Hello beauties! Sorry it took a bit there! New chapter! Not as long as the last, but not bad! :)

NOTE: I'd just like to remind everyone that a lot of the things that happen in this story are based upon actual people/events (no, not the shadow realm part. Wouldn't that kick ass?) As I mentioned in several review replies, Honda is based off actual people I know. Nice people turned homophobe, I kid you not. They do exist.

Chapter dedication to pride1289, sazyboo, Demonkittee, and Silver Tears 11. The lyrics are from the song "I Don't Care" by Apocalyptica. Not the most humorous chapter, but it's significant nonetheless! XD

I try to make it through my life, in my way, there's you
I try to make it through these lies, that's all I do

Just don't deny it
Don't try to fight this
And deal with it
And that's just part of it

If you were dead or still alive
I don't care, I don't care
Just go and leave this all behind
I don't care

I swear

I don't care
At all

Chapter 29: Crime of the Exile

(Jounouchi's POV)

"…I really need to talk with you an' mom. Call me back as soon as you can. I gave you the number. Like I said, I'm at the Mutou's for now…Bye."

Pressing the button with a sigh I place the phone back in its rightful place on the kitchen counter. It's dead-quiet in the room. I could swear I am alone except for the three people sitting around the small table watching me. Each has a cup of tea.

"Still not answering?" Yugi pipes up awkwardly loud as I sit beside him. "Where is she?"

"Somewhere in France," I mumble, chin nearly touching my chest.

"That narrows it down," my longtime friend jokes in an attempt to ease things. The tension in here is stifling.

Yami and Ryou don't make a peep. Even from Yugi's third floor bedroom I could hear them arguing. There's little doubt over the subject. No one has mentioned Baku since I came down. That's no coincidence. It's like his name is taboo.

What do I do to get Yami back on our side?

"Otogi's cell was busy," Yugi informs us twirling his spoon.

"Probably chatting with Kaiba," Ryou mutters, pausing to sip his tea. "Deciding their best course of action."

"Yami sent him to find the person who leaked the news," Yugi adds optimistically. "He must be doing that."

"Assuming he isn't the leak."

"You're fully prepared to hoist the blame on Otogi," Yami states with a vibrating undertone.

Ryou's face hardens and his lean fingers visibly clench around the teacup. Yugi shoots his darker half a stern look, no doubt rebuking him through their mind link. While Yami doesn't say anything further he's pissed. Problem is I don't know what they're fighting about now. That means I'll have to let Yugi handle it and keep the peace between the two of them.

"What should I tell Shizuka?"

The three of them stare at me and I immediately wish I hadn't opened my mouth. Could I pick a worse time to be asking for advice? Their opinions are strong and the hostility towards each other and Baku cloud their judgments at the moment. I shake my head.

"Forget it."

Placing my hands flat on the table's surface I brace my arms and push myself to my feet. They all look remorseful but no one objects. No one offers to help me.

"I'm going to check on Baku and try an' catch some sleep before Otogi gets back."

I find myself trudging up the stairs with absolutely no one stopping me. They are here and took us in, so they're technically not against me. It's Bakura that Yami wants to throw out in the gutter. At this point I think I'm the only thing stopping him from doing just that.

For some reason I stop at the bottom of the narrow stairway leading to the oddly placed their floor bedroom. It's like a tower or something. These stairs are straight and incredibly steep. The room above is distanced from the rest of the house, sitting atop it like an askew hat. Is that why they gave it to Baku? So everyone wouldn't have to deal with my koi?

Leaning my back against the wall I sink to the carpeted floor. Bending my legs while drawing my arms around them I bury my face against my knees. My teeth dig into my lower lip as I rock back and forth in the darkness. The pain is something to focus on to keep myself from crying. It's the only kind of physical pain I'll allow myself to inflict.

I can't go back to that again.

This is the first time I have missed my own addiction. Up until now, having Baku at my side has been enough. I'm slipping. Problem is: no one besides Baku knows about my self harm. Nobody is watching out for something like that…not from me anyway.

I'm the upbeat one of the group. They've always depended on me to be the one to never back down. Always rushing into things without thinking. Is that how they view my relationship with Baku? I can't remember a point where I sat myself down and truly dwelt upon it. Is that what you're supposed to do when you find someone you care about? Analyze the relationship until it's no longer appealing?

"Jounouchi?"

Gramps places his hand on my shoulder and I cannot bear to look at him. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold it together if I look him in the eye; that I'll confess it all to him. My wall for my emotions is no longer bulletproof. I can't joke around with ease and shrug off troubles like I used to. If he realizes this he doesn't say anything, settling down beside me.

"Talk to her before despairing. People can surprise us sometimes…especially when our expectations of them are less than optimistic."

His tone is instructing and gentle. As always he is honest in his viewpoints. Gramps doesn't lie to me. He tells it how it is. That's why it confounds me that I am unconvinced.

"It won't always turn out the way it did with Honda," he reads my mind, following the winding trails of doubt. "None of us expected that from him, Jou. But you can't let that fear of reliving it make you freeze. Give each person an equal chance."

I shift so my wrists rub against the hem running along the sides of my jeans. For an instant I can feel the rivulets of blood gliding along my arms in a patternless maze. I want to get this pain out that's building up, festering inside of me. If I just let loose a god-awful scream…

"Get some rest," he encourages with a light pat on the back. "Don't suffer waiting and worrying. It doesn't solve anything." There's rustling as he rises. "We're all here for you—whatever you need."

The lump in my throat threatens to burst as he quietly leaves me to wallow. Only once I've waited several minutes—long enough for him to be gone—do I pull myself up and lumber up the stairs into the equally dark bedroom. I close the door behind me, resisting the urge to lock it. Locking my friends out of part of their own house when their harboring me…That doesn't look good.

