Bakura gave a small sigh as he entered the bathroom. He was feeling incredibly fidgety, as if there was something going on just barely in his range of hearing, but he was unable to tell what it was. Kaiba's periodic intense scrutiny wasn't helping either.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror and his eyes shifted. Giving an almost irritated scowl, the boy opened the door again, intent on sneaking out.

"That was quick," Kaiba said drily, leaning on the opposite wall. "I didn't even hear the toilet."

The boy's expression shifted to surprise. "Kaiba-kun!" he protested. "You followed me here?"

"You looked distracted, so I thought I'd wait out here and see what was wrong."

"I just needed to wash my face," the pale haired boy explained. "It sometimes help to clear my head if I can't get fresh air," he said meaningfully.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" Kaiba asked. "I hear that many couples indulge in that sort of activity."

The boy gave a nod. "Gomen... I just feel a bit claustrophobic today," he laughed, looking slightly embarrassed.

Kaiba offered his arm.

The boy looked at it a moment, then sighed, accepting.

Kaiba led the way out of the house and began walking down the street, watching Bakura's face.

The pale haired boy looked a cross between distracted and impatient. He tugged slightly on the arm that was being held, trying to free it.

"Still feeling distracted?"

"Something's just not right..." Bakura said softly. His eyes wandered over to the part and his face brightened. "Ne, Kaiba-kun, can we go on the swings?" he asked, smiling cheerfully.

Kaiba looked at the playground and his expression softened. "Of course. I'll even push you."

Bakura smiled happily. "Arigatou, Kaiba-kun!"

The boy's pale hair flowed out behind him as he swung forward, looking almost like a child as he smiled. He blinked slightly, expression falling as he swung back. He tensed slightly as he swung forward again and leapt from the swing, springing up agilely into a run as he hit the ground.

Kaiba watched him a moment, then dashed after him, wrestling him to the ground. "What's gotten into you?"

"Get off me!" Bakura exclaimed, struggling near frantically.

Kaiba pulled him to a sitting position, arms twisted behind his back as he was held tightly against the taller boy's body. "You will tell me what's going on," Kaiba hissed in his ear. "Now."

The boy's posture suddenly shifted and he gave a frightened whimper. "Kaiba-kun...?" his voice trembled.

Kaiba turned the boy in his grip and stared fiercely into his eyes. "Is it truly you or just another mask of you?" he demanded.

The boy looked utterly terrified and whimpered again. "Ka--Kaiba-kun, what-- what are you....?" he stammered.

Kaiba took one hand from his grip on the boy to touch Bakura's face lightly. "Perhaps we should go home now."

The boy gave a slightly nod, still shaking slightly in fear.

Kaiba rose, keeping an arm around Bakura as they went back to the house.

"Kaiba-kun...?" Bakura asked softly, holding his arm, hand covering the reddened area. "What-- what happened?"

"There was something controlling your actions that wasn't you." The taller boy touched the smaller's face. "Is this why you're late?"

Bakura looked down. "I-- I don't know..." he said softly. "I'm sorry."
Much later the boys were sitting on the couch, Bakura almost huddled against Kaiba, who had his arm around him possessively. Suddenly the pale haired boy gave a small gasp, eyes going wide before closing tightly, entire body tense.

"Bakura? What's wrong?"

Slowly, the boy relaxed. Giving a sigh, he sat up, shaking his head slightly. "You're always worrying too much," he commented.

"You give me reason," Kaiba said mildly.

"I had a muscle spasm from being in the same position too long," Bakura said in an offhand way. "I'm allowed to react when my body protests your treatment..."

Kaiba shifted in his seat, hands resting lightly on Bakura's back. "Where did you cramp?"

Bakura pulled away. "I'm tired of being your lapdog! You can't make everything better with a few words and some physical affection!" he exclaimed, getting to his feet.

Kaiba leaned back with a raised brow. "Who are you and what have you done to my Bakura?"

The boy shook his head. "Why is it whenever I try and stand up for myself, whenever I try and keep from being smothered, you say it isn't me!? Why can't I be anything else but what you want me to be?!"

"I know Bakura, and you aren't him." Kaiba rose, raising the boy's chin so that their eyes locked. "I have seen him 'stand up for himself.' You are not Bakura." He searched the boy's eyes. "You're the Egyptian slut with the dyed hair, aren't you?"

The boy pulled away. "I'm tired of you insulting my friend!" he exclaimed. "The instant Namu-kun showed up you hated him! Yuugi-kun was fine with him but you-- You dressed me up like you owned me and tried to prove it to the world! Jounochi-kun was right about everything he ever said about you!" he shouted before turning to leave.

