Warning: There are two endings to this story.

If you like shounen-ai, please read on.

If you don't- skip to the second ending.

Sleeping Dreams

The Unknown Emotion

Ryou lived. I knew he lived but our souls were still so separate. I needed Ryou to complete my soul and he just laid there, so limp, so pale. I couldn't even tell if he was breathing because his chest was so still. The dark rings under his eyes were getting worse and I knew he wouldn't last long in the Shadow Realm. I called Ryou back into the Millennium Ring. I had to gasp as his soul touched mine. It was the most wondrous feeling I had ever felt. My breaths became shallow as our souls started to stitch back together.

I felt as Ryou took a breath from his soul room in the Ring. Uncontrolled relief washed through me at the thought of Ryou surviving. My soul felt whole and brand new, like I was given a full new chance at this whole yami thing. But something was wrong- Ryou didn't just take in one breath of air he took in multiple breaths at a quickening pace. He gasped and choked in his soul room to the point that I think he was actually struggling to survive.

I turned to Yami with what must have been pure panic on my face. He looked back at me with a question unspoken because I answered it before he could ask. "Ryou… Ryou is rejecting me." Yami understood what was happening and gave a sympathetic look. I cursed myself for bothering with Yami. His hikari no doubt loved him so he would never, could never face this problem. I scowled at him before entering Ryou's soul room myself. I had never visited it before and would have thought the sight before me a treat if Ryou wasn't on his bed looking very much like he was having a seizure. I had this undying urge to run over to him and cradle him in my arms and tell him everything would be all right. …If I wasn't the one Ryou was currently rejecting.

I looked at the boy in the middle of the room. Really, it was the first time I looked at him since all this had started- that I had actually wanted to look at him. How did I feel towards this boy? I don't even know. First I couldn't stand him and treated him as nothing because that was all he was. Then Alef came and took this boy away from me, this boy that meant nothing, and it was something I wasn't prepared for. And now I have him back and it seems he wants nothing more to do with me.

I walked across Ryou's soul room and stopped a few feet from the bed. Do I dare to touch him? Would simply touching him kill him? Would his distaste for me run that deep? Does it even matter if he rejects me? Yes. Somehow this boy had weaseled himself into my life and was now a very important part of it. Maybe that's because he's the only one who understands me. Slowly I reached my hand out. Thoughts of rejection and hate plagued my mind making my hand move at a glacier-pace.

I closed my eyes as my fingers touched his cheek. Ryou's body stopped shaking and fell still. Thinking I had somehow killed my hikari I opened my eyes to find Ryou's chest rising and falling in a slow repetitive pattern. Relief washed through me again. I didn't kill Ryou after all. Letting out a sigh of relief I did what I had wanted to do when I first entered his soul room. I pulled Ryou closer to me and cradled him in my arms.

Ryou's now dusty snow-white hair brushed against my arm as he snuggled his head comfortingly against my chest. I contently watched as Ryou's chest rose and fell with his rhythmatic breathing. Why did this all of a suddenly seem so right? Snatching my arms back I jumped from Ryou's bed. His head fell against the pillows causing him to whimper softly as he pulled his legs up to his chest. What was I doing? What was that emotion? Shaking my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts I took a step back. What's happening to me? I tried to look more closely at Ryou- past the tangled white hair and ever so pale skin, past his frail body and compassionate face. But I couldn't even do that. All I could do was watch him. I tried to remove my eyes, to look at something else but I just couldn't bring myself to do even that.

Confusion took hold of me. Shaking my head from side to side I turned my back on Ryou and was about to leave when I glanced back. I noticed that Ryou was shivering. Poor thing, he had been through so much already. I walked back over to him and pulled the heavy feather comforter over him. I had to resist the urge to cradle him again. Turning my back I left the soul room without turning back around.

Opening my eyes it took me a few seconds to refocus. Yami was sitting across from me with his legs folded patiently. I noted he held the Hamza in one of his hands. Seeing that I was back Yami stood. "…Well?"

I followed his lead and stood too. "He's fine Yami."

Pausing a minute Yami looked at me. "Then what's wrong?"

"I said he's fine. Drop the subject Yami."

Holding his hands out in a 'no need to take offence' stance Yami said, "okay, okay Bakura. I believe you. No need to make a big deal out of it." Great individual

I gave Yami a scowl for that last comment. "Let's just leave the Shadow Realm." He nodded in agreement. We returned back to Yugi's room. Yugi immediately left his soul room and started to fuss over Yami's chest. "It's okay Aibou, I told you that before. The pain has nearly subsided."

"I know Yami, but I had to see for myself. You're sure your going to be okay?" Yami smiled at his hikari.

"Yes little one." With obvious reluctance Yugi stopped fussing over Yami. Rolling my eyes I left Yugi's room. I made it all the way to the door that lead into the game shop before I heard Yugi's feet racing down the stairs.