Bakura is sleeping soundly, a gloss of sweat coating his pale skin. He's tucked under several blankets as he is always cold. I drew the curtains despite no one being able to spot us way up here. Chewing on my tongue I tip my head back. The skylight is to the left of the bed. That means sunlight in the morning that I cannot block. While it will infuriate Baku to awake to a room of sunshine, I am fearful to ask anything more of Yami on Baku's behalf.

Cautiously I crawl onto the bed and wrap my arms around him. The yami doesn't stir as I pull him to me. The ring is emitting a faint yellow glow, correcting the damage he consequently caused from using so much Shadow Magic. His rib cage presses against my forearms with each wheezing breath. Why does this keep happening? I keep getting left behind to fend for myself whenever the head injury acts up. As always, I come second.

"Wake up," I plead with him but he does not respond. Tears trailing down the contours of my face and into his white locks, I allow my defenses to fall here in the lonely solitude with him. "Please wake up."

(Bakura's POV)

"Once more!" the healer commands from across the large room, his voice booming in the open space.

He called it an arena. It is the largest single room I have ever seen. The temple of Khonsu could fit in here with room to spare. The ceiling is high above us, as far away as the sky. The bricks of the walls are massive; at least five times the size of any human body. It struck me as strange that they are all plain. No carvings or hieroglyphs adorning them. Most buildings I have entered have such embellishments.

Then again, the vast majority of them are temple and tombs where everything is sacred. Bare torches line the walls, not so much ornamentation as a means for seeing in this windowless space.

Seini told me its use is for dueling with ka. I know a bit about that. Malik told me how the high priests 'collect' the ka of criminals who are brought into the walls of the palace. They are sealed inside of stone tablets. A Millennium Item is needed to perform this procedure. My friend had warned me of this from the beginning. Since we were to become tomb robbers it was vital we knew what punishments awaited us. I don't ask Seini where the tablets reside, though I had thought they would be in the area used for the matches.

I try to catch my breath, leaning back against the wall in order to remain upright. I've already passed out once. That hasn't dampened Seini's spirits. Since starting this training several hours ago I once more question if he really knows what he's doing.

"What are you waiting for?" he calls with a hand cupped to his mouth.

"I don't want to end up out cold on the floor again!" I protest his methods. "Isn't there another way to do this?"

The old man's face becomes stoic and he crosses his arms into the large sleeves of his white robes. I internally groan. This test of his is going to kill me.

"How did you learn hand to hand combat?" he prompts unwaveringly. "Do not pretend with me after how many times I have treated you." Sensing he has my attention he walks forward, shadows flickering across his form from the torches as he moves. "Like using weapons, learning to summon your ka is a trial and error process."

"It's the 'error' part that concerns me," I mutter before snapping my mouth shut. Seini's white eyes narrow. Shit. Stop infuriating the blind sunu with abnormally sharp hearing!

"I am under no obligation to teach you this. Therefore, I may end it at any point and time if I find you lacking in enthusiasm."

Grimacing, I begrudgingly apologize. Why am I giving him attitude? He's trying to help me. Seini deserves some kind of explanation at the very least.

"I am frustrated," I confess to him. "I have felt powerless for…a very long time."

"Hmm. Quite literally, I daresay," he comments dryly stopping just shy of the center of the arena.

"It's much more draining than I imagined," I admit not leaving the support of the wall. "Atem and Mahaado make Shadow Magic look effortless."

"I was the palace's head sunu decades before either of them were even born," Seini smiles at private jokes he is too reverential to reveal. "Trust me: No one begins with ease. Eventually it becomes a second nature." He beckons me to join him.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself I push off the wall. After several shaky steps I pick up the pace while approaching the center of the arena. I'm experiencing a strange tingling throughout my body as if tiny creatures were crawling up my limbs. The blood is pounding in my head but luckily my vision is back to normal.

The elderly man doesn't move or say anything further until I reach him. He regards me with his heightened senses; proving the loss of one is no great defeat.

"You could step aside and allow things to be as they should," he finally speaks quietly and I bristle. "High Priest Mahaado and the other…"

"If I can protect Atem then I'll do whatever I have to!" I disrupt heatedly, hands fisting at my sides. My weapons are useless for this argument. There is no way to release this pent up anger. I bow my head so my bangs hide him from my field of vision.

"You are passionate about this," he observes after a drawn out silence, only the crackling of the flames along the walls audible. "The Pharaoh means this much to you…The priests could learn much from your devotion."

My face reddens and he chuckles, without a doubt sensing my embarrassment. Not once has he spoken of Atem and me in a romantic sense, but it's quite obvious he is fully aware. Unlike Mahaado, it doesn't seem to bother Seini. His loyalty above all else is to Atem. If Atem is happy then Seini is content, it would appear.

"All right," he claps his hands. "That is enough for tonight. You are exhausted and we need to make sure you have enough strength to get yourself home."

I nod dejectedly, a feeling of defeat washing over me in a cold wave. I'm leaving empty-handed. He offered to train me and I all could manage was to pass out. As soon as Seini had offered to teach me to summon my ka I had jumped at the opportunity. At last I would have some control over matters. It seems it isn't to be. Turns out I'm as helpless as ever. Seini detects my discouragement, taking several calculated steps back from me with a mischievous smile playing upon his withered lips.

"So you do not feel too dispirited, why don't I give you an idea of what you will be capable of soon enough?"

The gust hits me like the ferocious winds conjured in the desert during a sandstorm. I topple over onto my back, limbs flailing as the fire on the walls flashes momentarily from the force. Gasping I feel a static in the air, a prickling sensation warning me not to remain still. Scrambling to my knees I pull out two knives with lightning speed at the sight of the cloaked figure hovering above Seini. The elderly man does not seem fazed by this stranger. Instead he's tilting his head upwards as if he…

"This is my ka," he addresses my bewilderment at last. "The Mysterious Puppeteer, I call it."

