AN: Here's the next chapter! I got a computer fixed about a week ago, and my cousin is already at my back about updating! I'm here now, okay?! Lol. I'm sorry it took so long. The parts didn't arrive until a few weeks. (We ordered online.) And I've been trying to recover everything I lost. All my music, my documents, my pictures. Whew…

dragonlady222: I wonder…if you'll like this one. I tried to make it flow as best as I could. Enjoy! Thanks for the review.

Rogue1979: I can now update as much as I want! My computer is up and running, and working. Unless I catch another bug (which would REALLY tick me off). I hope you find the next chapter…satisfying. Thanks for the review!

Mika Sorano: I sooo agree with you. Ryou most definitely needs a hug, and Mithos should be locked up some far away place in isolation. I'm sorry it took so long to update. The last two will be here before Christmas. Thanks for the review!

The Vampire Prince: Hey! Here's the next chapter, so you can quit calling me everyday to pester me about it. Thanks for the review, and for helping with my computer. You're the best, couz.

Chapter Twenty: Humanity

He pulled the knife of his arm, slowly, never taking his eyes away from those trembling ones. Now that there were no yakuza, the pervert was finally scared. The knife fell to the ground with a clatter as his arm coursed with blood. But pain was another matter entirely. He felt nothing inside except a coolness that seemed to consume everything.

He will pay.

Bakura bent over and picked the switchblade up. He flicked it closed, but held it tightly in his hand. Mithos' eyes were on the knife the entire time as Bakura knelt in front of him.

"I would slap you, but it doesn't seem like it's worth the effort." Bakura studied his hand for a minute. "I…I don't like you." In a sudden and swift movement, he shoved Mithos into the wall.

Stars exploded into the blonde man's vision as his head hit the wall. Bakura threw a punch into the man's midsection, grinding his fist hard.

There was a short scream, then sobbing as Mithos held his head in pain. Tears bordered his eyes as he glared at Bakura with pure hate.

Bakura leaned in, baring his teeth. "No one belongs to anyone."

Collars are like a symbol between master and slave. Humans should never wear collars, because they weren't meant to be slaves.

Bakura nonchalantly raised his hand in the air, the light glancing off of the blade. Mithos' eyes widened in realization, yet he was too scared to open his mouth. All warmth left Bakura and a thin smiled appeared.

Ryou slammed his eyes shut and screamed as soon as he saw the knife's descent. He heard a gasp, and couldn't help crying. To take a life was a crime! Bakura wouldn't…he couldn't…

The scream that Ryou voiced chilled Bakura's entire body.

Your actions are looked upon by others as a door to your personality. What do you want people to think of you as?

Koro…I…I can't forgive him for what he did!

Would you want someone to acknowledge you as a killer?

His arm slipped, missing. The shadow in Bakura's mind disappeared, and so did his energy.

There was a small period of silence, where only light breathing could be heard.

Some people can't help the way they are, the way they see things.

"Why-…" the voice of Bakura cracked once as he tried to bite back a sob. He pounded Mithos' chest as he demanded to know, "Why is he your toy? What makes him yours?"

Sometimes it's not because they're stubborn.

The child pulled his hands away from his eyes and stared at Bakura's crumpled form, his fingers wrapped around the hilt. Above Mithos' head the knife was buried. Tension fled the child's body, leaving behind exhaustion.There was a margin of one inch between Mithos' head and the blade. Mithos himself was shaking like crazy, his eyes not really seeing anything.

Ryou took a step forward, reaching for Bakura.

You have to take into account that their past and yours are different. You have to ask yourself, what if something terrible in their past made them the way they are now?

"What gives you the right to...to do that to him? Why the hell would you do something like that?"

He angrily wiped a tear away as Mithos slowly said, "He's a toy because…he doesn't know any better. That's all he's good for."

The human heart is a fragile thing. But another's life is something no one has a right to.

"Bastard," Bakura spat, gritting his teeth. "You just don't get it." He slammed the hilt of the knife into Mithos' head, knocking him unconscious.

Don't make the mistake of taking one. You…you will regret for the rest of your life…Be strong, Bakura.

He stayed in that position, too tired to move. He wiped the tears away again, trying to stop the trembling. It scared him that he had…had felt that feeling…the feeling of wanting to actually hurt the man.

"B-Bakura?"

The teen looked up, startled almost.

Ryou stumbled toward him, obviously drained from the entire episode. "I wanna go home now," he said in a small voice, his eyes sifting through fear and fatigue.

Bakura studied the child before him, who was rubbing his eyes from lack of sleep and tears. He smiled softly, forcing himself to stand.

"Let's go home."

Then Bakura ruffled the child's white hair, picked him up and hugged him for a long time.

AN: Well, what'd you think? Does it need revision? (I hope it was good…and I'm sorry if it was short. There seemed like nothing to add, unless I was going to end it here.) I know it's been a while since I've updated, but please review. I'll get the last chapter and the epilogue up before Christmas.