"Bakura, Bakura wait!"

I turned around "And why should I. I'm not here to watch you play lovey dovey with Yami."

Yugi's face became confused. "Lovey dovey? Bakura, I was just making sure Yami was all right. Are you feeling okay?"

I turned my back to Yami's hikari more than ready to leave. "Fine. Give my regards to Yami."

"But Bakura, please, you must tell me, is Ryou going to be okay? Can't you call him out? I want to see if he's okay."

Sighing I turned back towards Yugi. "…Yes. Ryou will be fine. No. I refuse to drag Ryou out right now, he's resting. He needs to regenerate his soul. Now if you'll excuse me-"

Yami popped up behind Yugi. One hand held the Hamza and the other was placed on Yugi's shoulder. Holding out the Hamza for me to take Yami spoke. "He's now trapped inside. He cannot escape." I eyed the item for a minute before grabbing it off him. Yami smiled. I turned my back to go but Yugi started to ask another question. "Bakura, umm, about Ryou-"

I turned to him. All this talking was becoming rather tedious. "What is it now hikari?"

I smiled inwardly as I saw a brief stunned look cross Yami's face. If he thinks we had became 'friends' or something he was wrong. Yugi started speaking again. "It's just that-"

I cut him off. "I'm sure once Ryou is feeling better he'll call you and tell you everything is all right. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to leave. I turned my back on the multi hair coloured people and entered the game shop. The old man looked up at me as I entered but quickly turned his attention back to the customer who was at the counter. I gladly left the store. Outside it was already pretty dark and I had to remember which way I had come from on my way here. It was dark and depressing out, not to mention the ground was still wet.

I made my way back to my house. Opening the front door I entered into the hallway and kept walking until I reached the kitchen, with casualness I didn't feel I placed the Hamza on the counter. I had to do something so realizing I only ate once today I prepared myself a quick sandwich. Ryou was sleeping soundlessly in his soul room. I didn't want Ryou to leave my body, lest our souls separated too. However I knew he would have to come out eventually so I made my way to his room.

There I forced Ryou out of the Ring and back onto his real bed. I sighed in relief when our souls stayed one. I knew Ryou would need a lot of rest to regain his strength. I brushed a stray piece of hair from his face but stopped abruptly when I got that feeling again. Frowning I pulled Ryou's covers over his body then left his room. I travelled to the bathroom to use some of the medical stuff I'd seen Ryou using. I opened the medicine cabinet and was surprised by how much supplies we actually could fit in there. I had no idea what so ever about any of the stuff in there. Deciding to simply visually check my wounds I looked at my face in the mirror. Tiny scratches littered my body from the black oozed blades and my shoulder and leg were in horrible condition from those blasts Alef got on me in the Shadow Realm. Deciding it would be safer to NOT touch any of this stuff I left the bathroom. It would heal eventually anyway.

Though now I was really starting to feel the events from the day catch up with me. My body suddenly felt very fatigued. Leaning against the kitchen counter I felt as my eyes started to droop. I was about to go to bed when my fingers gently grazed the Hamza. Grasping it in my hand I looked down at the object that held my once friend. To think of all the things we've been through it all came down to this. I shook my head sadly. I placed the Hamza back on the counter and went to bed.

Before I could fall into a blissful sleep I needed to change out of my cloths. It was effort that I really didn't care to do but I knew I had to since they were torn and somewhat burnt in some areas. They were damp and didn't smell all that well either. After I changed I peered into Ryou's room for the last time this night. Something was different between us and it wasn't just the realization of my new role to my hikari. It was something- else. I resisted the urge to touch him again. Forcing myself to close the door I went back to my room where I gratefully finally laid down.

I lied in my bed, too exhausted too think, to tired to stay up. I fell into a dreamless sleep. Until my slumber filled with memories from the past.

Alef stood away from Malik and me. "I don't know Bakura, stealing is wrong."

Before I could answer Malik spoke up. "Ah, come on Alef. I know your hungry but that doesn't mean you have to starve. Quit being such a baby."

Alef stomped his foot in protest. "But I could never be as good as you guys, come on, I'm younger."

Malik rolled his eyes. "Yeah, only by one year."

"So! One year's a lot."

I stepped between them. "Look Alef. You're new to the whole street thing so we'll give you an easy one. If you can do it then you're in. If not then I'm sorry but you'd only be a burden." Alef nodded his head uncertainly. "Bakura?"

"Yeah?"

"If I do this, do you promise to watch over me?" I knew Malik was looking at me. Waiting for my response. "Of course kid. We look after our own. We have only a few rules and they're pretty basic. The bounty you steal on your own is yours, the bounty you steal as a team gets split equally. We watch out for one another and nobody EVER gets left behind. If you pass the test then I can guarantee you the same fate as mine and Maliks… a fate of riches!"

