Oh my god...has it really been almost six months since I last posted a chapter? I'm so sorry! God, I'm the worst person inthe world, I deserve to be shot in the head...! Or, at least stabbed in the eye with a really hot french fry. Seriously though, guys, I'm really sorry I waited this long, there's no excuse, and I hope ya'll forgive me for being so late. So, I guess, without further adu, he is Chatper 13!

Chapter 13: Confrontation

Almost there…

God, why won't my legs move any faster! Please don't be too late… Jounouchi…Yugi…

Please!

The looming building of Domino Hospital came into view, a view known all to well by the sprinting youth. Upon the sight, he felt panic swirl in his stomach, realizing he had no idea how long he had been running or what time it was. A rush of adrenaline sprang into his legs, and in an instant Honda began to run faster that he could ever remember running, the sight of the front entrance greeting his as a cool drop of water greets a warm, swelling tongue.

With a burst of speed, he shot through the double-doors, hardly noticing the looks of shock that hospital personnel threw at him, too lost in his own worry to care about what they might think.

Information…gah, where the hell is it!

"Please, I need to see him! It's…it's a matter of life or death!"

Anzu!

A doctor with a look of apathy stood to Honda's left, speaking with his back turned toward him, his voice that of one who didn't wish to be there. "I realize that, miss. But, this is a hospital- that's not saying much here. And I apologize, but since you're not directly related to him, you can't enter his room while he's in these conditions; it's the rules.

"Please, can't you make an exception! Don't you care that someone might–"

"Anzu, is that you?" Honda suddenly called, now sure the voice of this girl belonged to his longtime friend.

Honda…

Hearing her name called, Anzu moved to look over the doctors shoulders, a cry of relief escaping her lips. "Honda!" she shouted, pushing roughly into the doctors shoulder as she ran into the boys' outstretched arms.

"Honda…" she whispered, tears beginning to leak from her stunning azure eyes.

"Anzu…" the boy said gently, trying to give her a bit of comfort. But there was little or no time for such actions, and, with urgency, he asked, "Are you here because–"

"Bakura," Anzu interrupted, a fierceness in her voice that Honda had heard on only a few previous occasions. Anzu pulled away from Honda, raising her head slightly so she could look into his deep auburn eyes. "Honda… Bakura, he–"

"He called you, too, then, didn't he?" he questioned, not needing an answer to know that he was correct. "Anzu…he's here."

"I know. That stupid doctor won't let me see them! Yugi and Jounouchi are…are going to die if we don't get in there soon!" Her voice rose an octave and broke as she spoke the last sentence, unbidden tears flying faster from her cool blue eyes, though she made no attempt to cease their fall.

Honda looked away, unable to watch as his friend poured her heart out, an anger and fury he had never felt before coursing through his veins, making his fists tremble with vivid intensity. "He did this on purpose…" he whispered darkly, more to himself than anyone else. "He knew we would come, and he knew we wouldn't be able to get in… He's teasing us… He…he's fucking mocking us that there's nothing we can fucking do!" He had begun to shout, only vaguely aware that he had, not noticing the various stares that were coming from all directions as hot tears flew from his eyes and he trembled with rage and fear.

The silence that ominously lingered between the two lasted mere moments, neither of them sure of what to say at the outburst. Finally, in a whispered, frightened voice, Anzu said plainly, "I'm scared… Yugi and Jounouchi are…they're going to…"

"No…" the brunette said with a gentle, quiet force. "We've come too far…all of us. I –we– won't let them die." He stopped talking, closing his eyes in thought, then said, "Do you remember which room Yugi was in last night?"

"Um…856, I think. Why–"

"Because we're going to stop him." Without another word, he took her hand and began to lead Anzu down the hall, avoiding the doctor who had denied her entrance moments before and making sure to remain as unnoticed as possible.

One way…or the other.

----Back with Bakura----

----Yugi and Jounouchi's hospital room----

"Hello, Pharaoh!" Bakura shouted mockingly, viciously throwing the door open and confidently striding into the hospital room, where Yugi lie listlessly on the bed nearest the door, Jounouchi lying in the one next to the younger boy, his long legs hanging off the end of the makeshift bed.

"Aw…it's so quiet in here," the Tomb Thief remarked casually, taking a few more steps into the room and pausing a few feet before Yugi's bed. "Come now, you act as if it's funeral…!Though…it might as well be…" he sniggered cruelly, a dark, icy laugh that seem to come from the pits of his very soul, a laugh that held no more human emotion than that of a dogs bark.

"I know you're in here, Pharaoh…" he said, his tone switching from one of light banter to one of cold scorn. "Show yourself. Or has the all-mighty Pharaoh become spineless in one night because of his foolish hikari? Get over it; that gaki is just a stupid little boy who's more bark than bite. Besides, it won't be long before he–"

"Shut up," a furious baritone voice suddenly snarled, each word sharply emphasized so the phrase was as threatening as possible. "Hiretsukan(1)… Shut the fuck up…!"

"Seems I've gotten a rise out you, Your Majesty." Bakura smirked, turning in the direction of the voice. "And, to think, I didn't even expect you to answer."

The white-haired male watched, still grinning sinisterly, as a bright golden light began to flash from the Millennium Puzzle that rested by Yugi's bedside, filling the entire room with it's angelic aura, blinding him for a moment. He closed his eyes and unwillingly turned away, unable to stand the intensity of the glow, moving his arm up to block the light from his line of vision. A second later he sensed the light dim down, and he turned to where it had been just moments before, his deep mauve eyes flashing with an unrecognizable emotion as his smile spread even wider across his handsome face.