He motions upward at something and I notice the small strange wooden doll spasming in the open space between the ka's two large gnarled hands. It's like it's torturing the thing. The face of the spirit is hidden behind a cloth. Its garb is similar to that of mine and Malik's. Yet we don't possess ghastly glowing yellow eyes like this creature. The hands keep drawing my gaze, so horrible and ugly. Anything but human.

Hells, I'm closer to a human than that.

"You have not spoken. I assume you have never seen a ka before?"

"No," I find my voice at last, rising shakily to my feet. Flinching, I don't return my weapons to their sheaths when the frightening yellow eyes hone in on me. "Does it…sense?"

"Indeed it does. The ka is part of the spirit. The spirit is alive. Once you have awakened your ka it will be aware of quite much," the healer explains, white eyes cast upwards. "When in battle I can 'see' through my ka, so to speak. It is my eyes when needed."

I nod subconsciously, not daring to take so much as a step as long as those glowing eyes trail me. Since I have never come across a summoned ka before, I cannot decipher how powerful it is. Now that it is here I can sense it. I assume it is a fairly powerful creature, given it is part of Seini. The soft-spoken man isn't the palace's head sunu for nothing.

"How do you know what your ka is…even after you've summoned it?" I ask while keeping a close watch of the floating puppet master.

"That is the simple part," the old man reveals returning his unseeing eyes to me. "When the ka is awakened one can sense everything about it. Its name, strengths, and abilities. You will be aware of it all. While it will take time and training to become completely in tune with each other."

My entire body begins to tremble when the specter drifts toward me, wooden dolls twisting in agonized postures in invisible shackles. The limbs chatter like the bone necklaces people wear for ceremonies. Yellow orbs bore into me, probing for something. My throat tightens, recalling what Seini said previously about his ka being his eyes.

"What does it do?" I blurt out, wanting nothing more than to escape the unearthly stare. "All ka are different, right?" I add to his brow creasing.

"I'm afraid I cannot show its abilities without another ka present," he answers effortlessly moving to me, flowing long robes giving the illusion he's gliding above the ground. "We will have to save that for another time."

"Tomorrow night?" I venture, eager to summon a powerful beast of my own. Then I'll teach that high priest a thing or two…

Seini shakes his bald head. "No, I'm afraid not. Ah ah." He wags his finger when I open my mouth to protest. "No objections. You want to learn to conjure the hidden portion of your soul? Then you will do it my way. And you will be better off in top condition. I will look for another opportunity for us to train without the Item holders nearby. You rest up and regain your strength. No involving yourself in vigorous fights, please."

Bowing in respect I pause when he speaks again.

"Bakura."

"Yes?" I lift my head expectantly.

The yellow eyes above us are fixated upon me. I do my best to ignore them and my instinct to run, instead focusing upon Seini who offers a thin smile.

"Let's keep this between us for now, shall we?"

(Honda's POV)

He actually conjured the Shadow Realm. Not only that—there are quite a few people who have 'vanished'. This includes Ryou, Jounouchi, and the psycho himself. Did the thief go berserk because of the news? Or was it an overdue deadline for him to snap? He has a history of those.

Why didn't Yami save those people? Has he sided with Jou and his fuck buddy so much that he would ignore the basic principles of justice? He could overpower Bakura any time anywhere. How could he allow another atrocity like this to happen? Hell, hasn't it happened enough times to us already? Wasn't that warning the plenty of what Bakura is capable of?

The blue glow from the television is the only light in the room. I pulled the semi-transparent off-white drapes shut tightly. The one on the left got stuck, so I practically wrenched it down. Here I'll wait it out. My fingers dig into the edge of the mattress as I lean forward, hanging on the news anchor's every word.

"…refuses to release a list of the names of the missing until family have been reached," the woman spurts, obviously high on adrenaline and caffeine. Her green eyes are wide and bloodshot as she reads tirelessly from the monitor behind the camera; rarely pausing to blink or breathe. "The station's own Akane Hoshi, Itsuki Jun, and Kiku Kimi were on site at the time of the dark clouds appeared. We have been unable to contact or locate them…"

I jerk upright, a bolt shooting up my spine as the ancient cord telephone beside the bed lets out a squawk of a ring. 'No way…' Tasting blood in my mouth, I keep my teeth clamped on my tongue, waiting for the noise to stop. It rings twice more and then goes silent. Lifeless like an inanimate object should stay.

"…police are keeping the citizens saved from inside of the mysterious storm in quarantine. At the present time they are refusing to allow interviews." Her voice is growing hoarse but I don't think she's even noticed. The shock and excitement are marvelous to her. Atrocities like this are what she lives for. "Police have put up blockades preventing the press and public from entering or leaving the neighborhood. It is unclear at this time whether…"

The obnoxiously loud phone starts up again. I glare at it, leaning across the bed and ripping the cord out of the wall. Two separate calls now? Can't be a coincidence. Doesn't matter if it's a wrong number or not. They won't be bothering me again.

They switch to videos people sent of the 'storm'. All of them are poor quality. It's amazing the electronics worked at all. I don't think I've ever witnessed a calling of the Shadow Realm that widespread. Then again, who knows? Over half the time I was inside of the damn things. The fear grips me even though it's on a screen. I understand what makes these people so terrified. The first time I was transported to the Shadow Realm I thought it had been a nightmare. There was no way something as dreadful as that could exist.

It was real—what happened to us before. I nearly died. Jounouchi came even closer to being killed than the rest of us. Doesn't that faggot remember? Don't any of them remember who put us through that hell? That bastard takes pleasure in other peoples' suffering. He probably gets off from other peoples' fear.

Looking back, I'm not completely surprised Anzu and Yugi siding with Jounouchi. They always do their best to help those who are distressed. Blindly they are ignoring the fact that he caused his own misery and has only got what was coming to him. What did the idiot think would happen when he announced he's fucking the tomb robber and that he loves him?

