a few more moments, so Bakura decided to speak and break the silence.

"You should go and get some rest now, Landlord."

Ryou smiled with a relieved look on his face and nodded his agreement. "You can sleep in my bed with me, tonight." He said taking himself and the ring over with him to sleep. He tucked himself in and settled down under the covers.

Bakura's feelings of triumph was short lived, and his smirk replaced with a scowl. Much to his chagrin Ryou hadn't put on the millennium ring; the cord was lying across his wrist and his fingers were curled around the metal. It wasn't an ideal outcome, yet was still enough for him to speak with his Host, at least. Bakura had decided it was time to figure things out, and to put his tact to use in the conversation he was about to engage.

Ryou's eventual drift toward slumber was accompanied by a few quiet sniffles, and one shaky sigh. Bakura knew his host was trying-and failing-to suppress his sorrow. It wasn't as though this hadn't happened before; that he hadn't seen such behaviour exhibited by him. He was younger, though, since seeing such behaviour.

The realisation dawned on him as the reason why Ryou had drawn the millennium ring in that last drawing. Ryou was regressing to his younger years-mentally. Bakura scowled and looked down with peering eyes.

He knew that his Landlord was a private shy person, and easily embarrassed. One thing he presumed, where his landlord is concerned, is that still waters run deep. Bakura also knew that he was about to plunge head first into those still waters of his.

"Oh, yes...it will happen for certain. I will be having words with my Landlord tonight."

Notes:

I wrote this and have the rest of the chapters drafted, including the ending. I'm not sure, though, when the next chapter will be up precisely. It shouldn't be long before it's ready to be added.

I think I am going through a poetic phase or something, haha. I do think that these two characters are both in character. My Bakura is less a less vicious person in this fic, though...