It was morning and damn I was tired. I smiled when I remembered Kek carrying me to bed like he was some chivalrous knight. I muddled through my morning routine and when I was dressed and showered, I found them snuggling together on the sofa. At least they wore boxers and tank-tops. Not that I'd be mad if they were naked again – I'd just feel left out. I looked down at them while they slept. No pictures, I was just appreciating the sight of them. They looked peaceful, and beautiful, laying there, and I felt like a bastard when I shook Kek's shoulder to wake him. I'd rather let him sleep, but he had to go to work, too. He ignored me, lost in sleep and dreams.

I knelt beside him, petting his hair. "Hey, Kek. Don't be late for you first day at work."

I spoke his name three more times before his eyes fluttered open behind his thick, sandy lashes. He smiled when he saw me and the look made my heart jittery.

"Hey, Ryou."

"Hey, Kek. Time to get up."

He tried to push himself up, his features crunched together in pain. I grabbed his arm and helped him to his feet.

"Still sore?"

He swallowed a wince and gave me another grin. "A little."

Bakura reached for Kek on the couch, grumbling with a frown when he realized he lost his sleeping buddy. I managed not to laugh, but it was hard. Bakura looked rather cute with his hair mussed and his face frowning. I really wished I'd known that the "evil" spirit possessing me three years ago was such a teddy bear, we could have had a policy of less blackouts and more snuggling and everyone would have been better off for it. I knew better, back then cuddling wasn't an option, no one ever tried achieving vengeance through cuddles, but I think more people should. It might have been one of the big secrets of the universe; hugging was the ultimate form of revenge and no one knew it because no one ever tried it.

Kek pushed his forehead against my shoulder. "I feel like we didn't sleep at all."

"I know," I sighed. "Let's go into the kitchen and get some coffee, maybe it'll help."

He slung his arm over my shoulder, and I escorted him to the kitchen table. Our breakfast was toast and coffee and Ibuprofen. Kek flexed and pulled at his arms as he ate.

"Are you going to make it?" I teased.

He nodded. "I'm used to pain. This is nothing."

Kek and Bakura, so used to pain that they didn't know how to handle friendship. I wished I could have helped them. I was supposed to be one of the "good guys," but I didn't know what to do to help them. Yugi would probably know, without thinking about it, he'd just do something and it'd all work out like magic in the end. But they were stuck with me instead, and I didn't know what to do anymore than they did.

"Oh, wait here," I told Kek as I remembered that I found an old duffel bag and thought Kek might want it. I fetched it from the bedroom and handed it to him. "Here you go. You can use that as a gym bag."

He reached out for it, holding my hands as he grabbed the bag. There was so much gratitude in his eyes that I felt like a jerk, like I wasn't doing enough to deserve that look.

I stared at my feet. "If you hurry and change, I'll walk you to work – if you want me to – you can go alone if you'd like."

"Give me two minutes." He ran out the kitchen, leaving his coffee half consumed on the table.

By the time I rinsed our coffee mugs and walked into the living room, Kek was already dressed and packed. He pretended not to be sore as he swung the bag over his shoulder and nodded to me.

"I'm ready."

Bakura settled deeper into the couch, eyes still shut. "Later morons."

I smiled. "You have a good day, too, Bakura."

He grunted and pulled the blanket up to his chin.

Everything outside gleamed in the dew-speckled morning. Traffic mingled with birdsong and a breeze hit our faces as we walked. I was tired, but in a good mood.

"I'm surprised you both fit on that couch. I would have thought Bakura would have pushed you to the floor as you guys slept."

"I started on the floor, but . . . it felt empty." He shrugged.

I held his hand. I wasn't sure if I should, out on the streets, but I had to do something. He looked lonely, and I didn't want him to be. If we were home I'd hug him, but we were walking.

"How much different is it now from back then?" I asked. "I mean, Bakura used to control my body, but we were always us. Were you always . . . Kek?"

"Not exactly, I was Marik," he answered, thoughtful. "I only have a Ren because you encouraged me to create one." He stared at his feet. "Marik and I . . . we started out the same and then tore in half. And now I'm completely different and everything is overwhelming." He sighed. "I know I shouldn't cling to Bakura. It's really not fair to him. He needs to be in Egypt, not here, but I don't have anyone else I can be near."

I stopped walking. His hand slipped out of mine and he turned around, questioning me with a look. I swallowed. "You have me, too."

He stared at his shoes. "I'm already a burden on you."

I also stared at my shoes. "No, you're not a burden, because . . . I was really lonely before you guys

came back."

My eyes jerked up when his fingers brushed against my cheek. He studied my face. "You're kinda like us, aren't you?"

I nodded.

"But will all three of us fit on that tiny couch?"

He kept a perfectly straight face and tone of voice that I almost explained to him that my bed was bigger before I realized he was trolling me. I started laughing. He grinned, grabbed my hand, and we continued walking. When the gym came into view I pulled my hand out of his. "When do you get off work?"