Yami is a different story. Why has he stayed by Jounouchi's side? If it were just a ploy he would have contacted me in some way, shape, or form and told me so. But Yami wouldn't encourage those two faggots. His everlasting enemy and the loudmouthed blonde? I thought Yami was more intelligent than that.

How could they abandon me? None of them even tried talking to me after I left Ryou's house. Did they just throw in the towel without putting up a fight? Not one of them even considered the fact that Jounouchi is in the wrong? They didn't take into account that they were simultaneously shunning me?

At least Mai is making some effort. I can't decide if she's trying to steal Jounouchi back or if she just wants to humiliate him. Personally, I'm fine with either. If she turned him straight again that could be a start. At this point she's the only person with a chance of fixing him.

I spring to my feet when the door's rusty hinges creak. It pauses partway open before a hand slams it into the wall. Ryuuji leans against it with a smug grin, swinging a key on an oversized loop around his finger.

"The hell…!"

"Nice to see you too. And what a fine establishment you chose to hide in, Hiroto," the dice master greets sardonically with raised eyebrows. "A seedy motel people come to for a quickie. Seriously? Ah well, I'm sure it was all you could afford on your petty paychecks." Green eyes are mocking as he tosses the key to me. "You didn't think I'd climb three flights of stairs to knock on the door after you wouldn't answer the phone?"

My fingers curl around the small piece of metal till it hurts. I should have known he would find me. As long as he's Kaiba's lapdog he has access to virtually every building and code in the city.

"You know, it would tarnish my reputation if I were seen here," he simpers while twisting the doorknob as he enters to the room, pulling the groaning door behind him. "But I know you wouldn't rat me out. After all, there is only the two of us here." He tilts his head with a conceited smirk, bangs falling into his face. "That would imply something I don't believe you want to tarnish your name with."

I don't miss the edginess as his gaze catches on the television screen where they're replaying the shitty images of the 'storm' again and again. Crossing my arms over my chest I press the red button on the remote. The television goes blank. Ryuuji snaps out of his daze, a smile sliding across his face.

"So, you decided to wait it out in here? Letting the rest of us deal with this shit?"

"You may recall I'm no longer associated with any of them."

"Mostly not by your choice either," he adds fuel to the fire. I could punch his face until it's too swollen for him to smile or mock. Not a single girl would go near him. "Anyway, I didn't track you down because I enjoy these heartfelt conversations with you so much, Hiroto."

"Then what the fuck do you want this time?"

He's grinning like some crazed cat and isn't trying to give any false bravado. "To be honest, I was ready to beat the shit out of you upon finding you…but lucky you, I took a half hour to grab a bite to eat. I feel absolutely fabulous and rejuvenated."

"Had a few drinks while you were at it?" I venture with a sneer tossing the remote and key onto the bed.

"Maybe. That's beside the point." Ryuuji walks right up to me, leaning close and tipping his head back so our eyes are close to level to make up for his shorter stature. The hint of alcohol is apparent. Yes, he did treat himself to his limo's mini bar. "You have no idea how much you've aided me. I wanted to personally say thank you."

"Thank you?" I spit veering to the right and pretending to look out the window so it doesn't appear I'm trying to get away from him. "I didn't do it for you. And for your information, I didn't do it for Mai either. Those reporters found me a few hours before either of you." Proud of my actions I place my hand flat atop the television box as a declaration. The images that were playing on the screen earlier are ingrained in both of our memories. "If you gained something from that story, I could care less. I would have told them everything about that stupid thief, but then they would have written me off as some wacko. It's not like anybody in their right minds would believe any of that."

"Can't argue with that." He turns slightly so he can admire himself in the thoroughly scratched full length mirror that's positioned on the wall behind the door.

The dice master is dressed about as gay as one can without being gay. He has a sleeveless formfitting black shirt and black leather pants that are decorated in chains. That corny earring of his is caught in a lock of his black hair that is disheveled, strands having come free from his headband. It takes him an extra half-minute before he notices, making a sad display of himself by reaching up and missing the earring several times as he stares at his reflection with drunken determination.

"Oh, and don't worry," he adds offhandedly, distracted. "I got a voice message about an hour ago. Ryou, Katsuya, and the thief are hunky-dory. It's so nice to see how concerned you were for their safety."

"So are you wasted due to stress or celebration?" I skim over that detail as he fails repeatedly to free the dice from the twisted ebony hairs.

"I'm not wasted," he snorts, apparently giving up on the earring and facing me again. "You know who sent me to find you?"

"Kaiba."

Big surprise.

"Besides Kaiba."

"You mean you whore yourself to people besides him?"

Even the jab doesn't touch him. Something has him self-assured and delighted. I can only hope those drinks have made his reasoning loopy.

"Yami."

This strikes a nerve. "He said to look for me?"

"Don't get a big head. He didn't say specifically you," Ryuuji dismisses my assumptions with a flick of his wrist. "He said to find the snitch and…" He flashes a grin with all his pearly whites showing. "Basically make sure you don't talk again."

"Soooo…you're going to murder me," I say blandly, unimpressed they sent Ryuuji of all people to intimidate me.

"Heck no. Why ruin a good thing? Once the villains are out of the picture the heroes tend to fade into the background."

"And you're a hero," I surmise. "Better watch out, Ryuuji. Jounouchi will be trying to hump you next in gratitude."

"I'll risk it," he still isn't rattled. Maybe he really is gay. "Being one of Katsuya's main defenders has its benefits. He is her brother after all. It's the least I could do."

All too late I see what he's doing. Growling I close the space between us, looming over him menacingly. Unlike the times before when we exchanged hits, he has the entire of Kaiba Corp. to back him up now. He's untouchable unless I want to be locked away for life. They'd find a way to make that happen if he desired it. Things have become complex and perilous.

"Stay away from Shizuka, you sleazebag," I warn holding my fist just centimeters from the end of his nose. "She already has to deal with having a faggot for a brother. Don't make things worse for her!"

