Disclaimer: I don't own anything. So yeah, eat that cake and die.

Stalkers Notes: I know. I know. About time right? I am soooo sorry for the long disappearance. Life hit me really hard and I haven't been able to do anything during that time. So, I am not going to say that the updates are going to be quick and fast like they were before, but it isn't going to every other month I update.

I mean, geez, I had to look back and see what I had written. Dx

Chapter 23

Talk to Me

Bakura had spent the last ten minutes looking for either his sisters of Kisara in the parting crowds and was relieved to see the white haired girls chatting away with the family friends of Masika's.

"Rei, Kisara!" Bakura called, cradling Asa close to his chest so any of the air would brush against her small body.

"Hey, what's up little brother?" Rei asked with a small frown.

"I need you to watch Asa for me," Bakura muttered, pushing the small bundle into his sister arms. "I have to do something before we leave."

"What? What do you have to do?" Rei asked as she cradled her niece into her arms.

Bakura didn't even glance at his sister before turning quickly and sprinting off. "I need to find Ryou!"

Kisara eyes widened. "Ryou? He's here?"

"Holy hell."

Bakura pushed through the crowds, making sure that he was polite while doing so, hoping to find that one person he was yearning to see again. The white haired editor took note that he sounded like a woman from one of his books.

Brushing past the last of the crowds, Bakura pace slowed as he reached the end of the beach, his brown eyes searching. After a moment of frantic search, Bakura let out a frustrated sigh and let much needed oxygen fill his lungs. Of course he wasn't going to find Ryou so easily.

"Fuck," Bakura muttered while running his hand through his spiky white locks while his other hand searched for his pack of cigarettes. After a moment or so, he found one and quickly placed one to his lips. "I know I wasn't imagining it when I saw him out here."

Bakura exhaled softly, mindlessly watching the smoke rings surround him before disappearing into the cool breeze. Maybe he should be heading back to his girls...

"Bakura?"

If the crashing tides from the shoreline had been any louder, there would be no doubt that he would not hear that soft, surprising voice behind him. Bakura turned and was surprised to see the one he had been searching for.

"Ryou..."

After all the time that had passed, how different Bakura looked on television, or various magazines...he looked the same in person. He hadn't changed at all.

Ryou tried to smile when Bakura whispered his name again, slowly making his way over to him. A short gasp escaped from Ryou's mouth when Bakura's hand touched his cheek. He couldn't help but brush his cheek against his former lover's palm.

"I can't believe that you came to Masika's ceremony." Bakura muttered, his hand still resting on Ryou's cheek.

"I didn't like her but I still wanted to show some form of respect. After all, she is the mother of your child." Ryou said, moving out of the editor's touch and smiled softly. "So, how have you been doing?"

"I have been doing fine." Bakura said with a frown. "Can I ask the same?"

"I have been doing well too." Ryou said while turning to the beach and sighed. "I opened up my own bookstore. It's right downtown."

Bakura eyes widened. "You opened a bookstore? Aren't you still working at the institute?"

"No, I don't work there anymore." Ryou said with a sigh. "It's a long story actually."

Bakura couldn't do nothing but stare at his former lover before sighing. "You should come back to Panya's house with me and the girls. I am pretty sure they will be pretty excited to see you."

Ryou bit his lip before shaking his head. "As fun as that sounds, I am going to pass. I have to open up the shop early tomorrow."

"Ah," the editor said with a sigh. "Work comes first I guess. Well, I guess I will see you around?"

"Yeah," Ryou said with a smile while shoving his hands in his pockets and with a crooked smile. "Kisara knows where my store is. Be sure to drop by sometime alright?"

"I will be sure to drop by."

"Good." Ryou said with a nervous smile. "See you around Bakura and congratulations on your daughter." The bookkeeper said before turning and walking away slowly. At first, the pace seemed unsure and slow before the pace picked up and the white haired bookkeeper disappeared into the darkness.

"Damn it." Bakura hissed.

Once Ryou was far enough, he couldn't do nothing but sniffle a little. There was so much he wanted to say to Bakura. He wanted to hug him. He wanted to kiss him. But, his heart forbade it.

Ryou's heart wouldn't allow Bakura to come back in so easily. Not after all that has been going on. With that in mind, Ryou made his way back to the main beach entrance; he was relieved to see only Malik and Marik waiting for him.

"God, there you are." Malik huffed, his hands on his hips. "Where the in the fuck have you been? Marik and I have been waiting-"

"Can we not do this now?" Ryou said with an annoyed huff. "I just want to go home and get some sleep."

"What the-" Malik started to say but his husband placed a hand on his shoulder to calm his down.

"It's alright Malik; something tells me that our little bunny had encounter with our big bad wolf."

"Big bad…oh dear…" Malik sighed. "Why do we always have to deal with the clean up huh?"