"Two," he said.

I sighed. "Three for me. Guess I'll see you at home tonight."

"Let's force Bakura to play Monster World when we get home."

"Of course. Have a good day." I waved goodbye and continued the last bit to my own job. The craft store was slow and boring, which was better than busy and filled with crazy old women. Yugi finally texted me back, apologizing over and over again. Apparently, Atem hadn't done anything except curl into a ball in hysterics, weeping in Yugi's lap and not letting his former other half take more than two steps away at any time.

It made sense. If Bakura and Kek were cuddling on the couch as reserved as they were with emotions, then the Pharaoh – who showed his emotions easily – would be a mess. I tried to re-assure Yugi (who felt like he failed Atem by not making him happy enough). I explained, as best I could without going into details, that it was probably just the Pharaoh's way of adjusting to his new body and that he'd be fine. I told Yugi not to worry a hundred times, but I knew he was worried all the same, so I promised to visit. I didn't really want to. Yugi was my friend, but I'd rather stay at home and play Monster World with Kek and Bakura and not see the Pharaoh.

My memories of the Egyptian RPG were dream-like, but I saw enough to realize why Bakura wanted revenge, why he sacrificed everything to redress his clan. The others didn't understand, they were inside the game instead of playing it on the outside like Atem and Bakura. Yugi didn't see Bakura's Ka, but I did. How could the Pharaoh fight Bakura when he saw that Diabound was a pure soul? Why didn't Atem question why Bakura was fighting them? How many lives could Atem have saved had he taken the time to ask a few simple questions? Ma'at was truth, but Atem didn't seek the truth, neither in ancient Egypt nor during the game. Ma'at was justice, but Atem never understood the truth, therefore, couldn't bring justice to Kul Elna. Nor was their justice in the palace. I remembered the experiments performed on minor criminals in order for Aknadin to find stronger Ka's to misuse. Where was the justice for those who suffered in the dungeons? Atem didn't even noticed that part of the game. He was so obsessed with winning that he never asked about anything, never noticed anything, never acknowledged pain or suffering unless it belong to him or his friends. Thinking of it made me angry.

And Bakura, poor Bakura. His soul was like papyrus scroll, ancient and beautiful but old and worn. He was strong enough to survive thousands of years, but he'd grown brittle because of it. He should be with his clan in the afterlife.

Sometimes, even for me, it was hard to think of the past. There were some horrible memories … really horrible, and I still cried when I thought about them, but I could feel the difference between how Bakura had been when he was trapped in the Ring with Zorc, and how he was now. It's not like he was a different person, not exactly, it was more like he truly was a person again, and not the dark god that had abused him.

I was surprised, and thrilled, when I stepped out of the store and saw Kek across the street. He leaned against a light post while he waited for me. I blinked, as if to prove he was a day dream. Instead of vanishing, he walked across the street and held out his hand for me to take.

"Ready to go home?"

I gave a nod and took his hand and started walking with him. I hoped he couldn't feel my pulse through my sweaty palm. It beat fast though we walked slow.

I stole a side glance at Kek's profile. "Did you get off work late?"

"Kinda. There's always something to do." He shrugged. "And, I dunno, I thought it'd be more fun walking home with you . . . so you weren't lonely . . ." His voice trailed away, as if unsure of his own words.

I stammered a moment, trying not to sound as stupid as I felt. "Yeah, this is better – I mean, walking home with you."

"How was work?" he asked it like it was an odd question. To him, It probably was odd. He never had a chance to have small-talk with anyone.

"Boring," I answered, "but that's not necessarily bad. How about you? Still sore?"

He shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle. I like it in the mornings. It's quiet and almost empty, but it's hard when it's crowded. It's hard being around a lot of people. I . . ." he stopped.

I squeezed his hand. "You don't have to censor yourself around me, you know. Say what you were going to say."

"When there's too many people around I want to stab them." He made a broad, sweeping gesture with his free hand. "Cut a path clear and then sit under a table until it's quiet again."

"Why under a table?"

He shrugged. "It's just what I thought of. It seems like it'd be soothing."

Maybe it would be soothing, like a protective fort. I've felt that way more than once at the craft store myself. I bit my lower lip while I thought about it. "Do you want to stab them because you hate them?"

"Not specifically?"

"Do they make you angry?"

"Kinda because they're crowding around me, but not really."

"So it's not so much anything they're doing, but just because they're in your space?"

"Maybe, probably, something like that." He shrugged. "I don't know. The kids weren't so bad, at least. For some reason they don't bother me, although they're all little shits."

"Kids?"

"Kyubi trains them to box. I got stuck with the youngest ones." Kek rolled his eyes. "We pretty much spent an hour reviewing right and left . . . I'm not sure I like being called senpai."

"Sunflora-senpai!" I laughed. It was too precious not to laugh.