Ryuuji's shoulders shake as several short snickers escape him, ignoring the fist in his face. "Me make things worse for her? Are you fucking kidding me, Hiroto?" A single finger presses hard against my knuckles, pushing back towards me. "You were the one who abandoned him. And you were the one who went to the press and told them all about Katsuya. How underhanded can you get?" My arm begins to tremble and I'm not sure whether he's adding pressure or I'm losing strength. It's like he's somehow draining it from me with his words. "I'll make sure to mention all of this to Katsuya. He'll have little choice but to tell her when she visits and asks where his most loyal friend is."

Reluctantly I lower my arm and he does likewise. He finally shuts his obnoxious mouth, letting me digest the reality of the situation. Now I want nothing more than to vomit it back up.

I feel hollow like he tore everything out and carved me raw. The rage has turned in to abject horror. More than anything else there is absolute helplessness. There is no one to go to. No one to lean on and shoulder my pain with me. They've all sided with Jounouchi. I thought I had the chance at winning Shizuka back and staying in her good graces. Even that prospect has slipped through my fingers leaving bloodied cuts behind.

Green eyes narrow and his voice is unusually void of emotion when he speaks, though it's clear who the victor is. And to the victor goes the spoils.

"You dug your own grave this time, Hiroto."

(Ryou's POV)

Everyone has dark rings under their eyes as the news sinks in like a chill plummeting through the body. We're squeezed into Yugi's less than spacious room, Jounouchi having adamantly refusing to leave my yami's side. He's at the head of the bed, fingers threaded through Bakura's messy locks. Otogi scowls at him, his untouched cup of tea having gone cold on the nightstand. The dice master has been out all night getting things sorted out. Yugi is perched at the foot of the bed. Yami is standing by the door with his arms crossed over his chest, looking like he'd rather be anywhere but here by the glares he casts at my darker half. Mr. Mutou decided to let us handle it, opting for opening the shop so nothing appears out of the ordinary to the public. I stand beside Otogi who is sitting awkwardly on the miniature chair—the only chair in the room.

"Honda wouldn't do that!" Jou exclaims, temper quickly spiraling out of control. "Just because you want to pin this on him…!"

"Katsuya, he did it. He admitted it. Fuck that, the boasted about it," Otogi rejoins with a disgusted sneer. "If you can't accept that…"

"I won't!" the blonde counters heatedly, fist clutching a wad of Bakura's hair.

"Maybe it's just a misunderstanding," Yugi tries weakly looking to Yami for some type of support.

"If you don't believe me then you go and chat with him!" Otogi rises, incensed they would argue against plain logic. "He deserted you guys over something as trivial as your sexuality, Katsuya. You think he can't sink lower?"

"Otogi, would you give us a moment?" Yami's deep voice cuts into the venom in the air.

The dice master looks ready to storm out of the house and not come back. His features twitch when he casts a cynical glance at Jounouchi who is wearing a fierce expression on his own face. As usual, Otogi finds his ability to pull himself together for the sake of business. Giving a curt nod to Yami he steps around me and exits the room without a word. No one speaks for a moment, listening to his footfall as he goes down the stairs.

"The nerve of that guy."

"Jou, you need to pull yourself together and recognize the truth when it's staring you straight in the face," the former pharaoh states quietly.

Brown eyes shoot to him. "You're not sayin' you actually believe him?"

There is no pride in Yami when he answers. He looks exhausted, defeat weighing him down. To have Honda turn on us and go out of his way to hurt Jounouchi is just another hard blow to the gut.

"Yes, I do."

This is enough for Yugi. He excuses himself and hurries from the room, mumbling something about helping his grandfather in the shop. Despite his hurry to get away I notice the glassy sheen in his eyes as he bows his head.

Jounouchi is shaking so badly the entire bed is vibrating. He holds his gaze with Yami even when the tears escape. The warm saltwater streams down his face as he keep his jaw clenched. His grip on my yami's hair is so tight that Bakura's head is getting pulled to the side. Despite his comatose condition my yami releases a small groan of discomfort.

This snaps Jounouchi out of his stupor. He immediately centers in on my yami, loosening his grip and gently patting down the white mane he flawed. Yami watches silently, waiting for Jounouchi to give us his undivided attention. I know this is not going to happen.

"Jou," I say softly, approaching slowly. "We've all had to face things we don't want to be true. The fact that we still care about Honda doesn't mean we can ignore what he's done. You can't disregard it when someone is trying to harm you."

Sandy blonde hair is wilted as he keeps his head bowed above my yami. Several tears drip onto Bakura's colorless skin like lonely raindrops. Meeting Yami's eyes I give him a helpless shrug. He motions with his head to the door. Swallowing, I look at Jounouchi's heartbreaking form gently running his hand across my yami's head.

With nothing else to do, I follow Yami to the door. The former pharaoh pauses after he opens the door. Not turning around, he speaks once more; this time allowing his own aguish to breach in his voice.

"We'll give you a little while alone, Jounouchi."

Without exchanging even a sentence, Yami and I walk down two flights of stairs to the main floor of the house. Otogi is alone in the living room with the television on. His temper seems to have simmered down. He's sitting with his arms crossed behind his head, emerald green eyes fixated upon the screen.

"I'm going to check on Yugi," Yami states to both of us, retreating to the kitchen where he must have sensed his lighter half.

Nothing else for me to do, I sit down awkwardly beside Otogi. The dice master doesn't spare me a glance. My heart beats in my throat as pictures of my neighborhood flash before us. The story of the mysterious storm that nineteen people disappeared in has become global. My breath is stolen away as I see for the first time how enormous it was. It's covering such a wide area. How many blocks did he send to the Shadow Realm?

"You can't go back there," Otogi says bending one arm forward to fiddle with his earring. "You realize that, don't you? Even if your yami hadn't done anything at all. Because of Hiroto everyone will be swarming that place."