Kaiba was on his feet in an instant, grabbing the other boy's arm. He looked into Bakura's face furiously, before composing himself. "Yuugi," he finally said in a soft voice, "Agreed that there was something wrong. Now I know what it is. If you do not release him, I will track you down and make you."

"You're hurting me, Kaiba-kun!" the boy exclaimed, looking from the boy to his grip. "Let go!"

Kaiba retained his grip. "Do you understand me? If I have any indication that you continue to hold him I will make you pay."

"Kaiba-kun! Yame--" The boy tended slightly, eyes closing as something under his shirt began to glow. "Stop it! I'm--" He near doubled over as an eye began to glow on his forehead, prompting an even brighter glow from under his shirt.

Kaiba supported him. "Bakura, come back," he practically ordered, holding the boy protectively.

The boy gave a small noise as the eye on his forehead shattered and he went limp, eyes closing as the glow under his shirt faded.

Kaiba pulled him close arms tight around him, then picked him up and carried him to Yuugi's room, cuffing him to the bed and covering him tenderly, pulling a chair up next to the bed and sitting to wait.

Bakura stirred slightly, eyes slowly opening to look up at the restraints before he gave a soft sigh.

Kaiba moved closer, bending over the boy and looking into his eyes. "You are the true Bakura?"

The boy blinked. "True...?" he repeated.

Kaiba searched his eyes another moment, then released the cuffs. He pulled Bakura upright into his arms and rubbed the boy's wrists lightly. "If it weren't necessary I wouldn't have done it."

Bakura nodded slightly, leaning against the taller boy. "I know..." he said softly. "It-- it isn't true, what I said!" he insisted, looking up. "You're not how Jounouchi-kun says!"

"I know it wasn't you," Kaiba assured, stroking Bakura's hair.

"But it was." Bakura near whimpered. "I-- I just couldn't stop myself from saying.... Gomen nasai, Kaiba-kun!" He buried his face in Kaiba's chest, near clinging to the taller boy's shirt. "I couldn't control what I was doing or saying..."

"Then it wasn't you," Kaiba said certainly. "If you couldn't control what you were saying you were either drunk or it wasn't you." He turned Bakura's face up and looked in his eyes. "I know it wasn't you."

"Kaiba-kun...." Bakura gave a small smile before melting against the tall boy.

"Whatever happens, you know you're special to me, and I know you don't mean hurtful things." He leaned down and kissed Bakura slowly.

The boy gave a blissful sigh as their lips parted. "Demo..." he began, wrapping his arms around Kaiba. "Things like this... It makes me wonder if..." he trailed off a moment. "I keep loosing myself and when I do I try and hurt the ones closest to me," he said softly. "I don't want to go back to being alone, but I don't want to hurt you and Yuugi-kun either!"

"You won't hurt us. We won't let it happen." Kaiba cradled Bakura close. "You needn't worry about us."

"But what if it happens again?" Bakura asked, melting against the taller boy.

"Then we will protect you again."

"But you can't always be with me... You have your company and Yuugi-kun and Mokuba-kun..." the pale haired boy pointed out.

We will find a way," Kaiba said with a scowl, unused to being contradicted so much.

"Gomen..." Bakura said in a small voice, looking down. "I just can't help but worry..."

"Don't. I'll take care of everything."

The pale haired boy gave a soft smile. "Arigatou..."
Bakura looked up from his book and gave a smile. "Yuugi-kun!" He paused, blink. "Yuugi-kun... daijoubu? You're all wet..."

Yuugi staggered into the room and collapsed next to Bakura's chair.

"Yuugi-kun...?" the pale haired boy asked, voice concerned as he moved to the smaller boy's side.

"Jou-- Jounouchi-kun is ok...."

"Eh? Something was wrong with Jounouchi-kun?" Bakura asked, eyes wide as he pulled Yuugi into his arms to hug him.

"Malik... used him.... I saved him... with our friendship...."

"Malik...?" Bakura repeated, blinking. "Used him how?"

"He brainwashed him." Yuugi looked upset. "And made us fight a death match."

Bakura's eyes went wide. "Yuugi-kun..." He hugged the boy tightly.

"I sacrificed myself so he would live, and he did the same for me."

"Yuugi-kun...." Bakura looked at the boy, eyes proud. "Is there anything I can do?" he asked softly, placing a hand gently on Yuugi's cheek.

Yuugi leaned against Bakura's touch with a sigh and closed his eyes. After a moment he relaxed into sleep.