"Oh shut the fuck up."

"It's so cute. I wish I could have watched you trying to teach a group of kids."

He frowned and changed the subject. "So, when we get home I need to check my spells. I didn't expect Bakura to start us off on such a difficult dungeon."

"Yeah, he's a jerk when he DM's. Watch his dice because he'll manipulate them."

"Yeah? You kept hitting the table with your knee at awfully opportune times last night."

I gave him a guilty smile. "Maybe, but only to keep us alive." I showed him my free hand. "Monster World Scar."

"Liar."

"Ask Bakura."

"It's probably his fault."

"Of course, all of my scars are his fault."

Kek touched my shoulder where my other scar sat. "Doesn't that piss you off? How can you forgive him so easily?"

"I can't really explain it." I gestured with my free hand, as if that would somehow give me the words I needed. "He was part of me for a while, you know?"

"It must be nice . . . to forgive that easily. I still hate the Pharaoh."

"It's difficult with the Pharaoh. Sometimes even I want to punch him." The words slipped out of my mouth as soon as I thought them. No filter. No filter at all. Darn it.

We're at the apartment, but Kek was laughing so hard that he had to lean against the door for balance and I had to wait for him to stand back up before I could step inside. He stood in the hallway, holding his belly while he laughed and winced from sore muscles. His laughter reminded me of street musicians, unexpected and wonderful to listen to. After a minute he followed me inside.

"You're in a good mood." Bakura sat on the sofa, eyebrow raised as we walked inside.

He nudged me with his elbow to encourage me to explain. I shook my head. He chuckled a bit more.

"It's not that funny," I hissed in an embarrassed whisper.

"Yes it is. Coming from you it's that funny."

"I can be nice without liking everyone."

Bakura tilted his head. "Who could you possibly not like? For the gods' sake you hang out with us."

I sighed. I opened my mouth to mutter something non-plosive, but instead several of my thoughts from the day slipped out.

"Look, it's just, you're all having to make adjustments. You came back from the dead, that's to be expected, and of course Atem will show his emotions more than you, that's to be expected as well. Still, crying so much that Yugi can't even take a shower? What the hell, Atem, you were the ruler of Egypt, show at least some dignity. It pisses me off . . . he pisses me off so much. He's such a spoiled brat. I think he's an asshole. There. I said it."

I slapped my hands down to my side. Better to rant in front of them than to let something sneak out of my mouth when I'm with Yugi, or worse, Atem himself. I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I really didn't.

I went into the kitchen and poured a glass of juice for all of us, manners compelled me to get a glass for everyone. I brought the drinks back to the living room and sat on the couch. Bakura sat a cushion away.

He gave me an odd look. "You think he's an asshole because he's crying?"

I frowned at my juice. "Well, no, because his crying is making Yugi unhappy, and he's so absorbed with himself that he doesn't notice."

Kek gulped his drink down in a shot and sat on the carpet in front of us. "Out of all people, I'd have thought you'd welcome complaints about the Pharaoh. Besides, Ryou on a tirade is the cutest thing I've ever seen."

I hid my face behind the juice glass as a took a drink. I couldn't stay angry when Kek called me cute.

"Ryou doesn't get angry easily. I don't think he's saying everything."

I finished my juice and set the glass on the end table. "He attacked me with Slifer. How about that for a reason to be angry?"

Bakura shrugged. "And Kek attacked 'you' with Ra, but in both cases I was the target."

"I didn't ask Kek for help. I asked Yugi to help me . . . the Pharaoh just stood there. You were the one that helped me, Bakura."

"I saw that through Marik," Kek looked thoughtful. "The Pharaoh shielded your other dumb friend when I attacked him, but he still attacked you with Slifer."

Bakura shook his head. "I goaded him into that attack."

"No." I watched my own hands as they curl into fists. "The real reason he attacked me was to win his stupid duel. Yugi swears he would never have attacked me directly. Yugi wouldn't, but I think Atem would – to win. Remember Pegasus' Island? He was going to let Seto die – to win a stupid card game."

Bakura rested a hand on my shoulder. "Ryou. Stop."

"Stop what?" I spat.

"Being angry."

"Would that have worked on you three years ago? Just saying stop?"

Bakura smiled. "No."

I smiled, I felt better after my rant. "You're right though. I shouldn't be so angry. It just doesn't seem fair that Atem gets to do whatever he wants, but Yugi's still insisting that I kick you both out for my own safety. I don't want either of you to leave. It's only been a few days, but you guys are great roommates. I just wish . . ." I looked down and blushed. Caught myself that time. Good thing, too because I was about to tell them how nice it'd be if they started cuddling in my room at night instead of on the couch.

Bakura scooted closer to me on the sofa, his white hair grazing his shoulder. "Hey Ryou?"

"Yeah?" I looked at Bakura.

He grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me close. I gasped, but before I could ask what he was doing, he kissed me.