I nod in a daze, only half-listening to him. My home…My entire life has been ripped away from me. I foresaw challenges. Nothing like this. Not destruction and death. This wasn't part of it. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

"I've spoken with Kaiba," the dice master continues, realizing I'm at a loss. "You, Katsuya, and I are going to look for new housing for you guys. Today. Somewhere that the paparazzi can't follow you."

Numbness spreading through me like a cancer, I somehow manage to turn my head to look at him. If I look like I've seen a ghost he doesn't let on how shitty I appear. This is all happening too fast. I'm in shock. Can't keep up.

"This is chaos, but I need someone to hold it together," he emphasizes in aggravation, dropping his hand from his fidgeting. "So tell me: are we looking for two separate places?"

"Separate places?" I parrot dumbly.

"Yeah. Were you planning on living with those two lovebirds or not?" he asks skeptically raising a sculpted eyebrow. "Don't you think you've done enough for them?"

He catches me off guard. I hadn't realized I had a choice. Bakura needs a lot of special care right now. Detox takes months to recover from. The head trauma makes it harder for him to be left alone. He needs someone with him. Jounouchi is going to have his hands full with the paparazzi. It isn't only a matter of who can handle Bakura's power and wrath. It's who he'll tolerate. That narrows it down to Jounouchi, Malik, and me.

And Malik is in Egypt.

As ashamed I am to be doing so, I'm praying the ancient tomb keeper has caught wind of the upheaval here. Surely he'd come back if he heard about the Shadow Realm being summoned around my house? The crazy blonde yami and his eccentric hikari would be a lot better at handling our current problems. Marik, being the egotist he is, would probably willingly jump in front of the cameras. Mind controlling abilities would be most handy right about now as well.

But neither of them is here and I have no way of contacting them. They have no permanent residence or phone. That leaves me on my own. After my rows with Yami, the former pharaoh is aiding when he can, but that's all. We've been avoiding one another. I'm out of options. Until Bakura is healthier I'm stuck. For now my hands are tied.

"One place," I murmur splaying my fingers over my eyes and leaning back into the cushions as the migraine takes life. "Just one place."

"Suit yourself."

(Yami's POV)

"Well that was pleasant," Mahaado comments in his usual bland tone as we walk through the courtyard with blossoming trees. It's a respite after that night-long counsel for all seven holders of the Millennium Items along with Shimon. "Seth did not make it easy to get a word in."

The orange glow cast across the sky and walls is a proclamation the sun is awakening. Soon the frigid temperatures will diminish, giving way to the sometimes unbearable heat. I was always taught how the sun is the life-force of our world. How then can things crawl out from holes in the middle of the parched desert, choosing to live in the dark and cold? How do they survive such a harsh life?

"My pharaoh, are you well?"

"I am fine. Just a bit fatigued," I smile lightly plucking a white flower from the pool of water where it was floating. The petals are soft and delicate, smoother than silks or down of Nanu's ears. "Do the others know of Seth and Akunadin?"

"That is your decision to make, highness, though I feel Shimon at the very least suspects something is amiss."

Snorting dryly at his evasive but polite answers, I look at him. "Then I request counsel on the matter, Mahaado. Speak your mind."

He hesitates, glancing at the walls around us before doing so. "With your permission, I would inform Priestess Isis of this plot. With the Millennium necklace she would be the most logical to gather information regarding these matters. While we could confront them outright, neither Akunadin nor Seth will go down without a fight."

"You could take them both on at once and return unscathed," I tease, though I am actually quite confident it would be just so.

Mahaado closes his eyes, finding no humor in what I've said. "Do not underestimate them, Pharaoh."

"You worry too much," I admonish my priest evenly, vigilantly setting the flower back into the pool where it will wither away and sink to the bottom.

"Perhaps justly so. Before Isis can be told of this plot she must be informed of something else first."

"Then tell her whatever she needs to know."

Lavender eyes capture me when I look up at him. "She will need to be told of Bakura."

The chill of the night rushes back and for a moment I believe time is flowing in reverse. Is it really sunset instead? Have I lost track of so much?

"No."

"But highness…"

"No!" I bellow the syllable. It bounces off the tall walls of the courtyard, echoing in the stillness.

Mahaado doesn't flinch. He expected this reaction from me. I want nothing more than to erase his memory.

"Bakura is not a part of this. He is not a target," I hiss allowing the symbol on the puzzle to glow forebodingly. "There is no need to involve him. That is my decision!"

Mahaado listens with a placid expression. It's almost that of indifference. In the back of my mind behind all this rage I realize that he was prepared for this response. Not that he has ever been one to panic or lose his temper. He covers his emotions like the leopard skin cloak he's wearing.

"Then I cannot tell Priestess Isis. In her meditations she is sure to come upon visions of Bakura. Would you rather she find out about him that way?"

That wouldn't do. What would Isis do if she stumbled upon a vision of Bakura and I? Would she come to me? Would she consult with another priest, not daring to insult me by insinuating I would have intercourse with a demon? The latter seems more likely.

"Then she won't be told anything with regards to Bakura," I mutter under my breath, but because nothing is awake yet he can hear me with ease. "She will report to you should she discover anything that troubles her."

My priest comprehends my strategy. I have decided not to involve Bakura in this mess if at all possible. He will not be told of the stranger on my balcony. He is riled up enough about my uncle and cousin. The only people in the palace besides me that know he exists are Seini and Mahaado. I would keep it this way until Bakura and I determine how to press forward with our relationship. At this moment he is not comfortable expanding the number of friends. It is also poor timing.

Mahaado is looking out only for my best interests, not my love's. Seth could challenge my birthright if he knew Bakura and I could touch and cast doubt upon my people as to my divinity. If it is meant to be, Isis will uncover the entire plot my uncle and cousin have schemed and never discover Bakura in her visions. If she does...

