Chapter 4

The morning sun's rays filtered through Ryou's hospital windows, cascading down on the albino and luring him from deep sleep's hold. He frown slightly; Ryou wasn't in the mood to wake up just yet. Slowly though, his sleep was beginning to ebb away and he recognize a sweet smell...Is that, Ryou thought drowsily, oranges?

"What the bloody hell?" Ryou mumbled as he stirred himself awake.

"What language," said a low voice. "Wouldn't have thought you would curse; perhaps the thief is rubbing off on you."

Ryou nearly bolted up straight as he face his intruder. His eyes grew wide when he saw Yami sitting in a chair next to his bedside table and peeling away at an orange. "What—? How the did you get—? !"

"The nurse was nice enough to let me in so early," Yami said causally however his voice became solemn as he said, "But that's not what I came here to talk about, Ryou."

Ryou inwardly gulped. He has been around the former Pharaoh enough to notice the edge in the baritone voice and what it entails.

"This has to do with Yuugi does it?"

Yami nodded, discarding the remains of his orange and wiping his hands on a napkin.

"I don't know what it was that you had written to Yuugi but, regardless—"

"It doesn't mat—"

"It does matter when it concerns Aibou," Yami interrupted hotly. "Maybe you do not fully understand just what your actions have done to others but a lot of us were worried about you….And sad that you felt that you had to resort to such an action."

Ryou remained silent so Yami continued, less sternly. "All of us have been here by your bedside since we heard that you were in the hospital. And Yuugi has been here every day...except yesterday."

Again Yami paused but Ryou didn't utter a word. Signing, he said gently, "Look, whatever it is that is going on between you two, both of you need to be willing to work it out. I know he's willing to despite what has happened. So….don't push him away. We can only help if you let us…"

Yami stood up and headed for the door. Ryou was unresponsive and Yami couldn't tell if anything he was saying was getting through to the albino. As Yami was turning the knob he faintly heard Ryou's voice. So soft it was…the former pharaoh thought he had imagining it. He stopped and turned towards Ryou, his hand still placed on the doorknob. "What?" he asked.

Again, his voice still barely above a whisper, Ryou said, "I'm sorry."

"…We were worried about you, you know," Yami replied. "We didn't think...Well, I'm just glad that you are alive and well."

Ryou nodded but still avoided eye contact. Yami frowned at this before once again returning to leave. The white-haired teen probably needed some time to contemplate on what to do.

As the door shut softly, Ryou let out a shuddering breath. Liquid crystals slipped gently from his eyelids and dropped on his hands.

(/ _ ; )。・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。(/ _ ; )

"Damnit," Bakura muttered. He slammed the refrigerator door shut and scanned the kitchen for something to eat.

Cursing in his ancient language, Bakura finally spotted a lone banana sitting on the counter. Seeing as there was nothing else to eat that didn't require him to use an electrical appliance, the thief had to settle on the yellow fruit. He grabbed the banana and headed towards the living room where he plopped on the couch and immediately began devouring the fruit.

A moment later, Ryou burst into the house. He slammed the door shut, not even bothering to acknowledge his dark as he headed for the stairs.

"Ryo―"

"Bugger off," Ryou interrupted, taking the stairs two at a time.

"―u," Bakura continued as if Ryou hadn't said anything. "go to the store and get some groceries. Food is scarce here."

Ryou came back down saying as he went, "I don't care. Make do with what we got." With that said he turned around and started back up the steps again.

"That's those anti-depressants talking," Bakura said indifferently.

Ryou turned slowly and glared at him. "You go get food then if you want it that bloody damn bad―," he stopped mid-sentence. Going back down the stairs, Ryou said quickly, "No. Pretend I didn't say that."

Bakura smirked as he watched his hikari walk out the door, slamming it as he went. Turning back to his magazine he said to himself arrogantly, "Even now I still get what I want."

( ｀∧´) (-_－＃) ( ｀∧´)

Ryou was in such a bad mood once he left the grocery store. In his angry-clouded mind and haste, Ryou had completely forgotten to bring his wallet with him. Luckily, he had been carrying enough cash on him to at least buy a quart of milk and some microwaveable food (at least his dark was able to use that without breaking the microwave and/or somehow destroying the house).

Ryou sighed as his irritation dissipated suddenly, leaving him drained emotionally and physically. He slowed to a stop and looked up at the sky. The light blues of the day were slowly morphing into an assortment of oranges, reds, purples, and indigos above him. Ryou tried to focus on the colors, half hoping for a serene feeling to take over if not some feeling to take over but none came. Once again Ryou signed and leaned against the building near him. He paid no attention to the people that were passing him by on the streets and into the door beside him.

Since his release from the hospital Sunday (and since he's been put on antidepressants from his doctor) he seemed to be always irritated at every little thing and then become aloof to everyone; even towards Bakura. And because of his shift in attitude Ryou had avoided school for four days now….That and because Ryou still didn't have the foggiest ideas on how to explain to Yuugi…or even how to apologize to him.

It's not like I could just stroll into school, walk up to Yuugi as soon as I see him, and say, "Yuugi I tried to commit suicide because I felt that the only relationship I could have with you is one of friendship when I want more than that", Ryou thought dismally. And it's not like I didn't explain myself in the note…Just what the hell do I say to him?

Ryou was so wrapped up in his thoughts that it took him a full 15 seconds to notice a certain someone, who had recently walked out of the door Ryou was beside, until he felt the teen's eyes on him.

The white-haired teen looked up and locked eyes with shining gems of amethyst. Immediately, Ryou felt a series of chain reactions begin to take place in his body: his throat became drier than the Sahara desert; his heart began to loudly beat at a thousand beats per second, getting louder and louder the longer Ryou stared; the inside of his stomach was like the twists and turns of a roller coaster; and Ryou felt little beads of sweat begin to prickle out all over skin as his face and ears became hot.

Out of all the places...

The two of them stared at each other for moments that felt like hours until Yuugi spoke up first. "H-hi, Ryou," he said timidly.

Ryou swallowed painfully as Yuugi gave a nervous smile. "Hello."

A/N: So...it's been forever since I last updated...well any story really U.U *hides* Still in classes but I think it's possible that I'll be able to update more often /pokerface :P

On a different note...I realize that most of my chapters here end as a cliffhanger xDDD lol well this story is coming to an end so check back here :D