Bakura blinked slightly, then smiled, gently moving Yuugi over to the couch so the boy could lean against him in sleep.

After a few hours Yuugi woke up, snuggling against Bakura.

The pale haired boy smiled, putting his arm around him. "Feel any better?" he asked.

Yuugi nodded, eyes closing again. "I missed you."

Bakura put down his book and turned his full attention to the smaller boy. "Gomen ne," he said softly, gently stoking Yuugi's hair.

"Not your fault. I've been busy with dueling." He purred slightly at the touch. "Look what I got!" he said, pulling out Osiris.

Bakura blinked. "Sugoi, Yuugi-kun!" he exclaimed, eyes wide.

"And I saved Jounouchi-kun's Red Eyes," Yuugi murmured, nuzzling against Bakura. "And Jounouchi-kun. I have enough puzzle cards to go to the finals tomorrow."

"Sasuga Yuugi-kun," Bakura smiled, hugging the boy close.

Yuugi leaned up and kissed Bakura. "But I missed you."

"I missed you too," Bakura said, leaning down to kiss the smaller boy again.

Yuugi wrapped his arms around Bakura's neck, abandoning himself to the kiss. When it broke, he looked up at Bakura with heavy lidded eyes. "Love me?"

Bakura gave a smile and nodded. "I'll have to tell Kaiba-kun first, unless you want to do it here," he informed the boy.

Yuugi blinked. "Eh?"

"I promised him I'd let him know if I left the room so he'd stop worrying," Bakura smiled, reaching up to press the KC logo on his shirt. "Kaiba-kun?"

"Hm?"

"Yuugi-kun and I are going to go to my room."

"Fine."

Bakura let go of the communicator and smiled down at Yuugi. "Shall we?"

Yuugi bounced happily to his feet, nodding, and held out his hands to Bakura.

The boy gave a small laugh at his loves enthusiasm and accepted.

A satisfying while later the pair was snuggling happily in Bakura's bed. "Yuugi-kun..." the pale haired boy sighed happily, tracing lines idly on his lovers chest.

Yuugi snuggled closer, kissing Bakura's neck. "Daisuki...."

"Daisuki," Bakura returned, eyes closing at the kiss. "Should have you sleep over here with me," he smiled. "So we can do this more...."

Yuugi nodded, smiling, then sat up suddenly. "Bakura-kun, you're coming tomorrow, aren't you?"

"Eh?" Bakura blinked. "Coming where?"

"To the semifinals! You have to be there!"

"Un!" Bakura agreed with a smile. "Kaiba-kun will be too."

Yuugi smiled. "He was on the semifinalists list too."

"Of course he would be," Bakura smiled. "Just like how you would be as well. The tournament couldn't proceed with out both of you."

Yuugi laughed and hugged Bakura.

The pale haired boy hugged him back. "Do you know about any of the other semi finalists?" he asked.

Yuugi nodded. "Jounouchi-kun and Mai. I don't know who the other four will be."

"Eee, Jounouchi-kun mo? Sugoi yo."

"Un!" Yuugi nodded again with a smile. "And if you're there it will be perfect!" he exclaimed happily, falling back to the bed and snuggling close to Bakura, hugging him tightly.

Bakura smiled, hugging back. "I can't wait to see you and Kaiba-kun duel, though I won't know which of you to cheer for," he laughed lightly, nuzzling the smaller boy.

"Both of us," Yuugi answered cheerfully, shifting so that Bakura had an easier time.

"Jounouchi-kun will probably yell at me for cheering for Kaiba-kun," Bakura pointed out. "Maybe I should just watch quietly, hmm?" he said teasingly.

"No, you have to cheer!" Yuugi responded. "Who cares what Jounouchi-kun thinks?"

"Jounouchi-kun obviously," Bakura laughed lightly.

"Mou, Bakura-kun... you're making fun of me," Yuugi said with a pout, tracing a finger over Bakura's chest.

"And here I thought I was making fun of Jounouchi-kun," Bakura smiled. "I must be very poor at making fun."

Yuugi stuck his tongue out, then leaned down and kissed Bakura.

Bakura parted his lips slightly in invitation, reaching up to run his fingers though Yuugi's hair.

Yuugi accepted the invitation, kissing Bakura harder and with more passion.

Bakura gave a soft sound, melting against the boy.

Slowly Yuugi drew back, smiling down at Bakura. "I love you," he said, eyes warmly reflecting his words.

Bakura smiled happily. "I love you too, Yuugi-kun..."

Yuugi smiled happily in return, and snuggled close again.