I'll deal with that when if it happens.

"Good morning, Pharaoh."

I scramble from my thoughts and quickly acknowledge the sunu standing before us. He is several feet away, respectfully waiting for recognition before approaching me.

"Seini."

He moves forward, hands folded into the long arms of his white robes. My heart flutters and I immediately get my hopes up that he has news of Bakura. Who else would my lover go to if he was unable to locate me? Seini bows again reverently before speaking.

"I wished to address Priest Mahaado a moment, highness. There were some details for which he asked my guidance."

"You may do so," I reply without even trying to mask my disappointment.

"Pharaoh and I were talking about something rather important…"

"I told you my decision, Mahaado," I cut him off, tired of arguing and not wanting to insult Seini. "I am going to the temples now to pray. Both of you will join me once you have completed your discussion. We have much for which we must pray."

"It can wait, Pharaoh," Seini states, his authority something very few will contest, even the high priests. "Our prayers are far more important."

"I'm wishing I'd said something earlier."

"About you and Bakura?" Yugi ventures meekly before blowing his nose loudly into a napkin. He'd been bawling when I found him here curled up on a chair. After a good ten minutes of holding his sobbing form he calmed.

I push my bangs back from my face, arms resting on the kitchen table. "No. Just about being homosexual. Then Honda would have left because of me—not Jou. It would have been easier for Jounouchi to handle…"

"Yami, you can't blame yourself for what happened," my hikari chastises me taking more than my share of the guilt. "And it would have still been a hard hit for Jou. He and Honda have been through so much together. They were like brothers before they even met us."

"My point exactly. It's awful for Jounouchi that he's the reason Honda left us."

"Honda is the reason Honda left."

I stare at my lighter half, astonished the scathing words came from his mouth. For the first time since we've talked about Honda, Yugi is allowing his anger to show. His small hands are clenched in front of him and his shoulders straightened.

"He may be uncomfortable with homosexuality, but he still chose to leave," Yugi maintains his stance unwaveringly. "He could have stuck it out with us and remembered that despite everything Jou is still the same person he always has been. Honda didn't do that, Yami. And it was his own stupid decision. He chose to exile himself from us."

(Jounouchi's POV)

I had thought it couldn't get any worse. That the absolute worst thing Honda could do to me was leave and hate me. He went further. He not only stabbed me in the back, he twisted the knife, pulled it out, and plunged it in again.

Was it money? Did someone convince him it was a good idea? I'm sure they paid him handsomely for a story like that. The very idea makes me sick. Would he use me for his own personal gain? Would he make himself richer at my own expense?

Or does he just hate me that much?

"Would you have done it for free?" I wonder aloud, my face still wet. "Was this all just to spite me? You probably blame me for everything."

"Nnnngh?"

"Baku!" I squeak, shaking him gently by the shoulder when he stirs. "Wake up!"

He grumbles something unintelligible, swatting weakly at me. I lean over him, cupping his face in my hands. The thief's skin is icy. Two slivers crack open and he looks up at me.

"Hey Baku!"

The slits of eyes don't focus.

"Loud…" he gripes promptly turning onto his side.

I'm grinning from ear to ear even as I apologize. "Sorry sorry! I'm just so glad you're okay!...You are okay, right?"

He mutters something into the pillow that I don't catch. I shrug it off, giddy that he's semi-responding. It's obvious he isn't very lucid yet. The very fact he's even talking is huge. That he's annoyed with me is even better. It means he at least knows who's with him.

"I've been really worried 'bout you," I murmur stroking the layered white locks.

His reply is a grunt.

"Truly," I swear to him squeezing his shoulder while petting his head excitedly. "And things have been hell! But having you wake up…"

"Knock knock."

Otogi raps his knuckles against the doorframe. His intense green eyes hone in on Baku after noting my no doubt gleeful expression.

"Any change?"

"He's talking!" I chirp excitedly, giving Bakura another light shake. "Hey Baku! Bakuuu," I hum with my lips right next to his ear. All at once a single finger goes straight into my right eye. "Ow!" I yelp pulling away from him while rubbing my throbbing eye gingerly.

"Nice," Otogi chuckles, entering the room when he perceives Baku as no threat. "Change into different clothes and let's get a move on, Katsuya." He kicks the suitcase containing Baku and my…Baku's clothing.

"What?" The eye squints, aching too much to open fully. "I'm not going anywhere. Shizuka hasn't called back anyway. She'll be calling here since I gave her the Mutou's number."

"So said Yami," Otogi states tetchily, not pleased by this fact at all. "Be that as it may, I am not going hunting for abodes for you, Katsuya."

"Huh?" Geez, how hard did Baku poke me? Clear vision, dammit!

"You need a new place of residence," Otogi spells out at a snail's pace as if speaking to a dimwitted child. "Preferably one where the fanatics and press can't reach you. I've already called a realtor to give us the scoop on some upscale places that you will be able to afford very soon. Had to pay through the nose to keep her quiet about you being her client."

"Ryou would know more about that kind of stuff than me," I wave off, settling for rubbing Baku's bony back instead of risking another finger to the eye. "He's more rational."

"That I have no doubt," the peeved dice master taps his foot impatiently, arms akimbo. "But Ryou has left to run some errands with Yugi. That leaves you, Katsuya. How long do you think it will be before the paparazzi is knocking on the front door or climbing through a window?"

"They won't figure it out that fast," I shake my head even as my stomach sinks.

His lips curl as he scoffs. "Your logic falls short. Remember I live the more lavished lifestyle. I know how to walk this line. If you're planning on staying here more than one day, I guarantee they will find you. And good luck on sneaking the thief out of here with god knows how many people and cameras swarming…"

"You've made your point," I interrupt his worse-case-scenario that is actually quite possible. "But what about Baku? Who's going to watch him while we're gone? Is Ry gonna be back soon?"

