Authors Note:

Sorry it is taking me forever to update this story. I am almost done with it and I am trying not to rush the ending so it doesn't end up sloppy and sucky...I am still not super proud of this chapter but oh well here it is :)

Skylar's POV

"I'm coming Ryou..." I repeated over and over to myself as I climbed the stairs to his apartment. I hadn't allowed myself to think too heavily on this moment...the moment I would finally see him again. I was too worried that if I let that spark of hope grow into a flame I would be crushed if it was extinguished. When he disappeared after his mother's funeral I thought I had lost him forever. He had vanished without a trace and with his mother gone and his father out of the country I had no way to find him.

But even though I tried to quench it, I could never rid myself of the unrealistic dream that I would be reunited with him one day. Ryou was more than just a friend, he was my missing piece, he brightened up my life just by sharing it with me. He was my everything...

I jolted to a halt, causing Yugi to slam into me from behind knocking us both to the ground.

"Oh Yugi I am so sorry! Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine Skylar but what happened? Are you ok? You just froze up on me."

"I just realized something important," I whispered so softly I wasn't sure if Yugi could hear me or not.

I can't believe I hadn't noticed this before. Somehow I had fallen in love with Ryou. Even though I hadn't seen him in years I knew it was the truth. I couldn't deny my feelings for him anymore. Deep down I think I always had always felt this way but I had passed it off as a childhood crush. Then once he was gone it seemed like I was in love with a fantasy. The Ryou I had known and adored had become something else…a darker and more troubled version of my best friend. I really had tried to take his advice and forget about him but that had proved impossible. Constantly I would ask myself why I still harbored feelings for someone that had been so cruel to me and purposefully driven me away. I shouldn't care for someone who could do that to me right? But my heart wouldn't listen to logic. No matter how hard I tried to bury my feelings they would spring back up to the surface without the slightest provocation. I mean look at me…just one letter from him had compelled me to travel all the way to Japan on the slim chance that I might be able to see him. If that isn't love then I don't know what is.

I dusted myself off and continued climbing the stairs, of course his apartment had to be on the top floor. I could have taken the elevator but it seemed too slow. I had to keep moving now that I was so close to my goal.

"Here we are Skylar, number 601." Yugi's voice broke through my internal monologue, shocking me back to the present. This is really happening...I am finally here...after so long I am about to be reunited with my Ryou...

I had to stop for a second and catch my breath on the landing. My eyes ran hungrily over the plaque outside of his door.

601

Bakura

Seeing those words in front of me was indescribable. For years I had ached for any whisper of him and now here it was, tangible proof that all my endless searching hadn't been in vain. But for some reason, as my hand reached for the bronze knocker on the door, I hesitated. What if he wasn't there, what if he found out I was coming and took off because he didn't want to see me? My fragile heart couldn't take another dead end, it would shatter completely and I would never be able to glue all the pieces back together again. Silent tears made tracks down my face as I tried to smother the feeling of despair that threatened to overwhelm me.

"Skylar?" A soft hand enveloped mine, pulling me out of my misery.

"Why are you crying?"

"I just..." I took a deep breath and tried to collect my thoughts. "I'm scared Yugi. I haven't seen Ryou in years...what if he doesn't want me here? What if...what if he rejects me? I care for him so much and now that I am here I am absolutely terrified that he doesn't feel the same way. For so long all I have focused on was finding him, but I never stopped to consider that he might not want me to. I don't think I could stand it if he sent me away. I...I don't think I can do this...I don't have the strength."

"Well then I will lend you some of mine. I know what it is like to be afraid, but when you have friends by your side you can do anything. And I know Bakura wants to see you. I can feel it in my heart. Ever since I first met him I got the sense that something was missing from his life. Like he was one half of a whole, and I think that other half is you." Seeing Yugi's face beaming up at me gave me a sense of renewed purpose. He was right, I couldn't hide behind my fears, not when I had come so far already. I had to be brave and follow through. No matter the outcome I would not back down to my inner demons now.

"Thank you so much Yugi." I leaned down and enveloped him in my arms. "Thank you for sticking by me."

"So you ready?"

"Mhmm" I flashed a smile at him as I raised my unsteady hand and quickly knocked on the intimidating door before I could change my mind again. I was ready for anything now because nothing could be worse than never seeing Ryou again.