I have had to change what Ryou says through their link to [] instead of the other signs (can't think of their names right now. . .greater than and lesser than signs?) because it won't show up.

Warnings: Abuse, NCS, yaoi and probably character OOC. LANGUAGE, um. . .that's all I can think of now.

// Dark to light //

/ Light to Dark /

[ Ryou ]

*italics* (and private thoughts)

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Chapter Six

That night at exactly 6:10 PM the phone rang. About ten minutes later Solomon called for Ryou.

"Hello?" Ryou asked as he took the receiver. He sat down at the kitchen table.

"Hey kiddo." Roger Bakura greeted. "How are you doing?"

"Hi Dad!" Ryou grinned, "I've been better, but Grandpa probably already told you." He said.

Roger chuckled sadly, "Yes, he did. Ryou, I've seen you around the others and you're never uncomfortable around them, except for Tea and Serenity but you've always been that way with girls." It wasn't that he didn't like Tea or Serenity, because he loved them very much. But he didn't want them to worry about him, what happened wasn't something for two young ladies to know.

"It's different with them...I know they aren't going to hurt me." Ryou said softly. He trusted Yami and Yugi with his life, and Joey, Tristan and Seto protected him. He recalled the time in the one class he had with Seto when the three boys had started picking on him. As soon as one of the boys had placed his hand on Ryou's shoulder, Seto had grabbed his wrist and practically broken it. The three boys had been laughing to themselves and had been saying things, loud enough for the entire class to hear and Seto knew that they were just going to try to scare Ryou. After that, that class had been pretty good, but only when Seto was there. Luckily, he'd come to every class, except one when he'd been in an important meeting.

"I understand that Ryou, but you have to learn some self control. I love you, you know that, and I'm not trying to put you down." Roger explained, knowing how sensitive his son was. "Not everyone is out to make your life a living hell, besides that, you've already been through that." He mentioned and Ryou closed his eyes and sighed, making sure that his breath wasn't heard through the phone.

After that, they talked about other things. The dig was going great and his father's team had uncovered a secret tomb filled with mummified slaves.

Roger seemed reluctant to speak of something, Ryou knew his father was being bothered by something. After pleading for the man to talk, Roger gave up; "Ryou, Egypt's National Museum was broken into the day before your birthday." He began, "That's where...the Millennium Ring ended up going." The man flinched when he heard Ryou's breath hitch. "Son, the ring was the only thing taken in the break in."

Swallowing, Ryou tried to calm himself down. "I-I'm the only one who can r- really use it, so I'm safe, right?"

"If what Yami told me is true, then yes." Roger said, "I just thought I'd let you know in case something does happen, not that it will. You have a very protective pharaoh watching over you, not to mention a lot of determined friends." He reminded the boy. "Now, I'd better get going. I'll speak to you later, all right Ryou? I love you."

"I love you too Dad, bye." Ryou hung up the phone and tried to calm his shaking hands. When he was calm enough he went back into the living room where Yami and Yugi were. Yami was sitting on one end of the couch and Yugi was curled up beside him.

"Ryou?" Yami was the first to notice the boy. "Ryou, you're radiating distress." He said, causing Yugi to sit up and watch Ryou with concern.

Ryou didn't want to tell them, but he found the story falling from his lips before he could stop it. "The Millennium Ring ended up at a museum in Egypt and it was broken into before my birthday. The Millennium Ring was the only thing stolen." He muttered.

Yami and Yugi looked at each other, then looked back at Ryou.

/ Come here Ryou. / Yugi said gently and Ryou complied. Yugi pulled the boy into his arms and held him as Yami held the both of them. / It's going to be okay Ryou. As long as you don't come in contact with the Ring, you'll be fine. And nobody in Egypt knows that you're the true holder. /

// He's right little one. // Yami whispered as he ran his fingers through Ryou's hair as the younger boy buried his face in Yugi's shoulder. He wasn't crying, but Yugi could feel how bad his body was trembling.

[ I know, I'm sorry. I'm just scared. ] They heard Ryou through their link.

"We know." Yugi whispered out loud.

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