"Oh, Yami and Mr. Mutou will be checking in on him regularly."

I freeze from where I'm climbing over Baku. "Yami?"

The dice master smirks smugly, turning on his heel. "Don't worry, Katsuya. I've got everything under control. They'll also forward Shizuka to my cell phone if she calls." He waves his phone in one hand. "Persuasion is one of my many gifts. It's a major component of my profession. Get dressed and we'll hit the road."

"I don't…"

He whirls around, hands planted on his hips, green eyes narrowed. "Now."

(Ryou's POV)

"I'm going to call Anzu. Do you mind if I wait out here?" Yugi pulls out his cell, stopping outside the post office doors.

"That's fine. I'll just be a minute," I nod, weary of how much there is to do. I promised Otogi I would take care of these 'minor details' as he referred to them if he got Jou to go looking for houses. "I really wish I could have just gotten through on the phone. But after the Shado…that incident last night all the lines are busy."

"It's a pain in the neck," Yugi agrees while drifting away in search of a clearer signal. "I think he left some magic around. All the electronics are acting up."

"We should be happy there aren't monsters running loose," I reply dryly, quickly stepping out of the way of a passerby. Everyone is on the move. It's a different type of hype than the usual bustling crowds. Yugi had mentioned it to me when we crossed a main intersection. Everyone is on edge, whispering apprehensively to one another. No one wants to be outside, fearful the 'storm' will return. I can't say I blame them for being terrified. The playgrounds and outdoor seating of restaurants were vacant.

Pushing open the glass doors I get in line behind several other people. I'm doing my best to keep an open mind about this transition. Maybe it won't be so horrible. Bakura needs to feel safe. A new place with beefed up security could be just the ticket. It's essential now due to Jounouchi's status. Discussing all possibilities with Otogi, we quickly came to realize this was our most promising option. I had opted for taking Bakura somewhere separate from Jounouchi. Somewhere secluded and quiet where we wouldn't be bothered. Otogi had pointed out Jounouchi would be over any free moment of his day.

And he would be followed. Then we would have a repeat of last night. None of us are game for that. If that happened again I'm certain Yami would either banish or murder my darker half.

With any luck, and threats from Otogi, Honda will not open his mouth again. He should know better than to mess with our group. Who in their right mind would harass someone with a Millennium Item when they don't possess one? Yami and Bakura are not exactly individuals to be taken lightly. For his own sake Honda had better keep a low profile from here on out.

"Next!"

Stepping up to the counter I hand over the paperwork I picked up from the police station with regards to the fact that no one can reach my house including myself. I fibbed that I was at the Mutou's, not wanting to be detained or put under medical observation like my neighbors. They had asked a series of questions nonetheless; such things as if I had noticed anything out of the ordinary earlier in the day when I was at home. Once again I found myself pining for the pair of psychos to return from Egypt with their mind controlling powers. So far nothing. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would want those two around. Despite the amount of trouble they cause, they can be a big help when they choose to lend a hand.

"If you'll sign these." The woman behind the counter slides a stack of papers to me. "Would you like us to send your mail to a different location?"

"I'll take whatever is here now," I reply while flipping through the pages, scribbling my signature across the select lines. "Could anything that comes in be held here for a day or two? We'll have a new address within the next day or two."

"Very good, Mr. Bakura," she nods curtly taking the papers and tapping them sharply on the countertop so they are straightened. "I'll have someone retrieve your mail for you right away. If you'll step to the right to wait please."

I obey, sliding my sneakers along the polished floor tarnished with black skid marks. There is a humming in the air as people chat about the latest gossip stemming from last night's tragedy. I don't meet anyone's gaze or make a peep. It's safest to keep a low profile right now. Luckily Bakura has decimated cameras every time they are around him or I would have people thinking I am my yami. Soon enough they'll find out about Jounouchi Katsuya's boyfriend though. God, I'll probably have to dye my hair and change my last name.

"Ah! Bakura!"

"No," I blurt before my rationality catches up.

The postman who does my route pauses with a slight frown. He's a middle aged man with grey peppering his shortly trimmed hair. Uncertainty knitted into his brow, he glances down at the envelopes in his hands and then back at me. I catch the address scrawled on the center of the top one, feeling more a fool than ever.

"Sorry," I accept the mail in a fluster. "Things have been a bit…"

"No need to apologize," he holds up a hand while placing the other over his heart. "Everyone is distressed. Can you imagine those poor people? You were lucky. Weren't home at the time, hmm?"

"No, I wasn't, thank goodness," I breathe, fingers fumbling from my excitement upon seeing the addresses they were mailed from.

"More colleges, eh?" he nods approvingly. "You must be quite the student. Any of them beat out the other ones?"

"Other ones?" I ask idly, feeling only a little disappointed not to have heard from several of the top contenders yet. There's still time.

"Yeah, what about that one in England? You said that one would be hard to pass up."

Fingers going rigid, I look up at him, cold dread spreading through me. "What?"

"Just the other day, remember?" he presses as the woman behind the counter yells at him to get back to work. "Like we have been every time you get a new acceptance letter."

"We…what? What letters? When?"

"Are you feeling all right? You look a bit fatigued," he comments quickly while beginning to walk away, not really paying attention to what I'm saying anymore. "Though you look better than you have been. Well take your time to recover! You can't rush things like that!"

"Recover? From what? Wait!" I call frantically but he's already disappeared into the back rooms. People are watching me, whispering behind their hands. I could care less.

Glaring down at the crinkled envelopes clutched in my hands, it sinks in like a predator's claws.

Bakura.


Ah, I love plot twists. :D

Malik: Not even a past scene of me *wistful sigh* They're going to get bored without me.

*rolls eyes* Anyway, trying hard to finish up Crimson so this one can have my full undivided attention. *weak smile* Let's see how that goes, shall we?

Please reviewsies, m'loves!