Standing before Yugi's bed, his tri-colored head bowed so his eyes were hidden by goldenrod bangs, was the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle, in all of his radiance and glory. But there was something…different about Atemu, as Bakura was quick notice. Before, Atemu's posture was proud and intimidating, his lack of height made up for by his unflinching confidence; now, it was hunched and dreary, looking as if the slightest breeze would send him flying with little or no dispute. His outfit, normally clinging tightly onto his skin to reveal well-muscled abs and thin, strong legs, now hung lifelessly off his pallid skin, wrinkled and unkempt, as if no attempt had been made in fixing it. The Pharaohs' hands were held half-closed by his side, the once-strong fists limp and ashen, as if all the energy had been drained out of them. The person standing before Bakura was no longer a powerful, confident man– this person was a mere shadow of its former self.

"How could you…?" the baritone voice spoke again, clear and full of emotion. "How could you do this to him, when he's done nothing to you…? All he tried to do was save his friend…" The tri-colored head raised, crimson eyes locking with mauve, the former void and empty, twin pits of grief and agony. "Don't you have any remorse?"

"You dare question me?" Bakura spat, eyes gleaming with fury. "You, whose ancestors betrayed and slaughtered my village, who mercilessly killed my family for the power of darkness? Now you know how it feels…to lose everything it one night."

"How can you blame me," Atemu began, his voice remaining cool and steady, while the fires of rage danced merrily in his dark crimson orbs. "For something I don't even remember…? How can you attack him for something he was never a part of! Tell me! Ketsuoanansi(2)! Tell me…" The Pharaohs' voice broke as he spoke the last sentence, and a single tear fell from his burning crimson eyes.

"Hn…" Bakura breathed, eyes cool hard. "How can I…? I don't have to explain myself to you, Pharaoh. But know this: they were all a part it. You, my vessel, your partner– all of them, whether or not they were there. They befriended you, and for that they must pay." the Tomb Thief remained quiet for a moment, as if in thought, then waved an arm to the right, a dark smile spreading across his handsome face.

"Even him."

Silence; Atemu's narrowed eyes glared at Bakura, then cautiously followed the pale finger that pointed directly to the right of him, his expression confused and unsure.

In an instant, crimson orbs shot open, filled with shock and terror as they gazed upon the motionless figure lying on the bed next to Yugi.

"No…" he whispered, mouth agape in disbelief, "Not you, too…"

With barely steady legs, Atemu stepped towards the hospital bed nearest the door, breathing deep and labored as though it were taking all of his strength to do so. He paused just before the young male upon the sheets, gazing at the figure with wide, unsure eyes, his crimson gems following the steady motions of the youth's chest rising up and down, fearful that if he looked away, the motions would stop, and he would once again be forced to endure the guilt that would come with the loss.

Jounouchi...

Jounouchi's normally kind, shining eyes were shut tightly, an expression of pain and worry contorted on his handsome features, blond hair hanging limply over his honey-colored eyes as though attempting to protect him from the horrors it knew would come. His head was turned slightly to the right, thrown back to reveal his lightly tanned skin, red blotches tainting the flesh with angry streaks of rage. The youths' fists were held half open by his side, as if reaching for something, waiting for someone to take hold of his hand and comfort him in his moment of weakness.

"Jounouchi-kun, I...I'm sorry," Atemu whispered under his breath, unable to bring any cleverer words to his suddenly dry mouth. He continued to stare disbelievingly at the unconscious boy, making no motion to move, his eyes beginning to glow fervently with the white-hot flames of anger, his fists beginning to tremble with livid intensity by his side. Then, breaking the silence that followed his soft, apology, he spoke.

"You bastard..." he murmured clearly, voice quiet, but holding an unflinching confidence that make Bakura's eyes widen slightly in surprise. "You...you fucking bastard! How can you do this to him– to us! How can you play with human lives as though they were worthless!"

Without thinking, hardly aware that he was doing so, Atemu stepped across the room, halting before the Tomb Thief's smirking form, reaching two balled up fists out and grabbing him by the collar, pulling upwards until Bakura's toes trailed across the ground and the Pharaoh had to raise his head even more than usual to look him in the eye.

"I won't let you get away with this," he snarled, his voice low and menacing, dripping with malice and rage. "I will make you pay...!"

Bakura did nothing as he was raised from the ground, allowed himself to be lifted without even attempting to defend himself. He continued to sneer mockingly down on the Pharaoh, enjoying the fact that he had received such a shocking reaction when he had expected Atemu to take it lying down, expected him to be an empty shell.

It's so much more fun when they fight back…he thought nastily.

Atemu, glaring furiously at the Tomb Thief before him, removed his right hand from Bakura's collar, never once breaking eye contact with him as he pulled his fist back and prepared to–

"Careful, Your Majesty," Bakura interrupted, just before the fist made contact with is face. "You don't want me to have to bring little Ryou out…do you?"

Crimson eyes shot open at the mention of the young hikari, his hand wavering at prospect of bringing harm to the boy his aibou had risked his life to rescue.

"You…" he whispered darkly, the lingering threat obvious in the undertone of his words. "Don't you–"

"Wait, Pharaoh." Bakura broke in with firm confidence. "It seems our guests have arrived…

"Now the real game can begin…"

As he spoke, the knob jingled, and the white hospital door burst open.

Well, was it okay? I hope it was worth the wait, and if not... Anyway, thanks so much for still reading this and for sticking with me! And if no one's there...at least I got a chance to write for you at one point! I love you all!

(I'm not quite sure when I will post the next chapter, but I will try to make it soon. Please bear with me!)