Marik only shrugged. "I guess we should expect this when dealing with such dysfunctional people as Ryou and Bakura."

"Yeah, that's true."

"There you are," Rie huffed while she stood beside her brother's car, her twin standing beside her while Kisara sat in the passenger seat, rocking back and forth softly, trying to put Asa sleep. "Where have you been? Do you know it's dangerous to leave three beautiful girls like us in a dark area like this?"

Both Rei and Bakura rolled their eyes.

"Come on," Bakura muttered as he pushed his sister away from the driver's door. "I need to get Asa home now."

"Okay. Okay. Geez. So, what was with the disappearance earlier? Are you going to tell us what happened? Did you find Ryou?" Rie asked, quickly jumping in the backseat and scooted over so that her sister would have room.

"It's none of your business."

Rie opened her mouth to say something else but Rei simply shoved her and made a gesture with her mouth, telling her to be quiet. The dyed pinkette only pouted and folded her arms over her chest.

Not another word was said during the rest of the ride home.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Malik asked for the fifth time while Ryou slid out of the large truck and onto the walkway connected to his house.

"Yes, I am going to be okay." Ryou muttered, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "I will call you if I have a mental breakdown after seeing Bakura."

Marik bit back a snicker.

"Fine." The lavender eyed friend with a tone Ryou did not want to hear right now. "You have my number. I will see you later."

"Okay then. Good night Malik, Marik."

"Goodnight kid," Marik said with a crooked sympathetic smile. "Try and get a goodnight's sleep."

'Huh, seriously doubt that I will.' Ryou thought bitterly but smile and nodded anyway.

"Okay then. See you guys."

Ryou watched as Marik gave him one more wave before they slowly pulled off and disappeared into the night. Once they were gone, Ryou sighed in relief before turning to his house and slowly walked up the walkway. His body felt sluggish suddenly and his doe brown eyes grew dim with fatigue. All he wanted to do know is sleep and forget about today.

'I don't know why I went to the service now.' Ryou thought sadly while he unlocked his front door and started to shed of almost all of his clothes as soon as the wooden door closed and automatically dragged himself to his bedroom and flopped down onto the mattress.

Ryou sighed as he lay on his pillow and clenched onto the sheets and tried his best to keep the tears that were threatening to fall.

Ryou just wished it wasn't that easy to feel for the editor all over again.

"Home. Yes, we are finally home!" Rie cried, her arms stretching over her head before heading to the living room and plopped down on the couch.

"Ugh, I know what you mean…" Kisara said with a yawn. "I can't wait to take a bath and go to bed." The white haired woman then looked to her cousin who was on his way to his daughter's bedroom.

"Do you need anything else before I get ready for bed?"

"No." Bakura said quietly and shifting a now sleeping Asa in his arms before opening the small girl's bright pink door. "I got it. You guys go on and get some rest. Thanks for the help."

The twins and Kisara smiled happily.

"You're welcome!" they chirped.

With one more smile, Bakura entered Asa's bedroom and placed the still bundled child into her crib before the editor began to undress her slowly. It took him at least four minutes to un-swaddle Asa and take off the rest of her outing clothes and slipping on her footie pajamas.

Asa didn't stir at all.

Thank goodness.

Making sure everything else was in order; Bakura tucked the pink blankets around his daughter and exited the room, careful to leave it cracked so someone could hear her cry.

Once back in the living room, Bakura sighed and ruffled his hair intent on getting some kind of rest and was surprised to see the eldest twin Rei sitting on the loveseat; clearly waiting on him.

"Rei? What are you still doing up? I thought you were tired."

"Hm." Rei hummed softly before crossing her arms over her chest and her brown eyes were narrowed with curiosity. "I just want to talk to my big brother before I go bed."

"Tch. Yeah right. What do you want to talk to me about Rei?" Bakura scoffed sitting beside the white haired girl, his own eyes narrowed.

"Did Ryou tell you that I went to go visit him at his bookstore?" Rei asked simply, tucking her knees underneath her chin.

Bakura raised a brow. "Should he? And who said I found him when I took off?"

"Because your attitude changed when you came back. Did you two make up and get back together?"

"Wha- No-"

"Do you want to get back together with Ryou?" Rei pressed.

"Where is this-?"

Rei's usually soft brown eyes hardened. "Well? Do you?"

"I don't know!" Bakura yelled, cutting his sister off from her next question. The sudden raise in voice made Rei blink suddenly and move away.

"I-I don't know…" Bakura admitted again, this time only softer.

Rei only smiled and leaned against her brother and smiled. "Don't you feel a little bit better?"

Bakura only rolled his eyes and pushed his sister onto the couch, smirking when he heard her giggle. "God, shut up."

Eh….chapter ended. Sorry for the long wait. Reviews are much appreciated. Now, I am going to get started on the trust me update. Hope to hear from me this month. Kidding. Kidding.