Alef nodded his head. Malik took Alef by the shoulders and started to walk off with him. I watched, keeping silent as Malik stopped and pointed out a fruit stand. Alef just stood there so Malik gave him a push forward. I smiled as Alef turned around and yelled at Malik for pushing him but the sandy-haired thief just shrugged and looked away. Eyeing Malik, Alef took a step forward before concentrating on the task at hand.

We had found Alef a week ago. He was sitting in the shadows of a particularly stinky ally; hands over is face hiding his tears. "Yo kid, what's wrong?" Malik had bent down and removed Alef's hands from his face. "You okay?" While Malik was talking to Alef I let my eyes adjust to the darkness. "Uh, Malik-"

"Not now, Bakura." He waved his hand in dismissal.

"Malik-"

"I said-"

"LOOK!" I watched as Malik noticed the blood that covered the surrounding walls and floor. Alef turned on his side revealing that his side was cut and bleeding. But this blood wasn't coming from him. He couldn't bleed this much if he tried.

"Kid, what happened here?" We could only whisper the question. Neither of us dared to.

Alef ignored Malik and buried his face in his shirt. We could barely here Alef's muffled cry. "My, my mother and farther, they, they tried to protect me. I- I escaped but when I came back…" The boy faltered and shakily pointed at the corner of the ally. Both Malik and I took a step back as we saw what the boy was pointing at. Two lifeless figures were stacked on top of each other, their bodies looked deformed and the joints bent in unnatural positions. Their lifeless eyes stared blankly at us. "…Ra," I whispered.

Malik waved his hand in front of my face to grab my attention. I looked at him and without moving his head he darted his eyes to the snivelling Alef. I nodded. Malik bent back down over Alef and pulled him up. The boy looked a lot younger then he really was. He struggled briefly but Malik quickly took control. We practically had to drag him out of the bloody alley.

He's been with us ever since.

Personally I hoped he past the test. Both Malik and I had gotten really attached to the little guy in the short time we've known him, saved him. It's only been one week since that day. But sadly, we can't afford to have dead weight on the team. He'd be the death of us if he was actually useless.

Malik walked back over to me. He stood beside me and spoke. "I think he's gonna make it."

I looked at him. "I hope so, he's watched us long enough to know what to do. Besides, I'm getting used to having him around."

"Me too."

"Then you'll just have to put up with me forever." Alef said munching on an apple.

Malik smiled. "I told you it wasn't right to starve."

"So don't." Alef held out two more apples. Malik gave me a proud glance before he promptly started laughing as he took the apple from Alef's outstretched hand. Before long we were all in tears from laughing so hard.

I opened my eyes groggily. Standing up I headed into the kitchen, sat down and stared at the Hamza. My mind turned to thoughts of why Alef betrayed me in the end. Once upon a time when we were all really good friends… I got up and left the kitchen.

I really am alone here, I thought. Except for a traitorous friend and an ex-Pharaoh… and Ryou. My thoughts turned once again to the boy I had stumbled on upon leaving the Ring. I wonder if I acted the way I did because he had reminded me of Alef. Someone so innocent, yet hiding so much. Could I trust that type of person again…? Ryou's type, Ryou? Sighing I went to his room.

Slowly I opened his door and walked into his room. He was still sleeping; I thought he would be. It would be awhile yet before he wakes. He reminded me so much of Alef when we had first found him. Not a friend in the world. But I had to remind myself Ryou was indeed nothing like Alef. Nothing.

The sun was well out in the sky and seemed to shine on his hair. I went back to his bed and sat down next to him like I had the day before. I smiled as he sleepily moved closer to me. His head found its way onto my lap again. I just sat there. Reminiscing on past events and thoughts. Ryou let out a small 'sigh' it made my lips quirk up in a slight smile. I looked at him and let my finger trail down his cheek. There was that feeling again. The same feeling I felt whenever I touched him. This time I didn't pull way; I let whatever it was happen. I didn't know what I was doing but as my face came closer to his and vaguely I realized I was going to kiss him. My lips brushed softly against his before I pulled away. My body seemed to scream at me for doing so.

I was lifting my face away from Ryou's when his eyes fluttered open. Those chocolate orbs seemed to send shivers down my spine. He looked at me for a second before reaching out his arms and pulling me back towards his face. Back towards his lips. Before I could take control of the situation I realized I was basking in the kiss. It ended and Ryou snuggled around my waist before falling back into a steep slumber. I was shocked, entirely shocked.

Then realization hit me, realization about that feeling I always had. Could it be love? I had never been in love; nobody had ever felt right before. I looked down at the person who seemed to have mysteriously captured my heart. How did that happen? When did it happen? One day I'm punching the crap out of him, the next I cradle him in my arms. This new life is so much more complicated then my last.

I guess only time will tell how this life ends…

(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O) Draggy2

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