Ryou's Letter

Summary: Ryou suffers from insomnia after the tragic school shooting. His twin brother, the more aggressive Bakura, is worried about him and makes a very remarkable suggestion.

I DON'T OWN YU-GI-OH!


The room was still wrapped in darkness as Bakura's eyes opened. He grimaced, baring his teeth at the alarm clock as reality hit him. If there was one thing in this world more loathsome than the countless memories of life before they moved to Domino City last year, it would be having his sleep interrupted by that one cup of tea he drank after 8 PM to keep his brother company and calm him down a bit. He had to go to the bathroom and it was only slightly past midnight.

On his way back to his room, Bakura heard noises from the living room. Anger rising, he swiftly grabbed a baseball bat from behind the door to his room and made his way down the stairs without a sound. No burglar would survive trespassing his home. He would make sure that his brother was safe.

Poor Ryou, who had just lost one of his dearest friends.

Poor Ryou, who had been through so much but wouldn't harm a fly.

Poor Ryou, who…

…sat in the sofa and doodled in one of his school blocks. Well, this is new, Bakura thought to himself as he put down the baseball bat and waked towards the sofa to join his twin. Ryou turned his head to face him with those uncanny, blank, sorrowful eyes. Those eyes that Bakura hated so intensely. They used to be so full of light and wonder. Now they just looked – dead. They had been like that for the last couple of days, and it all began because of some idiot who just turned up at the school dance and shot at random. At least he won't be doing that again, was the only remotely positive thought that crossed Bakura's mind.

"Why are you still up, aibou?" Bakura asked, wrapping an arm around Ryou's shoulders.

"Can't sleep" the younger twin answered in a small whisper.

"Nightmares?"

"Probably. I haven't even tried to sleep tonight. I'm too scared."

"Scared? Of what?"

"Every time I close my eyes, all I see is my friends dying."

"Because of the school shooting?"

"Yes. It started as a replay of what happened. Now, it's worse. It's not just Atem anymore. Last night is was all of you; You, Yugi, Joey, Tea, Mokuba, Tristan, Miho… You. I lose you every time I sleep."

"I'm still here, brother. I did not die."

"No. I know. Thank God. But Atem did. He was my friend, Bakura. He was Yugi's brother. How do I cope?"

"How would I know? I usually feel better after destroying something but I doubt that would work for you."

"You are probably right, it's just…"

Silence. There was something in the way that Ryou had interrupted himself that poked away at Bakura's brain.

"It's just what? Aibou, what are you not saying?"

"I…" Ryou's voice trailed off and he began to sob. The sobbing turned into crying. Bakura said nothing, he just held his brother close while waiting for his voice to come back. Finally, Ryou continued: "It's just, you know how Atem and Yugi helped us when we first moved here? All those times he stood up for me? That time he marched into the Principals office because Mrs Onnara was harassing us? That time he called his grandfather and asked if we could sleep over because Dad needed surgery and I was afraid of going back to Mom and Frank? It's just… all those times, Atem really came through for us when he didn't have to. I don't feel like I ever really thanked him for that. And now he's gone and I have no chance of ever repaying hi kindness."

Bakura thought about this for a while, then took the school block and ball pen from Ryou's hands. He turned a page and wrote down two words: Dear Atem. He handed the block and ball pen back to Ryou.

"Write him a letter, " the older twin said in a calmer, less menacing tone: "The funeral is in a couple of days. Write Atem a letter and bury it with him. Who knows? If there is an afterlife, maybe he'll get it. Either way, it will most likely help you clear your head."

Ryou thanked Bakura and, after a hug, Bakura went back to bed. Ryou stared at the paper and at the words. He put the pen to the paper and started writing.


Dear Atem,

Thanks for everything. I'm sorry that I didn't say it before. I'm sorry that I didn't just thank you properly in life. I can only hope that you don't resent me or find me ungrateful for that reason. For I am grateful.

The truth is that I didn't know how to thank you properly. You always put everyone else before yourself and you always stood up for your little brother and your friends. What I find truly amazing is, that you did the same for Bakura and me, when we first moved here. You didn't know us but you still treated us like friends and allies. You didn't have to, but you did.

I still remember our first day in Domino City when the moving van was late. I dropped the box of utensils and my stressed out dad had a strong reaction, but you told him to keep his cool. You had never met us but you just helped us. You even asked Yugi nicely to call your grandfather while you called all of your friends, so we could get help with moving all our boxes before it was too dark to see anything.

I also remember how you voluntarily slept on the floor in Yugi's room when our Dad was in surgery. Again, you didn't have to. I guess that's just a Muto thing to do. You give so much. Your grandfather opened his home – your home – for a pair of twins he hardly knew, so we wouldn't have to live with our Mum and her husband. It was still your idea in the first place. You didn't beg or order, you just asked your grandfather nicely and explained what had happened to us before Dad got custody. It was one of the nicest things, which anyone has done for us.

You always came through for us. You treated us like your brothers. You were firm and strict, but never mean or demanding. When we first came here, we were so used to everyone looking down on us and resenting us. We were met with gossip and we were constantly told that we were worthless. You never did that. You and Yugi both did your utmost to make us feel welcome. You made me feel like I belong here. You taught me that I can still be kind without being a doormat. You gave me a fair chance to have friends.

I never thanked you properly for all this in life. Sorry.

Thank you so much for everything Atem.

Take care, my friend, and rest in peace

Ryou


Ryou looked down at the letter. Then he laid down the block and pen on the coffee table and took a deep breath. His eyes grew heavy and before he knew it, he fell asleep on the sofa. He had no nightmares. Just a full nights sleep.